Aquisition Agreement

This ACQUISITION AGREEMENT is dated as of October 28, 2004 (this “Agreement”), by and between Storage Acquisition Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Acquirer”), and Home Products International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Certain defined terms are defined below in Section 8.03.

WHEREAS, Acquirer has proposed acquiring all of the outstanding shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) pursuant to the Offer (as defined herein) and at the price provided for herein as the Offer Price;

WHEREAS, a special committee (the “Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (including the Special Committee, the “Company Board”) and the Board of Directors of Acquirer each have approved, and determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies and stockholders to consummate, the Offer and the other transactions provided for herein;

WHEREAS, the Company and Acquirer desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Offer and also to prescribe various conditions to the consummation of the Offer; and

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company terminated the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 2, 2004, with JRT Acquisition Company in accordance with its terms.

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

(a) Provided this Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with Section 7.01 and subject to the conditions of this Agreement set forth in Section 6.01 as promptly as practicable, but in no event less than ten (10) business days after the public announcement of the execution of this Agreement, Acquirer shall commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), an offer (the “Offer”) to purchase for cash all of the issued and outstanding Shares at a price of $2.25 per Share, net to the seller in cash (such price, or such other price per Share as may be paid in the Offer, being referred to herein as the “Offer Price”), subject to reduction only for any applicable federal back-up withholding or stock transfer taxes payable by such seller. The Company shall not tender Shares held by it or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Offer. Acquirer shall, on the terms and subject to the prior satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Offer set forth in Section 6.01, and to its rights to extend the Offer under Section 1.01(b), accept for payment and pay for Shares tendered as soon as it is legally permitted to do so under applicable law.

(b) The Offer shall be made by means of an offer to purchase (the “Offer to Purchase”) containing the terms set forth in this Agreement and the conditions set forth in Section 6.01 hereto and providing for an initial expiration date (the “Expiration Date”, which term shall also indicate any later date to which the Offer is extended in accordance with this Agreement) of twenty (20) business days (as defined in Rule 14d-1 under the Exchange Act) from the date of commencement of the Offer. Acquirer shall not decrease the Offer Price or decrease the number of Shares sought in the Offer, amend the conditions to the Offer set forth in Section 6.01 or impose conditions to the Offer in addition to those set forth in Section 6.01, without the prior written consent of the Company, authorized by the Special Committee. Acquirer shall (which will not require the consent of the Company), (A) extend the Offer for the shortest time periods which it reasonably believes are necessary, in one or more such periods, if any, to satisfy any such condition that has not by then been satisfied (or waived by Acquirer in its discretion to the extent permitted by Section 6.03) and (B) if, on the Expiration Date, the number of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer is less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Shares that are outstanding and not held by any member of a Filing Group (determined on a fully diluted basis, after giving effect to the exercise or conversion of all options, rights and securities exercisable or convertible into voting securities of the Company), extend the Offer for up to ten (10) business days, notwithstanding that all the conditions to the Offer were satisfied as of the date such extension. In addition, (A) the Offer Price may be increased, in which event the Offer shall be extended to the extent required by law in connection with such increase, in each case without the consent of the Company, and (B) Acquirer may, under the terms of the Offer, provide for a subsequent offering period of up to ten (10) business days in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the Exchange Act following the Share Acceptance.

(c) On the date the Offer is commenced, Acquirer shall file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with respect to the Offer (together with all amendments and supplements thereto and including the exhibits thereto, the “Schedule TO”). The Schedule TO shall contain or shall incorporate by reference the Offer to Purchase and a form of letter of transmittal and summary advertisement (the “Schedule TO, the Offer to Purchase and related letter of transmittal and related summary advertisement, together with any amendments and supplements thereto, collectively the “Offer Documents”). The Offer Documents shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and, on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to the Company’s stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that no representation shall be made by Acquirer with respect to information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Offer Documents. Acquirer shall further take all steps necessary to cause the Offer Documents to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. Each of Acquirer and the Company shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that it shall have become false and misleading in any material respect prior to the Expiration Date and Acquirer further shall take all steps necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. The Company and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review and comment upon the Offer Documents (and shall provide any comments thereon as soon as practicable) prior to the

filing thereof with the SEC. In addition, Acquirer shall provide to the Company and its counsel in writing any comments that Acquirer or its counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents promptly after receipt of such comments and copies of any written responses and telephonic notification of any verbal responses by Acquirer or its counsel.

(d) Prior to the Share Acceptance, there shall have been contributed to Acquirer, or shall have been properly tendered and not withdrawn in the Offer, all Shares beneficially owned by any member of Acquirer or any member of a group that has filed a Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (a “Filing Group”) as to which Acquirer or any of its members is a signatory (except for 1530 Shares owned by one member of the Acquirer Group).

(a) The Company hereby approves of and consents to the Offer. The Company has been authorized by Mesirow Financial, Inc. to permit the inclusion of the fairness opinion referenced in Section 2.09 (including a description thereof) in the Offer Documents. The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the recommendation of the Special Committee and the Company Board described in Sections 2.04(b) and (c).

(b) Concurrently with the commencement of the Offer or as promptly thereafter as practicable, the Company shall file with the SEC a Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto and including the exhibits thereto, the “Schedule 14D-9”) which shall contain the recommendations referred to in Sections 2.04(b) and (c). The Schedule 14D-9 shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and, on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to the Company’s stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that no representation is or shall be made by the Company with respect to information supplied by Acquirer or any other member of the Acquirer Group or their Representatives, for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9. The Company further shall take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9 to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws, and shall mail such Schedule 14D-9 to the stockholders of the Company promptly after commencement of the Offer. Each of the Company and Acquirer shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9 if and to the extent that it shall have become false and misleading in any material respect and the Company further shall take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. Acquirer and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review and comment upon the Schedule 14D-9 (and shall provide any comments thereon as soon as practicable) prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. In addition, the Company shall provide to Acquirer and its counsel in writing any comments that the Company or its counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after receipt of such comments and copies of any written responses and telephonic notification of any verbal responses by the Company or its counsel.

(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company shall promptly furnish or cause to be furnished to Acquirer mailing labels, security position listings and any available listing or computer file containing the names and addresses of the record holders of the Shares as of a recent date, and shall promptly furnish, or cause to be furnished, to Acquirer such additional information, including updated lists of stockholders, mailing labels and security position listings, and such other information and assistance as Acquirer or its agents may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the stockholders of the Company.

Section 1.03 Directors. Prior to the filing by the Company of the Schedule 14D-9, Acquirer shall give the Company written notice of the names of those individuals (the “Board Designees”) whom Acquirer has designated (including those designated by another member of the Acquirer Group pursuant to the Board Authorizing Agreements) to be the members of the Company Board as and from the first acceptance for payment by Acquirer of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer (the “Share Acceptance”). Acquirer shall be solely responsible for any information with respect to itself and the Board Designees required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder and the Company shall include such information, as well as the information required with respect to itself and its officers and directors by Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1, in the Schedule 14D-9. The Company shall, upon request by Acquirer, take such action as is necessary so that, effective as and from the Share Acceptance, the size of the Company Board shall be increased as necessary to equal the number of Board Designees and the Company Board shall consist solely of the Board Designees (who thereafter shall serve until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be), and the Board Designees shall be approved as successors to the directors in office as of immediately prior to the Share Acceptance.

In order to induce Acquirer to enter into this Agreement and make the Offer, the Company represents and warrants to Acquirer that, except to the extent set forth in any of the Company SEC Documents (as defined below) and except as set forth in the letter dated as of the date of this Agreement from the Company to Acquirer (the “Company Disclosure Letter”):

Section 2.01 Organization, Standing and Power. The Company and each of its subsidiaries (the “Company Subsidiaries”) (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (b) has full corporate or other power, as the case may be, and authority to transact its business as presently conducted, (c) possesses all governmental franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its business as presently conducted, and (d) is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business or the ownership or leasing of its properties make such qualification necessary, except in the case of clauses (c) and (d) above for failures which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Acquirer and its Representatives (as defined in Section 8.03) true and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as

amended through the date of this Agreement (as so amended, the “Company Charter”), and the by-laws of the Company, as amended through the date of this Agreement (as so amended, the “Company By-laws”), and the comparable charter and organizational documents of each Company Subsidiary, in each case as amended through the date of this Agreement.

Section 2.02 Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. Section 2.02 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a list of each Company Subsidiary and its jurisdiction of organization. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Company Subsidiary (a) are duly authorized and have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, as applicable, and free of preemptive rights and (b) are owned by the Company, by another Company Subsidiary or by the Company and another Company Subsidiary, free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “Liens”), except in the case of subsections (a) and (b) for failures which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no Contracts (as defined in Section 2.05(a)) or arrangements with respect to the ownership, voting or disposition of any shares of stock of any Company Subsidiary.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 15,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Company Preferred Stock”), and together with the Company Common Stock, the “Company Capital Stock”). On the date hereof, (i) 7,878,900 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 822,394 shares of Company Common Stock were held by the Company in its treasury, (iii) 864,216 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding and unexercised options to purchase shares of Company Common Stock issued under any Company Stock Plan (collectively, the “Company Stock Options”), (iv) 151,610 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Company’s 1999 Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan and the Company’s Executive Incentive Plan, (v) 1,132,554 additional shares of Company Common Stock were available for issuance under the Company Stock Plans, (vi) 79,204 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding warrants held by GE Capital Corporation and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., (vii) 389,374 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (viii) no shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for and subject to issuance in connection with the rights (the “Company Rights”) issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of May 21, 1997, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the “Company Rights Agreement”) and (ix) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Except as set forth above, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, no other shares of Company Capital Stock were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.

(b) Section 2.03(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the close of business on October 19, 2004, of all outstanding Company Stock Options and all other rights, if any, issued or granted by the Company to purchase or receive Company Capital Stock or stock in any Company Subsidiary, the number of shares subject thereto, the grant dates and exercise prices thereof and the names of the holders thereof. The

Company has made available to Acquirer and its Representatives true and complete copies of all forms of option agreements governing Company Stock Options. During the period from January 1, 2004 to the date of this Agreement, there have been no issuances by the Company of shares of Company Capital Stock other than issuances of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on such date pursuant to the terms thereof.

(c) All outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock are, and all such shares that may be issued prior to the Share Acceptance will be when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Company Charter, the Company By-laws or any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound.

(d) There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Common Stock may vote (“Voting Company Debt”). Except for the Company Stock Options and the Company Rights, there are no options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, profit participation rights, rights of repurchase, other rights (other than rights that may have arisen under a Company Stock Plan) linked to the price of Company Capital Stock, or commitments, Contracts, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound (i) obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver, sell or grant, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold or granted additional shares of capital stock or other voting securities or equity interests in, or any security convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any capital stock of or other voting security or equity interest in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any Voting Company Debt, or (ii) obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, security, unit, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking. There are not any outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company has made available to Acquirer and its Representatives a true and complete copy of the Company Rights Agreement, as amended to the date of this Agreement.

(e) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any voting agreement, irrevocable proxy or other agreement with respect to the voting of the Company Capital Stock.

(f) On the date hereof, the number of holders of record of outstanding Shares was less than 300.

(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Offer and the other transactions contemplated

by this Agreement (the “Transactions”) that are to be consummated by the Company, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions in accordance with the terms of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to approve this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions. The Company has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and, assuming due execution and delivery hereof by Acquirer, this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(b) The Special Committee, which consists of all the non-employee members of the Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, duly and unanimously adopted resolutions (i) determining that the terms and conditions of the Offer and the other Transactions are fair to, and in the best interest of, the Company’s stockholders, (ii) approving this Agreement, (iii) recommending that the Board of Directors of the Company approve this Agreement, and (iv) recommending that the Board of Directors of the Company resolve to recommend that the Company’s stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Shares thereunder to Acquirer.

(c) The Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held, duly adopted resolutions (i) determining that the terms of the Offer and the other Transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company’s stockholders, (ii) approving this Agreement, and (iii) recommending that the Company’s stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Shares thereunder to Acquirer. Such resolutions and the previous actions taken by the Company Board are sufficient to render inapplicable the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL to (A) this Agreement, (B) the consummation of the Offer and (C) the other Transactions. No other state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to apply to the Company with respect to this Agreement, the Offer or any other Transaction.

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the consummation of the Transactions will not, (i) violate any statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation (“Law”) or any judgment, order or decree (“Judgment”), in each case applicable to the Company or by which its property is bound, (ii) violate the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or comparable organizational document) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give others any rights of termination or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any provision of any contract (whether written or oral), lease, license, indenture, note, bond, agreement, permit, concession, franchise or other instrument (other than a Company Benefit Plan) or permit to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound (collectively, “Contracts”), except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) for violations, breaches or

defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization (“Consent”) of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from, any domestic or foreign (whether national, federal, state, provincial, local or otherwise) government or any court of competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (each, a “Governmental Entity”) is required to be obtained or made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation of the Transactions, the failure of which to submit or obtain would, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, other than (i) the filing with the SEC of the Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9 and such reports under Sections 13 and 16 of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, (ii) such filings as may be required in connection with the Taxes described in Section 5.08, (iii) such filings as may be required under the rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., (iv) requirements, if any, under Competition Laws, (v) applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws and the securities laws of any foreign country and (vi) such other items required solely by reason of the participation of Acquirer or its stockholders or affiliates in the Transactions.

(c) The Company and the Company Board have taken such action as is necessary to (i) render the Company Rights inapplicable to (A) this Agreement, (B) the Offer and (C) the other Transactions, and (ii) ensure that (A) neither of Acquirer nor any of its members, affiliates or associates is or will become an “Acquiring Person” (as defined in the Company Rights Agreement) by reason of this Agreement, the consummation of the Offer or any other Transaction and (B) a “Distribution Date” (as defined in the Company Rights Agreement) shall not occur by reason of this Agreement, the Offer or any other Transaction.

(a) The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 2003 (the “Company SEC Documents”).

(b) As of its respective date, each Company SEC Document complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Document, and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent modified or corrected prior to the date hereof by a subsequently filed Company SEC Document. The consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto (the “Company Financial Statements”), of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent

basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly presented the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).

(c) Other than as disclosed in the Company Financial Statements (including the notes thereto), as of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), other than (i) liabilities or obligations incurred since June 26, 2004 in the ordinary course of business, (ii) liabilities and obligations relating to, or incurred in connection with, the Transactions, and (iii) liabilities and obligations which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, partnership agreement or any similar Contract (including without limitation any Contract relating to any transaction, arrangement or relationship between or among the Company or any Company Subsidiaries on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including without limitation any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or person, on the other hand) where the purpose or intended effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving the Company or any Company Subsidiaries in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

(e) Except as disclosed in the Company Financial Statements, there is no outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any Company Subsidiary and there are no guarantees by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of indebtedness of third parties for borrowed money.

(a) At the time the Schedule 14D-9 is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, the Schedule 14D-9, as amended or supplemented, will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Company in this Section 2.07(a) with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Acquirer, any other member of the Acquirer Group or their Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in such documents.

(b) Each document required to be filed by the Company with the SEC or required to be distributed or otherwise disseminated by the Company to the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Offer and the other Transactions and any amendments or supplements thereto, when filed, distributed or disseminated, as applicable, will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on

information supplied by Acquirer, any other member of the Acquirer Group or their Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

Section 2.08 Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Mesirow Financial, Inc., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.

Section 2.09 Opinion of Financial Advisor. Mesirow Financial, Inc. has delivered an executed opinion to the Special Committee, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated therein, the Offer Price is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Shares. The Company has delivered a true and complete copy of such executed opinion to Acquirer concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.

Section 2.10 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since June 26, 2004 through the date of this Agreement, and except as contemplated by this Agreement (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary course of business and (ii) there has not been: (A) a Company Material Adverse Effect; (B) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to any of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s capital stock; (C) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or the issuance of any options, warrants, calls, or rights to acquire such shares or securities; (D) any granting by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant (1) of any increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits, or (2) of the right to receive any severance or termination pay, or increases therein; or (E) any material change in financial or tax accounting methods.

Section 2.11 Absence of Litigation; Investigations. There are no claims, actions, suits, proceedings, governmental investigations, inquiries or subpoenas pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or to the knowledge of the Company, any current or former supervisory employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any acts or omissions in connection with their employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any properties or assets of the Company or of any Company Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any outstanding order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree that could reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect or is reasonably expected to prevent or delay the consummation of the Transactions. There have not been since January 1, 2002, nor are there currently, any internal investigations being conducted by management of the Company, the Company Board or any third party or Governmental Entity at the request of the Company Board concerning any financial, accounting, Tax, conflict of interest, self-dealing, fraudulent or deceptive conduct or other misfeasance or malfeasance issues.

Section 2.12 Permits; Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, certificates,

authorizations, orders and approvals of all Governmental Entities which are necessary to the lawful operation of the respective business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Permits”), except where the failure to hold such Permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. All such Permits are in full force and effect and the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the Permits and all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, judgments and decrees, except where the failure so to maintain such Permits or so to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any written notice (that is existing and in effect as of the date of this Agreement) to the effect that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with the terms of the Permits or any such statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations.

(a) Section 2.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the names, hire dates and titles, employer name, locality of residence (city or town, state or province, and country), annual salary rate and 2003 total compensation of all of the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ employees who are paid an annual base salary of at least $100,000, as of September 15, 2004, and summary information with respect to the other employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (including numbers of employees by category). No present or former employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is the beneficiary of any currently effective written employment agreement or severance agreement or similar agreement or arrangement other than as set forth in Section 2.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

(b) Section 2.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all agreements with labor unions or associations representing employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is involved in, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened with any work stoppage, labor dispute, arbitration, lawsuit or administrative proceeding relating to labor matters involving the employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(a) Section 2.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists (i) each currently outstanding loan from the Company to any employee, officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary, as well as (ii) each pension, profit and retirement savings, cafeteria, severance, disability, death, medical, welfare or other benefit plan, program or arrangement (whether oral or written) that is an “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”) that is subject to the provisions of ERISA (collectively, the “ERISA Benefit Plans”) which the Company or any entity, trade or business that is, together with the Company, required to be treated as a single employer pursuant to Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA (a “Controlled Group Member”) sponsors or maintains or to which the Company or such entity, trade or business is required to contribute, (iii) each deferred compensation, cash bonus, stock bonus, performance or other incentive compensation, severance, vacation, paid time off or paid sick time benefit plan, program or

arrangement (whether oral or written), that is not governed by ERISA (collectively, the “Non-ERISA Benefit Plans”), providing any such benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any Controlled Group Member other than, in the case of former employees, officers or directors, such benefits for which the Company or any Controlled Group Member has no current liability or obligation (such plans, agreements, arrangements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) and related trusts and related agreements and arrangements being hereinafter referred to as the “Benefit Plans”). To the extent applicable, the Company has delivered or made available to Acquirer true and complete copies of all written Benefit Plans, summary plan descriptions and all financial statements, actuarial reports and annual reports and returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service or Department of Labor with respect to the three (3) most recent filings made for such Benefit Plans prior to the date hereof.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Controlled Group Member has any obligation to provide health or other welfare benefits to former, retired or terminated employees, except as specifically required under Section 4980B of the Code or Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA.

(c) Neither the Company nor any Controlled Group Member maintains, sponsors, contributes to, or has an obligation to contribute to, or has maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or had an obligation to contribute to, any “defined benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA), any multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA), or any multiple employer plan (within the meaning of Section 413 of the Code).

(d) No payment made or deemed made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as a result of the Transactions will be disallowed as a deduction by the Company or such Company Subsidiary as a result of the limitations contained in Section 280G of the Code, and no such payment will be subject to the excise tax pursuant to Code Section 4999.

(e) Each Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in all material respects in compliance with its terms and complies, as applicable, in all material respects with the requirements of ERISA and the Code, and all other applicable laws. No “prohibited transaction” (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975(c) of the Code) has occurred with respect to any ERISA Benefit Plan. Each Benefit Plan can be amended, discontinued or terminated at any time (including after the Effective Time) in accordance with its terms, without liability (other than (A) liability for ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event, or (B) liabilities for which sufficient assets are set aside in a trust or insurance contract to satisfy such liabilities or which are accrued on the Company Financial Statements). All contributions required to be made in connection with any Benefit Plan through the date hereof have been timely made or, if not yet due, have been accrued on the Company Financial Statements to the extent required to be accrued thereon.

(a) Each of the Company and Company Subsidiary possesses in full force and effect all Environmental Permits necessary to conduct its businesses and operations as now being conducted, except where the failure to possess and maintain such Environmental Permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the

Company or any Company Subsidiary has been notified in writing by any Governmental Entity that any Environmental Permits will be modified, suspended or revoked, except when such modification, suspension or revocation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and the terms and conditions of all Environmental Permits, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries has received any written communication from any Governmental Entity or other Person that alleges that the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has violated or is, or may be, liable under any Environmental Law, and which constitutes a potential continuing liability or obligation of the Company.

(c) There are no past or pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened Environmental Claims (i) against the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (ii) against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any Company Subsidiary has retained or assumed, either by Contract or by operation of law, and none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has contractually retained or assumed any liabilities or obligations that could reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Claim against the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

(d) There have been no Releases of any Hazardous Materials at, from, in, to, on or under any real properties currently or, to the knowledge of the Company, previously owned, leased, or utilized by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, predecessors, or Affiliates that could reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

(e) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, predecessors or Affiliates transported or arranged for the transportation, treatment, storage, handling or disposal of any Hazardous Materials to any off-site location that could reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Claim against the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

(f) There are no (i) underground storage tanks, active or abandoned, (ii) polychlorinated biphenyl containing equipment or (iii) asbestos containing material within the leasehold of any site or building utilized by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Claim against the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

(g) There have been no environmental investigations, studies, material tests, audits, reviews or other analyses conducted by, on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and which are in the possession or control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which have not been delivered or made available to Acquirer.

(i) “Environmental Claims” means any and all actions, orders, decrees, suits, demands, directives, claims, Liens, investigations, proceedings or notices of

violation by any Governmental Entity or other Person alleging potential responsibility or liability arising out of, based on or related to (1) the presence, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials at any location or (2) circumstances forming the basis of any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, except in any case as could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) “Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, common law, judgments or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Entity with applicable authority over such matters relating to pollution or protection of the environment or human health;

(iii) “Environmental Permits” means all permits, licenses, registrations and other authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws;

(iv) “Hazardous Materials” means all hazardous, toxic, explosive or radioactive substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas and all other substances or wastes of any nature designated as a danger to human health or the environment pursuant to any Environmental Law; and

(v) “Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

(a) Each material contract (as defined in Item 601 of Regulation S-K of the SEC) (collectively, the “Material Contracts”) of the Company is enforceable against the Company or a Company Subsidiary and to the Company’s knowledge is enforceable against the other parties to such Material Contract, in accordance with its terms, except to the extent it has previously expired in accordance with its terms or to the extent the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and the application of general principles of equity or public policy (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(b) (i) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has violated or breached, or committed any default under, any Material Contract, except for violations, breaches and defaults that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect; and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other person has violated or breached, or committed any default under, any Material Contract, except for violations, breaches and defaults that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists, that (with or without notice or lapse of time) will or would reasonably be expected to, (A) result in a violation or breach of any of the provisions of any Material Contract, (B) give any person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under any Material Contract, (C) give any person the right to receive or require a rebate,

chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any Material Contract, (D) give any person the right to accelerate the maturity or performance of any Material Contract, or (E) give any person the right to cancel, terminate or modify any Material Contract, except in each such case for defaults, acceleration rights, termination rights and other rights that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) since June 2, 2004, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible violation or breach of, or default under, any Material Contract, except in each such case for defaults, acceleration rights, termination rights and other rights that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 2.17 Insurance. All physical assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries carried for value on the Company Financial Statements are covered by fire and other insurance with responsible insurers against such risks and in such amounts as are reasonable for prudent owners of comparable assets. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in default with respect to any of the provisions contained in any such policies of insurance or has failed to give any notice or pay any premium or present any claim under any such insurance policy, except for such defaults or failures that could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no reason to believe that any of its insurance policies will not be renewed by the insurer upon the scheduled expiration of the policy or will be renewed by the insurer only on the basis that there will be a material increase in the premiums payable in respect of the policy. The Company has delivered or made available to Acquirer true and complete copies of all of such insurance policies.

Section 2.18 No Restrictions on Business. Except for this Agreement, there is no Contract, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company or any Company Subsidiary which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing any significant business practice of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, acquisition of property by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or the conduct of business by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted by the Company.

Section 3.01 Organization, Standing and Power. Acquirer was duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and has the requisite power and authority to conduct its business as presently conducted. Acquirer has made available to the Company a true and complete copy of its certificate of formation, as amended to date.

(a) Since the date of its formation, Acquirer has not carried on any business or conducted any operations other than the execution of this Agreement, the performance of its obligations hereunder and matters ancillary thereto. Acquirer has no subsidiaries.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the membership interests that have been issued by Acquirer have been validly issued, are fully paid and are owned free and clear of any Lien.

Section 3.03 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability. Acquirer has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The execution and delivery by Acquirer of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Acquirer or its members and no other proceedings on the part of Acquirer are necessary to approve this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions. Acquirer has duly approved this Agreement, the Offer and the other Transactions. Acquirer has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and, assuming due execution and delivery hereof by the Company, this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Acquirer, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

Section 3.04 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution and delivery by Acquirer of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the Transactions will not (i) violate any Law or Judgment in each case applicable to Acquirer or by which any of its property is bound, (ii) violate the certificate of formation or operating agreement of Acquirer, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any of the properties or assets of Acquirer pursuant to, any provision of any contract (whether written or oral), lease, license, indenture, note, bond, agreement, permit, concession, franchise or other instrument or permit to which Acquirer is a party or by which any of its properties or assets is bound, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), for failures which would not have or result in an Acquirer Material Adverse Effect. No Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to Acquirer in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement thereby or the consummation of the Transactions, other than (i) the filing with the SEC of the Offer Documents and such reports under Sections 13 and 16 of the Exchange Act, as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Offer and the other Transactions, (ii) requirements, if any, under Competition Laws, and (iii) such filings as may be required in connection with the Taxes described in Section 5.08.

Section 3.05 Information Supplied. At the time the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC, at any time they are amended or supplemented or at the time they are first mailed to stockholders of the Company, the Offer Documents, as amended or supplemented, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be

stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that this representation and warranty is and shall be made by Acquirer in this Section 3.05 solely with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Acquirer, any other member of the Acquirer Group or their Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in such documents. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Acquirer, any other member of the Acquirer Group or their Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents will, at the time any such documents are filed with the SEC, at any time they are amended or supplemented or at the time they are first mailed to the Company’s stockholders, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

Section 3.06 Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Offer and the other Transactions from any Person other than Acquirer or any other member of the Acquirer Group based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Acquirer or any other member of the Acquirer Group.

Section 3.07 Financing. Acquirer has received, and has provided to the Company, a true and complete copy of a written financing commitment (which has not expired or been cancelled, terminated, amended or otherwise modified) from Fleet Capital Corporation in an amount sufficient to enable the maintenance or replacement of the Company’s current credit facility. At the time of the Share Acceptance, Acquirer will have monies sufficient for the payment of (i) the Offer Price in respect of all Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, (ii) the Cancellation Consideration in respect of the cancellation of all Company Stock Options pursuant to Section 5.03, and (iii) all expenses associated with any of the foregoing (including, but not limited to, applicable Acquirer broker fees and expenses).

(a) Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (i) Acquirer and the stockholder of the Company named in that certain Voting Agreement by and between them (the “Voting Agreement”) are executing and delivering the Voting Agreement and Acquirer is executing in favor of such stockholder the irrevocable proxy provided for therein (the “Proxy”); and (ii) Acquirer and certain other members of the Acquirer Group named as the initial signatories in that certain Board Composition Agreement by and among them (the “Board Composition Agreement” and, together with the Voting Agreement and the Proxy, the “Board Authorizing Agreements”) are executing and delivering the Board Composition Agreement.

(b) True and complete copies of the Board Authorizing Agreements, in the forms being executed and delivered concurrently herewith, have been furnished to the Company.

(c) Neither Acquirer nor the stockholder named in the Voting Agreement will amend or revoke the Voting Agreement or the Proxy prior to the Share Acceptance or has any plans to do so thereafter.

(d) Each initial party to any Board Authorizing Agreement (a “Subject Party”) has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver such Board Authorizing Agreement and to perform its respective obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by such Subject Party of such Board Authorizing Agreement and the performance of such Subject Party’s obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Subject Party and no other proceedings on the part of such Subject Party are necessary to approve such Board Authorizing Agreement or to consummate the transactions provided for therein. Such Subject Party has duly approved such Board Authorizing Agreement. Assuming due execution and delivery thereof by all other Subject Parties, such Board Authorizing Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Subject Party enforceable against such Subject Party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicably relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and general equitable principles.

(a) Except for matters contemplated by this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement until the Share Acceptance (or the earlier termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VII), the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, (i) conduct its business in light of the existing circumstances in the ordinary course, including operating in compliance with Law and making all required filings with the SEC, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its current business organizations, keep available the service of its current officers and employees and preserve its current relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, lessors, creditors, employees, contractors and others having material business dealings with it, and (iii) permit reasonable, on-site access during normal business hours to a designated representative of Acquirer, which representative shall be Rich Hassert. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as consented to in writing by Acquirer (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), prior to the earlier of (A) the Share Acceptance and (B) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VII, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary will:

(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver or agree to commit to issue, sell or deliver any stock of any class or any other debt or equity securities or equity equivalents (including any stock options or stock appreciation rights), except for the issuance and sale of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants outstanding on the date hereof;

(iii) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock, declare, set aside or pay any dividends (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, make any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution in respect

of its capital stock or otherwise make any payments to stockholders in their capacity as such, or redeem or otherwise acquire any of its securities or any securities of any of the Company Subsidiaries;

(iv) subject to Section 4.02, adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company;

(v) (A) incur or assume any long-term or short-term indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt securities in each case, except for borrowings under existing lines of credit in the Company’s ordinary course of business, or materially modify or agree to any material amendment of the terms of any of the foregoing; (B) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other Person except for obligations of the Company Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business; (C) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any other Person (other than to a Company Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business); (D) pledge or otherwise create or suffer to exist any Lien (except for a Permitted Lien) with respect to shares of capital stock of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or (E) mortgage or pledge any of its assets, tangible or intangible, or create or suffer to exist any other Lien thereon except for a Permitted Lien;

(vi) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement and except for increases in salary, wages and benefits granted to employees of the Company or Company Subsidiaries in conjunction with promotions or other changes in job status consistent with past practice (other than promotions or other changes in job status for officers and directors of the Company), or as required under existing agreements or otherwise made in the ordinary course of business, and except as may be required by applicable Law, enter into, adopt or amend or terminate (other than by expiration) any bonus, special remuneration, compensation, severance, stock option, stock purchase agreement, retirement, health, life, or disability insurance, severance or other employee benefit plan agreement, trust, fund or other arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any director, officer, employee or consultant in any manner or increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefits of any director, officer or employee or pay any benefit not required by any plan and arrangement as in effect as of the date hereof (including the granting of stock appreciation rights or performance units); provided, however, that any incentive or bonus plans or programs for 2005 shall be permitted only to the extent set forth in Section 4.01(a)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter;

(vii) grant any severance or termination pay to any director, officer, employee or consultant, except payments made pursuant to written agreements outstanding on the date hereof, copies of which have been provided to Acquirer, or as required by applicable federal, state or local law or regulations;

(viii) (A) acquire, sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any material assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions having a fair market value in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate, other than sales of its products in the ordinary course of business; or (B) enter into any exclusive license, distribution, marketing, sales or other agreement;

(ix) except as may be required as a result of a change in applicable Law or in GAAP, change any of the accounting principles, practices or methods used by it;

(x) (A) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation, partnership or other entity or division thereof or any material equity interest therein; (B) amend, modify or waive any material right under any Material Contract; or (C) authorize any capital expenditure or expenditures, (aa) in respect of the fourth quarter of 2004, in excess of already committed and budgeted expenditures plus an additional $200,000, and (bb) in respect of the first quarter of 2005 in excess of $1.8 million in the aggregate;

(xi) make or revoke any material tax election or settle or compromise any income tax liability in excess of $100,000;

(xii) fail to file any Tax returns when due (or, alternatively, fail to file for available extensions) or fail to cause such Tax returns when filed to be complete and accurate in all material respects;

(xiii) fail to pay any material Taxes or other material debts when due unless being contested in good faith and promptly disclosed to Acquirer;

(xiv) settle or compromise any pending or threatened suit, action or claim that (A) relates to the transactions contemplated hereby; (B) the settlement or compromise of which would involve more than $250,000 out of pocket expenses for the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or (C) that would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect;

(xv) make any material change in its practices, procedures or methods with respect to billing, collections or payment of accounts, including delaying payment of any accounts payable or accelerating the collection of any accounts receivable, except, with respect to delaying payment of any accounts payable or accelerating the collection of any accounts receivable, to the extent consistent with past practice; or

(xvi) agree in writing to take any of the actions described in Sections 4.01(a)(i) through (a)(xv).

(b) Except as otherwise permitted by Section 4.02, the Company, on the one hand, and Acquirer on the other hand, shall not, and shall not permit any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to, take any action that would, or that is reasonably likely to, result in any of the representations and warranties of such party set forth in this Agreement becoming untrue, other than, in the case of the representations and warranties of the Company, for such failures to be true and correct that, individually or in the aggregate, have not resulted and are not reasonably likely to result in the condition in Section 6.01(c) not being satisfied.

(a) The Company shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any Company Subsidiary to, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its or any Company Subsidiary’s Representatives to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or knowingly

facilitate any Company Takeover Proposal or any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Takeover Proposal; or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with any Company Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that at any time prior to the Share Acceptance, the Company may, in response to a bona fide unsolicited Company Takeover Proposal, and subject to compliance with this Section 4.02: (x) furnish information with respect to the Company to the person making such Company Takeover Proposal (and its representatives) pursuant to a confidentiality agreement that is no less favorable to the Company than the Confidentiality Agreement between Equity Group Investments, L.L.C. and the Company dated July 19, 2004, provided that all of such information not previously supplied to Acquirer is provided to Acquirer on a substantially concurrent basis; and (y) participate in discussions and negotiations with the person making such Company Takeover Proposal (and its representatives) regarding such Company Takeover Proposal, if (1) the Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that it is required to do so in order to comply with its fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders under applicable law, (2) the Special Committee determines that such Company Takeover Proposal constitutes a Superior Company Proposal, or a Company Takeover Proposal that could reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Company Proposal, and (3) the Company provides Acquirer with notice that it intends to engage in any of the actions contemplated in clauses (x) and (y) above, identifying the Company Takeover Proposal and the parties thereto and delivering an accurate description of all material terms of the Company Takeover Proposal. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section 4.02(a) by any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 4.02(a) by the Company.

(b) The Company Board shall not (i) withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Acquirer, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Acquirer, the recommendation by the Company Board of this Agreement or the Offer, in each case unless the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that it is necessary to do so to comply with its fiduciary duties (any such withdrawal, modification or proposal being referred to herein as an “Adverse Recommendation Change“), (ii) approve any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or similar agreement relating to any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, prior to the Share Acceptance, the Company Board receives a Superior Company Proposal, then the Company Board may, in accordance with Section 7.05(b) below, approve and recommend such Superior Company Proposal and cause the Company to terminate this Agreement and concurrently (or substantially contemporaneously) enter into a definitive agreement providing for the implementation of such Superior Company Proposal.

(c) The Company promptly (but in no event later than 24 hours) shall advise Acquirer orally and in writing of any Company Takeover Proposal made to the Company or its Representatives, the Special Committee or a member thereof, or to a Representative of the Special Committee, the identity of the person making any such Company Takeover Proposal (including the parties in interest thereto, to the extent known to the Company or the Special

Committee) and the material terms of any such Company Takeover Proposal. The Company shall keep Acquirer informed of the status (including any change to the material terms) of any such Company Takeover Proposal or inquiry.

(d) Nothing contained in this Section 4.02 shall prohibit the Company from taking any action necessary to comply with Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) of the SEC or from making any disclosure to the Company’s stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Special Committee, after consultation with outside counsel, failure to so disclose would be inconsistent with its obligations under applicable Law, it being understood that if any such disclosure constitutes an Adverse Recommendation Change, Acquirer shall have the rights provided in the event of an Adverse Recommendation Change.

(e) The Company shall (i) immediately cease discussions or negotiations with any person conducted heretofore with respect to a Company Takeover Proposal and existing as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) take all steps necessary to ensure that any information that may be exchanged after the date hereof shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section 5.01 Preparation of SEC Documents. As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, (i) Acquirer shall provide the Company with all information with respect to the Acquirer Group as is reasonably necessary or advisable for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9, (ii) the Company shall provide Acquirer with all information with respect to the Company as is reasonably necessary or advisable for inclusion in the Offer Documents and (iii) each of the Company and Acquirer shall prepare and, after obtaining the approval of the other party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, file with the SEC the Schedule 14D-9 (in the case of the Company) or the Offer Documents (in the case of Acquirer). Without limiting the foregoing, each of the Company and Acquirer will take all reasonable steps necessary or advisable to enable the Offer Documents and Schedule 14D-9 to be filed with the SEC, as soon as practicable in accordance with Section 1.01 hereof.

Section 5.02 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Notification. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, unless, to the extent permitted by Section 4.02(b), the Company Board approves or recommends a Superior Company Proposal, each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Transactions, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, Consents and waivers from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain a Consent or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents or waivers from third parties under Contracts, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the

consummation of any of the Transactions, including seeking to have any stay, order or injunction entered by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed and (iv) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement. In connection with and without limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Company Board shall (x) take all action necessary to ensure that no state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to any Transaction or this Agreement and (y) if any state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation becomes applicable to any Transaction or this Agreement, take all action necessary to ensure that the Transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Representatives shall not be prohibited under this Section 5.02 from taking any action permitted by Section 4.02(b) or (d). Acquirer will use its reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company, at the Company’s reasonable request, in the performance of the Company’s obligations in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above.

(a) Each outstanding and unexercised option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock issued under any Company Stock Plan (collectively, the “Company Stock Options”), whether vested or unvested, as to which an option cancellation agreement (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Company and Acquirer) providing for the cancellation of such option hereunder has been delivered prior to the Share Acceptance, shall terminate and be canceled as of the Share Acceptance. In consideration for the cancellation thereof, each person who holds an exercisable Company Stock Option (including options which, by their terms, become exercisable as a result of the Transactions hereby) shall be entitled to receive, in consideration therefor, a cash payment promptly after the Share Acceptance (the “Cancellation Consideration”) equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price over the per share exercise price of such Company Stock Option, multiplied by (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock then subject to such Company Stock Option. Prior to the Share Acceptance, the Company and Acquirer shall cooperate in an effort to obtain an option cancellation agreement executed by each holder of a Company Stock Option in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Acquirer and to the Company. Acquirer shall provide to the Company the funds necessary to pay the Cancellation Consideration. Substantially concurrent with the payment of the Cancellation Consideration, the Company shall issue and sell to Acquirer, and Acquirer shall purchase, for a purchase price equal to the aggregate amount of all the Cancellation Consideration paid to all such holders, the number of Shares equal to (x) the aggregate amount of such Cancellation Consideration divided by (y) the Offer Price.

(b) As promptly as practicable following the Share Acceptance, but in no event later than five Business Days thereafter, Acquirer shall cause the Cancellation Consideration to be paid to each holder of Company Stock Options who has not previously exercised his or her Company Stock Options and who has executed and delivered an option cancellation agreement. Payment of the Cancellation Consideration shall be net of any required withholding taxes and no interest shall be paid or accrue thereon.

(c) Prior to the Share Acceptance, the Company Board shall adopt resolutions, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Acquirer, terminating, as of the Share Acceptance or an earlier date determined by the Company, the Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan in accordance with its terms.

Section 5.04 Competition Laws. Each of Acquirer and the Company will (i) make any filings required of such party under Competition Laws with respect to the Transactions as soon as reasonably practicable or as otherwise required after the date of this Agreement; (ii) comply at the earliest reasonably practicable date with any request under Competition Laws for information, documents or other materials received by such party from any Governmental Entity in respect of the Transactions; (iii) promptly notify the other of (A) the receipt of any comments on, or any request of amendments or supplements to, any such filings or information, documents, or other materials by any Governmental Entity or official, and (B) any other communications from or with any Governmental Entity with respect to the Transactions; and (iv) cooperate with the other party in connection with making any filing under Competition Laws and in connection with any filings, conferences or other submissions related to resolving any investigation or other inquiry by any such Governmental Entity under Competition Laws with respect to the Transactions, including (A) supplying the other with information which may be required to effectuate any such filings or applications, (B) keeping the other party apprised of the status of matters relating to the completion of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and working cooperatively in connection with obtaining any consents from any Governmental Entity, (C) not participating in any meeting with any Governmental Entity unless it consults with the other party in advance, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity, and (D) providing copies of all such documents and correspondence to the non-filing party and its advisors prior to filing and, if requested, to accept all reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested in connection therewith.

(a) From and after the Share Acceptance, Acquirer shall cause the Company to fulfill and honor in all respects the indemnification obligations of the Company pursuant to the Company Charter, the Company By-laws and any indemnification or similar agreement to which the Company is a party, each as in effect on the date hereof, with respect to each present and former Person who serves or served as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any Company Subsidiary at any time at or before the Share Acceptance (each, together with such Person’s heirs, executors or administrators, an “Indemnified Person”).

(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 5.05(a), from and after the Share Acceptance, the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company shall continue to contain provisions with respect to exculpation from liability, indemnification and advancement of expenses that are at least as favorable to the Indemnified Persons as those contained in the Company Charter and the Company By-laws as in effect on the date hereof, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Share Acceptance in any manner that would adversely affect the rights of the Indemnified Persons who, immediately prior to the Share Acceptance, were directors and officers of the Company, unless such modification is required by law.

(c) Prior to the Share Acceptance, the Company shall purchase a fully prepaid “tail” policy under the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy with American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”), or, if unavailable from AIG and the current excess carriers, another insurance provider or providers mutually acceptable to the Special Committee and Acquirer, such policy or policies to (i) provide for aggregate coverage of at least $15,000,000 at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000, (or, to the extent the cost for such aggregate coverage would exceed $1,000,000, aggregate coverage for the maximum amount available on substantially equivalent terms for $1,000,000), (ii) be effective for a period of six years commencing on the Share Acceptance, and (iii) otherwise be on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Special Committee (“Tail Coverage”). Until the sixth anniversary of the Share Acceptance, Acquirer shall cause the Company (i) to maintain the Tail Coverage in full force and effect, (ii) not to amend or otherwise modify the Tail Coverage or take any action that would result in the cancellation, termination, amendment or modification of the Tail Coverage, and (iii) to continue to honor its obligations under the Tail Coverage.

(d) If, following the Share Acceptance, the Company or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, then and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company or its assets assume (x) the indemnification obligations set forth in the Company Charter, the Company By-laws and any indemnification or similar agreement to which the Company is a party, each as in effect on the date hereof, with respect to each Indemnified Person; and (y) the obligations set forth in this Section 5.05.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before, at or after the Share Acceptance) is made against any Indemnified Person, the provisions of this Section 5.05 shall continue in effect until the final disposition of such claim, action, suit proceeding or investigation.

(f) This Section 5.05 shall continue in effect following the Share Acceptance. The Company shall reimburse all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred by any Person to enforce the Company’s obligations under this Section 5.05. This Section 5.05 is intended to be for the benefit of and to grant third party rights to Indemnified Persons, whether or not parties to this Agreement, and each of the Indemnified Persons shall be entitled to enforce the covenants contained herein. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur to the Indemnified Persons in the event that any of the provisions of this Section 5.05 were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each of the Indemnified Persons shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions (without the necessity of posting any bond or other security) to prevent breaches of this Section 5.05 and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Section 5.05 in any Illinois state court or any Federal court located in Chicago, Illinois, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

(g) The covenants contained in this Section 5.05 shall not be deemed exclusive of other rights to which an Indemnified Person is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, contract or otherwise.

(a) Except as otherwise provided below, all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Offer is consummated.

(b) In the event (A) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Sections 7.01(a)(i) or 7.01(b) and at or prior to such termination (1) Acquirer shall not have breached this Agreement in any material respect, (2) a Company Takeover Proposal shall have been publicly announced, commenced or otherwise become publicly known or any person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a Company Takeover Proposal, (3) such Company Takeover Proposal or intention has not been withdrawn and (4) within six (6) months following the termination of this Agreement, with respect to a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(b), a definitive agreement relating to a Company Takeover Proposal is executed by the Company, or with respect to a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(i), a Company Takeover Proposal is consummated, (B) Acquirer terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or (C) the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.05(b), then the Company shall pay Acquirer, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by Acquirer, an amount (the “Expense Reimbursement Fee”) equal to all out of pocket fees, costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of Acquirer’s counsel and accountants and the fees and expenses of Fleet Capital Corporation and its counsel, incurred by Acquirer (including such out of pocket fees, costs and expenses Acquirer has incurred for the benefit of, or has agreed to reimburse to, or advance for the account of, its members) in connection with (i) the amendment of the Company’s Loan and Security Agreement with Bank of America Business Capital (f/k/a Fleet Capital Corporation), (ii) the execution of this Agreement, and (iii) the Transactions (collectively, the “Acquirer Expenses”), provided that Acquirer has delivered to the Special Committee invoices and other supporting documentation with respect to such Acquirer Expenses, and provided, further, that the aggregate amount of such Acquirer Expenses reimbursable by the Company under this Section 5.06(b) shall be limited to $750,000. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a termination of this Agreement by Acquirer pursuant to Section 7.01(b), the Expense Reimbursement Fee shall not constitute liquidated damages, and the payment of the Expense Reimbursement Fee by the Company to Acquirer shall not relieve the Company of any liabilities or obligations to Acquirer resulting from or arising in connection with any willful and material breach by the Company of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Company set forth in this Agreement.

(c) In case of termination of this Agreement by (i) the Company pursuant to Section 7.05(b) or (ii) Acquirer pursuant to Section 7.01(c), the Expense Reimbursement Fee shall be paid by the Company prior to or simultaneous with the termination of the Agreement. In case of termination of this Agreement by the Company or Acquirer pursuant to Sections 7.01(a)(i), the Expense Reimbursement Fee, if applicable, shall be paid by the Company upon the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the applicable Company Takeover Proposal. In case of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(b), the Expense Reimbursement Fee, if applicable shall be paid by the Company upon the execution of a definitive agreement relating to a Company Takeover Proposal.

(d) Immediately preceding the Share Acceptance, and upon written certification to the Company from Acquirer that the Share Acceptance will occur immediately thereafter and confirmation from the Acquirer to the Company that all funds necessary to pay the Offer Price in respect of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer have been deposited with the depositary for the Offer, the Company shall pay Acquirer, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by Acquirer, an amount equal to the Acquirer Expenses, provided that Acquirer has delivered to the Special Committee invoices and other supporting documentation with respect to such Acquirer Expenses, and provided, further, that the aggregate amount of such Acquirer Expenses reimbursable by the Company under this Section 5.06(d) shall be limited to $1,500,000. In the event that this Agreement is terminated prior to the occurrence of the Share Acceptance, Acquirer shall repay to the Company, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by the Company, the amount of the Acquirer Expenses theretofore paid under this Section 5.06(d) as promptly as practicable and in any event within one business day.

The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 5.06 are an integral part of the Transactions, and that, without these agreements, Acquirer would not enter into this Agreement.

Section 5.07 Public Announcements. Acquirer and all other members of the Acquirer Group, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall consult with each other before issuing, and provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the Offer and the other Transactions and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by applicable Law, court process or obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. Further, Acquirer and all other members of the Acquirer Group, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall consult with each other before holding any press conferences, analyst calls or other meetings or discussions with respect to the Transactions.

Section 5.08 Transfer Taxes. All stock transfer, real estate transfer, documentary, stamp, recording and other similar Taxes (including interest, penalties and additions to any such Taxes) (“Transfer Taxes“) incurred in connection with the Transactions shall be paid by the Company, and the Company shall cooperate with Acquirer in preparing, executing and filing any returns with respect to such Transfer Taxes.

Section 5.09 Rights Agreement. Except as approved in writing by Acquirer or contemplated by this Agreement, prior to the Share Acceptance the Company Board shall not (i) amend the Company Rights Agreement, (ii) redeem the Company Rights or (iii) take any action with respect to, or make any determination under, the Company Rights Agreement, in each case, unless the Company Board determines in good faith, after compliance with applicable provisions of this Agreement and after consultation with outside counsel, that such action is necessary to do so to comply with its fiduciary duties.

Section 5.10 Delisting. If, following the Share Acceptance, the Company Common Stock is eligible, or required, to be delisted from the NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the applicable rules thereof, the Company and Acquirer acknowledge that such delisting shall be effected by the Company.

Section 5.11 Conveyance Taxes. Acquirer and the Company shall cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording, registration or other fees or any similar taxes which become payable in connection with the Transactions that are required or permitted to be filed on or before the Effective Time. All such taxes will be paid by the party bearing the legal responsibility for such payment.

Section 5.12 Acquirer. Prior to the Share Acceptance, Acquirer shall not conduct any business or make any investments other than as specifically contemplated by or in furtherance of this Agreement, or incur or guarantee any indebtedness other than as necessary for the consummation of the Transactions.

(a) Acquirer shall cause the Company, through 90 days after the Share Acceptance, to provide compensation and benefits to the employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (other than those employees terminated for cause) as of the Share Acceptance (“Company Employees”) that are, in the aggregate, no less favorable than those provided to Company Employees as of the Share Acceptance, to the extent, if any, to which such compensation and benefits are not provided during such 90-day period under any agreement referred to in Section 5.13(b) or under any Company Benefit Plan. Any former Company Employees who receive any compensation or benefits as of the Share Acceptance shall continue to receive such compensation and benefits for the lesser of such 90-day period and the period of time provided for under the Company’s relevant benefit plans as of the Share Acceptance. With respect to any compensation, severance, termination, benefit, welfare and similar plans or arrangements in which Company Employees first become eligible to participate on or after the Share Acceptance (the “New Company Plans”), Acquirer shall cause the Company, to the extent allowable by its third party providers, to: (i) waive all pre-existing conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to Company Employees under any health and welfare New Company Plans in which such Company Employee may be eligible to participate after the Share Acceptance, and deductibles, coinsurance or maximum out-of-pocket payments made by such Company Employee during the applicable plan year in which such Company Employee first participates in the applicable New Company Plan occurs shall reduce the amount of deductibles, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket payments under the New Company Plans, provided, that, for purposes of deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket payments, such Company Employee was enrolled under the Company Benefit Plans immediately prior to the effective time of coverage in the New Company Plans, and (ii) recognize service of Company Employees accrued prior to the Share Acceptance for purposes of eligibility to participate and vesting credit (and levels of benefits) in any New Company Plan in which such Company Employee may be eligible to participate after the Share Acceptance, to the extent such service would have been taken into account under the applicable Company Benefit Plans.

(b) From and after the Share Acceptance, Acquirer shall cause the Company to honor and assume, in accordance with their terms, all existing employment, change-of-control, retention, non-competition, non-solicitation and severance agreements between the Company or

any of its Subsidiaries and any Company Employee, to the extent the same have been identified in the Company Disclosure Letter, and all benefits or other amounts earned or accrued to the extent vested or which becomes vested in the ordinary course, through the Share Acceptance (including paying amounts payable at the Share Acceptance, as set forth in the Disclosure Letter, pursuant to the Company’s 1998 Executive Incentive Plan, Management Incentive Plan and Compensation Plan for Retirement, Profit Sharing/401(k) Plan dated December 5, 2001, as amended, as determined in accordance with the terms of each such plan), under the Company Benefit Plans identified in the Company Disclosure Letter.

(c) In the event of any termination of any Company Benefit Plan following the Share Acceptance, terminated Company or Surviving Corporation employees and their qualified beneficiaries will have the right to continued coverage under group health plans of the Company as required by Code Section 4980B(f) and ERISA Sections 601 through 609.

Section 5.14 Company Board Resolutions. Prior to the Share Acceptance, the Company Board shall adopt resolutions, each of which shall be contingent upon the Share Acceptance, as reasonably requested by Acquirer, in connection with (i) the approval of the appointment of the Board Designees as the new directors of the Company pursuant to Section 1.03 hereof, and (ii) the approval of the proposed amendment to the Company’s credit agreement with Fleet Capital Corporation implementing the commitment letter that Acquirer has furnished to the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

Section 5.15 Insurance. Effective upon the expiration of the Company’s existing directors and officers liability insurance policies, the Company shall purchase an extension of such policies (the “Policy Extension”) on substantially equivalent coverage terms for up to one additional year, for a premium not to exceed the amount set forth in Section 5.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided, however, that any of such premium applicable to coverage for the period subsequent to the Share Acceptance shall be credited, on a pro rata basis, by the insurers against the cost of the Tail Coverage (as set forth in Section 5.05(c)). The Policy Extension shall reflect this agreement for a pro rata credit. The aggregate of the premiums payable for the Policy Extension and the Tail Coverage, after application of the credit as above, shall not exceed $1,200,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the $1,200,000 cap shall not apply if the Share Acceptance occurs after March 31, 2005.

Section 5.16 Certain Transactions. During the period commencing on the Share Acceptance and ending on the first anniversary thereof, Acquirer shall not, directly or through any member of the Acquirer Group, and shall not cause, suffer or permit the Company to, engage in any transaction (whether by stock purchase, stock split, merger or otherwise) that results in any Shares held by any stockholder of the Company other than any member of the Acquirer Group or any Filing Group (or any successor security to such Shares resulting from any reclassification, recapitalization or other change in the capital stock of the Company) being converted into, or eliminated in exchange for, cash unless the amount of cash paid per Share (or successor security) in such transaction is at least $2.25 per Share (or equivalent as adjusted per successor security).

Section 6.01 Conditions to the Offer. Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer or this Agreement, Acquirer shall not be required to accept for payment, or subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to Acquirer’s obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares promptly after termination of withdrawal of the Offer), to pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer unless (i) there shall have been validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer such number of Shares that would constitute at least 80% of the Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Share Acceptance and are not held by any member of a Filing Group (determined on a primary basis, without giving effect to the exercise or conversion of any then-outstanding options, warrants, or other rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exercisable for, Shares) (the “Minimum Tender Condition”) and (ii) the waiting period (and any extension thereof) under any Competition Law applicable to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer shall have expired or been terminated. Furthermore, notwithstanding any other term of the Offer or this Agreement, Acquirer shall not be required to accept for payment or to pay for any Shares not theretofore accepted for payment or paid for if, at any time on or after the date of this Agreement and before the acceptance of such Shares for payment or the payment therefore, any of the following conditions exist:

(a) Injunctions or Restraints. Any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or Law preventing the consummation of the Offer, or preventing Acquirer from owning the shares of the Surviving Corporation or from operating any material part of the business of the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall be in effect; provided, however, that prior to asserting this condition, the applicable party shall have used its reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of any such injunction or other order and to appeal as promptly as possible any such injunction or other order that may be entered.

(b) Governmental Restriction. There shall be any pending or threatened suit, action or proceeding asserted by any Governmental Entity challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation any of the Transaction.

(c) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement shall not be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties contain “Material Adverse Effect” or other materiality qualifications, to which extent such representations and warranties shall not be true and correct in all respects), as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Share Acceptance, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case on and as of such earlier date; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the representation and warranty in Section 2.11 to the extent that such representation and warranty has become untrue or incorrect by reason of a claim referred to in the proviso to Section 6.01(f)).

(d) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall not have performed in all material respects any obligation and complied in all material respects with any

agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement prior to or at the time of the Share Acceptance.

(e) Company Certificate. The Company shall not have furnished a certificate, signed by an authorized officer, certifying compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01(c) and (d) if such certificate was requested in writing by Acquirer prior to the Share Acceptance.

(f) Litigation. There shall be any pending suit, action or proceeding that advances non-frivolous claims against Acquirer, the Company or any Company Subsidiary that seeks any equitable relief which, if successful, would prevent (i) the consummation of the Offer, (ii) Acquirer from owning shares of the Company Common Stock or (iii) Acquirer from operating any material part of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any claim to the extent such claim (x) is made by, and in the capacity of, and relating to the alleged rights of, a holder of the securities issued under the Indenture dated as of May 14, 1998 among the Company and the other parties thereto, and (y) is based upon the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and/or the consummation or proposed consummation of any Transaction.

(g) Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall have occurred and be continuing a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Consents and Approvals. Any consent or approval required to be obtained, made or given in connection with the Offer and the other Transactions, and as listed on Schedule 6.01(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, shall not have been obtained, made or given in a form reasonably satisfactory to Acquirer or shall not be in full force and effect.

(i) Directors of the Company. Acquirer shall not have received written resignations from all of the incumbent members of the Company Board of the Company or the Board Designees shall not have been duly appointed to the Company Board, subject only to the occurrence of the Share Acceptance.

(j) Company Board Resolutions. The Company Board shall not have approved the resolutions required by Section 5.03(c) and 5.14.

(k) Payment of Acquirer Expenses. The Company shall not have made the payment provided for in Section 5.06(d).

Section 6.02 Frustration of Offer Conditions. Acquirer may not rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.01 to be satisfied if such failure was caused primarily by the failure of Acquirer or any other member of the Acquirer Group to use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Offer.

Section 6.03 Waiver of Offer Conditions. The conditions set forth in Section 6.01 are for the sole benefit of Acquirer and may be asserted by Acquirer, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in the discretion of Acquirer. The failure of Acquirer at any time to exercise its rights under any of the foregoing conditions shall not be deemed a waiver of any such rights and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be amended at any

time or from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Acquirer shall not waive the Minimum Tender Condition without the prior written consent of the Company, authorized by the Special Committee where the effect of such waiver would be to entitle Acquirer to accept for payment pursuant to the Offer a number of Shares that would result in Acquirer beneficially owning (including Shares held by any member of a Filing Group) less than 70% of the outstanding Shares (determined on a fully diluted basis, giving effect to the exercise or conversion of any then-outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exercisable for, Shares).

Section 7.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Share Acceptance:

(i) if the Share Acceptance does not occur on or before March 31, 2005 (the “Outside Date”), unless its failure to so occur is the result of a material breach of this Agreement by the party seeking to terminate this Agreement; or

(ii) if any Governmental Entity issues an order or injunction or takes any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer and such order, injunction or other action shall have become final and nonappealable, unless such order, injunction or other action is the result of a material breach of this Agreement by the party seeking to terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that prior to seeking to terminate, such party shall have used its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent such order, injunction or other action and to appeal as promptly as practicable any such order, injunction or other action.

(b) by Acquirer if the Company breaches or fails to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.01, and (ii) cannot be or has not been cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice to the Company of such breach;

(c) by Acquirer if (i) the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their Representatives fail to comply in any material respect with Section 4.02, or (ii) there shall have occurred a Company Triggering Event;

(d) by the Company (i) if Acquirer breaches or fails to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform cannot be or has not been cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice to Acquirer of such breach; or (ii) in accordance with Section 7.05(b); provided, however, that the Company shall have complied with all provisions thereof.

Section 7.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the Company or Acquirer as provided in Section 7.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of Acquirer or the Company, other than the provisions of Section 2.08, Section 3.06, Section 5.05, Section 5.06, this Section 7.02, Section 7.05 and Article VIII, which provisions shall survive such termination, and except to the extent that such termination results from the willful and material breach by a party of any representation, warranty or covenant set forth in this Agreement.

Section 7.03 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

Section 7.04 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Share Acceptance, the parties hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) except as set forth in Section 6.03 with respect to the Minimum Tender Condition, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. Any failure or delay by any party hereto to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

(a) A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01, an amendment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.03 or an extension or waiver pursuant to Section 7.04 shall, in order to be effective, require in the case of the Company, action by its Board of Directors or the duly authorized designee of its Board of Directors (including the Special Committee).

(b) Prior to the Share Acceptance and so long as the Company is in compliance with Section 4.02, the Company may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(d)(ii) if (i) the Company Board has received a Company Takeover Proposal, (ii) the Special Committee shall have determined in good faith that such Company Takeover Proposal constitutes a Superior Company Proposal, (iii) at least three (3) business days prior to such termination, the Company notifies Acquirer in writing of the determination described in clause (ii) above, which notice shall describe all material terms of such Company Takeover Proposal in accordance with Section 4.02(c) hereof; (iv) Acquirer shall not have made, within three (3) business days of receipt of such notice referred to in clause (iii) above, a binding written offer to acquire the Company that causes the Special Committee to no longer be able to determine in good faith that such Superior Company Proposal remains a Superior Company Proposal, and (v) the Company concurrently (or substantially contemporaneously), enters into a definitive agreement providing for the implementation of such Superior Company Proposal.

Section 8.01 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Share Acceptance. This Section 8.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties hereto which by its terms contemplates performance after the Share Acceptance.

Section 8.02 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications given or made under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (i) as of the date delivered if delivered personally or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or (ii) on the date confirmation of receipt (or, the first business day following such receipt if the date is not a business day) of transmission by facsimile (with a confirming copy of such communication to be sent as provided in clause (i)), and, in each case to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile number (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice, except that notices of changes of address shall be effective upon receipt):

(a) “Acquirer Group” shall mean Acquirer, any direct or indirect equity holder of Acquirer, including EGI-Fund (02-04) Investors, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, any direct or indirect subsidiary of Acquirer, Equity Group Investments, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, Joseph Gantz, and Walnut Investment Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Triyar Capital, LLC and Triyar Storage Investment Company, LLC, Delaware limited liability companies.

(b) “Acquirer Material Adverse Effect” means any state of facts, change, development, effect, condition or occurrence that materially impairs the ability of Acquirer to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the Transactions.

(c) An “affiliate” of any person means another person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first person. For the purposes of this Agreement, (i) no member of the Acquirer Group is an affiliate of the Company and (ii) the Company is not an affiliate of any member of the Acquirer Group.

(d) “Company Benefit Plan” means any collective bargaining agreement or any bonus, “employee pension benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)), “employee welfare benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock, retirement, vacation, severance, disability, death benefit, hospitalization, medical or other plan, arrangement or understanding providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

(e) “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any state of facts, change, development, effect, condition or occurrence that is material and adverse to the business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or that materially impairs the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed in themselves, either alone or in combination, to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Company Material Adverse Effect: any change or effect that results from (A) conditions affecting the consumer housewares manufacturing industry generally, (B) any change in the trading price or volume of Company Common Stock, in and of itself, or (C) the

announcement or pendency of this Agreement or the Offer, including any stockholder class action litigation arising from allegations of breach of fiduciary duty relating to the Agreement or any litigation covered by the proviso to Section 6.01(f). The parties hereby agree that an increase in the price of resin (as set forth in The Plastics News trade publication) used by the Company in its business by less than 12.5% from the date of this Agreement shall not, in and of itself, constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(f) “Company Stock Plan” means the Company’s (i) 1994 Stock Option Plan, (ii) 1991 Stock Option Plan, (iii) 1987 Stock Option Plan, (iv) 1999 Performance Incentive Plan and (vi) 1999 Director’s Restricted Stock Plan, and any other stock option plan of the Company or any Company Subsidiary which issued options to purchase shares of the Company to officers, employees or directors of the Company, in each case as amended through the date of this Agreement.

(g) “Company Takeover Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from a third party relating to, or that is reasonably likely to lead to, any direct or indirect acquisition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including any merger, consolidation, tender offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture or similar transaction, of (i) 25% or more of the assets, properties or business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (ii) 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(h) “Company Triggering Event” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) an Adverse Recommendation Change by the Company Board; (ii) the Company shall have failed to include in the Schedule 14D-9 a statement recommending that holders of Company Common Stock accept the Offer and tender their Shares thereunder; (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have approved, endorsed or recommended any Company Takeover Proposal; (iv) any member of the Company Board directly or indirectly publicly recommends, endorses or supports any Company Takeover Proposal or publicly advises against or publicly recommends or encourages other Company shareholders to not accept the Offer; (v) a tender or exchange offer (other than the Offer) relating to securities of the Company shall have been commenced and the Company shall not have sent to its securityholders, within 10 business days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a statement disclosing that the Company Board recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer; (vi) a Company Takeover Proposal is publicly announced, and the Company fails to issue a press release announcing its opposition to such Company Takeover Proposal within 10 business days after such Company Takeover Proposal is announced; (vii) the Company enters into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement (excluding any nondisclosure agreement) constituting or directly related to, or which is intended to or is reasonably likely to lead to, any Company Takeover Proposal; (viii) the Company fails to publicly confirm its approval or recommendation of this Agreement and the acceptance of the Offer by the holders of Company Common Stock within ten (10) business days after receipt of request from Acquirer after a Company Takeover Proposal is publicly announced by the Company; (ix) if, pursuant to Section 5.09 and without the written approval of Acquirer, the Company Board amends the Company Rights Agreement, redeems the Company Rights or takes

any action with respect to, or makes any determination under, the Company Rights Agreement to comply with its fiduciary duties and, as a result of such amendment, redemption, action or determination, any person other than any member of the Acquirer Group or any of its affiliates is permitted to become an Acquiring Person (as currently defined in the Company Rights Agreement).

(i) “Competition Laws” means statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial doctrines, and other Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization, lessening of competition or restraint of trade, and includes the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and, to the extent applicable, equivalent Laws of the European Union or the Member States thereof, Canada and any other country in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has operations or derives revenue.

(j) “Permitted Lien” means (i) Liens as reflected on the Company’s June 26, 2004 balance sheet, including the notes thereto, included in the Company Financial Statements, (ii) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, or, if due (A) not delinquent, or (B) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings during which collection or enforcement is stayed (iii) statutory Liens securing payments not yet due, including carriers’, warehouseman’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar Liens, (iv) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, (v) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business, (vi) title retention or security interests under conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vii) Liens relating to purchase money obligations, and (viii) Liens, if any, as, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect or Acquirer Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.

(k) A “person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, Governmental Entity or other entity.

(l) A “Representative” of any person means any officer, director or employee of, or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of, such person.

(m) A “subsidiary” of any person means another person, an amount of the voting securities or other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first person.

(n) “Superior Company Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from a third party relating to, or that is reasonably likely to lead to, any direct or indirect acquisition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, including any merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture or similar transaction, of (i) all or substantially all of the assets, properties and business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) 50% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock or capital stock of,

or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, that the Special Committee determines in good faith, after receipt of advice from the Company’s independent financial advisors, is more favorable to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view than the Offer (or if applicable, any proposal by Acquirer to amend the terms of this Agreement), taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such proposal, the likelihood of completion of such transaction, and all financial, regulatory, legal and other aspects of such proposal.

(o) “Taxes” includes all forms of taxation imposed by any domestic or foreign (whether national, federal, state, provincial, local, or otherwise) Governmental Entity, including income, franchise, property, sales, use, excise, employment, unemployment, payroll, social security, estimated, value added, ad valorem, transfer, recapture, withholding and other taxes of any kind, including all interest, penalties and additions thereto.

(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “date hereof” shall refer to the date of this Agreement. The term “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. Any agreement or instrument defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement or instrument as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. References to a person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.

(b) The Company may update or amend the Company Disclosure Letter prior to the Share Acceptance; provided however, if any such update or amendment discloses a breach or default under this Agreement which results in Section 6.01 not being satisfied, Acquirer may terminate this Agreement as permitted by Section 7.01(b).

Section 8.05 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced as a result of any applicable Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the Transactions are fulfilled to the extent possible.

Section 8.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other parties. Each party hereto need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or contemplated hereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine, shall be treated in all manner and respects and for all purposes as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine as a defense to the formation or enforceability of this Agreement or any such agreement or instrument, and each such party forever waives any such defense.

Section 8.07 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, taken together with the Company Disclosure Letter, (a) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the Transactions and (b) except for the provisions of Section 5.05 (which are intended to be for the benefit of the persons covered thereby and may be enforced by such persons only following the consummation of the Offer), are not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies.

Section 8.08 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

Section 8.09 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

(a) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any Illinois state court or any Federal court located in Chicago, Illinois, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Illinois state court or any Federal court located in Chicago, Illinois for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceedings arising out of this Agreement or any Transaction (and each party agrees that no such suit, action or proceeding arising out of to this

Agreement or any Transaction shall be brought by it or any of its affiliates except in such courts). Each party hereto further agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding in Illinois with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 8.10. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives (and agrees not to plead or claim) any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any Transaction in any Illinois State court or any Federal court located in Chicago, Illinois, or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(b) Each party hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or any Transaction. Each party hereto, (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such party would not, in the event of any suit, action or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 8.10(b).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Acquirer and the Company have duly executed this Acquisition Agreement as of the date first written above.


Storage Acquisition Company, L.L.C.

By:		/s/ Ellen Havdala
Name:		Ellen Havdala
Title:		Vice President

Home Products International, Inc.

By:		/s/ James E. Winslow
Name:		James E. Winslow
Title:		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Acquirer		Preamble
Acquirer Expenses		Section 5.6
Acquirer Group		8.03
Acquirer Material Adverse Effect		8.03
Adverse Recommendation Change		Section 4.02
Affiliate		Section 8.03
Agreement		Preamble
Benefit Plans		Section 2.14
Board Authorizing Agreements		Section 3.08
Board Composition Agreement		Section 3.08
Board Designees		Section 1.03
Cancellation Consideration		Section 5.03
Company		Preamble
Company Benefit Plan		Section 8.03
Company Board		Preamble
Company By-laws		Section 2.01
Company Capital Stock		Section 2.03
Company Charter		Section 2.01
Company Common Stock		Preamble
Company Disclosure Letter		Section 2.01
Company Employees		Section 5.14
Company Financial Statements		Section 2.06
Company Material Adverse Effect		Section 8.03
Company Preferred Stock		Section 2.03
Company Rights		Section 2.03
Company Rights Agreement		Section 2.03
Company SEC Documents		Section 2.06
Company Stock Options		Section 2.03
Company Stock Plan		Section 8.03
Company Subsidiaries		Section 2.01
Company Takeover Proposal		Section 8.03
Company Triggering Event		Section 8.03
Competition Laws		Section 8.03
Consent		Section 2.05
Contracts		Section 2.05
Controlled Group Member		Section 2.14
DGCL		Section 2.03
Distribution Date		Section 2.05
ERISA		Section 8.03
ERISA Benefit Plans		Section 2.14
Employee Welfare Benefit Plans		Section 8.03
Exchange Act		Section 1.01
Expense Reimbursement Fee		Section 5.06
Expiration Date		Section 1.01


Filing Group		Section 1.01
GAAP		Section 2.06
Governmental Entity		Section 2.05
HSR Act		Section 8.03
Indemnified Person		Section 5.05
Indenture		Section 5.06
Judgment		Section 2.05
Law		Section 2.05
Liens		Section 2.02
Material Contracts		Section 2.16
Minimum Tender Condition		Section 6.01
Offer		Section 1.01
Offer Documents		Section 1.01
Offer to Purchase		Section 1.01
Offer Price		Section 1.01
New Company Plans		Section 5.14
Non-ERISA Benefit Plans		Section 2.14
Outside Date		Section 7.01
Permit		Section 2.12
Permitted Lien		Section 8.03
Person		Section 8.03
Policy Extension		Section 5.16
Proxy		Section 3.08
Representative		Section 8.03
Schedule 14D-9		Section 1.02
Schedule TO		Section 1.01
SEC		Section 1.01
Securities Act		Section 2.06
Share Acceptance		Section 1.03
Shares		Preamble
Special Committee		Preamble
Subject Party		Section 3.08
Subsidiary		Section 8.03
Superior Company Proposal		Section 8.03
Tail Coverage		Section 5.05
Taxes		Section 8.03
Transactions		Section 2.04
Transfer Taxes		Section 5.08
Voting Agreement		Section 3.08
Voting Company Debt		Section 2.03


		Page
ARTICLE I TENDER OFFER		1
Section 1.01	The Offer	1
Section 1.02	Company Actions	3
Section 1.03	Directors	4
ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY		4
Section 2.01	Organization, Standing and Power	4
Section 2.02	Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests	5
Section 2.03	Capital Structure	5
Section 2.04	Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability	6
Section 2.05	No Conflicts; Consents	7
Section 2.06	SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities	8
Section 2.07	Information Supplied	9
Section 2.08	Brokers	10
Section 2.09	Opinion of Financial Advisor	10
Section 2.10	Absence of Certain Changes or Events	10
Section 2.11	Absence of Litigation; Investigations	10
Section 2.12	Permits; Compliance with Applicable Laws	10
Section 2.13	Labor Matters	11
Section 2.14	Employee Benefit Matters	11
Section 2.15	Environmental Matters	12
Section 2.16	Contracts; No Defaults	14
Section 2.17	Insurance	15
Section 2.18	No Restrictions on Business	15
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIRER		15
Section 3.01	Organization, Standing and Power	15
Section 3.02	Acquirer	16
Section 3.03	Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability	16
Section 3.04	No Conflicts; Consents	16
Section 3.05	Information Supplied	16
Section 3.06	Brokers	17
Section 3.07	Financing	17
Section 3.08	Board Authorizing Agreements	17
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS		18
Section 4.01	Conduct of Business by the Company	18
Section 4.02	Company Takeover Proposals	20
ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS		22
Section 5.01	Preparation of SEC Documents	22
Section 5.02	Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Notification	22
Section 5.03	Stock Options Employee Stock Purchase Plan	23
Section 5.04	Competition Laws	24
Section 5.05	Indemnification	24
Section 5.06	Fees and Expenses	26
Section 5.07	Public Announcements	27