PRIMESOURCE CORP
8-K, 1996-11-13
PROFESSIONAL & COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
Previous: FAIRFIELD MANUFACTURING CO INC, 10-Q, 1996-11-13
Next: DREYFUS ASSET ALLOCATION FUND INC, 497, 1996-11-13





                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)             November 1, 1996
                                               -------------------------------

                             PrimeSource Corporation
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

  Pennsylvania                       0-21750                23-1430030
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of Other Jurisdiction      (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
 of Incorporation)                 File Number)            Identification No.)

  4350 Haddonfield Road, Suite 222, Pennsauken, New Jersey         08109
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                            (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:       (609) 488-4888
                                                   ---------------------------






<PAGE>




Item 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

a.   On November 1, 1996, the Registrant acquired from VGC Corporation  ("VGC"),
     the operating assets (excluding accounts  receivable) of VGC's Minneapolis,
     Minnesota;  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin;  Des Moines,  Iowa; and Omaha,  Nebraska
     operations for approximately  $11.2 million.  The assets acquired consisted
     primarily of inventory and property and equipment.

     The  consideration  given  was  arrived  at  as  a  result  of  arms-length
     negotiations.  There were no common directors, ownership, or other material
     relationships  between the Registrant and VGC.  Funding for the acquisition
     was provided from the  Registrant's  revolving  credit  agreement  with PNC
     Bank.

b.   The acquired  assets were used primarily in the supply and  distribution of
     photographic  and graphic  arts  supplies  and  equipment.  The  Registrant
     intends to continue to use the assets for the same purpose.

     Based on the  consolidated  income and  consolidated  asset  provisions for
     determining  if a  transaction  is  significant,  as amended under SEC Rule
     34-37802, the above transaction exceeds the 10% threshold, but is less than
     the 20% threshold.  Accordingly,  as prescribed,  no financial or pro-forma
     statements are provided under Item 7 of this filing.



EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                                          Name of Exhibit
- -----------------                                    ---------------------------

2                                                    Asset Purchase Agreement



<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.


                             PrimeSource Corporation
                                  (Registrant)


By:      /s/ WILLIAM A. DEMARCO
         ------------------------
         William A. DeMarco
         Vice President of Finance and
         Chief Financial Officer
         (principal financial and accounting officer)

Date     November 13, 1996








           -----------------------------------------------------------




                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                  By and Among

                                   VGC CORP.,

                             VGC HOLDING USA, INC.,

                              NV KONINKLIJKE KNP BT

                                       and

                             PRIMESOURCE CORPORATION






                         Dated as of September 27, 1996




           -----------------------------------------------------------



#90060036.5




<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page


ARTICLE 1.
         PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS; ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES.............  1
         1.1             Agreement of Purchase and Sale.....................  1
         1.2             Description of Assets Being Purchased..............  2
         1.3             The Purchase Price.................................  3
         1.4             Assumed Liabilities and Contracts..................  3
         1.5             Payment of Estimated Purchase Price at
                         Closing............................................  4
         1.6             Allocation.........................................  4
         1.7             Post Closing Adjustment............................  5
         1.8             Excluded Assets....................................  6
         1.9             Instruments of Conveyance and Transfer;
                         Further Assurances.................................  6

ARTICLE 2.
         CLOSING AND TERMINATION............................................  7
         2.1             Closing............................................  7
         2.2             Termination........................................  7

ARTICLE 3.
         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER.......................  8
         3.1             Corporate Organization and Authority of the
                         Seller.............................................  8
         3.2             No Violation: Consents.............................  8
         3.3             Title to Properties; Absence of Liens..............  9
         3.4             Certain Events.....................................  9
         3.5             Financial Statements............................... 10
         3.6             Environmental Matters.............................. 10
         3.7             Employment Matters................................. 11
         3.8             Employee Benefits.................................. 11
         3.9             Property; Machinery and Equipment.................. 11
         3.10            Contracts.......................................... 11
         3.11            Broker's and Finder's Fees......................... 11
         3.12            Litigation......................................... 12
         3.13            Tax Matters........................................ 12
         3.14            Disclaimer of Other Representations and
                         Warranties; Disclosure............................. 12
         3.15            Insurance.......................................... 13
         3.16            Transactions with Affiliates....................... 13
         3.17            Representations Concerning Real Estate............. 13

ARTICLE 4.
         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER........................ 15
         4.1             Organization....................................... 15
         4.2             Corporate Authority................................ 15
         4.3             No Violation: Consents............................. 15
         4.4             Broker's and Finder's Fees......................... 16
         4.5             Litigation......................................... 16
         4.6             Financing.......................................... 16


#90060036.5

<PAGE>



ARTICLE 5.
         CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE SELLER AND THE
         BUYER.............................................................. 17
         5.1             Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing Date...... 17
         5.2             Risk of Loss Prior to Closing Date................. 17
         5.3             Employees.......................................... 17
         5.4             Use of Names and Logos............................. 18
         5.5             Collection of Seller Receivables................... 18
         5.6             Certain Taxes and Fees............................. 19
         5.7             Access to Information and Confidentiality.......... 20
         5.8             Books and Records; Personnel....................... 20
         5.9             Other Negotiations................................. 21
         5.10            Press Releases..................................... 21
         5.11            Closing Conditions................................. 21
         5.12            Covenant Not To Compete............................ 22

ARTICLE 6.
         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF THE BUYER.................................. 22
         6.1             Representations and Warranties..................... 22
         6.2             No Actions......................................... 23
         6.3             Consents........................................... 23
         6.4             Closing Documentation.............................. 23
         6.5             Effectiveness of Certain Contracts................. 24
         6.6             Physical Inventory................................. 24
         6.7             Due Diligence...................................... 24

ARTICLE 7.
         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF THE SELLER................................. 24
         7.1             Representations and Warranties..................... 24
         7.2             No Actions......................................... 25
         7.3             Consents........................................... 25
         7.4             Closing Documentation.............................. 25
         7.5             Use Agreement...................................... 25

ARTICLE 8.
         INDEMNIFICATION.................................................... 26
         8.1             Indemnification by the Seller...................... 26
         8.2             Indemnification by the Buyer....................... 26
         8.3             Remedies........................................... 27
         8.4             Survival of Representations and Warranties......... 27
         8.5             Certain Limitations................................ 28
         8.6             Procedures Not Involving Third Party Claims........ 29
         8.7             Procedures Regarding Third Party Claims............ 29

ARTICLE 9.
         GUARANTY OF KNP BT AND HOLDING..................................... 30
         9.1             Guaranty........................................... 30
         9.2             Notice to KNP BT and Holding....................... 30
         9.3             Absoluteness of Guaranty........................... 30
         9.4             Exhaustion of Remedies Not Required................ 31
         9.5             No Limitation of Remedies.......................... 31
         9.6             Ownership.......................................... 31



#90060036.5
                                       -2-

<PAGE>


ARTICLE 10.
         MISCELLANEOUS...................................................... 32
         10.1            Cooperation........................................ 32
         10.2            Waiver............................................. 32
         10.3            Notices............................................ 32
         10.4            Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.......... 33
         10.5            Counterparts....................................... 34
         10.6            Headings........................................... 34
         10.7            Entire Agreement................................... 34
         10.8            Amendment and Modification......................... 34
         10.9            Binding Effect; Benefits........................... 34
         10.10           Assignability...................................... 34
         10.11           Expenses........................................... 34


#90060036.5
                                       -3-

<PAGE>





                  THIS ASSET  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT is dated as of  September  27,
1996 (herein, together with the Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto, referred
to as this "Agreement") by and among VGC Corp., a Minnesota  corporation  ("VGC"
or the "Seller"),  NV Koninklijke KNP BT, a Netherlands  corporation ("KNP BT"),
and VGC Holding USA, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of KNP BT and the
sole shareholder of VGC and a Delaware corporation ("Holding"),  and PrimeSource
Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Buyer").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


                  WHEREAS,  the  Buyer  desires  to  purchase  from  the  Seller
substantially  all of the assets and  properties  of the Seller  relating to its
graphic equipment and supplies distribution businesses and operations in the Des
Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis,  Minnesota, Omaha, Nebraska and Milwaukee,  Wisconsin
greater  metropolitan  areas (the "Business"),  subject to certain exceptions as
hereinafter specified,  and to assume certain liabilities of the Seller relating
to the Business, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

                  WHEREAS,  the  Seller is willing  to sell,  transfer,  convey,
assign  and  deliver  the  same to the  Buyer  upon  the  terms  and  conditions
hereinafter set forth; and

                  WHEREAS,  Holding  and KNP BT  desire  that the  foregoing  be
effected.

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


                                   ARTICLE 1.

                          PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS;
                            ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES

                  1.1  Agreement of Purchase and Sale.  On the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement,  at the Closing (as such term is defined in
Section 2.1 hereof), the Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver
(or cause to be sold,  transferred,  conveyed,  assigned and  delivered)  to the
Buyer,  and the Buyer shall purchase and accept delivery of, all of the Seller's
right,  title and  interest  in and to all of the  assets of the Seller of every
kind,  character and  description,  tangible or  intangible,  real,  personal or
mixed, used for the Business,  including,  without limitation, all of the assets
described in Section 1.2, but excluding, however, the assets described in

#90060036.5

<PAGE>



Section  1.8 (the  "Excluded  Assets")  (said  assets,  other than the  Excluded
Assets, constituting the "Purchased Assets").

                           Except as set forth herein, the Purchased Assets
will be sold free and clear of all mortgages,  deeds of trust,  liens,  pledges,
charges, security interests, contractual restrictions, claims or encumbrances of
any kind or character (collectively, "Encumbrances").

                  1.2  Description  of Assets Being  Purchased.  The Buyer shall
purchase all of the Seller's  right,  title and interest in and to the Purchased
Assets which shall include, to the extent not identified in the Excluded Assets,
all  the  assets  of the  Seller  used  in or for the  Business,  including  all
collateral and supporting  assets,  including  specifically  the items listed in
Section  1.2(a)  through  Section 1.2(f) below,  and further  including,  to the
extent not  elsewhere  listed and to the extent not  identified  as an  Excluded
Asset,  all  machinery,   equipment  (both  mobile  and  non-mobile),   personal
computers, terminals and printers, personal computer software, tools, furniture,
furnishings,  trade  fixtures,  supplies  and parts,  and  automobiles,  trucks,
vehicles,  and other tangible personal property  (including any of the foregoing
purchased subject to any conditional sales or title retention agreement in favor
of any third party) that are used for the Business,  whether owned,  leased,  or
subleased.  Included  in the  Purchased  Assets  shall  be the  transfer  of any
favorable  ratings  of the  Seller  relating  to  unemployment  taxes  under any
applicable  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Nebraska or Wisconsin  state laws or  regulations
relating to the payment of unemployment  taxes and  compensation,  to the extent
that any such favorable ratings are transferable.

                           (a)  The Inventory of the Seller for the Business,
as defined on Schedule 1.2(a).

                           (b)  All other tangible and intangible property of
the Seller used in the Business as described on Schedule  1.2(b),  but excluding
anything  included in the  Excluded  Assets.  Tangible and  intangible  property
includes any assets subject to capital leases,  as determined under Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards, No. 13, "Accounting for Leases."

                           (c)  All other assets of the Seller for the
Business including  deposits,  prepaid expenses and like items, all as described
on Schedule 1.2(c).

                           (d)  All operating leases of the Seller for the
Business,  as described on Schedule 1.2(d),  which operating leases include real
property leases, motor vehicle leases, and equipment leases.

                           (e)  All miscellaneous assets of the Seller used
in the Business, not otherwise specifically itemized, as
generically described on Schedule 1.2(e).

#90060036.5
                                       -2-

<PAGE>




                           (f)  The real property owned by the Seller in
Ankeny, Iowa and Mendota Heights, Minnesota, as more fully described on Schedule
1.2(f) (the "Owned Real Property").

                  1.3      The Purchase Price.  The purchase price ("Purchase
Price") to be paid by the Buyer to the Seller for the Purchased
Assets shall be the sum of the following components:

                           (a)  For the Inventory as described in Section
1.2(a),  the average inventory cost therefor as shown on Seller's regular detail
computer printouts for inventory, less a reserve of $1,750,000.

                           (b)  For all tangible and intangible property
described in Section 1.2(b), the sum of $1,125,000.

                           (c)  For all other assets described in Section
1.2(c),  the fair value  thereof as  determined  by applying  accepted  industry
standards  for all items  generic  to the  industry,  or the fair  market  value
thereof as determined under generally accepted  accounting  principles  ("GAAP")
for all items which are not industry specific.

                           (d)  For all operating leases described in Section
1.2(d), the purchase price therefor is agreed to be equal to the obligations the
Buyer assumes under each operating lease.

                           (e)  For the Owned Real Property as described in
Section 1.2(f), the sum of $2,725,000.

                  1.4      Assumed Liabilities and Contracts.  On the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing:

                           (a)  the Buyer shall assume and undertake to
perform the  liabilities  and  obligations,  including  the  balances  due under
capital leases, of the Seller specifically described on Schedule 1.4(a) attached
hereto (such liabilities and obligations  being  hereinafter  referred to as the
"Assumed  Liabilities").  Except as provided  in Section  5.3 hereof,  the Buyer
shall not assume any  liabilities of the Seller  regarding  Seller's  employees,
including,  without  limitation,  liabilities  or  obligations of the Seller for
medical  benefits of any kind or workers  compensation  benefits and liabilities
arising out of the National  Labor  Relations Act ("NLRA"),  Civil Rights Act of
1964, Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), Age Discrimination and Employment
Act  ("ADEA"),  Equal  Pay  Act,  Fair  Labor  Standards  Act  ("FLSA"),  Worker
Adjustment and Retraining  Notification  Act ("WARN"),  Family Medical Leave Act
("FMLA"),  wrongful  discharge  of  employees,  the Employee  Retirement  Income
Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"),  the Consolidated  Budget  Reconciliation Act of
1985 ("COBRA"),  any employee  pension benefit plan or employee  welfare benefit
plan (as such terms are defined in ERISA) and any other state,  local or federal
laws,  rules  or  regulation  governing   employment  relations   (collectively,
"Employment Laws").

#90060036.5
                                       -3-

<PAGE>




                           (b)  The Buyer shall assume and undertake to
perform  the  duties  and  obligations  of the Seller  under the  contracts  and
agreements  specifically  described  on Schedule  1.4(b)  attached  hereto (such
duties  and  obligations  arising  under said  contracts  and  agreements  being
hereinafter referred to as the "Assumed Contracts").

                           Other than the Assumed Liabilities and the Assumed
Contracts,  the Seller shall retain and remain  responsible for all obligations,
duties and  liabilities  of the Seller of any  nature  whatsoever  and the Buyer
assumes no other liability, duty or obligation.

                           The Seller hereby agrees to timely pay, satisfy
and  discharge  when and as the same may become due, and not any sooner,  all of
its  liabilities,  duties and  obligations of any kind or nature with respect to
its  liabilities  and  obligations  under  the  Assumed  Contracts  to be  paid,
satisfied or  discharged  by the Seller prior to the Closing Date and to pay and
satisfy its liabilities and obligations which are required to be satisfied by it
prior to the Closing Date.

                  1.5 Payment of  Estimated  Purchase  Price at Closing.  At the
Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller an amount equal to the sum of the
Purchase  Price  as  determined  in  Section  1.3  less the  amount  of  Assumed
Liabilities  as defined in Section  1.4(a),  all as  determined  as at a date as
close to the date of the Closing as possible (the "Estimated  Purchase  Price"),
in immediately  available funds by wire transfer to an account designated by the
Seller prior to the Closing Date.

                           For purposes of facilitating the post closing
adjustments  required  under Section 1.7, the parties hereby define "Net Working
Capital" to be the sum of the Inventory  (Section 1.2(a)) plus the other current
assets  (Section  1.2(c))  less the amount of the Assumed  Liabilities  (Section
1.4(a)). Prior to the Closing, for purposes of the Estimated Purchase Price, the
Buyer and the Seller  shall have  agreed  upon the amount of the  estimated  Net
Working  Capital as at a date as close to the date of the  Closing  as  possible
(such amount being herein  referred to as the "Estimated Net Working  Capital").
Only the Net Working Capital component of the Estimated  Purchase Price shall be
subject to  adjustment  under this  Agreement,  it being  agreed  that all other
components of the Purchase Price will be final as of the Closing.

                  1.6 Allocation.  Schedule 1.6 hereto sets forth the allocation
of the Purchase Price and the Assumed Liabilities among the Purchased Assets, as
mutually  agreed  between the Seller and the Buyer.  The parties agree that this
allocation is fair and reasonable. The parties further agree that no party shall
take a position on any federal or state  income tax  return,  including  without
limitation,  IRS Form 8594 and any amendments  thereto,  before any governmental
agency  charged  with the  collection  of any tax or in any  proceeding  that is
inconsistent

#90060036.5
                                       -4-

<PAGE>



with the  attached  allocation  without the prior  written  consent of the other
party, which consent may be absolutely and unconditionally withheld by the other
party.

                  1.7  Post Closing Adjustment.

                           (a)  As soon as reasonably practicable, but not
later than thirty (30) days after the Closing Date, the Seller shall prepare and
deliver to the Buyer a statement of the amount of Net Working  Capital as at the
Closing  Date (the "Net Working  Capital  Statement").  The Net Working  Capital
Statement  shall set forth the amount of each of the  components  of Net Working
Capital as at the Closing Date and shall be prepared by the Seller in accordance
with the requirements  set forth in this Section 1.7. All inventories  reflected
on the Net Working  Capital  Statement  shall be so  reflected on the basis of a
complete physical count taken in accordance with Section 6.6 hereof and shall be
valued as of the Closing  Date in  accordance  with Section  1.2(a).  The Seller
shall be  entitled  to call upon and to  receive  the  assistance  of  Coopers &
Lybrand LLP in the preparation of the Net Working Capital  Statement.  The Buyer
agrees to  cooperate  with and assist the Seller in the  preparation  of the Net
Working Capital Statement,  and the Buyer shall give to the Seller and Coopers &
Lybrand  LLP full  access to the books and  records of the Buyer that the Seller
requires to complete the Net Working Capital Statement.

                           (b)  Within forty-five (45) days of the delivery
by the Seller to the Buyer of the Net Working Capital Statement, the Buyer shall
review the Net Working  Capital  Statement.  For  purposes of such  review,  the
Seller shall give, and shall cause to be given, to the Buyer full access, during
normal business hours and on reasonable  prior notice,  to the books and records
used in connection with the  preparation of the Net Working  Capital  Statement,
including, without limitation, the detail ledgers of the Seller, work papers and
historical financial information reasonably requested by the Buyer. In the event
that, by the expiration of such forty-five (45) day period,  the Buyer shall not
have notified the Seller of any objection to the Net Working Capital  Statement,
the Net Working Capital Statement shall be deemed agreed to by the Buyer and the
Seller and shall be final,  conclusive and binding on all the parties hereto. If
such a notice of  objection  is given by the Buyer to the Seller,  then,  if the
parties  are unable to resolve  such  objection  within  thirty  (30) days after
receipt by the Seller of such notice,  the Seller and the Buyer shall submit the
dispute to Arthur  Andersen LLP (the  "Accountant").  The parties shall instruct
the Accountant to issue its  determination  regarding the dispute and the amount
of the Net Working Capital as at the Closing Date within thirty (30) days of its
engagement  or  otherwise as soon as  practicable.  Upon the  engagement  of the
Accountant,  the Seller and the Buyer shall submit a statement to the Accountant
setting forth their respective positions regarding the dispute and the amount of
the Net Working Capital as at the Closing Date. The

#90060036.5
                                       -5-

<PAGE>



Seller  shall give,  and shall  cause to be given,  to the  Accountant  the same
access  afforded to the Buyer under this Section 1.7. The  determination  by the
Accountant shall be conclusive and binding on all the parties hereto.

                           (c)  If the amount of Net Working Capital set
forth in the Net Working  Capital  Statement  (as agreed to by the parties or as
determined by the  Accountant)  is less than the  Estimated Net Working  Capital
(such shortfall being hereinafter called the "Net Working Capital  Deficiency"),
then,  an  adjustment  to the  Estimated  Purchase  Price (the  "Purchase  Price
Adjustment")  shall be  automatically  effected  pursuant to which the Estimated
Purchase  Price shall be reduced by an amount  equal to the Net Working  Capital
Deficiency  and such amount shall be due and payable within ten (10) days by the
Seller to the Buyer.  If the amount of the Net Working  Capital set forth in the
Net Working  Capital  Statement (as agreed to by the parties or as determined by
the  Accountant)  exceeds the Estimated  Net Working  Capital (such excess being
hereinafter called the "Net Working Capital  Surplus"),  then the Purchase Price
Adjustment  shall be  automatically  effected  pursuant  to which the  Estimated
Purchase Price shall be increased by an amount equal to the Net Working  Capital
Surplus  and such amount  shall be due and  payable  within ten (10) days by the
Buyer to the Seller.  The Estimated Purchase Price, as adjusted pursuant to this
Section 1.7, shall be the "Purchase Price," as defined in Section 1.3.

                           (d)  The party which makes a payment pursuant to a
Purchase Price Adjustment shall include,  with such payment,  simple interest on
the amount of such payment  computed at a rate per annum of eight  percent (8%),
from the Closing Date through the payment date.

                           (e)  All fees and expenses of the Accountant in
performing its duties under this Agreement shall be shared equally by the Seller
and the Buyer and each of the  Seller  and the  Buyer  hereby  agrees to pay its
share of such fees and expenses.

                  1.8  Excluded Assets.  The Seller will retain and not
sell, convey, assign, transfer or deliver to the Buyer, and the
Buyer shall not purchase or acquire any of the assets described
on Schedule 1.8, which shall constitute the "Excluded Assets."

                  1.9  Instruments of Conveyance and Transfer; Further
Assurances.

                           (a)  Instruments of Conveyance and Transfer.  At
the  Closing,  the  Seller  shall  deliver  to the  Buyer a Bill of Sale for the
Purchased Assets in the form of Exhibit 1.9(a) hereto (the "Bill of Sale"),  and
such other endorsements,  certificates of title,  assignments and other good and
sufficient  instruments  of  conveyance  and  transfer  as shall  be  reasonably
necessary to

#90060036.5
                                       -6-

<PAGE>



vest in the Buyer title to the Purchased Assets in accordance
herewith.

                           (b)  Further Assurances.  The Seller further
agrees  that,  from and after the  Closing,  it will  execute and deliver to the
Buyer such additional  instruments and documents and take such further action as
the Buyer may  reasonably  require in order to more fully  vest,  record  and/or
perfect the Buyer's title to, or interest in, the Purchased Assets.


                                   ARTICLE 2.

                             CLOSING AND TERMINATION

                  2.1  Closing.  The closing of the  transactions  provided  for
herein (the  "Closing")  will take place at the offices of the Seller located at
1395 Commerce Drive,  Mendota  Heights,  Minnesota at 10:00 A.M. (local time) no
later than October 30, 1996 (the  "Closing  Date") or at such other place,  time
and date as may be
agreed upon by the Buyer and the Seller.

                  2.2  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated in
writing at any time:

                           (a)  without liability on the part of any party
hereto, by mutual written consent of the Buyer and the Seller;

                           (b)  without liability on the part of any party
hereto by either the Buyer or the Seller, if the Closing shall not have occurred
on or before  October  30,  1996 (or such  later  date as may be agreed  upon in
writing by the parties hereto);

                           (c)  by the Buyer, if

                    (i) there shall have been a failure of a
         condition precedent as set forth in Article 6 hereunder, and

                     (ii) the Seller shall not have provided
         reasonable assurance that such condition precedent will be
         satisfied on or before October 30, 1996, and

                    (iii) such condition precedent shall not
         have been satisfied or waived prior to or on October 30,
         1996;

                           (d)  by the Seller, if

                    (i) there shall have been a failure of a
         condition precedent as provided in Article 7, and

                     (ii) the Buyer shall not have provided
         reasonable assurance that such condition precedent will be
         satisfied on or before October 30, 1996, and

#90060036.5
                                       -7-

<PAGE>




                    (iii) such condition precedent shall not
         have been satisfied or waived prior to or on October 30,
         1996;

                           (e)  by the Buyer pursuant to Section 5.2 if an
event described in Section 5.2(a), (b) or (c) occurs prior to the
Closing Date.


                                   ARTICLE 3.

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER

                  Subject  to the  Schedules  attached  hereto and  referred  to
below, the Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer that:

                  3.1 Corporate  Organization  and Authority of the Seller.  The
Seller is a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Minnesota.  The Seller has full  corporate  power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and all other  documents  required to
be entered into by the Seller  pursuant  hereto (this  Agreement,  together with
such other  documents,  being  herein  referred to as the  "Agreements")  and to
consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby.  The execution,
delivery  and  performance  by the  Seller  of the  Agreements  have  been  duly
authorized by all requisite  corporate action. This Agreement has been, and each
of the other  Agreements  will be as of the  Closing  Date,  duly  executed  and
delivered by the Seller,  and (assuming due execution and delivery by the Buyer)
this Agreement  constitutes,  and each of the other Agreements when executed and
delivered  will  constitute,  a  valid  and  binding  obligation  of the  Seller
enforceable  against  the Seller in  accordance  with its terms,  except as such
enforceability  may be  limited by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization  or
similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  or by general  equitable
principles.

                  3.2  No Violation: Consents.  The execution and
delivery by the Seller of the Agreements, the consummation by the
Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and
the performance by the Seller of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder do not and will not, except as set forth on Schedule
3.2 hereto,

                           (a)  conflict with or violate any of the
provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation or by-
laws, each as amended, of the Seller,

                           (b)  violate any law, ordinance, rule or
regulation or any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or similar command
of any court,  administrative or governmental agency or other body applicable to
the Seller,


#90060036.5
                                       -8-

<PAGE>



                           (c)  violate or conflict with the terms of, or
result in the  acceleration  of, any  indebtedness  or  obligation of the Seller
under,  or violate or conflict  with or result in a breach of, or  constitute  a
default under, any material instrument,  agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust or other  contract to which the Seller is a party,  or by which the Seller
is bound, or

                           (d)  result in the creation or imposition of any
Encumbrance upon any of the Purchased Assets.

                  Except  as set  forth in  Schedule  3.2  hereto,  no  consent,
authorization or approval of, or notice to, or filing or registration  with, any
governmental  body or  authority,  or any other  third  party,  is  required  in
connection with the execution and delivery by the Seller of the Agreements,  the
consummation by the Seller of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby
and the performance by the Seller of its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

                  3.3 Title to Properties; Absence of Liens. The Seller has good
and valid title to, or subsisting leasehold interests in, those Purchased Assets
owned or leased by it, as the case may be,  free and clear of all  Encumbrances,
except for the following (collectively, "Permitted Encumbrances"):

                           (a)  In the case of the Owned Real Property,
Encumbrances that do not interfere with the present use by the
Seller of the property subject thereto or affected thereby; and

                           (b)  Encumbrances disclosed in Schedule 3.3
hereto.

                  3.4  Certain  Events.  Except as  disclosed  in  Schedule  3.4
hereto,  since  December 25,  1995,  the Seller has operated the Business in the
ordinary course and,  except as set forth on Schedule 3.4 hereto,  there has not
occurred:

                           (a)  any damage, destruction or loss (whether or
not covered by insurance) materially adversely affecting the
Purchased Assets;

                           (b)  any sale, transfer, pledge or other
disposition of any tangible or intangible assets of the Business
(except in the ordinary course of business);

                           (c)  any capital appropriation or expenditure or
commitment therefor on behalf of the Seller for the Business in
excess of $25,000;

                           (d)  any event or any other change in the
condition  of the Seller which has, or could  reasonably  be expected to have, a
material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets or the Business;

#90060036.5
                                       -9-

<PAGE>




                           (e)  any default by the Seller in any material
liability or obligation  of the Seller for the Business or any material  adverse
change in the terms of any contract or instrument  for the Business to which the
Seller is a party;

                           (f)  any waiver, cancellation, sale or other
disposition,  for less than the face amount thereof, of any claim or right which
the Seller has against  others  which  relate to the  Business or the  Purchased
Assets;

                           (g)  any change in any method of accounting or
accounting practice; or

                           (h)  any notices that any supplier or customer has
taken or contemplates any steps which could materially and
adversely disrupt the Business.

                  3.5  Financial Statements.  The gross revenues of the
Business for the year ended December 25, 1995 are shown on
Schedule 3.5.

                  3.6  Environmental Matters.

                           (a)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6, as of
the date of this  Agreement,  the Seller has obtained and is in compliance  with
all permits,  licenses and such other authorizations required to be obtained for
the operation of the Business and the ownership and use of the Purchased  Assets
under currently  applicable federal,  state and local laws,  including all rules
and regulations promulgated  thereunder,  relating to pollution or protection of
human  health or the  environment  (the  "Environmental  Laws")  except  for any
permits,  licenses or  authorizations  which, if not obtained,  would not have a
material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets or the Business.

                           (b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6, the
Seller is, as of the date of this Agreement, with respect to the Business:

                    (i) in material compliance with all terms
         and conditions of the permits, licenses and authorizations
         referred to in Section 3.6(a) above, and

                   (ii) in material compliance with all other
         limitations,   restrictions,   conditions,   standards,   prohibitions,
         requirements and obligations  contained in Environmental Laws presently
         in effect.

                           (c)  As of the date of this Agreement, there are
no civil,  criminal or administrative  actions,  suits,  hearings,  proceedings,
written  notices  of  violation,  claims  or  demands  pending  or,  to the best
knowledge of the Seller,  threatened  against the Seller under the Environmental
Laws which, if

#90060036.5
                                      -10-

<PAGE>



adversely determined against the Seller, would have a material adverse effect on
the Purchased Assets or the Business.

                  3.7 Employment Matters. To the best of the Seller's knowledge,
the Seller has not violated any  Employment  Laws,  the violation of which would
have a material adverse effect on the Business or Purchased Assets. Schedule 3.7
also discloses any existing  employee leave of absence for the Business that has
been identified or designated as a leave of absence subject to the FMLA.

                  There are no collective bargaining agreements in effect or any
labor  organization  representing any employees of the Seller at any location of
the Business. Within the last two (2) years, the Seller has not been the subject
of any union  activity  or labor  dispute,  nor has there been any strike of any
kind called, or threatened to be called, against any of them with respect to any
location of the Business.

                  3.8 Employee  Benefits.  No promise has been made by Seller to
any of its employees or former employees that the Buyer will continue, assume or
otherwise be  responsible  for any of the employee  benefits that the Seller has
provided or is providing  to such  employees  or former  employees,  or that the
Buyer will provide any employee benefits to employees who are hired by the Buyer
subsequent to Closing.

                  3.9  Property; Machinery and Equipment.

                           (a)  The Purchased Assets that are owned by the
Seller that  constitute  fixed assets and that, as of the Closing Date, have not
been fully depreciated by the Seller, are in existence and in working condition,
in accordance with industry standards taking into account the age thereof.

                           (b)  There are no material leases or other
agreements  for the  Business  under  which the  Seller is lessee of or holds or
operates  any items of  machinery,  equipment,  motor  vehicles,  furniture  and
fixtures or other property  owned by any third party,  which are not included in
the Assumed Liabilities or in the Schedules to this Agreement.

                  3.10  Contracts.  The  Seller  has  in all  material  respects
performed  all of its  obligations  required to be  performed  by it to the date
hereof under, and are not in default in any material respect under, any contract
that is included in the Assumed Contracts.

                  3.11  Broker's  and  Finder's  Fees.  Neither  the  Seller nor
Holding nor KNP BT has incurred any liability to any broker,  finder or agent or
any other  person or entity  for any fees or  commissions  with  respect  to the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and the Seller hereby agrees to
assume all liability

#90060036.5
                                      -11-

<PAGE>



to any such broker,  finder or agent or any other person or entity  claiming any
such fee or commission.

                  3.12  Litigation.  There is no  action,  suit,  proceeding  or
investigation  pending  or,  to the best  knowledge  of the  Seller,  threatened
against the Seller  which would  materially  and  adversely  affect the Seller's
ability to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby or adversely affect
the Business or the Purchased Assets.

                  3.13 Tax Matters. To the best of the Seller's  knowledge,  the
Seller has filed all tax returns or reports  which were  required to be filed by
it for all periods prior to or including  the Closing Date,  and such returns or
reports are correct and complete in all material  respects.  All federal,  state
and local income, profits, franchise, sales, use, occupation,  property, excise,
payroll,  withholding,  employment,  estimated  and other  taxes of any  nature,
including  interest,  penalties  and other  additions  to such taxes  ("Taxes"),
payable  by, or due from,  the Seller for all  periods  prior to the date hereof
have been fully paid or adequately  reserved for by the Seller, or, with respect
to Taxes required to be accrued, the Seller has properly accrued such Taxes. All
Taxes which the Seller is required by law to withhold or collect relating to the
Business  have been duly  withheld or  collected  and have been paid over to the
appropriate  governmental  agency or  authority  or are  properly  recorded as a
liability on the books of the Seller.

                  3.14  Disclaimer  of  Other  Representations  and  Warranties;
Disclosure.  The Seller does not make, or has not made, any  representations  or
warranties  relating to any of the Purchased  Assets or Assumed  Liabilities  or
otherwise in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby other than
those  expressly set out herein which are made by the Seller.  Without  limiting
the  generality of the  foregoing,  neither the Seller nor Holding or KNP BT has
made, or shall be deemed to have made, any  representations or warranties in the
Confidential  Memorandum  dated  November  1, 1995  relating  to Holding and the
Seller   supplied  to  the  Buyer  prior  to  the  date  hereof  (the  "Offering
Memorandum") or in any  presentation of the business of the Seller in connection
with the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and no statement  contained in the
Offering  Memorandum  or  made  in any  such  presentation  shall  be  deemed  a
representation  or warranty  hereunder or otherwise.  It is understood  that any
projections, forecasts or other predictions, any data, any financial information
or any  memoranda or offering  materials  or  presentations,  including  but not
limited to the Offering Memorandum,  are not and shall not be deemed to be or to
include  representations  or  warranties  of KNP BT,  Holding or the Seller.  No
person  has  been  authorized  by KNP BT,  Holding  or the  Seller  to make  any
representation  or  warranty  relating  to the  Purchased  Assets or the Assumed
Liabilities or otherwise in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
and, if made, such

#90060036.5
                                      -12-

<PAGE>



representation  or warranty must not be relied upon as having been authorized by
KNP BT, Holding or the Seller.

                  IN  FURTHERANCE  OF THE  FOREGOING,  THE PARTIES  HERETO AGREE
THAT, EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY  PROVIDED IN SECTION 3 OF THIS AGREEMENT AND EXCEPT
FOR THE EXISTING MANUFACTURER AND THIRD PARTY WARRANTIES ON THE PURCHASED ASSETS
WHICH ARE BEING  ASSIGNED  TO THE BUYER,  THE  PURCHASED  ASSETS ARE BEING SOLD,
CONVEYED,  TRANSFERRED  AND  ASSIGNED  ON AN "AS IS,  WHERE IS" BASIS  "WITH ALL
FAULTS"  AND  THAT,  EXCEPT  AS  SPECIFICALLY  PROVIDED  IN  SECTION  3 OF  THIS
AGREEMENT,  KNP BT, HOLDING AND THE SELLER MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES
OF ANY NATURE,  EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,  CONCERNING THE PURCHASED ASSETS,  INCLUDING
WITHOUT  LIMITATION  ANY IMPLIED  WARRANTY OF  MERCHANTABILITY  OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

                  3.15 Insurance. The Seller has not been refused any insurance,
nor has its coverage been limited or subject to any additional  premiums because
of additional risks, by any insurance company within the last two years relating
to the Business and the Purchased Assets.

                  3.16  Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Except  as set forth on
Schedule 3.16,  during the last two years,  with respect to or for the Business,
the Seller  has not  purchased,  leased,  or  otherwise  acquired  any  material
property or assets or  obtained  material  property  or assets or  obtained  any
material  services from, or sold,  leased or otherwise  disposed of any material
property or provided  any  material  services  to, any person or entity which is
affiliated  with the  Seller or any  officer  or  director  of the Seller or any
member of the immediate family of such officer and director.

                  3.17  Representations Concerning Real Estate.  With
respect to the Owned Real Property, the Seller represents and
warrants as follows:

                           (a)  To the best of Seller's knowledge, subject to
encumbrances  listed on the  ProForma  Title  Insurance  Policy  referred  to on
Schedule 3.3 hereto,  the Owned Real Property is free from any development,  use
or occupancy restrictions,  except those imposed by applicable law, and from all
special  taxes  or  assessments,  except  those  generally  applicable  to other
properties in the tax districts in which the Owned Real Property is located.  No
options have been granted to others to purchase,  lease or otherwise acquire any
interest in the Owned Real Property or any part thereof. To the best of Seller's
knowledge,  subject  to  encumbrances  listed on the  ProForma  Title  Insurance
Policy,  Seller has the  exclusive  right of  possession of each tract or parcel
comprising the Owned Real Property.

                           (b)  To the best of Seller's knowledge with the
exception that Seller makes no representations or warranties with

#90060036.5
                                      -13-

<PAGE>



respect to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
("ADA"):

                       (i) the present use, occupancy and
operation of the Owned Real Property,  and the Improvements  thereof, as defined
herein,  to the Owned Real Property are in  compliance in all material  respects
with all, and not in violation of any, Laws and with all  restrictive  covenants
of record; and

                    (ii) Seller has received no notice of any
proposed  change  therein that would  affect in any material  respect any of the
Owned Real Property or the present use, occupancy or operation thereof; and

                    (iii) Except to the extent same have been
cured,  Seller has received no notice of any violation of any Laws, code, order,
rule,  regulation,  requirement or restrictive covenants of record, or notice of
any pending  violation of any Laws,  code,  order,  regulation,  requirement  or
restrictive  covenants of record from any Government or other person relating to
any of the Owned Real  Property or the  activities  thereon and knows of no fact
which would constitute grounds for receiving any such notice; and

                   (iv) Seller has received no notice that any
portion of the Owned Real Property is subject to any classification, designation
or  preliminary  determination  of any  Government  or pursuant to any Law which
would  restrict the use,  development,  occupancy or operation of the Owned Real
Property in connection with the Business in any material respect; and

                    (v) All building systems included within
the  Improvements  are in working order in accordance  with industry  standards,
taking into account the age thereof.

                           (c)  Neither the Seller nor any other person has
caused any work or improvements to be performed upon or made to any of the Owned
Real Property for which there remains  outstanding  any payment  obligation that
would  or might  serve as the  basis  for any  lien in favor of the  Person  who
performed the work.

                           (d)  As used in this Section 3.17, and for no
other purpose in this Agreement:  "Government" shall mean any federal, national,
state, provincial, local, or municipal government or any department, commission,
board,  bureau,  agency  instrumentality,  unit,  or taxing  authority  thereof.
"Known," "to the knowledge  of," "to the best  knowledge of" "aware" or words of
similar import employed in this Section 3.17 with reference to any individual or
entity shall be conclusively presumed to mean that the person or entity has made
reasonable efforts under the circumstances to become knowledgeable;  in the case
of the Seller as a business entity, "knowledge" shall be deemed to be the

#90060036.5
                                      -14-

<PAGE>



individual  and collective  "knowledge"  (as defined above) of its directors and
senior  officers  and  managers.   "Improvements"   shall  mean  all  buildings,
structures and other  improvements  of any and every nature located on the Owned
Real Property and all fixtures attached or affixed,  actually or constructively,
to the  Owned  Real  Property  or to any  such  buildings,  structures  or other
improvements  to the  extent  any of  same  materially  affect  the  use  and/or
operation of said Owned Real Property.  "Law" shall mean all federal,  national,
state, provincial, local, municipal constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations,
ordinances, acts, codes, legislation,  treaties, conventions, judicial decisions
and similar laws and legal requirements, whether of the United States of America
or any other  jurisdiction  in which the Owned  Real  Property  is located as in
effect at the time of the Closing.


                                   ARTICLE 4.

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER

                  The Buyer represents and warrants to the Seller that:

                  4.1  Organization.  The Buyer is a corporation  duly organized
and  validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  State of
Pennsylvania.

                  4.2 Corporate  Authority.  The Buyer has full corporate  power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and all other  documents  required to
be entered into by the Buyer pursuant hereto and to consummate the  transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution,  delivery and performance by the
Buyer of this Agreement and all other  documents  required to be entered into by
the Buyer pursuant hereto (the "Other  Agreements") have been duly authorized by
all requisite  corporate action.  This Agreement has been, and each of the Other
Agreements will be as of the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by Buyer,
and  (assuming  due  execution  and  delivery  by  the  Seller)  this  Agreement
constitutes,  and all other  documents  required to be entered into by the Buyer
pursuant hereto when executed and delivered will constitute, a valid and binding
obligation of the Buyer,  enforceable  against the Buyer in accordance  with its
terms, except as such  enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization  or similar  laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  generally or by
general equitable principles.

                  4.3  No Violation: Consents.  The execution and
delivery by the Buyer of this Agreement and the other agreements,
documents and instruments contemplated hereby, the consummation
by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
and the performance by the Buyer of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder will not


#90060036.5
                                      -15-

<PAGE>



                           (a)  conflict with or violate any of the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Buyer,

                           (b)  violate any law, ordinance, rule or
regulation or any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or similar command
of any court  administrative or governmental  agency or other body applicable to
the Buyer, or

                           (c)  violate or conflict with the terms of, or
result in the  acceleration  of, any  indebtedness  or  obligation  of the Buyer
under,  or  violate or  conflict  with or result in a breach by the Buyer of, or
constitute a default under, any material  instrument,  agreement or indenture or
any mortgage, deed of trust or similar contract to which the Buyer is a party or
by which the Buyer or any of its assets may be otherwise bound or affected.

                           Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3 hereto, no
consent,  authorization  or approval of, or notice to, or filing or registration
with, any governmental body or authority,  or any other third party, is required
in connection with the execution and delivery by the Buyer of this Agreement and
the other agreements,  documents and instruments to be executed and delivered in
connection  herewith,   the  consummation  by  the  Buyer  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  and  the  performance  by the  Buyer  of its
obligations hereunder and thereunder.

                  4.4 Broker's and Finder's Fees. The Buyer has not incurred any
liability  to any broker,  finder or agent or any other person or entity for any
fees or  commissions  with  respect  to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  and the Buyer  hereby  agrees to assume  all  liability  to any such
broker,  finder or agent or any other person or entity  claiming any such fee or
commission.

                  4.5  Litigation.  There  is no  action,  suit,  proceeding  or
investigation  as of the date hereof  pending or, to the best  knowledge  of the
Buyer,  threatened against the Buyer which would materially and adversely affect
the Buyer's ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  4.6  Financing.  The Buyer has sufficient funds (or
access to sufficient funds) to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.



#90060036.5
                                      -16-

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE 5.

                        CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
                           OF THE SELLER AND THE BUYER

                  5.1  Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing Date. The
Seller agrees that, between the date hereof and the Closing Date:

                           (a)  Except as contemplated by this Agreement or
permitted by written consent of the Buyer, the Seller shall operate the Business
only in the ordinary course consistent with prior practice  (including,  without
limitation, maintaining all insurance coverages in place as of the date hereof).

                           (b)  The Seller shall use its reasonable best
efforts  to  preserve  its  business  organization  intact  and  shall  use  its
reasonable  best  efforts to keep  available  to the Buyer the  services  of the
present  employees  of the Seller and to preserve  for the Buyer the goodwill of
the  Seller's  material  suppliers  and  customers  and others  having  material
business relations with the Seller.

                  5.2  Risk of Loss Prior to Closing Date.  The risk of
loss to any of the Purchased Assets shall remain with Seller
until the Closing.  If, before the Closing

                           (a)  all or any part of the Purchased Assets is
taken by eminent domain;

                           (b)  a condemnation proceeding has been filed or
is threatened against the Purchased Assets or any part thereof;
or

                           (c)  all or any material part of the Purchased
Assets is destroyed or materially damaged,

then Seller promptly shall provide written notice to Buyer of any such event and
Buyer may inspect the  Purchased  Assets  subject to such event  within ten (10)
days after receiving Seller's notice.  Within ten (10) days after the completion
of such  inspection,  the Buyer may terminate this Agreement as a result of such
event  without  further   obligation  by  delivering   written  notice  of  such
termination  to the  Seller  within  such 10 day  period.  If Buyer  does not so
terminate this Agreement, the Buyer will be deemed for all purposes hereunder to
have agreed to take such  Purchased  Assets in the condition in which they exist
after such event (and this Agreement shall be deemed amended for all purposes to
so provide), in which case the Seller shall, at the Closing, assign and transfer
to the Buyer all of the Seller's right,  title and interest in and to any awards
or insurance proceeds payable to the Seller as a result of such event.

                  5.3  Employees.  At least two (2) weeks prior to the
Closing Date, the Buyer shall notify the Seller in writing as to

#90060036.5
                                      -17-

<PAGE>



which  employees  of the Seller for the  Business  to whom the Buyer  intends to
offer employment.  At or prior to the Closing,  the Buyer shall offer employment
to such employees upon terms and  conditions of employment  satisfactory  to the
Buyer.

                  Moreover,  any employees of Seller hired by Buyer shall be "at
will"  employees  of  Buyer,  meaning  that  either  the  employee  or Buyer may
terminate  the  employment  relationship  at any time,  with or without cause or
advance notice.

                  5.4 Use of Names and Logos.  Anything  herein to the  contrary
notwithstanding, no interest in or right to use the names NV Koninklijke KNP BT,
VRG Holding B.V., VGC Holding USA, Inc. or VGC Corp. or any derivatives  thereof
or any  trademarks  or logos of any such company or the  trademark/service  mark
"VGC  Advantage"  (collectively,   the  "KNP  BT  Names  and  Logos")  is  being
transferred hereunder.

                           The Buyer agrees that it will, as promptly as
practicable but in any event within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date,
remove or  obliterate  any KNP BT Names and Logos  from any  Purchased  Asset to
which any KNP BT Names and Logos has been  affixed and from all signs,  purchase
orders,  invoices,  sales orders,  labels,  letterheads,  shipping documents and
other  materials  used by the  Buyer  (collectively,  "Supplies")  and  will not
thereafter  use any such  Supplies  which  bear any such KNP BT Names or  Logos;
provided,  that,  the Buyer may,  for a period of up to one  hundred  and eighty
(180) days after the Closing  Date,  use the  Seller's  remaining  inventory  of
Supplies  which contain any of the KNP BT Names and Logos provided such Supplies
are (i) used  only in  connection  with the sale of  inventory  included  in the
Purchased  Assets and (ii)  conspicuously  marked with the  company  name of the
Buyer, and provided further that all products sold in connection with the use of
such Supplies  shall be of a quality at least equal to that of similar  products
sold by the Seller prior to the Closing Date. The Buyer will not, and will cause
each  of its  affiliates  not  to,  misappropriate,  misrepresent  or  otherwise
infringe, abuse or diminish the value of any of the KNP BT Names and Logos.

                  5.5  Collection of Seller Receivables.

                           (a)  The Buyer shall, for 180 days after the
Closing  Date,  act as  collection  agent for the  Seller  with  respect  to the
collection  of the Seller's  trade  accounts  receivable  for the Business  (the
"Seller Receivables"), which, as provided in Section 1.8 hereof, are an Excluded
Asset. In collecting the Seller  Receivables for the Seller, the Buyer shall use
efforts  consistent  with the efforts used by the Buyer in the collection of its
own  accounts  receivable,  exclusive,  however,  of suit or  other  third-party
collection  methods.  Amounts  received  by the  Buyer  from  parties  that have
outstanding  Seller  Receivables  shall be applied  first  against the oldest of
Seller  Receivables,  in order  of age,  owed by such  party  until  all  Seller
Receivables

#90060036.5
                                      -18-

<PAGE>



owed by such party are paid in full and then to other amounts owed by such party
to the  Buyer,  except  that  amounts  shall  not be  applied  against  a Seller
Receivable,  or portion thereof (if only a portion thereof is in dispute),  that
is  subject  to a bona fide  dispute  by the  customer  until  such  dispute  is
resolved.

                           (b)  The Buyer shall maintain complete and
accurate  records of its  collection  activities  for the Seller  Receivables on
behalf of the Seller.  Commencing one month after Closing,  and on the tenth day
of each month  thereafter,  the Buyer shall remit to the Seller the net proceeds
collected by the Buyer on behalf of the Seller for the Seller Receivables during
the preceding  calendar month,  together with a report  detailing the collection
activity  and  outstanding  balance of the Seller  Receivables,  as well as such
other  information in connection with the Seller  Receivables and the collection
thereof as the Seller shall reasonably request.

                           (c)  The Buyer shall provide access to the Seller
to such  records  and  documents  of the Buyer as the  Seller  shall  reasonably
request to verify and substantiate  compliance by the Buyer of this Section 5.5.
At the end of such 180 day  period,  or sooner with  respect to specific  files,
documents and records as requested by Seller,  all files,  documents and records
relating to the Seller  Receivables that are in the Buyer's  possession shall be
returned to the Seller. The Seller shall be entitled to pursue the collection of
any outstanding  Seller Receivable at any time and in any manner that the Seller
desires.  At the end of such 180 day  period,  Buyer  shall  provide to Seller a
detailed summary of all collection activity of the Buyer.

                           (d)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is
understood  that,  with respect to those  parties  which had done  business with
Buyer  and had  outstanding  balances  with  Buyer  on the date of  Closing  for
business  transacted  prior to  Closing,  payments  to Buyer  for such  business
arising prior to Closing will not be considered with respect to this paragraph.


                  5.6  Certain Taxes and Fees.

                           (a)  All sales and transfer and other similar
taxes  and/or  fees  which  may  be  due  or  payable  in  connection  with  the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by the Buyer.

                           (b)  All documentary recording costs and fees
shall be borne by the Buyer.

                           (c)  The following taxes, charges and payments
("Charges") shall be prorated on a per diem basis and apportioned
between the Seller and the Buyer as of the date of the Closing:
real property, use and intangible taxes, utility charges, rental
or lease charges, license fees, general assessments imposed with
respect to the Purchased Assets, and employee payrolls.  The

#90060036.5
                                      -19-

<PAGE>



Seller  shall be liable for and shall pay that  portion of the Charges  relating
to, or arising in respect of,  periods  prior to the date of the Closing and the
Buyer shall be liable for and shall pay that portion of the Charges relating to,
or arising in respect of, any period on and after the date of the Closing.

                  5.7  Access to Information and Confidentiality.  The
                       -----------------------------------------
Seller shall permit the Buyer and its representatives to have
reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable
advance notice, to the books and records and properties of the
Seller in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
The Buyer hereby confirms the terms and provisions of that
certain confidentiality agreement dated October 23, 1995 between
the Buyer and Holding (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), and such
terms are hereby incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this
reference.  The Buyer further acknowledges and agrees that all
information provided to the Buyer hereunder shall constitute
Confidential Material (as such term is defined in the
Confidentiality Agreement), and that the provisions of this
Section 5.7, including the terms and provisions of the
Confidentiality Agreement, shall survive the termination of this
Agreement for any reason.

                  5.8 Books and Records;  Personnel. For a period of seven years
from the Closing Date (or such other  period as specified  herein or such longer
period as may be required by any governmental  agency or requested by the Seller
or Buyer in connection with disputes or litigation):

                           (a)  Neither the Seller nor the Buyer shall
dispose of or destroy  any of the books and records  included  in the  Purchased
Assets without first offering to turn over possession thereof to the other party
by  written  notice to the other  party at least  thirty  (30) days prior to the
proposed date of such disposition or destruction.

                           (b)  The Buyer shall allow the Seller and its
agents reasonable access upon reasonable advance notice to all books and records
included  in the  Purchased  Assets  during  normal  business  hours at  Buyer's
principal places of business or at any location where any such books and records
are stored,  and the Seller shall have the right,  at its own  expense,  to make
copies of any such books and records; provided, however, that any such access or
copying  shall  be had  or  done  in  such a  manner  so as not to  unreasonably
interfere with the normal conduct of the Buyer's business.

                           (c)  The Buyer shall make available to the Seller
upon the Seller's reasonable written request

                  (i) copies of any books and records included
         in the Purchased Assets,


#90060036.5
                                      -20-

<PAGE>



                    (ii) the Buyer's personnel to assist the
         Seller in locating and obtaining any such books and records,

                    (iii) any of the Buyer's personnel whose
         assistance or  participation  is  reasonably  required by the Seller in
         anticipation of, or preparation for, existing or future litigation, tax
         returns (including sales tax returns) or other similar matters in which
         Seller is involved, and

                     (iv) any of the Buyer's personnel whose
         assistance or  participation  is  reasonably  required by the Seller in
         connection with the Seller's  obligation to pay accounts payable of the
         Business as of the Closing when due (which  obligation of the Seller is
         not an Assumed Liability pursuant to this Agreement).

                           The Seller shall reimburse the Buyer for the
reasonable  out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Buyer in performing
the covenants contained in this Section 5.8(c).

                           (d)  For a period of six (6) months after the
Closing  Date,  the Seller shall make  available to the Buyer,  upon the Buyer's
reasonable  request,  any of the Seller's personnel whose assistance is required
by the Buyer with respect to matters  involving  the Purchased  Assets,  Assumed
Liabilities or the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The Buyer shall reimburse
the Seller for the reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses incurred by the Seller in
performing the covenants contained in this Section 5.8(d).

                  5.9 Other Negotiations.  Neither KNP BT, Holding or the Seller
shall pursue,  initiate,  encourage or engage in any negotiations or discussions
with, or provide any  information to, any other person or entity (other than the
Buyer  and its  representatives)  regarding  the  sale  of any of the  Purchased
Assets.

                  5.10  Press Releases.  Except as required by law, any
public announcements regarding the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be made only with the mutual consent of the Seller
and the Buyer.

                  5.11 Closing  Conditions.  Each party shall use all reasonable
best  efforts  (and shall  cause its  affiliates,  successors  and  assigns,  if
applicable,  to use  all  reasonable  best  efforts)  to  satisfy  promptly  the
conditions  to Closing set forth in Article 6 hereof (in the case of the Seller)
or Article 7 hereof (in the case of the Buyer)  required  herein to be satisfied
and any other covenants or agreements of such party to be satisfied prior to the
Closing.



#90060036.5
                                      -21-

<PAGE>



                  5.12  Covenant Not To Compete.  Each of the Seller,
Holding and KNP BT hereby agrees that it will not, directly or
indirectly:

                           (a)  compete with any of the Business within the
States of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin for a term of
five (5) years from the Closing; or

                           (b)  use any of the proprietary information or
trade secrets of the Seller to obtain an unfair advantage in
competing against the Business purchased from the Seller; and,

                           (c)  solicit or hire any of the employees of the
Seller who are  employed  by the Buyer at the  Closing for a period of three (3)
years after the Closing.

                           The foregoing covenant not to compete shall not
apply to BT Office Products International,  Inc. and its subsidiaries and to the
sale  by  the  Seller,  Holding  or KNP  BT of  any  of  the  Seller  Inventory.
Furthermore, the foregoing covenant not to compete shall not restrict in any way
(i) KNP BT or any of its affiliates  from selling  anywhere in the United States
any  product  lines  of  Heidelberger  Druckmaschinen  AG  and  its  affiliates,
MAN-Roland AG and its  affiliates or Linotype Hell and its  affiliates,  or (ii)
VGC Credit Corp. from selling any repossessed equipment under existing equipment
leases of such company.

                           In the event that any provision of this Section
5.12 is  determined  to be  invalid  by any court or other  entity of  competent
jurisdiction,  the  provisions of this Section 5.12 shall be deemed to have been
amended,  and the parties  hereto  agree to execute all  documents  necessary to
evidence such amendment, so as to eliminate or modify any such invalid provision
so as to carry out the intent of this  Section  5.12 as far as  possible  and to
render  the  terms  of this  Section  5.12  enforceable  in all  respects  as so
modified.


                                   ARTICLE 6.

                        CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF THE BUYER

                  The Buyer need not consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement unless the following  conditions shall be fulfilled by the Seller
or waived by the Buyer:

                  6.1  Representations and Warranties.  Except as
otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement,

                           (a)  the representations and warranties of the
Seller  contained  in this  Agreement  shall be true and correct in all material
respects  at and as of the date of this  Agreement  and  shall be deemed to have
been made again at and as of the Closing

#90060036.5
                                      -22-

<PAGE>



Date and shall then be true and correct in all material respects,  except to the
extent that any  representation  or warranty is made as of a specified  date, in
which  case  such  representation  and  warranty  shall be true in all  material
respects as of such date, and

                           (b)  the Seller shall have performed and complied,
in all material  respects,  with all agreements  and covenants  required by this
Agreement  to be  performed  or  complied  with by it prior to or on the Closing
Date,  and  the  Buyer  shall  have  been  furnished  with a  certificate  of an
appropriate  officer of the Seller,  dated the Closing  Date,  certifying to the
accuracy of this Section 6.1.

                  6.2 No Actions.  No action,  suit,  or  proceeding  before any
court or governmental or regulatory authority shall be pending, no investigation
by any  governmental or regulatory  authority shall have been commenced,  and no
action,  suit or proceeding by any  governmental  or regulatory  authority shall
have been threatened,  against the Buyer, the Seller, Holding, KNP BT, or any of
the  principals,  officers or  directors  of any of them,  seeking to  restrain,
prevent  or change  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or  questioning  the
legality or validity of any such  transactions  or seeking damages in connection
with any such transactions.

                  6.3   Consents.   All   material   consents,   approvals   and
authorizations  of any third person and governmental or regulatory  authorities,
and all material filings with and notifications of governmental  authorities and
regulatory  agencies or other entities which regulate the Business of the Seller
or the Buyer,  necessary on the part of the Seller or the Buyer to the execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  shall have been obtained or effected (and all  applicable
waiting periods, if any, including any extensions thereof,  under any applicable
law, statute,  regulation or rule,  including but not limited to the Hart-Scott-
Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of 1976,  as amended  (the "HSR  Act"),  if
applicable, shall have expired or terminated, as applicable).

                  6.4  Closing Documentation.  The Buyer shall have
received the following documents, agreements and instruments from
the Seller:

                           (a)  the Bill of Sale and all necessary deeds,
assignments,  documents and instruments to effect the transfers, conveyances and
assignments to the Buyer referred to in Article 1 hereof,  free and clear of all
Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances;

                           (b)  evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the
Buyer, of the authority and incumbency of the persons acting on

#90060036.5
                                      -23-

<PAGE>



behalf of the Seller in connection with the execution of any
document delivered in connection with this Agreement;

                           (c)  a copy of the resolutions of the sole
shareholder of the Seller authorizing the transactions
contemplated hereby, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Seller; and

                           (d)  such other instruments and documents as the
Buyer shall reasonably request not inconsistent with the provisions hereof.

                  6.5 Effectiveness of Certain  Contracts.  The Buyer shall have
received  reasonable  assurances  from the  companies  set forth on Schedule 6.5
hereof that the  distributor  contracts  relating to the  Business to which such
companies  and the  Seller  are a party  will  continue  to be in full force and
effect after the Closing.

                  6.6  Physical  Inventory.  Concurrent  with the  Closing,  the
Seller  shall  have  caused  a  physical  inventory  to be  taken  of all of its
inventory and the Buyer and its auditing firm shall have had an  opportunity  to
observe and be present at such physical  inventory and to review the work papers
of the Seller and its auditors with respect to such physical inventory.

                  6.7 Due  Diligence.  The results of the Buyer's due  diligence
investigation  concerning the Purchased Assets, the Assumed  Liabilities and the
sales  of the  Business  as  reflected  in its  financial  statements  shall  be
reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer.



                                   ARTICLE 7.

                       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF THE SELLER

                  The Seller need not consummate the  transactions  contemplated
hereby unless the following conditions shall be fulfilled by the Buyer or waived
by the Seller:

                  7.1  Representations and Warranties.  Except as
otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement,

                           (a)  the representations and warranties of the
Buyer  contained  in this  Agreement  shall be true and correct at and as of the
date of this  Agreement and shall be deemed to have been made again at and as of
the Closing Date and shall then be true and  correct,  except to the extent that
any  representation  or warranty is made as of a specified  date,  in which case
such  representation  and warranty shall be true in all material  respects as of
such date, and


#90060036.5
                                      -24-

<PAGE>



                           (b)  the Buyer shall have performed and complied
with all agreements and covenants  required by this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by it prior to or on the Closing  Date,  and the Seller shall have
been furnished a certificate of an appropriate  officer of the Buyer,  dated the
Closing Date, certifying to the accuracy of this Section 7.1.

                  7.2 No Actions.  No action,  suit,  or  proceeding  before any
court or governmental or regulatory authority shall be pending, no investigation
by any  governmental or regulatory  authority shall have been commenced,  and no
action,  suit or proceeding by any  governmental  or regulatory  authority shall
have been threatened,  against the Buyer, the Seller, Holding, KNP BT, or any of
the  principals,  officers or  directors  of any of them,  seeking to  restrain,
prevent,  or change the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or  questioning  the
legality or validity of any such  transactions  or seeking damages in connection
with any such transactions.

                  7.3   Consents.   All   material   consents,   approvals   and
authorizations  of  governmental  and regulatory  authorities,  and all material
filings  with and  notifications  of  governmental  authorities  and  regulatory
agencies or other  entities  which  regulate  the  business of the Seller or the
Buyer,  necessary  on the part of the Seller or the Buyer to the  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby,  shall  have been  obtained  or  effected  (and all  applicable  waiting
periods,  if any,  including any extensions  thereof,  under any applicable law,
statute,  regulation  or rule,  including  but not  limited  to the HSR Act,  if
applicable, shall have expired or terminated, as applicable).

                  7.4  Closing Documentation.  The Seller shall have
received the following from the Buyer:

                           (a)  payment at Closing of the Estimated Purchase
Price pursuant to Section 1.5 hereof;

                           (b)  evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the
Seller,  of the authority and  incumbency of the persons acting on behalf of the
Buyer in connection  with the execution of any document  delivered in connection
with this Agreement; and

                           (c)  such other instruments and documents as the
Seller shall reasonably request not inconsistent with the provisions hereof.

                  7.5 Use  Agreement.  The Seller shall have  received  from the
Buyer a duly executed Letter Agreement permitting the Seller, after the Closing,
to use office space (including office facilities such as telephone, etc.) and to
use the  Spectrum  payroll  system in the  Buyer's  Mendota  Heights,  Minnesota
facility for up to six (6) employees of the Seller, for a maximum term of

#90060036.5
                                      -25-

<PAGE>



one (1)  year,  such  agreement  to  contain  such  terms as  shall be  mutually
agreeable to the Buyer and the Seller.


                                   ARTICLE 8.

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                  8.1 Indemnification by the Seller. The Seller hereby agrees to
defend,  indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer and its  successors,  assigns and
affiliates (collectively,  the "Buyer Indemnitees") from and against any and all
liabilities,  losses,  injuries,  damages,  assessments,  judgments,  costs  and
expenses, including without limitation the cost of any investigation or suit and
attorneys' fees relating  thereto,  (collectively,  "Buyer Losses"),  caused by,
resulting from or arising out of:

                           (a)  breaches of the representations and
warranties  hereunder on the part of the Seller  contained in this  Agreement or
from any  misrepresentation  in or omission from any  certificate  or instrument
furnished or to be furnished by the Seller hereunder;

                           (b)  failures by the Seller to perform or
otherwise fulfill any undertaking or agreement or obligation or
covenant hereunder or in any certificate or instrument furnished
or to be furnished by the Seller hereunder;

                           (c)  the assertion against any Buyer Indemnitee of
any liability or  obligation  of the Seller not  expressly  assumed by the Buyer
under this Agreement or under any other  document or instrument  delivered or to
be delivered  hereunder  (including,  without  limitation,  all  liabilities and
obligations of the Seller for Taxes); and/or

                           (d)  the assertion against any Buyer Indemnitee of
any  liability  or  obligation  of the Seller  relating to product  liability or
warranty  obligations which are not expressly assumed by the Buyer under Section
1.4(b) of this Agreement or under any other document or instrument  delivered or
to be delivered hereunder.

                  8.2  Indemnification  by the Buyer. The Buyer hereby agrees to
defend,  indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and its successors,  assigns and
affiliates (collectively, the "Seller Indemnitees") from and against any and all
liabilities,  losses,  injuries,  damages,  assessments,  judgments,  costs  and
expenses, including without limitation the cost of any investigation or suit and
attorneys' fees relating thereto,  (collectively,  "Seller Losses"),  caused by,
resulting from or arising out of:

                           (a)  breaches of the representations and
warranties hereunder on the part of the Buyer contained in this
Agreement or from any misrepresentation in or omission from any

#90060036.5
                                      -26-

<PAGE>



certificate or instrument furnished or to be furnished by the
Buyer hereunder;

                           (b)  failures by the Buyer to perform or otherwise
fulfill any undertaking or agreement or obligation or covenant
hereunder or in any certificate or instrument furnished or to be
furnished by the Buyer hereunder;

                           (c)  the assertion against any Seller Indemnitee
of any  liability  or  obligation  assumed by the Buyer under this  Agreement or
under any other document or instrument delivered or to be delivered hereunder;

                           (d)  the assertion against any Seller Indemnitee
of any liability or obligation of the Buyer relating to the
business or operations of the Buyer; and/or

                           (e)  the Buyer's use of any KNP BT Name or Logo,
whether or not pursuant to the terms of Section 5.4.

                  8.3  Remedies.  Except for remedies that cannot be waived as a
matter of law, except for fraud and gross  negligence,  and except for the right
to seek injunctive relief,  specific  performance and rescission,  and except as
otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the sole and exclusive remedy
of  both  the  Buyer  and  the  Seller  hereunder  shall  be  restricted  to the
indemnification rights set forth in this Article 8.

                  8.4  Survival of Representations and Warranties.  The
                       ------------------------------------------
representations and warranties of the Seller and the Buyer
contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a
period of one (1) year with the exception of the representations
and warranties contained in Section 3.3 (Title), in Section 3.6
(Environmental Matters) and in Section 3.13 (Taxes), which shall
survive the Closing until the expiration of the applicable
statutes of limitation, if any, plus a period of ninety (90)
days.

                           As to each representation and warranty of the
parties hereto, the date to which such representation and warranty shall survive
is hereinafter  referred to as the "Survival Date." No claim for indemnification
with respect to a breach of a  representation  and warranty  shall be made under
this Agreement after the applicable  Survival Date unless prior to such Survival
Date the Buyer  Indemnitee or the Seller  Indemnitee,  as the case may be, shall
have given the Seller or the Buyer,  as the case may be,  written notice of such
claim for  indemnification  based upon actual loss sustained,  or potential loss
anticipated, as a result of the existence of any claim, demand, suit or cause of
action against such Buyer Indemnitee or Seller Indemnitee, as the case may be.


#90060036.5
                                      -27-

<PAGE>




                  8.5  Certain Limitations.

                           (a)  No Buyer Losses shall be asserted by the
Buyer with  respect to any matter which is covered by  insurance,  to the extent
proceeds of such insurance are received (net of any additional costs incurred by
reason of such  recovery) by the Buyer.  The Buyer shall,  and shall cause other
Buyer Indemnitees to, use its best efforts to recover all insurance  recoverable
in respect of a particular Buyer Loss.

                           (b)  No claim may be made against the Seller for
indemnification  pursuant to Section 8.1 hereto with  respect to any  individual
item of Buyer Losses,  and Buyer Losses shall not include any  individual  item,
unless such item exceeds $1,000 (the "De Minimis Exclusion").

                           (c)  The Seller shall be obligated to indemnify
the Buyer Indemnitees for Buyer Losses with respect to any matters under Section
8.1(a) of this  Agreement  when,  and only when, the aggregate of all such Buyer
Losses with respect to all matters exceeds $75,000, and then the Seller shall be
liable for such Buyer  Losses  only to the extent  that they  exceed such amount
(the  "Threshold").  The Seller's  obligation to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees
for Buyer Losses with respect to all matters  shall be limited to an amount,  or
amounts in the  aggregate,  equal to forty percent  (40%) of the Purchase  Price
(the "Cap").

                           (d)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither
Section 8.5(b) or (c) above shall apply to, and the Seller shall indemnify Buyer
Indemnitees for all Buyer Losses with respect to,  indemnification  claims for a
breach of the  representations  and warranties  contained in Section 3.3 (Title)
and in Section 3.13 (Taxes),  it being further  understood that all Buyer Losses
with respect to any such breach shall not be applied against, or used to reduce,
the Threshold.

                           (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof,
in no event shall the Seller be liable for or obligated  to indemnify  any Buyer
Indemnitee  (i) to the extent such Buyer Losses  relate to actions taken by such
Buyer  Indemnitee  or any of its  affiliates,  or  (ii)  from  and  against  any
consequential,  indirect or special damages, including, without limitation, lost
profits,  business  interruption and loss of business  opportunities or goodwill
(other than any such  consequential,  indirect or special damages resulting from
claims from customers,  vendors or employees of the Business, which claims would
be subject to the provisions of Sections  8.5(b) and (c) above).  This exclusion
of consequential,  indirect or special damages shall apply whether an action for
recovery  of  damages  is  sought  based  on  contract,  tort  (including  sole,
concurrent or other negligence or strict  liability),  statute or otherwise.  To
the extent permitted by law, any statutory  remedies which are inconsistent with
this Section 8.5(a) are hereby waived by the Buyer.


#90060036.5
                                      -28-

<PAGE>



                  8.6  Procedures Not Involving Third Party Claims.

                           (a)  The Buyer shall notify the Seller in writing
of any  indemnifiable  claim,  stated with  particularity the amount due and the
reason  therefor.  The Seller  shall,  within 30 days of receipt of the  Buyer's
notice,  advise Buyer of whether or not Seller agrees with such claim. If Seller
agrees with such claim,  then Seller  shall pay any amounts with respect to such
claim within thirty days thereafter.

                  8.7  Procedures Regarding Third Party Claims.  The
procedures to be followed by the Buyer Indemnitees and the Seller
with respect to indemnification hereunder regarding claims by
third persons shall be as follows:

                           (a)  Promptly after receipt by any Buyer
Indemnitee  or  Seller  Indemnitee,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  notice  of the
commencement of any action or proceeding  (including,  without  limitation,  any
notice relating to a tax audit) or the assertion of any claim by a third person,
which the person  receiving  such  notice has reason to believe  may result in a
claim  by it  for  indemnity  pursuant  to  this  Agreement,  such  person  (the
"Indemnified  Party")  shall give notice of such action,  proceeding or claim to
the  party  against  whom   indemnification   pursuant  hereto  is  sought  (the
"Indemnifying  Party"),  setting forth in  reasonable  detail the nature of such
action or claim,  including copies of any written correspondence from such third
person to such Indemnified Party.

                           (b)  The Indemnifying Party shall be entitled at
its own expense to assume and control such  defense  with counsel  chosen by the
Indemnifying  Party and approved by the Indemnified  Party, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Indemnified Party shall be entitled
to  participate  therein  after such  assumption  of defense,  the costs of such
participation  following such assumption to be at its own expense. Upon assuming
such defense,  the  Indemnifying  Party shall have full rights to enter into any
monetary  compromise or settlement which is dispositive of the matters involved;
provided,  that such  settlement is paid in full by the  Indemnifying  Party and
will not have any continuing material adverse effect upon the Indemnified Party.

                           (c)  With respect to any action, proceeding or
claim as to which the  Indemnifying  Party shall not have exercised its right to
assume the defense,  the Indemnified  Party shall assume and control the defense
of and contest such action,  proceeding  or claim with counsel  chosen by it and
approved by the  Indemnifying  Party,  which approval shall not be  unreasonably
withheld or delayed.  The Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in
the  defense of such  action,  the cost of such  participation  to be at its own
expense.  The  Indemnifying  Party  shall  be  obligated  to pay the  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and expenses of the  Indemnified  Party to the extent that such
fees

#90060036.5
                                      -29-

<PAGE>



and expenses relate to claims as to which  indemnification is due under Sections
8.1 or 8.2  hereof,  as the case may be. The  Indemnified  Party shall have full
rights to dispose  of such  action and enter  into any  monetary  compromise  or
settlement;  provided,  however,  that the Indemnified Party shall not settle or
compromise  any claims  without the approval of the  Indemnifying  Party,  which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

                           (d)  Both the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified  Party shall cooperate fully with one another in connection with the
defense,  compromise  or  settlement  of any such claim,  proceeding  or action,
including,  without  limitation,  by making available to the other all pertinent
information and witnesses within its control.


                                   ARTICLE 9.

                         GUARANTY OF KNP BT AND HOLDING

                  9.1 Guaranty.  KNP BT and Holding jointly and severally hereby
guarantee the due and punctual payment, observance and performance by the Seller
of each and all of the  obligations  and  liabilities  of the Seller  under this
Agreement, subject to all of the conditions and limitations thereon as set forth
herein  (including,  without  limitation,  those  conditions and limitations set
forth in Sections 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5 hereof). All of the foregoing liabilities and
obligations  of the  Seller  under  this  Agreement,  together  with any and all
reasonable fees, costs and expenses (including,  without limitation,  attorneys'
fees) which may be paid or incurred by the Buyer in enforcing or collecting  the
obligations of KNP BT and Holding under this Guaranty,  are hereinafter  called,
collectively,  the "Guaranteed  Obligations"  and,  individually,  a "Guaranteed
Obligation."

                  9.2 Notice to KNP BT and  Holding.  KNP BT and Holding  hereby
agree that if any Guaranteed  Obligation is not paid, observed or performed,  as
the case may be,  when and as due,  the Buyer may notify  KNP BT and  Holding of
such  non-performance,  whereupon  KNP BT and Holding  shall cause the Seller to
promptly pay, observe or perform, or KNP BT and Holding,  jointly and severally,
will  promptly  pay,  observe or perform,  as the case may be,  such  Guaranteed
Obligation.

                  9.3  Absoluteness  of Guaranty.  The obligations of KNP BT and
Holding under this  Guaranty  shall be absolute and  unconditional,  present and
continuing,  irrespective of any bankruptcy  proceeding  involving the Seller or
any  voluntary  or  involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up of the
affairs of or termination of the existence of the Seller.



#90060036.5
                                      -30-

<PAGE>



                  9.4  Exhaustion of Remedies Not  Required.  KNP BT and Holding
agree that it shall not be necessary for the Buyer or the Buyer Indemnitees,  or
their legal representatives,  successors or assigns to institute suit or exhaust
their legal remedies against the Seller in order to enforce this guaranty.

                  9.5 No Limitation of Remedies.  KNP BT and Holding consent and
agree  that in the event of a breach  under the  Agreements,  the  Buyer,  Buyer
Indemnitees, and their legal representatives,  successors or assigns, shall have
the right to pursue any remedy at law or equity  against the  Seller,  KNP BT or
Holding,  and  may  pursue  a  claim  against  the  Seller,  KNP  BT or  Holding
individually  or jointly,  with or without  joining either or any of them in any
claim or action.

                  9.6  Ownership.  KNP BT and Holding, jointly and
severally, represent and warrant to the Buyer that:

                           (a)  KNP BT and Holding are corporations duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state or
country  of  incorporation.  Each  of KNP  BT and  Holding  has  full  corporate
authority to enter into this Agreement and any of the other  Agreements to which
it is a  party  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and
thereby.  The execution,  delivery and performance by each of KNP BT and Holding
of this  Agreement  and any of the other  Agreements to which it is a party have
been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action. This Agreement has been,
and each of the other  Agreements  to which KNP BT or Holding is a party will be
as of the Closing  Date,  duly  executed and  delivered by each of KNP BT and/or
Holding,  as the case may be, and  (assuming  due  execution and delivery by the
Buyer)  this  Agreement  constitutes,  and each of such  other  Agreements  when
executed and delivered will constitute, a valid and binding obligation of KNP BT
and/or Holding, as the case may be, enforceable against such party in accordance
with its terms,  except that such  enforceability  may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
or by general equitable principals.

                           (b)  Holding is the record and beneficial owner of
all the issued and outstanding shares of the Seller.  Holding is
an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of KNP BT.

                           (c)  The execution and delivery by each of KNP BT
and Holding of the Agreements to which it is a party,  the  consummation by each
of KNP BT and Holding of the transaction contemplated hereby and thereby and the
performance  by each of KNP BT and  Holding  of its  obligations  hereunder  and
thereunder  do not  and  will  not  (I)  conflict  with  or  violate  any of the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation or other organizational documents
of such  party,  (ii)  violate any law,  ordinance,  rule or  regulation  or any
judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or similar command of any court,

#90060036.5
                                      -31-

<PAGE>



administrative  or  governmental  agency or other body applicable to such party,
and  (iii)  violate  or  conflict  with the terms of or result in a breach of or
constitute  a  default  under any  material  instrument,  agreement,  indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust or other contract to which such party is a party.

                           (d)  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.2 hereto,
no consent authorization or approval of, or notice to, or filing or registration
with, any governmental body or authority,  or any other third party, is required
in  connection  with the execution and delivery by each of KNP BT and Holding of
the Agreements to which it is a party,  the  consummation  by each of KNP BT and
Holding of the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby and the performance
by each of KNP BT and Holding of its obligations hereunder or thereunder.


                                   ARTICLE 10.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  10.1  Cooperation.  Each of the parties  hereto  shall use its
reasonable  best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions,  to cooperate
with the other party hereto, with respect to all actions,  and to do or cause to
be done all  things  necessary,  proper  or  advisable  to  consummate  and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  10.2  Waiver.  Any failure of the Seller to comply with any of
its obligations or agreements  herein contained may be waived only in writing by
the Buyer.  Any  failure of the Buyer to comply with any of its  obligations  or
agreements herein contained may be waived only in writing by the Seller.

                  10.3 Notices.  All notices,  claims,  certificates,  requests,
demands and other  communications  hereunder shall be given in writing and shall
be delivered  personally  or sent by  telecopier  or by a nationally  recognized
overnight courier,  postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when so delivered personally or sent by telecopier,  with receipt confirmed,  or
two (2) business days after the date of deposit with such nationally  recognized
overnight courier. All such notices, claims, certificates, requests, demands and
other  communications  shall  be  addressed  to the  respective  parties  at the
addresses  set forth below or to such other address as the person to whom notice
is to be given  may have  furnished  to the  others  in  writing  in  accordance
herewith.


#90060036.5
                                      -32-

<PAGE>



                           (i)  If to the Buyer, to:

                           PrimeSource Corporation
                           4350 Haddonfield Road, Suite 222
                           Pennsauken, NJ   08109
                           Telecopier: (609) 486-2999
                           Telephone:  (609) 488-4888
                           Attention:  William A. DeMarco

                           (with a copy to):

                           Barry Maulding, Esq.
                           PrimeSource Momentum
                           355 Treck Drive
                           Seattle, WA  98188
                           Telecopier:  (206) 394-5587
                           Telephone:  (206) 394-5582

                           (ii)  If to KNP BT, Holding or the Seller, to:

                           NV Koninklijke KNP BT
                           Hoogoorddreef 62
                           1100 DE Amsterdam ZO
                           The Netherlands
                           Telecopier:  011-31-20-691-8849
                           Telephone:  011-31-20-651-1104
                           Attention:  Heidi van der Kooij, Esq.

                           (with a copy to):

                           Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts
                           Financial Centre
                           695 East Main Street
                           Stamford, CT 06904
                           Telecopier:  (203) 965-8226
                           Telephone:  (203) 348-2300
                           Attention:  Frank W. Hogan, III, Esq.

                           The Buyer, KNP BT, Holding and the Seller may
change the address or telecopier  number to which such notices or communications
are to be directed by giving written notice to the other in the manner  provided
in this Agreement.

                  10.4  Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.

                           (a)  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal  substantive  laws, and not the choice
of law rules, of the State of Minnesota.

                           (b)  Any judicial proceeding brought with respect
to this Agreement must be brought in any court of competent  jurisdiction in the
State of Minnesota, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party
(i) accepts,  generally and unconditionally,  the exclusive jurisdiction of such
courts and

#90060036.5
                                      -33-

<PAGE>



any related appellate court, and irrevocably  agrees to be bound by any judgment
rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement and (ii)  irrevocably  waives
any  objection  it may now or  hereafter  have as to the venue of any such suit,
action  or  proceeding  brought  in  such a  court  or  that  such  court  is an
inconvenient  forum.  THE PARTIES  HEREBY  WAIVE  TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY  JUDICIAL
PROCEEDING TO WHICH THEY ARE BOTH PARTIES INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY
MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

                  10.5  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in two or
more  counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  10.6  Headings.   The  section  headings   contained  in  this
Agreement  are for  reference  purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

                  10.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement,  including the Exhibits
and Schedules hereto and the documents  referred to herein,  embodies the entire
agreement  and  understanding  of the  parties  hereto in respect of the subject
matter  contained  herein.  This Agreement  supersedes all prior  agreements and
understandings  between the parties with respect to such subject  matter.  There
are no representations,  promises, warranties,  covenants or undertakings of the
parties other than as expressly set forth herein or therein.

                  10.8  Amendment and Modification.  This Agreement may
be amended or modified only by written agreement of the parties
hereto.

                  10.9 Binding Effect;  Benefits.  This Agreement shall inure to
the  benefit  of and be binding  upon the  parties  hereto and their  respective
successors  and  assigns.  Nothing in this  Agreement,  express or  implied,  is
intended  to confer on any person or entity  other than the  parties  hereto and
their respective successors and assigns (and, to the extent provided in Sections
8.1 and 8.2,  the Buyer  Indemnitees  and the Seller  Indemnitees)  any  rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

                  10.10  Assignability.  This Agreement may not be
assigned in whole or in any part without the express written
consent of the other party.

                  10.11  Expenses.  Except as otherwise set forth  herein,  each
party shall be  responsible  for its own legal fees and other costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the negotiation, consummation and
performance of the transactions contemplated hereby.



#90060036.5
                                      -34-

<PAGE>



                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                                     PRIMESOURCE CORPORATION


                                                     By:
                                                            Name:
                                                            Title:


                                    VGC CORP.


                                                     By:
                                                            Name:
                                                            Title:


                                                     VGC HOLDING USA, INC.


                                                     By:
                                                            Name:
                                                            Title:


                                                     NV KONINKLIJKE KNP BT


                                                     By:
                                                            Name:
                                                            Title:


#90060036.5
                                                       -35-



<PAGE>



                                    Schedules


Schedule 1.2(a)               Inventory
Schedule 1.2(b)               Tangible and Intangible Property
Schedule 1.2(c)               Other Current Assets
Schedule 1.2(d)               Operating Leases
Schedule 1.2(e)               Miscellaneous Assets
Schedule 1.2(f)               Real Property
Schedule 1.4(a)               Assumed Liabilities
Schedule 1.4(b)               Assumed Contracts
Schedule 1.6                  Allocation Agreement
Schedule 1.8                  Excluded Assets
Schedule 3.2                  No Violation; Consents
Schedule 3.3                  Permitted Encumbrances
Schedule 3.4                  Certain Events
Schedule 3.5                  Financial Statements
Schedule 3.6                  Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.16                 Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 4.3                  No Violation; Consents
Schedule 6.5                  Effectiveness of Certain Contracts


#90060036.5
                                                        -2-

<PAGE>




                                    Exhibits

Exhibit 1.9(a)                Bill of Sale; Assignment and Assumption of Lease
                              Agreements; Lessors' Consent and Estoppel
                              Certificates



#90060036.5
                                       -3-



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