AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

EX-2.1 2 dex21.htm AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Exhibit 2.1

Execution Copy

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

THE STRIDE RITE CORPORATION,

OC, INC.

and

SAUCONY, INC.

Dated as of June 1, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE I THE MERGER		1
1.1	Effective Time of the Merger.	1
1.2	Closing.	1
1.3	Effects of the Merger.	1
1.4	Directors and Officers.	2

ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SECURITIES		2
2.1	Conversion of Capital Stock.	2
2.2	Exchange of Certificates.	2
2.3	Company Stock Plans.	4

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY		5
3.1	Organization, Standing and Power.	5
3.2	Capitalization.	6
3.3	Subsidiaries.	7
3.4	Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.	8
3.5	SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided.	9
3.6	No Undisclosed Liabilities.	10
3.7	Absence of Certain Changes or Events.	10
3.8	Taxes.	11
3.9	Owned and Leased Real Properties.	12
3.10	Intellectual Property.	12
3.11	Contracts.	13
3.12	Litigation.	14
3.13	Environmental Matters.	14
3.14	Employee Benefit Plans.	15
3.15	Compliance With Laws.	17
3.16	Permits.	17
3.17	Labor Matters.	18
3.18	Insurance.	18
3.19	Opinion of Financial Advisor.	18
3.20	Chapter 110F Not Applicable.	18
3.21	Brokers.	18

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND THE TRANSITORY SUBSIDIARY		19
4.1	Organization, Standing and Power.	19
4.2	Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.	19
4.3	SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided.	20
4.4	Absence of Certain Changes or Events.	21
4.5	Operations of the Transitory Subsidiary.	21
4.6	Financing.	21
4.7	Solvency.	21

ARTICLE V CONDUCT OF BUSINESS		21
5.1	Covenants of the Company.	21
5.2	Confidentiality.	24
5.3	Financing Commitments.	24

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS		25
6.1	No Solicitation.	25


		Page
6.2	Proxy Statement.	27
6.3	Nasdaq Quotation.	27
6.4	Access to Information.	27
6.5	Stockholders Meeting.	27
6.6	Legal Conditions to the Merger.	28
6.7	Public Disclosure.	29
6.8	Indemnification.	29
6.9	Notification of Certain Matters.	30
6.10	Consultation in Respect of Certain Actions and Proceedings.	30
6.11	Service Credit.	30
6.12	Agreement Assumption.	30
6.13	Title to Property.	31

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO MERGER		31
7.1	Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger.	31
7.2	Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary.	31
7.3	Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company.	32

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT		32
8.1	Termination.	32
8.2	Effect of Termination.	33
8.3	Fees and Expenses.	34
8.4	Amendment.	35
8.5	Extension; Waiver.	35

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS		35
9.1	Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.	35
9.2	Notices.	35
9.3	Entire Agreement.	36
9.4	No Third Party Beneficiaries.	36
9.5	Assignment.	36
9.6	Severability.	36
9.7	Counterparts and Signature.	37
9.8	Interpretation.	37
9.9	Governing Law.	37
9.10	Remedies.	37
9.11	Submission to Jurisdiction.	37
9.12	Disclosure Schedules.	37
9.13	Company’s Knowledge.	38

Schedule A	Parties to Company Stockholder Agreement

Exhibit A	Form of Company Stockholder Agreement

TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS


Terms		Reference in Agreement
Acquisition Proposal		Section 6.1(f)
Affiliate		Section 3.2(c)
Agreement		Preamble
Alternative Acquisition Agreement		Section 6.1(b)
Antitrust Laws		Section 6.6(b)
Antitrust Order		Section 6.6(b)
Articles of Merger		Section 1.1
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception		Section 3.4(a)
Business Day		Section 1.2
Buyer		Preamble
Buyer Balance Sheet		Section 4.3(b)
Buyer Disclosure Schedule		Article IV
Buyer Employee Plan		Section 6.11
Buyer Material Adverse Effect		Section 4.1
Buyer SEC Reports		Section 4.3(a)
Certificate		Section 2.2(b)
Class A Common		Section 2.1(b)
Class B Common		Section 2.1(b)
Closing		Section 1.2
Closing Date		Section 1.2
Code		Section 2.2(f)
Commitment Letters		Section 4.6
Company		Preamble
Company Balance Sheet		Section 3.5(b)
Company Board		Section 3.4(a)
Company Common Stock		Section 2.1(b)
Company Disclosure Schedule		Article III
Company Employee Plans		Section 3.14(a)
Company ESPP		Section 2.3(d)
Company Intellectual Property		Section 3.10(b)
Company Leases		Section 3.9(c)
Company Material Adverse Effect		Section 3.1
Company Material Contracts		Section 3.11(a)
Company Meeting		Section 3.4(d)
Company Permits		Section 3.16
Company Preferred Stock		Section 3.2(a)
Company SEC Reports		Section 3.5(a)
Company Stock Options		Section 2.3(a)
Company Stock Plans		Section 2.3(a)
Company Stockholder Agreement		Preamble
Company Stockholder Approval		Section 3.4(a)
Company Voting Proposal		Section 3.4(a)
Company’s Knowledge		Section 9.13
Confidentiality Agreement		Section 5.2
Continuing Employees		Section 6.11
East Brookfield Property		Section 3.1(j)
Effective Time		Section 1.1
Employee Benefit Plan		Section 3.14(a)
Environmental Law		Section 3.13(c)

iii


Terms		Reference in Agreement
ERISA		Section 3.14(a)
ERISA Affiliate		Section 3.14(a)
Exchange Act		Section 3.4(c)
Exchange Agent		Section 2.2(a)
Exchange Fund		Section 2.2(a)
GAAP		Section 3.5(b)
Governmental Entity		Section 3.4(c)
Governmental Regulations		Section 3.9(b)
Hazardous Substance		Section 3.13(d)
HSR Act		Section 3.4(c)
Indemnified Parties		Section 6.8(a)
Intellectual Property		Section 3.10(a)
IRS		Section 3.8(b)
Liens		Section 3.4(b)
MBCA		Preamble
Merger		Preamble
Merger Consideration		Section 2.1(c)
Option Consideration		Section 2.3(b)
Ordinary Course of Business		Section 3.2(e)
Outside Date		Section 8.1(b)
Pre-Closing Period		Section 5.1
Premium Limit		Section 6.8(c)
Proxy Statement		Section 3.5(c)
Qualified Bidder		Section 6.1(a)
Real Estate		Section 3.9(a)
Required Cash Amount		Section 4.6
Required Company Stockholder Vote		Section 3.4(d)
Representatives		Section 6.1(a)
SEC		Section 3.4(c)
Securities Act		Section 3.2(c)
Specified Time		Section 6.1(a)
Subsidiary		Section 3.3(a)
Superior Proposal		Section 6.1(f)
Surviving Corporation		Section 1.3
Tax Returns		Section 3.8(a)
Taxes		Section 3.8(a)
Third Party Intellectual Property		Section 3.10(b)
Transitory Subsidiary		Preamble

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 1, 2005, by and among The Stride Rite Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Buyer”), OC, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer (the “Transitory Subsidiary”), and Saucony, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”).

WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of the Buyer and the Company deem it advisable and in the best interests of each corporation and their respective stockholders that the Buyer acquire the Company in order to expand product selection and advance the long-term business interests of the Buyer and the Company;

WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Company shall be effected through a merger of the Transitory Subsidiary with and into the Company (the “Merger”) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”), as a result of which the Company shall become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer; and

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to the Buyer’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule A have entered into a Stockholder Voting Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Company Stockholder Agreement”), pursuant to which such stockholders have, among other things, agreed to vote all of the shares of voting capital stock of the Company that such stockholders own in favor of the Company Voting Proposal (as defined below);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary and the Company agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

1.1 Effective Time of the Merger. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, prior to the Closing (as defined below), the Buyer and the Company shall jointly prepare, and immediately following the Closing the Surviving Corporation shall cause to be filed with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, articles of merger (the “Articles of Merger”) in such form as is required by, and executed by the Transitory Subsidiary and the Company in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the MBCA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the MBCA. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Articles of Merger, accompanied by payment of the filing fee (as provided in the MBCA), with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or at such later time as is established by the Buyer and the Company and set forth in the Articles of Merger (the “Effective Time”).

1.2 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on a date to be specified by the Buyer and the Company (the “Closing Date”), which shall be no later than the second Business Day after satisfaction of or, if permissible under this Agreement, waiver by the party entitled to the benefit of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than delivery of items to be delivered at the Closing and other than satisfaction of those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the delivery of such items and the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), at the offices of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts, unless another date, place or time is agreed to in writing by the Buyer and the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Business Day” shall be any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday or (b) a day on which banking institutions located in Boston, Massachusetts are permitted or required by law, executive order or governmental decree to remain closed.

1.3 Effects of the Merger. At the Effective Time the separate existence of the Transitory Subsidiary shall cease and the Transitory Subsidiary shall be merged with and into the Company (the Company following the

Effective Time is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”). The Articles of Organization and By-Laws of the Company, each as amended and in effect on the date of this Agreement, shall be the Articles of Organization and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 11.07 of the MBCA.

1.4 Directors and Officers. The directors of the Transitory Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of the Transitory Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Articles of Organization and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation.

ARTICLE II

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of the capital stock of the Company or capital stock of the Transitory Subsidiary:

(a) Capital Stock of the Transitory Subsidiary. Each share of the common stock of the Transitory Subsidiary issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock, $0.33¹/3 par value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

(b) Excluded Shares. All shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.33¹/3 par value per share (“Class A Common”), and Class B Common Stock, $0.33¹/3 par value per share, of the Company (“Class B Common” and, together with the Class A Common, “Company Common Stock”) that are owned by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and any shares of Company Common Stock owned by the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary or any other wholly owned Subsidiary of the Buyer immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no cash or other consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

(c) Merger Consideration for Company Common Stock. Subject to Section 2.2, each share of Company Common Stock (other than shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(b)) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into the right to receive $23.00 in cash per share, without interest (the “Merger Consideration”), upon the surrender and exchange of the certificate representing such share of Company Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2. As of the Effective Time, all such shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.2, without interest.

(d) Adjustments to Merger Consideration. The Merger Consideration shall be adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any reclassification, stock split, reverse split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Company Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization or other like change with respect to Company Common Stock occurring (or for which a record date is established) after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time.

2.2 Exchange of Certificates. The procedures for exchanging outstanding shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger are as follows:

(a) Exchange Agent. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Buyer shall deposit with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company or another bank or trust company mutually acceptable to the Buyer and the Company (the “Exchange Agent”), for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, for payment through the Exchange Agent in

accordance with this Section 2.2, cash in an amount sufficient to make payment of the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(c) in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the “Exchange Fund”).

(b) Exchange Procedures. Promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days) after the Effective Time, the Buyer shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a certificate, which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Certificate”) (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration payable with respect thereto, provided that the Buyer shall assist the Company in developing arrangements for the delivery of such materials at Closing to significant shareholders of the Company to facilitate the payment of Merger Consideration to such shareholders immediately following the Effective Time. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, and such other documents as may be reasonably required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be paid promptly in exchange therefor cash in an amount equal to the Merger Consideration that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article II, and the Certificate so surrendered shall immediately be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any Merger Consideration payable to the holders of Certificates. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration may be paid to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered, if such Certificate is properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and delivered to the Exchange Agent with all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration as contemplated by this Section 2.2.

(c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates evidencing shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company Common Stock, and from and after the Effective Time there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the payment of the Merger Consideration as provided in this Article II.

(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Promptly following the date which is 270 days after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall deliver to the Buyer all cash, Certificates and other documents in its possession relating to the Merger, and the Exchange Agent’s duties shall terminate. Thereafter, any holder of Company Common Stock who has not previously complied with this Section 2.2 may surrender such certificate to the Buyer and (subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) receive in consideration thereof the Merger Consideration relating thereto.

(e) No Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

(f) Withholding Rights. Each of the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration or other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock such amounts as the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any other applicable state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be, such withheld amounts (i) shall be remitted by the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be, to the applicable Governmental Entity,

and (ii) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be.

(g) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if reasonably required by the Buyer, the posting by such person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Buyer may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.

(h) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund in either of the following, as directed by the Buyer: (i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States and which mature within three (3) months from the date of acquisition thereof, or (ii) any money market fund that invests primarily in obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States. Any interest and other income resulting from such investment shall be the property of, and shall be paid promptly to, the Buyer. To the extent that there are losses with respect to such investments, or the Exchange Fund diminishes for other reasons below the level required to make prompt payments of the Merger Consideration as contemplated hereby, the Buyer shall promptly replace or restore the portion of the Exchange Fund lost through investments or other events so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is, at all times, maintained at a level sufficient to make such payments.

2.3 Company Stock Plans.

(a) The Company shall take such action as shall be required:

(i) to cause any unexercisable options to purchase Company Common Stock (“Company Stock Options”) granted under any stock option plans or other equity-related plans of the Company (the “Company Stock Plans”) to be accelerated and become exercisable in full effective immediately prior to the Effective Time;

(ii) to effectuate the termination upon the Effective Time of all Company Stock Options outstanding at such time (without regard to the exercise price of such Company Stock Options); and

(iii) to cause, pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, each outstanding Company Stock Option to represent upon the Effective Time solely the right to receive, in accordance with this Section 2.3, a lump sum cash payment in the amount of the Option Consideration (as defined below), if any, with respect to such Company Stock Option and to no longer represent the right to purchase Company Common Stock or any other equity security of the Company, the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or any other person or any other consideration.

(b) Each holder of a Company Stock Option shall receive from the Buyer, in respect and in consideration of each Company Stock Option so cancelled, as soon as practicable following the Effective Time (but in any event not later than five Business Days), an amount equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of (A) the Merger Consideration per share of Company Common Stock over (B) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option (whether or not then vested or exercisable), without any interest thereon (the “Option Consideration”), which cash payment shall be treated as compensation and shall be net of any applicable federal or state withholding tax. In the event that the exercise price of any Company Stock Option is equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration, the Option Consideration for such Company Stock Option shall be zero and such Company Stock Option shall be cancelled and have no further force or effect.

(c) As soon as practicable following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall mail to each person who is a holder of Company Stock Options a letter describing the treatment of and payment for such

Company Stock Options pursuant to this Section 2.3 and providing instructions for use in obtaining payment for such Company Stock Options. The Buyer shall at all times from and after the Effective Time maintain sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations to holders of Company Stock Options pursuant to this Section 2.3.

(d) The Company shall terminate its 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Company ESPP”) in accordance with its terms as of or prior to the Effective Time and shall take such action as it deems necessary to avoid the commencement of any Offering Period (as such term is defined in the Company ESPP) on or after August 15, 2005.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary that the statements contained in this Article III are true and correct, except as set forth herein or in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”).

3.1 Organization, Standing and Power. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and is duly qualified to do business and, where applicable as a statutory concept, is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties it owns, operates or leases or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for such failures to be so organized, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse change, event, circumstance or development with respect to, or material adverse effect on, the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall constitute, or shall be considered in determining whether there has occurred, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) changes that are the result of factors generally affecting the industries or markets in which the Company operates (other than those that have had a materially disproportionate adverse effect relative to other industry participants on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole);

(b) any adverse change, effect or circumstance arising out of or resulting from actions contemplated by the parties in connection with this Agreement or the pendency or announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation actions of competitors or any delays or cancellations of orders for products or services or losses of employees (other than any such change, effect or circumstance resulting from a material breach by the Company of its obligations under Section 5.1 of this Agreement);

(c) changes in law, rule or regulations or generally accepted accounting principles or the interpretation thereof (other than those that have had a materially disproportionate adverse effect relative to other industry participants on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole);

(d) any action taken at the written request of the Buyer;

(e) any legal, investment banking or proxy solicitation fees or expenses, or severance, retention, bonus, benefit or other change in control payments under any executive benefits, employment or retention agreements identified on Section 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule (copies of which have been delivered, or made available, to the Buyer), incurred or made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(f) any failure by the Company to meet any published securities analyst estimates of revenues or earnings for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing; provided, however, that this clause (f) shall not exclude any underlying change, event, circumstance, development or effect that may have resulted in, or contributed to the Company’s failure to meet such published securities analyst estimates of revenues or earnings for any such period;

(g) any loss of customers resulting from the announcement of the Merger (other than any such loss resulting from a material breach by the Company of its obligations under Section 5.1 of this Agreement);

(h) any stockholder litigation arising from or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby;

(i) a decline in the price of the Company Common Stock after the date hereof (provided, however, that this clause (i) shall not exclude any underlying change, event, circumstance or development or effect that may have resulted in, or contributed to, the decline in the price of the Company Common Stock);

(j) any matter relating to the presence of any Hazardous Substance on the Company’s East Brookfield Property, including any condition of the East Brookfield Property relative to any Environmental Law. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “East Brookfield Property” means Parcels I-IV as set forth in the Quitclaim Deed dated March 22, 1985 and the real estate located at street addresses 277 East Main Street, 126 Mechanic Street and 0 Mechanic Street, East Brookfield, Massachusetts;

(k) changes that are the result of economic factors affecting the national, regional or world economy or acts of war or terrorism (other than those that have had a materially disproportionate adverse effect relative to other industry participants on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole); and

(l) any failure by the Company to meet any of its publicly issued guidance regarding estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial measures for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing; provided, however, that this clause (l) shall not exclude any underlying change, event, circumstance, development or effect that may have resulted in, or contributed to the Company’s failure to meet such guidance for any such period.

3.2 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company as of the date of this Agreement consists of 20,000,000 shares of Class A Common, 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share (“Company Preferred Stock”). The rights and privileges of each class of the Company’s capital stock are as set forth in the Company’s Articles of Organization. As of May 31, 2005, (i) 2,520,647 shares of Class A Common and 4,177,850 shares of Class B Common were issued and outstanding and (ii) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding.

(b) Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of May 31, 2005, of: (i) all Company Stock Plans, indicating for each Company Stock Plan, as of such date, the number of shares of Company Common Stock issued under such Plan, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to outstanding options under such Plan and the number of shares of Company Common Stock reserved for future issuance under such Plan; and (ii) all outstanding Company Stock Options (other than Company Stock Options issued pursuant to the Company ESPP), indicating with respect to each such Company Stock Option the name of the holder thereof, the Company Stock Plan under which it was granted, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, the exercise price, the date of grant, and the vesting schedule, including whether (and to what extent) the vesting will be accelerated in any way by the Merger. The Company has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of all Company Stock Plans and the forms of all stock option agreements evidencing Company Stock Options.

(c) Except (i) as set forth in this Section 3.2 and (ii) as reserved for future grants under Company Stock Plans, as of the date of this Agreement, (A) there are no equity securities of any class of the Company, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and (B) there are no options, warrants, equity securities, calls, subscriptions, rights, commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, exchange, transfer, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, exchanged, transferred, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any security or rights

convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such shares or other equity interests, or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, otherwise modify or amend or enter into any such option, warrant, equity security, call, subscription, right, commitment or agreement. The Company does not have any outstanding stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, performance based rights or similar rights or obligations. Other than the Company Stockholder Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates is a party to or is bound by any agreements or understandings with respect to the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) or sale or transfer (including agreements imposing transfer restrictions) of any shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Affiliate” when used with respect to any party shall mean any person who is an “affiliate” of that party within the meaning of Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Except as contemplated by this Agreement and except to the extent arising pursuant to applicable state takeover or similar laws, there are no registration rights, and there is no rights agreement, “poison pill” anti-takeover plan or other similar agreement or understanding to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or they are bound with respect to any equity security of any class of the Company.

(d) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and all shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance as specified in Sections 3.2(b) above, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the MBCA, the Company’s Articles of Organization or By-laws or any agreement to which the Company is a party or is otherwise bound.

(e) There are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock or the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to provide funds to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company other than guarantees of bank obligations of Subsidiaries of the Company entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent in all material respects with past practice (the “Ordinary Course of Business”).

(f) All dividends or distributions on securities of the Company that have been declared or authorized prior to the date of this Agreement have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends are not yet due or payable).

3.3 Subsidiaries.

(a) Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, for each Subsidiary of the Company: (i) its name; (ii) the number and type of outstanding equity securities and a list of the holders thereof; and (iii) the jurisdiction of organization. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any party, any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which such party (or another Subsidiary of such party) holds stock or other ownership interests representing (A) more that 50% of the voting power of all outstanding stock or ownership interests of such entity or (B) the right to receive more than 50% of the net assets of such entity available for distribution to the holders of outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a liquidation or dissolution of such entity.

(b) Each Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concepts are applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation (to the extent such concepts are applicable) in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned, operated or leased or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for such failures to be so organized, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material

Adverse Effect. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity securities or interests of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights and all such shares (other than directors’ qualifying shares in the case of non-U.S. Subsidiaries, all of which the Company has the power to cause to be transferred for no or nominal consideration to the Company or the Company’s designee) are owned, of record and beneficially, by the Company or another of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements, limitations in the Company’s voting rights, charges or other encumbrances. There are no outstanding or authorized equity securities, calls, subscriptions, rights, commitments or agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or which are binding on any of them providing for the issuance, disposition or acquisition of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no outstanding stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company.

(c) The Company has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Company.

(d) The Company does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct or indirect equity participation or similar interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business association or entity which is not a Subsidiary of the Company, other than securities in a publicly traded company held for investment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and consisting of less than 5% of the outstanding capital stock of such publicly traded company.

3.4 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to the approval of this Agreement (the “Company Voting Proposal”) by the Company’s stockholders under the MBCA (the “Company Stockholder Approval”), to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), at a meeting duly called and held, by the unanimous vote of all directors (i) determined that the Merger is fair and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) adopted this Agreement and declared its advisability in accordance with the provisions of the MBCA, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their approval and voted to recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement, and (iv) to the extent necessary, adopted a vote having the effect of causing the Company not to be subject to any state takeover law or similar law that might otherwise apply to the Merger and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, subject only to the required receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and general equity principles (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).

(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not, (i) conflict with, or result in, any violation or breach of, any provision of the Articles of Organization or By-laws of the Company or of the charter, by-laws, or other organizational document of any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit) under, require a consent or waiver under, constitute a change in control under, require the payment of a penalty under or result in the imposition of any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or monetary encumbrance (“Liens”) on the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s assets

under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any lease, license, contract or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) subject to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval and compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 3.4(c), conflict with or violate any permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, injunction, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 3.4(b) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations, losses, penalties or Liens, and for any consents or waivers not obtained, that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration, notice or filing with, any court, arbitrational tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or regulatory authority, agency or instrumentality (a “Governmental Entity”) or any stock market or stock exchange on which shares of Company Common Stock are listed for trading is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the premerger notification requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) and other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust, foreign investment or other similar laws, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Massachusetts Secretary of State and appropriate corresponding documents with the appropriate authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business, (iii) the filing of the Proxy Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (iv) the filing of such reports, schedules or materials under Section 13 of or Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act and materials under Rule 425 under the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (v) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable state securities laws or foreign laws, and (vi) such other consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and filings which, if not obtained or made, would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger.

(d) The only vote of holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company that may be required to approve this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is the affirmative vote for approval of the Company Voting Proposal by (i) the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Class A Common on the record date for the meeting of the Company’s stockholders (the “Company Meeting”) to consider the Company Voting Proposal and (ii) the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Class A Common and Class B Common on the record date for the Company Meeting, voting together as a single class (items (i) and (ii), the “Required Company Stockholder Vote”). There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote.

3.5 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided.

(a) The Company has filed all registration statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 2002. All such registration statements, forms, reports and other documents (including those that the Company may file after the date hereof until the Closing) are referred to herein as the “Company SEC Reports.” The Company SEC Reports (i) were or will be filed on a timely basis, (ii) at the time filed, complied, or will comply when filed, as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Reports, and (iii) did not or will not at the time they were or are filed contain any untrue statement of a material fact or

omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such Company SEC Reports or necessary in order to make the statements in such Company SEC Reports, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Subsidiary of the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes and schedules) contained or incorporated by reference or to be contained or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Reports at the time filed (i) complied or will comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) were or will be prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act), and (iii) fairly presented or will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments. The consolidated, unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of April 1, 2005 is referred to herein as the “Company Balance Sheet.”

(c) The information to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion in the proxy statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company (the “Proxy Statement”) in connection with the Company Meeting shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time of the Company Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any statement which, at such time and in light of the circumstances under which it shall be made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made in the Proxy Statement not false or misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were or shall be made; or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Company Meeting which has become false or misleading. If at any time prior to the Company Meeting any fact or event relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates which should be set forth in a supplement to the Proxy Statement should be discovered by the Company or should occur, the Company shall, promptly after becoming aware thereof, inform the Buyer of such fact or event.

(d) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company is made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s filings with the SEC and other public disclosure documents. The Company is in compliance with the applicable listing and other rules and regulations of The Nasdaq National Market. The certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Exchange Act or 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of SOX) with respect to the Company SEC Reports, as applicable, were true and correct in all material respects as of their respective dates.

3.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement or in the Company Balance Sheet and except for liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business between the date of the Company Balance Sheet and the date of this Agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any liabilities of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, or otherwise) required by GAAP to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company or in the notes thereto.

3.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since the date of the Company Balance Sheet (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the Ordinary Course of Business and (b) there has not been (i) a Company Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any other action or event that would have required the consent of the

Buyer under Section 5.1 of this Agreement (other than actions or events described in paragraphs (b), (g), (h) and (i) of Section 5.1 which have occurred in the Ordinary Course of Business) had such action or event occurred after the date of this Agreement.

3.8 Taxes.

(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed all material Tax Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has paid on a timely basis all material Taxes required to be paid by it, and has established adequate reserves for Taxes not yet due and payable. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other similar assessments or liabilities, including income, gross receipts, ad valorem, windfall or other profits, premium, value-added or gains taxes, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use, services, transfer, withholding, employment, payroll, unemployment compensation or net worth taxes and franchise taxes (together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by the United States of America or any state, local or foreign government, or any agency thereof, or other political subdivision of the United States or any such government, and any interest, fines, penalties, assessments or additions to tax resulting from, attributable to or incurred in connection with any tax or any contest or dispute thereof and (ii) “Tax Returns” means all reports, returns, declarations, statements or other information required to be supplied to a taxing authority, domestic or foreign, in connection with Taxes.

(b) The Company has made available to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all federal and any material state or local income Tax Returns filed, and all examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since January 5, 2001. The federal income Tax Returns of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or are closed by the applicable statute of limitations for all taxable years through the taxable year specified in Section 3.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth in Section 3.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no examination or audit of any Tax Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any administrative or judicial Tax proceeding is currently in progress or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened or contemplated and which is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The most recent audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 reflect, to the Company’s Knowledge, an adequate reserve for all Taxes payable by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of such financial statements in accordance with GAAP, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Returns. To the Company’s Knowledge, no material deficiencies for any Taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed, in writing, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no requests for waivers of the time to assess any such Taxes are pending. Since January 1, 2000, the Company has not received written notice of a claim by a Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.8(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party to any agreement that could obligate it to make any payments that will be treated as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code; or (ii) has any actual or potential liability for any Taxes of any person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of law in any jurisdiction), or as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is or has ever been a member of a group of corporations with which it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Returns, other than a group of which only the Company and its Subsidiaries are or were members or (ii) is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

(e) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent

contractor, creditor, depositor, stockholder, or other third party, and has complied in all material respects with any applicable information reporting, filing or similar requirements with respect to any such payments, except where the failure to timely withhold or pay or where the failure to comply is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another Person, or has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Code Section 355 or Section 361.

3.9 Owned and Leased Real Properties.

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement of (i) the addresses of all real property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (the “Real Estate”) and (ii) all loans secured by mortgages encumbering the Real Estate. The Company or applicable Subsidiary owns fee simple title to the Real Estate. To the Company’s Knowledge, such Real Estate is (A) free and clear of all Liens and (B) not subject to any easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions or other written agreements, laws affecting building use or occupancy, or reservations of an interest in title, which prohibit or materially adversely restrict the use of such Real Estate as currently used by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) The Real Estate complies with the requirements of all applicable building, zoning, subdivision, health, safety and other land use statutes, laws, codes, ordinances, rules, orders and regulations (collectively, “Governmental Regulations”), except where noncompliance, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as listed in Section 3.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice from any Governmental Entity that it is in material violation of any law affecting any portion of the Real Estate that remains uncured.

(c) Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement of all real property leased, subleased or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively “Company Leases”) and the location of the premises. Each Company Lease is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to any Company Lease is in breach or violation of, or default under, any of the Company Leases, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no event has occurred, is pending or is threatened, which, after the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party under any such Company Lease, except in any such case where the breach, violation or existence of such defaults, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries leases, subleases or licenses any real property to any person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any Company Lease material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of all Company Leases.

3.10 Intellectual Property.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Intellectual Property” means (i) patents, registered and unregistered trademarks and service marks, brand names, trade names, domain names, copyrights, designs and trade secrets and (ii) applications for and registrations of such patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights and designs. Section 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all patents, registered and unregistered trademarks, registered

copyrights, domain names and applications for any of the foregoing, in each case owned by the Company and material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently conducted.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Merger will not result in the breach of, or create on behalf of any third party the right to terminate or modify, (i) any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to any Intellectual Property owned by the Company that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the “Company Intellectual Property”), or (ii) any license, sublicense and other agreement as to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any third party Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding generally commercially available, off-the-shelf software programs (the “Third Party Intellectual Property”).

(c) Except as described in Section 3.10(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is the exclusive owner of the Company Intellectual Property.

(d) All patents and registrations for trademarks, service marks and copyrights, and all applications for any of the foregoing which are or have been held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently conducted, are subsisting and have not lapsed, expired (other than at the end of such Intellectual Property’s statutory term of protection, if any) or been cancelled or abandoned, except as described in Section 3.10(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Except as described in Section 3.10(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is infringing, violating or misappropriating or since June 1, 1999 has infringed, violated or misappropriated any of the Company Intellectual Property or any third party Intellectual Property exclusively licensed by the Company or any Subsidiary.

(e) (i) Neither the conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary nor any activity of the Company or any Subsidiary infringes, violates or constitutes a misappropriation of (or since June 1, 1999 has infringed on, violated or constituted a misappropriation of) any non-patent Intellectual Property of any third party, and (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary nor any activity of the Company or any Subsidiary infringes or violates (or since June 1, 1999 has infringed or violated) the rights of any third party under any patent. Except as described in Section 3.10(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim or notice alleging any such material infringement, violation or misappropriation.

(f) To the Company’s Knowledge, all Intellectual Property created by employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries in the United States within the scope of their employment and material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently conducted, is owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to the maximum extent permitted by law.

(g) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy and confidentiality of all trade secrets material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently conducted that are owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries or used or held for use by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

3.11 Contracts.

(a) Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all contracts and agreements to which the Company is a party as of the date of this Agreement that are material to the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including without limitation (i) any agreement, contract or commitment in connection with which or pursuant to which the Company and its Subsidiaries will spend or receive (or are expected to spend or receive), in the aggregate, more than $250,000 during the current fiscal year or during the next fiscal year, (ii) any non-competition or other agreement that prohibits or otherwise restricts, in any material respect, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from freely engaging in business anywhere in the world, (iii) any

“material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (iv) any employment or consulting agreement with any executive officer or other employee of the Company or member of the Company Board earning an annual salary in excess of $150,000, other than those that are terminable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on no more than 30 days’ notice without material liability or financial obligation to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Material Contracts”). The Company has made available to the Buyer a complete and accurate copy of each Company Material Contract.

(b) Each Company Material Contract is valid, binding and enforceable against the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with its terms and in full force and effect, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception and except to the extent it has previously expired in accordance with its terms or where the failure to be in full force and effect, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to any Company Material Contract is in violation of or in default under (nor does there exist any condition which, upon the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would cause such a violation of or default under) any Company Material Contract, except for violations or defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any transaction that would be subject to proxy statement disclosure pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

3.12 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, there is no action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no material judgments, orders or decrees outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

3.13 Environmental Matters.

(a) Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement and except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(i) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received any written notice alleging any of them has not complied with applicable Environmental Laws;

(ii) there is no administrative or judicial enforcement proceeding pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge threatened, against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under any Environmental Law;

(iii) the properties currently owned or operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries (including soils, groundwater, surface water, buildings or other structures) are not contaminated with any Hazardous Substances in an amount or concentration that would give rise to an obligation to act or disclose that condition under any Environmental Law;

(iv) to the Company’s Knowledge, the properties formerly owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries were not contaminated with, and are not the source of any release of, Hazardous Substances in an amount or concentration that would give rise to an obligation to act or disclose that condition under any Environmental Law during the period of ownership or operation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(v) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Company’s Knowledge, any legal predecessor of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, has at any time since January 1, 2000 received a written notice that it is subject to liability for any Hazardous Substance release, disposal or

contamination on the property of any third party or any written notice that it is potentially responsible under any Environmental Law for costs of response or for damages to natural resources, as those terms are defined under the Environmental Laws, at any location;

(vi) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has transported or disposed of, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, allowed or arranged for any third party to transport or dispose of, any waste containing Hazardous Substance at any location included on the National Priorities List, as defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or any location proposed for inclusion on that list, or at any location included on any analogous state list of contaminated sites;

(vii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has released any Hazardous Substance into the environment except (A) in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws and permits issued pursuant thereto or (B) in an amount or concentration that would not be reasonably expected to give rise to a liability or obligation under any Environmental Law;

(viii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice, demand, claim or request for information alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be in violation of, liable under or have obligations under any Environmental Law;

(ix) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any orders, decrees, consent orders, consent decrees, settlement agreements or injunctions by or with any Governmental Entity or is subject to any indemnity agreement with any third party addressing liability under any Environmental Law; and

(x) to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no Hazardous Substance treatment, storage or disposal facility, underground storage tank, current or former landfill, waste disposal area, surface impoundment, underground injection well, asbestos, mold or PCB’s, as those terms are defined under the Environmental Laws, located at the Real Estate or any real property owned or leased by any predecessor entity or facilities utilized by the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(b) The Company, its Subsidiaries and the Real Estate are in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws, and have in effect and are in compliance in all material respects with all permits, licenses, and approvals required for its operations pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Environmental Law” means any law, statute, regulation, order, decree or permit requirement of any governmental jurisdiction or binding order and any enforceable and binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, relating to: (i) the pollution, protection, investigation or restoration of the environment, human health and safety as affected by pollution, the environment and natural resources, or natural resources, (ii) the handling, use, storage, presence, treatment, transport, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance or (iii) noise, odor or wetlands protection, and includes the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Hazardous Substance” means: (i) any substance that is regulated or which falls within the definition of a “hazardous substance,” “hazardous waste” or “hazardous material” or “toxic substance” pursuant to any Environmental Law; or (ii) any petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive materials or radon.

(e) The parties agree that the only representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement as to any environmental matters or any other obligation or liability with respect to Hazardous Substances or materials of environmental concern are those contained in this Section 3.13. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Buyer specifically acknowledges that the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.15 and 3.16 do not relate to environmental matters.

3.14 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Section 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement of all Employee Benefit Plans sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, by the

Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates or with respect to which any of such entities has any material liability (together, the “Company Employee Plans”). For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (i) “Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(3)), and any other written or oral plan, agreement or arrangement involving direct or indirect compensation involving more than one person, including executive compensation agreements, employment agreements, insurance coverage (including, without limitation, health, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuation, life, accidental death, travel accident, and other insurance), severance benefits, disability benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses, stock options, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation right, profit-sharing, equity, restricted stock, employee stock purchase program or other forms of incentive compensation or post-retirement compensation (including, without limitation, pension, retirement, supplemental retirement, employment related change in control, salary continuation or layoff) and all unexpired severance agreements, vacation, holiday, sick leave, fringe benefit, or other benefit plan, program, or policy, and whether qualified or nonqualified and any trust, escrow, or other agreement related thereto, for the benefit of, or relating to, any current or former employee or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an ERISA Affiliate maintained by, sponsored by or contributed to by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate; (ii) “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; and (iii) “ERISA Affiliate” means any entity which is a member of (A) a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (B) a group of trades or businesses under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the Code), or (C) an affiliated service group (as defined under Section 414(m) of the Code or the regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code), any of which includes or included the Company or a Subsidiary of the Buyer.

(b) With respect to each Company Employee Plan, the Company has made available to the Buyer a complete and accurate copy of (i) such Company Employee Plan, (ii) the annual reports (Form 5500) filed with the IRS for the last three (3) years, (iii) the most recent IRS determination letter with respect to such Employee Program under Code Section 401(a), (iv) the summary plan description for such Employee Program (or other descriptions of such Employee Program provided to employees) and all material modifications thereto, (v) any insurance policy related to such Employee Program, (vi) each trust agreement, group annuity contract and summary plan description, if any, relating to such Company Employee Plan, (vii) the results of all nondiscrimination tests for the last three (3) plan years, (viii) the most recent financial report for any self-funded welfare benefit plan and (ix) all material correspondence to or from any state or federal agency within the last three (3) years with respect to such Company Employee Plan.

(c) Each Company Employee Plan is being administered in all material respects in accordance with ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws and the regulations thereunder and in accordance with its terms. No material events have occurred with respect to any Company Employee Plan that would reasonably be expected to result in payment or assessment by or against the Company or any Subsidiary of any material excise taxes under Sections 4972, 4975, 4976, 4977, 4979, 4980B, 4980D, 4980E or 5000 of the Code.

(d) With respect to the Company Employee Plans, there are no benefit obligations for which contributions have not been made on a timely basis or properly accrued to the extent required by GAAP except as would not result in a material liability to the Company. The assets of each Company Employee Plan which is funded are reported at their fair market value on the books and records of such Employee Benefit Plan. Each asset held under any Company Employee Plan may be liquidated or terminated without the imposition of any material redemption fee, surrender charge or comparable liability.

(e) All the Company Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code have received determination letters from the IRS to the effect that such Company Employee Plans are qualified and the plans and trusts related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such determination letter has been revoked and revocation

has not been threatened, and the Company is not aware of any reason why any such determination would reasonably be expected to be revoked or not be reissued. Each Company Employee Plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) or 401(k) of the Code has adopted all amendments necessary to comply with the Code on or before the remedial amendment period deadline specified for each such amendment pursuant to Section 401(b) of the Code or IRS promulgations. No such Employee Benefit Plan has been amended or operated since the date of its most recent determination letter or application therefor in any respect, and no act or omission has occurred, that would adversely affect its qualification or materially increase its cost. Each material Company Employee Plan may be amended, terminated or otherwise modified by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law, including the elimination of any and all future benefit accruals.

(f) None of the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates has (i) ever maintained a Company Employee Plan which was ever subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA or (ii) ever been obligated to contribute to a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

(g) Except with respect to the agreements disclosed in Section 3.14(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any oral or written (i) agreement with any stockholders, director, executive officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (A) the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the nature of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) providing any term of employment or compensation guarantee or (C) providing severance benefits or other benefits after the termination of employment of such director, executive officer or key employee; or (ii) agreement or plan binding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any stock option plan, stock appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan or severance benefit plan, any of the benefits of which shall be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which shall be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which shall be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(h) None of the Company Employee Plans promises or provides retiree medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any person, except as required by applicable law.

(i) Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, there is no action, suit, investigation, audit or proceeding pending against or involving or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or involving, any Company Employee Plan before any court or arbitrator or any Governmental Entity that, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(j) No Company Employee Plan maintained in the United States or other contract which provides for the performance of services within the United States between the Company or any Subsidiary and any “service provider” (as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and IRS guidance thereunder) provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A.

3.15 Compliance With Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with, is not in violation of, and, since January 1, 2002, has not received any written notice alleging any violation with respect to, any order of any court, governmental authority or arbitration board or tribunal specifically naming the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any applicable statute, law or regulation with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its properties or assets, except for failures to comply or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

3.16 Permits. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses and franchises from Governmental Entities required to conduct their businesses as now being conducted, except for such permits, licenses and franchises the absence of which, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a

Company Material Adverse Effect (the “Company Permits”). The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the Company Permits, except for such failures to comply that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

3.17 Labor Matters.

(a) Section 3.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list as of the date of this Agreement of all employees of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries whose annual rate of base compensation exceeds $150,000 per year, along with the position and the annual rate of base compensation of each such person.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely have a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) any person engaged by Company as an independent contractor or consultant, rather than an employee, has been properly classified as such in accordance with all applicable federal, foreign, state or local laws; (ii) hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Company in respect of wages have been in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable federal, foreign, state or local laws dealing with such matters; (iii) the Company has not since January 1, 2000 been and, to the Company’s Knowledge, is not now subject to a union organizing effort; (iv) the Company does not have an obligation to bargain with any labor organization with respect to the terms and conditions of employment of any of its employees; (v) the Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations and requirements relating to the employment of labor, including but not limited to the provisions thereof relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining and ensuring equality of opportunity for employment and advancement of minorities and women; (vi) there are no claims pending, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought, in any court or administrative agency by any former or current Company employee for compensation, pending severance benefits, vacation time, vacation pay or pension benefits, or any other claim threatened or pending in any court or administrative agency from any current or former employee or any other person arising out of the Company’s status as employer, whether in the form of claims for employment discrimination, harassment, unfair labor practices, grievances, wrongful discharge, or otherwise.

3.18 Insurance. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains insurance policies with reputable insurance carriers against all risks of a character and in such amounts as are usually insured against by similarly situated companies in the same or similar businesses. There is no material claim by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending under any such policies which (a) has been denied or disputed by the insurer and (b) would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All insurance policies which are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole are in full force and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid, and no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by the Company with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation.

3.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The financial advisor of the Company, Chestnut Securities, Inc., has delivered to the Company an opinion dated the date of this Agreement to the effect, as of such date, that the Merger Consideration is fair to the holders of Company Common Stock from a financial point of view.

3.20 Chapter 110F Not Applicable. The Company Board has taken all actions necessary so that the restrictions contained in Section 1 of Chapter 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws applicable to a “business combination” (as defined in Section 3 of Chapter 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws) shall not apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the Company Stockholder Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Company Stockholder Agreement.

3.21 Brokers. No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or person is or shall be entitled, as a result of any action, agreement or commitment of the Company or any of its Affiliates, to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with any of the

transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except Chestnut Securities, Inc., whose fees and expense shall, subject to Section 8.3(d) of this Agreement, be paid by the Company. The Company has made available to the Buyer a complete and accurate copy of all agreements pursuant to which Chestnut Securities, Inc. is entitled to any fees and expenses in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND THE

TRANSITORY SUBSIDIARY

The Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary represent and warrant to the Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct, except as set forth herein or in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary to the Company (the “Buyer Disclosure Schedule”).

4.1 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and, where applicable as a statutory concept, is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties it owns, operates or leases or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for such failures to be so organized, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Buyer Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse change, event, circumstance or development with respect to, or any material adverse effect on, (a) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.2 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) Each of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary do not, and the consummation by the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit) under, require a consent or waiver under, constitute a change in control under, require the payment of a penalty under or result in the imposition of any Lien on the Buyer’s or the Transitory Subsidiary’s assets under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any lease, license, contract or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) subject to compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 4.2(c), conflict with or violate any permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, injunction, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary or any of its or their respective properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 4.2(b) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches,

defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations, losses, penalties or Liens, and for any consents or waivers not obtained, that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

(c) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration, notice or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any stock market or stock exchange on which shares of the Buyer’s common stock are listed for trading is required by or with respect to the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary or the consummation by the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the premerger notification requirements under the HSR Act and other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust, foreign investment or other similar laws, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Massachusetts Secretary of State and appropriate corresponding documents with the appropriate authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business, (iii) the filing of such reports, schedules or materials under Section 13 of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and (iv) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable state securities laws or foreign laws.

(d) No vote of the holders of any class or series of the Buyer’s capital stock or other securities is necessary for the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.3 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided.

(a) The Buyer has filed all registration statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed by the Buyer with the SEC since January 1, 2002. All such registration statements, forms, reports and other documents (including those that the Buyer may file after the date hereof until the Closing) are referred to herein as the “Buyer SEC Reports.” The Buyer SEC Reports (i) were or will be filed on a timely basis, (ii) at the time filed, complied, or will comply when filed, as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Buyer SEC Reports, and (iii) did not or will not at the time they were or are filed contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such Buyer SEC Reports or necessary in order to make the statements in such Buyer SEC Reports, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Subsidiary of the Buyer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes and schedules) contained or incorporated by reference or to be contained or incorporated by reference in the Buyer SEC Reports at the time filed (i) complied or will comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) were or will be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act) and (iii) fairly presented or will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments. The consolidated, unaudited balance sheet of the Buyer as of March 4, 2005 is referred to herein as the “Buyer Balance Sheet.”

(c) The information to be supplied by or on behalf of the Buyer for inclusion in the Proxy Statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company in connection with the Company Meeting shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time of the Company Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any statement which, at such time and in light of the circumstances under which it shall be made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made in the Proxy Statement not false or misleading; or omit

to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Company Meeting which has become false or misleading. If at any time prior to the Company Meeting any fact or event relating to the Buyer or any of its Affiliates which should be set forth in a supplement to the Proxy Statement should be discovered by the Buyer or should occur, the Buyer shall, promptly after becoming aware thereof, inform the Company of such fact or event.

(d) The certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Buyer required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Exchange Act or 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of SOX) with respect to the Buyer SEC Reports, as applicable, were true and correct in all material respects as of their respective dates.

4.4 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since the date of the Buyer Balance Sheet, there has not been a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

4.5 Operations of the Transitory Subsidiary. The Transitory Subsidiary was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has engaged in no other business activities and has conducted its operations only as contemplated by this Agreement.

4.6 Financing. The Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary have executed financing commitment letters in place from Bank of America, N.A., pursuant to which such financial institutions have committed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, to provide financing in an amount of $275 million in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Commitment Letters”). The Commitment Letters are in full force and effect; all commitment fees required to be paid thereunder have been paid in full or will be duly paid in full if and when due; and the Commitment Letters have not been amended or terminated. The Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary have no reason to believe that any condition to the Commitment Letters which is within their control will not be satisfied or waived prior to the Effective Time. As of the Closing, the Buyer will have received cash in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay all amounts required to be paid by it, the Surviving Corporation and the Transitory Subsidiary in connection with the Merger, including the Merger Consideration, the Option Consideration and all payments, fees and expenses related to or arising out of the Merger (the “Required Cash Amount”). The Buyer has provided to the Company true, complete and correct copies of the Commitment Letters.

4.7 Solvency. Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the closing of any financing to be obtained by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates in order to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall be able to pay their respective debts as they become due and shall own property having a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required to pay their respective debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent liabilities). Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the closing of any financing to be obtained by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates in order to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall have adequate capital to carry on their respective businesses. No transfer of property is being made and no obligation is being incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the closing of any financing to be obtained by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates in order to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation.

ARTICLE V

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

5.1 Covenants of the Company. Except as expressly provided or permitted herein, set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as consented to in writing by the Buyer, during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending at the Effective Time or such earlier date as this Agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms (the “Pre-Closing Period”), the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to (a) act and carry on its business in the Ordinary Course of

Business, (b) maintain and preserve its and each of its Subsidiary’s business organization, assets and properties, (c) preserve its business relationships with customers, strategic partners, suppliers, distributors and others having business dealings with it, and (d) continue to perform in all material respects under existing material contracts in effect on the date hereof (for the respective terms provided in such contracts). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly provided or permitted herein or as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, during the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, do any of the following without the prior written consent of the Buyer:

(a) (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, securities or other property) in respect of, any of its capital stock (other than (A) dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent and (B) regular quarterly cash dividends in amounts consistent with past practice on the Class A Common and Class B Common), (ii) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or any of its other securities; or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock or any other of its securities or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or other securities, except, in the case of this clause (iii), for the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock (A) from holders of Company Stock Options in full or partial payment of the exercise price payable by such holder upon exercise of Company Stock Options to the extent required or permitted under the terms of such Company Stock Options; or (B) from former employees, directors and consultants in accordance with agreements providing for the repurchase of shares at their original issuance price in connection with any termination of services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(b) authorize, issue, deliver, sell, agree to issue or sell (whether through the issuance or granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase or otherwise), grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities or convertible or exchangeable securities (other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this Agreement or pursuant to the Company ESPP, each in accordance with their present terms, except with respect to the Company ESPP as provided in Section 2.3(d));

(d) acquire (i) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing all or a substantial portion of the assets or any stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other business organization or division thereof or (ii) any assets outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

(e) sell, lease, license, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any material properties or material assets of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(f) adopt or implement any stockholder rights plan;

(g) (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another person (other than (A) in connection with the financing of trade receivables in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) letters of credit or similar arrangements issued to or for the benefit of suppliers and manufacturers in the Ordinary Course of Business and (C) pursuant to existing credit facilities in the Ordinary Course of Business), (ii) issue, sell or amend any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another person, enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another person or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, (iii) make any loans, advances (other than routine advances to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business) or capital contributions to, or investment in, any other person, other than

the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries, provided, however, that the Company may, in the Ordinary Course of Business, continue to invest in debt securities maturing not more than 365 days after the date of investment, (iv) mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any material assets, or create or suffer any material Lien thereupon, except, in each case, in the Ordinary Course of Business pursuant to credit facilities in existence on the date hereof (or any extensions or renewals thereof), or (v) other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, enter into any hedging agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in commodities prices or exchange rates;

(h) except for mandatory payments under any credit facilities in existence on the date hereof (or any extensions or renewals thereof), pay, discharge or satisfy any obligations for borrowed money;

(i) make any capital expenditures or other expenditures with respect to property, plant or equipment in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate for the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than as set forth in the Company’s budget for capital expenditures previously made available to the Buyer or the specific capital expenditures disclosed in Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule;

(j) make any changes in accounting methods, principles or practices, except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP;

(k) make or change any material Tax election, adopt or change any material method of accounting for Tax purposes, amend any material Tax Return, settle any material Tax claim, assessment or other proceeding, enter into any material closing agreement, surrender any material right to claim a refund or credit in respect of any Taxes, or consent to any waiver or extension of the statute of limitations for the assessment of any Tax;

(l) except (i) to the extent subject to reserves reflected on the Company Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP or (ii) for contracts or agreements for the purchase or sale of inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business, enter into, materially modify, materially amend or terminate any material contract or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is party, or knowingly waive, release or assign any material rights or material claims (including any material write-off or other material compromise of any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries);

(m) enter into any material contract or agreement relating to the distribution, sale or marketing by third parties of the products of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(n) except as required to comply with applicable law or agreements, plans or arrangements existing on the date hereof and except for the payment of annual bonuses to employees for the Company’s 2004 fiscal year, (i) adopt, enter into, terminate or amend any employment, severance or similar agreement or benefit plan for the benefit or welfare of any current or former director, officer or employee or any collective bargaining agreement (except (A) in the Ordinary Course of Business and only if such arrangement is terminable on 60 days’ or less notice without either a penalty or a termination payment and (B) for the adoption, entering into, termination or amendment of benefit plans that, individually or in the aggregate, are immaterial in amount and significance), (ii) increase in any respect the compensation or fringe benefits of, or pay any bonus to, any director, officer or employee (except for annual increases of salaries in the Ordinary Course of Business not to exceed $450,000 in the aggregate), (iii) accelerate the payment, right to payment or vesting of any material compensation or benefits, including any outstanding options or restricted stock awards, other than as contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) grant any stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock based or stock related awards, performance units or restricted stock, or (v) take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Company Employee Plan;

(o) open or close any facility or office greater than 5,000 square feet; or

(p) except as permitted by Section 6.1 or Article VIII, adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such a liquidation or a dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or reorganization (other than the Merger or plans of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution of any inactive Subsidiary of the Company);

(q) settle or compromise any litigation or other disputes (whether or not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement) other than settlements or compromises for litigation or other disputes where the amount paid in settlement or compromise does not exceed $200,000, individually or $500,000 in the aggregate, for all such litigation or other disputes;

(r) settle any shareholder derivative, class action or other litigation arising out of or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(s) amend any term of any outstanding security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(t) authorize any of, or commit or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of, the foregoing actions.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Buyer, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its or its Subsidiaries’ operations.

5.2 Confidentiality. The parties acknowledge that the Buyer and the Company have previously executed a confidentiality agreement, dated as of August 30, 2004 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, except as expressly modified herein.

5.3 Financing Commitments.

(a) The Buyer will use its reasonable best efforts to arrange and close the financing set forth in the Commitment Letters and to satisfy the conditions set forth in the Commitment Letters. The Buyer shall keep the Company informed with respect to all material developments concerning the status of the financings contemplated by the Commitment Letters. Without limiting the foregoing, the Buyer agrees to notify the Company promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days, if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any Commitment Letter shall expire or be terminated for any reason, (ii) any financing source that is a party to any Commitment Letter notifies the Buyer that such source no longer intends to provide financing to the Buyer on the terms set forth therein, or (iii) for any reason the Buyer no longer believes in good faith that it will be able to obtain the Required Cash Amount from cash on hand and the Commitment Letters. The Buyer shall not amend or alter, or agree to amend or alter, any Commitment Letter in any manner that would impair, delay or prevent the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company.

(b) If any Commitment Letter shall be terminated or modified in a manner materially adverse to the Buyer for any reason, the Buyer shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain alternative financing as promptly as practical in an amount that, together with existing cash resources, will equal the Required Cash Amount. If obtained, the Buyer will provide the Company with a copy of the new financing commitment letters.

(c) From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company agrees to provide, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to provide, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause their respective Representatives to provide, such cooperation as may be reasonably requested by Buyer in connection with the arrangement of, and the negotiation of agreements with respect to, its financing (and any substitutions, replacements or refinancing thereof), including using reasonable best efforts to (i) cause appropriate officers and employees to be available, on a customary basis and upon reasonable notice, to meet with prospective lenders and due diligence sessions each conducted at the expense of Buyer, and (ii) assist with the preparation of disclosure documents in connection therewith.

ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

6.1 No Solicitation.

(a) No Solicitation or Negotiation. Except as set forth in this Section 6.1, until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof (the “Specified Time”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, and the Company shall not permit or authorize its directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other advisors or representatives (such directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, other advisors and representatives, collectively, “Representatives”) to, directly or indirectly:

(i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, or take any action to knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, including without limitation amending or granting any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any Company Common Stock; or

(ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information with respect to, assist or participate in any effort or attempt by any person with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Acquisition Proposal.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, prior to receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, in response to a bona fide Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of this Section 6.1, and subject to compliance with Section 6.1(c), the Company may, to the extent the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the fiduciary obligations of the Company Board, as determined in good faith after consultation with outside counsel, (A) furnish information with respect to the Company to any person (and the Representatives of such person) making an Acquisition Proposal that the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors) is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal (a “Qualified Bidder”), pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement not materially less restrictive of the other party than the Confidentiality Agreement (but which need not have standstill provisions), and (B) engage in discussions or negotiations with a Qualified Bidder and its Representatives regarding any such Acquisition Proposal (including solicitation of revised Acquisition Proposals).

(b) No Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement. Prior to the Specified Time, the Company Board shall not:

(i) except as set forth in this Section 6.1, withhold, withdraw or modify, or publicly propose to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board with respect to the Company Voting Proposal;

(ii) cause or permit the Company to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (an “Alternative Acquisition Agreement”) providing for the consummation of a transaction contemplated by any Acquisition Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in Section 6.1(a) entered into in the circumstances referred to in Section 6.1(a)); or

(iii) except as set forth in this Section 6.1, adopt, approve or recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, prior to receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company Board may, in response to a Superior Proposal that did not result from a breach by the Company of this Section 6.1, withhold, withdraw or modify its recommendation with respect to the Company Voting Proposal or approve or recommend any Acquisition Proposal if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary

obligations under applicable law, but only on or after the third (3^rd) Business Day following the Buyer’s receipt of written notice advising the Buyer that the Company Board desires to withdraw or modify the recommendation due to the existence of a Superior Proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal (including any material changes) and identifying the person making such Superior Proposal. Such three (3) Business Day period shall be required for each and every Superior Proposal or material modification thereto, as applicable.

(c) Notices to the Buyer. The Company, as promptly as practicable, shall notify the Buyer orally, with written confirmation to follow (but in any event within 24 hours of knowledge of the actual receipt of any Acquisition Proposal by any of the individuals listed on Section 6.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule), of the Company’s receipt of any Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of any such Acquisition Proposal and the identity of the person making any such Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall not provide any information to or participate in discussions or negotiations with the person or entity making any Superior Proposal until after the Company has first notified the Buyer of such Acquisition Proposal as required by the preceding sentence. The Company shall (i) promptly notify the Buyer if it has begun to furnish non-public information to, or to participate in negotiations or substantive discussions with, a Person making any such Acquisition Proposal and shall promptly advise the Buyer orally, with written confirmation to follow promptly (and in any event within 24 hours of knowledge of the actual receipt of any material change in the terms of any such Acquisition Proposal by any of the individuals listed on Section 6.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule), of any material change in the terms of any such Acquisition Proposal and (ii) if the Buyer shall make a counterproposal (including without limitation following delivery of a written notice to the Buyer pursuant to Section 6.1(b)), consider and cause its financial and legal advisors to consider the terms of such counterproposal.

(d) Certain Permitted Disclosure. Nothing contained in this Section 6.1 or in Section 6.5 (or elsewhere in this Agreement) shall be deemed to prohibit the Company from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position with respect to a tender offer contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the Company’s stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Company Board, after consultation with outside counsel, failure to so disclose would be inconsistent with its obligations under applicable law.

(e) Cessation of Ongoing Discussions. The Company shall, and shall direct its Representatives to, cease immediately all discussions and negotiations that commenced prior to the date of this Agreement regarding any proposal that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal.

(f) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

“Acquisition Proposal” means (i) any proposal or offer for a merger, consolidation, dissolution, tender offer, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination involving the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) any proposal for the issuance by the Company of over 20% of its equity securities or (iii) any proposal or offer to acquire in any manner, directly or indirectly, over 20% of the equity securities or consolidated total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

“Superior Proposal” means any unsolicited, bona fide written proposal made by a third party to acquire all of the equity securities or consolidated total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, a merger, a consolidation or a sale of its assets, which proposal the Company Board determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its financial advisor and taking into account all the terms and conditions of such proposal and the Merger (including any proposal by the Buyer to amend the terms of this Agreement), including any conditions to consummation and the likelihood of such transaction being consummated) to be more favorable to the holders of Company Common Stock from a financial point of view than the Merger; provided, however, that no Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be a Superior Proposal if any financing required to consummate the Acquisition Proposal is not then committed unless in the good faith judgment of the Company Board such financing is reasonably likely to be committed.

6.2 Proxy Statement. As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, the Company, in cooperation with the Buyer, shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement. Prior to filing, the Company shall give the Buyer and its counsel the opportunity to review one or more drafts thereof (including the version proposed to be filed) and will consider in good faith all reasonable comments of the Buyer thereon. The Company shall respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff, after consultation with the Buyer, and shall cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to its stockholders at the earliest practicable time after the resolution of any such comments. The Company shall notify the Buyer promptly upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any other government officials and of any request by the SEC or its staff or any other government officials for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and shall supply the Buyer with copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, or its staff or any other government officials, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all documents that it is responsible for filing with the SEC or other regulatory authorities under this Section 6.2 to comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Whenever any event occurs which is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Buyer or the Company, as the case may be, shall promptly inform the other of such occurrence and cooperate in filing with the SEC or its staff or any other government officials, and/or mailing to stockholders of the Company, such amendment or supplement.

6.3 Nasdaq Quotation. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to continue the quotation of the Company Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market during the term of this Agreement.

6.4 Access to Information. During the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) afford to the Buyer’s officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other representatives, reasonable access, upon reasonable notice, during normal business hours and in a manner that does not disrupt or interfere with business operations, to all of its properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records as the Buyer shall reasonably request, and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to the Buyer (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws, (b) such financial, operating and other data and information as the Buyer may reasonably request to the extent such data or information is reasonably available, including, but not limited to, information regarding the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, and (c) all other information concerning its business, properties, assets and personnel as the Buyer may reasonably request. The Buyer will hold any such information which is nonpublic in confidence in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.

6.5 Stockholders Meeting. The Company, acting through the Company Board, shall take all actions in accordance with applicable law, its Articles of Organization and By-laws and the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market to promptly and duly call, give notice of, convene and hold as promptly as practicable the Company Meeting for the purpose of considering and voting upon the Company Voting Proposal. Subject to Section 6.1, (a) the Company Board shall recommend approval of the Company Voting Proposal by the stockholders of the Company and include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement and (b) the Company Board shall not withhold, withdraw or modify, or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to the Buyer, the recommendation of the Company Board that the Company’s stockholders vote in favor of the Company Voting Proposal. Subject to Section 6.1, the Company shall take all action that is both reasonable and lawful to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the Company Voting Proposal and shall take all other action reasonably necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of the stockholders of the Company required by the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market or the MBCA to obtain such approvals. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company, after consultation with the Buyer, may adjourn or postpone the Company Meeting to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement is provided to the Company’s stockholders or, if as of the time for which the Company Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy Statement) there are insufficient shares of Company Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Company Meeting.

6.6 Legal Conditions to the Merger.

(a) Subject to the terms hereof, including Section 6.1 and Section 6.6(b), the Company and the Buyer shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to:

(i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable;

(ii) as promptly as practicable, obtain from any Governmental Entity or any other third party any consents, licenses, permits, waivers, approvals, authorizations, or orders required to be obtained or made by the Company or the Buyer or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

(iii) as promptly as practicable, make all necessary filings, and thereafter make any other required submissions, with respect to this Agreement and the Merger required under (A) the Exchange Act, and any other applicable federal or state securities laws, (B) the HSR Act and any related governmental request thereunder, and (C) any other applicable law; and

(iv) execute or deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement.

The Company and the Buyer shall cooperate with each other in connection with the making of all such filings, including providing copies of all such documents to the non-filing party and its advisors prior to filing and, if requested, accepting reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested in connection therewith. The Company and the Buyer shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to each other all information required for any application or other filing to be made pursuant to the rules and regulations of any applicable law (including all information required to be included in the Proxy Statement) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Buyer and the Company agree that nothing contained in this Section 6.6(a) shall modify or affect their respective rights and responsibilities under Section 6.6(b).

(b) Subject to the terms hereof, the Buyer and the Company agree, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries, to cooperate and to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any government clearances or approvals required for Closing under the HSR Act, as amended, and any other federal, state or foreign law, regulation or decree designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions for the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade (collectively “Antitrust Laws”), to respond to any government requests for information under any Antitrust Law, and to contest and resist any action, including any legislative, administrative or judicial action, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) (an “Antitrust Order”) that restricts, prevents or prohibits the consummation of the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Antitrust Law. The parties hereto will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with, and provide to the other parties in advance, any analyses, appearances, presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or submitted by or on behalf of any party hereto in connection with proceedings under or relating to any Antitrust Law.

(c) Each of the Company and the Buyer shall give (or shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to give) any notices to third parties, and use, and cause their respective Subsidiaries to use, their reasonable best efforts to obtain any third party consents required in connection with the Merger that are (i) necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) disclosed or required to be disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule or the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, as the case may be, or (iii) required to prevent the occurrence of an event that is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Buyer Material Adverse Effect prior to or after the Effective Time, it being understood that neither the Company nor the Buyer shall be required to make any payments in connection with the fulfillment of its obligations under this Section 6.6.

6.7 Public Disclosure. Except as may be required by law or stock market regulations, (a) the press release announcing the execution of this Agreement shall be issued only in such form as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Buyer and (b) the Buyer and the Company shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party before issuing any other press release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to the Merger or this Agreement and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the other party, issue such press release or make such public statement as may be required by law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange or quotation system if the party issuing such press release or making such public statement has used commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party and to obtain such party’s consent but has been unable to do so in a timely manner.

6.8 Indemnification.

(a) For a period of six years commencing at the Effective Time, the Buyer shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, jointly and severally, to the fullest extent permitted by law, honor all of the Company’s obligations to indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and officer of the Company (the “Indemnified Parties”), against any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities or amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the extent provided in the Company’s current Articles of Organization and By-laws or as otherwise provided in those agreements listed in Section 6.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

(b) The Articles of Organization and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation shall contain, and the Buyer shall cause the Articles of Organization and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation to so contain, provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries than are presently set forth in the Articles of Organization and By-laws of the Company.

(c) Subject to the next sentence, the Surviving Corporation shall maintain, and the Buyer shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain, at no expense to the beneficiaries, in effect for six (6) years from the Effective Time the current policies of the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company with respect to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), so long as the aggregate annual premium is less than 200% of the current annual premium (the “Premium Limit”). In the event that the Premium Limit is insufficient for such coverage, the Buyer shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain the maximum amount of coverage that is available for such amount. The Buyer shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain such policy in full force and effect, and continue to honor the obligations thereunder. The Company or the Buyer may, prior to the Effective Time, satisfy the obligations of the Buyer under this Section 6.8(c) by purchasing a “tail” policy under the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policy that (i) has an effective term of six (6) years from the Effective Time, (ii) covers only those persons who are currently covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ insurance policy in effect as of the date hereof and only for actions and omissions occurring on or prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) contains terms and conditions (including, without limitation, coverage amounts) that are no less advantageous, when taken as a whole, to those applicable to the Indemnified Parties; provided that the cost of such “tail” policy shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Premium Limit for the six-year period set forth in this Section 6.8(c), and in the event that such aggregate amount is insufficient for such coverage, the Buyer shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain the maximum amount of coverage that is available for such amount.

(d) The Buyer shall pay all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by the persons referred to in this Section 6.8 in connection with their successful enforcement of their rights provided in this Section 6.8.

(e) The provisions of this Section 6.8 are intended to be in addition to the rights otherwise available to the current officers and directors of the Company by law, charter, statute, by-law or agreement, and shall operate for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties, their heirs and their representatives.

6.9 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Pre-Closing Period, the Buyer shall give prompt notice to the Company, and the Company shall give prompt notice to the Buyer, of (a) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event, which occurrence or failure to occur is reasonably likely to cause any representation or warranty of such party contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect, in each case at any time from and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, or (b) any material failure of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary or the Company, as the case may be, or of any officer, director, employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section will not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice or the conditions to such party’s obligation to consummate the Merger.

6.10 Consultation in Respect of Certain Actions and Proceedings. Unless and until this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, the Company shall promptly notify the Buyer of the receipt of any written communication from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection or any other Governmental Entity regarding the presence of mercury at the Company’s East Brookfield Property, and shall consult in good faith with the Buyer in connection with the response to any such written communication and with respect to the settlement or defense of any action, suit or proceeding instituted, or threatened, against the Company by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection or any other Governmental Entity in connection therewith.

6.11 Service Credit. Following the Effective Time, the Buyer will give each employee of the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation or their respective Subsidiaries who shall have been an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Continuing Employees”) full credit for prior service with the Company or its Subsidiaries for purposes of (a) eligibility and vesting (but not for purposes of benefit accrual) under any Buyer Employee Plans (as defined below), and (b) determination of severance benefits and vacation and paid time off benefits under any Buyer Employee Plan, in each case for which the Continuing Employee is otherwise eligible and in which the Continuing Employee is offered participation, but except where such credit would result in a duplication of benefits. In addition, the Buyer shall waive, or cause to be waived, any limitations on benefits relating to pre-existing conditions to the same extent such limitations are waived under any comparable plan of the Buyer and recognize for purposes of annual deductible and out-of-pocket limits under its medical and dental plans, deductible and out-of-pocket expenses paid by Continuing Employees in the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Buyer Employee Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), and any other written or oral plan, agreement or arrangement, including insurance coverage, severance benefits, vacation and paid time off benefits, disability benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses, stock options, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive compensation or post-retirement compensation and all unexpired severance agreements, for the benefit of, or relating to, any current or former employee of the Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or any entity which is a member of (A) a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (B) a group of trades or businesses under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the Code) or (C) an affiliated service group (as defined in Section 414(m) of the Code or the regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code), any of which includes or included the Buyer or a Subsidiary of the Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Buyer Employee Plan” shall not include any defined benefit pension plan maintained by Buyer.

6.12 Agreement Assumption. The Surviving Corporation hereby agrees to assume, and hereby does assume, effective as of the Effective Time, all obligations of the Company under (i) that certain Sublease between Mills Hardware Corp. and Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc. dated May 10, 1995, as amended, and (ii) that certain Administrative and Service Agreement between Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company and the Company effective June 1, 2005.

6.13 Title to Property. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain and record a Certificate of Completion with respect to improvements constructed on the real property located at 13 Centennial Drive, City of Peabody, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as required by the terms and provisions of the Statutory Quitclaim Deed from the City of Peabody to Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc., dated May 8, 1984 and recorded with the Essex South Registry of Deeds in Book 7401, Page 284 and filed with the Essex South Registry District of the Land Court as Document No. 194446; provided, however, that the receipt and/or recording of such Certificate of Completion on or prior to the Closing Date shall not be a condition to the obligations of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary to effect the Merger.

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS TO MERGER

7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Stockholder Approval. The Company Voting Proposal shall have been approved at the Company Meeting, at which a quorum is present, by the Required Company Stockholder Vote.

(b) HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.

(c) Governmental Approvals. Other than the filing of the Articles of Merger, all authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings with, or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the failure of which to file, obtain or occur is reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect or a Company Material Adverse Effect, shall have been filed, been obtained or occurred on terms and conditions which would not reasonably be likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect or a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Proxy Statement. No order suspending the use of the Proxy Statement shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC or its staff.

(e) No Injunctions. No Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any order, executive order, stay, decree, judgment or injunction (preliminary or permanent) or statute, rule or regulation which is in effect and which has the effect of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary. The obligations of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following additional conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except (i) to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date, (ii) for changes contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) where the failure to be true and correct (without regard to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein), individually or in the aggregate, has not had a Company Material Adverse Effect); and the Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date;

and the Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.

(c) No Restraints. There shall not be instituted or pending any action or proceeding in which a Governmental Entity is (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) seeking to prohibit or limit in any material respect the Buyer’s ability to vote, transfer, receive dividends with respect to or otherwise exercise ownership rights with respect to the stock of the Surviving Corporation.

(d) Consents, Etc. Any consent, authorization, order or approval of (or filing or registration with) any third party set forth in Section 7.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall have been obtained.

(e) No Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been, individually or in the aggregate, any Company Material Adverse Effect, and no effect, event or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be likely to have any Company Material Adverse Effect.

7.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following additional conditions, either of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Company:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except (i) to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date, (ii) for changes contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) where the failure to be true and correct (without regard to any materiality or Buyer Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein), individually or in the aggregate, has not had a Buyer Material Adverse Effect); and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Buyer by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Buyer to such effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary. The Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date; and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Buyer by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Buyer to such effect.

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time (with respect to Sections 8.1(b) through 8.1(h), by written notice by the terminating party to the other party), whether before or, subject to the terms hereof, after approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company:

(a) by mutual written consent of the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary and the Company; or

(b) by either the Buyer or the Company if the Merger shall not have been consummated by November 30, 2005 (the “Outside Date”) (provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before the Outside Date); or

(c) by either the Buyer or the Company if a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a nonappealable final order, decree or ruling or taken any other nonappealable final action, in each case having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger; or

(d) by either the Buyer or the Company if at the Company Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof permitted by this Agreement) at which a vote on the Company Voting Proposal is taken, the Required Company Stockholder Vote in favor of the Company Voting Proposal shall not have been obtained (provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(d) shall not be available to any party seeking termination if, at such time, such party is in material breach of or has materially failed to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, and such breach or failure is the principal cause of the Required Company Stockholder Vote not being obtained); or

(e) by the Buyer, if: (i) the Company Board shall have failed to recommend approval of the Company Voting Proposal in the Proxy Statement or shall have withdrawn, modified or changed, or publicly announced an intention to withdraw, modify or change, its recommendation of the Company Voting Proposal in a manner adverse to the Buyer; (ii) the Company Board shall have failed to reconfirm its recommendation of the Company Voting Proposal within ten (10) Business Days after the Buyer requests in writing that the Company Board do so (or if later, within three (3) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the latest offer, or amendment thereto, submitted by the Buyer to the Company following receipt of an Acquisition Proposal or amendment thereto), provided such request may only be made in the event the Company has received an Acquisition Proposal or material amendment to an Acquisition Proposal; (iii) the Company Board shall have approved, endorsed or recommended, or publicly announced an intention to approve, endorse or recommend, to the stockholders of the Company an Acquisition Proposal (other than the Merger); (iv) a tender offer or exchange offer for outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall have been commenced (other than by the Buyer or an Affiliate of the Buyer) and the Company Board recommends that the stockholders of the Company tender their shares in such tender or exchange offer or, within ten (10) Business Days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, the Company Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such offer or makes no recommendation or states an inability to make a recommendation; or (v) the Company shall have materially breached its obligations under Section 6.1 or Section 6.5; or

(f) by the Company, in connection with entering into a definitive agreement to effect a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 6.1; provided, however, that prior to terminating this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(f), the Company shall have (i) provided the Buyer with three (3) Business Days prior written notice of the Company’s decision to so terminate (which notification shall indicate in reasonable detail the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal, including, without limitation, the amount and form of the proposed consideration and whether such Superior Proposal is subject to any material conditions), (ii) prior to 5:00 pm Massachusetts time on the second Business Day of such three (3) Business Day period the Buyer has not made an offer that in the judgment of the Company Board after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisor is at least as favorable to the Company’s stockholders as such Superior Proposal; and (iii) the Company prior to or concurrently with such termination pays to the Buyer in immediately available funds all amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section 8.3(c); or

(g) by the Buyer, if there has been a breach of or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would cause the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or 7.2(b) not to be satisfied, and (ii) shall not have been cured within 20 days following receipt by the Company of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from the Buyer; or

(h) by the Company, if there has been a breach of or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would cause the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) or 7.3(b) not to be satisfied, and (ii) shall not have been cured within 20 days following receipt by the Buyer of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from the Company.

8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall immediately become void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of the Buyer,

the Company, the Transitory Subsidiary or their respective officers, directors, stockholders or Affiliates; provided that (a) any such termination shall not relieve any party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement and (b) the provisions of Sections 5.2 (Confidentiality), 6.7 (Public Disclosure) and 8.3 (Fees and Expenses), this Section 8.2 (Effect of Termination) and Article IX (Miscellaneous) of this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and survive any termination of this Agreement.

8.3 Fees and Expenses.

(a) Except as set forth in this Section 8.3, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(b) The Company shall pay the Buyer up to $1,000,000 as reimbursement for expenses of the Buyer actually incurred relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement prior to termination (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and expenses of the Buyer’s counsel, accountants and financial advisors, but excluding any discretionary fees paid to such financial advisors), in the event of the termination of this Agreement:

(i) by the Buyer or the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(b) if the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or (b) by the Outside Date shall have resulted in the Closing not occurring; or

(ii) by the Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(g).

The expenses payable pursuant to this Section 8.3(b) shall be paid by wire transfer of same-day funds within two (2) Business Days after demand therefor following the occurrence of the termination event giving rise to the payment obligation described in this Section 8.3(b).

(c) The Company shall pay the Buyer a termination fee of $6,700,000 in the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to:

(i) Section 8.1(e) (other than clause (v) thereof) or Section 8.1(f); or

(ii) Section 8.1(d) if, at or prior to the time of such failure, there shall have been publicly announced an Acquisition Proposal relating to the Company that shall not have been absolutely and unconditionally withdrawn or abandoned prior to the Company Meeting, and within twelve (12) months after such termination there shall have been consummated, or a definitive agreement shall have been entered into providing for, an Acquisition Proposal (provided that, for purposes of this Section 8.3(c), all references to “20%” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”).

Any fee due under this Section 8.3(c) shall be paid to the Buyer by wire transfer of same-day funds within two (2) Business Days after (A) the date of termination of this Agreement, in the case of a termination described in clause (i) of this paragraph (c), or (B) the date on which the definitive agreement for an Acquisition Proposal is executed, in the case of a termination described in clause (ii) of this paragraph (c).

(d) The Buyer shall pay the Company up to $1,000,000 as reimbursement for expenses of the Company actually incurred relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement prior to termination (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, accountants and financial advisors, but excluding any discretionary fees paid to such financial advisors), in the event of the termination of this Agreement:

(i) by the Company or the Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(b) if the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) or (b) by the Outside Date shall have resulted in the Closing not occurring; or

(ii) by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(h).

The expenses payable pursuant to this Section 8.3(d) shall be paid by wire transfer of same-day funds within two (2) Business Days after demand therefor following the occurrence of the termination event giving rise to the payment obligation described in this Section 8.3(d).

(e) The parties acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 8.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, the parties would not enter into this Agreement. Payment of the fees and expenses described in this Section 8.3 shall not be in lieu of damages incurred in the event of a breach of this Agreement described in clause (a) of Section 8.2, but otherwise shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedy of the parties in connection with any termination of this Agreement.

8.4 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the stockholders of any party, but, after any such approval, no amendment shall be made which by law requires further approval by such stockholders without such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

8.5 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party. Such extension or waiver shall not be deemed to apply to any time for performance, inaccuracy in any representation or warranty, or noncompliance with any agreement or condition, as the case may be, other than that which is specified in the extension or waiver. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except for the agreements contained in Article II, Sections 6.8 and 6.11 and Article IX.

9.2 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly delivered (i) four (4) Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (ii) one (1) Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service, or (iii) on the date of confirmation of receipt (or, the first Business Day following such receipt if the date of such receipt is not a Business Day) of transmission by facsimile, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:

(a)

if to the Buyer or the Transitory Subsidiary, to

The Stride Rite Corporation

191 Spring Street

Lexington, Massachusetts 02421

Attn: David M. Chamberlain

Facsimile: (617) 824-6969

with a copy to:

Goodwin Procter LLP

Exchange Place

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Attn: Joseph L. Johnson III

Ettore A. Santucci

Facsimile: (617) 523-1231

(b)

if to the Company, to

Saucony, Inc.

13 Centennial Drive

Peabody, Massachusetts 01960

Attn: John H. Fisher

Facsimile: (978) 532-4956

with a copy to:

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

60 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

Attn: David E. Redlick, Esq.

Facsimile: (617) 526-5000

Any party to this Agreement may give any notice or other communication hereunder using any other means (including personal delivery, messenger service, telex, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received by the party for whom it is intended. Any party to this Agreement may change the address to which notices and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties to this Agreement notice in the manner herein set forth.

9.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and the documents and instruments referred to herein that are to be delivered at the Closing) constitutes the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, or any of them, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided that the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.

9.4 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 (with respect to which holders of Company Common Stock shall be third party beneficiaries) and Section 6.8 (with respect to which the Indemnified Parties shall be third party beneficiaries), this Agreement is not intended, and shall not be deemed, to confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, to create any agreement of employment with any person or to otherwise create any third-party beneficiary hereto.

9.5 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

9.6 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term.

9.7 Counterparts and Signature. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile transmission.

9.8 Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or a Section, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents, table of defined terms and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa. Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” No summary of this Agreement prepared by any party shall affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

9.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdictions other than those of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

9.10 Remedies. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

9.11 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties to this Agreement (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in Boston, Massachusetts in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) agrees that it shall not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (d) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement in any other court. Each of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party hereto may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 9.2. Nothing in this Section 9.11, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

9.12 Disclosure Schedules. The Company Disclosure Schedule and the Buyer Disclosure Schedule shall each be arranged in Sections corresponding to the numbered Sections contained in Article III, in the case of the Company Disclosure Schedule, or Article IV, in the case of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, and the disclosure in any Section shall qualify (a) the corresponding Section in Article III or Article IV, as the case may be, and (b) the other Sections in Article III or Article IV, as the case may be, to the extent that it is reasonably apparent from a reading of such disclosure that it also qualifies or applies to such other Sections. The inclusion of any

information in the Company Disclosure Schedule or the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, or in any update thereto, shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment, in and of itself, that such information is required by the terms hereof to be disclosed, is material, has resulted in or would result in a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Buyer Material Adverse Effect, or is outside the Ordinary Course of Business.

9.13 Company’s Knowledge. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of the individuals identified in Section 9.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary and the Company have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.


THE STRIDE RITE CORPORATION

By:		/s/ DAVID M. CHAMBERLAIN
Name:		David M. Chamberlain
Title:		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

OC, INC.

By:		/s/ DAVID M. CHAMBERLAIN
Name:		David M. Chamberlain
Title:		President

SAUCONY, INC.

By:		/s/ JOHN H. FISHER
Name:		John H. Fisher
Title:		Chief Executive Officer

SCHEDULE A – PARTIES TO COMPANY STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT

Stockholder

John H. Fisher

Lauren G. Fisher

PooRoo LLC

Lauren Gabrielle Fisher Trust 1992 Dated 6/1/92

Robert Maxwell Fisher Trust 1992 Dated 5/18/95

Charles A. Gottesman

Shares held by Charles and Merrill Gottesman, JTWROS

Merrill F. Gottesman

Caroline H. Gottesman

Merrill F Gottesman GST Trust dated 1/31/91

John H. Fisher GST Trust dated 1/31/91

Melinda Ann Gottesman Trust dated 6/1/92

Caroline Hyde Gottesman Trust 1992 dated 6/1/92

Melinda Ann Gottesman

EXHIBIT A – FORM OF COMPANY STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT

VOTING AGREEMENT

VOTING AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), dated as of June 1, 2005, by and between The Stride Rite Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Buyer”), and the undersigned stockholder (a “Stockholder”) of Saucony, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”).

WHEREAS, the Buyer, OC, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer (“Transitory Subsidiary”), and the Company, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated of even date herewith (as such agreement may be subsequently amended or modified, the “Agreement and Plan of Merger”), providing for the merger of Transitory Subsidiary with and into the Company (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, the Stockholder beneficially owns and has sole or shared voting power with respect to the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.33 1/3, of the Company (the “Shares”), and holds stock options or other rights to acquire the number of Shares indicated opposite the Stockholder’s name on Schedule 1 attached hereto;

WHEREAS, it is a condition to the execution of the Agreement and Plan of Merger that the Stockholder execute and deliver this Agreement on a date even herewith; and

WHEREAS, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement and Plan of Merger.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of, and as a condition to, the Buyer entering into the Agreement and Plan of Merger and proceeding with the transactions contemplated thereby, and in consideration of the expenses incurred and to be incurred by the Buyer in connection therewith, the Stockholder and the Buyer agree as follows:

1. Agreement to Vote Shares. The Stockholder agrees that, prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company, with respect to the Merger, the Agreement and Plan of Merger or any Acquisition Proposal or any adjournment thereof, Stockholder shall:

(a)

appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum;

(b)

from and after the date hereof until the Expiration Date, vote (or cause to be voted), or deliver a written consent (or cause a consent to be delivered) covering all of the Shares that such Stockholder shall be entitled to so vote, whether such Shares are beneficially owned by such Stockholder on the date of this Agreement or are subsequently acquired, (i) in favor of adoption and approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger; and (ii) against any Acquisition Proposal, or any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement providing for the consummation of a transaction contemplated by any Acquisition Proposal.

2. Expiration Date. As used in this Agreement, the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) the Effective Time; (ii) such date as the Agreement and Plan of Merger is terminated pursuant to Article VIII thereof; or (iii) upon mutual written agreement of the parties to terminate this Agreement. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided however, such termination or expiration shall not relieve any party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement prior to termination hereof.

3. Agreement to Retain Shares. From and after the date hereof until the conclusion of the Company Meeting (taking into account any postponements or adjournments thereof), the Stockholder shall not, except as contemplated by this Agreement or the Agreement and Plan of Merger, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of (including, without limitation, by the creation of a Lien), or enter into any contract, option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of, any Shares owned by the Stockholder, whether such Shares are held by the Stockholder on the date of this Agreement or are subsequently acquired prior to any meeting of Stockholders prior to the Expiration Date, whether by the exercise of any stock options to acquire Shares or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Stockholder may make (a) transfers by will, or by operation of law, in which case this Agreement shall bind the transferee, (b) transfers in connection with estate and charitable planning purposes, including transfers to relatives, trusts and charitable organizations, subject to the transferee agreeing in writing to be bound by the terms of, and perform the obligations of the Stockholder under, this Agreement, and (c) as the Buyer may otherwise agree in writing in its sole discretion

4. Representations and Warranties of Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows:

(a)

the Stockholder has the power and the right to enter into and perform the terms of this Agreement;

(b)

this Agreement (assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Buyer) is a valid and binding agreement with respect to the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles);

(c)

except as set forth on Schedule 1, the Stockholder beneficially owns the number of Shares indicated opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule 1, free and clear of any liens, claims, charges or other encumbrances or restrictions (“Liens”), and has sole or shared, and otherwise unrestricted, voting power with respect to such Shares; and

(d)

the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder does not, and the performance by Stockholder of his or her obligations hereunder and the consummation by Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate or conflict with, or constitute a default under, any

agreement, instrument, contract or other obligation or any order, arbitration award, judgment or decree to which Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder is bound, or any statute, rule or regulation to which Stockholder is subject or, in the event that Stockholder is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, any bylaw or other organizational document of Stockholder. Except as expressly contemplated hereby or as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, the Stockholder is not a party to any voting agreement or voting trust relating to the Shares.

5. Irrevocable Proxy. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 5, by execution of this Agreement, Stockholder does hereby appoint the Buyer with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as Stockholder’s true and lawful attorney and irrevocable proxy, to the full extent of the undersigned’s rights with respect to the Shares, to vote, if the Stockholder is unable to perform his or her obligations under this Agreement, each of such Shares solely with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1 hereof. Stockholder intends this proxy to be irrevocable and coupled with an interest hereafter until the Expiration Date and hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by Stockholder with respect to the Shares. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this irrevocable proxy shall automatically terminate upon the Expiration Date of this Agreement.

6. No Solicitation. From and after the date hereof until the Expiration Date, Stockholder, in his or her capacity as a stockholder of the Company, shall not, nor, to the extent applicable to Stockholder, shall he or she permit any of his or her affiliates to, nor shall he or she authorize any director, officer, employee, investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of, Stockholder or any of his or her affiliates to, (a) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, or take any action to knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, including without limitation amending or granting any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any Company Common Stock, (b) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information with respect to, assist or participate in any effort or attempt by any person with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Acquisition Proposal (other than the Agreement and Plan of Merger), (c) solicit proxies or become a “participant” in a “solicitation” (as such terms are defined in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (other than the Agreement and Plan of Merger), (d) initiate a stockholders’ vote or action by consent of the Company’s stockholders with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, or (e) except by reason of this Agreement become a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to any voting securities of the Company that takes any action in support of an Acquisition Proposal.

7. Specific Enforcement. The Stockholder has signed this Agreement intending to be legally bound thereby. The Stockholder expressly agrees that this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with its terms against the Stockholder.

8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

9. No waivers. No waivers of any breach of this Agreement extended by the Buyer to the Stockholder shall be construed as a waiver of any rights or remedies of the Buyer with respect to any other stockholder of the Company who has executed an agreement substantially in the form of this Agreement with respect to Shares held or subsequently held by such stockholder or with respect to any subsequent breach of the Stockholder or any other such stockholder of the Company. No waiver of any provisions hereof by either party shall be deemed a waiver of any other provisions hereof by any such party, nor shall any such waiver be deemed a continuing waiver of any provision hereof by such party.

10. Miscellaneous. This Agreement to be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof. If any provision hereof is deemed unenforceable, the enforceability of the other provisions hereof shall not be affected.

11. Capacity as Stockholder. Stockholder signs this Agreement solely in the Stockholder’s capacity as a stockholder of the Company, and not in the Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in the Stockholder’s capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any ERISA plan or trust. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall in any way restrict a director and/or officer of the Company in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties consistent with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger as a director and/or officer of the Company or in his or her capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any ERISA plan or trust or prevent or be construed to create any obligation on the part of any director and/or officer of the Company or any trustee or fiduciary of any ERISA plan or trust from taking any action in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company.

12. No Agreement Until Executed. Irrespective of negotiations among the parties or the exchanging of drafts of this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to evidence a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding between the parties hereto unless and until (a) the Board of Directors of the Company has approved, for purposes of any applicable anti-takeover laws and regulations, and any applicable provision of the Company’s Articles of Organization, the possible acquisition of the Shares by the Buyer pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, (b) the Agreement and Plan of Merger is executed by all parties thereto, and (c) this Agreement is executed by all parties hereto.

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or modified, and no provisions hereof may be modified or waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by each party hereto.

14. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly delivered (i) four business days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (ii) one business day after being sent for next business day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service, or (iii) on the date of confirmation of receipt (or the first business day following such receipt if the date of such receipt is not a business day) of transmission by facsimile, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:

(i) if to the Stockholder to the address set forth on the respective signature page of this Agreement;

(ii) if to the Buyer to:

The Stride Rite Corporation

191 Spring Street

Lexington, Massachusetts 02421

Attn: David M. Chamberlain

Facsimile: (617) 824-6969

with a copy to:

Goodwin Procter LLP

Exchange Place

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Attn: Joseph L. Johnson III

Ettore A. Santucci

Facsimile: (617) 523-1231

(iii) if to the Company to:

Saucony, Inc.

13 Centennial Drive

Peabody, Massachusetts 01960

Attn: John H. Fisher

Facsimile: (978) 532-4956

with a copy to:

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

60 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

Attn: David E. Redlick, Esq.

Facsimile: (617) 526-5000

Any party to this Agreement may give any notice or other communication hereunder using any other means (including personal delivery, messenger service, telex, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice of other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received by the party for whom it is intended. Any party to this Agreement may change the address to which notices and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties to this Agreement notice in the manner herein set forth.

15. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended, and shall not be deemed, to confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns or to otherwise create any third-party beneficiary hereto.

16. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void, except that the Buyer may assign this Agreement to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer without the consent of the Company or the Stockholder (provided that the Buyer shall remain liable for all of its obligations under this Agreement) and the Stockholder may assign this Agreement in connection with any permitted transfer of shares hereunder (provided that the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement). Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives, as the case may be.

17. Interpretation. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa. Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” No summary of this Agreement prepared by the parties shall affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

18. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties to this Agreement (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in Boston, Massachusetts in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (iii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (iv) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any other court. Each of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party hereto may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 14. Nothing in this Section, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be signed individually or by its respective duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.


STOCKHOLDER


Name:

THE STRIDE RITE CORPORATION

By:
Name:
Title:

SCHEDULE 1¹


Stockholder		Class A Shares		Class B Shares		Options

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Stockholder does not represent that the Stockholder has any voting or other power with respect to any of the Shares set forth above which are Shares allocable to such Stockholder’s account under any employee stock ownership, deferred investment or other similar plan of the Company (other than for Shares allocable to the Stockholder’s account under an employee stock ownership plan for which the Stockholder does have voting power).

¹	Shares include shares allocable to a stockholder’s account under the Company’s employee stock ownership, deferred investment or other similar plans of the Company.