IMO INDUSTRIES INC
8-K, 1998-03-13
GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
Previous: COCA COLA ENTERPRISES INC, 10-K, 1998-03-13
Next: LIFE OF VIRGINIA SEPARATE ACCOUNT II, S-6/A, 1998-03-13




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


                              	FORM 8-K

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



	Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 13, 1998
                                                  (February 27, 1998)


    	                    Imo Industries Inc.                     
	      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




              Delaware                  1-9294	             21-0733751
  (State or other jurisdiction	 (Commission File Number)	 (IRS Employer
         of incorporation)                                 Identification
                                                           Number)


           1009 Lenox Drive, 
           Building Four West, Lawrenceville, NJ	        08648-0550
          (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


  Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (609) 896-7600


                           	Not Applicable 
                    	(Former name or former address, 
                      if changed since last report)


Item 2.  Disposition of Assets.


On February 27, 1998, the Registrant sold all outstanding shares of capital
stock of its Roltra Morse S.p.A. subsidiary ("Roltra Morse"), to Magna
International Inc. ("Magna") for cash, subject to final adjustment (the "Stock
Sale") pursuant to an agreement dated January 30, 1998 (the "Stock Purchase 
Agreement"). The Stock Sale resulted in a cash transfer to the Registrant of
$30.7 million. Additionally, Roltra Morse retained $18.4 million of its 
debt. The Stock Purchase Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to this
Form 8-K and the foregoing is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
exhibit. 

Substantially all of the cash proceeds have been used by the Registrant to pay 
down its domestic senior debt. The transaction, which will be reflected in the 
Registrant's financial statements in the first quarter of 1998, is not expected 
to result in a significant after-tax gain or loss.

The purchase price was determined on the basis of arms length negotiations 
between the Registrant and Magna.  The Board of Directors of the Registrant 
received an opinion from Schroder & Co., Inc. that the financial terms of the 
Stock Sale, taken as a whole, were, as of February 27, 1998, fair from a 
financial standpoint, to the Registrant and its stockholders.

The Registrant's press release announcing the Stock Sale is also filed herewith 
as an exhibit.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Information and Exhibits.


(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

IMO INDUSTRIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 
1997 and pro forma consolidated statements of income for the year ended 
December 31, 1996 and the nine months ended September 30, 1997 give effect 
to the sale of Roltra Morse.  The pro forma consolidated balance sheet is 
presented as if the transaction occurred at September 30, 1997. The pro 
forma consolidated statements of income are presented as if the 
transaction occurred at the beginning of the period presented.

These pro forma statements are not necessarily indicative of the results 
that actually would have occurred if the sale had been in effect as of and 
for the periods presented or that may be achieved in the future.




Imo Industries Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance 
Sheet (Unaudited) 
September 30, 1997 
(Dollars in thousands) 

                                                                  Pro Forma
                        Imo Industries  Roltra Morse              Imo Industries
                        Inc. and        Business     Pro Forma    Inc. and
                        Subsidiaries    Segment(c)   Adjustments  Subsidiaries
 
ASSETS 

Cash                         $  16,807   $ (1,321)  $ (1,579)(a)(b)  $ 13,907 
Trade Accounts Receivable,
 net of allowance of $0         66,859    (19,654)         -           47,205 
Inventories                     81,930    (12,872)         -           69,058 
Deferred income taxes            9,956          -          -            9,956 
Other Current Assets            11,342     (2,920)         -            8,422

  TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS         186,894    (36,767)    (1,579)         148,548 

Property, Plant and Equipment   82,943    (20,555)         -           62,388 
Intangible Assets, 
 Principally Goodwill          247,505    (23,638)      (672)(b)      223,195 
Net Assets of Discontinued 
 Operations                      4,073     27,700    (27,700)(a)        4,073 
Other Assets                    15,552     (3,886)         -           11,666 

 TOTAL ASSETS                 $536,967  $ (57,146)  $(29,951)       $ 449,870 

LIABILITIES AND
 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 

Notes Payable                 $ 19,180  $ (16,428)  $      -        $   2,752 
Trade Accounts Payable          46,493    (23,872)         -           22,621 
Accrued Expenses and Other 
 Current Liabilities            70,208     (5,849)     3,000 (a)       67,359 
Current Portion of 
 Long-term Debt                  5,709     (1,227)      (400)(b)        4,082 

 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES     141,590    (47,376)     2,600           96,814 
Long-term Debt                 219,631     (3,727)   (29,340)(b)      186,564 
Deferred Income Taxes            4,789          -          -            4,789 
Accrued Postretirement Benefits 17,113          -          -           17,113 
Accrued Pension Expense
 and Other Liabilities          54,022     (5,050)         -           48,972 

  TOTAL LIABILITIES            437,145    (56,153)   (26,740)         354,252 

Minority Interest of Imo 
 Subsidiary                        818       (818)         -                - 

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 

Preferred Stock                      -          -          -                - 
Common Stock                    18,801          -          -           18,801 
Additional Paid-in Capital     112,641          -          -          112,641 
Retained Earnings (Deficit)    (14,865)         -     (3,211)(b)      (18,076)
Cumulative Foreign Currency 
 Translation Adjustments           447       (175)         -              272 
Minimum Pension Liability 
 Adjustment                          -          -          -                - 
Unearned Compensation                -          -          -                - 
Treasury Stock                 (18,020)         -          -          (18,020)

  TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS'
    EQUITY (DEFICIT)            99,004       (175)    (3,211)          95,618 

  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND  
   SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   (DEFICIT)                 $ 536,967  $ (57,146) $ (29,951)       $ 449,870 



(a) Reflects the sale of the Roltra Morse subsidiary to Magna International Inc.
    for cash proceeds of $30.7 million, which amount approximated the recorded
    net book value of the business. 

(b) Concurrent with the sale of Roltra Morse, $30 million of the proceeds from 
    the sale were used to paydown a portion of the Registrant's long-term debt.
    An extraordinary charge of $3.2 million is recognized related to the early
    extinguishment of debt. 

(c) This column reflects the restatement of the Roltra Morse subsidiary out of 
    continuing operations and into discontinued operations. 



Imo Industries Inc. and Subsidiaries
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income 
(Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)


                      Pro Forma(b)
                      Imo Industries  Roltra Morse
                      Inc. and        Business      Pro Forma     Pro Forma
                      Subsidiaries    Segment(c)    Adjustments   Consolidated
                      
Net Sales             $  305,092      $  (68,125)    $      -     $  236,967 
Cost of Sales            225,137         (60,361)           -        164,776 
GROSS PROFIT              79,955          (7,764)           -         72,191 
Selling, General and 
 Administrative Expenses  60,804          (5,829)           -         54,975 
Research and Development   5,948          (1,812)           -          4,136
Unusual Items             32,094            (750)           -         31,344 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS   (18,891)            627            -        (18,264)

Interest Expense, Net     19,464          (2,511)      (2,138)(a)     14,815 
Other (Income) Expense      (127)            656            -            529 
Equity in Loss of
 Unconsolidated Companies     44             435            -            479 

LOSS FROM CONTINUING 
 OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME
 TAXES AND MINORITY 
 INTEREST                (38,272)          2,047        2,138        (34,087)

Income taxes               2,188            (624)           -          1,564 
Minority Interest            (29)             29            -              - 

LOSS FROM CONTINUING 
  OPERATIONS           $ (40,431)      $   2,642    $   2,138      $ (35,651)


EARNINGS (LOSS) PER 
  SHARE:

Loss from Continuing
  Operations           $   (2.35)      $    0.15    $    0.12      $  (2.08)

Weighted Average 
 Number of Shares 
 Outstanding              17,126          17,126       17,126        17,126 



(a) Interest savings calculated for the nine months ended September 30, 1997, 
    based on the Registrant's revised debt as a result of the transaction.

(b) Represents Imo Industries Inc. as reported and adjusted for the sale of the 
    Instrumentation Business Segment and adjusted for the following as a result
    of the sale of the Registrant to II Acquisition Corp. on August 28, 1997,
    as if both of these transactions took place on January 1, 1997.
      - Reduced Selling, General and Administrative Expenses by $1.1 million 
        reflecting certain expenses for the first eight months of 1997 which
        were eliminated.
      - Increased Selling, General and Administrative Expenses by $4.1 million 
        reflecting additional goodwill amortization expense for the first eight
        months of 1997 as a result of the net increase to goodwill of $247.1
        million, amortized over 40 years.

 (c) This column reflects the restatement of the Roltra Morse subsidiary out of 
     continuing operations and into discontinued operations.



Imo Industries Inc. and Subsidiaries
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income 
(Unaudited)
For the Year Ended December 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)


                        Pro Forma(a)
                        Imo Industries  Roltra Morse
                        Inc. and        Business       Pro Forma    Pro Forma
                        Subsidiaries    Segment        Adjustments  Consolidated

Net Sales               $   389,734     $  (80,223)     $     -     $  309,511 
Cost of Sales               290,524        (69,935)           -        220,589 
GROSS PROFIT                 99,210        (10,288)           -         88,922 

Selling, General and 
 Administrative Expenses     74,444        (10,047)           -         64,397 
Research and Development      8,113         (3,658)           -          4,455 
Unusual Items                23,683         (6,243)           -         17,440 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS       (7,030)         9,660            -          2,630 

Interest Expense, Net        25,167         (4,130)      (2,850)(b)     18,187 
Other (Income) Expense         (813)         1,168            -            355 
Equity in Loss of 
 Unconsolidated Companies       552           (520)           -             32 

LOSS FROM CONTINUING 
  OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME 
  TAXES, MINORITY INTEREST 
  AND EXTRAORDINARY ITEM    (31,936)        13,142        2,850        (15,944)

Income taxes                 13,385           (722)           -         12,663 
Minority Interest              (295)           295            -              - 

LOSS FROM CONTINUING
 OPERATIONS               $ (45,026)     $  13,569      $ 2,850      $ (28,607)

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER 
  SHARE:

Loss from Continuing 
  Operations              $   (2.63)     $   0.79       $ 0.17       $   (1.67)

Weighted Average Number 
 of Shares Outstanding       17,100        17,100       17,100          17,100 



(a) Represents Imo Industries Inc. as reported and adjusted for the sale of the 
    Instrumentation Business Segment and as a result of the sale of the 
    Registrant to II Acquisition Corp. on August 28, 1997. See attached 
    Footnote A.

(b) Interest savings calculated for the twelve months ended December 31, 1996,
    based on the Registrant's revised debt as a result of the transaction.

(c) This column reflects the restatement of the Roltra Morse subsidiary out of 
    continuing operations and into discontinued operations.



                                  Footnote A


The following exhibit presents the Pro Forma effect of the sale of the 
Instrumentation Business on August 29, 1997 and the sale of the Registrant 
to II Acquisition Corp. on August 28, 1997.


Imo Industries Inc. and Subsidiaries
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income 
(Unaudited)
For the Year Ended December 31, 1996
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)



                      Pro Forma(a)   
                      Imo Industries   Instrumentation
                      Inc. and         Business      Pro Forma      Pro Forma
                      Subsidiaries     Segment       Adjustments    Consolidated


Net Sales             $  468,645       $  (78,911)    $      -      $ 389,734 
Cost of Sales            336,017          (45,493)           -        290,524 
GROSS PROFIT             132,628          (33,418)           -         99,210 

Selling, General and 
 Administrative
 Expenses                 99,639          (25,195)           -         74,444 
Research and Development   9,290           (1,177)           -          8,113 
Unusual Items             24,573             (890)           -         23,683 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS      (874)          (6,156)           -         (7,030)

Interest Expense, Net     31,793             (432)      (6,194)(b)     25,167 
Other (Income) Expense      (444)            (369)           -           (813)
Equity in Loss of 
 Unconsolidated Companies    552                -            -            552 

  LOSS FROM CONTINUING 
   OPERATIONS BEFORE 
   INCOME TAXES, MINORITY   
   INTEREST AND 
   EXTRAORDINARY ITEM    (32,775)          (5,355)       6,194        (31,936)

Income taxes              13,700             (315)           -         13,385 
Minority Interest           (295)               -            -           (295)

LOSS FROM CONTINUING
 OPERATIONS             $(46,180)         $(5,040)     $ 6,194     $  (45,026)

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER 
 SHARE:

Loss from Continuing 
Operations              $ (2.70)          $ (0.29)     $  0.36     $    (2.63)

Weighted Average Number 
 of Shares Outstanding   17,100            17,100       17,100         17,100 



(a) Represents Imo Industries Inc. as reported and adjusted for the 
    following as a result of the  sale of the Registrant to II Acquisition 
    Corp. on August 28, 1997:
      - Reduced Selling, General and Administrative Expenses by $1.7 
        million reflecting certain expenses which were eliminated.
      - Increased Selling, General and Administrative Expenses by $6.1 
        million reflecting additional goodwill amortization expense as a
        result of the net increase to goodwill of $247.1 million, amortized
        over 40 years.
    In connection with this transaction, the Registrant incurred $15.8 
    million of indirect expenses related to the acquisition.
    This amount was not considered in this income statement presentation.

(b) Interest savings calculated for the twelve months ended December 31, 1996,
    based on the Company's revised debt as a result of the transaction.





c)  Exhibits


10.28   Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 30, 1998 between the 
        Registrant and Magna International Inc.


99.1	   Press release dated February 27, 1998 issued by the Registrant.




                               	SIGNATURE


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


                                       IMO INDUSTRIES INC.



Date: March 13, 1998	                  By:   /s/ John A. Young
	                                                John A. Young
	                                                Vice President and Chief 
                                                 Financial Officer










                     STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                             BETWEEN
                     MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
                              AND
                       IMO INDUSTRIES INC.
                     _______________________
 

                  Dated as of January 30, 1998


                   	STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT




		STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of January 30, 1998 
(the "Agreement"), between MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC., a corporation 
existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario (the "Purchas-
er"), and IMO INDUSTRIES INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Sell-
er").

	W I T N E S S E T H:

		WHEREAS, the Seller owns an aggregate of 1,199,957 
shares of the capital stock, Lit. 10,000 (10,000 Italian Lire) par 
value per share ((the "Existing Shares") and together with any 
additional shares of such capital stock owned by the Seller or its 
designee on the Closing Date, the "Shares"), of ROLTRA-MORSE S.p.A., 
a company organized and existing under the laws of Italy, registered 
in the Commercial Register of the Court of Isernia under Reference 
No. 2261 and registered with the Chamber of Commerce of Isernia 
under Reference No. 25773 (the "Company"); and

		WHEREAS, the Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and 
Purchaser desires to purchase from the Seller, the Shares for the 
purchase price and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set 
forth; and

		WHEREAS, certain terms used in this Agreement are 
defined in Section 10.1 hereof;

		NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the 
mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereby 
agree as follows:

	ARTICLE I
	SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES

		I.1  Sale and Purchase of Shares.  Upon the terms and 
subject to the conditions contained herein, on the Closing Date the 
Seller shall sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to the 
Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Seller, the 
Existing Shares and the Bartoli's Shares.

	ARTICLE II
	PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT

		II.1  Purchase Price.  The purchase price for the Shares 
shall be the amount of $50.6 million U.S. dollars (the "Purchase 
Price"), subject to any adjustment required by Article II.

		II.2  Closing Date.  Subject to the satisfaction of the 
conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 hereof (or the waiver 
thereof by the party entitled to waive that condition), the closing 
of the sale and purchase of the Shares provided for in Section 1.1 
hereof (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Baker & 
McKenzie located at Piazza Meda, 3, Milan, Italy on February 27, 
1998, or on such other date as the Seller and the Purchaser may 
agree.  The date on which the Closing shall be held is referred to 
in this Agreement as the "Closing Date".

		II.3  Payment of Purchase Price; Closing.  On the 
Closing Date, the Purchaser shall pay the full amount of the 
Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance with Article II) to such 
accounts as may be specified by the Seller to the Purchaser not 
later than the third business day prior to the Closing Date by wire 
transfer of immediately available funds.  At Closing, the Seller 
shall duly endorse and notarize in favor of the Purchaser and shall 
deliver to the Purchaser or its designee the share certificates 
representing all the Existing Shares and the Bartoli's Shares, free 
and clear of any Liens, as well as the shareholders' book of the 
Company.

		II.4  Net Equity Adjustment to Purchase Price.  The 
Purchase Price payable pursuant to Section 2.1 is based upon the 
estimate that the Total Net Equity to be reflected on the Closing 
Date Financial Statement is 51,758 million (Lit.).  The Purchase 
Price shall be increased or decreased on a dollar for dollar (based 
on the $US/Italian Lira exchange rate as of the Closing Date) basis 
on the Closing Date by the amount, if any, by which Total Net Equity 
reflected on the Estimated Closing Date Financial Statement is more 
or less, as the case may be, than 51,758 million (Lit.).  

		II.5  Debt Adjustment to Purchase Price.  The Purchase 
Price payable pursuant to Section 2.1 is based upon the assumption 
that the Roltra Group Debt is fully discharged prior to the Closing. 
 The Purchase Price shall be decreased on a dollar for dollar (based 
on the $US/Italian Lira exchange rate as of the Closing Date) basis 
on the Closing Date by the amount, if any, by which Roltra Group 
Debt is not discharged (together with any repayment costs in respect 
of such undischarged Roltra Group Debt not otherwise booked in the 
normal course of business).

		II.6  Delivery of Financial Statements.  The Seller 
shall prepare and deliver, or cause to be prepared and delivered, to 
the Purchaser the Estimated Closing Date Financial Statement three 
business days prior to the Closing Date.  As soon as reasonably 
practical after the Closing Date and in any event not later than 45 
days thereafter, the Seller shall prepare and deliver, or cause to 
be prepared and delivered, to the Purchaser the Closing Date 
Financial Statement.  The Purchaser shall cooperate fully with the 
Seller in the preparation of the Closing Date Financial Statement.

		II.7  Payment of Adjustment Amount.  Subject to Sections 
2.8 and 2.9, within 30 days after delivery by the Seller to the Pur-
chaser of the Closing Date Financial Statement, the Seller shall pay 
the Purchaser or the Purchaser shall pay the Seller, as the case may 
be, the difference between (i) the Total Net Equity based on the 
Closing Date Financial Statement and (ii) the Total Net Equity based 
on the Estimated Closing Date Financial Statement (such difference 
herein referred to as the "Adjustment Amount"), plus any such 
further adjustment as may be necessary in respect of Roltra Group 
Debt, in immediately available funds.

		II.8  Objection to Closing Statement.

		(a)  Delivery of Objection Notice.  In the event that 
the Seller or Purchaser (the "Objecting Party") objects in good 
faith to any significant aspect of the Closing Date Financial 
Statement, the Objecting Party shall so advise the other party (the 
"Recipient") by delivery to the Recipient of a written notice (the 
"Objection Notice") within 30 days after the delivery to the Object-
ing Party of the Closing Date Financial Statement.

		The Objection Notice shall set out the reasons details 
of the calculation of such amount.

		(b)  Agreement of Parties.  In the event that the 
parties agree on a resolution of the dispute set out in the 
Objection Notice, the parties shall confirm this resolution in 
writing and shall thereafter be bound by such resolution.

		(c)  Arbitration.  In the event that the parties are 
unable to settle any dispute with respect to the Closing Date 
Financial Settlement within 30 days after the delivery by the 
Objecting Party to the Recipient of the Objection Notice, the 
dispute shall forthwith and, in any event, within 60 days after the 
delivery by the Objecting Party to the Recipient of the Objection 
Notice, be referred to arbitration by a single arbitrator, if the 
parties can agree upon one arbitrator, or otherwise by three arbi-
trators, of whom one shall be appointed by the Purchaser and one 
shall be appointed by the Seller and the third shall be chosen by 
the first two named arbitrators.  In the event that either party 
does not appoint its arbitrator within the permitted period, the 
party that did not appoint its arbitrator shall have an arbitrator 
appointed on its behalf by the other party.  The arbitration and the 
appointment of the arbitrator shall, except to the extent provided 
for in this Section, be conducted in New York in accordance with the 
International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration 
Association.  The Purchaser and the Seller shall cooperate in com-
pleting any arbitration as expeditiously as possible and the 
arbitrators may hire such experts as may appear to be appropriate.  
If a single arbitrator is used, all of the costs and expenses of the 
arbitration shall be borne equally by the parties or in such other 
manner as the arbitrator may determine to be appropriate in light of 
the resolution of the dispute.  If three arbitrators are used the 
costs and expenses of the third arbitrator and of any experts 
engaged by such arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties and 
each Party shall pay the costs and expenses of the arbitrator 
appointed by it.  Arbitration under this Section shall be in 
substitution for and precludes the bringing of any action in any 
court in connection with any objection made by the Objecting Party 
pursuant to this Section.

		(d)  Determination of Arbitrator.  The determination of 
the arbitrator(s) shall be made within 30 days after the date on 
which the dispute was referred to him, her or them, as the case may 
be, and the determination of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and 
binding on all parties.  The Closing Date Financial Statement and 
the Purchase Price shall be adjusted in accordance with the determi-
nation of the arbitrator(s).

		(e)  Payment in Accordance with Determination.  Within 
five days after resolution, by agreement of the parties, of the 
dispute which was the subject of the Objection Notice or, failing 
such resolution, within five days after the final determination of 
the arbitration, the Seller or the Purchaser, as the case may be, 
shall pay by wire transfer, certified cheque or bank draft the 
amount by which the Purchase Price is to be adjusted as a result of 
such resolution or final determination.

		II.9  Interest.  Any Adjustment Amount or other 
adjustments to the Purchase Price payable under Sections 2.7 or 2.8 
shall be paid together with interest thereon calculated monthly from 
the Closing Date to the date of payment, at the rate per annum equal 
to the rate quoted by the Bank of Nova Scotia on the Closing Date as 
the reference rate of interest it uses for determining interest 
rates on United States dollar commercial loans in Canada and 
designated as such bank's U.S. dollar prime rate.

	ARTICLE III
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER

		Except as otherwise set forth in the Schedules hereto, 
the Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

		III.1  Organization.

		Each of the Company and the Seller is a corporation duly 
organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of 
its incorporation as set forth above.  The Company has all requisite 
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its 
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted.  Neither 
the nature of its business nor the location or character of the 
property owned or leased by the Company requires it to be 
registered, licensed or otherwise qualified as a foreign corporation 
in any jurisdiction other than in those jurisdictions where it is 
currently duly registered, licensed or otherwise qualified for such 
purpose and other than jurisdictions where the failure to be so 
registered, licensed or otherwise qualified would not have a Mate-
rial Adverse Effect on the Company.  Seller has made available to 
Purchaser complete and correct copies of the articles of associa-
tion, by-laws and other comparable charter or organizational docu-
ments of the Company and each Subsidiary.  The minute books and, 
where applicable, the books of the statutory auditors, of the Compa-
ny and each Subsidiary made available to the Purchaser include com-
plete and accurate minutes in all material respects of all meetings 
of the directors or shareholders of the Company and each Subsidiary, 
as applicable, held within the last 12 months or resolutions passed 
by the directors or shareholders, on consent or pending, within the 
last 12 months.  To the Seller's Knowledge, the minute books of the 
Company and each Subsidiary are complete and accurate in all 
material respects.  The share certificate book, register of share-
holders, register of transfers and register of directors of the 
Company and each Subsidiary are complete and accurate in all 
material respects.  There are no pending applications with the 
relevant commercial registers.  Where necessary, all such reso-
lutions which have to be registered at the relevant commercial 
registers (or equivalent registers) were so registered.

		III.2  Authorization of Agreement; No Seller Conflicts.

		(a)  The Seller has all requisite power, authority and 
legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and to 
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Seller has all 
requisite corporate power and authority to own the Shares.  The exe-
cution, delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement has 
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of 
the Seller.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and 
delivered by the Seller and, assuming the due authorization, execu-
tion and delivery by the Purchaser, constitutes the legal, valid and 
binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in 
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, 
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws, now or hereafter in ef-
fect, affecting creditors' rights and remedies and to general 
principles of equity.

		(b)  The execution and delivery by the Seller of this 
Agreement does not and the consummation of the transaction contem-
plated hereby, and the compliance by the Seller with the provisions 
hereof will not:

		(i)	conflict with or result in the breach of, 
any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-
laws of the Seller;

		(ii)	conflict with, violate or result in the 
breach or termination of or constitute a default under 
any Material Contract or obligation to which the Seller, 
the Company or any Subsidiary is a Party; or

		(iii)	violate any applicable Law or Order by 
which the Seller is bound,

other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such 
conflicts, violations or defaults that individually or in the 
aggregate would not (x) impair in any material respect the ability 
of the Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (y) 
prevent or impede, in any material respect, the consummation of the 
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

		(c)  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2(c) hereto, no 
permit or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any 
Governmental Body is required on the part of the Seller, the Company 
or any Subsidiary in connection with the execution and delivery of 
this Agreement or the compliance by the Seller with any of the 
provisions hereof.

		(d)  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2(d) hereto, the 
execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement and the 
consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, and the 
compliance by the Seller with the provisions hereof, will not give 
any party to any Contract set forth in Schedule 3.11 hereto the 
right to terminate any such Contract or trigger an obligation on the 
part of the Seller or the Company to dispose of its interest in the 
Company or any Subsidiary or joint venture or any material asset of 
the Company or any Subsidiary.

		III.3  Capitalization; Ownership and Transfer of Shares.

		(a)  The authorized, issued and outstanding capital 
stock of the Company consists of 1,200,000 ordinary shares, Lit. 
10,000 par value per share, all of which are voting shares.  On the 
date hereof, the Seller owns an aggregate of 1,199,957 shares of the 
capital stock of the Company and Mr. Corrado Bartoli owns an 
aggregate of 43 shares of the capital stock of the Company 
("Bartoli's Shares").  All of the issued and outstanding shares of 
capital stock were duly authorized for issuance and are validly 
issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free of any pre-emptive 
rights in respect thereof.

		(b)  The Seller is the record owner of, and has good and 
valid title to, the Existing Shares free and clear of any and all 
Liens, except as set forth in Schedule 3.3(b) hereto.  At the 
Closing, the Seller will be the record owner of, and have good and 
valid title to, the Shares free and clear of any and all Liens.  At 
the Closing, the delivery of the Shares will convey to the Purchaser 
good and valid title to the Shares, free and clear of any and all 
Liens.

		(c)  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(c) hereto, 
there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or 
other agreement of any character to which the Seller or the Company 
is a party requiring, and there are no securities of the Company 
outstanding or agreed to be issued which, upon conversion or ex-
change, would require the issuance, sale or transfer of any addi-
tional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or securi-
ties of the Company or other securities convertible into, 
exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or 
purchase shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the 
Company.  Neither the Seller nor the Company is a party to any 
shareholders agreement, voting trust or other voting agreement with 
respect to any of the shares of capital stock or, except as set 
forth on Schedule 3.3(c) hereto, to any agreement relating to the 
issuance, sale, redemption, transfer or other disposition of the 
capital stock of the Company.

		III.4  Subsidiaries and Equity Investments.  

		(a)  Schedule 3.4(a) hereto sets forth the name of each 
Subsidiary and, with respect to each Subsidiary, the jurisdiction in 
which it is incorporated or organized, the number of shares of its 
capital stock or other equity interests duly issued and outstanding, 
the names of all stockholders or other equity owners and the number 
of shares of stock owned by each stockholder or the amount of equity 
owned by each equity owner.  Schedule 3.4(b) hereto also sets forth 
the name of each Person (other than a Subsidiary) of which the 
Company holds, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or equity 
security, together with the amount of capital stock or equity 
security so owned and the name of each other record owner thereof.  
The outstanding shares of capital stock or equity interests of each 
Subsidiary are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and 
all such shares or other equity interests shown as being owned by 
Company are owned by it free and clear of any and all Liens, except 
as set forth in Schedules 3.4(a) and (b) hereto.  There is no 
existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or agreement of 
any character to which any Subsidiary or the Company is a party re-
quiring, and there are no convertible securities of any Subsidiary 
outstanding or agreed to be issued which, upon conversion or 
exchange, would require, the issuance, sale or transfer of any addi-
tional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or 
securities of any Subsidiary or other securities convertible into 
shares of capital stock or other equity interests or securities of 
any Subsidiary or other securities convertible into, exchangeable 
for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of 
capital stock or other equity securities of any Subsidiary.  Each 
Subsidiary is a duly organized and validly existing corporation or 
other entity under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. 
 Each Subsidiary has all requisite corporate power and authority to 
own its properties and carry on its business as presently conducted. 
 Except, as set forth in Schedule 3.4(a) hereto, neither the Seller 
nor the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any shareholders 
agreement, voting trust or any other voting agreement with respect 
to any of the shares of capital stock or other equity interest or to 
any agreement relating to the issuance, sale, redemption, transfer 
or other disposition of the capital stock of any Subsidiary.

		(b)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.4(b), neither the 
Company nor any Subsidiary is a partner, beneficiary, trustee, co-
tenant, joint venturer or otherwise a participant in any 
partnership, trust, joint venture, co-tenancy or other similar 
jointly owned business undertaking, and neither the Company nor any 
Subsidiary has any other investment interests in any business owned 
or controlled by any third party which are material to the Company 
or any Subsidiary.

		III.5  No Company Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.

		(a)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(a) hereto, the 
execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement, the 
consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, and the 
compliance by the Seller with the provisions hereof will not (i) 
conflict with, or result in the breach of, any provision of the 
articles of incorporation or comparable organizational documents of 
the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with, violate, result 
in the breach or termination of, or constitute a default under, any 
Material Contract or obligation to which the Company or any 
Subsidiary is a party or by which the assets of the Company or any 
Subsidiary may be bound, (iii) violate any applicable Law or Order 
by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound, or (iv) result in 
the creation of any Lien upon the properties or assets of the 
Company or any Subsidiary; except, in the case of clauses (ii), 
(iii) and (iv), for such violations, breaches or defaults as would, 
individually or in the aggregate, have no Material Adverse Effect.

		(b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(b) hereto, no 
Permit from or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any 
Governmental Body is, to the Seller's Knowledge, required on the 
part of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the 
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the compliance by the 
Seller with any of the provisions hereof or thereof.

		III.6  Financial Statements.  The Seller has delivered 
to the Purchaser copies of (i) the audited consolidated balance 
sheets of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1994, 
1995 and 1996 and the related audited consolidated statements of 
profit and loss and of cash flows for the years then ended, in each 
case presented in Italian Lire (collectively, the "Italian Audited 
Financials"), and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of 
the Company and the Subsidiaries as at October 31, 1997 and the re-
lated consolidated statements of profit and loss and cash flows for 
the ten-month period then ended, in each case presented in Italian 
Lire (the "Italian Interim Financials").  The Italian Audited 
Financials were prepared in accordance with applicable provisions of 
Italian Law and generally accepted accounting standards in Italy, 
consistently applied, and fairly present the consolidated financial 
position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof 
and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for 
the periods then ended.  The Italian Interim Financials fairly 
present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial 
position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof 
and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for 
the period then ended and have been prepared to the extent 
practicable, consistent with the past policies and practices of the 
Seller used in the preparation of its Italian Audited Financials, 
except that the Italian Interim Financials are unaudited, contain no 
footnotes and are subject to normal year-end adjustments.  There are 
no material unreflected loss contingencies or contingent liabilities 
that are not accrued or disclosed in the Italian Audited Financials 
that were required to be accrued or disclosed pursuant to applicable 
provisions of Italian Law or generally accepted accounting standards 
in Italy.  The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company 
and the Subsidiaries as at October 31, 1997 is referred to herein as 
the "Balance Sheet" and October 31, 1997 is referred to herein as 
the "Balance Sheet Date".

		III.7  Absence of Certain Developments.  

		(a)  Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement 
or as set forth in Schedule 3.7(a) hereto, since the Balance Sheet 
Date:

			(i)	there has not been any declaration, setting 
aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution in respect of 
any shares of capital stock of the Company or any repurchase, 
redemption or other acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of 
any outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of, or 
other ownership interest in, the Company or any Subsidiary resulting 
in a payment or distribution to a Person other than the Company or a 
Subsidiary;

			(ii)	other than for normal payments and increases 
in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, 
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has granted any material 
increase in the compensation, commissions or bonus opportunities 
payable to any directors, officers, employees, consultants or 
agents;

			(iii)	there has not been any change by the 
Company or any Subsidiary in accounting or tax reporting principles, 
methods or policies;

			(iv) 	neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has 
conducted its business other than in the ordinary course of 
business, consistent with past practice;

			(v)	neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has 
mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any other Lien any of its assets, 
or acquired any assets or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, 
leased or otherwise disposed of any assets of the Company or any 
Subsidiary, except for assets acquired or sold, assigned, trans-
ferred, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary 
course of business, consistent with past practice;

			(vi) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has 
instituted, settled or been named as a defendant in any material 
Legal Proceeding; 

			(vii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary 
has, except in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past 
practice, incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money, modified the 
terms of any indebtedness for borrowed money existing at the Balance 
Sheet Date, or issued any guarantee or otherwise become liable for 
the indebtedness for borrowed money of any other Person;

			(viii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary 
has issued or sold any warrants, bonds, debentures or other 
securities of the Company or any Subsidiary or issued, granted or 
delivered any right, option or other commitment for the issuance of 
any such securities or reduced or increased the stated capital of 
any class of shares; and

			(ix) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has 
authorized, agreed or otherwise become committed to do any of the 
foregoing.

		(b)  Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement 
or as set forth in Schedule 3.7(b) hereto, since December 31, 1997 
(if Italian audited financials are available for such period on the 
Closing Date) or August 31, 1997 (if such Italian audited financials 
are not available on the Closing Date) there has not been any 
Material Adverse Change nor has there occurred any event which is 
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

		(c)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.7(c) hereto, to 
the Seller's Knowledge, since January 1, 1997, there has not been 
any Material Adverse Change and, since August 31, 1997, there has 
not been any Material Adverse Effect.

		III.8  Taxes.

		(a)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.8 hereto, (A) all 
material Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the 
Company or any Subsidiary have been timely filed with the 
appropriate taxing or social security authorities in all juris-
dictions in which such Tax Returns are required to be filed (after 
giving effect to any valid extensions of time in which to make such 
filings), and, to the Seller's Knowledge, all such Tax Returns were 
properly prepared, true, complete and correct in all material 
respects; (B) all amounts shown on such Tax Returns (including 
interest and penalties) as due from the Company or any Subsidiary 
have been fully and timely paid; and (C) neither the Company nor any 
Subsidiary has executed or filed with any taxing authority any 
agreement, waiver or other document or arrangement extending or 
having the effect of extending the period for assessment or 
collection of Taxes (including any applicable statute of limita-
tion), and no power of attorney with respect to any Tax Matter is 
currently in force.

		(b)  Each of the Company and any Subsidiary has duly and 
timely paid all material Taxes, including all installments on 
account of Taxes for the current year, that are due and payable by 
it and the Company or the relevant Subsidiary has established 
reserves that are reflected on the Balance Sheet (and that will be 
reflected in the Closing Date Financial Statement) that are adequate 
for the payment by the Company and all Subsidiaries of all Taxes 
that are not yet due and payable (and that will not be due and 
payable by the Closing Date) and that relate to periods ending on or 
prior to the Closing Date.

		(c)  There are no suits, actions, proceedings, 
investigations, challenges, disputes, audits or claims now pending 
or, to the Seller's Knowledge, threatened, against the Company or 
any Subsidiary in respect of any Taxes and there are no matters 
under discussion, audit or appeal with any taxing or other Govern-
mental Body relating to Taxes which, if decided against the Company 
or any Subsidiary, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

		III.9  Real Property.

		(a)  Schedule 3.9(a) hereto sets forth a complete list 
of (i) all real property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary 
(individually, an "Owned Property" and collectively, the "Owned 
Properties"), and (ii) all real property leased by the Company or 
any Subsidiary as lessee or lessor (each such lease being, individu-
ally, a "Real Property Lease" and the real properties specified in 
such leases, together with the Owned Properties, being referred to 
herein individually as a "Company Property").  The Company and the 
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all Owned Property, 
free and clear of all Liens of any nature whatsoever except (A) 
Liens set forth in Schedule 3.9(a) hereto and (B) Permitted 
Encumbrances.

		(b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.9(b) hereto, the 
Company Properties constitute all interests in real property 
currently owned, occupied, used or leased in connection with the 
business of the Company and the Subsidiaries and which are necessary 
for the continued operation of the business of the Company and the 
Subsidiaries as the business is currently conducted.  All buildings, 
fixtures and improvements owned or leased by the Company or a 
Subsidiary, which are material to the conduct of the business of the 
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, are in good operating 
condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear).

		(c)  The Company and its Subsidiaries have a valid 
leasehold interest under each of the Real Property Leases.  Except 
as set forth in Schedule 3.9(c) hereto, each of the Company and its 
Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with the terms of 
all Real Property Leases to which it is a party and under which it 
is in occupancy, and all Real Property Leases are in full force and 
effect.

		(d)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.9(d), all of the 
material assets of the Company and each Subsidiary are located on a 
Company Property.

		(e)  The Company has such rights of entry and exit to 
and from each Company Property as are reasonably necessary to carry 
on its business upon the Company Property substantially in the 
manner in which such business is currently carried on.

		(f)  To the Seller's Knowledge, no expropriation or 
similar proceeding is pending or threatened against any Company 
Property.

		(g)  There are no matters affecting the right, title and 
interest of the Company or any Subsidiary in and to the Company 
Property which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability 
of the Company or any Subsidiary to carry on its business upon the 
Company Property substantially in the manner in which it is 
currently being carried on upon the Company Property.

		III.10  Intellectual Property.

		(a)  Schedule 3.10 sets forth a list of all registered 
trademarks and service marks, industrial designs, registered 
copyrights, patents and patent applications owned by or validly 
licensed to the Company or a Subsidiary which are material to the 
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (the 
"Intellectual Property").  Schedule 3.10 also sets forth, for each 
such patent, the number of the patent, the inventors, the title and 
issue date and the country in which such patent has been issued, 
licenses issued in respect of such patents, and for each trademark, 
the trademark class of goods covered and the trademark registration 
date for each country in which a trademark has been registered.  The 
Company and its Subsidiaries have acted in a commercially 
responsible manner and with due care in regard to the maintenance 
and protection of the Intellectual Property.

		(b)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.10, the Company 
or the applicable Subsidiary has the sole and exclusive right to use 
and is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest 
in and to the Intellectual Property (with no breaks in the chain of 
title).  The Intellectual Property which is not owned by the Company 
or a Subsidiary is being used by the Company or such Subsidiary only 
with the consent of or license from the rightful owner thereof and 
all such licenses are in full force and effect.

		(c)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.10, to the 
Seller's Knowledge, there is no claim of adverse ownership, 
invalidity or other opposition to or conflict with any Intellectual 
Property nor of any pending or threatened suit, proceedings, claim, 
demand, action or investigation of any nature or kind against the 
Company or any Subsidiary relating to the Intellectual Property.

		(d)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.10, to the 
Seller's Knowledge, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, any 
activity in which the Company or any Subsidiary is engaged or any 
product which the Company or any Subsidiary manufactures, uses or 
sells or any process, method, packaging, advertising, or material 
that the Company or any Subsidiary employs in the manufacture, 
marketing or sale of any such product, or the use of any of the 
Intellectual Property breaches, violates infringes or interferes 
with any significant intellectual property rights of any third party 
or requires significant payment for the use of any patent, trade-
name, trade secret, trademark, copyright or other intellectual 
property right or technology of another.

		III.11  Material Contracts.  Schedule 3.11 hereto sets 
forth all Contracts (other than Real Property Leases listed in 
Schedule 3.9(a) and licenses with respect to Intellectual Property 
listed in Schedule 3.10) to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a 
party or by which it is bound which is a: (i) financing or security 
agreement (including factoring or installment sale agreements); (ii) 
agreement with the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller or any 
current officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary; (iii) 
agreement which involves the expenditure or receipt of more than 
$250,000 in the aggregate or $75,000 annually or requires 
performance by any party more than one year from the date hereof; 
(iv) lease pertaining to personal property providing for monthly 
rental payments in excess of $75,000 per annum; or (v) Contract 
which contains any exclusivity or non-competition clauses or lan-
guage having a substantially similar effect (collectively, the 
"Material Contracts").  There have been made available to the Pur-
chaser true and complete copies of all the Material Contracts.  
Except as provided in the Material Contracts, neither the Company 
nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound or affected by any 
commitment, agreement or document containing any covenant expressly 
limiting the freedom of the Company or such Subsidiary to compete in 
any line of business, transfer or move any of its assets or 
operations or which materially or adversely affects the business 
practices, operations or conditions of the Company or such Sub-
sidiary to compete in any line of business, transfer or move any of 
its assets or operations or which materially or adversely affects 
the business practices, operations or conditions of the Company or 
such Subsidiary or the continued operation of its business after the 
Closing on substantially the same basis as its business is presently 
carried on.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.11 hereto, all of the 
Material Contracts are in full force and effect and are the legal, 
valid and binding obligation of the Company and/or one or more of 
the Subsidiaries, enforceable against them in accordance with their 
respective terms and all payments due under the Material Contracts 
have been duly and punctually paid.  Except as set forth on Schedule 
3.11 hereto, neither the Company or any Subsidiary is in default in 
any material respect under any Material Contract nor, to the 
Seller's Knowledge, is any other party to any Material Contract in 
default thereunder in any material respect.

		III.12  Employee Benefits.

		(a)  Other than contributions to mandatory statutory 
plans, the Company or any Subsidiary does not contribute and is not 
obligated to contribute to any pension plan or other employee bene-
fit arrangements.  All contributions required to be made by the 
Company or any Subsidiary to a mandatory statutory plan have been 
paid or fully accrued on the Balance Sheet.

		(b)  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party, 
either directly or by operation of law, to any collective agreement, 
letters of understanding, letters of intent or other written 
communication with any trade union or association which may qualify 
as a trade union.

		(c)  To the Seller's Knowledge, there are no outstanding 
labor tribunal proceedings of any kind, including any proceedings 
which could result in certification of a trade union as bargaining 
agent for employees or dependent contractors of the Company or any 
of the Subsidiaries, and there have not been any such proceedings 
within the last two years.

		(d)  Other than national industrial actions not specifi-
cally directed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or as 
disclosed on Schedule 3.12(d) hereto, there are, and since January 
1, 1997, there have been, no (i) strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, 
lockouts or arbitrations or (ii) material grievances or other 
material labor disputes pending or, to the Seller's Knowledge, 
threatened against or involving the employees of the Company or of 
any of its Subsidiaries.

		(e)  Schedule 3.12(e) provides for the complete list of 
all agents who/which render services in favor of Company or any of 
the Subsidiaries (the "Agents").  All of the agency agreements 
pertaining to the Agents are in full force and effect.  The Company 
or any of the Subsidiaries has duly paid all the contributions due 
to the relevant agencies as well as any other amount due to the 
Agents.  None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party 
to any agency agreement except as indicated under Schedule 3.12(e).

		(f)  Any and all consulting agreements entered into 
between the Company or the Subsidiaries and any of its consultants, 
advisors and accountants comply with all applicable laws.

		III.13  Litigation.  Schedule 3.13 hereto lists each 
Legal Proceeding or investigation or claim asserted and pending 
against the Company or any Subsidiary, other than those which would, 
individually or in the aggregate, not have a Material Adverse 
Effect.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.13, there is no Legal 
Proceeding or investigation or claim asserted or pending against the 
Company which would: (i) enjoin, restrict or prohibit the transfer 
of all or any part of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement; 
or (ii) prevent the Seller from fulfilling all of its obligations 
set forth in this Agreement or arising from this Agreement.  Neither 
the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any Order other than 
those which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a 
Material Adverse Effect.

		III.14  Compliance with Laws; Permits.  The Company and 
each Subsidiary is in compliance with all Laws applicable to it or 
to the conduct of its business or operations or the use of its 
properties (including any leased properties) and assets, except for 
such non-compliances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, 
have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company and each Subsidiary has 
all Permits which are required for the Company or such Subsidiary to 
operate its business, except for those the absence of which would 
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse 
Effect and all such Permits are in full force and effect.

		III.15  Environmental Matters.

		(a)  The Seller has made available to the Purchaser all 
written environmental audits, studies, reports, analyses, and 
results of investigations in its possession that have been performed 
by or on behalf of the Company since January 1, 1994 with respect to 
any currently owned property of the Company or any Subsidiary.

		(b)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.15, all 
operations of the Company and each Subsidiary conducted on Company 
Property and the Company Property itself while occupied by the 
Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, and, to the Seller's 
Knowledge, while occupied by any predecessors in title, have been 
and are now, in compliance in all material respects with all 
Environmental Laws.

		(c)  None of the Company or any Subsidiary has been 
prosecuted for or convicted of any offence under Environmental Laws, 
nor has the Company or any Subsidiary been found liable in any 
proceeding to pay any material fine or judgment to any person as a 
result of any release or threatened release of any hazardous 
substance into the environment or the breach of any Environmental 
Law and, to the Seller's Knowledge, there is no basis for any such 
proceedings.

		III.16  Insurance.  Schedule 3.16 hereto sets forth a 
complete and accurate list of all policies of insurance of any kind 
or nature covering the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their 
respective employees, properties or assets, including policies of 
life, disability, fire, theft, workers compensation, employee fi-
delity and other casualty and liability insurance.  All such 
policies are in full force and effect and, neither the Company nor 
any Subsidiary is in default of any provision thereof, except for 
such defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a 
Material Adverse Effect.

		III.17  Related Party Transactions.  

		(a)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17(a) hereto, 
neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates has outstanding any 
indebtedness for borrowed money to the Company or any Subsidiary.

		(b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17(b) hereto, 
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has outstanding any 
obligation to, indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantees from 
the Seller or any of its Affiliates or any shareholders, employees, 
officers or directors of any of the foregoing.

		III.18  Banks.  Schedule 3.18 hereto contains a complete 
and correct list of the names and locations of all banks in which 
the Company or any Subsidiary has accounts or safe deposit boxes and 
the names of all persons authorized to draw thereon or to have 
access thereto.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.18 hereto, no 
Person holds a power of attorney to act on behalf of the Company or 
any Subsidiary regarding any banking transactions.

		III.19  Financial Advisors.  With the exception of 
Schroder & Co. Inc. which has been retained by the Seller as its fi-
nancial advisor, all negotiations relating to this Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated hereby have been carried on without the 
intervention of any person acting on behalf of the Sellers, the 
Company or any Subsidiary in such manner as to give rise to any 
valid claim against the Purchaser or its Affiliates, the Company or 
any Subsidiary for any broker's or finder's fee or similar compen-
sation in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby.

		III.20  Absence of Guarantees.  Neither the Company nor 
any Subsidiary has given or agreed to give, or is a party to or 
bound by, any guarantee or indemnity in respect of indebtedness, or 
other obligations, of any Person (other than the Company or any 
Subsidiary), or any other commitment by which the Company or any 
Subsidiary is, or is contingently, responsible for such indebtedness 
or other obligations.

		III.21  Warranty.

		(a)  Except for a condition or warranty implied by law 
or contained in its standard terms of sale or otherwise given in the 
ordinary course of business, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary 
has given, within the last 12 months, a condition or warranty or in-
demnity or made, within the last 12 months, a representation in re-
spect of goods or services supplied or agreed to be supplied by it 
to an original equipment manufacturer or other customer, or accepted 
an obligation which could give rise to a contractual liability after 
the goods or services have been supplied by it.

		(b)  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, since 
January 1, 1997, recalled, or intends to recall, any goods 
manufactured or supplied by such Company or Subsidiary, as the case 
may be, to a customer, and to the Seller's Knowledge, there are no 
facts which exist that may result in any recall or proposed recall.

		(c)  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received 
within the last 12 months any written notification of any claim, or 
any oral notification of any material claim (in each case whether 
actual or contingent, pending or threatened), by a customer in any 
jurisdiction in respect of any goods manufactured or supplied by the 
Company or any Subsidiary to such customer thereof alleging that 
such goods are defective or fail to comply in any material respect 
with their terms of sale (except to the extent that either (i) such 
claims are covered by a valid and binding product liability 
insurance maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary, and to the 
extent the Purchaser can enjoy the benefit of such product liability 
insurance in respect of any such claim or (ii) such claim was not 
material and has been resolved to the reasonable satisfaction of the 
customer (both as to substance and promptness)).

		III.22  Government Grants.  Schedule 3.22 contains a 
complete list of all contracts or agreements relating to grants or 
other forms of assistance including, without limitation, loans with 
interest at below market rates, received by the Company from any 
government, governmental department, agency, commission, board, 
bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.  This Agreement and 
the consummation of the transactions contemplate by this Agreement 
will have no impact on any of the aforesaid governmental grants, 
governmental subsidies or governmental loans.

		III.23  Directors and Officers.  Schedule 3.23 sets 
forth a true and complete list of the names and titles of all of the 
directors and officers of the Company and each Subsidiary, and of 
all personnel employed or engaged by the Company or any Subsidiary 
whose annual rate of remuneration exceeds US$100,000.

		III.24  Negotiation Expenses.  Except as set forth in 
Schedule 3.24, on or before the Closing Date, none of the Company or 
any Subsidiary shall have paid or incurred any liability to pay any 
expenses relating to the negotiation, completion or implementation 
of this Agreement, including the fees and disbursements of counsel 
to the Seller.

		III.25  Schedules.  To the Seller's Knowledge, the 
schedules and exhibits attached hereto are true and correct in all 
material respects.

	ARTICLE IV
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

		The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the 
Seller that:

		IV.1  Organization and Good Standing.  The Purchaser is 
a corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws 
of the jurisdiction of its organization.

		IV.2  Authorization of Agreement.  The Purchaser has 
full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this 
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  
The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this 
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action 
on behalf of the Purchaser.  This Agreement has been duly and 
validly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and (assuming the 
due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party 
thereto), constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the 
Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its 
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, 
moratorium and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from 
time to time in effect and to general equitable principles.

		IV.3  Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.

		(a)  The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this 
Agreement, the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby 
and the compliance by the Purchaser with the provisions hereof will 
not (i) conflict with, or result in the breach of, any provision of 
the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other constitutional 
documents of the Purchaser, (ii) conflict with, violate, result in 
the breach of, or constitute a default under any material contract 
to which the Purchaser is a party or (iii) violate any Law or Order 
by which the Purchaser is bound.

		(b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3(b) hereto, no 
Permit or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any 
Governmental Body is required on the part of the Purchaser in 
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the 
compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof.

		IV.4  Litigation.  There are no Legal Proceedings pend-
ing or, to the Purchaser's Knowledge, threatened that are reasonably 
likely to prohibit the Purchaser from consummating or to restrain 
the ability of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contem-
plated hereby.

		IV.5  Investment Intention.  The Purchaser is acquiring 
the Shares for its own account, for investment purposes only and not 
with a view to the distribution (as such term is used in Section 
2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities 
Act") thereof.  The Purchaser understands that the Shares have not 
been registered under the Securities Act and cannot be sold unless 
subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption 
from such registration is available.

		IV.6  Financial Advisors.  All negotiations relating to 
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been 
carried on without the intervention of any person acting on behalf 
of the Purchaser in such manner as to give rise to any valid claim 
against the Seller or any of its Affiliates for any broker's or 
finder's fee or similar compensation in connection with the transac-
tions contemplated hereby.

	ARTICLE V
	COVENANTS

		V.1  Access to Information.  Prior to the Closing Date, 
the Purchaser shall be entitled, through its officers, employees and 
representatives (including its legal advisors and accountants), to 
make such investigation of the properties, businesses and operations 
of the Company and the Subsidiaries and such examination of the 
books, records and financial condition of the Company and the 
Subsidiaries as the Purchaser reasonably requests and to make 
extracts and copies of such books and records, to the extent permit-
ted by applicable law.  Any such investigation and examination shall 
be conducted during regular business hours and under reasonable cir-
cumstances, and the Seller shall cooperate, and shall cause the 
Company and the Subsidiaries to cooperate fully therein.  In order 
that the Purchaser may have full opportunity to make such physical, 
business, accounting and legal review, examination or investigation 
as it may reasonably request of the affairs of the Company and the 
Subsidiaries, the Seller shall use reasonable efforts to cause the 
officers, employees, consultants, agents, accountants, attorneys and 
other representatives of the Company and the Subsidiaries to 
cooperate fully with the Purchaser in connection with such review, 
examination and investigation.  All information obtained through 
such access shall remain subject to the terms of the Confidentiality 
Agreement.

		V.2  Conduct of the Business Pending the Closing.

		(a)  Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this 
Agreement or with the prior written consent of the Purchaser, 
through the Closing Date the Seller shall cause the Company and the 
Subsidiaries to conduct the respective businesses of the Company and 
the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course, consistent with past 
practice; provided, however, that the Seller shall (i) discharge, in 
whole or in part, any loans by the Seller or its Affiliates to the 
Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) terminate any keep well letters 
and similar instruments from the Seller and its Affiliates in favour 
of the Company or its Affiliates.

		(b)  Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this 
Agreement or with the prior written consent of the Purchaser, 
through the Closing Date the Seller shall cause the Company and the 
Subsidiaries not to:

		(i)	other than as set forth on Schedule 5.2(b) 
hereto with respect to permitted dividends by the 
Company, declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or 
other distribution in respect of the capital stock of 
the Company or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire 
any of their outstanding shares of capital stock, other 
securities or other ownership interests;

		(ii)	transfer, issue, sell or dispose of any 
shares of capital stock or other securities or material 
assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or 
grant any option, call or other right to purchase or 
otherwise acquire shares of the capital stock or other 
securities or material assets of the Company or any Sub-
sidiary;

		(iii)	amend their respective certificates of in-
corporation or by-laws or similar constitutional docu-
ments; or

		(iv)	agree to do anything prohibited by this 
Section 5.2 or anything which would make any of the rep-
resentations and warranties of the Seller in this Agree-
ment untrue or incorrect as of any time through and in-
cluding the Closing Date.

		V.3   Approvals and Consents; Cooperation.  Upon the 
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, 
each of the parties agrees to use all reasonable efforts to take, or 
cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and 
to assist and cooperate with the other party in doing, all things 
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in 
the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions con-
templated by this Agreement, including (i) the obtaining of all 
necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals 
from any Governmental Body and the making of all necessary 
registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental 
Bodies) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary 
to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or 
proceeding by, any Governmental Body, including any antimonopoly or 
similar Government Body in any jurisdiction where the Company or its 
Subsidiaries carries on business (including Poland), (ii) the ob-
taining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third 
parties, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceed-
ings, whether judicial or administrative, investigating or challeng-
ing this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement, including seeking to have any stay 
or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Govern-
mental Body vacated or reversed and (iv) the execution and delivery 
of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the 
transactions contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes 
of, this Agreement.  If, prior to the Closing Date, either party is 
informed by any Governmental Body that the transactions contemplated 
by this Agreement are, in whole or in part, in violation of any 
applicable law, rule or regulation, then the parties agree to 
negotiate in good faith a resolution of the issue.

		V.4  Bartoli's Shares. The Seller shall cause Bartoli's 
Shares to be transferred to the Seller or its designee on or before 
the Closing Date.

		V.5  No Solicitation. The Seller will not, and will not 
cause or permit the Company or any of the Company's directors, 
officers, employees, representatives or agents (collectively, the 
"Representatives") to, directly or indirectly (i) negotiate, under-
take, authorize, propose or enter into, any transaction involving a 
business combination, purchase or disposition of any significant 
amount of the assets of or capital stock or other equity interest in 
the Company or any Subsidiary other than as contemplated by this 
Agreement (any such other transaction being "Acquisition Transac-
tion"), (ii) solicit or initiate negotiations or submissions of pro-
posals or offers in respect of an Acquisition Transaction, (iii) 
furnish or cause to be furnished any information in connection with 
an Acquisition Transaction, or (iv) otherwise cooperate in any way 
with any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek any of the 
foregoing.  The Seller will inform the Purchaser following the 
receipt by the Seller, the Company or any of the Representatives of 
any proposal or inquiry in respect of any Acquisition Transaction.

		V.6  Preservation of Records. The Seller and the Pur-
chaser agree that each of them shall preserve and keep the records 
held by it relating to the business of the Company and the 
Subsidiaries for a period of two (2) years from the Closing Date (or 
such longer period as may be required by any Governmental Body or 
Legal Proceeding or applicable Law) and shall make such records and 
personnel available to the other as may be reasonably required by 
such party in connection with, among other things, any insurance 
claim by or Legal Proceeding involving or governmental investigation 
of the Seller or the Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates 
or in order to enable the Seller or the Purchaser to comply with its 
obligations under this Agreement.  In the event the Seller or the 
Purchaser wishes to destroy such records after the applicable record 
retention period, such party shall first give ninety (90) days prior 
written notice to the other and such other party shall have the 
right at its option and expense, upon prior written notice given to 
such party within that ninety (90) day period, to take possession of 
the records within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the date 
of such notice.

		V.7  Publicity.  Neither the Seller nor the Purchaser 
shall issue any press release or public announcement concerning this 
Agreement or the transaction contemplated hereby without obtaining 
the prior written approval of the other party hereto, which approval 
will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, 
that if, in the sole judgement of the disclosing party, disclosure 
is required by applicable Law or by the rules of any stock exchange 
on which the Purchaser, if it is the disclosing party, or the Sell-
er, if it is the disclosing party, lists securities, the party 
intending to make such disclosure may make the required disclosure 
so long as it shall use reasonable efforts to consult with the other 
party with respect to the text thereof.

		V.8  Use of Names.  No interest in or right to use the 
name "IMO", "Roltra-Morse" or "Morse", any name containing "Morse" 
or any variant of the foregoing (collectively, the "Morse Logos") is 
being transferred hereunder.  The Purchaser agrees that it will, as 
promptly as practicable but in any event within nine months 
following the Closing Date, cease to use the "Morse Logos" and 
remove or obliterate all such logos from all signs, purchase orders, 
invoices, sales orders, packaging stock, labels, letterheads, 
shipping documents and other materials used by it.  Notwithstanding 
anything herein  to the contrary, the Purchaser may continue to use 
existing supplies or marketing materials until such supplies are 
exhausted.  The Purchaser will use its best efforts to not misap-
propriate, misrepresent or otherwise infringe, abuse or diminish the 
value of said names.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this 
Section 5.8 shall limit or restrict the Purchaser's interest in or 
right to use the name "Roltra" after the Closing Date.

		V.9  Audited Financial Statements.  Each of the 
Purchaser and the Seller shall use their reasonable efforts to have 
the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and the 
Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997 and the related audited 
consolidated statements of profit and loss and of cash flows for the 
year then ended, presented in Italian Lire, prepared by the Auditor 
prior to the Closing Date.

		V.10  Financial Statements of the Seller.  Prior to the 
Closing Date, the Seller shall provide to the Purchaser the most 
recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Seller and, 
for a period of two years from the Closing Date, shall provide 
annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Seller 
as promptly as possible after such statements have been prepared by 
the Seller.


	ARTICLE VI
	INDEMNIFICATION

		VI.1  Indemnification by the Seller. 

		(a)  The Seller shall indemnify and fully defend, save 
and hold the Purchaser harmless for any claims, losses, damages, 
liabilities, costs, expenses, amounts paid in settlement and 
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (a "Loss") suffered by 
the Purchaser as a result or arising out of any material inaccuracy 
in any representation of the Seller or the breach of any warranty or 
covenant of the Seller made in this Agreement; provided, however, 
that the Seller shall have no obligation to make any payment under 
this Section 6.1 except to the extent that the aggregate amount of 
the Losses hereunder exceed $1,000,000.

		(b)  Notwithstanding Section 6.1(a), except as otherwise 
provided in this Section 6.1(b), in the event that there is a final 
ruling, decision or award in the Kiekert Arbitration in favor of 
Kiekert that requires, in whole or in part, the Company or any 
Subsidiary to pay Kiekert royalties in connection with the prod-
uction, manufacture or distribution of latches (an "Adverse Ruling") 
during any period up to and including the Closing Date (the "Pre-
Closing Period") and during any periods commencing after the Closing 
Date (the "Post-Closing Period"), then the Seller shall indemnify 
the Purchaser for only 90% of the amount of any such royalties 
attributable to the Pre-Closing Period that are actually paid by the 
Purchaser to Kiekert.  In the event of an Adverse Ruling, the Seller 
shall have the right to require the Purchaser to appeal such ruling 
and the Seller shall have the right, but not the obligation, to par-
ticipate at its own expense in such appeal and shall in any event 
cooperate with and assist the Purchaser to the extent reasonably 
possible.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 
6.1(b) or contained in the Adverse Ruling, in the event of an Ad-
verse Ruling, the Purchaser and the Seller agree that any amounts 
payable under this Section 6.1(b) shall be fairly apportioned 
between the Pre-Closing and the Post-Closing Periods based on a 
methodology to be agreed to by the Purchaser and the Seller within 
30 days of the Adverse Ruling.  In the event that the Purchaser and 
the Seller cannot agree on such a methodology within such period, 
the parties agree to settle the dispute in the manner set out in 
Section 2.8.  The Purchaser agrees not to settle or compromise the 
Kiekert Arbitration without the written consent of the Seller, which 
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed after such 
time as the Purchaser and the Seller have reached agreement on such 
apportionment.  

		(c)  In no event shall the payments required of the 
Seller under Section 6.1(a) exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the 
Purchase Price in the aggregate.

		VI.2  Procedures for Indemnification by the Seller.  If 
the Purchaser asserts that the Seller has become obligated to the 
Purchaser pursuant to Section 6.1(a), or if any suit, action, 
investigation, claim or proceeding is begun, made or instituted as a 
result of which the Seller may become obligated to the Purchaser 
hereunder, the Purchaser shall give prompt written notice to the 
Seller specifying in reasonable detail the facts upon which the 
Purchaser's claim is based.  The Seller will have the right, at any 
time and at its election, to assume the defense of such suit, 
action, investigation, claim or proceeding.  If the Seller assumes 
such defense, the Seller shall, with the prior consent of the 
Purchaser, have the right to make any commercially reasonable 
compromise or settlement thereof.  The Purchaser shall have the 
right, but not the obligation, to participate at its own expense in 
the defense of any suit, action, investigation, claim or proceeding, 
the defense of which the Seller shall have assumed and shall in any 
event cooperate with and assist the Seller to the extent reasonably 
possible.  If the Seller elects not to assume the defense of any 
such suit, action, investigation, claim or proceeding, the Purchaser 
shall have the obligation to do so at the Seller's expense, shall 
conduct the defense in a commercially reasonable manner and shall, 
with the prior consent of the Seller, have the right to make any 
commercially reasonable compromise or settlement thereof. 

		VI.3  Sole and Exclusive Remedy.  Except for the 
Purchase Price adjustment provided in Article II, Article VI sets 
forth the sole and exclusive remedy available to the Purchaser for 
any Losses suffered by the Purchaser, the Company or a Subsidiary as 
a result or arising out of any material inaccuracy in any repre-
sentation of the Seller or the breach of any warranty or covenant of 
the Seller made in this Agreement and with respect to the Kiekert 
Arbitration.

	ARTICLE VII
	CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

		VII.1  Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Purchaser. 
 The obligation of the Purchaser to consummate the transaction 
contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment on the 
Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of 
which may be waived by the Purchaser in whole or in part to the 
extent permitted by applicable law):

		(a)  all representations and warranties of the Seller 
contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects 
at and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if 
made at and as of the Closing Date, and the Purchaser shall have re-
ceived a certificate of the Seller to such effect;

		(b)  the Seller shall have performed and complied in all 
material respects with all obligations and covenants required by 
this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to 
the Closing Date and the Purchaser shall have received a certificate 
of the Seller to such effect;

		(c)  there shall not be in effect any Order by a 
Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining 
or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transaction contem-
plated hereby;

		(d)  all material consents, the granting of which is 
required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated 
hereby and the absence of which would cause a Material Adverse 
Effect, shall have been obtained, other than any governmental 
consents or approvals required by any regulatory, antimonopoly or 
similar authority (including in Italy and Poland); 

		(e)  the Purchaser shall have received the written 
resignations of the statutory auditor and each director and 
supervisory board member of the Company and the Subsidiaries other 
than those individuals who the Purchaser has identified to the 
Seller not later than 15 days prior to the Closing Date, effective 
as of the Closing Date; the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting of the 
Company and of each of the Subsidiaries shall have completed all 
corporate formalities in order to appoint the new Board of Directors 
and the new Board of Auditors of the Company and any of the 
Subsidiaries, as designated by the Purchaser, effective as of the 
Closing Date;

		(f)  the Purchaser shall have received an opinion of 
counsel to the Seller dated the Closing Date that addresses, among 
other matters, authorization, execution, enforceability, capitaliza-
tion, and governmental consents and approvals required by the 
Seller;

		(g)  Messrs. Rizzi and Beica shall have agreed, as of 
the Closing Date, to continue their current employment with the 
Company on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser;

		(h)  except as may be agreed by the Purchaser acting 
reasonably and excluding the intercompany debt discharged pursuant 
to Section 5.2(a) and any Roltra Group Debt discharged by the Seller 
prior to Closing in its sole discretion, as of the Closing, all 
other consolidated assets and liabilities of the Company and the 
Subsidiaries set out in the Disclosed Balance Sheet remaining 
substantially unchanged, except for changes incurred in the ordinary 
course of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries prior to 
Closing consistent with the historical business practices of the 
Company and the Subsidiaries; 


		(i)  the Seller shall have provided the Purchaser a 
letter of credit, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Purchas-
er, which guarantees the financial obligations of the Seller arising 
under Articles II or VI of this Agreement in the event that the 
Seller becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to satisfy any such 
financial obligations to the Purchaser.  Such letter of credit shall 
be for a duration of 24 months from the Closing Date in an amount 
equal to (i) for the period commencing from the Closing Date until 
12 months from the Closing Date, 15% of the Purchase Price and (ii) 
for the period commencing 12 months from the Closing Date until 24 
months from the Closing Date, 7.5% of the Purchase Price; provided, 
however, that the amount of such letter of credit shall not be 
reduced to an amount less than the amount of any claim outstanding 
made by the Purchaser against the Seller and the duration of the 
letter of credit shall be extended until such claim is settled by 
the parties; 

		(j)  any amendment to the schedules to this Agreement as 
contemplated by Section 10.7 shall not include any materially 
adverse development.

		VII.2  Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the 
Seller.  The obligations of the Seller to consummate the transaction 
contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, prior 
to or on the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions (any 
or all of which may be waived by the Seller in whole or in part to 
the extent permitted by applicable law):

		(a)  all representations and warranties of the Purchaser 
contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects 
at and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if 
made at and as of the Closing Date, and the Seller shall have 
received a certificate of the Purchaser to such effect;

		(b)  the Purchaser shall have performed and complied in 
all material respects with all obligations and covenants required by 
this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Purchaser on or 
prior to the Closing Date and the Seller shall have received a 
certificate of the Purchaser to such effect;

		(c)  there shall not be in effect any Order by a 
Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining 
or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transaction 
contemplated hereby; and

		(d)  all material consents, the granting of which is 
required for the consummation of the transaction contemplated 
hereby, shall have been obtained.
	ARTICLE VIII
	DOCUMENTS TO BE DELIVERED

		VIII.1  Documents to be Delivered by the Seller.  At the 
Closing, the Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the 
Purchaser the following:

		(a)  the endorsed share certificates representing the 
Shares, and the Bartoli's Shares, free and clear from any Liens, 
duly recording the transfer in favor of the Purchaser, together with 
the shareholders' book of the Company;

		(b)  copies of all corporate resolutions or appropriate 
corporate powers of the Seller approving the entering into of this 
Agreement and the completion of all transactions contemplated 
hereunder;

		(c)  all shareholders' books and all share certificates 
of the Subsidiaries;

		(d)  the certificates referred to in Section 7.1(a) and 
(b) hereof;

		(e)  copies of all consents referred to in Section 
7.1(e) hereof;

		(f)  written resignations of each of the directors and 
statutory auditors of the Company, referred to in Section 7.1(d) 
hereof; 

		(g)  letter of credit referred to in Section 7.1(h);

		(h)  an opinion of counsel to the Seller referred to in 
Section 7.1(e); and

		(i)  such other documents as the Purchaser shall 
reasonably request.

		VIII.2  Documents to be Delivered by the Purchaser.  At 
the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Seller the 
following:

		(a)  confirmation of a successful wire transfer to the 
account designated by the Seller;

		(b)  the certificates referred to in Section 7.2(a) and 
(b) hereof; and

		(c)  such other documents as the Seller shall reasonably 
request.

	ARTICLE IX
	TERMINATION

		IX.1  Termination of Agreement.  This Agreement may be 
terminated prior to the Closing as follows:

		(a)  At the election of the Seller or the Purchaser on 
or after March 31, 1998, if the Closing shall not have occurred by 
the close of business on such date, provided that the terminating 
party is not in breach of any of its obligations or its representa-
tions or warranties in this Agreement;

		(b)  by mutual written consent of the Seller and the 
Purchaser; or

		(c)  by the Seller or the Purchaser if there shall be in 
effect a final nonappealable Order of a Governmental Body of 
competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise 
prohibiting the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, 
it being agreed that the parties hereto shall promptly appeal any 
adverse determination which is not nonappealable (and pursue such 
appeal with reasonable diligence), unless Seller is advised by legal 
counsel that such appeal has no reasonable probability of success.

		IX.2  Procedure Upon Termination.  In the event of 
termination by the Purchaser or the Seller, or both, pursuant to 
Section 9.1 hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given 
to the other party, and this Agreement shall terminate, and the 
purchase of the Shares hereunder shall be abandoned, without further 
action by the Purchaser or the Seller.  If this Agreement is 
terminated as provided herein each party shall redeliver all 
documents, work papers and other material of the other party 
relating to the transaction contemplated hereby, whether obtained 
before or after the execution hereof, to the party furnishing the 
same.

		IX.3  Effect of Termination.  In the event that this 
Agreement is terminated as provided herein, then each of the parties 
shall be relieved of its duties and obligations arising under this 
Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination 
shall be without liability to the Purchaser or the Seller; provided, 
however, that the obligations of the parties set forth in Sections 
10.2 and 10.4 hereof shall survive any such termination and shall be 
enforceable hereunder; and provided further, that nothing in this 
Section 9.3 shall relieve the Purchaser or the Seller of any lia-
bility for a breach of any of its obligations under, or its 
representations or warranties made in, this Agreement.
	ARTICLE X
	MISCELLANEOUS

		X.1  Certain Definitions.

	For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the 
meanings specified in this Section 10.1:

	"Adverse Ruling" shall have  the meaning ascribed to such term 
in Section 6.1(b) hereof.

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

	"Auditor" means Ernst & Young LLP.

	"Balance Sheet" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term 
in Section 3.6 hereof.

	"Balance Sheet Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such 
term in Section 3.6 hereof.

	"Claims" means any claim, demand, action, cause of action, 
damage, loss, costs, liability or expense, including, without 
limitation, reasonable professional fees and all costs incurred in 
investigating or pursuing any of the foregoing or any proceeding 
relating to any of the foregoing.

	"Closing Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in 
Section 2.2 hereof.

	"Closing Date Financial Statement" means the statement of 
consolidated assets and consolidated liabilities of the Company as 
at the Closing Date, showing all of the assets of the Company and 
the current liabilities, and shall also include a statement of the 
Total Net Equity as at the Closing Date, together with an unquali-
fied opinion of the Auditor to the effect that the Closing Date 
Financial Statement has been prepared in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principals consistently applied with those used 
in the Italian Audited Financials and presents fairly in all 
material respects the consolidated assets and liabilities of the 
Company and the Subsidiaries as at the Closing Date.

	"Company Property" shall have the meaning ascribed to such 
term in Section 3.9(a) hereof.

	"Confidentiality Agreement"  means the agreement dated as of 
September 30, 1997 between the Purchaser and the Seller.

	"Contracts" means all contracts, licenses, leases, agreements, 
commitments, entitlements and engagements and includes all 
quotations, orders or tenders for contracts which remain open for 
acceptance any manufacturers' or suppliers' warranty, guarantee or 
commitment (express or implied).

	"Disclosed Balance Sheet" means the consolidated historical 
balance sheet for the Company and the Subsidiaries contained in the 
confidential memorandum prepared by Schroder & Co. Inc. on behalf of 
Seller delivered to the Purchaser under cover of a letter dated No-
vember 24, 1997, as amended by the December 12, 1997 letter from 
Schroder & Co. Inc. to the prospective purchasers.

	"Environment" means the environment or natural environment as 
defined in any Environmental Law and includes, without limitation, 
air, surface, water, ground water, land surface, soil, subsurface 
strata, sewer system and the environment in the workplace.

	"Environmental Approvals" means all permits, certificates, 
licenses, authorizations, consents, instructions, registrations, 
directions or approvals issued or required by Governmental Body 
pursuant to Environmental Laws with respect to the operation of the 
Company or any Subsidiary or their respective assets.

	"Environmental Laws" means all Laws relating in full or in 
part to the protection of the Environment, product liability, and 
employee and public health and safety, and includes, without 
limitation, those Environmental Laws relating to the storage, 
generation, use, handling, manufacture, processing, labelling, 
advertising, sale, display, transportation, treatment, release and 
disposal of hazardous substances.

	"Estimated Closing Date Financial Statement" means an 
estimated statement of consolidated assets and consolidated 
liabilities of the Company prepared by the Company which estimates 
such amounts as at the Closing Date and shall also include an 
estimated statement of the Total Net Equity as at the Closing Date.

	"Governmental Body" means any government or governmental or 
regulatory body thereof, or political subdivision thereof, whether 
federal, state, local or foreign, or any agency, instrumentality or 
authority thereof, or any court or arbitrator (public or private).

	"Italian Audited Financials" has the meaning set forth in 
Section 3.6 hereof.

	"Italian Interim Financials" has the meaning set forth in 
Section 3.6 hereof.

	"Kiekert Arbitration" means the arbitration between the 
Company and Kiekert referenced in Schedule 3.13.

	"Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign law 
(including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation 
or other requirement of a Governmental Body.

	"Legal Proceeding" means any judicial, administrative or 
arbitral action, suit, complaint, grievance or proceeding (public or 
private), including appeals and applications for review.

	"Lien" mens any lien, security interest, claim, lease, charge, 
option, right of first refusal, easement, servitude, transfer 
restriction under any shareholder or similar agreement, encumbrance 
or other similar restriction or limitation.

	"Material Adverse Change" means any material adverse change in 
the assets, financial condition, results of operations or business 
of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  For the 
avoidance of doubt, a Material Adverse Change shall not include any 
adverse changes or developments with respect to the Kiekert 
Arbitration or any other threats or claims by Kiekert with respect 
to the Company or its Subsidiaries, business, or operations.

	"Material Adverse Effect" means an adverse effect in the 
assets, financial condition, results of operations or business of 
the Company and the Subsidiaries in excess of US$250,000, except 
with respect to Section 3.7(c), in which case such amount shall be 
US$500,000.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Material Adverse Effect 
shall not include any adverse changes or developments with respect 
to the Kiekert Arbitration or any other threats or claims by Kiekert 
with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries, business, or opera-
tions.

	"Material Contracts" shall have the meaning ascribed to such 
terms in Section 3.11.

	"Order" means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, 
writ or arbitration award.

	"Owned Properties" shall have the meaning ascribed to such 
term in Section 3.9.

	"Permit" means an approval, authorization, consent, license, 
order, permit or certificate of a Governmental Body.

	"Permitted Encumbrances" means (i) defects, exceptions, 
restrictions, easements, rights of way and encumbrances disclosed in 
polices of title insurance which have been made available to 
Purchaser; (ii) statutory liens for current taxes, assessments or 
other governmental charges not yet delinquent or the amount or 
validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate 
proceedings, provided an appropriate reserve is established 
therefor; (iii) mechanics', carriers', workers', repairers' and 
similar Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business 
that are not material to the property so encumbered or the business, 
operations and financial condition of the Company; (iv) zoning, 
entitlement and other land use regulations; and (v) such other 
imperfections in title, charges, easements, restrictions and encum-
brances which do not materially detract from the value of or 
interfere with the present proposed use of any Company Property 
subject thereto or affected thereby.

	"Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability 
company, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock 
company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Body or 
other entity.

	"Purchaser's Knowledge" means the knowledge of the executive 
officers of the Purchaser.

	"Real Property Lease" shall have the meaning ascribed to such 
term in Section 3.9.

	"Roltra Group Debt" means the consolidated debt of the Company 
and the Subsidiaries being the sum of: (i) the current portion of 
the long term debt; (ii) long term debt; (iii) notes payable to the 
bank; and (iv) any other bank debt or debt of a similar nature 
(excluding intercompany advances or loans), the whole as determined 
in accordance with Italian generally accepted accounting principles; 
minus cash and cash equivalents on the Closing Date.

	"Seller's Knowledge" means the knowledge of the executive 
officers of the Seller and the senior officers of the Company.

	"Subsidiary" means any Person of which a majority of the 
outstanding voting securities are owned, directly or indirectly, by 
the Company and including those Persons listed in Schedules 3.4(a) 
and (b).

	"Taxes" means (i) all foreign or domestic taxes, charges, 
fees, imposts, levies or other assessments, including all net 
income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value 
added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, 
license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, 
unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and 
estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and charges of 
any kind whatsoever and (ii) all interest, penalties, fines, 
additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing 
authority in connection with any item described in clause (i) and 
(ii) and any transferee liability in respect of such item.

	"Tax Return" means all returns, declarations, reports, 
estimates, information returns and statements required to be filed 
in respect of any Taxes.

	"Total Net Equity" means total assets less total liabilities 
excluding all third party indebtedness, intercompany accounts and 
minority interests, calculated on a consolidated basis for the 
Company and its Subsidiaries.  For illustrative purposes, attached 
as Exhibit A is a calculation of Total Net Equity as at October 31, 
1997.

		X.2  Confidentiality.  The Purchaser shall continue to 
be bound by the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement, except 
as otherwise agreed by the parties hereto.

		X.3  Survival.  The representations and warranties of 
the Seller set forth in Article III of this Agreement shall survive 
the Closing for a period terminating twenty four (24) months after 
the Closing Date, except for the representations set forth in 
Sections 3.2(a) (Authorization of Agreement) and Section 3.3 
(Capitalization; Ownership and Transfer of Shares) which shall 
survive the Closing for a period terminating ten years after the 
Closing Date.  Except with respect to matters of actual knowledge on 
the part of the Purchaser, no investigations made by or on behalf of 
the Purchaser at any time shall have the effect of waiving, 
diminishing the scope of or otherwise affecting any representation 
or warranty made by the Seller in or pursuant to this Agreement.

		X.4  Expenses.

		(a)   Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, 
the Seller and the Purchaser shall each bear its own expenses in-
curred in connection with the negotiation and execution of this 
Agreement and each other agreement, document and instrument contem-
plated by this Agreement and the consummation of the transaction 
contemplated hereby.

		(b)  The Purchase Price is exclusive of all sales or use 
tax, value added taxes, registration duties or taxes, transfer 
taxes, stamp duty and stamp duty reserve taxes incurred in 
connection with the sale, document or excise taxes, recordation or 
notary fees, and any other fees incident to perfection and registra-
tion of the transfer of ownership of the Shares or which are 
otherwise payable (collectively, the "Transfer Taxes").  All 
Transfer Taxes arising out of the transaction contemplated in this 
Agreement shall be born by the Purchaser and Purchaser shall file 
all necessary documentation with respect to such Transfer Taxes.
		
		X.5  Further Assurances.  The Seller and the Purchaser 
each agrees to execute and deliver such other documents or 
agreements and to take such other action as may be reasonably 
necessary or desirable for the implementation of this Agreement and 
the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby.  

		X.6  Submission to Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of 
Process.

		(a)  The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the 
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for 
the Southern District of New York and, if that court does not for 
any reason have or take jurisdiction of the matter, a state court 
located within the State of New York in respect of any dispute 
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transaction 
contemplated hereby and each party hereby irrevocably agrees that 
all claims in respect of such dispute or any suit, action or 
proceeding related thereto may be heard and determined in any such 
court.  The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent 
permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may  now or 
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in 
such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance 
of such dispute.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment 
in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit 
on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

		(b)  Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to 
process being served on it in any suit, action or proceeding by the 
mailing of a copy thereof in accordance with the provisions of 
Section 10.11.

		X.7  Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers.  This 
Agreement (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), and the 
Confidentiality Agreement (collectively, the "Transaction 
Documents") represent the entire understanding and agreement between 
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and can 
be amended, supplemented or changed, and any provision hereof can be 
waived, only by written instrument making specific reference to such 
Transaction Documents signed by the party against whom enforcement 
of any such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver is sought. 
 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Seller may amend or update the 
schedules and exhibits to this Agreement from the date hereof until 
the Closing Date to reflect events subsequent to the date hereof, 
and to make the relevant representations and warranties true as of 
the Closing Date, provided, that such amendments do not result in a 
Material Adverse Effect.

		X.8  Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this 
Agreement to a Section or Schedule, such reference shall be to a 
Section of, or a Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise 
indicated.  All terms used herein in a singular shall be deemed to 
include the plural, and vice versa, as the context may require.  The 
table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for 
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning 
or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words "include", 
"includes", or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be 
deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation".

		X.9  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by 
and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, 
without giving effect to conflict of law principles.

		X.10  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in 
one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and 
the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more 
counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered 
to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not 
sign the same counterpart.

		X.11  Notices.  Any notice or other communication 
hereunder may be given to a party at its address set forth below or 
to such other address as such party shall given notice of pursuant 
hereto.  Any notice shall be in writing and sent by registered or 
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, by 
facsimile, by personal delivery or reputable overnight courier.  
Notices shall be deemed to have been given in case of personal 
delivery when receipt has been confirmed; in the case of delivery to 
a reputable overnight courier, on the next day, in the case of mail; 
on the fifth business day following deposit in the mail; and in the 
case of facsimile, when telecopied with confirmation of 
transmission.

	If to the Seller, to:

	Imo Industries Inc.
	9211 Forest Hill Avenue, Suite 109
	Richmond, Virginia  23235
	Telephone:	(804) 560-4070
	Facsimile:	(804) 560-4076
	Attention:	John Young
			Vice President

	With a copy to:

	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
	One Canada Square
	Canary Wharf
	London E14 5DS
	England

	Telephone:	44 171 519 7000
	Facsimile:	44 171 519 7070
	Attention:	Scott V. Simpson

	If to the Purchaser, to:
	
	337 Magna Drive
	Aurora OW LHG 7KI
	Canada

	Telephone:	(905) 725-7099
	Facsimile:	(905) 726-2585
	Attention:	President


		X.12  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement 
is invalid or unenforceable, the balance of this Agreement shall 
remain in effect.

		X.13  Binding Effect; Assignment.  This Agreement shall 
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their 
respective successors and permitted assigns.  No assignment of this 
Agreement or of any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by 
either the Seller or the Purchaser (by operation of law or 
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party 
hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent 
shall be void; provided, however, that the Purchaser may assign this 
Agreement and any or all rights or obligations hereunder to any 
Affiliate of the Purchaser; and provided, further, that no such 
assignment by the Purchaser shall relieve it of any of its liabil-
ities hereunder.  Upon any such permitted assignment, the references 
in this Agreement to the Purchaser shall also apply to any such 
assignee unless the context otherwise requires.

		X.14  No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Nothing in this 
Agreement shall create or be deemed to create any third party 
beneficiary rights in any person or entity not a party to this 
Agreement.

		X.15  Currency.  Unless otherwise noted, all dollar 
values related to this Agreement are deemed to be in the United 
States currency and all payments shall be made in United States 
dollars.  For greater certainty, (Lit.) shall denote the currency of 
Italy and (US$) shall denote United States dollars.  For purposes of 
this Agreement, unless otherwise noted, all amounts referred to in 
this Agreement, claims brought under this Agreement or arising out 
of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and any debt of 
the Company or its Subsidiaries that are not in US$ shall be con-
verted into US$ based on the average of the high and low spot rates 
quoted in the Wall Street Journal on one business day prior to the 
Closing Date.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agree-
ment to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly 
authorized, as of the date first written above.




			MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.


			By:___________________________
					Name:
			     Title:



			IMO INDUSTRIES INC.


			By:_____________________________
					Name:
				       Title:

EXHIBIT A






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			                 Contact:	  John Young
								                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                                    (804) 560-4070


Imo Industries Announces Completion of Sale
 of Roltra Morse Subsidiary
To Magna International


Lawrenceville, NJ, February 27, 1998 - Imo Industries Inc. (NYSE: IMD) 
announced today that it had completed its previously announced 
transaction to sell its Roltra Morse S.p.A. subsidiary to Magna 
International Inc. (TSE: MG.A, MG.B;  ME: MG.A;  NYSE: MGA). 

Roltra Morse is a manufacturer of automotive components based in Turin, 
Italy.  Roltra Morse's products include latches, window regulators, 
cable systems and gear shift mechanisms.  Manufacturing operations are 
located in Altare, Pisa and Pozilli, Italy and Sosnowiec, Poland.  
Roltra Morse also maintains joint venture operations in Belo Horizonte, 
Brazil and Istanbul, Turkey.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  Schroder & Co. advised Imo 
on the transaction.

Imo Industries is a leading manufacturer of pumps, power transmission 
components and remote control systems.





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