-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WYMmM6G9fP9KzJeSQlstmR5vKKHGCiJ3TESFGORBm6yrlfcQfcZrQBOyFsoeAgQL aCihkBKeJJnNpMIx2fm5yg== 0000914760-97-000116.txt : 19970630 0000914760-97-000116.hdr.sgml : 19970630 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000914760-97-000116 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19970617 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19970627 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KTI INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000931581 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COGENERATION SERVICES & SMALL POWER PRODUCERS [4991] IRS NUMBER: 222665282 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-25490 FILM NUMBER: 97631200 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 7000 BLVD E CITY: GUTTENBERG STATE: NJ ZIP: 07093 BUSINESS PHONE: 2018547777 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 7000 BOULEVARD EAST CITY: GUTTENBERG STATE: NJ ZIP: 07093 8-K 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 19, 1997 KTI, INC. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in Charter) New Jersey 33-85234 22-2665282 (State or other juris- (Commission (IRS Employer diction of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 7000 Boulevard East, Guttenberg, New Jersey 07093 (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code) (Registrant's telephone number including area code) (201) 854-7777 Not Applicable (Former name and former address, as changed since last report) ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On April 21, 1997, KTI Recycling, Inc. ("Recycling"), a wholly owned subsidiary of KTI, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), executed a term sheet with Prins Recycling Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively "Prins"). Prins is currently operating as debtors in possession in bankruptcy reorganization proceedings under Title 11 of the U.S. Code that are pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Prins currently operates three recycling facilities in Franklin Park, Illinois (the "Franklin Park Facility"), Charlestown, Massachusetts (the "Boston Facility") and Newark, New Jersey (the "Newark Facility") (collectively, "All Facilities"). Pursuant to negotiations with the Committee for Unsecured Creditors (the "Committee") in the Prins bankruptcy proceedings, the term sheet was modified on May 22, 1997. The term sheet, as modified, contains the following principal features: A. Recycling will purchase all of the assets of Prins, other than certain assets specifically excluded by Recycling, for cash and notes in the amount of $13.1 million and the assumption of $500,000 in trade payables. The notes will be accepted by PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC"), Prins' principal secured creditor at par. In the event that any assets of Prins, other than inventory, are sold after April 21, 1997, but before the closing date, such sales, if accepted by Recycling, will reduce the purchase price dollar for dollar. Recycling's purchase will be effected pursuant to a plan of reorganization. B. Recycling has the right to ask Prins to accept or reject any contract of Prins, currently in effect, subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court. C. The Company will contribute $1 million in working capital to Recycling. D. If the sale of All Facilities to Recycling is not completed for any reason, the Bankruptcy Court will hold a hearing to authorize the sale of the Franklin Park Facility to Recycling for $2 million net to Prins, subject to higher and better offers. The Company has given a letter of credit to PNC for $1 million to secure this obligation and has promised to deliver a note for $1 million, supported by a guaranty by the Company. E. If any of the facilities of Prins, other than the Franklin Park Facility, are sold to a third party purchaser, Recycling will be entitled to a breakup fee payable from the proceeds of such sale equal to the lesser of $250,000 or 150% of Recycling's out of pocket costs. Recycling's right to receive such fee is contingent upon Recycling executing a definitive agreement to purchase such assets, subject only to Bankruptcy Court approval, due diligence with respect to environmental matters, certain representations, warranties and covenants and no material adverse changes that would frustrate the essential purpose of the Company in purchasing the Prins assets. F. Prins must agree not to solicit any offers to purchase the facilities from any third party, but may respond to inquiries. Prins has requested the Bankruptcy Court to provide that any higher offer, other than an offer for only the Franklin Park Facility, must exceed Recycling's offer by not less than $300,000. G. The Bankruptcy Court must approve an Operations and Maintenance Agreement (the "Management Agreement") in the form executed by Prins and KTI Operations, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company on April 21, 1997. H. Recycling has until 45 days after the entry of a court order approving the breakup fee, the topping amount and the backup sale of the Franklin Park Facility to complete due diligence with respect to environmental matters. On April 21, 1997, Recycling entered into an agreement with PNC (the "PNC Agreement"). Pursuant to negotiations with the Committee, said agreement was modified. The agreement, as modified on May 22, 1997, has the following principal provisions: A. PNC agreed to advance additional funds of approximately $1 million to Prins, increasing the total debt of Prins to PNC up to a maximum of $9.5 million. The Company has agreed to guarantee up to 40% of such additional advances, subject to a maximum guaranty of $400,000. B. Recycling agreed to purchase the Franklin Park Facility of Prins for a purchase price of $2 million, with no prorations, if such facility is not sold to a third party prior to July 31, 1997, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval. Recycling's obligation to purchase the Franklin Park Facility is secured by a $1 million letter of credit arranged by the Company. C. In the event that Recycling purchases all of the assets of Prins, or the Franklin Park Facility, PNC has agreed to accept a portion of such purchase price in the form of notes with maturities of four to thirty months. D. The Company has agreed to issue a warrant to PNC to purchase 30,000 shares of its Common Stock at an exercise price of $8.50 per share. The warrant will expire on April 30, 2002. The shares of Common Stock covered by the warrant are subject to a Registration Rights Agreement which requires the Company to register such shares. E. If PNC receives payment in full of its loans to Prins, less only such discount as PNC voluntarily accepts, the Company will receive a management fee of $500,000 at the time of such repayment. On May 22, 1997, the Company, Prins, PNC and the Committee modified the term sheet and the PNC Agreement by reading certain modifications into the record of the hearing held with respect to the aforementioned motions. The record of the hearing contained the following additional terms: A. Prins shall give notice to parties who have expressed an interest in the Prins facilities within ten days of the entry by the Bankruptcy Court of the District of New Jersey of an order approving the breakup fee, the topping provision, the no solicitation provision, the backup sale provision with respect to the Franklin Park Facility and the Management Agreement (the "Approval Order"); B. Any third party wishing to buy one or both of the Boston Facility or the Newark Facility must submit a written bid on or before 5:00 EDT on July 7, 1997 (an "Alternate Bid"); C. If an Alternate Bid is submitted in a timely fashion, a hearing will be held in the Bankruptcy Court on July 10, 1997. If an Alternate Bid is accepted, such third party bidder must immediately execute a form Asset Purchase Agreement and make a down payment of $1 million by certified check or deposit of a letter of credit from a bank, previous approved by Prins, PNC and the Committee. D. Any third party wishing to buy only the Franklin Park Facility must submit a written bid at least ten days in advance of any scheduled hearing for such sale. A hearing on the sale of the Franklin Park Facility would be held on the later of September 16, 1997 at 10:00 A.M. or following a decision of the Bankruptcy Court to deny confirmation of the plan of reorganization pursuant to which all facilities are to be sold to Recycling. A successful offeror for the Franklin Park Facility must execute the form Asset Purchase Agreement and deposit a down payment equal to $1 million in cash or cash equivalent and close the sale within five business days. E. For Plan purposes, PNC is an impaired creditor. On June 19, 1997, the Bankruptcy Court of the District of New Jersey entered the Approval Order. On June 24, 1997, Prins and Recycling delivered the definitive Asset Purchase Agreement relating to the purchase of the assets of Prins. ITEM 7. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description 4.1 Term sheet (Purchase of assets of Prins Recycling Corp. And subsidiaries) 4.2 Agreement, dated as of April 21, 1997 between KTI Recycling, Inc. and its subsidiaries and PNC Bank 4.3 Operations and Maintenance Agreement, dated as of April 21, 1997, by and between Prins Recycling Corp. and its subsidiaries and KTI Operations, Inc. 4.4 Order of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey dated June 19, 1997. 4.5 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1997, between Prins Recycling Corp. and its subsidiaries and KTI Recycling, Inc. and its subsidiaries. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. KTI, INC. (the Registrant) Dated: June 25, 1997 By: /s/ Martin J. Sergi Name: Martin J. Sergi Title: President EX-4.1 2 EXHIBIT 4.1 TERM SHEET (PURCHASE OF ASSETS OF PRINS RECYCLING CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES) 1. Buyer. KTI Recycling, Inc. (the "Buyer") is a Delaware corporation that will acquire, own and operate certain assets to be purchased from Prins Recycling Corp. and from such subsidiaries of Prins Recycling Corp. (collectively, the "Seller") as may own any of such assets. KTI, Inc., a NASDAQ National Market listed corporation ("KTI"), owns the Buyer. The term "Buyer" shall include subsidiaries of KTI Recycling, Inc. that will own and operate the purchased assets. The Buyer has organized three (3) new subsidiaries that will own the assets and assume certain liabilities of each of the Facilities (as hereinafter defined). 2. Assets to Be Purchased. All waste processing and recycling facilities and related assets, tangible and intangible (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights and accounts receivable, employee notes, security deposits and other rights to payment (exclusive of claims of the bankruptcy estates of the Seller based on preference claims or voidable transfer claims under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code), owned and operated by Seller in Boston, Massachusetts (the "Boston Facility"), Franklin Park, Illinois (the "Chicago Facility") and Newark, New Jersey (the "Newark Facility") and any and all office furniture, office decorations, office equipment and supplies, wherever located or stored (collectively, the "Facilities") excluding such assets as may be specified herein or as otherwise specified in definitive documentation governing the purchase contemplated hereby executed by the Seller and the Buyer. The purchase proposed hereby shall be consummated in connection with and pursuant to a confirmed plan of reorganization (the "Plan") of the Seller and the purchase price shall be allocated to creditors thereunder. The allocation of the consideration described herein shall not be construed to be, and is not, an offer to assume the obligations to which such allocations are to be made, unless expressly assumed by the Buyer in definitive documentation governing the purchase contemplated hereby executed by the Seller and the Buyer. The purchase price shall be paid no sooner than the closing of the purchase. 3. Consideration to Creditors under Plan of Reorganization. The net purchase price to be paid by the Buyer for the purchase of the Facilities will equal: (i) $9,500,000 in cash and promissory notes payable to PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC"); (ii) $3,600,000 cash payable to the Seller, and (iii) assumption of certain post-petition trade payables of the Seller in an amount not to exceed $500,000. For purposes of this Term Sheet, the term "Total Purchase Price" shall mean $13,600,000. The various allocations and manner of payment are more particularly described below. (a) Claim of PNC. The secured claim of PNC shall be satisfied as follows: (i) Cash in the amount of $2,000,000 shall be paid by the Buyer to PNC on the closing date of acquisition of the Facilities. The foregoing assumes an increase in the amount owed to PNC by the Seller from the approximate amount of $8,500,000 that was outstanding on March 13, 1997 to $9,500,000. The cash payment specified herein shall be reduced on the closing date of the acquisition by an amount equal to the difference between (x) $1,000,000 and (y) the lesser of $1,000,000 and the actual amount owed to PNC at closing of the purchase in excess of $8,500,000 (the "PNC Reduction Amount"). For the avoidance of doubt, the actual amount owed to PNC includes interest accrued at a rate of interest equal to prime plus 3.5 percent and all other amounts PNC is entitled to charge under the relevant credit documents. The increase from $8,500,000 to $9,500,000 is conditioned, among other things, on such additional amounts being advanced to the Seller and used to pay administrative obligations of the Seller (including cure amounts under assumed executory contracts). (ii) A promissory note in the principal amount equal to the greater of $2,000,000 and a principal amount equal to 75% of Eligible Accounts Receivable (as such term is defined under the existing PNC loan documents) having an age of 90 days or less as of the closing date shall be executed and delivered by the Buyer to PNC. This note shall bear interest at a per annum rate that is equal to the prime rate of PNC plus 1/4%, which interest shall be payable monthly and at maturity. Principal shall be payable in full on the date that is six (6) months after the closing. The note shall be secured in part by a first priority security interest in all accounts receivable purchased by the Buyer, other than the accounts receivable of the Chicago Facility. (iii) A promissory note in the principal amount of $2,700,000, dated the closing date, shall be executed and delivered by the Buyer to PNC. This note shall bear interest at a per annum rate that is at the then prevailing commercial mortgage rate of PNC, which interest shall be payable monthly and at maturity. Principal shall be payable in full on the date that is one hundred twenty (120) days after the closing. The note shall be secured in part by a first priority security interest in the Chicago Facility (including its accounts receivable) and an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to PNC in the face amount of $1 million, and KTI shall guarantee an additional $1 million of the principal amount thereof. (iv) A promissory note for the balance of the Total Purchase Price, not to exceed the principal amount of $2,800,000, dated the date of closing, shall be executed and delivered by the Buyer to PNC. This note shall bear interest at a rate that is equal to the prime rate of PNC plus one percent per annum, which interest shall be payable monthly and on maturity. Principal shall be payable in full on the date that is thirty (30) months after the date of closing and prior to such date shall be payable in the following percentages of the original principal amount of this note during the months set forth below. Principal Months After Percentage Effective Date 4% each month Thirteen to Twenty-fourth inclusive 5% Twenty-fifth to Twenty-ninth inclusive 27% Maturity This note shall be secured in part by a first priority security interest in all assets of the Newark Facility and the Boston Facility, exclusive of accounts receivable, and shall have a maximum guarantee of $700,000 from KTI, Inc. The amount of such guarantee shall decline in an amount equal to 25% of any principal payments made on this note. (v) It is the intention of the Buyer that, in connection with purchase by the Buyer of the Facilities, PNC shall receive payment of its loans in full, including accrued and unpaid interest, but no more than such sum. (vi) The promissory notes referred to in Subsections 3(a)(ii), 3(a)(iii) and 3(a)(iv) shall each be cross-collateralized by collateral referred to in the other subsections and secured by a first priority pledge of the stock of the Buyer's subsidiaries that own the Facilities. Upon the payment in full of the promissory note referred to in Subsection 3(ii), the collateral referred to in such Subsection shall be released. Upon the payment in full of the promissory note referred to in Subsection 3(iii), the collateral referred to in such Subsection shall be released. If the promissory note referred to in Subsection 3(a)(iv) is paid in full, the collateral referred to in such Subsection shall be released. (vii) As provided by the terms of a separate letter agreement with PNC, if the Buyer does not purchase the Facilities for any reason, the Buyer shall (and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to) immediately purchase the Chicago Facility in an amount sufficient to result in net proceeds payable to PNC equal to $2 million. This obligation of the Buyer shall be secured by an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to PNC in the face amount of $1 million. If the Buyer shall be required to purchase the Chicago Facility as contemplated hereby, PNC may immediately draw upon the letter of credit and shall deposit the proceeds thereof in an interest bearing escrow account at PNC. Upon conveyance of the Chicago Facility to the Buyer, the purchase price shall be paid to PNC by payment to PNC of the proceeds of such escrow account and the balance shall be payable by the Buyer to PNC on the date that is six (6) months after the date of such conveyance. The obligation of the Buyer to pay the balance of the purchase price for the Chicago Facility shall be evidenced by a promissory note, dated the closing date, executed and delivered by the Buyer to PNC. The note shall bear interest at a per annum rate that is at the then prevailing commercial mortgage rate of PNC, which interest shall be payable monthly and at maturity. The note shall be secured by a first priority security interest in the assets of the Chicago Facility and guaranteed by KTI. (b) Allowed Administrative and "Cure" Claims. The sum of $3,600,000 in cash, plus the PNC Reduction Amount (if any), shall be provided by the Buyer to the Seller to pay (i) allowed administrative and priority claims against the Seller, other than post petition trade payables, (ii) amounts necessary to cure defaults under contracts to be assumed by the Seller and assigned to the Buyer and (iii) post-petition trade payables to the extent such trade payables exceed $500,000. (c) Claims of Unsecured Creditors. Upon confirmation of the Seller's Plan of Reorganization, the class of unsecured creditors shall receive a cash payment in an amount equal to the sum of $3,860,000 ($ 260,000 of which amount shall be paid by PNC) plus the PNC Reduction Amount (if any) minus the amount necessary to satisfy the obligations described in clauses(i) through (iii) of Section 3(b). (d) Post-Petition Trade Payables. The Buyer will assume allowed trade payables with respect to the Facilities incurred by the Seller in the ordinary course of its business operations during the pendency of its reorganization proceeding in an amount up to $500,000. (e) Reduction of Purchase Price. In the event that any of the assets that are the subject of this Term Sheet are sold by the Seller to a third party and Buyer agrees to proceed with the proposed purchase, the total purchase price offered by the Buyer shall be reduced by the amount of the net proceeds of the third party sale. (f) Ally Capital Corp. Settlement. Notwithstanding anything in the Term Sheet to the contrary, Buyer shall not acquire and shall not adjust the Total Purchase Price in respect of any assets of the Debtors to be transferred, returned, sold or otherwise conveyed to a third party consistent with the settlement reached by the Debtors, Ally Capital Corp. and American Waste Control of New York as set forth on the record of the hearing held before the Bankruptcy Court on March 6, 1997 and embodied in a stipulation executed to date by the Debtors and Ally Capital Corp. and previously provided to Buyer. 4. Working Capital. KTI will provide working capital to the Buyer in an amount up to $1,000,000 in the form of a capital contribution. 5. Conditions Precedent. (a) The order of the Bankruptcy Court confirming the Plan shall provide for sale of the Facilities to the Buyer free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances. (b) No material adverse change shall occur prior to the closing of the acquisition, unrelated to KTI, the Buyer or the Seller, that frustrates the essential purpose of the Buyer in consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, and no order of the Bankruptcy Court shall have been entered which prohibits KTI from consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. (c) The Seller shall provide the Buyer with full access to all books and records pertaining to the facilities to be purchased by the Buyer. The Buyer shall have the period ending forty-five (45) days after entry of the order described in Section 10 below to conduct due diligence with respect to environmental matters and shall have no obligation to proceed with the proposed acquisition if such environmental due diligence of KTI discloses that the actual cost of remediation of any environmental conditions required under applicable law (exclusive of "soft costs", such as consulting and engineering fees) not indemnified against by any third party (and with respect to which indemnification no counterclaims or offsets have been asserted) exceeds $50,000; provided that if the Seller and/or PNC elect to pay the excess of such costs over $50,000, KTI and the Buyer shall not be entitled to terminate the transactions contemplated hereby by reason of the results of such environmental due diligence. Subject to the provisions of clause (c), KTI and the Buyer shall complete such environmental due diligence by no later than forty-five (45) days after entry of the court order described in Section 10 below and advise the Seller with respect to whether the Buyer is satisfied with the results of such environmental due diligence and review. In the event that the Buyer does not advise the Seller of its conclusions with respect to the same by the date stated, this condition shall be deemed waived. 6. Employees. Neither KTI nor the Buyer shall have any liability for any pre-petition or post-petition obligations to employees of the Seller. The Seller shall disclose to the Bankruptcy Court and to the Creditors' Committee the fact and the terms of any offer of employment made by KTI or the Buyer to any officer or director of the Seller. 7. Break-up Fee. In the event that any of the assets to be sold to the Buyer are sold to another purchaser, excluding sale of the Chicago Facility, the Buyer shall be entitled to a break-up fee payable from the proceeds from such sale equal to the lesser of $250,000 or 150% of the Buyer's out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (which fees upon any objection thereto by any party in interest shall be submitted to the Bankruptcy Court for approval), reasonably incurred in connection with this transaction; provided that KTI and the Buyer have not defaulted in any of their respective obligations. The Buyer's right to such break-up fee is subject to the Buyer and the Seller having executed and delivered a definitive agreement with respect thereto under which the Buyer would have been bound to close but for the sale to such other purchaser, subject to bankruptcy court approval. 8. No Solicitation; Topping Amount. Prior to September 16, 1997, Seller will not solicit any offer for the Facilities from any other party; provided, that nothing herein shall preclude the Seller from responding to inquiries from, providing due diligence information to, or providing notice of the transactions contemplated hereby and of any related hearings to, any interested party as required by the Seller's fiduciary obligations as a debtor-in-possession. In the event that another purchaser offers to buy substantially the same assets as the Buyer proposes to purchase, the value of the offer of any such purchaser must exceed the Buyer's offer by the amount of $300,000 before such offer may be accepted by the Seller. Sale of the Chicago Facility shall not be subject to this provision. 9. Management Agreement. The Seller and an affiliate of the Buyer shall enter into a management agreement, on terms acceptable to PNC, pursuant to which such affiliate of the Buyer will manage the business and operations of the Seller up to the closing on the sale of the Facilities. 10. Timing. Seller promptly will seek an order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the break-up fee, no solicitation agreement topping amount and management agreement, but in no event later than Tuesday, April 22, 1997 for such matters other than the management agreement and no later than Wednesday, April 23, 1997 with respect to the management agreement. The Buyer will commence due diligence upon entry of such order. The parties will proceed on a basis consistent with execution of a definitive agreement by no later than June 13, 1997 and consummation of the transaction by no later than September 16, 1997. The Buyer does not intend to proceed subsequent to June 13, 1997 in the absence of a definitive agreement executed by the Seller. THE FOREGOING TERM SHEET CONTAINS THE PRINCIPAL BUSINESS TERMS OF THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF ASSETS BY THE BUYER FROM THE SELLER AND TERMS ACCEPTABLE TO PNC AND DOES NOT PURPORT TO SUMMARIZE ALL TERMS, CONDITIONS (INCLUDING CONDITIONS PRECEDENT), COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND OTHER PROVISIONS THAT WILL BE CONTAINED IN DEFINITIVE LEGAL DOCUMENTATION. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Term Sheet to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date and year first above written. Prins Recycling Corp. (f/k/a Ankap, Inc.) Prins Recycling Corp. Prins Recycling (Mass) Corp. Prins of Pennsylvania, Inc. Prins of Newark, Inc. d/b/a Recycling Systems, Inc. Prins Recycling (Maryland) Corp. Paper Chase Exchange, Inc. Basic Waste Systems, Inc. Prins of Newark II, Inc., d/b/a P. Pepe & Sons, Inc. Vic Barick Paper Co., Inc. By: /s/ Clifford H. Straub, Jr. KTI, Inc. KTI Recycling, Inc. and their respective affiliates By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel PNC Bank, National Association By: /s/ Daniel W. Zoeller Shanley & Fisher Attorneys for Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors By: /s/ Robert K. Malone EX-4.2 3 EXHIBIT 4.2 AGREEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 21, 1997 between KTI Recycling, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its subsidiaries("KTIR"), KTI, Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("KTI") and PNC Bank ("PNC"). WHEREAS, KTIR has executed a Term Sheet with Prins Recycling Corp. and certain subsidiaries ("Prins) pursuant to which KTIR has indicated its intent, subject to the conditions stated in the Term Sheet, to purchase all waste processing and recycling facilities owned and operated by Prins in Boston, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey and Franklin Park, Illinois, (the "Assets") pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization in the Chapter 11 proceeding commenced by Prins; WHEREAS, PNC's approval of the sale of the Assets is required by virtue of the fact that PNC holds a first priority lien on the Assets; WHEREAS, Prins has received an offer from a third party to purchase the Assets located in Franklin Park (the "Chicago Facility") for a purchase price that would result in PNC receiving net proceeds of $2 million; WHEREAS, PNC has agreed to forbear from insisting upon and agreeing to the sale of the Chicago Facility to the third party to permit KTIR to consummate its purchase of the Assets only on the terms and conditions set forth herein; WHEREAS, PNC has agreed to increase its credit facility to Prins by an additional $1 million to permit Prins to continue to operate pending a closing on the sale of the Assets only on the terms and conditions herein; WHEREAS, KTI has agreed to guaranty the payment of a portion of the consideration KTIR is agreeing to pay pursuant hereto, and to guaranty a portion of any losses sustained by PNC in connection with PNC's loans to Prins; NOW, THEREFORE, FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, THE RECEIPT AND ADEQUACY OF WHICH ARE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED, it is AGREED as follows: 1. Within two (2) business days of the execution of this Agreement, KTIR and/or KTI shall cause to be issued an irrevocable Letter of Credit naming PNC as the beneficiary in the amount of $1 million. The term of the Letter of Credit shall be six (6) months. The Letter of Credit will provide, inter alia, that PNC may draw the full amount if: (a) Either KTIR or Prins terminates the Agreement providing for the sale of the Assets to KTIR for any reason, or (b) KTIR has not purchased the assets on or before July 31, 1997, or (c) the term of the Letter of Credit has not been renewed for an additional six (6) month period by the 30th day prior to the expiry date. 2. KTIR agrees that if, for any reason, the sale of the Assets to it is not approved by the Bankruptcy Court by July 31, 1997, if it has not already done so, it shall submit a bid to purchase the Chicago Facility by the delivery of the $2 million Promissory Note referenced in paragraph 4 to PNC and specifying that PNC shall not be responsible for any transactional or other costs associated with the sale (a "Conforming Bid"). KTIR shall not, however, be required to submit a Conforming Bid (or may withdraw its Conforming Bid if previously submitted), if its due diligence with respect to environmental matters at the Chicago Facility discloses that the actual cost of remediation of any environmental conditions required under applicable law (exclusive of "soft costs", such as consulting and engineering fees) not indemnified against by any third party (and with respect to which indemnification no counterclaims or offsets have been asserted) exceeds $50,000; provided, however, that if Prins pays or PNC pays or promises to pay the excess of such costs over $50,000, KTIR shall still be required to submit (or not withdraw) a Conforming Bid. In the event that the initial application by Prins to approve the separate sale of the Chicago Facility does not result in a sale of the Chicago Facility, KTIR shall similarly submit a Conforming Bid on any and all subsequent applications to the Bankruptcy Court to sell the Chicago Facility. 3. In the event that PNC draws on the Letter of Credit, it shall retain the proceeds thereof in an interest-bearing segregated account until either (a) the Chicago Facility is sold to KTIR or to a higher bidder or (b) KTIR breaches its obligation to purchase the Chicago Facility. In the event that KTIR purchases the Chicago Facility, the proceeds of the Letter of Credit plus all accrued interest shall be applied as a credit against the purchase price. In the event that the Chicago property is sold to a higher bidder, the proceeds of the Letter of Credit and all accrued interest shall be returned to KTIR. In the event that KTIR breaches its obligations to purchase the Chicago Facility, PNC shall be entitled to retain the proceeds of the Letter of Credit and all accrued interest as liquidated damages. 4. As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, but in no event more that seven (7) days from said date, KTIR shall give PNC an undated Promissory Note in the sum of $2 million. In the event that KTIR purchases the Chicago Facility, other than as part of a purchase of all of the Assets, the Promissory Note shall be dated as of the date of the closing on such sale. On the date of closing, PNC shall apply the proceeds of the $1 million Letter of Credit plus all interest accrued thereon in reduction of the Promissory Note. The remaining unpaid balance of the Promissory Note shall accrue interest from the date of closing at the rate of prime plus one-quarter percent per annum and the total amount of principal and interest shall be payable to PNC 180 days from the date of closing. The Promissory Note shall be secured by the guaranty of KTI in the sum of $1 million and a first priority security interest in all of the assets of the Chicago Facility including a mortgage lien on all real property. In addition, PNC shall hold a deed in lieu of foreclosure in escrow which may be recorded if KTIR and/or KTI fail to pay in the full amount of principal and interest due under the Promissory Note within seven (7) days of PNC's demand for payment under the terms of the Promissory Note and/or the guaranty of KTI. 5. In connection with KTIR's offer to purchase the Assets, a subsidiary of KTI will be entering into a management agreement to manage a business and operations of Prins through the date of closing on the sale of the Assets, which is anticipated to be July 31, 1997. In consideration for the agreement to provide such management services, PNC shall pay to KTI a management fee of $500,000, payable in full at such time as PNC is paid the full amount of its outstanding principal and interest due from Prins, either from the sale of the Assets to KTIR in cash and notes pursuant to the provisions of the Term Sheet dated April 18, 1997, or from the sale of the Assets to a higher bidder. However, in the event that PNC is not paid the full amount of the outstanding principal and interest due from Prins, it shall not be obligated to pay any management fee. 6. KTI shall, within five (5) business days from the date hereof, issue to PNC 30,000 warrants to purchase common shares of KTI at $8.50 per share exercisable at any time within five years from the date of issuance. PNC shall be granted registration rights with respect to the common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants upon substantially the same terms and conditions as KTI's standard form of registration rights agreement. 7. As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, but in no event more than seven (7) days from such date, KTI shall provide PNC with a written guaranty of 40% of any new advances to Prins made after April 18, 1997, subject to a maximum guaranty of $400,000. KTI will share pari passu in any losses sustained by PNC up to said maximum guaranty. By way of example, if PNC advances to Prins $1 million after April 18, 1997 and collects 70% of the total principal and interest due from Prins (i.e., a 30% loss), KTI will pay PNC the sum of $120,000 (30% of 40% of the assumed advance of $1 million). The percentage of the loans guaranteed by KTI hereunder shall not be reduced by the amount of any repayments and collections received by PNC in the ordinary course of business. 8. KTI and KTIR hereby represent and warrant to PNC as follows: (a) They are duly incorporated and existing and in good standing under the laws of New Jersey and Delaware respectively; (b) They have the corporate power and corporate authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform their obligations hereunder and all corporate actions necessary for the making and performance of this Agreement have been duly taken; and (c) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by them and constitutes their binding and valid obligation enforceable against them in accordance with its terms. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date and year first above written. KTI RECYCLING, INC. By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel Robert E. Wetzel Senior Vice President KTI, INC. By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel Robert E. Wetzel Senior Vice President PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: /s/ Daniel W. Zoeller Daniel W. Zoeller Vice President EX-4.3 4 EXHIBIT 4.3 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT by and between PRINS RECYCLING CORP. and its Subsidiaries KTI OPERATIONS, INC. Dated as of April 21, 1997 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT This Operation and Maintenance Agreement (the "Agreement") dated as of April 21, 1997, by and between KTI Operations, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Operator"), and PRINS RECYCLING CORP., a New York corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Owner") witnesseth that: WHEREAS, the Owner owns recycling and paper processing facilities located in Newark, New Jersey, Boston, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois (as hereinafter defined, the "Facilities") which processes waste paper and commingled post consumer recyclables; WHEREAS, the Owner has sought relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code; WHEREAS, the Operator has significant experience in the operation of waste processing facilities; WHEREAS, the Owner desires to obtain access to the experience of the Operator by retaining the Operator to provide supervisory services, advice and recommendations to the Owner concerning the administration, operations and maintenance of the facilities; and WHEREAS, the Operator is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KTI, Inc. ("KTI ), a New Jersey publicly traded company listed in the NASDAQ National Market system, which has an interest in acquiring the facilities under an Owner sponsored plan of reorganization. WHEREAS, the Operator is willing to provide the Owner with supervisory services, advice and recommendations concerning the administration, operation and maintenance of the Facilities; and NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree to enter into this Agreement: ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS Affiliate: With respect to any Person, any Person or group of Persons acting in concert in respect of the Person in question that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person or group of Persons acting in concert, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise. Approved Capital Budget: The capital equipment repair and replacement budget as approved by the Owner, as such Capital Budget may be modified in writing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Approved Operating and Maintenance Budget: The Operating Budget as approved by the Owner as such Operating and Maintenance Budget may be modified in writing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Operating Budget shall include the fully allocated salary costs for William Meckert. Calendar Month: The period from the first day of any month to the last day of such month inclusive. Capital Budget: That budget to be prepared by the Operator pursuant to Article 2.02 of this Agreement. The proposed Capital Budget shall include items of capitalized equipment (as treated for accounting purposes) to be replaced or to be repaired, as well as replacement inventory of spare parts, for the period from the commencement of the Agreement to July 31, 1997. Effective Date of this Agreement: This Agreement shall be effective at 12:01 A.M. of the day after the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey approves this Agreement. Equipment: All of the recycling, processing, mechanical and electrical equipment, instrumentation and control equipment, and Rolling Stock used at or in connection with the operation of the Facilities, and owned or controlled by the Owner. Facilities: Company's recycling and waste paper processing facility and ancillary facilities located on the Site as presently constituted, in the Cities of Newark, New Jersey, Boston, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois as of the date of this Agreement, together with any ancillary facilities which may hereafter be acquired or constructed by Owner and used for or in conjunction with the processing of commingled post consumer recyclables and waste paper, whether or not located on the present Site within the Cities of Newark, Boston and Chicago; provided that any such subsequently acquired or constructed ancillary facilities, or an allocated portion thereof to be included within the definition of Facilities for purposes of this Agreement, shall be exclusively devoted to the replacement or support of the primary activities of the plant located on the present Sites as contemplated by this Agreement. Facility Costs: All costs associated with the day to day operations, maintenance and administration of the Facilities. Force Majeure: With regard to the performance of any obligation under this Agreement, except as to payment obligations, events such as an act of God, act of public enemy, sabotage, wars, blockade, insurrection, riots, explosions, fires, floods, storm, lightning, earthquake, wind, ice, strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbance, drought, appropriation and other causes not reasonably within the control of any party invoking Article 10.10 hereof for its benefit. The financial inability of either party hereto pay or perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed as events of Force Majeure. Good Engineering Practices: Those practices, methods and equipment that are generally observed at the time of reference in prudent engineering practice for handling, processing and disposal operations, similar in size and function to the Facility, in order to operate waste processing and other equipment lawfully, with safety, dependability, efficiency and economy and in compliance with applicable governmental codes, if any, establishing engineering standards for such waste handling, processing and disposal operations. Hazardous Waste: Waste with inherent properties which make such waste dangerous to manage by ordinary means, including but not limited to chemicals, explosives, pathological wastes, radioactive wastes, toxic wastes and other wastes defined as hazardous at any time during the term of this Agreement by the States of New Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, or other Federal, State or local laws, regulations, orders, or other actions promulgated or taken at any time and from time to time, or any material which, if processed at the Facility, would be deemed hazardous at any time during the term of this Agreement by the States of New Jersey, Massachusetts or Illinois or under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, or other federal, state or local laws, regulations, orders, or other governmental actions promulgated or taken at any time and from time to time. Labor: All natural persons employed by Operator to perform the tasks necessary to supervise, give advice and make recommendations concerning the administration, operation and maintenance of the Facilities in accordance with Good Engineering Practices and as required by this Agreement. Labor Costs: For any relevant period the sum of all costs, fees and expenses incurred by Operator for Labor during such period, including without limitation all (a) salaries, wages and other compensation payable to or for the account of employees, (b) bonus and incentive compensation payments made to or for the account of employees, (c) contributions and payments to employee savings, retirement and other benefit plans for employees, (d) the cost of providing medical, dental disability and occupational hazard plans or insurance for employees and their dependents, (e) the cost of providing life insurance coverage for employees and their dependents, (f) employee training relating to the administration, operation and maintenance of the Facility, including tuition, travel, meals and lodging and (g) FICA and other taxes or governmental charges payable with respect to employees, including unemployment compensation. Legal Requirements: All laws, statutes, codes, ordinances, orders, awards, judgments, decrees, injunctions, rules, regulations, authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, permits, franchises, licenses, directions and requirements of all governments or governmental units, courts or arbitrators, which now or at any time hereafter may be applicable to or affect the Facility or any part thereof or any streets, sidewalks, curbs, or gutters adjoining the Facility or any part thereof or any use or condition of the Facility or any part thereof or the acquisition, construction, ownership, use or operation of the Facility or any part thereof, except those the non-compliance as to which will not have a material adverse effect on the acquisition, ownership or operation of the Facility. Notice of Termination: That notice issued by the Owner or Operator pursuant to Article VI of this Agreement which shall terminate this Agreement. Operator Fixed Fee: The Operator Fixed Fee shall be for $166,667 per month, subject to a maximum of $500,000 payable to the Operator (whether or not the term of the agreement shall continue for more than three (3) months. Operating Budget: That budget to be prepared by the Operator pursuant to Article 2.02 of this Agreement. The proposed Operating Budget shall include detailed month by month projections of the Facility's operating costs, revenues and performance assumptions for the period commencement of the Agreement to July 31, 1997. Operating Costs: For any relevant period, the actual costs directly, properly and reasonably incurred by the Operator for the account of the Owner in the ordinary course of business for the supervision, administration, operation and maintenance of the Facility, including, without limitation, Labor Costs; provided, however, that no costs incurred or paid by the Operator to any Affiliate of the Operator shall be treated as an Operating Cost unless incurred in accordance with Article V. Operator's Invoice: A written document delivered by the Operator to the Owner stating the amount due for Operating Costs for bi-weekly periods. Permits: All of the consents, approvals, authorizations, directions, licenses and permits issued to the Owner or Operator with respect to the ownership, construction, and operation of the Facility. A list of all Permits as in effect on the date of this Agreement are listed in Exhibit A hereto. Person: Any individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, government (or any agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind. Sites: The real property and any and all rights or interests in real property upon which the Facilities are located at the time of reference. Subcontractor: Any person, firm or corporation which performs work for the Operator or the Owner at the request and direction of the Operator pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. ARTICLE II. DESIGNATION OF OPERATOR AND WORK SCOPE 2.01 Designation of Operator: (a) The Operator agrees to supervise, give advice and make recommendations concerning the administration, operation and maintenance of the Facilities (including, without limitation, maintenance scheduling and planning) in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. (b) Subject to the terms of this Agreement and so long as it remains in effect, the Owner hereby gives the Operator the non exclusive right (which shall not constitute an easement or other restriction on the Facility) to enter on the premises on which the Facilities are located and to occupy and have free access to use the same for solely the purpose set forth in this Agreement. The Operator agrees that in its capacity as the Operator it does not and shall not claim at any time any interest or estate of any kind or extent whatsoever in the Facilities by virtue of this Agreement or the Operator's occupancy or use of the Facilities hereunder. (c) The Operator covenants that it will comply with Good Engineering Practices in performing its services for the Facilities. In the event that the Operator fails to comply with Good Engineering Practices in performing its services for the Facilities for reasons other than the insufficiency of available operating revenues, and said failure results in the Owner being assessed fines or penalties by any governmental entity, said fines and penalties shall be charged back and set off against the Operator's Fixed Fee. (d) The Operator shall act as the primary spokesman for the Facilities in consultation with the Owner. 2.02 General Duties: The Operator shall in consideration for the Operator's Fixed Fee, supervise, give advice and make recommendations to the Owner concerning the administration, operations and maintenance of the Facilities in accordance with Good Engineering Practices and in substantial compliance with all Legal Requirements. Subject to the foregoing, as well as the satisfaction by the Owner of its obligations under Article III hereof, the Operator shall supervise, give advice and make recommendations concerning the following tasks: (a) All administrative work of the Facilities including: (i) The Planning, scheduling and conduct of all business incidental to the ownership, operation and maintenance of the Facilities. (ii) The administration of all contracts with private haulers, municipalities, paper mills and others on a day to day basis. (iii) The review, approval and payment, in accordance with the Approved Operating Budget, on behalf of Owner, to the extent funds are made available by Owner, of invoices for Facility Costs and recordkeeping for the Owner. (iv) Prompt preparation of invoices for all material deliveries in accordance with the applicable agreements and collection of payments on accounts receivable for the Owner's account. (v) Development and submission of a spare parts inventory program to the Owner for approval. (vi) Based on the approved spare parts inventory program, and in accordance with the Approved Capital Budget or the Approved Operating Budget, as applicable, the procurement, in Owner's name, of an inventory of spare parts, materials, and supplies (including Consumables and items covered by plant office expenses and rolling stock expenses), and the review, approval and, on behalf of Owner, the payment of invoices for the same. (vii) The performance of all accounting services for the Owner (except as noted below), including but not limited to closing the books monthly, quarterly and yearly and supplying summary accounting data to the Owner for any monthly, quarterly, year end or other reports rendered or to be rendered by Owner. The Operator is not obligated to prepare tax returns, reports due to the US Trustee or reports for submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission. (viii) The preparation of monthly and quarterly detailed financial and operating reports with Approved Operating Budget and Approved Capital Budget comparisons (budget to actual including an explanation of any material variances), an updated annual forecast with actual year-to-date numbers and updated projections for remaining months, and such other reports, including reports required by PNC Bank, National Association, as are reasonably requested by Owner. (ix) Maintenance of true, complete and accurate cost ledgers and accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized by the Owner regarding the services provided and expenses paid or incurred by it pursuant to the Agreement. (x) The preparation of the Operating Budget and Capital Budget to the Owner for its approval. (xi) Maintenance of appropriate inventories consistent with the approved spare parts and inventory plan and the issue, and recording of issuance, of inventory and spare parts items. (b) Performance of operation and maintenance services at the Facilities within budgetary limitations: (i) Maintenance of an effective and sufficient operating work force through appropriate hiring, termination, training, administration and compensation. (ii) Development and maintenance of safety procedures, a safety manual, an employee job-site conduct handbook and an effective safety program, including, without limitation, fire and explosion safety measures. (iii) Operation and maintenance of the scale-house and provision of all related operational services. (iv) Operation and maintenance of the Facilities in a reasonably clean, safe and efficient manner in accordance with Good Engineering Practices and in substantial compliance with all Legal Requirements. (v) Acceptance, storage and processing of all commingled post consumer recyclables and waste paper delivered to the Facilities in accordance with a waste protocol to be agreed upon by the Owner and Operator provided however, that the Operator shall not be obligated to accept any waste which it reasonably believes (a) presents a danger to the health or safety of the public or Facilities personnel, or (b) would cause the Facilities to be in violation of any Legal Requirement. (vi) Maintenance of true, complete and accurate operating logs, records and reports necessary for proper operation and maintenance of the Facilities. (vii) Maintenance at the administrative offices located at the Facilities of drawings, instruction books, and operating and maintenance manuals and revision of drawings as modifications are made. (viii) Maintenance of Facilities tool room equipment and instruments. (ix) Development, implementation and regular updating of a maintenance program that meets Equipment manufacturers' specifications and recommendations and the Facilities requirements. (x) Scheduling and performance of all maintenance necessary to be in accordance with Good Engineering Practices and manufacturers' specifications and recommendations and in substantial compliance with all Legal Requirements. (xi) Scheduling, performance and recording periodic operational checks and tests of Equipment which are necessary to be in accordance with the Equipment manufacturers' specifications and recommendations and in substantial compliance with all Legal Requirements. (xii) Evaluation of the nature and impact of any Equipment failure and if the failure is major or material review the situation with the Owner and mutually agree on a reasonable remedy of the matter, provided that in the event of an emergency or other situation where expediency is required to protect Equipment, property, safety, health, or the environment, the Operator may take all necessary action to deal with such situation for the Owner's account without the review and agreement of Owner. (xiii) Obtaining and maintaining required Permits in the Owner's name and on its behalf. (xiv) Prepare maintenance budget and incorporate the maintenance items contained therein in the Operating Budget or the Capital Budget, as appropriate, and operate the Facilities in accordance with the Approved Operating Budget and Approved Capital Budget for such items. (xv) Provision of necessary and desirable security services for the Facilities. (xvi) Provision of yard maintenance and removal services. (xvii) Maintenance of adequate inventories or supplies of consumables. (xviii) Provision of unrestricted access to the Facility and cooperation with the Owner in all inspections of the Facilities, which inspections may occur at any time. (xix) Operation and maintenance of the Facilities in such a way so as to be in substantial compliance with all Permit requirements (including, without limitation, the Environmental Compliance Standards), taking such samples and performing and reporting such tests as are required by all Permits, and advising the Owner of any areas of Permit conflicts or violations or unsatisfactory conditions or test results, including performing all necessary testing, reporting and other requirements of Permits. 2.03 The Operator's Authority to Act in an Emergency: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Operator may, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Company, make any decision or take any action which otherwise requires the prior written consent of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement if (i) in the good faith judgment of the Operator, such decision or action is necessary for the protection of life or health or for the preservation of the Facilities or to avoid the suspension of any service to or of the Facilities and there is insufficient time to notify the Owner; and (ii) expenses incurred by the Operator in advance of notifying the Owner do not exceed $25,000; provided, that the Operator shall use all reasonable efforts to notify the Owner and request its consent prior to making any decision or taking any action and in any event shall notify the Owner and request its consent as promptly as practicable thereafter. In the event that the consent of the Owner is denied, the Operator shall use its reasonable efforts to terminate any contract or agreement entered into on the basis of such emergency, or any work or services to be performed pursuant thereto. ARTICLE III. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OWNER 3.01The Owner shall be responsible for the following: (a) Owner shall promptly pay the Operator the Operating Costs for each bi-weekly period during the term of this Agreement, beginning on the Effective Date of this Agreement, and payable on the first business day of each bi-weekly period continuing until such time as this contract is terminated under Article VI or VII hereof. (b) Owner shall pay the Operator's Fixed Fee to the Operator promptly after the date of confirmation of the Owner's plan of reorganization following the sale of the Facilities, provided that the Operator shall not be entitled to receive the Operator's Fixed Fee unless the Facilities are sold for a net sales price in an amount sufficient to result in net proceeds paid or payable to PNC in the full amount of its loan, including principal and interest. (c) Approve on a timely basis the Operating and Maintenance Budget and Capital Budget providing for the costs and expenses reasonably necessary for Operator to administer, operate and maintain the Facility in accordance with its obligations under this Agreement. (d) Provide and maintain the insurance coverage required to be maintained for the Facilities, including: (i) All Risk Property Damage, including physical damage, business interruption, extra expense (wind damage, flood, electrical damage) up to the full value of the Facilities. (ii) Boiler and Machinery, including physical damage and business interruption up to the full value of the covered equipment. (iii) Comprehensive General Liability with combined property damage and injury coverage. The Operator shall be listed as an Additional Insured on general liability policies, including excess liability umbrella. The Owner shall provide the Operator with certificates of insurance showing policy provisions and showing the Operator as an Additional Insured on liability policies. The Operator shall have the right to review all insurance policies and make recommendations regarding the same. Such policies shall contain a provision that such insurance policies are primary with respect to any other insurance. Additionally, the policy provisions shall provide that the Operator be given at least thirty (30) days prior written notice from the insurance company of policy cancellation(s). The Owner shall not modify or terminate any insurance coverages listed in this Article 3.01(c) without the written consent of the Operator. The Owner waives its right of recourse against the Operator and the Operator's Subcontractors and their employees for any loss or damage payable by the insurance coverage listed in this section. ARTICLE IV. CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES The Operator represents and warrants to the Owner that: 4.01 (a) Corporate Organization: The Operator is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. (b) Power and Authority: The Operator has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to the terms hereof. (c) Due Authorization: The Operator has taken all actions required to be taken by it under law, its Articles of Incorporation, its bylaws or otherwise and has obtained all approvals and consents necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby except such approvals and consents the absence of which would not have a material adverse effect on the Facilities, the Operator or upon the Operator's ability to perform its obligations hereunder. (d) Validity: This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Operator, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws or principles of equity affecting the rights of creditors generally. (e) No Violation: The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not contravene any provision of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, or other material agreement binding on the Operator or any valid order of any court, or any regulatory agency or other body having authority to which the Operator is subject. (f) Qualification as Foreign Corporation: The Operator is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in the State of New Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois. (g) Facility Operations: The supervisory services under this Agreement shall be performed by competent operators, in a competent manner in accordance with Good Engineering Practices and in substantial compliance with all Legal Requirements and in accordance with the scope in this Agreement or any other detailed work scope agreed upon by the parties and will be free from defects in workmanship. Provided that Operator has been notified in writing promptly after the Owner becomes aware of a defect, and whether a claim, however, instituted, is based on contract, indemnity, warranty, tort (including Operator's own negligence), strict liability or otherwise, the exclusive remedy for any claim based on failure of, or defect in, services furnished by Operator hereunder shall be (a) for deficient services, the retraining or replacement of the Operator's personnel and the reperformance by the Operator of any defective portion of the service furnished, and (b) for any damaged part of the equipment resulting from defective operating, maintenance or repair services performed under this Agreement, the repair or replacement at the Owner's option of the damaged part. In any event, however, if damage to any Facility equipment is caused to any material extent by defective equipment or inadequate or poor engineering design of the Facilities or equipment therein ("Contributory Cause"), notwithstanding the neglect or negligence of Operator, such Contributory Cause, shall bar any claim by Owner against Operator for such damage. This warranty is exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties, whether written, oral, implied or statutory. NO IMPLIED STATUTORY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL APPLY. The Operator does not warrant under this Agreement any product, material or services of others which the Owner has furnished. Unless expressly stated in the work scope, the Operator does not warrant under this Agreement the fitness or suitability of the equipment on which the services are performed, or any modification thereof, for any specific application, performance, results or use. Any oral or written representation, warranty, course of dealing or trade usage not contained or referenced herein will not be binding on any party. 4.02 The Owner represents and warrants to the Operator as follows: (a) Organization: Prins Recycling Corp. is a New York corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in both the States of New York and New Jersey. (b) Power and Authority: Owner has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to the terms hereof, subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (c) Due Authorization: The Owner has taken all actions required to be taken by law, its Articles of Incorporation, its bylaws or otherwise to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. (d) Validity: This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Owner, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws or principles of equity affecting the rights of creditors generally. (e) No Violation: The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not contravene any material provision of, or constitute a material default under, any material indenture. mortgage or other material agreement binding on Owner or any valid order of any court, or any regulatory agency or other body having authority to which Owner is subject. ARTICLE V. LIMITATION ON AFFILIATED TRANSACTIONS BY OPERATOR AND EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONS Affiliated Transactions: In performing its obligations hereunder, the Operator will not make any payment to or invest in, or acquire, lease, sell, transfer or provide any assets or services from or to KTI or any of KTI's subsidiaries or engage in any other transaction with any of them, except that the Operator shall be permitted (i) to deal with the Owner in strict accordance with the express written terms of this Agreement; and (ii) to engage in any other transaction with KTI and its subsidiaries, which (w) is in the ordinary course of the Operator's business, (x) is upon terms no less favorable to the Operator than would be obtained in a comparable arms' length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate and (y) the Owner has given its prior written consent after receiving a reasonable description in writing of each of the terms thereof. ARTICLE VI. TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT 6.01 (a) Term: This Agreement will be effective on the Effective Date and remain in effect until July 31, 1997 unless mutually extended by the Operator and the Owner. ARTICLE VII. EVENT OF DEFAULT 7.01 Event of Default: Owner shall be in default under this Agreement if: (a) the Owner fails to pay when due any amount payable by Owner to Operator hereunder, and ten (10) days have elapsed after such due date; (b) other than the existing proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, there is an assignment for the benefit of the Owner's creditors, or the Owner is adjudged a bankrupt, or a petition is filed by or against the Owner which is not dismissed within 60 days under the provisions of any state insolvency law or under the provisions of the Federal bankruptcy laws, or the business or principal assets of the Owner are placed in the hands of a receiver, assignee, or trustee; (c) the Owner is dissolved and there is no reconstitution of the Owner within thirty (30) days of such dissolution, or the Owner's existence is terminated or its business is discontinued; (d) Owner assigns or transfers this Agreement in violation of Article 9.01; (e) the Owner shall fail to comply in any material respect with its obligation to provide and maintain insurance under Article 3.01(c); or (f) the Owner shall fail to comply in a material respect with any of its other covenants, agreements or obligations hereunder, and such failure shall continue for thirty (30) days after the Owner receives notice from the Operator with respect to the same; 7.02 Remedy. If the Owner is in default, the Operator may, at its option and without further notice, proceed to enforce any or all of the following remedies by notice in writing to the Owner, (a) terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 7.03; provided that if the default arises under Section 7.01(a) above and Owner disputes the amount due in good faith, Operator may not terminate this Agreement until the dispute is resolved and payment due is thereafter withheld wrongfully. (b) Proceed to arbitration in accordance with Article XIII 7.03 Rights Upon Default. (a) Right of Operator. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default described in Section 7.01, the Operator may, at its option, terminate this Agreement by delivering written notice of termination to the Owner, which notice of termination shall be effective fifteen (15) days after the date it is received by Owner; provided, however, that if the Owner has cured such default within such fifteen (15) day period, such Notice of Termination shall be deemed to have been canceled and shall be null and void. In the event of such termination, the Owner shall pay all Operator Fixed Fee then due. In such event, Operator shall take all necessary steps to protect the Facilities, leaving the same in an orderly and safe condition, prior to leaving the premises. 7.04 Right of Owner to Terminate. Upon a default by Operator of its obligations hereunder the Owner may, at its option, terminate this Agreement upon ten (10) days written notice. ARTICLE VIII. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY 8.01 Limitation of Liability. The Operator's liability to the Owner, on all claims of any kind (excluding death or bodily injury), whether based on contract, indemnity, warranty, tort (including as the case may be, a party's own negligence), strict liability or other, for all losses or damages arising out of, connected with, or resulting from this Agreement or from the performance or breach thereof, or from any services covered by or furnished during the term of this Agreement, shall in no case exceed the fees actually received by the Operator. 8.02 Waiver of Consequential Damages. In no event, whether based on contract, indemnity, warranty, tort (including, as the case may be, a party's own negligence) or otherwise, shall the Operator or its Subcontractors and suppliers be liable to Owner, or the Owner, its Subcontractors and suppliers be liable to Operator, for special incidental exemplary, indirect or consequential damages including, but not limited to, loss of profits or revenue, loss of use of the equipment or any associated equipment, cost of capital, cost of purchased power, cost of substitute equipment, facilities or services, downtime costs, or claims of customers of the Owner or Operator for such damages, and each party shall indemnify the other, its Subcontractors and suppliers against any such claims from the other's suppliers or customers. In no event shall the Operator be liable under this Agreement for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from its failure to discover mechanical or engineering design problems in the Facility Equipment, and where Equipment failure results from the combined effects of neglect in maintenance, poor design or inappropriate equipment application, Operator shall have no liability with respect to any loss resulting to the Equipment or Facility, or from its failure to discover latent defects or defects inherent in the design of the Equipment. If the Operator furnishes the Owner with advice or assistance without separate compensation therefor, the Operator will not be subject to any liability whether in contract, indemnity, warranty, tort (including Operator's own negligence) or otherwise ARTICLE IX. ASSIGNMENT 9.01 Assignment by the Owner: The Operator may terminate this Agreement without penalty upon the giving of 10 days written notice if (a) the assignment of this Agreement is attempted or (b) a contract to sell the Facilities is executed between the Owner and a third party. The Owner may extend employment offers to any employees of the Operator who work for the Operator in connection with the operation of the Facilities. 9.02 Assignment by the Operator. The Operator shall have the right to assign this Agreement, provided that the Owner gives its prior written consent to such assignment, such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Operator shall be permitted to assign its right to receive payment of the Operator's Fixed Fee hereunder without obtaining the consent of the Owner. ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS 10.01 Independent Contractor. The Operator shall at all times be deemed an independent contractor and not by reason of this Agreement a joint venture, agent or principal of the Owner and none of the Operator's officers, directors, partners, employees, agents or representatives or the officers, directors, partners, employees, agents or representatives of its subcontractors shall be considered officers, directors, partners, employees, agents or representatives of the Owner. 10.02 Regulated Party Status. The Operator shall not be construed to be a general partner of the Owner for any purpose, and the parties shall deal with each other at arms length. 10.03 Severability. The invalidity, in whole or in part, of any of the foregoing sections or paragraphs of this Agreement will not affect the validity of the remainder of such sections or paragraphs. 10.04 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and all amendments thereto contain the complete agreement between the Owner and the Operator with respect to the matters contained herein and supersede all other agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the matters contained herein between the Owner and the Operator. 10.05 Amendment. No modification, amendment, or other change to this Agreement will be effective unless consented to in writing by each of the parties hereto. 10.06 Waiver. Failure or forbearance by any party to exercise any of its rights or remedies under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such rights or remedies. No party shall be deemed to have waived or forborne any right or remedy resulting from such failure to perform unless it has made such waiver specifically in writing. 10.07 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall be deemed one and the same Agreement. 10.08 Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey without reference to conflict of laws or the principles thereof. 10.09 Title Passage. Title to all materials and services provided under this Agreement shall pass to the Owner upon performance of the work or upon the Owner becoming obligated to make payment therefor. It is expressly understood and agreed, however, that the passage of title shall not release the Operator from its responsibility to fully carry out its obligations under this Agreement. 10.10 Force Majeure. The parties hereto shall be excused from performance under this Agreement to the extent, but only to the extent, that performance hereunder is prevented by an act or event of Force Majeure. Operator shall use its best efforts to take all reasonable steps to overcome or mitigate the effects of such an act or event of Force Majeure, provided that the costs of such steps shall in all events be considered Operating Costs for the purposes hereof. Owner shall take all reasonable steps to overcome or mitigate the effects of an event of Force Majeure. The Operator may not incur expenses in excess of $25,000 to overcome or mitigate the effects of such force majeure event without the Owners prior written consent. ARTICLE XI. DISPUTES 11.01 Procedure. Any other controversy, dispute or claim between the Operator and the Owner may be taken to arbitration pursuant to Section 11.02. Arbitration shall be the exclusive procedure for resolving disputes under this Agreement. 11.02 Disputes. The parties agree that time is of the essence in resolving any controversy, dispute or claim, and they shall proceed as expeditiously as possible to resolve such dispute among themselves. Absent such resolution, all disputes may be referred by either party to the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey for resolution. For the purpose of this provision, the Operator consents to the jurisdiction of said Bankruptcy Court. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above. OWNER: PRINS RECYCLING CORP. By: /s/ Clifford H. Straub, Jr. Title: President & Chief Financial Officer OPERATOR: KTI OPERATIONS, INC. By:/s/ Robert E. Wetzel Title: Senior Vice President EX-4.4 5 EXHIBIT 4.4 June 19, 1997 IT IS THE DIRECTION OF THIS COURT THAT THE SUCCESSFUL PARTY SERVE A FILED COPY OF THIS ORDER UPON ALL PARTIES TO THIS ACTION. ROSENMAN & COLIN LLP JEFF J. FRIEDMAN (JF-7661) KEVIN T. FINGERET (KF-3547) 575 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022-2585 (212) 940-8800 ROSENMAN & COLIN JEFF J. FRIEDMAN (JF-7661) Suite 2600 1 Gateway Center Newark, New Jersey 07102-5397 (201) 645-0572 Attorneys for Prins Recycling Corp. (f/k/a Ankap, Inc.) Prins Recycling Corp. Prins Recycling (Mass) Corp. Prins of Pennsylvania, Inc. Prins of Newark, Inc. d/b/a Recycling Systems, Inc. Prins Recycling (Maryland) Corp. Paper Chase Exchange, Inc. Basic Waste Systems, Inc. Prins of Newark II, Inc., d/b/a P. Pepe & Sons, Inc. Vic Barick Paper Co., Inc. UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY - ------------------------------------------------------x : In re : Chapter 11 : PRINS RECYCLING CORP., et al. : Case Nos. 96-26125 (WT) : through 96-26134 (WT) Debtors. : : Oral Argument requested - ------------------------------------------------------x ORDER APPROVING DEBTOR'S MOTION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 105, 327 AND 363 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING: (A) A BREAK-UP FEE AND OVERBID MINIMUM WITH RESPECT TO THE PROSPECTIVE SALE OF THE DEBTORS' BUSINESSES TO KTI RECYCLING, INC., (B) AN AGREEMENT TO SELL THE ASSETS OF THE DEBTOR PAPER CHASE EXCHANGE, INC. NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 16, 1997 FOR $2 MILLION SUBJECT TO HIGHER AND BETTER OFFERS IF THE SALE OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE DEBTORS' ASSETS IS NOT CONSUMMATED THROUGH A PLAN OF REORGANIZATION BY SEPTEMBER 16, 1997, AND (C) A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEBTORS AND KTI OPERATIONS, INC. Upon the Motion of the above-captioned debtors, as debtors and debtors-in- possession (the "Debtors"), pursuant to sections 105 and 363 of title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") for an order authorizing and approving: (a) a break-up fee, overbid minimum and no further solicitation provision with respect to the prospective sale of all or substantially all of the Debtors' businesses (the "All Facilities Sale") to KTI Recycling, Inc. (the "Buyer"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of KTI, Inc. ("KTI") pursuant to a plan of reorganization, (b) an agreement to sell the assets of the Debtor Paper Chase Exchange, Inc. pursuant to section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code no later than July 31, 1997 for $2 million subject to higher and better offers if the All Facilities Sale is not consummated through a plan of reorganization prior to July 25, 1997, (c) an Operation and Maintenance Agreement between the Debtors' and KTI Operations, Inc. ("Operations") pursuant to which Operations will manage the Debtors' businesses (the "Management Agreement"), all as more fully set forth in the certification of Clifford H. Straub, Jr., the Debtors' Chief Financial Officer, dated April 25, 1997 filed in support of the Motion (the "Certification"), the Term Sheet between the Debtors and KTI annexed to the Certification as Exhibit "A" (the "Term Sheet"), and the Management Agreement annexed to the certification as Exhibit "B"; and upon the affidavit of Nicholas Menonna, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer of Operations, pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2014(a), sworn to on April 24, 1997; and upon the Memorandum of Law, dated April 25, 1997 filed in support of the motion; and the Court having fixed May 13, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. as the date and time for a hearing on the Motion pursuant to its Order Shortening Time dated April 28, 1997 (the "Scheduling Order"); and notice having been given in accordance with the Scheduling Order which notice is hereby deemed good and sufficient; and an objection to the Motion having been interposed by the Creditors' Committee and a Response to the Motion having been filed by Ally Capital Corporation; and the hearing on the Motion having been adjourned to May 19, 1997 and thereafter to May 22, 1997; and, in an effort to resolve the Creditors' Committee's objection, the Creditors' Committee, the Buyer, PNC Bank, N.A. ("PNC") and the Debtors having negotiated certain modifications to the Term Sheet, which modifications are set forth in the Amended Term Sheet attached as Exhibit "A" hereto and executed by the Debtors, KTI, PNC and the Creditors' Committee (the "Amended Term Sheet") and which modifications were also set forth on the record and are beneficial to holders of general unsecured claims; and the Creditors' Committee, in consideration for the modifications to the Term Sheet having agreed that the treatment of PNC under a plan as contemplated by the Amended Term Sheet constitutes "impairment" pursuant to section 1124 of the Bankruptcy Code; and if Rosenman & Colin LLP agrees with the Creditors' Committee, subject to certain terms and conditions, to cap their total allowable fees and disbursements, PNC has agreed that in the event that it exercises its remedies as a secured creditor to sell its collateral securing the Debtors' obligations to PNC, and without limiting the Debtors' rights under applicable law, the sale of the Debtors' Facilities in Boston shall be sold by public auction conducted in a commercially reasonable manner; and upon the arguments of counsel and evidence adduced at the hearing conducted before the Court on May 22, 1997; and upon the record of such hearing; and after due deliberation, sufficient cause appearing therefor, IT IS ON THIS 12th day of June, 1997, ORDERED THAT: 1. The Motion be, and it hereby is, granted; 2. The Break-Up Fee as such term is defined and explained in the Certification and paragraph 7 of the Amended Term Sheet, is hereby approved and shall be payable solely out the proceeds of a sale of Boston or Newark Facility assets to a party or parties other than the Buyer or KTI; provided, however, that in the event Buyer is entitled to a Break-Up Fee hereunder, Buyer shall submit reasonably detailed time and disbursement records evidencing the actual and necessary fees, costs and disbursements incurred to the Debtors, the Creditors' committee and PNC and such Break-Up Fee shall be paid unless an objection to the reasonableness of such fees and disbursements is filed within 10 days of the receipt of said records, in which event payment of the Break-Up Fee shall be withheld pending a hearing to be scheduled by the objector(s) or Buyer and further order of the Court; 3. The Overbid Minimum as such term is defined and explained in the Certification and in paragraph 8 of the Amended Term Sheet, is hereby approved; 4. The Debtor shall give notice of the opportunity for parties to bid for the Facilities, subject to the $300,000 Overbid Minimum by mailing within 10 days of the entry hereof a copy of this Order and the Amended Term Sheet to persons who have expressed interest in acquiring one or more of the Debtors' Facilities, and by promptly mailing this Order and the Amended Term Sheet to other interested parties who may express interest hereafter. The Debtors shall further provide (i) upon request by a party in interest, a form of asset purchase agreement to be used by a successful offeror, and (ii) upon request by a bona fide prospective offeror, reasonable access during normal business hours to conduct due diligence; 5. Any party desiring to submit a proposal (an "Alternate Proposal") to acquire one or more of the Facilities (other than a proposal to acquire only the Chicago Facility which proposal shall be subject to Sections 8 - 11 hereof) for a purchase price at least $300,000 in excess of the $13,600,000 purchase price being paid by Buyer for the Facilities shall submit such proposal in writing to the counsel for the Debtors, the Creditors' Committee and PNC on or before 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 10, 1997 (the "July 10 Proposal Deadline"). Such Alternate Proposal shall include a provision for such party to acquire the Chicago Facility (as defined below) on the same or better financial terms than KTI, Inc. (as described in the Certification and below) in the event that a plan based on such party's Alternate Proposal is not timely confirmed, and, if such Alternate Proposal is other than entirely for cash and/or if subject to third party financing or if such party seeks modifications to the proposed form of asset purchase agreement (the "Form Asset Purchase Agreement") to be provided by the Debtors' upon the request of a party considering making an Alternate Proposal, such party shall submit with such Alternate Proposal information to enable the Debtors, PNC and the Creditors' Committee to evaluate any non-cash consideration and/or financing contingencies, together with any proposed changes to the Form Asset Purchase Agreement; 6. If one or more Alternate Proposals are submitted by the July 10 Proposal Deadline, a hearing shall be held before the court on July 17, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Bankruptcy Court, King Federal Bldg., 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ to consider such Alternate Proposal(s) and such higher or better offers as may be made by Buyer or a party making such an Alternate Proposal; provided that if an Alternate Proposal is accepted by the Court, the successful party shall be required to sign immediately the Form Asset Purchase Agreement, subject to only to changes agreed to by the Debtors', Creditors' Committee and PNC and deposit in escrow with the Debtors' counsel a down payment of $1,000,000 (by certified check or a letter of credit acceptable to the,Debtors', the Creditors' Committee and PNC and approved by them in advance of such hearing) which shall be forfeitable in accordance with the terms of Asset Purchase Agreement. Such successful party shall thereafter cooperate fully with the Debtors to negotiate, formulate and confirm a plan of reorganization based on such Alternate Proposal; 7. Unless and until the Buyer and/or KTI advises the Debtors that they are no longer interested in acquiring the Debtors' assets (other than the Chicago Facility pursuant to the Chicago Guarantee (as such term is defined in the Certification)), or the Buyer and/or KTI breach their obligations and the Debtors exercise their right not to proceed with the transaction, the Debtors' shall not actively solicit further offers for their assets; provided, however, (i) that nothing herein or in the Amended Term Sheet shall prohibit the Debtors' from responding and providing information, including due diligence information, to parties expressing interest in the Debtors' assets and from providing notice of any motions or hearings to such parties relating to the transactions with the Buyer and KTI, (ii) upon the request of any bona fide prospective offeror, the Debtors shall have an affirmative duty to provide access and information necessary for such offeror to perform due diligence, and (iii) that nothing herein shall prohibit the disposition of unnecessary assets in accordance with the provisions of the Amended Term Sheet,and the Bankruptcy Code; and 8. In the event that the All Facilities Sale is not approved pursuant to a confirmed plan of reorganization in these cases by September 16, 1997, the Court shall hold a hearing on the later of (i) September 16, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. or (ii) following a decision of the Court to deny confirmation of a plan (the "Chicago Sale Hearing"), pursuant to which the assets comprising the Chicago Facility of Debtor Paper Chase Exchange, Inc. shall be sold to KTI, Inc. or its designee, for $2 million net to the estate with the consideration payable as provided in paragraph 3(a)(vii) of the Amended Term Sheet, subject to higher and better offers (but not subject to the $300,000 Overbid Minimum) to be considered at the Chicago Sale Hearing; 9. The Debtors shall give notice of the Chicago Sale Hearing by mailing, within 10 days of the entry hereof a copy of this Order and the Amended Term Sheet to persons who have expressed interest in acquiring assets of the Debtors, including the Chicago Facility, and by promptly mailing this Order and the Term Sheet to other interested parties who may express interest hereafter. The Debtors shall further provide (i) upon request by a party in interest, a form of asset purchase agreement to be used by a successful offeror for the Chicago Facility, and (ii) upon request by a bona fide prospective offeror, reasonable access during normal business hours to conduct due diligence; 10. Parties desiring to make a higher and better offer for the Chicago Facility (i.e., an offer which yields net proceeds to the estate of more than $2 million, after assumption or payment of all post-petition obligations and executory contract cure amounts), other than entirely for cash or which is subject to third party financing or where such party seeks modifications to the proposed form of asset purchase agreement, shall submit the proposed offer to the Debtors at least 10 days in advance of the Chicago Sale Hearing and shall submit therewith information to enable the Debtors and PNC to evaluate any non- cash consideration and/or financing contingencies, together with any proposed changes to the form of asset purchase agreement; 11. The successful offeror for the Chicago Facility shall be required to deposit a down payment equal to $1 million in cash or cash equivalent acceptable to the Debtors and PNC and to close the sale within five business days, subject to a provision in the Court order approving the sale of the Chicago Facility that such offeror is entitled to the protections of section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code; 12. Subject to execution of a definitive asset purchase agreement by Buyer and the Debtors consistent with the Amended Term Sheet and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to PNC, the Debtors and the Creditors' Committee, the Management Agreement is hereby approved in all respects; provided, however, that any Fixed Fee payable to Operations thereunder shall be payable by PNC if the All Facilities Sale to the Buyer contemplated by the Amended Term Sheet closes or a sale to a third party closes whereby the Debtors' obligations to PNC are paid in full, including principal and interest; and 13. Entry into and performance under the Management Agreement by Operations shall impose on Operations only the duties, responsibilities and liabilities specified therein. 14. All notices, proposals and objections provided for herein shall be served on (i) counsel for the Debtors, Rosenman a Colin LLP, 575 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022-2585 (Attn: Jeff J. Friedman, Esq.), (ii) counsel for the Creditors' Committee, Shanley & Fisher, P.C., 131 Madison Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07962-1979 (Attn: Robert K. Malone, Esq.), (iii) counsel for PNC, Sills Cummins, Zuckerman Radin Tischman Epstein & Gross, One Riverfront Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102 (Attn: Jack M. Zackin, Esq.), and (iv) counsel for KTI, Wasserman, Jurista & Stolz, 225 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, NJ 07041 (Attn: Steven Z. Jurista, Esq.). /s/ William F. Tuohey Hon. William F. Tuohey United States Bankruptcy Judge EX-4.5 6 EXHIBIT 4.5 ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of June 24, 1997 (this "Agreement"), among PRINS RECYCLING CORP., a New York corporation and Chapter 11 debtor in possession ("Seller"), each subsidiary thereof listed on the signature page of this Agreement (each a "Sub-Seller") (Sub-Sellers and Seller are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as "Seller Parties"), KTI RECYCLING OF NEW JERSEY, INC., a Delaware corporation, KTI RECYCLING OF NEW ENGLAND, INC., a Delaware corporation, KTI RECYCLING OF ILLINOIS, INC., a Delaware corporation (each a "Sub-Buyer"), and KTI RECYCLING, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), (Buyer and Sub-Buyers are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as "Buyer Parties"). WHEREAS, Seller and Sub-Sellers own and operate recycling and paper processing facilities located in Newark, New Jersey (the "Newark Facility"); Charlestown, Massachusetts (the "Boston Facility"), and Franklin Park, Illinois (the "Chicago Facility") (collectively, the "Facilities") which are engaged in the business of processing waste paper and commingled post consumer recyclables (the "Business"); and WHEREAS, on July 12, 1996 (the "Filing Date"), Seller Parties commenced in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (the "Bankruptcy Court") cases under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101, et seq. (the "Bankruptcy Code"), assigned Case Nos. 96-26125 (WT) through 96-26134 (WT) (the "Chapter 11 Case"); WHEREAS, Seller Parties wish to sell to Buyer Parties, and Buyer Parties wish to purchase from Seller Parties, the Acquired Assets (as defined below), subject to the entry of an order of the Bankruptcy Court authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby and subject to the terms and other conditions hereinafter set forth; and WHEREAS, in contemplation of the purchase and sale of the Acquired Assets Seller Parties and Buyer signed a term sheet (the "Term Sheet") on April 21, 1997 (the "Term Sheet Date"). NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF ACQUIRED ASSETS SECTION 1.1. PURCHASE AND SALE. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing (as hereinafter defined), Seller Parties shall jointly and severally sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer Parties, and Buyer Parties shall jointly and severally purchase from Seller Parties, all of Seller Parties' rights, title and interest in, to and under the Acquired Assets (as hereinafter defined). SECTION 1.2. ACQUIRED ASSETS AND EXCLUDED ASSETS. (a) The term "Acquired Assets" as used herein means the business, properties, assets, goodwill and rights of all Seller Parties, of every nature, kind and description, tangible and intangible, wheresoever located and whether or not carried or referred to on the books and records of any Seller Party, except the Excluded Assets as set forth in Section 1.2(b). The Acquired Assets include, without limitation, all of the Seller Parties' right, title and interest in and to the business, properties, assets, goodwill and rights described below: (i) those contracts, leases, agreements, commitments and other arrangements, whether oral or written, to which any Seller Party is a party or by which any Seller Party is bound or to which any Seller Party shall become a party or by which any Seller Party shall be bound prior to the Closing, and which are listed in Schedule 1.2(a)(i) or which are designated by Buyer, by written notice given to Seller prior to the Closing Date, as "Accepted Contracts" for purposes hereof; (ii) all waste processing and recycling facilities, including without limitation all of each Seller Party's right, title and interest in and to the Facilities and any real estate, and all related assets, machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures, including without limitation all of such items as are listed in Schedule 1.2(a)(ii); (iii) all accounts receivable, including without limitation accounts receivable from parties to contracts which are not Accepted Contracts, owed to any Seller Party on the Closing Date; (iv) all patents (including reissues, divisions, continuations, and extensions thereof), patent applications, trademarks, trademark registrations, trademark registration applications, servicemarks, trade names, all other names and slogans embodying business, product or service goodwill or copyrights, including without limitation such as are listed in Schedule 1.2(a)(iv); (v) all trade secrets, discoveries, inventions, know-how, formulae, processes, procedures, drawings, plans, designs, features, data, research, records of inventions, computer software, source code, test information, market surveys, marketing know-how and the like, including without limitation such of the foregoing as were produced, developed or prepared, or as are under production, development or preparation, by any employee, agent or contractor of any Seller Party; (vi) all permits, concessions, licenses, franchises, approvals and authorizations by governmental or regulatory authorities or bodies ("Governmental Entities") held by any Seller Party (all of the foregoing, "Permits") and which are transferable (with or without approval of any Governmental Entity), including without limitation the Permits listed in Schedule 1.2(a)(vi); (vii) all covenants, conditions, warranties, representations and guarantees made or given by suppliers, manufacturers and contractors, subject to any conditions to which such rights are subject; (viii) all of the goodwill and going concern value of the Business, and all of each Seller Party's books of account, general, financial, accounting and personnel records, files, invoices, customers' and suppliers' lists, technical documents, manuals, management software tools, databases, computer tapes and other operating data relating to the Acquired Assets; (ix) all cash and deposit accounts and all securities, together with all records of each Seller Party relating thereto; provided that the capital stock of any Sub-Seller shall be an Acquired Asset only if Buyer shall so elect at or prior to the Closing; and (x) all claims, causes of actions, and suits which any Seller Party has or may have against third parties, and all claims, causes of actions, suits and rights which any Seller Party may have under the Operation and Maintenance Agreement dated as of April 21, 1997 (the "O&M Agreement") between Seller and KTI Operations, Inc ("Manager"): (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Acquired Assets shall not be deemed to include the following "Excluded Assets": (i) Any claims, causes of actions or suits for a preference or voidable transfer which any Seller Party may have under the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code against any person; (ii) All of each Seller Party's right, title and interest in and to those contracts, leases, agreements, commitments and other arrangements, whether oral or written, to which such Seller Party is a party or by which such Seller Party is bound or to which such Seller Party shall become a party, other than Accepted Contracts (collectively, "Rejected Contracts"); (iii) the capital stock of all Sub-Sellers, except to the extent that Buyer elects at or prior to the closing that such capital stock shall be Acquired Assets; (iv) all rights of each Seller Party under this Agreement; (v) all Permits that are not transferable and for which requisite approval to transfer to a Buyer Party is not obtained as of the Closing Date; and (vi) all assets of Seller Parties to be transferred, returned, sold or otherwise conveyed to a third party consistent with the settlement reached by Seller Parties, Ally Capital Corp. and American Waste Control of New York, as set forth on the record of the hearing held before the Bankruptcy Court on March 6, 1997 and embodied in a stipulation executed to date by Seller Parties and Ally Capital Corp. and previously provided to Buyer. SECTION 1.3. ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN LIABILITIES. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing Buyer shall, or shall cause a Sub-Buyer to, assume and agree to pay, perform and discharge when due, and indemnify Seller from and after the Closing from, such trade payables which are owing and unpaid by any Seller Party as of the Closing and which were incurred by Seller Parties (i) in the ordinary course of business after the Filing Date and (ii) not in material breach of any provision of O&M Agreement (such trade payables being hereinafter referred to as the "Post-Petition Trade Payables"); provided, that Buyer shall not assume hereunder, and each Seller Party shall remain solely responsible for the payment of, all Post-Petition Trade Payables to the extent that the aggregate amount thereof exceeds $500,000. To the extent that, in the reasonable determination of Buyer, the aggregate amount of all Post-Petition Trade Payables outstanding as of the Closing exceeds $500,000, Buyer shall, on such basis as it deems reasonable, determine which Post-Petition Trade Payables it (and/or Sub-Buyers) will assume hereunder. (b) Buyer agrees to perform and discharge, or to cause a Sub-Buyer to perform and discharge, all liabilities and obligations incurred after the Closing under all Accepted Contracts which, (i) upon the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and at the prior written direction of Buyer, are assumed by Buyer pursuant to Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) are not assumable by Seller pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code but the parties to each such Accepted Contract have, prior to the Closing, consented in writing (on terms at least as favorable as the pre-default contract terms) to the assignment of such Accepted Contract to such Buyer Party (each of the foregoing, an "Assumed Contract"). Except pursuant to Section 1.3(a), Buyer Parties shall not assume hereunder, and each Seller Party shall remain solely responsible for, the payment and performance of, all obligations incurred prior to the Closing by such Seller Party under all Assumed Contracts. (c) Buyer does not hereby agree to perform, discharge or in any other way be liable for, contingently or otherwise, any liabilities or other obligations of Seller Parties of whatsoever nature or description and whenever incurred other than as expressly set forth in Section 1.3(a) and (b) above (hereinafter, "Excluded Liabilities"). SECTION 1.4. PURCHASE PRICE. (a) The purchase price for the Acquired Assets shall be $13,100,000, as such amount may be decreased as provided in this Section 1.4 or pursuant to Section 6.1(c) (the "Purchase Price"). Subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the Purchase Price shall be payable as follows: (i) Cash in the amount of $5,600,000 shall be paid by Buyer on the Closing Date to such person or persons as Seller shall direct; (ii) A promissory note dated as of the Closing Date from Buyer in principal amount equal to the greater of (x) $2,000,000 or (y) the lesser of (A) $4,800,000 and (B) 75% of the Eligible Accounts Receivables (as such term is defined under the revolving and term loan and security agreement dated April 13, 1995 between Seller Parties and PNC Bank, National Association, successor to Midlantic Bank, N.A., ("PNC") and the documents executed and delivered pursuant thereto (the "Loan Documents")) having an age of 90 days or less as of the Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit A; (iii) A promissory note dated as of the Closing Date from Buyer in the principal amount of $2,700,000, in the form of Exhibit B (the "Chicago Purchase Note"); (iv) A promissory note dated as of the Closing Date from Buyer in principal amount equal to the lesser of (x) $2,800,000 and (y) the difference between (A) $7,500,000 and (B) the aggregate original principal amount of the promissory notes referenced in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, in the form of Exhibit C. (b) In order to secure payment of the promissory notes referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 1.4(a) (the "Purchase Notes"), (i) Buyer shall, on the Closing Date, cause KTI, Inc. ("KTI") to execute and deliver to Seller a Guarantee Agreement in the form of Exhibit D, (ii) all Buyer Parties shall, on the Closing Date, enter into a Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit E, and (iii) Buyer shall pledge to Seller all of the stock of each Sub-Buyer in the form of Exhibit F. (c) To the extent that any Acquired Assets, other than inventory sold in the ordinary course, have been or are sold by Seller or any Sub-Seller during the period from and including the Term Sheet Date through and including the Closing Date to any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, business association or other entity (all of the foregoing, "Persons"), the Purchase Price payable shall be reduced, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, by the amounts paid or payable by the buyers of such assets. Any grant by Seller or any Sub-Seller after the Term Sheet Date to anyone other than Buyer of any right, by lease or otherwise, to use or possess any Acquired Asset after the Closing shall, unless such right was granted upon the prior written approval of the Manager (which consent may be withheld by the Manager in its sole discretion), be deemed to be a "sale" by such Seller Party for purposes hereof. The provisions of this Section 1.4(c) shall not be deemed in limitation of the rights and remedies of Buyer hereunder or under applicable law in the event that any Acquired Assets are sold in breach of Seller Parties' obligations under Section 4.4. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that no surrender to or repossession by a secured party of property (other than property subject to the first priority lien of PNC) securing such party's claims ("Third Party Lien") that is made with the consent of Buyer nor any repossession of property subject to a Third Party Lien by the holder thereof following entry of an order modifying the automatic stay of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code shall be deemed a sale for purposes of this Section 1.4(c); provided, however, that each Seller Party (consistent with the financial resources available to it and taking into account the effect on the Business of the Chapter 11 case) shall make all payments necessary to avoid repossession of property included in the Acquired Assets unless otherwise consented to by the Manager. (d) Seller agrees that the Purchase Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the sum of (i) any amounts drawn by PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC") on the Letter of Credit referred to in paragraph 1 of the agreement between Buyer and PNC dated as of April 21, 1997 (the "Chicago Agreement"), and (ii) interest accrued thereon through the Closing Date as provided in paragraph 3 of the Chicago Agreement. Any such reduction shall be applied first, by deeming the amount thereof as a prepayment made as of the Closing Date of the principal amount (as reduced if at all, pursuant to Section 6.1(c)) of the Chicago Purchase Note, and thereafter by reducing the amount payable under Section 1.4(a)(i). ARTICLE II THE CLOSING SECTION 2.1. CLOSING DATE. The closing of the sale and transfer contemplated hereby (hereinafter called the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Dorsey & Whitney LLP located at 250 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10177, commencing at 10:00 a.m. on the first business day after the satisfaction or waiver by the appropriate parties of each of the conditions precedent set forth in Article V hereof (other than those conditions that by their nature (e.g. execution of documents) will be satisfied on the Closing Date) unless some other time, date and place is mutually agreed among the parties hereto (such date of the Closing is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date"). All transactions contemplated hereunder to take place at Closing shall be deemed to be simultaneous. SECTION 2.2. TRANSACTIONS TO BE EFFECTED AT THE CLOSING. At the Closing: (a) Seller Parties shall deliver to Buyer Parties (i) such duly executed or endorsed bills of sale, certificates of title, instruments of assignment and transfer, deeds and other instruments which are required by law or are customary to sell, assign, transfer, convey or deliver the Acquired Assets to Buyer Parties. None of the foregoing documents shall contain any representations, warranties or agreements on the part of any Seller Party inconsistent with or supplementary to the representations, warranties and agreements of Selling Parties contained herein. Particular Acquired Assets shall be transferred at the Closing pursuant to the foregoing documents to such Buyer Party or Parties as Buyer shall direct. (b) Buyer shall pay to Seller the cash portion of the Purchase Price by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to such account(s) of such Person or Persons as shall be specified by Seller. ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SECTION 3.1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER. Each Seller Party jointly and severally hereby represents and warrants to Buyer Parties that, except as set forth in Schedule 3.1: (a) Organization, Standing and Power. Such Seller Party is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has the requisite power and authority to own the Acquired Assets owned by it and to carry on the Business conducted by it except to the extent the failure of such Seller Party to be in good standing does not have and might reasonably be expected not to have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Assets or the Business, taken as a whole, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a "Material Adverse Effect"). Seller has heretofore delivered to Buyer true and complete copies of such Seller Party's certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as amended through the date of this Agreement. (b) Authority. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Seller Party and, upon confirmation of the Plan by the Bankruptcy Court, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Seller Party enforceable in accordance with its terms. (c) No Violation. Subject to the confirmation of the Plan by the Bankruptcy Court (and except to the extent that the confirmed Plan removes or resolves any violation, conflict, default, adverse right, loss or requirement referred to in (i) or (ii) below), the execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the compliance with the terms hereof will not, (i) violate any law, judgment, order, decree, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to such Seller Party or (ii) conflict with any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of such Seller Party. (d) Power to Transfer; Consents. (i) Upon confirmation of the Plan by the Bankruptcy Court, such Seller Party will have the authority to enter into this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by it pursuant hereto and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. (ii) Except for the Chapter 11 Case, such Seller Party is not a party to, subject to or bound by any judgment, order, writ, prohibition, injunction or decree of any Governmental Entity, and no action or proceeding is pending against such Seller Party, which if adversely determined against such Selling Party would prevent the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Seller Party. (e) Location of Tangible Assets. All tangibles assets are located at the Facilities or at such other location(s) as are set forth in Schedule 3.1(e). (f) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Such Seller Party is in compliance in all respects with all laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, rules and orders of all Governmental Entities applicable to it, the Business or to the Acquired Assets ("Applicable Laws") other than those Applicable Laws the non-compliance with which does not have and might reasonably be expected not to have a Material Adverse Effect; all real property used by such Seller Party in connection with the Business is usable for its current purposes without violating any Applicable Laws other than those Applicable Laws the non-compliance with which does not have and might reasonably be expected not to have a Material Adverse Effect; and such Seller Party has not received any written notification of any asserted violation of any Applicable Law or commencement of any governmental investigation or review with respect thereto, except for those written notifications which have been resolved by such Seller Party to the satisfaction of the Governmental Entity giving such notice. Such Seller Party has all Permits required for the operation of the Business other than those Permits the absence of which does not have and might reasonably be expected not to have a Material Adverse Effect. (g) Litigation; Decrees. There is no suit, action, investigation or proceeding which is pending or, to the knowledge of such Seller Party, threatened against or affecting Seller Party which, if adversely determined against such Seller Party, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or body outstanding relating to the Acquired Assets, the Business or the transactions contemplated hereby which if adversely determined might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. (h) Insurance. Schedule 3.1(h) contains a true and complete list and brief description of all casualty, liability, business interruption and other insurance policies and fidelity bonds held by such Seller Party in connection with the Business or any Acquired Assets. Such Seller Party is in material compliance with the conditions contained in such policies and bonds. Such Seller Party does not self-insure or has not self-insured any material risks with respect to or materially affecting the Business or the Acquired Assets, except to the extent of any deductibles under the policies set forth in Schedule 3.1(h). (i) Sufficiency of Acquired Assets; Scope of Acquired Assets. Except for the Excluded Assets, the Acquired Assets to be transferred to Buyer Parties at the Closing shall comprise all the business, properties, assets and goodwill used in connection with the Business and that in all material respects are necessary for the conduct of the Business as the Business was conducted as of the Term Sheet Date. (j) Real Properties. The Seller Parties have good and marketable title to and are the lawful owners of the Acquired Assets. In the case of real property owned or leased by any Seller Party, all uses thereof by any Seller Party are legal conforming uses under Applicable Laws except to the extent that any non-conforming use does not have and might reasonably be expected not to have a Material Adverse Effect. (k) Real Property Leases. Schedule 3.1(k) hereto lists all leases pursuant to which any Seller Party is in possession of or otherwise uses any real property and includes complete and accurate legal descriptions of such leased real property (collectively, the "Real Property Leases"). (l) Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.1(l) is a true and complete list and description of all capital stock held of record or beneficially by any Seller Party. (m) Disclosure. All written information furnished by or on behalf of Seller Party to Buyer in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is accurate in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact which is necessary to make the information furnished not misleading. SECTION 3.2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER. Each Buyer Party hereby jointly and severally represents and warrants to Seller Parties that: (a) Organization, Standing and Power. Such Buyer Party is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted. (b) Authority. Such Buyer Party has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on such Buyer Party. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Buyer Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Buyer Party enforceable in accordance with its terms except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that the availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. (c) No Violation; Consents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (i) violate any law, judgment, order, decree, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to such Buyer Party, (ii) conflict with any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of such Buyer Party or (iii) require any consent, approval, order, decree authorization of, or the registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity; or (iv) require on the part of Buyer Party or any consent, approval, or order of any non-Governmental Entity. ARTICLE IV COVENANTS SECTION 4.1. PLAN OF REORGANIZATION. Seller, following the execution and delivery hereof, will prepare a plan of reorganization and disclosure statement (the "Plan") which incorporates (and is not in any way inconsistent with) the sale of assets contemplated hereunder and will file the Plan with the Bankruptcy Court and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Bankruptcy Court to enter an order confirming the Plan. The Plan shall be consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, and the Bankruptcy Court order shall include those decretal paragraphs substantially in the form set forth in Schedule 4.1. SECTION 4.2. PRELIMINARY ORDER OF BANKRUPTCY APPROVAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Bankruptcy Court to enter an order pursuant to the motion filed with the Bankruptcy Court on April 25, 1997, approving the O&M Agreement, Seller's Break-Up Fee obligations under Section 4.9 of this Agreement, and Seller's no solicitation and topping amount obligations under Section 4.8 of this Agreement (the "Preliminary Order"). SECTION 4.3. INVESTIGATION BY BUYER. Without in any way limiting the rights of Manager under the O&M Agreement, Seller shall permit the officers, accountants, attorneys and other representatives of Buyer to make such investigations of the Business and Acquired Assets as Buyer deems necessary or advisable in order to familiarize itself with such business, properties, assets and other matters; Buyer and its representatives shall at all times have full and complete access to the premises and to all books and records of all Seller Parties relating to the Business; and Seller shall furnish to Buyer all financial and operating data and other information with respect to the Business and the Acquired Assets as Buyer shall from time to time reasonably request. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, Buyer shall have a period of time ending forty-five days (45) days after entry of the Preliminary Order (the "Environmental Due Diligence Period") during which Buyer may conduct due diligence of Seller with regard to environmental matters (the "Environmental Due Diligence"), Seller shall provide to Buyer such assistance in Buyer's conduct of the Environmental Due Diligence as Buyer may reasonably request, and Seller shall disclose in writing to Buyer within no more than [ ] days after the date of entry of the Preliminary Order all environmental conditions at the Facilities of which Seller is aware and which are or may be required by applicable law to be remediated (irrespective of the estimated costs of such remediation). SECTION 4.4. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Except as may otherwise be authorized, recommended or approved by Manager under the O&M Agreement or consented to by Buyer or directed by the Bankruptcy Court, each Seller Party shall use best efforts (consistent with the financial resources available to it and taking into account the effect on the Business of the Chapter 11 Case) to: (i) cause the operations of the Business to be conducted in the same manner and under the same business policies as were in effect prior to the Term Sheet Date; (ii) not enter into any transactions or any contracts other than in the ordinary and usual course of business; (iii) not take any action which may materially adversely affect the normal conduct of the Business; (iv) maintain and keep the Acquired Assets in good repair, working order and condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted; (v) keep in full force and effect insurance comparable in the amount and scope of coverage to that now maintained by it; (vi) not enter into any employment agreement with any of the employees of Seller or Sub-Sellers, or grant or pay to any of them any increase in compensation other than in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice; (vii) perform in all material respects its obligations under all material contracts and material commitments applicable to the Business; (viii) not amend any material contract or material commitment applicable to the Business; (ix) maintain on a basis consistent with past practices all books and records of such Seller Party relating to the Business conducted by it so as to reflect in all material respects correctly, accurately and completely the affairs, assets, income, revenues, costs and expenses of the Business conducted by it; and (x) maintain and preserve the business organization and material contracts of the Business. Anything in the O&M Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no Seller Party shall, except upon the prior written consent of Buyer or, in the case of the consummation of a sale of assets which was not solicited by Seller, upon the consent of the Bankruptcy Court, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Acquired Assets, other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business. Seller (or a Sub-Seller, as appropriate) shall assume for purposes of Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code such Accepted Contracts as Buyer directs from time to time, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the Bankruptcy Court's approval thereof. Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to give Seller sufficient notice of the Accepted Contracts to be assumed as may be necessary for such assumption to be approved by the Bankruptcy Court on or about the date of confirmation of the Plan subject to the occurence of the Closing. To the extent that any Accepted Contract is not assumable by Seller (or a Sub-Seller) under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the Closing Date, such consents as may be necessary for the assignment of such Accepted Contracts to Buyer (or a Sub-Buyer). SECTION 4.5. COVENANTS OF SELLER RELATING TO CUSTOMERS. (a) Seller Parties shall, at and/or after the Closing as may be requested by Buyer, provide written notice, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, to all parties who owe amounts evidenced by accounts receivable that are included in the Acquired Assets of the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance and delivery contemplated hereby of such accounts receivable and direct such parties to make any and all payments in respect of such accounts receivable to Buyer in accordance with procedures and details specified in such notice. Any such payments received by a Seller Party after the Closing shall be held by such Seller Party in trust for the benefit of Buyer and shall immediately be forwarded by such Seller Party in the form received and without recourse to such Seller Party. (b) From and after the Closing, Buyer Parties shall have the right and authority to collect for its own account all accounts receivable and other items that are included in the Acquired Assets and to endorse with the name of any Seller Party any checks or drafts received with respect to any such trade accounts. SECTION 4.6. LEGAL CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. Each of Buyer and Seller will take all reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed on it with respect to the Closing and will promptly cooperate with and furnish information to each other and to other parties in connection with any such legal requirements. Each of Buyer and Seller will take all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with each other in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any Person required to be obtained or made by it in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. SECTION 4.7. PURCHASE PRICE ALLOCATION. On or prior to the Closing Date, Seller and Buyer shall mutually agree, and shall be bound in all respect thereby, on an allocation of the Purchase Price among the Acquired Assets according to the relative fair market values of such assets on the Closing Date. If Seller and Buyer are unable to agree on such fair market values, Seller and Buyer shall elect an independent appraisal firm to determine such values. The conclusions of such appraisal firm shall be conclusive and binding in all respects. The fees and expenses of such appraisal firm shall be shared equally by Seller and Buyer. Neither party shall take a position inconsistent with any allocation determined in accordance with this Section 4.7 in any document or filing, including any Tax return, report or form. SECTION 4.8. DEALINGS WITH OTHERS/TOPPING AMOUNT. Prior to July 31, 1997, Seller may not, directly or indirectly, through any officer, director, agent or otherwise, solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage submission of proposals or offers from any person relating to the Acquired Assets; provided, that nothing herein shall preclude Seller from responding to inquiries from, providing due diligence information to, or providing notice of the transactions contemplated hereby and of any related hearings to, any interested party as required by Seller's fiduciary obligations under applicable law. In the event that another purchaser offers to buy substantially the same assets (other than the Chicago Facility) as the Buyer proposes to purchase, the value of the offer of any such purchaser must exceed the consideration payable hereunder by the amount of $300,000 before such offer may be accepted by Seller. Seller shall promptly notify Buyer if any proposal or offer with respect to the Acquired Assets (other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course) is made or if Seller sends to any third party any information in the nature of due diligence materials and shall, in any such notice to Buyer, indicate in reasonable detail the identify of the offeror or recipient and the terms and conditions of any proposal or offer. SECTION 4.9. BREAK-UP FEE In the event that any of the assets to be sold under this Agreement (with the exception of the Chicago Facility) are sold to another purchaser, Buyer shall be entitled to a break-up fee from Seller (the "Break-Up Fee") payable from the proceeds from such sale equal to the lesser of $250,000 or 150% of Buyer Parties' out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, reasonably incurred in connection with this transaction; provided, that neither KTI nor any Buyer Party have defaulted in any of their respective obligations under this Agreement. In the event of any objection to the amount of attorneys' fees payable hereunder after notice thereof to Seller, the unsecured creditors committee and the United States Trustee, approval of such fees will sought from the Bankruptcy Court. SECTION 4.10. POST-CLOSING COVENANT OF BUYER After the Closing, Buyer shall make available to Seller such employees of Buyer as may be reasonably appropriate and necessary to assist Seller in its performance of any post-Closing obligations it may have to Buyer Parties hereunder or to the Bankruptcy Court; provided, that Seller reimburses Buyer for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in making available to Seller any such employees, and that Seller pays Buyer an amount equal to Buyer's full overhead costs (including salary and benefits) for the time such employees are made available to Seller. SECTION 4.11. COVENANT TO RESOLVE LITIGATION, INJUNCTION OR RESTRAINTS With the exception of any action brought by a party hereto for breach of any other party's obligation under this Agreement or any other agreement between such parties, in the event that any Conflicting Legal Action (as hereinafter defined) is pending before any Governmental Entity prior to the Closing, Seller Parties and Buyer Parties covenant to use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve the same expeditiously in such manner as to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof. ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT SECTION 5.1. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER PARTIES. The obligations of the Seller Parties to sell, assign, convey and deliver the Acquired Assets to Buyer on and as of the Closing are subject to the prior satisfaction of the following conditions: (a) Approvals. All authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings with, any Governmental Entity or any other Person necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or filed or shall have occurred. (b) No Litigation, Injunctions, or Restraints. There shall be no suit, action, or other proceeding pending before any Governmental Entity in which it is sought to directly or indirectly restrain, prohibit, invalidate, delay or set aside in whole or in part the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to obtain material damages in connection therewith, and no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect (any of the foregoing, "Conflicting Legal Action"). (c) Plan. The Bankruptcy Court shall have entered an order confirming the Plan consistent with Section 4.1, any pre-Closing conditions required by such confirmation to be performed by Buyer Parties shall have been satisfied and the confirmation order shall not be subject to any stay on the first business day after the expiration of the tenth calendar day from the entry thereof or such other date as may be fixed for the Closing Date in accordance with Section 2.1. (d) Performance of Obligations of Buyer Parties. Buyer Parties shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations and conditions required to be performed by them under this Agreement prior to or as of the Closing Date, and Seller shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on Buyer's behalf by its chief executive officer or other authorized officer to such effect. (e) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each Buyer Party set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date and Seller shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of each Buyer Party by the chief executive officer of each such Buyer Party to such effect. SECTION 5.2. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER PARTIES. The obligations of Buyer Parties to purchase the Acquired Assets on and as of the Closing are subject to the prior satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (a) Approvals. All authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings with, any Governmental Entity required by law for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or filed or shall have occurred. (b) No Litigation, Injunctions, or Restraints. There shall be no Conflicting Legal Action pending. (c) Plan. The Bankruptcy Court shall have entered an order confirming the Plan consistent with Section 4.1, any pre-Closing conditions required by such confirmation to be performed by Seller Parties shall have been satisfied and the confirmation order shall not be subject to any stay on the first business day after the expiration of the tenth calendar day from the entry thereof or such other date as may be fixed for the Closing Date in accordance with Section 2.1. (d) Performance of Obligations of Seller Parties. Seller shall have paid, or PNC shall have paid or agreed to pay, such amount as may be required under Section 6.1(b), and Seller Parties shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all other obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement prior to or as of the Closing Date, and Buyer shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on Seller's behalf by its chief executive officer or other authorized officer to such effect. (e) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each Seller Party set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects to the knowledge of all Seller Parties after due inquiry as of the date of this Agreement and as of June 16, 1997, and Seller shall have promptly notified Buyer to the extent that it determines after June 16, 1997 that any such representation and warranty is not true and correct in all material respects; in addition, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, no such representation or warranty shall be untrue or incorrect in any respect so as to frustrate the essential purpose of Buyer Parties in entering into this Agreement; and Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of each Seller Party by the chief executive officer of each such Seller Party to such effect. To the extent that any representation or warranty in any provision of this Agreement is qualified therein by a materiality or "Material Adverse Effect" standard, the materiality qualification set forth in this subsection (e) shall not apply. (f) Transfer of Key Assets. Seller Parties shall be in possession and control of those Acquired Assets listed in Schedule 5.2(f) so as to be able to sell, transfer and assign such Acquired Assets (the "Key Assets") to Buyer Parties as required pursuant to the provisions hereof, and no Key Assets shall have either been destroyed or otherwise adversely affected so as to make such Key Assets no longer fit for the intended use or purpose thereof. (g) No Material Adverse Change. No material adverse change shall have occurred prior to the Closing, unrelated to Buyer Parties, KTI or Manager, that frustrates the essential purpose of Buyer Parties in consummating the transactions contemplated hereby. (h) Permits. All transferable Permits shall have been transferred to Buyer (and/or Sub-Buyers) and all approvals necessary for such transfer effective as of the Closing Date shall have been obtained, and Buyer (and/or Sub-Buyers) shall have obtained replacement permits for any non-transferable Permits; provided, that if the transfer of any Permit has not been so made or approved and no replacement permit therefor shall have been obtained, the condition in this paragraph (i) shall nonetheless be deemed to have been satisfied (x) if Buyer, in its sole discretion, elects to include within the Acquired Assets all capital stock of the Sub-Seller which holds such Permit, provided that such capital stock is transferred to Buyer (or a Sub-Buyer) at the Closing on a basis and pursuant to documentation such that, in the reasonable determination of Buyer, neither such Sub-Seller nor any Buyer Party may be directly or indirectly responsible or liable for any liabilities or obligations other than those expressly required by this Agreement to be assumed or discharged by Buyer Parties, and/or (y) if Seller with the consent of PNC, in its sole discretion, elects to extend the Closing Date to a date no sooner than thirty (30) days after the date of entry of the Confirmation Order, provided that during such extension period Seller shall have provided all assistance reasonably required by Buyer (or a Sub-Buyer) to obtain the transfer, approval for transfer or replacement of such Permit. (i) Certain Contracts. The aggregate amount of waste tonnage processed at the Newark Facility, the Chicago Facility and the Boston Residential Facility (i.e., not including the Boston Commercial Facility) during the most recent four (4) calendar week period prior to the Closing Date for which reliable information is available, as adjusted for seasonal factors based on the historical performance of such Facilities, shall have equaled or exceeded ninety percent (90%) of the aggregate amount of waste tonnage processed at such Facilities during the four (4) calendar weeks commencing April 6, 1997, less any such tonnage relating to contracts which have been terminated at the recommendation of the Manager, and Seller shall have furnished to Buyer such evidence thereof as Buyer may have reasonably requested. ARTICLE VI TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER SECTION 6.1. TERMINATION. (a) This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned at any time prior to the Closing: (i) by mutual written consent of Seller and Buyer; (ii) by Buyer on written notice to Seller if any material adverse change shall have occurred, unrelated to Buyer Parties, KTI or Manager that frustrates the essential purpose of Buyer Parties in consummating the transactions contemplated hereby; or (iii) by Buyer or Seller on written notice given to the other party if the Plan has not been confirmed, for any reason whatsoever, on or before September 30, 1997 or if the conditions hereunder to such party's obligations hereunder have not been satisfied on or before the fifteenth day after the date to which Closing was extended pursuant to 5.2(h). (b) If during the Environmental Due Diligence Period, it is determined that the estimated costs of remediation of any environmental conditions at any Facilities (other than the Chicago Facility) required under applicable law (exclusive of "soft costs", such as consulting and engineering fees) exceeds $50,000, excluding any amounts indemnified against by any third party reasonably acceptable to Buyer (and with respect to such indemnification no counterclaims or offsets have been asserted), then Buyer may give notice to Seller not later than the end of the Environmental Due Diligence Period (or if such day is not a business day, then the next succeeding business day) of Buyer's intention to terminate this Agreement. This Agreement may thereafter be terminated by Buyer unless, at or prior to the Closing Date, Seller has paid to Buyer or PNC has paid or promises in writing to pay Buyer at Closing the excess of such costs over $50,000. (c) In the event that (i) it is determined that the estimated costs of remediation of any environmental conditions at the Chicago Facility required under applicable law (exclusive of soft costs) exceeds $50,000, excluding any amounts indemnified against by any third party reasonably acceptable to Buyer (and with respect to such indemnification no counterclaims or offsets have been asserted), and (ii) Seller has not paid to Buyer or PNC has not paid or has not promised in writing to pay Buyer at Closing the excess of such costs over $50,000, then Buyer may elect in its sole discretion at Closing not to purchase the Chicago Facility, and if Buyer so elects, then the Chicago Facility will not be included in the Acquired Assets at Closing and the Purchase Price shall be reduced by $2,000,000 (such reduction to be applied against the principal amount of the Chicago Purchase Note). SECTION 6.2. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto and consented to by PNC and except, if the Preliminary Order has been entered, upon approval by the Bankruptcy Court. By an instrument in writing, Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, may waive compliance by Seller Parties or Buyer Parties, respectively, with any term or provision of this Agreement that such other party was or is obligated to comply with or perform. ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS SECTION 7.1. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing (including wire, telex, telecopy or similar writing) and shall be sent, delivered or mailed, addressed, telexed or telecopied: (a) If to Buyer, to KTI RECYCLING, INC. 7000 Boulevard East Guttenberg, New Jersey 07093 Attention: Mr. Martin J. Sergi, President Facsimile No.: (201) 854-1771 with copies to: Dorsey & Whitney LLP 220 South Sixth Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Attention: Diane D. Malfeld, Esq. Facsimile No.: (612) 340-2643 (b) If to Seller Parties, to PRINS RECYCLING CORP. 150 St. Charles Street Newark, New Jersey 07105 Attn.: Clifford H. Straub Facsimile No.: (201) 344-2303 with a copies to: Rosenman & Colin 575 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Jeff J. Friedman, Esq. Facsimile No.: (212) 940-8776 and: Sills Cummis Zuckerman Radin Tischman Epstein & Gruss, PA One Riverfront Plaza Newark, New Jersey 07102 Attention: Ira Rosenberg, Esq. Facsimile No.: (201) 643-6500 Each such notice, request or other communication shall be given (i) by hand delivery, (ii) by nationally recognized courier service or (iii) by facsimile transmission, with a copy by first class mail. Each such notice, request or communication shall be effective (i) if delivered by hand or by nationally recognized courier service, when delivered at the address specified in this Section 7.1 (or in accordance with the latest written direction from such party) and (ii) if given by facsimile transmission, when such facsimile transmission is transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section 7.1 (or in accordance with the latest written direction from such party). SECTION 7.2. INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, Article, Schedule or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section, Article, Schedule or Exhibit of 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 "included," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." References to a Person are also to its successors and assigns and references to any statute are also to all rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder. All accounting terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings determined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. "Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the first Person. SECTION 7.3. NO SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS; NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and in any document delivered in connection herewith shall not survive the Closing. Buyer Parties acknowledge and agree that no Seller Party has made any representation or warranty in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby except as expressly set forth herein, and that except as expressly set forth herein the Acquired Assets are being purchased by Buyer Parties on an "AS IS, WHERE IS" basis. Wherever in this Agreement reference is made to the "actual knowledge" or "awareness" of Seller or any other Seller Party, such shall be construed to mean the knowledge of all managerial or supervisory personnel of all Seller Parties. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event any of the Seller Parties breaches or violates any of their respective representations or warranties under this Agreement made or deemed made at or prior to the Closing or agreements under this Agreement to be performed prior to or by the Closing, the sole and exclusive remedy of Buyer Parties shall be as provided in Sections1.4(b), 4.9 and 6.1. SECTION 7.4. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement (or any portion thereof), or the application of any such provision (or any portion thereof), to any person, place or circumstances, shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or void, the remainder of this Agreement and such provisions as applied to other persons, places and circumstances shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 7.5. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. SECTION 7.6. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) together with the Chicago Purchase Agreement (i) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings (including the Term Sheet), both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (ii) are not intended (except as expressly provided in Section 6.2) to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder. The obligations of Buyer under the Chicago Agreement, to the extent not inconsistent with the obligations of Buyer hereunder, shall not survive the execution hereof. For avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge that the obligations of the parties thereto under the Chicago Agreement will not survive the Closing. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is being executed and delivered without the attachments (other than Schedule 4.1 and Exhibits A through E) referred to in the other provisions hereof. This Agreement shall be of no force and effect unless all such attachments are completed and agreed upon to the satisfaction of each of Seller and Buyer by no later than June 16, 1997. SECTION 7.7. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE RESOLVED IN THE BANKRUPTCY COURT AND THE PARTIES HERETO EACH SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR SUCH PURPOSE. SECTION 7.8. PUBLICITY. Except in connection with seeking the confirmation of the Plan, as provided for in Section 4.1, and except as may be required by applicable law, so long as this Agreement is in effect, Seller Parties shall not issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the consent of Buyer, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. SECTION 7.9. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations of the parties hereto hereunder shall be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of all other parties hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and assigns. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers as of the day and year first written above. KTI RECYCLING OF ILLINOIS, INC. KTI RECYCLING, INC. By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel Its: President Its: President KTI RECYCLING OF NEW JERSEY, INC. KTI RECYCLING OF NEW ENGLAND, INC. By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel By: /s/ Robert E. Wetzel Its: President Its: President PRINS RECYCLING CORP., A PRINS RECYCLING CORP., A NEW YORK CORPORATION DELAWARE CORPORATION By: /s/ Fred Prins By: /s/ Fred Prins Its: President and Its: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer PRINS RECYCLING (MASS) CORP. PRINS OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC. By: /s/ Fred Prins By: /s/ Fred Prins Its: President and Its: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer PRINS OF NEWARK, INC. PRINS RECYCLING (MARYLAND) C/B/A RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC. CORP. By: /s/ Fred Prins By: /s/ Fred Prins Its: President and Its: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer PAPER CHASE EXCHANGE, INC. PRINS RECYCLING CORP. BASIC WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. By: /s/ Fred Prins By: /s/ Fred Prins Its: President and Its: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer PRINS OF NEWARK II, INC. D/B/A VIC BARICK PAPER CO., INC. S. PEPE & SONS, INC. By: /s/ Fred Prins By: /s/ Fred Prins Its: President and Its: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----