DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, 1996-09-16
FATS & OILS
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                                UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549


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

                                   FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTON 13 or 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 30, 1996



                             DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.

                (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


   Delaware                       0-24620                       36-2495346
(State of Incorporation)         (Commission                  (I.R.S.  Employer
                                  File Number)                   Identification
                                                                         Number)

251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd.
Suite 300
Irving, Texas                                                             75038
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)


                                 (214) 717-0300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                     Page 1

                         Exhibit Index located at Page 5


<PAGE>


Items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8.     Not applicable.

Item 2.           ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

                  On  August  30,  1996,   Darling   International   Inc.   (the
                  "Registrant")  acquired 100% of the outstanding  capital stock
                  of   International    Processing   Corporation   ("IPC")   and
                  International   Transportation   Service,   Inc.   ("ITS")  in
                  accordance with a Stock Purchase  Agreement dated as of August
                  30, 1996, among the Registrant,  IPC, ITS and the stockholders
                  of IPC and ITS (the "Sellers").  The Sellers were comprised of
                  twenty-two   individuals   or  trusts   for  the   benefit  of
                  individuals.

                  Pursuant to the Stock Purchase  Agreement,  the purchase price
                  for the capital stock of IPC was  $29,835,000 and the purchase
                  price for the capital stock of ITS was $165,000.  The purchase
                  price was paid in cash and was determined by agreement between
                  the  Registrant and the Seller.  The  Registrant  funded $29.6
                  million of the purchase  price with funds  financed  under the
                  Acquisition  Facility  pursuant to the Credit  Agreement among
                  the Registrant,  The First National Bank of Boston,  as agent,
                  and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as co-agent.  The remaining
                  $400,000 of the purchase price was funded out of cash on hand.

                  In connection with the  Acquisition,  the Registrant also paid
                  approximately  $2.8 million in full payment and  retirement of
                  certain  indebtedness of IPC. The Registrant used cash on hand
                  to fund the repayment of such indebtedness.

                  IPC  processes  by-products  collected  from  bakeries,  pasta
                  manufacturers, confectioners and snack food producers for sale
                  to  the  animal  feed  industry.  The  Registrant  intends  to
                  continue operating the business and assets of IPC in a similar
                  manner as they were operated prior to the acquisition.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
         INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
           (a)     Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired

                  For  the  acquisition  reported  in  Item 2  above,  it is not
                  practicable  to  include  the  financial   statements  of  the
                  acquired  business as required by Rule  3-05(b) of  Regulation
                  S-X  at  this  time.  The  Registrant  intends  to  file  such
                  information on or before November 13, 1996.


                                     Page 2


<PAGE>

          (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information

                  For  the  acquisition  reported  in  Item 2  above,  it is not
                  practicable to include the pro forma financial  information as
                  required  by  Article II of  Regulation  S-X.  The  Registrant
                  intends to file such  information  on or before  November  13,
                  1996.

          (c)      Exhibits

                  2      Stock Purchase  Agreement  dated as of August 30, 1996,
                         among   Darling   International   Inc.,   International
                         Processing  Corporation,  International  Transportation
                         Service,  Inc., and the  stockholders of  International
                         Processing Corporation and International Transportation
                         Service, Inc.

                  99.1   Press  release  dated September 3,  1996, regarding the
                         purchase   of  100%  of  the   stock  of  International
                         Processing Corporation for $30 million in cash.


                                    Page 3

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

                                    DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.


Date:  September 13, 1996           By:  /s/  John R. Witt
                                        ------------------------------------
                                              John R. Witt
                                              Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                    Page 4

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit                                                                  Page
Number                     Description                                   Number


2                       Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
                        August 30, 1996, among Darling International Inc.,
                        International Processing Corporation, International
                        Transportation Service, Inc., and the stockholders
                        of International Processing Corporation and
                        International Transportation Service, Inc. ........   9

99.1                    Press release dated September 3, 1996, regarding
                        the purchase of 100% of the stock of International
                        Processing Corporation for $30 million in cash.....   7



                                     Page 5


<PAGE>


                                                                EXHIBIT 99.1


                                     Page 6

<PAGE>

                                  PRESS RELEASE
                                September 3, 1996




     Dr. Dennis B. Longmire, Chairman of Darling International Inc. ("Darling"),
and James B. Stevens, President of International Processing Corporation ("IPC"),
announced  today  that  Darling  has  acquired  100% of the stock of IPC for $30
million in cash.


         Darling, the largest food waste recycling company in the United States,
recycles  restaurant  grease  and  meat  processing  by-products  into  finished
products used primarily by oleo-chemical and animal feed manufacturers.  Darling
had sales for the twelve  months ended June 30, 1996 of $433.4  million.  IPC is
the  largest  processor  in the  United  States of  by-products  collected  from
bakeries,  pasta manufacturers,  confectioners and snack food producers, and had
sales for the twelve months ended June 30, 1996 of $71.3 million.  Although both
Darling and IPC  presently  sell to the animal feed  industry,  the products IPC
sells to that industry will be a new line of business for Darling.


     Dr. Longmire  stated that he believes the two businesses are  complementary
and that the combined  company should be able to more  efficiently sell enhanced
products to the animal feed industry.  Mr. Stevens will continue as President of
IPC,  which will continue  current  operations as a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Darling.



                                   Page 7
<PAGE>


                                                                   EXHIBIT 2


                                     Page 8





                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         Stock Purchase  Agreement  (this  "Agreement"),  dated as of August 30,
1996,  by and among:  (i) Darling  International  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation
("Buyer"),  (ii) International  Processing  Corporation,  a Georgia  corporation
("IPC"),   (iii)  International   Transportation   Service,   Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation  ("ITSI"),  and (iv) all of the  stockholders of IPC and ITSI, whose
names and  number of shares of IPC and ITSI  common  stock  owned are  listed on
Exhibit A hereto (each individually a "Seller" and collectively the "Sellers").

                                 R E C I T A L S

         A.       Each  Seller owns  the shares  of Common Stock of IPC and ITSI
(the "Shares") set forth opposite
such Seller's name on Exhibit A hereto.

         B. Each  Seller  wishes to sell the Shares  owned by such Seller to the
Buyer and the Buyer wishes to purchase  such Shares from each  Seller,  upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein.

         C. IPC,  together  with ITSI and Food  By-Product  Recycling,  Inc., an
Illinois  corporation  and a directly  wholly owned  subsidiary  of ITSI ("FBR")
(collectively,  the "Companies"), is engaged in the businesses of (i) processing
by-products collected from bakeries, pasta manufacturers,  confectioners,  snack
food  producers  and others  into animal  feed and (ii)  processing  grease (the
"Acquired Business").

         Exhibit B contains a list of all  defined  words,  including  those not
otherwise defined in the text of this Agreement,  the initial letter of which is
capitalized.

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



<PAGE>



     1.  SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES.

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the
"Closing Date" (as defined in Section 6.1), each Seller will sell,  transfer and
convey the Shares set forth  opposite  such Seller's name on Exhibit A hereto to
the Buyer,  free and clear of all Liens, and the Buyer will purchase such Shares
from each Seller.

     2. PURCHASE PRICE AND PURCHASE PRICE ALLOCATIONS;  IRC CODE  ss.338(H)(10);
PAYMENT OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS;  COMPANIES' INTERIM PRE-TAX EARNINGS

     2.1  Purchase  Price.  The  purchase  price for the Shares  (the  "Purchase
Price") shall be  $30,000,000.  The Purchase  Price shall be paid on the Closing
Date by transferring (i) $2,500,000 to the Escrow Account  established  pursuant
to the Escrow Agreement in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Escrow Agreement")
and (ii) the remaining  $27,500,000  of the Purchase Price either to the Sellers
specified  on Exhibit A in the amounts set forth  thereon or to an account  (the
"Sellers'   Bank   Account")   designated  by  Harold   Oelbaum  (the  "Class  A
Representative")  and  James  B.  Stevens  (the  "Class B  Representative"  and,
together with the Class A Representative,  the "Sellers'  Representatives"),  it
being  understood  that the Sellers'  Representatives  will make payments to the
Sellers specified on Exhibit A from the Sellers' Bank Account. All amounts shall
be payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

       2.2    CODE SS.338(H)(10)  ELECTION;  ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE

     2.2.1 (a) The Sellers shall join with the Buyer in making an election under
Section 338(h)(10) of the Code (and subject to the following sentence, under any
corresponding  state and  local Tax law)  (collectively  a  "Section  338(h)(10)
Election") with respect to the purchase of the Shares of IPC.

          (b) Not later than 90 days after the Closing  Date,  the Buyer and the
Sellers shall use their best efforts to agree in writing to an allocation of the
consideration  paid for the  Shares,  first,  between  the Shares of IPC and the
Shares of ITSI, and then  (together  with other items  allocable to assets under
applicable  Treasury  Regulations)  among the assets of IPC in  accordance  with
Section 338(h)(10) and the Treasury Regulations  thereunder,  in each case based
upon the principles specified in Exhibit D. The Sellers, the Buyer and IPC shall
file all elections,  statements,  Tax returns and information  reports and other
documents and take such other actions consistent with or necessary to effect and
preserve the Section 338(h)(10) Election.

      2.3      Companies' Indebtedness

      2.3.1  Attached as Exhibit E is a list of all existing indebtedness of the
Companies (the "Companies' Indebtedness").

      2.3.2  At the Closing (i) the Companies will pay, with the Buyer supplying
the  Companies  with  sufficient  funds to  enable  the  Companies  to pay,  the
Companies'  Indebtedness,  including without limitation the indebtedness owed by
the Companies to the Sellers, Stanley B. Kane, Daniel Kane and Kane-Miller Corp.
as  listed  on  Part  I of  Exhibit  E  hereto,  but  excluding  the  Companies'
Indebtedness  listed on Part II of Exhibit E, and (ii) will  execute and deliver
to Kane-Miller Corp. an  indemnification  agreement  pursuant to which the Buyer
will indemnify  Kane-Miller Corp. with respect to Kane-Miller Corp.'s guaranties
of IPC's leases in Carteret, New Jersey and Kansas City, Kansas.

     2.3.3  Without the Buyer's prior written  consent,  the Companies  will not
incur indebtedness in addition to (i) the Companies' Indebtedness and (ii) trade
payables and other short term  liabilities  incurred in the  ordinary  course of
business.

     2.4  Distributions  of the Companies'  Combined  Interim Pre-Tax  Earnings;
Closing   Balance   Sheet.   (a)  The  Sellers  shall  be  entitled  to  receive
distributions  from IPC in an aggregate  amount  equal to 50% of the  Companies'
Combined Interim Pre-Tax  Earnings.  Prior to Closing Sellers shall receive from
IPC a distribution  equal to 50% of the combined net income of the Companies for
the seven month period ended July 31, 1996, as shown in the Financial Statements
referred to in Section 5.1.4. As soon as practicable after final  determination,
in accordance with Section 2.4(b),  of the Companies'  Combined  Interim Pre-Tax
Earnings,  (i) the Sellers shall receive from the Companies a distribution equal
to 50% of the Companies'  Combined  Interim  Pre-Tax  Earnings minus any amounts
previously distributed to Sellers with respect thereto (it being understood that
$400,000  distributed  by IPC to the Sellers in 1996 is  attributable  to fiscal
1995 earnings of IPC) or (ii) if the amounts  previously  distributed to Sellers
with respect  thereto  exceed 50% of the  Companies'  Combined  Interim  Pre-Tax
Earnings,  the Sellers shall  promptly pay the Companies an amount equal to such
excess.

                  (b) The Buyer shall cause to be prepared and  delivered to the
Sellers'  Representatives,  within 45 days following the Closing,  the unaudited
balance  sheet of the  Companies  as of the Closing Date (the  "Closing  Balance
Sheet"), in conformity with generally accepted accounting  principles applied on
a basis consistent with the 1995 Audited Financial Statements, and a calculation
of the Companies'  Combined  Interim  Pre-Tax  Earnings.  In connection with the
calculation  of the Closing  Balance Sheet and the Companies'  Combined  Interim
Pre-Tax Earnings,  the Sellers'  Representatives  and their accountants shall be
permitted  to review all work  papers,  books and records  associated  with such
preparation  and  calculation and to discuss the foregoing with officers and the
accountants  of the Buyer.  The Sellers and the Sellers'  Representatives  shall
keep confidential any information relating to the post-closing operations of the
Buyer and the Companies to which the Sellers' Representatives may receive access
in connection with the foregoing.  The Sellers' Representatives shall advise the
Buyer,  within 30 days  following  the  delivery  by the  Buyer to the  Sellers'
Representatives  of the Closing  Balance Sheet and calculation of the Companies'
Combined  Interim  Pre-Tax  Earnings,  whether the  Sellers  dispute the Closing
Balance  Sheet  or  calculation  of  the  Companies'  Combined  Interim  Pre-Tax
Earnings.  In the event of any dispute  under this Section  2.4(b),  the parties
shall seek to resolve such dispute between  themselves  during the 30-day period
following the date on which the Sellers'  Representatives shall have advised the
Buyer of such  dispute.  In the event the  parties  are unable to  resolve  such
dispute within such 30-day period, such dispute shall be referred to a "big six"
accounting firm mutually selected by the Sellers'  Representatives and the Buyer
(or if the parties shall fail to agree on such  selection,  such accounting firm
shall be selected by lot (which lot shall exclude Deloitte & Touche LLP and KPMG
Peat Marwick)), which accounting firm shall be requested to seek to resolve such
dispute within 30 days after such dispute is referred to them. The determination
of such  dispute  by such  accounting  firm  shall be final and  binding  on the
parties. The fees and expenses of such accounting firm in resolving such dispute
shall be borne 50% by the Sellers and 50% by the Buyer.

         3.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

       3.1  Representations and Warranties of the Companies and the Sellers. The
Companies  and the Sellers  represent  and warrant to the Buyer as follows,  and
acknowledge and confirm that the Buyer is relying upon such  representations and
warranties in connection  with the execution,  delivery and  performance of this
Agreement.

           3.1.1  Organization and Good Standing. Each of the Companies (i) is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of their respective states of  incorporation,  (ii) is duly qualified to conduct
business as a foreign  corporation in each jurisdiction  where the nature of the
business  conducted by it or the  ownership of its property and assets  requires
that it be so qualified where the failure to be so qualified might result in the
imposition upon it, of any material penalty, liability, payment or obligation or
might have a material  adverse  effect upon the business,  financial  condition,
results of operations or  operations of the  Companies,  (iii) has the corporate
power and authority to own,  lease or operate its properties and to carry on its
business as now conducted and (iv) has heretofore  delivered to the Buyer or its
counsel   complete  and  correct  copies  of  its  certificate  or  articles  of
incorporation and by-laws, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

     3.1.2  Consents, Authorizations, Binding Effect, Etc. The Companies and the
Sellers may execute, deliver and perform this Agreement without the necessity of
the Companies or the Sellers obtaining any consent,  approval,  authorization or
waiver,  giving any notice,  making any  filings or  disclosures  or  otherwise,
except  for  notifications   required  under  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino   Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations  promulgated
thereunder  (the "HSR Act").  The Sellers and the Companies  have  obtained,  or
shall  have  obtained  prior to  Closing,  from  the New  Jersey  Department  of
Environmental  Protection  a  "Letter  of  Non-Applicability"  stating  that the
Companies  and the  facilities  owned or leased by the Companies in the State of
New Jersey,  and the transactions  under this Agreement,  are not subject to the
New  Jersey  Industrial  Site  Recovery  Act,  as  amended,  and the  rules  and
regulations  promulgated  thereunder  ("ISRA").  Except as described on Schedule
3.1.2 hereto, no consent, approval, authorization or waiver and no giving of any
notice, making of any filings or disclosures or otherwise in connection with the
execution,  delivery or  performance of this Agreement is necessary to assure to
the Acquired  Business the  continuance  of its  relationships  with its present
customers  or  suppliers  or the  continued  entitlement  by the  Buyer  and the
Acquired  Business  to  the  benefits  of  the  contracts   (including   without
limitation,  leases, agreements,  instruments,  licenses, permits,  commitments,
orders and  quotations) of the Acquired  Business.  This Agreement has been duly
authorized,  executed and delivered by the  Companies and the Sellers,  and this
Agreement  constitutes the legal,  valid and binding obligation of the Companies
and the  Sellers,  enforceable  in  accordance  with its terms.  The  execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Companies and the Sellers will
not:

                           (1)  constitute a violation  of  the  certificate  or
         articles of  incorporation or  the  by-laws,  as amended, of any of the
         Companies;

                           (2) except as  described  on Schedule  3.1.2  hereto,
         conflict with,  result in the breach of, constitute a default or result
         in the  acceleration of any liability or obligation under any contract,
         lease, agreement,  instrument,  license, commitment, order or quotation
         to which any of the Companies or the Sellers are parties or bound,

                           (3) constitute a violation of any statute,  judgment,
         order,  decree  or  regulation  or  rule  of  any  court,  governmental
         authority or arbitrator  applicable or relating to any of the Companies
         or the Sellers or their respective assets or businesses; or

                           (4)  result in the  creation  of any Lien upon any of
         the assets of the Companies or the Sellers or the Acquired Business.

     
     3.1.3 Minute Books. The Sellers have heretofore made available to the Buyer
all of the minute books of each of the Companies,  and such minute books reflect
in all material respects the corporate actions of the Board of Directors and the
shareholders of the Companies since December 1993.


<PAGE>


     3.1.4  Financial  Statements  and  Financial  Condition.  (a)  Each  of the
Companies  has  maintained  its books of account in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles  consistently applied, and such books and records
(i) are and,  during the  periods  covered  by the  Financial  Statements,  were
correct and complete in all material respects,  fairly and accurately reflect or
reflected the income, expenses,  assets and liabilities of the Companies and the
Acquired Business, including the nature thereof and the transactions giving rise
thereto,  and (ii)  provide  or  provided  a fair  and  accurate  basis  for the
preparation of the Financial Statements.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the assets, liabilities, and financial condition of the Companies and
the Acquired Business are fairly described and properly recorded in all material
respects  in the  financial  and  accounting  records of the  Companies  and the
Acquired Business underlying the Financial Statements.

     The following audited and unaudited  financial  statements of the Companies
are attached as Schedule 3.1.4 hereto:

                           (1) the  combined  audited  balance  sheet (the "1995
         Audited  Balance  Sheet") of the Companies as of December 31, 1995, and
         the related combined audited statements of income and of cash flows for
         the fiscal year ended on such date  (together  with  related  notes and
         schedules) (the 1995 Audited Balance Sheet and related statements being
         herein   together   referred   to  as  the  "1995   Audited   Financial
         Statements"); and

                           (2)  the  audited  combined  balance  sheets  of  the
         Companies  as of December  25, 1994 and the  related  audited  combined
         statements  of income and of cash  flows for the  fiscal  year ended on
         such date (together with related notes and schedules);

                           (3)  the  unaudited   combined   balance  sheet  (the
         "Interim  Balance Sheet") of the Companies as of June 30, 1996, and the
         related unaudited  combined  statements of income and of cash flows for
         the six  months  ended on such  date  (the  Interim  Balance  Sheet and
         related  statements  being herein together  referred to as the "Interim
         Financial Statements").

The financial statements described above, together with the financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1.4 hereof, are hereinafter together referred to
as the "Financial Statements".



<PAGE>


                  (b) The Financial  Statements have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles  consistently applied, are correct
and  complete  in all  material  respects  and present  fairly the  consolidated
financial  position of the Companies as of the dates of such  statements and the
results  of  operations  of the  Companies  for  the  periods  covered  by  such
statements,  subject in the case of the  Interim  Financial  Statements  and the
financial  statements  delivered  pursuant  to  Section  5.1.4  hereof to normal
year-end recurring adjustments and the absence of notes and schedules thereto.

                  (c) Each of the  Companies  has,  and on the Closing  Date the
Companies  will have, no liabilities  or  obligations  (absolute,  contingent or
otherwise)  of a nature  required by generally  accepted  accounting  principles
applied on a basis consistent with the 1995 Audited  Financial  Statements to be
reflected in audited financial statements, other than

             (i)  those set forth or  reserved  against in  the Interim  Balance
         Sheet or in the notes to the 1995 Audited Financial  Statements, and

             (ii) those incurred since the date of the Interim  Balance Sheet in
         the ordinary course of business in arms' length transactions, and which
         do  not  have  and  cannot  reasonably  be  expected  to  have,  in the
         aggregate, an adverse effect on the Companies.

                  The Financial Statements do not include or reflect any assets,
liabilities,  equity,  results  of  operations  or  cash  flows  of any  person,
corporation, partnership or other business other than the Companies.

     3.1.5  Title and Condition of Assets.  This Section 3.1.5 does not apply to
environmental matters,  including without limitation  Environmental  Conditions.
Each of the Companies has good and marketable title to the real property (in fee
simple),  and have good and unencumbered  title to interests  (including without
limitation leasehold interests) in real property and tangible personal property,
of the  Companies,  free and clear of liens,  encumbrances,  leases,  easements,
covenants,  licenses,  defects  of  title,  claims  of third  parties,  charges,
security interests, mortgages, pledges, equities,  restrictions,  agreements and
rights of others of every nature whatsoever  (hereinafter  collectively referred
to as "Liens"), other than Liens described on Schedule 3.1.5 hereto. To the best
knowledge  of the Sellers  (and,  with respect to leased  property,  to Sellers'
actual  knowledge,  without  investigation),  no improvement or structure on any
real  property  owned or  leased by the  Companies  encroaches  on any  adjacent
property or conflicts with the rights of any owner  thereof,  and no improvement
or structure on any property  owned or leased by any other person  encroaches on
any property owned or leased by the Companies.

                  The improvements, fixtures and appurtenances on or to the real
property  owned or  leased  by the  Companies,  and the  tangible  assets of the
Companies,  taken as a whole,  are  sufficient  to operate the Companies and the
Acquired Business in the ordinary course,  except as described on Schedule 3.1.5
hereto,  subject to the need to effect  ordinary  course  repairs  which,  until
effected,  will not  materially  adversely  affect the Companies or the Acquired
Business,  or the  financial  condition,  results of  operations  or  operations
thereof, or require any material cost to effect.

                  Except as  described  on  Schedule  3.1.5  hereto,  all of the
properties  and assets used by the  Companies in the  Acquired  Business and the
operations  thereof are owned or leased by the Companies and none of the Sellers
or any affiliates thereof,  have any interest in such properties and assets. The
Acquired Business is not conducted under any specific  restriction  imposed upon
the  Companies or the  Acquired  Business  (but not imposed  upon other  persons
conducting  similar  businesses or operating similar assets for similar purposes
in the  localities  where its  business  and assets are  located) by any zoning,
anti-pollution, health or other law, ordinance or regulation.

                  Except as  described  on Schedule  3.1.5  hereto,  none of the
assets owned or leased by any of the  Companies  have been affected by any fire,
accident, act of God or any other casualty that materially adversely impairs the
Companies or the  Acquired  Business,  or the  financial  condition,  results of
operations or operations thereof.

         Schedule  3.1.5 hereto includes a complete and correct list of all real
property and all interests in real property (including without limitation leases
of real property),  showing also the present use of such real property. Schedule
3.1.5  hereto  includes a complete  and correct  list of all  material  tangible
personal  property in the nature of machinery and equipment  owned,  operated or
leased by the Companies and used in connection with the Acquired Business. Since
December 1993, the Companies have not owned,  used,  operated or leased any real
properties other than the properties listed on Schedule 3.1.5 hereto.

      3.1.6  Inventories.  The inventories of the Companies are merchantable and
have been  valued at the lower of cost or market in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  applied  on a  consistent  basis.  To the best
knowledge  of the  Sellers,  none of the  Companies  is under any  liability  or
obligation with respect to the return of inventory  shipped at any time prior to
the Closing Date.

      3.1.7  Receivables.  The  trade  accounts and  other  receivables  of  the
Companies, are bona fide receivables, arose out of arms-length transactions, are
recorded  correctly on the  applicable  books and records of the Companies  and,
except as set forth on Schedule 3.1.7 hereto,  are  collectible  within 180 days
after the Closing Date in an amount equal to the  aggregate  face amount of such
receivables,  less the amount of any reserves against such receivables which are
reflected in the Closing  Balance  Sheet;  provided  that,  with respect to such
receivables  taken into  income  for  purposes  of  calculating  the  Companies'
Combined  Interim Pre-Tax  Earnings,  only 50% of the amount of such receivables
not so collectible shall be reimbursed to the Buyer by the Sellers, and provided
further that, with respect to any receivables payments received by the Companies
from a given account  debtor,  and only to the extent that such debtor shall not
have designated a receivable to which such payments  apply,  such payments shall
be applied first to receivables from such account debtor existing at the Closing
before  being  applied to  receivables  from the same debtor  arising  after the
Closing  (and  the  Sellers'   Representatives   shall  be  provided  with  such
documentation as they reasonably may request with respect to such  application).
If the Sellers  shall have paid to Buyer any amount with respect to a receivable
for breach of the  representation  as to  collectibility  set forth in the first
sentence of this Section 3.1.7 and the Companies thereafter shall have collected
any amount with respect to the same receivable prior to the first anniversary of
this  Agreement  such that the amount so paid by Sellers  and  collected  by the
Company  respecting such receivable  exceed the face amount of such  receivable,
the Buyer shall refund or cause the Companies to refund to Sellers the amount of
such excess.  Except for those  described on Schedule 3.1.7 hereto,  to the best
knowledge of the Sellers,  such trade  accounts  and other  receivables  are not
subject to any  counterclaim or set-off,  and no basis presently  exists for the
assertion of any counterclaim or set-off (or the repayment of any receivables or
payments heretofore received by the Companies).

      3.1.8  Insurance. Schedule 3.1.8 hereto contains a list of all policies of
insurance  maintained by the Companies,  including  insurance providing benefits
for  employees,  in effect  on the date  hereof  and  generally  describing  the
coverage thereby and indicating policies maintained by Kane-Miller Corp. for the
benefit of the Companies.  Except as described on Schedule  3.1.8 hereto,  there
are no claims pending or, to the best knowledge of the Sellers, threatened under
said  policies or disputes with  underwriters,  and all premiums due and payable
have been paid and all such  policies are in full force and effect in accordance
with their respective terms; and the Sellers make no  representation  under this
sentence with respect to premiums becoming due and payable after the date hereof
under  retrospective  policies.  Except for amounts deductible under policies of
insurance  and/or as described on Schedule  3.1.8 hereto,  none of the Companies
has at any time been subject to any liability as a self-insurer  of the business
and assets of the Companies.

      3.1.9  Litigation and Compliance; Environmental Matters.

                  (a) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto, there are no
actions, suits, claims or proceedings,  whether in equity or at law, pending or,
to the best knowledge of the Sellers,  threatened, and there are no governmental
or  administrative  investigations  pending  or,  to the best  knowledge  of the
Sellers,  threatened,  against the Companies or which  question or challenge the
validity of this  Agreement or any action taken or to be taken  pursuant to this
Agreement,  or,  pending or, to the best  knowledge of the  Sellers,  threatened
against any asset or property of others leased or used by the Companies.

                  (b) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  each of the
Companies is in, and has conducted its operations in compliance with, and is not
in  default  or  violation  in any  respect  under,  and has not  conducted  its
operations  in  violation  in any  respect  of,  any  law  (excluding,  however,
Environmental  Laws), rule,  regulation,  decree or order applicable to it where
the failure to be in compliance or such default or violation might result in the
imposition  upon  the  Companies,  the  Acquired  Business  or the  Buyer of any
material  penalty,  liability,  payment or  obligation  not  reserved for on the
Interim  Balance  Sheet  or  might  have a  material  adverse  effect  upon  the
Companies, the Acquired Business or the Buyer (or their successors and assigns),
or the  business,  financial  condition,  results of  operations  or  operations
thereof.  With respect to Environmental  Laws, to the best knowledge of Sellers,
except as  described  on Schedule  3.1.9  hereto,  none of the  Companies  is in
violation of any  Environmental  Law, where such  violation  might result in the
imposition  of any  material  penalty,  liability,  payment  or  obligation  not
reserved  for on the  Interim  Balance  Sheet or might have a  material  adverse
effect  upon the  Companies,  the  Acquired  Business  or the  Buyer  (or  their
successors  and  assigns),  or the  business,  financial  condition,  results of
operations or operations thereof.

                  (c)  Neither  the  Companies  nor  any  of the  assets  of the
Companies  is subject to any  judgment,  order,  decree,  settlement  or consent
agreement entered in any lawsuit or proceeding  specifically  against any of the
Companies or to which any of the Companies is a party,  which might  continue to
affect  any of the  Companies,  the  Acquired  Business  or  the  Buyer,  or the
business, financial condition, results of operations or operations thereof.

                  (d) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  each of the
Companies  has duly  filed all  reports  and  returns  required  (other  than by
Environmental  Laws)  to be filed by it with  governmental  authorities  and has
obtained all governmental  permits and licenses and other governmental  consents
which are required  (other than by  Environmental  Laws) in connection  with the
Acquired  Business and the  operations  thereof,  where the failure to file such
reports and returns or the failure to obtain such permits,  licenses or consents
(individually  or in the aggregate)  might result in the imposition  upon any of
the  Companies,  the Acquired  Business or the Buyer of any penalty,  liability,
payment or  obligation  not reserved for on the Interim  Balance  Sheet or might
have a material adverse effect upon any of the Companies,  the Acquired Business
or the Buyer,  or the business,  financial  condition,  results of operations or
operations  thereof.  Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  to the best
knowledge of the Sellers,  each of the  Companies has duly filed all reports and
returns  required  by  Environmental  Laws to be filed  by it with  governmental
authorities  and has  obtained all  governmental  permits and licenses and other
governmental  consents  which are required by  Environmental  Laws in connection
with the Acquired  Business  and the  operations  thereof,  where the failure to
obtain such permits,  licenses or consents  (individually  or in the  aggregate)
might result in the imposition upon any of the Companies,  the Acquired Business
or the Buyer of any penalty,  liability,  payment or obligation not reserved for
on the Interim Balance Sheet or might have a material adverse effect upon any of
the Companies,  the Acquired  Business or the Buyer, or the business,  financial
condition,  results of operations or operations thereof.  All permits,  licenses
and  consents  held by the  Companies  are set forth on Schedule  3.1.9  hereof.
Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto, all of such permits,  licenses and
consents are in full force and effect,  and no proceedings for the suspension or
cancellation of any of them is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Sellers,
threatened.

                  (e) Except as described on Schedule  3.1.9 hereto,  no notice,
citation,  summons or order has been  issued,  no complaint  has been filed,  no
penalty  has  been  assessed  and,  to the best  knowledge  of the  Sellers,  no
investigation  or review is pending or threatened by any  governmental  or other
entity (a) with respect to any alleged  violation of any  Environmental  Laws by
the Companies,  any subsidiaries or the Acquired Business or (b) with respect to
any  alleged  failure  by  the  Companies  to  have  any  environmental  permit,
certificate,  license,  approval,  registration  or  authorization  required  in
connection  with its  business;  or (c)  with  respect  to any use,  possession,
generation, handling, labeling, treatment, storage, recycling, transportation or
disposal (collectively  "Management") of any Hazardous Substance by or on behalf
of the Companies or the Acquired Business.

                  (f) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  neither the
Sellers nor any of the  Companies or any  subsidiaries  has received any request
for  information,  notice  of  claim,  demand  or  notification  that any of the
Companies or any subsidiaries is or may be potentially  responsible with respect
to any  investigation  or clean-up of any  threatened  or actual  release of any
Hazardous Substance.

                  (g) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  to the best
knowledge of the Sellers,  none of the Companies has used,  generated,  treated,
stored for more than 90 days,  recycled or disposed of any Hazardous  Substances
on any Covered Property,  nor, to the best knowledge of the Sellers,  has anyone
else  treated,  stored  for  more  than 90 days,  recycled  or  disposed  of any
Hazardous Substances on any Covered Property.

                  (h) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  to the best
knowledge  of the  Sellers,  no  polychlorinated  biphenyls  ("PCBs") or friable
asbestos-containing materials are or, to the best knowledge of the Sellers, have
been  present at any Covered  Property,  nor are there any  underground  storage
tanks,  active or abandoned,  at any Covered  Property  owned or operated by the
Companies or in connection with the Acquired Business.

                  (i)  To  the  best  knowledge  of the  Sellers,  no  Hazardous
Substance  generated by any of the Companies or in connection  with the Acquired
Business has been recycled,  treated,  stored, disposed of or transported by any
entity other than those listed on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto.

                  (j) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  to the best
knowledge of the  Sellers,  no  Hazardous  Substance  managed by or on behalf of
either of the Companies or in connection with the Acquired  Business has come to
be  located  at any site  which is  listed or  proposed  for  listing  under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended,  ("CERCLA"), the Comprehensive  Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability  Information System ("CERCLIS") or on any similar state list, or which
is the  subject  of  federal,  state  or  local  enforcement  actions  or  other
investigations  which may lead to claims  against the  Companies,  the  Acquired
Business or the Buyer for  clean-up  costs,  remedial  work,  damages to natural
resources or for personal injury or property damage claims,  including,  but not
limited to, claims under CERCLA.

                  (k) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  to the best
knowledge of the Sellers,  no Hazardous  Substance has been  released,  spilled,
leaked,  discharged,  disposed of, pumped, poured, emitted,  emptied,  injected,
leached,  dumped or allowed to escape  ("Released")  originating  at, on, about,
under or from any Covered Property.

                  (l) Except as described on Schedule  3.1.9 hereto,  no oral or
written  notification of a Release or threat of Release of a Hazardous Substance
has been filed by or on behalf of the Companies on any Covered Property. No such
Property is listed or, to the best knowledge of Sellers, proposed for listing on
the National Priority List promulgated  pursuant to CERCLA, on CERCLIS or on any
similar state list of sites requiring investigation or clean-up.

                  (m) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.9 hereto,  to the best
knowledge  of  Sellers,  there are no actions on any Covered  Properties  and no
government  actions  have been taken or are in  process or pending  specifically
against any of the Companies  which could subject any of such Properties to such
Liens.

                  (n) Except as listed in Schedule  3.1.9 hereto and  heretofore
provided  to  the  Buyer,   there  have  been  no   environmental   inspections,
investigations,  studies,  audits, tests, reviews or other analyses conducted by
or on behalf of any of the  Companies or in their  possession  or control on any
Covered  Property  or  the  Acquired   Business,   specifically   excluding  any
inspections,  investigations,  studies, audits, tests, reviews or other analyses
conducted  by or on behalf of the Buyer on any Covered  Property or the Acquired
Business.

                  (o) Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  except
as described on Schedule  3.1.9  hereto,  to the best  knowledge of the Sellers,
there exists no Environmental  Condition affecting or with respect to any of the
Companies or the Acquired Business,  or any Covered Property,  including without
limitation any of the foregoing  (individually  or in the aggregate) which might
result in the imposition upon any of the Companies, the Acquired Business or the
Buyer (or their  successors and assigns) of any Penalty,  liability,  payment or
obligation  not reserved for on the Interim  Balance Sheet or which might have a
material adverse effect upon any of the Companies,  the Acquired Business or the
Buyer, or the business, financial condition, results of operations or operations
thereof.

                  (p) For  all  purposes  of this  Agreement  as it  relates  to
knowledge  of  any  environmental  matter,  including  but  not  limited  to any
Environmental Condition, any reference to "to the best knowledge of the Sellers"
when  modifying any  representation  and warranty of the Sellers shall mean that
the Sellers have no actual knowledge that such representation or warranty is not
true and correct,  after  reasonable  inquiry  (which  Sellers agree to make) of
officers of the Companies,  the Companies'  environmental  engineers  (including
without limitation  Michael Desmelik),  plant managers at each of the Companies'
facilities and counsel to the Sellers.  Provided  further that actual  knowledge
shall not be deemed to include presumptive knowledge of laws.

     3.1.10  Taxes. (a) The Sellers and the Companies have filed timely, or will
file timely,  all Federal,  state, local and foreign Tax returns and information
returns of or related to the income of the Companies that they are, or they will
be,  required to file as of or prior to the Closing  Date,  and such  returns as
filed are or will be true and correct in all material respects. The Sellers have
delivered or made available to the Buyer all Federal,  state,  local and foreign
income or  franchise  Tax  returns of the  Companies  for all  periods  from and
including December 27, 1993.

      (b) All Taxes that the Companies were, or will be, required by law to pay,
withhold,  deposit or collect as of the Closing Date have been, or will be, duly
paid, withheld,  deposited or collected and, to the extent required,  have been,
or will be, paid to the relevant taxing authority, or accrued.

     (c)  The  Companies  have  not  received   notice  of  any  Tax  deficiency
outstanding, proposed or assessed nor have they executed any waiver or extension
of any statute of  limitations  on the assessment or collection of any Taxes nor
are  there  any  powers  of  attorney  in  force  with  respect  to Taxes of the
Companies.

     (d) There are no Tax Liens upon,  pending against or, to the best knowledge
of the Sellers and the Companies, threatened against any asset of the Companies,
other than Liens for Taxes  arising in the  ordinary  course and not yet due and
payable.

     (e) The Federal  income Tax returns of the Companies  have been examined by
the Internal  Revenue  Service for all periods to and  including  the year ended
December  31,  1991,  and all  deficiencies  asserted  in  connection  with  the
examination  of such returns have been paid or finally  settled and no issue has
been raised by the Internal Revenue Service in any such examination  which could
be expected  to result in a proposed  deficiency  for the current  period or any
other past or future period nor, by application of similar principles,  could be
expected to result in a proposed deficiency for state or local Taxes.

     (f)The Companies have not filed a consent under Section 341(f) of the Code.

     (g) There is no  contract,  agreement,  plan or  arrangement  covering  any
person that, individually or collectively, could give rise to the payment of any
amount that would not be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code.

     (h)  None  of the  Companies  is a  party  to,  is  bound  by,  nor has any
obligation under, any Tax sharing agreement or similar contract.

     (i)  IPC  has  satisfied,   and  will  continue  to  satisfy,  all  of  the
requirements to be treated as an "S Corporation"  under Subchapter S of the Code
from the date of its incorporation through and including the Closing Date.

    3.1.11  Intangible Assets.  Schedule 3.1.11 hereto sets forth:

                           (1) all  patents,  patent  applications,  trademarks,
         trademark    registrations,    pending   applications   for   trademark
         registrations, trade names and copyrights which the Companies own or in
         which the Companies have any  proprietary  interest which the Companies
         are presently using or operating under; and

                           (2) all license agreements with respect to any of the
         foregoing as to which the Companies are licensor or licensee.

No patents,  trademarks,  trade names or  copyrights  not  described on Schedule
3.1.11 are  necessary in connection  with the conduct of the Acquired  Business.
Except as described on Schedule  3.1.11 hereto,  there are no pending or, to the
best  knowledge of the Sellers,  threatened  claims against the Companies by any
person with respect to any of the items, or their use, listed on Schedule 3.1.11
or claims of infringement by the Companies on the rights of any person,  and, to
the best knowledge of the Sellers, no valid basis exists for any such claims.

    3.1.12  Employee Benefits.

     (a) All employee  pension  benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(2) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")),  welfare
benefit  plans (as defined in Section  3(1) of ERISA),  bonus,  stock  purchase,
stock ownership,  stock option,  deferred  compensation,  incentive,  severance,
termination  or other  compensation  plan or  arrangement,  and  other  material
employee  fringe benefit  plans,  other than  multiemployer  plans as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA, presently maintained by, or contributed to by any of the
Companies or for which any of the Companies  could have any liability are listed
in Schedule  3.1.12 (the "Benefit  Plans"),  a true and complete copy of each of
which, and, where applicable, a copy of the most recent IRS Form 5500 filed with
respect  to each  such  Benefit  Plan,  has been  furnished  to the  Buyer.  The
Companies have no obligation to create any additional  Benefit Plan or to modify
any existing Benefit Plan.

     (b) The  Companies  and each of the Benefit  Plans are in compliance in all
material respects with the applicable  provisions of ERISA, and those provisions
of the Code  applicable to the Benefit Plans.  With respect to all Benefit Plans
intended  to  satisfy  the  requirements  of  Section  401(k) of the  Code,  all
non-discrimination  tests under Section  401(k) have been satisfied for all plan
years, or excess contributions have been distributioned prior to the date any of
the Companies would incur a penalty under the Code.

     (c) Except as may be disclosed in Schedule 3.1.12,  all  contributions  to,
and payments  from, the Benefit Plans which may have been required to be made in
accordance with the Benefit Plans and, when applicable,  Section 302 of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code,  have been timely made. All such  contributions  to the
Benefit  Plans for any period  ending  before the Closing Date that are not yet,
but will be,  required  to be made are  properly  accrued and  reflected  on the
Closing Balance Sheet.

     (d) Except as indicated on Schedule 3.1.12,  all material reports,  returns
and similar  documents  with respect to the Benefit  Plans  required to be filed
with any government  agency or distributed to any Benefit Plan  participant have
been duly and timely filed or distributed.

     (e) The Companies  have  complied in all material  respects with the notice
and  continuation  coverage  requirements  of Section  4980B of the Code and the
regulations  thereunder with respect to each Benefit Plan that is, or was at any
time, a group health plan within the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code.

     (f) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.1.12,  all of the Benefit Plans which
are pension benefit plans have received  determination letters from the Internal
Revenue  Service  ("IRS") to the effect that such plans are qualified and exempt
from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the
Code;  and no  determination  letter with  respect to any Benefit  Plan has been
revoked  nor,  to  the  best  knowledge  of the  Sellers,  has  revocation  been
threatened,  nor has any Benefit  Plan been  amended  since the date of its most
recent  determination  letter or application therefor in any respect which would
adversely  affect  its  qualification  or  materially  increase  its cost and no
Benefit  Plan has been  amended in a manner  that would  require  security to be
provided in accordance with Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

     (g) Each of the Benefit Plans has been  administered  at all times,  and in
all material  respects,  in accordance with its terms except that in any case in
which any Benefit Plan is currently required to comply with a provision of ERISA
or of the Code, but is not yet required to be amended to reflect such provision,
it has been administered in accordance with such provision.

     (h)  There  are  no  pending  investigations  by  any  governmental  agency
involving the Benefit Plans,  no termination  proceedings  involving the Benefit
Plans,  and no  threatened  or pending  claims  (except for claims for  benefits
payable in the normal  operation  of the Benefit  Plans),  suits or  proceedings
against any Benefit Plan or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any
Benefit Plan which could give rise to any material  liability,  nor, to the best
knowledge  of the  Sellers,  are there any facts  which  could  give rise to any
material  liability  in the  event of any  such  investigation,  claim,  suit or
proceeding.

     (i) Neither the  Benefit  Plans,  the  Companies,  nor any  employee of the
foregoing,  nor,  to the best  knowledge  of the  Sellers,  any  trusts  created
thereunder,  nor any trustee,  administrator  or other  fiduciary  thereof,  has
engaged in a "prohibited  transaction"  (as such term is defined in Section 4975
of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could  subject any thereof to the tax
or penalty  on  prohibited  transactions  imposed  by such  Section  4975 or the
sanctions imposed under Title I of ERISA. Neither the Benefit Plans nor any such
trust has been  terminated  nor have  there  been any  "reportable  events"  (as
defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations thereunder) with respect to
either thereof.

     (j) The Companies  have not incurred any  liability to the Pension  Benefit
Guaranty  Corporation ("PBGC") with respect to any Benefit Plan subject to Title
IV of ERISA, other than for the payment of premiums, all of which have been paid
when due.  No Benefit  Plan has  applied for or received a waiver of the minimum
funding standards imposed by section 412 of the Code. The Sellers have furnished
to the Buyer the most recent  actuarial report with respect to each Benefit Plan
that is a defined benefit pension plan, as defined by Section 3(35) of ERISA. No
event has occurred since the date of any such  actuarial  report that had, or is
likely to have, a materially  adverse  effect on the ratio of plan assets to the
actuarial  present value of plan  obligations for accumulated  benefits shown in
such report.  Except to the extent  disclosed on Schedule  3.1.12  hereto,  with
respect to each Benefit Plan that is a defined benefit plan, in the event of the
termination  of any such  Benefit  Plan as of July 31,  1996 and  payment of the
benefit  liabilities  thereof,  there  would be no "amount of  unfunded  benefit
liabilities"  as defined in Section  4001(a)(18)  of ERISA in any of the Benefit
Plans  subject  to Title IV of  ERISA,  as  determined  in  accordance  with the
actuarial  assumptions  used by the  PBGC to  determine  the  level  of  funding
required in the event of such termination.

     (k) For purposes of this Section  3.1.12,  all  references to the Companies
shall include any other  employer (an  "Affiliate")  that is or was at any time,
together  with  any of the  Companies,  treated  as a  "single  employer"  under
Sections 414(b), 414(c) or 414(m) of the Code.

     (l)  Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.1.12  hereto,  at no time have the
Companies been required to contribute to, or incurred any withdrawal  liability,
within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA to any  multiemployer  plan,  within
the  meaning of Section  3(37) of ERISA.  All  multiemployer  plans,  within the
meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA,  to which the any of the Companies is, or has
been at any time within the past five (5) years,  required to contribute or with
respect to which any of the Companies  could have any liability are disclosed in
Schedule 3.1.12.

     (m) The Companies have not and will not incur any liability with respect to
any planor  arrangement that would be included within the definition of "Benefit
Plan"  hereunder but for the fact that such plan or  arrangement  was terminated
before the date of this Agreement.

     (n) Except as indicated on Schedule 3.1.12 or as otherwise required by law,
there are no  obligations  to provide  health or welfare  benefits to retired or
terminated employees.

     3.1.13 Labor Relations.  (a) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.13 hereto,
no  employees  of  the  Companies  are  covered  by  any  collective  bargaining
agreement.

     (b) To the  best  knowledge  of the  Sellers,  each  of the  Companies  has
complied in all respects with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to
the employment of labor,  including without  limitation those relating to wages,
hours, unfair labor practices,  discrimination,  immigration,  payment of social
security and similar taxes where the failure to be in  compliance  (individually
or in the aggregate)  might result in the imposition  upon any of the Companies,
the Acquired Business or the Buyer of any material penalty,  liability,  payment
or  obligation  not  reserved for on the Interim  Balance  Sheet or might have a
material adverse effect upon any of the Companies,  the Acquired Business or the
Buyer (or their successors and assigns),  or the business,  financial condition,
results of operations or operations thereof.

     (c) To the best knowledge of the Sellers, none of the Companies has engaged
in any unfair labor  practice,  and there are no  complaints  against any of the
Companies pending before the National Labor Relations Board or any similar state
or local labor agency by or on behalf of any  employee of any of the  Companies.
There are no representation questions,  arbitration proceedings,  labor strikes,
slow-downs or stoppages,  grievances or other labor troubles  pending or, to the
best knowledge of the Companies and the Sellers,  threatened with respect to the
employees of any of the Companies.

     3.1.14  Contracts,  Etc. (a) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.14 hereto,
all contracts, leases, agreements,  instruments,  licenses,  commitments, orders
and  quotations to which any of the Companies are a party or by which any of the
Companies  are bound  (and all  guarantees  by third  parties  and all bonds and
letters of credit  securing,  supporting or relating to the  obligations  of the
Companies under any such contracts, leases, agreements,  instruments,  licenses,
commitments,  orders and  quotations) are valid and in full force and effect and
constitute the legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the Companies  (and, to
the best knowledge of the Sellers, such guarantors and issuers of such bonds and
letters of credit) and, to the best knowledge of the Sellers,  the other parties
thereto,  and there are no existing defaults by any of the Companies (or, to the
best knowledge of the Companies and the Sellers,  such guarantors and issuers of
such bonds and letters of credit) or, to the best  knowledge of the Sellers,  by
any other party  thereunder  and no event,  act or omission has  occurred  which
(with or without  notice,  lapse of time or the  happening or  occurrence of any
other event) would result in a default thereunder.

     (b) Except as described on Schedule  3.1.14  hereto,  no other party to any
such contract,  lease,  agreement,  instrument,  license,  commitment,  order or
quotation (or guarantee,  bond or letter of credit) has asserted the right, and,
to the best  knowledge of the Sellers,  no basis exists for the assertion of any
right,  to  renegotiate  the terms or  conditions of any such  contract,  lease,
agreement,   instrument,  license,  commitment,  order  or  quotation  (or  such
guarantee, bond or letter of credit).

     (c) Except as described on Schedule 3.1.14 hereto and based upon prices and
pricing  referents  in  effect  on the date  hereof,  the  Companies'  regularly
prepared  supplier  profit  analyses  indicate  that  no  contract,   agreement,
instrument,  commitment,  order or quotation of the Companies will result in any
loss on such contract, agreement, instrument,  commitment, order or quotation in
excess of $25,000  individually  or $250,000 in the  aggregate,  and none of the
Companies is subject to any penalty or charge based on any failure by any of the
Companies to duly and timely perform its obligations under any contract,  lease,
agreement,  license,  instrument,  commitment,  order or quotation of any of the
Companies.

     (d) All contracts, leases, agreements,  instruments, licenses, commitments,
orders and  quotations  to which any of the Companies is a party or by which any
of the Companies is bound (and all guarantees by third parties and all bonds and
letters of credit  securing,  supporting or relating to the  obligations  of the
Companies under any such contracts, leases, agreements,  instruments,  licenses,
commitments,  orders and quotations) are listed on Schedule 3.1.14 hereto except
the following:

                          (1)  employment  agreements  terminable  at will,  and
         contracts for miscellaneous  services  terminable at will,  without the
         payment  of  any  penalty,   bonus,  severance  payment  or  additional
         compensation;

                          (2)  purchase orders and contracts with suppliers; and

                          (3)  miscellaneous  contracts,   leases,   agreements,
         instruments,  licenses,  commitments,  orders and quotations  involving
         aggregate  liabilities  under all such contracts,  leases,  agreements,
         instruments,  licenses,  commitments, orders and quotations of not more
         than $20,000 individually or $200,000 in the aggregate.

The  Companies  have  heretofore  delivered  to the Buyer or its  counsel  true,
correct and complete copies of all contracts,  leases, agreements,  instruments,
licenses,  commitments,  orders and quotations  (and all  guarantees,  bonds and
letters of credit) listed on Schedule  3.1.14 hereto,  other than those excluded
by subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection (d).

     3.1.15  Customers and Suppliers.  Schedule 3.1.15 sets forth: (i) a list of
the five largest  customers of the Companies at each Company  location,  and the
twenty  largest  customers of the Companies  across all  locations,  in terms of
dollar  sales for both the fiscal year ended  December  31, 1995 and the interim
period from January 1, 1996 through June 30, 1996, showing the approximate total
sales by the  Companies to each such  customer at each such  location or, in the
case of the twenty largest customers, in aggregate,  during such fiscal year and
interim period;  and (ii) a list of the five largest  suppliers of the Companies
at each Company  location,  and the twenty  largest  suppliers of the  Companies
across  all  locations,   in  terms  of  purchases  by  tonnage   amounts  (with
corresponding  dollar  amounts) for both the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995
and the interim  period from January 1, 1996 through June 30, 1996,  showing the
approximate  total  purchases by the  Companies  from each such supplier at each
such  location or, in the case of the twenty  largest  suppliers,  in aggregate,
during  such fiscal year and interim  period.  Except as  described  on Schedule
3.1.15  hereto,  since  June 30,  1996,  there  has not  been  any  termination,
cancellation  or material  limitation,  modification  or change in the  business
relationship  of the  Companies  with  any such  customer  or  supplier  and the
Companies  and the  Sellers  are  unaware  of any  threatened  loss of any  such
customer or supplier.  The Sellers have delivered,  at least three days prior to
the date  hereof,  to the  Buyer  true and  complete  copies  of all  contracts,
commitments and other agreements between the Companies and each of the customers
and  suppliers  set forth on Schedule  3.1.15,  other than  purchases  and sales
orders  entered  into  in  the  ordinary   course  of  business  in  arms-length
transactions and consistent in nature and scope with past practice,  true copies
of which have been made available to the Buyer.  Schedule  3.1.15 sets forth the
termination  date of each such contract,  commitment or other agreement with the
customers and suppliers set forth on Schedule 3.1.15 hereof.

     3.1.16  Absence of  Certain  Changes,  Etc.  (a) Since the date of the 1995
Audited  Financial  Statements,  except as described on Schedule  3.1.16 hereto,
there  has  been  no  material  adverse  change  in  the  business,  results  of
operations,  operations or financial  condition of the Companies or the Acquired
Business,  and there are no events with  respect to any of the  foregoing,  that
threaten to disrupt, prevent or impair the conduct of the Acquired Business in a
material adverse manner.

     (b) Since the date of the Interim Financial Statements, except as described
on Schedule 3.1.16 hereto, none of the Companies has:

                  (1)  made  or  agreed  to  make  any  capital  expenditure  or
         commitment  for additions to property,  plant or equipment,  except for
         expenditures  and  commitments  not  exceeding  $50,000 per  individual
         expenditure and $250,000 in the aggregate;

                  (2) experienced  any damage,  destruction or loss to or of any
         of their assets, whether or not covered by insurance,  which might have
         a material  adverse  effect  upon any of the  Companies,  the  Acquired
         Business or the Buyer, or the business, financial condition, results of
         operations or operations thereof;

                  (3) made or agreed to make any  increase  in the  compensation
         payable to any employee whose existing  aggregate  annual  compensation
         equals  or  exceeds  $60,000  or any  increase  of  greater  than 4% in
         aggregate  annual  compensation  payable to all  employees,  except for
         increases made in the ordinary course of business pursuant to presently
         existing policies or agreements described on Schedule 3.1.16 hereto;

                  (4)  conducted  its operations otherwise than  in the ordinary
         due course;

                  (5) entered into any  transaction  or contract,  or amended or
         terminated any transaction or contract,  except normal  transactions or
         contracts  consistent  in nature  and scope with  prior  practices  and
         entered  into in the  ordinary  course  of  business  in  arms'  length
         transactions,   which   transaction   or  contract,   or  amendment  or
         termination  thereof,  might have a material  adverse  effect  upon the
         Acquired Business or the Buyer, or the business,  financial  condition,
         results of operations, operations or the prospects thereof;

                  (6) increased or  experienced  any material  adverse change in
         any  assumption   underlying  any  method  of  calculating  bad  debts,
         contingencies  or other  reserves  from that  reflected  in the Interim
         Financial Statements;

                  (7)  canceled  or  waived  any  claim or right of  substantial
         value,  or  sold,  transferred,   distributed  (except  to  the  extent
         permitted  by this  Agreement  or  otherwise  agreed to by the Buyer in
         writing) or  otherwise  disposed of any of their  assets,  except for a
         fair consideration in the ordinary course of business;

                  (8) except in accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting
         principles  applied  on  a  basis  consistent  with  the  1995  Audited
         Financial  Statements,  written  down or  written  up the  value of, or
         changed the method of  valuing,  any  inventory;  changed the manner in
         which cost allocations are made; written off as uncollectible any note,
         trade  account or other  receivable  (except  pursuant to Section 3.1.7
         hereof);

                  (9)  disposed  of,  permitted  to lapse or, in the case of any
         trade  secret,  disclosed  to any third  person any  proprietary  right
         (including  without  limitation any licensed right) listed or described
         on Schedule 3.1.16 hereto;

             (10)  paid  any  management  fee or made  any  distribution  of its
         property  or  assets  to the  Sellers  in their  capacity  as such,  or
         declared,  paid or set aside for payment any  dividend  (of any kind or
         nature) or distribution  with respect to shares of their capital stock;
         or

             (11)  agreed to do any of the foregoing.

     3.1.17  Subsidiaries,   Etc.  None  of  the  Companies  owns,  directly  or
indirectly,  any  equity  securities  of any entity or  enterprise  and does not
conduct any of their  businesses  through any subsidiary,  entity or enterprise,
other than, in the case of ITSI,  Food By-Product  Recycling,  Inc., an Illinois
corporation and a directly wholly owned subsidiary of ITSI.

     3.1.18 Title to the Shares;  Capitalization  of the  CompaniesTitle  to the
Shares;  Capitalization  of the  Companies.  The  Sellers are the sole owners of
record and  beneficial  owner of all of the  outstanding  shares of the  capital
stock of IPC and ITSI,  which in turn own 100% of the outstanding  capital stock
of each other Company.  The  outstanding  capital stock of the Companies and the
ownership  thereof  (beneficial and record) is as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
All of such issued shares have been duly  authorized  and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable,  and none of them were issued in violation of any
preemptive or other similar  right.  Each Seller  represents  severally (and not
jointly) that such Seller has good and marketable  title to the Shares set forth
opposite such  Seller's  name on Exhibit A hereto,  free and clear of all Liens,
and has the right,  title,  power and  authority to sell,  assign,  transfer and
deliver  the Shares to the Buyer.  There are no, and on the  Closing  Date there
will not be any, authorized, outstanding or existing:

                           (1) except under the Shareholder Agreements, proxies,
         voting trusts or other agreements or understandings with respect to the
         voting  of any  capital  stock  of or  other  equity  interests  in the
         Companies;

                           (2)  securities  convertible into or exchangeable for
         any capital stock of or other equity interest in any of the Companies;

                           (3) except under the Shareholder Agreements, options,
         warrants or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any capital stock
         of or  other  equity  interests  in the  Companies  or  any  securities
         convertible  into or  exchangeable  for any  capital  stock of or other
         equity interests in the Companies;

                           (4)  agreements  of any kind relating to the issuance
         of any capital stock of or other equity interests in the Companies, any
         such  convertible  or  exchangeable  securities  or any  such  options,
         warrants or rights;

                           (5)  agreements  of any kind which may  obligate  the
         Companies to issue,  purchase,  register for sale,  redeem or otherwise
         acquire any of their securities or interests; or

                           (6) Liens or restrictions (other than restrictions on
         the  distribution  of the  Shares  that  may be  applicable  under  the
         Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended)  of any kind with  respect to the
         capital stock or other equity interest of the Companies.

     3.1.19 Other  Information;  Buyer's  Investigation.  This Agreement and the
Exhibits  and  Schedules  hereto are true,  correct and complete in all material
respects  and do not contain any  statement  which is false or  misleading  with
respect to a material  fact,  and do not omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the  statements  therein not false or  misleading.  The Sellers
acknowledge and agree that the Buyer's due diligence investigations with respect
to the Companies  shall not affect,  qualify or modify in any respect any of the
representations and warranties of the Sellers under this Agreement.

     3.1.20.  "To the Best  Knowledge of the Sellers".  For all purposes of this
Agreement (except with respect to the  representations  regarding  environmental
matters  set forth in  Section  3.1.9  hereof),  any  reference  to "to the best
knowledge of the Sellers" when modifying any  representation and warranty of the
Sellers shall mean that the Sellers have no knowledge  that such  representation
and  warranty  is not true and  correct in all  respects  (with  respect to each
Seller,  giving  effect to the  degree  of such  Seller's  participation  in the
management or operation of the Companies or their predecessors and to a standard
of diligence  exercised by a reasonable  person  similarly  situated)  and, with
respect to Sellers who are officers or directors of any of the Companies, that:

                           (1) such Sellers have made such  investigations,  and
         have  made  such  inquiries  of  directors,  officers  and  responsible
         employees of the Companies and of legal counsel,  independent auditors,
         actuaries  and  other  persons  who  have  performed  services  for the
         Companies,  as shall be reasonably  necessary to determine the accuracy
         of such representation and warranty; and

                           (2) nothing has come to their attention in the course
         of such investigation and review or otherwise,  which would cause them,
         in the exercise of due diligence (in  accordance  with the standards of
         what a reasonable  man in similar  circumstances  (giving effect to the
         degree of such Seller's  participation  in the management or operations
         of the  Companies  or their  predecessors)  would  have done to satisfy
         himself as to the  accuracy of the  representation  and  warranty),  to
         believe that such  representation  and warranty is not true and correct
         in all respects.

     3.2  Representations  and Warranties of the Buyer. The Buyer represents and
warrants  to the  Sellers as  follows,  and  acknowledges  that the  Sellers are
relying  upon  such  representations  and  warranties  in  connection  with  the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

     3.2.1  Organization  and Good  Standing.  The Buyer is a  corporation  duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.

     3.2.2 Consents,  Authorizations  and Binding Effect. The Buyer may execute,
deliver and perform this Agreement  without the necessity of the Buyer obtaining
any  consent,  approval,  authorization  or  waiver  or  giving  any  notice  or
otherwise,  except for notifications  required under the HSR Act. This Agreement
has been duly  authorized,  executed and delivered by the Buyer and  constitutes
the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Buyer,  enforceable in accordance
with its terms.  The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement will
not:

                           (1)  constitute a  violation of  the  Certificate  of
         Incorporation or the By-laws, as amended, of the Buyer;

                           (2)   conflict   with,   result  in  the  breach  of,
         constitute a default or result in the  acceleration of any liability or
         obligation under any contract, lease, agreement,  instrument,  license,
         commitment or order to which the Buyer is a party, or

                           (3) constitute a violation of any statute,  judgment,
         order,  decree  or  regulation  or  rule  of  any  court,  governmental
         authority or arbitrator applicable or relating to the Buyer.

  4.  CERTAIN COVENANTS.

     4.1. Access to Records and Properties of the Companies. Between the date of
this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Companies  shall give to the Buyer such
access to the  premises,  books and  records of the  Companies  and to cause the
officers and employees of the Companies to furnish such  financial and operating
data and other information with respect to the Companies as the Buyer reasonably
shall request from time to time,  including,  without  limitation,  the right to
conduct  environmental  assessments,  samplings or testings.  Any  investigation
pursuant  to this  Section  4.1  shall be  conducted  in such  manner  as not to
interfere unreasonably with the businesses and operations of the Companies.  Any
investigation conducted on the premises of the Companies shall be conducted only
after oral or written notice to the Companies.

     In the event the sale and purchase hereunder shall not be consummated,  the
Companies,  the Sellers and the Buyer shall treat in confidence  (and not use to
the  detriment  of  the  other  parties)  all  documents,  materials  and  other
information which they shall have obtained  regarding the Companies or the Buyer
during the course of the negotiations  leading to the transactions  contemplated
hereby,  the  investigation of the Companies or the Buyer and the preparation of
this  Agreement,  and shall  return  all  copies  of  non-public  documents  and
materials which have been furnished in connection therewith.

    4.2  Operation of the Companies, Etc.

     4.2.1 Until the Closing,  each of the Companies  shall operate its business
as presently operated and only in the ordinary course, and, consistent with such
operation, shall use best efforts to preserve its present employees,  reputation
and business  organization  of the Companies and its  relationship  with persons
having business dealings with it.

     4.2.2 Each of the  Companies  shall use best efforts to continue in effect,
until immediately following the completion of the Closing, all present insurance
coverage with respect to its assets, businesses and employees.

     4.2.3  Each of the  Companies  shall  comply  with and  shall  not to be in
default or violation in any material respect under any law,  regulation,  decree
or order  applicable to its  businesses,  operations or assets of the Companies.
Each of the  Companies  shall  promptly  notify  the Buyer of any  Environmental
Condition  arising  or  discovered  by it  after  the date  hereof.  Each of the
Companies  agrees,  and the Sellers warrant,  that, from the date hereof through
and  including  the Closing  Date,  it will not take any action  that  adversely
affects the  environmental  condition of any Covered  Property.  Nothing in this
Section 4.2.3 shall be  interpreted to expand the scope or terms of the Sellers'
representations and warranties with respect to environmental matters,  including
without limitation Environmental Conditions.

     4.2.4 Each of the  Companies  and the Sellers shall refrain from taking any
action,  and shall not  suffer to exist  any event or  occurrence,  which  would
render  any  representation  and  warranty  of the  Companies  and  the  Sellers
contained in Section 3.1  inaccurate at any time between the date hereof and the
Closing Date,  including as of the Closing Date, and shall  promptly  advise the
Buyer of any breach of any representation and warranty,  covenant,  condition or
obligation  of the  Companies  or the Sellers  hereunder.  Without  limiting the
generality  of the  foregoing,  the  Companies and the Sellers shall not make or
permit any  distribution  of property or assets of any of the  Companies  to the
Sellers (other than  distributions to Sellers permitted by Section 2.4, ordinary
course of compensation  payments and expense  reimbursements to Sellers actively
engaged in  employment  by the  Companies or fees and  payments  pursuant to the
non-competition  and management  services agreements set forth on Schedule 4.2.4
hereto),  or declare,  pay or set aside for payment any dividend (of any kind or
nature)  or  distribution  with  respect to shares of the  capital  stock of the
Companies.

     4.3 Consents and Notices. Promptly after the date hereof, the Sellers shall
use  their  best  efforts  to  obtain  all  consents,   waivers,  approvals  and
authorizations  which may be  necessary  to  effectuate  this  Agreement  and to
consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereby in accordance  with the terms
hereof,  or to continue in effect and to assure that the  Acquired  Business and
the Buyer shall continue to be entitled to all of the benefits of the contracts,
leases, agreements, instruments, licenses, commitments, orders and quotations of
the Acquired  Business  including  without  limitation those consents,  waivers,
approvals and authorizations  described on Schedule 3.1.2 hereto, and shall give
all  notices to third  parties  required  to be given by the  Companies  and the
Sellers in  contemplation  and as a result of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement, including without limitation those notices described on Schedule
3.1.2.

     4.4 Competing Transactions. The Sellers shall not take any action, directly
or  indirectly,  to cause,  promote or authorize  any  transaction  competing or
interfering  with  any of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,
including  without  limitation  any  merger,  consolidation  or  reorganization,
acquisition or disposition of assets, tender offer or exchange offer.

     4.5 Best Efforts to Satisfy Conditions. The Companies and the Sellers shall
use their best efforts to cause the  conditions to the  obligations of the Buyer
contained  in  Sections  5.1 and 5.3 to be  satisfied  to the  extent  that  the
satisfaction  of such  conditions  is in the  control of the  Companies  and the
Sellers,  and the Buyer shall use best  efforts to cause the  conditions  to the
obligations  of the Companies and the Sellers  contained in Sections 5.2 and 5.3
to be satisfied to the extent that the satisfaction of such conditions is in the
control of the Buyer;  however,  the foregoing shall not constitute a limitation
upon the respective  covenants and  obligations of the Companies and the Sellers
and the Buyer otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement.

     4.6 Antitrust Law  Compliance.  The Companies and the Sellers and the Buyer
shall   prepare  and  file  with  the  United   States   Department  of  Justice
("Department") and the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") any notification to this
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  hereby pursuant to the HSR Act, or
any other statute, rule or regulation administered by the Department or the FTC.
The Companies,  the Sellers and the Buyer shall comply promptly with any request
by the Department or FTC for additional  documents or information  and shall use
their best efforts to obtain early  termination  of the waiting period under the
HSR Act.

    4.7  Non-Competition; Confidentiality; Disclosure of Information, Etc.

     4.7.1 The following covenants are entered into for the purpose, among other
things, of assuring to the Buyer the benefit of the businesses and assets of the
Acquired  Business,  including  without  limitation  the customer  lists and the
business relationships and arrangements with contractors,  customers, designers,
distributors,  wholesalers,  retailers and  suppliers of the Acquired  Business,
together with the goodwill associated with such businesses, lists, relationships
and  arrangements.  The Sellers shall not,  without the prior written consent of
the Buyer,  for a period of five  years  after the  Closing  Date,  directly  or
indirectly,*

                           (1) render  consulting  or  advisory  services  to or
         financially support in any manner, or be a proprietor,  a director,  an
         officer,  an employee,  an agent, a partner,  a shareholder (other than
         ownership of less than one percent of the outstanding voting securities
         of  any  entity  whose  voting  securities  are  traded  on a  national
         securities  exchange,  provided  that  any  of the  other  restrictions
         contained  in this  sentence  are not  applicable,  and other  than the
         operations of the entities as described and set forth on Schedule 4.7.1
         hereto with respect to the Sellers  listed  thereon) or a lender to, or
         otherwise promote, any business, enterprise, person, firm, corporation,
         association or other entity that competes  directly or indirectly  with
         the Acquired Business, or any transferee of the Acquired Business,

                           (2)  interfere  with,  disrupt  or attempt to disrupt
         existing or any then existing  relationship,  contractual or otherwise,
         between the Buyer or the Acquired  Business and any of their customers,
         suppliers,  clients,  executives,  employees or other persons with whom
         the  Buyer  or the  Acquired  Business  or any of their  affiliates  or
         subsidiaries deal, or

                           (3) employ, solicit for employment, attempt to employ
         or assist any other entity in employing or  soliciting  for  employment
         any employee or executive  who is at that time employed by the Buyer or
         the Acquired Business.

     4.7.2 The Sellers shall not,  directly or indirectly,  without the specific
prior written consent of the Buyer,  at any time after the date hereof,  divulge
to any business,  enterprise,  person, firm,  corporation,  association or other
entity, or use for the Sellers's own benefit,

                           (1)  any  confidential   information  concerning  the
         businesses,  affairs,  customers, suppliers or  clients of the Acquired
         Business, or

                           (2)  any  data  or  statistical  information  of  the
         Acquired Business,

whether  created or  developed  by the  Companies  or with  respect to which the
Sellers may have knowledge or access,  it being the intent of the parties hereto
to restrict  the Sellers  from  disseminating  or using any data or  information
which is at the time of such use or  dissemination  unpublished  and not readily
available or generally known to persons involved or engaged in any businesses of
the type engaged in by the Acquired Business.

     4.7.3 Although the restrictions contained in Section 4.7.1 and 4.7.2 hereof
are  considered  by  the  parties  hereto  to be  fair  and  reasonable  in  the
circumstances,  it is recognized that  restrictions  of the nature  contained in
Sections 4.7.1 and 4.7.2 may fail for technical reasons,  and accordingly if any
of such restrictions  shall be adjudged to be void or unenforceable for whatever
reason,  but would be valid if part of the wording thereof were deleted,  or the
period  thereof  reduced or the area dealt with  thereby  reduced in scope,  the
restrictions  contained in Sections 4.7.1 and 4.7.2 shall apply, at the election
of the Buyer,  with such  modifications  as may be necessary to make them valid,
effective  and  enforceable  in  the  particular   jurisdiction  in  which  such
restrictions are adjudged to be void or unenforceable.

     4.7.4 The  covenants  contained  in this  Section  4.7  shall  inure to the
benefit of the Buyer,  any  successor  of the Buyer and each  subsidiary  of the
Buyer.

   4.8  Covenants Regarding Taxation.

     4.8.1 Returns and PaymentsReturns and Payments.  (a) Sellers shall cause to
be prepared and filed all Tax returns and reports with respect to the  Companies
for all Tax periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date.  Sellers shall cause
to be timely paid all Taxes to which such returns relate for all periods covered
by such  returns,  except  to the  extent  that an  accrual  for  such  Taxes is
reflected in the Closing Balance Sheet.

     (b) The Buyer shall cause to be prepared  and timely  filed all Tax returns
of the  Companies  for taxable  periods  beginning  before and ending  after the
Closing Date ("Straddle Period Returns"). All such Straddle Period Returns shall
be prepared and all elections with respect to such returns shall be made, to the
extent permitted by law, in a manner consistent with prior practice with respect
to the  Companies.  The Buyer and the Sellers  expect that all  Straddle  Period
Returns  shall apply to Taxes other than Taxes  imposed  upon or measured by net
income, as to which Sellers have made the  representations  contained in Section
3.1.10(b).

     (c) The Buyer  shall  cause to be paid  timely all Taxes for the periods to
which the  Straddle  Period  Returns  relate.  Sellers  will pay to the Buyer an
amount  equal to the  Pre-Closing  Taxes due with  respect to any such  Straddle
Period Returns filed by the Buyer, but only to the extent such Pre-Closing Taxes
exceed the amount  accrued  for Tax  liabilities  on the  Financial  Statements.
Pre-Closing  Taxes shall be calculated on the basis of the taxable income of the
Companies as though the taxable year of the Companies terminated at the close of
business on the day immediately  preceding the Closing Date, provided,  however,
that in the case of a Tax not based on income,  Pre-Closing Taxes shall be equal
to the  amount  of Tax  for the  taxable  year  multiplied  by a  fraction,  the
numerator of which shall be the number of days from the beginning of the taxable
year through the day immediately  preceding the Closing Date and the denominator
of which shall be the number of days in the taxable  year.  Any amounts  owed by
the  Sellers to the Buyer  pursuant to this  Section  4.8.1 shall be paid by the
Sellers  within the later of five days of the Buyer's  request  therefor or five
days prior to the date on which  Purchaser  is  required to cause to be paid the
related Tax liability.

     4.8.2  Indemnification.  The Sellers will  indemnify  and hold harmless the
Buyer  and the  Companies  against  any and all Tax  liability  in excess of the
amounts  accrued  therefor on the Closing  Balance Sheet for (i) Taxes  assessed
against the Companies with respect to all taxable  periods ending on or prior to
the  Closing  Date,  (ii)  Pre-Closing  Taxes that  relate to a Straddle  Period
Return,  and (iii)  federal,  state and local income and franchise  Taxes of any
member of any affiliated group of which any of the Companies is or were a member
for any taxable  period by reason of its being  severally  liable for the entire
Tax of such affiliated  group pursuant to Income Tax Regulations ss. 1.1502-6 or
any analogous  state or local tax  provision.  The Buyer and the Sellers  hereby
acknowledge and agree that the procedures set forth in Sections 7.1.3 and 7.1.7,
which  hereby are  incorporated  by  reference,  shall apply with respect to the
Sellers' indemnification obligations under this Section 4.8.2.

     4.8.3 Cooperation.  After the Closing Date, the Buyer and the Sellers shall
make  available  to the  other,  as  reasonably  requested,  and  to any  taxing
authority, all information,  records or documents relating to Tax liabilities or
potential Tax liabilities of the Companies for all periods prior to or including
the Closing Date and shall preserve all such information,  records and documents
until the  expiration of any  applicable  statute of  limitations  or extensions
thereof.  Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, each party shall bear its
own expenses in complying with the foregoing provisions.

     4.9 ISRA Compliance. The Sellers, at the Companies' cost and expense, shall
provide Buyer with sufficient evidence to demonstrate the  non-applicability  of
ISRA.

     4.10 Certain Environmental Matters. (a) With respect to any Remedial Action
effected by the Buyer and relating to an Environmental  Condition  identified by
the Phase II investigations conducted by the Buyer's environmental consultant at
each of the  Sites  and  Locations  set forth on  Schedule  4.10,  the costs and
expenses of such Remedial  Action shall be borne by the Buyer and the Sellers as
follows:

                           (i)   The Buyer shall  be  responsible for  the first
         $25,000 for each Site;

                           (ii) The Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers,  on
         the other,  shall  share  equally  all costs and  expenses in excess of
         $25,000 for each Site,  provided  that the Sellers total share of costs
         and expenses  under this  Section  4.10 with  respect to each  Location
         shall be limited to $100,000 for such Location.

The Sellers'  responsibilities  for funding  remedial actions under this Section
4.10 shall not be subject to the Basket (as  defined in Section  7.1.2  hereof).
The Buyer may, but need not  exclusively,  seek recovery of Sellers'  portion of
costs and expenses of the Remedial  Actions taken  pursuant to this Section 4.10
from the Escrow Amount.

     4.11  Certain  Insurance  Matters.   (a)  With  respect  to  any  workmans'
compensation,  automobile or general liability  insurance premium increases with
respect to the Companies  after the Closing based on  retrospective  policies or
occurrences  or insurance  audits for any period  prior to Closing,  the Sellers
shall be responsible for and shall reimburse to the Buyer such premium increases
(after  giving  effect to any  anticipated  federal and state tax benefit to the
Companies or the Buyer attributable to such premium increase and any anticipated
federal and state tax  liability to the Companies or the Buyer  attributable  to
Sellers'  payments  hereunder) up to an aggregate  amount equal to $500,000 less
any reserve for premium  increases set forth on the Closing Balance Sheet,  less
the  anticipated  federal  and state tax benefit to the  Companies  or the Buyer
attributable to a $500,000  aggregate  premium increase and plus any anticipated
federal and state tax liability to the Companies or the Buyer  attributable to a
Sellers' payment hereunder with respect to a $500,000 aggregate premium increase
(such amount,  as reduced in accordance  with  subsection  (b) hereof by premium
increases paid, being referred to as the "Sellers' Premium Amount"). The parties
agree that the  applicable  combined  federal and state tax rate for purposes of
this Section 4.11 shall be 38%.

     (b) Any premium  increases paid under this Section 4.11 shall be applied to
reduce the Sellers'  Premium Amount.  In addition,  Sellers shall be entitled to
receive  all  premium  refunds  (after  giving  effect  to any  anticipated  tax
liability to the  Companies or Buyer  attributable  to such premium  refunds) so
resulting   from  periods  prior  to  Closing  at  the  end  of  all  applicable
retrospective periods in accordance with subsection (d) hereof.

     (c) The Buyer may, but need not exclusively,  seek recovery of any payments
from Sellers  hereunder from the Escrow Amount.  The parties agree that the then
existing  Sellers'  Premium Amount as of the Final Release Date (as such term is
defined in the Escrow  Agreement) shall be, and may be submitted as, a Claim and
an  Aggregate  Amount in  Dispute  (as such  terms  are  defined  in the  Escrow
Agreement)   under  the  Escrow   Agreement   until  any  remaining   applicable
retrospective insurance periods are finalized.

     (d) At the end of all applicable retrospective periods and after payment of
all  applicable  premium  increases  (not to exceed in the aggregate the initial
Sellers' Premium Amount),  any remaining  Sellers' Premium Amount held under the
Escrow Agreement shall be released to the Sellers and all premium refunds (after
giving  effect  to any  anticipated  tax  liability  to the  Companies  or Buyer
attributable to such premium refunds) so resulting from periods prior to Closing
shall be refunded to the Sellers.


   5.  CONDITIONS OF CLOSING

     5.1 Conditions of Obligations of the Buyer. The obligations of the Buyer to
consummate  the  purchase  and sale  under  this  Agreement  are  subject to the
satisfaction of the following express conditions, each of which may be waived by
the Buyer.

     5.1.1  Representations  and  Warranties;  Performance of  Obligations.  The
representations  and  warranties  of the  Companies and the Sellers set forth in
Section 3.1 hereof that are qualified as to  materiality  shall have been and be
true and correct in all respects and the  representations  and warranties of the
Companies  and the  Sellers  set forth in  Section  3.1  hereof  that are not so
qualified shall have been made and be true and correct in all material respects,
in each case at all times  commencing with the date of this Agreement and ending
with and on the  Closing  Date as  though  made on and as of the  Closing  Date,
except to the extent such  representations and warranties speak as of an earlier
date.  The  Companies and the Sellers shall have  performed the  agreements  and
obligations  required to be performed by them under this Agreement  prior to the
Closing Date.  Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the Companies
and the  Sellers  shall have  obtained  all  consents,  waivers,  approvals  and
authorizations,  and shall have given all  notices to third  parties,  listed on
Schedule  3.1.2 or  Schedule  4.3 hereto or  required  to be  obtained  or given
pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof, or necessary to convey, sell,  transfer,  assign
and deliver the Acquired  Business to the Buyer,  and its successors and assigns
forever, free and clear of all Liens of every nature and description whatsoever.

     5.1.2  Certificates  and  Instruments  of Transfer.  The Sellers shall have
delivered to the Buyer certificates representing the Shares, accompanied by duly
executed stock powers, with all required stock transfer tax stamps affixed.

     5.1.3 Opinion of Counsel to the Sellers.  The Buyer shall have received the
opinion of Kilpatrick & Cody, in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

     5.1.4 Financial Statements. The Companies shall have delivered to the Buyer
the unaudited  consolidated  balance sheet of the Companies as of July 31, 1996,
and the related  unaudited  combined  statements of income and of cash flows for
the month of July 1996 and the seven  month  period  ended July 31,  1996.  Such
unaudited financial statements shall:

                           (1) be  prepared  in a  manner  consistent  with  the
         manner in which the 1995 Audited  Financial  Statements and the Interim
         Financial Statements shall have been prepared; and

                           (2) be prepared in conformity with generally accepted
         accounting principles  consistently applied, be correct and complete in
         all respects and present fairly the consolidated  financial position of
         the  Companies  as of the date of such  statements  and the  results of
         operations of the Companies for the period covered by such  statements,
         subject to normal year-end recurring adjustments;

and the Buyer shall have received a certificate of the Companies and the Sellers
to that effect.

     5.1.5 No  Adverse  Change.  Neither  the  business,  operations,  financial
condition, assets, liabilities nor results of operations of the Companies or the
Acquired  Business as of the  Closing  Date shall have  changed in a  materially
adverse manner from that reflected in the Interim Financial Statements.

     5.1.6 Escrow Agreement. The Sellers, the Companies and the Buyer shall have
entered into an escrow  agreement with the Escrow Agent (as set forth  therein),
substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

     5.1.7 Employment Agreements.  James B. Stevens and Michael S. Stevens shall
have entered into employment agreements, substantially in the form of Exhibits G
and H, respectively.

     5.1.8 ISRA  Non-Applicability.  The  Sellers and the  Companies  shall have
obtained from the New Jersey Department of Environmental  Protection the "Letter
of Non-Applicability" referred to in Section 3.1.2 hereof.

     5.1.9  Resignations.  All of the  directors  and  officers  of  each of the
Companies  shall have  tendered to the  Companies  his or her  resignation  as a
director and officer, as the case may be, such resignation to be effective as of
immediately following the Closing.

     5.1.10 Other Matters.  The Companies and the Sellers shall have  furnished,
or caused to be furnished,  to the Buyer, in form and substance  satisfactory to
counsel to the Buyer, such certificates and other evidence as the Buyer may have
reasonably  requested as to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in this
Section 5.1 and as to such other matters as the Buyer may reasonably request.

     5.2  Conditions  of  Obligations  of the Sellers.  The  obligations  of the
Sellers to consummate  the purchase and sale under this Agreement are subject to
the  satisfaction  of the  following  express  conditions,  each of which may be
waived by the Sellers.

     5.2.1  Representations  and  Warranties;  Performance of  Obligations.  The
representations and warranties of the Buyer set forth in Section 3.2 hereof that
are qualified as to  materiality  shall have been and be true and correct in all
respects  and the  representations  and  warranties  of the  Buyer  set forth in
Section  3.2 hereof  that are not so  qualified  shall have been and be true and
correct in all material respects,  in each case at all times commencing with the
date of this Agreement and ending with and on the Closing Date as though made on
and as of the  Closing  Date,  except to the  extent  such  representations  and
warranties  speak as of an earlier  date.  The Buyer  shall have  performed  the
agreements and  obligations  required to be performed by it under this Agreement
prior to the Closing Date.

     5.2.2 Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer.  The Sellers shall have received the
opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads, in the form of Exhibit I hereto.

     5.2.3 Closing Purchase Price. The Buyer shall have transferred the Purchase
Price as provided in Section 2.1.

     5.2.4  Other  Matters.  The Buyer  shall  have  furnished,  or caused to be
furnished,  to the Sellers,  in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to
counsel to the Sellers,  such certificates and other evidence as the Sellers may
have reasonably  requested as to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in
this  Section 5.2 and as to such other  matters as the  Sellers  may  reasonably
request.

     5.3 Conditions of Obligations of the Buyer and the Sellers.  The respective
obligations  of the Sellers and the Buyer to  consummate  the  purchase and sale
under this Agreement are subject to the  satisfaction  of the following  express
conditions.

     5.3.1 HSR Act. The waiting  period,  including any  extensions,  shall have
expired, or shall have been earlier terminated, under the HSR Act.

     5.3.2 No Injunctions,  Restraints or Litigation.  No temporary  restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent  jurisdiction or other legal  restraint or prohibition  preventing the
consummation  of the purchase and sale hereunder  shall be in effect;  provided,
however,  that the party or parties invoking this condition shall use reasonable
efforts  to have any such  order  or  injunction  vacated.  There  shall  not be
threatened,  instituted  or  pending  any  action,  proceeding,  application  or
counterclaim  by any  governmental  entity  before  any  court  or  governmental
regulatory  or  administrative  agency,  authority  or  tribunal  (i)  which  if
adversely  determined  would have a material  adverse effect on the Companies or
the ability of any party to this Agreement to perform its obligations  hereunder
or (ii)  which  challenges  or seeks to  challenge,  restrain  or  prohibit  the
consummation of the purchase and sale hereunder.


    6. CLOSING

     6.1 Closing Date. The closing for the consummation of the purchase and sale
contemplated  by this Agreement (the  "Closing")  shall,  unless another date or
place is agreed to in writing by the  Sellers  and the Buyer,  take place at the
offices of Dechert Price & Rhoads,  477 Madison  Avenue,  New York, New York, at
10:00  o'clock in the forenoon  (New York City time),  on the date (the "Closing
Date") which is the later of August 30, 1996 or a date, mutually satisfactory to
the Sellers and the Buyer,  within 10 days after the  expiration  of any waiting
period under the HSR Act or the early  termination  thereof.  The parties  agree
that the effective time of Closing shall be 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date.

     6.2 Cut-Off  Date. In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred on
or before September 30, 1996, then the Buyer or the Sellers shall have the right
(provided  in each case that such  person or  persons is not in breach of its or
their obligations under this Agreement), exercisable at any time after such date
by notice in writing,  to terminate this Agreement and its or their  obligations
hereunder.  In the event  that,  prior to  September  30,  1996,  any party (the
"Breaching  Party") is in material breach of its or their obligations under this
Agreement (and such breach cannot be reasonably cured, or the Breaching Party is
not taking  reasonable  efforts to cure such breach,  and, in either event, such
breach is not  waived),  then,  so long as any other  party (the  "Non-Breaching
Party")  entitled to the benefit of such obligations is not in default of its or
their obligations under this Agreement,  the Non-Breaching  Party shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement (unless such breach is or has been cured prior
to the giving of such notice of termination).

     6.3  Effect of  Termination.  No  termination  of this  Agreement,  whether
pursuant to this Section 6 or otherwise,  shall terminate or impair any claim by
the Buyer against the Sellers,  or by the Sellers against the Buyer,  based upon
any breach by the other of its or their obligations if such breach serves as one
or more reasons for the failure of the conditions  contained in Section 5 hereof
to have been satisfied.


     7.   MISCELLANEOUS

      7.1      Indemnification Generally.

     7.1.1  The  Sellers,  jointly  and  severally,  shall  indemnify  the Buyer
against,  and hold the Buyer  harmless from, at all times after the date hereof,
any  and  all  loss,  damage   (including   without   limitation   punitive  and
consequential damages), claim, liability, penalty, payment or obligation and all
costs and  expenses  (including  without  limitation  reasonable  legal fees and
including  without  limitation  all costs and  expenses  incurred to effect,  or
relating  to,  any  investigation  or  Remedied  Action)  ("Claims"),  incurred,
suffered, sustained or required to be paid by the Buyer, resulting from, arising
out of, based upon or in respect of:

                           (1) any breach of a  representation  or warranty that
         is  qualified  as  to   materiality,   or  any  material  breach  of  a
         representation  or  warranty  that  is not so  qualified,  made  by the
         Companies  and the  Sellers  in  this  Agreement  or in any  agreement,
         document or  instrument  executed and delivered  pursuant  hereto or in
         connection with the closing of the transactions hereunder; or

                           (2) any material  breach of any of the  agreements or
         covenants  made by the Sellers in this  Agreement  or the  Companies in
         Section 4 hereof.

The Sellers'  indemnification  obligation  under this  Section  7.1.1 for Claims
shall be after giving effect to any anticipated federal and state tax benefit to
the Buyer  attributable to such Claim and any anticipated  federal and state tax
liability  to the Buyer  attributable  to the  indemnification  proceeds of such
Claim; and the parties agree that the applicable  combined federal and state tax
rate for such purpose shall be 38%. To the extent that a liability or lack of an
asset is recorded on the Closing Balance Sheet,  the Buyer shall not be entitled
to assert a Claim  under this  Section  7.1.1 for such  liability  or lack of an
asset.

     7.1.2  The  Buyer   shall  not  be   entitled   to  assert  any  claim  for
indemnification against the Sellers in respect of a breach of any representation
and  warranty  or  covenant  under  Section  7.1.1 or the costs and  expenses of
remediation  (other than the Sellers'  obligations under Section 4.10 hereof, to
which the Basket shall not apply) until such time as all claims of the Buyer for
indemnification  as aforesaid  against the Sellers  shall exceed  $175,000  (the
"Basket"),  at which time all claims for indemnification against the Sellers may
be asserted.  Further,  the dollar amount of the indemnification  obligations of
the Sellers in respect of claims  under said clause (1) (other than claims which
are also asserted under clause (2) of Section 7.1.1,  which shall not be subject
to the limitation  described in this  sentence) for breaches of  representations
and warranties as aforesaid may not exceed the sum of the Purchase Price.

     7.1.3 The Sellers shall have the right,  but not the  obligation,  at their
own expense, to contest, defend or litigate, and to retain counsel of its choice
in  connection  therewith,  any claim,  action,  suit or proceeding by any third
party  alleged or  asserted  against the Buyer in respect  of,  resulting  from,
related to or arising out of any Claim for monetary  damages only under  Section
7.1.1.  hereof, if the Sellers give prompt notice of their intention to do so to
the Buyer.  If the Sellers  give such  prompt  notice and  promptly  assume such
defense,  the Sellers shall not be required to reimburse the Buyer for its costs
and expenses incurred prior to the assumption by the Sellers of such defense. In
the event that the Sellers  shall assume the defense of any such claim,  action,
suit or proceeding as aforesaid,  the Buyer shall  nevertheless  be permitted to
continue to  participate  in any such claim,  action,  suit or  proceeding  with
counsel of its choice at its  expense.  The  Sellers  shall not be  entitled  to
settle or compromise  any such claim,  action,  suit or  proceeding  without the
prior written  consent of the Buyer,  which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld;  except  that the  consent of the Buyer  shall not be required if such
settlement  would entail solely the payment of cash damages payable in full (and
not by  installment  or on any  deferred  basis) for which the Sellers  shall be
responsible  and shall effect payment  simultaneously  with the execution of any
settlement  agreement  and releases and provided that such  settlement  does not
entail any admission or stipulation which might materially  adversely affect the
Buyer or the  Acquired  Business  (or  their  successors  and  assigns),  or the
business,  financial condition,  results of operations,  operations or prospects
thereof, subsequent to the Closing Date.

     7.1.4 The Sellers acknowledge and agree that the Buyer may continue to (but
shall not be  obligated  to)  operate the  Acquired  Business in the same manner
conducted by the Companies prior to the date hereof, and such continuation shall
not be construed to release, discharge or constitute a defense of the Sellers of
or to their obligations under this Section 7.1.

     7.1.5 The Buyer shall indemnify the Sellers  against,  and hold the Sellers
harmless from, at all times after the Closing Date, any and all Claims incurred,
suffered,  sustained  or required  to be paid by the  Sellers,  resulting  from,
arising out, based upon or in respect of:

                           (1) any breach of a  representation  or warranty that
         is  qualified  as  to   materiality,   or  any  material  breach  of  a
         representation or warranty that is not so qualified,  made by the Buyer
         in this Agreement or in any agreement,  document or instrument executed
         and delivered  pursuant hereto or in connection with the closing of the
         transactions contemplated hereunder; or

                           (2)  any material breach of any covenant made by the 
         Buyer in or pursuant to this Agreement.

The Buyer's indemnification obligation under this Section 7.1.5 for Claims shall
be after  giving  effect to any  anticipated  federal tax benefit to the Sellers
attributable  to such Claim and any  anticipated  federal tax  liability  to the
Sellers  attributable  to the  indemnification  proceeds of such Claim;  and the
parties  agree that the  applicable  federal tax rate for such purpose  shall be
35%.

     7.1.6 The Buyer shall have the right,  but not the  obligation,  at its own
expense, to contest,  defend or litigate, and to retain counsel of its choice in
connection  therewith,  any claim, action, suit or proceeding by any third party
alleged or asserted against the Sellers in respect of,  resulting from,  related
to or arising out of any Claim under Section  7.1.5  hereof,  if the Buyer gives
prompt notice of its intention to do so to the Sellers.  If the Buyer gives such
prompt notice and promptly assumes such defense, the Buyer shall not be required
to  reimburse  the Sellers for their costs and  expenses  incurred  prior to the
assumption  by the  Buyer of such  defense.  In the event  that the Buyer  shall
assume the defense of any such claim,  action,  suit or proceeding as aforesaid,
the Sellers shall  nevertheless  be permitted to continue to  participate in any
such claim,  action,  suit or  proceeding  with counsel of their choice at their
expense. The Buyer shall not be entitled to settle or compromise any such claim,
action,  suit or proceeding  without the prior  written  consent of the Sellers,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     7.1.7 The Buyer,  the  Companies  or the  Sellers  shall give to each other
prompt  notice of the  assertion  by any third  party of any claim  against  the
Buyer,  the Companies or the Sellers with respect to which any of them intend to
make a claim for  indemnification  under this  Section  7.1,  including  without
limitation  claims  comprising  the Basket.  Any notice of any claim pursuant to
this Section 7.1 shall set forth the dollar amount  thereof  sought by the party
seeking indemnification, unless the amount of such claim is not yet determinable
(and such notice shall so state),  and a statement of the facts  underlying such
claim in  reasonably  sufficient  detail (to the extent  such facts are  readily
available  to the party  claiming  indemnification)  so as to  inform  the party
against  which  indemnification  is sought as to the basis of such claim and the
manner in which the amount of such claim was computed.  The Buyer, the Companies
and the Sellers  shall  cooperate  with each other in any  investigation  by the
others of any such claim.

     7.1.8 All  representations  and  warranties  contained in this Agreement or
made  pursuant  hereto shall survive the closing of the  transactions  hereunder
until  the  second   anniversary   of  the   Closing   Date,   except  that  the
representations  and  warranties  of the Sellers  contained in Sections  3.1.10,
3.1.12 and 3.1.18 [tax,  ERISA and title to Shares] hereof shall survive without
limitation as to time. The expiration of any  representation  and warranty shall
not affect any claim  made  prior to the date of such  expiration,  and no claim
shall  be  made  with  respect  to  a  representation  and  warranty  after  its
expiration.  All  covenants  contained  in  Articles  1,  2,  4, 6 and 7 of this
Agreement  shall  survive  the  closing of the  transactions  hereunder  without
limitation  as to time,  except to the extent  any such  covenant  is  expressly
limited as to time.

     7.1.9 Exclusive Remedy. The indemnification remedies under this Section 7.1
shall be the  exclusive  remedy to the Buyer and the  Sellers  with  respect  to
Claims under this Agreement for breaches of  representations  and warranties and
breaches of covenants made under this Agreement.

     7.2  Environmental  Remedial Action  Procedures.  In the event that (i) the
Sellers  breach a  representation  or warranty  with regard to an  environmental
matter,  (ii) the Buyer  asserts a claim against the Sellers under Section 7.1.1
hereof for such breach and (iii)  Remedial  Action is required by a governmental
agency  with  jurisdiction,  by a third party  claim or by  applicable  law with
respect to an environmental  matter at a Covered  Property,  then the Buyer will
permit the Sellers to manage and/or  implement the Remedial Action (the "On-Site
Activities"), subject to the following conditions:

                  (a) Sellers  agree that in exercising  their  responsibilities
under these provisions,  they shall use their best efforts to avoid and minimize
any damage to real or personal property or harm to any persons,  and to minimize
any interference  with or disruption of the Buyer's  operations and business and
will  indemnify  and hold the Buyer  harmless  from any  negligence  or  willful
misconduct  in  performing  Remedial  Actions.  To this end,  Sellers  and their
respective  environmental  consultants  shall  consult  fully  with Buyer in the
planning and execution of all On-Site  Activities.  The Buyer,  on the one hand,
and the Sellers'  Representatives,  on the other hand, shall each designate from
time to time an individual  responsible  for  communication  with each party and
their  environmental  consultants with respect to On-Site  Activities and notify
each other of the identity of such individual.

                  (b) The Sellers  shall select an  environmental  consultant(s)
who is reasonably  satisfactory  to the Buyer for the purpose of performing  the
Remedial Action ("Environmental Consultant").

                  (c)  All   Remedial   Action   shall  meet  the   "Appropriate
Remediation Standard" (as defined below).

                  (d) The Sellers shall provide the Buyer with copies of written
proposals with respect to any proposed On-Site Activities and the results of any
sampling  and  analysis  (including  any status  reports of work in progress) or
reports  required to be  submitted  to any  governmental  authority or person in
connection with conducting the On-Site  Activities.  The Buyer shall be provided
with a  reasonable  opportunity  to review and  comment on any of the  foregoing
prior to submission to any governmental  authority and/or  implementation by the
Sellers. The Sellers shall incorporate all reasonable  suggestions by the Buyer.
The  Sellers  shall  provide  the Buyer with  reasonable  advance  notice of any
meeting to be held with any governmental authority having jurisdiction regarding
such On-Site Activities.  Unless such governmental  authority objects, the Buyer
shall have the right to attend and participate in any such meeting.

                  (e) The Sellers agree to diligently and expeditiously  perform
or cause to be performed all On-Site  Activities to completion and in compliance
with all applicable  Environmental  Laws and the Buyer's  reasonable  health and
safety and access requirements.

                  (f) Nothing  contained  herein  shall  prohibit or prevent the
Buyer from  effecting at Sellers' cost any Remedial  Action which is required to
be taken or to be made by Sellers  under this  Agreement  but which the  Sellers
fail to take  (or to make)  in a  reasonably  timely  fashion  after  reasonable
notice,  under the  circumstances,  has been given by the Buyer to  Sellers  and
which Remedial Action is required by a governmental authority with jurisdiction,
as  required by  applicable  Environmental  Laws,  or is  necessary  to abate an
imminent  threat to public or employee health or safety or a threat of injury to
property.

                  (g) The Remedial Action shall be deemed completed upon receipt
by the  Buyer  or  Sellers  from the  appropriate  governmental  authority  with
jurisdiction  of a "no further  action," "clean closure" or other similar letter
or written statement providing that such governmental authority will not require
further  Remedial  Action  or, in the event  that the  Remedial  Action  was not
required to be performed  under the  supervision of a governmental  authority or
for whatever  reason the  applicable  governmental  authority  does not issue or
ceases as a  practice  to issue  such a letter or  written  statement,  then the
Remedial  Action  shall be  deemed  completed  upon  receipt  by the  Buyer of a
certification  from the  Environmental  Consultant that implemented the Remedial
Action stating that (i) the Remedial Action has been fully implemented; and (ii)
the "Appropriate Remediation Standard" (as defined below) has been achieved.

                  (h) The Sellers, as soon as practicable upon completion of any
On-Site  Activities,  shall  restore  any  adversely  affected  portions  of the
property to its  pre-disturbed  condition  such that the Buyer can  continue its
operations in the manner in which they were conducted  immediately  prior to the
commencement of the On-Site Activities.

                  (i) The  provisions  of this  Section  7.2 in no way limit the
Sellers'  obligations  to  indemnify  the  Buyer  pursuant  to the terms of this
Agreement  except that out of pocket costs  reasonably and properly  incurred by
the Sellers in satisfying its obligations under this Section shall be applied in
the calculation of the aggregate monetary indemnity  limitation in Section 7.1.2
hereof.

                  (j) For purposes of this Section 7.2, "Appropriate Remediation
Standard"  shall mean:  publicly  available  or  routinely  applied  remediation
standards, guidelines or policies, regulations, ordinances or other requirements
of  Environmental  Laws  imposed  by any  applicable  governmental  agency  with
jurisdiction.  In the event that a governmental authority does not impose such a
standard,  then an applicable  remediation  standard which has been published or
promulgated by the  governmental  authority with  jurisdiction as of the date of
the  Remedial  Action  shall be  presumed to apply.  The Sellers  will make best
efforts to avoid the selection of any standard that will unreasonably  interfere
with the Buyer's operation of the Acquired Businesses.  Provided,  however, that
in no event will the  Appropriate  Remediation  Standard be at a level for which
the Buyer, or, for any leased Covered Property,  the applicable lessor, would be
required to impose or implement  institutional or structural  controls or access
restrictions,  unless  the  only  reasonable  Appropriate  Remediation  Standard
applicable to the Sellers  Remedial  Action  performed in  accordance  with this
Section 7.2 specifically requires such controls or restrictions.  In such event,
the Sellers shall be responsible for all costs and expenses associated with such
controls or restrictions and for obtaining any required third party consents.

     7.3 Further Actions. From time to time, as and when requested by the Buyer,
the Sellers  shall execute and deliver,  or cause to be executed and  delivered,
such  documents  and  instruments  and shall  take,  or cause to be taken,  such
further or other  actions as may be deemed  necessary  or desirable to carry out
the intent and purposes of this  Agreement,  to transfer,  assign and deliver to
the Buyer, and its successors and assigns, the Acquired Business (or to evidence
any  of  the  foregoing)  and  to  consummate  and  give  effect  to  the  other
transactions, covenants and agreements contemplated hereby.

     7.4 Broker's  Fees. The Sellers (on behalf of themselves and the Companies)
and the Buyer  represent  and  warrant to the other that they have and it has no
obligation  or liability  to any broker or finder by reason of the  transactions
which are the subject of this Agreement.

     7.5 Expenses. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Sellers
and the Buyer shall each bear their own legal fees and other costs and  expenses
with respect to the  negotiation,  execution and the delivery of this  Agreement
and the  consummation  of the  transactions  hereunder,  and the  assets  of the
Acquired  Business shall not be reduced or impaired by the payment or accrual of
any costs and expenses  incurred in connection with the  negotiation,  execution
and the delivery of this  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the  transactions
hereunder;   provided,   however,   that  the  Companies  shall  pay  the  fees,
out-of-pocket  costs and expenses of Kilpatrick & Cody, counsel to the Companies
and the Sellers, incurred in connection with the negotiation,  execution and the
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions hereunder.

     7.6 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  which  includes  the Exhibits and
Schedules  hereto and the other documents,  agreements and instruments  executed
and delivered  pursuant to or in connection  with this  Agreement,  contains the
entire  agreement  between the Buyer, the Companies and the Sellers with respect
to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement and  supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereto.

     7.7 Descriptive  Headings.  The descriptive  headings of this Agreement are
for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction
of any provision of this Agreement.

     7.8  Notices.  All notices or other  communications  required or  permitted
hereunder  shall be in  writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i)
upon  delivery if delivered  by hand;  (ii) four days  subsequent  to mailing if
mailed by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, in the continental
United States; (iii) two days subsequent to pick up by such courier if sent by a
nationally-  or   internationally-recognized   overnight  courier  service  that
regularly  maintains  records of items  picked up and  delivered  or;  (iv) when
transmitted if sent by  telecopier,  provided that a written  acknowledgment  of
receipt  signed by or on behalf of the recipient of the telecopy is  transmitted
back to the sender by the recipient as follows:

         If to the Buyer or the Sellers after the Closing:

                  Darling International Inc.
                  251 O'Connor Ridge Boulevard
                  Suite 300
                  Irving, Texas  75038
                  Attention:  President
                  Telecopy:  214-281-4449

         with a copy to:

                  Dechert Price & Rhoads
                  477 Madison Avenue
                  New York, New York 10022
                  Attention:  Fredric J. Klink, Esq.
                  Telecopy:  212-308-2041

         If to the Sellers:

                  Harold Oelbaum
                  Kane-Miller Corp.
                  555 White Plains Road
                  Tarrytown, New York  10591
                  Telecopy:  914-631-4707

                  and

                  James B. Stevens
                  2191 Northlake Parkway
                  Suite 116
                  Tucker, Georgia  30084
                  Telecopy:  770-939-8410

         with a copy to:

                  Kilpatrick & Cody
                  1100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2800
                  Atlanta, Georgia  30309-4530
                  Attention:  Harold E. Abrams, Esq.
                  Telecopy:  404-815-6555

Any  party  may  by  notice   change  the  address  to  which  notice  or  other
communications to it are to be delivered or mailed.

                  7.9 Governing  Law7.9  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be
governed by and  construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of Georgia
(other than the choice of law  principles  thereof).  Any action,  suit or other
proceeding  initiated by the Buyer or the Sellers  against the other under or in
connection  with this  Agreement  may be brought in the  Federal  courts for the
Northern  District of Georgia or any state court in Fulton County,  Georgia,  as
the  party  bringing  such  action,  suit  or  proceeding  shall  elect,  having
jurisdiction  over the subject matter thereof.  The Buyer and the Sellers hereby
submit themselves to the jurisdiction of any such court.

                  7.10  Remedies7.10  Remedies.  The parties hereto  acknowledge
that the  remedy at law for any  breach  of the  obligations  undertaken  by the
parties hereto is and will be  insufficient  and inadequate and that the parties
hereto shall be entitled to equitable relief, in addition to remedies at law. In
the event of any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, the Sellers
shall waive the defense  that there is an  adequate  remedy at law.  The Sellers
acknowledge that the Acquired Business constitutes unique assets which cannot be
readily obtained on the open market. Without limiting any remedies the Buyer may
otherwise  have, in the event the Sellers  refuse to perform  their  obligations
under this  Agreement,  the Buyer shall have, in addition to any other remedy at
law or in equity, the right to specific performance.

     7.11  Appointment of the Sellers'  Representatives;  Enforcement of Rights,
Benefits  and  Remedies.  (a) Each Seller  hereby  irrevocably  constitutes  and
appoints Harold Oelbaum and James B. Stevens, and each of them individually,  as
the Sellers'  Representatives for the purpose of performing and consummating the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement.  The appointment of the Sellers'
Representatives  is coupled with an interest and all authority  hereby conferred
shall be  irrevocable  and shall not be  terminated by any or all of the Sellers
without the consent of the Buyer,  which consent may be withheld for any reason,
and each of the Sellers'  Representatives  is hereby  authorized and directed to
perform and consummate all of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.
Not by way of limiting the authority of the Sellers'  Representatives,  each and
all of the  Sellers,  for  themselves  and their  respective  heirs,  executors,
administrators,   successors   and  assigns,   hereby   authorize  the  Sellers'
Representatives, acting together, to:

                           (1)  waive any provision of this Agreement which the 
         Sellers' Representative deems necessary or desirable;

                           (2) execute and deliver on their behalf all documents
         and  instruments  which may be executed and delivered  pursuant to this
         Agreement, including without limitation the Shares and the stock powers
         with respect thereto;

                           (3) make and receive notices and other communications
         pursuant  to this  Agreement  or the Escrow  Agreement  and  service of
         process  in any legal  action  or other  proceeding  arising  out of or
         related to this Agreement or any of the transactions hereunder;

                           (4)  settle  any  dispute,  claim,  action,  suit  or
         proceeding  arising out  of  or related to this Agreement or any of the
         transactions hereunder;

                           (5)  receive and distribute the Purchase Price;

                           (6)  appoint or provide for successor agents; and

                           (7) pay expenses incurred or which may be incurred by
         or on behalf of the Sellers in  connection  with this  Agreement or the
         Escrow Agreement.

                  (b)  In  the  event  of  a  deadlock   between  the   Sellers'
Representatives,  Roy Abrahamson,  or, if Roy Abrahamson shall fail or refuse so
to act, Harold E. Abrams,  shall act as a third Sellers'  Representative for the
sole purpose of resolving such a deadlock. In the event that both Roy Abrahamson
and  Harold  E.  Abrams  shall  fail or  refuse  to act as such  third  Sellers'
Representative,  the Sellers shall elect such third Sellers'  Representative  by
the vote of Sellers who held, as shown on Exhibit A hereto, a simple majority in
interest  of all of the  Shares  of IPC.  If the  Sellers  fail to elect a third
Sellers  Representative  within a  reasonable  period of time,  not to exceed 30
days,  the Buyer may  select  the third  Sellers  Representative  from among the
remaining Sellers.  The determination of the third Sellers'  Representative with
respect to the matter in deadlock  shall be final and  binding  upon the Sellers
and the existing Sellers' Representatives.

                  (c) In the event of the  failure or refusal of Harold  Oelbaum
to act as the Class A Representative,  or upon the death of Harold Oelbaum,  the
Sellers hereby appoint Stanley B. Kane to act as the Class A Representative with
the same force and effect as the  appointment  of Harold  Oelbaum as the Class A
Representative.  In the event of the  inability,  failure  or  refusal of Harold
Oelbaum or Stanley B. Kane to act as the Class A Representative, or in the event
of the death of Harold Oelbaum and Stanley B. Kane or any successor, the Sellers
promptly  shall  appoint  one of the Sellers as the Class A  Representative  for
purposes  of this  Section  7.12 by action of  Sellers  who held a  majority  in
interest of the Shares of Class A Common Stock of IPC and ITSI,  as set forth on
Exhibit A hereto.  Failing such an appointment within 30 days of such inability,
failure,  refusal or death,  the Buyer may, by written  notice to the Sellers at
the last address of the Sellers  applicable for purposes of Section 7.10 hereof,
designate one of the Sellers  formerly holding Shares of Class A Common Stock of
IPC and ITSI as the Class A Representative.

                  (d) In the event of the failure or refusal of James B. Stevens
to act as the Class B Representative, or upon the death of James B. Stevens, the
Sellers hereby appoint  Michael S. Stevens to act as the Class B  Representative
with the same force and  effect as the  appointment  of James B.  Stevens as the
Class B  Representative.  In the event of the  inability,  failure or refusal of
James B. Stevens or Michael S. Stevens to act as the Class B Representative,  or
in the event of the death of James B.  Stevens  and  Michael  S.  Stevens or any
successor,  the Sellers promptly shall appoint one of the Sellers as the Class B
Representative for purposes of this Section 7.12 by action of Sellers who held a
majority in interest of the Shares of Class B Common  Stock of IPC and ITSI,  as
set forth on Exhibit A hereto.  Failing  such an  appointment  within 30 days of
such inability,  failure,  refusal or death, the Buyer may, by written notice to
the  Sellers at the last  address of the  Sellers  applicable  for  purposes  of
Section 7.10 hereof,  designate one of the Sellers  formerly  holding  Shares of
Class B Common Stock of IPC and ITSI as the Class B Representative.

                  (e) Any claim, action,  suit, or other proceeding,  whether in
law or equity,  to enforce any right,  benefit or remedy  granted to the Sellers
under this Agreement may be asserted,  brought, prosecuted or maintained only by
the Sellers' Representatives,  acting together. Any claim, action, suit or other
proceeding,  whether in law or equity,  to enforce any right,  benefit or remedy
granted  under  this  Agreement,  including  without  limitation  any  right  of
indemnification  provided  in  Section  7  hereof,  may  be  asserted,  brought,
prosecuted  or  maintained  by the Buyer  against  the  Sellers or the  Sellers'
Representatives  by  service  of process  on the  Sellers'  Representatives  and
without the necessity of serving process on, or otherwise joining or naming as a
defendant in such claim,  action,  suit or other  proceeding,  any Seller.  With
respect to any matter  contemplated  by this Section 7.12,  the Sellers shall be
bound by any  determination in favor of or against the Sellers'  Representatives
or the terms of any settlement or release to which the Sellers'  Representatives
shall become a party.

     7.12  Termination  of  Shareholders  Agreements  and Rights to Purchase the
Shares.  Each of the Sellers and the Companies hereby terminates,  effective and
contingent upon the Closing, the Shareholders Agreements to which such Seller or
Company is party and any other  shareholders'  agreements  and option or warrant
agreements  existing  between and among the Sellers  with  respect to any of the
Companies,  and each  Seller  waives any right of purchase  with  respect to the
Shares owned by any other Seller.

     7.13  Waivers and  Amendments.  Any waiver of any term or condition of this
Agreement,  or any  amendment or  supplementation  of this  Agreement,  shall be
effective  only if in writing.  A waiver of any breach or failure to enforce any
of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not in any way affect,  limit
or waive a party's  rights  hereunder at any time to enforce  strict  compliance
thereafter with every term or condition of this Agreement.

     7.14  Third  Party  Rights.  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall not create benefits on behalf of any employee of
the  Companies,  third  party  or other  person,  and  this  Agreement  shall be
effective  only as between the parties  hereto,  their  successors and permitted
assigns.

     7.15  Illegalities.  In the  event  that any  provision  contained  in this
Agreement  shall be determined to be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect for any reason,  the validity,  legality and  enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and the remaining  provisions of this Agreement
shall not, at the election of the party for whose benefit the provision  exists,
be in any way impaired.


<PAGE>


     7.16  Exhibits.  Reference  in any Exhibit or Schedule  hereto to documents
having been  delivered to the Buyer or its counsel  shall not be deemed to be an
acknowledgement  by the Buyer or its counsel  that true,  correct  and  complete
copies of such  documents  have been  received by the Buyer or its counsel.  All
Exhibits or Schedules  attached hereto are hereby  expressly made a part of this
Agreement as though fully set forth  herein and,  disclosures  on any Exhibit or
Schedule  shall be deemed a disclosure  on other  Exhibits or  Schedules,  where
applicable,  as though fully set forth  therein.  All  references  herein to the
terms of "this Agreement",  "hereunder", "herein", "hereby" or "hereto" shall be
deemed to refer to this Agreement and to all such Exhibits and Schedules.



                        [SIGNATURE PAGE IS THE NEXT PAGE]




<PAGE>


                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   the  undersigned  have  executed  this
Agreement on and as of the date first above written.

                                                  DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.



                                                  By:
                                                     --------------------------


                                                  INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING
                                                   CORPORATION



                                                  By:
                                                    --------------------------


                                                  INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
                                                    SERVICE, INC.



                                                  By:
                                                    --------------------------



<PAGE>



                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS



- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Joan Abrahamson                                      Katherine Kane


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Priscilla Kane Hellweg                               Betsy Kane-Harnett, as 
                                                     Trustee U/A dated 4/19/91 
                                                     F/B/O Betsy Kane-Harnett

- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Ticia Kane                                           Paul Kane


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Wendy Robbins                                        Harold Oelbaum


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Nancy Oelbaum                                        Louise Oelbaum Rubenfeld


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Andrew Oelbaum                                       Jennifer Oelbaum


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
James B. Stevens                                     Michael S. Stevens


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Judith A. Stevens                                    James B. Stevens, as 
                                                     Trustee of the Max Stevens 
                                                     Accumulation Trust


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
James B. Stevens, as Trustee                         Deborah Brown
of the Abigail Stevens
Accumulation Trust


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Michael Stevens, as                                  Michael Stevens, as
Custodian for Amanda                                 Custodian for Corey
Brown-Stevens                                        Brown-Stevens


- ---------------------------                      -------------------------------
Mark Cowan                                           Barry Cowan


<PAGE>



                                       A-3


                                                                  Exhibit A


INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING CORPORATION
Class A Common Stock
Shareholders                                                  Number of Shares
- ------------                                                  ----------------
Joan Abrahamson                                                        75,000
Katherine Kane                                                        120,250
Priscilla Kane Hellweg                                                120,250
Betsy Kane-Harnett, as                                                120,250
    Trustee U/A dated 4/19/91 F/B/O Betsy Kane-Harnett
Ticia Kane                                                             82,225
Paul Kane                                                              82,225
Wendy Robbins                                                          82,225
Harold Oelbaum                                                         17,575
Nancy Oelbaum                                                          20,000
Louise Oelbaum Rubenfeld                                               10,000
Andrew Oelbaum                                                         10,000
Jennifer Oelbaum                                                       10,000
                                                                  -----------
                                                              Total:  750,000

Class B Common Stock
Shareholder                                                    Number of Shares
- -----------                                                    ----------------
James B. Stevens                                                     277,500
Michael S. Stevens                                                   251,250
Judith A. Stevens                                                     30,625
James B. Stevens, as Trustee                                          30,625
    of the Max Stevens Accumulation Trust
James B. Stevens, as Trustee                                          30,625
    of the Abigail Stevens Accumulation Trust
Deborah Brown                                                         39,375
Michael Stevens, as                                                   39,375
    Custodian for Amanda Brown-Stevens
Michael Stevens, as                                                   39,375
    Custodian for Corey
    Brown-Stevens
Mark Cowan                                                             5,625
Barry Cowan                                                            5,625
                                                                 ------------
                                                             Total:  750,000

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, INC.
Class A Common Stock
Shareholder                                                    Number of Shares
- -----------                                                    ----------------
Katherine Kane                                                        1.20257
Priscilla Kane Hellweg                                                1.20257
Ticia Kane                                                             .82218
Paul Kane                                                              .82218
Wendy Robbins                                                          .82218
Nancy Oelbaum                                                          .20022
Louise Oelbaum                                                         .10011
Andrew Oelbaum                                                         .10011
Joan Abrahamson                                                           .75
Betsy Kane-Harnett, as Trustee u/a dated 4/19/91                      1.20257
f/b/o Betsy Kane-Harnett
Harold Oelbaum                                                          .1752
Jennifer Oelbaum                                                       .10011
                                                                  ------------
                                                                 Total:   7.5


<PAGE>



Class B Common Stock
Shareholder                                                    Number of Shares
- -----------                                                    ----------------
Michael S. Stevens                                                        3.75
James B. Stevens                                                          3.75
                                                                       -------
                                                                   Total:  7.5


FOOD BY-PRODUCT RECYCLING, INC.
Shareholder                                                    Number of Shares
- ------------                                                   ----------------
International Transportation
    Service, Inc.                                                       13,500
                                                                      --------
                                                               Total:   13,500


<PAGE>



                                       B-5


                                                                     Exhibit B

                              Certain Defined Terms


                  "Affiliate," for purposes of Section 3.1.12 hereof, shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1.12(k) hereof.

                  "Appropriate  Remediation  Standard"  shall  have the  meaning
assigned to such term in Section 7.2(j) hereof.

                  "Benefit  Plans" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term
in Section 3.1.12(a) hereof.

                  "CERCLA"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in
Section 3.1.9(j) hereof.

                  "CERCLIS"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 3.1.9(j) hereof.

                  "Claims"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in
Section 7.1.1 hereof.

                  "Closing"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 6.1 hereof.

                  "Closing  Balance  Sheet"  shall have the meaning  assigned to
such term in Section 2.4(b) hereof.

                  "Closing Date" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.1 hereof.

                  "Code" shall  mean  the  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986, as
amended.

                  "Companies'  Combined Interim Pre-Tax Earnings" shall mean the
Companies'  combined  earnings  prior to income  taxes for the  period  from the
beginning  of the  Companies'  1996 fiscal  year to the  Closing  Date and after
deducting any expenses  incurred by the Companies or the Sellers (in  accordance
with Section  7.5) in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

                  "Companies'  Indebtedness"  shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 2.3.1 hereof.

                  "Covered  Property"  shall mean all real property,  facilities
and  improvements  which  the  Companies  or  any of  its  subsidiaries,  or any
predecessor to the Companies, or the Acquired Business presently, or at any time
on or prior to the Closing Date have, owned, leased or operated.

                  "Department"  shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in
Section 4.6 hereof.

                  "Environmental   Condition"  shall  mean:  (a)  the  presence,
Management, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Substances (i) at, on, in,
under or from any  Covered  Property  or (ii) in  connection  with the  Acquired
Business or any business  now or  heretofore  conducted by any of the  Companies
(whether  or not any such  Release or threat of  Release is into the air,  soil,
ground or surface  waters on or  off-site)  or (iii)  arising  from the off-site
transportation,   storage,   treatment,   recycling  or  disposal  of  Hazardous
Substances;  or  (b)  the  violation  of  any  Environmental  Law  by any of the
Companies  or in  connection  with the  Acquired  Business  or  business  now or
heretofore conducted by any of the Companies or any Covered Property.

                  "Environmental Consultant" shall have the meaning assigned to 
such form in Section 7.2(b)hereof.

                  "Environmental  Laws" shall mean the  Federal,  state or local
statutes,  laws (common or statutory),  ordinances,  codes, rules,  regulations,
orders,  decrees,  licenses,  permits,  consents or settlement agreements of, or
issued by, any  governmental  authority  or court,  in effect as of the  Closing
Date, relating to the presence,  Management, Release or threat of Release of any
Hazardous  Substance,  including without limitation CERCLA, the Clean Water Act,
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act and
the  Spill   Compensation  and  Control  Act,   together  with  any  amendments,
modifications  or  extensions  thereof prior to or subsequent to the date hereof
and any rules, regulations,  orders, decrees, licenses or permits thereunder of,
or issued by, any governmental authority or court.

                  "ERISA"  shall  have  the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in
Section 3.1.12(a) hereof.

                  "Escrow  Agreement"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such
term in Section 2.1 hereof.

                  "Financial Statements" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 3.1.4(a) hereof.

                  "FTC" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
4.6 hereof.

                  "Hazardous  Substance" shall mean (A) any substance designated
pursuant to Section  1321(b)(2)(A)  of Title 33 (the Clean  Water Act),  (B) any
element,  compound,  mixture,  solution,  or  substance  designated  pursuant to
Section  9602  of  Title  42  (CERCLA),  (C)  any  hazardous  waste  having  the
characteristics identified under or listed pursuant to Section 3001 of the Solid
Waste  Disposal Act (42  U.S.C.A.  ss.  6921) (but not  including  any waste the
regulation of which under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C.A.  ss. 6901 et
seq.) has been  suspended by act of Congress);  (D) any toxic  pollutant  listed
under section  1317(a) of Title 33 (The Clean Water Act);  (E) any hazardous air
pollutant listed under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.A.  ss. 7412),
and (F) any imminently  hazardous  chemical substance or mixture with respect to
which the  Administrator  has taken action pursuant to Section 2606 of Title 15;
(G) petroleum products and radioactive materials; and (H) any hazardous or toxic
substance,  waste or material,  pollutant or contaminant regulated by applicable
state Environmental Laws.

                  "HSR Act"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 3.1.2 hereof.

                  "Interim  Balance  Sheet"  shall have the meaning  assigned to
such term in Section 3.1.4(a) hereof.

                  "Interim Financial Statements" shall have the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 3.1.4(a) hereof.
  

                  "IRS" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
3.1.12(f) hereof.

                  "ISRA" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.1.2 hereof.

                  "Liens"  shall  have  the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in
Section 3.1.5 hereof.

                  "Management" or "Manage" shall  have  the  meaning assigned to
such term in Section 3.1.9(e) hereof.

                  "1995 Audited Balance Sheet"  shall have  the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 3.1.4(a) hereof.

                  "1995  Audited  Financial  Statements"  shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.1.4(a) hereof.

                  "On-Site  Activities"  shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 7.2 hereof.

                  "PBGC" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.1.12(j) hereof.

                  "PCBs" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.1.9(h) hereof.

                  "Penalties"  shall  mean  any  civil  or  criminal   penalties
(including any interest thereon),  fines, levies, liens,  assessments,  charges,
monetary  sanctions  or  payments  of  any  kind  required  to be  made  to  any
governmental authority under any Environmental Law.

                  "Purchase  Price" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.1 hereof.

                  "Release"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
Section 3.1.9(k) hereof.

                  "Remedial  Action" shall mean the  investigation,  monitoring,
sampling, removal, restoration, clean-up, remediation, remedial design, response
or remedial work or other response  action,  negotiation  with any  governmental
authorities or permit  acquisition  necessary to effect the  foregoing,  and the
acquisition or installation  of any property,  plant,  improvement,  building or
other structure, equipment or facility in furtherance of and necessary to effect
any  such  activities,  in  connection  with or  relating  to any  Environmental
Condition.  Remedial action required to be undertaken by this Agreement shall be
limited to action required by any third party claim,  by a government  authority
with jurisdiction or by Environmental Law.

                  "Section 338(h)(10) Election" shall have the meaning assigned 
to such term in Section 2.2.1 hereof.

                  "Sellers'  Bank  Account"  shall have the meaning  assigned to
such term in Section 2.1 hereof.

                  "Sellers'  Representative"  shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 2.1 hereof.

                  "Shareholders  Agreements"  shall  mean (i) the  Shareholders'
Agreement  dated as of December 27, 1993 among IPC and the Class A  Shareholders
and Class B Shareholders thereof, as amended,  (ii) the Shareholders'  Agreement
dated as of December 27, 1993 among IPC and the Class A Shareholders thereof, as
amended,  (iii) the Shareholders'  Agreement dated as of December 27, 1993 among
IPC and the Class B Shareholders  thereof,  as amended,  (iv) the  Shareholders'
Agreement  dated as of December 27, 1993 among ITSI and the Class A Shareholders
and  the  Class B  Shareholders  thereof,  as  amended,  (v)  the  Shareholders'
Agreement  dated as of December 27, 1993 among ITSI and the Class A Shareholders
thereof, as amended,  (vi) the Shareholders'  Agreement dated as of December 27,
1993  among ITSI and the Class B  Shareholders  thereof,  as  amended  (vii) the
Agreement dated as of August 18, 1993 by and between  Midwest Bakery  Recyclers,
Inc. and Barry Cowan,  as amended,  and (viii) the Agreement  dated as of August
18,  1993 by and between  Midwest  Bakery  Recyclers,  Inc.  and Mark Cowan,  as
amended.

                  "Straddle  Period Returns" shall have the meaning  assigned to
such term in Section 4.8.1 hereof.

                  "Tax" or  "Taxes"  shall mean all  taxes,  charges,  levies or
other like  assessments,  including  without  limitation  all net income,  gross
income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem,  transfer,  franchise,  profits,
capital, payroll,  employment,  excise, stamp, property or other taxes, together
with any interest and any  penalties,  additions  to tax or  additional  amounts
imposed by any governmental authority.

                  "Treasury Regulations" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.2.1 hereof.


<PAGE>





















                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF AUGUST 30, 1996,

                                      AMONG

                           DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.,

                      INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING CORPORATION,

                   INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, INC.

                                       AND

                               THE STOCKHOLDERS OF

                      INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING CORPORATION

                                       AND

                   INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, INC.





<PAGE>

                                                                           Page



                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page

1.  Sale and Purchase of Shares............................................... 1

2.  Purchase Price and Purchase Price Allocations; IRC Codess.338(h)(10); 
    Payment of Certain Obligations; Companies' Interim Pre-Tax Earnings....... 2
    2.1   Purchase Price.....................................................  2
    2.2   Codess.338(h)(10) Election; Allocation of Purchase Price.............2
    2.3   Companies' Indebtedness............................................  2
    2.4   Distributions of the Companies' Combined Interim Pre-Tax Earnings; 
            Closing Balance Sheet............................................  3

3.  Representations and Warranties............................................ 4
    3.1   Representations and Warranties of the Companies and the Sellers..... 4
          3.1.1  Organization and Good Standing.............................   4
          3.1.2  Consents, Authorizations, Binding Effect,   Etc.............  5
          3.1.3  Minute Books................................................  6
          3.1.4  Financial Statements and Financial
                     Condition...............................................  6
          3.1.5  Title and Condition of Assets...............................  7
          3.1.6  Inventories.................................................  9
          3.1.7  Receivables...............................................    9
          3.1.8  Insurance...................................................  9
          3.1.9  Litigation and Compliance; Environmental
                     Matters................................................ 10
          3.1.10  Taxes................................................... . 14
          3.1.11  Intangible Assets........................................  15
          3.1.12  Employee Benefits......................................... 16
          3.1.13  Labor Relations........................................... 18
          3.1.14  Contracts, Etc............................................ 19
          3.1.15  Customers and Suppliers................................... 21
          3.1.16  Absence of Certain Changes, Etc..........................  21
          3.1.17  Subsidiaries, Etc......................................... 23
          3.1.18  Title to the Shares; Capitalization
                      of the Companies...................................... 23
          3.1.19  Other Information; Buyer's Investigation.................. 24
          3.1.20. "To the Best Knowledge of the Sellers".................... 24
    3.2  Representations and Warranties of the Buyer........................ 25
          3.2.1  Organization and Good Standing............................. 25
          3.2.2  Consents, Authorizations and Binding
                        Effect...............................................25

4. Certain Covenants........................................................ 26
   4.1.  Access to Records and Properties of the
             Companies....................................................... 26
   4.2  Operation of the Companies, Etc...................................... 26
   4.3  Consents and Notices................................................. 27
   4.4  Competing Transactions............................................... 27
   4.5  Best Efforts to Satisfy Conditions..................................  27
   4.6  Antitrust Law Compliance............................................. 28
   4.7  Non-Competition; Confidentiality; Disclosure of Information, Etc..... 28
   4.8  Covenants Regarding Taxation......................................... 30
         4.8.1  Returns and Payments......................................... 30
         4.8.2  Indemnification.............................................. 31
         4.8.3  Cooperation.................................................  31
   4.9  ISRA Compliance...................................................... 31
   4.10  Certain Environmental Matters....................................... 31
   4.11  Certain Insurance Matters..........................................  32

5. Conditions of Closing..................................................... 33
    5.1 Conditions of Obligations of the Buyer.............................   33
         5.1.1  Representations and Warranties;
                     Performance of Obligations.............................. 33
         5.1.3  Opinion of Counsel to the Sellers ........................... 34
         5.1.4  Financial Statements......................................... 34
         5.1.5  No Adverse Change............................................ 34
         5.1.6  Escrow Agreement............................................. 34
         5.1.7  Employment Agreements........................................ 34
         5.1.8  ISRA Non-Applicability......................................  34
         5.1.9  Resignations................................................. 35
         5.1.10  Other Matters............................................... 35
   5.2  Conditions of Obligations of the Sellers............................. 35
         5.2.1  Representations and Warranties;
                     Performance of Obligations............................. 35
         5.2.2  Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer............................  35
         5.2.3  Closing Purchase Price.....................................  35
         5.2.4  Other Matters..............................................  35
   5.3  Conditions of Obligations of the Buyer and the Sellers.............. 36
         5.3.1  HSR Act....................................................  36
         5.3.2  No Injunctions, Restraints or Litigation.................... 36

6. Closing....................................................................36
   6.1  Closing Date..........................................................36
   6.2  Cut-Off Date..........................................................36
   6.3  Effect of Termination.................................................37

7. Miscellaneous............................................................. 37
   7.1  Indemnification Generally............................................ 37
   7.2  Environmental Remedial Action Procedures............................. 40
   7.3  Further Actions...................................................... 43
   7.4  Broker's Fees.........................................................43
   7.5  Expenses..............................................................43
   7.6  Entire Agreement..................................................... 43
   7.7  Descriptive Headings..................................................44
   7.8  Notices.............................................................. 44
   7.9  Governing Law........................................................ 45
   7.10  Remedies............................................................ 45
   7.11  Appointment of the Sellers' Representatives;
            Enforcement of Rights, Benefits and Remedies..................... 45
   7.12  Termination of Shareholders Agreements
            and Rights to Purchase the Shares................................ 48
   7.13  Waivers and Amendments.............................................. 48
   7.14  Third Party Rights.................................................. 48
   7.15  Illegalities........................................................ 48
   7.16  Exhibits............................................................ 49


EXHIBIT A                       List of Shareholders and Shares Owned
EXHIBIT B                       Defined Terms
EXHIBIT C                       Form of Escrow Agreement
EXHIBIT D                       Allocation of Purchase Price
EXHIBIT E                       Companies' Indebtedness
EXHIBIT F                       Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Sellers
EXHIBIT G                       Employment Agreement of James B. Stevens
EXHIBIT H                       Employment Agreement of Michael S. Stevens
EXHIBIT I                       Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer

SCHEDULE 3.1.2    Consents, Authorizations, Binding Effect, Etc.
SCHEDULE 3.1.4    Financial Statements and Financial Condition
SCHEDULE 3.1.5    Title and Condition of Assets
SCHEDULE 3.1.7    Receivables
SCHEDULE 3.1.8    Insurance
SCHEDULE 3.1.9    Litigation and Compliance, Environmental Matters
SCHEDULE 3.1.11   Intellectual Property
SCHEDULE 3.1.12   Benefits
SCHEDULE 3.1.13   Labor Relations
SCHEDULE 3.1.14   Contracts
SCHEDULE 3.1.15   Customers and Suppliers
SCHEDULE 3.1.16   Absence of Certain Changes
SCHEDULE 4.2.4    Non-competition, Consulting and Services Agreements
SCHEDULE 4.7.1    Certain Entities
SCHEDULE 4.10     Certain Environmental Matters


<PAGE>




All of the Exhibits and Schedules to the Stock  Purchase  Agreement,  identified
below, have been omitted.  The Registrant will furnish  supplementally a copy of
any such  Exhibit or Schedule to the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  upon
request.


EXHIBIT A                  List of Shareholders and Shares Owned
EXHIBIT B                  Defined Terms
EXHIBIT C                  Form of Escrow Agreement
EXHIBIT D                  Allocation of Purchase Price
EXHIBIT E                  Companies' Indebtedness
EXHIBIT F                  Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Sellers
EXHIBIT G                  Employment Agreement of James B. Stevens
EXHIBIT H                  Employment Agreement of Michael S. Stevens
EXHIBIT I                  Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer

SCHEDULE 3.1.2             Consents, Authorizations, Binding Effect, Etc.
SCHEDULE 3.1.4             Financial Statements and Financial Condition
SCHEDULE 3.1.5             Title and Condition of Assets
SCHEDULE 3.1.7             Receivables
SCHEDULE 3.1.8             Insurance
SCHEDULE 3.1.9             Litigation and Compliance, Environmental Matters
SCHEDULE 3.1.11   Intellectual Property
SCHEDULE 3.1.12   Benefits
SCHEDULE 3.1.13   Labor Relations
SCHEDULE 3.1.14   Contracts
SCHEDULE 3.1.15   Customers and Suppliers
SCHEDULE 3.1.16   Absence of Certain Changes
SCHEDULE 4.2.4             Non-competition, Consulting and Services Agreements
SCHEDULE 4.7.1             Certain Entities
SCHEDULE 4.10              Certain Environmental Matters




*        The   non-competition   covenants   contained  in  this  Agreement  are
         independent  of any  non-competition  covenants  that are  included  in
         employment or consulting agreements with any of the Sellers.



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