BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC
8-K, 1999-06-23
ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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

                                  June 8, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                             Bell Microproducts Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                   California
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

          005-43709                                     94-3057566
- -----------------------------               ------------------------------------
    (Commission File No.)                   (IRS Employer Identification Number)

                              1941 Ringwood Avenue
                         San Jose, California 95131-1721
                                 (408) 451-9400
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

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


<PAGE>

Item 2. Acquisition and disposition of assets.

On June 8, 1999 the Registrant  completed the sale of its Quadrus  Manufacturing
division ("Quadrus") to Pemstar Inc.  ("Pemstar").  Pemstar is a privately owned
company,  with  headquarters  in  Rochester,  MN. The sale was completed for $34
million  in cash,  which was paid by  Pemstar  at the  closing  date.  Any final
adjustments to the purchase price will be computed once a closing  Balance Sheet
is agreed to between the parties.

Substantially all the assets and liabilities of Quadrus were sold. Pemstar,  its
officers and its directors are unrelated to the Registrant,  its officers or its
directors.

Item 7. Financial Statements, pro forma financial information and exhibits.

         (a) Not applicable.

         (b) See schedule  attached  which  presents,  for the last three fiscal
years of the Registrant,  a reconciliation of the condensed  Statement of Income
as  previously  reported,  adjustments  on the sale of  Quadrus,  and pro  forma
financial   information  of  the  remaining  continuing  business.   Information
regarding a pro forma  condensed  balance sheet and interim pro forma  condensed
income  statements were included in the Registrant's  Form 10-Q filed on May 15,
1999.

         (c) Exhibits:

             2. Asset Purchase  Agreement between Bell  Microproducts,  Inc. and
                Pemstar, Inc., including Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement.

             Certain exhibits and schedules to the Agreement are listed on pages
             (iv) and (v)  thereto  and the  Registrant  agrees to furnish  them
             supplementally  to the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  upon
             request.



<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                            Bell Microproducts Inc.

                                            By:____________________________

                                                  Sr. Vice President

                                                  Dated: June 23, 1999





                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                    between

                            BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC.

                                      and

                                  PEMSTAR INC.

                                 April 30, 1999




<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................i


Page ..........................................................................i


INDEX OF EXHIBITS ............................................................iv


INDEX OF SCHEDULES.............................................................v


RECITALS ......................................................................1


ARTICLE I SALE AND PURCHASE OF ASSETS..........................................1

         1.1      Sale and Purchase of Assets..................................1
         1.2      Assets to be Transferred.....................................1
         1.3      Assumption of Liabilities....................................3
         1.4      All Other Liabilities Not Assumed............................4

ARTICLE II PURCHASE PRICE; CLOSING.............................................4

         2.1      Purchase Price...............................................4
         2.2      Closing......................................................4
         2.3      Transaction Taxes............................................5
         2.4      Allocation of Consideration..................................5
         2.5      Post-Closing Adjustment......................................5

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER.......................7

         3.1      Organization of the Seller...................................7
         3.2      Authority....................................................7
         3.3      Division Financial Statements................................8
         3.4      Absence of Changes...........................................8
         3.5      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities..........................10
         3.6      Intellectual Property Rights................................10
         3.7      Affiliate Transactions......................................10
         3.8      Customers and Suppliers.....................................11
         3.9      Legal and Other Compliance..................................11
         3.10     Restrictions on Business Activities.........................12
         3.11     Title to Properties; Absence of Liens;
                   Condition of Equipment ....................................12
         3.12     Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.......................13
         3.13     Powers of Attorney..........................................14


                                       i

<PAGE>

         3.14     Litigation..................................................14
         3.15     Environmental Matters.......................................14
         3.16     Employment Matters..........................................16
         3.17     Insolvency..................................................17
         3.18     Consents....................................................17
         3.19     Books and Records...........................................17
         3.20     Product Warranties..........................................18
         3.21     Inventory...................................................18
         3.22     Accounts Receivable.........................................18
         3.23     Tax Returns and Audits......................................18
         3.24     Employee Benefit Plans......................................18

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER............................20

         4.1      Organization of Buyer.......................................20
         4.2      Authority...................................................20
         4.3      No Conflicts................................................20
         4.4      Litigation..................................................20

ARTICLE V CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE...................................21

         5.1      Conduct of Business.........................................21

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS..............................................22

         6.1      Approval....................................................22
         6.2      Access to Information.......................................22
         6.3      Access to Records After Closing.............................22
         6.4      Confidentiality.............................................22
         6.5      Public Disclosure...........................................23
         6.6      Contractual Consents........................................23
         6.7      Legal Conditions to Acquisition.............................23
         6.8      Additional Documents and Further Assurances.................23
         6.9      Notification of Certain Matters.............................24
         6.10     Payment of Trade and Other Creditors........................24
         6.11     No Solicitation.............................................24
         6.12     Non-Competition.............................................25
         6.13     Non-Solicitation of Employees...............................25
         6.14     Continuing Customer Relationship............................26
         6.15     Employment Matters..........................................26
         6.16     Treatment of Other Matters..................................27
         6.17     Profit Sharing..............................................29

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS TO CLOSE................................30

         7.1      Conditions to Obligations of Each Party.....................30

                                       ii


<PAGE>

         7.2      Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Seller..........30
         7.3      Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer...........31

ARTICLE VIII SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION......32

         8.1      Indemnification.............................................32
         8.2      Arbitration.................................................35

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER..................................36

         9.1      Termination.................................................36
         9.2      Effect of Termination.......................................37
         9.3      Amendment...................................................37
         9.4      Extension; Waiver...........................................37

ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS..................................................38

         10.1     Notices.....................................................38
         10.2     Interpretation..............................................39
         10.3     Expenses....................................................39
         10.4     Counterparts................................................39
         10.5     Entire Agreement; Assignment................................39
         10.6     Severability................................................39
         10.7     Sole Remedy.................................................39
         10.8     Governing Law; Arbitration..................................40
         10.9     Rules of Construction.......................................40
         10.10    No Third Party Beneficiaries................................40
         10.11    Specific Performance........................................40
         10.12    Publicity...................................................41
         10.13    Assignment by Buyer.........................................41
         10.14    Change in Control of Buyer..................................41

BILL OF SALE AND GENERAL ASSIGNMENT............................................?

EXHIBIT C .....................................................................?

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF THE BUSINESS....................?

EXHIBIT F .....................................................................?

                                      iii

<PAGE>

                                INDEX OF EXHIBITS

     Exhibit      Description
     -------      -----------
     Exhibit A    December 31, 1998 Balance Sheet
     Exhibit B    Bill of Sale and General Assignment
     Exhibit C    Unaudited consolidated statements of income of the Business
                     for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
     Exhibit D    Unaudited consolidated statements of income of the Business
                     for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
     Exhibit E    Division Financial Statements
     Exhibit F    March 31, 1999 Balance Sheet
     Exhibit G    Form of Opinion of Buyer Counsel
     Exhibit H    Form of Opinion of Seller Counsel



                                       iv


<PAGE>

                                       INDEX OF SCHEDULES

         Schedule              Description
         --------              -----------

         1.2(a)                Inventory

         1.2(b)                Accounts Receivable

         1.2(c)                Lease Agreements

         1.2(d)                Contracts

                                  (i)  List  of  outstanding   written  customer
                                       orders,   purchase   orders   and   other
                                       customer contracts

                                  (ii) List of customer names

         1.2(e)                Equipment and Tangible Assets

         1.2(g)                Prepaid Expenses

         1.2(i)                Telephone Numbers

         1.3(b)                Accounts Payable, Goods in Transit, Placed Orders

         2.4                   Purchase Price Allocation

         3                     Disclosure Schedule

                               3.3(b)       No Liability, Indebtedness, Etc.

                               3.3(c)       Division Financial Statements

                               3.4(c)       Absence of Changes: Agreements

                               3.4(f)          "    "     "     Discontinued
                                                                Relationships

                               3.4(h)          "    "     "     Employment

                               3.4(i)          "    "     "     Key Employees

                               3.4(k)          "    "     "     Capital
                                                                Commitments

                               3.5          Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities

                               3.6.         Intellectual Property Rights

                               3.7.         Affiliate Transactions

                               3.8          Customers and Suppliers

                               3.9(a)       Compliance  with  Applicable   Laws,
                                            Regulations, etc.

                               3.9(b)       Non-Environmental           Permits;
                                            Assignability

                               3.9(c)       Gifts of Money,  Other  Property  or
                                            Similar Benefits

                               3.11(a)      Title  to  Properties:   Absence  of
                                            Liens

                               3.11(d)      Title to Properties: Assets

                               3.11(e)      Title  to  Properties:  Custody  and
                                            Control

                               3.12(ii)     Agreements: Asset Acquisitions

                               3.12(iii)    Agreements: Indemnification

                               3.12(iv)     Agreements: Purchase Orders

                               3.12(vi)     Agreements: Losses

                               3.12(vii)    Agreements: Capital Expenditures

                               3.12(viii)   Agreements: Payments Received

                               3.12(x)      Agreements: Credit Agreements


                                       v
<PAGE>

                               3.12(xiii)   Agreements: Distribution Agreements

                               3.14         Litigation

                               3.15         Environmental

                               3.16(c)      Employment: No Liability

                               3.16(d)      Employee Matters

                               3.18         Consents

                               3.22         Accounts Receivable

         5.1                   Conduct of Business Exceptions

         6.16(b)(i)(1)         Excess Inventory With MRP ($2,287,863)

         6.16(b)(i)(2)         Excess Inventory Without MRP ($2,433,579)

         6.16(d)               Excess Bone-Pile Inventory ($825,121)

         6.16(e)(i)            Amounts  Paid  in  Prior  Months  Not  Billed  to
                               Customers

         6.16(e)(ii)           Prior Months Billings Without Cost

         6.16(f)               90-Day A/R


                                       vi


<PAGE>

                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         This ASSET PURCHASE  AGREEMENT  (this  "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of  April  30,  1999  between  Bell  Microproducts  Inc.,  a  California
corporation  (the  "Seller"),  and PEMSTAR  INC., a Minnesota  corporation  (the
"Buyer").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS,  Seller maintains a custom contract  manufacturing division of
its corporation known as the Quadrus division (the "Business");

         WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement, the Buyer (directly or through one
of its wholly owned  subsidiaries)  wishes to purchase from the Seller,  and the
Seller wishes to sell to the Buyer, all the Acquired Assets (as defined herein);

         WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement, the Buyer (directly or through one
of its wholly  owned  subsidiaries)  wishes to assume from the  Seller,  and the
Seller wishes to transfer to the Buyer all the Assumed Liabilities;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  covenants,  promises,  and
representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,  the parties agree
as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                           SALE AND PURCHASE OF ASSETS

         1.1 Sale and  Purchase of Assets.  Subject to the terms and  conditions
contained in this Agreement,  the Seller agrees to sell, assign,  transfer,  and
deliver to the Buyer all of the Seller's  right,  title,  and interest in and to
each of the  Acquired  Assets (as defined  below),  and Buyer agrees to purchase
such assets on the Closing Date.

         1.2 Assets to be Transferred. At the Closing, the Seller shall sell and
deliver to Buyer (or a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of Buyer to be  designated  by
Buyer), and Buyer (either directly or through a wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer
to be  designated  by Buyer)  shall  purchase  and accept from the  Seller,  the
following  assets used  exclusively  or primarily in the Business (the "Acquired
Assets"):

               (a)  Inventory.  Except as  otherwise  provided  in Section  6.16
hereof,  all of  Seller's  inventory  relating  to the  Business  identified  in
Schedule 1.2(a) attached hereto subject to changes between December 31, 1998 and
Closing in the ordinary course of business.


<PAGE>

               (b) Accounts Receivable.  Except as otherwise provided in Section
6.16(f) hereof, all of Seller's rights to receive payments currently owed to the
Seller  resulting from the sale of goods by the Business  identified on Schedule
1.2(b) subject to changes between  December 31, 1998 and Closing in the ordinary
course of business.

               (c) Rights Under  Leases.  All of the  Seller's  rights under the
real property lease agreements, as amended or supplemented to date, with respect
to the Company's facility located at 2020 S. Tenth Street, San Jose,  California
95112 (the "Real Property"),  and the equipment lease agreements,  as amended or
supplemented  to date,  and relating  primarily or  exclusively  to the Business
identified in Schedule 1.2(c) (the "Assumed  Leases") subject to changes between
December  31, 1998 and Closing in the ordinary  course of  business.

               (d) Rights  Under  Contracts.  Except as  otherwise  provided  in
Section 6.16 hereof, all of Seller's rights under any contract,  agreement, plan
or arrangement  relating primarily or exclusively to the Business  identified in
Schedule 1.2(d) subject to changes between  December 31, 1998 and Closing in the
ordinary course of business.  It is the intent of the parties hereto that all of
the  Acquired  Assets and all of Seller's  backlog,  if any,  arising out of the
operation  of the Business be  transferred  to Buyer.  Accordingly,  the parties
agree to use their  reasonable  best  efforts to  facilitate  such  transfer  of
customers to the extent transferable at the Closing. Included on Schedule 1.2(d)
is (i) a list as of  December  31,  1998  of all  outstanding  written  customer
orders,  purchase orders,  and other customer  commitments from Seller's current
customers of the Business,  and (ii) the names of all customers of the Business,
which list will be updated as of the Closing  Date and  provided  to Buyer.

               (e) Equipment;  Tangible Assets.  Except as otherwise provided in
Section 6.16 hereof, all equipment and other tangible assets used exclusively or
primarily in the Business or  identified in Schedule  1.2(e)  subject to changes
between  December 31, 1998 and Closing in the ordinary  course of business.

               (f) Books and Records. Copies of all books and records related to
any Acquired  Assets,  including,  without  limitation,  all financial  records,
books,  ledgers,  supplier  lists,  customer and  marketing  lists or databases,
marketing  plans,   management  plans,   distribution  and  reseller  materials,
advertising materials,  manuals, and other materials of the Seller, in each case
only insofar as such items relate exclusively or primarily to the Business.

               (g) Prepaid Expenses.  The prepaid expenses for goods or services
to be provided  exclusively  or primarily to the Business after the Closing Date
(as defined  below)  identified in Schedule  1.2(g)  subject to changes  between
December  31, 1998 and Closing in the ordinary  course of  business.  The actual
amount of prepaid inventory,  expenses and supplies is to be determined during a
physical inventory to be conducted by Seller and audited by Buyer between May 1,
1999 and the  Closing  and only  such  prepaid  inventory  and  supplies  as are
physically identified will be purchased by Buyer.

                                       2
<PAGE>

               (h)  Intellectual  Property.  All of  Seller's  right,  title and
interest in and to Seller's  intellectual property used exclusively or primarily
in the Business,  including,  without limitation,  (i) the trademark  "Quadrus,"
(ii)  the  domain  name  and  website  of the  Business,  (iii)  know-how,  (iv)
good-will,  and (v) all rights under  proprietary  information  agreements  with
respect to employees of Seller who become  employees of Buyer from and after the
Closing.

               (i)  Phone  Numbers.   The  phone  numbers  used  exclusively  or
primarily in the Business identified in Schedule 1.2(i)

               (j) Other  Assets.  All of  Seller's  claims  against any parties
relating  exclusively  or primarily to any Acquired  Asset,  the Business or any
contract rights assigned to Buyer,  including without  limitation,  unliquidated
rights under  manufacturers'  or vendors'  warranties or  guarantees  subject to
changes  between  December  31,  1998 and  Closing  in the  ordinary  course  of
business.

               (k) Balance  Sheet  Assets.  All other  assets  reflected  on the
December 31, 1998 balance  sheet for Quadrus  attached  hereto as Exhibit A (the
"December 31, 1998 Balance Sheet") subject to changes between  December 31, 1998
and Closing in the ordinary  course of business.

         1.3  Assumption  of  Liabilities.  On  the  terms  and  subject  to the
conditions set forth herein,  from and after the Closing,  the Buyer will assume
and satisfy or perform  when due the  following  liabilities  of the Seller (the
"Assumed Liabilities"):

               (a) Obligations Under Leases.  All of Seller's  obligations after
the Closing Date (as defined below) under each of the Assumed Leases  identified
in  Schedule  1.2(c),  and  each  of  the  contracts,   agreements,   plans  and
arrangements  identified in Schedule 1.2(d).

               (b)  Accounts  Payable.  The accounts  payable,  good in transit,
placed orders as set forth on Schedule 1.3(b) as of December 31, 1998 subject to
changes between December 31, 1998 and the Closing Date.

               (c)  Warranty  Liability.  All  warranty  liability  relating  to
warranty  returns and  replacements  after the Closing  relating  exclusively or
primarily  to the  Business.

               (d) Sales and Use Taxes.  Any and all sales or use taxes  imposed
by the sale of the Acquired Assets or the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities.


               (e) Balance Sheet Liabilities. All other liabilities reflected on
the December 31, 1998 Balance Sheet subject to changes between December 31, 1998
and  Closing in the  ordinary  course of  business,  other than  liabilities  in
respect of (i) "401K  Withholding"  (shown  thereon as $48,124) and (ii) accrued
vacation  in  excess  of 80 hours  per  person  (shown in the books of Seller as
$71,227  (subject to  adjustment)).  The  liabilities in this subsection (i) and
(ii), collectively, are referred to as the "Excluded Balance Sheet Liabilities."

                                       3
<PAGE>

               (f) Additional  Assumed  Liabilities.  Except as may otherwise be
provided in this Agreement, all of Seller's liabilities and obligations referred
to with an asterisk (*) in the  Disclosure  Schedule  attached  hereto.

         1.4  All  Other  Liabilities  Not  Assumed.   Other  than  the  Assumed
Liabilities  set forth in Section  1.3 above,  it is agreed that Buyer shall not
assume or perform any other liabilities or obligations.


                                   ARTICLE II

                             PURCHASE PRICE; CLOSING

         2.1  Purchase  Price.  The purchase  price  payable by the Buyer to the
Seller as consideration for the sale, assignment,  transfer, and delivery by the
Seller to the Buyer (or a wholly owned  subsidiary  of Buyer to be designated by
Buyer)  of the  Acquired  Assets,  and the  assumption  by Buyer of the  Assumed
Liabilities,  Buyer,  on the terms and  conditions  set forth  herein,  shall be
$40,500,000.00 (the "Purchase Price").  At the Closing,  the Buyer shall deliver
to the Seller by wire transfer in  immediately  available  funds  $37,500,000.00
(the "Partial Purchase Price Payment").  Subject to the Post-Closing  Adjustment
in Section 2.5,  Buyer will pay the balance of the Purchase Price at the time of
the payment to be made  pursuant to Section  2.5(c)(1) or (2).

         2.2 Closing.

               (a)  Delivery.  The  closing  of the  purchase  and  sale  of the
Acquired  Assets and the  consummation  of the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby shall be held at the offices of Wilson Sonsini  Goodrich & Rosati,  P.C.,
650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California 94304-1050, at 1:00 p.m. (local time),
on June 1, 1999 (the  "Closing") or at such other date, time and place not to be
later than June 30,  1999,  unless Buyer and Seller shall have agreed in writing
(the date of the  Closing  is  hereinafter  referred  to herein as the  "Closing
Date").

               (b) Closing Deliveries.  At the Closing,  Buyer shall deliver the
Partial  Purchase Price Payment against  delivery by the Seller of such transfer
documents  relating to the sale and transfer of the Acquired Assets as the Buyer
shall reasonably request,  including,  without limitation,  the Bill of Sale and
General  Assignment of Assets in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit B. At the
Closing,  the Seller shall put Buyer into full  possession  and enjoyment of all
the  Acquired  Assets and Buyer  shall be fully and solely  responsible  for and
perform when due or discharge all of the Assumed Liabilities.

               At any time and  from  time to time  after  the  Closing,  at the
request of the Buyer and without further consideration, the Seller shall execute
and deliver such further instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance,  assignment,
and  confirmation  and take  such  actions  as Buyer  may  reasonably  determine
necessary  to  transfer,  convey,  and assign to the Buyer (or such wholly owned
subsidiary as Buyer may designate),  and to confirm Buyer's title to or interest
in, the Acquired



                                       4
<PAGE>

Assets, to put Buyer in actual possession and operating control
thereof,  and to assist Buyer in exercising all rights with respect thereto.

         2.3 Transaction Taxes.

               (a) Sales Tax. At the Closing, upon Seller's delivery to Buyer of
an invoice therefor,  Buyer shall remit to Seller, and Seller shall timely remit
to the appropriate California state tax authorities, an amount which is equal to
8.25% of the  Allocation(s) (as defined herein) shown on Schedule 2.4 as subject
to collection of California  State Sales Tax. Seller has already paid California
State  sales  tax on the  equipment  leases.

               (b) Buyer will pay and promptly discharge when due (and indemnify
Seller  against) all taxes and recording fees imposed or levied by reason of, in
connection  with or  attributable  to the sale of Acquired  Assets  contemplated
hereby,  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and the sale of the  Acquired
Assets to Buyer,  except any income taxes payable by the Seller  because of gain
on the sale  thereof.

         2.4  Allocation  of  Consideration.  Buyer and Seller will allocate the
Purchase Price among the Assets (the  "Allocation")  in accordance with Schedule
2.4 to be  attached  to this  Agreement  at or  prior to the  Closing  in a form
mutually agreeable to the parties.  No party will take a position on any federal
or state tax return,  before any governmental agency charged with the collection
of any income tax, or in any judicial proceeding that is in any way inconsistent
with the  Allocation  or prior to the final  adjustment  of the  Purchase  Price
pursuant to Section 2.5. To the extent  required by Section 1060 of the Code and
any regulations promulgated  thereunder,  the Allocation will be revised for any
adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.5.

         2.5  Post-Closing  Adjustment.  The Purchase  Price shall be subject to
adjustment after the Closing Date as specified in this Section 2.5.

               (a) As soon as practicable,  but in any event within fifteen (15)
business  days  after the  Closing  Date,  Seller,  with the  assistance  of any
necessary  Buyer  personnel  at no cost to Seller,  will  prepare and deliver to
Buyer a Draft Closing Date Schedule 2.5 (the "Draft Closing Date  Schedule") for
the Business as of the close of business on the Closing Date.  The Draft Closing
Date  Schedule  will be prepared  and  calculated  in  accordance  with GAAP and
consistent with Seller's  accounting  practices and policies and consistent with
the December 31, 1998 Balance Sheet. For purposes of this  calculation,  (v) the
Excluded  Balance  Sheet  Liabilities,  (w) the Excluded  Excess  Inventory  (as
defined herein),  (x) the Excluded Bone-Pile Inventory (as defined herein),  and
(y) the Other Excluded  Amounts (as defined  herein) (the items described in (v)
through (y), collectively, the "Exclusions") shall be excluded.

               (b) In the event Buyer disputes the accuracy or  presentation  of
any information or  determination  contained in the Draft Closing Date Schedule,
it will  deliver a detailed  statement  describing  its  disagreement  to Seller
within  fifteen  (15)  business  days after  receiving  the Draft


                                       5
<PAGE>

Closing Date Schedule.  Buyer and Seller will use reasonable  efforts to resolve
any such  disagreement  themselves.  If the  parties are unable to reach a final
resolution within ten calendar days from the delivery of Buyer's objections, the
objections  to the Draft  Closing Date  Schedule  will be submitted  for binding
resolution to Arthur  Andersen  (the  "Accounting  Firm"),  which firm is hereby
acknowledged as independent of the parties, within seven days of the termination
of the ten-day  resolution period referred to above. Buyer will bear one-half of
Accounting Firm's fees and expenses,  and Seller will bear the other one-half of
the fees. Both parties will make their work papers and other materials available
to Accounting  Firm. The  determination  of Accounting Firm shall be made within
thirty (30) days after the submission of the objections for resolution,  and the
determination  shall be conclusive,  final,  and binding on the parties,  absent
manifest  error.  Once the Draft  Closing Date  Schedule has been agreed upon or
resolved or  determined in the manner set forth in this Section 2.5, it shall be
final,  and used for the purposes of the Purchase Price  adjustment set forth in
Section  2.5(c) below.  Such final Schedule shall be referred to as the "Closing
Date Schedule."

               (c) The Purchase Price will be adjusted as follows:

                       1. If the book value of the Business, as reflected on the
agreed to (or resolved or  determined)  Closing  Date  Schedule is less than the
book value of the  Business as  reflected  on the  unaudited  December  31, 1998
balance sheet,  then Seller will pay to Buyer within three days of the agreement
to  the  Closing  Date  Schedule  (or  within  three  days  of  resolution,   or
determination by Accounting Firm, of any objections  thereto) an amount equal to
the  difference  between  the book value of the  Business  as  reflected  on the
unaudited  December 31, 1998 Balance  Sheet minus the book value of the Business
as reflected on the agreed to (or resolved or determined) Closing Date Schedule.

                       2. If the book value of the Business, as reflected on the
agreed to (or resolved or determined)  Closing Date  Schedule,  is more than the
book value of the  Business as  reflected  on the  unaudited  December  31, 1998
Balance Sheet,  then Buyer will pay to Seller within three days of the agreement
to  the  Closing  Date  Schedule  (or  within  three  days  of  resolution,   or
determination by the accounting firm, of any objections thereto) an amount equal
to the  difference  between the book value of the  Business as  reflected on the
unaudited  December 31, 1998 balance sheet and the book value of the Business as
reflected on the agreed to (or resolved or determined) Closing Date Schedule.

                       3. If the book value of the  Business as reflected on the
agreed to (or resolved or determined) Closing Date Schedule is equal to the book
value of the Business as reflected  on the  unaudited  December 31, 1998 Balance
Sheet then there will be no adjustment to the Purchase Price.

               (d) Any amounts required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.5(c) 1
or 2 above shall bear interest from the Closing Date through the date of payment
hereunder at the rate of interest

                                       6
<PAGE>

announced  publicly by Bank of America as its base lending rate  calculated  for
those dates and shall be paid by wire transfer in immediately  available  funds.

               (e) During the preparation of the Closing Date Schedule by Seller
and the period of any dispute referred to in Section 2.5(b),  Buyer will provide
Seller full access to the books,  records,  facilities and employees  related to
the  Business  and will  cooperate  fully with  Seller in order to  prepare  the
Closing  Date  Schedule  and to  investigate  the  basis  for any such  dispute;
provided,  however, that any such investigation will be conducted in a manner as
not to interfere unreasonably with the operations of Buyer or the Business.


                                  ARTICLE III

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER

         The Seller  hereby  represents  and  warrants  to Buyer  subject to the
specific  exceptions  disclosed  in the  disclosure  schedule  (the  "Disclosure
Schedule") (each referencing the appropriate section numbers of this Article III
as to which an exception  exists) delivered by the Seller to Buyer, and dated as
of the date hereof,  as follows:

         3.1 Organization of the Seller. Seller is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California.
The Seller has the power and authority to own, lease, and operate its assets and
property  and to  carry  on the  Business  as now  being  conducted  and is duly
qualified  or  licensed  to  do  business  and  is  in  good  standing  in  each
jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased, or operated by
it or the  nature  of its  activities  makes  such  qualification  or  licensing
necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material
adverse  effect on the Business.  The Seller has made  available to Buyer a true
and correct copy of the constituent  documents of the Seller, each as amended to
date, and each such instrument is in full force and effect.

         3.2  Authority.  The Seller has all  requisite  power and  authority to
enter  into this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate  action  on the part of the  Seller.  This  Agreement  has  been  duly
executed  and  delivered  by the Seller and  constitutes  the valid and  binding
obligation of the Seller  enforceable  against the Seller in accordance with its
terms. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Seller does not, and,
as of the Closing Date, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby will not,  conflict  with, or result in any violation of, or default
under  (with or  without  notice or lapse of time,  or both),  or give rise to a
right of termination,  cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of
any benefit  under (any such  event,  a  "Conflict")  (i) any  provision  of the
constituent  documents  of the Seller or (ii) any  mortgage,  indenture,  lease,
contract  or other  agreement  or  instrument,  permit,  concession,  franchise,
license,  judgment,  order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,  rule or regulation
applicable  to the  Business  or any of its  properties  or assets.  No consent,
waiver,  approval,  order, or authorization of, or registration,  declaration or
filing with,

                                       7
<PAGE>

any court,  administrative agency or commission or other federal,  state, county
or local governmental authority,  instrumentality,  agency or commission (any of
the  foregoing  authorities,  instrumentalities,  agencies,  or  commissions,  a
"Governmental  Entity") (so as not to trigger any  Conflict),  is required by or
with respect to the Business in  connection  with the  execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby,  including  any  other  assignment  or  instrument  of  transfer  to be
delivered by the Seller at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.2(b).

         3.3 Division Financial Statements.

               (a) (i) The  unaudited  consolidated  statements of income of the
Business for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 (attached
hereto  as  Exhibit  C and  Exhibit  D,  respectively)  and (ii)  the  unaudited
consolidated  balance  sheets  of the  Business  for each such  fiscal  year are
complete and correct in all material respects,  have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except
that the  unaudited  financial  statements  do not have notes thereto and do not
have a cash flow  statement),  and fairly  present  the  consolidated  financial
position of the  Business,  as of the  respective  dates and for the  respective
periods indicated,  subject, in the case of the unaudited financial  statements,
to  normal  year-end  adjustments.  The  Business'  unaudited  balance  sheet at
December 31, 1998 is hereinafter  referred to as the "Division  Balance  Sheet,"
and all such financial  statements are hereinafter  referred to as the "Division
Financial  Statements."

               (b) The  Business  has no  liability,  indebtedness,  obligation,
expense,  claim,  deficiency,  guaranty  or  endorsement  of any  type,  whether
accrued,  absolute,  contingent,  matured,  unmatured  or other  (whether or not
required to be reflected in the Division Financial Statements in accordance with
GAAP) which (i) has not been reflected in the Division Balance Sheet or (ii) has
not arisen in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 1998 consistent
in nature and amount with past  practices.

               (c) A true and correct copy of the Division Financial  Statements
is attached  hereto as Exhibit E.

         3.4 Absence of Changes.  Since the date of the Division  Balance  Sheet
(or such other date specifically set forth herein), the Seller has conducted the
Business only in the ordinary  course of business and,  except to the extent the
following has occurred in the ordinary course of Business:

               (a)  There  has not  been  any  material  adverse  change  in the
business,  financial  condition,  operations,  or results of  operations  of the
Business;

               (b) The Seller has not sold, leased, licensed, or disposed of any
of the assets relating to the Business (whether by way of merger,  purchase,  or
otherwise);

                                       8
<PAGE>

               (c) The  Seller  has not  accelerated,  terminated,  modified  or
cancelled  any  agreement,  contract,  lease,  or license  (or series of related
agreements,  contracts,  leases,  and  licenses)  which  relates to the Acquired
Assets;

               (d) The  Seller  has not  delayed  or  postponed  the  payment of
material accounts payable and other liabilities  relating to the Acquired Assets
beyond  their due date  outside the  ordinary  course of  business,  except with
respect to accounts or liabilities  that are subject to dispute in good faith by
Seller;

               (e)  The  Seller  has  not  cancelled,  compromised,  waived,  or
released any right or claim (or series of related rights and claims) relating to
any Acquired Asset involving payments of more than $50,000 in the aggregate;

               (f) To the  Seller's  knowledge,  Seller has no reason to believe
that any vendors,  licensors,  licensees,  distributors,  or  customers  for any
Acquired  Asset  intend  to  discontinue  with  the  Buyer a  material  business
relationship  any such  vendor  licensor,  licensee,  distributor,  or  customer
currently  has  with the  Seller;

               (g) No Acquired Asset has been materially damaged,  destroyed, or
lost  (whether or not  covered by  insurance),  and no material  customer of the
Seller  has been  lost;

               (h) The Seller has not entered  into any  employment  contract or
collective  bargaining  agreement,   or  modified  the  terms  of  any  existing
employment contract or collective bargaining agreement, relating to the Acquired
Assets,  except in the  ordinary  course of  business;

               (i) The Seller has not changed  employment or compensation  terms
for any employee specified on Schedule 3.4(i) hereto ("Key  Employees"),  except
in the ordinary  course of business;

               (j)  To  Seller's  knowledge,   there  has  not  been  any  other
occurrence,  event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction outside the
ordinary course of Seller's  business  involving the Acquired Assets which would
have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Assets and the Business;

               (k) The Seller has not entered  into any capital  commitments  in
relation to any of the Acquired  Assets or the Business  which in the  aggregate
exceed $100,000;

               (l) The Seller has not  accelerated  the collection or conversion
of accounts  receivable or notes  receivable  relating to the Acquired Assets by
offering  any  incentive  for such  acceleration,  including  but not limited to
prepayment discounts, allowances, or enhancements, except in the ordinary course
of business;

               (m)  The  Seller  has  not  revalued  any  of the  assets  of the
Business;

                                       9
<PAGE>

               (n) The Seller has not received  notice of any claim or potential
claim of  ownership  of a  material  Acquired  Asset by any  person,  and to the
knowledge of the Seller,  no basis exists for any such claim of  ownership;  and

               (o) The Seller has not  negotiated  with  respect to or otherwise
committed or agreed to do any of the  foregoing  (other than  negotiations  with
Buyer and its  representatives  regarding the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement).

         3.5 Absence of Undisclosed  Liabilities.  With respect to the Assets or
the  operations of the Business,  Seller has no  liabilities  (whether  accrued,
absolute, contingent,  unliquidated or otherwise, whether known or unknown as of
or prior to the date hereof) arising out of  transactions  or events  heretofore
entered into, or any action or inaction,  or any state of facts  existing,  with
respect to or based upon transactions or events heretofore occurring, except (i)
as reflected in the March 31, 1999 Balance Sheet (attached hereto as Exhibit F),
(ii)  liabilities  which have arisen after the date of such Balance Sheet in the
ordinary course of business (none of which is a material uninsured liability for
breach of contract,  breach of warranty, tort, infringement,  claim or lawsuit),
or (iii) as otherwise  set forth in the  Disclosure  Schedule  under the caption
referencing this Section.

         3.6 Intellectual  Property Rights.  The Disclosure  Schedule  describes
under the  caption  referencing  this  Section  all  rights in  patents,  patent
applications,   trademarks,   service  marks,  trade  names,   corporate  names,
copyrights mask works, trade secrets,  know-how or other  intellectual  property
rights  owned by or  licensed  to Seller in  connection  with the conduct of the
Business or used in,  developed  for use in or  necessary  to the conduct of the
Business  as now  conducted  or planned  to be  conducted,  except  commercially
available  software  and  hardware  subject to standard or  shrink-wrap  license
agreements.  Seller owns and possesses all right, title and interest, or holds a
valid license, in and to the rights set forth under such caption. The Disclosure
Schedule  describes under the caption  referencing this Section all intellectual
property rights which have been licensed to third parties and those intellectual
property  rights  which are licensed  from third  parties,  except  commercially
available  software  and  hardware  subject to standard or  shrink-wrap  license
agreements.   Seller  has  not  received  any  notice  of  any  infringement  or
misappropriation  by, or  conflict  from,  any third  party with  respect to the
intellectual  property rights listed in the Disclosure Schedule; no claim by any
third party contesting the validity of any  intellectual  property rights listed
under such caption has been made against the Company,  is currently  outstanding
or, to the knowledge of the Company,  is threatened against the Company;  Seller
has not received any notice of any infringement,  misappropriation  or violation
by Seller of any  intellectual  property  rights of any third parties and Seller
has not infringed,  misappropriated  or otherwise violated any such intellectual
property rights.

         3.7  Affiliate  Transactions.  Except as disclosed in the Schedule 3.7,
and other than pursuant to this Agreement,  no officer,  director or employee of
Seller or any member of the immediate  family of any such  officer,  director or
employee,  or any  entity  in which  any of such  persons  owns  any  beneficial
interest (other than any  publicly-held  corporation  whose stock is traded on a
national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market and less than one
percent of the

                                       10
<PAGE>

stock of  which is  beneficially  owned  by any of such  persons)  (collectively
"insiders"),  has any  agreement  with  Seller  (other  than  normal  employment
arrangements) or any interest in any property, real, personal or mixed, tangible
or  intangible,  used in or  pertaining  to the  Business of Seller  (other than
ownership  of capital  stock of Seller).  None of the insiders has any direct or
indirect  interest in any  competitor,  supplier or customer of Seller or in any
person,  firm or entity from whom or to whom Seller leases any  property,  or in
any other  person,  firm or entity  with whom Seller  transacts  business of any
nature.

                  For  purposes of this  Section,  the members of the  immediate
family of an officer, director or employee shall consist of the spouse, parents,
children, siblings, mothers- and fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, and
brothers-  and  sisters-in-law  of  such  officer,  director  or  employee.

         3.8 Customers and Suppliers. The Disclosure Schedule, under the caption
referencing  this Section,  lists the largest  customers and suppliers of Seller
relating  to the  Business  for the fiscal  year ended and for the month  period
ended and sets forth  opposite  the name of each such  customer or supplier  the
approximate  percentage of net sales or purchases by Seller attributable to such
customer or supplier for each such period.

         3.9 Legal and Other Compliance.

               (a) Seller and its officers, directors, agents and employees have
complied in all material  respects with all  applicable  laws,  regulations  and
other  requirements,  including,  but not limited to, federal,  state, local and
foreign laws, ordinances,  rules,  regulations and other requirements pertaining
to product  labeling,  consumer products safety,  equal employment  opportunity,
employee retirement, affirmative action and other hiring practices, occupational
safety and health,  workers' compensation,  unemployment and building and zoning
codes, which materially affect the Business, the Assets or the Real Property and
no claims have been filed against  Seller  alleging a material  violation of any
such laws,  regulations  or other  requirements.  Seller has no knowledge of any
material  action,  pending  or  threatened,  to change  the  zoning or  building
ordinances or any other laws,  rules,  regulations  or ordinances  affecting the
Assets or the Real  Property.  Seller is not  relying on any  exemption  from or
deferral of any such applicable law,  regulation or other requirement that would
not be available to Buyer after it acquires the Assets, except,  however, Seller
does not make any representation with respect to the continuing  availability to
Buyer of any Enterprise  Zone benefits.

               (b) To the  knowledge  of Seller,  Seller  has, in full force and
effect, all material licenses,  permits and certificates,  from federal,  state,
local and foreign authorities (including,  without limitation, federal and state
agencies  regulating  occupational  health and safety)  necessary to conduct its
Business and own and operate Assets (other than Environmental  Permits,  as such
term is defined in Section 3.15(c)  hereof)  (collectively,  the  "Permits").  A
true,  correct  and  complete  list of all the  Permits  is set forth  under the
caption referencing this Section in the Disclosure Schedule,  with an

                                       11
<PAGE>

indication as to whether the Permit is assignable to Buyer. Seller has conducted
its  business  in  compliance  with all  material  terms and  conditions  of the
Permits.

               (c) In  connection  with  the  Business,  Seller  has not made or
agreed to make gifts of money,  other property or similar  benefits  (other than
incidental  gifts or  articles  of  nominal  value) to any  actual or  potential
customer,  supplier,  governmental employee or any other person in a position to
assist or hinder Seller in connection  with any actual or proposed  transaction.

               (d) In  particular,  but without  limiting the  generality of the
foregoing,  Seller has not violated in any material  respect and has no material
liability,  and has not received a notice or charge  asserting  any violation in
any material respect of or material  liability  under, the federal  Occupational
Safety  and Health  Act of 1970 or any other  federal  or state acts  (including
rules and regulations  thereunder)  regulating or otherwise  affecting  employee
health and safety in connection with the Business.

3.10 Restrictions on Business
Activities. There is no agreement (noncompetition,  field of use, or otherwise),
judgment,  injunction, order or decree which has or reasonably could be expected
to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing any business  practice  utilizing
any Acquired Asset. Without limiting the foregoing,  the Business is not subject
to any agreement  which  restricts the sale,  license,  or  distribution  of any
product,  service,  or technology to any class of customers,  in any  geographic
area,  during any period of time or in any segment of the market.

         3.11 Title to Properties; Absence of Liens; Condition of Equipment.

               (a) The Seller does not own any real property that is used in the
Business  conducted with respect to any Acquired Asset. The Seller has delivered
to the Buyer a true and correct copy of each Assumed  Lease  related to the Real
Property.  Such  Assumed  Leases  are in full  force and  effect,  are valid and
effective  in  accordance  with its terms,  and there is not,  under any of such
leases,  any material  existing default or event of default (or event which with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a material  default).  To the
knowledge of the Seller,  neither the business operations  conducted on the Real
Property, nor such Real Property,  including  improvements thereon,  violate any
applicable  law,  building  code,  zoning  requirement,  or  classification,  or
pollution  control  ordinance or statute relating to the particular  property or
such operations,  and such non-violation is not dependent,  in any instance,  on
so-called  non-conforming  use exceptions.  To the knowledge of the Seller,  all
approvals of governmental  authorities (including licenses and permits) required
in connection with the operation of the Business on such real property have been
obtained.

               (b) The  Seller  has good and valid  title to, or, in the case of
leased properties and assets,  valid leasehold interests in, each Acquired Asset
being transferred to the Buyer, free and clear of any liens, except as reflected
in the Division  Financial  Statements.

                                       12
<PAGE>

               (c) Each item of equipment is free from  material  defects and is
reasonably fit and usable for the purposes for which it is presently being used.

               (d) The Acquired Assets  comprise all of the assets,  properties,
and  rights  of every  type  and  description,  real,  personal,  tangible,  and
intangible  used  primarily  or  exclusively  by the Seller in the  Business  as
currently  conducted.

               (e) The Seller is in  custody  and  control  of all the  Acquired
Assets being sold and transferred to the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement or any
assignments  or other  instruments  of transfer  delivered or to be delivered to
Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto.

               3.12   Agreements,   Contracts   and   Commitments.   Except   as
contemplated by this  Agreement,  the Business does not currently have, is not a
party to, nor is bound by with  respect to any Acquired  Asset or Key  Employee:

                    (i)  any   collective   bargaining   agreements;

                    (ii) any agreement,  contract, or commitment relating to the
disposition or acquisition of assets or any interest in any business enterprise;


                    (iii) any agreement of indemnification or guaranty;

                    (iv) any  purchase  order or  contract  for the  purchase of
materials in excess of $25,000;

                    (v) any  agreement  entered  otherwise  than in the ordinary
course of  business;

                    (vi) any  agreement  that is  likely  to result in a loss in
excess of $100,000 on completion of  performance;

                    (vii)  any  agreement  (or  group  of  related   agreements)
relating to capital  expenditures  and  involving  future  payments in excess of
$100,000;

                    (viii) any agreement (or group of related  agreements) under
which  payment in excess of $50,000  has  already  been  received  by the Seller
(whether in whole or in part) but which  requires  the  performance  of services
after the Closing Date;

                    (ix) any fidelity or surety bond or completion bond;

                    (x) any mortgages,  indentures,  loans or credit agreements,
security agreements or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing
of money by the Seller or extension of credit to the Seller exclusive of routine
trade  payables,  involving  obligations in excess of $50,000 or under which the
Seller has imposed any lien on any of the  Acquired  Assets;



                                       13
<PAGE>

                    (xi) any  purchase  order or  contract  for the  purchase of
materials (excluding capital expenditures)  involving $50,000 or more;

                    (xii) any agreement  concerning  confidentiality,  except in
the ordinary course;

                    (xiii) any distribution,  joint marketing,  development,  or
partnership or joint venture agreement; or

                    (xiv) any other agreement,  contract,  lease, or license (or
series of related  agreements,  contracts,  leases,  and licenses) that involves
payment of $50,000 or more.

         The Seller has  delivered to the Buyer a correct and  complete  copy of
each  written  agreement  listed in the  Disclosure  Schedule  referencing  this
Section 3.9 (any such agreement,  contract, or commitment,  a "Contract").  Each
Contract is in full force and effect and, except as otherwise disclosed,  is not
subject to any default thereunder of which the Seller has knowledge by any party
obligated to a Seller pursuant  thereto.

         3.13 Powers of Attorney.  There are no  outstanding  powers of attorney
executed  on behalf  of the  Seller  in  respect  of any  Acquired  Asset.

         3.14 Litigation.   There  is  no   action,  suit,  proceeding,   claim,
arbitration,  or investigation pending before any court or administrative agency
against the Seller or any officer or director of the Seller in their capacity as
such that may result in any adverse  change in the  Business or to the  Acquired
Assets or that  questions the validity of this  Agreement or of any action taken
to or to be taken  pursuant  to or in  connection  with this  Agreement.  To the
knowledge of the Seller,  no such action,  proceeding,  claim,  arbitration,  or
investigation has been threatened, for any such action, suit, proceeding, claim,
arbitration,  or  investigation.   There  are  no  judgments,  orders,  decrees,
citations,  fines, or penalties heretofore assessed against the Seller affecting
the  Business or the Acquired  Assets under any federal,  state or local law. No
governmental  entity has at any time challenged or questioned the legal right of
the Seller to  manufacture,  offer,  or sell any product related to the Acquired
Assets in the present manner or style thereof.

         3.15 Environmental Matters.

               (a) As used in this Section,  the following  terms shall have the
following  meanings:

                    (i)  "Hazardous  Materials"  means any  dangerous,  toxic or
         hazardous  pollutant,   contaminant,   chemical,   waste,  material  or
         substance as defined in or governed by any federal, state or local law,
         statute,  code,  ordinance,   regulation,  rule  or  other  requirement
         relating to such substance or otherwise  relating to the environment or
         human  health  or  safety,  including  without  limitation  any  waste,
         material, substance, pollutant, or contaminant that

                                       14
<PAGE>

         might cause any injury to human health or safety or to the  environment
         or might subject Seller to any  imposition of costs or liability  under
         any Environmental Law.

                    (ii)  "Environmental  Laws"  means all  applicable  federal,
         state, local and foreign laws, rules,  regulations,  codes, ordinances,
         orders, decrees,  directives,  permits, licenses and judgments relating
         to  pollution,   contamination   or   protection  of  the   environment
         (including,  without limitation,  all applicable federal,  state, local
         and  foreign  laws,  rules,  regulations,  codes,  ordinances,  orders,
         decrees,  directives,  permits,  licenses  and  judgments  relating  to
         Hazardous Materials in effect as of the date of this Agreement).


                    (iii) "Release" shall mean the spilling, leaking, disposing,
         discharging,  emitting, depositing, ejecting, leaching, escaping or any
         other  release  or  threatened   release,   however  defined,   whether
         intentional or unintentional, of any Hazardous Material.

               (b) Seller,  with respect to the Business and the Real  Property,
is in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.

               (c) Seller has obtained, and maintained in full force and effect,
all environmental permits, licenses,  certificates of compliance,  approvals and
other  authorizations  necessary  to conduct the Business and own or operate the
Assets, including the Real Property (collectively, the "Environmental Permits").
A copy of each  Environmental  Permit  shall be  provided  by Seller to Buyer at
least 14 days  prior to the  Closing.  Seller  has  conducted  the  Business  in
compliance with all terms and conditions of the  Environmental  Permits.  Seller
has filed all reports and notifications  required to be filed under and pursuant
to all  applicable  Environmental  Laws with  respect  to the  Business  and the
Assets.

               (d)  Except as set  forth in the  Disclosure  Schedule  under the
caption  referencing  this Section,  to the best of Seller's  knowledge,  (i) no
Hazardous Materials have been generated,  treated, contained,  handled, located,
used,  manufactured,  processed,  buried,  incinerated,  deposited,  stored,  or
released  on,  under or  about  any  part of the  Real  Property,  (ii) the Real
Property and any improvements thereon,  contain no asbestos, urea, formaldehyde,
radon at levels above natural  background,  polychlorinated  biphenyls (PCBs) or
pesticides,  and (iii) no aboveground  or underground  storage tanks are located
on,  under or about the Real  Property,  or have been located on, under or about
the Real Property and then  subsequently  been removed or filled.

               (e)  Except as set  forth in the  Disclosure  Schedule  under the
caption referencing this Section, Seller has not received notice alleging in any
manner that Seller is, or might be potentially  responsible  for, any Release of
Hazardous  Materials,  or any  material  costs  arising out of any  violation of
Environmental  Laws  with  respect  to  the  Business  or  the  Assets.

               (f) No  expenditure  in excess of $10,000 in the  aggregate  (and
other  than  normal  operating,  repair,  maintenance,  and  ongoing  permitting
expenses)  will be required in order for Buyer to comply with any  Environmental
Law in effect at the time of the Closing in  connection  with the



                                       15
<PAGE>

operation  or  continued  operation  of the  Business or the Real  Property in a
manner  consistent with the current  operation  thereof by Seller.

               (g) The  Real  Property  is not and has not  been  listed  on the
United  States  Environmental  Protection  Agency  National  Priorities  List of
Hazardous Waste Sites, or any other list, schedule, law, inventory, or record of
hazardous or solid waste sites maintained by any federal, state or local agency,
except as set forth in the  Disclosure  Schedule  under the caption  referencing
this  Section and except as would not subject the  Business or the Assets to any
liability.

               (h) Seller has disclosed and delivered to Buyer all environmental
reports and investigations  which Seller has obtained or ordered with respect to
the  Business and the Assets,  including  the Real  Property.

               (i)  Except as set  forth in the  Disclosure  Schedule  under the
caption referencing this Section, to the best of Seller's knowledge,  no part of
the Business or the Assets  (including  the Real  Property)  have been used as a
landfill, dump or other disposal,  storage, transfer, handling or treatment area
for  Hazardous  Materials,  or as a gasoline  service  station or a facility for
selling,  dispensing,  storing,  transferring,  disposing or handling  petroleum
and/or petroleum products.

               (j) No lien  has been  attached  or filed  against  Seller  (with
respect to the  Business  or the  Assets) or the Assets or the Real  Property in
favor of any  governmental or private entity for (i) any liability or imposition
of costs under or violation  of any  applicable  Environmental  Law; or (ii) any
Release of Hazardous  Materials.

         3.16 Employment Matters.

               (a) Compliance with Applicable Laws.  Seller (i) is in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable foreign,  federal,  state and local
laws,  rules, and regulations  respecting  employment and employment  practices,
including  without  limitation,  those relating to discrimination in employment,
terms and conditions of employment,  election of employee representatives (where
applicable),  obligations to consult with and inform  employee  representatives,
calculations and accruals of vacations and of other accruals,  seniority bonuses
(if any), and wages and hours;  (ii) has withheld all amounts required by law or
by  agreement  to be withheld  from the wages,  salaries  and other  payments to
employees or other persons who by virtue of their activities performed on behalf
of the Seller may be deemed  employees  within the  meaning of  applicable  law;
(iii) is not liable for any  arrears  of wages or any taxes or any  penalty  for
failure  to comply  with any of the  foregoing;  and (iv) is not  liable for any
payment  to any trust or other  fund or to any  governmental  or  administrative
authority,  with respect to unemployment  compensation benefits, social security
or other benefits or obligations for employees or other persons who by virtue of
their  activities  performed  on behalf of the  Seller  may be deemed  employees
within the meaning of applicable law (other than routine  payments to be made in
the normal course of business and consistent with past practice).

                                       16
<PAGE>

               (b) Labor. No work stoppage or labor strike against the Seller is
pending,  nor to the best  knowledge  of the Seller,  threatened  or  reasonably
anticipated.  The Seller is not  involved  in nor has been  threatened  with any
labor  dispute,   grievance,   or  litigation   relating  to  labor,  safety  or
discrimination  matters involving any employee,  including,  without limitation,
charges of unfair  labor  practices  or  discrimination  complaints,  which,  if
adversely  determined,  would,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  result  in
Liability to the Seller or Buyer. The Seller has not engaged in any unfair labor
practices which could, individually or in the aggregate,  directly or indirectly
result in a liability to the Seller. The Seller is not presently,  nor has it in
the  past,  been a party  to, or bound by,  any  agreement  negotiated  with its
employees  and no  collective  bargaining  agreement is being  negotiated by the
Seller.

               (c) No  Liability.  Except as otherwise  provided in Section 6.15
hereof, unless Buyer shall make any independent  agreements or arrangements with
any employees or former  employees of Seller,  Buyer will not have any liability
for making payments or providing  benefits of any kind to any employee or former
employee of the Seller  including,  without  limitation,  (A) any  obligation to
provide former employees of the Seller (including  individuals who become former
employees by reason of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement) so-called COBRA continuation coverage (with respect to U.S. employees
of  Seller),  (B) any  liability  in respect of medical and other  benefits  for
existing and future  retirees of the Seller and for claims made after Closing in
respect of costs and expenses  incurred  prior to Closing,  (C) any liability in
respect of work-related  employee  injuries or worker's  compensation  claims by
employees or former employees of the Seller occurring prior to the Closing Date,
and (D) any liability in respect of employee bonuses payable to former employees
of the Seller.

               (d) Key  Employees.  Schedule  3.16(d) sets forth the current job
title and the annual base  salary of certain  employees  identified  by Buyer to
whom Buyer expects to make an offer of either at-will or term  employment.

         3.17 Insolvency. No insolvency proceedings of any character,  including
bankruptcy,  receivership,  reorganization,  winding  up,  or  arrangement  with
creditors,  voluntary or  involuntary,  affecting any of the Acquired Assets are
pending or, to the knowledge of the Seller,  are threatened,  and the Seller has
not made any assignment for the benefit of creditors, nor taken any other action
which  would  constitute  the  basis  for the  institution  of  such  insolvency
proceedings.

         3.18 Consents.  Schedule 3.18 sets forth a true, correct,  and complete
list of the  identities  of any person or entity  whose  consent or  approval is
required, and the matter,  agreement, or contract to which such consent relates,
in connection  with the transfer,  assignment or conveyance by the Seller of any
Acquired  Asset.

         3.19 Books and Records.  The books and records of the Seller related to
the Business (i) have been fully and  accurately  maintained in accordance  with
applicable  laws and with  generally  accepted  practices  and  standards in the
jurisdiction(s)  in which  the  Seller  operates  and  (ii) are in the  Seller's
possession or under its control. The Acquired Assets include the computer system
used in

                                       17
<PAGE>

the  Business,  although  Seller  is not  transferring  to Buyer  any  rights to
continue to maintain  such records on Seller's  computer  systems or  databases.

         3.20 Product Warranties.  Each product  manufactured,  sold,  licensed,
leased,  or delivered by the Seller in the Business has been in conformity  with
all applicable contractual  commitments.  Except as reflected in the reserve for
warranty  claims and the separate  reserve for returns on the  Division  Balance
Sheet, to Seller's knowledge,  the Seller has no liability.

         3.21  Inventory.  The  inventory  of the  Business as  reflected on the
Division Balance Sheet consists of raw materials and supplies,  manufactured and
purchased  parts,  goods  in  process,  and  finished  goods,  all of  which  is
merchantable  and fit for the purpose for which it was procured or manufactured,
all of which is reflected  on such balance  sheet at the lower of cost or market
value,  subject only to the reserve for  inventory  writedown to net  realizable
value set forth in such Division Balance Sheet.

         3.22 Accounts Receivable.  The Seller has delivered to Buyer a complete
and accurate aging of all accounts  receivable of the Company as of December 31,
1998.  No account  receivable  reflected on Schedule  1.2(b) and in the Division
Balance Sheet and no account  receivable  arising after the date of the Division
Balance  Sheet and  reflected  on the books of the Company and the Closing  Date
Balance Sheet is uncollectible, subject to counterclaim or offset, except to the
extent  reserved  against  thereon.  No such accounts  receivable are subject to
discount on volume or rebate or any other  reduction.  All  accounts  receivable
have been  generated in the ordinary  course of business and reflect a bona fide
obligation  for the payment of goods or services  provided by the Company.

         3.23 Tax Returns  and Audits.  To the extent the failure to do so would
adversely  affect  Seller's  ability  to  deliver  free and  clear  title to the
Acquired Assets or Buyer's right to hold, own or use the Acquired Assets, Seller
has filed  within  the time  period  for filing or any  extension  granted  with
respect thereto all federal, state, local, foreign and other returns,  estimates
and reports  ("Returns")  which it is required to file relating or pertaining to
any and all Taxes  attributable  to,  levied or imposed  upon,  or  incurred  in
connection  with the Acquired Assets or the Business and each portion of any Tax
Return  pertaining or related to the Acquired Assets or the Business is true and
correct and has been completed in accordance  with  applicable  law.  Seller has
paid all Taxes  relating to all the  Acquired  Assets and the  Business  and has
withheld  with  respect  to its  employees  and paid to the  appropriate  taxing
authority all federal,  state and local income taxes,  FICA,  FUTA and any other
Taxes  required to be withheld  with respect to the Acquired  Assets.  There are
(and  immediately  following the Closing there will be) no Liens on the Acquired
Assets relating to or attributable to Taxes.

         3.24  Employee  Benefit  Plans.  (a) With respect to all  employees and
former employees of Seller who perform or performed functions in connection with
the Business and all dependents and  beneficiaries  of such employees and former
employees:  (i) Seller  does not  maintain  or  contribute  to any  nonqualified
deferred  compensation  or retirement  plans,  contracts or  arrangements;  (ii)
Seller does not maintain or  contribute to any  qualified  defined  contribution
plans (as defined in

                                       18
<PAGE>

Section 3(34) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"),  or Section  414(i) of the Code;  (iii)  Seller does not  maintain or
contribute to any qualified  defined  benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(35)
of ERISA or Section  414(j) of the Code);  and (iv) Seller does not  maintain or
contribute to any employee  welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of
ERISA) other than general medical, dental and vision plans (copies of which have
been provided to Buyer).

               (b) To the  extent  required  (either  as a  matter  of law or to
obtain the intended tax treatment and tax benefits),  all employee benefit plans
(as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which Seller does  maintain or to which it
does contribute (collectively, the "Plans") comply in all material respects with
the  requirements  of ERISA and the Code.  With  respect to the  Plans,  (i) all
required  contributions  which are due have been made and a proper  accrual  has
been made for all  contributions  due in the current fiscal year; (ii) there are
no actions,  suits or claims pending,  other than routine uncontested claims for
benefits;  and (iii) there have been no prohibited  transactions  (as defined in
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code).

               (c) Buyer has received  true and complete  copies of (i) the most
recent  determination  letter,  if any,  received  by Seller  from the  Internal
Revenue  Service  regarding  the Plans  which  Seller  maintains  or to which it
contributes and any amendment to any Plan made subsequent to any Plan amendments
covered  by any  such  determination  letter;  (ii) the  most  recent  financial
statements  and  annual  report  or  return  for the  Plans;  and (iii) the most
recently prepared actuarial valuation reports.

               (d) Seller does not contribute (and has not ever  contributed) to
any  multi-employer  plan, as defined in Section  3(37) of ERISA.  Seller has no
actual or potential  liabilities under Section 4201 of ERISA for any complete or
partial withdrawal from a multi-employer plan. Seller has no actual or potential
liability for death or medical benefits after separation from employment,  other
than (i) death benefits under the employee benefit plans or programs (whether or
not subject to ERISA) set forth under the caption  referencing  this  Section in
the Disclosure Schedule and (ii) health care continuation  benefits described in
Section 4980B of the Code.

               (e) Neither Seller nor any of its directors,  officers, employees
or other  "fiduciaries",  as such term is defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA, has
committed any breach of fiduciary  responsibility  imposed by ERISA or any other
applicable  law with  respect to the Plans which would  subject  Seller,  Buyer,
Buyer's subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or employees
to any liability under ERISA or any applicable law.

               (f) Seller has not  incurred any  liability  for any tax or civil
penalty or any  disqualification  of any  employee  benefit  plan (as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA) imposed by Sections 4980B and 4975 of the Code and Part 6
of Title I and Section 502(i) of ERISA.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

         Buyer  hereby  represents  and  warrants to the Seller as follows:

         4.1  Organization  of Buyer.  Buyer is a  corporation  duly  organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
Buyer has the corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business
as now being conducted.

         4.2 Authority. Buyer has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter  into this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate action on the part of Buyer. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Buyer and  constitutes  the valid and binding  obligation of Buyer,
enforceable in accordance  with its terms.

         4.3 No Conflicts.  The execution and delivery of this  Agreement by the
Buyer  does  not,  and,  as  of  the  Closing  Date,  the  consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby will not, conflict with, or result
in any violation of, or default under (with or without  notice or lapse of time,
or both), or give rise to a right of  termination,  cancellation or acceleration
of any  obligation or loss of any benefit  under (any such event,  a "Conflict")
(i) any  provision  of the  constituent  documents  of the  Buyer  or  (ii)  any
mortgage,  indenture, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument,  permit,
concession,   franchise,   license,   judgment,  order,  decree,  statute,  law,
ordinance,  rule or regulation  applicable to the Buyer or any of its properties
or  assets.  No  consent,  waiver,  approval,  order,  or  authorization  of, or
registration,  declaration or filing with, any court,  administrative  agency or
commission or other  federal,  state,  county or local  governmental  authority,
instrumentality,  agency  or  commission  (any  of  the  foregoing  authorities,
instrumentalities,  agencies,  or commissions,  a "Governmental  Entity") or any
third party (so as not to trigger any Conflict),  is required by or with respect
to the Buyer in connection  with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,  including
any other  assignment  or instrument of transfer to be delivered by the Buyer at
the Closing pursuant to Section 2.2(b).

         4.4  Litigation.  There is no action,  suit or proceeding of any nature
pending or, to Buyer's knowledge, threatened against Buyer that could reasonably
be expected to interfere with the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement or that  questions  the validity of this  Agreement or of any
action taken or to be taken pursuant to or in connection  with the provisions of
this Agreement.

                                       20
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE V

                        CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE

         5.1  Conduct  of  Business.  During  the  period  from the date of this
Agreement and continuing  until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
or the  Closing,  the  Seller  agrees  (except to the  extent  that Buyer  shall
otherwise consent in writing) to use reasonable  commercial  efforts to carry on
the Business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore  conducted,  to pay all debts and taxes when due, to pay or
perform  other  obligations  when due, and, to the extent  consistent  with such
businesses,  to use all  reasonable  efforts  consistent  with past practice and
policies to preserve intact its present business  organizations,  keep available
the services of Key Employees  and preserve its  relationships  with  customers,
suppliers,  distributors,  licensors,  licensees,  and  others  having  business
dealings  with it, all with the goal of preserving  unimpaired  the goodwill and
ongoing businesses  associated with the Acquired Assets on the Closing Date. The
Seller  shall  promptly  notify  Buyer of any event which  materially  adversely
effects the Business or any Acquired Assets. Except as expressly contemplated by
this  Agreement  or  disclosed  in Schedule  5.1,  the Seller will not cause the
Business  to,  without the prior  written  consent of Buyer:

               (a) Enter  into any  commitment  or  transaction  related  to any
Acquired Asset not in the ordinary  course of business;

               (b) Enter  into or amend  any  agreements  pursuant  to which any
other party is granted marketing, distribution, or similar rights of any type or
scope with respect to any products,  except in the ordinary  course of business;

               (c) Amend or otherwise  modify (or agree to do so), except in the
ordinary course of business,  or violate the terms of, any of the agreements set
forth  or  described  in the  Seller  schedules;

               (d) Commence or settle any  litigation  regarding  the  Business,
except to enforce its rights under or to interpret  this  Agreement or any other
agreement,  obligation  or  arrangement  contemplated  hereby or entered into or
established  in connection  herewith  which affects the Business,  except in the
ordinary course of business;

               (e) Sell,  lease,  license,  pledge,  or otherwise dispose of any
Acquired Asset other than in the ordinary course of business;

               (f)  Revalue  any  of  the  Acquired  Assets,  including  without
limitation writing down the value of inventory or writing off notes and accounts
receivable  other than in the ordinary  course of  business;

               (g) Enter into any strategic alliance, joint development or joint
marketing  agreement  affecting the Business or any Acquired Asset; or

                                       21

<PAGE>
               (h) Take,  or agree in writing or otherwise  to take,  any of the
actions described in Sections 5.1(a) through (g) above, or any other action that
would prevent the Seller from  performing or cause the Seller not to perform its
covenants hereunder.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         6.1 Approval.  The Seller shall promptly after the date hereof take all
action necessary in accordance with applicable law and the constituent documents
of the Seller to obtain  all  requisite  approvals,  as the case may be, of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.2  Access to  Information.  The  Seller  shall  afford  Buyer and its
accountants,  legal counsel, and other representatives  reasonable access during
normal  business hours during the period prior to the Closing Date to (i) all of
the properties,  books, inventory,  contracts,  commitments,  and records of the
Seller relating to the Acquired Assets and (ii) all other information concerning
the Business,  properties, and personnel of the Seller which are associated with
the  Acquired  Assets as Buyer may  reasonably  request.  The  Seller  agrees to
provide Buyer and its  accountants,  legal  counsel,  and other  representatives
copies of internal financial statements promptly upon request.

         6.3 Access to Records After Closing. For a period of one year after the
Closing Date, the Seller and its representatives, on the one hand, and the Buyer
and its representatives,  on the other hand, shall have reasonable access to any
books,  records,  documents,  files, and  correspondence to the extent that such
access may  reasonably  be required in  connection  with matters  relating to or
affected by the operation of the businesses  conducted with the Acquired Assets,
in the case of the  Seller  prior to the  Closing  Date and,  in the case of the
Buyer,  after the Closing Date.  Such access shall be afforded  upon  reasonable
advance written  notice,  during normal business hours and at the expense of the
party seeking access.

         6.4 Confidentiality.  From the date hereof to and including the Closing
Date, the parties hereto shall maintain,  and cause their directors,  employees,
agents,  and advisors to maintain,  in confidence and not to disclose or use for
any purpose,  except for the evaluation of the transactions  contemplated hereby
and the accuracy of the respective representations and warranties of the parties
contained herein,  information  concerning the other parties hereto and obtained
directly or indirectly from such parties, or their directors, employees, agents,
or  advisors,  except such  information  as is or becomes (i)  available  to the
non-disclosing  party from  third  parties  not  subject  to an  undertaking  of
confidentiality;  (ii) generally  available to the public other than as a result
of a breach by the  non-disclosing  party  hereunder;  or (iii)  required  to be
disclosed  under  applicable  law;  and except  such  information  as was in the
possession  of such party prior to obtaining  such  information  from such other
party as to which the fact of prior  possession such possessing party shall have
the burden of proof.  In the event  that the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
shall not be consummated,  all such information  which shall be in writing shall
be returned to the party furnishing the same, including to the extent reasonably
practicable, copies or reproductions thereof which may have been prepared.

                                       22
<PAGE>

         6.5 Public  Disclosure.  Unless  otherwise  required by law (including,
without  limitation,  applicable  securities laws) or, as to Buyer, by the rules
and  regulations of the Nasdaq  National  Market,  prior to the Closing Date, no
disclosure  (whether or not in response to an inquiry) of the subject  matter of
this Agreement shall be made by any party hereto unless approved by both parties
prior  to  release,  provided  that  such  approval  shall  not be  unreasonably
withheld.

         6.6 Contractual Consents.

                    (a) The Seller will promptly apply for or otherwise seek and
use its  reasonable  commercial  efforts to obtain,  all consents and  approvals
required  to  be  obtained  by it  for  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby, and the Seller shall use its reasonable  commercial efforts
to  obtain  all  required  consents,  waivers,  or  approvals  under  any of the
agreements,  contracts,  licenses,  or leases of the Seller in order to preserve
for the Buyer the benefits of the Business  associated with the Acquired Assets.
Seller will list all of the  supplier and similar  agreements  that the Business
currently  has in force on the date of this  Agreement,  and Seller will use its
reasonable  commercial  efforts to effect  assignments  of all such  agreements,
except those identified in writing by Buyer as not material to the Business.

                    (b) Buyer  will use its  reasonable  commercial  efforts  to
obtain  all  consents  and  approvals   required  to  be  obtained  it  for  the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby.

         6.7 Legal  Conditions  to  Acquisition.  The Buyer and the Seller shall
take all  reasonable  actions  necessary  to  comply  promptly  with  all  legal
requirements  which may be imposed on such party with respect to this  Agreement
and the transactions  contemplated  hereby and will promptly  cooperate with and
furnish  information  to any  other  party  hereto in  connection  with any such
requirements  imposed upon such other party in connection  herewith.  Each party
will take all  reasonable  actions to obtain (and will  cooperate with the other
parties in obtaining) any consent,  authorization,  order or approval of, or any
registration,  declaration,  or filing  (including any filing required under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of  1976,  as  amended,  and the
regulations  promulgated  thereunder  (the "HSR Act")) with, or an exemption by,
any governmental  entity, or other third party,  required to be obtained or made
by such  party  or its  subsidiaries  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  and
consummating  the transactions  contemplated  hereby or the taking of any action
contemplated thereby or by this Agreement.

         6.8 Additional  Documents and Further Assurances.  Except to the extent
described  otherwise,  each of the  parties  to  this  Agreement  shall  use its
commercially  reasonable  efforts to effectuate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled the  conditions to closing under
this Agreement. Each party hereto, at the request of another party hereto, shall
execute and deliver  such other  instruments  and do and perform such other acts
and things as may be reasonably  necessary or desirable for effecting completely
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       23
<PAGE>

         6.9  Notification  of Certain  Matters.  The Seller  shall give  prompt
notice to Buyer,  and Buyer shall give prompt  notice to the Seller,  of (i) the
occurrence or  non-occurrence  of any event, the occurrence or non-occurrence of
which is likely to cause any  representation  or  warranty  of the Seller or the
Buyer,  as the  case  may  be,  contained  in this  Agreement  to be  untrue  or
inaccurate  in any  material  respect at or prior to the Closing  Date except as
contemplated  by this Agreement  (including  the Seller  Schedules) and (ii) any
failure of the Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy in
any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by it hereunder;  provided,  however,  that the delivery of any notice
pursuant to this  Section 6.9 shall not limit or  otherwise  affect any remedies
available to the party receiving such notice.

         6.10 Payment of Trade and Other Creditors. The Seller shall comply with
its obligation to satisfy amounts due to trade and other creditors of the Seller
to the extent required prior to closing. The Business shall continue to pay on a
current  basis and shall be  responsible  for all  obligations  included  in the
Assumed Liabilities up to the Closing Date.

         6.11 No  Solicitation.  From and after the date of this Agreement until
the  earlier  to occur of the  Closing  Date or  termination  of this  Agreement
pursuant to its terms,  (a) Seller will not,  and the Seller will  instruct  its
respective directors, officers, employees, representatives,  investment bankers,
agents,  and affiliates not to,  directly or indirectly (i) solicit or encourage
submission  of any  Acquisition  Proposal  (as  defined  herein) by any  person,
entity,  or group  (other than Buyer and its  Affiliates  (as  defined  herein),
agents,  and   representatives)  or  (ii)  participate  in  any  discussions  or
negotiations with, or disclose any non-public  information concerning the Seller
to, or afford access to the  properties,  books, or records of the Seller to, or
otherwise  assist or  facilitate,  or enter into any agreement or  understanding
with, any person, entity, or group (other than Buyer and its Affiliates, agents,
and representatives) in connection with any Acquisition Proposal with respect to
the Seller.  For purposes of this Section  6.11(a),  an  "Acquisition  Proposal"
means any  proposal  or offer  relating to any  merger,  consolidation,  sale or
license of substantial assets or similar transactions  involving the Business or
the  Acquired  Assets  (other than sales or licenses of software in the ordinary
course  of  business  or as  permitted  by  this  Agreement).  The  Seller  will
immediately cease any and all existing activities,  discussion,  or negotiations
with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to the foregoing.

               (b) Buyer will not, and the Buyer will  instruct  its  respective
directors, officers, employees, representatives, investment bankers, agents, and
affiliates not to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit or encourage submission of
any  Acquisition  Proposal (as defined herein) by any person,  entity,  or group
(other  than  Seller  and  its  Affiliates  (as  defined  herein),  agents,  and
representatives) or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations with, or
disclose any non-public information concerning Buyer to, or afford access to the
properties, books, or records of Buyer to, or otherwise assist or facilitate, or
enter into any agreement or  understanding  with, any person,  entity,  or group
(other  than  Seller  and  its  Affiliates,   agents,  and  representatives)  in
connection with any Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Buyer. For purposes
of this  Agreement,  an  "Acquisition  Proposal"  means  any  proposal  or offer
relating to any merger, consolidation,  sale or license of substantial

                                       24
<PAGE>

assets or similar transactions involving any business similar to the Business or
any assets  similar to the  Acquired  Assets  (other  than sales or  licenses of
software in the ordinary course of business or as permitted by this  Agreement).
The Buyer will immediately cease any and all existing activities, discussion, or
negotiations  with  any  parties  conducted   heretofore  with  respect  to  the
foregoing.

         For purposes of this Section, an "Affiliate" means any entity or person
that, directly or indirectly,  through one or more intermediaries,  controls, is
controlled  by, or is under  common  control  with the  particular  party.

         6.12  Non-Competition.

               (a) For a period of three (3)  years  from and after the  Closing
Date  ("Non-Competition  Period"),  Seller  shall not  directly  or  indirectly,
without the prior written  consent of Buyer,  engage  anywhere in the Restricted
Territory,  or have any  ownership  interest  in (except  for  ownership  of one
percent (1%) or less of any entity whose  securities have been registered  under
the  Securities  Act or the Exchange  Act),  or  participate  in the  financing,
operation, management or control of, any firm, partnership,  corporation, entity
or  business  that  engages  or  participates  in a "Seller  Competing  Business
Purpose".  The term,  "Restricted  Territory" shall mean each and every country,
province,  state,  city or other  political  subdivision of the world.  The term
"Seller  Competing  Business  Purpose"  means the  Business as  conducted at the
Closing  Date  and  the   manufacture   of  print  circuit   board   assemblies.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  it is  expressly  understood  and agreed  that
nothing  contained in this Section  6.12(a)  shall  operate so as to (i) prevent
Seller from  continuing  to conduct its business as currently  conducted  and as
currently  proposed to be conducted  related to (w) the sale and distribution of
semiconductors and other electronic  components,  disk drives and other computer
components,  (x) the manufacture of personal computers,  servers, memory storage
systems, RAID systems, (y) value-added  activities related to semiconductors and
computer products,  and (z) systems  integration  activities;  or (ii) otherwise
restrict  the ability of Seller to contact  and engage in business  transactions
with current  customers of and supplier to the Business so long as such contacts
or  transactions  are not related to the conduct of the  Business by Buyer after
the  Closing.

               (b)  Seller  acknowledges  and  agrees  that  its  covenants  and
obligations  with  respect  to  non-competition  relate to  special,  unique and
extraordinary matters and that a violation of any of the terms of such covenants
and obligations will cause  irreparable  injury for which adequate  remedies are
not available at law. Therefore, Seller agrees that Buyer will be entitled to an
injunction,  restraining  order or such  other  equitable  relief  as a court of
competent jurisdiction may deem necessary or appropriate to restrain Seller from
committing  any violation of the covenants set forth in this Section 6.12.

         6.13 Non-Solicitation of Employees.

               (a) Neither party shall,  for a period of two (2) years following
the Closing  Date,  for its own  account or jointly  with  another,  directly or
indirectly,  for or on behalf of any  individual,

                                       25
<PAGE>

partnership, corporation or other legal entity, as principal, agent or otherwise
solicit or induce,  or in any manner attempt to solicit,  any person employed by
the other  party to leave such  employment,  whether or not such  employment  is
pursuant to a written contract and whether or not such employment is at will, or
hire any person who has been  employed by the other party at any time during the
six (6) month  period  preceding  such  hiring.

               (b) Each party  recognizes  the importance of the covenant not to
solicit  contained  in this  subsection  (a)  above  and  acknowledges  that the
restrictions imposed herein are: (i) reasonable as to scope, time and area; (ii)
necessary for the protection of its  legitimate  business  interests,  including
without limitation, trade secrets, goodwill, and its relationship with customers
and suppliers; (iii) not unduly restrictive of its rights; and (iv) supported by
adequate  consideration.  Each party  acknowledges and agrees that the covenants
not to compete  contained in this Section  6.13 are  essential  elements of this
Agreement  and that but for  these  covenants,  the other  party  would not have
agreed to enter  into this  Agreement.  Such  covenants  shall be  construed  as
agreements independent of any other provision of this Agreement.

         6.14 Continuing Customer Relationship.  Except with respect to Excluded
Excess  Inventory (as defined herein) and items identified as being treated like
Excluded Excess Inventory,  all of which are subject to the treatment  described
in Section 6.16(b)(ii) hereof, Buyer agrees, in good faith to consider Seller as
a preferred products and services provider and, to the extent that Buyer, in its
judgment deems it  commercially  reasonable to do so, agrees to offer Seller the
opportunity  to satisfy  Buyer's  needs for such products and services as Seller
currently  provides  the  Business.

         6.15  Employment  Matters.  Buyer  hereby  represents,   covenants  and
warrants that after the Closing Date,  Buyer will not take any action to trigger
liability under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining  Notification  (hereinafter
"WARN") Act, 29 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  2101-09,  for the Seller.  Buyer hereby  further
agrees  to  indemnify  and  hold  Seller  harmless  from  any  claims,  demands,
deficiencies,  penalties, assessments,  executions, judgments, or recoveries for
any and all claims due to any actual or alleged violation of the WARN Act caused
by Buyer's actions or failures to act after the Closing Date. Except as provided
immediately  above, Buyer shall be under no duty whatsoever to hire any employee
or group of employees of Seller.  Effective  as of the Closing  Date,  Buyer may
offer to hire such  persons  as are  necessary  and  qualified  to  operate  its
business.  All terms,  including benefits, of each offer to such person shall be
determined by Buyer in its sole  discretion and nothing herein shall  constitute
an agreement to assume or be bound by any previous or existing agreement between
Seller and any of Seller's  employees or a guaranty that any employee of Seller,
to whom an offer of employment  may be made,  shall be entitled to remain in the
employment of Buyer for a specified  period of time. An employee of the Business
to whom an offer of employment is made by Buyer and who accepts such offer shall
become  an  employee  of Buyer on the day such  person  reports  to work for the
Buyer. Such person who is unable to report to work for Buyer on the Closing Date
due to illness,  injury or other reason shall remain an employee of Seller until
such person  reports to work for Buyer.  Seller shall remain solely  responsible
for all salaries, wages, benefits (other than up to 80 hours of accrued vacation
per  employee  and other  than  accrued  sick  pay,  which  Buyer is  assuming),

                                       26
<PAGE>

severance arrangements and all other terms of employment for (a) each person who
may become an employee of Buyer  accruing  prior to the date such person becomes
an employee of Buyer and (b) each  employee of the  Business who does not become
an employee of Buyer accruing at any time.

         6.16  Treatment of Other  Matters.

               (a) HSR Matters. Each party agrees to make the appropriate filing
pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement as soon as reasonably  possible after the date hereof,  but in no case
later than seven business days of the date hereof,  and to remit one-half of the
required  filing fee with such filing.  Each party  further  agrees to supply as
promptly  as  practicable  to  the  appropriate   governmental  authorities  any
additional  information and documentary  material that may be requested pursuant
to the HSR Act.

               (b) Excluded Excess  Inventory.  (i) Schedules  6.16(b)(i)(1) and
(2),  respectively,  set  forth  all of  Sellers  "Excess  Inventory  With  MRP"
($2,287,863) and "Excess Inventory Without MRP" ($2,433,579), which, aggregated,
are carried on the books of Seller at $4,721,442  as of April 19, 1999,  subject
to changes between that date and the Closing in the ordinary course of business.
After excluding  amounts for Netro of $165,287 (with MRP) and $565,154  (without
MRP), the net amount of Excluded Excess Inventory is $3,991,001. If either party
subsequently should believe that this net amount is incorrect, the parties agree
to work  together  in good  faith to  reach an  agreement  with  respect  to the
difference.  If, between the date hereof and the Closing, Seller shall receive a
purchase  order with  respect  to such  excess  inventory,  or execute a written
contract with a customer  pursuant to which such customer  agrees to accept such
excess  inventory,  then such excess  inventory  shall be an Acquired  Asset for
purposes of this Agreement and shall be transferred to Buyer at Closing,  with a
corresponding  dollar-for-dollar  reduction to appropriate  amounts  above.  All
other such excess inventory shall be considered "Excluded Excess Inventory" (and
valued net of the  reduction  in the  previous  sentence)  for  purposes of this
Agreement and shall not be transferred to Buyer at Closing.

                    (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (i) above,
Buyer agrees (x) to store,  maintain,  insure,  and protect the Excluded  Excess
Inventory  in the  same  manner  as it does  its own  inventory  at the  Quadrus
facility and at its expense;  (y) to use its  commercially  diligent  efforts to
sell such Excluded Excess Inventory; and (z) dedicate one regular employee whose
primary  function  shall  be  to  attend  to  the  matters  described  in  these
subsections (x) and (y). Buyer agrees that, in the event it has a use for any of
the Excluded  Excess  Inventory in any new or current  product,  it will use (or
make a good faith effort to use) such inventory  before procuring such inventory
or substitutes  from third parties and promptly (and, in no case,  later than 30
days after receipt of such inventory) pay Seller the cost of such inventory. For
the purposes of this Section  6.16,  "the cost of such  inventory"  shall be the
cost of such inventory to Seller,  provided,  however,  that if Seller's cost is
above  market,  Buyer will allow Seller two business  days to agree to match the
market price, in which case,  "the cost of such  inventory"  shall be the market
price. Buyer and Seller agree to review the Excluded Excess Inventory  situation
quarterly  from the date of  Closing  and,  upon the  first  anniversary  of the
Closing,  Buyer will have the right to require Seller to remove any

                                       27
<PAGE>

and all such remaining  Excluded Excess Inventory (such inventory,  the "Removed
Excluded Excess  Inventory").  Upon the first anniversary of the Closing,  Buyer
and Seller will conduct a physical  inventory of the Excluded  Excess  Inventory
and if any of such Excluded Excess Inventory should be determined to be missing,
Buyer will promptly pay Seller the cost of such inventory.

               (c)  Litigation  and  Other  Third-Party   Disputes.   (i)  Netro
Arbitration  Matters.  Seller's  rights in and to any settlement with respect to
the  Netro  Arbitration,  as  more  fully  described  in  Schedule  3.14  on the
Disclosure  Schedule,  shall be  transferred  to Buyer.  In the event that Buyer
suffers  any  Damages  (as  defined  in  Section  8.1(c)  hereof)  or the  final
unappealable  award  is  less  than  $956,000,  subject  to  adjustment  in such
arbitration,  Seller shall pay Buyer such difference  and/or  indemnify and hold
Buyer  harmless with respect  thereto,  in which case  Seller's  indemnification
obligations contained in Article VIII of this Agreement are inapplicable.

                    (ii) Fore Systems,  Inc.  Matters.  The Fore  Systems,  Inc.
litigation  matter,  as more fully  described in Schedule 3.14 of the Disclosure
Schedule,  is not an Acquired  Asset and shall not be an Account  Receivable for
purposes  of the Draft  Closing  Date  Schedule.  Buyer  agrees  to render  such
assistance  as  Seller  may  reasonably  request  to  prosecute  this  matter to
conclusion, with reimbursement of time and expenses to be made at a fair rate to
be agreed upon at the time.

                    (iii) CoinWorld,  Inc. The CoinWorld,  Inc. dispute, as more
fully  described in Schedule 3.14 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  shall not be an
Assumed  Liability for purposes of this  Agreement.  Buyer agrees to render such
assistance  as  Seller  may  reasonably  request  to  prosecute  this  matter to
conclusion, with reimbursement of time and expenses to be made at a fair rate to
be agreed upon at the time.

                    (iv) Capsco,  Enhanced Cable,  Advanced Hardware Technology,
KBM, AlliedSPEC,  DeltaPac,  Jayco, Kalex,  Landsburg,  Meridan, Nanya, Paperpn,
Prepro, and Wldwiser Inventory Disputes.  The Capsco,  Enhanced Cable,  Advanced
Hardware  Technology,  KBM,  AlliedSPEC,   DeltaPac,  Jayco,  Kalex,  Landsburg,
Meridan, Nanya, Paperpn, Prepro, and Wldwiser Inventory Disputes shall not be an
Assumed  Liability for purposes of this  Agreement.  Buyer agrees to render such
assistance as Seller may reasonably  require to resolve these supplier disputes,
as more fully  described in Schedule 3.3(b) of the Disclosure  Schedule.  In the
event the supplier  prevails,  Seller agrees to purchase the inventory  that was
the subject of the dispute. Such inventory, when purchased and shipped by Seller
to Buyer,  shall be treated in the manner  specified in Section  6.16(b)(ii) for
Excluded  Excess  Inventory.  In the event that Buyer  suffers  any  Damages (as
defined  in  Section  8.1(c)  hereof),  Seller  shall  indemnify  and hold Buyer
harmless  with  respect   thereto,   in  which  case  Seller's   indemnification
obligations contained in Article VIII of this Agreement are inapplicable. Seller
shall reimburse Buyer for its time and expenses at a fair rate to be agreed upon
at the time.

               (d)   Excluded Bone-Pile  Inventory.  Schedule 6.16(d) sets forth
                     all of Seller's "Excess  Bone-Pile  Inventory"  (carried on
                     Seller's  books as of as of  April  19,  1999 at  $825,121,
                     subject to changes between that date and the Closing in the

                                       28
<PAGE>

                     ordinary  course of business).  If, between the date hereof
                     and the Closing,  Seller shall recover, or Buyer, using its
                     reasonable   efforts  shall  debug,   any  of  such  Excess
                     Bone-Pile Inventory, then such excess inventory shall be an
                     Acquired  Asset for purposes of this Agreement and shall be
                     transferred  to  Buyer  at  Closing,  with a  corresponding
                     dollar-for-dollar  reduction to appropriate  amounts above.
                     All  other  such  excess   inventory  shall  be  considered
                     "Excluded  Bone-Pile  Inventory"  (and  valued  net  of the
                     reduction in the previous sentence) and shall be treated in
                     the manner  specified in Section  6.16(b)(ii)  for Excluded
                     Excess Inventory.

               (e)   Other Excluded Amounts.  Schedule 6.16(e)(i) sets forth all
                     of  Seller's  "Amounts  Paid in Prior  Months Not Billed to
                     Customers"  and  Schedule  6.16(e)(ii)  sets  forth  all of
                     Seller's   "Prior   Month   Billings   Without   Customers"
                     (collectively  carried  on  Seller's  books as of March 31,
                     1999 at $189,616,  subject to changes between that date and
                     the  Closing  in the  ordinary  course  of  business).  If,
                     between the date hereof and the Closing, Seller shall shall
                     receive   a   purchase   order   with   respect   to   such
                     tools/fixtures,  or  execute  a  written  contract  with  a
                     customer  pursuant to which such customer  agrees to accept
                     such tools/fixtures,  then such excess tools/fixtures shall
                     be an Acquired  Asset for  purposes of this  Agreement  and
                     shall  be   transferred   to  Buyer  at  Closing,   with  a
                     corresponding  dollar-for-dollar  reduction to  appropriate
                     amount above. All other such excess tools/fixtures shall be
                     considered  "Other Excluded Amounts" (and valued net of the
                     reduction  in the previous  sentence)  and shall be treated
                     valued net of the  reduction in the previous  sentence) and
                     shall  be  treated  in  the  manner  specified  in  Section
                     6.16(b)(ii) for Excluded Excess Inventory.

               (f)   Excluded 90-Day A/R. Schedule 6.16(f) will set forth, as of
                     the Closing, all of Seller's accounts receivable which have
                     aged more than 90 days from their respective  invoice dates
                     (the "90-Day  A/R"),  and all of which are  transferred  to
                     Buyer at the  Closing.  To the  extent  that,  between  the
                     Closing  and the date which is 90 days  later,  Buyer shall
                     not have collected any of the 90-Day A/R's, Buyer will have
                     the right to require  Seller to repurchase any and all such
                     remaining  90-Day  A/R's (the  "Excluded  90-Day  A/R") and
                     Seller shall  repurchase  the  Excluded  90-Day A/R at face
                     value  (the  "Repurchased  90-Day  A/R").  This  repurchase
                     obligation shall not be subject to the limitation contained
                     in Section 8.1(f) of this Agreement.

         6.17  Profit  Sharing.  To the extent  that Buyer earns a profit on its
operations of the Business from the Closing Date through and including  June 30,
1999, Buyer will reimburse Seller for any Operating Losses Seller may incur with
respect  to its  operations  of the  Business  from  April 1, 1999  through  and
including  the Closing  Date.  For  purposes of this  Section  6.17,  "Operating
Income/Losses"   will  be  calculated   consistently  with  Seller's  accounting
practices and policies

                                       29
<PAGE>

employed  prior  to  the  Closing  Date  by  Seller,  and in  the  event  of any
disagreement,  the dispute  mechanisms  provided  in Section  2.5(b) will apply.
Corporate overhead of Buyer and Seller, for the respective periods,  will not be
taken into  account in this  calculation,  however,  in the event  Buyer  and/or
Seller has capital  employed in the Business during their  respective  operating
periods, interest will be allowed at the rate of 7.20%.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                       CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS TO CLOSE

         7.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party. The respective obligations
of each party to this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior
to the  Closing of the  following  conditions:

               (a) Government Approvals. All applicable waiting periods (and any
extensions  thereof)  under the HSR Act shall  have  expired or  otherwise  been
terminated,  and all  authorizations,  consents,  orders,  or  approvals  of, or
declarations  or filings with, or expiration of waiting  periods imposed by, any
governmental   entity   necessary  for  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been obtained.

               (b)  No  Injunctions  or  Restraints;  Illegality.  No  temporary
restraining order,  preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent  jurisdiction  or other legal or regulatory  restraint or
prohibition preventing the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby
shall be in effect.

         7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Seller. The obligations
of the Seller to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement
shall be subject to the  satisfaction  at or prior to the Closing of each of the
following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the
Seller:

               (a)    Representations,    Warranties,    and   Covenants.    The
representations  and warranties of Buyer  contained in this  Agreement  shall be
true and correct in all  material  respects  on the  Closing  Date except to the
extent  such  representations  and  warranties  address  matters  only  as  of a
particular  date (which shall remain true and correct as of such date),  and the
Buyer shall have  performed  and  complied  in all  material  respects  with all
covenants  including  the  payment  of  the  Consideration,   obligations,   and
conditions of this Agreement required to be performed and complied with by it as
of the Closing Date.

               (b)  Certificate  of Buyer.  The Buyer  shall have  provided  the
Seller with a certificate  executed on behalf of Buyer by its President,  or any
Vice  President,  and its Chief  Financial  Officer to the effect that as of the
Closing Date:

                                       30
<PAGE>

                    (i) all  representations  and  warranties  made by the Buyer
under this  Agreement are true and complete in all material  respects;  and

                    (ii) all  covenants,  obligations,  and  conditions  of this
Agreement  to be  performed  by the  Buyer on or  before  such date have been so
performed in all material  respects.

               (c) Opinion of Counsel.  Seller  shall have  received an opinion,
addressed to it and dated the Closing Date, of Dorsey & Whitney,  counsel to the
Buyer, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit D.


         7.3 Additional  Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer. The obligations
of Buyer to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be
subject to the  satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each of the following
conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Buyer:

               (a)    Representations,    Warranties,    and   Covenants.    The
representations  and warranties of the Seller  contained in this Agreement shall
be true and correct in all material  respects on the Closing Date, except to the
extent  such  representations  and  warranties  address  matters  only  as  of a
particular  date (which  shall  remain true and correct as of such date) and the
Seller  shall have  performed  and complied in all  material  respects  with all
covenants,  obligations,  and  conditions  of  this  Agreement  required  to  be
performed and complied with by it as of the Closing Date.

               (b)  Certificate  of the Seller.  Buyer shall have been  provided
with certificates  executed on behalf of the Seller by its respective President,
or any Vice President,  and Chief Financial Officer to the effect that as of the
Closing Date:

                    (i) all  representations  and warranties made by such entity
under this  Agreement are true and complete in all material  respects;  and

                    (ii) all  covenants,  obligations,  and  conditions  of this
Agreement  to be  performed  by such  entity on or before such date have been so
performed in all  material  respects.

               (c)  Opinion of Counsel.  Buyer  shall have  received an opinion,
addressed to it and dated the Closing Date, of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
P.C., counsel to the Seller, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E.

               (d)  Assignment  of  Facility,  Equipment  Lessors,  Customer and
Supplier Contracts. All consents necessary to assign the Assumed Leases, as well
as the  customer  and  material  supplier  contracts  to Buyer  shall  have been
obtained.

                                       31

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII

           SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION

         8.1 Indemnification.

               (a) Indemnification by the Seller.  Subject to the qualifications
and limitations in this Section 8.1, if the Closing is consummated, Seller shall
indemnify  and defend and hold Buyer,  its  subsidiaries,  directors,  officers,
agents,  and other Affiliates  harmless against and with respect to, any and all
Damages  (as  defined  in  subsection  8.1(c)  below)  incurred  by  Buyer,  its
subsidiaries, directors, officers, agents or other Affiliates as a result of any
of the  following:

                    (i) any  inaccuracy  or  misrepresentation  by Seller in, or
breach of any  warranty of Seller in, this  Agreement  or the related  documents
executed  and  delivered  by  Seller in  connection  with  this  Agreement  (the
"Operative  Documents");

                    (ii) any breach or  failure by Seller to perform  any of its
covenants  or  agreements  under this  Agreement  or any of the other  Operative
Documents;  and

                    (iii) any liability of the Business arising exclusively from
events occurring prior to the Closing Date which are not expressly being assumed
by Buyer hereunder.

               (b)  Indemnification by Buyer.  Subject to the qualifications and
limitations  in this  Section  8.1, if the Closing is  consummated,  Buyer shall
indemnify and defend and hold Seller and its directors,  officers,  agents,  and
other  Affiliates  harmless against and with respect to, any and all Damages (as
defined in subsection  8.1(c) below) incurred by Seller or any of its directors,
officers,  agents or other  Affiliates as a result of any of the following:

                    (i) any  inaccuracy  or  misrepresentation  by Buyer  in, or
breach  of any  warranty  of Buyer in,  this  Agreement  or the other  Operative
Documents;

                    (ii) any breach or  failure  by Buyer to perform  any of its
covenants  or  agreements  under this  Agreement  or any of the other  Operative
Documents; and

                    (iii) any Assumed Obligation.

               (c) Damages.  For purposes of this Section 8.1,  "Damages"  means
all  demands,  claims,  claims for  reimbursement,  actions or causes of action,
assessments,  losses,  damages,  costs,  expenses,  liabilities,   deficiencies,
judgments,  awards,  fines,  sanctions,  penalties,  charges and amounts paid in
settlement,  whether civil, criminal or administrative in nature,  including the
reasonable  costs,  fees  and  expenses  of  attorneys,   experts,  accountants,
appraisers, consultants, witnesses, investigators and agents and all such costs,
fees and  expenses  incurred in  defending  against any of the  foregoing  or in
enforcing  this  Agreement  or  the  Operative  Documents.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing  definition,  when used with  reference to amounts  recoverable as the

                                       32
<PAGE>

result of any breach of a representation, warranty or covenant contained in this
Agreement or any other  Operative  Document,  Damages shall not include  amounts
recoverable  solely  as lost  profits,  incidental  damages,  indirect  damages,
special damages,  punitive damages or consequential  damages unless such damages
arise from a third-party claim.

               (d)   Procedure   for   Indemnification.    The   procedure   for
indemnification shall be as follows:

                    (i) The party claiming  indemnification  ("Claimant") shall,
within   thirty  (30)  days  after  its   discovery   of  any  claim  for  which
indemnification will be sought as provided in this Agreement (the "Claim"), give
notice to the party from whom  indemnification  is sought  ("Indemnitor") of its
Claim,  specifying in reasonable  detail the factual basis for the Claim and, to
the extent known, the amount of the Claim.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the
failure by Claimant to provide notice of any Claim within the period  specified,
or any  delay  in  providing  such  notice,  shall  not  affect  or  impair  the
obligations  of  Indemnitor  hereunder,  except  and  only  to the  extent  that
Indemnitor has been adversely affected by such failure or delay.

                    (ii) With respect to Claims  between the parties,  following
receipt of notice  from  Claimant of a Claim,  Indemnitor  shall have sixty (60)
days to make any  investigation  of the Claim that Indemnitor deems necessary or
desirable. For purposes of this investigation, Claimant agrees to make available
to Indemnitor and its authorized  representatives the information relied upon by
Claimant to substantiate  the Claim. If Claimant and Indemnitor  cannot agree as
to the validity and amount of the Claim within the sixty (60) day period (or any
mutually agreed upon extension  thereof),  Claimant may seek  appropriate  legal
remedy, subject to the provisions of Section 8.3.

                    (iii) With respect to any Claim by a third party as to which
Claimant is entitled to  indemnification  hereunder,  Indemnitor  shall have the
right, exercisable by written notice to Claimant within 30 days after receipt of
written notice from Claimant of the commencement or assertion of any such Claim,
at its own  expense to  participate  in or assume  control of the defense of the
Claim,  and Claimant shall  cooperate fully with  Indemnitor,  with the right to
reimbursement for actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Claimant as a result
of any such request by the  Indemnitor.  If Indemnitor  does not elect to assume
control or otherwise  participate in the defense of any third party Claim within
thirty (30) days of its receipt of notice of the Claim (or any  extended  period
mutually  agreed upon in writing by the parties),  Claimant shall have the right
to undertake the defense,  compromise or settlement of the Claim for the account
of Indemnitor subject to the right of Indemnitor,  at its expense, to assume the
defense  of the  Claim at any time  prior to  final  settlement,  compromise  or
determination  thereof. In no event shall Indemnitor be liable or otherwise have
any obligation with respect to any settlement,  compromise or  determination  of
any Claim agreed to by Claimant  without the prior written consent of Indemnitor
(which consent will not be withheld unreasonably).

                    (iv) The defending party shall have reasonable access to the
books, records and personnel which are pertinent to the defense and which are in
control of the other party. The

                                       33
<PAGE>

parties agree to furnish such records,  information  and  testimony,  and attend
such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials and appeals, as may be
reasonably  requested by the other party in connection  with defending any third
party Claim.

               (e) Limitations and Conditions  Applicable to Buyer. The right of
Buyer to obtain  indemnification  from Seller pursuant to Section 8.1(a) of this
Agreement is subject to the following limitations:

                    (i) Buyer  shall not be  entitled  to  indemnification  from
Seller  pursuant to Section 8.1(a) until the aggregate  Damages for which Seller
is liable  under  Section  8.1(a)  exceed  $150,000,  whereupon  Buyer  shall be
entitled to indemnification by Seller for all such Damages  thereafter,  and for
$75,000 of the first  $150,000 of such Damages  (and Buyer shall be  responsible
for the other $75,000 of the first $150,000 of such  Damages).

                    (ii) Buyer  shall not be entitled  to  indemnification  from
Seller  pursuant  to  Section  8.1(a)  for that  amount  in excess of 35% of the
purchase  price.

                    (iii) No Claim  shall be  brought  by Buyer  against  Seller
under  Section  8.1(a)  unless  notice in writing of such Claim  shall have been
given to Seller on or prior to 5:00 p.m.  Pacific  Standard  Time on the  second
anniversary  of the Closing  Date,  except for claims based on an  inaccuracy or
misrepresentation  by Seller with respect to the  representations  or warranties
made in (i)  Section  3.8 hereof  with  respect to title to the Assets for which
notice in  writing  of any such claim must be given to Seller on or prior to the
expiration of the applicable  statute of limitations period for any such claims,
or (ii) in Section 3.12 with respect to  environmental  matters for which notice
in  writing  of any such  claim must be given to seller on or prior to 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Standard time on the fifth  anniversary of the Closing Date.  Claims may
be  brought  against  Seller  as to any  Damages  (or a  potential  claim  by an
appropriate  party) asserted in good faith prior to such dates.

                    (iv)  Buyer  shall not be  entitled  to  recover  Damages in
respect of any Claim or otherwise obtain  reimbursement or restitution more than
once with respect to any claim hereunder. For any matter for which an adjustment
has been made subject to Section 2.5, there will be no indemnification  for such
matter for the amount of the  adjustment.

                    (v) In calculating the amount of any indemnifiable  Damages,
there shall be  deducted  any actual tax  benefit  realized  by the  Indemnified
Person.

                    (vi) The Buyer  shall first seek  recovery  from any Damages
from any applicable  insurance.

               (f) Limitations and Conditions Applicable to Seller. The right of
Seller to obtain  indemnification  from Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(b) of this
Agreement  is  subject to the  following  limitations:

                                       34
<PAGE>

                    (i) Seller  shall not be  entitled to  indemnification  from
Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(b) until the aggregate  Damages for which Buyer is
liable under Section 8.1(b) exceed $150,000,  whereupon Seller shall be entitled
to indemnification by Buyer for all such Damages thereafter,  and for $75,000 of
the first $150,000 of such Damages (and Seller will be responsible for the other
$75,000  of the  first  $150,000  of such  Damages).

                    (ii) Seller  shall not be entitled to  indemnification  from
Buyer  pursuant to Section  8.1(b) for that amount of its aggregate  Damages for
which  Buyer is liable  under  Section  8.1(b)  which is in excess of 35% of the
purchase price; provided,  however, that the above limitation shall not apply as
to Damages arising from failure by the Buyer to pay the Purchase Price or to pay
or  discharge  of the  Assume  Liabilities.

                    (iii) No Claim  shall be  brought  by Seller  against  Buyer
under  Section  8.1(b)  unless  notice in writing of such Claim  shall have been
given to Buyer on or prior to 5:00  p.m.  Pacific  Standard  Time on the  second
anniversary of the Closing Date,  but Claims may be brought  against Buyer as to
any Damages  (or a potential  claim by an  appropriate  party)  asserted in good
faith prior to such date.

                    (iv)  Seller  shall not be  entitled  to recover  Damages in
respect of any Claim or otherwise obtain  reimbursement or restitution more than
once with respect to any claim hereunder. For any matter which an adjustment has
been made  subject to Section  2.5,  there will be no  indemnification  for such
matter for the amount of the  adjustment.

                    (v) In calculating the amount of any  indemnfiable  Damages,
there shall be  deducted  any actual tax  benefit  realized  by the  Indemnified
Party.

                    (vi) The Seller  shall first seek  recovery  for any Damages
from any applicable insurance.

               (g)  Remedies  Exclusive.  Except for the  remedies  provided  in
Section  6.16(c)(i) and (iv), the remedies provided in this Section 8.1 shall be
exclusive  as to any  Claims  by a  party  under  this  Agreement  or any  other
Operative  Document or arising out of the  transactions  provided for herein and
therein and shall  preclude  assertion  by any party of any other  rights or the
seeking of any other remedies  against another party;  provided,  however,  that
nothing in this Section 8.1(g) shall limit rights or remedies expressly provided
for in this Agreement in Section 6.12 (non-competition),  rights or remedies for
fraud,  or rights or remedies  which,  as a matter of  applicable  law or public
policy, cannot be limited or waived.

         8.2  Arbitration.  Any controversy  involving a claim by an indemnified
party  pursuant to this Article VIII shall be finally  settled by arbitration in
the  County of Santa  Clara,  California  in  accordance  with the then  current
Commercial  Arbitration  Rules  of the  American  Arbitration  Association;  and
judgment upon the award  rendered by the  arbitrator may be entered in any court
having  jurisdiction   thereof.  Such  arbitration  shall  be  conducted  by  an
arbitrator  chosen  by  mutual


                                       35
<PAGE>

agreement of Buyer and Seller. Failing such agreement,  the arbitration shall be
conducted  by  three  independent  arbitrators,  none of  whom  shall  have  any
competitive  interests  with  Buyer  or  Seller.  Buyer  shall  choose  one such
arbitrator,  Seller shall choose one such  arbitrator,  and such two arbitrators
shall mutually select a third  arbitrator.  Any decision of two such arbitrators
shall be binding  on Buyer and  Seller.  Each party  shall pay its own costs and
expenses  (including  counsel  fees) of any  such  arbitration  except  that the
arbitrator  can compel  one party to pay all or a portion  of the other  party's
costs and expenses.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

         9.1  Termination.  Except  as  provided  in  Section  9.2  below,  this
Agreement may be terminated at any time  prior to the Closing Date:

               (a) by mutual consent of Buyer and the Seller;

               (b) by  Buyer  or the  Seller  if (i) the  Closing  Date  has not
occurred by June 30, 1999  (provided  that the right to terminate this Agreement
under this clause  9.1(b)(i)  shall not be available to any party whose  willful
failure to fulfill any  obligation  hereunder has been the cause of, or resulted
in, the failure of the Closing Date to occur on or before such date); (ii) there
shall be a final  nonappealable  order of a federal,  state, or foreign court in
effect preventing consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (iii)
there shall be any statute,  rule,  regulation or order enacted,  promulgated or
issued or deemed  applicable  hereto by any Governmental  Entity that would make
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal;

               (c) by Buyer if there shall be any action taken,  or any statute,
rule,  regulation or order enacted,  promulgated or issued or deemed  applicable
hereto,  by any Governmental  Entity,  which would prohibit Buyer's ownership or
operation of the Business,  which prohibition  cannot reasonably be addressed by
allowing Seller to retain the affected portion of the Business;  (d) by Buyer if
it is not in material breach of its  obligations  under this Agreement and there
has  been a  breach  of any  representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  agreement
contained  in this  Agreement  on the part of the Seller and as a result of such
breach  the  conditions  set forth in  Section  7.3(a)  would not be  satisfied;
provided,  however, that if such breach is curable by the Seller within ten days
through the exercise of its reasonable  efforts,  then for so long as the Seller
continues to exercise  such  reasonable  efforts  Buyer may not  terminate  this
Agreement  under this Section  9.1(d) unless such breach is not cured within ten
days (but no cure  period  shall be  required  for a breach  which by its nature
cannot be cured);

               (e) by Buyer if there has been a material  adverse  change in the
Business  that  reduces  the book value of the  Business by more than 10% of the
Purchase Price; or

                                       36
<PAGE>

               (f) by the  Seller if neither  Seller  nor Buyer are in  material
breach of their  obligations under this Agreement and there has been a breach of
any representation,  warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement
on the part of Buyer and as a result of such breach the  conditions set forth in
Section 7.2(a),  would not then be satisfied;  provided,  however,  that if such
breach  is  curable  by  Buyer  within  ten days  through  the  exercise  of its
reasonable  best efforts,  then for so long as Buyer  continues to exercise such
reasonable  best efforts the Seller may not terminate this Agreement  under this
Section 0 unless  such  breach is not cured  within ten days (but no cure period
shall be required for a breach which by its nature cannot be cured).

               (g) In the event that this  Agreement is terminated by Buyer as a
result of  "force  majeure"  events  that lead to  Buyer's  inability  to obtain
financing, Buyer shall pay Seller a termination fee in the amount of $500,000.00
in cash within ten (10) business days of such termination.  If this Agreement is
terminated  by  Buyer  for any  other  reason  other  than  those  specified  in
subsections  (a) through (d) above,  Buyer shall pay Seller a termination fee in
the  amount  of  $2,500,000  in  cash  within  ten  (10)  business  days of such
termination.  This  termination  fee shall be the sole and  exclusive  remedy of
Seller for such  termination by Buyer.  For the purposes of this subsection (g),
the term "force  majeure"  shall mean an act of God,  riot,  war,  civil unrest,
flood,  earthquake,  or other cause beyond such party's  reasonable control that
results in significant  adverse effects on the debt and equity capital  markets.


         9.2  Effect  of  Termination.  In the  event  of  termination  of  this
Agreement as provided in Section 9, this Agreement shall  forthwith  become void
and,  there  shall be no  liability  or  obligation  on the part of Buyer or the
Seller, or their respective officers,  directors or stockholders,  provided that
(i) the  provisions of Section 6.4  (Confidentiality)  and this Article IX shall
remain in full force and effect and survive any  termination of this  Agreement,
and (ii) the  termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party from any
liability for any willful and knowing breach of this Agreement.

         9.3 Amendment. Except as is otherwise required by applicable law, prior
to the Closing,  this Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time
by execution  of an  instrument  in writing  signed by the Buyer and the Seller.
Except as is otherwise  required by  applicable  law,  after the  Closing,  this
Agreement  may be amended by the parties  hereto at any time by  execution of an
instrument in writing signed by Buyer and the Seller.

         9.4 Extension;  Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing, Buyer and the
Seller  may,  to the  extent  legally  allowed,  (i)  extend  the  time  for the
performance of any of the obligations of the other party hereto,  (ii) waive any
inaccuracies in the  representations and warranties made to such party contained
herein or in any document  delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained
herein.  Any  agreement on the part of a party  hereto to any such  extension or
waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an  instrument  in writing  signed on
behalf of such party.

                                       37

<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE X

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         10.1 Notices. Any request,  communication,  or other notice required or
permitted  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if sent by facsimile or delivered by recognized overnight or international
courier  service or personal  delivery  (as the  situation  may  require) at the
respective  address or  facsimile  number of the party  receiving  notice as set
forth  below.  Any party  hereto may by notice so given  change  its  address or
facsimile  number  for  future  notice  hereunder.  All such  notices  and other
communications  hereunder  shall  be  deemed  given  (i)  upon  confirmation  of
delivery,  if sent by facsimile  and (ii) upon  delivery,  if sent by recognized
overnight  or  international  courier  service or personal  delivery.

               (a)  if to Seller, to:

                    Bell Microproducts Inc.
                    1941 Ringwood Avenue
                    San Jose, California 95131-1721
                    Attn:  Bruce M. Jaffe, Senior Vice President
                    Telephone No.:  (408) 451-1685

                    with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

                    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
                    650 Page Mill Road
                    Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
                    Attn:  Larry W. Sonsini, Esq. and Thomas C. Klein, Esq.
                    Telephone No.:  (650) 493-9300
                    Facsimile No.:  (650) 493-6811

               (b)  if to the Buyer, to:

                    PEMSTAR INC.
                    3535 Technology Drive

                    Rochester, MN  55901
                    Attn:  Al Berning
                    Telephone No.:  (507) 288-6720
                    Facsimile No.:  (507) 280-0838

                    with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

                    Dorsey & Whitney LLC
                    201 First Avenue, SW, Suite 340



                                       38
<PAGE>

                    Rochester, MN 55902

                    Attn:  Bill Jonason, Esq.
                    Telephone No.: (507) 529-2207
                    Facsimile No.: (507) 288-6190


         10.2  Interpretation.  The words "include,"  "includes" and "including"
when  used  herein  shall be deemed  in each  case to be  followed  by the words
"without  limitation."  The word "agreement" when used herein shall be deemed in
each case to mean any contract,  commitment or other agreement,  whether oral or
written,  that is legally binding.  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.

         10.3 Expenses.  All fees and expenses  incurred in connection with this
Agreement  including,  without  limitation,  all  legal,  accounting,  financial
advisory,  consulting and all other fees and expenses of third parties  incurred
by a party hereto,  in connection with the  negotiation and  effectuation of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
shall  be the  obligation  of the  respective  party  incurring  such  fees  and
expenses.

         10.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, both
of which  shall  be  considered  one and the same  agreement  and  shall  become
effective  when  counterparts  have  been  signed  by  each of the  parties  and
delivered to the other party.

         10.5 Entire Agreement;  Assignment.  This Agreement,  the schedules and
exhibits  hereto,  and the documents and instruments and other  agreements among
the parties hereto referenced  herein: (a) constitute the entire agreement among
the parties with respect to the subject  matter  hereof and  supersede all prior
agreements  and  understandings,  both written and oral,  among the parties with
respect to the subject  matter  hereof;  (b) are not intended to confer upon any
other person any rights or remedies hereunder;  and (c) shall not be assigned by
operation of law or otherwise except as otherwise  specifically  provided.

         10.6 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or
the  application  thereof,  becomes  or is  declared  by a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction  to be  illegal,  void  or  unenforceable,  the  remainder  of this
Agreement  will  continue in full force and effect and the  application  of such
provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably
to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace
such  void or  unenforceable  provision  of  this  Agreement  with a  valid  and
enforceable  provision that will achieve, to the extent possible,  the economic,
business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable  provision.

         10.7  Sole  Remedy.   Except  for  the  remedies  provided  in  Section
6.16(c)(i)  and (iv),  the  indemnification  provided by Section 8.1 is the sole
remedy of the parties  hereto or any other person

                                       39
<PAGE>

or entity claming a remedy for any and all matters  whatsoever  arising under or
related to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement or the  Operative
Documents,   except  as  set  forth  in  Section  8.1(g).

         10.8 Governing Law;  Arbitration.  This Agreement  shall be governed by
and construed in accordance  with the internal laws of the State of  California,
regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under  applicable  principles
of conflicts of laws thereof.  Any claim or dispute arising out of or related to
this  Agreement,  or  the  interpretation,   making,   performance,   breach  or
termination  thereof,  shall be  finally  and  exclusively  settled  by  binding
arbitration in San Jose,  California under the AAA Commercial  Arbitration Rules
and Supplemental  Procedures for Large Complex  Disputes by a single  arbitrator
mutually agreeable to the Buyer and the Seller. In the event that within 45 days
after the  submission  of any dispute to  arbitration,  the Buyer and the Seller
cannot  mutually  agree on a single  arbitrator,  the Buyer and the Seller shall
each select one  arbitrator  and the AAA shall  select a third  arbitrator.  The
arbitrator(s) shall have the authority to grant any equitable and legal remedies
that would be available in any judicial  proceeding  instituted under California
substantive  law to resolve a dispute.  Judgment  on the award  rendered  by the
arbitrators  may be  entered  in any  court  having  jurisdiction  thereof.  The
arbitrator(s)  may award to the prevailing  party,  if any, as determined by the
arbitrator(s),  all of its costs and fees,  including,  without limitation,  AAA
administrative  fees,  arbitrator fees,  attorneys' fees,  expert fees,  witness
fees, travel expenses and out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation,
such expenses as copying, telephone,  facsimile,  postage and courier fees). The
parties to the arbitration may apply to any court of competent  jurisdiction for
a  temporary  restraining  order,  preliminary  injunction  or other  interim or
conservatory relief, as necessary,  without breach of this arbitration provision
and  without any  abridgement  of the powers of the  arbitrator(s).  The parties
agree that,  any  provision of  applicable  law  notwithstanding,  they will not
request,  and the  arbitrator(s)  shall have no authority to award,  punitive or
exemplary  damages against any party.

         10.9 Rules of  Construction.  The parties  hereto  agree that they have
been  represented  by  counsel  during the  negotiation  and  execution  of this
Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation,  holding
or rule of  construction  providing  that  ambiguities  in an agreement or other
document  will be  construed  against  the  party  drafting  such  agreement  or
document.

         10.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or remedies  upon any person or entity other than the parties  hereto and
their respective  successors and permitted assigns.

         10.11 Specific  Performance.  The parties hereto agree that irreparable
damage will occur in the event that any of the  provisions of this Agreement are
not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached.
It is accordingly  agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent  breaches of this  Agreement and to enforce  specifically
the terms and  provisions  hereof in any court of the United States or any state
having  jurisdiction,  this being in addition to any other  remedy to which they
are entitled at law or in equity.

                                       40
<PAGE>

         10.12 Publicity.  Buyer and Seller shall not, without the prior written
consent  of the other  party,  make any public  announcement  in which the other
party is mentioned; provided that either party may make any public disclosure it
believes in good faith to be required by applicable  law or stock exchange rule,
in which case the  disclosing  party will use reasonably  commercial  efforts to
advise the other party  prior to making such  disclosure.

         10.13  Assignment  by Buyer.  Buyer may assign  this  Agreement  to any
subsidiary of Buyer, provided,  however, that the indemnification obligations of
Buyer under this Agreement  shall remain with Buyer.

         10.14  Change in Control of Buyer.  In the event that there  shall be a
change in control of Buyer, whether through merger, consolidation,  or corporate
reorganization,  or by acquisition of all or substantially  all of the assets of
Buyer,  this  Agreement  and all the rights and  obligations  hereunder,  may be
transferred  to the  surviving  or  resulting  entity  so  long  as,  (a) in the
reasonable  opinion of Seller (i) such entity is not then  engaged,  or does not
then intend to become engaged,  in any  distribution  business  competitive with
that of Seller,  or (ii) the  acquisition by such entity of the Business as then
conducted  by Buyer could not  otherwise  reasonably  be  expected to  adversely
affect the legitimate  business or strategic  interests of Seller,  and (b) such
person agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.



                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


                                       41
<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Buyer and the Seller  have  caused this Asset
Purchase Agreement to be signed as of the date first written above.

"BUYER"                           PEMSTAR INC.
- -------                           a Minnesota Corporation

                                  By: __________________________________________

                                  Name: ________________________________________

                                  Title: _______________________________________



"SELLER"                          BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC.
- --------                          a California Corporation

                                  By: __________________________________________

                                  Name: ________________________________________

                                  Title: _______________________________________



                                  By: __________________________________________

                                  Name: ________________________________________

                                  Title: _______________________________________





                  [Signature Page to Asset Purchase Agreement]



                                       42
<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

                         DECEMBER 31, 1998 BALANCE SHEET


<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT B

                       BILL OF SALE AND GENERAL ASSIGNMENT



<PAGE>



                  FORM OF BILL OF SALE AND GENERAL ASSIGNMENT


         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that BELL  MICROPRODUCTS  INC., a
California  corporation  (the  "Seller")  for good and  valuable  consideration,
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, does hereby sell, assign, transfer, and
deliver to PEMSTAR INC., a Minnesota  corporation,  its  successors  and assigns
("Buyer") all its right,  title,  and interest  ("Seller's  Interest") in and to
each of the Acquired Assets (as defined in that certain Asset Purchase Agreement
between  Buyer and Seller  dated as of April 30,  1999,  as amended  (the "Asset
Purchase Agreement") being purchased by Buyer and sold by Seller pursuant to the
Asset Purchase Agreement.

         Seller,  its  successors  and assigns,  covenants and agrees with Buyer
that Seller is the lawful owner of the Acquired Assets and has the right to sell
the same as aforesaid and that the same are free from all encumbrances except as
may be disclosed in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

         Seller  hereby  constitutes  and  appoints  Buyer  the true and  lawful
attorney-in-fact of each of them with full power of substitution in the name and
stead of each of them,  on behalf  and for the  benefit  of Buyer to demand  and
receive any and all of Seller's Interest in the Acquired Assets hereby conveyed,
and to give  receipts and releases for and in respect of the same,  and any part
thereof,  and from time to time to institute and prosecute in the name of Seller
and Seller's successors and assigns,  any and all proceedings at law, in equity,
or  otherwise,  which  Buyer may deem  proper in order to  collect  or reduce to
possession  any and all of  Seller's  Interest  in the  Acquired  Assets  hereby
conveyed  or to  collect  or  enforce  any claim or right  hereby  conveyed,  or
intended to be  conveyed,  and to do all acts and things in relation to Seller's
Interest  in  the  Acquired  Assets  hereby  conveyed  which  Buyer  shall  deem
desirable.

         Seller  hereby  agrees  that it will,  from time to time,  execute  and
deliver such further instruments of conveyance and transfer as may be reasonably
required  by Buyer to  implement  and  effectuate  this Bill of Sale and General
Assignment.



<PAGE>

         This Bill of Sale and General  Assignment is executed and delivered in,
and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the state of
California,  and shall be  binding  upon and shall  inure to the  benefit of the
respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  have duly executed this Bill of
Sale and General  Assignment as of this __th day of June,  1999, to be effective
on this same date.





                              SELLER:



                              BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC.



                                       By:____________________________

                                       Title:_________________________



                                       By:____________________________

                                       Title:_________________________



                              BUYER:

                              PEMSTAR INC.



                                       By:____________________________

                                       Title:_________________________



<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT C

           UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF THE BUSINESS
                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

           Statement of Income (000's)               Historical    Adjustments     Proforma
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------- -----------------------------
1996
- --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>           <C>
Sales                                                  $483,316       $ 92,129      $ 391,187
Cost of sales                                           425,258         80,208        345,050
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Gross profit                                           58,058         11,921         46,137

Marketing, general and
 administrative expenses                                 41,008          4,909         36,099
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Income from operations                                 17,050          7,012         10,038

Interest expense                                          3,495          2,636            859
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
Income before taxes                                      13,555          4,376          9,179
Provision for income taxes                               (5,693)        (1,838)        (3,855)
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Net income                                            $ 7,862        $ 2,538        $ 5,324
                                                       ========       ========      =========

Earnings per share basic                                 $ 0.94         $ 0.30         $ 0.64
Earnings per share diluted                               $ 0.92         $ 0.30         $ 0.63

Shares outstanding - basic                                8,359          8,359          8,359
Shares outstanding - diluted                              8,511          8,511          8,511

1997
- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Sales                                                  $533,736       $ 73,220      $ 460,516
Cost of sales                                           476,648         70,347        406,301
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Gross profit                                           57,088          2,873         54,215

Marketing, general and
 administrative expenses                                 44,430          3,556         40,874
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Income from operations                                 12,658           (683)        13,341

Interest expense                                          4,574          2,123          2,451
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
Income before taxes                                       8,084         (2,806)        10,890
Provision for income taxes                               (3,395)         1,179         (4,574)
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Net income                                            $ 4,689       $ (1,627)       $ 6,316
                                                       ========       ========      =========

Earnings per share basic                                 $ 0.55        $ (0.19)        $ 0.74
Earnings per share diluted                               $ 0.53        $ (0.18)        $ 0.71

Shares outstanding - basic                                8,562          8,562          8,562
Shares outstanding - diluted                              8,906          8,906          8,906

1998
- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Sales                                                  $661,428       $ 86,098      $ 575,330
Cost of sales                                           595,504         84,028        511,476
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Gross profit                                           65,924          2,070         63,854

Marketing, general and
 administrative expenses                                 49,738          3,665         46,073
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Income from operations                                 16,186         (1,595)        17,781

Interest expense                                          5,711          2,686          3,025
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
Income before taxes                                      10,475         (4,281)        14,756
Provision for income taxes                               (4,400)         1,798         (6,198)
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Net income                                              6,075         (2,483)         8,558
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
  Foreign currency translation adjustments                   48              -             48
                                                       --------       --------      ---------
  Comprehensive income                                  $ 6,123       $ (2,483)       $ 8,606
                                                       ========       ========      =========

Earnings per share basic                                 $ 0.69        $ (0.28)        $ 0.97
Earnings per share diluted                               $ 0.68        $ (0.28)        $ 0.96

Shares outstanding - basic                                8,792          8,792          8,792
Shares outstanding - diluted                              8,881          8,881          8,881
- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

         UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF THE BUSINESS FOR
                    THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997



<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E

                          DIVISION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT F

                          MARCH 31, 1999 BALANCE SHEET

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT G

                        FORM OF OPINION OF BUYER COUNSEL



<PAGE>


                              FORM OF BUYER OPINION

1.  Buyer is a corporation  duly  organized and validly  existing  under, and by
virtue of, the laws of the State of Minnesota and is in good standing under such
laws.

2.  Buyer has all requisite legal and corporate power to execute and deliver the
[Transaction  Agreements] and to carry out and perform its obligations under the
terms thereof.

3.  All corporate  action on the part of Buyer necessary for the  authorization,
execution and delivery of the  [Transaction  Agreements]  and the performance of
Buyer's obligations thereunder has been taken. The [Transaction Agreements] been
duly and  validly  executed  and  delivered  by Buyer and  constitute  valid and
binding obligations of Buyer enforceable in accordance with their terms.

4.  Buyer  is not in  violation  of any  term of its  [Articles/Certificate]  of
Incorporation  or  Bylaws.  The  execution  and  delivery  of  the  [Transaction
Agreements] by Buyer, and the performance of its obligations thereunder, are not
in violation or breach of the  [Articles/Certificate] of Incorporation or Bylaws
of Buyer.


<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT H

                        FORM OF OPINION OF SELLER COUNSEL



<PAGE>


                             FORM OF SELLER OPINION

1.  Seller is a corporation duly organized and validly  existing  under,  and by
virtue of, the laws of the State of  California  and is in good  standing  under
such  laws.  Seller  has  requisite  corporate  power  to own  and  operate  its
properties and assets, and to carry on its business as presently conducted.

2.  Seller  has all requisite legal and  corporate power to execute  and deliver
the [Transaction  Agreements] and to carry out and perform its obligations under
the terms thereof.

3.  All corporate action on the part of Seller necessary for the  authorization,
execution and delivery of the  [Transaction  Agreements]  and the performance of
Seller's  obligations  thereunder has been taken. The  [Transaction  Agreements]
been duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller, and constitute valid and
binding obligations of Seller enforceable in accordance with their terms.

4.  Seller is not in violation of any term of its Articles of  Incorporation  or
Bylaws.  The execution and delivery of the  [Transaction  Agreements] by Seller,
and the  performance  of its  obligations  thereunder,  are not in  violation or
breach of, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Seller.


                                        7


                                  AMENDMENT TO
                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         THIS  AMENDMENT  (the  "Amendment")  to  that  certain  Asset  Purchase
Agreement dated April 30, 1999 (the "Agreement") is entered into this fourth day
of June, 1999, by and among Bell  Microproducts  Inc., a California  corporation
("Seller") and PEMSTAR INC., a Minnesota corporation  ("Buyer").

         1.  Capitalized  terms not  defined  in this  Amendment  shall have the
meanings defined in the Agreement.

         2.  Amendment  to Section  2.1 -  "Purchase  Price".  The  introductory
paragraph  contained  in Section  2.1 of the  Agreement  shall be deleted in its
entirety and shall be replaced with, and read:

                           "2.1 Purchase  Price.  The purchase  price payable by
the Buyer to the Seller as consideration for the sale, assignment, transfer, and
delivery by the Seller to the Buyer (or a wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer to be
determined by Buyer) of the Acquired Assets,  and the assumption by Buyer of the
Assumed Liabilities,  Buyer, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall
be  $40,500,000.00  (the  "Purchase  Price").  At the  Closing,  the Buyer shall
deliver  to  the  Seller  by  wire  transfer  in  immediately   available  funds
$34,000,000 (the "Partial Purchase Price Payment").  Subject to the Post-Closing
Adjustment in Section 2.5,  Buyer will pay the balance of the Purchase  Price at
the time of the  payment to be made  pursuant to Section  2.5(c)(1)  or (2)."

         3. Amendment to Section 2.2(a) - "Delivery". The following new sentence
shall  be  added  to  the  end  of  Section  2.2(a):  "The  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  shall occur at 6:00 a.m.,  Pacific
Daylight Time, on Monday, June 7, 1999."

         4.  Miscellaneous.  Except as specifically  modified or amended hereby,
the  Agreement  shall  remain in full force and  effect.  No  provision  of this
Amendment  may be  modified or  amended,  nor shall any terms be waived,  except
expressly in a writing signed by both parties.

              [The Remainder of this Page Left Intentionally Blank]



<PAGE>





IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Buyer and the Seller have caused this  Amendment to be
signed as of the date first written above.

"BUYER"                                        PEMSTAR INC.

                                               a Minnesota Corporation

                                               By: ___________________________
                                               Name: _________________________
                                               Title: ________________________


"SELLER"                                       BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC.
                                               a California Corporation


                                               By: ___________________________
                                               Name: _________________________
                                               Title: ________________________


                                               By: ___________________________
                                               Name: _________________________
                                               Title: ________________________






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