<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                           ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT



                                     among


                          OPTA FOOD INGREDIENTS, INC.

                           STABILIZED PRODUCTS, INC.


                                      and


                              THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
                           STABILIZED PRODUCTS, INC.



                                 June 16, 1999
<PAGE>

                           ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                           ------------------------


     This Asset Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into this 16th
day of June, 1999, by and among Opta Food Ingredients, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Buyer"), Stabilized Products, Inc., a Missouri corporation
(the "Company"), and Gerald W. Smith, and Helen A. Smith, each individually and
as Trustees ("Trustees") of the Gerald W. Smith and Helen A. Smith Loving Trust
established under a Declaration of Trust dated _________, 19__, (the "Trust"),
Jacqueline K. Smith and Stephenia A. Smith (collectively, the "Stockholders" and
together with the Company, the "Sellers").

     WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of manufacturing,
distributing, developing, marketing and selling certain proprietary stabilizer
blends for the dairy industry (the "Business");

     WHEREAS, the Stockholders own all of the outstanding capital stock (or
securities or rights convertible into capital stock) of the Company; and

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to
purchase from the Company, the Business on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
and covenants hereinafter set forth and for good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Buyer and Sellers
hereby agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I
                                   ---------

                               PURCHASE AND SALE
                               -----------------

     SECTION 1.01  Transfer of Assets.  On the terms and subject to the
                   ------------------
conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell, convey, transfer,
assign and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase from the Company, on
the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) all of the assets, properties,
goodwill and businesses owned by the Company or in which the Company has any
right or interest of every type and description, real, personal and mixed,
tangible or intangible, wherever situated, as the same shall exist at the close
of business on the Closing Date, other than the Excluded Assets (the assets
being sold, conveyed, transferred, assigned and delivered hereunder are
collectively referred to as the "Assets") including, without limitation, the
following:

     (a)  The Business as a going concern and the goodwill related thereto;

     (b) All technology (patented and unpatented), know-how, technical
information and other intellectual property rights owned or licensed by the
Company and currently used or intended for use in connection with the Assets, as
further described in Schedule 1.01(b) hereto;
                     ----------------

     (c) All furniture, fixtures, furnishings, equipment, machinery, tools,
vehicles, leasehold improvements and other tangible personal property owned by
the Company or otherwise used in the Business, including, without limitation,
those items listed on Schedule 1.01(c) hereto;
                      ----------------

     (d)  All right and interest in and to any contract, license, sublicense,
agreement or commitment relating to the Assets and the Business, including,
without limitation, pricing agreements, security deposits, leases of furniture,
supplies, vehicles, equipment and other tangible
<PAGE>

personal property, and contracts and orders for the purchase or sale of
materials, supplies or services and all rights under manufacturers' and vendors'
warranties;

     (e)  Except for the Excluded Assets and with respect to the Excluded
Liabilities, all Claims, causes of action, chose in action, rights of recovery
and rights of set-off of any kind to the extent transferable (including rights
to insurance proceeds and rights under and pursuant to all warranties,
representations and guarantees made by suppliers of products, materials or
equipment, or components thereof), pertaining to, arising out of, and inuring to
the benefit of the Company;

     (f)  All prepaid items including, without limitation, insurance,
advertising and business licenses, all as listed on Schedule 1.01(f) hereto;
                                                    ----------------

     (g)  All of the Company's inventory of work in process, samples, finished
goods, raw materials, parts and supplies with respect to the Business (the
"Purchased Inventory");

     (h)  All notes receivable, accounts receivable and other receivables;

     (i)  All licenses, consents, permits, orders and approvals issued by any
governmental or regulatory authority which are held or used by the Company in
connection with the Business to the extent transferable;

     (j)  All rights, title and interest of the Company in, to and under the
Proprietary Rights (as defined in Section 2.22 below), including, but not
limited to, the tradename "Stabilized Products", and all goodwill associated
therewith;

     (k)  All cash, cash equivalents and bank accounts owned by the Company at
the Closing Date;

     (l)  All books of account, general, financial, tax and personnel records,
invoices, shipping records, supplier lists, specifications for equipment and raw
materials, technical reports, manufacturing process sheets, test procedures,
service procedures and all other business documents, records, files and
correspondence and all computer software and programs to the extent transferable
and any rights thereto owned, associated with or employed by the Company or used
in, or relating to, the Business.

     (m)  All sales and promotional literature, customer lists and other sales-
related materials owned, used, associated with or employed by the Business; and

     (n)  all the Company's right, title and interest on the Closing Date in, to
and under all other assets, rights and claims of every kind and nature, to the
extent transferable, used or intended to be used in the operation of, or
residing with, the Business.

     At Closing, the Assets shall be conveyed to the Buyer free and clear of all
claims, charges, liens, contracts, rights, options, security interests,
mortgages, encumbrances and restrictions whatsoever (collectively, "Claims") or
encumbrances pursuant to a Bill of Sale in the form of Exhibit 1.01 attached
                                                       ------------
hereto and other instruments of transfer reasonably requested by the Buyer.

     SECTION 1.02  Excluded Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Assets
                   ---------------
shall not include (the "Excluded Assets"): (i) the motor vehicle owned by the
Company listed on Schedule 1.02, (ii) subject to Section 5.12 hereof, the real
                  -------- ----
property located at 1832 West Square Drive, High Ridge, Missouri and (iii) those
items of personal property owned by the Sellers described on Schedule 1.02.
                                                             -------------

                                       2
<PAGE>

     SECTION 1.03  Assumption of Liabilities.
                   -------------------------

     (a)  The only obligations and liabilities to be assumed by the Buyer in
connection with its acquisition of the Assets (the "Assumed Liabilities") are
(i) the obligations of the Company under contracts specifically listed on
Schedule 1.03(a)(i) on account of the operation of the Business after the
-------------------
Closing Date (provided such contracts are not in default and are fully and
effectively assigned in writing by the Company and the other party thereto, if
necessary, to the Buyer and are delivered to the Buyer on the Closing Date), and
(ii) the purchase orders of the Company in existence on the Closing Date and
which arise in the ordinary course of the Company's Business, the amount of such
purchase orders, which were estimated in good faith by the Company, are not
expected to exceed, for any particular month, the amounts set forth in Schedule
                                                                       --------
1.03(a)(ii).
-----------

     (b)  The Buyer shall not assume or be responsible for any Excluded
Liability and the Sellers shall provide to the Buyer evidence satisfactory to
the Buyer of the payment and discharge of all Excluded Liabilities prior to the
Closing. "Excluded Liability" means any liability or obligation of any of the
Sellers with respect to the Business or the Assets whatsoever, except for the
Assumed Liabilities and those liabilities incurred by the Buyer in connection
with the operation of the Business after the Closing Date, whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise, whether due or to become due, whether
existing as of the date hereof or arising out of any act or omission occurring
on or before the Closing Date and whether or not disclosed on any Schedule or
Exhibit hereto, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following:

          (i)    all Taxes (as defined in Section 2.09) imposed on or with
     respect to income now or hereafter owed by the Company or any of the
     Stockholders of the Company or attributable to the Business or the Assets,
     relating to any period, or any portion of any period, ending on or prior to
     the Closing Date;

          (ii)   all liabilities relating to or arising out of the Excluded
     Assets;

          (iii)  all liabilities and obligations relating to employees of the
     Company and any employee benefit, pension, profit sharing plans and other
     employee matters prior to the Closing Date;

          (iv)   all liabilities and obligations relating to or arising out of
     any bank indebtedness;

          (v)    all liabilities for any breach or alleged breach of any
     federal, state or other environmental law, rule or regulation relating to
     or arising from the ownership and operation of the Assets and Business
     prior to the Closing Date;

          (vi)   breaches or defaults or events that occurred or products sold
     or services provided (including, without limitation, any product liability
     or claim for injury) by or on behalf of the Company prior to the Closing
     Date; and

          (vii)  all other liabilities or obligations of the Company, contingent
     or otherwise, which arise or are asserted by operation of law or otherwise
     (including, without limitation, which may be sought to be imposed on the
     Buyer as successor to any part of the Company's Business) relating to or
     arising out of the operation or conduct of the Business or ownership of the
     Assets prior to the Closing Date, including, without limitation, all
     accounts payable.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     SECTION 1.04  Purchase Price; Allocation of Purchase Price.
                   --------------------------------------------

     (a)  In consideration of the transfer, conveyance and assignment by the
Company to the Buyer of the Assets to be sold and the execution of the
additional related agreements specified in this Agreement, Buyer agrees to pay
to the Company an aggregate purchase price (the "Purchase Price") of Two Million
Four Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($2,475,000.00).

     (b)  The Purchase Price shall be paid to the Company at the Closing in
cash, provided, however, that One Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars
($125,000) of the Purchase Price (the "Escrowed Cash") will be delivered to
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent"), to be held in
escrow for a period of one (1) year to reimburse the Buyer for any amounts owed
to the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, pursuant
to Article VII herein, pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement to be
entered into among the Escrow Agent, the Buyer and the Sellers in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 1.04(b) (the "Escrow Agreement").
                   ---------------

     (c)  The Purchase Price and other relevant items shall be allocated among
the Assets in accordance with Exhibit 1.04(c) and otherwise in such manner as
                              ---------------
the Buyer and the Sellers shall agree as soon as practicable. For all tax
purposes, the Buyer and the Sellers agree to report the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement in a manner consistent with the terms of this
Agreement, including the allocation under Exhibit 1.04(c), and agree
                                          ---------------
that none of them will take any position inconsistent therewith in any tax
return, in any refund claim, in any litigation, or otherwise.

     SECTION 1.05  Post-Closing Adjustments.  The Purchase Price shall be
                   ------------------------
subject to adjustment as follows:

     (a)  The Purchase Price shall be adjusted based on the change in Working
Capital (as defined below) from April 30, 1999 to the Closing Date (the "Working
Capital Adjustment").  If the Working Capital Adjustment is negative, then the
cash portion of the Purchase Price shall be reduced by the full amount of the
Working Capital Adjustment.  If the Working Capital Adjustment is positive, then
the cash portion of the Purchase Price payable at Closing shall be increased by
the full amount of the Preliminary Working Capital Adjustment.

     (b)  No less then three (3) nor more than ten (10) business days prior to
the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to the Buyer an unaudited schedule
showing the calculation of Working Capital as of the latest practicable date.
The "Preliminary Working Capital Adjustment" shall be an amount equal to the
difference between (i) the Working Capital set forth on such schedule and (ii)
$808,000, the Working Capital as of April 30, 1999.  If the Preliminary Working
Capital Adjustment is negative, then the cash portion of the Purchase Price
payable at Closing shall be reduced by the full amount of the Preliminary
Working Capital Adjustment.  If the Working Capital Adjustment is positive, then
the cash portion of the Purchase Price shall be increased by the full amount of
the Working Capital Adjustment.

     (c)  The "Final Working Capital Adjustment" shall be an amount equal to the
difference between (i) the Working Capital as of the Closing Date, and (ii)
$808,000, the Working Capital as of April 30, 1999.  As promptly as possible,
but in any event within sixty (60) days after the Closing Date, the Buyer will
deliver to the Company a schedule setting forth the calculation of the Final
Working Capital Adjustment (the "Adjustment Schedule").  The Company shall have
the right to observe and comment upon the preparation of such schedule,
including the taking of a physical inventory, which shall take place at the
Buyer's expense on the Closing Date.  Within thirty (30) days after delivery of
the Adjustment Schedule, the Company

                                       4
<PAGE>

may notify the Buyer in writing that such schedule does not, in its opinion,
fairly state the Final Working Capital Adjustment in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, setting forth in full the respects in which it
fails to do so and the reasons for reaching that conclusion. In the event that
the Company and the Buyer are unable to resolve any dispute so raised within
thirty (30) days after delivery of the Adjustment Schedule, they shall appoint a
"big five" accounting firm acceptable to both of them, whose expenses will be
shared equally by the Company and the Buyer. The accounting firm shall as
promptly as possible determine whether the Adjustment Schedule fairly states, in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the values of the items as to
which the Buyer has taken issue and, if the accounting firm concludes that it
does not do so with respect to any of such items, the value which in such firm's
opinion does so. The determination of the Final Working Capital Adjustment by
such accounting firm shall be conclusive and binding on the parties hereto.

     (d)  Within five (5) days after delivery of the report by such firm or the
settlement of any dispute, or within ten (10) days following delivery of the
Adjustment Schedule if no dispute exists, payment shall be made by the Company
or the Buyer of the amount necessary to reflect the difference between the
amount which would have been payable at Closing pursuant to the Final Working
Capital Adjustment and the amount which was actually paid at Closing pursuant to
the Preliminary Working Capital Adjustment.

     (e)  For purposes of calculating the Working Capital Adjustments, the term
"Working Capital" shall mean, as of any date, the Company's current assets as of
such date, all calculated in accordance with tax basis accounting, with
inventory being valued at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-
out method ("FIFO"), or market.

     SECTION 1.06  Closing.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
                   -------
this Agreement, the sale, transfer, conveyance and assignment of the Assets
contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at a closing (the "Closing") to
be held at the offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., One
Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts at 10:00 A.M. Boston time on June 30,
1999, or at such other place or at such other time or on such other date as the
Sellers and the Buyer may mutually agree upon in writing (the day on which the
Closing takes place being the "Closing Date").

     At the Closing:

     (a)  The Sellers shall deliver to the Buyer or cause to be delivered to the
Buyer the following:

          (i)    The Escrow Agreement;

          (ii)   A Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement between the Buyer and
                 Gerald Smith, in accordance with Section 5.13 (the "Consulting
                 Agreement");

          (iii)  The Noncompetition Agreements between each of the Sellers and
                 the Buyer in accordance with Section 5.10 (the "Noncompetition
                 Agreements");

          (iv)   An opinion of Seulthaus & Walsh, P.C., counsel to the Sellers,
                 in accordance with Section 5.05;

          (v)    The certificates, consents, approvals, waivers and other
                 documents and instruments required by Article V herein;

          (vi)   The Lease in accordance with Section 5.12;

                                       5
<PAGE>

          (vii)  The Bill of Sale in accordance with Section 1.01 and such other
                 instruments of transfer and assignment as are reasonably
                 necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby,
                 in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer;

          (viii) The Tradename and Trademark Transfer Agreement and the Patent
                 Transfer Agreement in accordance with Section 5.09; and

          (ix)   All such keys, locks, safe combinations and other similar items
                 as Buyer requires to obtain full occupation and control of the
                 Assets and the Business.

     (b)  Simultaneously with the execution hereof, the Buyer shall deliver or
cause to be delivered to the Sellers:

          (i)    The Escrow Agreement;

          (ii)   The Purchase Price (less the amount of the Escrowed Cash) shall
                 be paid by the Buyer to the Company by wire transfer in
                 accordance with wire transfer instructions provided by the
                 Company to the Buyer at least two (2) Business Days prior to
                 the Closing Date;

          (iii)  The Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement;

          (v)    The Noncompetition Agreements;

          (vi)   The certificates and other documents and instruments required
                 by Article VI hereto;

          (vii)  The Lease;

          (viii) The Tradename and Trademark Transfer Agreement;

          (ix)   The Patent Transfer Agreement; and

          (x)    An opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo,
                 P.C., counsel to the Buyer, in accordance with Section 6.06.

     SECTION 1.07  Further Assurances.  At any time and from time to time
                   ------------------
after the date hereof and/or after the Closing Date, each of the parties hereto,
at the request of any other party hereto and without further consideration, will
execute and deliver such other instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance,
assignment, confirmation and other instruments as may be reasonably requested in
order to more effectively transfer, convey and assign to the Buyer and to
confirm the Buyer's title to the Assets and to effectuate the transactions
contemplated herein.


                                  ARTICLE II
                                  ----------

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
                 ---------------------------------------------

     As an inducement to the Buyer to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Sellers hereby jointly and
severally represent and warrant to the Buyer as follows:

                                       6
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.01  Organization and Qualification.  The Company is a corporation
                   ------------------------------
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Missouri.  The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and
is in good standing in the states listed Schedule 2.01 and the Company is not
                                         -------------
required to be licensed or qualified to transact business as a foreign
corporation in any other jurisdiction.  There are no corporations, partnerships
or other entities in which the Company owns, of record or beneficially, any
direct or indirect equity or other interest or any right (contingent or
otherwise) to acquire the same.  The Company is not a member in any partnership.

     SECTION 2.02  Power and Authority.  The Company has all of the necessary
                   -------------------
corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets
now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on the Business as it has been
conducted and as it is proposed to be conducted.  The Company has not taken any
action that in any respect conflicts with, constitutes a default under or
results in a violation of any provision of its Certificate and Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws.  True and correct copies of the Certificate and
Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, each as in effect on the
date hereof, have been delivered to the Buyer.  The Company has the corporate
power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other
documents and instruments contemplated hereby.  The Trustees, on behalf of the
Trust, have all requisite right, power and authority and full legal capacity to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and the other documents and
instruments contemplated hereby.  The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized and
approved by the Company and the Trustees of the Trust.  This Agreement, and each
of the other agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered
by the Sellers have been duly executed and delivered by, and constitute the
legal, valid and binding obligation of, the Sellers enforceable against the
Sellers, as the case may be, in accordance with their terms.

     SECTION 2.03  No Conflict.  Neither the execution and delivery of this
                   ------------
Agreement and the other documents and instruments contemplated hereby by the
Sellers, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
nor the performance of this Agreement and such other agreements in compliance
with the terms and conditions hereof and thereof will (i) violate, conflict with
or result in any breach of any of the Company's Articles and Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, or By-Laws, as amended or the Declaration of Trust of
the Trust or any judgment, decree, order, statute or regulation applicable to
the Sellers, (ii) require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or
filing with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory authority, (iii)
violate, conflict with or result in a breach, default or termination or give
rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of the maturity
of any payment date of any of the obligations of the Sellers or increase or
otherwise affect the obligations of the Sellers under any law, rule, regulation
or any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit, license or order or any of
the terms, conditions or provisions of any mortgage, indenture, note, license,
agreement or other instrument or obligation related to the Sellers or to the
Sellers' ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, except for
such defaults (or rights of termination, cancellation or acceleration) as to
which requisite waivers or consents have been obtained in writing and provided
to the Buyer, (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to the Sellers or (v) to the best of the Seller's
knowledge, result in the creation of any Claim upon any of the Assets.

     SECTION 2.04  Financial Statements.  Attached hereto as Schedule 2.04 are
                   --------------------                      -------------
the compiled financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements,
cash flow statement and related notes thereto, of the Company for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997, and the internally prepared
balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement for the four-month
period ended April 30, 1999 (collectively, the "Statements"). The Statements
have been prepared in accordance with tax basis accounting consistently applied
and were prepared from the books and records of the Company, which books and
records are complete and correct in all material respects and accurately reflect
all transactions of the Business. The Statements fairly and

                                       7
<PAGE>

accurately present the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods ended on the
dates thereof. The Statements reflect reserves appropriate and adequate for all
liabilities and anticipated losses as required by tax basis accounting. Since
the date of the Statements, (a) there has been no change in the assets,
liabilities or financial condition of the assets of the Company from that
reflected in the Statements except for changes in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice and which have not been materially
adverse and (b) none of the business, prospects, financial condition,
operations, property or affairs of the Company has been materially adversely
affected by any occurrence or development, individually or in the aggregate,
whether or not insured against.

     SECTION 2.05  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except as and to the
                   ----------------------------------
extent of the amounts specifically reflected or reserved against in the
Statements, the Company has no liabilities or obligations of any nature
whatsoever, due or to become due, accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise,
except for liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice. The Sellers do not know of, and have
no reason to know of, any basis for the assertion against the Company of any
liability or obligation not fully reflected or reserved against in the
Statements or incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice since the date thereof.

     SECTION 2.06  Absence of Adverse Change; Conduct of Business.  Since
                   ----------------------------------------------
December 31, 1998, the Company has carried on the Business only in the ordinary
course and consistent with past practices and there has been no material adverse
change in the Business and there is no condition or development or contingency
of any kind existing or in prospect which, so far as reasonably can be foreseen
by any of the Sellers, may result in any such material adverse change. Without
limiting the foregoing, except as disclosed on Schedule 2.06, since December 31,
                                               -------------
1998, there has not been, occurred or arisen:

     (a)  Any damage, destruction or loss to any of the assets of the Company
          (whether tangible or intangible and whether or not covered by
          insurance) that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a
          material adverse effect on the business or prospects of the Business;

     (b)  Any change in the business or operations of the Business including,
          without limitation, practices and policies relating to manufacturing,
          purchasing, inventories, marketing, selling and pricing; or in the
          manner of conducting the Business or sale or other disposition of any
          right, title or interest in or to any assets or properties used in the
          Business or any revenues derived therefrom other than in the ordinary
          course of business;

     (c)  Any general increase in any compensation or benefits payable to any
          class or group of employees of the Company other than normal merit
          increases or any increase in the compensation payable or to become
          payable to any employees whose total compensation after such increase
          would exceed $25,000 per annum (each, a "Key Employee") or any bonus,
          service, pension, award, percentage compensation or other benefit
          paid, granted or accrued to or for the benefit of any Key Employee;

     (d)  Any material adverse change in the working capital, financial
          condition, assets, liabilities, business, operations or prospects of
          the Company or any capital expenditures or binding commitments in
          excess of $10,000 in any instance;

     (e)  Any loan, advance, agreement, arrangement or transaction between the
          Company and any officers, employees or stockholders of the Company or
          its or their Affiliates, or any business or entity in which the
          Company, its Affiliates, officer or employee of either has any direct
          or indirect interest, except for compensation at

                                       8
<PAGE>

          rates not exceeding the rates of compensation in effect as of December
          31, 1998, and advances made to employees of the Business for ordinary
          and customary business expenses in reasonable amounts in the ordinary
          course of the Business consistent with past practice.

     (f)  Any sale, assignment or transfer of any of the assets used by the
          Company except in  a bona fide transaction to an unaffiliated party
          for fair value and in the ordinary course of business consistent with
          past practice, or cancellation of any material debt or material Claim
          owing to or owed by the Company;

     (g)  Any sale, assignment, transfer or grant of any license or sublicense
          with respect to any trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright,
          trade secret or other intangible asset used or useful in the Business;

     (h)  Any loans or guaranteed any obligations of any person or entity,
          including any employees, officers or stockholders of the Company or
          its or their Affiliates;

     (i)  The creation or sufferance to exist of any Claims on properties or
          assets (whether tangible or intangible) of the Company;

     (j)  Any institution, settlement or agreement to settle any litigation,
          action or proceeding before any person, entity or Governmental
          Authority;

     (k)  The making of any distributions or payment of any dividends (whether
          in cash or other property) to the Company's stockholders with respect
          to their Shares;

     (l)  Any material transaction except in the ordinary course of business;

     (m)  Any amendment or modification of, or waiver of any claim or right of
          substantial value under, any material contract, agreement, franchise,
          permit, or license;

     (n)  Any writing up or writing down (or failure to write up or write down
          on a basis consistent with past practices of the Company) the value of
          any Inventories or Receivables or revalued assets of the Company other
          than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices
          of the Company;

     (o)  Any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or
          policy used by the Company;

     (p)  Any agreement to incur, assume or become subject to, any liabilities
          or obligations for returns or allowances, other than in the ordinary
          and usual course of business and consistent in nature of item and
          amount with past practice, or increased, or experienced any change in
          any assumption underlying, or methods of calculating, any bad debt,
          contingency or other reserve;

     (q)  Any agreement to pay, discharge or satisfy, any payment, discharge or
          satisfaction of any material claim, liability or obligation (absolute,
          accrued, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge
          or satisfaction of liabilities and obligations reflected or reserved
          against in the Statements or incurred in the ordinary and usual course
          of business consistent with past practices;

     (r)  Any prepayment of any obligation having a fixed maturity of more than
          90 days from the date such obligation was issued or incurred, or not
          paid, when due, any account payable, or sought the extension of the
          payment date of any account

                                       9
<PAGE>

          payable, other than any account payable which was (until paid) or is
          being contested in good faith; or

     (s)  Any written or oral binding commitment (contingent or otherwise) to do
          any of the foregoing.

     SECTION 2.07  Inventories.  All of the Company's inventory reflected in the
                   -----------
Statements or thereafter acquired (and not subsequently sold in the ordinary
course of business) consist of items of quality and quantity usable or
merchantable in the ordinary course of the Company's Business as first quality
goods at prices at least equal to the amounts reflected in the Statements or,
with respect to after-acquired inventory, at least equal to the cost thereof
plus markups consistent with past practice.  Each item of such inventory is
valued in the Statements at the lower of cost or market in accordance with tax
basis accounting and historic inventory practices of the Company.  No item of
Purchased Inventory is, or at the Closing Date, will be, obsolete or damaged and
all items of Purchased Inventory now in existence and thereafter acquired are
expected to be used in the ordinary course of the Business within a period of
three months from the date hereof  The current level of inventories and supplies
are at normal and adequate levels for the continuation of the Business in the
ordinary course and consistent with the Company's past practices.  The
inventories do not and will not consist of any goods held on consignment.  The
Company is not under any obligation or liability with respect to accepting
returns of items of inventory or merchandise in the possession of its customers
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and
the policies of the Company.  The Company has not committed and will not commit
to acquire inventory for sale which is not of a quality and quantity usable in
the ordinary course of the Business within a reasonable period of time
consistent with past practice, nor has the Company changed or will change the
price of any inventory except for (i) price reductions to reflect any reduction
in the cost thereof to the Company, (ii) reductions and increases responsive to
normal competitive conditions and consistent with the Company's past sale
practices, and (iii) increases to reflect any increase in the cost thereof to
the Company.

     SECTION 2.08  Receivables.  All receivables (whether notes, accounts or
                   -----------
otherwise) which are presently outstanding or will be outstanding as of the
Closing Date of the Company (a) have arisen only from bona fide transactions in
the ordinary course of business with persons which are not Affiliates of any of
the Sellers, (b) represent valid obligations consistent with the Company's
normal credit terms, (c) except to the extent reserved against on the Statements
shall be fully collectable in the aggregate face amounts thereof in the ordinary
and usual course of business in accordance with past practices (d) are owned by
the Company, (e) have not been extended, rolled over, or otherwise modified with
the effect of making them current and (f) will be transferred to Buyer free of
all Claims.  No discount or allowance from any receivable has been made or
agreed to and none represents billings prior to actual sale of goods or
provision of services.

     For the purposes of this Agreement, an "Affiliate" of a specified person is
                                             ---------
a person that (i) directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the person specified,
or (ii) is a member of the immediate family of any such specified person, or
(iii) is a legal representative or trustee of any such specified persons, or
(iv) is an entity of which a majority of the voting interests is owned by any
specified person or its affiliate, or (v) is an officer, director, trustee,
employee, stockholder (10% or more), member or partner of any entity or person
referred to in the preceding clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv).

                                       10
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.09  Taxes.  All federal, state, local and foreign tax returns and
                   -----
tax reports required to be filed by the Company on or before the date hereof
have been timely filed with the appropriate governmental agencies in all
jurisdictions in which such returns and reports are required to be filed and all
amounts shown as owing thereon have been paid.  All taxes including, without
limitation, income, accumulated earnings, property, sales, use, franchise, value
added, fuel, employees' income withholding and social security taxes ("Taxes"),
(i) which have become due or payable and all interest and penalties thereon,
whether disputed or not, have been paid in full and (ii) which are required to
be collected or withheld by the Company have been so collected or withheld.  All
deposits required by law to be made by the Company with respect to employees'
withholding taxes have been duly made.  The Company is not on the date hereof
liable for the payment of any taxes except for such taxes which have accrued but
are not yet due and the Buyer shall have no liability for any taxes related to
the ownership or operation of the Assets or the Company's Business prior to the
date hereof.  The Company has delivered to the Buyer true and complete copies of
its federal and state income tax returns for the three prior fiscal periods and
all reports and results of federal and state income tax audits, if any, related
thereto.  To the best of the Sellers' knowledge, the Company has not taken or
failed to take any action which could create any tax lien on any of the Assets.
Except as so reflected and provided for, no tax liabilities, disallowances, or
assessments have been assessed or proposed which remain unpaid and, to the best
knowledge of the Sellers, no fact or state of facts exists or has existed which
would constitute the grounds for the assessment of any tax liability other than
so reflected and provided for.  Except as set forth in Schedule 2.09, no
                                                       -------------
examinations of the Federal, state or other tax returns, forms or information of
the Company are currently in progress or, to the best knowledge of the Sellers,
are threatened.  The Company has not given any waiver of extension of any period
of limitation governing the time of assessment or collection of any Tax for any
year which is still open for assessment or remains in effect.

     SECTION 2.10  Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule 2.10, there has
                   ----------                          -------------
not been in the five (5) years prior to the date hereof and there is not
currently any (a) action, suit, claim, proceeding or investigation pending or,
to the Sellers' knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company (whether
or not the Company is a party or prospective party thereto), at law or in
equity, or before or by any Federal, state, municipal or other governmental
department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or
foreign, (b) arbitration proceeding relating to the Company or (c) governmental
inquiry pending or to the best of the Sellers' knowledge, threatened against or
involving the Company, and to the best of the Sellers' knowledge, there is no
basis for any of the foregoing. There are no outstanding orders, writs,
judgments, injunctions or decrees of any court, governmental agency or
arbitration tribunal against, involving or affecting the Sellers, and there are
no facts or circumstances which may result in institution of any action, suit,
claim or legal, administrative or arbitration proceeding or investigation
against, involving or affecting the Sellers or the transactions contemplated
hereby. The Company is not in default with respect to any order, writ,
injunction or decree known to or served upon them from any court or of any
Federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board,
bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign. There is no action or
suit by the Company pending or threatened against others and there is no basis
for any of the foregoing.

     SECTION 2.11  Certain Practices.  Neither the Company nor the Stockholders
                   -----------------
nor any of the officers, directors or employees of the Company has, directly or
indirectly, given or agreed to give any significant rebate, gift or similar
benefit to any supplier, customer, governmental employee or other person who
was, is or may be in a position to help or hinder the Company (or assist in
connection with any actual or proposed transaction) which (i) could subject the
Company or the Buyer to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or
governmental litigation or proceeding, or (ii) if not continued in the future,
could have an adverse effect on the Business.

                                       11
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.12  Compliance with Law.  The Company is not subject to any
                   -------------------
judgment, order, writ, injunction, or decree that adversely affects,
individually or in the aggregate, its businesses, operations, properties, assets
or condition (financial or otherwise). The Company has complied with and is not
in default under, any federal, state, local or foreign laws (whether statutory
or otherwise), ordinances, legal requirements, rules, regulations and orders
applicable to it, its operations, properties, assets, products and services.  To
the best knowledge and belief of the Sellers, there is no existing law, rule,
regulation or order, and the Sellers are not aware of any proposed law, rule,
regulation or order, whether federal, state, local or foreign which would
prohibit or materially restrict Buyer from, or otherwise materially adversely
affect the Buyer in conducting the Business in any jurisdiction in which such
business is now conducted.

     SECTION 2.13  Licenses and Permits.  Schedule 2.13 contains a complete and
                   --------------------   -------------
accurate list and description of all licenses, permits, pending applications,
consents, approvals and authorizations of or from any public or governmental
agency, used in or otherwise necessary in the conduct of the Business,
(collectively, the "Permits"), each of which will be duly and validly
transferred to the Buyer as of the closing to the extent transferable.  No other
Permits are required in connection with the operation of the Business except
where the failure to have such Permits would not have a material adverse effect
on the Assets or the Business of the Company or the ability of the Buyer to use
the Assets or operate the Business after the Closing to the best of the Sellers'
knowledge.  The Company has complied with all conditions and requirements
imposed by the Permits and the Company has not received any notice of, and none
of the Sellers have any reason to believe, that any appropriate authority
intends to cancel or terminate any of the Permits or that valid grounds for such
cancellation or termination exist.  The Company owns or has the right to use the
Permits in accordance with the terms thereof without any conflict or alleged
conflict or infringement with the rights of others and subject to no Claim, and
each Permit is valid and in full force and effect, and will not be terminated or
adversely affected by the transactions contemplated hereby.

     SECTION 2.14  Labor and Employee Relations.
                   ----------------------------

     (a)  The Company is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
          agreement with any labor organization, group or association covering
          any of its employees, and the Company has no knowledge of any attempt
          to organize any of its employees by any person, unit or group seeking
          to act as their bargaining agent.

     (b)  There is no labor strike, formal dispute, formal grievance,
          arbitration proceeding, general slowdown or stoppage, or charge of
          unfair labor practice actually pending before a court, regulatory body
          or arbitration tribunal, or to the best of Sellers' knowledge,
          threatened against or affecting the Company. The Company has not
          experienced any material work stoppage by its work force or other
          material labor difficulty since January 1, 1995.

     (c)  There are no charges or complaints of discrimination pending, or to
          Seller's best knowledge, after due inquiry, threatened before the
          United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state,
          local or foreign agency against the Company and no such charges or
          complaints have been filed since January 1, 1995.

     (d)  The Company is not engaged in any unfair labor practice and there are
          no charges or complaints pending, nor have any charges or complaints
          been filed in the past three (3) years, nor, to the Sellers' best
          knowledge, after due inquiry, threatened, before any other state, or
          federal agency relating to employment or labor matters including,
          without limitation, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department
          of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the
          Office For Contract

                                       12
<PAGE>

          Compliance Programs, or any similar state, local or foreign agency,
          against the Company.

     (e)  The Company does not presently employ, and at no time during the past
          year did it employ, any illegal alien.

     SECTION 2.15  Certain Employees.  Set forth in Schedule 2.15 is a list of
                   -----------------                -------------
the names of the employees and consultants of the Company, together with the
title or job classification of each such person and the current salary rates for
such employees and consultants together with (i) the salaries, bonuses,
additional compensation or other like benefits paid to such employees and
consultants for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and for the period from
December 31, 1998 to the date hereof, and (ii) the amount of such benefits being
accrued for such employees and consultants for the current fiscal year. Schedule
                                                                        --------
2.15 also sets forth (i) a description of any formal or informal understanding
----
concerning employees' rights to continue to receive compensation during any
periods during which such employees are not performing any services for the
Company and (ii) any increases granted or committed to in the compensation of
any employee including, without limitation, any change in any bonus, pension,
profit-sharing or other benefit plan or commitment. No person listed on Schedule
                                                                        --------
2.15 has indicated to the Sellers that he or she intends to terminate his or her
----
employment with the Company or seek a material change in his or her duties or
status as a result of this transaction or otherwise.

     SECTION 2.16  Employee Benefits.  Set forth on Schedule 2.16 is a list of
                   -----------------                -------------
all pension, profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation, stock purchase,
stock option, incentive, bonus, vacation, severance, disability,
hospitalization, medical insurance, life insurance, fringe benefit, cafeteria,
welfare and other employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements which the
Company now maintains or contributes to (or has maintained or contributed to) or
to which employees of the Company may be entitled (an "Employee Plan"),
including each such plan, program or arrangement that is an employee welfare
benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) or an employee pension benefit plan
as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA.

     The Company is not related to any other entity or entities such that the
Company and such other entity or entities must be considered as a single
employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code") or under Section 4001 of ERISA.  The Company does
not now and has never contributed to or been required to contribute to any
multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), any multiple employer
welfare arrangement (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), any multiple
employer plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA, or any defined benefit plan (as
defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA.  The Company does not provide any medical,
life insurance or other welfare or insurance benefits, with respect to former or
current employees that extend beyond retirement or other termination of
employment (other than continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA")).

     No circumstance exists, or as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will exist that could result in the
creation or existence of a lien on any of the Assets or the imposition of any
tax, penalty or other liability on the Buyer or any assets of the Buyer under
any provision of the Code, ERISA, or any other law applicable to any Employee
Plan.

     Each Employee Plan which is subject to ERISA conforms to, and its operation
and administration are in compliance with, all applicable requirements of ERISA,
including all applicable reporting and disclosure requirements of ERISA.  Each
Employee Plan which is subject to any requirements under the Code conforms to,
and its operation and administration are in compliance with, all applicable
requirements of the Code.  There are no actions, suits or claims pending (other
than routine claims for benefits) or threatened against any employee plan or
against

                                       13
<PAGE>

the assets of any employee plan.

     With respect to each Employee Plan covering any present or former employee
of the Company subject to the requirements of COBRA, the Company has complied
with all requirements for continuation coverage under group health benefit plans
under COBRA, including all requirements for giving notices to participants of
the availability of COBRA continuation coverage on a timely basis and the
opportunity to elect COBRA continuation coverage. There are no claims against
the Company for a failure or alleged failure to comply with the COBRA
continuation requirements. There has been no action or inaction by the Company
that could result, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not result, in the imposition of any liability under COBRA upon
the Buyer or any employee benefit plan of the Buyer.

     The Company has paid to the proper party all amounts which are owed as
Seller contributions or premiums with respect to each Employee Plan.

     SECTION 2.17  Tangible Properties.  Schedule 2.17 contains a true and
                   -------------------   -------------
complete list of all tangible personal property owned by or leased to the
Company (the "Tangible Personal Property"). The Company has good and marketable
title free and clear of all Claims to the Tangible Personal Property listed as
owned by the Company. With respect to Tangible Personal Property leased by the
Company as lessee, all leases, conditional sale contracts, franchises or
licenses pursuant to which the Company may hold or use (or permit others to hold
or use) such Tangible Personal Property are valid and in full force and effect,
and there is not under any of such instruments any existing default or event of
default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute
such a default. The Assets constitute all the tangible properties, assets and
rights forming a part of, used, held or intended to be used in, and all such
tangible properties, assets and rights as are necessary in the conduct of the
Business. Each item of Tangible Personal Property is in satisfactory operating
condition and repair and is suitable for the purposes for which it is used and
intended to carry on the Business as now being conducted and as proposed to be
conducted by the Company. All Tangible Personal Property is adequate and usable
for the purposes for which it is currently used and has been properly maintained
and repaired and each item of Tangible Personal Property, whether owned or
leased, is in good operating condition and repair and has been properly
maintained.

     SECTION 2.18  Owned Premises.  Gerald W. and Helen A. Smith individually
                   --------------
own good and marketable fee simple title to the real estate described in
Schedule 2.18, and hold sufficient rights in and to all easements or other right
-------------
necessary for perpetual access thereto.  The Company holds fee simple title to
all improvements and fixtures thereon as described in Schedule 2.18 (the real
                                                      -------------
estate and improvements hereon are hereinafter referred to collectively as the
"Property"). To the best of the Sellers' knowledge, all such Property is owned
free and clear of all Claims or other interests or rights of third parties,
except those which do not or would not have a material adverse effect on the
Property as used in the Company's business.  There are no encroachments from the
Property onto adjoining real property, and there are no encroachments from any
adjoining real property onto the Property, except those which do not or would
not have a material adverse effect on the Property as used in the Company's
business.  Each structure located on the Property is structurally sound,
adequately maintained in accordance with the Company's past practice and is in
good condition and repair consistent with the uses to which it is presently
being put.  All structures, improvements and fixtures on the Property and the
current uses of the Property conform to any and all zoning, land use,
subdivision, wetlands, building, health and safety and other ordinances, laws,
rules and regulations, except for those the nonconformance with which do not or
would not have a material adverse effect on the Property as used in the
Company's business.  There are no violations of any material covenant,
restriction or other agreement or understanding, oral or written, affecting or
relating to title or use of the Property and no such covenant, restriction,
agreement or understanding could reasonably be expected to cause a forfeiture or
reversion of title.  There are no pending or threatened condemnation or similar
proceedings or assessments affecting the Property,

                                       14
<PAGE>

nor to the knowledge of the Sellers is any such condemnation or assessment
contemplated by any governmental authority. The Company does not lease any real
estate of any kind.

     SECTION 2.19  Environmental Matters.  The Company and all Property occupied
                   ---------------------
and/or used by it, are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules,
regulations, orders, ordinances, judgments and decrees of all governmental
authorities with respect to all environmental statutes, rules and regulations
("Environmental Requirements") and the Sellers are not aware of any
noncompliance with Environmental Requirements with respect to the premises in or
near the Company's Property.  The Company has not received notice, whether
written or oral, of any past, present or future events, conditions,
circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, actions or plans of the Company
or the predecessors of the Company, either collectively, individually or
severally, which may interfere with or prevent continued compliance with
Environmental Requirements or which may give rise to any common law or legal
liability, or otherwise form the basis of any claim, action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, or investigation, based on or related to the disposal, storage,
handling, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, or transport,
or the emission, discharge, release or threatened release into the environment
of any Substances (as defined below).

     (a)  Environmental Substance Liability.  No event has occurred or condition
          ---------------------------------
          exists or operating practice is being employed that could directly
          give rise to liability on the part of the Company, either at the
          present time or in the future, for any losses, liabilities, damages
          (whether consequential or otherwise), settlements, penalties, interest
          and expenses, including any such liability on account of the right of
          any governmental or private entity or person, and including closure
          expenses, costs of assessment, containment, removal or remedial
          response actions (other than transportation or disposal of materials
          required to be transported or disposed of in the ordinary course of
          business, remedial work, or monitoring) arising under any presently
          enacted federal, state, or local statute, or any regulation that has
          been promulgated pursuant thereto, or common law, as a result of or in
          connection with, or alleged to be as a result of or in connection
          with, the following:

          (i)    the handling, storage, use, treatment, transportation, disposal
                 or arrangement for treatment, transportation or disposal of any
                 Substances in or near or from facilities or plants, by the
                 Company, or any of its predecessors;

          (ii)   any intentional or unintentional emission, discharge or release
                 of any Substances in or near or from its facilities or plants
                 into or upon the air, surface water, ground water or land by or
                 on behalf of the Company, or any of its predecessors; or

          (iii)  the presence of any toxic or hazardous building materials
                 (including but not limited to asbestos or similar substances)
                 in any of the Company's facilities or plants, including but not
                 limited to the inclusion of such materials in the exterior and
                 interior walls, floors, ceilings, tile, insulation or any other
                 portion of building structures.

          As used in this Section 2.19, the term "Substances" shall mean any
          pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance, hazardous material, oil
          (including petroleum or petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas or
          synthetic gas useable for fuel, any nonhazardous petroleum refinery
          waste and any other petroleum product or waste), hazardous waste or
          toxic waste, as defined in any presently enacted federal, state or
          local statute or any regulation that has been promulgated pursuant
          thereto.

     (b)  Environmental Permits.  The Company has obtained and holds all
          ---------------------
          applicable registrations, permits, licenses, and approvals issued by
          or on behalf of any federal,

                                       15
<PAGE>

          state or local government body or agency ("Environmental Permits"),
          that are required in connection with the discharge or emission of
          Substances (as hereinabove defined) from the facilities or plants
          operated by the Company or the generation, treatment, storage,
          transportation, or disposal of any such Substances. Such Environmental
          Permits, which are described in Schedule 2.19, are currently effective
                                          -------------
          and sufficient for the ownership and operation of the plants and
          facilities and the operation of the Business as currently conducted
          and as proposed to be conducted by the Company.

          Sellers represent, covenant and warrant to and agree with the Buyer,
          as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as
          follows:

          (i)    The Company and the Property are, and at the Closing Date shall
                 be, in compliance with all Environmental Requirements. The
                 Sellers are not aware of, nor have the Sellers received notice
                 of, whether written or oral, any past, present or future
                 events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices,
                 incidents, actions or plans of the Company or any of its
                 predecessors, either collectively, individually or severally,
                 which may interfere with or prevent continued compliance, or
                 which may give rise to any common law or legal liability, or
                 otherwise form the basis of any claim, action, suit,
                 proceeding, hearing, or investigation, based on or related to
                 the disposal, storage, handling, manufacture, processing,
                 distribution, use, treatment, or transport, or the emission,
                 discharge, release or threatened release into the environment,
                 of any Substances.

          (ii)   No part of the Property has been listed or proposed for listing
                 on the National Priorities List (40 CFR Part 300, Appendix B)
                 established by the United States Environmental Protection
                 Agency or on any other such list established by the State of
                 Missouri.

          (iii)  The Company has obtained all permits, licenses and other
                 authorizations which it is required to obtain as lessee or as
                 an operator with respect to the use and operation of the
                 Property under federal, state and local laws or otherwise
                 relating to pollution or protection of the environment. Except
                 as set forth in Schedule 2.19, the Company is in full
                                 -------------
                 compliance with all terms and conditions of the required
                 permits, licenses and authorizations, and are also in full
                 compliance with all other limitations, restrictions,
                 conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations,
                 schedules, and timetables contained in those laws or provisions
                 or contained in any regulation, code, plan, order, decree,
                 judgment, notice or demand letter issued, entered, promulgated
                 or approved thereunder and applicable to Company.

     SECTION 2.20  Insurance.
                   ---------

     (a)  Schedule 2.20 contains an accurate and complete list of all policies
          -------------
          of fire, liability, keyman life insurance, worker's compensation,
          products liability, and other forms of insurance owned or held by or
          beneficially for the Company.  All such policies are in full force and
          effect and will not be canceled or modified by Company or any
          Subsidiary prior to Closing without the express written consent of the
          Buyer (except to extend the maturity dates thereof), no premiums with
          respect thereto are past due and no notice of cancellation or
          termination has been received by the Sellers with respect to any such
          policy.  Schedule 2.20 also identified (i) all risks for which the
                   -------------
          Company is self-insured, and (ii) the workers' compensation and
          unemployment insurance ratings of the Company.

                                       16
<PAGE>

     (b)  The aforesaid policies are sufficient for Company's compliance with
          all requirements of law and of all agreements to which they are a
          party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable policies; are in amounts
          customarily deemed to be adequate and cover all risks customarily
          insured against by companies conducting businesses similar to the
          Business; and have been issued by financially sound insurance
          companies which are in good standing, adequately capitalized and
          actively engaged in the insurance business.  The insurance policies
          cover all incidents of loss which have occurred prior to the date
          hereof or which may occur resulting from the Company's products sold
          prior to the date hereof.

     (c)  The Company (i) has not, since January 1, 1995, been unable to obtain
          any insurance coverage in the amounts desired; (ii) since January 1,
          1995, has not materially changed either the amount or scope of any
          insurance referred to in Schedule 2.20 or premiums therefor; and (iii)
                                   -------------
          has not been notified of any material adverse change or proposed
          material adverse change in the workers' compensation or unemployment
          insurance ratings or insurance rates for the Company.

     SECTION 2.21  Outstanding Commitments.  Schedule 2.21 sets forth a
                   -----------------------   -------------
description of all existing contracts, agreements, commitments, licenses,
purchase orders, powers of attorney and franchises (collectively "Agreements")
relating to the Company. The Sellers' have delivered or made available to the
Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all of the Agreements specified on
Schedule 2.21 which are in writing, and Schedule 2.21 contains an accurate and
-------------                           -------------
complete description of all binding Agreements which are not in writing. The
Company has paid in full all amounts due as of the date hereof under each
Agreement identified in Schedule 2.21 and the Company and each other party
                        -------------
thereto have performed all the obligations required to be performed by them to
date, have received no notice of default and are not in default (with due notice
or lapse of time or both) under any Agreement. The Sellers have no knowledge of
any breach or anticipated breach by the other party to any contract or
commitment to which the Company is a party. None of such Agreements has been
terminated and none of Sellers are aware of any intention or right of any party
to default another party to any such Agreement. There exists no actual or, to
the knowledge the Sellers, threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of
the business relationship of the Company with any party to any such Agreement.
Except as set forth in Schedule 2.21, the Company is not a party to any
                       -------------
agreement restricting its ability to compete or solicit and there are no
agreements of any third party restricting its ability to compete with the
Company or solicit its employees or which require such third parties to treat
the Company's information as confidential.

     SECTION 2.22  Intangibles and Intellectual Property.
                   -------------------------------------

     (a)  Schedule 2.22 lists all Proprietary Rights (as such term is defined
          -------------
          below) and sets forth any licenses related thereto and whether, where
          and when each such Proprietary Right has been registered or filed with
          the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States
          Copyright Office or the corresponding office of any other
          jurisdictions.  The Company owns or has a valid right to use the
          Proprietary Rights being used and proposed to be used to conduct the
          Business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted free and
          clear of any Claims.  Except as specified on Schedule 2.22, the
                                                       -------------
          Company has (i) no obligation to compensate any person or entity for
          the use of any such Proprietary Rights and (ii) not granted or
          assigned to, or become obligated to grant or assign to, any person or
          entity, including any Affiliate of the Sellers, any license or other
          right to use any of the Proprietary Rights, or otherwise licensed from
          others the Proprietary Rights of third parties, whether or not
          requiring the payment of royalties or fees.  All of the Proprietary
          Rights will be owned or available for use by the Buyer on identical
          terms and conditions immediately following the Closing Date.

                                       17
<PAGE>

     (b)  No Claims have been made or proceedings instituted or are pending or,
          to the best of the Sellers' knowledge, after due inquiry, threatened
          which challenge the validity of the ownership or use by the Company of
          any of the Proprietary Rights and, to the best of  the Sellers'
          knowledge, after due inquiry, no facts or circumstances exist which
          would form the basis for such Claims or proceedings.

     (c)  The Company has the unencumbered right to use, free and clear of any
          Claims, its Proprietary Rights.  None of the Company's customer lists
          have been sold, leased, licensed or otherwise disclosed either in
          whole or in part to any person or entity and no person or entity has
          any right to use or interest in the customer list or any information
          therein.

     (d)  The Sellers have no knowledge of the infringing use of any Proprietary
          Rights or the infringement of any such Proprietary Rights by any other
          person.

     (e)  "Proprietary Rights" means (a) trademarks, service marks, trade dress,
          logos, trade names and corporate names, whether or not registered,
          including all common law rights, and registrations and applications
          for registration thereof, including, but not limited to, all marks
          registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the
          Trademark Offices of the States and Territories of the United States
          Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Offices of the States and
          Territories of the United States of America, and the Trademark Offices
          of other nations throughout the world, and all rights therein provided
          by multinational treaties or conventions, (b) copyrights (registered
          or otherwise) and registrations and applications for registration
          thereof, and all rights therein provided by multinational treaties or
          conventions, (c) computer software, including, without limitation,
          source code, operating systems and specifications, data, data bases,
          files, documentation and other materials related thereto, data and
          documentation, (d) trade secrets and confidential, technical or
          business information (including ideas, formulas, compositions,
          inventions and conceptions of inventions whether patentable or
          unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), (e) whether or
          not confidential, technology (including know-how and show-how),
          manufacturing and production processes and techniques, blending
          formulations, research and development information, drawings,
          specifications, designs, plans, proposals, technical data,
          copyrightable works, financial, marketing and business data, pricing
          and cost information, business and marketing plans and customer and
          supplier lists and information, (f) copies and tangible embodiments of
          all the foregoing, in whatever form or medium, (g) issued patents and
          patent applications, (h) all rights to obtain and rights to apply for
          patents, and to register trademarks and copyrights, and (i) all rights
          to sue and recover and retain damages and costs and attorneys' fees
          for present and past infringement of any of the Proprietary Rights
          hereinabove set out.

     SECTION 2.23  Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of the Company
                   --------------
consists solely of 3,000 shares of common stock, no par value per share, of
which 1,500 shares are issued and outstanding and owned, beneficially and of
record by the Sellers.  There are no subscriptions, options, warrants or other
rights to purchase or otherwise acquire shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Company authorized, issued or outstanding, nor is the Company
obligated in any other manner to issue shares of its capital stock,
subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible securities, or other such rights
or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of
indebtedness or asset.  The Company has no obligation to purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any of its equity securities or any interest therein or to pay
any dividend or make any other distribution in respect thereof.

                                       18
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.24  Significant Suppliers.  Set forth on Schedule 2.24 is a list
                   ---------------------                -------------
of the ten largest suppliers to the Company for the twelve-month period ended
December 31, 1998 and for the four month period ended April 30, 1999, together
with the amount of purchases attributable to such suppliers expressed in dollars
and as a percentage of total purchases.  No supplier, including, without
limitation, the suppliers listed on Schedule 2.24 which were significant to the
                                    -------------
Company during the past three years, has terminated, materially reduced or
threatened to terminate or materially reduce its provision of merchandise or
services to the Company.  The Sellers have no reason to believe that the
transactions contemplated hereby will adversely affect the existing relationship
with any of the Company's suppliers.

     SECTION 2.25  Significant Customers.  Set forth on Schedule 2.25 is a list
                   ---------------------                -------------
of the ten largest customers of the Company for the twelve-month period ended
December 31, 1998 and for the four month period ended April 30, 1999, together
with the amount of purchases attributable to such customers expressed in dollars
and as a percentage of total sales.  No customer, including, without limitation,
the customers listed on Schedule 2.25 which were significant to the Company
                        -------------
during the past three years, has terminated, materially reduced or threatened to
terminate or materially reduce its purchases of the products or services of the
Company.  The Sellers have no reason to believe that the transactions
contemplated hereby will adversely affect the existing relationship with any of
the Company's customers.  The Company has not participated in any trade
programs, whether or not in the ordinary and usual course of business or
consistent with past practice, which may result in claims against the Company
for money, credit or goods, including but not limited to bonuses, billback's
inhouse programs, accruals, other sales and commission incentives or allowances,
discounts, returns, credits, allowances and contests.

     SECTION 2.26  Governmental Approvals.  No registration or filing with, or
                   ----------------------
consent or approval of or other action by, any Governmental Authority is or will
be necessary for the valid execution, delivery and performance by any of the
Sellers of this Agreement or the operation of the Business immediately after the
Closing in a manner consistent with its operations as of the date hereof.
"Governmental Authority" means any public body, governmental, administrative or
regulatory authority, agency, instrumentality or commission, including courts of
competent jurisdiction and arbitral tribunals, whether federal, state, local or
foreign.

     SECTION 2.27  Transactions With Affiliates.  Except as set forth on
                   ----------------------------
Schedule 2.27, no director, officer or employee of the Company, or member of the
-------------
family of any such person, or any corporation, partnership, trust or other
entity in which any such person, or any member of the family of any such person,
has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, partner or
holder of any equity interest, is a party to any transaction with the Company
and there are no debts, claims or other obligations owed or required to be
performed by any of the Stockholders or their Affiliates to the Company or by
the Company to any of the Stockholders or their Affiliates.

     SECTION 2.28  No Broker or Finder.  No broker, finder or other financial
                   -------------------
consultant has acted on behalf of the Sellers in connection with this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability
on the Buyer.

     SECTION 2.29  Claims.  The Company has not extended or granted any
                   ------
warranties whether express or implied, other than standard terms and conditions
summarized in Schedule 2.29. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.29, none of the
              -------------                         -------------
Sellers has received any written notice, nor has any knowledge of any oral
notice, of any claim (actual or threatened) in connection with any product
manufactured, sold, leased or delivered by the Company other than claims in the
ordinary course of business and not in excess of $5,000 and, after due inquiry,
none of the Sellers has knowledge of any fact or circumstance which would form
the basis for any liability arising out of injury to individuals or property as
a result of the ownership, possession or use of any product manufactured, sold,
leased or delivered by the Company. Schedule 2.29 also sets forth each material
                                    -------------
pending claim against the Company in connection with any product manufactured,
sold, leased or delivered

                                       19
<PAGE>

by the Company.

     SECTION 2.30  Disclosure.  All documents and schedules delivered or to be
                   ----------
delivered by or on behalf of the Sellers in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby are true, complete and correct.  Neither
the Company nor any of the Stockholders are aware of any facts pertaining to the
Company, the Assets  or the Business which is reasonably likely to have a
material adverse effect and which have not been disclosed in this Agreement, the
Schedules or the Statements or otherwise disclosed to the Buyer by the Sellers
in writing.  Neither this Agreement, nor any Schedule or other documents in
connection herewith contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits a
material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, in
light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading.


                                  ARTICLE III
                                  -----------

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
                    ---------------------------------------

     The Buyer represents and warrants to the Sellers as follows:

     SECTION 3.01  Organization.  The Buyer is duly incorporated, validly
                   ------------
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

     SECTION 3.02  Buyer Power and Authority.  The Buyer has the corporate power
                   -------------------------
and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other
documents and instruments contemplated hereby.  The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Buyer and the documents contemplated hereby
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized and approved by the Buyer.  This Agreement, and each of the other
agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by the Buyer
have been duly executed and delivered by, and constitute the valid and binding
obligation of the Buyer enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with their
terms.

     SECTION 3.03  No Conflict.  Neither the execution and delivery of this
                   -----------
Agreement and the other documents and instruments contemplated hereby by the
Buyer, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, nor
the performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and such other agreements in
compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and thereof will (i) conflict
with or result in any breach of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or
By-Laws of the Buyer or any judgment, decree, order, statute or regulation
applicable to the Buyer, (ii) require any consent, approval, authorization or
permit of, or filing with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory
authority, (iii) result in a breach of or default (or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any law, rule or regulation or
any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit, license or order or any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any mortgage, indenture, note, license,
agreement or other instrument to which the Buyer is a party which would
materially impair the Buyer's ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Buyer.


                                  ARTICLE IV
                                  ----------

                           COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS
                           ------------------------

     The Sellers covenant and agree with the Buyer as follows:

                                       20
<PAGE>

     SECTION 4.01  Best Efforts Cooperation.  The Sellers shall use their best
                   ------------------------
efforts to perform and fulfill, all conditions and obligations to be fulfilled
or performed by them hereunder, to the end that the transactions contemplated
hereby will be fully and timely consummated.

     SECTION 4.02  Access.  Until the Closing, the Sellers shall give the Buyer,
                   ------
its attorneys, accountants and other authorized representatives complete access,
upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times, to each of the Company offices,
properties, customers, suppliers, employees, products, technology, business and
financial records, contracts, business plans, budgets and projections,
agreements, commitments and other documents and information concerning the
Company and persons employed by or doing business with the Company.  Following
the Closing, the Sellers shall provide the Buyer with access to any and all
records relating to the Company which remain in the possession of accountants,
attorneys and other third parties.  In order that the Buyer may have full
opportunity to make such examination and investigation as it may desire of the
business and affairs of the Company, the Sellers will furnish the Buyer and its
representatives during such period with all such information as such
representatives may reasonably request and cause the respective officers,
employees, consultants, agents, accountants and attorneys of the Company and the
Sellers to cooperate fully with the representatives of the Buyer in connection
with such review and examination and to make full disclosure to the Buyer of all
material facts affecting the Company's financial condition, business operations,
properties and prospects; provided, however, that the Buyer will, through the
                          --------
Closing Date, hold the documents and information concerning the Company
confidential.

     SECTION 4.03  Insurance.  Until the Closing, the Company shall maintain
                   ---------
with financially sound insurers, insurance against such casualties and
contingencies and of such types and in such amounts as is customary for
companies similarly situated.

     SECTION 4.04 Compliance with Laws.  Until the Closing, the Company shall
                  --------------------
conduct the Business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations
and orders.

     SECTION 4.05 Keeping of Books and Records.  Until the Closing, the Company
                  ----------------------------
shall keep adequate records and books of account, in which complete entries will
be made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied, reflecting all financial transactions and in which all proper reserves
for depreciation, depletion, obsolescence, amortization, taxes, bad debts and
other purposes in connection with its business shall be made.

     SECTION 4.06  Actions Prior to Closing.  The Company shall conduct the
                   ------------------------
Business pending the Closing only in the ordinary and usual course of business
consistent with past practice.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company shall maintain and keep its properties, offices in good
condition and repair, keep in full force and effect its insurance coverage,
continue advertising its business in accordance with past practice, maintain in
effect all of its leases, use reasonable best efforts to maintain in accordance
with good business practice its present employees and its relationships with its
suppliers and customers so that they will be preserved for the Buyer after the
Closing, maintain its inventory at levels consistent with its past practices,
and continue to pay its accounts payable and collect its accounts receivables in
a manner consistent with its past practices.  Furthermore, the Company shall
conduct the Business in a manner such that on the Closing Date the Company will
have no obligations or liabilities except (a) those set forth on the Statements
and (b) those incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice after the date of Statements and prior to the Closing Date and
reflected accurately in its books and records.  Except as expressly contemplated
by this Agreement or as consented to in writing by the Buyer, during the period
from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, Sellers shall not allow the
Company to (i) issue, sell or pledge, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale
or pledge of (A) additional shares of capital stock of any class, or securities
convertible into any such shares, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire
any such shares or other convertible securities, or (B) any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares outstanding on the

                                       21
<PAGE>

date thereof; (ii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any of its outstanding
securities; (iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or distribution
(whether in cash, stock or property) on or in respect of any share of capital
stock of the Company; (iv) (A) make any acquisition of assets or securities, any
disposition of assets or securities or any change in its capitalization, or (B)
enter into any contract or release or relinquish any contract or other rights;
(v) incur any long-term debt for borrowed money or any short-term debt for
borrowed money other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice; (vi) propose or adopt any amendments to the Certificate and
Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company; (vii) other than as
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, enter into any new employment
agreements with any officers, directors or employees or grant any increases in
the compensation or benefits to, or agree to pay any bonus, severance or
termination payment or other special compensation to, officers, directors and
employees other than increases in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice; (viii) make any loan or advance to any of its officers,
directors, consultants, agents or employees or to any member of their families
or any other loan or advance otherwise than in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) make or incur any charitable contributions or any nonbusiness expense; (x)
allow the mix, quality and quantity of inventory to deviate from the levels
required to service the Business, consistent with past practices; or (xi) agree
in writing or orally to take any of the foregoing actions or any other action
which would have made any representation or warranty in this Agreement untrue or
result in the breach of any covenant hereunder.

     SECTION 4.07  Notice of Changes.  Until the Closing, the Sellers shall
                   -----------------
notify the Buyer of any material change in the business of the Company as soon
as it becomes apparent to any of the Sellers that any such change has or may
occur.

     SECTION 4.08  Preservation of Business.  Until the Closing, the Sellers
                   ------------------------
will use their best efforts to preserve the Company's business organization
intact, and to preserve its goodwill. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company will, and the Stockholders will cause the Company to,
timely perform all obligations required of the Company under the contracts and
permits listed on the Schedules to this Agreement.

     SECTION 4.09  Litigation.  The Sellers will promptly notify the Buyers of
                   ----------
any lawsuits, claims, proceedings or investigations which are threatened or
commenced against or by the Company, the Sellers or their Affiliates, or against
any employee, consultant or director of the Company.

     SECTION 4.10  Continued Effectiveness of Representations and Warranties.
                   ---------------------------------------------------------
From the date hereof up to and including the Closing Date, (i) the Company will
and the Stockholders will cause the Company to conduct the Business in a manner
such that the representations and warranties contained herein shall continue to
be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the
Closing Date, except for changes and the consequences of events arising in the
ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice after the
date hereof and none of which would have an adverse effect on the properties,
assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Company or its Business; and (ii) the Sellers will advise the Buyer promptly in
writing of any condition or circumstance occurring from the date hereof up to
and including the Closing Date which could cause any representations or warranty
of the Sellers to become untrue in any material respect.

     SECTION 4.11  No Negotiations.  Until the later to occur of August 19, 1999
                   ---------------
or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Sellers
shall not and shall not permit any of their respective officers, directors,
employees, agents, or representatives to solicit, initiate or encourage
inquiries or proposals, or conduct any negotiations, concerning any acquisition
or purchase of all or any substantial portion of the Business, assets or capital
stock of the Company.  The Sellers shall immediately advise the Buyer of his,
its or their receipt of any such inquiry or proposal.  Each of the Sellers agree
not to, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, release

                                       22
<PAGE>

any person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill
agreement to which the Company is a party and agree to require the return of all
confidential information that may have been provided to a third party involved
with a potential sale or acquisition of the Company.

     SECTION 4.12 Confidentiality.  The Sellers agree not to divulge,
                  ---------------
communicate or disclose, except as may be required by law or for the performance
of this Agreement, or use to the detriment of the Buyer or for the benefit of
any other person or persons, or misuse in any way, any confidential information
of the Company and the Business (whether such confidential information relates
to the operation of the Business before or after the date hereof), including any
trade or business secrets with respect to the Business and any technical or
business materials that are confidential or proprietary, including without
limitation information (whether in written, oral or machine-readable form)
concerning: general business operations; methods of doing business; customer and
supplier relations; advertising and promotion plans; financial information
including costs, profits and sales; pricing and marketing strategies; names of
suppliers, personnel and customers (including customer lists); software
programs, however embodied; and information obtained by or given to the
disclosing party about or belonging to third parties.

     SECTION 4.13  Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Consents.  (a) The
                   ---------------------------------------------
Sellers shall give promptly such notices to third parties and obtain such third
party consents and waivers as are necessary in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, all necessary
approvals from the Missouri Department of Revenue in connection with the sale of
the Assets and the Buyer's ability to operate the Business on and after the
Closing Date.

     (b)  The Buyer and the Sellers shall cooperate and use all reasonable
efforts to assist each other in giving such notices and obtaining such consents;
provided, however, that the Buyer shall not have any obligation to give any
-----------------
guarantee or other consideration of any nature in connection with any such
notice or consent or to consent to any change in the terms of any agreement or
arrangement which the Buyer in its sole and absolute discretion may deem adverse
to the interests of the Buyer, the Company or the Business.

     SECTION 4.14  Risk of Loss.  Prior to the Closing Date, the risk of loss or
                   ------------
damage to or destruction of any or all of the Business or the Assets shall
remain with the Sellers unless such loss or damage is directly caused by the
Buyer.

     SECTION 4.15  Sale of Name.  On the Closing Date, the Company shall assign
                   ------------
the name of the Company to the Buyer.  At the Closing, the Company shall execute
such applications to governmental authorities, consents and other documents and
take such other action as the Buyer may reasonably request in order (a) to
change the Company's corporate name to one not involving the use of the word
"Stabilized Products", or any confusingly similar variation thereof, and not
descriptive of, or related to, the Business thereafter being conducted by the
Buyer with the Assets and (b) to enable the Buyer to use and register, as the
Buyer may desire, such name and any variation thereof and such applications,
consents and other documents shall be filed within three (3) business days after
the Closing.


                                   ARTICLE V
                                   ---------

                     CONDITIONS TO THE BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS
                     -------------------------------------

     The obligation of the Buyer to pay the Purchase Price on the Closing Date
and to consummate the other transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the
satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of the following conditions each of
which may be waived by the Buyer in its sole discretion.

                                       23
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.01  Consents and Approvals.  The Buyer shall have received, each
                   ----------------------
in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer, all authorizations, consents,
orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities and officials and all third
party consents and estoppel certificates, which the Buyer deems necessary for
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     SECTION 5.02  Representations and Warranties to be True and Correct.  All
                   -----------------------------------------------------
of the representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in this Agreement
or in any Schedules or other documents attached hereto or referred to herein or
delivered pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of
the Closing Date, as if made on and as of the Closing Date and the Sellers shall
have executed and delivered to the Buyer a certificate, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer and its counsel, to such effect.

     SECTION 5.03  Performance.  The Sellers shall have performed and complied
                   -----------
in all material respects with all covenants and agreements contained herein
required to be performed or complied with by each of them prior to or at the
Closing Date.  The Sellers shall have executed and delivered to the Buyer a
certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer and its
counsel, in writing to such effect and to the further effect that all of the
conditions set forth in this Article V have been satisfied.

     SECTION 5.04  No Adverse Change.  There shall have been no material adverse
                   -----------------
change in the Business, assets, liabilities, operations, prospects, properties
or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and no material
transactions involving the Company shall have occurred prior to the Closing Date
other than in the ordinary course of business.

     SECTION 5.05  Opinion of Sellers' Counsel.  The Buyer shall have received
                   ---------------------------
the opinion of Seulthaus & Walsh, P.C., counsel to the Sellers, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the Buyer dated as of the Closing Date.

     SECTION 5.06  Obligations of the Sellers.  Except as contemplated by this
                   --------------------------
Agreement, all debts and other obligations owed or required to be performed by
the Sellers, their Affiliates (or any business entity owned or controlled by the
Sellers or their Affiliates) to the Company shall have been paid or discharged
in full on or before the Closing Date.  Except as provided in Schedule 5.06, all
                                                              -------------
agreements between the Company and the Sellers and their Affiliates shall have
terminated on or before the Closing Date at no cost to the Company or the Buyer.

     SECTION 5.07  No Actions, Suits or Proceedings.  As of the Closing Date, no
                   --------------------------------
action, suit, investigation or proceeding brought by any person, corporation,
governmental agency or other entity shall be pending or, to the knowledge of any
of the parties to this Agreement, threatened, before any court or governmental
body (i) to restrain, prohibit, restrict or delay, or to obtain damages or a
discovery order in respect of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, or (ii) which has had or may have a materially
adverse effect on the Assets or the condition, financial or otherwise, or
prospects of the Company.  No order, decree or judgment of any court or
governmental body shall have been issued restraining, prohibiting, restricting
or delaying, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.  No insolvency proceeding of any character including without
limitation, bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization, dissolution or arrangement
with creditors, voluntary or involuntary, affecting the Company or any
Stockholder shall be pending, and neither the Company nor any Seller shall have
taken any action in contemplation of, or which would constitute the basis for,
the institution of any such proceedings.

     SECTION 5.08  Due Diligence Review.  The results of the Buyer's due
                   --------------------
diligence review, including, without limitation, the result of its investigation
of the real and tangible properties

                                       24
<PAGE>

(including, without limitation, all title, zoning, survey and environmental
matters), affairs, condition, prospects and agreements of the Company, and
discussions with the Company's suppliers and customers, shall be satisfactory to
the Buyer.

     SECTION 5.09  Intellectual Property Transfer Agreements.  The Company shall
                   -----------------------------------------
have delivered to the Buyer (i) the Tradename and Trademark Transfer Agreement
and, (ii) the Patent Transfer Agreement with respect to U.S. Patent No.
4,581,240 and Canadian Patent No. 354,254 in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the parties.

     SECTION 5.10  Noncompetition Agreements.  Each of the Sellers shall have
                   -------------------------
entered into the Noncompetition Agreement with the Buyer in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to the parties.

     SECTION 5.11  Escrow Agreement.  The Company and the Sellers shall have
                   ----------------
executed and delivered the Escrow Agreement in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the parties.

     SECTION 5.12  Lease.  The Buyer and the Company shall have executed and
                   -----
delivered the Lease for the facility in Missouri located at 1832 West Square
Drive, High Ridge, Missouri containing the terms set forth on Exhibit 5.12 and
                                                              ------------
otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the parties.

     SECTION 5.13  Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement.  Gerald Smith shall
                   ---------------------------------------
have entered into the Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement with the Buyer in
form and substance reasonably acceptable to the parties.

     SECTION 5.14  Board Approval.  The Buyer shall have received all
                   --------------
authorizations, consents, and approvals of its Board of Directors deemed
necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

     SECTION 5.15  Organizational Documents.  The Buyer shall have received a
                   ------------------------
copy of (i) the Certificate and Articles of Incorporation, as amended (or
similar organizational document), of the Company, certified by the Secretary of
State of the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated or organized, as
of a date not earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date and
accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
Company, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that no amendments have been made
to such Certificate and Articles of Incorporation (or similar organizational
documents) since such date; (ii) the By-laws (or similar organizational
documents) of the Company, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
the Company stating that no amendments have been made to such By-laws; and (iii)
such other closing documents as the Buyer may reasonably require. In addition,
the Buyer shall have received a copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
together with such Trustees' Certificates as the Buyer may reasonably require.

     SECTION 5.16  Good Standing; Qualification to do Business.  The Buyer shall
                   -------------------------------------------
have received good standing certificates for the Company from the Secretary of
State of the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated or organized and
from the Secretary of State in each jurisdiction listed in Schedule 2.01, in
                                                           -------------
each case dated not earlier than five Business Days prior to the Closing Date.
The Buyer shall also have received a tax good standing certificate from the
department of revenue of each jurisdiction in which the Company has filed a
Return.

     SECTION 5.17  Environmental Site Assessment.  The Buyer shall, at its sole
                   -----------------------------
cost and expense, perform a comprehensive environmental site assessment of the
Company's facility located at 1832 West Square Drive, High Ridge, Missouri, the
scope and results of such assessment shall be satisfactory to the Buyer and its
counsel in their sole discretion.  The Sellers agree to cooperate with the Buyer
in connection with such assessment, including, without limitation, providing the
Buyer

                                       25
<PAGE>

with reasonable access to the Property and all structures, improvements and
fixtures thereon.


                                  ARTICLE VI
                                  ----------

                    CONDITIONS TO THE SELLERS' OBLIGATIONS
                    --------------------------------------

     The obligation of the Company to sell the Assets to Buyer and to consummate
the other transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction, on or
before the Closing Date, of the following conditions, each of which may be
waived by the Sellers in their sole discretion:

     SECTION 6.01  Representations and Warranties to be True and Correct.  The
                   -----------------------------------------------------
Buyer's  representations and warranties contained in Article III shall be true,
complete and correct in all material respects, on and as of the Closing Date, as
if made on and as of such date, and the Buyer shall have delivered to the
Sellers a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Sellers and its counsel, to such effect.

     SECTION 6.02  Performance.  The Buyer shall have performed and complied
                   -----------
with all agreements contained herein required to be performed or complied with
by it prior to or at the Closing Date, and the Buyer shall have executed and
delivered a certificate to the Sellers, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Sellers and its counsel to such effect.

     SECTION 6.03  No Actions, Suits or Proceedings.  As of the Closing Date, no
                   --------------------------------
action, suit, investigation or proceeding brought by any person, corporation,
governmental agency or other entity shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the
parties to this Agreement, threatened, before any court or governmental body to
restrain, prohibit, restrict or delay, or to obtain damages or a discovery order
in respect of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.  No order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental
body shall have been issued restraining, prohibiting, restricting or delaying,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  No
insolvency proceeding of any character including without limitation, bankruptcy,
receivership, reorganization, dissolution or arrangement with creditors,
voluntary or involuntary, affecting the Buyer shall be pending, and the Buyer
shall not have taken any action in contemplation of, or which would constitute
the basis for, the institution of any such proceedings.

     SECTION 6.04  Organizational Documents.  The Sellers shall have received a
                   ------------------------
copy of (i) the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (or similar
organizational document), of the Buyer, certified by the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, as of a date not earlier than thirty (30) Business days
prior to the Closing Date and accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary to the Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that no
amendments have been made to such Certificate of Incorporation (or similar
organizational documents) since such date; (ii) the By-laws (or similar
organizational documents) of the Buyer, certified by the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Company stating that no amendments have been made to such By-
laws since such date; and (iii) such other Closing Documents as the Sellers may
reasonably require.

     SECTION 6.05  Good Standing.  The Sellers shall have received a good
                   -------------
standing certificate for the Buyer from the Delaware Secretary of State.

     SECTION 6.06  Opinion of Buyer's Counsel.  The Sellers shall have
                   --------------------------
received the opinion of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to the Sellers.

                                       26
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  -----------

                                INDEMNIFICATION
                                ---------------

     SECTION 7.01  Indemnification by Buyer.  The Buyer hereby agrees to
                   ------------------------
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and its permitted assigns from,
against and with respect to any claim, liability, obligation, loss,
damage, assessment, judgment, cost and expense (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' and accountants' fees and costs and expenses reasonably
incurred in investigating, preparing, defending against or prosecuting any
litigation or claim, action, suit, proceeding or demand) of any kind or
character (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Damages") arising out of or
in any manner incident, relating or attributable to:

          (a)  Any inaccuracy in any representation or breach of warranty of the
     Buyer contained in this Agreement or in any certificate, instrument of
     transfer or other document or agreement executed by the Buyer in connection
     with this Agreement or otherwise made or given in connection with this
     Agreement; and

          (b)  Any failure by the Buyer to perform or observe, or to have
     performed or observed, in full, any covenant, agreement or condition to be
     performed or observed by it under this Agreement or under any certificates
     or other documents or agreements executed by the Buyer in connection with
     this Agreement.

To the extent that the Buyer's undertakings set forth in this Section 7.01 may
be unenforceable, the Buyer shall contribute the maximum amount that it is
permitted to contribute under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of
all Damages incurred by the Sellers.

     SECTION 7.02  Indemnification by the Sellers.  Each of the Sellers agrees
                   ------------------------------
jointly and severally to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Buyer and its
Affiliates (as such term is defined under Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the respective officers,
directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the foregoing, and their
successors and assigns from, against and with respect to any and all Damages
arising out of or in any manner incident, relating or attributable to:

          (a)  Any inaccuracy in any representation or breach of warranty of any
     of the Sellers contained in this Agreement or in any certificate,
     instrument of transfer or other document or agreement or any of the Sellers
     in connection with this Agreement or otherwise made or given in connection
     with this Agreement;

          (b)  Any failure by any of the Sellers to perform or observe, or to
     have performed or observed, in full, any covenant, agreement or condition
     to be performed or observed by any of them under this Agreement or under
     any certificates or other documents or agreements executed by any of the
     Sellers in connection with this Agreement;

          (c)  Reliance by the Buyer on any books or records of the Company or
     reliance by the Buyer on any information furnished to the Buyer pursuant to
     this Agreement by any Seller; and

          (d)  The Excluded Liabilities.

To the extent that the Sellers' undertakings set forth in this Section 7.02 may
be unenforceable, the Sellers shall jointly and severally contribute the maximum
amount that they are permitted to contribute under applicable law to the payment
and satisfaction of all Damages incurred by the Buyer.  The amount of any
indemnification payments required to be made hereunder shall first be paid from
the Escrowed Cash, to the extent such Escrowed Cash is then available for
distribution

                                       27
<PAGE>

under the Escrow Agreement, and to the extent the aggregate indemnification
payments exceed the amount of Escrowed Cash, then be paid in cash in immediately
available funds to the Buyer promptly after the determination thereof.

     SECTION 7.03  Claims for Indemnification.  In the event of the occurrence
                   --------------------------
of any event which any party asserts is an identifiable event pursuant to this
Article VII, the party claiming indemnification (the "Indemnified Party") shall
provide prompt notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the
"Indemnifying Party"), specifying in detail the facts and circumstances with
respect to such claim and the basis for which indemnification is available
hereunder, provided, however, that the failure to provide such notice shall only
           --------  -------
release the applicable Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations under this
Article VII to the extent such Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such failure.
If such event involves the claim of any third party and if the Indemnifying
Party acknowledges in writing its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party
hereunder against any Damages that may result from such third party claim, the
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to control the defense or settlement of
such claim; provided, however, that (a) the Indemnified Party shall be entitled
to participate in the defense of such claim at its own expense, (b) the
Indemnifying Party shall obtain the prior written approval of the Indemnified
Party (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before
entering into any settlement of such claim if, pursuant to or as a result of
such settlement, injunctive or other non-monetary relief would be imposed
against the Indemnified Party, (c) the Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled
to control (but shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense of), and the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to have sole control
over, and shall assume all expense with respect to the defense or settlement of
any claim to the extent such claim seeks an order, injunction or other equitable
relief against the Indemnified Party which, if successful, could materially
interfere with the business, operations, assets, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Indemnified Party, provided that the Indemnified
Party shall provide written notice to the Indemnifying Party of its election to
assume control over the defense of such claim pursuant to this Section 7.03(c),
(d) if there exists or is reasonably likely to exist a conflict of interest that
would make it inappropriate in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnified Party
for the same counsel to represent both the Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party, then the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to retain its
own counsel, in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines
counsel is required, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party; provided,
                                                               --------
however, that in no event shall the Indemnifying Party be liable for the
-------
expenses of more than one counsel in addition to local counsel and (e) if the
Indemnifying Party is entitled but fails to assume control over the defense of a
claim as provided in this Section 7.03, provided that the Damages associated
with such claim are covered by the indemnity provisions of Section 7.01 or 7.02,
the Indemnified Party shall have the right to defend such claim, provided,
further, that the Indemnified Party shall obtain the prior written approval of
the Indemnifying Party (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) before entering into any settlement of such claim if, pursuant to or as
a result of such settlement, injunctive or other non-monetary relief would be
imposed against the Indemnifying Party.

     In the event that the Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to indemnify
the Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article VII, the Indemnifying Party
shall, upon payment of such indemnity in full, be subrogated to all rights of
the Indemnified Party with respect to the claim to which such indemnification
relates.

     SECTION 7.04  Survival.  All representations and warranties in this
                   --------
Agreement, or in any instrument or document furnished in connection with this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall survive the closing of
the transactions contemplated hereby and any investigation at any time made by
or on behalf of any party and continue for a period of three (3) years after the
Closing Date and until finally resolved and satisfied in full if asserted on or
prior to the expiration on such three (3) year month period; provided, however,
that the representations and warranties contained in Sections 2.09, 2.16, 2.17
(solely with respect to the Company having good

                                       28
<PAGE>

and marketable title free and clear of all claims to the tangible personal
property), and 2.19 shall survive the Closing of the transactions contemplated
hereby and any investigation at any time made by or on behalf of any party and
continue for the full period of the applicable statute of limitations, and until
finally resolved and satisfied in full if asserted on or prior to the expiration
of the applicable statute of limitations.

     SECTION 7.05  Miscellaneous.  The Sellers and the Buyer agree to treat all
                   -------------
payments made by any of them to or for the benefit of the other (including any
payments to the Company) under this Agreement and for any misrepresentations or
breaches of warranties of covenants as adjustments to the Purchase Price or as
capital contributions for tax purposes and that such treatment shall govern for
purposes hereof except to the extent that the Laws of a particular jurisdiction
provide otherwise, in which case such payments shall be made in an amount
sufficient to indemnify the relevant party on an after-tax basis.

     The Sellers, on the other hand, and the Buyer on the other hand, shall not
be liable for paying any claim for indemnification made pursuant to this Article
VII unless and until the aggregate of all such indemnifiable claims payable by
the Sellers, on the one hand, and the Buyer, on the other hand, exceeds $5,000,
in which case all amounts, including the first $5,000, shall thereafter be
payable to the applicable Indemnified Party by the applicable Indemnifying
Party.

                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                 ------------

                                  TERMINATION
                                  -----------

     SECTION 8.01  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the
                   -----------
transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Closing:

          A.   By mutual written consent duly authorized by the Buyer and the
               Sellers;

          B.   By the Buyer or the Sellers if:

                   (i)   any court of competent jurisdiction or other
                         governmental body shall have issued an order, decree or
                         ruling, or taken any other action restraining,
                         enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions
                         contemplated hereby, provided that this Agreement shall
                         not be terminated pursuant to this paragraph unless the
                         party terminating this Agreement has utilized its
                         reasonable best efforts to oppose the issuance of such
                         order, decree or ruling or the taking of such action;

                   (ii)  the Closing has not occurred on or prior to June 30,
                         1999 for any reason other than the breach of any
                         provision of this Agreement by the party terminating
                         this Agreement;

                   (iii) the other party breaches any of its representations,
                         warranties or covenants attached hereto.

          C.   By the Buyer if:

                   (i)   Any of the conditions set forth in Article V hereof has
                         not been satisfied on or before June 30, 1999 or shall
                         have become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have
                         been waived by the Buyer, for any reason other than a
                         breach by the Buyer of any of its representations,
                         warranties or

                                       29
<PAGE>

                         agreements hereunder;

                  (ii)   If in the Buyer's good faith judgment there is any
                         material inaccuracy in any representations or material
                         breach of any warranty contained therein, or any
                         failure by any the Sellers to perform any commitment,
                         covenant or condition contained in this Agreement, or
                         there exists any material error, misstatement or
                         omission with regard to any of the Exhibits, Schedules
                         or other documents referred to herein; or

                   (iii) The Buyer is not satisfied with the results of its due
                         diligence investigation of the Company.

          D.   By the Sellers if any of the conditions set forth in Article VI
     hereof have not been satisfied on or before June 30, 1999 or shall have
     become incapable of fulfillment and shall not have been waived by the
     Sellers, for any reason other than a breach by any Seller of any of its
     representations, warranties or agreements hereunder;

Upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in this Section 8.01 (other
than paragraph A hereof), written notice of such event shall forthwith be given
to the other parties to this Agreement, whereupon this Agreement shall
terminate.

     SECTION 8.02  Effect of Termination.  In the event of the termination and
                   ---------------------
abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, this Agreement, except
for the provisions of Articles VIII and IX shall forthwith become void and be of
no effect, without any liability on the part of any party or its directors,
officers or shareholders.  Nothing in this Section 8.02 shall relieve any party
to this Agreement of liability for breach of this Agreement.

     If any of the Sellers fail to fulfill their obligations hereunder for any
reason not excused by an express provision of this Agreement, then the Buyer
shall, in addition to any other remedies that it may have, have the right to
bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain specific
performance of this Agreement, it being understood that the parties agree that
failure of the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder or
failure of the Sellers to perform any of their obligations contemplated by this
Agreement (except for a failure excused by an express provision of this
Agreement) would cause irreparable injury to the Buyer and that money damages
would not provide an adequate remedy to the Buyer.  The Sellers therefore waive
all objections to the award of equitable relief for such failure.


                                  ARTICLE IX
                                  ----------

                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
                             ---------------------

     SECTION 9.01  Mail Received After the Date Hereof.  From and after the
                   -----------------------------------
Closing Date, the Buyer may receive and open all mail addressed to the Company
and deal with the contents thereof in its sole discretion (including the right
to endorse without recourse the name of the Company on any check received by the
Buyer and to deposit such amounts in the Buyer's name), to the extent such mail
or the contents thereof relate to the Business, the Assets or the Assumed
Liabilities and the Buyer shall provide to the Sellers all other mail which does
not relate thereto. The Sellers agree to promptly deliver to the Buyer after the
Closing Date all mail and any payments received by them on and after the date
hereof in connection with the Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities,
whether or not such mail or payments relate to the period of time before, on or
after the Closing Date.

                                       30
<PAGE>

     SECTION 9.02  Tax Matters.
                   -----------

     (a)  The Company shall cause to be prepared and timely filed, at its sole
expense, all of its required tax returns for all periods up to and including the
date hereof. The Sellers shall be jointly and severally responsible for the
payment of, and will indemnify, defend and hold the Buyer harmless against all
taxes due or assessed which relate to (i) the operations of the Business for all
periods up to and including the Closing Date, and (ii) the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b)  The Sellers and the Buyer will provide each other with such
cooperation and information as any of them reasonably may request of the other
in filing any return, amended return or claim for refund, determining a
liability for Taxes or a right to a refund of Taxes, participating in or
conducting any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes or making
representations to or furnishing information to parties subsequently desiring to
purchase any part of the Assets or the Business from the Buyer. The Sellers and
the Buyer shall retain all returns, schedules and work papers, records and other
documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Business, or with
respect to the Assets, for each taxable period first ending after the Closing
Date and for all prior taxable periods until the later of (i) the expiration of
the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such returns and
other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent
notified by the other party in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax
periods, or (ii) six years following the due date (without extension) for such
returns. Any information obtained under this Section 9.02(b) shall be kept
confidential except as may be otherwise necessary in connection with the filing
of returns or claims for refund or in conducting an audit or other proceeding.

     (c)  Neither the Sellers nor the Buyer shall file any return, or take a
position with a Tax authority, that is inconsistent with the allocation of the
Purchase Price set forth in Section 1.04, or that treats the transaction
contemplated in this Agreement in a manner inconsistent with the terms of this
Agreement.

     (d)  The Sellers shall prepare and file any required Tax returns in
connection with all sales, use, or transfer or similar Taxes incurred as a
result of the sale of the Assets contemplated by this Agreement and shall pay
the amount of such Taxes required to be remitted with such Tax returns. The
Sellers shall provide the Buyer with copies of such returns and evidence of the
payment of Taxes thereunder.

     SECTION 9.03  Payment of Liabilities.  The Sellers shall promptly pay and
                   ----------------------
satisfy in full all of the Excluded Liabilities as they become due and payable.

     SECTION 9.04  Bulk Sales Laws.  The Buyer hereby waives compliance by the
                   ---------------
Sellers with any bulk sales laws which may be applicable.  The Sellers agree,
jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold the Buyer harmless against any and
all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by the
Buyer as a result of any failure to comply with such bulk sales laws, except to
the extent of the Buyer's failure to pay any of the Assumed Liabilities.

                                       31
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE X
                                   ---------

                                 MISCELLANEOUS
                                 -------------

     SECTION 10.01  Notices.  All notices, requests, consents and other
                    -------
communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the
receiving party's address set forth below or to such other address as a party
may designate by notice hereunder, and shall be either (i) delivered by hand,
(ii) made by telex, telecopy or facsimile transmission, (iii) sent by recognized
overnight courier, or (iv) sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid.

     If to the Buyer:             Opta Food Ingredients, Inc.
                                  25 Wiggins Avenue
                                  Bedford, MA  01730
                                  Attn:  Lewis C. Paine, III
                                  President and Chief Executive Officer
                                  Fax: (781) 276-5101

      with a copy to:             Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo,
                                  P.C.
                                  One Financial Center
                                  Boston, MA  02111
                                  Attn:  Douglas A. Zingale, Esquire
                                  Fax: (617) 542-2241


     If to any of the Sellers:    c/o Mr. Gerald Smith
                                  _______________________________
                                  _______________________________
                                  Fax:


     with a copy to:              Seulthaus & Walsh, P.C.
                                  7733 Forsyth Boulevard, Twelfth Floor
                                  St. Louis, MO 63105
                                  Attn:   T. Jack Challis, Esquire
                                          David R. Weaver, Esquire
                                  Fax:  (314) 727-7166

All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be
deemed to have been (i) if by hand, at the time of the delivery thereof to the
receiving party at the address of such party set forth above, (ii) if made by
telex, telecopy or facsimile transmission, at the time that receipt thereof has
been acknowledged by electronic confirmation or otherwise, (iii) if sent by
overnight courier, on the next business day following the day such notice is
delivered to the courier service, or (iv) if sent by registered or certified
mail, on the fifth business day following the day such mailing is made.

     SECTION 10.02  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement together with the Exhibits
                    ----------------
and Schedules hereto and the other documents executed in connection herewith
(together, the "Documents") embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to
the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, the Offer Letter
between the Buyer and the Company dated May 18, 1999.  No statement,
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly set
forth in the Documents shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or
restrict, the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.

                                       32
<PAGE>

     SECTION 10.03  Modifications and Amendments.  The terms and provisions of
                    ----------------------------
this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by
all parties hereto.

     SECTION 10.04  Waivers and Consents.  No failure or delay by a party
                    --------------------
hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no
course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any
such right, power or remedy of the party. No single or partial exercise of any
right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a party hereto, nor any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or
remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any
remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such
party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not
expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such
notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such
notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without
such notice or demand. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived,
or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document
executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No
such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or
consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether
or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not
constitute a continuing waiver or consent.

     SECTION 10.05  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement, nor any right
                    ----------
hereunder, may be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior
written consent of the other parties except that the Buyer may assign all or
part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a financial
institution lending funds to the Buyer or to one or more subsidiaries or
affiliates owned or controlled by the Buyer (in which event, representations and
warranties relating to the Buyer and the opinion of counsel to be delivered by
the Buyer shall be appropriately modified), but no such assignment by Buyer of
its rights hereunder shall relieve Buyer of its obligations under this Agreement
to the Sellers.

     SECTION 10.06  Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding upon
                    -------------------
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their permitted
assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever
under or by reason of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto,
and no person or entity shall be regarded as a third-party beneficiary of this
Agreement.

     SECTION 10.07  Governing Law.  This Agreement and the rights and
                    -------------
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the internal laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without
giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.

     SECTION 10.08  Jurisdiction and Service of Process.  Any legal action or
                    -----------------------------------
proceeding with respect to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of
either The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the State of Missouri or of the
United States of America for the District of Massachusetts or the Eastern
District of Missouri.  By execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the
parties hereto accepts for itself or himself and in respect of its or his
property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid
courts.  The parties hereby irrevocably waive any objection or defense that they
may now or hereafter have to the assertion of personal jurisdiction by any such
court in any such action or to the laying of the venue of any such action in any
such court, and hereby waive, to the extent not prohibited by law, and agree not
to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such proceeding,
any claim that it or he is not subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named
courts for such proceedings.  Nothing in this Section 10.08 shall affect the
rights of the parties to commence any such action in any other forum or to

                                       33
<PAGE>

serve process in any such action in any other manner permitted by law.

     SECTION 10.09  Severability.  In the event that any court of competent
                    ------------
jurisdiction shall finally determine that any provision, or any portion thereof,
contained in this Agreement shall be void or unenforceable in any respect, then
such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court determines
it enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect.  In the
event that such court shall determine any such provision, or portion thereof,
wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

     SECTION 10.10  Interpretation.  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree
                    --------------
that: (i) each party and its or his counsel reviewed and negotiated the terms
and provisions of the Documents (except with respect to the Schedules attached
hereto, which are the sole responsibility of the Stockholders) and have
contributed to their revision; (ii) the rule of construction to the effect that
any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in
the interpretation of this Agreement; and (iii) the terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall be construed fairly as to all parties hereto and not in favor of
or against any party, regardless of which party was generally responsible for
the preparation of this Agreement.

     SECTION 10.11  Headings and Captions.  The headings and captions of the
                    ---------------------
various subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and
shall in no way modify, or affect, or be considered in construing or
interpreting the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions
hereof.

     SECTION 10.12  Enforcement.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and
                    -----------
agrees that the rights acquired by each party hereunder are unique and that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement to be performed by the other party were not performed in accordance
with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.  Accordingly, in addition
to any other remedy to which the parties hereto are entitled at law or in
equity, each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent breaches of this Agreement by the other party and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any federal or state court to
which the parties have agreed hereunder to submit to jurisdiction.

     SECTION 10.13  Reliance.  The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding
                    --------
any right of any party to this Agreement to investigate the affairs of any other
party to this Agreement, the party having such right to investigate shall have
the right to rely fully upon the representations and warranties of the other
party expressly contained in this Agreement and on the accuracy of any schedule
or other document attached hereto or referred to herein or delivered by such
other party or pursuant to this Agreement.

     SECTION 10.14  Expenses.  Each of the parties hereto shall pay its own fees
                    --------
and expenses (including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, appraisers or
others engaged by such party) in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated.

     SECTION 10.15  Survival.  The representations, warranties, covenants,
                    --------
agreements and indemnifications set forth or otherwise provided for in this
Agreement shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and shall not be deemed waived or otherwise affected by any investigation made
by or on behalf of any party hereto.

     SECTION 10.16  Announcements.  Prior to the Closing, the parties hereto
                    -------------
agree that there shall be no announcements, either publicly or internally,
regarding the transactions contemplated herein unless the parties hereto consent
in writing to the content, wording, timing and forum of such announcements.

                                       34
<PAGE>

     SECTION 10.17  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
                    ------------
counterparts, and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

                                       35
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Sellers have executed this
Agreement under seal as of the day and year first above written.


                                   OPTA FOOD INGREDIENTS, INC.


                                   By: /s/ Lewis C. Paine, III
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Lewis C. Paine, III
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer



                                   STABLILIZED PRODUCTS, INC.


                                   By: /s/ Gerald W. Smith
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Gerald Smith
                                       President


                                   /s/ Gerald W. Smith
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Gerald Smith, individually and as Trustee of
                                   the Gerald W. and Helen A. Smith Loving Trust


                                   /s/ Jacqueline K. Smith
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Jacqueline K. Smith


                                   /s/ Stephania A. Smith
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Stephenia A. Smith


                                   /s/ Helen A. Smith
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Helen A. Smith, individually and as Trustee
                                   of the Gerald W. and Helen A. Smith Loving
                                   Trust

                                       36