STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


     THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of this
26th day of March, 1999 by and between MACLEAN  ACQUISITION  COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation  (together with its successors and permitted assigns,  "Purchaser"),
INDUSTRIAL & AUTOMOTIVE FASTENERS, INC., a Michigan corporation (the "Company"),
and JPE, Inc., a Michigan corporation ("Seller").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  the Company  operates a business  engaged in the  manufacture and
sale of metal wheel nuts (the "Business");

     WHEREAS,  Seller owns 100% of the issued and  outstanding  shares of common
stock, no par value of the Company (the "Shares");

     WHEREAS,  Seller desires to sell all of the Shares and Purchaser desires to
acquire the Shares on the terms and subject to the  conditions  hereinafter  set
forth.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and the mutual
agreements  and  covenants  contained  herein,  and for other good and  valuable
consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency  of which are hereby  acknowledged,
Purchaser, the Company and Seller hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

     1.1 General. Each term defined in the preamble of this Agreement and in the
recitals of this Agreement  shall have the meaning set forth above whenever used
herein,  unless  otherwise  expressly  provided  or unless the  context  clearly
requires otherwise.

     1.2  Definitions.  As used  herein,  the  following  terms  shall  have the
meanings ascribed to them in this Section 1.2:

          Accounts  Receivable.  All  present  and future  rights to payment for
     goods sold or  services  rendered  whether  or not  earned by  performance,
     including,  without limitation,  all lease payments receivable and accounts
     or notes receivable owned or held by the Company.

          Adverse Consequences. All allegations,  charges, complaints,  actions,
     suits, proceedings, hearings,  investigations,  claims, demands, judgments,
     orders,  decrees,  stipulations,  injunctions,  damages,  dues,  penalties,
     fines, costs,  amounts paid in settlement,  Liabilities,  Taxes,  interest,
     Liens, losses, expenses and fees, including all accounting,  consultant and
     attorneys'  fees and  court  costs,  costs of  expert  witnesses  and other
     expenses of litigation.

          Affiliate.  As set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations  promulgated
     under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

          Agreement.  This Stock Purchase Agreement,  together with all Exhibits
     and Schedules referred to herein, as amended, modified or supplemented from
     time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

          Alternative Transaction. As defined in Section 5.6.

          Authority. Any governmental, regulatory or administrative body, agency
     or  authority,  any court of  judicial  authority,  any  arbitrator  or any
     public, private or industry regulatory authority, whether foreign, federal,
     state or local.

          Business. As defined in the Recitals hereto.

          CERCLA.   Comprehensive   Environmental  Response,   Compensation  and
     Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601, et seq.

          Closing. The actual conveyance,  transfer,  assignment and delivery of
     the Shares to Purchaser in exchange for the consideration payable to Seller
     pursuant to this Agreement.

          Closing Date.  Five (5) days following the date on which Purchaser and
     Seller  mutually agree all closing  conditions have been satisfied (or will
     be satisfied on the Closing Date) or waived or such other date as Purchaser
     and Seller may mutually agree to in writing, in either case, upon which the
     Closing shall occur.

          Code.  Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as from time to time  amended,
     including the regulations promulgated thereunder,  or any successor statute
     and the regulations proposed or promulgated thereunder.

          Company. As defined in the preamble hereto.

          Composition Agreement. As defined in Section 6.1(l).

          Confidential Information. As defined in Section 9.2.

          Contracts. All contracts, leases, subleases, arrangements, commitments
     and other  agreements of the Company,  including  all customer  agreements,
     service agreements,  vendor agreements,  purchase orders, computer software
     licenses,  hardware lease or rental  agreements,  contract claims,  and all
     other arrangements and understandings  related to the Business,  including,
     without  limitation,  those items which are listed on Schedule  1.2 to this
     Agreement under the heading "Contracts".

          DOJ. United States Department of Justice.

          Environmental Claims. As defined in Section 3.10.4.

          Environmental  Law(s).  Each and every Law,  Order,  Permit or similar
     requirement of each and every  Authority,  pertaining to (i) the protection
     of human health,  safety, the environment,  natural resources and wildlife,
     (ii) the protection or use of surface water, groundwater,  rivers and other
     bodies of water, (iii) the management,  manufacture,  possession, presence,
     use, generation,  transportation,  treatment,  storage, disposal,  Release,
     threatened  Release,  abatement,  removal,  remediation  or handling of, or
     exposure to, any Hazardous  Substance or (iv) pollution,  including without
     limitation, as amended, CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7401
     et seq., and the Federal Water Pollution  Control Act, 33 U.S.C.  ss. 1251,
     et seq.

          Equipment and Improvements.  All machinery,  equipment,  improvements,
     facilities   and   structures,    buildings,    installations,    fixtures,
     improvements,  betterments  and  additions  located  on or within  the Real
     Property, trucks, automobiles,  appliances, parts, tools, furniture, office
     furniture,  office  supplies  and office  equipment,  fixtures,  computers,
     computer  terminals  and  printers,   telephone  systems,  telecopiers  and
     photocopiers,  and  other  tangible  personal  property  of every  kind and
     description  that are located upon or within the Real  Property,  which are
     owned or leased by the  Company,  or are  utilized in  connection  with the
     Business.

          ERISA. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

          Financial  Statements.  The unaudited balance sheets and statements of
     income,  changes in stockholders'  equity and cash flows of the Business as
     of and for the three years ended December 31, 1996,  1997 and 1998,  copies
     of which are attached hereto as Schedule 3.21.

          FTC. United States Federal Trade Commission.

          GAAP.  Generally accepted  accounting  principles in the United States
     consistently applied.

          Hazardous Substance. Any substance which is (i) defined as a hazardous
     substance,  hazardous material,  hazardous waste,  pollutant or contaminant
     under any Environmental Law, (ii) a petroleum hydrocarbon,  including crude
     oil or any fraction thereof, (iii) hazardous, toxic, corrosive,  flammable,
     explosive,  infectious,  radioactive  or  carcinogenic,  or (iv)  regulated
     pursuant to any Environmental Law.

          Intangibles.  All  discoveries and inventions  (whether  patentable or
     unpatentable), patents, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights,
     trade  secrets,  customer and supplier  lists,  processes  and  techniques,
     domain  names,  registrations  and  applications  for any thereof,  and all
     technical  know-how and other  intellectual  property rights or intangibles
     used by the Company in the  operation  of the  Business,  and all  goodwill
     associated  therewith,  licenses and sublicenses  granted and obtained with
     respect  thereto  and rights  thereunder,  improvements  thereto,  remedies
     against  infringement thereof and rights to protection of interests therein
     under all applicable Laws.

          Inventories.  All of the  Company's  inventory,  consumable  supplies,
     spare parts and repair  materials and any and all other  inventories of the
     Company,  plus  any  replacements  for or  additions  to  such  inventories
     acquired on or before the Closing  Date,  and minus any items of  inventory
     sold or consumed by the  Company in the  Ordinary  Course of Business on or
     before the Closing Date.

          IRS. Internal Revenue Service.

          ISRA.  Industrial  Site Recovery Act,  Title 13: chapter 1K-6, and the
     rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          Law.  Any law,  statute,  regulation,  rule,  ordinance,  requirement,
     announcement or other binding action or requirement of an Authority.

          Leased  Real  Property.  Those  certain  parcels  of land  more  fully
     described on Schedule 1.2 to this Agreement  under the heading "Leased Real
     Property".

          Liabilities.  Any  obligation or liability  (whether known or unknown,
     whether  asserted or unasserted,  whether  absolute or contingent,  whether
     accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or
     to become due), including, without limitation, any liability for Taxes.

          Lien. Any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge,  hypothecation,
     collateral  assignment,  deposit  for  security  arrangement,  encumbrance,
     preference  or  security   agreement  of  any  kind  or  nature  whatsoever
     (including,  without  limitation,  the interest of a vendor or lessor under
     any conditional sale, capitalized lease or other title retention agreement)
     other than Permitted Liens.

          Material  Adverse  Effect.A  material  adverse effect on the business,
     results  of  operations,   condition  (financial  or  otherwise),   assets,
     liabilities or prospects of the Business or the Company taken as a whole.

          Old Payables.  The unpaid accounts payable of the Company in the names
     and amounts as are reflected on Schedule 2.2(d).

          Order.  Any  decree,  order,   judgment,   writ,  award,   injunction,
     stipulation or consent of or by an Authority.

          Ordinary  Course of Business.  The ordinary  course of business of the
     Company in accordance with past custom and practice (including with respect
     to quantity and frequency).

          Owned  Real  Property.  Those  certain  parcels  of  land  more  fully
     described on Schedule 1.2 to this  Agreement  under the heading "Owned Real
     Property,"  together with all privileges and appurtenances  thereto and all
     plants,   buildings,   structures,   installations,   fixtures,   fittings,
     improvements,  betterments and additions situated thereon and together with
     all easements and rights-of-way used or useful in connection therewith.

          Permitted Liens. Those certain:  (i) inchoate  landlord's lien arising
     under any Contract  relating to Leased Real Property;  (ii) liens for Taxes
     not yet due and  payable  and  which  are  adequately  reserved  for on the
     Financial  Statements;  (iii) liens being contested in good faith and which
     are  adequately  reserved for on the Financial  Statements;  and (iv) liens
     identified as "true leases" pursuant to financing statements.

          Permits. As defined in Section 3.18.

          Person.  Any natural person,  corporation,  limited liability company,
     partnership,  firm, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, association,
     Authority, unincorporated entity or organization of any kind.

          Plan. As defined in Section 3.12(a).

          Prepaid  Expenses.  All deposits and  advances,  prepaid  expenses and
     other prepaid items of the Company and all rights of the Company to receive
     discounts, refunds, rebates, awards and the like.

          Purchase Price. As defined in Section 2.2.

          Purchaser. As defined in the preamble hereto.

          RCRA.  Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901, et
     seq.

          Real  Property.  Collectively,  the Owned Real Property and the Leased
     Real Property.

          Real Property Leases. All leases to the Leased Real Property.

          Reference Date. December 31, 1998.

          Related Entities. As defined in Section 9.5(a)(i).

          Release. Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,  emptying,
     discharging,  injecting,  escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the
     environment  (including without limitation the abandonment or discarding of
     barrels,   containers  and  other  receptacles   containing  any  Hazardous
     Substance).

          Securities Act. The Securities Act of 1933.

          Seller's  Knowledge.  The  knowledge of any officer or director of the
     Company  or  Seller,   in  each  case,   after   reasonable   inquiry   and
     investigation.

          Shares. As defined in the Recitals hereto.

          Taxes. As defined in Section 3.13(a).

     1.3  Interpretation.  Unless  otherwise  expressly  provided  or unless the
context  requires  otherwise,  (a) all references in this Agreement to Articles,
Sections,  Schedules  and Exhibits  shall mean and refer to Articles,  Sections,
Schedules  and Exhibits of this  Agreement;  (b) all  references to statutes and
related  regulations  shall include all amendments of the same and any successor
or replacement statutes and regulations;  (c) words using the singular or plural
number also shall  include the plural and  singular  number,  respectively;  (d)
references to "hereof", "herein", "hereby" and similar terms shall refer to this
entire  Agreement  (including  the  Schedules  and  Exhibits  hereto);  and  (e)
references to any Person shall be deemed to mean and include the  successors and
permitted  assigns of such  Person  (or,  in the case of an  Authority,  Persons
succeeding to the relevant functions of such Person).

                                   ARTICLE II
                        PURCHASE AND SALE, PURCHASE PRICE
                            AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS

     2.1 Sale and  Purchase of Shares.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of
this Agreement, and in reliance upon the representations,  warranties, covenants
and agreements made in this Agreement by the Company and Seller, as the case may
be,  Purchaser  shall  purchase and accept from  Seller,  and Seller shall sell,
transfer,  convey,  assign and deliver to  Purchaser  on the Closing  Date,  the
Shares,  free and clear of any Liens.  At the Closing,  Seller shall  deliver to
Purchaser the certificates evidencing the Shares.

     2.2 Payment of the Purchase Price.

          (a) The amount payable by Purchaser to Seller in consideration for the
     Shares  shall be an  aggregate  amount  equal  to  TWENTY  MILLION  DOLLARS
     ($20,000,000.00).

          (b) The amounts  payable  under this  Section 2.2 shall be referred to
     herein as "Purchase Price" and shall be paid by Purchaser to Seller by wire
     transfer to an account designated by Seller in immediately available funds.
     The aggregate Purchase Price shall be paid on the Closing Date.

                                   ARTICLE III
                         REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND
                       COVENANTS OF SELLER AND THE COMPANY

     As an  inducement  to Purchaser  to enter into and perform its  obligations
under  this  Agreement,  and in  consideration  of the  covenants  of  Purchaser
contained  herein,  each of Seller and the  Company  (subject  to Section  5.12)
represents, warrants and covenants to Purchaser as follows:

     3.1 Corporate Status; Authority of Seller and the Company; Enforceability.

          (a) Each of Seller and the Company is a  corporation  duly  organized,
     validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of the  State of
     Michigan.  To Seller's  Knowledge,  there are no other  States in which the
     Company,  as a matter of reasonable  business  judgment,  should qualify to
     transact business as a foreign corporation.

          (b) Each of Seller and the Company has the requisite  corporate  power
     and authority  necessary to (i) own,  lease,  operate or otherwise hold its
     properties  and  assets  and  to  carry  on  its  businesses  as  presently
     conducted,  and (ii) execute and deliver this  Agreement and to perform its
     obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery by the Company and Seller
     of this  Agreement,  and the performance by the Company and Seller of their
     respective obligations hereunder, have been duly and validly authorized and
     approved by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of the Company and
     Seller, as the case may be.

          (c) This Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable  against,  each of
     the Company and Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
     insolvency,  reorganization  and other  laws  affecting  creditors'  rights
     generally and by general  principles of equity  (whether in a proceeding at
     law or in equity).

          (d) Neither the  execution or delivery of this  Agreement by Seller or
     the  Company,  nor the  performance  by  Seller  or the  Company  of  their
     respective  obligations  under this Agreement will (assuming the receipt of
     all consents  referred to in Section  3.17),  conflict  with or result in a
     breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
     any  Contract  or Permit to which  Seller or the  Company  is a party or is
     bound, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or Seller, or
     any applicable Law or Order to which the Company or Seller is a party or by
     which the Company or Seller is bound.

     3.2 Ownership of Stock; No Other Securities.

          (a) The total  number of  shares  of  capital  stock and the par value
     thereof  which the  Company is  authorized  to issue and the number of such
     shares which are issued and outstanding are as follows:

                                                                 Issued and
              Class                    Authorized  Shares    Outstanding Shares
              -----                    ----------  ------    ------------------

     Common Stock, no par value                60,000                 100

     No shares of the Company's capital stock are held as treasury stock.

          (b) There are no outstanding options, conversion rights, phantom stock
     plans,  warrants or other  rights in  existence to acquire from the Company
     any of its shares of capital stock.

          (c) The Shares  have been duly and  validly  issued and are fully paid
     and nonassessable and are not subject to any preemptive  rights;  and there
     are  no  voting  trust  agreements  or  other   contracts,   agreements  or
     arrangements  restricting voting or dividend rights or transferability with
     respect to the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

          (d) The Company has not violated in any material  respect any federal,
     state or  local  Law in  connection  with  the  offer  for sale or sale and
     issuance  of  its  outstanding   shares  of  capital  stock  or  any  other
     securities.

          (e) Other than as set forth in Schedule  3.2(e),  the Company does not
     own any  securities  or any other direct or indirect  interest in any other
     Person.

     3.3 Trade Names, Trademarks and Copyrights. Schedule 1.2 to this Agreement,
under  the  heading  "Intangibles",  contains  a true and  complete  list of all
trademarks,  service marks,  trade names,  domain names and copyrights and their
registrations  or  applications,  if any,  owned by the  Company or in which the
Company has any rights or licenses,  together with a brief  description of each.
To Seller's Knowledge,  there is no infringement or alleged  infringement by any
Person of any such trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright. The Company
is not now infringing on any trademark,  service mark, trade name,  domain names
or copyright  belonging to any other  Person.  The Company is not a party to any
license, agreement or arrangement,  whether as licensor,  licensee,  franchisor,
franchisee  or  otherwise  (except as a licensee  of software  as  disclosed  on
Schedule 3.4), with respect to any trademark,  service mark, trade name,  domain
name or any copyright or any  application  therefor.  The Company owns, or holds
adequate licenses or other rights to use, all trademarks,  service marks,  trade
names,  domain names and copyrights  currently used in the Business,  including,
without  limitation,  those listed on Schedule 1.2 to this  Agreement  under the
heading "Intangibles".

     3.4 No Patent  Rights.  Set forth on Schedule  3.4 hereto are all  patents,
inventions,  industrial models, processes, designs, formulas or applications for
patents that the Company owns, holds, or has any right, license or immunity with
respect  to.  To  Seller's  Knowledge,  there  is  no  infringement  or  alleged
infringement by any Person of any such patents,  inventions,  industrial models,
processes, designs, formulas or applications for patents. The Company is not now
infringing on any patent or other right  belonging to any Person.  Except as set
forth on  Schedule  3.4  hereto,  the  Company  is not a party  to any  license,
agreement or  arrangement,  whether as  licensee,  licensor or  otherwise,  with
respect  to any  patent,  application  for  patent,  invention,  design,  model,
process,  trade  secret,  formula or any  software.  The Company owns all right,
title and interest in and to any and all software  (other than validly  licensed
software)  used or necessary in the  operation of the Business free and clear of
any adverse claim of any employee or any other Person.

     3.5  Contracts.   Schedule  3.5  to  this  Agreement,   under  the  heading
"Contracts",  contains a complete  list of all  material  Contracts to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company or its assets are currently bound and
copies of such written Contracts have been provided to Purchaser.  Except as set
forth on Schedule  3.5,  the Company is not a party to any  Contract not entered
into in the Ordinary Course of Business.  Each of the Contracts is legal,  valid
and binding  upon the Company  and, to  Seller's  Knowledge,  the other  parties
thereto except as limited by bankruptcy  and  insolvency  laws and by other laws
affecting  the rights of  creditors  generally.  Except as set forth on Schedule
3.5,  to  Seller's  Knowledge,  there is no default or event that with notice or
lapse of time,  or both,  would  constitute a default by any party to any of the
Contracts.  Except as set forth on Schedule  3.5,  the Company has not  received
notice that any party to any of the Contracts intends to cancel or terminate any
of such  agreements or to exercise or not exercise any options under any of such
agreements.

     3.6 No  Violations.  Except  as set  forth on  Schedule  3.6,  neither  the
execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller and the Company
nor  the  consummation  of the  sale  of the  Shares  or any  other  transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, does or will, after the giving of notice, or the
lapse of time,  or  otherwise,  (a)  conflict  with,  result in a breach  of, or
constitute  a default or a violation  under,  the articles of  incorporation  or
by-laws  of  Seller  or the  Company  or any Law or Order by which  Seller,  the
Company or their assets is bound, or Contract to which the Company is a party or
is bound;  (b) result in the creation of any Lien or other adverse interest upon
any of the Shares or the Company's  assets;  (c) terminate,  amend or modify, or
give any party the right to  terminate,  amend,  modify,  abandon,  or refuse to
perform,  any  Contract  to which the  Company  is a party or is  bound;  or (d)
accelerate or modify,  or give any party the right to accelerate or modify,  the
time within which, or the terms under which, any duties or obligations are to be
performed,  or any rights or benefits are to be received,  under any Contract to
which the Company is a party or is bound.

     3.7  Litigation.  Schedule  3.7  to  this  Agreement  sets  forth  a  brief
description of all suits, actions,  arbitrations,  and legal, administrative and
other  proceedings  and  governmental  investigations  pending  or, to  Seller's
Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or the Business.

     3.8  Personnel  Identification  and  Compensation.  Schedule  3.8  to  this
Agreement  contains a true and complete list of the names,  addresses and titles
of all current officers, directors and employees of the Company. The Company has
previously  delivered to Purchaser a true and correct schedule stating the rates
of compensation  payable,  including  bonuses,  (or paid, as the case may be) to
each such person.

     3.9  Existing  Employment  Contracts.  The Company has no union  contracts,
employment  contracts or similar arrangements except those described on Schedule
3.9  hereto.  There is no pending or, to Seller's  Knowledge,  threatened  labor
dispute, strike or work stoppage affecting the Business.

     3.10 Environmental. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10:

          3.10.1  Predecessors.  For purposes of this Section 3.10,  the Company
     shall be deemed to include any  predecessor  to the Company and any Persons
     from which the Company has assumed liabilities by operation of Law.

          3.10.2 Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Real Property,  and all
     uses and conditions of the Real Property and the Business have been and are
     in compliance with all Environmental Laws. Any real property formerly owned
     or leased by the  Company  or  otherwise  related to the  Business  were in
     compliance  with all  Environmental  Laws  during the  Company's  period of
     ownership or operation of such formerly  owned or operated real property or
     any use or condition thereof.

          3.10.3 No  Release  of  Hazardous  Substances.  There is no Release or
     threatened Release of any Hazardous  Substance existing on, beneath or from
     the surface,  subsurface or ground water  associated with the Real Property
     or any real  property  formerly  owned or  operated  by the Company or upon
     which Hazardous Substances generated by the Company or the Business came to
     be  located,  nor, to  Seller's  Knowledge,  is there or has there been any
     Release or threatened Release of Hazardous  Substances adjacent to, from or
     in the vicinity of the Real  Property  currently  occurring or occurring at
     any time in the past.

          3.10.4  No  Proceedings.   There  exists  no  Order  nor  any  demand,
     allegation,  suit,  claim,  proceeding,   citation,   directive,   summons,
     investigation,  information  request,  notice of  violation or other notice
     pending or threatened pursuant to any Environmental Law relating to (a) the
     ownership,  lease,  occupation  or use of the Real Property or any formerly
     owned,  leased,  occupied  or used  real  property  by the  Company  or, to
     Seller's Knowledge,  any other present or former owner, tenant, occupant or
     user of the Real Property,  (b) any alleged violation of or liability under
     any  Environmental  Law by the  Company,  or (c)  the  suspected  presence,
     Release or threatened  Release of any Hazardous  Substance on, under, in or
     from the  surface,  subsurface,  or  groundwater  associated  with the Real
     Property,  or any formerly owned,  leased,  occupied or used real property,
     (d) any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to health, safety,
     natural  resources or the environment  (collectively  referred to herein as
     "Environmental  Claims"),  and the Company has no knowledge of any facts or
     circumstances  that could  reasonably  be  expected to form the basis of an
     Environmental Claim.

          3.10.5  Documents.  The Company has provided to Purchaser  any and all
     documents,  correspondence,  pleadings,  reports,  assessments,  analytical
     results,   Permits  or  other  records  concerning  Environmental  Laws  or
     Hazardous Substances.

          3.10.6 Transfer  Statutes.  No  Environmental  Law including,  without
     limitation,  the ISRA,  imposes  any  obligation  on the  Company  for site
     investigation or cleanup, or notification to or consent of any Authority or
     any  Person  as  the  result  of  the   consummation  of  the  transactions
     contemplated hereunder.

          3.10.7  Limitation of  Environmental  Representation.  Notwithstanding
     anything in this Section 3.10 to the contrary,  there shall be no violation
     of the  representations  and  warranties  contained  herein with respect to
     matters  disclosed on that certain Phase II  Environmental  Site Assessment
     report (or the related  Phase I report)  prepared for  Purchaser by Clayton
     Environmental  Consultants,  nor shall there by any such  violation  to the
     extent that there exist violations of, or obligations under,  Environmental
     Laws,  the  complete  remediation  of or  compliance  with  which,  in  the
     aggregate,  can  be  accomplished  for an  expenditure  not  in  excess  of
     $500,000.

          3.11 Certain  Transactions.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, all
     current or contracted for purchases,  sales, leases,  management agreements
     or other  transactions,  if any, between the Company,  on the one hand, and
     any officer, director, stockholder or key employee or Affiliate thereof, or
     officer,  director,  stockholder or key employee of any  Affiliate,  on the
     other  hand,  have been made on the basis of  prevailing  market  rates and
     terms such that from the prospective of the Company,  all such transactions
     have been  entered into on terms no less  favorable  than those which would
     have been available from unrelated  third parties in the Ordinary Course of
     Business. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 hereto, neither any officer,
     director  or  employee  of the  Company,  nor any  spouse,  child  or other
     relative of any of such persons,  owns,  or has any  interest,  directly or
     indirectly,  in any of the real or personal  property owned by or leased to
     the Company or any copyrights,  patents,  trademarks,  domain names,  trade
     names or trade secrets owned or licensed by the Company.

     3.12 Employee Benefit Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12:

          (a)  Schedule  3.12 to this  Agreement  contains a true,  complete and
     correct list of each pension,  retirement,  profit sharing,  savings, stock
     option,  restricted stock, severance,  termination,  bonus, fringe benefit,
     insurance,  supplemental benefit, medical, education reimbursement or other
     employee benefit plan,  program,  agreement or arrangement,  including each
     "employee  benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  with respect
     to which the Company may have any liability (each a "Plan").

          (b) True,  complete and correct copies of the following items relating
     to each Plan, where applicable, have been delivered to Purchaser:

               (i) the plan document and related  trust  agreement and insurance
          contracts,   including  any  amendments  (including   descriptions  of
          vacation and severance policies);

               (ii) the most recent  determination  letter received from the IRS
          with respect to each such Plan that is intended to be qualified  under
          Section 401 of the Code;

               (iii)  the most  recent  summary  plan  description,  summary  of
          material   modifications   and   all   material    communications   to
          participants;

               (iv) the most recent annual report (5500 series) and schedules;

               (v) the most recent actuarial valuation; and

               (vi) if the Plan is a "multiemployer  plan" as defined in Section
          4001(a)(3) of ERISA, the most recent annual  contribution  required to
          be made to such Plan, and any  information  which has been provided to
          the Company regarding withdrawal liability under such Plan.

          (c) Each Plan complies  with,  and has been operated and  administered
     substantially in accordance with its terms and the applicable provisions of
     ERISA and the Code,  including  COBRA,  and all other  applicable Laws, and
     there are no actions,  suits or claims  pending or  threatened  against any
     Plan or any  administrator  or  fiduciary  thereof,  nor do any facts exist
     which  could  give  rise to any such  action,  suit or claim.  Neither  the
     Company  nor  any  fiduciary  of  any  Plan  has  engaged  in a  prohibited
     transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

          (d) Each of the Plans that is  intended to be  "qualified"  within the
     meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified.

          (e) The Company has no liability  with  respect to a plan  termination
     under Title IV of ERISA, a funding deficiency under Section 412 of the Code
     or Section  302 of ERISA or a  withdrawal  from a  "multiemployer  plan" as
     defined in (f) below or under  Section  4063 of ERISA.  The Company has not
     engaged  in any  transaction  which  could  subject it to  liability  under
     Section 4069 of ERISA or Section  4212(c) of ERISA.  All  contributions  or
     payments due and owing as required by Section 302 of ERISA,  Section 412 of
     the Code or the  terms of any Plan  have been made by the due date for such
     contributions   or  payments.   With  respect  to  each  Plan  which  is  a
     multiemployer  plan,  the  Company  has paid or accrued  all  contributions
     pursuant to the terms of the  applicable  collective  bargaining  agreement
     required  to be paid or accrued by it.  With  respect to each Plan which is
     covered by Title IV of ERISA, the market value of assets  (exclusive of any
     contribution  due to such Plan)  equals or  exceeds  the  present  value of
     benefit liabilities as of the latest actuarial valuation date for such Plan
     (but not prior to 12 months prior to the date  hereof,)  determined  on the
     basis of a shutdown of the Company in accordance with actuarial assumptions
     used by the PBGC in single-employer  plan terminations,  and since its last
     valuation  date there have been no amendments to such Plan that  materially
     increased  the present  value of accrued  benefits  nor any other  material
     adverse  changes in the funding  status of such Plan.

          (f)  None of the  Plans  is a plan  subject  to Title IV of ERISA or a
     multiemployer  plan within the meaning of Section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA.  No
     Plan which is a "welfare  plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA
     provides   benefits  with  respect  to  employees  beyond   termination  of
     employment other than coverage required by law.

          (g)  The  Company  is not  now  nor  has  ever  been,  a  member  of a
     "controlled group of corporations"  within the meaning of Section 414(b) of
     the Code, a member of a group under "common  control" within the meaning of
     Section  414(c) of the Code, or a member of an  "affiliated  service group"
     within the meaning of Section 414(m) of the Code.

     For purposes of this  Section  3.12,  "Company"  shall be deemed to include
each of the Company's Affiliates.

     3.13 Tax Matters.

          (a) The term  "Taxes"  means  all net  income,  capital  gains,  gross
     income,  gross  receipts,  sales,  use,  transfer,  ad valorem,  franchise,
     profits, license, capital, withholding,  payroll, employment, excise, goods
     and services, severance, stamp, occupation,  premium, property, assessments
     or other  governmental  charges of any kind  whatsoever,  together with any
     interest,  fines and any penalties,  additions to tax or additional amounts
     incurred or accrued under applicable  federal,  state, local or foreign tax
     law or assessed, charged or imposed by any Authority,  domestic or foreign,
     provided  that any  interest,  penalties,  additions  to tax or  additional
     amounts that relate to Taxes for any taxable period  (including any portion
     of any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date) shall be deemed
     to be Taxes for such period,  regardless  of when such items are  incurred,
     accrued,  assessed or charged.  For the  purposes of this  Section 3.13 and
     Section 5.8, the Company shall be deemed to include any  predecessor to the
     Company and any Person from which the Company  incur a liability  for Taxes
     as a result  of  transferee  liability,  joint  and  several  liability,  a
     contract or otherwise.

          (b) Except as  disclosed  on Schedule  3.13,  the Company has duly and
     timely  filed (and  prior to the  Closing  Date will duly and timely  file)
     true, correct and complete Tax returns,  reports or estimates, all prepared
     in accordance with applicable Laws, for all years and periods (and portions
     thereof), for all jurisdictions (whether federal,  state, local or foreign)
     in which any such returns, reports or estimates are required to be filed by
     any  applicable  Law on or prior to the  Closing  Date.  All  Taxes due and
     payable have been paid (or will be paid prior to the Closing), and there is
     no current liability for any Taxes due and payable.  Any charges,  accruals
     and  reserves  for  Taxes  provided  for on the  Financial  Statements  are
     adequate.  There are no existing  liens for Taxes upon any of the Company's
     assets  except for Taxes not yet due and payable  and which are  adequately
     reserved for on the Financial Statements or will be adequately reserved for
     at the time of Closing. The Company has provided to Purchaser copies of all
     federal,  state and foreign tax returns filed by or for the Company for the
     past three (3) years.  All applicable  sales Taxes, to the extent due, were
     paid by the Company when the Shares were acquired by the Company.

          (c) The  Company  has (i)  withheld  all  required  amounts  from  its
     employees,  agents,  contractors and nonresidents and remitted such amounts
     to the  proper  Authorities;  (ii)  paid  all  employer  contributions  and
     premiums; and (iii) filed all federal, state, local and foreign returns and
     reports  with  respect  to  employee  income  Tax  withholding,  and social
     security and  unemployment  Taxes and premiums,  all in compliance with the
     withholding provisions of the Code and other applicable Laws.

          (d) None of the  Company's  assets are tax exempt use  property  under
     Code Section  168(h).  None of the  Company's  assets are property that the
     Company is required to treat as being owned by any other Person pursuant to
     the safe harbor lease provision of former Code Section 168(f)(8).

          (e) No  portion  of the  cost  of any of the  Company's'  assets  were
     financed  directly or indirectly  from the proceeds of any tax exempt state
     or local government obligation described in Code Section 103(a).

          (f) The  Company  has no (and has not  previously  had any)  permanent
     establishment  in any foreign  country and the Company does not engage (and
     has not  previously  engaged) in a trade or business  within the meaning of
     the Code  relating  to the  creation of a  permanent  establishment  in any
     foreign country.  The Company is not a foreign person within the meaning of
     Code Section 1445.

          (g) Neither the Code nor any other provision of Law requires Purchaser
     to withhold any portion of the Purchase Price.

          (h) Except as described in Schedule 3.13 attached hereto,  the Company
     is not, nor has ever been a member of any consolidated, combined or unitary
     group for federal, state, local or foreign Tax purposes.

          (i) The Company is not a party to any joint  venture,  partnership  or
     other arrangement that could be treated as a partnership for federal income
     Tax purposes.

          (j) The federal income Tax returns of Seller have been examined by the
     IRS, or have been closed by the applicable statute of limitations,  for all
     periods through 1995; and no deficiencies  or  reassessments  for any Taxes
     have been  proposed,  asserted  or  assessed  against  the  Company  by any
     federal,  state,  local or foreign taxing  authority except those that have
     been paid.

          (k) The  Company has not  executed or filed with any taxing  authority
     (whether federal,  state, local or foreign) any agreement or other document
     extending  or have the  effect of  extending  the  period  for  assessment,
     reassessment or collection of any Taxes,  and no power of attorney  granted
     by the Company with respect to any Taxes is currently in force.

          (l)  No  federal,   state,  local  or  foreign  Tax  audits  or  other
     administrative proceedings,  discussions or court proceedings are presently
     pending with regard to any Taxes or Tax returns of the Company.

          (m) The Company has not entered into any  agreement  relating to Taxes
     which affects any taxable year ending after the Closing Date.

          (n)  The  Company  has  not  agreed  to or is  required  to  make  any
     adjustment  by reason of a change in  accounting  methods  that affects any
     taxable year ending after the Closing  Date.  Neither the IRS nor any other
     agency has proposed any such  adjustment  or change in  accounting  methods
     that affects any taxable year ending  after the Closing  Date.  The Company
     has no application pending with any taxing authority requesting  permission
     for any  changes in  accounting  methods  that  relate to its  business  or
     operations and that affects any taxable year ending after the Closing Date.

          (o) The  Company  is not now and  never  has  been a party  to any Tax
     sharing agreement or similar arrangement for the sharing of Tax liabilities
     or benefits.

          (p) The Company has not consented to the  application  of Code Section
     341(f).

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

     3.14 Title to Purchased Shares; Assets.

          (a) Seller owns the Shares free and clear of any Liens.  Seller is the
     record and beneficial  owner of all of the issued and  outstanding  capital
     stock  of  the  Company.  The  Shares  constitute  all of  the  issued  and
     outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and upon delivery of and
     payment  by  Purchaser  to Seller of the  Purchase  Price,  Purchaser  will
     acquire good and marketable title to the Shares free and clear of all Liens
     (other than Liens created by Purchaser, if any).

          (b) Except as described on Schedule 3.14 hereto,  the Company has good
     and  marketable  title to, or with respect to the Leased Real  Property,  a
     valid and binding leasehold interest in, all of its assets,  free and clear
     of all Liens. The Company owns or otherwise has an enforceable  right under
     a contract to use all of the assets and rights used in the operation of the
     Business.

     3.15 Real Property.  Other than as identified on Schedule 3.15 hereto,  the
Company has no title to or interest  in any Real  Property.  All amounts due and
payable  with  respect  to the Leased  Real  Property  have been paid,  the Real
Property Leases are valid and in full force and there does not exist any default
or event  that with the notice or lapse of time,  or both,  could  constitute  a
default under any such Real Property Lease.

     3.16 Conditions of Assets. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, all of the
Company's  assets are in good  operating  condition and repair subject to normal
wear and tear and are sufficient for the operation of the Business.

     3.17 Consents.  Except as otherwise  disclosed on Schedule 3.17 hereto,  no
consent,  approval,  order or authorization of, or registration,  declaration or
filing  with,  any  Authority  or any other Person is required to be obtained or
made by the Company or Seller in  connection  with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the  performance by the Company or Seller of their  respective
obligations hereunder.

     3.18  Licenses  and  Permits.  Schedule  3.18  attached  hereto  lists  and
describes all qualifications,  registrations,  filings, privileges,  franchises,
immunities, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals of Authorities which
are  required  in  order  for  the  Company  to own  and  operate  the  Business
(collectively,  the  "Permits").  Each  Permit  is in good  standing,  valid and
subsisting, and in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

     3.19  Compliance  With  Laws.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  3.19,  the
Company  has been  and is  currently  in  compliance  with  all Laws and  Orders
(including without limitation,  all applicable federal,  foreign, state or local
Laws and Orders  governing  environmental  protection,  occupational  health and
safety and employment),  except for  non-compliance  with which would not have a
Material  Adverse Effect.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.19, the Company has
not received any notice,  citation,  claim, assessment or proposed assessment as
to or alleging any violation of any federal,  state or local occupational safety
and health Laws or Orders nor has the Company been subject to any  investigation
by any federal,  state or local occupational safety and health agency within the
three (3) years  preceding the date hereof,  and no such violation  exists.  The
Company is not a party to any pending  dispute with respect to  compliance  with
any federal, state or local occupational safety and health Law or Order.

     3.20 Insurance.

          (a) Schedule  3.20 hereto sets forth a list and brief  description  of
     all  insurance  policies  maintained  by the  Company,  including,  without
     limitation,  workers'  compensation,  unemployment,  auto,  life,  medical,
     liability and casualty insurance.

          (b) The  Company  is not in  default  with  respect  to any  provision
     contained in any such insurance policy,  nor has the Company failed to give
     any  notice or present  any claim  thereunder  in a due and timely  fashion
     (except for  defaults or failures  which would not have a Material  Adverse
     Effect),  and such  insurance  policies are adequate and  customary for the
     conduct of the Business.

     3.21 Financial Statements.  The Financial Statements were prepared from the
books and records of the Company in accordance  with GAAP (except for principles
of  consolidation,  lack of footnotes and normal year-end and audit  adjustments
reflected  or to be  reflected  thereon)  and  present  fairly  (subject to such
exceptions) the financial  position and results of operations of the Company and
the Business at the dates and for the periods indicated therein.

     3.22 Accounts Receivable.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.22 hereto, the
Accounts Receivable reflected on the Financial Statements:  (a) were acquired by
the Company in the Ordinary  Course of Business and  represent  fully  completed
bona fide transactions that require no further act on the part of the Company to
make such  Accounts  Receivable  payable  by the  account  debtors;  (b) are not
subject to any material claim, counterclaim, set-off or deduction; (c) represent
valid  obligations  owing  to the  Company  by  account  debtors  that  are  not
Affiliates  of the  Company,  which are  enforceable  in  accordance  with their
respective terms; and (d) are owned by the Company free and clear of all Liens.

     3.23 Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.23, on the
Reference  Date, the Company had no Liability with respect to the Business which
was  not  fully  disclosed,  reflected  or  reserved  against  in the  Financial
Statements;  and,  except for  liabilities  which have been  incurred  since the
Reference Date in the Ordinary Course of Business, since the Reference Date, the
Company has incurred no Liability.

     3.24 Conduct of Business Since the Reference  Date.  Except as disclosed on
Schedule 3.24, and for the  transactions  contemplated in this Agreement,  since
the Reference Date:

          (a) the Business  has been  conducted  only in the Ordinary  Course of
     Business;

          (b) except for equipment,  inventory and supplies  purchased,  sold or
     otherwise  disposed of in the Ordinary Course of the Business,  the Company
     has not purchased,  sold, leased, mortgaged,  pledged or otherwise acquired
     or disposed of any properties or assets;

          (c) the Company has not  sustained or incurred any loss or damage with
     respect to the  Business  (whether  or not  insured  against) on account of
     fire,  flood,  accident  or other  calamity  which has  interfered  with or
     affected, or may interfere with or affect, the operation of the Business;

          (d) the  Company has not  increased  the rate of  compensation  of any
     officer or other employee of the Business, except in the Ordinary Course of
     Business;

          (e) there has been no material  adverse  change in or with  respect to
     the condition (financial or otherwise),  operations,  business,  prospects,
     rights, properties,  assets or liabilities of the Business or the Company's
     relations with Authorities or its employees, creditors, customers or others
     having business relationships with a company;

          (f) the Company has not canceled any of the debts or claims owed to it
     and has paid and satisfied its accounts  payable in the Ordinary  Course of
     Business;

          (g) the Company has not changed any  accounting  methods or  practices
     (including,  without limitation, any change in depreciation or amortization
     policies or rates);

          (h) the Company has not  declared  any  dividends on its stock or made
     any redemptions of its stock;

          (i) the  Company  has not loaned or  advanced  any money to any Person
     other than expense advances in the Ordinary Course of Business;

          (j) the Company has not incurred any  indebtedness  for borrowed money
     nor guaranteed the indebtedness of any Person;

          (k) the Company has not agreed to take any of the actions described in
     paragraphs (b), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j) above.

     3.25  Brokers  Fees.  Neither  Seller  nor the  Company  has dealt with any
broker,  finder or consultant  (other than CIBC  Oppenheimer) in connection with
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, and, to Seller's Knowledge, no
Person is entitled to any commission or finder's fee in connection with the sale
of the Shares to Purchaser (other than CIBC Oppenheimer, whose fees and expenses
are to be paid exclusively by Seller and not by Purchaser).

     3.26 Banking Arrangements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.26 hereto, the
Company has no banking,  borrowing or  depository  relationship,  or accounts or
deposits  of funds,  and all  persons  authorized  as  signatories  on each such
account are listed on Schedule 3.26.

     3.27 Powers of  Attorney.  No Person  holds any power of attorney  from the
Company.

     3.28 No Alternative Transaction.  Neither the Company nor Seller is a party
to or  otherwise  bound by any  agreement  contemplating  or  providing  for any
Alternative Transaction.

     3.29 Disclosure.  None of the representations and warranties made by Seller
or the  Company  in this  Agreement,  the  Schedules  hereto  or in any  letter,
certificate or memorandum furnished or to be furnished by Seller or the Company,
or on its behalf,  contains or will  contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact, or omits any material fact the omission of which would make the statements
made therein misleading,  after considering such statements as a whole. There is
no fact known to any of  Seller's or the  Company's  officers  which  materially
adversely affects,  or is reasonably likely to materially  adversely affect, the
condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities, business, operations or
prospects of the Business,  the value or utility of the Shares or the ability of
Seller or the Company to consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereby that
has not been set forth herein or heretofore communicated to Purchaser in writing
pursuant hereto.

                                   ARTICLE IV
             REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF PURCHASER

     As an  inducement to Seller and the Company to enter into and perform their
respective  obligations  under  this  Agreement,  and  in  consideration  of the
covenants  of Seller and the Company  contained  herein,  Purchaser  represents,
warrants and covenants to Seller and the Company as follows:

     4.1 Corporate Status; Authority of Purchaser; Enforceability.

          (a) Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
     good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified
     and in good  standing  in each other  jurisdiction  where the failure to so
     qualify could  reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse effect on
     Purchaser.  Purchaser  has the requisite  power and authority  necessary to
     own,  lease,  operate or otherwise  hold its  properties  and assets and to
     carry on its businesses as presently conducted.

          (b)  Purchaser has the  requisite  power and  authority  (corporate or
     otherwise)  to execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement  and to  perform  its
     obligations  hereunder.  The  execution  and  delivery by Purchaser of this
     Agreement,  and the performance by Purchaser of its obligations  hereunder,
     have  been  duly and  validly  authorized  and  approved  by all  necessary
     corporate action on the part of Purchaser.

          (c) This Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, Purchaser
     in  accordance   with  its  terms,   subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
     reorganization and other laws affecting  creditors' rights generally and by
     general principles of equity (whether in a proceeding at law or in equity).

          (d) Neither the  execution or delivery of this  Agreement by Purchaser
     nor the  performance by Purchaser of its  obligations  under this Agreement
     conflicts with or results in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
     or  constitutes  a  default   under,   any  lease,   contract,   agreement,
     arrangement,  commitment plan or permit to which Purchaser is a party or is
     bound,  the  limited  liability  company  agreement  of  Purchaser  or  any
     applicable Law or Order to which Purchaser is bound.

     4.2 Consents.  Except as is  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  no consent,
approval,  order or  authorization  of, or  registration,  declaration or filing
with,  any  Authority  or any other Person is required to be obtained or made by
Purchaser in connection with its execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
performance by it of its obligations hereunder.

     4.3  Broker's  Fees.  Purchaser  has not dealt with any  broker,  finder or
consultant  in  connection  with any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  and, to its  knowledge,  no Person is entitled to any  commission or
finder's fee in connection with the sale of the Shares to Purchaser.

     4.4 No Violations.  Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Purchaser nor the consummation of the purchase of the Shares or any
other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, does or will, after the giving
of notice,  or the lapse of time, or otherwise,  (a) conflict with,  result in a
breach of, or constitute a default or a violation under,  the limited  liability
agreement of Purchaser,  or any Law or Order to which  Purchaser is bound or any
lease, contract, agreement,  arrangement,  commitment or plan to which Purchaser
is a party or is bound; or (c) terminate, amend or modify, or give any party the
right to terminate,  amend,  modify,  abandon, or refuse to perform,  any lease,
contract,  agreement,  arrangement,  commitment or plan to which  Purchaser is a
party or is bound.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                    COVENANTS

     The parties hereto covenant and agree that from the date hereof:

     5.1 Required  Consents.  Seller and the Company shall use all  commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the consents listed on Schedule 3.17.

     5.2  Conduct of the  Business.  Except as  otherwise  contemplated  by this
Agreement or consented to by Purchaser in writing:

          (a) Seller and the Company shall (i) operate and maintain the Business
     in the  Ordinary  Course  of  Business;  and (ii)  keep all  Equipment  and
     Improvements  in good operating  condition and repair and replace any of it
     that may be worn out, lost, stolen or destroyed.

          (b) Neither  Seller nor the  Company  shall (i) permit or allow any of
     the  Company's  assets to be  subjected  to any  Lien;  (ii)  sell,  lease,
     transfer or otherwise  dispose of any of the Company's  assets,  except for
     Inventory  sold,  leased,  transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of in  the
     Ordinary  Course of  Business  and worn out or  obsolete  Inventory;  (iii)
     terminate,  modify  or amend  materially  any of the  Contracts  except  as
     specifically  contemplated  herein;  (iv) enter into any material contract,
     lease, registration,  license or permit relating to the Company without the
     prior  written  consent of Purchaser;  (v) change the Business'  accounting
     methods,  principles or practices (including without limitation, any change
     in  depreciation  or  amortization  methods,  policies  or rates or  income
     recognition  methods),  provided,  however,  audit adjustments shall not be
     deemed  to  constitute  a  change  in  accounting  methods,  principles  or
     practices);  (vi)  increase or  otherwise  change the rate or nature of the
     compensation  (including  wages,  salaries,  bonuses and benefits under any
     Plan)  which  is  paid  or  payable  to  any  officer,  employee  or  other
     representative of the Business,  except in the Ordinary Course of Business;
     (vii) make, or commit to make, any payment,  contribution or award under or
     into any Plan,  except in the Ordinary Course of Business;  (viii) make any
     other material change in the Business or the operation thereof;  (ix) incur
     any  indebtedness  for borrowed money or make any loans or advances (except
     expense  advances  in the  Ordinary  Course  of  Business);  or (x) make or
     declare any dividends or redemption; and

          (c)  Seller  and the  Company  shall use all  commercially  reasonable
     efforts to preserve and protect the Business' goodwill,  prospects, rights,
     properties,  assets and  business,  to keep  available  to the  Company and
     Purchaser  the  services of the  Business'  employees,  and to preserve and
     protect the Business'  relationships  with  Authorities  and its employees,
     officers,  customers,  creditors and others having  business  relationships
     with it.

     5.3 Right of Inspection;  Access to Books and Personnel. The Company shall,
and shall cause the  Company's  officers,  directors,  employees,  auditors  and
agents to, afford to Purchaser and Purchaser's officers, employees, auditors and
agents the right at any time prior to the Closing during normal  business hours,
access  to the  Company's  directors,  officers,  employees,  auditors,  agents,
facilities,  books and records as Purchaser  reasonably  shall deem necessary or
desirable  and  shall  furnish  such  financial  and  operating  data and  other
information as Purchaser may reasonably require. No such access,  examination or
review   shall  in  any  way   affect,   diminish  or   terminate   any  of  the
representations,  warranties  or  covenants  of Seller or the  Company set forth
herein.

     5.4 Notification of Material  Adverse Events.  The Company and Seller shall
each promptly notify Purchaser in writing of any event following the date hereof
of which the Company or Seller are or become aware that will or could reasonably
be expected to have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition  (financial or
otherwise),  rights,  properties,  assets or  prospects  of the  Company  or the
Business  or the  performance  by  Seller  or the  Company  of their  respective
obligations under this Agreement.

     5.5 Supplemental  Disclosures.  Seller shall have the continuing obligation
to supplement  promptly and amend the Schedules as necessary or appropriate with
respect to any matter  hereafter  arising or  discovered  which,  if existing or
known at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth or
described  in the  Schedules;  provided,  however,  that for the  purpose of the
rights and  obligations  of the  parties  hereunder,  any such  supplemental  or
amended  disclosure  shall  not,  except as  Purchaser  may  otherwise  agree in
writing,  be deemed to have cured any breach of any  representation  or warranty
made in this Agreement.

     5.6  Exclusivity.  Unless this Agreement has been  terminated in accordance
with  Article XI, (a) the Company and Seller shall not, and shall not permit the
Company's or Seller's  Affiliates,  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents or
advisors to, initiate,  pursue or encourage (by way of furnishing information or
otherwise)  any  inquiries  or  proposals,   or  enter  into  any   discussions,
negotiations or agreements (whether  preliminary or definitive) with any Person,
contemplating or providing for any merger, acquisition,  purchase or sale of all
or  substantially  all of the assets or any  business  combination  or change in
control  of the  Business,  other  than  the  transaction  contemplated  by this
Agreement (an "Alternative  Transaction"),  and (b) the Company and Seller shall
deal exclusively with Purchaser with respect to the sale of the Business and the
Shares.  In the event the Company or Seller or any of the  Company's or Seller's
Affiliates,  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents  or  advisors  receive  a
proposal,  directly  or  indirectly,  from any  Person  or entity  regarding  an
Alternative  Transaction,  the Company or Seller  shall give  written  notice to
Purchaser of such contact within one (1) day after receiving such contact.

     5.7  Required  Filings.  Seller,  the  Company and  Purchaser  agree to (i)
promptly file, or cause to be promptly filed,  with all appropriate  Authorities
any and all other notices, registrations,  declarations,  applications and other
documents as may be necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and to diligently seek to produce all of the deliveries  required by Section 8.3
hereof  and (ii)  thereafter  diligently  pursue  all  consents,  approvals  and
authorizations  from such  Authorities  as may be  necessary to  consummate  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     5.8 Tax Indemnification. Seller shall be liable and indemnify Purchaser for
all Taxes incurred or payable by the Company for any taxable period ending on or
before the Closing Date.  Purchaser shall be liable and indemnify Seller for all
Taxes incurred or payable by the Company for any taxable period  beginning after
the Closing Date.  Seller shall be entitled to receive any Tax refunds  received
by the  Company  for any taxable  period  ending on or before the Closing  Date.
Seller is hereby authorized to contest, on behalf of the Company, Taxes assessed
against the  Company,  to execute for the  Company all Tax  returns,  claims for
refunds  and  related  documents  so long as such  Taxes,  claims,  refunds  and
documents  relate solely for any taxable  period ending on or before the Closing
Date.  Seller is hereby authorized to contest,  on behalf of the Company,  Taxes
assessed  against the  Company,  and to execute for the Company all Tax returns,
claims for refunds and related documents so long as such Taxes, claims,  refunds
and documents  relate solely to one or more taxable  periods ending on or before
the Closing Date.

     5.9 Sales and Transfer  Taxes.  Seller shall pay the cost of and  indemnify
Purchaser from, any transfer,  stamp, sales, purchase,  use, value added, excise
documentation,  recording or similar Tax which arises out of the transfer of any
of the Shares.

     5.10 Tax Reports;  Returns.  Seller (or its successor) and Purchaser  shall
provide each other with such  assistance  as may  reasonably be requested by the
other in connection with the  preparation of any return or report of Taxes,  any
audit  or  other  examination  by  any  taxing  authority,  or any  judicial  or
administrative  proceedings  relating to liabilities  for Taxes.  Seller (or its
successor)  and  Purchaser  will  retain for the full  period of any  statute of
limitations  and provide the other with any records or information  which may be
relevant to such preparation,  audit, examination,  proceeding or determination.
Seller (or its successor)  shall file all Tax returns and reports of the Company
due on,  prior to, or after the  Closing  Date with  respect to taxable  periods
ending on or prior to the  Closing  Date.  Purchaser  shall cause the Company to
file all Tax returns and reports of the Company with respect to taxable  periods
ending after the Closing Date.  Seller (or its  successor)  agrees that all such
returns and reports shall be prepared and filed timely and on a basis consistent
with existing  procedures  for preparing  such returns or reports and consistent
with prior  practice  with  respect to the  treatment  of specific  items on the
returns or reports.

     5.11 Old Payables;  Outstanding Checks. Prior to Closing, the Company shall
pay the aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Old Payables in full. From and
after the Closing,  Seller  covenants and agrees that Seller (or its  successor)
shall  promptly  pay and satisfy in full any amounts  presented as due and owing
pursuant to any checks of the Company  issued from account  numbers  3191-051170
and 1850-553783 on or prior to March 26, 1999.

     5.12  Purchaser  Knowledge.  Seller shall have no liability for breach of a
representation or warranty contained herein to the extent Purchaser (through its
officers or its agents)  obtains actual  knowledge that such  representation  or
warranty of Seller in this  Agreement  is not true and  correct in all  material
respects.  If Seller  asserts  this  Section  5.12 as a defense  to any claim by
Purchaser for  indemnification  arising from a breach of any  representation  or
warranty of Seller,  Seller  shall have the burden to prove that  Purchaser  had
actual knowledge of the untruth or inaccuracy of the  representation or warranty
prior  to  the  Closing.  Notwithstanding  anything  in  this  Agreement  to the
contrary,  in no event shall Purchaser's  actual knowledge or Seller's cure of a
breach of a representation  or warranty prior to Closing limit Purchaser's right
to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS

     6.1 Obligations to be Satisfied on or Prior to Closing Date. The obligation
of  Purchaser  to purchase  the Shares  under this  Agreement  is subject to the
satisfaction  (or waiver by Purchaser),  on or prior to the Closing Date, of the
following conditions:

          (a)  Accuracy  of   Representations   and  Warranties.   Each  of  the
     representations  and  warranties  made by Seller  and the  Company  in this
     Agreement shall be true, correct and complete in all materials respects (if
     not  qualified  by  materiality   and  in  all  respects  if  qualified  by
     materiality) on the Closing Date as though made on such date.

          (b)  Compliance  with  Agreement.  The Company  and Seller  shall have
     performed  or  complied  in  all  material  respects  with  the  covenants,
     agreements  and  obligations  required by this Agreement to be performed or
     complied with the Company and Seller on or prior to the Closing Date.

          (c)  Consents.  All  consents,   approvals,  orders,   authorizations,
     registrations,  declarations  and filings  described on Schedule 3.17 shall
     have been obtained or made in form  reasonably  satisfactory  to Purchaser.
     All  necessary  authorizations,  agreements  and consents of any Persons or
     Authorities to the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this
     Agreement, or otherwise pertaining to the matters covered by it, shall have
     been  obtained by the Company and Seller and  delivered  to  Purchaser  and
     shall be in full  force and  effect  as of the  Closing  Date,  and no such
     authorizations,  agreements and consents shall impose any burdensome or, in
     Purchaser's   reasonable   determination,   unsatisfactory   conditions  or
     requirements on Purchaser.

          (d) No  Adverse  Proceedings.  No  Law  shall  have  been  enacted  or
     promulgated,  and no investigation,  action,  suit or proceeding shall have
     been  threatened or instituted  against  Seller,  the Company or Purchaser,
     which, in any case, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, challenges, or
     could  reasonably be expected to result in a challenge to, the consummation
     of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  or  which  claims,  or  could
     reasonably  be  expected  to  give  rise to a claim  for,  damages  against
     Purchaser,  Seller or the Company as a result of the  consummation  of such
     transactions  and there  shall not be in effect  any Order  restraining  or
     otherwise   prohibiting   or  making  illegal  the   consummation   of  the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          (e) No Material Adverse Change.  There shall have occurred no material
     adverse  change  in  or  with  respect  to  the  condition   (financial  or
     otherwise),  business,  prospects,  rights,  properties  or  assets  of the
     Business or the Company since December 31, 1998.

          (f) Schedules.  All amendments or supplements to the Schedules made by
     Seller pursuant to Section 5.5 shall be reasonably acceptable to Purchaser.

          (g)  Closing  Documents.  Seller  shall have  delivered  all  reports,
     agreements,   certificates,   instruments,  opinions  and  other  documents
     required to be  delivered  by the Company on the Closing  Date  pursuant to
     Section 8.3, and the form and  substance of all such  reports,  agreements,
     certificates, instruments, opinions and other documents shall be reasonably
     satisfactory to Purchaser.

          (h) UCC, Tax Lien and Judgment  Search  Results.  Purchaser shall have
     received,  at  Purchaser's  sole cost and  expense,  a report,  in form and
     substance satisfactory to Purchaser, as to the results of an examination of
     financing  statements filed under the Uniform Commercial Code, and tax lien
     and judgment records, in each office in each such jurisdiction as Purchaser
     shall  reasonably  request,  and such  report  shall  indicate  no material
     security  interests,  tax liens,  judgments  or other Liens not  previously
     disclosed in writing to Purchaser.

          (i) Regulatory  Approvals.  All approvals,  permits or  qualifications
     from all appropriate  Authorities for the  consummation of the transactions
     contemplated  hereby  shall  have  been  obtained,  or the  waiting  period
     required thereby will have expired or have been terminated, as the case may
     be.

          (j) Investigation. Each of Purchaser and Purchaser's agents shall have
     been  afforded  access  to  the  Company's  books  and  records,  officers,
     employees,  agents,  facilities and personnel relating to the Business,  as
     provided in Section 5.3.

          (k) Withholding Certificate. The Company shall have provided Purchaser
     with an executed  certificate of non-foreign  status  substantially  in the
     form of Exhibit B.

          (l) Composition  Agreement.  The Company shall have provided Purchaser
     with proof of payment of all outstanding  Old Payables,  either as such Old
     Payables shall have been  compromised  pursuant to  Composition  Agreements
     substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Composition Agreement")
     executed by the Persons identified on Schedule 2.2(d), or otherwise.

     6.2  Procedure  for Failure to Satisfy  Conditions.  In the event that,  in
Purchaser's  reasonable  judgment,  any of the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 6.1 have not been  satisfied,  Purchaser  shall notify Seller in writing
indicating its election to (a) waive such  condition  precedent or (b) terminate
this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS

     7.1  Obligations  to  Be  Satisfied  on  or  Prior  to  Closing  Date.  The
obligations of Seller to sell the Shares under this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction  (or waiver by  Seller),  on or prior to the Closing  Date,  of the
following conditions:

          (a)  Accuracy  of   Representations   and  Warranties.   Each  of  the
     representations and warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement shall be
     true,  correct and complete in all material  respects (if not  qualified by
     materiality and in all respects if qualified by materiality) on the Closing
     Date as though made on such date.

          (b)  Compliance  with  Agreement.  Purchaser  shall have  performed or
     complied  in all  material  respects  with the  covenants,  agreements  and
     obligations  required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
     it on or prior to the Closing Date.

          (c) No  Adverse  Proceedings.  No  Law  shall  have  been  enacted  or
     promulgated,  and no investigation,  action,  suit or proceeding shall have
     been  threatened or instituted  against  Seller,  the Company or Purchaser,
     which, in any case, in the reasonable  judgment of Seller,  challenges,  or
     could  reasonably be expected to result in a challenge to, the consummation
     of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  or  which  claims,  or  could
     reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim for,  damages against Seller
     as a result of the consummation of such transactions and there shall not be
     in effect any Order restraining or otherwise  prohibiting or making illegal
     the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          (d) Closing  Documents.  Purchaser  shall have  delivered all reports,
     agreements,   certificates,   instruments,  opinions  and  other  documents
     required to be delivered by it on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 8.4,
     and the form and substance of all such reports,  agreements,  certificates,
     instruments,  opinions and other documents shall be reasonably satisfactory
     to Seller.

          (e) Regulatory  Approvals.  All approvals,  permits or  qualifications
     from all appropriate  Authorities for the  consummation of the transactions
     contemplated  hereby  shall  have  been  obtained,  or the  waiting  period
     required thereby will have expired or have been terminated, as the case may
     be.

     7.2  Procedure  for Failure to Satisfy  Conditions.  In the event that,  in
Seller's  reasonable  judgment,  any of the  conditions set forth in Section 8.1
have not been satisfied, Seller shall notify Purchaser in writing indicating the
Company's  election to: (a) waive such  conditions  precedent;  or (b) terminate
this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                     CLOSING

     8.1 Time and Place.  The  Closing  shall take place at 10:00 a.m.  (Chicago
time) on March  26,  1999 at the  offices  of  Dykema  Gossett,  PLLC,  315 East
Eisenhower  Parkway,  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  or at such other time and place as
Seller and Purchaser may mutually agree.

     8.2 Closing  Transactions.  All documents and other instruments required to
be  delivered  at the  Closing  shall  be  regarded  as  having  been  delivered
simultaneously,  and no document or other instrument shall be regarded as having
been delivered until all have been  delivered.  8.3 Deliveries by the Company to
Purchaser.  At the  Closing,  Seller  shall  deliver or cause to be delivered to
Purchaser:

          (a) the  articles of  incorporation  of Seller and the  Company,  each
     certified  by  the  Secretary  of  State  of  their  respective  states  of
     incorporation  as of a date not  earlier  than  five (5) days  prior to the
     Closing Date;

          (b) a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Seller
     and the Company as of the  Closing  Date  certifying  to (i) the by-laws of
     Seller and the Company,  (ii) the  resolutions of the board of directors of
     Seller  authorizing  the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement and all
     other  documents  and  instruments  executed and  delivered  in  connection
     herewith and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereunder,
     and (iii) the names of Seller's and the  Company's  officers  authorized to
     execute and deliver this Agreement and the other  documents and instruments
     executed  and  delivered in  connection  herewith,  together  with the true
     signatures of such officers;

          (c) certificates of good standing, as of a date not earlier than three
     (3) days prior to the Closing  Date,  for Seller and the  Company  from the
     State of Michigan;

          (d) the legal opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC,  counsel for the Company
     and Seller substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;

          (e) a certificate  executed by the President or Vice President of each
     of Seller and the Company,  each dated as of the Closing  Date,  certifying
     that all  representations  and warranties of Seller and the Company, as the
     case may be,  herein  contained  are  true,  correct  and  complete  in all
     material  respects as of the Closing  Date as if made  thereon and that the
     Company and Seller have performed or complied in all material respects with
     all of the  covenants  and  obligations  required by this  Agreement  to be
     performed  or  complied  with by the  Company  or Seller on or prior to the
     Closing Date;

          (f) an executed original (if available) of each consent required to be
     obtained pursuant to Section 3.17;

          (g) certificates  representing all of the Shares which shall be either
     duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers duly endorsed;

          (h)  evidence of  resignation  of all  directors  and  officers of the
     Company other than those identified by Purchaser;

          (i) pay-off  and  release  letter  from  Comerica  Bank,  as Agent for
     certain financial  institutions,  evidencing the aggregate amount necessary
     to  satisfy  in full the  outstanding  obligations  due and owing  from the
     Company to such financial  institutions as of the Closing Date and agreeing
     to terminate any Liens on the Shares and assets of the Company held by such
     entity upon receipt of such amount, each in form and substance satisfactory
     to Purchaser;

          (j)  evidence  in  form  and  substance  reasonably   satisfactory  to
     Purchaser  that Seller has paid in full any and all Tax  obligations of the
     Company  currently  due and owing for periods  ending  prior to the Closing
     Date;

          (k) the  Composition  Agreements,  together  with all  other  releases
     (including  those  of  Comerica  Bank,  as  agent  for  certain   financial
     institutions),  if any,  necessary to terminate  and discharge any Liens on
     the Shares and assets of the Company;

          (l) an executed Withholding  Certificate  substantially in the form of
     Exhibit B hereto;

          (m) evidence of the termination and release in full of any Liabilities
     due and owing by the Company to Seller in form and  substance  satisfactory
     to Purchaser;

          (n) evidence that Seller has transferred or  relinquished  any and all
     control  of each of the  Company's  bank  accounts  in form  and  substance
     satisfactory to Purchaser; and

          (o) such other  instruments  and documents as are: (i) required by any
     other  provisions of this  Agreement to be delivered on the Closing Date by
     the  Company or Seller;  or (ii)  reasonably  necessary,  in the opinion of
     Purchaser,  to evidence the  performance by the Company and Seller of their
     respective obligations under this Agreement.

     8.4 Deliveries by Purchaser to the Company. At the Closing, Purchaser shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company:

          (a) the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.2;

          (b) a  certificate  of the  Secretary  or an  Assistant  Secretary  of
     Purchaser,  dated as of the Closing Date,  certifying to (i) the by-laws of
     Purchaser;  (ii)  resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Purchaser
     approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
     consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby; and (iii) incumbency
     and  signatures of the officers of Purchaser  executing  this Agreement and
     any other certificate or document delivered in connection herewith;

          (c) a certificate  executed by the President or any Vice  President of
     Purchaser,   dated   as  of  the   Closing   Date,   certifying   that  all
     representations  and  warranties  of Purchaser  herein  contained are true,
     correct and complete in all material  respects as of the Closing Date as if
     made thereon and that  Purchaser  has performed or complied in all material
     respects  with  all of the  covenants  and  obligations  required  by  this
     Agreement to be performed or complied  with by Purchaser on or prior to the
     Closing Date;

          (d)  certificate  of  incorporation  of  Purchaser  certified  by  the
     Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and

          (e) such other  instruments  and documents as are: (i) required by any
     other  provisions of this  Agreement to be delivered on the Closing Date by
     Purchaser to the Company; or (ii) reasonably  necessary,  in the opinion of
     the Company to effect the performance of this Agreement by Purchaser.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                OTHER AGREEMENTS

     9.1 Further Assurance. At any time and from time to time from and after the
Closing,  Seller on the one hand, and Purchaser on the other hand,  will, at the
request and expense of the other party hereto, execute, acknowledge and deliver,
or cause to be executed,  acknowledged and delivered, such instruments and other
documents  and  perform  or cause to be  performed  such acts and  provide  such
information,  as may  reasonably be required to evidence or effectuate the sale,
conveyance,  transfer, assignment and delivery to Purchaser of the Shares or for
the  performance  by  Seller  or  Purchaser  of any of  their  other  respective
obligations under this Agreement.

     9.2 Confidentiality.

          (a) The parties  hereto agree with respect to the terms and conditions
     of this Agreement,  including,  without limitation, the Purchase Price, and
     all  information  that  is  furnished  or  disclosed  by  the  other  party
     (collectively,  "Confidential  Information"),  that (i)  such  Confidential
     Information is confidential and/or proprietary to the furnishing/disclosing
     party and entitled to and shall receive  treatment as such by the receiving
     party;  (ii) the receiving  party will hold in confidence  and not disclose
     nor  use  (except  in  respect  of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
     Agreement) any such  Confidential  Information,  treating such Confidential
     Information with the same degree of care and  confidentiality as it accords
     its own confidential and proprietary information;  provided,  however, that
     the receiving party shall not have any restrictive  obligation with respect
     to any  Confidential  Information  which  (A)  is  contained  in a  printed
     publication  available to the general  public,  (B) is or becomes  publicly
     known  through no wrongful act or omission of the receiving  party,  (C) is
     known by the receiving  party without any  proprietary  restrictions by the
     furnishing/disclosing  party at the time of  receipt  of such  Confidential
     Information,  (D)  is  subject  to  disclosure  pursuant  to any  Order  or
     regulation of any Authority (including the Securities Exchange Commission);
     or (E) is  disclosed  to  Comerica  Bank,  as Agent for  certain  financial
     institutions  or to the entities  identified on Schedule  5.11 hereto,  and
     (iii) all such  Confidential  Information  furnished to either party by the
     other, unless otherwise specified in writing,  shall remain the property of
     the  furnishing/disclosing  party,  and  in the  event  this  Agreement  is
     terminated,  shall be returned to it, together with any and all copies made
     thereof, upon request for such return by it (except for documents submitted
     to an Authority with the consent of the furnishing/disclosing party or upon
     subpoena and which cannot be retrieved with reasonable effort).

          (b) Each  party  hereto  acknowledges  that the  remedy at law for any
     breach  by  either  party  of  its  obligations  under  Section  9.2(a)  is
     inadequate  and  that  the  other  party  shall be  entitled  to  equitable
     remedies,  including  an  injunction,  in the  event of breach of any other
     party.

     9.3 Employee Benefits.

          (a)  Except to the extent  adequately  reserved  for on the  Financial
     Statements,  Seller  shall be  responsible  for  Liabilities  arising  from
     workers'  compensation  claims,  both  medical  and  disability,  or  other
     government-mandated  programs  which are based on injuries to the Company's
     employees  occurring  prior to the  Closing  Date  regardless  of when such
     claims are filed.  Purchaser  shall be solely  responsible  for such claims
     made by employees  retained as  employees of the Company  based on injuries
     occurring after Closing.

          (b)  Except to the extent  adequately  reserved  for on the  Financial
     Statements,  Seller shall be responsible for the satisfaction of all claims
     for medical, dental, life insurance, health, accident,  disability or other
     benefits  brought by or in respect of employees  under any of the Company's
     welfare  benefit plans where the claims were incurred  prior to the Closing
     regardless of when such claims are filed.

     9.4 Indemnification for Employment Matters. Seller and Purchaser each agree
to  indemnify,  defend and hold the other  harmless from and against any and all
loss, damage and expense,  including without limitation attorneys' fees, arising
out of any Adverse Consequences for which it is responsible under Sections 9.3.

     9.5 Non-Competition Agreement.

          (a) In partial  consideration for the Purchase Price paid, Seller, for
     a period of five (5) years  from and after the  Closing  Date,  shall  not,
     without the prior  written  consent of the Board of Directors of Purchaser,
     directly or indirectly,  or as the agent of another Person or through other
     Persons as an agent:

               (i)  participate  or engage in,  directly  or  indirectly  (as an
          owner, partner, employee,  officer, director,  independent contractor,
          consultant, advisor or in any other capacity calling for the rendition
          of services, advice, or acts of management, operation or control), any
          business that is competitive with the Business (as conducted as of the
          Closing)  within any geographic area in which  Purchaser,  the Company
          and  their   respective   Affiliates'   (collectively,   the  "Related
          Entities")  currently conduct the Business;  provided,  however,  that
          Seller may own up to five percent (5%) of any class of securities of a
          corporation engaged in such a competitive  business if such securities
          are listed on a national  securities  exchange or registered under the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

               (ii) solicit any current  employee of the Related Entities or any
          individual  who becomes an  employee  during such period to leave such
          employment other than general solicitation of employees through public
          newspapers; or

               (iii) seek to divert or dissuade  from  continuing to do business
          with or entering into business with any of the Related  Entities,  any
          supplier,  customer or other  Person that had a business  relationship
          with or with  which  any  Related  Entity  was  actively  planning  or
          pursuing a business relationship during such five-year period.

          (b) The  necessity of  protection  against the  competition  of Seller
     against  Purchaser  and the  nature and scope of such  protection  has been
     carefully  considered by the parties  hereto.  The parties hereto agree and
     acknowledge that the duration, scope and geographic areas applicable to the
     covenant not-to-compete  described in this Section 9.5 are fair, reasonable
     and necessary and that  adequate  compensation  has been received by Seller
     for such obligations. If, however, for any reason any court determines that
     the   restrictions   in  this  Section  9.5  are  not  reasonable  or  that
     consideration  is  inadequate,  such  restrictions  shall  be  interpreted,
     modified  or  rewritten  to  include  as much of the  duration,  scope  and
     geographic  area  identified  in  this  Section  9.5 as  will  render  such
     restrictions valid and enforceable.

          (c) In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 9.5,
     Purchaser  shall  be  entitled,  without  the  posting  of a  bond,  to  an
     injunction  restraining  such breach.  Nothing  herein  contained  shall be
     construed as prohibiting any party from pursuing any other remedy available
     to it for such breach or threatened breach.

                                    ARTICLE X
                  TERMINATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     Except for representations and warranties  contained in Sections 3.1(a) and
(b), 3.2, 3.14(a) and 3.25, all representations and warranties  contained in any
section of this Agreement terminate at, and do not survive beyond, the Closing.

                                   ARTICLE XI
                                   TERMINATION

     11.1 Rights to  Terminate.  This  Agreement  may be  terminated at any time
prior to the Closing only as follows:

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

          (b) by Seller  if  Purchaser  is in  material  breach of any  material
     representation,  warranty or covenant  under this  Agreement (and Seller is
     not then in material  breach of any  material  representation,  warranty or
     covenant);

          (c) by Purchaser if Seller or the Company is in material breach of any
     material  representation,  warranty or covenant  under this  Agreement (and
     Purchaser is not then in material  breach of any  material  representation,
     warranty or covenant);

          (d) by  Seller or by  Purchaser  if, at or  before  the  Closing,  any
     condition  set  forth  herein  for the  benefit  of  Seller  or  Purchaser,
     respectively, shall not have been timely met and cannot be met on or before
     the Closing Date and has not been waived; or

          (e) by Purchaser or Seller if the Closing  shall not have  occurred on
     or before April 1, 1999.

     Each party's  right of  termination  hereunder is in addition to any of the
rights it may have hereunder or otherwise.

     11.2 Effects of  Termination.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this
Agreement,  no  termination  of this  Agreement  shall  release  (a) Seller from
Seller's  obligation to pay the costs and expenses described in Section 5.9, (b)
any party of any Liabilities arising hereunder for any pre-termination  breaches
hereof or intentional  misrepresentations  made herein or (c) any party from its
obligations under Section 9.2.

                                   ARTICLE XII
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     12.1 Public Announcements.  Prior to the Closing Date, any announcements or
similar   publicity  with  respect  to  this   Agreement  or  the   transactions
contemplated  herein  shall be at such time and in such  manner  as  Seller  and
Purchaser  shall  mutually  agree;  provided,  that nothing herein shall prevent
either   party  upon   notice  to  the  other  party  from  making  such  public
announcements as such party's counsel may consider advisable in order to satisfy
that party's legal obligations in such regard.

     12.2  Post-Closing  Deliveries.  After the  Closing,  any  monies,  checks,
instruments,  invoices, bills, receipts,  notices, mail and other communications
received by one party but  directed  toward or due to another  shall be promptly
delivered to the other party.  Seller shall  cooperate with Purchaser  after the
Closing to ensure the orderly  transition  of the operation of the Business from
Seller to Purchaser and to minimize any  disruption in the business of Purchaser
that might result from the transactions contemplated hereby.

     12.3 Notices. All notices or other communications  required or permitted by
this  Agreement  shall be in  writing  and  shall be  deemed  to have  been duly
received  (a) if given  by  telecopier,  when  transmitted  and the  appropriate
telephonic  confirmation  received if  transmitted  on a business day and during
normal  business hours of the recipient,  and otherwise on the next business day
following  transmission,  (b) if given by certified or registered  mail,  return
receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid,  three  (3)  business  days  after  being
deposited  in the U.S.  mails and (c) if given by courier or other  means,  when
received or personally delivered, and, in any such case, addressed as follows:

          (i)   if to Purchaser:

                 MacLean Acquisition Company
                 c/o MacLean-Fogg Corporation
                 1000 Allanson Road
                 Mundelein, IL 60060
                 Attention: President
                 Facsimile:  (847) 566-0026

                 with a copy to:

                 Winston & Strawn
                 35 West Wacker Drive
                 Chicago, Illinois 60601
                 Attention:  Stanford J. Goldblatt, Esq.
                 Facsimile:  (312) 558-5700

          (ii)   if to Seller:

                 JPE, Inc.
                 775 Technology Drive
                 Suite 200
                 Ann Arbor, MI  48108
                 Attention:  Richard R. Chrysler
                 Facsimile:  (734) 662-0133

                 with a copy to:

                 Barb Kaye
                 Dykema Gossett PLLC
                 315 East Eisenhower Parkway
                 Suite 100
                 Ann Arbor, Michigan  48108-3306
                 Facsimile:  (734) 214-7696

or to such other  addresses  as may be specified by any such Person to the other
Person pursuant to notice given by such Person in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 12.3.

     12.4  Assignment.  No party may assign or transfer any or all of its rights
or obligations  under this Agreement  without the prior written  approval of all
the other parties; provided,  however, that Purchaser may assign or transfer all
(but not less than all) of its rights and  obligations  under this Agreement (a)
to any Person that is wholly-owned,  directly or indirectly, by Purchaser or (b)
after the  Closing,  to any  Person to whom  Purchaser  sells the  Business  and
substantially all of the Company's assets.

     12.5 Benefit of the  Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their  respective  successors and
permitted  assigns.  This  Agreement  shall not be construed so as to confer any
right or  benefit  upon any  Person,  other  than the  parties  hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.

     12.6 Exhibits and  Schedules.  The Exhibits and  Schedules  hereto shall be
construed  with and as an integral part of this  Agreement to the same effect as
if the contents thereof had been set forth verbatim herein.

     12.7 Headings.  The headings used in this Agreement are for  convenience of
reference  only and shall not be  deemed  to limit,  characterize  or in any way
affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

     12.8 Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement  contains the entire  agreement and
understanding  of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,  and no
other  representations,  promises,  agreements or  understandings  regarding the
subject  matter  hereof  shall be of any  force or  effect  unless  in  writing,
executed by the party to be bound thereby and dated on or after the date hereof.

     12.9  Modifications and Waivers.  No change,  modification or waiver of any
provision of this  Agreement  shall be valid or binding unless it is in writing,
dated  subsequent  to the date hereof and signed by  Purchaser  and  Seller.  No
waiver of any breach,  term or  condition  of this  Agreement by any party shall
constitute  a  subsequent  waiver  of the  same  or any  other  breach,  term or
condition.

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

     12.11  Severability.  In case any one or more of the  provisions  contained
herein for any reason shall be held to be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable in
any respect,  such invalidity,  illegality or unenforceability  shall not affect
any other provision of this Agreement,  but this Agreement shall be construed as
if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or provisions had never been
contained herein.

     12.12  GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

     12.13 Expenses.  Except as otherwise  expressly provided herein, each party
hereto shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred in
negotiating  and  preparing  this  Agreement and in closing and carrying out the
transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement.  Purchaser shall pay all fees and
expenses  (other than legal fees and expenses of Seller)  incurred in connection
with compliance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
as amended.  Seller shall pay all fees and  expenses of Schafer & Weiner,  P.C.,
incurred by Seller or the Company. All fees and expenses of the Company incurred
in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement (other than
any necessary filing fees and other post-Closing  expenses) shall be paid by the
Company prior to the Closing or shall be assumed and paid by the Seller.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  executed  this Stock
Purchase Agreement as of the date first written above.

                             MACLEAN ACQUISITION COMPANY

                             By:    /s/ Timothy N. Taylor
                                    -----------------------------------
                             Name:  Timothy N. Taylor
                             Title: Vice President


                             INDUSTRIAL & AUTOMOTIVE FASTENERS, INC.

                             By:    /s/ Richard R. Chrysler
                                    -----------------------------------
                             Name:  Richard R. Chrysler
                             Title: President


                             JPE, INC.

                             By:    /s/ Richard R. Chrysler
                                    ------------------------------------
                             Name:  Richard R. Chrysler
                             Title: President