AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER Among INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, IRONBRIDGE ACQUISITION CORP. and ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION Dated as of March 13, 2005

EXHIBIT 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Among

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION,

IRONBRIDGE ACQUISITION CORP.

and

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION

Dated as of March 13, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY

      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of March 13, 2005 (this “Agreement”), by and among INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, a New York corporation (“Parent”), IRONBRIDGE ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Sub”), and ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

      WHEREAS the Board of Directors of each of the Company and Sub deems it in the best interests of their respective stockholders to consummate the merger (the “Merger”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, of Sub with and into the Company in which the Company would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and such Boards of Directors have approved this Agreement and declared its advisability (and, in the case of the Board of Directors of the Company, recommended that this Agreement be adopted by the Company’s stockholders);

      WHEREAS Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger;

      WHEREAS concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, certain employees of the Company are entering into agreements with Parent;

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

ARTICLE I

The Merger

      Section 1.01.     The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”).

      Section 1.02.     Closing. The closing of the Merger (the ”Closing”) will take place at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be not later than the second business day after satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those that by their terms are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at Closing), at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, unless another time, date or place is agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company; provided, however, that if all the conditions set forth in Article VI shall not have been satisfied or waived on such second business day, then the Closing shall take place on the first business day on which all such conditions shall have been satisfied or waived. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

      Section 1.03.     Effective Time of the Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, as soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date, the parties shall file a certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) in such form as is required by the DGCL (as reasonably agreed by the parties), and executed and acknowledged in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such date and time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such subsequent date and time as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of Merger. The date and time at which the Merger becomes effective is referred to in this Agreement as the “Effective Time”.

      Section 1.04.     Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

      Section 1.05.     Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. (a) The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, (the “Company Certificate”) shall be amended

at the Effective Time to read in the form of Exhibit A hereto and, as so amended, such Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until hereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

      (b) The Bylaws of Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

      Section 1.06.     Directors. The directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

      Section 1.07.     Officers. The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

ARTICLE II

Conversion of Securities

      Section 2.01.     Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the ”Company Common Stock”), or the holder of any shares of capital stock of Sub:

      Section 2.02.     Exchange of Certificates. (a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent for the payment of the Merger Consideration upon surrender of Certificates (the “Paying Agent”), and, from time to time after the Effective Time, Parent shall make available to the Paying Agent funds in amounts and at the times necessary for the payment of the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.01(c) upon surrender of Certificates, it being understood that any and all interest or other amounts earned with respect to funds made available to the Paying Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be turned over to Parent.

      (b) Exchange Procedure. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Paying Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate (i) a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates held by such person shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and shall be in a form and have such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify and which the Company shall reasonably approve)

and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancelation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Parent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the amount of cash into which the shares formerly represented by such Certificate shall have been converted pursuant to Section 2.01(c), and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the stock transfer books of the Company, payment of the Merger Consideration in exchange therefor may be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. No interest shall be paid or shall accrue on the cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate.

      (c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All cash paid upon the surrender of a Certificate in accordance with the terms of this Article II shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate. At the close of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent for transfer or any other reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.

      (d) No Liability. None of Parent, Sub, the Company or the Paying Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any cash delivered to a public official in accordance with any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to two years after the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any Merger Consideration would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity), any such Merger Consideration in respect thereof shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

      (e) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent shall pay in respect of such lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration.

      (f) Withholding Rights. Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock such amounts as Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying 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 provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, such withheld amounts 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 Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent.

      (g) Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares (the “Appraisal Shares”) of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that are held by any holder who is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal of such shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL

(“Section 262”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.01(c), but instead such holder shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of such shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262. At the Effective Time, the Appraisal Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Appraisal Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the fair value of such shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under Section 262 or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s Appraisal Shares under Section 262 shall cease and such Appraisal Shares shall be deemed to have been converted at the Effective Time into, and shall have become, the right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.01(c), without interest. The Company shall serve prompt notice to Parent of any demands for appraisal of any shares of Company Common Stock, withdrawals of any such demands and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL received by the Company, and Parent shall have the right to participate in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or agree to do or commit to do any of the foregoing.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

      Section 3.01.     Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in the Company Letter (with specific reference to the section of this Agreement to which the information stated in such disclosure relates, provided that disclosure in any section of such Company Letter shall be deemed to be disclosed with respect to any other Section of this Agreement to the extent that it is readily apparent from the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other Section), the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:

      Section 3.02.     Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub. Parent and Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

ARTICLE IV

Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business

      Section 4.01.     Conduct of Business.     (a) Conduct of Business by the Company. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except with the prior written consent of Parent or as specifically contemplated by the Company Letter or this Agreement, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, carry on their respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable Laws and, to the extent consistent therewith, use commercially reasonable efforts to keep available the services of their present officers, software developers and other key employees and to preserve their assets and technology and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors and others having business dealings with them and maintain their franchises, rights and Permits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as specifically contemplated by the Company Letter or this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Parent, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

      Section 4.02.     No Solicitation. (a) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries

to, directly or indirectly (and it shall instruct each such director, officer, employee, investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not to), (i) solicit, initiate or encourage, or take any other action knowingly to facilitate, any Takeover Proposal or any inquiries or the making of any proposal that is reasonably likely to lead to a Takeover Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate with, any Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that at any time prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval, the Board of Directors of the Company may, in response to a bona fide written Takeover Proposal that such Board of Directors determines in good faith constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal, and which Takeover Proposal was unsolicited after the date of this Agreement and did not otherwise result from a breach of this Section 4.02, and subject to compliance with Section 4.02(c) and (d), (A) furnish, or cause its Subsidiaries to furnish information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries to the person making such Takeover Proposal (and its representatives) pursuant to a confidentiality agreement which contains terms that are substantially equivalent to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement dated February 4, 2005, between Parent and the Company (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Confidentiality Agreement”); provided that all such information had been or is provided on a prior or concurrent basis to Parent and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations with the person making such Takeover Proposal (and its representatives) regarding such Takeover Proposal. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 4.02(a) by the Company.

      For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Takeover Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person (other than Parent or Sub) relating to, or that is reasonably likely to lead to, any direct or indirect acquisition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including by way of any merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture or similar transaction, of (i) assets or businesses that constitute or represent 15% or more of the total revenue, net income or operating assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or of any class of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, one or more of the Company’s Subsidiaries which, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly hold the assets or businesses referred to in clause (i) above, in each case other than the Merger.

      For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Superior Proposal” means any bona fide binding written offer not solicited after the date of this Agreement by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries made by a third party which, if consummated, would result in such third party (or in the case of a direct merger between such third party and the Company, the stockholders of such third party) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Company Common Stock or all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to the Company’s stockholders than the Merger, taking into account any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such Superior Proposal or otherwise.

      (b) Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall (or shall agree or resolve to) (i) withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, the recommendation or declaration of advisability by such Board of Directors or any such committee of this Agreement or the Merger or recommend, or propose publicly to recommend, the approval or adoption of any Takeover Proposal or resolve or agree to take any such action (any such action or any such resolution or agreement to take such action being referred to herein as an “Adverse Recommendation Change”), (ii) adopt or approve any Takeover Proposal, or propose the approval or adoption of any Takeover Proposal or resolve or agree to take any such action or (iii) cause or permit the Company to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum

of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement (each, an “Acquisition Agreement”) constituting or related to, or which is intended to or is reasonably likely to lead to, any Takeover Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in Section 4.02(a)) or resolve or agree to take any such action. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 4.02(c), if the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof determines in its good faith judgment that the failure to take such action is reasonably likely to result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof, as applicable, may (and may agree or resolve to) make an Adverse Recommendation Change.

      (c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.02, the Company promptly and in any event within 24 hours shall advise Parent of any request for information that the Company reasonably believes could lead to or contemplates a Takeover Proposal or of any Takeover Proposal, or any inquiry the Company reasonably believes could lead to any Takeover Proposal, the terms and conditions of such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry (including any subsequent amendment or other modification to such terms and conditions) and the identity of the person making any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry. On a daily basis, the Company will (i) advise Parent regarding the progress of negotiations concerning any Takeover Proposal, the material resolved and unresolved issues related thereto and any other matters identified with reasonable specificity by Parent and the material details (including material amendments or proposed amendments as to price and other material terms) of any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry and (ii) promptly upon receipt or delivery thereof, provide Parent with copies of all documents and written communications relating to such Takeover Proposal exchanged between the Company or any of its officers, directors, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other advisors, on the one hand, and the party making a Takeover Proposal or any of its officers, directors, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other advisors, on the other hand.

      (d) Nothing contained in this Section 4.02 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company from (i) taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to the Company’s stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, failure so to disclose would be inconsistent with applicable Law; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or its Board of Directors or any committee thereof take, agree or resolve to take any action prohibited by Section 4.02(b).

      Section 4.03.     Conduct by Parent. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as consented to in writing by the Company prior to such action or as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, take any action that is reasonably likely to result in (a) any representation and warranty of Parent or Sub set forth in this Agreement that is qualified as to materiality becoming untrue (as so qualified) or (b) any such representation and warranty that is not so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect.

ARTICLE V

Additional Agreements

      Section 5.01.     (a) Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meeting. Within three business days or as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the preliminary Proxy Statement. The Company shall file with the SEC the definitive Proxy Statement and shall cause the mailing of the definitive Proxy Statement to the stockholders of the Company to occur on the 10th calendar day (or, if such calendar day is not a business day, the first business day subsequent to such calendar day) immediately following the filing of the preliminary Proxy Statement with the SEC or if not practicable, then as promptly as practicable thereafter. Each of the Company and Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement. Each of the Company and Parent shall

furnish all information concerning such person to the other as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Proxy Statement. The Company shall promptly notify Parent upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any request from the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and shall provide Parent with copies of all correspondence between it and its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing or mailing the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, the Company (i) shall provide Parent an opportunity to review and comment on such document or response, (ii) shall include in such document or response all comments reasonably proposed by Parent and (iii) shall not file or mail such document or respond to the SEC prior to receiving the approval of Parent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If at any time prior to the Stockholders Meeting, any information relating to the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors, should be discovered by the Company or Parent which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, so that the Proxy Statement shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties hereto and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company.

      (b) The Company agrees that none of the information included or incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement will (except to the extent revised or superseded by amendments or supplements contemplated hereby), at the date the Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC or mailed to the stockholders of the Company or at the time of the Stockholders Meeting, or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, except that no covenant is made by the Company with respect to statements made in the Proxy Statement based on information supplied in writing by or on behalf of Parent for inclusion or incorporation for reference therein. Parent agrees that none of such information will (except to the extent revised or superseded by amendments or supplements contemplated hereby), at the date the Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC or mailed to the stockholders of the Company or at the time of the Stockholders Meeting, or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      (c) The Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, establish a record date (which will be as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement) for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “Stockholders Meeting”), for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approval, regardless of whether the Board of Directors of the Company determines at any time that this Agreement is no longer advisable or recommends that the stockholders of the Company reject it or any other Adverse Recommendation Change has occurred at any time; provided, however, that the Company may extend the date of the Stockholders Meeting to the extent (and only to the extent) (i) necessary in order to obtain a quorum of its stockholders and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such a quorum as promptly as practicable or (ii) the Company reasonably determines that such delay is required by applicable Law to comply with comments made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement. The notice of such Stockholders Meeting shall state that a resolution to adopt this Agreement will be considered at the Stockholders Meeting. Subject to Section 4.02(b)(i), the Board of Directors of the Company shall recommend to holders of the Company Common Stock that they adopt this Agreement, and shall include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) shall not be affected by the

commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company or any other person of any Takeover Proposal.

      Section 5.02.     Access to Information; Confidentiality. (a) Subject to applicable Law, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and to Parent’s officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, consultants and other advisors and representatives all reasonable access upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement to all their respective properties, assets, books, records, Contracts, Permits, documents, information, directors, officers, employees, and during such period the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish to Parent any information concerning its business as Parent may reasonably request (including the work papers of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, subject to the requirements of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP). Following the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, Parent may (but shall not be required to), following reasonable notice to the Company, contact and interview any Company Personnel and review the personnel records and such other information concerning such Company Personnel as Parent may reasonably request. No investigation by Parent or any of its Representatives and no other receipt of information by Parent or its Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation or warranty of the Company or any covenant or other provision in this Agreement. Except as required by any applicable Law or Judgment, Parent will hold, and will direct its officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives to hold, any and all information received from the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and other advisors and representatives confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.

      (b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, as and to the extent reasonably requested by Parent, provide Parent with (i) a complete and accurate list of all licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (the ”FCC”) and held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “FCC Licenses”), (ii) complete and accurate copies of each FCC License, (iii) the address and physical location of the device(s) covered by each FCC License, (iv) a written description of the purpose of the device(s) covered by each FCC License, (v) complete and accurate copies of any Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture issued by the FCC against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (vi) all reasonable information necessary for Parent to make an independent determination that the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with FCC rules regarding changes of ownership control of the FCC Licenses (including descriptions of any transactions that effected a change of ownership or control of the FCC Licenses (including any intracompany reorganizations) and corporate organizational charts depicting the ownership structure of the holder of the FCC Licenses before and after any such change of ownership or control).

      (c) Subject to applicable Law, the Company and Parent shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to, cooperate to ensure an orderly transition and integration process in connection with the Merger in order to minimize the disruption to, and preserve the value of, the business of the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries during the period from and after the Effective Time.

      Section 5.03.     Reasonable Best Efforts; Consultation and Notice. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable best efforts to accomplish the following: (i) the taking of all reasonable actions necessary to cause the conditions precedent set forth in Article VI to be satisfied, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations from, and the giving of any necessary notices to, Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations, declarations and filings (including filings under the HSR Act and other registrations, declarations and filings with, or notices to, Governmental Entities, if any), (iii) the taking of all reasonable steps to provide any supplemental information requested by a Governmental Entity, including participating in meetings with officials of such entity in the course of its review of this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions

contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to avoid any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity or third party and (v) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties. In connection with and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Company and its Board of Directors shall, if any state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to this Agreement or any of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall any party hereto be obligated to, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, agree or proffer to divest or hold separate, or enter into any licensing or similar arrangement with respect to, any assets (whether tangible or intangible) or any portion of any business of Parent, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Parent or any of its subsidiaries be obligated to litigate any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, brought by any Governmental Entity (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger or seeking to obtain from Parent or any of its subsidiaries any damages in relation therewith; (ii) seeking to prohibit or limit in any respect, or place any conditions on, the ownership or operation by the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates of all or any portion of the business or assets or any product of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parent or its subsidiaries or to require any such person to dispose of, license (whether pursuant to an exclusive or nonexclusive license) or hold separate all or any portion of the business or assets or any product of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parent or its subsidiaries, in each case as a result of or in connection with the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of Parent or any of its affiliates to acquire or hold, or exercise full rights of ownership o f, any shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation, including the right to vote the Company Common Stock or the shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation on all matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Company or the Surviving Corporation, respectively; or (iv) seeking to (A) prohibit Parent or any of its affiliates from effectively controlling in any respect any of the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (B) prevent the Company or its Subsidiaries from operating any of their business in substantially the same manner as operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the date of this Agreement. The Company and Parent shall provide such assistance, information and cooperation to each other as is reasonably required to obtain any such nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations and, in connection therewith, shall notify the other person promptly following the receipt of any comments from any Governmental Entity and of any request by any Governmental Entity for amendments, supplements or additional information in respect of any registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, such Governmental Entity, shall supply the other person with copies of all correspondence between such person or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity, on the other hand and shall keep the other party apprised of the status thereof, subject to applicable Law.

      (b) (i) In connection with the continuing operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, subject to applicable Law, the Company shall consult in good faith on a reasonably regular basis with Parent to report material (individually or in the aggregate) operational developments, the general status of relationships with customers and resellers, the general status of ongoing operations and other matters reasonably requested by Parent pursuant to procedures reasonably requested by Parent; provided, however, that no such consultation shall affect the representations or warranties of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

      (ii) Except as prohibited by applicable Law, the Company shall promptly notify Parent in writing of:

provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement provided, further, that the failure of the Company to provide such notice shall not be a breach of this Agreement for purposes of Section 6.02(b) unless such failure materially prejudices Parent.

      (iii) Except as prohibited by applicable Law, Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company of:

provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement; provided, further, that the failure of Parent to provide such notice shall not be a breach of this Agreement for purposes of Section 6.03(b) unless such failure materially prejudices the Company.

      (c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense of any litigation against the Company and/or its directors relating to this Agreement, it being understood and agreed that this Section 5.03(c) shall not give Parent the right to direct such defense.

      Section 5.04.     Equity Awards. (a) Except as provided in Section 5.04(a) of the Company Letter, as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company agrees that the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the Company Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions (including obtaining any required consents) as may be required to effect the following:

      (b) The Company shall take any actions with respect to the ESPP as are necessary to provide that (i) participation in the ESPP shall be limited to those employees who were participants on the date of this Agreement, (ii) such participants may not increase their payroll deduction elections or purchase elections from those in effect on the date of this Agreement, (iii) each purchase right under the ESPP outstanding immediately before the Effective Time shall be canceled by refunding the payroll deductions of each then current participant in the ESPP for the then current offering period in effect under the ESPP (each, an “ESPP Offering Period”), (iv) there shall not be any additional “Grant Dates” (as defined in the ESPP) commencing following the date of this Agreement under the ESPP and (v) the ESPP be suspended following the close of the current ESPP offering period and shall terminate, effective upon the last business day before the Effective Time.

      Section 5.05.     Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance. (a) Parent and Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (and rights for advancement of expenses) now existing in favor of the current or former directors or officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries as provided in their respective certificates of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) and any indemnification or other agreements of the Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

      (b) In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all its properties and assets to any person, or if Parent dissolves the Surviving Corporation then, and in each such case, Parent shall cause the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation to comply with the obligations of the Surviving Corporation set forth in this Section 5.05.

      (c) For six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall maintain in effect the Company’s current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering each person currently covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time on terms with respect to such coverage and amounts no less favorable than those of such policy in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that Parent may substitute therefor policies of a reputable insurance company the material terms of which, including coverage and amount, are no less favorable to such directors and officers than the insurance coverage otherwise required under this Section 5.05(c); provided, however, that in no event shall Parent be required to pay, with respect to the entire six year period following the Effective Time, premiums for insurance under this Section 5.05(c) which in the aggregate exceed 300% of the aggregate premiums paid by the Company for the period from July 3, 2004 to, and including, September 30, 2005 for such purpose (which premiums for such period are hereby represented and warranted by the Company to be $1,162,986); provided that Parent shall nevertheless be obligated to provide such coverage, with respect to the entire six year period following the Effective Time, as may be obtained for such 300% amount. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 5.05(c) shall require Parent to make expenditures exceeding $3,488,958 in the aggregate.

      (d) The provisions of this Section 5.05 (i) are intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or her heirs and his or her representatives and (ii) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such person may have by contract or otherwise.

      (e) Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to comply with all its obligations under this Section 5.05.

      Section 5.06.     Fees and Expenses. (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Section 5.06, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Merger shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

      (b) In the event that (i) a Takeover Proposal has been made known to the Company or its stockholders or any person has announced an intention (whether or not conditional and whether or not withdrawn) to make a Takeover Proposal or a Takeover Proposal otherwise becomes known to the stockholders of the Company and thereafter (A) this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(b)(i), Section 7.01(b)(iii) or Section 7.01(d) and (B) prior to the date that is 12 months after such termination, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any Acquisition Agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal or any takeover proposal is consummated (solely for purposes of this Section 5.06(b)(i)(B), the term ”Takeover Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Takeover Proposal contained in Section 4.02(a) except that all references to 15% shall be deemed references to 40%) or (ii) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(c) then the Company shall pay Parent a fee equal to $30,000,000 (the “Termination Fee”) by wire transfer of same-day funds to an account designated by Parent (A) in the case of a termination by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(c), within two business days after such termination and (B) in the case of a payment as a result of any event referred to in Section 5.06(b)(i)(B), no later than the first to occur of such events.

      (c) The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 5.06 are an integral part of this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Company fails promptly to pay the amounts due pursuant to this Section 5.06, and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent commences a suit that results in a judgment against the Company for the amounts set forth in this Section 5.06, the Company shall pay to Parent its reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) in connection with such suit and any appeal relating thereto, together with interest on the amounts set forth in this Section 5.06 at the prime rate of Citibank, N.A. in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.

      Section 5.07.     Public Announcements. The parties agree that the initial press release to be issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in the form heretofore agreed to by the parties. Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall, to the extent at all reasonably practicable, consult with each other before making, and give each other a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such reasonably practicable consultation, except as may be required by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system.

      Section 5.08.     Sub Compliance. Parent shall cause Sub to comply with all of Sub’s obligations under this Agreement.

      Section 5.09.     Company Rights Agreement. The Board of Directors of the Company shall take all further actions (in addition to those referred to in Section 3.01(r)) requested by Parent that are necessary in order to render the Company Rights inapplicable to the Merger. Except as provided above with respect to the Merger, the Board of Directors of the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, amend, modify, take any action with respect to, or make any determination under, the Company Rights Agreement.

      Section 5.10.     Certain Pre-Closing Actions. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall take all actions set forth on Schedule 5.10 to this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

Conditions Precedent

      Section 6.01.     Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

      Section 6.02.     Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

      Section 6.03.     Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

      Section 6.04.     Frustration of Closing Conditions. None of the Company, Parent or Sub may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s breach of Section 5.03 or any other provision of this Agreement or if such party consented in writing to any action and such action resulted in the failure of such condition to be satisfied.

ARTICLE VII

Termination, Amendment and Waiver

      Section 7.01.     Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned, at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained upon written notice (other than in the case of Section 7.01(a) below) from the terminating party to the non-terminating party specifying the subsection of this Section 7.01 pursuant to which such termination is effected:

      Section 7.02.     Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 7.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Sub or the Company except, the last sentence of Section 5.02(a), Section 5.06, this Section 7.02 and Article VIII and except for any willful and material breach by a party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement (which material breach and liability therefor shall not be affected by termination of this Agreement or any payment of the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 5.06(b)).

      Section 7.03.     Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time, whether before or after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained; provided, however, that after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there shall be made no amendment that by Law requires further approval by stockholders of the parties without the further approval of such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

      Section 7.04.     Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein; provided, however, that after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there shall be made no waiver that by Law requires further approval by stockholders of the parties without the further approval of such stockholders. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party which sets forth the substance of such extension or waiver, including in accordance with Section 8.12. The failure or delay by any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party to this Agreement of any of its rights under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise of such rights or any other rights under this Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

General Provisions

      Section 8.01.     Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This Section 8.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.

      Section 8.02.     Notices. Subject to Section 8.12, all notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or e-mail or sent by facsimile or sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express mail or reputable overnight courier service and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand or sent by facsimile, or if mailed, three days after mailing (one business day in the case of express mail or overnight courier service), as follows (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by notice given in accordance with this Section 8.02):

      Section 8.03.     Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

      Section 8.04.     Exhibits and Schedules; Interpretation. The headings contained in this Agreement or in any Exhibit or Schedule hereto and in the table of contents to this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Any capitalized terms used in any Schedule or Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Subsection, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section or Article of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. For all purposes hereof, the terms “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation”. The words “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereby”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The term “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. Any agreement or instrument defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement or instrument as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. References to a person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.

      Section 8.05.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile), all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

      Section 8.06.     Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, the Company Letter and the Exhibit and Schedules to this Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, except for the Confidentiality Agreement and (b) except for the provisions of Section 5.05 is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto (and their respective successors and assigns) any rights (legal, equitable or otherwise) or remedies, whether as third party beneficiaries or otherwise.

      Section 8.07.     Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of Laws thereof.

      Section 8.08.     Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to Parent or to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Sub of any of its obligations hereunder. 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 assigns.

      Section 8.09.     Consent to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery (and if the Delaware Court of

Chancery shall be unavailable, any Delaware State court and the Federal court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby (and agrees that no such action, suit or proceeding relating to this Agreement shall be brought by it or any of its subsidiaries except in such courts). Each of the parties further agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such person’s respective address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives (and agrees not to plead or claim), any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the Merger in the Delaware Court of Chancery (and if the Delaware Court of Chancery shall be unavailable, in any Delaware State court or the Federal court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) or that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

      Section 8.10.     Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or other proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement. Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such party would not, in the event of any action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement, by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 8.10.

      Section 8.11.     Enforcement. The parties 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 hereto 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 in the Delaware Court of Chancery (and if the Delaware Court of Chancery shall be unavailable, in any Delaware State court or the Federal court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity.

      Section 8.12.     Consents and Approvals. For any matter under this Agreement requiring the consent or approval of any party to be valid and binding on the parties hereto, such consent or approval must be in writing, which writing may be in e-mail or other electronic format delivered by a person designated by such party as the contact person for such consents or approvals whether or not such person is an authorized signatory, officer or employee of such party.

      Section 8.13.     Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof.

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

EXHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION

      FIRST: The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”) is Ascential Software Corporation.

      SECOND: The address, including street, number, city, and county, of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. The name of the registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

      THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

      FOURTH: The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

      FIFTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.

      SIXTH: To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as it now exists and as it may hereafter be amended, no director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

      SEVENTH: The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said Section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by said Section, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. The right to indemnification conferred by this Article SEVENTH shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however that, if required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, an advancement of expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article SEVENTH or otherwise. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to indemnify the indemnitee for any amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding unless the Corporation consents to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any repeal or modification

of this Article SEVENTH shall not adversely affect any right to indemnification of any persons existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any matters occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

      EIGHTH: Unless and except to the extent that the By-laws of the Corporation shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.