<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

 
 
 
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                           ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
 
 
 
                                    between
 
 
                             STERLING FIBERS, INC.
 
 
                           STERLING CHEMICALS, INC.
 
 
                       STERLING CHEMICALS HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
                          CYTEC ACRYLIC FIBERS INC.,
 
 
                            CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP.,
 
 
                                      and
 
                            CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.,
 
 
 
 
                         Dated as of December 23, 1996
 
 
                        Sale of Acrylic Fibers Business
 
 
 
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<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                     Page
 
                                ARTICLE I
 
                          Definitions and Terms
 
SECTION 1.01.    Definitions......................................     2
SECTION 1.02.    Interpretation...................................    21
 
 
                                  ARTICLE II
 
                     Purchase and Sale of Acquired Assets
 
SECTION 2.01.    Purchase and Sale................................    22
SECTION 2.02.    Definitions of Acquired Assets and
                 Excluded Assets..................................    22
SECTION 2.03.    Assumption of Certain Liabilities................    26
SECTION 2.04.    Consideration....................................    29
SECTION 2.05.    Reconciliation of the Consideration..............    30
 
 
                                  ARTICLE III
 
                                  The Closing
 
SECTION 3.01.    Closing Date.....................................    32
SECTION 3.02.    Transactions To Be Effected at the  Closing......    32
SECTION 3.03.    Prorations.......................................    33
 
 
                                  ARTICLE IV
 
                        Representations and Warranties
 
SECTION 4.01.    Representations and Warranties of                          
                  the Cytec Parties...............................    34 
SECTION 4.02.    Representations and Warranties of                          
                  Purchaser.......................................    50 
 
 
                                       i
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Page
                                   ARTICLE V
 
                                   Covenants
 
SECTION 5.01.    Covenants of the Cytec Parties Relating to 
                  Conduct of Business.............................    52
SECTION 5.02.    Purchaser's Access to Information Prior to                
                  Closing..........................................   55     
                                                                           
SECTION 5.03.    Records; Financial Information; Attorney 
                  Work Product.....................................   56
 
SECTION 5.04.    Conditions to Closing.............................   58 
SECTION 5.05.    Employee Matters..................................   58 
SECTION 5.06.    Expenses..........................................   64 
SECTION 5.07.    Transfer Taxes....................................   64 
SECTION 5.08.    Brokers or Finders................................   64 
SECTION 5.09.    Bulk Transfer Laws................................   65 
SECTION 5.10.    Purchase Price Allocation.........................   65 
SECTION 5.11.    No Additional Representations.....................   65 
SECTION 5.12.    Post-Closing Exposure to Acrylonitrile and 
                  Asbestos.........................................   66 
 
SECTION 5.13.    Amendment of Intercompany Licenses................   67
SECTION 5.14.    Real Property Easement; Santa Rosa  First Refusal 
                  and Lease Agreement..............................   67
SECTION 5.15.    Actions of Purchaser..............................   67
SECTION 5.16.    Signs; Use of "Cytec" or "Cyanamid" Name..........   67
SECTION 5.17.    Products, Supplies and Documents..................   68
SECTION 5.18.    Delivery of Assets................................   68
SECTION 5.19.    No Solicitation...................................   69
SECTION 5.20.    Audited Financial Statements......................   69
SECTION 5.21.    Pilko Assessment..................................   70
SECTION 5.22.    Title Policy......................................   77
SECTION 5.23.    Further Assurances................................   78
SECTION 5.24.    Reimbursement for Certain Excess Medical Claims 
                  and Expenses.....................................   78
SECTION 5.25.    Services Agreement Issue..........................   78
SECTION 5.26.    Certain Matters Related to Cyanamid...............   78
SECTION 5.27.    Amendment to Disclosure Schedule..................   80
 

                                      ii
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Page
 
                                  ARTICLE VI
 
                             Conditions Precedent
 
SECTION 6.01.    Conditions to Each Party's Obligations............   80
SECTION 6.02.    Conditions to the Obligations of the Sterling 
                  Parties..........................................   81
SECTION 6.03.    Conditions to the Obligations of the Cytec Parties   83
 
 
 
                                  ARTICLE VII
 
                       Termination, Amendment and Waiver
 
SECTION 7.01.    Termination.......................................   85 
SECTION 7.02.    Amendments and Waivers............................   87 
 
 
                                 ARTICLE VIII
 
                                Indemnification
 
SECTION 8.01.    Indemnification by the Cytec Parties..............   88
SECTION 8.02.    Indemnification by Purchaser, Guarantee of STX
                  Chemicals.......................................    91 
SECTION 8.03.    Losses Net of Insurance, etc......................   93
SECTION 8.04.    Termination of Indemnification....................   94
SECTION 8.05.    Procedure.........................................   94
SECTION 8.06.    Payment...........................................   97
SECTION 8.07.    No Consequential Damages..........................   97
SECTION 8.08.    Effect of Certain Breaches and Inaccuracies.......   97
 
                                  ARTICLE IX
 
                              General Provisions
 
SECTION 9.01.    Notices...........................................   99
SECTION 9.02.    Headings..........................................  100
SECTION 9.03.    Survival of Representations, Warranties and 
                  Covenants........................................  100 
SECTION 9.04.    Severability......................................  101
SECTION 9.05.    Counterparts......................................  101



                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Page

SECTION 9.06.    Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries....  101   
SECTION 9.07.    Governing Law.....................................  102
SECTION 9.08.    Consent to Jurisdiction...........................  102
SECTION 9.09.    Publicity.........................................  103
SECTION 9.10.    Assignment........................................  103
SECTION 9.11.    Amendments and Waivers............................  103
SECTION 9.12.    Remedies..........................................  104
SECTION 9.13.    Prevailing Party Costs............................  104
SECTION 9.14.    No Liability of Natural Person....................  104
 
 
                                      iv
<PAGE>
 
Exhibits
 
Exhibit A      Acrylonitrile Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B      Form of Special Warranty Deed
Exhibit C      Form of Earn-Out Agreement
Exhibit D      Form of Easement Agreement
Exhibit E      Form of Environmental Permits Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit F      Form of Intellectual Property Assignments
Exhibit F-1    Form of Cytec Technology Assignment of Trademark Registration
Exhibit F-2    Form of Agreement to Assign Foreign Trademarks between Cytec
                Technology and Purchaser
Exhibit F-3    Form of Assignment of Know-How to Purchaser among Parent, Cytec
                Technology and Purchaser
Exhibit F-4    Form of Assignment of U.S. Patents and Patent Applications to
                Purchaser among Parent, Cytec Technology and Purchaser
Exhibit F-5    Form of Assignment of Foreign patent and Patent Applications to
                Purchaser between Cytec Technology and Purchaser
Exhibit G      Form of Non-Competition Agreement
Exhibit H      Form of Occupancy Agreements
Exhibit I      Form of Designation of Rights
Exhibit J      Form of Santa Rosa First Refusal and Lease Agreement
Exhibit K      Form of Services Agreement
Exhibit L      Form of Trademark License Agreement
Exhibit M      Form of Assumption Agreement
Exhibit N      Form of Legend for Preferred Stock Certificate
Exhibit O      Form of General Conveyance, Transfer and Assignment
 


                                       v
<PAGE>
 
                                  Appendices
 
Appendix A    List of Certain Business Employees
Appendix B    List of Business Equipment located outside the Santa Rosa Facility
Appendix C    List of Cytec Santa Rosa Employees
Appendix C-1  List of Most Senior 25% of Acquired Employees
Appendix C-2  List of Certain Acquired Employees
Appendix D    Description of Excluded Real Property located in Santa Rosa County
Appendix E    Certain Environmental Conditions
Appendix F    [Intentionally Omitted]
Appendix G    Computation of Certain Business Inventory and Cytec Services 
               Payable
Appendix H    List of Deep Well System
Appendix I    List of Certain Permitted Liens
Appendix J    Description of Santa Rosa Facility
Appendix K    Specified Cytec Representatives
Appendix L    Specified Sterling Representatives
Appendix M    Acrylonitrile Assets Being Transferred to Purchaser
Appendix N    Pro Forma Balance Sheet Data
Appendix O    Scope of Work for Pilko Assessment
 

Disclosure Schedules

Schedule 4.01(a)        Organization, Standing and Power 
Schedule 4.01(b)        Corporate Authority
Schedule 4.01(c)-1      Exclusions to the Unaudited Financial Statements
Schedule 4.01(c)-2      Cost of Acrylonitrile Purchases
Schedule 4.01(d)        Undisclosed Liabilities
Schedule 4.01(e)        Compliance with Applicable Laws
Schedule 4.01(f)        Litigation; Decrees
Schedule 4.01(g)        Permits
Schedule 4.01(i)        Products
Schedule 4.01(k)        Real Property
Schedule 4.01(l)        Business Accounts Receivable
Schedule 4.01(m)        Certain Changes or Events
Schedule 4.01(n)        Intellectual Property
Schedule 4.01(n)-1      Cytec Owned Intellectual Property
Schedule 4.01(n)-2      Other Intellectual Property
Schedule 4.01(n)-3      Licenses and Other Rights


                                      vi
<PAGE>
 
Schedule 4.01(n)-4     Interferences or Other Consented Proceedings
Schedule 4.01(p)       Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.01(q)       Sufficiency of Acquired Assets
Schedule 4.01(r)       Contracts
Schedule 4.01(s)       Employee Pension Benefit Plan
Schedule 4.01(w)       Triggering of Obligations
Schedule 4.01(x)       Future Commitments
Schedule 4.01(y)       Bonus Agreements
Schedule 4.01(z)       Bonds
Schedule 4.01(aa)      Labor Matters


                                      vii
<PAGE>
 
                    ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of December 23, 1996 (this
               "Agreement"), between STERLING FIBERS, INC., a Delaware
               corporation ("Purchaser"), STERLING CHEMICALS, INC., a Delaware
               corporation ("STX Chemicals"), STERLING CHEMICALS HOLDINGS, INC.,
               a Delaware corporation and the indirect sole stockholder of
               Purchaser and the direct stockholder of STX Chemicals ("STX"),
               CYTEC ACRYLIC FIBERS INC., a Delaware corporation ("Seller"),
               CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Cytec
               Technology"), and CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC., a Delaware corporation
               and the sole stockholder of Seller and Cytec Technology.


          WHEREAS Parent (as defined below), through Seller, is engaged in the
Business (as defined below); and

          WHEREAS Parent, through Cytec Technology, owns certain of the Business
Intellectual Property (as defined below); and

          WHEREAS Parent wishes to sell and to cause Seller to sell to
Purchaser, and Purchaser wishes to purchase from Parent and Seller,
substantially all the assets of the Business and Purchaser is willing to assume
substantially all the liabilities of the Business, in each case upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

          WHEREAS Cytec Technology wishes to transfer all of the Business
Intellectual Property owned by it to Purchaser, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement.


          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and for other good and valuable
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2

consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                             Definitions and Terms

          SECTION 1.01.  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings provided below:

          "Acquired Assets" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 2.02(a).

          "Acquired Contracts" shall mean (i) all Contracts (including Acquired
Employee Contracts) to which any Cytec Party is a party on the Closing Date that
relate primarily to or arise primarily out of the operation of the Business and
which were entered into in the ordinary course of the Business; provided that
"Acquired Contracts" shall not include any Excluded Contracts.

          "Acquired Employee Contract" shall mean any employment contract with a
Business Employee who is offered employment by Purchaser and accepts such offer
within the requisite time periods in Section 5.05

          "Acquired Employees" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 5.05(a).

          "Acquisition Transaction" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.19.

          "Acrylonitrile Assignment and Assumption" shall mean the Assignment
and Assumption Agreement dated as of the Closing Date between Seller and
Purchaser in the form of Exhibit A.

          "Acrylonitrile Supply Agreement" shall mean the Acrylonitrile Supply
Agreement dated as of September 1, 1996, between Parent and Seller.

          "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any person, any other person
that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by or is under common
Control with such first person.  A person shall be deemed to "Control" another
person if such first person has the power to direct or cause
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

the direction of such other person, whether through ownership of securities, by
contract or otherwise.  Each of the Cytec Parties is deemed to be an Affiliate
of the other Cytec Parties and none of the Cytec Parties shall be deemed to be
an Affiliate of Cyanamid.  Each of the Sterling Parties is deemed to be an
Affiliate of the other Sterling Parties.

          "Ancillary Agreements" shall mean the Earn-Out Agreement, the Services
Agreement, the Occupancy Agreements, the Assumption Agreement, the Acrylonitrile
Assignment and Assumption, the Acrylonitrile Supply Agreement, the Non-
Competition Agreement, the Easement Agreement, the Trademark License Agreement,
the Intellectual Property Assignments, the Conveyance Documents, the Santa Rosa
First Refusal and Lease Agreement and the Environmental Permits Assignment and
Assumption.

          "Arbitrator" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 2.05(c).

          "Assumed Liabilities" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 2.03(a).

          "Assumption Agreement" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 2.03(a).

          "Attorney Work Product" shall mean all notes, memoranda,
correspondence or similar material reflecting the legal conclusions,
recommendations or work product of Parent's attorneys acting as counsel for any
Cytec Party in matters relating to the Business on or prior to the Closing Date,
whether such materials are in the files of Parent's in-house law division, in
the files of managers or other personnel of Parent or any of its Affiliates or
in the files of Parent's outside counsel.

          "Audited Financial Statements" shall have the meaning given such term
in Section 5.20.

          "Balance Sheet Data" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 4.01(c).

          "Benefit Plan" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 4.01(s).

          "Business" shall mean the development, manufacture, marketing, sale
and distribution by or on behalf of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

Seller or Parent of acrylic fiber and the unrelated manufacture at the Santa
Rosa Facility by or on behalf of Seller or Parent of chemicals for Omniglow
Corporation, a California corporation.

          "Business Accounts Payable" shall mean, without duplication, all
Intercompany Payables and all liabilities of the Cytec Parties of the types set
forth in the Balance Sheet Data under the line items: "Acrylonitrile Payable",
"Vouchered Invoice Accrual", "Unvouchered Invoice Accrual", "Unvouchered
Inventory Accrual", "Accrued Freight Payable", "Cytec Services Payable",
"Construction Retainage", "Accrued Utilities", "Accrued Property Taxes" and
"Accrued Sales & Use Tax", "Accrued Wages, Holiday & Vacation", and "Customer
Claims/Sales Allowances", but only if and to the extent such liabilities relate
primarily to or arise primarily out of the operation of the Business and, in the
case of such liabilities incurred after September 30, 1996, only if and to the
extent such liabilities were incurred in the ordinary course of business.

          "Business Accounts Receivable" shall mean, without duplication, (i)
all assets of the Cytec Parties of the types set forth in the Balance Sheet Data
under the line items:  "Employee Cash Advance", "Miscellaneous Receivables",
"Accounts Receivable" (less "Reserves") and "Miscellaneous Prepayments", but
only if and to the extent such assets relate primarily to or arise primarily out
of the operation of the Business and, in the case of such assets acquired by the
Cytec Parties after September 30, 1996, only if and to the extent such assets
were acquired in the ordinary course of business and (ii) all notes, bonds and
other evidences of indebtedness relating to the assets and accounts receivable
referred to in clause (i) above, including any security interests related
thereto and any rights of the Cytec Parties with respect to any third party
collection procedures or any other actions or proceedings which have been or may
be commenced in connection therewith.

          The term "business day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which banks in the City of New York or the City of
Houston are permitted or required to close by Governmental Rule.

          "Business Employee" shall mean (i) each employee of any of the Cytec
Parties that is employed by such Cytec Party immediately prior to the Closing in
connection with the Business at the Santa Rosa Facility and (ii) each person
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

listed on Appendix A or a replacement of any such person of which Seller shall
have given Purchaser prompt written notice prior to the Closing Date.

          "Business Equipment" shall mean (i) all machinery and equipment,
tools, furniture, appliances, fixtures, trucks, trailers, automobiles and other
tangible personal property in each case that are (A) located at or used
primarily in respect of the Santa Rosa Facility or the office that is the
subject of the New York Lease and (B) used or held for use primarily in
connection with the Business and (ii) the items listed on Appendix B located
outside the Santa Rosa Facility; provided that "Business Equipment" shall not
include any Business Records.

          "Business Intellectual Property" shall mean all Intellectual Property
listed on Schedule 4.01(n) (including all trade names listed on such Schedule),
and all copyrights and Know How owned or held by any Cytec Party that relate
primarily to or arise primarily out of the Business; provided, however, that
"Business Intellectual Property" shall not include the Licensed Intellectual
Property.

          "Business Inventory" shall mean all Inventory (including Inventory in
transit or located at customers' premises on consignment) that relates primarily
to or arises primarily out of the operation of the Business and are included in
Inventory in a manner consistent with Parent's and Seller's standard historical
practices, together with all rights against suppliers of such Inventory
(including claims receivable for rejected Inventory).

          "Business Records" shall mean all the files, books, records,
correspondence, lists, papers and other instruments and data of the Cytec
Parties, of whatever nature and wherever located, that relate primarily to the
Business or the Acquired Assets or arise primarily out of the operation of the
Business, including accounting, tax and financial records, personnel and labor
relations records, maintenance and production records, environmental records and
reports, sales records, customer lists, supplier lists, blueprints,
specifications, plats, maps, surveys and building and machinery diagrams;
provided that "Business Records" shall not include any Excluded Records.

          "Capital Expenditure Deficiency" shall mean the excess, if any, of the
Required Capital Expenditure Amount over the aggregate amount of all
expenditures capitalized in
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

accordance with GAAP and Seller's standard historical practice and that are
incurred by the Cytec Parties with respect to the Business from January 1, 1996
through December 31, 1996.  "Required Capital Expenditure Amount" shall mean (i)
$5,000,000 or, if the Closing occurs prior to December 31, 1996, such amount pro
rated in accordance with the number of days from January 1, 1996, through the
Closing Date, less (ii) the estimated amount of expenditures capitalized in
accordance with GAAP and Seller's standard practice as of the date hereof, that
are proposed to be incurred by the Cytec Parties with respect to the Business in
respect of which Purchaser has withheld its consent as permitted by 
Section 5.01.

          "Cash Amount" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 2.04(a)(i).

          "Closing" and "Closing Date" shall have the respective meanings given
such terms in Section 3.01.

          "Closing Date Cash Payment" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 2.04(b)(iii).

          "Closing Date Net Working Capital" shall mean the Net Working Capital
as of the Closing Date.

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

          "Confidentiality Agreement" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.02.

          "Contracts" shall mean contracts, leases, indentures, agreements,
commitments, purchase orders and all other legally binding arrangements, whether
in existence on the date hereof or subsequently entered into.

          "Conveyance Documents" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 3.02(a).

          "Corporate Software" shall mean any software owned or licensed by any
Cytec Party that is not unique to the Santa Rosa Facility.

          "Cost of Remediation" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.21(a).
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

          "Current Environmental Laws" shall mean, with respect to any
determination made under Section 5.21, all Environmental Laws in effect on the
date of such determination and all Environmental Laws not in effect on such date
but which are reasonably expected to be in effect on the later of the Closing
Date and Outside Date, but, in each case, only to the extent that such
Environmental Laws apply to the Acquired Assets in accordance with their Pre-
Closing Use.  "Pre-Closing Use" shall include levels of product throughput,
emissions of Hazardous Substances subject to any Environmental Permit, the water
supply for any Acquired Asset, and the overall use of the Acquired Asset in
question.

          "Cyanamid" shall mean American Cyanamid Company.

          "Cytec Defined Benefit Plan" shall mean the Cytec Salaried and
Nonbargaining Employees Retirement Plan.

          "Cytec Determined Actions" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.21(a).

          "Cytec Escambia Bay Liabilities" shall have the meaning given such
term in Section 8.01(b).

          "Cytec Facilities" shall mean the Santa Rosa Facility and each other
manufacturing plant owned or operated by Parent or any of its subsidiaries prior
to the Closing Date.

          "Cytec Knowledge Loss" shall mean any Loss arising out of, resulting
from or in connection with any liability or obligation that is the subject of an
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty made by any Cytec
Party in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, but only to the
extent that a Specified Cytec Executive had actual knowledge of such breach or
inaccuracy as of the date of this Agreement or as of the Closing Date.

          "Cytec Party" shall mean each of Parent, Seller and Cytec Technology.

          "Cytec Santa Rosa Employee" shall mean any person employed by Parent
or any of its subsidiaries at the Santa Rosa Facility on or prior to the Closing
Date (i) who is listed on Appendix C, or (ii) who is not an Acquired Employee as
of the Closing and who is not at any time after
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

the Closing employed by STX or any of its subsidiaries at the Santa Rosa
Facility.

          "Cytec Savings Plan" shall mean the Cytec Savings and Profit Sharing
Plan.

          "Cytec Specified Exposure Liability" shall mean any obligation or
liability that results from, arises out of or is in any way connected with a
claim, demand or cause of action for or relating to injury to or death of any
Cytec Santa Rosa Employee arising out of, attributable to or occasioned by
exposure to acrylonitrile or asbestos at any Cytec Facility, whether such
exposure occurs before or after the Closing.

          "Cytec Technology" has the meaning specified in the introductory
paragraph hereof.

          "Disclosure Schedules" shall mean the Schedules attached hereto that
are referred to in Section 4.01 of this Agreement, as such Schedules may be
amended in accordance with Section 5.27.

          "Earn-Out Agreement" shall mean the Earn-Out Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date between Parent and the Purchaser in the form of Exhibit C.

          "Earn-Out Payment" shall have the meaning given such term in the Earn-
Out Agreement.

          "Easement Agreement" shall mean the Easement Agreements dated as of
the Closing Date between Purchaser and Parent in the form of Exhibits D-1, D-2
and D-3.

          "Environmental Arbitrator" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.21(d)(i).

          "Environmental Law" shall mean any and all Governmental Rules,
including any judgment, Environmental Permit, approval, decision or
determination, pertaining to the environment, now or hereafter in effect and
applicable to the Acquired Assets or the Business, including the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. (S)
9601 et seq., as amended by the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of
1986 (collectively, "CERCLA"), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33
U.S.C. (S) 1251 et seq., the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. (S)
6901 et seq., the Clean
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               9

Air Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 7401 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.
(S) 2601 et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 Ap. U.S.C.A.
(S) 1801 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7
U.S.C. (S) 136 et seq. and comparable state and local Governmental Rules, and
other environmental conservation and protection Governmental Rules.

          "Environmental Permit" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 4.01(p)(i)(A).

          "Environmental Permits Assignment and Assumption" shall mean the
Environmental Permits Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date between Purchaser and Parent in the form of Exhibit E.

          "ERISA" shall have the meaning given such term in Section 4.01(s).

          "Escambia Bay" shall mean the bay commonly known as Escambia Bay
adjoining the Santa Rosa Facility.

          "Escambia Bay Liabilities" shall mean all obligations and liabilities
arising out of, as a result of or in connection with the Release or alleged
Release of any Hazardous Substance or nutrient by any Cytec Party or from the
Santa Rosa Facility prior to the Closing Date into Escambia Bay.

          "Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital" shall have the meaning
given such term in Section 2.04(b)(iii).

          "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Excluded Assets" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 2.02(b).

          "Excluded Contracts" shall mean (i) all Contracts that relate
primarily to the Excluded Assets, (ii) all Benefit Plans other than the
Transferred Benefit Plans, (iii) all Contracts that relate primarily to the
Leased Property, including the leases described in Schedule 4.01(k), (iv)
subject to the Environmental Permits Assignment and Assumption, (A) the Letter
of Credit Issued to the Florida Department of Regulation issued to the Florida
Department of Environmental Regulation issued by
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              10

First Union National Bank in the amount of $315,311 and the related Underground
Injection Control Standby Trust Fund Agreement and (B) any agreement in respect
of a financial assurance provided by a Cytec Party under the Resource
Conversation and Recovery Act (v) all Contracts required to be listed on
Schedule 4.01(y) and (vi) subject to Section 5.05, any Contract with a current
or former director, officer, employee or agent of Parent or any of its
Affiliates providing for any severance payments, termination payments, bonuses
or other forms of compensation on account (wholly or partially) of the sale of
the Acquired Assets to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

          "Excluded Liabilities" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 2.03(b).

          "Excluded Real Property" shall mean the real property that is owned or
leased by Parent, Seller or any other subsidiary of Parent (i) located in Santa
Rosa County, Florida, and described as "Excluded Real Property" in Appendix D or
(ii) located outside Santa Rosa County, Florida, including real property located
in Stamford, Connecticut, West Paterson, New Jersey, Charlotte, North Carolina
or the Netherlands.

          "Excluded Records" shall mean (i) copies of Business Records retained
by the Cytec Parties pursuant to Section 5.03(a), (ii) the Retiree Records,
(iii) Attorney Work Product, (iv) tax returns and work papers, and any related
correspondence, in respect of Taxes based on gross receipts, income or profits,
and (v) files, books, records, correspondence, lists, papers and other
instruments and data of the Cytec Parties, of whatever nature or wherever
located, that relate primarily to the Excluded Assets or the Excluded
Liabilities.

          "Facility Conditions" shall mean the environmental conditions at the
Santa Rosa Facility as of the Closing Date.

          "Financing" shall mean the financing of Purchaser's acquisition of the
Business, as contemplated by the commitment letter from The Chase Manhattan Bank
dated as of December 20, 1996, a copy of which has been delivered to Parent, or
pursuant to other terms (including with respect to conditions to funding)
reasonably acceptable to Parent.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              11

          "GAAP" shall mean United States generally accepted accounting
principles.

          "Governmental Entity" shall mean any nation or government, any
federal, state, county, province, city, town, municipality, local or other
political subdivision thereof or thereto and any court, tribunal, department,
commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency, council or other entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of government and any other governmental entity with authority over
the applicable person, assets or properties.

          "Governmental Rule" shall mean any law, judgment, order, decree,
statute, ordinance, rule or regulation issued or promulgated by any Governmental
Entity.

          "Hazardous Substances" shall have the same meaning as such term is
given in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. (S) 9601 et seq., (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund
Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986, and equivalent state law provisions
and shall also mean any hazardous or toxic substances or contaminated materials
including asbestos (friable, nonfriable or any other form), polychlorinated
biphenyls and any flammable materials, explosives, radioactive materials,
hazardous materials, hazardous waste, hazardous or toxic or regulated substances
or related materials defined in or under any Environmental Law and any other
substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant or material, including petroleum
products and derivatives,  crude oil or fractions thereof or any chemical which
causes cancer or reproductive effects, which are defined by applicable
Governmental Rule as hazardous or toxic or the use, transport, disposal,
storage, treatment, recycling, handling or Release of which is regulated or
governed by any applicable Governmental Rules.

          "Holdings Pension Plans" shall mean the Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
Salaried Employees Pension Plan and the Sterling Chemicals, Inc. Hourly Pension
Plan.

          "HSR Act" shall mean Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

          "Immaterial Environmental Breaches" shall mean (i) environmental
conditions or breaches of Environmental Laws that are identified in Appendix E
and (ii) violations
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              12

of Environmental Laws that (A) do not require Remedial Action, (B) do not
otherwise apply to the correction of a condition in order to allow the continued
operation of any Acquired Asset as it was operated prior to Closing and (C)
would not reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of material fines
or penalties by any Governmental Entity.

          "Intellectual Property" shall mean (i) patents (including reissues,
divisions, contributions and extensions thereof), patent applications,
trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
brand names, inventions, designs and all pending applications for and
registrations of patents, trademarks, service marks and copyrights, (ii) Know-
How and (iii) rights to use any of the foregoing.

          "Intellectual Property Assignments" shall mean the following
assignments and agreements, each dated as of the Closing Date:  (i) the
Assignment of Trademark Registration by Cytec Technology in the form of Exhibit
F-1; (ii) the Agreement to Assign Foreign Trademarks between Cytec Technology
and Purchaser in the form of Exhibit F-2; (iii) the Assignment of Know-How to
Purchaser among Parent, Cytec Technology and Purchaser in the form of 
Exhibit F-3; (iv) the Assignment of U.S. Patents and Patent Applications to
Purchaser among Parent, Cytec Technology and Purchaser in the form of 
Exhibit F-4; and (v) the Assignment of Foreign Patent and Patent Applications to
Purchaser between Cytec Technology and Purchaser in the form of Exhibit F-5.

          "Intercompany Payable" shall mean any payable owed to Parent or any
subsidiary of Parent for acrylonitrile or any other product or service purchased
by or provided to the Business in the ordinary course of business.

          "Inventory" shall mean raw materials, work-in-progress, finished
goods, supplies, parts, packaging materials and other accessories related
thereto and other inventories.

          "Know-How" shall mean (i) trade secrets, (ii) know-how, (iii)
formulae, (iv) processes, (v) product and other designs, (vi) specifications,
(vii) quality control procedures, (viii) manufacturing, engineering and other
drawings, (ix) technology and (x) technical information.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              13

          "Leased Property" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 4.01(k).

          "Licensed Intellectual Property" shall mean the Intellectual Property
that is the subject of the Trademark License Agreement.

          "Lien" shall mean any mortgage, claim, charge, lien, security
interest, easement, right of way, pledge, restriction or encumbrance of any
nature whatsoever.

          "Loss" shall mean any loss, liability, claim, obligation, demand,
fine, penalty, judgment, deficiency, damage or cost or expense, including court
costs and reasonable legal fees and expenses.

          "Marketing Materials" shall mean all advertising materials, customer
lists, training materials and market research materials.

          "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on (i)
the business, operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results
of operations of the Business taken as a whole, (ii) the prospects of the
Business taken as a whole (excluding any effect on such prospects caused by
economic, tax or other matters of general applicability or matters generally
affecting the industry in which the Business operates), (iii) any Cytec Party's
ability to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any material covenant,
condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this
Agreement or any of the Specified Ancillary Agreements, (iv) the ability of
Purchaser to operate the Business in the manner currently conducted immediately
after the Closing Date as a result of a Service Agreement Issue or (v) any Cytec
Party's ability to consummate the Closing by the date of termination pursuant to
Section 7.01(a)(iv) or 7.01(a)(v).

          "Material Contract" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 4.01(r).

          "Net Working Capital" shall mean, as of any date, the excess of (i)
the aggregate amount of (A) all Business Accounts Receivable as of such date,
net of reasonable reserves, in each case computed in accordance with GAAP in a
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              14

manner consistent with Parent's and Seller's historical practice, and (B) all
Business Inventory as of such date, valued at the standard cost of such
inventory less any lower of cost or market adjustment, and, in the case of
Business Inventory of acrylonitrile and Business Inventory of acrylic fiber,
computed in accordance with Appendix G, over (ii) the sum of (A) the Capital
Expenditure Deficiency, if any, and (B) the aggregate amount of all Business
Accounts Payable as of such date, computed in accordance with GAAP in a manner
consistent with Parent's and Seller's historical practice, except in the case of
the Intercompany Payable and the Cytec Services Payables, which shall be
computed as set forth in Appendix G.

          "New York Lease" shall mean the Lease Agreement dated as of March 15,
1996, between Parent and Robert H. Arno, Landlord.

          "Non-Competition Agreement" shall mean the Non-Competition Agreement
dated as of the Closing Date, among Purchaser and the Cytec Parties in the form
of Exhibit G.

          "Non-Permitted Names" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.16.

          "Notice of Disagreement" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 2.05(b).

          "Occupancy Agreements" shall mean the Occupancy Agreements dated as of
the Closing Date between Purchaser and Parent in the form of Exhibit H in
respect of Purchaser's occupancy of certain property located in each of
Stamford, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; and West Paterson, New Jersey.

          "Off-Site Environmental Liabilities" shall mean all obligations and
liabilities arising as a result of the treating, storing, transporting,
handling, recycling, reclaiming, disposal, or Release, or arranging for any of
the same, of Hazardous Substances prior to the Closing Date by any of the Cytec
Parties or in respect of the Santa Rosa Facility, but only to the extent that
such treating, storing, transporting, handling, recycling, reclaiming disposal
or Release occurred at, in connection with, or to a location outside the Santa
Rosa Facility; provided, however, that "Off-Site Environmental Liabilities"
shall not include (i) the Escambia Bay Liabilities or (ii) any obligation or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              15

liability occurring solely at, or solely in connection with, the deep well
system described on Appendix H.

          "Operative Documents" shall mean this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements.

          "OSHA" shall mean the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29
U.S.C. (S)(S) 651 et seq., and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Outside Date" means January 31, 1997, unless an arbitration
proceeding may be available under Section 5.21 or a Services Agreement Issue has
arisen, in which event such term shall mean the later of (i) January 31, 1997
and (ii) the date that is two business days after the arbitrator announces its
arbitral award in respect of the Threshold Issue or such Services Agreement
Issue has been resolved; provided, however, that in no event shall the Outside
Date be later than February 14, 1997.

          "Parent" shall mean Cytec Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation and
the sole stockholder of Seller and Cytec Technology, and, for any period prior
to December 17, 1993, shall also be deemed to refer to Cyanamid.

          "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
successor thereto.

          "Permits" shall mean permits, licenses, consents, franchises,
approvals and authorizations by or from any Governmental Entity; provided,
however, that "Permits" shall not include any Environmental Permits.

          "Permitted Lien" shall mean:

          (a) any Lien disclosed in Appendix I or any encroachment, easement or
     right-of-way referred to in the Survey;

          (b) any mechanics', carriers', workmen's, repairmen's, and other like
     Lien securing obligations (except to the extent such obligations are
     Excluded Liabilities) that (i) relate primarily to the operation of the
     Business, (ii) were incurred in the ordinary course of business prior to
     the Closing and (iii) are not yet due and payable or are past due but may
     be paid at any time without penalty and are reflected in the Balance Sheet
     Data or in the calculation of Closing
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              16

     Date Net Working Capital, as applicable, but excluding any such Lien that,
     individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect;

          (c) any Lien arising prior to the Closing for Taxes relating primarily
     to the operation of the Business (i) that are not yet due and payable or
     that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
     diligently pursued and which would not reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect and (ii) with respect to which appropriate reserves
     (determined in accordance with GAAP) are reflected in the Balance Sheet
     Data or in the calculation of Closing Date Net Working Capital, as
     applicable;

          (d) with respect to the Santa Rosa Facility, (i) easements, covenants,
     rights-of-way, and other encumbrances or restrictions of record to the
     extent not reflected on Appendix I, (ii) any recorded grants or recorded
     reservations of surface or subsurface rights of others in and to the
     removal and mining of oil, gas or minerals, including rights of ingress and
     egress with respect thereto, (iii) zoning, building, land use and other
     restrictions imposed under any Governmental Rule (other than any Lien
     arising as a result of any Environmental Law) and (iv) Liens arising as a
     result of any Environmental Law, unrecorded easements, covenants, rights-
     of-way or other encumbrances, restrictions or imperfections of title, but
     excluding any of the foregoing in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) which,
     individually or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the use of the
     Santa Rosa Facility in the Business as presently conducted and any of the
     foregoing which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (e) any imperfection of title or other encumbrance that, individually
     or in the aggregate with other such imperfections and encumbrances, (i) is
     not substantial in character or amount, (ii) does not materially interfere
     with the use of the Acquired Assets in the Business as presently conducted
     and (iii) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
     Effect; and
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              17

          (f) Liens created by or arising as a result of any circumstances
     particular to any of the Sterling Parties.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Permitted Liens shall not include any Lien (other
than Liens of the type described in clause (f) above) imposed by ERISA.

          The term "person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, trust, business association,
organization, Governmental Entity or other entity.

          "Phase I Study" shall mean the report for the Phase I Study conducted
by Pilko at Purchaser's direction prior to the date hereof, a copy of which has
been delivered to Seller.

          "Pilko" shall have the meaning given such term in Section 5.21(a).

          "Pilko Assessment" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 5.21(a).

          "Post-Closing Actions" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.21(d).

          "Preferred Stock" shall mean 100,000 shares of the Preferred Stock of
STX with the terms, limitations, relative rights and preferences set forth in
Exhibit I.

          "Purchaser" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph
hereof.

          "Purchaser Indemnified Person" has the meaning specified in 
Section 8.01(a).

          "Purchaser Indemnity Obligations" shall have the meaning given such
term in Section 8.02(e).

          "Release" shall mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or
disposing into the environment.

          "Remedial Action" shall mean (i) any soil removal, soil or groundwater
treatment, or containment of Hazardous Substances (including, in the case of
containment, any deed
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              18

restriction) or (ii) any studies or investigations related to the foregoing;
provided, however, that Remedial Action shall not include (A) any activity in
connection with the retrofit or closure of, or any post-closure activity at, any
landfill or closed landfill at the Santa Rosa Facility, (B) the removal of any
asbestos; (C) the removal of any underground storage tank abandoned in place not
in violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit; or (D) the
purchase or repair of any equipment, including any pollution control equipment
(other than monitoring wells or equipment necessary in connection with soil
removal or soil or groundwater treatment).

          "Reportable Event" shall mean a "reportable event" as defined in
Section 4043 of ERISA.

          "Retiree Records" shall mean all records relating primarily to a
retired employee of Parent or Seller.

          "Santa Rosa Facility" shall mean the real property located in Santa
Rosa County, Florida on which the Business is operated, as such real property is
more specifically described in Appendix J, including all tenements,
hereditaments, easements, rights-of-way, rights, licenses, estates, patents,
privileges and appurtenances belonging, pertaining or relating to such real
property and the entire right, title and interest of the Cytec Parties, if any,
in, to or under all streets, ways, alleys, passages, gores, pipes, pipelines,
sewers, sewer rights, ditches, waters, water courses, water rights and powers,
railroad sidings, minerals, mineral rights and mineral interests upon, above,
in, under or pertaining to such real property and all claims or demands
whatsoever of the Cytec Parties, either in law or in equity, with respect to
such real property, together with all buildings, fixtures, structures,
facilities and improvements thereon; provided that "Santa Rosa Facility" shall
not include any Excluded Real Property.

          "Santa Rosa First Refusal and Lease Agreement" shall mean the Lease
Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date between the Cytec Parties and Purchaser
in the form of Exhibit J.

          "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              19

          "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Seller" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph
hereof.

          "Seller Indemnified Person" has the meaning specified in 
Section 8.02(a).

          "Services Agreement" shall mean the Services Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date between Purchaser and Parent in the form of Exhibit K.

          "Services Agreement Issue" shall mean the inability of the Cytec
Parties to perform in any material respect any Service (as defined in the
Services Agreement).

          "Specified Ancillary Agreements" shall mean the Acrylonitrile Supply
Agreement, the Easement Agreement, the Trademark License Agreement, the
Environmental Permits Assignment and Assumption and the Non-Competition
Agreement.

          "Specified Cytec Representatives" shall mean the persons listed on
Appendix K.

          "Specified Sterling Representatives" shall mean the persons listed on
Appendix L.

          "Statement" shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.05(a).

          "Sterling Determined Actions" shall have the meaning given such term
in Section 5.21(c).

          "Sterling Escambia Bay Liabilities" shall mean all Escambia Bay
Liabilities other than the Cytec Escambia Bay Liabilities.

          "Sterling Specified Exposure Liability" shall mean any obligation or
liability that results from, arises out of or is in any way connected with a
claim, demand or cause of action for or relating to injury to or death of any
person, other than a Cytec Santa Rosa Employee, arising out of, attributable to
or occasioned by exposure to acrylonitrile or asbestos at the Santa Rosa
Facility, whether such exposure occurs before or after the Closing.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              20

          "Sterling Party" shall mean each of STX, Purchaser and STX Chemicals.

          "STX" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereof.

          "STX Chemicals" has the meaning specified in the introductory
paragraph hereof.

          "STX Guarantee Cap" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 8.02(e).

          "Survey" has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(ee).

          "Tax" shall mean all Federal, state, local and foreign taxes, charges,
fees, levies and other assessments, including any income, alternative or add-on
minimum tax, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer,
franchise, profits, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, stamp, property,
environmental or other tax, together with all interest, penalties and additions
with respect thereto.

          "Texas City Facility" shall mean the manufacturing facilities located
at Texas City, Texas that are owned or operated by STX Chemicals.

          "Title Commitment" shall have the meaning given such term in 
Section 4.01(ee).

          "Trademark License Agreement" shall mean the Trademark License
Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, among Purchaser, Parent and Cytec
Technology in the form of Exhibit L.

          "Transactions" shall mean the transactions contemplated by the
Operative Documents, including the Financing.

          "Transferred Benefit Plans" shall have the meaning given such term in
Section 5.05(g).

          "Unaudited Financial Statements" shall have the meaning given such
term in Section 4.01(c).

          "WARN Act" shall have the meaning given such term in Section 5.05(i).
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              21

          SECTION 1.02.  Interpretation.  (a)  When used in this Agreement, the
words "include" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the words
"without limitation".

          (b) When used in this Agreement, the word "primarily" shall be deemed
     to be followed by the words "or exclusively".

          (c) Any terms defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning
     when used in the plural, and vice versa.

          (d) When used in this Agreement, unless a contrary intention is
     evident, the word "or" is not exclusive.

          (e)  All references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules and
     Appendices shall be deemed references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits,
     Schedules and Appendices to this Agreement.

          (f)  Unless otherwise specified, all accounting terms not defined in
     this Agreement shall have the meanings determined by GAAP.

          (g)  This Agreement shall be deemed drafted jointly by all the parties
     hereto and shall not be specifically construed against any party hereto
     based on any claim that such party or its counsel drafted this Agreement.

          (h) When used in this Agreement, the words "hereof", "herein" and
     "hereunder" and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole
     and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

          (i) Reference in this Agreement to any Contract means such Contract as
     amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the
     terms thereof.

          (j) Unless otherwise specified, reference to any Governmental Rule,
     any Permit or any Environmental Permit means such Governmental Rule, Permit
     or Environmental Permit as amended, modified, codified, reenacted,
     supplemented or superseded in whole or in part, and in effect from time to
     time.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              22

                                  ARTICLE II

                      Purchase and Sale of Acquired Assets

          SECTION 2.01.  Purchase and Sale.  Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Cytec Parties shall sell,
assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Purchaser, and Purchaser shall purchase,
acquire and accept, all of the right, title and interest in, to and under the
Acquired Assets held by the Cytec Parties.

          SECTION 2.02.  Definitions of Acquired Assets and Excluded Assets.
(a)  The term "Acquired Assets" shall mean the properties, assets, goodwill and
rights of whatever kind and nature, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
other than the Excluded Assets existing on the Closing Date that relate
primarily to or arise primarily out of the operation of the Business, including:

          (i)  the Santa Rosa Facility;

         (ii)  all Business Equipment;

        (iii)  all Business Inventory;

         (iv)  all Business Accounts Receivable;

          (v)  all Business Intellectual Property;

         (vi)  subject to Section 2.02(c), all Acquired Contracts;

        (vii)  all Marketing Materials in the possession of the Cytec Parties
     (or any of them) that relate primarily to or arise primarily out of the
     operation of the Business;

       (viii)  all Business Records;

         (ix)  subject to Section 2.02(c), all Permits and Environmental
     Permits that relate primarily to or arise primarily out of the operation of
     the Business;

          (x)  the Transferred Benefit Plans;

         (xi)  all insurance proceeds and insurance claims of any Cytec Party
     under insurance policies (excluding any
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              23

     insurance policies of Cyanamid or any of its Affiliates) which relate
     primarily to or arise primarily out of any part of the Acquired Assets, net
     of any applicable deductibles and other limitations and net of any costs of
     collection (excluding, however, (A) any such proceeds or claims relating to
     any damage, defect or other impairment that is repaired or corrected in all
     material respects prior to the Closing and (B) any such proceeds or claims
     under workers compensation insurance policies, unless the relevant claim is
     filed by an Acquired Employee more than one year after the Closing Date and
     then to the extent and only to the extent that no Cytec Party would be
     obligated to reimburse the insurer for any amount of such claim); and, to
     the extent transferable, the benefit of and the right to enforce covenants
     and warranties, if any, which any of the Cytec Parties are entitled to
     enforce with respect to the Acquired Assets against their predecessors in
     title (excluding Cyanamid) to the Acquired Assets; and

          (xii) all prepaid rentals and other prepaid expenses, bonds and
     deposits relating to any of the Acquired Assets or the Business.

            (b) The term "Excluded Assets" shall mean the following:

            (i) cash on hand or in banks and cash equivalents owned by any Cytec
     Party relating to the operations of the Business;

           (ii) all rights of the Cytec Parties under the Operative Documents
     and the agreements, instruments and certificates delivered in connection
     with this Agreement;

          (iii) all files, books, records, correspondence, lists, papers and
     other instruments prepared in connection with the sale of the Business,
     including the bids and other information received from third persons in
     respect of the Business and analyses relating to the sale of the Business;

           (iv) any assets under any Benefit Plan;

            (v) all rights relating to the Excluded Liabilities;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              24

           (vi) the Excluded Contracts;

          (vii) the Excluded Real Property (other than the rights of Purchaser
     created by the Occupancy Agreements);

         (viii) the Licensed Intellectual Property (other than the rights of
     Purchaser created by the Trademark License Agreement);

           (ix) the Excluded Records;
 
            (x) all properties, assets and rights that are related to Parent's
     business of manufacturing and selling acrylonitrile, other than the items
     listed on Appendix M;

           (xi) all rights of Parent or Seller to obtain drawbacks of customs
     duties paid prior to the Closing Date on materials used directly or
     indirectly in the manufacture of acrylic fiber or any other product
     produced in the Business, based on the export prior to the Closing of
     acrylic fiber or such other products, except to the extent such drawback is
     reflected in the calculation of Closing Date Net Working Capital;

          (xii) subject to Sections 5.16 and 5.17, all rights, title and
     interests to the trademark "Cytec" alone or as part of a trademark and the
     trade names "Cytec Industries Inc.", "Cytec Acrylic Fibers Inc." and "Cytec
     Technology Corp."; and

         (xiii) the Corporate Software (other than the rights of Purchaser
     created by the Services Agreement).

            (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an attempt by
any Cytec Party to assign any Acquired Contract or to transfer any Permit or
Environmental Permit to the extent that such Acquired Contract, Permit or
Environmental Permit is not assignable without the necessary consent of the
other party or parties thereto. The Cytec Parties shall use commercially
reasonable efforts, in cooperation with Purchaser, (i) to secure any necessary
consent to the assignment to Purchaser at Closing of all Acquired Contracts
which require such consent, (ii) to the extent that any such consent has not
been obtained as of Closing, to secure any such consent as soon as practicable
thereafter and (iii) to make any requisite filings or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              25

deliver any requisite notices to be made or delivered by any Cytec Party in
connection with the transfer of any transferable Permits or Environmental
Permits; provided, however, that none of the Cytec Parties shall be required to
make any payment to any person or forego any benefits in order to obtain any
such consent.  If the Closing is consummated notwithstanding the absence of all
third party consents necessary to the assignment of any Acquired Contract, or
the transfer of any transferable Permits or Environmental Permits, at such time
as such consents have been obtained, or such requisite filings and notices have
been made or delivered, as applicable, such Acquired Contract, Permit or
Environmental Permit shall be assigned or transferred to Purchaser automatically
without any other conveyance or other action by Purchaser or any of the Cytec
Parties.  At any time after the Closing during which any Acquired Contract has
not been assigned to Purchaser due to the absence of consent of any third party,
or any transferable Permit or Environmental Permit has not been transferred to
Purchaser in accordance with the requirements for such transfer, the Cytec
Parties shall hold such Acquired Contract or, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, Permit or Environmental Permit, for the exclusive benefit of
Purchaser.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each
Acquired Contract which should be set forth on the Disclosure Schedules and
which may not be assigned to Purchaser without the consent of a third party
shall constitute an Excluded Contract, and any and all liabilities and
obligations thereunder shall constitute Excluded Liabilities, until the earliest
to occur of (i) the obtaining of such consent, (ii) the receipt by Purchaser of
a benefit under such Acquired Contract after the Cytec Parties have complied
with the second sentence of this Section 2.02(c), (iii) the performance by such
third party of any of its obligations under such Acquired Contract after the
Cytec Parties have complied with the second sentence of this Section 2.02(c) and
(iv) any act or course of conduct that constitutes a waiver by such third party
of its rights and remedies relating to the assignment of such Acquired Contract
without such third party's consent.  Until such time as the consent to the
transfer of any Permit or Environmental Permit referred to in the second
preceding sentence is obtained, to the extent that Purchaser is not receiving
the benefits of such Permit or Environmental Permit as contemplated by this
Section 2.02(c), such Permit or Environmental Permit shall constitute an
Excluded Asset and any and all liabilities and obligations under such
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              26

Permit or Environmental Permit shall constitute Excluded Liabilities.

          SECTION 2.03.  Assumption of Certain Liabilities.  (a)  Upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser and the Cytec Parties
shall execute and deliver at the Closing an Assumption Agreement, in the form of
Exhibit M (the "Assumption Agreement"), pursuant to which Purchaser shall assume
and agree to pay, perform and discharge when due, all liabilities or obligations
whatsoever, whether arising before or after the Closing and whether known or
unknown, fixed or contingent, other than the Excluded Liabilities, that relate
primarily to or arise primarily out of the operation of the Business (the
"Assumed Liabilities"), including:

          (i) all obligations and liabilities of Parent (which term, for
     purposes of this Section 2.03(a), shall exclude Cyanamid) or Seller under
     the Acquired Contracts;

         (ii) all Business Accounts Payable in existence as of the Closing
     Date;

        (iii) all obligations and liabilities in respect of any and all
     acrylic fiber or activator sold by the Business at any time, including
     obligations and liabilities for refunds, adjustments, allowances, repairs,
     exchanges, returns and warranty, merchantability and other claims;

         (iv) all obligations and liabilities of Parent or Seller in respect of
     amounts paid by any customer of the Business in excess of amounts owed by
     such customer;

          (v) all obligations and liabilities arising as a result of the
     ownership or occupancy of Parent or Seller, or the operation of the
     activities conducted at, the Santa Rosa Facility or any Leased Property,
     other than the Excluded Real Property, including all obligations and
     liabilities relating to personal injury or Environmental Laws, other than
     Off-Site Environmental Liabilities and Escambia Bay Liabilities;

         (vi) all obligations and liabilities of Parent or Seller to or in
          respect of any current or former
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              27

     employee of the Business, other than any obligations or liabilities arising
     under or in connection with the Excluded Contracts;

        (vii) all the obligations and liabilities arising under or in connection
     with the Benefit Plans to the extent assumed by Purchaser under 
     Section 5.05;

       (viii) any obligation or liability for Taxes attributable to the Business
     or relating to the Acquired Assets, other than Taxes based on gross
     receipts, income or profits for any periods (or portions thereof) ending on
     or prior to the Closing Date and other than Taxes that are the
     responsibility of any of the Cytec Parties pursuant to Section 5.07; and

         (ix) subject to Section 2.02(c), all obligations and liabilities
     arising out of the Business which pertain to Business Intellectual
     Property;

          (x) any Sterling Specified Exposure Liability;  and

         (xi) any Sterling Escambia Bay Liability.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in the Assumption Agreement to the
contrary, Purchaser shall not be responsible for, and the Assumed Liabilities
shall not include, the Excluded Liabilities, all of which the Cytec Parties
agree to retain, pay, perform, fulfill, discharge and remain responsible for.
Nothing in this Section 2.03(a) or in any Ancillary Agreement is intended to
negate or impair the indemnification obligations of the Cytec Parties under
Article VIII or elsewhere in this Agreement.

          (b)  The term "Excluded Liabilities" shall mean:

          (i) all obligations or liabilities of the Cytec Parties under the
     Operative Documents (other than the obligations and liabilities assigned to
     Purchaser under the Acrylonitrile Assignment and Assumption);

         (ii) all obligations or liabilities under the Excluded Contracts;

        (iii) all obligations and liabilities relating to the Excluded Assets;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              28

          (iv) any obligation or liability for Taxes that are the responsibility
     of any of the Cytec Parties pursuant to Section 5.07;

           (v) any obligation or liability of Parent or Seller for Taxes based
     on gross receipts, income or profits attributable to the Business or
     relating to the Acquired Assets for any periods (or portions thereof)
     ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

          (vi) except as otherwise provided in Section 5.05, any obligation or
     liability of Parent or Seller arising under or in connection with any
     Benefit Plan;

         (vii) any Off-Site Environmental Liability;

        (viii) any Intercompany Payable to the extent such Intercompany
     Payable is not a Business Accounts Payable;

          (ix) any obligation or liability in respect of any breach or alleged
     breach by any Cytec Party or any director, officer, employee or agent of
     any Cytec Party of any Governmental Rule in respect of antitrust matters
     (other than the Transactions);

           (x) any obligation or liability of the Cytec Parties, other than 
     those obligations and liabilities to be assumed by Purchaser pursuant to 
     Section 5.05 and other than those obligations and liabilities included in
     the definition of "Business Accounts Payable", relating to any salaries,
     bonuses, wages or other compensation or any employee benefit of whatsoever
     nature (including payments relating to retirement, death, illness, sick
     leave, vacations and severance) arising out of service to or employment by
     any of the Cytec Parties or any of their Affiliates prior to the Closing
     Date;

          (xi) any Cytec Specified Exposure Liability; and

         (xii) any Cytec Escambia Bay Liability.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              29

          SECTION 2.04.  Consideration.  (a) The total consideration to be paid
by Purchaser to the Cytec Parties for the Acquired Assets shall consist of:

          (i) the payment to Parent of cash in the amount of $56,000,000, plus
     the Closing Date Net Working Capital (the "Cash Amount");

         (ii) the delivery to Parent of the Preferred Stock;

        (iii) the assumption by Purchaser of the Assumed Liabilities pursuant
     to the Assumption Agreement; and

         (iv) the Earn-Out Payments, if any.

          (b)  As of Closing, Purchaser shall:

          (i) deliver to Parent a certificate, registered in the name of Parent,
     evidencing the Preferred Stock, such certificate to bear the legend set
     forth in Exhibit N;

         (ii) execute and deliver the Assumption Agreement; and

        (iii) pay to Parent an amount in cash equal to the Closing Date Cash
     Payment.  For purposes hereof, the "Closing Date Cash Payment" shall equal
     the sum of $56,000,000 plus 95% of the Estimated Closing Date Net Working
     Capital.  Not later than five business days prior to the Closing Date,
     Parent shall deliver to Purchaser an estimate of Net Working Capital as of
     the Closing Date (the "Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital"),
     including an estimate of the amount of each of the Business Accounts
     Receivable, Business Inventory and Business Accounts Payable as of the
     Closing Date.

          (c)  After the Closing:

          (i) in accordance with Section 2.05, (A) Purchaser shall pay to Parent
     the excess, if any, of the Cash Amount over the Closing Date Cash Payment,
     if any, plus interest on such excess accruing from the Closing Date through
     the date such excess is paid at a rate per annum equal to 6% or (B) Parent
     shall pay to Purchaser the excess of the Closing Date Cash Payment over the
     Cash Amount, if any, plus interest on such excess
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              30

     accruing from the Closing Date through the date such excess is paid at a
     rate per annum equal to 6%; and

          (ii) in accordance with the Earn-Out Agreement, Purchaser shall pay to
     Parent the Earn-Out Payments, if any.

Any payment required to be made pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be made in
immediately available funds within ten business days after the Statement becomes
final and binding on the parties.

          SECTION 2.05.  Reconciliation of the Consideration.  (a)  Within 30
days after the Closing Date, Parent shall prepare and deliver to Purchaser a
statement (the "Statement"), certified by an officer of Parent and Seller,
setting forth the Closing Date Net Working Capital, including the amount of each
of Business Accounts Receivable, Business Inventory, Business Accounts Payable
and the Capital Expenditure Deficiency as of the Closing Date.  Purchaser and
its auditors shall have the right to observe any physical count of the Business
Inventory for purposes of determining Closing Date Net Working Capital.  If
requested by Parent, Purchaser shall assist Parent in the preparation of the
Statement and shall provide Parent and its accountants access at all reasonable
times to the personnel, properties, books and records of the Business for such
purpose.

          (b)  During the 30-day period following Purchaser's receipt of the
Statement (the "Review Period"), Parent and Seller shall provide Purchaser and
its independent auditors access to the working papers of Parent or Parent's
auditors relating to the Statement.  The Statement shall become final and
binding upon the parties at the end of the Review Period, unless Purchaser gives
written notice of its disagreement with the Statement ("Notice of Disagreement")
to Parent prior to the end of the Review Period.  Any Notice of Disagreement
shall specify in reasonable detail the nature of any disagreement so asserted.
If a Notice of Disagreement is received by Parent in a timely manner, then the
Statement (as revised in accordance with clause (i) or (ii) below) shall become
final and binding upon the Cytec Parties and the Sterling Parties on the earlier
of (i) the date Parent and Purchaser resolve in writing any differences they
have with respect to the matters specified in the Notice of Disagreement or (ii)
the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              31

date any disputed matters are finally resolved in writing by the Arbitrator.

          (c)  During the 30-day period following the delivery of a Notice of
Disagreement, Parent and Purchaser shall seek in good faith to resolve in
writing any differences which they may have with respect to the matters
specified in the Notice of Disagreement.  During such period, (i) Parent and its
auditors shall have access to the working papers of Purchaser or Purchaser's
auditors relating to the Notice of Disagreement and (ii) Purchaser and its
auditors shall have access to the working papers of Parent and Parent's auditors
relating to the disputed matters identified in the Notice of Disagreement.  If,
at the end of such 30-day period, Parent and Purchaser have not so resolved such
differences, Parent and Purchaser shall submit to Arthur Andersen LLP (Chicago
office) or such other nationally recognized independent public accounting firm
as Purchaser and Parent may mutually agree upon in writing (the "Arbitrator")
for arbitration, all matters which remain in dispute and which were properly
included in the Notice of Disagreement.  The Arbitrator will base its decision
on a calculation of the Closing Date Net Working Capital that is determined in
all respects by reference to this Agreement.  The Arbitrator shall render a
decision resolving the matters in dispute within 30 days following the
submission thereto.  Such decision shall be final and binding on the Cytec
Parties and the Sterling Parties as an arbitral award.  Except as specified in
the next sentence, the cost of any arbitration (including the fees and expenses
of the Arbitrator) pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be borne by Purchaser
and the Cytec Parties in inverse proportion as they may prevail on matters
resolved by the Arbitrator, which proportionate allocations shall also be
determined by the Arbitrator at the time the determination of the Arbitrator is
rendered on the merits of the matters submitted.  The fees and disbursements of
the Cytec Parties' counsel and independent auditors incurred in connection with
the preparation of the Statement and its review of any Notice of Disagreement or
any arbitration shall be borne by the Cytec Parties, and the fees and
disbursements of Purchaser's counsel and independent auditors incurred in
connection with their review of the Statement or any arbitration shall be borne
by Purchaser.

          (d)  During the period of time from and after the Closing Date through
the resolution of any adjustment contemplated by this Section 2.05, Purchaser
shall not
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              32

knowingly take any actions with respect to the accounting books and records of
the Business on which the Statement is to be based that are not consistent with
the past practices of the Business in any material respects except to the extent
required by GAAP.  Also during such period, Purchaser shall afford to Parent and
any accountants, counsel or financial advisers retained by Parent in connection
with any adjustment to the Purchase Price contemplated by this Section 2.05
reasonable access during normal business hours to all the properties, books,
contracts, personnel and records of the Business relevant to the adjustment
contemplated by this Section 2.05.  Likewise, during such period, Parent shall
afford to Purchaser and any accountants, counsel or financial advisors retained
by Purchaser in connection with any adjustment to the Purchase Price
contemplated by this Section 2.05 reasonable access during normal business hours
to all the books, contracts, personnel and records of Parent or Seller relevant
to the adjustment contemplated by this Section 2.05.


                                  ARTICLE III

                                  The Closing

          SECTION 3.01.  Closing Date.  The closing of the sale and transfer of
the Acquired Assets (hereinafter called the "Closing") shall take place at the
offices of Andrews & Kurth, L.L.P., 4200 Texas Commerce Tower, 600 Travis,
Houston, Texas 77002, at 10:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time, on the second business
day following the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article VI, or at
such other time, date and place as shall be fixed by agreement among the parties
hereto (such date of the Closing being hereinafter referred to as the "Closing
Date").

          SECTION 3.02.  Transactions To Be Effected at the Closing.  At the
Closing:

          (a) each of the Cytec Parties, as appropriate, shall duly execute and
deliver to Purchaser (i) a General Conveyance, Transfer and Assignment covering
all of the Acquired Assets in the form of Exhibit O, (ii) a special warranty
deed in the form of Exhibit B, in recordable form, covering the real property
included in the Acquired Assets and (iii) such other deeds, bills of sale,
assignments and other instruments of conveyance and transfer, consistent with
the provisions of this Agreement, as Purchaser may
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              33

reasonably request (collectively, the "Conveyance Documents").

          (b) the Cytec Parties shall deliver or cause to be delivered to
Purchaser the documents required to be delivered by them and referred to in
Section 6.02, in each case appropriately executed;

          (c) the Sterling Parties shall deliver or cause to be delivered to
Seller (i) the documents required to be delivered by them and referred to in
Section 6.03, in each case appropriately executed, (ii) the stock certificate in
respect of the Preferred Stock, and (iii) the Closing Date Cash Payment by wire
transfer in immediately available funds to the bank account or accounts
designated in writing by Parent at least five business days prior to the Closing
Date; and

          (d) each other person party to an Ancillary Agreement shall execute
and deliver such Ancillary Agreement.

          SECTION 3.03.  Prorations.  At the Closing, ad valorem, property and
similar Taxes on or with respect to the Acquired Assets, except those included
in the calculation of Closing Date Net Working Capital, shall be prorated
between Parent and Purchaser as of the Closing Date, with Parent liable to the
extent such items relate to any time period prior to the Closing Date and
Purchaser liable to the extent such items relate to periods subsequent to the
Closing Date.  Except as otherwise agreed by Parent and Purchaser, the net
amount of all such prorations will be settled and paid on the Closing Date.  If
the Closing shall occur before the tax rate applicable to the year in which the
Closing occurs is fixed, the apportionment of taxes shall be based upon the
estimated tax rate for such year.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              34

                                  ARTICLE IV

                         Representations and Warranties

          SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Cytec Parties.
Each of the Cytec Parties hereby represents and warrants to each of the Sterling
Parties as follows:

          (a)  Organization, Standing and Power.  Each Cytec Party is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of Delaware and has the requisite power and authority to own the Acquired Assets
owned by it and each of Parent and Seller has the requisite power and authority
to carry on the Business as currently conducted.  Each Cytec Party is qualified
or registered to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the
business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified and in good standing will not, when taken together
with all other such failures, have a Material Adverse Effect.  Parent has made
available to Purchaser true and complete copies of the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of each Cytec Party, in each case as amended through
the date of this Agreement.  Except as described in Schedule 4.01(a), no portion
of the Business is conducted by any Affiliate of Parent other than Seller and
Cytec Technology.

          (b)  Authority.  Each of the Cytec Parties has all corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver the Operative Documents to which it is a party
and to consummate the Transactions.  The execution and delivery by each Cytec
Party of the Operative Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of
the Transactions by such Cytec Party have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of such Cytec Party, and do not and will not
require the approval of the stockholders of Parent.  This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by each of the Cytec Parties and constitutes, and
each Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by such Cytec Party will be duly
executed and delivered at the Closing and when so executed and delivered will
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Cytec Party
enforceable against such Cytec Party in accordance with its terms subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and other similar laws
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              35

affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to general
principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) regardless of whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.01(b), the
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
Transactions and the compliance with the terms thereof will not (i) violate in
any material respect any material Governmental Rule applicable to any Cytec
Party, the Business or the Acquired Assets, (ii) conflict with any provision of
the certificate of incorporation or By-laws of any Cytec Party, (iii) conflict
in any material respect with any material provision contained in, or constitute
a material default under, any material Permit applicable to the Business or any
material Contract to which any Cytec Party is a party or by which any Cytec
Party or any of its property is bound, (iv) result in the creation of any Lien
upon any of the Acquired Assets other than liens created by a Sterling Party or
(v) require any material consent, approval, order or authorization of, or the
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any other
person, except, in the case of Parent, (A) for the filing of a premerger
notification report by Parent under the HSR Act and (B) the filing by Parent
with the SEC of such reports under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act as may be
required in connection with this Agreement.

          (c)  Financial Statements.  Appendix N sets forth the unaudited pro
forma balance sheet data of the Business as of September 30, 1996 (the "Balance
Sheet Data"), and the unaudited Pro Forma Statements of Operations of the
Business for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1994 and December 31, 1995, and
for the nine-month period ended September 30, 1996 (such pro forma statements,
together with the Balance Sheet Data, being referred to collectively as the
"Unaudited Financial Statements").  Each of (i) the Unaudited Financial
Statements and (ii) Parent's financial statements (which have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP) have been prepared from the books and records of Parent.
The Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition and results of operations of the Business for the periods
indicated, except in each case as described on Schedule 4.01(c)-1 and as may be
described in the notes included therein.  The cost of acrylonitrile purchases
reflected in the Unaudited Financial Statements since January 1, 1994 is set
forth in Schedule 4.01(c)-2.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              36

          (d)  Undisclosed Liabilities.  The Business does not have any
liabilities or obligations (whether or not accrued or contingent), and none of
the Acquired Assets are subject to any liabilities or obligations, in either
case, which would be required to be reflected in the Balance Sheet Data (or
disclosed in a footnote thereto) if the Balance Sheet Data were prepared as a
balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistent with the historical
practices of the Business, except (i) as disclosed in the Balance Sheet Data or
in Schedule 4.01(d), (ii) for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business, consistent with past practice since the date of the Balance Sheet Data
which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material and (iii) for Excluded
Liabilities.  Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Schedules, none of the Cytec
Parties has knowledge of any material contingent liabilities of the Business.

          (e)  Compliance with Applicable Laws.  Each Cytec Party is in
compliance in all material respects with all material Governmental Rules which
relate to the Business or the Acquired Assets.  Except as set forth in Schedule
4.01(e), no Cytec Party has received any written notice since December 17, 1993,
and, to the knowledge of any Cytec Party, since December 31, 1986, of any
asserted material violation of any such material Governmental Rules and no Cytec
Party has received any written notice that any material unresolved investigation
or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Business or the
Acquired Assets is pending or that any such investigation or review is
contemplated.  This Section 4.01(e) does not relate to environmental matters,
which are the subject exclusively of Section 4.01(p).

          (f)  Litigation; Decrees.  Schedule 4.01(f) sets forth a list of
certain lawsuits, claims, actions, investigations and proceedings relating to
the Business.  Except as set forth in such Schedule, there are no material
suits, claims, actions, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of any Cytec Party, threatened, and there are no material judgments,
orders, injunctions or decrees of any Governmental Entity or arbitrational
tribunal, in each case against or affecting any Cytec Party, the Business or the
Acquired Assets or that challenges or seeks to enjoin or prevent the
Transactions.  None of the Cytec Parties is in default in any material respect
under any material Governmental Rule or any judgment, order, injunction or
decree of any Governmental Entity or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              37

arbitrational tribunal relating to the Business or the Acquired Assets.  This
Section 4.01(f) does not relate to environmental matters, which are the subject
exclusively of Section 4.01(p).

          (g)  Permits.  The Cytec Parties possess all the Permits listed in
Schedule 4.01(g), and such Permits (i) constitute all Permits necessary to
conduct the Business as now being conducted except for Permits, the absence or
loss of which would not reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse
Effect, (B) restrict, interfere with or otherwise adversely affect, in any
material respect, the ability of Seller to conduct the Business as now being
conducted, or (C) result in the imposition of material fines or penalties on
Seller by one or more Governmental Entities and (ii) have not been revoked and
have not expired in accordance with their terms.  All Permits listed in Schedule
4.01(g), except as otherwise set forth therein, are either (i) assignable to
Purchaser without the consent or approval of any Governmental Entity or third
party or (ii) of such ministerial nature that suitable replacements are
generally readily obtainable in due course upon proper application therefor and
without substantial risk of any material civil penalty.  There are no
Administrative Proceedings, suits, demands or investigations pending or, to the
knowledge of the Cytec Parties, threatened which seek the revocation,
cancellation, suspension or any adverse modification of any Permit listed in
Schedule 4.01(g).  None of the Cytec Parties is in violation of the terms of any
such Permits, except for violations that, singly or in the aggregate, would not
be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (h)  Business Inventory.  None of the Business Inventory fails to meet
Seller's applicable quality and shipping specifications for such Inventory as in
effect on the date hereof. In the event of a breach of the representation in the
immediately preceding sentence, the aggregate amount of the Loss arising from or
in connection with such breach for purposes of Section 8.01 shall equal the book
value of the Business Inventory not meeting such specifications as of the
Closing Date, and, if Purchaser elects to seek indemnification pursuant to
Section 8.01 with respect to such breach, Purchaser shall promptly return to
Seller, free carrier Santa Rosa Facility, the Business Inventory not meeting
such specifications.  The amount of Business Inventory reflected in the Balance
Sheet Data and in Closing Date Net Working Capital reflects the amount of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              38

the actual Business Inventory as of September 30, 1996 or the Closing Date, as
applicable, booked in accordance with Seller's standard historical practice and
as of the date hereof, computed in a manner consistent with GAAP, except to the
extent set forth in Appendix G or Schedule 4.01(c)-1.

          (i)  Products.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(i) and except for
customer credits in the ordinary course of business, which do not in the
aggregate exceed $250,000, the Cytec Parties have not (i) received payment under
any Acquired Contract which requires delivery in the future of any products or
services for which such payment was received and which, when aggregated with all
other such payments, exceed $100,000 (other than any payment the amount of which
is offset against any receivable included in Business Accounts Receivable in the
Balance Sheet Data or the calculation of Closing Date Net Working Capital) or
(ii) delivered under any such Acquired Contract materially more products or
services than any third party is obligated to acquire thereunder.

          (j)  Title to Acquired Assets.  The Cytec Parties have good, valid and
marketable title to all the Acquired Assets free and clear of all Liens other
than Permitted Liens.  This paragraph (j) does not relate to real property or
Leased Property, which are the subject exclusively of Section 4.01(k), or to
Intellectual Property, which is exclusively the subject of Section 4.01(n).

          (k)  Real Property.  Seller has good and marketable title (within the
meaning of Florida real property law) to the Santa Rosa Facility, free and clear
of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.  Schedule 4.01(k) sets forth a list of
all real property and interests in real property (other than the New York Lease)
leased by any of the Cytec Parties and used with respect to the operations of
the Business (each parcel of such real property and each such interest in real
property being herein called a "Leased Property").  Each agreement listed on
Schedule 4.01(k) creates, in favor of the relevant Cytec Party, a valid
leasehold interest in the Leased Property covered thereby.  To the knowledge of
the Cytec Parties, none of the Cytec Parties is in default, and no notice of
alleged default has been received by any of the Cytec Parties, under any
agreement listed on Schedule 4.01(k), no lessor is in default or alleged to be
in default thereunder and there exists no condition or event which, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default by any party
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              39

thereto, except for such defaults or alleged defaults that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

          (l)  Business Accounts Receivable.  All the accounts receivable
included under the line item "Accounts Receivable" in the Balance Sheet Data
represent, and all the other Business Accounts Receivable represent, arms'
length sales or transactions actually made or entered into in the ordinary
course of the Business.  All of the Business Accounts Receivable, net of
reserves, are due within 12 months after the Closing and, except as would not be
material in the aggregate to the Business taken as a whole, (i) are not subject
to any counterclaim or set-off (other than normal consumer product return
rights) and (ii) are not in dispute.  Schedule 4.01(l) contains an aged schedule
as of its date of items in the line item "Accounts Receivable" that are the
Business Accounts Receivable.

          (m)  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as set forth in the
Disclosure Schedules, including Schedule 4.01(m), since the date of the Balance
Sheet Data, (i) Parent has conducted the Business, or has caused Seller to
conduct the Business, in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, (ii)
to the knowledge of the Cytec Parties, there has not occurred any event or
condition which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) there has not occurred any event or
condition which would be prohibited by Section 5.01 if such event or condition
had taken place without the consent of Purchaser after the date hereof and prior
to the Closing Date.

          (n)  Intellectual Property.  Schedule 4.01(n)-1 sets forth a true and
complete list of all Intellectual Property owned or held by any Cytec Party that
arises primarily out of the Business, other than any copyrights or Know-How.  To
the extent indicated on such Schedule, such Intellectual Property has been duly
registered in, filed in or issued by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office and other designated jurisdictions.  To the extent such Intellectual
Property is shown as registered in Schedule 4.01(n)-1, such Intellectual
Property has been properly registered in all material respects, all material
pending registrations and applications have been properly made and filed and
each annuity, maintenance, renewal or other fee relating to material
registrations or applications are current.  Except as set forth on 
Schedule 4.01(n)-2, a
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              40

Cytec Party is the sole and exclusive owner or holder of all of the Business
Intellectual Property and since December 17, 1993, and, to the knowledge of any
Cytec Party, since December 31, 1986, no Cytec Party has received any written
notice, the subject of which has not been resolved, from any other person
challenging the right of any Cytec Party to use any of the Business Intellectual
Property or any rights thereunder.  To the knowledge of the Cytec Parties, (i)
the Business has been and is being conducted without material infringement of,
and the Business Intellectual Property does not infringe in any material respect
on, any Intellectual Property of any person and (ii) no person is infringing
upon the Business Intellectual Property.  Except as set forth on 
Schedule 4.01(n)-3, no Cytec Party has granted any licenses or other rights and
none of them has any obligation to grant licenses or other rights to any of the
Business Intellectual Property to any other person. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.01(n)-4, there are no interferences or other contested proceedings,
either pending or, to the knowledge of any Cytec Party, threatened in the United
States Copyright Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any
Federal, state or local court or before any other governmental agency or
tribunal, relating to any pending application with respect to any of the
Business Intellectual Property.

          (o)  Title to Seller and Cytec Technology Shares.  Parent is the sole
stockholder of Seller and Cytec Technology and, in such capacity, Parent has
consented to the Transactions and to the execution, delivery and performance by
Seller and Cytec Technology of the Operative Documents to which they are a
party.

          (p)  Environmental Matters.  (i)  Except as disclosed on 
Schedule 4.01(p) or except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect:

          (A)  Seller possesses all permits, licenses, consents, franchises,
     approvals and authorizations necessary or required under any Environmental
     Law (each such permit, license, consent, franchise or approval being
     referred to as an "Environmental Permit") for the conduct of the Business
     as it is currently being conducted, including those on 
     Schedule 4.01(p)(i)(A);

          (B) since December 17, 1993, and, to the knowledge of each Cytec
     Party, since December 31, 1986, each of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              41

     Parent and Seller is and has been in compliance with all Environmental
     Permits and with all Environmental Laws applicable to the Business or the
     Acquired Assets, except to the extent such noncompliance has been cured or
     resolved without any compliance order or schedule of compliance;

          (C)  since December 17, 1993, and, to the knowledge of each Cytec
     Party, since December 31, 1986, neither Parent nor Seller has received any
     written notices, demand letters or written requests for information from
     any Governmental Entity or any third party indicating that any of the Cytec
     Parties is or may be in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental
     Law applicable to the Business or the Acquired Assets or any Environmental
     Permit, except to the extent that the subject of such notices, letters or
     requests has been cured or resolved without any compliance order or
     schedule of compliance;

          (D)  there are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits,
     demands, claims, hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the
     knowledge of Parent or Seller, threatened against Parent or Seller (I)
     alleging that any of the Cytec Parties may be in violation of, or liable
     under, any Environmental Law applicable to the Business or the Acquired
     Assets or (II) seeking to revoke, cancel, suspend or modify any of the
     Environmental Permits applicable to the Business or the Acquired Assets;

          (E)  since December 17, 1993, and, to the knowledge of each Cytec
     Party, since December 31, 1986, no reports have been filed, or are required
     to be filed, with any Governmental Entity by Parent or Seller concerning
     the Release of any Hazardous Substance in violation of any Environmental
     Law applicable to the Santa Rosa Facility;

          (F)  Seller has made available to Purchaser copies of all
     environmental investigations, studies, audits, tests, reviews or other
     analyses in the possession or under the control of any Cytec Party
     regarding compliance or noncompliance by the Business with any
     Environmental Law.

          (ii)  The Santa Rosa Facility is not currently on and has never been
on, and, to the knowledge of Parent or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              42

Seller, is not listed and has never been proposed for listing on, any federal or
state "superfund" or "super lien" list, including CERCLA, and neither Parent nor
Seller is currently taking, nor has it ever been required to take, any material
corrective action with respect to the Santa Rosa Facility under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act or any other Environmental Law, except for any
such actions covered by an Environmental Permit.

          (iii)  All financial assurances required by or under any Environmental
Laws for the conduct of the Business as presently conducted are, to the
knowledge of the Cytec Parties after due inquiry, in place.

          (q)  Sufficiency of Acquired Assets.  Except as set forth on 
Schedule 4.01(q), the Acquired Assets, together with the rights and services to
be provided to Purchaser pursuant to the Operative Documents, are sufficient for
the operation of the Business immediately after the Closing in substantially the
same manner as it is currently operated; provided, however, that no
representation is made pursuant to this Section 4.01(q) with respect to any
restriction or condition on the ability of any Sterling Party to own or operate
the Business arising out of facts or circumstances that are attributable to any
of the Sterling Parties.

          (r)  Contracts.  Except for Contracts listed on Schedule 4.01(r)(i)
through (xviii), which correspond to the numbered categories in the definition
of "Material Contract" provided below, 4.01(s), 4.01(x), 4.01(y) or 4.01(z), and
except for Excluded Contracts, none of the Cytec Parties is a party to or bound
by any Material Contract.  "Material Contract" shall mean any Contract of the
types (whether one or more) listed below which relates primarily to the
Business, the Acquired Assets or the Assumed Liabilities or which, by its terms
or by operation of law, would be binding on Purchaser or the Business
immediately after the Closing (it being understood that no representation is
made pursuant to this Section 4.01(r) with respect to any restriction or
condition on the ability of any Sterling Party to own or operate the Business
arising out of facts or circumstances that are attributable to any of the
Sterling Parties):

          (i) a Contract for the employment of any person with an annual base
     salary in excess of $50,000 or any consulting agreement involving aggregate
     future financial obligations of any Cytec Party in excess of $50,000;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              43

     (ii) a Contract, other than a Benefit Plan, with any person providing any
     term of employment or compensation guarantee that is not terminable without
     penalty prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement;

          (iii) except for Contracts set forth on Schedule 4.01(w) or 
     Schedule 4.01(y), a Contract with or for the benefit of, any person
     providing for severance payments, termination payments or other benefits,
     the amount, nature, vesting or payment of which is contingent upon, or will
     be accelerated or otherwise affected by, a "change of control" or other
     similar event or occurrence;

          (iv) a Contract with any labor union or association;

          (v) a Contract with, or for the benefit of, any director, officer or
     Affiliate of any of the Cytec Parties;

          (vi) an indenture, note, loan or credit agreement or other Contract
     relating to the borrowing of money by any of the Cytec Parties or to the
     direct or indirect guarantee or assumption by any of the Cytec Parties of
     the obligation of any other person in excess of $100,000;

          (vii) any Contract containing a covenant not to compete or a material
     agreement to keep confidential any information of a third party;

          (viii) a lease or similar agreement under which any of the Cytec
     Parties is a lessee of, or holds or operates, any real property owned by
     any third party;

          (ix) a Contract involving future payment for goods or services by any
     of the Cytec Parties of more than $100,000 (unless terminable at the option
     of such Cytec Party (or, immediately after the Closing, Purchaser) without
     payment or penalty upon no more than 60 days' notice);

          (x) a Contract involving the obligation of any of the Cytec Parties to
     deliver in the future products or services for payment of more than
     $100,000 (unless terminable at the option of such Cytec Party without
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              44

     payment or penalty upon no more than 60 days' (or, immediately after the
     Closing, Purchaser) notice);

          (xi) a Contract for the sale of any of the Acquired Assets (other than
     sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business) for more than
     $50,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate with all other Contracts
     containing such obligation or the grant of any preferential rights (it
     being understood that licenses and exclusive dealing arrangements are not
     considered to be preferential rights for this purpose) to purchase any of
     the Acquired Assets or requiring the consent of any person to the transfer
     of any of the Acquired Assets;

         (xii) a Contract evidencing or creating any Lien on the Acquired
     Assets (other than Permitted Liens arising for matters occurring on or
     before the Closing Date);

        (xiii) a Contract with any Governmental Entity (which Contract does
     not otherwise come within the definition of Material Contract), the loss of
     which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, (a)
     to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) to restrict, interfere with or
     otherwise adversely affect, in any material respect, any Cytec Party's (or,
     immediately after the Closing, Purchaser's) ability to conduct the Business
     in substantially the same manner in which it is currently conducted or (c)
     to result in the imposition of any material fines or penalties on any Cytec
     Party (or, immediately after the Closing, Purchaser) by one or more
     Governmental Entities;

         (xiv) any Contract that would restrict, in any material respect, the
     ability of such Cytec Party (or, immediately after the Closing, Purchaser)
     (a) to incur or assume indebtedness, (b) to sell, transfer, convey,
     encumber or otherwise dispose of the Business or any material item of the
     Acquired Assets or (c) to continue to conduct the Business in substantially
     the same manner in which it is currently conducted;

          (xv) a Contract with, or for the benefit of, Cyanamid or any of its
     Affiliates;

         (xvi) a Contract involving a joint venture, profit sharing or similar
     arrangement (other than the Benefit
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              45

     Plans and commission arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of
     business);

          (xvii) a Contract obligating or that would obligate any of the Cytec
     Parties (or, immediately after the Closing, Purchaser) to make a loan or
     advance in excess of $50,000 to, or an investment in excess of $50,000
     individually or $250,000 in the aggregate with all other Contracts
     containing such obligation, any person, other than extensions of credit in
     connection with sales of Inventory or the rendering of services by the
     Business in the ordinary course of business; or

         (xviii) a Contract obligating any of the Cytec Parties to pay monies
     in excess of $250,000, but excluding any such Contract which is terminable
     at the option of the applicable Cytec Party without payment or penalty upon
     no more than 60 days' notice.

Complete and correct copies of all Material Contracts, together with all
modifications and amendments thereto, have been delivered to Purchaser by
Parent.  Each Acquired Contract that is a Material Contract is a valid and
binding obligation of the Cytec Parties a party thereto.  None of the Cytec
Parties is in default in any material respect, and no notice of alleged material
default has been received by any of the Cytec Parties under any Acquired
Contract.  To the knowledge of any Cytec Party, (x) no other person is in
default in any material respect or alleged to be in default in any material
respect under any of the Acquired Contracts and (y) there exists no condition or
event which, after notice of lapse of time or both, would constitute a material
default by any party thereto.

          (s)  Employee Benefits.  (i)  Schedule 4.01(s) contains a list and
brief description of each "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in 
Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA")), "employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of
ERISA), stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation, stock bonus, deferred
compensation plan, program or arrangement, and each other employee fringe
benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained, provided or contributed to or
required to be maintained, provided or contributed to by any of the Cytec
Parties or any of their Affiliates (excluding Cyanamid and any of its
Affiliates) for the benefit of, or relating to, any present or former Business
Employees or their beneficiaries (all the foregoing
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              46

being herein called "Benefit Plans").  The Unaudited Financial Statements
reflect an allocation of costs relating to the Benefit Plans by the Parent to
the Business in accordance with Schedule 4.01(c)-2.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.01(c)-2, the allocated costs of the Benefit Plans reflected in the
Unaudited Financial Statements are not different in any material respect from
the actual costs therefor.  Parent has made available to Purchaser true,
complete and correct copies of (i) each Benefit Plan (or, in the case of any
unwritten Benefit Plan, a description thereof) and (ii) the most recent summary
plan description for each Benefit Plan (if any such description was required).

          (ii)  No Benefit Plan is a "multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and, since December 17, 1993, none of the Cytec Parties
has ever contributed nor been obligated to contribute to any such multiemployer
plan.  Each of the Cytec Savings Plan and the Cytec Defined Benefit Plan is in
compliance in all material respects with ERISA and all other applicable material
laws, and has been administered in accordance with its terms in all material
respects.

           (t)  Terminations, Proceedings, Penalties, Etc. Since December 17,
1993, with respect to each employee benefit plan (including the Benefit Plans)
that relates to the Business or any present or former Business Employees and
that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA and in respect of which
any of the Cytec Parties (excluding Cyanamid) or any of their respective assets
and properties may, directly or indirectly, be subject to any liability,
contingent or otherwise, or the imposition of any Lien (whether by reason of the
complete or partial termination of any such plan, the funded status of any such
plan, any "complete withdrawal" (as defined in Section 4203 of ERISA) or
"partial withdrawal" (as defined in Section 4205 of ERISA) by any person from
any such plan, or otherwise):

           (i) no such plan has been terminated so as to subject, directly or
     indirectly, any of the Acquired Assets to any liability or the imposition
     of any Lien under Title IV of ERISA;

          (ii) no proceeding has been initiated or, to the knowledge of any of
     the Cytec Parties, threatened by any person (including the PBGC) to
     terminate any such plan;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              47

        (iii) no Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any such plan;
     and

         (iv) no such plan which is subject to Section 302 of ERISA or 
     Section 412 of the Code has incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency"
     (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code,
     respectively) whether or not waived.

          (u)  Prohibited Transactions.  There have been no "prohibited
transactions" by any Cytec Party within the meaning of Section 406 or 407 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code for which a statutory or administrative
exemption does not exist with respect to any Benefit Plan.

          (v)  Full Funding.  As of December 31, 1995, except as disclosed in
Parent's Annual Report to Shareholders for 1995 (a copy of which has been
delivered to Purchaser), the funds available under the Cytec Defined Benefit
Plan and the Cytec Past Service Retirement Plan equal or exceed the amounts
required to be paid, on account of rights vested or accrued as of December 31,
1995 (using the actuarial methods and assumptions used at December 31, 1995 by
the Cytec Parties' actuaries in connection with the funding of such plans).

          (w)  No Triggering of Obligations; Controlled Group; Affiliated
Service Group.  (i)  The consummation of the Transactions will not, except as
disclosed on Schedule 4.01(w) or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement,
(A) entitle any Acquired Employee to severance pay or unemployment compensation
or (B) accelerate the time of vesting of compensation due to any Acquired
Employee.

         (ii)  Since December 17, 1993, none of the Cytec Parties has been a
member of an "affiliated service group" within the meaning of Section 414(m) of
the Code.  The consummation of the Transactions will not result in any
prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code for which an exemption is not available.

          (x)  Future Commitments.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(x),
none of the Cytec Parties has announced any plan or legally binding commitment
to create any additional Benefit Plans or to amend or modify any existing
Benefit Plan which plans, commitments, amendments and modifications, in the
aggregate, would result in the Benefit
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              48

Plans thereafter not being substantially equivalent in value to the Benefit Plan
as in effect since January 1, 1996.

          (y)  Bonus Agreements.  Except for those agreements listed on 
Schedule 4.01(y), no Cytec Party nor any subsidiary of any Cytec Party has any
agreement with any Acquired Employee that entitles such employee to any bonus or
other incentive compensation in connection with the consummation of the
Transactions or for which the consummation of the Transactions would accelerate
the time of payment or increase the amount of compensation due to any Acquired
Employee.

          (z)  Bonds.  Schedule 4.01(z) is a complete and accurate list and
description of all bonds, deposits, financial assurances and insurance coverage
required by Governmental Rule to be submitted to Governmental Entities in
connection with the conduct of the Business as presently being conducted, except
for bonds, deposits, financial assurances and insurance coverage the failure of
which to provide would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (aa)  Labor Matters.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.01(aa) or as
would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, (i) since December 17, 1993, and, to the knowledge of
each Cytec Party, since December 31, 1986, none of the Cytec Parties has
experienced any labor disputes, demands for certification or any work stoppage
due to labor disagreements, (ii) there is no unfair labor practice charge or
complaint pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Cytec Parties, threatened
against any Cytec Party in respect of the Business, (iii) there is no labor
strike, dispute, request for representation, slowdown or stoppage actually
pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Cytec Parties, threatened against or
affecting any of the Cytec Parties in respect of the Business nor any secondary
boycott with respect to any products produced by the Business, (iv) no grievance
is pending, nor has any arbitration proceeding arising out of or under
collective bargaining agreements been requested, and no such arbitration
proceeding is pending or scheduled, in each case in respect of the Business, (v)
there are no Administrative Proceedings or suits against any of the Cytec
Parties in respect of the Business concerning alleged employment discrimination
or other employment related matters pending or, to the knowledge of any of the
Cytec Parties, threatened before the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              49

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state or federal court or
Governmental Entity, and (vi) no person has, to the knowledge of any of the
Cytec Parties, asserted that any of the Cytec Parties is liable in any material
amount for any arrears of wages or any taxes or penalties for failure to comply
with any of the foregoing.

          (bb)  Investment Representation.  The acquisition of the Preferred
Stock by Parent is for Parent's own account, is for investment purposes and is
not with a view to, or for offer or sale for STX in connection with, the
distribution of any shares of Preferred Stock in violation of the Securities Act
or any state securities laws.  Parent has no present intention of selling or
otherwise disposing of any shares of Preferred Stock.  Parent has reviewed all
information relating to STX and its subsidiaries that Parent deems necessary or
desirable in connection with its decision to acquire the Preferred Stock.

          (cc)  Taxes.  Each of the Cytec Parties has filed and properly
completed all Tax returns and other reports that it is required by Governmental
Rule to file on or before the date hereof or the Closing Date, as applicable,
with respect to the Business or the Acquired Assets and has paid all Taxes that
are due and payable for periods ending on or before the date hereof or the
Closing Date, as applicable, pursuant to such returns and reports, the non-
payment of which might (i) subject the Acquired Assets to sale, forfeiture or
loss, (ii) interfere in any material respect with the use or disposition of any
Acquired Asset or (iii) have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (dd)  No Knowledge of Misrepresentations.  The Specified Cytec
Representatives have no actual knowledge that the representations and warranties
of any Sterling Party made in this Agreement are not true.

          (ee)  Survey and Title Commitment.  The Cytec Parties have heretofore
delivered to Purchaser (i) a true and correct copy of a land survey prepared by
Baskerville-Donovan, Inc. dated December 20, 1996, with respect to the Santa
Rosa Facility (the "Survey") and (ii) a true and correct copy of a current
owner's ALTA title policy commitment prepared by Lawyer's Title Insurance
Corporation dated October [27], 1996 (the "Title Commitment").
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              50

          SECTION 4.02.  Representations and Warranties of Purchaser.  Each of
the Sterling Parties hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

          (a)  Organization, Standing and Power.  Each of the Sterling Parties
(i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite power and authority to
carry on its business as now being conducted and (ii) is qualified or registered
to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business
conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to
be so qualified and in good standing will not, when taken together with all
other such failures, have a material adverse effect on the business, operations,
assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of STX and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  Purchaser has heretofore made available to
Parent true and complete copies of the certificates of incorporation and by-laws
of the Sterling Parties, in each case as amended through the date of this
Agreement.

          (b)  Authority.  Each of the Sterling Parties has all corporate power
and authority to execute and deliver the Operative Documents to which it is a
party and to consummate the Transactions, and STX has all corporate power and
authority to issue the Preferred Stock.  The execution and delivery by each
Sterling Party of the Operative Documents to which it is a party and the
consummation of the Transactions by such Sterling Party have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Sterling Party,
and do not and will not require the approval of the stockholders of STX.  This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Sterling Party and
constitutes, and each Ancillary Agreement to which such Sterling Party is a
party will be duly executed and delivered by such Sterling Party at the Closing
and when so executed and delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Sterling Party enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including,
without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing) regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              51

the Sterling Parties do not, and the consummation of the Transactions by the
Sterling Parties will not, (i) violate any Governmental Rule applicable to it,
(ii) conflict with any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
of any Sterling Party, (iii) conflict with any provision contained in, or
constitute a default under, any material Contract to which any Sterling Party is
a party or by which any Sterling Party or any of their respective properties are
bound or (iv) require the consent, approval, order or authorization of, or the
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or other
person, except as provided in paragraph (d) below and except for (A) the filing
of a premerger notification report by Purchaser under the HSR Act and (B) the
filing by STX with the SEC of such reports under Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement.

          (c)  Litigation; Decrees.  There are no (i) judgments, orders,
injunctions or decrees of any Governmental Entity or arbitrational tribunal
against any Sterling Party, (ii) suits, claims, actions, investigations or
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened in writing
against or affecting any Sterling Party which, in the cases of clauses (i) or
(ii), would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of
such Sterling Party to perform its obligations hereunder.

          (d)  No Knowledge of Misrepresentations.  The Specified Sterling
Representatives have no actual knowledge that the representations and warranties
of any Cytec Party made in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement are not
true.

          (e)  Preferred Stock.  When delivered to Parent in accordance with
this Agreement, the Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully-paid and nonassessable.  All corporate action (including stockholder
approval) required on the part of STX for the authorization, issue and sale of
the Preferred Stock has been duly and validly taken, except for the filing of an
appropriate certificate of designation relating to the Preferred Stock in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of STX.

          (f)  SEC Reports; Phase I Study.  Purchaser has heretofore provided to
Parent true and complete copies of (i) STX's annual report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              52

ended September 30, 1996, (ii) STX's proxy statement dated July 19, 1996
relating to a special meeting of its stockholders held on August 20, 1996, (iii)
Amendment No. 3 to STX's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-04343), as filed with the SEC on August 12, 1996, including all exhibits
thereto which have been requested by Parent, (iv) the Phase I Study and (v) the
Holdings Pension Plans.  The audited financial statements included in the annual
report referred to in clause (i) above have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except
as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly present the
consolidated financial position and operations of STX and its subsidiaries on
the date and for the period covered thereby (except as may be indicated thereon
or in the notes thereto).

          (g)  Financing.  Purchaser has obtained the commitment of The Chase
Manhattan Bank in respect of the Financing and such commitment has neither been
revoked nor expired in accordance with its terms.

          (h)  Capital Stock.  The authorized capital stock of STX consists of
20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share and 2,000,000
shares of preferred stock ("STX Preferred Stock").  As of the date hereof, no
shares of STX Preferred Stock are outstanding.  No shares of Senior Stock or
Parity Stock (each as defined in the Designation of Rights in respect of the
Preferred Stock) are outstanding.


                                   ARTICLE V

                                   Covenants

          SECTION 5.01.  Covenants of the Cytec Parties Relating to Conduct of
Business.  During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing
until the Closing, each of the Cytec Parties agrees (except as expressly
provided in this Agreement or Schedule 5.01 hereto, or to the extent that
Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing) that:

          (a)  Ordinary Course.  Each of the Cytec Parties shall (i) operate the
Business and the Acquired Assets in the ordinary course in substantially the
same manner as presently conducted, (ii) maintain the Business Records in
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              53

substantially the same manner as presently maintained, (iii) use commercially
reasonable efforts to preserve intact the Business' present business
organization and reputation in all material respects, (iv) to the extent
consistent with the past practices of the Business in the ordinary course of its
business, keep available the services of substantially all of the Business'
present officers and employees, (v) prevent the Business Employees from being
exposed to acrylonitrile or asbestos at the Santa Rosa Facility at levels above
those permitted by OSHA (it being understood that the sole liability of the
Cytec Parties for breach of this clause (v) shall be for the incremental Losses
from exposure of such persons to acrylonitrile or asbestos between the date
hereof and the Closing Date), (vi) to the extent consistent with the past
practices of the Business in the ordinary course of its business, preserve the
Business' relationships and goodwill with customers, suppliers and others having
business dealings with the Business and (vii) maintain its current repair and
maintenance practices for capital equipment and real property (including
improvements thereon and fixtures thereto); provided, however, that nothing
contained in this paragraph shall be deemed to require the expenditure of any
funds outside the ordinary course of business.

          (b)  No Dispositions, Etc.; Limitation on Acquisitions.  None of the
Cytec Parties shall, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of,
any of the Acquired Assets other than sales of Business Inventory and other
dispositions in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice
and except that (A) Parent may transfer any Acquired Assets owned by it to
Seller and (B) Cytec Technology may transfer any Business Intellectual Property
owned by it to Seller, (ii) purchase, acquire or lease any assets or properties
which would constitute Acquired Assets and the accounts payable in respect of
which will be included as Business Account Payables on the Closing Date, other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice or (iii)
pledge or encumber any of the Acquired Assets other than in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice.

          (c)  Employees.  None of the Cytec Parties shall, directly or
indirectly, (i) enter into or amend, or commit itself to enter into or amend,
any employment, severance, consulting, compensation or special pay Contract,
with
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              54

respect to termination of employment or otherwise, or other similar Contracts
with any Business Employees except in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, (ii) pay or agree to pay any material pension, retirement,
allowance or other employee benefit to any present Business Employee, other than
for benefit entitlements under Benefit Plans in effect on the date of the
Balance Sheet Data in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plans, (iii)
adopt, enter into or amend, or commit itself to adopt, enter into or amend, any
of the Benefit Plans, except (A) to comply with changes in applicable
Governmental Rules, (B) as made on a basis applicable to Parent and its
subsidiaries on a company-wide basis (in which case Parent shall promptly advise
Purchaser thereof) or (C) to the extent all such adoptions, entrances and
commitments would result in the benefits under the Benefit Plans thereafter not
being substantially equivalent in value to the Benefit Plans as of the date
hereof, or (iv) increase the salary of any Business Employee, except as required
pursuant to existing employment Contracts or in the ordinary course of business
consistent with prior practice.

          (d)  Material Contracts.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, none of the Cytec Parties shall, directly or indirectly, enter
into any Material Contract, including any Material Contract for the purchase of
capital assets, without the prior written consent of Purchaser (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld).  None of the Cytec Parties shall amend,
modify or terminate, or agree to amend, modify or terminate, any Acquired
Contract, in each case in any material respect, other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice.  The Cytec Parties shall
promptly deliver to Purchaser a copy of any such amendment, modification or
termination.

          (e)  Other Actions.  None of the Cytec Parties shall, directly or
indirectly, take any action that would reasonably be expected to (i) result in
any of the representations and warranties of any Cytec Party set forth in this
Agreement becoming untrue in any material respect, (ii) result in any of the
conditions of the Closing set forth in Article VI not being satisfied in a
timely manner or (iii) individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.

          (f)  Advise of Changes.  Parent shall advise Purchaser in writing
within a reasonable time thereafter of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              55

the occurrence after the date hereof and on or prior to the Closing Date of any
matter or event that (i) has had or would be reasonably expected, individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) has caused or would
reasonably be expected to cause any of its representations or warranties in this
Agreement to be untrue or incorrect from the date hereof to the Closing Date or
(iii) has caused or would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions
set forth in Article VI to not be satisfied in a timely manner; provided,
however, that the delivery of any such notice pursuant to this paragraph (f)
shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies hereunder of Purchaser.

          SECTION 5.02.  Purchaser's Access to Information Prior to Closing.
The Cytec Parties shall afford to the Sterling Parties and their respective
directors, officers, employees, accountants, financial advisors, financing
sources, environmental consultants, counsel and other representatives reasonable
access upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours during
the period prior to the Closing to all the Acquired Assets, the Business
Employees and other personnel who perform duties in respect of the Acrylic
Fibers Business and, to the extent that they relate in any material respect to
the Acquired Assets, the Assumed Liabilities or the Acquired Employees, the
Excluded Records; provided, however, that the Cytec Parties shall not be
required to disclose any information with respect to an Acquired Employee to the
extent that such disclosure is prohibited by applicable law.  The Cytec Parties
consent and agree that Purchaser and its directors, officers, employees,
accountants, financial advisors, financing sources, environmental consultants,
counsel and other representatives shall be entitled at any time to solicit
information from and to otherwise contact any and all Governmental Entities and
other third parties with respect to matters involving the Business or the
Acquired Assets, including compliance with Environmental Laws.  The Sterling
Parties shall have the right, at their sole expense, to make and retain copies,
extracts and summaries of all such reports, books and records and information
made available hereunder.  Subject to Sections 4.02(d) and 5.12, no
investigation by or on behalf of the Sterling Parties shall affect in any manner
the representations, warranties, covenants or indemnities of the Cytec Parties
contained in the Operative Documents, the right of the Sterling Parties to rely
upon such representations and warranties or the conditions to the obligations of
any party to consummate the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              56

Closing.  Purchaser acknowledges that any information being provided to it or
its representatives by Parent pursuant to this Agreement is subject to the terms
of a confidentiality agreement between The Sterling Group, Inc. and Goldman
Sachs & Co., on behalf of Parent, dated May 31, 1996 (the "Confidentiality
Agreement"), which terms are incorporated herein by reference.

          SECTION 5.03.  Records; Financial Information; Attorney Work Product.
(a)  On the Closing Date, the Cytec Parties shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to Purchaser all of the Business Records; provided, however, that the
Cytec Parties shall be entitled to retain copies of such Business Records as it
deems appropriate.  Each of the Cytec Parties agrees that, at its own expense,
it (i) shall preserve and keep all Excluded Records for a period of (A) in the
case of tax returns, schedules, work papers and other supporting documentation,
for a period of seven years from the Closing Date, or for any longer periods as
may be required by any Governmental Entity or as may be prudent in connection
with any ongoing litigation or Administrative Proceeding, and (B) in the case of
all other Excluded Records, for a period of four years, and (ii) shall make the
foregoing available to the Sterling Parties after the Closing during normal
business hours as may be reasonably requested. In the event any Cytec Party
wishes to destroy any of the Excluded Records after the time specified above, it
shall first give 60 days' prior written notice to the Sterling Parties,
whereupon the Sterling Parties shall have the right, at their option and
expense, and upon prior written notice given to such Cytec Party within such 60-
day period, to take possession of all or any portion of such Excluded Records.

          (b)  Purchaser agrees that, at its own expense, it (i) shall preserve
and keep the Business Records delivered to it at the Closing by the Cytec
Parties (A) in the case of tax returns, schedules, work papers and other
supporting documentation, for a period of seven years from the Closing Date, or
for any longer periods as may be required by any Governmental Entity or as may
be prudent in connection with ongoing litigation or Administrative Proceedings,
and (B) in the case of all other Business Records, for a period of four years,
and (ii) shall make the foregoing available to Parent after the Closing during
normal business hours as may be reasonably requested.  In the event Purchaser
wishes to destroy such Business Records after the time specified above, it shall
first give 60 days' prior written notice to
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              57

Parent, whereupon Parent shall have the right, at its option and expense, and
upon prior written notice given to Purchaser within such 60-day period, to take
possession of all or any portion of such Business Records.

          (c)  All information received or retained by the Cytec Parties or any
representative of either of them pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this
Section 5.03 shall be treated as confidential by each of them and such
representatives and, except to the extent such information is or becomes
generally available, the Cytec Parties and their respective representatives
shall use all reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of such
information, all upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Confidentiality Agreement.  If any of the Cytec Parties or any of their
respective representatives is required to disclose any such information by or to
any Governmental Entity, Parent shall, to the extent feasible, prior to such
disclosure, notify the Sterling Parties of such requirement.  The Sterling
Parties shall have the right, at its own expense, to seek confidential treatment
of any information to be so disclosed.

          (d)  After the Closing, upon reasonable written notice, the Sterling
Parties shall furnish to the Cytec Parties and their accountants, counsel and
other representatives access, during normal business hours, to such information
(including records pertinent to the Business and the Acquired Assets) as is
reasonably necessary (i) for financial reporting and accounting matters or the
preparation and filing of any returns, reports or forms, (ii) for the defense of
any Tax claim or assessment, (iii) to comply with applicable Governmental Rules
or (iv) for other legitimate purposes.

          (e)  After the Closing, upon reasonable written notice, each of the
Cytec Parties shall furnish to the Sterling Parties and their accountants,
counsel and other representatives access, during normal business hours, to such
information (including records pertinent to the Business and the Acquired
Assets) and assistance relating to the Business and the Acquired Assets as is
reasonably necessary (i) for financial reporting and accounting matters or the
preparation and filing of any returns, reports or forms, (ii) for the defense of
any Tax claim or assessment, (iii) to comply with applicable Governmental Rules
or (iv) for other legitimate purposes.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              58

          (f)  After the Closing, upon any of the Sterling Parties' reasonable
request, each of the Cytec Parties shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Sterling Parties and their counsel copies of such Attorney Work Product and
Excluded Records as is reasonable or necessary for any of the Sterling Parties'
defense of any claim or threatened claim by any third party (other than any
Cytec Party or any Affiliate thereof) or prosecution of any patent application
or trademark registration in connection with the Business.  In the event that
copies of any Attorney Work Product and Excluded Records are transferred to the
Sterling Parties, such copies shall only be accepted by the Sterling Parties on
the understanding that such copies are merely supplied as an aid to the Sterling
Parties' understanding the background and nature of various issues, and that
such files do not and shall not be deemed to be representations or legal
opinions on which the Sterling Parties or any other person is entitled to rely.

          SECTION 5.04.  Conditions to Closing.  (a)  Each Sterling Party and
each Cytec Party shall take all reasonable actions necessary to cause each of
the conditions specified with respect to such party in Article VI to be met as
promptly as practicable and to comply promptly with all legal requirements which
may be imposed on it with respect to the Closing (including (i) the prompt
filing of the premerger notification report under the HSR Act and the furnishing
of all information required under the HSR Act and (ii) the prompt filing of all
preclosing notices or applications required under Environmental Laws), and shall
cooperate with and furnish information to each other and to other parties in
connection with any such legal requirements.

          (b)  Each party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take all
actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with the other parties in
obtaining), any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption
by, any Governmental Entity or other third party necessary to consummate the
Closing as contemplated by this Agreement.

          SECTION 5.05.  Employee Matters.  (a)  Offer of Employment.  Prior to
the Closing Date and at a time chosen in consultation with the Cytec Parties,
Purchaser shall offer employment, effective on the Closing Date, in a comparable
position, at the same location and at no less favorable base salary and annual
bonus arrangements (other than gain-sharing), to each Business Employee,
including
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              59

each such Business Employee receiving disability benefits or otherwise on leave
from active employment; excluding, however, (i) any Business Employee receiving
long-term disability benefits, (ii) any Business Employee on temporary
disability leave from active employment who has been on such leave for six
months or more as of the Closing Date and (iii) any Business Employee on
temporary disability leave from active employment as of the Closing Date who
does not actually return to work within six months after the date such temporary
disability leave commenced.  All Business Employees who accept Purchaser's offer
of employment within one day after the Closing Date or, in the case of a
Business Employee who returns to work within six months from taking temporary
disability leave, within one day after the date of return from temporary
disability, shall become employees of Purchaser effective as of the later of
such acceptance and the Closing Date, and shall be referred to herein as
"Acquired Employees".  It is specifically understood and agreed that (A) any
offer of employment by Purchaser to a Business Employee on temporary disability
leave from active employment as of the Closing Date shall be contingent upon the
return of such Business Employee to full time employment within six months after
the date such temporary disability leave commenced (or if required by law, any
such later date) and (B) any such Business Employee's employment by Purchaser
shall be deemed to commence on the date such Business Employee actually returns
to full time employment with Purchaser.  The Sterling Parties hereby agree to
reimburse the Cytec Parties for the actual wages or salary of each person who
becomes an Acquired Employee and who was on temporary disability leave as of the
Closing Date for the period commencing on the Closing Date through the return
date of such person.

          (b)  Maintenance of Benefits.  Purchaser shall maintain (or cause its
Affiliates to maintain) for a period of one year after the Closing Date, without
interruption, benefit plans and arrangements that will provide benefits to
Acquired Employees that are, in the aggregate, substantially equivalent in value
to those provided pursuant to the Benefit Plans as of the date hereof, excluding
any such Benefit Plans in respect of incentive compensation, gain-sharing and
equity-based compensation such as stock options, restricted stock grants, stock
appreciation rights and stock bonuses.  For purposes of calculating value, the
Benefit Plans referred to in clauses (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) below shall be
included.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              60

          (c)  Severance Payments.  (i)  The Cytec Parties shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Sterling Parties for (A) any severance payments due to any
Business Employees who do not accept Purchaser's offer of employment made in
accordance with Section 5.05(a) and (B) any bonuses or other compensation due to
any Acquired Employee pursuant to any agreement required to be listed in
Schedule 4.01(y).

         (ii)  The Sterling Parties hereby agree that prior to the first
anniversary of the Closing Date, they will not, and will not permit their
subsidiaries to, hire as an employee or consultant any Business Employee who
does not accept Purchaser's offer of employment pursuant to Section 5.05(a)
unless prior to such hiring, the Sterling Parties have paid the Cytec Parties an
amount equal to the amount of any severance payments referred to in clause
(i)(A) of the immediately preceding paragraph in respect of such Business
Employee plus an amount equal to the amount of any pension payment paid by any
of the Cytec Parties to such Business Employee under the Cytec Defined Benefit
Plan during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date
that any of the Sterling Parties or their subsidiaries hire such employee.

        (iii)  Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Cytec Parties
for any severance payments due to any Acquired Employee as a result of the
Transactions.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for a period of
one year following the Closing Date, Purchaser shall provide (or cause its
Affiliates to provide) to each Acquired Employee severance benefits and
severance pay that are no less favorable than those provided under the Benefit
Plans in effect on the date of this Agreement.

         (iv)  Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sterling Parties
for any severance payments due to any Business Employees to whom Purchaser has
offered employment in a comparable position at no less favorable base salary and
bonus levels who does not accept Purchaser's offer of employment and become an
Acquired Employee.

          (d)  Participation in Benefit Plans.  Acquired Employees shall be
given credit by Purchaser for all service with the Cytec Parties (or service
credited by the Cytec Parties, including service with Cyanamid and its
Affiliates) under all employee benefit plans and arrangements of Purchaser or
any of its subsidiaries in which such Acquired Employees become participants for
purposes of eligibility
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              61

and vesting (but not for purposes of benefit calculations, except with respect
to the roll-up feature of the Cytec Defined Benefit Plan as provided in 
Section 5.05(e)), to the same extent as if such service were rendered to
Purchaser. Purchaser shall cause to be waived any pre-existing condition
limitation under its welfare plans that might otherwise apply to an Acquired
Employee. Purchaser agrees to recognize (or cause to be recognized) the dollar
amount of all expenses incurred by Acquired Employees during the calendar year
in which the Closing occurs for purposes of satisfying the calendar year
deductibles and co-payments limitations for such year under the relevant benefit
plans of Purchaser.

          (e)  Pension Benefits.  Notwithstanding Section 5.05(b), for a period
of one year after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall provide (or cause its
Affiliates to provide) pension benefits to each Acquired Employee pursuant to
(i) one of the Holdings Pension Plans or (ii) a defined benefit plan that is
identical in all material respects (including with respect to the roll-up
feature) to, or more advantageous to such Acquired Employee than, the Cytec
Defined Benefit Plan as in effect on the Closing Date; provided, however, that
Purchaser shall not be required to give past service credit for service with or
credited by any of the Cytec Parties for purposes of benefit calculations,
except, in the case of clause (ii), with respect to the roll-up feature of the
Cytec Defined Benefit Plan.

          (f)  Post-retirement Benefits.  Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, with respect to any Acquired Employee who, as of the
Closing Date, (i) was at least 55 years old and had completed at least 10 years
of service with any of the Cytec Parties (including, prior to January 1, 1994,
Cyanamid) or any of their respective Affiliates, (ii) at July 31, 1990, had
combined age plus years of service with Cyanamid equal to at least 65, or (iii)
is identified on Schedule 5.05(f) and who remains employed by Purchaser until
the later of such Acquired Employee's 55th birthday or the time such Acquired
Employee has at least 10 years of service with the Cytec Parties (including,
prior to January 1, 1994, Cyanamid), Purchaser or any of their respective
Affiliates, Purchaser shall continue to provide postretirement medical and life
insurance benefits for such Acquired Employee that are no less favorable to such
Acquired Employee than those benefits provided by Parent or Seller under the
plans set forth on Schedule 4.01(s) as in effect on the date hereof, and
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              62

Purchaser shall not reduce the level of such benefits without the prior written
consent of Parent; provided, that such consent shall not be withheld to the
extent that any of the Cytec Parties or Cyanamid has similarly reduced the level
of such benefits.  For purposes of this Agreement, an increase in premiums
required to be paid for postretirement benefits shall be considered a reduction
in such benefits.  Parent shall notify Purchaser in writing to the extent that
Parent becomes aware of a reduction in postretirement medical and life insurance
benefits under the plans set forth on Schedule 4.01(s).

          (g)  Medical Benefits.  Notwithstanding Section 5.05(b), Purchaser
shall provide (or cause its Affiliates to provide) to each Acquired Employee for
as long as such Acquired Employee remains employed by Purchaser or any of its
Affiliates or employed in connection with the Business (i) for a period of 18
months following the Closing Date, medical benefits that are no less favorable
to such Acquired Employee than those medical benefits provided to such Acquired
Employee by Parent or Seller on the date hereof, including benefits under the
agreements with Principal Health HMO and Health Options (Blue Cross/Blue Shield)
HMO, which agreements (the "Transferred Benefit Plans") will be assigned to and
assumed by Purchaser as of the Closing Date, and (ii) after 18 months following
the Closing Date, medical benefits with an annual benefit level of at least $100
per Acquired Employee.

          (h)  Vacation and Other Pay.  Purchaser shall assume the obligations
of the Cytec Parties with respect to accrued but untaken vacation and sick and
holiday pay earned by Acquired Employees as of the Closing Date to the extent
such obligations are reflected in the calculation of Closing Date Net Working
Capital or such obligations relate to 1997 vacation pay that is not reflected in
the calculation of Closing Date Net Working Capital in accordance with the Cytec
Parties' historical practices.

          (i)  WARN Act.  Purchaser agrees to provide any required notice under
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended (the "WARN
Act"), and any similar statute, and to otherwise comply with any such statute
with respect to any "plant closing" or "mass layoff" (as defined in the WARN
Act) or similar event affecting Acquired Employees and occurring on or after the
Closing Date.  Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent and its
Affiliates with respect to any liability under the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              63

WARN Act or similar statute arising from the actions of Purchaser or its
Affiliates on or after the Closing Date.  Parent shall indemnify Purchaser for
any WARN Act liability arising prior to the Closing Date from the actions of the
Cytec Parties taken prior to the Closing Date.

          (j)  Workers Compensation.  Parent shall be responsible for workers'
compensation liabilities with respect to any claim (or relevant portion thereof)
of any Acquired Employee that is filed within one year after the Closing Date to
the extent the incident or alleged incident giving rise to such claim occurred
prior to the Closing Date.  The foregoing shall not apply to any Sterling
Specified Exposure Liability.

          (k)  Vesting.  Parent shall cause each Acquired Employee to be fully
vested in his or her account balance, if any, as of the Closing Date under the
Cytec Savings Plan.  Parent shall also cause each Acquired Employee to be fully
vested in his or her accrued benefit, if any, under the Cytec Defined Benefit
Plan or shall continue to provide service credit, for vesting purposes only,
under the Cytec Defined Benefit Plan for the term of such Acquired Employee's
employment with Purchaser and its Affiliates.  Purchaser hereby agrees to
deliver written notification to Parent of the date of termination of employment
by Purchaser and its Affiliates of each Acquired Employee and any change in
marital status of any Acquired Employee addressed to Director, Employee
Benefits, Cytec Industries Inc., Five Garret Mountain Plaza, West Paterson, NJ
07424.

          (l)  Savings Plans.  The parties hereto agree that Parent shall
transfer the account balances of each Acquired Employee under the Cytec Savings
Plan to a trust under a savings plan maintained by a Sterling Party (the
"Purchaser Savings Plan") as soon as practicable after the date of such Acquired
Employee's employment by Purchaser.  The account balances of the Acquired
Employees shall be determined as of the transfer date.  The transfer of the
account balances shall be made in cash or marketable assets, as agreed by the
parties, and, to the extent applicable, participant promissory notes.  In
consideration of such transfer, the applicable Sterling Party shall assume all
obligations in respect of such transferred account balances to the Acquired
Employees under the Cytec Savings Plan and shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Cytec Parties in respect of such obligations.  Such transfer shall be made in
accordance with all applicable laws and the regulations thereunder, and the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              64

parties hereby agree to make all filings required under applicable law in
connection therewith.  Prior to the Closing Date, the Sterling Parties shall
deliver to Parent a copy of the determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service with respect to the Purchaser Savings Plan, which letter shall indicate
that the Purchaser Savings Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code
and the trust thereunder is exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code.

          SECTION 5.06.  Expenses.  Whether or not the Closing takes place,
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred
in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall
be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

          SECTION 5.07. Transfer Taxes. Parent shall pay or cause to be paid all
sales, use, transfer, stamp or documentary Taxes applicable to the conveyance,
assignment and transfer from any Cytec Party to Purchaser of the Acquired Assets
and any other transfer or documentary Taxes or any filing or recording fees and
related expenses applicable to such conveyance, assignment and transfer
(including filing fees and recording fees with respect to the transfer and
recording of the Business Intellectual Property but excluding such intangible or
documentary taxes incurred solely in connection with the Financing); provided,
however, that Purchaser shall be responsible for the costs of preparing any
forms to be filed.  Each Cytec Party shall prepare and file in a timely manner
all returns and other documents required in connection with the foregoing Taxes
and shall provide Purchaser with evidence of filing of such returns and
documents and payment of such Taxes promptly thereafter.  Purchaser shall
prepare and make all filings and recordings in respect of the transfer of
Business Intellectual Property; provided, however, that to the extent Purchaser
has chosen not to make any filing or recording, Parent shall pay to Purchaser
50% of the filing or recording fees which would otherwise have been payable
therefor.

          SECTION 5.08.  Brokers or Finders.  Each of the Sterling Parties and
the Cytec Parties represents, as to itself and its Affiliates, that no agent,
broker, investment banker or other firm or person is or will be entitled to any
broker's or finder's fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection
with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based in any way on
any agreement,
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              65

understanding or arrangement with such party, except, as to Parent and its
Affiliates, Goldman Sachs & Co. whose fees and expenses will be paid by Parent
and, as to Purchaser and its Affiliates, The Sterling Group, Inc., whose fees
and expenses will be paid by Purchaser.  Each of Purchaser and Parent
respectively agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against
any and all claims, liabilities or obligations with respect to any other fees,
commissions or expenses asserted by any person on the basis of any act or
statement alleged to have been made by such party or its Affiliates.

          SECTION 5.09.  Bulk Transfer Laws.  Purchaser hereby waives compliance
by the Cytec Parties with the provisions of any so-called "bulk transfer law"
of any jurisdiction in connection with the sale of the Acquired Assets to
Purchaser.  The Cytec Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser
against any and all liabilities that may be asserted by third parties against
Purchaser as a result of noncompliance with any such bulk transfer law.

          SECTION 5.10.  Purchase Price Allocation.  Parent and STX shall
cooperate in determining an allocation of the consideration to be paid by
Purchaser among the Acquired Assets consistent with Section 1060 of the Code and
the regulations thereunder that is mutually acceptable.  None of the Cytec
Parties nor the Sterling Parties (nor any of their respective Affiliates or
representatives) shall take any position on any Tax return, including Form 8594,
or with any taxing authority or in any judicial proceeding that is inconsistent
with the allocation of the Purchase Price as finally determined pursuant to this
Section 5.10.  Parent shall deliver to STX, and STX shall deliver to Parent, a
copy of such Form 8594 of such party at least 10 days prior to the filing
thereof.

          SECTION 5.11.  No Additional Representations.  (a)  Each Sterling
Party acknowledges that, to its knowledge, it and its representatives have been
permitted full and complete access to the Acquired Assets that it and its
representatives have desired or requested to see or review, and that, to its
knowledge, its representatives have had an opportunity to meet with the officers
and employees of Parent and Seller to discuss the Business.  Each Sterling Party
acknowledges that none of the Cytec Parties or any other person has made any
representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or
completeness of any information regarding the Business or the Acquired
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              66

Assets except as expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Disclosure
Schedules.  Each Sterling Party further acknowledges that none of the Cytec
Parties nor any other person will be subject to any liability to any of the
Sterling Parties or any other person resulting from (i) the distribution to
Purchaser, or Purchaser's use of, the Confidentiality Memorandum prepared by
Goldman, Sachs & Co. dated May, 1996 or any of the documents or materials
examined by Purchaser in the "data room" organized by Parent in connection with
the Transactions or (ii) the management presentation heretofore made by Parent
and Seller to STX Chemicals and STX in connection with the Transactions;
provided, however, that nothing in this sentence is intended to or shall in any
manner (A) affect any representation, warranty, covenant or indemnity of the
Cytec Parties (or any of them) contained in the Operative Documents (or any of
them) or (B) relieve, release or discharge any of the Cytec Parties or any other
person from liability resulting from or attributable to its fraud, bad faith or
wilful misconduct; and, provided further, that none of the Sterling Parties or
the Specified Sterling Representatives shall be deemed for any purpose to have
knowledge of any information contained in the documents or materials referred to
in clause (i) above solely as a result of such information's inclusion in the
data room.  Purchaser acknowledges that, should the Closing occur, Purchaser
will acquire the Acquired Assets without any representation or warranty as to
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, in an "as is" condition
and on a "where is" basis, except as otherwise expressly represented or
warranted in this Agreement or the Conveyance Documents.

          (b)  Each Cytec Party acknowledges that (i) it and its representatives
have been permitted full and complete access to the business, properties and
records of the Sterling Parties that it and its representatives have desired or
requested to see or review, (ii) its representatives have had an opportunity to
meet with the officers and employees of the Sterling Parties to discuss the
business, properties, affairs and financial condition of the Sterling Parties
and (iii) none of the Sterling Parties has made any representation or warranty
(express or implied) to the Cytec Parties except as set forth in this Agreement.

          SECTION 5.12.  Post-Closing Exposure to Acrylonitrile and Asbestos.
The Sterling Parties hereby agree that they will not, and will not permit any of
their Affiliates to, cause or permit any of the persons listed in
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              67

Appendix C to be exposed to acrylonitrile or asbestos at the Santa Rosa Facility
at levels above those permitted by OSHA (it being understood that the sole
liability of the Sterling Parties for breach of this Section 5.12 shall be for
the incremental Losses from such exposure of such persons).

          SECTION 5.13.  Amendment of Intercompany Licenses.  Prior to the
Closing, the Cytec Parties shall amend or cause to be amended each agreement or
other arrangement pursuant to which any Cytec Party has granted licenses or
other rights to any of the Business Intellectual Property to any subsidiary of
Parent in order to delete or remove the Business Intellectual Property from each
such agreement or arrangement.

          SECTION 5.14.  Real Property Easement; Santa Rosa First Refusal and
Lease Agreement.  At the Closing, Purchaser and Seller shall (i) execute and
deliver the Easement Agreement, the Santa Rosa First Refusal and Lease Agreement
and (ii) cause to be recorded such agreements or, in each case, a memorandum
thereof.

          SECTION 5.15.  Actions of Purchaser.  
(a) General. Purchaser shall not take any action that would reasonably be
expected to (i) result in any of the representations or warranties of any
Sterling Party set forth in this Agreement becoming untrue in any material
respect, (ii) result in any of the conditions of the Closing set forth in
Article VI not being satisfied in a timely manner or (iii) result in any of the
conditions to the Financing not being satisfied.

          (b)  Advise of Changes.  Purchaser shall advise Parent in writing
within a reasonable time thereafter of the occurrence after the date hereof and
on or prior to the Closing Date of any matter or event that would be reasonably
expected to cause any of its representations and warranties in this Agreement to
be untrue or incorrect from the date hereof to the Closing Date, to cause any of
the conditions set forth in Article VI to not be satisfied in timely manner or
to cause any of the conditions to the Financing to not be satisfied.

          SECTION 5.16.  Signs; Use of "Cytec" or "Cyanamid" Name.  As soon as
practicable, and in any event within 60 days after the Closing Date, Purchaser,
at its own expense, shall remove (or, if necessary, on an interim basis cover
up) any and all exterior and interior signs and
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              68

identifiers which refer or pertain to Parent or any of its subsidiaries at the
Santa Rosa Facility.  After such period, subject to Section 5.17, Purchaser
shall not use or display the name "Cytec" or "Cyanamid" or variations thereof,
or other trademarks, trade names, logos or identifiers using such name or
otherwise owned by or licensed to any Cytec Party which have not been assigned
or licensed to Purchaser (collectively, "Non-Permitted Names"), without the
prior written consent of Parent.

          SECTION 5.17.  Products, Supplies and Documents.  Purchaser shall have
the right to use existing products, supplies and documents (including purchase
orders, forms, labels, shipping materials, catalogues, sales brochures,
operating manuals, instructional documents and similar materials, and
advertising material) being transferred to it pursuant hereto which have
imprinted thereon or otherwise use a Non-Permitted Name for a period not to
exceed 180 days following the Closing Date; provided, however, that Purchaser
agrees (i) to use only those such supplies and documents existing in inventory
as of the Closing Date and (ii) not to order or utilize in any manner any
additional supplies and documents which have imprinted thereon or otherwise use
a trademark or trade name of Parent or any of its subsidiaries, except as
expressly permitted by the Trademark License Agreement.

          SECTION 5.18.  Delivery of Assets.  The Cytec Parties shall make the
Acquired Assets available to Purchaser (a) at the locations where the Acquired
Assets are currently located if such premises are part of the Acquired Assets or
the Leased Real Property and (b) at any location under clause (a) if the
Acquired Assets (other than Business Inventory in transit or on consignment at
customers' premises) are currently located at premises which are not part of the
Acquired Assets; provided, however, that the Business Equipment and other
tangible items of Acquired Assets associated with any Business Employee (or
replacement therefor) who becomes an Acquired Employee and who is transferred
prior to the Closing Date to another location of the Business may be transferred
to such other location.  The Cytec Parties shall be solely responsible for any
and all costs, fees, charges and expenses incurred in connection with the
movement of any of the Acquired Assets referred to in clause (b) of the
immediately preceding sentence to a location referred to in clause (a) of the
immediately preceding sentence.  If, at any time after the Closing Date, any of
the Cytec Parties discovers in its possession or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              69

under its control any other Acquired Assets, such Cytec Party shall forthwith
deliver such Acquired Assets to Purchaser at the sole cost and expense of such
Cytec Party.

          SECTION 5.19.  No Solicitation.  Each of the Cytec Parties shall
immediately cease any discussions or negotiations with any parties (other than
Purchaser and its Affiliates) that may be ongoing with respect to the direct or
indirect acquisition or purchase of all or any substantial amount of the
Business or the Acquired Assets or any capital stock or other equity interests
of Seller, whether by merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of
assets, sale of securities, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or
otherwise, and whether for cash, securities or any other consideration or
combination thereof (other than, in any case, in connection with an acquisition
or purchase of other assets of Parent, in which case such acquisition or
purchase to the extent applicable to the Business shall be subject to this
Agreement) (each such transaction, an "Acquisition Transaction").  After the
date hereof and prior to the Closing or earlier termination of this Agreement:

          (i) none of the Cytec Parties shall, and each of the Cytec Parties
     shall not permit any of its Affiliates to, (A) solicit, initiate, encourage
     (including by way of furnishing information) or take any other action to
     facilitate any Acquisition Transaction or (B) participate in any
     discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Transaction, and

         (ii) each of the Cytec Parties shall, and shall cause each of its
     Affiliates to, use its reasonable best efforts to cause its officers,
     directors and employees and any investment banker, financial advisor,
     attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by it to
     not, (A) solicit, initiate, encourage (including by way of furnishing
     information) or take any other action to facilitate any Acquisition
     Transaction or (B) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding
     any Acquisition Transaction.

          SECTION 5.20.  Audited Financial Statements.  Within 45 days after the
Closing Date, Parent shall cause its auditors to provide to Purchaser, at
Parent's expense, audited financial statements for calendar year 1996 addressed
to STX and relating to the Business (the "Audited Financial Statements"), and
Parent shall provide to
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              70

Purchaser unaudited financial statements, relating to the Business, but in each
case only to the extent required to be filed or that Purchaser needs to complete
information that is required to be filed under the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act in connection with any filings with the SEC.  The Audited Financial
Statements shall be accompanied by a consent, executed by the auditors
performing the audit, permitting the Sterling Parties to file the Audited
Financial Statements and such auditor's report with the SEC.  Such Audited
Financial Statements and unaudited financial statements shall comply as to form
with the published rules and regulations of the SEC.  Parent will provide
reasonable assistance to Purchaser in obtaining any opinions, certificates,
consents, letters or schedules relating to the Audited Financial Statements, as
may be required under the Securities Act or Exchange Act in connection with any
filings of the Audited Financial Statements with the SEC.

          SECTION 5.21.  Pilko Assessment.  (a)  Initial Determination.  Seller
shall promptly engage Pilko & Associates, Inc. ("Pilko") to undertake a Phase II
environmental assessment of the Acquired Assets, for which the scope of work
shall be set forth in Appendix O (the "Pilko Assessment").  The terms of Pilko's
engagement (i) shall provide for expedited laboratory testing for testing
required in connection with the Pilko Assessment, where necessary, (ii) shall
require Pilko to make the determination described in Section 5.21(b) below, as
necessary, and to otherwise comply with such Section and (iii) shall provide
that each of Purchaser and Seller shall be responsible (severally and not
jointly) for 50% of the costs and expenses in respect of the Pilko Assessment.
On or prior to January 8, 1997, Pilko shall produce a final written report,
addressed to the Cytec Parties, setting forth the results of the Pilko
Assessment.  Within the five business day period after delivery of the Pilko
Assessment (the "Cytec Evaluation Period"), Seller shall make a good faith
determination, based on the results of the Pilko Assessment, of the actual out-
of-pocket costs and expenses to the Cytec Parties of the Remedial Actions
required in order to bring the Facility Conditions into compliance with Current
Environmental Laws (such determination being referred to as the "Cost of
Remediation"); provided, however, that the Cytec Parties shall not consider in
its determination any Remedial Actions to address or correct Immaterial
Environmental Breaches.  In determining the Cost of Remediation, Seller shall
consider the Remedial Actions that the Cytec Parties would undertake in
accordance with
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              71

the Cytec Parties' historical practice at the Santa Rosa Facility (such Remedial
Actions being referred to as the "Cytec Determined Actions").  Seller shall
notify Purchaser of Seller's Cost of Remediation of the Cytec Determined Actions
not later than the last day of the Cytec Determination Period.

          (b)  Termination Right of Seller.  If Seller's good faith
determination of the Cost of Remediation of the Cytec Determined Actions exceeds
$10,000,000 and Seller desires to terminate this Agreement, then on or prior to
the last day of the Cytec Evaluation Period, Parent shall notify Purchaser and
Pilko of such determination.  Within the five business day period following any
such notification, Pilko shall make a determination of the Cost of Remediation
of the Cytec Determined Actions, and deliver a letter to each of Purchaser and
Seller setting forth such determination.  If Pilko's determination of the Cost
of Remediation of the Cytec Determined Actions exceeds $10,000,000, Seller, at
Seller's sole option, may terminate this Agreement and in such case the Cytec
Parties shall not have any obligation to deliver the Pilko Assessment to any
Sterling Party.

          (c)  Termination Rights of Purchaser and Seller.  In the event that
Seller chooses not to terminate this Agreement notwithstanding its right to do
so pursuant to Section 5.21(b), or Seller does not have the right to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.21(b), on the last day of the Cytec
Evaluation Period, Seller shall deliver the Pilko Assessment and a description
of the Cytec Determined Actions to Purchaser.  Upon its receipt of such
delivery, Purchaser shall immediately engage Pilko to undertake a Phase II
environmental assessment of the Acquired Assets, which shall be addressed to
Purchaser and the banks participating in the Financing or their agent (such
assessment being referred to as "Purchaser's Phase II").  The scope of work for
Purchaser's Phase II shall be the same scope of work as that of the Pilko
Assessment.  As of and after Purchaser's engagement of Pilko as contemplated
above, Purchaser shall have the unconditional right to independently consult
with Pilko personnel, review all materials in any way relating to the Pilko
Assessment or performance thereof, including all technical materials and
reports, and Pilko is hereby unconditionally authorized to independently consult
with Purchaser and its counsel, and to disclose all such materials.  Purchaser's
Phase II shall be completed and delivered to Purchaser within the two business
day period
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              72

following Seller's delivery of the Pilko Assessment to Purchaser.  The Sterling
Parties shall be responsible for all costs and expenses in respect of
Purchaser's Phase II.  Within the five business day period following delivery of
Purchaser's Phase II to Purchaser (the "Sterling Determination Period"),
Purchaser shall make a good-faith determination of the Cost of Remediation of
the specific Remedial Actions required to bring the Facility Conditions into
compliance with Current Environmental Laws, based on remediation standards
deemed appropriate by the Sterling Parties; provided, however, that Purchaser
shall not consider in its determination any Remedial Actions to address or
correct Immaterial Environmental Breaches ("Sterling's Initial Determination").
If Sterling's Initial Determination exceeds $10,000,000, Purchaser, at its sole
option, may terminate this Agreement.  In the event that Purchaser chooses not
to terminate this Agreement notwithstanding its right to do so pursuant to this
Section 5.21(c), on the last day of the Sterling Determination Period, Purchaser
shall deliver to the Cytec Parties its good-faith determination of the Cost of
Remediation of the specific Remedial Actions required to bring the Facility
Conditions into compliance with Current Environmental Laws, based on Purchaser's
good faith belief of the alternative risk-based remediation standards for
industrial properties historically applied by the Sterling Parties (such
Remedial Actions being referred to as the "Sterling Determined Actions");
provided, however, that the Sterling Determined Actions shall not include any
Remedial Actions to address or correct Immaterial Environmental Breaches.
Within three business days after the end of the Sterling Determination Period
(the "Cytec Reevaluation Period"), Seller, at its sole option, may terminate
this Agreement, unless the Sterling Parties unconditionally agree to pay all
Costs of Remediation of Post-Closing Actions in excess of $10,000,000, in which
event Seller shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement.

          (d)  Mutual Determination.  (i)  In the event that neither Purchaser
nor Seller chooses to terminate this Agreement notwithstanding its right to do
so pursuant to Section 5.21(c), or neither Purchaser nor Seller has the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.21(c), then during the three
business day period following the last day of the Sterling Determination Period
or the Cytec Reevaluation Period, as applicable (the "Mutual Determination
Period"), Seller and Purchaser shall use their reasonable best efforts to agree
upon a list of actions,
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              73

taken from the Cytec Determined Actions and the Sterling Determined Actions,
that the Cytec Parties will be required to undertake after the Closing Date (the
"Post-Closing Actions"), it being understood that the Post-Closing Actions shall
not include Remedial Actions to address or correct Immaterial Environmental
Breaches.  If Seller and Purchaser cannot agree upon the Post-Closing Actions,
then the Post-Closing Actions, to the extent required, shall be determined by
binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the provisions hereof and the
rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Such arbitration shall be
conducted in the State of Florida or such other place as Seller and Purchaser
shall mutually agree by Law Engineering, Inc. (Florida office) or, if it is not
available or unwilling to act as arbitrator, then Seller and Purchaser together
shall select one consultant from a list of three other nationally recognized
environmental consulting firms provided by Law Engineering, Inc. (other than
Pilko or any of its Affiliates) generally recognized as having current
competence with respect to the environmental laws of the State of Florida and
the United States, or if the parties fail to agree within five business days
such firm as selected by the American Arbitration Association (such firm being
referred to as the "Environmental Arbitrator").  The fees and expenses of the
Environmental Arbitrator shall be borne equally by Seller and Purchaser.

          (ii)  If Purchaser's determination of the Cost of Remediation of the
Sterling Determined Actions is less than $10,000,000 and Seller believes in good
faith that the Cost of Remediation of the Sterling Determined Actions is greater
than $10,000,000, the Environmental Arbitrator shall first consider whether or
not the Cost of Remediation of the Sterling Determined Actions is reasonably
likely to exceed $10,000,000 (the "Threshold Issue").   If the Environmental
Arbitrator decides that such Cost of Remediation is reasonably likely to exceed
$10,000,000, Seller may terminate this Agreement, unless the Sterling Parties
unconditionally agree to pay all Costs of Remediation of Post-Closing Actions in
excess of $10,000,000.  Unless this Agreement has been terminated, the
Environmental Arbitrator shall then determine the Post-Closing Actions by
choosing the Cytec Determined Actions, except to the extent that (A) a Cytec
Determined Action conflicts with a Sterling Determined Action and (B) the
Environmental Arbitrator determines that a conflicting Sterling Determined
Action is (I) a Remedial Action that is consistent with the historical practices
of the Sterling Parties (in accordance with
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              73

alternative risk-based remediation standards for industrial properties
historically applied by the Sterling Parties) at the Texas City Facility, if
applicable, (II) a Remedial Action mandated by a Governmental Entity, if the
applicable Facility Condition would not arise at the Texas City Facility because
of differences in the operations at the Texas City Facility and the Santa Rosa
Facility (other than in respect of landfills or spray irrigation), or (III) a
Remedial Action that is in accordance with standard chemical industry practices
(in accordance with alternative risk-based remediation standards for industrial
properties), if the applicable Facility Condition is in respect of a landfill or
spray irrigation, in which case the Environmental Arbitrator shall choose the
Sterling Determined Actions.  The Environmental Arbitrator shall determine the
Post-Closing Actions within 15 business days of its appointment.  The
Environmental Arbitrator shall furnish Seller and Purchaser with a written
report of its determination within the 15-business day period referred to above,
which report shall (i) be signed by the Environmental Arbitrator, and (ii)
identify and describe the Post-Closing Actions, to the extent required.  The
determination of the matters resolved by the Environmental Arbitrator shall be
final and binding on the Cytec Parties and the Sterling Parties as an arbitral
award.  The Closing may occur notwithstanding the commencement of an arbitration
proceeding contemplated hereby, unless the Environmental Arbitrator is to
determine the Threshold Issue and has not done so.

          (e)  Remediation; Responsibility for Costs Thereof.  If the Closing
occurs, then Parent shall undertake to complete all Post-Closing Actions,
subject to the last sentence of this Section 5.21(e), and shall undertake such
Post-Closing Actions in a reasonably expeditious, cost-efficient manner.  The
Cytec Parties shall be responsible for the Costs of Remediation in respect of
the Post-Closing Actions that are Cytec Determined Actions.  Each of the Cytec
Parties, on the one hand, and the Sterling Parties, on the other hand, shall be
responsible for, and the Sterling Parties shall reimburse the Cytec Parties on a
monthly basis for, 50% of the excess out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the
Cytec Parties for completing any Post-Closing Actions that are not Cytec
Determined Actions over the out-of-pocket costs and expenses of completing the
comparable Cytec Determined Actions; provided, however, that the Cytec Parties
shall not be responsible for Costs of Remediation in respect of any Post-Closing
Actions in excess of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              75

$10,000,000, or for undertaking any Remedial Actions after such Costs of
Remediation have exceeded $10,000,000, if the Sterling Parties have
unconditionally agreed in writing to pay all such Costs of Remediation in excess
of $10,000,000 pursuant to this Section 5.21.  Subject to the following
sentence, in the event that any Governmental Entity involved in the approval or
oversight of the conduct or completion of the Post-Closing Actions requires that
any action not contemplated by the Post-Closing Actions be taken in order to
bring a Facility Condition into compliance with Environmental Laws, or that any
Remedial Action be taken through a different method or to a more stringent
extent, the Cytec Parties shall, at their sole cost and expense, complete any
such required action that is a Remedial Action required to bring the relevant
Facility Condition into compliance with Current Environmental Laws (other than
any Remedial Action to address or correct an Immaterial Environmental Breach),
and the Sterling Parties shall, at their sole cost and expense, complete all
other such actions.  The Sterling Parties hereby agree that they will not, and
will not permit their Affiliates to, take any actions (other than actions
required by law) for the purpose of causing, or which could reasonably be
expected to cause, (a) any Governmental Entity which has any involvement,
jurisdiction or influence over the Post-Closing Actions, to modify, alter or
adjust such Post-Closing Actions, as determined in accordance with this
Agreement, in any manner which would be adverse to the Cytec Parties or (b) the
involvement of any Governmental Entity with the carrying out of the Post-Closing
Actions (or to the extent any Governmental Entity is involved, to increase such
involvement), provided, however, that nothing contained in this sentence shall
be deemed or construed to prohibit any of the Sterling Parties from bringing any
action before a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of
enforcing the obligations of the Cytec Parties to complete the Post-Closing
Actions, as determined in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  The
Cytec Parties shall provide the Sterling Parties with copies of all
correspondence, reports, plans, laboratory data and other papers filed with,
sent to or received from any such Governmental Entity which are related to the
Post-Closing Actions as promptly as practicable under the circumstances.

          (f)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
Sterling Parties shall not be obligated to indemnify any Seller Indemnified
Person (pursuant to Article VIII hereof or otherwise) for the costs
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              76

and expenses of the Post-Closing Actions that are the responsibility of the
Cytec Parties pursuant to this Section 5.21.  Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the Cytec Parties shall not be obligated to indemnify
any Purchaser Indemnified Person (pursuant to Article VIII hereof or otherwise)
for the costs and expenses of the Post-Closing Actions that are the
responsibility of the Sterling Parties.

          (g)  Responsibility for Costs of Pilko Assessment.  If the Closing
occurs, Purchaser shall, at the Closing, reimburse Seller for the 50% of the
costs and expenses in respect of the Pilko Assessment paid by Seller.  If the
Closing does not occur, on the date of termination of this Agreement, Purchaser
shall reimburse Seller for the 50% of the costs and expenses in respect of
preparing the Pilko Assessment paid by Seller, unless (i) this Agreement is
terminated by Seller pursuant to Section 5.21(b), 5.21(c) or 5.21(d) or by
Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.21(c) or (ii) the conditions set forth in
Section 6.01(c) or Section 6.02 (other than Section 6.02(f)) shall not have been
satisfied.  In the case of clause (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding
sentence, Seller shall reimburse Purchaser for the 50% of the costs and expenses
in respect of the Pilko Assessment paid by Purchaser.

          (h)  Access; Cooperation.  (i)  The Sterling Parties hereby agree to
provide access to Parent after the Closing during normal business hours upon
reasonable prior notice from Parent to the extent necessary to enable Parent to
comply with Section 5.21(e) above.  The Sterling Parties further agree to fully
cooperate with the Cytec Parties in order that the Cytec Parties may fulfill
their obligations under this Section 5.21, including by causing the cooperation
of the employees of the Sterling Parties, and none of the Sterling Parties shall
take any actions with respect to the Santa Rosa Facility which would be
reasonably expected to interfere, including by increasing the costs associated
therewith, with any Post-Closing Action.  To the extent that as a result of any
Post-Closing Action, any discussions or negotiations with any Governmental
Entity shall be required, Parent shall be entitled to direct such discussions
and negotiations, including the negotiations of any clean-up levels and
remediation strategies, and Purchaser shall be entitled to observe such
discussions and negotiations.  Parent shall consult with the Sterling Parties
during the course of any such discussion or negotiations.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              77

          (ii)  In conducting the Post-Closing Actions, the Cytec Parties shall
use commercially reasonable efforts so as not to (A) interfere in any material
respect with the ability of Purchaser to perform its obligations (other than any
such obligations that are solely for the benefit of the Cytec Parties), or
exercise or enforce its rights, in either case under this Agreement, the
Acrylonitrile Supply Agreement, the Acrylonitrile Assignment and Assumption or
the Assumption Agreement, (B) interfere in any material respect with the ability
of Purchaser to perform its obligations under, or to comply with, any
Governmental Rule, Permit or Environmental Permit applicable to the Business or
the Acquired Assets, (C) interfere with the operation or maintenance of the
plant at the Santa Rosa Facility or the conduct of the Business in the ordinary
course as currently conducted if such interference would reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of Purchaser or the
Business, (D) cause the revocation or termination of any Permit or Environmental
Permit necessary for the operation of the plant at the Santa Rosa Facility or
the conduct of the Business in the ordinary course of business substantially as
currently conducted or (E) require the shutdown of all or any significant part
of the plant at the Santa Rosa Facility, other than a shutdown which will
coincide with a scheduled shutdown of such plant substantially in accordance
with current practices.

          SECTION 5.22.  Title Policy.  On or prior to the Closing Date, Seller,
at its sole cost and expense, shall cause to be issued to Purchaser an ALTA form
of Owner's Title Policy (the "Title Policy"), which shall insure in the amount
of the fair market value of the Santa Rosa Facility good and marketable fee
simple title in Purchaser to the Santa Rosa Facility (it being understood that
any insurance coverage in excess of $7,400,000 shall be at the cost and expense
of the Sterling Parties), including any appurtenant easement tracts, and shall
provide for extended coverage over the general exceptions for survey matters
normally contained therein and rights of parties in possession.  The Title
Policy shall provide, by way of affirmative endorsements, (i) that the Santa
Rosa Facility parcels of land are contiguous and (ii) such other coverage or
endorsements as may reasonably be required by Purchaser or The Chase Manhattan
Bank, N.A., as lender to Purchaser, subject, in each case, only to (A) Permitted
Liens and (B) such additional standard printed exceptions (other than general
exceptions as are to be deleted or insured against as provided herein)
customarily contained in such form of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              78

owner's ALTA title insurance policy.  The Title Policy shall indicate (i) that
the Santa Rosa Facility has an unencumbered and unobstructed right of access to
a public road and (ii) which Permitted Liens pertain to which parcel or tract of
land at the Santa Rosa Facility.

          SECTION 5.23.  Further Assurances.  The Cytec Parties and the Sterling
Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to carry out
all of their respective obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and to consummate and make effective the Transactions.

          SECTION 5.24.  Reimbursement for Certain Excess Medical Claims and
Expenses.  Parent hereby agrees to reimburse the Sterling Parties for claims for
reimbursement of medical expenses under the Transferred Benefit Plans incurred
prior to the Closing Date and other expenses in connection with Transferred
Benefit Plans incurred prior to the Closing Date, but only to the extent that
such costs and expenses which have not been previously paid by the Cytec Parties
exceeds $400,000.

          SECTION 5.25.  Services Agreement Issue.  If, as of January 31, 1997,
or any date thereafter prior to February 14, 1997, a Services Agreement Issue
arises, the Cytec Parties and the Sterling Parties shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to identify alternative arrangements for the provision of the
applicable Service.

          SECTION 5.26.  Certain Matters Related to Cyanamid.  (a)  Each
Sterling Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it shall not,
and shall not permit any Purchaser Indemnified Person to, make any claims
against, or seek any indemnity from, Cyanamid or any of Cyanamid's successors in
interest (other than a Cytec Party, but excluding Cyanamid) in respect of any
Loss relating to the Business, the Acquired Assets or the Assumed Liabilities
(i) for which the Sterling Parties are obligated to indemnify any of the Cytec
Parties pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) for which any Cytec Party is
obligated to indemnify Cyanamid under the Transfer and Distribution Agreement or
the Environmental Matters Agreement, each dated December 17, 1993, between
Parent and Cyanamid including, in each case, any agreements listed as exhibits
to such documents.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              79

          (b)  Each Sterling Party hereby agrees that prior to the sale by it to
any person (including any Affiliate of such Sterling Party) (any such person, a
"Transferee") of the Business or all or substantially all of the Acquired
Assets, or a substantial part of the Santa Rosa Facility and prior to the
assumption of all or a substantial part of the Assumed Liabilities by any
Transferee, such Sterling Party shall notify such Transferee of the terms of
this Section 5.26 and the provisions of this Agreement related hereto, and shall
cause such Transferee to execute an acknowledgment that such Transferee is bound
by the provisions of this Section 5.26 and such provisions, as a successor to
such Sterling Party.

          (c)  Purchaser hereby agrees to perform the obligations of Parent
pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Environmental Matters Agreement dated as of
December 17, 1993, between Cyanamid and Parent (the "Environmental Matters
Agreement") to the extent, but only to the extent, such obligations relate to
the Santa Rosa Facility, except that (i) Purchaser shall deliver any reports
required to be delivered under Section 5.1 of the Environmental Matters
Agreement to Parent, rather than the Environmental Oversight Committee (as
defined in the Environmental Matters Agreement) and (ii) each report required to
be submitted under such Section shall be submitted to Parent no later than
August 1 and February 1 of each year; provided, however, that Purchaser shall
not be required to perform any obligations pursuant to this Section 5.26(c) that
any Cytec Party is required to perform under Section 5.21.

          (d)  Purchaser hereby agrees to conduct any remediation, other than
remediation the Cytec Parties are required to complete under Section 5.21, in
accordance with Environmental Laws and with generally accepted industry
practices.

          (e)  Parent hereby agrees to seek the consent of Cyanamid to the
assignment of the Transfer Agreement (Project 7) dated December 17, 1993,
between Parent and Cyanamid within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, it
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              80

being understood that Parent shall not have any obligation to negotiate the
terms of such consent with Cyanamid.

          SECTION 5.27.  Amendment to Disclosure Schedule.  Not later than
January 15, 1997, the Cytec Parties, in their sole discretion, may elect to
deliver to Purchaser one or more revised Schedules chosen by the Cytec Parties;
provided, however, that no such Schedule shall include an addition of any matter
that was not previously listed in another Schedule prior to the revision thereof
(it being understood that the disclosure of such matter shall be as deemed
appropriate by the Cytec Parties).  The parties hereto agree that (i) the
Disclosure Schedules shall thereafter be deemed to be amended and restated as
set forth in such revised Disclosure Schedules and (ii) disclosure of any matter
therein shall not be deemed an admission by Parent that such disclosure is
material or constitutes a Material Adverse Effect.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                              Conditions Precedent

          SECTION 6.01.  Conditions to Each Party's Obligations.  The respective
obligations of the Sterling Parties and the Cytec Parties to consummate the
Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of
the following conditions:

          (a)  HSR.  Any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall have
expired or been terminated.

          (b)  No Injunctions or Restraints.  No statute, rule, regulation or
executive order shall have been enacted or issued by a Governmental Entity, and
no decree, temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or
other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental
Entity, and no other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation
of the Transactions shall be in effect; provided, however, that each of the
parties to this Agreement shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to
prevent the entry of any such injunction or other order or decree and to appeal
as promptly as possible any injunction or other order or decree that may be
entered.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              81

          (c)  Remediation Matters.  No Threshold Issue shall have been
submitted to the Environmental Arbitrator which has not been resolved by the
Environmental Arbitrator and there shall not be a possibility that a Threshold
Issue may later arise.

          SECTION 6.02.  Conditions to the Obligations of the Sterling Parties.
The obligations of the Sterling Parties to consummate the Closing is subject to
the satisfaction on and as of the Closing Date of each of the following
additional conditions:

          (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
warranties of the Cytec Parties set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
correct on and as of the Closing as though made on and as of the Closing, (i)
except to the extent such representations and warranties are made as of a
specified earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall
be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier specified date)
and (ii) except for breaches of representations and warranties as to matters
that, individually or in the aggregate (and without regard to any materiality
qualifications contained therein) are not reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect, and Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by an
authorized officer of each Cytec Party to such effect.

          (b)  Performance of Obligations of the Cytec Parties.  Each of the
Cytec Parties shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all
obligations, conditions and covenants required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing, and Purchaser shall have received a
certificate signed by an authorized officer of each Cytec Party to such effect.

          (c)  Opinion of Counsel to the Cytec Parties.  Purchaser shall have
received an opinion dated the Closing Date of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel
to the Cytec Parties, to the effect that:

          (i)  Each of the Cytec Parties is a corporation duly organized,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.

         (ii)  Each of the Cytec Parties has the corporate power and authority
     to execute and deliver the Operative Documents to which it is a party and
     to
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              82

     consummate the Transactions.  The execution and delivery by each of the
     Cytec Parties of the Operative Documents to which it is a party and the
     consummation of the Transactions by each of the Cytec Parties have been
     duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not require the
     approval of the stockholders of Parent.  Each of the Operative Documents to
     which any Cytec Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by
     such Cytec Party and such Operative Document constitutes a legal, valid and
     binding obligation of such Cytec Party enforceable against such Cytec Party
     in accordance with its respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other
     similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in
     effect and to general public policy considerations and principles of equity
     (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness,
     good faith and fair dealing) regardless of whether considered in a
     proceeding in equity or at law.

          (iii)  The execution and delivery by each of the Cytec Parties of the
     Operative Documents to which it is a party do not, and the consummation by
     each of the Cytec Parties of the Transactions will not, (A) violate any
     Federal law or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (B)
     conflict with any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
     of any of the Cytec Parties.  Such counsel need not express any opinion,
     however, as to any violation of any law or regulation which may have become
     applicable to a Cytec Party as a result of the involvement of Purchaser in
     the Transactions because of Purchaser's legal or regulatory status or
     because of any other facts specifically pertaining to Purchaser.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely, to the extent it deems it
appropriate to do so, on certificates of officers or employees of the Cytec
Parties and of public officials as to matters of fact and authenticity of
documents and on opinions of counsel in other states as to questions of law of
such states.

          (d)  Ancillary Agreements.  Each of the Cytec Parties shall have
executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party.
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                                                                              83

          (e)  Other Documents.  Each of the Cytec Parties shall have furnished
to Purchaser such other documents relating to such Cytec Party's corporate
existence and authority, including copies of resolutions of the board of
directors of each Cytec Party, as Purchaser may reasonably request.

          (f)  Financing.  All of the conditions to the availability of the
Financing, as set forth in the commitment letter previously delivered to Parent
(or, if Parent has given its written approval of alternative financing terms
proposed by Purchaser, the terms of the written commitment in respect thereof),
shall have been met and Purchaser shall have obtained the Financing.

          (g)  No Material Adverse Effect.  Since the date of this Agreement,
there shall not have occurred any change that constitutes, and no event or
events shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement which have resulted
in or constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

          (h)  Title Policy; Survey Certification; Estoppel Letter.  The Cytec
Parties shall have delivered to Purchaser (i) the Title Policy, (ii) a
certification of the Survey by Baskerville-Donovan, Inc., and (iii) a zoning
estoppel letter addressed to Purchaser and the banks party to the Financing
(which may be included on the Survey).

          SECTION 6.03.  Conditions to the Obligations of the Cytec Parties.
The obligations of the Cytec Parties to consummate the Closing is subject to the
satisfaction on and as of the Closing Date of each of the following additional
conditions:

          (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
warranties of the Sterling Parties set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing as though made on and as of
the Closing, except to the extent such representations and warranties were made
as of an earlier specified date (in which case such representations and
warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such
specified earlier date), and Parent shall have received a certificate signed by
an authorized officer of each of the Sterling Parties to such effect.

          (b)  Performance of Obligations of the Sterling Parties.  The Sterling
Parties shall have performed in all
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              84

material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing, and Parent shall have received a
certificate signed by an authorized officer of each Sterling Party to such
effect.

          (c)  Opinion of Purchaser's Counsel.  Parent shall have received an
opinion dated the Closing Date of Andrews & Kurth, L.L.P., counsel to the
Sterling Parties, to the effect that:

          (i)  Each of the Sterling Parties is a corporation duly organized,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
     Delaware.

         (ii)  Each of the Sterling Parties has the requisite corporate power
     and corporate authority to execute and deliver the Operative Documents to
     which it is a party and to consummate the Transactions.  The execution and
     delivery by each Sterling Party of the Operative Documents to which it is a
     party and the consummation of the Transactions by such Sterling Party have
     been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such
     Sterling Party and will not require the approval of STX's stockholders.
     Each Sterling Party has duly executed and delivered each Operative Document
     to which it is a party and such Operative Document constitutes a legal,
     valid and binding obligation of such Sterling Party enforceable against
     such Sterling Party in accordance with their respective terms subject to
     applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
     transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from
     time to time in effect and to public policy considerations and general
     principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of
     materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) regardless of
     whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

        (iii)  The execution and delivery by each Sterling Party of the
     Operative Documents to which it is a party do not, and the consummation by
     such Sterling Party of the Transactions will not, (A) violate any Federal
     law or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (B) conflict
     with any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
     Purchaser.  Such counsel need not express any opinion, however, as to any
     violation of any law or regulation which may have
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              85

     become applicable to Purchaser as a result of the involvement of any Cytec
     Party in the Transactions because of any Cytec's Party's legal or
     regulatory status or because of any other facts specifically pertaining to
     any Cytec Party.

          (iv)  STX has duly authorized the issuance of the Preferred Stock to
     Parent in accordance with this Agreement.  When so issued, the Preferred
     Stock shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and
     nonassessable.  The issuance of the Preferred Stock to Parent in accordance
     with this Agreement will not conflict with any provision of the Certificate
     of Incorporation or Bylaws of STX.

In rendering such opinion, counsel may rely, to the extent it deems it
appropriate to do so, on certificates of officers or employees of any of the
Sterling Parties and of public officials as to matters of fact and authenticity
of documents, on opinions of counsel in other states as to questions of law of
such states and on opinions of attorneys in STX's in-house law department.  In
addition, counsel may presume that the delivery of the Preferred Stock to Parent
in accordance with the Transactions is exempt from the registration requirements
under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

           (d)  Ancillary Agreements.  Purchaser shall have executed and
delivered the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party.

           (e)  Other Documents.  Purchaser shall have furnished to Parent such
other documents relating to the corporate existence and authority of the
Sterling Parties, including copies of resolutions of the respective boards of
directors of the Sterling Parties, as Parent may reasonably request.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                       Termination, Amendment and Waiver

          SECTION 7.01.  Termination.  (a)  Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              86

may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned at any time prior to the
Closing:

          (i) by mutual written consent of Seller and Purchaser;

         (ii) by Seller if any of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01 or
     6.03 shall have become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been
     waived by Parent, provided that no Cytec Party is in breach in any material
     respects of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
     contained in this Agreement;

        (iii) by Purchaser if any of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01
     or 6.02 shall have become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been
     waived by Purchaser, provided that no Sterling Party is in breach in any
     material respects of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or
     agreements contained in this Agreement;

         (iv) by Purchaser if the Closing has not occurred by the Outside Date,
     unless the failure to do so by such time is due to a breach of any
     representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or a breach of any
     agreement or covenant in this Agreement by, or otherwise on account of
     material delay or default on the part of, any Sterling Party;

          (v) by Seller if the Closing has not occurred by the Outside Date,
     unless the failure to do so by such time is due to a breach of any
     representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or a breach of any
     agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement by, or otherwise on
     account of material delay or default on the part of, any Cytec Party; or

         (vi) by Seller or Purchaser, as provided in Section 5.21.

          (b)  In the event of termination by Seller, on the one hand, or
Purchaser, on the other hand, pursuant to this Section 7.01, written notice
thereof shall forthwith be given to the other party and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be terminated, without further
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              87

action by any party.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section
7.01:

          (i) to the extent provided in the Confidentiality Agreement, Purchaser
     shall return all documents and other material received from the Cytec
     Parties relating to the Transactions, whether so obtained before or after
     the execution hereof, to Parent;

         (ii) all confidential information received by Purchaser with respect
     to the Cytec Parties or the Business shall be treated in accordance with
     the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect
     notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement;

        (iii) to the extent provided in the Confidentiality Agreement, each
     Cytec Party shall return all documents and other material received from the
     Sterling Parties relating to the Transactions, whether so obtained before
     or after the execution hereof, to Purchaser; and

         (iv) all confidential information received by the Cytec Parties with
     respect to the Sterling Parties shall be treated in accordance with the
     Confidentiality Agreement.

          (c)  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 7.01,
this Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force and effect,
except that the provisions of the last sentence of Section 5.02 and the
provisions of Sections 5.03, 5.06, 5.08, 5.21(c) and 7.01 and Articles VIII and
IX shall survive such termination (but, in the case of Article VIII, only to the
extent such Article relates to Sections of this Agreement that survive such
termination).  Nothing in this Section 7.01 shall be deemed to release any party
from any liability for any breach by such party of any of the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.

          SECTION 7.02.  Amendments and Waivers.  This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of Parent and
Purchaser.  By an instrument in writing, Purchaser may (i) extend the time for
the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the Cytec Parties,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the Cytec
Parties contained herein or (iii) waive compliance by any Cytec
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              88

Parties with any term or provision of this Agreement that such Cytec Party was
or is obligated to comply with or perform.  By an instrument in writing, Parent
may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of any Sterling Party, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations
and warranties of any Sterling Party contained herein or (iii) waive compliance
by any Sterling Party with any term or provision of this Agreement that such
Sterling Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform.  Any agreement on
the part of any party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only
if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party by one of
its duly authorized officers.  The failure of any party hereto to assert any of
its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of
such rights.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                Indemnification

          SECTION 8.01.  Indemnification by the Cytec Parties.  (a)  In addition
to their other indemnification obligations contained herein, the Cytec Parties
hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Sterling Parties and their
Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents and
their respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators,
successors and assigns (the "Purchaser Indemnified Persons"), against, and agree
to defend and hold them harmless from and against, any Loss which may be imposed
on, incurred by or asserted against any of Purchaser Indemnified Persons to the
extent such Loss arises out of or results from or in connection with the
following:

          (i) any inaccuracy in or breach by any Cytec Party of any
     representation or warranty contained in this Agreement;

         (ii) any breach by any Cytec Party of any of its covenants or
     agreements contained in this Agreement; or

        (iii) any Excluded Liability, other than any Cytec Escambia Bay
     Liability;

provided, however, that the Cytec Parties shall not have any liability under
this Section 8.01(a) for any Assumed
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              89

Liabilities; and provided, further, that (x) no Cytec Party shall have any
liability for any claim pursuant to Section 8.01(a)(i) above unless the Loss in
respect thereof exceeds $10,000; (y) no Cytec Party shall have any liability
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)(i) above unless and until the aggregate of all
Losses for all claims under Section 8.01(a)(i) above exceeds on a cumulative
basis an amount equal to $1,000,000 and then only to the extent of any such
excess; and (z) the total indemnification to be paid by the Cytec Parties under
Section 8.01(a)(i) shall not in any event exceed $29,000,000.

          (b)  In addition to their other indemnification obligations contained
herein, the Cytec Parties hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify each
Purchaser Indemnified Person against, and agree to defend and hold harmless each
Purchaser Indemnified Person from the following (the following liabilities being
referred to as the "Cytec Escambia Bay Liabilities"):

          (i) to the extent that a notice of claim in respect of each such Loss
     is delivered to the Cytec Parties prior to the fifth anniversary of the
     Closing Date:

               (A) 50% of the amount of the first $5,000,000 of Losses imposed
          on, incurred by or asserted against the Purchaser Indemnified Persons
          arising out of Escambia Bay Liabilities;

               (B) the remaining 50% of the amount of the first $5,000,000 of
          Losses imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Purchaser
          Indemnified Persons arising out of Escambia Bay Liabilities, but only
          to the extent that each such Loss does not occur after any
          environmental survey or assessment, other than the testing of
          wastewater generated from the Santa Rosa Facility, conducted or
          directed by, or at the expense of, any Sterling Party or any of their
          respective Affiliates, unless such survey or assessment is consistent
          with the historical practices of the Cytec Parties regarding surveys
          or assessments in Escambia Bay or required by any Environmental Law or
          Environmental Permit; and

               (C) in the event that the Cytec Parties have fully indemnified
          the Purchaser Indemnified
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              90

          Persons pursuant to clause (A) above and have not been obligated to
          make any indemnity payments pursuant to clause (B) above, the next
          $2,500,000 of Losses in excess of the first $5,000,000 of Losses
          imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Purchaser Indemnified
          Persons arising out of Escambia Bay Liabilities, but only to the
          extent that a notice of claim in respect of each such Loss is
          delivered to the Cytec Parties prior to the fifth anniversary of the
          Closing Date; and

          (ii)  in the event that Purchaser Indemnified Persons have actually
     made payments in excess of $29,000,000 (net of any indemnity payments from
     the Cytec Parties pursuant to this Section 8.01(b) and net of any amounts
     recovered or recoverable under insurance policies upon the use of
     commercially reasonable efforts) in respect of Losses arising out of
     Escambia Bay Liabilities, the amount of all additional Losses arising out
     of Escambia Bay Liabilities that are imposed on, incurred by or asserted
     against any Purchaser Indemnified Person, whether or not the notice of
     claim in respect of any such Loss is delivered to the Cytec Parties prior
     to the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.

           (c)  The Sterling Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and
exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims relating to any breach of
any representation or warranty, or, except as otherwise specifically provided
herein, any failure to perform any covenant (exclusive of indemnification
obligations), contained in this Agreement, the Assumption Agreement or the
General Conveyance, Transfer and Assignment shall be pursuant to the
indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

           (d)  Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII to the contrary,
the Cytec Parties shall not have any liability under this Section 8.01 for any
portion of any Losses resulting from or attributable to (i) any fraud or willful
misconduct of a Purchaser Indemnified Person in connection with the Transactions
or (ii) any gross negligence of a Purchaser Indemnified Person in connection
with the Transactions excluding, however, any gross negligence of such Purchaser
Indemnified Person in making any representation or warranty or in the
preparation of the Disclosures Schedules or Appendices related thereto in
connection with the Transactions.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              91

          SECTION 8.02.  Indemnification by Purchaser, Guarantee of STX
Chemicals.  (a)  In addition to its other indemnification obligations contained
herein, Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify each Cytec Party (excluding,
however, Cyanamid) and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors
and employees and agents and their respective heirs, executors, personal
representatives, administrators, successors and assigns (the "Seller Indemnified
Persons") against, and agrees to defend and hold them harmless from and against
any Loss which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Seller
Indemnified Person to the extent such Loss arises out of, or results from or in
connection with:

          (i) any inaccuracy in or breach by any Sterling Party of any
     representation or warranty contained in this Agreement;

         (ii) any breach by any Sterling Party of any covenant contained in
     this Agreement;

        (iii) the operation of the Business after the Closing Date, including
     in respect of environmental matters; or

         (iv) any Assumed Liability, including any obligation or liability
     included in Section 2.03(a)(v) (other than those matters for which the
     Cytec Parties are responsible pursuant to Section 5.21);

provided, however, that Purchaser shall not have any liability under this
Section 8.02(a) for any Excluded Liabilities; and, provided, further, that (x)
Purchaser shall not have any liability for any claim pursuant to 
Section 8.02(a)(i) above unless the Loss in respect thereof exceeds $10,000, (y)
Purchaser shall not have any liability pursuant to Section 8.02(a)(i) above
unless and until the aggregate of all Losses for all claims pursuant to 
Section 8.02(a)(i) above exceeds on a cumulative basis an amount equal to
$1,000,000 and then only to the extent of such excess; and (z) the total
indemnification to be paid by Purchaser under Section 8.02(a)(i) shall not in
any event exceed $15,000,000. Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII,
other than Section 8.02(b) below, to the contrary, (x) in no event shall any of
the Sterling Parties have any liability under Section 8.02(a)(iv) for any
portion of any Losses resulting from or attributable to a breach by any Cytec
Party of its representations, warranties or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              92

obligations under this Agreement (irrespective of the expiration of any such
representation or warranty), and (y) except to the extent that any Cytec Party
is required to indemnify, hold harmless or defend Cyanamid (other than with
respect to Excluded Liabilities), in no event shall any of the Sterling Parties
be obligated or required to indemnify, hold harmless or defend Cyanamid under
this Section 8.02 with respect to any Loss or any other matter whatsoever, it
being specifically understood and agreed that all direct indemnity obligations
of any Sterling Party contained in the Operative Documents are solely for the
benefit of the Seller Indemnified Persons.

          (b) In addition to its other indemnification obligations contained
herein, Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify each Seller Indemnified Person
against, and agrees to defend and hold them harmless from and against any Loss
that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Seller Indemnified
Person to the extent such Loss arises out of, or results from or in connection
with any Assumed Liability that is the subject of an inaccuracy in or breach of
any representation or warranty made by any Cytec Party in this Agreement;
provided, however, that (x) Purchaser shall not have any liability for claims
pursuant to this Section 8.02(b) in respect of Cytec Knowledge Losses unless and
until the aggregate of all Cytec Knowledge Losses in respect of claims pursuant
to this Section 8.02(b) exceeds on a cumulative basis an amount equal to
$1,000,000, and then only to the extent of such excess, and (y) the total
indemnification to be paid by Purchaser under this Section 8.02(b) shall not in
any event exceed $15,000,000.

          (c)  The Cytec Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and
exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims relating to any breach of
any representation or warranty or, except as otherwise specifically provided
herein, any failure to perform any covenant (exclusive of indemnification
obligations), contained in this Agreement, the Assumption Agreement or the
General Conveyance Transfer and Assignment, shall be pursuant to the
indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

          (d)  Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII to the contrary,
Purchaser and STX Chemicals shall not have any liability under this Section 8.02
for any portion of any Losses resulting from or attributable to (i) any fraud or
willful misconduct of a Seller Indemnified Person in connection with the
Transactions or (ii) any gross
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              93

negligence of a Seller Indemnified Person in connection with the Transactions
excluding, however, any gross negligence of such Seller Indemnified Person in
making any representation or warranty or in the preparation of the Disclosure
Schedules or Appendices related thereto in connection with the Transactions.

          (e)  STX Chemicals hereby guarantees to the Seller Indemnified Parties
the due and punctual payment of all indemnity obligations of Purchaser under
this Section 8.02 (the "Purchaser Indemnity Obligations"); provided, however,
that the aggregate liability of STX Chemicals under this Section 8.02(e) as of
any date shall not exceed the STX Guarantee Cap at such date.  STX Chemicals
waives presentation to, demand of, payment from and protest to any Seller
Indemnified Party of any Purchaser Indemnity Obligations, and also waives notice
of protest for nonpayment.  STX Chemicals further agrees that the guarantee set
forth herein constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection.
Upon payment by STX Chemicals of any sums to any Seller Indemnified Person as
provided herein, all rights of STX Chemicals against Purchaser arising as a
result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects
be subordinate and junior in rights of payment to the prior payment in full of
the Purchaser Indemnity Obligations and any other amounts due and payable from
time to time by Purchaser to any Cytec Party under any Operative Document.  The
"STX Guarantee Cap" shall mean, at any time, the lesser of (i) $15,000,000 minus
the aggregate amount of all Purchaser Indemnity Obligations actually paid by STX
Chemicals as of such date and (ii) $30,000,000 minus the sum of (A) the
aggregate amount of Earn-Out Payments received by the Cytec Parties as of such
date, (B) the aggregate amount of cash dividends paid on the Preferred Stock as
of such date and two-thirds of the liquidation value of all Additional Shares
issued as of such date, (C) the aggregate amount paid by STX for the redemption
of shares of Preferred Stock as of such date, (D) the aggregate amount of all
Purchaser Indemnity Obligations actually paid by Purchaser as of such date and
(E) the aggregate amount of all Purchaser Indemnity Obligations actually paid by
STX Chemicals as of such date.

          SECTION 8.03.  Losses Net of Insurance, etc.  The amount of any Loss
for which indemnification is provided under this Article VIII shall be net of
any amounts recovered or recoverable with the use of commercially
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              94

reasonable efforts by the indemnified party under insurance policies with
respect to such Loss.

          SECTION 8.04.  Termination of Indemnification.  (a)  The obligations
of the Cytec Parties pursuant to Section 8.01(a)(i) shall terminate, in the case
of each representation or warranty of the Cytec Parties contained in this
Agreement, when the applicable representation or warranty terminates pursuant to
Section 9.03, unless notice of a claim shall have been delivered to the Cytec
Parties prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period specified in
Section 9.03 with respect to the applicable representation or warranty, in which
case the obligations of the Cytec Parties pursuant thereto shall not terminate
until such claim is resolved.  The obligations of the Cytec Parties pursuant to
the other clauses of Section 8.01 shall not terminate.

          (b)  The obligations of Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.02(a)(i) shall
terminate, in the case of each representation or warranty of the Sterling
Parties contained in this Agreement, when the applicable representation or
warranty terminates pursuant to Section 9.03 unless notice of a claim shall have
been delivered to the Sterling Parties prior to expiration of the applicable
survival period specified in Section 9.03 with respect to such representation or
warranty, in which case the obligations of Purchaser pursuant to 
Section 8.02(a)(i) with respect to such representation or warranty shall not
terminate until such claim is resolved. The obligations of Purchaser pursuant to
the other clauses of Section 8.02 shall not terminate. The obligations of STX
Chemicals pursuant to Section 8.02(e) with respect to each Purchaser Indemnity
Obligation shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the date on which such
Purchaser Indemnity Obligation terminates pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) and
(ii) the date on which the STX Guarantee Cap is first reduced to zero.

          SECTION 8.05.  Procedure.  (a)  In order for any indemnified party
(the "indemnified party") to be entitled to any indemnification provided for
under this Agreement, such indemnified party shall, within 15 business days
following the actual discovery of the matters giving rise to any Loss, notify
the indemnifying party (the "indemnifying party") in writing of its claim for
indemnification for such Loss, specifying in reasonable detail the nature of
such Loss and the amount of the liability estimated to accrue therefrom;
provided, however, that failure to give such
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              95

notification shall not affect the indemnification provided hereunder except to
the extent the indemnifying party shall have been actually and materially
prejudiced as a result of such failure.  Thereafter, the indemnified party shall
deliver to the indemnifying party, promptly and in any event within ten business
days' after the indemnified party's receipt thereof, all information and
documentation reasonably requested by the indemnifying party with respect to
such Loss.

          (b)  In the event that a Loss arises out of or results from matters in
respect of a claim made by a third party (a "Third Party Claim"), the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such Third
Party Claim and, if it so chooses, to assume the defense of such Third Party
Claim with counsel selected by the indemnifying party; provided, however, that
the indemnifying party shall elect to assume such defense within 10 business
days of receipt of initial notice of such Third Party Claim from the indemnified
party, unless the indemnifying party and the indemnified party would not be
prejudiced in any material respect by the assumption of such claim at a later
date.  Should the indemnifying party so elect to assume the defense of a Third
Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party
for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof.  If the indemnifying party assumes such
defense, the indemnified party shall have the right to participate in the
defense thereof and to employ counsel, at its own expense, separate from the
counsel employed by the indemnifying party, it being understood that the
indemnifying party shall control such defense.  The indemnifying party shall be
liable for the fees and expenses of counsel employed by the indemnified party
for any period during which the indemnifying party has not assumed the defense
thereof.  Whether or not the indemnifying party elects to defend or prosecute a
Third Party Claim, all of the parties hereto shall cooperate in the defense or
prosecution of such Third Party Claim.  Such cooperation shall include the
retention and (upon the request of the party defending or prosecuting such Third
Party Claim) the provision to the defending or prosecuting party of records and
information which are reasonably relevant to such Third Party Claim, and making
employees, officers and directors and agents available on a mutually convenient
basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder.  If the indemnifying party elects to defend or prosecute any Third
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              96

Party Claim, the indemnifying party will not settle, compromise or discharge
such Third Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnified party (such
consent to not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that the
indemnified party shall consent to any settlement, compromise or discharge of
such Third Party Claim which the indemnifying party may recommend and which by
its terms obligates the indemnifying party to pay the full amount of the
liability in connection with such Third Party Claim, provided that (x) such
settlement, compromise or discharge does not impose any form of injunctive
relief applicable to the indemnified party and (y) fully releases the
indemnified party from any further claims with respect to the matters giving
rise to such Third Party Claim.  In the event that the indemnifying party
recommends any such settlement, compromise or discharge of such Third Party
Claim and the indemnified party unreasonably withholds its consent thereto and
the ultimate resolution of such Third Party Claim results in an amount of Losses
in excess of the amount of Losses which would have been payable or suffered
under such settlement, compromise or discharge, the indemnifying party shall not
be obligated to indemnify the indemnifying party to the extent of such excess.

          (c)  If the indemnifying party does not assume the defense of any
Third Party Claim, the indemnified party will have the right to defend, settle,
compromise or discharge such Third Party Claim or consent to the entry of a
judgment with respect to such Third Party Claim, on behalf of and for the
account and risk of the indemnifying party, and the indemnifying party shall
thereafter have no right to challenge the indemnified party's defense,
settlement, compromise, discharge or consent to judgment of such Third Party
Claim, except to the extent such defense, settlement, compromise, discharge or
consent to judgment would impose any form of injunctive relief applicable to the
indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnifying party (such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld) or to the extent that notwithstanding the
foregoing, the indemnified party or the indemnifying party would not be fully
released from further claims with respect to the matters giving rise to such
Third Party Claim.  In the event that the indemnified party recommends any
settlement, compromise or discharge of a Third Party Claim that would impose any
form of injunctive relief applicable to the indemnifying party and the
indemnifying party unreasonably withholds its consent thereto and the ultimate
resolution of such Third Party Claim results in Losses by the indemnified party,
the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              97

indemnifying party shall be obligated to indemnify the indemnified party
therefor.

          SECTION 8.06.  Payment.  Within 30 days after demand therefor, the
indemnifying party shall pay the indemnified party any amount due under this
Article VIII (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and, within 30 days after
demand therefor, shall reimburse each indemnified party for all reasonable
expenses for which the indemnified party is entitled to be indemnified
hereunder.  Upon judgment, determination, discharge, settlement or compromise of
any Third Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall promptly pay on behalf of
the indemnified party, and/or to the indemnified party in reimbursement of any
amount theretofore required to be paid by it, the amount so determined by such
judgment, determination, discharge, settlement or compromise and all other
claims of the indemnified party with respect thereto, unless in the case of a
judgment or determination the indemnifying party intends to appeal such judgment
or determination; provided, however, that if the indemnifying party desires to
appeal from an adverse judgment or determination, then the indemnifying party
shall post and pay the cost of the security or bond to stay execution of the
judgment or determination pending appeal and shall pay the full cost of appeal.
Upon the payment in full by the indemnifying party of all of such amounts, the
indemnifying party shall succeed to the rights of the indemnified party, to the
extent such rights are not waived in settlement, against the third party who
made such Third Party Claim.

          SECTION 8.07.  No Consequential Damages.  Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall (i) the Cytec
Parties be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnified
Persons for any special or consequential damages or (ii) Purchaser or STX
Chemicals be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify the Seller Indemnified
Persons for any special or consequential damages.

          SECTION 8.08.  Effect of Certain Breaches and Inaccuracies.  (a)
Subject to Section 4.01(dd) but notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement
to the contrary, unless a Specified Cytec Representative has actual knowledge of
the applicable breach or inaccuracy, (i) none of the rights or remedies of the
Cytec Parties under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement will be impaired
or adversely affected in any respect by or on account of any
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              98

knowledge by any person that the representations and warranties of any Sterling
Party made in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement are not true, (ii) none
of the Sterling Parties shall be relieved, released or discharged in any respect
of any of their representations, warranties, covenants or indemnities contained
in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement by or on account of any knowledge
by any person that the representations and warranties of any Sterling Party made
in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement are not true and (iii) none of the
Cytec Parties nor any other person shall have or be subject to any liability
resulting from or based on any knowledge by any person that the representations
and warranties of any Sterling Party made in this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement are not true.

          (b)  Subject to Section 4.02(d) but notwithstanding anything else in
this Agreement to the contrary, unless any Specified Sterling Representative has
actual knowledge of the applicable breach or inaccuracy, (i) none of the rights
or remedies of the Sterling Parties under this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement shall be impaired or adversely affected in any respect by or on
account of any knowledge by any person that the representations and warranties
of any Cytec Party made in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement are not
true, (ii) none of the Cytec Parties shall be relieved, released or discharged
in any respect of any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants
or indemnities contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement by or on
account of any knowledge by any person that the representations and warranties
of any Cytec Party made in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement are not
true and (iii) none of the Sterling Parties nor any other person shall have or
be subject to any liability resulting from or based on any knowledge by any
person that the representations and warranties of any Cytec Party made in this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement are not true.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              99

                                  ARTICLE IX

                               General Provisions

          SECTION 9.01.  Notices.  All notices, requests and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent, delivered or
mailed, addressed as follows:

          (a)  if to a Sterling Party, to the applicable Sterling Party:

               c/o Sterling Chemicals Holdings, Inc.
               1200 Smith Street
               Suite 1900
               Houston, Texas 77002
               Attention:  F. Maxwell Evans, General Counsel

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

               Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.
               4200 Texas Commerce Tower
               600 Travis
               Houston, Texas 77002
               Attention:  David G. Elkins, Esq.


          (b)  if to a Cytec Party, to:

               Cytec Industries Inc.
               Five Garret Mountain Plaza
               West Paterson, New Jersey  07424
               Attention:  Secretary

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

               Cravath, Swaine & Moore
               Worldwide Plaza
               825 Eighth Avenue
               New York, NY  10019
               Attention:  John T. Gaffney, Esq.

Each such notice, request or other communication shall be given (i) by hand
delivery, (ii) by certified mail or (iii) by nationally recognized courier
service.  Each such notice, request or communication shall be effective when
delivered at the address specified in this Section 9.01 (or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             100

in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from the receiving party).

          SECTION 9.02.  Headings.  The table of contents and headings contained
in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any
way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

          SECTION 9.03.  Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Cytec Parties
or the Sterling Parties in the Operative Documents shall survive the execution
and delivery of the Operative Documents and the Closing, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any party; provided, however, that:

          (a) the representations and warranties of the Cytec Parties contained
     in the Operative Documents, other than those referred to in clauses (b),
     (c) and (d) below and other than those contained in Section 4.01(dd) (which
     shall survive indefinitely), shall terminate and have no further force or
     effect after the expiration of the one-year period commencing on the
     Closing Date, unless notice of a claim relating thereto shall be delivered
     by a Purchaser Indemnified Person to Parent prior to the expiration of such
     one-year period, in which case such representation or warranty shall
     survive following such period solely with respect to such claim until such
     claim is resolved;

          (b)  the representations and warranties of the Cytec Parties contained
     in Section 4.01(p) which relate to (A) matters in respect of the exposure
     of the Cytec Santa Rosa Employees to acrylonitrile or asbestos, or (B)
     Releases or alleged Releases of Hazardous Substances into Escambia Bay
     shall terminate and have no further force and effect as of the Closing;

          (c) the representations and warranties of the Cytec Parties contained
     in Section 4.01(j) and 4.01(k) shall terminate and have no further force
     and effect after the expiration of the three-year period commencing on the
     Closing Date, unless notice of a claim relating thereto shall be delivered
     by a Purchaser Indemnified Person to Parent prior to the expiration of such
     three-year period, in which case such representation or warranty shall
     survive following
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             101

     such period solely with respect to such claim until such claim is resolved;

          (d) the representations and warranties of the Cytec Parties contained
     in Sections 4.01(s)(ii), 4.01(t), 4.01(u), 4.01(v), 4.01(w)(ii), and
     4.01(cc) shall terminate and have no further force or effect upon the
     expiration of the statute of limitations period applicable thereto, unless
     notice of a claim relating thereto shall be delivered by a Purchaser
     Indemnified Person to Parent prior to the expiration of the applicable
     period, in which case such representations or warranties shall survive
     following such period solely with respect to such claim until such claim is
     resolved; and

          (e) the representations and warranties of the Sterling Parties
     contained in the Operative Documents, other than those contained in
     Sections 4.02(d) (which shall survive indefinitely), shall terminate and
     have no further force or effect after the expiration of the one-year period
     commencing on the Closing Date, unless notice of a claim relating thereto
     shall be delivered by a Seller Indemnified Person to Purchaser prior to the
     expiration of such one-year period, in which case such representation or
     warranty shall survive following such period solely with respect to such
     claim until such claim is resolved.

          SECTION 9.04.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement, or
the application thereof to any person, place or circumstances, shall be held by
a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable, or void, the
remainder of this Agreement and such provisions as applied to other persons,
places, and circumstances shall remain in full force and effect.

          SECTION 9.05.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that
all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

          SECTION 9.06.  Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This
Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Confidentiality Agreement set forth
all of the promises,
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             102

agreements, conditions, understandings, representations and warranties among the
parties with respect to the Transactions and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto and thereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.  Except as specifically
provided in Article VIII with respect to Purchaser Indemnified Persons and
Seller Indemnified Persons, such agreements are not intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties hereto and thereto any rights or remedies
hereunder or thereunder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
the Operative Documents, nothing contained in any Operative Document is intended
to confer any benefit on Cyanamid.

          SECTION 9.07.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
law.

          SECTION 9.08.  Consent to Jurisdiction.  Each of the Sterling Parties
and the Cytec Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware state court and any Federal court located in Delaware for the purposes
of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.  Each of the Sterling Parties and the Cytec
Parties further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document
by U.S. registered mail to such party's respective address set forth in 
Section 9.01 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or
proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to
jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each of
the Sterling Parties and the Cytec Parties irrevocably and unconditionally
waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding
arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any
Delaware state court and any Federal Court located in the State of Delaware and
hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or
claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any
such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Except to the extent
required to enforce any order (including any order for injunctive relief), award
or judgment of or by a Delaware state court or a Federal court located in
Delaware, each of the Sterling Parties and the Cytec Parties agrees not to
pursue any legal action against any party to this Agreement
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             103

in respect of the Transactions or any matter related thereto other than in a
Delaware state court or a Federal court located in Delaware.

          SECTION 9.09.  Publicity.  Neither the Cytec Parties, on the one hand,
nor the Sterling Parties, on the other hand, shall issue or cause the
publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the consent of the other
party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, except to the extent
required for such party to meet the requirements or regulations of any
applicable Governmental Rule or stock exchange on which the securities of such
party may be listed, in which case such party shall notify the other party and
give such other party opportunity to comment.

          SECTION 9.10.  Assignment.  Except for the assignment for collateral
purposes of this Agreement to secure indebtedness of Purchaser or its Affiliates
and except as permitted below, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties and any attempt to
do so shall be null and void.  The rights of any assignee contemplated by the
foregoing sentence shall be subject in all respects to any defense, set-off,
counterclaim or similar right against the assignor by the non-assigning party
hereto (including any defense, set-off, counterclaim or other right arising
after such assignment is made) and any assignee shall have no greater rights
than those of the assignor.  Any assignment by any of the parties hereto
pursuant to the preceding sentences shall not relieve such party of any of its
obligations under this Agreement or the other Operative Documents to which it is
a party.  Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding
upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.  Each party shall require any
successor, other than a successor by operation of law, to all or substantially
all of the business and/or assets of such party to expressly and unconditionally
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that such party would be required to perform it if no succession had
taken place.

          SECTION 9.11.  Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment, modification,
restatement or supplement of this
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             104

Agreement shall be valid unless the same is in writing and signed by the parties
hereto.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless in
writing and signed by the party against whom that waiver is sought to be
enforced.  No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder and no course of dealing between or among
any of the parties hereto shall operate as a waiver of any right, power or
privilege hereunder.  No single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.  No notice to or
demand on any party in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further
notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the
rights of any party to any other or further action in any circumstances without
notice or demand.

          SECTION 9.12.  Remedies.  The parties agree that the obligations
contained in this Agreement relate to special, unique and extraordinary matters
and that a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof would cause
irreparable injury in an amount which would be impossible to estimate or
determine and for which any remedy at law would be inadequate.  As such, the
parties agree that if any party fails or refuses to fulfill any of its
obligations under this Agreement or to make any payment or deliver any
instrument required hereunder or thereunder, then the other parties shall have
the remedy of specific performance, which remedy shall be cumulative and
nonexclusive and shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies otherwise
available under any other Contract or at law or in equity and to which such
parties might be entitled.

          SECTION 9.13.  Prevailing Party Costs.  Notwithstanding anything
contained herein or in any Ancillary Agreement to the contrary, if any party
commences an action against any other party to enforce any of the terms,
covenants, conditions or provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement
or because of a breach by a party of its obligations under this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, the prevailing party in any such action shall be entitled
to recover its Losses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred in
connection with the prosecution or defense of such action, from the losing
party.

          SECTION 9.14.  No Liability of Natural Persons.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             105

Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, no person who is a former, present or
future officer, director, employee, stockholder or agent of any Cytec Party or
any Sterling Party, and no other natural person shall have any liability under
this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             106

provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 9.14 shall release any
person from liability for such person's fraud, bad faith or wilful misconduct.
This Section 9.14 shall not be deemed to release or limit any claim that a Cytec
Party shall have against any person who is an officer, director or employee of
any Cytec Party or any of its Affiliates prior to or after the Closing Date.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sterling Parties and each of the Cytec Parties
have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto
duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.


                              STERLING FIBERS, INC.

                                 by  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                     ----------------------------
                                     Name:
                                     Title:


                              STERLING CHEMICALS, INC.,

                                 by  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                     ---------------------------- 
                                     Name:
                                     Title:


                              STERLING CHEMICALS HOLDINGS, INC.,

                                 by  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                     ----------------------------
                                     Name:
                                     Title:


                              CYTEC ACRYLIC FIBERS INC.,

                                 by  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                     ---------------------------- 
                                     Name:
                                     Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                             107

                                        CYTEC TECHNOLOGY CORP.,

                                          by  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE] 
                                              ---------------------------- 
                                              Name:
                                              Title:


                                        CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC.,

                                          by  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                              ----------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title: