IRON MOUNTAIN INC /DE
8-K, 1998-07-10
PUBLIC WAREHOUSING & STORAGE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K



                                 Current Report


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 10, 1998 (June 30, 1998)




                           IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                                    Delaware
         (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)


         0-27584                                    04-3107342
(Commission file number)                  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



                      745 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)


                                 (617) 357-4455
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

<PAGE>
Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

On July 1, 1998,  National  Underground  Storage,  Inc.  merged  with and into a
wholly owned subsidiary of Iron Mountain  Incorporated (the "Company")  pursuant
to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 5, 1998 among National Underground
Storage, Inc. and the Company's wholly owned subsidiary.

In consideration,  the Company paid cash of approximately $30 million. The funds
used for the  consideration  were  comprised of the proceeds  from the Company's
public  offering of 4.0 million shares of its Common Stock,  $0.01 par value per
share (the  "Common  Stock") and  borrowings  under the  Company's  $250 million
revolving  credit  facility  dated  September  29, 1997,  as amended,  among the
Company,  various  financial  institutions  and The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  as
administrative agent for such lenders.

The assets  acquired by the Company  included real property,  tangible  personal
property  (consisting  primarily of office  equipment,  furniture  and fixtures,
motor  vehicles,   racking  and  shelving),  and  intangible  personal  property
regularly  used in  National  Underground  Storage,  Inc.'s  records  management
business. The Company intends to use the acquired assets in the operation of its
records management business.

Item 5.  Other Events

On June 30, 1998,  the Company's  Board of Directors  authorized  and approved a
three-for-two  stock split  effected in the form of a dividend on the  Company's
Common Stock.  Shares of the Common Stock will be issued on July 31, 1998 to all
stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 17, 1998.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)      In  accordance  with Item 7(a)(4) of Form 8-K,  the required  financial
         statements  will be filed,  by amendment to this Form 8-K, on or before
         September 14, 1998.

(b)      See preceding response.

(c)      Exhibits

         Exhibit 2.1  The  Agreement  and  Plan of  Merger  by and  among  Iron
                      Mountain Records Management, Inc., Iron Mountain/NUS, Inc.
                      and National Underground Storage, Inc. dated as of June 5,
                      1998. (Confidential treatment is being sought by the
                      Company with respect to certain portions of this Exhibit.)

         Exhibit 99.1 Press Release, dated as of June 30, 1998, by the Company.



<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




                                     IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED
                                     (Registrant)





July 10, 1998                        By: /s/ Jean A. Bua
      (date)                             Jean A. Bua
                                         Vice President and Corporate Controller
                                         (Principal Accounting Officer)


                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1

        ** Confidential portions have been omitted pursuant to a request
            for confidential treatment and have been filed separately
        with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").**






                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      AMONG

                     IRON MOUNTAIN RECORDS MANAGEMENT, INC.

                             IRON MOUNTAIN/NUS, INC.

                                       AND

                       NATIONAL UNDERGROUND STORAGE, INC.

                                  JUNE 5, 1998




<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
        <S>      <C>                                                                                            <C>

         1.       DEFINITIONS.....................................................................................1

         2.       BASIC TRANSACTION...............................................................................7
                           (a)      The Merger....................................................................7
                           (b)      The Closing...................................................................7
                           (c)      Actions at the Closing........................................................7
                           (d)      Effect of Merger..............................................................7
                           (e)      Procedure for Payment.........................................................8
                           (f)      Lost or Stolen Certificates..................................................10
                           (g)      Closing of Transfer Records..................................................10
                           (h)      Dissenting Shares............................................................10

         3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE COMPANY
                                                                                                                 11
                           (a)      Organization, Qualification and Corporate Power..............................11
                           (b)      Capitalization...............................................................11
                           (c)      Noncontravention.............................................................12
                           (d)      Brokers' Fees................................................................12
                           (e)      Title to Tangible Personal Property..........................................12
                           (f)      Subsidiaries.................................................................13
                           (g)      Financial Statements.........................................................13
                           (h)      Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End.............................13
                           (j)      Legal Compliance.............................................................15
                           (k)      Tax Matters..................................................................15
                           (l)      Real Property................................................................16
                           (m)      Intellectual Property........................................................18
                           (n)      Tangible Assets..............................................................20
                           (o)      Inventory....................................................................20
                           (p)      Contracts....................................................................20
                           (q)      Notes and Accounts Receivable................................................21
                           (r)      Powers of Attorney...........................................................22
                           (s)      Insurance....................................................................22
                           (t)      Litigation...................................................................22
                           (v)      Employee Benefits............................................................23
                           (w)      Guaranties...................................................................25
                           (x)      Environment, Health, and Safety Matters......................................25
                           (y)      Certain Business Relationships With the Company..............................26
                           (z)      Operational Matters..........................................................26
                           (aa)     Records......................................................................27
                           (bb)     Disclosure...................................................................27

         4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND THE
                   TRANSACTION SUBSIDIARY........................................................................27

                                      (ii)

<PAGE>
                           (a)      Organization.................................................................27
                           (b)      Authorization of Transaction.................................................27
                           (c)      Noncontravention.............................................................27
                           (d)      Brokers' Fees................................................................28

         5.       COVENANTS......................................................................................28
                           (a)      General......................................................................28
                           (b)      Notices and Consents.........................................................28
                           (c)      Regulatory Matters and Approvals.............................................28
                           (d)      Operation of Business........................................................29
                           (e)      Full Access..................................................................30
                           (f)      Notice of Developments.......................................................30
                           (g)      Exclusivity..................................................................30
                           (h)      Termination of 401(k) Plan and Defined Benefit Plan..........................31
                           (i)      Audit........................................................................31
                           (j)      Financial Information........................................................32
                           (k)      Shareholder Approvals........................................................32
                           (l)      Phase I Environmental Assessment.............................................32

         6.       POST CLOSING COVENANTS.........................................................................32
                           (a)      Indemnification of Officers and Directors....................................32
                           (b)      Continuing Obligations.......................................................33
                           (c)      Costs of Termination of Benefit Plans........................................33

         7.       CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE..............................................................33
                           (a)      Conditions to Obligation of the Buyer and the
                                     Transaction Subsidiary......................................................33
                           (b)      Conditions to Obligation of the Company......................................36

         8.       DELIVERIES AND ACTIONS AT CLOSING..............................................................37
                           (a)      Deliveries and Actions by the Company........................................38
                           (b)      Deliveries and Actions by the Buyer and the Transaction
                                     Subsidiary..................................................................39
                           (c)      Other Actions................................................................40

         9.       TERMINATION....................................................................................40
                           (a)      Termination of Agreement.....................................................40
                           (b)      Effect of Termination........................................................40
                           (c)      Effect of Failure to Terminate...............................................41

         10.      REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                                                                                                                 41
                           (a)      Survival of Representations and Warranties...................................41
                           (b)      Indemnification by Company Shareholders......................................41
                           (c)      Indemnification by Buyer.....................................................41

                                      (iii)

<PAGE>



                           (d)      Matters Involving Third Parties..............................................42
                           (e)      Determination of Adverse Consequences........................................43
                           (g)      Information Concerning Claims................................................44

         11.      MISCELLANEOUS..................................................................................44
                           (a)      Survival.....................................................................44
                           (b)      Press Releases and Public Announcements......................................44
                           (c)      No Third-Party Beneficiaries.................................................45
                           (d)      Entire Agreement.............................................................45
                           (e)      Succession and Assignment....................................................45
                           (f)      Counterparts.................................................................45
                           (g)      Headings.....................................................................45
                           (h)      Notices......................................................................45
                           (i)      Governing Law................................................................46
                           (j)      Amendments and Waivers.......................................................46
                           (k)      Severability.................................................................47
                           (l)      Expenses.....................................................................47
                           (m)      Construction.................................................................47
                           (n)      Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules......................................47
</TABLE>

The following exhibits and schedule have been omitted and will be supplementally
filed with the Commission upon request:

Exhibit A      -   Plan of Merger
Exhibit B      -   Paying Agent Agreement
Exhibit C      -   [Intentionally Omitted]
Exhibit D      -   Post-Closing Escrow Agreement
Exhibit E      -   Benefit Plan Escrow Agreement
Exhibit F      -   Company Financial Statements
Exhibit G      -   Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Company
Exhibit H      -   Form of Employment Agreement, David Sansom
Exhibit I      -   Form of Noncompetition and Confidentiality Agreement
Exhibit J      -   Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer and the Transaction 
                   Subsidiary Disclosure Schedule



                                      (iv)

<PAGE>
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                  Agreement  entered  into on June 5,  1998,  by and among  Iron
Mountain Records Management,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Buyer"),  Iron
Mountain/NUS,  Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Buyer (the  "Transaction  Subsidiary"),  and National  Underground  Storage,
Inc., a Pennsylvania  corporation  (the  "Company").  The Buyer, the Transaction
Subsidiary,  and the Company are each referred to  individually as a "Party" and
collectively herein as the "Parties."

                  This  Agreement  contemplates a transaction in which the Buyer
will  acquire  all of the  outstanding  capital  stock of the  Company  for cash
through a reverse subsidiary merger of the Transaction  Subsidiary with and into
the Company.

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and the
mutual  promises  herein  made,  and in  consideration  of the  representations,
warranties, and covenants herein contained, the Parties agree as follows:

         1.       DEFINITIONS.

                  "Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Agent"  means Bank of New York or such
other entity as the Buyer and the Company may select prior to the Closing Date.

                  "Benefit Plan Escrow  Agreement"  has the meaning set forth in
ss.2(e)(i)(D) below.

                  "Benefit  Plan  Escrow   Deposit"   means  the  sum  of  **The
confidential  portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment and has been filed  separately with the  Commission.**  deposited with
the Benefit Plan Escrow Agent pursuant to the Benefit Plan Escrow Agreement.

                  "Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Fund"  means the  Benefit  Plan Escrow
Deposit  plus any  interest  or  dividends  accrued  thereon  from and after the
Effective Time.

                  "Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

                  "Claims" has the meaning set forth in ss.10(b) below.

                  "Closing" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(b) below.

                  "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(b) below.

                  "COBRA"  means the  requirements  of Part 6 of  Subtitle  B of
Title I of ERISA and Codess.4980B.

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

                  "Company" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

<PAGE>
                  "Company  Share" means any share of the common stock,  $25 par
value per share, of the Company.

                  "Company  Shareholder"  has the  meaning  set forth in ss.3(b)
below.

                  "Confidential  Information"  means any information  concerning
the business and affairs of the Company that is not already generally  available
to the public.

                  "Confidentiality  Agreement"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in
ss.5(e) below.

                  "Defined Benefit Plan" means the National Underground Storage,
Inc. Employee Defined Benefit Pension Plan.

                  "Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning set forth in ss.3 below.

                  "Dissenting  Share" means any Company  Share which any Company
Shareholder,  who or which has filed with the Company his or its written  notice
of intention to demand  payment of fair value in accordance  with the provisions
of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, holds of record.

                  "Effective  Time"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  ss.2(d)(i)
below.

                  "Employee  Benefit  Plan" has the  meaning  set forth in ERISA
ss.3(3).

                  "Employee  Pension  Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in
ERISA ss.3(2).

                  "Employee  Welfare  Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in
ERISA ss.3(1).

                  "Environmental  Health and Safety Requirements" shall mean all
federal,  state, local and foreign statutes,  regulations,  ordinances and other
provisions having the force or effect of law, all judicial administrative orders
and  determinations  and all common law  concerning  public  health and  safety,
worker  health and safety,  pollution,  pollution  control or  protection of the
environment,  including  without  limitation all those relating to the presence,
use,  production,  generation,  handling,  transportation,  treatment,  storage,
disposal,  distribution,  labeling,  testing,  processing,  discharge,  release,
threatened release,  control,  or cleanup of any Regulated  Substances as now in
effect.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

                  "ERISA  Affiliate"  means  each  entity  which is treated as a
single  employer  with  the  Company  for  purposes  of  ss.414  of the  Code or
ss.4001(b)(1) of ERISA.

                  "Existing  Violations"  has the  meaning set forth in ss. 3(n)
below.
                                       -2-
<PAGE>
                  "401(k)  Plan" means the National  Underground  Storage,  Inc.
Employees' 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan.

                  "GAAP"  means  United  States  generally  accepted  accounting
principles as in effect from time to time.

                  "Hart-Scott-Rodino Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

                  "Intellectual   Property"   means  (a)   inventions   (whether
patentable  or  unpatentable  and  whether or not reduced to  practice)  and all
improvements  thereto, (b) trademarks,  service marks, trade dress, logos, trade
names, and corporate names, and including all goodwill associated therewith, and
all applications,  registrations and renewals in connection therewith, (c) trade
secrets and confidential business information (including ideas,  know-how,  work
processes and techniques,  technical data,  designs,  drawings,  specifications,
customer  and supplier  lists,  pricing and cost  information,  and business and
marketing  plans and  proposals),  (d)  computer  software  (including  data and
related  documentation),  (e)  other  proprietary  rights,  and (f)  copies  and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).

                  "Knowledge"    means   actual   knowledge   after   reasonable
investigation.

                  "Letter  of   Transmittal"   has  the  meaning  set  forth  in
ss.2(e)(i)(B) below.

                  "Merger" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(a) below.

                  "Merger    Consideration"   means   Thirty   Million   Dollars
($30,000,000.00)  plus any amount,  after taxes,  distributable to the Surviving
Corporation  as sponsoring  employer of the Defined  Benefit Plan as a result of
the termination of such Plan, minus the aggregate amount of:

         (i)      Seven Million  Three  Hundred  Eighty One Thousand Two Hundred
                  and 00/100 Dollars ($7,381,200.00),

         (ii)     any  liabilities  of the Company as of the Effective  Time and
                  any amounts  paid by the Company  from March 1, 1998 up to and
                  ending on the  Effective  Time related to  termination  of the
                  Defined Benefit Plan and the 401(k) Plan, and

         (iii)    any  obligations  or expenses  incurred  by the Company  after
                  March 1, 1998 with  respect to services  provided by any third
                  party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
                  Agreement, whether paid prior to the Closing or outstanding on
                  the  Closing  Date,   including   outside   attorneys'   fees,
                  accountants' fees and brokers' commissions,  fees and expenses
                  and  the  retainer  fee of  Thirty-Five  Thousand  and  00/100
                  Dollars ($35,000.00) paid to Parker/Hunter  Investment Bankers
                  on or about September 17, 1997;

                                       -3-
<PAGE>
provided that (i) the Merger Consideration shall be reduced by the amount of any
costs  incurred  by the  Buyer or the  Surviving  Corporation  with  respect  to
services  provided  by any third  party  (including  fees and charges of outside
professional advisors,  such as attorneys,  accountants and actuaries) after the
Effective Time in connection  with the  termination of the Defined  Benefit Plan
and the 401(k)  Plan as provided  in ss.ss.  5(h) and 6(c),  and (ii) the Merger
Consideration  is  subject  to  adjustment   pursuant  to  the   indemnification
provisions in ss.10(b).

                  "Most Recent Balance Sheet" means the balance sheet  contained
in the Most Recent Financial Statements.

                  "Most Recent  Financial  Statements" has the meaning set forth
in ss.3(g) below.

                  "Most Recent Fiscal  Quarter End" has the meaning set forth in
ss.3(g) below.

                  "Ordinary  Course of Business"  means the  ordinary  course of
business  consistent  with past  custom and  practice.  With  respect to capital
expenditures,  "Ordinary Course of Business" means capital  expenditures  within
the Company's 1998 capital budget included in the Disclosure Schedule.

                  "Parties" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

                  "Party" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

                  "Paying  Agent" means Bank Boston,  N.A., or such other entity
as the Buyer and the Company may select prior to the Closing Date.

                  "Paying  Agent   Agreement"  has  the  meaning  set  forth  in
ss.2(e)(i)(A) below.

                  "Payment  Fund" has the  meaning  set  forth in  ss.2(e)(i)(A)
below.

                  "Pennsylvania Articles of Merger" has the meaning set forth in
ss.2(c) below.

                  "Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law" means the Pennsylvania
Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended.

                  "Per Share Merger  Consideration" has the meaning set forth in
ss.2(d)(v) below.

                  "Permitted  Exceptions  to Title" has the meaning set forth in
ss.3(l) below.

                  "Permitted  Investments"  means (i) direct  obligations of, or
obligations  fully  guaranteed  by, the  United  States of America or any agency
thereof,  (ii)  certificates  of deposit  issued by  commercial  banks  having a
combined  capital,  surplus and undivided  profits of not less than Five Hundred
Million  Dollars   ($500,000,000.00),   and  (iii)  money  market  mutual  funds
authorized solely to invest in any of the above.

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
                  "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an
association,  a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated
organization, or a governmental entity (or any department,  agency, or political
subdivision thereof).

                  "Plan of Merger" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(a) below.

                  "Post  Closing  Escrow  Agent"  means Bank of New York or such
other entity as the Buyer and the Company may select prior to the Closing Date.

                  "Post Closing  Escrow  Agreement" has the meaning set forth in
ss.2(e)(i)(C) below.

                  "Post  Closing   Escrow   Deposit"  means  the  sum  of  **The
confidential  portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment and has been filed  separately with the  Commission.**  deposited with
the Post Closing Escrow Agent.

                  "Post  Closing  Escrow  Fund"  means the Post  Closing  Escrow
Deposit,  plus any  interest or  dividends  accrued  thereon  from and after the
Effective Time.

                  "Principal  Shareholders" means Arthur O. Black, John E. Kosar
and his wife, Phyllis Kosar, J. Stephen Leone, John W. Robb, David L. Sansom and
his wife,  Anneliese  Sansom,  William D. Sutton and his wife, Mary E.N. Sutton,
and Lawrence T. Zehfuss.

                  "Pro Forma  Company  Shares  Outstanding"  means the number of
Company  Shares  issued  and  outstanding,  excluding  Treasury  Shares,  at  or
immediately  prior to the Effective Time plus the number of Company  Shares,  if
any,  which may be issued  pursuant to any  option,  right or warrant to acquire
Company Shares which is outstanding as of the Effective Time.

                  "Real Property" has the meaning set forth in ss.3(k)(i).

                  "Regulated   Substances"  means,   without   limitation,   any
substance,  material  or waste,  regardless  of its form or nature,  which under
Environmental,  Health,  and Safety  Requirements  is  defined  as a  "hazardous
substance,"   "hazardous   waste,"  "toxic  substance,"   "extremely   hazardous
substance," "toxic chemical," "toxic waste," "solid waste,"  "industrial waste,"
"residual  waste,"  "municipal  waste," "special handling waste," "mixed waste,"
"infectious  waste,"   "chemotherapeutic  waste,"  "medical  waste,"  "regulated
substance,"  "pollutant," or  "contaminant"or  any other substance,  material or
waste,  regardless  of its form or  nature,  which  otherwise  is  regulated  by
Environmental,  Health, and Safety  Requirements,  including but not limited to,
the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act, 42
U.S.C.  ss.9601 et seq., the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C.
ss.6901 et seq., the Hazardous Materials  Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C.  ss.1801
et seq.,  the Toxic  Substances  Control  Act,  15 U.S.C.  ss.2601 et seq.,  the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. ss.1251 et seq., the Federal Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss.300f-300j, the Federal Air Pollution Control
Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss.7401 et seq.,  the Oil  Pollution  Act, 33 U.S.C.  ss.2701 et
seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. ss.136 to
136y, the

                                       -5-
<PAGE>
Occupational  Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C.  ss.651 et seq., each as amended,
or any other equivalent Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.

                  "Representatives" has the meaning set forth in ss.10(d)(v).

                  "Requisite Shareholder Approval" means the affirmative vote of
a majority  of the votes cast by all Company  Shares in favor of this  Agreement
and the Plan of Merger at a duly convened meeting of the Company Shareholders.

                  "Security   Interest"  means  any  mortgage,   pledge,   lien,
encumbrance,  charge,  or other security  interest,  other than (a)  mechanic's,
materialman's,  and similar liens for goods or services payment for which is not
yet due,  (b)  liens for taxes  not yet due and  payable  or for taxes  that the
taxpayer  is  contesting  in good faith  through  appropriate  proceedings,  (c)
purchase  money liens and liens  securing  rental  payments  under capital lease
arrangements, and (d) other liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and
not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money.

                  "Shareholders  Agreement"  means  that  Shareholder  Agreement
dated the date hereof  between  the Buyer,  on the one hand,  and the  Principal
Shareholders, on the other.

                  "Shareholders'   Meeting"   has  the   meaning  set  forth  in
ss.5(c)(i) below.

                  "Storage  Customers"  means customers of the Company for which
the Company performs records management and storage services in areas controlled
by the Company.

                  "Subsidiary"  means any  corporation  with  respect to which a
specified  Person (or a Subsidiary  thereof) owns a majority of the common stock
or has the power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient  securities to elect
a majority of the directors.

                  "Survival Period" has the meaning set forth in ss.10(a) below.

                  "Surviving  Corporation"  has the meaning set forth in ss.2(a)
below.

                  "Tax" means any  federal,  state,  local,  or foreign  income,
gross  receipts,  license,  payroll,   employment,   excise,  severance,  stamp,
occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code
ss.59A), customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding,  social
security  (or  similar),  unemployment,   disability,  real  property,  personal
property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on
minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest,
penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.

                  "Tax Return" means any return, declaration,  report, claim for
refund,  or  information  return or statement  relating to Taxes,  including any
schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

                                       -6-
<PAGE>
                  "Transaction  Subsidiary"  has the  meaning  set  forth in the
preface above.

                  "Treasury  Shares"  means  any  Company  Shares  held  in  the
treasury of the Company.

         2.       BASIC TRANSACTION.

                  (a) The Merger.  On and subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement,  the Transaction Subsidiary will merge with and into the Company
(the  "Merger") at the  Effective  Time.  The Company  shall be the  corporation
surviving the Merger (the "Surviving  Corporation").  In order to effectuate the
Merger, the Company shall, and the Buyer shall cause the Transaction  Subsidiary
to, execute and deliver a Plan of Merger  substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (the "Plan of Merger").

                  (b) The Closing. The closing of the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement  (the  "Closing")  shall take place on the third business day
following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the
Parties  to  consummate  the  transactions   contemplated   hereby  (other  than
conditions  with  respect to actions  the  respective  Parties  will take at the
Closing as provided in ss.2(c) below),  which the parties  currently  anticipate
will be July 1, 1998 or such other date as the  Parties may  mutually  determine
(the "Closing Date"); provided, however, that the Closing Date shall be no later
than July 15, 1998.

                  (c) Actions at the Closing.  At the  Closing,  (i) the Company
will  deliver  to  the  Buyer  and  the   Transaction   Subsidiary  the  various
certificates,  instruments and documents referred to in ss. 8(a) below, (ii) the
Buyer and the  Transaction  Subsidiary  will  deliver to the Company the various
certificates,  instruments,  and documents  referred to in ss. 8(b) below, (iii)
the Company and the Transaction Subsidiary will file with the Secretary of State
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the Articles of Merger  substantially in the
form attached as an exhibit to the Plan of Merger (the "Pennsylvania Articles of
Merger")  and  (iv) the  Buyer  will  provide  confirmation  that the  Surviving
Corporation  has  delivered  (A) the Payment Fund to the Paying  Agent,  (B) the
Benefit  Plan Escrow  Deposit to the Benefit  Plan Escrow Agent and (C) the Post
Closing Escrow  Deposit to the Post Closing Escrow Agent in the manner  provided
below in this ss.2.

                  (d)      Effect of Merger.

                  (i) General.  The Merger  shall  become  effective at the time
(the  "Effective  Time") the Company  and the  Transaction  Subsidiary  file the
Pennsylvania  Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth
of  Pennsylvania,  as provided in the Plan of Merger.  The Merger shall have the
effect set forth in the Pennsylvania  Business Corporation Law. At the Effective
Time,  or at such  other  time as is  provided  in the  Plan  of  Merger  or the
Pennsylvania  Articles of Merger,  the  separate  existence  of the  Transaction
Subsidiary shall cease and the Company shall be the Surviving  Corporation.  The
Surviving Corporation may, at any time after the Effective Time, take any action
(including  executing and  delivering any document) in the name and on behalf of
either  the  Company  or the  Transaction  Subsidiary  in order to carry out and
effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>
                  (ii) Articles of Incorporation.  The Articles of Incorporation
of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be amended  and  restated at and as of the
Effective Time to read as did the Articles of  Incorporation  of the Transaction
Subsidiary  immediately prior to the Effective Time (except that the name of the
Surviving Corporation will remain unchanged).

                  (iii) Bylaws. The Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be
amended and restated at and as of the  Effective  Time to read as did the Bylaws
of the Transaction  Subsidiary  immediately  prior to the Effective Time (except
that the name of the Surviving Corporation will remain unchanged).

                  (iv) Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of the
Transaction  Subsidiary shall become the directors and officers of the Surviving
Corporation  at  and  as of  the  Effective  Time  (retaining  their  respective
positions and terms of office).

                  (v) Conversion of Company  Shares.  At and as of the Effective
Time, (A) each Company Share (other than any Treasury  Shares and any Dissenting
Shares)  shall  be  converted  into  the  right  to  receive,   subject  to  the
indemnification  provisions in ss. 10 hereof (as  reflected in the  Post-Closing
Escrow  Agreement)  and the Defined  Benefit  Plan and 401(k)  Plan  termination
expense  reimbursement  provisions of ss.ss.  5(h) and 6(c) (as reflected in the
Benefit Plan Escrow Agreement) an amount (the "Per Share Merger  Consideration")
in cash without interest  (except such interest as may be disbursed  pursuant to
the Post Closing Escrow  Agreement and the Benefit Plan Escrow  Agreement) equal
to the Merger Consideration divided by the Pro Forma Company Shares Outstanding,
(B) each  Dissenting  Share shall be converted into the right to receive payment
from the  Surviving  Corporation  with respect  thereto in  accordance  with the
provisions of the  Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation Law; and (C) all Treasury
Shares  shall be  canceled  and  extinguished  without any  conversion  thereof;
provided,  however,  that the Merger Consideration shall be subject to equitable
adjustment in the event of any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split,
or other  change in the  number  of Pro Forma  Company  Shares  Outstanding.  No
Company Share shall be deemed to be outstanding or to have any rights other than
those set forth in this ss.2(d)(v) after the Effective Time.

                  (vi)   Conversion   of  Capital   Stock  of  the   Transaction
Subsidiary.  At and as of the Effective Time, each share of Common Stock,  $0.01
par value per share, of the Transaction  Subsidiary  shall be converted into one
share of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

                  (e) Procedure for Payment.

                  (i) At and as of the Effective Time:

                      (A) the Buyer will pay or cause the Transaction Subsidiary
to pay to the Paying Agent cash (the  "Payment  Fund") in an amount equal to the
Merger  Consideration minus the Post Closing Escrow Deposit and the Benefit Plan
Escrow Deposit,  and the Buyer,  Surviving  Corporation,  Paying Agent,  and the
Representatives, as agents for and representatives

                                       -8-
<PAGE>
of the Company Shareholders,  shall execute and deliver to the Paying Agent, the
Paying  Agent  Agreement in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit B (the "Paying
Agent  Agreement").  The Payment Fund shall be held and  disbursed in accordance
with and subject to the terms of the Paying Agent Agreement;

                      (B) the Buyer will cause the Paying Agent to mail a letter
of  transmittal  (with  instructions  for its use) in a form  agreed upon by the
Parties  (the  "Letter of  Transmittal")  to each record  holder of  outstanding
Company  Shares for the holder to use in  surrendering  the  certificates  which
represented  his, her or its Company Shares in exchange for the payment of their
respective  portion of the  Payment  Fund in  accordance  with the Paying  Agent
Agreement.  In  accordance  with and  subject to the terms of the  Paying  Agent
Agreement,  the Paying Agent will accept the surrender of all properly  tendered
certificates which represent the Company Shares, transmit payment to the holders
of such certificates of their respective portion of the Payment Fund and deliver
such  certificates  to the Surviving  Corporation,  all in  accordance  with the
Paying Agent Agreement.  No interest will accrue or be paid to the holder of any
outstanding Company Shares with respect to the Payment Fund;

                      (C) the Buyer will pay or cause the Transaction Subsidiary
to pay an amount in cash equal to the Post  Closing  Escrow  Deposit to the Post
Closing Escrow Agent, and the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation, the Post Closing
Escrow Agent and the  Representatives,  as agents for and representatives of the
Company  Shareholders,  shall  execute  and deliver to the Post  Closing  Escrow
Agent,  the Post Closing Escrow Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D (the "Post Closing Escrow  Agreement").  The Post Closing Escrow Deposit shall
be held and  disbursed in  accordance  with and subject to the terms of the Post
Closing Escrow Agreement; and

                      (D) the Buyer will pay or cause the Transaction Subsidiary
to pay an amount in cash equal to the Benefit Plan Escrow Deposit to the Benefit
Plan Escrow Agent,  and the Buyer,  the Benefit Plan Escrow Agent, the Surviving
Corporation,  and the Representatives,  as agents for and representatives of the
Company  Shareholders,  shall  execute and  deliver to the  Benefit  Plan Escrow
Agent,  the Benefit Plan Escrow Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
E (the "Benefit Plan Escrow  Agreement").  The Benefit Plan Escrow Fund shall be
held and  disbursed in  accordance  with and subject to the terms of the Benefit
Plan Escrow Agreement.

                  (ii) The Buyer may cause the  Paying  Agent to invest the cash
included  in the  Payment  Fund  in one or more  of the  Permitted  Investments;
provided,  however,  that the terms and conditions of the  investments  shall be
such as to  permit  the  Paying  Agent  to make  prompt  payment  of the  Merger
Consideration as necessary.  The Buyer may cause the Paying Agent to pay over to
the Surviving Corporation any net earnings with respect to the investments,  and
the Buyer will cause the Surviving  Corporation to replace  promptly any portion
of the Payment fund which the Paying Agent loses through investments.

                  (iii) The Buyer may cause the Paying  Agent to pay over to the
Surviving  Corporation  any portion of the Payment Fund  (including any earnings
thereon)  remaining 180 days after the Effective Time, and thereafter all former
shareholders of the Company shall be entitled

                                       -9-
<PAGE>
to look to the Surviving  Corporation  (subject to abandoned property,  escheat,
and other  similar laws) as general  creditors  thereof with respect to the cash
payable upon surrender of their certificates.

                  (iv) The Buyer shall be responsible for and shall pay or cause
the Surviving  Corporation  to pay all charges and expenses of the Paying Agent,
the Post Closing  Escrow  Agent,  and the Benefit Plan Escrow Agent  without the
right to set off any such  amounts  against the Payment  Fund,  the Post Closing
Escrow Fund or the Benefit Plan Escrow Fund.

                  (v) The Post Closing  Escrow Agent and the Benefit Plan Escrow
Agent shall  invest the cash  included in the Post  Closing  Escrow Fund and the
Benefit Plan Escrow Fund in accordance with the terms of the Post Closing Escrow
Agreement and the Benefit Plan Escrow Agreement,  respectively. Any net earnings
with respect to such  investments  shall be paid to the Company  Shareholders or
the Surviving  Corporation  in accordance  with the provisions of the applicable
escrow agreement.

                  (f) Lost or Stolen Certificates.  In the event any certificate
representing Company Shares 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 the  execution  of an  indemnity  in respect
thereof,  which may  include the  requirement  of a bond (all as provided in the
Letter of Transmittal and the Paying Agent Agreement), the Paying Agent shall be
authorized,  in exchange for such  affidavit and  indemnity,  to deliver the Per
Share  Merger  Consideration  in  respect  of such lost,  stolen,  or  destroyed
certificate  representing  Company  Shares in  accordance  with the terms of the
Paying Agent Agreement.

                  (g) Closing of Transfer  Records.  After the close of business
on the  Closing  Date,  transfers  of Company  Shares  outstanding  prior to the
Effective  Time shall not be made on the stock  transfer  books of the Surviving
Corporation.

                  (h) Dissenting Shares.

                  (i)  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Agreement to
the contrary,  holders of shares of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time that are held by Company  Shareholders who are entitled to
and  shall  have  properly  complied  with  all  requirements  of  and  asserted
dissenters  rights under the  provisions of Subchapter D of Chapter 15 (relating
to dissenters  rights) of the Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation Law, who shall
have  performed  every act  required up to and after the time  involved  for the
assertion of those  rights and who shall not have  withdrawn  such  assertion or
otherwise  have  forfeited  appraisal  rights  (collectively,   the  "Dissenting
Shares"),  shall be entitled to their  rights  under the  Pennsylvania  Business
Corporation Law with respect to such shares. The Surviving Corporation shall pay
the fair  value for any  Dissenting  Shares  and,  if  applicable,  interest  as
required by and as  determined  in  accordance  with the  Pennsylvania  Business
Corporation Law, and no such payment shall form the basis of a claim against the
Company Shareholders under this Agreement.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
                  (ii) The Company shall give the Buyer prompt written notice of
its  receipt of any  notices of  intention  to demand  payment of fair value for
shares or other  demands  for payment or  appraisals,  any  withdrawals  of such
notices or demands and any other instruments or certificates  deposited with the
Company or served by Company  Shareholders in accordance with or pursuant to the
Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation  Law relating  thereto.  The Company and the
Buyer shall jointly  direct all  negotiations  and  proceedings  with respect to
notices or demands for payment or  appraisals  under the  Pennsylvania  Business
Corporation Law. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of
the Buyer,  settle or offer to settle,  or make any payment with respect to, any
demands  for  payment of fair value for shares or other  demands  for payment or
appraisal  except as required by the  provisions  of the  Pennsylvania  Business
Corporation  Law. The Company  shall  timely  comply with all  requirements  and
provisions  of  the  Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation  Law  relating  to  any
Dissenting Shares and shall give the Buyer prompt written notice prior to taking
any action in connection therewith or making any payment required thereunder.

         3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE COMPANY.

                  The  Company  represents  and  warrants  to the Buyer that the
statements  contained  in this ss.3 are correct  and  complete as of the date of
this  Agreement  and will be correct and  complete  as of the  Closing  Date (as
though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of
this  Agreement  throughout  this ss.3),  except as  otherwise  set forth in the
disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Buyer on the date hereof and
initialed by the Parties (the "Disclosure  Schedule").  The Disclosure  Schedule
will be  arranged in  paragraphs  corresponding  to the  lettered  and  numbered
paragraphs  contained in this ss.3.  The Company shall be entitled to supplement
and amend the  information in the Disclosure  Schedule at any time and from time
to time prior to the Effective Time and such supplements or amendments shall not
form the basis of any claim  against  the  Company or the  Company  Shareholders
including without limitation any claim under ss.10 below; provided, that no such
supplement or amendment  which  constitutes a material  change from  information
originally  included in the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute a waiver by the
Buyer  and  the  Transaction   Subsidiary  of  their  right  not  to  close  the
transactions  contemplated hereby if the original representations and warranties
are not true and correct on the Closing Date.

                  (a)  Organization,  Qualification  and  Corporate  Power.  The
Company is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing, and in good standing
under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation.  The Company is duly
authorized to conduct  business and is in good  standing  under the laws of each
jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the lack of such
qualification  would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  business,
financial condition,  operations,  results of operations, or future prospects of
the Company.  The Company has full corporate power and authority to carry on the
businesses  in which it is engaged and to own and use the  properties  owned and
used by it. ss.3(a) of the Disclosure  Schedule lists the directors and officers
of the Company.

                  (b) Capitalization. The entire authorized capital stock of the
Company  consists of 40,000 Company  Shares,  of which 10,175 Company Shares are
issued and outstanding of

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
which  2,980  Company  Shares  are  held  in  treasury.  All of the  issued  and
outstanding Company Shares have been duly authorized,  are validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable,  and are held of record by the respective Persons (each
a "Company  Shareholder") as set forth in the Company's shareholder records. The
Company's  Shareholder  records  accurately reflect the number of Company Shares
held by each  Company  Shareholder.  The Company  will provide a list of Company
Shareholders  and will permit the Buyer to inspect the  Company's  records as to
Company Shareholders at any time after the date of this Agreement. Except as set
forth in  ss.3(b)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  there  are no  outstanding  or
authorized options, warrants,  purchase rights,  subscription rights, conversion
rights,  exchange  rights,  or other contracts or commitments that could require
the Company to issue,  sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its
capital  stock.  There are no  outstanding  or  authorized  stock  appreciation,
phantom  stock,  profit  participation,  or similar  rights with  respect to the
Company. Except for that certain Voting Trust Agreement dated December 14, 1988,
a copy of which has been  delivered  to the Buyer,  there are no voting  trusts,
proxies, or other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the
capital stock of the Company.

                  (c)  Noncontravention.  Neither the execution and the delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
will (i)  violate  any  constitution,  statute,  regulation,  rule,  injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government,
governmental  agency,  or court to which the Company is subject or any provision
of the  charter or bylaws of the  Company  or (ii)  conflict  with,  result in a
breach of, constitute a default under,  result in the acceleration of, create in
any party the right to accelerate,  terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any
notice under any  agreement,  contract,  lease,  license,  instrument,  or other
arrangement  to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to which
any of its  assets are  subject  (or result in the  imposition  of any  Security
Interest upon any of its assets), except where the violation,  conflict, breach,
default, acceleration, termination, modification,  cancellation, failure to give
notice,  or Security  Interest  would not have a material  adverse effect on the
business,  financial  condition,  operations  or  results of  operations  of the
Company  or on the  ability  of  the  Parties  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  Other than in connection with the provisions of
the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act and the Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation Law, the
Company is not required to give any notice to, make any filing  with,  or obtain
any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency
in order for the Parties to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  except where the failure to give notice,  to file,  or to obtain any
authorization,  consent, or approval would not have a material adverse effect on
the business, financial condition,  operations, results of operations, or future
prospects  of the  Company or on the ability of the  Parties to  consummate  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (d)  Brokers'  Fees.  Except  as set forth on  ss.3(d)  of the
Disclosure  Schedule,  the Company does not have any  liability or obligation to
pay any fees or commissions to any broker,  finder, or agent with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (e) Title to Tangible Personal Property.  The Company has good
title to, or a valid, leasehold interest in, the tangible personal property used
by it,  located on its  premises,  or shown on the Most Recent  Balance Sheet or
acquired after the date thereof, free and clear of all

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
Security  Interests,  except as set forth on ss.3(e) of the Disclosure  Schedule
and except for property disposed of in the Ordinary Course of Business since the
date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet.

                  (f) Subsidiaries.  The Company has no Subsidiaries and has not
had any Subsidiaries during the preceding five years.

                  (g) Financial Statements. Attached hereto as Exhibit F are the
following financial statements  (collectively the "Financial  Statements"):  (i)
audited  consolidated  balance  sheets  and  statements  of  income,  changes in
shareholders'  equity,  and  cash  flow  as of and for the  fiscal  years  ended
December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1997 (the "Most Recent  Fiscal Year End") for
the Company;  and (ii) unaudited  consolidated  balance sheets and statements of
income,  changes  in  shareholders'  equity,  and cash  flow (the  "Most  Recent
Financial Statements") as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 (the "Most
Recent Fiscal Quarter End") for the Company. The Financial Statements (including
the notes  thereto)  have been  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP  applied on a
consistent  basis  throughout the periods covered thereby and present fairly the
financial condition of the Company for such periods; provided, however, that the
Most Recent Financial  Statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and
lack footnotes and other presentation items.

                  (h) Events  Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End.  Except
as set forth in ss.  3(h) of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  since  the Most  Recent
Fiscal Year End, there has not been any material adverse change in the business,
financial conditions,  operations, or results of operations of the Company taken
as a whole. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, since that date:

                      (i) the  Company  has not sold,  leased,  transferred,  or
assigned  any  material  assets,  tangible or  intangible,  outside the Ordinary
Course of Business;

                      (ii)  the  Company  has  not  entered  into  any  material
agreement, contract, lease, or license outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

                      (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, no party (including
the Company) has accelerated,  terminated,  made material  modifications  to, or
canceled  any  material  agreement,  contract,  lease,  or  license to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound;

                      (iv) the Company has not imposed or suffered the existence
or  imposition  of any  Security  Interest  upon any of its assets,  tangible or
intangible;

                      (v)  the  Company  has  not  made  any  material   capital
expenditures outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

                      (vi)  the  Company  has  not  made  any  material  capital
investment  in, or any material  loan to, any other Person  outside the Ordinary
Course of Business;

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
                      (vii) the Company has not created,  incurred,  assumed, or
guaranteed indebtedness for borrowed money or capitalized lease obligations, and
since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End the Company has amortized all indebtedness
then existing in accordance with amortization requirements as they then existed;

                      (viii)  the   Company  has  not  granted  any  license  or
sublicense  of any material  rights  under or with  respect to any  Intellectual
Property;

                      (ix) there has been no change  made or  authorized  in the
charter or bylaws of the Company;

                      (x)  except   pursuant  to  the   Company's  Key  Employee
Restricted  Stock Option Plan,  the Company has not issued,  sold,  or otherwise
disposed of any of its capital stock, or granted any options, warrants, or other
rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion,  exchange, or exercise)
any of its capital stock;

                      (xi) the Company has not declared,  set aside, or paid any
dividend or made any distribution  with respect to its capital stock (whether in
cash or in  kind) or  redeemed,  purchased,  or  otherwise  acquired  any of its
capital stock other than a dividend paid to the Company  Shareholders  in March,
1998  in  the  amount  of  approximately   Forty  Thousand  and  00/100  Dollars
($40,000.00);

                      (xii) the Company has not experienced any material damage,
destruction, or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

                      (xiii)  the  Company  has not made any loan to, or entered
into any other transaction with, any of its directors,  officers,  and employees
outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

                      (xiv) the  Company  has not  entered  into any  employment
contract or collective  bargaining  agreement,  written or oral, or modified the
terms of any existing such contract or agreement, except as provided for in this
Agreement;

                      (xv) the Company has not granted any  increase in the base
compensation  of any of its  directors,  officers,  and  employees  outside  the
Ordinary Course of Business;

                      (xvi) the Company has not adopted,  amended,  modified, or
terminated  any bonus,  profit-sharing,  incentive,  severance,  or other  plan,
contract, or commitment for the benefit of any of its directors,  officers,  and
employees (or taken any such action with respect to any other  Employee  Benefit
Plan), except as provided for in this Agreement;

                      (xvii) the Company has not made any other material  change
in employment terms for any of its directors,  officers,  and employees  outside
the Ordinary Course of Business; and

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
                      (xviii)  the  Company  has  not  committed  to  any of the
foregoing, except as provided for in this Agreement.

                  (i) Undisclosed Liabilities.  To the knowledge of the Company,
it has no material liability  (whether asserted or unasserted,  whether absolute
or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated,
and whether due or to become due, including any liability for taxes), except for
(i)  liabilities  set forth on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather
than in any notes thereto),  (ii)  liabilities  which have arisen after the Most
Recent Fiscal Quarter End in the Ordinary Court of Business, and (iii) the items
set forth on the Disclosure Schedule.

                  (j) Legal Compliance.  The Company has substantially  complied
with  all  applicable  laws  (including  rules,   regulations,   codes,   plans,
injunctions,  judgments,  orders,  decrees,  rulings and charges  thereunder) of
federal, state, local and foreign governments (and all agencies thereof), and no
action, suit, proceeding,  hearing,  investigation,  charge,  complaint,  claim,
demand, or notice has been filed or, to the knowledge of the Company,  commenced
against it alleging any failure so to comply, except where the failure to comply
would not have a material adverse effect on the business,  financial  condition,
operations, or results of operations of the Company.

                  (k) Tax Matters. With respect to Taxes:

                      (i) the  Company  has  filed,  within  the time and in the
manner  prescribed by law, all Tax Returns or requests for extensions,  required
to be filed under federal, state or local laws by the Company;

                      (ii) the  Company  has,  within the time and in the manner
prescribed by law, paid (and until the Effective Time will,  within the time and
in the  manner  prescribed  by law,  pay) all  Taxes  that are  shown as due and
payable on all Tax Returns filed by the Company;

                      (iii) the Company has established (and until the Effective
Time will  establish)  on its books and  records  reserves  (to be  specifically
designated  as an increase to current  liabilities)  that are  adequate  for the
payment of all Taxes  accrued or accruable  under GAAP for all periods  prior to
and including the Closing Date;

                      (iv)  there are no liens for Taxes  upon the assets of the
Company except liens for Taxes not yet due;

                      (v) the  Company has not filed (and will not file prior to
the Effective  Time) any consent  agreement under ss.341(f) of the Code and none
of the assets of the Company are subject to an election  under  ss.341(f) of the
Code;

                      (vi)  except  as set forth in ss.  3(k) of the  Disclosure
Schedule  (which  shall set forth the type of return,  date  filed,  and date of
expiration of the statute of limitations), no

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
deficiency  for any Taxes has been  proposed,  asserted or assessed  against the
Company which has not been resolved and paid in full;

                      (vii)  except as set forth in ss.  3(k) of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  there  are no  outstanding  written  waivers  or  comparable  written
consents regarding the application of the statute of limitations with respect to
any Taxes or Tax Returns that have been given by the Company;

                      (viii)  except as set forth in ss. 3(k) of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  which  shall set forth  that  nature of the  proceeding,  the type of
return,  the deficiencies  proposed or assessed and the amount thereof,  and the
taxable  year  in  question,  no  federal,   state  or  local  audits  or  other
administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently pending, or to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened, with regard to any Taxes or Tax Returns;

                      (ix)  the  Company  is not a party to any  tax-sharing  or
allocation  agreement,  nor does it owe any  amount  under  any  tax-sharing  or
allocation agreement;

                      (x)  the  Company   does  not  have  actual  or  potential
liability for any tax obligation of any taxpayer  (including  without limitation
any affiliated group of corporations or other entities that included the Company
during a prior period) other than itself;

                      (xi) no  amounts  payable by the  Company  will fail to be
deductible for federal income tax purposes by virtue of ss.280G of the Code;

                      (xii)  except as set forth in ss.  3(k) of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  the Company has complied (and until the  Effective  Time will comply)
with all  applicable  laws,  rules and  regulations  relating  to the payment of
withholding Taxes (including, without limitation,  withholding of Taxes pursuant
to Section 1441 or 1442 of the Code) and has,  within the time and in the manner
prescribed by law,  withheld from  employees'  wages and paid over to the proper
governmental  authorities  all material  amounts  required to be so withheld and
paid over under all applicable laws;

                      (xiii) the Company is not and has not in the last five (5)
years  been  a  member  of an  Affiliated  Group  within  the  meaning  of  Code
ss.1504(a).

                      (xiv)  Copies of all  federal,  state and local income Tax
Returns,  examination reports and statements of income tax deficiencies assessed
against or agreed to by the  Company and for any and all  taxable  periods  with
respect to which the statute of  limitations  for the  collection of any Tax has
not expired have been made available by the Company for inspection by the Buyer.

                  (l)      Real Property.

                      (i)  ss.3(l)(i)  of  the  Disclosure  Schedule  lists  and
describes briefly all Real Property that the Company owns (the "Real Property"),
as well as any real property previously

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
owned  by the  Company  in the last ten (10)  years.  With  respect  to the Real
Property presently owned by the Company:

                        (A) the  Company  has good and  marketable  title to the
Real Property,  free and clear of any Security  Interest  except as set forth on
ss.3(l)(i)(A)  of  the  Disclosure  Schedule,   easement,   covenant,  or  other
restriction,  except for  installments  of special  assessments  not yet due and
payable,  recorded  easements,  covenants,  leases and  reservations  of mineral
rights and utility and other restrictions of record, and building  restrictions,
zoning  restrictions,  and other easements and restrictions  existing  generally
with  respect  to  properties  of a  similar  character,  none of which  affects
materially and adversely the current use, occupancy, value, or the marketability
of title,  of the property  subject  thereto (all of the  foregoing,  except for
Security Interests, the "Permitted Exceptions to Title");

                        (B) there are no  pending  or, to the  Knowledge  of the
Company,  threatened  condemnation  proceedings,   lawsuits,  or  administrative
actions relating to the Real Property or other matters affecting  materially and
adversely the current use, occupancy, or value thereof;

                        (C)   the   buildings   and   improvements    (including
underground improvements) are located within the boundary lines of the described
parcels of land and the Company is not aware of any encroachment on any easement
which may burden the land;

                        (D) the buildings and  improvements on the Real Property
are not in material violation of applicable setback  requirements,  zoning laws,
and ordinances (and none of the properties or buildings or improvements  thereon
are subject to  "permitted  non  conforming  use" or "permitted  non  conforming
structure" classifications);

                        (E) all  facilities  located on the Real  Property  are,
insofar as the Company is aware,  structurally sound, and all facilities located
on the Real Property have  received all  approvals of  governmental  authorities
(including  material  licenses  and  permits)  required in  connection  with the
ownership  or  operation  thereof,  and have been  operated  and  maintained  in
accordance  with  applicable  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  in  all  material
respects;

                        (F)   there   are  no   leases,   subleases,   licenses,
concessions,  or other  agreements,  written or oral,  granting  to any party or
parties the right of use or occupancy of any portion of the Real Property  other
than leases  entered in the  Ordinary  Course of Business  pursuant to which the
Company has leased space to tenants thereupon;

                        (G)  Section  3(l)(i)(G)  of  the  Disclosure   Schedule
identifies  each  non-standard  lease  pursuant  to which the Company has leased
space to tenants;

                        (H) there are no outstanding  options or rights of first
refusal to  purchase  the Real  Property,  or any  portion  thereof or  interest
therein;

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
                        (I) there are no parties  (other  than the  Company)  in
possession of the Real Property,  other than tenants under any leases entered in
the Ordinary Course of Business who are in possession of space to which they are
entitled; and

                        (J) insofar as the Company is aware,  no third party has
any adverse claims to any portion of the Real Property and there are no boundary
disputes.

                      (ii)  ss.3(l)(ii)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule  lists and
describes  briefly all real  property  leased or subleased  to the Company.  The
Company has  delivered to the Buyer  correct and complete  copies (as amended to
date) of the  leases  and  subleases  listed in  ss.3(l)(ii)  of the  Disclosure
Schedule. With respect to each material lease and sublease listed in ss.3(l)(ii)
of the Disclosure Schedule:

                        (A) to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Company  the  lease  or
sublease is legal, valid, binding,  enforceable, and in full force and effect in
all material respects;

                        (B) to the  Knowledge  of the  Company  no  party to the
lease or sublease is in material  breach or default,  and no event has  occurred
which,  with  notice or lapse of time,  would  constitute  a material  breach or
default or permit termination, modification, or acceleration thereunder;

                        (C) to the  Knowledge  of the  Company  no  party to the
lease or sublease has repudiated any material provision thereof;

                        (D)  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Company  there  are no
material disputes, oral agreements,  or forbearance programs in effect as to the
lease or sublease;

                        (E) the Company has not assigned, transferred, conveyed,
mortgaged,  deeded in trust,  or  encumbered  any  interest in the  leasehold or
subleasehold; and

                        (F) all facilities  leased or subleased  thereunder have
received all approvals of governmental  authorities (including material licenses
and permits)  required in connection with the operation  thereof,  and have been
operated  and  maintained  in  accordance  with  applicable   laws,   rules  and
regulations in all material respects.

                  (m)      Intellectual Property.

                      (i) The Company  owns or has the right to use  pursuant to
license, sublicense, agreement or permission all Intellectual Property necessary
for the operation of the business of the Company as presently conducted.

                      (ii) The Company has not interfered with,  infringed upon,
misappropriated,  or violated any material Intellectual Property rights of third
parties in any material  respect,  and has not  received any charge,  complaint,
claim,   demand,  or  notice  alleging  any  such  interference,   infringement,
misappropriation, or violation (including any claim that the

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
Company must license or refrain from using any  Intellectual  Property rights of
any third party). To the Knowledge of the Company, no third party has interfered
with,  infringed upon,  misappropriated,  or violated any material  Intellectual
Property rights of the Company in any material respect.

                      (iii) ss.3(m)(iii) of the Disclosure  Schedule  identifies
each patent or registration which has been issued to the Company with respect to
any of its Intellectual Property,  identifies each pending patent application or
application for  registration  which the Company has made with respect to any of
its Intellectual Property, and identifies each material licensed,  agreement, or
other  permission  which the Company has granted to any third party with respect
to any of its Intellectual Property (together with any exceptions).  The Company
has  delivered  to the Buyer  correct and complete  copies of all such  patents,
registrations,  applications,  licenses, agreements, and permissions (as amended
to date).  ss.3(m)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule also identifies each material
unregistered  trade name or trademark used by the Company in connection with its
business.  With  respect to each item of  Intellectual  Property  required to be
identified in ss.3(m)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule:

                        (A) the Company possesses all right, title, and interest
in and to the  item,  and the  item is not  subject  to any  Security  Interest,
license, or other restriction;

                        (B)  the  items  are  not  subject  to  any  outstanding
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling or charge;

                        (C) no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation,
charge,  complaint,  claim,  or demand is pending  or, to the  Knowledge  of the
Company, is threatened which challenges the legality, validity,  enforceability,
use, or ownership of the item; and

                        (D) to the knowledge of the Company,  it has not entered
into any  agreement  in the last five (5) years to  indemnify  any Person for or
against any interference, infringement, misappropriation, or other conflict with
respect to
the item.

                      (iv)  ss.3(m)(iii) of the Disclosure  Schedule  identifies
each material item of  Intellectual  Property that any third party owns and that
the Company uses pursuant to license, sublicense,  agreement, or permission. The
Company  has  delivered  to the Buyer  correct and  complete  copies of all such
licenses,  sublicenses,  agreements,  and permissions (as amended to date). With
respect to each item of  Intellectual  Property  required  to be  identified  in
ss.3(m)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has no Knowledge that:

                        (A) the license,  sublicense,  agreement,  or permission
covering the item is not legal, valid, binding,  enforceable,  and in full force
and effect in all material
respects;

                        (B) any party to the license, sublicense,  agreement, or
permission  is in  material  breach or default,  or that any event has  occurred
which with notice or lapse of time

                                      -19-

<PAGE>
would   constitute  a  material   breach  or  default  or  permit   termination,
modification, or acceleration thereunder;

                        (C) any party to the license, sublicense,  agreement, or
permission has repudiated any material provision thereof; or

                        (D) the Company has  granted any  sublicense  or similar
right with respect to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission.

                      (v) The Company has granted sublicenses to three customers
to use an  inventory-tracking  software module licensed to the Company by O'Neil
Software.  Such sublicenses were authorized by O'Neil Software.  The Company has
not otherwise  licensed or  sublicensed  O'Neil  Software  products or any other
software products licensed to it.

                  (n) Tangible Assets. The buildings,  machinery, equipment, and
other  tangible  assets that the Company  owns and leases are in good  operating
condition and repair  (subject to normal wear and tear);  none of said buildings
or the  Real  Property  on  which  they  are  located  are  the  subject  of any
outstanding  material  violations under building or fire codes affecting the use
or occupancy thereof,  including,  without limitation, any requirements relating
to the installation,  use and/or maintenance of fire sprinkler  systems,  except
for  violations  listed in ss.3(n) of the  Disclosure  Schedule  (the  "Existing
Violations").

                  (o)  Inventory.  The  inventory  of the  Company  consists  of
construction  materials and supplies,  cartons and other finished  goods,  which
taken as a whole,  are in all material  respects,  merchantable  and fit for the
purpose for which they were procured, and, again taken as a whole are not in any
material respect obsolete,  damaged, or defective, except as provided for by the
reserve for inventory writedown set forth on the face of the Most Recent Balance
Sheet  (rather  than in any  notes  thereto)  as  adjusted  for  operations  and
transactions  through the Closing  Date in  accordance  with the past custom and
practice of the Company.

                  (p) Contracts.  ss.3(p) of the  Disclosure  Schedule lists the
following contracts and other agreements to which the Company is a party:

                      (i) any agreement (or group of related agreements) for the
lease of personal property to or from any Person providing for lease payments in
excess of **The  confidential  portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request
for confidential  treatment and has been filed separately with the Commission.**
per annum;

                      (ii) any  agreement (or group of related  agreements)  for
the purchase or sale of raw materials, commodities, supplies, products, or other
personal property, or for the furnishing or receipt of services, the performance
of  which  will  extend  over  a  period  of  more  than  one  year  or  involve
consideration  in  excess  of **The  confidential  portion  has been so  omitted
pursuant to a request for  confidential  treatment and has been filed separately
with the  Commission.**  per annum,  except with  respect to any such  agreement
related to the Company's capital expenditure program;

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
                      (iii) any  agreement  concerning  a  partnership  or joint
venture;

                      (iv) any agreement (or group of related  agreements) under
which it has created,  incurred,  assumed,  or guaranteed any  indebtedness  for
borrowed  money,  or any  capitalized  lease  obligation,  or under which it has
imposed a Security Interest on any of its assets, tangible or intangible;

                      (v) any material agreement  concerning  confidentiality or
noncompetition, except as set forth in ss.3(p) of the Disclosure Schedule;

                      (vi) any  material  agreement  with  any of the  officers,
directors or principal shareholders of the Company;

                      (vii) any profit  sharing,  stock option,  stock purchase,
stock appreciation, deferred compensation,  severance, or other material plan or
arrangement for the benefit of its current or former  directors,  officers,  and
employees;

                      (viii) any collective bargaining agreement;

                      (ix) any agreement for the employment of any individual on
a full-time, part-time, consulting, or other basis providing annual compensation
in  excess of **The  confidential  portion  has been so  omitted  pursuant  to a
request  for  confidential  treatment  and has been  filed  separately  with the
Commission.** or providing material severance benefits;

                      (x) any  agreement  under which it has  advanced or loaned
any amount to any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary
Course of Business;

                      (xi) any  agreement  under  which  the  consequences  of a
default or  termination  would have a material  adverse  effect on the business,
financial condition, operations or results of operations of the Company;

                      (xii) other than in the Ordinary  Course of Business,  any
lease or other agreement pursuant to which the Company has leased space to third
parties; or

                      (xiii) other than in the Ordinary Course of Business,  any
other  agreement  (or group of  related  agreements)  the  performance  of which
involves  consideration  in excess  of **The  confidential  portion  has been so
omitted  pursuant to a request  for  confidential  treatment  and has been filed
separately with the Commission.**

                  The Company has  delivered to the Buyer a correct and complete
copy of each written agreement listed in ss.3(p) of the Disclosure  Schedule (as
amended to date) and a written  summary  setting  forth the  material  terms and
conditions  of each oral  agreement  referred  to in ss.3(p)  of the  Disclosure
Schedule.  With  respect  to each such  agreement  and to the  Knowledge  of the
Company: (A) the agreement is legal, valid,  binding,  enforceable,  and in full
force and effect in

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
all material  respects;  (B) no party is in material  breach or default,  and no
event has  occurred  which  with  notice  or lapse of time  would  constitute  a
material   breach  or  default,   or  permit   termination,   modification,   or
acceleration,  under the agreement; and (C) no party has repudiated any material
provision of the agreement.

                  (q) Notes and  Accounts  Receivable.  To the  Knowledge of the
Company, all notes and accounts receivable of the Company are reflected properly
on its books and  records,  are  valid  receivables  subject  to no  setoffs  or
counterclaims,  are current and  collectible  in accordance  with their terms at
their  recorded  amounts,  subject  only to a reserve  of Twenty  Five  Thousand
Dollars ($25,000) for bad debts as of March 31, 1998.

                  (r) Powers of Attorney. To the Knowledge of the Company, there
are no  material  outstanding  powers  of  attorney  executed  on  behalf of the
Company.

                  (s) Insurance.  ss.3(s) of the Disclosure  Schedule lists each
material  insurance policy (including  policies  providing  property,  casualty,
liability,  and workers' compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements)
with respect to which the Company is a party, a named insured,  or otherwise the
beneficiary of coverage.

                  With  respect  to  each  such  insurance  policy  and  to  the
Knowledge of the Company: (A) the policy is legal, valid, binding,  enforceable,
and in full force and effect in all material  respects;  (B) neither the Company
nor any other  party to the policy is in material  breach or default  (including
with respect to the payment of premiums or the giving of notices),  and no event
has occurred which,  with notice or the lapse of time,  would  constitute such a
material   breach  or  default,   or  permit   termination,   modification,   or
acceleration,  under the policy;  and (C) no party to the policy has  repudiated
any material provision thereof. ss.3(s) of the Disclosure Schedule describes any
material self-insurance  arrangements affecting the Company. Except as set forth
in ss.3(s) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has filed no insurance claims
since January 1, 1995, the reserve for which is in excess of **The  confidential
portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and
has been filed  separately  with the  Commission.**  ss. 3(s) of the  Disclosure
Schedule  lists open and pending  insurance  claims with respect to the policies
listed on the Disclosure Schedule (other than medical, prescription drug, vision
and dental plans,  and life  insurance on Arthur Black and David  Sansom).  With
respect  to all claims  filed  under the  Company's  worker's  compensation  and
employer liability, business auto, directors and officers liability,  commercial
coverage, life and accidental death and dismemberment, short term disability and
group long term  disability  insurance  policies  since  January  1,  1995,  the
Disclosure Schedule identifies the date of loss, date of report, amount of claim
and nature of such claim.

                  (t) Litigation.  ss.3(t) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
each instance in which the Company (i) is subject to any outstanding injunction,
judgment,  order,  decree,  ruling,  or  charge  or (ii) is a party  or,  to the
Knowledge of the Company, is threatened to be made a party to any action,  suit,
proceeding,   hearing,   or  investigation  of,  in,  or  before  any  court  or
quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign
jurisdiction or before any arbitrator.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
                  (u)  Employees.  The Company is not a party to or bound by any
collective bargaining  agreement,  nor has it experienced any strike or material
grievance,  claim of unfair  labor  practices,  or other  collective  bargaining
dispute within the past three years.  The Company has not committed any material
unfair labor practice.  To the Knowledge of the Company no organizational effort
is presently  being made or  threatened  by or on behalf of any labor union with
respect to  employees  of the Company.  To the  knowledge  of the  Company,  all
terminations  of employees  effected by the Company  since  January 1, 1995 were
carried out in accordance  with state and federal laws. The Company has received
no pending or threatened claims from terminated employees of the Company related
to their  termination.  The Company has paid all of its  employees in accordance
with  the   requirements  of  the  Fair  Labor  Standards  Act  and  regulations
thereunder.

                  (v)      Employee Benefits.

                      (i) ss.3(v) of the Disclosure Schedule lists each Employee
Benefit Plan that the Company  maintains or to which the Company  contributes or
has any obligation to contribute or has  contributed to or has sponsored  within
the three (3) year period ending on the Closing Date.

                        (A)  During  the  three  (3) year  period  ending on the
Closing Date, the Defined Benefit Plan, the 401(k) Plan and all Employee Welfare
Benefit Plans (and each related trust,  insurance contract, or fund) complied in
form and in operation in all material respects with the applicable  requirements
of ERISA,  the Code, and other applicable laws, and the Company has not received
any outstanding notice from any governmental agency or authority  questioning or
challenging such compliance.

                        (B) All  required  reports and  descriptions  (including
Form 5500 Annual  Reports,  summary annual reports,  PBGC-1's,  and summary plan
descriptions) have been timely filed and distributed  appropriately with respect
to the Defined  Benefit Plan, the 401(k) Plan and the trust related to each such
plan.  The  requirements  of COBRA have been met in all material  respects  with
respect to each such Employee  Benefit Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit
Plan and subject to COBRA.

                        (C)   All   contributions    (including   all   employer
contributions  and employee salary reduction  contributions)  which are due have
been paid to the Defined Benefit Plan (or its related trust) and the 401(k) Plan
(or its related trust) and all  contributions for any period ending on or before
the Closing Date which are not yet due will, as of the Closing  Date,  have been
paid to the Defined  Benefit Plan and 401(k) Plan or accrued in accordance  with
the past custom and practice of the Company.  All premiums or other payments for
all periods  ending on or before the Closing Date have been paid with respect to
each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.

                        (D) The  Defined  Benefit  Plan and the 401(k) Plan meet
the  requirements of a "qualified plan" under Code ss.401(a) in form and, during
the six (6) year period

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
ending on the  Closing  Date,  each such plan has  received  a timely  favorable
determination  letter from the Internal  Revenue Service that it is a "qualified
plan,"  and the  Company is not aware of any facts or  circumstances  that could
result in the revocation of such determination letter.

                        (E) The market value of assets under the Defined Benefit
Plan equals or exceeds the present value of accumulated benefits, as of the date
of the most recent  actuarial  valuation  report  prepared  with  respect to the
Defined Benefit Plan.

                        (F) The Company has  delivered to the Buyer  correct and
complete  copies  of the plan  documents,  including  amendments,  summary  plan
descriptions  and summaries of material  modifications,  if any, the most recent
determination  letter received from the Internal Revenue Service, the three most
recent Form 5500 Annual Reports,  and accountant's  opinion, if applicable,  and
all related trust agreements,  insurance contracts, and other funding agreements
which implement each such Employee Benefit Plan and all written  communications,
if any, to employees to the extent the substance of the plan  described  therein
differs materially from other documentation furnished.

                        (G)  Within  the  three  (3) year  period  ending on the
Closing  Date,  there have been no acts or  omissions  by the Company  that have
given rise to or may  reasonably  be expected  to give rise to  material  fines,
penalties,  taxes or related  charges under Sections  502(c),  502(i) or 4071 of
ERISA or Chapter 43 of the Code for which the Company may be liable.

                      (ii) With respect to each  Employee  Benefit Plan that the
Company  maintains or has maintained  during the three (3) year period ending on
the  Closing  Date or to  which it  contributes,  has  contributed,  or has been
required to  contribute  during the three (3) year period  ending on the Closing
Date:

                        (A) Except as required  by the terms of this  Agreement,
during the three (3) year period  ending on the Closing  Date,  no such Employee
Benefit Plan which is an Employee  Pension  Benefit Plan and which is subject to
Title IV of ERISA  has  been  completely  or  partially  terminated  or been the
subject of a reportable  event as to which notices would be required to be filed
with the PBGC.  During the three (3) year period  ending on the Closing Date, no
proceeding by the PBGC to terminate any such Employee Pension Benefit Plan which
is subject to Title IV of ERISA has been  instituted or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened.

                        (B)  During  the  three  (3) year  period  ending on the
Closing Date,  there have been, and are, no prohibited  transactions (as defined
in ss.406 of ERISA and Code  ss.4975) for which no  exemption is available  with
respect to any such  Employee  Benefit  Plan.  To the  Knowledge of the Company,
during the three (3) year period  ending on the Closing  Date,  no Fiduciary has
any  liability  for  material  breach of  fiduciary  duty or any other  material
failure to act or comply in connection with the  administration or investment of
the assets of any such Employee  Benefit Plan.  During the three (3) year period
ending  on  the  Closing  Date,  no  action,  suit,   proceeding,   hearing,  or
investigation with respect to the administration or the investment of the assets
of any such Employee  Benefit Plan (other than routine  claims for benefits) has
been pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

                      (iii)  The  Company  does  not  contribute  to  and is not
required to  contribute  to any  Multiemployer  Plan and has no Knowledge of any
material  liability  (whether  asserted  or  unasserted,   whether  absolute  or
contingent,  whether accrued or unaccrued,  whether  liquidated or unliquidated,
and  whether due or to become  due),  including  any  withdrawal  liability  (as
defined in ERISA ss.4201), under any Multiemployer Plan.

                      (iv)  Except as  disclosed  in ss.3(v)  of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  the Company does not maintain or contribute to and is not required to
contribute to any Employee Welfare Benefit Plan providing  medical,  health,  or
life insurance or other  welfare-type  benefits for current or future retired or
terminated  employees,  their  spouses,  or  their  dependents  (other  than  in
accordance with COBRA).

                  (w)  Guaranties.  The Company is not a guarantor  or otherwise
responsible  for any liability or  obligation  (including  indebtedness)  of any
other Person.

                  (x)      Environment, Health, and Safety Matters.

                      (i) The Company has  complied,  and the Real  Property and
the  improvements  thereon  are in  compliance,  in each  case  in all  material
respects, with all, Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.

                      (ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company has obtained,  has complied,  and is in compliance  with, in each and in
all material respects,  all material permits,  licenses and other authorizations
that are required pursuant to  Environmental,  Health,  and Safety  Requirements
(the "Required  Permits") for the occupation of its facilities and the operation
of its business and each Required Permit is in full force and effect.  A list of
all such material  permits,  licenses and other  authorizations  is set forth in
ss.3(x) of the Disclosure Schedule.

                      (iii) The Company has not received  any written  report or
other written information  regarding any actual or alleged material violation of
Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements,  or any material liabilities or
potential  material   liabilities   (whether  accrued,   absolute,   contingent,
unliquidated or otherwise),  including any material  investigatory,  remedial or
corrective obligations,  relating to any of them or its facilities arising under
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.

                      (iv) To the Knowledge of the Company,  the Company has not
treated,  stored,  disposed  of,  arranged  for or  permitted  the  disposal of,
transported,  handled, or released any Regulated Substance, or owned or operated
any property or facility  (and no such property or facility is  contaminated  by
any such  substance)  in a manner  that has given or would give rise to material
liabilities,  including any material liability for civil or criminal  penalties,
response costs, corrective action costs, indemnification, contribution, personal
injury, property damage, natural resources damages or attorney fees, pursuant to
the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act, 42
U.S.C. ss.9601 et seq., as amended ("CERCLA") or the Solid

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.6901 et seq., as amended ("SWDA") or any other
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.

                      (v) Neither this  Agreement  nor the  consummation  of the
transaction  that is the subject of this  Agreement  will result in any material
obligations for site investigation or cleanup,  or notification to or consent of
government  agencies  or  third  parties,  pursuant  to  any  of  the  so-called
"transaction-triggered"  or "responsible party transfer" Environmental,  Health,
and Safety Requirements.

                      (vi) To the Knowledge of the Company,  no facility or site
to which the Company and its  predecessors,  either  directly or indirectly by a
third party, has sent Regulated Substances for storage,  treatment,  disposal or
other  management  has been nor is being  operated in  violation  of  applicable
Environmental,  Health,  and Safety  Requirements or pursuant to  Environmental,
Health,  and Safety  Requirements  is identified or proposed to be identified on
any list of contaminated  properties or other list of properties  which pursuant
to  Environmental,  Health,  and  Safety  Requirements  are  the  subject  of an
investigation or remediation action by any Person.

                  (y) Certain Business Relationships With the Company. Except as
set  forth in  ss.3(y)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the  officers  or
directors of the Company, or the Company  Shareholders have been involved in any
material  business  arrangement or relationship with the Company within the past
twelve (12) months,  and none of such persons owns any material asset,  tangible
or intangible, which is used in the business of the Company.

                  (z)  Operational  Matters.   With  respect  to  the  Company's
operations:

                      (i) Storage  Customers are invoiced for special  projects,
such as purges,  special  destructions,  re-boxing and re-filing programs,  only
with respect to completed work;

                      (ii) all of its Storage Customers have executed a customer
contract in the form previously provided to the Buyer except as set forth in ss.
3(z) of the Disclosure Schedule (which lists customers for which the Company has
no written contract,  customers for which the Company has only a purchase order,
and customer contracts with nonstandard terms and conditions);

                      (iii) no  Storage  Customers'  stored  records  have  been
damaged or lost since  December  31, 1994,  except in instances  which would not
give rise to a material  liability  of the Company and are listed in ss. 3(z) of
the Disclosure Schedule;

                      (iv)  substantially  all items  received and stored by the
Company on behalf of each of the Company's Storage Customers are held in storage
by the Company and are locatable and  accessible  without  extraordinary  effort
except for items withdrawn or destroyed at the respective customer's request;

                      (v)  substantially  all items received by the Company from
Storage  Customers  (including files for refiling) are logged into the Company's
bar-coded computer

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
inventory  system  or a  manual  inventory  system  and  placed  in a  locatable
temporary  position  within  **The  confidential  portion  has  been so  omitted
pursuant to a request for  confidential  treatment and has been filed separately
with the Commission.** business days, and placed on a storage shelf within **The
confidential  portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment and has been filed  separately with the  Commission.**  business days,
after receipt at the Company's facilities and can be located through use of such
inventory systems; and

                      (vi) the  stored  items for which  Storage  Customers  are
billed exist and, in all material respects, can be accounted for.

                      (vii) the Company's  invoices to customers are accurate in
all material respects,  and the unit rates charged to each Storage Customers are
consistent with the Company's contract with such customer,  as such contract may
have been modified by written  correspondence  to reflect price adjustments from
time to time.

                  (aa)  Records.  The  corporate  minute  books  of the  Company
contain true and complete copies of the articles of  incorporation,  as amended,
by-laws, as amended, and to the Knowledge of the Company the original minutes of
all  meetings of directors  and  shareholders  and  instruments  reflecting  all
actions  taken by the directors or  shareholders  by written  consent  without a
meeting,  from the date of  incorporation  of the Company to the Effective Time.
There are in such  records  no  authorizations  or  approvals  of any  presently
effective  material  obligations  or agreements on the part of the Company which
have not been  disclosed  by the  Company in this  Agreement  or the  Disclosure
Schedule.  The stock records of the Company contain accurate,  true and complete
records of the  issuance of the Company  Shares  and,  to the  Knowledge  of the
Company, all transfers of Company Shares since the date of their issuance to the
extent  certificates  representing  Shares have been tendered to the Company for
recordation of transfer.

                  (bb) Disclosure.  The representations and warranties contained
in this ss.3 do not contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to
state  any  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  and
information contained in this ss.3 not misleading.

         4.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES  OF THE BUYER AND THE  TRANSACTION
SUBSIDIARY.

                  Each of the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary represent and
warrant to the Company  that the  statements  contained in this ss.4 are correct
and complete as of the date of this  Agreement  and will be correct and complete
as of the Closing  Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were
substituted for the date of this Agreement  throughout this ss.4), except as set
forth in the Disclosure  Schedule.  The Disclosure  Schedule will be arranged in
paragraphs  corresponding to the numbered and lettered  paragraphs  contained in
this ss.4.

                  (a)  Organization.  Each  of the  Buyer  and  the  Transaction
Subsidiary  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing,  and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
                  (b)  Authorization  of Transaction.  Each of the Buyer and the
Transaction  Subsidiary has full power and authority  (including  full corporate
power and  authority)  to execute and deliver this  Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder.  This Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding
obligation of each of the Buyer and the Transaction  Subsidiary,  enforceable in
accordance with its terms and conditions.

                  (c)  Noncontravention.  Neither the execution and the delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
will (i) violate  any  constitution,  statute,  regulations,  rule,  injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government,
governmental  agency,  or court to which  either  the  Buyer or the  Transaction
Subsidiary  is subject or any  provision  of the charter of bylaws of either the
Buyer or the  Transaction  Subsidiary or (ii) conflict with,  result in a breach
of,  constitute a default under,  result in the  acceleration  of, create in any
party the right to  accelerate,  terminate,  modify,  or cancel,  or require any
notice under any  agreement,  contract,  lease,  license,  instrument,  or other
arrangement to which either the Buyer or the  Transaction  Subsidiary is a party
or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets is subject,  except  where
the   violation,   conflict,   breach,   default,   acceleration,   termination,
modification,  cancellation, or failure to give notice would not have a material
adverse  effect on the ability of the  Parties to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  Other than in connection with the provisions of
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, neither
the Buyer nor the Transaction  Subsidiary  needs to give nay notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government
or governmental  agency in order for the Parties to consummate the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  except where the failure to give  notice,  to
file,  or to obtain any  authorization,  consent,  or approval  would not have a
material  adverse  effect  on the  ability  of the  Parties  to  consummate  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (d)  Brokers'  Fees.  Neither  the Buyer  nor the  Transaction
Subsidiary has any liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any
broker,  finder, or agent with respect to the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement for which the Company Shareholders could become liable or obligated.

         5.       COVENANTS.

                  The Parties  agree as follows  with respect to the period from
and after the execution of this Agreement.

                  (a) General.  Each of the Parties will use its reasonable best
efforts to take all action and to do all things necessary,  proper, or advisable
in order to consummate and make effective the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement (including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set
forth in ss.7 below).

                  (b) Notices and Consents. The Parties will give all notices to
third parties,  and will use their  reasonable  best efforts to obtain any third
party  consents,  in  connection  with the  matters  referred  to in ss.3(c) and
ss.4(c) above.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
                  (c) Regulatory Matters and Approvals. Each of the Parties will
give any notices (and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to give any notices)
to, make any filings  with,  and use its  reasonable  best efforts to obtain any
authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies
in connection with the matters referred to in ss.3(c) and ss.4(c) above.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

                      (i)  Shareholders'  Meeting.  The  Company  will  hold its
annual  meeting  or call a special  meeting  of the  Company  Shareholders  (the
"Shareholders'  Meeting"),  as soon as reasonably  practicable  (and in no event
will the date of the Shareholders' Meeting be later than June 26, 1998) in order
that the Company  Shareholders  may  consider and vote upon the adoption of this
Agreement and the approval of the Plan of Merger. The information materials sent
to the Company  Shareholders will contain the affirmative  recommendation of the
board of  directors  of the Company  with  respect to the Merger and whether the
Plan  of  Merger  is in the  best  interests  of the  Company  and  the  Company
Shareholders;  provided,  however,  that no  director  or officer of the Company
shall be required to violate any fiduciary duty or other requirement  imposed by
law in connection therewith. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to
obtain the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger by the
Company Shareholders.

                      (ii)  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act.  The  Buyer  will  file  the
pre-merger notification and all related material that it may be required to file
with the  Federal  Trade  Commission  and the  Antitrust  Division of the United
States  Department  of Justice  under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act,  will use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain an early termination of the applicable waiting
period,  will make any further filings  pursuant  thereto that may be necessary,
proper, or advisable. **The confidential portion has been so omitted pursuant to
a request for  confidential  treatment  and has been filed  separately  with the
Commission.**

                  (d) Operation of Business.  The Company will not engage in any
practice,  take any action,  or enter into any transaction  outside the Ordinary
Course of Business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

                      (i) the Company will not authorize or effect any change in
its charter or bylaws;

                      (ii) the Company will not grant any options,  warrants, or
other rights to purchase or obtain any of its capital  stock or issue,  sell, or
otherwise  dispose of any of its capital  stock  (except upon the  conversion or
exercise of options, warrants, and other rights currently outstanding);

                      (iii) the Company will not declare,  set aside, or pay any
dividend or  distribution  with respect to its capital stock (whether in cash or
in kind), or redeem,  repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock,
and the  Company  has not paid or declared  any  dividend  since the date of its
March, 1998 dividend referred to in ss.3(h)(xi);

                      (iv) the Company will not issue any note,  bond,  or other
debt  security or create,  incur,  assume,  or guarantee  any  indebtedness  for
borrowed money or capitalized lease

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
obligation,  or increase the amount outstanding under any note or loan agreement
over the amount outstanding hereunder on December 31, 1997;

                      (v) the Company will not impose any Security Interest upon
any of its assets;

                      (vi) the Company will not make any capital  investment in,
make any loan to, or  acquire  the  securities  or  assets  of any other  Person
outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

                      (vii) the Company  will not make any change in  employment
terms for any of its  directors,  officers,  and employees  outside the Ordinary
Course of Business;

                      (viii) the Company  will not make any capital  investments
except (i) as  contemplated  by the Company's  1998 Capital  Expenditure  Budget
included in the Disclosure Schedule,  or (ii) with respect to any other proposed
capital  expenditure  or series of related  capital  expenditures  involving the
expenditure of more than **The confidential portion has been so omitted pursuant
to a request for  confidential  treatment and has been filed separately with the
Commission.**, without the prior written approval of the Buyer; and

                      (ix) the Company will not commit to any of the foregoing.

                  (e) Full Access.  The Company will permit  representatives  of
the Buyer to have full access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not
to interfere with the normal business operations of the Company to all premises,
properties,  personnel,  books, records (including tax records),  contracts, and
documents of or pertaining to the Company. Each of the Buyer and the Transaction
Subsidiary will treat and hold as such any Confidential  Information it receives
from the Company in the course of the reviews  contemplated  by this  ss.5(e) as
provided in that certain Confidentiality  Agreement dated as of November 8, 1996
(the "Confidentiality Agreement"),  between the Company and the Buyer, including
without limitation,  that Buyer will not use any of the Confidential Information
except in connection with this  Agreement,  and, if this Agreement is terminated
for any  reason  whatsoever,  agrees  to  return  to the  Company  all  tangible
embodiments (and all copies) thereof which are in its possession.

                  (f)  Notice of  Developments.  Each  Party  will  give  prompt
written  notice to the  others of any  material  adverse  development  causing a
breach of any of its own  representations and warranties in ss.3 and ss.4 above.
The Company, on the one hand, and the Buyer and the Transaction  Subsidiary,  on
the other hand, shall be entitled to update or correct the information contained
in the Disclosure Schedule (or, for the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary, to
provide information which would be includable in a disclosure schedule),  at any
time and from time to time prior to the  Effective  Time and the addition of any
such  items  shall not form the basis of any claim  against  the  Company or the
Company  Shareholders  on  the  one  hand,  or the  Buyer  and  the  Transaction
Subsidiary,  on the other hand,  including  without  limitation any claims under
ss.10 below.  No  supplemental  disclosure by any Party pursuant to this ss.5(f)
which constitutes a material change in information  originally presented in this
Agreement  or the  Disclosure  Schedule  shall  constitute a waiver by the Party
receiving such disclosure of any condition to such Party's

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
obligation  to  close  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby  (including  the
condition  that the other Party's  representations  and warranties as originally
included in this Agreement and in the Disclosure Schedule be true and correct in
all  material  respects  on the  Closing  Date)  unless  the Party to which such
disclosure is made agrees in writing to waive such condition.

                  (g) Exclusivity.  The Company will not solicit,  initiate,  or
encourage the  submission  of any proposal or offer from any Person  relating to
the  acquisition of all or  substantially  all of the capital stock or assets of
any  of  the  Company  (including  any  acquisition   structured  as  a  merger,
consolidation,  or share exchange);  provided, however, that the Company and its
directors and officers will remain free to  participate  in any  discussions  or
negotiations  regarding,  furnish any  information  with  respect to,  assist or
participate  in, or  facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any
Person to do or seek any of the foregoing to the extent their  fiduciary  duties
may require.  The Company shall notify the Buyer immediately if any Person makes
any proposal, offer, inquiry, or contact with respect to any of the foregoing.

                  (h)  Termination of 401(k) Plan and Defined  Benefit Plan. Not
later than the day prior to the Closing Date the Company and each current  ERISA
Affiliate will adopt  resolutions  effecting the termination of the 401(k) Plan,
the Defined  Benefit  Plan and the Key  Employee  Restricted  Stock  Option Plan
maintained  by the Company.  After the closing the Surviving  Corporation  shall
take  appropriate  steps to complete  the  termination  of the 401(k)  Plan,  to
effectuate a standard termination of the Defined Benefit Plan in accordance with
PBGC Reg. ss.4041.21-31, to file a Form 5310, Application for Determination Upon
Termination, with the Internal Revenue Service, with respect to both the Defined
Benefit Plan and the 401(k) Plan and obtain favorable determination letters with
respect to such plans, to distribute  assets of the Defined Benefit Plan and the
401(k) Plan to participants and beneficiaries, to file the final Forms 5500 with
respect to the  Defined  Benefit  Plan and the 401(k) Plan and to take any other
necessary  steps,  execute  any  other  necessary  documents  and file any other
necessary forms with the appropriate  governmental agency in order to effectuate
the  terminations of such plans.  Such actions shall be subject to the following
limitations:

                      (i) The Buyer and the Surviving  Corporation shall utilize
no more than an  aggregate  of **The  confidential  portion  has been so omitted
pursuant to a request for  confidential  treatment and has been filed separately
with the Commission.** of the Benefit Plan Escrow Fund to pay the fees, expenses
and  charges  of  attorneys,   accountants,   actuaries  and  other  third-party
professionals  related to  termination of the plans.  If such fees,  charges and
expenses  exceed such  amount,  they shall be borne  solely by the Buyer and the
Surviving Corporation.

                      (ii) In purchasing annuity contracts to fund the Surviving
Corporation's  obligations under the terminated  Defined Benefit Plan, the Buyer
shall obtain bids or quotations from at least three insurance companies, each of
which  shall  have  a  "Best's"  rating  of at  least  "A",  and  the  Surviving
Corporation  shall  select  the  lowest-cost  bid  which  is  responsive  to the
Surviving Corporation's request for proposals.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
                      (iii) The Buyer and the  Surviving  Corporation  shall not
take any actions to terminate or change the  Company's  indemnification  process
presently available to the trustees of the plans.

                  If the assets of the Defined  Benefit  Plan exceed the cost of
purchasing  annuities  or  otherwise  funding the  termination  of the  Deferred
Benefit Plan, such excess, net of taxes payable in respect of such excess, shall
be paid by the  Surviving  Corporation  into the funds held by the Benefit  Plan
Escrow Agent, pursuant to the Benefit Plan Escrow Agreement;  or, if such escrow
shall have terminated prior to the date any such excess becomes available,  into
the funds held by the Post  Closing  Escrow  Agent  pursuant to the Post Closing
Escrow Agreement, in each case, to be disbursed pursuant thereto. If such excess
becomes  available  after  termination  of  both  such  escrow  agreements,  the
Surviving   Corporation  shall  pay  such  excess  to  the  Representatives  for
distribution to the Company Shareholders.

                  (i) Audit.  At the  request  and  expense  of the  Buyer,  the
Company shall cause its independent  accountants to cooperate with the Buyer and
shall assist in the preparation of audited financial statements for the Company.
Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  the Company agrees that it
will  (i)  consent  to the  use of  such  audited  financial  statements  in any
registration statement or other document filed by the Buyer under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  and  (ii)  execute  and
deliver,  and cause its officers to execute and deliver,  such  "representation"
letters  as are  customarily  delivered  in  connection  with  audits and as the
Buyer's independent  accountants may reasonably request under the circumstances.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Parties  agree  that  it  shall  not be a
condition to closing of the Merger that any such audit be completed prior to the
Closing Date.

                  (j) Financial  Information.  As promptly as practicable  after
the end of each month  following the Most Recent Fiscal Quarter End, the Company
shall  provide to the Buyer a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of each
such month and  statements  of income and  expenses of the Company for the month
then ended.

                  (k) Shareholder  Approvals.  As promptly as practicable  after
the Shareholders'  Meeting,  the Company shall provide to the Buyer a tabulation
of the Company Shares voted by the Company  Shareholders  in favor of or against
this Agreement and the Merger and any shares not voted.

                  (l)  Phase I  Environmental  Assessment.  Buyer  shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause its  environmental  consultant to complete,  at
Buyer's sole cost, the  performance  of, and deliver to the Company on or before
June 17, 1998, a Phase I environmental  assessment of the Real Property owned by
the Company as  described in Section  3(l)(i) of the  Disclosure  Schedule.  Any
follow-up additional studies or reviews shall be performed pursuant to a license
agreement to be negotiated and agreed upon between the Company and the Buyer.

                  (m) Cure of Existing  Violations.  The Company  shall,  at its
sole cost and  expense,  use its  reasonable  best efforts to cause all Existing
Violations  to be fully cured,  corrected and withdrawn on or before the Closing
Date, and shall, in connection with the Closing, and as

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
a further  condition  precedent to the Buyer's and the Transaction  Subsidiary's
obligations  under  this  Agreement,  present  the  Buyer  and  the  Transaction
Subsidiary  with evidence  thereof,  which evidence shall be satisfactory to the
Buyer and the Transaction  Subsidiary in all respects. To the extent the Company
is unable to fully cure, correct and withdraw all such Existing Violations on or
before the Closing Date,  David L. Sansom,  as  representative  of the Surviving
Corporation, shall use his reasonable best efforts to cure, correct and withdraw
all such Existing Violations; provided, however, the costs and expenses incurred
in connection therewith shall be paid out of the Post Closing Escrow Fund.

         6.       POST CLOSING COVENANTS.

                  (a)  Indemnification of Officers and Directors.  The Surviving
Corporation  agrees to defend,  indemnify  and hold harmless from all claims all
persons  who  served as  directors  and  officers  of the  Company  prior to the
Effective  Time in respect of matters for which they would have been entitled to
indemnification under any exculpatory or indemnification  provisions existing as
of the date of this Agreement in the Articles of  Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company for the benefit of any individual who served as a director or officer of
the Company.  The Buyer shall,  and does hereby agree to, defend,  indemnify and
hold  harmless  the officers  and  directors of the Company,  to the extent they
would  have  been  entitled  to   indemnification   under  any   exculpatory  or
indemnification  provisions  existing  as of the date of this  Agreement  in the
Articles  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  of  the  Company,  in  respect  of  any
occurrences or events related to the Surviving Corporation which occur after the
Effective Time.

                  (b) Continuing Obligations. The Buyer shall be responsible for
and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to continue all payments, benefits and
obligations  with respect to the matters set forth in ss.6(b) of the  Disclosure
Schedule.

                  (c) Costs of  Termination  of  Benefit  Plans.  The  Surviving
Corporation shall be responsible for all steps necessary to terminate the 401(k)
Plan and the  Defined  Benefit  Plan  after the  Closing  Date,  as set forth in
ss.5(h)  hereof.  If  necessary,   the  Surviving  Corporation  shall  make  the
Commitment  To Make Plan  Sufficient,  as defined in and  required  by PBGC Reg.
ss.4041.21(b)(1) pursuant to the procedures described in ss.5(h). Costs incurred
by the  Surviving  Corporation  in  terminating  the 401(k) Plan and the Defined
Benefit  Plan with  respect to services  provided by any third party and funding
such plans  (including as a result of the Commitment To Make Plan Sufficient and
fees  and  expenses  of  outside  professional  advisers,   such  as  attorneys,
accountants and actuaries) shall be reimbursed to the Surviving Corporation from
time to time from the  Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Fund,  subject to the terms of the
Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Agreement  or, if such amount is  insufficient,  from the
Post-Closing  Escrow Fund. If the assets of the Defined  Benefit Plan exceed the
cost of purchasing annuities or otherwise funding the termination of the Defined
Benefit Plan, such excess, net of taxes payable in respect of such excess, shall
be paid to the Benefit  Plan Escrow Fund,  the Post  Closing  Escrow Fund or the
Representatives, as provided in ss.5(h).

         7.       CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE.

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
                  (a) Conditions to Obligation of the Buyer and the  Transaction
Subsidiary.  The obligation of each of the Buyer and the Transaction  Subsidiary
to consummate  the  transactions  to be performed by it in  connection  with the
Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

                      (i) this  Agreement  and the  Plan of  Merger  shall  have
received the Requisite  Shareholder Approval and the number of Dissenting Shares
shall not exceed 10% of the number of outstanding Company Shares;

                      (ii) the  representations and warranties set forth in ss.3
above  shall be true  and  correct  in all  material  respects  at and as of the
Closing Date;

                      (iii) the Company  shall have  performed and complied with
all of its covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;

                      (iv) no action,  suit, or  proceeding  shall be pending or
threatened before any court or  quasi-judicial  or administrative  agency of any
federal,  state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein
an unfavorable injunction,  judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A)
prevent consummation of any of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
(B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded
following  consummation,  (C) affect adversely the right of the Buyer to own the
capital  stock  of the  Surviving  Corporation  and  to  control  the  Surviving
Corporation and its  Subsidiaries,  or (D) affect  adversely the right of any of
the Surviving  Corporation and its Subsidiaries to own its assets and to operate
its businesses (and no such injunction,  judgment,  order,  decree,  ruling,  or
charge shall be in effect);

                      (v) the Company shall have  delivered to the Buyer and the
Transaction  Subsidiary a certificate  to the effect that each of the conditions
specified above in ss.7(a)(i)-(iv) is satisfied in all respects;

                      (vi) all  applicable  waiting  periods (and any extensions
thereof)  under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act shall have expired or otherwise been
terminated  and the  Parties  shall  have  received  all  other  authorizations,
consents,  and approvals of governments and governmental agencies referred to in
ss.3(c) and ss.4(c) above;

                      (vii) the Buyer and the Transaction  Subsidiary shall have
received  from Thorp,  Reed & Armstrong,  counsel to the Company,  an opinion in
form and substance as set forth in Exhibit G attached  hereto,  addressed to the
Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary, and dated as of the Closing Date;

                      (viii) the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary shall have
received the  resignations,  effective as of the Closing,  of each  director and
officer of the Company  other than those whom the Buyer shall have  specified in
writing at least two business days prior to the Closing;

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
                      (ix) the Post  Closing  Escrow  Agreement  shall have been
executed by the Post Closing Escrow Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving  Corporation
and the  Representatives,  as  agents  for and  representatives  of the  Company
Shareholders;

                      (x) the  Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Agreement  shall have been
executed by the Benefit Plan Escrow Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving  Corporation
and the  Representatives,  as  agents  for and  representatives  of the  Company
Shareholders;

                      (xi) the Paying Agent  Agreement  shall have been executed
by  the  Paying   Agent,   the  Buyer,   the  Surviving   Corporation   and  the
Representatives, as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (xii) David L. Sansom  shall have  executed an  employment
agreement with the Surviving Corporation substantially in the form of Exhibit H,
and Mr. Sansom's employment agreement dated December 14, 1988, as amended,  will
have been terminated;

                      (xiii) there shall not have occurred any material  adverse
change in the business,  assets,  operations,  operating results or cash flow of
the Company when compared with the Most Recent Financial Statements;

                      (xiv)  the  Company   shall  have   executed   the  Merger
Documents;

                      (xv) David L. Sansom shall have executed a  noncompetition
and confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I; and

                      (xvi) the Buyer  shall  have  received  a title  insurance
commitment  from  Commonwealth  Title  Insurance  Company (the "Title  Company")
indicating that the Title Company is prepared to issue title insurance  insuring
the Company's Real Property  described in ss.3(l)(i) of the Disclosure  Schedule
on an ALTA Owner's  Policy of Title  Insurance  (Form B, Amended  10-17-70) with
only such exceptions  thereto as the Buyer may reasonably accept (with Buyer not
required to accept any exceptions for coal, oil, gas or other mineral  interests
which affect the Real Property) and with such affirmative coverages as the Buyer
may reasonably require;

                      (xvii)   the  Buyer   shall   have   received  a  Phase  I
environmental  assessment of the Company's Real Property described in ss.3(l)(i)
of the Disclosure  Schedule which, to the reasonable  satisfaction of the Buyer,
does not disclose (v) any above-ground or underground  storage tanks on the Real
Property  which  are  in  violation  of  any  Environmental  Health  and  Safety
Requirements, (w) any asbestos-containing material in friable or damaged form or
condition on the Real  Property,  (x) any materials  containing  polychlorinated
biphenyls on the Real  Property,  (y) any  landfills,  surface  impoundments  or
disposal  areas  on the  Real  Property,  or (z) any  contamination  of the Real
Property or facilities by any Regulated Substance in a manner that (as to any or
all of the  foregoing)  has given or would give rise to liabilities in excess of
**The  confidential  portion  has been so  omitted  pursuant  to a  request  for
confidential  treatment and has been filed separately with the  Commission.** in
the aggregate, including any material liability for

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
response costs,  corrective  action costs,  personal  injury,  property  damage,
natural resources  damages or attorneys fees,  pursuant to CERCLA or the SWDA or
any other Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements;  and, if requested by
the Buyer, such further  environmental  reviews or studies which may be required
to respond to issues raised by the Phase I environmental  assessment  which will
be conducted  pursuant to a license  agreement  agreed upon by the Buyer and the
Company;

                      (xviii) the Voting Trust Agreement  referred to in ss.3(b)
shall have been  terminated,  with no liability on the part of the Company,  the
Surviving Corporation or the Buyer;

                      (xix) all options to acquire  Company Shares under the Key
Employee Restricted Stock Option Plan and any other options or similar rights to
acquire, or convert securities into, Company Shares shall have been exercised or
terminated,  and the Key Employee  Restricted  Stock Option Plan shall have been
terminated,  with  no  liability  on the  part  of the  Company,  the  Surviving
Corporation or the Buyer;

                      (xx)  subject to the  provisions  of ss.  5(m),  the Buyer
shall have received  evidence that all Existing  Violations  have been or are in
the process of being cured, corrected or withdrawn;

                      (xxi) any  supplements  or  amendments  to the  Disclosure
Schedule  between the date of execution of this  Agreement  and the Closing Date
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary and
shall not result in any of the representations and warranties originally made by
the Company in this  Agreement  or in the  Disclosure  Schedule  being untrue or
incorrect in any material respect; and

                      (xxii)  all   actions  to  be  taken  by  the  Company  in
connection with  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and all
certificates,  opinions, instruments, and other documents required to effect the
transactions  contemplated  hereby will be reasonably  satisfactory  in form and
substance to the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary.

                  The  Buyer  and  the  Transaction  Subsidiary  may  waive  any
condition  specified  in this ss.7(a) if they execute a writing so stating at or
prior to the Closing.

                  (b) Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of
the Company to consummate the  transactions  to be performed by it in connection
with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

                      (i) the  representations  and warranties set forth in ss.4
above  shall be true  and  correct  in all  material  respects  at and as of the
Closing Date;

                      (ii)  each of the  Buyer  and the  Transaction  Subsidiary
shall have  performed and complied  with all of its  covenants  hereunder in all
material respects through the Closing;

                                      -36-
<PAGE>
                      (iii) no action,  suit, or proceeding  shall be pending or
threatened before any court or  quasi-judicial  or administrative  agency of any
federal,  state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein
an unfavorable injunction,  judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A)
prevent consummation of any of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
(B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded
following  consummation,  (C) affect adversely the right of the Buyer to own the
capital  stock  of the  Surviving  Corporation  and  to  control  the  Surviving
Corporation and its  Subsidiaries,  or (D) affect  adversely the right of any of
the Surviving  Corporation and its Subsidiaries to own its assets and to operate
its businesses (and no such injunction,  judgment,  order,  decree,  ruling,  or
charge shall be in effect);

                      (iv)  each of the  Buyer  and the  Transaction  Subsidiary
shall have delivered to the Company a certificate to the effect that each of the
conditions specified above in ss.7(b)(i)-(iii) is satisfied in all respects;

                      (v) this  Agreement  and the  Plan of  Merger  shall  have
received the Requisite Shareholder Approval;

                      (vi) all  applicable  waiting  periods (and any extensions
thereof)  under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act shall have expired or otherwise been
terminated  and the  Parties  shall  have  received  all  other  authorizations,
consents,  and approvals of governments and governmental agencies referred to in
ss.3(c) and ss.4(c) above;

                      (vii)  the  Company  shall  have  received  from  Garry B.
Watzke, General Counsel to the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary,  an opinion
in form and  substance as set forth in Exhibit J attached  hereto,  addressed to
the Company, and dated as of the Closing Date;

                      (viii) the Post Closing Escrow  Agreement  shall have been
executed by the Post Closing Escrow Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving Corporation,
and the Representatives on behalf of the Company Shareholders, as agents for and
representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (ix) the  Benefit  Plan Escrow  Agreement  shall have been
executed by the Benefit Plan Escrow Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving  Corporation
and the  Representatives,  as  agents  for and  representatives  of the  Company
Shareholders;

                      (x) the Paying Agent Agreement shall have been executed by
the Paying Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving  Corporation and the Representatives,
as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders

                      (xi) the  Surviving  Corporation  shall have  executed  an
employment  agreement with David L. Sansom  substantially in the form of Exhibit
H;

                      (xii) the  Surviving  Corporation  shall have entered into
employment agreements, dated as of the Effective Date with Messrs./Ms. Benjamin,
Doughty, Mottern,

                                      -37-
<PAGE>
Nowicki,  Kengor,  Jacobs and the Company's new customer service manager,  which
employment  agreements  will provide for employment for a period of at least one
year after the Effective Time (absent good cause for  termination),  and provide
for aggregate  compensation,  including without  limitation,  salary,  incentive
bonuses, and benefits, equal to the aggregate current compensation for each such
Person; and

                      (xiii)  all  actions  to be  taken  by the  Buyer  and the
Transaction  Subsidiary  in connection  with  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  and all  certificates,  opinions,  instruments,  and other
documents  required  to effect  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company.

                  The Company may waive any condition  specified in this ss.7(b)
if it executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.

         8.       DELIVERIES AND ACTIONS AT CLOSING.

                  At  the  Closing  the  parties  shall  deliver  the  following
documents,  instruments and agreements,  and shall take the following  described
actions,  all of which shall be deemed part of a single transaction.  No part of
the described deliveries and actions shall occur unless all shall occur.

                  (a) Deliveries  and Actions by the Company.  The Company shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary, or
to other persons,  as  appropriate,  the following  documents,  instruments  and
agreements, and shall take the following actions:

                      (i) a  copy  of  the  Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the
Company,   certified  by  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the   Commonwealth   of
Pennsylvania;

                      (ii) a subsistence  certificate  for the Company issued by
the appropriate officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

                      (iii) a certificate of the Company to the effect that each
of the conditions specified in ss.7(a)(i) through (iv) has been satisfied in all
material respects;

                      (iv)  originals or copies of each  consent,  authorization
and approval referred to in ss.7(a)(vi);

                      (v) the opinion of Thorp Reed &  Armstrong  referred to in
ss.7(a)(vii);

                      (vi)  the   resignations   described   in   ss.7(a)(viii),
effective as of the Closing, of each director and officer of the Company;

                      (vii)  originals of the Merger  Documents  executed by the
Company;

                                      -38-
<PAGE>
                      (viii) the Post Closing Escrow Agreement,  executed by the
Post  Closing  Escrow  Agent,  the  Buyer,  the  Surviving  Corporation  and the
Representatives, as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (ix) the Benefit  Plan Escrow  Agreement,  executed by the
Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Agent,  the  Buyer,  the  Surviving  Corporation  and the
Representatives, as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (x) the Paying Agent Agreement shall have been executed by
the Paying Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving  Corporation and the Representatives,
as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders; and

                      (xi)  a  certificate  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Company
certifying  as to the  Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Company and
resolutions  adopted  by the Board of  Directors  and  Company  Shareholders  in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b)  Deliveries  and Actions by the Buyer and the  Transaction
Subsidiary.  The Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary shall deliver, or cause to
be delivered to the Company, or to other persons, as appropriate,  the following
documents, instruments and agreements, and shall take the following actions:

                      (i) a copy of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  for the
Buyer,  certified  by the  Secretary  of State of the State of Delaware  and the
Articles  of  Incorporation  of the  Transaction  Subsidiary,  certified  by the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

                      (ii) a  certificate  of good standing for the Buyer issued
by the  Delaware  Secretary  of  State  and a  subsidence  certificate  for  the
Transaction  Subsidiary  issued by the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania;

                      (iii)  certificate of  authorization  for the  Transaction
Subsidiary   issued  by  the   appropriate   officer  of  the   Commonwealth  of
Pennsylvania;

                      (iv)  a  certificate  of the  Buyer  and  the  Transaction
Subsidiary  to the effect that each of the  conditions  specified in  ss.7(b)(i)
through (iii) has been satisfied in all material respects;

                      (v) originals or copies of each consent, authorization and
approval referred to in ss.7(b)(vi);

                      (vi) a copy of the Paying Agent Agreement, executed by the
Buyer and the Paying Agent;

                      (vii) originals of the Merger  Documents,  executed by the
Transaction Subsidiary;
                                      -39-
<PAGE>
                      (viii) the Post Closing Escrow Agreement,  executed by the
Post  Closing  Escrow  Agent,  the  Buyer,  the  Surviving  Corporation  and the
Representatives, as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (ix) the Benefit  Plan Escrow  Agreement,  executed by the
Benefit Plan Escrow  Agent,  the Buyer,  the  Surviving  Corporation  and by the
Representatives, as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (x) the Paying Agent Agreement shall have been executed by
the Paying Agent, the Buyer, the Surviving  Corporation and the Representatives,
as agents for and representatives of the Company Shareholders;

                      (xi) an opinion of Garry  Watzke,  General  Counsel to the
Buyer and the Transaction Subsidiary, referred to in ss.7(b)(vii); and

                      (xii) a certificate  of the Secretary of the Buyer and the
Transaction  Subsidiary certifying as to the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors  of each in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

                  (c) Other  Actions.  The actions  described in ss.2(c) will be
taken by the Parties.

         9.       TERMINATION.

                  (a) Termination of Agreement. Any of the Parties may terminate
this Agreement (whether before or after shareholder approval) as provided below:

                      (i) the Parties may  terminate  this  Agreement  by mutual
written consent at any time prior to the Effective Time;

                      (ii)  the  Buyer  and  the   Transaction   Subsidiary  may
terminate  this  Agreement by giving  written  notice to the Company at any time
prior to the  Effective  Time (A) in the  event the  Company  has  breached  any
material  representation,  warranty,  or covenant contained in this Agreement in
any material respect,  the Buyer or the Transaction  Subsidiary has notified the
Company of the breach, and the breach has continued without cure for a period of
thirty (30) days after the notice of breach or (B) if the Closing shall not have
occurred on or before July 15, 1998,  by reason of the failure of any  condition
precedent  under ss.7(a) hereof (unless the failure  results  primarily from the
Buyer or the Transaction  Subsidiary breaching any representation,  warranty, or
covenant contained in this Agreement);

                      (iii) the Company may terminate  this  Agreement by giving
written notice to the Buyer and the Transaction  Subsidiary at any time prior to
the Effective Time (A) in the event the Buyer or the Transaction  Subsidiary has
breached any material  representation,  warranty,  or covenant contained in this
Agreement  in any material  respect,  the Company has notified the Buyer and the
Transaction Subsidiary of the breach, and the breach has continued without cure

                                      -40-
<PAGE>
for a period  of  thirty  (30)  days  after  the  notice of breach or (B) if the
Closing  shall not have  occurred on or before July 15,  1998,  by reason of the
failure of any  condition  precedent  under ss.7(b)  hereof  (unless the failure
results primarily from the Company breaching any  representation,  warranty,  or
covenant contained in this Agreement);

                      (iv) any  Party may  terminate  this  Agreement  by giving
written notice to the other Parties at any time after the Shareholders'  Meeting
in the event  this  Agreement  and the  Merger  fail to  receive  the  Requisite
Shareholder Approval.

                  (b)  Effect  of  Termination.  If any  Party  terminates  this
Agreement  pursuant to ss.9(a) above,  all rights and obligations of the Parties
hereunder shall terminate without any liability of any Party to any other Party;
provided,  however,  (i) that  nothing  herein  shall  relieve  any  Party  from
liability for the willful  breach of its covenants  contained in this  Agreement
and (ii) that the Confidentiality  Agreement and the confidentiality  provisions
contained in ss.5(e) above shall survive any such termination.

                  (c) Effect of Failure to  Terminate.  If either Party fails to
terminate  this  Agreement  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of this  ss.9
notwithstanding  the existence of an event giving rise to a right of termination
as set forth in ss.9(a) or (b)  above,  such event  shall be deemed to have been
waived by the  Parties  and shall not give rise to any Claims by or against  the
Parties.

         10.      REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

                  (a) Survival of  Representations  and  Warranties.  All of the
representations  and  warranties of the Company,  the Buyer and the  Transaction
Subsidiary  contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date hereunder
and continue in full force and effect for a period of **The confidential portion
has been so omitted  pursuant to a request for  confidential  treatment  and has
been filed separately with the Commission.** thereafter (the "Survival Period").

                  (b)      Indemnification by Company Shareholders.

                      (i) the  Company  Shareholders,  pursuant  to the terms of
this  Agreement  and the  Post  Closing  Escrow  Agreement,  severally,  and not
jointly,  shall  indemnify  the Buyer  and the  Surviving  Corporation  from and
against any costs, losses or expenses,  including attorneys' fees (together, the
"Claims") the Buyer or the Surviving  Corporation  may suffer from and after the
Closing  Date  resulting  from,  arising  out of or caused by any  breach by the
Company of (A) its representations  and warranties  contained in ss.3 above, (B)
its  covenants  contained  in ss.5 or (C) any excess of the costs of funding the
obligations of the Surviving  Corporation in respect of the Defined Benefit Plan
in excess of the portion of the Benefit  Plan  Escrow  Fund  allocated  for such
purpose; provided that the Company Shareholders shall not have any obligation to
indemnify the Buyer or the Surviving  Corporation from and against any liability
for Claims  resulting from,  arising out of or caused by any breach described in
clauses  (A) or  (B) of  this  ss.10(b)(i)  until  the  Buyer  or the  Surviving
Corporation  has  suffered  aggregate  Claims by reason of all such  breaches in
excess of **The  confidential  portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request
for confidential  treatment and has been filed separately with the Commission.**
(the "Threshold") **The

                                      -41-
<PAGE>
confidential  portion has been so omitted pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment and has been filed  separately  with the  Commission.**;  and provided
further,  that the Buyer makes a written claim for  indemnification  against the
Company Shareholders  pursuant to the terms of the Post Closing Escrow Agreement
within five (5) business days after the end of the Survival Period; and provided
further   that  the   Buyer's   and  the   Surviving   Corporation's   right  to
indemnification  under this ss.  10(b) shall be subject to and  limited,  to the
extent applicable, by each of the other provisions of this ss. 10.

                      (ii)  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary,  each
Company  Shareholder's  liability  to the Buyer and the  Surviving  Corporation,
whether in respect of the indemnification  obligations  described in ss.10(b)(i)
or  otherwise,  shall in no event exceed his or her  respective  interest in the
Post Closing Escrow Fund. The Buyer's and the Surviving  Corporation's  sole and
only  recourse  in  respect of any Claims  hereunder  shall be against  the Post
Closing  Escrow Fund, in the maximum  amount thereof as shall exist from time to
time, subject to the procedures described in the Post Closing Escrow Agreement.

                  (c)  Indemnification  by Buyer.  The  Buyer and the  Surviving
Corporation shall jointly and severally indemnify the Company  Shareholders from
and against any Claims that the Company  Shareholders  may suffer from and after
the Closing Date resulting from or arising out of any breach by the Buyer or the
Transaction  Subsidiary of (A) their representations and warranties contained in
ss.4 above or (B) its covenants contained in ss.5 and ss.6 above; provided, that
the  Buyer  and the  Surviving  Corporation  shall  not have any  obligation  to
indemnify  the Company  Shareholders  from and against any  liability for Claims
resulting  from,  arising  out of or  caused  by any  breach  described  in this
ss.10(c) until the Company Shareholders have suffered aggregate Claims by reason
of all such breaches in excess of the Threshold **The  confidential  portion has
been so omitted  pursuant to a request for  confidential  treatment and has been
filed separately with the Commission.**;  and provided further, that the Company
Shareholders make a written claim for  indemnification  against the Buyer or the
Surviving  Corporation  within five (5) business days after the Survival Period;
and provided further,  that the Company  Shareholders'  right to indemnification
under this ss.10(c) shall be subject to and limited,  to the extent  applicable,
by each of the other provisions of this ss.10.

                  (d)      Matters Involving Third Parties.

                      (i) If any  third  party  shall  notify  any  Person  (the
"Indemnified  Party") with respect to any matter (a "Third Party  Claim")  which
may give rise to a claim for  indemnification  against  any  other  Person  (the
"Indemnifying  Party")  under  this  ss.10,  then the  Indemnified  Party  shall
promptly notify the  Indemnifying  Party or its  representative,  as applicable,
thereof  in  writing;  provided,  however,  that  no  delay  on the  part of the
Indemnified  Party  in  notifying  any  Indemnifying  Party  shall  relieve  the
Indemnifying Party from any obligation  hereunder unless (and then solely to the
extent) the Indemnifying Party thereby is prejudiced.

                      (ii) Any Indemnifying  Party will have the right to defend
the  Indemnified  Party against the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party so long as (A) the Indemnifying
Party notifies the Indemnified Party in writing

                                      -42-
<PAGE>
within  fifteen  (15) days after the  Indemnified  Party has given notice of the
Third Party Claim that the  Indemnifying  Party will  indemnify the  Indemnified
Party from and  against  the  entirety  of any costs,  losses and  expenses  the
Indemnified  Party may suffer  resulting  from,  arising out of or caused by the
Third Party Claim (subject to the limits of liability  described in this ss.10),
(B) the Third  Party  Claim  involves  only money  damages  and does not seek an
injunction or other equitable relief,  (C) settlement of, or an adverse judgment
with respect to, the Third Party Claim is not, in the good faith judgment of the
Indemnified Party,  likely to establish a precedent,  custom or practice adverse
to the  continuing  business  interests of the  Indemnified  Party,  and (D) the
Indemnifying  Party  conducts the defense of the Third Party Claim  actively and
diligently.

                      (iii) So long as the Indemnifying  Party is conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with ss.10(d)(ii)  above, (A) the
Indemnified  Party may retain  separate  co-counsel at its sole cost and expense
and  participate  in the defense of the Third Party Claim,  (B) the  Indemnified
Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
with respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior  written  consent of the
Indemnifying Party (not to be withheld  unreasonably),  and (C) the Indemnifying
Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
with respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior  written  consent of the
Indemnified  Party  (not  to  be  withheld  unreasonably);  provided,  that  the
Indemnified  Party shall consent to any settlement with respect to a Third Party
Claim where the  settlement  involves  only the payment of money damages and the
amount thereof is fully paid by the Indemnifying Party.

                      (iv) In the event any of the  conditions in ss.10(d) above
is or  becomes  unsatisfied,  however:  (A) the  Indemnified  Party  may  defend
against,  and consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any  settlement
with  respect  to, the Third Party  Claim in any manner it  reasonably  may deem
appropriate  (and the  Indemnified  Party need not consult  with,  or obtain any
consent  from,  any  Indemnifying  Party  in  connection  therewith),   (B)  the
Indemnifying   Party  will   reimburse  the   Indemnified   Party  promptly  and
periodically for the costs of defending against the Third Party Claim (including
reasonable  attorneys'  fees and  expenses),  subject to the  limitations of its
liability  authorized in this ss.10, and (C) the Indemnifying  Party will remain
responsible  for any Claims the  Indemnified  Party may suffer  resulting  from,
arising out of or caused by the Third Party Claim, subject to the limitations of
its liability contained in this ss.10.

                      (v) The  Company  hereby  appoints,  and by  adopting  and
approving this Agreement and Plan of Merger the Company Shareholders who are not
holders of Dissenting Shares shall irrevocably appoint David L. Sansom,  William
D.  Sutton  and  Craig  Wolfanger  (the  "Representatives"),  and  each  of them
individually,  to act as their agent and  attorneys-in-fact,  with full power of
substitution,  to execute the Post Closing Escrow Agreement and the Benefit Plan
Escrow  Agreement in their name and to take all actions called for by this ss.10
and the Post Closing Escrow  Agreement and the Benefit Plan Escrow  Agreement on
their  behalf,  all in  accordance  with the  terms of this  ss.10  and the Post
Closing Escrow Agreement.  If any of the  Representatives  dies or resigns,  the
remaining Representatives shall appoint a successor.

                      (vi)  In  the  event  the  Company   Shareholders   become
obligated  to  indemnify  the Buyer or the  Surviving  Corporation  pursuant  to
ss.10(b)(i)  hereof, the  Representatives on behalf of the Company  Shareholders
shall be authorized to utilize the funds in

                                      -43-
<PAGE>
the Post  Closing  Escrow  Fund for the  timely  payment  of any cost of defense
incurred in connection with any such Claim.

                  (e) Determination of Adverse Consequences.  The amount payable
by an  Indemnifying  Party with  respect to any Claim  under this ss.10 shall be
reduced by the amount of any insurance  proceeds and tax benefits received by an
Indemnified  Party with respect to any  insurance or tax claim made with respect
thereto.  All  indemnification   payments  under  this  ss.10  shall  be  deemed
adjustments to the Merger  Consideration;  provided,  however,  such adjustments
shall be subject to the limits of  liability  set forth in this ss.10 and,  with
respect to the liability of the Company Shareholders hereunder, shall not exceed
the amount of the Post Closing Escrow Fund.

                  (f)  Resolution  of Disputes.  If any matter for which a Party
requests  indemnification  hereunder is disputed by another  Party,  or if there
shall be a dispute concerning the appropriateness of any requested  disbursement
from the Post  Closing  Escrow Fund or the Benefit  Plan Escrow  Fund,  and such
dispute is not settled within thirty days after either party declares in writing
that a  dispute  exists,  the  parties  shall  submit  such  disputed  matter to
arbitration  pursuant  to the  Commercial  Arbitration  Rules  of  the  American
Arbitration   Association  (the  "Rules").  An  arbitration  shall  be  held  in
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania  under a  single  arbitrator  who  shall  be  selected
according to the Rules.

                      (i)  Within   fifteen   (15)   business   days  after  the
designation of the arbitrator, the arbitrator, the Buyer and the Representatives
shall  meet,  at which time the Buyer and the  Representatives  shall  submit in
writing all disputed issues and a proposed ruling on each such issue.

                      (ii) The arbitrator shall set a date for a hearing,  which
shall be no later than thirty (30) business days after the submission of written
proposals  pursuant to clause (i), to discuss each of the issues  identified  by
the Buyer and the  Representatives.  Each such party  shall have the right to be
represented by counsel.  The  arbitration  shall be governed by the rules of the
American Arbitration Association;  provided, that the arbitrator shall have sole
discretion with regard to the admissibility of evidence.

                      (iii) The arbitrator  shall use his or her best efforts to
rule on  each  disputed  issue  within  thirty  (30)  business  days  after  the
completion of the hearings  described in clause (ii). The arbitrator  shall rule
in favor of the position of one party or the other in the matter,  and shall not
"split" or  compromise  the position of the parties.  The  determination  of the
arbitrator to the resolution of any dispute shall be binding and conclusive upon
all parties hereto.  All rulings of the arbitrator shall be in writing and shall
be delivered to the parties hereto.

                      (iv)  The  prevailing  party in any  arbitration  shall be
entitled to an award of reasonable  attorneys'  fees incurred in connection with
the arbitration. The non-prevailing party shall pay such fees, together with the
fees of the arbitrator and the costs and expenses of the  arbitration.  Any fees
and expenses  payable by the  Representatives  in connection with an arbitration
proceeding  shall be payable  from the Post  Closing  Escrow Fund or the Benefit
Plan Escrow Fund, as the case may be.

                                      -44-
<PAGE>
                      (v) Any  arbitration  award may be entered in and enforced
by any court having  jurisdiction  thereover and shall be final and binding upon
the parties.

                  (g) Information  Concerning Claims. Any Party which presents a
Claim  hereunder  shall include with such  presentation  reasonable  details and
documentation related to such Claim in the claimant's possession.

         11.      MISCELLANEOUS.

                  (a) Survival.  None of the  representations,  warranties,  and
covenants of the Parties  (other than the  provisions  in ss.2 above  concerning
payment of the Merger Consideration and the provisions in ss.6) will survive the
Effective Time except as provided in ss.10.

                  (b) Press  Releases  and  Public  Announcements.  Prior to the
Closing no Party shall issue any press releases or make any public  announcement
relating  to the subject  matter of this  Agreement  without  the prior  written
approval of the other Parties;  provided,  however,  that any Party may make any
public disclosure (including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and any  exchange  on which its shares are  listed) it believes in good faith is
required by applicable  law or any listing or trading  agreement  concerning its
publicly-traded  securities (in which case the disclosing Party shall advise the
other Party prior to making the  disclosure  and shall  cooperate with the other
Party as to the contents of such public disclosure).

                  (c) No Third-Party  Beneficiaries.  This  Agreement  shall not
confer any rights or remedies  upon any Person  other than the Parties and their
respective  successors and permitted assigns;  provided,  however,  that (i) the
provisions  in ss.2 above  concerning  payment of the Merger  Consideration  are
intended for the benefit of the Company  Shareholders and (ii) the provisions in
ss.6 are intended for the benefit of the individuals specified therein and their
respective legal representatives.

                  (d) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the documents
referred  to herein)  constitutes  the entire  agreement  among the  Parties and
supersedes any prior understandings,  agreements, or representations by or among
the  Parties,  written  or oral,  to the extent  they  related in any way to the
subject matter hereof.

                  (e) Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties  named herein and their  respective
successors and permitted  assigns.  No Party may assign either this Agreement or
any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of the other Parties.

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

                                      -45-
<PAGE>
                  (g) Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretations of this Agreement.

                  (h) Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder will be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim,
or other  communication  hereunder  shall be deemed  duly given if (and then two
business days after) it is sent by registered or certified mail,  return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth
below:

                  If to the Company:

                           National Underground Storage, Inc.
                           1137 Branchton Road
                           Boyers, Pennsylvania 16020
                           Attention: David L. Sansom, President
                           Telecopier: (724)794-4659

                  Copy to:

                           Thorp Reed & Armstrong
                           One Riverfront Center
                           Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-4895
                           Attention:  James K. Goldberg, Esq.
                           Telecopier:  (412) 394-2555

                  If to the Buyer or the Transaction Subsidiary:

                           Iron Mountain Records Management, Inc.
                           745 Atlantic Avenue, 10th Floor
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2735
                           Attention: Donald P. Richards, Vice President
                           Telecopier: (617) 350-7881

                  Copy to:

                           Iron Mountain Records Management, Inc.
                           745 Atlantic Avenue, 10th Floor
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2735
                           Attention: Garry B. Watzke, Esq.
                           Telecopier: (617) 350-7881

                                      -46-
<PAGE>
                  Any Party may send any  notice,  request,  demand,  claim,  or
other communication hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth
above using any other means (including  personal  delivery,  expedited  courier,
messenger service,  telecopy,  telex,  ordinary mail, or electronic mail) but no
such notice,  request,  demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to
have been duly given  unless and until it actually  is received by the  intended
recipient. Any Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands,
claims,  and other  communications  hereunder  are to be delivered by giving the
other Parties notice in the manner herein set forth.

                  (i)  Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware  without
giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the
State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of
the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

                  (j) Amendments and Waivers. The Parties may mutually amend any
provision  of this  Agreement at any time prior to the  Effective  Time with the
prior authorization of their respective boards of directors;  provided, however,
that any amendment effected  subsequent to shareholder  approval will be subject
to the restrictions  contained in the Pennsylvania  Business Corporation Law. No
amendment  of any  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be valid unless the same
shall be in writing and signed by all of the Parties.  No waiver by any Party of
any  default,  misrepresentation,  or breach of warranty or covenant  hereunder,
whether intentional or not, shall be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent
default,  misrepresentation,  or breach of  warranty or  covenant  hereunder  or
affect in any way any rights  arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent  such
occurrence.

                  (k) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that
is invalid or  unenforceable  in any  situation  in any  jurisdiction  shall not
affect the validity or  enforceability  of the  remaining  terms and  provisions
hereof or the validity or  enforceability  of the offending term or provision in
any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

                  (l) Expenses.  Each of the Parties will bear its own costs and
expenses  (including  legal fees and expenses)  incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the Buyer
and Transaction  Subsidiary shall bear and be solely  responsible for the filing
fees  incurred  in  connection   with   satisfying  the   requirements   of  the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

                  (m) Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation  and  drafting  of this  Agreement.  In the  event an  ambiguity  or
question of intent or interpretation  arises,  this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise  favoring or  disfavoring  any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or
foreign  statute  or law  shall  be  deemed  also  to  refer  to all  rules  and
regulations promulgated  thereunder,  unless the context otherwise requires. The
word "including" shall mean including without limitation.

                                         -47-
<PAGE>
                  (n) Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.  The Exhibits and
Schedules  identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and
made a part hereof.  Any matter disclosed on any Exhibit or Schedule referred to
herein  shall be deemed  also to have  been  disclosed  on any other  applicable
Exhibit or Schedule.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Parties  hereto have  executed  this
Agreement on and as of the date first above written.


Iron Mountain Records Management, Inc.              Iron Mountain/NUS, Inc.


By:  /s/                                            By:  /s/

Name:                                               Name:

Title:                                              Title:

National Underground Storage, Inc.


By:    /s/

Name:

Title:





                                      -48-




                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

         Iron Mountain Incorporated Declares Three-for-Two Stock Split

         BOSTON--  (BUSINESS WIRE) --June 30, 1998--C.  Richard Reese,  Chairman
and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of Iron  Mountain  Incorporated  (NASDAQ:  IMTN)
announced  that the  Company's  Board of  Directors,  at a meeting  held  today,
authorized  and approved a  three-for-two  stock split effected in the form of a
dividend on the Company's  Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock").  Shares of Common Stock will be issued on July 31, 1998. Any fractional
shares  resulting  will be paid in cash.  The stock  split  will  increase  Iron
Mountain's  total shares  outstanding  from  approximately  19.5 million to 29.2
million.
         In  announcing  the stock  split,  Mr.  Reese  stated that the Board of
Directors  considered the continuing  appreciation  in the Company's stock price
coupled with its outstanding financial performance. Mr. Reese added, "We believe
that  the  stock  split  should  continue  to  broaden  the   marketability  and
distribution  of our Common Stock.  It also symbolizes the Board's belief in the
increased  value of the Company and reflects  their  confidence in  management's
performance."
         Iron Mountain currently  operates 228 records management  facilities in
53 markets in the United  States  and one in the  United  Kingdom.  The  Company
serves  more than  50,000  customer  accounts,  including  more than half of the
Fortune  500  Companies.  Iron  Mountain  provides a full  array of records  and
information management services including: (i) off-site storage,  management and
related  consulting  services for business,  healthcare and vital records;  (ii)
data electronic records;  (iii) information  technology  staffing services;  and
(iv) sales of related products

         --30--
         CONTACT: Iron Mountain, Inc.
                           John F. Kenny, Jr., 617/357-6966, ext. 294




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