WORKSAFE INDUSTRIAL INC
8-K, 1999-01-26
ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES
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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 earliest event reported) January 11, 1999

                         Worksafe Industries Inc. f/k/a
                         Eastco Industrial Safety Corp.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

New York                              0-8027                   11-1874010
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission                (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                  File Number)               Identification
                                                                 Number)


            130 West 10th Street, Huntington Station, New York  11746
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (516) 428-1802

                         Eastco Industrial Safety Corp.
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

<PAGE>


Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

     1. On January 11,  1999,  effective  the close of business on December  31,
1998,  the  registrant  sold  certain of its assets  ("Acquired  Assets") of its
distribution business and the Eastco name to Arbill Industries, Inc. ("Arbill").
Included in the Acquired  Assets sold amongst  various items were the following,
excluding certain specified Excluded Assets.

          (a) Office and warehouse equipment, furniture, fixtures and catalogs.

          (b) Lists of all  customers and suppliers of goods and services of the
     Distribution Division.

          (c)  Intellectual  Property used in the operation of the  Distribution
     Division.

          (d) Specified leases and licenses.

          (e) Inventory.

          (f) Open  sourcing  orders or contracts  and open  purchase  orders or
     contracts of the Distribution Division.

          (g) Registrant's rights, if any, in and to the names Eastco Industrial
     Safety and Puerto Rico Safety.

     2. Until the 60th day after January 11, 1999, the registrant  will continue
to collect the accounts receivable of the Distribution  Division sold and on the
5th day  thereafter,  Arbill will purchase 90% of primarily all unpaid  invoices
subsequent to November 30, 1998.

     3. The purchase price for the acquired assets, which was determined by good
faith negotiation between the two parties is $2,493,641.96, exclusive of related
adjustments,  payments  applicable  to  rent  and  payments  for  open  accounts
receivable.

     4. Neither the registrant or any of its affiliates,  directors, or officers
or associates thereof have any material relationship with Arbill.

     5.  The  sale  described  above  was made  pursuant  to an  asset  purchase
agreement  between the  registrant  and Arbill  dated  December 14, 1998 ("Asset
Purchase  Agreement").  A copy of the Asset  Purchase  Agreement  is  annexed as
Exhibit 10.14 hereto.  Reference is made to this agreement for the full terms of
this transaction, including registrant's covenant not to compete.

Item 5. Other Events.

     In connection  with the  consummation  of the Asset Purchase  Agreement the
registrant entered into Amendment No. 9 to the


<PAGE>


Company's  agreements with Congress  Financial Corp.  which is annexed hereto as
Exhibit 10.15,  allowing Congress to release its lien against the assets sold by
the registrant to Arbill pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information


                            WORKSAFE INDUSTRIES INC.
                   PRO-FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                        PRO-FORMA
                                                                           SEPTEMBER 30,            DISTRIB. DIV.      SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                               1998                 ADJUSTMENTS           1998
                                                                           -------------            -------------      -------------
                                                                            (UNAUDITED)                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                        <C>                    <C>                  <C>         
                          ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS
              CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                    $     58,395                                $     58,395
              ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - NET                                       5,804,763                                   5,804,763
              INVENTORIES                                                     7,363,853           ($1,594,146) B          5,769,707
              OTHER                                                             570,458                                     570,458
              NOTES RECEIVABLE- CURRENT                                                               210,000 C             210,000

                          TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                               13,797,469           ($1,384,146)           12,413,323

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT,  NET                                           2,240,767               (36,218) D          2,204,549

EXCESS OF COST OVER NET ASSETS ACQUIRED                                         420,529                                     420,529
OTHER ASSETS                                                                     15,427                                      15,427
NOTES RECEIVABLE, LESS CURRENT MATURITIES                                                             105,000 C             105,000

                          TOTAL ASSETS                                     $ 16,474,192           ($1,315,364)         $ 15,158,828

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
              LOANS PAYABLE                                                $  8,027,254           ($1,848,336) A       $  6,178,918
              CURRENT MATURITIES OF LONG-TERM DEBT                              278,463                                     278,463
              ACCOUNTS PAYABLE                                                3,790,612                                   3,790,612
              ACCRUED EXPENSES                                                  294,532                                     294,532

                          TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                          12,390,861            (1,848,336)           10,542,525

LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT MATURITIES                                         468,346                                     468,346

              TOTAL LIABILITIES                                              12,859,207            (1,848,336)           11,010,871

SHAREHOLDERS'  EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
              PREFERRED STOCK                                                       --
              COMMON STOCK                                                      201,970                                     201,970
              ADDITIONAL PAID IN CAPITAL                                      9,807,708                                   9,807,708
              (DEFICIT)                                                      (6,394,693)              532,972 E          (5,861,721)

                          TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                          3,614,985               532,972             4,147,957

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                 $ 16,474,192           ($1,315,364)         $ 15,158,828
</TABLE>


<PAGE>



                            WORKSAFE INDUSTRIES INC.
                PRO FORMA - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           ACTUAL                OPERATIONS              PRO-FORMA
                                                                            YEAR                     OF                     YEAR
                                                                            ENDED                DISTRIBUTION              ENDED
                                                                         JUNE 30,1998              DIVISION             JUNE 30,1998
                                                                         ------------            ------------           ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>                     <C>                   <C>        
NET SALES                                                                 $34,339,038             $9,571,559            $24,767,479

COST OF SALES                                                              28,622,886              8,030,538             20,592,348

GROSS PROFIT                                                                5,716,152              1,541,021              4,175,131

SELLING, GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES                                  5,369,397              1,925,893              3,443,504

INCOME(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS                                                  346,755               (384,872)               731,627

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET                                                         879,406                319,800                559,606

OTHER (INCOME) NET                                                            (44,166)                     0                (44,166)

NET(LOSS)/INCOME                                                            ($488,485)             ($704,672)              $216,187

INCOME/(LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
              BASIC                                                            ($0.29)                                        $0.13

              DILUTED                                                          ($0.29)                                        $0.13

AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES USED IN
     COMPUTING PER SHARE AMOUNTS

              BASIC                                                         1,683,079                                     1,683,079

              DILUTED                                                       1,683,079                                     1,683,079
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                            WORKSAFE INDUSTRIES INC.
                PRO FORMA - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             ACTUAL               OPERATIONS          PRO-FORMA
                                                                          THREE-MONTHS                OF             THREE-MONTHS
                                                                             ENDED                DISTRIBUTION          ENDED
                                                                         SEPTEMBER 30,1998         DIVISION        SEPTEMBER 30,1998
                                                                         -----------------        ------------     -----------------
                                                                           (UNAUDITED)                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                        <C>                    <C>                 <C>       
NET SALES                                                                  $8,000,263             $2,332,327          $5,667,936

COST OF SALES                                                               6,714,718              1,933,964           4,780,754

GROSS PROFIT                                                                1,285,545                398,363             887,182

SELLING, GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES                                  1,304,395                504,858             799,537

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET                                                         277,624                146,900             130,724

OTHER (INCOME) NET                                                            (12,651)                     0             (12,651)

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                                           ($283,823)             ($253,395)           ($30,428)

INCOME/(LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
              BASIC                                                            ($0.17)                                    ($0.02)

              DILUTED                                                          ($0.17)                                    ($0.02)

AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES USED IN 
     COMPUTING PER SHARE AMOUNTS

              BASIC                                                         1,683,079                                  1,683,079

              DILUTED                                                       1,683,079                                  1,683,079
</TABLE>


NOTES TO THE PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.   Basis of Presentaion

Reference  is  made  to  Item  2.  of  this  filing  for a  description  of  the
Distribution  Division (as defined in Item 2) for which the  following pro forma
financial statements are provided.

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet  eliminates the assets of the Distribution
Division  as of  September  30,1998  that were  sold and  further  includes  the
transaction  assuming the  disposition  had been  completed as of the respective
balance sheet date. The pro forma statements of operations are the manufacturing
operations of Worksafe  Industries Inc. for the year ended June 30, 1998 and for
the three  months  ended  September  30,  1998  assuming  that the  Distribution
Division sale occurred at the beginning of the periods presented.

The  historical  balance sheet used in  preparation  of the pro forma  financial
statements has been derived from Worksafe  Industries Inc.'s unaudited financial
statements as of September 30, 1998. The historical  statement of operations for
the year ended June 30, 1998 has been  derived  from the audited  statements  of
operations for such period. The historical statement of operations for the three
months ended  September 30, 1998 has been derived from the  Company's  unaudited
financial statements for such period.

2.   Unaudited Pro Forma Adjustments

A description of the  adjustments  included in the unaudited pro forma financial
statements are as follows:

A)   Amount of cash received in the transaction less estimated transaction costs
     of $245,000 used to pay down debt

B)   Cost of inventories sold to acquiror plus additional  inventory  reserve of
     $100,000 for merchandise not sold based on agreement formula

C)   Total of $315,000 note received from acquiror

D)   Book value of Property, Plant & Equipment purchased by the acquiror

E)   Reflects the estimated gain on the sale of the Distribution Division


<PAGE>


     (c)  Exhibit Number

          10.14 Asset Purchase Agreement between the registrant and Arbill
                Industries Inc. dated December 14, 1998 (without exhibits and
                schedules)

          10.15 Amendment Number 9 to line of credit agreement with Congress
                Financial Corp.



<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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: January 26, 1999

                                                 WORKSAFE INDUSTRIES INC.

                                                 By: /s/ Arthur Wasserspring
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     ARTHUR WASSERSPRING
                                                     Vice-President of
                                                     Finance, Treasurer
                                                     and Chief Financial
                                                     Officer





                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                     Between
                             ARBILL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                       And
                         EASTCO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CORP.

                                December 14, 1998


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            Page(s)

<S>                                                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
         1.1.     Defined Terms...................................................................................1

ARTICLE II
BASIC TRANSACTION
         2.1      Purchase and Sale of Assets....................................................................13
         2.2      Retention and Assumption of Liabilities........................................................13
         2.3      Purchase Price.................................................................................14
         2.4      The Closings...................................................................................19
         2.5      Deliveries at the First Closing................................................................20
         2.6      Delivery at the Account Receivable Closing.....................................................22
         2.7      Allocation.....................................................................................23

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER
         3.1      Organization of the Seller and the Manufacturing Subsidiaries..................................23
         3.2      Authorization of Transaction...................................................................23
         3.3      Noncontravention...............................................................................24
         3.4      Brokers' Fees..................................................................................24
         3.5      Title to Assets................................................................................24
         3.6      Financial Statements...........................................................................24
         3.7      Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End...............................................25
         3.8      Undisclosed Liabilities........................................................................26
         3.9      Legal Compliance...............................................................................26
         3.10     Tax Matters....................................................................................26
         3.11     Real Estate Leases.............................................................................27
         3.12     Intellectual Property..........................................................................28
         3.13     Tangible Assets................................................................................29
         3.14     Inventory......................................................................................29
         3.15     Open Sourcing Orders or Contracts, Open Purchase Orders or Contracts,
                  Agreements, Leases and Licenses................................................................29
         3.16     Accounts Receivable............................................................................30
         3.17     Conduct of Business............................................................................30
         3.18     No Pending Litigation or Proceedings...........................................................30
         3.19     Environmental Matters..........................................................................30
         3.20     Consents.......................................................................................31
         3.21     Insurance......................................................................................31
         3.22     Products Liability.............................................................................31
         3.23     Arm's Length Transactions......................................................................32
</TABLE>


                                       i
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
         3.24     Supplies.......................................................................................32
         3.25     Records........................................................................................32
         3.26     Customers......................................................................................32
         3.27     Employees and Employee Benefits................................................................32
         3.28     Business of Seller.............................................................................32
         3.29     Solvency.......................................................................................32
         3.30     Completeness...................................................................................32

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
         4.1      Organization of the Buyer......................................................................33
         4.2      Authorization of Transaction...................................................................33
         4.3      Noncontravention...............................................................................33
         4.4      Brokers' Fees..................................................................................33
         4.5      Financial Statements...........................................................................33
         4.6      Tax Matters....................................................................................34
         4.7      No Pending Litigation or Proceedings...........................................................34
         4.8      Solvency.......................................................................................34
         4.9      Completeness...................................................................................34

ARTICLE V
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS
         5.1      General........................................................................................35
         5.2      Notices and Consents...........................................................................35
         5.3      Preservation of Business.......................................................................35
         5.4      Full Access....................................................................................36
         5.5      Notice of Developments.........................................................................36
         5.6      Exclusivity....................................................................................36
         5.7      Right of the Buyer to Purchase Products Prior to First Closing Date............................36
         5.8      Payment of Accounts Payable of the Distribution Division.......................................36
         5.9      Corporate Examinations and Investigations......................................................37

ARTICLE VI
POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
         6.1      General........................................................................................37
         6.2      Litigation Support.............................................................................37
         6.3      Transition.....................................................................................38
         6.4      Confidentiality................................................................................38
         6.5      Covenant Not to Compete........................................................................39
         6.6      Buyer's Note...................................................................................40
         6.7      Payment of Accounts Payable Arising in Connection with the Operation of the
                  Distribution Division..........................................................................41
         6.8      Distributorship................................................................................41
         6.9      Interference with Parties' Employees...........................................................41
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
         6.10     Use of Name Puerto Rico Safety Equipment.......................................................42
         6.11     Unassignable Open Purchase Orders or Contracts and
                  Open Sourcing Orders or Contracts..............................................................42

ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
         7.1      Conditions to Obligation of Buyer..............................................................42
         7.2      Conditions to Obligation of the Seller.........................................................44

ARTICLE VIII
REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF THIS AGREEMENT
         8.1      Survival of Representations and Warranties.....................................................45
         8.2      Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Buyer............................................45
         8.3      Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Seller...........................................45
         8.4      Matters Involving Third Parties................................................................46
         8.5      Determination of Adverse Consequences..........................................................47
         8.6      Recoupment Under Buyer's Note and Other Obligations of the Buyer...............................47
         8.7      Other Indemnification Provisions...............................................................47

ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
         9.1      Termination of Agreement.......................................................................48
         9.2      Effect of Termination..........................................................................48

ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
         10.1     Press Releases and Public Announcements........................................................49
         10.2     No Third-Party Beneficiaries...................................................................49
         10.3     Entire Agreement...............................................................................49
         10.4     Succession and Assignment......................................................................49
         10.5     Risk of Loss...................................................................................49
         10.6     Counterparts...................................................................................50
         10.7     Headings.......................................................................................50
         10.8     Notices........................................................................................50
         10.9     Governing Law..................................................................................51
         10.10    Amendments and Waivers.........................................................................51
         10.11    Non-Waiver of Rights...........................................................................52
         10.12    Severability...................................................................................52
         10.13    Expenses.......................................................................................52
         10.14    Construction...................................................................................52
         10.15    Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules........................................................52
         10.16    Specific Performance...........................................................................52
         10.17    Arbitration and Submission to Jurisdiction.....................................................53
         10.18    Tax Matters....................................................................................53
         10.19    Access to Information..........................................................................53
</TABLE>


                                       iii
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
EXHIBITS

<S>                                 <C>
Exhibit A                  -        Form of Buyer's Note
Exhibit B                  -        Form of Bill of Sale and Assignment
Exhibit C                  -        Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
Exhibit D                  -        Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Seller
Exhibit E                  -        Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer
Exhibit F                  -        Allocation Schedule of Sale Price
Exhibit G                  -        From of Lease for 130 West 10th Street, Huntington Station, NY
Exhibit H                  -        Form of License Agreement for 3523 Avenue K, Riviera Beach,
                                    FL, 33404
Exhibit I                  -        Form of License Agreement for Parcel of Land located at
                                    Aquadilla
                                    Industrial Area, Aquadilla, Puerto Rico.

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.1               -        Excluded Customers
Schedule 3.1               -        Manufacturing Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.3               -        Contravention
Schedule 3.6               -        Financial Statements
Schedule 3.7               -        Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End
Schedule 3.8               -        Undisclosed Liabilities
Schedule 3.10(c)           -        List of Filed Tax Returns
Schedule 3.11              -        List of Real Estate and Leases and Licenses Governing Same
Schedule 3.12              -        Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.13              -        Tangible Assets
Schedule 3.15              -        List of Open Sourcing Orders or Contracts, Open Purchase Orders
                                    or Contracts, Agreements, Leases and Licenses
Schedule 3.18              -        Pending Litigation
Schedule 3.19              -        Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.20              -        Third Party Consents and Governmental Filings
Schedule 3.21(a)           -        Insurance Covering Acquired Assets
Schedule 3.21(b)           -        Product Liability Insurance
Schedule 3.24              -        Suppliers since January 1, 1998
Schedule 3.26(a)&(b)       -        Customers of the Distribution Division since January 1, 1998
Schedule 3.27              -        Employees and Employee Benefits
Schedule 4.5               -        Financial Statements
Schedule 4.7               -        Pending Litigation and Proceedings
</TABLE>


                                       iv
<PAGE>


                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     Agreement  entered into as of December 14, 1998,  (the  "Agreement") by and
between ARBILL INDUSTRIES,  INC., a Pennsylvania  corporation (the "Buyer"), and
EASTCO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CORP., a New York corporation (the "Seller"). The Buyer
and  the  Seller  may be  individually  referred  to  herein  as a  "Party"  and
collectively as the "Parties".

     The Buyer desires to purchase and the Seller desires to sell certain of the
assets used or useful in the  operation  of Seller's  Distribution  Division (as
defined) in  consideration  for the Purchase Price (as defined) and on the terms
and subject to the conditions as set forth in this Agreement.

     Now,  therefore,  in  consideration of the premises and the mutual promises
herein  made,  and in  consideration  of the  representations,  warranties,  and
covenants herein contained, the Parties agree as follows.

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

     1.1 Defined Terms.  As used in this  Agreement,  the following  terms shall
have the following meanings:

     "Account  Debtor"  shall mean with respect to any Account  Receivable,  any
Person that is obligated on such account.

     "Account Payable and Accounts  Payable" shall mean monies payable for goods
sold by or services  rendered by a third party or third  parties for the benefit
of the Distribution Division and shall exclude any monies claimed to be due that
are the subject of any litigation against the Seller,  other than for goods sold
or services rendered to the Distribution Division.

     "Account  Receivable  and  Accounts  Receivable"  shall mean each and every
account for goods sold or leased by or for services rendered by the Distribution
Division  which  account is owned by the Seller and arose from the sale of goods
or services by the Distribution  Division in its Ordinary Course of Business and
that meets the following conditions:

     (a) such Account  Receivable  arose in an arms-length  transaction  with an
unrelated  third  party  during the period  commencing  on  December 1, 1998 and
ending on December 31, 1998;

     (b) despite the actions of the Seller  pursuant to Section  2.3(e)  hereof,
all or any part of such Accounts  Receivable remains outstanding on the 60th day
after the First Closing Date;


                                       1
<PAGE>


     (c) the  amount  of such  Account  Receivable  is not,  as of the  Accounts
Receivable Closing Date, subject to set off, charges, credits or defenses of any
nature whatsoever;

     (d) the  Account  Debtor for such  Account  Receivable  is not an  Excluded
Customer;

     (e) such  Account  Receivable  is subject  to no Liens  other than any Lien
created by this Agreement;

     (f) such Account  Receivable is based on an  enforceable  order or contract
for goods shipped or services  rendered that contains  selling terms of not more
than thirty (30) days past the original invoice date;

     (g) such Account Receivable is unconditionally owned by the Seller;

     (h) the  property  giving rise to such Account  Receivable  shall have been
shipped to the Account  Debtor or delivered to an agent of an Account Debtor for
shipment to an Account Debtor, provided that any property returned or refused by
an Account  Debtor shall not give rise to an Account  Receivable  from and after
the date of such return or refusal;

     (i) the  Account  Receivable  arose  from the sale of goods  that  were not
placed on  consignment,  bill and hold,  sale and return,  sale on approval,  or
other  terms  by  reason  of which  the  payment  by an  Account  Debtor  may be
conditional (except from and after the time such condition no longer applies);

     (j) such Account  Receivable is denominated in United States Dollars unless
otherwise consented to by the Buyer in writing;

     (k) such  Account  Receivable  arose  under a  contract  that has been duly
authorized and is in full force and effect and constitutes the legal,  valid and
binding obligation of an Account Debtor, enforceable against such Account Debtor
in accordance with its terms;

     (l) the Account Debtor for such Account Receivable is not any government or
any department,  agency or instrumentality  of any government,  any state, city,
town or municipality or division thereof;

     (m) the Account  Debtor for such Account  Receivable is not a subsidiary or
an affiliate of the Seller; and

     (n) neither the Seller nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall have
knowledge of (i) the death of the Account Debtor for such Account Receivable, or
(ii) the dissolution,  termination of existence of, or the insolvency,  business
failure  or  cessation  of,  or  the  filing  of a  petition  in  bankruptcy  or
reorganization for, or the appointment of a receiver or custodian for, or


                                       2
<PAGE>


any similar event with respect to, such Account Debtor

     "Accounts  Receivable  Closing  Date" has the  meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b) hereof.

     "Accounts  Receivable  Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(a)(v). hereof.

     "Acquired  Assets" shall mean all of Seller's right,  title and interest in
and to all of the assets, tangible or intangible,  located within or without the
United  States  or its  territory,  used  in the  business  of the  Distribution
Division, excluding, all Excluded Assets and including, but not limited to:

     (a) all office and warehouse equipment, furniture, fixtures and catalogs of
or relating to the Distribution  Division wherever located, but only those items
listed on Schedule 3.13;

     (b) the list of all customers of and suppliers of goods and services to the
Distribution  Division  as  well  as  the  end-users  (including,  manufacturing
companies and service businesses,  public utilities,  fisheries,  pharmaceutical
plants, the transportation industry and companies engaged in hazardous materials
abatement)  of all safety  products  sold by the  Seller or any other  division,
subsidiary  or  affiliate of the Seller  other than the  Distribution  Division,
including  the customers  identified on Schedules  3.26(a) and (b) and suppliers
identified on Schedule  3.24,  but excluding all customers of the  Manufacturing
Subsidiaries,   who  are  not  end-users  of  the  goods   manufactured  by  the
Manufacturing Subsidiaries;

     (c)  Intellectual  Property  used  in the  operation  of  the  Distribution
Division, but only the Intellectual Property listed in Schedule 3.12;

     (d) Those leases and licenses identified in Schedule 3.11;

     (e) Accounts Receivable;

     (f) Inventory;

     (g) all Open  Sourcing  Orders or  Contracts  and Open  Purchase  Orders or
Contracts of the Distribution  Division identified on Schedule 3.15, existing as
of the First Closing Date and not otherwise constituting Excluded Assets;

     (h) all of the  Seller's  rights  under  and  pursuant  to all  warranties,
representations  and  guarantees  made  by  suppliers  in  connection  with  the
Inventory and the Open Sourcing Orders or Contracts  identified in subclause (g)
of this definition of Acquired Assets;

     (i) all of the Seller's rights, claims and interests to and with respect to
any pending or


                                       3
<PAGE>


executory contracts relating exclusively to the Inventory,  Open Sourcing Orders
or Contracts,  Open Purchase Orders or Contracts  identified in subclause (g) of
this definition of Acquired Assets and Accounts Receivable;

     (j)  all of Seller's rights,  if any, in and to the name Eastco  Industrial
          Safety and Puerto Rico Safety;

     (k)  any and all significant  records,  files  and  papers  (or  copies  or
     computer  print outs  thereof)  relating to the  Acquired  Assets  wherever
     located,   including  without  limitation,   Inventory  records,  catalogs,
     slogans,   sales   and   advertising   materials,    sales   and   purchase
     correspondence,  lists of former  customers and suppliers,  customer credit
     information  and  customer  pricing  information  relating to the  Acquired
     Assets when purchased by the Buyer hereunder, including tax records related
     to the  Acquired  Assets,  provided  that with respect to such tax records,
     files and papers (or copies or  computer  print outs  thereof),  the Seller
     need only grant Buyer  reasonable  access to same during  Seller's  regular
     business hours; and

     (l)  all of Seller's  rights in and to any 800  telephone  numbers  used in
     connection with the Distribution  Division, but not the telephone equipment
     or system used in connection with the Distribution Division.

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

     "Agreement" shall mean this Asset Purchase Agreement.

     "Annual Minimum Purchases" has meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).

     "Annual Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).

     "Assumed Liabilities" shall mean only:

     (a) all  Liabilities  arising after the Effective Date under any leases for
any of the office and  warehouse  equipment,  furniture  and fixtures  which are
identified on Schedule 3.13 and  constitute  Acquired  Assets to the extent that
such leases are binding  upon the lessor  thereof  upon the  assignment  of such
leases to the Buyer in accordance with the terms hereof;

     (b) all Liabilities  arising after the Effective Date under each license or
sublicense relating to Third Party Intellectual Property listed on Schedule 3.12
to the extent that such  license or  sublicense  is binding upon the licensor or
sublicensor thereof upon the assignment or grant


                                       4
<PAGE>


thereof to the Buyer in accordance with the terms hereof.

     "Authority" shall mean any federal,  state or local governmental  authority
or regulatory agency or authority.

     "Balance" has meaning set forth in Section 2.3(f) (ii).

     "Basis"  shall  mean any past or  present  fact,  situation,  circumstance,
status,  condition,  activity,  practice,  plan,  occurrence,  event,  incident,
action,  failure to act, or  transaction  that forms or could form the basis for
any specified consequence.

     "Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

     "Buyer's Financial  Statements" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.5 hereof.

     "Buyer's Most Recent Fiscal Month End" shall have the meaning as defined in
Section 4.5 hereof.

     "Buyer's  Most Recent Fiscal Year End" shall have the meaning as defined in
Section 4.5 hereof.

     "Buyer's Note" shall mean the Buyer's  promissory note described in Section
2.3(b)(i)(B) and attached hereto as Exhibit A.

     "Cash" shall mean the legal tender of the United States of America.

     "Catalog  Valuation  Amount" has the  meaning  set forth in Section  2.3(a)
hereof.

     "Closing  Date" shall mean either the First  Closing  Date or the  Accounts
Receivable Closing Date, as the case may be.

     "Confidential  Information"  shall  mean  any  information  concerning  the
business and affairs of the Seller, the Distribution Division or the Buyer, that
is not already generally  available to the public and that is designated as such
by either the Seller or the Buyer pursuant to Section 6.4.

     "Disclosure  Schedule"  shall  mean  all  Schedules  annexed  hereto  under
Articles I, III and IV.  "Disputed  Accounts  Payable" shall mean those accounts
payable of the Seller or any of its  subsidiaries or affiliates  relating to the
Distribution  Division  with  respect to which the Seller or its  subsidiary  or
affiliates,  as the case may be, in good  faith,  contests  the  validity or the
amount thereof;  provided that the Seller,  subsidiary or affiliate, as the case
may be, is diligently pursuing


                                       5
<PAGE>


a resolution  of such dispute and has set aside on its books  reserves  adequate
with respect  thereto if reserves shall be deemed  necessary in accordance  with
GAAP.

     "Distribution  Division" shall mean that division of the Seller's  business
involving the sale of industrial protective clothing, including gloves, glasses,
ear muffs, ear plugs, respirators,  goggles, face shields, rainwear,  protective
footwear,  first aid kits,  monitoring  devices,  signs and  related  industrial
safety  products  to  end  users  (as  opposed  to   distributors),   including,
manufacturing  companies and service  businesses,  public utilities,  fisheries,
pharmaceutical  plants,  the  transportation  industry and companies  engaged in
hazardous materials abatement.

     "Down Payment" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i)(A) hereof.

     "Due Date" shall mean with respect to any account payable of or relating to
the Distribution  Division,  the date on which such account must be paid in full
as such date is set  forth on the  invoice  or other  agreement,  including  any
verbal  understandings,  giving rise to such account payable or, the last day of
such longer period (but no longer than 120 days from the date of the  applicable
invoice),  which period is consistent  with the past practices of the applicable
payor and payee.

     "Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d).

     "Environmental,  Health, and Safety  Requirements"  shall mean all federal,
state, local and foreign statutes, regulations,  ordinances and other provisions
having the force or effect of law, all judicial  and  administrative  orders and
determinations, all contractual obligations and all common law concerning public
health and safety,  worker health and safety, and pollution or protection of the
environment,  including  without  limitation all those relating to the presence,
use,  production,  generation,  handling,  transportation,  treatment,  storage,
disposal,  distribution,  labeling,  testing,  processing,  discharge,  release,
threatened release,  control, or cleanup of any hazardous materials,  substances
or  wastes,   chemical   substances   or   mixtures,   pesticides,   pollutants,
contaminants,  toxic  chemicals,  petroleum  products or  byproducts,  asbestos,
polychlorinated  biphenyls,  noise or  radiation,  each as amended and as now or
hereafter in effect.

     "Escrow Accounts" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

     "Escrow Agents" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

     "Excess   Inventory   Amount"   has  the   meaning  set  forth  in  Section
2.3(b)(i)(B).

     "Excess  Payment  Date"  shall  have the  meaning  as set forth in  Section
2.3(b)(i)(B).

     "Excluded Assets" shall mean:


                                       6
<PAGE>


     (a) the Seller's cash on hand;

     (b) the Seller's bank accounts;

     (c) the Seller's  computer  hardware and software  systems  (other than the
software associated with Website www.Eastco);

     (d) the Seller's  accounts  receivable,  including the Accounts  Receivable
until the Accounts  Receivable Closing Date when such Accounts  Receivable shall
be sold by the Seller and  purchased by the Buyer in  accordance  with the terms
hereof; and

     (e) any Open Source Orders or Contracts,  Open Purchase Orders or Contracts
or tangible  assets  (other than  Inventory)  or  intangible  assets (other than
Account  Receivable  as of the  Accounts  Receivable  Closing  Date)  that would
otherwise be included in the term  Acquired  Assets,  which the Buyer shall have
identified as Excluded Assets in a written notice  delivered to the Seller on or
before the First Closing Date.

     (f) all  assets of the  Manufacturing  Subsidiaries  and the  Manufacturing
Business of the seller; and

     (g) any and all pre-paid  insurance,  prepaid deposits and similar items of
the Seller.

     "Excluded  Customer" shall mean the end-users of safety products designated
by the Buyer as such on or before the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement
by the  Parties  and  listed on  Schedule  1.1  attached  hereto and made a part
hereof,  together  with any other  end-users  of safety  products as the Parties
shall mutually agree.

     "Fair Market  Value"  shall mean with respect to each product  constituting
Inventory,  the then current  price paid by a  distributor  of similar  products
comparable to the Buyer to a supplier or manufacturer of such products.

     "Financial Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6 hereof.

     "First Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a) hereof.

     "First Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a) hereof.

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

     "Hart-Scott-Rodino   Act"  shall  mean  the   Hart-Scott-Rodino   Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.


                                       7
<PAGE>


     "Hazardous  Substances"  shall mean and include any hazardous  substance as
defined in the United States Comprehensive Environmental Response,  Compensation
and Liability Act, as amended  ("CERCLA"),  any hazardous material as defined in
the United States Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, any hazardous waste as
defined in the United States  Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act ("RCRA"),
any toxic  substance  as defined in the Toxic  Substances  and Control  Act, any
pollutant or  contaminant as defined in the United States Clean Water Act and as
the terms hazardous  substance,  hazardous  waste,  hazardous  materials,  toxic
substance or pollutants or contaminants are defined in  corresponding  state and
local laws,  ordinances and  regulations  and including  petroleum  products and
radioactive materials.

     "Huntington Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).

     "Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4 hereof.

     "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4 hereof.

     "Initial  Purchase  Price" has the meaning  set forth in Section  2.3(b)(i)
hereof.

     "Initial  Catalog  Valuation"  shall have the  meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c) herein.

     "Initial  Inventory  Valuation" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c) herein.

     "Initial  Valuation  Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c) herein.

     "Intellectual  Property"  shall mean the right,  title and  interest of the
Seller, if any, with respect to the Distribution Division and with respect to:

     (a) all inventions  (whether  patentable or unpatentable and whether or not
reduced  to  practice),  all  improvements  thereto,  and  all  patents,  patent
applications,   and  patent   disclosures,   together   with  all   reissuances,
continuations, continuations-in-part,  revisions, extensions, and reexaminations
thereof;

     (b) all trademarks,  service marks,  trade dress,  logos,  trade names, and
corporate  names,  including the name Eastco  Industrial  Safety and Puerto Rico
Safety,   together  with  all  translations,   adaptations,   derivations,   and
combinations  thereof and including all goodwill associated  therewith,  and all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, together with
all license agreement relating to any of the foregoing;

     (c)  all  copyrightable  works,  all  copyrights,   and  all  applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith;

     (d) all mask works and all  applications,  registrations,  and  renewals in
connection


                                       8
<PAGE>


therewith;

     (e) all trade  secrets and  confidential  business  information  (including
ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing
and production  processes and  techniques,  technical data,  designs,  drawings,
specifications,  customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information,  and
business and marketing plans and proposals);

     (f) all  computer  software  (including  data and  related  documentation),
including any license agreement relating to the foregoing;

     (g) the website, www.Eastco.com, ;

     (h) all other  proprietary  rights of or relating to any of the  foregoing;
and

     (i) all  copies  and  tangible  embodiments  of or  relating  to any of the
foregoing (in whatever form or medium);

     "Inventory" shall mean industrial protective clothing,  including,  gloves,
glasses, ear muffs, ear plugs,  respirators,  goggles,  face shields, rain wear,
protective footwear,  first aid kits, monitoring devices, signs and other safety
products  which  are  recorded  on the  books and  records  of the  Distribution
Division  and  held by the  Distribution  Division,  or are  deliverable  to the
Distribution  Division,  on the  Valuation  Date for  sale to end  users of such
safety products (as  distinguished  from  distributors of such safety products),
which Inventory shall meet all of the following criteria:

     (a) such Inventory consists solely of finished goods;

     (b) no Account Receivable or document of title in favor of any purchaser of
such Inventory has been created or issued with respect to such Inventory;

     (c) such  Inventory  is  readily  saleable  in a  bona  fide  arm's  length
transaction,  or is  usable  in  the  Ordinary  Course  of the  Business  of the
Distribution  Division  and no portion of such  Inventory  represents  returned,
rejected, lost, obsolete, damaged or defective goods;

     (d) if such  Inventory  is  located  on  leased  premises,  a valid  lease,
sublease  or  license  agreement  for  such  premises,  in  form  and  substance
satisfactory  to the Buyer has been  delivered  to the Buyer for such  premises,
except that if such  Inventory  is located on the premises of Castleton or Photo
Circuits,  such  Inventory  shall be  segregated  from  other  products  of such
companies, marked as the property of the Seller;

     (e) such Inventory is not subject to any Liens;


                                       9
<PAGE>


     (f) such Inventory is not on consignment or located in a public warehouse;

     (g) such Inventory has been manufactured or acquired in compliance with the
Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. ss.201 et seq;

     (h)  such  Inventory  conforms  to all  Environmental,  Health  and  Safety
Requirements  and any other  applicable  laws as the same  exist as of the First
Closing Date;

     (i) such Inventory is packaged in standard packaging cases;

     (j) the quantity as to each SKU of Inventory shall not exceed the aggregate
quantity sold by the Seller during the 12 month period immediately preceding the
Valuation Date to Persons other than Excluded Customers;

     (k) with  respect to any SKU of  Inventory  that was not sold by the Seller
during the 12 month  period  immediately  preceding  the Closing Date to Persons
other than Excluded Customers,  such Inventory was purchased by the Seller after
August 31, 1998 to fill Open Purchase  Orders or Contracts of Persons other than
Excluded Customers; and

     (l) such obsolete  damaged or defective  goods as the Buyer may  reasonably
specify in writing as of the First Closing Date.

     "Inventory  Valuation  Amount"  shall mean the lesser of (A) the sum of the
actual cost paid by the  Distribution  Division  for  Inventory  and, the Vendor
Average Freight Expense related thereto or (B) the Fair Market Value thereof, in
each case as determined in accordance with Section 2.3(c) hereof.

     "Last  Year's  Sales"  shall have the meaning  set forth in Section  2.3(c)
hereof.

     "Knowledge" shall mean actual knowledge after reasonable investigation.

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

     "Lien" shall mean with respect to any asset or property of any Person,  any
mortgage  or  deed  of  trust,  pledge,   hypothecation,   assignment,   deposit
arrangement,  security interest,  lien (statutory or other),  charge,  easement,
encumbrance,  or other  security  agreement or arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever  on or with  respect to such asset or  property  (including,  without
limitation,  any  conditional  sale or  other  title  retention  agreement,  any
financing or similar statement or notice filed under any uniform commercial code
(or equivalent  statutes) of any jurisdiction or any other similar  recording or
notice statute, and any lease or other arrangement


                                       10
<PAGE>


having substantially the same effect as any of the foregoing).

     "Manufacturing  Business"  shall  mean with  respect  to the  Seller or any
division of the Seller and with respect to the  Manufacturing  Subsidiaries  and
any other direct or indirect  subsidiaries of the Seller, the acquisition of raw
materials and finished  goods for and the  manufacturing,  marketing and sale to
distributors  (as  distinguished  from  end-users)  of  disposable  and reusable
industrial protective apparel,  including,  but not limited to, products such as
gloves,  coveralls,  shirts,  pants,  hats, hoods,  aprons,  smocks,  lab coats,
hazardous material handler suits,  examination gloves,  sleeves, shoe covers and
related items.

     "Manufacturing Subsidiary" or "Manufacturing  Subsidiaries" shall mean each
and all, respectively of the following, Disposable Safety Wear, Inc., a Delaware
corporation,   Safety  Wear  Corp.,   a  Delaware   corporation,   Eastco  Glove
Technologies,  Inc.,  a Minnesota  corporation,  Puerto  Rico  Safety  Equipment
Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

     "Most Recent Balance Sheet" shall mean the balance sheet  contained  within
the Most Recent Financial Statements.

     "Most Recent Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6
hereof.

     "Most  Recent  Fiscal  Month End" has the  meaning set forth in Section 3.6
hereof.

     "Most  Recent  Fiscal  Year End" has the  meaning  set forth in Section 3.6
hereof.

     "Noncompetition Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(b).

     "Open Sourcing Order or Contract" shall mean the rights of the Seller under
all outstanding  contracts and all servicing  orders placed by the  Distribution
Division for new industrial protective clothing and other safety products of the
type constituting the Inventory being acquired by the Buyer on the Closing Date.

     "Open Purchase Order or Contract" shall mean all  outstanding  contracts of
the  Distribution  Division for and all outstanding  servicing  orders placed by
customers of the Distribution  Division for new industrial  protective  clothing
and other safety  products of the type of inventory  being acquired by the Buyer
on the Closing Date or inventories that are customarily carried by the Buyer.

     "Order" shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 6.11 hereof.

     "Ordinary  Course of Business"  shall mean the ordinary  course of business
consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and
frequency).


                                       11
<PAGE>


     "Overstated  Amount"  shall  have  the  meaning  as set  forth  in  Section
2.3(c)(iii).

     "Party" and "Parties" have the meanings set forth in the preface above.

     "Person"  shall mean any  individual,  partnership,  corporation,  company,
limited  liability   company,   business  trust,   unincorporated   association,
association,   joint  stock  company,   trust,  joint  venture,   unincorporated
organization,  or governmental  entity (or any department,  agency, or political
subdivision thereof) of whatever nature.

     "Representatives"  shall  have the  meaning  as set  forth in  Section  5.9
hereof.

     "Real  Estate  Lease and  Licenses"  shall have the meaning as set forth in
Section 2.5(a)(ix).

     "Sales  Tax  Checks"  shall  have  the  meaning  as set  forth  in  Section
2.5(b)(vii).

     "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     "Seller" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

     "Seller's Safety Products" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8 hereof.

     "SKU" shall mean the number  designated by the manufacturer of a product as
such product's shelf keeping unit.

     "State Sales Tax Return" has meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a)(xvi).

     "Tax"  shall mean any  federal,  state,  local,  or foreign  income,  gross
receipts,  license, payroll,  employment,  excise, severance, stamp, occupation,
premium,  windfall  profits,  environmental,   customs  duties,  capital  stock,
franchise,  profits,  withholding,  social security (or similar),  unemployment,
disability,   real  property,   personal   property,   sales,   use,   transfer,
registration,  value added,  alternative or add-on minimum,  estimated, or other
tax of any  kind  whatsoever,  including  any  interest,  penalty,  or  addition
thereto, whether disputed or not.

     "Tax Return" shall mean any return, declaration,  report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes,  including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

     "Third Party Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4 hereof.

     "Third Party  Intellectual  Property"  has the meaning set forth in Section
3.12(c).


                                       12
<PAGE>


     "Threshold Amount" shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 6.5(b).

     "Underlying Leases" shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 3.11.

     "Valuation Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

     "Valuation Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

     "Vendor  Average  Freight  Expenses" shall mean the average freight expense
actually paid by the Seller  during the 12 month period  preceding the Valuation
Date to a particular vendor for a standard packaging case of an SKU of Inventory
shipped to Seller's facilities.

     "Wall  Street  Journal  Prime Rate" shall mean the rate per annum quoted in
the Wall Street Journal as the prime rate in the money rates section of the Wall
Street Journal.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                 THE TRANSACTION

     2.1 Purchase and Sale of Assets. On and subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement,  the Buyer agrees to purchase from the Seller, and the Seller
agrees to sell, transfer,  convey, and deliver to the Buyer, all of the Acquired
Assets (other than the Accounts Receivable) at the First Closing Date and all of
the  Accounts  Receivable  on the  Accounts  Receivable  Closing  Date  for  the
consideration specified below in Section 2.3.

     2.2 Retention and  Assumption of  Liabilities.  (a) The Seller shall retain
and  continue  to be  responsible  for  all of its  Liabilities  (including  any
Liability  arising in connection with the  Distribution  Division) or any of the
Seller's  subsidiaries  or  affiliates,  other  than  the  Assumed  Liabilities,
notwithstanding  the  transactions  contemplated  herein.  The Liabilities to be
retained by the Seller shall include, but not be limited to the following:

          (i) all Accounts Payable of the Seller howsoever and whenever arising,
     including any Accounts Payable of or relating to the Distribution  Division
     operated by the Seller;

          (ii)  all  accrued  expenses  of the  Seller  howsoever  and  whenever
     arising,  including any accrued expenses of or relating to the Distribution
     Division operated by Seller;

          (iii) all  Liabilities  of the Seller in connection  with the Seller's
     ownership  of or  the  Seller's  operation  of  the  Distribution  Division
     howsoever and whenever arising;


                                       13
<PAGE>


          (iv) all  Liabilities of the Seller for any  environmental  or product
     warranty,  (whether  express  or  implied),  or  product  liability  claims
     (including  without limitation any claims relating to the use by the Seller
     or any of its predecessors or successors of Hazardous Substances, including
     asbestos,  in the operation of the Seller's  business)  with respect to the
     manufacture  of any Inventory or any other products by the Seller or any of
     its  subsidiaries or affiliates,  or the sale of any products by the Seller
     or any of its  subsidiaries  or  affiliates,  howsoever  and whenever  such
     Liabilities arise;

          (v) all  Liabilities  of the Seller of or relating to any  employee of
     the Seller,  including any employee of the Distribution  Division howsoever
     and whenever arising;  however, it is the understanding of the Parties that
     at the First  Closing,  the Buyer  shall  assume  responsibilities  for the
     wages,  salaries,  bonuses or  overtime,  sick,  vacation or holiday pay or
     other employee  benefits or other  employee  benefit plan accruing from and
     after the Effective  Date for any former  employee(s)  of the  Distribution
     Division who have, as of the First  Closing Date,  agreed to be employed by
     the Buyer on terms acceptable to the Buyer, in its sole discretion.

     (b) On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Buyer
agrees to assume and  become  responsible  for the  Assumed  Liabilities  on the
Effective  Date.  The  Buyer  will not  assume or have any  responsibility  with
respect to any  Liability  of the Seller  (including  any  Liability  arising in
connection with the Distribution  Division) or any of the Seller's  subsidiaries
or  affiliates  that  is not  expressly  set  forth  in the  definition  Assumed
Liabilities.

     2.3  Purchase Price.

     (a) Amount. In full  consideration for the transfer of the Acquired Assets,
the  Seller's  agreement  not-to-compete  provided in Section 6.5 hereof and the
other rights and benefits  accruing to the Buyer  pursuant to the terms  hereof,
the Buyer shall pay to the Seller an  aggregate  purchase  price (the  "Purchase
Price") calculated as follows:

      (i) $915,000;

     (ii) an amount equal to the Inventory Valuation Amount;

    (iii) an amount  equal to the lesser of (A) the actual cost of the  catalogs
          included as part of the  Acquired  Assets or (B) $5,000 (the  "Catalog
          Valuation Amount");

     (iv) an amount  equal to the lesser of (A) 50% of any cash  payment made by
          the Seller to the lessor of the premises  occupied by the Distribution
          Division in Newington,  Connecticut in connection with the termination
          on or before  the First  Closing  Date of the lease  relating  to such
          premises or (B)


                                       14
<PAGE>


          $11,000.00; and

      (v) ninety  percent (90%) of the unpaid amount of the Accounts  Receivable
          (without  recourse but subject to Section 3.14 and Section 8.1) on the
          sixtieth  (60th)  day  after  the First  Closing  Date (the  "Accounts
          Receivable Purchase Price").

     (b) Payment. The Purchase Price shall be paid as follows:

      (i) That portion of the  Purchase  Price  described in Section  2.3(a)(i),
          (ii),  (iii) and (iv) above (the  "Initial  Purchase  Price") shall be
          paid as set forth below.

          (A)  Simultaneously  with the  execution  and  delivery  hereof by the
               Parties, the Buyer shall deliver $100,000 (the "Down Payment") to
               the Buyer's counsel and the Seller's counsel  (collectively,  the
               "Escrow  Agents")  who  shall  hold  such  amount in escrow at an
               account  established  for this purpose at Progress  Bank,  having
               offices at Blue Bell,  PA (the "Escrow  Account"),  which account
               shall require the signatures of both the Buyer's  counsel and the
               Seller's counsel for any withdrawals from such account, except as
               otherwise  provided in the  penultimate  sentence of this Section
               2.3(b)(i)(A). The Down Payment shall be paid to the Seller on the
               First  Closing  Date and credited  against the Purchase  Price or
               delivered to the Buyer or the Seller, as applicable, in the event
               this  Agreement  is  terminated  pursuant  to  Article IX hereof.
               Neither of the Escrow Agents shall be precluded from representing
               any of its client in any litigation concerning this Agreement.

               In  performing  any of the  services as set forth in this Section
               2.3(b)(i)(A)  and  Section  2.3  (c)(iii),  neither of the Escrow
               Agents shall incur any  liability to anyone for damages,  loss or
               expenses, except for damages, loss or expenses resulting from its
               willful  misconduct  or gross  negligence.  If a  dispute  arises
               between  or  among  any of the  parties  to this  Agreement  then
               notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  herein,  either Escrow
               Agent shall be entitled,  at its option and upon giving notice to
               the Buyer and the Seller and the other  Escrow  Agent,  to tender
               into the  custody  of any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  in
               Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania  all funds and all materials that the
               Escrow  Agents may be holding  under this  Agreement and to begin
               such legal  proceedings  as such Escrow Agent deems  appropriate.
               After  taking  such  actions,  the  Escrow  Agent  shall  then be
               discharged  from any  further  duties  and  liability  under this
               Agreement except to the extent of any prior


                                       15
<PAGE>


               willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Escrow Agent.

          (B)  At the First Closing, in addition to any amounts delivered to the
               Seller pursuant to Section  2.3(b)(i)(A)  hereof, the Buyer shall
               pay the Seller the Initial  Purchase Price by delivery of (I) the
               Buyer's  eighteen  month  promissory  note  in the  principal  of
               $315,000   repayable  in  eighteen   consecutive   equal  monthly
               installments  of principal  together  with interest at a rate per
               annum of one percent  (1%) in excess of the Wall  Street  Journal
               Prime  Rate on the first day of each  month  following  the First
               Closing  Date in the  form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  A (the
               "Buyer's  Note");  (II)  cash  for  the  balance  of the  Initial
               Purchase  Price  (with the  Inventory  Valuation  Amount  and the
               Catalog  Valuation Amount being based upon the Initial  Valuation
               Statement as provided in Section 2.3(c)  below),  payable by wire
               transfer  or  delivery  of  other  immediately  available  funds;
               provided,  however,  if the Initial  Inventory  Valuation exceeds
               $1,600,000.00,  the amount of such excess (the "Excess  Inventory
               Amounts") shall be paid as provided in Section 2.3(b) (ii) below.

     (ii) The  Accounts  Receivable  Purchase  Price plus the  Excess  Inventory
          Amount less any purchase price  adjustments  determined as provided in
          Section  2.3(c)  below,  shall be paid to the  Seller  in cash by wire
          transfer  or  delivery  of other  immediately  available  funds on the
          Accounts Receivable Closing Date.

     (c)  Procedures  Regarding the  Determination  of the  Inventory  Valuation
Amount and Catalog Valuation Amount.

          (i) On December 31, 1998 (the "Valuation Date"), the Seller shall take
     a physical count of the Inventory and catalogs of the Seller's Distribution
     Division.   The  Buyer  shall  have  the  right  to  have  its   authorized
     representatives  observe the physical  count of  Inventory  and catalogs at
     each location where Inventory or catalogs are located.

     No later than January 6, 1999,  the Seller shall prepare and deliver to the
     Buyer  a  valuation  statement  as of  December  31,  1998,  (the  "Initial
     Valuation  Statement")  setting forth (A) the initial  Inventory  Valuation
     Amount  (the  "Initial  Inventory  Valuation"),  (B)  the  initial  Catalog
     Valuation  Amount (the "Initial  Catalog  Valuation") and the  calculations
     made to determine the foregoing amount,  including, (I) the number of units
     of each item of  Inventory  counted in the  physical  inventory  located on
     Seller's premises and the premises of Castelton and Photocircuits; (II) the
     quantity of each SKU of  Inventory  sold by the Seller  during the 12 month
     period immediately preceding the Valuation Date; (III) the actual cost paid
     by the Seller or the Distribution Division, as the case may be, for the


                                       16
<PAGE>


     Inventory and catalogs counted in the physical  inventory;  (IV) the Vendor
     Average Freight  Expenses  applicable to the items of Inventory  counted in
     the physical inventory;  (V) the Fair Market Value of the Inventory counted
     in the physical  Inventory;  and (VI) the actual amounts sold by the Seller
     (excluding  Vendor  Average  Freight  Expenses  related  thereto) for those
     products of the type included in  subclauses  (a), (g), (h), (j) and (k) of
     the  definition  Inventory,  which  products were sold by the Seller or the
     Manufacturing  Subsidiaries,  as a group, to persons listed on the customer
     list  attached  hereto  as  Schedule  3.26(b)  during  the 12 month  period
     immediately  proceeding  the  Valuation  Date  (the  "Last  Year's  Sales")
     specifying in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation of the Latest
     Year's Sales.

          (ii) Promptly  following the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
     the  Seller  will give the  Buyer  access to the  Financial  Statements  as
     identified  in Schedule  3.6 and such other  financial  information  of the
     Distribution  Division (including any work papers relating to the Financial
     Statements)  and  such  other  books  and  records  of the  Seller  and the
     Distribution  Division as the Buyer shall  reasonably  request to determine
     (A) the quantity of each SKU of Inventory  sold by the Seller during the 12
     month period  immediately  preceding the Valuation  Date and any additional
     SKU's of Inventory acquired after August 31, 1998; (B) the actual cost paid
     by the Seller or the  Distribution  Division,  as the case  maybe,  for the
     items of Inventory  included in the physical count thereof and any catalogs
     relating  thereto to be included  in the  Acquired  Assets;  (C) the Vendor
     Average  Freight  Expenses of the Inventory  expected to be included in the
     physical count of the Inventory;  (D) the Inventory  Valuation Amount;  and
     (E) Last Year's Sales.

          (iii)  If the  Buyer  has  any  objections  to the  Initial  Inventory
     Valuation  or the  Initial  Catalog  Valuation  as set forth in the Initial
     Valuation   Statement,   the  Buyer  shall  deliver  a  detailed  statement
     describing its objections to the Seller within 20 days after  receiving the
     Initial  Valuation  Statement  (including the basis for  calculation of the
     dispute).  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  if the Buyer reasonably believes
     that the Initial  Valuation  Statement  overstates the Inventory  Valuation
     Amount by $50,000 or more (the "Overstated  Amount"),  the Buyer shall have
     the right to deduct the  Overstated  Amount  from the  Inventory  Valuation
     Amount to be paid to the  Seller  at the  First  Closing  and  deposit  the
     Overstated Amount in the Escrow Account,  to be disposed in accordance with
     the written  determination  of Arthur  Andersen LLP or a written  agreement
     signed by both Parties as provided  herein.  None of the  objections by the
     Buyer as to any of the foregoing  valuations  shall  constitute a reason to
     delay or cause a  postponement  of either the First Closing or the Accounts
     Receivable Closing or constitute an offset at the First Closing.  The Buyer
     and the Seller will use reasonable  efforts to resolve any such  objections
     themselves.  If the Parties are unable to resolve any objections  within 10
     days after the Seller has received the Buyer's statement of objections, the
     Parties shall request Arthur Andersen LLP to


                                       17
<PAGE>


     resolve  any  remaining  objections  on or  before  the  tenth  (10th)  day
     preceding the Accounts  Receivable  Closing Date. The  determination of the
     accounting  firm so  selected  will be set  forth  in  writing  and will be
     conclusive and binding upon the Parties. The total expenses incurred by the
     Parties in  connection  with the services  rendered by Arthur  Andersen LLP
     under this Section  2.3(c)(iii)  shall be allocated  between the Parties in
     such a manner that the  percentage of the total expenses to be borne by the
     Seller  shall  equal the same  percentage  as the amount  awarded by Arthur
     Andersen  LLP to the  Buyer  bears to the total  amount  of the  objections
     submitted  to Arthur  Andersen LLP for  resolution,  and the balance of the
     total  expenses  shall be borne by the  Buyer.  The Buyer  will  revise the
     Initial Valuation Statement as appropriate to reflect the resolution of any
     objections  thereto  pursuant  to  this  Section  2.3(c)(iii).   "Valuation
     Statement"  shall mean the Initial  Valuation  Statement  together with any
     revisions  thereto  pursuant  to  this  Section  2.3(c)(iii).  The  Catalog
     Valuation  Amount and the Inventory  Valuation  Amount shall be the amounts
     set forth in the Valuation Statement.

     (d) Shipments  between the Valuation  Date and the First Closing Date.  The
Parties acknowledge and agree that as a result of the review procedure set forth
in Section  2.3(c),  beginning as of the close of business on the Valuation Date
and  continuing  through  the  First  Closing  Date,  any and all  shipments  of
Inventory to or from the Seller on behalf of the Distribution  Division shall be
for the  account  of the  Buyer,  rather  than  the  Seller,  and in  connection
therewith  the Seller  shall  maintain  records for such  shipments  in a manner
consistent with the Distribution Division's Ordinary Course of Business prior to
the Valuation Date. The Seller agrees that any shipment of Inventory between the
Valuation  Date and the First Closing Date shall be made in the Ordinary  Course
of  Business of the  Distribution  Division in  quantities  and at prices  which
produce  a  gross  profit  margin  substantially  the  same  as  that  which  is
customarily  obtained in the  Ordinary  Course of  Business of the  Distribution
Division prior to the Valuation  Date. In addition,  at the First  Closing,  the
Parties  agree to make any and all  appropriate  adjustments  and  prorations of
prepaid  expenses with respect to any rent or  electricity of or relating to the
leased or licensed premises identified on Schedule 3.11 and any performance bond
premium,  telephone  supplies,  drinking  water,  and  any  other  ordinary  and
necessary  expenses  to reflect  the fact that the  effective  date of the First
Closing shall be deemed to occur on January 4, 1999 (the "Effective Date").

     (e) Procedures  Relating to the Collection of Accounts  Receivable Prior to
the Accounts Receivable Closing Date. All accounts receivable from the operation
of the  Distribution  Division  resulting from goods  delivered  and/or services
actually  rendered  after the  Valuation  Date  shall be for the  account of the
Buyer.

     From the date of their  creation  until the  sixtieth  (60th) day after the
First  Closing  Date,  the  Seller  shall  undertake  to  collect  the  Accounts
Receivable in a manner  consistent  with the Ordinary  Course of Business of the
Distribution Division prior to the Valuation Date; provided, however, the Seller
shall not bring suit to collect any  Accounts  Receivable  prior to the Accounts
Receivable  Closing Date  without the prior  written  consent of the Buyer.  The
Seller agrees to


                                       18
<PAGE>


provide the Buyer with copies of all invoices and other documentation evidencing
the Seller's efforts to collect such Accounts  Receivable during the period from
the date such receivables were created through the Accounts  Receivable  Closing
Date.  Actual  collections  shall be reconciled  and deposited on a daily basis.
Payments  received  by the  Seller  from the  Account  Debtors  of any  Accounts
Receivable  shall be applied  in the manner  specified  and  identified  by such
Account  Debtor with such  payment and in the absence of such  specification  or
identification,  the payment received by the Seller from an Account Debtor of an
Account  Receivable  shall be applied to the oldest  Account  Receivable of such
Account Debtor. Every seven (7) days during the period commencing on December 1,
1998 and ending on the  Accounts  Receivable  Closing  Date,  the  Seller  shall
provide the Buyer with a  reconciliation  of the Accounts  Receivable and actual
collections relating thereto.

     (f) Adjustment to the Initial  Purchase Price.  The Initial  Purchase Price
shall be adjusted as follows:

          (i) If the sum of the  Catalog  Valuation  Amount  and  the  Inventory
     Valuation Amount as set forth on the Valuation Statement exceeds the sum of
     such  amounts as set forth on the Initial  Valuation  Statement,  the Buyer
     will  pay to the  Seller  an  amount  equal to such  excess  in cash at the
     Accounts Receivable Closing.

          (ii) If the  sum of the  Initial  Catalog  Valuation  and the  Initial
     Inventory  Valuation  as set  forth  on  the  Initial  Valuation  Statement
     exceeds,  the sum of the Catalog  Valuation Amount and Inventory  Valuation
     Amount as set forth on the Valuation Statement,  the Buyer will first debit
     such  deficiency  from the  amount  payable  to the  Seller  in cash on the
     Accounts  Receivable  Closing Date and second,  the balance,  if any,  (the
     "Balance")  shall  be paid by the  Seller  to the  Buyer  in  cash,  on the
     Accounts Receivable Closing Date.

     2.4 The Closings.

     (a) The closing of the Buyer's  purchase  of  Acquired  Assets  (other than
Accounts Receivable) (the "First Closing")  contemplated by this Agreement shall
take  place on  January  11,  1999 at the  offices  of Wolf,  Block,  Schorr and
Solis-Cohen LLP, 250 Park Avenue, Suite 1000, New York, NY 10177,  commencing at
10:00 a.m.  local time or at such other place,  time and date as the Parties may
mutually  agree  (the  "First  Closing  Date");  provided,  that all  conditions
precedent to the First  Closing  Date shall have been  satisfied or waived as of
the First Closing Date.  At the First  Closing,  the Seller shall deliver to the
Buyer  physical   possession  of  the  Acquired   Assets  (other  than  Accounts
Receivable),  together  with such  instruments  of  transfer  as the Buyer shall
request to vest in the Buyer title to the Acquired  Assets  (other than Accounts
Receivable) free and clear of all Liens and all of the right, title and interest
of the Seller in and to such Acquired  Assets (other than Accounts  Receivable.)
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Effective  Date of the First  Closing for
purposes of Section 2.3(d) and (e) shall be January 4, 1999.

     (b) Subject to the second sentence in this Section  2.4(b),  the closing of
the Buyer's


                                       19
<PAGE>


purchase of Accounts Receivable (the "Accounts  Receivable Closing") shall occur
on the 65th day after the First  Closing  Date at the  offices  of Wolf,  Block,
Schorr and  Solis-Cohen  LLP, 250 Park Avenue,  Suite 1000,  New York,  New York
10177, commencing at 10:00 a.m. local time or at such other place, time and date
as the Parties may mutually  agree (the  "Accounts  Receivable  Closing  Date");
provided that all conditions  precedent to the Accounts Receivable Closing shall
have been  satisfied or waived as of the Accounts  Receivable  Closing  Date. If
such 65th day falls on a Saturday,  Sunday or other day that  national  banks in
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  are closed,  then the  Accounts  Receivable
Closing  Date shall be on the next  succeeding  business  day.) At the  Accounts
Receivable  Closing,  the Seller shall deliver to the Buyer such  instruments of
transfer of the Accounts  Receivable  as the Buyer shall  reasonably  request to
vest in the Buyer title to the Accounts  Receivable  free and clear of all Liens
and all of the  right,  title  and  interest  of the  Seller  in  such  Accounts
Receivable.

     2.5 Deliveries at the First Closing. (a) At or before the First Closing the
Seller shall deliver to Buyer:

          (i) a Bill of Sale and Assignment  covering the Acquired  Assets other
          than the Accounts  Receivable,  in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
          B;

          (ii) an  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreement  covering  the Assumed
          Liabilities, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

          (iii) all titles,  registrations  and other  evidence of ownership and
          keys for any equipment,  including vehicles,  constituting part of the
          Acquired Assets;

          (iv) all customer  and supplier  lists,  price  lists,  together  with
          copies of the files,  books and  records  maintained  by the Seller in
          connection  with  the  operation  of  the  Distribution  Division  and
          constituting  Acquired  Assets where located,  which lists shall be or
          have been delivered to the Buyer at the First Closing and which files,
          books and records shall be located at the Seller's addresses listed on
          a  supplemental  schedule  delivered by the Seller to the Buyer at the
          First Closing;

          (v) all written Open  Sourcing  Orders or Contracts  and Open Purchase
          Orders or Contracts constituting Acquired Assets;

          (vi) copies of all consents and approvals of third parties required in
          connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder;

          (vii) duly executed releases of any Person that may have a Lien on any
          of the Acquired Assets other than the Accounts Receivable;

          (viii) a  certified  copy of  corporate  resolutions  of the  Board of
          Directors of the Seller,  authorizing  the  transactions  contemplated
          under, and the consummation of, this Agreement;


                                       20
<PAGE>


          (ix) the lease and licenses for premises identified on Schedule 3.11 ,
          in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit G, H, and I, respectively (the
          "Real Estate Lease and Licenses") (the Buyer hereby  acknowledges that
          consents of landlords  for the premises  located in Florida and Puerto
          Rico listed on Schedule 3.11 shall not be sought by the Seller);

          (x) a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Seller showing
          that all Accounts Payable of or relating to the Distribution  Division
          (other than  Disputed  Accounts  Payable)  are within 60 days of their
          respective  Due  Dates  and  a  true,   correct  and  complete  record
          reflecting the current aging of all Accounts Payable of or relating to
          the Distribution  Division,  including all Disputed  Accounts Payable,
          the nature of the dispute  relating  thereto and the actions taken and
          proposed  to be taken by the Seller or its  respective  subsidiary  or
          affiliate in its effort to resolve the applicable dispute;

          (xi) a  certificate  of the  Chief  Financial  Officer  of the  Seller
          setting forth each Account Receivable as of the First Closing Date and
          the  status as of such date of  efforts  made by the Seller to collect
          such Account Receivable;

          (xii) an opinion of Seller's  counsel in the form  attached  hereto as
          Exhibit D;

          (xiii)  evidence  satisfactory  to the Buyer of the Seller's change of
          name  from  Eastco  Industrial  Safety  Corp.  to a name that does not
          include the word "Eastco";

          (xiv)  evidence  satisfactory  to the  Buyer of the  change of name of
          Puerto  Rico  Safety  Corp.  to a name that does not include the words
          "Puerto Rico Safety";

          (xv) the actual Acquired Assets (other than the Accounts  Receivable),
          which deliveries  shall be made at the applicable  locations set forth
          on Schedule 3.13;

          (xvi) state sale tax returns  ("State  Sales Tax  Returns")  for sales
          taxes due on the Acquired  Assets  identified  on Schedule 3.13 hereof
          which  returns  shall have valued such assets in  accordance  with the
          allocation of the Purchase Price as provided in Section 2.7; and

          (xvii) such other certificates, instruments and documents as the Buyer
          may reasonably request.

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

          (i) that portion of the Initial Purchase Price due and payable in cash
          on the First Closing Date;

          (ii) the Buyer's Note in the form of Exhibit A;


                                       21
<PAGE>


          (iii) an opinion of the Buyer's counsel in the form attached hereto as
          Exhibit E;

          (iv) a corporate  resolution of the Buyer  authorizing the transaction
          described herein;

          (v) a certificate  of the Buyer setting  forth those  Excluded  Assets
          referred to in subclause (e) of the definition Excluded Assets; and

          (vi) such other certificates,  instruments and documents as the Seller
          may reasonably require;

          (vii) a check  (s) in the  appropriate  amounts  for each of New York,
          Florida and Puerto Rico as applicable  (the "Sales Tax Checks"),  made
          payable  to  the  appropriate   taxing   authority  of  the  foregoing
          jurisdictions,  as payments in full of sales taxes in connection  with
          the sale of the tangible  assets listed on Schedule 3.13 hereof and in
          conformity  with  amounts  due as  indicated  on the  State  Sales Tax
          Returns.

          (viii) Real Estate Lease and Licenses.

     2.6 Deliveries at the Accounts Receivable Closing.

     (a) At the Accounts  Receivable  Closing,  the Seller shall  deliver to the
Buyer:

          (i) a Bill of Sale and Assignment  covering the Accounts Receivable in
          the form attached hereto as Exhibit B;

          (ii) the complete and accurate books and other records  reflecting all
          significant   aspects  of  each  account   included  in  the  Accounts
          Receivable;

          (iii) a  certificate  of the Chief  Financial  Officer  of the  Seller
          showing all Accounts  Receivable as of the Accounts Receivable Closing
          Date and the status as of such date of the efforts  made by the Seller
          to collect such Accounts Receivable.

          (iv) a  certificate  of the  Chief  Financial  Officer  of the  Seller
          showing that all Accounts  Payable of or relating to the  Distribution
          Division (other than Disputed  Accounts Payable) are within 60 days of
          their  respective  Due Dates and a true,  correct and complete  record
          reflecting the current aging of all Accounts Payable of or relating to
          the Distribution  Division,  including all Disputed  Accounts Payable,
          the nature of the dispute  relating  thereto and the actions taken and
          proposed  to be taken by the Seller or its  respective  subsidiary  or
          affiliate in its effort to resolve the applicable dispute;


                                       22
<PAGE>


          (v) a true and correct copy of the  Valuation  Statement,  as the same
          may have been adjusted in accordance with Section 2.3(f) hereof;

          (vi) the Balance as defined in Section  2.3(f)  (ii),  if any in cash;
          and

          (vii) such other certificates,  instruments and documents as the Buyer
          may reasonably require.

     (b) At the  Accounts  Receivable  Closing,  the Buyer shall  deliver to the
Seller:

          (i) the  Accounts  Receivable  Purchase  Price,  the Excess  Inventory
          Amount, if any, plus or minus any adjustment  pursuant to the Purchase
          Price  determined  in  accordance  with Section  2.3(f) hereof in cash
          (including  distributions  by the Escrow Agents of any amounts held in
          the Escrow Account pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(iii); and

          (ii) such  certificates,  instruments  and documents as the Seller may
          reasonably require.

     2.7 Allocation.  The Parties agree to allocate the Purchase Price among the
Acquired  Assets and the  non-competition  agreement  set forth in  Section  6.5
hereof, for all purposes including IRS Form 8594 (including financial accounting
and tax purposes) in accordance with the allocation  schedule attached hereto as
Exhibit F.

                                   ARTICLE III
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER

     The  Seller  represents  and  warrants  to the  Buyer  that the  statements
contained  in this  Article III are correct and  complete as of the date of this
Agreement  and will be correct and  complete  as of the Closing  Date (as though
made then and as though the Closing Date were  substituted  for the date of this
Agreement  throughout  this Article III),  except as set forth in the disclosure
schedule accompanying this Agreement (the "Disclosure Schedule").

     3.1  Organization  of the Seller and the  Manufacturing  Subsidiaries.  The
Seller is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing,  and in good standing
under  the  laws  of  the  jurisdiction  of  its  incorporation.   Each  of  the
Manufacturing  Subsidiaries is directly or indirectly a wholly owned  subsidiary
of the Seller. The Seller and each of the Manufacturing  Subsidiaries is engaged
primarily  in the line(s) of business  set forth next to the name of such Person
on  Schedule  3.1.  The  Seller  does  not have any  subsidiary  other  than the
Manufacturing Subsidiaries and Puerto Rico Safety Corp.

     3.2  Authorization of Transaction.  The Seller has full power and authority
(including  full  corporate  power and  authority)  to execute and deliver  this
Agreement and to perform its


                                       23
<PAGE>


obligations  hereunder.  Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the
board of directors of the Seller have duly  authorized the execution,  delivery,
and performance of this Agreement by the Seller. This Agreement  constitutes the
valid and legally  binding  obligation of the Seller,  enforceable in accordance
with its terms and conditions.

     3.3  Noncontravention.  Except as set forth in  Schedule  3.3,  neither the
execution  and the  delivery  of this  Agreement,  nor the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby, will (a) violate any constitution,  statute,
regulation, rule, injunction,  judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other
restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which the Seller
or the  Distribution  Division  is subject or any  provision  of the  charter or
by-laws of the Seller; or (b) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a
default under,  result in the  acceleration of, create in any party the right to
accelerate,  terminate,  modify,  or  cancel,  or require  any notice  under any
agreement,  contract, lease, license,  instrument, or other arrangement to which
the Seller or the Distribution Division is a party or by which it is bound or to
which any of its assets is subject (or result in the imposition of any Lien upon
any of its assets).  Neither the Seller nor the  Distribution  Division needs to
give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization,  consent,
or approval of any government or governmental agency in order for the Parties to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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

     3.5 Title to  Assets.  The Seller  has good and  marketable  title to, or a
valid leasehold  interest in, the properties and assets used by the Distribution
Division,  and all  tangible  properties  and  assets  used by the  Distribution
Division  are  located  on the  premises  occupied  or used by the  Distribution
Division and listed on Schedule 3.11. The Seller owns all of the Acquired Assets
and on the First Closing Date, the Seller will have good and marketable title to
all of the Acquired Assets (other than the Accounts Receivable),  free and clear
of any Liens or restrictions on transfer and on the Accounts  Receivable Closing
Date, the Seller will have good and marketable title to the Accounts Receivable,
free and clear of any Liens or restrictions on transfer.

     3.6  Financial  Statements.  Attached  hereto as Schedule  3.6 is a list of
financial statements  (collectively the "Financial Statements") delivered to the
Buyer on or prior to the date hereof:  (i) audited  consolidated  balance sheets
and statements of income,  changes in  shareholders'  equity and cash flow as of
and for the fiscal  years ended June 30,  1996,  June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1998
(the  "Most  Recent  Fiscal  Year  End")  for  the  Seller  and  (ii)  unaudited
consolidated  balance sheets and statements of income,  changes in shareholders'
equity, and cash flow (the "Most Recent Financial Statements") as of and for the
three months ended  September  30, 1998 (the "Most Recent  Fiscal Month End") of
the Seller.  The Financial  Statements  (including  the notes thereto) have been
prepared in accordance  with GAAP applied on a consistent  basis  throughout the
periods covered  thereby,  present fairly the financial  condition of the Seller
(and of the  Distribution  Division  to the  extent  such  Financial  Statements
contain


                                       24
<PAGE>


applicable  industry  segment  information)  as of such dates and the results of
operations  of the Seller  (and the  Distribution  Division  to the extent  such
Financial  Statement contain applicable  industry segment  information) for such
periods, are correct and complete, and are consistent with the books and records
of the Seller and the Distribution Division, which books and records are correct
and complete;  provided,  however, that the Most Recent Financial Statements are
subject to normal year-end adjustments (which will not be material  individually
or in the aggregate) and lack footnotes and other presentation items.

     3.7 Events  Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End.  Except as set forth
on Schedule 3.7,  since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End,  there has not been any
material  adverse  change  in the  business,  financial  condition,  operations,
results  of  operations,  or, to the  Knowledge  of the  Seller,  in the  future
prospects, of the Distribution Division.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, since that date:

     (a)  the  Distribution  Division  has not  sold,  leased,  transferred,  or
assigned  any of its  assets,  tangible  or  intangible,  other  than for a fair
consideration in the Ordinary Course of Business;

     (b) the Distribution Division has not entered into any agreement, contract,
lease,  or license  (or series of related  agreements,  contracts,  leases,  and
licenses)  either  involving more than $35,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;

     (c) the Distribution Division has not accelerated, terminated, modified, or
canceled  any  agreement,  contract,  lease,  or  license  (or series of related
agreements,  contracts,  leases,  and licenses)  involving  more than $25,000 to
which the Distribution Division is a party or by which any of them is bound;

     (d) neither the Seller nor the Distribution Division has permitted any Lien
to be imposed upon any of the Acquired Assets, tangible or intangible;

     (e)  neither  the  Seller  nor the  Distribution  Division  has  delayed or
postponed the payment of Accounts Payable or any other Liabilities applicable to
the Distribution Division;

     (f)  neither  the Seller nor the  Distribution  Division  has  granted  any
license or  sublicense  of any rights under or with respect to any  Intellectual
Property  used or useful in the  conduct  of the  business  of the  Distribution
Division;

     (g) the Distribution Division has not experienced any damage,  destruction,
or loss  (whether or not covered by insurance) to any property used or useful in
the conduct of the business of the Distribution Division; and

     (h) there  has not been any other  material  occurrence,  event,  incident,
action,  failure to act, or transaction  outside the Ordinary Course of Business
involving the Distribution Division or any Acquired Asset.


                                       25
<PAGE>


     3.8  Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.8 since
January  1,  1999,  none of the Seller  and the  Distribution  Division  has any
Liability  (and  there is no Basis  for any  present  or  future  action,  suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation,  charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of them giving rise to any Liability),  except for (i) Liabilities set forth
in the Most Recent Balance Sheet of the Seller  (including in any notes thereto)
and (ii) Liabilities which have arisen after the Most Recent Fiscal Month End in
the Ordinary  Course of Business  (none of which  results  from,  arises out of,
relates to, is in the nature of, or was caused by any breach of contract, breach
of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of law).

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

     3.10 Tax Matters.

     (a) The Seller has filed all Tax Returns that it was required to file.  All
such Tax Returns were correct and  complete in all  respects.  All Taxes owed by
the Seller (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. No claim has
ever been made by an Authority in a jurisdiction  where the Seller does not file
Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There
are no Liens on any of the  Acquired  Assets that arose in  connection  with any
failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax.

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

     (c) The Seller does not expect any authority to assess any additional Taxes
with respect to the  business  conducted  by the  Distribution  Division for any
period  for which Tax  Returns  have been  filed.  There is no  dispute or claim
concerning  any Tax  Liability  of or arising in  connection  with the  business
conducted by the Distribution Division either claimed or raised by any authority
in writing or based upon formal communications with any agent of such authority.
Schedule  3.10(c)  lists,  all federal,  state,  local,  and foreign  income Tax
Returns  filed with  respect to the Seller for the taxable  periods  ended on or
after June 30, 1997  indicates  those Tax Returns  that have been  audited,  and
indicates those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of audit.  The Seller
has delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all federal income Tax
Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or
agreed  to by the  Seller  since  June 30,  1997  that  relate  to the  business
conducted by the Distribution Division or the Acquired Assets.

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


                                       26
<PAGE>


     3.11 Real Estate.

     (a)  Schedule  3.11  identifies  all real estate that is the subject of the
Real Estate Lease and Licenses. For purposes hereof the real property identified
as item A on  Schedule  3.11 is referred to as the  "Huntington  Property."  For
purposes of the following the leases between the Seller and the landlords of the
real property in Florida and Puerto Rico identified as items B and C on Schedule
3.11 are referred to herein as the "Underlying Leases". The Seller has delivered
to the Buyer correct and complete copies of the Underlying Leases.  With respect
to the Real Estate Lease and Licenses and the Underlying Leases.

          (i) The Seller owns the Huntington Property,  has the right to use the
          property as its is currently used and has all necessary power,  rights
          and  authority to execute,  deliver and  consummate  the Real Property
          Lease;

          (ii)  Except as  disclosed  in Schedule  3.11,  the Seller has all the
          necessary power,  rights,  authority and consents to execute,  deliver
          and consummate the licenses, except that the execution and delivery of
          the  Real  Property  Licenses  will  not be with  the  consent  of the
          landlords of the applicable premises;

          (iii) The  Underlying  Lease for the Puerto  Rico  premises  is legal,
          valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect;

          (iv) Neither the Seller nor Disposable  Safety Wear Corp. with respect
          to the  facility in Puerto Rico is, and to the  Seller's  Knowledge no
          other  party to the  Underlying  Leases  covering  prior to the  First
          Closing  Date,  is in breach  or  default,  and no event has  occurred
          which,  with  notice or lapse of time,  would  constitute  a breach or
          default  or  permit   termination,   modification,   or   acceleration
          thereunder;

          (v) Neither the Seller,  nor Disposable Safety Wear Corp. with respect
          to the facility in Puerto Rico has,  and to the Seller's  Knowledge no
          other  party  to the  Underlying  Lease  covering  such  facility  has
          repudiated any provision thereof;

          (vi) There are no disputes,  oral agreements,  or forbearance programs
          in effect as to any Underlying Lease;

          (vii) Neither the Seller nor Disposable Safety Wear Corp. with respect
          to the  facility in Puerto Rico has and to the  Seller's  Knowledge no
          other party has assigned, transferred,  conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in
          trust, or encumbered any interest in the leasehold;

          (viii) All facilities of the Distribution Division located on the real
          estate  identified  on Schedule  3.11 have  received all  approvals of
          governmental  authorities (including licenses and permits) required in
          connection  with the  operation  thereof  and have been  operated  and
          maintained in accordance with


                                       27
<PAGE>


          applicable laws, rules, and regulations; and

          (ix) All facilities of the  Distribution  Division located on the real
          estate  identified on Schedule  3.11 are supplied  with  utilities and
          other services necessary for the operation of said facilities.

     3.12 Intellectual Property.

     (a) The Seller has taken  actions  necessary  to  maintain  and protect its
intellectual property right in the website www.eastco.com.

     (b) With  respect to the  Intellectual  Properties  identified  in Schedule
3.12:

          (i) the Seller  possess all right,  title,  and interest in and to the
          website www.eastco.com,  free and clear of any Lien, license, or other
          restriction;

          (ii) none of the Intellectual Properties is subject to any outstanding
          injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge;

          (iii) no action, suit,  proceeding,  hearing,  investigation,  charge,
          complaint,  claim,  or  demand  is  pending  or  is  threatened  which
          challenges the legality, validity,  enforceability,  use, or ownership
          of the Intellectual Property; and

          (iv) the Seller has been using the name Eastco  Industrial  Safety and
          Puerto  Rico Safety  Corp.  has been using the name Puerto Rico Safety
          since the respective dates of their incorporation and for the four (4)
          years prior to the date hereof,  to the  Knowledge  of the Seller,  no
          Person  has  objected  the  Seller's  use of the  foregoing  names  or
          attempted  by any means to stop or prevent  the Seller  from using the
          foregoing names.

     (c) Schedule 3.12  identifies  each item of  Intellectual  Property that is
owned by a third party (the "Third Party  Intellectual  Property")  and that the
Distribution  Division  uses  pursuant to  license,  sublicense,  agreement,  or
permission. The Seller has delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of
all such  licenses,  sublicenses,  agreements,  and  permissions  (as amended to
date). With respect to each item of Third Party Intellectual Property identified
in Schedule 3.12:

          (i) the license,  sublicense,  agreement,  or permission  covering the
          item is legal,  valid,  binding,  enforceable,  and in full  force and
          effect;

          (ii) the license,  sublicense,  agreement, or permission will continue
          to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect
          on identical  terms  following the  consummation  of the  transactions
          contemplated hereby;


                                       28
<PAGE>


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

          (iv) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission has
          repudiated any provision thereof;

          (v)  with  respect  to  each  sublicense,   the   representations  and
          warranties  set forth in  subsections  (i) through (iv) above are true
          and correct with respect to the underlying license;

          (vi) the underlying  item of  Intellectual  Property is not subject to
          any  outstanding  injunction,  judgment,  order,  decree,  ruling,  or
          charge;

          (vii) no action, suit,  proceeding,  hearing,  investigation,  charge,
          complaint,  claim,  or  demand  is  pending  or  is  threatened  which
          challenges the legality, validity, or enforceability of the underlying
          item of Intellectual Property; and

          (viii) no  sublicense  or similar  right with  respect to the license,
          sublicense, agreement, or permission has been granted.

     3.13 Tangible Assets.  To the Seller's  Knowledge,  every tangible Acquired
Asset  is free  from  defects  (patent  and  latent),  has  been  maintained  in
accordance with normal  industry  practice,  is in good operating  condition and
repair  (subject to normal wear and tear),  and is suitable for the purposes for
which it  presently is used and  presently is proposed to be used.  Set forth on
Schedule  3.13  is a  complete  list  of all  office  and  warehouse  equipment,
furniture,  fixtures and catalogs of or relating to the  Distribution  Division,
including the location of same and any leases or other  agreements  with respect
thereto.

     3.14  Inventory.  All of the  Inventory  is  merchantable  and  fit for the
purpose  for  which  it  was  procured  or  manufactured,  and  none  of  it  is
slow-moving,  obsolete,  damaged,  or defective.  All of the Inventory meets the
criteria  set forth in  subclauses  (a)  through  (i) and  subclause  (k) of the
definition  Inventory set forth in Section 1.1 hereof,  except for the Inventory
to be  acquired  by the  Buyer  pursuant  to  subclause  (e)  of the  definition
Inventory set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.

     3.15 Open Sourcing Orders or Contracts,  Open Purchase Orders or Contracts,
Agreements,  Leases and Licenses.  Set forth on Schedule 3.15 is a complete list
of all Open Sourcing Orders or Contracts, all Open Purchase Orders or Contracts,
and any other agreements or leases relating to the Acquired  Assets.  The Seller
agrees  to update  such  list as of the  First  Closing  Date.  The  Seller  has
delivered  to the Buyer a correct and complete  copy of each  written  agreement
constituting any lease,  license,  order, contract or other agreements described
on Schedules 3.11, 3.12, 3.13 and 3.15 and will deliver to the Seller a true and
correct copy of any Open Sourcing  Order or Contract and any Open Purchase Order
or Contract arising from the date


                                       29
<PAGE>


hereof  until the  Closing  Date.  With  respect to each such  order,  contract,
agreement,  license or lease,  (a) the order,  contract,  agreement,  license or
lease is legal,  valid,  binding,  enforceable,  and in full force and effect in
accordance  with their terms;  (b) the order,  contract,  agreement,  license or
lease will continue to be legal, valid, binding,  enforceable, and in full force
and effect on identical  terms following the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby;  (c) no party is in  breach or  default,  and no event has
occurred  which  with  notice  or lapse of time  would  constitute  a breach  or
default, or permit termination,  modification, or acceleration, under the order,
contract,  agreement,  license  or lease;  and (d) no party has  repudiated  any
provision of the order, contract,  agreement,  license or lease. Notwithstanding
the  foregoing,  no  representation  is given  regarding  the need to obtain the
consent  of the  other  party to any Open  Sourcing  Order or  Contract  or Open
Purchase  Order or Contract  and Buyer  agrees to complete  each such  agreement
specified in Schedule 3.15 without the consent of the other party thereto to the
extent  that such Open  Sourcing  Order or Contract  or Open  Purchase  Order or
Contract  constitutes  an Acquired  Asset and the other party  thereto  does not
object to Buyer's completion.

     3.16 Accounts Receivable. All Accounts Receivable are reflected properly on
the Seller's  books and records,  are valid  receivables  subject to no setoffs,
changes,  credits or defenses of any nature,  are current and are expected to be
collected in accordance with their terms at their recorded amounts.

     3.17 Conduct of  Business.  Between  January 1, 1998 and the First  Closing
Date,  the Seller has conducted the business of the  Distribution  Division in a
manner  identical  to that  with  which the  Seller  customarily  conducted  the
Distribution  Division's business prior to January 1, 1998 and there has been no
disposition of assets of the Distribution Division other than sales of inventory
in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Distribution Division.

     3.18.  No Pending  Litigation  or  Proceedings.  Except as disclosed in the
Seller's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year  ended  June 30,  1998 or the
Seller's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30,
1998,  or as set forth on Schedule 3.18 or claims or suits for monies due to the
Seller, there are no actions,  suits,  investigations or proceedings pending or,
to the  best  of  Sellers'  knowledge,  threatened  against  or  affecting,  the
Distribution Division or any of the Acquired Assets before any court, arbitrator
or Authority.

     3.19 Environmental Matters.

     (a) To the Seller's knowledge the business of the Distribution Division has
been  conducted  in  compliance  with all,  and the  conduct  thereof  is not in
violation of any, applicable environmental laws, rules, regulations,  ordinances
and orders of any Authority, including those relating to Hazardous Substances.

     (b) No notice, citation, summons or order has been issued, no complaint has
been  filed,  no penalty has been  assessed  and no  investigation  or review is
pending or, to the  Seller's  knowledge,  threatened  by any  Authority or other
person with respect to (i) any alleged violation by the Seller in the conduct of
the business of the Distribution Division of any environmental


                                       30
<PAGE>


statute, ordinance, rule, regulation or order of any Authority; (ii) any alleged
failure by the Seller to have any environmental  permit,  certificate,  license,
approval,  registration or authorization required in connection with the conduct
of  the  business  of  the  Distribution  Division;  or  (iii)  any  generation,
treatment,  storage,  recycling,  transportation  or disposal  of any  Hazardous
Substances by the Seller in  connection  with the conduct of the business of the
Distribution Division.

     (c) The Seller has not  received  any  request for  information,  notice of
claim, demand or other notification that it is or may be potentially responsible
with  respect to any  investigation  or  clean-up  of any  threatened  or actual
release of any Hazardous  Substances  of or in connection  with the operation of
the Distribution Division.

     (d) No Hazardous Substances generated in the conduct of the business of the
Distribution  Division  have been  recycled,  treated,  stored,  disposed  of or
transported by any Person except in full compliance with all applicable laws.

     (e)  Except as  described  in  Schedule  3.19  hereto  and,  to the best of
Seller's   knowledge,    there   have   been   no   environmental   inspections,
investigations,  studies,  audits, tests, reviews or other analyses conducted in
relation to either of the business of the Distribution Division.

     (f) To the best of Sellers' knowledge,  there are no facts or circumstances
related to environmental  matters  concerning the conduct of the business of the
Distribution  Division  that  could  lead to any  future  environmental  claims,
liabilities or responsibilities against Seller's,  insofar as such claims relate
to the business of the Distribution Division or the Acquired Assets.

     3.20  Consents.  Except as described on Schedule  3.20 hereto,  no consent,
approval or  authorization  of, or registration  or filing with, any Person,  is
required in connection  with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and the Buyer expressly
waives the consents of landlords  for licenses to access and use the Florida and
Puerto Rico premises identified in Schedule 3.11.

     3.21  Insurance.  Attached  hereto as Schedule  3.21 (a) is a complete  and
correct list of all policies of insurance  covering any of the Acquired  Assets,
indicating for each policy the carrier,  risks insured, the amounts of coverage,
deductible, premium rate, expiration date and any pending claims thereunder. All
such  policies are  outstanding  and in full force and effect and will remain so
until the First Closing Date.  Attached hereto as Schedule 3.21(b) is a complete
and correct list of all product liability insurance  maintained by the Seller or
any of its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  since  April 23,  1993  covering  any
products  manufactured  and  shipped by the  Seller or any of the  Manufacturing
Subsidiaries  on or prior to the  First  Closing  Date  and  such  insurance  as
identified  in  items  B,  C, D and E of  Schedule  3.21(b)  is  believed  to be
applicable for asbestos coverage.

     3.22 Products Liability. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18, there are no
(a) Liabilities of the Seller, fixed or contingent, asserted or, to the Seller's
knowledge, unasserted,


                                       31
<PAGE>


with  respect  to any  product  or  service  sold  by  the  Seller  through  the
Distribution  Division,  or (b) Liabilities of the Seller,  fixed or contingent,
asserted or to the Seller's knowledge unasserted,  with respect to any claim for
the breach of any  express or implied  product or service  warranty or any other
similar claim with respect to any product or service sold by the Seller  through
the Distribution Division to others.

     3.23  Arm's  Length  Transactions.  All  transactions  by the  Seller  with
suppliers,  customers  and other  parties  of or  relating  to the  Distribution
Division are and have been conducted on an arm's length basis.

     3.24  Suppliers.  Schedule  3.24 sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all suppliers  with which the Seller has  transacted  business  since January 1,
1998.  The  Seller has not  received  any notice or  communication  which  would
reasonably lead it to believe that there is a substantial  probability  that any
of  such  suppliers  will  refuse  to do  business  with  the  Buyer  after  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     3.25  Records.  The  books  and  records  of  the  Seller  related  to  the
Distribution Division are true and complete in all material respects.

     3.26 Customers. Schedule 3.26(a) sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all customers of the  Distribution  Division  since January 1, 1998 and Schedule
3.26(b)  sets forth a complete  and  accurate  list of all  end-users  of safety
products sold by the Seller and any other  division,  subsidiary or affiliate of
the Seller since January 1, 1998.

     3.27 Employees and Employee Benefits.  Set forth on Schedule 3.27 is a true
and  correct  list of all  Persons  employed  by the Seller in the  Distribution
Division on the date hereof setting forth the name and title of such Person, the
annual  compensation  of such  Person,  the  Seller's  vacation and personal day
policy with respect to such Person, any health or life insurance benefits or any
pension  benefits or plan in which such Person  participates and any accrued and
unpaid benefits of such Person.

     3.28  Business  of  Seller.   In  addition  to  owning  and  operating  the
Distribution Division, the Seller engages in the business of sourcing and buying
raw  materials  for  and  selling  such  raw  materials  to  the   Manufacturing
Subsidiaries  and the Seller has no present  intention  of ceasing its  business
activities or dissolving or otherwise  terminating or curtailing its activities,
except as provided in Section 6.5 hereof.

     3.29 Solvency. The Seller and each of the Manufacturing Subsidiaries is and
after giving effect to the transactions  contemplated  herein, each of them will
be solvent and able to pay its debts when due.

     3.30 Completeness.  This Agreement,  the Exhibits,  Schedules and all other
materials  and  information  supplied to the Buyer by or on behalf of the Seller
relating to the Distribution  Division and the Acquired  Assets,  do not contain
any untrue statements of material fact or omit


                                       32
<PAGE>


to state a material fact necessary to make the statements  herein  contained not
misleading.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER

     The  Buyer  represents  and  warrants  to the  Seller  that the  statements
contained  in this  Article IV are correct  and  complete as of the date of this
Agreement  and will be correct and  complete  as of the Closing  Date (as though
made then and as though the Closing Date were  substituted  for the date of this
Agreement  throughout  this Article IV),  except as set forth in the  Disclosure
Schedule.

     4.1  Organization of the Buyer.  The Buyer is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation.

     4.2  Authorization  of Transaction.  The Buyer has full power and authority
(including  full  corporate  power and  authority)  to execute and deliver  this
Agreement,  the  Buyer's  Note and to  perform  its  obligations  hereunder  and
thereunder.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the Board of
Directors  of the Buyer has duly  authorized  the  execution  and  delivery  and
performance of this Agreement and the Buyer's Note, by the Buyer. This Agreement
constitutes and the Buyer's Note, when executed and delivered in accordance with
the terms hereof,  will constitute the valid and legally binding  obligations of
the Buyer, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and conditions.

     4.3  Noncontravention.  Except  for the  consent of the  Buyer's  principal
lender,  which  consent  have been  obtained  on or prior to the First  Closing,
neither the execution and the delivery of this  Agreement,  the Buyer's Note nor
the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby, will (a) violate any
constitution,  statute, regulation,  rule, injunction,  judgment, order, decree,
ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government,  governmental agency, or
court to which the Buyer is subject or any provision of its charter or bylaws or
(b) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under,  result in
the  acceleration  of, create in any party the right to  accelerate,  terminate,
modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement,  contract,  lease,
license,  instrument,  or other  arrangement to which the Buyer is a party or by
which it is bound or to which any of its assets is  subject.  The Buyer does not
need to give any notice to, make any filing with,  or obtain any  authorization,
consent,  or approval of any government or governmental  agency in order for the
Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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

     4.5  Financial  Statements.  Attached  hereto as Schedule  4.5 is a list of
financial statements (collectively the "Buyer's Financial Statements") delivered
to the Seller on or prior to


                                       33
<PAGE>


the date hereof: (i) audited balance sheets and statements of income, changes in
control  account and cash flow as of and for the fiscal year ended  December 31,
1997 (the  "Buyer's  Most Recent  Fiscal  Year End") for the Buyer;  and (ii) an
internally  prepared  balance  sheet and an  internally  prepared  total company
income  statement  for the ten (10) months ended  October 31, 1998 (the "Buyer's
Most Recent Fiscal Month End") for the Buyer. The Buyer's  Financial  Statements
(including any notes thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, present fairly the
financial condition of the Buyer, as of such dates and the results of operations
of the Buyer,  for such periods,  are correct and complete,  and are  consistent
with the books and  records of the Buyer which books and records are correct and
complete;  provided,  however, that the Buyer's Most Recent Financial Statements
are  subject  to  normal  year-end  adjustments  (which  will  not  be  material
individually  or in the  aggregate)  and lack  footnotes and other  presentation
items.  Since the date of the Buyer's Most Recent  Fiscal Month End,  there have
been no adverse  changes that will  materially  adversely  affect the  financial
condition of the Buyer.

     4.6 Tax Matters.

     (a) The Buyer has filed all Tax Returns that it was  required to file.  All
such Tax Returns were correct and  complete in all  respects.  All Taxes owed by
the Seller (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. No claim has
ever been made by an Authority in a jurisdiction  where the Seller does not file
Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There
are no Liens on any of the  Acquired  Assets that arose in  connection  with any
failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax.

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

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

     4.7. No Pending Litigation or Proceedings.  Except as disclosed in Schedule
4.7, there are no actions,  suits,  investigations or proceedings pending or, to
the best of Buyer's knowledge, threatened against or affecting, the Buyer or any
of its assets before any court, arbitrator or Authority.

     4.8  Solvency.  The Buyer is and after  giving  effect to the  transactions
contemplated herein will be solvent and able to pay its debts when due.

     4.9  Completeness.  This Agreement,  the Exhibits,  Schedules and all other
materials  and  information  supplied to the Seller by or on behalf of the Buyer
relating to the Buyer, do not contain any untrue  statements of material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements  herein contained
not misleading.


                                       34
<PAGE>


                                    ARTICLE V
                              PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS

     The  Parties  agree as  follows  with  respect to the  period  between  the
execution of this Agreement and the Accounts Receivable Closing.

     5.1  General.  Each of the  Parties  will use its best  efforts to take all
action and to do all things  necessary or advisable in order to  consummate  and
make  effective  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (including
satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in Article VII
below).

     5.2  Notices  and  Consents.  The  Seller  will give  (and  will  cause the
Distribution Division to give) any notices to third parties, and the Seller will
use its best efforts (and will cause the  Distribution  Division to use its best
efforts)  to obtain any third  party  consents,  that the Buyer  reasonably  may
request in connection with the transactions  contemplated herein and the matters
referred to in Article III above.  Each of the Parties will (and the Seller will
cause the Distribution  Division to) give any notices to, make any filings with,
and use its best efforts to obtain any authorizations,  consents,  and approvals
of any Authority in connection  with the matters  referred to in Article III and
Article IV above. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  each of the
Parties will file (and the Seller will cause the Distribution  Division to file)
any  notification  and report forms and related material that it may be required
to file with the Federal  Trade  Commission  and the  Antitrust  Division of the
United States  Department of Justice under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act, will use
its best efforts to obtain (and the Seller will cause the Distribution  Division
to use its best  efforts  to  obtain)  an early  termination  of the  applicable
waiting  period,  and will  make (and the  Seller  will  cause the  Distribution
Division to make) any further  filings  pursuant  thereto that may be necessary,
proper, or advisable in connection therewith.

     5.3 Preservation of Business.

     (a) The Seller will cause the  Distribution  Division to keep its  business
and properties substantially intact, including its present operations,  physical
facilities,  Intellectual Property,  working conditions,  and relationships with
lessors, licensors,  suppliers, customers, and employees, except that the Seller
may close its facility in Newington,  Connecticut  and  consolidate the tangible
assets of such facility with the Seller's  facility in Huntington  Station,  New
York.

     (b) The Seller will conduct the businesses of the Distribution  Division in
a manner



                                       35
<PAGE>


consistent with the Distribution Division's past custom and practice.

     5.4 Full  Access.  The Seller will permit (and will cause the  Distribution
Division  to  permit)  representatives  of the Buyer to have full  access at all
reasonable  times,  and in a  manner  so as not to  interfere  with  the  normal
business operations of the Distribution  Division, to all premises,  properties,
personnel, books, records (including Tax records), contracts,  licenses, leases,
applications and documents of or pertaining to the Distribution Division.

     5.5 Notice of  Developments.  Each Party will give prompt written notice to
the other Party of any material adverse  development  causing a breach of any of
its own  representations  and  warranties  as  contained in this  Agreement.  No
disclosure by any Party pursuant to this Section 5.5,  however,  shall be deemed
to amend  or  supplement  the  Disclosure  Schedule  or to  prevent  or cure any
misrepresentation, breach of warranty, or breach of covenant.

     5.6 Exclusivity.  The Seller will not (i) solicit,  initiate,  or encourage
the  submission  of any  proposal  or offer  from  any  Person  relating  to the
acquisition  of  any  substantial  portion  of the  assets  or  business  of the
Distribution  Division or (ii)  participate in any  discussions or  negotiations
regarding, furnish any information with respect to, assist or participate in, or
facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek
any of the foregoing. The Seller will notify the Buyer immediately if any Person
makes any  proposal,  offer,  inquiry,  or  contact  with  respect to any of the
foregoing.

     5.7 Right of the Buyer to Purchase  Products  Prior to First  Closing Date.
Prior to the First Closing Date, the Buyer shall have the right to purchase from
the Seller,  and the Seller shall have the obligation to sell to the Buyer,  all
of the  Buyer's  requirements  for  products  carried  in the  inventory  of the
Distribution  Division,  except  inventory  manufactured  by the  Seller  or its
Manufacturing  Subsidiaries,  to the  extent the  Seller is  reasonably  able to
supply same bearing in mind the Seller's  commitments  to others,  and the Buyer
shall be obligated to pay for such  products on the sooner to occur of the tenth
(10th) day after the applicable  invoice therefor or the First Closing Date, and
the price of such products purchased by the Buyer shall be equal to the Seller's
actual cost of such products plus Vendor Average  Freight  Expenses  incurred in
connection with each such product plus any applicable sales taxes therefor,  and
freight  charges to a facility  designated  by the Buyer;  provided  that if the
transactions  contemplated  herein are not consummated,  the Buyer shall pay the
Seller an  amount  equal to 20% of the  aggregate  actual  cost of the  products
purchased pursuant to this Section 5.7.

     5.8  Payment of Accounts  Payable of the  Distribution  Division.  From and
after the date  hereof,  the Seller  will cause all  payments  to be made on all
Accounts Payable arising in connection with the operation of the business of the
Distribution  Division so that all such  Accounts  Payable shall be paid in full
within 60 days of their  respective  Due Dates except for any Disputed  Accounts
Payable.  To the extent that on the First Closing Date, any such account payable
other than a Disputed  Account  Payable  has not been paid within 60 days of its
Due Date, the Buyer may make such payments  directly to the applicable payee and
debit the amounts so paid from the cash portion of the Initial Purchase Price.


                                       36
<PAGE>


     5.9 Corporate  Examinations and Investigations.  Prior to the First Closing
Date, the Seller agrees that the Buyer shall be entitled,  by itself and through
its  representatives  ("Representatives"),  to make  such  investigation  of the
properties,   businesses   and   operations   of  the  Seller  (other  than  its
Manufacturing Business and other than the properties, business and operations of
the  Manufacturing   Subsidiaries)  and  the  Distribution  Division,  and  such
examination of the books,  records and financial condition of the Seller and the
Distribution   Division,   as  the  Buyer  may  reasonably  request.   Any  such
investigation and examination shall be conducted under reasonable circumstances,
and the Seller shall  cooperate  fully therein.  No  investigation  by the Buyer
shall diminish or obviate any of the representations,  warranties,  covenants or
agreements of the Seller contained in this Agreement.  In order for the Buyer to
have full  opportunity  to make such  physical,  business,  accounting and legal
review, examination or investigation as it may reasonably request of the affairs
of the Seller and the  Distribution  Division,  the Seller and the  Distribution
Division  shall make available to the Buyer or the  Representatives  during such
period all such  information  and copies of documents  concerning the affairs of
the Seller and the Distribution Division as the Buyer or the Representatives may
reasonably request,  shall permit the Buyer or the Representatives access to the
properties of the Seller and all parts  thereof and shall cause their  officers,
employees,  consultants,  agents,  accountants  and attorneys to cooperate fully
with the  Buyer or the  Representatives  in  connection  with  such  review  and
examination.   The   Seller   shall  make   available   to  the  Buyer  and  the
Representatives  during such period all reports,  assessments,  audits,  review,
analysis and other documents or  correspondence  in the possession or control of
the Seller relating to the Acquired Assets.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                             POST-CLOSING COVENANTS

     The Parties agree as follows with respect to the period following the First
Closing Date.

     6.1 General.  In case at any time after the First Closing Date, any further
action is necessary  or  desirable to carry out the purposes of this  Agreement,
each of the Parties will take such further  action  (including the execution and
delivery  of such  further  instruments  and  documents)  as the other Party may
reasonably request, on the sole cost and expense of the requesting Party (unless
the requesting Party is entitled to indemnification  therefor under Article VIII
below).

     6.2 Litigation  Support. In the event and for so long as any Party actively
is  contesting  or  defending  against any action,  suit,  proceeding,  hearing,
investigation,  charge,  complaint,  claim, or demand 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  First
Closing Date involving the Distribution Division, the other Party will cooperate
with the  contesting  or  defending  Party and its  counsel  in the  contest  or
defense, make available its personnel, and provide such testimony


                                       37
<PAGE>


and access to its books and records as shall be necessary in connection with the
contest  or  defense,  all at the sole cost and  expense  of the  contesting  or
defending  Party  (unless  the  contesting  or  defending  Party is  entitled to
indemnification therefor under Article VIII below).

     6.3  Transition.  The Seller  will not take any action  that is designed or
intended  to have the effect of  discouraging  any lessor,  licensor,  customer,
supplier,  or  other  business  associate  of  the  Distribution  Division  from
maintaining  the same  business  relationships  with the  Buyer  after the First
Closing Date as it maintained with the Distribution  Division prior to the First
Closing.  The Seller will refer all customer  inquiries relating to the business
of the Distribution Division to the Buyer from and after the First Closing Date.

     6.4 Confidentiality.  (a) The Seller will treat and hold as such all of the
Confidential  Information  designated as such by Buyer, whether such information
is disclosed to the Seller or such  information  is obtained  from sources other
than the Buyer,  provided such  information  is related to businesses  currently
carried on by the Buyer or  proposed  to be engaged in by the Buyer  immediately
after the First Closing  Date,  including  the  businesses  of the  Distribution
Division and refrain from using any of such Confidential  Information  except in
connection with this Agreement, and deliver promptly to the Buyer or destroy, at
the request and option of the Buyer,  all tangible  embodiments (and all copies)
of the Confidential  Information which are in its possession.  In the event that
the Seller is requested or required (by oral question or request for information
or  documents  in  any  legal   proceeding,   interrogatory,   subpoena,   civil
investigative   demand,   or  similar  process)  to  disclose  any  Confidential
Information,  the  Seller  will  notify  the Buyer  promptly  of the  request or
requirement so that the Buyer may seek an appropriate  protective order or waive
compliance  with the  provisions  of this  Section  6.4. If, in the absence of a
protective  order or the  receipt of a waiver  hereunder,  the Seller is, on the
advice of counsel  reasonably  acceptable to the Buyer's  counsel,  compelled to
disclose any  Confidential  Information to any tribunal or else stand liable for
contempt, the Seller may disclose the Confidential  Information to the tribunal;
provided,  however, that the Seller shall use its best efforts to obtain, at the
reasonable  request  and  reasonable  expense  of the  Buyer,  an order or other
assurance  that  confidential  treatment will be accorded to such portion of the
Confidential Information required to be disclosed as the Buyer shall designate.

     (b)  The  Buyer  will  treat  and  hold  as  such  all of the  Confidential
Information  designated as such by Seller,  other than that of the  Distribution
Division, concerning the business and affair of the Seller, which is not already
generally available to the public,  whether such information is disclosed to the
Buyer or such  information  is  obtained  from  sources  other than the  Seller,
provided such information is related to businesses  carried on immediately after
the First Closing Date by the Seller or proposed to be engaged in by the Seller,
other than the business of the Distribution Division and the Buyer shall refrain
from using any of such information except in connection with this Agreement, and
deliver  promptly  to the Seller or  destroy,  at the  request and option of the
Seller, all tangible  embodiments (and all copies) of such information which are
in its possession. In the event that the Buyer is requested or required (by oral
question  or request  for  information  or  documents  in any legal  proceeding,
interrogatory,  subpoena,  civil  investigative  demand,  or similar process) to
disclose such information, the Buyer will notify the Seller


                                       38
<PAGE>


promptly  of the  request  or  requirement  so  that  the  Seller  may  seek  an
appropriate  protective  order or waive  compliance  with the provisions of this
Section 6.4. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver
hereunder,  the Buyer is, on the advice of counsel reasonably  acceptable to the
Seller's counsel,  compelled to disclose any such information to any tribunal or
else stand liable for contempt,  the Buyer may disclose such  information to the
tribunal;  provided,  however,  that the  Buyer  shall use its best  efforts  to
obtain,  at the  reasonable  request and reasonable  expenses of the Seller,  an
order or other  assurance that  confidential  treatment will be accorded to such
portion  of such  information  required  to be  disclosed  as the  Seller  shall
designate.

     6.5 Covenant Not to Compete.

     (a) Subject to Section 6.5(b),  (c) and (d) below,  for a period of five(5)
years from and after the First  Closing Date,  the Seller:  (i) will not engage,
directly or indirectly through any subsidiary,  affiliate or any Person in which
the  Seller,  directly  or  indirectly,  has an  interest  (A)  in the  business
conducted by the Distribution Division prior to the First Closing Date or (B) in
the  business  of selling  products  marketed  under the trade  names  Worksafe,
Charkate,  Charkate/Worksafe or Puerto Rico Safety, or any similar tradenames or
any products similar to the safety products now or hereafter  bearing such trade
names  whether  or  not  such  products  are  manufactured  by the  Seller,  the
Manufacturing   Subsidiaries  or  Persons  in  which  the  Seller,  directly  or
indirectly has an interest,  to the end-users of such products (as distinguished
from  distributors  of such  products),  including  manufacturing  companies and
service  businesses,  public utilities,  fisheries,  pharmaceutical  plants, the
transportation  industry and companies engaged in hazardous materials abatement;
provided  that  subject  to Section  6.5(a)  the Seller may use the trade  names
Worksafe,  Charkate,  Charkate/Worksafe or Puerto Rico Safety in connection with
the Manufacturing Business and permissible sales under Section 6.5(b)(i)(ii) and
(iii);  or (ii) advise,  provide  consulting  services  to,  manage or otherwise
invest or have an interest in any Person in any of the  businesses  described in
subclause (i) of this Section 6.5(a).

     (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Seller may:  (i) sell any safety
products to Excluded Customers and to the third party of any Open Purchase Order
or Contract that does not constitute an Acquired  Asset or which  constitutes an
Acquired Asset but cannot be completed by the Buyer;  (ii) sell safety  products
manufactured by the Seller or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates directly to
the U.S. government or any agency thereof,  provided that the Seller advises the
Buyer in  writing at least five (5) days in advance of the first to occur of (A)
the response of the Seller or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to a request
for a proposal for such safety products issued by the U.S.  Government or agency
thereof,  or (B) the sale of such  safety  products  by the Seller or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates to the U. S.  Government or agency thereof;  provided
however that the Seller's  obligations to give the Buyer  advanced  notice under
this  Section  6.5(b)(ii)  shall be  reduced  to fewer than five (5) days if the
Seller is required to respond to such request for  proposal or the  government's
offer to purchase  safety  products  within a shorter  period of time) and (iii)
sell  to  end-users   safety   products   manufactured   by  the   Manufacturing
Subsidiaries,  but only if during  each  consecutive  12 month  period  (each an
"Annual Period") in the period beginning on the First Closing Date and ending on
the fifth (5th)


                                       39
<PAGE>


anniversary  of the First  Closing Date,  the Buyer has not  purchased  from the
Seller or the Manufacturing  Subsidiaries safety products manufactured by any of
such Persons in an aggregate  amount (the "Annual Minimum  Purchases")  equal to
not less  than 90% of Last  Year's  Sales as such  term is  defined  in  Section
2.3(c)(i)  hereof and as such  amount is set forth on the  Valuation  Statement,
unless the Buyer's  failure is occasioned by the Seller's and the  Manufacturing
Subsidiaries'  failure  to  have  available  for  sale to the  Buyer  sufficient
quantities of those  products of the type included in subclauses  (a), (g), (h),
(i) and (k) of the definition Inventory.  In making its purchase from the Seller
as and the Manufacturing  Subsidiaries' provided in the preceding sentence, with
respect to each Annual  Period the Buyer will endeavor to purchase not less than
40% of the Annual Minimum  Purchases  during the first six months of each Annual
Period and 60% of the Annual Minimum  Purchases  during the first nine months of
each Annual Period; provided that any safety products manufactured by the Seller
or the Manufacturing  Subsidiaries  which the Buyer purchases from the Seller or
the Manufacturing  Subsidiaries on or after December 10, 1998, shall be credited
towards  the  satisfaction  of the  foregoing  conditions  for the first  Annual
Period.

     (c)  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  in addition to any
other remedy of the Seller under this Agreement,  if the Buyer fails to purchase
the  Accounts  Receivable  as  provided  herein or to pay the  Excess  Inventory
Amount, the obligations of the Seller and the Manufacturing  Business under this
Section  6.5 shall  terminate;  provided  that prior to the  termination  of the
obligations of the Seller and the Manufacturing Business under this Section 6.5,
the Seller  shall  notify the Buyer in writing and the Buyer shall have a period
of 30 days from and after the  receipt  of such  notice to cure.  Any good faith
dispute among the Parties regarding the amount of the Accounts  Receivable to be
purchased by the Buyer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be resolved
by the Parties  hereto prior to the  termination of the  obligations  under this
Section 6.5.

     (d) If the final  judgment of a court of  competent  jurisdiction  declares
that any term or provision of this Section 6.5 is invalid or unenforceable,  the
Parties  agree  that  the  court  making  the  determination  of  invalidity  or
unenforceability  shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, or area of
the term or provision,  to delete  specific words or phrases,  or to replace any
invalid or  unenforceable  term or provision  with a term or  provision  that is
valid and  enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the
invalid  or  unenforceable  term  or  provision  and  this  Agreement  shall  be
enforceable  as so modified  after the  expiration  of the time within which the
judgment may be appealed.

     6.6  Buyer's  Note.  The  Buyer's  Note  will be  imprinted  with a  legend
substantially in the following form:

     The payment of  principal  and  interest on this Note is subject to certain
     recoupment  provisions set forth in an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of
     December  ___, 1998 (the  "Agreement")  between the issuer of this Note and
     the  person  to which  this  Note  originally  was  issued.  This  Note was
     originally  issued on January ___, 1999, and has not been registered  under
     the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The issuer of this Note will


                                       40
<PAGE>


     furnish a copy of the Asset Purchase Agreement to the holder hereof without
     charge upon written request.

     6.7 Payment of Accounts Payable Arising in Connection with the Operation of
the  Distribution  Division.  From and after the First Closing Date,  the Seller
agrees  to  make  all  payments  on  account  of  any  Accounts  Payable  of the
Distribution  Division  other than  Disputed  Accounts  Payable so that all such
Accounts  Payable shall be paid in full within 60 days of their  respective  Due
Dates. After the First Closing Date on a monthly basis, the Seller shall furnish
the Buyer with written evidence showing that all such Accounts Payable have been
paid no later than 60 days after their  respective  Due Dates,  together  with a
current  aging of such  Accounts  Payables  and the  amount  and  status of each
Disputed  Accounts  Payable and the actions being taken to resolve such dispute.
If the Seller fails to pay any Account  Payable as required  hereby other than a
Disputed  Account  Payable,  the Buyer  shall  have the  right to make  payments
directly to the  applicable  payee and to deduct such  payments from any amounts
then owed to the Seller, including under the Buyer Note; provided, however, that
the  Buyer  shall  have  notified  the  Seller  of its  intention  to make  such
payment(s) thirty (30) days in advance of the making thereof.

     6.8 Distributorship. From and after the First Closing Date, the Seller will
cause the Buyer to be an authorized  distributor of safety products manufactured
by the Seller and its subsidiaries and affiliates under the tradenames Charkate,
Worksafe or  Charkate/Worksafe  or any similar tradenames or any safety products
similar to the safety  products now or hereafter  bearing such  tradenames  (the
"Seller's  Safety  Products").  For a period of one (1) year following the First
Closing Date, when the Buyer is sourcing safety products similar to the Seller's
Safety Products for one or more of the Buyer's customers or potential customers,
the Buyer shall  request  the Seller to provide it with a quotation  of the cost
and timing of filling such customer's  order for safety  products  comparable to
the Seller's Safety Products.  If the Seller timely responds to such request and
if the Seller's  Safety  Products are priced  competitively  and if the terms of
such sale are  otherwise  acceptable  to the Buyer's  customer,  the Buyer shall
purchase  Seller's  Safety  Products  from the  Seller  or its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates, as the case may be. For a period of one (1) year following the First
Closing  Date,  upon the  Seller's  request  and to the  extent the Buyer is not
otherwise  legally or  contractually  restricted,  the Buyer  shall at  Seller's
reasonable  request,  supply the Seller with copies of quotes or invoices and/or
abstracts and any other means of addressing  costs of goods therefrom for safety
products that compete with the safety products manufactured by the Seller or its
subsidiaries  and  affiliates  under  the  tradenames   Charkate,   Worksafe  or
Charkate/Worksafe  or any similar  tradenames.  If the Buyer believes that it is
legally or contractual restricted from making the disclosures referred to in the
foregoing sentence, the Buyer shall so advise the Seller in reasonable detail.

     6.9  Interference   with  Parties'   Employees.   In  the  event  that  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated prior to January
29, 2000, neither Party shall employ, directly or indirectly, any Person who was
an employee of the other Party at any time during the eighteen (18) month period
ending on January 29, 2000, without prior written consent of the other Party.


                                       41
<PAGE>


     6.10 Use of Name  Puerto Rico  Safety  Equipment.  From and after the First
Closing, the Buyer grants to Puerto Rico Safety Equipment  Corporation the right
to use the name Puerto Rico Safety solely as part of its corporate name and such
right shall continue only so long as Puerto Rico Safety Equipment Corporation is
a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Seller.

     6.11  Unassignable  Open  Purchase  Orders or Contracts  and Open  Sourcing
Orders or Contracts.  The Buyer  acknowledges that the Seller may not be able to
obtain  consents with respect to the assignment of certain Open Purchase  Orders
or  Contracts  and certain  Open  Sourcing  Orders or  Contracts  identified  on
Schedule  3.15. To the extent that any such order or contract is not  assignable
but  constitutes  an Acquired  Asset (an  "Order"),  the Buyer hereby  agrees to
assume and complete such Order.  To the extent that the Buyer is precluded  from
completing the five (5) Orders,  which are identified in Schedule 3.15 by an "x"
next to their  names,  solely on the basis that such Orders are not  assignable,
the Buyer shall have the right to reduce up to an  aggregate of $50,000 from the
principal  amount then  outstanding  under the Buyer's Note and shall debit such
amount  equally over the  remaining  installments  due under such Buyer's  Note;
provided,  however,  the Buyer may  exercise  such right only within the one (1)
year period immediately  following the First Closing Date.  Payments may only be
deducted  to the extent  that the Buyer has an  identifiable  loss of profits on
such Orders.  The loss of profits with respect to an Order shall consist  solely
of the difference  between the price at which the goods would have been sold had
the Buyer  completed  such Order and the direct cost of such goods.  Buyer shall
not be entitled to any other damage with respect to the  situation  contemplated
in this Section 6.11, other than as above provided.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                        CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

     7.1  Conditions to Obligation of the Buyer.  The obligation of the Buyer to
consummate the  transactions  to be performed by it in connection with the First
Closing and the Accounts  Receivable  Closing is subject to  satisfaction of the
following conditions:

     (a) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III above shall
be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the First Closing Date
and the Accounts Receivable Closing Date to the extent such  representations and
warranties are related to the Accounts Receivable;

     (b) the Seller shall have  performed and complied with all of its covenants
hereunder in all material  respects  through the First  Closing and the Accounts
Receivable Closing Date, as the case may be;

     (c) the Seller and, if  necessary,  the  Distribution  Division  shall have
procured all of the third party consents specified in Article V above;

     (d) no action,  suit, or proceeding  shall be pending or threatened  before
any court or


                                       42
<PAGE>


quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign
jurisdiction  or  before  any  arbitrator  wherein  an  unfavorable  injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (i) prevent consummation of any
of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  (ii)  cause  any of the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement to be  rescinded  or  rescindable
following consummation, (iii) affect adversely the right of the Buyer to own the
Acquired Assets or to operate the former businesses of the Distribution Division
(and no such injunction,  judgment,  order, decree, ruling or change shall be in
effect);

     (e) the  Seller  shall have  delivered  to the Buyer a  certificate  to the
effect that each of the  conditions  specified  above in Article  VII(a)-(d)  is
satisfied in all respects;

     (f) all applicable  waiting periods (and any extensions  thereof) under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act shall have expired or otherwise  been  terminated and the
Seller, the Distribution  Division,  and the Buyer shall have received all other
authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies
referred to in Article III and Article IV above;

     (g) the Buyer shall have  received from counsel to the Seller an opinion in
form and substance as set forth in Exhibit D attached  hereto,  addressed to the
Buyer, and dated as of the First Closing Date;

     (h) all actions to be taken by the Seller in connection  with  consummation
of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  all  certificates,   opinions,
instruments,   and  other   documents   required  to  effect  the   transactions
contemplated hereby will be satisfactory in form and substance to the Buyer;

     (i)  prior  to the  Accounts  Receivable  Closing,  the  Buyer  shall  have
completed  the review of the status of the  Accounts  Receivable  and shall have
identified such Accounts  Receivable that it reasonably believes have suffered a
material  adverse  change,  and any specific  account so identified by the Buyer
shall not constitute a part of the Accounts Receivable;  provided that the Buyer
shall  notify  the Seller in writing of the  reasons it  believes  such  account
receivable has suffered a material adverse change;

     (j) No material  adverse  change shall have occurred to any of the Acquired
Assets or the business of the Distribution Division as of the First Closing Date
and the Accounts  Receivable as of the Accounts  Receivable Closing Date, as the
case may be;

     (k) The Seller  shall have changed its name from Eastco  Industrial  Safety
Corp. to Worksafe Industries, Inc.; and

     (l) Puerto Rico  Safety  Corp.  shall have  changed its name to a name that
does not contain the words "Puerto Rico Safety".

The Buyer may waive any condition specified in this Section 7.1 if it executes a
writing so


                                       43
<PAGE>


stating at or prior to the Closing Date.

     7.2 Conditions to Obligation of the Seller. The obligation of the Seller to
consummate the  transactions  to be performed by it in connection with the First
Closing or the Accounts  Receivable  Closing,  as the case may be, is subject to
satisfaction of the following conditions:

     (a) the  representations and warranties set forth in Article IV above shall
be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the First Closing Date
and the Accounts Receivable Closing Date to the extent such  representations and
warranties are related to the Accounts Receivable;

     (b) the Buyer shall have  performed  and complied with all of its covenants
hereunder in all  material  respects  through the First  Closing or the Accounts
Receivable Closing, as the case may be;

     (c) no action,  suit, or proceeding  shall be pending or threatened  before
any court or  quasi-judicial  or  administrative  agency of any federal,  state,
local, or foreign  jurisdiction or before any arbitrator  wherein an unfavorable
injunction,  judgment,  order,  decree,  ruling,  or charge  would  (i)  prevent
consummation of any of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or (ii)
cause any of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded or
rescindable  following  consummation (and no such injunction,  judgment,  order,
decree, ruling, or charge shall be in effect);

     (d) the Buyer  shall  have  delivered  to the Seller a  certificate  to the
effect  that  each of the  conditions  specified  above in  Section  (a)-(c)  is
satisfied in all respects;

     (e) all applicable  waiting periods (and any extensions  thereof) under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act shall have expired or otherwise  been  terminated and the
Seller and the Buyer shall have received all other authorizations, consents, and
approvals of governments and  governmental  agencies  referred to in Article III
and Article IV above;

     (f) the Seller shall have  received from counsel to the Buyer an opinion in
form and substance as set forth in Exhibit E attached  hereto,  addressed to the
Seller, and dated as of the First Closing Date; and

     (g) all actions to be taken by the Buyer in connection with consummation of
the   transactions   contemplated   hereby  and  all   certificates,   opinions,
instruments,   and  other   documents   required  to  effect  the   transactions
contemplated hereby will be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Seller.

The Seller may waive any condition  specified in this Section 7.2 if it executes
a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing Date.


                                       44
<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                     REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF THIS AGREEMENT

     8.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All of the representations
and  warranties of the Buyer and the Seller  contained in this  Agreement  shall
survive the First  Closing Date (even if the damaged Party knew or had reason to
know of any misrepresentation or breach of warranty at the time of First Closing
Date)  and  continue  in full  force  and  effect  for a  period  of five  years
thereafter (subject to any applicable statutes of limitations);  except that any
claim by the Buyer that the Seller breached its  representation  in Section 3.13
hereof shall be made no later than sixty (60) days after the First  Closing Date
and any claims by the Buyer that the Seller  breached its  representation  under
section  3.14 hereof shall be made no later than sixty (60) days after the First
Closing Date.

     8.2 Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Buyer.

     (a) In the  event the  Seller  breaches  (or in the  event any third  party
alleges  facts that,  if true,  would mean the Seller has  breached)  any of its
representations,  warranties, and covenants contained in this Agreement, and, if
there is an applicable  survival period pursuant to Section 8.1 above,  provided
that the Buyer  makes a written  claim for  indemnification  against  the Seller
pursuant to Section  10.8 below  within such  survival  period,  then the Seller
agrees to  indemnify  the Buyer from and  against  the  entirety  of any Adverse
Consequences  the Buyer may suffer  through  and after the date of the claim for
indemnification  (including any Adverse  Consequences the Buyer may suffer after
the end of any  applicable  survival  period)  resulting  from,  arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged  breach).
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Buyer  agrees  not to make any  claim for
indemnification  hereunder  until  the  aggregate  amount  of all  such  Adverse
Consequences equals or exceeds $25,000.

     (b) The Seller  agrees to indemnify the Buyer from and against the entirety
of any Adverse Consequences the Buyer may suffer resulting from, arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by:

          (i) any Liability of the Seller, including any Liability of the Seller
          that becomes a Liability  of the Buyer under any bulk  transfer law of
          any jurisdiction,  under any common law doctrine of de facto merger or
          successor   liability,   under   Environmental,   Health,  and  Safety
          Requirements, or otherwise by operation of law;

          (ii) any  Liability of the Seller for unpaid Taxes with respect to any
          Tax year or portion thereof ending on or before the First Closing Date
          (or for any Tax year  beginning  before and ending  after the  Closing
          Date to the extent  allocable to the portion of such period  beginning
          before and ending on the First Closing Date).

     8.3 Indemnification  Provisions for Benefit of the Seller. In the event the
Buyer breaches any of its representations,  warranties,  and covenants contained
in this Agreement, and,


                                       45
<PAGE>


if there is an  applicable  survival  period  pursuant  to  Section  8.1  above,
provided that the Seller makes a written claim for  indemnification  against the
Buyer pursuant to Section 10.8 below within such survival period, then the Buyer
agrees to  indemnify  the Seller from and  against  the  entirety of any Adverse
Consequences  the Seller may suffer  through and after the date of the claim for
indemnification  (including any Adverse Consequences the Seller may suffer after
the end of any  applicable  survival  period)  resulting  from,  arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged breach).

     8.4 Matters Involving Third Parties.

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

     (b) The  Indemnifying  Party will have the right to defend the  Indemnified
Party  against  the Third  Party  Claim with  counsel  of its choice  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Indemnified  Party so long as (i) the  Indemnifying  Party
notifies the  Indemnified  Party in writing within 60 days after the Indemnified
Party has given notice of the Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party will
indemnify  the  Indemnified  Party from and against the  entirety of any Adverse
Consequences the Indemnified  Party may suffer  resulting from,  arising out of,
relating  to, in the nature  of, or caused by the Third  Party  Claim,  (ii) the
Indemnifying  Party  provides the  Indemnified  Party with  evidence  reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified  Party that the  Indemnifying  Party will have the
financial  resources  to defend  against  the Third  Party Claim and fulfill its
indemnification obligations hereunder, (iii) the Third Party Claim involves only
money damages and does not seek an injunction or other  equitable  relief,  (iv)
settlement of, or an adverse  judgment with respect to, the Third Party Claim is
not, in the good faith judgment of the Indemnified Party,  likely to establish a
precedential  custom or practice  materially adverse to the continuing  business
interests of the Indemnified  Party, and (v) the Indemnifying Party conducts the
defense of the Third Party Claim actively and diligently.

     (c) So long as the  Indemnifying  Party is  conducting  the  defense of the
Third Party Claim in accordance  with Section 8.4(b) above,  (i) the Indemnified
Party  may  retain  separate  co-counsel  at  its  sole  cost  and  expense  and
participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim,  (ii) the Indemnified Party
will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement  with
respect  to the Third  Party  Claim  without  the prior  written  consent of the
Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld, and (iii)
the  Indemnifying  Party will not consent to the entry of any  judgment or enter
into any  settlement  with  respect to the Third Party  Claim  without the prior
written  consent  of  the  Indemnified   Party,   which  consent  shall  not  be
unreasonably withheld.


                                       46
<PAGE>


     (d) In the  event  any of the  conditions  in  Section  8.4(b)  above is or
becomes unsatisfied,  however, (i) the Indemnified Party may defend against, and
consent to the entry of any judgment,  or enter into any settlement with respect
to, the Third Party Claim in any manner it reasonably may deem  appropriate (and
the  Indemnified  Party need not consult with,  or obtain any consent from,  the
Indemnifying  Party in connection  therewith),  (ii) the Indemnifying Party will
reimburse  the  Indemnified  Party  promptly and  periodically  for the costs of
defending  against the Third Party Claim (including  reasonable  attorneys' fees
and expenses),  and (iii) the Indemnifying Party will remain responsible for any
Adverse  Consequences the Indemnified  Party may suffer resulting from,  arising
out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim to the
fullest extent provided in this Article VIII.

     8.5  Determination  of Adverse  Consequences.  The Parties  shall take into
account  the time cost of money  (using the rate of interest  charged  under the
Buyer's Note as the  discount  rate) in  determining  Adverse  Consequences  for
purposes of this Article VIII. All  indemnification  payments under this Article
VIII shall be deemed adjustments to the Purchase Price.

     8.6 Recoupment  Under the Buyer's Note and Other  Obligations of the Buyer.
The Buyer  shall have the  option of  recouping  all or any part of any  Adverse
Consequences it may suffer (in lieu of seeking any  indemnification  to which it
is entitled  under this Article VIII) and all or any part of any payment made by
the Buyer on account of  Seller's  Accounts  Payable as  permitted  pursuant  to
Section 6.7 hereof, by notifying the Seller in writing that the Buyer intends to
reduce the principal  amount  outstanding  under the Buyer's Note and specifying
the nature of the  Adverse  Consequences  and the matter  giving  rise  thereto.
During the thirty (30) day period after the Buyer sends such  written  notice to
the  Seller,  the Buyer and Seller  shall  endeavor in good faith to resolve any
dispute  relating  thereto.  In the  absence  of a  resolution  of such  dispute
satisfactory  to the Buyer,  upon the expiration of such thirty (30) day period,
the Buyer may reduce the  principal  amount then  outstanding  under the Buyer's
Note and shall debit such amount from the next  ensuing  installments  due under
such Buyer's Note. This shall affect the timing and amount of payments  required
under the  Buyer's  Note in the same manner as if the Buyer had made a permitted
prepayment  (without  premium  or  penalty)  thereunder.   In  addition  to  the
foregoing,  the Buyer  shall  have the  right to  recoup  all or any part of any
Adverse  Consequence  it may suffer (in lieu of seeking any  indemnification  to
which it is entitled under this Article VIII) and all or any part of any payment
made by the Buyer on  account of the  Seller's  Account  Payable,  which are not
Disputed Accounts Payable,  by offsetting from any other monetary  obligation of
the Buyer to the Seller  that arises out of  transactions  between the Buyer and
the Seller after the First  Closing  Date,  provided that the Buyer shall follow
the procedures as above provided in this Section 8.6 in making such offsets.

     8.7  Other  Indemnification   Provisions.   The  foregoing  indemnification
provisions  are in  addition  to,  and  not in  derogation  of,  any  statutory,
equitable, or common law remedy any Party may have for breach of representation,
warranty,  or covenant  (including  without  limitation  any such remedy arising
under Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements) any Party may


                                       47
<PAGE>


have  made  with  respect  to  the  Distribution  Division,  the  Seller  or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   TERMINATION

     9.1  Termination  of Agreement.  Certain of the Parties may terminate  this
Agreement as provided below:

     (a) the Buyer and the Seller may terminate this Agreement by mutual written
consent at any time prior to the First Closing;

     (b) the Buyer may terminate  this Agreement by giving written notice to the
Seller at any time  prior to the First  Closing  (i) in the event the Seller has
breached any representation,  warranty,  or covenant contained in this Agreement
in any material  respect,  the Buyer has notified the Seller of the breach,  and
the breach has  continued  without  cure for a period of ten (10) days after the
notice of breach,  (ii) if the First  Closing Date shall not have occurred on or
before  January 18, 1999,  by reason of the failure of any  condition  precedent
under Article VII hereof  (unless the failure  results  primarily from the Buyer
itself breaching any  representation,  warranty,  or covenant  contained in this
Agreement) or the failure of the Seller to make the deliveries required pursuant
to Section 2.5(a),  or (iii) under the  circumstances  described in Section 10.5
hereof ; and

     (c) the Seller may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the
Buyer at any time  prior to the  First  Closing  (i) in the  event the Buyer has
breached any representation,  warranty,  or covenant contained in this Agreement
in any material  respect,  the Seller has notified the Buyer of the breach,  and
the breach has  continued  without  cure for a period of ten (10) days after the
notice of breach or (ii) if the First Closing Date shall not have occurred on or
before  January 18, 1998,  by reason of the failure of any  condition  precedent
under Article VII hereof (unless the failure  results  primarily from the Seller
itself breaching any  representation,  warranty,  or covenant  contained in this
Agreement)  or the  failure  of the  Buyer to make the  deliveries  required  by
Section 2.5(b),  or (iii) under the  circumstances  described in Section 10.5(b)
hereof.

     (d) The Buyer may terminate this Agreement if the Buyer determines upon its
review of the status of the Accounts Receivable prior to the First Closing Date,
that  there  has  been  a  material  adverse  change  in the  likelihood  of the
collectibility of the Accounts Receivable as a result of the financial condition
of any material  Account Debtor and the Seller refuses to designate such Account
Debtor as an Excluded  Customer;  provided that the aggregate  amount subject to
the foregoing Accounts Receivable shall exceed $50,000.

     9.2 Effect of Termination.  If any Party terminates this Agreement pursuant
to Section 9.1 above, all rights and obligations of the Parties  hereunder shall
terminate  without any Liability of any Party to the other Party (except for any
Liability of any Party then in breach). If the Buyer


                                       48
<PAGE>


and Seller  terminate this Agreement  pursuant to Section 9.1(a) or if the Buyer
terminates this Agreement  pursuant to Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(d) or if the Seller
terminates this Agreement  pursuant to Section  9.1(c)(iii),  the Buyer shall be
entitled  to the  return of the Down  Payment.  If the  Seller  terminates  this
Agreement  pursuant to Section  9.1(c)(i)  or  9.1(c)(ii),  the Seller  shall be
entitled to the Down Payment.

                                    ARTICLE X
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     10.1 Press  Releases  and Public  Announcements.  No Party  shall issue any
press release or make any public announcement  relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement  prior to the Closing Date without the prior written  approval of
the other Party,  such approvals shall not be unreasonably  withheld;  provided,
however, that any Party may make any public disclosure it believes in good faith
is required by applicable law or any listing or trading agreement concerning its
publicly-traded securities (in which case the disclosing Party will use its best
efforts to advise the other Party prior to making the disclosure).

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

     10.3 Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement  constitutes  the entire  agreement
between the Parties and  supersedes  any prior  understandings,  agreements,  or
representations  by or between the Parties,  written or oral, to the extent they
have related in any way to the subject matter hereof.

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

     10.5 Risk of Loss The risk of loss,  damage,  taking or  destruction to the
Acquired  Assets from fire,  condemnation  proceeding or other casualty or cause
shall be borne by the  Seller at all times up to the  close of  business  on the
First Closing  Date.  The Seller shall notify the Buyer  immediately  in writing
upon any such loss, damage,  taking or destruction  occurring prior to the First
Closing Date. Such notice shall specify with  particularity  the loss, taking or
damage incurred,  the cause thereof, if known or reasonably  ascertainable,  and
the insurance  coverage,  if any. In the event of such loss,  damage,  taking or
destruction,  the  proceeds  of any claim for any such  loss  payable  under any
insurance  policy  with  respect  thereto  shall be used to  repair,  replace or
restore any such  property  to its former  condition  subject to the  conditions
stated below. If the


                                       49
<PAGE>


Acquired  Assets  cannot be  repaired,  replaced or restored  prior to the First
Closing Date,  (a) the Buyer,  at its sole option upon prior  written  notice to
Seller;  (i) may elect to postpone the First Closing Date until such time as the
property has been repaired, replaced or restored or (ii) may elect to consummate
the First Closing Date and accept the property in its then  condition,  in which
event Buyer shall have the right to all  proceeds of insurance  theretofore  and
thereafter received covering the property involved and/or appropriate deductions
from the Purchase Price shall be made; or (b) either the Buyer or the Seller may
terminate this Agreement and declare it of no further force and effect, in which
event except for the  obligations of the Parties under Section 6.4,  Section 9.2
and Section 10.13,  this Agreement and all the terms and provisions hereof shall
thereupon be deemed null and void without liability of either party hereto.

     10.6  Counterparts.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  one  or  more
counterparts,  each of  which  shall  be  deemed  an  original  but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument, and signatures obtained by
facsimile shall have the same effect of originals.

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

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

        If to the Seller:    Eastco Industrial Safety Corp.
                             130 West 10th Street
                             Huntington Station, NY 11746
                             Attn:            Larry Densen
                                              Arthur Wasserspring
                             Telephone No.:   (516) 427-1802
                             Fax No.:         (516) 427-1886

        Copy to:             Hollenberg Levin Solomon Ross Belsky & Daniels LLP
                             585 Stewart Avenue
                             Suite 700
                             Garden City, NY 11530
                             Attn:            Herbert Solomon, Esq.
                             Telephone No.:   (516) 745-6000
                             Fax No.:         (516) 745-6642

        If to the Buyer:     Arbill Industries, Inc.
                             10450 Drummond Road
                             Philadelphia, PA 19154
                             Attn:            Sanford Pearl


                                50
<PAGE>


                             Telephone No.:   (215) 501-8280
                             Fax. No.:        (215) 501-8121

        Copy to:             Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP
                             350 Sentry Parkway
                             Building 640
                             P.O. Box 3036
                             Blue Bell, PA 19422-0757
                             Attn:            Bruce R. Lesser, Esq.
                             Telephone No.:   (610) 941-2450
                             Fax No.:         (610) 238-0305/0374

                             and to

                             Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP
                             250 Park Avenue
                             New York, New York 10177
                             Attn:            Martha J. Flanders, Esq.
                             Telephone No.:   (212) 883-4915
                             Fax No.:         (212) 986-0604

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

     10.9 Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York without giving effect
to any choice or conflict of law  provision or rule (whether of the State of New
York or any  other  jurisdiction)  and  without  regard  to any rule or canon of
construction which interprets agreements against the draftsman.

     10.10 Amendments and Waivers.  The Parties may, by mutual agreement,  amend
this Agreement in any respect,  and any Party, as to such Party,  may (a) extend
the time for the performance of any of the  obligations of the other Party;  (b)
waive any inaccuracies in representations and warranties by the other Party; (c)
waive compliance by the other Party with any of the agreements  contained herein
and  performance  of any  obligations  by the  other  Party;  and (d)  waive the
fulfillment of any condition that is precedent to the  performance by such Party
of any of its  obligations  under  this  Agreement.  To be  effective,  any such
amendment  or waiver must be in writing and be signed by the Party  against whom
enforcement of the same is sought.


                                       51
<PAGE>


     10.11  Non-Waiver  of Rights.  By completing  the First Closing  and/or the
Accounts  Receivable Closing  hereunder,  the Buyer does not waive any breach of
any warranty,  representation  or covenant made by the Seller hereunder or under
any agreement,  document,  or instrument delivered to the Buyer by the Seller or
otherwise  referred to herein,  and any claims and rights of the Buyer resulting
from any such breach are specifically reserved by the Buyer.

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

     10.13 Expenses. The Buyer and the Seller each will bear their own costs and
expenses  (including  legal fees and expenses)  incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that the Buyer will
pay one half of the aggregate expenses incurred in document production, calender
and Christmas gifts, up to $5,000.00.

     10.14 Construction.  Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign
statute  or law  shall be  deemed  also to refer to all  rules  and  regulations
promulgated  thereunder,   unless  the  context  requires  otherwise.  The  word
"including" shall mean including without  limitation.  Nothing in the Disclosure
Schedule shall be deemed  adequate to disclose an exception to a  representation
or warranty made herein unless the Disclosure  Schedule identifies the exception
with  reasonable  particularity  and describes the relevant  facts in reasonable
detail.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the mere listing (or
inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item shall not be deemed adequate to
disclose an exception to a  representation  or warranty made herein  (unless the
representation or warranty has to do with the existence of the document or other
item  itself).  The  Parties  intend  that each  representation,  warranty,  and
covenant contained herein shall have independent significance.  If any Party has
breached  any  representation,  warranty,  or covenant  contained  herein in any
respect,  the fact  that  there  exists  another  representation,  warranty,  or
covenant relating to the same subject matter  (regardless of the relative levels
of  specificity)  which the Party has not  breached  shall not  detract  from or
mitigate  the fact that the  Party is in  breach  of the  first  representation,
warranty, or covenant.

     10.15  Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.  The Exhibits and Schedules
identified  in this  Agreement are  incorporated  herein by reference and made a
part hereof.

     10.16 Specific  Performance.  Each of the Parties  acknowledges  and agrees
that the  other  Party  would be  damaged  irreparably  in the  event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached.  Accordingly,  each of the Parties  agrees that
the other Party shall be entitled to an  injunction  or  injunctions  to prevent
breaches of the  provisions of this Agreement and to enforce  specifically  this
Agreement and the terms and  provisions  hereof in any action  instituted in any
court of the United States or any state  thereof  having  jurisdiction  over the
Parties  and the  matter,  in  addition  to any other  remedy to which it may be
entitled, at law or in equity.


                                       52
<PAGE>


     10.17  Arbitration  and  Submission  to  Jurisdiction.  (a) Any  dispute of
controversy  arising out of or relating to this Agreement,  the Buyer's Note, or
any breach of this Agreement or the Buyer's Note shall be settled by arbitration
to be held in the City of  Philadelphia  in the  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in
accordance with the rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association
or any successor thereto. The arbitrator may grant injunction or other relief in
such  dispute or  controversy.  The decision of the  arbitrator  shall be final,
conclusive,  and  binding on the  parties to the  arbitration.  Judgment  may be
entered on the arbitrator's  decision in any court having jurisdiction,  and the
parties  irrevocably  consent to the  jurisdiction of the New York State and the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  courts for this purpose.  In any such arbitration,
the Parties waive personal service of any process or other papers and agree that
service thereof may be made in accordance with Section 10.8.

     (b) Each of the  Parties  waives any defense of  inconvenient  forum to the
maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond,  surety,
or other  security  that  might be  required  of any other  Party  with  respect
thereto.  In any state or federal court  proceeding,  the Parties waive personal
service of any  process or other  papers and agree that  service  thereof may be
made in accordance with Section 10.8.

     10.18 Tax Matters.

     (a)  Any  agreement  between  the  Seller  and  the  Distribution  Division
regarding  allocation  or payment of Taxes or amounts in lieu of Taxes  shall be
deemed terminated at and as of the Closing Date.

     (b) The Seller will be responsible  for the  preparation  and filing of all
Tax Returns for the Seller for all periods as to which Tax Returns are due after
the Closing Date (including the consolidated,  unitary, and combined Tax Returns
for the Seller which include the operations of the Distribution Division for any
period ending on or before the Closing Date).  The Seller will make all payments
required with respect to any such Tax Return.

     (c) The Buyer will be responsible for the preparation and filing of all Tax
Returns for the  Distribution  Division  for all periods as to which Tax Returns
are due after the Closing Date (other than for Taxes with respect to periods for
which the  consolidated,  unitary,  and  combined Tax Returns of the Seller will
include the operations of the  Distribution  Division).  The Buyer will make all
payments required with respect to any such Tax Return;  provided,  however, that
the Seller will  reimburse  the Buyer  concurrently  therewith to the extent any
payment  the Buyer is  making  relates  to the  operations  of the  Distribution
Division for any period ending on or before the Closing Date.

     10.19  Access to  Information,  The Seller shall  cooperate  fully with the
Buyer after the First Closing Date and the Accounts  Receivable  Closing Date to
provide  the Buyer with  access to the  business  records,  contracts  and other
information  of Seller  existing as at the First  Closing  Date and the Accounts
Receivable Closing Date and relating to any manner to any of the Acquired Assets
or the conduct of the business of the Distribution Division. No files, books or


                                       53
<PAGE>


records existing at the First Closing Date and the Accounts  Receivable  Closing
Date and  relating  in any manner to the  Acquired  Assets or the conduct of the
business of the  Distribution  Division  shall be  destroyed by the Seller for a
period of six (6) years after the First Closing Date and the Accounts Receivable
Closing Date without  giving at least thirty (30)  business  days prior  written
notice,  during  which time the Buyer  shall  have the right to  examine  and to
remove any such files, books and records prior to their  destruction.  The Buyer
shall have reasonable  access during the Seller's regular business hours to such
books and  records of the Seller of or relating  to the  Acquired  Assets to the
extent  the  Seller  maintains  such  business  records,   contracts  and  other
information as required hereby.

     10.20  Confidentiality.  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this
Agreement,  the Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement date August 5, 1998
shall  survive until the  consummation  of the First Closing and with respect to
Accounts  Receivable,  until the Accounts  Receivable  Closing.  All  Disclosure
Schedules  provided  by the  Seller  and the Buyer  shall be  deemed to  contain
Confidential  Information  (except for the information set forth on Schedule 3.6
contained in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)


                                       54
<PAGE>


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

                                     ARBILL INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                     By:     /s/ Sanford K. Pearl
                                             ----------------------------
                                     Name:   Sanford K. Pearl
                                     Title:  VP/CFO



                                     EASTCO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CORP.


                                     By:     /s/ Lawrence Densen
                                             ----------------------------
                                     Name:   Lawrence Densen
                                     Title:  President

Agreed to Section 2.3(b)(i)(A) and Section 2.3(c)(iii)

HOLLENBERG LEVIN SOLOMON ROSS
   BELSKY & DANIELS LLP


By:  /s/ Herbert Solomon
     ----------------------------
         Herbert Solomon

Agreed to Section 2.3(b)(i)(A) and Section 2.3(c)(iii)

WOLF, BLOCK, SCHORR AND SOLIS-COHEN LLP


By:  /s/ Bruce R. Lesser
     ----------------------------
         Bruce R. Lesser


                                       55



                     AMENDMENT NO. 9 TO FINANCING AGREEMENTS



                                                                January 11, 1999
Congress Financial Corporation
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York  10036


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Congress Financial  Corporation  (together with its successors and assigns,
"Lender") and Worksafe  Industries  Inc.,  formerly  known as Eastco  Industrial
Safety Corp.  ("Worksafe") and Eastco Glove Technologies,  Inc. ("Eastco Glove",
and together with Worksafe and their  respective  successors  and assigns,  each
individually a "Borrower", and collectively, "Borrowers") and Puerto Rico Safety
Equipment Corporation ("PR Equipment"), Worksafe Industries of Puerto Rico Inc.,
formerly  known as Puerto  Rico Safety  Corporation  ("PR  Safety"),  Disposable
Safety Wear Inc.  ("Disposable"),  Safety Wear Corp.  ("Safety")  and Protective
Knitting Inc. ("PKI", and together with PR Equipment, PR Safety,  Disposable and
Safety,  each individually a "Guarantor",  and collectively,  "Guarantors") have
entered into financing  arrangements pursuant to which Lender may make loans and
provide other financial accommodations to Borrowers as set forth in the Accounts
Financing  Agreement [Security  Agreement],  dated as of October 1, 1991, by and
among  Lender and  Borrowers,  as amended  (and  together  with all  supplements
thereto and as amended hereby and as the same may hereafter be further  amended,
modified,  supplemented,  extended,  renewed,  restated or  replaced,  the "Loan
Agreement") and other agreements,  documents and instruments referred to therein
or at any time  executed  and/or  delivered in  connection  therewith or related
thereto, including this Amendment (all of the foregoing,  together with the Loan
Agreement,  as the  same  now  exist  or may  hereafter  be  amended,  modified,
supplemented,  extended,  renewed,  restated  or  replaced,  being  collectively
referred to herein as the "Financing  Agreements").  All capitalized  terms used
herein shall have the meaning  assigned  thereto in the Loan  Agreement,  unless
otherwise defined herein.

     Worksafe has entered into an  agreement  to sell  substantially  all of the
assets of the  Distribution  Division  of  Worksafe  listed on  Exhibit A hereto
(collectively,  the "Sale  Assets")  pursuant to the Asset  Purchase  Agreement,
dated December 14, 1998, between Arbill Industries, Inc. ("Arbill") and Worksafe
(the "Sale Agreement").

     Borrowers and  Guarantors  have  requested that Lender consent to such sale
and agree to certain  amendments to the Loan Agreement in connection  therewith,
and Lender is willing to so consent and agree to such amendments, subject to the
terms and conditions  contained herein.  By this Amendment,  Lender and Borrower
desire and intend to evidence such amendment.

     In  consideration  of  the  foregoing  and  the  agreements  and  covenants
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. Consent.  Subject to the terms and conditions  contained herein,  Lender
hereby  consents to the sale by Worksafe of the Sale Assets in  accordance  with
the terms of the Sale Agreement as in

<PAGE>

effect on the date hereof, provided, that, (a) the sale of the Sale Assets other
than the Distribution Division Accounts (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to the
Sale Agreement shall have occurred by no later than January 19, 1999 and (b) the
sale  of the  Sale  Assets  consisting  of the  Distribution  Division  Accounts
pursuant to the Sale  Agreement  shall have  occurred by no later than March 31,
1999.

     2.  Additional  Representations,  Warranties and  Covenants.  Borrowers and
Guarantors hereby jointly and severally represent, warrant and covenant with and
to Lender as  follows,  which  representations,  warranties  and  covenants  are
continuing  and shall survive the execution and delivery  hereof,  and the truth
and accuracy of, or compliance  with each,  together  with the  representations,
warranties and covenants in the other Financing  Agreements,  being a continuing
condition of the making of loans and providing other financial accommodations by
Lender to Borrowers:

          (a) On or about the date  hereof,  Worksafe  has sold to Arbill all of
     the Sale Assets  pursuant to the Sale Agreement  other than the Sale Assets
     consisting of the Distribution  Division Accounts (as hereinafter  defined)
     and on or about  January 12, 1999 all of the proceeds  thereof have been or
     shall be remitted to Lender for application to the Obligations  (other than
     the  principal  amount of the Term Loan) in such order and manner as Lender
     determines. The net cash proceeds from the sale of such Sale Assets are not
     less than the amount equal to:  $2,450,000  plus the amount equal to ninety
     (90%) percent of the Distribution  Division Accounts,  minus $315,000 which
     is represented by the Promissory Note issued by Arbill payable to Worksafe.
     By no later than March 31, 1999, (i) Worksafe  shall sell the  Distribution
     Division  Accounts  to  Arbill  in  accordance  with the  terms of the Sale
     Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof),  (ii) Borrowers  shall deliver
     to Lender a true,  correct and complete list of the  Distribution  Division
     Accounts  which are being sold to Arbill and a true,  correct and  complete
     list of the  Distribution  Division  Accounts  which are being  retained by
     Worksafe,  and (iii)  Borrowers shall cause all proceeds of such sale to be
     paid by Arbill  directly to Lender for  application  to the  Obligations in
     such order and manner as Lender determines (other than the principal amount
     of the Term Loan, so long as no Event of Default  exists or has  occurred).
     In respect of the purchase price for the  Distribution  Division  Accounts,
     Worksafe  shall  receive  not less than the  amount  equal to ninety  (90%)
     percent of the Distribution Division Accounts.  Exhibit A hereto contains a
     true,  correct and  complete  list of all of the assets and  properties  of
     Worksafe  sold to  Arbill  pursuant  to the Sale  Agreement  as of the date
     hereof. No assets or properties of Borrowers or Guarantors other than those
     listed on Exhibit A hereto have been sold to Arbill as of the date hereof.

          (b) Exhibit B hereto is a true,  correct and complete copy of the Sale
     Agreement, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto, as executed by
     the parties  thereto (other than Schedules  3.15, 3.24 and 3.26 to the Sale
     Agreement, true, correct and complete copies of which shall be delivered to
     Lender by no later than January 15, 1999).

          (c) The security  interests in and liens upon the Collateral of Lender
     are and shall continue to be in full force and effect  (including,  but not
     limited to, all of the  Distribution  Division  Accounts and all amounts at
     any  time  payable  to any  Borrower,  Guarantor  or any of its  affiliates
     pursuant to the Sale Agreement (and all related  agreements,  documents and
     instruments),  and all rights,  benefits  and  remedies of any  Borrower or
     Guarantor  pursuant  to the  Sale  Agreement  and all  related  agreements,
     documents and instruments), except for the Sale Assets sold to Arbill as of
     the date hereof (which do not include the Distribution Division Accounts).

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

          (d)  Borrowers  and  Guarantors  shall  cause all  amounts at any time
     payable to any Borrower, Guarantor or any of its affiliates pursuant to the
     Sale Agreement or any related  agreements,  documents and instruments to be
     paid by Arbill  directly to Lender for  application  to the  Obligations in
     such order and manner as Lender shall  determine  (other than the principal
     amount  of the Term  Loan,  so long as no Event of  Default  exists  or has
     occurred).  The net amount  payable by Arbill to  Worksafe in cash or other
     immediately  available  funds pursuant to the Sale  Agreement  shall be not
     less than  $2,450,000  (minus $315,000 paid pursuant to the Promissory Note
     issued by Arbill  payable to  Worksafe) in respect of all Sale Assets other
     than the  Distribution  Division  Accounts  and not less than ninety  (90%)
     percent of the Distribution Division Accounts in respect of the Sale Assets
     consisting of the Distribution Division Accounts.

          (e) In the event any Borrower or Guarantor receives any amounts at any
     time pursuant to the Sale Agreement or any related  agreement,  document or
     instrument,  such amounts  shall be collected by such Borrower or Guarantor
     as the  property  of Lender and held by it in trust for Lender and shall on
     the day  received  be  remitted  to Lender in the form  received,  with any
     necessary  assignments or endorsements,  for application to the Obligations
     in such  order  and  manner  as  Lender  shall  determine  (other  than the
     principal amount of the Term Loan, so long as no Event of Default exists or
     has occurred).

          (f) On or about  December 17,  1998,  Eastco  Industrial  Safety Corp.
     changed its name to Worksafe  Industries  Inc. and all references to Eastco
     Industrial Safety Corp. in any of the Financing  Agreements shall be deemed
     to  refer  to  Worksafe  and its  successors  and  assigns.  Borrowers  and
     Guarantors  have  delivered to Lender a true,  correct and complete copy of
     the amendment to the certificate of  incorporation  effectuating  such name
     change  as  certified  by the New  York  Secretary  of  State.  On or about
     December  24,  1998,  Puerto  Rico Safety  Corporation  changed its name to
     Worksafe  Industries of Puerto Rico Inc. and all  references to Puerto Rico
     Safety  Corporation in any of the Financing  Agreements  shall be deemed to
     refer to PR Safety and its successors and assigns. Borrowers and Guarantors
     have delivered to Lender a true, correct and complete copy of the amendment
     to the  certificate  of  incorporation  to  effectuate  such name change as
     certified by the New York Secretary of State.

          (g) Borrowers and Guarantors  shall  physically  segregate and clearly
     and conspicuously  mark and label all goods of any Borrower or Guarantor at
     any time located at any premises owned or leased by Arbill.

          (h) By no later than February 5, 1999, (i) Lender shall have received,
     in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, UCC-3 Amendments with respect
     to each UCC-1 financing statement between Worksafe,  as debtor, and Lender,
     as secured party,  amending such financing statements to change the name of
     Worksafe from Eastco Industrial Safety  Corporation to Worksafe  Industries
     Inc., duly authorized,  executed and delivered by Worksafe, and (ii) Lender
     shall have received,  in form and substance  satisfactory to Lender,  UCC-3
     Amendments  with  respect  to each  UCC-1  financing  statement  between PR
     Safety, as debtor,  and Lender,  as secured party,  amending such financing
     statements to change the name of PR Safety from Puerto Rico Safety Corp. to
     Worksafe  Industries  of Puerto Rico Inc.,  duly  authorized,  executed and
     delivered by PR Safety.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

          (i) No Event of Default or act,  condition  or event which with notice
     or passage of time or both would  constitute an Event of Default  exists or
     has occurred as of the date of this  Amendment  (after giving effect to the
     amendments to the Financing Agreements made by this Amendment).

          (j) This  Amendment  has been duly executed and delivered by Borrowers
     and  Guarantors  and is in full force and effect as of the date  hereof and
     the agreements and obligations of Borrowers and Guarantors contained herein
     constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrowers and Guarantors
     enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms.

     3.  Conditions  Precedent.  The  effectiveness  of the  consent  of  Lender
contained  in  Section 1 hereof is subject  to the  satisfaction  of each of the
following conditions precedent in a manner satisfactory to Lender:

          (a) all representations and warranties  contained herein shall be true
     and correct;

          (b) Lender shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to
     Lender,  evidence  that  Worksafe  has received on the date hereof not less
     than  $2,600,000 as proceeds  from the sale of the Sale Assets  pursuant to
     the Sale  Agreement  (as in  effect  on the date  hereof),  other  than the
     Distribution  Division  Accounts and other  amounts  related  thereto minus
     $315,000  represented by the Arbill Note (as defined  below),  of which not
     less than $2,000,000 is being remitted by wire transfer  directly to Lender
     (representing  the  inventory  valuation  amount  of  $1,562,641  plus  the
     $915,000  portion of the purchase  price provided for in the Asset Purchase
     Agreement  as reduced by the  $315,000  being paid with the Arbill Note and
     $100,000 being paid from the escrow arrangements  provided for in the Asset
     Purchase Agreement) and the balance of which is being paid by checks issued
     by Arbill  payable to  Worksafe,  approximately  $98,000 of which  shall be
     promptly  deposited  in the  blocked  account  of  Worksafe  used  for  the
     remittance of collection of receivables to Lender;

          (c) Lender shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to
     Lender,  the  Collateral  Assignment of Note by Worksafe in favor of Lender
     with  respect to the  Promissory  Note,  dated on or about the date hereof,
     issued by Arbill  payable to Worksafe in the original  principal  amount of
     $315,000 (the "Arbill Note"),  duly  authorized,  executed and delivered by
     Worksafe  (which  note  shall  be in form  and  substance  satisfactory  to
     Lender),  together  with the  original of the Arbill  Note as endorsed  and
     assigned by Worksafe to Lender in a manner satisfactory to Lender;

          (d) Lender shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to
     Lender,  the Collateral  Assignment of Sale Agreements by Worksafe in favor
     of Lender, duly authorized,  executed and delivered by Worksafe in favor of
     Lender;

          (e) Lender shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to
     Lender,  the agreement by Arbill in favor of Lender  providing  for,  inter
     alia, the waiver of any claims by Arbill to inventory of Borrowers  located
     at premises  owned or leased by Arbill,  the waiver of, or  limitation  on,
     certain rights of setoff against  accounts  receivable of Borrowers and the
     waiver of any claims to funds received by Lender and related matters,  duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by Arbill;

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

          (f) Lender shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to
     Lender, the agreement of Arbill acknowledging the collateral  assignment by
     Worksafe  to Lender of all of its  rights  and  remedies,  and  claims  for
     damages and other relief under the Sale  Agreement and such other rights as
     Lender may require, duly authorized, executed and delivered by Arbill;

          (g) Lender shall have received, in form and substance  satisfactory to
     Lender,  the  acknowledgment by Arbill in favor of Lender to the collateral
     assignment  by  Worksafe  to Lender of the Arbill  Note,  duly  authorized,
     executed and delivered by Arbill;

          (h) the sale by Worksafe of the Sale Assets to Arbill  pursuant to the
     Sale  Agreement  shall have  occurred by no later than January 18, 1999 and
     the sale by  Worksafe  of the  Distribution  Division  Accounts  to  Arbill
     pursuant to the Sale  Agreement  shall have occurred by no later than March
     31, 1999;

          (i) as of the date hereof and after giving effect to the  transactions
     contemplated by the Sale Agreement,  no Event of Default,  or event, act or
     condition which with notice or passage of time or both would  constitute an
     Event of Default, shall exist or have occurred; and

          (j) Lender  shall have  received an original of this  Amendment,  duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by Borrowers and Guarantors.

     4. Arbill Receivables.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained
in any of the other Financing Agreements,  except in Lender's discretion, Lender
shall only make advances to Worksafe based on Eligible Accounts due from Arbill,
up to the amount  equal to seventy  (70%)  percent of the Net Amount of Eligible
Accounts due from Arbill.

     5. Additional Defaults.  The failure of any Borrower or Guarantor to comply
with the  representations,  warranties,  covenants,  conditions  and  agreements
contained herein or in any other  agreement,  document or instrument at any time
executed  and/or  delivered by any Borrower or Guarantor with, to or in favor of
Lender shall constitute an Event of Default under the Financing Agreements.

     6. Additional  Definitions.  As used herein, the following terms shall have
the respective meanings given to them below:

          (a)  "Account  Debtor"  shall mean with  respect  to any  Distribution
     Division Accounts, any Person that is obligated on such account.

          (b) "Distribution Division Accounts" shall mean each and every account
     for goods sold or leased by or for  services  rendered by the  Distribution
     Division  which  account  is owned by  Worksafe  and arose from the sale of
     goods or services by the  Distribution  Division in its ordinary  course of
     business and that meets the following conditions:

               (i) such  Distribution  Division  Account arose in an arms-length
          transaction with an unrelated third party during the period commencing
          on December 1, 1998 and ending on December 31, 1998;

                                       -5-

<PAGE>

               (ii)  all or any  part  of  such  Distribution  Division  Account
          remains outstanding on the sixtieth (60th) day after January 11, 1999;

               (iii) the amount of such Distribution Division Account is not, as
          of March 16, 1999, subject to setoff, charges,  credits or defenses of
          any nature whatsoever;

               (iv) the Account Debtor for such Distribution Division Account is
          not an  Excluded  Customer  (as  such  term  is  defined  in the  Sale
          Agreement as in effect on the date hereof);

               (v) such Distribution Division Account is subject to no liens;

               (vi)  such   Distribution   Division   Account  is  based  on  an
          enforceable  order or contract for goods shipped or services  rendered
          that contains selling terms of not more than thirty (30) days past the
          original invoice date;

               (vii) the  property  giving  rise to such  Distribution  Division
          Account shall have been shipped to the Account  Debtor or delivered to
          an agent of an Account  Debtor  for  shipment  to an  Account  Debtor,
          provided  that any property  returned or refused by an Account  Debtor
          shall not give rise to a Distribution  Division Account from and after
          the date of such return or refusal;

               (viii) the  Distribution  Division Account arose from the sale of
          goods that were not  placed on  consignment,  bill and hold,  sale and
          return,  sale on  approval,  or other  terms by  reason  of which  the
          payment by an Account Debtor may be conditional (except from and after
          the time such condition no longer applies);

               (ix) such Distribution  Division Account is denominated in United
          States Dollars;

               (x) such  Distribution  Division  Account  arose under a contract
          that has been duly  authorized  and is in full  force and  effect  and
          constitutes  the legal,  valid and binding  obligations  of an Account
          Debtor, enforceable against such Account Debtor in accordance with its
          terms;

               (xi) the Account Debtor for such Distribution Division Account is
          not any government or any department, agency or instrumentality of any
          government, any state, city town or municipality or division thereof;

               (xii) the Account Debtor for such  Distribution  Division Account
          is not a subsidiary or an affiliate of Worksafe; and

               (xiii) neither Worksafe nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates
          shall have  knowledge of (A) the death of the Account  Debtor for such
          Distribution Division Account, or (B) the dissolution,  termination of
          existence of, or the insolvency,  business failure or cessation of, or
          the filing of a petition in bankruptcy or  reorganization  for, or the
          appointment  of a receiver or custodian for, or any similar event with
          respect to, such Account Debtor.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

          (c)  "Distribution  Division"  shall mean that  division of Worksafe's
     business involving the sale of industrial  protective  clothing,  including
     gloves, glasses, earmuffs,  earplugs,  respirators,  goggles, face shields,
     rainwear,  protective footwear,  first aid kits, monitoring devices,  signs
     and  related  industrial  safety  products  to  end-users  (as  opposed  to
     distributors),  including,  manufacturing companies and service businesses,
     public utilities,  fisheries,  pharmaceutical  plants,  the  transportation
     industry and companies engaged in hazardous materials abatement.

     7. Effect of this Amendment.  Except as modified  pursuant hereto, no other
changes or  modifications  to the Financing  Agreements are intended or implied,
and in all other  respects  the  Financing  Agreements  are hereby  specifically
ratified,  restated and confirmed by all parties hereto as of the effective date
hereof. Any acknowledgment or consent contained herein shall not be construed to
constitute a consent to any other or further action by any Borrower or Guarantor
or to entitle any Borrower or Guarantor to any other  consent.  To the extent of
conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the other Financing Agreements,
the terms of this Amendment shall control. The Loan Agreement and this Amendment
shall be read and construed as one agreement.

     8. Further  Assurances.  The parties  hereto shall execute and deliver such
additional  documents  and take such  additional  action as may be  necessary or
desirable to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Amendment.

     9.  Governing  Law. The validity,  interpretation  and  enforcement of this
Amendment and the other Financing  Agreements and any dispute arising out of the
relationship  between the parties  hereto whether in contract,  tort,  equity or
otherwise,  shall be  governed  by the  internal  laws of the  State of New York
(without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws).

     10.  Headings.  The headings listed herein are for convenience  only and do
not constitute matters to be construed in interpreting this Amendment.

     11.  Counterparts.  This  Amendment  may  be  executed  in  any  number  of
counterparts, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same agreement. In making proof of this Amendment, it shall not be necessary
to produce or account for more than one  counterpart  thereof  signed by each of
the parties hereto.

     12. Binding Effect.  This letter  agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>


     The parties  hereto have caused this letter  agreement to be duly  executed
and  delivered by their  authorized  officers as of the day and year first above
written.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                WORKSAFE INDUSTRIES INC.,
                                                formerly known as Eastco
                                                Industrial Safety Corp.

                                                By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President


                                                EASTCO GLOVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                                By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                Title: Vice President
AGREED:

PUERTO RICO SAFETY EQUIPMENT
 CORPORATION

By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
    -----------------------------
Title: Vice President


WORKSAFE INDUSTRIES OF PUERTO RICO INC., formerly known as Puerto Rico Safety
 Corporation

By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
    -----------------------------
Title: Vice President


DISPOSABLE SAFETY WEAR INC.

By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
    -----------------------------
Title: Vice President

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

                       [SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE]





                                      -9-

<PAGE>




                      [SIGNATURES CONTINUE FROM PRIOR PAGE]



SAFETY WEAR CORP.

By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
    -----------------------------
Title: Vice President


PROTECTIVE KNITTING, INC.

By: /s/ Arthur J. Wasserspring
    -----------------------------
Title: Vice President


CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION

By: /s/ Cindy B. Denbaum          
    -----------------------------
Title: Vice President

                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A
                                       TO
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 9



     For  purposes  of this  Amendment,  the term "Sale  Assets"  shall mean the
following  assets  owned  by  Worksafe  used  exclusively  and  directly  in the
Distribution  Division (as defined below) of Worksafe, to the extent such assets
exist on January  11,  1999 and are sold and  transferred  by Worksafe to Arbill
Industries,  Inc. pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of December
14, 1998,  between Worksafe and Arbill  Industries,  Inc. (but in no event shall
such  assets be deemed to include  the  Excluded  Assets as such term is defined
below):

     (a) the Distribution Division Accounts (as defined in Amendment No. 9);

     (b) all office and warehouse equipment, furniture, fixtures and catalogs of
or relating to the Distribution  Division  wherever located listed on Schedule 1
hereto;

     (c) the list of all  customers  of, and suppliers of goods and services to,
the  Distribution  Division as well as the  end-users  (including  manufacturing
companies and service businesses,  public utilities,  fisheries,  pharmaceutical
plants, the transportation industry and companies engaged in hazardous materials
abatement)  of all  safety  products  sold by  Worksafe  or any other  division,
subsidiary or affiliate of Worksafe other than the  Distribution  Division,  but
excluding all customers of the Manufacturing  Subsidiaries who are not end-users
of the goods manufactured by the Manufacturing Subsidiaries;

     (d) the  Intellectual  Property used in the  operation of the  Distribution
Division listed on Schedule 2 hereto;

     (e) Inventory;

     (f) all Open  Sourcing  Orders or  Contracts  and Open  Purchase  Orders or
Contracts of the Distribution  Division  existing as of January 11, 1999 and not
otherwise constituting Excluded Assets;

     (g) all of the  Worksafe's  rights  under and  pursuant to all  warranties,
representations  and  guarantees  made  by  suppliers  in  connection  with  the
Inventory  and the Open  Sourcing  Orders or Contracts  identified in clause (f)
above;

     (h) all of Worksafe's  rights,  claims and interests to and with respect to
any pending or executory contracts relating  exclusively to the Inventory,  Open
Sourcing Orders or Contracts,  Open Purchase  Orders or Contracts  identified in
clause (f) above;

     (i) all of Worksafe's rights, if any, in and to the names Eastco Industrial
Safety and Puerto Rico Safety;

                                       A-1

<PAGE>



     (j) any and all  significant  records,  files  and  papers  (or  copies  or
computer  printouts thereof) relating to the other Sale Assets wherever located,
including without limitation,  Inventory records,  catalogs,  slogans, sales and
advertising  materials,  sales  and  purchase  correspondence,  lists of  former
customers  and  suppliers,  customer  credit  information  and customer  pricing
information relating to the Sale Assets; and

     (k) all of Worksafe's  rights in and to any 800  telephone  numbers used in
connection with the Distribution  Division,  but not the telephone  equipment or
system used in connection with the Distribution Division.

     Capitalized terms used herein shall have the following meanings:

     (a) "Distribution Division" shall mean that division of Worksafe's business
involving the sale of industrial protective clothing, including gloves, glasses,
earmuffs,  earplugs,  respirators,  goggles, face shields, rain wear, protective
footwear,  first aid kits,  monitoring  devices,  signs and  related  industrial
safety   products  to  end-users  (as  opposed  to   distributors),   including,
manufacturing  companies and service  businesses,  public utilities,  fisheries,
pharmaceutical  plants,  the  transportation  industry and companies  engaged in
hazardous materials abatement.

     (b) "Excluded Assets" shall mean:

          (i) Worksafe's cash on hand;

          (ii) Worksafe's bank accounts;

          (iii) Worksafe's computer hardware and software systems (other than
     the software associated with Website www.Eastco);

          (iv) any Open Source Orders or Contracts, Open Purchase Orders or
     Contracts or tangible assets (other than Inventory) or intangible assets
     that would otherwise be included in the term "Sale Assets" which Arbill
     Industries, Inc. shall have identified as "Excluded Assets" in a written
     notice delivered to Worksafe on or before January 11, 1999;

          (v) all assets of the Manufacturing Subsidiaries and the Manufacturing
     Business of Worksafe; and

          (vi) any and all pre-paid insurance, prepaid deposits and similar
     items of Worksafe.

     (c)  "Intellectual  Property"  shall mean the right,  title and interest of
Worksafe, if any, with respect to the Distribution Division and with respect to:

          (i) all inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or
     not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent
     applications and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances,
     continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and
     reexaminations thereof;

                                       A-2

<PAGE>

          (ii) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names,
     and corporate names, including the name Eastco Industrial Safety and Puerto
     Rico Safety, together with all translations, adaptions, derivations and
     combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, and
     all applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith,
     together with all license agreements relating to any of the foregoing;

          (iii) all copyrightable works, all copyrights and all applications,
     registrations and renewals in connection therewith;

          (iv) all mask works and all applications, registrations and renewals
     in connection therewith;

          (v) all trade secrets and confidential business information (including
     ideas, research and development, know-how formulas, compositions,
     manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical data,
     designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and
     cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals);

          (vi) all computer software (including data and related documentation),
     including any license agreement relating to the foregoing;

          (vii) the website, www.Eastco.com.;

          (viii) all other proprietary rights of or relating to any of the
     foregoing; and

          (ix) all copies and tangible embodiments of or relating to any of the
     foregoing (in whatever form or medium).

     (d)  "Inventory"  shall  mean  industrial  protective  clothing,  including
gloves, glasses, earmuffs,  earplugs,  respirators,  goggles, face shields, rain
wear, protective footwear,  first aid kits, monitoring devices, signs, and other
safety products which are recorded on the books and records of the  Distribution
Division  and  held by the  Distribution  Division,  or are  deliverable  to the
Distribution Division, on December 31, 1998 for sale to end-users of such safety
products (as distinguished  from  distributors of such safety  products),  which
Inventory shall meet all of the following criteria:

          (i) such Inventory consists solely of finished goods;

          (ii) no account receivable or document of title in favor of any
     purchaser of such Inventory has been created or issued with respect to such
     Inventory;

          (iii) such Inventory is readily saleable in a bona fide arm's length
     termination, or is usable in the ordinary course of the business of the
     Distribution Division and no portion of such Inventory represents returned,
     rejected, lost, obsolete, damaged or defective goods;

          (iv) if such Inventory is located on leased premises, a valid lease,
     sublease or license agreement for such premises has been delivered to
     Arbill Industries, Inc. for such premises, except that

                                       A-3

<PAGE>

     if such Inventory is located on the premises of certain specified third
     parties, such Inventory shall be segregated from other products of such
     companies, marked as the property of Worksafe;

          (v) such Inventory is not subject to any liens;

          (vi) such Inventory is not on consignment or located in a public
     warehouse;

          (vii) such Inventory has been manufactured or acquired in compliance
     with the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. ss.201 et seq;

          (viii) such Inventory conforms to all environmental, health and safety
     laws and regulations and any other applicable laws as the same exist as of
     January 11, 1999;

          (ix) such Inventory is packaged in standard packaging cases;

          (x) the quantity as to each SKU of Inventory shall not exceed the
     aggregate quantity sold by Worksafe during the twelve-month period
     immediately preceding December 31, 1998, to persons other than Excluded
     Customers (as such term is defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement referred
     to above); and

          (xi) such obsolete, damaged or defective goods as Arbill Industries,
     Inc. may reasonably specify in writing as of January 11, 1999.

     (e)  "Manufacturing  Business"  shall mean with  respect to Worksafe or any
division of the Worksafe or with respect to the  Manufacturing  Subsidiaries and
any other direct or indirect  subsidiaries  of Worksafe,  the acquisition of raw
materials and finished  goods for and the  manufacturing,  marketing and sale to
distributors  (as  distinguished  from  end-users)  of  disposable  and reusable
industrial protective apparel,  including,  but not limited to, products such as
gloves,  coveralls,  shirts,  pants,  hats, hoods,  aprons,  smocks,  lab coats,
hazardous material handler suits,  examination gloves,  sleeves, shoe covers and
related items.

     (f) "Manufacturing  Subsidiary" or "Manufacturing  Subsidiaries" shall mean
each and all,  respectively,  of the following:  Disposable Safety Wear, Inc., a
Delaware corporation,  Safety Wear Corp., a Delaware  corporation,  Eastco Glove
Technologies,  Inc.,  a Minnesota  corporation,  Puerto  Rico  Safety  Equipment
Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

     (g) "Open  Sourcing  Order or  Contract"  shall mean the rights of Worksafe
under  all  outstanding  contracts  and  all  servicing  orders  placed  by  the
Distribution  Division for new industrial  protective  clothing and other safety
products  of the type  constituting  the  Inventory  being  acquired  by  Arbill
Industries, Inc. on January 11, 1999.

     (h) "Open Purchase Order or Contract" shall mean all outstanding  contracts
of the Distribution  Division for and all outstanding servicing orders placed by
customers of the Distribution  Division for 

                                       A-4

<PAGE>

new  industrial  protective  clothing and other  safety  products of the type of
inventory  being acquired by Arbill  Industries,  Inc., or inventories  that are
customarily carried by Arbill Industries, Inc.

                                       A-5



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