RMED INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, 1998-12-03
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

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

                                December 1, 1998
                                 Date of Report

                           Commission File No. 0-14696

                            RMED International, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant and Specified in its Charter)

        Colorado                                      84-0898302
(State of Incorporation)                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                    675 Industrial Boulevard, Delta, CO 81416
                          (Address of Principal Office)

                                 (970) 874-7536
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)

<PAGE>

Item 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

      On November 23, 1998, RMED International,  Inc. (the Registrant)  acquired
Jettar,  Ltd.,  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin  ("Jettar"),  a  privately  held  diaper
manufacturing  and  distributing  company.  The  acquisition  results  in Jettar
becoming  a  division  of the  Registrant.  A copy of the  press  release  dated
September 23, 1998 of the  Registrant  announcing  the  acquisition  is attached
hereto as Item 99.1 and is incorporated herein.

      The  following is a  description  of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger  Agreement"),  the options  agreement  and the term loan entered into in
conjunction with the transaction:

      The  Merger  Agreement  provides  for  the  acquisition  of  Jettar  in  a
stock-for-stock  merger.  The acquisition will be accounted for as a "pooling of
interests".

      Registrant's board of directors  unanimously approved the Merger Agreement
and related transactions.

      On  November  23,  1998 (the  "Merger  Date"),  Registrant  completed  the
acquisition of Jettar, a Wisconsin  corporation  pursuant to that certain Merger
Agreement  dated  as  of  October  30,  1998,  by  and  among  Registrant,  RMED
Acquisition  Corp., a Delaware  corporation and  wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Registrant (the "Merger Sub"),  Jettar, and Lawrence L. Spieth,  Todd L. Nelson,
Hall Trust of 1993 u/d/o July 27,  1993,  Richard L.  Dudkiewicz,  Adrian T. and
Darlene I. Ulatowski Revocable Trust of 1990 u/a/d February 1, 1990, as amended;
Edward  N.  Martin,  John O. and Anne T.  Harry  Revocable  Trust of 1993  u/a/d
January 12, 1998, as amended,  Thomas A. Biebel Living Trust u/a/d July 1, 1992,
as amended, Amy L. Biebel, Randall T. Biebel, Kelly Biebel, Kristine K. Billups,
Bret  Billups,  Barbara  Kiedinger,  Virginia  L.  Waters,  Simi  Fein,  Mark J.
Schommer.

      Pursuant  to the Merger  Agreement,  on the Merger  Date,  the  Registrant
exchanged  2,800,000  shares  of  the  Registrant  for  all of  the  issued  and
outstanding  shares  of  Jettar.  Each of the  Jettar  shareholders  received  a
proportionate  number of shares and a two year option to acquire a proportionate
share of an additional 801,924 shares of Registrant at $1.00 per share.

      The  Registrant  acquired by virtue of the Merger,  all of the  machinery,
equipment,  accounts  receivable,  intellectual  property  and  other  assets of
Jettar.

      The Registrant acquired Jettar because it desires to:

      (i)   Expand the variety of products which the Registrant currently offers
            for sale,

      (ii)  Strengthen its marketing and customer base with an additional  focus
            on traditional sellers of diapers and baby care products.

<PAGE>

      (iii) Centralize  management,   distribution  and  operations  and  obtain
            manufacturing capability.

      On the Merger  Date,  the  Registrant  renewed and  extended  the existing
Jettar  financing  agreements with Bank One,  Wisconsin in the maximum amount of
$3,200,000. The new maturity date of the loan is June 30, 2000.

      Except for historical  matters  contained  herein,  the matters  discussed
herein are  forward-looking  and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned
that  these   forward-looking   statements  may  reflect  numerous  assumptions,
especially sales and product mix, and involve risks and uncertainties  which may
affect  Registrant's  business and prospects and cause actual  results to differ
materially from these forward-looking statements.

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

      (a)   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED

            Financial  Statements  of the  acquired  business  will be  provided
            within sixty (60) days as an amendment to this filing

      (b)   PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

            The unaudited  pro forma  condensed  consolidated  balance sheet and
            income statement of the Registrant will be provided within the sixty
            (60) days as an amendment to this filing

      (c)   EXHIBITS

            Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 30, 1998 among RMED
            International,  Inc., the Registrant,  RMED  Acquisition  Corp., and
            Jettar, Ltd.

Item 99.1 PRESS RELEASE OF THE REGISTRANT DATED SEPTEMBER 23 1998

                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                   RMED International, Inc.

Date: December 1, 1998             By: /s/ Brenda Schenk
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Brenda Schenk
                                       President and Principal Financial Officer


                               AGREEMENT OF MERGER
                                  BY AND AMONG
                            RMED INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
                             RMED ACQUISITION, INC.
                                       AND
                                  JETTAR, LTD.

      THIS AGREEMENT OF MERGER (the "Merger  Agreement") is made and executed on
October 30, 1998, by and among RMED INTERNATIONAL,  INC., a Colorado corporation
("RMED"),  RMED  ACQUISITION,  INC., a Delaware  corporation  and a wholly-owned
subsidiary  of  RMED  ("Sub"),  and  JETTAR,   LTD.,  a  Wisconsin   corporation
("Company").

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS,  the Company  manufactures and distributes baby care products and
related items, including the Bumpies(TM) and Rock-A-Bye(TM) line of diapers.

      WHEREAS,  RMED  also  manufactures  and  distributes  baby  care  products
including Tender Care(TM) and Tushies(TM) diapers and products.

      WHEREAS,  RMED owns all of the issued and  outstanding  stock of Sub,  and
RMED has agreed to be a party to this Merger  Agreement  only for the purpose of
and to the extent of causing Sub to consummate the Merger.

      WHEREAS,  RMED has formed Sub for the purpose of the  consummation of this
merger transaction.

      WHEREAS,  RMED,  Sub and the Company intend to cause Sub to merge into the
Company (the "Merger") and that as a result of the Merger:

            1. The Sub will be the  surviving  corporation  in the  Merger  (the
      "Surviving Corporation") and will continue its existence under the laws of
      the State of Delaware and the Company will be the merging  corporation  in
      the Merger and shall cease to exist.

            2. All of the Company Shares of common stock issued and  outstanding
      at the time the Merger becomes  effective will be converted into shares of
      the common  capital  stock of RMED (the  "Shares")  in the  manner  herein
      provided, and all of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common
      stock ("Company Shares") will be cancelled.

<PAGE>

      WHEREAS,  the  parties  wish to  make an  agreement  setting  forth  their
respective rights,  obligations and  understandings  with respect to and for the
Merger.

      THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the representations and
warranties and the covenants and agreements contained herein, RMED, Sub, and the
Company agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                                 PLAN OF MERGER

      1.01 Terms and Conditions of the Merger.

            (a) The  Merger  shall  become  effective  upon  the  filing  by the
      Secretary  of  State  of the  State  of  Delaware  and the  Department  of
      Financial Institution Office of the State of Wisconsin of a Certificate of
      Merger,  which shall be authorized,  executed and delivered by each of Sub
      and the Company in the manner  provided  under  Section 2.5 of the General
      Corporation  Laws of the State of  Delaware  and  Section  180.1101 of the
      Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the "Corporation Laws"). The date when
      the Merger  shall  become  effective  as  aforesaid  is herein  called the
      "Effective  Date".  On the Effective Date, the Company will be merged into
      the Sub and the  separate  existence of the Company  shall cease,  and the
      Sub, as the Surviving  Corporation,  will continue its corporate existence
      under the name of "JETTAR, LTD."

            (b) On the Effective  Date,  the Sub, as the Surviving  Corporation,
      shall  succeed to all of the  rights,  obligations,  property,  assets and
      liabilities  of the  Company  in the manner and to the extent set forth in
      the Corporation Laws.

            (c) The  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the  Sub,  as in  effect
      immediately  prior to the  Effective  Date,  shall be the  Certificate  of
      Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, and the by-laws of the Sub, as
      in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date, shall be the by-laws of
      the Surviving  Corporation,  without change or amendment until  thereafter
      amended.

            (d) The  directors  of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be  Edward
      Reiss,  Brenda Schenk,  Thomas Biebel,  John Harry, and George  Reinbacker
      (subject  to  the  approval  of all  parties),  each  to  hold  office  in
      accordance  with the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  by-laws  of the
      Surviving Corporation.

      1.02 Manner of  Converting  Shares.  On the  Effective  Date,  each of the
Company Shares issued and  outstanding at the time the Merger becomes  effective
(other  than  shares  held  in  the  Company's   treasury  and  shares  held  by
shareholders  who  properly  exercise  and  do  not  withdraw  appraisal  rights
available under the  Corporation  Laws shall by virtue of the Merger and without
any further  action on the part of the holder  thereof,  be  converted  into the
right to receive  the Shares of RMED (as  


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

hereinafter defined), which shall be issued upon surrender of the certificate or
certificates  representing  the  shares  of the  Company.  From  and  after  the
Effective Date, each holder of certificates  which  represented  Shares prior to
the Effective Date shall have rights as a common shareholder of RMED.

      1.03 Consideration-Issuance of Shares.

            (a) The  number  of Shares  in RMED  that the  Shareholders  will be
      entitled  to receive  shall be that number of Shares for each share of the
      Company held by each  respective  shareholder of the Company,  all as more
      fully set forth in Schedule 1.03(a) hereof.

            (b) At the Closing, and as further consideration for the Merger, Sub
      shall cause to be issued stock options to purchase 801,924 shares of RMED,
      to each respective Shareholder of the Company, all as more fully set forth
      on Schedule  1.03(b),  pursuant to the terms and  conditions  of the Stock
      Option Agreement attached hereto.

                                  ARTICLE II.

                                CLOSING PROCEDURE

      2.01 Shareholder Vote. Within ten (10) days prior to the execution of this
Merger  Agreement  of Merger by all of the parties  hereto,  the Company and Sub
shall each call a special meeting of  shareholders  for the purpose of voting on
the Merger (the "Special Meetings").

      2.02  Closing  Procedures.  Immediately  after  the  last  of the  Special
Meetings,  in the event that the Merger is approved at each of such meetings,  a
meeting (the  "Closing")  shall take place at the offices of Schwartz & Freeman,
401 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago,  Illinois, in the forenoon in order
to determine  whether any  condition  exists or remains  unperformed  that would
permit any of the parties to this Merger  Agreement to decline to enter into the
Merger and to consummate the transactions set forth herein. At the Closing,  the
parties will prepare, execute, deliver and exchange the certificates,  opinions,
letters  and other  documents  (the  "Transaction  Documents")  not  theretofore
provided which  constitute  conditions  precedent to the further  actions of the
other  parties.  If no such  condition  then  exists,  or if no party  elects to
exercise  any  right it may have to  decline  to enter  into the  Merger  and to
consummate the transactions set forth herein, the appropriate representatives of
the parties shall  thereupon  direct and cause the  Certificate  of Merger to be
filed  by the  Secretary  of State  of  Delaware  and  Department  of  Financial
Institutions of the State of Wisconsin in accordance with Section 1.01.

      2.03  Issuance  of Shares  and  Options.  At the  Closing,  the  Surviving
Corporation  shall  cause the  issuance  of the  Shares in  accordance  with the
provisions  of this  Merger  Agreement  (other  than  Company  Shares  owned  by
shareholders  who have  properly  exercised and not  withdrawn  their  appraisal
rights in accordance with the


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Corporation Laws). The Company shall cooperate with Sub and use its best efforts
to contact  the holders of the Company  Shares and obtain the  certificates  for
such  shares  for  presentment  and  cancellation  at  Closing.   The  Surviving
Corporation  shall place a legend pursuant to Schedule 2.03 on the  certificates
representing  the Shares issued with respect to this Merger  Agreement.  ARTICLE
III.

                         COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND
                              WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

      On the date hereof and the  Effective  Date,  Company  makes the following
covenants, representations and warranties to Sub and to RMED:

      3.01 Legal Status.

            (a) The Company is a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing
      and in good standing  under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.  Except as
      set forth on  Schedule  3.01,  the Company is not  qualified  as a foreign
      corporation to do business in any other jurisdiction, the character of the
      Company's  properties  and the  nature  of its  activities  does  not make
      qualification in any other jurisdiction necessary and where the failure to
      be so  qualified  would have a material  adverse  effect on its  business,
      financial condition or results of operations.

            (b) The Company has previously delivered to Sub complete and correct
      copies of the Certificate of Incorporation  (certified by the Secretary of
      State  of  Wisconsin)  and  by-laws  for  the  Company  (certified  by its
      Secretary). Such Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws are valid and in
      effect as of the date hereof.

            (c) The  Company  has the  corporate  power  to own  and  lease  its
      property and to carry on its businesses.

            (d)  The  Company  currently  has no  subsidiaries  and  has  had no
      subsidiaries during the period of its existence preceding the date of this
      Merger Agreement.

      3.02 Capitalization.

            (a) Common  Stock.  The Company is authorized to issue 20,000 shares
      of common  stock,  with $1.00 par value per share,  of which 520 shares of
      Company  Shares are held in the treasury,  9,580 shares are validly issued
      and outstanding and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth
      on  Schedule  3.02(a),  no holder  of any  shares of  Company  Shares  has
      asserted any claim or action  against the Company,  including any claim or
      action with respect to the Merger.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

            (b)  Options and  Rights.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.02(b)
      there are no  outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,  contracts,
      calls, commitments, preemptive rights or demands of any nature relating to
      the capital stock of the Company or obligating the Company to buy, sell or
      issue shares of the Company's capital stock.

      3.03  Conflicts of Interest.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.03, to the
best  of its  knowledge,  neither  the  Company  nor  any  of the  shareholders,
directors or officers of the Company nor any of their  spouses or children  owns
directly or  indirectly  any  interest  in (other than a minority  interest in a
publicly  traded  corporation),  or is a director,  officer or employee  of, any
corporation,  partnership,  firm,  association  or business  organization  which
manufactures,   distributes   or  sells,   any  product  or  service   which  is
manufactured,  sold or furnished by the Company,  or is a competitor,  potential
competitor, supplier or customer of the Company. 

      3.04 Authorization.  The Company has full corporate power and authority to
enter into this Merger Agreement and to perform its obligations  hereunder.  The
Board of  Directors  of the Company has taken all actions  required by law,  the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation,  its by-laws or otherwise to be taken by
such board to authorize the execution and delivery of this Merger Agreement and,
subject to requisite  shareholder  approval,  the consummation of the Merger and
the other transactions  contemplated hereby and, no other corporate  proceedings
on the part of the Board of Directors of the Company are  necessary to authorize
this Merger  Agreement  and the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby.  This Merger  Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered
by the Company and  constitutes  a valid and binding  agreement  of the Company,
subject to requisite approval of its shareholders.

      3.05 Financial Statements.

            (a)  Financial  Statements.  The  Company has  delivered  to Sub the
      balance  sheets for the Company as of  December  31, 1996 and 1997 and the
      related statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the
      years then ended (and the  accompanying  footnotes  which are an  integral
      part thereof)  together with the attached  Independent  Accountants  Audit
      Reports of Oatley, Bystrom & Hansen,  Certified Public Accountants,  whose
      reports thereon are included therein (the "Financial Statements"). Subject
      to the  qualifications  contained  in such audit  reports,  the  Financial
      Statements  present fairly in all material respects the financial position
      of the Company as of such dates and the results of its  operations and its
      cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with generally  accepted
      accounting principles.

            (b) Current Financial Statements.  Prior to the Closing, the Company
      shall use all reasonable  efforts to deliver to Sub a balance sheet of the
      Company as at the end of such month and the related statements of earnings
      for the period  then  ended  (the  "Current  Financial  Statements").  The
      Current  Financial  Statements will be prepared by the Company in the form
      customarily used by


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

      the Company in conformity with generally accepted  accounting  principles,
      and present fairly in all material respects the financial  position of the
      Company on the  applicable  date and the results of its operations and its
      cash flows for the periods then ended  (except that the Current  Financial
      Statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments).

      3.06  Absence of Changes.  Except as set forth in Schedule  3.06 or in the
Current  Financial  Statements,  and except for general economic  conditions and
other  conditions  generally  affecting  the retail sales which are known to the
general public,  since September  30,1998 there has not been with respect to the
Company:

            (i) any  material  adverse  change in the  condition  (financial  or
      other), properties, assets or business of Company;

            (ii) any damage,  destruction or loss (whether  covered by insurance
      or not) which materially and adversely  affects the business,  properties,
      assets or business of the Company;

            (iii) any  declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend or
      any distribution  with respect to Schedule  3.06(ii) the Company's capital
      stock other than as provided in the Company's  Shareholder  Agreement,  or
      any direct or indirect  redemption,  purchase or other  acquisition by the
      Company ;

            (iv) any increase of more than ten percent (10%) in the compensation
      payable or to become payable by the Company to any employee earning Twenty
      Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per annum or more, or any general increase
      in the compensation or rates of compensation  payable or to become payable
      by the Company to hourly  employees,  except as required by any collective
      bargaining  agreement,  or to salaried  officers or employees earning less
      than Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per year;

            (v) any change in the  accounting  principles,  methods or practices
      followed by the Company;

            (vi) any debt, obligation or liability, whether accrued, absolute or
      contingent  and  whether  due,  incurred or entered  into by the  Company,
      except  liabilities  and  obligations  incurred  or  entered  into  in the
      ordinary course of business;

            (vii) any  sale,  lease,  abandonment  or other  disposition  by the
      Company of any  interest  in real  property or any  machinery,  equipment,
      inventory or other operating property other than in the ordinary course of
      business as reflected in Schedule 3.06;


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

            (viii) any sale, assignment,  transfer, license or other disposition
      by the Company of any patent, trademark, trade name, brand name, copyright
      (or any  application for any patent,  trademark or copyright),  invention,
      process, know-how, formula or trade secret or interest thereunder or other
      intangible asset, except as implied for use in connection with the sale of
      its products in the  ordinary  course of business as reflected in Schedule
      3.06;

            (ix) any agreement,  understanding or undertaking by the Company the
      performance  of  which  would  result  in any of the  items  described  in
      subparagraphs (i) through (vii) above.

      3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.07:

            (a) To the best of  shareholders'  knowledge,  after due  inquiry on
      their part, the Company has no liabilities or obligations, either accrued,
      absolute, contingent or otherwise, except:

                  (i) to the  extent  reflected  or  reserved  in the  Financial
            Statements for December 31, 1997 or the Current Financial Statements
            for September 30, 1998, and not heretofore paid or discharged;

                  (ii) to the extent  disclosed  in this Merger  Agreement or in
            any of the Schedules to this Merger Agreement;

                  (iii) those incurred in or as a result of the ordinary  course
            of business since the date of the Financial  Statements for December
            31, 1997,  including normal warranty claims and executory contracts,
            all of which have been  consistent  with past  practice  and none of
            which,  either  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  have  a
            material adverse effect on the Company; or

                  (iv) those incurred pursuant to or contemplated by this Merger
            Agreement,  Schedules  hereto and the various  related or  ancillary
            documents  and  agreements   contemplated   hereby  or  executed  in
            connection herewith.

            (b) Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.07(b)  the  Company  has not
      received any notice of any claim  against the Company of any  liability of
      any nature or in any amount  required to be set forth or  disclosed in the
      Financial  Statements,  the  Current  Financial  Statements,  this  Merger
      Agreement or the Schedules  hereto,  which is not or will not be set forth
      in  the  Financial  Statements,   the  Current  Financial  Statements,  or
      otherwise disclosed in this Merger Agreement or in the Schedules hereto.

      3.08 No Violation of Statute or Contract.  Except as set forth on Schedule
3.08,  and subject to the Merger being  approved at the Special  Meetings and if
required 


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

by specific  waiver of the other party,  neither the  execution  and delivery of
this Merger Agreement,  nor the compliance with the terms and provisions of this
Merger Agreement on the part of the Company will:

            (i)  conflict  with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
      terms,  conditions or provisions  of, or constitute a default (or an event
      which,  with notice or lapse of time or both would  constitute  a default)
      under the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or by-laws of the Company,  or,
      assuming  that the  approvals  described  in Section  3.07 hereof are duly
      obtained or waiting periods expired, any statute,  code, ordinance,  rule,
      regulation,  judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the
      Company or any of its properties, assets, licenses or permits, which would
      have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition  (financial  or other),
      properties,  assets or business, of the Company, or

            (ii) violate,  conflict  with,  result in a breach of any provisions
      of, constitute a default (or any event which, with notice or lapse of time
      or both, would constitute a default) under,  result in the termination of,
      accelerate the  performance  required by, or result in the creation of any
      lien,  security  interest,  charge  or other  encumbrance  upon any of the
      property of the Company  under any of the terms,  conditions or provisions
      of any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture,  deed of trust,  license,  lease,
      agreement  or other  instrument  or  obligation  to which the Company is a
      party, or by which the Company or its properties or assets may be bound or
      affected,  which  would have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition
      (financial or other), results of operations or business of the Company.

      3.09  Regulatory  Approvals.  Except as set  forth on  Schedule  3.09,  no
consent,  approval or authorization  of, or declaration,  filing or registration
with, any government or regulatory  authority is required to be obtained or made
by the Company in  connection  with the Merger or the  execution,  delivery  and
performance by the Company of this Merger Agreement.

      3.10  Marketable  Securities.  Except  for the stock of RMED  owned by the
Shareholders,  as set forth in  Schedule  3.10,  the Company  has  directed  its
officers and directors,  and their spouses and children, not to buy or sell any,
or additional,  shares in RMED or any,  additional,  puts,  calls,  options,  or
warrants  which would entitle the holder to sell or buy any shares in RMED prior
to closing.

      3.11  Accounts  Receivable.  Except as set  forth in  Schedule  3.10,  the
accounts receivable of the Company arose from valid sales in the ordinary course
of business,  and, subject to applicable reserves, are good and collectible.  To
the best of  shareholders'  knowledge,  after due inquiry,  the reserves for bad
debts and uncollected accounts is adequate.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>

      3.12 Notes  Receivable.  Schedule 3.12 sets forth all notes receivable and
other  receivables in excess of Five Thousand  Dollars  ($5,000),  which are not
included in the  accounts  receivable,  which are  reflected  on the most recent
balance sheet which is included in the Financial Statements or will be reflected
in the Current  Financial  Statements.  The Company has no notice of any defect,
defense,  counterclaim,  or  setoff  to  payment  which  the  maker  of any note
receivable may claim or assert or of any fact or  circumstance  which would give
rise to denial of  payment  thereof  by the maker of any note  receivable.  Also
included on Schedule 3.12 is a list of all loans,  advances or other payments in
excess of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) receivable from directors, officers and
employees of the Company ("Employee  Receivables") setting forth the name of the
individual,  the amount receivable by the Company from such individual,  and the
terms on which  such  Employee  Receivable  is to be  repaid.  The  Company  has
provided  to Sub true  and  complete  copies  of all  promissory  notes or other
documents evidencing the Employee  Receivables.  The Company agrees to cause all
individuals that are obligated for an Employee  Receivable that is not evidenced
by a document,  to execute and deliver to the Company  promissory notes or other
documents  satisfactory  to Sub  evidencing  the obligation to pay such Employee
Receivable prior to Closing.

      3.13  Inventories.  Except  as  provided  in  Schedule  3.13,  all  of the
Company's  inventories  reflected on the Financial  Statements  for December 31,
1997 and that will be reflected in the Current Financial  Statements are or will
be good and usable and salable in the ordinary course of the Company's business,
except for minor items not material in amount.

      3.14 Real Property Owned or Leased.

            (a) The Company does not own any real property.

            (b) The  Company  leases the  manufacturing  and  office  facilities
      located at 3925 North  Hastings  Way, Eau Claire,  Wisconsin  (the "Leased
      Property")  upon terms and  conditions  contained  in the lease  agreement
      attached hereto and made a part here of as Schedule 3.14 (the "Lease").

            (c) The Company represents that:

                  (i) The Lease is in full force and  effect,  and that,  to the
            best of the  Company's  knowledge,  the  Company is not aware of any
            material default thereunder. To the best of the Company's knowledge,
            none of the rights or benefits  accorded the Company under the Lease
            will be  impaired  by the  Merger  and no  consent  to the Merger is
            required  from any  other  party to the  Lease,  and that  after the
            Merger, the Lease will be and shall remain in full force and effect.

                  (ii) The  Company  has the  right of quiet  enjoyment  to each
            parcel of Leased Property.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                  (iii) All improvements,  fixtures,  structures,  machinery and
            equipment  used by the  Company  in  carrying  on its  business  are
            located on the Leased Property.

                  (iv) The Company has the right to use the Leased  Property for
            all of the  operations now conducted  therefrom and the Company,  by
            virtue of the Lease,  possesses all easements,  licenses,  rights of
            way and rights in, to, and over the Property which are necessary for
            the  conduct of the  business  in the  ordinary  course.  The Leased
            Property  and  Improvements  are  adequate  and  sufficient  for all
            operations now conducted by the Company.

                  (v)  Neither  the whole nor any  portion  of any of the Leased
            Property is the subject of a pending  condemnation or eminent domain
            proceeding,  and to the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company
            does  not  know  nor  has any  grounds  to  believe  that  any  such
            condemnation or taking is threatened or contemplated.

                  (vi) None of the Leased  Property is occupied by any entity or
            person other than the  Company,  nor does any other person or entity
            have any rights to occupy any portion of the Leased Property, except
            that certain space which is not exclusive to the Company,  is leased
            to other tenants by the Landlord, none of which, however, interferes
            with the operations of the Company's business in its ordinary course
            as shown on Schedule 3.14(c)(vi).

                  (vii) Except for the Leased  Property,  the Company  leases no
            other real property.

                  (viii) The Company's  occupancy of the Leased  Property is not
            in material violation of any law or regulation  applicable  thereto,
            nor  has  the  Company,  to the  best  of the  Company's  knowledge,
            received any notice of any such violation.

                  (ix) The Company has not received any notice of any  violation
            of any law, ordinance,  regulation, building, zoning or fire code or
            requiring or calling  attention  to the need for any work,  repairs,
            construction,  alterations or  installations  with respect to any of
            the  Leased  Property  nor has any such  notice  been  posted on any
            portion of the Leased Property.

      3.15 Tangible Personal Property. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.15, all
machinery,  equipment  and other  personal  property  used by the Company in the
operation  of its  business  either  owned or leased by the Company  under valid
leases, is, in all material aspects,  in good operating condition and repair and
is adequate and  sufficient  for all  operations  now  conducted by the Company.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.15, the Company has good and marketable  title
to all  personal  property  


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

owned by it,  free and clear of  restrictions  on or  conditions  to transfer or
assignment, and free and clear of mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests,
charges,  encumbrances,  equities, claims, easements,  rights of way, covenants,
conditions, or restrictions and has valid leases pursuant to which it leases all
personal property used in connection with the operation of its business which is
not owned by the Company.  All such leases are valid and binding,  in full force
and effect and no defaults  (or  conditions  or events  which with the giving of
notice or the  passage of time,  or both,  would  constitute  a  default)  exist
thereunder. 

      3.16 Intellectual Property.

            (a)  Schedule  3.16  sets  forth a  description  of all  trademarks,
      trademark registrations and trademark  applications,  trade names, assumed
      names, service marks, service mark registrations and applications, service
      names,  copyrights,  patents  and patent  applications,  and  patent,  and
      copyright  and  trademark  licenses,  owned or used by the  Company in the
      conduct of its business (collectively "Intellectual Property").  Except as
      set forth on Schedule 3.16, the Company owns, is licensed or otherwise has
      the right to use all  Intellectual  Property and all trade  secrets,  shop
      rights and know-how used in or necessary for the conduct of its business.

            (b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16, no claim has been asserted
      against  the  Company by any person with  respect to the  ownership,  use,
      transfer,  license or other disposition by the Company of any Intellectual
      Property or any trade secrets,  shop rights or know-how or challenging any
      license or agreement with respect  thereto,  and the Company does not know
      of any  basis  for any such  claim.  To the best of the  knowledge  of the
      Company,  the use of  Intellectual  Property and the trade  secrets,  shop
      rights and know-how by the Company, the practice of any process or the use
      of any apparatus,  or the making or selling of any product by the Company,
      does not, and is not reasonably expected to, infringe on the rights of any
      person.

            (c) No third party is known by the Company to be  infringing  on any
      Intellectual  Property or any trade secrets, shop rights or know how owned
      or used by the Company.

      3.17 Material Contracts.  Schedule 3.17 sets forth a true and correct list
or description of:

            (a) Each contract, agreement or binding commitment in respect of the
      procurement,  purchase, processing, storage or sale of material, products,
      supplies,  utilities  or  services  to which the  Company is a party or by
      which it is bound other than contracts,  agreements or binding commitments
      which

                  (i)  involve  payments or receipts by the Company of less than
            Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000),


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                  (ii) are  terminable by the Company  without  penalty upon not
            more than thirty (30) days notice,

                  (iii) which are  substantially  performed  except for standard
            warranty, guaranty, non-compete or indemnification obligations, or

                  (iv) relate to sales order or purchase order  contracts  which
            individually  are for an  amount  which  is less  than  Twenty  Five
            Thousand Dollars  ($25,000) or a series of related contracts are for
            an amount in the aggregate which is less than Fifty Thousand Dollars
            ($50,000).

            (b) Each sales agency or  distributorship  agreement or franchise to
      which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

            (c)  Each  collective  bargaining,  union,  employment,  consulting,
      independent contractor,  non-competition or secrecy agreement to which the
      Company is a party or by which it is bound.

            (d) Each pension,  profit sharing,  retirement,  bonus,  group life,
      health and accident  insurance or other employee benefit plan,  agreement,
      arrangement or binding commitment to which the Company is a party, whether
      or not legally binding,  including, but not limited to, each union plan or
      arrangement to which the Company is a party or makes contributions.

            (e) Each material contract, agreement, binding commitment or license
      relating  to any  Intellectual  Property,  trade  secrets,  shop rights or
      know-how to which the Company is a party  except  rights which are implied
      for use in  connection  with the  sale of the  Company's  products  in the
      ordinary course of business.

            (f) Each loan or credit  agreement,  security  agreement,  guaranty,
      indenture,   mortgage,   pledge,   conditional  sale  or  title  retention
      agreement,  equipment  obligation,  lease or lease  purchase  agreement or
      other documents  evidencing secured indebtedness to which the Company is a
      party or by which it or any of its properties is bound.

            (g) Each  partnership,  joint  venture,  joint  operating or similar
      agreement or agreement for the  performance  of services as an independent
      contractor to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

            (h) Each contract,  agreement or binding commitment other than those
      covered  above which (A)  involves  payments or receipts by the Company of
      Twenty  Five  Thousand  Dollars  ($25,000)  or more  and  not  made in the
      ordinary  course of  business,  or (B) is not  terminable  by the  Company
      without  penalty,  or  (C)  which  otherwise  is  reasonably  expected  to
      materially affect the condition (financial or other),  properties,  assets
      or business of the Company.


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

Each such contract, agreement or binding commitment is legally valid and binding
on the Company and the Parties thereto,  and each constitutes a legal, valid and
binding  obligation of the Company  enforceable  in  accordance  with its terms,
except as limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium,  and
other similar laws affecting  creditors' rights generally,  is in full force and
effect,  and there are no defaults  thereunder known to the Company by any party
thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17, under the terms of the foregoing,
none of the rights of the Company thereunder will be impaired by the Merger, and
all of the rights of the  Company  thereunder  will be  enforceable  immediately
after the Effective  Date to the extent  enforceable  immediately  prior thereto
without the consent or  agreement  of any other  party,  except as  indicated on
Schedules.  True and complete copies of all documents described in the aforesaid
schedule  have or will be made  available  by the Company to Sub  including  all
amendments and supplements thereto and modifications thereof.

      3.18  Permits  and  Licenses.  To the best of its  knowledge,  the Company
possesses  all  governmental  permits,  licenses  and  certifications  which are
necessary  for the  conduct  of the  business  by the  Company,  and all of such
permits, licenses and certifications are in full force and effect. No violations
are known to the Company to exist or, to its knowledge,  have been recorded with
respect to any of such permits,  licenses or certifications and no proceeding is
pending (other than reapplication pursuant hereto) or known to the Company to be
threatened  which,  if adversely  determined,  could  result in the  revocation,
termination  or  limitation  of any such  permits,  licenses or  certifications.
Except as set forth in Schedule 3.18, the Merger will not cause the  revocation,
termination,  limitation,  non-renewal or expiration of any such permit, license
or certification currently issued to Company.

      3.19  Insurance  Coverages.  Schedule  3.19 refers to all of the Company's
insurance  coverages  and carriers  (specifying  the insurer,  the amount of the
coverage,  the type of insurance,  the policy number,  the annual  premium,  the
expiration  date and any  pending  claims  thereunder  not  otherwise  disclosed
pursuant to this Merger  Agreement).  Except as disclosed on Schedule  3.19, the
Company has and maintains insurance coverage with retentions which insurance and
retentions  are  reasonably  believed  by the  Company  to be  adequate  for the
protection  of the Company in the conduct of its  business.  The Company has not
failed to give any notice or present any claim  known to it under any  insurance
policy covering the same in proper form and timely fashion. The Company will use
all  reasonable  efforts to assure that all such coverages will be in full force
and effect at the Effective Date.

      3.20  Claims and  Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule  3.20,  the
Company  is not a party  to any  litigation,  proceeding,  arbitration,  demand,
action  or claim  either  pending  or,  to the best  knowledge  of the  Company,
threatened  against  the  Company  before  any  court or  governmental  or other
regulatory or administrative  agency or commission or arbitration panel.  Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.20, the Company has no knowledge of any pending items
in  dispute  or any injury  that it  believes  is likely to give rise to a claim
against the Company. The Company does not believe that any action, proceeding or
investigation  set forth on Schedule 3.20 will 


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  condition   (financial  or  other),
properties,  assets or  business  of the  Company,  except for matters for which
reserves have been reflected on the Financial Statements.

      3.21 Labor  Relations  Matters.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.21, the
Company is in  compliance  in all material  respects  with all  applicable  laws
respecting  employment  and  employment  practices,   terms  and  conditions  of
employment and wages and hours, and is not engaged in any unfair labor practice.
To the best of Company's knowledge,  after due inquiry, there is no unfair labor
practice  complaint  against  the  Company  pending  before the  National  Labor
Relations Board, any state labor relations board or any other court or tribunal.
Except as described in Schedule  3.21,  within the last five years there has not
been any, and there is currently no labor strike, or material dispute,  slowdown
or  stoppage  by the  Company's  employees  pending  or  threatened  against  or
affecting the Company. To the best of the Company's knowledge, no representation
question  exists.  Except as set forth in Schedule  3.21,  no grievance  nor any
arbitration  proceeding  arising out of or under any labor  agreement is pending
and no claim  therefor has been made.  The Company has no collective  bargaining
agreements  or  other  agreements  with  labor  organizations,  other  than  the
agreements listed on Schedule 3.17.

      3.22 Tax Matters.

            (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.22, the Company has

                  (i) filed when due with the appropriate federal, state, local,
            foreign and other governmental agencies, all tax returns,  estimates
            and reports required to be filed by it,

                  (ii) paid when due and payable all requisite  federal,  state,
            local or  foreign  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,  licenses  and
            registration  fees and charges of any nature  whatsoever,  including
            interest and penalties  thereon and unemployment and social security
            taxes  ("Taxes")  or  has  established  reserves  in  the  Financial
            Statements adequate therefor and

                  (iii)  has  established,  or will have  established  as of the
            Effective  Date,  reserves that, in the aggregate,  are adequate for
            the  payment of all Taxes not yet due and  payable on the results of
            operation  through the Effective  Date as if the taxable year of the
            Company ended on the  Effective  Date,  and in each such case,  will
            immediately notify Sub of such setting aside.

            (b)  Except  as set  forth on  Schedule  3.22,  there  are no taxes,
      interest,  penalties,  assessments  or  deficiencies  claimed to be due in
      respect of any tax returns filed by the Company, or otherwise that are not
      fully  reserved for on the  Financial  Statements.  Except as set forth on
      Schedule  3.22,  the Company has not  executed or filed with the  Internal
      Revenue  Service or any other  taxing  


                                      -14-
<PAGE>

      authority any agreement or other document extending,  or having the effect
      of extending,  the period of assessment or collection of any Taxes, and no
      power-of-attorney  of the Company is outstanding or will be outstanding on
      the  Effective  Date.  The  Company has not  reported  any item of income,
      deduction or credit on any income tax return or reported any other item on
      any  other   return  in  a  manner  which  is  contrary  to  the  specific
      recommendation or advice of the Company's  accountants and the Company has
      not made any disclosures on any tax return pursuant to Section 6662 of the
      Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

            (c) The Company has not filed a consent  pursuant to Section  341(f)
      of the Code or agreed to have  Section  341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any
      disposition  of a subsection (f) asset (as such term is defined in Section
      341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company.

            (d) No  property  of the  Company  is  property  that the  Surviving
      Corporation  is or will be  required  to treat as being  owned by  another
      person  pursuant to the provisions of Section  168(f)(8) of the Code or is
      "tax exempt use property"  within the meaning of Section  168(f)(3) of the
      Internal Revenue Code, as it existed prior to January 1, 1984.

            (e) The  Company  has not  agreed,  nor has  been  requested  by the
      Internal  Revenue  Service to make any adjustment  under Section 481(a) of
      the Code by reason of a change in accounting method or otherwise except as
      required by the Tax Reform Act of 1986,  which  adjustments,  if any, have
      previously  been recognized in the income of the Company in tax returns of
      the Company for years ending prior to 1998.

            (f) The Company has withheld  from  employee  wages and paid over to
      the proper governmental authorities all amounts required to be so withheld
      and paid over.

            (g) The  Company  is not a party  to,  nor is it bound by or has any
      obligation under any tax sharing or similar agreement.

            (h) The  Company  is not a foreign  person  within  the  meaning  of
      Section 1445(b)(2) of the Code.

      3.23 Benefit Plans.

            (a) For the purposes of this Merger  Agreement,  the term  "Employee
      Plan" includes all pension,  retirement,  disability,  medical,  dental or
      other health plans,  life insurance or other death benefit  plans,  profit
      sharing,  deferred  compensation,  stock option,  bonus or other incentive
      plans, vacation benefit plans,  severance plans, or other employee benefit
      plans or arrangements,  including,  without limitation, any "pension plan"
      as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act
      of 1974  ("ERISA")  and any  


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

      "welfare plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, whether or not funded,
      and whether or not oral,  to which the Company is a party or bound or with
      respect to which the Company may otherwise  have any liability  (including
      any such plan  maintained  by the Company  within the last three  calendar
      years) or with  respect  to which the  Company  has made any  payments  or
      contributions  covering any employee of the Company  within the last three
      calendar years.

            (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.23,

                  (i) the  Company has not been since its  inception  and is not
            now the sponsor of any Additional  Employee Plan. The Company has no
            legally binding commitment to create any additional Employee Plan.

                  (ii) no separate trust is maintained in  conjunction  with any
            such  plan.  A separate  trust is a trust the assets of which  enjoy
            protection  from the claims of the Company's  creditors or any trust
            maintained in  conjunction  with a promise of deferred  compensation
            (commonly known as a "Rabbi Trust").

      3.24 ERISA Matters.

            (a) Except as provided in Schedule  3.24 hereof,  each Employee Plan
      that is an employee pension benefit plan qualifiable  under Section 401 or
      403(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal  Revenue Service to
      be "qualified" within the meaning of the Code.

            (b) Each  Employee  Plan of the Company and the  administrators  and
      fiduciaries  of each  Employee  Plan  of the  Company  have  at all  times
      complied in all material  respects  with all  applicable  requirements  of
      ERISA and of any other  applicable law (including  regulations and rulings
      thereunder)  governing  each Employee  Plan, and each Employee Plan has at
      all times been in material  respects  properly  administered in accordance
      with all such  requirements of law and in accordance with its terms to the
      extent  consistent with all such  requirements of law. Except as set forth
      in Schedule 3.20, no lawsuits or complaints material to the Company to, or
      by, government  agencies have been filed, are pending or are expected with
      respect to any Employee Plan.

            (c) No "prohibited  transaction"  (as defined in Section 4975 of the
      Code or Section 406 of ERISA) has occurred,  or as of the Effective  Date,
      shall have  occurred,  with respect to any  Employee  Plan or trust of the
      Company,  unless such prohibited transaction shall have been corrected and
      any excise tax liability  discharged;  no notice of  termination  has been
      filed by any Plan Administrator  pursuant to Section 4041 of ERISA or been
      issued by the PBGC  pursuant to Section  4042 of ERISA with respect to any
      Plan subject to ERISA and relating to the  Company,  unless any  liability
      under Title IV of ERISA occasioned in connection therewith shall have been
      discharged;  except as disclosed on Schedule  3.20;  no Employee  Plan has
      outstanding,  or as of the  Effective  Date,  


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

      shall have outstanding any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in
      Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived and has not applied for or
      received any waivers of minimum  funding  standards  under Section 412; to
      the extent  required by  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  the
      Company has made or has  accrued  or, on or before the  Current  Financial
      Statements  date,  shall have made or shall have  accrued on its books and
      records,  all  contributions  required to be made by it under the terms of
      all  pension,  profit  sharing  and  other  Employee  Plans  covering  its
      employees; and all premiums due to the PBGC have been paid.

            (d) Other than with  respect to retired or former  employees  of the
      Company,  no person is a participant in, or eligible for participation in,
      any Employee Plan who is not an employee of the Company.

            (e) To the best of the  Company's  knowledge,  the Company  does not
      currently  maintain  or  contribute  to nor  has  it  ever  maintained  or
      contributed  to,  or  been  required  by  any  agreement  to  maintain  or
      contribute  to, any  multi-employer  plan as  defined in Section  3(37) of
      ERISA.

      3.25  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth in Schedule  3.25,  the
Company has  obtained all material  permits,  licenses and other  authorizations
which are required under federal,  state and local laws  ("Environmental  Laws")
relating to pollution or protection of the environment,  including laws relating
to  emissions,  discharges,  releases  or  threatened  releases  of  pollutants,
contaminants,  chemicals,  or industrial  hazardous or toxic materials or wastes
into the  environment,  or otherwise  relating to the  manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport,  or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, hazardous or toxic materials
or wastes.  Except as set forth in Schedule  3.25,  to the best of the Company's
knowledge,  it has  procured  and is in material  compliance  with all terms and
conditions of the required permits,  licenses and authorizations,  and all other
applicable  limitations,   restrictions,  conditions,  standards,  prohibitions,
requirements,   obligations,   schedules   and   timetables   contained  in  all
Environmental  Laws or contained in any regulation,  code, plan, order,  decree,
judgment,  notice or demand  letter  issued,  entered,  promulgated  or approved
thereunder.  Except as set forth in Schedule  3.25, and excluding the effects of
any future  modifications of Environmental Laws, the Company has no knowledge of
and has  received  no  notice  of,  any  past  or  present  events,  conditions,
circumstances,  activities,  practices,  incidents,  actions or plans  which may
reasonably be expected to interfere with or prevent continued  compliance in all
material  respects,  or which may  reasonably  be  expected  to give rise to any
liability,  or otherwise form the basis of any claim, action, suit,  proceeding,
hearing or  investigation,  based on or related to the manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling, or the
emission,  discharge, release or threatened release into the environment, of any
pollutant,  contaminant,  or hazardous or toxic material or waste, and no claim,
action,  suit,  hearing,  proceeding or investigation is currently pending or to
its knowledge  threatened with respect thereto.  The Company will make available
to Sub complete copies of any internal or external 


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

reports or  studies  conducted  for or by the  Company  in  conjunction  with or
relating to environmental matters.

      3.26  Compliance  with  Applicable  Law.  The Company has  complied and is
complying,   in  all  material  respects,   with  all  applicable  laws,  rules,
regulations,  orders,  ordinances,  judgments  and  decrees of all  governmental
authorities (federal, state, or local) (collectively "Laws"),  including but not
limited  to (i) the  Federal  Occupational  Safety  and  Health Act and all Laws
relating  to the safe  conduct of  business  and  environmental  protection  and
conservation  including,  but not limited to, noise abatement  requirements  and
emission  control  standards;  and (ii) all Laws regulating water use. Except as
indicated  in Schedule  3.26 hereto,  the Company has not received  notification
from any governmental authority of any asserted present or past material failure
to comply with Laws which has not been remedied or resolved.

      3.27 Bank Accounts.  Schedule 3.27 sets forth a true and complete  listing
of the following:  (i) the name of each bank in which the Company has an account
or safe deposit box and the names of all persons  authorized  to draw thereon or
to  have  access  thereto;  and  (ii)  the  names  of  all  persons,   firms  or
corporations,  if any,  holding  general or specific powers of attorney from the
Company and a summary statement of the terms thereof.

      3.28  Banking  Relationships.  The Company  will use its best  efforts and
cooperate  with  Sub  in  order  to  maintain  the  Company's  existing  banking
relationships  and  arrangements  and to make them  available  to the  Surviving
Corporation following the Effective Date.

      3.29 Full Disclosure.  To the best of the knowledge of the Company,  after
due inquiry of its  officers,  no  representation,  warranty or covenant in this
Merger  Agreement,  nor any statements,  financial  statements,  certificates or
schedules   furnished  to  Sub  pursuant  hereto,  or  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  contains any untrue statement of a material
fact,  or  omits to  state a  material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements
contained therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were or are
to be made, not misleading.  Except for economic  conditions and those generally
affecting the disposable baby diaper industry and information known to RMED, the
Company is not aware of any specific  information which leads it to believe that
there is any impending material adverse change in the business of the Company.

      3.30  Disclosure on Schedules.  Disclosure of  information on any Schedule
hereto  shall be deemed to  satisfy  the  disclosure  requirements  of any other
Schedule hereto to which such information may also be applicable.

      3.31  Knowledge and Notice.  The Company shall be deemed to have knowledge
or best  knowledge  or  awareness  of a matter or notice  only if such matter or
notice is, at the time in question, actually known to any officer or director of
the Company.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                         COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND
                           WARRANTIES OF RMED AND SUB

      On the date  hereof and the  Effective  Date,  RMED and Sub,  jointly  and
severally,  make the  following  covenants,  representations  and  warranties to
Company and each of its shareholders:

      4.01 Legal Status.

            (a) All of the outstanding  shares of capital stock of Sub are owned
      by RMED. Sub and RMED are  corporations  duly organized,  validly existing
      and in good standing under the laws of their states of  incorporation  and
      each has all  requisite  corporate  power and authority to carry out their
      respective businesses and the transactions  contemplated hereby. Except as
      set forth in  Schedule  4.01(a),  Sub has not  conducted  any  activities,
      acquired any assets or incurred any  liabilities  and will not do so prior
      to the  Effective  Date  except  as  may be  required  to  consummate  the
      transactions  contemplated by this Merger  Agreement and any agreements or
      documents related hereto.

            (b) RMED is a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in
      good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado. Except as set forth
      on Schedule  4.01(b),  RMED is  qualified as a foreign  corporation  to do
      business  in  all  other  jurisdictions  where  the  character  of  RMED's
      properties and the nature of its activities make  qualification  necessary
      and where the  failure to be so  qualified  would have a material  adverse
      effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.

            (c) Sub has previously delivered to the Company complete and correct
      copies of its Certificate of Incorporation  (certified by the Secretary of
      State of the State of Delaware) and by-laws  (certified by its Secretary).
      Such Certificate of  Incorporation  and by-laws are valid and in effect as
      of the date hereof.

            (d) RMED and Sub each has the power and  authority  to own and lease
      their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses.

      4.02 Capitalization.

            (a) Common Stock.  RMED is authorized to issue 52,500,000  shares of
      common stock  consisting  of 2,500,000  shares of Preferred  Stock and the
      balance  of common  stock,  with  $1.00 par value per  share,  of which no
      shares of RMED Shares are held in RMED's treasury and 6,395,958 shares are
      validly  issued and  outstanding  and are fully  paid and  non-assessable.
      Except as set forth on Schedule  4.02(a),  no holder of any shares of RMED
      Shares has asserted 


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

      any claim or  action  against  RMED,  including  any claim or action  with
      respect to the Merger.

            (b)  Options and  Rights.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  4.02(b)
      there are no  outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,  contracts,
      calls, commitments, preemptive rights or demands of any nature relating to
      the capital stock of RMED or obligating  the Company to buy, sell or issue
      shares of RMED's capital stock.

            (c) Conflicts of Interest.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.02(c),
      to the  best  of its  knowledge,  neither  RMED  nor  Sub  nor  any of the
      shareholders,  directors  or officers of RMED nor any of their  spouses or
      children  owns  directly  or  indirectly  any  interest  in (other  than a
      minority  interest in a publicly  traded  corporation),  or is a director,
      officer or employee of, any corporation, partnership, firm, association or
      business  organization  which  manufactures,  distributes  or  sells,  any
      product  or  service  which  is  manufactured,  sold or  furnished  by the
      Company, or is a competitor, potential competitor, supplier or customer of
      the Company.

      4.03  Authorization.  RMED  and Sub  each has  full  corporate  power  and
authority to enter into this Merger Agreement and any agreements  related hereto
and to perform its respective  obligations hereunder and thereunder.  The Boards
of  Directors  of each of RMED and Sub have taken all  actions  required by law,
their respective  Certificates of  Incorporation  and By-laws or otherwise to be
taken by them to authorize the  execution and delivery of this Merger  Agreement
and  related  agreements  and the  consummation  of the  Merger  and  the  other
agreements  and  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby,  and no other
corporate  proceedings on the part of the Boards of Directors of RMED or Sub are
necessary to authorize  this Merger  Agreement  and related  agreements  and the
Merger and the other transactions  contemplated  thereby and hereby. This Merger
Agreement and the agreements  related hereto have been duly and validly executed
and  delivered  by  each of RMED or Sub  and  constitutes  a valid  and  binding
agreement of each  enforceable in accordance with their respective terms subject
only  to  requisite  approval  of this  Merger  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby of the shareholders of RMED.

      4.04 Financial Statements.

            (a)  Financial  Statements.  RMED has  delivered  to the Company the
      balance  sheets for RMED as of December  31, 1996 and 1997 and the related
      statements of income,  stockholders'  equity, and cash flows for the years
      then ended (and the  accompanying  footnotes  which are an  integral  part
      thereof) together with the attached Independent  Accountants Audit Reports
      of Oatley,  Bystrom & Hansen,  P.C.,  Certified Public Accountants,  whose
      reports thereon are included therein (the "Financial Statements"). Subject
      to the  qualifications  contained  in such audit  reports,  the  Financial
      Statements  present fairly in all material respects the financial position
      of RMED as of such dates and the  results 


                                      -20-
<PAGE>

      of its  operations  and  its  cash  flows  for the  years  then  ended  in
      conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

            (b) Current Financial  Statements.  Prior to the Closing,  RMED will
      deliver current Securities and Exchange Commission Reports for the periods
      ending after December 31, 1997 (the "Current Financial Statements").

      4.05  Absence of Changes.  Except as set forth in Schedule  4.05 or in the
Current  Financial  Statements,  and except for general economic  conditions and
other  conditions  generally  affecting  the retail sales which are known to the
general public, since June, 1998 there has not been with respect to RMED:

            (i) any  material  adverse  change in the  condition  (financial  or
      other), properties, assets or business of RMED;

            (ii) any damage,  destruction or loss (whether  covered by insurance
      or not) which materially and adversely affects the business, properties;

            (iii) assets or business of RMED;

            (iv) any  declaration,  setting  aside or payment of any dividend or
      any distribution  with respect to Schedule 4.05 RMED's capital stock other
      than as provided in RMED's Shareholder Agreement, if any, or any direct or
      indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition by RMED;

            (v) any increase of more than ten percent (10%) in the  compensation
      payable or to become  payable by RMED to any employee  earning Twenty Five
      Thousand  Dollars  ($25,000) per annum or more, or any general increase in
      the compensation or rates of compensation  payable or to become payable by
      RMED to hourly employees,  except as required by any collective bargaining
      agreement,  or to salaried  officers or employees earning less than Twenty
      Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per year;

            (vi) any change in the accounting  principles,  methods or practices
      followed by RMED;

            (vii) any debt, obligation or liability,  whether accrued,  absolute
      or contingent  and whether due,  incurred or entered into by RMED,  except
      liabilities  and  obligations  incurred  or entered  into in the  ordinary
      course of business;

            (viii) any sale, lease,  abandonment or other disposition by RMED of
      any interest in real property or any  machinery,  equipment,  inventory or
      other operating  property other than in the ordinary course of business as
      reflected in Schedule 4.05;


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

            (ix) any sale, assignment, transfer, license or other disposition by
      RMED of any patent,  trademark,  trade name, brand name, copyright (or any
      application for any patent, trademark or copyright),  invention,  process,
      know-how,  formula  or  trade  secret  or  interest  thereunder  or  other
      intangible asset, except as implied for use in connection with the sale of
      its products in the  ordinary  course of business as reflected in Schedule
      4.05;

            (x)  any  agreement,  understanding  or  undertaking  by  RMED,  the
      performance  of  which  would  result  in any of the  items  described  in
      subparagraphs 4.05(i) through 4.05(vii) above.

      4.06 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.06:

            (a) To the best of  shareholders'  knowledge,  after due  inquiry on
      their  part,  RMED has no  liabilities  or  obligations,  either  accrued,
      absolute, contingent or otherwise, except:

                  (i) to the  extent  reflected  or  reserved  in the  Financial
            Statements for December 31, 1997 or the Current Financial Statements
            for June, 1998, and not heretofore paid or discharged;

                  (ii) to the extent  disclosed  in this Merger  Agreement or in
            any of the Schedules to this Merger Agreement;

                  (iii) those incurred in or as a result of the ordinary  course
            of business since the date of the Financial  Statements for December
            31, 1997,  including normal warranty claims and executory contracts,
            all of which have been  consistent  with past  practice  and none of
            which,  either  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  have  a
            material adverse effect on RMED; or

                  (iv) those incurred pursuant to or contemplated by this Merger
            Agreement,  Schedules  hereto and the various  related or  ancillary
            documents  and  agreements   contemplated   hereby  or  executed  in
            connection herewith.

            (b) Except as set forth on Schedule  4.06(b),  RMED has not received
      any notice of any claim  against RMED of any liability of any nature or in
      any  amount  required  to be set  forth  or  disclosed  in  the  Financial
      Statements, the Current Financial Statements, this Merger Agreement or the
      Schedules  hereto,  which is not or will not be set forth in the Financial
      Statements,  the Current Financial  Statements,  or otherwise disclosed in
      this Merger Agreement or in the Schedules hereto.

      4.07 No Violation of Statute or Contract.  Except as set forth on Schedule
4.07,  neither the  execution  and  delivery of this Merger  Agreement,  nor the
compliance 


                                      -22-
<PAGE>

with the terms and provisions of this Merger Agreement on the part of
each of RMED or Sub will:

            (i)  conflict  with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
      terms,  conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default (or any event
      which,  with notice or lapse of time or both would  constitute  a default)
      under their  respective  Certificates  of  Incorporation  or by-laws,  or,
      assuming  that the  approvals  described  in  Section  4.12 below are duly
      obtained any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation,  judgment, order,
      writ,  decree or  injunction  applicable  to any of them,  or any of their
      respective  properties,  assets,  licenses or permits,  which would have a
      material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other),  results of
      operations or business of any of them, or

            (ii) violate,  conflict  with,  result in a breach of any provisions
      of, constitute a default (or any event which, with notice or lapse of time
      or both, would constitute a default) under,  result in the termination of,
      accelerate the  performance  required by, or result in the creation of any
      lien,  security  interest,  charge  or other  encumbrance  upon any of the
      property of any of them under any of the terms,  conditions  or provisions
      of any note, bond, mortgage,  indentures,  deed of trust, license,  lease,
      agreement  or other  instrument  or  obligation  to which any of them is a
      party, or by which any of them, their properties or assets may be bound or
      affected  which  would have a  material  adverse  effect on the  condition
      (financial or other), results of operations or business of any of them.

      4.08  Accounts  Receivable.  Except as set  forth in  Schedule  4.08,  the
accounts  receivable  of RMED arose from valid sales in the  ordinary  course of
business, and, subject to applicable reserves, are good and collectible.  To the
best of shareholders'  knowledge,  after due inquiry, the reserves for bad debts
and uncollected accounts is adequate.

      4.09 Notes  Receivable.  Schedule 4.09 sets forth all notes receivable and
other  receivables in excess of Five Thousand  Dollars  ($5,000),  which are not
included in the accounts receivable,  reflected on the most recent balance sheet
included  in the  Financial  Statements  or will  be  reflected  in the  Current
Financial Statements.  RMED has no notice of any defect, defense,  counterclaim,
or setoff to payment which the maker of any note  receivable may claim or assert
or of any fact or  circumstance  which  would  give rise to  denial  of  payment
thereof by the maker of any note receivable. Also included on Schedule 4.09 is a
list of all loans, advances or other payments in excess of Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000)  receivable from  directors,  officers and employees of RMED ("Employee
Receivables") setting forth the name of the individual, the amount receivable by
RMED from such individual, and the terms on which such Employee Receivable is to
be repaid.  RMED has provided to Sub true and complete  copies of all promissory
notes or other  documents  evidencing the Employee  Receivables.  RMED agrees to
cause all individuals that are obligated for an Employee  Receivable that is not
evidenced  by a document,  to execute and  deliver to RMED  promissory  notes or
other  


                                      -23-
<PAGE>

documents  satisfactory  to Sub  evidencing  the obligation to pay such Employee
Receivable prior to Closing.

      4.10  Inventories.  Except as  provided in  Schedule  4.10,  all of RMED's
inventories reflected on the Financial Statements for December 31, 1997 and that
will be reflected in the Current  Financial  Statements  are or will be good and
usable and salable in the ordinary course of RMED's  business,  except for minor
items not material in amount. 4.11 Real Property Owned or Leased.

            (a) RMED does not own any real property.

            (b) RMED leases real property located at 675 Industrial Blvd. Delta,
      Colorado (the "Warehouse Property").

            (c) RMED represents that:

                  (i) RMED has the right of quiet  enjoyment  to each  parcel of
            Warehouse  Property.  

                  (ii) All  improvements,  fixtures,  structures,  machinery and
            equipment  used by RMED in carrying on its  business  are located on
            the Warehouse Property.

                  (iii) RMED has the right to use the Warehouse Property for all
            of the operations now conducted therefrom and RMED, by virtue of its
            ownership,  possesses  all  easements,  licenses,  rights of way and
            rights in, to, and over the  Property  which are  necessary  for the
            conduct  of the  business  in the  ordinary  course.  The  Warehouse
            Property  and  Improvements  are  adequate  and  sufficient  for all
            operations now conducted by RMED.

                  (iv) Neither the whole nor any portion of any of the Warehouse
            Property is the subject of a pending  condemnation or eminent domain
            proceeding,  and to the best of RMED's knowledge, RMED does not know
            nor has any grounds to believe that any such  condemnation or taking
            is threatened or contemplated.

                  (v) None of the  Warehouse  Property is occupied by any entity
            or person  other  than the  Company,  nor does any  other  person or
            entity  have any  rights  to occupy  any  portion  of the  Warehouse
            Property.

                  (vi) Except for the Warehouse Property, RMED neither leases or
            owns any other real property.

                  (vii)  RMED's  occupancy of the  Warehouse  Property is not in
            material violation of any law or regulation  applicable thereto, nor
            has 


                                      -24-
<PAGE>

            RMED,  to the best of RMED's  knowledge,  received any notice of any
            such violation.

                  (viii) RMED has not  received  any notice of any  violation of
            any law,  ordinance,  regulation,  building,  zoning or fire code or
            requiring or calling  attention  to the need for any work,  repairs,
            construction,  alterations or  installations  with respect to any of
            the  Warehouse  Property  nor has any such notice been posted on any
            portion of the Warehouse Property.

      4.12 Regulatory Approvals. Except as contemplated by this Merger Agreement
or as set forth on Schedule 4.12, no consent,  approval or authorization  of, or
declaration, filing or registration with, any government or regulatory authority
is required to be obtained or made by RMED or Sub in connection  with the Merger
or the execution,  delivery and performance by them of this Merger  Agreement or
any related agreement.

      4.13 Tangible Personal Property. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.13, all
machinery,  equipment and other personal  property used by RMED in the operation
of its business  either owned or leased by RMED under valid  leases,  is, in all
material  aspects,  in good  operating  condition and repair and is adequate and
sufficient  for all  operations  now  conducted by RMED.  Except as disclosed in
Schedule 4.13, RMED has good and marketable title to all personal property owned
by  it,  free  and  clear  of  restrictions  on or  conditions  to  transfer  or
assignment, and free and clear of mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests,
charges,  encumbrances,  equities, claims, easements,  rights of way, covenants,
conditions, or restrictions and has valid leases pursuant to which it leases all
personal property used in connection with the operation of its business which is
not owned by RMED.  All such  leases  are valid and  binding,  in full force and
effect and no defaults (or  conditions or events which with the giving of notice
or the passage of time, or both, would  constitute a default) exist  thereunder.
4.14 Intellectual Property.

            (a) Schedule  4.14(a) sets forth a  description  of all  trademarks,
      trademark registrations and trademark  applications,  trade names, assumed
      names, service marks, service mark registrations and applications, service
      names,  copyrights,  patents  and patent  applications,  and  patent,  and
      copyright  and  trademark  licenses,  owned or used by the  Company in the
      conduct of its business (collectively "Intellectual Property").  Except as
      set forth on Schedule 4.14(a),  the Company owns, is licensed or otherwise
      has the right to use all Intellectual Property and all trade secrets, shop
      rights and know-how used in or necessary for the conduct of its business.

            (b)  Except  as set  forth in  Schedule  4.14(b),  no claim has been
      asserted  against RMED by any person with respect to the  ownership,  use,
      transfer,  license  or  other  disposition  by  RMED  of any  Intellectual
      Property or any trade secrets,  shop rights or know-how or challenging any
      license or agreement 


                                      -25-
<PAGE>

      with  respect  thereto,  and RMED  does not know of any basis for any such
      claim.  To the  best of the  knowledge  of RMED,  the use of  Intellectual
      Property  and the trade  secrets,  shop rights and  know-how by RMED,  the
      practice  of any  process  or the use of any  apparatus,  or the making or
      selling of any product by RMED,  does not, and is not reasonably  expected
      to, infringe on the rights of any person.

            (c) No  third  party  is  known  by  RMED  to be  infringing  on any
      Intellectual  Property or any trade secrets, shop rights or know how owned
      or used by RMED.

      4.15 Material Contracts.  Schedule 4.15 sets forth a true and correct list
or description of:

            (a) Each contract, agreement or binding commitment in respect of the
      procurement,  purchase, processing, storage or sale of material, products,
      supplies, utilities or services to which RMED is a party or by which it is
      bound other than contracts, agreements or binding commitments which

                  (i)  involve  payments or receipts by RMED of less than Twenty
            Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000),

                  (ii) are terminable by RMED without penalty upon not more than
            thirty (30) days notice,

                  (iii) which are  substantially  performed  except for standard
            warranty, guaranty, non-compete or indemnification obligations, or

                  (iv) relate to sales order or purchase order  contracts  which
            individually  are for an  amount  which  is less  than  Twenty  Five
            Thousand Dollars  ($25,000) or a series of related contracts are for
            an amount in the aggregate which is less than Fifty Thousand Dollars
            ($50,000).

            (b) Each sales agency or  distributorship  agreement or franchise to
      which RMED is a party or by which it is bound.

            (c)  Each  collective  bargaining,  union,  employment,  consulting,
      independent contractor, non-competition or secrecy agreement to which RMED
      is a party or by which it is bound.

            (d) Each pension,  profit sharing,  retirement,  bonus,  group life,
      health and accident  insurance or other employee benefit plan,  agreement,
      arrangement or binding commitment to which RMED is a party, whether or not
      legally  binding,  including,  but not  limited  to,  each  union  plan or
      arrangement to which RMED is a party or makes contributions.

            (e) Each material contract, agreement, binding commitment or license
      relating  to any  Intellectual  Property,  trade  secrets,  shop rights or


                                      -26-
<PAGE>

      know-how to which RMED is a party except  rights which are implied for use
      in connection  with the sale of RMED's  products in the ordinary course of
      business.

            (f) Each loan or credit  agreement,  security  agreement,  guaranty,
      indenture,   mortgage,   pledge,   conditional  sale  or  title  retention
      agreement,  equipment  obligation,  lease or lease  purchase  agreement or
      other documents  evidencing secured  indebtedness to which RMED is a party
      or by which it or any of its properties is bound.

            (g) Each  partnership,  joint  venture,  joint  operating or similar
      agreement or agreement for the  performance  of services as an independent
      contractor to which RMED is a party or by which it is bound.

            (h) Each contract,  agreement or binding commitment other than those
      covered above which (

                  (i)  involves  payments  or  receipts  by RMED of Twenty  Five
            Thousand  Dollars  ($25,000)  or more and not  made in the  ordinary
            course of business, or

                  (ii) is not terminable by RMED without penalty, or (

                  (iii) which  otherwise is  reasonably  expected to  materially
            affect the  condition  (financial or other),  properties,  assets or
            business of RMED.

Each such contract, agreement or binding commitment is legally valid and binding
on RMED and the Parties thereto, and each constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of RMED and the  Shareholders,  enforceable  in  accordance  with its
terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium,
and other similar laws affecting  creditors' rights generally,  is in full force
and  effect,  and there are no  defaults  thereunder  known to RMED by any party
thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, under the terms of the foregoing,
none of the rights of RMED thereunder will be impaired by the Merger, and all of
the  rights  of  RMED  thereunder  will be  enforceable  immediately  after  the
Effective Date to the extent  enforceable  immediately prior thereto without the
consent or agreement of any other party, except as indicated on Schedules.  True
and complete copies of all documents described in the aforesaid schedule have or
will be made  available by RMED or Sub to the Company  including all  amendments
and supplements thereto and modifications thereof.

      4.16 Permits and Licenses.  To the best of its  knowledge,  RMED possesses
all governmental  permits,  licenses and certifications  which are necessary for
the  conduct of the  business by RMED,  and all of such  permits,  licenses  and
certifications  are in full force and  effect.  No  violations  are known to the
Company to exist or, to its knowledge, have been recorded with respect to any of
such permits,  licenses or  certifications  and no proceeding is pending  (other
than reapplication  pursuant hereto) or known to RMED 


                                      -27-
<PAGE>

to be threatened which, if adversely determined, could result in the revocation,
termination  or  limitation  of any such  permits,  licenses or  certifications.
Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, the Merger will not cause the  revocation,
termination,  limitation,  non-renewal or expiration of any such permit, license
or certification currently issued to RMED or Sub.

      4.17 Insurance Coverages.  Schedule 4.17 refers to all of RMED's and Sub's
insurance  coverages  and carriers  (specifying  the insurer,  the amount of the
coverage,  the type of insurance,  the policy number,  the annual  premium,  the
expiration  date and any  pending  claims  thereunder  not  otherwise  disclosed
pursuant to this Merger  Agreement).  Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.17, RMED
has and  maintains  insurance  coverage  with  retentions  which  insurance  and
retentions are reasonably  believed by RMED to be adequate for the protection of
RMED and Sub in the  conduct  of its  business.  RMED has not failed to give any
notice or present any claim known to it under any insurance  policy covering the
same in proper form and timely fashion.  RMED will use all reasonable efforts to
assure that all such coverages will be in full force and effect at the Effective
Date.

      4.18 Claims and Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18, RMED and
Sub are not a party to any litigation,  proceeding,  arbitration, demand, action
or claim either  pending or, to the best  knowledge  of RMED or Sub,  threatened
against  RMED or Sub before any court or  governmental  or other  regulatory  or
administrative agency or commission or arbitration panel. Except as set forth on
Schedule  4.18,  neither RMED or Sub has any  knowledge of any pending  items in
dispute or any injury that it believes is likely to give rise to a claim against
RMED  or Sub.  RMED  and Sub do not  believe  that  any  action,  proceeding  or
investigation set forth on Schedule 4.18, will have a material adverse effect on
the  condition  (financial  or other),  properties,  assets or business of RMED,
except for matters  for which  reserves  have been  reflected  on the  Financial
Statements.

      4.19 Labor Relations  Matters.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.19, RMED
is in compliance in all material  respects with all applicable  laws  respecting
employment  and  employment  practices,  terms and  conditions of employment and
wages and hours, and is not engaged in any unfair labor practice. To the best of
RMED's knowledge, after due inquiry, there is no unfair labor practice complaint
against RMED pending before the National Labor Relations  Board, any state labor
relations board or any other court or tribunal.  Except as described in Schedule
4.19,  within the last five years there has not been any, and there is currently
no labor strike, or material  dispute,  slowdown or stoppage by RMED's employees
pending  or  threatened  against  or  affecting  RMED.  To the  best  of  RMED's
knowledge,  no representation  question exists.  Except as set forth in Schedule
4.19, no grievance nor any  arbitration  proceeding  arising out of or under any
labor agreement is pending and no claim therefor has been made. Neither RMED nor
Sub has any  collective  bargaining  agreements or other  agreements  with labor
organizations,  other than the agreements listed on Schedule 4.19. Since the Sub
existence, the Sub has not employees.


                                      -28-
<PAGE>

      4.20 Tax Matters.

            (a)  Except as set  forth on  Schedule  4.20(a)  each of RMED or any
      affiliate of RMED, as the case may be, has

                  (i) filed when due with the appropriate federal, state, local,
            foreign and other governmental agencies, all tax returns,  estimates
            and reports required to be filed by it,

                  (ii) paid when due and payable all requisite  federal,  state,
            local or  foreign  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  duties,  licenses  and
            registration  fees and charges of any nature  whatsoever,  including
            interest and penalties  thereon and unemployment and social security
            taxes  ("Taxes")  or  has  established  reserves  in  the  Financial
            Statements adequate therefor and

                  (iii)  has  established,  or will have  established  as of the
            Effective  Date,  reserves that, in the aggregate,  are adequate for
            the  payment of all Taxes not yet due and  payable on the results of
            operation  through the Effective Date as if the taxable year of RMED
            ended on the Effective Date, and in each such case, will immediately
            notify the Company of such setting aside.

            (b)  Except as set forth on  Schedule  4.20(b),  there are no taxes,
      interest,  penalties,  assessments  or  deficiencies  claimed to be due in
      respect of any tax returns filed by RMED or Sub, or otherwise that are not
      fully  reserved for on the  Financial  Statements.  Except as set forth on
      Schedule  4.20(b),  neither  RMED or Sub has  executed  or filed  with the
      Internal  Revenue  Service or any other taxing  authority any agreement or
      other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the period of
      assessment or collection of any Taxes, and no power-of-attorney of RMED or
      Sub is outstanding or will be outstanding on the Effective  Date.  RMED or
      Sub has not reported any item of income, deduction or credit on any income
      tax  return or  reported  any other  item on any other  return in a manner
      which is contrary to the  specific  recommendation  or advice of RMED's or
      Sub's  accountants and neither RMED or Sub has made any disclosures on any
      tax return pursuant to Section 6662 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
      as amended (the "Code").

            (c)  Neither  RMED or Sub has filed a consent  pursuant  to  Section
      341(f) of the Code or agreed to have  Section  341(f)(2) of the Code apply
      to any  disposition  of a subsection (f) asset (as such term is defined in
      Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by RMED or Sub.

            (d) No  property  of  RMED or Sub is  property  that  the  Surviving
      Corporation  is or will be  required  to treat as being  owned by  another
      person  pursuant to the provisions of Section  168(f)(8) of the Code or is
      "tax exempt use 


                                      -29-
<PAGE>

      property" within the meaning of Section  168(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue
      Code, as it existed prior to January 1, 1984.

            (e) Neither  RMED nor SUB has agreed,  or has been  requested by the
      Internal  Revenue  Service to make any adjustment  under Section 481(a) of
      the Code by reason of a change in accounting method or otherwise except as
      required by the Tax Reform Act of 1986,  which  adjustments,  if any, have
      previously  been recognized in the income of RMED or Sub in tax returns of
      RMED or Sub for years ending prior to 1998.

            (f) RMED has  withheld  from  employee  wages  and paid  over to the
      proper governmental authorities all amounts required to be so withheld and
      paid over.

            (g)  Neither  RMED or Sub is a party to,  nor is bound by or has any
      obligation under any tax sharing or similar agreement.

            (h) Neither  RMED or Sub is a foreign  person  within the meaning of
      Section 1445(b)(2) of the Code.

      4.21 Benefit Plans.

            (a) For the purposes of this Merger  Agreement,  the term  "Employee
      Plan" includes all pension,  retirement,  disability,  medical,  dental or
      other health plans,  life insurance or other death benefit  plans,  profit
      sharing,  deferred  compensation,  stock option,  bonus or other incentive
      plans, vacation benefit plans,  severance plans, or other employee benefit
      plans or arrangements,  including,  without limitation, any "pension plan"
      as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act
      of 1974  ("ERISA")  and any  "welfare  plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of
      ERISA,  whether or not funded, and whether or not oral, to which RMED is a
      party or bound  or with  respect  to  which  RMED may  otherwise  have any
      liability  (including  any such plan  maintained  by RMED  within the last
      three calendar  years) or with respect to which RMED has made any payments
      or  contributions  covering any employee of RMED within the last three (3)
      calendar years.

            (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.21(b),

                  (i) RMED has not been since its  inception  and is not now the
            sponsor of any Additional Employee Plan. RMED has no legally binding
            commitment to create any additional Employee Plan.

                  (ii) no separate trust is maintained in  conjunction  with any
            such  plan.  A separate  trust is a trust the assets of which  enjoy
            protection  from  the  claims  of  RMED's  creditors  or  any  trust
            maintained in  conjunction  with a promise of deferred  compensation
            (commonly known as a "Rabbi Trust").


                                      -30-
<PAGE>

      4.22 ERISA Matters.

            (a) Except as provided in Schedule  4.22(a)  hereof,  each  Employee
      Plan that is an employee  pension benefit plan  qualifiable  under Section
      401 or  403(a) of the Code has been  determined  by the  Internal  Revenue
      Service to be "qualified" within the meaning of the Code.

            (b)  Each  Employee  Plan  of  RMED  and  the   administrators   and
      fiduciaries  of each Employee  Plan of RMED have at all times  complied in
      all material respects with all applicable requirements of ERISA and of any
      other  applicable  law  (including  regulations  and  rulings  thereunder)
      governing each Employee Plan, and each Employee Plan has at all times been
      in material  respects  properly  administered  in accordance with all such
      requirements  of law  and in  accordance  with  its  terms  to the  extent
      consistent  with all such  requirements  of law.  Except  as set  forth in
      Schedule4.22(b),  no lawsuits or complaints material to the Company to, or
      by, government  agencies have been filed, are pending or are expected with
      respect to any Employee Plan.

            (c) No "prohibited  transaction"  (as defined in Section 4975 of the
      Code or Section 406 of ERISA) has occurred,  or as of the Effective  Date,
      shall have  occurred,  with respect to any Employee Plan or trust of RMED,
      unless  such  prohibited  transaction  shall have been  corrected  and any
      excise tax liability  discharged;  no notice of termination has been filed
      by any Plan Administrator pursuant to Section 4041 of ERISA or been issued
      by the PBGC  pursuant  to Section  4042 of ERISA with  respect to any Plan
      subject to ERISA and relating to RMED, unless any liability under Title IV
      of ERISA  occasioned in connection  therewith shall have been  discharged;
      except as disclosed on Schedule 4.22(c); no Employee Plan has outstanding,
      or as of the  Effective  Date,  shall have  outstanding  any  "accumulated
      funding  deficiency"  (as defined in Section 412 of the Code),  whether or
      not waived and has not  applied  for or  received  any  waivers of minimum
      funding  standards  under Section 412; to the extent required by generally
      accepted  accounting  principles,  RMED has made or has  accrued or, on or
      before the Current  Financial  Statements  date,  shall have made or shall
      have accrued on its books and records,  all  contributions  required to be
      made by it under  the  terms of all  pension,  profit  sharing  and  other
      Employee Plans  covering its  employees;  and all premiums due to the PBGC
      have been paid.

            (d) Other than with respect to retired or former  employees of RMED,
      no person is a  participant  in, or  eligible  for  participation  in, any
      Employee Plan who is not an employee of RMED.

            (e) To the  best  of  RMED's  knowledge,  RMED  does  not  currently
      maintain or contribute to nor has it ever maintained or contributed to, or
      been  required  by  any  agreement  to  maintain  or  contribute  to,  any
      multi-employer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.


                                      -31-
<PAGE>

      4.23 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.23, RMED has
obtained  all material  permits,  licenses  and other  authorizations  which are
required under federal,  state and local laws ("Environmental Laws") relating to
pollution  or  protection  of  the  environment,   including  laws  relating  to
emissions,   discharges,   releases  or  threatened   releases  of   pollutants,
contaminants,  chemicals,  or industrial  hazardous or toxic materials or wastes
into the  environment,  or otherwise  relating to the  manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport,  or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, hazardous or toxic materials
or  wastes.  Except  as set  forth  in  Schedule  4.23,  to the  best of  RMED's
knowledge,  it has  procured  and is in material  compliance  with all terms and
conditions of the required permits,  licenses and authorizations,  and all other
applicable  limitations,   restrictions,  conditions,  standards,  prohibitions,
requirements,   obligations,   schedules   and   timetables   contained  in  all
Environmental  Laws or contained in any regulation,  code, plan, order,  decree,
judgment,  notice or demand  letter  issued,  entered,  promulgated  or approved
thereunder.  Except as set forth in Schedule  4.23, and excluding the effects of
any future modifications of Environmental Laws, RMED has no knowledge of and has
received no notice of, any past or present  events,  conditions,  circumstances,
activities,  practices,  incidents,  actions or plans  which may  reasonably  be
expected to  interfere  with or prevent  continued  compliance  in all  material
respects, or which may reasonably be expected to give rise to any liability,  or
otherwise  form the basis of any claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding,  hearing or
investigation, based on or related to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport,  or handling,  or the emission,
discharge, release or threatened release into the environment, of any pollutant,
contaminant,  or hazardous  or toxic  material or waste,  and no claim,  action,
suit,  hearing,  proceeding  or  investigation  is  currently  pending or to its
knowledge  threatened  with  respect  thereto.  RMED will make  available to the
Company complete copies of any internal or external reports or studies conducted
for or by RMED in conjunction with or relating to environmental matters.

      4.24  Compliance  with Applicable Law. RMED has complied and is complying,
in all material respects, with all applicable laws, rules, regulations,  orders,
ordinances,  judgments  and decrees of all  governmental  authorities  (federal,
state,  or local)  (collectively  "Laws"),  including but not limited to (i) the
Federal  Occupational  Safety and Health Act and all Laws  relating  to the safe
conduct of business and environmental protection and conservation including, but
not limited to, noise abatement requirements and emission control standards; and
(ii) all Laws regulating water use. Except as indicated in Schedule 4.24 hereto,
RMED not received  notification from any governmental  authority of any asserted
present or past material failure to comply with Laws which has not been remedied
or resolved.

      4.25 Bank Accounts.  Schedule 4.25 sets forth a true and complete  listing
of the following: (i) the name of each bank in which RMED has an account or safe
deposit box and the names of all persons  authorized  to draw thereon or to have
access thereto;  and (ii) the names of all persons,  firms or  corporations,  if
any,  holding  general or specific  powers of  attorney  from RMED and a summary
statement of the terms thereof.


                                      -32-
<PAGE>

      4.26 Banking  Relationships.  RMED will use its best efforts and cooperate
with the  Company  in order  to  maintain  existing  banking  relationships  and
arrangements and to make them available to the Surviving  Corporation  following
the Effective Date.

      4.27 Full  Disclosure.  To the best of the knowledge of RMED or Sub, after
due inquiry of its  officers,  no  representation,  warranty or covenant in this
Merger  Agreement,  nor any statements,  financial  statements,  certificates or
schedules  furnished to the Company pursuant  hereto,  or in connection with the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  contains any untrue statement of a material
fact,  or  omits to  state a  material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements
contained therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were or are
to be made, not misleading.  Except for economic  conditions and those generally
affecting  the  disposable  baby diaper  industry and  information  known to the
Company,  neither  RMED or Sub is aware of any specific  information  which lead
either of them to believe that there is any impending material adverse change in
the business of RMED.

      4.28  Disclosure on Schedules.  Disclosure of  information on any Schedule
hereto  shall be deemed to  satisfy  the  disclosure  requirements  of any other
Schedule hereto to which such information may also be applicable.

      4.29 Knowledge and Notice.  RMED and Sub shall be deemed to have knowledge
or best  knowledge  or  awareness  of a matter or notice  only if such matter or
notice is, at the time in question, actually known to any officer or director of
RMED or Sub. 

                                   ARTICLE V.

                          CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SUB'S
                               OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

      The  obligations  of Sub to enter into the Merger  and to  consummate  the
transactions set forth in this Merger Agreement are subject to the satisfaction,
or waiver in writing by Sub, on or prior to the  Effective  Date, of each of the
following conditions:

      5.01 Corporate and  Shareholder  Action.  All corporate,  shareholder  and
other  actions   necessary  to  authorize  the  Merger  and  to  effectuate  the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby by the Company shall have
been duly taken on or prior to the  Effective  Date,  and the Company shall have
delivered to Sub a  certificate  of the Company to that effect  together  with a
certified copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors and  Shareholders of the
Company  authorizing the execution and delivery of this Merger Agreement and the
consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby, all in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Sub and its counsel.

      5.02 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
the Company set forth in this Merger  Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects on and as of the Effective Date with the same effect as though
all such  


                                      -33-
<PAGE>

representations  and  warranties  had been  made as of such  date  except to the
extent that such representations and warranties are expressly made as of another
specified date and as to such representation,  the same shall be true as of such
specified  date  and  except  for  any  changes  resulting  from  activities  or
transactions  which  may have  taken  place  after  the date  hereof  which  are
permitted or  contemplated  by this Merger  Agreement or which have been entered
into in the ordinary  course of  business.  The Company  shall  deliver to Sub a
certificate  validly  executed by an  authorized  officer of the Company to that
effect, dated the Effective Date.

      5.03  Performance  of  Obligations.  Each  and  all of the  covenants  and
agreements  of the Company to be  performed  or complied  with  pursuant to this
Merger  Agreement  shall  have  been duly  performed  and  complied  with in all
material  respects or duly waived by Sub and there shall have been  delivered to
Sub a certificate  validly  executed by an authorized  officer of the Company to
that effect, dated the Effective Date.

      5.04 No Adverse Change.  There shall have been no material  adverse change
in the  condition  (financial or  otherwise),  properties,  assets,  business or
prospects of the Company  since  September  30, 1998,  and there shall have been
delivered to Sub a certificate  validly executed by an authorized officer of the
Company to that effect.

      5.05 Opinion of Counsel.  Sub shall have been furnished an opinion,  dated
the Effective Date, of Schober & Ulatowski, P.C., counsel for the Company in the
form attached hereto as Schedule 5.05.

      5.06 Governmental Approvals.  Any and all approvals and authorizations of,
filings and  registrations  with,  and  notifications  to, any  governmental  or
regulatory  authority  required  for the  execution  and delivery of this Merger
Agreement by the Company, and the consummation of the Merger and the performance
of its obligations under this Merger Agreement, shall have been duly obtained or
made and shall be in full force and effect.  The  transaction  is not subject to
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Pre-Merger Notification Act ("HSR Act").

      5.07  Litigation.  At the  Effective  Date,  there shall be no  litigation
pending or  threatened in which any  injunction  is or may be sought  against or
seeking damages from the Shareholders, or the Company, RMED or Sub in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby.

      5.08 Financing.  RMED shall have made  satisfactory  firm arrangements for
all financing  required to consummate the Merger and provide  working capital in
the amount of $3,000,000 for the operation of the Surviving  Corporation,  which
arrangements  may  include,  but  shall  not  be  limited  to,  leases,   equity
investments,  the sale of options,  warrants  or other  rights,  loans  (whether
secured  or   unsecured),   issuance  of   debentures,   and/or   sale/leaseback
arrangements.  In the event that RMED is unable to secure satisfactory financing
arrangements,  with acceptable terms and conditions,  by December 31, 1998, RMED
may terminate this Merger  Agreement by written notice to the Company  whereupon
this  Merger  Agreement  shall be null and void and the  parties  


                                      -34-
<PAGE>

shall have no further duties or responsibilities  hereunder except for breach of
this Merger Agreement.

      5.09 Appraisal  Rights.  The holders of not more than twenty percent (20%)
of the Company Shares shall have exercised their  appraisal  rights with respect
to the Merger in accordance with the Corporation Laws.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                            OPERATION OF THE COMPANY
                              TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE

      During the period from the date of this Merger  Agreement to the Effective
Date, except as otherwise consented to by Sub in writing:

      6.01 Ordinary  Course of Business.  The Company will carry on its business
in the usual,  regular and ordinary course,  in substantially the same manner as
heretofore  conducted  and use all  reasonable  efforts to  preserve  intact its
present  business  organization,  keep  available  the  services  of its present
officers and employees, and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers
and others  having  business  dealings  with it to the end that the goodwill and
ongoing  business shall be unimpaired in all material  respects at the Effective
Date.

      6.02  Charter  Documents.  The  Company  will not  amend its  Articles  of
Incorporation or by-laws or change the authorized  number of directors nor shall
the Company enter into any agreements or arrangements to do so.

      6.03  Merger or  Mergers.  The  Company  will not  acquire  by  merging or
consolidating with, or purchasing  substantially all the assets of, or otherwise
acquiring any business or any  corporation,  partnership,  association  or other
business  organization or division  thereof nor shall the Company enter into any
agreements or arrangements to do so.

      6.04 Sale or  Encumbrance.  The Company  will not,  except in the ordinary
course of  business,  sell,  lease or  otherwise  dispose  of,  nor  voluntarily
encumber, any of its property nor shall the Company enter into any agreements or
arrangements to do so.

      6.05 Dividends or Distributions.  The Company will not declare, set aside,
make or pay any dividend or other distribution except with respect to Subchapter
S profits  for the  purpose of the  payment of taxes,  in respect of its capital
stock or purchase or redeem,  directly or indirectly,  any shares of its capital
stock nor shall the Company enter into any agreements or arrangements to do so.

      6.06 Capitalization.  The Company will not issue or sell any shares of its
capital  stock of any class or any  options,  warrants or rights to purchase any
such shares or any securities  convertible  into or exchangeable for such shares
nor declare any stock  


                                      -35-
<PAGE>

splits, stock dividends or other recapitalizations or reclassifications nor will
the Company enter into any agreements or arrangements to do so.

      6.07  Indebtedness.  The  Company  will not  incur  any  indebtedness  for
borrowed  money or issue or sell any debt  securities nor will the Company enter
into any  agreements  or  arrangements  to do so  provided  that the Company may
borrow for working capital  purposes,  those items as shown on Schedule 6.07 and
may borrow in excess of such amount with the prior written consent of Sub.

      6.08  Compensation.  Except as  contemplated by or provided in this Merger
Agreement,  without Sub's prior written  approval,  which  approval shall not be
unreasonably  withheld,  the Company will not grant to any employee,  officer or
director any  increase in  compensation  in any form other than,  in the case of
employees  currently  compensated at a base salary rate of less than Twenty Five
Thousand  Dollars  ($25,000)  per year, as is  consistent  with prior  practices
unless  otherwise  required by union  contract,  or any severance or termination
pay,  or enter  into any  employment  agreement  with any  employee,  officer or
director,  or amend the terms of any existing  option or other employee  benefit
plan as reflected  in Schedule  6.08 or  arrangement  or adopt any new option or
other employee  benefit plan or arrangement  nor will the Company enter into any
agreements or arrangements to do so.

      6.09  Disclosure.  The Company will promptly  advise Sub in writing of any
change known to the Company in the  condition  (financial  or  otherwise) in the
properties,  assets,  liabilities,  operations,  business  or  prospects  of the
Company  which  it  believes  will be  materially  adverse  to the  business  or
financial condition of the Company and of any material violation or breach known
to the Company in any of the  covenants,  representations  or  warranties of the
Company contained herein.

      6.10  Government  Regulation.  The  Company  will use its best  efforts to
comply  with all  requirements  which  Federal  or state  law may  impose on the
Company  with  respect to the Merger and  cooperate  with and  promptly  furnish
information to Sub in connection with any such requirements  imposed upon Sub in
connection  with the Merger,  including  those  imposed  under the notice filing
requirements of the HSR Act.

      6.11 Obtain Consents.  The Company will use its best efforts to obtain any
consent, authorization, approval or exemption required to be obtained or made by
it in connection  with the Merger or the taking of any action in connection with
the consummation thereof, not otherwise waived in writing by Sub.

      6.12  Litigation.  Except in the ordinary course of business,  the Company
will not  settle or  compromise  any  litigation  or  administrative  or similar
proceeding or claim  involving the payment of, or an agreement to pay over time,
an amount,  in cash, notes or other property,  in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000), exclusive of costs and fees.

      6.13  Accounting  Practices.  The Company  will not change the  accounting
methods or practices followed by the Company.


                                      -36-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                                CERTAIN COVENANTS

      7.01  Consents of Others.  Prior to Closing,  RMED and Sub shall use their
best  efforts to obtain all  authorizations,  consents and permits of others and
financing  required  of  them to  permit  them to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  by this Merger  Agreement and will vote the shares of Sub in favor
of all transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

      7.02 Confidentiality. All information furnished by the Company to RMED and
Sub pursuant to or in connection with this Merger  Agreement shall be treated as
the sole  property  of the  Company,  RMED or the Sub (as the case may be) until
consummation  of the Merger  contemplated  hereby and,  if the merger  shall not
occur,  RMED,  Sub and the Company  shall return to the Company all documents or
other materials containing  information  obtained from the Company,  RMED or the
Sub or their  agents or  representatives  (and all copies  thereof)  containing,
reflecting  or referring to such  information.  RMED,  Sub and the Company shall
take such action as may be necessary to keep  confidential all such information,
and shall not directly or indirectly use such  information for any purpose other
than  to  evaluate  the  Merger.   The  obligation  to  keep  such   information
confidential  shall continue for three years as to all such  information  except
industrial trade secrets, for which the obligation shall continue for the latter
of ten (10) years from the date the  proposed  merger is abandoned or the period
protected  by  U.S.  patents,  if  applicable,  , but  shall  not  apply  to any
information which:

            (i) The parties hereto can establish was in their  possession  prior
      to the disclosure  thereof by them,  provided that  information  regarding
      industrial trade secrets must be established by written records;

            (ii) was then generally known to the public; or

            (iii)  becomes known to the public other than as a result of actions
      by RMED, Sub or their affiliates or representatives.

      7.03 Best  Efforts.  The parties  hereto  shall use their best  efforts to
cause all  conditions  for the  Closing to be met.  

      7.04 Guaranty.  RMED hereby unconditionally  guaranties the performance by
the Sub of all its respective  obligations  under this Merger  Agreement and the
agreements  related  hereto  and shall  cause the Sub to comply  with all of the
provisions of this Merger Agreement and the agreements related hereto.


                                      -37-
<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                                MUTUAL COVENANTS

      8.01 Agreement on Voting. Simultaneously with the execution of this Merger
Agreement,  the  Company,  RMED and Sub will enter into Current  Resolutions  on
voting  (the  "Current  Resolutions"),  a copy of which is  attached  hereto  as
Schedule 8.01:

            (a)  The  Company  shall  deliver  to Sub the  Current  Resolutions,
      executed by each officer and director and  shareholder of the Company,  to
      vote Company Shares owned by such shareholder in favor of the Merger; and

            (b) RMED and Sub shall  deliver to Company the  Current  Resolutions
      executed by each officer and director and  Shareholder of the Sub, to vote
      the Sub's shares owned by such shareholder in favor of the Merger.

            (c) RMED shall  deliver to Company a  resolution  of RMED's Board of
      Directors,  authorizing  the  president  of RMED  to  execute  the  Merger
      Agreement,  as well as to provide an  enforceable  agreement,  attached as
      Schedule 8.01(c).

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE COMPANY'S
                               OBLIGATION TO CLOSE

      The  obligations  of the  Company and the  Shareholders  to enter into the
Merger and to consummate the  transactions set forth in this Merger Agreement as
provided hereunder are subject to the satisfaction,  or waiver in writing by the
Company, on or prior to the Effective Date, of each of the following conditions:

      9.01  Corporate  Action.  All  corporate  and other  actions  necessary to
authorize  the Merger and to effectuate  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby by RMED and Sub shall  have  been duly  taken  prior to the
Effective  Date,  and  RMED  and Sub  shall  have  delivered  to the  Company  a
certificate to that effect  together with a certified copy of resolutions of the
Board of Directors of RMED and Sub  authorizing  the  execution  and delivery of
this Merger  Agreement and the  consummation of the Merger and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby, all in form and substance  satisfactory to the Company and
its counsel.

      9.02 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
RMED and Sub set forth in this Merger Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects on and as of the Effective Date with the same effect as though
all such  representations and warranties had been made as of such date and there
shall have been  delivered to the Company  certificates  validly  executed by an
authorized officer of RMED and Sub to that effect, dated the Effective Date.


                                      -38-
<PAGE>

      9.03  Performance  of  Obligations.  Each  and  all of the  covenants  and
agreements  of RMED and Sub to be  performed or complied  with  pursuant to this
Merger  Agreement  shall  have  been duly  performed  and  complied  with in all
material  respects  or duly  waived by the  Company  and there  shall  have been
delivered to the Company a certificate validly executed by an authorized officer
of RMED and Sub to that effect, dated the Effective Date.

      9.04 Opinion of Counsel. The Company shall have been furnished an opinion,
dated the Effective Date, of Messrs. Schwartz and Freeman,  counsel for RMED and
Sub in the form attached hereto as Schedule 9.04.

      9.05 Governmental Approvals.  Any and all approvals and authorizations of,
filings and  registrations  with,  and  notifications  to, any  governmental  or
regulatory  authority  required  for the  execution  and delivery of this Merger
Agreement  by  RMED  and  Sub,  and  the  consummation  of the  Merger  and  the
performance of their  obligations  under this Merger  Agreement  shall have been
duly obtained or made and shall be in full force and effect.

      9.06  Litigation.  At the  Effective  Date,  there shall be no  litigation
pending or  threatened in which any  injunction  is or may be sought  against or
seeking damages from the  shareholders of the Company,  Company,  RMED or Sub in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

      9.07 Material  Adverse Change.  There shall have been no material  adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise),  properties,  assets, business
or  prospects of RMED or Sub since the date of this Merger  Agreement  and there
shall have been  delivered to the Company a certificate  validly  executed by an
authorized officer of RMED and Sub to that effect.

      9.08  Shareholder  and Director  Approval.  The  directors of RMED and the
directors and  shareholder  of the Sub shall have  authorized the Merger and all
other transactions contemplated hereby at the Special Meetings.

      9.09 Personal Guaranties.  All personal guaranties of any bank debt by the
Company's shareholders shall have been cancelled and annulled.

                                   ARTICLE X.

                     SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES
                         AND COVENANTS; INDEMNIFICATION

      10.01 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and
certifications  made by the  parties  hereto  shall  survive  the closing of all
transactions  pursuant  to this  Merger  Agreement  and remain in full force and
effect after the Effective  Date for a period (the  "Warranty  Period") of three
(3) years following such Effective Date.


                                      -39-
<PAGE>

      10.02  Indemnification by Shareholders.  The holders of the Company Shares
(the  "Shareholders")  will, on a several and limited basis,  indemnify RMED and
the Surviving Corporation and their officers,  directors,  employees and agents,
from  and  against  all  Damages,  as  hereinafter  defined,  arising  out of or
resulting  from any  misrepresentation  or breach of any warranty or covenant or
the failure of any  representation  or warranty of the Company contained herein,
in any Schedule hereto or in any statement, financial statement,  certificate or
other document  delivered  pursuant hereto.  For purposes of this Section 10.02,
Damages shall mean all damages, losses, liabilities,  deficiencies, reduction in
value, costs, expenses,  assessments,  taxes, penalties, fines, claims, demands,
actions,  suits and  proceedings,  including,  but not limited to, any losses or
costs  related to the violation of any Law,  including,  but not limited to, any
Environmental  Law,  and  including,  in  each  such  instance,  the  reasonable
attorneys',  accountants' and other  professionals' fees, costs and expenses and
the expenses of investigation, presentment, proof, collection or defense thereof
and  disbursements  incurred  therewith.  The obligation of the  Shareholders to
indemnify RMED, Sub and the Surviving Corporation shall be subject to all of the
limitations set forth below:

            (a) Indemnity Threshold and Limitation on Amount.  RMED, Sub and the
      Surviving Corporation shall not submit any claim for indemnification under
      this Section  10.02 unless and until the  aggregate  damages  sustained by
      RMED,  Sub and the  Surviving  Corporation  exceed  Twenty  Five  Thousand
      Dollars ($25,000) (the "Indemnity Threshold"), with no right to recoup the
      initial Twenty-Five  Thousand Dollars ($25,000) incurred.  Notwithstanding
      any provision to the  contrary,  the maximum  indemnified  loss under this
      Section 10.02 shall be limited to a maximum of One Hundred Fifty  Thousand
      Dollars ($150,000) (the "Indemnity Maximum").

            (b) Duration. RMED and the Surviving Corporation may recover Damages
      for a breach of a  representation  or  warranty  contained  in this Merger
      Agreement,  only if RMED,  Sub and the  Surviving  Corporation  have given
      written  notice to the  Shareholder  Representatives  of the  breach on or
      prior to the  expiration  of the  Warranty  Period  with  respect  to such
      representation  or warranty.  Any written notice delivered by RMED, Sub or
      the Surviving Corporation to the Shareholder  Representatives  pursuant to
      this  Section  10.02  shall  set  forth  the basis for the claim of breach
      (including,   without  limitation,   reference  to  the  specific  details
      regarding  the manner in which this  Merger  Agreement  is alleged to have
      been  breached)  and, if then  determinable  by RMED, Sub or the Surviving
      Corporation,   a  reasonable   estimate  of  the  amount  of  the  Damages
      anticipated to be incurred in connection therewith.

            (c) Tax and  Insurance  Benefits.  All Damages to be paid to RMED or
      the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be reduced by the actual  amount of any
      income  or  franchise  tax  benefit  resulting  therefrom  to  RMED or the
      Surviving Corporation or its affiliates and any insurance proceeds paid to
      RMED or the Surviving Corporation.


                                      -40-
<PAGE>

            (d) No  Indemnification  for Known Breaches of  Representations  and
      Warranties. Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary set forth
      in this Merger  Agreement or the  agreements  entered  into in  connection
      therewith,  the Company and the  Shareholders  shall not be deemed to have
      misrepresented  to RMED or Sub nor  breached a warranty or  representation
      set forth herein or the Schedules  hereto, if RMED or Sub has knowledge as
      of the Effective Date of such facts or  circumstance  that  constitute the
      breach or  misrepresentation  disclosed  in the Merger  Agreement,  or the
      agreements  executed  in  connection   therewith,   or  schedules  thereto
      delivered,  by or on behalf of the Company and the Shareholders to RMED or
      Sub,  and  RMED  and  Sub   nevertheless   consummates  the   transactions
      contemplated  herein,  in which  case RMED and Sub shall be deemed to have
      waived any claim for Damages they may have under this Article, this Merger
      Agreement,  or any  agreement  executed  in  connection  therewith,  as it
      relates to such breach of representation or warranty.

            (e) Shareholders'  Indemnification.  The shareholder indemnification
      as set forth herein is limited on a several basis allocable to each on the
      basis of their prorata share ownership in the Company prior to the closing
      and further subject to the Indemnity Threshold and Indemnity Maximum, each
      of which shall be prorated in a like manner.

      10.03  Indemnification  by RMED and Sub . RMED and Sub will  indemnify the
Shareholders and the Company and its officers,  directors,  employees and agents
from  and  against  all  Damages,  as  hereinafter  defined,  arising  out of or
resulting  from any  misrepresentation  or breach of any warranty or covenant or
the failure of any  representation  or warranty of Sub contained  herein, in any
Schedule hereto or in any statement,  financial statement,  certificate or other
document delivered pursuant hereto. For purposes of this Section 10.03,  Damages
shall mean all damages, losses, liabilities,  deficiencies,  reduction in value,
costs, expenses, assessments, taxes, penalties, fines, claims, demands, actions,
suits and  proceedings,  including,  but not  limited  to,  any  losses or costs
related to the violation of any Law, and including,  in each such instance,  the
reasonable  attorneys',  accountants' and other  professionals'  fees, costs and
expenses and the expenses of investigation,  presentment,  proof,  collection or
defense thereof and disbursements  incurred therewith.  The obligation of Sub to
indemnify  the  Shareholders  and the  Company  shall be  subject  to all of the
limitations set forth below:

            (a) Indemnity  Threshold and Limitation on Amount.  The Shareholders
      and the Company shall not submit any claim for indemnification  under this
      Section  10.03  unless and until the  aggregate  Damages  sustained by the
      Shareholders  and the Company equal or exceed Twenty Five Thousand Dollars
      ($25,000) (the "Indemnity Threshold"),  provided,  however, that once such
      Damages  equal or  exceed  the  Indemnity  Threshold  the  indemnification
      liabilities  of Sub  and  Sub  shall  include  the  entire  amount  of the
      Indemnity  Threshold.  In no  event  shall  the  Sub and  Sub's  aggregate
      obligation  to  


                                      -41-
<PAGE>

      indemnify the  Shareholders  and the Company for Damages  hereunder exceed
      One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000).

            (b) Duration.  The  Shareholders and the Company may recover Damages
      for a breach of a  representation  or  warranty  contained  in this Merger
      Agreement,  only if the  Shareholders  and the Company have given  written
      notice to Sub of the breach prior to the expiration of the Warranty Period
      with  respect to such  representation  or  warranty.  Any  written  notice
      delivered  by the  Shareholders  and the  Company to Sub  pursuant to this
      Section  10.03  shall  set  forth  the  basis  for  the  claim  of  breach
      (including,   without  limitation,   reference  to  the  specific  details
      regarding  the manner in which this  Merger  Agreement  is alleged to have
      been  breached)  and, if then  determinable  by the  Shareholders  and the
      Company a reasonable  estimate of the amount of the Damages anticipated to
      be incurred in connection therewith.

            (c)  Tax  and  Insurance  Benefits.  All  Damages  to be paid to the
      Shareholders  and the Company shall be reduced by the actual amount of any
      income or franchise tax benefit  resulting  therefrom to the  Shareholders
      and the Company or its affiliates  and any insurance  proceeds paid to the
      Shareholders and the Company.

            (d) No  Indemnification  for Known Breaches of  Representations  and
      Warranties. Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary set forth
      in this Merger  Agreement or the  agreements  entered  into in  connection
      therewith,  RMED or Sub shall not be deemed to have  misrepresented to the
      Company and the Shareholders nor breached a warranty or representation set
      forth herein or the Schedules  hereto, if the Company and the Shareholders
      have has knowledge as of the Effective Date of such facts or  circumstance
      that  constitute the breach or  misrepresentation  disclosed in the Merger
      Agreement,   or  the  agreements  executed  in  connection  therewith,  or
      schedules thereto delivered, by or on behalf of RMED or Sub to the Company
      and the  Shareholders,  and the Company and the Shareholders  nevertheless
      consummates  the  transactions  contemplated  herein,  in  which  case the
      Company and the Shareholders  shall be deemed to have waived any claim for
      Damages they may have under this Article,  this Merger  Agreement,  or any
      agreement executed in connection  therewith,  as it relates to such breach
      of representation or warranty.

      10.04 Third Party Claim.  Promptly  after service of notice of any written
claim or  process  on a party by any third  person in any  matter in  respect of
which  indemnity  may be sought from the other party,  the party so served shall
promptly notify the indemnifying party of the receipt thereof.  The indemnifying
party shall have the right to participate in at its own expense,  the defense of
any such claim or the  settlement  thereof.  As long as the aggregate  amount of
Damages claimed by the indemnified  party with respect to all matters is greater
than the  Indemnity  Threshold,  but less than the  aggregate  amount of Damages
which can be collected from the indemnifying  party, the indemnified party shall
not settle,  compromise or pay any claim without the 


                                      -42-
<PAGE>

consent of the  indemnifying  party,  which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld or delayed.

                                  ARTICLE XI.

                       TERMINATION; MODIFICATION OR WAIVER

      11.01  Termination.  This Merger  Agreement  may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Date:

            (a) by mutual written agreement of RMED, Sub and the Company; or

            (b) by RMED,  Sub or the Company,  by notice to the other party,  if
      the  Effective  Date shall not have taken place prior to December 31, 1998
      (or such  later  date as agreed  to by Sub and the  Company  in  writing),
      subject to any rights  accruing  to the date of such  notice on account of
      any breach of this Merger Agreement by the opposite party hereto;

            (c) by RMED, Sub or the Company, if an order is issued by any court,
      agency, governmental body or public authority of competent jurisdiction to
      restrain,   enjoin  or  prohibit  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
      contemplated by this Merger Agreement;

            (d) by RMED, Sub or the Company, in the event that the Merger is not
      approved at the Special Meetings; or

            (e) by RMED or Sub,  in the event  that the  holders of in excess of
      twenty percent (20%) of the Company Shares exercise their appraisal rights
      pursuant to the Corporation Laws.

      11.02  Waiver.  Any  failure  of RMED or the  Company  to comply  with any
obligation,  covenant,  agreement or condition contained herein may be expressly
waived in writing by Sub in the case of any such failure by the  Company,  or by
the Company in the case of any such  failure by RMED or Sub,  but such waiver or
failure to insist  upon strict  compliance  shall not operate as a waiver of, or
estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.  Whenever this Merger
Agreement requires or permits consent by or on behalf of any party hereto,  such
consent shall be given in writing.

                                  ARTICLE XII.

                   COSTS INCIDENT TO PREPARATION OF AGREEMENT

      The Company shall pay all costs for itself and its  shareholders  incurred
by them  incident  to the  preparation,  execution  and  delivery of this Merger
Agreement  and  the 


                                      -43-
<PAGE>

performance  of  their  respective  obligations  hereunder,   including  without
limitation  fees and  disbursements  of legal counsel,  accountants,  investment
bankers and  consultants,  brokers,  engineers,  and  surveyors  employed by the
respective  parties hereto in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by
this Merger Agreement, provided, however, that:

            (i) In the event  that the  Merger is not  approved  at the  Special
      Meetings,  the Company shall reimburse RMED and Sub for all  out-of-pocket
      costs and expenses for attorneys,  accountants  and  consultants of Sub or
      RMED incurred in connection  with the  negotiation and preparation of this
      Merger Agreement and related agreements; and

            (ii)  In  the  event  that  the  Merger  is  not   approved  by  the
      Shareholders  of RMED at the Special  Meetings,  RMED shall  reimburse the
      Company  for  all   out-of-pocket   costs  and  expenses  for   attorneys,
      accountants and consultants  (including  title companies and surveyors) of
      the Company incurred in connection with the negotiation and preparation of
      this Merger Agreement and related agreements, excluding preparation of the
      HSR Act Notification.

            (iii) In the event  that the  merger is  completed,  the cost of the
      attorneys,  accountants,  and consultants for all parties shall be paid by
      Sub at the Closing.

                                 ARTICLE XIII.

                       PARTIES IN INTEREST AND ASSIGNMENT

      This Merger  Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and the
shareholders of the Company.  This Merger  Agreement is not made for the benefit
of any person, firm,  corporation or other entity not a party hereto (other than
the  shareholders of the Company who are and shall be intended  beneficiaries of
this Merger  Agreement),  and nothing in this Merger Agreement will be construed
as giving any person, firm,  corporation or other entity, other than the parties
hereto and the shareholders of the Company and their  respective  successors and
permitted assigns, any right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Merger
Agreement, or any provision hereof. This Merger Agreement may not be assigned by
any party hereto  without the prior written  consent of all of the other parties
hereto.

                                  ARTICLE XIV.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      14.01 Notices. Any notice, request, consent, waiver or other communication
required  or  permitted  to be given  hereunder  shall be  effective  only if in
writing  and shall be deemed  sufficiently  given only if  delivered  in person,
telefaxed with confirmed 


                                      -44-
<PAGE>

receipt,  or sent by certified or express mail, postage prepaid,  return receipt
requested, addressed as follows:

         If to the Company:           Thomas A. Biebel, President
                                      JETTAR, LTD.
                                      c/o The Belson Company
                                      730 Lambeau
                                      P.O. Box 10477
                                      Green Bay, WI 54307-0744
                                      Fax:  (920) 499-3099

                  Copy to:                     Adrian T. Ulatowski, Esq.
                                               Schober & Ulatowski, S.C.
                                               414 East Walnut
                                               Post Office Box 1780
                                               Green Bay, WI  54305-1780
                                               Fax:  920-432-5967

         If to RMED:                  Brenda Schenk, President
                                      RMED International, Inc.
                                      14 Evergreen
                                      Westport, CT 06880

                  Copy to:                     Steven B. Randall, Esq.
                                               Schwartz & Freeman
                                               401 North Michigan Avenue
                                               Chicago, IL 60611
                                               Fax: 312-222-0818

or to such other person or address as either such party may have  specified in a
notice duly given to the sender as provided herein. Such notice or communication
shall be deemed to have been  given as of the date so  delivered,  telefaxed  or
mailed.

      14.02  Entire  Agreement.  This Merger  Agreement  (including  the related
agreements,  Exhibits and Schedules  attached hereto) and the documents referred
to herein as having been entered into by any of the parties  hereto or delivered
by a party hereto to another party hereto  constitute  the entire  agreement and
understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede
all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, representations and
warranties,  whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. The
terms  of this  Merger  Agreement  cannot  be  changed,  modified,  released  or
discharged  orally.  Inclusion of or reference to matters in a Schedule does not
constitute an admission or indication of materiality of a matter.


                                      -45-
<PAGE>

      14.03  Waiver.  No delay or failure on the part of any party in exercising
any rights hereunder, and no partial or single exercise thereof, will constitute
a waiver of such rights or of any other rights hereunder.

      14.04  Applicable  Law.  This  Merger  Agreement  shall be  construed  and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin.

      14.05 Savings Clause. The unenforceability or invalidity of any Article or
Section  or   provision   of  this  Merger   Agreement   shall  not  affect  the
enforceability or validity of the balance of this Merger Agreement.

      14.06 Action by  Shareholders  of the  Company.  The  shareholders  of the
Company  hereby  irrevocably  authorize and appoint Thomas A. Biebel and John O.
Harry  ("Shareholder  Representatives")  as their agents and attorneys with full
power of  substitution  to make any amendments or  modifications  of this Merger
Agreement  after the  Effective  Date and to waive or  enforce  inaccuracies  of
representations  and warranties or compliance with any of the provisions  herein
contained,  that such parties believe,  in their sole  discretion,  to be in the
best   interest  of  the   shareholders   of  the  Company.   The   Shareholders
Representatives shall act by a unanimous consent.

      14.07  Headings.  The headings of the  Articles and Sections  contained in
this Merger  Agreement are for reference  purposes only and shall not in any way
affect the meaning,  interpretation,  enforceability  or validity of this Merger
Agreement.

      14.08 Counterparts. This Merger Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts,  each of which so executed  will be deemed to be an original,  but
all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

      14.09 Public Announcements.  Neither the Company nor RMED nor Sub, nor the
shareholders  or   representatives  of  any  of  them,  shall  make  any  public
announcement or disclosure  with respect to any of the Transaction  Documents or
any of  transactions  contemplated  thereby (except as required by law or by the
rules of the  exchange  upon which  RMED's  shares are  traded)  which  shall be
reviewed by, and comment  reserved  for, the Company,  without the prior written
consent of the party affected  thereby,  which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.


                                      -46-
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Merger Agreement
to be executed as of the date first above written.

COMPANY:                             SUB:
JETTAR, LTD.                         RMED ACQUISITION, INC.

By: /s/ Thomas Biebel                By: /s/ Brenda Schenk
- -------------------------------          ---------------------------------------
      Its: President                       Brenda Schenk
                                           Its President, Treasurer and Director

                                     By: /s/ Edward Reiss
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                           Edward Reiss
SHAREHOLDERS OF JETTAR. LTD.               Its Vice President, Secretary
                                              and Director

    /s/ John O. Harry                By: RMED INTERNATIONAL , INC.,
- -------------------------------          its sole shareholder
        John O. Harry           

    /s/ Thomas Biebel                    /s/ Brenda Schenk
- -------------------------------          ---------------------------------------
        Thomas Biebel                    Brenda Schenk
                                         Its President

   /s/  John O. Harry POA            RMED:
- -------------------------------
        John O. Harry POA

   /s/  Thomas Biebel POA            RMED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- -------------------------------
        Thomas Biebel POA

_______________________________      By: /s/ Brenda Schenk 
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Its President and CEO
                               
   /s/  Adrian Ulatowski             By: /s/ Edward Reiss
- -------------------------------          ---------------------------------
        Adrian Ulatowski                 Its Chairman and Vice President


                                      -47-



TO BUSINESS, RETAILING AND MEDICAL EDITORS:

       RMED International Announces Merger with Jettar, Ltd., 
       Forming a $20 Million Baby Diaper Manufacturing Company

      WESTPORT, Conn., Sept. 23/PRNewswire/ -- RMED International, Inc. (OTC
Bulletin Board: TUSH), which markets and sells Tushies(R) and TenderCare(R)
brand baby products, is pleased to announce an agreement in principal to merge
with Jettar, Ltd., Eau Claire, WI, a privately held company. Jettar manufactures
private label and their own Bumpies(R) and Rock-A-Bye(R) branded baby diapers.
The merger is expected to be finalized in the 4th quarter of 1998.

      Tushies and TenderCare Baby Products are marketed through Internet web
sites, mail order and health food stores such as Whole Foods and Wild Oats.
Bumpies and Rock-A-Bye branded products appear in Super Valu, Kroger, Fleming
Foods and Rich Foods.

      The combined 1999 revenue of the companies is projected to be $20 million
with projected 1999 net earnings of $5 million. After the merger, approximately
9.5 million shares will be outstanding.

      "We are excited at this opportunity and look forward to strong growth and
profits," said Thomas Biebel, a major principal of Jettar. "We believe this
merger will create significant value for our shareholders," said Brenda Schenk,
President of RMED.

      The new corporate office will be located in Eau Claire, WI.

      Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters discussed in
the press release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors
are cautioned that these forward-looking statements may reflect numerous
assumptions, especially sales and product mix, and involve risks and
uncertainties which may affect RMED International, Inc.'s business and prospects
and cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking
statements.

SOURCE    RMED International, Inc.
      -0-                               09/23/98
      /CONTACT:   Edward Reiss, Chairman of the Board of RMED International,
Inc.,  203-454-8831, or fax, 203-221-7905/
      (TUSH)



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