AMTECH SYSTEMS INC
8-K, 1997-07-09
SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 1, 1997
                                                --------------------------------


                              AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Arizona                        0-11412                 86-0411215
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission              (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                     File Number)           Identification No.)



131 South Clark Drive, Tempe, Arizona                                   85281
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (602) 967-5146
                                                   -----------------------------



                                 Not applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
<PAGE>
Item 2.        Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

               Effective July 1, 1997, Amtech Systems,  Inc. ("Amtech") acquired
substantially  all of the assets and the related  operating  liabilities of P.R.
Hoffman  Machine  Products  Corporation  ("P.R.  Hoffman" or the "Seller")  (the
"Acquisition").  The Acquisition was consummated in accordance with the terms of
an Asset Purchase  Agreement between Amtech,  P.R. Hoffman,  and John R. Krieger
dated July 1, 1997.

               The aggregate consideration paid by Amtech in connection with the
Acquisition was approximately $2,909,000, comprised of $2.2 million cash, 32,388
unregistered  shares of Amtech Common Stock,  and the  assumption of liabilities
(approximately $644,000). The cash portion of the purchase price is subject to a
post-closing  adjustment  based on P.R.  Hoffman's  June 30, 1997 balance sheet,
which is expected to result in an additional cash payment of up to $200,000. The
Acquisition also provides for an earnout formula which, in the aggregate,  could
pay the Seller an additional $2 million. Under the terms of the earnout formula,
the Seller is entitled to fifty percent (50%) of P.R.  Hoffman's pre-tax profits
in excess of  $800,000  per year for a period of five (5) years or a  cumulative
cap of $2 million, whichever occurs first.

               The  aggregate   consideration   paid  in  the   Acquisition  was
determined through arm's length negotiations  between  representatives of Amtech
and P.R. Hoffman. Neither Amtech nor, to the knowledge of Amtech, any affiliate,
director or officer of Amtech had any material  relationship  with P.R.  Hoffman
prior to the Acquisition.

               In  connection  with the  Acquisition,  the parties  entered into
certain  ancillary  agreements,  including,  but not  limited  to,  a  four-year
Employment Agreement with Mr. Krieger, a Registration Rights Agreement with P.R.
Hoffman,  and a Sublease  Agreement with Mr. Krieger.  The Employment  Agreement
provides  Mr.  Krieger  with an annual base salary of $150,000  and the right to
participate in Amtech benefit plans. Under the terms of the Registration  Rights
Agreement,  Amtech has granted P.R. Hoffman piggyback  registration  rights with
respect to the unregistered shares of Amtech Common Stock issued to P.R. Hoffman
in connection with the Acquisition, including shares of common stock that may be
issued at the Company's option in connection with the earnout.  Any unregistered
shares issued to P.R.  Hoffman in connection with the Acquisition are subject to
a two-year  lock-up period.  Under the terms of the Sublease  Agreement,  Amtech
will be leasing its  operating  facility  relating to the  Acquisition  from Mr.
Krieger for a period of three (3) years at an annual rent of $126,900.

               The assets purchased principally consisted of certain inventories
valued  by  the  parties  at  approximately  $1,146,000;  trade  receivables  of
$1,187,000; certain fixed assets valued by the parties at $429,000; and goodwill
and  intangible  assets  valued by the parties at  $147,000.  These  amounts are
subject to change  depending  on amounts  reflected  in  Seller's  June 30, 1997
closing  balance sheet.  Following the  Acquisition,  Amtech intends to continue
using the assets purchased for substantially the same purposes as they were used
before the Acquisition. 
                                       2
<PAGE>
               Related  liabilities  of P.R.  Hoffman  assumed by Amtech include
certain proratable  expenses,  obligations under certain  contracts,  leases and
purchase  orders  expressly  assumed by Amtech,  and  product  claims and return
obligations  of P.R.  Hoffman,  subject to  reimbursement  by P.R.  Hoffman if a
specified dollar threshold is met.

               Amtech  financed the $2.2 million  aggregate  cash  consideration
paid  in  connection  with  the   Acquisition   with  available  cash  and  cash
equivalents.

               P.R.  Hoffman  will be operated  through  Amtech's  wholly  owned
subsidiary,  P.R.  Hoffman Machine  Products,  Inc. (the  "Subsidiary"),  and is
expected to remain headquartered in Carlisle,  Pennsylvania. As of July 1, 1997,
all current employees, approximately 35, of P.R. Hoffman became employees of the
Subsidiary.

Item 7.        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

               (a)      Financial Statements.
                        --------------------

                        At the time of filing  this  report  on Form 8-K,  it is
                        impractical to provide the required financial statements
                        for P.R. Hoffman. The required financial statements will
                        be filed by Amtech not later than 60 days  following the
                        date upon which this report on Form 8-K must be filed.

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

                        At the time of filing  this  report  on Form 8-K,  it is
                        impractical to provide the required pro forma  financial
                        information  for P.R.  Hoffman.  The  required pro forma
                        financial  information will be filed by Amtech not later
                        than 60 days  following  the date upon which this report
                        on Form 8-K must be filed.

               (c)      Exhibits.
                        --------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.             Description                                        Method of Filing
- -----------             -----------                                        ----------------
<S>                     <C>                                                <C>                         
    2                   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated July 1,            Filed herewith
                        1997, between Amtech Systems, Inc.,
                        P.R. Hoffman Machine Products Corporation,
                        and John R. Krieger

10.1                    Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 1997,          Filed herewith
                        between Amtech Systems, Inc. and John R.
                        Krieger
</TABLE>
                                        3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                     <C>                                                <C>                         
10.2                    Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 1,       Filed herewith
                        1997, between Amtech Systems, Inc. and
                        P.R. Hoffman Machine Products Corporation

10.3                    Sublease Agreement, dated July 1, 1997, between
                        Amtech Systems, Inc. and John R. Krieger           Filed herewith

  99                    Registrant's Press Release dated July 2, 1997      Filed herewith

</TABLE>
                                        4
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES


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


Date:  July 8, 1997                          AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.


                                             By: /s/ Robert T. Hass
                                                ----------------------
                                                 Robert T. Hass
                                                 Vice President-Finance (Chief
                                                 Financial & Accounting Officer)

                                        5


                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                     Between

                              AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.

                                       and

                    P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE PRODUCTS CORPORATION

                                       and

                                 JOHN R. KRIEGER
<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section                                                                                               Page


<S>      <C>                                                                                            <C>
1.       Sale and Delivery of the Assets...............................................................  1
                  1.1      Delivery of the Assets......................................................  1
                  1.2      Further Assurances..........................................................  3
                  1.3      Purchase Price..............................................................  3
                  1.4      Assumption of Liabilities; Etc..............................................  4
                  1.5      Allocation of Purchase Price and Assumed Liabilities........................  5
                  1.6      The Closing.................................................................  5
                  1.7      Post Closing Adjustments; Financial Statement Delivery
                           Obligations; Schedule Update Requirement....................................  5
                  1.8      Post-Closing Earn-out Payments..............................................  7

2.       Representations of the Seller and the Stockholder.............................................  8
                  2.1      Organization................................................................  8
                  2.2      Capitalization of the Seller................................................  9
                  2.3      Authorization...............................................................  9
                  2.4      Ownership of the Assets.....................................................  9
                  2.5      Financial Statements........................................................ 10
                  2.6      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.......................................... 10
                  2.7      Litigation.................................................................. 10
                  2.8      Insurance................................................................... 11
                  2.9      Inventory................................................................... 11
                  2.10     Fixed Assets................................................................ 11
                  2.11     Leases...................................................................... 11
                  2.12     Change in Financial Condition and Assets.................................... 12
                  2.13     Tax Matters................................................................. 12
                  2.14     Accounts Receivable......................................................... 12
                  2.15     Books and Records........................................................... 12
                  2.16     Contracts and Commitments................................................... 13
                  2.17     Compliance with Agreements and Laws......................................... 14
                  2.18     Employee Relations.......................................................... 15
                  2.19     Absence of Certain Changes or Events........................................ 16
                  2.20     Customers................................................................... 16
                  2.21     Suppliers................................................................... 17
                  2.22     Bank Accounts............................................................... 17
                  2.23     Prepayments and Deposits.................................................... 17
                  2.24     Trade Names and Other Intangible Property................................... 17
                  2.25     Employee Benefit Plans...................................................... 17
                  2.26     Environmental Matters....................................................... 21
                  2.27     Acquired Assets Complete.................................................... 21
                  2.28     Regulatory Approvals........................................................ 22
                  2.29     Indebtedness to and from Officers, Directors and Shareholders............... 22
                  2.30     Powers of Attorney and Suretyships.......................................... 22
                  2.31     Disclosure.................................................................. 22

3.       Representations of the Buyer.................................................................. 22
                  3.1      Organization and Authority.................................................. 22
                  3.2      Capitalization of the Buyer................................................. 22
                  3.3      Authorization............................................................... 23
                  3.4      Regulatory Approvals........................................................ 23
                  3.5      Disclosure.................................................................. 23
                  3.6      SEC Filings................................................................. 23

4.       Access to Information; Public Announcements................................................... 23
                  4.1      Access to Management, Properties and Records................................ 24
                  4.2      Confidentiality............................................................. 24
                  4.3      Public Announcements........................................................ 24

5.       Pre-Closing Covenants of the Seller........................................................... 25

6.       Best Efforts to Obtain Satisfaction of Conditions............................................. 25

7.       Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer........................................................ 25
                  7.1      Continued Truth of Representations and Warranties of the Seller;
                           Compliance with Covenants and Obligations................................... 25
                  7.2      Corporate Audit; Delivery of Financial Statements........................... 25
                  7.3      Governmental Approvals...................................................... 25
                  7.4      Consents of Lenders, Lessors and Other Third Parties........................ 25
                  7.5      Adverse Proceedings......................................................... 26
                  7.6      Opinion of Counsel.......................................................... 26
                  7.7      Board of Directors and Shareholder Approval................................. 26
                  7.8      The Assets.................................................................. 26
                  7.9      Employment Contracts........................................................ 26
                  7.10     Assignment of Insurance Policies............................................ 26
                  7.11     Cash Available for Working Capital Purposes................................. 26
                  7.12     Trade Payables.............................................................. 26
                  7.13     Engineer's Report........................................................... 26
                  7.14     Tax Lien Certificate........................................................ 27
                  7.15     Closing Deliveries.......................................................... 27

8.       Conditions to Obligations of the Seller....................................................... 28
                  8.1      Continued Truth of Representations and Warranties of the Buyer;
                           Compliance with Covenants and Obligations................................... 28
                  8.2      Corporate Proceedings....................................................... 28
                  8.3      Governmental Approvals...................................................... 28
                  8.4      Consents of Lenders, Lessors and Other Third Parties........................ 28
                  8.5      Adverse Proceedings......................................................... 28
                  8.6      Opinion of Counsel.......................................................... 28
</TABLE>
                                       ii
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>               <C>                                                                                   <C>
                  8.7      Employment Contract......................................................... 28
                  8.8      Registration Rights Agreement............................................... 29
                  8.9      Sublease Agreement.......................................................... 29
                  8.10     General Liability Insurance................................................. 29
                  8.11     Closing Deliveries.......................................................... 29

9.       Indemnification............................................................................... 30
                  9.1      By the Buyer and the Seller and the Stockholder............................. 30
                  9.2      Limits on Indemnification................................................... 30
                  9.3      Claims for Indemnification.................................................. 31
                  9.4      Defense by Indemnification Party............................................ 31
                  9.5      Payment of Indemnification Obligation....................................... 31
                  9.6      Survival of Representations; Claims for Indemnification..................... 32

10.      Post-Closing Agreements....................................................................... 32
                  10.1     Proprietary Information..................................................... 32
                  10.2     No Solicitation or Hiring of Former Employees............................... 33
                  10.3     Non-Competition Agreement................................................... 33
                  10.4     Sharing of Data............................................................. 33
                  10.5     Use of Name................................................................. 34
                  10.6     Cooperation in Litigation................................................... 34
                  10.7     Repurchase of Accounts Receivable........................................... 34
                  10.8     Product Claims and Returns.................................................. 36

11.      Transfer and Sales Tax........................................................................ 36

12.      Brokers and Expenses.......................................................................... 37

13.      Notices....................................................................................... 37

14.      Successors and Assigns........................................................................ 38

15.      Entire Agreement; Amendments; Attachments..................................................... 38

16.      Bulk Sales Laws............................................................................... 38

17.      Legal Fees.................................................................................... 38

18.      Governing Law................................................................................. 38

19.      Section Headings.............................................................................. 38

20.      Severability.................................................................................. 39

21.      Counterparts.................................................................................. 39
</TABLE>
                                       iii
<PAGE>
Exhibits

A - Registration Rights Agreement
B - Instrument of Assumption of Liabilities
C - Opinion of McNees, Wallace & Nurick
D - Bill of Sale
E - Opinion of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
F - Employment Agreement
G - Sublease Agreement
I - Certificate of No Adverse Conditions
                                       iv
<PAGE>
Schedules to be provided by the Seller
- --------------------------------------

1.1(b)            -        Excluded Assets
1.4               -        Assumed Liabilities
1.5               -        Allocation of the Purchase Price
2.3               -        Third Party Consents
2.4               -        Encumbrances and Permitted Encumbrances
2.6               -        Undisclosed Liabilities
2.7               -        Litigation
2.8               -        Insurance
2.9               -        Inventory
2.10              -        Fixed Assets
2.11              -        Leases
2.12              -        Changes in Financial Condition
2.13              -        Tax Matters
2.14              -        Accounts Receivable
2.15              -        Contracts
2.17              -        Permits
2.18              -        Employee Relations
2.19              -        Certain Changes or Events
2.20              -        Customer List
2.21              -        Suppliers
2.23              -        Prepayments and Deposits
2.24              -        Intangible Property
2.25              -        Employee Plans
2.28              -        Regulatory Approvals
2.29              -        Affiliated Indebtedness
2.30              -        Powers of Attorney and Suretyships
7.15(i)           -        Excluded Consents

Schedules to be provided by the Buyer
- -------------------------------------

3.3               -        Third Party Consents
7.9               -        Employment Contracts

                                        v
<PAGE>
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                            ------------------------


         Agreement made as of the 1st day of July,  1997 between Amtech Systems,
Inc.,  an Arizona  corporation  with its  principal  office at 131 South  Clark,
Tempe,  Arizona 85281 or its  wholly-owned  subsidiary  (the "Buyer"),  and P.R.
Hoffman Machine Products Corporation,  a Delaware corporation with its principal
office at 1517 Commerce Avenue, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013 (the "Seller"), and
John  R.  Krieger  whose  residential  address  is  4  Hall  Drive,   Dillsburg,
Pennsylvania 17019, the sole stockholder of Seller (the "Stockholder").

                              Preliminary Statement
                              ---------------------

         The Buyer desires to purchase, and the Seller and Stockholder desire to
sell,  substantially  all of the  assets and  business  of the  Seller,  for the
consideration  set forth  below and the  assumption  of certain of the  Seller's
liabilities  set  forth  below,  subject  to the terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set
forth and other good and valuable consideration,  the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Sale and Delivery of the Assets.

                  1.1 Delivery of the Assets.

                           (a) Subject to and upon the terms and  conditions  of
this  Agreement,  at  the  closing  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement (the "Closing"),  the Seller shall sell, transfer,  convey, assign and
deliver  to the  Buyer,  and the  Buyer  shall  purchase  from the  Seller,  the
following properties, assets and other claims, rights and interests:

                                         (i) all  inventories  of raw materials,
work  in  process,  finished  goods,  office  supplies,   maintenance  supplies,
packaging materials,  spare parts and similar items of the Seller (collectively,
the "Inventory") which exist on the Closing Date (as defined below);

                                         (ii) all accounts, accounts receivable,
notes and notes  receivable  payable to the Seller existing on the Closing Date,
including any security held by the Seller for the payment thereof, but excluding
any  account,  account  receivable,  note  or  note  receivable  payable  by any
affiliate  (as such term is defined in the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of Seller ("Affiliate") to
the Seller  (the  accounts,  accounts  receivable,  notes and notes  receivable,
including any related security therein,  to be transferred to the Buyer pursuant
hereto are collectively referred to herein as the "Accounts Receivable");

                                         (iii) all prepaid expenses, petty cash,
deposits,  bank accounts and other similar assets of the Seller  existing on the
Closing Date, including the cash represented by such assets;
<PAGE>
                                         (iv) all rights of the Seller under the
contracts,  agreements,  leases,  licenses  and other  instruments  set forth on
Schedule 2.16 attached hereto (collectively, the "Contract Rights");

                                         (v)  all of the  Seller's  (or,  in the
case of the Sublease Agreement, the Buyer's) right, title and interest in and to
all  leases,   subleases,   franchises,   licenses,   permits,   easements   and
rights-of-way  which are  appurtenant  to real  property  related  to the Leases
identified in Schedule 2.11 attached hereto (collectively the "Real Property");

                                         (vi) all books,  records and  accounts,
correspondence,  goodwill and recorded  knowledge relating to the Assets and the
business of Seller, production records, technical, accounting, manufacturing and
procedural manuals,  customer, vendor and distributor lists, employment records,
warranty records, sales and marketing literature,  studies, reports or summaries
relating to any  environmental  conditions  or  consequences  of any  operation,
present or former, as well as all studies,  reports or summaries relating to any
environmental   aspect  or  the  general  condition  of  the  Assets,   and  any
confidential  information  which has been  reduced  to  writing  relating  to or
arising out of the business of the Seller;

                                         (vii) all  rights of the  Seller  under
express or implied warranties from the suppliers of the Seller;

                                         (viii)  the  motor  vehicles  and other
rolling stock owned by the Seller on the Closing Date;

                                         (ix) all of the  machinery,  equipment,
tools, production reels and spools, numerically controlled programs,  internally
developed  and  purchased  software,   tooling,   dies,   production   fixtures,
maintenance  machinery and  equipment,  furniture,  leasehold  improvements  and
construction  in progress owned by the Seller on the Closing Date whether or not
reflected  as  capital   assets  in  the   accounting   records  of  the  Seller
(collectively, the "Fixed Assets");

                                         (x) all of the  Seller's  right,  title
and interest in and to all intangible property rights, including but not limited
to inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, processes, formulas, know-how, United
States and foreign patents, patent applications, trade names, including the name
"P.R.  Hoffman  Machine  Products   Corporation"  or  any  derivation   thereof,
trademarks,  trademark registrations,  applications for trademark registrations,
copyrights,  copyright  registrations,  owned or,  where not owned,  used by the
Seller in its business and all licenses and other agreements to which the Seller
is a party (as licensor or licensee) or by which the Seller is bound relating to
any of the foregoing kinds of property or rights to any "know-how" or disclosure
or use of ideas (collectively, the "Intangible Property");

                                         (xi) all of Seller's  right,  title and
interest in and to the  insurance  policies  set forth on Schedule  2.8 attached
hereto; and
                                        2
<PAGE>
                                         (xii) except as  specifically  provided
in Subsection 1.1(b) hereof, all other assets,  properties,  claims,  rights and
interests  of the Seller  which  exist on the  Closing  Date,  of every kind and
nature and description, whether tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed.

                           (b)  Notwithstanding  the provisions of paragraph (a)
above,  the assets to be transferred to the Buyer under this Agreement shall not
include those assets listed on Schedule  1.1(b)  attached  hereto (the "Excluded
Assets").

                           (c)  The  Inventory,  Accounts  Receivable,  Contract
Rights, Real Property,  Fixed Assets,  Intangible Property and other properties,
assets and business of the Seller  described in paragraph (a) above,  other than
the Excluded Assets, shall be referred to collectively as the "Assets."

                  1.2  Further  Assurances.  At any time  and from  time to time
after the Closing, at the Buyer's request and without further consideration, the
Seller  promptly shall execute and deliver such  instruments of sale,  transfer,
conveyance,  assignment  and  confirmation,  and take such other action,  as the
Buyer may reasonably request to more effectively transfer,  convey and assign to
the Buyer,  and to confirm the Buyer's  title to, all of the Assets,  to put the
Buyer in actual possession and operating control thereof, to assist the Buyer in
exercising  all rights  with  respect  thereto  and to carry out the purpose and
intent of this Agreement.

                  1.3 Purchase Price. As  consideration  for the Assets,  Amtech
Systems, Inc. will pay Seller as follows:

                           (a) The cash  purchase  price for the Assets shall be
Two  Million  Two  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars   ($2,200,000),   subject  to  the
adjustments  provided in Subsection 1.7 hereof (the "Cash Purchase Price").  The
Cash  Purchase  Price shall be payable at the Closing in  immediately  available
funds.

                           (b) At the Closing Buyer shall issue to Seller or its
assign an amount of unregistered shares of $.01 par value common stock of Amtech
Systems,  Inc.  equal to the maximum  number of shares that Buyer can issue at a
recorded  cost of $65,000  (the  "Shares").  The  consideration  to be delivered
pursuant hereto is hereafter referred to as the "Additional Purchase Price." The
actual  number of Shares to be issued by Buyer  shall be  computed  by  dividing
$65,000 by the average of the closing price per share of Buyer's common stock on
the NASDAQ  SmallCap  Market for the ten trading  days prior to the Closing Date
adjusted by a thirty-five percent (35%) discount.

                           (c) During the five-year period following the Closing
Date,  Buyer shall pay to Seller up to $2,000,000  of  additional  consideration
subject to an earn-out, subject to the adjustments, if any, set forth in Section
1.8 hereof. The earn-out is limited to a five-year term or aggregate payments of
$2,000,000,  whichever  occurs first.  The first earn-out year shall commence on
October 1, 1997, and shall continue until  September 30, 1998, so as to coincide
with Buyer's fiscal year. Following the completion of the audit of Buyer and its
consolidated  subsidiaries  following the  conclusion of each fiscal year during
the earn-out, Seller shall be
                                        3
<PAGE>
entitled  to  receive  from Buyer 50% of pre-tax  net  income (as  described  in
Section 1.8)  generated by the Assets (which term,  for purposes of this Section
1.3(c), shall also include any assets subsequently  acquired by Buyer for use in
the business of Seller as such  operations  are conducted  following the Closing
Date;  and  provided,  however,  that  pre-tax net income  shall not include any
pre-tax net income or losses  attributable  to or derived from the assets of any
business  acquired by the Buyer  subsequent  to April 23, 1997 and combined with
the business of Seller  (hereinafter  "Seller's  Business"))  during such fiscal
year in excess of $800,000. At least 35% of the earn-out  consideration shall be
payable  in cash or in  registered  shares  of  common  stock  (the  "Registered
Shares") of Buyer, at the option of Buyer, and the remainder shall be payable in
unregistered  shares  of common  stock or cash,  at the  option  of  Buyer.  For
purposes  of  determining  the number of shares of common  stock to be issued as
payment for any earn-out amount, the per share value shall be the average of the
closing price per share of Buyer's  common stock on the NASDAQ  SmallCap  Market
(or any other  exchange on which Buyer's  common stock is then quoted or listed)
for the ten trading days immediately  preceding the payment date of the earn-out
consideration.  To the extent  recognized  under the Code (as defined in Section
2.25),  the parties to this Agreement agree to value the  aforementioned  shares
for tax reporting purposes with reference to the restrictions  imposed,  if any,
under applicable securities laws.

                           (d) Any  shares of common  stock  issued by the Buyer
pursuant to  subsections  (b) and (c) above,  excluding the  Registered  Shares,
shall be (i) subject to a lock-up  restricting  transferability  for a period of
two years from the date of issuance,  and  certificates  representing the shares
shall bear a legend  referencing  such  lock-up,  and (ii) shall have  piggyback
registration  rights  exercisable  after the expiration of the two-year  lock-up
period as set forth in a registration rights agreement substantially in the form
attached  hereto  as  Exhibit A (the  "Registration  Rights  Agreement"),  which
Registration  Rights  Agreement shall be executed and delivered by the Buyer and
the Seller at the Closing.

                  1.4 Assumption of Liabilities; Etc.

                           (a) At the  Closing,  the  Buyer  shall  execute  and
deliver  an  Instrument  of  Assumption  of  Liabilities   (the  "Instrument  of
Assumption") substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, pursuant to
which it shall  assume and agree to perform,  pay and  discharge  the  following
liabilities,   obligations   and   commitments   of  the  Seller  (the  "Assumed
Liabilities"):

                                         (i)  All  trade  accounts  payable  and
accrued  expenses  reflected on the unaudited  balance sheet of the Seller as of
May 31,  1997,  previously  delivered  to the Buyer (the "May 31,  1997  Balance
Sheet"),  less any  payments  made from May 31, 1997 to the Closing  Date or any
reductions in accrued  expenses,  and less any accounts payable of the Seller to
any  Affiliate  (excluding,  however,  rental  payments  due from  Seller to PRH
Properties);

                                         (ii) All other trade  accounts  payable
and accrued operating  liabilities of the Seller incurred in the ordinary course
of business of the Seller  (payroll,  payroll taxes,  commissions and royalties)
from May 31,  1997 to the  Closing  Date and set forth on  Schedule  1.4 hereto,
other than any liabilities of the Seller to any Affiliate
                                        4
<PAGE>
(excluding,  however,  rental  payments due from Seller to PRH  Properties)  and
accounts  payable  that are  contingent  or are not  fixed in  amount  as of the
Closing Date;

                                         (iii) All obligations of the Seller for
unfunded pension plan  liabilities  after the Closing under the employee pension
plan set forth on Schedule 1.4 attached hereto which liabilities  become due and
payable after the Closing Date, and all other  obligations  arising with respect
to such pension plan after the Closing Date that relate to the assumption by the
Buyer of such plan and the administration thereof;

                                         (iv)  All  obligations  of  the  Seller
under that certain collectively  bargained union contract dated November 2, 1996
between  Seller and  United  Automobile,  Aerospace  and  Agriculture  Implement
Workers of America  (UAW) and its Local  1443,  a copy of which is  attached  to
Schedule 1.4 attached hereto; and

                                         (v) All obligations of the Seller under
contracts,  leases,  purchase orders and other  agreements set forth on Schedule
2.16  (except  subparagraphs  2.16(a)(i)  and  (a)(vi)  set forth  thereon))  or
otherwise  arising in the  ordinary  course of Seller's  business  that,  in the
aggregate, do not exceed $2,500.

                           (b) The  Buyer  shall  not at the  Closing  assume or
agree to perform, pay or discharge,  and the Seller shall remain unconditionally
liable for, all obligations,  liabilities and commitments,  fixed or contingent,
of the Seller other than the Assumed Liabilities.

                  1.5 Allocation of Purchase Price and Assumed Liabilities.  The
aggregate  amount of the  Purchase  Price and the Assumed  Liabilities  shall be
allocated  among the Assets as set forth on Schedule 1.5 attached  hereto.  Such
allocation  shall be subject to adjustment to the extent that the Purchase Price
is adjusted pursuant to Subsections 1.7 or 1.8 hereof in the manner specified in
such Subsections.

                  1.6 The  Closing.  The  Closing  shall  take  place at the law
offices of McNees, Wallace & Nurick, 100 Pine Street,  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania
at 9:00 a.m.,  Eastern  Daylight  time,  on July 1, 1997 or at such other place,
time or date as may be mutually  agreed  upon in writing by the parties  hereto.
The  transfer  of the Assets by the Seller to the Buyer shall be deemed to occur
at 12:01 a.m.,  Eastern  Daylight time, on the date of the Closing (the "Closing
Date").

                  1.7 Post Closing  Adjustments;  Financial  Statement  Delivery
Obligations;  Schedule Update Requirement.  The Cash Purchase Price set forth in
Subsection  1.3(a) hereof shall be subject to adjustment  after the Closing Date
as follows:

                           (a) As  promptly as  possible  following  the Closing
Date,  but in no event later than 30 days following the Closing Date, the Seller
shall  prepare  (i) a balance  sheet of its  assets  and  liabilities  as of the
Closing Date  certified to be true and accurate by duly  authorized  officers of
the Seller (the "June 30, 1997 Balance Sheet"),  and (ii) the related statements
of income and cash flows of the Seller for the  six-month  period ended June 30,
1997  (collectively,  including the June 30, 1997 Balance  Sheet,  the "June 30,
1997 Financial Statements"). The
                                        5
<PAGE>
June  30,  1997  Financial  Statements  shall be  prepared  in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting  principles applied  consistently with the Audited
Financial  Statements  (as  defined in Section  2.5),  without  any  adjustments
applicable  solely as a result of the  acquisition of the Assets by the Buyer on
the  Closing  Date,  and  shall  be  reviewed  by  Seller's  independent  public
accountants,  Arthur Andersen LLP (the "Accountants").  The fees and expenses of
the Accountants arising in connection with the matters described in this Section
1.7(a) shall borne equally by the Buyer and the Seller.

                           (b)  The  June  30,  1997  Balance  Sheet   delivered
pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall be accompanied by a statement  prepared by
the Seller  setting forth the sum, if any, by which the aggregate net book value
(consistent with GAAP) of (x) the Assets minus (y) the Assumed  Liabilities,  in
each case as shown on the June 30, 1997 Balance  Sheet (the "Net  Adjusted  Book
Value"),  is greater than, or less than,  $2,038,000 (such  difference,  if any,
herein  referred  to  as  the  "Net  Asset   Adjustment"),   together  with  the
calculations showing the basis for the determination of such sum.

                           (c) In the event that the Buyer disputes the June 30,
1997 Balance Sheet or the  calculation of the Net Adjusted Book Value or the Net
Asset  Adjustment,  the Buyer shall notify the Seller in writing  (the  "Dispute
Notice") of the  amount,  nature and basis of such  dispute,  within 30 calendar
days after delivery of the June 30, 1997 Balance  Sheet.  In the event of such a
dispute,  the parties  hereto shall first use their best efforts to resolve such
dispute  among  themselves.  If the  parties  are unable to resolve  the dispute
within 15 calendar days after delivery of the Dispute Notice,  the dispute shall
be submitted to Ernst & Young LLP or such other  independent  public  accounting
firm as the parties shall mutually agree upon (the "Additional Accountants") for
resolution.  The Additional  Accountants shall use their best efforts to resolve
the dispute within 30 days after submission. The determination of the Additional
Accountants  as to the resolution of any dispute shall be binding and conclusive
upon all parties hereto. All determinations pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall
be in writing  and shall be  delivered  to the  parties  hereto.  Any award made
pursuant  to this  Subsection  1.7 may be entered in and  enforced  by any court
having  jurisdiction  thereover  and  the  parties  hereby  consent  and  commit
themselves  to the  jurisdiction  of the  courts  of the  State of  Arizona  for
purposes of the enforcement of any such award.

                           (d)  The  fees  and   expenses   of  the   Additional
Accountants  arising in connection  with the resolution of disputes  pursuant to
paragraph (c) above shall be borne equally by the Buyer and the Seller.

                           (e) Immediately upon the earlier of the expiration of
the 30-day period for giving the Dispute Notice if no Dispute Notice is given or
the  acceptance  by the  Buyer  of the  June  30,  1997  Balance  Sheet  and the
calculation of the Net Asset  Adjustment,  or immediately upon the resolution of
disputes,  if any,  pursuant to paragraph (c) above, the amount of the Net Asset
Adjustment,  if positive,  shall be added to, and if negative, shall be deducted
from,  the Cash  Purchase  Price (as so adjusted,  the  "Adjusted  Cash Purchase
Price") as follows:

If the Adjusted  Cash  Purchase  Price is less than the original  Cash  Purchase
Price,  the  deficiency,  together with  interest  thereon at the rate of 8% per
annum from the Closing Date to the payment
                                        6
<PAGE>
of such  deficiency,  shall  be  promptly  paid by the  Seller  to the  Buyer in
immediately available funds. If the Adjusted Cash Purchase Price is greater than
the original Cash Purchase Price, the excess,  together with interest thereon at
the rate of 8% per annum  from the  Closing  Date to the date of payment of such
excess,  shall be  promptly  paid by the  Buyer  to the  Seller  in  immediately
available funds.

                           (f) If the Cash Purchase  Price is adjusted  pursuant
to paragraph (e) above, the allocation  thereof among the Assets as set forth on
Schedule  1.5  attached  hereto  shall  be  appropriately  modified  to  reflect
increases or decreases in the various asset  categories  which give rise to such
adjustments.  Any  disputes  concerning  such  changes  in  allocation  shall be
resolved in accordance  with the procedures set forth in paragraph (c) above and
the  expenses  incurred  in  connection  therewith  shall be borne in the manner
specified in paragraph (d) above.

                           (g)  Concurrently  with the delivery by the Seller to
the Buyer of the June 30, 1997  Financial  Statements  pursuant to this  Section
1.7, the Seller shall have provided the Buyer with a true,  correct and complete
list and amount, as of the Closing Date, of:

                           (i)      the Inventory;

                           (ii)     the Fixed Assets;

                           (iii)    the Accounts Receivable,  including an aging
                                    thereof;

                           (iv)     the  trade  accounts   payable  and  accrued
                                    liabilities  assumed  pursuant to Subsection
                                    1.4(a)(i) and (ii) hereof;

                           (v)      all unfilled customer orders; and

                           (vi)     all  shipments  made  during the period from
                                    May 31, 1997 to the Closing Date,

none of which  information  shall be materially  different from the  information
supplied by the Seller as of May 31, 1997 on Schedules 2.9, 2.10,  2.14 and 2.20
attached  hereto except for those  changes that occur in the ordinary  course of
Seller's business.

                  1.8 Post-Closing Earn-out Payments.  The earn-out payments set
forth in Subsection  1.3(c) hereof shall be determined,  paid and, if necessary,
adjusted as follows:

                           (a) Within 30 days following  completion of the audit
of Buyer and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  each fiscal year,  but in no event
later than 120 days after the end of such fiscal year,  the Buyer shall  prepare
statements  of income and financial  condition  relating to the Assets as of the
earn-out  year  end,  certified  to be true and  accurate  by a duly  authorized
officer of the Buyer (the "Earn-out Statement"). The Earn-out Statement shall be
prepared in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied
consistently with the Buyer's
                                        7
<PAGE>
past practice.  Pre-tax net income  generated by the Seller's  Business shall be
determined  before  deductions for (i) interest for indebtedness  other than new
indebtedness  related to the  operation  of the Assets  (excluding  indebtedness
relating to the acquisition of the Assets), (ii) state and federal income taxes,
(iii) stepped-up depreciation as a result of the acquisition of the Assets, (iv)
amortization  of  goodwill or other  intangibles  arising  solely from  purchase
accounting  and (v)  allocation  of Buyer's home office  corporate  overhead not
related to the Assets.

                           (b) The  Earn-out  Statement  delivered  pursuant  to
paragraph (a) above shall be  accompanied  by a statement  prepared by the Buyer
setting  forth the sum,  if any,  that  Buyer  owes to the  Seller  as  earn-out
consideration pursuant to Section 1.3(c) (the "Earn-out Sum"), together with the
calculations  showing the basis for the  determination of such sum. In the event
Stockholder's  employment with the Seller is terminated,  whether voluntarily or
otherwise,  Buyer  shall  provide  Stockholder  with  access  (at the  principal
executive offices of the Buyer and during normal business hours) to such records
as Stockholder  shall reasonably  request to verify the accuracy of the Earn-out
Statement.

                           (c)  In  the  event  that  the  Seller  disputes  the
Earn-out  Statement or the  calculation  of the  Earn-out  Sum, the Seller shall
notify the Buyer in writing  (the  "Earn-out  Dispute  Notice")  of the  amount,
nature and basis of such dispute,  within 30 calendar days after delivery of the
Earn-out  Statement.  In the event of such a dispute,  the parties  hereto shall
first use their best efforts to resolve such dispute  among  themselves.  If the
parties are unable to resolve the dispute within 45 calendar days after delivery
of the Earn-out  Dispute  Notice,  the dispute  shall be submitted to Additional
Accountants  for  resolution.  The Additional  Accountants  shall use their best
efforts  to  resolve  the  dispute   within  30  days  after   submission.   The
determination of the Additional  Accountants as to the resolution of any dispute
shall be binding and  conclusive  upon all parties  hereto.  All  determinations
pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the
parties hereto.  Any award may pursuant to this Subsection 1.8 may be entered in
and enforced by any court having  jurisdiction  thereover and the parties hereby
consent and commit  themselves to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
Arizona for purposes of the enforcement of any such award.

                           (d)  The  fees  and   expenses   of  the   Additional
Accountants in connection with the resolution of disputes  pursuant to paragraph
(c) above shall be borne equally by the Buyer and the Seller.

                           (e) Immediately upon the earlier of the expiration of
the 30-day period for giving the Earn-out  Dispute Notice if no Earn-out Dispute
Notice is given or the  acceptance by the Seller of the Earn-out  Statement,  or
immediately upon the resolution of disputes,  if any,  pursuant to paragraph (c)
above,  the amount of the Earn-out  Sum, if any,  shall  promptly be paid by the
Buyer to the Seller in a manner consistent with Section 1.3(c).

         2.  Representations  of the Seller and the Stockholder.  The Seller and
the Stockholder represent and warrant to the Buyer as follows:
                                       8
<PAGE>
                  2.1 Organization.  The Seller is a corporation duly organized,
validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  state  of its
incorporation,  and has all requisite power and authority  (corporate and other)
to own its  properties,  to carry on its  business  as now being  conducted,  to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements  contemplated  herein, and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Seller is duly qualified
to do business and in good standing in all  jurisdictions in which the ownership
of  property or the  character  of its  business  requires  such  qualification.
Certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation,  Bylaws and Minutes of the
Seller,  each as amended to date, have been  previously  delivered to the Buyer,
are complete and correct,  and no amendments have been made thereto or have been
authorized since the date thereof.  The Seller does not own any capital stock of
or other equity interest in any corporation, partnership or other entity.

                  2.2  Capitalization  of the Seller.  The  Seller's  authorized
capital  stock  consists of 1,000 shares of Common  Stock,  $1.00 par value,  of
which  1,000  shares  are  issued  and   outstanding  and  held  of  record  and
beneficially by the  Stockholder.  All of such shares have been duly and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

                  2.3   Authorization.   The  execution  and  delivery  of  this
Agreement  by the  Seller,  and the  agreements  provided  for  herein,  and the
consummation by the Seller of all transactions  contemplated  hereby,  have been
duly  authorized  by  all  requisite  corporate  and  shareholder  action.  This
Agreement  and all  such  other  agreements  and  obligations  entered  into and
undertaken in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby to which the
Seller is a party  constitute the valid and legally  binding  obligations of the
Seller,  enforceable  against  the Seller in  accordance  with their  respective
terms.  The execution,  delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement
and the agreements provided for herein, and the consummation by the Buyer of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and  thereby,  will not,  with or without the
giving of notice or the passage of time or both,  (a) violate the  provisions of
any law, rule or regulation  applicable to the Seller or the Assets; (b) violate
the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Seller;  (c)
violate any judgment,  decree, order or award of any court, governmental body or
arbitrator;  or (d) conflict with or result in the breach or  termination of any
term or provision of, or constitute a default under,  or cause any  acceleration
under,  or cause the  creation  of any  lien,  charge  or  encumbrance  upon the
properties or assets of the Seller pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust or other  instrument  or  agreement  to which the  Seller is a party or by
which the  Seller or any of its  properties  is or may be  bound.  Schedule  2.3
attached hereto sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all consents and
approvals of third parties that are required in connection with the consummation
by the Seller of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  2.4 Ownership of the Assets. Schedule 2.4 attached hereto sets
forth a true,  correct  and  complete  list of all claims,  liabilities,  liens,
pledges,  charges,  encumbrances  and equities of any kind  affecting the Assets
(collectively,  the "Encumbrances").  The Seller is, and at the Closing will be,
the true and  lawful  owner of the  Assets,  and will have the right to sell and
transfer to the Buyer good,  clear,  record and marketable  title to the Assets,
free and clear of all Encumbrances of any kind, except as specifically set forth
on Schedule 2.4 attached hereto (the "Permitted Encumbrances").  The delivery to
the Buyer of the  instruments  of transfer  of  ownership  contemplated  by this
Agreement will vest good and marketable title to the Assets in
                                        9
<PAGE>
the Buyer, free and clear of all liens, mortgages,  pledges, security interests,
restrictions,  prior assignments,  encumbrances and claims of any kind or nature
whatsoever, except for the Permitted Encumbrances and the Permitted Exceptions.

                  2.5 Financial Statements.

                           (a) The Seller has previously  delivered to the Buyer
audited  balance  sheets as of  December  31,  1996 and  December  31, 1995 (the
"Audited  Balance Sheets") and the related  statements of income,  shareholders'
equity,  retained  earnings  and cash flow of the  Seller for the two years then
ended  (collectively,   including  the  Audited  Balance  Sheets,  the  "Audited
Financial  Statements").  The Seller has also previously  delivered to the Buyer
its  May  31,  1997  Balance  Sheet  and  the  related   statements  of  income,
shareholders'  equity and  retained  earnings  of the Seller for the  five-month
period  ended  May  31,  1997   (collectively,   the  "May  31,  1997  Financial
Statements").  Except as set forth on Schedule  2.5 with  respect to the May 31,
1997 Financial Statements,  the Audited Financial  Statements,  the May 31, 1997
Financial  Statements and the June 30, 1997 Financial Statements to be delivered
pursuant to Subsection 1.7 hereof  (collectively,  the  "Financial  Statements")
have been (or will be)  prepared  by the  Seller in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  applied  consistently  with  that  used in the
Audited  Financial  Statements and are certified  without  qualification  by the
independent public accountants, in the case of the Audited Financial Statements,
and have been (or will be)  certified  by the  Seller's  President  (who is also
acting as Seller's chief financial officer) and reviewed by the Accountants,  in
the  case of the  June  30,  1997  Financial  Statements  and  the May 31,  1997
Financial Statements.

                           (b) The Financial  Statements  fairly present,  as of
their respective dates, the financial condition,  retained earnings,  assets and
liabilities of the Seller and the results of operations of the Seller's business
for the periods indicated; and with respect to the contracts and commitments for
the sale of goods or the  provision  of services by the  Seller,  the  Financial
Statements  contain and reflect  adequate  reserves,  which are consistent  with
previous  reserves  taken,  for all reasonably  anticipated  material losses and
costs and expenses.

                  2.6 Absence of Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Except as and to the
extent (a) reflected and reserved against in the May 31, 1997 Balance Sheet, (b)
set forth on Schedule 2.6 attached hereto or (c) incurred in the ordinary course
of business after the date of the May 31, 1997 Balance Sheet and not material in
amount  (except with respect to accounts  payable and accrued  expenses  arising
subsequent to May 31, 1997,  which,  for purposes of this Section 2.6, shall not
be  subject  to  the  materiality  limitation),  either  individually  or in the
aggregate,  the Seller does not have any  liability  or  obligation,  secured or
unsecured,  whether  accrued,  absolute,  contingent,  unasserted  or otherwise,
affecting the Assets. For purposes of this Subsection 2.6,  "material" means any
amount in excess of $5,000 or amounts that, in the aggregate, exceed $10,000.

                  2.7  Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule 2.7 attached
hereto,  the  Seller  is not a  party  to,  or to the  Seller's  best  knowledge
threatened  with, and none of the Assets are subject to, any  litigation,  suit,
action,   investigation,   proceeding   or   controversy   before   any   court,
administrative  agency or other  governmental  authority  or any other  claim or
dispute in excess
                                       10
<PAGE>
of $1,000  relating to or  affecting  the Assets or the  business  or  condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Seller.  The Seller is not in violation of or in
default with respect to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or rule of
any court,  administrative agency or governmental authority or any regulation of
any administrative agency or governmental authority.

                  2.8 Insurance. Schedule 2.8 attached hereto sets forth a true,
correct and  complete  list of all fire,  theft,  casualty,  general  liability,
workers compensation,  business interruption,  environmental impairment, product
liability,  automobile  and other  insurance  policies  insuring  the  Assets or
business of the Seller and of all life insurance policies  maintained for any of
its  employees,  specifying  the type of coverage,  the amount of coverage,  the
premium, the insurer and the expiration date of each such policy  (collectively,
the  "Insurance  Policies")  and all claims made under such  Insurance  Policies
since January 1, 1994. True, correct and complete copies of all of the Insurance
Policies  have  been  previously  delivered  by the  Seller  to the  Buyer.  The
Insurance  Policies  are in full force and  effect  and are in amounts  and of a
nature which are adequate and customary for the Seller's business.  All premiums
due on the Insurance Policies or renewals thereof have been paid and there is no
default under any of the Insurance Policies. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.8
attached hereto,  the Seller has not received any notice or other  communication
from any issuer of the Insurance  Policies  since  January 1, 1994  canceling or
materially  amending any of the Insurance  Policies,  materially  increasing any
deductibles or retained amounts thereunder,  or materially increasing the annual
or other premiums payable thereunder,  and, to the best knowledge of the Seller,
no such  cancellation,  amendment  or increase  of  deductibles,  retainages  or
premiums is threatened.

                  2.9 Inventory. Schedule 2.9 attached hereto sets forth a true,
correct and  complete  list of the  Inventory  as of May 31,  1997,  including a
description  and the book value  thereof.  Schedule 2.9, as updated  pursuant to
Section 1.7(g) hereof,  shall set forth a true, correct and complete list of the
Inventory as of the Closing Date, including a description and valuation thereof.
Such  Inventory  consists of items of a quality and quantity which are usable or
saleable  without  discount in the ordinary course of the business  conducted by
the Seller.  The value of all items of obsolete  materials  and of  materials of
below standard quality has been written down to net realizable market value, and
the values at which such  Inventory is carried  reflect the inventory  valuation
method  of the  Seller  consistent  with  that  used  in the  Audited  Financial
Statements.

                  2.10 Fixed Assets.  Schedule 2.10 attached hereto sets forth a
true,  correct  and  complete  list of all  Fixed  Assets  as of May  31,  1997,
including a description  and the book value  thereof.  Schedule 2.10, as updated
pursuant to Section 1.7(g) hereof,  shall set forth a true, correct and complete
list of all Fixed Assets as of the Closing  Date,  including a  description  and
valuation thereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.10, all of the Fixed Assets
are in good operating condition and repair,  normal wear and tear excepted,  are
currently  used by the  Seller in the  ordinary  course of  business  and in the
production  of  products  of  the  Seller  and  normal   maintenance   has  been
consistently performed with respect to such Fixed Assets.

                  2.11 Leases.  Schedule 2.11 attached hereto sets forth a true,
correct and complete list as of the date hereof of all leases of real  property,
identifying separately each ground lease, to which the Seller or the Stockholder
is a party (the "Leases"). True, correct and
                                       11
<PAGE>
complete  copies  of  the  Leases,   and  all  amendments,   modifications   and
supplemental agreements thereto, have previously been delivered by the Seller to
the Buyer. The Leases are in full force and effect,  are binding and enforceable
against each of the parties  thereto in accordance with their  respective  terms
and,  except as set forth on Schedule  2.11,  have not been  modified or amended
since the date of delivery to the Buyer.  No party to any Lease has sent written
notice to the other  claiming  that such party is in default  thereunder,  which
remains uncured. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11 attached hereto, there has
not  occurred  any event  which would  constitute  a breach of or default in the
performance of any material  covenant,  agreement or condition  contained in any
Lease,  nor has there  occurred  any event which with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or material default. The
Seller is not obligated to pay any leasing or brokerage  commission  relating to
any Lease and,  except as set forth on Schedule 2.11 attached  hereto,  will not
have any enforceable  obligation to pay any leasing or brokerage commission upon
the  renewal  of any  Lease.  No  material  construction,  alteration  or  other
leasehold  improvement work with respect to any of the Leases remains to be paid
for or to be performed by the Seller.

                  2.12 Change in Financial  Condition and Assets.  Except as set
forth on Schedule 2.12 attached  hereto,  since May 31, 1997,  there has been no
change  which  materially  and  adversely  affects the  business  (as  presently
conducted  and as proposed to be  conducted),  properties,  assets or  condition
(financial  or  otherwise)  of the Seller.  The Seller has no  knowledge  of any
existing or threatened occurrence,  event or development which, as far as can be
reasonably  foreseen,  could have a material adverse effect on the Seller or its
business (as presently  conducted and as proposed to be conducted),  properties,
assets or condition (financial or otherwise).

                  2.13 Tax Matters. The Seller has filed all federal,  state and
local  tax  returns  which  are  required  to be filed  and has paid all  taxes,
interest, penalties, assessments and deficiencies which have become due or which
have been claimed to be due. The Seller is current in the payment of all income,
franchise,  real estate,  sales,  use and  withholding  taxes and other employee
benefits,  taxes or  imposts.  Except as set  forth on  Schedule  2.13  attached
hereto,  no deficiencies have been asserted or assessed as a result of any audit
by the Internal  Revenue  Service or any state or local taxing  authority and no
such deficiency or audit has been proposed or threatened.

                  2.14 Accounts  Receivable.  Schedule 2.14 attached hereto sets
forth a true, correct and complete list of all Accounts Receivable, including an
aging thereof as of May 31, 1997.  Schedule 2.14, as updated pursuant to Section
1.7(g) hereof, shall set forth a true, correct and complete list of the Accounts
Receivable  as of the Closing  Date,  including an aging  thereof.  All Accounts
Receivable  arose out of the sales of  inventory  or  services  in the  ordinary
course of business and are collectible in the face value thereof within five (5)
months of the date of invoice,  using normal collection  procedures,  net of the
reserve for doubtful  accounts as set forth  thereon,  which reserve is adequate
and was calculated in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles
consistently applied.

                  2.15  Books and  Records.  The  general  ledgers  and books of
account of the Seller, all federal, state and local income, franchise,  property
and other tax returns filed by the
                                       12
<PAGE>
Seller,  with  respect to the  Assets,  and all other  books and  records of the
Seller  are  in all  material  respects  complete  and  correct  and  have  been
maintained in accordance with good business  practice and in accordance with all
applicable procedures required by laws and regulations.

                  2.16 Contracts and Commitments.

                           (a) Schedule  2.16 attached  hereto  contains a true,
complete  and  correct  list and  description  of the  following  contracts  and
agreements, whether written or oral (collectively, the "Contracts"):

                                         (i) all  loan  agreements,  indentures,
mortgages  and  guaranties to which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller
or any of its property is bound;

                                         (ii) all pledges,  conditional  sale or
title retention agreements, security agreements, equipment obligations, personal
property leases and lease purchase  agreements  relating to any of the Assets to
which the  Seller is a party or by which the  Seller or any of its  property  is
bound;

                                         (iii)   all   contracts,    agreements,
commitments,  purchase orders or other  understandings  or arrangements to which
the  Seller is a party or by which the  Seller or any of its  property  is bound
which (A) involve  payments or receipts by the Seller of more than $1,000 in the
case of any single contract, agreement, commitment, understanding or arrangement
under which full  performance  (including  payment) has not been rendered by all
parties  thereto or (B) which may  materially  adversely  affect  the  condition
(financial or otherwise) or the properties, assets, business or prospects of the
Seller;

                                         (iv)    all    collective    bargaining
agreements,  employment and consulting agreements, executive compensation plans,
bonus plans, deferred compensation agreements,  pension plans, retirement plans,
employee  stock  option  or stock  purchase  plans and group  life,  health  and
accident insurance and other employee benefit plans, agreements, arrangements or
commitments  to which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller or any of its
property is bound;

                                          (v) all  agency,  distributor,   sales
representative and similar agreements to which the Seller is party;

                                         (vi) all contracts, agreements or other
understandings  or  arrangements  between  the  Seller  and any  stockholder  or
Affiliate of the Seller;

                                        (vii) all   leases,  whether  operating,
capital or  otherwise,  under  which the  Seller is lessor or lessee  (excluding
leases relating to real property identified on Schedule 2.11);

                                       (viii) all   contracts,  agreements   and
other  documents or  information  relating to past disposal of waste (whether or
not hazardous); and
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                         (ix) any other  material  agreement  or
contract entered into by the Seller.

                           (b)  Except as set forth on  Schedule  2.16  attached
hereto:

                                          (i) each   Contract  is  a  valid  and
binding  agreement of the Seller,  enforceable  against the Seller in accordance
with its terms,  and the Seller does not have any knowledge that any Contract is
not a valid and binding agreement of the other parties thereto;

                                         (ii)  the  Seller  has   fulfilled  all
material  obligations  required pursuant to the Contracts to have been performed
by the Seller on its part prior to the date hereof, and the Seller has no reason
to believe that it will not be able to fulfill, when due, all of its obligations
under the Contracts which remain to be performed after the date hereof;

                                        (iii) the  Seller is not in breach of or
default under any Contract,  and no event has occurred which with the passage of
time or giving of notice or both would  constitute  such a default,  result in a
loss of rights or result in the  creation  of any lien,  charge or  encumbrance,
thereunder or pursuant thereto;

                                         (iv)  to  the  best  knowledge  of  the
Seller,  there is no  existing  breach  or  default  by any  other  party to any
Contract,  and no event has occurred which with the passage of time or giving of
notice or both would constitute a default by such other party,  result in a loss
of  rights  or  result  in the  creation  of any  lien,  charge  or  encumbrance
thereunder or pursuant thereto;

                                         (v) the Seller is not restricted by any
Contract from carrying on its business anywhere in the world; and

                                         (vi) the  Seller has no written or oral
Contracts  to sell  products  or  perform  services  which  are  expected  to be
performed at, or to result in, a loss.

                           (c) Except as set forth on  Schedule  2.3 or Schedule
2.16, the continuation, validity and enforceability of each Contract will not be
affected  by the  transfer  thereof to Buyer under this  Agreement  and all such
Contracts are assignable to Buyer without a consent.

                           (d)  True,   correct  and  complete   copies  of  all
Contracts have previously been delivered by the Seller to the Buyer.

                  2.17  Compliance  with Agreements and Laws. The Seller has all
requisite licenses,  permits and certificates,  including environmental,  health
and safety  permits,  from  federal,  state and local  authorities  necessary to
conduct  its  business  and  own  and  operate  its  assets  (collectively,  the
"Permits").  Schedule  2.17  attached  hereto  sets  forth a true,  correct  and
complete  list of all  such  Permits,  copies  of  which  have  previously  been
delivered by the Seller to the Buyer. The Seller is not in violation of any law,
regulation or ordinance (including,
                                       14
<PAGE>
without  limitation,  laws,  regulations  or  ordinances  relating to  building,
zoning,  environmental,  disposal of hazardous  substances,  land use or similar
matters)  relating  to its  properties,  the  violation  of which  could  have a
material  adverse  effect on the Seller or its  properties.  The business of the
Seller does not violate, in any material respect,  any federal,  state, local or
foreign laws,  regulations or orders (including,  but not limited to, any of the
foregoing   relating  to   employment   discrimination,   occupational   safety,
environmental protection,  hazardous waste, conservation, or corrupt practices),
the enforcement of which would have a material and adverse effect on the results
of operations,  condition (financial or otherwise), assets, properties, business
or  prospects  of the  Seller.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  2.17  attached
hereto,  the  Seller  has not since  January  1,  1993  received  any  notice or
communication  from  any  federal,  state or local  governmental  or  regulatory
authority or otherwise of any such violation or noncompliance.

                  2.18 Employee Relations.

                           (a)  The  Seller  is in  compliance  in all  material
respects with all federal,  state and municipal laws  respecting  employment and
employment practices,  terms and conditions of employment,  and wages and hours,
and is not engaged in any unfair labor or employment practice,  and there are no
arrears in the payment of wages, withheld income or social security taxes.

                           (b)  Except as set forth on  Schedule  2.18  attached
hereto:

                                         (i) none of the employees of the Seller
is represented by any labor union;

                                         (ii)  there  is  no  unfair   labor  or
employment  practice  complaint  against the Seller  pending before the National
Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment  Opportunity Commission or any state
or local agency;

                                         (iii) there is no pending  labor strike
or other  material  labor  trouble  affecting  the  Seller  (including,  without
limitation, any organizational drive);

                                         (iv)   there  is  no   material   labor
grievance pending against the Seller;

                                         (v) there is no pending  representation
question respecting the employees of the Seller; and

                                         (vi) there are no  pending  arbitration
proceedings arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement to which
the Seller is a party,  or to the best  knowledge  of the Seller,  any basis for
which a claim may be made under any collective bargaining agreement to which the
Seller is a party.

                           (c) Schedule 2.18 attached  hereto sets forth a true,
correct and complete  list of the Seller's  current  payroll,  including the job
descriptions  and  salary  or  wage  rates  of each  of its  employees,  showing
separately for each such person who received an annual
                                       15
<PAGE>
salary in excess of  $60,000  the  amounts  paid or  payable as salary and bonus
payments for the year ended December 31, 1996.

                           (d) For purposes of this  Subsection  2.18,  the term
"employee"  shall be  construed to include  sales  agents and other  independent
contractors who spend a majority of their working time on the Seller's business.

                  2.19 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth
on Schedule 2.19 attached hereto, since May 31, 1997, the Seller has not entered
into any transaction  which is not in the usual and ordinary course of business,
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Seller has not:

                           (a) Incurred any material obligation or liability for
borrowed money;

                           (b)  Discharged or satisfied any lien or  encumbrance
or paid any obligation or liability other than current liabilities  reflected in
the May 31, 1997 Balance Sheet;

                           (c) Mortgaged,  pledged or subjected to lien,  charge
or other encumbrance any of the Assets;

                           (d) Sold or purchased, assigned or transferred any of
its tangible  assets or canceled any debts or claims,  except for inventory sold
and raw materials purchased in the ordinary course of business;

                           (e) Made any material  amendment to or termination of
any  Contract  or  performed  any act or omitted to perform  any act which would
cause the breach of any Contract;

                           (f)   Suffered   any  losses,   whether   insured  or
uninsured, and whether or not in the control of the Seller, in excess of $10,000
in the aggregate, or waived any rights of any value;

                           (g) Made any changes in compensation of its officers,
directors or employees;

                           (h)  Authorized or issued  recall  notices for any of
its products or initiated any safety investigations;

                           (i) Received notice of any litigation, warranty claim
or products liability claims; or

                           (j) Made any material change in the terms,  status or
funding condition of any Employee Plan, as defined in Subsection 2.25 hereof.

                  2.20  Customers.  Schedule 2.20  attached  hereto sets forth a
true,  correct and complete  list of the names and  addresses of the ten largest
customers of the Seller and any
                                       16
<PAGE>
customers  which  accounted for more than 5% of the Seller's  total sales in the
fiscal  years ended  December  31,  1996 and 1995.  None of such  customers  has
notified the Seller that it intends to discontinue  or curtail its  relationship
with the Seller.

                  2.21  Suppliers.  Schedule 2.21  attached  hereto sets forth a
true,  correct and complete list of the names and addresses of the ten suppliers
of the Seller which  accounted for the largest dollar volume of purchases by the
Company for the fiscal  years  ended  December  31, 1996 and 1995.  None of such
suppliers  has  notified  the  Seller  that  it  intends  to   discontinue   its
relationship with the Seller or ration its products to the Seller.

                  2.22 Bank Accounts.  Schedule 2.22 attached  hereto contains a
true, correct and complete list of all bank accounts, investment accounts, money
market  accounts,  safe  deposit  boxes and  similar  accounts in the name of or
controlled by the Seller and the names of persons having access thereto.

                  2.23  Prepayments and Deposits.  Schedule 2.23 attached hereto
sets forth all  prepayments  or  deposits  from  customers  for  products  to be
shipped,  or services to be  performed,  after the Closing  Date which have been
received by the Seller as of May 31, 1997.

                  2.24 Trade Names and Other Intangible Property.

                           (a) Schedule 2.24 attached  hereto sets forth a true,
correct  and  complete  list and,  where  appropriate,  a  description  of,  all
Intangible Property. True, correct and complete copies of all licenses and other
agreements relating to the Intangible Property have been previously delivered by
the Seller to the Buyer.

                           (b) Except as otherwise  disclosed  in Schedule  2.24
attached  hereto,  the Seller is the sole and exclusive  owner of all Intangible
Property and all designs,  permits, labels and packages used on or in connection
therewith.  The Intangible Property owned by the Seller is sufficient to conduct
the Seller's business as presently  conducted and, when transferred to the Buyer
pursuant to this  Agreement,  will be  sufficient to permit the Buyer to conduct
the business of the Seller as presently  conducted by the Seller. The Seller has
received no notice of, and has no knowledge of any basis for, a claim against it
that any of its operations,  activities,  products or publications  infringes on
any patent, trademark,  trade name, copyright or other property right of a third
party, or that it is illegally or otherwise using the trade secrets, formulae or
any property rights of others. The Seller has no disputes with or claims against
any third party for  infringement by such third party of any trade name or other
Intangible  Property  of the Seller.  The Seller has taken all steps  reasonably
prudent  to protect  its  right,  title and  interest  in and to the  Intangible
Property.

                  2.25 Employee Benefit Plans.

                           (a) Employee  Plans.  Schedule 2.25  attached  hereto
contains a true,  correct and  complete  list of all  pension,  benefit,  profit
sharing,  retirement,  deferred compensation,  welfare,  insurance,  disability,
bonus,  vacation  pay,  severance  pay and other  similar  plans,  programs  and
agreements, whether reduced to writing or not, other than any
                                       17
<PAGE>
"multiemployer  plan" as such  term is  defined  in  Section  4001(a)(3)  of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),  relating
to the Seller's  employees,  or  maintained at any time since January 1, 1993 by
the Seller or by any other member  (hereinafter,  "Affiliate") of any controlled
group of corporations,  group of trades or businesses  under common control,  or
affiliated  service  group (as defined for purposes of Section  414(b),  (c) and
(m),  respectively,  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  (the
"Code"))  (the  "Employee  Plans")  and,  except as set forth on  Schedule  2.25
attached hereto, the Seller has no obligations, contingent or otherwise, past or
present, under applicable law or the terms of any Employee Plan.

                           (b) Prohibited  Transactions.  Neither the Seller nor
any of its Affiliates,  directors,  officers, employees or agents, or any "party
in interest" or "disqualified person," as such terms are defined in Section 3 of
ERISA,  and Section 4975 of the Code has,  with  respect to any  Employee  Plan,
engaged in or been a party to any nonexempt  "prohibited  transaction,"  as such
term is  defined  in  Section  4975 of the  Code or  Section  406 of  ERISA,  in
connection  with  which,  directly  or  indirectly,  the  Buyer  or  any  of its
Affiliates,  directors or employees or any Employee Plan or any related  funding
medium could be subject to either a penalty assessed  pursuant to Section 502(i)
of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of the Code.

                           (c)  Compliance.  With respect to all Employee Plans,
the Seller and its Affiliates are in compliance with the requirements prescribed
by any and all statutes,  orders or governmental rules or regulations  currently
in effect, including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, applicable to such
Employee Plans. The Seller and its Affiliates have in all respects performed all
obligations  required to be performed by them under,  and is not in violation in
any  respect of, and there has been no default or  violation  by any other party
with respect to, any of the Employee Plans. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.25
attached hereto: (i) none of the Employee Plans which are subject to Title IV of
ERISA has been or will be  terminated  in whole or in part within the meaning of
ERISA or the Code;  (ii) no liability has been incurred to, nor has any event or
circumstance  occurred,  nor will any event or  circumstance  occur prior to the
Closing  Date,  which could  result in such a liability  being  asserted by, the
Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation ("PBGC") with respect to any Employee Plan
(other  than the  payment  of annual  premiums  under  Section  4007 of ERISA or
benefits  payable in accordance with the terms of such Employee Plan);  (iii) no
Employee  Plan that is  subject  to Part 3 of  Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code, or both, incurred any "accumulated  funding deficiency"
(as  defined  in ERISA),  whether or not  waived;  (iv)  neither  Seller nor any
Affiliate  has failed to pay any  amounts due and owing as required by the terms
of any  Employee  Plan;  (v) there has been no  "reportable  event"  within  the
meaning of Section  4043(b)(1)-(13) of ERISA (and PBGC Regulations  thereunder),
or any event described in Section 4063(a) of ERISA, with respect to any Employee
Plan, other than as disclosed herein or on accompanying schedules;  (vi) neither
Seller nor any  Affiliate  has failed to make any  payment to an  Employee  Plan
required  under  Section 302 of ERISA nor has any lien ever been  imposed  under
Section  302(f) of ERISA;  (vii) neither Seller nor any Affiliate has adopted an
amendment to any Employee Plan which  requires the  provision of security  under
Section 307 of ERISA,  (viii) the PBGC has not  instituted  any  proceedings  to
terminate an Employee Plan pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA.
                                       18
<PAGE>
                           (d) Multiemployer Plans. Schedule 2.25 lists each and
every  multiemployer  plan to which  Seller or its  Affiliates  contribute,  are
required  to  contribute,   or  have  ever  been  required  to  contribute.   No
multiemployer plan listed in Schedule 2.25 is in "reorganization" (as defined in
Section  4241 of ERISA) or  "insolvent"  (as defined in Section  4245 of ERISA).
Neither  Seller nor any Affiliate  has  withdrawn or is  reasonably  expected to
withdraw from a multiemployer plan in a complete or partial withdrawal which has
resulted or will result in  "withdrawal  liability,"  as defined for purposes of
Part I of  Subtitle E of Part IV of ERISA,  with  respect to any such plan which
has not been  satisfied  in full.  The Seller and its  Affiliates  have made all
contributions  to any such plan as are  required  through the Closing Date under
the terms of any such plans or  applicable  statutes,  regulations,  rulings and
other  applicable  law;  and no event has  occurred,  or can occur  prior to the
Closing  Date,  which  could  give rise to any  other  liability  (other  than a
continuing  obligation  to  contribute  to such  plan(s)  under the terms of any
applicable  collective  bargaining  agreements) on the part of the Seller or the
Buyer,  or their  Affiliates,  officers,  employees or directors with respect to
such plan(s).

                           (e) Retiree Benefits. Except as set forth in Schedule
2.25, no Employee Plan provides health or life insurance  benefits for retirees.
No such plan contains any  provisions,  and no commitments or agreements  exist,
which in any way would limit or prohibit  the Buyer from  amending any such plan
to reduce or eliminate such retiree benefits.

                           (f) Copies of Employee  Plans and Related  Documents.
The Seller has  previously  delivered  to the Buyer true,  correct and  complete
copies of all  Employee  Plans  which have been  reduced to writing  and written
descriptions  of all Employee Plans which have not been reduced to writing,  and
all agreements,  including trust agreements and insurance contracts,  related to
such Employee  Plans,  and the Summary Plan  Description  and all  modifications
thereto for each Employee Plan  communicated to employees.  With respect to each
Employee  Plan that is a  "defined  benefit  plan," as such term is  defined  in
Section 3(35) of ERISA (the "Defined Benefit Plans"), true, correct and complete
copies of (i) the annual  actuarial  valuation  reports for the last five years,
(ii) the Form 5500 and Schedule A or B thereto, or both, filed for the last five
years and (iii) any filings made with the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation,
Internal Revenue Service or Department of Labor, or any  correspondence  with or
from such agencies,  regarding the termination of any such Defined Benefit Plan,
have been delivered to the Buyer.

                           (g)  Qualifications.  Each  Employee Plan intended to
qualify  under  Section  401(a) of the Code has been  determined by the Internal
Revenue  Service to so  qualify,  and the trusts  created  thereunder  have been
determined to be exempt from tax under the  provisions of Section  501(a).  Each
Employee  Plan which is a benefit  plan  intended to be exempt from tax under of
Section  501(c)(9)  of the Code  has been  determined  by the  Internal  Revenue
Service  to be so  exempt.  Determination  letters  with  respect  to each  such
Employee  Plan have been  previously  delivered by the Seller to the Buyer,  and
nothing has since occurred, or will occur prior to the Closing Date, which might
cause the loss of such  qualification  or  exemption,  no such Employee Plan has
been operated in a manner which would cause it to be  disqualified in operation,
and all such  Employee  Plans  have been  administered  in  compliance  with and
consistent with all applicable  requirements  of the Code and ERISA,  including,
without limitation, all reporting, notice, and disclosure requirements.
                                       19
<PAGE>
                           (h) Funding Status, Etc.

                                         (i)  Except  as set  forth on  Schedule
2.25,  neither the Seller nor any  corporation or trade or business  (whether or
not incorporated)  which would be treated as a member of the controlled group of
Seller  under  Section  4001(a)(14)  of ERISA would be liable for (A) any amount
pursuant  to  Section  4062,  4063,  4064,  4068 or 4069 of  ERISA if any of the
Employee  Plans which are subject to Title IV of ERISA were to  terminate or (B)
any amount pursuant to Section 4201 of ERISA if a complete or partial withdrawal
from any multiemployer plan listed on Schedule 2.25 occurred before the Closing.
Except as set forth on Schedule  2.25,  all Employee  Plans which are subject to
Title IV of ERISA have no unfunded  benefit  liabilities,  as defined in Section
4001(a)(18) of ERISA.  There is no unpaid  contribution  due with respect to the
plan year of any such Defined  Benefit Plan ended prior to the Closing  Date, as
required under the minimum  funding  requirements  of Section 412 of ERISA.  The
Seller  has paid the  actuarial  minimum  recommended  funding  payment  for the
quarterly  period ended June 30, 1997 for any such Defined  Benefit Plan, or has
accrued (or will accrue) for the same on the June 30, 1997 Balance Sheet.

                                         (ii) With respect to each Employee Plan
which is a qualified defined contribution pension, profit-sharing or stock bonus
plan, as defined in the Code,  all employer  contributions  accrued prior to the
Closing  Date  under  the Plan  terms and  applicable  law have been made by the
Seller.

                                         (iii) With  respect to  Employee  Plans
not  described  in clause (i) or (ii)  above,  all  premiums  or other  payments
required  by the  terms of such  plans  or any  group  or  individual  insurance
policies  and  programs  maintained  by the Seller and  covering  any present or
former  employees of the Seller with respect to all periods up to and  including
the  Closing  Date  have  been  fully  paid or  accrued.  The  Seller  shall  be
responsible for any welfare benefits not fully covered by third-party  insurance
policies or programs  relating to claims incurred by present or former employees
of the Seller on or before the Closing Date.

                           (i)  Claims  and  Litigation.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 2.25,  there are no threatened  other  proceedings by present or former
employees of the Seller or its affiliates,  plan participants,  beneficiaries or
spouses of any of the above,  the Internal  Revenue  Service,  the PBGC,  or any
other person or entity  involving any Employee Plan including claims against the
assets of any trust,  involving  any  Employee  Plan,  or any rights or benefits
thereunder, other than ordinary and usual claims for benefits by participants or
beneficiaries including claims pursuant to domestic relations orders.

                           (j) No Implied Rights.  Nothing  expressed or implied
herein shall confer upon any past or present employee of the Seller,  his or her
representatives,  beneficiaries, successors and assigns, nor upon any collective
bargaining  agent,  any rights or  remedies of any  nature,  including,  without
limitation,  any rights to employment or continued  employment  with the Seller,
the Buyer, or any successor or affiliate.

                           (k)  Transfer.  The Seller  shall take any actions as
may be necessary or appropriate  under all applicable  laws and the terms of the
Employee Plans to establish the
                                       20
<PAGE>
Buyer, or an affiliate of the Buyer,  as having all rights and obligations  with
respect  to  the  pension  plan  assumed  pursuant  to  Subsection  1.4  hereof,
including,  without limitation,  rights with respect to all annuity or insurance
contracts  which form a part of any of such  Employee  Plan,  together  with all
other  Employee Plan assets.  The Seller shall obtain as of the Closing Date any
and all consents from  trustees  required to effect any transfer of any trust(s)
related to such assumed  Employee Plan to such trustee(s) as may be appointed by
the Buyer.

                           (l)  Schedule  2.25  attached  hereto  sets forth the
detailed  procedures  for assuming the pension plan pursuant to  Subsection  1.4
hereof.

                           (m)  Liabilities.  Except as  identified  on Schedule
2.25 or in the May 31, 1997 Financial  Statements or the June 30, 1997 Financial
Statements,  the Buyer assumes no liabilities  with respect to any Employee Plan
which liability relates to any period prior to June 30, 1997, including, without
limitation,  any taxes,  accrued  vacation or sick pay  (whether or not vested),
accrued vacation, sick and personal leaves, employee policies,  employee benefit
claims or  liability  to the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation;  provided,
however,  that with  respect to the period  from May 31,  1997 to June 30,  1997
Buyer shall assume no liabilities  with respect to any Employee Plan except with
respect to those items listed on the May 31, 1997 Financial Statements that have
changed subsequent thereto in the ordinary course of Seller's business.

                  2.26 Environmental  Matters.  The Seller is in compliance with
all statutes,  regulations  and  ordinances  relating to the protection of human
health and the environment including, without limitation, the Clean Water Act 33
U.S.C. U1251 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 42 U.S.C. U6901
et seq., the Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. U7401 et seq., Toxic Substances Control Act
15 U.S.C. U2601 et seq., the Emergency  Planning Community  Right-to-Know Act 42
U.S.C. U11,001 et seq., the regulations developed pursuant to these statutes and
the  corresponding   state  and  local  statutes,   ordinances  and  regulations
(collectively,  the  "Environmental  Laws").  The  Seller has not  released  any
hazardous  substance into the environment at any property owned,  leased or used
in connection with the operation of the Assets or its business (the  "Premises")
including,  without  limitation,  any such  release  in the soil or  groundwater
underlying the Premises,  in violation of any  Environmental  Laws. There are no
asbestos,  polychlorinated biphenyls or underground storage tanks located on the
Premises and the Seller has not released any asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls
or  materials  stored in  underground  storage  tanks  located on the  Premises,
including  without  limitation,   petroleum  or  petroleum-based  materials,  in
violation of any Environmental  Laws. The Seller has no knowledge of and has not
received notice of any violation or any potential violation of any environmental
statute or regulation  nor has it any knowledge  with respect to or been advised
of any claim or liability or any  potential  claim or liability  pursuant to any
environmental  statute  or  regulation  brought  by any  governmental  agency or
private party with respect to the Assets or the operation of its business.

                  2.27 Acquired Assets  Complete.  The Assets are, when utilized
by a labor  force  substantially  similar to that  employed by the Seller on the
date hereof,  adequate to conduct the business operations currently conducted by
the Seller.
                                       21
<PAGE>
                  2.28   Regulatory   Approvals.   All   consents,    approvals,
authorizations and other requirements  prescribed by any law, rule or regulation
which must be obtained or  satisfied by the Seller and which are  necessary  for
the execution and delivery by the Seller of this  Agreement and the documents to
be executed and delivered by the Seller in connection  herewith are set forth on
Schedule  2.28  attached  hereto and have been,  or will be prior to the Closing
Date, obtained and satisfied.

                  2.29   Indebtedness  to  and  from  Officers,   Directors  and
Shareholders.  Except as set forth on Schedule 2.29 attached hereto,  the Seller
is not  indebted,  directly  or  indirectly,  to any person  who is an  officer,
director or shareholder of the Seller or any affiliate of any such person in any
amount  whatsoever other than for salaries for services rendered or reimbursable
business expenses, all of which have been reflected on the Financial Statements,
and no such  officer,  director,  shareholder  or  affiliate  is indebted to the
Seller,  except for  advances  made to  employees  of the Seller in the ordinary
course of business to meet  reimbursable  business  expenses  anticipated  to be
incurred by such obligor.

                  2.30 Powers of Attorney and  Suretyships.  Except as set forth
on Schedule 2.30 attached hereto, the Seller has no general or special powers of
attorney  outstanding  (whether  as  grantor  or  grantee  thereof)  and  has no
obligation  or liability  (whether  actual,  accrued,  accruing,  contingent  or
otherwise) as guarantor, surety, co-signor,  endorser,  co-maker,  indemnitor or
otherwise in respect of the obligation of any person, corporation,  partnership,
joint venture, association,  organization or other entity, except as endorser or
maker of checks or  letters  of credit,  respectively,  endorsed  or made in the
ordinary course of business.

                  2.31 Disclosure.  No  representation or warranty by the Seller
in this Agreement or in any Exhibit hereto, or in any list, statement,  document
or  information  set forth in or attached  to any  Schedule  delivered  or to be
delivered  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  contains  or will  contain  any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit any material  fact  necessary
in order to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The Seller has
disclosed  to the  Buyer  all  material  facts  pertaining  to the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

         3.  Representations  of the Buyer. The Buyer represents and warrants to
the Seller as follows:

                  3.1  Organization  and  Authority.  The Buyer is a corporation
duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the
State of Arizona, and has requisite power and authority (corporate and other) to
own its  properties  and to carry on its  business as now being  conducted.  The
Buyer has full power to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Instrument of
Assumption of Liabilities and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. Certified copies of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of
the Buyer, as amended to date, have been previously delivered to the Seller, are
complete  and  correct,  and no  amendments  have been made thereto or have been
authorized since the date thereof.

                  3.2  Capitalization  of the  Buyer.  On the date  hereof,  the
Buyer's  authorized  capital  stock  consists of  200,000,000  shares of capital
stock, divided into 100,000,000 shares
                                       22
<PAGE>
of  Common  Stock,  $.01 par  value  ("Common  Stock"),  of which  approximately
4,167,318 shares are issued and outstanding, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, none of which are outstanding.  All of the outstanding  shares of capital
stock of the Buyer have been and on the  Closing  Date will be duly and  validly
issued and are, or will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  3.3   Authorization.   The  execution  and  delivery  of  this
Agreement  by the  Buyer,  and  the  agreements  provided  for  herein,  and the
consummation by the Buyer of all  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  have been
duly authorized by all requisite  corporate action.  This Agreement and all such
other  agreements  and  written  obligations  entered  into  and  undertaken  in
connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby  constitute the valid and
legally  binding  obligations  of the Buyer,  enforceable  against  the Buyer in
accordance with their respective terms. The execution,  delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the agreements  provided for herein,  and the consummation
by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will not, with
or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both,  (a) violate the
provisions of any law, rule or regulation  applicable to the Buyer;  (b) violate
the  provisions  of the Buyer's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws;  (c)
violate any judgment,  decree, order or award of any court, governmental body or
arbitrator;  or (d) conflict with or result in the breach or  termination of any
term or provision of, or constitute a default under,  or cause any  acceleration
under,  or cause the  creation  of any  lien,  charge  or  encumbrance  upon the
properties or assets of the Buyer pursuant to, any indenture,  mortgage, deed of
trust or other  agreement or instrument to which it or its properties is a party
or by which the Buyer is or may be bound.  Schedule  3.3  attached  hereto  sets
forth a true,  correct and complete  list of all consents and approvals of third
parties that are required in connection  with the  consummation  by the Buyer of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  3.4 Regulatory Approvals.  Except for certain filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, all consents, approvals,  authorizations and
other  requirements  prescribed  by any law,  rule or  regulation  which must be
obtained or satisfied by the Buyer and which are necessary for the  consummation
of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement have been, or will be prior
to the Closing Date, obtained and satisfied.

                  3.5 Disclosure.  No representation or warranty by the Buyer in
this Agreement or in any Exhibit hereto, or in any list, statement,  document or
information  set  forth  in or  attached  to  any  Schedule  delivered  or to be
delivered  pursuant  hereto by the Buyer,  contains  or will  contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit any material  fact  necessary
in order to make the statements contained therein not misleading.

                  3.6 SEC  Filings.  The Buyer has  previously  delivered to the
Seller true,  correct and complete  copies of all filings made by the Buyer with
the Securities and Exchange Commission since July 1, 1996.
                                       23
<PAGE>
         4. Access to Information; Public Announcements

                  4.1 Access to Management, Properties and Records.

                           (a) From the date of this Agreement until the Closing
Date,  the Seller shall afford the officers,  attorneys,  accountants  and other
authorized  representatives  of the Buyer free and full access  upon  reasonable
notice and during normal  business hours to all management  personnel,  offices,
properties,  books and  records of the  Seller,  so that the Buyer may have full
opportunity  to  make  such  investigation  as it  shall  desire  to make of the
management,  business, properties and affairs of the Seller, and the Buyer shall
be permitted to make  abstracts  from, or copies of, all such books and records.
The Seller shall  furnish to the Buyer such  financial  and  operating  data and
other  information  as to the Assets and the business of the Seller as the Buyer
shall reasonably request.

                           (b) If the Buyer, at its option and expense, prior to
the Closing Date,  elects to have a report or reports prepared by an engineer or
other  professional  selected by the Buyer,  certifying  that the real  property
facilities  where the Seller  operates the Assets (the "Real  Estate")  complies
with all applicable  federal,  state and local  environmental and wetlands laws,
rules  and  regulations  and  that  there  is  not  now,  and  never  has  been,
manufacture,  storage,  or  disposal of  hazardous  wastes at the Real Estate in
violation of said laws, rules and  regulations,  the Seller shall cooperate with
such engineer or professional  to the extent  necessary to prepare such reports,
including, without limitation, providing such engineer or professional access to
the Real Estate and necessary records,  and arranging  interviews with employees
of the Seller.

                           (c) The Seller  shall  authorize  the  release to the
Buyer of all files  pertaining  to the  Seller,  the Assets or the  business  or
operations  of  the  Seller  held  by  any  federal,   state,  county  or  local
authorities, agencies or instrumentalities.

                  4.2 Confidentiality.  All information not previously disclosed
to the public or generally known to persons engaged in the respective businesses
of the Seller or the Buyer which shall have been  furnished  by the Buyer or the
Seller to the  other  party in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated
hereby or as provided  pursuant to this  Section 4 shall not be disclosed to any
person other than their respective employees, directors, attorneys,  accountants
or financial  advisors or other than as contemplated  herein.  In the event that
the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall not be consummated,  all
such  information  which  shall be in  writing  shall be  returned  to the party
furnishing the same, including, to the extent reasonably practicable, all copies
or reproductions  thereof which may have been prepared,  and neither party shall
at  any  time  thereafter  disclose  to  third  parties,  or  use,  directly  or
indirectly,  for its own benefit,  any such information,  written or oral, about
the business of the other party hereto.

                  4.3 Public  Announcements.  The Buyer and the Seller agree not
to disclose the  existence or contents of this  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  to  any  person  other  than  their  respective  officers,
directors,  senior employees and professional  advisors on a need-to-know  basis
except to the extent that disclosure may be required by applicable laws. In that
regard,  the Buyer will make a press  release upon the signing by the parties of
the Agreement, provided that such press release shall be subject to the Seller's
prior approval not
                                       24
<PAGE>
to be unreasonably withheld. Except as required by law, the Seller agrees not to
issue any press  release  or make any public  statement  regarding  the  subject
matter hereof  without the prior written  consent of the Buyer,  and  thereafter
only a press release issued in a form reasonably  satisfactory to the Buyer. The
Seller  acknowledges  (i) the  Buyer's  status as a  publicly  traded  reporting
company,  (ii)  that  the  existence  and  contents  of this  Agreement  and the
discussions  and  transactions  contemplated  hereby  may  constitute  material,
non-public  information  under  the  Federal  securities  laws,  and  (iii)  the
necessity of exercising the foregoing measures in order to accommodate the Buyer
in its public reporting responsibilities.

         5. Pre-Closing Covenants of the Seller. [Intentionally deleted.]

         6. Best Efforts to Obtain  Satisfaction  of Conditions.  The Seller and
the  Buyer  covenant  and  agree  to  use  their  best  efforts  to  obtain  the
satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Agreement.

         7. Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer. The obligations of the Buyer
under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, at the Closing Date, of the
following  conditions  precedent,  each of which may be waived in writing in the
sole discretion of the Buyer:

                  7.1 Continued Truth of  Representations  and Warranties of the
Seller;  Compliance  with Covenants and  Obligations.  The  representations  and
warranties  of the Seller  shall be true on and as of the Closing Date as though
such representations and warranties were made on and as of such date, except for
any changes  permitted  by the terms  hereof or  consented  to in writing by the
Buyer. The Seller shall have performed and complied with all terms,  conditions,
covenants,  obligations,  agreements and restrictions required by this Agreement
to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing Date.

                  7.2  Corporate  Audit;  Delivery of Financial  Statements.  An
audit of the financial statements of the Seller for the years ended December 31,
1996 and 1995 shall have been completed by the  Accountants and delivered to the
Buyer at least  three  business  days  prior to the  Closing  Date and  shall be
satisfactory  to the Buyer and  sufficient  to  permit  the Buyer to report  the
financial  condition  and results of  operation  of the Seller and the Assets in
compliance with SEC regulations  applicable to the Buyer.  The Seller shall have
delivered to the Buyer the May 31, 1997 Financial  Statements and such financial
statements  shall have been  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  applied  consistently  with past practice and shall have
been  certified by the Seller's  President (who is also acting as Seller's chief
financial officer) and reviewed by the Accountants.

                  7.3  Governmental   Approvals.   All  governmental   agencies,
departments, bureaus, commissions and similar bodies, the consent, authorization
or approval of which is  necessary  under any  applicable  law,  rule,  order or
regulation for the consummation by the Seller of the  transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement and the operation of the Seller's  business by the Buyer shall
have consented to, authorized, permitted or approved such transactions.

                  7.4 Consents of Lenders,  Lessors and Other Third Parties. The
Seller shall have received all requisite  consents and approvals of all lenders,
lessors and other third parties
                                       25
<PAGE>
whose consent or approval is required in order for the Seller to consummate  the
transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,
those set forth on Schedule 2.3 attached hereto.

                  7.5 Adverse Proceedings.  No action or proceeding by or before
any court or other governmental body shall have been instituted or threatened by
any  governmental  body or  person  whatsoever  which  shall  seek to  restrain,
prohibit or invalidate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or which
might affect the right of the Buyer to own or use the Assets after the Closing.

                  7.6  Opinion of  Counsel.  The Buyer  shall have  received  an
opinion of McNees,  Wallace & Nurick,  counsel  to the  Seller,  dated as of the
Closing Date, in substantially  the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, and as to
such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the Buyer or its counsel.

                  7.7 Board of Directors and Shareholder  Approval and Corporate
Proceedings.  The  shareholders  of the Seller  shall have duly  authorized  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All corporate and other proceedings
required  to be taken on the part of the Seller to  authorize  or carry out this
Agreement and to convey, assign, transfer and deliver the Assets shall have been
taken.

                  7.8 The Assets. Except for the Permitted  Encumbrances and the
Permitted Exceptions, at the Closing the Buyer shall receive good, clear, record
and marketable  title to the Assets,  free and clear of all liens,  liabilities,
security interests and encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.

                  7.9 Employment Contracts. On or prior to the Closing Date, the
Buyer shall have  executed an  employment  contract  with John R.  Krieger  upon
substantially the terms set forth in Schedule 7.9 attached hereto.

                  7.10  Assignment  of  Insurance  Policies.  On or prior to the
Closing Date, the Seller shall have  cooperated  with and/or  assisted the Buyer
with  respect to obtaining  insurance  policies  extending  warranty or products
liability  coverage to the Seller for products  manufactured by the Seller prior
to the Closing Date or for claims made on or prior to the Closing Date.

                  7.11 Cash  Available  for  Working  Capital  Purposes.  On the
Closing Date, the Seller will have available cash for working  capital  purposes
of not less than that  reflected on the May 31, 1997 Balance  Sheet,  which cash
will be transferred to the Buyer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                  7.12 Trade Payables.  On the Closing Date, the Seller will not
have  obligations,  exceeding  those  obligations  reflected on the May 31, 1997
Balance Sheet in the  aggregate,  to suppliers and vendors of goods and services
and other trade creditors.

                  7.13 Engineer's  Report.  On or prior to the Closing Date, the
Buyer shall have received the engineer's report referred to in Subsection 4.1(b)
hereof.
                                       26
<PAGE>
                  7.14 Tax Lien  Certificate.  On or prior to the Closing  Date,
the Seller shall have obtained and delivered to the Buyer tax lien  certificates
from all  jurisdictions  in which Assets are located and which  provide such tax
lien certificates.

                  7.15 Closing  Deliveries.  The Buyer shall have received at or
prior to the Closing each of the following documents:

                           (a) a bill of sale substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit D;

                           (b) such  instruments of  conveyance,  assignment and
transfer,  in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Buyer,  as  shall  be
appropriate to convey,  transfer and assign to, and to vest in, the Buyer, good,
clear, record and marketable title to the Assets;

                           (c)  all  technical   data,   formulations,   product
literature and other  documentation  relating to the Seller's  business,  all in
form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer;

                           (d)  such   contracts,   files  and  other  data  and
documents  pertaining  to the Assets or the  Seller's  business as the Buyer may
reasonably request;

                           (e) the  general  ledgers and books of account of the
Seller, and all federal, state and local income,  franchise,  property and other
tax returns  filed by the Seller  with  respect to the Assets  since  January 1,
1994;

                           (f) such  certificates  of the Seller's  officers and
such other  documents  evidencing  satisfaction  of the conditions  specified in
Section 7 as the Buyer shall reasonably request;

                           (g) a  certificate  of the  Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware as to the legal existence and good standing (including tax) of
the Seller in Delaware;

                           (h)  certificates  of the  Secretary  of  the  Seller
attesting  to  the  incumbency  of  the  Seller's  officers,  respectively,  the
authenticity of the resolutions authorizing the transactions contemplated by the
Agreement, and the authenticity and continuing validity of the charter documents
delivered pursuant to Subsection 2.1;

                           (i) except with respect to those lessors set forth on
Schedule  7.15(i),  estoppel  certificates from each lessor from whom the Seller
leases real or personal  property  consenting to the assumption of such lease by
the Buyer and  representing  that there are no  outstanding  claims  against the
Seller under any such lease;

                           (j)  Cross-Receipt  executed  by the  Buyer  and  the
Seller;

                           (k)   the   Sublease    Agreement,    together   with
satisfactory  evidence to the Buyer  reflecting the consent of PRH Properties to
such Sublease Agreement;
                                       27
<PAGE>
                           (l) the Registration Rights Agreement;

                           (m) the  Certificate of No Adverse  Conditions in the
form of Exhibit I attached hereto; and

                           (n) such other documents, instruments or certificates
as the Buyer may reasonably request.

         8.  Conditions to  Obligations  of the Seller.  The  obligations of the
Seller under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, at the Closing Date,
of the following conditions precedent, each of which may be waived in writing at
the sole discretion of the Seller:

                  8.1 Continued Truth of  Representations  and Warranties of the
Buyer;  Compliance  with  Covenants and  Obligations.  The  representations  and
warranties of the Buyer in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the Closing
Date as though such  representations  and warranties were made on and as of such
date,  except for any changes  consented to in writing by the Seller.  The Buyer
shall have  performed  and  complied  with all terms,  conditions,  obligations,
agreements  and  restrictions  required by this  Agreement  to be  performed  or
complied with by it prior to or at the Closing Date.

                  8.2 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate and other proceedings
required  to be taken on the part of the  Buyer to  authorize  or carry out this
Agreement shall have been taken.

                  8.3  Governmental   Approvals.   All  governmental   agencies,
departments, bureaus, commissions and similar bodies, the consent, authorization
or approval of which is  necessary  under any  applicable  law,  rule,  order or
regulation for the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall have consented to,  authorized,  permitted or approved such
transactions.

                  8.4 Consents of Lenders,  Lessors and Other Third Parties. The
Buyer shall have received all  requisite  consents and approvals of all lenders,
lessors and other third  parties  whose consent or approval is required in order
for the Buyer to consummate the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,
including, without limitation, those set forth on Schedule 3.3 attached hereto.

                  8.5 Adverse Proceedings.  No action or proceeding by or before
any court or other governmental body shall have been instituted or threatened by
any  governmental  body or  person  whatsoever  which  shall  seek to  restrain,
prohibit or invalidate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or which
might affect the right of the Seller to transfer the Assets.

                  8.6  Opinion of  Counsel.  The Seller  shall have  received an
opinion of Squire,  Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.,  counsel to the Buyer, dated as of
the Closing Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, and as
to such  other  matters  as may be  reasonably  requested  by the  Seller or its
counsel.
                                       28
<PAGE>
                  8.7 Employment Contract and Hiring. On or prior to the Closing
Date,  the Buyer shall have executed and  delivered an Employment  Contract with
John R. Krieger upon  substantially the terms set forth in Schedule 7.9 attached
hereto.   In  addition,   the  Buyer  hereby  agrees  to  offer   employment  to
substantially all of the Seller's employees,  to assume the Seller's obligations
under its union  contract and pension plan, and to recognize the past service of
Seller's  employees in those  instances where Buyer has a policy that takes into
account the prior service of an employee. Further, Buyer agrees to grant to each
transferred employee,  in accordance with such policies,  the number of vacation
and sick  days  for  fiscal  1997  equal to the  transferred  employee's  unused
vacation  and  sick  days  in  1997  accrued  in the  June  30,  1997  Financial
Statements.  Except as is provided in Section 1.4,  Buyer is under no obligation
to adopt or continue any Employee  Plan;  and shall not be an adopting  employer
under any Employee Plan or otherwise responsible for the payment of any benefits
under any Employee Plan.

                  8.8 Registration Rights Agreement.  On or prior to the Closing
Date,  the Buyer  shall  have  executed  and  delivered  a  Registration  Rights
Agreement with the Seller or the Stockholder  upon  substantially  the terms set
forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

                  8.9 Sublease  Agreement.  On or prior to the Closing Date, the
Buyer  shall  have  executed  and  delivered  a  Sublease   Agreement  with  the
Stockholder  relating to the Real Estate upon  substantially the terms set forth
in Exhibit G attached hereto.

                  8.10  General  Liability  Insurance.  The  Seller  shall  have
received assurances from the Buyer that the Buyer has obtained general liability
insurance  covering  Seller's  business  in the  aggregate  amount of $6 million
through primary and umbrella  insurance  policies.  Such insurance shall,  among
other things,  insure against product  liability  claims relating to products of
Seller that were shipped prior to the Closing and shall name the  Stockholder as
an  additional  insured.  Buyer  shall keep such  insurance  in force  until the
earlier of  December  31, 1999 or at such time as all of its  obligations  under
this Agreement have been fulfilled.  This Section 8.10 shall not be construed to
restrict Buyer's ability to change insurance carriers  subsequent to the Closing
so long as the same level of coverage described above is maintained.

                  8.11 Closing Deliveries.  The Seller shall have received at or
prior to the Closing each of the following documents:

                           (a) such  certificates  of the Buyer's  officers  and
such other documents evidencing satisfaction of the conditions specified in this
Section 8 as the Seller shall reasonably request;

                           (b) a  certificate  of the  Secretary of State of the
State of Arizona as to the legal existence and good standing  (including tax) of
the Buyer in Arizona;

                           (c) a  certificate  of the  Secretary  of  the  Buyer
attesting to the incumbency of the Buyer's  officers,  the  authenticity  of the
resolutions authorizing the transactions contemplated by this agreement, and the
authenticity and continuing validity of the charter documents delivered pursuant
to Subsection 3.1;
                                       29
<PAGE>
                           (d) Instrument of Assumption of Liabilities  executed
by the Buyer and accepted by the Seller;

                           (e)  payment  of the  Cash  Purchase  Price  and  the
Additional Purchase Price;

                           (f) cross receipt executed by the Buyer; and

                           (g) such other documents, instruments or certificates
as the Seller may reasonably request.

         9. Indemnification.

                  9.1 By the  Buyer  and the  Seller  and the  Stockholder.  The
Buyer,  on the  one  hand,  and the  Seller  and the  Stockholder,  jointly  and
severally on the other hand,  hereby  indemnifies  and holds  harmless the other
party  against all claims,  damages,  losses,  liabilities,  costs and  expenses
(including,  without limitation,  settlement costs and any legal,  accounting or
other expenses for investigating or defending any actions or threatened actions)
reasonably incurred by the Buyer or the Seller and the Stockholder in connection
with each and all of the following:

                           (a)  Any  breach  by the  indemnifying  party  of any
representation or warranty in this Agreement;

                           (b)  Any  breach  of  any   covenant,   agreement  or
obligation of the  indemnifying  party  contained in this Agreement or any other
agreement, instrument or document contemplated by this Agreement;

                           (c) Any misrepresentation contained in any statement,
certificate  or schedule  furnished by the  indemnifying  party pursuant to this
Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
and

                           (d) Any violation by the Seller of, or any failure by
the Seller to comply with, any law, ruling, order, decree, regulation or zoning,
environmental or permit requirement  applicable to the Seller, the Assets or its
business,  whether  or not any such  violation  or  failure  to comply  has been
disclosed to the Buyer,  including any costs  incurred by the Buyer (i) in order
to bring the Assets into compliance with  environmental laws as a consequence of
noncompliance  with such laws on the Closing Date or (ii) in connection with the
transfer of the Assets.

                  9.2 Limits on Indemnification. The Seller and Stockholder will
not be liable for any matter  described in this Section 9 (hereinafter  referred
to as a "Loss" or the  "Losses")  unless and until the  aggregate  amount of all
such Losses  exceeds  $20,000 (the "Basket  Amount");  provided,  however,  that
unpaid  Accounts  Receivable  shall be excluded from the Basket Amount and shall
remain  subject to the  repurchase  obligations  set forth in Section 10.7;  and
provided further,  that claims made pursuant to Section 10.8 shall be subject to
a separate
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<PAGE>
limitation  as set  forth in such  paragraph.  Thereafter,  the  Seller  and the
Stockholder  shall be liable for the amount of such  Losses in excess of $20,000
and  shall pay such  excess  to Buyer in  immediately  available  funds.  If the
aggregate of all such Losses  exceeds  $40,000,  the Seller and the  Stockholder
shall thereupon pay Buyer the Basket Amount in immediately  available  funds. In
no event shall the Seller and the  Stockholder be liable for any Losses pursuant
to this Section 9 in excess of the consideration  received by the Seller and the
Stockholder described in Section 1.2, as adjusted pursuant to Section 1.7.

                  9.3 Claims for Indemnification. Whenever any claim shall arise
for  indemnification   hereunder,   the  party  seeking   indemnification   (the
"Indemnified  Party") shall promptly notify the party from whom  indemnification
is sought (the  "Indemnifying  Party") of the claim and,  when known,  the facts
constituting  the  basis  for such  claim.  In the  event of any such  claim for
indemnification  hereunder  resulting  from or in  connection  with any claim or
legal  proceedings by a third party, the notice to the Indemnifying  Party shall
specify,  if known,  the amount or an  estimate  of the amount of the  liability
arising  therefrom.  The  Indemnified  Party shall not settle or compromise  any
claim by a third  party for which it is entitled  to  indemnification  hereunder
without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying  Party, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, unless suit shall have been instituted against it and the
Indemnifying  Party shall not have taken control of such suit after notification
thereof as provided in Subsection 9.3 of this Agreement.

                  9.4 Defense by  Indemnification  Party. In connection with any
claim giving rise to indemnity  hereunder  resulting  from or arising out of any
claim or legal proceeding by a person who is not a party to this Agreement,  the
Indemnifying  Party at its sole cost and expense may, upon written notice to the
Indemnified  Party,  assume the defense of any such claim or legal proceeding if
it acknowledges to the Indemnified Party in writing its obligations to indemnify
the  Indemnified  Party  with  respect  to  all  elements  of  such  claim.  The
Indemnified  Party shall be entitled to  participate  in (but not  control)  the
defense of any such  action,  with its  counsel and at its own  expense.  If the
Indemnifying  Party does not assume the defense of any such claim or  litigation
resulting  therefrom  within 30 days after the date such claim is made,  (a) the
Indemnified Party may defend against such claim or litigation, in such manner as
it may deem appropriate,  including,  but not limited to, settling such claim or
litigation,  after giving notice of the same to the Indemnifying  Party, on such
terms as the Indemnified  Party may deem  appropriate,  and (b) the Indemnifying
Party shall be entitled to  participate in (but not control) the defense of such
action,  with its  counsel and at its own  expense.  If the  Indemnifying  Party
thereafter seeks to question the manner in which the Indemnified  Party defended
such  third  party  claim or the  amount or nature of any such  settlement,  the
Indemnifying  Party  shall  have the burden to prove by a  preponderance  of the
evidence  that the  Indemnified  Party did not defend or settle such third party
claim in a reasonably prudent manner.

                  9.5 Payment of Indemnification  Obligation. The Seller and the
Stockholder  hereby agree that any claim for  indemnification by the Buyer under
this  Section 9 or under any  other  provision  of this  Agreement  may,  at the
Buyer's  option,  be set off  against the Buyer's  obligation  to make  earn-out
payments  pursuant to Sections  1.3(c) and 1.8;  provided,  however,  that Buyer
shall pay such set off amounts  into an escrow  account  mutually  agreeable  to
Buyer  and the  Stockholder  until  such  time as the  indemnification  claim is
resolved in full. Any interest
                                       31
<PAGE>
earned on such escrow account shall inure to the benefit of the party prevailing
on  the  matter.  All  indemnification  by  the  Buyer  or the  Seller  and  the
Stockholder  hereunder (to the extent not  satisfied in the manner  specified in
the  preceding  sentence)  shall be effected by payment of cash or delivery of a
cashier's or certified check in the amount of the indemnification  liability. In
the event the Buyer shall receive  insurance  proceeds  pursuant to an unexpired
insurance  policy  of Seller or Buyer,  as the case may be,  with  respect  to a
matter Buyer is seeking  indemnification  hereunder,  any amount  required to be
paid by the Seller and the Seller Stockholder  pursuant to such  indemnification
obligation shall be net of any such insurance proceeds. In the event Buyer makes
a claim on its  insurance  policy  relating  to a Loss for which  Seller  has an
indemnification  obligation  pursuant to this  Section 9,  Seller  shall pay any
increase in insurance  premiums  resulting  directly and  proximately  from such
claim by Buyer on such  insurance  policy  for a period  of thirty  (30)  months
following such increase;  provided,  however, that in no event shall such amount
exceed the original claim for  indemnification.  Buyer shall provide Seller with
such documentation relating to such increase as shall be reasonably necessary to
establish the amount of such increase attributable to the claim.

                  9.6 Survival of Representations;  Claims for  Indemnification.
All  representations  and  warranties  made  by  the  parties  herein  or in any
instrument  or document  furnished  in  connection  herewith  shall  survive the
Closing  and any  investigation  at any time made by or on behalf of the parties
hereto. Further,  Buyer's covenant in Section 8.10 shall survive the Closing for
the period  specified  therein.  All such  representations  and warranties shall
expire on December  31,  1999,  except for claims,  if any,  asserted in writing
prior to such date,  which shall survive until finally resolved and satisfied in
full; provided,  however,  that the representations and warranties of the Seller
and the  Stockholder  made pursuant to (i) Section 2.13 shall survive forever or
until all  applicable  statutory  limitation  periods have expired,  taking into
account any extensions of such periods,  and (ii) Sections 2.26 and 9.1(d) shall
survive for a period of ten (10) years following the Closing Date; and provided,
further,  that the limitations on survival shall not apply to any breach of this
Agreement resulting from any wilful or knowing  misrepresentation or omission or
fraud.  All claims and actions  for  indemnity  pursuant  to this  Section 9 for
breach of any  representation  or warranty  shall be asserted or  maintained  in
writing by a party  hereto on or prior to  December  31,  1999,  the  referenced
statutory period or ten (10) year period, as the case may be.

         10. Post-Closing Agreements.

         The Seller and the  Stockholder  agree that from and after the  Closing
Date:

                  10.1 Proprietary Information.

                           (a) The Seller shall hold in confidence,  and use its
best  efforts  to have all of its  officers,  directors  and  personnel  hold in
confidence,  all knowledge and  information of a secret or  confidential  nature
with  respect to the business of the Seller and shall not  disclose,  publish or
make use of the same without the consent of the Buyer, except to the extent that
such information shall have become public knowledge other than by breach of this
Agreement by the Seller.
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<PAGE>
                           (b) The Seller  agrees that the remedy at law for any
breach of this  Subsection  10.1 would be inadequate and that the Buyer shall be
entitled to  injunctive  relief in addition to any other remedy it may have upon
breach of any provision of this Subsection 10.1.

                  10.2 No Solicitation or Hiring of Former Employees.  Except as
provided by law, for a period of three years after the Closing Date,  the Seller
shall not  solicit  any person who was an  employee of the Seller on the Closing
Date to terminate his employment  with the Buyer or to become an employee of the
Seller or hire any person who was such an  employee on the date hereof or on the
Closing Date.

                  10.3 Non-Competition Agreement.

                           (a) For a period of three  years  after  the  Closing
Date, neither the Seller nor any Affiliate thereof shall (i) manufacture, market
or sell any product which has the same or substantially the same form,  function
and primary application as any existing or proposed product  manufactured by the
Seller  on or  prior  to the  Closing  Date  or  (ii)  engage  in  any  business
competitive  with the  business of the Seller as conducted on the date hereof or
on the  Closing  Date,  in the United  States or any other  country in which the
Seller conducted its business during the two years prior to the Closing Date.

                           (b) The parties  hereto  agree that the  duration and
geographic scope of the  non-competition  provision set forth in this Subsection
10.3 are reasonable. In the event that any court determines that the duration or
the geographic  scope, or both, are  unreasonable  and that such provision is to
that extent  unenforceable,  the parties  hereto agree that the provision  shall
remain in full force and effect for the greatest time period and in the greatest
area that  would not  render it  unenforceable.  The  parties  intend  that this
non-competition  provision shall be deemed to be a series of separate covenants,
one for each and every  county of each and every  state of the United  States of
America  and each and every  political  subdivision  of each and  every  country
outside  the United  States of America  where this  provision  is intended to be
effective.  The Seller  agrees  that  damages are an  inadequate  remedy for any
breach of this provision and that the Buyer shall, whether or not it is pursuing
any  potential  remedies at law, be entitled to equitable  relief in the form of
preliminary  and permanent  injunctions  without bond or other security upon any
actual or threatened breach of this non-competition provision.

                  10.4 Sharing of Data.

                           (a) The  Seller  shall  have the  right  for a period
commencing on the Closing Date and ending on April 20, 2003, to have  reasonable
access  to  such  books,  records  and  accounts,  including  financial  and tax
information,  correspondence,  production records,  employment records and other
similar  information  as are  transferred  to the Buyer pursuant to the terms of
this  Agreement for the limited  purposes of concluding  its  involvement in the
business of the Seller  prior to the  Closing  Date and for  complying  with its
Obligations under applicable securities, tax, environmental, employment or other
laws and regulations. The Buyer shall have the right for a period of three years
following the Closing Date to have reasonable access to those books, records and
accounts,  including financial and tax information,  correspondence,  production
records, employment records and other records which are retained
                                       33
<PAGE>
by the Seller  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to the extent that any of
the  foregoing  relates to the business of the Seller  transferred  to the Buyer
hereunder  or is  otherwise  needed  by the  Buyer in order to  comply  with its
obligations under applicable securities, tax, environmental, employment or other
laws and regulations.

                           (b) The  Seller  and the  Buyer  agree  that from and
after the Closing Date they shall  cooperate fully with each other to facilitate
the  transfer  of the  Assets  from the  Seller to the  Buyer and the  operation
thereof by the Buyer.

                  10.5 Use of Name.  The Seller agrees not to use the name "P.R.
Hoffman  Machine  Products" or any derivation  thereof after the Closing Date in
connection with any business whether or not related to,  competitive with, or an
outgrowth of, the business conducted by the Seller on the date hereof.

                  10.6  Cooperation in Litigation.  Each party hereto will fully
cooperate  with the other in the defense or  prosecution  of any  litigation  or
proceeding already  instituted or which may be instituted,  hereafter against or
by such party  relating to or arising out of the conduct of the  business of the
Seller prior to or after the Closing Date (other than litigation arising out the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement).   The  party  requesting  such
cooperation  shall pay the  out-of-pocket  expenses  (including  legal  fees and
disbursements)  of the party  providing  such  cooperation  and of its officers,
directors, employees and agents reasonably incurred in connection with providing
such  cooperation,  and will, if requested,  reimburse the party  providing such
cooperation  for such party's time spent in such  cooperation and the reasonable
salaries  or costs of fringe  benefits  or  similar  expenses  paid by the party
providing  such  cooperation  to its officers,  directors,  employees and agents
while  assisting  in the  defense  or  prosecution  of any  such  litigation  or
proceeding.

                  10.7 Repurchase of Accounts Receivable.

                           (a) For the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on November 30, 1997 (the "Collection  Period"),  the Buyer shall use its
reasonable efforts to collect the Accounts Receivable.  The Buyer may, but shall
not be  obligated  to, use a  collection  agency or  commence  legal  actions in
connection  with such collection  efforts.  Promptly after the expiration of the
Collection  Period,  the Buyer shall give notice to the Seller designating those
Accounts  Receivable in excess of $2,500 which have not been collected as of the
end of the Collection  Period and which the Buyer wishes the Seller to purchase.
Within ten days after  receipt of such notice from the Buyer,  the Seller  shall
purchase  (without  recourse to the Buyer) such designated  Accounts  Receivable
then remaining unpaid for a purchase price equal to the face amount thereof.

                           (b)  Upon  the  Seller's  repurchase  of  any  unpaid
Account  Receivable  pursuant  to this  Subsection  10.7,  (i) the  Buyer  shall
promptly deliver to the Seller any tangible evidence of such Account  Receivable
then in the  possession  of the Buyer or under its control,  and (ii) the Seller
shall be entitled to such customary and reasonable actions as it deems necessary
or desirable in order to collect such unpaid Account Receivable;  provided, that
the Seller shall  consult with the Buyer prior to taking any  collection  action
which might reasonably
                                       34
<PAGE>
be expected to jeopardize the Buyer's relationship with such customer. The Buyer
will, from time to time after such repurchase, execute and deliver to the Seller
such  instruments  and other  documents as the Seller may reasonably  request to
assist the Seller in its collection efforts.

                           (c) In the event  that any  payment  received  by the
Buyer during the  Collection  Period is remitted by a customer which is indebted
under both Accounts Receivable and an account receivable arising out of the sale
of inventory in the ordinary  course of business  after the Closing Date (a "New
Receivable"),  such payments  shall first be applied to the Accounts  Receivable
due from such  customer and the balance  remaining  after payment in full of all
Accounts  Receivable  due  from  such  customer  shall  be  applied  to the  New
Receivable;  provided,  however, that (i) with respect to any Account Receivable
being  contested or disputed by the payor  thereof,  no portion of the amount in
dispute  shall be deemed to have been  collected  by the Buyer in respect of the
Account  Receivable  due from such customer  (unless  otherwise  directed by the
customer)  until  all  amounts  owed  by  such  customer  to the  Buyer  for New
Receivables  have been paid or such dispute has been resolved,  whichever occurs
first (it being understood that undisputed amounts of Accounts  Receivable shall
be applied in accordance  with the priorities set forth above in this Subsection
10.7) and (ii) the foregoing  priorities shall not apply to sums received by the
Buyer which are  specifically  identified  by the customer as being  tendered in
payment of a New  Receivable.  The Buyer  agrees not to induce any  customer  to
identify  any  payment as being in respect  of a New  Receivable,  except in the
event the Buyer reasonably determines to sell to said customer on a C.O.D. basis
only.

                           (d)  The  Buyer  will  cooperate,   at  the  Seller's
expense,  with the  Seller  in  collecting  any  Accounts  Receivable  which are
repurchased by the Seller pursuant to this Subsection 10.7;  provided,  however,
that the  foregoing  shall not  require  the  Buyer to be a party to any  action
brought by the Seller to collect such Accounts Receivable.

                           (e) The Buyer agrees to furnish to the Seller  within
15 days after the end of each month  during the  Collection  period a  statement
setting forth the Accounts  Receivable  collected  during such month and a trial
balance of the uncollected  Accounts  Receivable showing the aging thereof as of
the end of such month.

                           (f) The Seller  hereby  authorizes  the Buyer to open
any and all mail addressed to the Seller (if delivered to the Buyer) if received
on or after the Closing Date and hereby  grants to the buyer a power of attorney
to endorse and cash any checks or  instruments  made  payable or endorsed to the
Seller or its order and received by the Buyer.

                           (g) The Seller  agrees that it will forward  promptly
to the Buyer any monies,  checks or instruments received by the Seller after the
Closing  Date with respect to the  Accounts  Receivable,  except with respect to
those Accounts  Receivable  which are repurchased by the Seller pursuant to this
Subsection 10.7.

                           (h) Any sums  received  by the  Buyer in  respect  of
Accounts  Receivable  (and so identified by the relevant  account  debtor) after
their  repurchase by the Seller pursuant to Subsections  10.7(a) hereof shall be
promptly transmitted by the Buyer to the Seller. In addition,  if receipt by the
Buyer of unidentified sums of money from an account debtor who
                                       35
<PAGE>
owes any Account  Receivable  repurchased by the Seller  pursuant to Subsections
10.7(a) hereof results in such account debtor having an aggregate credit balance
with the Buyer,  the Buyer  shall  promptly  transmit to the Seller an amount of
money  equal to the  lesser  of (a) such  aggregate  credit  balance  or (b) the
remaining of all Accounts  Receivable  which have been repurchased by the Seller
and are payable by such account debtor to the Seller.

                           (i) Seller's obligation to repurchase unpaid Accounts
Receivable,  under this Section 10.7 may be satisfied by Buyer out of a holdback
and/or setoff against monies or stock  otherwise  payable to Seller  pursuant to
Sections  1.3(c)  and 1.8  hereof  if not  promptly  paid by  Seller  in cash or
delivery of a cashiers or bank check.

                  10.8 Product  Claims and Returns.  Seller shall be responsible
for customer claims relating to services rendered by Seller prior to the Closing
Date, and customer  claims  relating to, or returns of, products (which term for
purposes  of this  Section  10.8  shall  mean  those  products  where  there  is
sufficient evidence to reflect the date of shipment thereof) of Seller which (a)
were sold and shipped or  otherwise  provided by the Seller prior to the Closing
Date, (b) were in the finished  goods  inventory of the Seller as of the Closing
Date, or (c) were work in process and more than fifty percent (50%) completed by
the  Closing  Date.  If a customer  makes a claim or seeks a return  and, in the
judgment of the Buyer,  the claim or return is proper,  Buyer  shall  replace or
repair,  as the case may be, the services  rendered or product  purchased at the
Buyer's  then  generally  prevailing  prices and labor  rates.  Such repairs and
returns for the twelve (12) calendar months following the date of this Agreement
shall be  compared  to the  greater of $40,000 or the  product of .008 times the
gross sales of Seller for such period (the  "Threshold  Amount").  If the actual
repairs and returns for such twelve (12) month  period is lower than the greater
of  $40,000  or the  product  of .008  times the gross  sales of Seller for such
period,  then Seller shall have no obligation to reimburse Buyer for any amounts
pursuant to this Section 10.8. If the actual repairs and returns for such twelve
(12) month  period  exceeds  the greater of $40,000 or the product of .008 times
the gross sales of Seller for such period, then Buyer shall determine and advise
Seller of the  aggregate  amount of such  claims and  returns  and Seller  shall
promptly  reimburse  Buyer for the  amounts  thereof in excess of the  Threshold
Amount.  Seller's  obligation  to reimburse  Buyer for amounts  pursuant to this
Section 10.8 shall expire on June 30, 1998,  except for claims, if any, asserted
in writing prior to such date,  which shall  survive until finally  resolved and
satisfied in full.

         11.  Transfer  and Sales Tax.  Notwithstanding  any  provisions  of law
imposing  the burden of such  taxes on the Seller or the Buyer,  as the case may
be, the Seller  shall be  responsible  for and shall pay (a) all sales,  use and
transfer  taxes,  and (b) all  governmental  charges,  if any,  upon the sale or
transfer of any of the Assets  hereunder.  If the Seller  shall fail to pay such
amounts on a timely  basis,  the Buyer may pay such  amounts to the  appropriate
governmental  authority or authorities,  and the Seller shall promptly reimburse
the Buyer for any amounts so paid by the Buyer.
                                       36
<PAGE>
         12.  Brokers  and  Expenses.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  this
Agreement,  each  party  shall  bear its own  expenses  incurred  in  connection
herewith in the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the parties
agree that they will equally split the costs and expenses incurred in connection
with the Accountant's preparation of the Audited Financial Statements. The Buyer
acknowledges  that it shall be  responsible  for  fees  owing to its  investment
banker, B.C. Capital Corp., in connection herewith. The Seller acknowledges that
it shall be  responsible  for fees owing to its  financial  advisor,  The Geneva
Companies and affiliates,  in connection herewith. Other than the foregoing, the
parties  hereto  agree that no other  person or entity is or will be entitled to
any brokerage, finder's or similar fees in connection herewith.

         13. Notices. Any notices or other communications  required or permitted
hereunder  shall  be  sufficiently  given  if  delivered  personally  or sent by
facsimile,  federal  express,  registered or certified  mail,  postage  prepaid,
addressed  as  follows or to such other  address of which the  parties  may have
given notice:

         To the Seller:            P.R. Hoffman Machine Products Corporation
                                        1517 Commerce Avenue
                                        Carlisle, Pennsylvania  17013
                                        Attention:  John R. Krieger
                                        Fax:  (717) 796-2132

         With a copy to:           McNees, Wallace & Nurick
                                        100 Pine Street
                                        P.O. Box 1166
                                        Harrisburg, Pennsylvania  17108-1166
                                        Attention:  W. Jeffry Jamouneau, Esq.
                                        Fax:  (717) 237-5300

         To the Buyer:             Amtech Systems, Inc.
                                        131 South Clark
                                        Tempe, Arizona 85281
                                        Attention: J. S. Whang
                                        Fax: (602) 968-3763

         With copies to:           Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
                                        40 North Central Avenue
                                        Suite 2700
                                        Phoenix, Arizona 85004
                                        Attention: Christopher D. Johnson,
                                                  Esq.
                                        Fax:  (602) 253-8129

Unless otherwise specified herein, such notices or other communications shall be
deemed  received  (a) on the date  delivered,  if  delivered  personally  or via
facsimile  (with machine  confirmation);  or (b) three business days after being
sent, if sent by registered or certified mail.
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<PAGE>
         14.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their  respective  successors and
assigns,  except that the Buyer and the Seller may not assign  their  respective
obligations  hereunder  without the prior  written  consent of the other  party;
provided,  however, that the Buyer may assign this Agreement, and its rights and
obligations  hereunder,  to  a  wholly-owned   subsidiary.   Any  assignment  in
contravention  of this provision shall be void. No assignment  shall release the
Buyer from any obligation or liability under this Agreement.  Buyer acknowledges
that Seller is adopting a plan of complete  liquidation  and  dissolution  to be
effective upon the Closing.

         15. Entire Agreement; Amendments; Attachments

                           (a)  This  Agreement,   all  Schedules  and  Exhibits
hereto,  and all  agreements  and  instruments  to be  delivered  by the parties
pursuant hereto  represent the entire  understanding  and agreement  between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
oral and written and all  contemporaneous  oral  negotiations,  commitments  and
understandings between such parties. The Buyer and the Seller, by the consent of
their respective Boards of Directors, or officers authorized by such Boards, may
amend or modify  this  Agreement,  in such  manner as may be agreed  upon,  by a
written instrument executed by the Buyer and the Seller.

                           (b) If the  provisions  of any Schedule or Exhibit to
this  Agreement are  inconsistent  with the  provisions of this  Agreement,  the
provision of the Agreement  shall prevail.  The Exhibits and Schedules  attached
hereto or to be attached hereafter are hereby  incorporated as integral parts of
this Agreement.

         16.  Bulk Sales  Laws.  Except  for the  indemnity  provided  by Seller
pursuant to Section 9, Buyer and Seller  waive  compliance  with any  applicable
bulk sales laws.

         17. Legal Fees.  In the event that legal  proceedings  are commenced by
the Buyer against the Seller,  or by the Seller against the Buyer, in connection
with  this  Agreement  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the party or
parties  which do not  prevail  in such  proceedings  shall  pay the  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and other costs and expenses,  including  investigation  costs,
incurred by the prevailing party in such proceedings.

         18.  Governing Law and Venue.  This Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with  Pennsylvania  law.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing
choice of law,  the  parties  expressly  agree  that any  controversy,  dispute,
litigation or claim arising out of the subject  matter of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought or commenced only in a federal
or state court  located in Maricopa  County,  Arizona.  The parties  agree to be
subject to the personal jurisdiction of the federal and/or state courts situated
in Maricopa County, Arizona and agree that a claim of forum non-conveniens shall
not be a defense to an action initiated in such venues.

         19. Section  Headings.  The section headings are for the convenience of
the  parties  and in no  way  alter,  modify,  amend,  limit,  or  restrict  the
contractual obligations of the parties.
                                       38
<PAGE>
         20.  Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or  enforceability  of any other
provision of this Agreement.

         21.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in  one or  more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall be one and the same document.

                         [SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
                                       39
<PAGE>
         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Agreement  has been duly  executed  by the
parties hereto as of and on the date first above written.

(Corporate Seal)                             SELLER:

ATTEST:                                      P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE PRODUCTS
                                             CORPORATION


                                             By:
- ----------------------------------              --------------------------------
Secretary                                        John R. Krieger
                                                 Its President



(Corporate Seal)                             BUYER:

ATTEST:                                      AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.


                                             By:
- ----------------------------------              --------------------------------
Secretary                                        J.S. Whang
                                                 Its President



                                             STOCKHOLDER:



                                             -----------------------------------
                                             John R. Krieger
                                       40

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------


         BY THIS EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT (the  "Agreement")  made and entered into
this 1st day of  July,  1997,  AMTECH  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  an  Arizona  corporation
("Employer"),  and JOHN R.  KRIEGER  ("Employee"),  state,  confirm and agree as
follows:


                                   I. RECITALS
                                      --------

         1.1 Employer is engaged in the business of manufacturing  and producing
for profit  equipment for the fabrication and handling of silicon  semiconductor
wafers   ("Systems")  and  further   improving   technologies  and  intellectual
properties  having  application  to  such  business   ("Employer's   Business").
Employer's  Business is conducted on a worldwide  basis.  All locations in which
material  portions  of  Employer's  Business  are,  or may  during  the  term of
Employee's  employment by Employer be,  conducted are  hereinafter  collectively
referred to as the "Market Area."

         1.2 Employer has acquired the assets of P.R.  Hoffman Machine  Products
Corporation  (the  "Assets"),  a company wholly owned by Employee and previously
engaged in a business  complementary to Employer's  Business ("PRH") pursuant to
an Asset Purchase  Agreement of even date herewith.  Henceforth,  the commercial
application of the Assets shall be considered a part of "Employer's Business".

         1.3 Employee has expertise in the business of manufacturing,  marketing
and  distributing  semiconductor  equipment and related  consumables used in the
lapping and polishing of silicon  semiconductor  wafers and has knowledge of and
personal  relationships  affecting  the  operations,  business  contacts,  trade
secrets,  potential  customers,  marketing  strategies  and  other  confidential
matters of critical significance to the commercial application of the Assets and
to Employer's future prospects (the "Trade  Secrets").  The aid or assistance by
Employee  to any  competitor  of  Employer  or direct  competition  of  Employee
respecting  Employer's  Business  within the Market  Area would  materially  and
irreparably injure Employer.

         1.4 Employer  desires to hire Employee,  and Employee desires to accept
such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.


                                 II. AGREEMENTS
                                     ----------

         2.1 Employment.  Employer hereby employs Employee,  and Employee hereby
accepts such employment from Employer,  on the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement.

         2.2 Term.  This  Agreement  will commence upon July 1, 1997 and it will
continue in effect for four (4) years from such date.
<PAGE>
         2.3  Renewal  and  Review.   This  Agreement  shall  be  renewable  for
successive  one (1) year periods at the mutual  election of the Employee and the
Employer.   The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Employer  (the  "Board")   shall
periodically,  at least annually, review the salary established in Paragraph 2.6
hereof and may,  in its  discretion,  increase  such  salary for any  subsequent
period in accordance  with the  Employee's  contributions  to the success of the
Employer.

         2.4  Duties.  During the term of this  Agreement,  the  Employee  shall
perform  such  services  for  Employer as shall from time to time be assigned to
Employee by the Board and the President of Employer, and shall devote all of his
time,  attention,  skill and  energies to the business of the Employer and shall
serve it  faithfully,  diligently  and to the best of his  ability.  The parties
agree that Employee  shall have  principal  responsibility  for the  management,
operation  and  marketing  of the  business  previously  conducted  by  PRH  and
exploitation of the Assets.  Employee shall be principally situated at Carlisle,
Pennsylvania,  the site of the  Assets,  for at least the first two years of the
term of this  Agreement;  provided  that  Employee  may be  required  to  travel
extensively  in  furtherance  of  Employer's   Business  and  Employee's  duties
hereunder.  The  parties  intend that  Employee  will  subsequently  relocate to
Employer's principal headquarters and transition to a central management role to
be determined by the mutual consent of Employer and Employee.  The parties agree
that  Employee  may  elect to  change  his  residence  and  place  of  principal
employment to within a reasonable  distance of Employer's Tempe,  Arizona office
after completion of the first two years of the term of this Agreement.

         2.5 Service as Board Member. If the Employee is elected or appointed as
a member of the Board of Employer or any of its  subsidiaries  during all or any
portion of the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall serve in such capacity
without additional compensation.

         2.6 Compensation.  Employee will receive the following compensation for
his services during his term of employment:

                  (a) Subject to the immediately following sentences,  a minimum
         gross base salary of $150,000 per year,  which,  after  withholding and
         other  required  deductions,  shall  be paid in equal  installments  in
         accordance  with the salary  payment  policies as may be established by
         Employer from time to time, but in no event shall such  installments be
         less than monthly.

                  (b) Participate in any group benefit plan, medical plan and/or
         other  benefit  plans,   either  currently  in  effect  or  as  may  be
         established  from time to time by the Board,  for which Employee may be
         eligible to participate.

                  (c) Receive such other  compensation  as may from time to time
         be granted to Employee by the Board, in its  discretion,  including any
         bonuses if approved by the Board.

         2.7 Expenses and  Miscellaneous  Benefits.  Upon receipt of  reasonably
detailed  receipts  and other  documentation  as  required  for  obtaining a tax
deduction  under the codes and  regulations of applicable tax authorities and as
may be requested by Employer,  Employer  will pay or reimburse  Employee for all
ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred or paid
                                        2
<PAGE>
by Employee in  furtherance  of  Employer's  business,  all in  accordance  with
Employer's  policies and  procedures  of general  application.  Employee will be
permitted to take three (3) weeks of vacation annually during his first ten (10)
years of service with Employer,  and four (4) weeks thereafter.  Vacation during
any partial year shall be prorated.

         2.8 Termination.

                  (a) Death.  In the event of the  Employee's  death  during the
         term of this Agreement,  this Agreement  shall thereupon  terminate and
         Employer  shall pay to the Employee's  beneficiary  or estate,  as that
         term is  hereinafter  defined,  the pro rata portion of the  Employee's
         salary which was earned but unpaid at the date of the Employee's death.

                  As used herein,  the term  "beneficiary  or estate"  means the
         person or persons designated by the Employee in the last written notice
         delivered to the  Employer  during his  lifetime,  or in the absence of
         such written notice,  such person or persons designated by the Employee
         in his last  will and  testament  specifically  to  receive  Employee's
         benefits under the terms of this Agreement,  or, in the absence of both
         written notice and such a designation,  the Employee's  estate.  In the
         event that the Employee  should during his lifetime  designate a person
         or persons other than his wife as beneficiary or  beneficiaries in such
         written notice, such notice to be valid must contain the signed consent
         of the Employee's spouse.

                  (b)  Permanent  Disability.  In the event the Employee  should
         become  permanently  disabled during the term of this  Agreement,  then
         this Agreement shall  terminate.  For the purposes  hereof,  "permanent
         disability" shall mean that disability  resulting from injury,  disease
         or other cause,  whether mental or physical,  which  incapacitates  the
         Employee  from  performing  his  normal  duties as an  employee,  which
         appears to be  permanent  in nature and  contemplates  the  continuous,
         necessary  and   substantially   complete  loss  of  all   professional
         activities.  The determination of "permanent  disability" shall be made
         by a qualified  physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of
         Arizona and acceptable to Employer.

                  (c)  Temporary  Disability.  In the event the Employee  should
         become  disabled,  and such  disability  is not  permanent,  as defined
         above,  such  disabled  Employee  shall be entitled to his salary for a
         period of one-hundred  eighty (180) days. If such temporary  disability
         continues  longer than such one-hundred  eighty (180) day period,  then
         Employee  shall be deemed to have become  permanently  disabled for the
         purposes of this Agreement at the end of said ninety (90) day period.
                                        3
<PAGE>
                  (d)  Voluntary   Withdrawal.   The  Employee  may  voluntarily
         terminate his  employment  hereunder by giving at least sixty (60) days
         prior written  notice to the Board of his  intention to withdraw.  Such
         notice  shall  specify the end of a calendar  month as the  termination
         date.

                  (e) Dismissal.  Employer may terminate  Employee's  employment
         under this  Agreement at any time with or without  cause (as defined in
         Section 2.9 hereof) by giving at least thirty (30) days written  notice
         to the  Employee  at his  address as listed on the  Employer's  records
         specifying the effective date of termination.

         2.9 Termination  for Cause.  This Agreement may be terminated for cause
by Employer.  "Cause" shall mean (i)  Employee's  wilful,  repeated or negligent
failure to perform his duties  hereunder  and to comply with any  reasonable  or
proper  direction  given by or on behalf of the Company's Board of Directors and
the  continuation of such failure  following  twenty (20) days written notice to
such effect,  (ii) Employee being guilty of serious  misconduct on the Company's
premises or  elsewhere,  whether  during the  performance  of his duties or not,
which is reasonably  likely to cause  material  damage to the  reputation of the
Company or render it materially  more  difficult for Employee to  satisfactorily
continue to perform his duties;  (iii) Employee being found guilty in a criminal
court of any  offense  of a nature  which is  reasonably  likely  to  materially
adversely  affect the  reputation of the Company or to materially  prejudice its
interests  if Employee  were to continue  to be  employed by the  Company;  (iv)
Employee's commission of any act of fraud, theft or any intentional tort against
the  Company,  or  (v)  Employee's  violation  of any  of  the  material  terms,
covenants, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement and failure
to correct such  violation  within twenty (20) days after written  notice by the
Company.  Upon any termination  under this Paragraph 2.9, Employee or Employee's
estate,  as the case may be, will be entitled to receive only that  compensation
due Employee through the date of termination.

         2.10  Termination  Other  than for Cause.  In the event  that  Employer
terminates  this  Agreement  without cause,  Employee will receive  $150,000 per
annum, net of withholding and other deductions  required by law, for the balance
of the remaining  contract,  payable at Employer's election either in a lump sum
or at the times such  salary  would have been  payable  were  Employee to remain
employed by Employer.

         2.11 Noncompetition.

                  (a) Employee agrees that, except in accordance with his duties
         under this Agreement on behalf of Employer, he will not during the term
         of this Agreement:

                           (i)  Participate  in, be employed in any capacity by,
                  serve as director, consultant, agent or representative for, or
                  have any interest,  directly or indirectly,  in any enterprise
                  which is engaged in the business of  distributing,  selling or
                  otherwise   trading  in  products   or   services   which  are
                  competitive to any products or services  distributed,  sold or
                  otherwise  traded in by  Employer  or any of its  subsidiaries
                  during the term of the Employee's employment with Employer, or
                                        4
<PAGE>
                  which  are  competitive  to any  products  or  services  being
                  actively developed,  with the bona fide intent to market same,
                  by  Employer  or  its  subsidiaries  during  the  term  of the
                  Employee's employment with Employer.

                           (ii) In addition,  Employee  agrees that for a period
                  of seven  and  one-half  (7.5)  years  after  the date of this
                  Agreement  (unless Employer breaches this Agreement by failing
                  to pay to the  Employee  all  sums  due him  under  the  terms
                  hereof,  in  which  event  the  following  provisions  of this
                  Section 2.11(a) shall be inapplicable), Employee shall observe
                  the  covenants  set forth in this  Section  2.11 and shall not
                  own,   either   directly  or   indirectly  or  through  or  in
                  conjunction with one or more members of his spouse's family or
                  through any trust or other contractual arrangement,  a greater
                  than five  percent  (5%)  interest  in, or  otherwise  control
                  either directly or indirectly,  any partnership,  corporation,
                  or other entity which distributes,  sells, or otherwise trades
                  in products which are  competitive to any products or services
                  being developed,  distributed,  sold or otherwise traded in by
                  Employer  or  its  subsidiaries,   during  the  term  of  this
                  Agreement,  or being actively  developed by Employer or any of
                  Employer's subsidiaries during the term of this Agreement with
                  Employer  with a bona fide  intent to  market  same.  Employee
                  further   agrees,   for  such  five  year   period   following
                  termination, to refrain from directly or indirectly soliciting
                  Employer's  vendors,  customers or employees,  except that the
                  Employee  may  solicit  Employer's  vendors  or  customers  in
                  connection  with a business that does not compete  directly or
                  indirectly with that of Employer or its subsidiaries.

                  (b) Employee  hereby  agrees that damages and any other remedy
         available at law would be  inadequate  to redress or remedy any loss or
         damage  suffered  by  Employer  upon any  breach  of the  terms of this
         Section 2.11 by Employee,  and Employee therefore agrees that Employer,
         in addition to  recovering  on any claim for damages or  obtaining  any
         other  remedy  available  at law,  also may  enforce  the  terms of the
         Section 2.11 by injunction or specific performance,  and may obtain any
         other appropriate remedy available in equity.

         2.12  Assignment of Patents.  Employee shall disclose fully to Employer
any and all discoveries and any and all ideas,  concepts or inventions  relating
to  Employer's  Business  which he shall  conceive  or make during his period of
employment,  or during  the  period of six  months  after his  employment  shall
terminate,  which are in whole or in part the result of his work with  Employer.
Such  disclosure is to be made promptly after each such discovery or conception,
and each such discovery,  idea,  concept or invention will become and remain the
property of Employer, whether or not patent applications are filed thereon. Upon
request and at the expense of Employer,  Employee shall make application through
the patent  solicitors  of Employer for letters  patent of the United States and
any and all other  countries at the discretion of Employer on such  discoveries,
ideas and inventions,  and assign all such  applications to Employer,  or at its
order,  forthwith,  without  additional payment by Employer during his period of
employment and for reasonable  compensation  for time actually spent by Employee
at such work at the request of Employer after the termination of the employment.
Employee  shall give  Employer,  its attorneys and  solicitors,  all  reasonable
assistance in preparing and prosecuting such applications
                                        5
<PAGE>
and, on the request of  Employer,  execute all papers and do all things that may
be  reasonably  necessary to protect the right of Employer and vest in it or its
assigns the  discoveries,  ideas or inventions,  applications and letters patent
herein contemplated.  Said cooperation shall also include all actions reasonably
necessary  to aid  Employer  in  the  defense  of its  rights  in the  event  of
litigation.

         2.13 Trade Secrets.

                  (a) In the  course  of  the  term  of  this  Agreement,  it is
         anticipated  that Employee shall have access to secret or  confidential
         technical and commercial  information,  records, data,  specifications,
         systems, methods, plans, designs,  policies,  inventions,  material and
         other knowledge ("Confidential Material"),  whether or not copyrighted,
         owned by Employer and its subsidiaries,  including  without  limitation
         all such  information  and  material  relating to the Assets.  Employee
         recognizes  and  acknowledges  that  included  within the  Confidential
         Material   are   Employer's    confidential   commercial   information,
         technology, methods of manufacture, designs, and any computer programs,
         source codes,  object codes,  executable  codes and related  materials,
         including  without  limitation  customer lists and all such information
         and material relating to the Assets, all as they may exist from time to
         time,  and that  they are  valuable,  special  and  unique  aspects  of
         Employer's Business. All such Confidential Material shall be and remain
         the  property of the  Company.  Except as required by his duties to the
         Company, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly,  either during the
         term  of  his  employment  or  at  any  time  thereafter,  disclose  or
         disseminate to anyone or make use of, for any purpose  whatsoever,  any
         Confidential  Material.  Upon  termination of his employment,  Employee
         shall  promptly  deliver  to  the  Company  all  Confidential  Material
         (including all copies thereof,  whether prepared by Employee or others)
         which are in the possession or under the control of Employee.  Employee
         shall not be deemed to have  breached this Section 2.13 if (i) Employee
         shall be  specifically  compelled  by  lawful  order  of any  judicial,
         legislative,  or  administrative  authority  or  body to  disclose  any
         Confidential  Material  or else  face  civil  or  criminal  penalty  or
         sanction,  or (ii)  Employee can  demonstrate  by clear and  convincing
         evidence  that the  Confidential  Material  is or became  publicly  and
         openly known and in the public domain through no fault of the Employee.

                  (b) Employee  hereby  agrees that damages and any other remedy
         available at law would be  inadequate  to redress or remedy any loss or
         damage  suffered  by  Employer  upon any  breach  of the  terms of this
         Section 2.13 by Employee,  and Employee therefore agrees that Employer,
         in addition to  recovering  on any claim for damages or  obtaining  any
         other  remedy  available  at law,  also may  enforce  the terms of this
         Section 2.13 by injunction or specific performance,  and may obtain any
         other appropriate remedy available in equity.

         2.14 Representations and Warranties. The Employee hereby represents and
warrants  that  the  execution  of  this  Agreement  and  the  discharge  of his
obligations  hereunder  will not breach or  conflict  with any other  contracts,
agreements,  covenants or  understandings,  either oral or written,  between the
Employee and any other party or parties.
                                        6
<PAGE>
         2.15 Assignment.  This Agreement and the rights, interests and benefits
shall not be assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated in any way and shall
not be subject to  execution,  attachment  or similar  process.  Any  attempt to
assign,  transfer,  pledge or hypothecate or make any other  disposition of this
Agreement or of such rights,  interests  and benefits  contrary to the foregoing
provision or the levy of any attachment or similar process  thereupon,  shall be
null and void and without  effect and shall relieve the Employer and Employee of
any and all liability  hereunder;  provided,  however,  that the obligations set
forth in  Sections  2.11,  2.12 and 2.13 of this  Agreement  shall  survive  any
termination of this Agreement.

         2.16  Attorneys'  Fees. In the event either party hereto  institutes an
action or other  proceeding to enforce any rights arising under this  Agreement,
the  party  prevailing  in such  action  or other  proceeding  shall be paid all
reasonable costs and attorneys' fees by the other party,  such fees to be set by
court and not by the jury.

         2.17 Notices.  Any notice or  communication to be given under the terms
of this  Agreement  ("Notice")  shall be in writing and  delivered  in person or
deposited,  certified or registered, in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:

         If to Employer:                Amtech Systems, Inc.
                                        131 S. Clark Drive
                                        Tempe, Arizona  85181
                                        Attn:  J.S. Whang

         If to Employee:                John R. Krieger
                                        4 Hall Drive
                                        Dillsburg, Pennsylvania 17019

or at such other  address  as either  party may from time to time  designate  by
Notice  hereunder.  Notices shall be effective  upon  delivery in person,  or if
mailed at midnight on the third business day after the date of mailing.

         2.18 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes and embodies the full
and complete  understanding  and agreement of the parties  hereto and supersedes
all prior understandings or agreements whether oral or in writing.

         2.19 Modifications and Amendments.  This Agreement shall not be altered
or amended except by a written agreement signed by the parties hereto.

         2.20 Benefit and Binding Effect.  Except as herein otherwise  expressly
provided,  this Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Employer and its successors and assigns,  including any  corporation,  person or
other  entity  which may acquire all or  substantially  all of the assets of the
business  of Employer or any other  corporation  with or into which  Employer is
consolidated   or  merged,   and  the   Employee   and  his  heirs,   executors,
administrators  and  legal   representatives;   provided,   however,   that  the
obligations of Employee hereunder may not be delegated or assigned.
                                        7
<PAGE>
         2.21 Governing  Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by and construed
in  accordance  with  Pennsylvania  law,  without  reference to conflict of laws
principles.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing choice of law, the parties expressly
agree that any  controversy,  dispute,  litigation  or claim  arising out of the
subject matter of this Agreement shall be brought or commenced only in a federal
or state court  located in Maricopa  County,  Arizona.  The parties  agree to be
subject to the personal jurisdiction of the federal and/or state courts situated
in  Maricopa  County,  Arizona,  and agree that a claim of forum  non-conveniens
shall not be a defense to an action initiated in such venues.

         2.22  Headings;  Interpretation;  Gender.  The paragraph  headings used
herein are for  convenience  and reference  only and are not intended to define,
limit or describe the scope or intent of any provision of this  Agreement.  When
used in this Agreement,  the term "including"  shall mean without  limitation by
reason of  enumeration.  Words used  herein in the  singular  shall  include the
plural and words used herein in the masculine  gender shall include the feminine
in all cases where such would apply.

         2.23 Waiver.  The failure of either party to insist, in any one or more
instances,  upon strict  performance  of any of the terms or  conditions of this
Agreement  shall not be construed as a waiver or a  relinquishment  of any right
granted  hereunder or of the future  performance  of any such term,  covenant or
condition,  but the  obligations  of either  party with  respect  thereto  shall
continue in full force and effect.

         2.24 Severability.  In the event that any portion of this Agreement may
be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason  whatsoever,  it is agreed
that said invalidity or unenforceability  shall not affect the other portions of
this  Agreement  and that the  remaining  covenants,  terms and  conditions,  or
portions  thereof,  shall  remain  in full  force and  effect,  and any court of
competent jurisdiction may so modify the objectionable  provisions as to make it
valid, reasonable and enforceable.

         2.25  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed a duplicate original.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed this  Agreement
this 1st day of July, 1997.

                                        AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                        an Arizona corporation

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Its:
                                            ------------------------------------

                                                                        EMPLOYER


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        JOHN R. KRIEGER
                                                                        EMPLOYEE
                                        8

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         THIS  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  (this  "Agreement")  is made and
entered  into as of July 1,  1997,  between  AMTECH  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  an Arizona
corporation  (the "Buyer"),  and P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE  PRODUCTS  CORPORATION,  a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Seller").  All  capitalized  terms  used  in  this
Agreement and not defined herein shall have the respective  meanings ascribed to
them in the Asset Purchase  Agreement of even date herewith  between the Seller,
John R. Krieger, and the Buyer (the "Asset Purchase Agreement").

         WHEREAS,  pursuant  to the Asset  Purchase  Agreement,  the  Seller has
agreed to sell, transfer,  convey, assign and deliver to the Buyer substantially
all of the assets and business of the Seller;

         WHEREAS,  in  partial  consideration   therefor,   the  Asset  Purchase
Agreement  requires  the  Buyer to grant to the  Seller  piggyback  registration
rights with respect to certain of the shares of Common Stock to be issued to the
Seller pursuant to Sections 1.3(b) and (c) of the Asset Purchase Agreement.

         1. Defined Terms.  As used herein,  the following  capitalized  defined
terms shall have the following meanings:

         "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission,  or any
other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

         "Common  Stock"  shall mean the Common  Stock,  $.01 par value,  of the
Buyer, as constituted as of the date of this Agreement.

         "Exchange  Act"  shall mean the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended from time to time, and the rules and  regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder.

         "Person" shall mean in individual,  partnership,  corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization,  or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.

         "Piggyback Registration" shall mean a registration under the Securities
Act effected pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

         "Prospectus"  shall  mean the  prospectus  included  in a  Registration
Statement,  including any  preliminary  prospectus,  and any such  prospectus as
amended  or  supplemented  by  any  prospectus  supplement,  and  by  all  other
amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments,
and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.
<PAGE>
         "Register,"  "Registered"  and  "Registration"  refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement in compliance with the
Securities Act and the  declaration or ordering by the SEC of the  effectiveness
of such Registration Statement.

         "Registrable  Securities"  shall mean the shares of Common Stock issued
to  Seller  pursuant  to  Sections  1.3(b)  and  1.3(c)  of the  Asset  Purchase
Agreement,  excluding  the  Registered  Shares,  and any shares of Common  Stock
received  by the Seller by way of  sub-division  of the  outstanding  shares (by
reclassification,  stock split or otherwise);  provided,  however, that any such
securities  shall  cease  to be  Registrable  Securities  when  they  have  been
Registered under a Piggyback Registration.

         "Registration  Expenses"  shall mean any and all  expenses  incident to
performance of or compliance by the Buyer with this Agreement, including but not
limited to (i) all SEC,  stock  exchange or National  Association  of Securities
Dealers,  Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred
in connection with compliance with state  securities or blue sky laws, (iii) all
expenses  and  disbursements  of  any  Persons  in  preparing  or  assisting  in
preparing, word processing,  duplicating,  printing, distribution,  messengering
and delivering any  Registration  Statement,  any Prospectus,  any amendments or
supplements  thereto, any underwriting  agreements,  securities sales agreements
and other  documents  relating to the  performance of and  compliance  with this
Agreement,  (iv) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Buyer,
and (v) the fees and disbursements of the independent  public accountants of the
Buyer,  including the expenses of any special audits or "cold  comfort"  letters
required by or incident to such performance and compliance,  and transfer taxes,
but excluding  underwriting  discounts and commissions,  if any, relating to the
sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by the Seller.

         "Registration  Rights  Expiration  Date"  shall mean the earlier of (i)
such time as the Seller may sell,  without  violation  of any  provision  of the
Securities  Act,  the  Exchange  Act or any SEC rule or  regulation,  under Rule
144(k)  within a  three-month  period  all  Registrable  Securities  held by the
Seller,  or (ii) such time as all such Registrable  Securities  issued have been
eligible for a Piggyback  Registration  and the Seller  either has included said
shares or declined to include them in a Piggyback Registration.

         "Registration  Statements"  shall mean a registration  statement of the
Buyer  pursuant to the  provisions of Section 2 hereof,  and all  amendments and
supplements  to  such  registration   statement,  in  each  case  including  the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.

         "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

         "Seller" shall mean P.R. Hoffman Machine  Products  Corporation or John
R.  Krieger,  as the case may be,  including  any  transfer  of the  Registrable
Securities  by P.R.  Hoffman  Machine  Products  Corporation  to John R. Krieger
following the date of this Agreement.
                                        2
<PAGE>
         2. Piggyback Registration.

                  (a)  Notice  of  Piggyback   Registration   and  Inclusion  of
Registrable  Securities.  If the  Buyer  at any  time  after  the  date  of this
Agreement proposes to register any of its Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
registration  statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor form), whether
or not for sale for its own account, and the registration form to be used may be
used for the  registration  of the  Registrable  Securities,  the Buyer will (i)
promptly  give the  Holder  written  notice  thereof,  and (ii)  include in such
registration  (and in any  related  qualification  under blue sky or other state
securities laws), and in any underwriting  involved therein, all the Registrable
Securities  specified in a written request  delivered to the Buyer by the Seller
within 20 calendar  days after  delivery of such written  notice from the Buyer,
provided that the Seller has requested such Piggyback  Registration with respect
to any of the Registrable  Securities held by the Seller at such time; provided,
however,  that if Seller declines to include any of the  Registrable  Securities
held by it at that time,  such shares shall no longer be eligible for  inclusion
in any  future  Piggyback  Registration.  If the  Piggyback  Registration  is an
underwritten  offering,  and the underwriter or the Buyer, based upon the advice
of its  underwriter(s),  in  good  faith  requests  in  writing,  due to  market
conditions,  that the  number  of  securities  covered  by the  Registration  be
reduced,  the Buyer  may  reduce  the  number of  Registrable  Securities  to be
included in the Piggyback  Registration pro rata with the reduction of shares of
Common Stock  included with respect to other  participants  in the  Registration
other than the Buyer.  Seller may not, by virtue solely of the rights granted to
it  in  this  Agreement,  participate  in a  Piggyback  Registration  after  the
Registration Rights Expiration Date.

                  (b) Expenses. The Buyer shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with each Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2.

                  (c)  Exercise  of  Registration  Rights.  The  Seller  may not
exercise the rights  granted  hereunder  with respect to any of the  Registrable
Securities  for a  period  of two  years  from  the  date  of  issuance  of such
Registrable Securities.

         3. Registration Procedures.

                  In  connection  with  the   registration  of  any  Registrable
Securities  under this  Agreement,  the Buyer shall  effect  such  Registrations
pursuant  to the sale of such  Registrable  Securities  in  accordance  with the
intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto shall:

                  (a)  prepare  and file with the SEC a  Registration  Statement
which shall comply as to form in all material  respects with the requirements of
the  applicable  form  under  the  Securities  Act  and  include  all  financial
statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith,and use its best efforts to
cause such  Registration  Statement to become effective and remain effective for
six months, provided,  however, that such six-month period shall be extended for
a period of time equal to the longest  period  during which the Seller  refrains
from selling any securities  included in such Registration at the request of the
underwriter, if any, of such Registration;
                                        3
<PAGE>
                  (b)  during  such  period  prepare  and file with the SEC such
amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement as may be necessary to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition
of all securities covered by such Registration Statement;

                  (c) make every  reasonable  effort to obtain the withdrawal of
any order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of a  Registration  Statement  at the
earliest  practicable  time and  provide  immediate  notice to the Seller of the
withdrawal of any such order;

                  (d)  use  its  best   efforts  to  register  and  qualify  the
securities covered by such Registration  Statement under such securities or blue
sky  laws  and  regulations  of such  jurisdiction  as  shall  be  necessary  or
appropriate for the  distribution of the securities  covered by the Registration
Statement, provided that the Buyer shall not be required in connection therewith
or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent
to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions;

                  (e)  furnish to the Seller  such  number of  prospectuses  and
other  documents  incident  thereto the Seller from time to time may  reasonable
request;

                  (f) notify the Seller at any time when a  Prospectus  relating
to a Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act
of the  happening of any event as a result of which the  Prospectus  included in
such Registration  Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of
a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated  therein
or necessary to make the  statements  therein not  misleading  or  incomplete in
light of the circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such seller,
prepare and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of a supplement
to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of such shares, such Prospectus shall not include an
untrue  statement of material  fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading or
incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing; and

                  (g) cause all such Registrable  Securities registered pursuant
to this  Agreement  to be listed on each  securities  exchange on which the same
class of securities issued by the Buyer are then listed.

         4. Indemnification; Contribution.

                  (a) The  Buyer  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the
Seller, the directors, officers, employees, subsidiaries and agents of each such
Holder  and each  Person who  controls  the  Seller  within  the  meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act (a  "Controlling  Person"),  from and against
any and all  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  and  expenses  (including,
without limiting the foregoing but subject to Section 4(c) hereof, the legal and
other expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or any
claim  asserted)  arising out of or based upon any untrue  statement  or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any  Registration  Statement or
Prospectus  (as amended or  supplemented  if the Buyer shall have  furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto), or arising out of or based upon
                                        4
<PAGE>
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated  therein or  necessary  to make the  statements  therein not  misleading,
provided  that the Buyer  shall not be liable in any such case to the  Seller to
the extent that such losses, claims, damages,  liabilities or expenses arise out
of or are based upon any such untrue  statement  or  omission or alleged  untrue
statement or omission  made in reliance  upon and  conformity  with  information
specifically  relating to the Seller,  furnished  in writing to the Buyer by the
Seller expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus.

                  (b) The  Seller  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the
Buyer, the directors, officers, employees,  subsidiaries and agents of the Buyer
and each  Controlling  Person,  from and  against  any and all  losses,  claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limiting the foregoing but
subject  to  Section  4(c)  hereof,  the legal and other  expenses  incurred  in
connection with any action,  suit or proceeding or any claim  asserted)  arising
out of or based upon any untrue statement made in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus  in  reliance  upon  or  in  conformity  with  information   relating
specifically  to such Holder which was furnished in writing to the Buyer by such
Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus,  provided
that such  Holder  shall not be liable in any such case to the extent  that such
losses, claims, damages,  liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon
any such untrue  statement or omission or alleged  untrue  statement or omission
for which such Holder is entitled to indemnification under Section 4(a) hereof.

                  (c)  In  case  any  action  or   proceeding   (including   any
governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought against
any  party  indemnified  under  either  of  paragraphs  (a)  or  (b)  above  (an
"Indemnified Party"),  based upon the Registration  Statement or any Prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto,  and with respect to which indemnity may
be sought against the party to provide such  indemnification  (the "Indemnifying
Party"),  the Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying  Party in
writing and the Indemnifying  Party shall assume the defense thereof,  including
the employment of counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and
payment of all reasonable fees and expenses  relating  thereto.  The Indemnified
Party  shall have the right to employ  separate  counsel  in any such  action or
proceeding and participate in the defense thereof,  but the fees and expenses of
such  counsel  shall  be at the  Indemnified  Party's  expense  unless  (i)  the
employment  of such counsel has been  specifically  authorized in writing by the
Indemnifying  Party, (ii) the Indemnifying Party has not assumed the defense and
employed counsel  reasonably  satisfactory to such  Indemnified  Party within 15
days after notice of any such action or  proceeding,  or (iii) the named parties
to any such action or proceeding  (including any impleaded parties) include both
the Indemnified  Party and the  Indemnifying  Party and such  Indemnified  Party
shall  have been  advised  by such  counsel  that there may be one or more legal
defenses  available  to the  Indemnifying  Party  that  are  different  from  or
additional  to those  available  to the  Indemnifying  Party (in which  case the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party, it being understood, however,
that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such action or
separate but  substantially  similar or related  actions arising out of the same
general  allegations or  circumstances,  be liable for the  reasonable  fees and
expenses of more than one separate  firm of attorneys  (in addition to all local
counsel  which is  necessary,  in the good  faith  opinion  of  counsel  for the
Indemnified  Party in order to adequately  represent the Indemnified  Party) for
the Indemnified Party, which firm shall be
                                        5
<PAGE>
designated  in  writing  by the  Indemnified  Party  and that all such  fees and
expenses  shall be  reimbursed  as they are incurred  upon  written  request and
presentation of invoices).  The  Indemnifying  Party shall not be liable for any
settlement  of any such  action  effected  without  the  written  consent of the
Indemnifying Party, which cannot be unreasonably  withheld,  but if settled with
the written  consent of the  Indemnifying  Party or if there is a final judgment
for the plaintiff,  the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
such Indemnified  Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement  or judgment.  The  Indemnifying  Party shall not,  without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified  Party,  effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened  proceeding in respect of which such Indemnified  Party is a party
and indemnity has been sought  hereunder by such  Indemnified  Party unless such
settlement includes an unconditional  release of such Indemnified Party from all
liability on claims that are the subject  matter of such  proceeding to which it
is  entitled  to be  indemnified,  and may not  settle  matters  as to which the
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification.

                  (d) If the  indemnification  provided for in this Section 4 is
unavailable  to an  Indemnified  Party under  paragraph (a) or (b) hereof (other
than by reason of the  exceptions  provided  therein)  in respect of any losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities  or  expenses  referred  to  therein,  then  each
Indemnifying  Party,  in lieu of  indemnifying  such  Indemnified  Party,  shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable to such  Indemnified  Party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages,  liabilities and expenses in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative  fault of the  Indemnifying  Party on the
one hand and the  Indemnified  Party on the other  hand in  connection  with the
statements  or  omissions  which  resulted  in  such  losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified
Party on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether  the  untrue or  alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or the
omission  to state a  material  fact  related  to  information  supplied  by the
Indemnifying Party on the one hand or by the Indemnified Party on the other hand
and  the  parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,   access  to  information  and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

                  (e) The Buyer and the  Seller  agree that it would not be just
and equitable if  contribution  pursuant to this Section 4 were  determined by a
pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the  equitable  considerations  referred to in paragraph (d) above which
shall be deemed to include,  subject to the  limitations  set forth  above,  any
legal  or  other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such  Indemnified  Party in
connection with investigating any claim or defendant in any such action, suit or
proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to  contribution  from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

                  (f) The provisions of this Section 4 will remain in full force
and  effect,  regardless  of  any  investigation  made  by or on  behalf  of any
Indemnified  Party  or any of the  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents  or
Controlling  Persons of such Indemnified Party, and will survive the sale by the
Seller of Registrable Securities.
                                        6
<PAGE>
         5. Miscellaneous.

                  (a)  Amendment;  Waivers.  This  Agreement  may not be changed
orally,  but  (subject  to the  provisions  of  this  Section  5(a))  only by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver,
change,  modification or discharge is sought. Any term,  covenant,  agreement or
condition of this Agreement may be amended or compliance therewith may be waived
(either  generally  or in a  particular  instance  and either  retroactively  or
prospectively),  if the Buyer shall have  obtained the consent in writing of the
Seller.  The Buyer  shall  promptly  send  copies of any  request  for  consent,
amendment or waiver (and any request for any such amendment,  consent or waiver)
relating to this Agreement to the Seller.

                  (b) Notices.  All communications  provided for hereunder shall
be in writing and sent by telecopy,  certified or registered first class mail or
nationwide  overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid),  addressed to the
Seller at the registered address of the Seller as set forth in the register kept
by the Buyer at its  principal  office,  and if to the Buyer,  at its  principal
executive  offices  specified  in its  most  recent  report  filed  with the SEC
pursuant to the Exchange Act or to such other address for purposes hereof as the
Buyer may have  designated in writing to the Seller (such notice being effective
on receipt).

                  (c) Rules 144 and 144A. The Buyer  covenants that it will file
the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and the rules and  regulations  adopted by the SEC  thereunder  (or,  if the
Buyer is not required to file such reports, the Buyer shall (i) upon the request
of the Seller of Registrable Securities make publicly available such information
as is necessary to enable the Seller to sell Registrable  Securities pursuant to
Rule 144 or (ii)  deliver  such  information  to a  prospective  purchaser as is
necessary to enable the Seller to sell Registrable  Securities  pursuant to Rule
144A).

                  (d)  Successors  and Assigns.  All covenants and agreements in
this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors,
heirs,  personal  representatives  and assigns of the parties hereto (including,
without limitation, any transferee of the Seller) whether so expressed or not.

                  (e) Counterparts.  This Agreement and any amendments, waivers,
consents,  or  supplements  hereto or hereunder may be executed in any number of
counterparts,   and  by  different   parties   hereto  or  thereto  in  separate
counterparts,  each of which when so executed and  delivered  shall be deemed an
original,  but all such  counterparts  together shall constitute but one and the
same  instrument.  This Agreement shall become  effective upon the execution and
delivery of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto.

                  (f) Descriptive Headings.  Descriptive headings of sections of
this  Agreement are for  convenience  of reference  only and do not constitute a
part of this Agreement.

                  (g)  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be construed  and
enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by,
the  internal  laws of the State of Arizona,  without  regard to  principles  of
conflicts of law.
                                        7
<PAGE>
                  (h) Independence of Covenants.  All covenants  hereunder shall
be given independent effect.

                  (i) Severability. In case any provision in or obligation under
this Agreement shall be invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any  jurisdiction,
the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of the  remaining  provisions  or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

                  (j) Satisfaction Requirement. If any agreement, certificate or
other  writing,  or any  action  taken or to be  taken,  is by the terms of this
Agreement  required to be satisfactory to any party,  the  determination by such
party of such  satisfaction  shall be made by such party in its own  independent
judgment exercised in good faith.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered by their  respective duly  authorized  officers as of the
date first written above.

                                        AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.



                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------

                                        P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE PRODUCTS
                                        CORPORATION



                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                        8

                               SUBLEASE AGREEMENT
                               ------------------


         THIS  SUBLEASE  AGREEMENT,  dated  as of  July  1,  1997 is made by and
between JOHN R. KRIEGER, an adult individual, as sublessor ("Krieger") and P. R.
HOFFMAN  MACHINE   PRODUCTS,   INC.,  an  Arizona   corporation,   as  sublessee
("Hoffman").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - - 

         WHEREAS,  by Lease  Agreement  dated as of July 12,  1994  (the  "Lease
Agreement"),  by and between PRH Properties, a Pennsylvania general partnership,
as landlord (the "Partnership"),  and P.R. Hoffman Machine Products Corporation,
a Delaware corporation,  as tenant (the "Company"),  the Company leased from the
Partnership  that certain real  property  containing  approximately  2.35 acres,
together  with all  improvements  located  thereon and  appurtenances  thereunto
belonging,  located on Commerce  Drive,  South  Middleton  Township,  Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania (the "Premises"); and

         WHEREAS,  Paragraph 21 of the Lease Agreement provides that the Company
shall not have the right to assign or sublet the  Premises  without  the written
consent of the  Partnership,  which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld;
and

         WHEREAS,  pursuant to a certain  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreement
dated as of July 1, 1997 (the "Assignment  Agreement"),  the Company assigned to
Krieger, and Krieger accepted and assumed from the Company, all of the Company's
rights,  obligations,  title and interest in, to and under the Lease  Agreement;
and

         WHEREAS,  Krieger  desires to sublease  the  Premises  to Hoffman,  and
Hoffman desires to sublease the Premises from Krieger; and

         WHEREAS, the consent of the Partnership to the Assignment Agreement has
been obtained by the Company; and

         WHEREAS,  the consent of the Partnership to this Sublease Agreement has
been obtained by Krieger.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration  of the premises,  the mutual terms,
covenants and conditions herein  contained,  and the rent reserved to be paid by
Hoffman to Krieger, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby
agree and covenant as follows:

         1. Sublease of the Premises.  Krieger hereby subleases to Hoffman,  and
Hoffman hereby subleases from Krieger, the Premises.

         2. Term.  This Sublease  Agreement  shall be for an initial term of two
(2) years beginning July 1, 1997 (the "Commencement  Date"), and ending June 30,
1999,  unless sooner  terminated  in accordance  with the terms of this Sublease
Agreement. Hoffman shall have the right and option to renew the term for two (2)
successive, additional periods of one (1) year
<PAGE>
each; provided, however, that Hoffman shall have no right or option to renew the
term of this  Sublease if an Event of Default (as defined  herein) has  occurred
under  this  Sublease  upon the date of giving of the  notice to renew or at any
time thereafter  through and including the expiration date of the  then-existing
term of this  Sublease.  Hoffman shall exercise its right to renew the term only
by providing  Krieger with written notice thereof at least ninety days (90) days
prior to the  expiration  of the  then-existing  term.  The maximum term of this
Sublease and all renewal terms is four (4) years from the Commencement Date.

         3. Rent.

                  (a) Commencing on the Commencement  Date, Hoffman shall pay to
         Krieger during the term of this Sublease  Agreement,  as annual minimum
         rental, the sum of One Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars
         ($126,900),  payable in equal monthly installments of Ten Thousand Five
         Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($10,575).

                  (b) At the expiration of every  anniversary date following the
         Commencement  Date during the term of this  Sublease  (each a "Sublease
         Year"),  the  minimum  rent shall be adjusted by the index known as the
         U.S.  City  Average  Consumer  Price  Index for Urban Wage  Earners and
         Clerical Workers (revised series; 1982-84=100) issued from time to time
         by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, or any successor agency that
         shall issue the index, or any other measure  hereafter  employed by the
         Federal Bureau of Labor  Statistics or any successor  agency in lieu of
         such index (the "CPI"). The CPI adjustment to the minimum rent shall be
         exactly  equal to the change in the cost of living as determined by the
         CPI;  provided,  however,  that in no event shall the CPI adjustment to
         the minimum rent exceed five percent  (5%) for any  Sublease  Year.  To
         compute such CPI adjustment, the prevailing CPI will be used. Each such
         CPI adjustment  shall be  accomplished  by multiplying the minimum rent
         established for the Sublease Year  terminating  just prior to each date
         of adjustment aforesaid by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be
         the most recently published CPI prior to the current date of adjustment
         in question,  and the  denominator  of which shall be the CPI published
         closest  to,  and used as the  numerator  in  calculations  under  this
         Subparagraph  3(b) for, the date of adjustment  occurring just prior to
         the current date of adjustment  (but in no event shall the minimum rent
         be  reduced  as a result  of such  adjustment  below the  minimum  rent
         payable  immediately  prior  thereto),  and the increased  minimum rent
         resulting from the CPI  adjustment to minimum rent thereby  established
         shall  continue  in effect as a minimum  rent until  again  adjusted as
         herein provided.

                  (c) All rent  shall be  payable  in  advance,  punctually  and
         without demand,  deduction or set off, payable on the first day of each
         month  during the term of this  Sublease  at such place as Krieger  may
         designate  in  writing.  If  Hoffman  fails to make any rental or other
         payment  within ten (10) days of the date it is due  hereunder,  a late
         charge  equal to five  percent  (5%) of the amount of the  payment  due
         shall be  assessed  and shall be  immediately  due and  collectible  as
         additional rent hereunder.
                                      - 2 -
<PAGE>
         4.  Utilities,  Taxes,  Insurance.  Hoffman  shall pay for all  utility
services, including without limitation intended,  electricity, water, sewer, and
telephone services,  consumed by Hoffman on the Premises.  In addition,  Hoffman
shall  immediately,  upon demand by Krieger,  reimburse  Krieger for any and all
payments  required to be made by Krieger under the Lease  Agreement  (other than
late fees or penalties),  including,  without limitation intended,  payments for
taxes or insurance for the Premises. Krieger agrees, subject to reimbursement as
provided  above,  to maintain all insurance  required under the Lease  Agreement
during the term of this Sublease Agreement.

         5. Compliance with Terms and Conditions of the Lease Agreement.  Except
as otherwise  provided in this Sublease  Agreement,  the parties hereto shall be
subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Lease  Agreement,  and Hoffman
agrees to comply with each and every  provision  of the Lease  Agreement  and to
perform all the covenants  applicable to Krieger contained  therein,  including,
without limitation intended, the maintenance obligations set forth in Paragraphs
10 and 11 of the Lease Agreement.  Hoffman acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
Lease Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof.

         6. Compliance with Law, Condition of the Premises. Hoffman shall comply
with all laws,  ordinances  and  regulations  concerning  the Premises  (and any
fixtures,  machinery or equipment  therein) and  Hoffman's  use of the Premises.
Hoffman has examined and knows the condition of the Premises and equipment,  and
acknowledges that no representations as to the condition and repair thereof have
been made by Krieger or its agents prior to or at the execution of this Sublease
Agreement that are not herein expressed,  and accepts the Premises and equipment
in an "as is" condition  without  warranty as to suitability  for any particular
use.

         7. Default by Hoffman.

                  (a) If Hoffman  shall default in making any payment of rent or
other sums required to be paid by Hoffman in  accordance  with the terms of this
Sublease,  or shall  default  in the  observance  or  performance  of any  other
provision of this Sublease, and such default shall continue uncured for a period
of ten (10) days with  respect  to a monetary  default or thirty  (30) days with
respect to a  non-monetary  default,  an Event of Default  shall have  occurred;
provided however, that if the nature of Hoffman's default is such that it is not
capable of being cured within such thirty day period, the Event of Default shall
not be deemed to have  occurred if Hoffman  commences  such cure within a thirty
day period and thereafter  diligently  prosecutes  such cure to  completion,  as
determined by Krieger in Krieger's sole and reasonable discretion.

                  (b) If an Event of Default has  occurred,  Krieger may declare
this Sublease Agreement and Hoffman's right to possession of the Premises ended,
whereupon  Krieger shall have all such remedies as the  Partnership  has upon an
Event of Default  under the Lease  Agreement,  together with any other rights or
remedies available at law or equity.
                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>
         8. Default by Krieger.

                  (a) In the event Krieger  shall default in keeping,  observing
         or performing  any of the terms,  provisions,  covenants and conditions
         contained  in the Lease  Agreement,  and such  default is not cured (or
         proper corrective  measures to cure such default  commenced) by Krieger
         within the period  specified in the Lease  Agreement  for the curing of
         such defaults, Hoffman shall have the right, but not the obligation, to
         remedy such default  after giving  written  notice  thereof to Krieger.
         Krieger  agrees to  promptly  send to  Hoffman a copy of any  notice of
         default received from the Partnership.

                  (b) In the event Krieger  shall default in keeping,  observing
         or performing  any of the terms,  provisions,  covenants and conditions
         contained in this Sublease Agreement, and such default is not cured (or
         proper corrective  measures to cure such default  commenced) by Krieger
         within ten (10) days of such default,  Hoffman,  at any time thereafter
         upon ten (10)  days'  written  notice  to  Krieger,  may  declare  this
         Sublease  Agreement  ended,  whereupon  Hoffman shall have the remedies
         provided at law or in equity.

         9.  Casualty.  In the event of a casualty  which would give Krieger the
right to terminate  the Lease  Agreement,  as  determined by Krieger in its sole
discretion, either Krieger or Hoffman may terminate this Sublease Agreement upon
thirty (30) days' written notice to the other party.

         10. Surrender of the Premises, Holding Over, Notice to Quit.

                  (a)  Upon  the  expiration  or  earlier  termination  of  this
         Sublease  for any  reason,  Hoffman  shall  surrender  the  Premises to
         Krieger  in as good  condition  as existed  on the  Commencement  Date,
         ordinary wear and tear excepted.

                  (b) If Hoffman, with Krieger's consent,  remains in possession
         of the Premises  after  expiration or termination of the term, or after
         the date in any notice  given by Krieger  to Hoffman  terminating  this
         Sublease,   such  possession  by  Hoffman  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a
         month-to-month  tenancy terminable on thirty (30) days' notice given at
         any time by either party.  All provisions of this Sublease except those
         pertaining to term, shall apply to the month-to-month tenancy.

                  (c) Time is of the essence of each provision of this Sublease.
         Hoffman  hereby  waives  the  Notice  to  Quit   requirements   of  the
         Pennsylvania  Landlord  and Tenant  Act of 1951,  as  amended,  68 P.S.
         ss.250.101  et  seq.,  or any  other  applicable  law,  and  agrees  to
         surrender the Premises without the need for notice at the expiration of
         the term,  including any renewal or extension  thereof,  or upon sooner
         termination of this Sublease.

         11.  Assignment and Subletting.  Hoffman shall not assign or sublet the
Premises  or any part  thereof  without the  written  consent of Krieger,  which
consent may be withheld in Krieger's sole discretion.
                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>
         12. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed  given when  delivered  by hand or by  certified  or
registered mail, return receipt requested, first-class postage prepaid, properly
addressed  to the  party  to  whom  such  notice  is  directed,  at the  address
hereinafter  specified,  or at such other address as the party receiving  notice
designates to the other party in writing and by complying with the terms of this
paragraph.

         If to Krieger:

                                  John R. Krieger
                                  4 Hall Drive
                                  Dillsburg, PA  17019

         with a copy to:

                                  McNees, Wallace & Nurick
                                  100 Pine Street
                                  Post Office Box 1166
                                  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108
                                          Att'n: W. Jeffry Jamouneau, Esquire

         If to Hoffman:

                                  Amtech Systems, Inc.
                                  131 South Clark Drive
                                  Tempe, AZ  85281
                                          Att'n: J.S. Whang, President

         with a copy to:

                                  Squire, Sanders & Dempsey
                                  40 N. Central Avenue
                                  Suite 2700
                                  Phoenix, AZ  85004
                                          Att'n: Christopher D. Johnson, Esquire

         13. Toxic Materials.

                  (a) As used in this Sublease,

                           (i) The term "Hazardous  Material[s]"  means any oil,
                  flammable items, explosives,  radioactive materials, hazardous
                  or toxic  substances,  material or waste or related  materials
                  including,  without  limitation,  any  substances  that pose a
                  hazard to the  Premises or to persons on or about the Premises
                  and any substances defined as or included in the definition of
                  "hazardous    substance,"    "hazardous   waste,"   "hazardous
                  material,"  "toxic  substance,"  "extremely  hazardous waste,"
                  "restricted hazardous waste" or words of similar import, now
                                      - 5 -
<PAGE>
                  or subsequently regulated in any way under applicable federal,
                  state  or  local  laws  or  regulations,   including   without
                  limitation,  petroleum-based products, paints, solvents, lead,
                  cyanide,  DDT,  printing  inks,  acids,  pesticides,   ammonia
                  compounds and other chemical products,  asbestos,  PCB's, urea
                  formaldehyde foam insulation,  transformers or other equipment
                  containing   dielectric  fluid,   levels  of   polychlorinated
                  biphenyls, or radon gas, and similar compounds,  and including
                  any different  products and materials  which are  subsequently
                  found have adverse  effects on the  environment  or the health
                  and safety of persons.

                           (ii) The term "Environmental Law[s]" means any one or
                  all  of  the  following:   the   Comprehensive   Environmental
                  Response,  Compensation  and Liability  Act, as amended by the
                  Superfund  Amendments  and  Reauthorization  Act of  1986  (42
                  U.S.C.  ss.ss.  9601 et seq.);  the Resource  Conservation and
                  Recovery Act as amended (42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  300f et seq);  the
                  Clean  Water Act as amended (33 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  1251 et seq.);
                  the Clean Air Act as amended (42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  7401 et seq.)
                  the Toxic Substance  Control Act as amended (15 U.S.C.  ss.ss.
                  136 et seq.) the  Solid  Waste  Disposal  Act as  Amended  (42
                  U.S.C.   ss.ss.   3251  et  seq.)  the   Hazardous   Materials
                  Transportation  Act  (49  U.S.C.  ss.ss.  1801 et  seq.);  the
                  regulations  promulgated  under any of the foregoing:  and all
                  other laws, regulations,  ordinances, standards, policies, and
                  guidelines  now  in  effect  or  hereinafter  enacted  by  any
                  governmental  entity (whether local,  state or federal) having
                  jurisdiction or regulatory authority over the Premises or over
                  activities   conducted   therein   and  which  deal  with  the
                  regulation or protection of human health,  industrial  hygiene
                  or the  environment,  including  the  soil,  subsurface  soil,
                  ambient air, groundwater, surface water, and land use.

                           (iii) The term  "Environmental  Activity[ies]"  means
                  any generation,  manufacture,  production,  pumping,, bringing
                  upon, use, storage, treatment,  release, discharge,  escaping,
                  emitting,  leaching,  disposal or  transportation of Hazardous
                  Materials.

                  (b) Hoffman  shall  protect,  indemnify,  defend (with counsel
         satisfactory  to  Krieger)  and  hold  harmless  Krieger,   his  heirs,
         representatives,  employees,  agents,  lenders,  and ground lessees, if
         any, and their respective  successors and assigns for, from and against
         any  and all  losses,  damages,  claims,  costs,  expenses,  penalties,
         response costs,  fines and liabilities of any kind (including,  without
         limitation, the cost of any investigation, remediation and cleanup, and
         reasonable  attorneys' fees) which are determined to be attributable to
         (i) any Environmental  Activity on the Premises undertaken or committed
         by  Hoffman or  Hoffman's  agents or caused by the  negligence  of such
         persons during the Term of this Sublease.  This indemnity shall survive
         the  termination of this  Sublease.  Hoffman shall have no liability or
         obligation  arising out of any  violation of any  Environmental  Law or
         contamination  or pollution  of, or from,  the  Premises  caused by (i)
         conduct or conditions occurring prior to, or after, Hoffman's occupancy
         of the Premises or (ii)  Krieger's or Krieger's  agents use of, or acts
         or omissions on, the Premises.
                                      - 6 -
<PAGE>
                  (c) Krieger  shall  protect,  indemnify,  defend (with counsel
         satisfactory  to Hoffman) and hold harmless  Hoffman and its directors,
         officers, partners,  employees, agents, lenders, and ground lessees, if
         any, and their  respective  successor and assigns for, from and against
         any  and all  losses,  damages,  claims,  costs,  expenses,  penalties,
         response costs,  fines and liabilities of any kind (including,  without
         limitation, the cost of any investigation, remediation and cleanup, and
         reasonable  attorneys' fees) which are determined to be attributable to
         (i) any Environmental  Activity on the Premises undertaken or committed
         by  Hoffman or  Hoffman's  agents or caused by the  negligence  of such
         persons  at any  time  prior  to,  during  or  after  the  Term of this
         Sublease. The indemnity shall survive the termination of this Sublease.
         Krieger  shall  have no  liability  or  obligation  arising  out of any
         violation of any Environmental Law or contamination or pollution of, or
         from, the Premises caused by (i) conduct or conditions occurring during
         Hoffman's  occupancy of the  Premises,  or (ii)  Hoffman's or Hoffman's
         agents use of, or acts or omissions on, the Premises.

         14.  Krieger's  Representations  and  Warranties.  Krieger  represents,
warrants  and  covenants to and with Hoffman that Krieger has the full right and
power to execute  and  perform  this  Sublease  and to grant the estate  defined
herein and Hoffman,  on payment of the rent and performance of the covenants and
agreements hereof, shall peaceably and quietly have, hold and enjoy the Premises
and all rights, easements,  appurtenances and privileges belonging or in any way
appertaining thereto without molestation or hindrance of any person claiming by,
through or under Krieger, subject, however, to the terms of this Sublease.

         15. Miscellaneous.

                  (a) This Sublease  Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement
         between  the parties  hereto as to the  sublease  of the  Premises  and
         supersedes all prior discussions,  understandings or agreements between
         the parties hereto. No modification,  amendment,  change or addition to
         this Sublease  Agreement shall be binding on the parties unless reduced
         to writing and signed by their authorized representatives.

                  (b)  Except  as  herein  otherwise  specified,  this  Sublease
         Agreement  shall legally  benefit and bind the parties hereto and their
         respective successors and assigns. Hoffman may not record this Sublease
         Agreement without the prior written consent of Krieger.

                  (c) This Sublease  Agreement  shall be governed by the laws of
         the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  without  regard to  choice-of-law
         provisions, and jurisdiction and venue for all disputes hereunder shall
         lie  only  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Cumberland   County,
         Pennsylvania  and/or in the United States District Court for the Middle
         District of Pennsylvania.

                  (d) If any  term  or  provision  or  portion  thereof  of this
         Sublease   Agreement,   or   application   thereof  to  any  person  or
         circumstance,  be held invalid, the remainder of said term or provision
         and/or of this Sublease  Agreement shall not be affected thereby;  and,
         to this end, the parties  hereto agree that the terms and provisions of
         this Sublease Agreement are severable.
                                      - 7 -
<PAGE>
                  (e) This  Sublease  Agreement may be executed in any number of
         counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all
         of which together shall constitute but one and same instrument.


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto  have  caused  this  Sublease
Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized representatives.


ATTEST:                                     Krieger:
                                            JOHN R. KRIEGER

- -----------------------------               ------------------------------------
                                            John R. Krieger



ATTEST:                                     Hoffman:
                                            P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE PRODUCTS, INC.,
                                             an Arizona corporation


                                            By
- -----------------------------               ------------------------------------
                                            J.S. Whang, its President
                                      - 8 -
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "A"


                                [LEASE AGREEMENT]


                                      - 9 -

                                [GRAPHIC OMITTED]


                   Amtech Systems, Inc. Acquires Manufacturer


         Tempe,  AZ --  July 2,  1997  --  AMTECH  SYSTEMS,  INC.  (NASDAQ:ASYS)
("Amtech") today announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets,
and assumed  certain of the related  liabilities  (the  "Acquisition"),  of P.R.
Hoffman Machine Products  Corporation ("P.R.  Hoffman").  In connection with the
Acquisition,  Amtech paid cash, issued  unregistered shares of its common stock,
assumed  certain  liabilities and has agreed to issue  additional  consideration
subject to the future profits of P.R. Hoffman.

         P.R. Hoffman, headquartered in Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  specializes in
developing,  manufacturing,  and marketing  double sided  precision  lapping and
polishing  machines  for  semiconductor  silicon  wafers and  related  products,
including carriers, templates, and replacement parts. P.R. Hoffman services both
the national and international  high tech silicon wafer  manufacturing  markets.
For the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995,  P.R.  Hoffman had sales of $6.6
million and $4.9 million,  respectively.  Net income  generated during the years
ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 was $458,215 and $160,938, respectively.

         Mr. J.S. Whang,  President and CEO of Amtech,  stated that, "in keeping
with our growth  strategy,  the acquisition of P. R. Hoffman will complement our
existing  business  line and  expand our  overall  market  share.  We expect the
addition of P.R. Hoffman will result in increased  profits through the synergies
created by the  addition  of new  product  lines and the sale of P.R.  Hoffman's
products  through  Amtech's  existing  distribution  channels.  We welcome  John
Krieger, President of P.R. Hoffman, and his team to the Amtech family."

         Mr. John Krieger,  President of P.R.  Hoffman,  added,  "I believe this
transaction  creates  exciting  new  opportunities.   With  Amtech's  world-wide
distribution  channels and international  presence,  we will be able to move our
existing products into new markets."

         Amtech  manufactures  capital  equipment  for use in the  production of
semiconductors, including the Tempress(R) Systems' horizontal diffusion furnace,
ATMOCAN(R), an environmentally controlled wafer processing system, IBAL, modular
robotic  devices which automate the process of wafer loading and unloading,  and
load stations, which load Tempress(R) and other brands of furnaces.

         The Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for forward looking  statements.  Certain  information  included in this
press  release  (as well as  information  included in oral  statements  or other
written  statements made or to be made by Amtech)  contains  statements that are
forward-looking. Such forward looking information involves a number of known and
unknown  risks and  uncertainties  that  could  cause  actual  results to differ
materially  from those  discussed or anticipated by management.  Potential risks
and uncertainties  include,  among other factors,  general business  conditions,
competitive market conditions,  success of Amtech's growth and sales strategies,
and whether Amtech will be able to successfully 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
131 South Clark  Tempe, Arizona 85121 (602) 967-5146 Fax:(602) 968-3763 (24 hr.)
<PAGE>
integrate the operations of P.R. Hoffman. For more information,  review Amtech's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  including, but not limited
to, Amtech's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.


               CONTACT: AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.
                        Robert T. Hass
                        Chief Financial Officer
                        (602) 967-5146



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