SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO INC
8-K/A, 1997-07-17
MEDICAL, DENTAL & HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549

                    -----------------------------------------


                                   Form 8-K/A

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of Earliest
   Event Reported):  May 1, 1997


                        SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO., INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charger)

         MASSACHUSETTS                0-28850                 04-2675674
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission File        (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)      Number)             Identification No.)


       75 October Hill Road
       Holliston, Massachusetts        01746                (508) 429-1000
  (Address of principal executive    (Zip Code)        (Registrant's telephone
 offices)                                               number, including area
                                                        code)

<PAGE>



Item 2. Acquisition.

             On May 1, 1997,  pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase  Agreement
(the  "Purchase  Agreement"),  dated May 1, 1997,  relating  to the  Purchase by
Suburban Ostomy Supply Co., Inc.  ("Suburban") of Peiser's,  Inc.  ("Peiser's"),
Suburban  acquired  all  of the  outstanding  capital  stock  of  Peiser's  (the
"Acquisition")  from Barry D. Derman,  the President and former sole stockholder
of Peiser's,  for an aggregate  consideration of $8 million, of which $1 million
was paid in shares of Suburban's common stock and approximately $3.2 million was
used to repay outstanding indebtedness of Peiser's at the time of the closing of
the Acquisition. In connection with the Acquisition, Barry D. Derman was elected
to Suburban's Board of Directors and,  pursuant to an Employment  Agreement with
Peiser's, remains the President and a director of Peiser's, along with Donald H.
Benovitz,  President,  and Stephen N. Aschettino,  Chief Financial  Officer,  of
Suburban. The cash consideration for the Acquisition was funded solely with cash
from Suburban's cash accounts, with no additional borrowing by Suburban.

             In accordance  with an Escrow  Agreement  executed  pursuant to the
Purchase  Agreement,  66,667  shares,  or sixty  percent  (60%) of common  stock
consideration  (with an aggregate  value of $600,000),  were placed in an escrow
account  to  serve as an  indemnity  to  Suburban  in the  event of a breach  by
Peiser's or Mr.  Derman of certain  provisions  of the Purchase  Agreement.  The
remaining  shares of Company common stock in the escrow account will be released
to the former sole stockholder of Peiser's on April 30, 1999.


Item 7.         Financial Statements and Exhibits.


        (a)     Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

                Audited Financial Statements of Peiser's, Inc. as of and for 
                the year ended December 31, 1996, together with Report of 
                Independent Public Accountants.

                

        (b)     Pro Forma Financial Information


                Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statements of Income for the year 
                ended August 31, 1996

                Unaudited Pro Forma  Combined  Statements of Income for the nine
                months ended May 31, 1997

<PAGE>
        (c)     Exhibits.

                The following exhibit is included herein:

         Reg S-K
        Exhibit No.         Description                         Exhibit No.

           10           Stock Purchase Agreement,                  1
                        dated May 1, 1997, relating
                        to the Purchase by Suburban
                        Ostomy Supply Co., Inc. of
                        Peiser's, Inc.

<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 duly authorized.


                            SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO., INC.



                             By:/s/ Herbert P. Gray
                             Name:  Herbert P. Gray
                             Title:    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  July 15, 1997
<PAGE>



                               ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To Peiser's, Inc.:

We have audited the  accompanying  balance sheet of Peiser's,  Inc. (an Illinois
corporation)  as of December 31,  1996,  and the related  statements  of income,
changes in  stockholders'  equity and cash flows for the year then ended.  These
financial  statements are the  responsibility of the Company's  management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance   about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of  material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management.  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects,  the financial position of Peiser's,  Inc. as of December
31, 1996. and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then
ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.


Boston,  Massachusetts
April 4, 1997

<PAGE>
                                 BALANCE SHEET
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                     ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS                                                   $    27,590
     Cash and cash equivalents                                     2,525,456
     Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
         accounts of $118,973                                        795,771
     Merchandise inventory                                            40,902

          Total current assets                                     3,389,719

FIXED ASSETS, AT COST:
     Equipment and fixtures                                        1,033,358
     Leasehold improvements                                          561,786
                                                                   1,595,144

     Less - Accumulated depreciation                                 821,505

          Total fixed assets, net                                    773,639

OTHER ASSETS                                                          43,282

          Total assets                                           $ 4,206,640

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABIITIES:
     Current portion of long-term bank debt                      $   244,963
     Revolving line of credit                                        672,000
     Notes payable to stockholders                                   105,000
     Accounts payable                                                544,831
     Accrued expenses, including payroll and related items           608,341

          Total current liabilities                                2,175,135

LONG-TERM BANK DEBT                                                  253,333

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
     Common stock, no par value -
       Authorized - 1,000,000 shares                                  
       Issued - 10,000 shares                                         10,000  
     Retained earings                                              2,038,170 
     Additional minimum liability for defined benefit plans         (225,998)
     Treasury stock at cost - 100 shares                             (44,000)

          Treasury stockholders' equity                            1,778,172

          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity              $4,206,640

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
<PAGE>
                                 PEISER'S, INC.

                               STATEMENT OF INCOME
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996

NET SALES                                                 $  17,479,641

COST OF GOODS SOLD                                            8,895,468

         Gross profit                                         8,584,173

OPERATING EXPENSES                                            8,289,491

         Operating income                                       294,682

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET                                           124,952

OTHER INCOME                                                     32,514

         Net Income                                      $      202,244



   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
                                 PEISER'S, INC.

                  STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996


<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>                <C>   

                                                                    Additional
                              Common                                  Minimum
                               Stock                                 Liability                          Total
                              No Par             Retained           for Defined         Treasury     Stockholders'
                               Value             Earnings          Benefit Plan           Stock        Equity
BALANCE,                   $  10,000           $ 2,012,371        $  (225,998)     $       -         $  1,796,373
DECEMBER 31,
1995
    Repurchase of              -                     -                   -              (44,000)        (44,000)
     common stock
    Net income                 -                   202,244               -                 -            202,244
    Dividends paid to
      stockholders             -                  (176,445)              -                 -           (176,445)
BALANCE,                   $  10,000          $  2,038,170        $  (225,998)       $  (44,000)     $  1,778,172
DECEMBER 31,
1996
</TABLE>



   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>

                                 PEISER'S, INC.


                             STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996


CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         Net income                                                $  202,244
         Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
           provided by operating activities-
              Depreciation and amortization                           263,447
              Provision for bad debt losses                            20,575
              Gain on sale of fixed assets                            (15,000)
              Change in current assets and liabilities-
                  Accounts receivable                                 386,617
                  Merchandise inventory                                31,186
                  Prepaid expenses and other                           15,063
                  Accounts payable                                    (69,765)
                  Accrued expenses                                   (208,427)

                      Net cash provided by operating activities        625,940

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
         Purchase of fixed assets                                      (82,827)
         Proceeds from sale of fixed assets                             15,000

                      Net cash used in investing activities            (67,827)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
         Net repayments of revolving line of credit                   (407,000)
         Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                      400,000
         Principal repayments of long-term debt                       (355,354)
         Principal repayments of notes payable to stockholders          (4,000)
         Dividends paid to stockholders                               (176,445)

                      Net cash used in financing activities           (542,799)

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                               15,314

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR                            12,276

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR                            $     27,590
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
         Cash paid during the year for interest                   $    127,409

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH TRANSACTIONS:
         Stock repurchased under a note payable to stockholder    $     44,000

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


<PAGE>



                                 PEISER'S, INC.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996

(1)      SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

         (a)      General

                  Peiser's, Inc. (the Company) is a wholesale distributor of
                  home health care products, primarily
                  incontinence and wound care supplies.  The Company is locate
                  in Broadview, Illinois and
                  services primarily homebound patients in Illinois.

         (b)      Revenue Recognition

                  Revenue  from  product  sales  is  recognized  at the  time of
                  shipment.

         (c)      Cash and Cash Equivalents

                  For the  accompanying  statement  of cash  flows,  the Company
                  considers   all  highly  liquid   instruments   with  original
                  maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

         (d)      Merchandise Inventory

                  Inventory  is stated  at the  lower of cost or  market  and is
                  accounted for using. the weighted  moving-average cost method,
                  which approximates the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

         (e)      Fixed Assets

                  The  cost  of  property  and  equipment  is  depreciated   and
                  amortized  over the  estimated  useful  lives  of the  related
                  assets, as follows:

                  Equipment, computers and fixtures   3-7 years   Straight-line
                   Leasehold improvements           Term of lease Straight-line

         (f)      Income Taxes

                  The Company has elected,  under the S corporation rules of the
                  Internal  Revenue  Code  (the  Code),  not  to be  taxed  as a
                  corporation,  and the  stockholders  have consented to include
                  their  pro  rata  shares  of the  Company's  income  in  their
                  individual income tax returns.  Accordingly,  the accompanying
                  statement of income does not include any  provision for income
                  taxes.

(1)      SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

         (g)      Use of Estimates

                  The  preparation  of financial  statements in conformity  with
                  generally accepted  accounting  principles requires management
                  to make  estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the reported
                  amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent
                  assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements
                  and the reported  amounts of revenues and expenses  during the
                  reporting  period.  Actual  results  could  differ  from those
                  estimates.

                                                 
<PAGE>


                                 PEISER'S, INC,

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                   (Continued)

         (h)      Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments

                  The Company's financial instruments consist mainly of cash and
                  cash  equivalents,   accounts  receivable,  accounts  payable,
                  revolving  line of  credit,  long-term  bank  debt  and  notes
                  payable to stockholders. The carrying amounts of the Company's
                  cash and cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable and accounts
                  payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of
                  these   instruments.   The  fair   values  of  the   Company's
                  outstanding revolving line of credit,  long-term bank debt and
                  notes  payable  to  stockholders  approximate  their  carrying
                  values  due to the  interest  rate  charade  fluctuating  with
                  market rates or the interest rate  approximating the Company's
                  incremental  borrowing  rate for debt with  similar  terms and
                  remaining maturities.

(2)      REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT AND LONG-TERM BANK DEBT

         Bank debt consists of the following at December 31, 1996:


Revolving credit agreement with a bank up to $1.6 million, with interest charges
based on the bank's prime rate plus .25% per annum (8.5% at December 31,  1996),
payable  monthly.  The debt  provides  for certain  financial  covenants  and is
collateralized by substantially  all of the Company's  assets.  Borrowings under
this credit agreement become due on June 30, 1997

                                                                   $    672,000
$400,000 secured note payable to a bank. dated March 7, 1996,
bearing interest at 8.15% per annum. due in monthly installments of
$6,667 plus accrued interest through March 2001
                                                                        333,333
$618,611 secured note payable to a bank. dated February 8. 1995.
bearing interest at the bank's prime rate plus .25% per annum, due
in monthly installments of $20,620 plus accrued interest through
August 1997                                                             164,963
                                                                      1,170,296
Less-Current portion                                                    916,963
                                                                  $     253,333

<PAGE>


                                 PEISER'S, INC,

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                   (Continued)

(2)      REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT AND LONG-TERM BANK DEBT (Continued)

         At  December  31,  1996,  the  Company's  revolving  line of credit and
         long-term bank debt are scheduled to mature as follows:


                                    Year                      Amount

                                    1997                      $  916,963
                                    1998                          80,000
                                    1999                          80,000
                                    2000                          80,000
                                    2001                          13,333


                                                              $1,170,296


(3)      NOTES PAYABLE TO STOCKHOLDERS

         In April 1992, a  stockholder  of the Company  advanced  $70,000 to the
         Company in return for a  promissory  note  bearing  interest  at 7% per
         annum.  The note was originally due in December 1992,  however,  it has
         been rewritten  annually in order to amend the principal amount and the
         maturity date. At December 31, 1996, the balance outstanding under this
         unsecured note was $61.000.  On January 2, 1997, the note was rewritten
         for this amount and assigned a maturity date of December 31, 1997.
         Interest expense relating to this note was $4,385 for 1996.

         In July 1996, the Company  repurchased 100 shares of common stock under
         a stock purchase  agreement.  A $44,000  non-interest-bearing  note was
         issued to a stockholder of the Company as consideration for the shares.
         The Company pledged these shares as collateral for the promissory note.


(4)      EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

         The Company has a 401(k) profit  sharing plan that covers all full-time
         employees meeting certain eligibility requirements.  Under the terms of
         the plan,  participants are allowed to make pre-tax contributions of 1%
         or more of their  compensation  through salary  deferral  arrangements,
         subject to certain  limits under Section  401(k) of the Code.  The plan
         also provides for discretionary  employer contributions up to 50% of an
         employee's annual contribution, not to exceed 4% of an employees annual
         salary. Contributions made by the Company amounted to $41,881 for 1996.

         The Company also has a  noncontributory,  defined  benefit pension plan
         that covers substantially all of the Company's employees. On January 1,
         1995, the Company's board of directors froze the benefits of the plan

                                                     

<PAGE>


                                 PEISER'S, INC,

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                   (Continued)

        as of December 31, 1994, and further provided that no participant 
        would accrue additional benefits under the plan. except as may 
        otherwise be required by the Code.  Pension expense was $58,525 in 1996.

(4)      EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

         The components of net periodic pension cost for 1996 are as follows:

           Service cost (benefits earned during the period)        $    39,856
           Interest cost on projected benefit obligations               43,364
           Actual return on plan assets                               (160,013)
           Net amortization and deferral                               135,318

                                    Net periodic pension cost      $    58,525

         The following table sets forth the pension plan's funded status and the
         amount  recognized  in the  Company's  balance sheet as of December 31,
         1996:

                  Actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits-
                           Vested                                  $   931,606
                           Nonvested                                    66,887

                           Accumulated benefit obligations             998,493

                  Effect of projected future compensation increases    -

                           Projected benefit obligation          $     998,493

                  Plan assets at fair value                      $     713,970

                  Less - Projected benefit obligation            $     998,493

                           Unfunded projected benefit obligation      (284,523)

                  Unrecognized net gain                               (166,830)
                  Unrecognized net transition liability                392,828
                  Additional minimum liability                        (225,998)

                           Accrued pension cost                  $    (284,523)

The discount rate used in determining the projected benefit obligation was 4.75%
at December 31, 1996. The expected  long-term rate of return on plan assets used
was 7.5%.

<PAGE>


                                 PEISER'S, INC,

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                   (Continued)

(5)      COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(a)      Lease Commitments

The Company  leases  certain  office and warehouse  facilities  under  operating
leases  that  expire  over the next  three  years.  Approximate  future  minimum
payments under these noncancelable  operating leases at December 31, 1996 are as
follows:


                           Year                            Amount

                           1997                          $173,037
                           1998                           112,000
                           1999                            55,000
                                                        $ 380,037

The office lease  mentioned  above is with a stockholder  of the Company.  Total
rent expense  charged to 1996  operations was $213.876,  of which  approximately
$109,200 was related to the operating  lease with the  stockholder.  The Company
believes that the rent paid to the stockholder approximates fair value.

(b)      Legal Matters

The Company is, from time to time,  involved in various  legal  proceedings  and
claims normally  incident to its business.  The Company,  based on the advice of
legal  counsel,  does not believe that the results of any pending or  threatened
proceedings  or claims or any  amounts  that it may be required to pay by reason
thereof  will have a  material  adverse  effect on the  financial  condition  or
results of operations of the Company.

(6)      SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In January  1997,  the Company  paid off the $44,000  non-interest-bearing  note
issued to a  stockholder  of the Company and  repurchased  an  additional  4,900
shares of common  stock  under a stock  purchase  agreement.  The  Company  paid
$1,156,000 in cash and issued a $1,000,000  promissory  note to a stockholder of
the Company as consideration for the repurchased shares. The note bears interest
at the higher of 10% per annum or the prime rate,  adjusted  on a monthly  basis
during  the term of the note,  and  matures  on  January  1,  2004.  The note is
collateralized  by  substantially  all of the  Company's  assets,  including the
shares of common stock being purchased.

In  connection  with the stock  purchase  agreement,  the Company  signed a $1.2
million  installment  note with a bank.  The note bears  interest  at the bank's
prime rate plus .25% per annum and  matures on  January  2,  2002.  The  monthly
installments  of $20,000 plus accrued  interest  commenced in January 1997.  The
debt  provides  for  certain  financial   covenants  and  is  collateralized  by
substantially all of the Company's assets.

In March 1997, the Company signed a $500,000  promissory note with a bank due on
June 30, 1997.  The proceeds from this note.  along with $500.000 drawn upon the
Company's revolving line of credit, were utilized to

                                                
<PAGE>


                                 PEISER'S, INC,

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1996

                                   (Continued)

repay the $1 million  promissory  note issued to a stockholder of the Company in
January 1997.  The $500,000  promissory  note bears interest at the bank's prime
rate  plus .5% per  annum,  payable  monthly.  The  debt  provides  for  certain
financial  covenants and is collateralized by substantially all of the Company's
assets.

In March 1997, the remaining stockholder of the Company personally guaranteed up
to $2.2 million of the indebtedness outstanding with a bank.

In March 1997, the Company reached an agreement with Suburban Ostomy Supply Co.,
Inc. (Suburban),  whereby Suburban will acquire all of the outstanding shares of
common  stock of the Company in exchange  for cash and shares of common stock of
Suburban.  Under the terms of the  agreement,  the cash proceeds will be used to
repay the Company's  indebtedness  as of the closing date,  including all of the
bank debt referred to above.


<PAGE>


                        SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO., INC.
                   PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                       For the year ended August 31, 1996
                             (Dollars in thousands)
                                   (unaudited)


<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>                  <C>                  <C>                   <C>   
                                                                      Suburban
                                                 Peiser's Inc.           Ostomy            Adjustments             Consolidated
Net Sales                                           $17,105              $72,558                  $0             $89,663
Cost of goods sold                                    8,627               55,398                   0              64,025
   Gross margin                                       8,478               17,160                   0              25,638
Operating expenses                                    7,823                9,689                   0              17,512
Depreciation and amortization                           194                  562                 191                 947
   Operating income                                     461                6,909               (191)               7,179
Interest income                                           0                  179                   0                 179
Interest expense                                      (136)              (2,653)                 136             (2,653)
Other (expense) income                                   29                 (53)                   0                (24)
   Income before income taxes                           354                4,382                (55)               4,681
Provision for income taxes                                0                1,944                 201               2,145
   Net income                                           354                2,438               (256)               2,536
Accretion of Preferred Stock                             --                  676                   0                 676
   Net income applicable to
   common stockholders                            $     354            $   1,762         $     (256)          $    1,860
Supplemental Pro Forms Net Income                         -                4,000               (256)               3.744     
Weighted average common shares outstanding                -               10,785
Earnings Per Share                                        -            $     .37
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.




<PAGE>


                        SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO., INC.
                   PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                     FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 1997
                             (Dollars in thousands)
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>                     <C>               <C>                  <C>
                                                                  Suburban
                                           Peiser's Inc.           Ostomy            Adjustments         Consolidated
Net Sales                                    $13,559              $66,262                  $0             $79,821
Cost of goods sold                             6,883               50,505                   0              57,388
   Gross margin                                6,676               15,757                   0              22,433
Operating expenses                             5,580                8,533                   0              14,113
Depreciation and amortization                    187                  654                 127(a)              968
   Operating income                              909                6,570                (127)                7,352
Interest income                                    0                  257                (181)(b)              76
Interest expense                                (122)                (434)                 122(d)             (434)
Other (expense) income                           (39)                (149)                   0               (188)
   Income before income taxes                    748                6,244               (186)               6,806
Provision for income taxes                        53                2,721                 232               3,006
   Net income                                    695                3,523               (418)               3,800
Accretion of Preferred Stock                      --                  101                   0                 101
   Net income applicable to
   common stockholders
                                            $    695             $  3,422            $    418             $ 3,699
Supplemental Pro Forma Net Income                  -                3.846               4.641 
Weighted average common shares outstanding         -               11,053
Earnings Per Share                                 -             $    .35
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
Basis of Accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statements of Income 

The unaudited pro forma combined statements of income combine give effect to the
Acquisition.  The pro forma combined statements of income combine the 
historical statements of income of the Company and Peier's, Inc. for the
year ended August 31, 1996 and the nine months ended May 31, 1997.  The
unaudited pro forma combined statements of income do not purport to be
indicative of the results which would actually have been reported if the
acqusition had been effected at those dates or which may be reported in the
future.   These unaudited pro forma combined statements of income should be 
read in conjunction with the accompanying notes and the respective historical 
financial statements and related notes contained in the Company's Annual Report 
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996 and the Peiser's, Inc. 
audited financial statements for December 31, 1996 included in this Form 8-K/A.

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statements of Income

A.   The pro forma adjustment of $191 in 1996 and $127 in 1997 for the
     amortization of goodwill over a 25 year period.

B.   The pro forma adjustment of $136 in 1996 and $122 in 1997 to reduce
     interest expense to reflect the repayment of certain obligations of
     Peiser's, Inc. by the Company.

C.   The pro forma adjustment of $181 in 1997 to reflect the lower interest
     income the Company would have received if the acquisition happened
     as of beginning of the fiscal year.

D.   The pro forma adjustment of $201 in 1996 and $232 in 1997 to provision
     of taxes to reflect Peiser's, Inc. change in tax status from a S Corp.
     to a C Corp., and for adjustments to interest income and expense.

E.   Pro Forma combined net income per common equivalent shares and the pro
     forma combined weighted average common and common equivalent shares
     outstanding includes the shares of common stock of the Company issued 
     pursuant to the Acquisition.


<PAGE>


                                                         EXECUTION COPY





                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                             RELATING TO PURCHASE OF
                                 PEISER'S, INC.
                                       BY
                        SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO., INC.

                                   May 1, 1997





<PAGE>



                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I                DEFINITIONS.......................................1

        1.1     Definitions................................................1

ARTICLE II               PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES.......................6

        2.1     Purchase and Sale..........................................6
        2.2     Consideration..............................................6
        2.3     Escrow Account.............................................6
        2.4     Time and Place of Closing..................................6
        2.5     Deliveries by the Seller and the Buyer.....................6
        2.6     Other Transactions at the Closing..........................8

ARTICLE III              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                         OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLER.....................9

        3.1     Organization and Qualification.............................9
        3.2     Authority; No Violation...................................10
        3.3     Capitalization............................................10
        3.4     Subsidiaries..............................................10
        3.5     Financial Statements......................................11
        3.6     Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities........................11
        3.7     Absence of Certain Changes................................11
        3.8     Title to Assets...........................................13
        3.9     Sufficiency and Condition of Assets.......................13
        3.10    Real Estate...............................................13
        3.11    Accounts Receivable.......................................14
        3.12    Inventories...............................................14
        3.13    Intellectual Property.....................................15
        3.14    Trade Secrets and Customer Lists..........................15
        3.15    Contracts.................................................16
        3.16    Customers and Suppliers...................................18
        3.17    Compliance with Laws......................................18
        3.18    Taxes.....................................................19
        3.19    Employee Benefit Plans....................................20
        3.20    Environmental Matters.....................................23
        3.21    Employees.................................................24
        3.22    Litigation................................................24
        3.23    Insurance.................................................25
        3.24    Company Products..........................................25
        3.25    Powers of Attorney........................................25

                                                         

<PAGE>



        3.26    Brokers...................................................25
        3.27    Records and Books.........................................26
        3.28    Transactions with Interested Persons......................26
        3.29    Bank Accounts.............................................26
        3.30    Status Under Certain Statutes.............................26
        3.31    Disclosure of Material Information........................26
        3.32    Acquisition for Investment................................26
        3.33    Sole Representations and Warranties.......................27

ARTICLE IV               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER......27

        4.1     Organization and Qualification............................27
        4.2     Authority.................................................27
        4.3     Brokers...................................................28
        4.4     Suburban Shares...........................................28
        4.5     SEC Reports...............................................28
        4.6     Disclosure of Material Information........................28
        4.7     Capitalization............................................28
        4.8     Sole Representations and Warranties.......................29

ARTICLE V                INDEMNIFICATION..................................29

        5.1     Survival of Representations and Warranties................29
        5.2     Indemnification by Seller.................................29
        5.3     Indemnification by Buyer..................................29
        5.4     Minimum Indemnification...................................30
        5.5     Notice and Opportunity to Defend..........................30
        5.6     Adjustment for Insurance and Taxes........................31
        5.7     Indemnification Exclusive.................................31

ARTICLE VI               MISCELLANEOUS....................................32

        6.1     Fees and Expenses.........................................31
        6.2     Publicity and Disclosures.................................32
        6.3     Notices...................................................32
        6.4     Successors and Assigns....................................33
        6.5     Descriptive Headings......................................33
        6.6     Counterparts..............................................33
        6.7     Severability..............................................33
        6.8     Attorneys' Fees/Arbitration...............................34
        6.9     Course of Dealing.........................................34
        6.10    Third Parties.............................................34
        6.11    Tax Matters...............................................34

                                                        

<PAGE>



        6.12    Pension Plan.............................................36
        6.13    Variations in Pronouns...................................36
        6.14    Governing Law............................................36
        6.15    Entire Agreement.........................................36
        6.16    Mutual Covenants.........................................37
        6.17    Disclosure Schedule......................................37
        6.18    DEA Certificate..........................................37



                                                        

<PAGE>




Table of Exhibits

Exhibit A  Escrow Agreement
Exhibit B  Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Seller
Exhibit C  Employment Agreement
Exhibit D  Opinion of Buyer's Counsel
Exhibit E Option Agreement
Exhibit F Registration Rights Agreement

Table of Schedules

Schedule 3.1      Qualification
Schedule 3.4      Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.5      Financial Statements
Schedule 3.6      Liabilities
Schedule 3.7      Changes
Schedule 3.10     Real Estate
Schedule 3.11     Accounts Receivables
Schedule 3.12     Inventories
Schedule 3.13     Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.14     Trade Secrets
Schedule 3.15     Contracts
Schedule 3.16     Major Customers
Schedule 3.18     Taxes
Schedule 3.19     Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 3.20     Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.21     Employees
Schedule 3.22     Litigation
Schedule 3.23     Insurance
Schedule 3.24     Warranty and other Claims
Schedule 3.26     Brokers
Schedule 3.29     Transactions with Interested Persons
Schedule 3.30     Bank Accounts
Schedule 4.7      Capitalization
Schedule 5.1(a) Interim Conduct



                                                   

<PAGE>



                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


        Stock Purchase  Agreement (the "Agreement")  dated as of May 1, 1997, by
and among Suburban  Ostomy Supply Co., Inc., a  Massachusetts  corporation  (the
"Buyer"),  Peiser's, Inc., an Illinois corporation (the "Company"), and Barry D.
Derman, the sole shareholder of the Company (the "Seller").

        The Seller owns the outstanding shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock of
the Company,  without par value per share,  constituting  all of the outstanding
Equity Securities of the Company. On the date hereof, Buyer desires to purchase,
and the Seller desires to sell, all of the outstanding  Equity Securities of the
Company.

        In   consideration  of  the  foregoing,   the  mutual   representations,
warranties  and  covenants  set forth  herein,  and for other good and  valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

        1.1  Definitions.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,  all capitalized
words  or  expressions  used in this  Agreement  (including  the  Schedules  and
Exhibits  annexed  hereto)  shall have the meanings  specified in this Article I
(such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the terms defined):

        "Affiliate"  means  when used with  respect to any  Person,  (a) if such
Person is a  corporation,  any officer or director  thereof and any Person which
is,  directly or indirectly,  the beneficial  owner (by itself or as part of any
group)  of more  than  twenty-five  percent  (25%) of any  class  of any  Equity
Security thereof, and, if such beneficial owner is a partnership, any general or
limited  partner  thereof,  or if such  beneficial  owner is a corporation,  any
Person  controlling,  controlled by or under common control with such beneficial
owner, or any officer or director of such beneficial owner or of any corporation
occupying any such control  relationship,  (b) if such Person is a  partnership,
any general or limited partner thereof and (c) any other Person which,  directly
or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such
Person.  For purposes of this definition,  "control"  (including the correlative
terms  "controlling",  "controlled  by" and "under common control  with"),  with
respect to any Person,  shall mean  possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the
power to direct or cause the  direction of the  management  and policies of such
Person,  whether  through the  ownership of voting  securities or by contract or
otherwise.

        "Agreement"  means  this Stock  Purchase  Agreement  (together  with all
Exhibits  and  Schedules  hereto) as from time to time  assigned,  supplemented,
modified,  amended,  or  restated  or as  the  terms  hereof  may be  waived  in
accordance with the terms hereof.


                                                       
<PAGE>



        "Business Day" means any day, excluding  Saturday,  Sunday and any other
day on which commercial banks in Boston, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois are
authorized or required by law to close.

        "Buyer"  means  Suburban  Ostomy  Supply,  Co.,  Inc.,  a  Massachusetts
corporation, and its successors and assigns.

        "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

        "Charter"   means  the   Certificate  of   Incorporation,   Articles  of
Incorporation or Organization or other organizational document of a corporation,
as amended and restated through the date hereof.

        "Claim"  means an  action,  suit,  proceeding,  hearing,  investigation,
litigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand.

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

        "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange  Commission and any other
similar  or  successor  agency  of  the  federal  government  administering  the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

        "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, without par value
 per share.

        "Company" means Peiser's, Inc., an Illinois corporation, and its 
successors and assigns.

        "Environmental Action" means any administrative,  regulatory or judicial
action,  suit, written demand,  demand letter, claim or notice of non-compliance
or  violation,  investigation,  written  request  for  information,  proceeding,
consent order or consent agreement  relating in any way to any Environmental Law
or any Environmental Permit,  including without limitation (a) any written claim
by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement,  cleanup,  removal,
response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any Environmental Law
related to the  Company and (b) any  written  claim by any third  party  seeking
damages,   contribution,   indemnification,   cost  recovery,   compensation  or
injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials,  damage to the environment
or alleged  injury or threat of injury to human health or safety from  Hazardous
Materials related to the Company.

        "Environmental  Law" means any applicable  federal,  state or local law,
statute,  rule,  regulation,  or ordinance  relating to the  environment,  human
health  or safety  from  Hazardous  Materials,  including,  without  limitation,
CERCLA,  the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act, the  Hazardous  Materials
Transportation Act, the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substances

                                                      
<PAGE>



Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe  Drinking  Water Act, the Atomic Energy
Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and the Occupational
Safety and Health Act,  and any similar  state and local laws,  and the rules or
regulations thereunder.

        "Environmental  Permit"  means  any  permit,  approval,   identification
number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

        "Equity  Security"  shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
3(a)(11) of the Exchange Act.

        "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974, and
any  similar  or  successor  federal  statute,  and the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

        "ERISA Affiliate" means, for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, any trade or
business,  whether or not  incorporated,  that  together with the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company,  would be deemed to be a "single employer" within the
meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA,  and, for purposes of the Code,  any member of
any group that,  together with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,  is
treated as a "single employer" for purposes of Section 414 of the Code.

        "Exchange  Act"  means  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  and any
similar  or  successor  federal  statute,  and the  rules  and  regulations  and
interpretations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect
at the time.

        "GAAP" means generally accepted  accounting  principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and statements and  pronouncements of
the  Financial   Accounting   Standards  Board,  which  are  applicable  to  the
circumstances as of the date of determination.

        "Hazardous Materials" means (a) petroleum or petroleum products, natural
or synthetic gas, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation and radon gas, (b)
any  substances   defined  as  or  included  in  the  definition  or  "hazardous
substances,"  "hazardous wastes," "hazardous  materials,"  "extremely  hazardous
wastes"  "restricted  hazardous waters," toxic substances,"  "toxic pollutants,"
"contaminants"   or  "pollutants,"  or  words  of  similar  import,   under  any
Environmental  Law and (c) any other substance  exposure to which or emission of
which is regulated under any Environmental Law.

        "Indebtedness" means all obligations,  contingent or otherwise,  whether
current or long-term, which in accordance with GAAP would be classified upon the
obligor's  balance sheet as  liabilities  (other than deferred  taxes) and shall
also  include  capitalized  leases,  guaranties,  endorsements  (other  than for
collection in the ordinary course of business).


                                        

<PAGE>



        "IRS" means the  Internal  Revenue  Service and any similar or successor
agency of the federal government administering the Code.

        "Last Balance  Sheet" shall mean the  consolidated  balance sheet of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries as at the month ended March 31, 1997,  included in
the Financial Statements.

        "Lien" means,  with respect to any asset,  any mortgage,  deed of trust,
pledge, hypothecation, assignment, security interest, lien, charge, restriction,
adverse claim by a third party,  title defect or  encumbrance  of any kind,  any
filing of any financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or
comparable law of any  jurisdiction and any agreement to give or make any of the
foregoing.

        "Material  Adverse Effect" means a material  adverse impact or effect on
(a) the business,  operations,  assets,  liabilities or condition  (financial or
otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability
of the Company or the Seller to perform their  respective  material  obligations
under any of the Purchase  Documents,  or (c) the validity or  enforceability of
any of the Purchaser Documents.

        "Officer's  Certificate"  means a  certificate  signed  in the name of a
corporation  by  its  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer,   Treasurer,  Chief
Financial Officer, or, if so specified, the Clerk or Secretary, acting in his or
her official capacity.

        "Person" means any individual,  firm, partnership,  association,  trust,
corporation, limited liability company, governmental body or other entity.

        "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and any successor
 thereto.

        "Purchase Documents" means this Agreement,  the Employment Agreement and
any other material certificate,  document, instrument, stock power, or agreement
executed in connection therewith.

        "Release" means any release, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or
migration  into the  environment  including the movement of Hazardous  Materials
through or in the air, soil, surface water, ground water, or property other than
in compliance with all Environmental Laws and Permits.

        "Securities  Act" means the  Securities  Act of 1933, and any similar or
successor  federal  statute,  and the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

        "Shares" means the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.


                                              
<PAGE>



        "Subsidiary"  means,  with  respect to any  Person (a) any  corporation,
association  or other  entity of which at least a majority  in  interest  of the
outstanding capital stock or other Equity Securities having by the terms thereof
voting power under ordinary  circumstances to elect a majority of the directors,
managers or trustees thereof, irrespective of whether or not at the time capital
stock  or  other  Equity  Securities  of any  other  class  or  classes  of such
corporation,  association  or other entity shall have or might have voting power
by reason of the  happening  of any  contingency,  is at the time,  directly  or
indirectly,  owned or controlled by such Person, or (b) any entity (other than a
corporation) in which such Person,  one or more  Subsidiaries of such Person, or
such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person,  directly or indirectly
at the date of determination  thereof, has at least majority ownership interest.
For purposes of this  Agreement,  a Subsidiary  of the Company shall include the
direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company.

        "Suburban Shares" means the shares of Common Stock, no par value, of the
Buyer paid to the Seller as partial consideration for the Shares, so provided in
Section 2.2.

        "Tax" means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts,
license, payroll,  employment,  excise, severance,  stamp, occupation,  premium,
windfall  profits,  environmental,  customs  duties,  capital stock,  franchise,
profits, withholding, social security, 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.

        The  following  terms are  defined  in the  following  Sections  of this
Agreement:

        Term                                                         Section

        Closing                                                      2.4
        Closing Date                                                 2.4
        Financial Statements                                         3.5
        Indemnifying Party                                           5.5
        Losses                                                       5.2
        Plan                                                         3.19(a)
        Purchase Price                                               2.2


                                                   
<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE II

                           PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES

        2.1  Purchase  and Sale.  Upon the terms and  subject to the  conditions
contained in this  Agreement,  at the Closing (as defined in Section 2.4 below),
the Seller shall sell,  assign,  transfer  and deliver to Buyer,  and Buyer will
accept and  purchase  from the  Seller,  all of the Shares  owned or held by the
Seller, free and clear of all Liens.

        2.2  Consideration.  Upon  the  terms  and  subject  to  the  conditions
contained in this Agreement,  in reliance upon the  representations,  warranties
and  agreements  of  the  Company  and  the  Seller  contained  herein,  and  in
consideration  of the sale,  assignment,  transfer  and  delivery of the Shares,
Buyer will pay to the Seller (i) Seven Million  Dollars  ($7,000,000),  less the
amount of the  Company's  Indebtedness  for borrowed  money  outstanding  on the
Closing  Date,  which net amount shall be paid by wire  transfer of  immediately
available funds, and (ii) One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), which amount will be
paid by delivery to Seller of 111,111 shares of Common Stock,  no par value,  of
the Buyer (the "Suburban Shares").  The consideration  payable to the Seller for
the Shares is referred  to herein as the  "Purchase  Price".  For the purpose of
determining  the number of  Suburban  Shares  which are  issuable as part of the
Purchase Price,  the parties hereto  acknowledge  that such Suburban Shares have
been valued at the average  closing price of the common stock,  no par value, of
the Buyer during the thirty (30) days immediately preceding the Closing Date.

        2.3 Escrow Account.  At the Closing, a certificate  evidencing  Suburban
Shares with an aggregate value of Six Hundred Thousand  Dollars  ($600,000) (the
"Escrow  Shares"),  together with an undated stock power executed by the Seller,
shall  be  deposited  in an  escrow  account  which  shall  be  established  and
maintained pursuant to the Escrow Agreement (the "Escrow Agreement") in the form
attached  hereto as Exhibit  A. For the  purpose  of  determining  the number of
Suburban  Shares  which  shall be  deposited  in the escrow  account  maintained
pursuant to the Escrow  Agreement,  such Suburban  Shares shall be valued as set
forth in Section 2.2.

        2.4 Time and Place of Closing. The closing of the transactions described
in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this  Agreement (the  "Closing")  shall take place at
the offices of Hutchins,  Wheeler & Dittmar,  A  Professional  Corporation,  101
Federal  Street,  Boston,  MA, 02110 at 10:00 a.m. on the date hereof.  The date
hereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."

        2.5  Deliveries by the Seller and the Buyer.  At the Closing on the date
hereof,  the  Seller  will  deliver  to  Buyer  (a)  the  various  certificates,
instruments  and documents  referred to in Section  2.5(a) below,  and (b) stock
certificates  representing  the Shares duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied
by a stock  power  duly  executed  in blank,  and any other  documents  that are
necessary  to  transfer  to Buyer good title to all Shares free and clear of all
Liens,  and  Buyer  will  deliver  to  the  Seller  the  various   certificates,
instruments,  and documents referred to in Section 2.5(b) below and the Purchase
Price so set forth in Section 2.2.

<PAGE>



                (a)      At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Buyer:

                       (i)        an Officer's Certificate of the Secretary of
 the Company certifying (x) the incumbency and  genuineness of signatures of all
 officers of the Company executing this Agreement,  any document  delivered b
 the Company at the Closing and any other document, instrument or agreement 
executed in connection herewith, (y) the truth and  correctness  of resolutions 
of the Company  authorizing  the entry by the  Company  into this  Agreement  
and the  transactions  contemplated hereby and (z) the truth,  correctness  and
completeness  of the By-Laws of the Company;

                      (ii)        an Officer's Certificate of the President or 
Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying the amount of Indebtedness for
borrowed money of the Company as of the Closing Date;

                     (iii)        the minute books and stock record books of the
 Company;

                      (iv)        the Charter of the Company certified as of a 
recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois;

                       (v)        certificates of corporate and tax good 
standing and legal existence of the Company as of a recent date from the 
Secretary of State of the State of Illinois;

                      (vi)        written resignations of all directors of the 
Company effective as of the Closing;

                     (vii)        a favorable opinion, dated the Closing Date 
and satisfactory in form to Buyer and its  counsel,  of  Winston & Strawn,  
counsel to the Seller and the Company,  as to the matters set forth on Exhibit 
B attached hereto. In rendering such  opinion  such  counsel  may,  to the 
extent he may deem such  reliance  or limitation is proper, (a) rely on (x) 
certificates of public officials,  and (y) certificates,  in form and substance
satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel,  of the Seller or officers of the 
Company and (b) limit the scope of such opinion to the laws of Illinois and the 
federal laws of the United States;

                    (viii)        the Seller shall have executed and delivered 
to the Buyer the Employment Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C;

                      (ix)        employment and non-competition agreements on 
terms reasonably acceptable to the Buyer entered into between the Company and 
each of Deborah Carroll-Kanak, Terry C. Young and Jacquelyn Lloyd; and

                       (x)        audited financial statements of the Company 
for its year ended December 31, 1996,  accompanied by an unqualified report of 
Arthur Andersen LLP, all in form acceptable to the Buyer in its sole discretion.

                     

<PAGE>



                (b)      At the Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller 
and the Company:

                       (i)        an Officer's Certificate of the Clerk of the 
Buyer certifying (x) the incumbency and  genuineness of signatures of all 
officers of the Buyer executing this Agreement, any document delivered by the 
Buyer at the Closing and any other document, instrument or agreement executed 
in connection herewith, (y) the truth and  correctness of resolutions of the 
Buyer  authorizing the entry by the Buyer into this Agreement and the 
transactions  contemplated hereby and (z) the truth, correctness and 
completeness of the By-Laws of the Buyer;

                      (ii)        the Charter of the Buyer, each certified as 
of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

                     (iii)        certificate of corporate good standing and 
legal existence of the Buyer as of a recent date from the Secretary of State of 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

                      (iv)        a favorable opinion, dated the Closing Date 
and satisfactory in form to the Seller,  of  Hutchins,  Wheeler & Dittmar,  A 
Professional  Corporation, counsel to Buyer,  in  substantially  the form 
attached  hereto as Exhibit D. In rendering such opinion such counsel may, to 
the extent it may deem such reliance or limitation is proper,  (a) rely on (x) 
certificates of public officials,  and (y)  certificates,  in form and 
substance  satisfactory  to the Company,  of the Buyer or  officers  of the 
Buyer and (b) limit the scope of such  opinion to the
laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  and the federal laws of the United
States; and

                       (v)        an Employment Agreement in the form of
Exhibit C with the Seller.

        2.6     Other Transactions at the Closing.  Simultaneously with the 
Closing,

                (a) The Company  and the Seller  shall  execute  the  Employment
Agreement in the form attached  hereto as Exhibit C. Pursuant to the  Employment
Agreement,  the Buyer  shall  grant to the Seller an option  (the  "Option")  to
purchase up to 90,000 shares of common stock, no par value, of the Buyer,  which
Option shall be evidenced by an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") in the
form  attached  hereto as  Exhibit E. Such  option  shall vest in five (5) equal
annual  installments  on the first  through fifth  anniversaries  of the Closing
Date, shall continue for a period of ten (10) years from date of grant,  subject
to earlier  termination  as set forth in the Option  Agreement,  and shall be on
such further terms, and subject to such further conditions, all as are set forth
in the  Option  Agreement.  The Buyer  hereby  agrees,  subject  to  stockholder
approval to be obtained at the Buyer's next annual meeting of stockholders or at
a special  meeting in lieu  thereof,  of an  amendment to the Buyer's 1995 Stock
Option Plan in order to an increase  the number of shares  subject to said Plan,
to file a  registration  statement on Form S-8 with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the 90,000 shares subject to the Option.


                                                  
<PAGE>



                (b) The Company shall pay to the Seller,  not less than ten (10)
days  prior to the date on which the  Seller  is  obligated  to pay the  related
income taxes, amount sufficient to pay federal and state income taxes payable by
the  Seller  as a  shareholder  of  the  Company  when  it was  taxable  as an S
corporation,  with  respect  to the income of the  Company  earned  through  the
Closing Date.

                (c) On the  Closing  Date,  the Buyer  shall  cause its Board of
Directors  to be expanded by one (1) member,  and the Seller  shall be elected a
director of the Buyer,  to serve in accordance with the by-laws and the Restated
Articles of  Organization,  as amended,  of the Buyer,  and Summit Ventures III,
L.P.  and its  affiliates  shall  have  delivered  to the Seller  their  written
agreement to vote their shares of the Buyer in favor of the Seller as a director
of the Buyer so long as he remains an employee of the  Company,  up to a maximum
of five years.

                (d) The Buyer and the Seller  shall  enter  into a  Registration
Rights  Agreement in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto pursuant to which the
Buyer will grant to the Seller certain  registration  rights with respect to the
Suburban Shares.

        2.7     Retained Assets.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary to
this Agreement, the following assets shall be transferred by the Company to the 
Seller immediately prior to the Closing:

                (a)      1989 Mercedes Benz owned by the Company and used by 
the Seller;

                (b) the Company's  rights and interests as owner and beneficiary
        in that  certain  Insurance  Policy with Federal  Kemper Life  Assurance
        Company, Policy #FK5016913,  naming the Company as the owner/beneficiary
        of this insurance policy; and

                (c) the Company's  rights and interests as owner and beneficiary
        in that certain Insurance Policy with Great-West Life Insurance Company,
        Policy  #4181620,  naming the Company as the  owner/beneficiary  of this
        insurance policy.

                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                          OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLER

        Each of the Company and the Seller acting, jointly and severally, hereby
represents and warrants to Buyer as follows,  except for the representations and
warranties contained in Section 3.34 which are being made solely by the Seller:

        3.1     Organization and Qualification.  The Company is a corporation 
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the 
state of Illinois.  The Company has all requisite power and authority to own, 
use and lease its properties and to conduct its business as

                                                    
<PAGE>



such  properties  are owned,  used or leased and as such  business is  currently
conducted.  The copies of the Company's Charter and By-Laws, as amended to date,
certified by its Secretary and delivered to Buyer's counsel at the Closing,  are
true, complete and correct. The Company is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires such
qualification.

        3.2     Authority; No Violation.

                (a) The Company has all requisite  corporate power and authority
to enter  into this  Agreement  and to carry out the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company
have been duly and validly  authorized  and approved by all necessary  corporate
action.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the legal and binding  obligation  of the
Company and the Seller,  enforceable against each of them in accordance with its
terms. The Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and free of
any Liens.

                (b) Except as set forth on Schedule  3.2,  assuming the accuracy
of the representations  and warranties of Buyer hereunder,  the entering into of
this Agreement by the Company and the Seller does not, and the  consummation  by
the Company and the Seller of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including
specifically the transfer of the Shares to Buyer by the Seller, will not violate
the provisions of (i) to the knowledge of the Company and Seller, any applicable
federal,  state,  local or foreign laws,  which  violation  might  reasonably be
expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  (ii) the  Company's  Charter or
By-Laws,  or (iii) any provision of, or result in a default or  acceleration  of
any  obligation  under,  or result in any change in the rights or obligations of
the Company or the Seller under, any Lien, contract,  agreement, license, lease,
instrument,  indenture,  order,  arbitration award, judgment, or decree to which
the  Company  or the  Seller is a party or by which any of them is bound,  or to
which any property of the Company is subject.

        3.3 Capitalization.  The Company's  authorized capital stock consists of
1,000,000  shares of Common Stock,  without par value per share,  of which 5,000
shares are issued and  outstanding,  all of which are owned  beneficially and of
record  by the  Seller.  All of such  outstanding  shares  are duly  authorized,
validly issued,  fully paid,  non-assessable,  free of all Liens and pre-emptive
rights and have been issued in compliance with all applicable  federal and state
laws.  Except  for the  rights  of Buyer  hereunder,  there  are no  outstanding
options, warrants, rights or agreements of any kind for the issuance or sale of,
or outstanding  securities  convertible into or exchangeable for, any additional
shares of Common Stock or any other Equity Security of the Company.

        3.4 Subsidiaries.  The Company has no Subsidiaries.  Except as set forth
on  Schedule  3.4,  the  Company  does  not own,  directly  or  indirectly,  any
securities  issued by any other  Person  except  for  United  States  government
securities,  certificates  of deposit,  or other cash  equivalents  and is not a
partner or participant in any partnership or joint venture of any kind.


                                                  
<PAGE>



        3.5  Financial  Statements.  Attached  hereto  as  Schedule  3.5 are the
following  financial  statements:  (i) audited  balance sheets and statements of
income,  changes in stockholders'  equity and cash flow as of and for the fiscal
year December 31, 1996,  for the Company (the "Audited  Financial  Statements");
and (ii) reviewed and unaudited balance sheets and statements of income, changes
in  stockholders'  equity  and cash  flow as of and for the  fiscal  year  ended
December 31, 1995 and unaudited balance sheets and statements of income, changes
in  stockholders'  equity,  and cash flow as of and for the three  months  ended
March  31,  1997 for the  Company  (the  "Unaudited  Financial  Statements"  and
together with the Audited Financial Statements, the "Financial Statements"). The
Financial  Statements  (including  the  notes  thereto)  have been  prepared  in
accordance  with GAAP  applied on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods
covered  thereby,  present  fairly the financial  condition of the Company as of
such dates and the results of  operations  of the Company for such  periods then
ended; provided, however, that the Unaudited Financial Statements are subject to
normal yearly  adjustments  (which will not be material  individually  or in the
aggregate) and lack footnotes otherwise required by GAAP.

        3.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except as set forth in Schedule
3.6 attached hereto,  there were no material  liabilities of the Company,  which
were  required by GAAP to have been  reflected in the Last  Balance  Sheet which
were not reflected  therein,  and since the Last Balance  Sheet,  no liabilities
have arisen except in the ordinary  course of business of the Company.  Schedule
3.6 sets  forth a true and  correct  aged list of all  accounts  payable  of the
Company as of the Last Balance Sheet Date, in excess of $5,000 to any one payee.

        3.7     Absence of Certain Changes.  Except as otherwise disclosed in 
Schedule 3.5 attached hereto, since January 31, 1997, there has not been:

                (a) any change in the business,  operations, assets, liabilities
or condition  (financial  or otherwise) of the Company taken as a whole that, by
itself or in  conjunction  with all other such changes,  arising  outside of the
ordinary course of business,  has been or is reasonably  likely to be materially
adverse with respect to the Company;

                (b) any  obligation or liability  incurred by the Company for an
amount not more than  $25,000 in each case or  $50,000 in the  aggregate;  other
than routine trade  payables,  payables and other  obligations  and  liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business

                (c) any Lien placed on any of the Company's properties or assets
which remains in existence on the date hereof other that Liens  reflected in the
Financial  Statements or on Schedule 3.7, all of which will be  extinguished  at
the Closing;

                (d)      any contingent liabilities incurred by the Company
with respect to the obligations of any other Person outside the ordinary course 
of business of the Company;

                (e)      any purchase, sale, lease, assignment, transfer or 
other disposition, or any agreement or other arrangement for the purchase, 
sale, lease, assignment, transfer or other


<PAGE>



disposition,  of any part of the  Company's  properties  or  assets,  other than
purchases and sales in the ordinary course of business,  except for fixed assets
purchased or sold or other  capital  expenditures  made in amounts not exceeding
$25,000 for any single item and $50,000 in the aggregate for all such items;

                (f)      any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not
covered by insurance, materially adversely affecting the Company's properties, 
assets or business;

                (g) any  declaration,  setting  aside or payment of any dividend
on, or the making of any other  distribution  in respect of, any Equity Security
of the  Company,  or any  direct  or  indirect  redemption,  purchase  or  other
acquisition by the Company of any of its own Equity Securities,  or any issuance
by the Company of any Equity  Security other than as contemplated by Section 2.7
hereof;

                (h) any  labor  disputes  or claim  of  unfair  labor  practices
involving the Company; any change in the employment contracts of or compensation
payable or to become  payable by the Company to any of its officers,  directors,
employees, consultants or agents, or any bonus payment or arrangement made to or
with any of such officers, directors,  employees,  consultants or agents; or any
change in coverage or benefits  available  under any Plan  described  in Section
3.19;

                (i)      any material change with respect to the Company's 
management or supervisory personnel;

                (j)      any payment or discharge of a material Lien or
liability of the Company  not disclosed on the Financial Statements or 
incurred in the ordinary course of business;

                (k) any  obligation  or  liability  incurred by the Company with
respect  to any loan,  advance  or  commitment  to lend by any  bank,  financial
institution  or  institutional  lender  to  any  of  the  officers,   directors,
employees,  consultants,  agents, or stockholders of the Company or to any other
Person; or any loans or advances made by the Company to any officers, directors,
employees, consultants, agents or stockholders of the Company, except for normal
compensation,  professional fees and expense  allowances payable to officers and
directors;

                (l) any contracts,  licenses,  leases or agreements entered into
by the  Company  which are  outside the  ordinary  course of business  and which
obligate  the Company for more than $5,000 in any one case or more than  $25,000
in the aggregate;

                (m)      any recapitalization or reorganization;

                (n) any amendment or other change (or any  authorization to make
such an  amendment  or change) to the  Company's  Charter or By-Laws,  except as
required in connection with the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby;

                                                 

<PAGE>



                (o)      any postponement or delay in payment of any accounts
payable or liability of the Company except in the ordinary course of business 
consistent with prior practices;

                (p)      any cancellation, waiver, compromise or release of any
 right or claim eithe involving more than $10,000;

                (q) any cancellation, termination, modification, or acceleration
by any party to any contract,  license,  lease or agreement  involving more than
$10,000  outside the ordinary  course of business of the Company to which any of
the Company is a party or by which any of them is bound; or

                (r) to  the  knowledge  of the  Seller,  any  other  occurrence,
action,  failure  to  act  or  transaction  involving  the  Company  other  than
transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practices.

        3.8 Title to Assets.  The Company has good and marketable title to, or a
valid  leasehold  interest or rights in, all of the  property and assets used by
it, located on its premises,  or shown on the Last Balance Sheet, free and clear
of all Liens,  except for (a) properties and assets  disposed of in the ordinary
course of business since the date of the Last Balance Sheet;  (b) liens,  claims
and  encumbrances  reflected in the Last Balance  Sheet and to be released as of
the Closing,  (c) liens for taxes not yet payable,  (d) minor liens,  claims and
encumbrances  which  would not  materially  adversely  affect  the value of such
assets, and (e) liens set forth on Schedule 3.8 hereto.

        3.9 Sufficiency and Condition of Assets.  The Company owns or leases all
real,  personal,  tangible and intangible  property and assets necessary for the
conduct of its  businesses as such  businesses are presently  conducted.  To the
knowledge of each of the Sellers and Company, all tangible properties and assets
owned or leased by the  Company  are in good  operating  condition  and  repair,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, have been well maintained, and conform with all
applicable laws, statutes,  ordinances, rules and regulations,  except where the
failure thereof shall not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

        3.10    Real Estate.

                (a)      The Company does not own any real property.

                (b)      Schedule 3.10(b) lists and describes briefly all real 
property leased or subleased to the Company.  With respect to each such lease
and sublease;

                       (i)        correct and complete copies thereof have been 
delivered to Buyer;

                      (ii)        the lease or sublease is legal, valid binding,
enforceable, and in full force and effect and will continue to be so on 
identical terms following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby;

                                                      

<PAGE>



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

                      (iv)        no party to the lease or sublease has 
repudiated any provision thereof, and there are no disputes, oral agreements, 
or forbearance programs in effect as to the lease or sublease;     
                       (v)        with respect to each sublease, the 
representations and warranties set forth in subsections (ii), (iii) and (iv) 
above are true and correct with respect to the underlying lease;

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

                     (vii)        to the knowledge of the Company and the 
Seller, all facilities leased or subleased thereunder have received all 
approvals of governmental  authorities (including  licenses  and permits)  
required in  connection  with the  operation thereof and have been  operated 
and  maintained in  accordance  with  applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, 
rules and regulations; and

                    (viii) all  facilities  leased or subleased  thereunder  are
supplied with utilities and other  services  necessary for the operation of said
facilities.

        3.11 Accounts Receivable.  All of the accounts receivable of the Company
are properly  reflected in the Last Balance Sheet  consistent with past practice
and are, subject to the allowance for doubtful accounts set forth therein, valid
and enforceable  claims,  subject to no set-off or  counterclaim,  and are fully
collectible in the ordinary  course of business;  provided,  however,  that each
Medicare and Medicaid account  receivable shall be collectible only in an amount
equal to 86% of the face amount thereof,  and provided  further that no Medicare
or Medicaid account receivable shall be deemed to be uncollectible unless it has
not been collected within twelve months after the date of this Agreement. Except
as set forth in Schedule  3.11  attached  hereto,  the Company does not have any
accounts receivable or loans or notes receivable from any Affiliates or from any
of its officers, directors, consultants, employees, agents or stockholders.

        3.12    Inventories.

                (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule  3.12 attached  hereto:  (i)
the  inventories  of the Company as of March 31, 1997 are properly  reflected in
the Last  Balance  Sheet  and are of a  quality  and  quantity  saleable  in the
ordinary  course of business of the Company at  prevailing  market  prices,  are
priced at the lower of a weighted  average of actual cost or market and (ii) the
values  of the  inventories  as of  March  31,  1997  stated  in  the  Financial
Statements reflect the

                                                      

<PAGE>



Company's normal inventory  valuation policies and were determined in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied.

                (b)  As  of  the  date  hereof,  purchase  commitments  for  raw
materials and parts for the Company are not,  individually  or in the aggregate,
in excess of normal  requirements  and none of such material  commitments are at
prices materially in excess of current market prices.

        3.13  Intellectual  Property.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, all
patents,  patent applications,  registered copyrights,  trade names,  registered
trademarks,  trademark  applications and software  programs (other than business
software programs which are readily available at retail outlets) which are owned
by or licensed to the  Company,  if any,  are listed in Schedule  3.13  attached
hereto,  which  indicates  with  respect  to each the  nature  of the  Company's
interest  therein  and the  expiration  date  thereof  or the date on which  the
Company's interest therein terminates. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, the
Company owns and has the exclusive right to use,  without the requirement to pay
any  license  or  royalty,  all  software  programs  used in the  conduct of the
business (other than business  software  programs which are readily available at
retail  outlets).  All of the Company's  patents and registered  trademarks have
been duly  registered  in, filed in or issued by the United States Patent Office
or the corresponding offices of other countries identified in Schedule 3.13, and
have been properly maintained and renewed in accordance with all applicable laws
and regulations in the United States and each such country.  Except as set forth
in  Schedule  3.13,  use  of  said  patents,  patent  applications,   registered
copyrights,  trade names,  registered  trademarks,  trademark  applications  and
software  programs  (other than  business  software  programs  which are readily
available at retail  outlets)  owned by the Company does not require the consent
of any other  Person and the same are freely  transferable  (except as otherwise
provided by law) and are owned exclusively by the Company, free and clear of any
Liens. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.13, (i) no other Person has an interest
in or right or license to use, or the right to license any other  Person to use,
any of said patents,  patent applications,  registered copyrights,  trade names,
registered trademarks,  trademark applications and software programs (other than
business software programs which are readily available at retail outlets),  (ii)
there are no claims or demands of any other  Person  pertaining  thereto  and no
proceedings  have been  instituted,  or are pending or, to the  knowledge of the
Company and each Seller,  threatened,  which  challenge the Company's  rights in
respect thereof, (iii) none of the patents,  copyrights, trade names, trademarks
or software  programs  listed in  Schedule  3.13 is being  infringed  by another
Person  or  is  subject  to  any  outstanding  order,  decree,  ruling,  charge,
injunction,  judgment  or  stipulation,  (iv)  no  Claim  has  been  made  or is
threatened  charging the Company with infringement of any adversely held patent,
trade  name,  trademark  or  copyright  and (v)  there  does not  exist  (a) any
unexpired  patent with claims which are or would be infringed by products of the
Company or by apparatus, methods or designs employed by it in manufacturing such
products  or (b) any patent or  application  therefor or  invention  which would
materially  adversely affect the Company's  ability to manufacture,  use or sell
any such product, apparatus, method or design.


                                                    

<PAGE>



        3.14 Trade Secrets and Customer Lists. The Company has the right to use,
free and clear of any Claims or rights of any other Person,  all trade  secrets,
customer  lists,  manufacturing  and  secret  processes  and  know-how  (if any)
required for or used in the manufacture or marketing of all products being sold,
manufactured, or under development by it, including products licensed from other
Persons.  Any  payments  required  to be made by the Company for the use of such
trade secrets,  customer lists,  manufacturing and secret processes and know-how
are described in Schedule 3.14  attached  hereto.  The Company is not in any way
making an unlawful or wrongful use of any confidential information, know-how, or
trade  secrets  of  any  other  Person,  including  without  limitation,  to the
knowledge  of the Company or the Seller,  any former  employer of any present or
past employee of the Company.  Except as described on Schedule 3.14, neither the
Seller, nor to the Seller's knowledge, any officer,  director or employee of the
Company, is a party to any non-competition or confidentiality agreement with any
Person other than the Company.

        3.15 Contracts.  Except for contracts,  commitments,  leases,  licenses,
plans and agreements  described in Schedule 3.15 attached hereto, the Company is
not a party to or subject to:

                (a) any plan or contract  regarding  or  providing  for bonuses,
pensions,  options, stock purchases,  deferred compensation,  severance benefits
retirement payments,  profit sharing, stock appreciation,  collective bargaining
or the like, or any contract or agreement with any labor union;

                (b)      any employment or consulting contract or contract for 
personal services not terminable at will by the Company without penalty to the
Company;

                (c) any contract or agreement for the purchase of any commodity,
product,  material,  supplies,  equipment or other personal property, or for the
receipt of any service  outside of the ordinary  course of business,  other than
purchase  orders for less than  $5,000  each and which in the  aggregate  do not
exceed $25,000;

                (d)      any contract, arrangement or program with vendors, 
suppliers or customers relating to rebates, volume discounts or cooperative 
Advertising;

                (e)      any contract or agreement for the purchase or lease of 
any fixed asset, whether or not such purchase or lease is in the ordinary
course of business, for a price in excess of $25,000;


                (f) any  contract or  agreement  for the sale of any  commodity,
product,  material,  equipment, or other personal property, or the furnishing by
the Company of any service,  other than  contracts  entered into in the ordinary
course of business;


                                                    
<PAGE>



                (g) any contract or agreement  providing for the purchase of all
or  substantially  all  of  its  requirements  of a  particular  product  from a
supplier,  or for periodic  minimum  purchases  of a  particular  product from a
supplier;

                (h)      any contract or agreement with any sales agent,
distributor or OEM of products of the Company;

                (i)      any contract or agreement concerning a partnership or 
joint venture with one or more Persons;

                (j)  any   confidentiality   agreement  or  any  non-competition
agreement  or other  contract or  agreement  containing  covenants  limiting the
Company's  freedom to compete in any line of business or in any location or with
any Person;

                (k) any license agreement (as licensor or licensee);  or, in the
case of  software  generally  available  to the public,  any  license  agreement
entered into outside the ordinary course of business;

                (l)      any contract or agreement with the Seller or any 
present or former officer, director, consultant, or stockholder of the
Company or with any Affiliate of any of them;

                (m)      any loan agreement, indenture, note, bond, debenture
or any other document or agreement evidencing a capitalized lease obligation or
 Indebtedness to any Person;

                (n) any agreement of guaranty, indemnification, or other similar
commitment  with respect to the  obligations  or liabilities of any other Person
outside of the ordinary  course of business  (other than lawful  indemnification
provisions contained in the Charters and By-Laws of the Company);

                (o)      any agreement under which the consequences of a default
by the Company or termination could have a Material Adverse Effect; or

                (p) any  other  agreement  or  contract  (or  group  or  related
agreements or contracts) the performance of which involves consideration paid or
received by the Company in excess of $25,000.

        Copies of all such contracts,  commitments,  plans, leases, licenses and
agreements  have been provided to Buyer or its counsel prior to the execution of
this Agreement, and all such copies are true, correct and complete and have been
subject to no amendment,  extension or other modification as of the date hereof,
except such as are described in Schedule 3.15. Except as listed and described in
Schedule 3.15, neither the Company,  nor to the knowledge of the Company and the
Seller,  any other Person,  is in default under any such  contract,  commitment,
plan, lease,  license or agreement described in Schedule 3.15 (a "default" being
defined for

                                                      

<PAGE>



purposes hereof as an actual default or event of default or the existence of any
fact or  circumstance  which  would,  upon receipt of notice or passage of time,
constitute a default,  except where such default  would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect).

        3.16 Customers and  Suppliers.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.16, to
the knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  the  relationships  of the Company
with its  suppliers  and customers  are good  commercial  working  relationships
consistent with past practice and, except as set forth on Schedule 3.16,  during
the period  January  1, 1997  through  the date  hereof no Person who during the
twelve months ended  December 31, 1995 or the twelve  months ended  December 31,
1996  accounted  for more than five percent (5%) of the Company's  revenues,  or
more than five percent (5%) of the Company's purchases (the "Large Customers and
Suppliers")  canceled  or  otherwise  terminated,  or, to the  knowledge  of the
Company and the Seller,  has  threatened to cancel or otherwise  terminate,  its
relationship with the Company.

        3.17    Compliance with Laws.

                Except as provided in Section 3.18, 3.19 and 3.20 hereof:

                (a) The Company has all licenses, permits,  franchises,  orders,
approvals,  accreditations,  written  waivers  and other  authorizations  as are
necessary  in order to enable it to own and  conduct its  business as  currently
conducted  and to occupy and use its real and personal  properties  except where
the failure  thereof  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except as set
forth on Schedule 3.17, no registration,  filing, application, notice, transfer,
consent, approval, order,  qualification,  waiver or other action of any kind is
required  by virtue of the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  or the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby to avoid the loss of any
material  rights  pertaining  to any such  license,  permit,  franchise,  order,
approval,  accreditation,  waiver or authorization. The Company is in compliance
with the terms and conditions of all such licenses, permits, franchises, orders,
approvals,  accreditations,  waivers and authorizations except where the failure
to be in such compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (b) The Company has conducted and is conducting  its business in
material  compliance  with  applicable  federal,  state,  local or foreign laws,
statutes, ordinances,  regulations, rules or orders or other requirements of any
governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or authority or court or other
tribunal  relating  to it  (including,  but not  limited  to, any law,  statute,
ordinance,  regulation,  rule, order or requirement applicable to it relating to
securities,  properties,  business, products,  advertising,  sales or employment
practices,   immigration,   terms  and   conditions   of   employment,   workers
compensation,  wages and hours, safety,  occupational safety,  health or welfare
conditions relating to premises occupied,  product safety and liability or civil
rights),  except  when  failure to so comply  would not have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  To the knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  the Company is not now
charged with, and, is not now under  investigation with respect to, any possible
material violation of any applicable law, statute, ordinance,  regulation, rule,
order or requirement relating to any of the foregoing in

                                                       

<PAGE>



connection  with the  business  of the  Company,  and the  Company has filed all
material  reports  required  to be filed with any  governmental,  regulatory  or
administrative  agency or authority.  The Company shall promptly inform Buyer of
any notice  relating to the foregoing  received  after the date hereof and on or
prior to the Closing Date.

        3.18    Taxes.

                (a) The  Company  has had in  effect  since  May 1, 1987 a valid
election to be treated as a "S" Corporation  for federal  purposes and under the
equivalent  state  statute.  The Company  has filed all Tax Returns  that it was
required to file. To the  knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  all such Tax
Returns were correct and complete in all respects.  All Taxes owed by any of the
Company have been paid (whether or not shown on any Tax Return).  The Company is
not currently the  beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any
Tax Return. No Claim has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction  where
the  Company  does not  file Tax  Returns  that it is or may be  subject  to the
imposition  of any Tax by that  jurisdiction.  There  are no Liens on any of the
assets of any of the  Company  that arose in  connection  with any  failure  (or
alleged failure) to pay any Tax.

                (b) The Company has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have
been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,
consultant, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party.

                (c)  Neither  the Company nor the Seller is aware of any dispute
or Claim  concerning  any  liability  for Taxes of the  Company.  Schedule  3.18
attached hereto lists all federal,  state, local, and foreign income Tax Returns
filed with respect to the Company for taxable periods ended on or after December
31, 1993,  indicates  those Tax Returns that have been  audited,  and  indicates
those Tax  Returns  that  currently  are the  subject  of audit.  The Seller has
delivered to Buyer correct and complete  copies of all Tax Returns,  examination
reports,  and statements of  deficiencies  assessed  against or agreed to by the
Company since December 31, 1993.

                (d) The  Company has not waived any  statute of  limitations  in
respect  of Taxes or  agreed to any  extension  of time  with  respect  to a Tax
assessment or deficiency.

                (e) The Company has not filed a consent under Section  341(f) of
the Code  concerning  collapsible  corporations.  The Company has not made or is
obligated to make any payments or is a party to any agreement that under certain
circumstances could obligate it to make any payments that will not be deductible
under  Section  280G of the Code or that are  subject  to an  excise  tax  under
Section 4999 of the Code. The Company has not been a United States real property
holding  corporation  within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during
the applicable  period  specified in Section  897(c)(1)(A)(ii)  of the Code. The
Company is not a party to any Tax allocation or sharing  agreement.  The Company
(i) has not been a member of an Affiliated  Group (as defined by Section 1504 of
the Code) filing a consolidated federal

                                                 

<PAGE>



income Tax Return or (ii) has any  Liability  for the Taxes of any Person (other
than any of the Company) under Treas. Reg.ss. 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision
of state,  local,  or foreign  law), as a transferee or successor by contract or
otherwise.

                (f) The unpaid  Taxes of the Company (i) did not, as of the date
of the Last Balance Sheet,  exceed the reserve for Tax Liabilities  (rather than
any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between
book and Tax income)  set forth on the face of the Last  Balance  Sheet  (rather
than in any notes  thereto)  and (ii) do not exceed that reserve as adjusted for
the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance  with the past custom
and practice of the Company in filing their Tax Returns.

                (g) The Company has not agreed to and is not required to make an
adjustment under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable  provision of state,
local or foreign law) by reason of a change in accounting method.

        3.19    Employee Benefit Plans.

                (a)      Identification of Plans.

                Schedule 3.19 attached hereto lists and identifies each:

                (1)      "Employee Pension Benefit Plan" (as such term is 
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) which is not a Multiemployer Plan;

                (2)      "Multiemployer Plan" (as such term is defined in 
Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA);

                (3)      "Employee Welfare Benefit Plan" (as such term is 
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA); and

                (4) Stock purchase, option or bonus plan, deferred compensation,
severance  pay,  incentive,  vacation,  sick pay or leave,  fringe benefit plan,
policy or  arrangement  or payroll  practice,  which is, or was within  five (5)
years prior to the Closing Date,  maintained or contributed to by the Company or
any ERISA  Affiliate or under which the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate  has any
liability or contingent liability  (individually a "Plan" and collectively,  the
"Plans").

                (b)      Representations Applicable to All Employee
                         Pension Benefit Plans.

                (1)  Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.19,  each Plan which is
intended  to be  "qualified"  under  Section  401(a) of the Code has  received a
current favorable  determination  letter as to its qualification under the Code.
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.19, there have been no

                                              

<PAGE>



amendments to any such Plans since the date of such Plan's  determination letter
which would  adversely  affect its  qualification.  To the best knowledge of the
Company and the Seller,  no prohibited  transaction  or other event has occurred
that will  give rise to  disqualification  of any such Plan  under the Code.  No
event has occurred that will or could subject any such Plan to tax under Section
511 of the Code.

                (2) No Plan has incurred any  "accumulated  funding  deficiency"
(as  described  in Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code),  whether or
not  waived,  nor has there been any  failure to make by its due date a required
installment  under  Section  302(e) of ERISA or Section  412(m) of the Code with
respect to any Plan.

                (c)      Representations Applicable to All Title IV Plans.

                (1) Except as disclosed on Schedule  3.19,  with respect to each
Plan, no liability under Title IV or ERISA has been incurred since the effective
date of ERISA that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition  exists that
presents a risk of incurring a liability  under Title IV,  other than  liability
for PBGC premiums which have been paid when due.

                (2)      No steps have been taken to terminate any Plan subject
to Title IV of ERISA.

                (3) No Plan has been the  subject  of a  "reportable  event" (as
described in Section 4043 of ERISA) as to which a notice would be required to be
filed with the PBGC.

                (4) Except as disclosed on Schedule  3.19,  with respect to each
Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA,  neither  (i) the  present  value of
accrued benefits under such Plan (based upon the actuarial  assumptions used for
funding  purposes in the most  recent  actuarial  report  prepared by the Plan's
actuary  with  respect to such Plan),  nor (ii) the  "benefit  liabilities"  (as
described in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) of such Plan exceeded, as of its last
valuation  date, the then current value of the assets of such Plan. All costs of
any Plan  subject  to Title IV of ERISA have been  provided  for on the basis of
consistent methods in accordance with sound actuarial assumptions and practices.
Since the last valuation date for each such Plan,  there have been no amendments
or changes to such Plans that would  materially  increase the amount of benefits
thereunder.

                (d)      Representations Applicable to All Multiemployer Plans.

                (1)      No Plan listed in Schedule 3.19(a) is a Multiemployer
Plan.


                                                       

<PAGE>




                (e)      Representations Applicable to All Plans.

                (1) Each Plan  complies  and has been  administered  in form and
operation in all material  respects with all  requirements of law and regulation
applicable  thereto.  The Company and the ERISA Affiliates have performed all of
their obligations in all material respects under all such Plans.

                (2) To the best  knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  there
have  been no acts or  omissions  which  have  given  rise to,  or  which  could
reasonably be expected to give rise to, any penalty, tax, or fine under Sections
409, 502(c), or 502(i) of ERISA, or Sections 4975 or 4976 of the Code, for which
the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may be liable.

                (3) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.19,  none of the assets of
any Plan are invested in any employer securities, employer real property, or any
annuity contracts.

                (4) All contributions  required with respect to any Plan for all
periods ending prior to the Closing (including periods from the first day of the
current  plan year to the  Closing)  will be timely made prior to the Closing by
the Company or the ERISA Affiliates or will be properly  recorded on the Closing
Balance Sheet.

                (5)  All  required   reports  and   descriptions  of  each  Plan
(including IRS Form 5500 Annual  Reports,  Summary Annual  Reports,  and Summary
Plan Descriptions) have been timely filed and distributed.

                (6) None of the Company or any ERISA  Affiliate  has any plan or
commitment to establish any additional Plans or to amend any existing Plan.

                (7) No Plan  provides  benefits,  including  without  limitation
death,  medical,  or  severance  benefits,  with  respect  to  current or former
employees or directors (or their beneficiaries) beyond their retirement or other
termination  of  service  other  than (i)  coverage  for  benefits  mandated  by
applicable  law, (ii) death  benefits or retirement  benefits  under an Employee
Pension Benefit Plan, (iii) deferred  compensation  benefits properly accrued as
liabilities on the Financial Statements, or (iv) benefits the full cost of which
is borne by the current or former employee or director or his beneficiaries.

                (8) There are no actions,  suits,  or claims (other than routine
claims for benefits made in the ordinary course of plan administration for which
plan  administrative  review  procedures  have not been  exhausted)  pending  or
threatened  involving  any Plans or the assets of such  Plans,  and, to the best
knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  no facts exist which could  reasonably
be expected to give rise to any such action, suit, or claim.


<PAGE>



                (9) For  each  Plan,  a true  and  complete  copy of each of the
following  documents  have been  delivered to Buyer:  (i) Plan  document and all
amendments  thereto;  (ii) most recent Summary Plan  Description  (together with
each Summary of Material  Modifications  required  under ERISA);  (iii) IRS Form
5500 Annual Report, if required under ERISA, for the two most recent plan years,
together with all schedules,  financial statements,  and opinions of independent
accountants;  (iv) the actuarial  report,  if required under ERISA,  for the two
most recent plan years;  (v) Form PBGC-1,  if required under ERISA,  for the two
most recent plan years;  (vi) if the Plan is funded through a trust or any third
party funding vehicle (including a voluntary employee benefit  association under
Section  501(c)(9) of the Code,  or a "multiple  employer  welfare  arrangement"
described in Section 3(40) of ERISA), the trust or other funding agreement,  all
amendments thereto, and the latest financial statements thereof for the two most
recent plan years; and (vii) the most recent  determination letter received from
the  Internal  Revenue  Service with respect to each Plan that is intended to be
qualified under Section 401 of the Code.

                3.20     Environmental Matters.

                (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule  3.20 attached  hereto,  the
use and  operation by the Company  and, to the  knowledge of the Company and the
Seller, by all past owners and operators,  of all facilities and properties used
in the business of the Company have been,  and will be on the Closing  Date,  in
compliance  in  all  material   respects  with   Environmental   Laws,   and  no
Environmental Action has been filed, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the
Seller,  threatened  with or  against  any of them  alleging  any  failure so to
comply.

                (b) The Company has received all Environmental  Permits required
to allow it to conduct its operations and businesses, such Environmental Permits
are  valid  and  in  effect,   and  the  Company  is  in  compliance  with  such
Environmental Permits.

                (c) Except as disclosed in Schedule  3.20,  to the  knowledge of
the  Company  and the  Seller,  the  Company  has not sent or  arranged  for the
transportation  of Hazardous  Materials to a site,  or owned or operated a site,
which,  pursuant  to CERCLA or any  similar  state  law,  has been  placed or is
proposed  (by the  United  States  Environmental  Protection  Agency  ("EPA") or
similar state authority) to be placed, on the "National  Priorities List," as in
effect as of the Closing  Date,  of hazardous  waste sites or any similar  state
list.

                (d) Except as  disclosed in Schedule  3.20,  neither the Company
nor the Seller has received written notice from any Person, (i) that the Company
has been  identified  by the EPA or similar  state  authority  as a  potentially
responsible  party under CERCLA with  respect to a site listed on the  "National
Priorities  List," as in effect as of the Closing Date, of hazardous waste sites
or any similar state list;  (ii) that any Hazardous  Materials which the Company
has generated, transported, or disposed of has been found at any site at which a
Person  has  conducted  or has  ordered  that the  Company  conduct  a  remedial
investigation,  removal,  or other response action pursuant to any Environmental
Law; or (iii) that the Company is or shall be a named party

                                                     
<PAGE>



to any  Environmental  Action  arising out of any Person's  incurrence of costs,
expenses,  losses,  or damages of any kind  whatsoever  in  connection  with the
release of Hazardous Materials.

                (e)  Except  as  disclosed  in  Schedule  3.20,   there  are  no
underground  fuel tanks located at any of the facilities of the Company,  except
in material compliance with Environmental laws.

                (f) Except as  disclosed  in Schedule  3.20,  there have been no
unpermitted  Releases  or  threatened  Releases  by  the  Company  of  Hazardous
Materials  on,  upon,  into,  or from the Real  Estate  or other  assets  of the
Company; and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Seller, there have been no
Releases on, upon,  from,  or into any real property in the vicinity of the Real
Estate.

                (g) Except as described on Schedule  3.20,  to the  knowledge of
the Company and the Seller, there is no friable asbestos contained in or forming
part of any building,  building component,  structure,  or office space owned or
leased by the Company;  and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  no
polychlorinated  biphenyls  (PCBs) are used or stored at any  property  owned or
leased by the Company.

                (h) None of the Real  Property or other assets of the Company is
or shall be subject to any applicable  environmental clean-up responsibility law
or environmental restrictive transfer law or regulation, solely by virtue of the
transactions set forth herein and contemplated hereby.

        3.21  Employees.  Schedule  3.21  attached  hereto sets forth a true and
complete list of (a) all directors of the Company, (b) all officers (with office
held) of the Company,  (c) all consultants and independent  contractors retained
by the  Company  currently  or during the last  fiscal year to which the Company
paid  compensation  in excess of $50,000 during the year ended December 31, 1996
and (d) all  employees of the Company who are  compensated  at an annual rate in
excess of $50,000,  including each such employee's job title,  remuneration  and
duration of employment period.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.21 or Schedule
3.19, the Company is not a party to any written or oral employment,  consulting,
service, severance or pension agreement. The Company is not a party to, and none
of its employees are subject to, any  collective  bargaining  agreement or other
union  contract,  other than as  disclosed in Schedule  3.21.  The Company is in
compliance in all material  respects with  applicable  federal,  state and local
laws  affecting  employment  and  employment  practices,   including  terms  and
conditions  of  employment  and wages and hours,  and there  are,  and have been
during the past five (5) years, no complaints against the Company pending or, to
the  knowledge  of the Company and the Seller,  threatened  before the  National
Labor Relations Board or any similar state or local agency,  except as set forth
on Schedule 3.21. The Company generally enjoys good relations with its employees
and there is no pending  or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company  and the Seller,
threatened  labor dispute with or effort to organize any of its  employees,  and
there has been no such labor dispute or, to the knowledge of the Company and the
Seller, effort to organize during the past five (5) years.

                                                     

<PAGE>



        3.22  Litigation.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.22 attached hereto,
(a) there is no Claim  pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Seller
threatened (or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  any facts which
could lead to such a claim) by,  against,  affecting or regarding the Company or
its businesses,  properties or assets, at law or in equity,  before any federal,
state, local or foreign court or any other governmental or administrative agency
or  tribunal  or any  arbitrator  or  arbitration  panel,  and (b)  there are no
judgments, orders, rulings, charges, decrees, injunctions,  notices of violation
or other mandates against or affecting the Company or the Seller with respect to
the businesses,  properties or assets of the Company of which the Company or the
Seller has knowledge.  Nothing listed on Schedule 3.22,  either  individually or
when  aggregated  with other  listings on such  Schedule,  would  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        3.23  Insurance.  Schedule 3.23 attached  hereto sets forth a summary of
all  insurance  policies  (including  policies  providing  property,   casualty,
liability,  medical malpractice and workers' compensation coverage,  benefits or
coverage  for  any  Plan   described  in  Section  3.19,  and  bond  and  surety
arrangements) to which the Company is a party, a named insured, or otherwise the
beneficiary of coverage and specifies the insurer, the amount of coverage,  type
of insurance,  expiration date, and any retroactive premium adjustments or other
loss  sharing  arrangements.  The Company is covered by  insurance  in scope and
amount  customary  and  reasonable  for the  businesses  in which it has engaged
during the  aforementioned  period.  Schedule 3.23 describes any  self-insurance
arrangements affecting any of the Company.  Within the past three (3) years, the
Company has not been denied  insurance  coverage.  Schedule 3.23 attached hereto
sets forth all claims for insurance  made by the Company within the past two (2)
years and all  instances  in which the  Company  was denied  insurance  coverage
relating to such claims.

        3.24 Company  Products.  To the knowledge of the Company and the Seller,
each product manufactured, sold, leased, distributed or delivered by the Company
("Company  Products")  has been in conformity  with all  applicable  contractual
commitments  and  all  applicable   express  and  implied  service  and  product
warranties.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.24 attached hereto, (a) there are
no existing or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Seller, threatened Claims
against the Company for services or  merchandise  which are defective or fail to
meet any express or implied service or product  warranties,  or to the knowledge
of the Company or the Seller,  any facts which,  if discovered by a third party,
would  support  such a Claim;  and (b) no Claim has been  asserted  against  the
Company  for  renegotiation  or  price   redetermination  with  respect  to  any
transaction,  and to the  knowledge  of the Company or the Seller,  there are no
facts upon which any such Claim could be based.  Except as set forth on Schedule
3.24,  there are no statements,  citations or decisions by any  governmental  or
regulatory  body or agency of which the Company or the Seller has knowledge that
any Company  Product is defective or fails to meet any standards  promulgated by
any such  governmental  or  regulatory  body or  agency.  Except as set forth on
Schedule  3.24, to the knowledge of the Company and the Seller,  there have been
no recalls  ordered by any such  governmental  or regulatory body or agency with
respect to any Company Product.

                                               
<PAGE>



        3.25 Powers of  Attorney.  Except for powers of attorney  granted in the
ordinary course of business to independent  certified  public  accountants or in
connection with the  establishment  or amendment of a Plan described in Schedule
3.19(a)(1), the Company has not granted any outstanding power of attorney.

        3.26 Brokers. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.26 attached hereto, none
of the  Company,  the Seller,  or anyone  acting on their  behalf,  has engaged,
retained, or incurred any liability to any broker,  investment banker, finder or
agent or has agreed to pay any  brokerage  fees,  commissions,  finder's fees or
other  fees  with  respect  to the sale of the  Shares,  this  Agreement  or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

        3.27 Records and Books.  The minute books of the Company have previously
been made available to Buyer.  The stock transfer ledgers or record books of the
Company  completely  and  accurately  set forth all  transfers of the  Company's
capital stock from the date of organization through the date hereof.

        3.28  Transactions  with  Interested  Persons.  Except  as set  forth on
Schedule 3.28 attached hereto, no officer,  supervisory  employee or director of
the Company owns directly or indirectly,  either  individually  or jointly,  any
material  interest  in, or serves as an officer or  director  of, any  customer,
competitor or supplier of the Company,  or any organization which has a material
contract or arrangement with the Company.

        3.29 Bank Accounts.  Schedule 3.29 contains a complete and accurate list
of all bank  accounts,  safe  deposit  boxes and lock  boxes  maintained  by the
Company, together with a list of all authorized signatories thereto.

        3.30 Status Under  Certain  Statutes.  The Company is not: (i) a "public
utility  company" or a "holding  company," or an  "affiliate"  or a  "subsidiary
company"  of a  "holding  company,"  or an  "affiliate"  of  such a  "subsidiary
company," as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, as amended,  (ii) a "public  utility" as defined in the Federal Power Act,
as amended,  or (iii) an "investment  company," or an affiliated person" thereof
or an  "affiliated  person" of any such  "affiliated  person," as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

        3.31  Disclosure  of  Material   Information.   Neither  this  Agreement
(including the Schedules and Exhibits  hereto) nor any document,  certificate or
instrument  furnished  in  connection  therewith  contains,  with respect to the
Company or the Seller, any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
a material fact necessary to made the statements therein not misleading.

        3.32  Acquisition  for  Investment.  The  Seller  acknowledges  that the
Suburban  Shares to be received  hereunder  have not been  registered  under the
Securities Act or under applicable state securities laws and accordingly must be
held indefinitely unless such Suburban Shares are

                                                    

<PAGE>



subsequently registered or exemption from applicable  registration  requirements
is available.  The Seller is acquiring  the Suburban  Shares for his own account
for investment  and will not sell,  pledge or transfer the Suburban Stock in the
absence of any effective registration statement or an applicable exemption under
the Securities Act. The Seller is an  ("accredited  investor") as defined in the
regulations  promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act. The Seller acknowledges
and agrees that there may be affixed to the certificates evidencing the Suburban
Stock a legend as follows:

                "Shares of stock  represented by this  certificate have not been
                registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
                "Act"),  or  under  applicable  state  securities  laws and were
                acquired by the  registered  holder  pursuant to  representation
                that such holder was  acquiring  such shares for his own account
                and for investment,  with no intention to transfer or dispose of
                the same in violation of the  registration  requirements  of the
                Act.  These  shares  may  not  be  sold,   signed,   pledged  or
                transferred  in  the  absence  of  any  effective   registration
                statement  under the Act, or an opinion of  counsel,  reasonably
                satisfactory  to  counsel  to the  issuer,  to the  effect  that
                registration is not required under the Act."

        3.33  Sole  Representations  and  Warranties.  The  representations  and
warranties  contained  in this  Article  III are the  only  representations  and
warranties   made  by  the  Company  and  the  Seller  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and supersede any and all previous
written or oral statements made by the Company and the Seller to Buyer.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER

        The Buyer hereby  represents and warrants to the Company and the Sellers
as follows:

        4.1  Organization  and  Qualification.  The Buyer is a corporation  duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of the
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  with full power and  authority  to own, use or
lease its properties  and to conduct its business as such  properties are owned,
used or leased and as such business is conducted.

        4.2 Authority. The Buyer has the requisite corporate power and authority
to enter  into this  Agreement  and to carry out the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer have
been duly and validly authorized and approved by all necessary  corporate action
on the part of the Buyer,  and this Agreement  constitutes the legal and binding
obligation of the Buyer,  enforceable  against it in accordance  with its terms.
The Suburban Shares, when transferred in compliance with this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,  and free of any Liens.  Assuming
the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Seller
hereunder, (a) the entering

                                                    

<PAGE>



into of this Agreement by the Buyer does not, and the  consummation by the Buyer
of the transactions  contemplated hereby, including specifically the transfer of
the Suburban Shares to the Seller by the Buyer,  will not violate the provisions
of (i) to the knowledge of the Buyer, any applicable  federal,  state,  local or
foreign laws, (ii) the Buyer's Charter or By-Laws, or (iii) any provision of, or
result in a default or  acceleration  of any obligation  under, or result in any
change in the rights or  obligations  of the Buyer  under,  any Lien,  contract,
agreement,  license, lease,  instrument,  indenture,  order,  arbitration award,
judgment,  or  decree  to which  the Buyer is a party or by which any of them is
bound,  or to  which  any  property  of the  Buyer  is  subject;  and (b) to the
knowledge  of the  Buyer,  the  offer  and  sale  of  the  Suburban  Shares,  as
contemplated by this Agreement, are exempt from the registration requirements of
the  Securities  Act and from any  registration  or filing  requirements  of any
applicable state securities laws.

        4.3  Brokers.  Neither  the Buyer nor  anyone  acting on its  behalf has
engaged,  retained or incurred any liability to any broker,  investment  banker,
finder or agent or has agreed to pay any brokerage fees,  commissions,  finder's
fees or other fees with respect to the purchase of the Shares, this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby.

        4.4 Suburban Shares. The Suburban Shares have been duly authorized, and,
when  issued and  delivered  in  accordance  with this  Agreement,  will be duly
authorized,  validly  issued,  fully  paid and  non-accessible.  Subject  to the
Buyer's  rights set forth in Section 2.3 hereof,  the  issuance of the  Suburban
Shares  at the  Closing  will vest in the  Seller  good and  indefeasible  title
thereof, free and clear of any liens, claims and encumbrances.

        4.5 SEC Reports. The Buyer has furnished to the Seller true and complete
copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996, its
proxy  statement  for its 1996  special  meeting  in lieu of annual  meeting  of
stockholders  and all other  documents  required  to be filed by Buyer  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") during the period from August 31,
1996 through the Closing Date (collectively the "SEC Reports").  The SEC Reports
did not, on their respective  dates of filing,  contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under
which they were made, not misleading. The Buyer has filed all documents required
to be filed by it with the SEC and all such  documents  complied as to form with
the applicable  requirements of law. All financial  statements  included in such
documents,  including  without  limitation,  the SEC Reports,  were  prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis except as noted therein,  and fairly present the information  purported to
be shown  therein.  Since August 31, 1996,  Buyer has not suffered any change in
its  financial  condition  or results of  operations  other than  changes in the
ordinary course of business.

        4.6   Disclosure  of  Material   Information.   Neither  this  Agreement
(including the Schedules and Exhibits  hereto) nor any document,  certificate or
instrument  furnished  in  connection  therewith  contains,  with respect to the
Purchaser,  any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact necessary to make the statement therein not misleading.

                                                     

<PAGE>




        4.7  Capitalization.  The Buyer's  authorized  capital stock consists of
40,000,000  shares of Common  Stock,  without  par  value  per  share,  of which
10,427,391  shares are issued  and  outstanding.  Except for the rights of Buyer
hereunder  or as  disclosed  on Schedule  4.7 hereto,  there are no  outstanding
options, warrants, rights or agreements of any kind for the issuance or sale of,
or outstanding  securities  convertible into or exchangeable for, any additional
shares of Common Stock or any other Equity Security of the Buyer.

        4.8  Sole  Representations  and  Warranties.   The  representations  and
warranties  contained  in this  Article  IV are  the  only  representations  and
warranties  made by Buyer in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement and supersede  any and all previous  written or oral  statements
made by Buyer to the Company or the Seller.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

        5.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The parties hereto agree
that no claim may be asserted  under Article VIII after the lapse of twenty-four
(24) months after the Closing Date,  and,  subject to the survival of any claims
made within such twenty-four month period,  for that purpose each and every such
representation  and warranty set forth in this Agreement shall survive until the
second  anniversary  of the Closing  Date,  except with respect to (a) any claim
arising  from a  breach  of the  representations  and  warranties  set  forth in
Sections  3.2(a),  3.3, 4.3,  6.11(b) and 6.12,  which shall survive the Closing
without   limitation;   and  (b)  any  claim   arising  from  a  breach  of  the
representations  and warranties  set forth in Section 3.18,  which shall survive
the  Closing  until the first to occur of (x) the  expiration  of the statute of
limitations  (and any  extensions  thereof)  applicable to the Tax in respect of
which  indemnification  is being sought without the assertion of a deficiency in
respect thereof by the applicable  governmental entity, or (y) the completion of
the final audit and  determination  by the applicable  governmental  entity with
respect to such Tax and final disposition of any deficiency resulting therefrom.
From and after the  twenty-four  month  anniversary  of the Closing  Date or the
other   applicable   period  of  survival   with  respect  to  such   respective
representations  and warranties of the Seller and Buyer,  neither the Seller nor
the Buyer,  nor any  Affiliate  of the Seller or Buyer shall have any  liability
whatsoever  with  respect to any such  claim,  except for claims as to which any
party shall have notified the other party prior to such date.

        5.2  Indemnification  by Seller.  The Seller hereby agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold Buyer, its officers,  directors,  employees,  owners, agents and
Affiliates,  harmless from and in respect of any and all losses,  damages, costs
and expenses of any kind and nature whatsoever  (including,  without limitation,
interest and penalties,  reasonable  expenses of investigation  and court costs,
reasonable  attorneys'  fees  and  disbursements  and the  reasonable  fees  and
disbursements of other  professionals) which may be sustained or suffered by any
of them (collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or resulting from any breach or
inaccuracy of any

                                                   
<PAGE>



representation  or warranty or the breach of or failure to perform any warranty,
covenant,  undertaking or other agreement of the Company or any Seller contained
in this Agreement or any other Purchase  Document  provided,  however,  that the
maximum  liability of the Seller pursuant to this Agreement for aggregate Losses
(other than those arising under  Section 3.3,  which will be uncapped)  shall be
limited to $600,000.

        5.3  Indemnification by Buyer. Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify,  defend
and hold the Seller, its officers, directors,  employees,  consultants,  owners,
agents and Affiliates,  harmless from and in respect of any and all Losses which
may be sustained or suffered by any of them arising out of or resulting from any
breach or  inaccuracy  of any  representation  or  warranty  or the breach of or
failure to perform any warranty,  covenant,  undertaking  or other  agreement of
Buyer contained in this Agreement or any other Purchase Document and arising out
of any and all actions, suits, claims and administrative or other proceedings of
every kind and nature  instituted  or pending  against  any Seller or any of its
Affiliates at any time before or after the Closing Date.

        5.4 Minimum  Indemnification.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained  herein,  no party  hereto shall be entitled to recover from any other
party  unless and until the total of all claims for  indemnity  or damages  with
respect to any  inaccuracy or breach of any such  representations  or warranties
(other than those contained in Sections 2.6(b), 3.1, 3.3, 3.26, 4.3, 6.11(b) and
6.12 above,  as to which no minimum  shall apply) or breach of or default in the
performance of any covenants,  undertakings  or other  agreements,  whether such
claims are brought  under this  Article V or  otherwise,  exceeds  Seventy  Five
Thousand Dollars ($75,000) and then only for the amount by which such claims for
indemnity or damages exceed Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000) (such amount
referred to herein as the  "Deductible");  provided that Losses resulting from a
breach of the  representation  and  warranty  contained  in Section  3.11 hereof
insofar as such  representation  and warranty  relate to the  collectibility  of
Medicare or Medicaid accounts receivable shall not be subject to indemnification
unless and then only to the extent that the aggregate amount of such Losses does
not exceed the sum of (i) the Deductible  (to the extent it has not  theretofore
been applied against other Losses), and (ii) $25,000.

        5.5 Notice and  Opportunity to Defend.  If there occurs an event which a
party  asserts is an  indemnifiable  event  pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3,  the
parties  seeking   indemnification  shall  promptly  notify  the  other  parties
obligated to provide indemnification  (collectively,  the "Indemnifying Party").
If such event involves (a) any Claim or (b) the commencement of any action, suit
or  proceeding by a third person,  the party seeking  indemnification  will give
such Indemnifying  Party prompt written notice of such Claim or the commencement
of such  action,  suit or  proceeding,  provided,  however,  that the failure to
provide prompt notice as provided herein will relieve the Indemnifying  Party of
its  obligations  hereunder only to the extent that such failure  prejudices the
Indemnifying Party hereunder.  In case any such action, suit or proceeding shall
be brought  against any party  seeking  indemnification  and it shall notify the
Indemnifying Party of the commencement  thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall be
entitled to participate  therein and, to the extent that it desires to do so, to
assume the defense thereof,  with counsel reasonably  satisfactory to such party
seeking indemnification and, after notice from the

                                                      
<PAGE>



Indemnifying Party to such party seeking  indemnification of such election so to
assume the defense thereof,  the  Indemnifying  Party shall not be liable to the
party seeking  indemnification  hereunder for any  attorneys'  fees or any other
expenses,  in each case subsequently  incurred by such party, in connection with
the  defense  of  such   action,   suit  or   proceeding.   The  party   seeking
indemnification  agrees to cooperate fully with the  Indemnifying  Party and its
counsel in the  defense  against any such  action,  suit or  proceeding.  In any
event, the party seeking  indemnification shall have the right to participate at
its own expense in the defense of such action,  suit or proceeding.  In no event
shall an Indemnifying Party be liable for any settlement or compromise  effected
without  its prior  consent.  If,  however,  the party  seeking  indemnification
refuses its consent to a bona fide offer of  settlement  which the  Indemnifying
Party  wishes to accept  (which must  include the  unconditional  release of the
parties seeking  indemnification from all liability with respect to the Claim at
issue),  the party seeking  indemnification  may continue to pursue such matter,
free of any participation by the Indemnifying  Party, at the sole expense of the
party seeking indemnification. In such event, the obligation of the Indemnifying
Party to the party seeking  indemnification  shall be equal to the lesser of (i)
the amount of the offer or settlement  which the party  seeking  indemnification
refused to accept  plus the costs and  expenses  of such party prior to the date
the Indemnifying  Party notifies the party seeking  indemnification of the offer
of  settlement  and (ii) the  actual  out-of-pocket  amount  the  party  seeking
indemnification  is obligated to pay as a result of such party's  continuing  to
pursue such matter.

        5.6 Adjustment for Insurance and Taxes. The amount which an Indemnifying
Party is required  to pay to, for or on behalf of any other  party  (hereinafter
referred to as an  "Indemnitee")  pursuant  to this  Article V shall be adjusted
(including,  without  limitation,  retroactively)  (i) by any insurance proceeds
actually  recovered  by or on  behalf of such  Indemnitee  in  reduction  of the
related  indemnifiable loss (the "Indemnifiable  Loss") and (ii) to take account
of any Tax  benefit  realized  as a result of any  Indemnifiable  Loss.  Amounts
required to be paid, as so reduced, are hereafter sometimes called an "Indemnity
Payment."  If an  Indemnitee  shall have  received or shall have had paid on its
behalf an  Indemnity  Payment  in  respect  of an  Indemnifiable  Loss and shall
subsequently  receive insurance proceeds in respect of such Indemnifiable  Loss,
or realize  any Tax  benefit as a result of such  Indemnifiable  Loss,  then the
Indemnitee  shall pay to the  Indemnifying  Party the  amount of such  insurance
proceeds or Tax benefit or, if lesser, the amount of the Indemnity Payment.

        5.7  Indemnification  Exclusive.  In  the  event  of a  breach  of  this
Agreement by an  Indemnifying  Party,  including the breach by the  Indemnifying
Party  of  any  representation  or  warranty  made  in  this  Agreement  by  the
Indemnifying  Party or the  failure of the  Indemnifying  Party to  perform  any
obligations  to  be  performed  by  the  Indemnifying  Party  pursuant  to  this
Agreement, the remedies of the Indemnitee,  and the procedures to be followed by
the Indemnitee shall be solely and exclusively specified in this Article V.


                                                     
<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        6.1 Fees and Expenses. Each of the parties hereto will pay and discharge
its own expenses and fees in  connection  of with the  negotiation  of and entry
into  this  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby;  provided that the Seller shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel for
the Company and provided  further that if the  acquisition  herein  contemplated
does not close,  the Buyer  shall pay  one-half  of the  payment to  independent
accountants in connection  with the audited  financial  statements  described in
Section 2(a)(x).

        6.2 Publicity and Disclosures. Prior to the Closing, no press release or
any public disclosure,  either written or oral, of the transactions contemplated
by this  Agreement  shall be made by any party  without the prior  knowledge and
written consent of the Buyer,  and any such press release or disclosure shall be
subject to the approval of the Company, not to be unreasonably withheld.

        6.3 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, consents and communications
necessary or required under this Agreement or any other Purchase  Document shall
be made in the manner  specified,  or, if not  specified,  shall be delivered by
hand or sent by registered or certified mail,  return receipt  requested,  or by
telecopy (receipt confirmed) to:

        if to Buyer:          Suburban Ostomy Supply Co., Inc.
                              75 October Hill Road
                               Holliston, MA 01746

                              Attention:  Stephen Aschettino
                              Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                              Facsimile Transmission Number:  (508) 429-7921

        with a copy to:       Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar
                              A Professional Corporation
                              101 Federal Street
                              Boston, MA 02110

                              Attention:  James Westra
                              Facsimile Transmission Number:  (617) 951-1295

        if to the Company or Seller:       Peiser's Inc.
                                           2850 Indian Joe Drive
                                           Broadview, Ill.  60153-2844
                                           Attention:  Barry D. Derman
                                           Facsimile Transmission Number:

                                                  

<PAGE>




        with a copy to:                    McCoy, Kula & Wiemerslage
                                           20 North Clark Street
                                           Chicago, IL 60602
                                           Attn: Steve McCoy
                                           Facsimile Transmission Number:
                                               (312) 372-7340

                                                       and

                                           Winston & Strawn
                                           35 W. Wacker Drive
                                           Chicago, IL 60601
                                           Attn:  Oscar A. David
                                           Facsimile Transmission Number: 
                                              (312) 558-5700

        All such notices,  requests,  demands, consents and other communications
shall be deemed to have been duly given or sent two (2) days  following the date
on  which  mailed,  or on the date on which  delivered  by hand or by  facsimile
transmission  (receipt  confirmed),  as  the  case  may  be,  and  addressed  as
aforesaid.

        6.4  Successors  and Assigns.  All covenants and agreements set forth in
this  Agreement and made by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind
and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of such party, whether or
not so  expressed,  except  that none of the Seller or the Company may assign or
transfer any of their  respective  rights or  obligations  under this  Agreement
without the consent in writing of Buyer.

        6.5     Descriptive Headings.  The headings of the sections and
paragraphs of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference
only and shall not be deemed to be part of this Agreement.

        6.6  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number of
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts,  each
of which when so executed and delivered  shall be an original,  but all of which
together  shall  constitute  one and the same  instrument,  and it shall  not be
necessary in making proof of this  Agreement to produce or account for more than
one such counterpart.

        6.7  Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the  provisions
contained  herein,  or the  application  thereof in any  circumstances,  is held
invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in  any  respect  for  any  reason  in any
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in
every other respect and of the remaining  provisions  hereof shall not be in any
way impaired or affected,  it being  intended  that each of parties'  rights and
privileges  shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, and any
such invalidity,  illegality and  unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not
invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in

                                                      
<PAGE>



any other  jurisdiction.  To the fullest  extent  permitted  by law, the parties
hereby waive any provision of any law,  statute,  ordinance,  rule or regulation
which might render any provision hereof invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

        6.8 Attorneys' Fees/Arbitration.  In any action or proceeding brought to
enforce any  provision of this  Agreement or the other  Purchase  Documents,  or
where any  provision  hereof or thereof is validly  asserted  as a defense,  the
successful  party  shall be entitled to recover  reasonable  attorneys'  fees in
addition to any other available remedy. Any dispute or controversy arising under
or  in  connection  with  this  Agreement   shall  be  settled   exclusively  by
arbitration,  conducted  before  a panel  of  three  arbitrators,  sitting  in a
location selected by mutual agreement within twenty (20) miles from the location
of the Buyer,  in accordance  with the rules for  commercial  arbitration of the
American Arbitration  Association then if effect. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction.

        6.9 Course of Dealing.  No course of dealing and no delay on the part of
any party hereto in exercising  any right,  power,  or remedy  conferred by this
Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise  prejudice such party's
rights, powers and remedies. The failure of any of the parties to this Agreement
to require the  performance of a term or obligation  under this Agreement or the
waiver by any of the parties to this Agreement of any breach hereunder shall not
prevent subsequent  enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver
of any subsequent breach hereunder. No single or partial exercise of any rights,
powers or remedies  conferred  by this  Agreement  shall  preclude  any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

        6.10 Third  Parties.  Except as  specifically  set forth or  referred to
herein, nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to
confer  upon or give to any  Person,  other  than the  parties  hereto and their
permitted  successors or assigns,  any rights or remedies  under or by reason of
this Agreement or any other Purchase Document.

        6.11    Tax Matters.

                (a)  Seller  will  timely  file on  behalf  of the  Company  all
federal,  state,  local and foreign tax reports and returns for any period which
ends on or prior to the  Closing  Date and  which  are  required  to be filed to
reflect the  operations  of the  Company.  Buyer,  at its expense or that of the
Company, shall be entitled to participate in the preparation of such reports and
returns.  All such  reports  and returns  will be  prepared  and filed using tax
accounting methods and principles which are substantially  consistent with those
used in the returns  and  reports of taxes for the Company and its  Subsidiaries
for preceding  tax periods  unless Buyer agrees  otherwise.  Any item of income,
deduction  or credit to be  included  in any such tax return or report  shall be
based on the permanent  records  (including  work papers) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.  All items of income,  gain and credit referred to in section 1366
of the Code shall be included on all  appropriate  Tax Returns  using the method
provided for in section  1362(e)(3) of the Code. Buyer shall prepare and file on
behalf of the Company all federal, state, local and foreign tax

                                                    
<PAGE>



reports and returns for any period  which ends after the Closing Date whether or
not such returns reflect the operations of the Company  attributable to a period
prior to the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Seller  shall be  responsible  for, and shall timely pay all Taxes of the Seller
(except for those under Section 6.11(g) of this  Agreement)  attributable to the
transaction contemplated herein.

                (b) All Taxes  attributable to the operation or ownership of the
Company  after the Closing  Date shall be borne by the Buyer and the Company and
the Buyer and the Company, jointly and severally, shall hold the Seller harmless
from such  Taxes.  The Seller  shall be liable and  indemnify  the Buyer and the
Company (i) for all Taxes of the Company for taxable periods ending on or before
the  Closing  Date;  and (ii) for  other  taxable  years  the  portion  of Taxes
attributable  to the  period  ending  on  the  Closing  Date.  For  purposes  of
determining  the  liability for Taxes for periods that include but do not end on
the Closing Date,  (i)  liability  for Taxes  determined by reference to income,
capital  gains,  gross income,  gross  receipts,  sales,  net profits,  windfall
profits or similar items or from the transfer or assets shall be allocated based
on the date the item is accrued,  and (ii) all other  Taxes  shall be  allocated
between the Seller and the Company,  pro rata based on the number of days in the
taxable period for which each party is liable for Taxes. The liability for Taxes
attributable  to  items  described  in  section  1366(a)  of the  Code  shall be
determined as provided for in section 1362(e)(3) of the Code.

                (c) All  refunds  of Taxes  attributable  to any or all years or
periods  (or  portions  thereof)  ending on or prior to the  Closing  Date shall
belong to the Seller,  and all such refunds of taxes  attributable to any or all
years or periods (or portions  thereof)  commencing on or after the Closing Date
shall belong to the Company.

                (d) Buyer will give  notice to Seller of any claim with  respect
to any Taxes which  relate to any taxable  year or period  ending on or prior to
the  Closing  Date or that  includes  the  Closing  Date,  and shall keep Seller
informed of the progress of, and the issues  involved in, the same, in each case
which  may  be the  subject  of  indemnification  by  Seller  pursuant  to  this
Agreement.  The parties  hereto shall,  and shall cause the Company to,  provide
such necessary  information as any other party hereto may reasonably  request in
connection with the  preparation of such parties' Tax Returns,  or to respond to
or contest  any  audit,  prosecute  any claim for refund or credit or  otherwise
satisfy any requirements relating to Taxes of each of the Company.

                (e) Seller shall pay all stock  transfer  Taxes,  real  property
transfer Taxes,  sales Taxes,  documentary  stamp Taxes,  recording  charges and
other similar Taxes of the Seller resulting from, arising under or in connection
with the  transfer  of the  Shares or any other  related  transaction  under the
Agreement.

                (f) The obligations of the Seller, the Buyer and the Company set
forth in the  section  of this  Agreement  relating  to Taxes  shall,  except as
otherwise agreed in writing,  be unconditional  and absolute and shall remain in
effect  without  limitation as to time or amount of recovery by the Seller,  the
Buyer or the Company, as the case may be, until thirty (30) days after

                                                    

<PAGE>



the expiration of the applicable  statute of limitations  governing the Taxes to
which such obligations relate (after giving effect to any agreement extending or
tolling such statute of limitations).

                (g) Section 338(h)(10) Election.  At the Buyer's option,  Seller
will join with the Buyer in making an election  under Section  338(h)(10) of the
Code (and any  corresponding  elections  under state,  local or foreign tax law)
(collectively, a "Section 338(h)(10) election") with respect to the purchase and
sale of stock of the Company hereunder.  The Buyer will pay any Tax attributable
to the making of the Section  338(h)(10)  and will  indemnify the Seller and the
Company against any incrimental adverse  consequences arising out of any failure
to pay such Tax.

        6.12 Pension  Plan.  As soon as  reasonably  practicable  following  the
Closing  Date,  the Seller will,  on behalf of the Company,  cause the Peiser's,
Inc.  Employee  Pension  Plan and Trust  ("Pension  Plan") to be  terminated  in
accordance with the applicable  requirements of the Code and ERISA. All expenses
of  terminating  the Pension  Plan shall be borne by the Seller,  including  all
contributions,  legal, actuarial,  and accounting fees, income and excise taxes,
interest and  penalties,  and other  amounts  required to be paid to the Pension
Plan or any third party in order to (i) obtain a favorable  determination letter
from the Internal  Revenue Service for the termination of the Pension Plan, (ii)
terminate  the Pension Plan as a standard  termination  under Title IV of ERISA,
and (iii)  satisfy  all  obligations  to  current  and former  participants  and
beneficiaries  of the  Pension  Plan  (collectively  "Pension  Plan  Termination
Expenses"). Seller and William Seinkiewicz may elect to forego receipt of all or
part of their accrued  benefits  under the Pension Plan in  accordance  with the
PBGC's rules for the purpose of reducing the amount of cash  required to be paid
by Seller as Pension Plan Termination Expenses. Seller shall provide the Company
with copies of all material notices,  documents,  and correspondence relating to
the plan  termination  in advance of filing or mailing.  The  Company  agrees to
execute any  documents  which the Seller may  reasonably  request the Company to
execute in connection  with the  termination  of the Pension Plan.  Seller shall
indemnify  and  hold  harmless  Buyer  and the  Company  from all  Pension  Plan
Termination Expenses.

        6.13  Variations in Pronouns.  All pronouns and any  variations  thereof
refer to the masculine,  feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity
of the Person or Persons may require.

        6.14 Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT,  INCLUDING THE VALIDITY  HEREOF AND
THE RIGHTS AND  OBLIGATIONS  OF THE PARTIES  HEREUNDER,  SHALL BE  CONSTRUED  IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE  COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS
APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY IN SUCH STATE (WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF).


                                                 
<PAGE>



        6.15 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  including  the  Schedules and
Exhibits  referred to herein,  is complete,  and all promises,  representations,
understandings,  warranties and agreements  with reference to the subject matter
hereof,  and all inducements to the making of this Agreement  relied upon by all
the parties hereto, have been expressed herein or in said Schedules or Exhibits.
This  Agreement may not be amended  except by an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of the Company, Buyer and the Seller.

        6.16  Mutual  Covenants.  Each party  agrees  that after the  Closing it
shall, upon the request and at the expense of any other party to this Agreement,
take such action and execute such  documents as such other party may  reasonably
request in order to effect the transaction hereby declared.

        6.17  Disclosure  Schedule A matter or item disclosed on any schedule to
this Agreement shall be deemed a disclosure for all schedules to this Agreement.

        6.18 DEA  Certificate.  Pursuant to the prior advice of the United State
Department  of Justice,  Drug  Enforcement  Administration  ("DEA") that such is
legally permissible and in compliance with applicable federal  regulations,  the
Company will permit the Buyer the use of the Company's DEA Controlled  Substance
Registration  Certificate  ("Certificate")  in order to permit  Buyer to buy and
sell controlled  substances for the purposes  allowed under applicable law until
such  time as  Buyer  obtains  its own DEA  Controlled  Substances  Registration
Certificate or June 14, 1997,  whichever occurs first. The foregoing  provisions
of Section  6.18 are  intended  only as an  accommodation  to Buyer as permitted
under federal regulations.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


                                                       

<PAGE>


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement under
seal as of the date first set forth above.

                                         PEISER'S INC.


                                          By: /s/ Barry D. Derman
                                          Barry D. Derman,
                                          President


                                          SELLER


                                          /s/ Barry D. Derman
                                          Barry D. Derman, Individually


                                          SUBURBAN OSTOMY SUPPLY CO., INC.


                                          By:  /s/ Stephen N. Aschettino

                                          Stephen N. Aschettino, Vice President
                                           and Chief Financial Officer



<PAGE>


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