ARTRA GROUP INC
8-K, 1995-11-08
COSTUME JEWELRY & NOVELTIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


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


       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 26, 1995
                                                         ----------------





                            ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                  Pennsylvania
                  --------------------------------------------
                  State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation




                  1-3916                             25-1095978
         ----------------------                  -----------------
         Commission File Number                   I.R.S. Employer
                                                 Identification No.








  500 Central Avenue, Northfield, IL                        60093
- --------------------------------------                    --------
Address of principal executive offices                    Zip Code


 Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (708) 441-6650



                                 Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report
<PAGE>
Item  2.          Acquisition or Disposition of Assets


                  On July 31,  1995,  ARTRA GROUP  Incorporated  ("ARTRA" or the
                  "Registrant")  and  its  wholly-owned   subsidiary,   Bagcraft
                  Corporation of America ("Bagcraft"),  entered into a letter of
                  intent to sell the  business  assets,  subject to the  buyer's
                  assumption of certain liabilities,  of Bagcraft's wholly-owned
                  Arcar Graphics, Inc. ("Arcar") subsidiary,  a manufacturer and
                  distributor of waterbase inks. See Registrant's Form 8-K dated
                  July 31, 1995.

                  On  October  26,  1995,  Bagcraft  completed  the  sale of the
                  business assets,  subject to the buyer's assumption of certain
                  liabilities,  of Arcar for cash of approximately  $20,500,000.
                  The net proceeds,  after  extinguishment of certain Arcar debt
                  obligations of approximately  $9,900,000,  were used to reduce
                  Bagcraft debt obligations.




Item  5.          Other Events

                  Effective  October 30, 1995, the Company  settled certain debt
                  obligations   due  a  bank   lender   totaling   approximately
                  $5,000,000  for a cash payment of  $150,000.  The gain on this
                  debt   extinguishment  will  be  reflected  in  the  Company's
                  financial statements in the fourth quarter of 1995.


<PAGE>

Item  7.          Financial Statements and Exhibits

                      (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information
                           -------------------------------

                           Pro  Forma  Condensed   Consolidated   Balance  Sheet
                           (Unaudited), June 29, 1995

                           Pro  Forma   Condensed   Consolidated   Statement  of
                           operations  (Unaudited)for  the Six Months Ended June
                           29, 1995

                           Pro  Forma   Condensed   Consolidated   Statement  of
                           Operations  (Unaudited)  for the Year Ended  December
                           29, 1994


                  (c)      Exhibits
                           --------

                           10.1   ASSET  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT made as of the 28th
                                  day of  September,  1995,  by and among  Arcar
                                  Graphics,   Inc.,   an  Illinois   corporation
                                  ("Arcar" or "Seller"),  BCA Holdings,  Inc., a
                                  Delaware   corporation   ("BCAH"),    Bagcraft
                                  Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation
                                  ("BCA"    and,    collectively    with   BCAH,
                                  "Bagcraft"),   ARTRA  GROUP  Incorporated,   a
                                  Pennsylvania  corporation ("ARTRA"), and Arcar
                                  Acquisition  Corp.,  a  Delaware   corporation
                                  ("Buyer").

                           10.2   LIMITED  RELEASE,   dated  October  30,  1995,
                                  between NatWest Bank N. A.  ("Releasor"),  and
                                  ARTRA GROUP  Incorporated  and Peter R. Harvey
                                  ("Releasee").   .  99.1  Press   Release  date
                                  October 27, 1995 announcing the completion the
                                  sale of the  business  assets,  subject to the
                                  buyer's assumption of certain liabilities,  of
                                  Arcar.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES



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






                            ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED
                                   Registrant







Dated:   November 8, 1995                      JAMES D. DOERING
                                   ------------------------------------------
                                   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

                                      
<PAGE>
Item  7. (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information
                   
The pro forma condensed  consolidated balance sheet as of June 29, 1995 has been
reclassified  to  report  separately  assets  and  liabilities  of  discontinued
operations as if ARTRA GROUP Incorporated's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bagcraft
Corporation of America,  had  discontinued  the  operations of its  wholly-owned
Arcar Graphics,  Inc.  subsidiary and The Lori Corporation,  then 64.3% owned by
ARTRA  GROUP  Incorporated,  had  discontinued  the  operations  of its  jewelry
segment, effective June 29, 1995.

<TABLE>

                   ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                 JUNE 29, 1995
                            (Unaudited in thousands)

<CAPTION>

                                                                                        Reclassify 
                                                                                   Discontinued Operations
                                                                                   ----------------------- 
                                                                                    Lori's
                                                                                   Jewelry        Pro Forma
                                                          Historical     Arcar     Segment       Adjustments      Pro Forma
                                                          ----------   --------   --------       -----------      ---------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>               <C>            <C>

                                     ASSETS

Cash and equivalents                                        $    420   ($   215)  ($    47)                        $    158
Restricted cash and equivalents                                  546                                                    546
Receivables, less allowance for
  doubtful accounts and markdowns of $419                     12,817     (1,105)       (939)                         10,773
Inventories                                                   23,669     (2,584)     (1,649)                         19,436
Other                                                          1,311        (12)       (473)                            826
Assets of discontinued operations
  held for disposal                                                                                  $15,896         15,896
                                                          ----------   --------    --------                       ---------
               Total current assets                           38,763     (3,916)     (3,108)                         47,635
                                                          ----------   --------    --------                       ---------

Property, plant and equipment                                 49,487       (975)       (394)                         48,118
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                19,027        167        (930)                         18,264
                                                          ----------   --------    --------                       ---------    
                                                              30,460     (1,142)        536                          29,854
                                                          ----------   --------    --------                       ---------   

Other assets:
   Excess of cost over net assets acquired,
      net of accumulated amortization of $1,888               11,592     (8,166)                                      3,426
   Other                                                       1,477       (100)                                      1,377
                                                           ----------   --------                                  ---------     
                                                              13,069     (8,266)                                      4,803
                                                           ----------   --------    --------        --------      ---------      
                                                             $82,292   ($13,324)   ($ 2,572)         $15,896        $82,292
                                                           =========    =======    ========         ========      =========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                   ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                 JUNE 29, 1995
                            (Unaudited in thousands)
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Reclassify 
                                                                                   Discontinued Operations
                                                                                   ----------------------- 
                                                                                    Lori's
                                                                                   Jewelry        Pro Forma
                                                          Historical     Arcar     Segment       Adjustments    Pro Forma
                                                          ----------   --------   --------       -----------    ---------
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>    
                        
                                  LIABILITIES
Notes payable, including amounts due
  to related parties of $6,586                              $ 27,763                                             $ 27,763
Current maturities of long-term debt                          37,839    ($ 3,331)                                  34,508
Accounts payable                                              21,390        (959)  ($2,396)                        18,035
Accrued expenses                                              16,912        (206)     (660)                        16,046
Income taxes                                                     303        (176)                                     127
Liabilities of discontinued operations
  held for disposal                                                                               $ 13,190         13,190
                                                          ----------   --------   --------                      ---------
               Total current liabilities                     104,207      (4,672)   (3,056)                       109,669
                                                          ----------   --------   --------                      ---------

Long-term debt                                                17,201      (5,412)                                  11,789
Other noncurrent liabilities                                   1,479         (50)                                   1,429
Commitments and contingencies

Redeemable common stock,
  issued 369,679 shares                                        4,736                                                4,736
ARTRA redeemable preferred stock
  payable to a related party,
  $1,000 par value; Series A,
  6% cumulative payment-in-kind,
  including  accumulated dividends,
  net of unamortized discount of $1,712;
  redeemable March 1, 2000 at $1,000
  per share plus accrued dividends;
  authorized 2,000,000 shares all series;
  issued 3,750 shares                                         3,407                                                 3,407
Bagcraft redeemable preferred stock
  payable to a related party,
  cumulative $.01 par value, 13.5%;
  including accumulated dividends;
  redeemable in 1997 with a liquidation
  preference equal to $100 per share;
  50,000 shares authorized and issued                        10,456                                                10,456
BCA Holdings preferred stock payable
  to a related party, $1.00 par value,
  Series A, 6% cumulative;
  including accumulated dividends;
  liquidation preference of
  $1,000 per share;
  10,000 shares authorized; issued 3,675 shares               4,032                                                 4,032

                   SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Common stock, no par value;
  authorized 7,500,000 shares;
  issued 6,417,782  shares                                    5,091                                                 5,091
Additional paid-in capital                                   36,365                                                36,365
Receivable from related party,
  including accrued interest                                 (4,340)                                               (4,340)
Accumulated deficit                                         (99,537)                                              (99,537)
                                                         ----------                                             ---------    
                                                            (62,421)                                              (62,421)
Less treasury stock (57,038 shares), at cost                    805                                                   805
                                                         ----------                                             ---------
                                                            (63,226)                                              (63,226)
                                                         ----------     ---------   ---------      --------     ---------
                                                           $82,292     ($ 10,084)  ($  3,106)     $ 13,190      $ 82,292
                                                         ==========     =========   =========      ========     =========
<FN>
(A) To reclassify the condensed  consolidated balance sheet to report separately
    the assets and liabilities of discontinued operations.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
The pro forma condensed  consolidated statement of operations for the six months
ended June 29, 1995 presents the results of operations as if, effective December
30, 1994, the first day of the current fiscal year,  ARTRA GROUP  Incorporated's
wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bagcraft Corporation of America, had discontinued the
operations of its  wholly-owned  Arcar  Graphics,  Inc.  subsidiary and The Lori
Corporation, then 64.3% owned by ARTRA GROUP Incorporated,  had discontinued the
operations of its jewelry segment.
<TABLE>
                   ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
            PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                     FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 29, 1995
                     (In thousands, except per share data)
<CAPTION>

                                                                                      Reclassify 
                                                                                   Discontinued Operations
                                                                                   ----------------------- 
                                                                                    Lori's
                                                                                   Jewelry        Pro Forma
                                                          Historical     Arcar     Segment       Adjustments      Pro Forma
                                                          ----------   --------   --------       -----------      ---------
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>              <C>               <C>     
Net sales                                                    $72,538    ($4,148)   ($7,639)                           $60,751
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------

Costs and expenses:
   Cost of goods sold, exclusive of 
     depreciation and amortization                            58,028     (1,778)    (5,096)                            51,154
   Selling, general and administrative                        14,016       (768)    (4,116)                             9,132
   Depreciation and amortization                               2,774       (278)      (277)                             2,219
   Goodwill impairment                                         6,430     (6,430)                                 
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
                                                              81,248     (2,824)   (15,919)                            62,505
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
Operating loss                                                (8,710)    (1,324)     8,280                             (1,754)
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
Other income (expense):
   Interest expense                                           (4,521)       445          5            $  300  (B)      (3,771)
   Other income, net                                              13         21         (1)                                33
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
                                                              (4,508)       466          4                             (3,738)
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
Loss from continuing operations before 
   income taxes and minority interest                        (13,218)      (858)     8,284                             (5,492)
Provision for income taxes                                       (24)        22          3                                  1
Minority interest                                               (448)                                                    (448)
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
Loss from continuing operations                              (13,690)      (836)     8,287                             (5,939)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations                                                          (7,751) (A)      (7,751)
                                                             -------    -------    -------                            -------
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary credit                  (13,690)      (836)     8,287                            (13,690)
Dividends applicable to redeemable preferred stock              (278)                                                    (278)
Reduction of retained earnings 
   applicable to redeemable common stock                        (162)                                                    (162)
                                                            --------    -------    -------            -------        --------
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary credit 
   applicable to common shares                              ($14,130)     ($836)    $8,287            ($7,451)       ($14,130)
                                                            ========    =======    =======            =======        ======== 
Earnings (loss) per share:
    Continuing operations                                     ($2.10)                                                  ($0.95)
    Discontinued operations                                                                                             (1.15)
                                                              ------                                                   ------ 
    Earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary credit     ($2.10)                                                  ($2.10)
                                                              ======                                                   ====== 

Weighted average number of shares of common stock and 
   common stock equivalents outstanding                        6,724                                                    6,724
                                                             =======                                                  =======

<FN>
Pro forma adjustments to the condensed  consolidated statement of operations for
the six months ended June 29, 1995:
(A)  Reclassify operations of Bagcraft's Arcar Graphics, Inc. subsidiary and The
     Lori Corporation's jewelry segment to discontinued operations. 
(B)  Allocate interest expense to discontinued operations.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
The pro forma condensed  consolidated statement of operations for the year ended
December 29,  1994presents the results of operations as if,  effective  December
31, 1993, the first day of the current fiscal year,  ARTRA GROUP  Incorporated's
wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Bagcraft Corporation of America, had discontinued the
operations of its  wholly-owned  Arcar  Graphics,  Inc.  subsidiary and The Lori
Corporation, then 66.7% owned by ARTRA GROUP Incorporated,  had discontinued the
operations of its jewelry segment.

<TABLE>
                   ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
            PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 29, 1994
                     (In thousands, except per share data)

<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Reclassify 
                                                                                   Discontinued Operations
                                                                                   ----------------------- 
                                                                                    Lori's
                                                                                   Jewelry        Pro Forma
                                                          Historical     Arcar     Segment       Adjustments      Pro Forma
                                                          ----------   --------   --------       -----------      ---------
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>        <C>              <C>            <C>     
Net sales                                                   $152,115    ($5,847)   ($34,431)                       $111,837
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
Costs and expenses:
   Cost of goods sold, exclusive of 
     depreciation and amortization                           119,081     (3,228)    (21,087)                         94,766
   Selling, general and administrative                        34,090     (1,015)    (16,315)                         16,760
   Depreciation and amortization                               5,945       (152)     (1,449)                          4,344
   Goodwill impairment                                        10,800                (10,800)                               
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
                                                             169,916     (4,395)    (49,651)                        115,870
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
Operating loss                                               (17,801)    (1,452)     15,220                          (4,033)
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
Other income (expense):
   Interest expense                                          (10,655)       601         986             $ 450 (B)    (8,618)
   Other income, net                                              (7)        23          (3)                             13
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
                                                             (10,662)       624         983                          (8,605)
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        -------- 
Loss from continuing operations before 
   income taxes and minority interest                        (28,463)      (828)     16,203                         (12,638)
Provision for income taxes                                       (83)        64          10                              (9)
Minority interest                                               (889)                                                  (889)
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
Loss from continuing operations                              (29,435)      (764)     16,213                         (13,536)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations                                                         $(15,899)(A)   (15,899)
                                                            --------    -------    --------                        --------
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary credit                  (29,435)      (764)     16,213                         (29,435)
Dividends applicable to redeemable preferred stock              (516)                                                  (516)
Reduction of retained earnings 
    applicable to redeemable common stock                       (309)                                                  (309)
                                                            --------    -------    --------         ---------      --------
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary credit 
    applicable to common shares                             ($30,260)     ($764)    $16,213          ($15,449)     ($30,260)
                                                            ========    =======     =======         =========      ======== 

Earnings (loss) per share:
    Continuing operations                                     ($5.30)                                                ($2.51)
    Discontinued operations                                                                                           (2.79)
                                                              ------                                                 ------ 
    Earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary credit     ($5.30)                                                ($5.30)
                                                              ======                                                 ====== 

Weighted average number of shares of common stock and 
   common stock equivalents outstanding                        5,702                                                  5,702
                                                              ======                                                 ======

<FN>
Pro forma adjustments to the condensed  consolidated statement of operations for
the year ended December 29, 1994:
(A)  Reclassify operations of Bagcraft's Arcar Graphics, Inc. subsidiary and The
     Lori Corporation's jewelry segment to discontinued operations.
(B)  Allocate interest expense to discontinued operations.
</FN>
</TABLE>                                       


                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1



                         ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of the 28th day
of September,  1995, by and among Arcar Graphics,  Inc., an Illinois corporation
("Arcar" or "Seller"),  BCA  Holdings,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  ("BCAH"),
Bagcraft Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation ("BCA" and, collectively
with BCAH,  "Bagcraft"),  ARTRA GROUP Incorporated,  a Pennsylvania  corporation
("ARTRA"), and Arcar Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer").

         WHEREAS,  Arcar  wishes to sell,  and Buyer  wishes  to  purchase,  the
Purchased Assets (as hereinafter defined), subject to the assumption by Buyer of
certain  liabilities of Arcar comprising the Assumed Liabilities (as hereinafter
defined) upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

         WHEREAS,  capitalized terms used herein which are otherwise not defined
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.7 hereof;

         In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained,
the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

         1.       Purchase and Sale of Assets.

                  1.1 Sale of Assets to Buyer.  On the terms and  subject to the
conditions set forth in this  Agreement,  at the closing  referred to in Section
3.1, Arcar shall sell, transfer,  convey, assign and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer
shall purchase and acquire from Arcar, all of Arcar's right,  title and interest
in and to all of the  Purchased  Assets (as defined  below) and the  business of
Arcar,  free and  clear of all  Liens,  as such  Purchased  Assets  exist on the
Closing  Date (as defined  hereinafter).  As used  herein,  the term  "Purchased
Assets" means all of the assets,  properties and rights owned by Arcar,  or used
or usable by Arcar,  of every type and  description,  real,  personal and mixed,
tangible and  intangible,  wherever  located and whether or not reflected on the
Books and Records of Arcar, other than those assets, properties and rights which
are  specifically  excluded  pursuant  to Section  1.2.  Except as  specifically
excluded  pursuant  to  Section  1.2,  the  Purchased  Assets  include,  without
limitation,  all  of  the  right,  title  and  interest  of  Arcar  in or to the
following:

                  (a) Real Property Leases. (i) The leases and subleases of real
property  set forth on  Schedule  4.12 hereto as to which Arcar is the lessor or
sublessor  and (ii) all  leases  and  subleases  of real  property  set forth on
Schedule 4.12 hereto as to which Arcar is the lessee or sublessee, together with
any options to purchase  the  underlying  property  and  leasehold  improvements
thereon set forth on Schedule  4.12 hereto,  and in each case all other  rights,
subleases,  licenses, permits, deposits and profits appurtenant to or related to
such leases and subleases (the leases and subleases  described in subclauses (i)
and (ii), the "Real Property Leases");
                  (b)   Inventory.    All    inventories   or   raw   materials,
work-in-process,  finished  goods,  merchandise,  products  under  research  and
development,   demonstration  equipment,   office  and  other  supplies,  parts,
packaging  materials and other accessories related thereto which are held at, or
are in  transit  from or to,  the  locations  at which  the  Arcar  Business  is
conducted,   or  located  at  suppliers'  premises  or  customers'  premises  on
consignment, including any of the foregoing purchased subject to any conditional
sales or title retention  agreement in favor of any other Person,  together with
all rights of Arcar against suppliers of such inventories (the "Inventory");

                  (c) Accounts Receivable. All trade accounts receivable and all
notes,  bonds and other  evidences  of  indebtedness  of and  rights to  receive
payments arising out of sales occurring in the conduct of the Arcar Business and
the security  agreements  related  thereto,  including  any rights of Arcar with
respect  to any third  party  collection  proceedings  or any other  Actions  or
Proceedings  which have been  commenced in connection  therewith  (the "Accounts
Receivable");


<PAGE>


                  (d) Tangible Personal  Property.  In addition to the Inventory
separately described above, all furniture,  fixtures,  equipment,  machinery and
other tangible personal property at the locations at which the Arcar Business is
conducted or at suppliers'  premises or customers'  premises on consignment,  or
otherwise  used or held for use by Arcar in the  conduct of the Arcar  Business,
including any of the foregoing  purchased  subject to any  conditional  sales or
title retention agreement in favor of any other Person;

                  (e) Personal  Property Leases.  (i) The leases or subleases of
tangible  personal  property set forth on Schedule 4.24 hereto as to which Arcar
is the lessor or sublessor and (ii) all leases of tangible personal property set
forth on  Schedule  4.24  hereto as to which  Arcar is the lessee or  sublessee,
together with any options to purchase or sell the underlying  property set forth
on Schedule  4.24 hereto (the leases and subleases  described in subclauses  (i)
and (ii), the "Personal Property Leases");

                  (f)  Business  Contracts.  In  addition  to the Real  Property
Leases,  the Personal  Property  Leases and the Accounts  Receivable  separately
described  above,  all Material  Agreements  (as such term is defined in Section
4.8) set forth on Schedule  1.1(f),  all purchase orders from customers of Arcar
which Arcar has  accepted in the ordinary  course of  business,  that certain $3
million life insurance policy issued by Prudential Insurance Company on the life
of Scott  Billings (the  "Billings  Insurance  Policy"),  the medical  insurance
policies set forth on Schedule 1.1(f) (the "Medical Insurance Policies") and the
automobile  insurance  policies  set forth on Schedule  1.1(f) (the  "Automobile
Insurance Policies") (the "Business Contracts");
                  (g)      Prepaid Expenses.  All prepaid expenses;

                  (h) Intangible  Property.  All  intellectual  property  rights
(including Arcar's goodwill therein) and all rights, privileges,  claims, causes
of action and options  relating or  pertaining  to its Business or its assets or
properties,  including  but not  limited to patents and  applications  therefor,
knowhow, trade secrets, secret formulas,  business and marketing plans, computer
software  (including  source codes) and related  documentation,  copyrights  and
applications  therefor,  trademarks  and  applications  therefor,  trade  names,
service marks and all names and slogans used by Arcar, including the name "Arcar
Graphics, Inc." (the "Intangible Property");

                  (i) Licenses. All transferable licenses, permits,  franchises,
approvals and authorizations  (including  applications  therefor) (the "Business
Licenses");

                  (j) Vehicles. All motor vehicles owned or leased by Arcar;

                  (k) Security  Deposits.  All security deposits deposited by or
on behalf of Arcar as lessee or sublessee  under the Real Property Leases or the
Personal Property Leases;

                  (l) Balance Sheet Assets. Those assets,  properties and rights
of Arcar  reflected  on the  unaudited  June  30,  1995  balance  sheet of Arcar
included in the  Financial  Statements  (as  hereinafter  defined) or  otherwise
referred to in this Agreement or any Schedule hereto,  subject to changes in the
ordinary course of business through the Closing Date;

                  (m) Books and Records.  All Books and Records used or held for
use in the conduct of the Arcar  Business or otherwise  relating to Arcar or its
assets or properties;

                  (n)  Property  Plans.  All  site  plans,   surveys,  soil  and
substratus   studies,   architectural   drawings,   plans  and   specifications,
engineering, electrical and mechanical plans and studies, floor plans, landscape
plans,  appraisals,  feasibility studies,  environmental studies and other plans
and  studies of any kind if  existing  and in the  possession  or subject to the
control of Arcar relating to any property  leased or subleased by Arcar pursuant
to the Real Property Leases;
<PAGE>
                  (o)  Warranties.  All rights of Arcar under or pursuant to all
warranties,  representations and guarantees made by suppliers, manufacturers and
contractors in connection with products sold to or services provided to Arcar or
affecting  the  property,  machinery  or  equipment  owned  or used by  Arcar or
relating to any  property  leased  pursuant to the Real  Property  Leases or the
Personal Property Leases; and (p) Telephone Numbers. All transferable  telephone
exchange numbers.

                  (q)  Lockbox  Number.   Arcar's  lockbox  number  at  American
National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago set forth on Schedule 1.1(q).

                  1.2  Excluded Assets.  Any provision of this  Agreement to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  Buyer  shall not acquire and there shall be excluded
from the Purchased Assets the following (the "Excluded Assets"):

                  (a) Cash. All cash and cash equivalents held by Arcar;

                  (b) Bank  Accounts.  Any rights of Arcar with  respect to bank
accounts of Arcar, except as set forth in Section 1.1(q);

                  (c) Marketable Securities.  All marketable securities owned by
Arcar.

                  (d) Intercompany Accounts. Any rights of Arcar with respect to
any  obligations or liabilities of Bagcraft or ARTRA,  any Affiliate of Bagcraft
or ARTRA, or any director or officer of any of the foregoing or of Arcar, except
for any rights of Arcar with respect to those  Business  Contracts  and Accounts
Receivable listed on Schedule 1.2(d) hereto;

                  (e)  Insurance  Policies.  Any rights of Arcar with respect to
insurance policies owned by Arcar or for which Arcar is the named insured, other
than the Automobile  Insurance  Policies,  Billings  Insurance  Policy,  and the
Medical Insurance Policies;

                  (f) Minute Books.  The minute books,  stock transfer books and
corporate seal of Arcar;

                  (g) Other  Matters.  All rights of Arcar under this  Agreement
and the documents and other papers  delivered to Buyer by Arcar pursuant to this
Agreement.

         2.       Purchase Price.

                  2.1 Amount of Consideration. Subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 2.2,  the purchase  price (the  "Purchase  Price") for the  Purchased
Assets to be purchased by Buyer, shall be:

                  a) a payment  of  $21,000,000,  all of which  shall be paid to
Arcar  by Buyer by wire  transfer  of  immediately  available  funds to  Arcar's
account at American  National Bank (the "Cash  Payment") at the Closing,  except
for that portion  which the parties agree  pursuant to Section  7.1(xv) shall be
reduced from the Cash Payment and deferred and paid in  accordance  with Section
7.1(xv); and

                  b) the  assumption  by Buyer of the  Assumed  Liabilities  (as
defined hereinafter) at the Closing.

<PAGE>
                  2.2      Adjustment to Purchase Price.

                  (a) Not later than three (3) Business  Days before the Closing
Date,  Arcar shall  prepare and deliver to Buyer an  estimated  calculation  and
statement of the Net Assets (the "Estimated Statement") based upon the Books and
Records  of Arcar as of the time such  Books and  Records  are closed on the day
preceding  the  day  of  delivery  of  the  Estimated  Statement,  assuming  the
satisfaction  of Section  6.1(ii)(f)  hereof.  The Estimated  Statement shall be
prepared in good faith and shall be subject to the review and  written  approval
of Buyer and be in the form of the pro forma  Statement  of Net Assets  attached
hereto as Exhibit A. In the event  that the amount of the  estimated  Net Assets
set forth on the  Estimated  Statement  (the  "Estimated  Net  Assets")  exceeds
$1,998,876,  being the Net Assets on June 30,  1995 and as  detailed  on the pro
forma  Statement of Net Assets  attached  hereto as Exhibit A, then the Purchase
Price and the Cash Payment  shall be increased by the amount of such excess.  In
the event that the amount of the Estimated  Net Assets is less than  $1,998,876,
then the Purchase  Price and the Cash Payment  shall be reduced by the amount of
such deficiency.

                  (b) As  promptly  as  practicable,  but in any event not later
than  forty-five  (45) days after the  Closing  Date,  Arcar  shall  cause to be
prepared and delivered to Buyer a balance sheet for Arcar as of the Closing Date
(the  "Balance  Sheet"),  which  shall be audited by Coopers & Lybrand  ("C&L"),
certified public  accountants,  and certified by such firm to have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP  consistently  applied and in  substantially  the manner
used to prepare the Audited  Financial  Statements.  The Balance  Sheet shall be
accompanied  by a statement  (the  "Statement  of Net Assets")  prepared by such
accountants  and setting  forth the Net Assets,  which  shall be  calculated  by
reference to the Balance Sheet and be in the form of the pro forma  Statement of
Net Assets attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                  (c) Subject to subsection  (d) below,  within thirty (30) days
after delivery of the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Net Assets  pursuant to
subsection (b) above, (i) Arcar shall pay to Buyer the amount,  if any, by which
the amount of the  Estimated  Net Assets  exceeds the Net Assets,  or (ii) Buyer
shall pay to Arcar the  amount,  if any,  by which the  amount of the Net Assets
exceeds the Estimated Net Assets.  Payments,  if any, by Arcar or Buyer pursuant
to this  subsection (c) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately  available
funds.  The parties shall treat any payment made pursuant to this Section 2.2(c)
as an  adjustment  to the  Purchase  Price  for  the  Purchased  Assets  for all
purposes.

                  (d) Dispute  Resolution.  Buyer's certified public accountant,
Deloitte & Touche,  LLP ("D&T")  shall be permitted to review the Balance  Sheet
and Statement of Net Assets and C&L's workpapers  thereto during the thirty (30)
day period  following  the  delivery of the Balance  Sheet and  Statement of Net
Assets to Buyer.  If Buyer in good faith disagrees with the Balance Sheet or the
Statement  of Net Assets,  then Buyer shall notify Arcar in writing (the "Notice
of Disagreement") of such disagreement within thirty (30) days after delivery of
the Balance  Sheet and the Statement of Net Assets.  The Notice of  Disagreement
shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for the disagreement. Thereafter,
Arcar and Buyer shall attempt in good faith to resolve and finally determine the
Balance Sheet and the Statement of Net Assets.  If Arcar and Buyer are unable to
resolve the disagreement within thirty (30) days after delivery of the Notice of
Disagreement,   then  Arcar  and  Buyer  shall  select  a  mutually  acceptable,
nationally  recognized  independent  accounting  firm which does not then have a
relationship  with any of the parties  hereto or any of their  affiliates  (such
accounting firm being hereinafter  referred to as the "Independent  Accountant")
to resolve the disputed  items and make a  determination  with respect  thereto.
Such  determination  will be made, and written notice thereof given to Arcar and
Buyer within thirty (30) days after such  selection.  The  determination  by the
Independent  Accountant shall be final,  binding and conclusive upon the parties
hereto.  The scope of such firm's engagement (which shall not be an audit) shall
be  limited  to  the  resolution  of  the  items  contained  in  the  Notice  of
Disagreement,  and the  recalculation,  if any,  of the  Balance  Sheet  and the
Statement  of Net  Assets  in light of such  resolution.  The  fees,  costs  and
expenses of C&L in connection  with the preparation of the Balance Sheet and the
Statement of Net Assets,  and the fees,  costs and expenses of D&T in connection
with the review thereof, shall be borne by Arcar but, in the case of the

<PAGE>
fees,  costs and expenses of D&T, they shall not exceed $10,000  pursuant to the
engagement  letter from D&T  attached  hereto as Exhibit B. The fees,  costs and
expenses of the Independent Accountant, if any, selected in accordance with this
Section  2.2(d) will be borne equally by both  parties.  Within ten (10) days of
delivery  of a  notice  of  determination  by  the  Independent  Accountants  as
described above, any adjustment shall be paid as provided in Section 2.2(c). Any
portion of the Purchase Price adjustment not in dispute shall be paid when due.

                  2.3  Messer  Agreement.   Notwithstanding  any  agreements  or
arrangements  Bagcraft or any of its  Affiliates  may have with respect to Edwin
Messer  ("Messer") to the contrary,  at any time prior to and for a period of 90
days  following the Closing (the "Messer  Negotiating  Period"),  Buyer shall be
permitted to negotiate with and to enter into an agreement with Messer  relating
to the  establishment  of the  Dispersions  Business.  If Buyer  enters  into an
agreement with Messer relating to the establishment of the Dispersions  Business
during the Messer  Negotiating  Period,  then  simultaneously  (i)  Bagcraft and
Messer shall terminate that certain  Consulting  Agreement dated June 1, 1995 by
and between  Bagcraft and Messer (the  "Consulting  Agreement"),  and (ii) Buyer
shall reimburse Bagcraft for its reasonable and ordinary  out-of-pocket expenses
relating to the  Consulting  Agreement,  including  any and all amounts  paid in
connection therewith to Paulette Messer since July 1, 1995,  provided,  however,
that the amount of such reimbursement  shall not in the aggregate exceed the sum
of (i) $100,000, plus (ii) if Buyer enters into such agreement with Messer after
the Closing,  Bagcraft's post Closing expenses  incurred during the post-Closing
period (such amount not to exceed $20,000 per month).

         2.4 Assumption of Liabilities.  Except as may be specifically  excluded
pursuant to the  provisions of Section 2.5,  subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein, Buyer agrees that, on the Closing Date, Buyer shall assume and
thereafter  pay,  perform or discharge when due or required to be performed,  as
the case may be,  the  following  obligations  and  liabilities  of Arcar to the
extent existing on the Closing Date (the "Assumed Liabilities"):

                  (a) Balance Sheet  Liabilities.  All undischarged  liabilities
and  obligations of Arcar which relate to conduct of the Arcar Business prior to
the Closing Date and are reflected on the Balance Sheet and the Statement of Net
Assets to the extent such  liabilities (i) are properly  recorded  thereon,  and
(ii) have been incurred in the ordinary course of business  consistent with past
practice without  violation of this Agreement and (iii) are of the same type and
nature  as those  liability  line  items  for  Arcar  set forth on the pro forma
Statement of Net Assets  attached  hereto as Exhibit A (but expressly  excluding
those items which are to be adjusted in calculating Net Assets and excluded from
the Assumed  Liabilities  pursuant to the proviso set forth in the definition of
Net Assets (the "Earnout Amounts").

                  (b) Real Property Lease Obligations.  All obligations of Arcar
under the Real  Property  Leases  arising  and to be  performed  on or after the
Closing Date;

                  (c) Personal  Property Lease  Obligations.  All obligations of
Arcar under the Personal Property Leases arising and to be performed on or after
the Closing Date; and

                  (d) Obligations Under Contracts and Licenses.  All obligations
of Arcar under the Business  Contracts and Business  Licenses  arising and to be
performed on or after the Closing Date.

                  (e) Health Plans. To the extent expressly  provided in Section
6.16 hereof,  all obligations of Arcar under the Arcar Graphics,  Inc.  Employee
Benefits  Plan to the extent  and only to the  extent  that such plan is a group
health plan that provides medical benefits (the "Medical Plan"),  incurred on or
after the Closing Date.

In the event of any claim  against  Buyer  with  respect  to any of the  Assumed
Liabilities hereunder,  Buyer shall have, and Arcar hereby assigns to Buyer, any
defense,  counterclaim,  or right of setoff  which would have been  available to
Arcar if such claim had been asserted against Arcar.
<PAGE>
                  2.5 Excluded  Liabilities  Not Assumed.  Any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, Buyer shall not assume, or in any way
become liable for, any of the following  liabilities  or obligations of Arcar of
any kind or nature,  whether  accrued,  absolute,  contingent or  otherwise,  or
whether due or to become due, or otherwise  on the Closing  Date (the  "Excluded
Liabilities")  unless  such  liabilities  are  accrued  as  liabilities  in  the
calculation of Net Assets  (excluding the Earnout Amounts) and therefore assumed
by Buyer pursuant to Section 2.4(a):

                  a) Undisclosed Liabilities.  Debts, obligations or liabilities
of any kind or nature,  whether  absolute,  accrued,  contingent  or  otherwise,
required by this  Agreement  to be  disclosed  to Buyer and not so  disclosed in
writing  in a Schedule  hereto or  contained  in the  Financial  Statements  (as
hereinafter defined).

                  b) Violation of  Representations,  etc. Debts,  obligations or
liabilities  which arise or exist in  violation  of any of the  representations,
warranties,  covenants or agreements of Seller,  Artra or Bagcraft  contained in
this Agreement,  or in any documents or other papers delivered to Buyer by or on
behalf of Seller,  Artra or Bagcraft on or before the Closing  Date  pursuant to
this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  c) Taxes.  Debts,  obligations or liabilities for Taxes of any
kind whatsoever for periods  through and including the Closing Date,  including,
without limitation,  Taxes which are (i) due and payable as of the Closing Date,
(ii) all income taxes arising from the operations of Arcar,  the  liquidation of
Arcar or the  transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  and (iii) all real
estate  taxes or  personal  use taxes with  respect to the Leased  Property  (as
hereinafter  defined) or the Purchased  Assets accrued  through the Closing Date
(whether or not then due and payable).

                  d) Taxes Due on Sale.  Debts,  obligations or liabilities  for
Taxes of any kind whatsoever  arising from, based upon, or related to, the sale,
transfer or delivery of the Purchased Assets or assignment and assumption of the
Assumed Liabilities pursuant to this Agreement.

                  e) Infringements.  Any liability or obligation  arising out of
any infringement or misappropriation by or conflict with, any proprietary rights
of any Person.

                  f)  Indebtedness  for Borrowed  Money.  Debts,  liabilities or
obligations of any kind or nature  representing  indebtedness for borrowed money
(whether  short-term  or  long-term),  including  accrued  interest  and/or from
penalties owing thereon.

                  g) Environmental Liabilities.  Any liability or obligation (a)
relating  to or arising  out of any  Environmental  Claim,  (b)  relating  to or
arising out of the presence,  Release,  emission,  use,  generation,  discharge,
treatment,  storage, or disposal of any Hazardous Substances on, under, in, from
or about, or any transportation of any such Hazardous Substances to or from, any
premises or waste  treatment  or disposal  facilities  owned,  leased or used by
Arcar on or prior to the  Closing  Date,  (c)  relating to or arising out of the
violation  or alleged  violation  of, or imposed by, any  Environmental  Laws or
Release, transportation,  treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances
on or prior to the Closing Date,  including without  limitation the discharge or
Release  disclosed in Schedule  4.15 hereto or (d) relating to or arising out of
any violation or alleged violation of any other Law or Order.

                  h) Litigation. Any liability or obligation relating to Actions
or  Proceedings  involving  Arcar as a defendant  (including  a defendant in any
cross-claim or counterclaim)  or a respondent  (other than as a respondent in an
appeal in an Action or a Proceeding  in which Arcar  initially  was a plaintiff)
which is  pending  on or  threatened  on or prior  to,  the  Closing  Date or is
initiated after the Closing Date and relates to any occurrences or circumstances
existing prior to the Closing Date.
<PAGE>
                  (i) Affiliates.  Any liabilities of Arcar to Bagcraft,  ARTRA,
any  Affiliate of Bagcraft,  ARTRA or Arcar or any director of officer of any of
the foregoing or of Arcar;

                  (j) Employee Plans.  Except for the Medical Insurance Policies
and the Medical Plan (to the extent set forth in Section 6.16),  any liabilities
arising out of or in connection with any Employee Plan;

                  (k) Breach. Any liabilities  (whether asserted before or after
Closing Date) for any breach of a representation,  warranty, or covenant, or for
any claim for  indemnification,  contained in any Real Property Lease,  Personal
Property  Lease,  Business  Contract or Business  License agreed to be performed
pursuant  hereto by Buyer, to the extent that such breach or claim arises out of
or by virtue of Arcar's  performance or non-performance  thereunder prior to the
Closing Date, it being  understood  that,  as between the parties  hereto,  this
subsection  shall not apply if any provision  which may be contained in any form
of consent to the assignment of any such Real Property Lease,  Personal Property
Lease,  Business  Contract or Business License which by its terms,  imposes such
liabilities upon Buyer and which assignment is accepted by Buyer notwithstanding
the presence of such a provision, and that Arcar's failure to discharge any such
liability  shall  entitle  Buyer  to  indemnification  in  accordance  with  the
provisions of Section 9;

                  (l) Product  Warranty.  Any product  warranty  liabilities  of
Arcar with respect to any products or merchandise  sold by it on or prior to the
Closing  Date; it being  understood  and agreed that any such claim or liability
asserted  after the Closing  Date arising out of the sale of any product sold by
Arcar on or prior to the Closing Date shall be  considered to be a claim against
or a liability of Arcar and therefore not assumed hereunder by Buyer;

                  (m) Worker's Compensation. Any liabilities of Arcar for injury
to or death of  persons  or damage to or  destruction  of  property  (including,
without  limitation,  any worker's  compensation  claim)  occurring prior to the
Closing Date regardless of when said claim or liability is asserted,  including,
without limitation,  any claim for consequential  damages in connection with the
foregoing;  it being  understood  and agreed  that any such  claim or  liability
asserted  after the Closing  Date,  but arising  from acts or omissions by Arcar
which occur before the Closing Date shall be considered to be a claim against or
a  liability  of Arcar  for  injury  to or death of  persons  or  damages  to or
destruction of property and therefore not assumed hereunder by Buyer;

                  (n) Benefits.  Except for the Medical  Insurance  Policies and
the Medical Plan (to the extent set forth in Section 6.16),  any liabilities to,
for or in connection with any present or former employee of Seller or any of its
Affiliates,  including without limitation,  for (i) medical, dental,  disability
income,  life insurance or accidental  death  benefits,  whether insured or self
insured, for claims incurred or for disabilities commencing prior to the Closing
Date,  (ii)  workers'  compensation  (both long term and short  term)  benefits,
whether insured or  self-insured,  to the extent accruing or based upon exposure
to  conditions  prior  to  the  Closing  Date  or  for  claims  incurred  or for
disabilities  commencing prior to the Closing Date, or (iii) severance  benefits
for employees of Arcar whose employment is terminated on or prior to the Closing
Date, or (iv) accrued vacation or other benefits;

                  (o) Excluded Assets. Any liabilities  relating to the Excluded
Assets;

                  (p)  Stockholders.  Any  liabilities  relating  to the capital
stock  of  Arcar  or any  shareholders'  agreements  to  which  Arcar  is  party
(including but not limited to the  agreements  set forth on Schedule  2.5(p)) or
under any other agreement set forth on Schedule 2.5(p);

                  (q) Agreements.  Any Liabilities of Arcar under this Agreement
and any  document or other papers  delivered to Buyer by Arcar  pursuant to this
Agreement;

                  (r) Messer.  Any  liabilities  of Arcar relating to Arcar's or
any  of  its  Affiliates  business  relationships  with  Messer  or  Christopher
McMurray, including but not limited to the Consulting Agreement;
<PAGE>

                  (s) Material  Agreements.  Any liabilities under any contract,
agreement, lease, commitment,  instrument, permit or license which is not a Real
Property Lease,  Personal Property Lease, Business Contract or Business License;
and

                  (t)  Other  Matters.   Without   limitation  by  the  specific
enumeration of the foregoing,  any  liabilities  not expressly  assumed by Buyer
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.4.

The assumption by Buyer of the Assumed Liabilities,  and the transfer thereof by
Arcar shall in no way expand the rights or  remedies of any third party  against
Buyer or Arcar or their respective officers, directors, employees,  shareholders
and advisors as compared to the rights and remedies which such third party would
have had against such parties had Buyer not assumed  such  liabilities.  Without
limiting the  generality of the preceding  sentence,  the assumption by Buyer of
said  liabilities  shall not create any third party  beneficiary  rights.  Arcar
shall pay and  discharge  when  due,  or  contest  in good  faith,  all of those
liabilities of Arcar which Buyer has not specifically  agreed to assume pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.4.

                   2.6 Allocation of Purchase  Price.  After the Closing,  Buyer
shall allocate the purchase price among the various  Purchased Assets (including
the  covenant  not-to-compete  contained  in Section 6.14 hereof made by Seller,
Bagcraft  and ARTRA in favor of Buyer),  which  allocation  shall be  reasonably
acceptable to Seller.  The parties  further  agree to file any reports  required
(including,  without  limitation,  Form 8594) under Section 1060 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code") and the  regulations  thereunder,
consistent with such allocation.

                  2.7.  Proration of Lease  Payments,  Utility Charges and Other
Payments.  If the Closing Date shall fall on a date other than the date on which
payments  are due with  respect  to (i) any  Real  Property  Lease  or  Personal
Property  Lease,  (ii)  insurance or (iii) utility or similar  regular  periodic
charges with respect to the  Purchased  Assets for which a final billing has not
been received by Arcar, any installment of rental payments,  insurance  premiums
and any such  utility or similar  charge  payable  with  respect to the  current
period in which the Closing  Date occurs which is not included as a liability in
the  calculation of Net Assets shall be paid by Arcar on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed from the first day of such period to the Closing Date and
the balance shall be paid by Buyer.

                  2.8.  Proration of Taxes. All property taxes, ad valorem taxes
and special  assessments  payable with respect to a taxable period beginning and
ending before the Closing Date,  but not yet due as of the Closing Date which is
not included as a liability in the  calculation  of Net Assets,  with respect to
any  Purchased  Assets shall be paid by Arcar.  In the case of any such taxes or
assessments  payable  with  respect  to a taxable  period  beginning  before the
Closing  Date and  ending  after  the  Closing  Date,  but not yet due as of the
Closing Date,  Arcar shall pay that portion of such taxes times a fraction,  the
numerator  of which is the  number of days from the  beginning  of such  taxable
period through and including the Closing Date,  and the  denominator of which is
365, and the balance shall be paid by Buyer.

         3.       Closing and Due Diligence.

                  3.1 Time and Place.  The closing of the  purchase  and sale of
the Purchased  Assets (the "Closing")  shall take place at 10:00 a.m. on October
12, 1995, at 500 North Central  Avenue,  Northfield,  Illinois 60093, or at such
other place or time as the parties may agree upon in writing.  The date on which
the Closing is held is referred to as the "Closing Date".

                  3.2 Conveyance.  On the Closing Date, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, Arcar shall sell, assign and deliver (or
cause the sale,  assignment and delivery of) the Purchased  Assets to Buyer, and
Buyer shall  purchase and take  delivery of the  Purchased  Assets.  Arcar shall
execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and  delivered)  such  documents of
conveyance  and  take  such  other  action  as may be  necessary  or  reasonably
desirable  to transfer  all  interests  therein to Buyer and put Buyer in actual
possession  and operating  control of the Purchased  Assets.  Seller agrees that
such sale, assignment and delivery shall be effected by such warranty deeds,
<PAGE>

bills of sale, endorsements,  assignments and such other instruments of transfer
and conveyance as Buyer shall  reasonably  request and as shall be sufficient to
convey all the right, title and interest of Arcar in and to the Purchased Assets
free and clear of all Liens.

         4.  Representations  and  Warranties  of  Seller,  Bagcraft  and ARTRA.
Seller,  Bagcraft and ARTRA,  jointly and  severally,  represent  and warrant to
Buyer as follows:

                  4.1  Organization.  Each of  Bagcraft,  ARTRA  and  Arcar is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the state of its  incorporation,  and has all requisite  corporate  power and
authority to own, lease and operate the  properties and assets  utilized in, and
to carry on its  business  as it is  presently  being  conducted.  Arcar is duly
qualified or licensed and in good  standing to do business in each  jurisdiction
in which the  nature of the Arcar  Business  or the  property  owned,  leased or
operated in the Arcar  Business makes such  qualification  necessary and where a
failure to be so qualified or licensed might have a Material  Adverse Effect and
each such jurisdiction is listed on Schedule 4.1.

                  4.2 Power and Authority. Each of Bagcraft, ARTRA and Arcar has
full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all
other  documents  and  instruments  to be executed and  delivered by it pursuant
hereto  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder,  and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of Bagcraft, ARTRA
and Arcar and all other documents and  instruments to be executed,  delivered or
performed by it pursuant  hereto,  have been duly and validly  authorized by all
necessary corporate action of it.

                  4.3  Legality  and  Validity.   Assuming  due   authorization,
execution  and delivery by Buyer,  this  Agreement  and all other  documents and
instruments  to be executed and  delivered by each of Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar
pursuant  hereto,  constitute  the legal,  valid and binding  obligations of it,
enforceable against it, in accordance with their respective terms.

                  4.4  No  Conflicts,  Consents.  The  execution,  delivery  and
performance of this Agreement by each of Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar will not (a)
conflict with its certificate of  incorporation or by-laws and will not conflict
with or result in the breach or termination of or constitute a default under any
permit, lease, agreement, commitment or other instrument, or any order, judgment
or decree,  to which it is a party,  by which it is bound or to which any of the
Purchased  Assets is subject;  (b)  constitute  a violation  by it of any law or
regulation applicable to it, the Purchased Assets or the Assumed Liabilities; or
(c) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the Purchased Assets.  Except
as set forth on  Schedule  4.4, no consent,  approval  or  authorization  of, or
declaration or filing with, any person, including any governmental authority, is
required on the part of Arcar in  connection  with the  execution,  delivery and
performance of this Agreement, or the transfer of the Purchased Assets to Buyer.

                  4.5 Litigation,  Compliance with Laws.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.5 hereto, there is no Action or Proceeding pending or threatened,  or
any Order  outstanding,  against Arcar or the Purchased Assets.  Arcar is not in
violation of any Law or Order, except for violations that in the aggregate would
not have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and no notice has been received by any of
Bagcraft,  ARTRA or Seller alleging any such violation.  Arcar has advised Buyer
in writing of any proposed environmental, safety, health or other Law, which, to
its  knowledge  without  due  inquiry,  except  for its  review of its  internal
operations,  and  personnel,  could  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or which,  to its knowledge  without due inquiry,  except for its
review of its internal operations,  and personnel,  could reasonably be expected
to require new capital  investments  by Buyer in the Arcar Business in excess of
$100,000.
<PAGE>

                  4.6 Title to Assets.  Arcar has good and  marketable  title to
(or valid,  binding and enforceable  leasehold,  license or similar interests in
and right of quiet enjoyment of), and the right to transfer to Buyer, all of the
Purchased Assets, subject to no Liens and no licenses or rights of other parties
exist with respect thereto.  The Purchased  Assets  constitute all of the assets
and  property  owned  and used in the  Arcar  Business  and are of  merchantable
quality, fit for their intended purpose, and ready for normal operation and use.
None of the  Purchased  Assets  are  shared  with any other  Person  except  for
personal  computers located at certain customer sites. The documents of transfer
to be executed by Arcar and delivered to Buyer at the Closing will be sufficient
to convey  good and  marketable  title to (or valid and  enforceable  leasehold,
license or similar  interests  in) the Purchased  Assets,  free and clear of all
Liens.

                  4.7      Financial Statements.

                  (a) The unaudited  balance  sheets of Arcar as of December 31,
1992,  and  December  31,  1993 and  April 8,  1994  and the  related  unaudited
statements  of income and retained  earnings for the years or periods then ended
compiled by Kaufman & Piell,  Ltd.  certified  public  accountants,  the audited
balance sheet of Arcar as of December 31, 1993 and the audited  balance sheet of
Arcar as of  December  31, 1994 and the related  audited  statements  of income,
retained  earnings  and cash  flows  from April 8, 1994 to  December  31,  1994,
including  the  footnotes  thereto,   and  except  for  the  December  31,  1994
financials,  certified by Coopers & Lybrand,  certified public  accountants,  in
each case true,  correct and  complete  copies of which are  attached  hereto as
Schedule 4.7-a,  present fairly the financial position of Arcar as at such dates
and the  results  of  operations  and cash flows of Arcar for the  periods  then
ended,  in each case,  in  accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied  for the
periods covered thereby (the "Historical Financial Statements").

                  (b) The  unaudited  balance  sheets of Arcar as of August  31,
1995 and June 30, 1995, and the related statements of income,  retained earnings
and cash flows for the periods then ended,  true, correct and complete copies of
which are  attached  hereto as  Schedule  4.7-b,  present  fairly the  financial
position of Arcar as of such dates and the results of operations  and cash flows
of Arcar  for the  periods  then  ended,  in each case in  accordance  with GAAP
consistently  applied for the periods covered thereby (the "Unaudited  Financial
Statements" and,  collectively  with the Historical  Financial  Statements,  the
"Financial Statements").

                  All  material  liabilities  of  Arcar  as of the  dates of the
balance sheets included in the Financial Statements,  whether accrued, absolute,
contingent or otherwise, are fully reflected, reserved and accounted for in such
statements.   Arcar  has  not  incurred  or  reserved  for  any  liabilities  or
obligations  other than  liabilities  and  obligations  incurred in the ordinary
course of the conduct of the Arcar  Business and of the same general  nature and
amounts as those  reflected on the December 31, 1994 and August 31, 1995 balance
sheets included in the Financial Statements.

                  Since  August  31,  1995  there has been no  material  adverse
change in the assets,  properties,  business,  operations,  income or  condition
(financial or otherwise) of Arcar,  nor is any such change  threatened,  nor has
there been any damage,  destruction or loss which could have a Material  Adverse
Effect, whether or not covered by insurance.

                  4.8  Contracts.  Schedule 4.8  describes  all of the following
contracts,  agreements,  leases,  commitments,  instruments,  plans,  permits or
licenses  (written or oral) to which Arcar is a party or is  otherwise  bound or
which  relate to the  Purchased  Assets,  the Assumed  Liabilities  or the Arcar
Business (the "Material Agreements"):

                  (a) contracts and other  agreements with any current or former
officer, director, employee, consultant, agent, other representative of Arcar or
with any Affiliate of Arcar;

                  (b)  contracts  and other  agreements  with any labor union or
association representing any employee;
<PAGE>
                  (c) contracts and other  agreements for the sale of any of its
assets or properties or for the grant to any Person of any  preferential  rights
to purchase any of its assets or properties, in each case in an amount exceeding
$10,000 (other than purchase  orders entered into with customers in the ordinary
course of business);

                  (d) joint venture and partnership agreements;

                  (e)  contracts  under  which  Arcar  agrees to  indemnify  any
Person;

                  (f) any take or pay or requirements contracts or agreements or
any other  contracts or agreements  requiring Arcar to pay regardless of whether
products or services are received;

                  (g)  contracts and other  agreements  not  cancelable  without
penalty by Arcar on sixty (60) or fewer days'  notice  calling for an  aggregate
purchase price or payments to or from Arcar in any one year of more than $10,000
in any one  case (or in the  aggregate,  in the case of any  related  series  of
contracts and other agreements);

                  (h) contracts and other agreements with clients,  customers or
any other  Person for the sharing of fees,  the  rebating of charges or purchase
price or other similar arrangements;

                  (i) contracts and other agreements  containing  obligations or
liabilities of any kind to holders of any securities issued by Arcar to register
any of such securities under any federal or state securities laws;

                  (j) contracts  and other  agreements  containing  covenants of
Arcar or any officer or employee of Arcar  pertaining to the right to compete or
not  compete in any line of  business or  similarly  restricting  its ability to
conduct business with any Person or in any geographical area or covenants of any
other  Person not to compete  with Arcar in any line of business or  restricting
its ability to conduct business or in any geographical area;

                  (k) contracts and other agreements relating to the acquisition
by Arcar of any operating business or the capital stock of any other Person;

                  (l)  contracts and other  agreements  not  cancelable  without
penalty by Arcar on sixty (60) or fewer days' notice requiring the payment by or
to Arcar of a  royalty,  override  or  similar  commission  or fee of more  than
$10,000 per annum;

                  (m)  contracts and other  agreements  not  cancelable  without
penalty by Arcar on sixty (60) or fewer  days'  notice  relating  to the sale or
marketing of any products  sold,  distributed or marketed by Arcar and involving
an amount in excess of $10,000;

                  (n) contracts and other  agreements  relating to the borrowing
of money,  creation of Liens,  or the guarantee of the payment of liabilities or
performance of obligations of any other person by Arcar;

                  (o) any stockholder  agreement,  registration rights agreement
or any arrangement relating to or affecting the ownership of the common stock or
other equity interests of Arcar;

                  (p) contracts and other agreements relating to data processing
or the provision of other services which are not cancelable  without  penalty in
sixty (60) or fewer days' notice; and

                  (q) any other  contract and other  agreement  made outside the
ordinary  course of business or which is material to Arcar or the Arcar Business
and involving an amount in excess of $10,000.

<PAGE>

                  True and  complete  copies of all of the  Material  Agreements
have  been  delivered  to  Buyer.  All of the  Material  Agreements  are  valid,
subsisting,  in full force and effect and  binding  upon Arcar and,  to the best
knowledge of Arcar,  the other parties  thereto in accordance  with their terms,
subject to the  qualifications  that  enforcement  of the  rights  and  remedies
created  thereby is  subject  to: (A)  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
moratorium  and other  laws of  general  application  affecting  the  rights and
remedies  of  creditors  and (B) general  principles  of equity  (regardless  of
whether such  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
except  as listed  on  Schedule  4.8 (Good  Faith  Disputed  Issues).  Arcar has
satisfied in full or provided for all of its liabilities  and obligations  under
the Material  Agreements  requiring  performance prior to the date hereof in all
material  respects,  is not in material  default under any of them, nor does any
condition exist that with notice or lapse of time or both would  constitute such
a material  default.  To the best knowledge of Arcar, no other party to any such
Material Agreement is in default  thereunder,  nor does any condition exist that
with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a default.  Except as
separately  identified  on Schedule 4.8, no approval or consent of any Person is
needed for all of the  Business  Contracts  to  continue to be in full force and
effect,  and all of Arcar's rights under the Business Contracts will be conveyed
to Buyer, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  4.9 Inventory. The Inventory shown on the Financial Statements
has been determined in accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied.  Subject to
appropriate  reserves as reflected on the Financial  Statements,  such Inventory
and all Inventory acquired subsequent to June 30, 1995 is now and will be on the
Closing  Date of a quality and quantity  which can be sold,  used or consumed in
the normal course of the Arcar Business and conforms to all requirements of Laws
and Orders.

                  4.10 Accounts Receivable. The Accounts Receivable reflected on
the Financial Statements are, and all Accounts Receivable reflected on the Books
and Records of Arcar as of the Closing Date will be, good and valid  receivables
arising from the sale of goods and  services in the ordinary  course of business
and have been  collected  or are current and will be  collected  in the ordinary
course (but in any event,  within one hundred  eighty  (180) days of the invoice
date  therefor)  at the  aggregate  amount  recorded  therefor  on the books and
records of Arcar as of the Closing Date (subject to no counterclaims or offset).

                  4.11  Intangible  Property.  Arcar is the owner of all  right,
title and interest in and to the Intangible Property. Schedule 4.11 sets forth a
list of all Intangible Property of Arcar (other than trade secrets,  knowhow and
goodwill attendant to the Intangible  Property and other  intellectual  property
rights not reducible to schedule  form),  true and complete copies of which have
been  delivered  or  made  available  to  Buyer,  and  the  Intangible  Property
constitutes all of the Intangible  Property owned or used by Arcar in connection
with the Arcar Business. Arcar has not received any notice of, nor has it become
aware of any facts which indicate a likelihood of, any challenge to such rights,
misappropriation  or  infringement by or any conflict with, any third party with
respect to the Intangible Property. Arcar has not infringed,  misappropriated or
otherwise  conflicted with any rights of any third party,  nor is Arcar aware of
any infringement,  misappropriation  or conflict which will occur as a result of
the continued  operation of the Arcar  Business as now conducted or as presently
proposed  to be  conducted.  Arcar has taken all  actions  which are  reasonably
necessary to protect the  Intangible  Property and will continue to maintain the
Intangible  Property  through the Closing  Date so as not affect  adversely  the
validity or  enforceability  of the  Intangible  Property.  Except as separately
identified  on Schedule  4.11, no approval or consent of any Person is needed so
that the interest of Arcar in the  Intangible  Property  shall continue to be in
full  force and effect  and  enforceable  by Buyer  following  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                  4.12 Real  Estate.  Arcar  leases the  premises  (the  "Leased
Property")  (including  land,  improvements,  fixtures  and  personal  property)
located and  described  as set forth in Schedule  4.12  hereto.  All of the Real
Property Leases are valid, subsisting, in full force and effect and binding upon
the  parties   thereto  in   accordance   with  their  terms,   subject  to  the
qualifications  that  enforcement of the rights and remedies  created thereto is
subject to: (A)  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium and other
laws of general application affecting the rights and
<PAGE>

remedies  of  creditors  and (B) general  principles  of equity  (regardless  of
whether such  enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
Arcar  has  satisfied  in  full  or  provided  for  all of its  liabilities  and
obligations  thereunder  requiring  performance  prior to the date hereof in all
material  respects,  is not in default in any material  respect under any of the
Real Property Leases,  nor does any condition exist that with notice or lapse of
time or both would  constitute  such a default.  To the  knowledge of Arcar,  no
other  party to a Real  Property  Lease is in default  thereunder,  nor does any
condition exist that with notice or lapse of time or both would  constitute such
a default.  Except as identified on Schedule 4.12 hereto, no approval or consent
of any person or entity is needed for all of the Real  Property  Leases to be in
full force and effect  after the  Closing,  and all of Arcar's  rights under the
Real  Property  Leases  will be  conveyed  to  Buyer  upon  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement. To Arcar's knowledge,  there is no
pending  or  threatened  condemnation  proceeding  against  any  of  the  Leased
Property. Arcar's leasehold interest in the Leased Property is free and clear of
all leasehold mortgages,  assignments,  pledges,  liens, charges,  encumbrances,
easements,  equities,  options,  claims  and  rights of  others of every  nature
whatsoever.  Seller has no knowledge,  and has received no notices,  that any of
the activities of Arcar at the Leased  Property or the uses which it has made of
the Leased  Property,  violate any zoning or building codes,  ordinance,  rules,
regulations or laws affecting the Leased  Property.  Arcar does not own, occupy,
use, lease to or from others,  or have any interest in or option with respect to
any real  estate,  except as  described  on  Schedule  4.12  hereto.  Seller has
delivered to Buyer complete copies of all leases relating to the Leased Property
and all written licenses, permits,  certificates,  authorizations and agreements
relating thereto.

         Arcar in its maintenance and operation of the Leased  Property,  and in
the conduct of the Arcar Business, is in compliance with all Federal,  state and
local laws, ordinances,  court and administrative orders, rules and regulations,
including  without  limitation,  all  zoning,  planning  and  land  use laws and
ordinances, all laws, ordinances and all executive orders, rules and regulations
thereunder,   and   laws,   ordinances,   rules,   regulations   and  court  and
administrative  orders  relating  to the safe  conduct  of  business,  health or
environmental protection, energy or conservation administered by those agencies.

                  4.13     Employee Benefits Matters.

                  a) For purposes of this  Agreement,  the term "Employee  Plan"
includes any pension, retirement,  savings, disability, medical, dental, health,
life (including  without  limitation any individual life insurance  policy under
which any Arcar  employee  is the named  insured and as to which Arcar or any of
its  Affiliates  make  premium  payments,  whether  or not  Arcar  or any of its
Affiliates are the owner,  beneficiary  or both of such policy),  death benefit,
group insurance,  profit-sharing,  deferred  compensation,  stock option, bonus,
incentive,  vacation pay,  severance pay, or other employee benefit plan, trust,
arrangement,  contract,  agreement,  policy or  commitment  (including,  without
limitation,  any  pension  plan as defined in  Section  3(2) of ERISA  ("Pension
Plan"),  and any  welfare  plan as defined in  Section  3(1) of ERISA  ("Welfare
Plan")),  whether or not any of the  foregoing  is funded or insured and whether
written or oral,  which is intended to provide or does in fact provide  benefits
to any or all Arcar employees or their dependents or  beneficiaries,  and (i) to
which Arcar or any of its Affiliates are parties or by which Arcar or any of its
Affiliates  (or any of the rights,  properties  or assets of Arcar or any of its
Affiliates)  are  bound,  or (ii)  with  respect  to  which  Arcar or any of its
Affiliates  have  made  any  payments,  contributions  or  commitments,  or  may
otherwise  have any  liability  (whether  or not Arcar or any of its  Affiliates
still maintain such plan, trust,  arrangement,  contract,  agreement,  policy or
commitment).
<PAGE>

                  b) With respect to the Employee Plans:

                            (i) There are no  Employee  Plans  other  than those
disclosed in Schedule 4.13.

                            (ii) No Employee Plan is a Pension Plan  (including,
without limitation, a "multiemployer pension plan" within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA).

                            (iii)  Each  Employee  Plan that is  intended  to be
qualified   under   Section   401(a)  of  the  Code  has  received  a  favorable
determination letter of the Internal Revenue Service stating that the plan meets
the  requirements  of the Code and that the  trust  associated  with the plan is
tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code.

                            (iv) No  condition  exists and no event has occurred
that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the  tax-qualified  status
of any Employee Plan that has received a favorable  determination  letter of the
Internal Revenue Service.

                            (v) No lawsuits,  claims (other than routine  claims
for benefits) or complaints  to, or by, any person or  governmental  entity have
been filed, are pending or, to Seller's  knowledge,  have been  threatened,  and
Seller has no knowledge of any facts or contemplated event that reasonably could
be expected to give rise to any such lawsuit,  claim (other than a routine claim
for benefits) or complaint, with respect to any Employee Plan.

                            (vi)  Each  Employee  Plan,  the  administrator  and
fiduciaries  of each Employee Plan, and Seller have at all times complied in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of ERISA (including,  but not
limited  to,  the  fiduciary  responsibilities  imposed  by Part 4 of  Title  I,
Subtitle  B of  ERISA),  the  Code  and  any  other  applicable  law  (including
regulations  and rulings  thereunder)  governing  each Employee  Plan,  and each
Employee  Plan has at all  times  been  properly  administered  in all  material
respects in accordance with all such requirements of law, and in accordance with
its terms and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement to the
extent consistent with all such requirements of law.

                            (vii) Seller has not made, or committed to make, any
payment,  contribution  or award into,  or under,  any  Employee  Plan except as
required by the terms of such Employee Plan.

                            (viii) Seller is not delinquent as to  contributions
or payments to or in respect of any  Employee  Plan as to which Seller is in any
way obligated to make  contributions  or payments,  nor has Seller failed to pay
any assessments  made with respect to any such Employee Plan. All  contributions
and  payments  with  respect to Employee  Plans that are  required to be made by
Seller with respect to periods ending before the Closing Date (including periods
from the first day of the then-current  plan or policy year to the Closing Date)
have  been  made or  will be  accrued  before  the  Closing  Date by  Seller  in
accordance  with  the  appropriate   actuarial   valuation  report,   collective
bargaining agreements or insurance contracts or arrangements.

                            (ix) With respect to each Employee  Plan,  there has
not occurred, nor is any Person contractually bound to enter into, any nonexempt
"prohibited  transaction"  within the  meaning  of  Section  4975 of the Code or
Section 406 of ERISA.
<PAGE>

                            (x) No "employee  pension  benefit plan" (within the
meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA)  subject to Title IV of ERISA,  maintained  by
Arcar or any of its Affiliates has been completely or partially terminated since
September 2, 1974 or has been the subject of a  "reportable  event"  (within the
meaning of Section  4043 of ERISA) as to which  notices  would be required to be
filed with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

                            (xi) No proceeding by the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty
Corporation to terminate any Pension Plan in accordance with Subtitle 1 of Title
IV of ERISA has been instituted or is currently threatened.

                            (xii) Except as  disclosed in Schedule  4.13(b)(xii)
hereto,  since  December  31,  1994,  Arcar  has not made any  increase  in,  or
commitment to increase, benefits under any Employee Plan or adopted, or made any
commitment  to  adopt,  any  additional  employee  benefit  plan or  arrangement
relating to Arcar  Employees or any increase in  compensation or bonuses paid or
similar payments made or commitments to be made to any Arcar Employees.

                            (xiii)  No  event  has  occurred  and  no  condition
exists,  with respect to any Employee  Plan that has  subjected or could subject
Buyer or any of its  Affiliates or any Employee Plan  maintained by Buyer or any
of its Affiliates,  to any tax, fine, penalty or other liability, that would not
have been incurred by Buyer or any of its Affiliates,  or any such plan, but for
the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  To the knowledge of Seller, no Employee
Plan is or will be  directly  or  indirectly  binding  on Buyer by virtue of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby. To the knowledge of Seller, no Employee Plan
provides  severance  benefits to current or former  employees  or other  service
providers  of Seller.  To the  knowledge  of Seller,  no  condition  exists with
respect to any Employee Plan that could result in liability  under Sections 4069
or  4212(c)  of ERISA to  Seller or any of its  Affiliates  or, by virtue of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby, to Buyer. To the knowledge of Seller,  Buyer
will have no liability under the Workers Adjustment  Retraining and Notification
Act with respect to any events  occurring or conditions  existing on or prior to
Closing.

                            (xiv) To the  knowledge of Seller,  no Employee Plan
exists  which  could  result in the  payment of money or any other  property  or
rights, or accelerate or provide any other rights or benefits, to any current or
former  employee of Seller or any of its  Affiliates (or other current or former
service  provider  thereto)  that  would  not  have  been  required  but for the
execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  or the  transactions  provided  for
herein,  and none of Seller  nor any of its  Affiliates  is a party to any plan,
program,  arrangement or understanding  that would result,  separately or in the
aggregate,  in the  payment  (whether  in  connection  with any  termination  of
employment or otherwise) of any "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of
Section  280G of the Code with  respect to a current or former  employee  of, or
current or former independent contractor to, Seller or any of its Affiliates.

                            (xv) Neither  Seller nor any of its Affiliates is or
has been a party to any collective  bargaining (or other similar) agreement with
respect  to any  employee  of the  Arcar  Business,  nor is any  such  agreement
presently being negotiated.

                            (xvi)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this
Agreement, except as agreed pursuant to Section 2.4(e) hereof, neither Buyer nor
any of its Affiliates shall have any  responsibilities  for, without limitation,
any legally  mandated  continuation  of health care coverage,  or for compliance
with any  related  requirements,  for Arcar  employees  or their  dependents  or
beneficiaries who incur a loss of health care coverage due to a qualifying event
occurring  before  or  through  the  Closing,  and  Seller  shall be  solely  so
responsible  with respect to qualifying  events  occurring before or through the
Closing.

<PAGE>

                            (xvii)  With  respect to the  Medical  Plan,  annual
claims with respect to any particular participant or covered dependent could not
result in an uninsured liability in excess of $12,500 per participant or covered
dependent,  and all such claims  could not result in an  uninsured  liability of
more than $138,000 in the aggregate for all participants and covered  dependents
combined.

                  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of this  Section  4.13 to the
contrary,  any  materiality  qualification  in a  representation  or warranty of
Seller,  Bagcraft or ARTRA under this Section 4.13, and any  qualification  in a
representation or warranty of Seller, Bagcraft or ARTRA under this Section 4.13,
and any  qualification  which  limits a  representation  or  warranty of Seller,
Bagcraft or ARTRA to the knowledge of Seller,  Bagcraft or ARTRA shall not apply
with respect to the Medical Plan.

                  4.14  Taxes.  All Tax  Returns  of  Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar
required to be filed  within the United  States of America,  all state and local
government authorities and all foreign jurisdictions have been timely filed, and
extensions of time within which to file any return which has not yet been filed,
have been timely  requested or granted.  Such Tax Returns are true,  correct and
complete in all material  respects.  Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar have paid to the
appropriate  taxing authority all Taxes due and payable to such taxing authority
any  and  all  penalties,  assessments  or  deficiencies  of  every  nature  and
description  incurred  or  accrued  prior  to the  date  hereof.  Seller  has no
knowledge of any proposed  additional tax assessment,  examination or proceeding
against Arcar,  or the Arcar Business for which adequate  provision has not been
made on  Arcar's  books.  None of the  Purchased  Assets  is  property  which is
required  to be  treated  as being  owned by any other  person  pursuant  to the
so-called "safe harbor lease" provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Code
or is "tax exempt use  property"  within the meaning of Section 168 of the Code.
None of the Purchased Assets directly or indirectly  secures any debt,  interest
on which is tax exempt under Section 103(a) of the Code. None of Bagcraft, ARTRA
or Arcar has  executed or filed any consent or agreement to extend the period of
assessment  or  collection  of any Taxes.  Arcar has no  liability to any Person
pursuant to any Tax sharing or similar agreement  relating to the payment of any
Taxes.  Arcar is not and has not been at any time a "foreign  person" as defined
in  Sections  1445(f)(3)  and  1446(e)  of the  Code.  There are no Liens on the
Purchased Assets for unpaid Taxes which are due and payable.

                  4.15     Environmental.

                  a)  Except  as  disclosed  in  Schedule  4.15(a),  the  lease,
ownership,  use and  operation  by Arcar  and any of its  predecessors  or other
Persons of all buildings,  facilities and other improvements which are a part of
the Leased Property,  whether or not presently in operation,  and all facilities
previously leased, owned, used or otherwise operated by Arcar or any predecessor
of Arcar (collectively with the Leased Property,  the "Arcar  Facilities"),  are
presently  and  have  at all  times  been  in  compliance  with  all  applicable
Environmental  Laws,  and to the knowledge of Arcar,  without due inquiry except
for its review of its internal  operations and personnel,  there is no liability
which may be imposed upon Arcar pursuant to any Environmental Laws in respect of
any acts or  omissions,  occurring on or prior to the Closing Date. No Order has
been issued, no Environmental Claim has been filed, no penalty has been assessed
and no  investigation  or  review is  pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of Arcar,
threatened by any  Governmental  or Regulatory  Body with respect to any alleged
failure by Arcar to have or comply  with any  license or permit  required  under
applicable  Environmental Laws in connection with the conduct of its business or
with respect to any generation,  treatment, storage, recycling,  transportation,
discharge, disposal or Release of any Hazardous Substance in connection with its
business and, to the knowledge of Arcar,  there are no facts or circumstances in
existence  which could  reasonably  be expected to form the basis for any of the
foregoing.
<PAGE>

         b)  Schedule  4.15(b)  sets  forth:  (i) all  environmental  audits  or
assessments or occupation  health studies  undertaken by  governmental  agencies
(and known to Seller) or by or at the  direction of Seller or any other  persons
with respect to Arcar or the Arcar Business,  (ii) the results of waste,  ground
water, wastewater,  soil and air monitoring or testing with respect to the Arcar
Business,  (iii) written  communications of a material nature with environmental
or  similar  governmental  agencies  relating  to issues of  noncompliance  with
respect to Arcar or the Arcar Business or notices of noncompliance  with respect
to Arcar or the Arcar  Business,  (iv) OSHA  claims  made  within the past three
years with respect to Arcar or the Arcar Business, (v) all environmental permits
for any Release,  waste treatment or disposal with respect to Arcar or the Arcar
Business  and (vi) all  notifications  that Arcar is a  potentially  responsible
party (PRP) with respect to any Environmental Claim..

                  c) Except as  disclosed  on  Schedule  4.15(c),  there has not
been, is not, and is not occurring, at any Arcar Facility,  including facilities
previously owned, used or otherwise operated by Seller or their predecessors,  a
Release of any Hazardous Substance.

                  d) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.15(d), neither Seller nor
any   predecessor  in  interest  has  ever   transported  or  arranged  for  the
transportation or disposal of Hazardous  Substances or other wastes at any site,
location  or facility  including  a site owned,  used or operated by Seller or a
predecessor  in interest,  which  pursuant to CERCLA,  RCRA or any similar state
law, as applicable:

                            (i)  has  been  placed  or  is   proposed   (by  the
Environmental  Protection Agency or relevant state authority or other person) to
be placed,  on the "National  Priorities  List" of hazardous  waste sites or its
state equivalent; or

                            (ii) is on  notice  of or  subject  to a  claim,  an
administrative  order or other request by any person either to undertake removal
or remedial action,  or any investigation or studies relating to the presence of
a  Hazardous  Substance,  or to  otherwise  comply  with  environmental  cleanup
requirements;

                            (iii) has filed (or has had filed  with  respect  to
it) notification of hazardous waste activities; or

                            (iv) is on any Comprehensive  Environmental Response
Compensation Liability Information System List or similar site inventory.

                  e)  Schedule  4.15(e)  sets forth the age,  contents or former
contents of any  storage  tanks  located on any Arcar  Facility,  including  any
facility  previously  owned,  used  or  otherwise  operated  by  Seller  or  any
predecessor of Seller.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.15(e),  Seller has not
owned or  operated,  and  presently  does not own or  operate,  any  underground
storage tanks as defined in RCRA at any Arcar  Facility.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.15(e),  all storage tanks,  including  underground storage tanks, and
pipes pertinent thereto at any Arcar Facilities,  are presently and have been in
the  past in good  condition  and  have  not  been  the  source  of any  spills,
overfills, or Releases.

                  f)       Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.15(f):

                            (i)  there  are  no  wastes,   drums  or  containers
disposed of or buried on, in or under the ground or any surface  waters  located
on the Arcar  Facilities,  including any facilities  previously  owned,  used or
otherwise operated by Seller or any predecessor of Seller;
<PAGE>

                            (ii)  neither  Seller nor any party acting on behalf
of Seller has  disposed of or buried,  or  arranged  to dispose of or bury,  any
Hazardous Substances,  waste, drums or containers generated or used in the Arcar
Business in or on the premises owned or operated by a third Person.

                  g) Except as set forth in  Schedule  4.15(g),  there  have not
been,  and are  not  presently,  polychlorinated  biphenyl,  asbestos,  asbestos
containing  materials,  or  urea  formaldehyde  in or on the  Arcar  Facilities,
including any facilities previously owned, used, leased or otherwise operated by
Seller or any predecessor of Seller.

                  h) To the knowledge of Arcar, without due inquiry,  except for
its  review of its  internal  operations  and  personnel,  the  aggregate  costs
relating to Arcar's future compliance with  Environmental  Laws and satisfaction
of  Environmental  Claims  for acts or  omissions  occurring  on or prior to the
Closing Date, will not exceed $100,000.

                  4.16 Personnel and Labor.  All employees  engaged in the Arcar
Business are employed by Arcar. There are no outstanding administrative or court
orders, or consent or conciliation decrees, whether federal, state or local, and
no actions,  suits, claims investigations,  inquiries or consent or conciliation
decrees pending or threatened,  concerning  charges relating to equal employment
opportunity, unfair labor practices or occupational safety and health applicable
to Arcar.  Arcar has no collective  bargaining  agreement covering any employees
and Arcar has not agreed to recognize any union or other  collective  bargaining
unit,  nor has any  union  or  collective  bargaining  unit  been  certified  to
represent  any  such   employees.   There  are  no  complaints,   grievances  or
arbitrations,   employment-related  litigation,  administrative  proceedings  or
controversies  either  pending or, to the best  knowledge of Arcar,  threatened,
involving any employee,  applicant for  employment,  or former employee of Arcar
against  Arcar.  During  the past  three (3) years,  Arcar has not  suffered  or
sustained  any labor  dispute  resulting  in any work  stoppage and no such work
stoppage is, to the best knowledge of Arcar,  threatened.  To the best knowledge
of Arcar,  there are no attempts  presently being made to organize any employees
employed by Arcar.

                  4.17  Insurance.  Schedule  4.17  sets  forth a list and brief
description  (specifying the insurer,  the policy number or covering note number
with respect to binders and the amount of any deductible, describing the pending
claims  if such  claims  exceed  applicable  policy  limits,  setting  forth the
aggregate amount paid out under each such policy through the date hereof and the
aggregate limit, if any, of the insurer's liability  thereunder) of all policies
or binders of fire,  liability,  errors and  omissions,  workers'  compensation,
vehicular,  unemployment  and other insurance held by or on behalf of Arcar. The
Medical Insurance  Policies and the Billings Insurance Policy and the Automobile
Insurance  Policies are, and to the knowledge of Arcar,  the other  policies and
binders set forth on Schedule 4.17 are, valid and enforceable in accordance with
their terms in all material  respects,  are in full force and effect, and insure
against risks and liabilities to the extent and in respect of amounts, types and
risks insured, as are customary in the industries in which Arcar operates. Arcar
is not in default with respect to any material  provision  contained in any such
policy or binder  and has not  failed to give any  notice or  present  any claim
under any such  policy or binder in due and  timely  fashion.  Except for claims
disclosed on Schedule  4.17,  there are no  outstanding  unpaid claims under any
such policy or binder which have gone unpaid for more than  forty-five (45) days
or as to which the carrier has disclaimed liability.  Arcar has not received any
notice of  cancellation  or non-renewal of any such policy or binder.  Arcar has
not received any notice from any of its  insurance  carriers  that any insurance
premiums  will be  materially  increased  in the  future  or that any  insurance
coverage  listed  on  Schedule  4.17  will not be  available  in the  future  on
substantially the same terms as now in effect. None of the policies disclosed on
Schedule  4.17 provides that premiums paid in respect of periods may be adjusted
or recomputed based on  claims-paying  experience of such policies or otherwise.
Except as separately  disclosed on Schedule  4.17,  the Billings  Policy and the
Medical  Insurance  Policies and the Automobile  Insurance  Policies shall be in
full force and effect and enforceable by Buyer following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
<PAGE>

                  4.18.  Subsidiaries  and  Affiliates.   Arcar  does  not  own,
directly or  indirectly,  any capital  stock of, or any other  interest  in, any
other Person.

                  4.19.  Books and  Records.  Each of the Books and  Records  of
Arcar as  supplied  to  Buyer is true,  correct,  complete  and  current  in all
material respects and, as applicable,  accurately  reflects all actions taken by
its  shareholders  and  board  of  directors  and  committees  thereof,  and all
signatures  contained  therein  are the true  signatures  of the  Persons  whose
signatures they purport to be.
                  4.20.  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and By-Laws.  Arcar has
heretofore  delivered  to  Buyer  true,  correct  and  complete  copies  of  the
Certificate or Articles of Incorporation (certified by the Secretary of State of
Illinois) and By-Laws (certified by the secretary of Arcar) or similar governing
documents of Arcar as in full force and effect on the date hereof.

                  4.21.  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.21,  none of Bagcraft,  ARTRA,  any Affiliate or Associate of them or
Arcar or any officer or director of the foregoing  has: (a) borrowed  money from
or loaned money to Arcar which remains outstanding; (b) any contractual or other
claim,  express  or  implied,  of any kind  whatsoever  against  Arcar;  (c) any
interest in any property or assets used by Arcar in its business; (d) engaged in
any other  transaction  with Arcar  during  the last  twelve  months;  (e) owns,
directly or indirectly,  any interest in (except not more than five percent (5%)
stockholdings for investment  purposes in securities of publicly held and traded
companies),  or served as an officer,  director,  employee or  consultant  of or
otherwise  receives  remuneration  from,  any Person which is, or has engaged in
business as, a competitor, lessor, lessee, customer or supplier of Arcar; or (f)
provides any assets or services to Arcar in the conduct of its business.

                  4.22.  Compensation  Arrangements:   Officers,  Directors  and
Employees.  Schedule 4.22 sets forth:  (a) the name and current  annual  salary,
including  any  bonus or  commitment  to pay any  other  amount  or  benefit  in
connection  with a termination  of  employment,  if  applicable,  of all present
officers,  directors  and  employees  of  Arcar  whose  current  annual  salary,
including  any  promised,  expected or  customary  bonus or such other amount or
benefit,  equals or exceeds $50,000 together with a statement of the full amount
of all  remuneration  paid by Arcar to each such  Person  during the past twelve
months and (b) the names and titles of all  directors  and officers of Arcar and
of each trustee, fiduciary or plan administrator of each Employee Plan of Arcar.
Arcar  has not made a  commitment  or  agreement  (verbally  or in  writing)  to
increase the  compensation or to modify the conditions or terms of employment of
any Person listed on Schedule 4.22 or of any other Person if the increase  would
cause such  Person to be required  to be listed on  Schedule  4.22.  To the best
knowledge  of  Arcar,  none of such  Persons  has  made a  threat  or  otherwise
indicated  any intent to Arcar to cancel or otherwise  terminate  such  Person's
relationship with Arcar.

                  4.23.    Operations.

         (i) Except as disclosed on Schedule  4.23 or  expressly  authorized  by
this Agreement,  from December 31, 1994 through the date hereof,  Arcar has not,
and from the date hereof through the Closing Date, Arcar shall not have, without
the prior written consent of Buyer:

                  (a) amended its  Certificate or Articles of  Incorporation  or
By-Laws or comparable  instruments or merged with or into or  consolidated  with
any other Person,  or changed or agreed to rearrange in any manner the character
of its business;

                  (b) issued,  sold or purchased  options or rights to subscribe
to, or entered into any contracts or commitments to issue, sell or purchase, any
shares of its capital stock or other equity interests;
<PAGE>

                  (c) entered  into,  amended or terminated  any (i)  employment
agreement or collective  bargaining  agreement,  (ii)  adopted,  entered into or
amended any  arrangement  which is, or would be, an Employee  Plan or (iii) made
any change in any actuarial  methods or assumptions used in funding any Employee
Plan or in the assumptions or factors used in determining  benefit  equivalences
thereunder;

                  (d) issued any note,  bond or other  debt  security,  created,
incurred or assumed any  indebtedness  for borrowed  money,  or  guaranteed  any
indebtedness for borrowed money or any capitalized lease obligation;

                  (e)  declared,  set aside or paid any dividends or declared or
made any other  distributions  of any kind to its shareholders or holders of its
equity  interests,  or made  any  direct  or  indirect  redemption,  retirement,
purchase or other acquisition of any shares of its capital stock or other equity
interests;

                  (f)  knowingly  waived  any  right  of  material  value to its
business;

                  (g) made any change in its accounting  methods or practices or
made any changes in depreciation or amortization policies or rates adopted by it
or  made  any  material   write-down  of  Inventory  or  material  write-off  as
uncollectible of Accounts Receivable;

                  (h) made any wage or  salary  increase  or other  compensation
payable  or to become  payable  or bonus,  or  increase  in any other  direct or
indirect  compensation,  for or to any of its  officers,  directors,  employees,
consultants,  agents or other representatives,  or any accrual for or commitment
or agreement to make or pay the same;

                  (i) entered into any transactions  with any of its Affiliates,
Associates,  officers,  directors,  employees,   consultants,  agents  or  other
representatives,  or any officer, director, consultant, employee, agent or other
representative of any of its Affiliates or Associates;

                  (j) made any payment or  commitment  to pay any  severance  or
termination  pay to any  Person or any of its  officers,  directors,  employees,
consultants, agents or other representatives, other than payments or commitments
to pay such Persons or its officers, directors, employees in the ordinary course
of business;

                  (k) (i)  entered  into any lease (as lessor or  lessee),  (ii)
sold, abandoned or made any other disposition of any of its assets or properties
other than sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business  consistent with
past  practice;  (iii)  granted  or  suffered  any Lien on any of its  assets or
properties other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business;  or
(iv) entered  into or amended any  contract or other  agreement to which it is a
party, or by or to which it or its assets or properties are bound or subject, or
pursuant to which it agrees to indemnify any Person or to refrain from competing
with any  Person,  in each case or type  required  to be  disclosed  pursuant to
Section 4.8 hereof;

                  (l) except in the  ordinary  course of  business,  incurred or
assumed any debt,  obligation or liability  (whether  absolute or contingent and
whether or not currently due and payable);

                  (m) except for Inventory or equipment acquired in the ordinary
course  of  business,  made any  acquisition  of all or any part of the  assets,
properties, capital stock or business of any other Person;

                  (n)  paid,  directly  or  indirectly,  any of its  liabilities
before the same became due in accordance with its terms or otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business, except to obtain the benefit of discounts available
for early payment;
<PAGE>

                  (o) created, incurred or assumed any indebtedness for borrowed
money,  or guaranteed any  indebtedness  for borrowed  money or any  capitalized
lease  obligation,  in each  case in excess of  $10,000  individually  or in the
aggregate;

                  (p) made any capital  expenditures  or commitments for capital
expenditures in aggregate amount exceeding $10,000; or

                  (q) except in the  ordinary  course of  business,  terminated,
failed to renew,  amended or entered into any  contract or other  agreement of a
type required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 4.8.

         (ii) From the period  from  January 1, 1995  through  the date  hereof,
Arcar has carried on the Arcar Business diligently and substantially in the same
manner  conducted  prior thereto,  including its business  operations,  physical
facilities,  working  conditions  and  employees,  and  its  relationships  with
suppliers and customers and others having  business  relations  with it. Without
limiting  the  foregoing,  during  this  period  Arcar has not  accelerated  the
collection of Accounts Receivable or deferred the payment of payables.

                  4.24.  Tangible  Property.  Schedule  4.24 sets  forth a true,
complete and correct list of all categories of tangible personal property (other
than Inventory),  including, without limitation, equipment, furniture, leasehold
improvements,  fixtures, vehicles, structures, any related capitalized items and
other  similar  tangible  property,  in each  case  owned  or  leased  by  Arcar
(collectively,  the "Tangible  Property")  together  with a  description  of all
leases  or  subleases  of  Tangible  Property  to  which  Arcar  is the  lessor,
sublessor,  lessee  or  sublessee  and all  options  to  purchase  or  sell  the
underlying  property.  The  Tangible  Property is in good  operating  condition,
subject to continued  repair and  replacement in accordance  with past practice,
and  Arcar has not  received  notice  that any of the  Tangible  Property  is in
violation of any  existing Law or Order.  During the past one (1) year there has
not  been  any  interruption  of the  operations  of  Arcar  due  to  inadequate
maintenance  of the  Tangible  Property.  Except  as  separately  identified  on
Schedule  4.24,  no  approval  or  consent  of any  Person is needed so that the
interest of Arcar in the Tangible  Property  shall  continue to be in full force
and effect and enforceable by Buyer following the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement.

                  4.25. Licenses and Permits. Schedule 4.25 sets forth a list of
the government permits, licenses,  registrations and other governmental consents
and authorizations (federal, state, local and foreign) (collectively, "Permits")
which Arcar has obtained in connection with its assets, properties and business.
Except as set forth on  Schedule  4.25,  no  Permits  (including  Permits  under
Environmental  Laws) are required to be obtained by Arcar in connection with its
properties  or  business.  All such  Permits are in full force and effect and in
good  standing,  and except as  separately  identified on Schedule  4.25,  shall
continue  to be in full  force and  effect and in good  standing  following  the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  Arcar has not
received  any  notice  of any claim of  revocation  of any such  Permits  or has
knowledge of any event which might give rise to such a claim.

                  4.26. Substantial Customers and Suppliers. Schedule 4.26 lists
the twenty (20) largest  customers of Arcar,  on the basis of revenues for goods
sold or services provided for the most recently-completed  fiscal year. Schedule
4.26  lists the ten (10)  largest  suppliers  of Arcar,  on the basis of cost of
goods or services purchased for the most recently-completed  fiscal year. Except
as  disclosed  in Schedule  4.26,  no such  customer  or supplier  has ceased or
materially  reduced (i.e.,  by greater than 5% of such  customer's or supplier's
business) its purchases  from,  use of the services of, sales to or provision of
services to Arcar since  December 31, 1994,  or to the  knowledge of Arcar,  has
threatened to cease or materially reduce such purchases, use, sales or provision
of services after the date hereof.

                  4.27. Disclosure.  Neither this Agreement, nor any Schedule or
Exhibit to this  Agreement,  contains an untrue  statement of a material fact or
omits a material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements  contained  herein or
therein not misleading.
<PAGE>
                  4.28  Closing   Date.   The  foregoing   representations   and
warranties will also be true and correct in all material  respects in accordance
with  their  respective  terms on and as of the  Closing  Date and with the same
force and effect as though such  representations and warranties had been made on
and as of such time.

        5.  Representations  and  Warranties  of Buyer.  Each of Buyer and Alper
Holdings USA, Inc. ("Alper") represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

                  5.1 Organization.  Buyer and Alper are duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of their incorporation
and are duly  authorized to carry on their  business  where and as now conducted
and to own, lease and operate properties as they now do.

                  5.2 Corporate  Authority.  Buyer and Alper have full power and
authority to enter into and perform this Agreement in accordance with its terms;
the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of this Agreement by Buyer and Alper
have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate action of Buyer and Alper;
and  this  Agreement  is a valid  and  binding  obligation  of Buyer  and  Alper
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

                  5.3 No  Conflicts,  Consents.  Except as set forth on Schedule
5.3, the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of this  Agreement by Buyer and
Alper will not (a) conflict with its certificate of incorporation or by-laws and
will not conflict with or result in the breach or termination of or constitute a
default under,  any lease,  agreement,  commitment or other  instrument,  or any
order,  judgment or decree,  to which it is a party or by which either is bound;
or (b) to Buyer's or Alper's knowledge,  constitute a violation by it of any law
or regulation applicable to it. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3, no consent,
approval or  authorization  of, or declaration or filing with, any  governmental
authority  is  required  on the part of Buyer  or Alper in  connection  with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

                  5.4  Litigation.  There are no  actions,  suits,  proceedings,
claims or investigations pending or to the best of Buyer's or Alper's knowledge,
threatened,   concerning  Buyer  or  Alper  with  respect  to  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby or which would prevent Buyer or Alper from consummating the
transactions contemplated hereby.

        6. Particular Covenants.  In addition to the various other covenants set
forth in this  Agreement,  Arcar  covenants  and  agrees  with  Buyer  and Buyer
covenants and agrees with Arcar as follows:

                  6.1  Conduct of  Business.  During  the  period  from the date
hereof to the Closing Date, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement:

                  (i) Operation of Business.  Except with the written consent of
Buyer,  Arcar  shall not take any action or omit to take any action  which would
result in a material  breach,  violation or  inaccuracy  of any  representation,
warranty or covenant of Arcar made in this Agreement;  provided,  however,  that
Arcar shall not be required to secure the consent of Buyer with  respect to acts
undertaken in the ordinary course of business,  which do not, individually or in
the aggregate, have an adverse effect on the Arcar Business.

                  (ii) Preservation of Business.  Arcar shall use its reasonable
best efforts to carry on the Arcar Business  diligently and substantially in the
same manner as heretofore conducted and shall keep the business  organization of
the Arcar Business intact,  including its present business operations,  physical
facilities,  working conditions and employees and its present relationships with
suppliers and customers and others having business  relations with it, except as
otherwise  consented  to by  Buyer.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing,
<PAGE>
                  a) Arcar  shall  conduct and carry on the Arcar  Business  and
affairs only in the  ordinary  and regular  course,  and,  without  limiting the
foregoing,  shall not  accelerate  the  collection of  receivables  or defer the
payment of payables.

                  b) Arcar shall use its best efforts to keep available to Buyer
and the Arcar  Business the services of the present  employees and agents of the
Arcar  Business  and to maintain  and cause the Arcar  Business to maintain  and
preserve the relations and goodwill with suppliers, customers,  distributors and
any others having business relations with the Arcar Business.

                  c) Arcar shall not  increase or  otherwise  change the rate or
nature of the compensation  (including,  without  limitation,  wages,  salaries,
bonuses and other benefits) which is paid or payable to any director, officer or
employee of Arcar.

                  d) Arcar shall  maintain in full force and effect  policies of
insurance of the same type,  character and coverage as the policies of insurance
listed in Schedule 4.17; and Arcar shall give Buyer prompt written notice of any
and all changes  which may occur  between  the date hereof and the Closing  Date
with respect to the insurance coverages of Arcar.

                  e) Except as required  by law or the terms of its  agreements,
Arcar shall not cause the Arcar Business to make any loans,  advances or capital
contributions  to, or  investments  in, or  declare  any  dividends  or make any
payments to, any person or entity.

                  f) On or before the Closing,  Bagcraft  shall cause to be paid
to Arcar any  Accounts  Receivable  owed by Bagcraft  which is more than 45 days
old.

                  g) Immediately notify Buyer of any deviation or exception from
the commitments set forth in (a) through (f) above.

                  (iii) Full Access. Arcar shall grant Buyer and representatives
of Buyer and its lenders  reasonable  access during normal business hours to all
employees, premises,  properties, books, records, contracts,  accounting records
and other  documents of or  pertaining  to Arcar and the Arcar  Business,  shall
provide  copies to Buyer and its lenders of all Arcar  documentation  reasonably
requested  by Buyer,  and  Arcar  will  furnish  to Buyer  and its  lenders  any
information  in respect of Arcar and the Arcar Business as Buyer and its lenders
may from time to time reasonably request. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing,  Arcar  shall  afford  Buyer and its  lenders  and  their  designated
representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to all employees,
premises,  properties,  books, records, contracts,  accounting records and other
documents of or pertaining  to the Arcar  Business for purposes of compiling and
preparing appraisals of Arcar's Tangible Property and any other Purchased Assets
hereunder.

                  (iv)  Notice.  Arcar  shall  promptly  (no later than four (4)
business  days)  give Buyer  written  notice of  Arcar's  becoming  aware of the
existence  or  occurrence  of any  event  or  condition  which  would  make  any
representation or warranty of Arcar contained herein untrue or incomplete in any
material respect or which constitutes a breach or violation of this Agreement or
might prevent the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated.
<PAGE>

                  6.2      Expenses.

                  (i) Except as otherwise  provided  herein,  whether or not the
transactions  contemplated  hereby are  consummated,  all costs and expenses and
disbursements  incurred in connection  with this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  shall  be paid by the  party  incurring  such  costs  and
expenses.

                  (ii) The parties  hereto  hereby  represent  to each other and
hold each other harmless that no broker, finder, investment banker, or financial
adviser is entitled to any fees due to the transaction contemplated hereby.

                  6.3  Action.  From the date  hereof  until  the  Closing,  the
parties shall use their  reasonable  best efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all action,  and use their reasonable best efforts to do or cause to be done all
things  necessary,  proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  6.4  Consents.  Prior to the  Closing,  Arcar will  obtain all
consents listed on Schedules 4.4, 4.8, 4.11,  4.12,  4.17, 4.24 and 4.25 and all
other necessary  consents in order to transfer the Purchased  Assets to Buyer to
conclude the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  Where it is found to
be impossible  to transfer the benefits  under any Business  Contract,  Business
License, Real Property Lease or Personal Property Lease to Buyer, Arcar will act
as Buyer's agent to the extent it can lawfully and effectively do so in order to
help assure to Buyer the full benefits  thereof;  and Arcar will work with Buyer
to obtain for it the  benefits  thereunder,  and will  cooperate,  to the extent
permitted by  applicable  law,  with Buyer in any other  reasonable  arrangement
requested by Buyer  designed to provide such benefits for Buyer,  including,  if
permitted by applicable  law and the Business  Contract,  Business  License Real
Property Lease or Personal  Property Lease,  subcontracting to Buyer the work to
be  performed  or the  services  to be  provided  under any  Business  Contract,
Business  License,  Real Property  Lease or Personal  Property Lease on the same
basis that Arcar  would be  required to perform  under such  Business  Contract,
Business  License,  Real Property Lease or Personal Property Lease. In the event
after a good faith effort, Arcar is unable to cause a consent to be delivered to
Buyer, and Buyer deems such a consent to be material to the conduct of the Arcar
Business,  Buyer may terminate  this  Agreement  without any  liability  arising
pursuant hereto.

                  6.5.  Transfer  Taxes.  Arcar  agrees to pay all  sales,  use,
transfer,  real property  transfer,  recording,  gains, stock transfer and other
similar taxes and fees  ("Transfer  Taxes") arising out of or in connection with
the  transactions  effected  pursuant to this  Agreement,  and shall  indemnify,
defend and hold harmless Buyer with respect to such Transfer Taxes.  Arcar shall
file all necessary  documentation  and Tax Returns with respect to such Transfer
Taxes.

                  6.6. Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Filings. Arcar and Buyer have filed
with the United States Federal Trade  Commission  and the Antitrust  Division of
the United  States  Department  of  Justice  pursuant  to the  Hart-Scott-Rodino
Anti-Trust  Improvements  Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), all requisite
documents and notifications in connection with the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement.  Arcar and Buyer shall  coordinate and cooperate with each other
and the  respective  governmental  offices in exchanging  such  information  and
providing such assistance as the other and the respective  governmental  offices
may  require  to  comply  with the HSR Act.  Arcar  and  Buyer  shall  use their
respective  best efforts in order to overcome any  objection  made by either the
Federal  Trade  Commission  or  Department of Justice but neither party shall be
required to divest of any other  business or agree to limitations on the conduct
of its business in connection therewith.
<PAGE>

                  6.7. Public Announcements. On and after the date hereof, Arcar
and Buyer shall  consult  with each other  before  issuing any press  release or
making any public statements with respect to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated  hereby and neither of them shall  issue any such press  release or
make any such public  statement  prior to obtaining the other party's  approval,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld,  except that no such approval
shall be necessary to the extent  disclosure may be required by law or any stock
exchange  listing  agreement of a party or an affiliate.  Any party intending to
make disclosure of this Agreement  required by law shall notify and consult with
the other party in advance.

                  6.8. Further Assurances.  From time to time prior to and after
the Closing, without further consideration,  each party at its own expense shall
execute and deliver  such  documents  to the other party as such other party may
reasonably  request in order more  effectively  to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated hereby. At any time and from time to time after the Closing Date at
the request of Buyer, and without further consideration,  Arcar will execute and
deliver such other  instruments of sale,  transfer,  conveyance,  assignment and
confirmation  and take such other action as Buyer may reasonably  deem necessary
or desirable in order to transfer,  convey and assign more effectively to Buyer,
the Purchased Assets and to put Buyer in actual possession and operating control
of the Arcar  Business and to assist Buyer in exercising all rights with respect
thereto.

                  6.9. Tax Elections. No new elections with respect to Taxes, or
any changes in current elections with respect to Taxes,  affecting the Purchased
Assets shall be made after the date of this Agreement  without the prior written
consent of Buyer.

                  6.10. Clearance  Certificate.  As a condition precedent to the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  Seller shall
have timely filed all Tax Returns, notifications,  certificates or other similar
filings  required  by law or  regulation  in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement and Seller shall  provide Buyer with  clearance
certificate(s) or similar document(s) which may be required by any state or city
taxing  authority in order to relieve  Buyer of any  obligation  to withhold any
portion of the Purchase  Price.  Seller agrees to file notice of or  application
for such  certificate(s)  or  document(s)  within  five  days  after the date of
execution of this  Agreement.  To the extent  required by applicable  law, Buyer
agrees to  withhold  any  portion  of the cash  Purchase  Price  directed  to be
withheld by the taxing authority,  provided that if any cash payment is required
to be made by Buyer  to the  taxing  authority,  then  Buyer  shall  reduce  the
Purchase Price by such amount and make the cash payment.

                  6.11. Nonforeign  Affidavit.  Prior to the Closing Arcar shall
furnish Buyer an affidavit,  stating, under penalty of perjury, the transferor's
United States  taxpayer  identification  number and that the transferor is not a
foreign person, pursuant to section 1445(b)(2) of the Code.

                  6.12.    Covenant Not to Compete.

                  (a) Covenants Against Competition.  Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar
acknowledge  that (i)  Arcar is one of a  limited  number  of  persons  who have
developed the Arcar Business; (ii) the Arcar Business is conducted in the United
States of America; (iii) Bagcraft's and ARTRA's direct and indirect ownership of
Arcar has  brought  them and their  Affiliates  in close  contact  with  certain
confidential  affairs of Arcar not readily  available  to the  public;  and (iv)
Buyer  would not  purchase  the  Purchased  Assets  but for the  agreements  and
covenants of each of Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar  contained in this Section 6.12.
Accordingly, each of Bagcraft, ARTRA and Arcar covenants and agrees that:

                            (i)  Each  of  Bagcraft,  ARTRA  and  Arcar  and any
entities  under  the  direct  or  indirect  control  of  any  of  the  foregoing
(collectively, the "Designated Entities") shall not in Canada, the United States
of America or Mexico,  directly or  indirectly,  for a period  commencing on the
Closing Date and  terminating  on the date five (5) years  following the Closing
Date (the "Restricted Period"), (1) engage, or
<PAGE>

prepare  to  engage,   in  the  Arcar  Business  or  the  Dispersions   Business
(collectively, the "Business") for their own account; (2) render any services to
any  Person  (other  than  Buyer)  engaged  in such  activities;  or (3)  become
interested  in any such  Person as a  partner,  shareholder,  principal,  agent,
trustee, consultant or in any other similar relationship or capacity;  provided,
however, that notwithstanding the above the Designated Entities collectively may
own, directly or indirectly,  solely as an investment,  securities of any Person
which are traded on any  national  securities  exchange or NASDAQ if (i) none of
them is a controlling  Person, or a member of a group which controls such Person
or (ii)  they do not,  directly  or  indirectly,  own 5% or more of any class of
securities of such Person.

                            (ii)  During  the  Restricted  Period,  each  of the
Designated  Entities shall keep secret and retain in strictest  confidence,  and
shall not use for the benefit of itself or others except in connection  with the
business and affairs of Buyer and its Affiliates,  all confidential  information
with  respect  to the  Arcar  Business  and the  Purchased  Assets,  or  learned
heretofore  or  hereafter  directly  or  indirectly  from  the  Arcar  Business,
including,  without  limitation,  information  with  respect to (a)  prospective
facilities,  (b) sales  figures,  (c)  profit or loss  figures,  (d)  customers,
clients,  suppliers,  sources of supply and  customer  lists (the  "Confidential
Company  Information"),   and  shall  not  disclose  such  Confidential  Company
Information to anyone  outside of Buyer and its  Affiliates  except with Buyer's
express written consent and except for Confidential  Company  Information  which
(i) is at the time of receipt or thereafter  becomes  publicly  known through no
wrongful act of any of the Designated  Entities or (ii) is received from a third
party not under an obligation to keep such information  confidential and without
breach of this Agreement.

                            (iii)  During  the  Restricted  Period,  each of the
Designated  Entities  shall not,  directly or indirectly,  knowingly  solicit or
encourage  to  leave  the  employment  of Buyer  or any of its  Affiliates,  any
employee of Buyer or any of its Affiliates or hire any employee who has left the
employment of Buyer or any of its  Affiliates  after the date of this  Agreement
within one (1) year of the termination of such employee's employment with Buyer.

                  (b) Rights and Remedies Upon Breach.  If any of the Designated
Entities breaches,  or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of
Section 6.12(a) (the  "Restrictive  Covenants"),  Buyer shall have the following
rights and remedies (upon compliance with any necessary prerequisites imposed by
law upon the  availability of such remedies),  each of which rights and remedies
shall be  independent  of the other and severally  enforceable  and shall not be
affected by the  provisions  of Section 9, and all of which  rights and remedies
shall be in  addition  to,  and not in lieu of, any other  rights  and  remedies
available to Buyer under law or in equity:

                            (i) The  right and  remedy  to have the  Restrictive
Covenants  specifically  enforced (without posting any bond) by any court having
equity  jurisdiction,  including,  without  limitation,  the  right  to an entry
against the offending party of restraining orders and injunctions  (preliminary,
mandatory,  temporary and permanent) against  violations,  threatened or actual,
and whether or not then continuing, of such covenants, it being acknowledged and
agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will cause  irreparable  injury
to Buyer and that money damages will not provide adequate remedy to Buyer.

                            (ii) The right and remedy to require  the  offending
party to account for and pay over to Buyer all  compensation,  profits,  monies,
accruals,  increments or other benefits  (collectively,  "Benefits")  derived or
received by any of such Persons as a result of any  transactions  constituting a
breach of any of the  Restrictive  Covenants,  and such Person shall account for
and pay over such Benefits to Buyer.

                  (c)  Severability of Covenants.  If any court  determines that
any  of  the  Restrictive  Covenants,   or  any  part  thereof,  is  invalid  or
unenforceable,  the remainder of the Restrictive  Covenants shall not thereby be
affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portions.
<PAGE>
                  (d)  Blue-Pencilling.  If any court determines that any of the
Restrictive  Covenants,  or any part thereof,  is  unenforceable  because of the
duration of such  provision or the area covered  thereby,  such court shall have
the power to reduce the duration or area of such  provisions and, in its reduced
form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

                  (e)  Enforceability in Jurisdictions.  Bagcraft,  ARTRA, Arcar
and Buyer intend to and hereby confer  jurisdiction  to enforce the  Restrictive
Covenants upon the courts of any jurisdiction  within the geographical  scope of
the  Restrictive  Covenants.   If  the  courts  of  any  one  or  more  of  such
jurisdictions hold the Restrictive  Covenants wholly  unenforceable by reason of
the breadth of such scope or otherwise,  it is the intention of the parties that
such  determination  not bar or in any way  affect  Buyer's  right to the relief
provided above in the courts of any other  jurisdiction  within the geographical
scope  of  such  Restrictive  Covenants,  as to  breaches  of  such  Restrictive
Covenants in such other respective jurisdictions,  such Restrictive Covenants as
they relate to each jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable into diverse
and independent covenants,  subject,  where appropriate,  to the doctrine of res
judicata.

                  6.13.  Insurance.  As of the  Closing  Date,  except  for  the
Medical  Insurance  Policies,  the Billings  Insurance Policy and the Automobile
Insurance  Policies,  the coverage under all insurance  policies  related to the
Arcar Business shall continue in force only for the benefit of Arcar and Arcar's
Affiliates and not for the benefit of Buyer. Buyer agrees to arrange for its own
insurance  policies  with  respect to the Arcar  Business  covering  all periods
subsequent to the Closing Date, except for the Medical Insurance  Policies,  the
Billings Insurance Policy and the Automobile Insurance Policies.

                  6.14. Environmental Matters. With respect to and to the extent
existing  on or prior to the Closing  Date,  each of  Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar
hereby,  jointly and  severally,  covenants and agrees to indemnify,  defend and
hold Buyer and each of its Affiliates and their respective directors,  officers,
employees,  successors and assigns harmless from and against any claim,  action,
suit,  proceeding,  loss, cost, damage,  liability,  deficiency,  fine, punitive
damage or expense (including,  without  limitation,  attorneys' and consultants'
fees),  resulting  from,  arising  out of, or based  upon (i) any  Environmental
Claim, (ii) the presence,  Release,  use,  generation,  discharge,  storage,  or
disposal  of  any  Hazardous   Substances  on,  under,   in  or  about,  or  the
transportation  of any such materials to or from, any Arcar Facility,  including
any  facilities  previously  owned,  used or otherwise  operated by Arcar or any
predecessor of Arcar; (iii) any Environmental Law or permit, judgment or license
(including  but not  limited  to any  violation  or alleged  violation  thereof)
relating  to the  use,  generation,  Release,  discharge,  handling,  treatment,
storage,  or disposal of Hazardous  Substances  on, about,  to or from any Arcar
Facility  (defined  as  those  offices,   manufacturing,   warehouse  and  other
facilities  used by Arcar  in the  Arcar  Business),  including  any  facilities
previously  owned,  used or otherwise  operated by Arcar or any  predecessor  of
Arcar; and (iv) any actions, suits,  proceedings,  investigations,  assessments,
and judgments  incident to any of the foregoing.  This indemnity  shall include,
without limitation,  any damage, liability, fine, penalty, punitive damage, cost
or expense  arising from or out of any claim,  action,  suit or  proceeding  for
personal injury (including sickness,  disease or death),  tangible or intangible
property damage,  compensation for lost wages, business income, profits or other
economic  loss,  damage  to  natural  resources  or the  environment,  nuisance,
pollution, contamination, leak, spill, release or other potential adverse effect
on the environment.

         6.15     Certain Additional Environmental Matters.

                  (a)  Prior  to the  Closing,  Seller  shall  take  appropriate
measures to ensure that either (i) the discharge of wastewater from its facility
located at 450 Wegner Drive,  West Chicago,  Illinois is in compliance  with the
local discharge limits set forth in the West Chicago Pretreatment  Ordinance and
applicable  state and Federal  laws or (ii) a letter or notice is received  from
the City of West  Chicago  stating  that Buyer can  operate  the Arcar  Business
without  interruption  during the time it takes to comply with the West  Chicago
Pretreatment Ordinance.
<PAGE>

                  (b)  Prior  to the  Closing,  Seller  shall  assist  Buyer  in
obtaining all air  operating  permits  required from the Illinois  Environmental
Protection  Agency for the emissions  associated  with the Arcar facility at 450
Wegner Drive, West Chicago, Illinois.

         6.16 Medical  Plan.  Effective as of the Closing,  Buyer shall  assume,
without interruption, sponsoring of the Medical Plan, to the extent disclosed to
Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement;  provided,  however, that in no event
shall Buyer have any  obligation or liability  under the Medical Plan other than
with respect to individuals  (or their  dependents) who (i) were Arcar employees
immediately prior to the Closing, (ii) are offered employment by Buyer as of the
Closing,  and (iii)  accept  such offer of  employment  by Buyer.  Seller  shall
reimburse  Buyer for any and all amounts paid by Buyer for or in connection with
claims  incurred under the Medical Plan prior to the Closing by individuals  (or
their dependents) who (i) were Arcar employees immediately prior to the Closing,
(ii) are offered  employment  by Buyer as of the Closing,  and (iii) accept such
offer of  employment  by Buyer;  except to the  extent  such  amounts  are fully
reflected  in  the  Balance  Sheet  and  the  Statement  of Net  Assets.  Seller
represents,  warrants  and  covenants  that  there  are  no  impediments  to the
assumption  of the Medical  Plan and any  related  insurance  or  administrative
contracts by Buyer.  Seller shall  cooperate in the execution of any  documents,
adoption  of any  corporate  resolutions  and the  taking  of any and all  other
actions as may be necessary or  appropriate to effectuate  the  sponsorship  and
assumption  provided for by this Section 6.16.  Buyer's present intentions is to
offer employment to all of Arcar's present employees.

         7.       Conditions Precedent to Closing.

                  7.1.  Conditions to Obligations of Buyer.  The  obligations of
Buyer under this Agreement to enter into and complete the Closing are subject to
the  satisfaction  at or  prior  to the  Closing  of the  following  conditions,
provided that compliance with any such conditions or parts thereof may be waived
by Buyer:

                  (i) The representations and warranties of Bagcraft,  ARTRA and
Arcar contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct, in all respects, on
and as of the Closing Date as if made on such date,  except for  representations
and  warranties  relating to specified  dates and except as  otherwise  provided
herein;  each and all of the  covenants and  agreements  of Bagcraft,  ARTRA and
Arcar to be  performed  on or before the Closing  pursuant  to the terms  hereof
shall have been duly performed;  since the date hereof there shall not have been
any material adverse change in, and there shall have occurred no event which has
resulted  or could  result in a material  adverse  change in, the  business  and
financial  condition of the Arcar Business or in its  properties or assets;  and
Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate,  in such
form as Buyer shall reasonably require,  dated the Closing Date and signed by an
officer of Bagcraft, ARTRA and Arcar, to each such effect.

                  (ii)  Arcar  shall have  delivered  all  documents  reasonably
necessary in order to complete any and all  transfers and  assignments  provided
for in this Agreement and to convey to Buyer such title to the Purchased  Assets
as Arcar is required  hereunder to convey in form and substance  satisfactory to
Buyer in its sole discretion.

                  (iii) Arcar shall have  obtained all permits,  authorizations,
consents and approvals  listed on Schedules 4.4, 4.8, 4.11, 4.12, 4.17, 4.24 and
4.25 and shall have made all filings and declarations required to be made by it,
including,  without  limitation,  the filings  required by Section 6.10, for the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby and the applicable waiting
period under the HSR Act shall have expired.

                  (iv) Seller shall have  delivered to Buyer an opinion of legal
counsel of Arcar,  dated the  Closing  Date,  covering  the matters set forth in
Exhibit D hereto.
<PAGE>

                  (v) No  action,  claim  or  proceeding  shall  be  pending  or
threatened  before or by any Federal,  state or  municipal or other  domestic or
foreign governmental  department,  commission,  court, board, bureau,  agency or
instrumentality  seeking to restrain,  prohibit or invalidate  this Agreement or
any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and no  preliminary  or permanent
injunction  or other  order,  decree  or  ruling  shall be  issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or  commission  and no statute,  rule,  regulation  or executive  order shall be
issued or proposed  which, if effective,  would prevent the  consummation of the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement.

                  (vi) All existing  employment  agreements  of Arcar shall have
been terminated and all related obligations thereunder shall have been satisfied
and Scott  Billings,  William  Phillips and Thomas  Tinerella shall have entered
into  employment  agreements  with Buyer in form and substance  satisfactory  to
Buyer in its sole discretion.

                  (vii) Buyer shall have  obtained  and  formalized  senior debt
financing  in an  immediately  available  amount of  $8,000,000  sufficient,  to
Buyer's sole satisfaction, for the transactions contemplated herein.

                  (viii) Buyer and Scott Billings ("Billings") shall have agreed
upon an arrangement pursuant to which Buyer will assume not less than $2 million
of the  indebtedness  and  other  amounts  owed by  Arcar  to  Billings  and his
affiliates ( the "Designated Liabilities") and Buyer, ARTRA, Bagcraft and Seller
shall have entered into an  amendment  to this  Agreement  pursuant to which the
Designated  Liabilities  would be included in the  Assumed  Liabilities  and the
Purchase  Price  and the Cash  Payment  would be  reduced  by the  amount of the
Designated  Liabilities  so  assumed  by  Buyer;  provided,  however,  that such
amendment shall not have the effect of increasing the liabilities  which Seller,
ARTRA and Bagcraft  would  otherwise  have to Billings or his affiliates but for
the entering of such amendment.

                  (ix) There shall exist no defaults by Bagcraft with respect to
and in connection with that certain  documentation with General Electric Capital
Corporation,  the City of Baxter Springs, Kansas and any other senior or secured
financing documents which have not been cured.

                  (x) Arcar  shall have  delivered  to Buyer a current  estoppel
certificate  from the landlord  under each Real Property  Lease stating (i) that
such Real  Property  Lease is in full force and effect and has not been amended,
modified or supplemented,  (ii) that all rent and other sums and charges payable
under such Real Property  Lease are current,  and setting forth the date through
which such payments have been made,  (iii) the amount of any tenant  security or
other  similar  deposit  held by or on behalf of such  landlord  under such Real
Property  Lease,  (iv)  that no  notice  of  default  on the  part of  Arcar  or
termination  notice has been served under such Real Property Lease which remains
outstanding, (v) that no default exists under such Real Property Lease, and that
no event has occurred or condition  exists  which,  with the giving of notice or
the lapse of time or both,  would  constitute  such a default  and (vi) that the
consummation  of the  transactions  provided  for herein will not  constitute  a
default under such Real Property Lease or grounds for the termination thereof or
for the  exercise of any other right or remedy  adverse to the  interests of the
tenant thereunder.

                  (xi)  Bagcraft  shall have executed and delivered to Buyer the
form of Ink Purchase Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit E and Buyer shall have
received the Letter of Credit  referred to therein,  which shall be satisfactory
in form and substance to Buyer in its sole discretion.

                  (xii) Buyer shall have  received an  extension of that certain
Industrial  Building Lease dated April 8, 1994 by and between AGI Acq., Inc. and
Trust No. 1531 with respect to Arcar's  property  located at 450 Wegner Drive in
substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto.
<PAGE>

                  (xiii) Buyer shall have received an executed amendment to that
certain Standard/Industrial Commercial Single-Tenant Lease dated May 15, 1995 by
and between Arcar and Neal Adams, as principal, with respect to Arcar's property
located at 500 Wegner Drive in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto.

                  (xiv)    (intentionally deleted)

                  (xv)  Buyer  shall  have  applied  for,  and  taken  all steps
necessary  to obtain,  all air  operating  permits  required  from the  Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency for emissions associated with the Arcar facility
at 450 Wegner Drive, West Chicago, Illinois (the "Air Permits"). In addition, as
of the Closing Date, the discharge of waste water from such facility shall be in
compliance with the local discharge limits set forth in the current West Chicago
Pretreatment  Ordinance (the  "Ordinance")  and all applicable state and Federal
laws such that, when the facility is operated by Buyer after the Closing,  Buyer
will not be exposed to future  liability or damages in respect  thereof nor will
Buyer  be  required  to incur  capital  expenditures  in the  future  to  assure
permanent  compliance  with the Ordinance and all  applicable  state and Federal
laws. Buyer and Seller agree that $200,000 of the Purchase Price will be held by
the Buyer (the "Holdback  Amount")  pending  resolution of the Ordinance and the
permit relating thereto, and the Air Permits and any failures to comply with any
other current state or Federal laws relating to waste water discharge or the Air
Permits.  Following  the  Closing,  the parties  will use their best  efforts to
attempt to obtain a  permanent  variance  from the City of West  Chicago and any
other  applicable  state and Federal  authorities in order that Arcar will be in
compliance  with all aspects of the Ordinance and state and Federal law relating
to the  discharge  of waste  water from the  facility.  In the event a permanent
variance is  unobtainable  within  ninety (90) days from the Closing  Date Buyer
shall  implement a system to  eliminate  the waste water  discharge  problem and
assure  compliance with the Ordinance and state and Federal law. Buyer will have
the right to  determine  the  procedures  and  systems  required  to manage  the
discharge of waste water,  subject to Bagcraft's  written consent  regarding the
expenses associated therewith, which consent shall not be unreasonable withheld.
Any out-of-pocket amounts expended for such system (including but not limited to
any   out-of-pocket   expenses  incurred  in  connection  with  the  design  and
installation  thereof)  and any  fines,  penalties  or  other  specific  damages
incurred  by Buyer due to  Arcar's or Buyer's  operation  of the Arcar  Business
without  compliance  with the Ordinance or state or Federal laws relating to the
discharge of waste water or without the Air Permits  shall be deducted  from the
Holdback Amount and the remainder, if any, will be paid to Seller the earlier of
(x)  compliance  with the Ordinance and any state or federal laws on a permanent
basis and Buyer shall be reasonably  assured it will not be responsible  for any
such fines or penalties or (y)180 days after the  Closing.  In addition,  Arcar,
ARTRA and Bagcraft,  jointly and severally,  agree to pay to Buyer on demand all
such out-of-pocket  amounts,  fines, penalties and other specific damages to the
extent they exceed the Holdback Amount.

                  (xvi)  Except as  otherwise  waived by  Buyer,  all  consents,
permits and approvals from third parties to contracts or other  agreements  with
Arcar, and any other material  consent,  permit or approval that may be required
in  connection  with the  performance  by Arcar of its  obligations  under  this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or the continuance of Arcar's contracts or other agreements with Buyer after the
Closing shall have been obtained.

                  (xvii)  Arcar  shall have done or caused to be done all things
necessary to transfer, or have reissued in the name of Buyer, each permit listed
on Schedule 4.25, other than the Air Permits,  and all other permits required to
be obtained in connection with the operation of the Arcar Business.

                  (xviii)  Buyer shall have  received  the  certified  report of
Coopers & Lybrand for the December 31, 1994 financial  statements referred to in
Section 4.7.
<PAGE>

                  (xix)  Buyer  shall  have  received   such  other   documents,
certificates or instruments as it may reasonably request.

         7.2. Conditions to Obligations of Arcar. The obligations of Arcar under
this Agreement are subject to the  satisfaction  at or prior to the Closing Date
of the following  conditions,  provided that compliance with any such conditions
or parts thereof may be waived by Arcar:

                  (i) The  representations  and warranties of Buyer contained in
this Agreement shall be true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of
the  Closing  Date as if  made on such  date,  except  for  representations  and
warranties  relating to specified dates and except as otherwise provided herein;
each and all of the  covenants  and  agreements  of Buyer to be  performed on or
before the Closing  pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been duly performed;
and Buyer shall have  delivered  to Arcar a  certificate,  in such form as Arcar
shall  reasonably  require,  dated the Closing  Date and signed by an officer of
Buyer to both such effects.

                  (ii)  Buyer  shall  have   obtained  all   material   permits,
authorizations,  consents and approvals and shall have made all material filings
and  declarations  required  by it for  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and the  applicable  waiting period under the HSR Act shall
have expired.

                  (iii) Buyer shall have delivered to Arcar an opinion of Rogers
& Wells,  counsel to Buyer,  dated the Closing  Date,  covering  the matters set
forth in Exhibit H hereto.

                  (iv) No  action,  claim  or  proceeding  shall be  pending  or
threatened  before or by any Federal,  state or  municipal or other  domestic or
foreign governmental  department,  commission,  court, board, bureau,  agency or
instrumentality  seeking to restrain,  prohibit or invalidate  this Agreement or
any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and no  preliminary  or permanent
injunction  or other  order,  decree  or  ruling  shall be  issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission and no statute,  rule,  regulation or executive  order shall be in
effect which has a substantial  likelihood of preventing the consummation of the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement.

                  (v) Buyer shall have  executed  and  delivered to Bagcraft the
form of Ink Purchase Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit E.

                  (vi)  Arcar  shall  have   received   such  other   documents,
certificates or instruments as it may reasonably request.

         8.       Termination.

                  8.1. Events and Methods of Termination.  This Agreement may be
terminated  prior to the  Closing,  and the  purchase  and  sale  and the  other
transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned:

                  (i) By Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Seller on the one hand or Buyer on
the other hand (by  written  notice to each  other) if the  Closing has not been
consummated or occurred by October 17,, 1995 (unless such failure of the Closing
to be  consummated  or to occur has been caused by a breach of this Agreement by
the party  seeking  termination,  in which case such party may not so  terminate
this Agreement); or
                  (ii)     by mutual consent of each of the parties hereto.
<PAGE>
                  8.2. Disposition of Documents. If this Agreement is terminated
as provided herein,  each party shall promptly  redeliver to the other Party all
documents,  workpapers  and other  material of the other  party  relating to the
transactions contemplated hereby, whether obtained before or after the execution
hereof.  In the event this  Agreement is terminated as provided  herein (i) this
Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force and effect,  except
for the provisions  (the  "Surviving  Provisions")  of Section 10.11 relating to
Buyer's  obligation to keep confidential  certain  information,  Section 6.2 and
Section  10.5 and (ii) except for the  Surviving  Provisions,  there shall be no
liability on the part of any party hereto,  their Affiliates or their respective
partners, officers,  directors,  employees or agents, provided, however, that if
such  termination  shall  result  from the  breach by a party of the  provisions
contained  in this  Agreement,  such party shall be fully liable for any and all
damages,  costs and expenses sustained or incurred as a result of such breach by
the other parties hereto.

         9.       Survival; Indemnification

                  9.1. Survival of  Representations,  Warranties,  Covenants and
Agreements.  The  representations  and warranties of Alper shall not survive the
Closing; all other representations,  warranties, covenants and agreements of the
parties  contained  in this  Agreement  will survive the Closing (a) until sixty
(60)  days  after  the  expiration  of all  applicable  statutes  of  limitation
(including  all periods of  extension,  whether  automatic or  permissive)  with
respect to the matters covered by the representations  and warranties  contained
in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.13,  4.14 and 4.15 and Sections 5.1,
5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, (b) until the date which is twenty-four  (24) months after the
Closing Date in the case of all other  representations  and  warranties  and any
covenant or agreement  to be  performed on or prior to the Closing,  or (c) with
respect to each other covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement,  except
as provided in Alper's guarantee contained on the signature pages hereof,  until
ninety (90) days  following the last date on which such covenant or agreement is
to be  performed  or,  if no such  date is  specified,  indefinitely;  provided,
however that any  representation,  warranty,  covenant or  agreement  that would
otherwise  terminate  in  accordance  with clause (a), (b) or (c) above (x) will
continue to survive if the party making such representation,  warranty, covenant
or agreement knowingly engages in fraud with respect thereto until one year from
the discovery thereof by the party in whose favor such representation, warranty,
covenant or  agreement  is made and (y) will  continue  to  survive,  if a Claim
Notice (as hereinafter defined) shall have been given under this Section 9 on or
prior to such termination date, until the related claim for  indemnification has
been satisfied or otherwise resolved as provided in this Section 9.

                  9.2.  Indemnification  of Buyer.  Subject  to the  limitations
contained in this Section 9, Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar,  jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify,  defend and hold harmless  Buyer and each of its  Affiliates
and their respective directors, officers, employees, successors and assigns from
and against any and all losses,  liabilities  (including  punitive or  exemplary
damages and fines or penalties and any interest  thereon),  expenses  (including
fees and  disbursements of counsel and expenses of  investigation  and defense),
claims,  liens  or  other  obligations  of any  nature  whatsoever  (hereinafter
individually,   a  "Loss"  and  collectively,   "Losses")  which,   directly  or
indirectly,  arise out of, result from or relate to (a) any inaccuracy in or any
breach of any  representation  and  warranty,  or any breach of any  covenant or
agreement,  of Bagcraft,  ARTRA or Arcar  contained in this  Agreement or in any
document or other papers  delivered by any of them  pursuant to this  Agreement,
(b) any Excluded Liability,  or (c) the failure of Arcar to comply with any bulk
sales or similar  Laws and  Buyer's  waiver of  compliance  with such Laws.  The
parties hereto agree that if Buyer seeks indemnification for any Losses pursuant
to this  Section  9.2,  an offset  shall be allowed  for an amount  equal to the
excess,  if any, of (i) the amount set forth on the Statement of Net Assets as a
reserve for claims  under the Medical  Plan over (ii) the actual  amount paid by
Buyer for such claims.

                  Buyer  hereby  agrees  that  Buyer  shall not be  entitled  to
recover from any of  Bagcraft,  ARTRA  and/or  Arcar any  indemnification  under
clause (a) of  Section  9.2 as it  relates  to any  inaccuracy  or breach of any
representation  or warranty (other than as the same relates to any inaccuracy in
or breach of the representations and warranties set forth
<PAGE>

in Section 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.13,  4.14, and 4.15,  which shall not
be subject to limitations of this Section 9.2) unless and until the total of all
Losses with  respect to the  matters  covered  thereby  exceed  $25,000.00  (the
"Threshold   Amount").   Once  such  Losses  exceed  the  Threshold  Amount  the
indemnification  under clause (a) of Section 9.2 shall also include those Losses
which were less than the Threshold Amount.

                  9.3.  Indemnification  of Arcar.  Subject  to the  limitations
contained in this Section 9, Buyer agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Bagcraft,  ARTRA,  Arcar,  their  Affiliates  and  their  respective  directors,
officers, employees,  successors and assigns from and against any and all Losses
which,  directly or  indirectly,  arise out of, result from or relate to (a) any
inaccuracy in or any breach of any representation and warranty, or any breach of
any  covenant or  agreement,  of Buyer  contained  in this  Agreement  or in any
document or other papers  delivered by Buyer  pursuant to this  Agreement or (b)
any Assumed Liability assumed by Buyer pursuant to Section 2.4.

                  9.4.  Method of  Asserting  Claims.  The party  making a claim
under this  Section 9 is  referred to as the  "Indemnified  Party" and the party
against whom such claims are asserted under this Section 9 is referred to as the
"Indemnifying  Party".  All claims by any Indemnified Party under this Section 9
shall be asserted and resolved as follows:

                  (a) In the  event  that  any  claim  or  demand  for  which an
Indemnifying Party would be liable to an Indemnified Party hereunder is asserted
against or sought to be collected from such Indemnified  Party by a third party,
said Indemnified  Party shall with reasonable  promptness  notify in writing the
Indemnifying Party of such claim or demand,  specifying the basis for such claim
or demand,  and the amount or the  estimated  amount  thereof to the extent then
determinable (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final amount of such
claim and demand; the "Claim Notice");  provided,  however,  that any failure to
give  such  Claim  Notice  will  not be  deemed a waiver  of any  rights  of the
Indemnified Party except to the extent the rights of the Indemnifying  Party are
actually prejudiced by such failure. The Indemnifying Party, upon request of the
Indemnified Party,  shall retain counsel (who shall be reasonably  acceptable to
the  Indemnified  Party) to represent  the  Indemnified  Party and shall pay the
reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel with regard thereto; provided,
however,  that any Indemnified  Party is hereby  authorized prior to the date on
which it receives  written notice from the Indemnifying  Party  designating such
counsel,  to retain counsel,  whose fees and expenses shall be at the expense of
the  Indemnifying  Party, to file any motion,  answer or other pleading and take
such other  action  which it  reasonably  shall deem  necessary  to protect  its
interests  or those  of the  Indemnifying  Party  until  the  date on which  the
Indemnified  Party receives such notice from the Indemnifying  Party.  After the
Indemnifying  Party shall retain such counsel,  the Indemnified Party shall have
the right to retain its own  counsel,  but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such  Indemnified  Party unless (x) the  Indemnifying
Party and the  Indemnified  Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such  counsel or (y) the named  parties of any such  proceeding  (including  any
impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party
and  representation  of both parties by the same counsel would be  inappropriate
due to actual or potential  differing  interests  between them. The Indemnifying
Party shall not, in connection  with any  proceedings or related  proceedings in
the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one such
firm for the  Indemnified  Party  (except to the extent  the  Indemnified  Party
retained  counsel to protect its (or the  Indemnifying  Party's) rights prior to
the  selection  of counsel  by the  Indemnifying  Party).  If  requested  by the
Indemnifying   Party,  the  Indemnified  Party  agrees  to  cooperate  with  the
Indemnifying  Party and its counsel in contesting  any claim or demand which the
Indemnifying  Party  defends.  A  claim  or  demand  may not be  settled  by the
Indemnifying  Party without the prior written consent of the  Indemnified  Party
(which  consent  will  not be  unreasonably  withheld)  unless,  as part of such
settlement, the Indemnified Party shall receive a full and unconditional release
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party.

                  (b) In the  event any  Indemnified  Party  shall  have a claim
against  any  Indemnifying  Party  hereunder  which does not  involve a claim or
demand  being  asserted  against  or sought to be  collected  from it by a third
party,  the  Indemnified  Party shall send a Claim  Notice with  respect to such
claim to the Indemnifying Party.
<PAGE>

                  (c) After delivery of a Claim Notice,  so long as any right to
indemnification  exists  pursuant to this  Section 9 the  affected  parties each
agree to retain all Books and  Records  related to such  Claim  Notice.  In each
instance,  the Indemnified  Party shall have the right to be kept fully informed
by the  Indemnifying  Party  and its legal  counsel  with  respect  to any legal
proceedings.  Any information or documents made available to any party hereunder
and  designated as  confidential  by the party  providing  such  information  or
documents and which is not otherwise  generally  available to the public and not
already  within the knowledge of the party to whom the  information  is provided
(unless  otherwise  covered  by the  confidentiality  provisions  of  any  other
agreement  among  the  parties  hereto,  or any of them),  and  except as may be
required by applicable  law,  shall not be disclosed to any third Person (except
for the  representatives  of the party being provided with the  information,  in
which event the party being  provided  with the  information  shall  request its
representatives not to disclose any such information which it otherwise required
hereunder to be kept confidential).

         10.      General Provisions.

                  10.1. Representations and Warranties.  Buyer acknowledges that
Arcar has not made any representations or warranties of any kind, either express
or implied,  except as expressly set forth or referred to in this  Agreement and
the other documents, instruments, certificates, Exhibits and Schedules delivered
or to be delivered by Arcar to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement.  All statements
of fact  made by Arcar in the  foregoing  shall be  deemed  representations  and
warranties  of Arcar  regardless  of any  investigation  made by or on behalf of
Buyer.

                  10.2. Records.  Following the Closing,  each party will afford
to the other party,  its counsel and its  accountants,  during  normal  business
hours,  reasonable  access to the Books and  Records of Arcar or relating to the
Arcar  Business,   the  Purchased  Assets,  the  Excluded  Assets,  the  Assumed
Liabilities  or Arcar in its  possession  with  respect to periods  prior to the
Closing and the right to make copies and extracts therefrom,  to the extent that
such access may be reasonably required by the requesting party (a) to facilitate
the investigation, litigation and final disposition of any claims which may have
been or may be made  against any party or its  Affiliates  and (b) for any other
reasonable  business  purpose.  Each party  agrees that for a period of not less
than  seven (7) years  following  the  Closing  Date,  it shall not  destroy  or
otherwise  dispose  of  any of the  Books  and  Records  relating  to the  Arcar
Business, the Purchased Assets, the Assumed Liabilities,  the Excluded Assets or
Arcar in its possession with respect to periods prior to the Closing. Each party
shall have the right to destroy all or part of such Books and Records  after the
seventh  anniversary  of the Closing  Date or, at an earlier time by giving each
other  party  hereto  thirty  (30) days prior  written  notice of such  intended
disposition  and by  offering  to  deliver  to the other  parties,  at the other
parties' expense,  custody of such Books and Records as such party may intend to
destroy.  Arcar shall  advise  Buyer of the  results of any tax audits  (whether
federal,  state or  foreign),  which  pertain  to  Arcar's  conduct of the Arcar
Business up to the Closing.

                  10.3.  Assignability and Amendments.  This Agreement shall not
be assignable by any of the parties hereto,  except that Buyer may,  without the
prior  written  consent of Arcar,  assign this  Agreement  and any or all of its
rights and/or its obligations hereunder (i) to any one or more of its Affiliates
prior to Closing or (ii) to one or more of its lenders as collateral  for a loan
at any time.  No  assignment  will  relieve  the  assigning  party of any of its
obligations  hereunder.  This Agreement  cannot be altered or otherwise  amended
except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by all parties.

                  10.4.  Exclusivity.  Until the  earlier of the  Closing or the
termination of this Agreement (the "Negotiating Period"),  Seller,  Bagcraft and
ARTRA shall not, directly or indirectly through any officer, director, employee,
agent, partner, Affiliate or otherwise,  enter into any agreement,  agreement in
principle or other commitment  (whether or not legally binding)  relating to any
business  combination with,  recapitalization  of, or acquisition or purchase of
all or a significant  portion of the assets of, or any material  equity interest
in, Arcar (a  "Competing  Transaction"),  or solicit,  initiate or encourage the
submission of any proposal or offer from any person or entity
<PAGE>
(including any of their officers,  directors,  employees and agents) relating to
any Competing  Transaction,  nor participate in any negotiations  with any other
person or entity with respect to a Competing Transaction.  Seller,  Bagcraft and
ARTRA  shall  notify  Buyer  promptly  if any  proposal  regarding  a  Competing
Transaction  (or any inquiry or contact  with any person or entity with  respect
thereto) is made,  and shall advise Buyer of the contents  thereof  (and,  if in
written form, provide Buyer with copies thereof).

                  10.5. Competing Transaction Fee. In the event that the Seller,
Bagcraft or ARTRA engages in a Competing  Transaction  within one year after the
date of this Agreement and (i) this Agreement has not been  terminated  pursuant
to  Section  8.1(i)  or  8.1(ii)  above,  or (ii)  Buyer has not  breached  this
Agreement,  the Seller  shall  reimburse  Buyer for all  out-of-pocket  expenses
incurred  by  Buyer  or  on  its  behalf  related  to  this  Agreement  and  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and pay  Buyer a fee of  $750,000  upon  the
consummation of such Competing Transaction.  ARTRA and Bagcraft hereby guarantee
the payment of such fee.

                  10.6. Notices.  All notices,  demands or other  communications
required  or desired  to be given  hereunder  shall be in  writing  and shall be
deemed given when delivered personally by courier, overnight delivery service or
by telecopy transmission (with transmission confirmed) or five (5) business days
after it is deposited in the U.S.  Mail,  registered or certified  mail,  return
receipt requested, postage pre-paid, and addressed as set forth below:

         If to Seller, addressed to:

                           Arcar Graphics, Inc.
                           450 Wegner Drive
                           West Chicago, IL  60185
                           Attn:  Scott Billings
                           Telecopy Number:  (708) 231-9974

         With copies addressed to:

                           Bagcraft Corporation of America
                           3900 West 43rd Street
                           Chicago, IL  60632
                           Attn:  Mark F. Santacrose, Esq.
                           Telecopy Number:  (312) 254-5216

                           Kwiatt, Silverman & Ruben, Ltd.
                           500 N. Central Avenue
                           Northfield, IL  60093
                           Attn:  Philip E. Ruben, Esq.
                           Telecopy Number:  (708) 441-7696

                  and      ARTRA GROUP Incorporated
                           500 N. Central Avenue
                           Northfield, IL  60093
                           Attn:  Peter R. Harvey
                           Telecopy Number:  (708) 441-6959
<PAGE>


If to Buyer, addressed to:

                           c/o Alper Holdings USA, Inc.
                           800 Third Avenue
                           New York, NY  10017
                           Attn:  Jeffrey C. Holdsberg
                           Telecopy Number:  (212)

         With a copy addressed to:

                           Rogers & Wells
                           200 Park Avenue
                           New York, NY  10166
                           Attn:  Steven A. Hobbs
                           Telecopy Number:  (212) 878-8375

         Any party may change such  party's  address or telecopy  number for the
giving of notice specified above by giving notice as herein provided.

         Any  notice  given by  personal  delivery,  by Federal  Express  (other
similar  overnight  courier  service) or telecopy  transmission  shall be deemed
given, delivered, received and effective on the date of receipt (or confirmation
or answer back for  facsimile) of such delivery (or such other  transmission  at
the address or fax number  designed  pursuant  hereto)  and any notice  given by
registered  or certified  mail shall be deemed  given,  delivered,  received and
effective on the third  Business Day after the date on which it was deposited in
the United  States  postal  system.  Notice in writing  may be given by a method
other than as described above and such notice shall be deemed given,  delivered,
received and effective on a date actually received.

                  10.7.  Certain  Definitions.  As used in this  Agreement,  the
following  terms  have the  following  meanings  unless  the  context  otherwise
requires:

                  "Action or Proceeding" means any action,  suit,  proceeding or
arbitration by any Person or any  investigation  or audit by any Governmental or
Regulatory Body.

                  "Affiliate" with respect to any Person, means any other Person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

                  "Alper"   means  Alper   Holdings   USA,   Inc.,   a  Delaware
corporation.

                  "Arcar Business" means the  development,  manufacture and sale
of inks,  adhesives,  coatings,  presside ink additives,  varnishes,  extenders,
cleaners for water-based inks and related products.

                  "Associate" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation
or other business  organization of which such Person is an officer or partner or
is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent (10%) or more of
any class of equity  securities,  any trust or estate in which such Person has a
substantial  beneficial  interest or as to which such Person serves as a trustee
or in a similar  capacity  and any  relative  or spouse of such  Person,  or any
relative  of such  spouse,  who has the same home as such Person or any child or
sibling of such Person or such Person's spouse.
<PAGE>

                  "Books and Records" of any Person means all files,  documents,
instruments,  papers,  books and records  relating to the business,  operations,
conditions  of  (financial  or  other),  results  of  operations  and assets and
properties of such Person,  including without limitation  financial  statements,
Tax Returns and related  work  papers and  letters  from  accountants,  budgets,
pricing  guidelines,  ledgers,  journals,  deeds, title policies,  minute books,
stock  certificates  and books,  stock  transfer  ledgers,  contracts  and other
agreements,  licenses,  customer lists,  computer files and programs,  retrieval
programs, operating data and plans and environmental studies and plans.

                  "Business Day" means any day on which commercial banks are not
authorized or required by law to close in Chicago,  Illinois,  and New York, New
York.

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

                  "document  or other  papers"  means any  document,  agreement,
instrument,  certificate,  notice, consent, affidavit,  letter, telegram, telex,
statement,  schedule  (including  any  Schedule  to this  Agreement)  or exhibit
(including any Exhibit to this Agreement).

                  "Dispersions  Business" means the development,  production and
sale of press cake,  pigments and  dispersions  and other  similar raw materials
used or usable  in the  manufacture  of inks,  coatings,  varnishes,  extenders,
presside  ink  additives  and  related  products,  provided,  however,  that the
foregoing  definition  will not be given  effect for  purposes  of Section  6.12
unless and only if Buyer enters into a definitive agreement with Messer relating
to the establishment of the Dispersions Business as contemplated by Section 2.3.

                  "Environmental  Claim" means, with respect to any Person,  any
written or oral notice,  claim, demand or other communication  (collectively,  a
"claim") by any other Person  alleging or asserting such Person's  liability for
investigatory  costs,  cleanup costs,  Governmental  or Regulatory Body response
costs, damages to natural resources or other property,  personal injuries, fines
or penalties  arising out of, based on or resulting  from (a) the  presence,  or
Release  into the  environment,  of any  Hazardous  Substance  at any  location,
whether or not owned by such Person, or (b)  circumstances  forming the basis of
any  violation,  of  alleged  violation,  of any  Environmental  Law.  The  term
"Environmental  Claim"  shall  include,  without  limitation,  any  claim by any
Governmental or Regulatory Body for  enforcement,  cleanup,  removal,  response,
remedial or other actions or damages  pursuant to any  applicable  Environmental
Law,  and  any  claim  by  any  third  party  seeking   damages,   contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from
the presence of Hazardous  Substance or arising from alleged injury or threat of
injury to heath, safety or the environment.

                  "Environmental  Law"  means any Law or Order or  guideline  as
enacted,  authorized,   amended  or  proposed  relating  to  the  regulation  or
protection  of  human  health,  safety  or  the  environment  or  to  emissions,
discharges,  releases  or  threatened  releases  of  pollutants,   contaminants,
chemicals  or  industrial,  toxic or  hazardous  substances  or wastes  into the
environment  (including  without  limitation,  ambient air, soil, surface water,
ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata), or otherwise relating to the
manufacture,   processing,  distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,
transport or handling of  pollutants,  contaminants,  chemicals  or  industrial,
toxic or hazardous substances or wastes including but not limited to:

                  (i) the  Clean  Air Act,  42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  7401 et seq.,  as
amended, its implementing regulations and any state or local analogs to that Act
and its regulations;

                  (ii) the Federal Water Pollution  Control Act, as amended,  33
U.S.C. ss.ss. 1251 et seq., its implementing  regulations and any state or local
analogs to that Act and its regulations;
<PAGE>
   
                  (iii) the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 33 U.S.C.ss.ss.  401
et seq., as amended, and its implementing regulations;

                  (iv) the Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery  Act, 42 U.S.C.
ss.ss. 6901 et seq., as amended ("RCRA"),  its implementing  regulations and any
state or local analogs to that Act and its regulations;

                  (v) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA" or "Superfund"),  42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601 et seq.,
as reauthorized and amended by the Superfund  Amendments and Reauthorization Act
of 1986, its implementing  regulations and any state statute similar to that act
and its regulations;

                  (vi) The Toxic Substances  Control Act, 15 U.S.A.  ss.ss. 2601
et seq., as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder,

                  (vii) the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR ss. 1910.1200,
as  amended  ("HCS")   promulgated  by  the   Occupational   Safety  and  Health
Administration, and any similar state or local law; and

                  (viii) the Safe  Drinking  Water Act,  42 U.S.C.  ss.  300f et
seq., as amended; and

                  (ix) The  Illinois  Environmental  Protection  Act, 415 I.L.C.
55/1 et seq. and its implementing regulations.

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

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles.

                  "Governmental  or  Regulatory  Body"  means  court,  tribunal,
arbitrator or any government or political subdivision thereof,  whether federal,
state,  county,  local  or  foreign,  or  any  agency,  authority,  official  or
instrumentality of any such government or political subdivision.

                  "Hazardous  Substance"  means (A) any  petroleum  or petroleum
products, flammable materials,  explosives,  radioactive materials,  asbestos in
any form that is or could become friable,  urea formaldehyde foam insulation and
transformers or other equipment that contain  dielectric fluid containing levels
of  polychlorinated  biphenyls  (PCBs);  (B) any chemicals or other materials or
substances  which are now or hereafter  defined as or included in the definition
of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely
hazardous wastes,"  "restricted  hazardous wastes," "toxic  substances,"  "toxic
pollutants" or words of similar import under, or regulated by, any Environmental
Law;  and (C) any other  chemical or other  material or  substance,  exposure to
which is now or hereafter  prohibited,  limited or regulated by any Governmental
or Regulatory Body under any Environmental Law.

                  "Law" means any law, statute, rule, regulation,  ordinance and
other  pronouncement  having the effect of law of the United States, any foreign
country  or any  domestic  or foreign  state,  county,  city or other  political
subdivision or of any Governmental or Regulatory Body.

                  "Lien"  means  any  lien,  pledge,  hypothecation,   mortgage,
security  interest,  claim,  lease,  charge,  option,  right of  first  refusal,
easement,  servitude,  transfer  restriction  under any  stockholder  or similar
agreement, encumbrance or any other restriction or limitation whatsoever.
<PAGE>

                  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  means any  change or  changes  or
effect or effects that  individually or in the aggregate are materially  adverse
to (i) the  assets,  properties,  business,  operations,  income,  prospects  or
condition (financial or otherwise) of Arcar or the transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement or (ii) the ability of  Bagcraft,  ARTRA or Arcar to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.

                  "Net Assets" means (i) the sum of the Accounts Receivable (net
of reserves for bad debts), Inventory and Prepaid Expenses, reflected as current
assets in accordance  with GAAP on the Balance Sheet and Statement of Net Assets
(taking into account only those assets constituting Purchased Assets), less (ii)
the sum of the Accounts  Payable,  Accrued  Real Estate  Taxes,  Accrued  Bonus,
Accrued Wages,  Accrued  Commissions,  Accrued Medical Claims,  Accrued Customer
Rebates and Discounts and Accrued Payroll Taxes reflected as current liabilities
in accordance with GAAP on the Balance Sheet and Statement of Net Assets (taking
into account only those liabilities constituting Assumed Liabilities), provided,
however,  that such current  liabilities and the Assumed  Liabilities  shall not
include and the Net Assets  calculation shall be adjusted to exclude any amounts
owed for accrued  bonuses and any amounts owed for accrued wages with respect to
management's  earnout  arrangements  resulting from the acquisition of the Arcar
Business  by Arcar from Scott  Billings  and  related  parties  pursuant to that
certain Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of March 1, 1994 by and among AGI Acq.
Inc., Arcar Graphics,  Inc. and Scott Billings. The calculations pursuant to the
preceding  clauses  (i) and (ii)  shall be made in  accordance  with GAAP in the
manner set forth on the pro forma  Statement  of Net Assets  attached  hereto as
Exhibit A.

                  "Order"  means  any  writ,  judgment,  decree,  injunction  or
similar  order of any  Governmental  or  Regulatory  Body,  in each case whether
preliminary or final.

                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm,
joint  venture,   association,   joint-stock  company,   trust,   unincorporated
organization, Governmental or Regulatory Body or other entity.

                  "Release"  means  any  release,   spill,  emission,   leaking,
pulping,  injection,  deposit,  disposal,  discharge,   dispersal,  leaching  or
migration into the indoor or outdoor environment, including, without limitation,
the movement of Hazardous  Substances  through ambient air, soil, surface water,
ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata.

                  "Tax Return" means any return, report,  information return, or
other  document  (including  any  related or  supporting  information)  filed or
required to be filed with any federal,  state,  local,  or foreign  governmental
entity or other  authority in connection with the  determination,  assessment or
collection  of any Tax  (whether  or not such Tax is  imposed  on  Arcar) or the
administration of any laws, regulations or administrative  requirements relating
to any Tax.

                  "Tax" and "Taxes" means all taxes,  charges,  fees,  levies or
other  assessments  imposed  by any  federal,  state,  local or  foreign  taxing
authority,  whether  disputed or not,  including,  without  limitation,  income,
capital, estimated, excise, property, sales, transfer, withholding,  employment,
payroll,  and  franchise  taxes  and such  terms  shall  include  any  interest,
penalties  or  additions  attributable  to or imposed on or with respect to such
assessments.

                  10.8.  Trademarks and Trade Names. At or prior to the Closing,
Arcar shall either  dissolve or change its name to a name not including the name
"Arcar".  Except as otherwise  contemplated hereby, neither Arcar nor any of its
Affiliates shall use the name "Arcar" after the Closing Date.

                  10.9.  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of Illinois,  other than those
laws governing conflict of laws.
<PAGE>

                  10.10. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the Schedules and
Exhibits and the other documents and instruments  referred to herein contain the
entire   agreement   between  the  Parties  with  respect  to  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and supersede  all previous  oral or written  negotiations,
commitments, understandings and agreements.

                  10.11.  Confidentiality.  Buyer hereby agrees, and shall cause
its Affiliates to agree,  that Buyer and its Affiliates shall hold in confidence
and not disclose to any third Person,  nor use any  confidential  or proprietary
information  relating  solely to Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar or their  Affiliates
that is disclosed to or discovered by Buyer or its Affiliates in connection with
the transactions  contemplated  hereby, other than any such information relating
to the Arcar Business, the Purchased Assets,  Bagcraft, ARTRA and or the Assumed
Liabilities.  Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar  hereby  agree,  and shall  cause their
Affiliates to agree,  that Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar and their Affiliates shall
hold in  confidence  and not  disclose to any third Person any  confidential  or
proprietary  information,  nor use any  confidential or proprietary  information
relating solely to Buyer or its Affiliates that is disclosed to or discovered by
Bagcraft,   ARTRA  and  Arcar  or  their   Affiliates  in  connection  with  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                  10.12. Cooperation in Litigation. In the event and for so long
as any party is contesting, pursuing or defending against any charge, complaint,
action, suit, proceeding,  hearing,  investigation,  claim or demand or pursuing
any  claim  in  connection  with (i) any  transaction  contemplated  under  this
Agreement  or  (ii)  any  fact,  situation,   circumstance,  status,  condition,
activity,  practice, plan, occurrence,  event, incident, action, failure to act,
or transaction on or prior to the Closing Date involving the Arcar Business (the
"Litigating  Party"),  the other party (the  "Cooperating  Party") shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate fully with the Litigating Party and
its counsel in the contest,  pursuit or defense,  make  available its personnel,
and provide such  testimony,  information and access to its books and records as
shall be  necessary or  reasonably  desirable  in  connection  with the contest,
pursuit or defense.  The Litigating Party shall pay or reimburse the Cooperating
Party  for  reasonable  travel  and meal  charges  of the  employees  and  other
reasonable   out-of-pocket   expenses  of  the  Cooperating  Party  incurred  in
connection therewith (unless the Litigating Party is entitled to indemnification
therefor, or is required to bear additional expenses, under Section 9).

                  10.13.    Knowledge.    Whenever   in   this   Agreement   any
representation or warranty of Bagcraft, ARTRA and Arcar is expressed in terms of
knowledge,  such knowledge shall be deemed to include (i) matters actually known
to an officer or director of Bagcraft,  ARTRA and Arcar,  including  Billings or
(ii) information which an officer or director of Bagcraft, ARTRA and Arcar would
reasonably be expected to be aware in the prudent discharge of his duties.

                  Whenever in this Agreement any  representation  or warranty of
Buyer is  expressed in terms of  knowledge,  such  knowledge  shall be deemed to
include:

                            (i) matters actually known to an officer or director
of Buyer (including but not limited to Robert J. Van Liedekerke); or

                            (ii)  information  which an officer or  director  of
Buyer  (including  but not  limited  to  Robert  J. Van  Liedekerke)  reasonably
expected to be aware in the prudent discharge of his duties.

                  10.14.  Waivers.  Any waiver must be explicitly in writing.  A
waiver of any breach or failure to  enforce  any of the terms or  conditions  of
this Agreement  shall not in any way affect,  limit or waive a party's rights at
any time to enforce strict compliance thereafter with every term or condition of
this Agreement.
<PAGE>

                  10.15.  Third Party Rights.  The  provisions of this Agreement
are  intended  for the sole  benefit of the  parties  and shall not inure to the
benefit of any other person (other than permitted assigns of the parties) either
as a third party beneficiary or otherwise.

                  10.16. Counterparts and Headings. This Agreement may be signed
in two or more  counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original and all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. All headings, in
this  Agreement  are inserted for  convenience  of reference  only and shall not
affect its meaning or interpretation.


                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
signed by their respective duly authorized  representatives,  all as of the date
first above written.

                                   ARCAR ACQUISITION CORP.


                                   By:      ______________________________
                                   Title:   ______________________________




                                   ARCAR GRAPHICS, INC.


                                   By:      ______________________________
                                   Title:   ______________________________


                                   BAGCRAFT CORPORATION OF AMERICA


                                   By:      ______________________________
                                   Title:   ______________________________


                                   ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED


                                   By:      ______________________________
                                   Title:   ______________________________


                                   BCA HOLDINGS, INC.


                                   By:      _______________________________
                                   Title    _______________________________



<PAGE>



Alper  Holdings USA, Inc.  ("Alper")  hereby agrees to its  representations  and
warranties  set  forth  in  Section  5  of  the  Agreement  and  guarantees  the
performance by Buyer of its obligations under this Agreement, provided, however,
that, if the Closing shall occur,  this guarantee and such  representations  and
warranties shall terminate and Alper shall have no further  liability  hereunder
from and after the Closing.

                                  ALPER HOLDINGS USA, INC.


                                  By:      ______________________________
                                  Title:   ______________________________




                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.2


                                LIMITED RELEASE

NatWest Bank N.A.,  formerly known as National  Westminster Bank USA, a national
banking  association  organized  under  the  laws of the  United  States  with a
principal  place of business at 175 Water Street,  New York, New York 10038,  as
Releasor,  in  consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars  ($10.00),  received from
Artra Group Incorporated as Releasee,  receipt of which is hereby  acknowledged,
releases  and  discharges  Artra  Group  Incorporated  and Peter R.  Harvey  the
Releasee,  Releasee's heirs, executors,  administrators,  successors and assigns
from all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts,
reckonings,  bonds, bills,  specialties,  covenants,  contracts,  controversies,
agreements,   promises,  variances,  trespasses,  damages,  judgments,  extents,
executions,  claims, and demands whatsoever,  in law, admiralty or equity, which
against the Releasee, the Releasor,  Releasor's successors and assigns ever had,
now have or hereafter  can,  shall or may have,  for,  upon, or by reason of any
matter,  cause or thing whatsoever arising out of the obligations of Artra Group
Incorporated  to NatWest Bank N.A.  pursuant to that certain note dated as of 29
June 1990;  and,  Peter R. Harvey's  Guarantee of the  obligation of Artra Group
Incorporated  dated  22 June  1989,  AND OF NO  OTHER  MATTER,  CAUSE  OR  THING
WHATSOEVER.

          This Release may not be changed orally.

           NatWest Bank N.A.  has caused this Limited  Release to be executed by
  its duly authorized  officers and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed on
  30 October 1995.

                                          NATWEST BANK N.A.
                                      by __________________
                                         James M. Gallagher
                                        Vice President(G-104)
            

          
  

  STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK ss.:

           On 30 October  1995 before  James J. Hogan  personally  came James M.
  Gallagher to me known, who, by me duly sworn, did depose and say that deponent
  resides at 175 Water  Street,  New York,  New York,  that deponent is the Vice
  President  of  NatWest  Bank N.A.  the  corporation  described  in,  and which
  executed the foregoing  Limited  Release,  that deponent knows the seal of the
  corporation,  that the seal  affixed to the Limited  Release is the  corporate
  seal,  that  it  was  affixed  by  order  of the  board  of  directors  of the
  corporation; and that deponent signed deponent's name by like order.


                               _______________________________
                                      James J. Hogan
                               Notary Public, State of New York
                              No. 4946141 Qual. in Nassau County
                             Certificate Filed in New York County
                              Commission Expires January 27, 1997



                                                                 

                                                             EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR:     ARTRA GROUP INCORPORATED
         500 CENTRAL AVENUE                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         NORTHFIELD, ILLINOIS 60093
         Contact:    Mr. Robert Gruber, Vice President   (212)  628-2554


                        ARTRA GROUP SUBSIDIARY COMPLETES
                   SALE OF PRINTING INK UNIT FOR $20 MILLION



         Northfield,  I11.,  October  27,  1995 ----  ARTRA  GROUP  Incorporated
(NYSE:ATA)   announced  today  that  its   wholly-owned   subsidiary,   Bagcraft
Corporation of America, has sold its printing ink unit to privately-owned  Alper
Holdings, USA for cash in excess of $20 million.

         As a result of this sale,  ARTRA expects to report a nonrecurring  gain
of approximately $8 million in the current (December) quarter.

         Bagcraft Corporation of America,  100%-owned,  supplies specialty wraps
and  bags  to  tte  food  industr&   including  such   wellknown   customers  as
McDonalds(R),  Burger King(R),  Publix  Supermarkets(R),  Taco Bell(R),  Dunkin'
Donuts(R) and other industry leaders.

                                      ###



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