PACKARD BIOSCIENCE CO
8-K, EX-2.1, 2000-10-13
LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS
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                                                                    EXHIBIT 2.1





                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                 GSI LUMONICS LIFE SCIENCE TRUST ("SELLER"), AND

                      GSI LUMONICS TRUST, INC. ("TRUSTEE")

                                       AND

                      PACKARD BIOSCIENCE COMPANY ("BUYER")





                                 August 19, 2000





<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



SECTION 1 - DEFINITIONS.....................................................11

SECTION 2 - BASIC TRANSACTION...............................................16
    Section 2.1          Purchase and Sale of Assets........................16
    Section 2.2          Assumption of Liabilities..........................16
    Section 2.3          Purchase Price.....................................16
    Section 2.4          Purchase Price Adjustment..........................16
    Section 2.5          The Closing........................................17
    Section 2.6          Deliveries at the Closing..........................17
    Section 2.7          Allocation of Purchase Price.......................18

SECTION 3 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TRUSTEE AND SELLER............18
    Section 3.1          Organization of Seller and Trustee.................18
    Section 3.2          Authorization of Transaction.......................18
    Section 3.3          Noncontravention...................................19
    Section 3.4          Brokers' Fees......................................19
    Section 3.5          Acquired Assets; Title to Assets...................19
    Section 3.6          Financial Statements...............................19
    Section 3.7          Events Subsequent to Most Recent Statement Date....19
    Section 3.8          Legal Compliance...................................21
    Section 3.9          Taxes..............................................21
    Section 3.10         Leased Property....................................21
    Section 3.11         Intellectual Property..............................21
    Section 3.12         Tangible Asset.....................................23
    Section 3.13         Inventor...........................................23
    Section 3.14         Contracts..........................................23
    Section 3.15         Insurance..........................................24
    Section 3.16         Litigation.........................................25
    Section 3.17         Product Warranty...................................25
    Section 3.18         Product Liability..................................25
    Section 3.19         Employees..........................................25
    Section 3.20         Employee Benefits..................................25
    Section 3.21         Environment, Health and Safety.....................27
    Section 3.22         Certain Business Relationships With Seller.........27
    Section 3.23         Accounts Receivable................................27
    Section 3.24         Licenses and Permits...............................28
    Section 3.25         Undisclosed Liabilities............................28
    Section 3.26         Books and Records..................................28
    Section 3.27         Investment.........................................28
    Section 3.28         Disclosure.........................................28

SECTION 4 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER.........................28
    Section 4.1          Organization of Buyer..............................29
    Section 4.2          Authorization of Transaction and Financial Status..29
    Section 4.3          Noncontravention.................................. 29
    Section 4.4          Brokers' Fees......................................29
    Section 4.5          Capitalization of Buyer............................29
    Section 4.6          SEC Filings; Financial Statements..................30
    Section 4.7          Events Subsequent to June 30, 2000.................30
    Section 4.8          Legal Compliance...................................30
    Section 4.9          Undisclosed Liabilities............................30
    Section 4.10         Disclosure.........................................31



<PAGE>



SECTION 5 - COVENANTS.......................................................31
    Section 5.1          Covenants Pending Closing..........................31
    Section 5.2          Post-Closing Covenants.............................32
    Section 5.3          Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of Buyer....34
    Section 5.4          Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of Trustee
                         and Seller.........................................35
    Section 5.5          Indemnification Matters Involving Third Parties....36
    Section 5.6          Other Indemnification Matters......................37

SECTION 6 - CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE...............................37
    Section 6.1          Conditions to Obligation of Buyer..................37
    Section 6.2          Conditions to Obligation of Seller.................38

SECTION 7 - CLOSING DOCUMENTS...............................................38
    Section 7.1          Seller Deliveries..................................38
    Section 7.2          Buyer Deliveries...................................39

SECTION 8 - NONCOMPETITION..................................................40
    Section 8.1          Materiality........................................40
    Section 8.2          Prohibited Activities of Seller....................40
    Section 8.3          Prohibited Activities of Buyer.....................40
    Section 8.4          Remedies...........................................40
    Section 8.5          Jurisdiction.......................................41

SECTION 9 - OTHER AGREEMENTS................................................41
    Section 9.1          Press Releases and Public Announcements............41
    Section 9.2          No Third-Party Beneficiaries.......................41
    Section 9.3          Entire Agreement...................................41
    Section 9.4          Succession and Assignment..........................41
    Section 9.5          Counterparts.......................................41
    Section 9.6          Headings...........................................41
    Section 9.7          Notices............................................42
    Section 9.8          Governing Law......................................43
    Section 9.9          Amendments and Waivers.............................43
    Section 9.10         Severability.......................................43
    Section 9.11         Expenses...........................................43
    Section 9.12.        Construction.......................................43
    Section 9.13.        Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules............43
    Section 9.14.        Termination........................................43



<PAGE>



                                LIST OF SCHEDULES



Schedule 1.1............................................................... .1
Schedule 1.2.................................................................1
Schedule 1.3(a)..............................................................5
Schedule 1.3(b)..............................................................5
Schedule 3.1(a).............................................................10
Schedule 3.1(b).............................................................10
Schedule 3.1(c).............................................................10
Schedule 3.3................................................................11
Schedule 3.4................................................................11
Schedule 3.6................................................................11
Schedule 3.7................................................................12
Schedule 3.10...............................................................14
Schedule 3.11(a)............................................................15
Schedule 3.11(b)............................................................15
Schedule 3.11(c)............................................................15
Schedule 3.11(d)............................................................16
Schedule 3.14...............................................................17
Schedule 3.15...............................................................18
Schedule 3.16...............................................................19
Schedule 3.19...............................................................19
Schedule 3.20...............................................................20
Schedule 3.22...............................................................20
Schedule 3.24...............................................................23
Schedule 4.5................................................................25
Schedule 4.7................................................................26



<PAGE>



                                LIST OF EXHIBITS



Exhibit A - Bill of Sale.....................................................7
Exhibit B - Assignment Documents.............................................7
Exhibit C - Assumption.......................................................7
Exhibit D - Sublease........................................................30
Exhibit E - Parent Guarantee................................................30
Exhibit F - Transition Services Agreement...................................30
Exhibit G - Registration Rights Agreement...................................30
Exhibit H - Opinion of Counsel to Seller and Trustee........................
Exhibit I - Opinion of Counsel to Buyer.....................................



<PAGE>



                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT



      This Asset Purchase  Agreement  ("Agreement") is entered into as of August
19, 2000 among Packard BioScience Company, a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), GSI
Lumonics  Life  Science  Trust,  u/t/a  dated June 5, 2000  ("Seller"),  and GSI
Lumonics Trust, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation ("Trustee"). The Buyer, Seller
and Trustee are referred to  collectively in this Agreement as the "Parties" and
individually as a "Party."

      This  Agreement  contemplates  a  transaction  in which Buyer will, on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,  purchase substantially all of
the  assets  (and  assume  certain  of  the   liabilities)  of  Seller  for  the
consideration specified in this Agreement.

      In  consideration   of  the  mutual  promises  and  the   representations,
warranties,  and  covenants  contained in this  Agreement,  the Parties agree as
follows.


                                    SECTION 1
                                   DEFINITIONS

         For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  the terms set forth  below have the
following meaning:

         "Acquired  Assets"  means  all  of  the  Business,   goodwill,  assets,
properties and rights of every nature, kind and description, whether tangible or
intangible, real, personal or mixed, wherever located and whether or not carried
or  reflected  on the books and  records of Seller or any  Affiliate  of Seller,
which are owned by Seller or in which  Seller has any  interest  (including  the
right to use),  or which are used by Seller  or any  Affiliate  of Seller in the
Business as of the Closing Date, except those items  specifically  listed on the
Schedule 1.1 (the "Excluded Assets"). The Acquired Assets shall include, but not
be limited to, the following (except to the extent that any of the following are
Excluded Assets):

                  (a)  All  tangible   personal  property  (such  as  machinery,
equipment, inventories of raw materials and supplies, manufactured and purchased
parts, goods in process and finished goods, furniture, and tools);

                  (b)  All   leaseholds   and   subleaseholds,   and  easements,
rights-of-way, and other appurtenants thereto (such as appurtenant rights in and
to public streets), excluding any improvements,  fixtures, and fittings thereon,
subject to the terms of the Sublease.

                  (c) All Intellectual Property,  associated goodwill,  licenses
and  sublicenses   granted  and  obtained  with  respect  thereto,   and  rights
thereunder,  remedies against infringements thereof, and rights to protection of
interests therein under the laws of all  jurisdictions,  other than any right to
Seller Corporate Names.

                  (d)      All agreements, indentures, instruments, guaranties,
other similar arrangements, and rights thereunder as set forth on Schedule 1.2
(the "Assigned Contracts");

                  (e) All accounts receivable,  claims,  deposits,  prepayments,
refunds,  causes of action, choses in action, rights of recovery,  rights of set
off, and rights of recoupment  (including  any such item relating to the payment
of taxes);

                  (f)      All franchises, approvals, permits, licenses, orders,
registrations, certificates, variances, and similar rights obtained from
governments and governmental agencies;

                  (g) With the exception of original tax and accounting records,
all books, records,  ledgers, files, documents,  correspondence,  lists, mailing
and customer  lists used by Seller or any  Affiliate of Seller in the  Business,
drawings,  specifications,   creative  materials,  advertising  and  promotional
materials, studies, reports, and other printed or written material;

                  (h) With the exception of original tax and accounting records,
all data processing  programs,  computer printouts,  data bases and hardware and
related  items used in the conduct of the  Business,  including  accounting  and
invoices; and

                  (i)      All rights, claims and causes of action held by or
inuring to the benefit of Seller.

         "Adverse Consequences" means all actions,  suits, charges,  complaints,
claims, demands,  injunctions,  judgments,  orders, decrees,  rulings,  damages,
penalties,  fines,  costs,  reasonable amounts paid in settlement,  liabilities,
obligations, taxes, liens, losses, expenses, and fees, including court costs and
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.

         "Affiliate"  has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and, when
used with  respect  to  Seller,  includes  only  such  entities  which  owned or
operated,  at any time, any of the Business or Acquired Assets, and GSI Lumonics
Inc., a New Brunswick corporation.

         "Assignment  Documents"  has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c) of
this Agreement.

         "Assumed  Liabilities" means (a) all liabilities and obligations listed
on the  Final  Balance  Sheet;  and (b) all  obligations  of  Seller  under  the
agreements,  contracts,  licenses  and  other  arrangements  referred  to in the
definition  of Acquired  Assets,  and  entered  into in the  Ordinary  Course of
Business to furnish goods, services and other non-cash benefits to another party
after  Closing or to pay for goods,  services and other  non-cash  benefits that
another party will furnish to Buyer after Closing. Assumed Liabilities shall not
include,  and Buyer shall not  assume:  (i) any  liabilities  for notes or other
payments due to beneficiaries,  trustees,  officers or shareholders of Seller or
its Affiliates, (ii) any obligations resulting from any breach or default of any
contract,  breach of  warranty,  tort,  infringement  or  violation of law which
occurred  prior to the Closing Date,  (iii) any  obligations of Seller under any
severance  plan or  arrangement  for the benefit of  Seller's  current or former
directors,  officers or employees,  (iv) liabilities or obligations for payroll,
payroll  taxes and any other  employee  benefits  accruing  prior to the Closing
Date,  (v) any  liability  of Seller on and after the  Closing  Date for  health
benefits of persons who are  provided  with  health plan  continuation  coverage
pursuant to the  Consolidated  Omnibus  Budget  Reconciliation  Act of 1986,  as
amended  to date  ("COBRA"),  (vi)  any  liability  as of the  Closing  Date for
employee  health  benefits  based upon claims arising prior to the Closing Date,
whether  or not  notice of such  claim is  received  prior to or on or after the
Closing Date,  (vii) any  liability  for  retroactive  premium  adjustments  for
workers'  compensation  for  periods  prior  to the  Closing  Date,  (viii)  any
liability for  compensation,  including  deferred  compensation,  accrued to the
Closing  Date,  (ix) any  liability  under any workers'  compensation  claims of
Seller's  employees based upon claims arising prior to the Closing Date, whether
or not  notice of such  claim is  received  prior to or on or after the  Closing
Date,  or (x) any liability  arising  under or in  connection  with any Plan, as
defined  in  Section  3.20,  of  Seller or any Plan or other  employee  plans or
benefits of any kind for employees or former employees,  officers,  directors or
consultants of Seller's ERISA Affiliates,  as defined in Section 3.20. Except as
expressly set forth in this  Agreement,  Buyer shall not assume or be liable for
any  liabilities  or  obligations  of  Seller,  whether  the same are  direct or
indirect,  fixed,  contingent or otherwise,  known or unknown,  whether  arising
under an agreement or contract or otherwise, other than the Assumed Liabilities.
Seller shall satisfy when due all of its  liabilities or obligations not assumed
by Buyer,  except to the extent  Seller is  disputing  any such  liabilities  or
obligations  in good  faith.  Buyer  shall  satisfy  when due all of the Assumed
Liabilities,  except to the extent Seller is disputing any Assumed  Liability in
good faith.

         "Assumption"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section  2.6(d)  of this
Agreement.

         "Authority"  or  "Authorities"  means any  governmental,  regulatory or
administrative body, agency or authority, or any court or judicial authority.

         "Average  Closing  Price" has the  meaning  set forth in Section 2.3 of
this Agreement.

         "Bill of Sale"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section  2.6(c) of this
Agreement.

         "Business"  means  all  of the  businesses  of  designing,  developing,
manufacturing  and  marketing   microarray  scanners,   biochip  arrayers,   and
bioinformatics  and/or  other  software  owned  or  operated  by  Seller  or any
Affiliate of Seller, including,  without limitation,  the operations,  financial
condition and prospects of Seller as of the date of determination thereof.

         "Business  Day" means any day other than a Saturday,  a Sunday or a day
on which banking institutions in New York, New York are not open for business.

         "Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the preface of this Agreement.

         "Buyer  Common  Stock"  means the common  stock,  par value  $0.002 per
share, of Buyer.

         "Buyer  Financial  Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6
of this Agreement.

         "Buyer Indemnified Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3 of
this Agreement.

         "Buyer Material  Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
business, or the financial condition,  or the results of operations of Buyer and
its  subsidiaries  (taken as a whole),  or in the ability of Buyer to consummate
the  transactions  contemplated  in this  Agreement or in the other  Transaction
Documents;  provided,  however that Buyer  Material  Adverse Effect shall not be
deemed to  include  the impact of (a) any  decline in the share  price of Parent
Common Stock or Buyer Common Stock, (b) the  implementation  of changes in GAAP,
(c)  changes  in laws of general  applicability  or  interpretations  thereof by
courts or governmental  authorities changes in laws of general  applicability or
interpretations  thereof by courts or governmental  authorities,  (d) actions or
omissions of Buyer or any of its  Affiliates  taken or permitted  with the prior
written  consent of  Seller,  (e) the direct  effects  of  compliance  with this
Agreement on the operating performance of Buyer,  including expenses incurred by
Buyer in consummating  the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and (f)
any transaction  involving  Buyer's  Canberra  Industries  division that results
directly from Buyer's exploration of strategic alternatives therefor.

         "Buyer SEC  Reports"  has the  meaning set forth in Section 4.6 of this
Agreement.

         "Cash  Payment"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section  2.3 of this
Agreement.

         "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5 of this Agreement.

         "Closing  Date"  has the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section  2.5 of this
Agreement.

         "Closing  Date Balance  Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4
of this Agreement.

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

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

         "Environmental,   Health  and  Safety  Laws"  means  the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation  and Liability Act of 1980,  the Resource
Conservation  and Recovery Act of 1976, and the  Occupational  Safety and Health
Act of 1970,  each as amended,  together with all other laws  (including  rules,
regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and
charges  thereunder) of federal,  state and local  governments (and all agencies
thereof)  concerning  pollution or protection of the environment,  public health
and safety or employee health and safety,  including laws relating to emissions,
discharges,  releases,  or threatened releases of pollutants,  contaminants,  or
chemical,  industrial,  hazardous or toxic materials or wastes into ambient air,
surface water,  ground water, or lands or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing,  distribution,  use, treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport,  or
handling of  pollutants,  contaminants,  or chemical,  industrial,  hazardous or
toxic materials or wastes.

         "Final  Balance Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 of this
Agreement.

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

         "Hazardous  Materials"  means,  collectively,   (a)  any  petroleum  or
petroleum products, flammable explosives, radioactive materials, asbestos in any
form  that  is  friable,  and  transformers  or  other  equipment  that  contain
dielectric  fluid  containing  polychlorinated  biphenyls  (PCBs)  and  (b)  any
chemicals or other  materials or  substances  which are now or hereafter  become
defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous  substances",  "hazardous
wastes",   "hazardous  materials",   "toxic  substances",   "toxic  pollutants",
"contaminants", "pollutants" or words of similar import under any Environmental,
Health and Safety Law applicable to the Business.

         "Intellectual  Property" means: (a) all inventions  (whether patentable
or  unpatentable  and  whether or not  reduced to  practice),  all  improvements
thereto, and all patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures,  together
with   all   reissuances,   continuations,   continuations-in-part,   revisions,
extensions, and reexaminations thereof; (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade
dress, logos, trade names, and corporate names,  together with all translations,
adaptations,  derivations,  and combinations  thereof and including all goodwill
associated  therewith,  and all  applications,  registrations,  and  renewals in
connection  therewith;  (c) all  copyrightable  works,  all copyrights,  and all
applications,  registrations, and renewals in connection therewith; (d) all mask
works and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith;
(e) all trade secrets and confidential  business  information  (including ideas,
research and development,  know-how, formulas,  compositions,  manufacturing and
production  processes  and  techniques,   technical  data,  designs,   drawings,
specifications,  mailing lists,  customer and supplier  lists,  pricing and cost
information,  and business and marketing plans and proposals);  (f) all computer
software  (including  data and  related  documentation);  (g) other  proprietary
rights; and (h) all copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or
medium).

         "Knowledge"  or "Knowledge of Seller" of any  particular  fact or other
matter  shall be deemed to exist where any person set forth on  Schedule  1.3(a)
hereto is actually  aware of such fact or other matter.  Schedule  1.3(a) hereto
includes,  among other  persons,  all  officers  and  directors of Seller or any
Affiliate of Seller.

         "Knowledge  of Buyer" of any  particular  fact or other matter shall be
deemed to exist where any person set forth on Schedule 1.3(b) hereto is actually
aware of such fact or other matter. Schedule 1.3(b) hereto includes all officers
and directors of Buyer.

         "Liability"  means any  liability  (whether  known or unknown,  whether
asserted or  unasserted,  whether  absolute or  contingent,  whether  accrued or
unaccrued,  whether  liquidated  or  unliquidated,  and whether due or to become
due), including any liability for any Tax.

         "Most Recent Balance Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6 of
this Agreement.

         "Most Recent  Statement  Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6
of this Agreement.

         "Ordinary  Course of Business" means the ordinary course of business of
Seller and, to the extent  related to the Business,  its  Affiliates  consistent
with  past  custom  and  practice   (including  with  respect  to  quantity  and
frequency).

         "Parent" means GSI Lumonics Inc., a New Brunswick corporation.

         "Parent  Common Stock" means the common stock,  no par value per share,
of Parent.

         "Parent  Guarantee" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(g) of this
Agreement.

         "Party" or "Parties"  have the meaning set forth in the Preface of this
Agreement.

         "Past custom and practice" means the past custom and practice of Seller
and its  Affiliates  with  respect to the  Business  (including  with respect to
quantity and frequency).

         "Permitted  Liens" has the  meaning  set forth in  Section  3.5 of this
Agreement.

         "Person" means an  individual,  a partnership  (general or limited),  a
member,  a  corporation,   a  limited  liability  company  or  partnership,   an
association,  a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated
organization, or a governmental entity (or any department,  agency, or political
subdivision thereof).

         "Purchase  Price"  has the  meaning  set forth in  Section  2.3 of this
Agreement.

         "Registration  Rights  Agreement"  has the meaning set forth in Section
7.1(i) of this Agreement.

         "Security  Interest"  means any mortgage,  pledge,  lien,  encumbrance,
charge, or other security interest,  except for minor imperfections of title and
liens which are not substantial in amount,  which do not materially detract from
the property subject thereto or materially impair the use of the property in the
Business, and which have arisen in the Ordinary Course of Business.

         "Seller" has the meaning set forth in the preface of this Agreement.

         "Seller Corporate Names" means any trade name, trademark, service mark,
corporate name, registered name, assumed name, or other words or series of words
used in any  manner  by any  Affiliate  of  Seller  or any  Affiliate  of Parent
(including,   without   limitation,   GSI  Lumonics   Corporation,   a  Michigan
corporation,   or  any  Affiliate   thereof)  together  with  all  translations,
adaptations,  derivations,  and combinations  thereof and including all goodwill
associated  therewith,  and all  applications,  registrations,  and  renewals in
connection   therewith,   other  than  ScanArray,   SpotArray,   QuantArray  and
ArrayInformatics.

         "Seller Financial  Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6
of this Agreement.

         "Seller Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
Business, or the financial condition, or the results of operations of Seller, or
in the ability of Seller to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  in this
Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents;  provided,  however that Seller
Material  Adverse  Effect  shall not be deemed to include  the impact of (a) any
decline in the share price of Parent Common Stock or Buyer Common Stock, (b) the
implementation of changes in GAAP, (c) changes in laws of general  applicability
or interpretations thereof by courts or governmental authorities, (d) actions or
omissions of Seller or any of its  Affiliates  taken or permitted with the prior
written  consent of Buyer,  and (e) the direct  effects of compliance  with this
Agreement on the operating  performance of Seller and its Affiliates,  including
expenses  incurred by Seller and its Affiliates in consummating the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

         "Seller's  Net Worth" means the total assets of the Business  minus the
total liabilities of the Business as of the relevant date.

         "Stock  Payment"  has the  meaning  set  forth in  Section  2.3 of this
Agreement.

         "Sublease"  has  the  meaning  set  forth  in  Section  7.1(e)  of this
Agreement.

         "Tax" means any  federal,  state,  local and foreign  income,  profits,
franchise,   gross  receipts,   payroll,   employment,   sales,  use,  property,
withholding,  excise and other tax, duty or assessment of any nature whatsoever,
together  with all  interest,  penalties  and  additions  imposed  with  respect
thereto. The term "taxable" shall have a correlative meaning.

         "Transaction   Documents"   means  this  Agreement,   and  every  other
instrument and document entered into in connection with this Agreement.

         "Transition  Services  Agreement"  has the meaning set forth in Section
7.1(h) of this Agreement.

         "Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Preface of this Agreement.

         "Trustee  Indemnified Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4
of this Agreement.


                                    SECTION 2
                                BASIC TRANSACTION

         Section 2.1. Purchase and Sale of Assets.  Upon the Closing (as defined
below)  pursuant to this  Agreement and subject to the terms of this  Agreement,
Buyer will purchase from Seller,  and Seller will sell,  transfer,  convey,  and
deliver, or will cause to be conveyed and delivered, to Buyer, all of its right,
title and interest in and to the Acquired Assets.

         Section 2.2.  Assumption of Liabilities.  Upon the Closing  pursuant to
this  Agreement and subject to the terms  hereof,  and in  consideration  of the
purchase  by Buyer  of the  Acquired  Assets,  Buyer  shall  assume  and  become
responsible for all of the Assumed Liabilities  pursuant to the Assumption.  The
Buyer will not assume or have any responsibility,  however,  with respect to any
obligation or liability of Seller not included  within the definition of Assumed
Liabilities.

         Section 2.3.  Purchase Price. In consideration of the purchase by Buyer
of the Acquired Assets,  Buyer agrees to pay to Seller:  (a) $40,000,000 in cash
(the  "Cash  Payment")  and (b) that  number  of shares  of Buyer  Common  Stock
(rounded to the nearest whole share) (the "Stock Payment")  obtained by dividing
$80,000,000  by the Average  Closing  Price  (defined to mean the average of the
daily last sale prices for the shares of Buyer Common Stock for the fifteen (15)
consecutive   trading  days  on  which  such  shares  are  actually   traded  as
over-the-counter  securities  and  quoted  on the  Nasdaq  National  Market  (as
reported  by The Wall  Street  Journal or, if not  reported  thereby,  any other
authoritative  source  selected by Seller) ending at the close of trading on the
second trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date);  provided,  however,
that in no event shall the Stock Payment  consist of more than 4,571,429  shares
of Buyer Common Stock (plus any additional shares of Buyer Common Stock that may
be issued in  connection  with an  adjustment  pursuant  to Section  2.4 of this
Agreement).  The  Cash  Payment  and the  Stock  Payment  shall be  referred  to
collectively herein as the "Purchase Price." The Purchase Price shall be paid in
full at the Closing to Seller, with the Cash Payment being paid by wire transfer
of immediately  available funds as instructed in writing by Seller and the Stock
Payment  being paid (at  Seller's  election)  either (i) by delivery of physical
stock  certificate(s)  registered  in the name of Seller or its designee or (ii)
provided that Buyer's stock  transfer agent is  participating  in The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated  Securities  Transfer Program, by crediting
Seller's  or its  designee's  balance  account  with  DTC  through  its  Deposit
Withdrawal  Agent  Commission  system.  The  Purchase  Price shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 2.4 of this Agreement.

         Section 2.4.      Purchase Price Adjustment.

                  (a) Promptly (no later than thirty (30) days after the Closing
Date)  following the Closing  Date,  the Seller shall prepare and deliver to the
Parties a balance  sheet of Seller as of the end of business on the Closing Date
(the  "Closing  Date Balance  Sheet").  The Closing Date Balance  Sheet shall be
prepared on a consistent basis with the Most Recent Balance Sheet.

                  (b) If within  thirty  (30)  days  following  delivery  of the
Closing Date Balance  Sheet,  Buyer has not given Seller notice of its objection
to the Closing Date  Balance  Sheet (such notice must contain a statement of the
basis of Buyer's objection),  then the Closing Date Balance Sheet shall be final
and shall  constitute the "Final Balance Sheet" under this  Agreement.  If Buyer
gives such notice of objection,  then the issues in dispute will be submitted to
Deloitte & Touche LLP (New York, New York office) (unless  Deloitte & Touche LLP
are the  auditors  of Buyer or Seller,  in which case the issues in the  dispute
will be  submitted to KPMG Peat Marwick LLP (New York,  New York  office))  (the
"Accountants"),  for  resolution.  If issues in  dispute  are  submitted  to the
Accountants for resolution,  (i) each party will furnish to the Accountants such
workpapers and other documents and  information  relating to the disputed issues
as the Accountants may request and are available to that Party or its Affiliates
(or its independent public accountants), and will be afforded the opportunity to
present to the Accountants  any material  relating to the  determination  and to
discuss the  determination  with the Accountants;  (ii) the determination by the
Accountants,  as  set  forth  in a  notice  delivered  to  both  Parties  by the
Accountants  within  sixty  (60)  days of the  date  that the  dispute  is first
submitted to the  Accountants  (or such later date as mutually agreed in writing
by Buyer and  Seller),  will be binding  and  conclusive  on the Parties and the
resulting  balance sheet prepared by the Accountants shall constitute the "Final
Balance Sheet" under this  Agreement;  and (iii) Buyer and Seller will each bear
50% of the fees of the Accountants for such determination.

                  (c) The Purchase Price shall be reduced by the amount by which
the Seller's Net Worth as reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet exceeds the
Seller's Net Worth as reflected on the Final Balance  Sheet.  The Purchase Price
shall be increased by the amount by which the Seller's Net Worth as reflected on
the Final  Balance Sheet exceeds the Seller's Net Worth as reflected on the Most
Recent  Balance Sheet.  For purposes of this Section  2.4(c),  when  calculating
Seller's Net Worth as reflected on the Final Balance Sheet,  all  liabilities or
obligations  excluded  from the  definition of Assumed  Liabilities  pursuant to
clauses (iv) through (x) of such definition shall be disregarded as liabilities,
however  liabilities  and  obligations for such matters shall not be disregarded
when  calculating  Seller's Net Worth as  reflected  on the Most Recent  Balance
Sheet.  Any  adjustment  to the  Purchase  Price under this Section 2.4 shall be
promptly paid one-third (1/3) in cash and two-thirds (2/3) in Buyer Common Stock
(valued at the Average  Closing Price but in no event valued at less than $17.50
per share),  provided that if such  adjustment is for an amount of $1,000,000 or
less such  adjustment  shall be paid in cash  only,  and in no event  shall such
payment be made later than five (5) Business  Days after the date that the Final
Balance Sheet is determined under Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement.

         Section 2.5. The Closing. The closing of the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement  (the  "Closing")  shall take place at the offices of Bodman,
Longley & Dahling,  LLP,  110 Miller,  Suite 300, Ann Arbor,  Michigan  48104 at
10:00 a.m. within five (5) Business Days following the satisfaction or waiver of
all conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  (the date of the Closing is referred to as the
"Closing Date").

         Section 2.6. Deliveries at the Closing.  At the Closing,  the following
documents shall be executed and delivered and the following actions shall occur:

                  (a)      Seller shall deliver to Buyer the various
certificates,  instruments,  and  documents  referred  to in Section 7.1 of this
Agreement;

                  (b)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller the various
certificates,  instruments,  and  documents  referred  to in Section 7.2 of this
Agreement;

                  (c) Seller shall execute,  acknowledge (if  appropriate),  and
deliver  to Buyer  (i) a bill of sale  for the  Acquired  Assets  in the form of
Exhibit A of this Agreement (the "Bill of Sale"),  (ii)  assignments  (including
real property lease and Intellectual  Property transfer  documents) in the forms
of Exhibit B of this  Agreement  (the  "Assignment  Documents"),  and (iii) such
other instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance, and assignment as Buyer and its
counsel  have  reasonably  requested  for the  sale,  transfer,  conveyance  and
assignment  of the  Acquired  Assets free and clear of all  Security  Interests,
other than as specifically agreed upon in this Agreement;

                  (d) Buyer shall execute,  acknowledge  (if  appropriate),  and
deliver to Seller (i) an  assumption of the Assumed  Liabilities  in the form of
Exhibit C of this Agreement (the "Assumption"),  and (ii) such other instruments
of assumption as Seller and its counsel have reasonably requested; and

                  (e)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller the Purchase Price as
specified in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

         Section 2.7.  Allocation of Purchase Price. The  consideration  paid by
Buyer to Seller pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated among the Acquired
Assets, including any intangible assets, as Seller and Buyer shall agree upon in
writing prior to Closing or as soon thereafter as is practicable. The allocation
of the Purchase Price was bargained and negotiated for, and each Party agrees to
report the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement for federal income Tax
and all other Tax  purposes  (including,  without  limitation,  for  purposes of
Section 1060 of the Code) in a manner consistent with the agreed upon allocation
and in accordance  with all  applicable  rules and  regulations,  and to take no
position  inconsistent  with such allocation in any  administrative  or judicial
examination or other proceeding.  Each of Buyer and Seller shall timely file the
appropriate  forms in accordance  with the  requirements  of Section 1060 of the
Code. If there is a dispute between the Parties regarding the matters covered by
this  Section  2.7,  such dispute  shall be  submitted  to the  Accountants  for
resolution in the same manner as set forth in Section 2.4 of this Agreement.


                                    SECTION 3
              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TRUSTEE AND SELLER

         The Trustee and Seller  jointly and severally  represent and warrant to
Buyer that each of the statements set forth below (i) is true and correct in all
respects as of the date of this  Agreement  and (ii) will be true and correct in
all  respects  as of the  Closing  Date (as  though  made then and as though the
Closing Date were  substituted  for the date of this Agreement  throughout  this
Section  3),  provided  that if the Closing  does not occur,  Seller and Trustee
shall not be  deemed  to have  made (and  shall not be liable to Buyer or anyone
else for) the  representation  and warranty set forth in this clause (ii).  Such
representations,  warranties,  covenants  and  agreements  constitute a material
inducement  to Buyer to enter  into  this  Agreement,  to enter  into the  other
Transaction  Documents to purchase the  Acquired  Assets,  to assume the Assumed
Liabilities  and to  consummate  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement and by all other Transaction Documents.

         Section 3.1.  Organization of Seller and Trustee.  Seller is a business
trust  duly  constituted  under the laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts
pursuant to the  Declaration  of Trust,  dated June 5, 2000,  a true and correct
copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Schedule  3.1(a).  As of the date
of this  Agreement,  Seller is in full force and  effect and has no  termination
date.  Seller has all  requisite  power to own,  lease and operate the  Acquired
Assets and to carry on the Business.  Other than as listed on Schedule 3.1(b) of
this  Agreement,  Seller  neither owns nor leases any real  property nor has any
employees, sales representatives, agents or inventory in any state of the United
States  other  than the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  and there are no other
jurisdictions  in which  the  nature of the  Business  or the  locations  of the
Acquired  Assets  requires  Seller to obtain  qualification  or  licensing to do
business  as a foreign  corporation,  except  where the failure to so qualify or
become  licensed would not have a Seller  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Seller has
issued 100 shares to GSL Life Science Trust,  a business trust duly  constituted
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts  pursuant to the Declaration
of Trust,  dated June 5, 2000,  a true and correct  copy of which is attached to
this Agreement as Schedule  3.1(c),  and such 100 shares  constitutes all of the
issued and outstanding  shares of Seller and the entire  beneficial  interest in
Seller.  Trustee is the sole trustee of Seller,  is a  corporation  duly formed,
validly  existing,  and in good standing under the laws of the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts, and has all requisite power to own, lease and operate its assets,
and to authorize and approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         Section 3.2.  Authorization  of Transaction.  Seller has full power and
authority  to execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement  and the other  Transaction
Documents  to which it is a party and to  perform  its  obligations  under  this
Agreement  and under such other  Transaction  Documents.  Without  limiting  the
generality  of  the  foregoing,  Trustee  has  duly  authorized  the  execution,
delivery,  and  performance  of this  Agreement  by  Seller in  accordance  with
applicable  law and the provisions of the  Declaration  of Trust,  dated June 5,
2000,  of Seller.  The Board of  Directors  of Trustee has duly  authorized  the
execution,  delivery,  and performance of this Agreement by Seller in accordance
with  applicable  law.  Trustee has taken all action  required to authorize  the
transactions  contemplated  herein  on behalf of GSL Life  Science  Trust.  This
Agreement  has been duly executed and  delivered by Seller and  constitutes  the
valid and legally binding  obligation of Seller,  enforceable in accordance with
its  terms  and  conditions,  subject  to  applicable  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium and other laws of general application  affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and to general principles of equity (regardless
of whether such enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

         Section  3.3.  Noncontravention.  Except as itemized  in Schedule  3.3,
neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement,  nor the  consummation
of the transactions  contemplated hereby (including the execution,  delivery and
performance of the assignments,  assumptions and the other documents referred to
in Section 2 of this  Agreement),  will (a) violate any  constitution,  statute,
regulation, rule, injunction,  judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other
restriction  of any  Authority  to which Seller or the Trustee is subject or any
provision of the  Declaration  of Trust,  dated June 5, 2000, of Seller,  or (b)
conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under,  result in the
acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify,
or cancel any agreement, contract, lease, license, consent, instrument, or other
arrangement (including without limitation,  any contract,  license,  instrument,
right or other  arrangement  by which  Seller  uses or has the  right to use any
Intellectual Property) to which Seller is a party or by which Seller is bound or
to which  any of the  assets  of the  Business  are  subject  (or  result in the
imposition  of any Security  Interest upon any of the Acquired  Assets),  except
where the  violation,  conflict,  breach,  default,  acceleration,  termination,
modification,  cancellation,  or  Security  Interest  together  with  other such
events,  would not have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.  Except as itemized in
Schedule 3.3,  Seller does not need to give any notice to, make any filing with,
or obtain any  authorization,  consent,  or approval of any  Authority  or other
Person in order for the Parties to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement  (including  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of the
assignments and assumptions referred to in Section 2 of this Agreement),  except
where the  failure to give  notice,  to file,  or to obtain  any  authorization,
consent, or approval would not have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.

         Section 3.4.  Brokers'  Fees.  Other than as set forth in Schedule 3.4,
Seller has no  liability or  obligation  to pay any fees or  commissions  to any
broker,  finder, or agent with respect to the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement for which Buyer could become liable or obligated.

         Section 3.5.  Acquired  Assets;  Title to Assets.  The Acquired  Assets
(together  with the rights,  services and other benefits to be provided to Buyer
pursuant to the Sublease and the  Transition  Services  Agreement)  comprise all
assets,  real or personal,  tangible or  intangible,  required for the continued
conduct  of the  Business  by Buyer as now being  conducted  by  Seller  and its
Affiliates. Seller has good and valid title to or is the beneficial owner of, or
has a valid leasehold  interest in, or the right to use, as the case may be, the
properties and assets used by it, located on its premises,  or shown on the Most
Recent Balance Sheet or acquired  after the date thereof,  which are included in
the Acquired  Assets,  free and clear of all Security  Interests  other than the
Security  Interests  assumed  by  Buyer  as set  forth  in the  Assumption  (the
"Permitted Liens"), except for properties and assets disposed of in the Ordinary
Course of  Business  since the date of the Most  Recent  Balance  Sheet.  On the
Closing Date,  Buyer will receive good and valid title to, or a valid  leasehold
interest in, or the right to use as the case may be, the Acquired  Assets,  free
and clear of any  Security  Interest  or  restriction  on  transfer  (except for
Permitted Liens and except for Security  Interests and  restrictions on transfer
imposed as a result of actions or agreements of Buyer).

         Section  3.6.  Financial  Statements.  Attached  to this  Agreement  as
Schedule 3.6 are the following financial statements  (collectively,  the "Seller
Financial  Statements") of Seller: (a) the unaudited internally prepared balance
sheet as of June  30,  2000  (the  "Most  Recent  Balance  Sheet");  and (b) the
unaudited  internally  prepared  statements of operations  for the calendar year
ended  December 31,  1999,  and for the six (6) month period ended June 30, 2000
(the "Most Recent Statement  Date").  The Seller Financial  Statements have been
prepared in accordance  with the books and records of Seller and present  fairly
and  accurately  the  financial  condition of the Business as of the Most Recent
Statement  Date,  and the results of operations of the Business for the calendar
year ending  December 31, 1999,  and for the six (6) month period  ending on the
Most Recent Statement Date, respectively.

         Section 3.7. Events Subsequent to Most Recent Statement Date. Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.7, since the Most Recent  Statement Date there have been
no events,  changes or occurrences  which have had, or are reasonably  likely to
have,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  a Seller  Material  Adverse  Effect.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  since that date and except as
set forth on Schedule 3.7:

                  (a)      Except in the Ordinary Course of Business, Seller has
not sold, leased, transferred, or assigned any material assets (individually or
in the aggregate), tangible or intangible;

                  (b)      Except in the Ordinary Course of Business, Seller has
not entered into any material agreement, contract, lease, or license;

                  (c) No party  including  Seller has  accelerated,  terminated,
made material  modifications to, or canceled any material  agreement,  contract,
lease,  or  license  to  which  Seller  is a party  or by which it or any of the
Acquired Assets is bound;

                  (d)      Except in the Ordinary Course of Business, neither
Seller nor its  Affiliates  has imposed any  Security  Interest  upon any of the
Acquired Assets;

                  (e)      Seller has not made any capital expenditures totaling
in the aggregate more than $100,000;

                  (f)      Seller has not made any capital investment in, or any
loan to, any other Person;

                  (g)      Seller has not created, incurred, assumed, or
guaranteed  more than $5,000 in aggregate  indebtedness  for borrowed  money and
capitalized lease obligations;

                  (h)      Seller has not granted any license or sublicense of
any rights under or with respect to any Intellectual Property;

                  (i)      There has been no change made or authorized in the
Declaration of Trust, dated June 5, 2000, or other  organizational  documents of
Seller;

                  (j) Neither Seller nor any of its  beneficiaries  have issued,
sold, or otherwise  disposed of any of its shares (or other beneficial  interest
in Seller),  or granted any  options,  warrants,  or other rights to purchase or
obtain (including upon conversion,  exchange, or exercise) any of its shares (or
other beneficial interest in Seller);

                  (k)      Seller has not experienced any material damage,
destruction,  or loss  (whether or not covered by  insurance) to its property or
assets;

                  (l)      Seller has not made any loan to, or entered into any
other transaction with, any of its, or its Affiliates', trustees, beneficiaries,
directors, officers, or employees;

                  (m) No employment contract or collective bargaining agreement,
written or oral, has been entered into by Seller or any of its  Affiliates  with
respect to the employees primarily involved in the Business,  nor have the terms
of any existing such contract or agreement been modified;

                  (n) Neither  Seller nor any of its  Affiliates has granted any
increase in the base compensation to any of Seller's directors or officers,  or,
other than in the Ordinary  Course of Business,  any of the employees  primarily
engaged in the Business;

                  (o) No bonus, profit-sharing,  incentive,  severance, or other
plan,  contract,  or  commitment  for the benefit of any of Seller's  directors,
officers,  or employees has been adopted,  amended,  modified or terminated (nor
has  any  such  action  with  respect  to any  other  employee  benefit  plan or
arrangement been taken);

                  (p)  Neither  Seller  nor any of its  Affiliates  has made any
other  material  change in  employment  terms for any of Seller's  directors  or
officers,  or,  other  than  in the  Ordinary  Course  of  Business,  any of the
employees of the Business;

                  (q) Except in the Ordinary Course of Business,  Seller has not
paid in excess of $100,000 in the  aggregate  with  respect to any  liability or
obligation  (other than costs and  expenses  Seller has incurred or may incur in
connection  with  this  Agreement  and  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement) which would not constitute an Assumed Liability if in existence as of
the Closing;

                  (r)  Seller  has  kept  in full  force  and  effect  insurance
comparable  in amount  and  scope to  coverage  maintained  by it as of the Most
Recent  Statement  Date  and  required  pursuant  to  any  material   agreement,
instrument or document to which it is a party;

                  (s)      Seller has not made any material change in any method
of accounting, or accounting principle, method or practice; and

                  (t) Seller has not settled,  released or forgiven any claim or
litigation  or waived  any right  with a value of  greater  than  $10,000 in any
instance.

        Section 3.8. Legal  Compliance.  Seller has complied with all applicable
laws  (including  rules,  regulations,  codes,  plans,  injunctions,  judgments,
orders, decrees,  rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and
foreign governments (and all agencies thereof), and no action, suit, proceeding,
hearing,  investigation,  charge,  complaint,  claim, demand, or notice has been
filed or commenced against it alleging any failure so to comply.

         Section 3.9.  Taxes.  No action or  proceeding  for the  assessment  or
collection of any Taxes is pending or proposed in writing  against  Seller or as
to the Acquired Assets, and no deficiency,  assessment or other claim in writing
for any Taxes has been  asserted or made  against  Seller or as to the  Acquired
Assets  that  has not  been  fully  paid or  finally  settled.  Seller,  and any
Affiliate  of Seller  that  owns any of the  Acquired  Assets  on or before  the
Closing Date,  have timely filed all required Tax returns due (after taking into
account  extensions  duly obtained) on or before the Closing Date, and all Taxes
due on or before the  Closing  Date have been paid,  provided  for in  reserves,
properly protested or will be so paid,  reserved for or protested,  except where
the  failure to take any action set forth in this  sentence  would not result in
any Security  Interest on the Acquired Assets other than a Permitted Lien, would
not materially  adversely  affect the Business and would not result in the Buyer
becoming liable therefor.

         Section  3.10.  Leased  Property.  Schedule  3.10  lists and  describes
briefly all real property leased or subleased to Seller.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.10,  all such leases and subleases may be assigned by Seller.  Seller
has  delivered  or made  available to Buyer  correct and complete  copies of the
leases and subleases and title  insurance  policies  listed in Schedule 3.10 (as
amended to date).  With  respect to each lease and  sublease  listed in Schedule
3.10: (i) the lease or sublease is legal, valid,  binding,  enforceable,  and in
full force and effect against Seller in all material respects; (ii) all rent and
other  amounts  payable  to date have been  paid and  Seller is not in  material
breach or  default,  and no event has  occurred  which,  with notice or lapse of
time,  would  constitute  a material  breach or  default or permit  termination,
modification, or acceleration thereunder; (iii) to the Knowledge of Seller there
are no material disputes, oral agreements,  or forbearance programs in effect as
to the lease or sublease; (iv) Seller has not assigned,  transferred,  conveyed,
mortgaged,  deeded in trust,  or  encumbered  any  interest in the  leasehold or
subleasehold;  and  (v) all  facilities  leased  or  subleased  thereunder  have
received all material approvals of governmental  authorities (including material
licenses and permits)  required in connection  with the operation  thereof,  and
have been operated and maintained in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and
regulations in all material respects.

      Section 3.11.        Intellectual Property.

                  (a) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.11(a) of this Agreement,
to the  Knowledge of Seller after due inquiry,  neither  Seller's nor any of its
Affiliates' use of the Intellectual Property included in the Acquired Assets has
interfered  with,  infringed  upon,  misappropriated,  or violated  any material
Intellectual  Property rights of third parties in any material respect.  None of
the Seller or any of its Affiliates, the Trustee, the officers of Seller, or the
directors  or  officers of Trustee  have ever  received  any charge,  complaint,
claim,  demand,  or notice  alleging  any material  interference,  infringement,
misappropriation,  or violation of an  Intellectual  Property right of any third
party  (including any claim that Seller,  or as it relates to the Business,  any
Affiliates  of  Seller,  must  license or  refrain  from using any  Intellectual
Property  rights of any third  party).  To the Knowledge of Seller or any of its
Affiliates, no third party has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated,
or violated any  material  Intellectual  Property  rights of the Business in any
material respect.

                  (b)  Other  than  Seller  Corporate  Names,  Schedule  3.11(b)
identifies  each:  (i)  patent,  trademark  or  copyright  (whether  foreign  or
domestic)  which has been  issued to or  registered  in the name of Seller or is
beneficially  owned by Seller with respect to any of its Intellectual  Property;
(ii) pending  patent,  trademark or copyright  application  or  application  for
registration  (whether  foreign or domestic)  which Seller has made or which has
been made for the  benefit of Seller  with  respect  to any of its  Intellectual
Property;  (iii)  license,  sublicense,  agreement,  or other  contract or other
permission, whether written or oral, pursuant to which Seller has granted to any
other  party  any  rights  with  respect  to any of  its  Intellectual  Property
(together  with any  exceptions);  and  (iv)  material  unregistered  copyright,
trademark,  logo,  or symbol with  respect to any of its  Intellectual  Property
(collectively,  "Seller Intellectual Property"). Schedule 3.11(b) identifies the
owner of all Seller  Intellectual  Property and the nature of Seller's  interest
therein if Seller is not the owner.  Seller has  delivered or made  available to
Buyer  correct  and  complete  copies of all  patents,  trademarks,  copyrights,
registrations,  applications,  licenses, agreements, and permissions (as amended
to date) itemized in Schedule 3.11(b).

                  (c)      With  respect  to  each  item  of Seller Intellectual
Property, except as set forth in Schedule 3.11(c):

                           (i) Seller  possesses all right,  title, and interest
in and to, or has the right to use,  without  payment to any  Person,  the item,
free and clear of any Security Interest (other than Permitted  Liens),  license,
or other  restriction,  including  without  limitation  all  rights to the names
ScanArray and  QuantArray.  Seller has used the trade names  SpotArray and Array
Informatics  in the Business and has the common law rights to use  SpotArray and
ArrayInformatics as have arisen as a result of such use;

                           (ii) Each  application,  registration  or  grant is
valid, subsisting, in proper form and enforceable, and has been duly maintained;

                           (iii) The  Person  designated  as  the owner of each
item on  Schedule  3.11(b) currently is listed in the records of the appropriate
United States governmental body as the sole owner of record of each application,
registration and grant;

                           (iv) To  the  Knowledge  of  Seller the  item is not
subject to any outstanding  injunction,  judgment,  order,  decree,  ruling,  or
charge;

                           (v) The  item  has  not  lapsed,  expired  or  been
abandoned;

                           (vi) No action,  suit, proceeding,  hearing, charge,
complaint, claim, or demand is pending before any Authority or, to the Knowledge
of  Seller,   is   threatened   which   challenges   the   legality,   validity,
enforceability,  use, or ownership of the item or  application,  registration or
grant therefor; and

                           (vii) Seller  has  not  agreed  to  indemnify  any
Person  for or  against  any interference, infringement,  misappropriation, or
other conflict with respect to the item.

                  (d) Other than as  identified  on Schedule  3.11(b),  Schedule
3.11(d) identifies each item of Intellectual  Property that any other party owns
and that Seller uses pursuant to a license, sublicense, agreement, or other form
of valid permission. With respect to each item of Intellectual Property required
to be identified in Schedule 3.11(d):

                           (i) The license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
covering  the  item  is,  with  respect  to  Seller,   legal,  valid,   binding,
enforceable,  and in full force and effect in all material  respects  and,  with
respect to the other party or parties  thereto,  is, to the Knowledge of Seller,
legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect in all material
respects;

                           (ii) No  party  to the  license,  sublicense,
agreement, or permission is in material breach or default, and, to the Knowledge
of  Seller,  no event has  occurred  which  with  notice or lapse of time  would
constitute a material breach or default or permit termination,  modification, or
acceleration thereunder;

                           (iii) No party to the license, sublicense, agreement,
or permission has repudiated any material provision thereof; and

                           (iv) Other than as  set forth in  Schedule  3.11(d),
Seller has not  granted  any  sublicense or  similar  right with respect to the
license, sublicense,  agreement, or permission.

                  (e) Other than as to Seller  Corporate Names, the Intellectual
Property  included in the  Acquired Assets  constitutes all of the Intellectual
Property  used in or  necessary  for the  conduct of the  Business as currently
conducted.

         Section 3.12. Tangible Assets. The buildings, machinery, equipment, and
other tangible assets that Seller owns,  leases or uses in the Business are free
from material  defects,  have been maintained in accordance with normal industry
practice, and are in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear
and tear).

         Section  3.13.  Inventory.  The  inventory of Seller to be purchased by
Buyer as Acquired Assets consists of raw materials,  work-in-progress,  supplies
and finished  goods,  all of which is  merchantable  and fit for the purpose for
which  it was  procured  or  manufactured  and  none of  which  is slow  moving,
obsolete,  damaged or defective,  subject to the reserve for inventory writedown
reflected in the inventory  account in the Most Recent Balance Sheet as adjusted
for operations and transactions through the Closing Date in accordance with Past
custom and practice.

         Section 3.14.  Contracts.  Schedule 3.14 lists the following contracts
and other arrangements, commitments or agreements to which Seller is a party or
to which it or any of the Acquired Assets is bound:

                  (a) Any written agreement (or group of related agreements) for
the  lease of  personal  property  to or from any  Person  providing  for  lease
payments in excess of $20,000 per annum;

                  (b) Any written agreement (or group of related agreements) for
the purchase or sale of raw materials, commodities, supplies, products, or other
personal property, or for the furnishing or receipt of services, the performance
of  which  will  extend  over  a  period  of  more  than  one  year  or  involve
consideration in excess of $20,000;

                  (c) Any written agreement concerning a partnership or joint
venture;

                  (d) Any  written  agreement  (or group of related  agreements)
under  which  Seller  has  created,   incurred,   assumed,   or  guaranteed  any
indebtedness for borrowed money, or any capitalized lease obligation,  in excess
of  $20,000;  or under  which it has  imposed a Security  Interest on any of its
assets, tangible or intangible;

                  (e) Any  written  agreement  concerning   confidentiality  or
noncompetition,  other than the standard form  agreements  contained in Seller's
employee manual furnished to Buyer;

                  (f) Any  agreement  involving  any  beneficiary or trustee of
Seller or their Affiliates (other than Seller);

                  (g) Any profit sharing,  stock option,  stock purchase,  stock
appreciation,  deferred  compensation,  severance,  or  other  material  plan or
arrangement for the benefit of Seller's current or former  directors,  officers,
or employees;

                  (h) Any agreement for the  employment  or  consultancy  of any
individual  on a  full-time,  part-time,  consulting,  or other basis  providing
annual compensation in excess of $50,000 or for periods greater than one year or
providing material severance benefits;

                  (i) Any  agreement under which  Seller has advanced  or loaned
(or agreed to advance or loan)  any amount to any of its directors, officers, or
employees;

                  (j) Any  written agreement  under which the  consequences of a
default or termination could have a Seller Material Adverse Effect;

                  (k) Any  other  written  agreement (or  group of  related
agreements)  the  performance  of which  involves  consideration  in  excess  of
$20,000; or

                  (l) Any other material written  agreement or material group of
related  written  agreements not cancelable by Seller in 30 days or less without
premium or penalty.

         Seller has delivered or made  available to Buyer a correct and complete
copy of each agreement  listed in Schedule 3.14 (as amended to date).  Except as
set forth on Schedule  3.14,  with respect to each such  agreement that is to be
assigned to Buyer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:  (A) the agreement is
assignable  without  the  consent  of any other  Person,  and is  legal,  valid,
binding,  enforceable,  and in full  force and effect in all  material  respects
against  Seller and, to the  Knowledge of Seller,  against the other  party(ies)
thereto; (B) Seller is not, and to the Knowledge of Seller no other party is, in
material breach or default,  and, to the Knowledge Seller, no event has occurred
which  with  notice  or lapse of time  would  constitute  a  material  breach or
default,  or  permit  termination,  modification,  or  acceleration,  under  the
agreement;  and (C) no party has repudiated in writing any material provision of
the agreement or has expressed in writing an intent to so repudiate.

         Section  3.15.  Insurance.  Schedule  3.15  sets  forth  the  following
information with respect to each material  insurance policy (including  policies
providing  property,  casualty,   liability,  product  liability,  and  workers'
compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements,  but excluding directors
and officers  liability  insurance)  with respect to which Seller is a party,  a
named insured, or otherwise the beneficiary of coverage:

                  (a) The name, address, and telephone number of the agent;

                  (b) The name of the insurer, the name of the policyholder, and
the name of each covered insured;

                  (c) The policy number and the period of coverage; and

                  (d) The scope (including an indication of whether the coverage
is on a claims made, occurrence, or other basis) and amount of coverage.

         With respect to each such insurance  policy to the Knowledge of Seller:
(i) the  policy is legal,  valid,  binding,  enforceable,  and in full force and
effect in all material respects;  (ii) neither Seller nor any other party to the
policy is in material  breach or default  (including with respect to the payment
of premiums or the giving of  notices),  and no event has occurred  which,  with
notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a material breach or default,
or permit  termination,  modification,  or acceleration,  under the policy;  and
(iii) no party to the policy has repudiated any material provision thereof. Such
insurance  policies  listed and described on Schedule 3.15 include all insurance
coverage that Seller is required to have in place pursuant to license agreements
or any other contracts or agreements,  and each such policy is in full force and
effect for the  amounts and types of  coverage  and for the  insured  parties as
required by such agreements or contracts.

         Section  3.16.  Litigation.  Schedule  3.16 sets forth each instance in
which  Seller  (or to  the  extent  related  to the  Business,  any of  Seller's
Affiliates):  (a) is subject to any  outstanding  injunction,  judgment,  order,
decree, ruling, or charge pending before any Authority; or (b) is a party or, to
the Knowledge of Seller or any  Affiliate of Seller,  is threatened to be made a
party to any action,  suit,  proceeding,  hearing,  or investigation  of, in, or
before any Authority, arbitrator or mediator.

         Section 3.17.  Product  Warranty.  Substantially all of the products of
the Business manufactured,  sold, leased, and delivered by Seller have conformed
in all material  respects with all applicable  contractual  commitments  and all
express and implied  warranties  and  government  regulations  and Seller has no
material  Liability  for  replacement  or repair of defective  products or other
damages  in  connection  therewith,  subject  only to the  reserve  for  product
warranty  claims set forth in the Most  Recent  Balance  Sheet as  adjusted  for
operations  and  transactions  through the Closing Date in accordance  with Past
custom  and  practice.  All of the  products  manufactured,  sold,  leased,  and
delivered  by Seller are subject to  standard  terms and  conditions  of sale or
lease.

         Section 3.18.  Product  Liability.  Neither Seller nor any Affiliate of
Seller has any material  Liability  arising out of any injury to  individuals or
property  as a  result  of the  ownership,  possession,  or  use of any  product
manufactured, sold, leased, or delivered in connection with the Business.

         Section  3.19.  Employees.  Schedule  3.19  hereto  lists  all  of  the
employees of Seller or its Affiliates who are engaged  primarily in the Business
as of the Closing Date, including for each such employee (i) their date of hire,
(ii)  compensation,  (iii)  position,  and (iv)  employer if other than  Seller.
Except  as  disclosed  in  Schedule  3.19,  to the  Knowledge  of  Seller or its
Affiliates  engaged primarily in the Business,  no executive,  key employee,  or
significant group of employees plans to terminate  employment with Seller during
the next 12 months. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.19, there currently exists
no contract,  agreement,  understanding  or arrangement  with Seller pursuant to
which any  current or former  employee  of Seller has or,  upon  termination  of
employment  by  Seller  or Buyer  or upon the  execution  and  delivery  of this
Agreement or the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  herein,  would
have any right to  severance,  termination,  change in control or other  similar
payments.  Seller  is not a  party  to or  bound  by any  collective  bargaining
agreement or any arrangement with or commitment to any labor union or guild, nor
has it  experienced  any strike or  material  grievance,  claim of unfair  labor
practices,  or other collective  bargaining dispute within the past three years.
Seller has not committed any material unfair labor practice. To the Knowledge of
Seller, there is no organizational  effort presently being made or threatened by
or on behalf of any labor union with respect to employees of Seller.

         Section 3.20.  Employee  Benefits.  Schedule 3.20 sets forth a complete
and  accurate  list of (i) all employee  benefit  plans,  all  employee  welfare
benefit plans, all employee pension benefit plans, all  multiemployer  plans and
all multiple  employer  welfare  arrangements (as defined in Sections 3(3), (1),
(2), (37) and (40), respectively, of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")), and (ii) all equity-based plans, arrangements or
agreements,  which are currently  maintained  and/or  sponsored by Seller and in
which employees of Seller participate  (collectively,  the "Plans"). Those Plans
that are  identified  in (i) above are known as "ERISA  Plans." Those Plans that
are  subject to Title IV of ERISA are known as "Title IV Plans."  Schedule  3.20
sets forth each plan or arrangement  that would have been an employee pension or
welfare  benefit  plan but for its  termination  within  the past  three  years.
Schedule  3.20 sets forth any Title IV Plans that  within the last six (6) years
have been  maintained,  contributed  to and/or  sponsored by Seller or any other
entity which together with the Seller would be deemed a "single employer" within
the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or Sections 414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the
Code (an "ERISA Affiliate").

         Seller  has  heretofore  delivered  or made  available  to Buyer to the
extent reasonably  available,  true,  correct and complete copies of (i) each of
the Plans, (ii) to the extent applicable, the actuarial report for each Plan for
the  last  three  years,  (iii)  to  the  extent  applicable,  the  most  recent
determination  letter from the IRS for each Plan,  (iv) the current summary plan
description and any summaries of material  modification,  (v) all annual reports
(Forms 5500 series) for each Plan filed for the preceding three plan years, (vi)
all agreements with fiduciaries and service providers  relating to any Plan that
is an Assumed Liability and (vii) all substantive correspondence relating to any
such Plan from the IRS, the Department of Labor,  the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty
Corporation or any other governmental  agency to the extent such  correspondence
relates to an Assumed Liability.

         Except as set forth in Schedule  3.20, all Plans have been operated and
administered  and are in material  compliance with all applicable  provisions of
ERISA  and  the  regulations  issued  thereunder,  as well  as  with  all  other
applicable laws, and in accordance with the governing documents.  All Plans that
are intended to qualify (the  "Qualified  Plans")  under  Section  401(a) of the
Code, have been determined by the IRS to be so qualified. To the extent that any
Qualified  Plans  have not been  amended  to comply  with  applicable  law,  the
remedial  amendment period  permitting  retroactive  amendment of such Qualified
Plans has not expired.  None of: (i) any beneficiary or trustee of Seller;  (ii)
any Plan;  or (iii)  Seller or ERISA  Affiliate  has engaged in any  transaction
prohibited  under the  provisions  of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of
ERISA for which an exemption is not  available.  Neither  Seller,  nor any ERISA
Affiliate,  has ever  sponsored a Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or which has
incurred an accumulated  funding deficiency  (whether or not waived), as defined
in Section  412(a) of the Code and Section  302(a)(2) of ERISA;  and Seller does
not currently have (nor at the Closing Date will it have) any direct or indirect
liability  whatsoever  (including,  without  limitation,  being  subject  to any
statutory  lien to secure  payment of any such  liability),  with respect to any
such  Plan,  or to the IRS  for any tax or  penalty  with  respect  to any  plan
sponsored by Seller or any ERISA  Affiliate of Seller and except as set forth on
Schedule 3.20,  neither Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate  currently has (or at the
Closing  Date  will  have  or  previously  had)  any  obligation  whatsoever  to
contribute  to, nor has any withdrawal  liability  (whether or not yet assessed)
arising under or capable of assertion under any "multiemployer pension plan" (as
defined in ERISA Section  4001(a)(3)) or Title IV of ERISA  (including,  without
limitation,  Sections  4201,  4202,  4203,  4204, or 4205 thereof) been incurred
directly or indirectly by Seller. Further, except as set forth on Schedule 3.20:

                  (a) There have been no terminations,  partial  terminations or
discontinuances  of  contributions  to any Qualified  Plan without notice to and
issuance of a favorable determination letter by the IRS;

                  (b) There is no pending litigation,  arbitration,  or disputed
claim,  settlement or  adjudication  proceeding and, to the Knowledge of Seller,
there is no threatened litigation,  arbitration or disputed claim, settlement or
adjudication   proceeding,   or  any  governmental  or  other   proceeding,   or
investigation  with respect to any Plan,  or any disputed  claim,  settlement or
adjudication  (other  than  routine  claims for  benefits)  with  respect to any
fiduciary,  administrator,  party in  interest  or  sponsor  thereof  (in  their
capacities as such);

                  (c) The Most Recent  Balance  Sheet  reflects the  approximate
total  pension,  medical and other benefit  expense for all Plans as of the date
thereof,  and no funding changes or  irregularities  not reflected thereon would
cause such Seller Financial Statements to be inaccurate;

                  (d) Seller,  and with respect to the Business,  the Affiliates
and ERISA  Affiliates of Seller,  have paid to each Plan or properly  accrued on
the Seller's  financial  statements all  contributions  or other amounts payable
with  respect to such Plan prior to the Closing  Date by the terms of such Plan,
by any statute, regulation or other governmental authority, or by any collective
bargaining  agreement or other  agreement in accordance with GAAP (to the extent
applicable) and, if applicable, Section 412 of the Code; and

                  (e) Neither  Seller nor any ERISA  Affiliate has any liability
under any Plan that is an  employee  welfare  benefit  plan (as defined in ERISA
Section 3(1)) or under any individual  arrangement or agreement for benefits for
any former employee or for any current employee beyond their retirement or other
termination  of  employment  (to the extent any of the  foregoing  is an Assumed
Liability), other than as required by ERISA Sections 601-608.

                  (f) To the extent any Plan is an Assumed Liability, such Plan
could be terminated as of the Closing Date without any material liability;

                  (g) To the  extent a Plan or any  payments  described  in this
subparagraph (g) are an Assumed Liability, no Plan, program,  agreement or other
arrangement,  either  individually or collectively,  provides for any payment by
Seller or any ERISA  Affiliate  that would not be deductible  under Code Section
162(a)(1), 162(m) or 404; and

                  (h) No Title IV Plan  sponsored  by the  Seller  or its  ERISA
Affiliates  has  experienced a  "reportable  event" (as such term ins defined in
Section  4043 of ERISA) that is not subject to an  administrative  or  statutory
waiver from this reporting requirement.

         Except as set forth in  Schedule  3.20 and only for any Plan or payment
or obligation described in this paragraph that is an Assumed Liability,  neither
the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  nor the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated hereby (either alone or in conjunction with any other
event) will (a) restrict or prohibit Seller or any ERISA Affiliate from amending
or terminating any Plan, (b) result in any material payment (including,  without
limitation,  severance,  unemployment  compensation,  "excess parachute payment"
(within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), forgiveness of indebtedness or
otherwise)  becoming  due to any  director,  officer or employee of Seller or an
ERISA  Affiliate  under  any Plan or  otherwise,  (c)  materially  increase  any
benefits otherwise payable under any Plan, (d) result in any acceleration of the
time of payment or vesting of any benefits  under an Plan or  otherwise,  or (e)
affect the  calculation  of the value of any  benefits  pursuant  to any Plan or
otherwise.

         Section 3.21.     Environment, Health and Safety.

                  (a) Seller  and its  predecessors  and  Affiliates:  (i) have
complied with the Environmental, Health and Safety Laws in all material respects
in connection  with the Business as conducted by Seller and its Affiliates  (and
no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,  investigation,  charge, complaint, claim,
demand,  or notice has been filed or commenced  against any of them alleging any
such failure to comply);  (ii) have obtained and been in substantial  compliance
with all of the terms and  conditions  of all material  permits,  licenses,  and
other  governmental  authorizations  which are required under the Environmental,
Health  and  Safety  Laws  for the  Business  as  conducted  by  Seller  and its
Affiliates;  and (iii) have  complied in all  material  respects  with all other
limitations,  restrictions,  conditions, standards, prohibitions,  requirements,
obligations, schedules, and timetables which are contained in the Environmental,
Health and Safety Laws  required for the Business as conducted by Seller and its
Affiliates.

                  (b) In connection  with the Business,  Seller has no Liability
under Environmental,  Health and Safety Laws and Seller and its predecessors and
Affiliates  have not  handled or disposed of any  substance,  treated,  handled,
generated, stored transported,  disposed of, or arranged for the disposal of any
Hazardous  Material,  exposed any employee or other  individual to any Hazardous
Material  or  condition,  or owned or operated  any  property of facility in any
manner that could give rise to any Liability,  for damage to any site, location,
or body of water (surface or subsurface),  for any illness of or personal injury
to any employee or other individual,  or for any reason under any Environmental,
Health and Safety Laws.

                  (c) All  properties  and  equipment  used in the  Business  by
Seller  and  its  respective  predecessors  and  Affiliates  have  been  free of
asbestos,       PCB'S,       methylene       chloride,        trichloroethylene,
1,2-transdichloroethylene,  dioxins,  dibenzofurans,  petroleum products and any
other Hazardous Materials.

         Section 3.22. Certain Business Relationships With Seller. Except as set
forth on Schedule 3.22 to this  Agreement,  no trustee,  beneficiary,  director,
officer or shareholder of Seller nor any of their respective Affiliates has been
involved in any business arrangement or relationship with Seller within the past
12 months,  nor owns any asset,  tangible  or  intangible,  which is used in the
Business.

         Section 3.23.  Accounts  Receivable.  All accounts receivable of Seller
arose in the  Ordinary  Course of  Business  from bona  fide  transactions,  are
reflected properly on Seller's books and records,  and are collectible,  subject
only to the reserve for bad debts set forth in the Most  Recent  Balance  Sheet.
Prior to the Closing,  Seller shall utilize  commercially  reasonable efforts to
collect  outstanding  accounts  receivable   consistent  with  past  custom  and
practice.

         Section 3.24.  Licenses and Permits.  The Acquired  Assets  include all
domestic and governmental licenses and permits necessary to conduct the Business
as presently  conducted.  All of such licenses and permits are in full force and
effect.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.24, all such licenses and permits are
freely  transferable  to Buyer by Seller or its  Affiliates.  No  proceeding  is
pending, or to the Knowledge of Seller and its Affiliates,  threatened regarding
the revocation or limitation of any such governmental  license or permit and, to
the Knowledge of Seller and its Affiliates, there is no basis or grounds for any
such revocation or limitation.

         Section 3.25. Undisclosed Liabilities. Seller has no Liability (and, to
the  Knowledge  of Seller,  there is no basis for any present or future  action,
suit, proceeding,  hearing,  investigation,  charge, complaint, claim, or demand
against it giving rise to any Liability),  except for (i) Liabilities  reflected
on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto),
(ii)  Liabilities  which have arisen after the Most Recent Statement Date in the
Ordinary Course of Business (none of which results from,  arises out of, relates
to, is in the  nature of, or was  caused by any  breach of  contract,  breach of
warranty,  tort,  infringement,  or  violation  of law),  and (iii)  Liabilities
incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         Section  3.26.  Books and Records.  All  accounts,  books,  ledgers and
official  and other  records of Seller and,  with respect to the  Business,  its
Affiliates,  have been fully,  properly and accurately kept and completed in all
material  respects,  and there are no  material  inaccuracies  or  discrepancies
contained therein.

         Section  3.27.  Investment.  Seller is  acquiring  its  interest in the
shares of Buyer  Common  Stock  issued  pursuant to this  Agreement  for its own
account  for  investment  and not with a view to, or for the sale in  connection
with, any  distribution  of its interest,  except in compliance  with applicable
state  and  federal   securities  laws.   Seller  has  been  provided,   to  its
satisfaction,  the opportunity to discuss the transactions  contemplated  hereby
with Buyer and has had the opportunity to obtain such information  pertaining to
Buyer as has been  requested,  including,  but not  limited  to,  the  Buyer SEC
Reports. Seller is an "Accredited Investor" as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation
D promulgated  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities
Act").  Seller has such  knowledge  and  experience  in business  and  financial
matters that it is capable of  evaluating  the merits and risks of an investment
in the shares of Buyer Common Stock.  Seller  acknowledges  and understands that
such shares of Buyer Common Stock have not been registered  under the Securities
Act and understands that such shares must be held  indefinitely  unless they are
subsequently  registered  under the  Securities  Act or such  sale is  permitted
pursuant to an available exemption from such registration requirement.

         Section 3.28. Disclosure.  The representations and warranties contained
in this  Section 3 do not contain any untrue  statement of fact or omit to state
any fact necessary in order to make the statements and information  contained in
this Section 3 not misleading.


                                    SECTION 4
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

         Buyer  represents  and  warrants to Seller and Trustee that each of the
statements  set forth  below (i) is true and  correct in all  respects as of the
date of this  Agreement  and (ii) will be true and correct in all respects as of
the  Closing  Date (as  though  made then and as though  the  Closing  Date were
substituted for the date of this Agreement  throughout this Section 4), provided
that if the Closing does not occur,  Buyer shall not be deemed to have made (and
shall not be liable to Seller,  Trustee or anyone  else for) the  representation
and warranty set forth in this clause (ii).  Such  representations,  warranties,
covenants and  agreements  have  constituted a material  inducement to Seller to
enter into this  Agreement,  to enter into the other  Transaction  Documents  to
which it has become a party,  to sell the Acquired Assets sold by it pursuant to
this Agreement and to consummate  the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement and by all other Transaction Documents.

         Section 4.1.  Organization of Buyer.  Buyer is a corporation duly
formed,  validly  existing,  and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.

         Section 4.2.  Authorization of Transaction and Financial Status.  Buyer
has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other
Transaction  Documents  to which it is a party and to  perform  its  obligations
under this  Agreement or under any other  Transaction  Document.  This Agreement
constitutes  the valid and legally binding  obligation of Buyer,  enforceable in
accordance  with its terms and  conditions,  subject to bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium and other laws of general application  affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and to general principles of equity (regardless
of whether  such  enforcement  is sought in a  proceeding  in equity or at law).
Buyer has and will have at Closing all of the necessary  financial  resources to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Buyer has accurately
disclosed to Seller the source or sources of funds to be used to consummate  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         Section 4.3.  Noncontravention.  Except as  otherwise  provided in this
Agreement,  neither the  execution and the delivery of this  Agreement,  nor the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby (including the assignments
and assumptions  referred to in Section 2 of this Agreement),  will: (a) violate
any  constitution,  statute,  regulation,  rule,  injunction,  judgment,  order,
decree,  ruling, charge, or other restriction of any Authority to which Buyer is
subject or any provision of its certificate of formation or operating agreement;
or (b) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under,  result
in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate,  terminate,
modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement,  contract,  lease,
license,  instrument, or other arrangement to which Buyer is a party or by which
it is bound or to which  any of its  assets  is  subject.  Except  as  otherwise
provided in this Agreement,  Buyer does not need to give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government
or governmental  agency in order for the Parties to consummate the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  (including  the  assignments  and  assumptions
referred to in Section 2 of this Agreement).

         Section 4.4.  Brokers' Fees.  Buyer has no liability or obligation to
pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which Seller could become liable
or obligated.

         Section 4.5.  Capitalization of Buyer.

                  (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of Buyer  consists  of (i)
200,000,000  shares of Buyer Common Stock, of which 62,069,535 shares are issued
and  outstanding as of August 17, 2000,  and (ii) 1,000,000  shares of preferred
stock,  of which no shares  are issued  and  outstanding.  All of the issued and
outstanding  shares of Buyer  Common  Stock are,  and all of the shares of Buyer
Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement (when issued
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) will be, duly and validly issued
and  outstanding  and  fully  paid and  nonassessable.  Except  as set  forth in
Schedule 4.5, none of the outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock has been, and
none of the shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Section 2.3 of
this  Agreement  will be,  issued in violation of any  preemptive  rights of the
current or past stockholders of Buyer.

                  (b)  Except  as set  forth in  Section  4.5(a),  in Buyer  SEC
Reports or as set forth in Schedule 4.5, there are no shares of capital stock or
other equity  securities of Buyer  outstanding or any outstanding  arrangements,
calls,  commitments,   agreements,  options,  rights  to  subscribe  to,  scrip,
understandings,   warrants,  or  other  binding  obligations  of  any  character
whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable
for,  shares of capital  stock of Buyer or by which  Buyer is or may be bound to
issue additional shares of, or any rights with respect to, its capital stock.

                  (c)  Except  as   provided  in  that   certain   Stockholders'
Agreement,  dated as of March 4, 1997, by and among Buyer,  Merrill Lynch KECALP
L.P. 1994,  KECALP Inc., the Management  Investors listed in Schedule 1 thereto,
the Non-Management Investors listed in Schedule 2 thereto and Stonington Capital
Appreciation  1994 Fund, L.P. (as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of
June 2, 1997, Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of January 23, 1998 and Amendment
No. 3 thereto dated as of March 31,  1998),  Buyer has not granted to any person
any rights to cause Buyer to register under the Securities Act (or any rights to
include in any  registration  statement filed by Buyer under the Securities Act)
(i) any  shares  of  Buyer's  capital  stock  or (ii)  any  securities  or other
instruments  convertible  into,  exchangeable  for or exercisable  for shares of
Buyer's capital stock.

         Section 4.6.  SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

                  (a) Buyer has timely  filed and made  available  to Seller all
forms, proxy statements,  registration statements, reports, schedules, and other
documents  required  to be filed  by Buyer  with  the SEC  pursuant  to  federal
securities  laws (including the rules and regulations of the SEC) since December
31, 1997 (the "Buyer SEC Reports"). The Buyer SEC Reports (i) at the time filed,
complied  in all  material  respects  with the  applicable  requirements  of the
federal  securities  laws  (including the rules and  regulations of the SEC) and
other  applicable  laws and (ii) did not,  at the time they were filed  (or,  if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this  Agreement,  then on
the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material  fact  required  to be stated in such  Buyer SEC  Reports or
necessary in order to make the statements in such Buyer SEC Reports, in light of
the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  No subsidiary of
Buyer is required to file any reports or other  documents  with the SEC pursuant
to federal securities laws (including the rules and regulations of the SEC).

                  (b) Each of (i) the  consolidated  balance  sheets  (including
related  notes  and  schedules,  if any) of Buyer as of June 30,  2000 and as of
December 31, 1999, and the related statements of income,  stockholders'  equity,
and cash  flows  (including  related  notes and  schedules,  if any) for the six
months ended June 30, 2000 and for each of the three fiscal years ended December
31, 1997,  1998, and 1999, as filed by Buyer in the Buyer SEC Reports,  and (ii)
the consolidated balance sheets of Buyer (including related notes and schedules,
if any) and related statements of income,  stockholders'  equity, and cash flows
(including related notes and schedules,  if any) included in any documents filed
with the SEC  pursuant  to  federal  securities  laws  (including  the rules and
regulations  of the SEC) with respect to periods  ended  subsequent  to June 30,
2000 (collectively,  the "Buyer Financial  Statements"),  complied as to form in
all material  respects with federal  securities  laws  (including  the rules and
regulations  of the SEC),  was  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP  applied on a
consistent  basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes to such  financial  statements  or, in the case of  unaudited  interim
statements,  as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC), and fairly  presented in all
material  respects  the  consolidated   financial  position  of  Buyer  and  its
subsidiaries  as at  the  respective  dates  and  the  consolidated  results  of
operations and cash flows for the periods  indicated,  except that the unaudited
interim  financial  statements  were or are  subject  to  normal  and  recurring
year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to be material in amount
or effect.

         Section 4.7. Events Subsequent to June 30, 2000. Except as set forth on
Schedule  4.7,  since  June 30,  2000  there  have been no  events,  changes  or
occurrences which have had, or are reasonably likely to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

        Section 4.8. Legal  Compliance.  Buyer and it subsidiaries have complied
with  all  applicable  laws  (including  rules,   regulations,   codes,   plans,
injunctions,  judgments,  orders,  decrees,  rulings, and charges thereunder) of
federal,  state, local, and foreign governments (and all agencies thereof),  and
no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,  investigation,  charge, complaint, claim,
demand, or notice has been filed or commenced against it alleging any failure so
to comply,  except where the failure to comply  would not have a Buyer  Material
Adverse Effect.

         Section 4.9. Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Buyer has no material Liability
(and,  to the  Knowledge  of Buyer,  there is no basis for any present or future
action, suit, proceeding, hearing,  investigation,  charge, complaint, claim, or
demand  against  it  giving  rise to any  material  Liability),  except  for (i)
Liabilities reflected on the face of or in any notes to the consolidated balance
sheet of Buyer as of June 30, 2000 included in the Buyer  Financial  Statements,
(ii) Liabilities which have arisen after June 30, 2000 in the ordinary course of
business  (none of which  results  from,  arises out of,  relates  to, is in the
nature of, or was caused by any breach of contract,  breach of  warranty,  tort,
infringement,  or violation of law),  (iii)  Liabilities  incurred in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and (iv) as set forth on
Schedule 4.9.

         Section 4.10. Disclosure.  The representations and warranties contained
in this  Section 4 do not contain any untrue  statement of fact or omit to state
any fact necessary in order to make the statements and information  contained in
this Section 4 not misleading.


                                    SECTION 5
                                    COVENANTS

         Section 5.1.  Covenants Pending Closing.

                  (a) (i) Prior to the Closing, Buyer shall be entitled, through
its employees and representatives,  to make such investigations and examinations
of Seller, its books and records,  business,  and assets as Buyer may reasonably
request for the sole purpose of verifying the  representations and warranties of
Seller and Trustee as contained in this  Agreement.  Seller shall  furnish Buyer
and its  representatives  during  such period with  information  concerning  the
Business and Acquired  Assets as Buyer or such  representatives  may  reasonably
request  and  cause  Seller's  trustees,  beneficiaries,   officers,  employees,
consultants, agents, accountants, and attorneys to cooperate with Buyer and such
representatives.  Any such investigations and examinations shall be conducted at
reasonable times, under reasonable circumstances,  during normal business hours,
and at the normal place of Seller's business.

                      (ii) Prior to the Closing, Seller shall be entitled,
through its  employees  and  representatives,  to make such  investigations  and
examinations of Buyer, its books and records, business, and assets as Seller may
reasonably  request for the sole purpose of verifying  the  representations  and
warranties of Buyer as contained in this  Agreement.  Buyer shall furnish Seller
and its representatives  during such period with information concerning Buyer as
Seller  or  such  representatives  may  reasonably  request  and  cause  Buyer's
officers,  employees,   consultants,   agents,  accountants,  and  attorneys  to
cooperate  with Seller and such  representatives.  Any such  investigations  and
examinations   shall  be  conducted  at  reasonable   times,   under  reasonable
circumstances,  during normal business hours, and at the normal place of Buyer's
business.

                  (b) From the date of this Agreement  through the Closing Date,
except as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, or as previously approved by
Buyer or included in a business plan approved by Buyer, Seller shall conduct its
business only in the ordinary  course and consistent  with its prior  practices,
shall not make or  institute  any unusual or novel  methods of  purchase,  sale,
lease, management,  accounting,  or operation or that vary materially from those
in use as of the date  hereof.  In  addition,  Seller  shall use its  reasonable
efforts: (i) to preserve the Business and organization of Seller intact; (ii) to
keep available to the Business the services of the present officers,  employees,
agents,  and  independent  contractors  employed  or  engaged  primarily  in the
Business or that provide  services to the  operation of the  Business;  (iii) to
preserve for the benefit of Buyer the goodwill of Seller's suppliers, customers,
licensors,   distributors  of  Seller's  catalogs  and  others  having  business
relations with it; and (iv) to cooperate  with Buyer and use reasonable  efforts
to  assist  Buyer  in  obtaining  the  consent  of any  note  holder,  licensor,
distributors,  or other party to any  agreement  with  Seller or its  Affiliates
where the consent of such other party may be required or  advisable by reason of
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or in the Transaction Documents.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  prior to the Closing,  Seller
shall not, without Buyer's prior written approval, amend or propose to amend its
Declaration  of Trust or take any  action or enter into any  transaction  of the
sort  described  in Section  3.7,  or which would  cause any  representation  or
warranty made in Section 3.7 to be untrue.

                  (c) From the date hereof through the Closing Date,  Seller and
its  Affiliates  shall:  (i)  maintain in force  (including  necessary  renewals
thereof) the insurance policies  currently in effect,  except to the extent that
they may be replaced with equivalent policies appropriate to insure the Acquired
Assets and Business, to the same extent as currently insured; (ii) comply in all
material  respects with all agreements  related to the Business;  (iii) duly and
timely file all tax returns  related to the  Business  required to be filed with
Authorities  and duly observe and  conform,  in all  material  respects,  to all
applicable laws and orders related to the Business; and (iv) notify Buyer of any
lawsuit,  claim,  proceeding,  or  investigation  that after the date  hereof is
threatened or commenced against Seller or related to the Business.

                  (d)  Unless  and until  this  Agreement  shall be  terminated,
Seller and its  Affiliates  shall not, nor shall any of them cause,  suffer,  or
permit their respective beneficiaries, trustees, directors, officers, employees,
representatives,  agents,  accountants,  or attorneys  to,  initiate or solicit,
directly or indirectly,  any inquiries or the making of any proposal,  or engage
in  negotiations  or discussions  with any person,  or provide any  confidential
information  or data to any person,  with respect to any  acquisition,  business
combination or purchase of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares or
assets,  or any  significant  asset of Seller,  or any direct or indirect equity
interest in Seller or otherwise  facilitate any effort or attempt to seek any of
the  foregoing.  Furthermore,  Seller shall  immediately  terminate any existing
activities,  discussions,  or negotiations with any person other than Buyer with
respect to any of the foregoing.

                  (e) Each Party  shall  cooperate  in  obtaining  all  required
consents,  audits,  and completion of other  transactions  contemplated  to have
occurred  as of  the  Closing  and  to  use  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  the
fulfillment of the conditions to the other Party's  obligation to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby. Each Party's  representations and warranties
contained  in this  Agreement  and in all  Schedules  delivered  by  such  Party
hereunder shall be updated to the Closing Date (except for  representations  and
warranties  that speak as of a specific date) by such Party and delivered to the
other Party(ies);  provided that such updates shall be for information  purposes
only and shall not alter or modify the representations made pursuant to Sections
3 or 4 of this Agreement.

                  (f) Each Party will give to the other prompt written notice of
any material  adverse change in any fact respecting  which a  representation  or
warranty has been made by it in this Agreement.

                  (g) Seller and Buyer shall file any  information and documents
that remain to be filed under the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "HSR Act") as
promptly as practicable at such time as such items are required to be filed,  if
any. The parties  hereby agree to (i)  cooperate  with each other in  connection
with such HSR Act filings, which cooperation shall include,  without limitation,
furnishing  the other with any  information  or documents that may be reasonably
required in connection with such filings;  (ii) promptly file, after any request
by the Federal Trade  Commission  ("FTC") or  Department of Justice  ("DOJ") and
after appropriate  negotiation with the FTC or DOJ of the scope of such request,
any information or documents requested by the FTC or DOJ; and (iii) furnish each
other with any  correspondence  from or to,  and notify  each other of any other
communications   with,  the  FTC  or  DOJ  that  relates  to  the   transactions
contemplated hereunder,  and to the extent practicable,  to permit each other to
participate in any conferences with the FTC or DOJ.

                  (h)  Nothing  in this  Section  5.1 is  intended,  or shall be
construed, to modify or expand the representation and warranties of Seller under
Section 3 of this Agreement.

                  (i) Prior to and after  Closing,  Buyer,  Seller  and  Trustee
shall be bound by the terms and  conditions  of any written  agreement  to which
Buyer or Seller or Trustee is a party concerning the  confidential  treatment of
any information or materials of either Party.

         Section 5.2.  Post-Closing Covenants.

                  (a)  General.  Each of the  Parties  will  use its  reasonable
efforts to take all action and to do all things necessary in order to consummate
and make effective the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  (including
satisfaction,  but not waiver, of the closing  conditions set forth in Section 6
of  this  Agreement).  Seller  and  its  Affiliates  shall  provide  Buyer  such
assistance  as necessary  (including  completion  of an audit of the Business by
Seller's  outside  auditors,  the cost of which shall be shared equally by Buyer
and Seller) to allow Buyer to prepare and file any forms that may be required by
the SEC, including, without limitation, a Form 8-K.

                  (b) Confidentiality. Following the Closing, Seller and Trustee
will,  and will cause  their  respective  Affiliates,  beneficiaries,  trustees,
directors,  officers and  employees to, treat and hold  confidential  all of the
Confidential  Information and all terms of the transactions  contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, refrain from using any of the Confidential Information or
such  transactional  terms  except  in  connection  with this  Agreement  (or as
required to be disclosed to taxing authorities in connection with the payment of
taxes or as required  to be  disclosed  in filings  made with the SEC or similar
Canadian Authorities) and shall deliver promptly to the Buyer or destroy, at the
request and option of the Buyer,  all tangible  embodiments  (and all copies) of
the  Confidential  Information  which are in his or its  possession  (except for
copies of such  Confidential  Information  as may be  required to be retained in
connection  with the payment of taxes or the preparation of filings with the SEC
or similar Canadian  Authorities).  In the event that Seller or Trustee or their
respective  beneficiaries,   trustees,   directors,  officers  or  employees  is
requested or required (by oral question or request for  information or documents
in any legal proceeding, interrogatory, subpoena, civil investigative demand, or
similar  process) to disclose any  Confidential  Information or any terms of the
transactions  contemplated by the Transaction Documents, then Seller or Trustee,
as the case may be, will notify Buyer  promptly of the request or requirement so
that Buyer may seek an appropriate protective order or waive compliance with the
provisions of this Section 5.2(b).  If, in the absence of a protective  order or
the  receipt of a waiver,  Seller or  Trustee,  as the case may be, is, or their
respective beneficiaries, trustees, directors, officers or employees are, on the
advice of counsel,  compelled to disclose any  Confidential  Information  or any
terms of the  transactions  contemplated  by the  Transaction  Documents  to any
tribunal  or else stand  liable  for  contempt,  then  Seller or Trustee or such
beneficiaries,  trustees,  directors,  officers or employees  may disclose  such
Confidential  Information or such transaction  terms to the tribunal;  provided,
however,  that the disclosing  Person shall use its  reasonable  best efforts to
obtain,  at the  expense  and  reasonable  request  of Buyer,  an order or other
assurance  that  confidential  treatment will be accorded to such portion of the
Confidential  Information or transaction terms required to be disclosed as Buyer
shall designate.

                  (c) Records.  Buyer shall  preserve and retain the  corporate,
accounting,  legal, and other records of Seller and the Business that shall come
into Buyer's  possession as a result of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  for a period of not less than three years from the  Closing  Date and
give  reasonable  access to  Trustee,  and their  auditors,  counsel,  and other
authorized representatives for the purpose of preparing or defending Tax returns
or for other reasonable business purposes.

                  (d) Employees.

                           (i)  As  of  Closing,  all  employees  identified on
Schedule  3.19  hereto  who as of such  date  are  hired  by the  Buyer  ("Hired
Employees")  shall be terminated by Seller and shall cease to participate in any
Plan sponsored by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller  (except as permitted  under
the terms of such Plans).  Buyer will provide all Hired  Employees  with medical
and other welfare benefits as deemed appropriate by Buyer in its sole discretion
(Seller shall have no obligation of any nature  whatsoever  for any such medical
and other welfare  benefits for any period after Closing other than  obligations
under  COBRA  or  under  the  terms  of  Seller's  Plans).  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  Buyer will give Hired  Employees  credit for their  employment  with
Seller for  purposes of Buyer's  vacation,  sick pay and  short-term  disability
policies,  retirement  plans,  and other benefit plans (but not benefit  accrued
service under any defined  benefit  pension  plan).  Buyer will assume  Seller's
accrued  vacation pay and will  provide  such accrued  vacation pay to the Hired
Employees on the same basis as under Seller's  vacation policy.  Notwithstanding
the  foregoing,   nothing  herein  shall  prevent  Buyer  from  terminating  the
employment of any Hired  Employee or modifying or  terminating  such medical and
other welfare benefits from time to time.

                           (ii)  For  notices  and  payments related  to events
occurring prior to the Closing Date,  Seller and its ERISA  Affiliates  shall be
responsible  for any notices  required to be given to  employees of the Business
pursuant to the Worker  Adjustment  and  Retraining  Notification  Act ("WARN"),
COBRA  and/or  Section  402(f)  of the  Code  ("Rollover  Notice"),  and for any
payments or benefits  required  pursuant to such laws or on account of violation
of any  requirement of such laws.  Buyer shall be responsible  for providing any
notice  required to be given to employees  pursuant to WARN, and shall indemnify
and hold the Seller  harmless from and against any and all Adverse  Consequences
with  respect to or arising  out of a layoff or plant  closing  relating  to the
Business that occurs on or after the Closing Date.

                           (iii)  Seller  and  Buyer  acknowledge  that  all
contributions to the medical and dependent care reimbursement  flexible spending
accounts  maintained  by Seller with respect to Hired  Employees of the Business
shall cease as of the Closing Date. Such Hired  Employees shall be eligible,  in
accordance  with the terms of said  medical  and  dependent  care  reimbursement
flexible  spending  accounts,  to submit on or before  March 31, 2001 claims for
reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the Closing Date.

                           (iv)  Buyer  shall  not  adopt,  assume or otherwise
become  responsible  for,  either  primarily  or as a  successor  employer,  any
liabilities of any Plans as defined in Section 3.20 of this Agreement.

                           (v)  All  stock  options  and  other forms of equity-
based  compensation  granted  by  Seller  or any  Affiliate  of  Seller to Hired
Employees shall fully vest  immediately  prior to the Closing Date and the terms
of such options or equity-based  compensation awards shall allow for exercise or
sale of the same within a period of not less than thirty (30) days following the
Closing Date.

                           (vi)  Seller  agrees  that  Hired  Employees shall be
eligible to rollover  from the 401(k)  plan  maintained  by Seller to the 401(k)
plan maintained by Buyer their account  balances,  if any, under Seller's 401(k)
plan, that any such rollover may include any promissory note representing a loan
from  Seller's  401(k)  plan,  and,  to the extent  permitted  by law,  any such
rollover of a promissory  note from Seller's  401(k) plan to Buyer's 401(k) plan
shall not be reported as deemed distributions from Seller's 401(k) plan.

                           (vii)  Seller  agrees  to make tuition reimbursements
in accordance  with its tuition  reimbursement  plan in effect as of the Closing
Date to Hired  Employees  who as of the  Closing  Date have  applied for tuition
reimbursement  thereunder  or have  enrolled in courses for which  reimbursement
would  otherwise  be available  thereunder  had such Hired  Employees  continued
employment with Seller.

                           (viii)  From and after Closing, Buyer shall be solely
responsible  for  all  costs,  taxes  (all  types),  charges,  liabilities,  and
termination and severance benefits (if any), of any nature incurred with respect
to the employment or termination of a Hired Employee after the Closing Date.

         Section 5.3. Indemnification Provisions for the Benefit of Buyer.

                  (a)  In  the  event  Seller  or  Trustee  breaches  any of its
representations,  warranties,  and covenants contained in this Agreement,  and a
Buyer   Indemnified   Party  (as  defined  below)  makes  a  written  claim  for
indemnification  against  any of  Seller or  Trustee  then,  each of Seller  and
Trustee agree jointly and severally to indemnify Buyer, its members,  Affiliates
and agents and their respective officers, directors and employees (collectively,
the "Buyer Indemnified  Parties," and individually a "Buyer Indemnified  Party")
from and against the Adverse Consequences any Buyer Indemnified Party may suffer
resulting from, arising out of, relating to, or caused by such breach.

                  (b) Each of Seller and Trustee agrees,  jointly and severally,
to  indemnify  Buyer  Indemnified  Parties  from and against the entirety of any
Adverse  Consequences Buyer Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising
out of,  relating to or caused by reason of: (i) any  liability or obligation of
Seller or any Affiliate of Seller which is not an Assumed  Liability  (including
any  liability  of Seller for Taxes that  becomes a liability of Buyer under any
Tax or bulk transfer law of any jurisdictions,  under any common law doctrine of
de facto merger or successor liability,  or otherwise by operation of law); (ii)
the  claims of any broker or finder  engaged or alleged to have been  engaged by
Seller or Trustee or any  Affiliate  of either;  (iii) the  BioDiscovery  matter
described  on  Schedule  3.16;  or (iv) any  failure  on the part of Seller  and
Trustee to convey to Buyer the right, title and interest that Seller, Trustee or
any Affiliate of Seller has in and to the Acquired Assets.

                  (c)  All of the  covenants,  representations,  warranties  and
indemnification  obligations  of Seller  and/or  Trustee:  (i) other  than under
Section 3.9,  Section 3.20,  Section  3.21,  Section 5.2,  Section  5.3(b)(iii),
Section 5.3(b)(iv) and Section 8, shall survive the Closing and continue in full
force and effect  only until the first  anniversary  of the Closing  Date;  (ii)
contained  in Section  3.9,  Section  3.20 and  Section  3.21 shall  survive the
Closing and continue in full force and effect for so long as any  Authority  may
bring a claim with respect to such matters;  and (iii) contained in Section 5.2,
Section  5.3(b)(iii),  Section 5.3(b)(iv) or Section 8 shall survive the Closing
for the periods specified therein or, if no periods are specified  therein,  for
the applicable statute of limitations period. No claim for indemnification under
this Section 5.3 shall be brought by any Buyer  Indemnified Party after the time
periods  specified in the  immediately  preceding  sentence,  provided  that the
foregoing time limitations shall not limit Buyer's  indemnification  rights with
respect to any claim properly made within such time limitations.

                  (d)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of this Section 5.3, (i)
neither  Seller nor  Trustee  shall have any  liability  under this  Section 5.3
unless and until the amount of the aggregate indemnification obligations exceeds
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (the "Threshold"), whereupon Seller and
Trustee shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless
the Buyer Indemnified  Parties for the amount of all Adverse  Consequences under
this Section 5.3 solely to the extent that such Adverse  Consequences exceed the
Threshold,  and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Seller and Trustee's  liability
under this  Section 5.3 shall not exceed the amount of twenty  percent  (20%) of
the total Purchase Price. The immediately  preceding sentence shall not apply to
any matter covered by Section 5.3(b)(iii) or Section 5.3(b)(iv).

                  (e) The  obligations  of Seller and Trustee under this Section
5.3 and Section 2.4 shall be  guaranteed  by GSI Lumonics  Inc., a New Brunswick
corporation,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  Parent
Guarantee.

                  (f) The  obligations  of Seller and Trustee under this Section
5.3 and the  obligations  of Parent  under the Parent  Guarantee  may be paid at
Seller's option in either (i) cash or (ii) a combination of one-third (1/3) cash
and two-thirds (2/3) Buyer Common Stock (valued at the Average Closing Price but
in no event valued at less than $17.50 per share).

         Section 5.4.  Indemnification  Provisions  for  the  Benefit of Trustee
and Seller.

                  (a) In the event Buyer  breaches  any of its  representations,
warranties,  and covenants contained in this Agreement and a Trustee Indemnified
Party (as  defined  below)  makes a written  claim for  indemnification  against
Buyer, then, Buyer agrees to indemnify each of Parent, Seller, Trustee and their
respective beneficiaries,  trustees, officers, directors,  employees, Affiliates
and agents  (collectively,  the "Trustee Indemnified  Parties";  each a "Trustee
Indemnified  Party") from and against the  entirety of any Adverse  Consequences
any  Trustee  Indemnified  Party may  suffer  resulting  from,  arising  out of,
relating to, or caused by such breach.

                  (b) Buyer agrees to indemnify the Trustee  Indemnified Parties
from  and  against  the  entirety  of  any  Adverse   Consequences  any  Trustee
Indemnified  Party may suffer  resulting  from,  arising out of, relating to, or
caused by, (i) any Assumed  Liability,  (ii)  Buyer's  operation of the Business
after the Closing Date (other than as to any  liability or  obligation of Seller
or any  Affiliate  of Seller  which is not an Assumed  Liability),  or (iii) the
claims of any broker or finder  engaged or alleged to have been engaged by Buyer
or any Affiliate of Buyer.

                  (c)  All of the  covenants,  representations,  warranties  and
indemnification  obligations  of Buyer:  (i) other  than under  Section  5.2 and
Section 8, shall  survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect only
until the first  anniversary  of the Closing Date; and (ii) contained in Section
5.2 or Section 8 shall survive the Closing for the periods specified therein or,
if no periods are specified  therein,  for the applicable statute of limitations
period. No claim for indemnification  under this Section 5.4 shall be brought by
any Seller Indemnified Party after the time periods specified in the immediately
preceding sentence, provided that the foregoing time limitations shall not limit
Seller's  indemnification  rights with respect to any claim properly made within
such time limitations.

                  (d)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of this Section 5.4, (i)
Buyer shall not have any  liability  under this Section 5.4 unless and until the
amount of the  aggregate  indemnification  obligations  exceeds  the  Threshold,
whereupon Buyer shall  indemnify,  defend,  protect and hold harmless the Seller
Indemnified  Parties  for the  amount of all  Adverse  Consequences  under  this
Section  5.4  solely to the extent  that such  Adverse  Consequences  exceed the
Threshold,  and (ii) the aggregate  amount of the Buyer's  liability  under this
Section  5.4 shall not exceed the  amount of twenty  percent  (20%) of the total
Purchase Price.

         Section 5.5.  Indemnification Matters Involving Third Parties.

                  (a)  If  any  third   party   shall   notify  any  Party  (the
"Indemnified  Party") with respect to any matter (a "Third Party  Claim")  which
may give rise to a claim  for  indemnification  against  any  other  Party  (the
"Indemnifying  Party") under  Section 5.3 or Section 5.4,  then the  Indemnified
Party  shall  promptly  notify  each  Indemnifying  Party  thereof  in  writing;
provided,  however,  that no  delay  on the  part of the  Indemnified  Party  in
notifying any Indemnifying  Party shall relieve the Indemnifying  Party from any
obligation  under this  Agreement  unless  (and then  solely to the  extent) the
Indemnifying Party is prejudiced thereby.

                  (b) Any  Indemnifying  Party will have the right to assume the
defense of the Third  Party Claim with  counsel of his or its choice  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Indemnified  Party at any time  within  20 days  after the
Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third Party Claim; provided,  however,
that:  (i) the  Indemnifying  Party must  conduct the defense of the Third Party
Claim actively and diligently thereafter in order to preserve its rights in this
regard;  (ii) the Indemnified  Party may retain separate  co-counsel at its sole
cost and expense and  participate  in the defense of the Third Party Claim;  and
(iii) if the  named  parties  to any  such  Third  Party  Claim  (including  any
impleaded  parties) include an Indemnified  Party and the Indemnifying  Party or
one or more other  Indemnified  Parties,  and such Indemnified  Party shall have
been  advised by its  counsel in writing  that there is a conflict  of  interest
between  such  Indemnified  Party and the  Indemnifying  Party or any such other
Indemnified  Party in the conduct of the defense thereof,  then in any such case
the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate  counsel shall be borne by the
Indemnifying Party. In the event that the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the
defense of a Third Party Claim in the manner  provided above in this  Subsection
5.5(b),  or fails to conduct the defense of a Third  Party  Claim  actively  and
diligently after such assumption,  the Indemnified Party shall have the right to
select counsel of his or its choice (and at his or its sole discretion), and the
reasonable  fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid by the  Indemnifying
Party.

                  (c) So long  as the  Indemnifying  Party  has  assumed  and is
conducting  the defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance  with  Subsection
5.5(b) of this  Agreement:  (i) the  Indemnifying  Party will not consent to the
entry of any  judgment or enter into any  settlement  with  respect to the Third
Party Claim without the prior written consent of the  Indemnified  Party (not to
be withheld  unreasonably)  unless the judgment or proposed  settlement involves
only the payment of money damages by one or more of the Indemnifying Parties and
does not impose an injunction  or other  equitable  relief upon the  Indemnified
Party;  and (ii) the  Indemnified  Party  will not  consent  to the entry of any
judgment  or enter into any  settlement  with  respect to the Third  Party Claim
without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying  Party (not to be withheld
unreasonably).

                  (d) In the event none of the Indemnifying  Parties assumes and
conducts  the  defense of the Third Party Claim in  accordance  with  Subsection
5.5(b) of this  Agreement:  (i) the Indemnified  Party may defend  against,  and
consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any  settlement  with respect
to, the Third Party Claim in any manner he or it reasonably may deem appropriate
(although the  Indemnified  Party shall use reasonable  efforts to consult with,
and obtain prior written  consent  from,  any  Indemnifying  Party in connection
therewith,  which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld or delayed);  and
(ii)  the  Indemnifying   Parties  will  remain   responsible  for  any  Adverse
Consequences the Indemnified  Party may suffer  resulting from,  arising out of,
relating  to, in the  nature  of, or caused  by,  the Third  Party  Claim to the
fullest extent provided in this Subsection 5.5(d).

         Section 5.6.  Other Indemnification Matters.

                  (a) In  determining  the  amount of Adverse  Consequences  for
purposes of Sections 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 of this Agreement,  the Parties shall make
appropriate  adjustments  for tax effects and  insurance  coverage and take into
account  the time cost of money  (using the prime  commercial  lending  rate for
Citibank, NA (New York) plus 2% as the discount rate).

                  (b)   Except    for    claims   of   fraud   or    intentional
misrepresentation,  the  Parties  agree that  their  respective  remedies  under
Sections 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 of this  Agreement are their  exclusive  remedies
under this Agreement (other than Section 8 of this Agreement), including without
limitation,  any matter  based on the  inaccuracy,  untruth,  incompleteness  or
breach of any  representation or warranty of any Party contained herein or based
on the failure of any covenant, agreement or undertaking herein, and the Parties
hereby  waive any claims  with  respect to any other  right of  contribution  or
indemnity  available on the basis of common law, statute or otherwise beyond the
express terms of this Agreement.

                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
liability of any  indemnifying  party under this Agreement (other than liability
under Section  5.3(b)(iii)  or Section  5.3(b)(iv))  shall not exceed the actual
damages of the party entitled to indemnification and shall not otherwise include
incidental,  consequential,  indirect,  special,  punitive,  exemplary  or other
similar damages, other than compensatory damages.

                  (d) Any  indemnification  claim made by an  indemnified  party
under this Section 5 shall be made in writing to the  indemnifying  party.  If a
controversy,  claim  or  dispute  arises  out  of,  or  relating  to,  any  such
indemnification claim (the "Dispute"), within thirty (30) days of its receipt of
the  indemnification  claim, the indemnifying party shall notify the indemnified
party in writing of the  Dispute  containing  sufficient  detail to provide  the
indemnified  party  with  sufficient  notice  as to the  Dispute  (the  "Dispute
Notice").  The  parties  agree to use their  reasonable  efforts to resolve  the
Dispute  through  good faith  business  negotiation,  which shall be a condition
precedent to the  institution  of any  arbitration  proceedings.  The good faith
business  negotiations  must take  place for at least  sixty (60) days after the
date that the Dispute Notice is sent to the indemnified  party.  Any Dispute not
resolved  during  such  sixty  (60) day  period  shall  be  settled  by  binding
arbitration in accordance with the Commercial  Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration  Association  and the  arbitration  award may be  entered as a final
judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.


                                    SECTION 6
                        CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

         Section 6.1. Conditions to Obligation of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer
to consummate  the  transactions  to be performed by it in  connection  with the
Closing is subject to  satisfaction  of the conditions set forth in this Section
6.1.

                  (a) The  representations and warranties set forth in Section 3
above  shall be true  and  correct  in all  material  respects  at and as of the
Closing Date (except for  representations  and warranties made as of a specified
date, which shall be measured only as of such specified date),  except where the
failure of such  representations  and  warranties to be so true and correct does
not have and is not reasonably likely to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b)  Seller  shall  have  procured  all  of  the  third party
consents specified in Schedule 3.3 at or prior to the Closing.

                  (c)  Buyer  shall  have  received  from or on behalf of Seller
delivery of all the Closing Documents listed in Section 7.1 of this Agreement.

                  (d) Any waiting  period  under the HSR Act  applicable  to the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby shall have expired or been
terminated, and no action by the DOJ or FTC challenging or seeking to enjoin the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be pending.

         Buyer may waive  any  condition  specified  in this  Section  6.1 if it
executes a writing so stating at the Closing.

         Section 6.2.  Conditions  to Obligation  of Seller.  The  obligation of
Seller to consummate the  transactions  to be performed by it in connection with
the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following  conditions set forth in
this Section 6.2:

                  (a) The  representations and warranties set forth in Section 4
above  shall be true  and  correct  in all  material  respects  at and as of the
Closing Date (except for  representations  and warranties made as of a specified
date, which shall be measured only as of such specified date),  except where the
failure of such  representations  and  warranties to be so true and correct does
not have and is not reasonably likely to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b)  Seller  shall  have  received  from or on behalf of Buyer
delivery of all the Closing Documents listed in Section 7.2 of this Agreement.

                  (c) Any waiting  period  under the HSR Act  applicable  to the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby shall have expired or been
terminated, and no action by the DOJ or FTC challenging or seeking to enjoin the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be pending.

                  (d) Each of Stonington Capital Appreciation 1994 Fund, L.P.
and Stonington Partners, Inc. shall have executed and delivered the Registration
 Rights Agreement.

         Seller may waive any  condition  specified  in this  Section  6.2 if it
executes a writing so stating at the Closing.


                                    SECTION 7
                                CLOSING DOCUMENTS

         Section 7.1.  Seller Deliveries.  Seller  shall  execute  and deliver
(or cause the execution and delivery of) the documents  itemized in this Section
7.1 to Buyer, prior to or simultaneously with the Closing:

                  (a)   The Bill of Sale.

                  (b)   The Assignment Documents.

                  (c)   Those consents listed on Schedule 3.3.

                  (d)   The following certificates, dated the Closing Date:

                           (i) A  certificate  of the  Secretary  of Seller  (i)
         attaching  evidence of the approval of the Trustee in  connection  with
         the  authorization   and  approval  of  the  execution,   delivery  and
         performance by Seller of this Agreement and the  Transaction  Documents
         as  required  by  Massachusetts  law and the  Declaration  of  Trust of
         Seller;  and (ii)  setting  forth  the  incumbency  of the  officer  or
         officers of Seller who have executed and delivered  this  Agreement and
         each other Transaction Document, including therein a signature specimen
         of each such officer or officers.

                           (ii) A certificate of an authorized officer of Seller
         stating (i) that the  conditions  specified  in Section  6.1(a) and (b)
         have been fulfilled, and (ii) that except as set forth on Schedule 3.7,
         since the Most Recent Statement Date there have been no events, changes
         or  occurrences  which  have  had,  or are  reasonably  likely to have,
         individually or in the aggregate, a Seller Material Adverse Effect.

                  (e) A sublease  for the premises  located at 39 Manning  Road,
Billerica,  Massachusetts, 01821 in the form of Exhibit D to this Agreement (the
"Sublease").

                  (f) [Intentionally left blank.]

                  (g) A guarantee executed by GSI Lumonics Inc., a New Brunswick
corporation,   in  the  form  of  Exhibit  E  to  this  Agreement  (the  "Parent
Guarantee").

                  (h) A transition  services  agreement in the form of Exhibit F
to this Agreement (the "Transition Services Agreement").

                  (i) A registration  rights  agreement in the form of Exhibit G
to this Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement").

                  (j) An opinion of Seller and Trustee's counsel substantially
in the form of Exhibit H to this Agreement.

                  (k) Such other instruments of sale, transfer,  conveyance, and
assignment  as Buyer and its counsel  have  reasonably  requested  for the sale,
transfer, conveyance and assignment of the Acquired Assets free and clear of all
Security Interests, other than as specifically agreed upon in this Agreement.

         Section  7.2.  Buyer  Deliveries.  Buyer  shall  execute and deliver to
Seller (or Seller shall receive from third parties)  prior to or  simultaneously
with the Closing, each of the documents itemized in this Section 7.2.

                  (a) The Assumption.

                  (b) Buyer shall deliver to Seller the payments specified in
Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

                  (c) The following certificates, dated the Closing Date:

                           (i) A  certificate  of the  Secretary  of Buyer:  (i)
         attaching  resolutions of the Board of Directors of Buyer in connection
         with the  authorization  and  approval of the  execution,  delivery and
         performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the  Transaction  Documents;
         and (ii)  setting  forth the  incumbency  of the officer or officers of
         Buyer who have  executed and  delivered  this  Agreement and each other
         Transaction  Document,  including therein a signature  specimen of each
         such officer or officers.

                           (ii) A certificate of an authorized  officer of Buyer
         stating (i) that the  condition  specified  in Section  6.2(a) has been
         fulfilled,  and (ii) that  except as set forth on Schedule  4.7,  since
         June 30, 2000 there have been no events,  changes or occurrences  which
         have had,  or are  reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the
         aggregate, a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

                  (d) The Sublease.

                  (e) The Transition Services Agreement.

                  (f) The Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (g) A valid  Massachusetts  resale certificate with respect to
the inventory of Seller to be purchased by Buyer as Acquired Assets.

                  (h) An opinion of Buyer's counsel substantially in the form of
Exhibit I to this Agreement

                  (i) Such  other  instruments of  assumption  as to the Assumed
Liabilities as Seller and its counsel have reasonably requested.


                                    SECTION 8
                                 NONCOMPETITION

         Section 8.1.  Materiality.  Buyer, Seller and Trustee hereby agree that
the covenants set forth in this Section 8 are a material and substantial part of
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and that a portion  of the
Purchase  Price shall be paid for and  allocated to the  covenants  set forth in
this Section 8.

         Section 8.2. Prohibited  Activities of Seller.  Until three years after
the Closing Date none of Seller,  Trustee or any  Affiliate of Seller or Trustee
will,  anywhere in the world (the  "Territory"),  unless acting for Buyer or its
Affiliates or in accordance with Buyer's prior written consent:

                  (a)  (directly or  indirectly)  own,  manage,  operate,  join,
control, finance or participate in the ownership, management, operation, control
or financing of, or be connected as an officer, director,  employee,  principal,
agent,  representative,  consultant,  investor,  owner, partner,  manager, joint
venturer or otherwise  with,  or permit its, his or her name to be used by or in
connection with, any business or enterprise engaged anywhere in the Territory in
the Business;

                  (b) Call on or  solicit  any  person  who or which is, at that
time,  or has been within two years prior  thereto,  a customer of Seller or any
predecessor of Seller with respect to any business covered by clause (a) above;

                  (c) Other than as a direct  result of a general  advertisement
for  employment,  solicit the employment of any Hired Employee while such person
is employed by Buyer or any of its Affiliates; or

                  (d) Otherwise  attempt  to  interfere with or disrupt Buyer or
its Affiliates in the operation of the Business.

         Notwithstanding  the above, the foregoing  covenant shall not be deemed
to prohibit the any Person subject to this Section 8 from acquiring as a passive
investment not more than five percent of the outstanding voting capital stock of
a competing business.

         Section 8.3. Prohibited  Activities of Buyer. Until 18 months after the
Closing  Date,  none of  Buyer  or any  Affiliate  of  Buyer  will  solicit  the
employment  of any person who is employed by Parent or any of its  Affiliates as
of the  Closing  Date  while  such  person is  employed  by Parent or any of its
Affiliates,  except (i) for the Hired  Employees or (ii) as a direct result of a
general advertisement for employment.

         Section 8.4.  Remedies.  The Parties  hereto  acknowledge  that (a) the
provisions  of this  Section 8 are  reasonable  and  necessary  to  protect  the
legitimate  interests  of the  respective  Parties to this  Agreement  and their
respective  Affiliates,  (b) any  violation  of this  Section  8 will  result in
irreparable  injury and that damages at law would not be  reasonable or adequate
compensation  for a violation of this Section 8 and (c) the Parties hereto shall
be entitled to have the  provisions of this Section 8  specifically  enforced by
preliminary  and permanent  injunctive  relief  without the necessity of proving
actual  damages  and  without  posting  bond or other  security as well as to an
equitable accounting of all earnings,  profits and other benefits arising out of
any violation of this Section 8, including, without limitation, estimated future
earnings.  In the event that the  provisions  of this  Section 8 should  ever be
deemed  to  exceed  the  time,  geographic,  product  or any  other  limitations
permitted by applicable  law, then such  provisions  shall be deemed reformed to
the maximum permitted by applicable law.

         Section 8.5.  Jurisdiction.  Buyer, Seller and Trustee intend to and do
hereby confer  jurisdiction to enforce the covenants set forth in this Section 8
upon the  courts  of any  jurisdiction  within  the  geographical  scope of such
covenants.  If the  courts  of any one or more of such  jurisdictions  hold such
covenants  unenforceable  in whole or in part,  it is the  intention  of  Buyer,
Seller  and  Trustee  that such  determination  not bar or in any way  adversely
affect the Parties' respective rights to equitable relief and remedies hereunder
in courts of any other jurisdiction as to breaches or violations of this Section
8,  such  covenants  being,  for  this  purpose,   severable  into  diverse  and
independent covenants.


                                    SECTION 9
                                OTHER AGREEMENTS

         Section  9.1.  Press  Releases and Public  Announcements.  Prior to the
Closing no Party shall issue any press  release or make any public  announcement
relating  to the  subject  matter or  disclose to any third party other than its
legal and financial  advisers and others who need to know in order to consummate
this  Agreement or the other  Transaction  Documents  without the prior  written
approval of the other Parties;  provided,  however,  that any Party may make any
public disclosure it believes in good faith is required by applicable law or any
listing or trading agreement concerning its publicly-traded securities (in which
case the  disclosing  Party will use its  reasonable  best efforts to advise the
other Parties prior to making the disclosure).

         Section 9.2.      No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This  Agreement  shall
not confer any rights or  remedies  upon any Person  other than the  Parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.

         Section 9.3. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the documents
referred  to in this  Agreement)  constitutes  the  entire  agreement  among the
Parties and supersedes any prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements,
or representations by or among the Parties,  written or oral, to the extent they
related in any way to the subject matter hereof.

         Section 9.4. Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties  named in this  Agreement and their
respective  successors  and permitted  assigns.  No Party may assign either this
Agreement or any of its rights,  interests,  or obligations under this Agreement
without the prior written approval of the other Parties; provided, however, that
Buyer may (i) assign any or all of its rights and interests under this Agreement
to one  or  more  of its  Affiliates  and  (ii)  designate  one or  more  of its
Affiliates  to perform its  obligations  under this  Agreement (in any or all of
which cases Buyer  nonetheless  shall remain  responsible for the performance of
all of its obligations under this Agreement).

         Section 9.5.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be  executed in  one or
more  counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original  but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

         Section 9.6.  Headings.  The  section  headings  contained  in  this
Agreement are inserted for convenience  only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

         Section 9.7. Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications  under this  Agreement will be in writing.  Any notice,  request,
demand,  claim, or other communication under this Agreement shall be deemed duly
given  if (and  then  two  Business  Days  after)  it is sent by  registered  or
certified mail, return receipt requested,  postage prepaid, and addressed to the
intended recipient as set forth below:

If to Seller:

               GSI Lumonics Life Science Trust
               c/o General Scanning, Inc.
               39 Manning Road
               Billerica, Massachusetts 01821
               ATT: Victor Woolley
               Fax: (978) 663-9466

If to Trustee:

               GSI Lumonics Trust, Inc.
               c/o General Scanning, Inc.
               39 Manning Road
               Billerica, Massachusetts 01821
               ATT: Victor Woolley
               Fax: (978) 663-9466

In the case of Seller or Trustee, with a copy to:

                GSI Lumonics Inc.
                Attn:  General Counsel
                105 Schneider Road
                Kanata, Ontario K2K 1Y3
                CANADA
                Fax: (613) 592-7549

and to:

               Timothy R. Damschroder                 J. Vaughan Curtis
               Bodman, Longley & Dahling LLP          Alston & Bird LLP
               110 Miller, Suite 300           AND    1201 West Peachtree Street
               Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104              Atlanta, Georgia 30309
               Fax (734) 930-2494                     Fax: (404) 881-7777

If to Buyer:

               Packard BioScience Company
               800 Research Parkway
               Meriden, CT  06880
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
               Fax:  (203) 235-6089

With a copy to:

               Packard BioScience Company
               800 Research Parkway
               Meriden, CT  06880
               Attn:  General Counsel
               Fax:  (203) 235-6089

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

         Section 9.8.  Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed  in  accordance  with  the  domestic  laws  of  the   Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts  without  giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision
or rule (whether of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction)
that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction  other than the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

         Section 9.9.  Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment of any provision of
this Agreement  shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
each Party. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation,  or breach
of warranty or covenant under this Agreement,  whether intentional or not, shall
be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent  default,  misrepresentation,  or
breach of  warranty or covenant  under this  Agreement  or affect in any way any
rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.

         Section  9.10.  Severability.  Any term or provision of this  Agreement
that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction  shall not
affect the validity or  enforceability  of the remaining terms and provisions of
this  Agreement  or the  validity or  enforceability  of the  offending  term or
provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

         Section 9.11.  Expenses.  Except as provided in Section 5.2(a), each of
Buyer and Seller  will bear its own,  and Seller will bear  Trustees'  costs and
expenses  (including  legal fees and expenses)  incurred in connection with this
Agreement,  the other Transaction  Documents and the preparation and negotiation
thereof and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
or by the other Transaction Documents.

         Section 9.12.  Construction.  The Parties have participated  jointly in
the  negotiation  and  drafting  of this  Agreement  and the  other  Transaction
Documents.  In the event an  ambiguity  or question of intent or  interpretation
arises, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be construed as
if drafted  jointly by the Parties and no  presumption  or burden of proof shall
arise  favoring or  disfavoring  any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the  provisions  of this  Agreement  and the other  Transaction  Documents.  Any
reference  to any  federal,  state,  local,  or foreign  statute or law shall be
deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless
the  context  requires  otherwise.  The word  "including"  shall mean  including
without  limitation.  All monetary  amounts referred to in this Agreement are in
United States dollars.

         Section 9.13.  Incorporation  of Exhibits  and Schedules.  The Exhibits
and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated in this Agreement by
reference and made a part of this Agreement.

         Section 9.14.  Termination.

                  (a) In the event that the Closing has not occurred on or prior
to December 31, 2000,  any Party may terminate this  Agreement,  as long as such
Party in not in breach any of the material terms or conditions of this Agreement
as of the date that such Party provides the other Party with a written notice of
such termination.

                  (b) Any  Party may  terminate  this  Agreement  on or prior to
December 31, 2000, by giving  thirty (30) Business Days prior written  notice of
its intent to terminate to the other Party,  without  prejudice to any rights or
obligations  it may have,  if any other  Party  has  failed:  (i) in the due and
timely performance of any of its covenants or agreements under this Agreement or
there  shall  have  been  a  material  breach  of  the  other's  warranties  and
representations  under  this  Agreement,  in each  case  that has  caused  or is
reasonably  likely to cause a Seller  Material  Adverse Effect (in the case of a
non-performance  or breach by Seller or  Trustee)  or a Buyer  Material  Adverse
Effect (in the case of a non-performance  or breach by Buyer);  and (ii) to cure
such  non-performance or breach within such thirty (30) Business Day period. Any
notice of intent to terminate under this Section 9.14(b) shall provide the Party
receiving such notice with detailed  information  concerning the non-performance
or breach.  If the Party  receiving  notice under this Section  9.14(b) fails to
cure such non-performance or breach within such thirty (30) Business Day period,
the other Party may  immediately  terminate this Agreement by providing  written
notice of  termination to the  non-performing  or breaching  Party.  In any such
event any  Party who is not  guilty of the  non-performance  or breach  may,  in
addition  to all of its  other  rights  and  remedies,  recover  from the  Party
responsible  for the  non-performance  or breach  all  losses  and  pursue  such
remedies as are available to it at law or in equity.



<PAGE>



Signature page to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August 19, 2000, among the
parties listed below.


ACCEPTED AND AGREED:


"BUYER"                                         "SELLER"
Packard BioScience Company                      GSI Lumonics Life Science Trust


By:     /s/ Ben D. Kaplan                       By:   /s/ Victor H. Woolley
   -----------------------------                   ----------------------------
   Its:  Vice President and                        Its:  Treasurer
         Chief Financial Officer


                                                "TRUSTEE"
                                                GSI Lumonics Trust, Inc.


                                                By:   /s/ Charles D. Winston
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Its:  President





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