Document:

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          ---------------------------
                 MUTUAL SETTLEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT
                 -----------------------------------------------

      This Confidential Second Amended and Restated Settlement and General
Release Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into this 30th day of September,
2005, by and between Urban K. Jonson ("Urban Jonson") and Solution Technology
International, Inc. (the "Company"). The parties hereto represent as follows:

      WHEREAS, Urban Jonson was an officer of the Company; and

      WHEREAS, Urban Jonson ceased employment with the Company July 31, 2003;
and

      WHEREAS, Urban Jonson was owed past due salary and bonus, by the Company;
and

      WHEREAS, the parties desire to execute this Agreement and to avoid any
conflict or potential conflict arising out of the Agreement, as well as to
resolve, settle and extinguish all claims, demands, disputes, differences,
grievances, allegations, complaints, charges or rights, known and unknown,
accrued or unaccrued, that either party now has or might otherwise have against
the other, or their affiliates, subsidiaries or parent corporations, or its
officers, directors, agents, representatives, including those claims involving
the Agreement; and

      WHEREAS, the parties hereto executed a Mutual Settlement and General
Release Agreement dated March 24, 2005 and an Amended and Restated Mutual
Settlement and General Release Agreement dated September 6, 2005 and hereby
desire to amend and restate the latter agreement in its entirety.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements and promises
contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.    In consideration of (a) the payment of $166,943.20 being provided by the
      Company to Urban Jonson, of which $16,943.20 was paid on March 24, 2005,
      (b) each party's execution of the Agreement and a Second Amended Confessed
      Judgment Promissory Note dated September 30, 2005 in the amount of
      $150,000 to be paid in one lump sum, including interest at 18% per annum
      from August 22, 2005, due January 31, 2006 to Urban Jonson in the form
      attached hereto as Exhibit 1 ("Confessed Judgment Promissory Note"), (c)
      the Company agreeing to pay to Urban Jonson accrued interest of $6250
      through August 22, 2005 and attorney fees of Urban Jonson plus a penalty
      for late payment of $15,000 for a total of $21,250 by October 21, 2005,
      and other undertakings provided for herein, the sufficiency of which are
      hereby acknowledged, each party, on its behalf, and on behalf of its
      heirs, administrators, representatives, successors, agents, assigns,
      affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies or other related companies, and
      its past and present directors, officers, agents, representatives, and
      employees, does hereby fully, finally and unconditionally release and
      forever discharge the

<PAGE>

      other party, its heirs, administrators, representatives, successors,
      agents, assigns, affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies or other
      related companies, and its past and present directors, officers, agents,
      representatives, and employees, from and waive and release all actions,
      causes of action, lawsuits, appeals, claims, charges, complaints, debts,
      obligations, demands, rights, grievances, promises, liability, damages,
      costs and/or fees whatsoever in law or equity that each party had, now
      has, or may have against the other and its past and present officers,
      directors, agents, representatives and employees for any cause, matter or
      thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated,
      absolute or contingent, enforceable under any local, state or federal
      statute, regulation or ordinance, or under the common law of the United
      States, or of any of the states, which arose or occurred from the
      beginning of time up to and including the date on which this Agreement is
      fully executed. , except for any action arising from a breach of this
      Agreement, the Nonstatutory Stock Option Grant awarded February 18, 2004,
      and/or the Confessed Judgment Promissory Note.

2.    The parties expressly state, understand and agree that the waiver and
      release set forth in Paragraph 1 above is intended to be a GENERAL RELEASE
      regarding the Agreement and the relationship of Urban Jonson with the
      Company. Each party's obligations under this Agreement are contingent upon
      the other's compliance with all terms and conditions provided for herein.

3.    Each party represents that it has not filed any complaint, charge or
      lawsuit against the other, their affiliates, subsidiaries, parent
      companies or other related companies, and its past and present directors,
      officers, agents, representatives, and employees with any governmental
      agency or any court or other entity whatsoever, and they further state
      that they will not file any complaints, charges or lawsuits against the
      other, their affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies or other related
      companies, and their past and present directors, officers, agents,
      representatives, and employees at any time hereafter for any matter
      covered by this Agreement, except for any action arising from a breach of
      this Agreement, the Confessed Judgment Promissory Note, and/or the
      Nonstatutory Stock Option Grant awarded February 18, 2004. Each party
      shall reimburse the other for all legal and other reasonable and related
      expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, it incurs in connection
      with defending itself, its affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies or
      other related companies, and its past and present directors, officers,
      agents, representatives, and employees against such complaints, charges or
      lawsuits, except for any action arising from a breach of this Agreement,
      the Nonstatutory Stock Option Grant awarded February 18, 2004,

4.    Each party covenants, promises and agrees that it will not discuss with,
      or otherwise disclose or divulge to any current or former employee of the
      Company or any other third person or entity (1) the terms and/or contents
      of this Agreement, including the conversations and negotiations which led
      to the execution of this Agreement and the consideration being provided in
      settlement of this matter; and (2) any of the events that led to the
      negotiation and execution of this Agreement. This provision shall not bar
      the parties from discussing such matters with their attorneys or
      accountants or tax advisors or spouses, as long as they notify them of the
      confidential nature of this Agreement in advance of such discussion, or
      otherwise provides information as required pursuant to a valid subpoena or
      as otherwise required by law.

<PAGE>

5.    Urban Jonson promises not to solicit, encourage or contact any third
      person or entity that is or may be an adversary or potential adversary of
      the Company (including any current or former employee) concerning the
      maintenance of any charges, claims, actions, demands, or lawsuits
      whatsoever against the Company or its current or former officers,
      employees, attorneys, agents, assigns, insurers, representatives, counsel,
      administrators, successors, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates,
      shareholders, and/or directors. Urban Jonson further agrees not to
      voluntarily participate in or encourage other charges, claims, actions or
      litigation against the Company or its current or former officers,
      employees, attorneys, agents, assigns, insurers, representatives, counsel,
      administrators, successors, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates,
      shareholders, and/or directors and to participate in such charges, claims,
      actions or litigation only if he is compelled to do so by subpoena or
      other court order. Urban Jonson agrees to notify the Company within a
      reasonable period of time after he has learned of such subpoena or other
      court order. Urban Jonson further agrees that he will use reasonable
      efforts to cooperate with the Company in connection with any efforts it
      may exert to challenge or quash such subpoena or court order, or to seek a
      protective order.

6.    Urban Jonson hereby waives any right to reinstatement and affirmatively
      states he does not want to be reinstated by the Company. Urban Jonson and
      the Company further agree that Urban Jonson will not now or at any time in
      the future apply for or accept employment with the Company or any
      subsidiaries. If, either knowingly or unknowingly, Urban Jonson does apply
      for and/or is hired for a position with the Company or any subsidiaries,
      and, based upon the terms of this Agreement, the Company and/or any
      subsidiaries decline to consider Urban Jonson's application, or, if
      already hired, elect to terminate Urban Jonson's employment, Urban Jonson
      acknowledges and agrees that such conduct by the Company or any
      subsidiaries shall be appropriate, proper, permissible and consistent with
      the terms of this Agreement, and Urban Jonson further agrees that he shall
      not seek to contest or otherwise challenge such conduct by a proceeding
      before any court or administrative agency or by instituting any other type
      of legal proceeding of any kind against the Company. If, in contravention
      of the terms of this Agreement, Urban Jonson seeks to commence such
      proceeding, he agrees that he shall reimburse the Company or any
      subsidiaries for the costs and fees it incurs in connection with obtaining
      the dismissal of such proceeding or in defending such proceeding. Urban
      Jonson further acknowledges and agrees that the Company has no obligation
      to him whatsoever except as set forth in this Agreement, Confessed
      Judgment Promissory Note, and any and all outstanding unexercised options
      pursuant to the Nonstatutory Stock Option Grant awarded February 18, 2004.

7.    The parties acknowledge that they have consulted with legal counsel prior
      to executing this Agreement.

8.    The terms of this Agreement are contractual and not mere recitals. The
      parties acknowledge the accuracy of the Recitals and incorporate the
      Recitals into and make them a part of this Agreement.

<PAGE>

9.    The understandings set forth herein represent the complete agreement of
      the parties and may not be altered or changed except by the mutual
      agreement of the parties, evidenced in a writing signed by all parties and
      specifically identified as an amendment to this Agreement

10.   If any covenant or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or
      incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law, administrative
      order, judicial decision or public policy, all other covenants and
      provisions herein shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect.

11.   This Agreement and all covenants contained herein shall be binding upon
      the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, affiliates,
      administrators, successors, and assigns.

12.   This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Maryland,
      without regard to its choice of law provisions.

13.   This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts,
      each of which will be deemed an original, and it will not be necessary in
      making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one
      such counterpart. A facsimile of an original signature shall be effective
      as an original signature.

14.   The obligations of the both parties under this Agreement are contingent
      upon each party's execution and non-revocation of this Agreement.

15.   Each person executing this Agreement represents that they are authorized
      to execute this Agreement on behalf of the relevant party.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date
and year first set forth above.

SOLUTION TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:   /s/ Dan Jonson
      ------------------------------
      Dan Jonson
      President and CEO

URBAN K. JONSON

By:   /s/ Urban K. Jonson
      ------------------------------
      Urban K. Jonson

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

                       CONFESSED JUDGMENT PROMISSORY NOTE
                       ----------------------------------EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                               ESSEX ELECTRIC INC.

                                       AND

                                SOUTHWIRE COMPANY

                            DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005
<PAGE>

                                    CONTENTS

ARTICLE 1 PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS..........................................1

  1.1      Purchase of the Purchased Assets....................................1

  1.2      Purchase Price......................................................1

  1.3      Payment of the Purchase Price.......................................2

  1.4      Adjustment of Purchase Price........................................2

  1.5      Prorations and Certain Payments.....................................3

  1.6      Closing.............................................................4

  1.7      Deliveries..........................................................4

  1.8      Sale of Idled Production Machinery and Equipment....................4

  1.9      Allocation of Purchase Price........................................4

ARTICLE 2 ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES............................................4

  2.1      Assumption of Assumed Liabilities...................................5

  2.2      Assignment of Certain Contracts.....................................5

ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER.............................5

  3.1      Organization and Qualification......................................5

  3.2      Authority and Binding Effect........................................5

  3.3      Validity of Contemplated Transactions; Governmental Authorizations..6

  3.4      Subsidiaries; Joint Ventures........................................7

  3.5      Title to Purchased Assets; No Liens.................................7

  3.6      Absence of Certain Changes..........................................7

  3.7      Taxes...............................................................8

  3.8      Florence Real Property..............................................8

  3.9      Personal Property...................................................9

  3.10     Condition of Property...............................................9

  3.11     Intellectual Property...............................................9

  3.12     Indebtedness.......................................................10

  3.13     Inventory..........................................................10

  3.14     Licenses...........................................................10

  3.15     Environmental......................................................10

  3.16     Litigation.........................................................12

                                       i
<PAGE>

  3.17     Employee Benefit Plans.............................................12

  3.18     Contracts..........................................................13

  3.19     Products, Services & Warranties....................................14

  3.20     Suppliers and Customers............................................14

  3.21     Employee Matters...................................................15

  3.22     Brokers and Finders................................................15

  3.23     Compliance with Law................................................15

  3.24     Statements True and Correct........................................15

  3.25     Patronage..........................................................15

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER.............................16

  4.1      Organization, Standing and Foreign Qualification...................16

  4.2      Authority and Binding Effect.......................................16

  4.3      Validity of Contemplated Transactions, Restrictions................16

  4.4      Brokers and Finders................................................16

  4.5      Financing..........................................................16

  4.6      Statements True and Correct........................................17

ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF SELLER AND PURCHASER.........17

  5.1      Operation of Business Pending Closing..............................17

  5.2      Right of Inspection; Access........................................17

  5.3      Confidentiality....................................................18

  5.4      Public Announcements...............................................18

  5.5      Use of Names.......................................................18

  5.6      Environmental Corrective Actions...................................19

  5.7      Environmental Compliance Matters...................................19

  5.8      Employees..........................................................19

  5.9      WARN Act...........................................................20

  5.10     Reimbursement for Severance Obligations............................20

  5.11     Other Offers and Exclusive Dealing.................................20

  5.12     Certain Tax Matters................................................21

  5.13     Idled Production Machinery and Equipment...........................21

  5.14     Expenses...........................................................21

                                       ii
<PAGE>

  5.15     Delivery of Books and Records......................................22

  5.16     Alpine Proxy Materials.............................................22

  5.17     HSR Act Filings....................................................22

  5.18     Further Assurances; Covenant to Satisfy Conditions.................22

  5.19     Title..............................................................23

  5.20     Notification of Changes............................................24

  5.21     Future Business Dealings...........................................25

  5.22     Intrusive Testing..................................................25

ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER........................25

  6.1      Representations True and Covenants Performed at Closing............25

  6.2      No Injunction, Etc.................................................26

  6.3      No Material Damage to Florence Manufacturing Facility..............26

  6.4      HSR Act Approval...................................................26

  6.5      Alpine Stockholder Approval........................................26

  6.6      Bill of Sale; Assignments; Etc.....................................26

  6.7      Assignment of Non-Competition Rights...............................26

  6.8      Assignment of Intellectual Property................................26

  6.9      Irrevocable Proxy..................................................27

  6.10     Assignment of Trademark License Agreement..........................27

  6.11     Lien Releases......................................................27

  6.12     Limited Warranty Deed and Quitclaim Deed...........................27

  6.13     [Intentionally Omitted]............................................27

  6.14     Certificate(s) of Occupancy, Etc...................................27

  6.15     Section 1445 Affidavit.............................................27

  6.16     Covenant Not To Compete............................................27

  6.17     Transition Services Agreement......................................27

  6.18     Secretary's Certificate............................................27

  6.19     Consents...........................................................27

ARTICLE 7 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER.......................28

  7.1      Representations True and Covenants Performed at Closing............28

  7.2      No Injunction, Etc.................................................28

  7.3      HSR Act Approval...................................................28

                                      iii
<PAGE>

  7.4      Alpine Stockholder Approval........................................28

  7.5      Payment of the Purchase Price......................................28

  7.6      Assignment and Assumption Agreement................................28

  7.7      Secretary's Certificate............................................29

  7.8      Transition Services Agreement......................................29

  7.9      Utility Letter of Credit...........................................29

  7.10     Environmental Matters Insurance Policy.............................29

ARTICLE 8 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND INDEMNIFICATION......29

  8.1      Survival of Representations and Warranties.........................29

  8.2      Obligation of Seller to Indemnify..................................30

  8.3      Obligation of Buyer to Indemnify...................................30

  8.4      Notice of Loss or Asserted Liability...............................31

  8.5      Opportunity to Contest.............................................31

  8.6      Limitations on Indemnification.....................................32

  8.7      Subrogation Rights.................................................33

  8.8      Post-Closing Maintenance of Cash, Etc..............................33

  8.9      Indemnification Payments...........................................33

  8.10     Exclusive Remedies.................................................33

ARTICLE 9 TERMINATION.........................................................33

   9.1     Method of Termination..............................................33

   9.2     Notice of Termination..............................................34

   9.3     Effect of Termination..............................................35

   9.4     Destruction, Damage or Condemnation................................35

ARTICLE 10 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS..............................................36

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS......................................................49

  11.1     Notices............................................................49

  11.2     Entire Agreement...................................................49

  11.3     Modifications, Amendments and Waivers..............................50

  11.4     Successors and Assigns.............................................50

  11.5     Table of Contents; Captions; References............................50

  11.6     Governing Law......................................................50

                                       iv
<PAGE>

  11.7     Consent to Jurisdiction............................................50

  11.8     Pronouns...........................................................51

  11.9     Severability.......................................................51

  11.10    Remedies Not Exclusive.............................................51

  11.11    Counterparts.......................................................51

  11.12    Interpretations....................................................51

  11.13    No Intention to Benefit Third Parties..............................51

                                       v
<PAGE>

                                    SCHEDULES

Schedule AL -           Assumed Liabilities
Schedule IPME -         Idled Production Machinery and Equipment
Schedule 1.2 -          Agreed Upon Procedures
Schedule 3.1 -          Locations of Purchased Assets
Schedule 3.5 -          Liens
Schedule 3.6 -          Absence of Certain Changes
Schedule 3.7 -          Taxes
Schedule 3.8 -          Legal Description of Florence Real Property
Schedule 3.9 -          Personal Property
Schedule 3.10 -         Condition of Property
Schedule 3.11 -         Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.12 -         Indebtedness
Schedule 3.13 -         Exceptions to Title to Inventory
Schedule 3.14 -         Licenses
Schedule 3.15 -         Environmental
Schedule 3.16(a) -      Litigation
Schedule 3.16(b) -      Government Investigation
Schedule 3.17(a) -      Florence Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 3.17(d) -      Severance or Other Florence-Related Employment
                        Obligations
Schedule 3.18(a)(i) -   Supply & Services Contracts
Schedule 3.18(a)(ii) -  Sales Contracts
Schedule 3.18(a)(iii) - Distributor Contracts
Schedule 3.18(a)(iv) -  Employment; Affiliate Contracts
Schedule 3.18(a)(v) -   Leased Personal Property
Schedule 3.18(a)(vi) -  Other Contracts
Schedule 3.18(b) -      Assigned Rights
Schedule 3.18(c) -      Consents to Avoid Default
Schedule 3.19 -         Products, Services & Warranties
Schedule 3.20A -        Large Suppliers

                                       vi
<PAGE>

Schedule 3.20B -        Large Customers
Schedule 3.21 -         Florence Employees
Schedule 3.23 -         Compliance with Law
Schedule 5.2 -          Pre-Closing Access, Etc.
Schedule 5.6 -          Environmental Corrective Actions
Schedule 5.7 -          Environmental Compliance Matters
Schedule 6.19 -         Certain Contract Requiring Consent

                                       vii
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit A -    Form of Seller's Bringdown Certificate

Exhibit B -    Form of Bill of Sale

Exhibit C -    Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

Exhibit D -    Form of Assignment of Non-Competition Rights

Exhibit E-1 -  Form of Trademark/Service mark Assignment (U.S.)

Exhibit E-2 -  Form of Trademark Assignment (Canada)

Exhibit E-3 -  Form of Domain Name Assignment (U.S.)

Exhibit F -    Form of Irrevocable Proxy

Exhibit G -    Form of Assignment of Trademark License Agreement

Exhibit H -    Form of Limited Warranty Deed

Exhibit I -    Form of Non-Competition Agreement

Exhibit J -    Form of Transition Services Agreement

Exhibit K -    Form of Seller's Secretary's Certificate

Exhibit L -    Form of Buyer's Bringdown Certificate

Exhibit M -    Form of Buyer's Secretary's Certificate

Exhibit N -    Form of Environmental Matters Insurance Policy

                                      viii
<PAGE>

                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

      THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made this 30th day of September, 2005, by
and between ESSEX ELECTRIC INC., a Delaware corporation ("Seller"), and
SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Buyer").

                                   BACKGROUND

      Seller is the owner of, and desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to
purchase from Seller,  certain  assets of Seller,  upon the terms and subject to
the  conditions  set  forth  herein.  Certain  capitalized  terms  used  in this
Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in Article 10 hereof.

      NOW,   THEREFORE,   in  consideration   of  the  mutual   representations,
warranties,  covenants  and  agreements  contained  herein,  and other  good and
valuable  consideration,  the  receipt,  sufficiency  and  adequacy of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1
                           PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS

      1.1 Purchase of the Purchased Assets.  Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall sell, convey,  transfer,  assign
and deliver to Buyer,  and Buyer shall  purchase and accept from Seller,  all of
the  Purchased  Assets,  free and  clear of any and all  Liens,  other  than the
Permitted Liens.

      1.2 Purchase Price.  Subject to adjustment as hereinafter  set forth,  the
total "Purchase Price" for the Purchased Assets shall be equal to the sum of the
following:

      (a)   the Purchased Inventory Amount; plus

      (b)   the Prepaid Assets Amount; plus

      (c)   $26,950,000.00; less

      (d)   the Assumed Liability Amount.

      The Purchased  Inventory  Amount to be paid at the Closing (the "Estimated
Purchased Inventory Amount") shall be determined in accordance with Schedule 1.2
(the "Agreed Upon Procedures") and shall be adjusted  post-Closing in accordance
with Section  1.4. If,  pursuant to the Agreed Upon  Procedures,  the  Estimated
Purchased Inventory Amount is not at least equal to 95% of the value of Seller's
Inventory  relating to the Business as then shown on Seller's  books of account,
Seller shall have the option to  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to Section
9.1(b). Each of the Prepaid Assets Amount and the Assumed Liability Amount to be
paid at Closing  (the  "Estimated  Prepaid  Assets  Amount"  and the  "Estimated
Assumed  Liability  Amount") shall be estimated by Seller and Buyer prior to the
Closing  on the  basis of the  Agreed  Upon  Procedures  and  shall be  adjusted
post-Closing in accordance with Section 1.4. The Estimated  Purchased  Inventory
Amount plus the Estimated  Prepaid  Assets  Amount minus the  Estimated  Assumed
Liability  Amount is referred to as the  "Estimated  Purchase  Price  Adjustment
Amount."
<PAGE>

      1.3 Payment of the Purchase  Price.  On the Closing Date,  Buyer shall pay
the Purchase  Price to Seller and Alpine as follows:  (a) by a wire  transfer of
the sum of (i)  $26,950,000  plus (ii) the Estimated  Purchase Price  Adjustment
Amount, in immediately  available funds,  provided that, to the extent necessary
to obtain the release of any Lien (other than Permitted  Liens) on the Purchased
Assets,  a portion  of such  payment  may be paid to the  holder of such Lien to
secure its release and (b) by the  assumption  of the  Assumed  Liabilities.  At
least two  business  days prior to the  Closing  Date,  Seller and Alpine  shall
deliver to Buyer wire  transfer  instructions  and Buyer shall pay to Seller and
Alpine the Purchase Price as so directed.

      1.4 Adjustment of Purchase Price.

            (a) Within 45 days following the Closing,  Buyer shall  determine in
good faith each of (i) the Purchased  Inventory Amount,  (ii) the Prepaid Assets
Amount and (iii) the Assumed Liability Amount as of the Closing Date (the sum of
(i) and (ii) minus (iii) being  referred to as the "Closing Date Purchase  Price
Adjustment Amount"),  in each case based solely upon the Agreed Upon Procedures.
Such determination shall be delivered to Seller for review and approval.

            (b) If Seller in good faith disagrees with Buyer's  determination of
the Closing Date Purchase Price Adjustment Amount,  Seller may deliver to Buyer,
within 30 days  after the  delivery  to Seller of Buyer's  determination  of the
Closing Date Purchase Price Adjustment  Amount (the "Seller Review  Period"),  a
notice (the "Objection  Notice") setting forth in reasonable detail the items or
amounts with which Seller disagrees.  Seller shall be deemed to have agreed with
all items and amounts  contained  in Buyer's  determination  of the Closing Date
Purchase Price Adjustment Amount not included in the Objection Notice. If Seller
does not deliver an  Objection  Notice  within the Seller  Review  Period,  then
Seller shall be deemed to agree in all respects  with Buyer's  determination  of
Closing Date Purchase Price Adjustment Amount and Buyer's determination shall be
final and binding upon Seller and Buyer.

            (c) If an Objection  Notice is properly and timely  delivered,  then
Seller and Buyer  shall  negotiate  in good faith with each other to resolve the
disputed items or amounts set forth in the Objection  Notice, in each case based
solely upon the Agreed Upon Procedures. If the parties are unable to resolve the
disputed items or amounts set forth in the Objection Notice within 30 days after
Seller's delivery of the Objection Notice to Buyer, then the parties shall cause
the Birmingham,  Alabama office of KPMG LLP (or, if it is unable or unwilling to
serve,  a firm of  independent  accountants  of nationally  recognized  standing
reasonably  satisfactory  to Seller and Buyer (which shall not have any material
relationship  with Seller or Buyer or any of their respective  Affiliates) (KPMG
or such other firm is  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Independent  Accounting
Firm")) to review  promptly this  Agreement,  the Agreed Upon Procedures and the
disputed  items or amounts  for the  purpose of  calculating  the  Closing  Date
Purchase Price Adjustment  Amount. In making such  calculation,  the Independent
Accounting   Firm  shall  consider  only  those  items  or  amounts  in  Buyer's
determination of the Closing Date Purchase Price  Adjustment  Amount as to which
Seller has, in the  Objection  Notice,  disagreed  and such other  issues as may
reasonably  be affected by the items as to which  Seller has so  disagreed.  The
Independent  Accounting  Firm shall deliver to Seller and Buyer,  as promptly as
practicable,  but no later than 30 days after the Independent Accounting Firm is
so engaged, a written report setting forth its calculation of the disputed items
or amounts and the Closing Date  Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Amount.  Upon such
delivery,  such report and the calculations set forth therein shall be final and
binding  upon  Seller and  Buyer.  The cost of such  review and report  shall be
shared equally by Seller and Buyer.

                                       2
<PAGE>

            (d) Each party will furnish to the Independent  Accounting Firm such
work papers and other documents and  information  relating to the disputed items
and amounts as the Independent  Accounting  Firm may reasonably  request and are
available to that party (or its  independent  public  accountants),  and will be
afforded  the  opportunity  to present to the  Independent  Accounting  Firm any
material  relating to the  determination  of the  Closing  Date  Purchase  Price
Adjustment  Amount consistent with the Agreed Upon Procedures and to discuss the
determination with the Independent Accounting Firm.

            (e) Within three business days after the calculation of Closing Date
Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Amount  becomes final pursuant to Section 1.4(b) or
Section 1.4(c),  as applicable,  (i) Buyer shall pay to Seller, by wire transfer
of immediately  available  funds to an account  designated by Seller,  an amount
equal to the amount,  if any, by which the final  Closing  Date  Purchase  Price
Adjustment  Amount exceeds the Estimated  Closing Date Purchase Price Adjustment
Amount,  together with interest thereon at the Prime Rate from and including the
Closing Date to but excluding the date of such payment, or (ii) Seller shall pay
to  Buyer,  by wire  transfer  of  immediately  available  funds  to an  account
designated  by  Buyer,  an  amount  equal to the  amount,  if any,  by which the
Estimated  Purchase  Price  Adjustment  Amount  exceeds the final  Closing  Date
Purchase Price  Adjustment  Amount,  together with interest thereon at the Prime
Rate from and  including  the  Closing  Date to but  excluding  the date of such
payment. Any interest payable shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months.

      1.5  Prorations  and Certain  Payments.  To the extent not included in the
Assumed  Liabilities,  the following prorations relating to the Purchased Assets
shall be made as of the  Closing  Date,  with  Seller  liable to the extent such
items  relate to any time period  prior to the  Closing and Buyer  liable to the
extent such items relate to periods on or after the Closing:

            (i) personal  property,  real estate,  occupancy  and other  similar
      Taxes, if any, on or with respect to the Purchased Assets;

            (ii) utilities (including water, sewer,  telephone,  electricity and
      fuel);

            (iii) all other appropriately proratable items that shall be paid by
      Buyer or which otherwise  affect the Business or the Purchased  Assets and
      that relate, in whole or in part, to periods prior to the Closing Date.

The net amount of all such  prorations  shall be settled and paid on the Closing
Date upon  consultation and the reasonable  mutual agreement of Seller and Buyer
and, to extent relevant thereto,  the Agreed Upon Procedures.  In the event that
the amount of any of the items to be prorated  pursuant  to this  Section 1.5 is
not known by Seller and Buyer at the Closing,  the proration shall be made based
upon the amount of the most recent cost of such item to Seller.  After  Closing,
Buyer and Seller  each shall  provide to the other,  within five  business  days
after  receipt,  each Third Party  invoice  relating  to any item so  estimated.
Within  ten  business  days  thereafter,  Buyer and  Seller  each shall make any
payments  to the other  that are  necessary  to  compensate  for any  difference
between the proration made at the Closing and the correct proration based on the
Third Party invoice.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Seller
and Buyer  cannot agree upon the  prorations  to be made under this Section 1.5,
Seller and Buyer agree to use the dispute  resolution  mechanism  in Section 1.4
hereof,  including,  if necessary,  hiring the  Independent  Accounting  Firm to
settle conclusively any such dispute.

                                       3
<PAGE>

      1.6 Closing.  Unless the parties  have  otherwise  agreed in writing,  the
Closing  shall take place on the third  business day after the date on which the
last of the  conditions in Article 6 and Article 7 have been  satisfied,  at the
offices of Sutherland,  Asbill & Brennan LLP, 999 Peachtree Street,  N.E., Suite
2300,  Atlanta,  Georgia  30309.  Title to the Purchased  Assets shall pass from
Seller to Buyer upon the  occurrence  of the Closing,  unless the parties  shall
otherwise have agreed in writing.

      1.7  Deliveries.  All  deliveries,  payments  and other  transactions  and
documents  relating to the Closing (a) shall be interdependent and none shall be
deemed effective  unless and until all are effective  (except to the extent that
the party entitled to the benefit thereof has waived satisfaction or performance
thereof  as a  condition  precedent  to  Closing)  and (b) shall be deemed to be
consummated simultaneously.

      1.8 Sale of Idled  Production  Machinery  and  Equipment.  Notwithstanding
anything to the  contrary in this  Agreement,  the sale of the Idled  Production
Machinery and Equipment, if any, included in the Purchased Assets shall be on an
"AS IS, WHERE IS" BASIS.

      1.9 Allocation of Purchase Price.  At the Closing,  Buyer and Seller shall
use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to agree upon an  allocation of the total
Purchase Price payable for the Purchased Assets;  provided,  however,  that such
allocation  shall be  adjusted  in respect of the  amounts  attributable  to the
Purchased Inventory and the Prepaid Assets promptly upon the final determination
thereof in accordance  with Sections 1.2 and 1.4 on a  dollar-for-dollar  basis.
Such  allocation  shall be made in accordance  with Section 1060 of the Code and
Treas. Reg. ss. 1.338-6 and shall include a reasonable amount being allocated to
covenants not to compete from Seller,  Alpine,  Alpine Holdco Inc. and Steven S.
Elbaum.  The  parties  agree to be bound by such  allocation  and to report  the
transaction contemplated herein for federal, state and local income Tax purposes
in accordance with such  allocation.  No payment to any Person under Section 1.3
shall have any effect on the allocation pursuant to this Section 1.9.

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 2
                            ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES

      2.1  Assumption of Assumed  Liabilities.  Buyer  agrees,  effective on the
Closing Date, to assume the Assumed  Liabilities and thereafter to pay,  perform
and discharge such Assumed  Liabilities in full, in accordance with their terms;
provided,  however that Buyer may in good faith contest or cause to be contested
the amount or validity  thereof,  and Seller agrees to provide,  at Buyer's sole
expense,  reasonable  assistance  to Buyer in so  contesting  such  claims;  and
provided,  further,  that,  except as  contemplated  by the Transition  Services
Agreement  (as  hereinafter  defined),   Seller's  obligation  to  provide  such
assistance  shall be limited to the extent Seller has the requisite  information
or personnel to then assist Buyer.

      2.2 Assignment of Certain Contracts.

            (a)  Prior  to  the  Closing,  Seller  shall  use  its  commercially
reasonable  efforts to obtain all consents necessary to effect the assignment of
the Contract that is listed on Schedule 6.19. Buyer agrees to provide reasonable
assistance to Seller in connection  with  obtaining any such consent,  including
completion  of credit  applications  and the  disclosure  of any  financial  and
creditworthiness  information.  To the  extent  any  such  consent  has not been
obtained  prior  to  Closing,   then  Seller  shall  continue  its  commercially
reasonable  efforts to obtain such consent(s) after the Closing and Seller shall
take such action as shall be reasonably necessary (i) to afford Buyer the rights
and  obligations  of Seller  under  such  Contract  and (ii) if  applicable,  to
facilitate  the  collection of the monies due and payable,  or to become due and
payable, to Seller pursuant to such Contract, and Seller shall remit such monies
to Buyer within five business days of actual collection.

            (b) Buyer, at its expense, shall perform all of Seller's obligations
due to be performed  under any Contract as to which consent to assignment is not
obtained and that is included in the Assumed Liabilities to the extent (i) Buyer
can perform such obligations without violating the terms of such Contract (other
than the non-assignability  provisions thereof) and (ii) Buyer is being provided
the benefits of such Contract.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                                    OF SELLER

      Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that:

      3.1  Organization  and   Qualification.   Seller  is  a  corporation  duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware,  with the  requisite  corporate  power and  authority  to carry on its
business  and to own,  lease and operate its assets as  presently  conducted  by
Seller.  Seller is duly qualified or licensed to transact  business as a foreign
corporation in good standing in the State of Alabama.  Schedule 3.1 contains the
address  (including  city,  state or other  jurisdiction  and zip  code) of each
location where any of the Purchased Assets are located and each trade name under
which Seller operates at each such address.

      3.2 Authority and Binding Effect. Seller has the requisite corporate power
and  authority  necessary to enter into and perform its  obligations  under this
Agreement  and  the  Other   Agreements  and  to  consummate  the   transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement  and the Other  Agreements  have been duly  approved by all  necessary
corporate  action  on the  part  of  Seller,  except  for the  approval  of this
Agreement and the Other Agreements by the shareholders of Alpine. This Agreement
has been,  and the Other  Agreements  will be, duly  executed  and  delivered by
properly  authorized  officers of Seller and each constitutes,  or when executed
and  delivered  will  constitute,  the legal,  valid and binding  obligation  of
Seller,  enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar laws affecting  creditors' rights  generally,  or by the availability of
equitable remedies.

                                       5
<PAGE>

      3.3 Validity of Contemplated Transactions; Governmental Authorizations.

            (a)  Validity.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement  and the Other  Agreements  by  Seller,  and the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, do not and will not (i) violate any
provision of the charter  documents or Bylaws of Seller,  or of any Law (subject
to Section 7.4 hereof) or Order relating to Seller,  (ii) except as disclosed on
Schedule 3.18(c),  result in a Default under any Contract of Seller (other than,
to the extent such Default arises solely because a consent is required to effect
the assignment  thereof,  the Ordinary Contracts  Requiring  Consent),  or (iii)
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on the Purchased  Assets (other
than Permitted Liens).

            (b) Government  Authorizations.  Except for the filing under the HSR
Act  contemplated  by Section 5.17 hereof,  notices  contemplated by Section 5.9
hereof and the filing of the definitive proxy materials  contemplated by Section
5.16 hereof, no notification,  consent, authorization, order, review or approval
of, or filing or registration  with, any Governmental  Authority is required for
or in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the
Other  Agreements by Seller or the  consummation  by Seller of the  transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

                                       6
<PAGE>

      3.4  Subsidiaries;  Joint  Ventures.  No shares or any  ownership or other
investment interest, either of record,  beneficially or equitably, in any Person
are included in the Purchased Assets.

      3.5 Title to Purchased Assets;  No Liens.  Except as disclosed on Schedule
3.5 or in Section 3.8 with respect to Real  Property,  and except for  Permitted
Liens,  Seller  has good,  valid and  marketable  title to all of the  Purchased
Assets free and clear of any and all Liens.

      3.6  Absence  of Certain  Changes.  Except  (i) with  respect to  Excluded
Assets,  (ii) as  disclosed  on  Schedule  3.6 and  (iii)  for  Seller's  recent
cost-cutting, staff reduction, plant closings, termination notices to agents and
distributors and similar actions  (collectively,  the "Restructuring  Actions"),
since December 31, 2004,  there has not been any act or omission with respect to
the  Business  (excluding  for the  purposes of this  Section 3.6, any change or
decline  attributable to or arising from (A) the financial  condition or results
of operations of the Business as conducted by Seller,  (B) the level of business
or patronage of  customers of the  Business,  (C) a decline or change in general
economic or  business  conditions,  (D) a decline or change in general  industry
conditions  or  (E)  the   announcement  or  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated by this  Agreement)  other than in the ordinary course of business.
Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  except as  disclosed  on
Schedule 3.6, there has not been:

            (a) any change or decline in the Business or the  Purchased  Assets,
whether or not  covered  by  insurance,  that has had,  or could  reasonably  be
expected to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse Effect
upon the Business or the Purchased Assets (other than the Inventory);

            (b) [Intentionally Omitted];

            (c) any change in any method of accounting  or  accounting  practice
used by Seller with respect to its Inventory or any Material  change in Seller's
manner  of  conducting   the  Business   conducted  at  and  from  the  Florence
Manufacturing Facility;

            (d) any payment of any Material obligation of the Business otherwise
than when it has become due or any acceleration or deferral of any item;

            (e) any  entering  into of a Contract  with  respect to the Business
unless such  Contract  was entered  into in the  ordinary  course of business in
accordance with Seller's past practice;

            (f) any sale, lease or other conveyance of all or any portion of (or
any  interest  in) any of Seller's  property  used in the  Business  (other than
dispositions  in the  ordinary  course of  business  or in  connection  with the
Restructuring Actions and of Excluded Assets);

            (g) any  settlement  of any  dispute  with  respect to the  Business
involving more than $100,000;

                                       7
<PAGE>

            (h) any increase or other Material change in the amount or timing of
wages, salaries, benefits or other compensation of any Florence Employee (except
for customary  increases  based on term of service or promotion of  non-salaried
Florence Employees); or

            (i) any Contract to do any of the foregoing or any Contract  entered
into by Seller  with  respect  to the  Business  not in the  ordinary  course of
business.

      3.7 Taxes.  Except for Taxes of the type  included  in the  definition  of
Assumed  Liabilities,  Seller has no liability  with respect to Taxes that would
affect in any way whatsoever  Buyer's right,  title,  and interest in or Buyer's
right to use or enjoy  (free and clear of any Lien other than  Permitted  Liens)
any Purchased Asset.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7, Seller has no special
Tax status  granted by any  Governmental  Authority  or Law as to any  Purchased
Asset.  No  audit,  action,   proceeding,   claim  or,  to  Seller's  knowledge,
investigation  is pending  with  respect to any Taxes  payable by or asserted in
writing against Seller relating to any Purchased  Asset.  Except as set forth on
Schedule  3.7,  Seller  has not  received  notice  in  writing  from any  Taxing
authority  of its intent to examine or audit any of its  property Tax Returns or
other filings  relating to any Purchased  Asset. No Material claim has been made
in writing against Seller relating to any Purchased Asset or the Business by any
Governmental  Authority in any  jurisdiction in which Seller did not file sales,
use, value-added or similar Tax Returns or other required filings or did not pay
any such Taxes, that Seller is or could reasonably be subject to any such Tax by
that jurisdiction.

      3.8 Florence Real Property.

            (a) Schedule 3.8 contains a correct and complete  description of all
of the land  comprising the Florence Real Property.  Seller has good,  valid and
marketable  title to the Florence Real Property subject only to (i) that certain
mortgage securing the amount of $100,000,000.00  from Seller to Foothill Capital
Corporation,  as Agent,  recorded in Real Property Book 2002,  Page 75198 in the
office of the Judge of Probate of  Lauderdale  County,  Alabama,  which shall be
discharged  by Seller on or prior to the  Closing  Date in  accordance  with the
provisions  of Section  5.19(b) and (ii) the  following  title  exceptions  (the
"Permitted  Title  Exceptions"):  (i) state and county ad valorem  taxes for the
year 2005 and  subsequent  years,  (ii) the state of facts shown on that certain
survey of Derek L. Harvel,  Registered Land Surveyor, dated July 27, 2005, (iii)
any easements,  rights of way or  irregularities of title that do not Materially
and  adversely  affect the value or present use of the Florence  Real  Property,
including,  without  limitation,  any easement,  license and/or right created in
favor of any public utility company providing  electric,  steam, gas, telephone,
water,  sewer,  cable or other utility  service to the Florence Real Property to
install,  use,  maintain,  repair and replace  wiring,  cables,  terminal boxes,
lines,  service connections,  poles, mains,  facilities and the like upon, under
and across the  Florence  Real  Property,  (iv) all present  and future  zoning,
environmental,  municipal,  building and all other Laws and similar  matters and
restrictions  imposed by any  Governmental  Authority  or similar body or agency
having jurisdiction over the Florence Real Property, or any portion thereof, (v)
any  variation  between Tax lots,  Tax  diagrams  and/or Tax maps and the record
descriptions,  and (vi) any other exception to title accepted or deemed accepted
by Buyer pursuant to Section 5.19 hereof.

                                       8
<PAGE>

            (b) As of the date  hereof,  Seller  has not  received  any  written
notice from any  Governmental  Authority  with regard to  violations of building
codes, zoning, subdivision or other similar Laws.

            (c)  As  of  the  Closing  Date,  there  will  be no  leases,  sales
contracts, or option agreements affecting the Florence Real Property or any part
thereof,  and there  will be no  Persons  in  possession  of the  Florence  Real
Property or any part thereof other than Seller.

            (d) As of the date  hereof,  Seller  has not  received  any  written
notice from any Governmental Authority of any Order for the sale,  condemnation,
expropriation  or taking (by eminent  domain or  otherwise) of the Florence Real
Property by any  Governmental  Authority,  nor has any such sale,  condemnation,
expropriation or taking been, to Seller's knowledge, proposed or threatened.

            (e) As of the date  hereof,  Seller  has not  received  any  written
notice from any Governmental  Authority of any special  assessments or community
improvement district assessments that have been levied against the Florence Real
Property or any proceeding  pending as of the date hereof for an increase in the
assessed valuation of the Florence Real Property.

      3.9 Personal  Property.  Schedule  3.9 is a complete  list of each item of
Personal  Property  relating to the Business (other than the Excluded Assets) as
of the date hereof, except for individual items having a book value of less than
$5,000.

      3.10 Condition of Property.  As of the date hereof, except as disclosed on
Schedule 3.10, to Seller's knowledge (excluding for the purposes of this Section
3.10,  any obligation on Seller to undertake any inquiry or inspection as to the
physical condition of the Florence Real Property or any improvements  thereon in
connection with the representation  made hereunder;  and Buyer acknowledges that
Seller  has not made  any  specific  investigation  as to the  condition  of the
improvements)  (a)  the  foundation,  exterior  walls  and  roofs  of any of the
improvements  constructed on the Florence Real Property are  structurally  sound
and in good repair,  normal wear and tear excepted and (b) each item of Personal
Property  included in the  Purchased  Assets  (other  than the Idled  Production
Machinery and Equipment) is in good repair and operating condition,  normal wear
and tear excepted. Except as specifically set forth in this Section, Seller does
not make any implied warranty that any item of tangible property included in the
Purchased Assets is fit for a particular purpose or is merchantable.

      3.11 Intellectual Property.

            (a)  Schedule  3.11  contains  a correct  and  complete  list of all
Material  Intellectual  Property  related to the Business,  both owned by Seller
("Seller's  Intellectual  Property")  and licensed by Seller from Third  Parties
("Licensed  Intellectual  Property")  (other  than  computer  software  that  is
generally  available  to the  public).  All  Licenses  included in the  Licensed
Intellectual  Property  are in full force and effect,  are not in  Default,  and
constitute  legal,  valid and  binding  obligations  of the  respective  parties
thereto. To Seller's knowledge,  (i) Seller has not violated,  infringed upon or
unlawfully or wrongfully used the Intellectual  Property of others and (ii) none
of Seller's  Intellectual  Property  related to the Business  infringes  upon or
otherwise  violates  the  rights of  others.  Seller  has all  right,  title and
interest  in the  Intellectual  Property  identified  as  Seller's  Intellectual
Property  on  Schedule  3.11   sufficient  to  transfer  title  to  Buyer.   The
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement will not alter
or impair any of Seller's rights to Seller's  Intellectual Property or result in
a Default  under any Contract of Seller  relating to any  Licensed  Intellectual
Property. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.11, Seller is not obligated, nor has
Seller  incurred any  Liability,  to make any payments  for  royalties,  fees or
otherwise to any Person in connection with any of Seller's Intellectual Property
related to the Business.  All patents,  trademarks,  trade names, service marks,
assumed  names,  and  copyrights and all  registrations  thereof  included in or
related to Seller's  Intellectual  Property  related to the Business are validly
issued, subsisting and in full force and effect.

                                       9
<PAGE>

            (b) No  Affiliate  of  Seller  and no  present  or  former  officer,
director,  partner or employee of Seller or of any  Affiliate  of Seller owns or
has any proprietary,  financial or other interest, direct or indirect, in any of
Seller's Intellectual Property identified on Schedule 3.11.

      3.12 Indebtedness. Schedule 3.12 lists each promissory note, instrument or
other document or Contract  (collectively,  "Debt Instruments") that (a) relates
to (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding trade payables and accrued
payables  and  Taxes)  of  Seller  or (ii)  any  capital  lease,  lease-purchase
arrangement,  guaranty  (except  endorsements  made in the  ordinary  course  of
business  in  connection  with the  deposit of items for  collection)  by Seller
relating  to the  Purchased  Assets  (the  terms  listed  in (i) and (ii)  being
collectively,  "Indebtedness"),  and (b) is either (i)  included  in the Assumed
Liabilities or (ii) imposes,  or could  reasonably be expected to impose, a Lien
with respect to any Purchased  Asset or any aspect of the  Business,  other than
those related solely to the Excluded Assets.

      3.13  Inventory.  All Inventory which Seller does not manufacture has been
or will be acquired by Seller only in bona fide transactions entered into in the
ordinary  course of Business.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13,  Seller has
now and on the Closing  Date will have valid legal title to its  Inventory  free
and clear of any consignments or Liens,  other than Liens to be removed prior to
Closing.  Seller  is not under  any  Liability  with  respect  to the  return of
Inventory in the possession of wholesalers, retailers or other customers.

      3.14 Licenses. As of the date hereof,  Schedule 3.14 is a complete list of
Licenses  necessary for the ownership by Seller of the Purchased  Assets and the
conduct of the Business (other than Licenses  relating to the Excluded  Assets);
provided,  however,  that the foregoing does not require disclosure of state and
local business or similar Licenses required of businesses generally.  Seller has
delivered  to Buyer a  complete  copy of each  such  License.  Seller  is not in
Default under any such License other than any Default that would not  reasonably
be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Business.  Seller has not
received  written  notice from any  Governmental  Authority  with respect to the
revocation,  termination,  suspension or  limitation  of any such  License,  and
Seller has no  knowledge  of the  proposed  or  threatened  issuance of any such
notice.

      3.15  Environmental.  This Section 3.15 is the exclusive provision in this
Agreement containing  representations and warranties applicable to Environmental
Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15:

                                       10
<PAGE>

            (a) There  are no  Environmental  Claims  pending  or,  to  Seller's
knowledge, threatened with respect to the ownership, use, condition or operation
of the  Business  or the  Purchased  Assets.  There  are  no  existing  Material
violations  of  (i)  any  Environmental  Law,  or  (ii)  any  Order  related  to
Environmental  Matters,  with  respect  to  the  ownership,  use,  condition  or
operation of the Business or the  Purchased  Assets that remain  outstanding  or
unresolved.  To  Seller's  knowledge,  there  are no  past or  present  actions,
activities,  circumstances,  conditions, events or incidents with respect to the
ownership,  use, condition or operation of the Business or the Purchased Assets,
including,  without limitation,  any Environmental Matter, that could reasonably
be  likely  to form the basis of (i) any  Environmental  Claim or Order  against
Seller,  or (ii) any  Litigation  against  any Person  whose  Liability  (or any
portion thereof) for  Environmental  Matters or violation of Environmental  Laws
Seller has retained or assumed,  contractually  or by operation of law.  Neither
Seller nor, to Seller's knowledge, any other Person has used any of the Florence
Real Property for the handling, treatment, storage, or disposal of any Hazardous
Substances in violation of any applicable Environmental Law.

            (b) No release,  discharge,  spillage  or disposal of any  Hazardous
Substances is occurring or, to Seller's  knowledge,  has occurred at or from the
Florence   Real  Property  or  any  part  thereof  in  violation  of  applicable
Environmental Law.

            (c) All waste containing any Hazardous Substances  generated,  used,
handled,  stored,  treated or disposed of (directly or  indirectly) by Seller at
the  Florence  Real  Property  has been  released  or  disposed  of in  Material
compliance with all applicable  reporting  requirements  under any Environmental
Laws and Seller is not aware of any  Environmental  Claim  against  Seller  that
remains outstanding or unresolved with respect to any such release or disposal.

            (d) All underground tanks and other underground  storage  facilities
presently  or  previously  located at the  Florence  Real  Property  are listed,
together  with the  capacity  and  contents  of each such tank or  facility,  in
Schedule  3.15.  To  Seller's  knowledge,  none of  such  underground  tanks  or
facilities  is  leaking  or has ever  leaked  and all such  tanks  comply in all
Material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws.

            (e)  Seller  has  complied,  in  all  Material  respects,  with  all
applicable  reporting  requirements  under  all  applicable  Environmental  Laws
concerning  the  disposal or release of  Hazardous  Substances,  except for such
non-compliance  as would not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  reasonably be
expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  and Seller has not made any such
reports  concerning  the  Florence  Real  Property  that remain  outstanding  or
unresolved.

            (f) To Seller's  knowledge,  no building or other improvement on the
Florence Real  Property  contains any friable  asbestos-containing  materials or
lead-based paint.

            (g) Without limiting the generality of any of the foregoing, (i) all
on-site and off-site locations where Seller has stored, disposed or arranged for
the disposal of Hazardous  Substances,  since December 2002, in connection  with
the ownership,  use or operation of the Florence Real Property are identified in
Schedule  3.15 and (ii) to  Seller's  knowledge,  no  polychlorinated  biphenyls
(PCBs) in amounts or concentrations regulated under applicable Environmental Law
are used or stored on or in the Florence Real Property.

                                       11
<PAGE>

            (h)  Seller  has   provided   to  Buyer   copies  of  all   Material
environmental  audits,  reports,  assessments,   investigations,   sampling  and
analyses  within its  possession  or custody with  respect to the Florence  Real
Property.

      3.16  Litigation.  Except as  disclosed  on Schedule  3.16(a)  there is no
Litigation  pending, or to the knowledge of Seller,  threatened,  against Seller
and related to the Business  (other than the Excluded  Assets) or the  Purchased
Assets.  Except as  disclosed  on  Schedule  3.16(b)  there  has not been  since
December 11, 2002,  and there is not now pending or, to the knowledge of Seller,
threatened, any investigation or inquiry regarding the Business or the Purchased
Assets by any Governmental Authority.

      3.17 Employee Benefit Plans.

            (a) Schedule  3.17(a) is a correct and complete list of all Employee
Benefit Plans that cover any Florence Employees. Except as disclosed on Schedule
3.17(a),  no such Employee Benefit Plan is or has been (i) a multiemployer  plan
within the meaning of ERISA Section  3(37);  (ii) a multiple  employer plan with
the meaning of ERISA  Section  210(a) or Code Section  413(c);  (iii) a multiple
employer welfare  arrangement within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(40); or (iv)
a "defined  benefit plan" as defined in ERISA Section 3(35) and subject to ERISA
Title I, Subtitle B, Part 3 or Title IV.

            (b) Neither Seller nor any ERISA Affiliate has any Liability  under,
or is subject to any Lien relating to, any Employee  Benefit Plan that would (i)
affect in any manner whatsoever Buyer's right, title and interest in, or Buyer's
right to use or enjoy (free and clear of any Lien) any of the  Purchased  Assets
or (ii) result in the  assumption  by or imposition on Buyer or any Affiliate of
Buyer of any  Liability  other than  Liabilities  expressly  included as Assumed
Liabilities.

            (c) Except as required by Code Section 4908B and ERISA Title I, Part
6, no Employee  Benefit  Plan that covers any  Florence  Employee  provides  for
welfare benefits to employees after retirement or other separation of service.

            (d) Except (i) as disclosed on Schedule  3.17(d),  (ii) as otherwise
provided in Section 5.10 or (iii) for any  obligations  that will not be assumed
by the  Buyer  pursuant  to this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
not (A)  entitle  any  current or former  employee,  director,  officer,  leased
employee,   independent   contractor  or  agent  of  Seller  to  severance  pay,
unemployment  compensation or any payment contingent upon a change in control or
ownership of Seller,  (B)  accelerate the time of payment or vesting or increase
the amount of any  compensation  due to any such  employee  or former  employee,
director, officer, leased employee, independent contractor or agent or (C) cause
Buyer  or any  Affiliate  to be  liable  for any  sums or  obligations  under or
pursuant to any Employee Benefit Plan of Seller.

                                       12
<PAGE>

      3.18 Contracts.

            (a) Description.

                  (i)  Supply & Services  Contracts.  Schedule  3.18(a)(i)  is a
            complete list of all  outstanding  Contracts as of September 9, 2005
            which  relate to the  acquisition  of goods or services  used in the
            Business  other  than  Contracts  (A)  pursuant  to which  Seller is
            obligated  to  pay  less  than  $25,000  per  year,  (B)  which  are
            terminable  by Seller  with no  obligation  in excess of  $25,000 on
            Seller's part or (c) related solely to the Excluded Assets.

                  (ii) Sales.  Schedule  3.18(a)(ii)  is a complete  list of all
            Contracts  as of  September  9, 2005 for the sale of products or the
            performance  of services by Seller that relate to the  Business  and
            which exceed  $50,000  each.  Schedule  3.18(a)(ii)  also lists each
            Contract containing pricing commitments beyond October 31, 2005 that
            Seller is obligated by such  Contract to provide to customers of the
            Business  (other  than such  Contracts  that are  Excluded  Assets).
            Except as disclosed on Schedule  3.18(a)(ii),  sales  Contracts  for
            finished  goods related to the Business that extend beyond  December
            31,  2005 are at  prices in excess  of the  prices  used in  valuing
            Inventory items or of estimated costs of manufacture or purchase, as
            the case may be, after allowing for reasonable  selling expenses and
            production overhead.

                  (iii)  Distributor  Contracts.   Schedule  3.18(a)(iii)  is  a
            complete list of all Distributor Contracts as of August 31, 2005.

                  (iv) Employment;  Affiliate Contracts. Schedule 3.18(a)(iv) is
            a   complete   list   of  all   Contracts   (including   employment,
            non-competition  and  loan  agreements)  with  (A) any  employee  or
            consultant  that relate to the  Business  and (B) any  Affiliate  of
            Seller that relate to the Business,  except, in each case, Contracts
            that are Excluded Assets.

                  (v)  Leased  Personal  Property.   Schedule  3.18(a)(v)  is  a
            complete  list of all  Contracts as of August 31, 2005  affecting or
            relating to Personal Property (other than related solely to Excluded
            Assets)  leased by Seller and relating to the  Business,  other than
            Contracts  which either (A) are  terminable by a Seller upon no more
            than 60 days notice  without any Liability to Seller,  or (B) do not
            involve the payment by Seller of more than $20,000 per year.

                  (vi) Other Contracts.  Schedule 3.18(a)(vi) is a complete list
            of any other  Contract of Seller as of August 31, 2005 that  relates
            to the  Business  (other than  Contracts  that relate  solely to the
            Excluded  Assets) which is not terminable by Seller without  penalty
            upon 60 days or less  notice,  and which:  (A)  provides for monthly
            payments  by or to Seller in  excess of $2,500 or (B)  provides  for
            payments by or to Seller in any calendar year exceeding $30,000.

                  (vii) Copies. Seller has delivered to Buyer a complete copy of
            each  written  Contract  referred to or  described  in this  Section
            3.18(a).

                                       13
<PAGE>

            (b) No Default.  As of the date hereof,  to the knowledge of Seller,
there is no existing  Default of Seller or any Third  Party  under any  Contract
referred to or described in Section  3.18(a)  (other than  Contracts that relate
solely to the  Excluded  Assets).  Except as set forth on Schedule  3.18(b),  no
rights of Seller  under  any such  Contract  have  been  assigned  or  otherwise
transferred as security for any obligation of Seller.

            (c) Consents.  Schedule  3.18(c)  identifies each Contract listed on
Schedules  3.18(a)(i) through 3.18(a)(vi) that requires the consent of or notice
to the  other  party  thereto  to avoid  any  Default  under  such  Contract  in
connection with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby (other than the Ordinary
Contracts  Requiring  Consent),  including  the  assignment  of such Contract to
Buyer.

      3.19  Products,  Services &  Warranties.  Except as  disclosed on Schedule
3.19: (a) Seller has maintained in all Material respects accurate sales records,
order backlog and other information with respect to all products and services of
the  Business;  and (b) each of Seller's  products  and services of the Business
comply with Law in all Material  respects and each  warranty,  guaranty or claim
made by  Seller  or  implied  by Law in all  Material  respects.  As of the date
hereof, Schedule 3.19 lists: (i) each warranty, guaranty or claim made by Seller
as to its products or services of the Business  (other than those related to the
Excluded Assets or those implied by Law); and (ii) all product  liability claims
made since  December  31,  2002  (other  than those  that were  resolved  in the
ordinary course of business without Litigation) and amounts paid with respect to
them.

      3.20 Suppliers and  Customers.  Schedule 3.20A sets forth each supplier of
the Business  (other than  suppliers to the  businesses of Seller not related to
the  Business)  to whom  payments  were made  which  equaled or  exceeded  5% of
Seller's  cost of services or cost of goods sold for Seller's most recent fiscal
year ended (the  "Large  Suppliers")  and the  percentage  of  Seller's  cost of
services or goods sold  allocable  to each Large  Supplier for such fiscal year.
Schedule  3.20B  sets forth a list of the 20 largest  customers  (determined  by
gross sales  revenue) of the  Business  from whom  payments  were  received  for
Seller's  most  recent  fiscal  year  ended  (the  "Large  Customers")  and  the
percentage of Seller's gross sales allocable to each of such Large Customers for
such fiscal year.  Except as reflected in Schedule 3.20A, as of the date hereof,
no  supplier  is a sole  source of supply  of any good or  service  to Seller in
connection  with the Business.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20A, as of the
date hereof,  no such Large Supplier has  terminated,  or to Seller's  knowledge
threatened to terminate,  its relationship  with Seller.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.20B, as of the date hereof, no such Large Customer has terminated, or
to Seller's  knowledge  threatened to terminate,  its relationship  with Seller.
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20B, as of the date hereof,  no Large Customer
receives or is  entitled to receive,  upon the  attainment  of  specified  sales
volumes or otherwise,  and no Large Customer has been offered the opportunity to
receive, an incentive,  discount,  refund, rebate,  incentive allowance,  earned
cost savings, credit (whether for products or for cash) or other price allowance
of any  kind,  individually  or in  the  aggregate  with  respect  to any  Large
Customer, in excess of 3% on an annual basis.

                                       14
<PAGE>

      3.21 Employee Matters.

            (a) Schedule 3.21 lists as to each Florence  Employee employed as of
the date hereof: (i) name, (ii) current  compensation (wage and/or salary) (iii)
accrued but unused vacation,  sick leave or other paid time off ("Accrued PTO"),
(iv) the amount of any bonus,  incentive  compensation  or similar  amounts paid
with respect to services  rendered in 2004, (v) employment date and (vi) current
job title.  Except as  disclosed  on Schedule  3.17(d),  the  employment  of all
Florence  Employees  is  terminable  at will  without any  penalty or  severance
obligation.

            (b)  Seller  is not a party to any  union  agreement  or  collective
bargaining  agreement  applicable to any Florence Employee and there are no work
rules or practices  agreed to between Seller and with any labor  organization or
employee  association  applicable  to any Florence  Employees  and no attempt to
organize any of the Florence  Employees has been made,  proposed or, to Seller's
knowledge,  threatened. No labor strike, dispute, slowdown,  stoppage or lockout
is pending  or  threatened  against or  affecting  the  Purchased  Assets or the
Business  and since  December  11, 2002 there has not been any such  action.  No
unfair labor  practice  charge or complaint  against  Seller and  involving  any
current or former  Florence  Employee is pending as of the date  hereof,  or, to
Seller's knowledge,  threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any
similar Governmental Authority.

      3.22 Brokers and Finders.  No finder or any agent,  broker or other Person
acting pursuant to authority of Seller is entitled to any commission or finder's
fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      3.23 Compliance with Law. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.23: (a) Seller
is in compliance in all Material respects with all Laws applicable to or binding
on the Business (except that Seller makes no representation in this Section 3.23
with respect to those Laws which are the subject of Section 3.7, 3.8(b), 3.15 or
3.17) and (b) Seller has not received  written  notice of a violation of any Law
which  would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Purchased  Assets or the
Business.

      3.24 Statements True and Correct.  No  representation  or warranty made by
Seller in this Article 3  intentionally  omits to state a Material fact with the
purpose of making any such statement contained therein misleading.

      3.25 Patronage. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed herein,
no  representation  or warranty of Seller  with  respect to the  Business or the
Purchased  Assets shall be deemed or construed to constitute any  representation
or warranty by Seller as to the level of business or patronage of customers that
Buyer will or may enjoy  following  the Closing  from  Buyer's  operation of the
Purchased  Assets  or from the  conduct  by Buyer  following  the  Closing  of a
business like or similar to the Business.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 4
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

      Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller that:

      4.1  Organization,   Standing  and  Foreign  Qualification.   Buyer  is  a
corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing,  and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware,  with the requisite corporate power and authority
to carry on its business and to own, lease and operate its assets.

      4.2 Authority and Binding Effect.  Buyer has the requisite corporate power
and  authority  necessary to enter into and perform its  obligations  under this
Agreement  and  the  Other   Agreements  and  to  consummate  the   transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement  and the Other  Agreements  have been duly  approved by all  necessary
action of the board of  directors of Buyer.  This  Agreement  has been,  and the
Other  Agreements  will be, duly executed and  delivered by properly  authorized
officers of Buyer and each  constitutes,  or when  executed and  delivered  will
constitute,  the  legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of Buyer,  enforceable
against Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,   reorganization  or  other  similar  laws
affecting  creditors'  rights  generally,  or by the  availability  of equitable
remedies.

      4.3 Validity of Contemplated Transactions, Restrictions.

            (a)  Validity.  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement  and the  Other  Agreements  by  Buyer,  and the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, do not and will not (i) violate any
provision of the charter  documents  or Bylaws of Buyer,  or of any Law or Order
relating  to Buyer,  (ii) result in a Default  under,  or require the consent or
approval of any party to, any Contract of Buyer, or (iii) result in the creation
or imposition of any Lien on Buyer's assets.

            (b) Government  Authorizations.  Except for the filing under the HSR
Act contemplated by Section 5.17 hereof and notices  contemplated by Section 5.9
hereof, no notification,  consent, authorization,  order, review or approval of,
or filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority is required for or in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the Other
Agreements  by  Buyer  or  the   consummation  by  Buyer  of  the   transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

      4.4 Brokers and  Finders.  No finder or any agent,  broker or other Person
acting  pursuant to authority of Buyer is entitled to any commission or finder's
fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      4.5  Financing.  Buyer  has  available  to  it,  either  in  the  form  of
cash-on-hand or borrowing facilities with unconditional availability on not less
than five days notice, cash in an amount in excess of the Purchase Price.

                                       16
<PAGE>

      4.6 Statements  True and Correct.  No  representation  or warranty made by
Buyer in this Article 4  intentionally  omits to state a Material  fact with the
purpose of making any such statement contained therein misleading.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                     COVENANTS AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF
                              SELLER AND PURCHASER

      5.1 Operation of Business Pending Closing.  From and after the date hereof
and prior to the Closing Date, except with the consent of Buyer, which shall not
be unreasonably  withheld or delayed,  Seller shall: (a) conduct its Business in
substantially the same manner as presently conducted,  and refrain from entering
into any  transaction  or Contract  which (i) is not in the  ordinary  course of
business  and  consistent  with  past  practice  (ii)  requires  Seller  to make
extraordinary  product  deliveries for a period that could reasonably extend for
more  than 90 days  past the  Closing  Date,  (iii)  creates  a new  consignment
arrangement or vendor managed  inventory  arrangement that is inconsistent  with
Seller's past business  practices or (iv) gives any Large  Customer the right to
receive,  upon the  attainment of specified  sales volumes or otherwise,  or the
opportunity  to receive,  an  incentive,  discount,  refund,  rebate,  incentive
allowance,  earned cost  savings,  credit  (whether for products or for cash) or
other price allowance of any kind, individually or in the aggregate with respect
to such Large Customer,  in excess of 3% on an annual basis,  unless  reasonably
required to meet a  competitive  situation  (but nothing  herein  shall  prevent
Seller from  complying with any existing  program);  (b) notify Buyer of (i) any
unexpected  Material  emergency or other Material change in the normal course of
the operation of the Business or the Purchased  Assets,  and (ii) any Litigation
(or  written   communications   indicating  that  the  same  may  be  reasonably
contemplated),  affecting the Business or the Purchased  Assets,  and keep Buyer
fully  informed of such events and permit its  representatives  prompt access to
all materials prepared in connection  therewith (other than documents subject to
the attorney-client  privilege); (c) refrain from committing to any new trade or
industry show space or signage or point of purchase  displays  unless failing so
to commit might adversely affect the Business if the  transactions  contemplated
hereby do not close;  (d) promptly  notify Buyer in writing of the occurrence of
any Material Adverse Change with respect to the Business or the Purchased Assets
or of any  condition  or event which could  reasonably  be expected to result in
such a Material Adverse Change; and (e) use its reasonable commercial efforts to
protect and  preserve  for the benefit of the Buyer (i)  Seller's  relationships
with its  employees,  customers  and  suppliers  and (ii)  the  goodwill  of the
Business.  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the  contrary,  Seller  shall be
permitted to terminate any  distributor  and/or seller  representative  or agent
whose performance is not satisfactory to Seller.

                                       17
<PAGE>

      5.2 Right of  Inspection;  Access.  In order to allow Buyer to conduct its
due diligence  investigation,  upon reasonable notice and during normal business
hours,  and, in each case, in compliance with applicable  antitrust Laws, Seller
shall give to Buyer and its  representatives  full access to Seller's  premises,
the Purchased Assets and to Seller's Contracts,  accounting, financial and legal
information  and to such other  business  information  that Buyer may reasonably
request in Seller's possession;  provided, however, that the foregoing shall not
permit Buyer or its representatives to interfere unreasonably with, or otherwise
disrupt,  the  Business.  Buyer  acknowledges  that  it has  conducted  its  own
investigation of, and inquiry into, the environmental  condition of the Florence
Manufacturing Facility, and has obtained a Phase I environmental  assessment,  a
Phase II environmental  assessment and a Limited Environmental Health and Safety
Compliance Review for such Florence  Manufacturing Facility  (collectively,  the
"Environmental   Reports"),   and  subject  to  the   satisfaction  of  Seller's
pre-Closing  obligations  pursuant to Sections 5.6 hereof,  those  Environmental
Reports  are  satisfactory  to Buyer,  and,  accordingly,  no further  access is
required for environmental  assessments or environmental due diligence purposes.
Seller  shall  also  arrange  for  Buyer  and its  representatives  to have  the
opportunity  to consult  with the  officers,  directors,  employees,  attorneys,
accountants and other agents of Seller.  Seller shall instruct such  individuals
to cooperate  reasonably  with Buyer and its designees.  Buyer and its designees
shall have the right to make  copies of any of the  records  referred  to above.
Subject to reasonable arrangements and limitations imposed by Seller to restrict
the disclosure of confidential or competitive  information and/or to prevent the
interference  with the conduct of the Business,  Seller shall take or permit, as
applicable,  the actions set forth on Schedule 5.2.  Notwithstanding anything in
this  Agreement to the  contrary,  (a) Buyer shall bear all risk with respect to
any  property of Buyer  referred to on Schedule  5.2 which is  installed  and/or
located on any of  Seller's  premises  (collectively,  the  "Transition  Related
Property") and indemnify and hold Seller  harmless from any Losses  attributable
to any Transition  Related Property and (b) if the Closing does not occur, Buyer
shall,  at its sole cost and expense,  promptly  remove all  Transition  Related
Property from the premises of Seller.

      5.3 Confidentiality.  The parties hereto have previously entered into that
certain  non-disclosure  letter  agreement,  dated  as of  June  27,  2005  (the
"Non-Disclosure  Agreement"),  and the Non-Disclosure  Agreement remains in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms. If the transactions  contemplated
hereby  are not  consummated,  Buyer  will  return  to  Seller  or  destroy  all
information  previously  disclosed  in  writing by Seller to Buyer as Seller may
reasonably  request.  The  provisions  of this  Section  5.3 are  intended to by
complementary  and  supplemental  to, and not intended to supplant or supersede,
any of the terms,  provisions or  restrictions  set forth in the  Non-Disclosure
Agreement. To the extent that any of the terms or provisions of this Section 5.3
are inconsistent with the terms or provisions of such Non-Disclosure  Agreement,
the terms and  provisions  of the  Non-Disclosure  Agreement  shall  govern  and
control.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the provisions of the  Non-Disclosure
Agreement  shall not prohibit  Buyer from using or  disclosing  confidential  or
non-public  information  that  relates to the  Purchased  Assets or the Business
after the Closing.

      5.4 Public Announcements. Seller and Buyer shall use their respective best
efforts  to  consult  with each  other  before  issuing  any press  releases  or
otherwise making any public statements or filings with Governmental  Authorities
with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and shall
not issue any press  releases  or make any public  statements  or  filings  with
Governmental Authorities prior to such consultation and shall modify any portion
thereof if the other party reasonably  objects  thereto,  unless the same may be
required by Law.

      5.5 Use of Names.  Upon the  earlier of (i) the first  anniversary  of the
Closing  Date and the  tenth  business  day  after the  collection  of  accounts
receivable of the Business that arose from  pre-Closing  operations,  Seller (i)
shall change its name to a name wholly  dissimilar  to "Essex  Electric" and any
variation or derivation  thereof,  (ii) shall provide such evidence of such name
change as Buyer may reasonably  request and (iii) shall not  thereafter  use, or
permit  any of its  Affiliates  to use,  such  name or any  similar  name or any
variation or derivation thereof in any circumstances.

                                       18
<PAGE>

      5.6 Environmental  Corrective Actions. Prior to the Closing,  Seller shall
undertake each of the corrective action items set forth in Schedule 5.6 attached
hereto.

      5.7 Environmental  Compliance Matters. Prior to Closing,  Seller shall use
commercially  reasonable  efforts to address each of the compliance  matters set
forth on Schedule 5.7 attached  hereto.  Buyer  acknowledges and agrees that the
Purchase  Price has been  adjusted to reflect that Seller may not complete  such
compliance  matters  and Seller  shall have no further  liability  to Buyer as a
result of any such  non-completion,  except for the Retained Fines and Penalties
Liabilities.

      5.8 Employees.

            (a) At the  Closing,  Seller  shall  terminate  all of the  Florence
Employees and Buyer shall,  concurrently  therewith,  offer to hire all Florence
Employees  who were  employed by Seller at the Closing.  Florence  Employees who
accept  Buyer's  offer of  employment  at Closing and sign a waiver of severance
from Seller will become Southwire  employees and are hereinafter  referred to as
"Hired Employees." At or prior to Closing,  in accordance with Seller's existing
policy with respect  thereto,  Seller shall pay to the  Florence  Employees  any
compensation  of any type (other than  severance  pay) and benefits  (other than
Accrued PTO) owed to the Florence Employees as of the Closing Date.

            (b) Except as otherwise  provided  under the terms of an  applicable
Employee Benefit Plan, effective as of the Closing Date the Hired Employees will
cease to  participate  in, or accrue any benefits  under,  the Employee  Benefit
Plans.  As of the Closing  Date,  such Hired  Employees  shall be  permitted  to
participate  in the  plans,  programs  and  arrangements  of  Buyer  and/or  its
Affiliates  relating to  compensation  and employee  benefits  ("Buyer  Employee
Plans").  Buyer will credit  Hired  Employees  with  service with Seller and its
Affiliates prior to the Closing Date for all purposes of any Code Section 401(k)
or  vacation  plan  maintained  by Buyer as of the  Closing.  In  addition,  any
employee  welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA)  maintained
by Buyer as of the Closing in which a Hired  Employee  participates  immediately
after the Closing (A) shall, to the extent required by applicable Law, not limit
or exclude  coverage on the basis of any  pre-existing  condition  of such Hired
Employee or dependent  and (B) shall  provide  each Hired  Employee or dependent
full  credit,  for the plan  year  during  which  the  Closing  occurs,  for any
deductible  already  incurred  by the  Hired  Employee  or  dependent  under any
Employee  Benefit  Plan and  that  any  co-payments  or  out-of-pocket  expenses
previously paid under such Employee Benefit Plan shall count against any maximum
out-of-pocket expense provision of any comparable plan maintained by Buyer as of
the Closing.

            (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, effective
as of the  Closing  Date,  Buyer  will  become  responsible  for  payment of all
salaries and benefits and all other claims,  costs,  expenses,  liabilities  and
other  obligations  related to Buyer's  employment of the Hired  Employees  that
arise or relate to  events  occurring  or  conditions  existing  on or after the
Closing Date.

                                       19
<PAGE>

      5.9 WARN Act.  Prior to Closing,  Seller shall  reasonably  cooperate with
Buyer (and act as Buyer's  agent) in giving any notices  required under the WARN
Act with  respect to the Florence  Manufacturing  Facility and under any similar
Alabama  Law as a result of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement;
provided,  however,  that Buyer  acknowledges  and agrees that in no event shall
Seller be  required  to give any such notice  prior to the  satisfaction  of the
condition  set forth in Section 7.4 hereof.  Seller shall have no  obligation to
provide any such notices  after the Closing Date. To the extent that any payment
obligations under the WARN Act or any similar Alabama Law  (collectively,  "WARN
Obligations")  arise with respect to the Business,  Buyer shall be obligated for
any WARN Obligations or Liability  arising as a result of any employment  losses
from the Business occurring as of and including the Closing Date.

      5.10  Reimbursement  for  Severance  Obligations.  Buyer shall,  within 15
business days of Seller's  written  request,  reimburse Seller for any Severance
Obligations.  If Buyer reimburses Seller for Severance Obligations  attributable
to any  employee who is, at any time during the one-year  period  following  the
Closing Date, either employed by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller,  then Seller
shall promptly return the amount of any such reimbursement to Buyer.

      5.11 Other Offers and Exclusive  Dealing.  Unless and until this Agreement
is  terminated  prior to Closing  pursuant to Article 9,  Seller  shall not (and
shall cause each of its shareholders,  officers, directors,  employees or agents
not to collectively, "Seller Related Persons")) either:

            (a) solicit bids or offers or initiate  discussions or  negotiations
with; or

            (b) on an  unsolicited  basis  furnish or cause to be furnished  any
information concerning Seller to,

any Person (other than Buyer and its officers, directors,  employees and agents)
in  connection  with any  proposed  acquisition  of  Seller,  whether by merger,
purchase of the capital stock, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or
other  acquisition  or  business  combination   involving  Seller  (a  "Business
Combination").  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Board of
Directors of Seller or of Alpine shall, at any time, receive a proposal or offer
in respect of a Business  Combination (an  "Alternative  Business  Combination")
which such Board of  Directors  shall  determine  is  superior  to the  Business
Combination  proposed herein, then if such Board of Directors shall determine in
the  exercise  of its  fiduciary  duties  it is  required  to  respond  to  such
Alternative Business Combination, Seller and the Seller Related Persons shall be
released  from any  obligation  under this  Section to the extent  necessary  to
respond to such Alternative Business Combination consistent with the exercise of
such  fiduciary  duties.  If Seller  receives,  or if any of the Seller  Related
Persons  receive,  any  inquiry or proposal  of a type  referred to above,  then
Seller shall (and it shall cause the Seller Related  Persons to) promptly notify
Buyer of the existence of any such inquiry or proposal. If:

                  (i) Seller breaches its obligations under this Section;

                                       20
<PAGE>

                  (ii)  Seller  terminates  this  Agreement  pursuant to Section
            9.1(c);

                  (iii)  Buyer  terminates  this  Agreement  pursuant to Section
            9.1(d); or

                  (iv)  Buyer  terminates  this  Agreement  pursuant  to Section
            9.1(i) or Buyer or  Seller  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant  to
            Section 9.1(j) and, in either case, prior to,  concurrently  with or
            within one year after any such  termination,  Seller  consummates  a
            Business  Combination  with a Third  Party  with whom  Seller or its
            controlling shareholders discussed a Business Combination subsequent
            to the date hereof and prior to such termination,

then, in any such event,  Seller shall pay Buyer, as Buyer's  liquidated damages
(and not as a penalty)  incurred by Buyer in connection  with this Agreement and
all related transactions, the sum of $2,500,000, and any such payments by Seller
shall be Buyer's sole and exclusive remedy  hereunder.  Said $2,500,000 shall be
paid within two business days by wire transfer of immediately  available  funds;
provided,  however, in the case of clause (iv) above, such payment shall be made
within two business days of the consummation of such Business Combination with a
Third Party.  Notwithstanding  anything in this  Section  5.11 to the  contrary,
neither  Seller nor Alpine  shall be liable  hereunder  for any act or  omission
committed by Superior  Essex Inc. in its capacity as a shareholder  of Seller or
otherwise.

      5.12 Certain Tax Matters.

            (a) All Tax Returns  required to be filed by Seller on or before the
Closing  Date shall be filed by Seller and Seller  shall pay all Taxes  shown as
due and payable thereon.

            (b)  Subsequent to the Closing Date,  Buyer and Seller shall provide
each other with such  assistance  (including  the  provision  of records) as may
reasonably be requested by either of them in connection  with the preparation of
any  Tax  Return,  the  response  to  any  audit  or  other  examination  by any
Governmental Authority,  or any judicial or administrative  proceedings relating
to any Liability for Taxes.

      5.13 Idled Production  Machinery and Equipment.  If, prior to Closing, any
Idled  Production  Machinery and Equipment is lost or damaged beyond  reasonable
repair due to a fire or other  casualty,  then Buyer  shall be  entitled  to (a)
receive any insurance  proceeds actually received by Seller with respect thereto
or (b) in lieu thereof,  at Seller's  option,  Seller may assign to Buyer all of
its rights with respect to any claim for such insurance proceeds.

      5.14 Expenses. Except as set forth below and in Section 1.4(c), whether or
not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, Buyer and Seller shall
each pay its own fees and  expenses  and  those  of its  agents,  attorneys  and
advisers.  Buyer shall pay all HSR Act filing fees.  Anything to the contrary in
this  Agreement  notwithstanding,  (a) Seller  shall pay 2/3 of the costs of any
environmental  surveys and related  costs to be  undertaken at the Florence Real
Property  and Buyer shall pay 1/3 of such costs,  (b) Buyer shall pay all of its
other due  diligence  costs,  (c) Seller shall pay any sales and other  transfer
taxes and fees  (including  motor vehicle  transfer  fees) which may be due with
respect to the sale of the  Purchased  Assets,  (d) any fees and expenses of any
finder or  broker  retained  by or on  behalf of either  party (or by any of its
Affiliates)  shall be paid by such  party,  (e) Seller  shall pay $18,000 of the
total premium on the  Environmental  Matters Insurance Policy (as defined below)
and Buyer shall pay the remainder of such premium and (f) the  Purchased  Assets
shall,  to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  Law, be claimed as exempt from
sales or use tax by Buyer  and  Buyer  shall  furnish  Seller  at  Closing  with
appropriate resale exemption certificates and manufacturing  machinery exemption
certificates as reasonably requested by Seller for the Purchased Assets.

                                       21
<PAGE>

      5.15 Delivery of Books and Records.  At the Closing,  Seller shall deliver
to Buyer all original  documents,  books and records  pertaining to the Business
(except minute books, stock records,  financial  statements,  Tax Returns (other
than personal  property tax returns  relating to the  Purchased  Assets) and all
documents,  books and records  pertaining  solely to the Excluded Assets and the
Excluded  Liabilities) and to the Purchased  Assets and the Assumed  Liabilities
that are legally significant or useful to the Business (including those relating
to the Florence  Employees)  and shall  deliver  copies of all other  documents,
books and records  pertaining  to the  Business,  the  Purchased  Assets and the
Assumed Liabilities as Buyer may reasonably request, but in each case subject to
applicable  Laws  relating  to privacy.  Seller may retain  copies of any of the
foregoing for its own use.  Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,
Seller shall deliver to Buyer at the Closing all documents and records  relating
to the Intellectual Property, including without limitation, and to the extent in
Seller's possession,  the original  Certificates of Registration for all Letters
Patent,  trademarks  and  service  marks  listed on  Schedule  3.11 and all such
documents relating thereto along with any other documents  necessary to transfer
title  thereto  and to record such  transfer  before the  respective  patent and
trademark offices or similar Governmental Authorities.

      5.16  Alpine  Proxy  Materials.  To  the  extent  necessary,  Buyer  shall
cooperate  with Seller with respect to the  preparation  of any necessary  proxy
materials by any Affiliate of Seller.

      5.17 HSR Act Filings. Buyer and Seller have prepared and made (or each has
caused its "ultimate parent entity" to prepare and make) the filings required to
be made  with  the FTC and the  DOJ  under  the HSR  Act.  If the FTC or the DOJ
requires any additional  information with respect to the transaction,  Buyer and
Seller shall  reasonably  cooperate  with each other in obtaining  and preparing
such information and delivering it to the FTC and the DOJ.

      5.18 Further Assurances;  Covenant to Satisfy Conditions.  (a) At any time
and from time to time after the Closing,  Seller shall,  at the request of Buyer
(i) take any and all actions necessary to fulfill its obligations hereunder and,
subject  to the  terms of the  Transition  Services  Agreement,  to put Buyer in
actual possession and operating control of the Purchased Assets and (ii) execute
and  deliver  such  further  instruments  of  conveyance,   sale,  transfer  and
assignment,  and take such  other  actions  as may be  reasonably  necessary  or
appropriate  to  effectuate,  record or perfect the  transfer  of the  Purchased
Assets to Buyer, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), or to
confirm  the  title of the  Purchased  Assets  to Buyer.  Without  limiting  the
generality of the  foregoing,  Seller shall execute and deliver such  documents,
prepared by Buyer, as may be reasonably  necessary or appropriate to transfer to
Buyer  Seller's  Alabama  Department of Revenue Sales and Use Tax and Ad Valorem
Tax Certificates of Exemption for Project Number  2002308001 (the  "Exemption");
provided,  however, that Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Seller is not making
any  representation  hereunder as to the  transferability  of the  Exemption and
Seller  shall  have no  Liability  hereunder  if Buyer  shall fail to obtain the
Exemption.

                                       22
<PAGE>

            (b)  Buyer  and  Seller  will  use  their  respective   commercially
reasonable  best efforts to ensure that the  conditions  set forth in Articles 6
and 7,  respectively,  which are  required to be  satisfied by Buyer and Seller,
respectively,  are  satisfied  as soon  as  reasonably  practicable,  including,
without limitation, the deliveries provided for therein.

      5.19 Title.

            (a) Buyer has obtained an Owners  Title  Insurance  Commitment  (the
"Title Commitment") with respect to the Florence Real Property prior to the date
of this Agreement from  Commonwealth  Land Title  Insurance  Company (the "Title
Insurer").  Buyer  has  previously  delivered  a  complete  copy  of  the  Title
Commitment  to the  attorneys of Seller set forth in Section 11.1 with a written
notice  specifying  any Liens or other defects of title other than the Permitted
Title  Exceptions  (together with true and complete  copies of any such Liens or
other defects of title).  Buyer shall notify such attorneys of Seller in writing
of any Liens or defects of title  disclosed in any update or continuation of the
Title  Commitment  within  seven days of Buyer's  receipt  thereof  (and provide
Seller  within such seven day period with true and  complete  copies of any such
other  Liens or defects  of  title).  Except as  expressly  provided  in Section
5.19(b) of this  Agreement,  Seller  shall have no  obligation  to cure any such
title  objections.  If, after having received Buyer's notice of title objections
which Seller is not  obligated  to remove  pursuant to Section  5.19(b)  hereof,
Seller  gives  notice of its  election not to cure same (or is unable to do so),
Buyer shall either (i) elect  within ten  business  days after Seller shall have
given such notice to accept  such title as Seller is able to convey  without any
reduction or abatement  of the  Purchase  Price or (ii) elect to terminate  this
Agreement.  Failure of Buyer to notify  Seller of its  election  within such ten
business day period  shall be deemed to  constitute  Buyer's  election to accept
such title.  In the event that Buyer shall elect to  terminate  this  Agreement,
this Agreement shall wholly cease and terminate and neither of the parties shall
have any further  liabilities or obligations  hereunder,  other than those which
expressly survive the termination of this Agreement. Seller shall be entitled to
reasonable  adjournments  of the  Closing  to cure any title  objections,  which
adjournments  shall not exceed 60 days in the  aggregate,  but in no event shall
any such adjournment  delay the Closing beyond February 15, 2006. If, at the end
of such 60 day period, Seller has still failed to cure such title defects, Buyer
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall
obligate  Seller  to bring any  action or  proceeding  or,  except as  expressly
provided in this Agreement,  otherwise to incur any expense in order to cure any
title objection or to continue with or to succeed in such cure.

            (b)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in Section
5.19(a) hereof, if the Title Commitment (or any update or continuation  thereof)
discloses  any  Lien  affecting  the  Florence  Real  Property,  other  than the
Permitted Title  Exceptions,  which either (i) was placed of record by Seller or
with Seller's express written consent,  including that certain mortgage securing
the amount of $100,000,000.00  from Seller to Foothill Capital  Corporation,  as
Agent,  recorded  in Real  Property  Book 2002,  Page 75198 in the office of the
Judge of Probate of Lauderdale County,  Alabama, or (ii) may be satisfied by the
payment of a liquidated  sum of money not to exceed,  in the  aggregate  for all
such encumbrances,  $1,000,000 then, in any such case, Seller shall be obligated
to take  such  action  as is  required  on the part of  Seller to have such Lien
removed  of  recorded  and  omitted  as an  exception  from the title  insurance
coverage provided to Buyer and its lender by the Title Insurer.

                                       23
<PAGE>

            (c) If a search of the title  discloses  judgments,  bankruptcies or
other returns  against other Persons having names the same as or similar to that
of Seller,  Seller shall,  on request,  deliver to Buyer and the Title Insurer a
certification  in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to Seller and the
Title Insurer certifying that such judgments,  bankruptcies or other returns are
not against Seller.

            (d) Buyer  shall pay the cost of Buyer's  policy of title  insurance
and of any survey obtained by Buyer.

            (e) Unpaid  Liens for Taxes,  water  charges and  assessments  which
Seller is obligated to pay and discharge  shall not be title  objections but, at
the option of Seller,  the amount thereof,  plus interest and penalties thereon,
shall be deducted from the balance of the Purchase Price to be paid hereunder or
paid by Seller,  subject to the provisions for  apportionment of Taxes and water
charges contained herein.

            (f) If, on the Closing  Date,  there shall be  financing  statements
which were filed more than five years prior to the  Closing  Date and which were
not  continued,  such  financing  statements  shall  not be deemed to be a title
objection,  provided that (i) the Title  Insurer gives Buyer and its lender,  if
any,  affirmative  coverage  against  any loss or damage  (including  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and expenses of litigation)  resulting from the  enforcement or
attempted  enforcement  of the security  interest  evidenced  by such  financing
statement(s)  or (ii) each such  financing  statement is omitted as an exception
from the title insurance  coverage  provided to Buyer and its lender, if any, by
the Title Insurer.

            (g) In the event  there are  unpaid  state  franchise  Taxes  and/or
municipal  corporate  business Taxes due from any Persons in the chain of title,
which franchise Taxes and/or municipal  business Taxes are or may be a Lien upon
the Florence Real Property, such Taxes shall not be a title objection,  provided
that  the  Title  Insurer  (i)  shall  afford  Buyer  and  its  lender,  if any,
affirmative coverage against any loss or damage (including reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses of  litigation)  resulting  from the  enforcement or attempted
enforcement of any such execution or Lien or (ii) shall  otherwise  insure Buyer
and its lender,  if any,  against  collection  of such Taxes out of the Florence
Real Property.

      5.20 Notification of Changes.

            (a)  Between  the date hereof and the  Closing  Date,  Seller  shall
promptly  notify  Buyer in  writing  of any  information  unknown as of the date
hereof or arising  subsequent  to the date hereof that,  if known or existing on
the date hereof, as the case may be, would have been required to be disclosed on
a  Schedule  hereto in order for  Seller to comply  with its  obligations  under
Section 6.1.

                                       24
<PAGE>

            (b) If any  information  provided  by  Seller to Buyer  pursuant  to
Section  5.20(a) shall disclose the existence or occurrence of a circumstance or
event that is Material and adverse when compared to the information disclosed in
any Schedule delivered by Seller on the date of this Agreement, Buyer shall have
the  right  to  terminate  this  Agreement  by  written  notice  to that  effect
(specifying  the basis for such  termination  to Seller) within 14 business days
after  its  receipt  of such  supplemental  disclosure;  and  upon  such  timely
termination,  Buyer shall be released of all of its  obligations  hereunder.  If
Buyer shall not timely elect to terminate this Agreement in accordance  with the
foregoing sentence, such disclosed information shall be deemed to amend any such
Schedule and this Agreement as of the date hereof.

      5.21 Future  Business  Dealings.  Buyer and Seller agree to discuss future
opportunities  to supply  each other  with  certain  products  during the period
between  the  date  hereof  and  the  Closing  Date as they  may  deem  mutually
advantageous upon pricing and other terms to be negotiated.

      5.22 Intrusive Testing. Buyer agrees that it will not conduct any invasive
testing, Phase II sampling,  investigation,  evaluation or other analysis of the
subsurface conditions at the Florence Real Property, following the Closing Date,
unless and only to the extent such testing, sampling, investigation,  evaluation
or  analyses  are  (i)  required  to  be   undertaken   pursuant  to  applicable
Environmental Law or a written requirement order of a Governmental  Authority or
(ii)  undertaken  by Buyer in the  ordinary  course of Buyer's  operation of its
business  at the  Florence  Real  Property,  including  without  limitation,  in
connection  with any  maintenance,  construction  or  expansion  activities,  or
environmental compliance or audits; provided, however, that for purposes of this
Section 5.22 any such  maintenance  activities  or  environmental  compliance or
audits  conducted by Buyer shall be of substantially  the same scope,  tenor and
frequency as those undertaken by Buyer at its other facilities.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER

      The  obligations of Buyer to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement  shall be subject to the  satisfaction,  on or before the Closing
Date, of each of the following conditions,  any of which may be waived, in whole
or in part, by Buyer for purposes of consummating such transactions:

      6.1  Representations   True  and  Covenants  Performed  at  Closing.   The
representations  and warranties  made by Seller in this Agreement  shall be true
and correct in all Material respects on the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as if this  Agreement  had been  executed on and as of the  Closing  Date
(other  than  representations  and  warranties  which are made as of a specified
date, which shall be true and correct in all Material respects as of such date);
provided, however, that the Qualified as to Materiality Representations shall be
true and correct on the Closing Date in accordance with their  respective  terms
with the same force and effect as if this  Agreement had been executed on and as
of the Closing  Date (other than  Qualified  as to  Materiality  Representations
which are made as of a  specified  date,  which  shall be true and correct as of
such date).  Seller shall have duly  performed or complied  with in all Material
respects all of the agreements and covenants and satisfied all of the conditions
to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing  Date,  except
that Seller's compliance or lack of compliance with Section 5.7 hereof shall not
be a condition  precedent  to Closing.  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the
contrary,  if Seller  shall  have  failed  to duly  perform  or comply  with the
requirements  of Section  5.6 or  Schedule  5.6,  such  failure  shall be deemed
"Material"  for all purposes of this Article 6. Seller shall execute and deliver
to Buyer a  certificate,  dated as of the  Closing  Date,  certifying  as to the
fulfillment  of the  conditions  of this Section 6.1 and the  non-occurrence  of
Material damage to the Florence  Manufacturing  Facility between the date hereof
and the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                                       25
<PAGE>

      6.2 No  Injunction,  Etc.  No  Litigation,  Law or Order  shall  have been
instituted,  enacted,  entered,  threatened  or  proposed  before  any  court or
Governmental  Authority  to enjoin,  restrain,  prohibit,  or obtain  damages in
respect of this Agreement or the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

      6.3 No Material Damage to Florence Manufacturing Facility. There shall not
have occurred any Material damage to the Florence Manufacturing Facility.

      6.4 HSR Act Approval. All waiting periods applicable to this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  under the HSR Act shall have expired or
been  terminated  and neither the FTC nor the DOJ shall have sought to restrain,
enjoin or otherwise  prevent the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby (or any such  proceeding has been resolved to permit the  consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby).

      6.5 Alpine  Stockholder  Approval.  The  stockholders of Alpine shall have
duly  authorized the execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement and
the Other  Agreements in accordance  with the Certificate of  Incorporation  and
Bylaws of Alpine and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

      6.6 Bill of Sale; Assignments;  Etc. Buyer shall have received from Seller
(a) an executed Bill of Sale,  in the form attached  hereto as Exhibit B, (b) an
executed  Assignment and Assumption  Agreement,  in the form attached  hereto as
Exhibit C and (c) such other assignments and instruments of conveyance as may be
reasonably  necessary or appropriate  to transfer the Purchased  Assets to Buyer
free  and  clear  of  all  Liens  except  Permitted  Liens,  including,  without
limitation, an assignment of the Exemption, but only to the extent the Exemption
is  assignable,  and the  failure  of the state of  Alabama  to  consent to such
assignment shall not be a condition to Closing.

      6.7  Assignment of  Non-Competition  Rights.  Buyer shall have received an
Assignment of Non-Competition  Rights, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D,
duly executed by Seller and Alpine Holdco Inc.

      6.8 Assignment of  Intellectual  Property.  Buyer shall have received from
Seller instruments  evidencing the assignment to Buyer of all owned Intellectual
Property  (including domain names) included in the Purchased Assets, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit E-1 (US), Exhibit E-2 (Canada) and Exhibit E-3.

                                       26
<PAGE>

      6.9 Irrevocable  Proxy. Buyer shall have received an Irrevocable Proxy, in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, duly executed by Seller.

      6.10 Assignment of Trademark License Agreement.  Buyer shall have received
an Assignment of Trademark  License  Agreement,  in the form attached  hereto as
Exhibit  G,  duly  executed  by  Seller,  and IP  Licensing  LLC  shall not have
withdrawn its consent to such assignment.

      6.11 Lien  Releases.  Buyer shall have  received  releases of all Liens to
which the Purchased Assets are subject (other than Permitted Liens),  including,
without  limitation,  a release in recordable form of the Florence Real Property
from the Lien of that  certain  mortgage in the amount of  $100,000,000.00  from
Seller to Foothill Capital Corporation, as Agent, recorded in Real Property Book
2002 in the office of the Judge of Probate of Lauderdale County, Alabama.

      6.12 Limited  Warranty Deed and Quitclaim Deed.  Buyer shall have received
from Seller in duly executed and recordable form (a) a limited  warranty deed in
respect of the Florence Real Property, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H,
and (b) a quitclaim deed describing the Florence Real Property  according to any
new  survey  of the  Florence  Real  Property  obtained  by Buyer if the  survey
description  differs  Materially  from the description set forth in such limited
warranty deed.

      6.13 [Intentionally Omitted].

      6.14  Certificate(s)  of Occupancy,  Etc.  Seller shall have  delivered to
Buyer copies of all  certificates of occupancy  issued by the state fire marshal
and/or the appropriate  local zoning  authorities for the Florence Real Property
together with a complete set of all passkeys, all architectural,  mechanical and
electrical  plans  and  specifications  in  Seller's   possession  used  in  the
construction of the  improvements,  and all "as-built" plans and site surveys in
Seller's possession.

      6.15 Section 1445  Affidavit.  Buyer shall have received an affidavit from
Seller and any other party or parties  required  pursuant to Section 1445 of the
Code.

      6.16 Covenant Not To Compete.  Each of Seller,  Alpine, Alpine Holdco Inc.
and Steven S. Elbaum,  shall have entered into a non-competition  agreement with
Buyer, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I.

      6.17  Transition  Services  Agreement.  Seller  shall have  entered into a
Transition  Services  Agreement,  in the form attached  hereto as Exhibit J (the
"Transition Services Agreement").

      6.18  Secretary's  Certificate.  Seller  shall have  delivered  to Buyer a
certificate, dated the Closing Date, executed by the Secretary of Seller, in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit K.

      6.19  Consents.  There shall have been  received a consent  from the Third
Party to the Contract set forth on Schedule  6.19 or Seller and Buyer shall have
agreed upon an alternative mechanism which would confer upon Buyer substantially
the same benefit which it would have received if such consent was granted.

                                       27
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 7
                       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS
                                    OF SELLER

      The obligations of Seller to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement  shall be subject to the  satisfaction,  on or before the Closing
Date, of each of the following conditions,  any of which may be waived, in whole
or in part, by Seller for purposes of consummating such transactions:

      7.1  Representations   True  and  Covenants  Performed  at  Closing.   The
representations and warranties made by Buyer in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all  Material  respects on the  Closing  Date with the same force and
effect as if this  Agreement  had been  executed on and as of the  Closing  Date
(other  than  representations  and  warranties  which are made as of a specified
date,  which shall be true and  correct as of such date).  Buyer shall have duly
performed or complied with in all Material  respects all of the  agreements  and
covenants and  satisfied all of the  conditions to be performed or complied with
by it on or prior to the Closing Date. Buyer shall execute and deliver to Seller
a certificate dated as of the Closing Date,  certifying as to the fulfillment of
the conditions of this Section 7.1, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit L.

      7.2 No  Injunction,  Etc.  No  Litigation,  Law or Order  shall  have been
instituted,  enacted,  entered,  threatened  or  proposed  before  any  court or
Governmental  Authority  to enjoin,  restrain,  prohibit,  or obtain  damages in
respect of this Agreement or the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

      7.3 HSR Act Approval. All waiting periods applicable to this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  under the HSR Act shall have expired or
been  terminated  and neither the FTC nor the DOJ shall have sought to restrain,
enjoin or otherwise  prevent the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby (or any such  proceeding has been resolved to permit the  consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby).

      7.4 Alpine  Stockholder  Approval.  The  stockholders of Alpine shall have
duly  authorized the execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement and
the Other  Agreements in accordance  with the Certificate of  Incorporation  and
Bylaws of Alpine and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

      7.5 Payment of the Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall have been paid
to Seller in the manner described in Article 1 hereof.

      7.6 Assignment and Assumption  Agreement.  Seller shall have received from
Buyer an executed  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreement,  in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit C.

                                       28
<PAGE>

      7.7  Secretary's  Certificate.  Buyer  shall  have  delivered  to Seller a
certificate,  dated the Closing Date, executed by the Secretary of Buyer, in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit M.

      7.8  Transition  Services  Agreement.  Buyer shall have  entered  into the
Transition Services Agreement.

      7.9  Utility  Letter of Credit.  Buyer  shall have  either (a)  obtained a
standby letter of credit in form and substance  acceptable to Florence Utilities
for  substitution  of the Utility  Letter of Credit or (b)  provided to Florence
Utilities  a deposit,  collateral  or other  assurances  acceptable  to Florence
Utilities  in order to  release  the  Utility  Letter of  Credit,  and  Florence
Utilities shall have returned to Seller the Utility Letter of Credit.

      7.10 Environmental Matters Insurance Policy. Buyer shall have delivered to
Seller an insurance policy and applicable endorsements in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit N (the  "Environmental  Matters  Insurance  Policy"),
together with evidence reasonably  satisfactory to Seller that such policy is in
effect and that the premium payable in respect thereof has been paid.

                                    ARTICLE 8
                   SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                               AND INDEMNIFICATION

      8.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

            (a) All representations,  warranties,  agreements and covenants made
or  undertaken by the parties in this  Agreement are material,  have been relied
upon by the other parties hereto, shall survive the Closing hereunder, shall not
merge in the  performance  of any  obligation  by any  party  hereto  and  shall
terminate and expire as follows:

                  (i) Any General  Claim with  respect to which a Claims  Notice
            has not been given pursuant to Section 8.4 will terminate and expire
            18 months after the Closing Date.

                  (ii) Any  Ownership  Claim,  any claim  arising out of Section
            8.2(a),  any claim  arising out of Section  8.3(a) and any claim for
            breaches of  agreements  or covenants  contained  in this  Agreement
            shall not terminate or expire.

            (b) The  representations and warranties made by Seller and contained
in Article 3 of this Agreement and the  representations  and warranties  made by
Buyer and  contained  in Article 4 of this  Agreement  are deemed by the parties
hereto to have been made by Seller and  Buyer,  as the case may be, on and as of
both the date hereof and the  Closing  Date with the same force and effect as if
this  Agreement were executed by Seller and Buyer on each of the date hereof and
the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties which are made as of
a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such date).

                                       29
<PAGE>

      8.2  Obligation  of  Seller  to  Indemnify.  Subject  to  the  limitations
contained in Sections 8.1 and 8.6, Seller agrees to pay,  indemnify,  defend and
hold Buyer and its officers,  directors,  employees, counsel, agents, Affiliates
and assigns harmless from and against all Losses which may be asserted  against,
imposed  upon or incurred  by any of them by reason of,  resulting  from,  or in
connection with the following:

            (a) any Excluded Liability;

            (b) any  inaccuracy in or breach of any  representation  or warranty
made by Seller pursuant to this Agreement; and

            (c) any breach of any covenant or agreement  made or to be performed
by Seller pursuant to this Agreement.

      8.3 Obligation of Buyer to Indemnify. Subject to the limitations contained
in Sections 8.1 and 8.6, Buyer agrees to pay, indemnify,  defend and hold Seller
and its officers, directors,  employees, counsel, agents, Affiliates and assigns
harmless from and against all Losses which may be asserted against, imposed upon
or incurred by any of them by reason of,  resulting  from or in connection  with
the following:

            (a) any Assumed Liability;

            (b) any  inaccuracy in or breach of any  representation  or warranty
made by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement; and

            (c) any breach of any covenant or agreement  made or to be performed
by Buyer pursuant this Agreement.

                                       30
<PAGE>

      8.4 Notice of Loss or  Asserted  Liability.  Promptly  after (a)  becoming
aware of  circumstances  that  have  resulted  in a Loss for  which  any  Person
entitled  to  indemnification  pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 intends to
seek indemnification under such Section (the "Indemnified Party") or (b) receipt
by the  Indemnified  Party of written  or oral  notice of any  demand,  claim or
circumstance  which,  with or without the lapse of time, the giving of notice or
both,   would  give  rise  to  a  claim  or  the   commencement  (or  threatened
commencement)  of  any  Litigation  that  may  result  in a Loss  (an  "Asserted
Liability"),  the  Indemnified  Party shall give  written  notice  thereof  (the
"Claims   Notice")  to  any  other  party  or  parties   obligated   to  provide
indemnification  pursuant  to  Section  8.2 or  Section  8.3 (the  "Indemnifying
Party").  The Claims Notice shall describe the Loss or the Asserted Liability in
reasonable detail, and shall indicate the amount (estimated,  if necessary,  but
only if  reasonably  determinable)  of the Loss  that  has been or which  may be
suffered by the  Indemnified  Party.  The Claims Notice may be amended on one or
more occasions with respect to the amount of the Asserted  Liability or the Loss
at any time prior to final resolution of the obligation to indemnify relating to
the Asserted  Liability or the Loss. If a Claims Notice is not provided promptly
as required by this Section  8.4, the  Indemnified  Party  nonetheless  shall be
entitled to  indemnification  by the Indemnifying  Party unless the Indemnifying
Party is able to prove that it was prejudiced by such late receipt of the Claims
Notice.

      8.5 Opportunity to Contest. The Indemnifying Party may elect to compromise
or  contest,  at its own  expense  and with  counsel  of its  choice  reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Party, any Asserted Liability. If the Indemnifying
Party elects to compromise or contest such Asserted Liability,  it shall, within
30 days (or sooner, if the nature of the Asserted Liability so requires), notify
the  Indemnified  Party  of its  intent  to do so by  sending  a  notice  to the
Indemnified  Party (the  "Contest  Notice"),  and the  Indemnified  Party  shall
cooperate,  at the  expense of the  Indemnifying  Party,  in the  compromise  or
contest of such  Asserted  Liability.  If the  Indemnifying  Party elects not to
compromise or contest the Asserted  Liability,  fails to notify the  Indemnified
Party of its election as herein provided or contests its obligation to indemnify
under  this  Agreement,  the  Indemnified  Party  (upon  further  notice  to the
Indemnifying  Party)  shall have the right to pay,  compromise  or contest  such
Asserted Liability on behalf of and for the account and risk of the Indemnifying
Party.  Anything in this  Section 8.5 to the contrary  notwithstanding,  (i) the
Indemnified Party shall have the right, at its own cost and for its own account,
to compromise  or contest any Asserted  Liability and the exercise of such right
shall relieve the Indemnifying  Party of any further  obligation  hereunder with
respect to any such Asserted Liability,  and (ii) neither the Indemnifying Party
nor the Indemnified Party shall, without the written consent of the Indemnifying
Party or the  Indemnified  Party,  as the case may be, settle or compromise  any
Asserted Liability or consent to entry of any judgment which does not include an
unconditional term releasing the Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party, as
the case may be, from all  Liability in respect of such Asserted  Liability.  In
any event, the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party may participate,  at
their own expense, in the contest of such Asserted  Liability.  Seller and Buyer
shall  reasonably  cooperate  with  each  other as to all  Asserted  Liabilities
initiated by Third  Parties  shall make  available  to each other as  reasonably
requested  all  information,  records,  and  documents  relating to all Asserted
Liabilities  initiated by Third Parties and shall preserve all such information,
records,  and documents  until the  termination of any such Asserted  Liability.
Seller  and Buyer  also  shall  make  available  to each  other,  as  reasonably
requested, its personnel,  agents, and other representatives who are responsible
for preparing or maintaining  information,  records, or other documents,  or who
may have particular knowledge with respect to any Asserted Liability.

                                       31
<PAGE>

      8.6  Limitations  on  Indemnification.  Anything  to the  contrary  herein
notwithstanding:

            (a) Seller  shall not be required to  indemnify  Buyer and the other
Persons  specified  in Section 8.2 with  respect to a Loss  related to a General
Claim unless the amount of such Loss, when aggregated with all other such Losses
of such  Persons,  shall  exceed  $250,000  (the  "Minimum  Aggregate  Liability
Amount"),  at which  time  Losses  may be  asserted  for the  Minimum  Aggregate
Liability  Amount and any amounts in excess  thereof.  Notwithstanding  anything
herein to the contrary,  the Minimum Aggregate  Liability Amount shall not apply
to any Losses attributable to any inaccuracy in or breach of any Qualified as to
Materiality Representation.

            (b) The  maximum  aggregate  liability  of Seller  pursuant  to this
Article 8 with  respect to any Losses  related  to  General  Claims  shall be an
amount equal to 10% of the  aggregate  Purchase  Price (the  "Maximum  Aggregate
Liability Amount").

            (c) The Minimum Aggregate Liability Amount and the Maximum Aggregate
Liability Amount shall not apply to any Loss which results from or arises out of
(A) any Ownership  Claim,  (B) any claim arising out of Section 8.2(a),  (C) any
claim for breaches of  agreements or covenants in this  Agreement,  or (D) fraud
and intentional  misrepresentation  or an intentional  breach of warranty on the
part of Seller or Buyer in this Agreement.

            (d) No  party  otherwise  entitled  to  indemnification  under  this
Agreement  shall be  indemnified  pursuant to this  Agreement to the extent that
such  party's  Losses are  increased  or  extended  by the  willful  misconduct,
violation of Law or bad faith of such party,  in each case,  as  determined by a
final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

            (e) The amount of any indemnification  under this Article 8 shall be
reduced by any amount  recovered  by the  Indemnified  Party (net of  reasonable
expenses  incurred  in  obtaining  such  recovery)  under any  insurance  policy
(including any  environmental  insurance  policy) or from any Third Party (which
recovery the Indemnified  Party shall use its reasonable  commercial  efforts to
pursue),  and by any income Tax benefit related to the indemnified Loss obtained
by the Indemnified Party or any Affiliate.  If, after an indemnification payment
has been made with respect to a Loss, the Indemnified Party or any Affiliate has
a recovery,  or obtains an income Tax benefit,  with  respect to that Loss,  the
Indemnified  Party shall  promptly pay to the  Indemnifying  Party the amount of
that recovery or income Tax benefit, net of reasonable expenses and Tax or other
costs incurred in obtaining recovery.

            (f) Any payment of an  indemnification  amount  under this Article 8
shall be accounted for as an adjustment to the Purchase Price.

            (g) Seller  shall not be required to  indemnify  Buyer and the other
Persons  specified  in  Section  8.2  with  respect  to any Loss  related  to an
Environmental  Liability  unless such Loss  exceeds the total  payments  made to
Buyer or such other Person  under the  insurance  policy  referred to in Section
7.10 hereof and Seller's  obligation  to indemnify  Buyer and the other  Persons
specified in Section 8.2 as limited by this Section 8.6(g) shall expire upon the
earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date or (ii) the expiration,
lapse or non-renewal of the insurance policy referred to in Section 7.10 hereof.

                                       32
<PAGE>

      8.7 Subrogation  Rights. In the event that the Indemnifying Party shall be
obligated to indemnify  the  Indemnified  Party  pursuant to this Article 8, the
Indemnifying  Party shall upon payment of such  indemnity in full, be subrogated
to all rights of the  Indemnified  Party with  respect to the Loss to which such
indemnification  relates;  provided,  however, that the Indemnifying Party shall
only be  subrogated  to the extent of any  amount  paid by it  pursuant  to this
Article 8 in connection with such Loss.

      8.8  Post-Closing  Maintenance of Cash, Etc.. To ensure that adequate sums
will  be   available   from  which   post-Closing   adjustments   and   Seller's
indemnifications  may be paid to Buyer,  Seller  will,  at all times  during the
18-month  period  subsequent to the Closing,  maintain  unencumbered  either (a)
cash, (b) cash equivalents or (c) marketable securities or other assets that are
acceptable to Buyer in its sole  discretion,  which in the case of either clause
(a),  (b)  or (c) is at  least  equal  to 5% of  the  aggregate  Purchase  Price
(adjusted for claims paid), but in no event to exceed $3,500,000.

      8.9  Indemnification  Payments.  Subject  to the terms  hereof  and unless
contested  pursuant  to Section  8.5,  an  Indemnifying  Party  shall pay to the
Indemnified  Party the full  amount of any and all  Losses  (other  than  Losses
resulting  from an Asserted  Liability)  under this Article 8 within ten days of
receipt of the Claims Notice  thereof and the full amount of any Loss  resulting
from an  Asserted  Liability  within  ten days of the date  such  Litigation  is
terminated  or the date a final  judgment or award is rendered  and no appeal is
taken,  and  thereafter  the amount of such Loss shall bear  interest  at a rate
equal to the lesser of 2% per month or the maximum amount permitted by law.

      8.10 Exclusive  Remedies.  If the Closing occurs, the remedies provided in
this  Article  8 are the sole and  exclusive  remedies  for  recoveries  against
another  party  for  breaches  of the  representations  and  warranties  in this
Agreement  and for the  matters  specifically  listed in  Sections  8.2 and 8.3;
provided,  however,  that  neither  the  foregoing  nor  anything  else  in this
Agreement  shall limit the right of a party to enforce the  performance  of this
Agreement  by  any  remedy  available  to  it  in  equity,   including  specific
performance.

                                    ARTICLE 9
                                   TERMINATION

      9.1  Method  of   Termination.   This   Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated by it may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date:

                                       33
<PAGE>

            (a) By the mutual consent of Seller and Buyer at any time;

            (b) By Seller pursuant to Section 1.2;

            (c) By Seller in the  exercise of  fiduciary  duties by its board or
the board of Alpine pursuant to Section 5.11;

            (d) By Buyer if Seller  or the  controlling  shareholders  of Seller
consummate a Business Combination with any Person other than Buyer;

            (e) By Buyer pursuant to Section 5.19;

            (f) By Buyer pursuant to Section 5.20;

            (g) By Buyer pursuant to Section 9.4;

            (h) By  Seller,  upon a  breach  of or  failure  to  perform  in any
Material respect any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part
of Buyer set forth in this  Agreement,  such  that the  conditions  set forth in
Article 7 of this  Agreement  cannot be  satisfied  on or prior to November  30,
2005; provided, however, in the case of any such breach or failure to perform by
Buyer of any covenant or agreement  hereunder  which is not a willful  breach or
failure to  perform,  if such breach or failure to perform may be cured by Buyer
and Buyer is taking  reasonable steps to cure such breach or failure to perform,
then Seller may not terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to this Section  9.1(h)
until February 15, 2006;

            (i) By Buyer, upon a breach of or failure to perform in any Material
respect  any  representation,  warranty,  covenant or  agreement  on the part of
Seller  set  forth in this  Agreement,  such  that the  conditions  set forth in
Article 6 of this  Agreement  cannot be  satisfied  on or prior to November  30,
2005; provided, however, in the case of any such breach or failure to perform by
Seller of any covenant or agreement  hereunder  which is not a willful breach or
failure to perform,  if such breach or failure to perform may be cured by Seller
and Seller is taking reasonable steps to cure such breach or failure to perform,
then Buyer may not  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to this Section  9.1(i)
until February 15, 2006; or

            (j) By Seller or Buyer, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or
prior to February 15, 2006.

      9.2 Notice of  Termination.  Notice of termination of this  Agreement,  as
provided  for in this Article 9, shall be given by the party so  terminating  to
the other parties hereto in accordance with Section 11.1 of this Agreement.

                                       34
<PAGE>

      9.3 Effect of Termination. In the event of a termination of this Agreement
pursuant  to Section  9.1  hereof,  and  except  for the rights and  obligations
arising  under  Section 5.11 (which shall  survive any such  termination),  this
Agreement  shall become void and of no further force and effect,  and each party
shall  pay the  costs  and  expenses  incurred  by it in  connection  with  this
Agreement,  and  no  party  (or  any of its  agents,  counsel,  representatives,
Affiliates  or  assigns)  shall  be  liable  to any  other  party  for any  Loss
hereunder.  It is agreed  that time is of the  essence  in the  performance  and
satisfaction of this Agreement and each of the conditions  specified in Articles
6 and 7 of this Agreement are Material for purposes of this Agreement.

      9.4 Destruction, Damage or Condemnation.

            (a) If, prior to the Closing Date,  any portion of the Florence Real
Property  is  Materially  damaged  or  destroyed  by fire or other  casualty  (a
"Casualty"),  then Seller  shall  notify Buyer of such fact and Buyer shall have
the option to  terminate  this  Agreement  upon notice to Seller given not later
than ten  business  days  after  Seller  gives  such  notice to  Buyer.  If this
Agreement is terminated as aforesaid,  then neither party shall have any further
rights or obligations  hereunder,  other than those which expressly  survive the
termination  of this  Agreement,  and all  insurance  proceeds  shall  belong to
Seller. If, prior to the Closing Date, any portion of the Florence Real Property
is  Materially  damaged or  destroyed  by a Casualty and Buyer does not elect to
terminate  this  Agreement  (or if Buyer  does  not  have the  right to elect to
terminate this  Agreement),  then (i) Buyer shall accept so much of the Florence
Real  Property as remains  after such Casualty with no abatement of the Purchase
Price,  and (ii)  Seller  shall (1) assign to Buyer at the Closing all rights of
Seller  to any  insurance  proceeds,  (2)  remit to Buyer  at  Closing  any such
insurance  proceeds  received  by Seller  after the date hereof and prior to the
Closing (less  reasonable  costs of collection  and/or  restoration  incurred by
Seller prior to Closing),  and (3) remit to Buyer promptly upon receipt any such
insurance  proceeds received by Seller after the Closing (which obligation shall
survive the Closing).

            (b) In the event of (i) the institution of any proceeding (judicial,
administrative  or  otherwise)  which  shall  relate to the  proposed  taking by
eminent  domain of a portion of the Florence Real  Property,  and the portion of
the Florence Real  Property not affected by such  proceeding  can  reasonably be
expected  to be  operated  in a manner  sufficient  to conduct  the  Business in
substantially the same manner as conducted prior to such taking (as used in this
Section  9.4,  the  portion of the  Florence  Real  Property  affected by such a
proceeding is referred to as an  "immaterial  portion of the Real  Estate"),  or
(ii) the taking of an  immaterial  portion of the Real Estate by eminent  domain
occurs prior to the Closing Date,  then Buyer shall  nevertheless be required to
purchase  the  Purchased  Assets  on the  Closing  Date  and  there  shall be no
abatement  of the  Purchase  Price,  and Seller shall (i) assign to Buyer at the
Closing all rights of Seller to any condemnation  proceeds,  (ii) remit to Buyer
at Closing any such  condemnation  proceeds  received  by Seller  after the date
hereof and prior to the Closing  (less  reasonable  costs of  collection  and/or
restoration  incurred  by Seller  prior to  Closing),  and (iii)  remit to Buyer
promptly upon receipt any such  condemnation  proceeds  received by Seller after
the Closing (which  obligation shall survive the Closing).  Buyer shall have the
right to participate fully in the condemnation proceeding so long as it pays for
its own attorney's fees and litigation expenses.

                                       35
<PAGE>

            (c)  In  the  event  that  prior  to  the  Closing  proceedings  are
instituted  for  the  taking  by  eminent  domain  of all of the  Florence  Real
Property, or in the event of the taking by eminent domain of all of the Florence
Real Property prior to the Closing Date, then this Agreement shall terminate and
neither party shall have any further rights or obligations hereunder, other than
those  which  expressly  survive  the  termination  of this  Agreement,  and all
condemnation proceeds shall belong to Seller.

          (d) In the event  that  prior to the  Closing  (i)  proceedings  are
instituted for the taking by eminent  domain of more than an immaterial  portion
of the Florence Real  Property,  or (ii) more than an immaterial  portion of the
Florence  Real  Property is taken by eminent  domain,  then,  in any such event,
Buyer shall have the right,  exercisable  by notice to Seller  given  within ten
business days after Buyer shall have received from Seller  written notice of the
applicable proceedings, to terminate this Agreement and neither party shall have
any further rights or obligations  hereunder,  other than those which  expressly
survive the termination of this Agreement. In the event that Buyer shall fail to
give timely such  notice,  Buyer  shall be  required to purchase  the  Purchased
Assets on the  Closing  Date and there  shall be no  abatement  of the  Purchase
Price,  and Seller shall (i) assign to Buyer at the Closing all rights of Seller
to any  condemnation  proceeds  (less  reasonable  costs  of  collection  and/or
restoration incurred by Seller prior to Closing), (ii) remit to Buyer at Closing
any such  condemnation  proceeds  received  by Seller  after the date hereof and
prior to the Closing,  and (iii) remit to Buyer  promptly  upon receipt any such
condemnation  proceeds  received by Seller after the Closing  (which  obligation
shall survive the Closing).

                                   ARTICLE 10
                              CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

      The following terms (in their singular and plural forms as appropriate) as
used in this  Agreement  shall  have the  meanings  set forth  below  unless the
context requires otherwise:

      "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person who directly
or indirectly,  through one or more intermediaries,  controls,  or is controlled
by,  or is under  common  control  with,  such  Person  or (ii) any  Person  who
beneficially owns or holds 10% or more of any class of voting securities of such
Person;  provided,  however, that Superior Essex, Inc. shall not be deemed to be
an Affiliate of Seller for any purpose under this Agreement.  The term "control"
means the  possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power to direct or cause
the  direction of the  management or policies of a Person,  whether  through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

      "Alpine" means The Alpine Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

      "Agreement"  means this Asset Purchase  Agreement,  including the Exhibits
and Schedules delivered pursuant hereto or referred to herein.

      "Assumed  Liabilities" means the following  Liabilities of Seller relating
to the Business (other than Excluded Liabilities):

                                       36
<PAGE>

                  (i) Liabilities to be paid or performed for or with respect to
            periods  from and after the  Closing  Date under or  pursuant to (A)
            those certain  Contracts of Seller that are listed in on Schedule AL
            hereto and (B) the Interim  Assumed  Contracts;  provided,  however,
            that Assumed Liabilities shall not include any Liabilities resulting
            from or arising  out of any  Default by Seller  prior to the Closing
            Date under or with respect to any Contract;

                  (ii) Accrued PTO to the extent  disclosed in Schedule  3.21 or
            accrued since the date of this  Agreement in the ordinary  course of
            business; and

                  (iii)  accrued  ad  valorem  taxes  for  2005  not yet due and
            payable  with  respect to items of both Real  Property  and Personal
            Property that constitute part of the Purchased Assets;

                  (iv) all Liabilities arising on or after the Closing Date with
            respect to Permitted Title Exceptions; and

                  (v) all  obligations  that arise after the Closing  Date under
            any License constituting a Purchased Asset.

            Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  the term Assumed
            Liability shall include Liabilities to make compensatory payments to
            any Person party to a Distributor  Contract  included on Schedule AL
            in respect of any goods  shipped from and after the Closing Date and
            without  regard  to the fact a  commitment  to sell  such  goods was
            entered into prior to the Closing  Date,  provided  that payment for
            such goods is due and payable from the customer to Buyer.

      "Assumed  Liability  Amount"  means the  amount of any  Assumed  Liability
properly  included as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with
GAAP. Buyer and Seller agree that the only amount, if any, to be included in the
Assumed  Liability Amount will be the amounts referred to in clauses (ii), (iii)
and (v) of the definition of Assumed Liabilities.

      "Business"  means  Seller's   electrical  wire   manufacturing  and  sales
business.

      "Closing" means the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement and shall be deemed to be effective as between the parties as of 11:59
p.m. Central Time on the Closing Date.

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

      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      "Contract" means any written or oral contract,  agreement,  understanding,
lease,  usufruct  binding,  purchase order,  license,  commitment,  arrangement,
obligation,  undertaking  of any kind or  character  or other  document  that is
binding on any Person or its assets.

                                       37
<PAGE>

      "Default"  means (1) a breach of or default under any Contract or License,
(2) the  occurrence  of an event that with the  passage of time or the giving of
notice or both would constitute such a breach or default,  or (3) the occurrence
of an event that with or without  the passage of time or the giving of notice or
both  would  give  rise to a  right  to  terminate,  change  the  terms  of,  or
renegotiate,  any Contract or License or to accelerate,  increase, or impose any
Liability under any Contract or License.

      "Distributor  Contract" means any Contract with any sales  representative,
distributor or dealer of Seller that relates to the Business.

      "DOJ" means the  Antitrust  Division of the United  States  Department  of
Justice.

      "Employee  Benefit Plans" means any "employee benefit plan" (as defined in
Section  3(3)  of  ERISA)  or any  other  pension,  retirement,  profit-sharing,
compensation,  stock option,  share  purchase,  phantom  stock,  employee  stock
ownership,  severance or other  termination  pay,  vacation,  bonus,  incentive,
medical,  disability,  vision, dental, insurance,  cafeteria,  flexible spending
account plan, or other  employee or fringe benefit plan, or any other written or
unwritten trust fund, program, arrangement, agreement or understanding,  whether
arrived at through  collective  bargaining or otherwise,  that the Seller or any
ERISA  Affiliate  has at any time  participated  in,  maintained or sponsored in
whole or in part or as to which Seller or any ERISA Affiliate has any Liability,
whether accrued,  contingent or otherwise,  for the benefit of current or former
employees,  directors,  officers,  leased employees,  independent contractors or
agents or their current or former spouses, dependents, or other beneficiaries.

      "Environmental  Claim" means any Litigation based upon, arising out of, or
otherwise in connection  with,  responsibility  or Liability  for  investigatory
costs,  cleanup  costs,  private or  governmental  response or  remedial  costs,
natural resources damages,  property damages,  personal  injuries,  or penalties
resulting from (i) any Environmental  Matter, or (ii) any circumstances or state
of facts forming the basis of any Liability pursuant to, or in violation of, any
Environmental Law.

      "Environmental Laws" means all Laws relating to pollution or protection of
human health or the environment  (including,  without  limitation,  ambient air,
surface  water,  ground water,  land surface or subsurface  strata),  including,
without limitation,  the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response Compensation and
Liability  Act, as amended,  42 U.S.C.  9601 et seq.  ("CERCLA"),  the  Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act as amended,  42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ("RCRA"),  and
other Laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of
any Hazardous Substance,  or otherwise relating to the manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use, treatment,  storage, disposal,  transport or handling of any
Hazardous Substance.

      "Environmental   Liabilities"   means  any   Liability   relating  to  any
Environmental Matter existing on, in, under, at, or from the Purchased Assets or
with respect to the conduct of the Business,  in each case, prior to the Closing
Date; provided,  however, that each of (i) the soil condition referred to in the
Contamination  Exclusion  Endorsement  in the  Environmental  Matters  Insurance
Policy and (ii) Retained Fines and Penalties  Liabilities shall be excluded from
the definition of Environmental Liabilities.

                                       38
<PAGE>

      "Environmental  Matter" means any matter or  circumstances  related in any
manner  whatsoever  to  (i)  the  emission,  discharge,   disposal,  release  or
threatened release of any Hazardous  Substance into the environment in violation
of applicable Environmental Law, (ii) the treatment, storage, recycling or other
handling of any  Hazardous  Substance in violation of  applicable  Environmental
Law,  (iii) the placement of  structures or materials  into waters of the United
States in violation of applicable Environmental Law, or (iv) the presence of any
Hazardous  Substance,  including,  but not limited to, friable asbestos,  in any
building,  structure  or  workplace  or on any Real  Property  in  violation  of
applicable Environmental Law.

      "ERISA"  means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974,  as
amended.

      "ERISA   Affiliate"   means  any  trade  or   business   (whether  or  not
incorporated) that together with Seller is treated as a single employer pursuant
to Code sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o).

      "Excluded  Assets"  means the  following  assets,  none of which are being
purchased by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement:

                  (i)  all of  Seller's  cash,  cash  equivalents  and  accounts
            receivable;

                  (ii) all leased Real Property of Seller, including leased Real
            Property at Fort Wayne,  Indiana,  Ontario,  California,  McDonough,
            Georgia,  Whitley County,  Indiana and elsewhere,  together with all
            Personal  Property  (other than the Idled  Machinery  and  Equipment
            identified on Schedule IPME) and leasehold improvements thereon;

                  (iii)  the Real  Property  owned by Seller  (A) at  Jonesboro,
            Indiana,  Marion,  Indiana and Orleans,  Indiana,  together with all
            Personal  Property  (other than the Idled  Machinery and  Equipment)
            thereon and (B)  described  as "TRACT  ONE" on Schedule  3.8 hereto,
            together with all Personal  Property (other than any Idled Machinery
            and Equipment) thereon;

                  (iv) all intangible rights and goodwill  relating  exclusively
            to the assets retained by Seller and described in this definition;

                  (v) all income Tax Returns and all books,  records,  files and
            papers  maintained  by Seller and used in the  preparation  thereof,
            other than employee files,  payroll records,  customer contracts and
            customer records;

                  (vi) all of Seller's contract and indemnification rights under
            that certain  Purchase  Agreement,  dated  October 31, 2002,  by and
            among Superior TeleCom Inc., Superior Telecommunications Inc., Essex
            International  Inc., Essex Group,  Inc.,  Alpine,  and Alpine Holdco
            Inc. (other than  non-competition  rights assigned to Buyer pursuant
            to the Assignment of  Non-Competition  Rights executed and delivered
            pursuant to Section 6.7);

                                       39
<PAGE>

                  (vii) all rights of Seller under this  Agreement and the Other
            Agreements;

                  (viii) all rights to  refunds,  rebates or  abatements  of any
            Taxes with  respect to the  Purchased  Assets or the  Business  that
            relate to any period  ending on or prior to the Closing Date (unless
            included  in  Prepaid  Assets)  and all  rights to  payments  of any
            insurance  or  condemnation  proceeds  with  respect to the Florence
            Manufacturing  Facility paid prior to the Closing  Date,  subject to
            Section 9.4;

                  (ix) all insurance policies of Seller;

                  (x)  all   Inventory  of  Seller  other  than  the   Purchased
            Inventory;

                  (xi) all Prepaid Assets not included in the Purchased Assets;

                  (xii) any right,  claim or cause of action of Seller or any of
            its  Affiliates  against  Third  Parties  relating  to  the  assets,
            properties, business or operations of the Business arising out of or
            relating  to  transactions  occurring  prior  to the  Closing  Date,
            including, without limitation,  certain claims against Third Parties
            arising under existing copper price fixing litigation;

                  (xiii)  copies  of  all  books,  records,   files  and  papers
            maintained  by  Seller  relating  to the  Business  which  Seller is
            required  to retain  pursuant  to any  applicable  record  retention
            requirement  or  policy  or  is  reasonably   deemed   necessary  or
            appropriate by Seller to retain in accordance with prudent  business
            practices;

                  (xiv) the assets of any Employee  Benefit Plan  maintained  by
            Seller for the benefit of the  employees of the Business or to which
            Seller has made any contribution;

                  (xv) the assets and properties  used in the Business which are
            disposed of subsequent to the date of this Agreement,  provided such
            disposition is made in accordance with the terms hereof;

                  (xvi) all rights of Seller  arising on or prior to the Closing
            Date  against  suppliers  of  the  Inventory  not  included  in  the
            Purchased Assets, including, without limitation,  Seller's rights to
            receive  refunds or rebates in connection  with its purchase of such
            Inventory;

                  (xvii) all books,  records,  files and  papers  maintained  by
            Seller pertaining exclusively to the Excluded Liabilities;

                  (xviii)  all  rights of Seller  arising  under any  management
            and/or administrative  services agreements between Seller and any of
            its Affiliates;

                                       40
<PAGE>

                  (xix) all  rights of Seller  under the  employment  agreements
            referred to in clause (iv) of the definition of Excluded Liabilities
            as well as all other  employment  agreements  to which Seller or any
            other parent company of Seller is a party; and

                  (xx) all  rights of Seller  under any  Contract  disclosed  on
            Schedules 3.18(a)(i) - (vi) which is not included on Schedule AL.

      "Excluded  Liabilities"  means  any  Liability  of  Seller  which  is  not
specifically  an Assumed  Liability.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing, "Excluded Liabilities" means:

                  (i) any Liability for any trade or other account payable of

      Seller;

                  (ii)  any  Liability  that  accrued  or  arose  out  of  or in
            connection  with the  Business  for any period  prior to the Closing
            Date;

                  (iii) any Liability for any Taxes of Seller or any Affiliate;

                  (iv) any Liability of Seller under or pursuant to any Contract
            of  Seller  not   expressly  and   specifically   assumed  by  Buyer
            (including,   without  limitation,  (A)  that  certain  Amended  and
            Restated  Employment  Agreement,  dated  as of  December  11,  2002,
            between Essex  Electric Inc. and Harold M. Karp and (B) that certain
            Employment  Agreement,  dated May 13, 2003,  between Essex  Electric
            Inc. and David A. Owen);

                  (v)  any  Liability  of  Seller  or any  Affiliate  under  any

      indebtedness;

                  (vi) any Liability of Seller for any compensation  owed to any
            of the Florence Employees for any period prior to the Closing, other
            than any amount  payable (A) by Buyer to Seller  pursuant to Section
            5.8,  (B)  solely as a result  of the  termination  of any  Florence
            Employee on the Closing  Date or by Buyer after the Closing  Date or
            (C)  solely in  respect  of  Accrued  PTO  included  in the  Assumed
            Liabilities;

                  (vii) any  Liability  pursuant to any Employee  Benefit  Plan,
            including  Liability under ERISA, the Code or otherwise with respect
            to  continuation  of coverage under any group health plan maintained
            by Seller with respect to any Person employed or previously employed
            by Seller or his dependents or  beneficiaries  other than in respect
            of Accrued PTO included in the Assumed Liabilities;

                  (viii)  any  Liability  of  Seller  to pay  any sum due to any
            current or former  director,  officer,  employee,  leased  employee,
            independent  contractor,  agent or  Affiliate  of Seller,  including
            bonuses  or  other  compensation  on  account  of  the  transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in this
            Agreement;

                                       41
<PAGE>

                  (ix) any claim by any broker,  finder or other Person employed
            or allegedly  employed by Seller or any Affiliate in connection with
            the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (x) any  Liability  to any  Third  Party  pursuant  to, or for
            breach or violation  of, any bulk sales,  fraudulent  conveyance  or
            other similar Law of any  jurisdiction  that may be asserted against
            Seller,  the  Purchased  Assets  or  Buyer as a  consequence  of the
            transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (xi) any  Liability  to any Person for or with  respect to any
            Litigation  relating  to the  Business or the  Purchased  Assets now
            existing or hereafter  arising with respect to or in connection with
            any matter or thing  that  occurred,  accrued or arose  prior to the
            Closing  Date (even if  claimed,  brought or filed after the Closing
            Date);

                  (xii) any Liability of Seller relating to any Excluded Asset;

                  (xiii) any Environmental Liability;

                  (xiv) any Retained Fines and Penalties Liabilities;

                  (xv) any  Liability  to any  Third  Party not  covered  by the
            Environmental  Matters  Insurance  Policy and resulting  solely from
            Seller's  inability to provide  confirmatory  sampling results which
            would  result  in the  Contamination  Exclusion  Endorsement  in the
            Environmental  Matters  Insurance  Policy  becoming  inapplicable in
            accordance with its terms;

                  (xvi) any Liability  with respect to any product  manufactured
            or sold by Seller or any of its Affiliates; and

                  (xvii) any  Liability for worker's  compensation,  medical and
            hospitalization  claims,  or other  employment  related claims based
            upon events occurring prior to the Closing Date, except as otherwise
            provided in this Agreement.

      "Florence Employees" means all of Seller's employees who are employed,  as
of the Closing, by Seller in Florence, Alabama in connection with the conduct of
the Business (including any employee on short or long-term disability,  military
leave or other approved leave of absence).

      "Florence Manufacturing Facility" means the Florence Real Property and all
right,  title and interest of Seller in and to all Personal  Property  contained
thereon.

      "Florence  Real Property"  means Seller's fee simple  interest in the land
located in Florence,  Alabama  described as TRACT TWO in Schedule 3.8 hereto and
all of Seller's right,  title and interest in any other Real Property located on
or appurtenant to such land.

      "FTC" means the United States Federal Trade Commission.

                                       42
<PAGE>

      "GAAP"  means  United  States  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
consistently applied.

      "General  Claim" means any claim based upon,  arising out of, or otherwise
in respect of any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by Seller or
Buyer  pursuant to this  Agreement,  provided  that a "General  Claim" shall not
include any Ownership Claim.

      "Governmental  Authority" means any federal, state, county, local, foreign
or other governmental or public agency, instrumentality,  commission, authority,
board or body.

      "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
15 U.S.C.A. ss. 18(a), as amended, and all Laws promulgated thereunder.

      "Hazardous  Substance"  means  (i)  any  hazardous  substance,   hazardous
material,  hazardous  waste,  regulated  substance or toxic  substance (as those
terms are defined by any applicable  Environmental Laws) and (ii) any chemicals,
pollutants,  contaminants,  petroleum,  petroleum products, lead-based paint, or
oil regulated under Environmental Law.

      "Idled  Production  Machinery and  Equipment"  means any idled  production
machinery and equipment and distribution  and storage  equipment owned by Seller
used or  previously  used that is not located in Florence,  Alabama but which is
related to the Business and identified by location on Schedule IPME.

      "Intellectual  Property" means (i) patents and pending patent applications
together with any and all  continuations,  divisions,  reissues,  extensions and
renewals  thereof,  (ii)  trade  secrets,  know-how,  inventions,  formulae  and
processes, whether trade secrets or not, (iii) trade names, trademarks,  service
marks, logos, assumed names, brand names, domain names and all registrations and
applications  therefor  together  with the goodwill of the  business  symbolized
thereby,  (iv) copyrights and any registrations and applications  therefor,  (v)
technology  rights and  licenses,  (vi)  customer and supplier  lists and files,
mailing lists,  sales literature,  marketing data and promotional  materials and
(vii) computer software and all other intellectual  property, in each case owned
by, registered in the name of, or used in the business of a Person or in which a
Person or its business has any interest.

      "Interim Assumed Contracts" means the following Contracts that are entered
into by  Seller  after  the date of this  Agreement  in the  ordinary  course of
business consistent with past practice and not in violation of Section 5.1:

                  (i) any Contract of the type described on Schedule  3.18(a)(i)
            that (A) does not  require the  acquisition  of goods or services in
            excess of a six-week supply and (B) is terminable without penalty on
            no more than 60 days notice;

                  (ii)  any   Contract  of  the  type   described   on  Schedule
            3.18(a)(ii)  (including purchase orders (whether or not in excess of
            $50,000))  that (A) does not require the delivery of products or the
            performance of services more than 60 days after the Closing Date and
            (B)  is  subject  to a  hedging  Contract  that  is  unconditionally
            assignable to, and assumable by, Buyer if the Contract  requires the
            delivery  of  products  or the  performance  of  services  after the
            Closing Date in excess of $100,000;

                                       43
<PAGE>

                  (iii)  any   Contract  of  the  type   described  on  Schedule
            3.18(a)(v)  with  respect to Personal  Property  required to replace
            comparable  Personal Property  included in Schedule  3.18(a)(v) that
            does not require payments after the Closing Date of more than $2,000
            per month;

                  (iv)  any   Contract  of  the  type   described   on  Schedule
            3.18(a)(vi)   (specifically  excluding  any  Contract  of  the  type
            described  on Schedules  3.18(a)(i),  3.18(a)(ii),  3.18(a)(iii)  or
            3.18(a)(iv) or 3.18(v)) that (A) is terminable without penalty on no
            more than 60 days notice and (B) does not require payments after the
            Closing Date of more than $5,000 per month.

      "Inventory"  means all inventories of raw materials,  supplies,  purchased
parts  to  be  incorporated  in  finished  products,  work-in-process,  finished
products, packaging materials and other inventories.

      "knowledge," with respect to any Person,  means such information  actually
known by such  Person  or which  such  Person  upon the  making  of  "reasonable
inquiry"  would have  discovered;  provided,  however,  with  respect to Seller,
"knowledge"  shall  refer to such  information  actually  known  or  which  upon
reasonable  inquiry (which,  for purposes  hereof,  shall mean that Seller shall
have caused the following  persons to review this  Agreement or, if  applicable,
only the provisions  thereof  reasonably  related to such persons' job function)
would have been  discovered  by Steven S. Elbaum,  K. Mitchell  Posner,  Stewart
Wahrsager,  Dana Sidur,  David Owen,  Harold Karp, Jim Berry (i.e.,  Director of
Manufacturing), Pete Johnson (i.e., Engineer/QA Manager) and Bill Meadows (i.e.,
Operations Manager).

      "Law" means any code, law, order, ordinance,  regulation,  rule or statute
of any Governmental Authority.

      "Liability" means any direct or indirect, primary or secondary, liability,
indebtedness, obligation, penalty, expense (including, without limitation, costs
of  investigation,  collection  and  defense),  claim,  deficiency,  guaranty or
endorsement  of or by any Person (other than  endorsements  of notes,  bills and
checks  presented to banks for  collection or deposit in the ordinary  course of
business)  of any  type,  whether  accrued,  absolute,  contingent,  liquidated,
unliquidated,  matured, unmatured or otherwise.  Without limiting the generality
of the  foregoing,  "Liability"  shall  mean any claim  made by a Person to whom
Seller,  prior to Closing,  sold or delivered goods or rendered services whether
or not such  Person  would have the legal  right  validly  to assert  such claim
against Buyer.

      "License" means any license,  franchise,  notice, permit, easement, right,
certificate,  authorization, approval or filing that is binding on any Person or
its assets.

                                       44
<PAGE>

      "Lien" means any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, hypothecation,
encumbrance,  lis  pendens,  encroachment,  conditional  sale  agreement,  title
retention or other security arrangement of any nature whatsoever of, on, or with
respect to any property or property interest.

      "Litigation" means any lawsuit,  action, claim, arbitration or other legal
proceeding or Order and written notices threatening or advising as to any of the
foregoing.

      "Loss" means any loss,  Liability,  obligation,  claim,  demand,  lawsuit,
action,  assessment,  damage  including  punitive,  exemplary  or  consequential
damages  (including  lost  income and profits and  interruptions  of  business),
liabilities,  costs,  expenses  (including  without  limitation,  (i)  interest,
penalties,  fines, and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses,  (ii) reasonable
attorneys'  fees and  expenses  incurred  to enforce  rights to  indemnification
hereunder   and  (iii)   consultant's   fees  and  other  costs  of  defense  or
investigation),  and interest on any amount payable to a Third Party as a result
of the foregoing,  in each case whether accrued,  absolute,  contingent,  known,
unknown, or otherwise as of the Closing Date or thereafter;  provided,  however,
in no event shall the term "Loss"  include any insurance  premium paid by any of
the parties hereto to any insurance  carrier,  or any deductible or self insured
retention  amount incurred or  attributable to any insurance  policy held by any
party hereto.

      "Material" or  "Materially"  shall be determined in light of the facts and
circumstances  of the matter in question as it relates to the Person involved in
or  making  assertions  with  respect  to such  matter  considered  as a  whole;
provided,  however,  that any specific  monetary  amount cited in this Agreement
shall be deemed to determine materiality in that instance.

      "Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect
to any Person,  any Material  adverse change in or effect upon (i) the business,
operations,  assets, Liabilities,  condition (financial or otherwise) or results
of operations of such Person,  (ii) the ability of such Person to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement or any of the Other  Agreements to
which it is or will be a party,  or (iii) the  ability of such Person to perform
its obligations  under this Agreement or any of the Other Agreements to which it
is or will be a party.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Material Adverse Change
or Material Adverse Effect shall not include any adverse effect  attributable to
(x) a decline in  general  economic  or  business  conditions,  (y) a decline or
change in general industry conditions or (z) the announcement or consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      "Order"  means any decree,  injunction,  judgment,  order,  ruling,  writ,
quasijudicial  decision  or award  or  administrative  decision  or award of any
federal, state, local, foreign or other court, arbitrator,  mediator,  tribunal,
administrative  agency or Governmental  Authority to which any Person is a party
or  that  is or may be  binding  on any  Person  or its  securities,  assets  or
business.

      "Ordinary Contracts Requiring Consent" means any Contract that is included
in the Assumed  Liabilities  other than (i) any Contract listed on Schedule 6.19
and (ii) any  purchase  order that was  received  and  accepted in the  ordinary
course of business.

                                       45
<PAGE>

      "Other  Agreements"  means  the  agreements,  documents,  assignments  and
instruments  to be executed and  delivered  by Seller or Buyer  pursuant to this
Agreement.

      "Ownership  Claim"  means any claim  arising  out of or in  respect of any
inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by Seller in Section 3.5.

      "Permitted  Liens" means (i) Permitted  Title  Exceptions,  (ii) Liens, if
any,   relating  to  Buyer's   financing  to  which  the  Purchased  Assets  are
contemplated  to be subject at Closing,  (iii) Liens for current  real  property
Taxes not yet due and payable,  (iv) such  encumbrances,  if any,  that,  in the
aggregate do not materially  and adversely  detract from the value or materially
and adversely interfere with the present use of the Florence Real Property,  and
(v) any other Liens specifically approved in writing by Buyer.

      "Person" means a natural person or any legal,  commercial or  governmental
entity, such as, but not limited to, a corporation,  general partnership,  joint
venture,  limited  partnership,   limited  liability  company,  trust,  business
association or any person acting in a representative capacity.

      "Personal  Property"  means  all of the  personal  property  or  interests
therein  owned,  leased,  used or  controlled  by a  Person  including,  without
limitation,  machinery,  dies, tools, spare parts,  equipment  (including office
equipment and  supplies),  furniture,  furnishings,  fixtures,  motor  vehicles,
forklifts and other rolling stock, leasehold improvements and all other tangible
personal property other than Inventory (which is specifically excluded from this
definition of Personal Property).

      "Prepaid  Assets"  means all  deposits,  prepaid  sums,  fees and expenses
(including,  without  limitation,  rental  fees,  utility  charges  and  service
charges),  retainages,  escrows,  monies and assets held by Third  Parties,  and
deferred charges, as the same exist as of the Closing Date.

      "Prepaid  Assets  Amount"  means the value of the  portion of the  Prepaid
Assets useable by Buyer for periods after the Closing.

      "Prime Rate" means the prime rate as published in the "Money  Rates" table
of The Wall Street  Journal on the Closing  Date or the first  publication  date
following the Closing Date.

      "Purchased  Assets"  means all of the  following  assets,  properties  and
rights of Seller  (other  than the  Excluded  Assets) in  existence  on the date
hereof and any additions  thereto on or before the Closing Date,  whether or not
carried on the books and records of Seller, and whether or not owned in the name
of Seller or any Affiliate of Seller and wherever located:

                  (xxi) all Purchased Inventory;

                  (xxii) the Florence Manufacturing Facility;

                  (xxiii) all Idled Production Machinery and Equipment;

                                       46
<PAGE>

                  (xxiv) all Intellectual  Property of the Business  (including,
            without limitation, DIAMOND(R), HANDIWIRE(R), DIAMOND GEM(R) and all
            other Intellectual Property set forth on Schedule 3.11);

                  (xxv) all intangibles and goodwill of the Business;

                  (xxvi) all Prepaid  Assets  relating to the Business (but only
            to the extent of the Prepaid Assets Amount);

                  (xxvii) all rights under Contracts relating to the Business;

                  (xxviii) to the extent  transferable,  all Licenses,  industry
            certifications   and   listings   (including   ETL,   UL   and   CSA
            certifications and listings) relating to the Business;

                  (xxix) all Personal Property relating to the Business;

                  (xxx) all original documents,  books and records pertaining to
            the  Business  (except  minute  books and stock  records) and to the
            Purchased  Assets  and the  Assumed  Liabilities  that  are  legally
            significant or useful to the Business  (including  those relating to
            the Florence Employees) and copies of all other documents, books and
            records  pertaining  to the Business,  the Purchased  Assets and the
            Assumed  Liabilities,  other than (i) the  financial  statements  of
            Seller,  (ii) income Tax  Returns  and related  books and records of
            Seller and (iii) all  documents,  books and records  relating to the
            Excluded Assets and the Excluded Liabilities;

                  (xxxi) to the extent transferable, the Exemption; and

                  (xxxii)  all other  assets  of the  Business  (other  than the
            Excluded Assets).

      "Purchased  Inventory"  means all Inventories of the Business,  except (i)
scrap Inventory at Seller's Jonesboro, Indiana scrap reclamation plant; (ii) raw
materials at Seller's  Marion,  Indiana  Compound  Fabrication  Plant; and (iii)
finished goods which are (A) not first quality (with "first quality"  defined as
those that are in accordance with Seller's existing  specifications) or (B) in a
quantity in excess of  Seller's  actual  sales  quantity  for each unique  stock
keeping  unit  for the (x)  12-month  period  prior to  Closing,  in the case of
Inventories manufactured by Seller and (y) the 24-month period prior to Closing,
in the case of Inventories not manufactured by Seller.

      "Purchased Inventory Amount" means the value of the Purchased Inventory at
Closing,  calculated  at the  lower of cost or  market  value,  with the  copper
content of Purchased  Inventory  valued  using the average of the daily  closing
prices  of  copper  cathode  on the  COMEX  for the 30- day  period  immediately
preceding the Closing Date in  accordance  with the Agreed Upon  Procedures  and
with the amount paid by Buyer for Purchased Inventory not manufactured by Seller
not exceeding  $2,137,000 (as adjusted to reflect  increases or decreases in the
copper component thereof).

                                       47
<PAGE>

      "Qualified as to  Materiality  Representations"  means the portions of the
representations  and warranties made in Section 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.11, 3.14, 3.15,
3.19 and 3.23 which are  qualified or modified by the word or words  "Material,"
"Materially,"  "Material  Adverse  Change,"  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  or any
derivation thereof.

      "Real  Property"  means  any  interest  in real  estate  or real  property
whatsoever  including  (i)  leases,  licenses,  usufructs  and other  possessory
rights, (ii) easements,  appurtenances,  privileges and other benefits belonging
or appertaining thereto which run with said real property,  (iii) any award made
with  respect to such real  estate,  (iv) all land beds in  streets,  strips and
rights-of-way  abutting or  adjoining  said real  property,  if any, and (v) all
buildings, structures, fixtures and other improvements located thereon.

      "Retained Fines and Penalties  Liabilities"  means all fines and penalties
imposed  prior to the Closing Date, or which are imposed after the Closing Date,
that relate to a violation of, or non-compliance  with, any Environmental  Laws,
but only to the extent such  violation or  non-compliance  occurred prior to the
Closing Date.

      "Severance  Obligations"  means the  amount of the  severance  pay that is
actually paid or payable in accordance with Seller's  written  severance  policy
disclosed in Schedule  3.17(d) in effect on the date of this Agreement to, or on
behalf of, any Florence  Employee whose employment is terminated by Seller as of
the Closing Date because of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement;
provided,  however,  that  "Severance  Obligations"  shall not  include  (A) any
severance pay or other amount owed pursuant to any Liability that is an Excluded
Liability,  (B) WARN  Obligations  (but such exclusion  shall not change Buyer's
obligations  under  Section  5.9  hereof) or (C) any  amount  paid or payable by
Seller  with  respect  to which the  Florence  Employee  has  executed  a waiver
provided by Buyer pursuant to Section  5.8(a) unless it is determined  that such
waiver  is  unenforceable,  in which  case,  this  clause  (C)  shall be  deemed
inapplicable for all purposes hereof.

      "Tax" or "Taxes"  means any federal,  state,  county,  local,  foreign and
other taxes, assessments, charges, fees, and impositions, including interest and
penalties thereon or with respect thereto, whether disputed or not.

      "Tax  Returns"  means all  returns,  reports,  filings,  declarations  and
statements  relating  to Taxes  that are  required  to be  filed,  recorded,  or
deposited with any Governmental  Authority,  including any attachment thereto or
amendment thereof.

      "Third  Party" or "Third  Parties"  means any Person  that is not Buyer or
Seller, or an Affiliate of Buyer or Seller.

      "Utility  Letter of Credit"  means the Standby  Letter of Credit issued by
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in the amount of $158,000 in favor of Florence  Utilities
to secure  Seller's  payment of utilities  costs of the  Florence  Manufacturing
Facility.

      "WARN Act" means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29
U.S.C. ss. 2101 et. seq., as amended, and all Laws promulgated thereunder.

                                       48
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 11
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      11.1 Notices.

            (a)  All  notices,   requests,   demands  and  other  communications
hereunder shall be (i) delivered by hand, (ii) sent by overnight courier service
or (iii) sent by facsimile and, in each case, addressed as follows:

      If to Seller:                     Essex Electric Inc.
                                        c/o Alpine Holdco Inc.
                                        One Meadowlands Plaza, Suite 801
                                        East Rutherford, New Jersey  07073
                                        Attention: Mr. K. Mitchell Posner
                                        Fax:  (201) 549-4428

      with copies to:                   Proskauer Rose LLP
                                        1585 Broadway
                                        New York, New York 10036-8299
                                        Attention: Jack P. Jackson, Esq.
                                        Fax: (212) 969-2900

      If to Buyer:                      Southwire Company
                                        One Southwire Drive
                                        Carrollton, Georgia 30119
                                        Attention: General Counsel
                                        Fax:  (770) 832-5374

      with copies to:                   Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
                                        999 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                                        Atlanta, Georgia  30309-3996
                                        Attention: Charles D. Ganz, Esq.
                                        Fax:  (404) 853-8806

            (b) All notices,  requests,  instructions  or documents given to any
party in  accordance  with this  Section 11.1 shall be deemed to have been given
(i) on the date of receipt, if delivered by hand or if sent by facsimile or (ii)
on the next business day, if sent by overnight courier.

            (c) Any party  hereto may change its address  specified  for notices
herein by  designating  a new address by notice  given in  accordance  with this
Section 11.1.

                                       49
<PAGE>

      11.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Schedules, the Exhibits and the
Other Agreements constitute the entire agreement between the parties relating to
the subject  matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior oral and written,
and all contemporaneous oral negotiations,  discussions, writings and agreements
relating  to the  subject  matter of this  Agreement.  Notwithstanding  anything
herein to the contrary, the Non-Disclosure  Agreement shall remain in full force
and  effect  in  accordance  with  its  terms,  but  shall  expire,  if at  all,
concurrently with the consummation of the Closing.

      11.3 Modifications, Amendments and Waivers.

            (a) At any time prior to or subsequent  to the Closing,  the parties
hereto may, by mutual written  agreement and in no other manner,  (a) extend the
time for the  performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the parties
hereto  other than the  conditions  contained  in Articles 6 and 7, the time for
completion  of  which  may be  extended  unilaterally  or  which  may be  waived
unilaterally by Buyer and Seller,  respectively,  (b) waive any  inaccuracies in
the  representations  and  warranties  contained  in  this  Agreement  or in any
document  delivered  pursuant  hereto,  (c)  waive  compliance  with  any of the
covenants  or  agreements  contained  in this  Agreement  or (d) make any  other
modifications of this Agreement approved by each of the parties hereto.

            (b) The  failure  or  delay  of any  party  at any  time or times to
require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect
its right to enforce that provision. No single or partial waiver by any party of
any  condition  of this  Agreement,  or the  breach  of any term,  agreement  or
covenant or the inaccuracy of any  representation or warranty of this Agreement,
whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances shall be construed
or deemed to be a further or continuing waiver of any such condition,  breach or
inaccuracy or a waiver of any other condition, breach or inaccuracy.

      11.4  Successors  and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of and be  enforceable  by the  parties  hereto,  and
their  respective  successors and assigns,  but no assignment  shall relieve any
party of the  obligations  hereunder.  This Agreement  cannot be assigned by any
party without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except that
Buyer may assign this  Agreement and its rights  hereunder to any of its lenders
as collateral  security,  such assignment of rights to be subject to any and all
restrictions and limitations herein.

      11.5 Table of Contents;  Captions;  References.  The table of contents and
the captions and other  headings  contained in this Agreement as to the contents
of particular  articles,  sections,  paragraphs or other subdivisions  contained
herein are inserted for  convenience  of reference  only and are in no way to be
construed  as part of this  Agreement  or as  limitations  on the  scope  of the
particular  articles,  sections,  paragraphs or other subdivisions to which they
refer and shall not affect the interpretation or meaning of this Agreement.  All
references  in this  Agreement to  "Section" or "Article"  shall be deemed to be
references to a Section or Article of this Agreement.

      11.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in  accordance  with,  the  substantive  Laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to choice of Law rules.

                                       50
<PAGE>

      11.7 Consent to Jurisdiction. Any claim or proceeding brought with respect
to this Agreement must be brought in any court of competent  jurisdiction in the
State of Delaware and, by execution and delivery of this  Agreement,  each party
(a) accepts,  generally and unconditionally,  the exclusive jurisdiction of such
courts and any related  appellate court,  and irrevocably  agrees to be bound by
any  judgment  rendered  thereby  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  and (b)
irrevocably waives any objection it may now or hereafter have as to the venue of
any such suit,  action or proceeding  brought in such a court or that such court
is an inconvenient forum.

      11.8  Pronouns.  All pronouns  used herein shall be deemed to refer to the
masculine, feminine or neuter gender as the context requires.

      11.9  Severability.  Should  any  one or more  of the  provisions  of this
Agreement be determined to be invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
the validity and enforceability of the remaining  provisions hereof shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.

      11.10 Remedies Not Exclusive. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 1.4
and  8.10,  no  remedy  conferred  by any of the  specific  provisions  of  this
Agreement  is  intended  to be,  nor shall  be,  exclusive  of any other  remedy
available at law, in equity or otherwise.

      11.11  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number of
counterparts,  each of which shall be an original,  but all of such counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

      11.12  Interpretations.  Neither this  Agreement  nor any  uncertainty  or
ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against Buyer or Seller, whether
under any rule of construction or otherwise. No party to this Agreement shall be
considered  the  draftsman.  On the contrary,  this Agreement has been reviewed,
negotiated  and  accepted  by all  parties  and  their  attorneys  and  shall be
construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so
as fairly to accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.

      11.13 No  Intention  to  Benefit  Third  Parties.  Except  as set forth in
Article 8, this  Agreement  is not  intended  to, and shall not, (i) benefit any
Person  other than the  parties  who are  signatories  hereto or (ii) create any
third party beneficiary right in any Person.

                                       51
<PAGE>

      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  caused  their  duly  authorized
representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                 SELLER:

                                 ESSEX ELECTRIC INC.

                                 By:  /s/ K. Mitchell Posner
                                      -------------------------------------
                                      Name:  K. Mitchell Posner
                                      Title: Executive Vice President

                                 BUYER:

                                 SOUTHWIRE COMPANY

                                 By: /s/ John R. Carlson
                                     -------------------------------
                                     Name:  John R. Carlson
                                     Title: Vice President and President,
                                            Electrical Division

                                       52

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00091-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00091-of-00352.parquet"}]]