FindLaw - Agreement and Plan of Merger - Global Crossing Ltd., IPC Communications Inc., and IXnet Inc.

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                          Dated as of February 22, 2000

                                      Among

                              GLOBAL CROSSING LTD.,

                         GEORGIA MERGER SUB CORPORATION,

                            IPC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,

                         IPC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.,

                          IDAHO MERGER SUB CORPORATION

                                       and

                                   IXNET, INC.


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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



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ARTICLE I

        The Mergers....................................................................................2
        SECTION 1.01  The Mergers......................................................................2
        SECTION 1.02  Closing..........................................................................3
        SECTION 1.03  Effective Time of the Mergers....................................................3
        SECTION 1.04  Effects of the Mergers...........................................................3
        SECTION 1.05  Certificate of Incorporation; By-Laws............................................3
        SECTION 1.06  Directors........................................................................4
        SECTION 1.07  Officers.........................................................................4

ARTICLE II

        Effect of the Merger on the Capital Stock of the Constituent Corporations......................5
        SECTION 2.01  Effect of Intercompany Merger on Capital Stock...................................5
        SECTION 2.02  Effect of IPC Merger on Capital Stock............................................6
        SECTION 2.03  Effect of IXnet Merger on Capital Stock..........................................7
        SECTION 2.04  Stock Plans......................................................................8
        SECTION 2.05  Exchange of Certificates.........................................................9
        SECTION 2.06  Fractional Shares...............................................................10
        SECTION 2.07  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates..........................................11
        SECTION 2.08  Appraisal Rights................................................................11

ARTICLE III

        Representations and Warranties................................................................12
        SECTION 3.01  Representations and Warranties of IPC and IPC Systems...........................12
        SECTION 3.02  Representations and Warranties of IXnet.........................................26
        SECTION 3.03  Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub................................39
        SECTION 3.04  Representations of Parent and Sub...............................................43

ARTICLE IV

        Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business Prior to Mergers....................................44
        SECTION 4.01  Conduct of Business of the Companies............................................44

ARTICLE V

        Additional Agreements.........................................................................47



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        SECTION 5.01  Preparation of Forms S-4 and the Information
                Statement/Prospectuses and Schedules 13E-3; Stockholder Meetings......................47
        SECTION 5.02  Letter of the Companies' Accountants............................................50
        SECTION 5.03  Letter of Parent's Accountants..................................................50
        SECTION 5.04  Access to Information; Confidentiality..........................................50
        SECTION 5.05  Reasonable Best Efforts.........................................................51
        SECTION 5.06  Benefit Plans...................................................................51
        SECTION 5.07  Indemnification.................................................................52
        SECTION 5.08  Expenses........................................................................54
        SECTION 5.09  Public Announcements............................................................54
        SECTION 5.10  Affiliates......................................................................54
        SECTION 5.11  Listing of Parent Common Stock..................................................54
        SECTION 5.12  No Solicitation.................................................................55
        SECTION 5.13  Certain Agreements..............................................................56
        SECTION 5.14  Stop Transfer...................................................................56
        SECTION 5.15  Compliance with Section 228 of the DGCL.........................................56

ARTICLE VI

        Conditions Precedent..........................................................................56
        SECTION 6.01  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Mergers.....................56
        SECTION 6.02  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and GC Merger Sub...........................57
        SECTION 6.03  Conditions to Obligation of the Companies and IPC Systems.......................58

ARTICLE VII

        Termination, Amendment and Waiver.............................................................60
        SECTION 7.01  Termination.....................................................................60
        SECTION 7.02  Effect of Termination...........................................................60
        SECTION 7.03  Amendment.......................................................................61
        SECTION 7.04  Extension; Waiver...............................................................61

ARTICLE VIII

        General Provisions............................................................................61
        SECTION 8.01  Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties...................................61
        SECTION 8.02  Notices.........................................................................61
        SECTION 8.03  Definitions.....................................................................62
        SECTION 8.04  Interpretation..................................................................63
        SECTION 8.05  Counterparts....................................................................63
        SECTION 8.06  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries..................................63
        SECTION 8.07  Governing Law...................................................................63
        SECTION 8.08  Assignment......................................................................63



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        SECTION 8.09  Enforcement; Jurisdiction.......................................................64
        SECTION 8.10  Severability....................................................................64


EXHIBITS

Exhibit A       Form of Stockholder Consent
Exhibit B       Form of Affiliate Letter


















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                AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of February 22, 2000 among
                GLOBAL CROSSING LTD., a company formed under the laws of Bermuda
                ("Parent"), GEORGIA MERGER SUB CORPORATION, a Delaware
                corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("GC Merger
                Sub"), IPC COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("IPC"),
                IPC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation and a
                wholly owned subsidiary of IPC ("IPC Systems"), IDAHO MERGER SUB
                CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
                subsidiary of IPC Systems ("IPC Merger Sub" and, together with
                GC Merger Sub, "Subs"), IXNET, INC., a Delaware corporation
                ("IXnet" and, together with IPC, the "Companies")

                WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, GC Merger
Sub, IPC and IPC Systems have determined that the merger of IPC with and into
IPC Systems (the "Intercompany Merger"), and the immediately subsequent merger
of GC Merger Sub with and into IPC Systems (the "IPC Merger"), each upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, would be fair
to and in the best interests of their respective stockholders, and such Boards
of Directors have approved (a) the Intercompany Merger, pursuant to which each
share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of IPC ("IPC Common Stock")
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
Intercompany Merger (as defined in Section 1.03), other than shares of IPC
Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by IPC or any wholly owned
subsidiary (as defined in Section 8.03) of IPC or held by IPC as treasury shares
or owned by Parent, GC Merger Sub or any other wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent, will be converted into the right to receive one share of Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of IPC Systems ("IPC Systems Common Stock") and (b)
the IPC Merger, pursuant to which each share of IPC Systems Common Stock issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IPC Merger (as
defined in Section 1.03), other than shares of IPC Systems Common Stock owned,
directly or indirectly, by IPC Systems or any wholly owned subsidiary of IPC
Systems or held by IPC Systems as treasury shares or owned by Parent, GC Merger
Sub or any other wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, will be converted into the
right to receive shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent
("Parent Common Stock");

                WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, IPC
Merger Sub, IPC, IPC Systems and IXnet have determined that the merger of IPC
Merger Sub with and into IXnet (the "IXnet Merger", together with the IPC Merger
and the Intercompany Merger, the "Mergers"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, would be fair to and in the best
interests of their respective stockholders, and such Boards of Directors have
approved the IXnet Merger, pursuant to which each share of Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of IXnet ("IXnet Common Stock") issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger (as defined in
Section 1.03), other than shares of IXnet Common Stock owned, directly or
indirectly, by IPC Systems or IXnet or any of their respective wholly owned
subsidiaries or held by IXnet as treasury shares or owned by Parent or any
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, will be converted into the right to receive
shares of Parent Common Stock;


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                WHEREAS, (i) the affirmative vote, by ballot or written consent,
of a majority of the outstanding shares of the IPC Common Stock is required for
the adoption of this Agreement (the "IPC Stockholder Approval") and (ii) the
affirmative vote, by ballot or written consent, of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the IXnet Common Stock is required for the adoption of this Merger
Agreement (the "IXnet Stockholder Approval" and, together with the IPC
Stockholder Approval and the IPC Systems Stockholder Approval (as defined
herein), the "Stockholder Approvals");

        WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into this Agreement,
Parent has required that Cable Systems Holding, LLC and the other stockholders
of IPC party thereto (the "IPC Stockholders") enter into, and the IPC
Stockholders have agreed to enter into, the Consent and Voting Agreement with
Parent dated of even date herewith (as amended from time to time in accordance
with its terms, the "Voting Agreement") relating to, among other things, the
agreement of the IPC Stockholders to execute and deliver the IPC Stockholder
Consent (as defined herein) immediately following the execution and delivery of
this Agreement; and, in order to induce Parent to enter into this Agreement, the
Board of the Directors of IPC has approved the entering into by Parent and the
IPC Stockholders of the Voting Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby;

                WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Mergers and also to prescribe various conditions to the Mergers; and

                WHEREAS, for Federal income tax purposes, it is intended that
each of the Mergers qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section
368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

                NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties
agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   The Mergers

                SECTION 1.01 The Mergers. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), (a) IPC shall be merged with and into IPC
Systems at the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger, (b) following the
Intercompany Merger, GC Merger Sub shall be merged with and into IPC Systems at
the Effective Time of the IPC Merger and (c) following the IPC Merger, IPC
Merger Sub shall be merged with and into IXnet at the Effective Time of the
IXnet Merger. Upon the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger, the separate
existence of IPC shall cease, and IPC Systems shall continue as the surviving
corporation (the "Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation") of the
Intercompany Merger. Upon the Effective Time of the IPC Merger, the separate
existence of GC Merger Sub shall cease, and IPC Systems shall continue as the
surviving corporation (the "IPC Merger Surviving


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Corporation") of the IPC Merger. Upon the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger,
the separate existence of IPC Merger Sub shall cease, and IXnet shall continue
as the surviving corporation (the "IXnet Merger Surviving Corporation" and,
together with the Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation and the IPC Merger
Surviving Corporation, the "Surviving Corporations") of the IXnet Merger.

                SECTION 1.02 Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been
terminated and the transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned
pursuant to Section 7.01 and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VI, the closing of the Mergers (the "Closing")
will take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the parties (the
"Closing Date"), which date shall be no later than the second business day after
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article VI, at the offices of
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017,
unless another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto.

                SECTION 1.03 Effective Time of the Mergers. Upon the Closing,
the parties shall cause each Surviving Corporation to file a certificate of
merger relating to its Merger (the "Certificates of Merger") with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware and shall make all other filings or recordings
required under the DGCL. The Intercompany Merger shall become effective at such
time as the Certificate of Merger for the Intercompany Merger shall have been
duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such
later time as is agreed by Parent and IPC and specified in such Certificate of
Merger (the time the Intercompany Merger becomes effective being the "Effective
Time of the Intercompany Merger"). The IPC Merger shall become effective at such
time as the Certificate of Merger for the IPC Merger shall have been duly filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time as
is agreed by Parent and IPC and specified in such Certificate of Merger (the
time the IPC Merger becomes effective being the "Effective Time of the IPC
Merger"). The IXnet Merger shall become effective at such time as the
Certificate of Merger for the IXnet Merger shall have been duly filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time as agreed by
Parent and IXnet and specified in such Certificate of Merger (the time the IXnet
Merger becomes effective being the "Effective Time of the IXnet Merger"; and the
time by which all the Mergers have become effective being the "Effective Time").
The parties shall cause the IPC Merger to become effective immediately following
the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger and the IXnet Merger to become
effective immediately following the Effective Time of the IPC Merger.

                SECTION 1.04 Effects of the Mergers. The Mergers shall have the
effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL (or any successor provision).

                SECTION 1.05 Certificate of Incorporation; By-Laws. (a) (i) The
certificate of incorporation of IPC Systems, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger, shall be the certificate of
incorporation of the Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation, except that at
the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger such certificate of incorporation
shall be amended as follows: Article Four shall be amended to read in its
entirety as follows: "The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation
shall have the authority to issue is 25,000,000 shares, each having a par value
of one cent ($0.01).".


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                (ii) The By-laws of IPC Systems as in effect at the Effective
Time of the Intercompany Merger shall be the By-laws of the Intercompany Merger
Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or
by applicable law.

                (b) (i) The certificate of incorporation of IPC Systems, as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IPC Merger, shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the IPC Merger Surviving Corporation, except
that at the Effective Time of the IPC Merger such certificate of incorporation
shall be amended as follows: Article Four shall be amended to read in its
entirety as follows: "The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation
shall have the authority to issue is 1,000 shares, each having a par value of
one cent ($0.01)."

                (ii) The By-laws of IPC Systems as in effect at the Effective
Time of the IPC Merger shall be the By-laws of the IPC Merger Surviving
Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable law.

                (c) (i) The certificate of incorporation of IXnet, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger, shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the IXnet Merger Surviving Corporation, except
that at the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger such certificate of incorporation
shall be amended as follows: Article Four shall be amended to read in its
entirety as follows: "The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation
shall have the authority to issue is 1,000 shares, each having a par value of
one cent ($0.01)."

                (ii) The By-laws of IXnet as in effect at the Effective Time of
the IXnet Merger shall be the By-laws of the IXnet Merger Surviving Corporation
until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

                SECTION 1.06 Directors. (a) The directors of IPC at the
Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger shall be the directors of the
Intercompany Merger 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.

                (b) The directors of GC Merger Sub at the Effective Time of the
IPC Merger shall be the directors of the IPC Merger 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.

                (c) The directors of IPC Merger Sub at the Effective Time of the
IXnet Merger shall be the directors of the IXnet Merger 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. (a) The officers of IPC at the Effective
Time of the Intercompany Merger shall be the officers of the Intercompany Merger
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.


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                (b) The officers of GC Merger Sub at the Effective Time of the
IPC Merger shall be the officers of the IPC Merger 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.

                (c) The officers of IPC Merger Sub at the Effective Time of the
IXnet Merger shall be the officers of the IXnet Merger 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

                Effect of the Merger on the Capital Stock of the
                            Constituent Corporations

                SECTION 2.01 Effect of Intercompany Merger on Capital Stock. As
of the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger, by virtue of the Intercompany
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of IPC
Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of IPC Systems:

                (a) Common Stock of IPC Systems. Each share of IPC Systems
        Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
        Time of the Intercompany Merger shall automatically be cancelled and
        retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be
        delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

                (b) Conversion of IPC Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided
        herein, each issued and outstanding share of IPC Common Stock shall be
        converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of the common
        stock ("Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation Common Stock") of the
        Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation (the "Intercompany Merger
        Exchange Ratio").

                (c) Cancellation and Retirement of IPC Common Stock. Except as
        otherwise provided herein, from and after the Effective Time of the
        Intercompany Merger, all shares of IPC Common Stock issued and
        outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Intercompany
        Merger shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
        cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each certificate
        which immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger
        represented shares of IPC Common Stock (an "IPC Share Certificate")
        shall automatically be deemed to represent the number of shares of
        Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued to
        the holder of such IPC Share Certificate pursuant to Section 2.01(b)
        (the "Intercompany Merger Consideration").


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                SECTION 2.02 Effect of IPC Merger on Capital Stock. As of the
Effective Time of the IPC Merger, by virtue of the IPC Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder of any shares of IPC Systems Common Stock or
any shares of capital stock of GC Merger Sub:

                (a) Common Stock of GC Merger Sub. Each share of common stock,
        par value $0.01 per share, of GC Merger Sub issued and outstanding
        immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IPC Merger shall be
        converted into one share of the common stock of the IPC Merger Surviving
        Corporation and shall constitute the only issued and outstanding capital
        stock of the IPC Merger Surviving Corporation.

                (b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Intercompany
        Merger Surviving Corporation Common Stock. Each share of Intercompany
        Merger Surviving Corporation Common Stock that is owned by the
        Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation or held by the Intercompany
        Merger Surviving Corporation as treasury shares or owned by any direct
        or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Intercompany Merger Surviving
        Corporation and each share of Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation
        Common Stock that is owned by Parent, GC Merger Sub or any other direct
        or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent shall automatically be
        cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no Parent Common
        Stock or other consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in
        exchange therefor.

                (c) Conversion of Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation
        Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided herein, each issued and
        outstanding share of Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation Common
        Stock shall be converted into the right to receive from Parent 5.417
        fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (the "IPC
        Merger Exchange Ratio"); provided, however, that, in any event, if
        between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time of the IPC
        Merger the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or IPC Common Stock
        shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a different
        class (other than pursuant to the Intercompany Merger), by reason of any
        stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization,
        redenomination, split, combination or exchange of shares, the IPC Merger
        Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly adjusted to reflect such stock
        dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization,
        redenomination, split, combination or exchange of shares.

                (d) Cancellation and Retirement of Intercompany Merger Surviving
        Corporation Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time of the IPC
        Merger, all shares of Intercompany Merger Surviving Corporation Common
        Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of
        the IPC Merger shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
        cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of an
        IPC Share Certificate shall cease to have any rights with respect to the
        common stock formerly represented thereby, except the right to receive
        the consideration to be issued to holders of Intercompany Merger
        Surviving Corporation Common Stock in the IPC Merger pursuant to Section
        2.02(c) (the "IPC Merger Consideration"), any cash in lieu of fractional
        shares of Parent Common Stock to be paid in consideration therefor


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        upon surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.06 and
        any dividends payable pursuant to Section 2.05(f).

                SECTION 2.03 Effect of IXnet Merger on Capital Stock. As of the
Effective Time of the IXnet Merger, by virtue of the IXnet Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder of any shares of IXnet Common Stock or any
shares of capital stock of IPC Merger Sub:

                (a) Common Stock of IPC Merger Sub. Each share of common stock,
        par value $0.01 per share, of IPC Merger Sub issued and outstanding
        immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger shall be
        converted into one share of the common stock of the IXnet Merger
        Surviving Corporation and shall constitute the only issued and
        outstanding capital stock of the IXnet Merger Surviving Corporation.

                (b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent- and IPC Merger
        Surviving Corporation-Owned IXnet Common Stock. Each share of IXnet
        Common Stock that is owned by IXnet or held by IXnet as treasury shares
        or owned by any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of IXnet, and
        each share of IXnet Common Stock that is owned by Parent, the IPC Merger
        Surviving Corporation or any of their direct or indirect wholly owned
        subsidiaries shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall
        cease to exist, and no Parent Common Stock or other consideration shall
        be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

                (c) Conversion of IXnet Common Stock. Except as otherwise
        provided herein, each issued and outstanding share of IXnet Common Stock
        shall be converted into the right to receive from Parent 1.184 fully
        paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (the "IXnet Merger
        Exchange Ratio"); provided, however, that, in any event, if between the
        date of this Agreement and the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger the
        outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or IXnet Common Stock shall
        have been changed into a different number of shares or a different
        class, by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification,
        recapitalization, redenomination, split, combination or exchange of
        shares, the IXnet Merger Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly
        adjusted to reflect such stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification,
        recapitalization, redenomination, split, combination or exchange of
        shares.

                (d) Cancellation and Retirement of IXnet Common Stock. From and
        after the Effective Time of the IXnet Merger, all shares of IXnet Common
        Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of
        the IXnet Merger shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically
        be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a
        certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time of the IXnet
        Merger represented shares of IXnet Common Stock (an "IXnet Share
        Certificate" and, together with the IPC Share Certificates, "Share
        Certificates") shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto,
        except the right to receive the consideration to be issued to holders of
        IXnet Common Stock in the IXnet Merger pursuant to Section 2.03(c) (the
        "IXnet Merger Consideration" and, together with the IPC Merger
        Consideration, the


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        "Merger Consideration"), any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent
        Common Stock to be paid in consideration therefor upon surrender of such
        certificate in accordance with Section 2.06 and any dividends payable
        pursuant to Section 2.05(f).


                SECTION 2.04 Stock Plans. (a) Prior to the Effective Time of the
Mergers, each of IPC and IXnet (x) shall take all action necessary (including
obtaining any necessary consents and/or waivers) to ensure that from and after
the Effective Time of the Mergers, all options granted to Employees to purchase
shares of IPC Common Stock ("IPC Options") or IXnet Common Stock ("IXnet
Options" and, together with IPC Options, "Options"), which are then outstanding
and unexercised (whether or not vested or exercisable), shall, without any
further action on the part of the holders thereof, be converted into and become,
respectively, options to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock on terms
substantially identical to those in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the Mergers under the terms of the stock option plan or other agreement
or award pursuant to which such Options were granted (collectively, such plans,
agreements and awards of IPC or IXnet being hereinafter referred to as the
"Stock Plans") and Parent shall assume the Stock Plans with respect to then
outstanding options (but taking into account any changes thereto, including the
acceleration thereof, provided for in the applicable Stock Plans resulting from
the Mergers) as limited by the Agreement entered into February 22, 2000, among
Parent, IPC, IXnet and certain holders of Options ("Option Limitation
Agreement") and (y) shall amend Section 5(c) of each Stock Plan to provide that
vesting of any Option thereunder held by a party to the Option Limitation
Agreement in connection with or relating to a change of control (as such term is
defined in the Stock Plans) shall be limited in accordance with the Option
Limitation Agreement, and shall amend Section 5(d)of the IXnet Stock Plan to
provide that 25% of IXnet Options held by a person who is not a party to the
Option Limitation Agreement or held by William Adiletta or Richard Farrell shall
become exercisable upon a Change in Control; provided, however, that from and
after the Effective Time of the Mergers (i) each such Option assumed by Parent
may be exercised solely to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock, (ii) the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of such Option
shall be equal to, in the case of IPC Options, the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock subject to such Option multiplied by the IPC Merger Exchange Ratio,
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock, at a
price per share (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) equal to the
per share exercise price specified in such Option divided by the IPC Merger
Exchange Ratio and, in the case of IXnet Options, the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock subject to such Option multiplied by the IXnet Merger Exchange
Ratio, rounded, if necessary, to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock,
at a price per share (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) equal to
the per share exercise price specified in such Option divided by the IXnet
Merger Exchange Ratio.

               (b) Neither the vesting nor the exercisability of any Option
shall accelerate as a result of, or in connection with, the transactions
contemplated hereby, except to the extent required by the existing terms of the
Stock Plan or stock option agreement pursuant to which such Option was granted,
as in effect on the date hereof and as limited or as adjusted pursuant to the
amendments referred to in Section 2.04(a) and the Option Limitation Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of shares and the per share exercise
price of each Option which is intended to be an "incentive stock option" (as
defined in Section 422 of the Code) shall be adjusted in accordance with the
requirements of Section 424 of the Code.


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                (c) Parent shall, as of the Effective Time of the Mergers,
reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for
delivery upon exercise of Options assumed by it in accordance with this Section
2.04, such number not to be reduced except to the extent such Options are
exercised, canceled or terminated pursuant to their terms. Upon the Effective
Time of the Mergers or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, Parent
shall file, or cause to be filed, a registration statement(s) on Form S-3 or
Form S-8, as the case may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with
respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such Options and shall
cause such registration statement(s) to remain effective (and maintain the
current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long
as such Options remain outstanding.

                (d) At least ten days prior to the Effective Time of the
Mergers, the Companies shall notify each grantee under every Stock Plan that
such plan is to be assumed by Parent as of the Effective Time of the Mergers,
and that, to the extent not exercised prior to the Effective Time of the
Mergers, each outstanding Option thereunder will be assumed by Parent and
thereafter may be exercised solely to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock in
accordance with Section 2.04(a) hereof.

                SECTION 2.05 Exchange of Certificates. (a) Prior to the
Effective Time of the Mergers, Parent shall appoint an agent (the "Exchange
Agent") for the purpose of exchanging Share Certificates for the applicable
Merger Consideration. Immediately following the Effective Time of the Mergers,
Parent shall deposit with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of
Share Certificates, certificates representing the Parent Common Stock issuable
pursuant to Section 2.02 or 2.03 in exchange for Share Certificates. Promptly
after the Effective Time of the Mergers, Parent will send, or will cause the
Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of a Share Certificate at the Effective
Time of the Mergers (i) a letter of transmittal for use in such exchange which
shall specify that delivery of the applicable Merger Consideration shall be
effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates representing Parent
Common Stock and Share Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the
Share Certificates to the Exchange Agent and (ii) instructions for use in
effecting the surrender of such Share Certificates in exchange for the
certificates representing Parent Common Stock.

                (b) Each holder of Share Certificates that formerly represented
shares of IPC Common Stock, IPC Systems Common Stock or IXnet Common Stock which
have been converted into a right to receive Merger Consideration, upon surrender
to the Exchange Agent of such Share Certificates, together with a properly
completed letter of transmittal covering such Share Certificates, will be
entitled to receive the applicable Merger Consideration payable in respect of
such Share Certificates and any dividends payable pursuant to Section 2.05(f).
Until so surrendered, each such Share Certificate shall, after the Effective
Time of the Mergers, represent for all purposes only the right to receive the
applicable Merger Consideration, any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares
pursuant to Section 2.06 and any dividends payable pursuant to Section 2.05(f).

                (c) If any portion of the applicable Merger Consideration is to
be paid to a person other than the registered holder of a Share Certificate, it
shall be a condition to such


   14


                                                                              10


payment that such Share Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or
otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such
payment shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes required by
reason of the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in exchange for the
Share Certificate so surrendered or establish to the satisfaction of the
Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.

                (d) After the Effective Time of the Mergers, there shall be no
further registration of transfers of shares of IPC Common Stock, IPC Systems
Common Stock or IXnet Common Stock. If, after the Effective Time of the Mergers,
Share Certificates are presented to a Surviving Corporation, they shall be
cancelled and exchanged for the applicable Merger Consideration provided for,
and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II.

                (e) Any portion of the applicable Merger Consideration made
available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(a) that remains
unclaimed by the holders of Share Certificates six months after the Effective
Time of the Mergers shall be returned to Parent, upon demand, and any such
holder who has not exchanged his Share Certificates for the applicable Merger
Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.05 prior to that time shall
thereafter look only to Parent for payment of the applicable Merger
Consideration, any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section
2.06 and any dividends payable pursuant to Section 2.05(f) in respect of his
shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be liable to any holder
of Share Certificates for any amount paid to a public official pursuant to
applicable abandoned property laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders
of Share Certificates seven years after the Effective Time of the Mergers (or
such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise
escheat to or become property of any governmental entity) shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, become the property of Parent free and clear of any
claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

                (f) No dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent
Common Stock issued in the Mergers shall be paid, and no voting rights with
respect to Parent Common Stock issued in the Mergers will be accorded, to the
holder of any unsurrendered Share Certificates until such certificates are
surrendered as provided in this Section 2.05. Subject to the effect of
applicable laws, following the surrender of such certificates, there shall be
paid, without interest, to the record holder of the Parent Common Stock issued
in exchange therefor at the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time of the Mergers
payable prior to or on the date of such surrender with respect to such whole
shares of Parent Common Stock and not previously paid, less the amount of any
withholding taxes (if any) which may be required thereon.

                SECTION 2.06 Fractional Shares. (a) No certificates or scrip
representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the
surrender for exchange of Share Certificates and such fractional share interests
will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to have any rights of a holder of
Parent Common Stock.

                (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each
holder of shares of IPC Systems Common Stock or IXnet Common Stock exchanged
pursuant to the Mergers


   15


                                                                              11


who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of
Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all Share Certificates delivered
by such holder) shall be entitled to receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without
interest) in an amount equal to the product of (i) such fractional part of a
share of Parent Common Stock and (ii) the average closing price of the Parent
Common Stock on NASDAQ for the 20 trading days prior to and ending on the
trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date (the "Average Price"). As
promptly as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid to holders of fractional interests, the Exchange Agent shall so
notify Parent, and Parent shall deposit such amount with the Exchange Agent and
shall cause the Exchange Agent to forward payments to such holders of fractional
interests subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof.

                SECTION 2.07 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any
Share 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 requested by Parent, the posting by such person of a
bond in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct as indemnity against any
claim that may be made against it or its subsidiaries with respect to such
certificate, the Exchange Agent will deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen
or destroyed certificate the applicable Merger Consideration with respect to the
shares of capital stock formerly represented thereby, any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, and any unpaid dividends or
distributions in respect of or on Parent Common Stock deliverable in respect
thereof pursuant to this Agreement.

                SECTION 2.08 Appraisal Rights. (a) Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, if provided for by applicable law, shares of IPC
Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the Intercompany Merger and that are owned by stockholders who have
properly perfected their rights of appraisal within the meaning of Section 262
of the DGCL (the "IPC Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into the right
to receive the Intercompany Merger Consideration with respect thereto, unless
and until such stockholders shall have failed to perfect their right of
appraisal under applicable law, but, instead, if provided by applicable law, the
holders thereof shall be entitled to payment of the appraised value of such IPC
Dissenting Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL. If any such holder
shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such
right of appraisal, each share of IPC Common Stock held by such stockholder
shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into the right to receive and
become exchangeable for, at the Effective Time of the Intercompany Merger, the
Intercompany Merger Consideration with respect thereto, in the manner provided
for in Section 2.01.

                (b) IPC shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for
appraisal filed pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL received by IPC, withdrawals
of such objections and any other instruments served or delivered in connection
with such demands pursuant to the DGCL and received by IPC and (B) the
opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
demands under the DGCL consistent with the obligations of IPC thereunder. IPC
shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, (x) make any payment
with respect to any such demand, (y) offer to settle or settle any such demand
or (z) waive any failure to timely


   16


                                                                              12


deliver a written demand for appraisal or timely take any other action to
perfect appraisal rights in accordance with the DGCL.

                                   ARTICLE III

                         Representations and Warranties

                SECTION 3.01 Representations and Warranties of IPC and IPC
Systems. Each of IPC and IPC Systems represents and warrants to Parent and GC
Merger Sub as follows:

                (a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. IPC and each of
        its subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good
        standing (with respect to jurisdictions which recognize the concept of
        good standing) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
        incorporated and has the requisite corporate power and authority to
        carry on its business as now being conducted, except where the failure
        to have such power and authority could not reasonably be expected to
        have an IPC Material Adverse Effect or an IXnet Material Adverse Effect
        (each as defined in Section 8.3). IPC and each of its subsidiaries is
        duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in
        each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership
        or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or licensing
        necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so
        qualified or licensed (individually or in the aggregate) would not be
        reasonably expected to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect. The Recent
        SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3.01(e) contain as exhibits
        complete and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and
        By-laws of each of IPC and IXnet, in each case as amended to the date of
        this Agreement.

                (b) Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of
        IPC are those listed in Section 3.01(b) of the disclosure schedule
        ("Disclosure Schedule") delivered to Parent by IPC at the time of
        execution of this Agreement. All the outstanding shares of capital stock
        of each such subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully paid and
        nonassessable and are owned (of record and beneficially) by IPC, by
        another subsidiary (wholly owned) of IPC or by IPC and another such
        subsidiary (wholly owned), free and clear of all pledges, claims, liens,
        charges, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature
        whatsoever (collectively, "Liens"), except as set forth in Section
        3.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedule. Except for the ownership interests
        set forth in Section 3.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent
        SEC Documents, IPC does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital
        stock or other ownership interest, and does not have any option or
        similar right to acquire any assets or equity or other ownership
        interest, in any corporation, partnership, business association, joint
        venture or other entity. IPC directly owns all the issued and
        outstanding capital stock of IPC Systems and IPC Systems directly owns
        all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of IXnet that are
        beneficially owned by IPC.


   17


                                                                              13


                (c) Capital Structure. As of February 21, 2000, the authorized
        capital stock of IPC consists of (i) 25,000,000 shares of IPC Common
        Stock, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, each having a par
        value of one cent ($0.01) ("IPC Preferred Stock"). As of the close of
        business on February 21, 2000, there were (i) 8,823,151 shares of IPC
        Common Stock and 0 shares of IPC Preferred Stock issued and outstanding;
        (ii) 0 shares of IPC Common Stock held in the treasury of IPC; (iii) 40
        shares of IPC Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of
        authorized but unissued IPC Options pursuant to the Stock Plans; and
        (iv) 1,132,793 shares of IPC Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
        outstanding IPC Options. Section 3.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
        forth the name of each holder of outstanding options to acquire shares
        of IPC Common Stock, the number of options held and the exercise prices
        of such options. Except as set forth above, as of the date hereof, no
        shares of capital stock or other equity securities of IPC are issued,
        reserved for issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of capital
        stock of IPC are, and all shares which may be issued pursuant to the
        Stock Plans will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
        paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. Other than
        IPC Options, there are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other
        indebtedness or other securities of IPC having the right to vote (or
        convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, securities having
        the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of IPC may vote.
        Except as set forth above, there are no outstanding securities, options,
        warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements, arrangements or
        undertakings of any kind to which IPC or any of its subsidiaries is a
        party or by which any of them is bound obligating IPC or any of its
        subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered
        or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity or voting
        securities of IPC or of any of its subsidiaries or obligating IPC or any
        of its subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such
        security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement,
        arrangement or undertaking. Except as set forth in the Recent SEC
        Documents and except for such indebtedness which is not material to IPC,
        IPC and its subsidiaries have no indebtedness. Other than the Options,
        (i) there are no outstanding contractual obligations, commitments,
        understandings or arrangements of IPC or any of its subsidiaries to
        repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or make any payment in respect
        of any shares of capital stock of IPC or any of its subsidiaries and
        (ii) there are no irrevocable proxies with respect to shares of capital
        stock of IPC or any subsidiary of IPC. Except as set forth above or in
        Section 3.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent SEC
        Documents, there are no agreements or arrangements pursuant to which IPC
        is or could be required to register shares of IPC Common Stock or other
        securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
        Act"), or other agreements or arrangements with or among any
        securityholders of IPC with respect to securities of IPC. The authorized
        capital stock of IPC Merger Sub consists of 100 shares of common stock,
        par value $0.01 per share, all of which have been validly issued, are
        fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly by IPC, free and
        clear of any Lien.

                (d) Authority; Noncontravention. Each of IPC, IPC Systems and
        IPC Merger Sub has the requisite corporate and other power and authority
        to enter into this Agreement and, subject to the Stockholder Approvals,
        each of which is being obtained by written


   18


                                                                              14


        consent immediately following the execution of this Agreement, each of
        them has the requisite corporate and other power and authority to
        consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. After the
        delivery of the Stockholder Consents, no vote, approval or other action
        on the part of any holder of IPC Common Stock, IPC Systems Common Stock
        or IXnet Common Stock shall be required to adopt this Agreement and
        consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers.
        No corporate action is required to be taken by IXnet or its stockholders
        in connection with the consummation of the Intercompany Merger or the
        IPC Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by IPC, IPC
        Systems, IXnet and IPC Merger Sub and the consummation by them of the
        transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized
        by all necessary corporate action on the part of IPC, IPC Systems and
        IPC Merger Sub, subject, in the case of the IPC Merger and the
        Intercompany Merger to the IPC Systems Stockholder Approval and the IPC
        Stockholder Approval, respectively. This Agreement has been duly
        executed and delivered by each of IPC, IPC Systems, IXnet and IPC Merger
        Sub and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of IPC, IPC Systems,
        IXnet and IPC Merger Sub, enforceable against it in accordance with its
        terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
        insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or
        affecting creditors generally, by general equitable principles
        (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding
        in equity or at law) or by an implied covenant of good faith and fair
        dealing. Except as disclosed in Section 3.01(d) of the Disclosure
        Schedule, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Voting
        Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
        hereby and thereby and compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof
        will not (including the delivery of the Stockholder Consents), conflict
        with, or result in any breach or violation of, or default (with or
        without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right
        of termination, cancellation or acceleration of or "put" right with
        respect to any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or
        result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets
        of IPC or any of its subsidiaries under, (i) the Certificate of
        Incorporation or By-laws of IPC or the comparable charter or
        organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any loan or
        credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other
        agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license
        applicable to IPC or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
        properties or assets or (iii) subject to the governmental filings and
        other matters referred to in the following sentence, any judgment,
        order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or arbitration
        award applicable to IPC or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
        properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii),
        any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, rights, losses or
        Liens that individually or in the aggregate could not be reasonably
        expected to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval,
        order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with,
        or notice to, any Federal, state or local government or any court,
        administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or
        agency, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity"), is required by or
        with respect to IPC or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the
        execution and delivery of this Agreement by IPC, IPC Systems, IXnet or
        IPC Merger Sub, as applicable, or the consummation by IPC, IPC Systems,
        IXnet or IPC Merger Sub of the


   19


                                                                              15


        transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the delivery of
        the Stockholder Consents), except, with respect to this Agreement, for
        (i) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by IPC and
        IXnet under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
        amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing with the SEC of (y) Information
        Statements (as defined herein) relating to each of the Mergers, and (z)
        such reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
        "Exchange Act"), as may be required in connection with this Agreement,
        the Voting Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
        thereby, (iii) the filing of the Certificates of Merger with the
        Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the filing of
        appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in
        which IPC or IXnet is qualified to do business and (iv) such other
        consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
        declarations, filings or notices as are set forth in Section 3.01(d) of
        the Disclosure Schedule.

                (e) SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. IPC and, to the
        extent applicable, its subsidiaries have filed all required reports,
        schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the Securities and
        Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since October 1, 1998, and IPC has
        delivered or made available to Parent all reports, schedules, forms,
        statements and other documents filed by IPC and, to the extent
        applicable, its subsidiaries with the SEC since such date (collectively,
        and in each case including all exhibits and schedules thereto and
        documents incorporated by reference therein, the "SEC Documents"). As of
        their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material
        respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange
        Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC
        promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC Documents, and none of the
        SEC Documents (including any and all financial statements included
        therein) as of such dates (and, if amended or superseded by a filing
        prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing)
        contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
        material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
        make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
        they were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements
        (including the related notes) of IPC and of IXnet included in all SEC
        Documents filed since October 1, 1998 (the "SEC Financial Statements")
        comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
        requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
        respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally
        accepted accounting principles (except, in the case of unaudited
        consolidated quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC)
        applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may
        be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated
        financial position of IPC and its consolidated subsidiaries or IXnet and
        its consolidated subsidiaries as the case may be as of the dates thereof
        and the consolidated results of their respective operations and cash
        flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited
        quarterly statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments that have not
        been and are not expected to be material in amount). Except as set forth
        in Schedule 3.01(e), at the date of the most recent audited financial
        statements of IPC included in the SEC Documents filed by IPC or its
        subsidiaries since October 1, 1998 and prior to the date of this
        Agreement (the "Recent SEC Documents"), neither IPC nor any


   20


                                                                              16


        of its subsidiaries had, and since such date neither IPC nor any of such
        subsidiaries incurred, any liabilities or obligations of any nature
        (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) which, individually
        or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have an IPC
        Material Adverse Effect. To the best of IPC's knowledge, (i) all
        historical financial statements supplied to Parent by IPC for periods
        subsequent to December 31, 1999 have been prepared in accordance with
        generally accepted accounting principles (except as permitted by Form
        10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
        involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly
        present the consolidated financial position of IPC and its consolidated
        subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of
        their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject to
        normal year-end adjustments that have not been and are not expected to
        be material in amount) and (ii) all financial data so supplied for such
        periods is true and accurate in all material respects.

                (f) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to
        be supplied by IPC for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i)
        the Forms S-4 (as defined in Section 5.01) will, at the time each Form
        S-4 is filed with the SEC, and at any time it is amended or supplemented
        or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain
        any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
        fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
        therein not misleading, and (ii) each Information Statement/Prospectus
        (as defined in Section 5.01(a)) will, at the date it is first mailed to
        IPC's stockholders or IXnet's stockholders, as the case may be, or at
        the time of the IPC Stockholder Meeting (as defined in Section 5.01(b))
        or the IXnet Stockholder Meeting, as the case may be, 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 Forms S-4 and the Information Statement/Prospectuses
        will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
        the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
        promulgated thereunder, except that no representation is made by IPC
        with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein
        based on information supplied by Parent or its subsidiaries for
        inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Forms S-4 and the
        Information Statement/Prospectuses.

                (g) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in
        Section 3.01(g) of the Disclosure Schedule or except as included in the
        Recent SEC Documents, since October 1, 1998, IPC has conducted its
        business in all material respects only in the ordinary course consistent
        with past practice and there is not and has not been any condition,
        event or occurrence which, individually or in the aggregate, would
        reasonably be expected to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect or an
        IXnet Material Adverse Effect.

                (h) Litigation; Labor Matters; Compliance with Laws. (i) Except
        as disclosed in the Recent SEC Documents, there are no suits, actions,
        complaints, charges, arbitrations, inquiries, counterclaims, proceedings
        or governmental or internal investigations pending


   21


                                                                              17


        or, to the knowledge of IPC, threatened in writing against or affecting
        IPC or any of its subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate,
        would reasonably be expected to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect; in
        addition, there is not any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order
        of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against IPC or any
        of its subsidiaries having, or which could reasonably be expected to
        have any such effect.

                (ii) Except as disclosed in Section 3.01(h)(ii) of the
        Disclosure Schedule, (A) neither IPC nor any of its subsidiaries is a
        party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement, contract or
        other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor
        organization, (B) neither IPC nor any of its subsidiaries is the subject
        of any proceeding asserting that it or any subsidiary has committed an
        unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to bargain with any labor
        organization as to wages or conditions of employment nor is such unfair
        labor practice threatened or otherwise affecting IPC or any of its
        subsidiaries, (C) there is not any strike, work stoppage, dispute,
        lockout or other labor controversy involving it or any of its
        subsidiaries pending or, to its knowledge, threatened, any of which
        would reasonably be expected to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect; (D)
        no representation question exists or has been raised respecting any of
        the Company's employees or any of its subsidiaries' employees within the
        past three years, nor to the knowledge of IPC are there any campaigns
        being conducted to solicit cards from employees of IPC or any of its
        subsidiaries to authorize representation by any labor organization; (E)
        neither IPC nor any of its subsidiaries has closed any plant or
        facility, effectuated any layoffs of employees or implemented any early
        retirement, separation or window program within the past three years,
        nor has IPC or any of its subsidiaries planned or announced any such
        action or program for the future; (F) neither IPC nor any of its
        subsidiaries shall, at any time within the 90-day period prior to the
        Closing Date, effectuate a "plant closing" or "mass layoff", as those
        terms are defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
        Act of 1988, as amended ("WARN"), or any state law, affecting in whole
        of in part any site of employment, facility, operating unit or employee;
        and (G) the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with their
        obligations pursuant to WARN, and all other notification and bargaining
        obligations arising under any collective bargaining agreement, statute
        or otherwise.

                (iii) The conduct of the business of each of IPC and each of its
        subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of IPC, its contractors complies with
        all statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders,
        decrees or arbitration awards applicable thereto, including the Foreign
        Corrupt Practices Act, except for violations or failures so to comply,
        if any, that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
        expected to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect.

                (i) Absence of Changes with respect to Employees and Employee
        Benefit Plans. Except as set forth in Section 3.01(i) of the Disclosure
        Schedule or in the Recent SEC Documents, since September 1, 1999, there
        has not been any (i) increase in the compensation or fringe benefits of
        any present or former director or Employee (as defined in Section
        3.01(j) hereof) whose base salary equals or is in excess of $100,000 per
        annum


   22


                                                                              18


        as of September 1, 1999, of IPC or any subsidiary thereof (except for
        increases in salary or wages in the ordinary course of business
        consistent with past practice), (ii) grant of any severance or
        termination pay to any present or former director or Employee whose base
        salary equals or is in excess of $100,000 per annum as of September 1,
        1999, of IPC or any subsidiary thereof (except in the ordinary course of
        business consistent with past practice or as required by law or
        agreements or plans in effect as of September 1, 1999), (iii) loan or
        advance of money or other property by IPC or any subsidiary thereof to
        any of their present or former directors or Employees which is
        outstanding as of the date hereof; or (iv) establishment, adoption,
        entrance into, amendment or termination of any IPC Plan (as defined in
        Section 3.01(j) hereof).

                (j) (i) Except as set forth therein, Section 3.01(j)(i) of the
        Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each "employee
        benefit plan" (within the meaning of section 3(3) of the Employee
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), including,
        without limitation, multiemployer plans within the meaning of ERISA
        section 3(37)), and all stock purchase, stock option, consulting,
        severance, employment, change-in-control, termination, indemnification,
        fringe benefit, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred
        compensation and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs,
        policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA
        (including any funding mechanism therefor now in effect or required in
        the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
        Agreement or otherwise), whether formal or informal, oral or written,
        legally binding or not, under which any current or former director or
        any employee or former employee of IPC or any subsidiary thereof (the
        "Employees") has any present or future right to benefits, sponsored or
        maintained by IPC or its subsidiaries or under which IPC or any
        subsidiary thereof has had or has any present or future liability. All
        such plans, agreements, programs, policies and arrangements shall be
        collectively referred to as the "IPC Plans".

                        (ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.10(j)(ii) of the
        Disclosure Schedule, with respect to each IPC Plan, IPC has made
        available to Parent a current, accurate and complete copy (or, to the
        extent no such copy exists, an accurate description) thereof and, to the
        extent applicable: (A) any related trust agreement or other funding
        instrument; (B) the most recent determination letter, if applicable; (C)
        any summary plan description and other written communications (or a
        description of any oral communications) by IPC or any subsidiary thereof
        to their employees concerning the extent of the benefits provided under
        an IPC Plan; and (D) with respect to each employee pension plan, for the
        three (3) most recent years (I) the Form 5500 and attached schedules,
        (II) audited financial statements, (III) actuarial valuation reports and
        (IV) attorney's response to an auditor's request for information.

                        (iii) (A) Each IPC Plan has been established and
        administered in accordance with its terms, and in compliance with the
        applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable laws,
        rules and regulations; (B) each IPC Plan which is intended to be
        qualified within the meaning of Code section 401(a) is so qualified and
        has received a favorable determination letter as to its qualification,
        and nothing has occurred,


   23


                                                                              19


        whether by action or failure to act, that would reasonably be expected
        to cause the loss of such qualification; (C) no event has occurred and
        no condition exists that would subject IPC or any subsidiary thereof,
        either directly or by reason of their affiliation with any member of
        their "Controlled Group" (defined as any organization which is a member
        of a controlled group of organizations within the meaning of Code
        sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)), to any tax, fine, lien, penalty or
        other liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable laws,
        rules and regulations; (D) for each IPC Plan with respect to which a
        Form 5500 has been filed, no material change has occurred with respect
        to the matters covered by the most recent Form since the date thereof;
        (E) no "reportable event" (as such term is defined in ERISA section
        4043), "prohibited transaction" (as such term is defined in ERISA
        section 406 and Code section 4975) or "accumulated funding deficiency"
        (as such term is defined in ERISA section 302 and Code section 412
        (whether or not waived)) has occurred with respect to any IPC Plan; (F)
        no IPC Plan provides retiree welfare benefits and neither IPC nor any
        subsidiary thereof has any obligations to provide any retiree welfare
        benefits, other than those mandated by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
        Reconciliation Act of 1995; and (G) except as set forth in Section
        3.01(j)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule, all awards, grants or bonuses
        made pursuant to any IPC Plan have been, or will be, fully deductible to
        IPC or its subsidiaries notwithstanding the provisions of Section 162(m)
        of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
        provided that with respect to each IPC Plan that is a multi-employer
        plan, the representations contained in this Section 3.01(j)(iii) are
        made to the knowledge of IPC.

                        (iv) There are no IPC Plans (that are not multiemployer
        plans) which are subject to Title IV of ERISA.

                        (v) With respect to any multiemployer plan (within the
        meaning of ERISA section 4001(a)(3)) to which IPC, any subsidiary
        thereof, or any member of their Controlled Group has any liability or
        contributes (or has at any time contributed or had an obligation to
        contribute): (A) none of IPC, any subsidiary thereof, or any member of
        their Controlled Group has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title
        IV of ERISA, or to the best knowledge of IPC, would be subject to such
        liability if, as of the Closing Date, IPC, any of its subsidiaries or
        any member of their Controlled Group were to engage in a complete
        withdrawal (as defined in ERISA section 4203) or partial withdrawal (as
        defined in ERISA section 4205) from any such multiemployer plan; and (B)
        to the best knowledge of IPC, no such multiemployer plan is in
        reorganization or insolvent (as those terms are defined in ERISA
        sections 4241 and 4245, respectively).

                        (vi) With respect to any IPC Plan other than a
        multiemployer plan, and to the best knowledge of IPC with respect to any
        multiemployer plan, (A) no actions, suits or claims (other than routine
        claims for benefits in the ordinary course) are pending or threatened,
        (B) no facts or circumstances exist that could give rise to any such
        actions, suits or claims, and (C) no administrative investigation, audit
        or other administrative proceeding by the Department of Labor, the
        Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the


   24


                                                                              20


        Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental agency is pending,
        threatened or in progress.

                        (vii) Except as set forth in Section 3.01(j)(vii) of the
        Disclosure Schedule, no IPC Plan exists that, as a result of the
        transaction contemplated by this Agreement, could result in the payment
        to any current or former Employee or director of IPC or any subsidiary
        thereof of any money or other property or could result in the
        acceleration or provision of any other rights or benefits to any current
        or former Employee or director of IPC or any subsidiary thereof, whether
        or not such payment, right or benefit would constitute a parachute
        payment within the meaning of Code section 280G.

                (k) Tax Returns and Tax Payments. IPC and each of its
        subsidiaries, and any consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group
        for Tax purposes of which IPC or any of its subsidiaries is or has been
        a member (a "Consolidated Group") has timely filed all Tax Returns
        required to be filed by it and all such Tax Returns are correct and
        complete in all material respects. All Taxes shown on such Tax Returns
        have been timely paid, and IPC and each of its subsidiaries has timely
        paid or accrued all Taxes for which a notice of assessment or collection
        has been received (other than amounts being contested in good faith by
        appropriate proceedings). IPC and its subsidiaries have made adequate
        provision (to the extent required by, and in accordance with generally
        accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")) for all Taxes payable for any
        periods that end before the Effective Time of the Mergers for which no
        Tax Returns have yet been filed and for any periods that begin before
        the Effective Time of the Mergers and end after the Effective Time of
        the Mergers to the extent such Taxes are attributable to the portion of
        any such period ending at the Effective Time of the Mergers, and the
        charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes reflected in the financial
        statements of IPC and its subsidiaries are adequate under GAAP to cover
        the Tax liability accruing or payable by IPC and its subsidiaries in
        respect of periods prior to the date hereof. Except as set forth in
        Section 3.01(k) of the Disclosure Schedule: (i) no material claim for
        unpaid Taxes has become a lien against the property of IPC or any of its
        subsidiaries or is being asserted in writing against IPC or any of its
        subsidiaries, (ii) neither IPC nor any of its subsidiaries is delinquent
        in the payment of any Tax and have not requested or filed any document
        having the effect of causing any extension of time within which to file
        any Tax Returns in respect of any fiscal year which have not since been
        filed, (iii) no material audit or other proceeding with respect to any
        Taxes due from IPC or any of its subsidiaries or any Tax Return of IPC
        or any of its subsidiaries is pending, threatened, to IPC's knowledge,
        or being conducted by a Tax authority, (iv) no extension of the statute
        of limitations on the assessment of any Taxes has been granted by IPC
        nor any of its subsidiaries and is currently in effect, (v) neither IPC
        or any of its subsidiaries (A) has been a member of a Consolidated Group
        filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the
        common parent of which was IPC) or (B) has any liability for the Taxes
        of any person (other than IPC and its subsidiaries), including liability
        arising from the application of Treasury Regulation section 1.1502-6 or
        any analogous provision of state, local or foreign law, or as a
        transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise, (vi) no consent
        under Section 341(f) of the Code has been filed with respect to IPC or
        any of its subsidiaries,


   25


                                                                              21


        and (vii) all Taxes required to be withheld, collected or deposited by
        or with respect to IPC and each of its subsidiaries have been timely
        withheld, collected or deposited, as the case may be, and, to the extent
        required, have been paid to the relevant taxing authority. As used
        herein, "Taxes" shall mean all taxes of any kind, including those on or
        measured by or referred to as income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
        valorem, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment,
        excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, value added, property or
        windfall profits taxes, customs, duties or similar fees, assessments or
        charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any
        penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any
        governmental authority, domestic or foreign. As used herein, "Tax
        Return" shall mean any return, report or statement required to be filed
        with any Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes.

                (l) Board Approval; Section 203 of the DGCL. The Board of
        Directors of IPC has, prior to the execution hereof and prior to the
        execution of the Voting Agreement, (i) approved the execution and
        delivery by IPC of this Agreement, and the execution and delivery by the
        parties thereto of the Voting Agreement and the consummation of the
        Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
        the Voting Agreement. Section 203 of the DGCL is inapplicable to this
        Agreement, the Mergers, the Voting Agreement and the other transactions
        contemplated hereby and thereby with respect to both IPC and IXnet. No
        state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation of the State of
        Delaware or of any other state or jurisdiction applies or purports to
        apply to this Agreement, the Mergers, the Voting Agreement, the
        Stockholder Consents or any of the other transactions contemplated
        hereby or thereby and (z) no provision of the certificate of
        incorporation, by-laws or other governing instruments of IPC or any of
        its subsidiaries or the terms of any rights plan or preferred stock of
        IPC or any of its subsidiaries would, directly or indirectly, restrict
        or impair the ability of Parent to vote, or otherwise to exercise the
        rights of a stockholder with respect to, securities of IPC and its
        subsidiaries that may be acquired or controlled by Parent or permit any
        stockholder to acquire securities of IPC, IPC Systems, IXnet or any
        Surviving Corporation on a basis not available to Parent in the event
        that Parent were to acquire securities of IPC, IPC Systems or IXnet. The
        Board of Directors of IPC Merger Sub has duly approved this Agreement
        and the IXnet Merger and declared this Agreement advisable.

                (m) Environmental Matters. (i) Except as disclosed in Section
        3.01(m) of the Disclosure Schedule:

                        (A) IPC and its subsidiaries including their
                predecessors and their properties (I) are in compliance in all
                material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws; (II)
                hold all material Environmental Permits (each of which is in
                full force and effect) required for any of their current or
                intended operations or for any property owned, leased, or
                otherwise operated by any of them; (III) are in compliance in
                all material respects with all of their Environmental Permits;
                and (IV) reasonably believe that: each of their Environmental
                Permits will be timely renewed and complied with, without
                material expense; any additional Environmental Permits that may
                be required of any of them will be timely


   26


                                                                              22


                obtained and complied with, without material expense; and
                compliance with any Environmental Law that is or is expected to
                become applicable to any of them will be timely attained and
                maintained, without material expense;

                        (B) None of IPC and its subsidiaries has received any
                Environmental Claim, and none of IPC and its subsidiaries is
                aware, after reasonable inquiry, of any threatened Environmental
                Claim or of any circumstances, conditions or events that would
                reasonably be expected to give rise to an Environmental Claim,
                against IPC or any of its subsidiaries, in each case that,
                individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
                to have an IPC Material Adverse Effect;

                        (C) None of IPC and its subsidiaries has entered into or
                agreed to any consent decree or order under any Environmental
                Law, and none of IPC and its subsidiaries is subject to any
                judgment, decree or order of any governmental authority relating
                to compliance with any Environmental Law or to investigation,
                cleanup, remediation or removal of regulated substances under
                any Environmental Law;

                        (D) There are no (I) underground storage tanks, (II)
                polychlorinated biphenyls, (III) asbestos or asbestos-containing
                materials or (IV) Hazardous Materials present at any facility
                currently or, to the knowledge of IPC, formerly owned, leased or
                operated by IPC or any of its subsidiaries that would reasonably
                be expected to give rise to material liability of IPC or any of
                its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws;

                        (E) There are no past (including, to the knowledge of
                IPC, with respect to assets or businesses formerly owned, leased
                or operated by IPC or any of its subsidiaries) or present
                actions, activities, events, conditions or circumstances,
                including the release, threatened release, emission, discharge,
                generation, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous
                Materials, that would reasonably be expected to give rise to
                material liability of IPC or any of its subsidiaries under any
                Environmental Laws or any contract or agreement; and

                        (F) None of IPC and its subsidiaries has assumed or
                retained, by contract or, to the knowledge of IPC, operation of
                law, any material liabilities of any kind, fixed or contingent,
                under any Environmental Law or with respect to any Hazardous
                Material or Environmental Claim.

                (ii) The items on Section 3.01(m) of the Disclosure Schedule,
        individually and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
        have an IPC Material Adverse Effect.

                (iii) IPC has provided or made available to Parent true and
        complete copies of all Environmental Reports in its possession or
        control.


   27


                                                                              23


                (iv) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall
        have the following meanings:

                                "Environmental Claim" means any written notice,
                        claim, demand, action, suit, complaint, proceeding or
                        other communication by any person alleging liability or
                        potential liability (including liability or potential
                        liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs,
                        governmental response costs, natural resource damages,
                        property damage, personal injury, fines or penalties)
                        arising out of, relating to, based on or resulting from
                        (i) the presence, discharge, emission, release or
                        threatened release of any Hazardous Materials at any
                        location, whether or not owned, leased or operated by
                        IPC or any of its subsidiaries, or Parent or any of its
                        subsidiaries, as the case may be, or (ii) any
                        Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.

                                "Environmental Laws" means any and all laws,
                        rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances,
                        guidelines, codes, decrees, or other legally enforceable
                        requirement (including common law) of any foreign
                        government, the United States, or any state, local,
                        municipal or other governmental authority, regulating,
                        relating to or imposing liability or standards of
                        conduct concerning protection of the environment or of
                        human health, or employee health and safety, as has
                        been, is now, or may at any time hereafter be, in
                        effect.

                                "Environmental Permits" means any and all
                        permits, licenses, approvals, registrations,
                        notifications, exemptions and any other authorization
                        required under any Environmental Law.

                                "Environmental Report" means any report, study,
                        assessment, audit, or other similar document that
                        addresses any issue of actual or potential noncompliance
                        with, or actual or potential liability under or cost
                        arising out of, any Environmental Law that may in any
                        way affect IPC or any of its subsidiaries.

                                "Hazardous Materials" means any gasoline or
                        petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof)
                        or petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls,
                        urea-formaldehyde insulation, asbestos, pollutants,
                        contaminants, radioactivity, and any other substances or
                        forces of any kind, whether or not any such substance or
                        force is defined as hazardous or toxic under any
                        Environmental Law, that is regulated pursuant to or
                        could give rise to liability under any Environmental
                        Law.

                (n) Material Contract Defaults; Non-Competes. (i) IPC has
        provided or made available to Parent copies, and has provided a true and
        correct list to Parent, of all material contracts, agreements,
        commitments, arrangements, leases, licenses, policies or


   28


                                                                              24


        other instruments to which it or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
        by which it or any such subsidiary is bound ("IPC Material Contracts").
        Neither IPC nor any of its subsidiaries is, or has received any notice
        or has any knowledge that any other party is, in default or unable to
        perform in any respect under any such IPC Material Contract, including
        any license or agreement relating to intellectual property, except for
        those defaults which could not reasonably be expected, either
        individually or in the aggregate, to have an IPC Material Adverse
        Effect; and there has not occurred any event that with the lapse of time
        or the giving of notice or both would constitute such a material
        default.

                        (ii) Except as disclosed in Section 3.01(n) of the
                Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent SEC Documents, neither IPC
                nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any agreement that
                expressly limits the ability of IPC or any of its subsidiaries
                to compete in or conduct any line of business or compete with
                any person in any geographic area or during any period of time.

                (o) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
        other person other than Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Donaldson, Lufkin
        & Jenrette Securities Corporation is entitled to any broker's, finder's,
        financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection
        with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
        arrangements made by or on behalf of IPC.

                (p) Opinion of Financial Advisor. IPC has received the opinions
        of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
        Corporation, each dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that,
        as of the date thereof, the IPC Merger Exchange Ratio is fair, from a
        financial point of view, to the holders of IPC Common Stock.

                (q) Board Recommendation. The Board of Directors of IPC, at a
        meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that this Agreement and
        the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers, and the
        Voting Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, taken
        together, are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of
        IPC, and (ii) declared this Agreement advisable and resolved to
        recommend that the holders of the shares of IPC Common Stock adopt this
        Agreement.

                (r) Required Votes. The IPC Stockholder Approval, being the
        affirmative approval, by vote or written consent, of a majority of the
        outstanding shares of IPC Common Stock, is the only vote of the holders
        of any class or series of IPC's securities necessary to adopt the Merger
        Agreement and approve the Mergers and the other transactions
        contemplated hereby. There is no vote of the holders of any class or
        series of IPC's securities necessary to approve the Voting Agreement or
        the transactions contemplated thereby. The affirmative approval, by vote
        or written consent, of a majority of the outstanding shares of IPC
        Systems Common Stock to adopt this Agreement (the "IPC Systems
        Stockholder Approval") is the only vote of the holders of any class or
        series of IPC Systems' securities necessary to adopt the Merger
        Agreement and approve the Mergers and the other transactions
        contemplated hereby.


   29


                                                                              25


                (s) Properties. Except as disclosed in Section 3.01(s) of the
        Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent SEC Documents, each of IPC and its
        subsidiaries (i) has good and marketable title to all the properties and
        assets reflected in the latest audited balance sheet included in the
        Recent SEC Documents as being owned by IPC or one of its subsidiaries or
        acquired after the date thereof which are, individually or in the
        aggregate, material to IPC's business on a consolidated basis (except
        properties sold or otherwise disposed of since the date thereof in the
        ordinary course of business), free and clear of (A) all Liens except (1)
        statutory liens securing payments not yet delinquent and (2) such
        imperfections or irregularities of title, or other Liens (other than
        real property mortgages or deeds of trust) as do not materially and
        adversely affect the current use of the properties or assets subject
        thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair business
        operations currently conducted at such properties, (B) all real property
        mortgages and deeds of trust and (C) the Liens disclosed in Section
        3.01(s) of the Disclosure Schedule and (ii) is the lessee of all
        leasehold estates reflected in Section 3.01(s) of the Disclosure
        Schedule hereto or acquired after the date thereof which are material to
        its business on a consolidated basis and is in possession of the
        properties purported to be leased thereunder, and each such lease is in
        full force and effect and is valid without material default (and the
        lessee has not received any written notice of default, whether or not
        material) thereunder by the lessee or, to IPC's knowledge, the lessor.

                (t) Intellectual Property. (i) Except as disclosed in the Recent
        SEC Documents, IPC has heretofore made available to Parent, with respect
        to the Intellectual Property owned, held or used by IPC or its
        subsidiaries ("IPC IP"), all material patents, registrations and
        applications relating thereto, all material unregistered copyrights,
        trademarks, service marks, brand names, corporate names, technology and
        inventions and each and every material license, sublicense,
        consent-to-use agreement and other agreement granting or obtaining any
        right to use or practice any rights under any IPC IP to which IPC and/or
        any of its subsidiaries is a party ("IPC IP Licenses").

                        (ii) Except as disclosed on Section 3.01(t)(ii) of the
        Disclosure Schedule, (1) IPC and/or any of its subsidiaries own or has
        the right to use all the Intellectual Property necessary for IPC and its
        subsidiaries to conduct their businesses as is currently conducted and
        consistent with past practice; (2) all of the material owned IPC IP is
        valid, enforceable and unexpired, is free of Liens, and has not been
        abandoned; (3) to IPC's knowledge, the IPC IP does not infringe or
        otherwise impair the Intellectual Property of any third party and is not
        being infringed or impaired by any third party; (4) no judgment, decree,
        injunction, rule or order has been rendered or, to the knowledge of IPC,
        is threatened by any Governmental Entity which would limit, cancel or
        question the validity of (or IPC or any subsidiary's right to own or
        use) any material IPC IP; (5) IPC takes all reasonable steps to protect,
        maintain and safeguard the material IPC IP, including executing all
        appropriate confidentiality agreements; (6) neither IPC and its
        subsidiaries, nor, to IPC's knowledge, any other party to an IP License,
        is alleged n writing to be, in breach or default thereunder, and IPC and
        its subsidiaries have not received any written notification from any
        third party that there is any such breach or default; (7) the
        transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall in no material way
        impair or limit the


   30


                                                                              26


        rights of IPC or any of its subsidiaries under any IP License, or cause
        any material payments to be due thereunder.

                        For the purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual
        Property" shall mean all U.S., state and foreign intellectual property,
        including without limitation all (1) (A) inventions, discoveries,
        processes, designs, techniques, developments, technology, and related
        improvements and know-how, whether or not patented or patentable; (B)
        copyrights and works of authorship in any media, including computer
        programs, software programs, databases and related items, advertising
        and promotional materials (including graphics and text), and Internet
        site content; (C) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names,
        corporate names, domain names, logos, trade dress and all elements
        thereof, the goodwill of any business symbolized thereby, and all
        common-law rights relating thereto; (D) trade secrets and other
        confidential information; (2) all registrations, applications,
        recordings, and licenses or other agreements related thereto; (3) all
        rights to obtain renewals, extensions, continuations,
        continuations-in-part, reissues, divisions or similar legal protections
        related thereto; and (4) rights to bring an action at law or in equity
        for the infringement or other impairment of the foregoing before the
        Closing Date, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages
        therefrom.

                (u) Transactions with Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the
        Recent SEC Documents and as set forth on Section 3.01(u) of the
        Disclosure Schedule and in the SEC Documents, from October 1, 1998
        through the date of this Agreement, there has been no transaction,
        agreement, arrangement or understanding, or any related series thereof,
        between IPC or its subsidiaries or contractors, on the one hand, and
        IPC's affiliates (other than wholly-owned (excluding directors' and
        nominee shares) subsidiaries of IPC), on the other hand, in which the
        amount or value involved exceeded $60,000.

                SECTION 3.02 Representations and Warranties of IXnet. IXnet
represents and warrants to Parent and GC Merger Sub as follows:

                (a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Each of IXnet
        and each of its subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in
        good standing (with respect to jurisdictions which recognize the concept
        of good standing) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
        incorporated and has the requisite corporate power and authority to
        carry on its business as now being conducted, except where the failure
        to have such power and authority could not reasonably be expected to
        have an IXnet Material Adverse Effect. Each of IXnet and each of its
        subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good
        standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the
        ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or
        licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure
        to be so qualified or licensed (individually or in the aggregate) would
        not be reasonably expected to have an IXnet Material Adverse Effect. The
        Recent IXnet SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3.02(e)) contain as
        exhibits complete and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation
        and By-laws of IXnet, in each case as amended to the date of this
        Agreement.


   31


                                                                              27


                (b) Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of
        IXnet are those listed in Section 3.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedule.
        All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each such subsidiary have
        been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned
        (of record and beneficially) by IXnet, by another subsidiary (wholly
        owned) of IXnet or by IXnet and another such subsidiary (wholly owned),
        free and clear of all Liens, except as set forth in Section 3.01(b) of
        the Disclosure Schedule. Except for the ownership interests set forth in
        Section 3.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent IXnet SEC
        Documents, IXnet does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock
        or other ownership interest, and does not have any option or similar
        right to acquire any assets or equity or other ownership interest, in
        any corporation, partnership, business association, joint venture or
        other entity.

                (c) Capital Structure. As of February 21, 2000, the authorized
        capital stock of IXnet consists of 100,000,000 shares of IXnet Common
        Stock. As of the close of business on February 21, 2000, there were (i)
        51,148,867 shares of IXnet Common Stock were issued and outstanding;
        (ii) 0 shares of IXnet Common Stock held in the treasury of IXnet; (iii)
        907,557 shares of IXnet Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise
        of authorized but unissued IXnet Options pursuant to the Stock Plans;
        and (iv) 9,053,409 shares of IXnet Common Stock issuable upon exercise
        of outstanding IXnet Options. Section 3.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule
        sets forth the name of each holder of outstanding options to acquire
        shares of IXnet Common Stock, the number of options held and the
        exercise prices of such options. Except as set forth above, no shares of
        capital stock or other equity securities of IXnet are authorized,
        issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of
        capital stock of IXnet are, and all shares which may be issued pursuant
        to the Stock Plans will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly
        issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive
        rights. Other than the IXnet Options, there are no outstanding bonds,
        debentures, notes or other indebtedness or other securities of IXnet
        having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable or
        exercisable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on
        which stockholders of IXnet may vote. Except as set forth above, there
        are no outstanding securities, options, warrants, calls, rights,
        commitments, agreements, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to
        which IXnet or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
        them is bound obligating IXnet or any of its subsidiaries to issue,
        deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional
        shares of capital stock or other equity or voting securities of IXnet or
        of any of its subsidiaries or obligating IXnet or any of its
        subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security,
        option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement, arrangement or
        undertaking. Except as set forth in the Recent IXnet SEC Documents and
        except for such indebtedness which is not material to IXnet, IXnet and
        its subsidiaries have no indebtedness. Other than the IXnet Options, (i)
        there are no outstanding contractual obligations, commitments,
        understandings or arrangements of IXnet or any of its subsidiaries to
        repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or make any payment in respect
        of any shares of capital stock of IXnet or any of its subsidiaries and
        (ii) there are no irrevocable proxies with respect to shares of capital
        stock of IXnet or any subsidiary of IXnet. Except as set forth above or
        in Section 3.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent IXnet SEC
        Documents, there


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        are no agreements or arrangements pursuant to which IXnet is or could be
        required to register shares of IXnet Common Stock or other securities
        under the Securities Act or other agreements or arrangements with or
        among any securityholders of IXnet with respect to securities of IXnet.

                (d) Authority; Noncontravention. IXnet has the requisite
        corporate and other power and authority to enter into this Agreement
        and, subject to the IXnet Stockholder Approval with respect to the
        consummation of the IXnet Merger, which is being obtained by written
        consent immediately following the execution of this Agreement, to
        consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Other than in its
        capacity as a stockholder of IXnet, no corporate action is required to
        be taken by IPC or its stockholders in connection with the consummation
        of the IXnet Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
        IXnet and the consummation by IXnet of the transactions contemplated
        hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
        the part of IXnet, subject, in the case of the IXnet Merger, to the
        IXnet Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and
        delivered by IXnet and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
        IXnet, enforceable against IXnet in accordance with its terms, except as
        such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
        reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting
        creditors generally, by general equitable principles (regardless of
        whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
        at law) or by an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Except
        as disclosed in Section 3.01(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, the
        execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of
        the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the
        provisions hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any breach or
        violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or
        both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
        acceleration of or "put" right with respect to any obligation or to loss
        of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon
        any of the properties or assets of IXnet or any of its subsidiaries
        under, (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of IXnet or the
        comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its
        subsidiaries, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
        indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession,
        franchise or license applicable to IXnet or any of its subsidiaries or
        their respective properties or assets or (iii) subject to the
        governmental filings and other matters referred to in the following
        sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule,
        regulation or arbitration award applicable to IXnet or any of its
        subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in
        the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, breaches,
        violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens that individually or in
        the aggregate could not be reasonably expected to have an IXnet Material
        Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
        registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental
        Entity, is required by or with respect to IXnet or any of its
        subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this
        Agreement by IXnet or the consummation by IXnet of the transactions
        contemplated hereby, except, with respect to this Agreement, for (i) the
        filing of a premerger notification and report form by IXnet under the
        HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (y) Information Statements
        relating to the Mergers, and (z) such


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        reports under the Exchange Act, as may be required in connection with
        this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
        (iii) the filing of the Certificates of Merger with the Secretary of
        State of the State of Delaware and the filing of appropriate documents
        with the relevant authorities of other states in which IXnet is
        qualified to do business and (iv) such other consents, approvals,
        orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings or notices
        as are set forth in Section 3.01(d) of the Disclosure Schedule.

                (e) SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. IXnet and, to the
        extent applicable, its subsidiaries have filed all required reports,
        schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC since
        October 1, 1998, and IXnet has delivered or made available to Parent all
        reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by IXnet
        and, to the extent applicable, its subsidiaries with the SEC since such
        date (collectively, and in each case including all exhibits and
        schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, the
        "IXnet SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the IXnet SEC
        Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
        Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules
        and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such
        IXnet SEC Documents, and none of the IXnet SEC Documents (including any
        and all financial statements included therein) as of such dates (and, if
        amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement,
        then on the date of such filing) contained any untrue statement of a
        material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
        therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
        of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
        consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of IXnet
        included in all IXnet SEC Documents filed since October 1, 1998 (the
        "IXnet SEC Financial Statements") comply as to form in all material
        respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules
        and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in
        accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except, in the
        case of unaudited consolidated quarterly statements, as permitted by
        Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
        involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly
        present the consolidated financial position of IXnet and its
        consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
        results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
        (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal
        year-end audit adjustments that have not been and are not expected to be
        material in amount). Except as set forth in Schedule 3.01(e), at the
        date of the most recent audited financial statements of IXnet included
        in the IXnet SEC Documents filed by IXnet or its subsidiaries since
        October 1, 1998 and prior to the date of this Agreement (the "Recent
        IXnet SEC Documents"), neither IXnet nor any of its subsidiaries had,
        and since such date neither IXnet nor any of such subsidiaries incurred,
        any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute,
        contingent or otherwise) which, individually or in the aggregate, would
        reasonably be expected to have an IXnet Material Adverse Effect. To the
        best of IXnet's knowledge, (i) all historical financial statements
        supplied to Parent by IXnet for periods subsequent to December 31, 1999
        have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
        principles (except as permitted by Form 10-Q of the


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        SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except
        as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the
        consolidated financial position of IXnet and its consolidated
        subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of
        their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject to
        normal year-end adjustments that have not been and are not expected to
        be material in amount) and (ii) all financial data so supplied for such
        periods is true and accurate in all material respects.

                (f) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to
        be supplied by IXnet for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i)
        the Forms S-4 will, at the time each Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, and
        at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it becomes
        effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a
        material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
        therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
        (ii) each Information Statement/Prospectus will, at the date it is first
        mailed to IXnet's stockholders or IPC's stockholders, as the case may
        be, at the time of the IXnet Stockholder Meeting or the IPC Stockholder
        Meeting, as the case may be, 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 Forms S-4
        and the Information Statement/Prospectuses will comply as to form in all
        material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the
        Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
        e