THERMO TERRATECH INC
8-K, EX-2.1, 2000-06-15
TESTING LABORATORIES
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                                                                  EXECUTION COPY








                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                               DATED MAY 31, 2000

                                      among

                             THERMO TERRATECH INC.,

                              METALLURGICAL, INC.,

                     CAL-DORAN METALLURGICAL SERVICES, INC.

                                       and

                              METAL TREATING INC.,

                                 as the Sellers,

                                       and

                              LINDBERG CORPORATION,

                                as the Purchaser


<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

1.0   Purchase and Sale of Assets............................................1

      1.1       Purchased Assets.............................................1
      1.2       Excluded Assets..............................................3

2.0   Purchase Price.........................................................4

      2.1       Amount of the Purchase Price.................................4
      2.2       Allocation of the Purchase Price Among the Purchased Assets..4
      2.3       Assumed Liabilities..........................................5
      2.4       Excluded Liabilities.........................................6
      2.5       Adjustment of Purchase Price.................................7

3.0   Closing................................................................8

      3.1       Time and Place of the Closing................................8
      3.2       Procedure at the Closing.....................................8
      3.3       Assignment to Subsidiaries...................................9

4.0   Representations and Warranties of the Sellers.........................10

      4.1       Organization, Power and Authority of the Sellers............10
      4.2       Financial Summaries.........................................10
      4.3       Liabilities of the Business.................................11
      4.4       Tax Matters.................................................11
      4.5       Purchased Real Estate; Purchased Leasehold Premises.........11
      4.6       Good Title to and Condition of the Purchased Assets.........13
      4.7       Licenses and Permits........................................14
      4.8       Proprietary Rights..........................................14
      4.9       Adequacy of the Purchased Assets............................14
      4.10      Insurance...................................................15
      4.11      Litigation..................................................15
      4.12      No Material Adverse Change..................................15
      4.13      Absence of Certain Acts or Events...........................15
      4.14      Compliance with Laws........................................16
      4.15      Environmental Matters.......................................16
      4.16      Employee Matters; Labor Relations...........................18
      4.17      Employee Benefits...........................................19
      4.18      Absence of Defaults.........................................21
      4.19      Authority; Binding Obligation; and No Conflict..............21
      4.20      Material Agreements, Contracts and Commitments..............22

                                       i
<PAGE>


      4.21      True and Complete Copies....................................22
      4.22      Brokers.....................................................22
      4.23      Recalls.....................................................22
      4.24      Related Party Transactions..................................22

5.0   Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.......................23

      5.1       Organization, Power and Authority of the Purchaser..........23
      5.2       Due Authorization; Binding Obligation.......................23
      5.3       Brokers.....................................................24
      5.4       Litigation..................................................24
      5.5       Financing...................................................24
      5.6       Solvency....................................................24

6.0   Additional Covenants of the Parties...................................24

      6.1       All Commercially Reasonable Efforts.........................24
      6.2       Conduct of Business Pending the Closing.....................24
      6.3       Access to the Properties and Records of the Business........25
      6.4       No Disclosure...............................................25
      6.5       Bulk Sales Law..............................................26
      6.6       Expenses....................................................26
      6.7       Obligation to Notify........................................26
      6.8       Exclusive Dealing...........................................26
      6.9       Employee Matters............................................26
      6.10      Title Opinions and Surveys..................................28
      6.11      Noncompetition..............................................28

7.0   Conditions to the Obligations of the Purchaser........................29

      7.1       Accuracy of the Sellers' Representations and
                Warranties and Compliance by the Sellers with
                Their Obligations...........................................29
      7.2       Certified Resolutions.......................................30
      7.3       Opinion of Counsel..........................................30
      7.4       Receipt of Necessary Consents...............................30
      7.5       No Adverse Order............................................30
      7.6       No Material Adverse Change or Occurrence....................30
      7.7       HSR Act Waiting Periods.....................................30

8.0   Conditions to Obligations of the Sellers..............................30

      8.1       Accuracy of the Purchaser's Representations and Warranties
                and Compliance by the Purchaser with
                Its Obligations.............................................31
      8.2       Opinion of Counsel..........................................31
      8.3       Certified Resolutions.......................................31
      8.4       No Adverse Order............................................31
      8.5       HSR Act Waiting Periods.....................................31

                                       ii
<PAGE>

9.0   Certain Actions After the Closing.....................................31

      9.1       The Purchaser to Act as Agent for the Sellers;
                Absence of Consents, Etc....................................31
      9.2       Delivery of Property Received by the Sellers After Closing..32
      9.3       Execution of Further Documents..............................32
      9.4       National City Facility......................................32
      9.5       WARN........................................................33
      9.6       Multi-Employer Plan.........................................33
      9.7       Delivery of Charter Amendments..............................34

10.0  Product and Service Warranty and Liability Claims; Cooperation in
      Litigation............................................................35


11.0  Indemnification.......................................................35

      11.1      Indemnification by the Sellers..............................35
      11.2      Indemnification by the Purchaser............................36
      11.3      Claims for Indemnification..................................36
      11.4      Survival....................................................40
      11.5      Limitations.................................................41

12.0  Miscellaneous.........................................................42

      12.1      Brokers' Commission.........................................42
      12.2      Amendment and Modification..................................42
      12.3      Termination.................................................42
      12.4      Binding Effect; Assignment..................................43
      12.5      Entire Agreement............................................43
      12.6      Headings....................................................44
      12.7      Execution in Counterpart....................................44
      12.8      Notices.....................................................44
      12.9      Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of
                Jury Right..................................................45
      12.10     Limitation on Rights of Other Persons.......................45
      12.11     Severability................................................46
      12.12     Survival of Agreements......................................46
      12.13     Certain Definitions.........................................46

                                      iii
<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBITS



Exhibit A      -  Allocation of Purchase Price (Section 2.2)

Exhibit B      -  Statement of Adjustment Amount (Section 2.5)

Exhibit C      -  Form of Deed (Section 3.2.2)

Exhibit D      -  Form of Bill of Sale (Section 3.2.2)

Exhibit E      -  Form of Assignment of Lease (Section 3.2.2)

Exhibit F      -  Form of Instrument of Assumption of Liabilities (Section
                  3.2.6)

Exhibit G      -  Form of Opinion of Sellers' Counsel (Section 7.3)

Exhibit H      -  Form of Opinion of Purchaser's Counsel (Section 8.2)

Exhibit I      -  Product and Service  Liability  Insurance  Coverage (Section
                  10.0)




                                       iv
<PAGE>

                                SECTIONS OF THE
                               DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE


      Section 1.1.1     Purchased Real Estate

      Section 1.1.6     Purchased Contracts

      Section 1.1.8     Purchased Proprietary Rights

      Section 1.1.9     Purchased Permits

      Section 4.2       Financial Summaries

      Section 4.4       Tax Matters

      Section 4.5       Purchased Leasehold Premises

      Section 4.6-A     Assumed Liens; Operating Condition

      Section 4.6-B     Accounts Receivable

      Section 4.6-C     Holco Capitalization

      Section 4.9       Adequacy of the Purchased Assets

      Section 4.11      Litigation

      Section 4.12      No Material Adverse Change

      Section 4.13      Absence of Certain Events or Acts

      Section 4.14      Compliance with Laws

      Section 4.15      Environmental Matters

      Section 4.16      Employee Matters; Labor Relations

      Section 4.17      Employee Benefits

      Section 4.18      Absence of Defaults

      Section 4.19      Consents

      Section 4.23      Recalls

      Section 4.24      Related Party Transactions

      Section 6.9.3     Collective Bargaining Agreements

                                       v
<PAGE>




                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


      THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 31st day
of May,  2000  by and  among  THERMO  TERRATECH  INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation
("Terra"),   METALLURGICAL,  INC.,  a  Minnesota  corporation  and  wholly-owned
subsidiary of Terra ("MI"), CAL-DORAN METALLURGICAL SERVICES, INC., a California
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of MI ("Cal-Doran"),  and METAL TREATING
INC., a Wisconsin  corporation and  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Terra ("MTI" and
collectively  with  Terra,  MI  and  Cal-Doran,  the  "Sellers");  and  LINDBERG
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser").

                                    Recitals

      The Sellers desire to sell, convey,  transfer and assign to the Purchaser,
and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Sellers,  the assets,  properties
and  business  of  their   Metallurgical   Heat  Treating  Services  Group  (the
"Business")  for a purchase  price  consisting of cash and the assumption by the
Purchaser of certain  liabilities of the Sellers,  all as herein provided and on
the terms and conditions  hereinafter set forth. Initially capitalized terms not
expressly  defined in the  provisions  in which they  appear  have the  meanings
assigned to them in Section  12.13 or in the Section of this  Agreement to which
Section 12.13 refers.

                                    Covenants

      In consideration of the mutual  representations,  warranties and covenants
and subject to the  conditions  herein  contained,  the parties  hereto agree as
follows:

1.0   PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS

     1.1 Purchased Assets. The Sellers agree to and will sell, convey, transfer,
assign and deliver to the Purchaser at the Closing,  free and clear of all Liens
(except  Permitted  Liens and those which the Purchaser has expressly  agreed in
Section 2.3 hereof to assume),  on the terms and subject to the  conditions  set
forth in this  Agreement,  all of the  properties,  business  and  assets of the
Sellers used primarily in or essential to the operation of the Business of every
kind and  description,  real,  personal  and  mixed,  tangible  and  intangible,
wherever  located  (except  those  assets  relating  to the  Business  which are
specifically  excluded from this sale by Section 1.2 hereof) as they shall exist
at the Closing Date (collectively, the "Purchased Assets"). Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Purchased Assets shall include the following:

          1.1.1 the land and buildings (and improvements thereto) comprising the
     Business's heat treating and metallurgical facilities identified in Section
     1.1.1 of the Disclosure Schedule (the "Purchased Real Estate").
<PAGE>

          1.1.2 all of the interests of and the rights and benefits  accruing to
     the Sellers or the Business as lessee of the real property (the  "Purchased
     Leasehold  Premises")  identified in Section 4.5 of the Disclosure Schedule
     (the "Purchased Leasehold Right");

          1.1.3 all  machinery,  vehicles,  equipment,  tools,  supplies,  spare
     parts,  construction in progress,  computer hardware,  computer  equipment,
     computer software,  furniture, fixtures and any other fixed assets owned by
     the Sellers that are used primarily in or essential to the operation of the
     Business (the "Purchased Fixed Assets");

          1.1.4 all inventories of the Sellers  (including,  without limitation,
     raw  materials,  work in  process,  finished  products,  spare  parts,  and
     supplies,  together with any of the foregoing,  all inventory in transit or
     storage)  relating  to the  Business  as of  the  Closing  (the  "Purchased
     Inventory");

          1.1.5 all  receivables  of the Sellers  relating to the  Business  and
     arising from sales in the Ordinary Course of Business as of January 1, 2000
     as are included in the January 1, 2000 Statement,  less such receivables as
     are paid, plus such  receivables as are created,  in the Ordinary Course of
     Business   between   January  1,  2000  and  the  Closing  (the  "Purchased
     Receivables");

          1.1.6 all of the interest of, and rights and benefits  accruing to the
     Sellers  under:  (i) all leases or rental  agreements  covering  machinery,
     vehicles,   equipment,   tools,  supplies,  spare  parts,  construction  in
     progress,  computer  hardware,   computer  equipment,   computer  software,
     furniture,  fixtures and any other fixed assets that are used  primarily in
     or essential to the operation of the Business;  (ii) all  contracts,  sales
     orders,  purchase  orders,  guarantees,  warranties,  indemnities and other
     agreements relating to the Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased
     Leasehold Premises,  including,  without limitation, each of the agreements
     specifically identified in Section 1.1.6 of the Disclosure Schedule;  (iii)
     all non-compete and confidentiality  covenants entered into with current or
     former  employees  of the Sellers to the extent they may be deemed to cover
     or extend to the Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold
     Premises;   and  (iv)  all  agreements  pertaining  to  the  settlement  of
     litigation  and the transfer of technology to the extent they may be deemed
     to cover or extend to the Business,  the Purchased  Assets or the Purchased
     Leasehold Premises;  the items identified in Subsections  (i)-(iv) shall be
     collectively  referred  to  throughout  this  Agreement  as the  "Purchased
     Contracts"; any of the Purchased Contracts constituting a Material Contract
     shall be identified as such in Section 1.1.6 of the Disclosure Schedule;

          1.1.7 all operating data,  files and records of the Sellers related to
     the Business,  including,  without  limitation,  customer lists,  financial
     records,  accounting ledgers, credit records,  correspondence,  budgets and
     other similar items (the "Purchased Records"),  but excluding stock ledgers
     and minute books;

                                       2
<PAGE>

          1.1.8 all the Sellers'  right,  title and interest in and to the trade
     names  "Cal-Doran  National City,"  "Cal-Doran,"  "Metallurgical  Services,
     Inc.," "Metal Treating Inc.," "Metallurgical  Incorporated" and "SCAT", and
     all other Proprietary  Rights of the Sellers which primarily pertain or are
     essential to the operation of the Business,  including, without limitation,
     all patents, patent applications, patent licenses, trademarks, trade names,
     service marks and registrations and applications  therefor,  trade secrets,
     technology,  know-how,  formulae, designs and drawings,  computer software,
     slogans,  copyrights,  processes and other similar intangible  property and
     rights, including,  without limitation, those set forth in Section 1.1.8 of
     the Disclosure Schedule (the "Purchased Proprietary Rights");

          1.1.9 all of the rights and benefits accruing to the Sellers under the
     official clearances, licenses, permits and registrations issued by federal,
     state or local  instrumentalities of government which are either identified
     in Section 1.1.9 of the Disclosure  Schedule or which primarily  pertain or
     are essential to the operation of the Business (the "Purchased Permits");

          1.1.10 all prepaid and deferred  items of the Sellers  relating to the
     Business,  including,  without limitation,  prepaid rentals,  utilities and
     other expenses and unbilled sales;

          1.1.11 all rights to causes of action, lawsuits, judgments, claims and
     demands of any nature  available  to or being  pursued  with respect to the
     Business or the ownership,  use,  function or value of any of the Purchased
     Assets, whether arising by way of counterclaim or otherwise;

          1.1.12 all the Sellers' right,  title and interest in and to insurance
     claims,  related  refunds  and  proceeds  arising  from or  relating to the
     Purchased Assets;

          1.1.13  all the issued and  outstanding  shares of capital  stock (the
     "Purchased Shares") of Cal-Doran Real Estate,  Inc., a Delaware corporation
     ("Holco"); and

          1.1.14 all of the  Sellers'  right,  title and  interest in and to the
     goodwill of the Sellers relating to the Business.

     1.2  Excluded  Assets.  Notwithstanding  Section  1.1,  the Sellers are not
selling or  assigning  to the  Purchaser,  and the  Purchased  Assets  shall not
include, any of the following:

          1.2.1 the Cash  Consideration and the Sellers' other rights under this
     Agreement;

          1.2.2  cash and  cash  equivalents,  bank  accounts,  certificates  of
     deposit, treasury bills and other marketable securities of the Sellers;

                                       3
<PAGE>

          1.2.3  all  real  property,  leasehold  interests  in  real  property,
     equipment,  machinery, vehicles, tools and other tangible personal property
     (other than the Purchased Real Estate, the Purchased Leasehold Premises and
     the Purchased Fixed Assets) of the Sellers;

          1.2.4 all right,  title and  interest of the Sellers in any  insurance
     policies and all rights of the Sellers to insurance claims, related refunds
     and  proceeds  arising  from or  relating  to the  Excluded  Assets  or the
     Excluded Liabilities;

          1.2.5 all refunds of taxes  relating to all periods ending on or prior
     to the Closing Date;

          1.2.6 all  actions,  claims,  causes of  action,  rights of  recovery,
     choses in action and  rights of setoff of any kind  arising  before,  on or
     after the Closing Date relating to the Excluded Liabilities or to the items
     set forth above in this Section 1.2; and

          1.2.7 all assets of the Sellers that are not used primarily in, or are
     not essential to, the Business.

2.0  PURCHASE PRICE

     2.1 Amount of the Purchase Price. As consideration for the Purchased Assets
(the "Purchase Price"), the Purchaser agrees,  subject to the terms,  conditions
and limitations set forth in this Agreement:

          2.1.1  to pay to or for the  account  of the  Sellers,  in the  manner
     specified in Section 3.2 hereof,  $15,700,000  (the "Cash  Consideration"),
     plus or minus the  Adjustment  Amount.  The  "Adjustment  Amount"  shall be
     determined  following  the Closing  pursuant to Section 2.5 and shall equal
     the difference  between (i) the Business's net book value as of the Closing
     Date as determined  pursuant to Section 2.5 (the "Closing Net Book Value"),
     and (ii) $8,323,000. If the Closing Net Book Value, as finally agreed to or
     determined  pursuant  to Section  2.5,  is  greater  than  $8,323,000,  the
     Adjustment  Amount will be added to the Cash  Consideration  portion of the
     Purchase  Price;  if  the  Closing  Net  Book  Value,  as so  agreed  to or
     determined,  is  less  than  $8,323,000,  the  Adjustment  Amount  will  be
     subtracted from the Cash Consideration portion of the Purchase Price; and

          2.1.2 to assume and be  responsible  for,  to the extent  specifically
     provided in Section 2.3 hereof, the Assumed Liabilities.

      2.2  Allocation  of the Purchase  Price Among the  Purchased  Assets.  The
parties  will  allocate  the  Purchase  Price  among  each  item or class of the
Purchased  Assets as agreed by the parties hereto and as specifically  set forth
in or  determined  pursuant  to Exhibit A. Such  allocation  shall be subject to
adjustment to the extent that the Purchase Price is adjusted pursuant to Section
2.5. The Sellers and the  Purchaser  agree that they will prepare and file their


                                       4
<PAGE>

respective  federal  and any state or local  income  tax  returns  based on such
allocation of the Purchase Price.  The Sellers and the Purchaser agree that they
will prepare and file any notices or other filings required  pursuant to Section
1060 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that any
such  notices  or  filings  will be  prepared  based on such  allocation  of the
Purchase Price.

      2.3   Assumed Liabilities.

          2.3.1  Subject to Section 2.4, the  Purchaser  agrees to assume and to
     pay, discharge and perform when lawfully due the following  obligations and
     liabilities  of the Sellers which  pertain to the  Business,  the Purchased
     Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises (the "Assumed Liabilities"):

               2.3.1.1 subject to Sections 2.3.2 and 6.9.3, all of the remaining
          obligations  of the Sellers  under the  Purchased  Contracts,  and the
          collective  bargaining  agreements  and union  employee  benefit plans
          described  in Section  6.9.3 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  arising or
          incurred in respect of the period subsequent to the Closing Date;

               2.3.1.2  property  taxes,  not yet due as of the Closing Date for
          any period  prior to the Closing  Date,  on or  allocable  to the Real
          Estate,  to the extent such property  taxes are properly  accrued as a
          liability  on the  books  of the  Business  in  accordance  with  past
          practice and GAAP and included in the  calculation  of the Closing Net
          Book Value.

               2.3.1.3 subject to the Sellers'  indemnification  obligations set
          forth in Section 11.1(iv), all Environmental  Liabilities arising from
          or as a result of the  operation of the Business  prior to the Closing
          Date;  provided,  however,  that the  Purchaser  shall not  assume any
          Environmental Liabilities arising from or relating to (i) the Sellers'
          National  City,  California  facility  and  (ii)  the  transportation,
          treatment,  storage or disposal of any Contaminant, or arrangement for
          such   transportation,   treatment,   storage  or   disposal   of  any
          Contaminant,  by any of the Sellers,  at or to a facility that was not
          owned or leased by any of the Sellers.

               2.3.1.4 all other operating liabilities properly reflected in the
          January 1, 2000 Statement, less such amounts as were or are paid, plus
          such  amounts  as were  or are  accrued,  in the  Ordinary  Course  of
          Business  between  January 1, 2000 and the Closing  Date to the extent
          such operating  liabilities  are properly  accrued in accordance  with
          past practice and GAAP as a liability on the books of the Business and
          included in the calculation of the Closing Net Book Value;

                                       5
<PAGE>

               2.3.1.5 all debts,  obligations  and  liabilities of the Business
          which arise from the Purchaser's  operation of the Business or the use
          of the Purchased Assets after the Closing Date;

               2.3.1.6  liabilities or  obligations  arising from any product or
          service liability or warranty claim, to the extent provided in Article
          10.0; and

               2.3.1.7  liabilities  for  litigation,  claims or disputes to the
          extent not  excluded by Section  2.4.8.

          2.3.2  Nothing  herein shall  obligate the  Purchaser to discharge any
     liability  or  obligation  under  any  Purchased   Contract  which  is  not
     assignable without the consent of the other party or parties thereto unless
     (i) such consent shall have been obtained, waived or acquiesced to, or (ii)
     the Sellers shall have performed their obligations under Section 9.1.

     2.4  Excluded  Liabilities.   Anything  to  the  contrary  in  Section  2.3
notwithstanding,  the  liabilities  assumed by the  Purchaser  shall exclude all
liabilities  of the Sellers or the  Business  that are not Assumed  Liabilities,
including, without limitation, the following liabilities, contracts, commitments
and other obligations (collectively, the "Excluded Liabilities"):

          2.4.1 the Sellers'  obligations and any liabilities arising under this
     Agreement;

          2.4.2 except as provided in Section  2.3.1.2,  any  obligation  of the
     Sellers for federal,  state, local or foreign income or other tax liability
     (including  interest  and  penalties)  arising  from the  operation  of the
     Business up to the  Closing  Date or arising out of the sale by the Sellers
     of the Purchased Assets pursuant to this Agreement;

          2.4.3 any obligation  imposed by law for any transfer,  sales or other
     taxes, fees or levies imposed by any state or other governmental  entity on
     or  arising  out of the  sale  of the  Purchased  Assets  pursuant  to this
     Agreement;

          2.4.4  any  obligation  of  the  Sellers  for  expenses   incurred  in
     connection  with  the  sale  of  the  Purchased  Assets  pursuant  to  this
     Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  the fees and  expenses of its
     counsel and independent auditors, and any brokers or financial advisors;

          2.4.5 any contract, of the Sellers, the existence of which constitutes
     or will  constitute  a breach  of any  representation  or  warranty  of the
     Sellers contained in or made pursuant to Article 4.0 of this Agreement;

          2.4.6 any  Environmental  Liabilities  not  assumed  by the  Purchaser
     pursuant to Section 2.3.1.3;

                                       6
<PAGE>

          2.4.7  liabilities or obligations  arising from any product or service
     liability or warranty claim to the extent provided in Article 10;

          2.4.8  except as  provided  in Article  10 and  Section  2.3.1.3,  any
     liabilities or obligations  resulting from any litigation or other claim or
     dispute,  regardless  of whether such  litigation or other claim or dispute
     commences  before or after the Closing Date,  arising from events occurring
     on or  prior  to  the  Closing  Date,  provided  that  to the  extent  such
     liabilities or obligations  arise from events  occurring on or prior to the
     Closing Date as well as after the Closing,  the  Purchaser  and the Sellers
     shall share such responsibility equally or as otherwise provided in Section
     6.9.4;

          2.4.9  except to the extent  properly  accrued as a  liability  on the
     books  of the  Business  in  accordance  with  past  practice  and GAAP and
     included in the  calculation  of the Closing Net Book Value or as otherwise
     provided in Section 6.9 or Section  9.5,  any  liabilities  or  obligations
     (whether  arising  before  or after  the  Closing  Date)  with  respect  to
     employees of the Sellers or the Business,  including,  without  limitation,
     those  employees who are, as of the Closing Date,  retired or otherwise not
     employed by the Business on an active,  full-time  basis; and

          2.4.10  except to the extent  properly  accrued as a liability  on the
     books  of the  Business  in  accordance  with  past  practice  and GAAP and
     included in the  calculation  of the Closing Net Book Value or as otherwise
     provided in Section 6.9 or Section 9.6, any liability or obligation arising
     under or in connection with any employee pension,  benefit or welfare plan,
     program, policy or arrangement maintained,  contributed to, participated in
     or terminated, at any time, by the Sellers.

     2.5. Adjustment of Purchase Price

          2.5.1 Not later than 30 days after the  Closing  Date,  the  Purchaser
     shall prepare and deliver to the Sellers a Statement of Adjustment  Amount,
     in  substantially  the form  attached to this  Agreement  as Exhibit B. The
     Statement  of  Adjustment  Amount  shall  set forth a  reasonably  detailed
     calculation of the Adjustment  Amount,  including,  without  limitation,  a
     reasonable detail of the Closing Net Book Value as determined in accordance
     with GAAP applied on a basis  consistent  with the Business's past practice
     and the preparation of the January 1, 2000 Statement.

          2.5.2 If within 30 days  after the date the  Statement  of  Adjustment
     Amount is delivered to the Sellers,  the Sellers give written notice to the
     Purchaser  setting forth in reasonable  detail any objection of the Sellers
     to the amounts or  calculations  set forth in the  Statement of  Adjustment
     Amount,  then the  Purchaser  and the  Sellers  shall use all  commercially
     reasonable  efforts to reach agreement on all differences within the 30-day
     period  following  the  giving  of such  notice  by the  Sellers  of  their
     objections. If the parties are unable to reach agreement within such 30-day


                                       7
<PAGE>

     period,  the matter shall be submitted to the New York,  New York office of
     Arthur  Andersen LLP, a firm of independent  certified  public  accountants
     (the  "Arbitrator").  The Purchaser and the Sellers shall each be permitted
     to  present  evidence  to  the  Arbitrator.  The  Arbitrator  shall  not be
     permitted  to make any changes to the  Closing  Net Book Value  except with
     respect  to  items  disputed  by the  Purchaser  and the  Sellers,  and the
     Arbitrator  shall  not be  permitted  to apply any  accounting  methodology
     different from that employed by the Purchaser and the Sellers under Section
     2.5.1.  The decision of the Arbitrator  shall be final and binding upon the
     Purchaser and the Sellers absent fraud or manifest error. The Purchaser and
     the Sellers  shall share  equally  the charges of such  Arbitrator.  To the
     extent that the Closing Net Book Value, as agreed upon by the Purchaser and
     the Sellers or as  determined  by the  Arbitrator  pursuant to this Section
     2.5.2,  is more than  $8,323,000,  the Purchaser  shall pay the  Adjustment
     Amount to the Sellers;  and if the Closing Net Book Value,  as so agreed or
     determined,  is less than $8,323,000,  the Sellers shall pay the Adjustment
     Amount to the Purchaser.  The Adjustment  Amount, as the case may be, shall
     be paid,  dollar for  dollar,  by wire  transfer of  immediately  available
     funds,  within 10 days of the date on which the Adjustment Amount is agreed
     upon or is finally  determined by the  Arbitrator  as set forth above.

3.0  CLOSING

     3.1 Time and Place of the Closing. The closing of the sale of the Purchased
Assets  shall take place at Bell,  Boyd & Lloyd,  70 West  Madison,  Suite 3300,
Chicago, Illinois at 10:00 A.M., local time, on June 2, 2000; provided, however,
that if any of the  conditions  to the  obligations  of the  parties  under this
Agreement  has not been  satisfied  (or  waived) by said date,  then the closing
shall take place on a subsequent  date,  which shall be determined by the mutual
agreement of the  Purchaser  and the Sellers  (unless this  Agreement is earlier
terminated  pursuant to Section 12.3 hereof).  Throughout this  Agreement,  such
event is referred to as the  "Closing" and such date and time are referred to as
the   "Closing   Date."   The   Closing   shall  be   deemed   effective   on  a
facility-by-facility  basis for all purposes of this  Agreement as of the end of
the second shift of  operations at each  respective  facility of the Business on
the work day immediately preceding the Closing Date.

     3.2 Procedure at the Closing. At the Closing, the parties agree to take the
following  steps;  upon their  completion all such steps shall be deemed to have
occurred simultaneously:

          3.2.1 The parties shall  deliver the  documents  specified in Articles
     7.0 and 8.0.

          3.2.2  The  Sellers   shall   deliver  to  the   Purchaser   deeds  in
     substantially  the form  attached  hereto as  Exhibit  C, a bill of sale in
     substantially  the form attached hereto as Exhibit D,  assignments of lease
     in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, and such additional
     instruments, in such form as in each case is reasonably satisfactory to the
     Purchaser,  as  shall  be  sufficient  to vest in the  Purchaser  good  and
     marketable title to the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Liens other
     than Permitted Liens.

                                       8
<PAGE>

          3.2.3  Terra  shall  cause  Thermo  Electron  Corporation,  a Delaware
     corporation  ("Electron"),  to  deliver  to  the  Purchaser  duly  executed
     certificates  in  valid  form  evidencing  the  Purchased  Shares  owned by
     Electron,  duly endorsed in blank or  accompanied  by duly  executed  stock
     powers.

          3.2.4 The Purchaser shall pay to the Sellers the Cash Consideration by
     wire transfer of immediately available funds (to an account(s) as specified
     by the Sellers no later than three business days prior to the Closing).

          3.2.5 On or before the Closing Date, the Sellers shall pay,  discharge
     or perform in full all of the Excluded  Liabilities  that would result in a
     Lien  (other  than a  Permitted  Lien) on the  Purchased  Assets  and shall
     terminate or cancel all contracts,  agreements and  commitments  related to
     the  Purchased  Assets to which any of the  Sellers  is a party  that would
     result in a Lien  (other than a Permitted  Lien) on the  Purchased  Assets,
     except for the Purchased  Contracts.  The Sellers shall pay, discharge,  or
     perform in full all Excluded Liabilities not paid,  discharged,  performed,
     or  extinguished  on or before the Closing Date, as they come due according
     to their  terms.

          3.2.6 The  Purchaser  shall  deliver to the Sellers an  instrument  of
     assumption of  liabilities  in  substantially  the form attached  hereto as
     Exhibit F, and such additional instruments, in such form as in each case as
     is  satisfactory  to the  Sellers,  as shall be  sufficient  to effect  the
     assumption by the Purchaser of the Assumed Liabilities.

          3.2.7 The  Purchaser and the Sellers shall execute and deliver a cross
     receipt  acknowledging  receipt  from  the  other,  respectively,   of  the
     Purchased Assets and the Cash Consideration.

     3.3 Assignment to Subsidiaries. Pursuant to Section 12.4, the Purchaser may
at any  time  prior to the  Closing  elect  to  assign  its  rights  under  this
Agreement,  including,  without  limitation  the right to purchase the Purchased
Assets, to three of its wholly-owned  subsidiaries.  If the Purchaser so elects,
the Sellers will sell,  convey,  transfer,  assign and deliver (i) the Purchased
Assets  related to the  Business's  National  City,  California and Los Angeles,
California  heat  treating  facilities  (the  "California  Assets")  to C-D Heat
Treating,  Inc., a California  corporation  and  wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Purchaser  ("Sub One");  (ii) the  Purchased  Assets  related to the  Business's
Minneapolis,  Minnesota heat treating  facility (the "Minnesota  Assets") to MI,
Inc., a Minnesota corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser ("Sub
Two");  and (iii) the  Purchased  Assets  related to the  Business's  Milwaukee,
Wisconsin heat treating facility (the "Wisconsin  Assets") to MTI Heat Treating,
Inc., a Wisconsin corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser ("Sub
Three").  Upon the  effective  date of such  assignment,  the  Purchaser  hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally  guarantees each of Sub One's, Sub Two's and Sub
Three's  performance of its obligations  under this  Agreement,  and the parties
hereto  agree  to  revise  the  Form of  Deed,  Form of  Bill of  Sale,  Form of
Assignment  of Lease and Form of Instrument  of  Assumption  of  Liabilities  to
properly effect the transfers as specified  above.  The Purchaser,  Sub One, Sub
Two and Sub Three may effect such  election  and  assignment  by  executing  and
delivering the assignment attached to the signature page of this Agreement.

                                       9
<PAGE>

4.0  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

     In order to  induce  the  Purchaser  to enter  into this  Agreement  and to
consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder,  except as set for in the
disclosure  schedule attached hereto (the "Disclosure  Schedule"),  the Sellers,
jointly and severally,  make the following  representations and warranties.  The
Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in sections  corresponding to the sections
contained in this Agreement and the disclosures in any section of the Disclosure
Schedule shall qualify (i) the corresponding section in this Article 4, and (ii)
other sections in this Article 4 to the extent (notwithstanding the absence of a
specific  cross  reference) it is clear from a reading of such  disclosure  that
such disclosure logically relates to such other sections.

     4.1 Organiation, Power and Authority of the Sellers. Each of the Sellers is
a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under the
laws of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  and has full  corporate  power and
authority (i) to own or lease the Purchased  Assets being  transferred by it and
to  conduct  the  Business  as now  being  conducted,  (ii) to enter  into  this
Agreement,  each of the Ancillary  Agreements to which it is a party and each of
the other  documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by it pursuant
hereto and  thereto,  (iii) to sell,  convey,  transfer,  assign and deliver the
Purchased  Assets,  and (iv) to carry out the other  transactions and agreements
contemplated by this Agreement,  each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is
a party and each of the other  documents  and  instruments  to be  executed  and
delivered by it pursuant hereto and thereto.

     4.2 Financial Summaries. Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedule contains:

          4.2.1 an unaudited  statement of income and operating  expenses of the
     Business for the  nine-month  period ended January 1, 2000 and for the year
     ended April 1, 2000 ("Statement of Operations"); and

          4.2.2 an unaudited statement of assets and liabilities of the Business
     as at  January  1,  2000 and  April  1,  2000  ("Statement  of  Assets  and
     Liabilities").

     The  Statement of Operations  and the  Statement of Assets and  Liabilities
(hereinafter  sometimes  referred  to  together  as the  "Financial  Summaries")
present fairly the financial  position and results of operations of the Business
as at the respective  dates of and for the periods referred to in such Financial
Summaries,  all in  accordance  with GAAP,  consistently  applied  (but omit all
footnotes),  and are based on books and records of the  Sellers  relating to the
Business which have been prepared on a consistent basis. The Statement of Assets
and  Liabilities  as at January 1, 2000 is referred to herein as the "January 1,
2000 Statement"; and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at April 1, 2000
is referred to herein as the "April 1, 2000 Statement."

                                       10
<PAGE>

     4.3  Liabilities  of the  Business.  The  Sellers  have no  liabilities  or
obligations  relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets except: (i) to the
extent reflected in the April 1, 2000 Statement; (ii) to the extent specifically
set forth herein or incorporated  herein by express  reference in the Disclosure
Schedule attached hereto; and (iii) current liabilities incurred in the Ordinary
Course of Business since the April 1, 2000 Statement.

     4.4 Tax  Matters.  Except as set  forth in  Section  4.4 of the  Disclosure
Schedule:

          4.4.1 With respect to the  Purchased  Assets and the  operation of the
     Business,  each of the Sellers has timely filed (or has had timely filed on
     its behalf) all tax returns and reports  required to be filed by it and any
     corporation with which it files consolidated,  combined or unitary returns,
     including without limitation,  all federal, state, local and foreign income
     tax returns, all sales and use tax, gross receipts,  property,  payroll and
     other tax returns,  and has paid in full or made adequate  provision by the
     establishment  of reserves for all such taxes and other  charges which have
     become  due  except  for any  failure to file any tax return or to make any
     payment which would not  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
     Effect.  There is no tax deficiency  proposed or threatened  against any of
     the Sellers  with respect to or  affecting  the  Business or the  Purchased
     Assets and there are no tax Liens upon any of the  Purchased  Assets except
     for any Lien for current  taxes not yet due and  payable.  The Sellers have
     made all payments when due of estimated taxes with respect to the Purchased
     Assets and the Business in amounts  sufficient  to avoid the  imposition of
     any penalty  except for any failure to pay which  would not  reasonably  be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          4.4.2 All taxes and other  assessments  and levies with respect to the
     Purchased  Assets and the operation of the Business  which the Sellers were
     required  by law to  withhold  or to collect  have been duly  withheld  and
     collected, and have been paid over to the proper governmental entity or are
     being  held by the  Sellers  for  such  payment  except  for any  such  tax
     collections or  withholdings  as would not reasonably be expected to have a
     Material  Adverse  Effect.  There are no outstanding  agreements or waivers
     extending  the statute of  limitations  applicable  to any federal or state
     income tax  returns of the Sellers  with  respect to the  Business  for any
     period.

     4.5 Purchased Real Estate; Purchased Leasehold Premises

          4.5.1 Section 4.5 of the Disclosure Schedule accurately and completely
     sets forth with respect to every parcel of the Purchased  Real Estate:  (i)
     the owner; (ii) the location,  including address,  thereof; (iii) the legal
     description and approximate size thereof; and (iv) the nature and amount of
     any  mortgages,  tax  Liens  or  other  Liens  thereon  (including  without
     limitation any environmental Liens but excluding Permitted Liens), and with
     respect to the Purchased  Leasehold  Premises:  (i) the landlord under such
     lease; (ii) the location, including address, thereof; (iii) the approximate
     size thereof; and (iv) the nature and amount of any mortgages, tax Liens or
     other Liens thereon  created by the Sellers or, to the Sellers'  Knowledge,
     affecting the Purchased Leasehold Right (excluding Permitted Liens).

                                       11
<PAGE>

          4.5.2 Each Seller has good and marketable  title to each parcel of the
     Purchased  Real  Estate of which  Section  4.5 of the  Disclosure  Schedule
     identifies  it as the owner,  free and clear of all  Liens,  except for (i)
     Permitted  Liens,  (ii)  Liens set forth in Section  4.5 of the  Disclosure
     Schedule,  and (iii) such imperfections of title and encumbrances,  if any,
     as are not substantial in character, amount or extent and do not materially
     detract  from  the  value,  or  interfere  with  the  present  use of  such
     properties or otherwise  impair the  Business's  operations in any material
     respect  and each Seller has a valid  leasehold  interest in each parcel of
     Purchased  Leasehold  Premises  of  which  Section  4.5 of  the  Disclosure
     Schedule identifies it as a lessee of Purchased  Leasehold  Premises,  free
     and clear of all Liens  created by the  Sellers,  except for (i)  Permitted
     Liens, (ii) Liens set forth in Section 4.5 of the Disclosure Schedule,  and
     (iii)  Liens  for  real  estate  taxes  not yet due and  payable,  and such
     imperfections of title and encumbrances,  if any, as are not substantial in
     character,  amount or extent and do not materially  detract from the value,
     or interfere with the present use, of such  properties or otherwise  impair
     the Business's operations in any material respect.

          4.5.3 The  buildings  located  on the  Purchased  Real  Estate and the
     Purchased Leasehold Premises are each in operating  condition,  normal wear
     and tear  excepted,  and are in the  aggregate  sufficient  to satisfy  the
     Business's current, normal production levels.

          4.5.4 Each parcel of the Purchased Real Estate:  (i) has direct access
     to public  roads or access to public  roads by means of a perpetual  access
     easement,  such access  being  sufficient  to satisfy the  current,  normal
     transportation  requirements of the Business as presently conducted at such
     parcel;  and (ii) is served by all utilities,  including but not limited to
     water, electricity,  natural gas, sewer and telephone, in such quantity and
     quality as are sufficient to satisfy the current,  normal production levels
     and business  activities of Business as presently conducted at such parcel;
     and each parcel of the Purchased Leasehold  Premises:  (i) to the Knowledge
     of the Sellers, has direct access to public roads or access to public roads
     by means of a perpetual  access  easement,  such access being sufficient to
     satisfy the current normal  transportation  requirements of the Business as
     presently  conducted at such parcel;  and (ii) is served by all  utilities,
     including  but not limited to water,  electricity,  natural gas,  sewer and
     telephone,  in such  quantity and quality as are  sufficient to satisfy the
     current  normal  production  levels and business  activities of Business as
     conducted at such parcel.

          4.5.5 The Sellers  have not received  notice of: (i) any  condemnation
     proceeding  with respect to or affecting any portion of the Purchased  Real
     Estate or the Purchased Leasehold  Premises,  and to the Sellers' Knowledge
     no such proceeding is contemplated by any governmental  authority;  or (ii)
     any special  assessment  which may affect the Purchased  Real Estate or the
     Purchased Leasehold Premises, and to the Sellers' Knowledge no such special
     assessment is contemplated by any governmental authority.

          4.5.6 The Sellers  have a valid  leasehold  interest in the  Purchased
     Leasehold  Premises as described in Section 4.5 of the Disclosure  Schedule
     hereof, free and clear of all Liens.

                                       12
<PAGE>

          4.5.7  The  Sellers  have  previously  delivered  to the  Purchaser  a
     complete  and  accurate  copy of each  lease  agreement  pertaining  to the
     Purchased Leasehold  Premises,  and each such lease has not been amended or
     modified  except to the extent that such  amendments or  modifications  are
     disclosed  in such copy.  Each lease is in full force and  effect,  and the
     Sellers  are not in default  or breach  thereunder.  No event has  occurred
     which with the  passage of time or the giving of notice or both would cause
     a  material  breach of or  default  under any such lease on the part of any
     Seller.  The Sellers do not have any Knowledge of any breach or anticipated
     breach by the other party to any such lease.

     4.6 Good Title to and Condition of the Purchased  Assets.  The Sellers have
good and marketable title to all of the Purchased Assets,  free and clear of all
Liens  other than  Permitted  Liens,  Liens  which will be  extinguished  by the
Sellers prior to the Closing,  and the Liens  identified in Section 4.6-A of the
Disclosure Schedule which relate to the Assumed Liabilities. Except as set forth
in  Section  4.6-A  of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  the  Purchased  Fixed  Assets
currently in use or necessary for normal production and sales levels are, in all
material respects,  in good operating condition,  normal wear and tear excepted.
The Purchased  Inventory  consists of items of a quality and quantity usable and
saleable in the Ordinary Course of Business, except for obsolete items and items
of below-standard quality, all of which have been written off or written down to
the lower of cost or net realizable market value (determined  according to GAAP)
in the April 1, 2000 Statement or on the accounting records of the Sellers as of
the Closing Date, as the case may be. The value at which the Purchased Inventory
is  carried  on the  April 1,  2000  Statement  reflects  the  normal  inventory
valuation policies of the Sellers.  All accounts receivable of the Business that
are reflected on the  accounting  records of the Business as of the Closing Date
(collectively,  the "Accounts  Receivable")  represent or will  represent  valid
obligations  arising from sales actually made or services actually  performed in
the  Ordinary  Course of  Business.  Section  4.6-B of the  Disclosure  Schedule
contains  an  aging  of  all  Accounts  Receivable  as of  April  1,  2000.  The
authorized,  issued and  outstanding  capital  stock of Holco is as set forth in
Section 4.6-C of the Disclosure Schedule.  All of such capital stock of Holco is
owned by Electron,  all voting  rights in Holco are vested  exclusively  in such
capital stock,  and all of such capital stock is validly  authorized and issued,
fully  paid  and  non-assessable.  Except  for  this  Agreement,  there  are  no
outstanding warrants,  options or rights of any kind to acquire from Electron or
Holco any shares of capital stock or securities of Holco of any kind,  and there
are  no  voting  rights,   voting  trusts,   proxies  or  other   agreements  or
understandings affecting, or any pre-emptive rights with respect to the issuance
or sale of  shares  of  capital  stock  of  Holco  and  Holco  does not have any
obligation to acquire any of its issued and outstanding  shares of capital stock
or any other  security  issued by it from any holder  thereof.  Electron  is the
lawful  owner of all of the  capital  stock of Holco,  including  the  Purchased
Shares,  and has valid marketable title to the Purchased Shares,  free and clear
of all Liens.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     4.7  Licenses  and  Permits.  The Sellers  possess all  licenses,  permits,
authorizations and other required governmental approvals required to operate the
Business,  the failure to possess  which would  reasonably be expected to have a
Material   Adverse   Effect.   All  such   licenses,   approvals,   permits  and
authorizations are in full force and effect, the Sellers and the Business are in
compliance in all material respects with their  requirements,  and no proceeding
is pending or, to the  Knowledge of the Sellers,  threatened  to revoke or amend
any of them.

     4.8 Proprietary Rights

          4.8.1 Section  1.1.8 of the  Disclosure  Schedule  contains a complete
     list of all Purchased Proprietary Rights owned or used by the Sellers which
     primarily  pertain or are  essential to the  Business,  provided that trade
     secrets,  technology  and know-how  need not be  described.  The  Purchased
     Proprietary Rights conveyed by the Sellers to the Purchaser  constitute all
     the  Proprietary  Rights which  primarily  pertain or are  essential to the
     operation of the Business  except those which the failure to possess  would
     not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          4.8.2 The Sellers are the sole owners,  legally and beneficially,  and
     have good and marketable title to the Purchased  Proprietary  Rights,  free
     and  clear  of any and  all  Liens,  or,  in the  case  of  such  Purchased
     Proprietary  Rights licensed from third parties,  have sufficient rights to
     use such  Purchased  Proprietary  Rights to the  extent  necessary  for the
     conduct  of the  Business.  Except  as set  forth in  Section  1.1.8 of the
     Disclosure  Schedule,  (i) the Sellers own all right, title and interest in
     and to all of the Purchased  Proprietary Rights or sufficient right of use,
     (ii) there have been no written  claims  made  against  the Sellers for the
     assertion of the invalidity, abuse, misuse, or unenforceability of any such
     rights, and, to the Sellers' Knowledge, there are not grounds for the same,
     (iii)  the  Sellers  have  not  received  a  notice  of  conflict  with  or
     infringement of the asserted  Proprietary  Rights of others within the last
     five years, and (iv) to the Knowledge of the Sellers, the Sellers have not,
     in the conduct of the Business,  infringed upon or violated the Proprietary
     Rights of any other party.

          4.8.3  Upon the  sale,  assignment,  transfer  and  conveyance  by the
     Sellers of the Purchased Proprietary Rights to the Purchaser hereunder, the
     Purchaser  will  have  good and  marketable  title  to all  such  Purchased
     Proprietary Rights, free and clear of all Liens.

     4.9 Adequacy of the Purchased Assets.  The Purchased Assets,  together with
the Purchased  Leasehold  Premises,  constitute,  in the  aggregate,  all of the
assets and property  necessary  for the conduct of the Business in the manner in
which and to the extent to which it is currently  being  conducted.  None of the
Sellers nor any of Terra and Terra's direct subsidiaries has any material direct
or indirect  equity  interest in any  customer,  supplier or  competitor  of the
Business  or in any  person  from whom or to whom the  Business  leases  real or
personal  property,  or in any  person  with  whom any of the  Sellers  is doing
business.  None of the Sellers is restricted  by any agreement  from carrying on
the  Business  anywhere in the world.  Except as set forth in Section 4.9 of the
Disclosure  Schedule,  the  Sellers  have no  Knowledge  of any  written or oral


                                       14
<PAGE>

communication, fact, event or action which exists or has occurred within 90 days
prior to the date of this Agreement,  stating that: (i) any current  customer of
the Business which  accounted for over 1% of the total net sales of the Business
for the year ended April 1, 2000 will terminate its business  relationship  with
the Business, or (ii) any current supplier to the Business of items essential to
the conduct of the  Business,  which items cannot be replaced by the Business at
comparable  cost to the  Business  and the loss of  which  would  reasonably  be
expected  to  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  will  terminate  its  business
relationship with the Business.

     4.10 Insurance.  The Purchased Assets and third-party claims are insured or
insured  against to the extent and in the manner that is customary for companies
engaged in a business  similar to the  Business.  The Sellers will maintain such
coverage in force up to the Closing Date. In the event that the Purchaser  shall
become  liable  for or suffer any damage  with  respect to any matter  which was
covered by insurance  maintained by the Sellers on or prior to the Closing Date,
the Sellers  agree that the  Purchaser  shall be and hereby is subrogated to any
rights of the Sellers under such insurance coverage,  (or if such subrogation is
not permissible,  to enforce such insurance policies on the Purchaser's  behalf)
and, in  addition,  the Sellers  agree to promptly  remit to the  Purchaser  any
insurance  proceeds  which they may receive on account of any such  liability or
damage.

     4.11  Litigation.  Except as set forth in  Section  4.11 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  there are no actions, suits, claims,  governmental  investigations or
arbitration proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers,  threatened
against or affecting any of the Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased
Leasehold Premises.

     4.12 No Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth in Section 4.12 of the
Disclosure  Schedule,  since April 1, 2000, there has not been (i) any change in
the business,  assets,  properties,  condition,  financial  position,  prospects
(financial or otherwise)  results of operations or  liabilities  of the Business
other than changes  occurring in the  Ordinary  Course of Business  which in the
aggregate have not had a Material  Adverse  Effect,  or (ii) to the Knowledge of
the Sellers,  any  threatened  or  prospective  event or  condition  which would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     4.13 Absence of Certain Acts or Events. Except as disclosed in Section 4.13
of the Disclosure Schedule,  since April 1, 2000, the Sellers have not: (i) paid
or committed to pay any bonus to any of the  Business  Employees,  except in the
Ordinary  Course  of  Business;   (ii)  materially  increased  or  committed  to
materially  increase the rate of  compensation  or profit  sharing of any of the
Business Employees; (iii) sold or transferred any of the assets of the Business,
except the sale of inventory in the  Ordinary  Course of Business;  (iv) made or
obligated  itself to make capital  expenditures  with  respect to the  Business,
except in the Ordinary Course of Business; (v) incurred any material obligations
or  liabilities  (including  any  indebtedness)  or  entered  into any  material
transaction with respect to the business and operations of the Business,  except
for this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  hereby;  or (vi) suffered
any theft, damage,  destruction or casualty loss with respect to the Business in
excess of $50,000.

                                       15
<PAGE>

     4.14 Compliance with Laws

          4.14.1 Except as set forth in Section 4.14 of the Disclosure Schedule,
     the  Sellers  are in  compliance  with all  laws,  regulations  and  orders
     applicable to the operations of the Business or the Purchased  Assets,  the
     noncompliance  with which would be  substantial  in character or extent and
     which would reasonably be expected to (i) materially interfere with the use
     of the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises, (ii) otherwise
     have a Material  Adverse  Effect or (iii) result in the  imposition  of any
     material penalty.  None of the Sellers has received written notification of
     any asserted  past or present  failure to comply with any such laws and, to
     the  Knowledge  of the  Sellers,  no  proceeding  with  respect to any such
     violation is contemplated.

          4.14.2 Neither any of the Sellers, nor, to the Sellers' knowledge, any
     Business  Employee,  has made any payment of funds in  connection  with the
     Business  prohibited by law, and no funds have been set aside to be used in
     connection with the Business for any payment prohibited by law.

     4.15 Environmental Matters

          4.15.1 Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Disclosure Schedule:
     (i) neither the Business,  the Purchased  Assets,  the Purchased  Leasehold
     Premises  nor any other  asset or real  property of the  Business  has been
     operated,  or is currently  being  operated,  in a manner that violates any
     Environmental  Law the  violation of which would  reasonably be expected to
     have a Material  Adverse Effect;  (ii) the Sellers are in possession of all
     Environmental   Permits  required  under  any  Environmental  Law  for  the
     operation of the Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold
     Premises,  and  the  Business,  the  Purchased  Assets  and  the  Purchased
     Leasehold  Premises  are  being  operated  in  compliance  with  all of the
     requirements and limitations included in such Environmental  Permits; (iii)
     none of the Sellers has received any notice from any governmental authority
     that the Business, the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises
     is in violation of any  Environmental  Law or any  Environmental  Permit or
     that any of the Sellers is responsible  (or  potentially  responsible)  for
     Remedial Action at any location arising out of or relating to the Business,
     the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises;  (iv) none of the
     Sellers is the subject of any federal,  state,  local or private litigation
     or  administrative  proceedings  involving  a demand  for  damages or other
     potential liability with respect to violations of Environmental Laws by the
     Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased  Leasehold  Premises;  (v)
     there  has  been no  Release  of any  Contaminant  in  connection  with the
     Business at any property currently,  or in the past, occupied by any of the
     Sellers;  (vi) none of the  Sellers  has  buried,  dumped,  disposed  of or


                                       16
<PAGE>

     spilled or Released any Contaminant in any amount that would  reasonably be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no Contaminants are located
     in the  environment,  at  the  Purchased  Real  Property  or the  Purchased
     Leasehold Premises or any property  currently,  or in the past, occupied by
     any of the  Sellers  in  connection  with the  Business;  (vii) none of the
     Sellers  has used any  Underground  Storage  Tanks in  connection  with the
     Business, the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises, and, to
     the  Knowledge  of the  Sellers,  there  are not now nor  have  there  been
     Underground  Storage Tanks at the Purchased  Real Property or the Purchased
     Leasehold  Premises;  (viii) to the  Knowledge of the Sellers,  none of the
     Sellers has transported,  stored, treated, recycled, reclaimed, disposed of
     or arranged for any third  parties to  transport,  store,  treat,  recycle,
     reclaim or dispose of Contaminants generated by the Business, the Purchased
     Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises to or at any location other than
     a location  lawfully  permitted to receive such  Contaminants,  nor has any
     Seller  performed  or arranged  such  transportation,  storage,  treatment,
     recycling,  reclamation  or disposal  in  contravention  of any  applicable
     Environmental Law, except where any such violation,  failure or the absence
     of such lawful  permit would not  reasonably be expected to have a Material
     Adverse  Effect;  and (ix) none of the Sellers has  transported or disposed
     of, nor has any Seller  arranged  for any third  parties  to  transport  or
     dispose  of,  any  Contaminants  from  the  Purchased  Real  Estate  or the
     Purchased Leasehold Premises to or at a location which,  pursuant to CERCLA
     or any similar  state law, (a) has been placed on the  National  Priorities
     List or its state equivalent,  or (b) which, to the Sellers' Knowledge, the
     Environmental  Protection  Agency  or  the  relevant  state  authority  has
     proposed or is proposing to place on the  National  Priorities  List or its
     state equivalent.

            4.15.2 For purposes of this Agreement: (i) "Environmental Law" means
      any law,  statute,  regulation  or order,  consent  decree  or  settlement
      agreement  which  relates to or imposes  liability or standards of conduct
      concerning  discharges,  emissions,  releases  or  threatened  releases of
      noises, odors or any pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or toxic waste,
      substances or materials,  into ambient air,  water,  or land, or otherwise
      relating to the manufacture,  processing,  generation,  distribution, use,
      treatment,   storage,  disposal,   clean-up,   transport  or  handling  of
      pollutants,  contaminants,  or hazardous  waste,  substances or materials,
      including (but not limited to) the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,
      Compensation  and  Liability  Act of  1980  ("CERCLA"),  as  amended,  the
      Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"),  as amended, the Federal
      Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act,
      as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, any so-called "Super Lien" law,
      the  Occupational  Safety and Health Act, as  amended,  the Safe  Drinking
      Water Act and any  other  similar  federal,  state or local  statutes  and
      regulations   promulgated   pursuant   to   the   above   statutes;   (ii)
      "Environmental  Permit" means any permit,  license,  approval,  consent or
      other   authorization   required  by  or   pursuant   to  any   applicable
      Environmental  Law;  (iii)  "Contaminant"  means any  hazardous  substance
      defined as such under CERCLA, any solid or hazardous waste under RCRA, and


                                       17
<PAGE>

      any  petroleum or  petroleum-derived  substance or waste;  (iv)  "Release"
      means release,  spill, emission,  leaking,  pumping,  injection,  deposit,
      disposal,  discharge,  dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or
      outdoor  environment  or  into or out of the  Purchased  Real  Estate  and
      Purchased  Leasehold  Premises,  including the movement of Contaminants to
      the air,  soil,  surface  water,  groundwater  or Property;  (v) "Remedial
      Action" means actions  required under any  Environmental  Law to (A) clean
      up,  remove,  treat  or in  any  other  way  address  Contaminants  in the
      environment;  (B) prevent the Release or threat of Release or minimize the
      further Release of any Contaminant;  (C) perform  pre-remedial studies and
      investigations  and  post-remedial  monitoring  care;  or (D)  correct any
      violation of Environmental Law; and (vi) "Underground Storage Tanks" shall
      have the meaning given in RCRA and state law  regulating  tanks that store
      Contaminants located partially or fully below the surface of the ground.

            4.15.3  The  Parties  agree  that  the  only   representations   and
      warranties  pertaining to  Environmental  Laws are those contained in this
      Section  4.15.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the
      Purchaser  specifically  agrees that the  provisions of Sections 4.7, 4.11
      and 4.14 do not relate to Environmental Laws.

     4.16 Employee Matters; Labor Relations

          4.16.1 Except as set forth in Section 4.16 of the Disclosure Schedule,
     none of the employees of the Sellers whose  services are primarily  devoted
     to matters pertaining to the Business (the "Business Employees") is covered
     by  employment   contracts,   except  customary   written  and  non-written
     understandings  or policies  concerning  employment which are terminable at
     will without cost or other liability, nor are any such employees members of
     any union or covered by union  contracts.  There is not  pending or, to the
     Sellers' Knowledge,  threatened any labor dispute,  strike or work stoppage
     which would  reasonably be expected to pertain to or affect the Business or
     the Purchased Assets or which may interfere with their continued operation.
     As may pertain to the Business Employees neither the Sellers nor any agent,
     representative  or  employee  of any of the  Sellers has within the last 24
     months committed any unfair labor practice as defined in the National Labor
     Relations Act, as amended, and there is not now pending or, to the Sellers'
     Knowledge, threatened any charge or complaint against any of the Sellers by
     or with the National Labor Relations Board or any  representative  thereof.
     There has been no strike,  walkout or work  stoppage  involving  any of the
     Business  Employees  of the Sellers  during the 24 months prior to the date
     hereof.

                                       18
<PAGE>

          4.16.2 With  respect to the Business  Employees  of the  Sellers,  the
     Sellers are in  compliance in all material  respects  with the  Immigration
     Reform and  Control  Act of 1986,  as  amended,  and have  complied  in all
     material  respects  with all  applicable  federal,  state  and  local  laws
     relating to the employment of labor,  including,  without  limitation,  the
     provisions   thereof   relating   to  wages,   non-discriminatory   hiring,
     promotional and employment practices and procedures,  collective bargaining
     and  payment  of  Social  Security,  unemployment  compensation,   worker's
     compensation and similar taxes, and none of the Sellers is presently liable
     to any person or governmental agency for any arrears of wages or subject to
     any  liabilities  or  penalties  for  failure  to  comply  with  any of the
     foregoing laws.  With respect to the Business  Employees of the Sellers and
     except  as may be set forth in  Section  4.16 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,
     there are no outstanding charges or claims of a material nature against any
     of the  Sellers  or any of its  officers,  directors,  agents or  employees
     involving any alleged or actual  violation of any provision of the National
     Labor Relations Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of
     the Civil  Rights  Act of 1964,  as  amended,  or other  federal,  state or
     municipal  law  concerning  equal  employment   opportunities,   equal  pay
     legislation  or wage  and hour  obligations  contained  in the  Fair  Labor
     Standards  Act;  nor, to the  Knowledge of the Sellers,  has there been any
     threat of any such claim or charge.

          4.16.3 To the Sellers' Knowledge,  no Key Business Employee intends to
     terminate  his or her  employment  with the  Business,  nor do the  Sellers
     presently intend to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing.

     4.17  Employee  Benefits

          4.17.1  None of the  Sellers  nor any of  their  ERISA  Affiliates  or
     Sponsors,  maintains or contributes  to, or has any liability or contingent
     liability,  with respect to or on behalf of any of the Business  Employees:
     (i)  any  non-qualified   deferred  compensation  or  retirement  plans  or
     arrangements;  (ii) any qualified defined contribution  retirement plans or
     arrangements;  (iii) any qualified  defined  benefit pension plan; (iv) any
     other plan, program,  agreement or arrangement under which former employees
     of  any of the  Sellers  or its  beneficiaries  are  entitled,  or  current
     employees of any of the Sellers will be entitled  following  termination of
     employment, to medical, health, life insurance or other benefits other than
     pursuant to benefit continuation rights granted by state or federal law; or
     (v) any other employee benefit, health, welfare, medical,  disability, life
     insurance,  stock, stock purchase or stock option plan, program, agreement,
     arrangement or policy,  except in each case as described in Section 4.17 of
     the  Disclosure  Schedule.  The  plans  described  in  Section  4.17 of the
     Disclosure Schedule are referred to herein as the "Plans."

          4.17.2 The  administration  of the Plans complies in all respects with
     the applicable  requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
     of 1974  ("ERISA"),  and the Plans  meet any  applicable  requirements  for
     favorable tax treatment  under the Code in both form and operation.  All of
     the Plans have been  maintained in  compliance in all material  respects in
     both form and operation with the  requirements  of all applicable  laws and
     regulations  including,  but not limited to, the  preparation and filing of
     all  required  reports with respect to the Plans,  the  submission  of such
     reports to the appropriate governmental authorities, the timely preparation
     and distribution of all required employee communications (including without
     limitation  any notice of plan  amendment  which is  required  prior to the
     effectiveness  of such  amendments),  the proper and  timely  purchase  and
     maintenance of required surety bonds and the proper and timely  disposition
     of all benefit claims. All required contributions pursuant to the Plans due


                                       19
<PAGE>

     at the time of Closing have been made or will be made prior to the Closing.
     The costs of administering  the Plans for which payment is due prior to the
     Closing,  including fees for the trustee and other service  providers which
     are customarily  paid by the Sellers,  have been paid or will be paid prior
     to the Closing.  There have been no prohibited  transactions  as defined in
     Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code with respect to any of the
     Plans or any parties in interest or  disqualified  persons  with respect to
     the Plans  which  would  reasonably  be  expected  to  result  in  material
     liability  to the  Business  or any  reduction  or  curtailment  of accrued
     benefits  with  respect  to any of  the  Plans.  There  are no  pending  or
     threatened  claims (other than routine claims for benefits),  lawsuits,  or
     arbitrations  which have been asserted or instituted against the Plans, any
     fiduciaries thereof with respect to their duties to the Plans or the assets
     of any of the  trusts  under any of the Plans  which  would  reasonably  be
     expected  to result in  material  liability  to the  Business.  None of the
     Sellers  or  any  of  their  ERISA  Affiliates  has  any  plans,  programs,
     agreements or arrangements or other commitments to the Business  Employees,
     former  Business  Employees or their  beneficiaries  under which it has any
     obligation to provide any retiree or other employee  benefit payments which
     are not  adequately  funded  through a trust or other funding  arrangement,
     except for  continuing  medical  coverage  required by Section 4908B of the
     Code or similar state laws.

          4.17.3 The Sellers have furnished the Purchaser with true and complete
     copies  of:  (i) the Plans and any  related  trusts  or  funding  vehicles,
     policies  or  contracts  and the related  summary  plan  descriptions  with
     respect to each Plan; (ii) the most recent  determination  letters received
     from the Internal  Revenue  Service  regarding  the Plans and copies of any
     pending  applications,  filings or notices with respect to any of the Plans
     with  the  Internal   Revenue   Service,   the  Pension  Benefit   Guaranty
     Corporation,  the  Department  of Labor or any other  governmental  agency;
     (iii) the latest  financial  statements  and annual reports for each of the
     Plans and related trusts or funding  vehicles,  policies or contracts as of
     the end of the most recent plan year with  respect to which the filing date
     for such  information  has  passed;  (iv) the  reports  of the most  recent
     actuarial  valuations  of  the  Plans;  and  (v)  copies  of  any  material
     communications  or notices provided to employees or plan  participants with
     respect to the Plans along with information  concerning the date and extent
     of distribution of such communications.

                                       20
<PAGE>

          4.17.4 Each Plan which is an employee pension benefit plan intended to
     qualify  under  Section  401(a) of the Code is the  subject of a  favorable
     determination  letter issued by the Internal  Revenue  Service ("IRS") with
     respect to the qualified  status of such plan under  Section  401(a) of the
     Code and the tax-exempt status of any trust which forms a part of such plan
     under section 501(a) of the Code; all amendments to any such plan for which
     the remedial  amendment period (within the meaning of Section 401(b) of the
     Code and applicable regulations) has expired are covered by a favorable IRS
     determination  letter;  and no event has occurred which would reasonably be
     expected  to give  rise to  disqualification  of any such plan  under  such
     sections or to a tax under Section 511 of the Code.

          4.17.5  There have been no acts or  omissions  by the Seller or any of
     its  ERISA  Affiliates  which  have  given  rise to or may give rise to any
     material  fines,  penalties,  taxes or related charges under section 502 of
     ERISA or Chapters 43, 47, 68 or 100 of the Code for which the Seller or any
     of its ERISA Affiliates may be liable.

     4.18  Absence  of  Defaults.  Except  as set forth in  Section  4.18 of the
Disclosure  Schedule,  the  Sellers are not in default in any  material  respect
under any contract, order, lease, commitment or agreement referred to in Section
1.1.6 of the Disclosure  Schedule and, to the Sellers'  Knowledge,  no condition
exists  which,  with the  giving  of notice or  passage  of time or both,  would
constitute a material default  thereunder or constitute an event creating rights
of  acceleration,  termination or cancellation  thereof.  Except as set forth in
Section 4.18 of the Disclosure Schedule, to the Sellers' Knowledge, there are no
existing  defaults  by  any  third  party  under  any  contract,  order,  lease,
commitment or agreement referred to in Section 1.1.6 of the Disclosure  Schedule
hereto and no condition  exists  which,  with the giving of notice or passage of
time or both,  would  constitute a default  thereunder  or  constitute  an event
creating rights of acceleration, termination or cancellation thereof.

     4.19  Authority;  Binding  Obligation;  and No Conflict.  The execution and
delivery  by  each  of the  Sellers  of this  Agreement,  each of the  Ancillary
Agreements  to  which  it is a  party  and  each  of  the  other  documents  and
instruments  required or  contemplated  by this  Agreement or by such  Ancillary
Agreements and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary  corporate action
of each of the Sellers.  This  Agreement  constitutes,  and,  when  executed and
delivered,  by the Sellers pursuant hereto, each of the Ancillary Agreements and
other  documents  and  instruments  to be executed and  delivered by each of the
Sellers  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  will  constitute,  the legal,  valid and
binding obligation of each of the Sellers,  enforceable against it in accordance
with  its  terms,  except  as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and by equitable
principles,  including those limiting the availability of specific  performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable remedies and those providing for equitable
defenses.  Neither  the  execution  and  delivery by each of the Sellers of this
Agreement,  any of the  Ancillary  Agreements  or any of the other  documents or
instruments  to be  executed  and  delivered  by the  Sellers  pursuant  to this
Agreement  nor the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or
thereby will:  (i) conflict with or violate any provision of any of the Sellers'
charter or bylaws, or of any law, ordinance or regulation or any decree or order


                                       21
<PAGE>

of any  court or  administrative  or other  governmental  body  which is  either
applicable  to,  binding upon or  enforceable  against any of the Sellers;  (ii)
result in any  breach of or default  under any  mortgage,  contract,  agreement,
indenture,  will,  trust or other  instrument  which is either  binding  upon or
enforceable  against any of the Sellers  which would  reasonably  be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect;  or (iii) violate any legally protected right of
any individual or entity or give to any individual or entity  (including in each
case without  limitation any shareholder of any of the Sellers) a right or claim
against the Purchaser or the Purchased Assets which would reasonably be expected
to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  Except as otherwise  specifically  provided
herein  or in  Section  4.19  of  the  Disclosure  Schedule,  including  without
limitation  the  consents  required  under the HSR Act,  no  consent,  approval,
authorization or action by, notice to, or filing with any  governmental  body or
any other  Person is required to be made by the Sellers in  connection  with the
execution,  delivery and  performance  of this  Agreement,  any of the Ancillary
Agreements or any other  documents and  instruments to be executed and delivered
by any of the Sellers  pursuant hereto or thereto or the  consummation by any of
the Sellers of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     4.20 Material Agreements,  Contracts and Commitments.  Section 1.1.6 of the
Disclosure  Schedule  accurately and  completely  sets forth a true and complete
list of any  Material  Contract  relating  to the  Business  to which any of the
Sellers is a party or by which it is bound. In addition, copies of such Material
Contracts have been delivered to the Purchaser prior to the Closing Date.

     4.21 True and  Complete  Copies.  Copies of documents  delivered  and to be
delivered  hereunder by the Sellers are and will be true and complete  copies of
such documents.

     4.22  Brokers.  None of the  Sellers has  employed  any broker or finder or
incurred any liability for any brokerage  fees,  commissions or finders' fees in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     4.23  Recalls.  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  4.23 of the  Disclosure
Schedule, there has not been any product or service recall, or post sale warning
or similar  action  (collectively,  "Recalls"),  conducted  with  respect to any
product manufactured,  shipped,  delivered or sold, or service performed, by the
Business,   or,  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Sellers,   any   investigation  or
consideration of, or decision made by, the Business concerning whether or not to
undertake any such Recalls.

     4.24 Related Party  Transactions.  Section 4.24 of the Disclosure  Schedule
contains a complete list of all contracts,  agreements and understandings  (oral
or written)  between any of the Sellers,  on the one hand and any Related Party,
on the other hand, which pertain to or affect the Business, the Purchased Assets
or the Purchased Leasehold Premises (the "Related Party Agreements").  Except as
set forth in Section 4.24 of the Disclosure Schedule, since April 1, 2000, there
have not been any payments or accruals of liability by any of the Sellers to one
or more Related  Parties in an amount in excess of $50,000,  individually  or in
the  aggregate,  or any other  transaction  which is  material  to the  Business
between any of the Sellers,  on the one hand, and a Related Party,  on the other
hand.

                                       22
<PAGE>

5.0  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

      In order to  induce  the  Sellers  to enter  into  this  Agreement  and to
consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder,  the Purchaser  makes the
following representations and warranties:

     5.1 Organization,  Power and Authority of the Purchaser. The Purchaser is a
corporation  duly organized and validly  existing under the laws of its state of
incorporation, with full corporate power and authority to (i) to enter into this
Agreement,  each of the Ancillary  Agreements to which it is a party and each of
the other  documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by it pursuant
hereto and thereto,  and (ii) to carry out the other transactions and agreements
contemplated by this Agreement,  each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is
a party and each of the other  documents  and  instruments  to be  executed  and
delivered by it pursuant hereto and thereto.

     5.2. Due Authorization;  Binding Obligation.  The execution and delivery by
the Purchaser of this Agreement, each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is
a party and each of the other documents and instruments required or contemplated
by this Agreement or by such Ancillary  Agreements and the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  have  been  duly  and  validly
authorized by all necessary  corporate  action of the Purchaser.  This Agreement
constitutes, and, when executed and delivered, by the Purchaser pursuant hereto,
each of the  Ancillary  Agreements  and other  documents and  instruments  to be
executed  and  delivered  by the  Purchaser  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  will
constitute,   the  legal,   valid  and  binding  obligation  of  the  Purchaser,
enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,  except as  enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency, fraudulent transfer,  reorganization,
moratorium  or other  similar  laws  relating  to or  affecting  the  rights  of
creditors  generally and by equitable  principles,  including those limiting the
availability  of specific  performance,  injunctive  relief and other  equitable
remedies and those providing for equitable  defenses.  Neither the execution and
delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement,  any of the Ancillary Agreements or
any of the other  documents or  instruments  to be executed and delivered by the
Purchaser  pursuant to this Agreement nor the  consummation of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby or thereby will: (i) conflict with or violate any provision
of the  Purchaser's  certificate  of  incorporation  or  bylaws,  or of any law,
ordinance or regulation or any decree or order of any court or administrative or
other  governmental  body  which  is  either  applicable  to,  binding  upon  or
enforceable  against the Purchaser;  or (ii) result in any material breach of or
default under any mortgage, contract, agreement, indenture, will, trust or other
instrument  which is either  binding upon or  enforceable  against the Purchaser
which would  reasonably  be expected  to have a material  adverse  effect on the
Purchaser.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein,  including without
limitation  the  consents  required  under the HSR Act,  no  consent,  approval,
authorization or action by, notice to, or filing with any  governmental  body or
any other Person is required by the Purchaser in connection  with the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement,  any of the Ancillary  Agreements or
any  other  documents  and  instruments  to be  executed  and  delivered  by the
Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto or the consummation by the Purchaser of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

                                       23
<PAGE>

     5.3  Brokers.  The  Purchaser  has not  employed  any  broker  or finder or
incurred any liability for any brokerage  fees,  commissions or finders' fees in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     5.4   Litigation.   There  are  no   actions,   suits,   claims  or  legal,
administrative  or  arbitration   proceedings   pending  against,   or,  to  the
Purchaser's knowledge,  threatened against, the Purchaser which would materially
adversely  affect  the  Purchaser's  performance  under  this  Agreement  or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     5.5 Financing.  The Purchaser has, and at the Closing will have, sufficient
sources of financing in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Agreement and to fulfill its obligations hereunder, including without limitation
payment to the Sellers of the Purchase Price at the Closing.

     5.6  Solvency.   Immediately   after  giving  effect  to  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement and the closing of any financing to be obtained
by the Purchaser or any of its  Affiliates  in order to effect the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  the Purchaser shall be able to pay its debts as
they  become  due.   Immediately   after  giving  effect  to  the   transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement and the closing of any financing to be obtained
by the Purchaser or any of its  Affiliates  in order to effect the  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement,  the Purchaser  shall have adequate  capital to
carry on its  business.  No transfer of property is being made and no obligation
is being  incurred in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  and the closing of any  financing to be obtained by the  Purchaser or
any of its Affiliates in order to effect the  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement  with the intent to hinder,  delay or defraud either present or future
creditors of the Purchaser.

6.0  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

     6.1.  All  Commercially   Reasonable  Efforts.  Each  party  will  use  all
commercially  reasonable efforts to cause to be satisfied as soon as practicable
and  prior  to  the  Closing  Date  all  of the  conditions  to  its  respective
obligations  to consummate the sale and purchase of the Purchased  Assets.  Each
party shall also execute prior to or after the Closing Date such other documents
or  agreements  and take such other  actions as may be  reasonably  necessary or
desirable for the  implementation  of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     6.2 Conduct of Business  Pending the Closing.  From and after the execution
and delivery of this  Agreement and until the Closing Date,  except as otherwise
provided by the prior written consent of the Purchaser:

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<PAGE>

          6.2.1 the Sellers  will conduct the  business  and  operations  of the
     Business in the manner in which the same have heretofore been conducted and
     as described to the Purchaser,  and it will use all commercially reasonable
     efforts to (i) preserve the business  organization of the Business  intact,
     (ii) keep  available to the  Purchaser  the services of the  employees  and
     agents of the  Business,  and (iii)  preserve  the  relationships  with the
     customers of the Business,  suppliers  and others having  dealings with the
     Business;

          6.2.2 the Sellers will  maintain the  Purchased  Assets and all of the
     other properties of the Business in customary repair,  order and condition,
     reasonable wear and use and damage by unavoidable  casualty  excepted,  and
     will  maintain  insurance of such types and in such amounts upon all of the
     properties  of  the  Business  and  with  respect  to  the  conduct  of the
     operations of the Business as are in effect on the date of this  Agreement;
     and

          6.2.3 the Sellers  will not (i) except as set forth in Section 4.13 of
     the  Disclosure  Schedule pay any bonus or materially  increase the rate of
     compensation  of any of the Business  Employees  other than in the Ordinary
     Course of Business; (ii) sell or transfer any of the assets of the Business
     other than  inventory  in the Ordinary  Course of  Business;  (iii) make or
     obligate itself to make capital  expenditures  with respect to the Business
     in excess  of  $50,000;  or (iv)  with  respect  to the  operations  of the
     Business,  incur any material  obligations or liabilities or enter into any
     material transaction other than in the Ordinary Course of Business.

     6.3 Access to the  Properties  and Records of the Business.  From and after
the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Sellers will afford to the
representatives  of the Purchaser access,  during normal business hours and upon
reasonable  notice in a manner so as not to interfere with the normal  operation
of the  Business,  to the  premises  of the  Business  sufficient  to enable the
Purchaser to inspect the Purchased Assets,  and the Sellers will furnish to such
representatives  during  such  period  all  such  information  relating  to  the
foregoing  investigation  as the  Purchaser  may  reasonably  request  (it being
acknowledged by the Purchaser that the Purchaser has completed its due diligence
investigation  and that the purpose of this  provision is not to permit  further
due diligence);  provided,  however,  that any furnishing of such information to
the Purchaser and any  investigation  by or Knowledge of the Purchaser shall not
affect the right of the Purchaser to rely on the  representations and warranties
made by the Sellers in or pursuant to this Agreement.

     6.4 No Disclosure.  Neither the Purchaser or the Sellers will, prior to the
Closing  Date,  disclose  the  existence  of or any  term or  condition  of this
Agreement  to any  person or entity  without  the prior  written  consent of the
other,  except that such  disclosure  may be made (i) to any person to whom such
disclosure  is  necessary  in  order to  satisfy  any of the  conditions  to the
consummation of the purchase of the Purchased Assets which are set forth in this
Agreement,  and (ii) to the extent the party making such disclosure  believes in
good faith that such disclosure is required by law (in which case, the Purchaser
or the Sellers will consult with the other prior to making such disclosure).

                                       25
<PAGE>

     6.5 Bulk Sales Law. The Purchaser waives  compliance with the "bulk sales,"
"bulk transfers" and similar laws of any applicable state in connection with the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement. The Sellers agree to indemnify and
hold  the  Purchaser  harmless  against  any and all  claims,  losses,  damages,
liabilities  (including  tax  liabilities),  costs and expenses  incurred by the
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates as a result of any failure to comply with any
such laws.

     6.6 Expenses. The Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other
hand,  shall each bear its own respective  expenses  incurred in connection with
this Agreement and in connection with all  obligations  required to be performed
by each of them under this Agreement.

     6.7 Obligation to Notify.  Each of the Purchaser and the Sellers shall have
the  continuing  obligation  until the  Closing  promptly to notify the other in
writing with respect to any matter  hereafter  arising or discovered  which,  if
existing or known at the date of this Agreement,  would have been required to be
set forth or described in this  Agreement  or the  Disclosure  Schedule or other
attachments  annexed  hereto.  No  supplement  or  amendment  of the  Disclosure
Schedule made pursuant to this Section shall be deemed to cure any breach of any
representation or warranty made in this Agreement, provided that the Purchaser's
sole remedy in respect thereof shall be to terminate this Agreement  pursuant to
Section  12.3.1.3,  which  termination must be initiated by the Purchaser within
five  Business  Days after the  Purchaser  receives the notice  pursuant to this
Section  6.7,  and,  provided  further,  that such right to  terminate  shall be
subject to the Sellers' right to cure under Section 12.3.1.3.

     6.8 Exclusive  Dealing.  The Sellers shall not and shall cause the Business
not to, prior to the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement, directly
or  indirectly,  through any  representative  or otherwise  solicit or entertain
offers  from,  negotiate  with or in any manner  encourage,  discuss,  accept or
consider  any proposal of any other person  relating to the  acquisition  of the
Purchased  Assets or the  Business or its assets,  in whole or in part,  whether
through direct purchase,  merger,  consolidation  or other business  combination
(other than sales of inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business).

     6.9 Employee Matters

          6.9.1 The Sellers shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to aid
     the  Purchaser in engaging  those  Business  Employees  whom the  Purchaser
     desires to engage after the Closing Date. Any Business  Employees  hired by
     the Purchaser  shall be subject to such terms and  conditions of employment
     as determined by the Purchaser in its sole discretion.  The Purchaser shall
     have no obligation to employ any of the persons  currently  employed by any
     of the Sellers or to continue, or institute any replacement or substitution
     for, any vacation, severance,  incentive, bonus, profit sharing, pension or
     other employee benefit plan or program of any of the Sellers.

          6.9.2  Without  limiting  the  generality  of Section 2.4, the Sellers
     shall be fully  responsible for health-care and disability  claims incurred
     prior to the Closing Date with respect to the Business Employees, including
     costs for employees  hospitalized or on disability on the Closing Date. The
     Sellers shall be responsible for COBRA liabilities and obligations, if any,
     under Section 4980B of the Code and Sections  601-608 of ERISA with respect
     to any individuals  who incurred or incur a "qualifying  event" (within the
     meaning of Section 603 of ERISA) under an applicable  employee benefit plan
     of any of the Sellers prior to the Closing Date.

                                       26
<PAGE>

          6.9.3  The  Purchaser  agrees  to  assume  the  obligations  of MI and
     Cal-Doran under and be substituted for MI and Cal-Doran as a party to their
     respective  collective bargaining agreements listed in Section 6.9.3 of the
     Disclosure Schedule; provided, however, that, the Purchaser's assumption of
     the  obligations  of MI and  Cal-Doran  under  such  collective  bargaining
     agreements shall only be with respect to those  liabilities and obligations
     under the  collective  bargaining  agreements  that relate to periods on or
     after the Closing Date.

          6.9.4 Workers'  compensation claims asserted by the Business Employees
     against the Purchaser or the Sellers ("Workers' Compensation Claims") shall
     be handled as follows:

               (i)  The Sellers will remain,  from and after the Closing,  fully
                    responsible  for and  will  fully  satisfy  or  cause  to be
                    satisfied all Workers' Compensation Claims that arose out of
                    or resulted  from any event  occurring  prior to the Closing
                    Date and that were  first  asserted  by the  claimants  to a
                    supervising  employee of the  Purchaser or the Sellers on or
                    prior to the Closing Date.

               (ii) The  Purchaser   will  be   responsible   for  all  Workers'
                    Compensation  Claims that arise out or result from any event
                    occurring entirely after the Closing Date and that are first
                    asserted by the claimants to a  supervising  employee of the
                    Purchaser after the Closing Date.

               (iii)With respect to Workers'  Compensation Claims arising out of
                    or resulting  from, in whole or in part, any event occurring
                    on or prior to the Closing  Date that are first  asserted by
                    the  claimants to a  supervising  employee of the  Purchaser
                    after the Closing Date, the Sellers and the Purchaser  will,
                    from and after the Closing,  each remain responsible for and
                    will  satisfy  or  cause  to  be  satisfied   such  Workers'
                    Compensation  Claims on a pro rata  basis  according  to the
                    duration  of the  claimant's  term of  employment  with  the
                    Sellers and the  Purchaser,  respectively,  determined as of
                    the date such Workers' Compensation Claim is first asserted.

                                       27
<PAGE>

          6.9.5  Notwithstanding  anything contained in this Section 6.9, to the
     extent any provisions of this Section 6.9, as related to employees governed
     by the collective  bargaining  agreements set forth in Section 6.9.3 of the
     Disclosure  Schedule hereto,  contradict or otherwise are inconsistent with
     any terms,  provisions or  requirements  under such  collective  bargaining
     agreements,  the  Purchaser's  obligations  under this Section 6.9 shall be
     deemed to be modified to the extent  necessary  to enable the  Purchaser to
     comply with the  applicable  provisions of any such  collective  bargaining
     agreements  with respect to the  employees  covered  thereby,  and any such
     modification or deviation from the terms of this Section 6.9 as a result of
     such actions by the Purchaser  shall not be deemed a breach or violation of
     this Agreement.

          6.9.6 The Sellers agree to pay within five days after determination of
     the final  Closing Net Book Value,  the amounts  owing  employees or former
     employees  of the  Businesses  under any bonus or other  compensation  plan
     under which payments are due.

          6.9.7 The Purchaser agrees that it or its designated successor will be
     substituted as the Employer under the Metallurgical, Inc. Pension Plan.

     6.10 Title  Opinions and Surveys.  With respect to each parcel of Purchased
Real Estate,  the Purchaser,  at its cost, is seeking to obtain title  insurance
policies of a  reasonably  current  date or binding  commitments  with  extended
coverage  over  general  exceptions  to issue such  policies  in the name of the
Purchaser.  Such policies or  commitments  shall be issued by a title  insurance
company  acceptable to the Purchaser in an amount equal to the fair market value
of such real property interest as reasonably  determined by the Purchaser.  Such
policies or commitments  shall be subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens
and shall specifically  provide for insurance over all existing access routes to
each such parcel.  In addition,  the  Purchaser  shall,  at its cost (except the
Sellers shall pay the  additional  approximately  $8,000 charge for  accelerated
service),  obtain a current plat of survey of each parcel of such Purchased Real
Estate, in the form,  within such time and with such  certifications as required
as a condition to issuing the title opinions described above.

     6.11 Noncompetition.  As an inducement for the Purchaser to enter into this
Agreement and as additional  consideration  for the  consideration to be paid to
the Sellers  under this  Agreement  the Sellers  agree that for a period of five
years after the Closing:

          6.11.1 None of the Sellers  will,  directly or  indirectly,  engage or
     invest in, own, manage,  operate,  finance,  control, or participate in the
     ownership, management, operation, financing, or control of, be employed by,
     associated  with,  or in any manner  connected  with,  lend its name or any
     similar  name to, lend its credit to, or render  services or advice to, any
     business whose products or activities  compete in whole or in part with the
     products or  activities  of the  Business as it is conducted on the date of
     this Agreement,  anywhere within North America; provided, however, that the
     Sellers  may  purchase or  otherwise  acquire up to (but not more than) one
     percent of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without otherwise


                                       28
<PAGE>


     participating  in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are
     listed  on any  national  or  regional  securities  exchange  or have  been
     registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. The
     Sellers  agree  that  this  covenant  is  reasonable  with  respect  to its
     duration, geographical area, and scope.

          6.11.2 None of the Sellers will,  directly or  indirectly,  either for
     itself or any other  Person,  (A) induce or attempt to induce any  Business
     Employee  or other  employee  of the  Purchaser  to leave the employ of the
     Purchaser,  (B) in any way  interfere  with the  relationship  between  the
     Purchaser  and any  employee of the  Purchaser,  (C) employ,  or  otherwise
     engage as an employee,  independent contractor,  or otherwise, any employee
     of the Purchaser unless such employee has been terminated by the Purchaser,
     or (D) induce or attempt to induce any  customer,  supplier,  licensee,  or
     business  relation  of the  Purchaser  to  cease  doing  business  with the
     Purchaser,  or in any way  interfere  with  the  relationship  between  any
     customer, supplier, licensee, or business relation of the Purchaser.

          6.11.3 None of the Sellers will,  directly or  indirectly,  either for
     itself or any other Person, solicit the business of any Person known to the
     Sellers to be a customer  of the  Business,  whether or not the Sellers had
     direct  contact  with such Person,  with respect to products or  activities
     which  compete in whole or in part with the products or  activities  of the
     Business as it is conducted on the date of this Agreement;

          6.11.4 In the event of a breach by any of the Sellers of any  covenant
     set forth in this Section 6.11,  the term of such covenant will be extended
     by the period of the duration of such breach;

          6.11.5 In addition to its right to damages and any other rights it may
     have,  the  Purchaser  will be  entitled  to  obtain  injunctive  or  other
     equitable  relief to restrain any breach or threatened  breach or otherwise
     to  specifically  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  Section  6.11 of this
     Agreement,  it being agreed that money damages alone would be inadequate to
     compensate the Purchaser and would be an inadequate remedy for such breach.
     The rights and remedies of the Purchaser to this  Agreement are  cumulative
     and not alternative.

7.0  CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER

     The  obligation of the Purchaser to purchase the Purchased  Assets shall be
subject  to the  fulfillment  at or  prior  to the  Closing  Date of each of the
following conditions:

     7.1 Accuracy of the Sellers'  Representations and Warranties and Compliance
by the Sellers with Their Obligations. The representations and warranties of the
Sellers  contained  in this  Agreement  shall have been true and  correct in all
material  respects  at and as of the date  hereof,  and  they  shall be true and


                                       29
<PAGE>

correct in all  material  respects at and as of the  Closing  Date with the same
force and effect as though made at and as of that time.  The Sellers  shall have
performed and complied in all material  respects  with all of their  obligations
required by this  Agreement to be performed or complied  with at or prior to the
Closing Date.  The Sellers shall have  delivered to the Purchaser a certificate,
dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an  executive  officer of each of the
Sellers,  certifying that such  representations and warranties are thus true and
correct in all material  respects and that all such  obligations  have been thus
performed and complied with in all material respects.

     7.2  Certified  Resolutions.  The  Sellers  shall  have  delivered  to  the
Purchaser  copies  of  resolutions   adopted  by  the  board  of  directors  and
stockholder of each of MI,  Cal-Doran and MTI and the board of directors of each
of  Electron  and  Terra  authorizing  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement,  certified  in each case as of the  Closing  Date by a  secretary  or
assistant secretary.

     7.3 Opinion of Counsel.  The Purchaser shall have received an opinion dated
the Closing Date from Hale and Dorr LLP,  counsel for the  Sellers,  in form and
substance as set forth in Exhibit G attached hereto.

     7.4 Receipt of Necessary  Consents.  All required  consents or approvals of
third parties  necessary to convey to the Purchaser all of the Purchased  Assets
as  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  the absence of which would  reasonably be
expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  shall have been obtained and shown
by written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser; provided, however,
that if the  Sellers  are unable to obtain any such  consents  or  approvals  on
reasonable  commercial  terms  by the  Closing  Date,  this  condition  shall be
satisfied if the Sellers,  by acting as agent for the Purchaser or participating
in any other reasonable and lawful arrangement, are able to put the Purchaser in
the same  financial  position in all  material  respects as if such  consents or
approvals had been obtained.

     7.5  No  Adverse  Order.  There  shall  not  be  any  order  of  any  court
restraining, prohibiting or invalidating the sale of the Purchased Assets to the
Purchaser or any other material transaction  contemplated hereby, or which would
reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.

     7.6 No Material  Adverse  Change or  Occurrence.  From and after January 1,
2000 no event shall have occurred (or failed to occur) which would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     7.7 HSR  Act  Waiting  Periods.  All  waiting  periods  applicable  to this
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall have
expired or otherwise been terminated.

8.0  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLERS

     The  obligations  of the  Sellers  to sell the  Purchased  Assets  shall be
subject  to the  fulfillment  at or  prior  to the  Closing  Date of each of the
following conditions:

                                       30
<PAGE>

     8.1  Accuracy  of  the  Purchaser's   Representations  and  Warranties  and
Compliance  by the  Purchaser  with Its  Obligations.  The  representations  and
warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall have been true and
correct in all material respects at and as of the date hereof, and they shall be
true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date with the
same force and effect as though made at and as of that time. The Purchaser shall
have performed and complied in all material respects with all of its obligations
required by this  Agreement to be performed or complied  with at or prior to the
Closing Date.  The Purchaser  shall have delivered to the Sellers a certificate,
dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer, certifying that
such  representations  and  warranties  are true  and  correct  in all  material
respects and that all such  obligations  have been thus  performed  and complied
with in all material respects.

     8.2 Opinion of Counsel.  The Sellers shall have received an opinion,  dated
the Closing Date,  from Bell,  Boyd & Lloyd LLC,  counsel for the Purchaser,  in
form and substance as set forth in Exhibit H attached hereto.

     8.3  Certified  Resolutions.  The  Purchaser  shall have  delivered  to the
Sellers a copy of a resolution adopted by its board of directors authorizing the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, certified as of the Closing Date by
its secretary or assistant secretary.

     8.4  No  Adverse  Order.  There  shall  not  be  any  order  of  any  court
restraining, prohibiting or invalidating the sale of the Purchased Assets to the
Purchaser or any other material transaction contemplated hereby.

     8.5 HSR  Act  Waiting  Periods.  All  waiting  periods  applicable  to this
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall have
expired or otherwise been terminated.

9.0  CERTAIN ACTIONS AFTER THE CLOSING

     9.1 The  Purchaser  to Act as Agent for the  Sellers;  Absence of Consents,
Etc..  This  Agreement  shall not  constitute  an agreement to assign any claim,
contract,  license,  lease,  commitment,  sales order or  purchase  order if any
attempted  assignment  of the same  without  the  consent  of the other  parties
thereto would constitute a breach thereof or in any way affect the rights of the
Sellers or the Purchaser  thereunder.  If such consent is not obtained or if any
attempted  assignment  would be ineffective or would affect the Sellers'  rights
thereunder so that the Purchaser would not in fact receive all such rights, then
the Purchaser  shall act as the agent for the Sellers in order to obtain for the
Purchaser the benefits  thereunder  and put the Purchaser in the same  financial
position had the assignment  been made.  Without  limiting the generality of the
foregoing,  the Sellers  shall use all  commercially  reasonable  efforts to (i)
obtain any such  consent  after the Closing  Date until such time as the consent
has been  obtained,  (ii) provide or cause to be provided to the  Purchaser  the
benefits of any such agreement,  lease, contract or other document or instrument
for which  consent  or waiver  has not been  obtained,  (iii)  cooperate  in any


                                       31
<PAGE>


arrangement, reasonable and lawful as to the Sellers and the Purchaser, designed
to provide such benefits to the  Purchaser,  (iv) enforce for the account of the
Purchaser,  at the Purchaser's  sole expense,  any rights of the Sellers arising
from such agreement,  lease,  contract or other document or instrument for which
consent has not been  obtained  against the other  parties,  including,  without
limitation, the right to elect to terminate in accordance with the terms thereof
on the advice of the Purchaser, and (v) the Sellers shall pay, defend, indemnify
and hold  the  Purchaser  harmless  from any and all  expenses,  losses,  costs,
deficiencies,  liabilities  and  damages  (including  related  counsel  fees and
expenses) suffered by the Purchaser as a result of any failure of the Sellers to
obtain such consent  whether  before or after the Closing  Date.  The  Purchaser
shall use all commercially  reasonable efforts to perform the obligations of the
Sellers  arising  under such  agreement,  lease,  contract or other  document or
instrument for which consent has not been obtained, to the extent that by reason
of the transactions  consummated  pursuant to this Agreement,  the Purchaser has
control over the  resources  necessary to perform such  obligations.  Nothing in
this Section 9.1 shall be deemed (i) a waiver by the  Purchaser of its rights to
have  received on or before the Closing an  effective  assignment  of all of the
Purchased  Contracts,  (ii) a waiver by the Purchaser of its rights to have each
condition  to Closing set forth in Section 7.0  satisfied on the Closing Date or
(iii) to  constitute  an  agreement  to exclude  from the  Purchased  Assets any
properties,  assets or rights described under Section 1.1 or limit or affect the
Sellers' representations, warranties and covenants in this Agreement.

     9.2 Delivery of Property  Received by the Sellers After  Closing.  From and
after the Closing,  the Purchaser shall have the right and authority to collect,
for the account of the  Purchaser,  all items which shall be  transferred or are
intended to be transferred  to the Purchaser as part of the Purchased  Assets as
provided in this Agreement,  and to endorse with the name of the Sellers, to the
extent  reasonably  necessary  or  required,  any checks or drafts  received  on
account of any such items of the Purchased  Assets.  The Sellers agree that they
will transfer or deliver to the Purchaser,  promptly after the receipt  thereof,
any cash or other property  which the Sellers  receive after the Closing Date in
any respect of any claims, contracts,  licenses, leases,  commitments,  purchase
orders,  or any other items  transferred  or intended to be  transferred  to the
Purchaser as part of the Purchased Assets under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding
the  foregoing,  in the event the  Sellers  make any  payment  to the  Purchaser
pursuant to Article 11 hereof with respect to any Accounts  Receivable which are
not collected by the Purchaser,  the Purchaser shall assign to the Seller making
such payment all of the Purchaser's  right,  title and interest in such accounts
receivable.

     9.3 Execution of Further  Documents.  From and after the Closing,  upon the
reasonable request of the Purchaser, the Sellers shall execute,  acknowledge and
deliver all such further acts,  deeds,  bills of sale,  assignments,  transfers,
conveyances,  powers of attorney and assurances as may reasonably be required to
convey and transfer to and vest in the  Purchaser  and protect its right,  title
and interest in all of the Purchased Assets, and as may be appropriate otherwise
to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     9.4 National  City  Facility.  The Sellers shall be fully  responsible  for
continuing and promptly  completing  remediation and/or corrective action of any
petroleum contamination at the National City, California facility, solely at the
Sellers'  expense.  Such remediation  and/or  corrective action shall: (i) be in
full   compliance  with  all  applicable   Environmental   Laws,  and  (ii)  not
unreasonably  interfere with the Purchaser's  operation and use of the facility.
The  Sellers  shall   promptly   provide  the  Purchaser   with  copies  of  all
correspondence,  reports or other documents  received from any third party,  and


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<PAGE>


shall provide the Purchaser with a reasonable  opportunity to review and comment
upon any  correspondence,  reports or other documents  drafted by the Sellers or
their  agents,  before  such  correspondence,  reports  or other  documents  are
transmitted  to third  parties.  The  Sellers  shall  obtain  a letter  or other
document (including but not limited to a Certificate of Completion or No Further
Action Letter) from the California  Regional  Water Quality  Control Board,  San
Diego Region, or other controlling governmental authority (collectively "Board")
evidencing that the remediation and or corrective action has complied with Board
requirements.

     9.5 WARN.  The  Purchaser  agrees to provide any required  notice under the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN") and any similar state
law and to  otherwise  comply with any such  statute  with respect to any "plant
closing"  or "mass  layoff"  (as  defined  by WARN) or similar  event  affecting
employees of the Business and  occurring on or after the Closing Date or arising
as a  result  of this  Agreement  (none  of which  are now  contemplated  by the
Purchaser),  and to indemnify and hold harmless the Sellers and their Affiliates
from any  liability  arising  from the  Purchaser's  failure to provide any such
notice or otherwise comply with any such law.

     9.6  Multi-Employer  Plan.  If,  solely as a result of any  transfer of the
Purchased  Assets from the Sellers to the Purchaser (or its assignees)  pursuant
to the  terms  and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  (i)  Cal-Doran  ceases  (A)
operations  covered  under any  "multiemployer  plan"  (as  defined  in  Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA) to which Cal-Doran  contributes,  is required to contribute
or has ever been  required to and which  covers  current  Business  Employers (a
"Multiemployer  Plan"),  or  (B)  to  have  an  obligation  to  contribute  to a
Multiemployer  Plan under  circumstances  that would cause the  occurrence  of a
complete or partial  withdrawal by Cal-Doran from such  Multiemployer  Plan, and
(ii) such complete or partial withdrawal would result in a withdrawal  liability
for the Sellers in excess of $10,000,  then the following provisions shall apply
with respect to such Multiemployer Plan:

          9.6.1 From and immediately  after the Closing,  the Purchaser shall be
     obligated  to  contribute  to the  Multiemployer  Plan with  respect to the
     operations for substantially the same number of contribution base units for
     which Cal-Doran was obligated to contribute to the Multiemployer  Plan with
     respect to the operations immediately prior to the Closing;

          9.6.2 The  Purchaser  shall  provide to the  Multiemployer  Plan for a
     period of five plan years of the Multiemployer Plan (individually,  a "Plan
     Year" and collectively,  "Plan Years")  commencing with the first Plan Year
     beginning  after the Closing,  a bond issued by a corporate  surety company
     that is an  acceptable  surety for  purposes  of Section  412 of ERISA,  an
     amount  held  in  escrow  by  a  bank  or  similar  financial   institution
     satisfactory   to  the   Multiemployer   Plan  or  (if   permitted  by  the
     Multiemployer   Plan)  a  letter  of  credit  issued  by  such  a  bank  or
     institution,  in an amount  equal to the greater of (A) the average  annual
     contribution  required to have been made by the Seller with  respect to the
     operations under the Multiemployer  Plan for the three Plan Years preceding
     the Plan Year in which the Closing occurs,  or (B) the annual  contribution
     that the Seller was  required to have made with  respect to the  operations
     under the Multiemployer Plan for the last Plan Year before the Plan Year in
     which  the  Closing  occurs,  which  bond or  escrow  shall  be paid to the
     Multiemployer  Plan if the Purchaser  withdraws from the Multiemployer Plan
     or fails to make a contribution to the Multiemployer  Plan when due, at any
     time during the first five Plan Years beginning after the Closing; and


                                       33
<PAGE>


          9.6.3 If the  Purchaser  withdraws  from the  Multiemployer  Plan in a
     complete  withdrawal or a partial withdrawal with respect to the operations
     during such first five Plan Years and does not pay any withdrawal liability
     resulting  therefrom,  the  Seller  shall  be  secondarily  liable  for any
     withdrawal  liability  it would  have had to the  Multiemployer  Plan  with
     respect to the  operations  covered under the  Multiemployer  Plan (but for
     Section 4204 of ERISA) if the  liability of the  Purchaser  with respect to
     such Multiemployer Plan is not paid.

          9.6.4 If the conditions  set forth above are  satisfied,  this Section
     9.6 is intended to meet the conditions established under Section 4204(a)(1)
     of ERISA for relief from liability for a complete or partial withdrawal and
     shall be interpreted and applied accordingly. The Purchaser and the Sellers
     agree to cooperate  to obtain the benefits of the variance  under 29 C.F.R.
     ss.4204.11,  if available,  or, if not, to seek an  individual  variance or
     exemption  under 29 C.F.R.  ss.4202.21.  If,  however,  such conditions set
     forth above are not satisfied, this Section 9.6 is not intended to meet the
     requirements  under Section 4204(a)(1) of ERISA and the Sellers will remain
     responsible  for such complete or partial  withdrawal  liabilities or other
     costs assessed against the Sellers as if such Section  4201(a)(1)  election
     had not been made.

The Purchaser agrees that it is obligated to make all contributions which may be
required to be made to the  Multiemployer  Plans from and immediately  after the
Closing.  As soon as  practicable  following  the Closing,  the Sellers agree to
obtain from the Multiemployer Plan an estimate of the withdrawal  liability that
would be imposed  on the  Sellers  by that  Multiemployer  Plan in the case of a
complete  or partial  withdrawal.  The  Sellers  agree for a period of two years
following the Closing that if the Purchaser's annual contribution  obligation to
any  Multiemployer  Plan in  accordance  with  this  Section  9.6 is  improperly
calculated to include contributions or administrative  expenses the Sellers were
required to make to the  Multiemployer  Plan prior to the  Closing,  the Sellers
will promptly  indemnify  the  Purchaser in full for such cost and expense.  The
Sellers  further  agree that if the Purchaser is subject at any time during such
two-year period to claims, demands, judgments, settlements or liability to third
parties for unpaid contributions and related expenses (including attorneys' fees
and  expenses)  that may be incurred by the  Purchaser  in  connection  with the
Multiemployer  Plan as a result of acts or omissions which occurred prior to the
Closing,  the Sellers shall  indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser  from all
claims,  demands,  judgments,  settlements,  unpaid contributions,  liability to
third parties and related expenses.

     9.7  Delivery  of  Charter  Amendments.  The  Sellers  will  deliver to the
Purchaser within five (5) business days after the Closing evidence of filings of
charter  amendments  changing the  corporate  names of MI,  Cal-Doran and MTI to
names that do not  contain the words  "Cal-Doran  National  City,"  "Cal-Doran,"
"Metallurgical Services," "Metal Treating," "Metallurgical" or "SCAT."

                                       34
<PAGE>


10.0  PRODUCT  AND  SERVICE  WARRANTY  AND  LIABILITY  CLAIMS;   COOPERATION  IN
      LITIGATION

     With respect to product or service warranty or liability claims asserted
against the  Purchaser  or the Sellers for  products or services of the Business
(including,  without limitation, any claims for consequential damages related to
any Cal-Doran  Aero-Space  Claim), (i) if the product was shipped or the service
performed before the Closing, and the claimed injury or product failure occurred
before the Closing, the Sellers shall be fully responsible, whether the claim is
made before or after the Closing, (ii) if the product was shipped or the service
performed  before the Closing,  and the claimed injury or product failure occurs
after the Closing, the Purchaser shall be fully responsible, except with respect
to a Cal-Doran  Aero-Space  Claim which shall be handled as provided below,  and
(iii) if the product was shipped or the service performed after the Closing, the
Purchaser shall be fully responsible.  If the product was shipped or the service
performed before the Closing by Cal-Doran, the claimed injury or product failure
occurs  after the  Closing,  and the  product or service  relates to products or
services for aircraft,  rocket or Space  Shuttle parts (a "Cal-Doran  Aero-Space
Claim"), the Purchaser shall be responsible if the Cal-Doran Aero-Space Claim is
insured. If such Cal-Doran  Aero-Space Claim is not insured,  the Purchaser,  on
the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand, shall share the responsibility
equally;  provided,  however,  that the Sellers' aggregate  liability under this
Article 10.0 with respect to  Cal-Doran  Aero-Space  Claims shall not exceed the
amount of the Closing Net Book Value.  The term "insured" shall mean a claim for
which the Purchaser has or had insurance  coverage under the insurance  policies
identified on Exhibit I (without  regard to retentions or  self-insurance).  The
Purchaser and the Sellers shall each  cooperate with the other in the defense of
any such action and in the prosecution or defense of any other actions affecting
the Business to the extent reasonably so requested.

11.0  INDEMNIFICATION

     11.1  Indemnification  by the  Sellers.  The  Sellers  agree,  jointly  and
severally,  that they will indemnify,  defend and hold harmless the Purchaser in
respect of the aggregate of all indemnifiable damages of the Purchaser. For this
purpose, "indemnifiable damages" of the Purchaser means the aggregate of all out
of pocket expenses, losses, costs, liabilities and damages (including reasonable
related legal and  engineering  fees and  expenses)  incurred or suffered by the
Purchaser (i) resulting from any  representation or warranty made by the Sellers
in or pursuant to Article 4 hereof that is  inaccurate,  (ii) resulting from any
default in the  performance  of any of the covenants or  agreements  made by the
Sellers in this  Agreement,  (iii)  resulting from the failure of the Sellers to
pay,  discharge or perform any  liability or  obligation of the Sellers which is
not expressly  assumed by the Purchaser  pursuant to this Agreement,  including,
without  limitation,  the Excluded  Liabilities,  or resulting  from any dispute
concerning  any  such  liability  or  obligation,  or (iv)  resulting  from  the
Purchaser's assumption of Environmental  Liabilities pursuant to Section 2.3.1.3
to the  extent  indemnifiable  damages  of the  Purchaser  resulting  from  such
assumption  are  greater  than  $1,000,000  but are less  than  $3,500,000.  The


                                       35
<PAGE>


Sellers' indemnity obligation set forth in Subsection (iv) shall pertain only to
those  Environmental  Liabilities,  whenever  incurred,  arising from conditions
identified  by the  Purchaser  in  writing  to the  Sellers  prior to the second
anniversary  of the Closing  Date.  For the purpose of this  Section  11.1,  all
representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements of the Sellers set forth
in this Agreement,  except those set forth in Sections  4.5.2,  4.6, 4.7, 4.8.1,
4.9,  4.12,  4.13,  4.14.1 and  4.16.2,  that are  qualified  as to  materiality
(including,  without limitation,  by the word "material" in the phrase "Material
Adverse Effect") shall be deemed to be not so qualified. The right to payment of
indemnifiable  damages or other  remedy  based on  representations,  warranties,
covenants or obligations will not be affected by any investigation conducted, or
any Knowledge acquired (or capable of being acquired) at any time, by the Person
seeking  indemnification  whether  before or after the execution and delivery of
this  Agreement or the Closing Date,  with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy
of or compliance with any such representation, warranty, covenant or obligation.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing with respect to the measurement
of  indemnifiable  damages,  the Purchaser shall have the right to be put in the
same financial position as it would have been in had each of the representations
and  warranties  of the  Sellers  been  true  and  correct  and had  each of the
covenants of the Sellers been performed in full.

     11.2  Indemnification  by the Purchaser.  The Purchaser agrees to indemnify
and hold the Sellers  harmless in respect of the aggregate of all  indemnifiable
damages of the Sellers. For this purpose, "indemnifiable damages" of the Sellers
means the aggregate of all expenses,  losses, costs,  deficiencies,  liabilities
and damages  (including  reasonable  related  counsel and  engineering  fees and
expenses)   incurred  or  suffered  by  the  Sellers  (i)  resulting   from  any
representation  or warranty  made by the  Purchaser  in or pursuant to Article 5
hereof that is inaccurate, (ii) resulting from any default in the performance of
any of the  covenants or  agreements  made by the  Purchaser in this  Agreement,
(iii)  resulting from the failure of the Purchaser to pay,  discharge or perform
any of the Assumed  Liabilities,  or (iv) resulting from the Purchaser's failure
to satisfy  Environmental  Liabilities  assumed  by the  Purchaser  pursuant  to
Section 2.3.1.3 to the extent indemnifiable damages of the Sellers are less than
$1,000,000 or are greater than $3,500,000. For the purpose of this Section 11.2,
all representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements of the Purchaser set
forth in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality shall be deemed not
so  qualified.  The right to payment of  indemnifiable  damages or other  remedy
based on  representations,  warranties,  covenants  or  obligations  will not be
affected by any investigation  conducted,  or any Knowledge acquired (or capable
of being  acquired)  at any time,  whether  before or after  the  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement or the Closing Date,  with respect to the accuracy or
inaccuracy of or compliance with any such representation,  warranty, covenant or
obligation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing with respect to the
measurement of indemnifiable damages, the Sellers shall have the right to be put
in the  same  financial  position  as it  would  have  been  in had  each of the
representations  and  warranties of the Purchaser  been true and correct and had
each of the covenants of the Purchaser been performed in full.


                                       36
<PAGE>


     11.3 Claims for Indemnification.

          11.3.1 Third-Party Claims. All claims for  indemnification  made under
     this Agreement  resulting from,  related to or arising out of a third-party
     claim  against an  Indemnified  Party (as defined  below)  shall be made in
     accordance   with  the   following   procedures.   A  person   entitled  to
     indemnification  under this Article 11 (an "Indemnified  Party") shall give
     prompt  written  notification  to the person from whom  indemnification  is
     sought (the "Indemnifying  Party") of the commencement of any action,  suit
     or proceeding relating to a third-party claim for which indemnification may
     be sought or, if earlier,  upon the  assertion of any such claim by a third
     party. Within 30 days after delivery of such notification, the Indemnifying
     Party may, upon written notice  thereof to the  Indemnified  Party,  assume
     control  of the  defense of such  action,  suit,  proceeding  or claim with
     counsel   reasonably   satisfactory  to  the  Indemnified   Party.  If  the
     Indemnifying Party does not assume control of such defense, the Indemnified
     Party shall control such defense.  The Party not  controlling  such defense
     may  participate  therein  at  its  own  expense;   provided  that  if  the
     Indemnifying  Party  assumes  control of such  defense and the  Indemnified
     Party  reasonably  concludes,  based  on  advice  from  counsel,  that  the
     Indemnifying  Party and the Indemnified  Party have  conflicting  interests
     with respect to such action, suit, proceeding or claim, the reasonable fees
     and  expenses  of counsel to the  Indemnified  Party  solely in  connection
     therewith shall be considered  "indemnifiable damages" for purposes of this
     Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the Indemnifying Party
     be  responsible  for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all
     Indemnified  Parties.  The Party  controlling  such defense  shall keep the
     other  Parties  advised of the status of such action,  suit,  proceeding or
     claim and the defense  thereof and shall consider  recommendations  made by
     the other Party with respect thereto. The Indemnified Party shall not agree
     to any  settlement  of such action,  suit,  proceeding or claim without the
     prior written consent of the Indemnifying  Party.  The  Indemnifying  Party
     shall not agree to any settlement of such action, suit, proceeding or claim
     that does not include a complete release of the Indemnified  Party from all
     liability with respect  thereto or that imposes any liability or obligation
     on  the  Indemnified  Party  without  the  prior  written  consent  of  the
     Indemnified Party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
     delayed.

          11.3.2 Claims by the Purchaser  Regarding  Environmental  Liabilities.
     Any claims for  indemnifiable  damages  made under  Section  11.1  relating
     primarily to Environmental  Liabilities (an "Environmental Claim") shall be
     treated as follows:

               11.3.2.1 The Sellers' obligation to indemnify the Purchaser shall
          only apply to the extent that the  indemnifiable  damages  incurred by
          the Purchaser are "Reasonable Environmental Expenses." For purposes of
          this  Agreement,  indemnifiable  damages  shall be deemed  "Reasonable
          Environmental Expenses" to the extent such expenses or other costs are
          incurred to perform  activities  (including  without limitation a site
          investigation  and  remediation  or other  cleanup or risk  assessment
          activities)  which  are  required  by any  order or  directive  of any


                                       37
<PAGE>


          governmental agency or authority or which are reasonably  necessary to
          (i) determine and ensure the  environmental  condition  giving rise to
          such indemnifiable damages is, and cause such environmental  condition
          to be, in compliance with  Environmental  Law as in effect at the time
          of such  investigation or remedial or other cleanup or risk assessment
          activities,  and otherwise  determine the degree,  scope and extent of
          the presence of a Contaminant  or the  occurrence  of a Release,  (ii)
          comply  with  or  to  discharge  a  duty  imposed   under   applicable
          Environmental Law then in effect, or (iii) allow the Purchaser, in its
          reasonable  discretion,  to  respond  to and abate the  occurrence  or
          creation   of  an   environmental   condition   (1)   imminently   and
          substantially  endangering  human  health  or  the  environment,   (2)
          violating any  Environmental  Law, or (3)  exceeding  the  industrial,
          risk-based  cleanup  standards  then  applicable  to such  site  under
          Environmental  Law. The Sellers shall not be required to indemnify the
          Purchaser for any Reasonable Environmental Expenses to the extent that
          such Reasonable  Environmental  Expenses are incurred as a result of a
          change in the use of the site in question  following  the Closing to a
          use to which  increased  cleanup  standards or risk based  assessments
          apply.  With  respect to the  remediation  portion  of any  Reasonable
          Environmental  Expenses,  the Sellers shall be liable for such portion
          of   Reasonable   Environmental   Expenses  only  to  the  extent  the
          remediation expenses or other costs incurred are required to remediate
          the condition giving rise to the indemnifiable  damages to levels that
          will permit  continued  industrial  uses at the site in question or to
          the risk-based  cleanup standards based on industrial use of such site
          under  applicable  Environmental  Law in  effect as of the date of the
          remediation.

               11.3.2.2  The  Purchaser  shall  notify the Sellers (i)  promptly
          after the Purchaser  receives notice from any government  authority or
          any third party alleging any violation of any Environmental Law at any
          of the Purchased  Real Estate or Purchased  Leasehold  Premises,  (ii)
          promptly  after  the  Purchaser  has  Knowledge  of  any  Release,  or
          threatened  Release at any of the  Purchased  Real Estate or Purchased
          Leasehold  Premises,  and (iii) within  thirty (30) days of the end of
          each calendar quarter, all expenditures by the Purchaser of Reasonable
          Environmental   Expenses   (which  notice  shall  be   accompanied  by
          reasonable  detail  regarding  such  expenditures).  If the  Purchaser
          wishes to assert an  Environmental  Claim, the Purchaser shall provide
          the Sellers' with a notice (an  "Environmental  Claim  Notice")  which
          notice shall include  documentation  showing in reasonable  detail the


                                       38
<PAGE>


          basis for the  Purchaser's  assertion that the proposed action and the
          costs  and  expenses   are   Reasonable   Environmental   Expenses  as
          contemplated by Section 11.3.2.1.  Notwithstanding any other provision
          herein, the Purchaser shall only be required to give such prior notice
          of  an  Environmental  Claim  as  is  reasonably   practicable  before
          incurring  any costs or expenses (1) pursuant to an order or directive
          by a  governmental  agency or  authority or (2) in order to prevent or
          abate an imminent and substantial (A)  endangerment to human health or
          the  environment  from  any  environmental   condition,   Release,  or
          threatened  Release at any of the  Purchased  Real Estate or Purchased
          Leasehold  Premises,  or (B) violation of any  Environmental  Law. The
          Purchaser shall provide, and cause its representatives to provide, the
          Sellers  and the  Sellers'  authorized  representatives  access to the
          facility   and  the   opportunity   to  review  the   subject  of  the
          Environmental  Claim and any studies,  records,  sampling  data,  cost
          estimates  and other  related  documents  utilized by the Purchaser in
          connection with  establishing the Environmental  Claim.  Environmental
          Claims shall  otherwise be asserted in the manner set forth in Section
          11.3.3,  except that disputes shall be submitted only to  arbitration,
          in Boston, Massachusetts, to a single arbitrator selected by agreement
          of the  parties,  or absent  agreement,  by the  American  Arbitration
          Association,  who shall be an attorney  specializing in  environmental
          law for at least 10 years. The arbitration shall be in accordance with
          the  commercial   arbitration   rules  of  the  American   Arbitration
          Association,  with only such discovery as expressly  authorized by the
          arbitrator  upon  showing  of  substantial  need by the party  seeking
          discovery.  The arbitrator may hire an environmental  engineering firm
          as deemed  necessary,  but for costs not exceeding  $10,000 unless the
          parties otherwise agree.  Disputes  concerning  substantially  related
          Environmental Claims shall, to the extent practicable, be submitted to
          the same  arbitrator.  The  arbitrator  shall  award the  expenses  of
          arbitration  (attorneys' and engineering  fees, filing fees, costs and
          related  expenses) to the prevailing party. The results of arbitration
          will be binding on the parties  absent  fraud or manifest  error,  and
          judgment  on the  arbitrator's  award may be  entered  in any court in
          Massachusetts having jurisdiction.

               11.3.2.3 For purposes of Section 11.3.2, the term  "indemnifiable
          damages"  shall be deemed  to  include,  in  addition  to those  items
          specified  as such in Section  11.1,  any cost or  expense  (including
          related  legal  and  engineering  fees and  expenses)  related  to any
          investigation,    pre-remedial    studies   and    investigations   or
          post-remedial   monitoring  and  care,  and  any  required   financial
          assurance,  as  well  as  cost  of  clean-up,  remedial,   corrective,
          restorative  or response  actions  with  respect to any  Environmental
          Claim.


                                       39
<PAGE>


               11.3.2.4 Upon the payment by the Sellers to the Purchaser for any
          indemnifiable  damages  arising  out of an  Environmental  Claim,  the
          Sellers  shall be  subrogated to all rights and causes of action which
          the  Purchaser  may have  against  any third  party  relating  to such
          indemnifiable damages.

          11.3.3  Procedure for Other Claims.  An  Indemnified  Party wishing to
     assert a claim  for  indemnification  under  this  Article  11 which is not
     subject to Section 11.3.1 or 11.3.2 shall deliver to the Indemnifying Party
     a written notice (a "Claim  Notice")  which contains (i) a description  and
     the amount (the "Claimed Amount") of any indemnifiable  damages incurred by
     the  Indemnified  Party,  (ii) a statement  that the  Indemnified  Party is
     entitled  to  indemnification  under  this  Article  11  and  a  reasonable
     explanation  of the basis  therefor,  and (iii) a demand for payment in the
     amount of such  indemnifiable  damages.  Within 30 days after delivery of a
     Claim Notice, the Indemnifying Party shall deliver to the Indemnified Party
     a written  response in which the  Indemnifying  Party shall: (i) agree that
     the Indemnified  Party is entitled to receive all of the Claimed Amount (in
     which  case  such  response  shall  be  accompanied  by a  payment  by  the
     Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of the Claimed Amount, by check
     or by wire transfer),  (ii) agree that the Indemnified Party is entitled to
     receive part, but not all, of the Claimed Amount (the "Agreed  Amount") (in
     which  case  such  response  shall  be  accompanied  by a  payment  by  the
     Indemnifying  Party to the Indemnified Party of the Agreed Amount, by check
     or by wire  transfer),  or  (iii)  contest  that the  Indemnified  Party is
     entitled to receive any of the Claimed Amount. If the Indemnifying Party in
     such  response  contests the payment of all or part of the Claimed  Amount,
     the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall use all commercially
     reasonable efforts to resolve such dispute. If such dispute is not resolved
     within 60 days  following  the delivery by the  Indemnifying  Party of such
     response,  the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall each have
     the right to submit such dispute to a court of competent jurisdiction.

     11.4 Survival.

          11.4.1 The  representations  and  warranties  of the  Sellers  and the
     Purchaser  set forth in this  Agreement  shall  expire as  follows:  at the
     Closing, Section 4.15; one year after the Closing,  Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.9,
     4.10,  4.12,  4.13,  4.22, and 4.24; 18 months after the Closing,  Sections
     4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.11,  4.14,  4.16,  4.17,  4.18, 4.19 and 4.20;  three
     years after the Closing 4.1,  4.21 and 4.23;  and until  expiration  of any
     applicable statutes of limitation, Section 4.4.


                                       40
<PAGE>


          11.4.2 Any valid claim that is properly  asserted in writing  pursuant
     to Section 11.3 prior to the  expiration  as provided in this Article 11 of
     the  representation  or  warranty  that is the basis for such  claim  shall
     survive until such claim is finally resolved and satisfied.

     11.5 Limitations

          11.5.1 Except with respect to claims based on actual fraud, the rights
     of the  Indemnified  Parties  under  this  Article 11 shall be the sole and
     exclusive  remedies  of  the  Indemnified   Parties  and  their  respective
     Affiliates  with  respect  to  claims  resulting  from or  relating  to any
     misrepresentation, breach of warranty or failure to perform any covenant or
     agreement  contained  in  this  Agreement  or  otherwise  relating  to  the
     transactions  that are the  subject of this  Agreement,  and the  Purchaser
     shall not be entitled to the remedy of rescission.

          11.5.2  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained  in this
     Agreement,  each of the following  limitations shall apply to the indemnity
     obligations set forth in this Article 11:

               (i) the  aggregate  liability  of the  Sellers for the sum of all
          indemnifiable damages under this Article 11 shall not exceed an amount
          equal to the Closing Net Book Value;

               (ii) except for claims for indemnifiable damages made pursuant to
          subsections 11.1(ii),  11.1(iii),  11.1(iv),  11.2(ii),  11.2(iii), or
          11.2(iv)  which claims  shall be excluded  from this  limitation,  the
          Sellers shall be liable under Section 11.1, and the Purchaser shall be
          liable under  Section  11.2,  for only that  portion of the  aggregate
          indemnifiable damages which exceeds $300,000 (it being understood that
          the Sellers and the Purchaser shall not be liable,  in any event,  for
          the first $300,000 of said indemnifiable damages); and

               (iii)  the  amount  of  any   indemnifiable   damages  for  which
          indemnification  is provided under this Article 11 shall be calculated
          net of any associated  accruals or reserves  reflected on the books of
          Seller as of the Closing Date and included in the  calculation  of the
          Closing Net Book Value.

          11.5.3 In no event shall any  Indemnifying  Party be  responsible  and
     liable for any indemnifiable damages or other amounts under this Article 11
     that are consequential, in the nature of lost profits, diminution in value,
     damage to  reputation  or the like,  special or punitive or  otherwise  not
     actual  indemnifiable  damages.  The  parties  shall  use all  commercially
     reasonable  efforts to pursue all legal  rights and  remedies  available in
     order to minimize the indemnifiable  damages for which  indemnification  is
     provided under this Article.

                                       41
<PAGE>


          11.5.4 The Sellers  shall not have any right of  contribution  against
     the  Business  with  respect to any  breach by the  Sellers of any of their
     representations, warranties, covenants or agreements.

          11.5.5   The   amount   of  any   indemnifiable   damages   for  which
     indemnification  is provided  under this Article 11 shall be reduced by any
     related  recoveries (net of tax  consequences of such  recoveries) to which
     the Indemnified Party is entitled under insurance policies or other related
     payments  received or  receivable  from third  parties and any tax benefits
     actually  received  (net  of  any  tax  costs  actually  incurred)  by  the
     Indemnified  Party or any of its  Affiliates  or for which the  Indemnified
     Party  or any of its  Affiliates  is  eligible  on  account  of the  matter
     resulting   in  such   indemnifiable   damages  or  the   payment  of  such
     indemnifiable   damages;   provided,   that  with   respect   to  any  such
     indemnifiable  damages as to which an Indemnified Party is entitled to, but
     has not yet received,  compensation  under any  insurance,  the  expiration
     period  with  respect  to such  claim for  indemnifiable  damages  shall be
     tolled, and if (i) the Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party of
     the submission of such claim to the insurer prior to the termination of the
     expiration  period for such claim for  indemnifiable  damages and (ii) such
     compensation  has been pursued in a commercially  reasonable  manner by the
     Indemnified  Party but has not been received within one year after the date
     on which the claim for  compensation  is first  submitted to the insurer or
     the insurer's agent by the  Indemnified  Party,  the Indemnified  Party may
     assert a claim with respect to such  indemnifiable  damages  within 90 days
     after the end of such one year period;  provided further, that upon payment
     of such  indemnifiable  damages by the Indemnifying  Party, the Indemnified
     Party shall assign the right to insurance  compensation to the Indemnifying
     Party.

12.0 MISCELLANEOUS

     12.1 Brokers'  Commission.  The Purchaser  will indemnify and hold harmless
the Sellers from the commission, fee or claim of any person, firm or corporation
employed or retained or claiming to be employed or retained by the  Purchaser to
bring about, or to represent it in, the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The
Sellers will indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from the commission,  fee
or claim of any person, firm or corporation  employed or retained or claiming to
be employed or retained by the Sellers to bring about,  or to represent them in,
the transactions contemplated hereby.

     12.2 Amendment and Modification.  The parties hereto may amend,  modify and
supplement  this  Agreement  in such  manner  as may be  agreed  upon by them in
writing.


                                       42
<PAGE>


     12.3 Termination

          12.3.1 Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, this Agreement
     may  be  terminated  and  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby  may  be
     abandoned:

               12.3.1.1 by the mutual  written  consent of the parties hereto at
          any time prior to the Closing Date;

               12.3.1.2 by the Purchaser or the Sellers at any time prior to the
          Closing  Date if there is an order of any court or other  governmental
          body  restraining,   prohibiting  or  invalidating  the  sale  of  the
          Purchased  Assets to the Purchaser or any other  material  transaction
          contemplated  hereby,  or, in the case of the  Purchaser,  which would
          materially  and  adversely  affect the right of the  Purchaser to own,
          operate or control the Purchased Assets;

               12.3.1.3  by the  Purchaser  or the  Sellers  in the event of the
          material  breach by the  other of any  provisions  of this  Agreement,
          which  breach is not  remedied by the  breaching  party within 30 days
          after receipt of notice thereof from the terminating party;

               12.3.1.4 by any party in the event that one or more conditions to
          its  closing  has not been  satisfied  by the  Closing  Date or is not
          capable of being satisfied; or

               12.3.1.5 by any party if the Closing  shall not have  occurred on
          or before June 30, 2000, unless the failure of the Closing to occur by
          such  date  shall  be due to the  failure  of  the  party  seeking  to
          terminate  the  Agreement to perform or observe the  covenants of such
          party set forth in this Agreement.

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to clauses 12.3.1.1 or 12.3.1.2 of this
Subsection 12.3, no party shall have any liability for any costs, expenses, loss
of  anticipated  profit or any  further  obligation  for breach of  warranty  or
otherwise  to any  other  party  to  this  Agreement.  Any  termination  of this
Agreement pursuant to clauses 12.3.1.3,  12.3.1.4 or 12.3.1.5 of this Subsection
12.3  shall  be  without  prejudice  to any  other  rights  or  remedies  of the
respective parties.

     12.4 Binding Effect;  Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the  benefit of the  parties  hereto and their  respective  successors,
assigns, heirs and legal representatives. No rights or obligations hereunder may
be assigned by the Purchaser or the Sellers without the prior written consent of
the other,  provided that the  Purchaser  may assign its rights and  obligations
hereunder to one or more  wholly-owned  direct or indirect  subsidiaries  of the
Purchaser   without  the  Sellers'  prior  written   consent  if  the  Purchaser
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the performance of all the assignee's
obligations under this Agreement.

     12.5 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  the Disclosure  Schedule and the
Exhibits and the  Confidentiality  Agreement dated October 15, 1999 (which shall
survive in  accordance  with its terms)  contain  the  entire  agreement  of the
parties  hereto with  respect to the  purchase of the  Purchased  Assets and the
other transactions  contemplated  herein, and supersede all prior understandings
and  agreements of the parties with respect to the subject  matter  hereof.  Any
reference  herein to this  Agreement  shall be deemed to include the  Disclosure
Schedule and the Exhibits.


                                       43
<PAGE>


     12.6 Headings.  The descriptive headings in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

     12.7 Execution in Counterpart. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

     12.8 Notices.  Any notice,  request,  information  or other  document to be
given  hereunder  to the  Purchaser  or the  Sellers  shall  be in  writing  and
delivered to the parties at the following addresses (or to such other address as
a party  may have  specified  by  notice to the  other  party  pursuant  to this
provision):

      If to the Sellers, addressed to:

                         Thermo Electron Corporation
                         245 Winter Street, Suite 300
                         Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
                         Attention: James H. DaCosta
                         Telephone: (781) 622-1219
                         Fax:  (781) 768-6655
                         E-mail: [email protected]

      with a copy to each of:

                         Thermo Electron Corporation
                         245 Winter Street, Suite 300
                         Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
                         Attention: General Counsel
                         Telephone: (781) 622-1198
                         Fax:  (781) 622-1283
                         E-mail: [email protected]

                         Hale and Dorr LLP
                         60 State Street
                         Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                         Attention:  Kenneth A. Hoxsie
                         Telephone:  (617) 526-6000
                         Fax:  (617) 526-5000
                         E-mail:  [email protected]




                                       44
<PAGE>



      If to the Purchaser, addressed to:

                         Lindberg Corporation
                         6133 North River Road, Suite 700
                         Rosemont, Illinois  60018
                         Attention:  Stephen S. Penley
                         Telephone:  (847) 823-2021
                         Fax:  (847) 823-0795
                         E-mail:  [email protected]

      with a copy to:

                         Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC
                         70 West Madison Street, Suite 3300
                         Chicago, Illinois  60602
                         Attention:  John H. Bitner
                         Telephone:  (312) 807-4306
                         Fax:  (312) 827-8048
                         E-mail:  [email protected]


Any such  notice  shall be deemed  given (i) when  received by the party to whom
addressed,  in the  case of  personal  delivery;  (ii)  the  next  business  day
following  service  by  overnight  mail or  delivery  service;  (iii)  the third
business day following the deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested;  or (iv) upon receipt (unless after
the close of business or not on a Business  Day, in which case on the  following
Business Day) of electronic  facsimile or e-mail  transmission,  provided that a
copy of such  facsimile  or e-mail  notice shall  simultaneously  be sent to the
address by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

     12.9 Governing Law;  Consent to  Jurisdiction;  Waiver of Jury Right.  This
Agreement  shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance  with the internal
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts applicable to contracts made and to be
performed  therein without regard to the conflicts of laws  principles  thereof.
Each of the parties to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to the  exclusive
jurisdiction  and venue (and waives any  inconvenient  forum  objection)  of the
state and federal courts located in the  Commonwealth of  Massachusetts  for the
purposes of any court proceedings  hereunder and to accept service of process by
any means  specified  in  Section  12.8.  EACH  PARTY TO THIS  AGREEMENT  HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL  PROCEEDING  BROUGHT
HEREUNDER.

     12.10 Limitation on Rights of Other Persons.  Nothing  expressed or implied
in this  Agreement  is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any
person, firm,  corporation or entity other than the parties hereto any rights or
remedies  under or by reason of this Agreement or any  transaction  contemplated
hereby, except as herein otherwise provided.


                                       45
<PAGE>


     12.11  Severability.  If any provision of this  Agreement  shall be held or
deemed to be, or shall in fact be, illegal,  inoperative or  unenforceable,  the
same shall not affect any other provision  contained  herein, or render the same
invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent whatsoever.

     12.12 Survival of Agreements.  All the agreements of the parties  contained
in Sections 6.3,  6.4,  6.5,  6.6, 6.9, 6.10 and 6.11,  and all of Articles 9.0,
10.0,  11.0 and 12.0 shall  survive the Closing and, as to Sections 6.3, 6.4 and
6.6 and all of Articles 11.0 and 12.0, the termination of this Agreement.

     12.13 Certain Definitions. The following words, terms and expressions shall
have the following meanings for all purposes of this Agreement:

     "Accounts Receivable" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.6.

     "Adjustment Amount" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.1.1.

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

     "Agreed Amount" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.3.2.

     "Agreement" means this Agreement, including the Disclosure Schedule and all
of the Exhibits.

     "Ancillary   Agreements"   means  the   agreements   which  this  Agreement
contemplates  being entered into between the Purchaser and any of the Sellers at
or prior to Closing.

     "April 1, 2000 Statement" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.2.

     "Arbitrator" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.5.2.

     "Assumed Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.3.1.

     "Business  Day" means a day when  commercial  banks are open for conduct of
normal banking business in Chicago, Illinois and Boston, Massachusetts.

     "Business Employees" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.16.1.

     "Business" has the meaning assigned to it in the Recitals.

     "Cal-Doran Aero-Space Claim" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.0

     "Cal-Doran  Metallurgical Services, Inc." has the meaning assigned to it in
the caption.

     "California Assets" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.

     "Cash Consideration" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.1.1.


                                       46
<PAGE>


     "CERCLA" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.15.2.

     "Claimed Amount" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.3.3.

     "Claim Notice" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.3.3.

     "Closing" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.1.

     "Closing Date" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.1.

     "Closing Net Book Value" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.1.1.

     "Code" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.2.

     "Contaminant" has the meaning assigned to it Section 4.15.2.

     "Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning assigned to it Section 4.0.

     "Electron" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.2.3.

     "Environmental Claim" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.3.2.2.

     "Environmental  Claim  Notice"  has the  meaning  assigned to it in Section
11.3.2.2.

     "Environmental Law" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.15.2.

     "Environmental  Liabilities" are those liabilities or claims resulting from
(i)  violations of any  Environmental  Law or  Environmental  Permits;  (ii) any
notice from any governmental  authority that the Business,  the Purchased Assets
or the Purchased  Leasehold Premises is in violation of any Environmental Law or
any  Environmental  Permit  or that  any of the  Sellers  or the  Purchaser  are
responsible  (or  potentially  responsible)  for Remedial Action at any location
arising  out of or  relating  to  the  Business,  the  Purchased  Assets  or the
Purchased  Leasehold  Premises;  (iii)  any  federal,  state,  local or  private
litigation or administrative proceedings involving a demand for damages or other
potential  liability  with respect to  violations of  Environmental  Laws by the
Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased  Leasehold  Premises;  (iv) any
Release of any Contaminant at any property  currently,  or in the past, occupied
by any of the Sellers in  connection  with the  Business  or any other  business
operated from or assets  located at the Purchased Real Property or the Purchased
Leasehold  Premises;  (v) any  Contaminants  located at, or migrating  from, the
Purchased  Real  Property or the  Purchased  Leasehold  Premises or any property
currently, or in the past, occupied by any of the Sellers in connection with the
Business or any other business  operated from or assets located at the Purchased
Real Property or the Purchased Leasehold Premises;  (vi) any Underground Storage
Tanks  used in  connection  with  the  Business,  the  Purchased  Assets  or the
Purchased  Leasehold  Premises;   (vii)  any  transport,   storage,   treatment,
recycling,  reclamation or disposal of  Contaminants  generated by the Business,
the Purchased Assets or the Purchased  Leasehold  Premises to or at any location
other than a location lawfully  permitted to receive such  Contaminants,  or any
transportation,  storage,  treatment,  recycling,  reclamation  or  disposal  in
contravention of any applicable Environmental Law.


                                       47
<PAGE>


     "Environmental Permit" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.15.2.

     "ERISA" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.17.2.

     "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any corporation, trade
or business which,  together with such person, is a member of a controlled group
of corporations  or a group of trades or businesses  under common control within
the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

     "Excluded Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.4.

     "Exhibits" means the exhibits attached to this Agreement.

     "Financial  Summaries" means the financial statements  (including the notes
thereto) of the Business  referenced in Section 4.2 and  constituting  a part of
Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedule.

     "GAAP"  means  United  States  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,
applied on a basis  consistent  with the basis on which the Financial  Summaries
and Statement of Adjustment Amount were prepared.

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

     "Holco" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.13.

     "indemnifiable damages" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.

     "Indemnified Party" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.3.1.

     "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.3.1.

     "IRS" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.17.4.

     "January 1, 2000 Statement" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.2.

     "Key Business Employee"- means John Wielgosz.

     "Knowledge"  - an  individual  will  be  deemed  to have  "Knowledge"  of a
particular fact or other matter if such individual has actual  knowledge of such
fact or other  matter.  The  Sellers  will be  deemed to have  "Knowledge"  of a
particular  fact  or  other  matter  if  any of the  following  individuals  has
Knowledge thereof:  (i) any director or executive officer of any of the Sellers,
(ii) any of the  following  other  employees  of the  Sellers,  namely  James H.
DaCosta, Christine Leonard and Brian Holt, or (iii) any Key Business Employee.


                                       48
<PAGE>


     "Lien" means,  with respect to any property or asset,  any mortgage,  lien,
pledge, charge,  security interest or encumbrance in respect of such property or
asset.  For the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  a Person  shall be deemed to own
subject to a Lien any property or asset which it has  acquired or holds  subject
to the  interest  of a vendor or lessor  under any  lease,  conditional  sale or
rental  agreement,  capital  lease,  hire - purchase  or other  title  retention
agreement relating to such property or asset.

     "Material  Adverse  Effect" means a material  adverse effect on or material
adverse change in, directly or indirectly,  (i) the business,  assets, property,
condition,  financial  position,  results of  operations or  liabilities  of the
Business,  the Purchased Assets or the Purchased Leasehold Premises, or (ii) the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary  Agreements
or the ability of any Seller to perform its obligations  under this Agreement or
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     "Material  Contract" means any agreement,  contract or commitment which (i)
in the period of 12 months following Closing would reasonably be expected by any
of the Sellers to involve income or  expenditure in excess of $100,000,  (ii) at
Closing has in excess of 12 months of its term to run or (iii) would  reasonably
be anticipated to have a Material  Adverse Effect or a material  positive effect
on the Business.

     "Metallurgical, Inc." has the meaning assigned to it in the caption.

     "Metal Treating Inc." has the meaning assigned to it in the caption.

     "Minnesota Assets" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.

     "Ordinary  Course of Business" - an action taken by a Person will be deemed
to have been taken in the "Ordinary  Course of Business"  only if such action is
consistent  with the past  practices of such Person and is taken in the ordinary
course of the normal day-to-day operations of such Person.

     "Pension Plans" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.9.4.

     "Permitted Liens"- means Liens for (i) taxes not yet due and payable or due
but  not  yet  delinquent  or  being  contested  in good  faith  by  appropriate
proceedings,  (ii) Liens  that do not  affect the value or use of the  Purchased
Assets, (iii) Liens, if any, relating to the Purchaser's  financing to which the
assets  are  contemplated  to be  subject  at the  Closing,  and (iv)  Liens not
included  in  clauses  (i) or (ii)  above  and  relating  to  capitalized  lease
financings or purchase money financings.

     "Person"  includes  an  individual,  a  partnership,  a  joint  venture,  a
corporation,   a  trust,  a  limited   liability   company,   an  unincorporated
organization and a government or any department, agency or other unit thereof.

     "Plans" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.17.1.


                                       49
<PAGE>


     "Proprietary  Rights" means collectively  trademarks,  trade names, service
marks, patents,  patent applications,  inventions,  discoveries,  licenses, copy
rights  (in  both  published  and  unpublished  works),   mask  works,   process
technology,  trade  secrets  and all  applications  therefor  and  registrations
thereof.

     "Purchase Price" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.1.1.

     "Purchased Assets" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.

     "Purchased Contracts" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.6.

     "Purchased Fixed Assets" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.3.

     "Purchased Inventory" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.4.

     "Purchased  Leasehold  Premises" has the meaning  assigned to it in Section
1.1.2.

     "Purchased  Leasehold  Right"  has the  meaning  assigned  to it in Section
1.1.2.

     "Purchased Real Estate" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.1.

     "Purchased Receivables" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.5.

     "Purchased Records" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.7.

     "Purchased Permits" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.9.

     "Purchased  Proprietary  Rights" has the meaning  assigned to it in Section
1.1.8.

     "Purchased Shares" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1.13.

     "Purchaser" has the meaning assigned to it in the caption.

     "Reasonable  Environmental  Expenses"  has the  meaning  assigned  to it in
Section 11.3.2.1.

     "RCRA" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.15.2.

     "Recalls" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.23.

     "Related  Party" means any director,  executive  officer or holder of 5% or
more  of the  capital  stock  of any of the  Sellers,  or any  Affiliate  of the
foregoing.

     "Related Party Agreements" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.24.

     "Release" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.15.2.

     "Remedial Action" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.15.2.


                                       50
<PAGE>


     "Sellers" has the meaning assigned to it in the caption.

     "Statement of Assets and  Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.2.2.

     "Statement of Operations" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.1.

     "Sub One" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.

      "Sub Two" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.

     "Sub Three" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.

     "Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person (the "Owner") any corporation
or other Person of which securities or other interests having the power to elect
a majority of that corporation's or other Person's board of directors or similar
governing  body,  or  otherwise  having  the power to direct  the  business  and
policies of that  corporation  or other Person  (other than  securities or other
interests  having such power only upon the happening of a  contingency  that has
not  occurred)  are held by the Owner of one or more of its  Subsidiaries;  when
used without reference to a particular  Person,  "Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary
of Seller.

     "Terra" has the meaning assigned to it in the caption.

     "Underground  Storage  Tanks"  has the  meaning  assigned  to it in Section
4.15.2.

     "Wisconsin Assets" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.3.



                           [**SIGNATURES TO FOLLOW**]



                                       51
<PAGE>




      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


LINDBERG CORPORATION                   THERMO TERRATECH INC.


By:  /s/ Stephen S. Penley             By: /s/ Brian D. Holt
Name:    Stephen S. Penley             Name:   Brian D. Holt
Title:   Executive Vice President      Title:  President


                                       METALLURGICAL, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ John A. Wielgosz
                                       Name:    John A. Wielgosz
                                       Title:   President


                                       CAL-DORAN METALLURGICAL SERVICES, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ William Preston
                                       Name:    William Preston
                                       Title:   President


                                       METAL TREATING INC.

                                       By:  /s/ John A. Wielgosz
                                       Name:    John A. Wielgosz
                                       Title:   President




                                       52
<PAGE>



                             GUARANTY AND AGREEMENT

      THERMO ELECTRON  CORPORATION,  a Delaware  corporation and an Affiliate of
each of the  Sellers,  in order to  induce  the  Purchaser  to enter  into  this
Agreement, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the performance and
payment  of each of the  Sellers  of its  obligations  under  Section 11 of this
Agreement,  and agrees that the terms of Sections 6.11 and 12.9 of the Agreement
shall be binding on it to the same extent as if it were a Seller.

                                       THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Brian D. Holt
                                       Name:   Brian D. Holt
                                       Title:  Chief Operating Officer


                                       53
<PAGE>



                                  ASSIGNMENT OF
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

      As  more  specifically  provided  in  Section  3.3 of the  Agreement,  the
Purchaser  hereby conveys,  transfers and assigns,  and Sub One, Sub Two and Sub
Three hereby  assume and agree to perform,  all the  Purchaser's  right,  title,
interests and obligations under this Agreement.


LINDBERG CORPORATION                   C-D HEAT TREATING, INC.


By: /s/ Leo G. Thompson                By:  /s/ Leo G. Thompson
Name:   Leo G. Thompson                Name:    Leo G. Thompson
Title:  President                      Title:   President
                                       Date:    June 2, 2000


                                       MI, INC.


                                       By: /s/ Leo G. Thompson
                                       Name:   Leo G. Thompson
                                       Title:  President
                                       Date:   June 2, 2000


                                       MTI HEAT TREATING, INC.


                                       By: /s/ Leo G. Thompson
                                       Name:   Leo G. Thompson
                                       Title:  President
                                       Date:   June 2, 2000



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