CHESHIRE DISTRIBUTORS INC
8-K, 2000-04-24
NON-OPERATING ESTABLISHMENTS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                              Washington, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT





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





         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 2000



                           CHESHIRE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
                           ---------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Delaware                   000-26186                 84-1209978
          --------                   ---------                 ----------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission                (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)              File No.)            Identification Number)

                     1599 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880
                     ---------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 255-4116


                         PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
                         -------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>


ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

On April 7, 2000, Cheshire  Distributors,  Inc. (the "Company") closed the first
installment of the purchase of the  outstanding  shares (the "Shares") of common
stock of Cardoso  Cigarette  Depot (Pty.) Limited,  a South African  corporation
("Cardoso")  pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement originally dated September
23, 1999,  between the Company and Eduardo P.V.  Cardoso and Alberteina  Cardoso
("Sellers")  and Cardoso,  as amended by the Amended  Stock  Purchase  Agreement
dated April 7, 2000 (collectively, the "Purchase Agreement").

The purchase price for the Shares under the Purchase  Agreement is  $10,000,000.
The Company paid  $1,000,000 in cash to the Sellers at closing and shall pay the
remainder of the purchase  price by paying a second  installment  of  $2,000,000
(the  "Second  Installment")  on or  before  the  twenty-first  day after of the
closing,  and a final  installment  of $7,000,000 on or before the date which is
six months after the closing date (the "Third Installment").

The Sellers delivered certificates  representing ten (10%) percent of the Shares
at closing and delivered to CorpCapital  Limited, as Escrow Agent, the remainder
of the Shares,  together with  declarations for the transfer thereof in blank as
to transferee,  duly signed by the  Sellers/registered  holders and without such
forms being dated and otherwise  complying  with the provisions of the Company's
articles  of  association  and the South  African  Stamp  Duties Act,  1968.  As
additional  portions of the purchase  price are paid to the Sellers,  the Escrow
Agent shall deliver to the Company (together with the transfer  documentation in
respect  thereof),  Shares out of Escrow so that the Company shall have received
delivery of a percentage  of the Shares which is identical to the  percentage of
the purchase price which has been paid to the Sellers.

The consideration  was paid to the shareholders of Cardoso,  who had no material
relationship with the Company or its affiliates. The amount of the consideration
paid was  determined  by arms' length  negotiations  between the Company and the
Cardoso  shareholders.  The  acquisition,  which will be accounted for under the
purchase method of accounting, was previously approved by the board of directors
and stockholders.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

          (a)       Financial statements of businesses acquired

          Financial   statements  of  Cardoso  for  the  periods   specified  in
Regulation  S-X will be  included  in an  amendment  to this  report  as soon as
practicable,  but not later than 60 days after the date on which this  report is
required to be filed.

          (b)       Pro forma financial information



<PAGE>


Pro forma financial  statements for the periods specified in Regulation S-X will
be included in an amendment to this report as soon as practicable, but not later
than 60 days after the date on which this report is required to be filed.

          (c)

        Exhibit No.                       Description

          2.1       STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT made as of September 23, 1999 among
                    Registrant,  Eduardo P.V.  Cardoso and  Alberteina  Cardoso,
                    ("Sellers"),  and Cardoso Cigarette Depot (Pty.) Limited,  a
                    South African corporation.

          2.2       AMENDMENT TO STOCK  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT  made as of April 7,
                    2000 among  Registrant,  Eduardo P.V. Cardoso and Alberteina
                    Cardoso,  ("Sellers"),  and Cardoso  Cigarette  Depot (Pty.)
                    Limited, a South African corporation.



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

                                            CHESHIRE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.


Date: April 22, 2000                        By: /s/ Willem Oost-Lievense
                                               --------------------------------
                                                Willem Oost-Lievense
                                                Chief Executive Officer





                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                            ------------------------

         THIS  AGREEMENT  is  made  as of  September  23,  1999  among  CHESHIRE
DISTRIBUTORS,  INC., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"),  EDUARDO P.V. CARDOSO and
ALBERTEINA  CARDOSO,  (sometimes referred to herein individually as "Seller" and
collectively as "Sellers"),  and CARDOSO CIGARETTE DEPOT (PTY) LIMITED,  a South
African corporation (the "Company").

                                P R E A M B L E:

         WHEREAS, Buyer wishes to purchase from Sellers and Sellers wish to sell
to Buyer all of the outstanding Shares of the Company (the "Shares"), as well as
certain other assets,  consisting of real property owned by or under the control
of Sellers and used in connection with the business of the Company (the "Related
Assets").

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

                                    ARTICLE I

                           SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES

         1.1  Sale and  Purchase.  Each  Seller  hereby  agrees  (a) to sell and
transfer to Buyer that number of Shares set forth on Exhibit 1.1(a) opposite the
name of such Seller,  which Shares in the aggregate represent 100% of the issued
and  outstanding  shares of capital stock of the Company,  free and clear of all
Liens, and (b) to sell,  transfer and convey or cause to be sold transferred and
conveyed  all of the Related  Assets,  which  Related  Assets are  described  in
Exhibit 1.1(b), free and clear of all Liens. Buyer hereby agrees to purchase all
the  Shares  and  Related  Assets  for an  aggregate  purchase  price  equal  to
$10,000,000 ( "Purchase Price").

         1.2 Payment of Purchase Price. At the Closing, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Sellers will deliver to Buyer certificate(s) representing
the Shares,  against  payment of the first  installment  of the  Purchase  Price
therefor in the sum of  $1,000,000  by  certified  check or by wire  transfer of
immediately available funds to bank accounts in the Republic of South Africa, as
designated  by Sellers,  respectively.  The Buyer shall pay the remainder of the
Purchase Price in the same manner, by paying a second  installment of $4,000,000
("Second  Installment") on or before the first  anniversary of the Closing Date,
and a final installment of $5,000,000 on or before the third anniversary date of
the Closing Date, such three  installments  being evidenced by a Promissory Note
signed by Buyer in favor of Sellers,  and secured by a Guaranty executed by John
Rodrigues  ("Rodrigues"),   Buyer's  principle  shareholder,  and  a  pledge  of
Rodrigues' shares in the Buyer, each in form approved by respective  counsel for
the parties

         1.3  Transfer  of Related  Assets.  Sellers  shall  cause  title to the
Related Assets to be  transferred to Buyer not later than the first  anniversary
of the  Closing  Date.  It shall be a  condition  to the  payment  of the Second
Installment that such transfer shall have been consummated.

                                   ARTICLE II

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

          Sellers, jointly and severally,  represent and warrant to Buyer, as of
the  date  of  this   Agreement   and  as  of  the  Closing  Date  (as  if  such
representations and warranties were remade on the Closing Date), as follows:

         2.1 Due Incorporation; Subsidiaries.. The Company, and each Subsidiary,
are duly organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Republic of South Africa, with all requisite power and authority


<PAGE>


to own,  lease and operate  their  respective  properties  and to carry on their
respective  businesses  as they  are  now  being  owned,  leased,  operated  and
conducted.  The  Company,  and each  Subsidiary,  is licensed or qualified to do
business  and is in good  standing  (where  the  concept of "good  standing"  is
applicable) as a foreign  corporation in each  jurisdiction  where the nature of
the properties  owned,  leased or operated by it and the business  transacted by
them requires such licensing or qualification.  The names of each Subsidiary and
the  jurisdictions  in which the Company,  and each  Subsidiary  are licensed or
qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation are set forth on Exhibit 2.1.
Other than the  Subsidiaries,  the Company  does not hold any direct or indirect
economic,  voting or management interest in any Person or directly or indirectly
own any security issued by any Person.  True, correct and complete copies of the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws,  as amended,  and all minutes of all
meetings  (or written  consents in lieu of  meetings)  of the Board of Directors
(and  all  committees  thereof)  and  stockholders  of  the  Company,  and  each
Subsidiary,  have been  delivered to Buyer.  Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.1,
all actions  taken by the Board of Directors  (and all  committees  thereof) and
stockholders  of the Company and each  Subsidiary  are reflected in such minutes
and written consents.

         2.2  Due  Authorization. Each of Sellers and the Company has full power
and  authority to enter into this  Agreement and each of Sellers and the Company
has full power and authority to enter into its respective Related Agreements and
to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby. Each of Sellers
and the Company has duly and validly  executed and delivered  this Agreement and
each of Sellers and the Company has duly and validly  executed and delivered (or
prior to or at the  Closing  will duly and  validly  execute  and  deliver)  its
respective  Related  Agreements.  This Agreement  constitutes  legal,  valid and
binding  obligations  of each of Sellers  and the  Company  and each  respective
Related  Agreements  upon execution and delivery by either or both of Sellers or
by the Company will  constitute  legal,  valid and binding  obligations  of such
party, in each case, enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, except
as such  enforceability  may be limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
moratorium,   reorganization   or  similar  laws  in  effect  which  affect  the
enforcement of creditors'  rights generally and by equitable  limitations on the
availability of specific remedies.

         2.3   Consents and Approvals; Authority Relative to this Agreement.

         (a) Except for the approval of the Exchange  Control  Department of the
South  African  Reserve  Bank  or as set  forth  on  Exhibit  2.3,  no  consent,
authorization or approval of, filing or registration  with, or cooperation from,
any Governmental  Authority or any other Person not a party to this Agreement is
necessary in connection  with the execution,  delivery and performance by either
or both Sellers or by the Company of this Agreement,  their  respective  Related
Agreements  or the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or
thereby.

         (b) Except as set forth on Exhibit  2.3,  the  execution,  delivery and
performance  by Sellers and the Company of this  Agreement and their  respective
Related Agreements do not and will not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby does not and will not, (i) violate any Law; (ii)
violate or conflict  with,  result in a breach or termination  of,  constitute a
default or give any third party any  additional  right  (including a termination
right) under,  permit  cancellation  of, result in the creation of any Lien upon
any of the assets or properties of either or both of Sellers, the Company under,
or result in or constitute a circumstance which, with or without notice or lapse
of time or both,  would  constitute any of the foregoing  under, any Contract to
which  either or both of Sellers of the Company is a party or by which either or
both of Sellers or the Company or any of their  respective  assets or properties
are bound;  (iii) permit the acceleration of the maturity of any indebtedness of
either of Sellers or the  Company or  indebtedness  secured by their  respective
assets of  properties;  or (iv) violate or conflict with any provision of any of
the  certificate of  incorporation,  charter,  bylaws or similar  organizational
instruments of the Company.

     2.4  Capitalization.

     (a)  The authorized capital stock of the company  consists of 100 Shares of
Common Stock, one (1) South African rand par value, of which all such Shares are
currently  issued and  outstanding.  All of such Shares (i) are validly  issued,
fully  paid and  nonassessable  and (ii)  are,  and when  issued  were,  free of
preemptive  rights.  Eduardo P.V. Cardoso owns (legally and  beneficially) 99 of
such Shares,  free and clear of any and all Liens,  and Alberteina  Cardoso owns
(legally  and  beneficially)  1 of such  Shares,  free and  clear of any and all
Liens.  Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.4, there are no shares of capital stock
of the  Company  held in the  treasury  of the  Company and no shares of capital
stock of the Company are currently reserved for issuance for any purpose or upon
the occurrence of any event or condition.


                                       2
<PAGE>


         (b) Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.4,  there are no shares of capital
stock or other securities (whether or not such securities have voting rights) of
the Company issued or outstanding or any subscriptions, option, warrants, calls,
rights,  convertible  securities  or  other  agreements  or  commitments  of any
character  obligating  either or both of Sellers or the Company,  or  obligating
either or both of Sellers  or any of their  Affiliates  to cause the  Company to
issue, transfer or sell, or cause the issuance,  transfer or sale of, any shares
of capital stock or other securities (whether or not such securities have voting
rights)  of the  Company.  Except  as set  forth in  Exhibit  2.4,  there are no
outstanding  contractual obligations of either or both of Sellers or the Company
which  relate  to  the  purchase,   sale,  issuance,   repurchase,   redemption,
acquisition,  transfer, disposition,  holding or voting of any shares of capital
stock or other  securities of the Company or the  management or operation of the
Company.  Except for either of Sellers'  rights as a holder of Shares and except
for employee benefit plans or bonus  arrangements  disclosed pursuant to Section
2.17, no Person has any right to participate in, or receive any payment based on
any amount relating to, the revenue,  income,  value or net worth of the Company
or any component or portion  thereof,  or any increase or decrease in any of the
foregoing.

         (c)  The assignments,  endorsements, stock powers and other instruments
of transfer  delivered by each Seller to Buyer at the Closing will be sufficient
to transfer such Seller's entire interest, legal and beneficial,  in the Shares.
Each Seller has, and on the Closing Date will have,  full power and authority to
convey  good and  marketable  title to all of the Shares,  and upon  transfer to
Buyer of the certificates  representing such Shares, Buyer will receive good and
marketable title to such Shares, free and clear of all Liens.

     2.5  Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities; Other Documents.

     (a)  The Financial Statements  have been prepared in accordance  with South
African GAAP and will prior to the Closing be converted to US GAAP  consistently
applied and present  fairly the  financial  position,  assets,  liabilities  and
retained  earnings  of the  Company as of the dates  thereof  and the  revenues,
expenses, results of operations, changes in financial position and cash flows of
the Company for the periods  covered  thereby.  The Financial  Statements are in
accordance  with the  books and  records  of the  Company,  do not  reflect  any
transactions  which are not bona fide transactions and do not contain any untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any material  fact  necessary to
make the statements  contained  therein,  in light of the circumstances in which
they were made, not misleading.

     (b)  Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.5 or in the Latest Balance Sheet, the
Company has no  liabilities,  debts,  claims or  obligations,  whether  accrued,
absolute,  contingent  or  otherwise,  whether due or to become due,  other than
trade payables and accrued expenses  incurred in the ordinary course of business
since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet.

     2.6  No Adverse Effects or Changes.  Except as listed in Exhibit 2.6, since
February 28, 1999, the Company has not:

            (i)   suffered any Company Material Adverse Effect;

            (ii)  suffered any damage,  destruction or Loss to any of its assets
                  or properties (whether or not covered by insurance);

            (iii) incurred any obligation  or entered  into any  Contract  which
                  required  a payment  by any party in excess of, or a series of
                  payments which in the aggregate  exceed,  $100,000 or provides
                  for the delivery of goods or performance  of services,  or any
                  combination  thereof,  having a value in  excess  of  $100,000
                  except for  purchases  of raw  materials  and  supplies in the
                  ordinary course of business of the Company;

            (iv)  taken any action,  entered  into  authorized  any  Contract or
                  transaction  other than in the ordinary course of business and
                  consistent with past practice;

            (v)   sold, transferred, conveyed, assigned or otherwise disposed of
                  any of its assets or properties,  except sales of inventory in
                  the  ordinary  course of  business  and  consistent  with past
                  practice;


                                       3
<PAGE>

            (vi)  waived, released or cancelled any claims against third parties
                  or debts  owing to it, or any rights  which have any  material
                  value;

            (vii) made any  changes  in  its   accounting   systems,   policies,
                  principles or practices;

            (viii)entered into, authorized,  or permitted any transaction either
                  or both of  Sellers  or any  Affiliate  of  either  or both of
                  Sellers;

            (vix) authorized for issuance, issued,  sold, delivered or agreed or
                  committed  to issue,  sell or  deliver  (whether  through  the
                  issuance  or granting of  options,  warrants,  convertible  or
                  exchangeable securities, commitments, subscriptions, rights to
                  purchase  or  otherwise)  any shares of  capital  stock or any
                  other  securities,  or  amended  any of the  terms of any such
                  securities;

            (x)   split,  combined,  or  reclassified  any shares of its capital
                  stock,  declared,  set  aside  or paid any  dividend  or other
                  distribution  (whether  in  cash,  stock  or  property  or any
                  combination  thereof)  in respect  of its  capital  stock,  or
                  redeemed or otherwise acquired any securities of the Company;

            (xi)  except for Existing Borrowings, made any borrowings,  incurred
                  any debt (other than trade payables in the ordinary  course of
                  business  and  consistent  with  past  practice),  or  assumed
                  guaranteed, endorsed (except for the negotiation or collection
                  of  negotiable  instruments  in  transactions  in the ordinary
                  course of  business  and  consistent  with past  practice)  or
                  otherwise  become liable  (whether  directly,  contingently or
                  otherwise) for the  obligations  of any other Person,  or made
                  any payment or repayment in respect of any indebtedness (other
                  than trade  payables  and  accrued  expenses  in the  ordinary
                  course of business and consistent with past practice), in each
                  case, in excess of $25,000;

            (xii) made any loans,  advances  or  capital  contributions  to,  or
                  investments  in, any other Person,  in each case, in excess of
                  $10,000;

            (xiii)entered  into,  adopted,  amended  or  terminated  any  bonus,
                  profit sharing, compensation, termination, stock option, stock
                  appreciation,   right,  restricted  stock,  performance  unit,
                  pension,   retirement,   deferred  compensation,   employment,
                  severance or other employee benefit agreements, trusts, plans,
                  funds or other  arrangements for the benefit or welfare of any
                  director,  officer or employee, or increased in any manner the
                  compensation or fringe benefits of any director or officer, or
                  increased  by five percent  (5%) or more the  compensation  or
                  fringe benefits of any nonunion  employee earning in excess of
                  $35,000  annually,  or paid any  benefit  not  required by any
                  existing  plan and  arrangement  or entered into any contract,
                  agreement,   commitment  or  arrangement  to  do  any  of  the
                  foregoing;

            (xiv) except for capital  expenditures  contemplated  by (xv) below,
                  acquired, leased or encumbered any assets outside the ordinary
                  course of  business  or any assets  which are  material to the
                  Company;

            (xv)  authorized or made any capital  expenditure which individually
                  is in excess of $25,000;

            (xvi) made any  Tax  election  or  settled  or  compromised  any Tax
                  liability;  or waived or extended the statue of limitations in
                  respect of any such Taxes;

            (xvii)paid any amount,  performed  any  obligation  or agreed to pay
                  any  amount  or  perform  any  obligation,  in  settlement  or
                  compromise  of any suits  against  the  Company  or any of its
                  directors, officers, employees or agents;

           (xviii)paid in  excess  of  $20,000,  performed   any  obligation  or
                  agreed to pay in excess of $20,000 or perform any  obligation,
                  in settlement or compromise of any claims of liability


                                       4
<PAGE>


                  against  the  Company  or  any  of  its  directors,  officers,
                  employees or agents; or

            (xix) terminated, modified,  amended or otherwise altered or changed
                  any of the terms or provisions  of any  Contract,  or paid any
                  amount not required by Law or by any  Contract,  other than in
                  the  ordinary  course of  business  and  consistent  with past
                  practices.

     2.7  Title to Properties.  Except as  disclosed on Exhibit 2.7, the Company
(i) has, and on the Closing Date will have,  good and  marketable  title to, and
is, and on the Closing  Date will be, the lawful  owner of, all of the  tangible
and  intangible  assets,  properties  and  rights  used in  connection  with its
business and all of the tangible and  intangible  assets,  properties and rights
reflected in the Financial  Statements or Exhibit 2.9 or 2.10 (other than assets
leased under the leases set forth in Exhibits 2.9 or 2.10 and assets disposed of
in the ordinary course of business since the date of such Financial Statement.

     2.8  Condition  and Sufficiency  of Assets.  Except as disclosed on Exhibit
2.8, all of the tangible  assets and properties of the Company,  whether real of
personal,  owned or leased,  have been well maintained and are in good operation
condition and repair (with the exception of normal wear and tear),  and are free
from defects other than such minor defects as do not interfere with the intended
use thereof in the conduct of normal  operations or adversely  affect the resale
value thereof. Immediately after the Closing Date, the Company shall own or have
a  permanent  right to use all the assets,  properties,  rights,  know-how,  key
personnel,  processes  and ability  which are required for or currently  used in
connection with the operation of its business as it is presently conducted. Such
assets,  properties  and rights  were  sufficient  to produce the income for the
fiscal year ended  February  28,  1999,  as shown on the  Financial  Statements.
Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.8, the Company has no liabilities  not directly
related to, and that did not arise directly our of, the business of the Company.

     2.9  Real Property.

     (a)  The Company  does  not  hold  legal  title  to,  or own any  legal  or
beneficial  interest in any real property,  except as set forth on Exhibit 2.9 A
(the "Owned Real Property"),  nor does it lease any real property, except as set
forth on Exhibit  2.9 B (the  "Leased  Real  Property")  pursuant to Leases (the
"Real  Property  Leases").  The  Company  does not hold,  occupy or use any real
property  except for the Owned Real Property and the (the Leased Real Property).
True and complete  copies of the legal  descriptions  of the Owned Real Property
and the Leased Real  Property and of the Property  Leases have been  provided to
Buyer.  The  activities  carried  on  in  all  buildings,   plants,  facilities,
installations, fixtures and other structures or improvements themselves, are not
in violation of, or in conflict with, any applicable zoning,  Environmental Law,
health regulations or ordinance or any other similar Law. Except as set forth in
Exhibit 2.9, no asbestos,  asbestos-containing materials, PCB compounds or other
pollutants,   contaminants   or  Hazardous   Material  have  been  used  in  the
construction  or repair of, or any alterations or additions to, or are otherwise
located on, any portion of the Owned or Leased Real Property.  No parcel of land
included in the Owned or Leased Real Property  relies on or regularly  makes use
of access to the nearest public road or right-of-way  over land owned by others,
except where such access is by means of one or more valid recorded easements not
subject to  divestiture,  the terms of which have been  disclosed  in writing to
Buyer prior to the date hereof,  and which  easements the Company is entitled to
use under the terms of the documents creating such easements and under the terms
of the Real Property  Leases.  All covenants or other  restrictions  (if any) to
which any of the Owned or  Leased  Real  Property  is  subject  are being in all
respects properly performed and observed and, except for covenants  contained in
the Real Property Leases, do not provide for forfeiture or reversion of title if
violated,  and  neither the Company nor the owners of any of the Owned or Leased
Real  Property  has  received  any notice of  violation  (or claimed  violation)
thereof.  Sellers have  delivered to Buyer true and complete  copies of the most
recent  title  insurance  policies and surveys (if any) for the Owned and Leased
Real Property and copies of any recorded  documents referred to in such policies
or surveys,  together  with  copies of all  reports  (if any) of any  engineers,
environmental consultants or other consultants in its possession relating to any
of the Owned or Leased Real Property.

         (b) Each separate  parcel included in the Owned or Leased Real Property
and any  improvements  located  thereon are served by water,  storm and sanitary
sewer facilities,  telephone, gas and electricity, fire protection, drainage and
other public utilities,  all of which are adequate for the present and continued
use  thereof  in the usual and  normal  conduct of the  Company's  business  and
operations,  and have adequate  parking  facilities  that meet all  requirements
imposed by applicable Laws. None of the Owned or Leased Real Property is subject
to any recorded or  unrecorded  Lien,  easement,  right-of-way,  building or use
restriction,  exception,  variance,  reservation  or  limitation as might in any
material respect  interfere with or impair the present and continued use thereof
in the usual


                                       5
<PAGE>


and normal conduct of the business and operations of the Company.

     (c)  Except as disclosed on Exhibit  2.9,  there is no pending,  or, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Sellers,  threatened  or proposed  proceeding or
governmental  action to modify  the zoning  classification  of, or to condemn or
take by the power of eminent  domain (or to  purchase  in lieu  thereof),  or to
classify as a landmark,  or to impose  special  assessments  on, or otherwise to
take or restrict in any way the right to use,  develop or alter, all or any part
of the Owned or Leased Real Property.

     (d)  All the Real Property  Leases are in full force and effect,  valid and
enforceable  in  accordance  with  their  respective   terms,   except  as  such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization  or  similar  laws in effect  which  affect  the  enforcement  of
creditors' rights generally and by equitable  limitations on the availability of
specific  remedies.  None of the Real  Property  Leases  have  been  amended  or
modified  except  as set forth in  Exhibit  2.9,  and  there are no  agreements,
written or oral,  between the Company and the owner of the Leased Real Property,
other than the Real Property Leases.  The Company has not received any notice of
any,  and there  exists no,  dispute,  claim,  event of  default or event  which
constitutes or would constitute (with notice or lapse of time or both) a default
under any Real Property  Lease.  All rent and other amounts due and payable with
respect to the Real  Property  Leases  have been paid  through  the date of this
Agreement  and all rent and other  amounts due and payable  with  respect to the
Real  Property  Leases on or prior to the Closing Date will have been paid prior
to the Closing Date.  All lessors under the Real Property  Leases have consented
or prior to Closing will have consented (where such consent is necessary) to the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or the Related
Agreements   without  requiring   modification  in  the  rights  or  obligations
thereunder except as set forth in Exhibit 2.3.

     2.10  Personal  Property.  Sellers  have  heretofore  delivered  a true and
complete  list of all of the tangible  personal  property used by the Company in
its business having an original acquisition cost of $5,000 or more. Exhibit 2.10
sets forth all leases of personal  property binding upon the Company,  or any of
its assets or properties,  and all items of personal  property  covered thereby.
All of such tangible personal  property is presently  utilized by the Company in
the ordinary  course of its business.  Sellers have  delivered to Buyer true and
complete copies of all such personal property leases.

     2.11  Inventories.  Sellers have  heretofore made available to Buyer a true
and accurate list of all inventories of the Company as of August 31,1999, with a
complete  listing of all items that have  remained in inventory  for over twelve
months.  Except as described on such list,  each item of the inventory  owned by
the  Company  is of  merchantable  quality,  is not  obsolete  and is usable and
saleable in the ordinary course of its business,  and none of such items is held
on assignment  or  consignment.  Such  inventories  are fairly  reflected in the
inventory accounts on the balance sheets included in the Financial Statements in
accordance with GAAP, including all appropriate reserves,  and are valued at the
lower of cost or market.

     2.12  Accounts  Receivable  and Advances.  Exhibit 2.12 contains a true and
accurate list of all accounts receivable of the Company in excess of $10,000 and
originating  on or prior to July 1, 1999,  and all loans and  advances  to third
parties  ("Advances").  Except as  disclosed on Exhibit  2.12,  (a) each account
receivable of the Company (collectively,  the "Accounts Receivable" represents a
sale made in the ordinary  course of business other than to Affiliates and which
arose pursuant to an enforceable  written Contract for a bona fide sale of goods
or for services performed,  and the Company has performed all of its obligations
to produce the goods or perform the  services to which such  Account  Receivable
relates,  and (b) to the best of Seller's  knowledge,  no Account  Receivable or
Advance,  in each  case in  excess  of  $10,000,  is  subject  to any  claim for
reduction,  counterclaim,   set-off,  recoupment  or  other  claim  for  credit,
allowances or adjustments by the obligor thereof.  Except as reserved against in
the Financial  Statements,  all Accounts Receivable and Advances are collectible
in full within 90 days of their obligation

     2.13  Intellectual Property. Exhibit  2.13 is a true  and  complete list of
the trademarks, tradenames, service marks, patents and copyrights (including any
registrations  of or pending  applications for nay of the foregoing) used by the
Company in the conduct of its business. Except as disclosed on Exhibit 2.13:

     (a) all of the Company's Intellectual Property is owned by the Company free
and clear of all  Liens,  and is not  subject to any  license,  royalty or other
agreement,  and the  Company  has not  granted  any  license or agreed to pay or
receive any royalty in respect of any Intellectual Property;


                                       6
<PAGE>


     (b)  none of the Company's Intellectual  Property has been or is subject of
any pending or threatened litigation or claim of infringement;

     (c)  no license or royalty agreement  to which the Company is a party is in
breach  or  default  by any  party  thereto  or the  subject  of any  notice  of
termination given or threatened;

     (d)  the  products manufactured  or sold by the  Company  and any  process,
method, part, design,  material or other Intellectual  Property they employ, and
the  marketing  and use by the  Company  of any such  product,  service or other
Intellectual Property, do not infringe any Intellectual Property or confidential
or  proprietary  rights of another,  and the Company has not received any notice
contesting its right to use any Intellectual Property; and

     (e)  the Company owns or possesses adequate  rights in perpetuity in and to
all  Intellectual  Property  necessary  to conduct  its  business  as  presently
conducted.

     2.14 Contracts. Exhibit 2.14 lists all of the Contracts and arrangements of
the following  types to which the Company is a party or to which it is bound, or
to which any of its assets or properties is subject:

     (a)  any collective  bargaining  agreement and a summary of the  collective
bargaining  unit's  position  with respect to any such  agreement  currently the
subject of negotiations;

     (b)  any Contract or arrangement of any kind with any employee,  officer or
director of the Company or any of the respective Affiliates of such individuals,
or any Contract or other  arrangement of any kind with either or both of Sellers
or any  Affiliate of either or both of Sellers  other than any such  Contract or
arrangement described in Section 2.17(a);

     (c) any Contract or arrangement with a sales representative, manufacturer's
representative, distributor, dealer, broker, sales agency, advertising agency or
other Person engaged in sales,  distributing or promotional  activities,  or any
Contract to act as one of the foregoing on behalf of any Person;

     (d) any Contract or arrangement of any nature which involves the payment or
receipt  of cash or  other  property,  an  unperformed  commitment,  or goods or
services (i) having a value in excess of $50,000;

     (e)  any Contract or  arrangement pursuant to which the Company has made or
will make  loans or  advances,  or has or will have  incurred  debts or become a
guarantor  or surety or pledged its credit on or  otherwise  become  responsible
with  respect to any  undertaking  of another  (except  for the  negotiation  or
collection of negotiable  instruments in  transactions in the ordinary course of
business);

     (f)  any  indenture, credit  agreement,  loan  agreement,  note,  mortgage,
security agreement, lease of real property or personal property, loan commitment
or other  Contract  or  arrangement  relating  to the  borrowing  of  funds,  an
extension of credit or financing;

     (g)  any Contract or arrangement involving a partnership,  joint venture or
other cooperative undertaking;

     (h)  any Contract or arrangement involving any restrictions with respect to
the geographical area of operations or scope or type of business of the Company;

     (i)  any power of  attorney  or agency agreement  or  arrangement  with any
person  pursuant to which such Person is granted the  authority to act for or on
behalf of the Company,  or the Company is granted the authority to act for or on
behalf of any Person;

     (j)  any Contract for which the full performance  thereof may extend beyond
60 days from the date of this  Agreement,  except for customer  purchase  orders
that were entered into in the ordinary course of the Company's business;

     (k) any Contract not made in the ordinary course of business which is to be
performed in whole or in


                                       7
<PAGE>


part at or after the date of this Agreement;

     (l)  any  Contract,  whether  or  not  fully  performed,   related  to  any
acquisition or disposition of the Company or any  predecessor in interest of the
Company, or any acquisition or disposition of any subsidiary,  division, line of
business, or real property; and

     (m)  any Contract not specified above that is material to the Company.

          Sellers  have  delivered  to Buyer  true and  complete  copies of each
document  listed  on  Exhibit  2.14,  and a  written  description  of each  oral
arrangement  so listed.  Except as disclosed on Exhibit 2.14, all such Contracts
and  arrangements  (i) when entered into, were on terms no less favorable to the
Company  than the terms which could have been  obtained at the date thereof from
an unrelated third party,  and (ii) if cancelled at any time by the other party,
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.15  Permits.  Exhibit  2.15 is  a true and accurate list of all licenses,
certificates,  permits,  franchises,  rights, code approvals and private product
approvals (collectively,  "Permits") held by the Company. Except for the Permits
listed on Exhibit 2.15, there are no Permits,  whether federal,  state, local or
foreign,  which are  necessary  for the lawful  operation of the business of the
Company.

     2.16  Insurance.

     (a)  Exhibit 2.16 contains an accurate and complete list of all policies of
fire,  liability,  workers'  compensation,  title and other  forms of  insurance
owned, held by or applicable to the Company (or its assets or business), Sellers
have  heretofore  delivered  to  Buyer a true  and  complete  copy  of all  such
policies,  including all occurrence-based policies applicable to the Company (or
its business)  for all periods prior to the Closing Date.  All such policies are
in full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto covering all periods
up to  and  including  the  Closing  Date  have  been  paid,  and no  notice  of
cancellation  or termination  has been received with respect to any such policy.
Such policies are sufficient for compliance with (i) all requirements of Law and
(ii) all Contracts to which the Company is a party,  and are valid,  outstanding
and enforceable  policies.  Such insurance policies provide types and amounts of
insurance  customarily  obtained by  businesses  similar to the  business of the
Company.  Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.16,  the Company has not been refused
any insurance with respect to its assets or operations, and its coverage has not
been  limited  by any  insurance  carrier to which it has  applied  for any such
insurance  or with  which it has  carried  insurance,  during the last three (3)
years.

     (b)  Sellers have furnished to Buyer a list of all claims, which (including
related claims which in the aggregate)  exceed $50,000,  which have been made by
the  Company in the last three years under any  workers'  compensation,  general
liability,  property or other insurance policy  applicable to the Company or any
of its  properties.  Except as set forth on said  list,  there are no pending or
threatened  claims under any insurance policy.  Such claim information  includes
the following  information with respect to each accident,  loss, or other event:
(a) the identity of the claimant;  (b) the nature of the claim;  (c) the date of
the occurrence; (d) the status as of the report date and (e) the amounts paid or
expected to be paid or recovered.

     2.17  Employee Benefits.

     (a)  General.  The Company is not a party to and does not participate in or
have any liability or contingent liability with respect to:

          (i)  except as listed on Exhibit 2.17, any employee  welfare, benefit,
     pension retirement or deferred  compensation plan,  incentive  compensation
     plan, stock plan,  unemployment  compensation plan, vacation pay, severance
     pay, bonus or benefit arrangement,  insurance or hospitalization program or
     any other fringe benefit  arrangements  for any current or former employee,
     director,  consultant or agent, whether pursuant to contract,  arrangement,
     custom or informal understanding,  (referred to collectively hereinafter in
     this Section as "arrangements"); or

          (ii)  except as listed on Exhibit 2.17, any  employment, consulting or
     agency agreement  (referred to collectively  hereinafter in this Section as
     "agreements").


                                       8
<PAGE>


     (b)  Plan  Documents  and  Reports.  A true and correct copy of each of the
plans,  arrangements,  and agreements  listed on Exhibit 2.17, and all contracts
relating thereto, to the funding thereof,  including,  without  limitation,  all
trust agreements,  insurance  contracts,  administration  contracts,  investment
management  agreements,  subscription and participation  agreements,  and record
keeping  agreements,  each as in effect on the date hereof, has been supplied to
Buyer.  In the  case of any  plan,  arrangement,  or  agreement  which is not in
written form, Buyer has been supplied with an accurate description of such plan,
arrangement, or agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

     (c)  Compliance With Laws; Liabilities.  As to all plans, arrangements, and
agreements listed on Exhibit 2.17:

          (i)  All plans and arrangements  comply and have been  administered in
               form  and  in  operation  in  all  material   respects  with  all
               requirements  of Law  applicable  thereto,  and there has been no
               notice  issued  by  any  Governmental  Authority  questioning  or
               challenging such compliance.

          (ii) There are no actions, suits, or claims (other than routine claims
               for  benefits)  pending  or  threatened   involving  such  plans,
               arrangements  or agreements or the assets  thereof,  and no facts
               exist which could give rise to any such actions, suits, or claims
               (other than routine claims for benefit).

          (iii)There has been no act or omission  that would impair the right or
               ability of the Company to  unilaterally  amend or  terminate  any
               plan, arrangement or agreement.

     2.18  Employment and Labor Matters.  Exhibit 2.18 contains a true, complete
and accurate  list of the names,  titles,  annual  compensation  (including  all
bonuses and similar  payments made with respect to each such  individual for the
current and preceding fiscal years) of all directors,  officers and employees of
the Company who have an annual  aggregate  remuneration  of $30,000 or more. The
Company has and currently is conducting its business in full compliance with all
Laws relating to employment  and employment  practices,  terms and conditions of
employment,  wages and  hours,  affirmative  action,  and  nondiscrimination  in
employment.  Except as  disclosed  on Exhibit  2.18,  the  relationships  of the
Company with its  employees  are good;  there is, and during the past five years
there has been,  no labor  strike,  dispute,  slow-down,  work stoppage or other
labor difficulty actually pending or threatened against or involving the Company
and no attempt is  currently  being made or during the past three years has been
made to organize any  employees of the Company to form or enter a labor union or
similar  organization.  Exhibit  2.18  contains  a  list  of all  grievances  by
employees  during the past three  years  which have  resulted  in a  significant
change in work  practices  or  contract  interpretation  or terms or resulted in
arbitration.

     2.19  Taxes.

     (a) The amounts provided as a liability on the Financial Statements for all
Taxes are adequate to cover all unpaid liabilities for all Taxes, whether or not
disputed or not disputed, that have accrued with respect to or are applicable to
the period ended on and  including  the Closing Date or to any years and periods
prior thereto and for which the Company may directly or  contingently  liable in
its own right or as a transferee  of the assets of, or successor to, any Person.
The Company has not  incurred  any Tax  Liabilities  other than in the  ordinary
course of business  for any  taxable  year for which the  applicable  statute of
limitations  has not  expired;  there are no Tax  Liens  (other  than  Liens for
current  Taxes not yet due and  payable)  upon the  properties  or assets of the
Company.  Except as set forth in Exhibit  2.19,  the  Company has not granted or
been requested to grant any waiver of any statutes of limitations  applicable to
any claim for Taxes.

     (b) Tax  Returns  have been filed for the  Company  and the Group,  and all
other  filings  in  respect  of taxes  have been made for the  Company,  for all
periods  through and including  the Closing Date as required by applicable  Law.
All Taxes shown as due on all such Tax Returns and other filings have been paid.
Each such Tax Return and filing is true and  correct and neither the Company has
or will have any  additional  liability for Taxes with respect to any Tax Return
or other filing heretofore filed or which was required by Law to be filed, other
than as reflected as  liabilities on the Financial  Statements  (which shall not
include any amount reflected as a liability for deferred  taxes).  Except as set
forth in Exhibit 2.19, none of the Tax Returns or other filings that include the
operations  of  the  Company  has  ever  been  audited  or  investigated  by any
Governmental  Authority,  and no facts exist which would constitute  grounds for
the  assessment  of any  additional  Taxes by any  Governmental  Authority  with
respect to the


                                       9
<PAGE>


taxable  years  covered in such Tax Returns and filings.  Except as set forth in
Exhibit  2.19,  no material  issues have been raised in any  examination  by any
Governmental  Authority  with  respect to the  business  and  operations  of the
Company  which,  by  application  of  similar  principles,  reasonably  could be
expected to result in a proposed  adjustment  to the liability for Taxes for any
other  period not so  examined.  All Taxes  which the  Company and the Group are
required by Law to withhold or collect, including without limitation,  sales and
use taxes,  and amounts required to be withheld for Taxes of employees and other
withholding  taxes,  have been duly  withheld  or  collected  and, to the extent
required, have been paid over to the proper Governmental Authorities or are held
in separate bank accounts for such purpose.  All information returns required to
be filed by the Company, prior to the Closing Date have been (or will be) filed,
and all  statements  required to be furnished to payees by the Company  prior to
the Closing Date have been  furnished to such payees,  and the  information  set
forth on such information returns and statements is true, complete and correct.

     (c)  Except as set forth in Exhibit  2.19, the Company is not a party to or
is otherwise  subject or any arrangement  having the effect of or giving rise to
the  recognition  of a deduction or loss in a taxable period ending on or before
the Closing Date, and a corresponding recognition of taxable income or gain in a
taxable  period  ending after the Closing Date,  or any other  arrangement  that
would have the effect of or give rise to the  recognition  of taxable  income or
gain in a taxable period ending after the Closing Date without the receipt of or
entitlement to a corresponding amount of cash.

     (d)  Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.19, the Company is not subject to any
joint venture,  partnership or other arrangement or contract which is treated as
a partnership for Tax purposes.

     2.20  No Defaults or Violations. Except as disclosed on Exhibit 2.20:

     (a)  The Company has not  breached  any  provision of, not is it in default
under the terms of, any  Contract  to which it is a party or under  which it has
any rights or by which it is bound,  and no other party to any such Contract has
breached such Contract or is in default thereunder.

     (b)  The Company is in compliance with, and no violation  exists under, any
and all Laws applicable to the Company;

     (c)  No notice from any  Governmental  Authority  has been  received by the
Company  claiming any violation of any Law  (including  any building,  zoning or
other  ordinance)  or  requiring  any  work,  construction  or  expenditure,  or
asserting any Tax, assessment or penalty.

     2.21  Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed in Exhibit 2.21:

     (a)  The business, operations and  facilities  (whether owned or leased) of
the  Company,  and  all  existing  uses  of and  activities  on or at any of the
properties  or  facilities  (whether  owned or  leased) of the  Company,  are in
material compliance with all Environmental Laws in effect as of the date hereof,
and no condition  exists or event occurred which,  with or without notice or the
passage of time or both,  would  constitute  a violation  of or give rise to any
Lien under any Environmental Law;

     (b)  The Company is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary or
desirable  for the conduct or operation  of its business (or any part  thereof),
and is in  material  compliance  with all of the  requirements,  conditions  and
limitations included in such Environmental Permits;

     (c) The Company has not received any notice from any Governmental Authority
or any other Person that any past or present aspect of the business,  operations
or  facilities  (whether  owned or leased) of the Company is in violation of any
Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, or that the Company is responsible or
liable (or potentially responsible or liable) for the investigation,  cleanup or
remediation of any Hazardous Materials at any location; and


                                       10
<PAGE>


     (d) The Company is not the subject of any  litigation or proceedings in any
forum,  judicial or administrative,  involving a demand for damages,  injunctive
relief, penalties, or other potential liability with respect to violations of or
liability under any Environmental Law.

     2.22  Litigation.

     (a)  Except as disclosed  in Exhibit  2.22,  there are no  actions,  suits,
arbitrations,   regulatory  proceedings  or  other  litigation,  proceedings  or
governmental  investigations  pending or  threatened  against or  affecting  the
Company or any of its officers,  directors,  employees,  agents or  stockholders
thereof  in  their  capacity  as such,  or any of the  Company's  properties  or
businesses,  and  neither  the  Sellers nor the Company is aware of any facts or
circumstances  which may give rise to any of the foregoing.  Except as set forth
on Exhibit  2.22,  all of the  proceedings  pending or  threatened  against  the
Company  are fully  covered  by  insurance  policies  (or other  indemnification
agreements  with third  parties) and are being defended by the insurers (or such
third parties), subject to such deductibles as set forth in such Exhibit. Except
as  disclosed  in  Exhibit  2.22,  the  Company  is not  subject  to any  order,
judgement, decree, injunction, stipulation or consent order of or with any court
or other Governmental Authority.  The Company has not entered into any agreement
to settle or compromise  any proceeding  pending or threatened  against it which
has  involved  any  obligation  other than the payment of money or for which the
Company has any continuing obligation.

     (b)  There are no claims, actions,  suits,  proceedings  or  investigations
pending or  threatened  by or against  the  Company or either or both of Sellers
with respect to this Agreement or the Related Agreements,  or in connection with
the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby, and neither of Sellers has any
reason to believe there is a valid basis for any such claim,  suit,  proceeding,
or investigation.

     2.23  No Conflict of Interest. Except as disclosed on Exhibit 2.23, neither
of  Sellers  nor any of their  Affiliates  have or claim to have any  direct  or
indirect interest in any tangible or intangible property used in the business of
the Company,  except as a holder of Shares. Except as set forth on Exhibit 2.23,
neither  of Sellers  nor any of their  Affiliates  have any  direct or  indirect
interest  in any other  Person  which  conducts a business  similar  to, has any
Contract or  arrangement  with, or does business or is involved in any way with,
the Company, except for the ownership of less than 2% of any class securities of
any publicly  held  corporation.  Exhibit 2.23  contains a complete and accurate
description of all such Persons, interests, arrangements and other matters.

     2.24 Bank Accounts. Exhibit 2.24 sets forth the names and locations of each
bank or other financial  institution at which the Company has an account (giving
the account numbers) or safe deposit box and the names of all Persons authorized
to draw thereon or have access  thereto,  and the names of all Persons,  if any,
now holding  powers of attorney or comparable  delegation of authority  from the
Company and a summary statement thereof.

     2.25  Customers, Suppliers, etc.

     (a)  Exhibit  2.25 sets forth a list of the ten largest  customers  and ten
largest  suppliers  of the  Company in terms of revenue  during the fiscal  year
ended  February  28,  1999  (collectively,  the  "Major  Customers"  and  "Major
Suppliers", respectively).

     (b)  Except to the extent set forth in Exhibit  2.25,  since  February  28,
1999,  there has not been any adverse change in the business  relationship,  and
there has been no material  dispute,  between the Company and any Major Customer
or Major Supplier,  agent or sales representative,  and there are no indications
that any Major Customer intends to reduce its purchases from the Company.

     2.26  Claims  Against  Officers  and  Directors.  There are no  pending  or
threatened  claims  against  any  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of the
Company  or  any  other   Person   which  could  give  rise  to  any  claim  for
indemnification against the Company.

     2.27  Due Diligence  Materials. Except as provided in Exhibit 2.27, Sellers
shall have  provided to Buyer or its  representatives,  in  accordance  with the
terms of Section 4.2, all documents of the character and type requested by Buyer
in connection with its "due diligence"  investigation of the Company,  and there
are no documents in the


                                       11
<PAGE>


possession  of  Sellers,  the  Company  or any of  their  respective  agents  or
representatives of a character or type described in such requests which have not
been so provided to Buyer or its representatives.

     2.28 Improper and Other Payments. To the best of Sellers' knowledge, except
as set forth on Exhibit 2.28,  (a) neither the Company,  any director,  officer,
employee,  agent or representative of the Company, or any other Person acting on
behalf of any of them, has made, paid or received any bribes, kickbacks or other
similar  payments  to or from any Person,  whether  lawful or  unlawful,  (b) no
contributions have been made,  directly or indirectly,  to a domestic or foreign
political party or candidate and (c) no improper  foreign payment (as defined in
the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) has been made.

     2.29  Brokers.  None of the  Sellers or the  Company has used any broker or
finder in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and neither
Buyer nor any  Affiliate  of Buyer has or shall have any  liability or otherwise
suffer or incur any Loss as a result of or in  connection  with any brokerage or
finder's  fee or other  commission  of any Person  retained by either or both of
Sellers  or  by  the  Company  in  connection  with  any  of  the   transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     2.30  Accuracy of  Statements.  Neither  this  Agreement  nor any  Exhibit,
exhibit,  statement, list, document,  certificate or other information furnished
or to be  furnished  by or on behalf of the Company or either or both of Sellers
to Buyer or any  representative  or Affiliate of Buyer in  connection  with this
Agreement  or any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  contains  or  will
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements  contained herein or therein,  in
light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

     2.31  Projections;  Material  Facts.  In connection  with the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  Sellers have furnished to Buyer a business plan
including certain projected budgets, financial statements and forecasts.  Except
as limited by the next sentence,  all statements  contained in the business plan
are true,  correct  and  complete  in all  material  respects..  The Company and
Sellers do not represent or warrant that any occurrences,  developments or facts
(including,  without limitation,  projections),which the business plan says will
occur or eventuate after its date (or which were otherwise  furnished in writing
to Buyer),  will in fact occur or eventuate after such date. But the Company and
Sellers  represent  and warrant that such  occurrences,  developments  of facts,
including such  projections,  presented  therein were prepared by the Company in
good  faith  based  on  its  best   knowledge,   information   and  belief.   No
representation  or warranty by the Company or Sellers  contained in the business
plan  (other  than  the  projections),  this  Agreement  or  any  other  written
statement,  information, material or certificate furnished or to be furnished to
Buyer pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
by the Company or Sellers  contains  any untrue  statement  or material  fact or
omits to state a  material  fact  necessary  to make  the  statements  contained
therein or herein not  misleading,  when all are taken  together  as a whole (it
being understood that, in the event of any inconsistency  between this Agreement
and any other writings,  this Agreement shall control).  The Company knows of no
information  or fact which has or would have a  material  adverse  effect on the
financial  condition,  business or business prospects of the Company,  which has
not been disclosed to Buyer.  Since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the business plan,  the Company knows of no material  adverse change
in  the  business,  business  prospects,   property,  condition  or  results  of
operations of the Company.

     2.32 Investigation.  It shall be no defense to an action for breach of this
Agreement that Buyer or its agents have (or have not) made  investigations  into
the affairs of the  Company or that the Company or Sellers  could not have known
of the misrepresentation or breach of warranty.

     2.33  Related Assets. Sellers hold legal title to all of the Related Assets
described in Exhibit 1.1(b),  except for the Corporate Owned Related Assets; and
as for the Corporate Owned Related  Assets,  Sellers own 100% of the outstanding
capital  stock in the  corporations  listed  in  Exhibit  1.1(b)  which own such
assets.  Except as set forth in Exhibit 2.33,  each of the  representations  and
warranties set forth in this Agreement, including without limitation in Sections
2.9 and 2.21 are true and  correct  as  applied  to the  Related  Assets and the
corporations owning the Corporate Owned Related Assets.


                                       12
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE IV

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

     Buyer  represents  and warrants to each of Sellers,  as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date ( as if such representations and warranties
were remade on the Closing Date), as follows:

     3.1  Due Incorporation.  Buyer is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,  with all
requisite  power and authority to own,  lease and operate its  properties and to
carry on its business as they are now owned, leased, operated and conducted.

     3.2  Due Authorization.  Buyer has full power and  authority  to enter into
this Agreement and the Related  Agreements  and to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby.  The  execution,  delivery and  performance by
Buyer of this  Agreement  and  Related  Agreements  have been  duly and  validly
approved by the board of directors of Buyer and no other actions or  proceedings
on the part of Buyer are  necessary to  authorize  this  Agreement,  the Related
Agreements and the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby. Buyer has duly
and validly  executed  and  delivered  this  Agreement  and has duly and validly
executed  and  delivered  (or prior to or at the  Closing  will duly and validly
execute and  deliver) the Related  Agreements.  This  Agreement  and the Related
Agreements  constitute  legal,  valid and binding  obligations of Buyer, in each
case  enforceable  in accordance  with their  respective  terms,  except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium
or similar laws in effect  which affect the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights
generally and by equitable limitations on the availability of specific remedies.

     3.3  Consents and Approvals; Authority Relative to this Agreement.

     (a) Except for the approval of the Exchange Control Department of the South
African  Reserve Bank or as set forth on Exhibit 3.3, no consent,  authorization
or  approval  of,  filing  or  registration   with,  or  cooperation  from,  any
Governmental  Authority  or any other  Person not a party to this  Agreement  is
necessary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of
this  Agreement  and  the  Related   Agreements  and  the  consummation  of  the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

     (b)  Except  as set forth on  Exhibit  3.3,  the  execution,  delivery  and
performance  by Buyer of this  Agreement  and its Related  Agreements do not and
will not,  and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby  does not and will not, (i) violate any Law; or (ii) violate or conflict
with any  provision of the  certificate  of  incorporation,  charter,  bylaws or
similar organizational instruments of Buyer.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                    COVENANTS

     4.1  Implementing  Agreement.  Subject to the terms and conditions  hereof,
each party  thereto  shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts to take all action
required of it to fulfill its obligations  under the terms of this Agreement and
to facilitate the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  Each
Seller agrees that unless this  Agreement is  terminated in accordance  with the
provisions  of Section 8.1,  each Seller will not encumber the Shares,  will not
sell the Shares to any Person  other than Buyer (or an  Affiliate  of Buyer) and
will not take any other  action  which  would have the effect of  preventing  or
disabling each Seller's  respective  performance of its  obligations  under this
Agreement.

     4.2  Access to Information and Facilities.

     (a) From and after the date of this Agreement or such earlier time as Buyer
and Sellers  shall have  mutually  agreed,  Sellers  shall,  and shall cause the
Company to, give Buyer and Buyer's  representatives  unrestricted  access during
normal business hours to all of the facilities,  properties,  books,  Contracts,
commitments and records of the Company and shall make the officers and employees
of the  Company  available  to Buyer  and its  representatives  as Buyer and its
representatives shall from time to time request; provided,  however, that access
to  Company  Confidential  Information  shall be  provided  not  later  than ten
Business  Days  prior to the  Closing.  Buyer


                                       13
<PAGE>


and  its  representatives  will  be  furnished  with  any  and  all  information
concerning the Company which Buyer or its representatives reasonably request.

     (b)  Except as may be reasonably necessary to carry out this  Agreement and
the transactions  contemplated hereby, Buyer will not, will cause its Affiliates
not to, and will instruct its and its Affiliates'  agents and financing  sources
not to  disclose  Company  Confidential  Information  to any  Person  other than
Buyer's  employees,  agents  and  financing  sources  on a "need to know"  basis
without the prior consent of the Company,  unless compelled to disclose any such
Company  Confidential  Information by judicial or administrative  process or, in
the opinion of Buyer's counsel, by other requirements of law.

     (c)  Except as may be reasonably  necessary to carry out this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  Sellers  will not,  will  cause  their
Affiliates not to, and will instruct  their,  and their  Affiliates'  agents and
financing  sources not to disclose  any Buyer  Confidential  Information  to any
Person other than  Sellers' or the  Company's  employees,  agents and  financing
sources  without the prior  consent of Buyer,  unless  compelled to disclose any
such Buyer Confidential Information by judicial or administrative process or, in
the opinion of Sellers' counsel, by other requirements of law.

     4.3  Preservation of Business.

     (a)  From the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date,  Sellers shall
cause the Company to operate  only in the  ordinary and usual course of business
and  consistent  with past  practice,  and shall use their  best  efforts to (a)
maintain  the assets of the  Company in  substantially  their  current  state of
repair, excepting normal wear and tear, and preserve intact the present business
organization  and  personnel  of the  Company,  (b)  preserve  the  goodwill and
advantageous relationships of the Company with customers, suppliers, independent
contractors,  employees  and other  Persons  material  to the  operation  of its
business, and (c) not permit any action or omission which would cause any of the
representations  or warranties of Sellers  contained herein to become inaccurate
or any of  the  covenants  of  Sellers  to be  breached.  Without  limiting  the
generality of the  foregoing,  except as set forth in Exhibit  4.3(a) and except
for actions  relating to  rationalization  of the businesses of the Company with
the mutual  written  agreement  of Sellers  and Buyer  prior to the  Closing the
Company will not, without the prior written consent of Buyer:

       (i)    take any  action,  or enter  into or  authorize  any  Contract  or
              transaction,  other than in the  ordinary  course of business  and
              consistent with past practice;

       (ii)   sell, transfer,  convey, assign or otherwise dispose of any of its
              assets or  properties,  except  sales of inventory in the ordinary
              course of business and consistent with past practice;

       (iii)  waive, release or cancel any claims against third parties or debts
              owing to it, or any rights which have any value;

       (iv)   make any changes in its accounting systems,  policies,  principles
              or practices;

       (v)    enter into,  authorize,  or permit any transaction  with either or
              both of Sellers or any Affiliate of either or both of Sellers;

       (vi)   authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver or agree or commit to
              issue,  sell or deliver  (whether through the issuance or granting
              of options,  warrants,  convertible  or  exchangeable  securities,
              commitments,  subscriptions,  rights to purchase or otherwise) any
              shares of capital stock or any other securities of the Company, or
              amend  any of the  terms  of  any  such  capital  stock  or  other
              securities;

       (vii)  split,  combine,  or reclassify  any shares of its capital  stock,
              declare,  set  aside or pay any  dividend  or  other  distribution
              (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in
              respect of its capital stock,  or redeem or otherwise  acquire any
              capital stock or other securities of the Company;

       (vii)  enter into, adopt,  amend or terminate any bonus,  profit sharing,
              compensation, termination, stock


                                       14
<PAGE>

              option,  stock appreciation right,  restricted stock,  performance
              unit,  pension,  retirement,  deferred  compensation,  employment,
              severance or other employee  benefit  agreements,  trusts,  plans,
              funds or other  arrangements  for the  benefit  or  welfare of any
              director,  officer  or  employee,  or  increase  in any manner the
              compensation  or  fringe  benefits  of any  director,  officer  or
              employee or pay any benefit not required by any existing  plan and
              arrangement or enter into any contract,  agreement,  commitment or
              arrangement to do any of the foregoing;

       (viii) except  for  capital  expenditure   contemplated  by  (ix)  below,
              acquire,  lease or encumber any assets outside the ordinary course
              of business or any assets which are material to the Company;

       (ix)   authorize or make any capital expenditure which individually is in
              excess of $100,000;

       (x)    make any Tax election or settle or compromise any federal,  state,
              local or  foreign  income  Tax  liability;  or waive or extend the
              statute of limitations in respect of any such Taxes;

       (xi)   pay any amount,  perform any obligation or agree to pay any amount
              or perform any obligation, in settlement or compromise of any suit
              against the Company, or any of its directors,  officers, employees
              or agents; or

       (xii)  terminate,  modify,  amend of otherwise alter or change any of the
              terms  or  provisions  of any  Contract,  or pay  any  amount  not
              required  by Law or by any  Contract,  other than in the  ordinary
              course of business and consistent with past practices.

     4.4 Consents and Approvals. Sellers shall use their best efforts, and shall
cause the Company to use its best efforts,  to obtain all  consents,  approvals,
certificates and other documents  required in connection with the performance by
any such parties of this Agreement and their respective  Related  Agreements and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,  including
all consents and  approvals  by each party to any of the  Contracts  referred in
Exhibit 2.3; provided,  however,  that no contact will be made by either or both
of Sellers or the Company (or any  representative  of any of such  parties) with
any third party to obtain any such consent or approval except in accordance with
a plan previously agreed to by Buyer. Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company
to, make all filings,  applications,  statements and reports to all Governmental
Authorities and other Persons which are required to be made prior to the Closing
Date by or on behalf of either or both of  Sellers,  the Company or any of their
respective  Affiliates  pursuant to any applicable Law or Contract in connection
with  this  Agreement  or any of their  respective  Related  Agreements  and the
transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby,  and expedited  submission of all
materials  required  by any  Governmental  Authority  in  connection  with  such
filings. Buyer shall make all filings,  applications,  statements and reports to
all  Governmental  Authorities  and other  Persons which are required to be made
prior to the  Closing  Date by or on  behalf  of Buyer or any of its  Affiliates
pursuant to any applicable Law or Contract in connection  with this Agreement or
any Related  Agreement and  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby,  and
expedited submission of all materials required by any Governmental  Authority in
connection with such filings.

     4.5  Maintenance of Insurance.  Sellers shall cause the Company to continue
to carry its existing  insurance  through the Closing Date,  and shall not allow
any breach,  default,  termination or cancellation of such insurance policies or
agreements to occur to exist.

     4.6 Resignation of Officers and Directors. Sellers shall cause each officer
and member of the Board of  Directors  of, and each  trustee or fiduciary of any
plan or arrangement involving employee benefits of, the Company, if so requested
by Buyer,  to tender his or her resignation  from such position  effective as of
the Closing.

     4.7  Supplemental Information.

     (a) From time to time prior to the Closing,  Sellers will promptly disclose
in writing to Buyer any matter hereafter  arising which, if existing,  occurring
or know at the date of this  Agreement  would have been required to be disclosed
to Buyer or which would render inaccurate any of the representations, warranties
or statements set forth herein.  No information  provided to a party pursuant to
this Section shall be deemed to cure any breach of any representation,  warranty
or covenant made in this Agreement.


                                       15
<PAGE>


     (b) From time to time prior to the Closing, Buyer will promptly disclose in
writing to Sellers any matter hereafter arising which, if existing, occurring or
known at the date of this Agreement  would have been required to be disclosed to
Sellers to which would render inaccurate any of the representations,  warranties
or statements set forth in Article IV hereof. No information provided to a party
pursuant  to  this   Section   shall  be  deemed  to  cure  any  nreach  of  any
representation, warranty or covenant made in this Agreement.

     4.8 Noncompetition. Each of Sellers agrees that the following provisions of
this Section are intimately  linked to the other  transactions  contemplated  by
this  Agreement,  and each Seller  acknowledges  that Buyer would not enter into
this  Agreement  without  each  Seller  agreeing  to be bound  by the  following
provisions from the date hereof until the Ending Date (as hereinafter defined):

     (a)  Except as expressly approved (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld)  by Buyer,  each  Seller  agrees  that from and after the date of this
Agreement  until 3 years after the later of (i) the Closing  Date,  and (ii) the
date the employment of such Seller by the Company  terminates (the later of such
dates  being  referred  to herein as the  "Ending  Date"  with  respect  to each
Seller), that he shall not directly or indirectly:

       (i)    except as an officer or employee of the Company ( or any successor
              corporation into which it may be merged or  consolidated),  engage
              in, control,  advise,  manage,  serve as a director,  officer,  or
              employee  of,  act as a  consultant  to,  provide  any funds  for,
              receive any economic benefit from, have any financial  interest in
              (except  investment in not more than 2% of any class of securities
              of any  publicly  traded  company)  or exert  any  influence  upon
              (whether by  guarantee,  loan or  otherwise),  any business  which
              conducts  activities  in the Territory  (as  hereinafter  defined)
              similar  to those  conducted  by the  Company  provided  that this
              restriction  shall not apply to any activity in connection  with a
              business  that does not actually or  potentially  compete with the
              activities of the Company;

       (ii)   except in connection  with any duties as an officer or employee of
              the Company,  solicit,  divert or attempt to solicit or divert any
              party  who is or  was a  customer  or  supplier  of  the  Company,
              provided that this restriction  shall not apply to any activity on
              behalf of a business that does not actually or potentially compete
              with the activities of the Company;

       (iii)  employ,  solicit  for  employment  or  encourage  to  leave  their
              employment,  in  each  case,  either  as  an  employee,  agent  or
              representative,  any person who was  during  the  two-year  period
              prior to such  employment,  solicitation or encouragement or is an
              officer, employee, agent or representative of the Company;

       (iv)   disturb, or attempt to disturb, any business  relationship between
              any third party and the Company; or

       (v)    make any  statement  to any third  party,  including  the press or
              media, likely to result in adverse publicity for the Company.

"Territory"  means the Republic of South Africa and all other countries in which
the Company has transacted business prior to the Ending Date.

     (b) In the event of actual or threatened  breach of the  provisions of this
Section,  Buyer,  in addition  to any other  remedies  available  to it for such
breach or  threatened  breach,  including  the  recovery  of  damages,  shall be
entitled to an injunction restraining either or both of Sellers, as appropriate,
from such conduct.

     (c) If at any  time  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  Section  shall  be
determined  to  be  invalid  or  unenforceable  by  reason  of  being  vague  or
unreasonable  as to duration,  area,  scope of activity or otherwise,  then this
Section shall be considered  divisible  (with the other  provisions to remain in
full force and effect) and the invalid or unenforceable  provisions shall become
and be deemed to be immediately  amended to include only such time,  area, scope
of activity and other restrictions,  as shall be determined to be reasonable and
enforceable by the court or other body having  jurisdiction over the matter, and
each Seller expressly agrees that this Agreement,  as so amended, shall be valid
and  binding  as though  any  invalid or  unenforceable  provision  had not been
included herein.


                                       16
<PAGE>


     (d) The  provisions  of this  Section  shall be in addition  to, and not in
limitation of, any other provisions contained in any other agreement restricting
competition by either or both of Sellers.

     (e) Sellers shall not,  directly or indirectly,  (i) disclose,  or (ii) use
for their own benefit, or for the benefit of any other Person(other than, in the
case of (a) below,  the Company or Affiliate of the Company),  (a) any secret or
confidential  information,  customer lists, supplier  information,  or any other
data of or pertaining  to the Company or to any Affiliate of the Company,  their
respective  businesses or financial  affairs,  or their products which are not a
matter  of  public   knowledge  or  (b)  any  Buyer   Confidential   Information
(collectively,  the  "Confidential  Information").  Each Seller agrees that upon
termination  of such  Seller's  employment  agreement  with the  Company for any
reason and upon the request of the Company on or after the Closing Date, he will
immediately deliver to the Company all original papers, books,  manuals,  lists,
correspondence  and  documents   containing  or  relating  to  the  Confidential
Information,  together with al copies thereof,  except that each Seller may keep
copies of such  materials as shall be necessary to permit such Seller to prepare
his tax returns or to comply with any other legal requirements.

     4.9  Exclusivity.

     Neither  of  Sellers  and non of the  Company  or any of  their  respective
directors,  officers,  employees,  representatives,  agents or Affiliates shall,
directly or indirectly,  solicit,  initiate,  encourage,  respond  favorably to,
permit or condone  inquiries  or  proposals  from,  to provide any  confidential
information  to, or participate in any  discussions  or  negotiations  with, any
Person (other than Buyer,  and the respective  directors,  officers,  employees,
representatives and agents) concerning (i) any merger, sale of assets not in the
ordinary  course  of  business,  acquisition,  business  combination,  change of
control or other similar transaction involving the Company, or (ii) any purchase
or other  acquisition by any Person of the Shares, or (iii) any sale or issuance
by the Company of any shares of its capital stock.  Sellers will promptly advise
Buyer of, and communicate to Buyer the terms and conditions of (and the identity
of the Person making), any such inquiry or proposal received.

     4.10  Use of Name.  From and after the Closing Date, neither of Sellers nor
any of their  Affiliates will directly or indirectly use in any manner any trade
name,  trademark,  service  mark or logo used by the Company or any word or logo
that is similar in sound or appearance.

     4.11  Tax Indemnity.

     (a)  For purposes of this Agreement, "Tax Indemnification Period" means the
period  (including  all prior taxable years) ending on and including the Closing
Date.  For  any  taxable  year of the  Company  that does not end on,  and would
otherwise extend beyond, the Closing Date, there shall be a deemed short taxable
year ending on and  including  such date and a second  deemed short taxable year
beginning on and including  the day after such date.  For purposes of allocating
gross income and deductions between deemed short taxable years, the books of the
Company shall be closed as of the close of business of the Closing Date, and all
amounts of income,  gain, loss and deduction shall be reflected in the period in
which such items accrued under the Company's normal tax accounting methods.

     (b)  Sellers agree to jointly and severally indemnify  Buyer  against,  and
agree to hold it harmless  from,  any and all Losses  incurred or suffered by it
relating to or arising our of or in connection  with any and all Taxes that have
become due and payable during, or which have accrued with respect to the Company
for,  any period  included in the Tax  Indemnification  Period and that have not
been paid prior to the  Closing  Date or reserved  on the  Financial  Statements
(which  reserves shall not take into account any liability for deferred  taxes).
Any Taxes  attributable  to the operations of the Company payable as a result of
an audit of any Tax  Return  shall be deemed to have  accrued  in the  period to
which such Taxes are attributable.

     4.12  Termination of Certain Agreements. Each Seller shall, and each Seller
agrees  that it shall  cause its  Affiliates  and the  Company  to, and that its
Affiliates and the Company shall, effective as the Closing,  without any cost to
the Company, terminate,  rescind, cancel and render void and of no effect all of
the Contracts  between the Company on the one hand and such Seller or any of its
Affiliates,  as the case may be (other  than the  Company)  on the  other  hand,
except for those Contracts  listed in Exhibit 4.12 and those  Contracts  entered
into pursuant to this Agreement.


                                       17
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE VI

                  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER

     The  obligations  of Buyer under Article I of this Agreement are subject to
the satisfaction or waiver by Buyer of the following  conditions precedent on or
before the Closing Date:

     5.1  Warranties  True  as of  Both  Present  Date  and  Closing  Date.  The
representation  and  warranties  of  Sellers  contained  herein  shall have been
accurate,  true and correct on and as of the date of this  Agreement,  and shall
also be  accurate,  true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same
force and  effect as  though  made by  Sellers  on and as of the  Closing  Date,
unless, in each case, any such inaccuracy, untruth or incorrectness with respect
thereto  shall not (i) have been wilful on the part of either Seller and (ii) be
reasonably likely to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     5.2 Compliance with Agreements and Covenants. Sellers and the Company shall
have performed and compiled with all of their respective covenants,  obligations
and agreements  contained in this Agreement to be performed and compiled with by
them on or prior to the Closing Date.

     5.3 Consents and  Approvals.  Buyer shall have  received  written  evidence
satisfactory  to Buyer that the approval of the Exchange  Control  Department of
the South African Reserve Bank and all other consents and approvals required for
the  consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby or the ownership and
operation by Buyer of the Company and it business  have been  obtained,  and all
required  filings have been made,  including those set forth on Exhibit 2.3, and
excluding those excluded as set forth on Exhibit 2.3.

     5.4 Documents.  Buyer shall have received all of the agreements,  documents
and items specified in Section 7.2.

     5.5  Employment  Agreements.   The  Company  shall  have  entered  into  an
employment agreement with each of Eddie Cardoso, J. Cardoso, Michael Cardoso and
Chris Cardoso, substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit 5.5.

     5.6 Consulting Agreement.  The Company shall have entered into a consulting
agreement with Eduardo P.V.  Cardoso,  substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit 5.6.

     5.7 Noncompetition Agreement. The Company shall have entered into a
Noncompetition Agreement,  substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.7 hereto, with
each of the key employees named in Exhibit 5.7.

     5.8 Due Diligence Review.  Buyer shall have been satisfied with (i) results
of  its   investigation  and  review  of  the  business,   operations,   assets,
liabilities,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows,  condition  (financial  and
otherwise) and prospects of, and other matters relating to, the Company and (ii)
the results of its  investigation,  and review that there is no material adverse
misstatement with respect to Sellers' representations set forth herein.

     5.9  Delivery of  Exhibits.  All  exhibits  respecting  the Company  and/or
Sellers  or  either  of them have been  delivered  in final  form at least  five
Business Days prior to the Closing Date (not counting the Closing Date as one of
such Days) and no such exhibit  contains or reflects a Material  Adverse  Change
from the last  previous  draft  of such  exhibit,  or,  if none,  the last  oral
discussion or written memorandum respecting such exhibit or Exhibit.

     5.10 No Material  Adverse Change.  No Company Material Adverse Change shall
have  occurred  and no  event  shall  have  occurred  which,  in the  reasonable
judgement of Buyer,  is  reasonably  likely to have a Company  Material  Adverse
Effect.

     5.11 Actions or  Proceedings.  No action or proceeding by any  Governmental
Authority or other Person shall have been  instituted  or  threatened  which (a)
might have a Company Material Adverse Effect,  or (b) could enjoin,  restrain or
prohibit, or could result in substantial damages in respect of, any provision of
this  Agreement  or any of the Related  Agreements  or the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any integration of any operations
of the Company with those of Buyer and its Affiliates.


                                       18
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE VI

                  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATION OF SELLERS

     The obligations of Sellers under Article I of this Agreement are subject to
the satisfaction or waiver by Sellers of the following  conditions  precedent on
or before the Closing Date:

     6.1  Warranties  True  as of  Both  Present  Date  and  Closing  Date.  The
representations  and  warranties  of Buyer  contained  herein  shall  have  been
accurate,  true and correct on and as of the date of this  Agreement,  and shall
also be  accurate,  true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same
force and effect as though made by Buyer on and as of the Closing Date.

     6.2  Compliance  with Agreements and Covenants.  Buyer shall have performed
and complied with all of its respective  covenants,  obligations  and agreements
contained in this  Agreement to be performed and complied with by it on or prior
to the Closing Date.

     6.3  Documents.  Seller shall received all of the agreements, documents and
items specified in Section 7.3.

     6.4 Consulting Agreement. Eduardo P.V. Cardoso shall have each entered into
a consulting  agreement  with the Company,  substantially  in the form  attached
hereto as Exhibit 5.6.

     6.5  Release of Personal Guarantees.  Sellers shall have received a release
or indemnification (which  indemnification,  if any, shall not be subject to the
amount  limitations  set forth in Section 9.2 of this  Agreement) by the Company
and Buyer with respect to certain  personal  guarantees of Sellers in connection
with the obligations of the Company  specified on Exhibit 6.5 of this Agreement,
substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit 6.5

     6.6  Actions or Proceedings.  No action or proceeding  by any  Governmental
Authority or other Person shall have been  instituted or threatened  which could
enjoin,  restrain or prohibit, or could result in substantial damages in respect
of, any  provision  of this  Agreement or any of the Related  Agreements  or the
consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby  or  thereby  or  any
integration  of any  operations  of the  Company  with  those of  Buyer  and its
Affiliates, including its Subsidiaries.

     6.7  Consents and Approvals.  Sellers shall have received written  evidence
satisfactory to Sellers that the approval of the Exchange Control  Department of
the South African Reserve Bank and all other consents and approvals required for
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been obtained, and
all required filings have been made, including those set forth in Exhibit 4.3.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                     CLOSING

     7.1  Closing.  The Closing  shall be  scheduled  to occur at the offices of
Samuel  Goldman & Associates,  260 Madison  Avenue,  New York, New York 10016 at
10:00 A.M.  on the later of: (i)  November  1, 1999 , or (ii) such later date as
the parties hereto shall mutually agree.  The Closing,  and all  transactions to
occur at the  Closing,  shall be deemed  to have  taken  place at,  and shall be
effective as of, the close of business on the Closing Date.

     7.2  Deliveries  by  Sellers.  At the  Closing,  in  addition  to any other
documents or agreements required under this Agreement,  Sellers shall deliver to
Buyer the following:

     (a)  Certificates evidencing all of the Shares, which certificates shall be
duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by duly executed stock powers;

     (b)  The  resignations of the persons listed in Exhibit 7.2(b) as directors
and officers of the Company;


                                       19
<PAGE>


     (c)  Evidence,  in form  satisfactory  to  Buyer,  that  all  consents  and
approvals referred to in Exhibit 2.3 have been obtained;

     (d) Except for those Liens specified on Exhibit 7.2(d) attached  hereto,  a
written  statement from each Person holding a Lien upon any of the assets of the
Company,  or upon any  Shares,  confirming  the  repayment  of the  indebtedness
secured thereby and the release as of the Closing Date of (i) such Lien and (ii)
all obligation sunder any and all Contracts relating thereto;

     (e)  A certificate  dated the Closing Date of each Seller  certifying as to
the compliance by each Seller and the Company, as the case may be, with Sections
5.1 and 5.2;

     (f) The Certificates of Incorporation or similar instruments of the Company
certified by the Secretary of State or equivalent  Person of the jurisdiction of
incorporation of the Company,  and Bylaws or similar instruments of the Company,
certified by the Secretary of the Company;

     (g)  Certificates  of Good  Standing  for the Company  from the Republic of
South Africa;

     (h) An opinion,  dated the Closing Date, of [Name}, counsel for Sellers and
the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7.2(h);

     (i) [Intentionally omitted].

     (j) A certificate of the Company's Secretary certifying  resolutions of the
Board of  Directors  of the Company  approving  this  Agreement,  the  Company's
Related  Agreements  and  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby  and  thereby
(together with an incumbency and signature  certificate regarding the officer(s)
signing on behalf of the Company;

     7.3 Deliveries by Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to Sellers the
following:

     (a) The respective  aggregate amounts payable to each Seller at the Closing
pursuant to Section 1.2;

     (b) A  certificate,  dated the Closing  Date,  of an  executive  officer of
Buyer, certifying as to the compliance by Buyer with Sections 6.1 and 6.2;

     (c) Certificates of Buyer's secretary  certifying  resolutions of the board
of directors of parties approving this Agreement and its Related  Agreements and
the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby  (together with an incumbency
and signature certificate regarding the officer(s) signing on behalf of Buyer)'

     (d)  Evidence,  in form  satisfactory  to Sellers,  that all  consents  and
approvals referred to in Exhibit 3.3 have been obtained; and

     (e) An opinion, dated the Closing Date, of [Name] counsel for Buyer,
substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.3(e);


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION

     8.1  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior
to the Closing Date:

     (a) With the mutual consent of Sellers and Buyer;

     (b) By Sellers or Buyer,  if the  Closing  shall not have taken place on or
before  October 31, 1999 ; provided,  however,  that the right to terminate this
Agreement  under this  Section  8.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose
wilful failure to fulfil any obligation  under this Agreement has been the cause
of or


                                       20
<PAGE>


resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such date;

     (c)  By Buyer, if there shall have been a material  breach of any covenant,
representation or warranty or other agreement of either or both of Sellers or of
the Company  hereunder,  and such breach shall not have been remedied within ten
Business  Days  after  receipt  by  Sellers  of a notice in  writing  from Buyer
specifying the breach and requesting such be remedied; or

     (d) By Sellers, if there shall have been a material breach of any covenant,
representation  or  warranty or other  agreement  of Buyer  hereunder,  and such
breach shall not have been  remedied  within ten Business  Days after receipt by
Buyer of notice in writing from  Sellers  specifying  the breach and  requesting
such be remedied.

     8.2  Effect of Termination.  If this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to
Section 8.1, all obligations of the parties  hereunder shall  terminate,  except
for the obligations set forth in Sections 4.2(b),  11.1, 11.11 and 11.12,  which
shall  survive  the  termination  of this  Agreement,  and  except  that no such
termination  shall relieve any party from  liability for any prior wilful breach
of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

     9.1  Survival.  Except as  otherwise  specified,  the  representations  and
warranties  of Sellers  contained  herein shall survive the Closing for a period
expiring  at the close of  business  on the date that is one year after the date
that Buyer and  Sellers  receive  from the one year  anniversary  of the Closing
Date, (the "Survival  Date") except that (i) Tax Warranties  shall survive until
the Tax Statute of Limitations Date, and (ii) Title and Authorization Warranties
shall survive  forever.  The  representations  and warranties of Buyer contained
herein shall survive the Closing for a period  expiring at the close of business
on the Survival Date except that the  representations  and warranty set forth in
Section 3.2 hereof shall survive forever.

     9.2  Limits  on   Indemnification.   The  parties  hereto  agree  that  any
indemnification payments to be made pursuant to this Agreement by either or both
of  Sellers  on the one hand or Buyer on the other  hand shall be subject to the
requirement  that no  claim  may be made  (i)  until  the  aggregate  amount  of
indemnifiable  Losses  incurred by Sellers on the one hand or Buyer on the other
hand exceeds $200,000,  at which time such claim for indemnification may be made
for the aggregate amount of all indemnifiable  Losses exceeding $200,000 or (ii)
for any amount with respect to the Sellers jointly in excess of $1,500,000.

     9.3  Indemnification  by Sellers.  Each of Sellers,  jointly and severally,
agrees to indemnify Buyer against,  and agrees to hold it harmless from, any and
all Losses  incurred  or  suffered  by it  relating  to or arising  out of or in
connection   with  any  of  the   following;   provided,   however,   that  such
indemnification shall, except as set forth in Sections 4.8 and 11.2, be the sole
remedy for Buyer for any and all such Losses:

     (a) any breach of or any inaccuracy in any  representation or warranty made
by Sellers in this Agreement or any Related Agreement or any document  delivered
at  the  Closing;  provided,  however,  that  (A)  except  for  breaches  of  or
inaccuracies in Tax Warranties or Title and Authorization  Warranties,  a notice
of Buyer's  claim  shall have been given to Sellers  not later than the close of
business on the Survival Date,  and (B) in the case of a Tax Warranty,  a notice
of the  Buyer's  claim  shall have been given to Sellers  not later than the Tax
Statute of Limitations Date; or

     (b) any breach of or failure by either or both of Sellers or the Company to
perform any covenant or obligation of such party set out or contemplated in this
Agreement or any Related Agreement or any document delivered at the Closing.

     9.4  Indemnification  by Buyer.  Buyer agrees to indemnify  each of Sellers
against,  and  agrees to hold each of them  harmless  from,  any and all  Losses
incurred or suffered by them relating to or arising out of or in connection with
any of the following;  provided, however that such indemnification shall, except
as set forth in Section 11.12,  be the sole remedy for either or both of Sellers
for any and all such Losses:


                                       21
<PAGE>


     (a) any breach of or any inaccuracy in any  representation or warranty made
by Buyer in Sections 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 in this Agreement or any Related Agreement
or any document delivered at the Closing; or

     (b) any breach of or failure by buyer to perform any covenant or obligation
set our or  contemplated  in this  Agreement  or any  Related  Agreement  or any
document delivered at the Closing.

     9.5 Claims. The provisions of this Section shall be subject to Section 9.6.
As soon  as is  reasonably  practicable  after  becoming  aware  of a claim  for
indemnification  under  this  Agreement,  the  indemnified  person  ("Idemnified
Person") shall  promptly give notice to the  Indemnifying  Person  ("Indemnified
Person") of such claim and the amount the Indemnified Person will be entitled to
receive hereunder from the Indemnifying Person; provided that the failure of the
Indemnified  Person to promptly  give notice shall not relieve the  Indemnifying
Person of its  obligations  except to the extent (if any) that the  Indemnifying
Person shall have been prejudiced  thereby.  If the Indemnifying Person does not
object in  writing to such  indemnification  claim  within 30 days of  receiving
notice  thereof,  the  Indemnified  Person shall be entitled to recover,  on the
thirty-fifth  day after such  notice  given,  from the  Indemnifying  Person the
amount of such claim, and no later objection by the Indemnifying Person shall be
permitted;  if the  Indemnifying  Person  agrees that it has an  indemnification
obligation but objects that it is obligated to pay only a lesser amount, without
prejudice to the Indemnified  Person's claim for the difference.  In addition to
the amounts  recoverable by the Indemnified Person from the Indemnifying  Person
pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  the  Indemnified  Person  shall also be
entitled to recover from the Indemnifying Person interest on such amounts at the
rate of Two Times Prime from, and  including,  the  thirty-fifth  day after such
notice of an indemnification claim is given to, but not including, the date such
recovery is actually made by the Indemnified Person.

     9.6  Notice of Third-party  Claims; Assumption of Defense.  The Indemnified
Person  shall  give  notice as  promptly  as is  reasonably  practicable  to the
Indemnifying  Person of the assertion of any claim,  or the  commencement of any
suit, action or proceeding, by any Person not a party hereto in respect of which
indemnity may be sought under this  Agreement;  provided that the failure of the
Indemnified  Person to promptly  give notice shall not relieve the  Indemnifying
Person of its  obligations  except to the extent (if any) that the  Indemnifying
Person shall have been prejudiced  thereby.  The Indemnifying Person may, at its
own  expense,  (a)  participate  in the  defense of any claim,  suit,  action or
proceeding and (b) upon notice to the  Indemnified  Person and the  Indemnifying
Person's  delivering  to the  Indemnified  Person  written  agreement  that  the
Indemnified Person is entitled to Indemnification  for any Losses arising out of
such claim, suit, action or proceeding and that the Indemnifying Person shall be
liable for the entire  amount of any Loss,  at any time during the course of any
such claim,  suit,  action or proceeding,  assume the defense thereof  provided,
however, that (i) the Indemnifying  Person's counsel is reasonably  satisfactory
to the Indemnified  Person,  and (ii) the  Indemnifying  Person shall thereafter
consult with the  Indemnified  Person upon the Indemnified  Person's  reasonable
request for  consultation  from time to time with  respect to such claim,  suit,
action or  proceeding.  If the  Indemnifying  Person  assumes such defense,  the
Indemnified Person shall have the right (but not the duty) to participate in the
defense  thereof and to employ  counsel,  at its own expense,  separate from the
counsel employed by the Indemnifying Person. If, however, the Indemnified Person
reasonably determines from its judgement that representation by the Indemnifying
Person's  counsel of both the  Indemnifying  Person and the  Indemnified  Person
would  present such counsel with a conflict of interest,  then such  Indemnified
Person may employ separate counsel to represent and defend it in any such claim,
action,  suit or proceeding and the  Indemnifying  Person shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such separate counsel.  Whether or not the Indemnifying  Person
chooses to defend or prosecute any such claim,  suit, action or proceeding,  all
of the parties hereto shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution thereof.

     9.7  Settlement or Compromise.  Any settlement or compromise made or caused
to be made by the Indemnified Person or the Indemnifying Person, as the case may
be, of any claim,  suit,  action or  proceeding  shall also be binding  upon the
Indemnifying  Person or the Indemnified  Person, as the case may be, in the same
manner as a final  judgement  or decree had been entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction in the amount of such settlement or compromise;  provided, however,
that no  obligation,  restriction  or Loss shall be  imposed on the  Indemnified
Person as a result of such  settlement  without its prior written  consent.  The
Indemnified Person will give the Indemnifying  Person at least 30 days notice of
any proposed  settlement or compromise of any claim,  suit, action or proceeding
it is  defending,  during  which time the  Indemnifying  Person may reject  such
proposed settlement or compromise;  provided ,however,  that from and after such
rejection,  the Indemnifying  Person shall be obligated to assume the defense of
and full and complete  liability and responsibility for such claim, suit, action
or proceeding


                                         22
<PAGE>


and any and all  Losses in  connection  therewith  in  excess  of the  amount of
unindemnifiable Losses which the Indemnified Person would have been obligated to
pay under the proposed settlement or compromise.

     9.8  Failure  of  Indemnifying  Person  to  Act.  In  the  event  that  the
Indemnifying  person  does not elect to assume the  defense of any claim,  suit,
action or proceeding, then any failure of the Indemnified Person to defend or to
participate in the defense of any such claim,  suit,  action or proceeding or to
cause the same to be done,  shall not  relieve  the  Indemnifying  Person of its
obligations hereunder.

     9.9  Tax  Character.  Sellers and Buyer agree that any payments pursuant to
this Article IX will be treated for tax purposes as  adjustments to the purchase
price of the Shares,  and that they will report such payments on all Tax Returns
consistently with such characterization.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                   DEFINITIONS

     10.1 Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings for
the purposes of this Agreement:

     "Affiliate"  means,  with  respect  to any  specified  Person (1) any other
Person  which,  directly  or  indirectly,  owns or  controls,  is  under  common
ownership or control with, or is owned or controlled by, such specified  Person,
(2) any other Person which is a director,  officer or partner or is, directly or
indirectly,  the  beneficial  owner of 10 percent or more of any class of equity
securities of the specified  Person or a Person  described in clause (1) of this
paragraph,  (3)  another  Person of which the  specified  Person is a  director,
officer or partner or is,  directly or indirectly,  the  beneficial  owner of 10
percent or more of any class of equity securities, or (4) any relative or spouse
of the specified Person or any of the foregoing Persons.

     "Business  Day" means any day of the year other  than (i) any  Saturday  or
Sunday or (ii) any other day on which  commercial banks located in New York City
are generally closed for business.

     "Buyer  Confidential   Information"  means  all  confidential   information
concerning  Buyer  or its  Affiliates  that  (i)  is  not  and  has  not  become
ascertainable  or obtainable from public or published  information,  (ii) is not
received  from a third party or is received  from a third party  pursuant to the
authorization  of  Buyer,  (iii) was not in the  Company's  or either or both of
Sellers'  possession  prior to  disclosure  thereof to Sellers or the Company in
connection  with  the  transactions   contemplated  herein,  and  (iv)  was  not
independently developed by the Company or either or both of Sellers.

     "Closing" means the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein.

     "Closing Date" means the date at which the Closing occurs.

     "Company  Confidential  Information"  means  all  confidential  information
concerning  the Company or its  Affiliates  that (i) is not and has not become a
ascertainable  or obtainable from public or published  information,  (ii) is not
received  from a third party or is received  from a third party  pursuant to the
authorization  of the  Company or either or both of Sellers in  connection  with
Buyer's due diligence review of the Company, (iii) was not in Buyer's possession
prior  to  disclosure  thereof  to  Buyer in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated herein, and (iv) was not independently developed by Buyer.

     "Company Material Adverse Change" means a change (or circumstance involving
a prospective change) in the business, operations, assets, liabilities,  results
or operations,  cash flows,  condition  (financial or otherwise) or prospects of
the Company which is materially adverse.

     "Company   Material  Adverse  Effect"  means  an  effect  (or  circumstance
involving  a   prospective   effect)  on  the  business,   operations,   assets,
liabilities,   results  of  operations,  cash  flows,  condition  (financial  or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company which is materially adverse.


                                       23
<PAGE>


     "Contract"  means any contract,  lease,  commitment,  understanding,  sales
order,  purchase order,  agreement,  indenture,  mortgage,  note,  bond,  right,
warrant,  instrument, plan, permit or license, whether written or oral, which is
intended or purports to be binding and enforceable.

     "Corporate  Owned Related  Assets" means those assets  described in Exhibit
1.1(b) used in  connection  with the business of the Company which are currently
not owned by the Company, but are owned by other corporations,  the entire stock
ownership of which is held by Sellers.

     "Dollars"  or numbers  preceded  by the symbol "$" means  amounts in United
States Dollars.

     "Ending Date" means the date specified in Section 4.8(a)..

     "Environmental  Law" means any law which  relates to or  otherwise  imposes
liability or  standards of conduct  concerning  mining or  reclamation  of mined
land, discharges, emissions, releases or threatened releases of noises, odors or
any  pollutants,  contaminants  or  hazardous  or toxic  wastes,  substances  or
materials,  whether as matter or energy,  into ambient air,  water,  or land, or
otherwise  relating to the manufacture,  processing,  generation,  distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, cleanup, transport or handling of pollutants,
contaminants, or hazardous or toxic wastes, substances or materials.

     "Environmental  Permit"  means any permit,  license,  approval,  consent or
other authorization required by or pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

     "Existing  Borrowings"  means all  borrowings  from  lending  institutions,
vendors or agencies of governments or their political subdivisions, as set forth
on the Financial Statements or in the books and records of the Company.

     "Financial Statements" means all of the following:

     (a) the audited financial statements of the Company as of February 28, 1999
(including all Exhibits and notes  thereto),  consisting of the balance sheet of
such date and the related statements of income and expenses,  retained earnings,
changes in financial  position and cash flows for the  twelve-month  period then
ended; and

     (b) the audited financial statements of the Company as of February 28, 1999
(including  all Exhibits and notes  thereto)  consisting of the balance sheet at
such date and the related statements of income and expenses,  retained earnings,
changes in financial  position and cash flows for the  twelve-month  period then
ended.

     In addition  to (a) and (b) above,  after the date of this  Agreement,  the
term  "Financial  Statements"  shall  include  any  and  all  Interim  Financial
Statements thereafter issued.

     "GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted  accounting  principles at the time in
effect.

     "Governmental  Authority"  means the  government  of the  Republic of South
Africa, the United States or any other country or state or political subdivision
thereof and any entity,  body or authority  exercising  executive,  legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

     "Hazardous Material" means:

     (a) any petroleum product or fractions thereof; or

     (b) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical,
material or substance  within the meaning of any other  applicable South African
law,  regulation,  ordinance  or  requirement  (including  consent  decrees  and
administrative orders) relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct
concerning any hazardous,  toxic dangerous waste,  substance or material, all as
now or at any time hereafter in effect.

     "Indemnified Person" means the Person or Persons claimed by the Indemnified
Person to be obligated to provide indemnification.

     "Intellectual Property" means any and all trademarks,  tradenames,  service
marks, patents, copyrights (including any registrations,  applications, licenses
or  rights  relating  to any  of  the  foregoing),  Technology,  trade

                                       24
<PAGE>


secrets,  inventions,  know-how, designs, computer programs,  processes, and all
other  intangible  assets,  properties and rights.  The "Company's  Intellectual
Property"  means any and all  Intellectual  Property  used by the Company in the
conduct of its business.

     "Interim Financial  Statements" means any financial statements delivered to
Buyer pursuant to Section 4.7.

     "Latest Balance Sheet" means the audited  comparative  balance sheet of the
Company dated as of August 31, 1999, set forth in Exhibit 2.5.

     "Law" means any law, statute,  regulation,  ordinance, rule, order, decree,
judgement,  consent decree,  settlement  agreement or  governmental  requirement
enacted,  promulgated,  entered  into,  agreed or  imposed  by any  Governmental
Authority.

     "Lien" means any mortgage,  lien (except for any lien for Taxes not yet due
and payable), charge,  restriction,  pledge, security interest, option, lease or
sublease,   claim,  right  of  any  third  party,   easement,   encroachment  or
encumbrance.

     "Loss" or "Losses" means any and all liabilities,  losses,  costs,  claims,
damages (including  consequential  damages),  penalties and expenses  (including
attorney's fees and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation).  In the
event any of the foregoing  are  indemnifiable  hereunder,  the terms "Loss" and
"Losses"  shall  include any and all  attorney's  fees and expenses and costs of
investigation  and litigation  incurred by the  Indemnified  Person in enforcing
such  indemnity.  No Loss shall be reduced by reason of tax  benefits  allegedly
enjoyed as a result of such Loss by any Indemnified Party.

     "Person"  means  any   individual,   corporation,   proprietorship,   firm,
partnership,  limited partnership, trust, association or other entity, including
a government or government department, agency or instrumentality.

     "Real Property Leases" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

     "Related  Agreement"  means any Contract  which is or to be entered into at
the Closing or  otherwise  pursuant to this  Agreement.  The Related  Agreements
executed by a specified  Person shall be referred to as "such  Person's  Related
Agreements," "its Related Agreements" or another similar expression.

     "Related  Assets"  means those assets  described in Exhibit  1.1(b) used in
connection with the business of the Company which are currently not owned by the
Company, but are under the ownership or control of Sellers.

     "Shares"  means the 100 shares of Common  Stock,one  South African rand par
value per share,  of the Company  held of record by Sellers,  99 of which shares
are held of record by  Eduardo  P.V.  Cardoso  and 1of which  shares are held of
record by Alberteina Cardoso.

     "Subsidiaries"  means any Person 50.1% or more of the voting power of which
is controlled by another Person.

     "Survival Date" means the date specified in Section 9.1.

     "Taxes"  means  all  taxes,   charges,   fees,  duties,   levies  or  other
assessments,  including  income,  gross  receipts,  net  proceeds,  ad  valorem,
turnover,  real and personal  property  (tangible and intangible),  sales,  use,
franchise,  excise, value added, stamp,  leasing,  lease, user, transfer,  fuel,
excess  profits,   occupational,   interest   equalization,   windfall  profits,
severance,  employee's income withholding,  other withholding,  unemployment and
Social Security taxes, which are imposed by any Governmental Authority, and such
term shall  include any  interest,  penalties or  additions to tax  attributable
thereto.

     "Tax Return" means any report,  return or other information  required to be
supplied to a Governmental Authority in connection with any Taxes.

     "Tax Statute of  Limitations  Date" means the close of business on the 30th
day after the expiration of the applicable  statute of limitations  with respect
to Taxes,  including any  extensions  thereof (of if such date is not a Business
Day, the next Business Day).


                                       25
<PAGE>


     "Tax Warranty" means a representation or warranty in Sections 2.17 or 2.19.

     "Territory" means the Republic of South Africa,  and all other countries in
which the Company has transacted business prior to the Ending Date.

     "Title and  Authorization  Warranty" means a representation  or warranty in
Sections 2.2, 2.4 or 2.7.

     "Two Times Prime" means two times the weighted  average  prime rate (as the
prime rate as from time to time announced by Citibank, N.A. in New York City).


                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     11.1  Expenses.  Sellers  shall pay all expenses of Sellers and the Company
(including  attorneys'  fees and  expenses)  and Buyer shall pay all expenses of
Buyer  (including  attorneys'  fees and  expenses),  in each  case  incurred  in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Sellers
shall pay all sales, use, stamp, transfer,  service,  recording, real estate and
like taxes or fees, if any, imposed by any Governmental  Authority in connection
with the transfer and assignment of the Shares.

     11.2 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented but
only in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.


     11.3 Notices.  Any notice,  request,  instruction  or other  document to be
given  hereunder  by a party  hereto  shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given, (a) when received if given in person or by courier or a courier
service,  (b) on the date of transmission  if sent by telex,  facsimile or other
wire  transmission  or (c) seven Business Days after being deposited in the U.S.
or South African mail, certified or registered mail, postage paid:

         (a)      If to Sellers, addressed as follows:

                  Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
                  Rua da Pedracina 16A
                  Funchal, Madeira 9000

                  Facsimile No.: 351-91-222-885


         (b)      If to Buyer, addressed as follows:

                  Cheshire Developments, Inc.
                  c/o Total Trade and Investment Ltd.
                  191 Post Road West
                  Westport CT. 06880


                  with a copy to:

                  Samuel Goldman & Associates
                  260 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor
                  New York, New York 10016
                  Attention: Samuel Goldman, Esq.



                                       26
<PAGE>


                  Facsimile No.: 212-725-0805

         (c)      If to the Company, addressed as follows:

                  Cardoso Cigarette Depot (PTY) Limited
                  468 Jules Street
                  Malvern, Johannesburg, South Africa

                  Facsimile No.: 27-11-622-1531

or to such  other  individual  or address as a party  hereto may  designate  for
itself by notice given as herein provided.

     11.4 Effect of Investigation.

     (a) Any due  diligence  review,  audit or other  investigation  or  inquiry
undertaken  or  performed  by or on behalf of Buyer  shall not  limit,  qualify,
modify or amend the representations,  warranties or covenants of, or indemnities
by  Sellers  or the  Company  made or  undertaken  pursuant  to this  Agreement,
irrespective  of the  knowledge and  information  received (or which should have
been received) therefrom by Buyer.

     (b) Any due  diligence  review,  audit or other  investigation  or  inquiry
undertaken  or  performed  by or on behalf of Sellers or the  company  shall not
limit,  qualify,  modify or amend the representations,  warranties and covenants
of, or  indemnities  by, Buyer made or  undertaken  pursuant to this  Agreement,
irrespective  of the  knowledge and  information  received (or which should have
been received) therefrom by Sellers or the Company.

     11.5 Waivers. The failure of a party hereto at any time or times to require
performance  of any  provision  hereof shall in no manner  affect its right at a
later time to enforce the same. The waiver by a party of any condition or of any
breach of any term,  covenant,  representation  or  warranty  contained  in this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing, and no waiver in any one or more
instances  shall be  deemed  to be a further  or  continuing  waiver of any such
condition  or breach in other  instances  or a waiver of any other  condition or
breach of any term, covenant, representation or warranty.

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

     11.7  Interpretation.  The  headings  preceding  the text of  Articles  and
Sections  included in this  Agreement  and the headings to Exhibits  attached to
this  Agreement  are for  convenience  only and shall not be deemed part of this
Agreement or be given any effect in interpreting this Agreement.  The use of the
masculine,  feminine or neuter  gender  herein shall not limit any  provision of
this Agreement. The use of the terms "including" or "include" shall in all cases
herein mean  "including,  without  limitation"  or "include,  with  limitation,"
respectively.  Underscored  references  to Articles,  Sections,  Subsections  or
Exhibits shall refer to those portions of this  Agreement.  Consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated herein shall not be deemed a waiver of a breach of or
inaccuracy in any representation,  warranty or covenant or of any party's rights
and  remedies  with  regard  thereto.  No specific  representation,  warranty or
covenant  contained herein shall limit the generality or applicability of a more
general  representation,  warranty or covenant  contained herein. A breach of or
inaccuracy in any representation,  warranty or covenant shall not be affected by
the fact that may more  general  or less  general  representation,  warranty  or
covenant was not also breached or in accurate.

     11.8  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in  accordance  with the internal laws of the State of New York without
giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

     11.9  Assignment.  This  Agreement  shall be binding  upon and inure to the
benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and their  respective  estates,  heirs,  legal
representatives,  successors and assigns; provided,  however, that no assignment
of any  rights or  obligations  shall be made by any party  hereto  without  the
written  consent of each


                                       27
<PAGE>


other party hereto,  except that Buyer may assign its rights hereunder,  but not
its obligations, without such consent toany Affiliate of Buyer.

     11.10 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the of the
benefit  of the  parties  hereto  and,  to the  extend  provided  herein,  their
respective  estates,  heirs,  successors,   Affiliates,   directors,   officers,
employees, agents and representatives,  and no provision of this Agreement shall
be deemed to confer upon other  third  parties  any  remedy,  claim,  liability,
reimbursement, cause of action or other right.

     11.11  Publicity.  Prior to the Closing Date,  except as required by Law or
the  rules of any stock  exchange,  no public  announcement  or other  publicity
regarding the transactions  referred to herein shall be made by Buyer,  Sellers,
the  Company  or  any  of  their  respective  Affiliates,  officers,  directors,
employees,  representatives  or agents,  without the prior written  agreement of
Buyer and  Sellers,  in any case,  as to form,  content,  timing  and  manner of
distribution or  publication;  provided,  however,  that nothing in this Section
shall prevent such parties from discussing such  transactions with those Persons
whose  approval,  agreement  or  opinion,  as the case may be, is  required  for
consummation of such particular transaction or transactions.

     11.12 Liquidated Damages.

     (a)  If,  prior  to  the  Closing,  Buyer  materially  fails  to  meet  its
obligations  under  this  Agreement  or  fails  to  close  on  the  transactions
contemplated hereby,  unless Buyer, as the case may be, is entitled not to close
pursuant to the terms hereof,  Sellers may lawfully  terminate this Agreement in
accordance with the notice and lapse of time requirements of Section 8.1(d), and
if it is so terminated,  an aggregate of $[Amount]  shall be payable by Buyer to
Sellers,  all as liquidated  damages to Sellers,  and such payments shall be the
sole remedy  prior to the Closing of Sellers and the Company for such failure by
Buyer and shall only be available as a remedy prior to the Closing.

     (b) If, prior to the Closing either or both of Sellers  materially fails to
meet  their   obligations  under  this  Agreement  or  fails  to  close  on  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  unless  Sellers,  as the case  may be,  are
entitled not to close pursuant to the terms hereof, Buyer may lawfully terminate
this Agreement in accordance  with the notice and lapse of time  requirements of
Section 8.1(c), and if it is so terminated, $ [Amount] shall be payable, jointly
and  severally,  by Sellers to Buyer as  liquidated  damages to Buyer,  and such
payment  shall be the sole remedy prior to the Closing of Buyer for such failure
by either or both of Sellers and shall only be  available  as a remedy  prior to
the Closing.  The Company agrees to guarantee Sellers'  obligations with respect
to such liquidated damages.

     11.13  Further  Assurances.  Upon  the  reasonable  request of Buyer,  each
Seller  will on and after the  Closing  Date  execute  and deliver to Buyer such
other documents,  releases, assignments and other instruments as may be required
to effectuate  completely  the transfer and  assignment to Buyer of, and to vest
fully Buyer title to, the Shares,  and to  otherwise  carry out the  purposes of
this Agreement.

     11.14  Severability.  If any  provision  of this  Agreement  shall  be held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable,  the validity,  legality or enforceability of
the other provisions  hereof shall not be affected  thereby,  and there shall be
deemed  substituted  for the provision at issue a valid,  legal and  enforceable
provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue.

     11.15  Remedies  Cumulative.   Unless  otherwise  specified,  the  remedies
provided  in this  Agreement  shall be  cumulative  and shall not  preclude  the
assertion  or exercise  of any other  rights or  remedies  available  by law, in
equity or otherwise.

     11.16 Entire  Understanding.  This Agreement and the Related Agreements set
forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and supercede
any and all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings among the parties.

     11.17  Jurisdiction  of  Disputes;  Waiver of Jury Trial.  In the event any
party to this  Agreement  commences  any  litigation,  proceeding or other legal
action in connection with or relating to this Agreement,  any Related  Agreement
or any matters described or contemplated herein or therein,  with respect to any
of the matters described or contemplated herein or therein,  the parties to this
Agreement hereby (a) agree under all circumstances absolutely and irrevocably to
institute  any  litigation,  proceeding  or  other  legal  action  in a court of
competent  jurisdiction located within the City of New York, New York, whether a
state or  federal  court;  (b) agree  that in the event of any such  litigation,
proceeding  or  action,  such  parties  will  consent  and  submit  to  personal
jurisdiction  in any such court

                                       28
<PAGE>


described  in clause (a) of this  Section and to service of process upon them in
accordance  with the rules and statutes  governing  service of process (it being
understood  that  nothing in this  Section  shall be deemed to prevent any party
from seeking to remove any action to a federal court in New York,  New York; (c)
agree to waive to the full extent  permitted by law any objection  that they may
now or hereafter have to the venue of any such litigation,  proceeding or action
in any such court or that any such litigation,  proceeding or action was brought
in an  inconvenient  forum;  (d)  designate,  appoint and direct CT  Corporation
System as its  authorized  agent to receive on its behalf service of any and all
process and  documents  in any legal  proceeding  in the State of New York;  (e)
agree to notify the other parties to this  Agreement  immediately  if such agent
shall refuse to act, or be prevented  from acting,  as agent and, in such event,
promptly to designate  another  agent in the City of New York,  satisfactory  to
Sellers  and  Buyer,  to serve in place of such  agent and  deliver to the other
parties  written  evidence  of  such  substitute   agent's  acceptance  of  such
designation; (f) agree as an alternative method of service to service of process
in any legal  proceeding  by  mailing  of copies  thereof  to such  party at its
address set forth here in for  communications  to such party; (g) agree that any
service made as provided  herein shall be effective and binding service in every
respect;  and (h) agree that nothing herein shall affect the rights of any party
to effect  service of process in any other manner  permitted by Law.  EACH PARTY
HERETO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY DISPUTE IN CONNECTION  WITH OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT,  ANY RELATED  AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS  DESCRIBED OR
CONTEMPLATED  HEREIN OR THEREIN,  AND AGREE TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION NECESSARY
OR APPROPRIATE TO EFFECT SUCH WAIVER.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be execute and delivered as of the date first above written.



CHESHIRE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.                 CARDOSO CIGARETTE DEPOT (PTY)
                                            LIMITED

By: /s/ John Rodrigues                      By: /s/ Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
   ------------------------                    ---------------------------
    John Rodrigues                              Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
    Title: Chairman                             Title: Chairman

   /s/ Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
   ------------------------
     Eduardo P.V.Cardoso


   /s/ Alberteina Cardoso
   ------------------------
     Alberteina Cardoso




                                       29

                      AMENDMENT TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                      -------------------------------------

         THIS AMENDMENT TO STOCK  PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made as of April 7, 2000
among CHESHIRE  DISTRIBUTORS,  INC., a Delaware corporation  ("Buyer"),  EDUARDO
P.V. CARDOSO and ALBERTEINA CARDOSO,  (sometimes referred to herein individually
as "Seller" and  collectively as "Sellers"),  and CARDOSO  CIGARETTE DEPOT (PTY)
LIMITED, a South African corporation (the "Company").

                                P R E A M B L E:

         WHEREAS,  Buyer,  Sellers and the Company entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement  dated as of  September  23, 1999 (the  Agreement")  pursuant to which
Buyers agreed to purchase  from Sellers and Sellers  agreed to sell to Buyer all
of the  outstanding  Shares of the Company  (the  "Shares"),  as well as certain
other  assets,  consisting  of real  property  owned by or under the  control of
Sellers and used in  connection  with the business of the Company (the  "Related
Assets"); and

         WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the Agreement in certain respects

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

          A.  CLOSING  PROCEDURES.  Sections  1.2 and 1.3 of the  Agreement  are
hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:

              1.2 Payment of  Purchase  Price and  delivery  of  Shares.  At the
         Closing, subject to the terms and conditions hereof:

               (a) the Buyer shall pay to the Sellers the first  installment  of
          the Purchase  Price in the sum of $1,000,000 by certified  check or by
          wire transfer of immediately  available  funds to bank accounts in the
          Republic of South Africa, as designated by Sellers,  respectively. The
          Buyer  shall  pay the  remainder  of the  Purchase  Price  in the same
          manner,  by paying a second  installment  of  $2,000,000  (the "Second
          Installment")  on or before the  twenty-first day after of the Closing
          Date,  and a final  installment  of  $7,000,000  on or before the date
          which is six months after the Closing Date (the "Third Installment").

               (b) the Sellers will deliver to Buyer certificate(s) representing
          ten (10%)  percent  of the  Shares  and will  deliver  to  CorpCapital
          Limited,  as Escrow Agent, the remainder of the Shares,  together with
          declarations for the transfer thereof in blank as to transferee,  duly
          signed by the Sellers/registered  holders and without such forms being
          dated and  otherwise  complying  with the  provisions of the Company's
          articles of association  and the South African Stamp Duties Act, 1968.
          As additional  portions of the Purchase Price are


<PAGE>

          paid to the  Sellers,  The  Escrow  Agent  shall  deliver to the Buyer
          (together with the transfer documentation in respect thereof),  Shares
          out of Escrow so that the Buyer  shall  have  received  delivery  of a
          percentage  of the Shares which is identical to the  percentage of the
          Purchase  Price  which  has been  paid to the  Sellers.  For  example,
          simultaneously  with the Second  Installment  being paid in full,  the
          Buyer shall have  received  30% in the  aggregate  of the Shares,  and
          simultaneously  with the Third  Installment  being  paid in full,  the
          Buyer  shall  have  received  100%  in the  aggregate  of the  Shares.
          Provided the Sellers are then not in default under this Agreement,  if
          any portion of the Purchase  Price remains unpaid on the date which is
          six months after the Closing Date, the Sellers shall have the right by
          notice to the Buyer and the Escrow Agent,  to terminate the unexecuted
          portion of this  Agreement and to cause the  remaining  Shares held by
          the Escrow  Agent to be returned  to the  Buyers.  Title in and to the
          Shares  hald in escrow  shall  not  transfer  to the  Buyer  until the
          purchase price in respect of the relevant  Shares has been  discharged
          as herein contemplated.

               1.3 TRANSFER OF RELATED ASSETS.  Sellers shall cause title to the
          Related  Assets to be  transferred  to Buyer  not later  than the date
          which is six months after the Closing Date. It shall be a condition to
          the payment of the Third  Installment  that such  transfer  shall have
          been consummated.

     B.  PROVISIONS RE SHARES.  The parties  agree to the  following  provisions
regarding the Shares which shall expire on the payment of the Third Installment:

     1. The issued share capital of the Company shall comprise a single class of
shares.

     2.  To the  extent  that  any  dividends  are to be  paid  by the  Company,
dividends  may only be paid to the Buyer  rateably in  proportion to the Buyer's
percentage  of paid for Shares in the Company.  Dividends  payable on account of
Escrow  Shares  shall be paid to the Escrow  Agent and shall be delivered by the
Escrow Agent to the party ultimately receiving such Shares.

     3. To the  extent  that the  Company  is  indebted  to the  Buyer on a loan
account,  loans shall only be repaid to the Buyer  rateably in proportion to the
Buyer's percentage of paid for Shares in the Company.

     4. United States Dollar denominated loans which are owing by the Company to
non-residents will be repayable in accordance with their current repayment terms
(as set out in the audited financial statements of the Company).

     C. PROVISIONS RE ESCROW AGENT. The Escrow Agent shall be obligated only for
the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth herein and may rely
and shall be protected in relying or refraining from acting on any instrument or
writing  reasonably  believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to have been
signed or presented  by the proper party or parties.  The Escrow Agent shall not
be personally liable for any act the Escrow Agent may do or omit to do hereunder
as the Escrow Agent while  acting in good faith,  and any act done or omitted by
the Escrow Agent pursuant to the advice of the Escrow  Agent's  attorneys-at-law
shall be conclusive evidence of such


                                       2
<PAGE>


good faith. If any dispute arise with respect to the delivery  and/or  ownership
or right of  possession  of the Shares held by the Escrow Agent  hereunder,  the
Escrow  Agent is  authorized  and  directed  in to retain in the Escrow  Agent's
possession without liability to anyone all or any part of said Shares until such
disputes  shall have been  settled  either by mutual  written  agreement  of the
parties  concerned  or by a final  order,  decree  or  judgment  of a  court  of
competent  jurisdiction  after the time for appeal has expired and no appeal has
been  perfected,  but the  Escrow  Agent  shall be under no duty  whatsoever  to
institute or defend any such proceedings.

     D.  AMENDMENT.   This  Agreement  may  be  further  amended,   modified  or
supplemented but only in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

     D.   COUNTERPARTS.   This   Amendment  may  be  executed  in  one  or  more
counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,  each of
which when so executed  shall be deemed an original,  but all of which  together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     E.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of the  Agreement,  as amended  hereby,
shall be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable,  the  validity,  legality or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby, and
there shall be deemed  substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal and
enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue.

     F. ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING.  The Agreement, as hereby amended, and the Related
Agreements  set forth the entire  agreement  and  understanding  of the  parties
hereto  and  supercede   any  and  all  prior   agreements,   arrangements   and
understandings among the parties.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to Stock
Purchase  Agreement  to be execute  and  delivered  as of the date  first  above
written.

CHESHIRE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.                CARDOSO CIGARETTE DEPOT (PTY) LIMITED


By:/s/ Willem Oost-Lievense                 By: /s/ Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
   ------------------------                    -------------------------
    Willem Oost-Lievense                        Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
    Title: Chairman                             Title: Chairman


/s/ Eduardo P.V. Cardoso
- -------------------------
Eduardo P.V. Cardoso

/s/ Alberteina Cardoso
- -------------------------
Alberteina Cardoso



ACCEPTED BY ESCROW AGENT:
CORP CAPITAL

By:  /s/ Corp Capital
     ----------------------------
Date: April 7, 2000
     ----------------------------



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