CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC
10-Q/A, 1999-10-21
GUIDED MISSILES & SPACE VEHICLES & PARTS
Previous: CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC, 10-Q, 1999-10-21
Next: NATHANS FAMOUS INC, SC 13G, 1999-10-21





                                Form 10-Q/A

                               10Q Amendment
                           Addition of 3 Exhibits
         These Exhibits did not transmit in original transmission:
                          Stock Purchase Agreement
                   Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
                               Financial Data
                       Add to 10Q 0000068366-99000062

<PAGE>

                             UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549


                                 Form 10-Q



[X]  QUARTERLY  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

             For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999

                                     OR

[ ]  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE  ACT OF 1934  FOR  THE  TRANSITION  PERIOD  FROM  ___________
     TO ______________.

                       Commission file number 1-6179


                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.


Incorporated in the State of Delaware           IRS Employer Identification
                                                        No. 36-2678716


       15 West S. Temple, Suite 1600, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-1532

                      Telephone Number: (801) 933-4000

Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ____


Indicate the number of shares  outstanding of each of the issuer's  classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Common  Stock,  $1.00  par  value,   outstanding  at  September  30,  1999:
36,714,831



<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, thereunto duly authorized.

                                      CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
                                      (Registrant)




Date:    October 21, 1999.            /s/  Richard L. Corbin___________
                                      Richard L. Corbin, Executive Vice
                                      President and Chief Financial Officer
                                      (Principal Financial Officer)




                                      /s/  Michael R. Ayers____________
                                      Michael R. Ayers,
                                      Vice President and Controller
                                      (Principal Accounting Officer)





                                                                Execution Copy


                          STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT



<PAGE>


                             TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                          PAGE

ARTICLE I...................................................................1


ARTICLE II. PURCHASES.......................................................2

   2.1  PURCHASE OF COMPANIES COMMON STOCK..................................2
   2.2  PURCHASE PRICE......................................................2
   2.3  WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT..........................................2
   2.4  TAKING OF NECESSARY ACTION; FURTHER ACTION..........................4
   2.5  ACCRUED BONUS PAYMENTS..............................................4

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANIES.........5

   3.1  ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANIES.......................................5
   3.2  CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMPANIES.....................................5
   3.3  AUTHORIZATION.......................................................6
   3.4  OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS..............................................6
   3.5  BANK ACCOUNTS.......................................................6
   3.6  SUBSIDIARIES........................................................6
   3.7  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS................................7
   3.8  TITLE TO ASSETS; REAL PROPERTY MATTERS..............................9
   3.9  SUFFICIENCY OF ASSETS...............................................9
   3.10 FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT.............................................10
   3.11 CONTRACTS..........................................................10
   3.12 NO CONFLICT OR VIOLATION; CONSENTS.................................12
   3.13 PERMITS............................................................12
   3.14 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; BOOKS AND RECORDS............................12
   3.15 LIABILITIES........................................................12
   3.16 LITIGATION.........................................................13
   3.17 LABOR MATTERS......................................................13
   3.18 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS..................................................14
   3.19 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES..................................16
   3.20 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW................................................16
   3.21 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY..............................................16
   3.22 TAX MATTERS........................................................17
   3.23 INSURANCE..........................................................18
   3.24 PURCHASE COMMITMENTS AND OUTSTANDING BIDS..........................18
   3.25 PAYMENTS...........................................................18
   3.26 CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS............................................18
   3.27 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS..............................................19
   3.28 BROKERS; TRANSACTION COSTS.........................................19
   3.29 NO OTHER AGREEMENTS TO SELL........................................20
   3.30 YEAR 2000 MATTERS..................................................20
   3.31 DISCLAIMER OF OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................20

ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE STOCKHOLDERS......20

   4.1  AUTHORITY..........................................................20
   4.2  ORGANIZATION.......................................................21
   4.3  OWNERSHIP OF SHARES................................................21
   4.4  NO CONFLICTS.......................................................21
   4.5  CONSENTS, APPROVALS, ETC...........................................21
   4.6  BROKERS............................................................22

ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING CORDANT................22


                                     i

<PAGE>
                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                (Continued)
                                                                         PAGE

  5.1  ORGANIZATION OF CORDANT.............................................22
  5.2  AUTHORIZATION.......................................................22
  5.3  NO CONFLICT OR VIOLATION............................................23
  5.4  CONSENTS............................................................23
  5.5  NO BROKERS..........................................................23
  5.6  LITIGATION..........................................................23
  5.7  SEC REPORTS OF CORDANT..............................................23
  5.8  APPROVAL............................................................24

ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS......................................................24

  6.1  FURTHER ASSURANCES..................................................24
  6.2  NO SOLICITATION.....................................................26
  6.3  NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS.....................................26
  6.4  ACCESS TO INFORMATION...............................................27
  6.5  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.................................................27
  6.6  EMPLOYEES...........................................................28
  6.7  RESIGNATIONS........................................................28
  6.8  YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE................................................29

ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS.................29

  7.1  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS...........................29
  7.2  APPROVALS...........................................................29
  7.3  NO ACTIONS OR COURT ORDERS..........................................30
  7.4  CLOSING DOCUMENTS...................................................30
  7.5  OPINION OF COUNSEL..................................................30

ARTICLE VIII. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF CORDANT.........................30

  8.1  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS...........................30
  8.2  APPROVALS; CONSENTS.................................................31
  8.3  NO ACTIONS OR COURT ORDERS..........................................31
  8.4  CLOSING DOCUMENTS...................................................31
  8.5  OPINION OF COUNSEL..................................................31
  8.6  MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.............................................31

ARTICLE IX. CLOSING........................................................31

  9.1 DELIVERIES BY THE COMPANIES OR THE STOCKHOLDERS TO CORDANT...........31
  9.2 DELIVERIES BY CORDANT................................................32

ARTICLE X. SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION....................................33

  10.1  SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, ETC.; EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES..............33
  10.2  INDEMNIFICATION BY STOCKHOLDERS....................................33
  10.3  INDEMNIFICATION BY CORDANT.........................................35
  10.4  NOTICE; COOPERATION; DEFENSE; ETC..................................35
  10.5  TIME LIMITATIONS; RECOVERABLE DAMAGES..............................36
  10.6  TAX INDEMNIFICATION................................................37

ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS..................................................37

  11.1  TERMINATION........................................................37
  11.2  BOOKS AND RECORDS;TAX MATTERS......................................38
  11.3  ASSIGNMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES...........................41

                                    ii

<PAGE>
                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                (Continued)
                                                                         PAGE

  11.4  NOTICES............................................................41
  11.5  CHOICE OF LAW......................................................42
  11.6  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS...........................43
  11.7  COUNTERPARTS.......................................................43
  11.8  INVALIDITY.........................................................43
  11.9  EXPENSES...........................................................43
  11.10 PUBLICITY..........................................................43
  11.11 DEFINED TERMS......................................................43
  11.12 TRUSTEE LIABILITY..................................................50
  11.13 INTERPRETATION PROVISIONS..........................................50


                                    iii
<PAGE>




                               EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT A     Ownership of Companies Common Stock

EXHIBIT B     Allocation of Purchase Price

EXHIBIT C     June 30, 1999 Balance Sheet for the Companies

EXHIBIT D-1   Form of Opinion of Counsel to Cordant

EXHIBIT D-2   Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Companies and the Stockholders

EXHIBIT E     Form of Employment Agreement

EXHIBIT F     Form of Senior Advisor and Employment Agreement



<PAGE>



                          STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

          This Stock Purchase  Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into
     as of September 7, 1999 by and among (i) Cordant  Technologies Inc., a
     Delaware corporation ("CORDANT"),  (ii)  Continental/Midland,  Inc., a
     Delaware corporation ("Continental/Midland"),  KORE, Inc., an Illinois
     corporation  ("KORE"),  and KORE II,  Inc.,  an  Illinois  corporation
     ("KORE  II"  and  together  with  KORE  and  Continental/Midland,  the
     "COMPANIES"), (iv) Robert S. Kaminski, not individually, but solely as
     trustee of the Robert S. Kaminski  Revocable Trust dated June 17, 1988
     (the "RSK  TRUSTEE"),  (v) Mary Ann Kaminski and Lawrence H.  Brenman,
     not  individually,  but solely as co-trustees of (A) the David Michael
     Kaminski  Trust dated  December 25, 1992 (in such  capacity,  the "DMK
     TRUSTEES"),  (B) the Janice Marie  Kaminski  Trust dated  December 25,
     1992  (in  such  capacity,  the "JMK  TRUSTEES"),  and (C) the  Robert
     Michael Kaminski Trust dated December 25, 1992 (in such capacity,  the
     "RMK  TRUSTEES"),  and (vi)  Mary Ann  Kaminski,  an  individual  (Ms.
     Kaminski,  individually,  together  with  the  RSK  Trustee,  the  DMK
     Trustees,   the  JMK  Trustees  and  the  RMK  Trustees,   are  herein
     collectively referred to as the "STOCKHOLDERS."

                                  RECITALS
                                  --------

          A. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement,  the Stockholders desire to sell to Cordant, and Cordant desires
to purchase from the Stockholders all of the Companies Common Stock.

          B. The Board of  Directors  of Cordant  has  determined  that the
Purchases are advisable and fair to and in the best  interests of Cordant's
stockholders   and  has  approved  this  Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby.  The  respective  Boards of  Directors of each of the
Companies  have approved this Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

          C.  The  Stockholders  collectively  own  all of the  outstanding
common stock of the Companies in the amounts and  percentages  set forth on
EXHIBIT A hereto.  Each of the Stockholders has approved this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          D. Cordant,  the Companies  and the  Stockholders  desire to make
certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection
with the Purchases and also prescribe  various  conditions to the Purchases
as set forth in this Agreement.

                                 AGREEMENT
                                 ---------

          NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the mutual  covenants and
promises  contained  herein and for other good and valuable  consideration,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                ARTICLE I.

                          [Intentionally Omitted]

<PAGE>


                                ARTICLE II.
                                 PURCHASES

2.1 PURCHASE OF  COMPANIES  COMMON  STOCK.  On and subject to the terms and
conditions of this  Agreement,  Cordant agrees to purchase from each of the
Stockholders,  and each of the Stockholders agrees to sell to Cordant,  all
of its or her  shares  of  Companies  Common  Stock  for the  consideration
specified in this Article II (the "PURCHASES").

2.2  PURCHASE  PRICE.  The  aggregate  Purchase  Price  for the  shares  of
Companies  Common  Stock shall be $106  million LESS Debt as of the Closing
Date PLUS Cash as of the Closing  Date,  PLUS or MINUS the  adjustment  set
forth in Section 2.3 (the  "PURCHASE  PRICE").  The Purchase Price shall be
allocated  among the  Stockholders in the manner set forth on EXHIBIT B (to
be  delivered at Closing) and will be paid by Cordant at the Closing to the
Stockholders  by wire transfer of immediately  available  funds to accounts
designated by the Stockholders.

2.3 WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT. At the Closing, the parties shall calculate
an adjustment  with respect to  Consolidated  Working Capital in accordance
with the following:

          (a)  ESTIMATED  WORKING  CAPITAL.  At the Closing,  the Companies
shall deliver to Cordant an estimated  consolidating  balance sheet setting
forth an estimate of the balance  sheets of the Companies as of the Closing
Date,  which are prepared using the same  assumptions used in preparing the
June 30  Consolidating  Balance Sheet (as defined in Section 2.3(b)) and an
estimation of Consolidated Working Capital, Debt and Cash as of the Closing
Date (the "ESTIMATED  CONSOLIDATING  BALANCE SHEET").  At the Closing,  (i)
Cordant shall pay to the Stockholders (pro rata based on the Purchase Price
payable  to the  Stockholders  of the  Company  with  respect  to which the
adjustment was made) the amount by which the  Consolidated  Working Capital
set forth on the Estimated  Consolidating Balance Sheet is greater than the
Target Working Capital,  or (ii) the Stockholders shall pay (pro rata based
on the  Purchase  Price  payable to the  Stockholders  of the Company  with
respect to which the  adjustment  was made) to Cordant  the amount by which
the Consolidated  Working Capital set forth on the Estimated  Consolidating
Balance Sheet is less than the Target Working  Capital (in either case, the
"ESTIMATED  ADJUSTMENT  AMOUNT").  The amount of the  Consolidated  Working
Capital set forth on the Estimated  Consolidating Balance Sheet is referred
to herein as the "ESTIMATED WORKING CAPITAL."  Amounts,  if any, payable by
the Stockholders at the Closing pursuant to this Section 2.3(a) may be made
through a net wire transfer of the Purchase Price.

          (b) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:

          "CASH" shall mean cash and cash equivalents.

          "DEBT"  shall mean,  with  respect to any Person,  any  liability
(including,  without limitation, accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of
(i)  borrowed  money,   (ii)  capitalized   lease   obligations  and  (iii)
obligations  under  interest  rate  agreements  and  currency   agreements,
excluding  intercompany  debt;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  Debt shall not include
accounts payable or accrued liabilities.

                                     2

<PAGE>


          "CONSOLIDATED  WORKING CAPITAL" shall mean as of the Closing Date
(i) the sum of Accounts Receivable,  Inventory,  Investments,  Tooling, CSV
Life Insurance and Prepaid  Assets,  LESS (ii) the sum of Accounts  Payable
and Accrued Liabilities, all as determined in the same manner and using the
same  assumptions used in preparing the  consolidating  balance sheet dated
June 30,  1999  attached  hereto as EXHIBIT C (the  "JUNE 30  CONSOLIDATING
BALANCE SHEET"). The Estimated  Consolidating Balance Sheet and the Closing
Consolidating Balance Sheet shall include an accrual for $1,854,328 for the
Deferred Compensation Plan (as defined in Section 3.15); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
only  $927,164 of that amount  shall be  included in  Consolidated  Working
Capital.

          "TARGET WORKING  CAPITAL" for the Companies (based on the June 30
Consolidating  Balance  Sheet) equals  $13,262,000  (calculated  as Current
Assets (excluding Cash) of $23,656,000 LESS Current Liabilities  (excluding
the current portion of Debt) of $10,394,000).

          (c) CLOSING WORKING CAPITAL;  ADJUSTMENT  NOTICE.  Within 60 days
after the  Closing,  the  Stockholders'  Representative  shall  deliver  to
Cordant a consolidating balance sheet as of the Closing Date, including the
Consolidated  Working  Capital,  Debt and Cash as of the Closing  Date (the
"CLOSING  CONSOLIDATING  BALANCE SHEET"). The Closing Consolidating Balance
Sheet shall not reflect any actions taken by the Companies or Cordant after
the Closing. The Closing  Consolidating  Balance Sheet also shall set forth
the difference,  if any,  between the Estimated  Adjustment  Amount and the
Final Adjustment Amount (as defined below) and any differences  between the
amounts  of Cash and Debt set forth on the  Closing  Consolidating  Balance
Sheet and such amounts on the Estimated  Consolidating  Balance Sheet.  The
"FINAL ADJUSTMENT  AMOUNT" shall be the difference between the Consolidated
Working Capital and the Target Working Capital.  The Closing  Consolidating
Balance Sheet shall be prepared by the  Stockholders'  Representative,  and
the Final  Adjustment  Amount  will be  determined,  in the same manner and
using the same  assumptions  used in  preparing  the June 30  Consolidating
Balance Sheet. The Closing  Consolidating  Balance Sheet shall be final and
binding on the parties unless within 30 days after receipt thereof, Cordant
provides the Stockholders' Representative with written notice disputing the
calculation of Consolidated  Working  Capital,  Debt or Cash on the Closing
Consolidating  Balance  Sheet (the  "ADJUSTMENT  NOTICE").  The  Adjustment
Notice shall specify in reasonable and sufficient  detail the nature of any
disagreement  so asserted and the amount of Consolidated  Working  Capital,
Debt or Cash proposed by Cordant.  If an  Adjustment  Notice is received by
the  Stockholders'  Representative  in a timely  manner,  then the  Closing
Consolidating Balance Sheet shall become final and binding upon the parties
on the earlier of (i) the date Cordant and the Stockholders' Representative
resolve in writing any  differences  they have with  respect to the matters
set forth in the Adjustment  Notice,  or (ii) the date any disputed matters
are finally  resolved in writing by the  Arbitrator  appointed  pursuant to
Section 2.3(d).

          (d) RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES; ARBITRATION. During the 30-day period
following  the  delivery  of  the  Adjustment   Notice,   Cordant  and  the
Stockholders' Representative shall seek in good faith to resolve in writing
any differences which they may have with respect to any matter specified in
the Adjustment  Notice.  If, at the end of such 30-day period,  Cordant and
the  Stockholders'  Representative  have  not  reached  agreement  on  such
matters,  the matters  which  remain in dispute  shall be  submitted  to an
arbitrator (the  "Arbitrator")  for review and  resolution.  The arbitrator
shall be PriceWaterhouseCoopers,  or if such firm is unable or unwilling to
act,

                                     3

<PAGE>

such other  nationally  recognized  independent  public  accounting firm as
shall be agreed upon by Cordant  and the  Stockholders'  Representative  in
writing.  The  Arbitrator  shall render a written  decision  resolving  the
matters  in  dispute  within 30 days  following  their  submission  to such
Arbitrator,  which decision shall be final and binding upon the parties. In
the event the parties submit any matters to the Arbitrator pursuant to this
Section 2.3(d), Cordant and the Stockholders will share the expenses of the
Arbitrator as follows:  (i) if the Arbitrator  resolves all of such matters
in favor of Cordant,  the  Stockholders  will be responsible for all of the
fees and expenses of the Arbitrator; (ii) if the Arbitrator resolves all of
such matters in favor of the Stockholders,  Cordant will be responsible for
all of the fees and  expenses of the  Arbitrator;  (iii) if the  Arbitrator
resolves  some of such  matters  in favor of  Cordant  and the rest of such
matters in favor of the  Stockholders,  (A) Cordant will be responsible for
that fraction of the fees and expenses of the  Arbitrator  equal to (x) the
difference  between the  Consolidated  Working  Capital amount  proposed by
Cordant in the Adjustment  Notice and the amount thereof  determined by the
Arbitrator,  DIVIDED BY (y) the difference between the Consolidated Working
Capital  proposed  by  Cordant in the  Adjustment  Notice and the value set
forth in the Closing  Consolidating Balance Sheet, and (B) the Stockholders
shall be responsible for the remaining fees and expenses of the Arbitrator.

          (e) FINAL  SETTLEMENT  OF WORKING  CAPITAL  ADJUSTMENT.  Once the
final Consolidated Working Capital,  Cash and Debt amounts set forth on the
Closing Consolidating Balance Sheet, including the Final Adjustment Amount,
are  established  pursuant to this  Section  2.3,  then (i)  Cordant  shall
promptly  pay to the  Stockholders  (pro rata based on the  Purchase  Price
allocated  to the  Stockholders)  the amount by which the Final  Adjustment
Amount  is  greater  than  the  Estimated  Adjustment  Amount,  or (ii) the
Stockholders  shall  promptly  pay (pro rata  based on the  Purchase  Price
allocated  to the  Stockholders)  to Cordant  the amount by which the Final
Adjustment Amount is less than the Estimated  Adjustment  Amount, in either
case  by  wire  transfer  of  immediately  available  funds  to an  account
designated by the recipient of such funds.

          (f)  STOCKHOLDERS'  REPRESENTATIVE.  In order to  administer  the
provisions of this Section 2.3 and Article X on behalf of the Stockholders,
the Stockholders  hereby appoint Robert S. Kaminski,  or if he ceases to be
the  Stockholders'  Representative,  Mary  Ann  Kaminski,  to act as  their
representative (the "STOCKHOLDERS' REPRESENTATIVE").

2.4 TAKING OF  NECESSARY  ACTION;  FURTHER  ACTION.  Each of  Cordant,  the
Companies and the Stockholders shall take all such reasonable lawful action
as may be  necessary  or  appropriate  in order to effect the  Purchases in
accordance  with this Agreement as promptly as  practicable  and to execute
and deliver all such  proper  deeds,  assignments,  and  assurances  as are
reasonably  necessary  and do all  other  things  reasonably  necessary  or
desirable to continue to vest, perfect or confirm title to such property or
rights in the  Companies  after the Closing and  otherwise to carry out the
purpose of this Agreement, in the name of such Company or otherwise.

2.5 ACCRUED BONUS PAYMENTS.  Cordant agrees to pay, or cause to be paid, at
the Closing or within 15 Business Days thereafter,  an amount not to exceed
$5,000,000  representing accrued bonus and profit sharing  contributions in
the manner,  to the Persons  and in the  respective  amounts set forth on a
schedule thereof to be provided by the Companies prior to the Closing

                                     4

<PAGE>

Date. The amount shall be included on the Estimated  Consolidating  Balance
Sheet and the Closing Consolidating Balance Sheet.

                               ARTICLE III.
           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANIES

          Except as set forth on the Companies Disclosure Schedule, each of
the  Stockholders  (severally,  and  not  jointly  and  severally)  and the
Companies  jointly and severally  makes the following  representations  and
warranties to Cordant:

3.1  ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANIES.  Each of the Companies is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of the Companies has full corporate
power and  authority  to conduct  its  Business  as it is  presently  being
conducted  and to own or lease,  as  applicable,  its  Assets.  Each of the
Companies is duly qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation and is
in good  standing  in each  jurisdiction  in which  such  qualification  is
necessary  under  applicable law as a result of the conduct of its Business
or the  ownership  of its  properties,  except  where the  failure to be so
qualified would not have a Material  Adverse Effect.  Each  jurisdiction in
which  each of the  Companies  is  qualified  to do  business  as a foreign
corporation  is set  forth  in  Section  3.1 of  the  Companies  Disclosure
Schedule.  Copies of the Articles of  Incorporation  or the  Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of each of the Companies  heretofore  delivered to
Cordant are accurate and complete.

3.2      CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMPANIES

          (a) The authorized capital stock of the Companies consists of (i)
56,047 shares of  Continental/Midland  Common Stock, of which 56,000 shares
constitute  Series 1 Common Stock and 47 shares  constitute Series 2 Common
Stock,  (ii) 1,000,000  shares of KORE Common Stock, and (iii) 1,000 shares
of KORE II Common Stock, of which 10 shares constitute Class A Common Stock
and 990 shares  constitute  Class B Common  Stock.  As of the date  hereof,
there are issued and outstanding  (A) with respect to  Continental/Midland,
55,813.14  shares  of Series 1 Common  Stock  and 46.86  shares of Series 2
Common Stock, (B) with respect to KORE, 50,000 shares of KORE Common Stock,
and (C) with  respect to KORE II, 10 shares of Class A Common Stock and 990
shares of Class B Common Stock. None of the Companies has any other capital
stock authorized, issued or outstanding.

          (b) Except for this Agreement,  there are no outstanding options,
warrants,  convertible  securities  or  rights of any kind to  purchase  or
otherwise  acquire any shares of capital  stock or other  securities of the
Companies.  No shares of capital stock of any of the Companies are reserved
for future issuance.

          (c) All  outstanding  shares of the  Companies  Common  Stock are
validly  issued,  fully  paid and  non-assessable  and not  subject  to any
preemptive   rights  created  by  statute,   the  respective   Articles  or
Incorporation  or Certificate of  Incorporation or Bylaws of the Companies,
or any Contract, other than as set forth in Section 3.2(c) of the Companies
Disclosure Schedule.  The shares of the Companies Common Stock have been or
will be issued in  compliance  with all  federal  and state  corporate  and
securities laws.

                                     5

<PAGE>


          (d) Except  pursuant to this  Agreement,  there is outstanding no
vote, plan or pending proposal for any redemption of stock of the Companies
or merger or consolidation of the Companies with or into any other entity.

3.3 AUTHORIZATION.  Each of the Companies has all necessary corporate power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and has taken or will take prior
to the Closing  Date all  corporate  action  necessary  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Companies,  and
the performance by each of the Companies of its  obligations  hereunder and
the consummation by each of the Companies of the transactions  contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized by its Board of Directors. This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Companies and, assuming
due  authorization,  execution  and delivery by the other  parties  hereto,
constitutes a legal,  valid and binding obligation of each of the Companies
enforceable   against  it  in   accordance   with  its  terms,   except  as
enforceability  may be  limited by the  effect of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  or other similar laws relating to or affecting
the rights of creditors and general principles of equity.

3.4  OFFICERS  AND  DIRECTORS.  Section  3.4  of the  Companies  Disclosure
Schedule  contains  a list  of all of the  officers  and  directors  of the
Companies as of the date hereof.

3.5  BANK  ACCOUNTS.  Section  3.5 of  the  Companies  Disclosure  Schedule
contains  a list  of all  bank  accounts  and  safe  deposit  boxes  of the
Companies,  MSD  Stamping,  Inc.  ("MSD") and Patco,  L.P.  ("PATCO"),  and
persons authorized to draw thereon or have access thereto.

3.6 SUBSIDIARIES

          (a)  Other   than  KORE  II's   equity   interests   in  MSD  and
Continental/Midland's  equity  interests in PAT Tool,  Inc.  ("PAT  TOOL"),
International Pin and Patco, none of the Companies owns or holds,  directly
or indirectly,  any equity interest of any kind in any Person. Each of MSD,
Patco,  International  Pin  and  PAT  Tool  is  referred  to  herein  as  a
"SUBSIDIARY" and collectively as the "SUBSIDIARIES."

          (b) Section 3.6 of the Companies  Disclosure  Schedule sets forth
the  jurisdiction  and  date of  formation,  any  officers  and  directors,
authorized  stock or other  equity  interests,  the  current  owners of its
equity and their respective  ownership interests therein of each Subsidiary
and any  jurisdictions  in which any such  Subsidiary  is  qualified  to do
business as a foreign corporation or partnership. Each Subsidiary that is a
corporation (i) is a corporation  duly  incorporated  and validly  existing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) has all necessary
corporate  power and authority to own,  operate or lease the properties and
assets now owned,  operated or leased by it and to carry on its

                                     6

<PAGE>

Business in all  respects as  currently  conducted  by it and (iii) is duly
qualified as a foreign  corporation to do business and is in good standing,
in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned,  operated
or leased or the  nature of its  activities  requires  such  qualification,
except for such  jurisdictions  where failure to be so qualified  would not
have a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Patco (i) is duly  formed  and  validly
existing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of  formation,  (ii) has all
necessary  power and authority to own,  operate or lease the properties and
assets now owned,  operated or leased by it and to carry on its Business in
all respects as currently conducted by it and (iii) is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing,  in each jurisdiction where the character
of its properties owned, operated or leased or the nature of its activities
requires such qualification, except for such jurisdictions where failure to
be so qualified  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Copies of the
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (or similar organizational  documents)
of each  Subsidiary  heretofore  delivered  to  Cordant  are  accurate  and
complete.  Subject,  in the  case  of  Patco,  to the  Patco  L.P.  Limited
Partnership Agreement dated September 30, 1992, in the case of PAT Tool, to
the PAT Tool  Shareholder  Agreement  dated  September 30, 1992, and in the
case of  International  Pin,  to the  Amended and  Restated  Joint  Venture
Agreement  between CMI and Powers  Products I, L.L.C.  dated April 1, 1995,
(i)  the  shares  of  capital  stock  or  other  equity  interests  of each
Subsidiary  that are owned by the Companies are owned free and clear of any
Encumbrances of any kind (except those of the Banks) and are fully paid and
nonassessable  and  (ii)  there  are no  options,  warrants  or  rights  of
conversion or any other Contract relating to any Subsidiary obligating such
Subsidiary,  directly  or  indirectly,  to issue  additional  shares of its
capital stock or other securities or other equity interests.

3.7  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN  CHANGES OR EVENTS.  Except as set forth on Section
3.7 of the  Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,  since the Balance  Sheet Date
there has not been any:

          (a) Material Adverse Change;

          (b) failure to operate the Business of any of the Companies,  MSD
or Patco in the ordinary course of business or failure to use  commercially
reasonable  efforts to preserve  such  Business  intact and to preserve the
continued  services of the employees  and  independent  contractors  of the
Companies,  MSD and Patco and the  goodwill  of  suppliers,  customers  and
others having business relations with the Companies, MSD or Patco;

          (c) resignation or termination of any officer or key employee, or
any  increase  (outside  the  ordinary  course of  business) in the rate of
compensation  payable or to become payable to any officer,  key employee or
consultant of any of the Companies, including the making of any loan to, or
the payment, grant or accrual of any bonus, incentive compensation, service
award or other  similar  benefit to, any such Person  (outside the ordinary
course of business),  or the addition to,  modification of, or contribution
to any Employee  Plan of the  Companies or MSD other than the  extension of
coverage  under any such Employee Plan to others who became  eligible after
the Balance Sheet Date;

          (d)  payment,  loan or advance of any amount to or in respect of,
or the sale, transfer or lease of any properties or Assets of the Companies
or MSD to, or entering into of any Contract  with, any Related Party of the
Companies  or  MSD,  except  (i)  directors'  fees,  (ii)  compensation  to
employees  in  the  ordinary   course  of  business,   (iii)   intercompany
indebtedness,  (iv) sales of Inventory  in the ordinary  course of business
for  cash  or on  credit,  (v)  common  paymaster  arrangements,  and  (vi)
distributions to Stockholders of Cash;

          (e) sale,  assignment,  license,  transfer or  encumbrance of any
Assets of the Companies or MSD,  tangible or  intangible,  singly or in the
aggregate,  other than sales of products  and  services and licenses in the
ordinary course of business;

                                     7

<PAGE>

          (f)  new  Contracts  of the  Companies  or  MSD,  or  extensions,
modifications,terminations  or renewals thereof,  except for such Contracts
(i) entered into, modified or terminated in the ordinary course of business
or (ii)  entered  into in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated
hereby or by any Ancillary Agreement;

          (g)  to  the  Companies'   knowledge,   except  with  respect  to
International  Pin,  actual  or  threatened  termination  of  any  material
customer  account or group of  accounts  or actual or  threatened  material
reduction in purchases or royalties payable by any such customer or, to the
knowledge of the  Companies,  the occurrence of any event that is likely to
result in any such termination or reduction;

          (h) to the Companies' knowledge, actual or threatened termination
by any material supplier to the Companies, MSD or Patco;

          (i)  disposition  or  lapsing  of any  Proprietary  Rights of the
Companies  or MSD,  in  whole  or in  part,  or,  to the  knowledge  of the
Companies, any disclosure of any material trade secret, process or know-how
to any Person not an employee or, to the extent bound by an agreement  with
respect  to the  confidentiality  and  non-disclosure  thereof,  any  other
Representative of the Companies or their Affiliates;

          (j)  material  change in  accounting  methods or practices by the
Companies. MSD or Patco;

          (k)  damage,  destruction  or loss  (whether  or not  covered  by
insurance) that would likely have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (l) except for intercompany distributions,  declaration,  setting
aside or payment of dividends or  distributions  in respect of any stock of
any of  the  Companies  or  MSD,  or  any  redemption,  purchase  or  other
acquisition of any equity securities of any of the Companies or MSD;

          (m) issuance or reservation  for issuance by any of the Companies
or MSD of any shares of stock or other equity  securities or obligations or
securities  convertible  into or exchangeable  for shares of stock or other
equity securities;

          (n)  commitment by or on behalf of any of the Companies or MSD to
issue or  reserve  for  issuance,  any  shares  of  stock  or other  equity
securities or obligations or securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable
for shares of stock or other equity  securities  (other than stock  options
granted in the ordinary course of business);

          (o) amendment of the charter or bylaws of any of the Companies or
MSD;

          (p)  capital  expenditure  or  execution  of  any  lease  or  any
incurring of liability  therefor by any of the Companies or MSD outside the
ordinary course of business;

          (q)  cancellation  of any material  indebtedness or waiver of any
rights of substantial value to the Companies or MSD, except in the ordinary
course of business;

                                     8

<PAGE>

          (r)  indebtedness  incurred by the  Companies or MSD for borrowed
money or any  commitment  to borrow money  entered into by the Companies or
MSD, except in the ordinary course of business, or any loans made or agreed
to be made by the Companies or MSD (excluding intercompany indebtedness and
advances to employees in the ordinary course of business);

          (s) any  increase  or change  in any  assumptions  underlying  or
methods of calculating any bad debt, contingency or other reserves;

          (t) acquisition by the Companies or MSD of any equity interest in
any other Person; or

          (u) agreement by the Companies or MSD to do any of the foregoing.

3.8      TITLE TO ASSETS; REAL PROPERTY MATTERS

          (a) The Companies and MSD have good and marketable title to, or a
valid  leasehold  interest in,  their  respective  Assets  reflected in the
Companies  Balance  Sheet.  Except  as  set  forth  on  Section  3.8 of the
Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,  no  Assets  of the  Companies  or MSD are
subject to any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

          (b) Section 3.8 of the Companies  Disclosure  Schedule contains a
list of all real property and interests in real property owned or leased by
the Companies or MSD (the "REAL  PROPERTY").  The Companies  have delivered
true and  complete  copies  of the most  recent  title  insurance  policies
covering the Real Property  owned by the Companies and MSD which are in the
possession  or control of the  Companies  (the  "TITLE  POLICIES").  To the
knowledge of the Companies,  there are no Encumbrances on the Real Property
owned by  Continental/Midland,  other than Permitted  Encumbrances  and any
Encumbrances described in Section 3.8 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule.
The uses for which the buildings, facilities and other improvements located
on the Real  Property  (the  "IMPROVEMENTS")  are  zoned do not  materially
restrict,  or in any manner materially  impair, the use of the Improvements
for purposes of the  Businesses  of the  Companies  and MSD.  Except as set
forth in Section 3.8 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule, the Companies or
MSD is the lessee and is in possession  of each of the leased  premises set
forth on Section 3.8 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule.  Each such lease
pursuant to which such leasehold estate is granted is valid and without any
material Default  thereunder by the Companies,  or, to the knowledge of the
Companies,  the  landlord.  Except  as  set  forth  in  Section  3.8 of the
Companies Disclosure Schedule,  there is no pending or, to the knowledge of
the  Companies,  threatened,   condemnation,   eminent  domain  or  similar
proceeding with respect to the Real Property or the Improvements. Except as
set forth on Section 3.8 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule, there are no
capitalized leases of real or personal property.

3.9  SUFFICIENCY OF ASSETS.  The Assets of the Companies and MSD constitute
all of the assets, rights and properties,  tangible or intangible,  real or
personal,  which  are  required  for  the  operation  of  their  respective
Businesses.

                                     9

<PAGE>

3.10  FIXTURES  AND  EQUIPMENT.  Section 3.10 of the  Companies  Disclosure
Schedule  contains  a  schedule  of  all  machinery  and  equipment  of the
Companies and MSD where the value of an individual  item exceeds $50,000 or
where an aggregate of similar items exceeds $100,000.

3.11     CONTRACTS

          (a) DISCLOSURE. Section 3.11 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a complete and accurate  list of all  Contracts of the Companies
and MSD of the following  categories  that are currently  enforceable  with
respect to any provision thereof (except for loan agreements with the Banks
and  except  for  Contracts  for the sale of  product  or  purchase  of raw
material in the ordinary course of business);

               (i)  Contracts  not made in the ordinary  course of business
(including partnership agreements);

               (ii) Manufacturing or joint development agreements;

               (iii) License agreements or royalty agreements,  whether any
of the Companies or MSD is the licensor or licensee  thereunder (other than
software licenses available to and used by businesses generally);

               (iv) Multi-year sales contracts;

               (v)   Original   equipment   manufacturer    agreements   or
distributor agreements;

               (vi) Research agreements;

               (vii) Output or requirement agreements;

               (viii) Contracts  involving aggregate future expenditures by
the  Companies  or the  receipt  of funds by the  Companies  in  excess  of
$250,000 per Contract (or related Contracts) after the date hereof;

               (ix)   Material   Contracts  or   commitments   relating  to
commission arrangements with others;

               (x) Employment contracts, consulting contracts and severance
agreements,  including  contracts  (A) to  employ  or  terminate  executive
officers or other  personnel  and other  contracts  with  present or former
officers,  directors or stockholders of any of the Companies or MSD, or (B)
that will  result in the payment by, or the  creation of any  Liability  to
pay, any  severance,  termination,  "golden  parachute,"  or other  similar
payments  to any  present  or former  personnel  following  termination  of
employment or otherwise as a result of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;


                                    10

<PAGE>

               (xi)  Promissory  notes,  loans,   agreements,   indentures,
evidences  of  indebtedness,   letters  of  credit,  guarantees,  or  other
instruments  relating to an  obligation to pay money in excess of $250,000,
whether the  Companies  or MSD shall be the  borrower,  lender or guarantor
thereunder (excluding loan documents with the Banks, credit provided by the
Companies or MSD in the ordinary  course of business to  purchasers  of its
products,  obligations to pay vendors and service providers in the ordinary
course of business  generally  and  obligations  to  employees  for accrued
salary,  vacation,  benefits  or  other  compensation  or for  reimbursable
expenses);

               (xii) Contracts containing covenants limiting the freedom of
the Companies or MSD or, to the knowledge of the Stockholders, any officer,
director,  employee or Affiliate of the  Companies or MSD, to engage in any
line of business or compete with any Person;

               (xiii) Any  material  Contract  with the  federal,  state or
local government or any agency or department  thereof  (excluding  purchase
orders for off-the-shelf products);

               (xiv) Any Contract  with a Related Party of the Companies or
MSD (excluding employment Contracts,  intercompany loans and guarantees and
intercompany sales of goods and services); and

               (xv)  Leases of real or  personal  property  obligating  the
Companies or MSD to pay in excess of $50,000 per year per lease.

True,  correct  and  complete  copies  of all of the  Contracts  listed  on
Schedule 4.11, including all amendments and supplements thereto,  have been
made available to Cordant.

          (b) ABSENCE OF DEFAULTS. All material Contracts of the Companies,
MSD and Patco, including all leases of real property, are valid and binding
obligations of, and enforceable in all material respects in accordance with
their terms against, the Companies, MSD, Patco and, to the knowledge of the
Companies,  the other parties thereto, and there are no existing (or to the
knowledge  of the  Companies,  threatened)  material  Defaults  or disputes
thereunder or in connection  therewith.  No written  notice of any claim of
material Default has been given to the Companies,  MSD or Patco. Except for
delays in the ordinary course of business,  the Companies have no reason to
believe that the products and services  called for by any of the unfinished
Contracts of the Companies,  MSD and Patco cannot be supplied substantially
in   accordance   with  the  terms  of  such   Contract,   including   time
specifications.

          (c) PRODUCT  WARRANTY.  To the knowledge of the Companies,  there
has been no occurrence which is expected to give rise to a material product
liability or Liability for breach of warranty (whether covered by insurance
or not) on the part of any of the Companies,  MSD or Patco, with respect to
products designed,  manufactured,  assembled,  sold, repaired,  maintained,
delivered or installed or services rendered prior to or on the Closing Date
other than as set forth in the  Companies  Financial  Statements  or as may
have occurred in the ordinary course of business.

                                    11

<PAGE>

3.12 NO CONFLICT  OR  VIOLATION;  CONSENTS.  Except as set forth on Section
3.12 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule, none of the execution,  delivery
or performance by the Companies of this Agreement,  the consummation by the
Companies of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  nor compliance by the
Companies with any of the provisions  hereof,  will (a) violate or conflict
with any provision of its governing documents,  (b) to the knowledge of the
Companies, violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of or constitute a
default (with or without notice or passage of time) under, or result in the
termination of, or accelerate the  performance  required by, or result in a
right to  terminate,  accelerate,  modify or cancel  under or result in the
creation of any Encumbrance upon any of their respective  Assets under, any
material  Contract or other material  arrangement to which the Companies or
MSD is a party or by which the  Companies  or MSD are bound or to which any
of their respective material Assets are subject, (c) violate any Regulation
or Court  Order  applicable  to the  Companies  or MSD,  or (d)  impose any
Encumbrance on any of the material  Assets of the Companies or MSD.  Except
for (i)  applicable  requirements  of the HSR Act and (ii) as set  forth on
Section 3.12 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule,  to the knowledge of the
Companies,  no notices to,  declarations,  filings or  registrations  with,
approvals or consents of, or  assignments  by, any Persons  (including  any
federal,  state or local  governmental or  administrative  authorities) are
necessary to be made or obtained by the Companies or MSD in connection with
the   execution,   delivery  or   performance  of  this  Agreement  or  the
consummation  of the  Purchases,  except  where the  failure to obtain such
consent,  approval,  authorization  or  action,  or to  make  such  filing,
declaration,  registration or  notification  would not, when taken together
with all other such  failures  by the  Companies,  have a material  adverse
effect  on the  ability  of  the  Companies  to  perform  their  respective
obligations   under  this  Agreement  or  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated hereby.

3.13 PERMITS.  The Companies and MSD have,  and during the past three years
have had,  all Permits  required  under any  applicable  Regulation  in the
operation of their  Businesses or in their  ownership of their Assets,  and
own or possess such Permits free and clear of all Encumbrances,  except, in
each case, where the failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect. None
of the Companies or MSD is in default,  nor has any of the Companies or MSD
received  any  notice of any claim of  default,  with  respect  to any such
Permit except where the default would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.14  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS;  BOOKS AND RECORDS.  The  Companies  Financial
Statements fairly present in all material respects the Assets,  Liabilities
and  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  of the  respective
Companies  (and,  with  respect  to  KORE  II,  of  KORE  II  and  MSD on a
consolidated  basis)  as of the  respective  dates  or for  the  respective
periods set forth therein, all in conformity with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the periods covered  thereby,  except as otherwise  indicated in
the notes thereto and subject,  in the case of unaudited  interim financial
statements,  to normal  year-end  adjustments  that are not  expected to be
material in amount,  and except that the Deferred  Compensation Plan is not
reflected as a Liability on the Companies Financial  Statements.  The stock
records of the Companies and MSD  heretofore  made available to Cordant are
complete in all material respects and reflect all issuances,  transfers and
redemptions  of  capital  stock of the  Companies  and,  to the  Companies'
knowledge, MSD.

3.15 LIABILITIES. None of the Companies or MSD has any material Liabilities
or obligations (absolute,  accrued,  contingent or otherwise) that would be
required to be reflected on or reserved

                                    12

<PAGE>

against in a balance  sheet  prepared  in  accordance  with GAAP except (i)
Liabilities  which are  reflected or disclosed in the  Companies  Financial
Statements (including the notes thereto),  (ii) Liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business since the Balance Sheet Date, (iii) Liabilities
arising  under the Contracts of the Companies and MSD and which have arisen
or been  incurred in the  ordinary  course of  business,  (iv)  Liabilities
(including  Liabilities  arising  under  any  Contracts  disclosed  in  the
Companies  Disclosure  Schedule)  disclosed  in  this  Agreement  or in the
Companies Disclosure Schedule, (v) obligations under  Continental/Midland's
Selective  Executive  Profit Sharing  Program (the  "DEFERRED  COMPENSATION
PLAN"),   (vi)   obligations   to  pay  the  bonuses   and   profit-sharing
contributions referred to in Section 2.5, (vii) Liabilities that would not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and
(viii)   Liabilities  of  International  Pin  reflected  on  the  financial
statements, including the notes thereto, of International Pin.

3.16  LITIGATION.  Except as set  forth on  Section  3.16 of the  Companies
Disclosure  Schedule,  there is no Action (or  series of  related  Actions)
pending or, to the knowledge of the  Companies,  threatened or  anticipated
(i) against, relating to or affecting the Companies, MSD or Patco or any of
their  material  Assets  or any of their  officers  and  directors  as such
involving  an amount in excess of  $250,000,  (ii)  which seek to enjoin or
obtain damages in respect of the transactions  contemplated hereby or (iii)
with respect to which there is a reasonable  likelihood of a  determination
which would  prevent  the  Companies  from  consummating  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  Except for matters which are generally applicable to
companies engaged in a business  comparable or similar to the Businesses of
the Companies,  MSD or Patco and except as specified in Section 3.16 of the
Companies   Disclosure   Schedule,   there  are  presently  no  outstanding
judgments,  decrees  or orders of any  court  or, to the  knowledge  of the
Companies,  any governmental or administrative agency against or materially
adversely affecting the Companies,  MSD or Patco or their Businesses or any
of their Assets.

3.17     LABOR MATTERS

          (a)  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  3.17  of  the  Companies
Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Companies or MSD is a party to any labor
agreement with respect to its employees with any labor organization,  group
or association and, to the knowledge of the Companies,  has not been within
the past three years the subject of any formal  attempt by organized  labor
or its  officials  to make the  Companies  or MSD  conform  to  demands  of
organized  labor  relating  to its  employees  or to enter  into a  binding
agreement  with  organized  labor that  would  cover the  employees  of the
Companies  or MSD.  Except as set forth in  Section  3.17 of the  Companies
Disclosure Schedule,  there is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint
against any of the  Companies  or MSD  pending  before the  National  Labor
Relations  Board  or  any  other  governmental  agency  arising  out of the
activities  of the  Companies  or MSD,  and none of the  Companies  has any
knowledge of any facts or information which would reasonably be expected to
give rise thereto;  there is no labor strike or labor  disturbance  pending
or, to the knowledge of the Companies,  threatened against the Companies or
MSD; and none of the Companies or MSD has experienced a work stoppage.

          (b)  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  3.17  of  the  Companies
Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the  Companies  or MSD has entered  into any
severance  or  similar  arrangement  in  respect

                                    13

<PAGE>

of any  present  or  former  employee  that will  result in any  obligation
(absolute  or  contingent)  to make any  payment  to any  present or former
employee  following  termination  of  employment.  Except  as set  forth in
Section 3.17 of the Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither the execution
and delivery of this  Agreement nor the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby will  result in the  acceleration  or the  creation or
vesting of any rights of any Person to benefits  under any of the  Employee
Plans  of  the  Companies  or  MSD,   including  but  not  limited  to  the
acceleration of the  exercisability of any stock options,  the acceleration
of the vesting of any restricted  stock, the acceleration of the accrual or
vesting of any  benefits  under any Pension  Plan or the creation of rights
under any severance, parachute or change of control agreement.

3.18     EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

          (a)  DISCLOSURE;  DELIVERY  OF COPIES OF RELEVANT  DOCUMENTS  AND
OTHER  INFORMATION.  Section  3.18  of the  Companies  Disclosure  Schedule
contains a complete  list of Employee  Plans  covering any employees of the
Companies or MSD (with respect to their  relationship  with such entities).
True and  complete  copies  of each of the  following  documents  have been
delivered or made available to Cordant by the  Companies:  (i) each Welfare
Plan and Pension Plan (and, if applicable,  related trust  agreements)  and
all amendments  thereto,  all written  interpretations  thereof and written
descriptions  thereof which have been  distributed  to the employees of the
Companies or MSD and all annuity  contracts or other  funding  instruments,
(ii) each Benefit Arrangement including written interpretations thereof and
written  descriptions thereof which have been distributed to the Companies'
employees  (including  descriptions  of the number  and level of  employees
covered thereby),  (iii) the most recent determination letter issued by the
Internal  Revenue  Service with respect to each Pension Plan,  (iv) for the
three most recent plan years,  Annual Reports on Form 5500 Series  required
to be filed with any  governmental  agency  for each  Pension  Plan,  (v) a
description  of complete  age,  salary,  service and related data as of the
last day of the last plan year for  employees  and former  employees of the
Companies  and MSD and (vi) a  description  setting forth the amount of any
Liability of the  Companies or MSD as of the Closing Date for payments more
than 30 days past due with respect to each Welfare Plan.

          (b) REPRESENTATIONS.

               (i)  PENSION  PLANS.  None  of  the  Pension  Plans  of  the
Companies or MSD is subject to the minimum funding requirements of ERISA or
the Code. Either (A) the Internal Revenue Service has issued  determination
letters  stating that each such Pension Plan is qualified  and each related
trust agreement, annuity contract or other funding instrument is tax-exempt
under the provisions of Code Sections 401(a)(or 403(a), as appropriate) and
501(a) and have been so qualified and tax-exempt, respectively, or (B) each
such Pension Plan has been established under a standardized  prototype plan
for which an Internal  Revenue  Service opinion letter has been obtained by
the plan  sponsor and is valid as to the adopting  employer,  and in either
case,  to  the  Companies'  knowledge,  nothing  has  occurred  that  would
adversely affect such qualified and tax-exempt status, respectively.

                                    14
<PAGE>

               (ii) MULTIEMPLOYER PLANS. None of the Companies or any ERISA
Affiliate  thereof  contributes  to, or within  the past six years has been
obligated to, contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.

               (iii) WELFARE PLANS.  Except for the applicable  health care
continuation  and notice  provisions  of the  Consolidated  Omnibus  Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and the proposed regulations thereunder,
none of the Companies,  any ERISA Affiliate thereof or any Welfare Plan has
any present or future  obligation to make any payment to or with respect to
any present or former  employee  of the  Companies  or any ERISA  Affiliate
thereof  pursuant to any retiree  medical  benefit  plan,  or other retiree
Welfare  Plan,  and no condition  exists which would  prevent the Companies
from amending or terminating any such benefit plan or Welfare Plan.

               (iv) COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. Each Welfare Plan of the Companies
which is a "group health plan," as defined in Section 607(1) of ERISA,  has
been operated in material compliance with the provisions of Part 6 of Title
I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code at all times.

               (v) BENEFIT  ARRANGEMENTS.  Each Benefit  Arrangement  which
covers or has covered employees or former employees of the Companies or MSD
(with respect to their relationship with such entities) has been maintained
in material compliance with its terms and with the requirements  prescribed
by  any  and  all   Regulations   which  are  applicable  to  such  Benefit
Arrangement, including the Code.

               (vi) AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. Except as set forth in Section 3.18
of the Companies Disclosure Schedule, and except for employees covered by a
collective  bargaining  agreement  or as  otherwise  provided  by law,  the
employment of all persons  presently  employed or retained by the Companies
or MSD is terminable at will, at any time and without advance notice.

               (vii) UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME. No Employee Plan of
the  Companies  (or trust or other  funding  vehicle  pursuant  thereto) is
subject to any Tax under Section 511 of the Code.

               (viii)  DEDUCTIBILITY  OF  PAYMENTS.  Except as disclosed in
Section 3.18 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule,  there is no Contract or
bonus plan covering any employee or former employee of the Companies or MSD
(with respect to their relationship with such entities) that,  individually
or  collectively,  provides for the payment by the  Companies or MSD of any
amount (i) that is not  deductible  under  Section  162(a)(1) or 404 of the
Code or (ii) that is an "excess parachute payment" pursuant to Section 280G
of the Code.

               (ix) FIDUCIARY DUTIES AND PROHIBITED  TRANSACTIONS.  None of
the Companies or, to the knowledge of the Companies,  any plan fiduciary of
any Welfare Plan or Pension  Plan which covers or has covered  employees or
former employees of the Companies or any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in any

                                    15

<PAGE>

transaction in violation in any material  respect of Sections 404 or 406 of
ERISA or any "prohibited  transaction," as defined in Section 4975(c)(1) of
the Code,  for which no  exemption  exists  under  Section  408 of ERISA or
Section 4975(c)(2) or (d) of the Code.

               (x) NO  AMENDMENTS.  None  of  the  Companies  or any  ERISA
Affiliate  thereof has any announced plan or legally binding  commitment to
create any  additional  Employee  Plans or to amend or modify any  existing
Employee Plan.

               (xi) CERTAIN  CONTRACTS.  None of the Employee  Plans of the
Companies holds any interest in any annuity contract, guaranteed investment
contract or any other  investment  contract which is issued by an insurance
company which is the subject of bankruptcy, receivership or conservatorship
proceedings.

               (xii) NO OTHER MATERIAL  LIABILITY.  To the knowledge of the
Companies,  no event has occurred in connection with which the Companies or
any ERISA  Affiliate or any Employee Plan,  directly or  indirectly,  could
reasonably  be expected to be subject to any material  liability  (i) under
any  Regulation  or  governmental  order or  Court  Order  relating  to any
Employee  Plans or (ii) pursuant to any  obligation of the Companies or MSD
to  indemnify  any  Person  against  liability  incurred  under,  any  such
Regulation or order as they relate to the Employee Plans.

3.19 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES.  Except for (a) intercompany  loans
and  guarantees,  (b)  intercompany  sales of  goods  and  services  in the
ordinary course of business, (c) compensation  arrangements in the ordinary
course of business,  (d) matters disclosed on Section 3.19 of the Companies
Disclosure  Schedule,  or (e) an  aggregate  amount per Person of less than
$50,000,  no Related  Party of the  Companies  or MSD (i) has  borrowed  or
loaned money or other  property to the  Companies or MSD which has not been
repaid or returned, (ii) has any currently enforceable contractual or other
claims, express or implied, of any kind whatsoever against the Companies or
MSD,  or (iii)  has or in the past  three  years  had any  interest  in any
property currently used by the Companies or MSD.

3.20  COMPLIANCE  WITH LAW.  The  Companies  and MSD have  conducted  their
Business in compliance  with all applicable  Regulations  and Court Orders,
except  where the  failure to so comply  would not have a Material  Adverse
Effect. To the knowledge of the Companies, none of the Companies or MSD has
received any notice to the effect that, or has otherwise been advised that,
they are not in compliance  with any  Regulations or Court Orders,  and the
Companies have no knowledge of any existing  circumstances  that are likely
to result in any material violation of any of the foregoing.

3.21     INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

          (a) GENERAL.  Section 3.21 of the Companies  Disclosure  Schedule
sets forth with respect to the Proprietary Rights of the Companies and MSD:
(i) for each patent and patent application,  the number, the grant date and
title or the application  number,  date of filing and title,  (ii) for each
trademark,  trade name or service  mark,  whether  or not  registered,  the
application  serial number or registration  number and the expiration date,
and  (iii)  for each  copyright  for

                                    16
<PAGE>


which registration has been sought, whether or not registered,  the date of
creation  and  first  publication  of the  work,  the  number  and  date of
registration  for each  country in which a copyright  application  has been
registered.  True and correct copies of all Proprietary  Rights  (including
all pending  applications and application  related documents and materials)
set forth on Section 3.21 of the  Companies  Disclosure  Schedule have been
provided or made available to Cordant.

          (b) ROYALTIES AND LICENSES.  None of the Companies or MSD has any
obligation to compensate  any Person for the use of any of its  Proprietary
Rights nor have the  Companies  or MSD  granted to any Person any  license,
option  or  other  rights  to use  in any  manner  any  of its  patents  or
trademarks,  whether  requiring the payment of royalties or not,  except in
connection  with the licenses  set forth in Section  3.11 of the  Companies
Disclosure Schedule.

          (c) OWNERSHIP. The Companies and MSD own or have a valid right to
use their  Proprietary  Rights free and clear of all  Encumbrances,  except
Permitted Encumbrances,  and, in the case of Proprietary Rights used by the
Companies  and MSD  pursuant  to a  Contract,  subject  to the terms of the
Contract pursuant to which such Proprietary Rights are used.

          (d) ABSENCE OF CLAIMS. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the
Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,  there  is no  Action  pending  or to  the
knowledge of the  Companies  threatened  against the  Companies or MSD with
respect to any of the  Proprietary  Rights of the  Companies or MSD. To the
knowledge  of the  Companies,  the use by the  Companies  and MSD of  their
Proprietary  Rights does not infringe  upon or otherwise  violate the valid
rights of any third party anywhere in the world.

3.22     TAX MATTERS

          (a) FILING OF TAX RETURNS,  ETC. The Companies  have timely filed
or caused  to be filed  with the  appropriate  taxing  authorities  all Tax
Returns  required to be filed by the Companies  through the date hereof and
will timely  file all Tax  Returns  required to be filed on or prior to the
Closing Date, in each case,  subject to  applicable  extensions.  Except as
disclosed  in  Section  3.22  of  the  Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,  no
outstanding  or unresolved  deficiency  for any Tax or claim for additional
Taxes by any taxing  authority has been  proposed,  asserted or assessed in
writing  against  any  Company  and no  audit,  action,  suit or  claim  is
currently  pending against any Company in respect of any Tax or assessment.
Except as disclosed on Section 3.22 of the Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,
there are no  outstanding  agreements  or waivers  extending  the statutory
period of limitation  applicable to any material Tax Returns required to be
filed by or with respect to any  Company,  and none of the  Companies  have
requested  any  extension of time within which to file any Tax Return (with
respect to Tax Returns that have not yet been  filed).  Except as disclosed
on Section 3.22 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule, none of the Companies
is a party to any agreement or arrangement  (written or oral) providing for
the allocation or sharing of Taxes or Tax benefits.

          (b) S CORPORATION ELECTION.  Each of Continental/Midland and KORE
(and any predecessor) has been a validly electing S corporation  within the
meaning of  Sections  1361 and

                                    17

<PAGE>


1362 of the Code since  January 1, 1987 and January 1, 1990,  respectively,
and KORE II has been a validly  electing S corporation  at all times during
its existence, and each of the Companies will be an S corporation up to and
including the Closing Date. The ownership of the Companies  Common Stock by
the RSK Trustee,  the DMK  Trustees,  the JMK Trustees and the RMK Trustees
does not invalidate the election by the Companies as an S corporation. KORE
II has made a valid election to cause MSD Stamping, Inc. to be treated as a
"qualified   subchapter  S  subsidiary"   within  the  meaning  of  Section
1361(b)(3)(B) of the Code.

          (c)  QUALIFIED  SUBCHAPTER S  SUBSIDIARIES.  Except for KORE II's
ownership  of MSD  Stamping,  Inc.,  there is no  "qualified  subchapter  S
subsidiary"  within the meaning of Section  1361(b)(3)(B)  of the Code with
respect to any of the Companies.

          (d) SECTION 1374 OF THE CODE; STOCK OR ASSET  ACQUISITIONS.  None
of the Companies has in the past 10 years, (i) acquired assets from another
corporation  in a  transaction  in which such  Company's  Tax basis for the
acquired  assets was  determined,  in whole or in part, by reference to the
Tax basis of the  acquired  assets (or any other  property) in the hands of
the transferor or (ii) except for KORE II's  acquisition of equity interest
in MSD Stamping,  Inc.,  acquired the stock of any  corporation  which is a
"qualified   subchapter  S  subsidiary"   within  the  meaning  of  Section
1361(b)(3)(B) of the Code.

3.23 INSURANCE. Schedule 3.23 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule contains
a  complete  and  accurate  list of all  material  policies  or  binders of
insurance (showing as to each policy or binder the carrier,  policy number,
coverage limits,  expiration dates, annual premiums,  a general description
of the type of coverage  provided  and any pending  claims  thereunder)  of
which the  Companies  or MSD is the  owner,  insured or  beneficiary.  Such
policies  and  binders  are in full force and effect on the date hereof and
shall be kept in full force and effect through the Closing.

3.24 PURCHASE  COMMITMENTS  AND  OUTSTANDING  BIDS. To the knowledge of the
Companies,  there  are no claims  against  the  Companies  or MSD to return
merchandise by reason of alleged  overshipments,  defective  merchandise or
otherwise,  or of  merchandise  in the hands of  customers  under a written
agreement  that such  merchandise  would be  returnable,  other than in the
ordinary course of business.

3.25 PAYMENTS. To the knowledge of the Companies,  none of the Companies or
MSD nor any of their Representatives  acting on their behalf have, directly
or indirectly,  paid or delivered any fee, commission or other sum of money
or  property,  however  characterized,  to any  finder,  agent,  government
official  or other  party,  in the U.S.  or any  other  country  which  the
Companies  know or have  reason to believe to have been  illegal  under any
federal,  state  or local  laws of the U.S.  or any  other  country  having
jurisdiction.  To the knowledge of the Companies,  none of the Companies or
MSD nor any of their  Representatives  acting on their behalf have accepted
or received any unlawful contributions, payments, gifts or expenditures.

3.26  CUSTOMERS AND  SUPPLIERS.  Section 3.26 of the  Companies  Disclosure
Schedule  sets forth a complete and  accurate  list of the names of (i) the
five  customers who are expected to purchase from  Continental/Midland  the
greatest dollar volume of products during the fiscal year ending  September
30,  1999,  showing  the  approximate  total  sales in dollars to each such
customer during

                                    18

<PAGE>


such period; and (ii) the five suppliers with the greatest dollar amount of
sales to  Continental/Midland  during the period  commencing  on January 1,
1999 and ending on the Balance Sheet Date,  showing the  approximate  total
purchases in dollars by Continental/Midland  from each such supplier during
such period. Since the Balance Sheet Date, there has been no adverse change
in any material  respect in the business  relationship  of the Companies or
MSD with the top five  customers or suppliers  named on Section 3.26 of the
Companies Disclosure Schedule.  To the knowledge of the Companies,  none of
the  Companies  or MSD has  received  any  written  communication  from any
customer  or supplier  named on Section  3.26 of the  Companies  Disclosure
Schedule of any intention to terminate or materially  reduce purchases from
or supplies to the Companies or MSD.

3.27     ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

          (a) DEFINITION. The term "COMPANIES" for purposes of this Section
3.27  shall  include,  in  addition  to the  Companies,  (A)  MSD,  (B) any
partnership,  joint venture and other entity or  organization  in which the
Continental/Midland  or  KORE  was  at  any  time  or is a  partner,  joint
venturer,  member or participant,  and (C) any partnership,  joint venture,
other entity or  organization in which KORE II or MSD was at any time since
the  formation  of KORE II or in which it  currently  is a  partner,  joint
venturer, member or participant.

          (b) NOTICE OF  VIOLATION.  To the  knowledge of the Companies and
except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,
none of the  Companies  has  received  any  notice  of  alleged,  actual or
potential  responsibility  for, or any inquiry or investigation  regarding,
(i) any Release or  threatened  Release by the  Companies of any  Hazardous
Substance at any location or (ii) an alleged violation of or non-compliance
by the  Companies  with the  conditions  of any Permit  required  under any
Environmental  Law  or the  provisions  of any  Environmental  Law.  To the
knowledge of the  Companies  and except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the
Companies  Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the  Companies  has  received any
notice of any other  claim,  demand or Action by any  Person  alleging  any
actual or  threatened  injury or damage to any  Person,  property,  natural
resource  or the  environment  arising  from or  relating to any Release or
threatened Release by the Companies of any Hazardous Substances.

          (c) ENVIRONMENTAL  CONDITIONS.  To the knowledge of the Companies
and  except  as set  forth  on  Section  3.27 of the  Companies  Disclosure
Schedule,  there are no present or past Environmental Conditions in any way
relating  to  the  Companies  or  their  Business  or  Assets,  except  for
Environmental Conditions which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (d)  NOTICES,  WARNINGS  AND  RECORDS.  To the  knowledge  of the
Companies,  the  Companies  have given all notices and  warnings,  made all
reports,  and kept and maintained  all records  required by and in material
compliance with all Environmental Laws.

3.28 BROKERS;  TRANSACTION  COSTS. None of the Companies or MSD has entered
into  or  will  enter  into  any  contract,   agreement,   arrangement   or
understanding  with any Person which will result in the  obligation  of the
Companies,  MSD or Cordant to pay any finder's fee, brokerage

                                    19

<PAGE>

commission  or  similar  payment  in  connection   with  the   transactions
contemplated hereby. Cordant shall not otherwise be liable for any costs or
expenses pertaining to any finder's fees, brokerage  commissions or similar
payments  incurred by or on behalf of the  Companies  or MSD as a result of
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

3.29 NO OTHER AGREEMENTS TO SELL. Except as contemplated by this Agreement,
none  of the  Companies  or MSD  has  any  legal  obligation,  absolute  or
contingent,  to any other  Person to sell all or  substantially  all of the
Assets  of the  Companies  or MSD  or to  sell  any  capital  stock  of the
Companies  or  MSD  or  to  effect  any  merger,   consolidation  or  other
reorganization  of the Companies or MSD or to enter into any agreement with
respect thereto.

3.30 YEAR 2000 MATTERS.  Each of the computer  systems,  embedded  computer
systems, hardware,  firmware and software owned, operated or provided by or
on behalf of the  Companies  or MSD or by any Person for the benefit of the
Companies or MSD that materially affect the production and product delivery
functions  (i.e.,  manufacturing  and  physical  delivery  of  products  to
customers  as  opposed  to  accounting,  payroll  and other  administrative
functions) of the Companies or MSD (collectively,  the "COMPUTER  SYSTEMS")
will be Year 2000  Compliant.  The Companies have made available to Cordant
all written studies, audits, analyses,  surveys, reports and investigations
conducted  by or on  behalf  of  the  Companies  or  MSD  which  are in the
possession  of the  Companies  or MSD with  respect to whether the Computer
Systems of the Companies and MSD are Year 2000  Compliant.  Section 3.30 of
the Companies  Disclosure Schedule lists all of the Computer Systems of the
Companies or MSD which are not Year 2000 Compliant.

3.31  DISCLAIMER  OF  OTHER  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES.   Except  as
expressly  set  forth  in  Articles  III  and  IV,  the  Companies  and the
Stockholders make no representation or warranty, express or implied, at law
or in equity,  in respect of the  Companies,  the  Subsidiaries,  or any of
their respective Business,  Assets,  Liabilities or operations,  including,
without  limitation,  with  respect to  merchantability  or fitness for any
particular  purpose,  and any such other  representations or warranties are
hereby expressly disclaimed. Except to the extent specifically set forth in
Articles  III  and  IV,  Cordant  is  acquiring  the  inventory,  fixtures,
machinery and equipment of the Companies and the Subsidiaries on an "as-is,
where-is" basis.

                                ARTICLE IV.
         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE STOCKHOLDERS

          Except as set forth on the Companies Disclosure Schedule, each of
the  Stockholders   hereby  severally,   but  not  jointly  and  severally,
represents  and warrants to Cordant  (with respect to herself or itself) as
follows:

4.1 AUTHORITY. Such Stockholder has all requisite power and authority (and,
if an individual,  legal capacity) to enter into this Agreement, to perform
such Stockholder's obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated  hereby.  To the extent  that such  Stockholder  is a trust or
other  entity,  the  execution  and  delivery by such  Stockholder  of this
Agreement,   the

                                       20

<PAGE>

performance  by such  Stockholder  of its  obligations  hereunder,  and the
consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
have been duly  authorized by the  trustee(s),  Board of Directors or other
managing body of such  Stockholder  and no other corporate or other action,
as the  case  may be,  on the  part of such  Stockholder  is  necessary  to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder,
the  performance by such  Stockholder of its  obligations  hereunder or the
consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions  contemplated  hereby.
This  Agreement has been duly  executed and  delivered by such  Stockholder
and,  assuming  due  authorization,  execution  and  delivery  by the other
parties hereto,  constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such
Stockholder,  enforceable  against such  Stockholder in accordance with its
terms,  except  as such  enforceability  may be  limited  by the  effect of
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights of creditors and general  principles of
equity.

4.2  ORGANIZATION.  If such  Stockholder  is a trust or other entity,  such
Stockholder is duly organized,  validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  organization  or  incorporation,  as
applicable.

4.3 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES.  Such  Stockholder is the sole record owner of the
shares of the Companies Common Stock set forth opposite such  Stockholder's
name on  EXHIBIT A hereto,  free and clear of any  Encumbrances  other than
restrictions on the transfer of such shares imposed under federal and state
securities or "blue sky"  Regulations,  and such shares are the only shares
of the  Companies  Common Stock owned of record by such  Stockholder.  Such
Stockholder  has no other options,  warrants or other rights to purchase or
otherwise   acquire  any  shares  of  the  Companies  Common  Stock.   Such
Stockholder  is not a  party  to any  Contract  or  subject  to any  Action
pursuant to which such  Stockholder is or may be required to sell,  deliver
or transfer any of the shares of the  Companies  Common Stock owned by such
Stockholder to any other Person, or otherwise dispose of such shares.

4.4 NO CONFLICTS.  Neither the  execution,  delivery or performance of this
Agreement or any Ancillary  Agreement to which such  Stockholder is a party
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will
(i) violate or conflict with any provision of its governing  documents,  if
such  Stockholder  is an entity,  or (ii) violate any  Regulation  or Court
Order applicable to such Stockholder.

4.5 CONSENTS, APPROVALS, ETC.. No consent, waiver, approval, authorization,
license,  order or permit of, or declaration,  filing or registration with,
or notification to, any  governmental  authority or third party is required
to be made or obtained by such Stockholder in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder, the performance by such
Stockholder   of  such   Stockholder's   obligations   hereunder,   or  the
consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or
action,  or to make such  filing or  notification  would  not,  when  taken
together with all other such failures by such Stockholder,  have a material
adverse  effect  on  the  ability  of  such  Stockholder  to  perform  such
Stockholder's  obligations  under  this  Agreement  or  to  consummate  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                                    21

<PAGE>

4.6 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker has been retained by or
on  behalf  of  such   Stockholder  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                                ARTICLE V.
              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING CORDANT

     Cordant  represents and warrants to the Companies and the Stockholders
as follows:

5.1  ORGANIZATION  OF CORDANT.  Cordant is a  corporation  duly  organized,
validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  State of
Delaware.  Cordant has full  corporate  power and  authority to conduct its
Business  as it is  presently  being  conducted  and to own  or  lease,  as
applicable,  its  Assets.  Cordant is duly  qualified  to do  business as a
foreign  corporation and is in good standing in each  jurisdiction in which
such  qualification  is necessary  under  applicable law as a result of the
conduct of its Business or the  ownership of its  properties,  except where
the failure to be so qualified  would not have a Cordant  Material  Adverse
Effect.  The copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of Cordant heretofore
delivered to the Companies is accurate and complete.

5.2 AUTHORIZATION.  Cordant has all necessary corporate power and authority
to enter  into  this  Agreement  and has  taken or will  take  prior to the
Closing Date all corporate  action necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution
and  delivery  of this  Agreement,  and the  performance  by Cordant of its
obligations  hereunder and the  consummation by Cordant of the transactions
contemplated  hereby,  have been duly authorized by its Board of Directors.
This  Agreement  has been duly  executed  and  delivered  by  Cordant  and,
assuming due  authorization,  execution  and delivery by the other  parties
hereto,  constitutes  a legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of  Cordant
enforceable   against  it  in   accordance   with  its  terms,   except  as
enforceability  may be  limited by the  effect of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  or other similar laws relating to or affecting
the  rights of  creditors  and  general  principles  of  equity.  After the
Closing,  Cordant will cause each of Continental/Midland  and KORE to enter
into  the  Ancillary  Agreements  to  which  it is a party  and to take all
corporate  action  necessary to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
thereby  and to perform  its  obligations  thereunder.  The  execution  and
delivery by each of  Continental/Midland  and KORE after the Closing of the
Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, and the performance by each of
Continental/Midland   and  KORE  of  its  obligations  thereunder  and  the
consummation by each of  Continental/Midland  and KORE of the  transactions
contemplated  thereby,  will be duly  authorized by its Board of Directors.
The Ancillary Agreements to which each of Continental/Midland and KORE is a
party,  will be duly executed and delivered by each of  Continental/Midland
and KORE, and,  assuming due  authorization,  execution and delivery by the
other parties thereto, will be legal, valid and binding obligations of each
of Continental/Midland  and KORE, enforceable against it in accordance with
their  respective  terms,  except as  enforceability  may be limited by the
effect  of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  or other
similar laws  relating to or affecting  the rights of creditors and general
principles of equity.

                                    22
<PAGE>

5.3  NO  CONFLICT  OR  VIOLATION.  None  of  the  execution,   delivery  or
performance of this  Agreement or any Ancillary  Agreement to which Cordant
is a party, the  consummation by Cordant of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby or thereby,  nor  compliance  by Cordant with any of the  provisions
hereof or thereof,  will (a) violate or conflict  with any provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Cordant,  (b) to the knowledge of
Cordant,  violate,  conflict with, or result in a breach of or constitute a
default (with or without notice or passage of time) under, or result in the
termination of, or accelerate the  performance  required by, or result in a
right to terminate, accelerate, modify or cancel under, or require a notice
under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance  upon any of its Assets
under,  any material  Contract or other  arrangement  to which Cordant is a
party or by which  Cordant is bound or to which any of its material  Assets
are subject,  or (c) violate any  Regulation  or Court Order  applicable to
Cordant.

5.4  CONSENTS.  To the  knowledge of Cordant,  no notices to,  declaration,
filing or registration  with,  approvals or consents of, or assignments by,
any  Persons  (including  any  federal,  state  of  local  governmental  or
administrative authorities) are necessary to be made or obtained by Cordant
in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement
or any  Ancillary  Agreements  to which  Cordant is a party,  other than as
required  pursuant to the HSR Act,  except where the failure to obtain such
consent,  approval,  authorization  or  action,  or to make such  filing or
notification would not, when taken together with all other such failures by
Cordant,  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  ability  of  Cordant to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to
which it is a party or to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby
or thereby.

5.5 NO BROKERS.  Cordant  has not entered  into and will not enter into any
contract,  agreement,  arrangement or  understanding  with any Person which
will  result  in the  obligation  of the  Companies,  MSD,  Cordant  or the
Stockholders  to pay any  finder's  fee,  brokerage  commission  or similar
payment in connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  None of
the Companies,  MSD or the  Stockholders  shall otherwise be liable for any
costs or expenses pertaining to any finder's fees, brokerage commissions or
similar  payments  incurred  by or on behalf of  Cordant as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

5.6 LITIGATION.  There are no Actions  pending,  or to Cordant's  knowledge
threatened  or  anticipated,  against  Cordant  (a) which seek to enjoin or
obtain  damages  in  respect  of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement or by the Ancillary Agreements or (b) with respect to which there
is a reasonable  likelihood of a determination  which would prevent Cordant
from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary
Agreements.

5.7  SEC REPORTS OF CORDANT

          (a) Cordant has  delivered  to the  Companies  true and  complete
copies of each  registration  statement,  proxy or  information  statement,
form,  report and other  documents  required to be filed by it with the SEC
since  December 31, 1998  (collectively,  the "SEC  Reports").  As of their
respective  dates,  the SEC Reports (i) complied in all  material  respects
with the applicable  requirements  of the Securities Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and (ii) did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the

                                    23

<PAGE>

statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made,  not  misleading.  Cordant  has  delivered  to the  Companies  a
complete and correct copy of all  amendments  or  modifications  to any SEC
Report  which has been filed  prior to the date hereof or which is required
to be filed but has not yet been filed with the SEC.

          (b) Each of the  consolidated  balance sheets of Cordant included
in or incorporated by reference into the SEC Reports (including the related
notes  and  schedules)  presents  fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the
consolidated   financial   position   of  Cordant   and  its   consolidated
subsidiaries  as of its date,  and each of the  consolidated  statements of
income,  retained  earnings  and  cash  flows  of  Cordant  included  in or
incorporated by reference into the SEC Reports (including any related notes
and schedules)  presents fairly, in all material  respects,  the results of
operations, retained earnings or cash flows, as the case may be, of Cordant
and  its  consolidated  subsidiaries  for the  periods  set  forth  therein
(subject,  in the case of unaudited  statements,  to normal  year-end audit
adjustments),  in each case in accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied
during the periods involved, except as may be noted therein.

          (c) Except as set forth in the SEC Reports,  neither  Cordant nor
any of its  subsidiaries  has any  liabilities or obligations of any nature
(whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required
to be reflected on, or reserved against in, a consolidated balance sheet of
Cordant  and  its  subsidiaries  or  in  the  notes  thereto,  prepared  in
accordance with GAAP  consistently  applied,  except for (i) liabilities or
obligations  that were so reserved on, or reflected in (including the notes
to),  the  consolidated  balance  sheet of Cordant as of the Balance  Sheet
Date,  (ii)  liabilities or obligations  arising in the ordinary  course of
business  (including trade  indebtedness) since the Balance Sheet Date, and
(iii)  Liabilities or obligations  which would not,  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Cordant.

5.8 APPROVAL. The board of directors of Cordant has approved this Agreement
and the transactions  contemplated hereby, and has not revoked or rescinded
such  approvals.  Neither  this  Agreement  nor  the  consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  requires the approval of the
stockholders of Cordant.

                                ARTICLE VI.
                                 COVENANTS

          The Companies,  the  Stockholders  and Cordant each covenant with
the other as follows:

6.1  FURTHER  ASSURANCES.  Upon the terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
contained herein,  each of the parties hereto agrees, both before and after
the  Closing,  (a) to use all  reasonable  efforts to take,  or cause to be
taken,  all actions and to do, or cause to be done,  all things  necessary,
proper or advisable  to  consummate  and make  effective  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  (b) to execute any documents,  instruments
or conveyances  of any kind which may be reasonably  necessary or advisable
to carry out any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder,  and (c) to
cooperate with each other in connection with the foregoing, including using
their respective  reasonable  efforts (i) to obtain all necessary  waivers,
consents and approvals from other parties to permit the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated hereby;  PROVIDED,

                                    24

<PAGE>

HOWEVER, none of the parties hereto shall be required to make any payments,
commence litigation or agree to modifications of the terms thereof in order
to obtain  any such  waivers,  consents  or  approvals,  (ii) to obtain all
necessary Permits as are required to be obtained under any federal,  state,
local or  foreign  law or  regulations  to permit the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby, (iii) to defend all Actions challenging
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
(iv) to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining  order or other order
adversely   affecting  the  ability  of  the  parties  to  consummate   the
transactions contemplated hereby, (v) to effect all necessary registrations
and  filings,  including  without  limitation  submissions  of  information
requested by governmental  authorities,  and (vi) to fulfill all conditions
to this Agreement.  For six years following the Closing,  the  Stockholders
shall  cooperate  with  Cordant,  in all  reasonable  respects,  to provide
Cordant the benefits of all rights of the Companies  and the  Subsidiaries,
including  rights of  indemnification,  against third parties  thereto with
respect to the Assets,  Liabilities,  operations or conduct of the business
of the Companies;  provided that Cordant shall reimburse the  Stockholders,
in accordance with Cordant's  policies with respect to reimbursement of its
employees  (including  those requiring the submission of expense  reports),
for the  reasonable  out-of-pocket  costs  that the  Stockholders  incur in
providing such cooperation.

                                    25
<PAGE>

6.2 NO  SOLICITATION.  From the date  hereof  through  the  Closing  or the
earlier  termination  of  this  Agreement,  each of the  Companies  and the
Stockholders   shall  not,  and  shall  cause  each  of  their   respective
Representatives (including without limitation investment bankers, attorneys
and  accountants),  not to,  directly or indirectly,  enter into,  solicit,
initiate or continue any discussions or negotiations  with, or encourage or
respond  to  any  inquiries  or  proposals  by,  or   participate   in  any
negotiations with, or provide any information to, or otherwise cooperate in
any other way with, any corporation, partnership, person or other entity or
group, other than Cordant and its  Representatives,  concerning any sale of
all or a portion of the Assets or the Business of the  Companies or MSD, or
of any shares of capital  stock of the  Companies  or MSD,  or any  merger,
consolidation,  liquidation,  dissolution or similar transaction  involving
the Companies or MSD (each such  transaction  being referred to herein as a
"PROPOSED  ACQUISITION   TRANSACTION").   None  of  the  Companies  or  the
Stockholders shall, directly or indirectly,  through any officer, director,
employee,   representative,   agent  or  otherwise,  solicit,  initiate  or
encourage  the  submission  of  any  proposal  or  offer  from  any  person
(including,  without limitation,  a "person" as defined in Section 13(d)(3)
of the  Exchange  Act)  or  entity  relating  to any  Proposed  Acquisition
Transaction or participate in any negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
other person any information with respect to the Companies for the purposes
of, or otherwise  cooperate in any way with, or assist or  participate  in,
facilitate or encourage,  any effort or attempt by any other person to seek
or effect a Proposed  Acquisition  Transaction.  The  Stockholders  and the
Companies  hereby represent that neither the Stockholders nor the Companies
is now engaged in  discussions  or  negotiations  with any party other than
Cordant  with respect to any of the  foregoing.  The  Stockholders  and the
Companies agree not to release any third party from, or waive any provision
of, any  confidentiality or standstill  agreement to which the Stockholders
or the Companies is a party. This Section 6.2 does not apply to the winding
up, liquidation or sale of International Pin.

6.3      NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS

          (a) From the date  hereof  through  the  Closing  or the  earlier
termination of this  Agreement,  the  Stockholders  and the Companies shall
give prompt notice to Cordant of (a) the  occurrence,  or failure to occur,
of any  event  which  occurrence  or  failure  would be likely to cause any
representation  or warranty of the Stockholders or the Companies  contained
in this  Agreement  or in any  exhibit or  schedule  hereto to be untrue or
inaccurate  in any  material  respect and (b) any  material  failure of the
Companies, the Stockholders,  or any of their respective Affiliates,  or of
any of their  respective  Representatives,  to comply  with or satisfy  any
covenant,  condition or  agreement  to be complied  with or satisfied by it
under this Agreement or any exhibit or schedule hereto; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
such  disclosure  shall  cure any  breach  of a  representation,  warranty,
covenant or agreement, unless the breach existed on the date hereof.

          (b) From the date  hereof  through  the  Closing  or the  earlier
termination  of this  Agreement,  Cordant  shall give prompt  notice to the
Stockholders'  Representative  and the Companies of (a) the occurrence,  or
failure to occur, of any event which  occurrence or failure would be likely
to cause any  representation  or  warranty  of  Cordant  contained  in this
Agreement or in any exhibit or schedule  hereto to be untrue or  inaccurate
in any material respect and (b) any material failure of Cordant,  or any of
its respective Affiliates,  or of any of their respective  Representatives,
to comply  with or satisfy  any  covenant,  condition  or  agreement  to be
complied  with or  satisfied  by it under this  Agreement or any exhibit or
schedule hereto;  PROVIDED,

                                    26

<PAGE>

HOWEVER,  such  disclosure  shall  cure  any  breach  of a  representation,
warranty,  covenant  or  agreement,  unless the breach  existed on the date
hereof.

6.4 ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  From the date hereof through the Closing or the
earlier termination of this Agreement, the Companies shall, and shall cause
their respective  Representatives to, afford Cordant and its Affiliates and
Representatives complete access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so
as not to interfere with normal business operations,  to the Companies, and
to the officers,  employees,  agents, attorneys,  accountants,  properties,
Books and Records and Contracts of the Companies, and shall furnish Cordant
and its  Representatives  all  financial,  operating  and  other  data  and
information as Cordant or its Representatives, may reasonably request. Such
access shall be subject to the terms of the letter  agreement dated July 2,
1999 from  Continental/Midland  which was accepted by Cordant as of July 7,
1999 (the "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT").

6.5 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided  herein,
from and  after the date of this  Agreement  and  until  the  Closing,  the
Companies and MSD shall operate the Business only in the ordinary course of
business and will promptly  notify Cordant of any Material  Adverse Change.
From the date hereof to the Closing,  the  Stockholders  and the  Companies
will not take,  and will cause MSD not to take, any action or engage in any
transaction  which  would  render the  representations  and  warranties  in
Article  III or IV  inaccurate  in any  material  respect as of the Closing
Date.  In  addition,  except as set forth on Section  6.5 of the  Companies
Disclosure  Schedule or otherwise  expressly permitted by the terms of this
Agreement,  the Companies  shall not, and shall cause MSD not to, do any of
the following  without the prior  written  consent of Cordant (such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld):

          (i) amend its Certificate or Articles of  Incorporation or Bylaws
or other organizational or governance documents;

          (ii) redeem or otherwise  acquire any shares of its capital stock
or  issue  any  capital  stock or any  option,  warrant  or right  relating
thereto;

          (iii)  grant to any  officer  or key  employee  any  increase  in
compensation or any severance or change of control  benefits,  or grant any
material   increase  in  compensation  to  the  Company's  other  employees
generally,  except as may be required under  existing  agreements or in the
ordinary course of business;

          (iv)  incur any  liabilities,  obligations  or  indebtedness  for
borrowed   money  or  guarantee  any  such   liabilities,   obligations  or
indebtedness, other than in the ordinary course of business;

          (v) cancel any  material  indebtedness  owed to a Company,  other
than in the ordinary course of business;

          (vi) make any  material  change in any  method of  accounting  or
accounting practice or policy;

                                    27
<PAGE>

          (vii)  acquire or agree to  acquire  by merging or  consolidating
with, or by purchasing stock or a substantial  portion of the Assets of, or
by  any  other  manner,  any  material  operating  business,   corporation,
partnership,  association  or  other  business  organization  (or  division
thereof) or Person;

          (viii)  sell,  lease or  otherwise  dispose of, or agree to sell,
lease or  otherwise  dispose  of,  any of its  assets  which are  material,
individually  or in the aggregate,  to the Companies or MSD,  except in the
ordinary course of business;

          (ix) enter into any lease of real property;

          (x) modify,  amend or terminate  any lease of, or other  material
agreement pertaining to, real property (except  modifications or amendments
associated with renewals of leases in the ordinary course of business);

          (xi) make capital  expenditures  or  purchases  of machinery  and
equipment  in excess of $250,000 in the  aggregate,  except for the capital
expenditures set forth on Section 6.5 of the Companies Disclosure Schedule;

          (xii) enter into or modify any collective bargaining  agreements;
or

          (xiii) agree,  whether in writing or otherwise,  to do any of the
foregoing.

6.6 EMPLOYEES

          (a) Nothing  contained  in this  Agreement  shall confer upon any
employee  of  any  of the  Companies  or MSD  any  right  with  respect  to
continuance of employment by the Companies or MSD, Cordant or any Affiliate
of  Cordant,  nor shall  anything  herein  interfere  with the right of the
Companies or MSD,  Cordant or any  Affiliate  of Cordant to  terminate  the
employment of any such  employees at any time,  with or without  cause,  or
restrict the  Companies or MSD,  Cordant or any Affiliate of Cordant in the
exercise of its independent business judgment in modifying any of the terms
and conditions of the employment of such employees.

          (b) No provision of this  Agreement  shall create any third party
beneficiary rights in any employee of the Companies or MSD, any beneficiary
or dependents thereof, or any collective bargaining representative thereof,
with respect to the  compensation,  terms and  conditions of employment and
benefits  that may be provided to any such employee by the Companies or MSD
under any benefit plan which the Companies or MSD may maintain.

          (c) Cordant shall pay, or cause to be paid, Continental/Midland's
obligations  under  the  Deferred  Compensation  Plan as they  become  due,
including  all payments  which  become  payable  upon  consummation  of the
Purchases.

6.7  RESIGNATIONS.  Each of the directors and officers of the Companies and
MSD shall tender their resignations from such positions effective as of the
Closing.

                                    28

<PAGE>

6.8 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE.  The Companies agree to reasonably cooperate with
Cordant to (a) analyze  whether and to what extent the Computer  Systems of
the Companies and MSD are Year 2000  Compliant,  and (b) where  applicable,
take  all  appropriate  actions  as  mutually  agreed  upon to fix any such
Computer Systems which are identified as non-Year 2000 Compliant (including
those set forth on Section 3.30 of the  Companies  Disclosure  Schedule) as
promptly as practicable.

                               ARTICLE VII.
                        CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF
                              THE STOCKHOLDERS

          The  obligations of the  Stockholders to consummate the Purchases
and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement are subject,  in
the discretion of the  Stockholders,  to the satisfaction or waiver,  on or
prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

7.1      REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

          (a) Each of the  representations  and  warranties  of Cordant set
forth in Article V that is qualified as to materiality shall have been true
and  correct  when  made and  shall be true  and  correct  on and as of the
Closing  Date as if made on and as of the  Closing  Date  (other  than  any
representations  and warranties  that address  matters only as of a certain
date, which shall be true and correct as of such certain date), and each of
the  representations  and warranties of Cordant set forth in Article V that
is not so  qualified  shall  have been  true and  correct  in all  material
respects  when made and shall be true and correct in all material  respects
on and as of the  Closing  Date as if made  on and as of the  Closing  Date
(other than  representations and warranties that address matters only as of
a certain date,  which shall be true and correct as of such certain  date);
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the  conditions  set forth in this Section 7.1(a)
shall  be  deemed  satisfied  so long as the  events  or  occurrences  that
resulted in the failures of such  representations  and  warranties to be so
true and  correct  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Cordant Material Adverse Change.

          (b) Cordant shall have performed and complied with all agreements
and  covenants  required to be performed  by it under this  Agreement at or
prior to the Closing Date that are  qualified as to  materiality  and shall
have  performed  or  complied  in all  material  respects  with  all  other
agreements  and  covenants  required  to  be  performed  by it  under  this
Agreement  at or prior to the Closing  Date that are not so qualified as to
materiality.

          (c) There shall be delivered to the Stockholders a certificate to
the foregoing effect signed by a duly authorized officer of Cordant.

7.2 APPROVALS.  All Consents (including the expiration or early termination
of any waiting  period  applicable to the  Purchases  under the HSR Act and
shall have been  obtained.  The  Stockholders  shall be satisfied  that all
Consents  required  under any  Regulations  to carry  out the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall have been
obtained  and that the parties  shall have  complied  with all  Regulations
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                                    29
<PAGE>

7.3 NO  ACTIONS  OR COURT  ORDERS.  No  Action by any  court,  governmental
authority or other Person (other than the Companies,  the  Stockholders and
their respective Affiliates and Representatives) shall have been instituted
or threatened (and not resolved) and no Regulation shall have been enacted,
which questions the validity or legality of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby  or by the  Ancillary  Agreements  and  which  could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby are consummated.

7.4 CLOSING DOCUMENTS. Cordant shall have delivered the documents and other
items to be  delivered  by such  Persons  pursuant  to Section  9.2 of this
Agreement.

7.5 OPINION OF COUNSEL.  Cordant shall have  delivered to the  Stockholders
opinions  of the general  counsel of Cordant and of Latham & Watkins,  each
dated as of the Closing Date, in substantially  the form attached hereto as
EXHIBIT D-1.

                               ARTICLE VIII.
                    CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF CORDANT

          The  obligations  of Cordant to consummate  the Purchases and the
other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  are subject,  in the
discretion of Cordant,  to the  satisfaction or waiver,  on or prior to the
Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

8.1      REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

          (a) Each of the  representations  and warranties of the Companies
and the  Stockholders set forth in Articles III and IV that is qualified as
to materiality shall have been true and correct when made and shall be true
and  correct  on and as of the  Closing  Date  as if  made on and as of the
Closing Date (other than any  representations  and warranties  that address
matters  only as of a certain  date,  which shall be true and correct as of
such certain date), and each of the  representations  and warranties of the
Companies and the Stockholders set forth in Article III and Article IV that
is not so  qualified  shall  have been  true and  correct  in all  material
respects  when made and shall be true and correct in all material  respects
on and as of the  Closing  Date as if made  on and as of the  Closing  Date
(other than  representations and warranties that address matters only as of
a certain date,  which shall be true and correct as of such certain  date);
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the  conditions  set forth in this Section 8.1(a)
shall  be  deemed  satisfied  so long as the  events  or  occurrences  that
resulted in the failures of such  representations  and  warranties to be so
true and  correct  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Change.

          (b)  Each  of the  Companies  and  the  Stockholders  shall  have
performed and complied  with all  agreements  and covenants  required to be
performed  by it under this  Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date that
are qualified as to materiality and shall have performed or complied in all
material  respects with all other  agreements and covenants  required to be
performed  by it under this  Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date that
are not so qualified as to materiality.

          (c) There  shall be  delivered  to Cordant a  certificate  to the
foregoing effect signed by each  Stockholder and a duly authorized  officer
of the Companies.


                                    30

<PAGE>

8.2 APPROVALS;  CONSENTS.  All Consents  (including the expiration or early
termination of any waiting period applicable to the Purchases under the HSR
Act and (ii) all required  third party  consents under the Contracts of the
Companies,  as listed on Schedule 3.12) shall have been obtained or waived.
Cordant shall be satisfied that all Consents required under any Regulations
to  carry  out the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the
Ancillary  Agreements  shall have been  obtained and that the parties shall
have  complied  with  all  Regulations   applicable  to  the   transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

8.3 NO  ACTIONS  OR COURT  ORDERS.  No  Action by any  court,  governmental
authority  or other  Person  (other  than  Cordant and its  Affiliates  and
Representatives)   shall  have  been  instituted  or  threatened  (and  not
resolved) and no Regulation  shall have been enacted,  which  questions the
validity  or  legality of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or by the
Ancillary  Agreements  and which  could  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect if the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby
are consummated.

8.4 CLOSING DOCUMENTS.  Cordant shall have received the documents and other
items  described  in  Section  9.1 and such  other  documents  and items as
Cordant may reasonably require.

8.5 OPINION OF COUNSEL. The Stockholders shall have delivered to Cordant an
opinion of counsel to the  Stockholders,  dated as of the Closing  Date, in
substantially the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT D-2.

8.6 MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. There shall not have been any Material Adverse
Change.

                                ARTICLE IX.
                                  CLOSING

9.1  DELIVERIES BY THE  COMPANIES OR THE  STOCKHOLDERS  TO CORDANT.  On the
Closing Date at the Closing Place, the Companies and each Stockholder shall
deliver (or cause to be delivered) to Cordant:

          (a) executed counterparts to the Ancillary Agreements, if any, to
which it is a party;

          (b)  certified  copies of the  charter  and bylaws of each of the
Companies and the  provisions of the trust  instruments  for the trusts for
which certain of the Stockholders  hold shares of Companies Common Stock in
trust which relate to the identity and authority of the trustee thereof;

          (c) a  certificate  of  corporate  good  standing for each of the
Companies issued by (i) with respect to Continental/Midland,  the Secretary
of State  of  Delaware,  and (ii)  with  respect  to KORE and KORE II,  the
Secretary  of State of  Illinois,  in each case dated not more than 10 days
prior to the Closing Date;

          (d)   certificates   representing  the  Companies  Common  Stock,
endorsed in blank or accompanied by duly executed assignment documents;

                                    31

<PAGE>

          (e) the opinion of counsel described in Section 8.5;

          (f) resolutions  adopted by the respective Boards of Directors of
the Companies  approving this Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby, certified by the corporate secretary or assistant secretary for the
respective Company;

          (g) corporate  minute books and stock  transfer  books of each of
the Companies;

          (h) the Closing Certificates referenced in Section 8.1;

          (i) any amounts payable to Cordant by the  Stockholders  pursuant
to Section 2.3(a); and

          (j) evidence,  in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to
Cordant,  that the date of the  Title  Policies  with  respect  to the Real
Property  owned by the Companies and MSD have been brought down so as to be
effective as of a date no earlier than three (3) Business Days prior to the
Closing Date;

9.2  DELIVERIES  BY  CORDANT.  On the Closing  Date at the  Closing  Place,
Cordant shall deliver:

          (a) to the Stockholders,  the Closing  Certificate  referenced in
Section 7.1;

          (b) to  the  applicable  parties  to  the  Ancillary  Agreements,
counterparts    to   the    Ancillary    Agreements    executed   by   each
Continental/Midland  and KORE, in each case to the Ancillary  Agreements to
which it is a party ;

          (c) to the Stockholders,  certificates of corporate good standing
issued by the  Secretary of State of Delaware  for Cordant,  dated not more
than 10 days prior to the Closing Date;

          (d)  to the  Stockholders,  the  Purchase  Price  (including,  if
applicable,  any amounts  payable to the  Stockholders  pursuant to Section
2.3(a));

          (e) to the  Stockholders,  the opinion of counsel  referenced  in
Section 7.7;

          (f) to the  Stockholders,  resolutions  adopted  by the  Board of
Directors  of  Cordant   approving  this  Agreement  and  the  transactions
contemplated hereby, certified by Cordant's corporate secretary; and

          (g) to the Stockholders, resolutions adopted, effective after the
Closing,  by the Board of Directors of  Continental/Midland  approving  the
Ancillary   Agreements  to  which  it  is  a  party  and  the  transactions
contemplated   thereby,   certified  by   Continental/Midland's   corporate
secretary.

                                    32
<PAGE>

                                ARTICLE X.
                        SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION

10.1  SURVIVAL  OF   REPRESENTATIONS,   ETC.;   EXCLUSIVE   REMEDIES.   The
representations,  warranties,  covenants and  agreements  contained in this
Agreement,  and  in  any  agreements,  certificates  or  other  instruments
delivered  pursuant to this Agreement,  shall survive the Closing and shall
remain in full  force and  effect,  subject  to all  limitations  and other
provisions  contained  in this  Agreement  (including  Section  10.5).  The
representations  and  warranties  contained in this Agreement are exclusive
and the  parties  hereto  confirm  that they have not relied upon any other
representation  or warranty as an inducement  to enter into this  Agreement
and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  (even though  information  not
represented  and  warranted to may have been, or may hereafter be, given to
or obtained or developed by one or more of the parties hereto pertaining to
Cordant,  the  Companies  or  the  Subsidiaries  or the  Stockholders,  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or otherwise).  Subject to the following
sentence,  the  remedies  contained  in this  Article  X shall  be the sole
recourse  of the parties  hereto and their  respective  Affiliates  for all
losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages or expenses  related to or arising,
directly  or  indirectly,   out  of  this   Agreement,   the   transactions
contemplated  hereby or otherwise  arising at law,  under any statute or in
equity, and each party hereto has waived any and all rights, claims, causes
of action and other  remedies such party or its Affiliates may have against
the other relating to the subject  matter of this Agreement  other than the
remedies  expressly  provided in this  Article X. No party  hereto shall be
deemed to have waived any rights,  claims,  causes of action or remedies if
and to the extent such rights, claims, causes of action or remedies may not
be waived under applicable law or fraud is proven on the part of a party by
another party hereto.  The right to  indemnification  or other remedy based
upon such representations,  warranties,  covenants, and agreements will not
be  affected  by  any  investigation  conducted  with  respect  to,  or any
knowledge  acquired  (or capable of being  acquired)  at any time,  whether
before  or after  the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  or the
Closing,  with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with,
any such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement. The waiver of any
condition based on the accuracy of any  representation  or warranty,  or on
the performance of or compliance  with any covenant or agreement,  will not
affect  the  right  to  indemnification  or  other  remedy  based  on  such
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements. On the Closing Date,
all representations and warranties  contained in this Agreement and made by
the  Companies  for the benefit of Cordant shall expire as to the Companies
and  thereafter  will  be  deemed  to have  been  made  exclusively  by the
Stockholders  (severally,  and not jointly and severally) and to the extent
set forth herein.

10.2     INDEMNIFICATION BY STOCKHOLDERS

          (a)  Subject  to the  other  provisions  of this  Article  X, the
Stockholders,  jointly and  severally,  hereby agree to indemnify  and hold
Cordant  and  its  Affiliates,  Representatives,   successors  and  assigns
harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, orders, allegations,
actions,   damages,   liabilities,   including  liabilities  arising  under
principles of strict or joint and several liability, liens, losses or other
obligations  whatsoever,  together with costs and expenses,  including fees
and  disbursements of counsel and expenses of investigation  (collectively,
"LOSSES"),  arising out of, based upon or caused by (i) the  inaccuracy  of
any  representation  or the  breach  of any  warranty  of the  Stockholders
contained  in this  Agreement

                                    33
<PAGE>

or in any  agreement,  certificate  or other  instrument  delivered  by the
Stockholders   pursuant   to  this   Agreement,   or  (ii)  any  breach  or
nonperformance  by the Stockholders of any of their covenants or agreements
contained  in this  Agreement  or in any  agreement,  certificate  or other
instrument  delivered  by the  Stockholders  pursuant  to  this  Agreement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Cordant and its Affiliates, Representatives,  successors
and assigns shall be entitled to  indemnification  under Section 10.2(a)(i)
or Section  10.2(a)(ii)  only if and to the extent the aggregate  amount of
all Losses indemnified  against under (1) Section 10.2(a)(i) or (2) Section
10.2(a)(ii)  due to a breach of Section  6.5,  exceed  $500,000,  and in no
event  shall  such  indemnification  exceed  in the  aggregate  $5,000,000;
PROVIDED,  FURTHER,  that the limitation set forth in this Section  10.2(a)
shall not apply to a breach by the Stockholders of the  representations and
warranties  contained in Section 4.3.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any
indemnification  relating  to (A) Taxes or Section  3.22 shall be  governed
solely  by  Section  10.6  and  (B)   Environmental   Laws,   Environmental
Conditions, Hazardous Materials or Section 3.27 shall be governed solely by
Section  10.2(b),  and accordingly no claims may be made in respect of such
matters or the  representations  and  warranties set forth in such sections
under this Section 10.2(a).  An indemnified  party shall not have the right
to  indemnification  under this  Section  10.2(a) for a breach of the third
sentence of Section  3.8(b) unless  Cordant or the Companies  first exhaust
their remedies,  including through litigation, to recover their Losses from
the  issuer  of  the  applicable  Title  Policy.   Any  amounts  for  which
indemnification is provided pursuant to Section 10.2(a)(i) as a result of a
breach of the third  sentence of Section 3.8(b) shall be net of any amounts
recovered under such Title Policy.

          (b)  Subject  to the  other  provisions  of this  Article  X, the
Stockholders hereby agree to indemnify and hold Cordant and its Affiliates,
Representatives,  successors  and  assigns  harmless  from and  against any
Environmental  Conditions  only on the  following  terms and subject to the
following  conditions:  (i) for  aggregate  Environmental  Conditions up to
$1,000,000,   there  shall  be  no   indemnification   obligation   of  the
Stockholders  under  this  Article  X;  (ii)  for  aggregate  Environmental
Conditions  incurred prior to the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date in
excess  of  $1,000,000  but  less  than  $3,000,000,  there  shall  be full
indemnification  by the  Stockholders  for such excess amounts  pursuant to
this Article X; (iii) for aggregate Environmental Conditions incurred prior
to the fourth  anniversary  of the Closing Date in excess of $3,000,000 but
less  than  $5,000,000,  there  shall be  indemnification  for such  excess
amounts by the  Stockholders  under  this  Article X limited to 50% of such
Environmental  Conditions  in excess of  $3,000,000;  and (v) for aggregate
Environmental  Conditions  in excess of  $5,000,000,  or any  Environmental
Conditions incurred after the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, there
shall be no  indemnification  obligation  of the  Stockholders  under  this
Article X or otherwise.  The  obligations set forth in this Section 10.2(b)
shall be limited  to amounts  paid to third  parties  or  reimbursement  to
Cordant or its Affiliates for such amounts.  An indemnified party shall not
have a right to indemnification under this Section 10.2(b),  unless Cordant
or the  Companies,  at Cordant's  expense,  first exhaust  their  remedies,
including through litigation,  to recover for any Environmental  Conditions
(including  through  enforcement of contractual  rights) from third parties
with whom the Companies or the Subsidiaries have or may have a contractual,
legal or equitable right of indemnification, reimbursement or contribution,
including  any  prior  owner  of  the  property.   Any  amounts  for  which
indemnification  is provided  pursuant to this Section 10.2(b) shall be net
of any amounts  recovered from such third parties.  An  indemnifying  party
shall not be liable under this  Section  10.2(b) (A) to the extent that the
Environmental  Condition  resulted  from  the  enactment,  modification  or
amendment of an  Environmental  Law after the

                                    34
<PAGE>

Closing Date, or (B) to the extent that liability  arises from or is due to
a change in the use of the  property  from  that  currently  being  used by
Continental/Midland.

10.3  INDEMNIFICATION  BY CORDANT.  Subject to the other provisions of this
Article X, Cordant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Stockholders and
their respective Affiliates,  Representatives (including, where applicable,
their respective trustees,  beneficiaries,  grantors and heirs), successors
and assigns  harmless,  from and against any and all Losses arising out of,
based upon or caused by (a) the  inaccuracy  of any  representation  or the
breach of any  warranty of Cordant  contained  in this  Agreement or in any
agreement, certificate or other instrument delivered by Cordant pursuant to
this Agreement,  (b) any breach or  nonperformance by Cordant of any of its
covenants or agreements  contained in this  Agreement or in any  agreement,
certificate  or other  instrument  delivered  by Cordant  pursuant  to this
Agreement, (c) Cordant's ownership of the Companies and the Subsidiaries or
the operations of their  respective  Businesses  after the Closing Date, or
(d) any failure by Cordant  after the Closing Date to perform and discharge
all of the  obligations  of the  Companies and the  Subsidiaries  under any
Contracts  or other  undertakings  that were in effect and known to Cordant
prior to the Closing Date. In the event any claims are asserted against any
current or former shareholders (direct or indirect),  officers,  directors,
partners or employees of the  Companies or the  Subsidiaries  in respect of
Environmental  Conditions,  Cordant shall  indemnify and hold harmless such
shareholders,  officers,  directors, partners and employees, subject to the
provisions of Section 10.2(b) that may render the Stockholders (rather than
Cordant) liable for some or all of such Environmental Conditions.

10.4 NOTICE;  COOPERATION;  DEFENSE;  ETC. The indemnified  party agrees to
give the  indemnifying  party prompt written  notice of any action,  claim,
demand, discovery of fact, proceeding or suit (collectively,  "CLAIMS") for
which such indemnified  party intends to assert a right to  indemnification
under  this  Agreement;   PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  the  failure  to  give  such
notification  after such notice is required shall not adversely  affect the
indemnified party's entitlement to indemnification  hereunder except to the
extent that the indemnifying party shall have been actually prejudiced as a
result of such failure.  The indemnified party shall take all reasonable or
necessary  steps to  resolve,  defend or  cooperate  in the defense of such
Claims,  including  retaining and providing to the  indemnifying  party all
documents,  records  and other  information  that may be  relevant  to such
Claims and making employees available to the extent reasonably requested to
fully cooperate in the resolution or defense of such Claims and provide any
additional information  (including  explanations and interpretations of any
other materials or information provided) that they are able to provide with
respect thereto. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate
jointly with the  indemnified  party in the  indemnified  party's  defense,
settlement or other disposition of any Claim and, with respect to any Claim
that is not likely to result in the indemnified  party's  becoming  subject
solely to injunctive or other similar relief,  the indemnifying party shall
have the sole right (but not the obligation) to defend, settle or otherwise
dispose of such Claim on such terms as the indemnifying  party, in its sole
discretion, shall deem appropriate. The indemnifying party shall obtain the
written consent of the indemnified  party,  which shall not be unreasonably
withheld  or  delayed,  prior to  ceasing  to  defend  any  Claim if it has
theretofore  elected  to  exercise  its sole  right to  defend,  settle  or
otherwise  dispose  of such  Claim.  For  purposes  of this  Article X, the
Stockholder Representative

                                    35
<PAGE>

shall be entitled to receive  notification  and to  administer on behalf of
the Stockholders all indemnification claims pursuant to Section 10.2.

10.5     TIME LIMITATIONS; RECOVERABLE DAMAGES

          (a) Except as may  elsewhere  be  specifically  provided  in this
Agreement,  representations,  warranties, covenants and obligations in this
Agreement and any other certificate or document  delivered pursuant to this
Agreement   will   survive   the   Closing;   PROVIDED,    HOWEVER,   that,
notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained herein, the obligation
of the Stockholders to indemnify or otherwise hold harmless Cordant and its
Affiliates,  Representatives,  successors  and  assigns  (a) for any Losses
arising  out  of,   based  upon  or  caused  by  the   inaccuracy   of  any
representation  or the breach of any  warranty  which  survives the Closing
shall,  except as  otherwise  provided in the next  sentence,  terminate at
11:59 p.m., Chicago time, on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, (b)
for any Environmental Conditions pursuant to Section 10.2(b), shall, except
as otherwise provided in the following  sentence,  terminate at 11:59 p.m.,
Chicago time, on the fourth  anniversary  of the Closing Date,  (c) for any
Losses  relating  to Taxes or Section  3.22  shall  survive as set forth in
Section  10.6,  and (d) for any  Losses  resulting  from the  breach by the
Stockholders of their  representations and warranties  contained in Section
4.3 shall  survive  until  the  expiration  of the  applicable  statute  of
limitations;  PROVIDED,  further,  that,  notwithstanding  anything  to the
contrary  contained  herein,  the  obligations  of Cordant to  indemnify or
otherwise  hold  the   Stockholders   and  their   respective   Affiliates,
Representatives  (including,  where applicable,  their respective trustees,
beneficiaries, grantors and heirs), successors and assigns harmless for any
Loss  arising  out  of,  based  upon or  caused  by the  inaccuracy  of any
representation  or the breach of any  warranty  which  survives the Closing
shall, except as otherwise provided in the following sentence, terminate at
11:59 p.m.  Chicago  time,  on the first  anniversary  of the Closing Date.
Claims (with all relevant and  necessary  information  and  particulars  to
support such Claims)  properly  made in accordance  with the  provisions of
this Article X on or prior to the  expiration  of the  applicable  survival
period specified above may continue to be asserted and shall be indemnified
against by the Stockholders  (subject to any other  applicable  limitations
herein),  but such  Claims may not be  supplemented,  expanded,  amended or
modified  after  the  expiration  of such  time  period  in a  manner  that
fundamentally  changes the Claim without the prior  written  consent of the
Stockholders.

          (b) Any amounts required to be paid as damages or indemnification
by the  indemnifying  party pursuant to this Agreement  shall be limited to
the actual, reasonable, direct and reasonably foreseeable damages sustained
by the  indemnified  party with  respect to the Claim in  question,  net of
available  insurance (which the indemnified  party shall use its reasonable
efforts to pursue). In the event that the Losses for which  indemnification
is provided under Section 10.2 would have been within the scope of coverage
provided in an insurance policy in effect at the Closing Date  ("APPLICABLE
INSURANCE  COVERAGE")  and, at the time the  indemnified  party suffers the
Losses,  Cordant  carries  Applicable  Insurance  Coverage  (or  comparable
insurance)  with a higher  deductible than that carried by the Companies or
MSD for such  Applicable  Insurance  Coverage  on the Closing  Date,  or if
Cordant has no Applicable  Insurance  Coverage (or  comparable  insurance),
then the  amount of  indemnification  hereunder  shall be reduced by (a) an
amount  equal  to the  excess,  if any,  of (i) the  amount  of the  higher
deductible or the amount of the indemnification  claim,  whichever is less,
over (ii) the amount of the  deductible

                                    36

<PAGE>

as of the  Closing  Date,  or (b) if  Cordant  has no  Applicable  Issuance
Coverage (or comparable insurance), the amount of the indemnification claim
in excess of the Closing Date deductible,  respectively.  In no event shall
any damages or indemnification be claimed,  assessed or required to be paid
by the indemnifying party in respect of any actual or alleged lost profits,
lost  opportunities  or  other  consequential  or  speculative  damages  or
punitive or exemplary damages sustained by the indemnified  party.  Subject
to the foregoing,  the term "LOSSES" is not limited to matters  asserted by
third parties if the  indemnified  party can otherwise  prove and calculate
its damages in the absence of a third party claim, and accordingly payments
by an  indemnitee  shall not be (except in the case of claims under Section
10.2 (b)) a condition  precedent  to  recovery if damages can be  otherwise
proven.

10.6 TAX INDEMNIFICATION.  Notwithstanding the limitations on the indemnity
provided under this Article X, the  Stockholders  shall be responsible  for
and shall pay and shall  indemnify,  save and hold harmless Cordant and the
Companies (and each of their respective Affiliates, successors and assigns)
from and  against  (i) all Taxes  imposed  on any of the  Companies  or the
Subsidiaries,  or for which any of the  Companies  or the  Subsidiaries  is
liable,  with respect to (A) all periods  ending on or prior to the Closing
Date, or (B) any period  beginning before the Closing Date and ending after
the Closing Date, but only with respect to the portion of such period up to
and  including  the Closing  Date (such  portion,  a  "PRE-CLOSING  PARTIAL
PERIOD"), to the extent such Taxes are not reflected in the reserve for Tax
liability  (rather  than any  reserve for  deferred  Taxes  established  to
reflect timing  differences  between book and Tax income) shown on the face
of the Companies Balance Sheet, as such reserve is adjusted for the passage
of time  through the Closing  Date in  accordance  with the past custom and
practice of the respective  Companies;  and (ii) any costs or expenses with
respect to the Taxes  indemnified  hereunder.  For purposes of this Section
10.6,  Taxes  shall  include the amount of Taxes which would have been paid
but for the  application  of any credit or net  operating  or capital  loss
deduction  attributable to any period (or portion thereof) ending after the
Closing Date, but shall not include  amounts which would have been paid but
for  the  application  of any  credit  or net  operating  or  capital  loss
deductions  attributable  to any period (or portion  thereof)  ending on or
before the Closing Date.

                                ARTICLE XI.
                               MISCELLANEOUS

11.1     TERMINATION

          (a) This  Agreement  shall  be  terminated  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby abandoned at any time prior to the Closing as follows:

               (i)  By  the  mutual   written   consent  of  Cordant,   the
Stockholders and the Companies;

               (ii) By Cordant  if there is a breach of any  representation
or warranty of the Companies or the  Stockholders  set forth in Article III
or Article IV or any covenant or agreement to be complied with or performed
by the  Companies  or  the  Stockholders  pursuant  to the  terms  of  this
Agreement, which breach shall not have been cured within five business days
after notice thereof has been given to the Companies;

                                    37

<PAGE>

provided that Cordant shall have a right of termination  under this Section
11.1(a)(ii)  only if the events or occurrences that resulted in such breach
would constitute a Material Adverse Change;

               (iii) By the  Companies  or the  Stockholders  if there is a
material breach of any  representation  or warranty of Cordant set forth in
Article V hereof or of any  material  covenant or  agreement to be complied
with or performed by Cordant pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, which
breach  shall not have been cured  within five  business  days after notice
thereof  has been given to Cordant;  provided  that the  Companies  and the
Stockholders   shall  have  a  right  of  termination  under  this  Section
11(a)(iii)  only if the events or occurrences  that resulted in such breach
would constitute a Cordant Material Adverse Change; or

               (iv) If the Closing Date shall not have occurred by December
31, 1999 (the "TERMINATION  DATE");  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the right to
terminate  this  Agreement  under  this  Section  11.1(a)(iv)  shall not be
available  until March 31, 2000 to any party whose breach of any obligation
under  this  Agreement  has been the  primary  cause of the  failure of the
Closing Date to occur on or before December 31, 1999,

          (b) In the  event  of  termination  of this  Agreement,  no party
hereto  shall  have any  liability  to any other  party to this  Agreement,
except for any willful breach of, or intentional misrepresentation made in,
this Agreement occurring prior to the termination of this Agreement.

11.2     BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX MATTERS

          (a) FILING OF TAX RETURNS FOR TAX PERIODS ENDING ON OR BEFORE THE
CLOSING DATE.  The  Stockholders  shall prepare or cause to be prepared and
file or cause to be filed, at the  Stockholders'  expense,  all federal and
state income Tax Returns for the  Companies  and the  Subsidiaries  for all
periods (or portions  thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date which
are filed after the Closing Date. The Stockholders  shall permit Cordant to
review  and  comment  on each such Tax Return  described  in the  preceding
sentence prior to filing.  To the extent  permitted by applicable  law, the
Stockholders shall include any income,  gain, loss,  deduction or other Tax
items for such periods on their Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the
Schedule K-1s furnished to the Stockholders for such periods.

          (b)  STRADDLE  PERIODS.  Any  Taxes  with  respect  to any of the
Companies  that relate to a Tax period  beginning  on or before the Closing
Date and ending  after the  Closing  Date (a  "STRADDLE  PERIOD")  shall be
apportioned  between  the  portion of such  Straddle  Period  ending on the
Closing  Date (the  "PRE-CLOSING  PARTIAL  PERIOD") and the portion of such
Straddle  Period   beginning  on  the  day  after  the  Closing  Date  (the
"POST-CLOSING  PARTIAL  PERIOD"),  (i) in the  case  of  real  or  personal
property Taxes (and any other Taxes not measured or measurable, in whole or
in part, by net or gross income or receipts), on a per diem basis and, (ii)
in the case of other  Taxes,  on the  "closing  of the books"  method.  The
Companies or the  Subsidiaries  shall file any Tax Returns for any Straddle
Period, and Cordant, or such Subsidiaries,  shall pay, or shall cause to be
paid,  all Taxes shown as due on any such Tax  Returns,  subject to Section
11.2(h).

                                    38

<PAGE>

          (c) REFUNDS AND TAX  BENEFITS.  Any tax refunds that are received
by Cordant or its Affiliates, and any amounts credited against Tax to which
Cordant or its Affiliates  become  entitled,  that relate to Tax periods or
portions  thereof  ending on or before  the  Closing  Date shall be for the
account of the Stockholders, and Cordant shall pay over to the Stockholders
any such  refund or the  amount  of any such  credit  within 15 days  after
receipt  thereof.  In addition,  to the extent that a claim for refund or a
proceeding results in a payment or credit against Tax by a taxing authority
to Cordant or its Affiliates of any amount  accrued or reserved  against on
the Companies Balance Sheet or on the Closing  Consolidating Balance Sheet,
Cordant  shall pay such  amount to the  Stockholders  within 15 days  after
receipt or entitlement thereto.

          (d) BOOKS AND RECORDS.  Each party agrees that it will  cooperate
with and make available to the other party,  during normal  business hours,
all Books and Records,  financial  books and records,  accounting  ledgers,
payroll  records  and  other  information   related  to  the  business  and
operations  of  the  Companies  prior  to the  Closing  Date  retained  and
remaining in existence  after the Closing  which are necessary or useful in
connection  with any tax  inquiry,  audit,  investigation  or dispute,  any
litigation or  investigation  or any other matter  requiring any such Books
and Records or information for any reasonable  business purpose.  The party
requesting any such Books and Records or information  shall bear all of the
out-of-pocket costs and expenses  (including without limitation  attorneys'
fees,  but  excluding  reimbursement  for salaries  and employee  benefits)
reasonably  incurred in connection  with  providing such Books and Records,
information  or  employees.  Cordant  agrees  (i) to  retain  all Books and
Records with  respect to Tax matters  pertinent  to the  Companies  and the
Subsidiaries  relating to any taxable period  beginning  before the Closing
Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations  (and any extension
thereof)  of  such  taxable  periods  and  (ii) to  give  the  Stockholders
reasonable  written notice prior to transferring,  destroying or discarding
any such Books and Records  and, if the  Stockholders  so request,  Cordant
will allow the Stockholders to take possession of such Books and Records.

          (e)  COOPERATION.  The  Stockholders  shall  cooperate  with, and
provide  assistance to, Cordant in connection  with all Tax Returns and all
other  filings or notices with  governmental  agencies  with respect to the
Companies which relate to time periods or events which occurred on or prior
to the Closing Date.

          (f) ADJUSTMENTS TO TAXES. The Stockholders,  on the one hand, and
Cordant,  on the other hand,  agree to give prompt  notice to each other of
any proposed  adjustment to Taxes for (i) periods ending on or prior to the
Closing Date or (ii) any Pre-Closing  Partial Period.  The Stockholders and
Cordant  shall  cooperate  with each  other in the  conduct  of any  audit,
investigation,   inquiry,  examination,  litigation  or  administrative  or
judicial  proceeding  (a  "PROCEEDING")  involving  the  Companies  or  the
Subsidiaries or any predecessors thereof, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, subject to the
provisions  of Section  10.2,  the  Stockholders  shall  exercise  complete
control over the handling, disposition, defense, investigation, conduct and
settlement of any Proceeding  relating to any liability for, or claims with
respect to, Taxes subject to indemnification by the Stockholders under this
Agreement.   Cordant  shall,   with  reasonable   promptness,   notify  the
Stockholders if, in connection with any such  Proceeding,  any governmental
authority  proposes in writing to make any  assessment or  adjustment  with
respect  to  any  such  Taxes  covered  by  the   Stockholders'   indemnity
obligations  under this  Agreement and

                                    39

<PAGE>

shall  consult  with the  Stockholders  with  respect to any such  proposed
assessment and adjustment. Cordant and the Stockholders further agree, upon
request, to use their reasonable efforts to obtain any certificate or other
document  from any  governmental  authority  or any other  Person as may be
necessary  to mitigate,  reduce or eliminate  any Tax that could be imposed
(including,   but  not  limited  to,  with  respect  to  the   transactions
contemplated hereby).

          (g)  INFORMATION.  As soon as  practicable  after  a  request  by
Cordant or the Stockholders (the "REQUESTING PARTY"), for a period of seven
years from and after the Closing  Date,  the party of whom such  request is
made (the  "DELIVERING  PARTY") shall deliver to the Requesting  Party such
information and data concerning the Business,  activities and Assets of the
Companies and the  Subsidiaries,  including  providing the  information and
data  required  by the  Requesting  Party's  customary  Tax and  accounting
questionnaires,  as are in the  Delivering  Party's  possession or control,
and,  if  Cordant,  or an  entity  that  is in  Affiliate,  predecessor  or
successor of Cordant, is the Delivering Party, it shall make available such
knowledgeable  employees of the Delivering Party, or any Affiliate thereof,
or any predecessor or successor of the foregoing,  as the Requesting  Party
may reasonably request, in order to enable the Requesting Party to complete
and file all Tax Returns and all other federal,  state or foreign forms and
reports  that it may be  required  to file with  respect  to the  business,
activities  or assets of any of the  Companies  or the  Subsidiaries  or to
respond  to audits by any  taxing or other  governmental  authorities  with
respect to such business,  activities or assets. The obligations of Cordant
or the Stockholders as a Delivering Party under this Section 11.2 to permit
access to and review of the foregoing  materials are  conditioned  upon the
execution by the Requesting Party of a confidentiality agreement reasonably
acceptable to the Delivering Party.

          (h) POST-CLOSING TAX PAYMENTS.  The Stockholders  shall reimburse
Cordant and each of its  Affiliates,  successors  and assigns for Taxes for
which any of the Companies or the  Subsidiaries or any predecessor  thereof
are or may be liable or that are or may become due or payable  with respect
to all  taxable  periods  ending on or prior to the  Closing  Date and with
respect to any Pre-Closing Partial Period that any of Cordant or any of its
Affiliates,  successors  or assigns is  obligated to pay in excess of Taxes
paid by the  Companies  or the  Subsidiaries  prior to the Closing  Date or
reflected  in the accrual or reserve  for Tax  liability  (rather  than any
reserve  for  deferred  Taxes  established  to reflect  timing  differences
between  book and Tax income)  shown on the face of the  Companies  Balance
Sheet with respect to any of the Companies or the  Subsidiaries  liable for
such Taxes,  as such accrual or reserve is adjusted for the passage of time
through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of
the  Companies  and  the   Subsidiaries  or  as  adjusted  on  the  Closing
Consolidating Balance Sheet. This Section 11.2(h) shall not have any effect
on, and in no way shall negate, the Stockholders' obligations under Article
X.

          (i) TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS. All Tax sharing agreements or similar
agreements  with respect to or involving  any of the Companies or MSD shall
be terminated as of the Closing Date and,  after the Closing Date,  neither
Cordant nor MSD shall be bound thereby or have any liability thereunder.

          (j) CERTAIN TAXES. All transfer,  documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration  and other such Taxes and fees  (including  any  penalties and
interest)  incurred  in  connection  with

                                    40

<PAGE>

this Agreement  shall be paid by Cordant when due, and Cordant will, at its
own expense,  file all necessary Tax Returns and other  documentation  with
respect to all such transfer,  documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration
and other  Taxes  and  fees,  and,  if  required  by  applicable  law,  the
Stockholders  will, and will cause their respective  Affiliates to, join in
the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation.

          (k)  CHARACTERIZATION  OF  PAYMENTS.  Any  payments  made  to the
Stockholders or to Cordant  pursuant to this Article XI shall constitute an
adjustment  of the Purchase  Price for Tax purposes and shall be treated as
such by Cordant,  the Companies,  the  Subsidiaries and the Stockholders on
their Tax Returns to the extent permitted by law.

11.3 ASSIGNMENT;  NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  Neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights or  obligations  hereunder  may be assigned  prior to the
Closing by the  Companies  or the  Stockholders  without the prior  written
consent of Cordant,  or by Cordant without the prior written consent of the
Companies and the Stockholders'  Representative;  provided that Cordant may
assign its rights and obligations  hereunder to a wholly-owned  subsidiary,
in which event Cordant shall remain  responsible for the performance of all
of its  obligations  hereunder.  Subject to the  foregoing,  this Agreement
shall be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of the  parties  hereto and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing herein expressed
or implied shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the
parties hereto and such successors and assigns and the Persons  indemnified
pursuant to Article X, any legal or equitable rights hereunder.

11.4 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications which
are required or may be given under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and
shall be deemed  to have  been  duly  given  when  received  if  personally
delivered;  when  transmitted  if  transmitted  by  telecopy  with  receipt
confirmed  (and,  in the case of  notices  to Mr.  Kaminski,  by  overnight
delivery  service or registered or certified  mail); the Business Day after
it is sent, if sent for next day delivery,  freight prepaid,  to a domestic
address by recognized  overnight delivery service (E.G.,  Federal Express);
and upon receipt, if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, as follows:

          (a) If to Cordant:

          Cordant  Technologies  Inc.
          15 W. South  Temple,  Suite 1600
          Salt Lake City,  UT  84101-1532
          Telecopy:  (801)  933-4203
          Attention:  General Counsel

                                    41

<PAGE>


                           with a copy to:

                           Latham & Watkins
                           505 Montgomery Street, 19th Floor
                           San Francisco, CA 94111
                           Telecopy:  (415) 395-8095
                           Attention:  Scott R. Haber, Esq.

          (b) If to the Companies or the Stockholders prior to the Closing:

                           Continental/Midland, Inc.
                           24000 South Western Avenue
                           Park Forest, IL 60466
                           Telecopy:  (708) 747-9338
                           Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                           with a copy to:

                           Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein,P.C.
                           200 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2100
                           Chicago, IL  60601-1095
                           Telecopy:  (312) 621-1750
                           Attention:  Lawrence H. Brenman, Esq.

          (c) If to the Stockholders after the Closing:

                           c/o Mr. Robert S. Kaminski
                           11411 Swinford Lane
                           Mokena, IL  60448
                           Telecopy:  (708) 479-8688

                           with a copy to:

                           Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein,P.C.
                           200 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2100
                           Chicago, IL  60601-1095
                           Telecopy:  (312) 621-1750
                           Attention:  Lawrence H. Brenman, Esq.

or to such  other  place and with  such  other  copies as either  party may
designate as to itself by written  notice to the others given in the manner
set  forth  in this  Section  11.4.  Notice  to the  Stockholders  shall be
satisfied upon giving one notice to the Stockholders' Representative as set
forth above.

11.5 CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement shall be construed,  interpreted and the
rights of the parties  determined in accordance  with the laws of the State
of Illinois,  without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law
provision  or rule  that  would  cause the  application  of the laws

                                    42

<PAGE>

of any jurisdiction  other than the State of Illinois;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
with respect to matters of law concerning the internal corporate affairs of
any corporate  entity which is a party to or the subject of this Agreement,
the law of the jurisdiction  under which the respective  entity derives its
powers shall govern.

11.6 ENTIRE  AGREEMENT;  AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.  This Agreement,  together
with all  exhibits  and  schedules  hereto  and the  Ancillary  Agreements,
constitute the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject
matter  hereof  and  supersede   all  prior   agreements,   understandings,
negotiations and discussions,  whether oral or written,  of the parties. No
supplement,  modification  or waiver  of this  Agreement  shall be  binding
unless  executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby.  No waiver of
any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute
a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar),  nor shall
such waiver  constitute  a continuing  waiver  unless  otherwise  expressly
provided.

11.7  COUNTERPARTS.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11.8  INVALIDITY.  In the  event  that  any one or  more of the  provisions
contained in this Agreement or in any other instrument  referred to herein,
shall, for any reason,  be held to be invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in
any respect,  such  invalidity,  illegality or  unenforceability  shall not
affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other such instrument.

11.9  EXPENSES.  Except as otherwise  provided in this  Agreement,  each of
Cordant,  the  Stockholders  and the Companies will be liable for their own
expenses   incurred  in  connection  with  the  negotiation,   preparation,
execution  and   performance  of  this   Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated hereby.

11.10 PUBLICITY.  No party hereto shall issue any press release or make any
public statement regarding the transactions contemplated hereby without the
prior written  approval of the other parties,  and the parties hereto shall
issue a mutually  acceptable press release as soon as practicable after the
date  hereof,  except as required by law (in which case,  the party  making
such  announcement  or issuing  such press  release will provide each other
party with a copy of any written statement or announcement that it proposes
to make prior to making such  announcement  and will consult with the other
parties with respect thereto).

11.11  DEFINED  TERMS.  As used  herein,  the terms  below  shall  have the
following meanings:

          "ACTION" means any action, order, writ,  injunction,  judgment or
decree outstanding or claim, suit, litigation, proceeding or investigation.

          "AFFILIATE"  of a Person means any other Person which directly or
indirectly  controls,  is controlled  by, or is under common  control with,
such Person. The term "control"  (including,  with correlative meaning, the
terms  "controlled  by" and  "under  common  control  with"),  as used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the

                                    43

<PAGE>

power to direct or cause the  direction of the  management  and policies of
such  Person,  whether  through  the  ownership  of voting  securities,  by
contract or otherwise.

          "ANCILLARY  AGREEMENTS" means the Senior Advisor  Agreement,  the
Employment  Agreements  and other  agreements,  certificates  and documents
required hereunder to consummate the Closing.

          "ASSETS"  means  with  respect to any  Person,  all of its right,
title and interest in and to its properties, assets and rights of any kind,
whether tangible or intangible, real or personal.

          "BALANCE SHEET DATE" means June 30, 1999.

          "BANKS" means LaSalle Bank National Association and Harris Bank &
Trust Company.

          "BENEFIT  ARRANGEMENT"  means  with  respect to any  Person,  any
employment, consulting, severance or other similar contract, arrangement or
policy and each plan, arrangement (written or oral), program,  agreement or
commitment  providing for insurance  coverage  (including any  self-insured
arrangements),  workers'  compensation,  disability benefits,  supplemental
unemployment  benefits,  vacation  benefits,   retirement  benefits,  life,
health,   disability  or  accident   benefits   (including  any  "voluntary
employees' beneficiary  association" as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the
Code   providing   for  the  same  or  other   benefits)  or  for  deferred
compensation,  profit-sharing  bonuses,  stock options,  stock appreciation
rights,  stock  purchases  or other  forms  of  incentive  compensation  or
post-retirement  insurance,  compensation  or  benefits  which (A) is not a
Welfare  Plan,  Pension Plan or  Multiemployer  Plan,  (B) is entered into,
maintained,  contributed  to or  required  to be  contributed  to,  by such
Person,  or an ERISA Affiliate  thereof or under which such Person,  or any
ERISA  Affiliate  thereof  may  incur any  liability,  and (C)  covers  any
employee or former employee of such Person,  or any ERISA Affiliate thereof
(with respect to their relationship with such entities).

          "BOOKS AND RECORDS"  means,  with respect to any Person,  (a) all
product, business and marketing plans, sales and promotional literature and
artwork relating to its Assets or Business, (b) all books, records,  lists,
ledgers, financial data, files, reports, product and design manuals, plans,
drawings, technical manuals and operating records of every kind relating to
its  Assets  or  Business   (including  records  and  lists  of  customers,
distributors,  suppliers  and  personnel)  and  (c) all  telephone  and fax
numbers used in its Business,  in each case whether maintained as hard copy
or  stored in  computer  memory  and  whether  owned by such  Person or its
respective Affiliates.

          "BUSINESS"  means,  with  respect to any Person,  the business of
such Person as conducted on the date hereof.

          "CLOSING" means the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement on the Closing Date.

                                    44
<PAGE>


          "CLOSING  DATE" means the date to be  specified  by Cordant,  the
Companies  and the  Stockholders,  which  shall be no later  than the fifth
business day following the  satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions
set forth in Article VII and in Article VIII hereof.

          "CLOSING  PLACE" means such  location  agreed upon by the parties
or, in the absence of such an  agreement,  the offices of Latham & Watkins,
5800 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

          "COMPANIES BALANCE SHEET" means the consolidated balance sheet of
each of the Companies as of the Balance Sheet Date.

          "COMPANIES     COMMON    STOCK"    means     collectively     the
Continental/Midland  Common  Stock,  the KORE Common  Stock and the KORE II
Common Stock.

          "COMPANIES  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE"  means the Disclosure  Schedule
dated as of the date hereof delivered by the Companies to Cordant.

          "COMPANIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means, collectively, the audited
financial statements of (a) Continental/Midland for the twelve months ended
September 30, 1998, September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996, (b) KORE for
the twelve months ended  December 31, 1998,  December 31, 1997 and December
31,  1996,  and (c) KORE II for the period from its  formation to September
30, 1998;  and unaudited  condensed  consolidated  financial  statements of
Continental/Midland  and KORE II for the nine  months  ended on the Balance
Sheet Date and of KORE for the six months ended on the Balance Sheet Date.

          "CONSENTS"  means,  with  respect  to any  Person,  any  and  all
licenses,  permits,  franchises,  approvals,  authorizations,  consents  or
waivers from third parties (including governmental  authorities and parties
to  such  Person's  material  Contracts)  that  are  (i)  required  for the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement or (ii)
necessary in order that Cordant can conduct the Businesses of the Companies
and MSD after the  Closing in  substantially  the same manner as before the
Closing.

          "CONTINENTAL/MIDLAND  COMMON STOCK" means the common  stock,  par
value $.01 per share, of Continental/Midland.

          "CONTRACTS"  means,  with respect to any Person,  all agreements,
contracts, leases, purchase orders, undertakings, covenants not to compete,
employment agreements,  confidentiality agreements,  licenses, instruments,
obligations  and  commitments  to which such  Person is a party or by which
such Person or any of its Assets are bound or affected,  whether written or
oral.

          "CORDANT  MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" means a change which is, or is
reasonably likely to be, materially adverse to the condition  (financial or
otherwise),   business,  results  of  operations,  assets,  liabilities  or
operations of Cordant and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  except for
such  effects  or  changes  resulting  from  changes  in  general  economic
conditions.

                                    45

<PAGE>

          "COURT  ORDER" means,  with respect to any Person,  any judgment,
decision, consent decree, injunction, ruling or order of any federal, state
or local court or  governmental  agency,  department  or authority  that is
binding on such Person or its property under applicable law.

          "DEFAULT"  with  respect to any  Person  means (a) a breach of or
default under any Contract of such Person,  (b) the  occurrence of an event
that  with the  passage  of time or the  giving  of  notice  or both  would
constitute  a breach  of or  default  under  any such  Contract  or (c) the
occurrence  of an event  that with or  without  the  passage of time or the
giving of  notice or both  would  give  rise to a right of  termination  or
acceleration under any such Contract.

          "EMPLOYEE  PLANS" means,  with respect to any Person,  all of its
respective Benefit  Arrangements,  Multiemployer  Plans,  Pension Plans and
Welfare Plans. "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS" means, collectively,  the Employment
Agreements  between   Continental/Midland   or  KORE  and  the  individuals
signatory thereto  identified on Section 11.11 of the Companies  Disclosure
Schedule, substantially in the form of EXHIBIT E hereto.

          "ENCUMBRANCE"  means any claim,  lien,  pledge,  option,  charge,
easement,  security  interest,  deed  of  trust,  mortgage,   right-of-way,
encroachment,  building or use  restriction,  conditional  sales agreement,
encumbrance  or  other  similar  right  of  any  third   parties,   whether
voluntarily  incurred or arising by  operation  of law,  and  includes  any
agreement to give any of the  foregoing in the future,  and any  contingent
sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof.


          "ENVIRONMENTAL  CONDITIONS" mean, with respect to any Person, the
Release  on or prior  to the  Closing  Date  into  the  environment  of any
contaminant, irritant or pollutant or other Hazardous Substance (whether or
not such  pollution  constituted  at the time  thereof a  violation  of any
Environmental  Law) as a result of which  such  Person,  has or may  become
liable to any other  Person  or by  reason of which any of its  Assets  may
suffer or be subjected to any Encumbrance.

          "ENVIRONMENTAL  LAWS"  mean all  Regulations  which  regulate  or
relate  to  the  protection  or  clean-up  of  the  environment,  the  use,
treatment, storage, transportation,  generation,  manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  handling or disposal  of, or  emission,  discharge  or other
release  or  threatened  release  of,  Hazardous  Substances  or  otherwise
dangerous substances,  wastes,  pollution or materials (whether gas, liquid
or solid),  the  preservation  or  protection  of  waterways,  groundwater,
drinking water, air, wildlife,  plants or other natural  resources,  or the
health  and  safety of persons or  property,  including  protection  of the
health and safety of  employees.  Environmental  Laws  include  the Federal
Water Pollution  Control Act,  Resource  Conservation & Recovery Act, Clean
Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Atomic Energy Act,  Occupational Safety
and Health Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Clean Air Act,  Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, Hazardous Materials
Transportation  Act and all  analogous or related  federal,  state or local
law.

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

                                    46

<PAGE>

          "ERISA AFFILIATE"  means, with respect to any Person,  any entity
which is (or at any relevant time was) a member of a  "controlled  group of
corporations" with or under "common control" with such Person as defined in
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code.

          "GAAP" means generally accepted  accounting  principles set forth
in the opinions and  pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board and
the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and statements and
pronouncements  of the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board (or agencies
with  similar  functions of  comparable  stature and  authority  within the
accounting  profession),  or in such other statements by such entity as may
be  in  general  use  by  significant   segments  of  the  U.S.  accounting
profession, which are applicable to the facts and circumstances on the date
of determination.

          "HAZARDOUS   SUBSTANCE"   means  any  pollutants,   contaminants,
chemicals,  waste  and  any  toxic,  infectious,   carcinogenic,  reactive,
corrosive,   ignitable  or  flammable  chemical  or  chemical  compound  or
hazardous  substance,  material  or waste,  whether  solid,  liquid or gas,
including any quantity of asbestos in any form,  urea  formaldehyde,  PCBs,
radon gas,  crude oil or any  fraction  thereof,  all forms of natural gas,
petroleum  products or by-products or derivatives,  radioactive  substance,
waste waters, sludges, slag and any other substance, material or waste that
is subject to regulation,  control or remediation  under any  Environmental
Laws.

          "HSR ACT" means the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust  Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended.

          "INVENTORY"  means,  with respect to any Person,  all merchandise
owned and  intended  for resale  and all raw  materials,  work in  process,
finished  goods,  wrapping,  supply and packaging  items and similar items,
whether or not located on the premises, on consignment to a third party, or
in transit or storage.

          "KORE COMMON  STOCK"  means the common  stock,  no par value,  of
KORE.

          "KORE II COMMON STOCK" means the common stock,  no par value,  of
KORE II.

          "LIABILITIES"  means,  with respect to any Person,  any direct or
indirect liability,  indebtedness,  obligation, commitment, expense, claim,
deficiency,  guaranty  or  endorsement  of or by such  Person  of any type,
whether accrued,  absolute,  contingent,  matured,  unmatured,  liquidated,
unliquidated, known or unknown.

          "MATERIAL  ADVERSE EFFECT" or "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" means any
effect  or  change  which is,  or is  reasonably  likely to be,  materially
adverse to the condition  (financial or  otherwise),  business,  results of
operations,  assets,  liabilities  or  operations of the Companies and MSD,
taken as a whole, except for such effects or changes resulting from changes
in general economic conditions.

          "MULTIEMPLOYER  PLAN"  means,  with  respect to any  Person,  any
"multiemployer plan," as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                                    47
<PAGE>


          "ORDINARY  COURSE  OF  BUSINESS"  means  the  ordinary  course of
business  consistent in all material respects with past custom and practice
of the  Business  as a  whole  (including  with  respect  to  quantity  and
frequency).

          "PENSION PLAN" means,  with respect to any Person,  any "employee
pension  benefit  plan" as defined in Section  3(2) of ERISA  (other than a
Multiemployer  Plan) (A) which such Person or any ERISA  Affiliate  thereof
maintains, administers, contributes to or is required to contribute to, or,
within the five years prior to the Closing Date, maintained,  administered,
contributed to or was required to contribute to, or under which such Person
or any ERISA Affiliate thereof may incur any liability and (B) which covers
any  employee  or former  employee  of such  Person or any ERISA  Affiliate
thereof (with respect to their relationship with such entities).

          "PERMITS"  means all licenses,  permits,  franchises,  approvals,
authorizations,  consents or orders of, or filings with,  any  governmental
authority, whether foreign, federal, state or local.

          "PERMITTED   ENCUMBRANCES"   means,  to  the  extent  applicable,
Encumbrances which (a) are liens for Taxes not yet due and payable,  (b) do
not, individually or in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of
the  assets  to  which  they  attach,   (c)  are   mechanics',   carriers',
materialmen's,  landlords', workers' or other similar liens incurred in the
ordinary  course of  business,  (d) relate to molds,  equipment  or similar
assets owned by customers or third  parties that are used by the  Companies
and MSD in their  operations,  (e) installments of special  assessments not
yet delinquent,  recorded easements, covenants, and other restrictions, and
utility easements,  building restrictions,  zoning restrictions,  and other
easements and restrictions existing generally with respect to properties of
a similar  character  which do not  affect  materially  and  adversely  the
current use,  occupancy,  or value, or the  marketability  of title, of the
property subject thereto, and (f) encumbrances  securing the obligations of
the Companies to the Banks.

          "PERSON"  means any  person or  entity,  whether  an  individual,
trustee,  corporation,  limited  liability  company,  general  partnership,
limited   partnership,   trust,   unincorporated   organization,   business
association, firm, joint venture, governmental agency or authority.

          "PROPRIETARY  RIGHTS" means (a) U.S. and foreign patents,  patent
applications,  patent  disclosures and improvements  thereto,  (b) U.S. and
foreign  trademarks,  service marks,  trade dress,  logos,  trade names and
corporate names and the goodwill associated therewith and registrations and
applications for registration  thereof, (c) U.S. and foreign copyrights and
registrations and applications for registration  thereof, (d) trade secrets
and  confidential   business   information   (including  ideas,   formulas,
compositions, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or
not reduced to practice),  know-how,  research and development information,
software, drawings,  specifications,  designs, plans, proposals,  technical
data, copyrightable works, financial,  marketing and business data, pricing
and cost  information,  business  and  marketing  plans  and  customer  and
supplier lists and information),  (e) other proprietary  rights, (f) copies
and  tangible  embodiments  thereof  (in  whatever  form or medium) and (g)
licenses granting any rights with respect to any of the foregoing.

                                    48

<PAGE>


          "REGULATIONS" means any laws, statutes, ordinances,  regulations,
rules,  court  decisions,  principles  of law and  orders  of any  foreign,
federal, state or local government and any other governmental department or
agency,  including Environmental Laws, energy, motor vehicle safety, public
utility, zoning, building and health codes,  occupational safety and health
and laws respecting employment practices, employee documentation, terms and
conditions of employment and wages and hours.

          "RELATED  PARTY"  means as to any  Person,  any of such  Person's
officers and  directors,  any  Affiliate  of such Person or the  respective
officers and directors of any such Affiliate.

          "RELEASE"  means and includes  any  spilling,  leaking,  pumping,
pouring, emitting, emptying,  discharging,  injecting,  escaping, leaching,
dumping or disposing into the environment or the workplace of any Hazardous
Substance, and otherwise as defined in any Environmental Law.

          "REPRESENTATIVE"   means  any   officer,   director,   principal,
attorney,  accountant,  agent,  employee  or  other  representative  of any
Person.

          "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          "SENIOR   ADVISOR   AGREEMENT"   means  the  Senior  Advisor  and
Employment  Agreement between  Continental/Midland  and Robert S. Kaminski,
substantially in the form of EXHIBIT F hereto.

                  "TAX  RETURN"   means  any  report,   return,   document,
declaration or other  information or filing  required to be supplied to any
taxing  authority or  jurisdiction  (foreign or  domestic)  with respect to
Taxes,  including  information  returns,  any documents  with respect to or
accompanying  requests for the  extension of time in which to file any such
report, return, document, declaration or other information

                  "TAXES" mean any and all federal,  state, local,  foreign
and other taxes, levies, imposts, assessments, impositions or other similar
government  charges,  including,  without  limitation,   income,  estimated
income, business,  occupation,  franchise, real property, payroll, personal
property,  sales,  transfer,  stamp,  use,  employment,  commercial rent or
withholding, occupancy, premium, gross receipts, profits, windfall profits,
deemed   profits,   license,   lease,   severance,   capital,   production,
corporation, ad valorem, excise, duty or other Taxes, whether computed on a
separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis; and such term
shall include any interest  whether paid or received,  fines,  penalties or
additional  amounts  attributable  to, or imposed upon, or with respect to,
any Taxes.

          "TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMPANIES" (or similar phrases) means to
the  knowledge  of the  Stockholders  (individually)  and the  officers and
directors  of the  Companies.  "TO THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF CORDANT"  (or similar
phrases) means to the knowledge of the chief executive  officer,  the chief
financial officer and the general counsel of Cordant.

                                    49

<PAGE>

          "WELFARE  PLAN"  means with  respect to any Person any  "employee
welfare  benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA,  (i) which such
Person or any ERISA Affiliate thereof maintains,  administers,  contributes
to or is required to contribute to, or under which such Person or any ERISA
Affiliate  thereof  may incur  any  liability  and (ii)  which  covers  any
employee or former  employee of such  Person or any ERISA  Affiliate  (with
respect to their relationship with such entities) thereof.

          "YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT"  shall mean that such Computer Systems will
correctly process,  provide and receive date data before,  during and after
January  1,  2000  and  that  there  will  be  no  material   loss  of  any
functionality  of and no material  disruption to any such Computer  Systems
due solely to date data as a result of the introduction,  processing, entry
or input of records containing any such date data.

11.12 TRUSTEE LIABILITY.  When this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement is
executed by the trustee of any trust, such execution is by the trustee, not
individually,  but solely as trustee in the exercise of and under the power
and  authority  conferred  upon and  invested  in such  trustee,  and it is
expressly  understood  and agreed that nothing  herein  contained  shall be
construed as creating any  liability on any such trustee  personally to pay
any amounts  required  to be paid  hereunder,  or to perform any  covenant,
either express or implied,  contained herein,  all such liability,  if any,
being expressly waived by the parties hereto by their execution hereof. Any
liability of any Stockholder which is a trust,  whether owing to Cordant or
to any other Person, shall be only that of such trust to the full extent of
its trust  estate and shall not be a  personal  liability  of any  trustee,
grantor or  beneficiary  thereof,  except to the extent  that the  Purchase
Price has been  distributed to such grantor or  beneficiary,  in which case
such grantor or  beneficiary  shall be liable  under this  Agreement to the
extent that the  Purchase  Price has been  distributed  to such  grantor or
beneficiary.

11.13    INTERPRETATION PROVISIONS

          (a) The words  "hereof,"  "herein" and  "hereunder"  and words of
similar  import when used in this  Agreement  refer to this  Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular  provision of this Agreement,  and article,
section,  schedule  and exhibit  references  are to this  Agreement  unless
otherwise  specified.  The  meaning  of  defined  terms  shall  be  equally
applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.  The term
"or" is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive.  The terms "include" and
"including" are not limiting and mean "including without limitation."

          (b) References to agreements and other  documents shall be deemed
to  include  all  subsequent  amendments  and other  modifications  thereto
through the relevant date.

          (c)  References  to  statutes   shall  include  all   regulations
promulgated  thereunder and references to statutes or regulations  shall be
construed  as   including   all   statutory   and   regulatory   provisions
consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

          (d)  The  captions  and  headings  of  this   Agreement  are  for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction of this
Agreement.

                                    50
<PAGE>

          (e) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent,  and no rule
of strict construction shall be applied against either party.

          (f) The schedules  and exhibits to this  Agreement are a material
part hereof and shall be treated as if fully  incorporated into the body of
the Agreement.



                          [Signature pages follow]

                                    51

<PAGE>



SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


          IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  executed  this
Agreement or caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf by its
officer  thereunto  duly  authorized,  as of the day and year  first  above
written.



                              CONTINENTAL/MIDLAND, INC., a Delaware
                              corporation


                              By:______________________________________
                              Name:____________________________________
                              Its:_______________________________________


                               KORE, INC., an Illinois corporation

                               By:______________________________________
                               Name:____________________________________
                               Its:_______________________________________


                                KORE II, INC., an Illinois corporation


                                By:______________________________________
                                Name:____________________________________
                                Its:_______________________________________


                                CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.,
                                a Delaware corporation


                                By:______________________________________
                                Name: Daniel S. Hapke
                                Its:  Senior Vice President and General Counsel




<PAGE>


                                ROBERT S. KAMINSKI REVOCABLE TRUST
                                DATED JUNE 17, 1988


                                By:______________________________________
                                     Robert S. Kaminski, Trustee


                                DAVID MICHAEL KAMINSKI TRUST DATED
                                DECEMBER 25, 1992
                                JANICE MARIE KAMINSKI TRUST DATED
                                DECEMBER 25, 1992
                                ROBERT MICHAEL KAMINSKI TRUST DATED
                                DECEMBER 25, 1992


                                By:______________________________________
                                     Mary Ann Kaminski, Co-Trustee


                                By:______________________________________
                                     Lawrence H. Brenman, Co-Trustee



                                -----------------------------------------
                                     Mary Ann Kaminski, an individual



<PAGE>


Agreed and accepted as to Section 11.12
as of the date first written above:


__________________________________________
Robert S. Kaminski, an individual



 CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                           SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE

                              RETIREMENT PLAN

                AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JULY 22, 1999











<PAGE>



                             TABLE OF CONTENTS


SECTION                                                                PAGE

1 -    PURPOSE OF PLAN..................................................3

2 -    ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN............................................3

3 -    DEFINITIONS......................................................3

4 -    ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION....................................5

5 -    BENEFITS.........................................................5

6 -    DISABILITY.......................................................8

7 -    DEATH............................................................9

8 -    FORM OF BENEFIT PAYMENT..........................................9

9 -    CHANGE OF CONTROL AND TAX GROSS UP...............................11

10 -   ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN...........................................13

11 -   AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.................................13

12 -   CORPORATE SUCCESSORS.............................................13

13 -   PLAN NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT................................14

14 -   EXPENSES.........................................................14

15-    SPENDTHRIFT CLAUSE...............................................14

16 -   SEVERABILITY.....................................................14

17 -   CONSTRUCTION.....................................................15

18 -   GOVERNING LAW....................................................15

19 -   NO REQUIREMENT TO FUND...........................................15

20 -   PAYMENT DUE AN INCOMPETENT.......................................15

APPENDIX A, CALCULATION OF LUMP SUM PAYMENT.............................16


                                     2

<PAGE>




                         CORDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                           SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE

                              RETIREMENT PLAN


SECTION 1 - PURPOSE OF PLAN

The Cordant  Technologies Inc.  Supplemental  Executive Retirement Plan has
been  established  by the Board of  Directors  as a non-tax  qualified  and
unfunded supplemental retirement plan for the purpose of providing benefits
to:

     (i)......Recruit and retain certain selected executive employees;

     (ii) Bridge and supplement loss of future retirement benefits for such
employees  resulting from their leaving another  employer for the employ of
the Corporation; and

     (iii)  Facilitate a  discretionary  nondiscounted  supplemental  early
retirement  benefit for certain  employees  approved by the Chairman of the
Board or President of the Corporation.

SECTION 2 - ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN

The Cordant  Technologies Inc.  Supplemental  Executive Retirement Plan was
initially established effective July 1, 1992.

The Plan was amended and restated  effective  June 16,  1997;  February 18,
1999 and July 22, 1999.

SECTION 3 - DEFINITIONS

"Accrued  Benefit" means the percentage of the Normal  Retirement  Benefit,
Early Retirement  Benefit, or Late Retirement Benefit accrued for each Year
of Service and fractional Year of Service  completed to the nearest 1/12 of
a year the Participant  works for the  Corporation.  The percentage of each
years accrued  benefit is set forth in Table I. The maximum accrued benefit
is 60% of the  Participant's  average  five  highest  consecutive  years of
Compensation as described in Section 5 hereof.

"Board of Directors"  means the Board of Directors as constituted from time
to time.

"Cause" means (i) a material  breach by the  Participant  of his job duties
and obligations  (other than as the result of an incapacity due to physical
or mental  illness)  which is  demonstrably  willful and  deliberate on the
Participant's  part, which is committed in bad faith or without  reasonable
belief that such breach is in the best interests of the

                                     3
<PAGE>

Corporation and which is not remedied in a reasonable  period of time after
receipt  of  notice  from the  Corporation  or (ii) the  conviction  of the
Participant of a felony involving moral turpitude.

"Chairman of the Board" means the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.

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

"Committee"  means the  Compensation and Management  Development  Committee
(hereinafter "Compensation Committee") of the Board of Directors.

"Compensation"  means a  Participant's  earnings as that term is defined in
Section 4.8 (a)(1) of the Corporation's  Retirement Plan calculated without
regard  to  the  limitation  in  Section  4.8(a)(2)  of  the  Corporation's
Retirement  Plan,  plus any short  term  bonus  award  amounts  subject  to
deferred income taxation under the Code.

"Corporation"  or  "Company"  means  Cordant   Technologies  Inc.  and  its
subsidiaries.

"Corporation's Retirement Plan" means the Cordant Technologies Inc. Pension
Plan as amended or any successor defined benefit plan as the case may be or
any division or subsidiary  defined benefit or cash balance plan in which a
Participant participates.

"Early Retirement  Benefit" means the Accrued Benefit that may be paid to a
Participant  described in Section 5.2.2 prior to the  Participant's  Normal
Retirement Date.

"Excess  Pension Plan" mans the unfunded  excess pension plan maintained by
the  Corporation  for payment of  retirement  benefits  that exceed the tax
qualified and other limits of the Corporation's Retirement Plan.

"Late  Retirement  Benefit" means the Accrued Benefit that may be paid to a
Participant  subsequent  to his  Normal  Retirement  Date as  described  in
Section 5.2.3.

"Lump Sum  Payment"  means the  present  value of a  Participant's  Accrued
Benefit  converted from a straight life annuity to a lump sum calculated in
the manner set forth in Appendix A.

"Normal Retirement Benefit" means the Accrued Benefit that may be paid to a
Participant  subsequent  to his  Normal  Retirement  Date as  described  in
Section 5.2.1.

"Normal  Retirement  Date"  means the last day in the  month a  Participant
attains age 65.

"Normal  Settlement  Form"  means the form of  benefits  payable  under the
Corporation's   Retirement  Plan  including  straight  life  annuity,  life
ten-year  certain annuity and 50 percent and 100 percent joint and survivor
annuity, lump sum distributions, account

                                     4
<PAGE>


balance distributions, or such other optional forms of benefits provided as
the case may be permitted by the  Corporation's  Retirement Plan in which a
Participant participates.

"Participant"  means  an  employee  of  the  Corporation  selected  and  so
designated as a  participant  by the Chairman of the Board or President and
approved by the Committee as described in Section 4.

"Plan"  means  the  Cordant   Technologies  Inc.   Supplemental   Executive
Retirement Plan.

"President" means the President of the Corporation.

"Surviving Spouse" means the surviving spouse as the term is defined in the
Corporation's Retirement Plan.

"Years of Service"  means years of Benefit  Service as that term is defined
in Section 4.7 of the Corporation's Retirement Plan.

SECTION 4 - ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION

To be eligible for  participation in the Plan, a person must be an employee
of the Corporation designated by the Chairman of the Board or President and
approved  by  the   Committee  as  a  Participant   and  such   designation
acknowledged  to the Participant in writing by the Chairman of the Board or
President  of the  Corporation.  The  Participant  shall  remain  an active
Participant  in  this  Plan  so  long  as he is  actively  employed  by the
Corporation and thereafter for so long as the Participant or  Participant's
Surviving  Spouse is eligible to receive benefits and until all benefits to
which the Participant or Surviving Spouse are entitled have been paid.

By participating  in this Plan, a Participant  waives his rights to receive
any benefit from the  Corporation's  Excess  Benefit  Plan.  In the event a
person is no longer actively employed by the Corporation,  has not received
any benefits from the Plan,  and does not have a vested and  nonforfeitable
right to any Accrued Benefits,  the person shall be eligible to participate
in  the  Corporation's  Excess  Benefit  Plan  subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions of the Excess Benefit Plan.

SECTION 5 - BENEFITS

5.1  BENEFITS FORMULA;

     Benefits  payable under this Plan to a  Participant  who has completed
     twelve Years of Service at the  Participant's  Normal  Retirement Date
     shall be an amount equal to sixty percent  (60%) of the  Participant's
     average five highest consecutive years of Compensation during the last
     ten (10) Years of Service with the  Corporation,  reduced by an amount
     equal to all benefits the  Participant is eligible to receive from any
     of the following sources:

                                     5

<PAGE>

     (i) The Corporation's Retirement Plan;

     (ii) The defined benefit pension plans,  annuities,  and other regular
          and recurring benefits,  including supplemental benefit plans and
          other nonqualifed benefit plans, received from prior employers or
          entities related to prior employers; and

     (iii)Governmental  and  military  pension  plans or  programs  but not
          including payments made under the federal social security system.

     For Years of Service less than twelve, the retirement benefit shall be
     the Accrued Benefit represented by the Years of Service and fractional
     years  thereof  computed  to the nearest  one-twelfth  as set forth in
     Table 1.

5.2  ACCRUAL OF A BENEFIT AND VESTING:

     Subject to the  forfeiture  provisions of this Section 5.2 and Section
     6,  Plan  Participants  shall  accrue  the  percentage  of the  Normal
     Retirement,  Early Retirement, or Late Retirement benefit, as the case
     may be, for each Year of  Service  with the  Corporation  set forth in
     Table 1 below. The Participant shall have a vested and  nonforfeitable
     right to such Accrued Benefit upon the date of the earliest occurrence
     of any one of the following events:

     (i)  Completion of twelve Years of Service;

     (ii) Involuntary  termination of employment for reasons other than for
          Cause as defined in Section 3 hereof including but not limited to
          a reduction in force;

     (iii)Early  retirement  if  this  election  by the  Participant  is so
          approved in writing by the Chairman of the Board, or President as
          set forth in Section 5.2.2 herein;

     (iv) Permanent disability;

     (v)  Death; or

     (vi) Retirement at the Participant's Normal or Late Retirement Date.

     In no event  shall a Benefit be payable  to a  Participant  under this
     Plan  in a  month  the  Participant  receives  Compensation  from  the
     Corporation.

     In the event a Participant  voluntarily terminates employment with the
     Corporation, the Accrued Benefit (unless otherwise vested under any of
     the vesting  provisions  listed in subsection (i) through (vi) of this
     Section 5.2) shall be forfeited and the  Participant  shall receive no
     benefits  under this Plan. In the event that a Participant is eligible
     to receive or is otherwise receiving a benefit

                                     6

<PAGE>

     under this Plan and such  Participant  is  employed  or engaged in any
     activity,  business  or  enterprise  alone or in concert  with  others
     competitive with the business of the Corporation, the Committee in its
     sole  discretion  may declare such benefits  under this Plan forfeited
     and cease making further payments under this Plan.


                                  TABLE I
                          ACCRUED BENEFIT SCHEDULE

                                                  PERCENT OF BENEFIT ACCRUAL
  YEARS OF SERVICE                                    FOR YEARS OF SERVICE

        1                                                   8.333
        2                                                  16.667
        3                                                  25.000
        4                                                  33.333
        5                                                  41.667
        6                                                  50.000
        7                                                  58.333
        8                                                  66.667
        9                                                  75.000
       10                                                  83.333
       11                                                  91.667
       12                                                 100.000

     Fractional years shall be completed to the nearest 1/12 of a year.

     5.2.1     NORMAL RETIREMENT  BENEFIT -- The Normal Retirement  Benefit
               is the  Participant's  Accrued Benefit based on each Year of
               Service determined from Table 1 and paid to a Participant on
               the  last  day of the  month  subsequent  to  the  date  the
               Participant attains his Normal Retirement Date.

     5.2.2     EARLY  RETIREMENT  -- With  the  written  authorization  and
               approval  solely in the  discretion and not as an obligation
               of either the Chairman of the Board or the  President of the
               Corporation,  an Early  Retirement  Benefit may be paid to a
               Participant  who has  attained  at least  age 55 and who has
               completed  not less than five Years of  Service.  Such Early
               Retirement   Benefit   shall  be  an  amount  equal  to  the
               Participant's Accrued Benefit derived from Table 1 as of the
               date of such early  retirement based on each Year of Service
               reduced  by the rate of 3% per year  and  fractional  amount
               thereof  each month that the  Participant  is granted  early
               retirement  prior to the Normal  Retirement  Date. The early
               retirement  benefit shall commence the last day of the month
               subsequent  to the date such early  retirement is authorized
               in writing.

     5.2.3     LATE RETIREMENT -- The Late Retirement  Benefit shall be the
               Participant's  Accrued Benefit derived from Table 1 based on
               each  Year of  Service  payable  the last  day of the  month
               subsequent to the date the Participant

                                     7

<PAGE>

               retires from the Corporation  after the Participant  attains
               his Normal Retirement Date.

     5.2.4     VESTED INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION -- In the event a Participant
               is   involuntarily   terminated  from  employment  with  the
               Corporation  prior to  attainment  of his Normal  Retirement
               Date  other than for Cause as defined in Section 3 hereof or
               the completion of twelve Years of Service,  the  Participant
               shall  be  entitled  to a  retirement  benefit  equal to his
               Accrued Benefit derived from Table 1 based upon the Years of
               Service  with the  Company  on the date of such  involuntary
               termination.  Such benefits  shall  commence the last day of
               the month subsequent to the Participant's  Normal Retirement
               Date. At such time such  terminated  Participant is eligible
               to receive  Early  Retirement  Benefits,  such  Participants
               shall be eligible and may elect to receive Early  Retirement
               Benefits  payable  in the form set forth in Section 8 hereof
               without the consent  required from the Chairman of the Board
               or President as set forth in Section 5.2.2 hereof.

SECTION 6 - DISABILITY

In the event  the  Participant  is  totally  and  permanently  disabled  as
hereinafter  defined and remains  totally and  permanently  disabled  until
attainment of his Normal  Retirement Date, the Participant  shall receive a
Normal  Retirement  Benefit based upon the Years of Service  accrued to the
Normal  Retirement Date and calculated on the Compensation in effect on the
date of disability as if such  compensation had continued to be paid at the
same rate until the Participant's  Normal Retirement Date. In the event the
Participant  recovers from such disability to return to active  employment,
the period of time of such disability  shall be credited  towards the Years
of  Service  for  benefit  accrual  purposes.  In the event of death,  such
disabled  Participant's  Surviving  Spouse will be entitled to the benefits
described in Section 7 hereof. In the event that such Participant  recovers
from such  disability  and is  actively  employed  by another  employer  or
self-employed,   the  Participant   shall  be  deemed  to  have  terminated
employment on such date he would  otherwise have been eligible to return to
active  employment with the Corporation and such Accrued Benefit  forfeited
if as of such  date of the  commencement  of  disability  twelve  Years  of
Service had not been completed. For the purposes of the Plan, a Participant
shall be deemed to be totally and permanently  disabled if eligible for and
receives  long-term  disability  benefits from the Corporation's  long-term
disability  program.  Eligibility for disability  retirement benefits under
this Plan shall continue notwithstanding any expiration of benefit payments
from the  Corporation's  disability  program  due to the passage of time so
long as there has been no change in the  status of the total and  permanent
nature of the Participant's  disability.  In the event the Corporation does
not maintain a long-term disability program on the date of such disability,
permanent  disability shall be determined by procedures  established by the
Committee.

                                     8

<PAGE>

SECTION 7 - DEATH

If a  married  Participant  dies  while  he is an  active  employee  of the
Company,  his benefits  under this Plan shall become 100% vested (as if the
Participant  had satisfied the 12 years of service for Benefit  Accrual set
forth  in  Table 1 of  Section  5.2) on the date of his  death.  The  death
benefit provided by this Section 7 shall be based on the Accrued Benefit in
the form of a straight life annuity  payable at age 65 (unreduced for early
retirement)  that  would  have  been  paid  to  the  Participant  if he had
continued  his  employment  with the  Company  and  retired  at his  Normal
Retirement  Date.  Such death  benefit paid to a Surviving  Spouse shall be
paid in the form of a lump sum payment  calculated  in the manner set forth
in Appendix A without the lump sum distribution penalty.

The death  benefit paid to a Surviving  Spouse of an actively  employed (or
disabled)  Participant  who is under  age 55 on the date of death  shall be
payable  within thirty days following the date the  Participant  would have
otherwise  attained age 55. The death benefit paid to the Surviving  Spouse
of an actively  employed (or disabled)  Participant  who is age 55 and over
shall be paid within 30 days of the date of death of Participant.

Any  benefits  payable to a Surviving  Spouse  shall be reduced by benefits
such  Surviving  Spouse  shall be  entitled to receive as the result of the
Participant's death from any of the following:

     (i)       The Corporation's Retirement Plan;

     (ii)      The defined  benefit  pension  plans,  annuities,  and other
               regular  and  recurring  benefits,   including  supplemental
               benefit plans and other nonqualifed benefit plans,  received
               from prior employers or entities related to prior employers;
               and

     (iii)     Governmental  and military pension plans or programs but not
               including  payments made under the federal  social  security
               system.

If an unmarried Participant dies, no benefits will be paid under this Plan.

SECTION 8 - FORM OF BENEFIT PAYMENT

The  accrued  Normal  Retirement,  Early  Retirement,  or  Late  Retirement
Benefit, as the case may be, shall be payable to a Participant:  (i) in the
form of a Lump Sum  Payment,  or (ii) in the same  form as  payable  to the
Participant  by  written  election  under  the  terms of the  Corporation's
Retirement  Plan's Normal  Settlement Form. A Participant must elect a Lump
Sum Payment or other Normal Settlement Form on an election form provided by
the  Company at least six months  prior to the date  payment of the Accrued
Benefit  begins.  Such Lump Sum Payment  will be the  present  value of the
straight life annuity form of the Accrued Benefit, calculated in the manner
set forth in  Appendix A hereof.  If a  Participant  retires  with an Early
Retirement Benefit, Late Retirement Benefit

                                     9
<PAGE>
or a Normal Retirement  Benefit,  as the case may be, and if no election as
to form is made, the Accrued Benefit shall be paid in the Normal Settlement
Form elected by the Participant under the Corporation's Retirement Plan.

For a period  of five  years  beginning  on the date a  Participant  ceases
active  employment  by  retirement  under  the  terms of the  Corporation's
Retirement  Plan, the Participant (or the Surviving Spouse of a Participant
who  elected an  annuity  form of  payment  that is in  payment  status and
subsequently  dies  during  such five year  election  period)  may elect to
convert any annuity form of benefit  payment such  Participant is receiving
from this Plan to a Lump Sum Payment  calculated in the manner set forth in
Appendix  A. Such an  election  to convert  an  annuity  that is in payment
status to a Lump Sum  Payment  shall be  subject  to a lump sum  conversion
distribution  penalty.  This distribution  penalty shall be a percentage of
the Lump Sum Payment  calculated  in the manner set froth in Appendix A. In
the event the five year lump sum election  period has expired  prior to the
date of death of a  Participant,  the  Surviving  Spouse shall  receive the
survivors annuity benefit elected by the Participant under this Plan and in
the event no such  election  has been  made,  the  Surviving  Spouse  shall
receive the Surviving  Spouse benefit the Participant  should have received
under the Pension Plan.  The  Surviving  Spouse shall receive no benefit if
the Participant received a lump sum distribution from this Plan.

The Lump  Sum  Payments  in this  Section  8 shall  not  change  or alter a
Participant's  right or the right of a Surviving  Spouse as the case may be
to receive  the Lump Sum Payment  including  tax gross up in the event of a
change of control described in Section 9 hereof.

Except for: (i) the Early Retirement  Benefit reduction factor described in
Section 5.2.2 hereof which shall be used for  calculation of the retirement
benefits  from this  Plan,  and (ii)  calculation  of the Lump Sum  Payment
described in Appendix A hereof, all other actuarial factors used to compute
the  Normal  Retirement,  Early  or  Late  Retirement  Benefit  and  Normal
Settlement Form of benefit payments from the Corporation's  Retirement Plan
shall be used to compute the retirement benefits from this Plan.

In the event that the  Accrued  Benefit  is payable as an Early  Retirement
Benefit prior to age 65 with written  authorization  by the Chairman of the
Board or  President  of the  Corporation,  such  Accrued  Benefit  shall be
reduced by 3% per year and a fraction  thereof for each month for each year
such early retirement precedes the Participant's Normal Retirement Date.

In the case of a late retirement,  the Participant shall continue to accrue
Years of Service  for  benefit  accrual  purposes  to the  extent  that the
Participant  has not  accrued  twelve  years of  service  as of his  Normal
Retirement Date.

The  Participant  shall  provide the  Committee  with such proof of benefit
payments from other retirement plans or programs both public and private as
the Committee may reasonably request.  Absent such proof, the Committee may
suspend benefit payments

                                    10

<PAGE>

until such proof or other  verification  as may be reasonably  required has
been provided by the Participant.

SECTION 9 - CHANGE OF CONTROL AND TAX GROSS UP

In the event of a Change of Control of the Company as hereinafter  defined,
the  Participant  as  described  in Section 4 hereof  shall be  entitled to
receive  on the date of such  Change of  Control  a vested  non-forfeitable
retirement  benefit equal to 100% of the  Participant's  unreduced  accrued
Normal Retirement  Benefit based on such  Participant's  Compensation as of
the date of such Change of Control.  The  Participant  shall be entitled to
receive a cash Lump Sum Payment of the actuarial  equivalent  value of such
accrued Normal  Retirement  Benefit without reduction for benefits received
or which the  Participant  is  otherwise  eligible  to  receive  from other
employer defined benefit plans,  government and military plans or programs.
The amount of such Lump Sum Payment  shall be  calculated in the manner set
forth in Appendix A. In addition to such Lump Sum Payment,  the Participant
shall also  receive as a cash  payment a "Tax Gross Up" amount as hereafter
described.  All such cash payments required by this Section 9 shall be paid
by the  Corporation to the  Participant not later than the earliest date of
(i) 30 days after the date of the Change of Control; or (ii) as provided by
the terms and  conditions  of any Change of Control  Agreement  between the
Corporation and a Participant in this Plan.

The Lump Sum  Payment in this  Section 9 shall not  duplicate  the Lump Sum
Payment described in Section 8 hereof.

For the purposes of this Plan, a Change of Control shall mean:

          (a) the  acquisition by any  individual,  entity or group (within
     the meaning of section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of  1934,  as  amended  (the  "exchange  act"))  (a  "person")  of
     beneficial  ownership  (within the  meaning of rule 13d-3  promulgated
     under  the  exchange  act)  of 20% or  more of  either  (i)  the  then
     outstanding  shares of common stock of the company  (the  "outstanding
     company common  stock") or (ii) the combined  voting power of the then
     outstanding   voting  securities  of  the  company  entitled  to  vote
     generally  in the  election of  directors  (the  "outstanding  company
     voting  securities");  provided,  however,  that for  purposes of this
     subsection  (a), the  following  acquisitions  shall not  constitute a
     change of control: (i) any acquisition directly from the company, (ii)
     any acquisition by the company,  (iii) any acquisition by any employee
     benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the company
     or any  corporation  controlled by the company or (iv) any acquisition
     by any  corporation  pursuant to a  transaction  which  complies  with
     clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this section 3.4; or

          (b) individuals who, as of the date hereof,  constitute the board
     (the "incumbent board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a

                                    11
<PAGE>

     majority of the board; provided, however, that any individual becoming
     a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination
     for election by the company's shareholders,  was approved by a vote of
     at least a majority of the  directors  then  comprising  the incumbent
     board shall be considered as though such  individual  were a member of
     the  incumbent  board,  but  excluding,  for  this  purpose,  any such
     individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
     actual or threatened  election contest with respect to the election or
     removal of  directors or other actual or  threatened  solicitation  of
     proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person  other than the board;
     or

          (c) consummation of a reorganization,  merger or consolidation or
     sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
     the  company  (a  "business  combination"),   in  each  case,  unless,
     following such business  combination,  (i) all or substantially all of
     the  individuals   and  entities  who  were  the  beneficial   owners,
     respectively,  of the outstanding company common stock and outstanding
     company  voting   securities   immediately   prior  to  such  business
     combination  beneficially own,  directly or indirectly,  more than 50%
     of, respectively,  the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
     combined  voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities
     entitled to vote  generally in the election of directors,  as the case
     may be, of the  corporation  resulting from such business  combination
     (including,  without  limitation,  a corporation  which as a result of
     such transaction  owns the company or all or substantially  all of the
     company's assets either directly or through one or more  subsidiaries)
     in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,  immediately
     prior to such business  combination of the outstanding  company common
     stock and outstanding  company voting securities,  as the case may be,
     (ii) no person (excluding any corporation resulting from such business
     combination  or any employee  benefit  plan (or related  trust) of the
     company or such corporation  resulting from such business combination)
     beneficially   owns,   directly  or   indirectly,   20%  or  more  of,
     respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock of the
     corporation  resulting from such business  combination or the combined
     voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  of  such
     corporation  except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to
     the business  combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members
     of the  board of  directors  of the  corporation  resulting  from such
     business  combination  were members of the incumbent board at the time
     of the  execution  of the initial  agreement,  or of the action of the
     board, providing for such business combination; or

          (d)  approval  by the  shareholders  of the company of a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the company.

In addition to the Cash Payment for the actuarial  equivalent  value of the
Participant's 100% accrued Normal Retirement Benefit, the Participant shall
receive an additional cash payment in such amount as to "Gross Up" the
Participant  by the amount of any

                                    12
<PAGE>

and all federal,  state and local income tax the  Participant  is liable to
pay as the result of such cash Lump Sum Payment  required by this Section 9
together  with such amount  necessary to Gross Up the  Participant  for all
such tax Gross Up payments.  In the event that a Participant  is subject to
the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue Code or any
interest or penalties are incurred by the Participant  with respect to such
excise tax (such excise tax,  together with any such interest and penalties
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the Excise Tax) the Participant
shall  receive a further  tax Gross Up payment in an amount such that after
payment  by the  Participant  of all  taxes  (including  any  interests  or
penalties imposed with respect to such taxes) including without  limitation
any such income taxes (and any interest and penalties  imposed with respect
thereto)  and Excise Tax  imposed on the Gross Up Payment  the  Participant
retains an amount of the Gross Up Payment  equal to the amount of all taxes
including the Excise Tax imposed upon such payments.

SECTION 10 - ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

The Plan shall be administered  by the Committee.  The Committee shall have
plenary authority, subject to the express provisions hereof, to resolve any
questions  arising  under  the Plan;  to  correct  any  defect or supply an
omission or reconcile any inconsistency; to establish amend and rescind any
rules  and  regulations  relating  to  the  Plan  and  to  make  all  other
determinations  necessary or advisable for the administration and continued
successful  operation  of the Plan.  Any  decision of the  Committee in the
administration  of the  Plan,  as  described  herein,  shall be  final  and
conclusive.  The Committee shall act only by a majority of its members then
in office and its actions  shall be  recorded  in minutes of the  Committee
meetings which shall be conclusive  evidence of all such actions taken. The
Committee shall have the right to delegate such Plan  administration  as it
shall determine to the Chairman or the Chairman's designee.

SECTION 11 - AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN

Subject to the  provisions of this Section 11, the  Compensation  Committee
shall  have the  right at any  time,  from  time-to-time,  with  notice  to
Participants  to  suspend,  discontinue  or amend this Plan in any  respect
whatsoever.  No  amendment  or  termination  of the Plan shall  directly or
indirectly   deprive  or  otherwise  reduce  the  Accrued  Benefit  of  any
Participant  or the payment of any  benefits  payable to a  Participant  or
Surviving Spouse under the Plan which have commenced prior to the effective
date of such resolution  amending or terminating the Plan. Upon termination
or discontinuance  of the Plan, such Participants  shall become vested in a
nonforfeitable  right to their  Accrued  Benefits.  Payment of such  amount
shall be in the manner provided in the Plan on the date such Participant is
or becomes  eligible to receive payment of benefits from the  Corporation's
Retirement Plan.

SECTION 12 - CORPORATE SUCCESSORS

The Plan shall not be  automatically  terminated  by a transfer  or sale of
assets  of  the  Corporation  or by  the  merger  or  consolidation  of the
Corporation into or with any other

                                    13
<PAGE>

corporation  or other entity that is not a Change of Control as defined and
described  in Section 9 hereof but the Plan shall be construed as a binding
obligation on any successor after such sale,  merger or  consolidation.  In
the  event  the  Plan is not  continued  by the  transferee,  purchaser  or
successor  entity,  then the Plan shall terminate subject to the provisions
of Section 11.

SECTION 13 - PLAN NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT

Neither  this Plan,  nor  participation  in it,  shall be  construed in any
manner as a contract of continuing  employment with the Corporation  either
expressed or implied.  Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in
any way  the  right  of the  Corporation  to  terminate  any  Participant's
employment  at any  time,  or  confer  upon any  Participant  any  right to
continue  in the  employ of the  Corporation  for any  period of time or to
continue a  Participant's  present or any other  rate of  compensation.  No
employee shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or having been
so selected, to be selected again as a Participant.

SECTION 14 - EXPENSES

In the event any  Participant  or Surviving  Spouse incurs  costs,  fees or
expenses  including  attorney's  fees in the  enforcement  of any rights to
receive  payment of benefits under this Plan,  the Company shall  reimburse
such Participant or Surviving Spouse such costs,  fees and expenses to such
Participant or Surviving Spouse if he or she is the prevailing party.

SECTION 15 - SPENDTHRIFT CLAUSE

No right,  title or interest of any kind in the Plan shall be  transferable
or  assignable  by any  Participant  or  Surviving  Spouse or be subject to
alienation, anticipation,  encumbrance,  garnishment, attachment, execution
or levy of any kind,  whether voluntary or involuntary,  nor subject to the
debts, contracts, liabilities,  engagements, or torts of the Participant or
Surviving  Spouse.  Any attempt to alienate,  anticipate,  encumber,  sell,
transfer,  assign, pledge, garnish, attach or otherwise subject to legal or
equitable  process or encumber or dispose of any interest in the Plan shall
be void.

SECTION 16 - SEVERABILITY

In the event that any  provision of this Plan shall be declared  illegal or
invalid for any reason,  said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the
remaining  provisions  of this Plan but shall be fully  severable  and this
Plan  shall  be  construed  and  enforced  as if said  illegal  or  invalid
provision had never been inserted herein.

                                    14
<PAGE>

SECTION 17 - CONSTRUCTION

Whenever  appropriate,  words used in the singular shall include the plural
or the plural may be read as the singular.  When used herein, the masculine
gender includes the feminine gender.

SECTION 18 - GOVERNING LAW

The validity and effect of this Plan and the rights and  obligations of all
persons  affected  hereby shall be construed  and  determined in accordance
with the laws of the State of Utah unless superseded by federal law.

SECTION 19 - NO REQUIREMENT TO FUND

The Employer is not required to fund this Plan.

SECTION 20 - PAYMENT DUE AN INCOMPETENT

If the Committee  receives  evidence that a Participant or Surviving Spouse
entitled to receive any payment  under the Plan is  physically  or mentally
incompetent  to  receive  such  payment,  the  Committee  may,  in its sole
discretion,  direct the payment to any other person or trust which has been
legally appointed by the courts.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board of Directors has caused this Plan as
amended and  restated to be signed by its duly  appointed  officers and its
corporate seal to be hereunto affixed as of this 22nd day of July 1999.

By:      ___________________________
         Chairman of the Board, President
              and Chief Executive Officer


                                                                   ~ Seal ~

ATTESTED:


By:      ___________________________
              Secretary

                                    15
<PAGE>

                                 APPENDIX A


SECTION 1. LUMP SUM  PAYMENT.  The Lump Sum Payment  that may be elected by
the  Participant  under  Section  8 of this  Plan  shall be  calculated  by
converting  the straight  life annuity  form of the  Participant's  Accrued
Benefit at the  Participant's  Normal  Retirement  Date (adjusted for early
retirement  as the case may be) to a Lump Sum  Payment.  The present  value
interest rate and the mortality rate  assumptions  used in such calculation
are as follows:

         INTEREST  RATE:  The  interest  rate  used  in the  present  value
         calculation shall be the Corporation's Retirement Plan's actuarial
         valuation earnings rate assumption in effect for the Plan year the
         Participant  is to receive  the Lump Sum  Payment  adjusted  to an
         after  tax  rate of  return  using a  corporate  income  tax  rate
         (federal and state) of 40 percent. This interest rate is expressed
         as [Interest  Rate X (1-.40)] = After Tax Interest  Rate.  At July
         22, 1999,  the effective date of the Plan's  amendment  permitting
         the Lump Sum Payment election, the Corporation's Retirement Plan's
         actuarial  rate of return  assumption is 9 percent.  The after tax
         rate of return on July 22, 1999 is [9% X (1-.40)] = 5.4%.

         MORTALITY  RATE:  The  mortality  rate used in the  present  value
         calculation shall be the Corporation's Retirement Plan's mortality
         rate  assumption in effect for the Plan year the Participant is to
         receive the Lump Sum Payment.  The  Corporation's  Retirement Plan
         mortality  rate  assumption  on July 22,  1999 is the  1994  Group
         Mortality Table 50% males and 50% females.

SECTION 2.  LUMP SUM PAYMENT WITH ANNUITY CONVERSION PENALTY.

The Lump Sum  Payment  penalty set forth in Section 8 of this Plan shall be
the after tax interest rate  described in Section 1 of this Appendix A. The
Lump Sum  Payment  penalty  shall  reduce the value of any Lump Sum Payment
made as the result of a Participant  electing to convert an annuity that is
in  payment  status to a Lump Sum  Payment  during  the five  year  annuity
conversion period. At July 22, 1999 the conversion  distribution penalty is
5.4 percent.  In the event an annuity in payment  status is in a form other
then a  straight  life  annuity,  the  conversation  to a lump  sum will be
calculated as if the straight life annuity had been originally elected. The
value of the annuity  payments  made prior to the  conversion to a lump sum
will be deducted for the Lump Sum Payment.




                                                    Initial ______, 7/22/99

                                    16
<PAGE>

SECTION 3.  LUMP SUM PAYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CHANGE OF CONTROL.

In the event of a change of  control  described  in Section 9 of this Plan,
the Lump Sum Payment,  as the result of such change of control,  shall be a
Lump Sum  Payment  of the  value  of the  Participant's  Normal  Retirement
Benefit  calculated in the manner described in Section 1 of this Appendix A
without any  reduction  for early  retirement  or reduction  for an annuity
conversion  penalty  described in Section 2 of this  Appendix A. The Normal
Retirement  Benefit shall be based on the Participant's  Accrual Benefit in
the form of a straight life annuity  payable at age 65 (unreduced for early
retirement)  that  would  have  been  paid  to  the  Participant  if he had
continued  his  employment  with the  Company  and  retired  at his  Normal
Retirement Date at age 65.






























                                                Initial _________, 7/22/99


                                    17


This Schedule contains summary financial  informatin extracted from Cordant
Technologies Inc. unaudited financial  statements for the nine-months ended
September  30,  1999 is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference  to such
financial statements.


[MULTIPLIER]                                   1,000,000
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   9-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                              DEC-31-1999
[PERIOD-START]                                 JAN-01-1999
[PERIOD-END]                                   SEP-30-1999
[CASH]                                         20
[SECURITIES]                                   0
[RECEIVABLES]                                  280
[ALLOWANCES]                                   8
[INVENTORY]                                    255
[CURRENT-ASSETS]                               606
[PP&E]                                         1223
[DEPRECIATION]                                 497
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                                 2424
[CURRENT-LIABILITIES]                          766
[BONDS]                                        357
[PREFERRED-MANDATORY]                          41
[PREFERRED]                                    0
[COMMON]                                       0
[OTHER-SE]                                     744
[TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY]                   2424
[SALES]                                        1879
[TOTAL-REVENUES]                               1884
[CGS]                                          1451
[TOTAL-COSTS]                                  1629
[OTHER-EXPENSES]                               2
[LOSS-PROVISION]                               0
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                             31
[INCOME-PRETAX]                                222
[INCOME-TAX]                                   77
[INCOME-CONTINUING]                            128
[DISCONTINUED]                                 0
[EXTRAORDINARY]                                0
[CHANGES]                                      0
[NET-INCOME]                                   128
[EPS-BASIC]                                    3.49
[EPS-DILUTED]                                  3.41
</TABLE>


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