METALS USA INC
8-K, 1998-07-10
METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES
Previous: EQUITY OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST, 8-K, 1998-07-10
Next: WMF GROUP LTD, SC 13D, 1998-07-10



                                    FORM 8-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                          Date of Report: July 7, 1998

                         Commission File Number 1-13123



                                METALS USA, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

             DELAWARE                                 76-0533626         
   (State or other jurisdiction                     (I.R.S. Employer     
 of incorporation or organization)               Identification Number)  
                                                
         THREE RIVERWAY, SUITE 600
              HOUSTON, TEXAS                             77056     
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code) 
                                                        
      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 965-0990
<PAGE>
                                METALS USA, INC.
                                    FORM 8-K

ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

    On July 2, 1998, Metals USA, Inc. (the "Company") and Philip Services Corp.
("Philip") received the necessary administrative approvals which permitted the
Company and Philip to complete the Company's acquisition of Intsel Southwest
Limited Partnership ("Intsel") from Philip. The acquisition had been previously
announced on June 24, 1998, and was completed on July 7, 1998.

    Intsel is a leading distributor of heavy carbon steel products with
approximately 185 employees. Intsel sells to a broad and diversified customer
base throughout the southwestern and southeastern regions of the United States.
Intsel is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with additional distribution
facilities in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; Birmingham, Alabama; Tulsa,
Oklahoma; and Lafayette, Louisiana. Intsel had net sales during the year ended
December 31, 1997 of approximately $138.9 million.

    In addition, the Company has acquired eleven small metal processing
companies which together with Intsel have combined net sales of approximately
$316.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1997. The twelve companies were
acquired for a combination of cash, notes and stock. The consideration paid was
determined by negotiations between appropriate representatives of the Company
and the companies acquired. Total consideration for the acquisitions consisted
of 2,496,248 shares of the Company's common stock, notes of approximately $3.7
million and cash of approximately $134.7 million. The cash component of the
aggregate purchase price was paid with borrowings from a commercial bank.


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

    (A) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED

        The Company believes that it is impractical to provide financial
statements of the company acquired on the date of this filing and will, if
required, file such financial statements when available but not later than 60
days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K must be filed.


    (B) PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        Pro forma financial information reflecting this acquisition is hereby
incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (Registration Statement No. 333-49823) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 1998.


    (C)  EXHIBITS:

     10.0  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 24, 1998, by and among Metals
           USA, Inc., Philip Metals (USA) Inc., Philip Services Corp.
           and Philip Enterprises Inc.

                                       1
<PAGE>
                                METALS USA, INC.
                                    FORM 8-K

                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                                METALS USA, INC.

                                                By: /s/ TERRY L. FREEMAN
                                                        Terry L. Freeman
                                       Vice President, Corporate Controller
Date:  July 10, 1998                       and Chief Accounting Officer

                                       2


                    STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 24th day of June,
1998, by and between

     METALS USA, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
     Delaware, having its principal place of business at Three Riverway, Suite
     600, Houston, Texas (hereinafter referred to as the "Buyer"),

     PHILIP METALS (USA) INC., a corporation organized and existing under the
     laws of Ohio, having its principal place of business at 100 King Street
     West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (hereinafter referred to as the "Seller").

     PHILIP SERVICES CORP., a corporation amalgamated under the laws of the
     Province of Ontario having its principal place of business at 100 King
     Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (hereinafter referred to as
     "Philip").

     PHILIP ENTERPRISES INC., a corporation amalgamated under the laws of the
     Province of Ontario having its principal place of business at 100 King
     Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (hereinafter referred to as
     "Canadian Parent").

                      W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS Intsel Southwest Limited Partnership, a Connecticut limited
partnership (hereinafter referred to as the "Partnership"), is engaged in the
business of purchasing, warehousing, distributing, processing, and selling heavy
carbon steel products;

     WHEREAS PEN Metals (Delaware), Inc., a Delaware corporation, owns a one per
cent (1 %) Partnership Interest in, and is the general partner of, the
Partnership;

     WHEREAS Philip Metals (Delaware), Inc., a Delaware corporation, owns a
ninety-nine per cent (99%) Partnership Interest in, and is the sole limited
partner of, the Partnership;

     WHEREAS the Seller is the owner of (a) all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of Philip Metals (Delaware), Inc., being 1,000 common shares (the
"Limited Partner Shares"), and (b) all of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of PEN Metals (Delaware), Inc., being 1,000 common shares (the "General
Partner Shares");

     WHEREAS Philip is the indirect parent of the Seller;

     WHEREAS the Seller desires to sell to the Buyer and Buyer desires to
purchase from Seller the Limited Partner Shares and the General Partner Shares
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;
<PAGE>
                                       2

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                         INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION

1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed thereto:

"Affiliate" shall mean, in respect of any Person, another Person that directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, the first Person.

"Agreement" shall mean this Stock Purchase Agreement entered into by and between
the Buyer and the Seller, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented,
and/or restated from time to time, together with all Schedules attached hereto.

"Business Employee" and "Business Employees" shall mean, respectively, each
employee of the Partnership and collectively the employees of the Partnership.

"Buyer" shall mean Metals USA, Inc.

"Buyer's Documents" means and includes this Agreement and the other agreements,
instruments, certificates or other documents executed and delivered by Buyer or
any Affiliate thereof in connection with this Agreement and/or the Closing.

"Buyer's Indemnified Affiliates" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 9.01.

"Claim" means and includes any losses, claims, liabilities, damages, judgments,
payments, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses
incurred after the Closing Date in defense of any Claim.)

"Closing" means the consummation of the purchase and sale of the shares of the
Companies and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

"Closing Date" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
8.01.

"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

"Companies" shall mean, collectively, PEN Metals (Delaware), Inc., and Philip
Metals (Delaware), Inc. and "Company" shall refer individually to PEN Metals
(Delaware), Inc. or Philip Metals (Delaware) Inc.
<PAGE>
                                       3

"Contract" means and includes any contract, agreement, instrument, undertaking,
commitment or arrangement, of any kind or description whatsoever to which the
Partnership or either of the Companies is a party or by which any property,
assets, capital stock or partnership interest (as the case may be) of the
Partnership, or the Companies is subject or bound.

"Control" shall mean, in respect of any Person, the power to control the
direction, management and policies of that Person, or to elect a majority of the
directors, managing directors, trustees or other governing authorities of that
Person. The verbal forms "controls" and "controlled" shall be interpreted
accordingly.

"Disclosure Schedule" means the Disclosure Schedule comprising the Schedules
referred to in Section 3.01 hereof, delivered by Seller to Buyer
contemporaneously with this Agreement (or prior thereto).

"Employee Benefits" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.07.

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

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

"General Partner Purchase Price" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.01(a).

"General Partner Shares" means all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of PEN Metals (Delaware), Inc., being 1,000 shares of common
stock.

"Group Benefit Arrangement" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
3.01(k)(i)(B).

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

"Indemnitee" shall mean the party seeking indemnification pursuant to Article
IX.

"Indemnitor" shall mean the party from which indemnification is sought pursuant
to Article IX.

"Intercompany Indebtedness" shall mean all indebtedness of the Partnership due
to the Seller, the Companies or any Affiliate thereof and all indebtedness of
the Companies due to the Seller or any Affiliate of Seller.

"Law" or "Laws" shall mean and include all federal, state, regional, local and
foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, judgments, orders, decrees,
directives, rules and regulations of any governmental authority, court or
arbitrator.

"Liens" shall mean and include all liens, security interests, mortgages,
pledges, covenants, easements and other encumbrances and defects in title.
<PAGE>
                                       4

"Limited Partnership Agreement" shall mean that certain Agreement
of  Limited  Partnership of Intsel Southwest Limited Partnership,
by  and  between  PEN Metals (Delaware), Inc. and  Philip  Metals
(Delaware), Inc., dated February 1, 1997.

"Limited Partner Purchase Price" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.01(b).

"Limited Partner Shares" means all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of Philip Metals (Delaware), Inc., being 1,000 shares of common
stock.

"Material Adverse Effect" means a condition or event which has had, or if it
should come about would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse
effect on the business, financial condition, operations, properties or assets,
earnings or prospects of the Companies or the Partnership as the case may be
taken as a whole.

"Notice  of  Claim"  shall have the meaning ascribed  thereto  in
Section 9.05.

"Partnership"  shall  have the meaning ascribed  thereto  in  the
preamble to this Agreement.

"Partnership Benefit Arrangements" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 3.01(k)(ii).

"Partnership Financial Statements" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 3.01(i)(ii).

"Partnership Interest" shall mean the entire interest in the Partnership held by
PEN Metals (Delaware), Inc., and Philip Metals (Delaware), Inc., respectively,
as set forth in the Limited Partnership Agreement or otherwise existing,
including all rights to receive distributions of capital and profits in respect
of such interest.

"Partnership's Facilities" shall mean, collectively, the facilities from which
the Partnership carries on its business as at the Closing Date, which are
located in or around (i) Tulsa, Oklahoma, (ii) San Antonio, Texas, (iii)
Houston, Texas, (iv) Dallas, Texas, (v) Lafayette, Louisiana, and (vi)
Birmingham, Alabama.

"Permit" means and includes any governmental licenses, permits, rights,
privileges, registrations, required reports, franchises, authorizations and
other consents which are required under any applicable Law to own and/or operate
the business of the Companies or of the Partnership.

"Permitted Liens" shall mean (i) construction, warehousemen's, mechanics',
carriers', workers', repairers', and other similar liens arising or incurred in
the ordinary course of the business that relate to obligations not yet due or
delinquent or obligations that are being challenged through appropriate
procedures and for which adequate reserves have been established; (ii) such
title defects and irregularities, charges, easements, rights of way or
restrictions, if any, which either alone or in the aggregate do not materially
detract from the value of, or materially interfere with the present use of, the
real property which is subject thereto or affected thereby; (iii) all liens,
<PAGE>
                                       5

exceptions, imperfections in title, charges, easements, restrictions and
encumbrances established pursuant to or permitted by this Agreement; (iv) liens
on equipment or goods acquired or held in the ordinary course of the business,
incurred solely to secure purchase-money financing for the acquisition of such
equipment or goods; (v) undetermined or inchoate liens and charges incidental to
construction, maintenance or operations that relate to obligations not yet due
or delinquent or obligations that are being challenged by appropriate procedures
and for which adequate reserves have been established; and (vi) liens for taxes
and assessments for the then current year, liens for taxes and assessments not
at the time overdue and liens securing workers' compensation assessments not at
the time overdue.

"Person" shall include an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, government or
governmental agency, and any other legal entity.

"Philip Plan" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.06 hereof.

"Real Property" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.01(aa).

"Returns" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.01(t).

"Retirement Plan" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
3.01(k)(i)(A).

"Seller" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this
Agreement.

"Seller's Documents" means this Agreement, and the other agreements,
instruments, certificates or other documents executed and delivered by Seller or
the Companies in connection with this Agreement and/or the Closing.

"Seller's Indemnified Affiliates" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 9.02.

"Shares" shall mean, collectively, the General Partner Shares and the Limited
Partner Shares.

"Taxes" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.01(t).

"Third-Party Claim" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 9.06.

"U.S. Parent" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.05(ii).

1.02. Other Rules of Construction. The definitions in Section 1.01 shall apply
equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the
context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. The words "include," "includes" and "including" shall
be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." All references to
"party" and "parties" shall be deemed references to the parties to this
Agreement and to a party's successor in title unless the context shall otherwise
require. All references to Sections and Paragraphs shall be deemed references to
Sections and Paragraphs of 
<PAGE>
                                       6

this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. All references
herein to Schedules shall be deemed to be references to the Schedule(s) attached
to this Agreement. The terms "this Agreement," "hereof," "hereunder," and
similar expressions refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
Article or Section or other portion of this Agreement and include any agreement
supplemental hereto. The conjunction "or" shall be understood in its inclusive
sense (and/or). Any reference to the best of a party's knowledge in relation to
a representation or warranty of such party shall mean that the officers of such
party (or of the Affiliates of such party) listed on Schedule 1.02 hereto have
no knowledge, after making reasonable inquiries into the relevant subject
matter, that such representation or warranty is not true.

1.03. Effects. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the
benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. This Agreement shall not create or confer, or be construed as creating
or conferring, any right, remedy, claim or benefit upon any Person, including
any Business Employee or former Business Employee, other than the parties hereto
and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

1.04. Waivers and Amendments. Any amendment or supplementation of this Agreement
or any waiver of any term or condition thereof shall be effective only if in
writing. A waiver of any breach of the term or condition of this Agreement shall
not in any way be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

1.05. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in any other respect and the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall not, at the election of the party for whom
the benefit of the provision exists, be in any way impaired.

1.06. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

1.07. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
conflict-of-laws rules thereof.

1.08. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, and the Schedules hereto and the other
documents, agreements and instruments executed and delivered pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement contain the entire agreement between the Buyer
and the Seller in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
supersedes all prior arrangements or understandings with respect thereto.

1.09. Interpretation of Schedules. The fact that any asset, item, action,
entity, event, condition, or other matter is set forth or described in any one
or more of the Schedules hereto shall not alone be construed as a
representation, admission (by any Person) or evidence that such asset, item,
action, entity, event, condition, or other matter is, or may at any time be or
have been, material in any way to the business or to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
<PAGE>
                                       7

1.10. U.S. Dollars. All dollar amounts referenced in this Agreement shall be in
U.S. Dollars.

                           ARTICLE II

                        PURCHASE AND SALE

2.01. Purchase and Sale of the Shares.

     (a)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
          Agreement, at the Closing, the Seller agrees to sell, and Buyer agrees
          to purchase, the General Partner Shares for a purchase price equal to
          $xxx,xxx (the "General Partner Purchase Price"). The Seller and Buyer
          agree that all of the General Partner Purchase Price shall be
          allocable exclusively to the acquisition of General Partner Shares
          hereunder and that reports or returns filed for Federal income tax
          purposes shall be consistent with such allocation.

     (b)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
          Agreement at the Closing, the Seller agrees to sell, and Buyer agrees
          to purchase, the Limited Partner Shares for a purchase price equal to
          $xx,xxx,xxx (the "Limited Partner Purchase Price"). The Seller and
          Buyer agree that all of the Limited Partner Purchase Price shall be
          allocable exclusively to the acquisition of Limited Partner Shares
          hereunder and that reports or returns filed for Federal income tax
          purposes shall be consistent with such allocation.

2.02. Payment; Delivery of Certificates. At the Closing, subject to the terms of
an escrow agreement to be entered into on Closing between Buyer and Seller as to
$xxx,xxx of the General Partner Purchase Price, (a) Buyer shall pay by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, as directed by Seller, the amount of
the General Partner Purchase Price; (b) Buyer shall pay by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, as directed by Seller, the amount of the Limited
Partner Purchase Price; (c) Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates for the
General Partner Shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers duly
endorsed in blank; and (d) Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates for the
Limited Partner Shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers duly
endorsed in blank.


                           ARTICLE III

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.01. Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller represents and
warrants to Buyer that, as of the Closing Date:

     (a)  Organization and Standing of the Seller. The Seller is a corporation
          duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
          Ohio. The Seller is 
<PAGE>
                                       8

          qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign
          corporation in any jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified
          would have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the Seller to
          execute this Agreement and the Seller Documents or to perform its
          obligations hereunder or thereunder.

     (b)  Organization and Standing of the Companies. Each of the Companies is a
          corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the
          State of Delaware and each has all requisite power and authority to
          own its assets and properties. Each of the Companies is qualified to
          transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
          any other jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified would have
          a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of such Company to own its
          interest in the Partnership. The Seller has delivered to the Buyer
          complete and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and
          By-Laws of each of the Companies, as amended and in effect on the
          Closing Date. There are no minutes or resolutions of the Companies,
          which have not been made available to Buyer and all such minutes and
          resolutions are correct and complete in all material respects.

     (c)  Organization and Standing of the Partnership. The Partnership is a
          limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and subsisting
          under the laws of the State of Connecticut and has all requisite power
          and authority to own, to operate and to lease its assets and
          properties, and to carry on its business as currently conducted. The
          Partnership is qualified to transact business and is in good standing
          as a foreign limited partnership in any other jurisdiction where the
          failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect. The
          Seller has delivered to the Buyer a complete and correct copy of the
          Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended and in effect on the Closing
          Date.

     (d) Capital Stock of the Companies.

          (i)  The authorized and issued capital stock of each of the Companies
               is as set out in Schedule 3.01(d)(i). The Seller is the owner of
               all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
               of the Companies. All of the Shares have been duly authorized and
               validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned of
               record and beneficially by the Seller. There are no outstanding
               options, warrants or other rights to acquire, or any plans or
               commitments for the issuance of, or the granting of rights to
               acquire (A) any shares of capital stock of the Companies or (B)
               any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of
               capital stock of the Companies. There are no outstanding
               contractual obligations of the Companies to repurchase, to
               redeem, or otherwise to acquire any outstanding shares of the
               capital stock thereof.
<PAGE>
                                       9

          (ii) Upon delivery of certificates for the Limited Partner Shares to
               Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, Buyer will acquire valid and
               marketable title to the Limited Partner Shares, free and clear of
               all Liens.

          (iii) Upon delivery of certificates for the General Partner Shares to
               Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, Buyer will acquire valid and
               marketable title to the General Partner Shares, free and clear of
               all Liens.

          (iv) Except for the Partnership Interests, neither of the Companies
               owns, directly or indirectly, any capital stock in any
               corporation or any voting or management interest in any other
               Person nor do the Companies carry on any business.

     (e) Capitalization of the Partnership.

          (i)  The Partnership Interests represent one hundred percent (100%) of
               all interests in the Partnership, and the Partnership Interests
               are comprised solely of those rights and obligations set forth in
               the Limited Partnership Agreement and in the Connecticut Uniform
               Limited Partnership Act (as set forth in Conn. Gen. Stat. 34-9 to
               34-38q (1993)).

          (ii) Except for the Partnership Interests, there are no partnership
               interests or other securities (whether or not such securities
               have voting rights) of the Partnership issued or outstanding or
               any options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or
               commitments of any character obligating the Companies to cause
               the Partnership to issue, to transfer or to sell, or to cause the
               issuance, transfer or sale of, any partnership interests in the
               Partnership.

          (iii) At the time of Closing, the Partnership Interests will be free
               and clear of all Liens and there are no outstanding contractual
               obligations of the Companies, that relate to the purchase, sale,
               redemption, acquisition, transfer, disposition, holding, or
               voting of the Partnership or the management or operation of the
               Partnership.

          (f)  Authorization and Binding Effect. All proceedings required by the
               Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Seller or
               otherwise for the execution and delivery by the Seller of this
               Agreement and each of the Seller Documents to which the Seller is
               a party and for the consummation by the Seller of the
               transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
               taken. (i) The representatives of the Seller executing this
               Agreement have the authority to bind the Seller to the terms of
               this Agreement; and (ii) the Seller has the legal right, power
               and authority to execute, to deliver, and to perform this
               Agreement and the Seller Documents to which the Seller is a party
               and, upon obtaining all necessary consents and approvals
               described in Schedule 3.01(g), to consummate the 
<PAGE>
                                       10

               transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement
               constitutes, and when duly executed and delivered the Seller
               Documents to which the Seller is a party will constitute, the
               legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Seller, enforceable
               against the Seller in accordance with their respective terms,
               except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
               reorganization, insolvency, and similar laws of general
               application relating to or affecting the enforcement of rights of
               creditors and, further, except that the availability of equitable
               remedies is subject to the discretion of the court, arbitrator or
               tribunal before which any proceeding may be brought.

     (g)  Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.01(g), no
          consent, approval, authorization, waiver or notice to or from any
          Person is required for the execution, delivery, or performance by the
          Seller of this Agreement or any of the Seller Documents to which the
          Seller is a party.

     (h)  No Violation.  The execution and delivery by the Companies
          or Seller of the Seller Documents to which they are respectively
          a party, and the performance by such parties of their respective
          obligations thereunder, does not and will not contravene,
          conflict or be inconsistent with, result in a breach of,
          constitute a violation of or default under, or require or result
          in any right of acceleration or create or impose any Lien under
          (all or any of the foregoing a "breach"):

          (i)  the Companies' or Seller's respective articles or certificate of
               incorporation or by-laws (or other organization documents);

          (ii) any Law applicable or relating to the Companies or Seller or any
               of the businesses or assets of the Companies except any violation
               which alone or in the aggregate would not be material;

          (iii) any material Contract or Permit; or

          (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental
               authority which is binding upon the Companies or the Seller.

     (i)  Financial Statements and Financial Condition. Attached as Schedule
          3.01(i) hereto are:

          (i)  the unaudited balance sheet of the Partnership as of December 31,
               1996, and December 31, 1997, and the related income statements
               for the years then ended; and

          (ii) the unaudited balance sheet of the Partnership as of March 31,
               1998 and the related income statement for the three (3) months
               period then ended (collectively the balance sheets and income
               statement described in (i) and (ii) are called the "Partnership
               Financial Statements").
<PAGE>
                                       11

          The Partnership Financial Statements present fairly, in all material
          respects, the financial position and results of operations of the
          Partnership as at the respective dates thereof, and have been prepared
          in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the
          periods involved except as disclosed in Schedule 3.01(i) and except
          that

          (i)  certain note disclosures required by GAAP are not included
               therein; and

          (ii) the corporate staff of an Affiliate of Seller supplies
               centralized banking and cash management and administrative
               services to the Partnership and provides tax, general accounting,
               auditing, human resources, and legal services to the Partnership,
               none of which have been charged to the Partnership or included in
               the Partnership Financial Statements.

          The Companies' only asset is their respective investments in the
          Partnership. The Companies' only liabilities are for intercompany
          indebtedness and deferred taxes which will be zero at Closing.

     (j)  Transactions with Certain Persons. Except as set forth in
          Schedule 3.01(j), since March 31, 1998, neither the Partnership
          nor either of the Companies has, directly or indirectly,
          purchased, leased or otherwise acquired any material property or
          obtained any material services from, or sold, leased or otherwise
          disposed of any material property or furnished any material
          services to (i) the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller, except
          in the ordinary course of the business; or (ii) any director or
          officer of the Seller, whether in the ordinary course of the
          business or otherwise, except as remuneration for services
          rendered as a director, officer, or employee of the Partnership
          or any of the Companies.  Except as set forth in Schedule
          3.01(j), neither the Partnership nor either of the Companies has
          any contract with or commitment to, or owes any amount to, or is
          owed any amount by

          (i)  the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller; or

          (ii) any director or officer of the Seller, except in respect of
               services rendered as a director, officer, or employee of the
               Partnership or either of the Companies.

     (k)  Employee Benefit Plans and Arrangements.

          (i)  Set forth in Schedule 3.01(k) is a complete and correct list of:

               (A)  Each arrangement (x) that is intended to be a "qualified
                    plan" within the meaning of Code Section 401 (a), (y) the
                    principal sponsor of which is the Seller or an Affiliate of
                    the Seller (other 
<PAGE>
                                       12

                    than the Partnership or the Companies), and (z) that covers
                    any employee or former employee of the Partnership (each
                    such arrangement, a "Retirement Plan"); and

               (B)  Each arrangement providing for workers' compensation,
                    disability benefits, medical benefits, dental benefits,
                    supplemental unemployment benefits, severance pay, vacation
                    pay, deferred compensation, stock options, post retirement
                    benefits, or other similar benefits (x) that is not a
                    Retirement Plan, (y) the principal sponsor of which is the
                    Seller or an Affiliate of the Seller (other than the
                    Partnership or the Companies), and (z) that covers any
                    employee or former employee of the Partnership (each such
                    arrangement, a "Group Benefit Arrangement").

          (ii) Set forth in Schedule 3.01(k) is a complete and correct list of:

               (A)  Each employment, severance, bonus or other similar agreement
                    by and between the Partnership and any employee or former
                    employee of the Partnership; and

               (B)  Each arrangement providing for workers' compensation,
                    disability benefits, medical benefits, dental benefits,
                    supplemental unemployment benefits, severance pay, vacation
                    pay, deferred compensation, stock options, post retirement
                    benefits, or other similar benefits, that is not a
                    Retirement Plan, (y) the principal sponsor of which is the
                    Partnership, and (z) that covers any employee or former
                    employee of the Partnership (such agreements, plans, and
                    arrangements described in this paragraph (ii) hereinafter
                    referred to collectively as the "Partnership Benefit
                    Arrangements").

          (iii) The Partnership Benefit Arrangements, the Retirement Plan as
               written and all other Group Benefit Arrangements, except for
               matters for which Seller is providing indemnification under
               Section 9.01(d) hereof, are each in substantial compliance with
               the applicable provisions of ERISA, and those provisions of the
               Code applicable to any of them.

          (iv) All contributions to, and payments from, the Retirement Plan, the
               Group Benefit Arrangements and the Partnership Benefit
               Arrangements which may have been required to be made in
               accordance with the terms of the Retirement Plan, the Group
               Benefit Arrangements or the Partnership Benefit Arrangements or
               applicable law have been duly and timely made or are properly
               accrued on the books of the Partnership or the Seller or any
               Affiliate of Seller as the case may be.
<PAGE>
                                       13

     (l)  Employees and Labor Relations.

          (i)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.01(l)(i), no employee of the
               Partnership is covered by any collective bargaining agreement or
               is a party to any Contract with the Partnership. The Partnership
               is in substantial compliance with all Laws relating to the
               employment of labor, including, without limitations, those
               relating to wages, hours, and payment of social security and
               similar Taxes and is not knowingly engaged in any unfair labor
               practice or discrimination. Except as disclosed in Schedule
               3.01(l)(i), there are no complaints against the Partnership
               pending or, to the best knowledge of Seller, threatened before
               the National Labor Relations Board or any similar state or local
               labor agency by or on behalf of any employee of the Partnership.
               The Companies have no employees.

          (ii) Schedule 3.01(l)(ii) contains an accurate list of the name,
               salary or hourly wage rate and date of hire of each Business
               Employee as of the date hereof.

     (m)  Litigation and Compliance. Except as set forth on Schedule
          3.01(m) there is no action, suit, claim, order, judgment, decree,
          writ, injunction or proceeding, including any condemnation or
          eminent-domain proceeding, or governmental or administrative
          investigation, pending, or to the best of the Seller's knowledge
          threatened, against the Seller or the Companies or  the
          Partnership, relating to the Companies, the Partnership, or the
          business of the Partnership that has or is likely to (i) result
          individually or in the aggregate in a liability of the Companies
          or the Partnership in an amount in excess of one hundred thousand
          dollars ($100,000), or (ii) limit or affect the ability of the
          Seller to execute this Agreement or the Seller Documents to which
          the Seller is a party or otherwise to consummate and to perform
          the Seller's obligations hereunder and thereunder.  Except as
          disclosed on Schedule 3.01(m), since December 20, 1996, the
          Partnership has conducted and now conducts its business in
          substantial compliance with all Laws, regulations, writs,
          injunctions, decrees and orders applicable to the Partnership or
          its assets (other than those Laws relating to the environment
          which are dealt with exclusively in Section 3.01(o) hereof).

     (n)  Permits.  The Partnership or the Companies have obtained all
          Permits required in connection with the conduct of the business
          of the Partnership.  Section 3.01(n) contains a complete list of
          all Permits held by or issued in favour of the Partnership as of
          the Closing Date. All such Permits are valid and in full force
          and effect, and there exists no material default or violation by
          the Partnership under any such Permit.  No event, act or omission
          has occurred which has resulted, or (with or without notice, the
          passage of time or the occurrence of any other event) could
          result in the revocation or non-renewal of any Permit.
<PAGE>
                                       14

     (o)  Certain  Environmental Matters. Except as set forth  in
          Schedule 3.01(o), the Partnership's Facilities are not in
          violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule,
          regulation, order or decree regarding environmental protection,
          which violation individually or in the aggregate would have a
          Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership is conducting its
          business in material compliance with all applicable environmental
          laws. There are no material outstanding complaints, orders,
          citation, notices, or orders of violation or non-compliance
          issued to the Partnership under any applicable environmental
          laws.  The Company and the Partnership do not and will not have
          any liability for any obligation or liability of Intsel
          Corporation in respect of the Kin-Buc landfill site or the
          Terracorp. superfund site

     (p)  Operation of the Business.  Since  March 31, 1998,  the
          Seller and the Companies (i) have caused the Partnership to
          conduct its business in the ordinary course, consistent with past
          practices; (ii) have used their commercially reasonable efforts
          to maintain and preserve the Partnership's business organization,
          assets, licenses, Permits, Contracts and its relationship with
          suppliers, customers, and others having business relationships
          with the Partnership; (iii) have managed the cash of the
          Partnership and the Companies consistent with past practice
          (which Buyer acknowledges included the payment of cash not
          required in the operation of the Partnership, by dividend or
          other distribution,  to the Seller or its Affiliates) and the
          Partnership has not, save and except as set forth in Schedule
          3.01(p),

          (i)  introduced any new policy or procedure regarding the management,
               operations, accounting, payment practices, billing or collection
               practices, other than as were in process at March 31, 1998;

          (ii) entered into any material transaction other than in the ordinary
               course of business, consistent with past practices;

          (iii) made any capital expenditures, or commited to make any capital
               expenditure, other than (x) expenditures in the ordinary course
               of business and individually in any amount less than $250,000 and
               in the aggregate in any amounts less than $500,000 or (y)
               pursuant to commitments therefor made prior to March 31, 1998,
               the particulars of which have been provided to the Buyer;

          (iv) increased the salary or commission level of, or paid bonuses
               other than those which are normal and customary or committed to
               prior to March 31, 1998, or paid any fees or unusual
               distributions to any officer, director, employee or agent (other
               than in the case of non-executive employees, routine increases in
               salary);
<PAGE>
                                       15

          (v)  entered into any new or amended debt or capital lease instruments
               or increased borrowings other than in the ordinary course of
               business to finance working capital;

          (vi) effected any change in the capital structure of the Partnership;
               or

          (vii) entered into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

     (q)  No Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth in Schedule
          3.01(q), since March 31, 1998, there has been no change in the
          affairs, assets, liabilities, operations or condition of the
          Companies, the Partnership, or its business, financial or
          otherwise, whether arising as a result of any legislative or
          regulatory change, revocation of any license or right to do
          business, fire, explosion, accident, casualty, labor trouble,
          flood, drought, riot, storm, condemnation, act of God, public
          force or otherwise, which individually or in the aggregate have
          had  a Material Adverse Effect on the Companies or  the
          Partnership.

     (r)  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Schedule
          3.01(r), neither of the Companies nor the Partnership has any
          liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) in
          excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate,
          other than

          (i)  in respect of the Partnership, the liabilities and obligations
               that are reflected or reserved against in the Partnership
               Financial Statements; and

          (ii) any liabilities or obligations that are disclosed in this
               Agreement, including the Schedules hereto; and

          (iii) any obligations or liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
               of the business of the Partnership since March 31, 1998, as
               reflected in the books and records of the Partnership or the
               Companies.

     (s)  Title to Fixed Assets.  At the Closing, the Partnership will
          have good and marketable title, free and clear of all Liens other
          than Permitted Liens, to all of the fixed assets of the
          Partnership having a book value in excess of Fifty Thousand
          Dollars ($50,000) that are used in connection with its business
          as currently conducted, including land, improvements, buildings,
          automobiles, trucks, construction in progress, equipment,
          machinery, tools, spare parts, inventory, instruments, and
          furniture (other than any and all fixed assets that are leased,
          rented, or in respect of which the Partnership has a right of use
          which leases are listed in Schedule 3.01(s) hereto).

     (t)  Taxes and Other Payments. For purposes of this Agreement,
          the term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies or
          other assessments including, without limitation, income, gross
          receipts, excise, property, sales, withholding, social 
<PAGE>
                                       16

          security, unemployment, occupation, use, service, license, payroll,
          franchise, transfer and recording taxes, fees and charges, imposed by
          the United States or any state, local or foreign government or
          subdivision or agency thereof, whether computed on a separate,
          consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis; and such terms
          shall include any interest, fines, penalties or additional amounts
          attributable to or imposed with respect to any such taxes, charges,
          fees, levies or other assessments.

          (i)  All Tax returns ("Returns") required to be filed with respect to
               any Tax for which any of the Companies or the Partnership is
               liable, have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate
               taxing authority, each Tax shown to be payable on each such
               Return has been paid, each Tax payable by the Companies or the
               Partnership by assessment has been timely paid in the amount
               assessed, and adequate reserves have been established on the
               books of the Companies and the Partnership as appropriate for all
               Taxes for which any of the Companies or the Partnership is liable
               (other than any taxes arising as a result of the Section
               338(h)(10) Election) but the payment of which is not yet due.
               Neither the Companies nor the Partnership is, or has ever been
               liable for any Tax payable by reason of the income or property of
               a Person other than the Companies or the Partnership. Except as
               disclosed in Schedule 3.01(t), each of the Companies and the
               Partnership have timely filed true, correct, in all material
               respects, and complete declarations of estimated Tax in each
               jurisdiction in which any such declaration is required to be
               filed by it. No liens for Taxes exist upon the assets of the
               Companies or the Partnership except liens for Taxes which are not
               yet due. Neither the Companies nor the Partnership is currently,
               or ever has been, subject to Tax in any jurisdiction outside the
               United States. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.01(t), no
               litigation with respect to any Tax for which the Companies or the
               Partnership is asserted to be liable is pending or under
               discussion with any governmental entity relating to Taxes, or, to
               the best knowledge of the Seller, or any Affiliate, threatened,
               and no basis which the Companies, the Partnership, the Seller or
               its Affiliates believes to be valid exists on which a claim for
               any such Tax can be asserted against the Companies or the
               Partnership. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.01(t), there are
               no requests for rulings or determinations in respect of any Taxes
               pending between the Companies or the Partnership and any
               governmental authority relating to Taxes. No extension of any
               period during which any Tax may be assessed or collected and for
               which the Companies or the Partnership is or may be liable has
               been granted to any governmental authority with respect to Taxes.
               Neither the Companies nor the Partnership is or has been party to
               any tax allocation or sharing agreement. All amounts required to
               be withheld by any of the Companies or the Partnership and paid
               to governmental agencies for income, social security,
               unemployment insurance, sales, excise, use and other Taxes have
               been collected or 
<PAGE>
                                       17

               withheld and accrued or paid to the proper governmental
               authority. The Companies and the Partnership have all made all
               deposits required by law to be made with respect to employees'
               withholding and other employment Taxes. Neither the Companies nor
               the Partnership is a "foreign person," as that term is referred
               to in Section 1445(f)(3) of the Code. The Companies have not
               filed a consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code or any
               comparable provision of any other Tax statute and have not agreed
               to have Section 341(f)(2) of the Code or any comparable provision
               of any other Tax statute apply to any disposition of an asset.
               The Companies or the Partnership have not made, are not obligated
               to make and are not a party to any agreement that could require
               either of them to make any payment that is not deductible under
               Section 280G of the Code No accounting method changes of the
               Companies or of the Partnership have been made which could give
               rise to an adjustment under Section 481 of the Code. The amounts
               shown as accruals for taxes on the Partnership Financial
               Statements are sufficient for the payment of all Taxes of the
               kinds indicated (including penalties and interest) for all
               periods shown.

          (ii) For purposes of this section, "related tax party" means all
               affiliates of the Companies who have joined them in the filing of
               a consolidated federal or combined state tax return including any
               entities that have been merged liquidated or otherwise legally
               combined with the Companies and any Affiliate thereof that have
               joined such entities in filing a consolidated federal or combined
               state tax return. Neither the Companies nor the Partnership are
               or will be liable for taxes of any related tax party, as such
               term is defined herein.

     (u)  Contracts and Commitments. Schedule 3.01(u) sets forth a complete list
          of all Contracts except for:

          (i)  routine purchase orders entered into in the ordinary course of
               business consistent with past practice; and

          (ii) employment and other Contracts terminable by the Partnership at
               will or on sixty (60) days' (or less) notice without penalty; and

          (iii) any other Contract involving liabilities or obligations for
               future payment by the Companies or the Partnership of not more
               than $250,000.

          Seller has heretofore delivered to Buyer, or made available for
          Buyer's review, copies of all such Contracts listed in Schedule
          3.01(u). Except as may be indicated on Schedule 3.01(u) all Contracts
          listed in Schedule 3.01(u) are in full force and effect in accordance
          with the terms thereof (except to the extent that any courses of
          dealing have effected deviations therefrom, none of which are
          material), and are enforceable in accordance with their terms, and
          there are no 
<PAGE>
                                       18

          material breaches and no outstanding material defaults by any other
          party to the best knowledge of the Seller.

          The Partnership is not a party to or otherwise bound by any
          distributorship, dealership, sales agency, franchise or similar
          arrangement that relates to the sale or distribution of products
          manufactured or sold by or on behalf of the Partnership.

     (v)  Books and Records. The books and records of the Partnership and the
          Companies are in all material respects complete and correct, and
          fairly reflect the transactions of the Partnership and the Companies,
          and the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and the Companies
          respectively.

     (w)  Significant Customers. Schedule 3.01(w) sets forth a list of all
          customers representing two percent (2%) or more of the Partnership's
          revenues in fiscal 1997. None of such customers have cancelled or
          substantially reduced or, to the best knowledge of the Seller, are
          currently attempting or threatening to cancel a contract or
          substantially reduce utilization of the services provided by the
          Partnership.

     (x)  Insurance.  The Partnership has been covered since December
          20, 1996 by insurance in scope and amount customary and
          reasonable for the businesses in which the Partnership has
          engaged during such period.  Schedule 3.01(x) sets forth a list
          of all insurance coverage now covering the Partnership and a list
          of all insurance loss runs and workers compensation claims
          received since December 20, 1996.  Such insurance coverage
          evidences all of the insurance that the Partnership is required
          to carry pursuant to its Contracts and pursuant to all applicable
          Laws.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.01(x), none of such
          policies is a "claims made" policy.

     (y)  Disclosure. No representation or warranty in this Agreement contains
          any untrue statement or omits to state a material fact necessary in
          order to make the statements herein or therein, in light of the
          circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in all
          material respects.

     (z)  Certain Business Practices.  Since December 20, 1996 neither
          the  Partnership nor any person acting on behalf of the
          Partnership has given or offered anything of value to any
          governmental official, political party or candidate for
          governmental office nor has it or any of them otherwise taken any
          action which would cause the Partnership to be in violation of
          the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any law
          of similar effect.
<PAGE>
                                       19

     (aa) Real Property.

          (i)  The Partnership has good and indefeasible fee simple title in and
               to each of the properties listed on Schedule 3.01(aa)
               (collectively, the "Real Property"), free and clear of all liens
               and encumbrances;

          (ii) The Partnership has, during the period of the Partnership's
               ownership of the Real Property, been in substantial compliance
               with all applicable Laws relating to the Real Property and, to
               the best knowledge of Seller, the Real Property and its existing
               and prior uses have not violated and do not violate the
               provisions of any applicable Laws relating thereto, which
               violation individually or in the aggregate would be material to
               the Partnership;

          (iii) Neither Seller nor the Partnership has granted to any person,
               firm or entity, other than Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, any
               right to purchase the Real Property or any portion thereof which
               remains outstanding as of the date hereof or which shall remain
               outstanding as of the Closing Date, and there are no other
               parties in possession of any portion of the Real Property;

          (iv) Neither Seller nor the Partnership has received notice (and has
               knowledge) of any pending or threatened condemnation or similar
               proceeding affecting the Real Property; and

          (v)  Neither Seller nor the Partnership has knowledge of any facts,
               restrictions, encumbrances or other circumstances relating to the
               Real Property which would prevent or materially interfere with
               continued use by Buyer of the Real Property consistent with past
               practice.

     (bb) Interest-Bearing Indebtedness. At the Closing Date, the Partnership
          and the Companies shall have no interest-bearing indebtedness and the
          Partnership's working capital shall be adequate to operate the
          business consistent with past practice.

3.02. Disclaimer. The Seller makes no representation or warranty and
affirmatively disclaims any representation, warranty or responsibility for any
advice, suggestion, plan or program communicated in any form to the Buyer or its
Affiliates or any of their respective representatives by any officer, employee
or consultant of the Seller, any of the Companies, the Partnership, or any other
Affiliate of the Seller, regarding the conduct, prospects, development or
improvement of either of the Companies, the Partnership, or its business, or of
the business activities to be conducted by the Buyer after the Closing.
<PAGE>
                                       20

3.03. Representations and Warranties of Buyer. Buyer hereby represents and
warrants to the Seller as follows:

     (a)  Organization and Good Standing. Buyer is a corporation duly organized,
          validly existing and subsisting under the laws of Delaware. The Buyer
          is qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign
          corporation in any jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified
          would have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the Buyer to
          execute this Agreement and the Buyer Documents.

     (b)  Authorization and Binding Effect.  All proceedings required
          by the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Buyer or
          otherwise for the execution and delivery by the Buyer of this
          Agreement and each of the Buyer Documents to which the Buyer is a
          party and for the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions
          contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly taken.  (i) The
          representatives of the Buyer executing this Agreement have the
          authority to bind the Buyer to the terms of this Agreement; and
          (ii) the Buyer has full legal right, power and authority to
          execute, to deliver, and to perform this Agreement and the Buyer
          Documents to which the Buyer is a party and to consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  This Agreement
          constitutes, and when duly executed and delivered the Buyer
          Documents to which the Buyer is a party will constitute, the
          legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Buyer, enforceable
          against the Buyer in accordance with their respective terms,
          except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
          reorganization, insolvency, and similar laws of general
          application relating to or affecting the enforcement of rights of
          creditors and, further, except that the availability of equitable
          remedies is subject to the discretion of the court, arbitrator or
          tribunal before which any proceeding may be brought.

     (c)  Consents and Approvals. Except as required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino
          Act, no consent, approval, authorization, waiver or notice to or from
          any Person is required for the execution, delivery, or performance by
          the Buyer of this Agreement or any of the Buyer Documents to which the
          Buyer is a party, except such as have already been obtained.

     (d)  No Violation. The execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement
          and the Buyer Documents and the performance by the Buyer of its
          obligations hereunder and thereunder, does not and will not
          contravene, conflict or be inconsistent with, result in a breach of,
          constitute a violation of or default under, or require or result in
          any right of acceleration or create or impose any Lien under (all or
          any of the foregoing a "breach"):

          (i)  the Buyer's articles or certificate of incorporation or by- laws
               (or other organization documents);
<PAGE>
                                       21

          (ii) any Law applicable or relating to Buyer, its assets or
               properties; or

          (iii) any contract to which the Buyer is a party except such breach as
               will not, alone or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
               Effect.

     (e)  Financing.   At the date hereof Buyer has, and at all times
          through the Closing Buyer will have, sufficient financial
          resources (from its own cash flow, existing credit lines and/or
          firm underwritten commitments to provide additional debt or
          equity financing) to provide to Buyer the moneys necessary to pay
          the General Partner Purchase Price and the Limited Partner
          Purchase Price at the Closing.  Buyer and its Affiliates have
          complied with and will comply with all covenants with respect to,
          and all conditions within their control to, such financing(s),
          and Buyer is not aware of any facts, circumstances or events
          reasonably likely to prevail or occur that would grant any such
          financing source the right to refuse to fund, or otherwise lead
          such financing source to refuse to or be unable to fund, the
          financing(s) committed to by such source(s).

     (f)  Investment Intent. Buyer is acquiring the Shares for investment and
          not with a view to a sale or distribution thereof within the meaning
          of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                           ARTICLE IV
                            COVENANTS

4.01. Access to Books and Records. Between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing, the Seller will afford to the officers and authorized representatives
of Buyer access to all of the Partnership's sites, properties, books and records
and will furnish Buyer with such additional financial and operating data and
other information as to the business and properties of the Partnership as Buyer
may from time to time reasonably request. The Seller and the Buyer will
co-operate with the other party, its representatives, auditors and counsel in
the preparation of any documents or other material which may be required in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All parties
hereto will treat all information obtained in connection with the negotiation
and performance of this Agreement as confidential in accordance with the
provisions of the confidentiality agreement between Buyer and Philip Services
Corp.

4.02. Conduct of Business Pending Closing. Between the date of this Agreement
and the Closing Date, the Partnership will, except as set forth on Schedule
4.02:

          (i)  carry on its business, consistent with past practice and not
               introduce any material new method of management, operation or
               accounting, other than were in process on March 31, 1998;
<PAGE>
                                       22

          (ii) perform in all material respects all of its respective
               obligations under agreements relating to or affecting its
               respective assets, properties or rights;

          (iii) use reasonable efforts to keep in full force and effect present
               insurance policies or other comparable insurance coverage;

          (iv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve
               its business organization intact, retain its respective present
               key employees and maintain its respective relationship with
               suppliers, customers and others having business relations with
               the Partnership;

          (v)  maintain its existing debt and capital lease instruments and not
               enter into new or amended debt or lease instruments without the
               consent of the Buyer, other than in the ordinary course of the
               business of the Partnership to finance working capital; and

          (vi) manage its cash consistent with past practice (which Buyer
               acknowledges includes payment of cash to Seller or its Affiliates
               of cash not required in the operation of the Partnership, by
               dividend or otherwise).

4.03. Prohibited Activities. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.03, between the
date hereof and the Closing Date, the Seller will cause the Partnership not to
commit any of the following, without prior written consent of Buyer:

          (i)  make any change in its Charter Documents;

          (ii) issue any securities, options, warrants, calls, conversion rights
               or commitments relating to its securities of any kind;

          (iii) make any capital expenditures, or commit to make any capital
               expenditure, or enter into any agreement with respect thereto
               other than (x) expenditures which are in the ordinary course of
               business and individually in any amount less than $250,000 and in
               the aggregate in any amounts less than $500,000 and (y) pursuant
               to commitments therefor made prior to May 26, 1998, the
               particulars of which have been provided to the Buyer;

          (iv) sell, assign, lease or otherwise transfer or dispose of any
               property or equipment except in the ordinary course of business,
               consistent with past practice;

          (v)  negotiate for the acquisition of any business or the start- up of
               any new business;
<PAGE>
                                       23

          (vi) merge or consolidate or agree to merge or consolidate with or
               into any other corporation or other entity;

          (vii) waive any material rights or claims of the Partnership, provided
               that the Partnership may negotiate and adjust bills in the course
               of good faith disputes with customers in a manner consistent with
               past practice;

          (viii) amend or terminate any material agreement, Permit, license or
               other right of the Partnership;

          (ix) increase the salary or commission level of, or pay bonuses to
               Business Employees other than those which are normal and
               customary or committed to prior to May 26, 1998 or pay any fees
               or unusual distributions to any officer, director, employee or
               agent of the Partnership or the Companies; or

          (x)  take any other action outside the ordinary course of business.

4.04. No Shop. None of the Partnership, Seller or its Affiliates, nor any agent,
officers, director, trustee or any representative of any of the foregoing will,
during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending with the
earlier to occur of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms, directly or indirectly negotiate, or enter into an
agreement with any other party with respect to the sale, transfer or purchase of
any ownership interest in or assets of the Partnership or the Companies (a
Transaction) other than the sale, transfer or purchase of assets in the ordinary
course of the business thereof and shall not enter into any discussions with any
other Person with respect to a Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Buyer acknowledges that prior to May 26, 1998, the business of the Partnership
was marketed to a number of interested parties and that since that date, the
Seller's Affiliates have publicly announced the intention to dispose of all its
metals businesses, including the Partnership. The Seller, its Affiliates or
their representatives, may after the date hereof, receive inquiries from other
interested parties, and the Seller and Buyer agree that the response to such
inquiries by Seller or its Affiliates, limited to advising such other parties of
the fact of this Agreement with the Buyer, will not constitute a breach of the
provisions of this Section 4.04.

4.05. Notices and Consents. The Seller will give any notices to third parties,
and the Seller and the Partnership will use their best efforts to obtain any
third-party consents, that may be necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby or that Buyer may reasonably request.

4.06. 401(k) Transfer Agreement. Seller and Buyer shall use their best efforts
to negotiate an agreement, prior to the Closing, providing for the transfer of
the account balances of all participants in the Philip 401(k) Plan (the "Philip
Plan") who are Business Employees on the Closing Date from the Philip Plan to a
qualified plan established or maintained by Buyer; provided however, that any
such agreement shall not be effective unless and until approved by U.S. Parent
(hereinafter defined), which approval will not be unreasonably withheld.
<PAGE>
                                       24

4.07. Benefits Agreement. Seller and Buyer shall enter into an Agreement at
Closing in the form of Schedule 4.07, providing for an Affiliate of Seller to
continue coverage of medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, life insurance,
supplemental life insurance, travel accident insurance, long-term disability and
employee assistance plans (collectively, the "Employee Benefits") to the
Business Employees for a period of up to 60 days following the Closing.

4.08. Philip Services Corp.'s Commitment. Philip hereby agrees to cause Seller
and its Affiliates to comply with their obligations under this Agreement and to
use its best efforts to cause the conditions to the Closing to be satisfied.

4.09.     Business Employees.

     (a)  From and after the Closing Date, the Buyer shall indemnify
          and save the Seller harmless from any and all claims of Business
          Employees in respect of their employment or the termination of
          their employment with the Partnership, but only to the extent
          that the event giving rise to such claim(s) occurs on or after
          the Closing, including without limitation any claim by a Business
          Employee in respect of any change in direct compensation and/or
          benefits from those provided by Seller and its Affiliates to the
          Business Employees prior to the Closing Date.

     (b)  The Buyer agrees to recognize, and to cause its Affiliates
          to recognize, service of a Business Employee with the Partnership
          (and also with any Affiliates of the Partnership or the
          Companies) for purposes of participation, vesting and accruals
          under any benefit plans of either of the Buyer or any Affiliate
          of the Buyer under which a benefit vests after an employee has
          been employed by either of the Buyer or such Affiliate of the
          Buyer for a designated period; provided however, that such
          service recognition does not result in a duplication of benefits
          accrued under any Retirement Plan Group Benefit Arrangement or
          Partnership Benefit Arrangement.

4.10. Corporate Name. The Buyer shall cause the Partnership to execute, at the
Closing, a license agreement granting the Seller a perpetual, irrevocable,
world-wide, royalty-free license (without the right to sublicense) to use the
name "Intsel" solely in connection with references to the business of the Seller
or its Affiliates prior to but not after, the Closing Date.

4.11. Further Action. From time to time, as and when requested by a party
hereto, each party hereto shall, at the cost and expense of the requesting
party, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such
documents and instruments and shall take, or cause to be taken, all such further
or other actions as it may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to carry out
the intent and purposes of this Agreement and the Seller Documents to convey,
transfer, assign and deliver to the Buyer, or to their successors and permitted
assigns, the Shares as required by this Agreement, and to consummate the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Nothing contained in this Section
4.11 shall release any party from liability for any breach or default under any
term or provision of this Agreement or the Seller Documents.
<PAGE>
                                       25

4.12. Stay Bonuses. Philip has an obligation to certain Business Employees to
pay them stay bonuses and other amounts as a result of the sale of the Shares
which bonuses and other amounts are described in a memorandum dated March 20,
1998. Philip shall pay and satisfy all such obligations in full within thirty
(30) days of the Closing Date and, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement including Section 9.03 hereof, neither the Partnership nor the Buyer
will have any liability therefor.

                            ARTICLE V

            EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND INSURANCE

5.01.     Retirement Plans and Group Benefit Arrangements.

     (a)  The parties acknowledge and agree that subject to the terms
          of a benefits agreement to be entered into between the Buyer and
          Affiliate of Seller, as of the Closing Date and except as
          required by applicable law, the Business Employees and the former
          employees of the Partnership shall no longer be eligible for
          participation in, and, except as described in Section 5.01 (b)
          hereof, shall no longer be covered by, any of the Retirement
          Plans or Group Benefit Arrangements.  The parties further
          acknowledge and agree that neither the Seller nor any of the
          Seller's Affiliates has undertaken any obligation under this
          Agreement or otherwise to provide any benefits or credits, by
          amendment or otherwise, in respect of any Business Employee or
          any former employee of the Partnership under any of the
          Retirement Plans or Group Benefit Arrangements in addition to the
          benefits and credits currently set forth in such Retirement Plan
          or Group Benefit Arrangement.  Except pursuant to such benefits
          agreement, from and after the Closing Date, neither the Seller
          nor any of the Seller's Affiliates shall have any obligation or
          liability under any of the Retirement Plans or Group Benefit
          Arrangements concerning coverage of the Business Employees in
          respect of their services for the Partnership after the Closing
          Date or their compensation from the Partnership earned after the
          Closing Date.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
          the parties specifically acknowledge and agree that, except to
          the limited extent (if any) required by Code Section 401(k)(10),
          no service performed by any Person on or after the Closing Date
          for the Partnership, for the Buyer, or for any of the Buyer's
          Affiliates (and no compensation earned in respect of such
          service) shall be credited or taken into account for any purpose
          under any Retirement Plan, and that as of the Closing Date the
          Partnership shall cease to be a participating company in and an
          employer under the Seller's Retirement Plans.

     (b)  The parties acknowledge and agree that except as may be
          provided in the transfer agreement to be entered into pursuant to
          Section 4.06 hereof the Retirement Plans and the Group Benefit
          Arrangements remain liable for the provision of benefits to
          Business Employees and former employees of the Partnership in
          respect of 
<PAGE>
                                       26

     services performed and compensation earned through the Closing Date to the
     extent provided in such Retirement Plans and Group Benefit Arrangements.

5.02. Other Benefits. The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the
Closing Date except as provided in the benefits agreement, neither the Seller
nor any of the Affiliates of the Seller shall have any liability or obligation
under or in connection with any Partnership Benefit Arrangement, including any
liability or obligation for

     (a)  any claim of any of the Business Employees or the former employees of
          the Partnership related to the period prior to the Closing Date; or

     (b)  continuation coverage of such Business Employees or former employees
          under any group health plan pursuant to Code Section 4980B in respect
          of qualifying events that may have occurred or may occur before, on,
          or after the Closing Date.

5.03. Insurance. From and after the Closing Date, neither the Seller nor any of
the Seller's Affiliates shall have any responsibility for obtaining or
maintaining liability, property, workers' compensation, directors' and officers'
liability, errors and omissions, or any other insurance insuring the business,
operations, employees or former employees of the Partnership or the Companies or
affecting or relating to the ownership, use, or operation of any of the assets
or properties of the Partnership or the Companies. Buyer and the Partnership
shall not have any liability or obligation for any event covered by any such
insurance (including self-insurance coverage) and occurring prior to the Closing
Date, provided that the Seller receives notice in writing of any claim relating
thereto within 120 days after the Closing Date.

                           ARTICLE VI

                           TAX MATTERS

6.01. Partnership Income Tax Returns. The Seller shall file (or cause to be
filed) all federal and state income tax returns for the Partnership for all
applicable periods through and ending on the Closing Date.. The Buyer shall file
(or cause to be filed) all federal and state income tax returns for the
Partnership for the period beginning on the day immediately following the
Closing Date.

6.02. Federal Income Taxes. The Seller shall include in the Seller's
consolidated federal income tax return the net income of the Companies
(including the net income of the Partnership) for all periods through and ending
on the Closing Date. The Seller shall be responsible for and shall pay all
federal income taxes attributable to such net income, including any federal
income taxes, interest, and penalties resulting from any audit or other
adjustment related thereto for which any of the Companies may be liable. The
Buyer shall file (or cause the Companies to file) federal income tax returns in
respect of the Companies for the period beginning the day immediately following
the Closing Date. The Buyer shall be responsible for and shall pay (or shall
cause the Companies to be responsible for and to pay) all federal income taxes
attributable 
<PAGE>
                                       27

to the net income of the Companies for such period, including any federal income
taxes, interest, and penalties resulting from any audit or other adjustment
related thereto for which any of the Companies may be liable.

6.03. State Income and Franchise Taxes. The Seller shall file (or cause to be
filed) all required state and local tax returns for the Companies for the
periods up to and including the Closing Date and the Seller shall be responsible
for and shall pay all required state and local taxes, interest, and penalties
attributable to the income for such period, including any taxes, interest, and
penalties resulting from any audit or other adjustment related thereto for which
any of the Companies may be liable. The Buyer shall file (or cause to be filed)
all required state and local tax returns for the Companies for the period
beginning the day immediately following the Closing Date and the Buyer shall be
responsible for and shall pay (or shall cause the Companies to be responsible
for and to pay) all required state and local taxes, interest, and penalties
attributable to the income for such period, including any taxes, interest, and
penalties resulting from any audit or other adjustment related thereto for which
any of the Companies may be liable. If any taxing authority does not recognize
the change of control of the Companies and does not require the filing of
separate returns for the period before and after the Closing Date, the Buyer
shall file (or cause to be filed) such tax returns for the Companies for the
year 1998, and the Buyer and the Seller shall each pay their proportionate share
of all taxes payable, which taxes shall be apportioned as if prepared on a
separate return basis as set out in this Section 6.03. The Seller shall assist
the Buyer in the preparation of such other required state and local tax returns,
as necessary.

6.04. Tax Refunds. Tax refunds received by the Seller or the Buyer or any
Affiliate of the Buyer, including any of the Companies, in respect of any taxes
paid by the Seller or the Companies for any period prior to the Closing to the
extent not reflected in the partnership Financial Statements or the Company
Financial Statements shall be for the benefit of the Seller and, if received by
the Buyer or any Affiliate of the Buyer, shall be paid to the Seller within
thirty (30) days of receipt. Tax refunds received by the Buyer, Seller or any
Affiliate of the Seller in respect of any taxes paid by the buyer or any
Affiliate of the buyer for any period after Closing shall be for the benefit of
the Buyer and if received by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller shall be paid to
Buyer within thirty (30) days of receipt. For purposes of this Section 6.04, the
determination of each party's tax liability as to before or after Closing shall
be determined in the manner provided in Section 6.02 for federal income taxes
and Section 6.03 for state and local taxes.

6.05. Section 338(h)(10) Election. (i) Seller will join with Buyer in making an
election under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code (and any corresponding elections
under state, local or foreign tax law) (collectively a "Section 338(h)(10)
Election") with respect to the purchase and sale of the Shares. Seller will pay
any liability for tax (including but not limited to any state, local or foreign
tax) attributable solely to the making of the Section 338(h)(10) Election and
will indemnify and save Buyer harmless from any liability therefor. The parties
agree that the aggregate of the Limited Partner Purchase Price and the General
Partner Purchase Price will be allocated to the assets of the Partnership for
all purposes (including financial and tax accounting 
<PAGE>
                                       28

purposes) in the manner shown in Schedule 6.05. Buyer and Seller shall file all
tax returns (including amended returns and claims for refunds) in a manner
consistent with such allocation.

(ii) Neither Seller nor any Affiliate thereof, including U.S. Parent
(hereinafter defined) and Canadian parent of U.S. Parent ("Canadian Parent")
shall take any action that would negate such Section 338(h)(10) Election. Seller
shall indemnify Buyer for any tax or loss of benefits arising solely as a result
of any such action by Seller or any Affiliate. The Seller, the Companies and the
Partnership represent and warrant that the parent of the US Consolidated Group
for US Federal Income Tax purposes is Philip Services (Delaware), Inc. ("U.S.
Parent") and that the Canadian Parent is Philip Enterprises Inc..

6.06. Section 754 Election. The Partnership shall have in effect or the Seller
shall cause the Partnership to place in effect an election under Code Section
754 (and any similar state election) to adjust the basis of the Partnership
property for the last Partnership return required to be filed by the Companies
for the periods through the Closing Date.


                           ARTICLE VII

                      CONDITIONS OF CLOSING

7.01. Conditions to Obligation of Buyer. The obligations of Buyer to consummate
the purchase and sale of the Shares are subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions, each of which may be waived by the Buyer:

     (a)  Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations.
          The representations and warranties of the Seller set forth in
          Section 3.01 hereof shall be true and correct in all material
          respects on the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
          Closing Date.  The Seller and the Companies shall have performed,
          in all material respects, the agreements and obligations required
          to be respectively performed by them under this Agreement prior
          to the Closing Date.  The Seller and the Companies shall have
          executed and delivered to Buyer a certificate or certificates
          certifying to their compliance with the foregoing.  If the Buyer
          on the one hand or the Seller, on the other hand (the "Knowing
          Party") has actual knowledge at the time of Closing that a
          representation or warranty made by the other party is false or
          the other party has violated a covenant made by it under this
          Agreement, the Knowing Party shall promptly notify the other
          party of such fact.  If the Knowing Party proceeds to the Closing
          notwithstanding such knowledge, the Knowing Party shall be deemed
          to have waived any rights it may have for indemnification or
          damages against the other party to the extent that any damages
          result from such breach of representation or warranty or failure
          to perform such covenant.

     (b)  Consents and Notices.  All consents and notices which may be
          necessary in order to consummate the purchase and sale, or any of
          the other transaction contemplated 
<PAGE>
                                       29

          hereby in accordance with the terms hereof, shall have been obtained
          (in the case of consents) or given (in the case of notices) and shall
          be in full force and effect. Without limiting the generality of the
          foregoing, all waiting periods (including any extensions) shall have
          expired or shall have been earlier terminated under the HSR Act.

     (c)  INTENTIONALLY DELETED.

     (d)  Legal  Restraints.  No proceeding by  any  governmental
          authority which seeks to restrain, delay, enjoin or hinder the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
          been commenced or shall be threatened and no decree, temporary
          restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other
          order shall be in effect issued by a court of competent
          jurisdiction prohibiting the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated hereby .

     (e)  Delivery of Shares. Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate
          or certificates representing the Shares, duly endorsed in blank or
          accompanied by a stock power covering such Shares, duly executed in
          blank by Seller.

     (f)  Officers' and Directors' Resignations of the Companies. Each officer
          and director of the Companies holding such positions immediately prior
          to the Closing Date shall have executed and delivered to the Buyer a
          resignation from such positions.

     (g)  Delivery of Minute Books and Stock Transfer Records. The minute books
          and stock transfer records of each of the Companies and their
          respective corporate seals shall have been delivered to the Buyer.

     (h)  Non-Competition Agreement. Seller shall have executed and delivered to
          Buyer a non-competition agreement by which Seller and its Affiliates
          agree that they shall not compete with the business of the Partnership
          for a period of five (5) years following the Closing. Such
          non-competition agreement shall be in a form and content acceptable to
          Buyer and Seller.

     (i)  Opinion of Counsel. Buyer shall have received an opinion of general
          counsel to Seller, Colin Soule, dated the Closing Date and
          substantially in the form and content of Schedule 7.01(i).

7.02. Conditions to Obligations of Seller. The obligations of Seller to
consummate the purchase and sale of the Shares are subject to the satisfaction
of the following conditions, each of which may be waived by the Seller:

     (a)  Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations.
          The representations and warranties of the Buyer set forth in
          Section 3.03 hereof shall be true and correct in all material
          respects on the Closing Date as though made on 
<PAGE>
                                       30

          and as of the Closing Date. The Buyer shall have performed, in all
          material respects, the agreements and obligations required to be
          performed by it under this Agreement prior to the Closing Date. The
          Buyer have executed and delivered to Seller a certificate or
          certificates certifying to their compliance with the foregoing. If the
          Buyer on the one hand or the Seller, on the other hand (the "Knowing
          Party") has actual knowledge at the time of Closing that a
          representation or warranty made by the other party is false or the
          other party has violated a covenant made by it under this Agreement,
          the Knowing Party shall promptly notify the other party of such fact.
          If the Knowing Party proceeds to the Closing notwithstanding such
          knowledge, the Knowing Party shall be deemed to have waived any rights
          it may have for indemnification or damages against the other party to
          the extent that any damages result from such breach of representation
          or warranty or failure to perform such covenant.

     (b)  Consents and Notices. All consents and notices which may be
          necessary in order to consummate the purchase and sale, or any of
          the other transaction contemplated hereby in accordance with the
          terms hereof, shall have been obtained (in the case of consents)
          or given (in the case of notices) and shall be in full force and
          effect.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all
          waiting periods (including any extensions) shall have expired or
          shall have been earlier terminated under the HSR Act.

     (c)  Legal  Restraints.  No proceeding by  any  governmental
          authority which seeks to restrain, delay, enjoin or hinder the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
          been commenced or shall be threatened and no decree, temporary
          restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other
          order shall be in effect issued by a court of competent
          jurisdiction prohibiting the consummation of this transactions
          contemplated hereby .

     (d)  Payment of Purchase Price. Buyer shall have delivered to Seller, the
          General Partner Purchase Price and the Limited Partner Purchase Price
          in the manner provided in Section 2.02
          hereof.

     (e)  Opinion of Counsel. Seller shall have received an opinion of Bracewell
          & Patterson, L.L.P., legal counsel to Buyer, dated the Closing Date,
          and substantially in the form and content of Schedule 7.02(e).

     (f)  Corporate Documents. Buyer shall have delivered to Seller (i) a
          certified copy of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of
          Buyer and (ii) a certified copy of resolutions of the board of
          directors of Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery and performance
          of this Agreement and any other document delivered by Buyer hereunder.

     (g)  Benefits Agreement. Buyer and Seller shall have entered into the
          agreement contemplated by Section 4.07 hereof.
<PAGE>
                                       31

     (h)  Assignment Agreement. Seller shall have assigned to Buyer and Buyer
          shall have assumed and shall agree to save Seller harmless from all of
          Seller's obligations for the five (5) vehicles leased pursuant to the
          Lease Agreement described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3.01(s) hereto.


                          ARTICLE VIII

                       CLOSING/TERMINATION

8.01 Closing. The Closing shall take place at the offices of the Seller, 100
King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario at 10:00 am local time on July 6, 1998,
subject to Section 8.02, or such later date as the parties may agree (the
"Closing Date").

8.02. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Closing Date solely:

             (i)  by mutual consent of Buyer and Seller; or

             (ii) by Buyer or by Seller, if the transaction contemplated by this
               Agreement to take place at the Closing shall not have occurred by
               July 31, 1998 (the "Termination Date"), unless the failure of
               such transactions to be consummated is due to the wilful failure
               of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform any
               of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent required to
               be performed by it prior to or on the Closing Date.

                           ARTICLE IX

                         INDEMNIFICATION

9.01. Indemnification by the Seller/Philip. Subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 9.03 from and after the Closing Date, the Seller and Philip, jointly
and severally agree to hold harmless, indemnify, reimburse and defend each of
the Buyer and its Affiliates and their respective past, present and future
shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives
(collectively, the "Buyer's Indemnified Affiliates"), to the exclusion of any
other remedy under any provision of law or equity, for, from and against any and
all Claims asserted against, imposed on, or incurred or sustained by, the
respective Buyer or any of the Buyer's Indemnified Affiliates resulting from,
arising out of or connected with:

     (a)  Any breach of any of the representations and warranties made by the
          Seller in this Agreement or the Seller Documents to which the Seller
          is a party, but only to the extent that any such breach has not been
          waived in writing by the Buyer; or
<PAGE>
                                       32

     (b)  The nonfulfilment or breach of any agreement or covenant made by the
          Seller in this Agreement or the Seller Documents to which it is a
          party, but only to the extent that any such nonfulfilment or breach
          has not been waived in writing by the Buyer; or

     (c)  Any claim made against Buyer or any of Buyer's Indemnified
          Affiliates by or on behalf of a shareholder of Philip (solely in
          its capacity as a shareholder of Philip and solely by reason of
          any claim arising out of the claimant's shareholdings in Philip)
          (x) arising out of or related to the sale to and purchase by
          Buyer of the Shares on the terms and conditions contained in this
          Agreement, or (y) arising out of the operation of the business of
          the Partnership prior to the Closing or the operation of any
          other business of Philip or any Affiliate, prior to the Closing
          (as to which indemnification the limitation imposed by Section
          9.03 shall be inapplicable);or

     (c)  Any liability resulting from any failure to file or provide or any
          delay in filing or providing any document or notice required with
          respect to a Retirement Plan (as to which indemnification the
          limitations imposed by Section 9.03 shall be inapplicable).

9.02. Indemnification by the Buyer. The Buyer agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify the Seller and its Affiliates and their respective past, present, and
future shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives
(collectively, the "Seller's Indemnified Affiliates"), to the exclusion of any
other remedy under any provision of law or equity, against any and all Claims
asserted against, imposed on, or incurred or sustained by, the Seller or any of
the Seller's Indemnified Affiliates, resulting from, arising out of, or
connected with:

     (a)  Any breach of any of the representations and warranties made by the
          Buyer in this Agreement or the Buyer Documents to which the Buyer is a
          party, but only to the extent that any such breach has not been waived
          in writing by the Seller; or

     (b)  The nonfulfilment or breach of any agreement or covenant made by the
          Buyer in this Agreement or the Buyer Documents to which the Buyer is a
          party, but only to the extent that any such nonfulfilment or breach
          has not been waived in writing by the Seller; or

     (c)  Any obligation or liability arising from any act or omission of the
          Buyer or the Partnership or the Companies or any other Affiliate of
          the Buyer or any of the officers, employees, agents, consultants or
          contractors of any of the foregoing following the Closing, including
          environmental matters (as to which indemnification the limitations
          imposed by Section 9.03 shall be inapplicable).
<PAGE>
                                       33

9.03. Limitations on Indemnification. The indemnification rights set out above
are subject to the following limitations:

     (a)  For the purposes of Sections 9.01 and 9.02, all Claims shall be
          computed net of:

             (i)  Any insurance proceeds that are actually received by the
               Indemnitee; and

             (ii) Any amounts actually received by the Indemnitee from any third
               party as a result of or based on any claim that the Indemnitee
               may have against such third party arising from or related to the
               event or occurrence that gave rise to the Claim, and that would
               reduce the damage or loss that otherwise would be sustained by
               the Indemnitee.

     (b)  If Indemnitee claims indemnification under Section 9.01 or Section
          9.02 it shall be required, as a condition therefor, to use its best
          efforts to pursue any claim or right that it may have against any
          third party that would materially reduce the amount of the Claim for
          which such party seeks indemnification under Section 9.01 or 9.02, as
          the case may be.

     (c)  The indemnification rights under Section 9.01 and 9.02 shall
          expire at the respective times set forth in Section 9.07 and
          neither Seller, Philip nor Buyer shall have any liability under
          Section 9.01 or 9.02 respectively or otherwise in connection with
          the transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless the
          Indemnitee gives written notice to the Indemnitor asserting a
          Claim, including reasonably detailed specific facts and
          circumstances pertaining thereto, before the expiration of the
          periods of time that the underlying representations, warranties,
          covenants and agreements survive under Section 9.07 hereof.

     (d)  Indemnification for Claims under Section 9.01 shall  be
          payable hereunder only if and to the extent that the aggregate
          amount of all Claims of the Indemnitee shall exceed $1,500,000
          and shall not be payable in any event with respect to the first
          $1,500,000 of such claims except for any claim arising out of
          Taxes that are payable by the Companies or the Partnership, and
          that are solely attributable to Taxes payable by a related tax
          party (as such term is defined in Section 3.01(t)(ii)), in which
          case there shall be no minimum on Seller, and Philip's liability
          for indemnification in respect of such Taxes.

     (e)  Seller and Philip's liability for all claims under Section
          9.01 shall not in any event exceed $50,000,000 except for any
          claim arising out of Taxes that are payable by the Companies or
          the Partnership, and that are solely attributable to Taxes
          payable by a related tax party (as such term is defined in
          Section 3.01(t)(ii)), in which case there shall be no maximum cap
          on Seller, and Philip's liability for indemnification in respect
          of such Taxes.
<PAGE>
                                       34

9.04. Brokerage. The Seller and Philip, on the one hand and the Buyer, on the
other hand agree to indemnify, reimburse, defend, and hold each other harmless
from any and all liability, loss or expense (including counsel fees) incurred by
the Indemnitee as a result of or in connection with any claim by any broker,
finder, investment banker or other Person who claims to have been retained by
the indemnifying party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

9.05. Notice of Claim. In respect of any Claim, written notice thereof (a
"Notice of Claim") containing reasonably detailed particulars shall be given to
the Indemnitor promptly after such Claim shall have been served upon, or
otherwise become known to, the Indemnitee. However no delay in providing such
Notice of Claim shall affect Indemnitor's obligations to Indemnitee hereunder.

9.06. Defense of Third-Party Claims. Any claim or demand set forth in a Notice
of Claim relating to a Claim by any third party (a "Third-Party Claim") shall be
subject to the following terms and conditions:

     (a)  Upon receipt of a Notice of Claim, the Indemnitor shall be
          entitled, at its own expense, to participate in and, upon notice
          to the Indemnitee, to undertake the defense of the respective
          Third-Party Claim in good faith by counsel of its own choosing,
          which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee;
          provided, however, that, if in the Indemnitee's reasonable
          judgment, a conflict of interest may exist between the Indemnitee
          and the Indemnitor in respect of such Third-Party Claim, each
          party shall be entitled to select counsel of its own choosing, in
          which event each party shall be obligated to pay the fees and
          expenses of its own counsel.

     (b)  If  within thirty (30) days after written notice to the
          Indemnitee of the Indemnitor's intention to undertake the defense
          of any such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnitor shall fail to
          defend the Indemnitee against whom such Third-Party Claim shall
          have been asserted, the Indemnitee shall have the right (but not
          the obligation) to undertake the defense, compromise or
          settlement of such Third-Party Claim on behalf of, and for the
          account and at the risk of, the Indemnitor.

     (c)  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.06 to the contrary,

          (i)  should there be a reasonable probability in the Indemnitee's
               judgment that a Third-Party Claim asserted against the Indemnitee
               may materially and adversely affect the Indemnitee other than as
               a result of the imposition of money damages or other money
               payments, the Indemnitee shall have the right, at its sole
               option, to take over the defense of such Third-Party Claim (in
               which case the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee shall share equally
               the cost and expense of such defense) or to co-defend such
               Third-Party Claim (in which case the Indemnitee shall bear the
               cost and expense of the additional counsel);
<PAGE>
                                       35

          (ii) the Indemnitor shall not, without the prior written consent of
               the Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably
               withheld), pay, settle or compromise any such Third-Party Claim
               or consent to entry of any judgment relating to any such
               Third-Party Claim, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment
               shall include as an unconditional term thereof that the claimant
               or the plaintiff shall release the Indemnitee from all
               liabilities in respect of such Third-Party Claim; and

          (iii) the Indemnitee shall not, without the prior written consent of
               the Indemnitor (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld)
               pay, settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim or consent to
               entry of any judgment relating to any Third-Party Claim;
               provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall have the right so to
               settle, compromise or consent, but in such event the Indemnitee
               shall waive any right to indemnification by the Indemnitor in
               respect of such Third-Party Claim unless the Indemnitor shall
               have unreasonably withheld its consent.

     (d)  The Indemnitor and the Indemnitee shall each provide the
          other and their respective representatives with reasonable access
          to all of their respective records and documents relating to any
          Third-Party Claim and shall co-operate fully, each with the
          other, in the defense of all such claims; provided, however, that
          nothing herein stated or otherwise implied shall be deemed to
          waive any attorney-client, work-product or joint-defense
          privilege.

9.07.       Survival  After  the  Closing  and  Time  Limits   on
Indemnification.

     (a)  The Closing shall not affect the validity or effectiveness
          of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained
          herein, or any Claim of breach, violation or nonfulfilment of any
          of the foregoing.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, none
          of the parties shall be liable under this Agreement except in
          respect of any Claim for which a Notice of Claim shall have been
          received by the other party within the applicable period, as
          follows:

          (i)  The greater of four (4) years from the Closing Date or the
               applicable statute of limitations (including any extensions
               thereof) in the case of any Claim made for breach of any of the
               representations or warranties made therein by the Seller in
               respect of tax matters or tax returns;

          (ii) Three (3) years from the Closing Date in the case of any Claim
               made for breach of any of the representations or warranties made
               by the Seller in Section 3.01(a);
<PAGE>
                                       36

          (iii) Two (2) years from the Closing Date in the case of any Claim
               made for breach of any of the representations or warranties made
               by the Seller in Section 3.01(o); or

          (iv) One (1) year from the Closing Date in the case of any other Claim
               in respect of a breach of representation or warranty.

     (b)  All covenants and agreements of the parties contained in or
          made pursuant to this Agreement and required to be performed on
          or prior to the Closing Date shall not survive the Closing and
          shall be deemed, on Closing, to have been waived by the party for
          whose benefit the covenant or agreement exists.  All other
          covenants and agreement contained in or made pursuant to this
          Agreement (including Section 9.01 and 9.02) shall survive the
          Closing for so long as any claim may be made in respect of such
          matters under any applicable statute of limitations.

9.08. No Punitive Damages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, no party hereto shall have any liability to any other party
hereto, any of Buyer's Indemnified Persons or any of Seller's Indemnified
Persons for any punitive, consequential or special damages by virtue of any
breach of any representations, warranty, covenant or agreement in or pursuant to
this Agreement, any Seller Document or Buyer Document or any other agreement,
document or instrument executed and delivered pursuant hereto or in connection
herewith or the Closing; provided; that the foregoing shall not be deemed to
limit the obligation of any party hereunder to indemnify for Claims constituting
punitive, consequential or special damages awarded to any third-party claimant.

9.09. Exclusive Remedy. Each party thereto agrees that in the absence of fraud
the sole liability of any other party hereto for any claim with respect to the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement from and after the Closing Date
shall be limited to indemnification under this Article IX; provided; however,
that the foregoing shall not be deemed to prohibit or restrict the availability
of any equitable remedies (including specific performance) in the event of any
violation or threatened violation.


                            ARTICLE X

                          MISCELLANEOUS

10.01. Expenses. The Buyer and the Seller shall pay their respective expenses in
connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and all documents exchanged pursuant hereto. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, each party hereto shall be responsible for the fees
and expenses of its counsel.

10.02. Access to Records. For a period of seven (7) years after the Closing
Date, each party hereto shall give to the other access to the books, files and
records in such party's possession pertaining to the Partnership and the
Companies as the same existed prior to the relevant date; 
<PAGE>
                                       37

provided, however, that any right of access pursuant to this Section 10.02 shall
be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the operations
of the business of the party possessing such books, files and records and,
further, that nothing in this Section 10.02 shall be construed as requiring a
party hereto to grant to the other access to any books, files or records in such
party's possession that relate to the subject matter of any action or proceeding
that may arise hereafter to which the Buyer and the Seller are subject. After
expiration of the above-referenced seven- (7)-year period, each party shall be
free to destroy or dispose of such books, files and records, unless prior to
such destruction or disposal such party shall have received notice from another
party of such other party's intent to take possession of all or any portion of
such books, files and records or to make copies thereof, in which case such
other party shall have the right to take possession of such books, files and
records, or such portion thereof, or to make copies thereof, at such other
party's sole cost and expense, prior to such destruction or disposal.

10.03. Transfer Taxes. Etc. Any sales, use, transfer or similar taxes that may
be incurred in connection with the transfer of the Shares shall be paid by the
Buyer in accordance with applicable law.

10.04. Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given when delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, by facsimile transmission or in hand, addressed as follows:

     If to the Seller:

          c/o Philip Metals (USA) Inc.
          100 King Street West
          LCD #1, Box 2440
          Hamilton, ON
          L8N 4J6 CANADA
          Facsimile:     (905) 521-9160
          Attention:     General Counsel

     If to the Buyer:

          Metals USA, Inc.
          Three Riverway, Suite 600
          Houston, Texas
          Facsimile:     (713) 965-0067
          Attention:     General Counsel

Any party may by notice given pursuant to this Section 10.04 change the party,
address or facsimile number to which notice or other communications to it are to
be thereafter delivered, mailed or sent.
<PAGE>
                                       38

10.05. Assignment. No party hereto shall assign any of its rights or delegate
any of its obligations hereunder to any Person or Persons without the express
prior written consent of the other parties hereto.

10.06. Arbitration. Subject only to the provisions of section 9.06 hereof with
respect to Third Party Claims, any dispute arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or
termination, shall be referred to final and binding arbitration, to the
exclusion of any other court, forum or jurisdiction. Such arbitration shall be
conducted under the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration
Association in effect from time to time, which rules are deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this clause. The tribunal shall consist of three
arbitrators. Each party shall appoint one arbitrator, and the two
party-appointed arbitrators shall select a third arbitrator, who shall act as
Chairman. If the party-appointed arbitrators cannot agree on a Chairman, the
Chairman shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association. The place
of arbitration shall be Chicago, Illinois. Unless the arbitration tribunal shall
determine otherwise, the costs of the arbitration shall be borne by the parties
equally and each party shall bear its other legal costs, including the fees of
its attorneys. In the event that a party shall purport to submit to a court, any
dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, any other party may
plead the provisions of this paragraph as a complete defence to any such claim.

10.06A. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which,
when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.

10.07. Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. Seller and Philip recognizes
and acknowledges that they have had access to certain confidential information
of the Partnership relating to its operations prior to the Closing Date, such as
operational policies, pricing and cost policies, and other information, that are
valuable, special and unique assets of the Partnership. Seller and Philip agree
that they will not disclose after the Closing Date such confidential
information, or any confidential information of the Partnership to which they
may have access in the future, to any person, firm, corporation, association or
other entity for any purpose or reason whatsoever, except (a) to authorized
representatives of Buyer, (b) to counsel of Seller or its Affiliates and their
other advisers, and (c) to the lenders of Seller and its Affiliates and members
of its banking syndicate and their counsel and other advisers, and provided that
such advisers (other than counsel) agree to the confidentiality provisions of
this Section 10.07 unless (i) such information becomes known to the public
generally through no fault of Seller, or (ii) disclosure is required by law or
the order of any governmental authority, provided, that prior to disclosing any
information pursuant to this clause (ii), Seller shall give prior written notice
thereof to Buyer and to provide Buyer with the opportunity to contest such
disclosure. Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses as a result
of the breach of the foregoing covenants, and because of the immediate and
irreparable damage that would be caused for which Buyer would have no other
adequate remedy, Seller agrees that the foregoing covenants may be enforced
against Seller by injunctions, restraining orders and other appropriate
equitable relief. Nothing herein shall be 
<PAGE>
                                       39

construed as prohibiting Buyer from pursuing any other available remedy for such
breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages. The obligations
of the parties under this Section 10.07 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement for a period of five (5) years.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

PHILIP METALS (USA) INC.


By:_________________________________
     Name:
     Title:


Witness:  ____________________________


METALS USA, INC.


By:_________________________________
     Name:
     Title:

Witness:  ____________________________


PHILIP SERVICES CORP.


By:_________________________________
     Name:
     Title:


Witness:  ____________________________

<PAGE>
                                       40

PHILIP SERVICES (DELAWARE) INC.
in respect of Section 6.05(ii) only


By:_________________________________
     Name:
     Title:


Witness:  ____________________________


PHILIP ENTERPRISES INC.
in respect of Section 6.05(ii) only


By:_________________________________
     Name:
     Title:


Witness:  ____________________________



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission