SHAW GROUP INC
8-K, 1997-02-12
MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS
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                                  EXHIBIT 2(a)
                                  ------------


THIS PLAN AND  AGREEMENT OF MERGER IS NOT A  PROSPECTUS  AND ANY OFFERING OF THE
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE SHAW GROUP INC.,  COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT
A PUBLIC  OFFERING.  RECIPIENTS  OF SUCH  SHARES WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO BRING A
CAUSE OF ACTION FOR RESCISSION UNDER SECTION 12(2) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FOR AN  UNTRUE  STATEMENT  OF A  MATERIAL  FACT OR FOR THE  FAILURE  TO  STATE A
MATERIAL FACT.














                          PLAN AND AGREEMENT OF MERGER



                                      AMONG


                THE SHAREHOLDERS OF NAPTech, INC., NAPTech, INC.,
                       SAON, INC. AND THE SHAW GROUP INC.



                           Dated as of August 5, 1996












<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------
                          (Not a Part of the Agreement)


                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS .................................................      1

         SECTION 1.01.           Certain Defined Terms..................      1

ARTICLE II  THE MERGER, ETC. ...........................................     10

         SECTION 2.01.           The Merger.............................     10
         SECTION 2.02.           Effective Time.........................     10
         SECTION 2.03.           Closing................................     10
         SECTION 2.04.           Terms of Merger........................     10
         SECTION 2.05.           Merger Consideration; Cancellation of
                                 the Shares in the Merger, Etc..........     11

ARTICLE III  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                  SHAREHOLDERS AND THE COMPANY..........................     12

SECTION 3.01.              Capacity of the Shareholders ................     12
SECTION 3.02.              Organization, Authority and Qualification of
                           the Company..................................     12
SECTION 3.03.              Capital Stock of the Company; Ownership of 
                           the Shares...................................     13
SECTION 3.04.              Subsidiaries ................................     13
SECTION 3.05.              Corporate Books and Records..................     15
SECTION 3.06.              No Conflict..................................     15
SECTION 3.07.              Governmental Consents and Approvals..........     16
SECTION 3.08.              Financial Information and Books and Records..     16
SECTION 3.09.              Certain Additional Representations...........     17
SECTION 3.10.              No Undisclosed Liabilities or Capital
                           Commitments .................................     17
SECTION 3.11.              Acquired Assets .............................     18
SECTION 3.12.              Conduct in the Ordinary Course; Absence of
                           Certain Changes, Events and Conditions.......     18
SECTION 3.13.              Litigation...................................     20
SECTION 3.14.              Certain Interests............................     21
SECTION 3.15.              Compliance with Laws.........................     21
SECTION 3.16.              Environmental and Other Permits and Licenses;
                           Related Matters..............................     21
SECTION 3.17.              Material Contracts...........................     23
SECTION 3.18.              Intellectual Property........................     25
SECTION 3.19.              Real Property................................     26
SECTION 3.20.              Tangible Personal Property...................     26
SECTION 3.21.              Assets.......................................     27

                                      - i -

<PAGE>



SECTION 3.22.              Accounts Receivable and Inventory............     28
SECTION 3.23.              Customers ...................................     28
SECTION 3.24.              Employee Benefit Matters ....................     28
SECTION 3.25.              Labor Matters................................     32
SECTION 3.26.              Key Employees................................     33
SECTION 3.27.              Risk Management..............................     33
SECTION 3.28.              Accounts; Lockboxes; Safe Deposit Boxes; 
                           Powers of Attorney...........................     34
SECTION 3.29.              Full Disclosure..............................     35
SECTION 3.30.              Investment Purpose, Etc......................     35
SECTION 3.31.              Brokers......................................     36
SECTION 3.32.              Freeport Property............................     36

ARTICLE IV  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                  PARENT AND THE PARENT SUB.............................     36

SECTION 4.01.              Organization and Authority of the Parent and 
                           the Parent Sub ..............................     37
SECTION 4.02.              No Conflict..................................     37
SECTION 4.03.              Governmental Consents and Approvals..........     37
SECTION 4.04.              Litigation...................................     37
SECTION 4.05.              Brokers......................................     38
SECTION 4.06.              Reports; Financial Statements ...............     38

ARTICLE V  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS .......................................     39

SECTION 5.01.              Conduct of Business Prior to the Effective 
                           Time.........................................     39
SECTION 5.02.              Access to Information........................     40
SECTION 5.03.              Confidentiality .............................     41
SECTION 5.04.              Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Notices 
                           and Consents.................................     43
SECTION 5.05.              Notice of Developments.......................     44
SECTION 5.06.              Acquisition Proposals........................     44
SECTION 5.07.              Use of Names and Intellectual Property.......     45
SECTION 5.08.              Non-Competition..............................     45
SECTION 5.09.              Release of Indemnity and Other Obligations...     46
SECTION 5.10.              Further Action...............................     46

SECTION 5.11.              Removal of Encumbrances on Assets............     46
SECTION 5.12.              Certain Additional Covenants.................     47
SECTION 5.13.              Termination of Inter-Company Arrangements, 
                           etc..........................................     48

ARTICLE VI  MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS.......................................     48

SECTION 6.01.              Certain Limitations on Representations
                           and Warranties of the Minority Shareholders..     48

                                     - ii -


                                     
<PAGE>



ARTICLE VII  TAX MATTERS................................................     49

SECTION 7.01.              Representations, Warranties and Covenants ...     49
SECTION 7.02.              Access to Information........................     54
SECTION 7.03.              Returns and Payments.........................     55
SECTION 7.04.              Refunds .....................................     56
SECTION 7.05.              Indemnity ...................................     56
SECTION 7.06.              Contests ....................................     58
SECTION 7.07.              Time of Payment..............................     59
SECTION 7.08.              Cooperation and Exchange of Information......     60
SECTION 7.09.              Retention of Tax Returns and Records.........     60
SECTION 7.10.              Conveyance Taxes.............................     61
SECTION 7.11.              Miscellaneous................................     61

ARTICLE VIII  CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.....................................     62

SECTION 8.01.              Conditions to Obligations of the Shareholders
                           and the Company..............................     62
SECTION 8.02.              Conditions to Obligations of the Parent and 
                           the Parent Sub...............................     64

ARTICLE IX  SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION................................     68

SECTION 9.01.              Survival of Representations, Warranties and
                           Covenants....................................     68
SECTION 9.02.              Indemnification..............................     69
SECTION 9.03.              Limits on Indemnification....................     73
SECTION 9.04               Security for Shareholders' Agreement to
                           Indemnify....................................     74

ARTICLE X  TERMINATION AND WAIVER........................................    74

SECTION 10.01.             Termination by the Shareholders or Parent.....    74
SECTION 10.02.             Effect of Termination.........................    75
SECTION 10.03.             Waiver........................................    76

ARTICLE XI  GENERAL PROVISIONS...........................................    76

SECTION 11.01.             Solidary Obligation of Shareholders
                           Other than Minority Shareholders..............    76
SECTION 11.02.             Expenses......................................    76
SECTION 11.03.             Notices.......................................    76
SECTION 11.04.             Public Announcements..........................    78
SECTION 11.05.             Headings; Construction........................    78
SECTION 11.06.             Severability..................................    78
SECTION 11.07.             Entire Agreement..............................    78
SECTION 11.08.             Assignment....................................    78
SECTION 11.09.             No Third Party Beneficiaries..................    78

                                     - iii -

<PAGE>



SECTION 11.10.             Amendment......................................   79
SECTION 11.11.             Governing Law..................................   79
SECTION 11.12.             Counterparts...................................   79
SECTION 11.13.             Specific Performance...........................   79
SECTION 11.14.             Legal Advice ..................................   79
SECTION 11.15              Remedies Not Exclusive ........................   79

ARTICLE XII  SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE; POWER
         OF ATTORNEY             .........................................   79

         SECTION 12.01.          Shareholder Representative; Etc. ........   79



Exhibits

Exhibit 1.01(i)               List of Minority Shareholders
Exhibit 1.01(ii)              Permitted Encumbrances
Exhibit 1.01(iii)             List of Shareholders Represented by Company's 
                              Counsel
Exhibit 2.05(a)(ii)           Allocation of Merger Consideration Among
                              Shareholders
Exhibit 3.03                  List of Shares Owned by Each of the Shareholders
Exhibit 3.32                  Members and Percentage Ownership of Freeport
                              Properties, L.L.C.
Exhibit 5.04                  Third Party Consents and Estoppel Certificates
Exhibit 5.08(a)               Locations for Non-Competition
Exhibit 8.01(f)               Legal Opinion of Parent's Counsel
Exhibit 8.01(s)(1)            Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit 8.02(f)               Legal Opinion of Company's Counsel
Exhibit 8.02(h)(1)            Directors and Officers of the Subsidiary who are
                              not resigning or to be removed
Exhibit 8.02(s)(2)            Representation Letter by the Shareholders
Exhibit 8.02(l)               Escrow Agreement

Disclosure Schedule

3.02                          Organization, Authority and Qualification of 
                              the Company
3.03                          Outstanding Options of the Company
3.04                          Subsidiaries
3.07                          Governmental Consents and Approvals
3.10                          No Undisclosed Liabilities or Capital Commitments
3.13                          Litigation
3.14                          Certain Interests
3.15                          Compliance with Laws
3.16                          Environmental and Other Permits and Licenses;
                              Related Matters
3.17                          Material Contracts
3.18                          Intellectual Property
3.19                          Real Property

                                      - iv -

<PAGE>



3.20                          Tangible Personal Property
3.21                          Assets Needing Repairs
3.22                          Accounts Receivable and Inventory
3.23                          Customers
3.24                          Employee Benefit Matters
3.25                          Labor Matters
3.26                          Key Employees
3.27                          Risk Management
3.28                          Accounts; Lockboxes; Safe Deposit Boxes;
                              Powers of Attorney
5.09                          Certain Agreements Not Released
5.13                          Inter-Company Agreements Not Terminated
7.01                          Representations and Warranties
8.01(l)                       Certain Obligations to be Paid by the Company 
                              Pre-Closing


                                     - v -

<PAGE>



         THIS PLAN AND  AGREEMENT OF MERGER,  dated as of August 5, 1996,  among
the   undersigned    shareholders   of   NAPTech,   INC.   (collectively,    the
"Shareholders"), NAPTech, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), THE SHAW
GROUP INC., a Louisiana corporation (the "Parent"),  and SAON, INC., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Parent Sub").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS,  the  Shareholders  own all the issued and outstanding  shares
(the "Shares") of common stock,  $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"),
of the Company; and

         WHEREAS,  the Parent owns all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of
common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Parent Sub; and

         WHEREAS,  the Parent,  the Parent Sub, the Shareholders and the Company
each have  determined  that it is in their best  interests for the Parent Sub to
merge with and into the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement with the Company to be the Surviving Corporation; and

         WHEREAS,  for federal  income tax  purposes,  it is  intended  that the
Merger  shall  qualify  as a  reorganization  within  the  meaning  of  Sections
368(a)(1)(A) and (a)(2)(E) or Section 368(a)(1)(B) of the Code;

         WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Parent Sub have
duly approved this  Agreement and have  authorized  the execution  hereof by the
respective  undersigned  officers of the  Company  and the Parent Sub,  and have
directed  that this  Agreement  be  submitted  to the votes of their  respective
shareholders,  the  Shareholders  and the Parent,  in  accordance  with Sections
251-262 of the General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware and Part XI of
the Business  Corporation  Law (La.R.S.  12:111-116)  of the State of Louisiana,
respectively;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the  mutual
agreements and covenants  hereinafter set forth, the Shareholders,  the Company,
the Parent Sub and the Parent hereby agree as follows:

     ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS  SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

         "Acquisition Documents" has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.

         "Acquisition Proposal" has the meaning specified in Section 5.06.

         "Action"  means  any  claim,   action,  suit,   arbitration,   inquiry,
proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority.


                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>



         "Affiliate"  means,  with respect to any  specified  Person,  any other
Person  that  directly,  or  indirectly  through  one  or  more  intermediaries,
controls,  is controlled  by, or is under common  control with,  such  specified
Person.

         "Agreement"  or "this  Agreement"  means  this  Plan and  Agreement  of
Merger, dated as of the date set forth in the preamble to this Agreement,  among
the  Shareholders,  the Company,  the Parent Sub and the Parent  (including  the
Exhibits hereto and the Disclosure  Schedule) and all amendments  hereto made in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11.10.

         "APB 16" has the meaning specified in Section 3.09.

         "Asset" or "Assets" has the meaning specified in Section 3.21.

         "Balance Sheet Date" means March 29, 1996.

         "Best" means A.M. Best Company, Inc.

         "Business"  means  the  forming,   bending,   coating,  welding,  sale,
engineering,  fabrication and manufacture of piping,  pipeline  systems,  piping
sub-assemblies, skids, and modules, and seamless steel pressure vessels, and all
other  businesses  which are on the date hereof being  conducted by the Company,
the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary.

         "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday,  a Sunday or other
day on which banks are required or  authorized  by law to be closed in the State
of Louisiana or in the State of Utah.

     "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response  Compensation and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601 et seq.

         "Certificate  of Merger"  shall  mean the  certificate  of merger  with
respect to the merger of the  Parent Sub with and into the  Company,  containing
the provisions  required by, and executed in accordance with, Section 112 of the
LBCL and Sections 103 and 251 of the DGCL.

         "Claim Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Closing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03 .

         "Closing Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

         "COBRA" means continuation coverage as set forth in Sections 601 and
 602 of ERISA.

         "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through the
 date hereof.

         "Common Stock" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this
 Agreement.

         "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



         "Company Certificate(s)" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

         "Company GAAP Statements" has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

         "Company Interim GAAP Statements" has the meaning specified in 
Section 3.08.

         "Company's Counsel" means LeBoeuf,  Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P., legal
counsel to the  Shareholders  listed on Exhibit  1.01 (iii),  the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  in connection  with this  Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         "Company  Options" means those  outstanding stock options issued by the
Company which are identified in Section 3.03(b) of the Disclosure Schedule.

         "Control"  (including,   without  limitation,   the  terms  "controls",
"controlled  by"  and  "under  common  control  with"),   with  respect  to  the
relationship  between  or  among  two or more  Persons,  means  the  possession,
directly or  indirectly,  or as trustee or  executor,  of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the affairs or management  of a Person,  whether  through
the  ownership  of voting  securities,  as trustee or  executor,  by contract or
otherwise, including, without limitation, the ownership, directly or indirectly,
of securities  having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or
similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

         "Convertible Note" means that certain convertible promissory note dated
July 26, 1996, made by the Company,  having a principal amount outstanding as of
the date hereof of $36,000, payable to Edward Davin.

         "D&P" means Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co.

         "DGCL" means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

         "Disclosure Schedule" means the schedules attached hereto and delivered
to the Parent and the Parent Sub by the  Shareholders  and the Company  together
with this Agreement.

         "Effective Time" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

         "Encumbrance" or "Encumbrances"  means any security  interest,  pledge,
mortgage,  lien (including,  without  limitation,  environmental and tax liens),
charge,  encumbrance,  adverse claim, preferential arrangement or restriction of
any kind,  including,  without  limitation,  any restriction on the use, voting,
transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership.

         "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative,  regulatory or
judicial actions,  suits,  demands,  demand letters,  claims,  liens, notices of
non-compliance  or  violation,  notices of  liability  or  potential  liability,
investigations,  proceedings,  settlements, consent orders or consent agreements
by any  Person  relating  in any  way to any  Environmental  Law,  Environmental
Permits or Hazardous  Materials,  or arising  from  alleged  injury or threat of
injury to health, safety or the environment.


                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



         "Environmental  Law" means any Law, now in effect,  and any judicial or
administrative   interpretation  thereof,  including,  without  limitation,  any
judicial or  administrative  order,  consent decree or judgment,  relating to or
addressing the environment,  health,  safety or Hazardous  Materials,  including
without limitation any Occupational Safety and Health Law.

         "Environmental  Lien"  means  a  lien  in  favor  of  any  Governmental
Authority  for any (a)  liability  under any  Environmental  Law, or (b) damages
arising from, or costs incurred by, such Governmental Authority in response to a
Release of a Hazardous Material.

         "Environmental Permits" means all Permits required under any applicable
Environmental 
Law.

         "ERISA" has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

         "Escrow Agreement" means the agreement referred to in Section 8.02.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "Financial Statements" has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

         "Freeport Property" means the land,  building(s) and other improvements
located on South Freeport  Industrial  Parkway,  Clearfield,  Utah, in which the
Company conducts its primary business  activities and which is owned by Freeport
Properties, L.L.C.

         "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles and
practices as in effect from time to time.

         "Governmental  Authority"  means any United  States  federal,  state or
local or any foreign  government,  governmental,  regulatory  or  administrative
authority,  agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral
body.

         "Governmental  Order" or "Governmental  Orders" means any order,  writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation,  determination or award entered by or
with any Governmental Authority.

         "Hazardous   Materials"  means  any  pollutant,   hazardous  substance,
radioactive  substance,   toxic  substance,   hazardous  waste,  medical  waste,
radioactive waste, special waste,  petroleum or  petroleum-derived  substance or
waste,  asbestos,   polychlorinated   biphenyls,   or  any  hazardous  or  toxic
constituent  thereof and includes,  but is not limited to, any substance defined
in or regulated under any Environmental Law.

         "HSR Act" means the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Indebtedness"  means, with respect to any Person, (a) all indebtedness
of  such  Person,  whether  or not  contingent,  for  borrowed  money,  (b)  all
obligations of such Person for the deferred

                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



purchase  price of  property or  services,  (c) all  obligations  of such Person
evidenced by notes,  bonds,  debentures  or other similar  instruments,  (d) all
indebtedness  created  or  arising  under any  conditional  sale or other  title
retention  agreement  with  respect to property  acquired  by such Person  (even
though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender  under such  agreement in
the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property),  (e)
all  obligations  of such Person as lessee under leases that have been or should
be, in accordance with GAAP,  recorded as capital leases,  (f) all  obligations,
contingent or otherwise,  of such Person under  acceptance,  letter of credit or
similar  facilities,  (g) all  obligations  of such Person to purchase,  redeem,
retire,  defease or otherwise acquire for value any capital stock of such Person
or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such capital stock, valued, in the
case  of  redeemable  preferred  stock,  at  the  greater  of its  voluntary  or
involuntary  liquidation  preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends,  (h) all
Indebtedness of others  referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above  guaranteed
directly or  indirectly  in any manner by such Person,  or in effect  guaranteed
directly  or  indirectly  by such  Person  through  an  agreement  (i) to pay or
purchase  such  Indebtedness  or to advance or supply  funds for the  payment or
purchase of such  Indebtedness,  (ii) to  purchase,  sell or lease (as lessee or
lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services,  primarily for the purpose of
enabling the debtor to make payment of such Indebtedness or to assure the holder
of such  Indebtedness  against  loss,  (iii) to supply  funds to or in any other
manner invest in the debtor (including, without limitation, any agreement to pay
for property or services  irrespective  of whether such  property is received or
such services are rendered) or (iv) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss,
and (i) all Indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above secured by
(or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right,  contingent
or otherwise, to be secured by) any Encumbrance on property (including,  without
limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such
Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness.

         "Indemnified Party" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Indemnity Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Intellectual  Property"  means (a)  trademarks,  service marks,  trade
dress,  logos, trade names and corporate names,  whether or not registered,  (b)
copyrights,  whether or not registered, and all patents, patent applications and
inventions  and   discoveries,   (c)   registrations  of  and  applications  for
registration of any of the foregoing, (d) computer software,  including, without
limitation, source code, operating systems and specifications, data, data bases,
files,   documentation   and  other   materials   related   thereto,   data  and
documentation,  (e) trade  secrets  and  confidential,  technical  and  business
information, and (f) whether or not confidential, technology (including, without
limitation,  know-how  and  show-how),  research  and  development  information,
drawings,  plans,  proposals,  technical data,  copyrightable works,  financial,
marketing and business data, pricing  information,  business and marketing plans
and customer and supplier lists and information.

         "Inter-Company Arrangements" has the meaning specified in Section 3.14.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

                                      - 5 -


<PAGE>



         "Law" or "Laws"  means  any  United  States  federal,  state,  local or
foreign statute,  law, ordinance,  regulation,  rule, code, order, Permit, other
legal requirement or rule of law.

         "LBCL" means the Business Corporation Law of the State of Louisiana, 
La.R.S. 12:1, et
seq.

         "LLC Subsidiary" means IRM NAPTech Joint Venture, L.L.C.

         "Lease" for purposes of Sections 3.17,  3.19 and 3.20 means any and all
leases, subleases, sale/leaseback agreements or similar arrangements, whether or
not capitalized.

         "Leased Real Property"  means the real property  leased by the Company,
the Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary,  as tenant,  together with, to the extent
leased by the Company or the  Subsidiary,  all buildings  and other  structures,
facilities or improvements currently or hereafter located thereon, all fixtures,
systems,  equipment  and  items  of  personal  property  of the  Company  or the
Subsidiary attached or appurtenant thereto, and all easements,  licenses, rights
and appurtenances relating to the foregoing.

         "Liabilities"  means any and all debts,  liabilities  and  obligations,
whether  accrued or fixed,  absolute  or  contingent,  matured or  unmatured  or
determined or determinable,  including,  without limitation, those arising under
any Law  (including,  without  limitation,  any  Environmental  Law),  Action or
Governmental Order and those arising under any contract, agreement, arrangement,
commitment or undertaking.

         "Licensed   Intellectual  Property"  means  all  Intellectual  Property
licensed or  sublicensed  to the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
from a third party.

         "Losses" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02 .

         "Material Adverse Effect" means any circumstance,  change in, or effect
on the Business or the Company that,  individually  or in the aggregate with any
other circumstances, changes in, or effects on, the Business or the Company: (a)
is or  could be  materially  adverse  to the  business,  operations,  prospects,
results of  operations  or  financial  condition  of the  Company,  or (b) could
materially  and  adversely  affect the  ability of the Parent or the  Company to
operate or conduct the Business in the manner in which it is currently  operated
or conducted by the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary.

         "Material Contracts" has the meaning specified in Section 3.17.

         "Merger"  shall  mean the  merger of the  Parent  Sub with and into the
Company as contemplated by Section 2.01.

         "Merger Consideration" shall have the meaning specified in Section 
2.05.

         "Minority  Shareholders"  means the  Shareholders  owning  4.33% of the
Shares who are identified on Exhibit 1.01(i).

                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>



         "Multiemployer Plan" has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

         "Multiple Employer Plan" has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

         "Name" has the meaning specified in Section 5.07.

         "Notice Period" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Occupational  Safety and Health Law" means any law, rule or regulation
designed  to  provide  safe  and  healthful  working  conditions  and to  reduce
occupational  safety and health hazards,  and any mandatory  program designed to
provide safe and healthful working conditions.

         "Owned Intellectual Property" means all Intellectual Property in and to
which the Company,  the Subsidiary,  or the LLC Subsidiary holds, or has a right
to hold, any right, title and interest.

         "Owned Real Property" means the real property owned by the Company, the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  prior  to the  Closing,  together  with  all
buildings  and  other  structures,   facilities  or  improvements  currently  or
hereafter  located  thereon,  all  fixtures,  systems,  equipment  and  items of
personal property of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary attached
or appurtenant  thereto and all easements,  licenses,  rights and  appurtenances
relating to the foregoing.

         "Parent" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

         "Parent SEC Reports" has the meaning specified in Section 4.06.

         "Parent Sub" has the meaning specified in the preamble of this
Agreement.

         "Parent's Common Stock" means the common stock, no par value, of the
Parent.

         "Parent's   Counsel"  means  Kantrow,   Spaht,   Weaver  &  Blitzer (A
Professional Law Corporation) and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.,  legal counsel to
the  Parent  and the  Parent  Sub in  connection  with  this  Agreement  and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         "Parent's Due Diligence Review" has the meaning specified in Section 
8.02(q).

         "Permits" has the meaning specified in Section 3.16.

         "Permitted  Encumbrances"  means such of the  following  as to which no
enforcement,  collection,  execution,  levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have
been commenced:  (a) liens for taxes,  assessments and  governmental  charges or
levies  not yet due and  payable  which  are not in  excess  of  $10,000  in the
aggregate or which are being  contested in good faith and for which  reserves in
accordance  with GAAP have been  established  on the Financial  Statements;  (b)
Encumbrances  imposed  by law,  such as  materialmen's,  mechanics',  carriers',
workmen's and repairmen's  liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary
course of business securing

                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>



obligations  that (i) are not  overdue for a period of more than 30 days or (ii)
are not in excess of $5,000 in the case of a single  property  or $10,000 in the
aggregate  at any time or which are being  contested in good faith and for which
reserves  in  accordance  with  GAAP  have  been  established  on the  Financial
Statements;  (c)  pledges  or  deposits  to secure  obligations  under  worker's
compensation  laws or  similar  legislation  or to secure  public  or  statutory
obligations;  (d) minor survey exceptions,  reciprocal  easement  agreements and
other  customary  encumbrances  on  title  to real  property  that  (i) were not
incurred in  connection  with any  Indebtedness,(ii)  do not render title to the
property  encumbered thereby  unmarketable and (iii) do not,  individually or in
the aggregate, materially adversely affect the value or use of such property for
its current purposes; (e) in the case of stock of a corporation, restrictions on
the  payment  of  dividends  arising  under  applicable   corporate  law  or  on
transferability   arising  under   applicable   securities  laws;  and  (f)  the
Encumbrances identified on Exhibit 1.01(ii).

         "Person"  means  any  individual,   partnership,   firm,   corporation,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or other
entity,  as well as any  syndicate  or group that would be deemed to be a person
under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

         "Plan of Merger" shall mean this Agreement.

         "Plans" has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

         "Real Property" means the Leased Real Property and the Owned Real
Property.

         "Regulations"  means  the  Treasury  Regulations  (including,   without
limitation,  Temporary Regulations)  promulgated by the United States Department
of Treasury with respect to the Code or other federal tax statutes.

         "Release"  means the release or threatened  release,  spill,  emission,
leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal,  discharge,  dispersal, leaching
or migrating into the indoor or outdoor environment of any Hazardous Material.

         "Replacement Options" means stock options to be issued by the Parent at
the Closing  pursuant to its 1993 Employee Stock Option Plan in  substitution of
the  Company  Options  held by  employees  of the  Company  which  have not been
exercised prior to the Effective Time, each such Replacement  Option to have the
same term,  aggregate  exercise  price,  vesting  and other  provisions,  as the
Company  Option for which it is substituted  and shall be  exercisable  into the
number of shares of the Parent's  Common Stock equal to the product of 0.0772611
times the aggregate number of shares included in the Company Option.

         "Returns" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

         "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Corporation.

         "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Secured Real Property" has the meaning specified in Section 3.16.

                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>



         "Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 2(11) of the 
Securities Act.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "Shareholder Representative" has the meaning specified in Section 
12.07.

         "Shareholders" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this 
Agreement.

         "Shareholders'  Accountants"  means Deloitte & Touche LLP,  independent
accountants of the Company and the Subsidiary.

         "Shares" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

         "Subsidiary" means NAPTech Pressure Systems Corporation, a Utah
corporation.

         "subsidiaries"  means  any and all  other  corporations,  partnerships,
joint ventures,  limited  liability  companies,  associations and other entities
controlled  by  the  Company   directly  or  indirectly   through  one  or  more
intermediaries.

         "Surviving Corporation" shall mean the surviving corporation in the 
Merger.

         "Tangible Personal Property" has the meaning specified in Section 3.20.

         "Tax"  or  "Taxes"  means  any and all  taxes,  fees,  levies,  duties,
tariffs,  imposts,  and other  charges  of any kind  (together  with any and all
interest,  penalties,  additions  to tax and  additional  amounts  imposed  with
respect  thereto)  imposed by any  government  or taxing  authority,  including,
without  limitation:  taxes or  other  charges  on or with  respect  to  income,
franchises,  windfall or other  profits,  gross  receipts,  premiums,  property,
sales,  use,  capital stock,  payroll,  employment,  social  security,  workers'
compensation, unemployment compensation, or net worth; taxes or other charges in
the nature of excise,  withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added, or
gains taxes;  license,  registration and documentation fees; and customs duties,
tariffs, and similar charges.

         "Tax Returns" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

         "Third Party Claim" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                THE MERGER, ETC.

         SECTION 2.01 The Merger.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  at the Effective  Time,  the Parent Sub will be merged with and into
the Company in accordance  with the provisions of the LBCL and the DGCL and with
the effect  provided in Section 115 of the LBCL and Section 259 of the DGCL. The
separate corporate existence of the Parent Sub shall

                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>



thereupon  cease and the Company  shall be the Surviving  Corporation  and shall
continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

         SECTION 2.02 Effective Time. The merger shall become  effective on such
date and at such time (the  "Effective  Time") as (a) the Plan of Merger  or, in
lieu  thereof,  a  certificate  of merger as permitted by La.R.S.  12:112(F) and
Section  251(c) of the DGCL  (the  "Certificate  of  Merger"),  shall  have been
accepted for filing by the  Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana and the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,  or (b) such later date and time as
may be specified in the Plan of Merger or Certificate of Merger, as permitted by
the LBCL and the DGCL.

         SECTION 2.03 Closing.  Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions of
this Agreement,  the exchange of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement shall
take place at a closing  (the  "Closing")  to be held at the offices of Kantrow,
Spaht,  Weaver  &  Blitzer  (A  Professional  Law  Corporation),   Baton  Rouge,
Louisiana,  at 10:00  A.M.  Baton  Rouge  time on a day  selected  by the Parent
following the  satisfaction or waiver of all other conditions to the obligations
of the  parties  set forth in Article 8, or at such other place or at such other
time or on such other date as the Shareholders and the Parent may mutually agree
upon in writing  (the day on which the Closing  takes  place being the  "Closing
Date"). The Effective Time shall occur on the Closing Date.

         SECTION 2.04 Terms of Merger.

         (a) Articles of  Incorporation.  The Articles of  Incorporation  of the
Company  as in  effect  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  shall be the
Articles of  Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation,  until duly amended in
accordance with the terms thereof and of the DGCL.

         (b) Bylaws.  The Bylaws of the Company in effect at the Effective  Time
shall  be the  Bylaws  of the  Surviving  Corporation,  until  duly  amended  in
accordance  with the terms  thereof,  of the  Articles of  Incorporation  of the
Surviving Corporation and of the DGCL.

         (c) Directors  and  Officers.  The directors and officers of the Parent
Sub at the  Effective  Time shall,  from and after the  Effective  Time,  be the
directors and officers,  respectively,  of the Surviving Corporation until their
successors  have been duly  elected or  appointed  and  qualified or until their
earlier  death,  resignation  or  removal in  accordance  with the  Articles  of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and the DGCL.

         SECTION 2.05  Merger Consideration; Cancellation of the Shares in the 
Merger, Etc.

         (a)      Consideration; Cancellation of the Shares in the Merger.  At
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by the
holders thereof:

                  (i) The Shares, constituting all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company  immediately  prior to the Effective Time, shall be
converted into the right to receive in exchange  therefor  432,783  unregistered
shares of the Parent's Common Stock (the "Merger Consideration"), such number of
shares to be (i) appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends,  stock split or
combination  of the  outstanding  shares of the Parent's  Common Stock  declared
after the date  hereof  and prior to the  Closing  Date and (ii)  reduced by the
aggregate number of shares

                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>



of the  Parent's  Common  Stock  for  which  (A)  Replacement  Options  shall be
exercisable after the Effective Time and (B) the Convertible Note is convertible
after the  Effective  Time at a  conversion  ratio of 0.0772611 of shares of the
Parent's Common Stock for each share of the Common Stock.

                  (ii) All of the  Shares  to be  converted  into  the  right to
receive in exchange therefor the Parent's Common Stock, pursuant to this Section
2.05,  shall cease to be  outstanding,  shall be canceled  and retired and shall
cease to exist, and the  Shareholders,  which are the registered  holders of the
certificates  representing  the  Shares  (the  "Company  Certificate(s)")  shall
thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to the Shares, except the right
to receive, upon the surrender of the Company  Certificate(s) in accordance with
Section 2.05(b), the Merger Consideration to be allocated among the Shareholders
as set forth on Exhibit 2.05(a)(ii).

                  (iii) Each share of common stock par value $0.01 per share, of
the Parent Sub issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time
shall continue to be  outstanding  and shall be converted into a share of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation.

         (b) Exchange of the Shares in the Merger. Following the Effective Time,
upon surrender of the Company Certificate(s) for cancellation to the Parent, the
Shareholders  shall  receive,  in  exchange  for the Shares  represented  by the
Company Certificate(s),  the Merger Consideration and the Company Certificate(s)
so  surrendered  shall  forthwith be canceled.  Until  surrendered,  the Company
Certificate(s)  shall, upon and after the Effective Time, be deemed canceled and
for all  purposes to evidence  ownership of the number of shares of the Parent's
Common  Stock into  which the Shares  have been  converted  pursuant  to Section
2.05(a).

         (c) No  Transfer  of  Shares  after  the Day  Prior to the Date of this
Agreement.  The  Shareholders  and the Company  agree that no  transfers  of the
Shares will be made on the stock  transfer  books of the Company after the close
of  business  on  the  day  prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  except  as
contemplated by Section 5.12(c)-(e).




                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE III

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                          SHAREHOLDERS AND THE COMPANY

         Subject  to the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  each of the
Shareholders  and the Company  hereby  represents and warrants to the Parent and
the Parent Sub as of the date  hereof,  except as may  otherwise be set forth on
the Disclosure Schedule, as set forth in Sections 3.01 through 3.31, as follows:

         SECTION 3.01. Capacity of the Shareholders. The Shareholders are either
(i) individuals with full legal capacity to enter into this Agreement,  to carry
out  Shareholders'  obligations  hereunder  and to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby, or (ii) corporations,  partnerships or limited liabilities
companies duly organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under the laws
of their respective state(s) of formation with all necessary power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to carry out their obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Shareholders, the performance by the Shareholders of their
obligations   hereunder  and  the   consummation  by  the  Shareholders  of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly  authorized  by all  requisite
action by the  Shareholders  signatories  hereto.  This  Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the  Shareholders,  and this  Agreement  constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Shareholders  enforceable against the
Shareholders  in  accordance  with its terms,  except as  enforceability  may be
limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or
similar laws affecting rights of creditors generally or by general principles of
equity.

         SECTION 3.02. Organization, Authority and Qualification of the Company.
The  Company is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all necessary power and
authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated
or leased by it and to conduct the Business. The Company has all necessary power
and authority to enter into this  Agreement,  and upon  shareholder  approval as
required by the DGCL,  to carry out the Company's  obligations  hereunder and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This Agreement has been duly
authorized,   executed  and  delivered  by  the  Company,   and  this  Agreement
constitutes a legal,  valid and binding  obligation  of the Company  enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms,  except as enforceability  may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or
similar laws affecting rights of creditors generally or by general principles of
equity.  The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good
standing in each  jurisdiction in which the properties  owned or leased by it or
the operation of its business  makes such licensing or  qualification  necessary
(other than those jurisdictions where the failure to be so licensed or qualified
are not  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect)  and all such
jurisdictions are set forth on Schedule 3.02 of the Disclosure Schedule.  All of
the foregoing registrations,  licenses, and qualifications are in full force and
effect and the  Company  has not  received  any  notice of any  event,  inquiry,
investigation  or proceeding that could result in the suspension,  revocation or
limitation of any such registration,  license,  or qualification and to the best
knowledge of the Shareholders and the Company, there is no sustainable basis for
any such suspension,  revocation or limitation.  All corporate  actions taken by
the Company have been

                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>



duly  authorized  or ratified,  and the Company has not taken any action that in
any  respect  conflicts  with,  constitutes  a  default  under or  results  in a
violation of any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws. True and
correct copies of the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, each
as in effect on the date hereof,  have been delivered by the Shareholders to the
Parent.

         SECTION 3.03.  Capital  Stock of the Company;  Ownership of the Shares.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 10,000,000 shares of
Common Stock. As of the date hereof, 5,124,058 shares of Common Stock are issued
and outstanding,  all of which are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
None of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  was  issued in
violation of any preemptive rights.

         (b) Except as set forth in  Section  3.03 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,
there  are  no  options,  warrants,  convertible  securities  or  other  rights,
agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the capital
stock of the Company or obligating the  Shareholders  or the Company to issue or
sell  any  shares  of  capital  stock  of,  or  any  securities  or  obligations
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company,  or
any other interest in, the Company;  and, except as permitted by Section 5.12(c)
and (d), no options,  warrants,  convertible  securities  or other such  rights,
agreements,  assignments or  commitments  shall be outstanding as of the Closing
Date.

         (c) The Shares constitute all the issued and outstanding  capital stock
of the  Company.  The  Shares  are owned of record  and  beneficially  solely by
Shareholders  and are registered in the names of Shareholders  free and clear of
all  Encumbrances   other  than  those  set  forth  in  item  (e)  of  Permitted
Encumbrances.  Exhibit 3.03 accurately sets forth the number of the Shares owned
by each of the Shareholders.

         (d) There are no voting  trusts,  stockholder  agreements,  proxies  or
other  agreements  or  understandings  in effect  with  respect to the voting or
transfer of any of the Shares.

         SECTION 3.04.  Subsidiaries.  (a) There are no subsidiaries  other than
the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary.  Section 3.04 of the Disclosure  Schedule
sets  forth,  with  respect  to the  Subsidiary  and  the  LLC  Subsidiary,  the
jurisdiction and date of its incorporation or formation,  its authorized capital
stock or membership interests, the number and type of its issued and outstanding
shares of capital  stock or membership  interests  and the current  ownership of
such shares or membership interests.

         (b) The  Company  is not a partner or member of (nor is any part of the
Business  conducted  through) any partnership or limited liability company other
than the LLC  Subsidiary.  The Company is not a  participant  in any other joint
venture or similar arrangement.

         (c)  (i)  The  Subsidiary  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing  and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Utah and has all
necessary power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets
now owned, operated or leased by it and to conduct its business.  The Subsidiary
is duly  licensed or qualified  to do business  and is in good  standing in each
jurisdiction  in which the properties  owned or leased by it or the operation of
its business

                                     - 13 -

<PAGE>



makes such licensing or qualification  necessary (other than those jurisdictions
where the failure to be so  qualified  or licensed is not  reasonably  likely to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect)  and all such  jurisdictions  are set forth on
Schedule 3.04(a) of the Disclosure Schedule. All of the foregoing registrations,
licenses, and qualifications are in full force and effect and the Subsidiary has
not received any notice of any event, inquiry,  investigation or proceeding that
could  result  in  the   suspension,   revocation  or  limitation  of  any  such
registration, license, qualification or membership, and to the best knowledge of
the  Shareholders  and the Company,  there is no sustainable  basis for any such
suspension, revocation or limitation.

                  (ii) The LLC  Subsidiary is a limited  liability  company duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Utah and has all  necessary  power and  authority  to own,  operate or lease the
properties  and assets now owned,  operated  or leased by it and to conduct  its
business. The LLC Subsidiary is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is
in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by
it or the  operation  of its  business  makes such  licensing  or  qualification
necessary (other than those  jurisdictions  where the failure to be so qualified
or licensed is not reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect) and all
such jurisdictions are set forth on Schedule 3.04(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.
All of the foregoing  registrations,  licenses,  and  qualifications are in full
force and  effect  and the LLC  Subsidiary  has not  received  any notice of any
event, inquiry, investigation or proceeding that could result in the suspension,
revocation or limitation of any such  registration,  license,  qualification  or
membership, and to the best knowledge of the Shareholders and the Company, there
is no  sustainable  basis for any such  suspension,  revocation  or  limitation.
Satisfactory  evidence of the  execution  and  registration  of the  Articles of
Organization  of the LLC  Subsidiary  was  provided  to  Kennecott  Utah  Cooper
Corporation  ("Kennecott") prior to the commencement of any work being performed
by the LLC Subsidiary relating to Kennecott's purchase order no. BP009.0A-P.

         (d) (i) All the  outstanding  shares of capital stock of the Subsidiary
are validly issued,  fully paid,  nonassessable,  free of preemptive  rights and
owned by the Company,  free and clear of all  Encumbrances  other than those set
forth in item (e) of Permitted Encumbrances.

                  (ii) No less than 50% of the  membership  interests of the LLC
Subsidiary  are owned by the Company,  and all  membership  interests of the LLC
Subsidiary are validly  issued,  fully paid,  nonassessable,  free of preemptive
rights  and,  as of the  Closing  Date,  all  membership  interests  of the  LLC
Subsidiary  shall be owned by the Company and the Subsidiary,  free and clear of
all  Encumbrances   other  than  those  set  forth  in  item  (e)  of  Permitted
Encumbrances.

         (e) (i) There are no  options,  warrants,  convertible  securities,  or
other rights, agreements,  arrangements or commitments of any character relating
to the capital  stock of the  Subsidiary  or obligating  the  Shareholders,  the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of
capital stock of, or any other interest in, the Subsidiary.

                  (ii) There are no options,  warrants,  convertible securities,
or other  rights,  agreements,  arrangements  or  commitments  of any  character
relating to the  membership  interests of the LLC  Subsidiary or obligating  the
Shareholders, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC

                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>



Subsidiary to issue or sell any  membership  interests of, or any other interest
in, the LLC Subsidiary.

         (f) (i) All corporate  actions taken by the  Subsidiary  have been duly
authorized or ratified and the  Subsidiary  has not taken any action that in any
respect conflicts with, constitutes a default under or results in a violation of
any  provision  of, its  articles  of  incorporation  or by-laws.  Complete  and
accurate copies of the articles of incorporation and by-laws, in each case as in
effect  on the  date  hereof,  of the  Subsidiary  have  been  delivered  by the
Shareholders and the Company to the Parent.

                  (ii) All actions  taken by the LLC  Subsidiary  have been duly
authorized or ratified and the LLC  Subsidiary  has not taken any action that in
any  respect  conflicts  with,  constitutes  a  default  under or  results  in a
violation  of any  provision  of, its  articles  of  organization  or  operating
agreement.  Complete and accurate  copies of the  articles of  organization  and
operating  agreement,  in each case as in effect on the date hereof,  of the LLC
Subsidiary  have been  delivered  by the  Shareholders  and the  Company  to the
Parent.

         (g) (i) The  Subsidiary  is not a partner or member of (nor is any part
of its business  conducted through) any partnership or limited liability company
nor is the Subsidiary a participant in any joint venture or similar arrangement.

                  (ii) The LLC  Subsidiary is not a partner or member of (nor is
any part of its business conducted through) any partnership or limited liability
company nor is the LLC  Subsidiary a participant in any joint venture or similar
arrangement.

         (h) (i) There are no voting trusts, stockholder agreements,  proxies or
other  agreements  or  understandings  in effect  with  respect to the voting or
transfer  of any  shares  of  capital  stock of or any  other  interests  in the
Subsidiary.

                  (ii)  There  are no  voting  trusts,  stockholder  agreements,
proxies or other  agreements  or  understandings  in effect with  respect to the
voting or transfer of any membership  interest of or any other  interests in the
LLC Subsidiary.

         SECTION  3.05.  Corporate  Books and  Records.  The minute books of the
Company and the Subsidiary  contain minutes of all meetings of the stockholders,
Boards of Directors and all committees of the Boards of Directors of the Company
and the Subsidiary. Complete and accurate copies of all such minute books of the
Company  and the  Subsidiary  have  been  made  available  to the  Parent by the
Shareholders and the Company.

         SECTION  3.06.  No Conflict.  Assuming  that all  consents,  approvals,
authorizations  and other  actions  described in Section 3.07 have been obtained
and all  filings  and  notifications  listed in Section  3.07 of the  Disclosure
Schedule  have been  made,  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement by the  Shareholders  and the Company do not and will not (a) violate,
conflict  with or result in the breach of any  provision  of (i) the articles of
incorporation or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or
the Subsidiary or (ii) the articles of  organization  or operating  agreement of
the LLC Subsidiary, (b) conflict with or violate

                                     - 15 -

<PAGE>



any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Shareholders,  the Company,  the
Subsidiary  or  any  of  their  respective  assets,  properties  or  businesses,
including, without limitation, the Business, or (c) conflict with, result in any
breach of, constitute a default (or event which with the giving of notice or the
lapse of time,  or both,  would  become a default)  under,  require  any consent
under,  or give to others any rights of  termination,  amendment,  acceleration,
suspension,  revocation  or  cancellation  of, or result in the  creation of any
Encumbrance  on any of the Shares or on any of the assets or  properties  of the
Shareholders,  the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary pursuant to any
note,  bond,  mortgage  or  indenture,  contract,  agreement,  lease,  sublease,
license,  permit,  franchise or other  instrument  or  arrangement  to which the
Shareholders, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is a party or by
which  any of the  Shares  or any of such  assets  or  properties  is  bound  or
affected.

         SECTION 3.07.  Governmental Consents and Approvals.  (a) The execution,
delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement  do not and will not  require any
consent,  approval,  authorization  or other order of, action by, filing with or
notification to any Governmental  Authority or any other third party,  except as
set forth on Section 3.07 of the Disclosure Schedule.

         (b) Neither the Shareholders nor the Company has knowledge of any facts
or circumstances pertaining to the Parent or the Parent Sub which are reasonably
likely to prevent the parties  hereto from obtaining the  governmental  consents
and approvals contemplated by Section 3.07(a).

         SECTION  3.08.  Financial  Information  and Books and Records.  (a) The
Shareholders  have previously  furnished the Parent complete and accurate copies
of (i) the  audited  consolidated  GAAP  balance  sheet of the  Company  and the
Subsidiary  for each of the fiscal years ended as of March 29,  1996,  March 31,
1995, and April 1, 1994, and the related audited GAAP consolidated statements of
earnings,  stockholder's  equity  and cash flows for each of such  periods  then
ended together with all related notes and schedules thereto,  accompanied by the
reports thereon of the Company and the Shareholders'  Accountants  (collectively
referred to herein as the "Company GAAP Statements") and (ii) the unaudited GAAP
consolidated  balance  sheets of the Company and its Subsidiary as May 31, 1996,
and the related unaudited GAAP consolidated statements of earnings for two-month
period then ended (collectively  referred to herein as the "Company Interim GAAP
Statements"  and,  together  with the Company GAAP  Statements,  the  "Financial
Statements").  The Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with the
books of account and other financial  records of the Company and the Subsidiary,
(ii)  present  fairly  in  all  material  respects  the  consolidated  financial
condition and results of operations of the Company and the  Subsidiary as of the
dates  thereof  or for the  periods  covered  thereby in  accordance  with GAAP,
applied on a basis consistent with the past practices of the Company,  and (iii)
include  all  adjustments  that are  necessary  for a fair  presentation  of the
consolidated  financial  condition  and the  results  of the  operations  of the
Company and the  Subsidiary as of the dates  thereof or for the periods  covered
thereby in accordance  with GAAP  (subject,  in the case of the Company  Interim
GAAP Statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).

         (b)      The books of account and other financial records of the
Company and the Subsidiary: (i) reflect all items of income and expense and all
assets and liabilities required to be

                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>



reflected  therein in accordance  with GAAP,  (ii) are in all material  respects
complete and correct,  and (iii) have been  maintained in  accordance  with good
business and accounting practices.

         (c) The LLC  Subsidiary  has no  liabilities  except  as  disclosed  in
Section 3.08(c) of the Disclosure  Schedule.  All receipts and  disbursements of
the LCC Subsidiary are reflected in its bank account or will be reflected in the
Company's June and July, 1996 inter-company account.

         SECTION 3.09.  Certain Additional Representations.

         (a) The Shareholders and the Company hereby acknowledge that the Parent
would not have  entered into this  Agreement  unless it were able to account for
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  by the  pooling of interest
method  within the meaning of Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 16 ("APB
16").  Accordingly,  with  respect  to the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement,  the  Shareholders  and the  Company  hereby  represent,  warrant and
covenant  that the  Company has as of the date  hereof,  and will have as of the
Closing  Date,  the  attributes  of a  combining  enterprise  for the pooling of
interest  method  within  the  meaning of APB 16.  Not by way of  limitation  or
exclusion,  the  Shareholders  and the Company  represent and warrant that there
have not been any transactions  which could be construed and interpreted to be a
change in the equity  interest of the common stock of the Company in  accordance
with APB 16,  Paragraph 47c,  within two years before the date of this Agreement
and between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.

         (b)      The Convertible Note has been paid in full.

         (c) The consolidated losses of the Company, computed in accordance with
GAAP, for the months of April through August, 1996, shall not exceed $700,000.

         (d) The Company and the Shareholders  represent and warrant that all of
the Company Options held by individuals no longer  employed by the Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  as of the date  hereof  are fully  vested in
accordance with the original terms of such Company Options.

         SECTION 3.10.  No Undisclosed Liabilities or Capital Commitments.

         (a) There are no Liabilities of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary,  other than  Liabilities  (i)  reflected or reserved  against in the
Financial  Statements,  (ii) completely and accurately disclosed in Section 3.10
of the Disclosure Schedule or (iii) incurred since the Balance Sheet Date in the
ordinary  course of business of the Company or the Subsidiary and which have not
had and could not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) Except as completely  and  accurately  set forth in Section 3.10 of
the Disclosure  Schedule or arising in the ordinary course of business,  none of
the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is subject to any commitment,
actual  or  contingent,  to make any  investment  or  capital  contribution,  or
purchase any securities,  or supply funds to any Person,  in each case in excess
of $5,000 or $10,000 in the aggregate.


                                     - 17 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION  3.11.  Acquired  Assets.  Each  asset  of  the  Company,   the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary (including,  without limitation, the benefit of
any licenses,  leases or other  agreements or  arrangements)  acquired since the
Balance  Sheet Date has been acquired for  consideration  not more than the fair
market value of such asset at the date of such acquisition.

         SECTION  3.12.  Conduct  in the  Ordinary  Course;  Absence  of Certain
Changes,  Events  and  Conditions.  Since  the  Balance  Sheet  Date,  except as
completely and accurately  disclosed in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure  Schedule
(a) the Business has been conducted in the ordinary  course and consistent  with
past practice and (b) none of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
has:

                  (i)  permitted  or  allowed  any of the  assets or  properties
(whether  tangible or  intangible)  of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary to be subjected to any Encumbrance, other than Permitted Encumbrances
and Encumbrances that will be released at or prior to the Closing;

                  (ii) except in the ordinary course of business,  discharged or
otherwise  obtained  the  release  of  any  Encumbrance  or  paid  or  otherwise
discharged  any  Liability,  other than  current  liabilities  reflected  on the
Financial  Statements and current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business since the Balance Sheet Date;

                  (iii)    guaranteed any Indebtedness of, or otherwise incurred
any Indebtedness on behalf of any Person;

                  (iv)     failed to pay any creditor any amount owed to such
creditor when due;

                  (v)  redeemed any of the capital  stock or  declared,  made or
paid any dividends or  distributions  with respect to capital  (whether in cash,
securities or other  property) to the holders of capital stock of the Company or
the Subsidiary or otherwise, other than dividends, distributions and redemptions
declared, made or paid by the Subsidiary solely to the Company;

                  (vi) made any  material  changes in the  customary  methods of
operations  of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary,  including,
without  limitation,  purchasing,  marketing,  selling,  pricing,  investing  or
accounting practices and policies;

                  (vii)  merged  with,  entered  into a  consolidation  with  or
acquired  any  interest  of 5% or more in any Person or  acquired a  substantial
portion  of the assets or  business  of any  Person or any  division  or line of
business  thereof,  or otherwise  acquired any assets other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;

                  (viii)   made any capital expenditure or commitment for any 
capital expenditure in excess of $5,000 in any individual instance, $10,000 in
the aggregate;

                  (ix)  sold,  transferred,   leased,  subleased,   licensed  or
otherwise  disposed  of any  properties  or  assets,  real,  personal  or  mixed
(including, without limitation, investment assets,

                                     - 18 -

<PAGE>



leasehold interests and intangible assets), other than the sale of its products 
in the ordinary course of business;

                  (x) issued or sold any capital  stock,  notes,  bonds or other
securities,  or any option,  warrant or other right to acquire the same,  of, or
any other interest in, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary.

                  (xi) except as completely  and accurately set forth in Section
3.12 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  entered into any  agreement,  arrangement or
transaction with any of its directors,  officers,  employees or shareholders (or
with any relative, beneficiary, spouse or Affiliate of such Person);

                  (xii) except as completely and accurately set forth in Section
3.12 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  (A) granted any  increase,  or announced any
increase, in the wages, salaries, compensation,  bonuses, incentives, pension or
other benefits  payable by the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary to
any of its  employees,  including,  without  limitation,  any increase or change
pursuant to any Plan or (B) established or increased or promised to increase any
benefits under any Plan;

                  (xiii)  revalued  (other than in  accordance  with GAAP and as
completely and accurately set forth in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure  Schedule)
or restructured any assets of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary

                  (xiv)  amended,  terminated,   cancelled  or  compromised  any
material  claims of the Company or the  Subsidiary or waived any other rights of
substantial value to the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (xv) made any change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice or policy used by the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary
other than changes which were required by GAAP and are completely and accurately
set forth in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedule;

                  (xvi) failed to maintain the Assets  material to the operation
of the Business in such  operating  condition  and repair as is suitable for the
purposes for which they are used;

                  (xvii) allowed any material  Permit or material  Environmental
Permit  that was issued or relates to the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary or otherwise  relates to any Asset to lapse or terminate or failed to
renew any such Permit or  Environmental  Permit or any  insurance  policy  under
which the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary is an insured that is
scheduled  to  terminate or expire  within  forty-five  (45) days of the Closing
Date;

                  (xviii)  incurred any Indebtedness in excess of $5,000 in any
individual instance or since the Balance Sheet Date $10,000 in the aggregate;


                                     - 19 -

<PAGE>



                  (xix)  amended  or  modified  in  any  material  respects,  or
consented to the  termination  of, any Material  Contract or the Company's,  the
Subsidiary's or the LLC Subsidiary's rights thereunder;

                  (xx) amended or restated the articles of  incorporation or the
by-laws (or other organizational  documents) of the Company or the Subsidiary or
the articles of organization or operating agreement of the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (xxi)  terminated,  discontinued,  closed or  disposed  of any
office,  facility or other business operation,  or laid off any employees (other
than less than 15 employees in the ordinary  course of business  consistent with
past  practice)  or  implemented  any early  retirement,  separation  or program
providing  early  retirement  window  benefits  within  the  meaning  of Section
1.401(a)-4 of the Regulations or announced or planned any such action or program
for the future;

                  (xxii)   settled or compromised any liability, with respect to
Taxes of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (xxiii)  suffered any casualty  loss or damage with respect to
any of the Assets which in the aggregate  have a  replacement  cost in excess of
$10,000,  whether  or not  such  loss or  damage  shall  have  been  covered  by
insurance;

                  (xxiv) disclosed any confidential Intellectual Property (other
than as  requested  by the  Parent)  or  permitted  to  lapse or  abandoned  any
Intellectual  Property (or any  registration or grant thereof or any application
relating  thereto) to which,  or under which,  the Company or the Subsidiary has
any right, title, interest or license and which is material to the Business;

                  (xxv)    suffered any Material Adverse Effect; or

                  (xxvi) agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any of
the actions  specified  in this Section 3.12 or granted any options to purchase,
rights of first  refusal,  rights of first offer or any other similar  rights or
commitments  with respect to any of the actions  specified in this Section 3.12,
except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.13.  Litigation.  Set forth in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule (with respect to each Action  disclosed  therein) are the parties,  the
nature  of the  proceeding,  the date and  method  commenced  and the  amount of
damages or other relief sought and, if  applicable,  paid or granted.  Except as
completely and accurately set forth in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure  Schedule,
there are no  Actions by or  against  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary  (or by or against  the  Shareholders  or any  Affiliate  thereof and
relating to the Business, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary), or
affecting any of the Assets,  pending before any Governmental  Authority (or, to
the best knowledge of the Shareholders and the Company, threatened to be brought
by or before any Governmental  Authority).  No such Action has, has had or could
have a  Material  Adverse  Effect or could  affect  the  legality,  validity  or
enforceability  of  this  Agreement  or the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby. None of the Company, the Subsidiary, or the LLC Subsidiary,
any of the Assets or the Shareholders is subject to any Governmental Order (nor,
to the best knowledge of the Shareholders and the Company,

                                     - 20 -

<PAGE>



are  there  any  such  Governmental  Orders  threatened  to be  imposed  by  any
Governmental  Authority)  which has,  has had or could  have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

         SECTION  3.14.  Certain  Interests.  None  of the  Shareholders  or any
Affiliate of the Shareholders (other than the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary)  have and no officer or director of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or
the LLC  Subsidiary,  and no relative or spouse (or relative of such spouse) who
resides  with,  or is a  dependent  of,  any such  officer or  director  has (i)
outstanding any  Indebtedness to the Company or the Subsidiary,  or (ii) entered
into any  transactions  with the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  exceeding  $20,000,  other than market rate
loans  which  have  been  paid in full as of the date  hereof  (any  arrangement
referred  to  in  (i)  or  (ii)  shall  be  referred  to  as  an  "Inter-Company
Arrangement")  except as completely  and accurately set forth in Section 3.14 of
the Disclosure  Schedule.  Except as set forth in Section 3.14 of the Disclosure
Schedule,  all  Inter-Company  Arrangements  are on  terms  that are at least as
favorable to the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary as would prevail
in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a third party.

         SECTION 3.15. Compliance with Laws. The Company, the Subsidiary and the
LLC  Subsidiary  have each  conducted  and  continue to conduct the  Business in
accordance  with all material  Laws and  Governmental  Orders  applicable to the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  or any of the  Assets  or the
Business,  and none of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is in
violation of any such Law or Governmental Order. The Company, the Subsidiary and
the LLC  Subsidiary  have  duly and  validly  filed or  caused  to be filed  all
material reports, statements, documents,  registrations,  filings or submissions
that were required by  applicable  Laws to be filed;  all such filings  complied
with all applicable  Laws in all material  respects when filed,  and no material
deficiencies  have been asserted with respect to any such filings which have not
been satisfied.

         SECTION 3.16.  Environmental and Other Permits and Licenses; Related
Matters.

         (a)  The  Shareholders,   the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and  the  LLC
Subsidiary   currently   hold  all  the  permits,   licenses,   authorizations,
certificates,   consents,  exemptions  and  approvals  required  under  any  Law
(collectively, "Permits"), including, without limitation, Environmental Permits,
necessary for the ownership,  use,  occupancy and operation of each Asset of the
Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary and the conduct of the Business,
and all such Permits are in full force and effect.

         (b) (i) Each  tenant  and  occupant  of the  Real  Property  holds  all
Permits, including, without limitation, Environmental Permits, necessary for the
use,  occupancy  and  operation of the Real Property by such tenant or occupant,
and all such  Permits  are in full force and  effect;  (ii) there is no existing
practice,  action or activity of any tenant or occupant of the Real Property, or
of any owner, tenant or occupant of any real property in which the Company, the 
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  or with  respect to the  Business,  the
Shareholders  currently holds a security interest (the "Secured Real Property"),
which will give rise to any criminal  liability  or civil  Liability  under,  or
violate or prevent  compliance  with,  any applicable  material Law,  including,
without  limitation,  any  applicable  Environmental  Law;  (iii) no  tenant  or
occupant

                                     - 21 -

<PAGE>



of the Owned  Real  Property  has  received  any  notice  from any  Governmental
Authority revoking, cancelling,  rescinding, materially modifying or refusing to
renew any  Permit or  providing  written  notice  of  violations  under any Law,
including,  without  limitation,  any  applicable  Environmental  Law; (iv) each
tenant and occupant of the Owned Real  Property is in all respects in compliance
with its Permits,  including,  without limitation,  Environmental  Permits;  (v)
there is no existing practice, action or activity of the Company, the Subsidiary
or the LLC  Subsidiary  or,  with  respect to any portion of the  Business,  the
Shareholders  and no  existing  condition  of the  Assets  of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  or the Business  which has given or will give
rise to any unresolved  criminal  liability or civil Liability under, or violate
or  prevent   compliance   with,  any   applicable   Law,   including,   without
limitation,any applicable Environmental Law; (vi) none of the Shareholders,  the
Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary has received any notice from any
Governmental Authority revoking, cancelling, rescinding, materially modifying or
refusing to renew any Permit; and (vii) the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC
Subsidiary  are in all  respects  in  compliance  with the  Permits,  including,
without  limitation,  Environmental  Permits.  Section 3.16(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule completely and accurately  identifies all Permits,  including,  without
limitation,  Environmental  Permits and  indicates  by asterisk  those that will
require the consent of any Governmental  Authority in the event of the execution
of this Agreement or the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement.

         (c) (i) None of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary, nor,
with respect to any portion of the Business, the Shareholders has violated or is
violating any  applicable  Environmental  Law; (ii) no tenant or occupant of the
Real  Property or owner,  tenant or occupant  of the  Secured  Real  Property is
violating any  applicable  Environmental  Law in connection  with the ownership,
use, occupancy or operation of the Real Property or Secured Real Property; (iii)
there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials at, to, from, or under any real
property  currently or formerly owned,  leased, or operated by the Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary,  or,  with  respect  to any  portion  of the
Business,  the Shareholders,  or at, to, from or under any Secured Real Property
except  (x)  Releases  which  individually  or  collectively  do not  exceed the
applicable  reportable quantity  established pursuant to CERCLA, or (y) Releases
of petroleum or its derivatives which individually or collectively do not exceed
ten gallons; (iv) none of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary nor,
with respect to any portion of the Business,  the  Shareholders  has  generated,
transported  or arranged  for the  transport  of, or  disposed of any  Hazardous
Materials at any location,  other than amounts and types of Hazardous  Materials
normally  present in ordinary  office  trash or  household  waste other than the
transportation  set forth in Section  3.16 of the  Disclosure  Schedule;  (v) no
tenant or occupant of the Real  Property has generated at such Real Property any
Hazardous Material, other than amounts and types of Hazardous Materials normally
present in ordinary office trash or household  waste;  (vi) none of the Company,
the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  nor, with respect to any portion of the
Business, the Shareholders has any Liabilities in connection with the Release of
any Hazardous Material at any location; (vii) there is not present at any of the
Real   Property  any   underground   storage  tanks  or  sumps,   asbestos,   or
polychlorinated  biphenyls;  (viii) no Environmental Lien has attached to any of
the Real Property;  and (ix) there are no unresolved past, pending or threatened
Environmental  Claims against the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary,
or,  with  respect  to  the  Business,  the  Shareholders,  nor  are  there  any
circumstances that may form the basis of any such Environmental Claim.


                                     - 22 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 3.17. Material Contracts. (a) Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule  completely  and accurately  lists each of the following  contracts and
agreements (including,  without limitation, oral agreements) of the Company, the
Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary (such contracts and agreements,  together with
all contracts,  agreements and Leases  concerning the management or operation of
any Real Property (including, without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or
otherwise  disclosed in Section 3.19(a) or 3.19(b) of the Disclosure Schedule to
which the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  is a party and all
agreements relating to Intellectual Property set forth in Section 3.18(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule, being "Material Contracts"):

                  (i) each  contract and agreement for the purchase of materials
or personal  property with any supplier or for the furnishing of services to the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  or otherwise  related to the
Business  under  the  terms of which  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary:  (A) is likely to pay or otherwise give  consideration  of more than
$10,000  individually  and $20,000 in the  aggregate  during the current  fiscal
year, (B) is likely to pay or otherwise give  consideration  of more than $5,000
in the  aggregate  over the  remaining  term of such  contract  or (C) cannot be
cancelled by the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  without penalty
or further payment and without more than 30 days' notice;

                  (ii) each  contract and agreement for the sale of materials or
personal  property  or for  the  furnishing  of  services  by the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  which: (A) is likely to involve  consideration
of more than $5,000 in the aggregate  during the calendar  year ending  December
31,  1996,  (B) is likely to involve  consideration  of more than  $5,000 in the
aggregate  over the remaining term of the contract or (C) cannot be cancelled by
the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  without  penalty or further
payment and without more than 30 days' notice;

                  (iii) all broker, distributor, agency, sales promotion, market
research, marketing consulting and advertising contracts and agreements to which
the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which
services  were being  provided on the Balance  Sheet Date in an amount more than
$5,000  individually  and $10,000 in the aggregate over the term of the contract
or agreement;

                  (iv) all management  contracts and contracts with  independent
contractors or consultants (or similar  arrangements) to which the Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is a party and which are not cancelable without
penalty or further payment and without more than 30 days' notice;

                  (v) all contracts and agreements  relating to  Indebtedness of
the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary in an amount more than $5,000
individually  and  $10,000 in the  aggregate  over the term of the  contract  or
agreement;

                  (vi)     all contracts and agreements with any Governmental
Authority to which the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is a party;


                                     - 23 -

<PAGE>



                  (vii) all  contracts and  agreements  that limit or purport to
limit the  ability of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  to
compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic  area or
during any period of time;

                  (viii) all Inter-Company  Arrangements and all other contracts
and  agreements  between  or  among  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the  LLC
Subsidiary and the Shareholders or any Affiliate of the Shareholders (other than
the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary);

                  (ix) all trust agreements or other security agreements related
thereto,  to which the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is a party
that remain in force; and

                  (x) all other contracts and agreements  whether or not made in
the  ordinary  course  of  business,  which are  material  to the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary or the conduct of the Business or the absence
of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) Each Material Contract is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in
full  force and  effect,  and will not cease to be in full  force and  effect on
terms identical to those currently in effect  following the  consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  except,  in  either  case,  as
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or similar laws  affecting  rights of creditors,  of
creditors   generally  or  by  general   principles  of  equity,  nor  will  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  constitute a
breach or  default  under  such  Material  Contract.  None of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is in breach of, or default under, any Material
Contract.

         (c) To the best knowledge of the Shareholders and the Company, no other
party to any Material Contract is in breach thereof or default thereunder.

         (d) There is no contract,  agreement or other arrangement  granting any
Person any  preferential  right to purchase,  other than the ordinary  course of
business  consistent with past practice,  any of the properties or assets of the
Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary.



                                     - 24 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 3.18.  Intellectual Property.

         (a) Section 3.18(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete
and accurate list and a brief  description  of the Owned  Intellectual  Property
consisting of  trademarks,  service marks,  corporate and assumed  names,  trade
names  and  copyrights,  patents  and  pending  registrations  and  applications
therefor  and  Section  3.18(a)(ii)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule  sets  forth a
complete  and  accurate  list  and  a  brief  description,   including,  without
limitation,  a description of any license or sublicense thereof, of all Licensed
Intellectual  Property.  In each case where a registration  or  application  for
registration  listed in Section 3.18(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule is held by
assignment,  the assignment has been duly recorded with the United States Patent
and Trademark  Office. To the  Shareholders'  and the Company's  knowledge,  the
rights of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary, as the case may be,
in or to such  Intellectual  Property  do not  conflict  with or infringe on the
rights of any other  Person,  and none of the  Shareholders,  the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  has received any claim or written  notice of
infringement or conflict in respect of any Intellectual Property.

         (b) (i) all the Owned  Intellectual  Property  is owned by  either  the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, free and
clear of any Encumbrance  other than Permitted  Encumbrances,  (ii) the Company,
the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  has the  right,  pursuant  to valid and
enforceable licenses, to use the Licensed Intellectual Property in the manner in
which the Licensed  Intellectual  Property is currently  being used and (iii) no
Actions have been made or asserted or are pending (nor, to the best knowledge of
the Shareholders and the Company,  has any such Action been threatened)  against
the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  either (A) based upon or
challenging  or  seeking  to  deny  or  restrict  the  use by the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  of any of the  Intellectual  Property or (B)
alleging  that any  services  provided  or  products  sold by the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary are being provided or sold in violation of any
trademarks,  or any other  rights of any Person.  To the best  knowledge  of the
Shareholders and the Company, no Person is using any trademarks,  service marks,
trade  names or  similar  property  that are  confusingly  similar  to the Owned
Intellectual  Property or that infringe upon the Owned Intellectual  Property or
upon the rights of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  therein.
None of the Shareholders,  the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary has
granted any license or other right to any other Person with respect to the Owned
Intellectual Property. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement  will not result in the  termination or impairment of any of the owned
Intellectual Property or any of the rights of the Company, the Subsidiary or the
LLC Subsidiary in any of the Licensed Intellectual Property.

         (c) The  Intellectual  Property  described  in Section  3.18(a)(i)  and
3.18(a)(ii)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule  constitutes  all of the  Intellectual
Property used or held or intended to be used by the Company,  the  Subsidiary or
the LLC Subsidiary or forming a part of all such Intellectual Property necessary
and  material  in the  conduct of the  Business  and there are no other items of
Intellectual  Property that are material to the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the
LLC  Subsidiary  or the  Business.  Such  Intellectual  Property  is all that is
necessary for the operation of the Businesses as currently conducted.

         SECTION 3.19.  Real Property.

                                     - 25 -

<PAGE>



         (a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure  Schedule  lists:  (i) the street
address  of each  parcel of Owned  Real  Property,  (ii) the date on which  each
parcel of Owned Real Property was acquired, (iii) the current owner of each such
parcel of Owned Real Property,  (iv) information  relating to the recordation of
the deed  pursuant to which each such parcel of Owned Real Property was acquired
and (v) the current use of each such parcel of Owned Real Property.

         (b) Section 3.19(b) of the Disclosure  Schedule  lists:  (i) the street
address of each parcel of Leased Real Property, (ii) the identity of the lessor,
lessee and current  occupant (if  different  from lessee) of each such parcel of
Leased  Real  Property  and (iii) the  current use of each such parcel of Leased
Real Property.

         (c) The  Shareholders  have,  or have  caused to be,  delivered  to the
Parent  complete and accurate  copies of all Leases listed in Section 3.19(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule.  Each such Lease is legal, valid, binding,  enforceable
and in full  force and each such  Lease  will not cease to be in full  force and
effect  on terms  identical  to those  currently  in  effect  as a result of the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  except,  in
either  case,  as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  or similar  laws  affecting  rights of
creditors   generally  or  by  general   principles  of  equity,  nor  will  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  constitute a
breach or default  under such Lease or  otherwise  give the  landlord a right to
terminate such Lease in accordance with the terms thereof.

         (d) There are no condemnation proceedings or eminent domain proceedings
of any kind  pending  or,  to the best  knowledge  of the  Shareholders  and the
Company, threatened against the Real Property.

         (e) The rental set forth in each Lease of the Leased  Real  Property is
the  actual  rental  being  paid,  and  there  are  no  separate  agreements  or
understandings with respect to the same.

         SECTION  3.20.  Tangible  Personal  Property.  (a) Section  3.20 of the
Disclosure  Schedule  lists  each  group  of  equipment,   inventory,  supplies,
furniture, fixtures,  personalty,  vehicles and other tangible personal property
(the "Tangible  Personal  Property")  used in the Business or owned or leased by
the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  with a value  reasonably
estimated by the  Shareholders  for each group to exceed  $5,000.  Except as set
forth in Section 3.20 of the Disclosure  Schedule,  all of the Tangible Personal
Property is located at 851 South Freeport  Industrial  Parkway,  Clearfield,  UT
84105.

         (b) The  Shareholders  have,  or have  caused to be,  delivered  to the
Parent complete and accurate copies of all Leases for Tangible Personal Property
providing  for  annual  rentals  in excess of  $5,000  and any and all  material
ancillary  documents  pertaining  thereto.  Each  such  Lease is  legal,  valid,
binding,  enforceable  and in full force and effect and each such Lease will not
cease to be legal, valid,  binding,  enforceable and in full force and effect on
terms identical to those currently in effect as a result of the  consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  except,  in either case, as
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  or  similar  laws  affecting  rights  of  creditors
generally or by general  principles of equity,  nor will the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by

                                     - 26 -

<PAGE>



this Agreement constitute a breach or default under such Lease or otherwise give
the lessor a right to terminate such Lease in accordance with the terms thereof.

         SECTION 3.21.  Assets.  (a) None of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the
LLC Subsidiary,  as the case may be, owns,  leases or has the legal right to use
all  the  properties  and  assets,  including,  without  limitation,  the  Owned
Intellectual Property, the Licensed Intellectual Property, the Real Property and
the Tangible Personal Property, used in the conduct of the Business or otherwise
purported to be owned, leased or used by the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary  and, with respect to contract  rights,  is a party to and enjoys the
right  to  the  benefits  of  all  material  contracts,   agreements  and  other
arrangements used by the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary or in or
relating  to the  conduct  of the  Business  (all such  properties,  assets  and
contract rights being the "Assets").  Any of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the
LLC Subsidiary, as the case may be, has good and marketable title to, or, in the
case of leased or subleased Assets, valid and subsisting leasehold interests in,
all the  Assets,  free  and  clear of all  Encumbrances,  except  for  Permitted
Encumbrances.  All buildings,  plants, and structures owned by the Company,  the
Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary lie wholly within the boundaries of the real
property  owned by the  Company and do not  encroach  upon the  property  of, or
otherwise  conflict  with the  property  rights  of, any other  Person.  The LLC
Subsidiary owns no buildings, plants or structures.

         (b) Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedule, all
the Assets, including without limitation the buildings,  plants, structures, and
equipment  of  the  Company,   the  Subsidiary  and  the  LLC  Subsidiary,   are
structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate
for the uses to which they are being put,  and none of such  buildings,  plants,
structures,  equipment  or other  Assets is in need of  maintenance  or  repairs
except for ordinary,  routine  maintenance  and repairs that are not material in
nature or cost. The building,  plants, structures, and equipment of the Company,
the Subsidiary  and the LLC Subsidiary are sufficient for the continued  conduct
of the Business after the Closing in substantially  the same manner as conducted
prior to the Closing.

         (c)  Immediately  following  the  Closing,  any  of  the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary,  as the case may be,  will  continue to own,
pursuant to good and  marketable  title,  or lease,  under valid and  subsisting
leases,  or otherwise  retain its  respective  interest  in, the Assets  without
incurring  any  material  penalty  or  other  materially  adverse   consequence,
including,  without limitation, any increase in rentals,  royalties, or licenses
or other fees imposed as a result of, or arising from, the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Immediately following the Closing,
any of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary,  as the case may be,
shall  own  and  possess  all  presently  existing  documents,  books,  records,
agreements and financial data of any sort used by the Company,  such  Subsidiary
or such LLC Subsidiary, in the conduct of the Business or otherwise.

         SECTION  3.22.  Accounts  Receivable  and  Inventory.  (a) All accounts
receivable  of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  that are
reflected  on the  Financial  Statements  or on the  accounting  records  of the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  and  the  LLC  Subsidiary  as  of  the  Closing  Date
(collectively,  the "Accounts  Receivable")  represent or will  represent  valid
obligations  arising from sales actually made or services actually  performed in
the ordinary course

                                     - 27 -

<PAGE>



of business.  Unless paid prior to the Closing Date, the Accounts Receivable are
or will be as of the Closing Date  collectible  net of the  respective  reserves
shown on the Financial  Statements or on the accounting  records of the Company,
the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary as of the Closing Date (which reserves are
adequate and  calculated  consistent  with past practice and, in the case of the
reserve as of the Closing Date,  will not represent a greater  percentage of the
Accounts  Receivable  as of the Closing  Date than the reserve  reflected in the
Company GAAP Statements represented of the Accounts Receivable reflected therein
and will not  represent a material  adverse  change in the  composition  of such
Accounts  Receivable in terms of aging).  Subject to such reserves,  each of the
Accounts  Receivable  either has been or will be collected in full,  without any
set-off, within 90 days after the day on which it first becomes due and payable.
There is no  contest,  claim or right of  set-off,  other  than  returns  in the
ordinary course of business,  under any contract with any obligor of an Accounts
Receivable  relating  to the amount or  validity  of such  Accounts  Receivable.
Section 3.22(a) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list
of all Accounts  Receivable as of the last day of the calendar  month  preceding
the date of this  Agreement,  which list sets  forth the aging of such  Accounts
Receivable.

         (b) Except as set forth in Section 3.22(b) of the Disclosure  Schedule,
all inventory of the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary,  whether or
not  reflected in the Financial  Statements,  consists of a quality and quantity
usable and salable in the ordinary course of business, except for obsolete items
and items of  below-standard  quality,  all of which  have been  written  off or
written  down to net  realizable  value in the  Financial  Statements  or on the
accounting  records of the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary as of
the Closing Date, as the case may be. All  inventories not written off have been
priced at the lower of cost or market on a first in, first out basis.  Except as
set forth in Section 3.22 of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  the  quantities of each
item of inventory  (whether raw materials,  work-in-process,  or finished goods)
are not  excessive,  but are  reasonable  in the  present  circumstances  of the
Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary

         SECTION  3.23.  Customers.  Listed in  Section  3.23 of the  Disclosure
Schedule are the names and addresses of the most significant customers (by sales
volume)  of  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and  the  LLC  Subsidiary  for  the
twelve-month  period ended March 29, 1996 and the amount of products  which each
purchased during such period.

         SECTION 3.24.  Employee Benefit Matters.

         (a) Plans and Material  Documents.  Section  3.24(a) of the  Disclosure
Schedule is a complete and accurate list of (i) all employee welfare benefit and
employee  pension  benefit  plans as  defined in  Sections  3(1) and 3(2) of the
Employee   Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  as  amended  ("ERISA"),
including, but not limited to, plans that provide retirement income or result in
a deferral  of income by  employees  for periods  extending  to  termination  of
employment or beyond, and plans that provide medical, surgical, or hospital care
benefits or benefits in the event of sickness,  accident,  disability,  death or
unemployment,  and (2) all other employee  benefit  agreements or  arrangements,
including without limitation deferred compensation plans, incentive plans, bonus
plans or  arrangements,  stock option plans,  stock purchase plans,  stock award
plans, golden parachute agreements,  severance pay plans,  dependent care plans,
cafeteria plans, employee assistance programs,  scholarship programs, employment
contracts, vacation policies,

                                     - 28 -

<PAGE>



and other  similar  plans,  agreements  and  arrangements  that are currently in
effect or were maintained  within three years of the date of this Agreement,  or
have been approved  before this date but are not yet effective,  for the benefit
of directors,  officers,  employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries)
of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary, (ii) each employee benefit
plan  for  which  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the  LLC  Subsidiary  could
reasonably  be expected to incur  liability  under  Section 4069 of ERISA in the
event such plan has been or were to be terminated, and (iii) any plan in respect
of which the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  could reasonably be
expected to incur liability under Section  4212(c) of ERISA  (collectively,  the
"Plans").  Section  3.24(a)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth a complete
description  of each Plan that is not in writing and,  with respect to each Plan
that is in writing,  the  Shareholders  has furnished the Parent with a complete
and accurate copy of each Plan and a complete and accurate copy of each material
document prepared in connection with each such Plan including, where applicable,
without limitation, (i) a copy of each trust or other funding arrangement,  (ii)
the most recently  distributed  summary plan description and summary of material
modifications,  (iii) the most recently filed annual IRS Form 5500, 990 and 1041
reports,  (iv)  the  most  recently  prepared  actuarial  report  and  financial
statement  in  connection   with  each  such  Plan,  (v)  the  most  recent  IRS
determination  letter and all rulings or  determinations  requested from the IRS
after the date of that determination  letter, and (vi) all other  correspondence
from the IRS or the  Department of Labor  received that relate to one or more of
the Plans with respect to any matter,  audit or inquiry  that is still  pending.
Except  as  completely  and  accurately  set  forth in  Section  3.24(a)  of the
Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
has any  express  or implied  commitment  (i) to create,  incur  liability  with
respect  to or cause to exist  any  other  employee  benefit  plan,  program  or
arrangement,   (ii)  to  enter  into  any   contract  or  agreement  to  provide
compensation  or  benefits  to any  individual  or (iii) to  modify,  change  or
terminate  any  Plan,  other  than with  respect  to a  modification,  change or
termination required by ERISA or the Code.

         (b)  Absence  of  Certain  Types of  Plans.  Except as  completely  and
accurately disclosed in Section 3.24(b) of the Disclosure Schedule,  none of the
Plans  provides  for  the  payment  of  separation,  severance,  termination  or
similar-type  benefits to any Person or obligates the Company, the Subsidiary or
the LLC Subsidiary to pay  separation,  severance,  termination or  similar-type
benefits solely as a result of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or
as a result of a "change  in  control",  within  the  meaning of such term under
Section  280G of the Code.  Except as  completely  and  accurately  described in
Section 3.24(b) of the Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Plans provides for the
deferral of  compensation  (other than any Plan  intended to be qualified  under
Section 401(a) of the Code) or for the grant of stock options, restricted stock,
stock  appreciation  rights,  phantom  shares  or other  equity-based  awards or
contingent  compensation.  Each of the Plans is subject  only to the laws of the
United States or a political subdivision thereof.

         (c) Compliance with Applicable Law. Except as completely and accurately
disclosed in Section  3.24(c) of the Disclosure  Schedule,  each Plan is now and
always  has been  operated  in all  material  respects  in  accordance  with the
requirements of all applicable Law, including, without limitation, ERISA and the
Code, and all  "fiduciaries"  of such Plans (within the meaning of Section 3(21)
of ERISA) have always acted in accordance  with the provisions of all applicable
Law, including, without limitation, ERISA and the Code. Each of the Company, the
Subsidiary

                                     - 29 -

<PAGE>



and the LLC Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by
it under,  is not in any respect in default under or in violation of, and has no
knowledge  of any default or  violation  by any party to, any Plan.  There is no
litigation,  action,  proceeding,  investigation  or claim  asserted  or, to the
Shareholders',  the  Company's  or  the  Subsidiary's  or the  LLC  Subsidiary's
knowledge,  threatened or contemplated, with respect to any Plan (other than the
payment of benefits in the normal  course) nor any issue  resolved  adversely to
the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary that may subject the Company,
the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary to the payment of a penalty,  interest, tax
or other amount.

         (d) Qualification of Certain Plans. Except as completely and accurately
disclosed  in Section  3.24(d) of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  each Plan which is
intended to be qualified  under Section  401(a) of the Code or Section 401(k) of
the Code has received a favorable  determination  letter from the IRS that it is
so qualified and each trust  established  in  connection  with any Plan which is
intended to be exempt from federal  income  taxation under Section 501(a) of the
Code has received a determination  letter from the IRS that it is so exempt, and
no fact or event has occurred since the date of such  determination  letter from
the IRS which could  reasonably  be expected to adversely  affect the  qualified
status of any such Plan or the exempt status of any such trust.

         (e)  Absence  of  Certain  Liabilities  and  Events.  There has been no
prohibited  transaction  (within  the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code) with respect to any Plan.  Except as completely and accurately
set forth in Section  3.24(e) of the Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Company,
the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary has incurred any liability for any penalty
or tax arising under Section 4971,  4972, 4980, 4980B or 6652 of the Code or any
liability  under  Section 502 of ERISA,  and no fact or event exists which could
reasonably be expected to give rise to any such  liability.  Except as set forth
in  Section  3.24(e)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule,  none  of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary has incurred any liability  under,  arising out
of or by operation of Title IV of ERISA  (other than  liability  for premiums to
the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  arising in the  ordinary  course),
including,  without  limitation,  any  liability  in  connection  with  (i)  the
termination or  reorganization  of any employee benefit plan subject to Title IV
of ERISA or (ii) the withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer
Plan,  and no fact or event  exists which could  reasonably  be expected to give
rise to any such  liability.  Except as completely  and  accurately set forth in
Section 3.24(e) of the Disclosure  Schedule,  no complete or partial termination
has occurred within the five years preceding the date hereof with respect to any
Plan.  No  reportable  event  (within the meaning of Section  4043 of ERISA) for
which the 30 days' notice to the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  is not
waived has  occurred or is expected to occur with respect to any Plan subject to
Title IV of ERISA.  Except as set forth in  Section  3.24(d)  of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  no Plan had an accumulated  funding deficiency (within the meaning of
Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code),  whether or not waived,  as of
the most  recently  ended  plan  year of such  Plan.  None of the  assets of the
Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is the subject of any lien arising
under  Section  302(f)  of ERISA or  Section  412(n)  of the  Code;  none of the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  has been required to post any
security  under Section 307 of ERISA or Section  401(a)(29) of the Code;  and no
fact or event exists which could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such
lien or requirement to post any such security.


                                     - 30 -

<PAGE>



         (f) Plan  Contributions  and Funding.  All  contributions,  premiums or
payments  required  to be made  with  respect  to any Plan  have been made on or
before  their due dates.  All such  contributions  have been fully  deducted for
income tax purposes and no such  deduction has been  challenged or disallowed by
any  government  entity and no fact or event  exists which could  reasonably  be
expected to give rise to any such challenge or disallowance.

         (g)  Certain   Employee-Benefit   Assets.   Except  as  completely  and
accurately disclosed in Section 3.24(g) of the Disclosure Schedule,  each of the
guaranteed  investment  contracts and other funding contracts with any insurance
company that are held by any of the Plans and any annuity contracts purchased by
any of the Plans was issued by an insurance  company  which  carried the highest
rating from each of D&P, S&P, Best and Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc., as of
the date such contract was issued, the date hereof and the Closing Date.

         (h)      Retiree Medical Benefits.  No Plan is or includes any plan or
arrangement providing for post-employment health and/or medical benefit coverage
except to the extent required by COBRA.

         (i) Supplemental Pension Benefits.  The Company, the Subsidiary and the
LLC Subsidiary have no Liability for any (i) supplemental retirement benefits or
other  nonqualified  deferred  compensation,  (ii) severance pay relating to any
termination  of  employment  which  occurs  prior  to  the  Closing,  (iii)  for
nonqualified  deferred  compensation  or  incentive or  contingent  compensation
relating to any Plan as in effect, or commitment made, prior to the Closing Date
(to the extent related to periods prior to the Closing Date), (iv) for uninsured
health,  medical,  disability or worker's  compensation claims incurred prior to
the Closing Date,  regardless  of whether such claims are reported  prior to the
Closing  Date or are not so reported,  or (v) the payment of accrued  bonuses to
the extent  related  to periods  prior to the  Closing  Date and not  accrued or
reflected on the Balance Sheet.

         (j) No Implied Rights. Nothing contained herein, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any employee or former employee of the Company,
the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary any right or remedy of any nature or kind
whatsoever  under or by  reason  of this  Agreement,  including  any  rights  of
continued employment for any period.

         (k) Severance Pay and Vacation Pay. No Plan will cause the Company, the
Subsidiary, the LLC Subsidiary or the Parent Sub to have liability for severance
pay  or  vacation  pay  as a  result  of the  consummation  of the  transactions
described in this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.25.  Labor  Matters.  (a) Except as completely and accurately
disclosed in Section  3.25(a) of the Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Company,
the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary is a party to any  collective  bargaining
agreement or other labor union  contract  applicable to persons  employed by the
Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary and currently  there are no known
organizational  campaigns,  petitions or other  unionization  activities seeking
recognition of any other collective bargaining unit.

         (b)      There are no strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or material 
labor relations controversies pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Shareholders and the Company, threatened

                                     - 31 -

<PAGE>



between the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  and any of their
respective  employees,  and  none  of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary has experienced any such strike,  slowdown, work stoppage or material
controversy within the past three years.

         (c)  The  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and  the  LLC  Subsidiary  are  in
compliance,  in all material respects,  with all applicable Laws relating to the
employment  of labor,  including,  without  limitation,  those related to wages,
hours and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by the
appropriate   Governmental  Authority,   and  have  withheld  and  paid  to  the
appropriate Governmental Authority or is holding for payment not yet due to such
Governmental Authority all amounts required to be withheld from employees of the
Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary and are not liable for any arrears
of wages,  taxes,  penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the
foregoing.

         (d) Except as set forth in Section 3.25(e) of the Disclosure  Schedule,
the Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  have paid in full to all
their  respective  employees,  retired  employees and  contractors or adequately
accrued for in accordance with GAAP all wages, salaries,  commissions,  bonuses,
benefits and other  compensation due to or on behalf of such employees,  retired
employees and contractors.

         (e) There is no claim  against the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary  with  respect to payment of wages,  salary or overtime  pay that has
been  asserted or is now pending or, to the best  knowledge of the  Shareholders
and the Company,  threatened  before any Governmental  Authority with respect to
any Persons currently or formerly employed by the Company, the Subsidiary or the
LLC Subsidiary.

         (f) None of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  is a
party to, or otherwise  bound by, any consent  decree with,  or citation by, any
Governmental Authority relating to employees or employment practices.

         (g) There is no charge or proceeding with respect to a violation of any
occupational safety or health standards that has been asserted or is now pending
or, to the best knowledge of the Shareholders  and the Company,  threatened with
respect to the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary.

         (h) Except as set forth in Section 3.25(h) of the Disclosure  Schedule,
there is no charge against the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary of
discrimination in employment or employment practices, for any reason, including,
without  limitation,  age,  gender,  race,  religion or other legally  protected
category, which has been asserted or is now pending or, to the best knowledge of
the  Shareholders  and the Company,  threatened  before the United  States Equal
Employment  Opportunity  Commission,  or any other Governmental Authority in any
jurisdiction  in which the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  has
employed or currently employs any Person.

         SECTION 3.26.  Key Employees.  Section 3.26 of the Disclosure Schedule
lists the name, place of employment, the current annual salary rates, bonuses,
deferred or contingent compensation, pension, accrued vacation, "golden
parachute" and other like benefits paid or

                                     - 32 -

<PAGE>



payable  (in cash or  otherwise)  in 1995,  1994,  1993  and  1992,  the date of
employment and a brief  description of position and job function of each current
salaried employee, officer or director of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary  whose  current  base salary  exceeded  (or, in 1996,  is expected to
exceed) $50,000.

         SECTION 3.27.  Risk  Management.  (a) Section 3.27(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth the  following  information  with respect to each  insurance
policy (including,  without limitation,  policies providing property,  casualty,
business interruption,  liability,  workers'  compensation,  and bond and surety
arrangements)  under which the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is
an insured, a named insured or otherwise the principal  beneficiary of coverage:
(i) the name of the agent or broker;  (ii) the name of the insurer and the names
of the principal insured and each named insured; (iii) the policy number and the
period of coverage; (iv) the type, scope (including an indication of whether the
coverage  was on a  claims  made,  occurrence  or other  basis)  and  amount  of
coverage;  and (v)  the  premium  charged  for the  policy,  including,  without
limitation,  a  description  of any  retroactive  premium  adjustments  or other
loss-sharing arrangements.

         (b) With respect to each such  insurance  policy:  (i) the policy is in
full force and  effect;  (ii) none of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary is in breach or default (including any breach or default with respect
to the payment of premiums or the giving of notice),  and no event has  occurred
which,  with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute
such a breach  or  default  or permit  termination  or  modification,  under the
policy; (iii) no party to the policy has repudiated in writing, or given written
notice of an intent to repudiate,  any provision  thereof;  and (iv) to the best
knowledge of the Shareholders and the Company, no insurer on the policy has been
declared insolvent or placed in receivership,  conservatorship or liquidation or
currently  has a rating of "B+" or below  from Best or a claims  paying  ability
rating of "BBB" or below from S&P.

         (c)  Section  3.27(c)  of  the  Disclosure   Schedule   completely  and
accurately  sets  forth  all risks of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary which are covered under any material risk retention  program in which
the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  participates,  together with
details for the last three years of the Company's,  the Subsidiary's and the LLC
Subsidiary's loss experience with respect to such risks.

         (d) Since  February 10, 1992,  the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC
Subsidiary  have been covered by  insurance  policies or binders of insurance in
such types and covering such risks as are consistent  with  customary  practices
and standards of companies engaged in businesses and operations similar to those
of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, in
amounts deemed reasonable by the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary,
as the case may be.

         (e) Except as set forth in Section 3.27(e) of the Disclosure  Schedule,
at no time subsequent to January 1, 1993 has the Company,  the Subsidiary or the
LLC Subsidiary (i) been denied any insurance or indemnity bond coverage which it
has  requested,  (ii) made any material  reduction in the scope or amount of its
insurance  coverage,  or received notice from any of its insurance carriers that
any insurance coverage listed in Section 3.27(a) of the Disclosure Schedule

                                     - 33 -

<PAGE>



will not be available in the future  substantially  on the same terms as are now
in effect or (iii)  suffered any  extraordinary  increase in premium for renewed
coverage. Since February 10, 1992, no insurance carrier has cancelled, failed to
renew  or  materially  reduced  any  insurance  coverage  for the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary or given any notice or other  indication of its
intention to cancel, not renew or reduce any such coverage.

         (f) The  Shareholders  are not  aware of any  facts  pertaining  to the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the  LLC  Subsidiary  or the  Business  which  are
reasonably likely to prevent the Parent from obtaining  insurance  following the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  on  terms
substantially similar to the terms currently in effect.

         SECTION  3.28.  Accounts;  Lockboxes;  Safe  Deposit  Boxes;  Powers of
Attorney.  Section  3.28 of the  Disclosure  Schedule is a complete and accurate
list of (a) the names of each bank, savings and loan association,  securities or
commodities  broker or other  financial  institution  in which the Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary has an account, including,  without limitation,
cash  contribution  accounts,  and the names of all persons  authorized  to draw
thereon or have  access  thereto,  (b) the  location of all  lockboxes  and safe
deposit boxes of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  and the
names of all Persons  authorized to draw thereon or have access  thereto and (c)
the  names  of all  Persons,  if  any,  holding  powers  of  attorney  from  the
Shareholders  relating to the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary or
the Business, or from the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary.  At the
time of the Closing,  without the prior written  consent of the Parent,  none of
the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  shall have any such account,
lockbox  or safe  deposit  box other than  those  listed in Section  3.28 of the
Disclosure Schedule, nor shall any additional Person have been authorized,  from
the date of this  Agreement,  to draw thereon or have access  thereto or to hold
any such power of attorney  relating to the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary  or the  Business  or from the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary.  There are no  commingled  monies or  accounts of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or  the  LLC  Subsidiary  with  other  monies  or  accounts  of  the
Shareholders or relating to the other businesses of the Shareholders nor has the
Shareholders  transferred  monies or accounts of the Company,  the Subsidiary or
the LLC Subsidiary  other than to an account of the Company,  such Subsidiary or
the LLC Subsidiary.  At the time of the Closing,  all monies and accounts of the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  shall  be  held  by,  and be
accessible only to, the Company, such Subsidiary or such LLC Subsidiary.

         SECTION 3.29. Full Disclosure. (a) There are no facts pertaining to the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the  LLC  Subsidiary  or  the  Business  that  are
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect that have not been disclosed
in this Agreement, the Disclosure Schedule or the Financial Statements.

         (b)  No   representation  or  warranty  of  the  Shareholders  in  this
Agreement,  nor any certificate furnished or to be furnished by the Shareholders
to the Parent pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, contains or will contain any untrue statement of
a material  fact,  or omits or will omit to state a material  fact  necessary to
make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.

         SECTION 3.30.  Investment Purpose; Etc.

                                     - 34 -

<PAGE>



         (a) Each of the  Shareholders  hereby confirms that the Parent's Common
Stock which  (it)(he) will receive in the Merger will be acquired for investment
for the  Shareholders'  own account,  not as a nominee or agent,  and not with a
view to the resale or  distribution  of any part  thereof,  and that each of the
Shareholders has no present intention of selling,  granting any participation in
or  otherwise   distributing  the  Parent's  Common  Stock.  By  executing  this
Agreement,  each of the  Shareholders  further  represents  that (it)(he) has no
present  intention  of  selling,  granting  any  participation  in or  otherwise
distributing  the same in a manner  contrary to the Securities Act or applicable
state law.

         (b)  Each  of the  Shareholders  understands  that  the  shares  of the
Parent's Common Stock that (it)(he) will receive in the Merger are characterized
as "restricted  securities"  under the federal  securities laws inasmuch as they
are being  acquired  from the Parent in a  transaction  not  involving  a public
offering and that under such laws and applicable  regulations such shares of the
Parent's  Common Stock may be resold without  registration  under the Securities
Act only in certain limited  circumstances  and in accordance with the terms and
conditions  set  forth in the  legend  described  in  Section  3.30(c).  In this
connection,  each of the Shareholders  represents that (it)(he) is familiar with
SEC Rule 144, as presently in effect,  and  understands  the resale  limitations
imposed thereby and by the Securities Act.

         (c) To the extent  applicable,  each certificate  evidencing any of the
shares of the Parent's Common Stock issued to the Shareholders shall be endorsed
with  a  legend  in  substantially  the  form  set  forth  below,  and  each  of
Shareholders  covenants that,  except to the extent such restrictions are waived
by the Parent, the Shareholders shall not transfer the shares represented by any
such certificate  without complying with the restrictions on transfer  described
in the legend endorsed on such certificate:

                  THE  SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR
         APPLICABLE STATE LAW, AND NO INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED,
         ASSIGNED, OFFERED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (i) THERE IS
         AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES   LAWS  COVERING  ANY  SUCH   TRANSACTION   INVOLVING   SAID
         SECURITIES,  OR (ii) THIS  CORPORATION  RECEIVES  AN  OPINION  OF LEGAL
         COUNSEL  FOR  THE  HOLDER  OF  THESE  SECURITIES  SATISFACTORY  TO THIS
         CORPORATION  STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.
         THE  SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  ARE SUBJECT TO (A) THE
         RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN SECTION 7.01(a)(ii)(A)(2) OF THAT CERTAIN PLAN
         AND AGREEMENT OF MERGER DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER _____, 1996 (THE "PLAN OF
         MERGER") AMONG THE  SHAREHOLDERS OF NAPTech,  INC.,  SAON, INC. AND THE
         SHAW GROUP INC.  ("SHAW") AND (B) THE  RESTRICTIONS  SET FORTH IN THOSE
         TWO  (2)   CERTAIN   REGISTRATION   RIGHTS   AGREEMENTS   DATED  AS  OF
         ______________,  1996 (THE "REGISTRATION  AGREEMENTS") BETWEEN SHAW AND
         THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

                                     - 35 -

<PAGE>



         NAPTech, INC. AND SHAW AND FREEPORT PROPERTIES,  L.L.C.,  RESPECTIVELY.
         COPIES OF THE PLAN OF MERGER AND THE REGISTRATION  AGREEMENTS ARE FILED
         WITH THE  SECRETARY OF SHAW. BY  ACCEPTANCE  OF THIS  CERTIFICATE,  THE
         HOLDER HEREOF AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THE PLAN OF MERGER AND
         THE REGISTRATION AGREEMENTS.

         (d) Each of the  Shareholders  is an "accredited  investor"  within the
meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

         (e) None of the Shareholders or their Affiliates have purchased or sold
any shares of Parent's Common Stock since February 1, 1996.

         SECTION  3.31.  Brokers.  No  broker,  finder or  investment  banker is
entitled to any  brokerage,  finder's or other fee or  commission  in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  from the Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
the Shareholders, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary

         SECTION  3.32  Freeport  Property.  The  Freeport  Property is owned by
Freeport  Properties,  L.L.C., a Utah limited liability company,  the members of
which and percentage  ownership of each member is set forth on Exhibit 3.32, and
the only Encumbrance thereon other than Permitted Encumbrances, is a mortgage in
favor of Research Industries having a present  outstanding  principal balance of
$1,848,588.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                        OF THE PARENT AND THE PARENT SUB

         Each of the Parent and the Parent Sub hereby represents and warrants to
the Shareholders and the Company as follows:

         SECTION 4.01.  Organization  and Authority of the Parent and the Parent
Sub.  Each of the Parent and the Parent  Sub is a  corporation  duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good standing  under the laws of the State of Louisiana
and has  all  necessary  corporate  power  and  authority  to  enter  into  this
Agreement,  to  carry  out  its  obligations  hereunder  and to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  Upon the approval of this  Agreement by the
Board of Directors of the Parent,  the execution and delivery of this  Agreement
by the Parent and the Parent Sub, the  performance  by the Parent and the Parent
Sub of their respective obligations hereunder and the consummation by the Parent
and the  Parent  Sub of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  have  been duly
authorized by all  requisite  corporate  action on the part of the Parent.  This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Parent and the Parent Sub,
and (assuming due  authorization,  execution and delivery by the Company and the
Shareholders)   upon  receipt  of  the  necessary   approvals  by   Governmental
Authorities, this Agreement will constitute a legal, valid

                                     - 36 -

<PAGE>



and binding obligation of the Parent and the Parent Sub enforceable  against the
Parent and the Parent Sub in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium
or similar  laws  affecting  rights of  creditors  or by general  principles  of
equity.

         SECTION  4.02.  No Conflict.  Assuming the making and  obtaining of all
filings,  notifications,  consents, approvals,  authorizations and other actions
referred  to  in  Section  4.03,   except  as  may  result  from  any  facts  or
circumstances  relating  solely  to the  Shareholders  or the  Parent  Sub,  the
execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement by the Parent and the
Parent  Sub does not and will not (a)  violate,  conflict  with or result in the
breach of any  provision  of the  articles  of  incorporation  or by-laws of the
Parent or the Parent Sub, (b) conflict  with or violate any Law or  Governmental
Order  applicable  to the Parent or the  Parent Sub which  would have a Material
Adverse  Effect on the  ability of the Parent or Parent  Sub to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement or (c) conflict with, or result in
any breach of, constitute a default (or event which with the giving of notice or
the lapse of time, or both,  would become a default) under,  require any consent
under,  or give to others any rights of  termination,  amendment,  acceleration,
suspension,  revocation,  or  cancellation  of, or result in the creation of any
Encumbrance  on any of the assets or  properties of the Parent or the Parent Sub
pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage or indenture,  contract, agreement, lease,
sublease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or arrangement to which
the  Parent  or the  Parent  Sub is a party or by which  any of such  assets  or
properties are bound or affected  which would have a Material  Adverse Effect on
the  ability  of the Parent or the Parent  Sub to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  The Parent's Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to Section 2.05 will, when issued,  be duly  authorized,  validly issued,  fully
paid and nonassessable.

         SECTION  4.03.  Governmental  Consents and  Approvals.  The  execution,
delivery and  performance  of this Agreement by the Parent and the Parent Sub do
not and will not require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of,
action by, filing with, or notification  to, any  Governmental  Authority or any
other  third  party,  except  as set  forth in  Section  3.07 of the  Disclosure
Schedule.

         SECTION 4.04. Litigation. Except as disclosed in a writing given to the
Shareholders by the Parent prior to the execution of this  Agreement,  no claim,
action,  proceeding or investigation is pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Parent and the Parent Sub after due inquiry, threatened, which seeks to delay or
prevent the consummation of, or which could reasonably be expected to materially
adversely  affect the  Parent's or the Parent's  Sub ability to  consummate,  or
which could otherwise affect the legality,  validity or  enforceability  of, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION  4.05.  Brokers.  No  broker,  finder or  investment  banker is
entitled to any  brokerage,  finder's or other fee or  commission  in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  based upon  arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Parent.

        

                                     - 37 -

<PAGE>

           SECTION 4.06.  Reports; Financial Statements.

         (a) Copies of all reports,  registration  statements and other filings,
together with any  amendments  thereto,  filed by the Parent with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") since December 8, 1993 through the date of
this Agreement (the "Parent SEC Reports"), have been heretofore delivered to the
Shareholders by the Parent.  As of the respective dates of their filing with the
SEC,  the  Parent  SEC  Reports  complied,  and all such  reports,  registration
statements and other filings to be filed by the Parent with the SEC prior to the
Closing  Date  will  comply,  in  all  material  respects  with  the  applicable
requirements  of the  Securities  Act,  the  Exchange  Act,  and the  rules  and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and did not at the time they were
filed with the SEC, or will not at the time they are filed with the SEC, contain
any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to  state a  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
materially misleading.

         (b) The consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any
related  notes  thereto)  contained  in the Parent SEC  Reports  and in any such
reports,  registration  statements  and other  filings to be filed by the Parent
with the SEC  prior to the  Closing  Date (i) have been or will be  prepared  in
accordance  with the published rules and regulations of the SEC and GAAP applied
on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods  involved  (except  as  may be
indicated in the notes  thereto) and (ii) fairly  present or will fairly present
in all material respects the consolidated  financial  position of the Parent and
its subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results
of  operations  and  cash  flows  for the  periods  indicated,  except  that any
unaudited  interim  financial  statements  were or will be subject to normal and
recurring year-end  adjustments and may omit footnote disclosure as permitted by
regulations of the SEC.

         (c) Since May 31, 1996, to the date hereof,  there has been no material
adverse event relating to the Parent and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole and
no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of
the Parent and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole which,  in either  case,  (i)
require a public disclosure or filing by the Parent with the SEC or (ii) will be
required to be included in a Parent SEC Report which report  includes the period
from May 31, 1996, to the date hereof.


                                    ARTICLE V

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         SECTION 5.01. Conduct of Business Prior to the Effective Time. (a) Each
of the  Shareholders  and the  Company  covenants  and agrees that from the date
hereof  through  the  earlier of the  Closing  Date or the  termination  of this
Agreement,  none of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  shall
conduct its business other than in the ordinary  course and consistent  with the
Company's,  the Subsidiary's or the LLC Subsidiary's  prior practice in order to
protect the value of the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary. Without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the  Shareholders  shall cause the
Company, the Subsidiary,  and the LLC Subsidiary, and the Company agrees, to (i)
continue their  advertising and promotional  activities,  pricing and purchasing
policies,  operations,  and business plan  implementation;  (ii) not  materially
shorten or lengthen the customary payment cycles for any of their payables or

                                     - 38 -

<PAGE>



receivables;  (iii) use  reasonable  efforts to attempt to (A) keep available to
the Parent and the Parent Sub the services of the employees of the Company,  (B)
continue in full force and effect  without  material  modification  all existing
policies or binders of insurance currently  maintained in respect of the Company
and the Business  except as required by  applicable  law and (C) preserve  their
current  relationships  with their  suppliers,  employees,  customers  and other
persons with which they have significant business relationships;  (iv) exercise,
but only after  notice to the Parent and receipt of the Parent's  prior  written
approval,  any rights of renewal  pursuant  to the terms of any of the leases or
subleases set forth in Section 3.19(b) or Leases for Tangible  Personal Property
set forth in Section  3.20(a) of the  Disclosure  Schedule  which by their terms
would  otherwise  expire;  (v) maintain all material  licenses,  qualifications,
registrations  and  authorizations  to do business in each jurisdiction in which
they are so licensed,  qualified,  registered or authorized; and (vi) not engage
in any  practice,  take any  action,  fail to take any  action or enter into any
transaction,  in each case  outside the normal  course of  business  which could
reasonably  be  expected  to  cause  any   representation  or  warranty  of  the
Shareholders or the Company to be untrue for purposes of this Section 5.01(a) as
of the date made in any  material  respect or result in a breach of any covenant
made by the Shareholders or the Company in this Agreement.

         (b) Each of the Shareholders and the Company covenants and agrees that,
prior to the Effective  Time,  without the prior written  consent of the Parent,
which  consent  will not be  unreasonably  withheld,  none of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  will make  outside  the  ordinary  course of
business consistent with past practice any commitment,  actual or contingent, to
make any investment or capital  contribution,  or otherwise  expend capital,  or
purchase any inventory, or supply funds to any Person, in each case in excess of
$5,000 individually or $10,000 in the aggregate.

         (c) Each of the Shareholders  and the Company  covenants and agrees to,
and  shall  cause the  Company  to,  use  reasonable  efforts  to  minimize  the
termination, withdrawal or nonrenewal of any Material Contract.

         (d)      Prior to the Effective Time, neither the Shareholders nor the
Company, without the prior written consent of the Parent, will:

                  (i)  except as set  forth in  Section  3.03 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  issue,  deliver,  sell, dispose of, pledge or otherwise encumber,  or
authorize or propose the  issuance,  delivery,  sale,  disposition  or pledge or
other  encumbrance  of, (A) any  additional  shares of the capital  stock of any
class of the Company,  or the Subsidiary,  or any membership interest of the LLC
Subsidiary,  or any securities or rights convertible into,  exchangeable for, or
evidencing  the right to  subscribe  for any shares of the capital  stock of the
Company, or the Subsidiary,  or any membership interest of the LLC Subsidiary or
any rights, warrants, options, calls, commitments or any other agreements of any
character to purchase or acquire any shares of the capital stock of the Company,
the  Subsidiary  or  any  membership  interest  of  the  LLC  Subsidiary  or any
securities or rights convertible into,  exchangeable for or evidencing the right
to subscribe for any shares of the capital  stock or membership  interest of the
LLC  Subsidiary,  or (B) any other  securities  in respect of, in lieu of, or in
substitution for the Shares;


                                     - 39 -

<PAGE>



                  (ii)     redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the
outstanding Securities of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (iii) split,  combine,  subdivide or reclassify  any shares of
the capital stock or declare, set aside for payment or pay any dividend, or make
any other actual constructive or deemed distribution in respect of any shares of
the capital stock of the Company, or the Subsidiary,  or any membership interest
of the LLC  Subsidiary  or  otherwise  make any payments to the  shareholder  or
shareholders of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary,  as the case
may be, in its capacity as such.

         SECTION 5.02. Access to Information. (a) From the date hereof until the
earlier  of the  Effective  Time  or the  termination  of this  Agreement,  upon
reasonable  notice,  each of the  Shareholders  and the Company  shall and shall
cause each of its  Affiliates  and each of the  Company's  and such  Affiliates'
officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, accountants and counsel
to: (i) afford the  officers,  employees  and  authorized  agents,  accountants,
counsel,  financing sources,  prospective financing sources, and representatives
of the Parent full access to the offices,  properties,  other facilities,  books
and records of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  to those
officers,  directors,  employees,  managers,  members,  agents,  accountants and
counsel of the  Shareholders  and the Company and each of their  Affiliates  who
have any knowledge relating to, and to the books and records of the Shareholders
and their  Affiliates  relating  to,  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary or the  Business,  (ii) furnish to the Parent  monthly  financial and
management  statements of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary as
prepared in the ordinary  course of business and (iii)  furnish to the officers,
employees  and  authorized  agents,  accountants,  counsel,  financing  sources,
prospective financing sources, and representatives of the Parent such additional
financial  and  operating  data and  other  information  regarding  the  assets,
properties and good will of the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary,
and the  Business  (or  legible  copies  thereof)  as the  Parent  or any of its
officers, employees, authorized agents, accountants, counsel, financing sources,
prospective   financing  sources  or  representatives  may  from  time  to  time
reasonably request.

         (b) Subject to Section 7.08, in order to facilitate  the  resolution of
any claims  made by or against or incurred  by the  Shareholders  or the Company
prior to the  Effective  Time for a period of seven  years  after the  Effective
Time, or for such longer period as may be required so as to extend to the end of
the applicable statute of limitations, the Parent or Parent Sub shall (i) retain
the books and records (or copies thereof) of the Company, the Subsidiary and the
LLC  Subsidiary  relating  to periods  prior to the  Effective  Time in a manner
reasonably consistent with past practice and (ii) upon reasonable notice, afford
the authorized agents and representatives of the Shareholders  reasonable access
(including, without limitation, the right to make, at the Shareholders' expense,
photocopies), during normal business hours, to such books and records.

         (c) Subject to Section 7.08, in order to facilitate  the  resolution of
any claims made by or against or incurred  by the  Parent,  the Parent Sub,  any
Affiliate of the Parent or the Parent Sub, the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the
LLC Subsidiary  after the Effective  Time, for a period of seven years following
the Effective Time, or for such longer period as may be required so as to extend
to the end of the applicable statute of limitations,  the Shareholders shall (i)
retain the books

                                     - 40 -

<PAGE>



and records (or copies thereof) of the Shareholders which relate to the Company,
the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary and their  operations for periods prior to
the  Effective  Time and which shall not  otherwise  have been  delivered to the
Parent,  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  and  (ii)  upon
reasonable  notice,  afford the officers,  employees and  authorized  agents and
representatives  of the Parent,  the Parent Sub, any  Affiliate of the Parent or
the Parent Sub, the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  reasonable
access (including,  without  limitation,  the right to make photocopies,  at the
expense of the  Parent,  the Parent  Sub,  such  Affiliate  of the Parent or the
Parent Sub, the Company, such Subsidiary or such LLC Subsidiary),  during normal
business hours, to such books and records.

         (d)  Within  45  days  after  the  end  of  each  month,  each  of  the
Shareholders  and the Company  covenants and agrees to provide to the Parent the
monthly consolidated  financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance
with GAAP for each month  ending  between the date hereof and the Closing  Date,
together with all related notes, exhibits and schedules thereto.

         (e) From the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time or the
termination  of this  Agreement,  the  Parent  agrees to make  available  to the
Shareholder  Representative and the Company's  Counsel,  upon reasonable notice,
its  executive  officers to discuss the publicly  available  information  of the
Parent.

         SECTION 5.03.  Confidentiality.  (a) Each of the  Shareholders  and the
Company  agrees  to,  and shall  use their  best  efforts  to cause its  agents,
representatives,  Affiliates, employees, officers and directors and those of its
Affiliates to: (i) treat and hold as  confidential  all  non-public  information
relating to trade secrets, trademark applications,  product development,  price,
distributor,  and customer  lists,  pricing and  marketing  plans,  policies and
strategies,  details of client and  consultant  contracts,  operations  methods,
product  development  techniques,  business  acquisition  plans,  new  personnel
acquisition  plans and all other  confidential  information  with respect to the
Business,  the Company,  the  Subsidiary and the LLC  Subsidiary,  except as the
Shareholders  or the Company  reasonably  believes is  otherwise  required to be
disclosed  by  applicable  Law, in which event each of the  Shareholders  or the
Company agrees to, and shall instruct its agents,  representatives,  Affiliates,
employees,  officers and directors and those of its  Affiliates to, furnish only
that portion of such  confidential  information  which the  Shareholders  or the
Company are legally required to be provided and exercise its reasonable  efforts
to  obtain  assurances  that  confidential   treatment  will  be  accorded  such
information,  and (ii) in the event  that the  Shareholders  or any such  agent,
representative,  Affiliate,  employee,  officer  or  director  and  those of its
Affiliates are served with a subpoena,  order or other legal process to disclose
any such  information,  provide the Parent with  prompt  written  notice of such
requirement so that the Parent,  the Parent Sub, the Company,  the Subsidiary or
the LLC Subsidiary may, at the expense of the Parent, seek a protective order or
other  remedy.  Each of the  Shareholders  and the Company  agrees to, and shall
cause its agents, representatives, Affiliates, employees, officers and directors
to, furnish  promptly  (prior to, at, or as soon as practicable  following,  the
Effective  Time) to the Parent Sub or the Parent any and all copies (in whatever
form or medium) of all such  confidential  information then in the possession of
the  Shareholders  or  the  Company  or any of  their  agents,  representatives,
Affiliates,  employees, officers and directors and, except as otherwise required
by Section 5.02(c) or Section 7.09,  destroy any and all additional  copies then
in the possession of the

                                     - 41 -

<PAGE>



Shareholders or any of such agents, representatives,  Affiliates (other than the
Company,  the  Subsidiary  and  the LLC  Subsidiary),  employees,  officers  and
directors of such  information  and of any  analyses,  compilations,  studies or
other documents prepared,  in whole or in part, on the basis thereof;  provided,
however,  this Section 5.03(a) shall not apply to any  information  that, at the
time of disclosure, is available publicly or was not disclosed in breach of this
Agreement by the  Shareholders or the Company or their agents,  representatives,
Affiliates,  employees or officers or directors  of its  Affiliate.  Each of the
Shareholders  and the Company agrees and  acknowledges  that remedies at law for
any breach of its obligations under this Section 5.03(a) are inadequate and that
in  addition  thereto  the Parent or the Parent  Sub shall be  entitled  to seek
equitable relief, including injunction and specific performance, in the event of
any  such  breach.  The  non-disclosure  obligations  of  the  Company  and  the
Shareholders in this Section 5.03(a) shall include any non-public or proprietary
information  relating to the Parent or its  Affiliates  which they may obtain in
the course of their due diligence activities permitted by this Agreement.

         (b) Prior to the Closing or upon earlier termination of this Agreement,
each of the  Parent  and the  Parent  Sub  agrees  to,  and shall use their best
efforts to cause its agents,  representatives,  Affiliates,  employees, officers
and directors and those of its Affiliates to: (i) treat and hold as confidential
all non-public  information relating to trade secrets,  trademark  applications,
product  development,  price,  distributor,  and  customer  lists,  pricing  and
marketing  plans,  policies  and  strategies,  details of client and  consultant
contracts,   operations  methods,   product  development  techniques,   business
acquisition  plans, new personnel  acquisition plans and all other  confidential
information  with respect to the Business,  the Company,  the Subsidiary and the
LLC  Subsidiary,  except as the Parent or the Parent Sub reasonably  believes is
otherwise required to be disclosed by applicable Law, in which event each of the
Parent  or  the  Parent  Sub  agrees  to,  and  shall   instruct   its   agents,
representatives,  Affiliates, employees, officers and directors and those of its
Affiliates to, furnish only that portion of such confidential  information which
the Parent or the Parent Sub are legally  required to be provided  and  exercise
its reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential  treatment will be
accorded such information, and (ii) in the event that the Parent Sub or any such
agent, representative, Affiliate, employee, officer or director and those of its
Affiliates are served with a subpoena,  order or other legal process to disclose
any such  information,  provide  the  Shareholders  Representative  with  prompt
written notice of such requirement so that the Company or the Shareholders  may,
at the expense of the Shareholders seek a protective order or other remedy. Upon
termination of this Agreement,  each of the Parent and the Parent Sub agrees to,
and shall cause its agents, representatives, Affiliates, employees, officers and
directors  to,  furnish  promptly  (prior  to,  at,  or as soon  as  practicable
following,  the  Effective  Time) to the Company any and all copies (in whatever
form or medium) of all such  confidential  information then in the possession of
the  Parent  or  the  Parent  Sub  or  any  of  their  agents,  representatives,
Affiliates,  employees, officers and directors and, except as otherwise required
by Section 5.02(b) or Section 7.09,  destroy any and all additional  copies then
in the  possession  of the  Parent,  the  Parent  Sub  or  any of  such  agents,
representatives,   Affiliates,   employees,   officers  and  directors  of  such
information  and of any  analyses,  compilations,  studies  or  other  documents
prepared,  in whole or in part, on the basis thereof;  provided,  however,  this
Section  5.03(b)  shall  not  apply  to any  information  that,  at the  time of
disclosure,  is  available  publicly  or was not  disclosed  in  breach  of this
Agreement  by the  Parent or the Parent  Sub or their  agents,  representatives,
Affiliates,  employees or officers or directors  of its  Affiliate.  Each of the
Parent and the Parent Sub agrees and  acknowledges  that remedies at law for any
breach of its

                                     - 42 -

<PAGE>



obligations  under this  Section  5.03(b)  are  inadequate  and that in addition
thereto the Parent or the Parent Sub shall be entitled to seek equitable relief,
including injunction and specific performance, in the event of any such breach.

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing  provisions of this Section 5.03, the
Parent  is  expressly  permitted  to  make  a  press  release  or  other  public
announcement on filing regarding this transaction as it deems appropriate in its
discretion.

         SECTION  5.04.  Regulatory  and  Other   Authorizations;   Notices  and
Consents.  (a) Each of the  Shareholders,  the  Company,  the Parent Sub and the
Parent shall use all  reasonable  efforts to obtain (or cause the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  to obtain)  all  authorizations,  consents,
orders and approvals of all  Governmental  Authorities and officials that are or
become  necessary for their  execution and delivery of, and the  performance  of
their  obligations  pursuant to, this Agreement,  including  without  limitation
those set forth on  Exhibit  5.04 and will  cooperate  fully  with each other in
promptly  seeking  to  obtain  all such  authorizations,  consents,  orders  and
approvals.

         (b) The Shareholders shall cause the Company,  the Subsidiary,  and the
LLC Subsidiary,  and the Company agrees,  to give promptly such notices to third
parties and use all  reasonable  efforts to obtain such third party consents and
estoppel  certificates in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement, including without limitation those set forth on Exhibit 5.04.

         (c)  The  Parent  and  the  Parent  Sub  shall  cooperate  and  use all
reasonable efforts to assist the Shareholders,  the Company,  the Subsidiary and
the LLC  Subsidiary  in giving such  notices and  obtaining  such  consents  and
estoppel  certificates;  provided,  however, that none of the Shareholders,  the
Company,  the Parent or the Parent  Sub shall  have any  obligation  to give any
guarantee  or other  consideration  of any  nature in  connection  with any such
notice, consent or estoppel certificate or to consent to any change in the terms
of any agreement or  arrangement  which would be adverse to the interests of the
Shareholders,  the Parent,  the Parent Sub, the Company,  the Subsidiary and the
LLC Subsidiary or the Business.

         (d) The  Shareholders  and the Parent agree that, in the event any such
consent,  approval or  authorization  reasonably  necessary  to preserve for the
Business, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary any right or benefit
under any lease, license, contract, commitment or other agreement or arrangement
to which the Shareholders, the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary are
or is a party is not obtained  prior to the  Effective  Time,  the  Shareholders
will, subsequent to the Effective Time, cooperate with the Parent and the Parent
Sub in attempting to obtain such consent,  approval or authorization as promptly
thereafter as practicable and, in the case of contracts and agreements, so as to
provide  for the Parent and Parent Sub the  benefits  under such  contracts  and
agreements.

         SECTION 5.05.  Notice of Developments.  (a) Prior to the earlier of the
Closing or termination of this Agreement, the Shareholders and the Company shall
notify  promptly,  and in any event  within five  Business  Days,  the Parent in
writing,  to the  extent  of the  best  knowledge  of the  Shareholders  and the
Company, of (i) all events, circumstances, facts and occurrences

                                     - 43 -

<PAGE>



arising  subsequent  to the date of this  Agreement  which could  reasonably  be
expected to result in any breach of a representation  or warranty or covenant of
the  Shareholders or the Company in this Agreement or which could  reasonably be
expected  to have the effect of making any  representation  or  warranty  of the
Shareholders  or the  Company  in this  Agreement  untrue  or  incorrect  in any
material  respect and (ii) all other material  developments,  other than general
economic  or market  changes,  and  changes  in Tax Law  affecting  the  assets,
Liabilities,  business, financial condition,  operations, results of operations,
distributor,  customer or employee  relations or  prospects of the Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary or the Business.

         (b) Prior to the earlier of the Effective  Time or  termination of this
Agreement, the Parent and the Parent Sub shall promptly, and in any event within
five Business Days,  notify the  Shareholders  in writing,  to the extent of the
best  knowledge of the Parent and the Parent Sub, of all events,  circumstances,
facts and  occurrences  arising  subsequent to the date of this Agreement  which
could  reasonably  be  expected to result in any breach of a  representation  or
warranty  or  covenant  of the Parent or Parent Sub in this  Agreement  or which
could reasonably be expected to have the effect of making any  representation or
warranty of the Parent or Parent Sub in this  Agreement  untrue or  incorrect in
any respect.

         SECTION  5.06.  Acquisition  Proposals.  (a) The  Shareholders  and the
Company and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents shall immediately cease any existing discussions or negotiations with any
parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition  Proposal.  Neither
the  Shareholders,  the  Company,  nor  their  respective  officers,  directors,
employees or investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other agents retained
by either of them will (i)  initiate or solicit,  directly  or  indirectly,  any
inquiries  regarding the making of any Acquisition  Proposal,  or (ii) engage in
negotiations  or  discussions  with, or furnish any  information  or data to any
third party relating to an Acquisition Proposal.

         (b) For purposes of this  Agreement,  the term  "Acquisition  Proposal"
shall mean any  purchase  offer made by a third party to acquire (i)  beneficial
ownership  (as defined  pursuant  to Section  13(d) of the  Exchange  Act) of an
equity  interest in the Company or the Assets or Business  pursuant to a merger,
consolidation or other business combination,  sale of shares of capital stock or
similar transaction involving the Company,  including,  without limitation,  any
single or multi  step  transaction  or series of related  transactions  which is
structured  to permit  such third  party to acquire  beneficial  ownership  of a
majority or greater equity  interest in the Company or the Assets or Business or
(ii) all or  substantially  all of the  business or assets of the Company or the
Business (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).

         SECTION 5.07. Use of Names and Intellectual  Property.  (a) Each of the
Shareholders  covenants and agrees that following the Effective Time, the Parent
shall have the exclusive and royalty-free right to use the names NAPTech,  North
American  Piping  Technologies,  NAPTech  Pressure  Systems,  NAPTech and Design
Pressure  Products and such other names as may be determined  upon completion of
the Due Diligence Review by Shaw (collectively, the "Name").

         (b) From and after the Effective Time, neither the Shareholders nor any
of its Affiliates shall use the Name, any of the Owned Intellectual  Property or
any of the Licensed Intellectual Property.

                                     - 44 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 5.08. Non-Competition.  (a) For a period of two years following
the Effective Time, none of the Shareholders shall,  directly or indirectly,  or
as a member, shareholder, officer, director, consultant or employee of any other
person  or  entity,  compete  with  the  Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  or
Affiliates,  or own,  manage,  operate,  join,  control  or  participate  in the
ownership, management,  operation, or control of, or become employed by, consult
or advise,  or be connected in any manner with any business or activity which is
in actual,  direct or indirect  competition or anticipated  competition with the
Parent or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates within those counties, parishes,
municipalities or other places listed in Exhibit 5.08(a) annexed hereto and made
a part hereof,  so long as the Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  or Affiliates
carries on a like business therein. Not by way of limitation or exclusion,  none
of the  Shareholders  shall,  within  the  aforesaid  locations  and  during the
aforesaid time period, call upon, solicit, advise or otherwise do, or attempt to
do, business with any customers or  distributors  of the Business,  the Company,
the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  with whom the Business,  the Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary or any of the  Shareholders  had any dealings
during  the  period  of  time in  which  the  Company  was an  Affiliate  of the
Shareholders, or take away or interfere or attempt to interfere with any custom,
trade, business or patronage of the Business, the Company, the Subsidiary or the
LLC  Subsidiary,  or interfere  with or attempt to interfere  with any officers,
employees, distributors, representatives or agents of the Business, the Company,
the Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary,  or employ or induce or attempt to induce
any of them to leave  the  employ  of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary  or  violate  the  terms  of  their  contracts,   or  any  employment
arrangements,  with the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary.  Each of
the  Shareholders  acknowledges  and  agrees  that any  breach of the  foregoing
covenant  not to compete  would cause  irreparable  injury to the Parent and its
subsidiaries  and Affiliates,  and that the amount of injury would be impossible
or difficult to fully ascertain. Each of the Shareholders agrees that the Parent
and its subsidiaries and affiliates shall,  therefore,  be entitled to obtain an
injunction restraining any violation,  further violation or threatened violation
of the covenant not to compete  hereinabove  set forth, in addition to any other
remedies  that  the  Parent  or  its  subsidiaries  or  Affiliates  may  pursue.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.08, the Shareholders,
may own, solely as an investment,  securities if the Shareholders (A) are not an
affiliate  of the  issuer  of  such  securities  and  (B) do  not,  directly  or
indirectly,  beneficially own more than 5% of the class of which such securities
are a part. If the two year period  referred to in this Section 5.08(a) shall be
finally  determined by a court to exceed the maximum period which is permissible
by  applicable  law,  the said  period  shall be reduced to the  maximum  period
permitted by such law.

         (b) Each of the  Shareholders  acknowledges  that the  covenants of the
Shareholders  set forth in  Section  5.08(a)  are an  essential  element of this
Agreement  and that,  but for the agreement of the  Shareholders  to comply with
these covenants, the Parent would not have entered into this Agreement.  Each of
the  Shareholders  has  independently  consulted with its counsel and after such
consultation  agrees  that the  covenants  set  forth in this  Section  5.08 are
reasonable and proper.

         SECTION  5.09.  Release  of  Indemnity  and  Other   Obligations.   The
Shareholders  covenant and agree,  on or prior to the Effective Time, to execute
and deliver to the Parent,  for the benefit of the Company,  the  Subsidiary and
the LLC  Subsidiary,  a general  release and  discharge,  in form and  substance
satisfactory to the Parent,  releasing and  discharging the Parent,  Parent Sub,
the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary, from any and all obligations
to pay any

                                     - 45 -

<PAGE>



amounts to or perform any obligations  owing to, or indemnify,  the Shareholders
or otherwise hold the Shareholders  harmless  pursuant to any agreement or other
arrangement entered into prior to the Effective Time between the Shareholders or
any Affiliate of the  Shareholders  (other than the Company,  the Subsidiary and
the LLC Subsidiary) and the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary except
such agreements as are described in Section 5.09 of the Disclosure Schedule.

         SECTION 5.10. Further Action.  Each of the parties hereto shall use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate  action, do or
cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law,
and execute and deliver such  documents and other papers,  as may be required to
carry out the provisions of this Agreement and consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION  5.11.   Removal  of  Encumbrances  on  Assets.   Each  of  the
Shareholders  and the Company  covenants and agrees to cause all Encumbrances on
the Assets (other than Permitted  Encumbrances) to be removed at or prior to the
Effective  Time. The Parent shall  cooperate and use all  reasonable  efforts to
assist  the  Shareholders  and the  Company  in  obtaining  the  removal of such
Encumbrances;  provided,  however, that the Parent and the Parent Sub shall have
no  obligation  to give any  guarantee or other  consideration  of any nature in
connection  with the removal of any such  Encumbrance.  The parties hereto agree
that,  in the event the  Shareholders  and the  Company  are unable to cause the
removal of any  Encumbrance  on any Asset  (other than  Permitted  Encumbrances)
prior to the Effective  Time, the  Shareholders  shall,  following the Effective
Time,  use  reasonable  efforts to cooperate  with the Parent and the Company in
attempting to remove such Encumbrance as promptly as practicable.

         SECTION 5.12.  Certain Additional  Covenants.  (a) The Parent agrees to
cause the Company to  maintain,  for a period of three years after the  Closing,
products liability insurance providing coverage comparable to that maintained by
the Company as of the date hereof, to the extent such coverage is available at a
reasonable cost.

         (b) The Shareholders agree not to take, and prior to the Effective Time
to  cause  the   Company  not  to  take,   an  action   which  would  cause  the
representations  set forth in Section  3.09(a) to become untrue or inaccurate in
any way.

         (c) The Parent agrees to issue the Replacement Options at the Effective
Time in  substitution of the Company Options held by employees of the Company at
the Effective Time.

         (d) If any of the Company  Options are  exercised by any of the persons
listed in Section  3.03(b)  of the  Disclosure  Schedule  after the date of this
Agreement  but before the Closing  Date,  then the Company and the  Shareholders
covenant and agree:

                  (i)      If the person  exercising  the  Company  Option is an
                           "accredited  investor"  within  the  meaning  of Rule
                           501(a)  of   Regulation  D   promulgated   under  the
                           Securities  Act,  to cause  such  person  to become a
                           signatory  to  this  Agreement  at the  time  of such
                           exercise; or


                                     - 46 -

<PAGE>



                  (ii)     If the person exercising the Company Option is not an
                           "accredited
                                                  ---
                           investor" within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of 
                           Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, to
                           purchase on or before the Closing Date, but prior to 
                           the Closing, the Common Stock into which the Company
                           Option is exercised at a price per share equal to the
                           product of 0.0772611 times the average of the
                           published
                                                  -----
                           closing price of the Parent's Common Stock on the
                           Nasdaq Stock Market for the five trading days
                           immediately preceding the date upon which the Company
                           purchases the Common Stock.

         (e) The Company and the  Shareholders  covenant  and agree to cause the
exercise,  prior to the Closing Date, of any Company Options held by individuals
no longer  employed by the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary as of
the date hereof, and upon such exercise, to cause compliance with the provisions
of Section  5.12(d)(i) or (ii) above,  as  applicable;  provided,  however,  the
Company shall make no payments to such individuals to cause them to exercise any
such  Company  Options.   Provided  further,   however,   the  Company  and  the
Shareholders  shall not be  required  to cause such  exercise  if the  Company's
Counsel  renders an opinion  satisfactory to the Parent that the exchange of the
Parent's  Common  Stock in lieu of the Common  Stock as  permitted  by each such
Company  Option  at a  conversion  rate of  0.0772611  and the  issuance  of the
Parent's  Common  Stock upon  exercise of such Company  Option is a  transaction
which qualifies for an exemption under  applicable  federal and state securities
laws.

         (f) If the  Convertible  Note  is  converted,  after  the  date of this
Agreement, but before the Closing Date, by the holder thereof into shares of the
Common Stock, then the Company and the Shareholders agree:

                  (i)      If the Person  converting the  Convertible  Note into
                           shares of Common  Stock is an  "accredited  investor"
                           within the  meaning of Rule  501(a) of  Regulation  D
                           promulgated  under the Securities  Act, to cause such
                           Person to become a signatory to this Agreement at the
                           time of such conversion; or

                 (ii)      If the Person  converting the  Convertible  Note into
                           shares of Common Stock is not an "accredited  
                           investor"  within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of
                           Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, to
                           purchase, on or before the losing Date, but prior to 
                           the Closing,  Common Stock into which the Convertible
                           Note was converted at a price per share equal to the
                           product of 0.0772611 times the average of the
                           published  closing  price of the Parent's Common 
                           Stock for the five trading days immediately
                           preceding the date upon which the Company purchases 
                           the Common Stock.

         (g) The Company and the  Shareholders  agree to cause the Subsidiary to
acquire on or prior to the Closing Date all of the  membership  interests of the
LLC Subsidiary not owned as of the date hereof by the Company.


                                     - 47 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 5.13.  Termination of  Inter-Company  Arrangements,  etc. At or
prior  to  the  Closing,   the  Shareholders   shall  cause  the   Inter-Company
Arrangements,  other than those  described  in  Section  5.13 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  to be terminated on terms reasonably  satisfactory to the Parent. The
Parent  shall  have  received  the  general  releases  and  discharges  from the
Shareholders  referred  to in  Section  5.09 in form  and  substance  reasonably
satisfactory to the Parent.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                              MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS

         SECTION 6.01. Certain  Limitations on Representations and Warranties of
the Minority Shareholders. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
to the contrary:  (a) the representations and warranties of each of the Minority
Shareholders in Sections 3.01, 3.03(b),  (c) and (d) and 3.30 are limited to the
Shares  owned by each of such  Minority  Shareholder  and to each such  Minority
Shareholder,  as applicable; and (b) the other representations and warranties of
each of the Minority Shareholders in Article III and Section 7.01 are limited to
the actual knowledge of each such Minority Shareholder.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   TAX MATTERS
         SECTION 7.01. Representations, Warranties and Covenants.

         (a)      Reorganization.

                  (i) The parties  hereto intend that the Merger will qualify as
a   reorganization   under  Sections   368(a)(1)(A)  and  (a)(2)(E)  or  Section
368(a)(1)(B) of the Code and each party agrees that,  unless otherwise  required
by law, no such party shall at any time file any return or other  document  with
the U.S.  Internal  Revenue Service or any other taxing  authority  inconsistent
with such treatment.

                  (ii) In regard to Section  7.01(a)  above,  the parties hereto
make the following representations, warranties and covenants:

                           (A) Each of the  Shareholders  hereby  represents and
         warrants,  as of  the  date  hereof  and as of the  Closing  Date,  and
         covenants to the Parent as follows:

                                    (1)  The  Company  will  retain  immediately
                  after  the  Merger  90% of the  fair  market  value of the net
                  assets and 70% of the fair  market  value of the gross  assets
                  held by the Company immediately prior to the Merger.

                                     - 48 -

<PAGE>




                                    (2) None of the Shareholders has any plan or
                  intention,  and agrees for a period of two years following the
                  Effective Time not, to sell,  exchange or otherwise dispose of
                  a number of shares of the Parent's  Common  Stock  received in
                  the Merger that would  reduce the  Shareholders'  ownership of
                  shares  of the  Parent's  Common  Stock to a number  of shares
                  having a value,  as of the Closing  Date,  of less than 50% of
                  the  value  of all of the  formerly  outstanding  stock of the
                  Company as of the same date.

                                    (3) The  Parent  will  acquire in the Merger
                  80% of the outstanding stock of the Company solely in exchange
                  for voting  stock of the Parent  (i.e.,  the  Parent's  Common
                  Stock).

                                    (4)   The   liabilities   of  the   Company,
                  including the liabilities to which the  transferred  assets of
                  the Company are subject,  were  incurred by the Company in the
                  ordinary course of business.

                                    (5) The Company  will bear its own  expenses
                  incurred in connection with this  Agreement,  and any expenses
                  attributable to the  Shareholders  incurred in connection with
                  this  Agreement  (including  the fees and  costs of  Company's
                  Counsel and  accountants in excess of $81,000) will be paid by
                  them.

                           (B) The Parent hereby represents and warrants,  as of
         the date  hereof and as of the Closing  Date,  to the  Shareholders  as
         follows:

                                    (1) The Parent Sub is newly  formed,  has no
                  other  business  or assets and was  created for the purpose of
                  this transaction.

                                    (2)     The Parent has no plan or intention 
                  to redeem or otherwise reacquire any of its stock issued in 
                  the Merger.

                                    (3) The Parent has no plan or  intention  to
                  liquidate  the  Surviving  Corporation;  to sell or  otherwise
                  dispose of the stock of the  Surviving  Corporation,  or cause
                  the Surviving  Corporation to issue  additional  shares of its
                  stock,  thereby  resulting in the Parent losing control of the
                  Surviving  Corporation within the meaning of Section 368(c) of
                  the Code; or to cause the Surviving Corporation to dispose of,
                  in transactions for which full  consideration is not received,
                  more than 20% of the  assets of the  Company  acquired  in the
                  Merger,  except  for  transfers  of  assets  to a  corporation
                  controlled  (within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code)
                  by the Surviving Corporation.

                                     - 49 -

<PAGE>



                                    (4)  Following  the  Merger,  it is intended
                  that the  Surviving  Corporation  will  continue  the historic
                  business of the Company or will use a  significant  portion of
                  the historic  business  assets of the Company in a business as
                  such terms are used in Treas.
                  Reg. ss.1.368-1(d).

                                    (5) The  Parent  will  pay its own  expenses
                  incurred in this transaction and the Parent Sub's expenses, if
                  any,  incurred in connection  with this Agreement will be paid
                  by the Parent.

                                    (6) The Parent  will  control the Parent Sub
                  within the meaning of Section  368(c) of the Code  immediately
                  prior to the Closing Date.

                                    (7) The Parent has no present  intention  to
                  merge  the  Company  with or into any  other  corporation,  to
                  transfer the stock of the Company to a corporation  other than
                  one it controls  within the  meaning of Section  368(c) of the
                  Code,  or to sell or  otherwise  dispose  of the  stock of the
                  Company.

                                    (8) The Parent Sub has no  liabilities  that
                  will be  assumed by the  Company,  and the Parent Sub will not
                  transfer any assets subject to liabilities in the Merger.

                                    (9)     Neither the Parent nor the Parent 
                  Sub is an "investment company" as defined in Section 368
                  (a)(2)(F) of the Code.

                                    (10) There is no intercorporate indebtedness
                  existing  between  the Parent and the  Company or between  the
                  Parent Sub and the Company  that was issued,  acquired or will
                  be settled,  in each case at a  discount,  and that the Parent
                  and the Parent Sub do not own,  nor have they owned during the
                  past five (5) years, any stock of the Company.


                                    (11)  Immediately  prior  to  the  Effective
                  Time, Parent will control the Parent Sub within the meaning of
                  Section 368(c) of the Code.

                                    (12)  Neither  the Parent nor the Parent Sub
                  is an "investment  company" as defined in Section 368(a)(2)(F)
                  of the Code.

                                    (13)    There is no intercorporate 
                  indebtedness existing between the Parent and the Company or
                  between the Parent

                                     - 50 -

<PAGE>



                  Sub and the  Company  that  was  issued,  acquired  or will be
                  settled at a discount.

                                    (14) The  Parent  and the  Parent Sub do not
                  own, nor have they owned  during the past five (5) years,  any
                  stock of the Company.

         (b)      Each of the Shareholders hereby represents and warrants, as
of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

                  (i)  except as set  forth in  Section  7.01 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  (A) all returns  and  reports in respect of Taxes  ("Tax  Returns" or
"Returns") required to be filed as of the date of this Agreement with respect to
the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary  (including the consolidated
federal  income Tax  Returns and state  income or  franchise  Tax  Returns  that
include the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary on a  consolidated,
combined,  or unitary  ("combined") basis) have been timely filed; (B) all Taxes
shown to be payable on such Returns and all  assessments of Tax made against the
Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary with respect to such Returns have
been paid; (C) all such Returns are true, correct,  and complete in all material
respects;  and (D) no  adjustment  relating to such  Returns  has been  proposed
formally or informally by any Tax  authority  and, to the best  knowledge of the
Shareholders and the Company, no basis exists for any such adjustment;

                  (ii)  except as set forth in  Section  7.01 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  there is no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Shareholders and
the Company,  threatened actions or proceedings for the assessment or collection
of Taxes against the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (iii) no  consent  under  Section  341(f) of the Code has been
filed with respect to the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (iv)     there are no Tax liens on any assets of the Company, 
the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary, except liens for Taxes that are not yet
due and payable;

                  (v) no acceleration  of the vesting  schedule for any property
that is  substantially  nonvested  within the meaning of the  regulations  under
Section  83  of  the  Code  will  occur  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (vi) none of the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
has been a "United States real property holding  corporation" within the meaning
of Section  897(c)(2)  of the Code during the  applicable  period  specified  in
Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code;

                  (vii)  except as set forth in Section  7.01 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  none of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is or has
been doing  business  in, is, or has been  engaged in a trade or business or has
business  in force in any  jurisdiction  in which it has not filed all  required
material  income,  franchise,  or gross premium tax returns or other  applicable
returns;


                                     - 51 -

<PAGE>



                  (viii)  none  of  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or  the  LLC
Subsidiary  is subject  to any  accumulated  earnings  tax  penalty or  personal
holding company tax;

                  (ix) there are no outstanding waivers or agreements  extending
the statute of  limitations  for any tax period with respect to any Tax to which
the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary may be subject;

                  (x) none of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
(A) has an  unrecaptured  overall  foreign  loss  within the  meaning of Section
904(f)  of  the  Code  or  (B)  has   participated  in  or  cooperated  with  an
international boycott within the meaning of Section 999 of the Code;

                  (xi) except as set forth in Section  7.01(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule,  as of March 29, 1996, none of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary had any (1) income reportable for a taxable period ending after March
29,  1996,  but  attributable  to a  transaction  (e.q.,  an  installment  sale)
occurring in or a change in accounting  method made for a taxable  period ending
on or prior to March 29, 1996,  that resulted in a deferred  reporting of income
from such  transaction  or from such change in  accounting  method (other than a
deferred intercompany transaction),  or (2) deferred gain or loss arising out of
any deferred intercompany transaction that occurred prior to March 29, 1996;

                  (xii)    there are no outstanding requests for information 
made by a taxing authority to the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (xiii)  none  of  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or  the  LLC
Subsidiary  has been  advised  by any  Governmental  Authority  of any  proposed
reassessments  of the value (or  other  Tax base) of any  property  owned by the
Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary that could increase the amount of
a property Tax to which the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary would
be subject;

                  (xiv)  none  of  the  Company,   the  Subsidiary  or  the  LLC
Subsidiary  is  obligated   under  any  agreement  with  respect  to  industrial
development  bonds or other  obligations with respect to which the excludability
from gross  income of the  holder  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  could be
affected by the transactions contemplated hereunder;

                  (xv) no power of attorney  that is currently in force has been
granted  with  respect to any  matter  relating  to Taxes that could  affect the
Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary;

                  (xvi)  except as set forth in Section  3.04 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  none of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary has been a
member  of any  partnership  or joint  venture  or the  holder  of a  beneficial
interest  in any trust for any period for which the statute of  limitations  for
any Tax has not expired;

                  (xvii)  except as set forth in Section 7.01 of the  Disclosure
Schedule,  neither the  Shareholders  nor any Affiliate of the  Shareholders has
made any capital contributions to the

                                     - 52 -

<PAGE>



Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary during the two-year period
preceding the date of this Agreement;

                  (xviii) no "ownership  change",  within the meaning of Section
382 of the Code has occurred with respect to the Company,  the Subsidiary or the
LLC Subsidiary except as contemplated by this Agreement since December 31, 1992;

                  (xix)  Section  7.01 of the  Disclosure  Schedule (A) lists by
type all income,  franchise, and similar Tax Returns (federal, state, local, and
foreign)  filed with respect to each of the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC
Subsidiary for taxable  periods ended on or after January 1, 1992; (B) indicates
for  which  jurisdictions  Returns  have been  filed on the basis of a  combined
group;  (C) indicates the most recent income,  franchise,  or similar Tax Return
for each  relevant  jurisdiction  for which an audit has been  completed  or the
statute of  limitations  has lapsed;  and (D)  indicates  all Tax  Returns  that
currently are the subject of audit;

                  (xx) Section 7.01 of the Disclosure  Schedule sets forth as of
March 29, 1996, the amount and expiration  dates of any net operating  loss, net
capital loss,  unused  business  credit,  unused  foreign tax credit,  or excess
charitable  contribution  allocable to the Company,  the  Subsidiary and the LLC
Subsidiary as reported on the  consolidated  federal  income tax return filed by
such corporations. As of March 29, 1996, each of the Company, the Subsidiary and
the LLC  Subsidiary  had no less than $4.584  million  aggregate  net  operating
losses available for carryover to taxable years beginning after March 29, 1996;

                  (xxi) liabilities,  expenses (defined or otherwise),  reserves
and  allowances on the books and records of the Company,  the Subsidiary and the
LLC Subsidiary  have been provided which are adequate to satisfy all Liabilities
for Taxes relating to the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary for any
and all periods (A) through the date of the Financial Statements (without regard
to the  materiality  thereof)  and (B)  after  the  date of the  last  Financial
Statement  through and including the  Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing
Date);

                  (xxii) Section 7.01 of the Disclosure  Schedule sets forth the
tax basis of the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary as of March 29,
1996 in each asset; and

                  (xxiii)  Section 7.01 of the Disclosure  Schedule  shall,  not
later than 30 days prior to the Closing Date,  completely and  accurately  list,
all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC
Subsidiary between the date of this Agreement and December 31, 1996.

         SECTION  7.02.  Access to  Information.  (a) From the date hereof,  the
Shareholders  shall and shall  cause the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC
Subsidiary to make available to the Parent: (i) all federal,  state, and foreign
income,  franchise,  and similar Tax  Returns  for taxable  periods  ended after
January 1, 1992,  and any  examination  reports and  statements of  deficiencies
assessed against,  proposed to be assessed against, or agreed to by the Company,
the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  for such taxable  periods;  (ii) any tax
sharing or  allocation  agreement or  arrangement  involving  the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary and a complete and accurate  description of any
such unwritten or informal agreement or arrangement; (iii) any pro

                                     - 53 -

<PAGE>



forma federal income Tax Returns of the  Subsidiary,  together with any schedule
reconciling  the items in the pro forma Tax Return to the items as  included  in
the consolidated Tax Return,  for all taxable years ended after January 1, 1992;
and  (iv)  any  workpapers  or  schedules  showing  (A)  the  tax  basis  of the
shareholders in the Common Stock,  (B) the tax basis of the Company in the stock
of the Subsidiary or the membership interest in the LLC Subsidiary,  and (C) the
amount of U.S. tax earnings and profits for the Company,  the Subsidiary and the
LLC Subsidiary.

         (b)  The  information  described  in  Section  7.02(a)  shall  be  made
available to the Parent in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02(a).

         SECTION 7.03. Returns and Payments. (a) From the date of this Agreement
through and after the Closing Date, the  Shareholders  shall prepare and file or
otherwise furnish in proper form to the appropriate  Governmental  Authority (or
cause to be  prepared  and  filed or so  furnished)  in a  timely  manner  (with
extensions) all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company,  the Subsidiary
and the LLC  Subsidiary  that  are due on or  before  the  10th  day  after  the
Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date) (and the Parent shall do the same
with respect to any Tax Return required to be filed after the 10th day after the
Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date)).  None of the Parent, the Parent
Sub, the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary or their  employees or
agents  shall  have  any  liability  to the  Shareholders  with  respect  to the
preparation  and  filing  of  Returns  for  periods  ending  on or  prior to the
Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing  Date) (other than by reason of gross
negligence);  the  Shareholders  shall  indemnify  each such Person  against any
liability or cost by reason of a claim by a Tax authority  under Section 6694 of
the Code,  or any  corresponding  provision  of any  other  law,  to the  extent
relating to such preparation;  and the Shareholders shall reimburse the Company,
the Parent Sub and the Subsidiary against third-party professional fees, if any,
incurred  in  connection  with such  preparation.  Returns of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  not yet filed for any  taxable  period that
begins  before the  Effective  Time (or if later,  the  Closing  Date)  shall be
prepared in a manner consistent with past practices employed with respect to the
Company,  the Subsidiary  and the LLC  Subsidiary  (except to the extent present
counsel for the  Shareholders  or the Company renders a legal opinion that there
is no reasonable  basis in law therefor or determines that a Return cannot be so
prepared and filed  without  being  subject to  penalties).  With respect to any
Return  required to be filed by the Parent or the  Shareholders  with respect to
the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary and as to which an amount of
Tax is  allocable  to the other party under  Section  7.05(b) or as to which the
other  party is  responsible  for an amount of tax under  Section  7.05(a),  the
filing  party  shall  provide  the  other  party  and  such  party's  authorized
representatives  with a copy of such completed Return and a statement certifying
the amount of Tax shown on such  Return  that is  allocable  to such other party
pursuant to Section 7.05(b),  together with appropriate  supporting  information
and  schedules at least 20 Business  Days prior to the due date  (including  any
extension  thereof) for the filing of such Return, and such other party and such
other  party's  authorized  representatives  shall  have the right to review and
comment on such Return and  statement  prior to the filing of such Return.  Such
other  party shall have the right to dispute  the amount of Taxes  allocated  to
such party by the filing party,  and any dispute that cannot be resolved between
the parties  shall be resolved by an  independent  certified  public  accountant
reasonably  acceptable to all parties or by binding  arbitration as described in
Section  7.03(c).  Any objections not raised at least 10 Business Days after the
date the  filing  party  provides  a draft  completed  Return  and  accompanying
statement shall be deemed waived.

                                     - 54 -

<PAGE>



         (b) The Shareholders shall pay or cause to be paid when due and payable
all Taxes with respect to the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary for
any taxable  period  ending before or on the  Effective  Time (or if later,  the
Closing Date). The Parent shall pay or cause to be paid when due and payable all
Taxes with respect to the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary for any
taxable period ending before or on the Effective Time (or if later,  the Closing
Date) to the  extent  of the  amount,  if any,  accrued  for  such  Taxes at the
Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing  Date).  The Parent shall also pay or
cause to be paid when due and payable all Taxes for any  taxable  period  ending
after the Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing Date) (subject to any right
of indemnification from the Shareholders hereunder for Taxes).

         (c) If the parties  cannot  resolve a dispute under Section  7.03(a) in
the manner set forth  therein,  either party shall have the right to submit such
dispute to a single arbitrator for resolution.  The arbitrator shall be selected
by mutual agreement of the parties. The arbitrator shall be an individual who is
a certified public accountant and who has substantial experience with respect to
tax matters.  If the parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator within fifteen (15)
days after either makes a written  request for arbitration of the dispute to the
other party, then within ten (10) days after the expiration of such fifteen (15)
day period,  the Parent shall select one person qualified to serve as arbitrator
and the  Shareholders  shall select a second person to serve as arbitrator.  The
Parent and the  Shareholders  shall each notify the other party  within such ten
(10) day period of the name, address and other information  regarding the person
so selected.  The two (2) persons so selected  shall,  within  fifteen (15) days
after the  expiration  of the ten (10) day period,  agree upon a third person to
serve as arbitrator,  and such third person shall serve as the sole  arbitrator.
Such person must be a certified public accountant with substantial experience in
tax matters.  The  arbitration  shall be conducted as soon as practicable  after
final  selection of the arbitrator in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana  according to such
procedures as may be  established  by the  arbitrator;  provided,  however,  the
arbitrator  shall apply the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil
Procedures to the proceeding. Each party shall advance one-half of the costs and
fees of the arbitrator.  Arbitration may proceed in the absence of the Parent or
the  Shareholders  if notice of the date and time for the  proceedings  has been
given to the absent  party at least  fifteen  (15) days prior to the date of the
proceeding.  Submission of the disputed matter to an arbitrator pursuant to this
Section  7.03(c)  shall  be  specifically  enforceable.   The  decision  of  the
arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the Parent and the Shareholders.  All
costs and  expenses  (including,  without  limitation,  the  arbitrator's  fees,
reasonable  attorney's  fees,  disbursements  and the costs and  expenses of the
Parent and the Shareholder) shall be paid by the non-prevailing party.

         SECTION 7.04. Refunds.  Any Tax refund (or comparable benefit resulting
from a  reduction  in Tax  liability)  for a  period  ending  on or  before  the
Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date) arising out of the carryback of a
loss or credit incurred by the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary in
a taxable year ending after the Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing Date)
shall be the property of the Parent and, if received by the  Shareholders or any
Affiliate of the Shareholders, shall be paid over promptly to the Parent.

         SECTION  7.05.  Indemnity.  (a) Subject to Section (b) of this  Section
7.05, the Shareholders agree to indemnify and hold the Parent, the Company,  and
the  Subsidiary  harmless  against  any breach of a covenant  contained  in this
Article VII and the following  Taxes (to the extent such Taxes are not satisfied
by liabilities, expenses, reserves or allowances established on

                                     - 55 -

<PAGE>



the books and  records of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary
through and including the Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing Date)) and,
except as  otherwise  provided  in  Section  7.06,  against  any  loss,  damage,
liability, or expense,  including reasonable fees for attorneys and consultants,
incurred in contesting or otherwise in connection with any such Taxes: (i) Taxes
imposed on the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  with respect to
taxable periods of such corporations  ending before or on the Effective Time (or
if later,  the Closing  Date);  (ii) with respect to taxable  periods  beginning
before the Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing Date) and ending after the
Closing  Date,  (A) Taxes  imposed on the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary which are allocable,  pursuant to Section 7.05(b),  to the portion of
such period ending on the Effective Time (or if later,  the Closing  Date),  and
(B) Taxes imposed on the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary by reason
of such corporation's distributive share of income or loss from, or otherwise in
respect of, any  partnership  in which the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary  was a member on or prior to the  Effective  Time (or if  later,  the
Closing Date) that are allocable, pursuant to Section 7.05(b), to the portion of
such period ending on the Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date);  (iii)
Taxes imposed on the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary by reason of
being a member  of any  affiliated  group  (other  than the  group for which the
Company is the common parent) with which any of the Company,  the Subsidiary and
the LLC  Subsidiary  file or have filed a Return on a  consolidated  or combined
basis for a taxable  period ending before or on the Effective Date (or if later,
the  Closing  Date);  (iv)  Taxes  imposed  on the  Parent or the  Company,  the
Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  as a result  of any  breach of  warranty  or
misrepresentation  under Section 7.01 (for which purpose the  representations in
Section  7.01  shall be deemed to have  been  made with no  exception  for items
disclosed in Section 7.01 of the Disclosure Schedule or otherwise), including as
the  result  of any  failure  of the  Tax  attributes  referred  to in  Sections
7.01(xxi) and  7.01(xxii) to at least equal the amounts  represented;  (v) Taxes
arising in any taxable period ending after the Effective Time (or if later,  the
Closing  Date) as a result of the  disallowance  or  deferral  of any expense or
capitalized  item from prior  periods or the deferral of income items from prior
periods to the current period (net of any applicable  Tax  reductions;  and (vi)
Taxes  arising in any taxable  period  ending  after the  Closing  Date from the
failure of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary to establish or
retain  records   required  under   applicable  Tax  law  with  respect  to  any
transaction,  event or item.  The  Shareholders'  obligation  to  indemnify  the
Parent,  the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary for pre-Closing Date
Taxes under this Section  7.05 shall be reduced to reflect the present  value of
any post-Closing  Date benefit that the Parent,  the Company,  the Subsidiary or
the LLC  Subsidiary  (or the  consolidated  group  with which it files a federal
income tax return) may be  reasonably  expected to obtain in  post-Closing  Date
income tax filings that corresponds to Taxes for which an indemnity  payment has
been made.

         (b) In the case of Taxes  that are  payable  with  respect to a taxable
period that begins before the Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date) and
ends after the Effective Time (or if later,  the Closing  Date),  the portion of
any such Tax that is  allocable  to the  portion  of the  period  ending  on the
Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date) shall be:

                  (i) in the case of Taxes  that are  either  (x) based  upon or
related to income or  receipts,  or (y) imposed in  connection  with any sale or
other  transfer  or  assignment  of  property  (real or  personal,  tangible  or
intangible)  (other than  conveyances  pursuant to this  Agreement,  as provided
under  Section  7.10),  deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the
taxable

                                     - 56 -

<PAGE>



year ended with the Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date) (except that,
solely for purposes of determining the marginal tax rate applicable to income or
receipts  during such period in a  jurisdiction  in which such tax rate  depends
upon the level of income or receipts, annualized income or receipts may be taken
into account if appropriate for an equitable sharing of such Taxes); and

                  (ii) in the case of Taxes not  described in  subparagraph  (i)
that are  imposed on a  periodic  basis and  measured  by the level of any item,
deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire  period (or, in the case of
such Taxes being  determined on an arrears  basis,  the amount of such Taxes for
the  immediately  preceding  period)  multiplied  by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of calendar days in the period ending on the Effective  Time
(or if later,  the Closing Date) and the  denominator  of which is the number of
calendar days in the entire period.

For purposes of this Section 7.05(b) and 7.05(a),  the Taxes attributable to the
Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary by reason of such  corporation's
distributive  share of income,  gain,  or loss from, or otherwise in respect of,
any partnership in which the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary is a
member on the Effective Time (or if later, the Closing Date) shall be determined
as if such partnership's  taxable year ended on the Effective Time (or if later,
the Closing Date).

         SECTION  7.06.  Contests.  (a)  After the  Closing,  the  Parent  shall
promptly notify the  Shareholders in writing of any written notice of a proposed
assessment or claim in an audit or administrative or judicial  proceeding of the
Parent or of any of the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary which, if
determined adversely to the taxpayer, would be grounds for indemnification under
this Article VII; provided, however, that a failure to give such notice will not
affect the Parent's rights to  indemnification  under this Article VII except to
the  extent  that  the  Shareholders   demonstrate  that  they  were  materially
prejudiced thereby.

         (b) In the case of an audit or  administrative  or judicial  proceeding
that relates to periods ending on or before the Effective Time (or if later, the
Closing  Date),  provided  that the  Shareholders  acknowledge  in  writing  its
liability  under  this  Agreement  to hold  the  Parent,  the  Company,  and the
Subsidiary  harmless against the full amount of any adjustment which may be made
as a result of such audit or  proceeding  that  relates to periods  ending on or
before the Closing Date, the Shareholders  shall have the right at their expense
to  participate  in and control the conduct of such audit or proceeding but only
to the  extent  that such  audit or  proceeding  relates  solely to a  potential
adjustment  for which the  Shareholders  have  acknowledged  its  liability.  As
security for the  indemnification  provided  hereunder,  the Shareholders  shall
place 10% of the shares of the  Parent's  Common  Stock  received by them at the
Closing in escrow pursuant to the Escrow  Agreement.  The Parent shall also have
the right at its expense to  participate  in such audit or  proceeding,  but the
Parent  shall  have no right to  control  all or any  portion  of such  audit or
proceeding  permitted to be controlled by the Shareholders under the immediately
preceding sentence.  If the Shareholders assume the defense of any such audit or
proceeding,   and  the  Shareholders  and  the  relevant  taxing  authority  are
thereafter  willing to settle  such audit or  proceeding  for the payment by the
Shareholders  of a fixed amount of Tax but the Parent  rejects such  settlement,
then the  Shareholders'  liability under this sentence for Taxes with respect to
such

                                     - 57 -

<PAGE>



audit or  proceeding  shall be limited to the  aggregate  amount of the proposed
settlement and the Shareholders shall not be liable for any expenses incurred by
the Parent with respect to such audit or proceeding.  If the Shareholders do not
assume the  defense of any such audit or  proceeding,  the Parent may defend the
same at the reasonable  expense of the  Shareholders  in such manner as they may
deem  appropriate,  including,  but not  limited  to,  settling  such  audit  or
proceeding  with the consent of the  Shareholders,  which  consent  shall not be
unreasonably  withheld.  In  the  event  that  issues  relating  to a  potential
adjustment for which the  Shareholders  have  acknowledged  their  liability are
required to be dealt with in the same  proceeding as separate issues relating to
a potential  adjustment for which the Parent would be liable,  the  Shareholders
shall have the right,  at its expense,  to control the audit or proceeding  with
respect  to the  issues  for which it is liable  and the  Parent  shall have the
right,  at its expense,  to control the audit or proceeding  with respect to the
issues for which they are liable.

         (c) With respect to issues relating to a potential adjustment for which
the Shareholders, on the one hand (as evidenced by its acknowledgment under this
Section  7.06),  and  the  Parent  or the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary,  on the other hand,  could be liable,  or which recur for any period
ending after the Effective Time (or if later,  the Closing Date) (whether or not
the subject of audit at such time), (i) each party (either the Shareholders,  on
the one hand, or the Parent, the Company, or the Subsidiary,  on the other hand)
may  participate  at its own  expense in the audit or  proceeding,  and (ii) the
audit or  proceeding  with  respect to such issues shall be  controlled  by that
party which would bear the burden of the greater portion of the present value of
the Tax attributable to the adjustments and any  corresponding  adjustments that
may reasonably be anticipated for future Tax periods. The principle set forth in
the  immediately  preceding  sentence shall govern also for purposes of deciding
any issue that must be decided jointly (including, without limitation, choice of
judicial forum) in situations in which separate issues are otherwise  controlled
under this Article VII by the Parent, on the one hand, and the Shareholders,  on
the other hand.

         (d) Except as provided in Section 7.06(b) above, neither the Parent nor
 the Shareholders shall enter into any compromise or agree to settle any claim
pursuant to any Tax audit or proceeding  which would adversely  affect the other
parties for such year or a subsequent  year  without the written  consent of the
other parties,  which consent may not be unreasonably  withheld.  The Parent and
the Shareholders agree to cooperate, and the Parent agrees to cause the Company,
the Subsidiary and the LLC  Subsidiary to cooperate,  in the defense  against or
compromise of any claim in any audit or proceeding.

         SECTION  7.07.  Time of  Payment.  Payment by the  Shareholders  of any
amounts due under this  Article  VII in respect of Taxes  shall be made  (either
directly by the Shareholders or under the Escrow Agreement) as follows:

         (a) at least three  Business Days before the due date of the applicable
estimated  or final  Returns  required  to be filed by the  Parent  on which are
required to be reported  income for a period ending after the Effective Time (or
if later,  the Closing Date) for which the  Shareholders  are responsible  under
Sections 7.05(a) and 7.05(b) without regard to whether the Returns shows overall
net income or loss for such period;


                                     - 58 -

<PAGE>



         (b)      within ten Business Days following an agreement between the
Shareholders and the Parent that an indemnity amount is payable; and

         (c) within  five days  before  the due date for the  payment of any Tax
pursuant  to an  assessment  of such  Tax by  either  a  taxing  authority  or a
"determination" as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code.

If  liability  under this  Article VII is in respect of costs or expenses  other
than Taxes,  payment by the  Shareholders or the Parent of any amounts due under
this Article VII shall be made within  twenty  Business Days after the date when
the party  required to make such payment has been notified by the party entitled
to receive  such  payment  that such party has a  liability  for a  determinable
amount  under  this  Article  VII and is  provided  with  calculations  or other
materials supporting such liability.

         Any amounts due and payable  under this Article VII shall bear interest
at 18% per  annum,  or the  highest  non-usurious  rate of  interest  allowed by
applicable law, whichever is lower.

         SECTION 7.08. Cooperation and Exchange of Information.  Pursuant to the
terms set forth in Section 5.02 of this Agreement, the Shareholders,  on the one
hand, and the Parent, the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary, on the
other hand, will provide each other with such cooperation and information as any
of them  reasonably  may  request of the others in filing  any  Return,  amended
Return or claim for refund,  determining  a liability  for Taxes or a right to a
refund of Taxes, participating in or conducting any audit or other proceeding in
respect  of Taxes or making  representations  to or  furnishing  information  to
parties subsequently desiring to purchase the Company, the Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary or any part of the Business  from the Parent.  Such  cooperation  and
information  shall  include  providing  copies of  relevant  Returns or portions
thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents
relating to rulings or other determinations by Tax authorities. The Shareholders
shall make their accountants and agents available on a basis mutually convenient
to both parties to provide explanations of any documents or information provided
hereunder.  The Shareholders shall cooperate,  and shall cause the Company,  the
Subsidiary and the LLC  Subsidiary to cooperate,  in maximizing the value to the
Parent and the Company of the net operating loss and capital loss carryovers and
the net  unrealized  built-in loss of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the LLC
Subsidiary.  All costs and expenses reasonably incurred by a party in responding
to a request for information or assistance,  including the costs incurred by the
Shareholders  in  connection  with the  cooperation  described in the  preceding
sentence,  pursuant to this Section  7.08 shall be paid by the party  requesting
such information or assistance.

         SECTION  7.09.  Retention  of Tax  Returns  and  Records.  Each  of the
Shareholders,  the Parent,  the  Company,  and the  Subsidiary  shall retain all
Returns,  schedules  and  work  papers,  records  and  other  documents  in  its
possession  relating to Tax matters of the Company,  the  Subsidiary and the LLC
Subsidiary  for each taxable period first ending after the Effective Time (or if
later,  the Closing Date) and for all prior  taxable  periods until the later of
(i) the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which
such Returns and other  documents  relate,  or (ii) six years  following the due
date (without  extension)  for such Returns;  provided,  however,  that Returns,
schedules, work papers, records and other documents relating to the

                                     - 59 -

<PAGE>



determination  of the  basis  of any  asset  shall  be  retained  for six  years
following  the  disposition  of such  asset;  and  provided,  further,  that the
Shareholders shall not dispose of any such documents without first notifying the
Parent and providing  the Parent a reasonable  period of time in which to assume
possession of such documents.  Any information  obtained under this Section 7.09
shall be kept  confidential  except as may be otherwise  necessary in connection
with the filing of Returns  or claims  for refund or in  conducting  an audit or
other proceeding.

         SECTION 7.10.  Conveyance  Taxes. Any real property  transfer or gains,
sales,  use,   transfer,   value  added,  stock  transfer,   stamp,   recording,
registration, and any similar Tax or fee that becomes payable in connection with
any and all of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the Shareholders who shall file such  applications and documents as shall permit
any such Tax to be assessed  and paid on or prior to the  Effective  Time (or if
later,  the Closing  Date) in  accordance  with any  available  pre-sale  filing
procedure.  Each party  hereto  shall  execute and deliver all  instruments  and
certificates necessary to enable the other to comply with the foregoing.

         SECTION 7.11. Miscellaneous.  (a) The Shareholders and the Parent agree
to treat all  payments  made by any of them to or for the  benefit  of the other
(including any payments to the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary)
under this Article VII, under other  indemnity  provisions of this Agreement and
for any misrepresentations or breaches of warranties or covenants as adjustments
to the Purchase Price or as capital contributions for Tax purposes and that such
treatment shall govern for purposes hereof except to the extent that the laws of
a particular  jurisdiction provide otherwise,  in which case such payments shall
be made in an amount  sufficient to indemnify the relevant party on an after-Tax
basis.

         (b) None of the Shareholders, the Company, the Parent Sub or the Parent
shall file any Return,  or take a position with a Tax authority unless otherwise
required by law, that is  inconsistent  with the Recitals of this  Agreement and
the Merger Consideration set forth in Section 2.05.

         (c) Except as otherwise  specifically  provided in Section  7.06,  each
party shall bear its own  expenses,  including  expenses for attorneys and other
outside consultants,  in contesting any Tax for which such party is liable under
this Article VII.

         (d) Any Tax sharing agreement or arrangement  between the Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary,  on the one hand, and any other Person, on the
other hand,  shall be or have been  terminated on or prior to the Effective Time
(or if later,  the Closing Date), and no payments shall be permitted or required
to be made thereunder by the Company, or the Subsidiary after the Closing except
to the extent that such amount is shown on the Financial Statements.

         (e)  Notwithstanding  any provision in this  Agreement to the contrary,
the  obligations of the  Shareholders to indemnify and hold harmless the Parent,
the Company, the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary pursuant to this Article VII,
and  the  representations  and  warranties  contained  in  Section  7.01,  shall
terminate at the close of business on the 30th day following  the  expiration of
the  applicable  statute of limitations  with respect to the Tax  liabilities in
question (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof).

                                     - 60 -

<PAGE>



         (f) From and  after  the  date  hereof,  neither  the  Company  nor the
Subsidiary  shall,  and the  Shareholders  shall not  permit  the  Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary  to, make or revoke,  or cause or permit to be
made or revoked, any Tax election,  or adopt or change any method of accounting,
that would materially  affect the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
for any taxable year ending after the Effective  Time (or if later,  the Closing
Date) without the prior written  consent of the Parent,  which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld.

         (g) The  Parent  and the  Shareholders  shall be  entitled  to  recover
professional  fees and related costs that they may  reasonably  incur to enforce
the  provisions  of this  Article VII if and to the extent they  prevail in such
enforcement.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

         SECTION 8.01.  Conditions to  Obligations of the  Shareholders  and the
Company.  The  respective  obligations  of the  Shareholders  and the Company to
consummate the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to
the  fulfillment,  at or  prior  to  the  Closing,  of  each  of  the  following
conditions:

         (a) Representations,  Warranties and Covenants. The representations and
warranties  of the Parent and the Parent Sub contained in this  Agreement  shall
have been true and correct as of the date they were deemed to have been made and
shall be true and correct in all material  respects as of the Closing,  with the
same force and effect as if made as of the  Closing,  except for such changes as
are  permitted  or  contemplated   by  this  Agreement,   and  other  than  such
representations and warranties as are made as of another date. The covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement to be complied with by the Parent and the
Parent  Sub on or  before  the  Closing  shall  have  been  complied  with.  The
Shareholders  shall have received a  certificate  from the Parent to such effect
signed by duly  authorized  representatives  thereof and dated as of the Closing
Date;

         (b)      Reserved.

         (c) No Proceeding or Litigation. No Action shall have been commenced or
threatened  by  or  before  any  Governmental   Authority  against  any  of  the
Shareholders,  the Company, the Parent Sub or the Parent, seeking to restrain or
adversely  alter the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement or which is
likely to render it  impossible  or unlawful to  consummate  such  transactions;
provided,  however,  that the provisions of this Section 8.01(c) shall not apply
if the  Shareholders  or the Company has  directly or  indirectly  solicited  or
encouraged any such Action;

         (d)  Resolutions.  The  Shareholders  shall  have  received  a true and
complete  copy,  certified by the  Secretary  or an  Assistant  Secretary of the
Parent and the Parent Sub of the  resolutions  duly and  validly  adopted by the
Board of  Directors  of the  Parent  and the sole  shareholder  and the Board of
Directors of the Parent Sub evidencing its authorization of the

                                     - 61 -

<PAGE>



execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other agreements to be executed
by the Parent as contemplated  hereby and the  consummation of the  transactions
contemplated hereby;

     (e)  Incumbency  Certificate.   The  Shareholders  shall  have  received  a
certificate  of the  Secretary or an  Assistant  Secretary of the Parent and the
Parent Sub certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Parent and
the Parent Sub authorized to sign this  Agreement and the other  documents to be
delivered hereunder;

     (f) Legal  Opinion.  The  Shareholders  shall have  received  from Parent's
Counsel a legal  opinion,  addressed to the  Shareholders  and dated the Closing
Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit 8.01(f);

         (g)  Consents  and  Approvals.  The  Shareholders,  the Company and the
Parent Sub and the Parent shall have  received in form and content  satisfactory
to the  Company (i) all  authorizations,consents,  orders and  approvals  of all
Governmental  Authorities  listed in  Section  3.07 of the  Disclosure  Schedule
which,  in each case,  shall not contain any material  conditions or limitations
which are reasonably unacceptable to the Shareholders,  and (ii) all third party
consents and  estoppel  certificates  listed in Section  5.04 of the  Disclosure
Schedule;

     (h) Related Agreements.  The Registration Rights Agreement,  in the form of
Exhibit  8.01(h)(1)  shall have been duly  executed and delivered by the parties
thereto; and

         (i)  Organizational  Documents.  The Shareholders shall have received a
copy of (i) the Articles of Incorporation,  as amended, of the Parent, certified
by the Louisiana  Secretary of State,  as of a date not earlier than 10 Business
Days prior to the Closing Date and accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary of the Parent, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that
no amendments have been made to such Articles of  Incorporation  since such date
and (ii) the By-Laws of the Parent,  as amended,  certified by the  Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of the Parent.

     (j) Sale of  Freeport  Property.  The  Freeport  Property  shall  have been
purchased  and  sold  for  the  consideration  and  pursuant  to an  acquisition
agreement as described in Section 8.02(w).

         (k) No Material Adverse Event. Since May 31, 1996, to the Closing Date,
there  has  been no  material  adverse  event  relating  to the  Parent  and its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole and no material  adverse  change in the financial
position or results of operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries  taken as a
whole which,  in either case,  (i) require a public  disclosure or filing by the
Parent  with the SEC or (ii) will be  required  to be  included  in a Parent SEC
Report which report includes the period from May 31, 1996, to the Closing Date.

     (l)  Payment  of  Certain  Obligations.  The  Company  shall  have paid the
obligations described in Section 8.01(l) of the Disclosure Schedule.


                                     - 62 -

<PAGE>



     (m) Tax Opinion.  The Shareholders  shall have received an opinion from the
Company's  Counsel  that the Merger  will  qualify as a tax-free  reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code to the Shareholders.

     (n)  Release  of  Personal  Guarantees.  The  Shareholders  shall have been
released from the personal guarantees set forth on Exhibit 8.01(n).

         SECTION 8.02.  Conditions to  Obligations  of the Parent and the Parent
Sub. The  respective  obligations of the Parent and the Parent Sub to consummate
the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  shall  be  subject  to the
fulfillment,  at or prior to the Closing,  of each of the following  conditions,
any of which may be waived by the Parent in  writing,  and the  Company  and the
Shareholders  shall  use their  best  efforts  to cause  such  conditions  to be
fulfilled;  provided,  however, Parent's election to proceed with the Closing of
the transactions  contemplated herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any breach
of any  representation,  warranty  or covenant  herein,  whether or not known to
Parent  or  Parent  Sub or  existing  on  the  Closing  Date.  For  purposes  of
determining  whether a breach of a representation or warranty has occurred,  and
determining  the  amount of damage  suffered  by the Parent or the Parent Sub or
their  Affiliates as a result  thereof for purposes of Section 9.02 hereof,  the
Shareholders  and the  Company  shall be  deemed  to have  made  the  agreements
contained in this Agreement and the  representations and warranties set forth in
Article III on the Closing Date as if they were made on such date:

     (a)  Representations,  Warranties and Covenants.  The  representations  and
warranties of the Shareholders and the Company contained in this Agreement shall
have been true and  correct as of the date as of which they were  deemed to have
been made and  shall be true and  correct  in all  material  respects  as of the
Closing,  with the same force and effect as if made as of the Closing except for
such changes as are permitted or contemplated by this Agreement, other than such
representations and warranties as are made as of another date. The covenants and
agreements  contained in this Agreement to be complied with by the Shareholders,
the  Company,  and the  Subsidiary  on or before  the  Closing  shall  have been
complied  with.   The  Parent  shall  have  received  a  certificate   from  the
Shareholders to such effect dated as of the Closing Date;

     (b) Reserved.

     (c) No Proceeding  or  Litigation.  No Action shall have been  commenced or
threatened  by  or  before  any  Governmental   Authority  against  any  of  the
Shareholders,  the Company, the Parent Sub or the Parent, seeking to restrain or
adversely  alter  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or which is likely to
render it impossible or unlawful to consummate the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement or which could have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however,
that the provisions of this Section 8.02(c) shall not apply if the Parent or the
Parent Sub has directly or indirectly solicited or encouraged any such Action;

     (d) Release of Indemnity  Obligations.  The Parent shall have  received (i)
the general releases and discharges from the Shareholders referred to in Section
5.09 and (ii)  evidence  of removal of the  Encumbrances  as required by Section
5.09, each to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parent;


                                     - 63 -

<PAGE>



     (e)  Financing.  The Parent and the  Parent  Sub shall  have  received  the
consent of its commercial lenders to the transactions contemplated hereunder and
obtained  financing  on  terms  acceptable  to them in their  sole and  absolute
discretion sufficient to enable them to operate the Business;

     (f) Legal Opinions.  The Parent and the Parent Sub shall have received from
Company's  Counsel a legal  opinion,  addressed to the Parent and the Parent Sub
and dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit 8.02(f);

     (g)  Consents and  Approvals.  The Parent and the  Shareholders  shall have
received,  each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parent, (i)
all  authorizations,   consents,   orders  and  approvals  of  all  Governmental
Authorities  listed in Section 3.07 of the  Disclosure  Schedule which shall not
contain any material conditions or limitations which are reasonably unacceptable
to Parent; and (ii) all third party consents and estoppel certificates listed in
Section 5.04 of the Disclosure Schedule;

     (h) Resignations of Directors, Officers and Managers. The Parent shall have
received the resignations,  effective as of the Closing,  or evidence of removal
as of the Closing,  of all the directors and officers of the  Subsidiary and all
managers of the LLC  Subsidiary,  `except for such persons as are  designated on
Exhibit 8.02(h) hereto;

     (i) Organizational  Documents. The Parent shall have received a copy of (i)
the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company and of the Subsidiary,
and Articles of Organization  of the LLC Subsidiary,  certified by the Secretary
of State of the  State of its  organization,  as of a date not  earlier  than 10
Business Days prior to the Closing Date and  accompanied by a certificate of the
Secretary  or Assistant  Secretary of each such entity,  dated as of the Closing
Date,   stating  that  no  amendments   have  been  made  to  such  Articles  of
Incorporation and Articles of Organization,  as the case may be, since such date
and (ii) the  By-laws of the  Company and of the  Subsidiary  and the  Operating
Agreement, if any, of the LLC Subsidiary, as amended, certified by the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary of each such entity;

     (j) Minute Books. The Parent shall have received a copy of the minute books
and stock  register of the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  and the minutes  book and
membership  register  of the  LLC  Subsidiary,  certified  by  their  respective
Secretaries or Assistant Secretaries as of the Closing Date;

     (k) Good  Standing;  Qualification  to Do  Business.  The Parent shall have
received good standing certificates, certificates of compliance, or certificates
of existence, as applicable, for the Company, for the Subsidiary and for the LLC
Subsidiary  from the secretary of state,  or the other  applicable  Governmental
Authority,  of (i) the jurisdiction in which each such entity is incorporated or
organized,  and (ii) each  other  jurisdiction  in which each such  entity  does
business requiring it to qualify in such jurisdiction,  in each case dated as of
a date not earlier than ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date;


                                     - 64 -

<PAGE>



     (l) Escrow  Agreement.  The Shareholders  shall have executed and delivered
the Escrow  Agreement  substantially in the form of Exhibit 8.02(l) and made the
transfer to the escrow agreement as contemplated thereby;

     (m)  Resolutions.  The Parent shall have received a true and complete copy,
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company resolutions
duly and validly adopted by the  Shareholders  and the Board of Directors of the
Company  evidencing  its  authorization  of the  execution  and delivery of this
Agreement and the other agreements to be executed by the Company as contemplated
hereby and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

     (n) No Material  Adverse  Effect.  No event or events  shall have  occurred
which, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

     (o) Environmental  Matters. (1) At Parent's election, the Parent shall have
received written reports prepared by an environmental  consulting firm chosen by
Parent  demonstrating  that the Company,  the Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary,
any Affiliates of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary  and, with
respect to the  Business,  the  Shareholders  are,  to the  satisfaction  of the
Parent,  in compliance with  Environmental  Laws in connection with the Business
and  the  Assets,  and  that  any  potential  liabilities  of the  Company,  the
Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary, any Affiliates of the Company, the Subsidiary
or the LLC Subsidiary and, with respect to the Business, the Shareholders, under
any  Environmental  Law for the Release of any Hazardous  Material would not, in
the opinion of the Parent, have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (2) Prior to the  Closing,  the Parent  shall have  received a
copy  of  each  Environmental  Permit  currently  required  to  be  obtained  or
maintained  by the Company or, with respect to the Business,  the  Shareholders,
together  with a  description  of the  terms  of  each  Environmental  Law  that
conditions,  restricts or prohibits the transfer of such Environmental Permit to
any new owner or operator;

     (p) No Regulatory Restrictions.  None of the Company, the Subsidiary or the
LLC  Subsidiary  shall be subject to any  restriction  (whether on its business,
operations,  ability  to pay  dividends  or incur  indebtedness,  or  otherwise)
imposed or proposed to be imposed as a result of the  transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement by any Governmental  Authority except  restrictions  generally
applicable  to companies  engaging in  businesses  substantially  similar to the
Business and restrictions  which result primarily from any action or inaction of
the  Parent or the fact that the  Parent is a  participant  in the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

     (q) Due Diligence. The Parent shall have had a full opportunity to complete
its  due  diligence  review  of  the  Business  including  (i) a  review  of all
documents,  records and other  information which the Parent in its opinion shall
have deemed relevant and (iv) visits to or inspections of any location where the
Business is conducted (the  "Parent's Due Diligence  Review") which Parent's Due
Diligence  Review shall not have revealed any information not known to Parent on
the date hereof  which has or is  reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.  Although the Parent has received the Disclosure  Schedule and copies of
various documents  referred to therein,  the Company and the Shareholders  agree
and  acknowledge  that the Parent has not had the opportunity to review the same
and, accordingly, for purposes of this

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Section  8.02(q),  the Parent  shall be deemed to have no  knowledge on the date
hereof of any information  contained in the Disclosure Schedule or the documents
referred to therein;

     (r)  Inter-Company  Arrangements.  The  Shareholders  and the Company,  the
Subsidiary or the LLC  Subsidiary,  as  applicable,  shall have  terminated  the
Inter-Company  Arrangements in accordance with Section 5.13 and delivered to the
Parent and the Parent Sub evidence  thereof  which is  reasonably  acceptable to
Parent;

     (s)   Related   Agreements.   The   Registration   Rights   Agreement   and
Representation  Letter by the  Shareholders  in the respective  forms of Exhibit
8.01(s)(1) and Exhibit 8.02(s)(2),  respectively,  shall have been duly executed
and delivered by the parties thereto; and

     (t) Accountants'  Opinions. No later than August 11, 1996, the Parent shall
have received an opinion from its independent  certified public  accountants and
the  Company's  independent  certified  public  accountants,  each in  form  and
substance satisfactory to the Parent, that the transaction  contemplated by this
Agreement will qualify as a "pooling of interest"  under  applicable  accounting
rules.

     (u) Board  Approval.  The  Board of  Directors  of the  Parent  shall  have
approved this Agreement and the transaction contemplated hereby.

     (v)  Execution  by the  Board  of  Directors  and the  Shareholders  of the
Company.  All of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and all of
the Shareholders, other than the Minority Shareholders, shall have executed this
Agreement  and  provided a copy  thereof  to the Parent no later than  August 7,
1996,  and all of the Minority  Shareholders  shall have executed this Agreement
and provided a copy thereof to the Parent no later than August 16, 1996.

     (w)  Acquisition of Freeport  Property.  The Parent Sub shall have acquired
the Freeport  Property in consideration for 127,000  unregistered  shares of the
Parent's   Common  Stock  pursuant  to  an  acquisition   agreement   containing
representations,  warranties,  covenants and indemnities by the parties thereto,
including an escrow  agreement by the seller(s) of no less than 12,700 shares of
the Parent's  Common Stock, of a type and scope  substantially  similar to those
contained in this Agreement;  provided, however, that such acquisition agreement
shall not contain a  provision  similar to 9.03(d)  and any  indemnification  in
connection with the  representations  substantially  similar to those in Section
3.16 shall not be limited by any cap.

     (x) Employment Agreement and Non-Competition Agreements.  Bradford J. Bower
shall have entered into an employment agreement with the Company providing for a
term of one year from the  Closing  Date and an annual  salary of  $125,000  and
Messrs.  Corgiat,  Bennett  and Renz shall  have  entered  into  non-competition
agreements in favor of the Parent,  the Company and their  affiliates  providing
for a term of no less than two (2) years,  after the date of the  termination of
their  respective   employments,   the  terms  of  each  such  agreement  to  be
satisfactory  to the Parent  and  providing  for  periodic  payments  to Messrs.
Corgiat, Bennett and Renz in accordance with the schedule provided to the Parent
by the Company on or prior to August 7, 1996.


                                     - 66 -

<PAGE>



     (y) Membership  Interest in the LLC Subsidiary.  The Subsidiary  shall have
acquired  all  membership  interests  of the  LLC  Subsidiary,  other  than  the
membership interest owned by the Company as of the date hereof, on such terms as
are satisfactory in the discretion of the Parent,  including without limitation,
no obligation by the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary to make any
additional payment in connection with such acquisition.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                          SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION

         SECTION 9.01.  Survival of  Representations,  Warranties and Covenants.
(a) The  representations  and warranties of the  Shareholders  contained in this
Agreement,  the Exhibits to this Agreement and the  Disclosure  Schedule and any
certificate,  statement or report or other document  delivered  pursuant to this
Agreement (collectively, the "Acquisition Documents"), shall survive the Closing
until the second anniversary of the Effective Time; provided,  however, that all
representations  and warranties made by  Shareholders in Section 3.03,  3.09(a),
3.16,  3.24 and Article VII shall survive until the expiration of the applicable
statute of  limitations  or any  extension  thereof (or as  otherwise  stated in
Article VII). All covenants of the Shareholders shall survive indefinitely after
the Closing Date except as specifically set forth herein.  Neither the period of
survival nor the liability of the Shareholders or the Parent with respect to the
Shareholders' or the Parent's representations and warranties shall be reduced by
any  investigation  made  at any  time  by or on  behalf  of the  Parent  or the
Shareholders, as the case may be. If written notice of a claim has been properly
given in the manner  required by Section  9.02(d) prior to the expiration of the
applicable representations and warranties, then the relevant representations and
warranties  shall  survive  as to such claim  until such claim has been  finally
resolved.  No  representation,  warranty or covenant of the Company contained in
the Acquisition Documents shall survive the Closing.

         (b) The  representations and warranties of the Parent contained in this
Agreement,  the Exhibits to this Agreement and the  Disclosure  Schedule and any
certificate,  statement or report or other document  delivered  pursuant to this
Agreement (collectively, the "Acquisition Documents"), shall survive the Closing
until the second anniversary of the Effective Time; provided,  however, that all
representations and warranties made by Parent in Article VII shall survive until
the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or any extension thereof
(or as  otherwise  stated in Article  VII).  All  covenants  of the Parent shall
survive  indefinitely  after the Closing Date except as  specifically  set forth
herein.  If  written  notice of a claim has been  properly  given in the  manner
required  by  Section   9.02(d)  prior  to  the  expiration  of  the  applicable
representations and warranties, then the relevant representations and warranties
shall survive as to such claim until such claim has been finally resolved.

         SECTION 9.02. Indemnification. (a) The Parent, the Parent Sub (prior to
the Closing and  thereafter the Company) and its other  Affiliates,  and each of
their  officers,  directors,  employees,  agents,  consultants,  successors  and
assigns shall be indemnified and held harmless by the  Shareholders  (and, prior
to the  Closing,  the  Company) for any and all  Liabilities,  losses,  damages,
claims,  reasonable costs and expenses,  interest,  awards,  judgments,  damages
(including

                                     - 67 -

<PAGE>



punitive damages),  fines, fees and penalties  (including,  without  limitation,
attorneys', experts and consultants' fees and expenses) (collectively, "Losses")
actually suffered or incurred by them (including, without limitation, any Action
brought or  otherwise  initiated  by any of them),  arising out of or  resulting
from:

                  (i)      the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made
by the Shareholders or the Company contained in any of the Acquisition
Documents;

                  (ii)     the breach of any covenant or agreement by the
Shareholders or the Company contained in the Acquisition Documents;

                  (iii)    as expressly provided by Article VII hereof; and

                  (iv)  liabilities  of the Company,  the  Subsidiary or the LLC
Subsidiary,  any Affiliate of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
or, with respect to the Business,  the Shareholders,  arising out of or relating
to events occurring or  circumstances or conditions  existing at or prior to the
Closing  under  any  Environmental  Law  or  involving  Hazardous  Materials  in
connection with the current or former assets and operations of the Company,  the
Subsidiary, the LLC Subsidiary or the Business, or any former business conducted
by the  Company or any current or former  subsidiary  or  Affiliate,  including,
without  limitation,  in connection with any security  interest in real property
obtained by the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC  Subsidiary  prior to the
Closing;

                  (v)  liabilities  of the Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the LLC
Subsidiary,  any Affiliate of the Company,  the Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary
or, with respect to the Business,  the Shareholders,  arising out of or relating
to products  sold or services  rendered at or prior to the Closing in connection
with the current or former  operations of the Company,  the Subsidiary,  the LLC
Subsidiary or the Business,  or any former business  conducted by the Company or
any current or former subsidiary or Affiliate.

         (b) The  Shareholders  and  (prior to the  Closing,  the  Company,  the
Subsidiary and the LLC Subsidiary) and their  respective  Affiliates,  officers,
directors,  employees,  agents,  consultants,  successors  and assigns  shall be
indemnified  and held  harmless  by the Parent  for any and all Losses  actually
suffered or incurred by any Indemnified  Party (including,  without  limitation,
any Action  brought or otherwise  initiated  by any of them),  arising out of or
resulting from:

                  (i)      the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made
by the Parent and the Parent Sub contained in the Acquisition Documents; and

                  (ii)     the breach of any covenant or agreement by the 
Parent or the Parent Sub contained in the Acquisition Documents.

         (c) To the extent that an Indemnifying  Party's  undertakings set forth
in this  Section  9.02  may be  unenforceable,  such  Indemnifying  Party  shall
contribute the maximum amount that

                                     - 68 -

<PAGE>



it  is  permitted  to  contribute  under  applicable  law  to  the  payment  and
satisfaction of all Losses incurred by an Indemnified Party.

         (d) All claims for  indemnification  against  the  Shareholders  or the
Parent,  as the case may be (an  "Indemnifying  Party"),  under any provision of
this Article IX shall be asserted and resolved  (except for those claims related
to Taxes specifically provided in Section 7.06) as follows:

                  (i)  In  the  event  of any  claim  or  demand  for  which  an
Indemnifying  Party  would be liable  for  Losses to the  Persons  specified  in
Section 9.02(a) or (b), as applicable,  (each an  "Indemnified  Party") which is
asserted  against or sought to be  collected  from such  Indemnified  Party by a
Person other than the Parent,  the Parent Sub or the Shareholders  ("Third Party
Claim"),  the Indemnified  Party shall deliver a Claim Notice (as defined below)
with reasonable promptness to the Indemnifying Party after the Indemnified Party
has actual notice of the Third Party Claim. The failure by any Indemnified Party
to  provide  the  Indemnifying  Party  with the  Claim  Notice  required  by the
preceding  sentence shall not impair the  Indemnified  Party's rights  hereunder
except to the extent that an Indemnifying  Party  demonstrates  that it has been
materially   prejudiced  thereby.   The  Indemnifying  Party  shall  notify  the
Indemnified  Party  within  thirty  (30) days of  receipt  of the  Claim  Notice
("Notice Period") whether the Indemnifying  Party desires,  at the sole cost and
expense of the Indemnifying  Party, to defend the Indemnified Party against such
Third Party Claim.

                  (ii) If the Indemnifying  Party notifies the Indemnified Party
within the  Notice  Period  that the  Indemnifying  Party  desires to defend the
Indemnified Party with respect to the Third Party Claim pursuant to this Section
9.02(d), then the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend, at its sole
cost and expense,  and,  except as provided in the following  sentence,  through
counsel of its choice reasonably  acceptable to the Indemnified Party such Third
party  Claim  by  all  appropriate  proceedings,   which  proceedings  shall  be
diligently  defended by the Indemnifying Party to a final conclusion or shall be
settled at the  discretion  of the  Indemnifying  Party (with the prior  written
consent  of the  Indemnified  Party,  which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld),  so long as the  Indemnified  Party is fully released with respect to
such Third  Party  Claim.  If there  exists or is  reasonably  likely to exist a
conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate in the reasonable judgment
of the Indemnified  Party for the same counsel to represent both the Indemnified
Party and the  Indemnifying  Party and the  Indemnifying  Party does not provide
separate  counsel  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Indemnified  Party,  then the
Indemnified  Party  shall  be  entitled  to  retain  its  own  counsel,  in each
jurisdiction for which the Indemnified  Party reasonably  determines  counsel is
required,  at  the  expense  of  the  Indemnifying  Party.   Assumption  by  the
Indemnifying  Party of the defense of such Third Party Claim will not constitute
an admission by the  Indemnifying  Party that the claim or litigation is one for
which the  Indemnifying  Party is required to indemnify the  Indemnifying  Party
under this  Article IX. The  Indemnifying  Party shall have full control of such
defense and proceedings;  provided,  however,  that the Indemnified Party may at
the sole cost and  expense of the  Indemnifying  Party,  file  during the Notice
Period any motion,  answer,  or other pleadings that the  Indemnified  Party may
deem  necessary or  appropriate  to protect its  interests  and not  irrevocably
prejudicial  to the  Indemnifying  Party (it being  understood  and agreed that,
except as provided in Section 9.02(d)(iii) hereof, if an Indemnified Party takes
any such action that is irrevocably prejudicial and conclusively causes

                                     - 69 -

<PAGE>



a final adjudication that is materially  adverse to the Indemnifying  Party, the
Indemnifying Party will be relieved of its obligations hereunder with respect to
the portion of such Third  Party Claim  prejudiced  by the  Indemnified  Party's
action);  and provided further,  however,  that if requested by the Indemnifying
Party,  the  Indemnified  Party  agrees,  at the sole  cost and  expense  of the
Indemnifying  Party, to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in
contesting any Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying  Party elects to contest,
or, if appropriate in the judgment of the  Indemnified  Party and related to the
Third Party Claim in  question,  in making any  counterclaim  against the person
asserting the Third Party Claim or any cross-complaint against any Person (other
than the Indemnified  Party).  The  Indemnified  Party may, at its sole cost and
expense, participate in, but not control, any defense or settlement of any Third
Party Claim  controlled  by the  Indemnifying  Party  pursuant  to this  Section
9.02(d)(ii).

                  (iii)  If  the   Indemnifying   Party   fails  to  notify  the
Indemnified  Party within the Notice Period that the Indemnifying  Party desires
to defend  the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant  to Section  9.03(d)(i),  or if the
Indemnifying  Party gives such notice but fails to defend the Third Party Claim,
then the  Indemnified  Party  will have the right  (but not the  obligation)  to
defend, at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying  Party, the Third Party
Claim by all  appropriate  proceedings,  which  proceedings  will be  vigorously
defended by the  Indemnified  Party or will be settled at the  discretion of the
Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have full control of such defense
and  proceedings,  including any  compromise or  settlement  thereof;  provided,
however,  that if requested by the Indemnified  Party,  the  Indemnifying  Party
agrees,  at the sole cost and expense of the  Indemnifying  Party,  to cooperate
with the  Indemnified  Party and its counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim
which the  Indemnified  Party is contesting,  or, if appropriate and relating to
the Third Party Claim in question, in making any counterclaim against the person
asserting  the Third  Party  Claim,  or any  cross-complaint  against any person
(other than the Indemnifying  Party or any of its  Affiliates).  Notwithstanding
the forgoing provisions of this Section 9.02(d)(iii),  if the Indemnifying Party
has  notified  the  Indemnified  Party  with  reasonable   promptness  that  the
Indemnifying Party disputes, or reserves its rights to dispute, its liability to
the Indemnified Party with respect to such Third Party Claim and if such dispute
is resolved in favor of the Indemnifying  Party, the Indemnifying Party will not
be required to bear the costs and expenses of the  Indemnified  Party's  defense
pursuant  to  this  Section   9.02(d)(iii)  or  of  the   Indemnifying   Party's
participation  therein at the Indemnified  Party's request,  and the Indemnified
Party will reimburse the  Indemnifying  Party in full for all costs and expenses
incurred by the  Indemnifying  Party in  connection  with such  litigation.  The
Indemnifying  Party  may  participate  in,  but  not  control,  any  defense  or
settlement  controlled  by  the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant  to  this  Section
9.02(d)(iii),  but the  Indemnifying  Party will bear its own costs and expenses
with respect to such participation. Regardless of whether the Indemnifying Party
defends a Third Party Claim on behalf of the  Indemnified  Party or participates
in the defense thereof,  the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying  Party shall
reasonably cooperate with each other in all material respects in connection with
the defense for such Third Party Claim.  Each  Indemnified  Party shall  furnish
such information  regarding itself and the Third Party Claim as the Indemnifying
Party may reasonably  request in writing and as shall be reasonably  required in
connection with the defense thereof.  No Third Party Claim may be settled by the
Indemnifying  Party without the prior written consent of the  Indemnified  Party
(which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld),  unless such  settlement
provides a release of the Indemnified Party for such claim.


                                     - 70 -

<PAGE>



                  (iv) In the event any  Indemnified  Party  should have a claim
for Losses  against any  Indemnifying  Party  hereunder  that does not involve a
Third Party  Claim being  asserted  against or sought to be  collected  from the
Indemnified  Party, the Indemnified  Party shall deliver an Indemnity Notice (as
defined below) with reasonable  promptness to the  Indemnifying  Party after the
Indemnified  Party  has  actual  notice  of  such  claim.  The  failure  by  any
Indemnified Party to give the notice referred to in the preceding sentence shall
not  impair  such  party's  rights  hereunder  except  to  the  extent  that  an
Indemnifying Party demonstrates that it has been irreparably prejudiced thereby.
The Indemnifying  Party and the Indemnified Party agree to proceed in good faith
to  negotiate a  resolution  of any dispute  relating to such a claim for Losses
within sixty (60) days following  receipt of any Indemnity  Notice.  If any such
claim is not resolved  within the foregoing  period,  the parties may pursue any
available remedies.

                  (v) The term "Claim Notice" shall mean written notification of
a Third Party Claim by an Indemnified Party to an Indemnifying Party pursuant to
Section  9.02(d)(i),  enclosing  a copy  of  all  papers  served,  if  any,  and
specifying  the nature of and  alleged  basis for such Third Party Claim and, to
the extent then  feasible,  the alleged  amount or the estimated  amount of such
Third Party Claim.

                  (vi)  The  term   "Indemnity   Notice"   shall  mean   written
notification  of a claim for  indemnity  (which  claim does not  involve a Third
Party  Claim) by an  Indemnified  Party to an  Indemnifying  Party  pursuant  to
Section 9.02(d)(iv) hereof, specifying the nature of and specific basis for such
claim and, to the extent then  feasible,  the amount or the estimated  amount of
such claim.

                  (vii) Any  estimated  amount of a claim  submitted  in a Claim
Notice or an  Indemnity  Notice shall not be  conclusive  of the final amount of
such claim.

                  (viii) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, any contest
or  claim  for  indemnification  under  Article  VII  shall be  governed  by the
procedures of such Article VII and not by the provisions of this Section 9.03.

                  (ix)  In   connection   with  each  Third  Party  Claim,   the
Indemnifying   Party  shall  obligated  to  provide  only  one  counsel  to  all
Indemnified Parties.

         (e) (i) The terms and  provisions  set forth in this Section 9.02 shall
constitute  the sole rights and  remedies  of the  parties for money  damages in
respect of any inaccuracies of  representations or warranties or any breaches of
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

                  (ii) In the event of a claim  pursuant to Section  9.02(a)(v),
the Parent  agrees,  to the extent  practical,  to seek recovery for the related
Losses first from any products  liability  insurance  providing  coverage to the
Parent  therefor,  and then from the  Escrow  Shares  (as  defined in the Escrow
Agreement), prior to collection of such Losses from the Shareholders;  provided,
however,  the foregoing  provision shall in no way limit or restrict any actions
or proceedings by the Parent against any Indemnifying  Party,  including without
limitation the Shareholders, to the

                                     - 71 -

<PAGE>



extent the Parent deems,  in its  discretion,  such actions or proceedings to be
necessary  to  preserve,  maintain  or  enforce  any of its rights  against  any
Indemnifying Party.

         SECTION 9.03.  Limits on Indemnification.

         (a) No amount shall be payable by any  Indemnifying  Party  pursuant to
Section  9.02(a)  or (b)  unless  and  until  the  aggregate  amount  of  Losses
indemnifiable under Section 9.02(a) or (b) exceeds $300,000 and the Indemnifying
Party shall indemnify the Indemnified Party to the full extent of such Losses up
to but not to exceed $10,000,000.

         (b) The limitations set forth in Sections  9.03(a) shall not apply with
respect to any Losses  suffered or incurred by the Parent in connection with (i)
the representations  contained in Sections 3.03, 3.09(a), 3.24 and 3.09(c), (ii)
the  representations,  covenants  and  indemnities  contained in Article VII and
(iii) any sums paid by the Subsidiary to acquire the membership  interest of the
LLC Subsidiary not owned by the Company on the date hereof, and the Shareholders
shall fully  indemnify  the Parent for any such Losses from the first  dollar of
such Losses to the full extent of such Losses.

         (c) The amount of any  indemnification  obligation  of an  Indemnifying
Party  shall be reduced by an amount  equal to the value of the net Tax  benefit
actually  received by the  Indemnified  Party (to be  calculated  at the highest
marginal rate then applicable to the Indemnified Party) with respect to any loss
or other  item the  payment of which by an  Indemnified  Party  shall  produce a
deduction or an addition to basis for federal income tax purposes,  such benefit
to be offset to the extent  that the  payment  is  treated as taxable  income or
results in a reduction in basis to the Indemnified  Party. No Indemnified  Party
shall take any action or omit to take any action the primary purpose of which is
to avoid the application of this Subsection  9.03(c);  provided,  however,  that
each  Indemnified  Party shall be permitted  to engage in its own tax  planning,
notwithstanding that the effect of such tax planning is to cause this Subsection
9.03(c) to be inapplicable.

         (d)  Notwithstanding  any provision of this  Agreement to the contrary,
including  Section  3.16 and  this  Article  IX,  and as  consideration  for the
Shareholders  entering  into this  Agreement,  the  Shareholders  shall  have no
liability under this Agreement,  direct or indirect, whether by indemnification,
contribution  or  otherwise,  under  any  Environmental  Law  or  involving  any
Hazardous  Waste except for  Environmental  Claims arising out of or relating to
events  occurring or  circumstances  or  conditions  existing at or prior to the
Closing  under  any  Environmental  Law  or  involving  Hazardous  Materials  in
connection with the current or former assets and operations of the Company,  the
Subsidiary, the LLC Subsidiary or the Business, or any former business conducted
by the Company or any current or former subsidiary or Affiliate.

         SECTION 9.04.  Security for  Shareholders'  Agreement to Indemnify.  To
secure the Shareholders'  obligations to indemnify the Parent hereunder,  at the
Closing, the Shareholders shall deposit 10% of the shares of the Parent's Common
Stock received by them at the Closing with City National Bank of Baton Rouge (or
such other financial institution  acceptable to the Parent), as escrow agent, to
be held and released in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.  Such
escrowed  funds and  shares  and  right of  set-off,  however,  shall not be the
Parent's exclusive

                                     - 72 -

<PAGE>



remedies  hereunder,  and nothing  herein shall  preclude  the  assertion by the
Parent of any other right or remedies in respect of the foregoing  agreements on
indemnity.


                                    ARTICLE X

                             TERMINATION AND WAIVER

         SECTION  10.01.   Termination  by  the  Shareholders  or  Parent.  This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time:

         (a) by the Parent if,  between the date  hereof and the time  scheduled
for the  Closing:  (i) an event or  condition  occurs  that  has  resulted  in a
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any representation or warranty of the Shareholders
or the Company  contained in this Agreement shall not have been true and correct
in all  material  respects  as of the date when deemed to have been made and, in
the case of a breach  reasonably  susceptible to cure, shall not have been cured
within 30 calendar days,  (iii) the  Shareholders  or the Company shall not have
complied in all material  respects with any covenant or agreement to be complied
with by it and  contained  in  this  Agreement  and,  in the  case  of a  breach
reasonably  susceptible  to cure,  shall not have been cured  within 30 calendar
days,  or  (iv)  the  Shareholders,  the  Company,  the  Subsidiary  or the  LLC
Subsidiary  makes a general  assignment  for the  benefit of  creditors,  or any
proceeding shall be instituted by or against, the Shareholders, the Company, the
Subsidiary or the LLC Subsidiary seeking to adjudicate any of them a bankrupt or
insolvent,  or seeking liquidation,  winding up or reorganization,  arrangement,
adjustment,  protection,  relief  or  composition  of its  debts  under  any Law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or

         (b) by the  Shareholders  if,  between  the  date  hereof  and the time
scheduled for the Closing:  (i) any  representation or warranty of the Parent or
the Parent Sub contained in this Agreement  shall not have been true and correct
in all  material  respects  as of the date when deemed to have been made and, in
the case of a breach  reasonably  susceptible to cure, shall not have been cured
within  30  calendar  days,  (ii) the  Parent or the  Parent  Sub shall not have
complied in all material  respects with any covenant or agreement to be complied
with by them  and  contained  in this  Agreement,  and,  in the case of a breach
reasonably  susceptible  to cure,  shall not have been cured  within 30 calendar
days, or (iii) the Parent or the Parent Sub makes a general  assignment  for the
benefit of creditors,  or any  proceeding  shall be instituted by or against the
Parent seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent,  or seeking  liquidation,
winding up or reorganization,  arrangement,  adjustment,  protection,  relief or
composition  of its debts under any Law relating to  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or
reorganization;

         (c) by either  the  Shareholders  or the Parent if the  Effective  Time
shall not have occurred by September 30, 1996;  provided,  however,  that (i) if
the provisions of Section 8.01(g) have not been satisfied by September 30, 1996,
and the Parent is diligently  seeking to satisfy such condition,  or (ii) if the
provisions of Section 8.02(g) have not been satisfied by September 30, 1996, and
the Shareholders are diligently seeking to satisfy such condition, then, in each
case (subject to the proviso  below) the  obligations  of the parties to proceed
toward Closing shall be extended until October 30, 1996; and provided,  further,
that the right to terminate this Agreement

                                     - 73 -

<PAGE>



under this Section 10.01(c) shall not be available to any party whose failure to
fulfill any  obligation  under this  Agreement  shall have been the cause of, or
shall have resulted in, the failure of the  Effective  Time to occur on or prior
to such date; or

         (d) by either  the  Parent or the  Shareholders  in the event  that any
Governmental Authority shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any
other action  restraining,  enjoining or otherwise  prohibiting the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or in the reasonable  determination of the Parent
or the  Shareholders,  otherwise  render  inadvisable  the  consummation  of the
transaction  contemplated  by this Agreement and such order,  decree,  ruling or
other action shall have become final and nonappealable; or

         (e)      by the mutual written consent of the Shareholders, the 
Company, the Parent Sub and the Parent.

         SECTION 10.02.  Effect of Termination.  (a) In the event of termination
of this Agreement as provided in Section 10.01,  this Agreement  shall forthwith
become  void and there  shall be no  liability  on the part of any party  hereto
except  (a) as set forth in  Sections  10.02(b)  and 11.02 and (b) that  nothing
herein shall relieve any party from liability for any fraud or willful breach of
this Agreement.

         (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Effective Time does not occur
solely  because of (i) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the Parent's and
the Parent Sub's  obligation  to effect the Closing  contained in Sections  8.02
(a), (d), (f), (g) (except insofar as such condition  relates to the delivery of
documents  required to be obtained from any Governmental  Authority),  (h), (i),
(j), (k), (1), (m), (r), (s), (t) (relating to the Company's accountants),  (v),
(w), (x) and (y),  then the  Shareholders  and the Company  shall  reimburse the
Parent for its reasonable  costs and expenses,  including,  without  limitation,
reasonable fees and  disbursements  of counsel,  financial  advisors,  financing
sources  and  accountants,  incurred  by  the  Parent  in  connection  with  the
preparation,  negotiation and performance of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated  hereby up to $250,000 (as supported by itemized invoices delivered
to  Shareholder),  or  (ii)  the  failure  to  satisfy  the  conditions  to  the
Shareholders'  or the Company's  obligation  to effect the Closing  contained in
Sections  8.01(a),  (d), (e), (f), (g) (except insofar as such condition relates
to the  delivery of  documents  required to be  obtained  from any  Governmental
Authority),  (h),  (i),  (j), (k) or (l),  then the Parent shall  reimburse  the
Shareholders and the Company for their reasonable costs and expenses, including,
without  limitation,  reasonable fees and  disbursements  of counsel,  financial
advisors and  accountants,  incurred by the  Shareholders in connection with the
negotiation and performance of this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated
hereby up to $250,000  (as  supported  by  itemized  invoices  delivered  to the
Parent).

         SECTION 10.03.  Waiver.  Any party to this Agreement may (a) extend the
time for the  performance  of any of the  obligations or other acts of the other
party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the  representations  and warranties of the
other party  contained  herein or in any  document  delivered by the other party
pursuant hereto or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
of the other party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid
only if set forth in an  instrument  in writing  signed by the party to be bound
thereby. Any waiver

                                     - 74 -

<PAGE>



of any term or condition  shall not be  construed as a waiver of any  subsequent
breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition,  or a waiver of any
other term or condition,  of this Agreement.  The failure of any party to assert
any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such rights.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 11.01.  Solidary Obligation of Shareholders Other than Minority
Shareholders.  The obligations of the Shareholders  under this Agreement,  other
than  the  Minority  Shareholders,  shall  be  solidary;  provided  the  maximum
liability of each such Shareholder  shall not exceed a percentage of all amounts
owing by the  Shareholders  hereunder  equal to 125% of a fraction  of which the
numerator is the number of Shares owned by such Shareholder immediately prior to
the Closing Date and the  denominator is the total number of Shares owned by all
the Shareholders  immediately prior to the Closing Date. The obligations of each
of the  Minority  Shareholders  shall be pro-rata  based on the number of Shares
owned by each Minority  Shareholder  immediately  prior to the Closing Date as a
percentage  of  the  total  number  of  Shares  owned  by all  the  Shareholders
immediately prior to the Closing Date.  Following the Closing,  the Shareholders
shall have no right of or claim to contribution or indemnity against the Company
with respect to any breach, violation,  default, or alleged breach, violation or
default of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Company in any of the
Acquisition Documents.

         SECTION  11.02.  Expenses.  Except as  otherwise  specified  in Section
10.02(b),  all costs  and  expenses,  including,  without  limitation,  fees and
disbursements  of  counsel,  financial  advisors  and  accountants,  incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses,  whether or not the Closing
shall have occurred;  provided, however, the costs and expenses of the Company's
counsel and accountants in excess of $81,000 shall be paid by the Shareholders.

         SECTION 11.03.  Notices.  All notices,  requests,  claims,  demands and
other  communications  hereunder  shall be in writing and shall be given or made
(and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon  receipt)  by delivery
in person,  by courier  service,  by telecopy  (confirmed by telephone within 24
hours following  receipt  thereof),  or by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid,  return receipt  requested) to the respective  parties at the following
addresses  (or at such  other  address  for a party as shall be  specified  in a
notice given in accordance with this Section 11.03):

(a)      if to the Shareholders or the Company:

         Bradford J. Brower as Shareholder Representative
         851 South Freeport Industrial Parkway
         Clearfield, Utah  84015
         Telecopy:  (801) 773-6185
         Telephone: (801) 773-7300

                                     - 75 -

<PAGE>



         with a copy to:

         LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P.
         1000 Kearns Building
         136 South Main Street
         Salt Lake City, Utah  84101
         Attention:  Nolan S. Taylor, Esq.
         Telecopy:  (801) 359-8256
         Telephone: (801) 320-6700

         and

(b)      if to the Parent or the Parent Sub:

         The Shaw Group Inc.
         11100 Mead Road
         Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70816
         Attention:  Bret M. Talbot
         Telecopy:  (504) 296-1199
         Telephone:  (504) 296-1140

         with a copy to:

         Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer
         (A Professional Law Corporation)
         Suite 300, City Plaza
         445 North Boulevard
         P.O. Box 2997
         Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-2997
         Attention:  J. Michael Robinson, Jr., Esq.
         Telecopy:         (504) 343-0637
         Telephone:        (504) 383-4703



                                     - 76 -

<PAGE>



         and

         Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P.
         1301 McKinney, Suite 5100
         Houston, Texas  77010-3095
         Attention:  William H. Caudill, Esq.
         Telecopy:         (713) 651-5246
         Telephone:        (713) 651-5151

         SECTION  11.04.  Public  Announcements.  Except to the extent  that the
Shareholders or Parent believes on the advice of counsel that public  disclosure
is required by Law, no party to this Agreement  shall make, or cause to be made,
any press  release or public  announcement  in respect of this  Agreement or the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or otherwise  communicate with any news media
without prior notification to the other parties, and the parties shall cooperate
as to the timing and contents of any such press release or public announcement.

         SECTION  11.05.  Headings;   Construction.   The  descriptive  headings
contained in this Agreement are for  convenience of reference only and shall not
affect  in any  way  the  meaning  or  interpretation  of  this  Agreement.  The
provisions of this  Agreement  were  negotiated  by the parties  hereto and this
Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted by all the parties hereto.

         SECTION  11.06.  Severability.  If any term or other  provision of this
Agreement  is  invalid,  illegal or  incapable  of being  enforced by any Law or
public  policy,   all  other  terms  and  provisions  of  this  Agreement  shall
nevertheless  remain in full force and effect so long as the  economic  or legal
substance of the transactions  contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially  adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall  negotiate  in good  faith to modify  this  Agreement  so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in
order that the  transactions  contemplated  hereby are consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

         SECTION 11.07. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties  hereto with respect to the subject  matter  hereof and
thereof and supersede all prior  agreements and  undertakings,  both written and
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         SECTION  11.08.  Assignment.  This Agreement may not be assigned by any
party  hereto by  operation  of law or  otherwise  without the  express  written
consent of the other parties hereto (which consent may be granted or withheld in
the sole discretion of such other parties).

         SECTION 11.09. No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Except for the provisions
of Article IX relating to Indemnified  Parties,  this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their  permitted
assigns and nothing herein,  express or implied,  is intended to or shall confer
upon any other  Person any legal or  equitable  right,  benefit or remedy of any
nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.


                                     - 77 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 11.10.  Amendment.  This Agreement may not be amended or
modified except (a) by an instrument in writing signed by, or on behalf of, the 
parties hereto or (b) by a waiver
in accordance with Section 10.03.

         SECTION 11.11.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Louisiana,  applicable to
contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that state.

         SECTION 11.12.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when  executed  shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION  11.13.  Specific  Performance.  The parties  hereto agree that
irreparable  damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was
not performed in accordance  with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be
entitled to specific  performance of the terms hereof,  in addition to any other
remedy at law or in equity.

         SECTION 11.14.  Legal Advice.  Each party hereto represents and 
warrants to the other party that he, she or it has consulted attorneys,
accountants and tax advisors of their own choosing concerning the legal, 
financial and tax consequences of this Agreement

         SECTION  11.15.  Remedies Not  Exclusive.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 9.02 (e), no remedy conferred by any of the specific  provisions of this
Agreement is intended to be exclusive  of any other  remedy,  and each and every
remedy shall be cumulative  and shall be in addition to every other remedy given
hereunder  or not or  hereafter  existing  at law or in equity or by  statute or
otherwise.  The  election of any one or more  remedies by any party hereto shall
not constitute a waiver of the right to pursue other available remedies.


                                   ARTICLE XII

                  SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE; POWER OF ATTORNEY

         SECTION   12.01.   Shareholder   Representative,   Etc.   Each  of  the
Shareholders  hereby constitutes and appoints Bradford J. Brower as his true and
lawful   attorney-in-fact,    agent   and   representative   (the   "Shareholder
Representative"),  with full power of substitution and  resubstitution,  for him
and in his name,  place and stead, in any and all  capacities,  to negotiate and
sign all  amendments to this  Agreement,  and all other  documents in connection
with  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,   including  without
limitation  those  instruments  called for by this  Agreement  and all  waivers,
consents instructions, authorizations and other actions called for, contemplated
or that may  otherwise be  necessary  or  appropriate  in  connection  with this
Agreement or any of the foregoing  agreements or instruments,  granting unto the
Shareholder  Representative  full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing  requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming
all that the Shareholder Representative, or his substitute or

                                     - 78 -

<PAGE>



substitutes,  may  lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue  hereof,  including
without  limitation  the power and authority to deliver and convey his Shares in
accordance  with  the  terms  hereof,  to  receive  and  give  receipt  for  all
consideration  due him  pursuant to this  Agreement  and to receive all notices,
requests  and demands  that may be made under and  pursuant  to this  Agreement.
Should the  Shareholder  Representative  be unable or  unwilling  to serve or to
appoint his successor to serve in his stead, and unless the Shareholders appoint
a successor  to serve in his stead,  the  Shareholders  shall be required to act
jointly so that the Parent and the Parent Sub may always deal with one person on
their behalf.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the  Shareholders,  the Company the Parent and the
Parent  Sub have  caused  this  Agreement  to be  executed  as of the date first
written above,  the corporate  parties  represented  herein by their  respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.





                                     - 79 -

<PAGE>



THIS PLAN AND  AGREEMENT OF MERGER IS NOT A  PROSPECTUS  AND ANY OFFERING OF THE
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE SHAW GROUP INC.,  COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT
A PUBLIC  OFFERING.  RECIPIENTS  OF SUCH  SHARES WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO BRING A
CAUSE OF ACTION FOR RESCISSION UNDER SECTION 12(2) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FOR AN  UNTRUE  STATEMENT  OF A  MATERIAL  FACT OR FOR THE  FAILURE  TO  STATE A
MATERIAL FACT.

                                             COMPANY:
                                             NAPTech, INC.

                                             By: -----------------------------
                                             Name:     Bradford J. Brower
                                             Title:    President


                                             PARENT:
                                             THE SHAW GROUP INC.

                                             By: -----------------------------
                                             Name:     Bret M. Talbot
                                             Title:    Vice President and 
                                                       Chief Financial Officer


                                             PARENT SUB:
                                             SAON, INC.

                                             By: -----------------------------
                                             Name:     Bret M. Talbot
                                             Title:    President

Members of the Board of Directors of NAPTech, Inc.


- -----------------------                              -------------------------  
Bradford J. Brower                                   Donald L. Robertson


- -----------------------                              -------------------------  
M. Russell Ballard                                   Raymond Furgeson


- -----------------------
Robert A. Schroeder


                                     - 80 -


<PAGE>



Members of the Board of Directors of SAON, Inc.


- --------------------------              -----------------------------  
Bret M. Talbot                          T.A. Barfield, Jr.


                                        SHAREHOLDERS OF SAON, Inc.

                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC.

                                        By: -------------------------
                                        Name:     J. M. Bernhard, Jr.
                                        Title: Chairman of the Board, President
                                        and Chief Executive Officer


                                     - 81 -

<PAGE>





SHAREHOLDERS OF NAPTech, Inc.:

- ----------------------------                        ------------------------
Bradford J. Brower (30.64%)                         Gary Stevenson (.98%)

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
Donald L. Robertson (10.71%)                        Scott Watterson (.98%)
   
- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
Robert A. Schroeder (10.34%)                        Adelyn Bonin (.05%)   

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------
NUPETCO Associates (9.76%)                          Francis Ellyin (.10%)   

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
GES Investments (8.29%)                             Thomas Young (.20%)

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
SRW Investments (8.29%)                             Roger Fisher (.10%)

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
Ballard Investment (7.81%)                          Robert Gerbode (.49%)

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------
Richard Winwood (6.37%)                             Harold Stewart (.15%)   

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------
Prudential Securities (.20%)                        Karen Norman (.15%) 

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------
Kim Medeiros (.41%)                                 Harry Norman (.10%)

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------
Wendy Robertson (.26%)                              Eric Menke (.10%)

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
Greg R. Cowley (.98%)                               Albert Hedges (.15%)   

- ----------------------------                        -------------------------   
Jack Bollerud (.24%)                                Michael Denicola (.24%)

                                                    -------------------------   
                                                    Sue Olson (.10%)   





                                     - 82-

<PAGE>



- -------------------------
Anoosh Gulian (.20%)

- -------------------------
Phyllis Sammon (.10%)

- -------------------------
Sharon Slough (.10%)

- -------------------------
Theodore Kaspervic (.10%)

- -------------------------
Douglas Lehman (.10%)

- -------------------------
BAP (.59%)

- -------------------------
Diane Wiacek (.10%)

- -------------------------
BB & GC (.52%)

                                     - 83-





<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT 2(b)
                                  ------------


THIS  PURCHASE AND SALE  AGREEMENT  IS NOT A PROSPECTUS  AND ANY OFFERING OF THE
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE SHAW GROUP INC. COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT A
PUBLIC OFFERING. RECIPIENTS OF SUCH SHARES WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO BRING A CAUSE
OF ACTION FOR  RESCISSION  UNDER SECTION 12(2) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 FOR
AN UNTRUE  STATEMENT  OF A MATERIAL  FACT OR FOR THE FAILURE TO STATE A MATERIAL
FACT.














                           PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT



                                      AMONG


                    THE MEMBERS OF FREEPORT PROPERTIES, L.C.,
                FREEPORT PROPERTIES, L.C., SAON PROPERTIES, INC.
                             AND THE SHAW GROUP INC.



                          Dated as of January 27, 1997











<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------
                          (Not a Part of the Agreement)

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS ...................................................   1

         SECTION 1.01.           Certain Defined Terms....................   1

ARTICLE II  AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE AND SELL, ETC...........................   7

         SECTION 2.01.           Agreement to Purchase and Sell, Etc......   7
         SECTION 2.02.           Purchase Price...........................   7
         SECTION 2.03.           Closing..................................   8
         SECTION 2.04.           Closing Deliveries by the Company .......   8
         SECTION 2.05.           Closing Deliveries by Acquisition and
                                 the Parent...............................   9
         SECTION 2.06.           Deposit .................................   9

ARTICLE III   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                  MEMBERS AND THE COMPANY.................................   9

SECTION 3.01.              Capacity of the Members........................   9
SECTION 3.02.              Reserved ......................................   9
SECTION 3.03.              Reserved ......................................  10
SECTION 3.04.              Organization, Ownership, Authority and
                           Qualification of the Company...................  10
SECTION 3.05.              Reserved.......................................  10
SECTION 3.06.              No Conflict....................................  10
SECTION 3.07.              Governmental Consents and Approvals............  11
SECTION 3.08.              Reserved ......................................  11
SECTION 3.09.              Certain Additional Representations.............  11
SECTION 3.10.              No Undisclosed Liabilities or Indebtedness.....  11
SECTION 3.11.              Reserved.......................................  11
SECTION 3.12.              Sole Asset and Activity .......................  11
SECTION 3.13.              Litigation.....................................  11
SECTION 3.14.              Reserved ......................................  11
SECTION 3.15.              Compliance with Laws...........................  11
SECTION 3.16.              Environmental and Other Permits and Licenses;
                           Related Matters................................  12
SECTION 3.17.              Material Contracts.............................  13
SECTION 3.18.              Reserved ......................................  13
SECTION 3.19.              Real Property..................................  13
SECTION 3.20.              Tangible Personal Property.....................  14
SECTION 3.21.              Title, Condition, Etc..........................  14
SECTION 3.22.              Reserved.......................................  14
SECTION 3.23.              Reserved.......................................  14

                                      - i -

<PAGE>



SECTION 3.24.              Employee Benefit Matters ......................  14
SECTION 3.25.              Labor Matters..................................  15
SECTION 3.26.              Reserved.......................................  15
SECTION 3.27.              Reserved.......................................  15
SECTION 3.28.              Reserved ......................................  15
SECTION 3.29.              Full Disclosure................................  15
SECTION 3.30.              Investment Purpose, Etc........................  15
SECTION 3.31.              Brokers........................................  16

ARTICLE IV  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                  PARENT AND ACQUISITION..................................  17

SECTION 4.01.              Organization and Authority of the Parent and
                           Acquisition ...................................  17
SECTION 4.02.              No Conflict....................................  17
SECTION 4.03.              Governmental Consents and Approvals............  18
SECTION 4.04.              Litigation.....................................  18
SECTION 4.05.              Brokers........................................  18
SECTION 4.06.              Reports; Financial Statements .................  18

ARTICLE V  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS .........................................  19

SECTION 5.01               Conduct of Business After the Closing;
                           Liquidation ...................................  19
SECTION 5.02               Voting Rights Regarding the Parent's Common
                           Stock .........................................  19

ARTICLE VI  RESERVED......................................................  19

ARTICLE VII  TAX MATTERS .................................................  19

SECTION 7.01.              Representations, Warranties and Covenants .....  19
SECTION 7.02.              Form 8594 .....................................  20
SECTION 7.03.              Further Assurances; Continuing Cooperation.....  20
SECTION 7.04.              Reserved ......................................  20
SECTION 7.05.              Indemnity .....................................  20
SECTION 7.06.              Reserved ......................................  21
SECTION 7.07.              Reserved ......................................  21
SECTION 7.08.              Reserved.......................................  21
SECTION 7.09.              Reserved ......................................  21
SECTION 7.10.              Conveyance Taxes...............................  21

ARTICLE VIII  CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.......................................  21

SECTION 8.01.              Conditions to Obligations of the Members and
                           the Company....................................  21
SECTION 8.02.              Conditions to Obligations of the Parent and
                           Acquisition ...................................  23
   
                                     - ii -

<PAGE>

                         

ARTICLE IX  SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION..................................  25

SECTION 9.01.              Survival of Representations, Warranties and
                           Covenants......................................  25
SECTION 9.02.              Indemnification................................  25
SECTION 9.03.              Limits on Indemnification......................  30
SECTION 9.04               Security for Members' Agreement to Indemnify...  30

ARTICLE X  WAIVER                .........................................  31

SECTION 10.01.             Waiver.........................................  31

ARTICLE XI  GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................  31

SECTION 11.01.             Solidary Obligation of Members ................  31
SECTION 11.02.             Expenses.......................................  31
SECTION 11.03.             Notices........................................  31
SECTION 11.04.             Public Announcements...........................  33
SECTION 11.05.             Headings; Construction.........................  33
SECTION 11.06.             Severability...................................  33
SECTION 11.07.             Entire Agreement...............................  33
SECTION 11.08.             Assignment.....................................  33
SECTION 11.09.             Successors and Assigns.........................  33
SECTION 11.10.             Amendment......................................  34
SECTION 11.11.             Governing Law..................................  34
SECTION 11.12.             Counterparts...................................  34
SECTION 11.13.             Specific Performance...........................  34
SECTION 11.14.             Legal Advice ..................................  34
SECTION 11.15              Remedies Not Exclusive ........................  34



Exhibits

Exhibit A                     Description of Land
Exhibit 1.01                  Permitted Encumbrances
Exhibit 2.04(a)               Deed
Exhibit 2.04(b)               Bill of Sale
Exhibit 2.04(c)               Title Policy
Exhibit 2.05(b)               Assumption Agreement
Exhibit 3.04                  Members and Percentage Ownership of the Company
Exhibit 8.01(f)               Legal Opinion of Parent's Counsel
Exhibit 8.01(s)(1)            Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit 8.02(f)               Legal Opinion of Company's Counsel

                                     - iii -

<PAGE>



Exhibit 8.02(s)(2)            Representation Letter by the Members
Exhibit 8.02(l)               Escrow Agreement











                                     - iv -

<PAGE>



         THIS PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT,  dated as of January 27, 1997,  among
the  undersigned  members  of  FREEPORT  PROPERTIES,  L.C.  (collectively,   the
"Members"),  FREEPORT  PROPERTIES,  L.C., a Utah limited  liability company (the
"Company"),  THE SHAW GROUP INC., a Louisiana  corporation  (the "Parent"),  and
SAON PROPERTIES, INC., a Louisiana corporation ("Acquisition").

                                    RECITALS

          WHEREAS, the Members own all the membership interest of the Company;
and

          WHEREAS,  the Parent owns all of the issued and outstanding  shares of
common stock, $0.01 par value, of Acquisition; and

         WHEREAS,  the Parent  desires to  purchase  from the  Company,  and the
Company  desires to sell to the Parent (with title to be conveyed  directly from
the Company to  Acquisition  or such other entity as  designated by the Parent),
upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  of this  Agreement,  that certain
tract or parcel of land  situated  in Davis  County,  State of Utah,  as further
described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein,  together with
all rights  and  interests  appurtenant  thereto  (the  "Land"),  including  all
improvements,  structures and fixtures located on the Land (the  "Improvements")
and all rights,  titles,  easements  and interests  appurtenant  to the Land and
Improvements  (hereinafter the Land and Improvements are collectively called the
"Freeport Real Property");

         WHEREAS, at or prior to the Closing, as hereinafter defined, the Parent
will pay the Purchase  Price  directly to the Company as  consideration  for the
purchase of the Freeport Real Property;

         WHEREAS, at or prior to the Closing, the Parent will direct the Company
to convey the Freeport  Real  Property  directly to  Acquisition  (or such other
entity as  designated  by the Parent) as if the Parent had acquired the Freeport
Real  Property  (and any  liabilities  assumed  or to which  the  Freeport  Real
Property is subject)  directly  from the Company in a  transaction  in which the
Parent's basis in the Freeport Real Property is determined under Section 1012 of
the Code,  as  hereinafter  defined,  and the Parent  then had  transferred  the
Freeport Real Property (and  liabilities)  to  Acquisition  in a transaction  in
which the Parent's basis in the Freeport Real Property is adjusted under Section
358 of the Code.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the  mutual
agreements  and  covenants  hereinafter  set forth,  the  Members,  the Company,
Acquisition and the Parent hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS
         SECTION 1.01.  Certain Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:


                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>



         "Acquisition" has the meaning specified in the preamble of this 
Agreement.

         "Acquisition Documents" has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.

         "Action"  means  any  claim,   action,  suit,   arbitration,   inquiry,
proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority.

         "Affiliate"  means,  with respect to any  specified  Person,  any other
Person  that  directly,  or  indirectly  through  one  or  more  intermediaries,
controls,  is controlled  by, or is under common  control with,  such  specified
Person.

         "Agreement" or "this Agreement" means this Purchase and Sale Agreement,
dated as of the date set  forth in the  preamble  to this  Agreement,  among the
Members, the Company, Acquisition and the Parent (including the Exhibits hereto)
and all  amendments  hereto made in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section
11.10.

         "Assumption Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

         "Bill of Sale" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).

         "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday,  a Sunday or other
day on which banks are required or  authorized  by law to be closed in the State
of Louisiana or in the State of Utah.

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation
and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601 et seq.

         "Claim Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Closing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

         "Closing Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

         "Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through the
date hereof.

         "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

         "Company's Counsel" means LeBoeuf,  Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P., legal
counsel to the  Company and two of the  Members,  Bradford J. Brower and Greg R.
Cowley,  in connection  with this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

         "Control"  (including,   without  limitation,   the  terms  "controls",
"controlled  by"  and  "under  common  control  with"),   with  respect  to  the
relationship  between  or  among  two or more  Persons,  means  the  possession,
directly or  indirectly,  or as trustee or  executor,  of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the affairs or management  of a Person,  whether  through
the ownership of

                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise,  including,
without limitation, the ownership,  directly or indirectly, of securities having
the  power  to elect a  majority  of the  board of  directors  or  similar  body
governing the affairs of such Person.

         "Deed" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

         "Encumbrance" or "Encumbrances"  means any security  interest,  pledge,
mortgage,  lien (including,  without  limitation,  environmental and tax liens),
charge,  encumbrance,  adverse claim, preferential arrangement or restriction of
any kind,  including,  without  limitation,  any restriction on the use, voting,
transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership.

         "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative,  regulatory or
judicial actions,  suits,  demands,  demand letters,  claims,  liens, notices of
non-compliance  or  violation,  notices of  liability  or  potential  liability,
investigations,  proceedings,  settlements, consent orders or consent agreements
by any  Person  relating  in any  way to any  Environmental  Law,  Environmental
Permits or Hazardous  Materials,  or arising  from  alleged  injury or threat of
injury to health, safety or the environment.

         "Environmental  Law" means any Law, now in effect,  and any judicial or
administrative   interpretation  thereof,  including,  without  limitation,  any
judicial or  administrative  order,  consent decree or judgment,  relating to or
addressing the environment,  health,  safety or Hazardous  Materials,  including
without limitation any Occupational Safety and Health Law.

         "Environmental  Lien"  means  a  lien  in  favor  of  any  Governmental
Authority  for any (a)  liability  under any  Environmental  Law, or (b) damages
arising from, or costs incurred by, such Governmental Authority in response to a
Release of a Hazardous Material.

         "Environmental Permits" means all Permits required under any applicable
Environmental Law.

         "ERISA" has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

         "Escrow Agreement" means the agreement referred to in Section 8.02.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "Freeport Mortgage Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

         "Freeport Real Property" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to 
this Agreement.

         "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles and
practices as in effect from time to time.


                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



         "Governmental  Authority"  means any United  States  federal,  state or
local or any foreign  government,  governmental,  regulatory  or  administrative
authority,  agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral
body.

         "Governmental  Order" or "Governmental  Orders" means any order,  writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation,  determination or award entered by or
with any Governmental Authority.

         "Hazardous   Materials"  means  any  pollutant,   hazardous  substance,
radioactive  substance,   toxic  substance,   hazardous  waste,  medical  waste,
radioactive waste, special waste,  petroleum or  petroleum-derived  substance or
waste,  asbestos,   polychlorinated   biphenyls,   or  any  hazardous  or  toxic
constituent  thereof and includes,  but is not limited to, any substance defined
in or regulated under any Environmental Law.

         "Improvements" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this
Agreement.

         "Indebtedness"  means, with respect to any Person, (a) all indebtedness
of  such  Person,  whether  or not  contingent,  for  borrowed  money,  (b)  all
obligations  of such  Person for the  deferred  purchase  price of  property  or
services,  (c) all  obligations  of  such  Person  evidenced  by  notes,  bonds,
debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising
under any conditional  sale or other title  retention  agreement with respect to
property  acquired by such Person  (even  though the rights and  remedies of the
seller or lender  under such  agreement  in the event of default  are limited to
repossession  or sale of such  property),  (e) all obligations of such Person as
lessee  under  leases  that have been or should  be, in  accordance  with  GAAP,
recorded as capital leases,  (f) all  obligations,  contingent or otherwise,  of
such Person under acceptance,  letter of credit or similar  facilities,  (g) all
obligations  of such Person to purchase,  redeem,  retire,  defease or otherwise
acquire for value any capital  stock of such Person or any  warrants,  rights or
options  to  acquire  such  capital  stock,  valued,  in the case of  redeemable
preferred  stock,  at the greater of its  voluntary or  involuntary  liquidation
preference  plus accrued and unpaid  dividends,  (h) all  Indebtedness of others
referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above  guaranteed  directly or indirectly
in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed  directly or indirectly by
such Person through an agreement (i) to pay or purchase such  Indebtedness or to
advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such  Indebtedness,  (ii)
to  purchase,  sell or lease (as lessee or lessor)  property,  or to purchase or
sell services,  primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment
of such Indebtedness or to assure the holder of such Indebtedness  against loss,
(iii) to supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor (including,
without limitation,  any agreement to pay for property or services  irrespective
of whether  such  property is received or such  services  are  rendered) or (iv)
otherwise to assure a creditor against loss, and (i) all  Indebtedness  referred
to in clauses (a) through (f) above  secured by (or for which the holder of such
Indebtedness has an existing right,  contingent or otherwise,  to be secured by)
any  Encumbrance  on  property  (including,  without  limitation,  accounts  and
contract  rights) owned by such Person,  even though such Person has not assumed
or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness.

         "Indemnified Party" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.


                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



         "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Indemnity Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

         "Land" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this Agreement.

         "Law" or "Laws"  means  any  United  States  federal,  state,  local or
foreign statute,  law, ordinance,  regulation,  rule, code, order, Permit, other
legal requirement or rule of law.

         "Lease" means any and all leases, subleases,  sale/leaseback agreements
or similar arrangements, whether or not capitalized.

         "Leased Real Property"  means the real property  leased by the Company,
as tenant, together with, to the extent leased by the Company, all buildings and
other  structures,  facilities or  improvements  currently or hereafter  located
thereon, all fixtures,  systems, equipment and items of personal property of the
Company attached or appurtenant thereto, and all easements, licenses, rights and
appurtenances relating to the foregoing.

         "Liabilities"  means any and all debts,  liabilities  and  obligations,
whether  accrued or fixed,  absolute  or  contingent,  matured or  unmatured  or
determined or determinable,  including,  without limitation, those arising under
any Law  (including,  without  limitation,  any  Environmental  Law),  Action or
Governmental Order and those arising under any contract, agreement, arrangement,
commitment or undertaking.

         "Losses" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Material Contracts" has the meaning specified in Section 3.17.

         "Members" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

         "Merger  Agreement"  means that certain Plan and Agreement of Merger by
and among NAPTech, Inc., the shareholders of NAPTech, Inc., the Parent and SAON,
Inc. dated as of August 5, 1996 as heretofore or hereafter amended, supplemented
or modified.

         "NAPTech Lease" has the meaning specified in Section 3.19(c).

         "Notice Period" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Occupational  Safety and Health Law" means any law, rule or regulation
designed  to  provide  safe  and  healthful  working  conditions  and to  reduce
occupational  safety and health hazards,  and any mandatory  program designed to
provide safe and healthful working conditions.


                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>



         "Owned  Real  Property"  means the real  property  owned by the Company
prior  to the  Closing,  together  with  all  buildings  and  other  structures,
facilities or improvements currently or hereafter located thereon, all fixtures,
systems,  equipment  and items of personal  property of the Company  attached or
appurtenant  thereto  and all  easements,  licenses,  rights  and  appurtenances
relating to the foregoing.

         "Parent" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

         "Parent SEC Reports" has the meaning specified in Section 4.06.

         "Parent's Common Stock" means the common stock, no par value, of the
Parent.

         "Parent's   Counsel"  means  Kantrow,   Spaht,   Weaver  &  Blitzer  (A
Professional Law Corporation) and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.,  legal counsel to
the  Parent  and   Acquisition  in  connection   with  this  Agreement  and  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         "Permits" has the meaning specified in Section 3.16.

         "Permitted  Encumbrances"  means such of the  following  as to which no
enforcement,  collection,  execution,  levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have
been commenced:  (a) liens for taxes,  assessments and  governmental  charges or
levies  not yet due and  payable  which  are not in  excess  of  $10,000  in the
aggregate; and (b) the Encumbrances identified on Exhibit 1.01.

         "Person"  means  any  individual,   partnership,   firm,   corporation,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or other
entity,  as well as any  syndicate  or group that would be deemed to be a person
under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

         "Plans" has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

         "Purchase Price" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

         "Real Property" means the Leased Real Property and the Owned Real
Property.

         "Regulations"  means  the  Treasury  Regulations  (including,   without
limitation,  Temporary Regulations)  promulgated by the United States Department
of Treasury with respect to the Code or other federal tax statutes.

         "Release"  means the release or threatened  release,  spill,  emission,
leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal,  discharge,  dispersal, leaching
or migrating into the indoor or outdoor environment of any Hazardous Material.

         "Returns" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

         "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>



         "Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "subsidiaries"  means  any and all  other  corporations,  partnerships,
joint ventures,  limited  liability  companies,  associations and other entities
controlled  by  the  Company   directly  or  indirectly   through  one  or  more
intermediaries.

         "Tax"  or  "Taxes"  means  any and all  taxes,  fees,  levies,  duties,
tariffs,  imposts,  and other  charges  of any kind  (together  with any and all
interest,  penalties,  additions  to tax and  additional  amounts  imposed  with
respect  thereto)  imposed by any  government  or taxing  authority,  including,
without  limitation:  taxes or  other  charges  on or with  respect  to  income,
franchises,  windfall or other  profits,  gross  receipts,  premiums,  property,
sales,  use,  capital stock,  payroll,  employment,  social  security,  workers'
compensation, unemployment compensation, or net worth; taxes or other charges in
the nature of excise,  withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added, or
gains taxes;  license,  registration and documentation fees; and customs duties,
tariffs, and similar charges.

         "Tax Returns" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

         "Third Party Claim" has the meaning specified in Section 9.02.

         "Title Policy" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c).

                                   ARTICLE II

                      AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE AND SELL, ETC.

         SECTION 2.01 Agreement to Purchase and Sell, Etc.  Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement,  the Company hereby agrees to sell, convey and
assign to Acquisition  (in accordance  with the Parent's  direction),  with full
warranty of title except for Permitted  Encumbrances,  and the Parent (with full
warranty  of title to be  conveyed  directly to  Acquisition)  hereby  agrees to
purchase and accept from the Company,  in exchange for and in  consideration  of
the Purchase Price as set forth in Section 2.02, the Freeport Real Property.

         SECTION 2.02  Purchase  Price.  (a) The aggregate  purchase  price (the
"Purchase   Price")  for  the  Freeport  Real  Property   shall  be  (i)  83,333
unregistered  shares of the  Parent's  Common Stock and (ii)  assumption  by the
Parent and  Acquisition,  as  applicable,  of that certain  mortgage loan of the
Company to Research  Industries secured by a first mortgage on the Freeport Real
Property having a present  outstanding  principal balance of $1,809,066  bearing
interest at 8 1/2% per annum, and being payable in monthly  installments  with a
due date of January 1, 2000 (the  "Freeport  Mortgage  Loan").  The value of the
unregistered  shares of the Parent's Common Stock for purposes of this Agreement
shall be $24.00 per share. In addition, the Parent and Acquisition estimate that
the acquisition costs including engineering, legal, accounting, title, and other
appropriate costs (including stock registration) shall be $125,000.

                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>



         (b)      The Purchase Price plus the acquisition costs for the Freeport
Real Property shall be allocated as follows:


                Purchase Price      Acquisition Costs           Total Cost
Land               $560,000              $18,375                 $578,375
Improvements     $3,249,058             $106,625               $3,355,683       
                 $3,809,058             $125,000               $3,934,058

     The value of the Freeport  Real Property  shall be that as described  above
plus any additional  consideration  paid or  liabilities  assumed on the Closing
Date. The allocation of the Purchase Price plus the  acquisition  costs shall be
based on such  determinations  found  reasonable by the Parent,  the Company and
Acquisition,  and  subdivided in  accordance  with the  principles  set forth in
Treas.  Reg.  ss.  1.1060-1T.  Because the Purchase  Price (plus any  additional
assumed  liabilities on the Closing Date and any additional  consideration) does
not exceed the fair market value of the Freeport Real  Property,  no amount will
be allocated to goodwill.

         SECTION 2.03 Closing.  Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions of
this Agreement, the purchase and sale of the Freeport Real Property contemplated
by this  Agreement  shall take place at a closing (the  "Closing") to be held at
the  offices  of  Kantrow,   Spaht,   Weaver  &  Blitzer  (A  Professional   Law
Corporation), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. Baton Rouge time on the same
day as the closing under the Merger  Agreement,  following the  satisfaction  or
waiver of all other  conditions to the  obligations  of the parties set forth in
Article 8, or at such other place or at such other time or on such other date as
the Company and the Parent may mutually  agree upon in writing (the day on which
the Closing takes place being the "Closing Date").

         SECTION 2.04 Closing  Deliveries  by the Company.  At the Closing,  the
Company shall, at the Parent's  discretion,  deliver or cause to be delivered to
Acquisition:

         (a)      A general warranty deed (the "Deed") in the form of Exhibit
2.04(a) duly executed by the Company;

         (b)      A bill of sale (the "Bill of Sale") in the form of Exhibit
2.04(b) duly executed by the Company;

         (c) A title  insurance  policy (the "Title  Policy")  issued by Lawyers
Title  Insurance  Corporation  in the  amount of  $9,155 in the form of  Exhibit
2.04(c), the cost of which shall be paid by the Company;

         (d) A receipt  from the Company for the stock  certificates  evidencing
the number of  unregistered  shares of the Parent's  Common Stock as provided in
Section 2.02 above; and

         (e)      the opinions, certificates and other documents required to be
delivered pursuant hereto.

                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 2.05 Closing  Deliveries by Acquisition and the Parent.  At the
Closing,  Acquisition  and the  Parent,  as  applicable,  shall  deliver  to the
Company: (a) the stock certificates evidencing the number of unregistered shares
of the Parent's Common Stock as provided in Section 2.02 above; (b) an agreement
assuming  the  Freeport  Mortgage  Loan in the  form  of  Exhibit  2.05(b)  (the
"Assumption Agreement"), and (c) the opinions,  certificates and other documents
required to be delivered pursuant hereto.

         SECTION 2.06  Deposit.  At the Closing, the Company shall return to
NAPTech, Inc. the deposit in the amount of $23,200 previously remitted by 
NAPTech, Inc. to the Company pursuant to the NAPTech Lease.


                                   ARTICLE III

                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                             MEMBERS AND THE COMPANY

         Subject  to the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  each of the
Members  and the  Company  hereby  represents  and  warrants  to the  Parent and
Acquisition  as of the date hereof,  as set forth in Sections 3.01 through 3.31,
as follows:

         SECTION 3.01. Capacity of the Members. The Members are individuals with
full legal  capacity  to enter into this  Agreement,  to carry out the  Members'
obligations  hereunder and to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.
This  Agreement has been duly  executed and  delivered by the Members,  and this
Agreement  constitutes  a legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of the Members
enforceable  against  the  Members  in  accordance  with its  terms,  except  as
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  or  similar  laws  affecting  rights  of  creditors
generally or by general principles of equity.

         SECTION 3.02.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.03.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.04.  Organization, Ownership, Authority and Qualification of 
the Company.


         (a) The Company is a limited liability company duly organized,  validly
existing  and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Utah and has all
necessary power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets
now owned, operated or leased by it and to conduct its business.  The Company is
duly  licensed or qualified to do business and is in good  standing in the State
of Utah which is the only  jurisdiction in which the properties  owned or leased
by it or the  operation of its business  makes such  licensing or  qualification
necessary. All of the foregoing registrations,  licenses, and qualifications are
in full force and  effect and the  Company  has not  received  any notice of any
event, inquiry, investigation or proceeding that could result in the suspension,
revocation or limitation of any such registration, license, qualification or

                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>



membership,  and to the best knowledge of the Members and the Company,  there is
no sustainable basis for any such suspension, revocation or limitation.

         (b) All of the  membership  interests  of the  Company are owned by the
Members,  and all membership  interests of the Company are validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.  The percentage  membership  interests of each Member in
the Company is set forth on Exhibit 3.04.

         (c) All  actions  taken by the  Company  have been duly  authorized  or
ratified and the Company has not taken any action that in any respect  conflicts
with, constitutes a default under or results in a violation of any provision of,
its  articles of  organization  or  operating  agreement.  Complete and accurate
copies of the articles of organization and operating agreement,  in each case as
in effect on the date hereof,  of the Company have been delivered by the Members
and the Company to the Parent.

         SECTION 3.05.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.06. No Conflict.  The execution,  delivery and performance of
this  Agreement  by the Members and the Company do not and will not (a) violate,
conflict  with or  result in the  breach of any  provision  of the  articles  of
organization or operating agreement of the Company, (b) conflict with or violate
any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Members,  the Company, or any of
their respective assets,  properties or businesses, or (c) conflict with, result
in any breach of, constitute a default (or event which with the giving of notice
or the lapse of time,  or both,  would  become a  default)  under,  require  any
consent  under,  or  give  to  others  any  rights  of  termination,  amendment,
acceleration,  suspension,  revocation  or  cancellation  of,  or  result in the
creation of any Encumbrance on any of the assets or properties of the Members or
the  Company,  pursuant  to any note,  bond,  mortgage or  indenture,  contract,
agreement,  lease, sublease,  license,  permit, franchise or other instrument or
arrangement  to which the  Members or the  Company is a party or by which any of
such assets or properties is bound or affected.

         SECTION  3.07.  Governmental  Consents and  Approvals.  The  execution,
delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement  do not and will not  require any
consent,  approval,  authorization  or other order of, action by, filing with or
notification to any Governmental Authority or any other third party.

         SECTION 3.08.  Reserved.



                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 3.09.  Certain Additional Representations.

         (a) The Company and each of the Members represent and warrant that none
of them has any affiliation with Freeport Center Associates.

         SECTION 3.10.  No Undisclosed Liabilities or Indebtedness.

         (a) There are no Liabilities  or  Indebtedness  of the Company,  and no
Liabilities or  Indebtedness  encumbering  the Freeport Real Property other than
the Freeport Mortgage Loan and the Permitted Encumbrances

         SECTION 3.11.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.12.  Sole Asset and Activity.  Since its formation,  the sole
asset owned by the  Company has been the  Freeport  Real  Property  and the sole
activity of the Company has been the ownership of the Freeport Real Property and
the leasing thereof to NAPTech, Inc., a Delaware corporation.


         SECTION  3.13.  Litigation.  There are no Actions (i) by or against the
Company, (ii) by or against the Members relating to the business of the Company,
or (iii) affecting the Freeport Real Property,  pending before any  Governmental
Authority (or, to the best knowledge of the Members and the Company,  threatened
to be brought by or before any Governmental Authority). None of (i) the Company,
(ii) the  Freeport  Real  Property  or (iii) the  Members  (with  respect to the
business of the Company) is subject to any Governmental  Order (nor, to the best
knowledge of the Members and the Company, are there any such Governmental Orders
threatened to be imposed by any Governmental Authority).

         SECTION 3.14.  Reserved.

         SECTION  3.15.  Compliance  with Laws.  The Company has  conducted  and
continues to conduct the  ownership  and operation of the Freeport Real Property
in accordance with all material Laws and Governmental  Orders  applicable to the
Company  and the  Freeport  Real  Property,  and  neither  the  Company  nor the
ownership  and  operation of the Freeport  Real  Property is in violation of any
such Law or Governmental Order. The Company has duly and validly filed or caused
to be filed all material reports, statements, documents, registrations,  filings
or  submissions  that were  required by  applicable  Laws to be filed;  all such
filings  complied with all applicable Laws in all material  respects when filed,
and no material deficiencies have been asserted with respect to any such filings
which have not been satisfied.

         SECTION 3.16.  Environmental and Other Permits and Licenses; Related 
Matters.
         (a)      The Members and the Company currently hold all the permits, 
licenses, authorizations,  certificates, consents, exemptions and approvals
required under any Law (collectively,  "Permits"), including, without 
limitation, Environmental Permits, necessary for the

                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>



ownership,  use, occupancy and operation of the Freeport Real Property,  and all
such Permits are in full force and effect.

         (b) (i) Each tenant and occupant of the Freeport  Real  Property  holds
all Permits, including, without limitation, Environmental Permits, necessary for
the use, occupancy and operation of the Freeport Real Property by such tenant or
occupant,  and all such  Permits are in full force and effect;  (ii) there is no
existing practice,  action or activity of any tenant or occupant of the Freeport
Real Property which will give rise to any criminal  liability or civil Liability
under,  or violate or prevent  compliance  with,  any  applicable  material Law,
including, without limitation, any applicable Environmental Law; (iii) no tenant
or occupant of the  Freeport  Real  Property  has  received  any notice from any
Governmental Authority revoking, cancelling, rescinding, materially modifying or
refusing to renew any Permit or providing written notice of violations under any
Law, including,  without limitation, any applicable Environmental Law; (iv) each
tenant  and  occupant  of the  Freeport  Real  Property  is in all  respects  in
compliance  with  its  Permits,  including,  without  limitation,  Environmental
Permits; (v) there is no existing practice, action or activity of the Company or
the Members  (relating to the  business of the Company)  which has given or will
give rise to any unresolved  criminal  liability or civil  Liability  under,  or
violate or prevent  compliance  with, any  applicable  Law,  including,  without
limitation,any  applicable  Environmental  Law; (vi) neither the Members nor the
Company  has  received  any notice  from any  Governmental  Authority  revoking,
cancelling,  rescinding,  materially  modifying or refusing to renew any Permit;
and (vii)  the  Company  is in all  respects  in  compliance  with the  Permits,
including,  without limitation,  Environmental  Permits.  Section 3.16(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule to the Merger Agreement completely and accurately identifies
all Permits, including, without limitation,  Environmental Permits and indicates
by asterisk those that will require the consent of any Governmental Authority in
the  event  of the  execution  of  this  Agreement  or the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         (c) (i)  None of the  Company  nor the  Members  (with  respect  to the
business  of  the  Company)  has  violated  or  is  violating   any   applicable
Environmental  Law;  (ii) no tenant or occupant of the Freeport Real Property is
violating any  applicable  Environmental  Law in connection  with the ownership,
use, occupancy or operation of the Freeport Real Property;  (iii) there has been
no Release of  Hazardous  Materials  at, to, from,  or under the  Freeport  Real
Property  except (x) Releases which  individually  or collectively do not exceed
the  applicable  reportable  quantity  established  pursuant  to CERCLA,  or (y)
Releases of petroleum or its derivatives  which  individually or collectively do
not exceed ten gallons;  (iv) none of the Company nor the Members  (with respect
to the business of the Company) has  generated,  transported or arranged for the
transport of, or disposed of any Hazardous Materials at any location, other than
amounts and types of Hazardous  Materials  normally  present in ordinary  office
trash or  household  waste;  (v) no  tenant or  occupant  of the  Freeport  Real
Property has generated at such  Freeport  Real Property any Hazardous  Material,
other than amounts and types of Hazardous Materials normally present in ordinary
office  trash or  household  waste  other than the  transportation  set forth in
Section 3.16 of the Disclosure  Schedule to the Merger  Agreement;  (vi) none of
the Company nor the Members  (with  respect to the  business of the Company) has
any Liabilities in connection with the Release of any Hazardous  Material at any
location;  (vii) there is not present at any of the Freeport  Real  Property any
underground storage tanks or sumps, asbestos, or polychlorinated

                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>



biphenyls; (viii) no Environmental Lien has attached to any of the Freeport Real
Property;  and  (ix)  there  are  no  unresolved  past,  pending  or  threatened
Environmental  Claims  against  the  Company or the  Members,  nor are there any
circumstances that may form the basis of any such Environmental Claim.

         SECTION 3.17.  Material Contracts.  (a)  The Company is not a party to
any contract or agreement, and the Freeport Real Property is not subject to any
contract, agreement, lease or mortgage other than the following (collectively,
the "Material Contracts"):

                  (i)      the Freeport Mortgage Loan; and

                  (ii)     the NAPTech Lease.

         (b) Each Material Contract is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in
full  force and  effect,  and will not cease to be in full  force and  effect on
terms identical to those currently in effect  following the  consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  except,  in  either  case,  as
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or similar laws  affecting  rights of creditors,  of
creditors   generally  or  by  general   principles  of  equity,  nor  will  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  constitute a
breach or default under such Material Contract. The Company is not in breach of,
or default under, any Material Contract.

         (c) To the best  knowledge  of the  Members and the  Company,  no other
party to any Material Contract is in breach thereof or default thereunder.

         (d) There is no contract,  agreement or other arrangement  granting any
Person  any  right to  purchase  the  Freeport  Real  Property  other  than this
Agreement.

         (e) Complete and accurate copies of each of the Material Contracts have
previously been furnished by the Members and the Company to the Parent.

         SECTION 3.18.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.19.  Real Property. (a)  The only Owned Real Property, as of 
the date hereof and at all times prior hereto, is the Freeport Real Property.

         (b)      There is, as of the date hereof, and was, at all times prior
hereto, no Leased Real Property.

         (c) The Members have,  or have caused to be,  delivered to the Parent a
complete and accurate copy of the following Lease which is the only Lease now or
previously relating to the Freeport Real Property to which the Company is or was
a party (the "NAPTech Lease"): The Lease dated February 23, 1993, by and between
the Company and NAPTech, Inc. with respect to the Freeport Real Property.


                                     - 13 -

<PAGE>



         (d) There are no condemnation proceedings or eminent domain proceedings
of any kind  pending or, to the best  knowledge  of the Members and the Company,
threatened against the Freeport Real Property.

         (e)  Pursuant  to Article II of the  NAPTech  Lease,  the term  thereof
terminated  on February 28, 1996,  but pursuant to Article III,  Section 16, the
Company has agreed to permit NAPTech to holdover,  on a month-to-month basis, at
an agreed upon  monthly  rental of $35,000 per month.  Since March 1, 1996,  the
actual monthly rental received by the Company  pursuant to the NAPTech Lease has
been $35,000 per month.

         SECTION  3.20.   Tangible  Personal  Property.   The  Company  owns  no
equipment,  inventory,  supplies,  furniture,   personalty,  vehicles  or  other
tangible personal property (the "Tangible  Personal  Property"),  other than any
Tangible Personal Property being transferred hereby.

         SECTION  3.21.  Title,  Condition,  Etc.  (a) The  Company has good and
marketable  title  to  the  Freeport  Real  Property,  free  and  clear  of  all
Encumbrances,   except  for  Permitted  Encumbrances.   All  buildings,  plants,
structures  and  fixtures  comprising  the  Improvements  lie wholly  within the
boundaries  of the  Land  owned  by the  Company  and do not  encroach  upon the
property  of, or  otherwise  conflict  with the  property  rights  of, any other
Person.

         (b) All the  buildings,  plants,  structures,  fixtures  and  equipment
comprising  the  Improvements  are  structurally  sound,  are in good  operating
condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put,
and none of such buildings,  plants,  structures,  fixtures,  or equipment is in
need of  maintenance  or repairs except for ordinary,  routine  maintenance  and
repairs that are not material in nature or cost.

         SECTION 3.22.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.23.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.24. Employee Benefit Matters. The Company has, and previously
has had, no (i) employee  welfare benefit and employee  pension benefit plans as
defined in Sections 3(1) and 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), including, but not limited to, any (1) plans that
provide  retirement  income or result in a deferral of income by  employees  for
periods extending to termination of employment or beyond, and plans that provide
medical,  surgical,  or  hospital  care  benefits  or  benefits  in the event of
sickness, accident,  disability,  death or unemployment,  and (2) other employee
benefit  agreements  or  arrangements,  including  without  limitation  deferred
compensation plans,  incentive plans, bonus plans or arrangements,  stock option
plans,  stock purchase plans,  stock award plans,  golden parachute  agreements,
severance pay plans,  dependent care plans, cafeteria plans, employee assistance
programs,  scholarship  programs,  employment  contracts,  vacation policies, or
other similar plans,  agreements and  arrangements for the benefit of directors,
officers,  employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries) of the Company
or (ii) plan in respect of which the

                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>



Company could reasonably be expected to incur liability under Section 4212(c) of
ERISA (collectively, the "Plans").

         SECTION 3.25.  Labor Matters. The Company has, and previously has had, 
no employees.

         SECTION 3.26.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.27.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.28.  Reserved.

         SECTION 3.29.  Full Disclosure.  (a)  There are no facts pertaining to
the Company or the Freeport Real Property that are reasonably likely to have a 
material adverse effect that have not been disclosed in this Agreement.

         (b) No representation or warranty of the Members in this Agreement, nor
any  certificate  furnished  or to be  furnished  by the  Members  to the Parent
pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement,  contains or will contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact,  or omits or will  omit to state a  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements contained herein or therein not misleading.

         SECTION 3.30.  Investment Purpose; Etc.

         (a) The Company hereby confirms that the Parent's Common Stock which it
will  receive  under this  Agreement  will be acquired  for  investment  for the
Company's  own  account,  not as a nominee or agent,  and not with a view to the
resale or distribution of any part thereof,  and that the Company has no present
intention of selling,  granting any  participation in or otherwise  distributing
the Parent's  Common Stock.  By executing this  Agreement,  the Company  further
represents  that  it  has  no  present   intention  of  selling,   granting  any
participation in or otherwise  distributing the same in a manner contrary to the
Securities Act or applicable state law.

         (b) The  Company  understands  that the shares of the  Parent's  Common
Stock that it will receive under this Agreement are characterized as "restricted
securities"  under  the  federal  securities  laws  inasmuch  as they are  being
acquired  from the Parent in a transaction  not involving a public  offering and
that under such laws and  applicable  regulations  such  shares of the  Parent's
Common Stock may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in
certain  limited  circumstances  and in accordance with the terms and conditions
set forth in the legend  described in Section 3.30(c).  In this connection,  the
Company  represents  that it is  familiar  with SEC Rule 144,  as  presently  in
effect,  and  understands  the resale  limitations  imposed  thereby  and by the
Securities Act.

         (c) To the extent  applicable,  each certificate  evidencing any of the
shares of the Parent's Common Stock issued to the Company shall be endorsed with
a legend in substantially  the form set forth below,  and the Company  covenants
that, except to the extent such restrictions

                                     - 15 -

<PAGE>



are waived by the Parent,  the Company shall not transfer the shares represented
by any such  certificate  without  complying with the  restrictions  on transfer
described in the legend endorsed on such certificate:

                  THE  SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR
         APPLICABLE STATE LAW, AND NO INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED,
         ASSIGNED, OFFERED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (i) THERE IS
         AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES   LAWS  COVERING  ANY  SUCH   TRANSACTION   INVOLVING   SAID
         SECURITIES,  OR (ii) THIS CORPORATION  RECEIVES AN OPINION SATISFACTORY
         TO THIS CORPORATION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES
         ACCEPTABLE TO THIS CORPORATION  STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT
         FROM  REGISTRATION.  THE SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE ARE
         SUBJECT  TO THE  RESTRICTIONS  SET FORTH IN THAT  CERTAIN  REGISTRATION
         RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  DATED AS OF  JANUARY  27,  1997  (THE  "REGISTRATION
         AGREEMENT")  AMONG  SHAW AND  FREEPORT  PROPERTIES,  L.C. A COPY OF THE
         REGISTRATION  AGREEMENT  IS  FILED  WITH  THE  SECRETARY  OF  SHAW.  BY
         ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE HOLDER HEREOF AGREES TO BE BOUND BY
         THE TERMS OF THE REGISTRATION AGREEMENT.

         (d) Each of the  Members and the  Company is an  "accredited  investor"
within  the  meaning  of Rule  501(a)  of  Regulation  D  promulgated  under the
Securities Act.

         (e) None of the Company, the Members or their Affiliates have purchased
or sold any shares of Parent's Common Stock since February 1, 1996.

         SECTION  3.31.  Brokers.  No  broker,  finder or  investment  banker is
entitled to any  brokerage,  finder's or other fee or  commission  in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement from the Company or the
Members  based  upon  arrangements  made by or on behalf of the  Members  or the
Company.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                          OF THE PARENT AND ACQUISITION

         Each of the Parent and  Acquisition  hereby  represents and warrants to
the Members and the Company as follows:


                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 4.01. Organization and Authority of the Parent and Acquisition.
Each of the Parent and  Acquisition  is a corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Louisiana and has
all necessary  corporate  power and authority to enter into this  Agreement,  to
carry  out  its  obligations   hereunder  and  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  Upon  the  approval  of this  Agreement  by the  Board of
Directors of the Parent,  the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by the
Parent and  Acquisition,  the performance by the Parent and Acquisition of their
respective  obligations  hereunder  and  the  consummation  by  the  Parent  and
Acquisition of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by
all requisite  corporate  action on the part of the Parent.  This  Agreement has
been duly  executed and delivered by the Parent and  Acquisition,  and (assuming
due  authorization,  execution and delivery by the Company and the Members) upon
receipt of the necessary approvals by Governmental  Authorities,  this Agreement
will  constitute  a legal,  valid  and  binding  obligation  of the  Parent  and
Acquisition  enforceable  against the Parent and  Acquisition in accordance with
its terms,  except as  enforceability  may be limited by applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  or similar  laws  affecting  rights of
creditors or by general principles of equity.

         SECTION  4.02.  No Conflict.  Assuming the making and  obtaining of all
filings,  notifications,  consents, approvals,  authorizations and other actions
referred  to  in  Section  4.03,   except  as  may  result  from  any  facts  or
circumstances  relating  solely to the Members or  Acquisition,  the  execution,
delivery and  performance of this Agreement by the Parent and  Acquisition  does
not and will not (a)  violate,  conflict  with or  result  in the  breach of any
provision  of  the  articles  of  incorporation  or  by-laws  of the  Parent  or
Acquisition,  (b)  conflict  with  or  violate  any  Law or  Governmental  Order
applicable  to the Parent or  Acquisition  which  would have a material  adverse
effect on the ability of the Parent or Purchaser to consummate the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or (c) conflict with, or result in any breach of,
constitute  a default  (or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of
time, or both, would become a default) under, require any consent under, or give
to  others  any  rights of  termination,  amendment,  acceleration,  suspension,
revocation,  or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance on
any of the assets or  properties of the Parent or  Acquisition  pursuant to, any
note,  bond,  mortgage  or  indenture,  contract,  agreement,  lease,  sublease,
license,  permit,  franchise or other  instrument  or  arrangement  to which the
Parent or  Acquisition  is a party or by which any of such assets or  properties
are bound or affected which would have a material  adverse effect on the ability
of the Parent or Acquisition to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Parent's Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Section 2.02 will,
when issued, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         SECTION  4.03.  Governmental  Consents and  Approvals.  The  execution,
delivery and  performance of this Agreement by the Parent and Acquisition do not
and will not require any  consent,  approval,  authorization  or other order of,
action by, filing with, or notification  to, any  Governmental  Authority or any
other third party.

         SECTION 4.04.  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in a writing given to
the Members by the Parent prior to the execution of this Agreement, no claim,
action, proceeding or investigation is pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Parent and Acquisition after due inquiry, threatened,

                                     - 17 -

<PAGE>



which seeks to delay or prevent the  consummation  of, or which could reasonably
be expected to materially adversely affect the Parent's or Acquisition's ability
to  consummate,  or which  could  otherwise  affect the  legality,  validity  or
enforceability of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION  4.05.  Brokers.  No  broker,  finder or  investment  banker is
entitled to any  brokerage,  finder's or other fee or  commission  in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  based upon  arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Parent.

         SECTION 4.06.  Reports; Financial Statements.

         (a) Copies of all reports,  registration  statements and other filings,
together with any  amendments  thereto,  filed by the Parent with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") since December 8, 1993 through the date of
this Agreement (the "Parent SEC Reports"), have been heretofore delivered to the
Company  and the  Members by the  Parent.  As of the  respective  dates of their
filing with the SEC,  the Parent SEC  Reports  complied,  and all such  reports,
registration statements and other filings to be filed by the Parent with the SEC
prior to the  Closing  Date  will  comply,  in all  material  respects  with the
applicable  requirements  of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder,  and did not at the time they
were  filed  with the SEC,  or will not at the time they are filed with the SEC,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
materially misleading.

         (b) The consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any
related  notes  thereto)  contained  in the Parent SEC  Reports  and in any such
reports,  registration  statements  and other  filings to be filed by the Parent
with the SEC  prior to the  Closing  Date (i) have been or will be  prepared  in
accordance  with the published rules and regulations of the SEC and GAAP applied
on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods  involved  (except  as  may be
indicated in the notes  thereto) and (ii) fairly  present or will fairly present
in all material respects the consolidated  financial  position of the Parent and
its subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results
of  operations  and  cash  flows  for the  periods  indicated,  except  that any
unaudited  interim  financial  statements  were or will be subject to normal and
recurring year-end  adjustments and may omit footnote disclosure as permitted by
regulations of the SEC.

         (c) Since May 31, 1996, to the date hereof,  there has been no material
adverse event relating to the Parent and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole and
no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of
the Parent and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole which,  in either  case,  (i)
require a public disclosure or filing by the Parent with the SEC or (ii) will be
required to be included in a Parent SEC Report which report  includes the period
from May 31, 1996, to the date hereof.




                                     - 18 -

<PAGE>



                                    ARTICLE V

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         SECTION 5.01. Conduct of Business After the Closing;  Liquidation.  The
Company  and the  Members  hereby  covenant  and agree  that (i)  following  the
Closing, the sole business activity of the Company shall be the ownership of the
Parent's  Common  Stock,  and (ii) no later than  twelve  months  following  the
Closing Date,  the Company  shall be liquidated  and dissolved and the assets of
the Company  distributed  to the  Members in  accordance  with their  respective
membership interests.

         SECTION 5.02.  Voting Rights  Regarding the Parent's Common Stock.  The
Company and the Members hereby  covenant and agree that the Operating  Agreement
of the Company shall be amended to provide that the Members shall have the right
to vote the  number of shares  of the  Parent's  Common  Stock  received  by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement in proportion to their  membership  interests
in the  Company.  The Company and the Members  covenant and agree to comply with
such amendment,  which  amendment to the Operating  Agreement of the Company may
not be amended, changed, waived or repealed, directly or indirectly.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    RESERVED


                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   TAX MATTERS
         SECTION 7.01. Representations, Warranties and Covenants.

         Each of the Members and the Company hereby represents and warrants,  as
of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

                  (i) (A) all  returns  and  reports in  respect of Taxes  ("Tax
Returns" or  "Returns")  required  to be filed as of the date of this  Agreement
with  respect to the Company and the  Freeport  Real  Property  have been timely
filed;  (B) all Taxes shown to be payable on such Returns and all assessments of
Tax made against the Company or the Freeport  Real Property with respect to such
Returns have been paid; (C) all such Returns are true, correct,  and complete in
all material respects;  and (D) no adjustment  relating to such Returns has been
proposed  formally or informally by any Tax authority and, to the best knowledge
of the Members and the Company, no basis exists for any such adjustment;


                                     - 19 -

<PAGE>



                  (ii)  there is no  pending  or, to the best  knowledge  of the
Members and the Company, threatened actions or proceedings for the assessment or
collection of Taxes against the Company or the Freeport Real Property;

                  (iii)    Reserved.

                  (iv)     there are no Tax liens on any assets of the Company 
except liens for Taxes that are not yet due and payable;

         SECTION 7.02. Form 8594.  Because Section 1060(e) of the Code, which is
applicable to stock  transfers,  such as the  transactions  contemplated  by the
Merger  Agreement,  does not currently require the completing and filing of Form
8594, the Parent,  Acquisition  and the Company do not intend to file Form 8594,
but they  acknowledge  that Form 8594 may be required  to be filed by them.  The
Parent,  Acquisition  and the Company hereby agree that Form 8594,  should it be
required,  shall be  completed  and filed by both of them using the  information
described in Section 2.02(b).  Further, the Parent,  Acquisition and the Company
agree to cooperate with each other should there be  supplemental  information or
supplemental filings required.

         SECTION 7.03. Further Assurances;  Continuing Cooperation.  The Parent,
Acquisition  and the Company agree that from time to time  hereafter and without
further consideration,  they will execute and deliver such additional or further
certificates,  agreements or instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer,
and take such other  actions as may  reasonably be requested by any other party,
as may be  necessary  or  appropriate  to  fully  carry  out  their  obligations
hereunder or the purpose of this Agreement.  In furtherance thereof, each of the
Parent,  Acquisition  and the Company shall  cooperate with the other party with
respect to, and shall make  available to the other party on a reasonably  timely
basis such tax data and other information as may be reasonably required for, the
preparation of any Tax Returns required to be prepared and filed with respect to
the Freeport Real Property or the Company,  and for the conduct of any audits or
litigation with respect to Taxes of the Company or for the proper payment of any
Taxes for which such party is responsible under the Agreement.

         SECTION 7.04. Reserved.

         SECTION  7.05.  Indemnity.  The Members agree to indemnify and hold the
Parent and Acquisition  harmless  against any breach of a covenant  contained in
this Article VII and the  following  Taxes:  (i) Taxes imposed on the Company or
any one or more Members and (ii) Taxes imposed on the Freeport Real Property for
any period on or prior to the Closing.

         SECTION 7.06. Reserved.

         SECTION 7.07. Reserved.

         SECTION 7.08. Reserved.


                                     - 20 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 7.09. Reserved.

         SECTION 7.10.  Conveyance  Taxes. Any real property  transfer or gains,
sales,  use,   transfer,   value  added,  stock  transfer,   stamp,   recording,
registration, and any similar Tax or fee that becomes payable in connection with
any and all of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the Members who shall file such  applications  and documents as shall permit any
such Tax to be assessed and paid on or prior to the Closing  Date in  accordance
with any available  pre-sale filing  procedure.  Each party hereto shall execute
and deliver all  instruments and  certificates  necessary to enable the other to
comply with the foregoing.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

         SECTION 8.01. Conditions to Obligations of the Members and the Company.
The  respective  obligations  of the Members and the Company to  consummate  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment,
at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

         (a) Representations,  Warranties and Covenants. The representations and
warranties of the Parent and Acquisition  contained in this Agreement shall have
been true and  correct  as of the date  they  were  deemed to have been made and
shall be true and correct in all material  respects as of the Closing,  with the
same force and effect as if made as of the  Closing,  except for such changes as
are  permitted  or  contemplated   by  this  Agreement,   and  other  than  such
representations and warranties as are made as of another date. The covenants and
agreements  contained in this  Agreement  to be complied  with by the Parent and
Acquisition  on or before the Closing shall have been complied with. The Members
shall have received a certificate  from the Parent to such effect signed by duly
authorized representatives thereof and dated as of the Closing Date;

         (b)      Reserved.

         (c) No Proceeding or Litigation. No Action shall have been commenced or
threatened by or before any Governmental  Authority  against any of the Members,
the Company,  Acquisition or the Parent,  seeking to restrain or adversely alter
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or which is likely to render it
impossible or unlawful to consummate such transactions;  provided, however, that
the  provisions  of this Section  8.01(c)  shall not apply if the Members or the
Company has directly or indirectly solicited or encouraged any such Action;

         (d)  Resolutions.  The Members  shall have received a true and complete
copy,  certified by the  Secretary  or an Assistant  Secretary of the Parent and
Acquisition  of the  resolutions  duly  and  validly  adopted  by the  Board  of
Directors of the Parent and the sole  shareholder  and the Board of Directors of
Acquisition  evidencing its  authorization of the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the other  agreements to be executed by the Parent as contemplated
hereby and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;


                                     - 21 -

<PAGE>



         (e)      Incumbency Certificate.  The Members shall have received a
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Parent and
Acquisition certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Parent 
and Acquisition authorized to sign this Agreement and theother documents to be
delivered hereunder;

         (f)      Legal Opinion.  The Members shall have received from Parent's
Counsel a legal opinion, addressed to the Members and dated the Closing Date,
substantially in the form of Exhibit 8.01(f);

         (g)      Merger.  The merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall
have been consummated.

         (h)      Related Agreements.  The Registration Rights Agreement, in the
form of Exhibit 8.01(h)(1) shall have been duly executed and delivered by the 
parties thereto; and

         (i) Organizational Documents. The Members shall have received a copy of
(i)  the  Articles  of  Incorporation,  as  amended,  of the  Parent  and of the
Acquisition,  certified by the  Louisiana  Secretary of State,  as of a date not
earlier  than 10 Business  Days prior to the Closing Date and  accompanied  by a
certificate of the Secretary or Assistant  Secretary of the Parent,  dated as of
the Closing Date,  stating that no amendments have been made to such Articles of
Incorporation  since  such  date and  (ii)  the  By-Laws  of the  Parent  and of
Acquisition,  as amended,  certified by the Secretary or Assistant  Secretary of
the Parent.

         (j)      Reserved.

         (k) No Material Adverse Event. Since May 31, 1996, to the Closing Date,
there  has  been no  material  adverse  event  relating  to the  Parent  and its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole and no material  adverse  change in the financial
position or results of operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries  taken as a
whole which,  in either case,  (i) require a public  disclosure or filing by the
Parent  with the SEC or (ii) will be  required  to be  included  in a Parent SEC
Report which report includes the period from May 31, 1996, to the Closing Date.

         (l)      Freeport Mortgage Loan.  The Freeport Mortgage Loan has been
paid in full by the Parent or Acquisition.

         (m)      Reserved.

         (n)      Reserved.

         SECTION 8.02.  Conditions to Obligations of the Parent and Acquisition.
The  respective  obligations  of the Parent and  Acquisition  to consummate  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment,
at or prior to the Closing,  of each of the following  conditions,  any of which
may be waived by the Parent in writing,  and the  Company and the Members  shall
use their best  efforts  to cause such  conditions  to be  fulfilled;  provided,
however,  Parent's  election  to proceed  with the  Closing of the  transactions
contemplated herein shall not be

                                     - 22 -

<PAGE>



deemed a waiver  of any  breach  of any  representation,  warranty  or  covenant
herein,  whether or not known to Parent or  Purchaser or existing on the Closing
Date.  For  purposes  of  determining  whether a breach of a  representation  or
warranty has  occurred,  and  determining  the amount of damage  suffered by the
Parent or  Acquisition  or their  Affiliates as a result thereof for purposes of
Section  9.02 hereof,  the Members and the Company  shall be deemed to have made
the  agreements   contained  in  this  Agreement  and  the  representations  and
warranties  set forth in Article III on the Closing Date as if they were made on
such date:

         (a) Representations,  Warranties and Covenants. The representations and
warranties of the Members and the Company contained in this Agreement shall have
been true and  correct as of the date as of which they were  deemed to have been
made and shall be true and correct in all  material  respects as of the Closing,
with the same  force and  effect as if made as of the  Closing  except  for such
changes as are  permitted or  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  other than such
representations and warranties as are made as of another date. The covenants and
agreements  contained in this  Agreement to be complied  with by the Members and
the Company on or before the Closing shall have been complied  with.  The Parent
shall have  received a  certificate  from the Members to such effect dated as of
the Closing Date;

         (b)      Reserved.

         (c) No Proceeding or Litigation. No Action shall have been commenced or
threatened by or before any Governmental  Authority  against any of the Members,
the Company,  Acquisition or the Parent,  seeking to restrain or adversely alter
the transactions  contemplated hereby or which is likely to render it impossible
or unlawful to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement or
which  could  have a  material  adverse  effect;  provided,  however,  that  the
provisions of this Section  8.02(c) shall not apply if the Parent or Acquisition
has directly or indirectly solicited or encouraged any such Action;

         (d)      Merger.  The merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall 
have been consummated.

         (e)      Reserved.

         (f)      Legal Opinions.  The Parent and Acquisition shall have
received from Company's Counsel a legal opinion, addressed to the Parent and
Acquisition and dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit
8.02(f);

         (g)      Reserved.

         (h)      Reserved.

         (i) Organizational  Documents. The Parent shall have received a copy of
(i) the Articles of Organization  of the Company,  certified by the Secretary of
State  of the  State  of its  organization,  as of a date  not  earlier  than 10
Business Days prior to the Closing Date and  accompanied by a certificate of the
Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such entity, dated as of the

                                     - 23 -

<PAGE>



Closing  Date,  stating that no  amendments  have been made to such  Articles of
Organization since such date and (ii) the Operating Agreement of the Company, as
amended, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such entity;

         (j)      Amendment to Operating Agreement.  The Operating Agreement of 
the Company shall have been amended in accordance with Section 5.02 of this
Agreement.

         (k) Good Standing;  Qualification to Do Business. The Parent shall have
received good standing certificates, certificates of compliance, or certificates
of existence, as applicable, for the Company from the secretary of state, or the
other  applicable  Governmental  Authority,  of the  jurisdiction  in which such
entity is organized.

         (l)      Escrow Agreement.  The Members shall have executed and
delivered the Escrow Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 8.02(l) and
made the transfer to the escrow agreement as contemplated thereby;

         (m)  Resolutions.  The Parent  shall have  received a true and complete
copy,  certified  by the  Secretary  or an  Assistant  Secretary  of the Company
resolutions  duly and validly  adopted by the Members of the Company  evidencing
its  authorization of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other
agreements  to be  executed  by the  Company  as  contemplated  hereby  and  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

         (n)      Reserved.

         (o)      Reserved.

         (p)      Reserved.

         (q)      Reserved.

         (r)      Reserved.

         (s)      Related Agreements.  The Registration Rights Agreement and
Representation Letter by the Members in the respective forms of Exhibit 8.01(s)
(1) and Exhibit 8.02(s)(2), respectively, shall have been duly executed and 
delivered by the parties thereto; and

         (t)      Reserved.

         (u)      Reserved.

         (v)      Reserved.

         (w)      Reserved.

         (x)      Reserved.

         (y)      Reserved.

                                     - 24 -

<PAGE>


        

                                   ARTICLE IX

                          SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION

         SECTION 9.01.  Survival of  Representations,  Warranties and Covenants.
(a)  The  representations  and  warranties  of the  Members  contained  in  this
Agreement,  the Exhibits to this  Agreement  and any  certificate,  statement or
report or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, the
"Acquisition Documents"),  shall survive the Closing until the first anniversary
of the  Closing  Date,  or such  earlier  time as agreed to by the  Parent.  All
covenants of the Members shall  survive the Closing until the first  anniversary
of the Closing Date, or as otherwise  specifically set forth herein. Neither the
period of survival  nor the  liability of the Members or the Parent with respect
to the Members' or the Parent's  representations and warranties shall be reduced
by any  investigation  made at any time by or on  behalf  of the  Parent  or the
Members,  as the case may be. If  written  notice  of a claim has been  properly
given in the manner  required by Section  9.02(d) prior to the expiration of the
applicable representations and warranties, then the relevant representations and
warranties  shall  survive  as to such claim  until such claim has been  finally
resolved.

         (b) The  representations  and warranties of the Parent contained in the
Acquisition  Documents shall survive the Closing until the first  anniversary of
the Closing  Date.  All  covenants of the Parent shall survive the Closing until
the first anniversary of the Closing Date or as otherwise specifically set forth
herein.  If  written  notice of a claim has been  properly  given in the  manner
required  by  Section   9.02(d)  prior  to  the  expiration  of  the  applicable
representations and warranties, then the relevant representations and warranties
shall survive as to such claim until such claim has been finally resolved.

         SECTION  9.02.  Indemnification.  (a) The Parent,  Acquisition  and the
Parent's other  Affiliates,  and each of their officers,  directors,  employees,
agents,  consultants,  successors  and  assigns  shall be  indemnified  and held
harmless by the Members  and the  Company for any and all  Liabilities,  losses,
damages, claims,  reasonable costs and expenses,  interest,  awards,  judgments,
damages  (including  punitive  damages),  fines, fees and penalties  (including,
without  limitation,  attorneys',  experts and  consultants'  fees and expenses)
(collectively,  "Losses")  actually  suffered or  incurred  by them  (including,
without  limitation,  any Action brought or otherwise initiated by any of them),
arising out of or resulting from:

                  (i)      the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made
by the Members or the Company contained in any of the Acquisition Documents;

                  (ii)     the breach of any covenant or agreement by the 
Members or the Company contained in the Acquisition Documents;

                  (iii)    as expressly provided by Article VII hereof; and

                                     - 25 -

<PAGE>



                  (iv) liabilities of the Company, any Affiliate of the Company,
or, with respect to the Freeport Real Property,  the Members,  arising out of or
relating to events occurring or circumstances or conditions existing at or prior
to the Closing under any Environmental Law or involving  Hazardous  Materials in
connection  with the current or former assets and operations of the Company,  or
any former business conducted by the Company or any current or former subsidiary
or Affiliate,  including, without limitation, any business or activity conducted
on or in the Freeport Real Property prior to the Closing; and

                  (v) liabilities of the Company,  any Affiliate of the Company,
or, with respect to the Freeport Real Property,  the Members,  arising out of or
relating  to products  sold or  services  rendered at or prior to the Closing in
connection with the current or former  operations of the Company,  or any former
business  conducted  by the  Company  or any  current  or former  subsidiary  or
Affiliate,  including without limitation,  any business or activity conducted on
or in the Freeport Real Property prior to the Closing.

                  (vi) any claims, damages or other liabilities of the Parent or
Acquisition, or any of their respective Affiliates, sustained or incurred by the
Parent or Acquisition, or any of their Affiliates,  arising out of or in any way
related to the  encroachment of the  Improvements  situated on the Property onto
any  easement  on  the  Property,  including  particularly,  but  not  by way of
limitation,  any such claims,  damages or other  liabilities (i) relating to the
financing of the Property,  or (ii) by reason of any claim against the Parent or
Acquisition,  or any of their  Affiliates for the removal of any portion of said
Improvements that encroach on any easements on the Property,  or for the removal
of said Improvements, including costs, attorneys' fees, and expenses incurred in
connection  therewith  that are not covered by the Title  Policy.  The foregoing
covenant  shall survive the Closing  until the earlier of the  occurrence of any
one of the  following:  (A) the  financing by the Parent or  Acquisition  of the
Property; (B) the removal from the Title Policy of any exception related to such
encroachment;  or (C) payment by the Company or the Members for the removal from
the easement of any encroaching Improvements,  up to but not exceeding $200,000.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  to the extent that items (A)-(C) of this Section
9.02(a)(vi)  have not yet occurred  within two (2) years  following the Closing,
the covenant set forth in this Section  9.02(a)(vi) shall terminate upon payment
by the  Company or the Members to Parent or  Acquisition  the cost not to exceed
$200,000,  of  removing  any  encroachments,  as set  forth  in a bid by a firm,
acceptable  to both  Parent and the  Company,  engaged to  estimate  the cost of
removing said encroachments.

         (b) The Members, the Company and their respective Affiliates, officers,
directors,  employees,  agents,  consultants,  successors  and assigns  shall be
indemnified  and held  harmless  by the Parent  for any and all Losses  actually
suffered or incurred by any Indemnified  Party (including,  without  limitation,
any Action  brought or otherwise  initiated  by any of them),  arising out of or
resulting from:

                  (i)      the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty made
by the Parent and Acquisition contained in the Acquisition Documents; and


                                     - 26 -

<PAGE>



                  (ii)    the breach of any covenant or agreement by the Parent 
or Acquisition contained in the Acquisition Documents.

         (c) To the extent that an Indemnifying  Party's  undertakings set forth
in this  Section  9.02  may be  unenforceable,  such  Indemnifying  Party  shall
contribute  the  maximum  amount  that  it  is  permitted  to  contribute  under
applicable  law to the payment  and  satisfaction  of all Losses  incurred by an
Indemnified Party.

         (d) All claims for  indemnification  against the Members,  the Company,
the Parent or Acquisition,  as the case may be (an "Indemnifying  Party"), under
any provision of this Article IX shall be asserted and resolved as follows:

                  (i)  In  the  event  of any  claim  or  demand  for  which  an
Indemnifying  Party  would be liable  for  Losses to the  Persons  specified  in
Section 9.02(a) or (b), as applicable,  (each an  "Indemnified  Party") which is
asserted  against or sought to be  collected  from such  Indemnified  Party by a
Person other than the Parent,  Acquisition,  the Company or the Members  ("Third
Party Claim"),  the  Indemnified  Party shall deliver a Claim Notice (as defined
below)  with  reasonable   promptness  to  the  Indemnifying   Party  after  the
Indemnified Party has actual notice of the Third Party Claim. The failure by any
Indemnified  Party to  provide  the  Indemnifying  Party  with the Claim  Notice
required by the  preceding  sentence  shall not impair the  Indemnified  Party's
rights  hereunder except to the extent that an Indemnifying  Party  demonstrates
that it has been materially  prejudiced  thereby.  The Indemnifying  Party shall
notify the  Indemnified  Party  within  thirty (30) days of receipt of the Claim
Notice ("Notice  Period")  whether the Indemnifying  Party desires,  at the sole
cost and expense of the  Indemnifying  Party,  to defend the  Indemnified  Party
against such Third Party Claim.

                  (ii) If the Indemnifying  Party notifies the Indemnified Party
within the  Notice  Period  that the  Indemnifying  Party  desires to defend the
Indemnified Party with respect to the Third Party Claim pursuant to this Section
9.02(d), then the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend, at its sole
cost and expense,  and,  except as provided in the following  sentence,  through
counsel of its choice reasonably  acceptable to the Indemnified Party such Third
party  Claim  by  all  appropriate  proceedings,   which  proceedings  shall  be
diligently  defended by the Indemnifying Party to a final conclusion or shall be
settled at the  discretion  of the  Indemnifying  Party (with the prior  written
consent  of the  Indemnified  Party,  which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld),  so long as the  Indemnified  Party is fully released with respect to
such Third  Party  Claim.  If there  exists or is  reasonably  likely to exist a
conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate in the reasonable judgment
of the Indemnified  Party for the same counsel to represent both the Indemnified
Party and the  Indemnifying  Party and the  Indemnifying  Party does not provide
separate  counsel  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Indemnified  Party,  then the
Indemnified  Party  shall  be  entitled  to  retain  its  own  counsel,  in each
jurisdiction for which the Indemnified  Party reasonably  determines  counsel is
required,  at  the  expense  of  the  Indemnifying  Party.   Assumption  by  the
Indemnifying  Party of the defense of such Third Party Claim will not constitute
an admission by the  Indemnifying  Party that the claim or litigation is one for
which the  Indemnifying  Party is required to indemnify the  Indemnifying  Party
under this  Article IX. The  Indemnifying  Party shall have full control of such
defense and proceedings; provided, however,

                                     - 27 -

<PAGE>



that the Indemnified  Party may at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying
Party, file during the Notice Period any motion, answer, or other pleadings that
the Indemnified Party may deem necessary or appropriate to protect its interests
and not irrevocably  prejudicial to the Indemnifying  Party (it being understood
and agreed  that,  except as  provided  in Section  9.02(d)(iii)  hereof,  if an
Indemnified  Party  takes any such action that is  irrevocably  prejudicial  and
conclusively  causes a final  adjudication  that is  materially  adverse  to the
Indemnifying  Party, the Indemnifying  Party will be relieved of its obligations
hereunder  with respect to the portion of such Third Party Claim  prejudiced  by
the  Indemnified  Party's  action);  and  provided  further,  however,  that  if
requested by the Indemnifying  Party, the Indemnified  Party agrees, at the sole
cost and expense of the  Indemnifying  Party, to cooperate with the Indemnifying
Party and its counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim that the  Indemnifying
Party elects to contest,  or, if appropriate in the judgment of the  Indemnified
Party  and  related  to the  Third  Party  Claim  in  question,  in  making  any
counterclaim  against  the  person  asserting  the  Third  Party  Claim  or  any
cross-complaint  against any Person  (other  than the  Indemnified  Party).  The
Indemnified  Party may, at its sole cost and  expense,  participate  in, but not
control,  any defense or settlement  of any Third Party Claim  controlled by the
Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Section 9.02(d)(ii).

                  (iii)  If  the   Indemnifying   Party   fails  to  notify  the
Indemnified  Party within the Notice Period that the Indemnifying  Party desires
to defend  the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant  to Section  9.03(d)(i),  or if the
Indemnifying  Party gives such notice but fails to defend the Third Party Claim,
then the  Indemnified  Party  will have the right  (but not the  obligation)  to
defend, at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying  Party, the Third Party
Claim by all  appropriate  proceedings,  which  proceedings  will be  vigorously
defended by the  Indemnified  Party or will be settled at the  discretion of the
Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have full control of such defense
and  proceedings,  including any  compromise or  settlement  thereof;  provided,
however,  that if requested by the Indemnified  Party,  the  Indemnifying  Party
agrees,  at the sole cost and expense of the  Indemnifying  Party,  to cooperate
with the  Indemnified  Party and its counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim
which the  Indemnified  Party is contesting,  or, if appropriate and relating to
the Third Party Claim in question, in making any counterclaim against the person
asserting  the Third  Party  Claim,  or any  cross-complaint  against any person
(other than the Indemnifying  Party or any of its  Affiliates).  Notwithstanding
the forgoing provisions of this Section 9.02(d)(iii),  if the Indemnifying Party
has  notified  the  Indemnified  Party  with  reasonable   promptness  that  the
Indemnifying Party disputes, or reserves its rights to dispute, its liability to
the Indemnified Party with respect to such Third Party Claim and if such dispute
is resolved in favor of the Indemnifying  Party, the Indemnifying Party will not
be required to bear the costs and expenses of the  Indemnified  Party's  defense
pursuant  to  this  Section   9.02(d)(iii)  or  of  the   Indemnifying   Party's
participation  therein at the Indemnified  Party's request,  and the Indemnified
Party will reimburse the  Indemnifying  Party in full for all costs and expenses
incurred by the  Indemnifying  Party in  connection  with such  litigation.  The
Indemnifying  Party  may  participate  in,  but  not  control,  any  defense  or
settlement  controlled  by  the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant  to  this  Section
9.02(d)(iii),  but the  Indemnifying  Party will bear its own costs and expenses
with respect to such participation. Regardless of whether the Indemnifying Party
defends a Third Party Claim on behalf of the  Indemnified  Party or participates
in the defense thereof,  the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying  Party shall
reasonably cooperate with each other in all material respects in connection with
the defense for such Third Party Claim. Each Indemnified Party shall furnish

                                     - 28 -

<PAGE>



such information  regarding itself and the Third Party Claim as the Indemnifying
Party may reasonably  request in writing and as shall be reasonably  required in
connection with the defense thereof.  No Third Party Claim may be settled by the
Indemnifying  Party without the prior written consent of the  Indemnified  Party
(which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld),  unless such  settlement
provides a release of the Indemnified Party for such claim.

                  (iv) In the event any  Indemnified  Party  should have a claim
for Losses  against any  Indemnifying  Party  hereunder  that does not involve a
Third Party  Claim being  asserted  against or sought to be  collected  from the
Indemnified  Party, the Indemnified  Party shall deliver an Indemnity Notice (as
defined below) with reasonable  promptness to the  Indemnifying  Party after the
Indemnified  Party  has  actual  notice  of  such  claim.  The  failure  by  any
Indemnified Party to give the notice referred to in the preceding sentence shall
not  impair  such  party's  rights  hereunder  except  to  the  extent  that  an
Indemnifying Party demonstrates that it has been irreparably prejudiced thereby.
The Indemnifying  Party and the Indemnified Party agree to proceed in good faith
to  negotiate a  resolution  of any dispute  relating to such a claim for Losses
within sixty (60) days following  receipt of any Indemnity  Notice.  If any such
claim is not resolved  within the foregoing  period,  the parties may pursue any
available remedies.

                  (v) The term "Claim Notice" shall mean written notification of
a Third Party Claim by an Indemnified Party to an Indemnifying Party pursuant to
Section  9.02(d)(i),  enclosing  a copy  of  all  papers  served,  if  any,  and
specifying  the nature of and  alleged  basis for such Third Party Claim and, to
the extent then  feasible,  the alleged  amount or the estimated  amount of such
Third Party Claim.

                  (vi)  The  term   "Indemnity   Notice"   shall  mean   written
notification  of a claim for  indemnity  (which  claim does not  involve a Third
Party  Claim) by an  Indemnified  Party to an  Indemnifying  Party  pursuant  to
Section 9.02(d)(iv) hereof, specifying the nature of and specific basis for such
claim and, to the extent then  feasible,  the amount or the estimated  amount of
such claim.

                  (vii) Any  estimated  amount of a claim  submitted  in a Claim
Notice or an  Indemnity  Notice shall not be  conclusive  of the final amount of
such claim.

                  (viii) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, any contest
or  claim  for  indemnification  under  Article  VII  shall be  governed  by the
procedures of such Article VII and not by the provisions of this Section 9.03.

                  (ix)  In   connection   with  each  Third  Party  Claim,   the
Indemnifying   Party  shall  obligated  to  provide  only  one  counsel  to  all
Indemnified Parties.

         (e) (i) The terms and  provisions  set forth in this Section 9.02 shall
constitute  the sole rights and  remedies  of the  parties for money  damages in
respect of any inaccuracies of  representations or warranties or any breaches of
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.


                                     - 29 -

<PAGE>



                  (ii) In the event of a claim  pursuant to Section  9.02(a)(v),
the Parent  agrees,  to the extent  practical,  to seek recovery for the related
Losses first from any products  liability  insurance  providing  coverage to the
Parent  therefor,  and then from the  Escrow  Shares  (as  defined in the Escrow
Agreement),  prior to  collection  of such  Losses from the  Members;  provided,
however,  the foregoing  provision shall in no way limit or restrict any actions
or proceedings by the Parent against any Indemnifying  Party,  including without
limitation the Members, to the extent the Parent deems, in its discretion,  such
actions or proceedings  to be necessary to preserve,  maintain or enforce any of
its rights against any Indemnifying Party.

         SECTION 9.03.  Limits on Indemnification.

         (a) No amount shall be payable by any  Indemnifying  Party  pursuant to
Section  9.02(a)  or (b)  unless  and  until  the  aggregate  amount  of  Losses
indemnifiable under Section 9.02(a) or (b) exceeds $300,000 and the Indemnifying
Party shall indemnify the Indemnified Party to the full extent of such Losses up
to but not to exceed $3,000,000.

         (b) The limitations set forth in Sections  9.03(a) shall not apply with
respect to any Losses  suffered or incurred by the Parent in connection with (i)
the  representations  contained in Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.16, 3.21 and 3.24, and
(ii) the  representations,  covenants and indemnities  contained in Article VII,
and the Members  shall fully  indemnify  the Parent for any such Losses from the
first dollar of such Losses to the full extent of such Losses.

         (c) The amount of any  indemnification  obligation  of an  Indemnifying
Party  shall be reduced by an amount  equal to the value of the net Tax  benefit
actually  received by the  Indemnified  Party (to be  calculated  at the highest
marginal rate then applicable to the Indemnified Party) with respect to any loss
or other  item the  payment of which by an  Indemnified  Party  shall  produce a
deduction or an addition to basis for federal income tax purposes,  such benefit
to be offset to the extent  that the  payment  is  treated as taxable  income or
results in a reduction in basis to the Indemnified  Party. No Indemnified  Party
shall take any action or omit to take any action the primary purpose of which is
to avoid the application of this Subsection  9.03(c);  provided,  however,  that
each  Indemnified  Party shall be permitted  to engage in its own tax  planning,
notwithstanding that the effect of such tax planning is to cause this Subsection
9.03(c) to be inapplicable.

         (d)  Notwithstanding  any provision of this  Agreement to the contrary,
the amount of any indemnification obligation of the Parent under this Article IX
shall be paid by the Parent solely in shares of the Parent's Common Stock, which
for such purposes shall be valued at $24.00 per share.

         (e) The  $300,000  limitation  set forth in Section  9.03(a)  shall not
apply  with  respect  to any  Losses  suffered  or  incurred  by the  Parent  or
Acquisition or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the claims,
damages or other liabilities described in Section 9.02(a)(vi) of this Agreement,
and the Company and the Members shall fully  indemnify the Parent or Acquisition
for such Losses to the full extent of such Losses.


                                     - 30 -

<PAGE>



         SECTION 9.04.  Security for Members' Agreement to Indemnify.  To secure
the Members' obligations to indemnify the Parent and Acquisition  hereunder,  at
the Closing,  the Members shall deposit 10% of the shares of the Parent's Common
Stock received by them at the Closing with City National Bank of Baton Rouge (or
such other financial institution  acceptable to the Parent), as escrow agent, to
be held and released in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.  Such
escrowed  funds and  shares  and  right of  set-off,  however,  shall not be the
Parent's  exclusive  remedies  hereunder,  and nothing herein shall preclude the
assertion  by the  Parent of any  other  right or  remedies  in  respect  of the
foregoing agreements on indemnity.


                                    ARTICLE X

                                     WAIVER

         SECTION 10.01.  Waiver.  Any party to this Agreement may (a) extend the
time for the  performance  of any of the  obligations or other acts of the other
party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the  representations  and warranties of the
other party  contained  herein or in any  document  delivered by the other party
pursuant hereto or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
of the other party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid
only if set forth in an  instrument  in writing  signed by the party to be bound
thereby.  Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver
of any subsequent  breach or a subsequent  waiver of the same term or condition,
or a waiver of any other term or condition,  of this  Agreement.  The failure of
any party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of
any of such rights.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 11.01.  Solidary Obligation of Members.  The obligations of the
Members under this Agreement shall be solidary;  provided the maximum  liability
of each such Member  shall not exceed a percentage  of all amounts  owing by the
Members  hereunder  equal to 125% of a fraction  of which the  numerator  is the
percentage  membership  interest in the Company owned by such Member immediately
prior to the Closing Date and the denominator is 100%.

         SECTION 11.02.  Expenses.  All costs and expenses,  including,  without
limitation,   fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel,   financial   advisors  and
accountants,  incurred in connection  with this  Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  shall  be paid  by the  party  incurring  such  costs  and
expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred.

         SECTION 11.03.  Notices.  All notices,  requests,  claims,  demands and
other  communications  hereunder  shall be in writing and shall be given or made
(and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon  receipt)  by delivery
in person,  by courier  service,  by telecopy  (confirmed by telephone within 24
hours following receipt thereof), or by registered or

                                     - 31 -

<PAGE>



certified mail (postage  prepaid,  return  receipt  requested) to the respective
parties at the  following  addresses  (or at such other  address  for a party as
shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.03):

(a)      if to the Members or the Company:

         Bradford J. Brower
         851 South Freeport Industrial Parkway
         Clearfield, Utah  84015
         Telecopy:  (801) 773-6185
         Telephone: (801) 773-7300

         with a copy to:

         LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P.
         1000 Kearns Building
         136 South Main Street
         Salt Lake City, Utah  84101
         Attention:  Nolan S. Taylor, Esq.
         Telecopy:  (801) 359-8256
         Telephone: (801) 320-6700

         and

(b)      if to the Parent or Acquisition:

         The Shaw Group Inc.
         11100 Mead Road
         Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70816
         Attention:  Bret M. Talbot
         Telecopy:  (504) 296-1199
         Telephone:  (504) 296-1140



                                     - 32 -

<PAGE>



         with a copy to:

         Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer
         (A Professional Law Corporation)
         Suite 300, City Plaza
         445 North Boulevard
         P.O. Box 2997
         Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-2997
         Attention:  J. Michael Robinson, Jr., Esq.
         Telecopy:         (504) 343-0637
         Telephone:        (504) 383-4703

         and

         Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P.
         1301 McKinney, Suite 5100
         Houston, Texas  77010-3095
         Attention:  William H. Caudill, Esq.
         Telecopy:         (713) 651-5246
         Telephone:        (713) 651-5151

         SECTION  11.04.  Public  Announcements.  Except to the extent  that the
Members or Parent  believes on the advice of counsel that public  disclosure  is
required by Law, no party to this Agreement shall make, or cause to be made, any
press  release  or public  announcement  in  respect  of this  Agreement  or the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or otherwise  communicate with any news media
without prior notification to the other parties, and the parties shall cooperate
as to the timing and contents of any such press release or public announcement.

         SECTION  11.05.  Headings;   Construction.   The  descriptive  headings
contained in this Agreement are for  convenience of reference only and shall not
affect  in any  way  the  meaning  or  interpretation  of  this  Agreement.  The
provisions of this  Agreement  were  negotiated  by the parties  hereto and this
Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted by all the parties hereto.

         SECTION  11.06.  Severability.  If any term or other  provision of this
Agreement  is  invalid,  illegal or  incapable  of being  enforced by any Law or
public  policy,   all  other  terms  and  provisions  of  this  Agreement  shall
nevertheless  remain in full force and effect so long as the  economic  or legal
substance of the transactions  contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially  adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall  negotiate  in good  faith to modify  this  Agreement  so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in
order that the  transactions  contemplated  hereby are consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

         SECTION 11.07.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the 
entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and thereof and supersede all prior

                                     - 33 -

<PAGE>



agreements  and  undertakings,  both written and oral,  between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

         SECTION 11.08.  Assignment.  This Agreement may be assigned by any
party hereto, but such assignment shall not release or discharge the assigning 
party from its obligations hereunder.

         SECTION 11.09.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors
and assigns.

         SECTION 11.10.  Amendment.  This Agreement may not be amended or
modified except (a) by an instrument in writing signed by, or on behalf of, the
parties hereto or (b) by a waiver in accordance with Section 10.01.

         SECTION 11.11.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Louisiana,  applicable to
contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that state.

         SECTION 11.12.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when  executed  shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION  11.13.  Specific  Performance.  The parties  hereto agree that
irreparable  damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was
not performed in accordance  with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be
entitled to specific  performance of the terms hereof,  in addition to any other
remedy at law or in equity.

         SECTION 11.14.  Legal Advice.  Each party hereto represents and 
warrants to the other party that he, she or it has consulted attorneys,
accountants and tax advisors of their own choosing concerning the legal, 
financial and tax consequences of this Agreement

         SECTION  11.15.  Remedies Not  Exclusive.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 9.02 (e), no remedy conferred by any of the specific  provisions of this
Agreement is intended to be exclusive  of any other  remedy,  and each and every
remedy shall be cumulative  and shall be in addition to every other remedy given
hereunder  or not or  hereafter  existing  at law or in equity or by  statute or
otherwise.  The  election of any one or more  remedies by any party hereto shall
not constitute a waiver of the right to pursue other available remedies.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   the  Members,   the  Company,  the  Parent  and
Acquisition  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be  executed as of the date first
written above,  the corporate  parties  represented  herein by their  respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.



                                     - 34 -


<PAGE>



THIS  PURCHASE AND SALE  AGREEMENT  IS NOT A PROSPECTUS  AND ANY OFFERING OF THE
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE SHAW GROUP INC.,  COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT
A PUBLIC  OFFERING.  RECIPIENTS  OF SUCH  SHARES WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO BRING A
CAUSE OF ACTION FOR RESCISSION UNDER SECTION 12(2) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FOR AN  UNTRUE  STATEMENT  OF A  MATERIAL  FACT OR FOR THE  FAILURE  TO  STATE A
MATERIAL FACT.

                                        COMPANY:
                                        FREEPORT PROPERTIES, L.C.

                                        By: -----------------------------
                                             Name: Bradford J. Brower
                                             Title:

                                        MEMBERS:

                                        ---------------------------------
                                        Bradford J. Brower (56%)

                                        ---------------------------------
                                        Donald Robertson (18%)

                                        ---------------------------------
                                        Robert Schroeder (16%)

                                        ---------------------------------
                                        M. Russell Ballard (8%)

                                        ---------------------------------
                                        Greg R. Cowley (2%)

                                        PARENT:

                                        THE SHAW GROUP INC.

                                        By:______________________________
                                             Name:_______________________
                                             Title:______________________

                                        ACQUISITION:

                                        SAON PROPERTIES, INC.

                                        By:______________________________
                                             Name:_______________________
                                             Title:______________________

                                     - 35 -



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