ASTOR HOLDINGS II INC
8-K, 1997-06-30
MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
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<PAGE>

                                  UNITED STATES
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
                                         
                                   FORM 8-K
                                         
                                CURRENT REPORT
    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                           

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):     April 30, 1997
                                                 ------------------------------

                          Astor Holdings II, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                    333-14913-01               25-1766332
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of other jurisdiction           (Commission             (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                 File Number)          Identification No.)

    8521 Six Forks Road, Suite 105, Raleigh, North Carolina        27615
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code            (919) 846-8011
                                                   ----------------------------


<PAGE>

     ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

     On April 30, 1997 Astor Corporation ("Astor"), a direct wholly owned 
subsidiary of Astor Holdings II, Inc. ("Astor Holdings II"), acquired the 50% 
equity interest in Rheochem Technologies, Inc. ("Rheochem") that Astor did 
not already own (the "Transaction").  Rheochem is a  manufacturer of a range 
of wax-based lubricants used in the extrusion of polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") 
products. Astor accomplished the acquisition by purchasing from Thomas C. 
Pedersen and members of his immediate family all the outstanding stock of 
Rheochem, Incorporated ("RCI"), whose sole asset was a 50% interest in 
Rheochem, for $14,100,000 in cash.  The amount of such consideration was 
negotiated with the stockholders of RCI in light of Rheochem's past and 
present operations, financial condition, prospects, technology, and 
manufacturing and marketing capabilities, as well as the financial terms of 
other acquisitions in the specialty chemical industry. 

     Funds used for payment of the consideration for the acquisition were 
provided by cash flow and borrowings under Astor's Credit Agreement dated 
October 8, 1996 with The Chase Manhattan Bank, as administrative agent, and a 
group of lenders.

     Upon completion of the acquisition, Rheochem merged into RCI, and RCI 
merged into Astor.  Through its Rheochem Technologies Division Astor will 
continue the business of development, production and sale of advanced 
wax-based lubricants for the extrusion of PVC products and will continue to 
use the former joint venture's formulation and packaging plant in Columbia, 
Missouri for this purpose.  Thomas C. Pedersen, who was President of Rheochem 
and RCI and the principal stockholder of RCI, has entered into a four-year 
employment agreement with Astor to serve as President of its Rheochem 
Technologies Division.

     ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
              AND EXHIBITS.

     (a)  Financial statements of businesses acquired.

                        Rheochem Technologies, Inc.

                       Audited Financial Statements

                   Years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995

     Report of Independent Auditors....................................F-1

                                        
                                     2
<PAGE>

     Audited Financial Statements

     Balance Sheets....................................................F-2
     Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings....................F-4
     Statements of Cash Flows..........................................F-5
     Notes to Financial Statements.....................................F-6

    (b)  Pro forma financial information.

    Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements
    Astor Holdings II, Inc. and Rheochem Technologies, Inc
    
    Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income for the Twelve
       Months Ended March 31, 1997.....................................F-12
    
    Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income......F-13
    
    Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet As of
      March 31, 1997...................................................F-14
    
    Notes to Unaudited Pro forma Consolidated Balance Sheet............F-15


    (c)  Exhibits.

         (2)  Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of April 22, 1997 by and among
Rheochem, Incorporated,   Rheochem Technologies, Inc.,   Thomas C. Pedersen, the
other shareholders named therein and Astor Corporation.


                                  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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  June 30, 1997                  ASTOR HOLDINGS II, INC.

                                       /s/ John F. Gottshall
                                       ________________________________
                                            John F. Gottshall
                                            Chief Financial Officer


                                      3
<PAGE>

                        Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Rheochem Technologies, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Rheochem Technologies, 
Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of 
operations and retained earnings and cash flows for the years 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 audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits 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 audits provide 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 Rheochem Technologies, Inc. 
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its 
cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted 
accounting principles.

                                                Ernst & Young LLP

March 14, 1997


                                      F-1

<PAGE>

                            Rheochem Technologies, Inc.

                                    Balance Sheets

                                                               DECEMBER 31
                                                           1996           1995
                                                        ----------   ----------
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash                                                  $  406,012   $  150,330
    Accounts receivable:
      Trade, less allowance of $18,844 in 1996           3,134,074    3,160,470
        Affiliates                                               -       25,368
    Inventories                                          1,331,204      796,276
    Prepaid agreement costs                                133,333      266,667
    Other current assets                                         -       47,281
                                                        ----------   ----------
  Total current assets                                   5,004,623    4,446,392



Property, plant and equipment - net                      2,008,695    1,684,335


Other long-term asset                                            -      133,333
                                                        ----------   ----------
Total assets                                            $7,013,318   $6,264,060
                                                        ----------   ----------
                                                        ----------   ----------




                                      F-2

<PAGE>

                                                               DECEMBER 31
                                                           1996           1995
                                                        ----------   ----------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Line of credit payable                                $  550,000   $1,000,000
    Accounts payable:
      Trade                                              1,854,533    1,520,673
      Affiliates                                           545,325      498,633
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities                 968,468      405,068
    Current portion of note payable to Concorde            100,000      100,000
                                                        ----------   ----------
Total current liabilities                                4,018,326    3,524,374

Long-term portion of note payable to Concorde                    -      100,000
Deferred income taxes                                      105,000      168,000
                                                        ----------   ----------
Total liabilities                                        4,123,326    3,792,374

Shareholders' equity:
  Class A common stock, no par value.  Authorized
    50,000 shares, issued and outstanding 
    550 shares                                              55,000       55,000
  Class B common stock, no par value.  Authorized
    50,000 shares, issued and outstanding 
    550 shares                                              35,000       35,000

  Retained earnings                                      2,799,992    2,381,686
                                                        ----------   ----------
Total shareholders' equity                               2,889,992    2,471,686
                                                        ----------   ----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity              $7,013,318   $6,264,060
                                                        ----------   ----------
                                                        ----------   ----------

SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES.





                                      F-3

<PAGE>

                         Rheochem Technologies, Inc.

               Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings


                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                     1996             1995
                                                 -----------------------------
Net sales                                        $ 34,273,427     $ 25,908,118
Cost of goods sold                                 27,915,871       21,232,324
                                                 -----------------------------
Gross profit                                        6,357,556        4,675,794
                                                
Selling and marketing expenses                        984,248          758,546
General and administrative expenses                 3,507,323        2,738,589
Amortization of prepaid agreement costs               266,667          266,667
Depreciation expense                                  162,778          140,691
                                                 -----------------------------
Operating income                                    1,436,540          771,301
                                                
Interest expense, net                                  80,234          102,286
                                                 -----------------------------
Income before income taxes                          1,356,306          669,015
                                                
Income taxes                                          498,000          252,500
                                                 -----------------------------
Net income                                            858,306          416,515
                                                
Retained earnings at beginning of year              2,381,686        2,168,671
Dividends paid; $400.00 per share and $185.00   
per share in 1996 and 1995, respectively             (440,000)        (203,500)
                                                 -----------------------------
Retained earnings at end of year                 $  2,799,992     $  2,381,686
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                 -----------------------------

SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES.

                                                                            F-4
<PAGE>

                        Rheochem Technologies, Inc.
                                       
                         Statements of Cash Flows


                                                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                            1996         1995
                                                         ----------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income                                               $  858,306   $ 416,515
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 
  provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                           429,445     407,358
    Deferred income tax benefit                             (63,000)    (63,000)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable - trade                            26,396    (781,923)
      Accounts receivable - affiliates                       25,368     (16,839)
      Inventories                                          (534,928)   (179,919)
      Other current assets                                   47,281     (19,753)
      Accounts payable - trade                              333,860     656,822
      Accounts payable - affiliates                          46,692     230,838
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities                563,400     113,834
                                                         ----------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                 1,732,820     763,933

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment               (487,138)   (376,392)
                                                         ----------------------
Net cash used in investing activities                      (487,138)   (376,392)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payment on note to Concorde                                (100,000)   (250,000)
Net (repayments) proceeds from line of credit              (450,000)    200,000
Dividends paid                                             (440,000)   (203,500)
                                                         ----------------------
Net cash used in financing activities                      (990,000)   (253,500)
                                                         ----------------------

Net increase in cash                                        255,682     134,041
Cash at beginning of year                                   150,330      16,289
                                                         ----------------------
Cash at end of year                                      $  406,012     150,330
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         ----------------------
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
  Cash paid during the year for interest                 $   89,234   $  90,335
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         ----------------------
  Cash paid during the year for income taxes             $  346,865   $ 348,270
                                                         ----------------------
                                                         ----------------------
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES.

                                                                            F-5
<PAGE>

                        Rheochem Technologies, Inc.

                       Notes to Financial Statements

                        December 31, 1996 and 1995


1.   DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Rheochem Technologies, Inc. (Rheochem or the Company) is owned 50% each by
Rheochem Incorporated and Astor Corporation (Astor).  The Company develops and
manufactures products such as paraffin lubricants, waxes, synthetic stearate and
other lubricating systems which are used in the extrusion of polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) products.  The Company markets its products to both domestic and
international customers engaged primarily in the PVC pipe and vinyl siding
manufacturing markets.

INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined using
the weighted average first-in, first-out method.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment is stated on the basis of cost.  Depreciation on property
and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated
remaining useful lives of the assets.  The cost of maintenance and repairs is
charged to operations as incurred; renewals and betterments are capitalized. 
The estimated lives of the assets are as follows:

     Buildings                          30 years
     Machinery and equipment        5 - 10 years
     Office equipment                    5 years
     Vehicles                            5 years

INCOME TAXES

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES (SFAS No. 109).  Under
SFAS No. 109, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of
temporary differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future
years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the
tax bases of existing assets and liabilities.  The effect of a change in tax
rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.


                                                                            F-6
<PAGE>

                         Rheochem Technologies, Inc.
                                       
                  Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


1.   DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 
     (CONTINUED)

COMMON STOCK

The shares of Class A and Class B common stock are identical in rights,
preferences and in all other respects including the fact that each class shall
be entitled to elect up to four persons to serve as members of the Board of
Directors of the Company.

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 amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. 
Actual results may differ from those estimates.


2.   PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Major classes of property, plant and equipment are as follows at December 31:

                                      1996           1995
                                  --------------------------
Land                              $   168,947   $    168,947
Buildings                             528,499        528,499
Machinery and equipment             1,707,498      1,433,460
Office equipment                        4,384              -
Vehicles                               18,646              -
Construction-in-progress              190,070              -
                                  --------------------------
                                    2,618,044      2,130,906
Less accumulated depreciation         609,349        446,571
                                  --------------------------
                                  $ 2,008,695    $ 1,684,335
                                  --------------------------
                                  --------------------------


                                                                            F-7
<PAGE>

                        Rheochem Technologies, Inc.

                Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


3.  INVENTORIES

As of December 31, inventories consist of the following:

                                    1996          1995
                                ------------------------
Raw materials and supplies      $   520,492    $ 450,048
Work-in-process                      17,654       60,128
Finished goods                      793,058      286,100
                                ------------------------
                                $ 1,331,204    $ 796,276
                                ------------------------
                                ------------------------

4.  LINE OF CREDIT PAYABLE

The line of credit payable represents an amount borrowed under a $2,000,000 line
of credit with Fleet Bank with interest equal to the prime rate (8.25% as of
December 31, 1996).  Amounts outstanding are collateralized by a first priority
perfected security interest in all present and future accounts receivable and
inventory of the Company.  $1,450,000 of available borrowing exists under this
line of credit at December 31, 1996.

5.  NOTE PAYABLE TO CONCORDE

The Company signed an agreement with Concorde Industries, Inc. (Concorde)
effective June 30, 1994, whereby Concorde will provide administrative assistance
and consultation and advice with respect to the testing of new technology
developed for and on behalf of the Company over a three-year period. 
Additionally, Concorde will not, without the prior written consent of Astor and
the Company, directly or indirectly compete against the Company in a territory
in which the Company is presently engaged in business for a period of three
years.  Concurrently, the Company signed a promissory note bearing 6% interest
containing the following remaining principal payments at December 31, 1996:

       1997                                   $    100,000

The Company is amortizing the full cost of the agreement ($800,000) evenly over
the three-year life of the agreement.  The Company has recorded the amount to be
amortized in 1997 as prepaid agreement costs.


                                                                            F-8
<PAGE>

                             Rheochem Technologies, Inc.
                                           
                      Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
                                           

6.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

Effective January 1, 1995, substantially all employees of the Company were
eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan sponsored by the Company.  Under this
plan, after completing one year of service, employees can elect to contribute a
portion of their compensation from 2% to 10%.  The Company will match 100% of an
employee's contribution of up to 3% of the employee's salary.  Additionally, the
Company can make discretionary contributions.  Participants will become vested
in the employer contributions at a rate of 20% per year, until fully vested in
five years.  The Company's total contributions for 1996 and 1995 were $22,100
and $9,200, respectively.


7.  INCOME TAXES

The current and deferred components of income taxes are as follows at December
31:

                                           1996           1995
                                        ------------------------
    Current tax expense:                          
         Federal                        $ 488,000      $ 272,000
         State                             73,000         43,500
                                        ------------------------
                                          561,000        315,500
                                                  
    Deferred tax benefit:                         
         Federal                          (54,000)       (52,000)
         State                             (9,000)       (11,000)
                                        ------------------------
                                          (63,000)       (63,000)
                                        ------------------------
                                        $ 498,000      $ 252,500
                                        ------------------------
                                        ------------------------

Deferred income taxes result principally from the use of accelerated
depreciation of fixed assets for tax purposes and different amortization periods
applicable to the prepaid agreement costs for book and tax purposes.  Total
deferred tax liabilities were $262,000 and $249,000 at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively.  Total deferred tax assets were $157,000  and $81,000 at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.


                                                                             F-9

<PAGE>

                             Rheochem Technologies, Inc.
                                           
                      Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
                                           

7.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

Total income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S.
federal income tax rate to income before income taxes as a result of the
following:

                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                         1996           1995
                                                      ------------------------
    Income tax expense at the 34% statutory                       
         federal income tax rate                      $ 461,000      $ 227,000
    State and local income taxes, net of federal                  
         income tax benefit                              48,000         29,000
    Other                                               (11,000)        (3,500)
                                                      ------------------------
                                                      $ 498,000      $ 252,500
                                                      ------------------------
                                                      ------------------------


8.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company has the following related party transactions:

                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                         1996           1995
                                                      ------------------------
    Sales to Astor                                    $  131,000    $  202,000

    Purchases from Astor                               6,958,000     4,721,000

The Company incurred management fees of $1,378,000 and $1,047,000 to Astor for
the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.  The Company incurred
management fees of $1,626,000 and $1,295,000 to Rheochem Incorporated for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

Accounts receivable from Astor were $0 and $25,368 as of December 31, 1996 and
1995, respectively.  Accounts payable to Astor were $435,351 and $396,960 as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.  Accounts payable to Rheochem
Incorporated were $109,974 and $101,673 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.


                                                                            F-10

<PAGE>

                           PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                           

    The following unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of income for the
year ended March 31, 1997 gives effect to the Transaction as if it had occurred
on April 1, 1996.  The unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 1997
gives effect to the Transaction as if it had occurred on March 31, 1997.  The
historical financial statements of Astor Holdings II reflect the acquisition of
Adco Technologies, Inc. ("ADCO") on October 8, 1996.  For purposes of this pro
forma financial information, the acquisitions of ADCO and the remaining 50%
equity interest in Rheochem are treated as purchases.

    The unaudited pro forma financial data are based on the historical
financial statements of each of Astor Holdings II, ADCO and Rheochem, and the
assumptions and adjustments described in the acompanying notes.  The unaudited
pro forma consolidated financial data are provided for informational purposes
only and do not purport to represent what Astor Holdings II's financial position
or results of operations actually would have been if the foregoing transactions
occurred as of the dates indicated  or what such results will be for any future
periods.

    The unaudited pro forma financial data are based on assumptions that the 
management of Astor Holdings II believes are reasonable and should be read in 
conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes 
thereto for each of Astor Holdings II and ADCO as filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission and the Audited Financial Statements of Rheochem 
included elsewhere in this current report.

                                                                            F-11

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                                                   ASTOR HOLDINGS II, INC.
                                  UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

                                            TWELVE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
<CAPTION>
           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                HISTORICAL ASTOR
                HOLDINGS II, INC.    HISTORICAL ADCO                     PRO FORMA    HISTORICAL RHEOCHEM
                 FOR THE TWELVE     FOR THE SIX MONTHS       ADCO          FOR          FOR THE TWELVE                    ASTOR 
                  MONTHS ENDED            ENDED          ACQUISITION      PRIOR          MONTHS ENDED    TRANSACTION   HOLDINGS II
               MARCH 31, 1997 (1)   OCTOBER 7, 1996 (2)  ADJUSTMENTS   TRANSACTION      MARCH 31, 1997   ADJUSTMENTS    PRO FORMA
               ------------------   -------------------  -----------   -----------      --------------   -----------    ---------
                                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>               <C>                  <C>                <C>         <C>                 <C>            <C>           <C>    
Sales               $197,001             $29,542            $0          $226,543            $37,067       ($7,156) (9)   $256,454

Cost of 
 sales               150,391              20,449          (518) (3)      170,322             29,995        (7,262) (10)   193,055
               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 
 before 
 depreciation         46,610               9,093           518            56,221              7,072           106          63,399

Selling, general 
 and administrative 
 expense              22,114               3,499             0            25,613              4,962        (1,440)(11)     29,805

Depreciation and
 amortization          7,892                 610           264 (4)         8,766                431           510 (12)      9,707
               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating 
 income               16,604               4,984           254            21,842              1,679         1,036          24,557

Income from investment 
 in Rheochem             651                   0             0               651                  0          (651)(13)          0

Management fee 
 income (expense)          0                 (81)           81 (5)             0                  0             0               0

Interest income 
 (expense)           (10,214)                122        (4,063)(6)       (14,155)               (71)       (1,054)(14)    (15,280)

Dividends on preferred 
 stock of subsidiary       0                (182)          182 (7)             0                  0             0               0
               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before taxes 
 and extraordinary 
 items                 7,041               4,843        (3,546)            8,338              1,608          (669)          9,277

Provision for 
 (benefit from) 
 income taxes            548               1,969        (1,253)(8)         1,264                572           371(15)       2,207
               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before 
 extraordinary 
 item                $ 6,493              $2,874       ($2,293)           $7,074             $1,036       ($1,040)        $ 7,070
               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>
                                                           F-12

<PAGE>


                                        ASTOR HOLDINGS II, INC.
                  NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(1)  Represents Astor Holdings II's consolidated results of operations for 
the twelve months ended March 31, 1997, which includes the results of 
operations of ADCO since its acquisition on October 8, 1996. 

(2)  Represents ADCO's historical operating results for the preacquisition
period from April 1, 1996 to October 7, 1996.

(3)  Represents the elimination of additional cost of sales resulting from 
the write-up of the opening finished goods inventory to fair market value for 
the ADCO acquisition. This adjustment to the historical financial 
statements is being eliminated because it is directly related to the 
accounting for the ADCO acquisition. 

(4) Represents ADCO's additional depreciation expense of $17,000 resulting from 
the write-up of ADCO's property, plant and equipment to fair market value and 
the additional amortization of intangibles from the ADCO acquisition of 
$733,000, including goodwill over 40 years and deferred financing costs over 
6 years to 10 years, less a reduction in amortization expense of $486,000 due 
to the write-off of existing deferred financing costs as a result of the early 
extinguishment of bank debt for the six months period prior to the ADCO 
acquisition.  The depreciation policy is the straight-line method of 
depreciation with asset lives of 40 years for buildings and 16 years for 
machinery and equipment.

(5)  Represents the capitalization of management fees paid to former 
shareholders of ADCO as part of the purchase price of ADCO because Astor 
management does not believe that they will utilize this management contract.

(6)  Reflects the pro forma interest expense after the acquisition as follows:


Senior Subordinated Notes, net of original issue discount 
 (interest rate 10.5%)                                            $11,550,000
Bank Term Loan (assumed interest rate of 9.0%)                      1,840,000
Subordinated Note due to an affiliate                                 478,000
Subsidiary debt and miscellaneous                                     287,000
Elimination of historical interest charge                         (10,092,000)
                                                                  ------------
                                                                   $4,063,000
                                                                  ------------


(7)  Represents the elimination of cash dividends paid to former holders of
preferred stock of ADCO's subsidiary.
                                                                          
(8)  Represents the tax benefit  resulting from higher expenses, primarily
interest costs.                                                        
                                                                          
(9)  Represents the elimination of intercompany sales between Rheochem 
and Astor.

(10) Represents the elimination of intercompany purchases of $7,156,000 between
Rheochem and Astor and the elimination of product discounts to the previous 
shareholder of $331,000, less the elimination of the amortization of 
liabilities set up upon the acquisition of the original 50% ownership  in 
Rheochem in the amount of $225,000.                                      
                                                                          
(11) Represents the elimination of net management fees of $1,382,000 paid to 
Rheochem, Inc. and fees of $267,000 paid to the previous shareholder, less 
the elimination of the amortization of liabilities set up upon the 
acquisition of the original 50% ownership in Rheochem in the amount of 
$209,000.

(12) Represents the additional  amortization expense of goodwill of $512,000 
from the Rheochem acquisition over 25 years and a reduction in  depreciation 
expense of $2,000 resulting from adjusting Rheochem's property, plant and 
equipment to fair market value.  The depreciation policy is the straight line 
method of depreciation with asset lives of 31.5 for buildings and 10 years 
for used machinery and equipment.

(13) Represents the elimination of income from investment in Rheochem due to
the change of accounting method for the Rheochem income from the equity method 
of accounting to consolidation accounting.

(14) Reflects the pro forma interest expense after the Transaction as follows: 


Senior Subordinated Notes, net of original issue discount (interest 
 rate 10.5%)                                                    $11,550,000
Bank Term Loan (assumed interest rate of 9.0%)                    1,840,000  
Revolver (assumed rate 9%)                                        1,124,000  
Subordinated Note due to an affiliate                               478,000  
Subsidiary debt and miscellaneous                                   287,000  
Elimination of historical interest charge                       (14,226,000)
                                                               -------------
                                                                 $1,053,000
                                                               -------------


An increase of 1/8% in the interest rate on the variable rate pertaining to the
above debt instruments would result in an interest expense increase of $43,000

(15) Represents the higher tax expense resulting from lower expenses.

                                                           F-13
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  ASTOR HOLDINGS II, INC.
                                  UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

                                                               As of  March 31, 1997
                                               --------------------------------------------------
                                                      Historical                   
                                               ----------------------              
                                                  Astor                                Astor
                                               Holdings II,           Transaction  Holdings II, Inc.
                                                   Inc.     Rheochem  Adjustments     Pro Forma
                                                  -----     --------  -----------    ---------
                                                               (dollars in thousands)
<S>                                            <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>

                                             ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                         $12,972     $835  ($2,939)(1)   $10,868
  Accounts receivable, net                           29,979    4,322        0        34,301
  Receivable from affiliates                            475        0     (475)(3)         0
  Inventory                                          28,974    1,351        6 (2)    30,331
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets           3,854       93        0         3,947

                                               --------------------------------------------
Total current assets                                 76,254    6,601   (3,408)       79,447
Property, plant and equipment, net                   73,229    2,209      193 (2)    75,631
Investment in Rheochem                                4,196        0   (4,196)(4)         0
Goodwill                                             59,222        0   15,215 (5)    74,437
Intangible assets, net                                9,226        0      100 (2)     9,326


                                               --------------------------------------------
Total assets                                       $222,127   $8,810   $7,904      $238,841
                                               --------------------------------------------
                                               --------------------------------------------


             LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Line of credit                                         $0     $550    ($550)(10)       $0
  Accounts payable                                   21,195    3,608        0        24,803
  Accounts payable - affiliates                           0      882     (882)(3)         0
  Accrued interest payable                            5,976        0        0         5,976
  Accrued expenses                                   10,016      360      272 (2)    10,648
  Current portion of long-term debt                   1,492        0        0         1,492
                                               --------------------------------------------

Total current liabilities                            38,679    5,400   (1,160)       42,919
Long-term debt                                      131,418        0   12,500 (8)   143,918
Subordinated note due to an affiliate                 5,557        0        0         5,557
Deferred income taxes                                 4,176      105       11 (6)     4,292
Other long-term liabilities                           3,398        0     (142)(7)     3,256

Shareholder's equity:
  Rheochem shareholders' equity                           0    3,305   (3,305)(9)         0
  Preferred stock                                         0        0        0             0
  Common stock                                            0        0        0             0
  Additional paid-in capital                         36,671        0        0        36,671
  Retained earnings                                   2,711        0        0         2,711
  Foreign currency translation adjustment              (483)       0        0          (483)

                                               --------------------------------------------
Total shareholder's equity                           38,899    3,305   (3,305)       38,899

                                               --------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity         $222,127   $8,810   $7,904      $238,841
                                               --------------------------------------------
                                               --------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
                                                                           F-14
<PAGE>

                             ASTOR HOLDINGS II, INC.
               NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
(1)  Represents the use of Astor's existing cash of $2.9 million to fund the
Rheochem acquisition (remaining 50%).                                     

(2)  Represents the estimated write-up of assets and liabilities to fair 
market value in connection with the purchase price allocation for the 
Rheochem acquisition.

(3)  Represents the elimination of Rheochem's intercompany balances with Astor
and the settlement of the intercompany balance with Rheochem, Inc.

(4)  Represents the change of accounting method of Astor's original 50%
ownership in Rheochem from the equity method of accounting to consolidation 
accounting.  The $4.2 million of investment in Rheochem under the equity 
accounting method includes $2.4 million of goodwill.

(5)  Represents the $12.8 million of excess purchase price over the fair market
value of the remaining 50% of Rheochem assets acquired and the existing goodwill
in Rheochem of $2.4 million from the previous purchase.  Management's 
preliminary allocation of the purchase price for Rheochem is as follows:


<TABLE>

<S>                                                                            <C>
Purchase price:                                                 
Cash portion                                                                   $14,100,000
Estimated fees and expenses                                                        382,000
                                                                             -------------
  Total                                                                        $14,482,000
                                                                             -------------
                                                 
Allocated as follows:                                                
50% of existing book value of Rheochem                                          $1,652,750
Increase in inventory to estimated fair market value                                 6,383
Estimated increase in property, plant and equipment to fair market value           192,904
Increase in intangible assets                                                      100,000
Increase in deferred tax liabilities                                               (10,671)
Transaction related liabilities                                                   (272,611)
Increase in goodwill                                                            12,813,245
                                                                             -------------
  Total                                                                        $14,482,000
                                                                             -------------

</TABLE>

(6)  Represents the deferred tax liabilities of $11,000 resulting from the
allocation of purchase price for the Rheochem acquisition.

(7)  Represents the write-off of the remaining balance of liabilities set up
upon acquisition of the original 50% ownership in Rheochem.

(8)  Represents the borrowing of $12.5 million under the revolving credit
facility to fund the Rheochem acquisition and to settle intercompany balances.

(9)  Represents the elimination of Rheochem's historical shareholders' equity
($3.3 million) resulting from the application of purchase accounting.

(10) Represents repayment of Rheochem's existing line of credit.

                                                                            F-15

<PAGE>

                          STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         This STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of April 
22, 1997 is by and among Thomas C. Pedersen ("Pedersen") and the other 
individuals who have signed this Agreement (collectively with Pedersen, the 
"Shareholders" and individually, each a "Shareholder"), Rheochem, 
Incorporated, a New Jersey corporation (the "Holding Company"), Rheochem 
Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Rheochem"), and Astor  
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Buyer").

                               R E C I T A L S

         WHEREAS, Rheochem is engaged in the development, production and sale 
of paraffin lubricants, waxes, synthetic stearates and other lubricating 
systems used in the extrusion of polyvinyl chloride products  (the 
"Business");

         WHEREAS, Buyer and Holding Company each own a 50% equity interest in 
Rheochem, and Buyer wishes to acquire control of the 50% interest now owned 
by Holding Company;

         WHEREAS, Shareholders of Holding Company are willing to sell to 
Buyer all the outstanding stock of Holding Company in order to enable Buyer 
to acquire control of Holding Company's 50% interest in Rheochem;

         WHEREAS, each Shareholder owns the number of the issued and 
outstanding shares (collectively, the "Shares") of Holding Company's common 
stock, no par value per share, (the " Holding Company Common Stock"), set 
forth opposite such Shareholder's name on EXHIBIT A hereto, which Shares in 
the aggregate represent all of the issued and outstanding shares of Holding 
Company's capital stock; and

         WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase and Shareholders desire to sell 
the Shares on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

                              A G R E E M E N T

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the mutual 
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, 
the parties hereto agree as follows.

                                  ARTICLE I

                                 DEFINITIONS

         1.01 DEFINITIONS.  The following terms, as used herein, have the 
following meanings; other terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement:

         "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly 
or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common 
control with such other Person.  Without limiting the generality of the 
foregoing, after the Closing Date the Affiliates of Buyer shall include 
Holding Company and Rheochem.

         "APPLICABLE LAW" means, with respect to any Person, any domestic or 
foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, rule, 
administrative interpretation, regulation, policy, guidance,


                                      1

<PAGE>

order, writ, injunction, directive, judgment, decree or other requirement of 
any Governmental Authority (including any Environmental Law) applicable to 
such Person or any of its Affiliates or Plan Affiliates or any of their 
respective properties, assets, officers, directors, employees, consultants or 
agents (in connection with such officer's, director's, employee's, 
consultant's or agent's activities on behalf of such Person or any of its 
Affiliates or Plan Affiliates).

         "ASSOCIATE" or "ASSOCIATED WITH" means, when used to indicate a 
relationship with any Person, (a) any other Person of which such Person is an 
officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of ten 
percent or more of any class of equity securities issued by such other 
Person, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial 
beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a 
similar fiduciary capacity, and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or 
any relative of such spouse who has the same home as such Person or who is a 
director or officer of such Person or any Affiliate thereof.

         "BENEFIT ARRANGEMENT" means any material benefit arrangement that is 
not an Employee Benefit Plan, including, without limitation, (i) each 
material employment or consulting agreement, (ii) each arrangement providing 
for material insurance coverage for employees, (iii) each material incentive 
bonus or deferred bonus arrangement, (iv) each arrangement providing material 
termination allowance, severance or similar benefits, (v) each material 
equity compensation plan, (vi) each material deferred compensation plan and 
(vii) each material compensation policy and practice maintained by Holding 
Company or Rheochem or any ERISA Affiliate of either of them covering 
employees, former employees, directors and former directors and the 
beneficiaries of any of them.

         "BENEFIT PLAN" means an Employee Benefit Plan or Benefit Arrangement.

         "BUSINESS DAY" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other 
day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or 
required by law to close.

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

         "CONTRACTS" means all contracts, agreements, options, leases, 
licenses, sales and purchase orders, commitments and other instruments of any 
kind, whether written or oral, to which Holding Company or Rheochem, as the 
case may be, is a party on the Closing Date, including the Scheduled 
Contracts and the Subsequent Material Contracts.

         "DAMAGES" means all demands, claims, actions or causes of action, 
assessments, losses, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities, judgments, 
awards, fines, sanctions, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement 
net of insurance proceeds actually received, including without limitation (i) 
interest on cash disbursements in respect of any of the foregoing at the 
Reference Rate in effect from time to time, compounded quarterly, from the 
date each such cash disbursement is made until the Person incurring the same 
shall have been indemnified in respect thereof and (ii) reasonable costs, 
fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other agents of such Person.

         "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any employee benefit plan, as defined 
in Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is sponsored or contributed to by Holding 
Company, Rheochem or any ERISA Affiliate thereof covering employees or former 
employees.

         "EMPLOYEE PENSION BENEFIT PLAN" means any employee pension benefit 
plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of 
ERISA, including a Multiemployer Plan.


                                      2

<PAGE>

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means all Applicable Laws relating to Hazardous 
Substances, toxic torts, occupational health and safety, or protection of the 
environment, including, without limitation, (i) all Applicable Laws 
pertaining to reporting, licensing, permitting, controlling, investigating or 
remediating emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of 
Hazardous Substances, chemical substances, pollutants, contaminants or toxic 
substances, materials or wastes, whether solid, liquid or gaseous in nature, 
into the air, surface water, groundwater or land, (ii) all Applicable Laws 
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, 
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances, chemical 
substances, pollutants, contaminants or toxic substances, materials or 
wastes, whether solid, liquid or gaseous in nature; and (iii) the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), the Clean Air Act, the 
Water Pollution Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substance 
Control Act ("TSCA") and all requirements promulgated pursuant to any of 
these or analogous state or local statutes.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES" means Liabilities of a Person that arise 
under any Environmental Law and that relate to facts, circumstances, events 
or conditions in existence as of, or occurring on or before, the Closing Date.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT" means the environmental site assessment of 
Rheochem's facility in Columbia, Missouri conducted by ENSR Environmental 
Consultants in connection with this Agreement.

         "EQUIPMENT" means all machinery, equipment, furniture, office 
equipment, communications equipment, vehicles, storage tanks, spare and 
replacement parts, fuel and other tangible property (and interests in any of 
the foregoing) of Rheochem.

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

         "ERISA AFFILIATE" of any Person means any other Person that, 
together with such Person as of the relevant measuring date under ERISA, was 
or is required to be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), 
(m) or (o) of the Code.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United 
States applied on a consistent basis.

         "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any foreign, domestic, federal, 
territorial, state or local governmental authority, quasi-governmental 
authority, instrumentality, court, government or self-regulatory 
organization, commission, tribunal or organization or any regulatory, 
administrative or other agency, or any political or other subdivision, 
department or branch of any of the foregoing.

         "GROUP HEALTH PLAN" means any group health plan, as defined in 
Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code.

         "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means any substance or material:  (i) the 
presence of which in, at or about the air, surface water, groundwater, soil, 
land, or any facility requires investigation or remediation under any 
Environmental Law; or (ii) that is defined as a "hazardous waste" or 
"hazardous substance" under any Environmental Law; or (iii) that is toxic, 
explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic or 
mutagenic or otherwise hazardous and is regulated by any Governmental 
Authority having or asserting legal, regulatory, judicial, administrative or 
other authority


                                      3

<PAGE>

over Holding Company or Rheochem; or (iv) the presence of which causes a 
nuisance or other tortious condition under any Applicable Law or any 
Environmental Law or poses a hazard to the health or safety of Persons; or 
(v) the presence of which on adjacent properties constitutes a trespass or 
other tortious condition by Holding Company or Rheochem; or (vi) without 
limitation, that contains gasoline, diesel fuel or other petroleum 
hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) or asbestos.

         "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" means:  (1) Shareholders when any Buyer 
Indemnitee is asserting a claim under Sections 9.01(a) or 11.11 or (2) Buyer 
when any Shareholder Indemnitee is asserting a claim under Sections 9.01(b) 
or 11.11.

         "INDEMNITEE" means:  (1) each of Buyer and its Affiliates with 
respect to any claim for which any Shareholder is an Indemnifying Party under 
Sections 9.01(a) or 11.11; or (2) Shareholders and their Affiliates with 
respect to claims for which Buyer is an Indemnifying Party under Sections 
9.01(b) or 11.11.

         "INVENTORY" means all items of inventory notwithstanding how 
classified in the financial records of Rheochem, including all raw materials, 
work-in-process, finished goods, and supplies of Rheochem.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

         "KNOWLEDGE" means, with respect to any individual, all things which 
are actually known to such individual and, with respect to any corporation, 
all things which are actually known to the executive officers of such 
corporation.

         "LIABILITY" means, with respect to any Person, any liability or 
obligation of such Person of any kind, character or description, whether 
known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or 
unliquidated, secured or unsecured, joint or several, due or to become due, 
vested or unvested, executory, determined, determinable or otherwise, whether 
or not the same is required to be accrued on the financial statements of such 
Person and whether or not the same is disclosed on any schedule to this 
Agreement.

         "LIEN" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, title defect 
or objection, lien, pledge, security interest, hypothecation, restriction, 
encumbrance or charge of any kind in respect of such asset.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a change in, or effect on, the 
operations, affairs, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, 
assets, Liabilities, reserves or any other aspect of Rheochem or the Business 
that results in a material adverse effect on, or a material adverse change 
in, the Business taken as a whole.

         "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" means a multiemployer plan, as defined in 
Section 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

         "PERMITTED LIENS" means (i) Liens for Taxes or governmental 
assessments, charges or claims the payment of which is not yet due, or for 
Taxes the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate 
proceedings; (ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, 
warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Persons and other 
Liens imposed by Applicable Law incurred in the ordinary course of business 
for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith; (iii) Liens 
relating to deposits made in the ordinary course of business in


                                      4

<PAGE>

connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other types 
of social security or to secure the performance of leases, trade contracts or 
other similar agreements; (iv) Liens and Encumbrances specifically identified 
in the Financial Statements (as hereinafter defined), (v) Liens securing 
executory obligations under any Lease that constitutes an "operating lease" 
under GAAP; and (vi) other Liens set forth on SCHEDULE 1.01(a) hereto; 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, with respect to each of clauses (i) through (v), to 
the extent that any such Encumbrance or Lien arose prior to the date of the 
1996 Rheochem Balance Sheet and relates to, or secures the payment of, a 
Liability that is required to be accrued under GAAP, such Encumbrance or Lien 
shall not be a Permitted Lien unless adequate accruals for such Liability 
have been established therefor on such Balance Sheet in conformity with GAAP. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lien arising under the Code or ERISA with 
respect to the operation, termination, restoration or funding of any Benefit 
Plan sponsored by, maintained by or contributed to by Holding Company, 
Rheochem or any of their ERISA Affiliates or arising in connection with any 
excise tax or penalty tax with respect to such Benefit Plan shall be a 
Permitted Lien.

         "PERSON" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, 
trust, estate or other entity or organization, including a Governmental 
Authority.

         "PLAN AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any Benefit Plan 
sponsored by, maintained by or contributed to by such Person, and with 
respect to any Benefit Plan, any Person sponsoring, maintaining or 
contributing to such Benefit Plan.

         "PROHIBITED TRANSACTION" means a transaction that is prohibited 
under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA and not exempt under 
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 408 of ERISA, respectively.

         "PURCHASE PRICE" means $14,100,000.

         "REFERENCE RATE" means the per annum rate of interest publicly 
announced from time to time by The Chase Manhattan Bank as its prime rate (or 
reference rate). Any change in the Reference Rate shall take effect at the 
opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such 
change.

         "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation 
as to which more than 10% of the outstanding stock having ordinary voting 
rights or power (and excluding stock having voting rights only upon the 
occurrence of a contingency unless and until such contingency occurs and such 
rights may be exercised) is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by 
such Person and/or by one or more of such Person's Subsidiaries, and (ii) any 
partnership, joint venture or other similar relationship between such Person 
(or any Subsidiary thereof) and any other Person (whether pursuant to a 
written agreement or otherwise).

         "TAX" means all taxes imposed of any nature including federal, 
state, local or foreign net income tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax, 
profits or excess profits tax, franchise tax, gross income, adjusted gross 
income or gross receipts tax, employment related tax (including employee 
withholding or employer payroll tax, FICA or FUTA), real or personal property 
tax or ad valorem tax, sales or use tax, excise tax, stamp tax or duty, any 
withholding or back up withholding tax, value added tax, severance tax, 
prohibited transaction tax, premiums tax, occupation tax, together with any 
interest or any penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any 
Governmental Authority responsible for the imposition of any such tax.


                                      5

<PAGE>

           "TAX RETURN" means all returns, reports, forms or other information
required to be filed with respect to any Tax.
 
                                   ARTICLE II

                               PURCHASE AND SALE

          2.01 PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM SHAREHOLDERS.  On the terms and 
subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the Closing (as hereinafter 
defined) each Shareholder shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to 
Buyer, free and clear of all Share Encumbrances (as hereinafter defined), and 
Buyer shall purchase, acquire and accept from each Shareholder, all the 
Shares owned by such Shareholder.  At the Closing, each Shareholder shall 
deliver to Buyer certificates evidencing the Shares owned by such Shareholder 
duly endorsed for transfer together with such other instruments as may be 
reasonably requested by Buyer to transfer full legal and beneficial ownership 
of the Shares to Buyer, free and clear of all Share Encumbrances.  Buyer 
shall pay the Purchase Price for the Shares in accordance with the terms of 
Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.

          2.02 CLOSING.

               (a)  The closing (the "Closing") of the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at the offices of Whitman 
Breed Abbott & Morgan, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166-0193 on the 
later of April 30, 1997, or the date on which the last of the conditions to 
Closing set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 have been satisfied or waived by 
the party or parties entitled to waive the same or on such other date as to 
which the parties may agree (the "Closing Date"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, as 
provided in Section 10.01(f), Pedersen as representative of all Shareholders 
or Buyer may terminate this Agreement if the Closing shall not have been 
consummated by the Outside Date (as hereinafter defined).

               (b)  At the Closing, Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price to 
Shareholders in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a 
bank account or bank accounts designated in writing by Pederson as 
representative of all Shareholders.  The payment shall be allocated among 
Shareholders as set forth in EXHIBIT A.

                                 ARTICLE III

            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHAREHOLDERS, HOLDING 
                            COMPANY AND RHEOCHEM

          As an inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement and to 
consummate the transactions contemplated herein, Shareholders jointly and 
severally represent and warrant to Buyer as set forth in Section 3.01 and 
Holding Company, Rheochem and Pedersen jointly and severally represent to 
Buyer as set forth in Sections 3.02 through 3.27:

          3.01 REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS.

               (a)  Each Shareholder has good and marketable title to the 
Shares which are to be transferred to Buyer by such Shareholder pursuant 
hereto as set forth in EXHIBIT A free and clear of any and all covenants, 
conditions, restrictions, voting trust arrangements, rights of first refusal, 
options, Liens and adverse claims or rights whatsoever (collectively, "Share 
Encumbrances"); and on the Closing 

                                       6

<PAGE>

Date, each Shareholder will have, and will deliver to Buyer, good and 
marketable title to the Shares free and clear of any and all Share 
Encumbrances. 

               (b)  Each Shareholder has the full right, power and authority 
to enter into this Agreement and to transfer, convey and sell to Buyer at the 
Closing the Shares to be sold to Buyer by such Shareholder hereunder, and 
upon consummation of the purchase contemplated hereby, Buyer will acquire 
from such Shareholder good and marketable title to the Shares to be sold to 
Buyer by such Shareholder, free and clear of all Share Encumbrances.

               (c)  No Shareholder is a party to, subject to or bound by any 
judgment, order, writ, prohibition, injunction or decree of any court or 
other governmental body, or any agreement, which would prevent the execution 
or delivery of this Agreement by such Shareholder to Buyer or the transfer, 
conveyance and sale of the Shares to be sold by such Shareholder to Buyer 
pursuant to the terms hereof.

               (d)  The execution, delivery and performance by Shareholders 
of this Agreement and the consummation thereby of the transactions 
contemplated hereby are within each of Shareholders' powers.  This Agreement 
has been duly and validly executed by Shareholders and constitutes the legal, 
valid and binding agreement of Shareholders, enforceable against each of them 
in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable 
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting 
creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

          3.02 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER OF HOLDING COMPANY.  Holding 
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good 
standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and has all corporate 
power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to own its 
assets as now owned.  Holding Company is not required to be qualified to do 
business in any state other than New Jersey.

          3.03 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER OF RHEOCHEM.  Rheochem is a 
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the 
laws of the State of Delaware and has all corporate power and authority to 
carry on the Business as now conducted and to own and operate its assets as 
now owned and operated.  Rheochem is not required to be qualified to conduct 
the Business in any state other than the State of Missouri, where Rheochem is 
duly qualified to do business and in good standing.

          3.04 AUTHORIZATION.  The execution, delivery and performance by 
Holding Company and Rheochem of this Agreement and the consummation thereby 
of the transactions contemplated hereby are within each of Holding Company's 
and Rheochem's powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary 
corporate action on the part of Holding Company and Rheochem.  This Agreement 
has been duly and validly executed by Holding Company and Rheochem and 
constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of Holding Company and 
Rheochem, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, 
except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, 
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights 
generally and subject to general principles of equity.

                                       7

<PAGE>

                    
          3.05 SUBSIDIARIES.  Holding Company has no Subsidiaries except 
Rheochem, and Rheochem has no Subsidiaries.

          3.06 CAPITAL STOCK.
          
               (a)  The authorized capital stock of Holding Company consists 
solely of 2,500 shares of common stock, no par value, 1,900 shares of which 
are issued and outstanding on the date hereof. 

               (b)  All such issued and outstanding shares of Holding Company 
Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid 
and nonassessable.  The Shares represent all of the issued and outstanding 
shares of Holding Company's capital stock and are held as set forth on 
EXHIBIT A.  Holding Company does not hold any of the issued and outstanding 
shares of Holding Company Common Stock in treasury, and there are not, and on 
the Closing Date there will not be, outstanding (i) any options, warrants or 
other rights to purchase from Holding Company or any of the Shareholders any 
capital stock of Holding Company, (ii) any securities convertible into or 
exchangeable for shares of such stock or (iii) any other commitments of any 
kind for the issuance of additional shares of capital stock or options, 
warrants or other securities of Holding Company.

               (c)  The authorized capital stock of Rheochem consists solely 
of (i) 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value, ("Class A 
Common Stock"), 550 shares of which are issued and outstanding on the date 
hereof, and (ii) 50,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value, 
("Class B Common Stock", and collectively with Class A Common Stock, 
"Rheochem Common Stock"), 550 shares of which are issued and outstanding on 
the date hereof.

               (d)  All such issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common 
Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and 
nonassessable and are held by Holding Company free and clear of any and all 
Share Encumbrances.  Rheochem does not hold any shares of Rheochem Common 
Stock in treasury, and there are not, and on the Closing Date there will not 
be, outstanding (i) any options, warrants or other rights to purchase from 
Rheochem or Holding Company any Rheochem Common Stock, (ii) any securities 
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of such stock or (iii) any other 
commitments of any kind for the issuance of additional shares of Rheochem 
Common Stock or options, warrants or other securities of Rheochem.

          3.07 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION.  The execution, delivery and 
performance by Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders of this Agreement 
require no action by, consent or approval of, or filing with, any 
Governmental Authority.

          3.08 NON-CONTRAVENTION.  The execution, delivery and performance by 
Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders of this Agreement do not and will 
not (a) contravene or conflict with the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws 
of Holding Company and Rheochem, (b) contravene or conflict with or 
constitute a violation of any provision of any Applicable Law binding upon or 
applicable to Holding Company, Rheochem, Shareholders, the Business or the 
Shares, (c) , to the Knowledge of Pedersen, constitute a default under or 
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of, or to 
a loss of any benefit to which Holding Company and Rheochem are entitled, 
under any material Contract or any Permit or similar authorization relating 
to Holding Company, Rheochem, the Business or the Shares or by which Holding 
Company, Rheochem, the Business or the Shares may be bound, or (d) , to the 
Knowledge of Pedersen, result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on 
any assets of Holding Company or Rheochem, other than Permitted Liens, or any 
Share Encumbrance.

                                       8

<PAGE>

          3.09 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.    
          
               (a)  True and complete copies of the audited balance sheets, 
and unaudited related statements of income and retained earnings, and cash 
flows of Holding Company for the years ended October 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, 
accompanied by the report thereon of Withum, Smith & Brown, certified public 
accountants of Holding Company, have previously been delivered to Buyer.  The 
October 31, 1996 balance sheet is referred to herein as the 1996 Holding 
Company Balance Sheet. Each of these financial statements has been prepared 
based on the books and records of Holding Company in accordance with GAAP and 
Holding Company's normal accounting practices, consistent with past practice 
and with each other, and present fairly the financial condition and results 
of operations of Holding Company as of the dates or for the periods 
indicated.
               (b)   True and complete copies of the audited balance sheets 
and related statements of operations and retained earnings, and cash flows of 
Rheochem for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, accompanied by 
the report thereon of Ernst & Young LLP, certified public accountants of 
Rheochem,  (the "Annual Statements"), and the unaudited balance sheets and 
statements of operations for each month of 1997 ending on or before March 31, 
1997 (collectively, the "Interim Statements" and, together with the Annual 
Statements, the "Financial Statements") have previously been delivered to 
Buyer. The December 31, 1996 balance sheet is referred to herein as the "1996 
Rheochem Balance Sheet."  Each of the Financial Statements has been prepared 
based on the books and records of Rheochem in accordance with GAAP (except 
for the omission of footnote disclosure required by GAAP in the case of 
Interim Financials and except that the Interim Financials omit and are 
subject to normal year-end accruals) and Rheochem's normal accounting 
practices, consistent with past practice and with each other, and present 
fairly the financial condition and results of operations of Rheochem as of 
the dates or for the periods indicated.
               (c)  There are no Liabilities of Holding Company or Rheochem 
except (a) to the extent reflected in the 1996 Holding Company Balance Sheet 
and the 1996 Rheochem Balance Sheet, (b) Liabilities described in this 
Agreement and the Schedules hereto, (c) those Liabilities of Holding Company 
and Rheochem incurred in the ordinary course of business since October 31, 
1996 and December 31, 1996, respectively, (d) those Liabilities of Holding 
Company and Rheochem not required under GAAP to be reflected in the financial 
statements and that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a 
Material Adverse Effect and (e) Liabilities related to this Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated hereby.

          3.10 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES.  Except as previously disclosed in 
writing to Buyer, approved by Holding Company and Buyer or contemplated by 
this Agreement, since the date of the 1996 Holding Company Balance Sheet or 
the 1996 Rheochem Balance Sheet, as the case may be, the Business has been 
conducted in the ordinary course, and there has not been:

               (a)  any event, occurrence, development or state of 
circumstances or facts or change in Holding Company, Rheochem or the Business 
(including any damage, destruction or other casualty loss, but excluding any 
event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts or change 
resulting from changes in general economic conditions) affecting Holding 
Company, Rheochem or the Business that has had or that may be reasonably 
expected to have, either alone or together with all such events, occurrences, 
developments, states of circumstances or facts or changes, a Material Adverse 
Effect;

                                       9

<PAGE>

               (b)  (i) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any 
indebtedness for borrowed money by Holding Company or Rheochem, (ii) any 
incurrence of any Liability relating to a documentary or standby letter of 
credit by Holding Company or Rheochem, (iii) any change in any Liability 
other than in the ordinary course of business, or (iv) any incurrence of any 
other Liability by Holding Company or Rheochem, other than in the ordinary 
course of business;

               (c)  any creation, assumption or sufferance of the existence 
of any Lien on any assets of Holding Company or Rheochem, other than 
Permitted Liens;

               (d)  any transaction or commitment made, or any Contract 
entered into, by Holding Company or Rheochem, or any waiver, amendment, 
termination or cancellation of any Contract by Holding Company or Rheochem, 
or any relinquishment of any rights thereunder by Holding Company or 
Rheochem, or of any other right or debt owed to Holding Company or Rheochem, 
other than in each such case actions taken in the ordinary course of business 
consistent with past practice;

               (e)  except for actions taken in the ordinary course of 
business consistent with the past practice of Holding Company or Rheochem 
that are not, in the aggregate, material, any (i) grant of any severance, 
continuation or termination pay to any director, officer, stockholder or 
employee of Holding Company or Rheochem or any Associate of any of the 
foregoing, (ii) entering into of any employment, deferred compensation or 
other similar agreement (or any amendment to any such existing agreement) 
with any director, officer, stockholder or employee of Holding Company or 
Rheochem or any Associate of any of the foregoing, (iii) increase in benefits 
payable or potentially payable under any severance, continuation or 
termination pay policies or employment agreements with any director, officer, 
stockholder or employee of Holding Company or Rheochem or any Associate of 
any of the foregoing, (iv) except as required by Applicable Law, increase in 
compensation, bonus or other benefits payable or potentially payable to 
directors, officers, stockholders or employees of Holding Company or Rheochem 
or any Associate of any of the foregoing, (v) except as required by 
Applicable Law, change in the terms of any bonus, pension, insurance, health 
or other Benefit Plan of Holding Company or Rheochem, or (vi) representation 
of Holding Company or Rheochem to any employee or former employee of Holding 
Company or Rheochem that Buyer would assume, continue to maintain or 
implement any Benefit Plan after the Closing Date;

               (f)  any loan to or guarantee or assumption of any loan or 
obligation on behalf of any stockholder, director, officer or employee of 
Holding Company or Rheochem or to any Associate of any of the foregoing, 
except travel advances occurring in the ordinary course of business 
consistent with past practice;

               (g)  any material change by Holding Company or Rheochem in its 
accounting principles, methods or practices or in the manner it keeps its 
books and records or any material change by Holding Company or Rheochem of 
its current practices with regards to sales, receivables, payables or accrued 
expenses that would affect the timing of collection of receivables or the 
payment of payables;
                         
               (h)  any distribution, dividend, bonus or other payment by 
Holding Company or Rheochem to any officer, director, stockholder or 
Affiliate of Holding Company or Rheochem or any of their respective 
Affiliates or Associates (collectively, "Distributions");

                                      10

<PAGE>

         (i) the entering into of any Contract or other arrangement between 
Holding Company or Rheochem and any officer, director, stockholder or 
Affiliate of Holding Company or Rheochem or any of their respective 
Affiliates or Associates; or

         (j) any payment, discharge or satisfaction of any Liabilities of 
Holding Company or Rheochem, other than payments, discharges or satisfactions 
in the ordinary course of business.

       3.11 PROPERTIES; LEASES; TANGIBLE ASSETS.
             
         (a) Neither Holding Company nor Rheochem owns any real property or 
has a leasehold interest in any real property other than the real property 
(the "Real Property") and the leased property (the "Leased Real Property") 
identified on SCHEDULE 3.11(a), which constitutes all of the real property 
used in the Business.  Holding Company or Rheochem has a good and valid 
leasehold interest in the Leased Real Property and the property subject to 
the Personal Property Leases and has good and valid title to the Real 
Property and its other tangible assets.  Holding Company or Rheochem holds 
title to each such property and asset free and clear of all Liens, adverse 
claims, easements, rights of way, servitudes, zoning or building 
restrictions, or any other rights of others or other adverse interests of any 
kind, including chattel mortgages, conditional sales contracts, collateral 
security arrangements and other title or interest retention arrangements 
(collectively, "Encumbrances"), except for the Leases, utility easements and 
Permitted Liens.
             
         (b) SCHEDULE 3.11(b) sets forth a true and complete list of all 
personal property leases or licenses (i) to which Holding Company or Rheochem 
is a party or by which Holding Company or Rheochem is bound and (ii) that 
provide for annual payments by Holding Company or Rheochem in excess of 
$50,000 or that contain other affirmative material obligations that cannot be 
terminated by Holding Company or Rheochem within 30 days (the "Personal 
Property Leases") and all leases or licenses of Leased Real Property that 
provide for annual payments by Holding Company or Rheochem in excess of 
$50,000 or that cannot be terminated by Holding Company or Rheochem within 30 
days (the "Real Property Leases" and collectively with the Personal Property 
Leases, the "Leases") entered into in connection with the Business.  With 
respect to the Leases, except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.11(b), there exist 
no defaults by Holding Company or Rheochem, or, to the Knowledge of Holding 
Company or Rheochem, any default or threatened default by any lessor or third 
party thereunder, that has affected or could reasonably be expected to 
materially affect the rights and privileges thereunder of Holding Company or 
Rheochem.
                
         (c) Neither Holding Company nor Rheochem has received notice of any 
pending zoning or other land-use regulation proceedings or any proposed 
change in any Applicable Laws that could reasonably be expected to 
detrimentally affect the use or operation of the Real Property or any Leased 
Real Property, nor has Holding Company or Rheochem received notice of any 
special assessment proceedings affecting the Real Property or the Leased Real 
Property or applied for any change to the zoning or land use status of the 
Real Property or the Leased Real Property.
                
       3.12 AFFILIATES.  Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.12, or disclosed 
in the notes to the 1996 Holding Company Balance Sheet and the 1996 Rheochem 
Balance Sheet, neither Holding Company, Rheochem, any Shareholder, any 
officers or directors of Holding Company or Rheochem, who are not employees 
of Buyer or any of its Affiliates, (nor any immediate family member of any 
such officer or director):
         
                                11
<PAGE>

         (a) Now has or at any time subsequent to December 31, 1994, had, 
either directly or indirectly, an equity or debt interest in any Person which 
furnishes or sells or during such period furnished or sold services or 
products to Holding Company or Rheochem or purchases or during such period 
purchased from Holding Company or Rheochem any goods or services, or 
otherwise does or during such period did business with Holding Company or 
Rheochem of a material nature or amount; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that neither 
Holding Company, Rheochem, any Shareholder, nor any of Holding Company's or 
Rheochem's officers and directors or other Affiliates shall be deemed to have 
such an interest solely by virtue of the ownership of less than five percent 
of the outstanding voting stock or debt securities of any publicly held 
company, the stock or debt securities of which are traded on a national stock 
exchange or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers 
Automated Quotation System; or
                
         (b) Now is or at any time subsequent to December 31, 1994, was, a 
party to any contract, commitment or agreement to which Holding Company or 
Rheochem is or during such period was a party or under which Holding Company 
or Rheochem is or was obligated or bound or to which any of their respective 
properties may be or may have been subject, other than through Holding 
Company or Rheochem.
                
      3.13 INVENTORIES. Subject to any reserve therefor that is included in 
the 1996 Rheochem Balance Sheet and except as previously disclosed to the 
Buyer, all Inventories of Rheochem are of a quality usable (including 
processing into merchantable finished inventories) or salable in the ordinary 
course of business, except for items of obsolete materials. 
      
      3.14 LITIGATION. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.14, (i) there are no 
actions, suits, hearings, arbitrations, proceedings (public or private) or 
governmental investigations that have been brought by or against any 
Governmental Authority or any other Person (collectively, "Proceedings") 
pending or, to the Knowledge of Holding Company, Rheochem or Pedersen, 
threatened, against or affecting Holding Company, Rheochem, the Business, or 
the Shares or which seek to enjoin or rescind the transactions contemplated 
by this Agreement or otherwise prevent Holding Company, Rheochem or 
Shareholders from complying with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; 
and (ii) there are no existing orders, judgments or decrees of any 
Governmental Authority affecting any of Holding Company, Rheochem, the 
Business, or the Shares.
      
      3.15 CONTRACTS.
         
         (a) SCHEDULE 3.15 sets forth a complete list of the following 
contracts, commitments and obligations (whether written or oral) of Holding 
Company or Rheochem that are in connection with the Business (collectively 
with the Leases and the Employment Agreements, the "Scheduled Contracts"):
             
             (i) each Contract between Holding Company or Rheochem and (A) 
each present or former director, officer or other member of management or 
other personnel of Holding Company or Rheochem, (B) any supplier of services 
or products to Holding Company or Rheochem whose dollar volume of sales to 
Holding Company or Rheochem exceeded $50,000 in 1996, and (C) any Person in 
which the aggregate payments made to Holding Company or Rheochem under such 
Contract exceeded $50,000 in 1996;
             
             (ii) each other agreement or arrangement of Holding Company or 
Rheochem that (y) requires the payment or incurrence of Liabilities or the 
rendering of services by 

                                   12

<PAGE>

Holding Company or Rheochem, subsequent to the date of this Agreement of more 
than $50,000 and (z) cannot be terminated by Holding Company or Rheochem 
within 30 days;
            
             (iii) all Contracts relating to, and evidences of or guarantees 
of, or providing security for, indebtedness for borrowed money or the 
deferred purchase price of property (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or 
secured by any asset);
                  
             (iv) all partnership, joint venture or other similar Contracts, 
arrangements or agreements; 
             
             (v) to the extent that any of the following provide for annual 
payments by Holding Company or Rheochem in excess of $50,000 and cannot be 
terminated by Holding Company or Rheochem within 30 days, all license, 
distribution, commission, marketing, agent, franchise, technical assistance 
or similar agreements relating to or providing for the marketing and/or sale 
of the products or services to which Holding Company or Rheochem is a party 
or by which Holding Company or Rheochem is otherwise bound; and
                  
             (vi) all other contracts, commitments and obligations that are 
not in the ordinary course of the Business.
              
         (b) Each Scheduled Contract and Subsequent Material Contract is a 
legal, valid and binding obligation of Holding Company or Rheochem and, to 
the Knowledge of Holding Company, Rheochem and Pedersen, each other party 
thereto, enforceable (except to the extent such enforceability may be limited 
by bankruptcy, equity and creditors' rights generally) against Holding 
Company, Rheochem and, to the Knowledge of Holding Company, Rheochem and 
Pedersen, each such other party in accordance with its terms, and neither 
Holding Company, Rheochem nor, to the Knowledge of Holding Company, Rheochem 
and Pedersen, any other party thereto is in material default or has failed to 
perform any material obligation thereunder.  Complete and correct copies of 
each Scheduled Contract have been delivered to Buyer.
         
      3.16 PERMITS; REQUIRED CONSENTS.
         
         (a) Rheochem has all material approvals, authorizations, 
certificates, consents, licenses, orders and permits or other similar 
authorizations of all Governmental Authorities (and all other Persons) 
necessary for the operation of the Business or Rheochem's assets in 
substantially the same manner as currently operated or affecting or relating 
in any way to the Business or such assets (the "Permits").
         
         (b) There is no Scheduled Contract with respect to which the consent 
of the other party or parties thereto must be obtained by Holding Company, 
Rheochem or Shareholders by virtue of the execution and delivery of this 
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to 
avoid the invalidity of the transfer of such Contract, the termination 
thereof, a breach or default thereunder or any other change or modification 
to the terms thereof. Each Permit is valid and in full force and effect in 
all material respects and none of the Permits will be terminated or become 
terminable or impaired in any material respect as a result of the 
transactions contemplated hereby.
         
      3.17 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. The operation of the Business has 
not violated or infringed, and does not violate or infringe, any Applicable 
Law, or any order, writ, injunction 

                                  13

<PAGE>

or decree of any Governmental Authority, except for violations and 
infringements, which, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a 
Material Adverse Effect.
      
      3.18. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS; CHANGE IN CONTROL; AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

         (a) SCHEDULE 3.18 sets forth all Benefit Plans and Benefit 
Arrangements of Holding Company and Rheochem used in connection with the 
Business.  Holding Company and Rheochem have made true and correct copies of 
all governing instruments and related agreements pertaining to such Benefit 
Plans and Benefit Arrangements available to Buyer.
         
         (b) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.18, neither Holding Company, 
Rheochem nor any ERISA Affiliates of either of them sponsors or has within 
the last five years sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or incurred an 
obligation to contribute to, any Employee Pension Benefit Plan.
         
         (c) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.18, no individual shall accrue 
or receive additional benefits, service or accelerated rights to payments of 
benefits under any Benefit Plan, including the right to receive any parachute 
payment, as defined in Section 280G of the Code, or become entitled to 
severance, termination allowance or similar payments as a direct result of 
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
         
         (d) No Employee Benefit Plan has participated in, engaged in or been 
a party to any non-exempt Prohibited Transaction, and neither Holding 
Company, Rheochem nor any ERISA Affiliates of either of them has had asserted 
against it any claim for taxes under Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code and 
Sections 5000 of the Code, or for penalties under ERISA Section 502(c), (i) 
or (l), with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan nor, to the Knowledge of 
Holding Company, Rheochem or Pedersen, is there a basis for any such claim.  
To the Knowledge of Pedersen, no officer, director or employee of Holding 
Company or Rheochem has committed a material breach of any responsibility or 
obligation imposed upon fiduciaries by Title I of ERISA with respect to any 
Employee Benefit Plan.

         (e) Other than routine claims for benefits, there is no claim 
pending or to the Knowledge of Holding Company or Rheochem threatened, 
involving any Benefit Plan by any Person against such plan or Holding Company 
or Rheochem or any ERISA Affiliate.  There is no pending, or to the Knowledge 
of Holding Company, Rheochem or Pedersen, threatened, proceeding involving 
any Employee Benefit Plan before the IRS, the United States Department of 
Labor or any other Governmental Authority.

         (f) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.18, each Benefit Plan has at 
all times prior hereto been maintained in all material respects, by its terms 
and in operation, in accordance with ERISA and the Code including, but not 
limited to, all applicable reporting and disclosure requirements.  Holding 
Company, Rheochem and each ERISA Affiliate have made full and timely payment 
of all amounts required to be contributed under the terms of each Benefit 
Plan and Applicable Law or required to be paid as expenses under such Benefit 
Plan, and Holding Company, Rheochem and each ERISA Affiliate shall continue 
to do so through the Closing.
         
         (g) With respect to any Group Health Plans maintained by Holding 
Company, Rheochem or its ERISA Affiliates, whether or not for the benefit of 
Holding Company, Rheochem or its ERISA Affiliates, Holding Company, Rheochem 
and its ERISA Affiliates have 

                               14

<PAGE>

complied in all material respects with the provisions of Part 6 of Title I of 
ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code. Neither Holding Company nor Rheochem is 
obligated to provide health care or life insurance benefits of any kind to 
its retired employees pursuant to any Employee Benefit Plan, including 
without limitation any Group Health Plan, or pursuant to any agreement or 
understanding.

      3.19 LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS.
      
         (a) No collective bargaining agreement exists that is binding on 
Holding Company or Rheochem and, to the Knowledge of Pedersen, no petition 
has been filed or proceedings instituted by an employee or group of employees 
with any labor relations board seeking recognition of a bargaining 
representative. 
         
         (b) (i) There is no labor strike, dispute, slow down or stoppage 
pending or, to the Knowledge of Holding Company, Rheochem or Pedersen, 
threatened against or directly affecting the Business, (ii) no grievance or 
arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining 
agreement is pending, and no claims therefor exist; and (iii) neither Holding 
Company, Rheochem nor Pedersen, nor any of their Affiliates has received any 
notice or has any Knowledge of any threatened labor or civil rights dispute, 
controversy or grievance or any other unfair labor practice proceeding or 
breach of contract claim or action with respect to claims of, or obligations 
to, any employee or group of employees of Holding Company or Rheochem.
         
         (c) Holding Company, Rheochem and its Affiliates have complied and 
are currently complying, in all material respects, in respect of all 
employees of Holding Company or Rheochem, with all Applicable Laws respecting 
employment and employment practices and the protection of the health and 
safety of employees.
         
         (d) All individuals who are performing or have performed services 
for Holding Company or Rheochem, or any Affiliate thereof and are or were 
classified by Holding Company, Rheochem or any Affiliate as "independent 
contractors" qualify for such classification under Section 530 of the Revenue 
Act of 1978 or Section 1706 of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, as applicable, 
except for such instances which are not, in the aggregate, material.
         
      3.20 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
      
         (a) SCHEDULE 3.20 sets forth a complete and correct list of each 
patent, patent application and docketed invention, trademark, trade name, 
trademark or tradename registration or application, copyright or copyright 
registration or application for copyright registration, and each license or 
licensing agreement for any of the foregoing relating to the Business or held 
by Holding Company or Rheochem (the "Intellectual Property Rights").
         
         (b) Neither Holding Company nor Rheochem has during the three years 
preceding the date of this Agreement been a party to any Proceeding, nor to 
the Knowledge of Holding Company or Rheochem is any Proceeding threatened as 
to which there is a reasonable possibility of a determination adverse to 
Holding Company or Rheochem that involved or may involve a claim of 
infringement by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) of any 
Intellectual Property Right.  No Intellectual Property Right is subject to 
any outstanding order, judgment, decree, stipulation or agreement restricting 
the use thereof by Holding Company or Rheochem, or restricting the licensing 
thereof by Holding Company or Rheochem to any Person.  To the Knowledge of 
Pedersen, the use of the Intellectual Property Rights does not conflict with, 
infringe upon or violate any patent, patent license,

                                    15  
<PAGE>

patent application, trademark, tradename, trademark or tradename 
registration, copyright, copyright registration, service mark, brand mark or 
brand name or any pending application relating thereto, or any trade secret, 
know-how, programs or processes, or any similar rights, of any Person.

                    3.21 ADVISORY FEES.  There is no investment banker, 
broker, finder or other intermediary or advisor that has been retained by or 
is authorized to act on behalf of Holding Company, Rheochem, Shareholders or 
their Affiliates who might be entitled to any fee, commission or 
reimbursement of expenses from Buyer or any of its Affiliates or any of their 
respective Associates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by 
this Agreement.

                    3.22 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.

                         (a)  Except as disclosed in the Environmental 
Report, Holding Company and Rheochem have obtained all approvals, 
authorizations, certificates, consents, licenses, orders and permits or other 
similar authorizations of all Governmental Authorities, or from any other 
Person, that are required under any Environmental Law.

                         (b)  Except as disclosed in the Environmental 
Report, Holding Company and Rheochem are in compliance in all respects with 
all terms and conditions of all approvals, authorizations, certificates, 
consents, licenses, orders and permits or other similar authorizations of all 
Governmental Authorities (and all other Persons) required under all 
Environmental Laws and is also in compliance in all respects with all other 
limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, requirements, schedules and 
timetables required or imposed under all Environmental Laws.

                         (c)  Except as disclosed in the Environmental 
Report, there are no past or present events, conditions, circumstances, 
activities, practices, incidents, actions, omissions or plans relating to or 
in any way affecting Holding Company, Rheochem or the Business that could 
reasonably be expected to prevent, or make more expensive, continued 
compliance with any Environmental Law by Buyer, Holding Company or Rheochem 
after the Closing, or that may give rise to any Environmental Liability, or 
otherwise form the basis of any claim, action, demand, suit, Proceeding, 
hearing, study or investigation (i) under any Environmental Law, (ii) based 
on or related to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, 
storage (including without limitation underground storage tanks), disposal, 
transport or handling, or the emission, discharge, release or threatened 
release of any Hazardous Substance, or (iii) resulting from exposure to 
workplace hazards.

                    3.23 INSURANCE.  The Buyer has received from Rheochem a 
list of all material insurance policies currently in force with respect to 
the Business.

                    3.24 TAX MATTERS.  Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.24:

                         (a)  Holding Company has timely filed all Tax 
Returns required to have been filed by it on or before the date hereof  
(taking into account all extensions heretofore granted) and has paid or 
accrued all Taxes shown thereon as owing.  All such Tax Returns are true, 
correct and complete in all material respects.  Holding Company is not 
currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any 
Tax Return.

                                      16
<PAGE>
                         
                         (b)  Holding Company  has not received any notice 
that the IRS or any other taxing authority has asserted against it any 
deficiency in Taxes or claim for additional Taxes in connection with any tax 
period, which deficiency or claim has not been paid in full.  Except for 
Liens arising from Taxes which are due but not yet payable, there are no 
Liens for Taxes on any assets of Holding Company.

                         (c)  Holding Company is not a party to an agreement 
extending the time within which to file any Tax Return or extending the 
statute of limitations for any period with respect to any Tax to which it is 
subject.  No claim has ever been made by any Taxing Authority in a 
jurisdiction in which Holding Company does not file Tax Returns that it is 
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

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

                         (e)  Holding Company has not been included in any 
consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return provided for under the laws of 
the United States, any state or locality with respect to Taxes for any 
taxable period for which the statute of limitations has not expired.

                         (f)  Holding Company has not made any material 
payments, and is not obligated to make any material payments, and is not a 
party to any agreement that would reasonably be expected to require it to 
make any material payments that are not deductible under Section 280G of the 
Code.

                         (g)  None of the assets of Holding Company 
constitutes tax-exempt bond financed property or tax-exempt use property, 
within the meaning of Section 168 of the Code. Holding Company is not a party 
to any "safe harbor lease" that is subject to the provisions of Section 
168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect prior to the Tax Reform 
Act of 1986.

                         (h)  Holding Company is not a party to any joint 
venture, partnership or other arrangement that is treated as a partnership 
for federal income Tax purposes.

                         (i)  Holding Company has no liability for Taxes of 
any other person (1) under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or 
any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), (2) as a transferee or 
successor of or to such person, (3) by contract with such other person or (4) 
otherwise.

                         (j)  No Shareholder is a "foreign person" within the 
meaning of Section 1445 (f)(3) of the Code or Treasury Regulation Section 
1.1445 - 2(b).

                    3.25 MATERIAL DISCLOSURES.  No statement, representation 
or warranty made by Holding Company, Rheochem, Pedersen or the other 
Shareholders in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement, list, 
schedule or other document furnished or to be furnished to Buyer hereunder 
contains, or when so furnished will contain, any untrue statement of a 
material fact, or fails to state, or when so furnished will fail to state, a 
material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, 
in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

                                      17
<PAGE>

                    
                    3.26 SUFFICIENCY OF AND TITLE TO ASSETS.  Rheochem has, 
and as of the Closing Date will have, title to, or the right to use, all 
assets, whether tangible or intangible, necessary to operate the Business as 
a going concern with all operations of the Business unimpaired in any 
material respect immediately after the Closing Date.

                    3.27 LONG-TERM DEBT.  Holding Company and Rheochem have, 
and as of the Closing Date will have, no long-term debt.


                                 ARTICLE IV

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

                    As an inducement to Shareholders to enter into this 
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein, Buyer 
hereby represents and warrants to Shareholders that:

                     4.01 ORGANIZATION AND EXISTENCE.  Buyer is a corporation 
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of 
the State of Delaware and has all corporate power and authority to enter into 
this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. 

                    4.02 CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION.  The execution, delivery 
and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by Buyer of 
the transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate powers of Buyer 
and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part 
of Buyer.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed by Buyer and 
constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Buyer, enforceable in 
accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, 
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' 
rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

                    4.03 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION.  The execution, delivery 
and performance by Buyer of this Agreement require no action by, consent or 
approval of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority.

                    4.04 NON-CONTRAVENTION.  The execution, delivery and 
performance by Buyer of this Agreement does not (a) contravene or conflict 
with the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Buyer, or (b) contravene 
or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Applicable 
Law binding upon or applicable to Buyer or (c) assuming receipt of the 
consent of Buyer's bank lenders, constitute a default under, or give rise to 
any termination, cancellation or acceleration of, or to a loss of any benefit 
to which Buyer is entitled under, any material contract or any material 
permit or authorization relating to Buyer or by which  Buyer may be bound.

                    4.05 ADVISORY FEES.  There is no investment banker, 
broker, finder or other intermediary or advisor that has been retained by or 
is authorized to act on behalf of Buyer who might be entitled to any fee, 
commission or reimbursement of expenses from Holding Company, Rheochem, 
Shareholders or any of their Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement.

                    4.06 LITIGATION.  There is no Proceeding pending against, 
or to the Knowledge of Buyer, threatened against or affecting, Buyer before 
any court or arbitrators or any governmental body, agency or official that in 
any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay 
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                      18
<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE V


               COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, HOLDING COMPANY AND 
                                 RHEOCHEM

                    5.01 CONDUCT OF THE BUSINESS; DISTRIBUTIONS.  From the 
date hereof until the Closing Date, Rheochem shall, and Pedersen in his 
capacity as President shall cause Rheochem to, conduct the Business in the 
ordinary course and in substantially the same manner as it has prior to the 
date of this Agreement and agrees, with respect to the Business and other 
than in the ordinary course of business, not to enter into any material 
agreements or take any other significant actions without the prior written 
consent of Buyer, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Rheochem shall 
use its reasonable efforts to preserve intact the Business and the business 
organizations and relationships and goodwill of  Rheochem with third parties 
and keep available the services of the present officers, employees, agents 
and other personnel of Rheochem. Without limiting the generality of the 
foregoing and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or 
otherwise agreed upon by Holding Company and Buyer, from the date hereof 
until the Closing Date:

                         (a)  Rheochem will, and Pedersen in his capacity as 
President will cause Rheochem to:

                              (i)  (A) maintain the assets of Rheochem in the 
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in good operating 
order and condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted, (B) promptly repair, 
restore or replace any assets of Rheochem in the ordinary course of business 
consistent with past practice, (C) upon any damage, destruction or loss to 
any of the assets of Rheochem, apply any and all insurance proceeds received 
with respect thereto to the prompt repair, replacement and restoration 
thereof to the condition of the assets of Rheochem before such event, (D) 
take all actions necessary to be in compliance with, and to maintain the 
effectiveness of, all material Permits;

                             (ii) comply with all material Applicable Laws;

                            (iii) promptly notify Buyer in writing of (A) any
action, event, condition or circumstance, or group of actions, events,
conditions or circumstances, that results in, or could reasonably be expected to
result in, a Material Adverse Effect, other than changes in general economic
conditions, (B) the commencement of any Proceeding by or against Rheochem,
Holding Company or Shareholders, or Holding Company, Rheochem or Shareholders
becoming aware of any threat, claim, action, suit, inquiry, proceeding, notice
of violation, demand letter, subpoena, government audit or disallowance that
could reasonably be expected to result in a Proceeding, and (C) the occurrence
of any breach by Rheochem, Holding Company or Shareholders of any representation
or warranty, or any covenant or agreement, contained in this Agreement.

                         (b)  Without Buyer's prior consent, Rheochem will 
not, and Pedersen in his capacity as President shall not permit Rheochem to, 
do any of the following and will not agree to:

                              (i)  purchase or otherwise acquire assets from 
any other Person other than in the ordinary course of the Business;

                                      19
<PAGE>


                             (ii) sell, assign, lease, license, transfer or 
otherwise dispose of, or mortgage, pledge or encumber (other than with 
Permitted Liens), any of the assets of Rheochem, including Leased Real 
Property, except in the ordinary course of the Business;

                            (iii) enter any agreement or arrangement that 
requires or allows payment, acceleration of payment or incurrence of 
Liabilities, or the rendering of services by Rheochem outside the ordinary 
course of the Business;

                             (iv) amend or modify in any material respect or 
terminate any Scheduled Contract or any other Contract entered into by 
Rheochem after the date hereof which, if in existence on the date hereof, 
would be required to be set forth in the SCHEDULE 3.15 as a Scheduled 
Contract (each, a "Subsequent Material Contract");

                              (v) make or commit to make any capital 
expenditure, or group of related capital expenditures, in excess of $25,000; 

                             (vi) enter into or commit or propose to enter 
into any Subsequent Material Contract;

                            (vii) make any distribution, dividend, bonus or 
other payment to any officer, director, stockholder or Affiliate of Rheochem 
or any of their respective Affiliates or Associates except for salary, 
benefit or lease payments in the ordinary course and due or to become due 
under arrangements in existence prior to January 1, 1997, except that 
Rheochem may pay Holding Company a management fee in the amount of $262,500, 
provided that if the Closing does not occur on or before April 30, 1997, 
Rheochem shall pay Buyer a management fee in the same amount on May 1, 1997;

                           (viii)  (A) create, incur, assume, or guarantee 
any indebtedness for borrowed money or (B) incur any Liability relating to a 
documentary or standby letter of credit, other than in each such case 
referred to in this clause (viii) in the ordinary course of the Business 
where the aggregate dollar amount of all of the foregoing by Rheochem does 
not exceed $10,000; and

                             (ix)  (A) increase the rate or terms of 
compensation payable or to become payable to its employees except in the 
ordinary course of business, (B) pay or agree to pay any pension, retirement 
allowance or other employee benefit not provided for by any Employee Benefit 
Plan, Benefit Arrangement or Employment Agreement set forth in the Schedules 
hereto, (C) commit itself to any additional pension, profit sharing, bonus, 
incentive, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock option, stock 
appreciation right, group insurance, severance pay, continuation pay, 
termination pay, retirement or other employee benefit plan, agreement or 
arrangement, or increase the rate or terms of any Employee Benefit Plan or 
Benefit Arrangement, (D) enter into any employment agreement with or for the 
benefit of any Person, or (E) increase the rate of compensation under or 
otherwise change the terms of any Employment Agreement set forth in SCHEDULE 
3.18. 

                    5.02 ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  Subject to compliance with 
Applicable Laws, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Rheochem will, 
and Pedersen will cause Rheochem to, and Holding Company and Pedersen will, 
promptly: (a) give Buyer and its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and 
other authorized representatives reasonable access to the offices, 
properties, books and records relating to Rheochem or the Business upon 
reasonable prior notice, (b) furnish to Buyer and its counsel, financial 
advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives such information 
relating to Rheochem or the

                                      20

<PAGE>

Business as Buyer may reasonably request and (c) instruct the directors, 
officers, employees, counsel, auditors and financial advisors of Rheochem, 
Holding Company and Shareholders to cooperate with Buyer and its counsel, 
financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives in their 
investigation of Rheochem or the Business.  Such investigation shall include, 
but shall not be limited to:
                    (i)   A business and financial performance review of the 
Business;
                    (ii)  A review of the financial statements and tax returns 
of Holding Company and Rheochem;
                    (iii) An environmental review as to the presence and nature 
of any hazardous materials in or on any real property owned or leased by 
Rheochem; and
                    (iv)  A standard legal due diligence examination relating 
to Holding Company, Rheochem and the Business.

          5.03 MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE POLICIES.  Between the date hereof and
the Closing Date, Rheochem shall not, and Pedersen shall cause Rheochem to not,
and Pedersen shall not, take or fail to take any action if such action or
inaction, as the case may be, would adversely affect the applicability of any
insurance in effect on the date hereof that covers all or any part of the assets
of Rheochem or the Business with respect to the period of time ending on the
Closing Date.

          5.04 CONFIDENTIALITY.

               (a)  Shareholders, Holding Company and Rheochem will, and will
cause their representatives to, treat any data and information obtained with
respect to Buyer or any of its Affiliates from any representative, officer,
director, or employee of Buyer, or from any books or records of Buyer in
connection with this Agreement, confidentially and with commercially reasonable
care and discretion, and will not disclose any such information to third
parties; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing shall not apply to
(i) information in the public domain or that becomes public through disclosure
by any party other than Shareholders, Holding Company, Rheochem or their
Affiliates or representatives, so long as such other party is not in breach of a
confidentiality obligation, (ii) information that is required to be disclosed by
Applicable Law, or (iii) any disclosure of such information in litigation
between the parties hereto in the course of such litigation.

               (b)  In the event that the Closing fails to take place and this
Agreement is terminated, Shareholders, Holding Company, and Rheochem upon the
written request of Buyer, will, and will cause their representatives to,
promptly deliver to Buyer any and all documents or other materials furnished by
Buyer or any of its Affiliates to Holding Company, Rheochem or Shareholders in
connection with this Agreement without retaining any copy thereof.  In the event
of such request, all other documents, whether analyses, compilations or studies,
that contain or otherwise reflect the information furnished by Buyer to Holding
Company, Rheochem or Shareholders, shall be destroyed by Holding Company,
Rheochem and Shareholders or shall be returned to Buyer, and Holding Company,
Rheochem and Pedersen on behalf of all Shareholders shall confirm to Buyer in
writing that all such materials have been returned or destroyed.  No failure or
delay by Buyer in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right,
power or privilege hereunder. 

                                       21

<PAGE>

               (c)  The parties hereto recognize and agree that in the event of
a breach of this Section 5.04, money damages would not be an adequate remedy to
Buyer or its Affiliates for such breach and, even if money damages were
adequate, it would be impossible to ascertain or measure with any degree of
accuracy the damages sustained therefrom.  Accordingly, if there should be a
breach or threatened breach of provisions of this Section 5.04, Buyer and its
Affiliates shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Holding Company,
Rheochem and Shareholders from any breach without showing or proving actual
damage sustained by Buyer or its Affiliates, as the case may be.  Nothing in the
preceding sentence shall limit or otherwise affect any remedies that Buyer and
its Affiliates may otherwise have under Applicable Law.

          5.05 TRANSACTIONS AFFECTING THE SHARES.  From the date hereof until
the Closing Date,  Shareholders will not (whether voluntarily or involuntarily,
and whether currently or prospectively) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of
any of the Shares, or create (or permit the creation of) any Share Encumbrance
on any of the Shares.

          5.06 CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS BY HOLDING COMPANY. On or prior to the
Closing Date, Holding Company shall, and Shareholders shall cause Holding
Company to:
               (a)  assign, transfer and convey to Rheochem (i) Holding
Company's entire right, title and interest in, to and under the lease agreement
dated October 31, 1996 between 180/188 Mt. Airy Road, L.L.C. and Holding Company
with respect to Holding Company's current administrative office, including,
without limitation, any related security deposit and the benefit of any prepaid
expenses, and (ii) Holding Company's entire right, title and interest in and to
all office equipment and related property now owned by Holding Company;

               (b)  distribute, as a dividend to Shareholders, (i) all cash,
cash equivalents, accounts and loans receivable remaining after the payment of
all salaries, bonuses, and other operating expenses of Holding Company for its
taxable year (or portion thereof) ending on the Closing Date and (ii) the 8%
Series A and Series B Subordinated Notes due 2003 of Astor Holdings, Inc. now
held by Holding Company; and

               (c)  pay, discharge or satisfy, or make provision for the
payment, discharge or satisfaction, of all liabilities of Holding Company.


                                 ARTICLE VI

                            COVENANTS OF BUYER

          6.01 CONFIDENTIALITY.

               (a)  Buyer will, and will cause its representatives to, treat any
data and information obtained with respect to Holding Company, Rheochem or
Shareholders from any representative, officer, director or employee of Holding
Company, Rheochem or Shareholders, or from any books or records of Holding
Company, Rheochem or Shareholders in connection with this

                                         22

<PAGE>

Agreement, confidentially and with commercially reasonable care and discretion,
and will not disclose any such information to third parties; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the foregoing shall not apply to  information in the public domain or that
becomes public through disclosure by any party other than Buyer or its
Affiliates or representatives, so long as such other party is not in breach of a
confidentiality obligation, (ii) information that is required to be disclosed by
Applicable Law,  (iii) any information that is disclosed by Buyer or its
Affiliates to any of their actual or prospective lenders or investors in
connection with financing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or
(iv) any information that is disclosed by Buyer after the Closing shall have
occurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event the Closing has occurred, this
Section 6.01(a) shall cease to be effective with respect to any data and
information obtained with respect to Holding Company and Rheochem.

               (b)  In the event that the Closing fails to take place and this
Agreement is terminated, Buyer, upon the written request of Holding Company or
Rheochem, will, and will cause its representatives to, promptly deliver to
Holding Company or Rheochem any and all documents or other materials furnished
by Holding Company, Rheochem or Shareholders to Buyer in connection with this
Agreement without retaining any copy thereof.  In the event of such request, all
other documents, whether analyses, compilations or studies, that contain or
otherwise reflect the information furnished by Holding Company, Rheochem or
Shareholders to Buyer, shall be destroyed by Buyer or shall be returned to
Holding Company, Rheochem or Shareholders, and Buyer shall confirm to Holding
Company, Rheochem and Shareholders in writing that all such materials have been
returned or destroyed.  No failure or delay by Holding Company, Rheochem or
Shareholders in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate
as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude
any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder. 

               (c)  The parties hereto recognize and agree that in the event of
a breach of this Section 6.01, money damages would not be an adequate remedy to
Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders for such breach and, even if money
damages were adequate, it would be impossible to ascertain or measure with any
degree of accuracy the damages sustained by Holding Company, Rheochem and
Shareholders therefrom.  Accordingly, if there should be a breach or threatened
breach of provisions of this Section 6.01, Holding Company, Rheochem and
Shareholders shall be entitled to an injunction restraining Buyer from any
breach without showing or proving actual damage sustained by Holding Company,
Rheochem and Shareholders.  Nothing in the preceding sentence shall limit or
otherwise affect any remedies that Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders
may otherwise have under Applicable Law.

          6.02 ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  Subject to compliance with Applicable
Laws, from the Closing Date until December 31, 2002, Buyer will, promptly: 
(a) furnish to Shareholders and their counsel, financial advisors, auditors and
other authorized representatives such information relating to Holding Company,
Rheochem or the Business as Shareholders may reasonably request in connection
with the preparation of Tax Returns and (b) instruct the directors, officers,
employees, counsel, auditors and financial advisors of Buyer to cooperate in all
reasonable respects with Shareholders and their counsel, financial advisors,
auditors and other authorized representatives in connection with the preparation
of Tax Returns.  After the Closing Date, in the event that Buyer intends to
destroy any documents that contain or otherwise reflect information in
connection with Holding Company, Rheochem or the Business for any period prior
to the Closing Date, Buyer will provide written notice to Shareholders of its
intention to destroy such documents and provide Shareholders with the
opportunity to request that such documents instead be delivered to Shareholders.
Any documents delivered to Shareholders pursuant to the preceding sentence shall
be held by Shareholders pursuant to Section 5.04.

                                        23

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII

                            COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES

          7.01 FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each party will use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or
desirable under Applicable Law to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.  Each party agrees to execute and deliver such documents,
certificates, agreements and other writings and to take such other actions as
may be reasonably necessary or desirable in order to consummate or implement
expeditiously the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Following the
Closing, Buyer shall make the records of Holding Company and Rheochem, and the
employees of Buyer, reasonably available to Shareholders, at no charge to
Shareholders other than for out of pocket expenses incurred by Buyer for items
such as photocopying or travel, for the purposes of providing accounting
information reasonably required by Shareholders, providing testimony or
information in connection with any legal proceeding or for any other appropriate
purpose arising out of Shareholders' ownership of the Shares.

          7.02 CERTAIN FILINGS.  The parties hereto shall cooperate with one
another in determining whether any action by or in respect of, or filing with,
any Governmental Authority is required or reasonably appropriate, or any action,
consent, approval or waiver from any party to any Contract is required or
reasonably appropriate, in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, in taking such actions or making any such filings, the parties hereto
shall furnish information required in connection therewith and seek timely to
obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers. 

          7.03 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS.  The parties agree to consult with each
other before issuing any press release or making any public statement with
respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and, except as
may be required by Applicable Law, will not issue any such public statement
prior to such consultation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties may, on
a confidential basis, advise and release information regarding the existence and
content of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to their
respective Affiliates or any of their agents, accountants, attorneys and
prospective lenders or investors in connection with or related to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation the
financing of such transactions.

          7.04 TAXES.

               (a)  All sales, use, registration, stamp and similar Taxes
imposed in connection with the sale of the Shares shall be borne by Buyer and
all transfer and similar Taxes imposed in connection with the sale of the Shares
shall be borne by Shareholders.  

               (b)  The Shareholders shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and,
except as set forth below, shall file or cause to be filed, all Tax Returns for
Holding Company for all taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date
which are due after the Closing Date.  Such Tax Returns shall be prepared in a
manner consistent with the past practices of Holding Company.  Any such Tax
Return which is required to be signed by or on behalf of Holding Company shall
be provided to the Buyer for execution and filing at least 5 business days prior
to the due date thereof.

               (c)  The Buyer shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or
cause to be filed all Tax Returns of Holding Company for taxable periods which
begin before the Closing Date and end after the Closing Date.  The Buyer shall
deliver, at least 30 days prior to the due date for filing any 

                                     24

<PAGE>

such Tax Return to which this Section 7.04(c) relates (including extensions), 
to the Shareholders a statement setting forth the amount of Tax allocated to 
the Shareholders pursuant to Section 7.04(f) hereof (the "Tax Statement") for 
such Tax Returns and copies of such Tax Returns.  Such Tax Returns shall be 
prepared in a manner consistent with the past practices of Holding Company.  
The Shareholders shall have the right to review such Tax Returns and the Tax 
Statement prior to the filing of such Tax Returns and to suggest to the Buyer 
any reasonable changes to such Tax Returns.

               If the Shareholders disagree with the Tax Statement, the
Shareholders and the Buyer agree to consult and to resolve in good faith any
issue arising as a result of the review of such Tax Returns and the Tax
Statement and to mutually consent to the filing of such Tax Returns as promptly
as possible.  In the event the parties are unable to resolve any dispute within
ten days following the delivery of such Tax Returns and the Tax Statement, such
dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.11
hereof.  If such dispute is not resolved within five Business Days prior to the
due date (including extensions) for the filing of the Tax Return in question,
then the Buyer may file such Tax Return on the due date (including extensions)
therefor without such determination having been made and without the
Shareholders' consent.  Notwithstanding the filing of such Tax Return, the
arbitrators appointed pursuant to Section 11.11 hereof shall make a
determination with respect to any disputed issue, and the amount of Taxes that
are allocated to the Shareholders pursuant to Section 7.04(f) hereof shall be as
determined by such arbitrators.

               (d)  Buyer shall have the exclusive authority and obligation
and shall be responsible for the correct and timely filing of all other Tax
Returns of Holding Company and Rheochem due to be filed or actually filed after
the Closing Date.  Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, the
determination of the manner in which any items of income, gain, deduction, loss
or credit arising out of the income, properties and operations of Holding
Company and Rheochem shall be reported or disclosed on such Tax Returns.

               (e)  Each of the Buyer, Holding Company, and the Shareholders 
shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by any other 
party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns pursuant to this Section 
7.04 and any audit, litigation, or other proceeding with respect to Taxes of 
the Company.  Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the 
other party's request) the provision of such records and information which 
are reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return, audit, litigation, or other 
proceeding.

               (f)  (i)  After giving effect to all payments in respect thereof
which have been made on or prior to the Closing Date,   Shareholders shall be
responsible and liable for, and hereby indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and
Holding Company for, any unpaid Taxes imposed on Holding Company for all periods
ending on or prior to the Closing Date, except to the extent such Taxes arise
out of or are related to transactions required to be undertaken pursuant to
Section 5.06 of this Agreement.   Shareholders shall be responsible and liable
for, and hereby indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and Rheochem for, 50% of all
Taxes imposed on Rheochem for all periods ending on or prior to December 31,
1996, except (i)  to the extent such Taxes arise out of or are related to
transactions required to be undertaken pursuant to Section 5.06 of this
Agreement and (ii) any Tax arising from an adjustment to the treatment of
management fees paid to Buyer by Rheochem; provided, however, that Shareholders
shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and Rheochem for 100% of any Tax
assessed as the result of an adjustment to the treatment of management fees paid
to Holding Company by Rheochem after such Tax is offset by the net tax benefit
that may inure to Holding Company as a result of such adjustment (it being
understood that it shall be the responsibility of Buyer to obtain such tax
benefit through the

                                         25

<PAGE>

appropriate action including the filing of amended tax returns and the like). 
In the case of any Taxes attributable to any taxable period of Holding 
Company that begins before and ends after the Closing Date, the allocable 
share of such Taxes for which the Shareholders shall be responsible under 
this Section 7.04(f)(i) shall not exceed the portion of such Taxes which 
relates to the part of such taxable period ending on the Closing Date. For 
purposes of this Section 7.04(f)(i), the portion of any such Taxes which 
relates to the part of such taxable period ending on the Closing Date shall 
(x) in the case of any Taxes other than Taxes based upon or related to income 
or receipts, be deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire taxable 
period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days 
in the taxable period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which 
is the number of days in the entire taxable period, and (y) in the case of 
any Tax based upon or related to income or receipts, be deemed equal to the 
amount of such Taxes which would have been payable if the relevant taxable 
period ended on the Closing Date. Any credits relating to a taxable period 
shall be taken into account as though the relevant taxable period ended on 
the Closing Date.

                    (ii) Buyer shall be responsible and liable for the timely 
payment of all other Taxes imposed on or with respect to the properties, 
income and operations of Holding Company and Rheochem, including, without 
limitation, any Tax Liability imposed as a result of any election made under 
Section 338 of the Code.

               (g)  (i)  Shareholders, at their election and sole expense, 
shall have the exclusive authority to represent Holding Company before any 
taxing authority or any court regarding the Tax consequences of the 
operations of Holding Company for all taxable periods ending on or prior to 
the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Shareholders shall not enter into 
any settlement of any contest or otherwise compromise any issue that 
materially affects the Tax Liability of Holding Company for any period 
beginning after the Closing Date without the prior written consent of Buyer 
which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Shareholders shall keep Buyer 
fully and timely informed with respect to the commencement, status and nature 
of any such administrative or judicial proceedings involving any Tax 
Liability of Holding Company.

                    (ii) Except as provided in Section 7.04(g)(i), Buyer 
shall have the sole right to control any audit or examination by any taxing 
authority, initiate any claim for refund or amend any Tax Return, and 
contest, resolve and defend against any assessment for additional Taxes, 
notice of Tax deficiency or other adjustment of Taxes of, or relating to, 
Holding Company or Rheochem; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to any 
audit or examination by any taxing authority regarding the Tax consequences 
of the operations of Holding Company for all periods ending on or prior to 
the Closing Date, Buyer shall notify Shareholders thereof and keep them 
reasonably informed.

                                 ARTICLE VIII

                             CONDITIONS TO CLOSING


                    8.01 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF BUYER. The obligation 
of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the 
satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

               (a)  (i)  Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders shall 
each have performed and satisfied in all material respects each of its 
material obligations hereunder required to be performed and satisfied by any 
of them on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) each of the representations and 
warranties of Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders contained in this 
Agreement shall have been true and correct in all material respects when made 
and shall contain no misstatement or 

                                       26


<PAGE>


omission that would make any such representation or warranty materially 
misleading when made and shall be true and correct in all material respects, 
and shall not contain any misstatement or omission that would make any such 
representation or warranty materially misleading, at and as of the Closing 
Date with the same force and effect as if made as of the Closing Date, and 
(iii) Buyer shall have received certificates signed by Shareholders and duly 
authorized executive officers of Holding Company and Rheochem to the 
foregoing effect and to the effect that to the Knowledge of such officers the 
conditions specified within this Section 8.01 have been satisfied.

                    (b)  Since the date hereof, there shall not have been any 
event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts or change 
in Holding Company, Rheochem or the Business (including any damage, 
destruction or other casualty loss, but excluding any event, occurrence, 
development or state of circumstances or facts or change resulting from 
changes in general economic conditions) affecting Holding Company, Rheochem 
or the Business that has had or that may be reasonably expected to have, 
either alone or together with all such events, occurrences, developments, 
states of circumstances or facts or changes, a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (c)  Thomas C. Pedersen shall have executed and delivered 
to Buyer an Employment Agreement in the form previously agreed by Pedersen 
and Buyer.

                    (d)  Buyer shall have received an opinion of Whitman 
Breed Abbott & Morgan, counsel to Holding Company, Rheochem and Shareholders, 
in a form reasonably acceptable to Buyer.

                    (e)  Buyer shall be reasonably satisfied that there has 
been no material degradation of the assets of Rheochem since the completion 
by Buyer of its inspection of the assets of Rheochem.

                    (f)  Buyer shall have completed its customary due 
diligence as contemplated by Section 5.02(c) and Buyer shall be satisfied, in 
its reasonable judgment, with both the quantity and the substance of the 
information provided to it.

                    (g)  As of the Closing Date, there shall exist no Liens 
on any assets of Rheochem, other than Permitted Liens, nor any Share 
Encumbrances.

                    (h)  Buyer shall have received the consent of its bank 
lenders to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.


               8.02 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF SHAREHOLDERS. The obligation 
of Shareholders to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject 
to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

                    (a)  (i)  Buyer shall have performed and satisfied in all 
material respects each of its material obligations hereunder required to be 
performed and satisfied by it on or prior to the Closing Date, and the 
aggregate effect of all failures to perform or satisfy all obligations of 
Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date shall not be materially adverse to 
Shareholders; (ii) the representations and warranties of Buyer contained in 
this Agreement shall be true, complete and accurate in all material respects 
at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date and (iii) 
Shareholders shall have received a certificate signed by a duly authorized 
executive officer of Buyer to the foregoing effect and to the effect that to 
such officer's Knowledge the conditions specified within this Section 8.02 
have been satisfied.

                                       27


<PAGE>


                    (b)  The sale and transfer contemplated by this Agreement 
and the consummation of the Closing shall not violate any Applicable Law. No 
temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, cease and 
desist order or other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or 
any competent Governmental Authority or any other legal restraint or 
prohibition preventing the transfer and exchange contemplated hereby or the 
consummation of the Closing, or imposing Damages in respect thereto, shall be 
in effect, and there shall be no pending or threatened actions or proceedings 
by any Governmental Authority (or determinations by any Governmental 
Authority) or by any other Person challenging or in any manner seeking to 
restrict or prohibit the transfer and exchange contemplated hereby or the 
consummation of the Closing.

                    (c)  Buyer shall have executed and delivered to Thomas C. 
Pedersen, an Employment Agreement in the form previously agreed by Pedersen 
and Buyer.

                    (d)  Shareholders shall have received an opinion of Kevin 
A. Quinn, Esq., General Counsel of Buyer, in a form reasonably acceptable to 
Shareholders.

                                       
                                  ARTICLE IX

                               INDEMNIFICATION


               9.01 AGREEMENT TO INDEMNIFY.

                    (a)  Subject to the limitations provided herein, Buyer 
and its Affiliates (collectively, the "Buyer Indemnitees") shall each be 
indemnified and held harmless to the extent set forth in this Article IX on a 
joint and several basis by Shareholders in respect of any Damages reasonably 
and proximately incurred by any Buyer Indemnitee (i) as a result of any 
inaccuracy or misrepresentation in or breach of or failure to perform any 
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation of Holding 
Company, Rheochem or Shareholders in this Agreement or (ii) in connection 
with any Environmental Liability.

                    (b)  Shareholders and their Affiliates (collectively the 
"Shareholder Indemnitees") shall each be indemnified and held harmless to the 
extent set forth in this Article IX by Buyer in respect of any and all 
Damages reasonably and proximately incurred by any Shareholder Indemnitee as 
a result of (i) any inaccuracy or misrepresentation in or breach of or 
failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or 
obligation of Buyer in this Agreement or (ii) Rheochem's  or Buyer's conduct 
of the Business after the Closing.

                    (c)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer Indemnitees may 
not seek indemnification hereunder from Shareholders unless and until the 
claims in the aggregate exceed $100,000, provided that if such threshold is 
exceeded, Buyer Indemnitees may seek indemnification hereunder for any and 
all claims subject to a one-time deductible in the amount of $10,000. This 
Section 9.01(c) shall not apply to indemnification claims relating to 
Sections 3.01, 3.06, 3.21, and 7.04, which will be fully indemnified by 
Shareholders.

                    (d)  From and after the Closing Date, Holding Company and 
Rheochem shall have no liability to Shareholders for contribution or 
reimbursement due to, or other Damages arising out of, liability incurred by 
Shareholders pursuant to Section 9.01(a) notwithstanding the fact that the


                                       28


<PAGE>


representations and warranties of Holding Company, Rheochem and 
Shareholders in Article III and the covenants of Holding Company, Rheochem 
and Shareholders in Article V are joint and several.


               9.02 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.

                    (a)  Except as hereinafter provided in this Section 9.02, 
all representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and obligations of 
each Indemnifying Party contained herein and all claims of any Indemnitee in 
respect of any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or 
obligation of any Indemnifying Party contained in this Agreement, shall 
survive the Closing and shall expire on the second anniversary of the Closing 
Date.

                    (b)  Notwithstanding Section 9.02(a) the representations, 
warranties, covenants, agreements and obligations of Shareholders as 
Indemnifying Parties shall survive the Closing Date until the expiration of 
any applicable statute of limitations, including extensions thereof with 
respect to: (i) the inaccuracy or misrepresentation in or breach of any 
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Shareholders in this 
Agreement arising out of fraud or willful misconduct; (ii) any inaccuracy or 
misrepresentation in or breach of any representation or warranty made in 
Sections 3.22 and 3.24 regardless of whether such inaccuracy or 
misrepresentation or breach arises out of fraud or willful misconduct; and 
(iii) the breach or failure to perform by Shareholders after the Closing Date 
of any of the covenants, agreements or obligations of such Person contained 
in this Agreement.

                    (c)  Notwithstanding Section 9.02(a), each of the 
following representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and obligations 
of Buyer as an Indemnifying Party shall survive the Closing Date until the 
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, including extensions 
thereof:  (i) any inaccuracy or misrepresentation in or breach of any 
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Buyer in this 
Agreement arising out of fraud or willful misconduct; and (ii) the breach or 
failure to perform by Buyer after the Closing Date of any of the covenants, 
agreements or obligations of such Person contained in this Agreement.

                    (d)  Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the 
contrary, in the case of any Damages (i) incurred by any Buyer Indemnitee (A) 
as a result of any inaccuracy in or breach of or failure to perform any 
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation of or concerning 
Rheochem or the Business in this Agreement or (B) in connection with any 
Environmental Liability of Rheochem and (ii) not arising out of Shareholders' 
fraud or willful misconduct, the liability of Shareholders under Section 
9.01(a) shall be limited to one-half of the amount of such Damages and in no 
event shall Shareholders' aggregate liability for such Damages exceed 
one-half of the Purchase Price.

                    (e)  Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the 
contrary, no Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this 
Article IX in respect of any Damages that result solely from the negligence 
or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

               9.03 CLAIMS FOR INDEMNIFICATION. If any Indemnitee shall 
believe that such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this 
Article IX in respect of any Damages, such Indemnitee shall give the 
appropriate Indemnifying Party prompt written notice thereof. Any such 
notice shall set forth in reasonable detail and to the extent then known the 
basis for such claim for indemnification. The failure of such Indemnitee to 
give notice of any claim for indemnification promptly shall not adversely 
affect such Indemnitee's right to indemnity hereunder except to the extent


                                       29


<PAGE>

that such failure materially adversely affects the right of the Indemnifying 
Party to assert any reasonable defense to such claim.  Each such claim for 
indemnity shall expressly state that the Indemnifying Party shall have only 
the 30-day period referred to in the next sentence to dispute or deny such 
claim.  The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days following its receipt of 
such notice either (a) to acquiesce in such claim by giving such Indemnitee 
written notice of such acquiescence or (b) to object to the claim by giving 
such Indemnitee written notice of the objection.  If the Indemnifying Party 
does not object thereto within such 30-day period, such Indemnitee shall be 
entitled to be indemnified for all Damages reasonably and proximately 
incurred by such Indemnitee in respect of such claim.  If the Indemnifying 
Party objects to such claim in a timely manner, and such Indemnitee and the 
Indemnifying Party are unable to resolve their dispute within 30 days 
following such objection (or such additional period of time as may be 
mutually agreed to by such Persons), the claim shall be submitted immediately 
to arbitration pursuant to Section 11.11.

         9.04 DEFENSE OF CLAIMS.

              (a)  In connection with any claim which may give rise to 
indemnity under this Article IX resulting from or arising out of any claim or 
Proceeding against an Indemnitee by a Person that is not a party hereto, the 
Indemnifying Party may, subject to Section 9.04(b), assume the defense of any 
such claim or Proceeding (unless such Indemnitee elects not to seek indemnity 
hereunder for such claim), upon written notice to the relevant Indemnitee, if 
all Indemnifying Parties with respect to such claim or Proceeding jointly 
acknowledge to the Indemnitee its right to indemnity pursuant hereto in 
respect of the entirety of such claim (as such claim may have been modified 
through written agreement of the parties or arbitration hereunder) and 
provides assurances, reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee, that the 
Indemnifying Parties will be financially able to satisfy such claim in full 
if such claim or Proceeding is decided adversely.  Prior to the assumption by 
an Indemnifying Party of the defense of any claim or Proceeding, the 
Indemnitee may make such appearances and filings with respect thereto as the 
Indemnitee reasonably determines to be necessary or appropriate.  If the 
Indemnifying Parties assume the defense of any such claim or Proceeding, the 
Indemnifying Parties shall select counsel reasonably acceptable to such 
Indemnitee to conduct the defense of such claim or Proceeding, shall take all 
steps necessary in the defense or settlement thereof and shall at all times 
diligently and promptly pursue the resolution thereof.  If the Indemnifying 
Parties shall have assumed the defense of any claim or Proceeding in 
accordance with this Section 9.04, the Indemnifying Parties shall be 
authorized to consent to a settlement of, or the entry of any judgment 
arising from, any such claim or Proceeding, without the prior written consent 
of such Indemnitee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Indemnifying Parties shall 
pay or cause to be paid all amounts arising out of such settlement or 
judgment concurrently with the effectiveness thereof; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that 
the Indemnifying Parties shall not be authorized to encumber any of the 
assets of any Indemnitee or to agree to any restriction that would apply to 
any Indemnitee or to its conduct of business; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that a 
condition to any such settlement shall be a complete release of such 
Indemnitee and its Affiliates, officers, employees, consultants and agents 
with respect to such claim.  Subject to Section 9.04(b), such Indemnitee 
shall be entitled to participate in (but not control) the defense of any such 
action, with its own counsel and at its own expense.  Each Indemnitee shall, 
and shall cause each of its Affiliates, officers, employees, consultants and 
agents to, cooperate fully with the Indemnifying Parties in the defense of 
any claim or Proceeding being defended by the Indemnifying Parties pursuant 
to this Section 9.04.  If the Indemnifying Parties do not assume the defense 
of any claim or Proceeding resulting therefrom in accordance with the terms 
of this Section 9.04(a), such Indemnitee may defend against such claim or 
Proceeding.


              (b)  Notwithstanding Section 9.04(a), the Indemnifying Parties 
may not assume the defense of any claim or Proceeding and the Indemnitee may 
assume such defense if, in the


                                      30

<PAGE>

reasonable opinion of the Indemnitee, (i) such claim or Proceeding involves 
an issue or matter that, if determined adversely to the Indemnitee, is likely 
to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, 
properties or prospects of the Indemnitee, or (ii) there is one or more legal 
defenses available to the Indemnitee that conflict with those available to an 
Indemnifying Party.  If the Indemnitee assumes defense of any such claim or 
Proceeding, (A) the Indemnifying Parties may participate in, but not control, 
the defense of such claim or Proceeding, and (B) if the Indemnitee receives a 
settlement proposal from the Person asserting such claim or instituting such 
Proceeding and is notified by an Indemnifying Party that such Indemnifying 
Party wants to accept such settlement proposal, the liability of the 
Indemnifying Parties with respect to such claim or Proceeding shall equal the 
lesser of (x) the amount offered in such settlement proposal, (y) the amount 
of actual Damages of the Indemnitee with respect to such claim or Proceeding 
or (z) the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Parties pursuant to Section 
9.02(d).

              (c)  If the Indemnitee elects to defend any claim or Proceeding 
pursuant to the last sentence of Section 9.04(a) or pursuant to Section 
9.04(b), the Indemnitee shall conduct such defense in such manner as it shall 
deem appropriate, including settling such claim or Proceeding after giving 
notice of the same to the Indemnifying Parties, on such terms as such 
Indemnitee shall deem appropriate.  If the Indemnifying Parties seek to 
question the manner in which such Indemnitee defended such claim or 
Proceeding or the amount of or nature of any such settlement, the 
Indemnifying Parties shall have the burden to prove by a preponderance of the 
evidence that such Indemnitee did not defend such claim or Proceeding in a 
reasonably prudent manner.

              (d)  This Section 9.04 shall in no way limit the rights of 
Shareholders under Section 7.04(g)(i).

                                  ARTICLE X

                                 TERMINATION

         10.01 GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be terminated at 
any time prior to the Closing:

               (a)  by mutual written agreement of all of the parties hereto;

               (b)  by Buyer at any time following the expiration of 15 days 
from the date that Buyer has given notice to Shareholders of any one or more 
inaccuracies or misrepresentations in or breaches of the representations or 
warranties made by Holding Company, Rheochem or Shareholders contained herein 
that, if not cured prior to the Closing Date, would give Buyer grounds not to 
close under Section 8.01 when taken into account with all other uncured 
inaccuracies or misrepresentations in or breaches of such representations or 
warranties as to which Buyer shall have given notice to Shareholders as 
provided in this clause (b); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no termination under 
this clause (b) shall take effect if such inaccuracies, misrepresentations or 
breaches shall have been cured in all material respects within such 15-day 
period;

               (c)  by Buyer at any time following the expiration of 15 days 
from the date that Buyer has given written notice to Shareholders of the 
failure by Holding Company, Rheochem or Shareholders to perform and satisfy 
in any material respect any of their respective material obligations under 
this Agreement required to be performed and satisfied by Holding Company, 
Rheochem or Shareholders on or prior to the Closing Date, or the failure to 
perform and satisfy any other obligations of Holding Company, Rheochem or 
Shareholders under this Agreement if the aggregate of all such other


                                      31

<PAGE>

failures shall be material; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no termination under this 
clause (c) shall take effect if such breaches or failures shall have been 
cured in all material respects within such 15-day period;

               (d)  by Shareholders at any time following the expiration of 
15 days from the date that Shareholders have given written notice to Buyer of 
any one or more material inaccuracies or material misrepresentations in or 
material breaches of the representations or warranties made by Buyer herein 
which, if not cured prior to the Closing Date, have had or could be 
reasonably expected to give Shareholders grounds not to close under Section 
8.02 when taken into account with all other uncured inaccuracies or 
misrepresentations in or breaches of such representations or warranties as to 
which Shareholders shall have given notice to Buyer as provided in this 
clause (d); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no termination under this clause (d) 
shall take effect if such breaches shall have been cured in all material 
respects within such 15-day period; 

               (e)  by Shareholders at any time following the expiration of 
15 days from the date that Shareholders have given written notice to Buyer of 
Buyer's failure to perform and satisfy in any material respect any of its 
material obligations under this Agreement required to be performed and 
satisfied by Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date, or the failure to perform 
and satisfy any other obligations of Buyer under this Agreement if the 
aggregate of all such other failures shall be material; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, 
that no termination under this clause (e) shall take effect if Buyer shall 
have cured such breaches or failures in all material respects within such 
15-day period;

               (f)  by any party hereto, if the Closing shall not have been 
consummated by May 31, 1997 (the "Outside Date"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no 
party may terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause (f) if the Closing 
shall not have been consummated within such time period by reason of the 
failure of such party or any of its Affiliates to perform in all material 
respects any of its or their respective covenants or agreements contained in 
this Agreement; and

               (g)  by any party hereto if any Federal, state or foreign law 
or regulation thereunder shall hereafter be enacted or become applicable that 
makes the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of the Closing 
illegal or otherwise prohibited, or if any judgment, injunction, order or 
decree enjoining either party hereto from consummating the transactions 
contemplated hereby is entered, and such judgment, injunction, order or 
decree shall become final and nonappealable.

         The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to clauses 
(b) through (g) shall give written notice of such termination to the other 
party.

              10.02  EFFECT OF TERMINATION.  If this Agreement is terminated 
as permitted by Section 10.01, such termination shall be without liability of 
any party to any other party to this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if 
such termination shall result from the breach by any party of its 
representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, such 
party shall be fully liable for any and all Damages incurred or suffered by 
the other parties as a result of such failure or breach notwithstanding such 
termination.  The provisions of Sections 5.04, 6.01, 10.02, 11.01, 11.03, 
11.05 11.07, 11.08, 11.10, 11.11 and 11.12 shall survive any termination of 
this Agreement pursuant to Article X.


                                      32

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XI

                                MISCELLANEOUS

              11.01  NOTICES.  All notices, requests, demands, claims and 
other communications hereunder shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, 
demand, claim, or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given 
(i) if personally delivered, when so delivered, (ii) if mailed, two Business 
Days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt 
requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set 
forth below, (iii) if given by telex or telecopier, once such notice or other 
communication is transmitted to the telex or telecopier number specified 
below and the appropriate answer back or telephonic confirmation is received, 
PROVIDED that such notice or other communication is promptly thereafter 
mailed in accordance with the provisions of clause (ii) above or (iv) if sent 
through an overnight delivery service in circumstances in which such service 
guarantees next day delivery, the day following being so sent:

      If to Shareholders:

      Thomas C. Pedersen, as
      Shareholder Representative
      180 Mt. Airy Road, Suite 202
      Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

      If to Holding Company:

      Rheochem, Incorporated
      180 Mt. Airy Road, Suite 202
      Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
      Attn: Mr. Thomas C. Pedersen
      Telecopier No.:  (908) 630-9696

      If to Rheochem:

      Rheochem Technologies, Inc.
      180 Mt. Airy Road, Suite 202
      Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
      Attn: Mr. Thomas C. Pedersen
      Telecopier No.:  (908) 630-9696

      with a copy of any notice to Shareholders, Holding Company or Rheochem to:

      Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan
      200 Park Avenue
      New York, NY 10166
      Attn:  Brian L. Sullivan, Esq.
      Telecopier No.:  (212) 351-3131


                                      33

<PAGE>

      If to Buyer:
      Astor Corporation
      8521 Six Forks Road, Suite 105
      Raleigh, NC 27615
      Attn:  Mr. Boyd D. Wainscott
      Telecopier No:  (919) 846-8283

      with a copy to:

      Aurora Capital Partners L.P.
      10th Floor
      1800 Century Park East
      Los Angeles, California 90067
      Attn:  Mr. W. Montague Yort
      Telecopier No:  310-277-5591

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

         11.02 AMENDMENTS; NO WAIVERS.

               (a)  Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived 
if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the 
case of an amendment, by all parties hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by 
the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

               (b)  No waiver by a party of any default, misrepresentation or 
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall 
be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or 
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights 
arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent occurrence.  No failure or delay 
by a party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall 
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof 
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other 
right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be 
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

         11.03 EXPENSES.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and 
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the 
party incurring such cost or expense.  Without limiting the generality of the 
foregoing, the Shareholders shall pay the fees and expenses of all legal, 
accounting and other fees and expenses incurred by the Shareholders, Holding 
Company and/or Rheochem prior to the Closing Date in connection with the 
negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

         11.04 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement shall be binding upon 
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective 
successors and permitted assigns.  No party hereto may assign either this 
Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without 
the prior written approval of each other party, which approval shall not be 
unreasonably withheld.


                                      34

<PAGE>

                    11.05     GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be 
construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws (without 
reference to choice or conflict of laws) of the State of New York.

                    11.06     COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS.  This Agreement 
may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an 
original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were 
upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each 
party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other 
parties hereto.

                    11.07     ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement (including 
the Schedules and Exhibit referred to herein which are hereby incorporated by 
reference) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect 
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, 
understandings and negotiations, both written and oral, between the parties 
with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.  Neither this Agreement 
nor any provision hereof is intended to confer upon any Person other than the 
parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

                    11.08     CAPTIONS.  The captions herein are included for 
convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or 
interpretation hereof.  All references to an Article or Section include all 
subparts thereof.

                    11.09     SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this 
Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person, place or circumstance, 
shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, 
unenforceable or void, the remainder of this Agreement and such provisions as 
applied to other Persons, places and circumstances shall remain in full force 
and effect only if, after excluding the portion deemed to be unenforceable, 
the remaining terms shall provide for the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated hereby in substantially the same manner as originally set forth 
at the later of the date this Agreement was executed or last amended.

                    11.10     CONSTRUCTION.

                              (a)  The language used in this Agreement will 
be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their 
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against 
either party.  Any reference to any Applicable Law shall be deemed also to 
refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context 
requires otherwise. Whenever required by the context, any gender shall 
include any other gender, the singular shall include the plural and the 
plural shall include the singular. The words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder," 
and words of similar import refer to the Agreement as a whole and not to a 
particular section.  Whenever the word "including" is used in this Agreement, 
it shall be deemed to mean "including, without limitation," "including, but 
not limited to" or other words of similar import such that the items 
following the word "including" shall be deemed to be a list by way of 
illustration only and shall not be deemed to be an exhaustive list of 
applicable items in the context thereof.

                              (b)  The parties hereto intend that each 
representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein shall have 
independent significance.  If any party has breached any representation, 
warranty or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there 
exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same 
subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the 
party has not breached shall not detract from or mitigate the fact that the 
party is in breach of the first representation, warranty or covenant.

                               35

<PAGE>

                    11.11     ARBITRATION OF CLAIMS.

                              (a)  Except as otherwise specifically provided 
elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute or difference between or among the 
parties arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated 
hereby, including, without limitation, any dispute between any Indemnitee and 
any Indemnifying Party under Article IX which the parties are unable to 
resolve themselves, shall be submitted to and resolved by arbitration 
pursuant to and in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the 
American Arbitration Association in effect on the date of the initial request 
that gave rise to the dispute to be arbitrated (the "AAA Rules").

                              (b)  Such arbitration shall be conducted by a 
panel of three arbitrators, which shall be selected from a list of 
arbitrators pursuant to and in accordance with the AAA Rules.  Such 
arbitration proceeding shall be conducted in the Borough of Manhattan, The 
City of New York.  The arbitrators shall not have the authority to modify any 
term or provision of this Agreement. The arbitration proceeding shall include 
an opportunity for the parties to conduct discovery in advance of the 
proceeding, which discovery may be limited by rules established by the 
arbitrators.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that they will 
attempt, and they intend that they and the arbitrators should use their best 
efforts in that attempt, to conclude such arbitration proceeding and have a 
final decision from the arbitrators within 90 days from the date of selection 
of the arbitrators; provided, however, that the arbitrators shall be entitled 
to extend such 90-day period one or more times to the extent necessary for 
such arbitrators to place a dollar value on any claim that may be 
unliquidated.  The arbitrators shall promptly deliver a written decision with 
respect to the dispute to each of the parties, which shall promptly act in 
accordance therewith.  Each party agrees that any decision of the arbitrators 
shall be final, conclusive and binding, absent fraud or manifest error, and 
that they will not contest any action by any other party hereto in accordance 
with a decision of the arbitrators, except on a basis of fraud or manifest 
error.  It is specifically understood and agreed that any party may enforce 
any award rendered pursuant to the arbitration provisions of this Section 
11.11 by bringing suit in any court of competent jurisdiction.

                              (c)  All fees, costs and expenses (including 
attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by the party that prevails in any such 
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11.11 or any judicial action 
or proceeding seeking to enforce the agreement to arbitrate disputes as set 
forth in this Section 11.11 or seeking to enforce any order or award of any 
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11.11 may be assessed against 
the party or parties that do not prevail in such arbitration in such manner 
as the arbitrators or the court in such judicial action, as the case may be, 
may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances.  All costs and 
expenses attributable to the arbitrators shall be allocated among the parties 
to the arbitration in such manner as the arbitrators shall determine to be 
appropriate under the circumstances.

                    11.12     CUMULATIVE REMEDIES.  The rights, remedies, 
powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any 
rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

                    11.13     THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  No provision of 
this Agreement shall create any third party beneficiary rights in any Person, 
including any employee of Buyer or employee or former employee of Holding 
Company, Rheochem or any Affiliate thereof (including any beneficiary or 
dependent thereof).

                                     36

<PAGE>

                    11.14     SHAREHOLDERS' REPRESENTATIVE.  By execution 
hereof, each Shareholder appoints and designates Pedersen as his or her 
representative under this Agreement, who shall be authorized and empowered to 
act for each Shareholder under this Agreement, including, without limitation, 
to represent each Shareholder at the Closing, and in connection with all 
transactions contemplated hereby.  In such capacity, Pedersen shall have no 
liability as such to Buyer unless Buyer suffers any loss, damage or expense 
as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Pedersen in his 
capacity as Shareholder's representative.

                                   37

<PAGE>

                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this 
Agreement or caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective 
authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.

                                           /s/ Thomas C. Pedersen
                                        ----------------------------------
                                               Thomas C. Pedersen

                                           /s/ Susan R. Spingler
                                        ----------------------------------
                                               Susan R. Spingler

                                          /s/ Thomas R. Pedersen
                                        ----------------------------------
                                              Thomas R. Pedersen

                                          /s/ Jean R. Pedersen
                                        ----------------------------------
                                              Jean R. Pedersen

                                          /s/ Thomas C. Pedersen
                                        ----------------------------------
                                            Thomas C. Pedersen, as Custodian for
                                            Rachel A. Pedersen, a Minor

                                         /s/ Thomas C. Pedersen
                                        ----------------------------------
                                            Thomas C. Pedersen, as Custodian for
                                            Thomas A. Pedersen, a Minor

                                         /s/ Thomas C. Pedersen
                                        ----------------------------------
                                            Thomas C. Pedersen, as Custodian for
                                            Peter S. Pedersen, a Minor

                                         /s/ Ellen K. Hedden
                                        ----------------------------------
                                             Ellen K. Hedden

                                        RHEOCHEM, INCORPORATED
                         
                                        By:  /s/ Thomas C. Pedersen
                                            ------------------------------
                                        Name:  Thomas C. Pedersen
                                        Title: President

                                        RHEOCHEM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                        By:  /s/ Thomas C. Pedersen
                                            ------------------------------
                                        Name:    Thomas C. Pedersen
                                        Title:   President


                                        ASTOR CORPORATION

                                        By:  /s/ Boyd D. Wainscott
                                            ------------------------------
                                        Name:     Boyd D. Wainscott
                                        Title:    Chairman and Chief Executive 
                                                  Officer

<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT A
                                           


                         Number of Shares
Name of Shareholder      of Common Stock     Certificate No.      Purchase Price
- -------------------      ----------------    ---------------      --------------
Thomas C. Pedersen            1,290          1 & 12                $9,573,157.89
Susan R. Spingler               330          7 & 23                 2,448,947.37
Thomas R. Pedersen              150          17                     1,113,157.89
Jean R. Pedersen                 30          8, 15 & 18               222,631.58
Thomas A. Pedersen               30          9, 16 & 19               222,631.58
Rachel A. Pedersen               30          6, 13 & 20               222,631.58
Peter S. Pedersen                30          14, 21 & 22              222,631.58
Ellen K. Hedden                  10          10                        74,210.53
                              -----                               --------------
        Total                 1,900                               $14,100,000.00

                                      Per Share Price - $7,421.05 per share

                                       39






















                          Disclosure Schedules

                                    to

                          Stock Purchase Agreement

                 between the Shareholders of Rheochem, Inc.

                              as Sellers, and

                          Astor Corporation, as Buyer

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


<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE 3.11(a)

                                   REAL PROPERTY


For legal description see attached copies of Special Warranty Deed dated 
March 31, 1993 and Trustees' Deed dated August 21, 1995.


                                  LEASED REAL PROPERTY


2,064 square feet on the 2nd floor of Mount Airy Corners III, 180 Mount Airy 
Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey.


                                  SCHEDULE 3.11(b)

                               PERSONAL PROPERTY LEASES



                                         None




                                  SCHEDULE 3.12

                             TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES


None, except as disclosed in the notes to the 1996 financial statements of 
Holding Company and Rheochem or as otherwise agreed upon between Holding 
Company, Rheochem, Shareholders and Buyer.


                                  SCHEDULE 3.14

                                    LITIGATION


GRANVILLE GROGAN V. RHEOCHEM MANUFACTURING, INC., Case No., 95CC061456 
(Circuit Court of Boone Country, Missouri).  Suit for personal injuries to 
truck driver of a Rheochem vendor.  Alleges damages of $1 million.

<PAGE>

Potential claim of Colonial Plastics of Tampa, Florida, or its trustee in 
bankruptcy.  Rheochem received possibly preferential payments within 60 days 
of customer's filing for Chapter 11 protection. Payments totalled 
approximately $38,000.


                                  SCHEDULE 2.15

                                 SCHEDULE CONTRACTS


Lease, dated October 31, 1996, between 180/188 Mt. Airy Road, L.L.C., 
Landlord, and Rheochem, Inc., Tenant.

Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1992, between Rheochem 
Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Fred H. Durrenberger.

Employment Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1996, between Rheochem 
Technologies, Inc. and Robert R. Kwapisz.

Representative Agreement, dated April 15, 1986, and Amendment, dated 
February 25, 1988, among Rheochem Manufacturing Company, Inc., Rheochem Inc. 
and Anderson and Company.

Representative Agreement, dated December 20, 1985, and Amendment, dated 
February 25, 1988, among Rheochem Manufacturing Co., Inc., Rheochem Inc. and 
J.M. Jones Associates, Inc.

Representative Agreement, dated August 29, 1990, between Rheochem 
Manufacturing Co., Inc. and J.I. Gray and Associates, Inc.

Representative Agreement, dated March 17, 1995, between Rheochem 
Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Voss Plastic Material and Equipment, Inc.

Representative Agreement, dated March 12, 1990, between Rheochem 
Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Zaparanick & Associates, Inc.

Contract of Sale, dated as of January 1, 1995, between Chevron Chemical 
Company, as seller, and Astor Wax Corporation and Rheochem Manufacturing 
Company, Inc., as buyers

Master Supply Agreement, dated June 1996, between Allied Signal Inc., as 
Seller, and Rheochem Technologies Inc., as buyer.

Commercial Activities Agreement, dated June 15, 1994, between Rheochem 
Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Chusei (U.S.A.) Inc.


<PAGE>

Side Track Agreement, dated August 21, 1996, between the City of Columbia, 
Missouri and Rheochem Technologies, Inc. for the construction by Rheochem of 
a railroad side track.

$2,000,000 Line of Credit Letter Agreement, dated as of June 16, 1996, 
between Fleet Bank, as lender, and Rheochem Technologies, Inc., as borrower, 
together with $2,000,000 Interest Bearing Grid Note, dated June 16, 1996.

Product Supply Agreement, effective June 30, 1994, between Rheochem 
Manufacturing Company, Inc., as seller, and Concorde Industries, Inc., as 
buyer.

Noncompetition and Assistance Agreement, dated June 30, 1994, between 
Rheochem Manufacturing Company, Inc. and Concorde Industries, Inc.

$800,000 Target Promissory Note, dated June 30, 1994, issued by Rheochem 
Manufacturing Company, Inc. and payable to the order of Concorde Industries, 
Inc.

Amended and Restated Rail Siding Agreement, dated June 30, 1994, between 
Uponor ETI Company (f/k/a Extrusion Technologies, Incorporated) and Rhoechem 
Manufacturing COmpany, Inc.

Amended and Restated Service Agreement for Wastewater Facility Use, dated as 
of June 30, 1994, between Uponor ETI Company (f/k/a Extrusion Technologies, 
Incorporated) and Rheochem Manufacturing Company, Inc.



                                SCHEDULE 3.18

                     BENEFIT PLANS AND BENEFIT AGREEMENTS

Rheochem, Inc.:

                  Blue Cross Select PPO
                  Key Man Disability
                  Simplified Employee Pension
                  Key Man Life Insurance
                  Medical Reimbursement Plan

Rheochem Technologies:

                  Aetna HMO/PPO
                  Dental Plan
                  Life Insurance
                  Accidental Death & Dismemberment
                  401(k) Plan



<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE 3.20

                            INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

                            Rheochem Technologies:

Trademark application for the mark "Smart-Pak" filed with the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office on or about November 14, 1996.

Trademark application for the mark "Smart-Lub" filed with the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office on or about November 14, 1996.



                                SCHEDULE 3.24

                                 TAX MATTERS

                                     None 

<PAGE>


Filed for record on April 1, 1993 at 2:36:37 PM in Boone Co. Mo. Document No. 
5739 recorded in Book 968 page 975. Bettie Johnson, Recorder of Deeds

                            SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED

     THIS DEED, made and entered into this 31st day of March, 1993, by and 
between EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED, a Colorado corporation, whose 
address is 1600 Stout Street, Suite 1710, Denver, Colorado 80202 ("Grantor"), 
and RHEOCHEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., a Colorado corporation, whose 
address is 775 Mountain Boulevard, Suite 214, Watchung, New Jersey 07060 
("Grantee").

    WITNESSETH, that Grantor, for and in consideration of the sum of Five 
Hundred Three Thousand Five Hundred Thirty-Four and 00/100THS Dollars paid by 
Grantee, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, does by these presents 
BARGAIN and SELL, CONVEY and CONFIRM unto Grantee the following described 
Real Estate, situated in the County of Boone, State of Missouri, to-wit:

     Lot 2 of E.T.I. Subdivision as shown by the plat recorded in Plat Book   
   27, Page 2, Records of Boone County, Missouri.

     TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all rights and appurtenances 
to the same belonging, unto Grantee, and to its heirs and assigns forever. 
Grantor hereby covenants that it and its heirs, executors and administrators 
shall and will WARRANT AND DEFEND the title to the premises unto Grantee, and 
to its heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims of all persons 
claiming by, through or under Grantor but none other, excepting, however, the 
general taxes for the calendar year 1993 and thereafter, the special taxes 
becoming a lien after the date of this deed, and all other easements, rights 
and matters of record.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has executed these presents the day and year 
first above written.

                                       EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATED

                                    
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       By: /s/ L.J. Ciancia
                                           --------------------------------
                                       Title: President
                                              -----------------------------

(SEAL)

ATTEST:


- ---------------------------------------
By: /s/ illegible
    -----------------------------------
Title: Secretary & V.P. [Finance]
       --------------------------------


<PAGE>

                                                                   976

STATE OF Colorado                      )
                                       )   SS.
COUNTY OF Denver                       )

     On this 29th day of March, 1993, before me personally appeared to me 
known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing 
instrument, and acknowledged that L.J. Ciancia, as President of Extrusion 
Technologies, Incorporated, a Colorado corporation, executed the same as his 
free act and deed.

     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my 
official seal in the County and State aforesaid, the day and year first above 
written.

                                               /s/ Blair G. Carrow
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Notary Public
[SEAL]

     My term expires: June 10; 1994
                     

274726.1                               2

          STATE OF MISSOURI)                                   Document No. 5759
          COUNTY OF BOONE  )  SS.

               I, the undersigned Recorder of Deeds for said county and state 
          do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument of writing was filed
          for record in my office on the 1st day of April, 1993 at 2 o'clock 
          and 36:37 minutes PM and is truly recorded in Book 968 Page 975.
[SEAL]
               Witness my hand and official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

                                       BETTIE JOHNSON, RECORDER OF DEEDS

                                       by /s/ Karen Johnson              deputy
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Karen Johnson

<PAGE>

Filed for record Aug 22, 1995 at 9:28:11 A.M. in Boone Co. Mo. Document No. 
15799 recorded in Book 1174 Page 427. Bettie Johnson, Recorder of Deeds

                             TRUSTEES' DEED

    THIS DEED is made and entered into this 21st day of August, 1995, by and 
between JOHN K. MCBRIDE AND BOONE COUNTY NATIONAL BANK, TRUSTEES OF THE A. 
PERRY PHILIPS MARITAL TRUST (said Trustees are hereinafter referred to as 
"the First Parties") AND RHEOCHEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., A COLORADO 
CORPORATION (hereinafter referred to as "the Second Party").

The mailing address of the Second Party is: 6400 N. Brown Station Road, 
Columbia, MO 65202.

    WITNESSETH:

    WHEREAS, John K. McBride and Boone County National Bank are the Trustees, 
and are presently acting as Trustees, of the A. Perry Philips Marital Trust; 
and

    WHEREAS, the A. Perry Philips Marital Trust has not been revoked and is 
presently in full force and effect; and

    WHEREAS, the A. Perry Philips Marital Trust granted to the undersigned, 
as Trustees, full power to sell and convey the real estate hereinafter 
described; and

    WHEREAS, the Second Party has purchased the real estate hereinafter 
described from the First Parties.

    NOW, THEREFORE, the First Parties, for and in consideration of the sum of 
Ten Dollars ($10.00) and other valuable considerations paid by the Second 
Party, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, does by these presents, 
sell and convey unto the Second Party, the following described real estate 
lying, being and situated in Boone County, Missouri, to-wit:

    PARCEL NO. 1: Lot One (1) of Columbia Industrial Development Corporation 
    Plat II as shown by plat recorded in Plat Book 11, Page 139, Records of 
    Boone County, Missouri, EXCEPTING THEREFROM that part conveyed to the 
    State of Missouri, acting by and through the State Highway Commission of 
    Missouri, by warranty deed recorded July 30, 1985 in Book 540, Page 457, 
    Records of Boone County, Missouri.

    PARCEL NO. 2: Lot Two B (2B) of a replat of Lot 2 Columbia Industrial 
    Development Corporation Plat II as shown by plat recorded in Plat Book 
    28, Page 75, Records of Boone County, Missouri.

    Subject to easements and restrictions of record.

    TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE SAME, together with all rights, immunities, 
privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging, unto the Second Party, 
and unto its successors and assigns forever.

<PAGE>

                                   -2-

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Boone County National Bank, acting by and through 
Scott M. Kellett, an authorized Trust Officer of Boone County National Bank, 
and John K. McBride have hereunto set their hands the day and year first 
above written.

[SEAL]                              TRUSTEES OF THE A. PERRY PHILIPS MARITAL
                                    TRUST:

                                    BOONE COUNTY NATIONAL BANK

                                    By: /s/ Scott M. Kellett
                                       -------------------------------------

                                    Name Printed: Scott M. Kellett
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                      Trust Officer

ATTEST:

/s/ Cara L. Scuder
- -----------------------------------------

Name Printed: Cara L. Scuder
             ----------------------------
             Secretary or Asst. Secretary



                                    /s/ John K. McBride
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    John K. McBride

STATE OF MISSOURI    )
                     )SS.
COUNTY OF BOONE      )

    On this 21 day of August, 1995, before me appeared SCOTT M. KELLETT, to 
me personally known, who being by me duly sworn, did say that he/she is a 
Trust Officer of Boone County National Bank, and that the seal affixed to the 
foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of Boone County National Bank by 
authority of its Board of Directors and the said Trust Officer acknowledged 
said instrument to be the free act and deed of Boone County National Bank, 
acting as Trustee of the A. Perry Philips Marital Trust.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official 
seal, at my office in Columbia, Missouri the day and year first above written.

[SEAL]                              /s/ Denise M. Sullivan
                                    -----------------------------------------

                                    ------------------------, Notary Public

My commission expires:
                       -------------.

[STAMP]

<PAGE>

STATE OF INDIANA        )
                        )SS.
COUNTY OF TIPPECANOE    )

    On this 14th day of August, 1995, before me personally appeared John K. 
McBride, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the 
foregoing instrument and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free 
act and deed as Trustee of the A. Perry Philips Martial Trust.

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official 
seal at my office in the State and County aforesaid, the day and year first 
above written.

                                    /s/ Mary Ann Weast
                                    -----------------------------------------

                                    Mary Ann Weast, Notary Public
                                    ---------------
                                    Resident of Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

[SEAL]
My commission expires: June 27, 1997.
                      ---------------


STATE OF MISSOURI)
COUNTY OF BOONE  ) SS.                                    Document No. 15799

    I, the undersigned Recorder of Deeds for said county and state do hereby 
certify that the foregoing instrument of writing was filed for record in my 
office on the 22nd day of August, 1995 at 9 o'clock and 28:11 minutes AM and 
is truly recorded in Book 1174 Page 427.

    Witness my hand and official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

    [SEAL]                          BETTIE JOHNSON, RECORDER OF DEEDS

                                    by /s/ Lois Ashlock   deputy
                                      -------------------
                                       Lois Ashlock




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