AMSCAN HOLDINGS INC
SC 13D, 1997-08-20
PAPER & PAPER PRODUCTS
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     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 20, 1997
                                                                             





                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                                         


                                   SCHEDULE 13D
                                  (RULE 13D-101)

                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                              AMSCAN HOLDINGS, INC.
                                 (NAME OF ISSUER)


                      COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE
                          (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   03216N 10 3
                                  (CUSIP Number)



                                                         

                             DAVID J. GREENWALD, ESQ.
                               GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                 85 BROAD STREET
                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
                                  (212) 902-1000
   (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices
                               and Communications)



                                 AUGUST 10, 1997
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

                                                         


                If the filing person has previously filed a statement
           on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the
           subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this statement
           because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following
           box:  [  ]




                                                                        <PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              AF; OO

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              DELAWARE

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              CO


                                PAGE 2 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              OO

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              DELAWARE

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              PN


                                PAGE 3 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II OFFSHORE, L.P.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              OO

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              CAYMAN ISLANDS

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              PN


                                PAGE 4 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II (GERMANY) C.L.P.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              OO

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              GERMANY

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              PN


                                PAGE 5 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GS ADVISORS, L.P.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              AF

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              DELAWARE

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              PN


                                PAGE 6 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GS ADVISORS II (CAYMAN), L.P.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              AF

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              CAYMAN ISLANDS

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              PN


                                PAGE 7 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. OHG

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              AF

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              GERMANY

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,024,616
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,024,616

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,024,616

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.2%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              PN


                                PAGE 8 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              WC; AF; OO

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                      / X /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              NEW YORK

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,035,525
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,035,525

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,035,535

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.3%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              BD; PN; IA


                                PAGE 9 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                   SCHEDULE 13D

         CUSIP NO.  03216N 10 3

         1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
              SS. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
              THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.

         2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                             (a)  /  /
                                                             (b)  /  /

         3.   SEC USE ONLY


         4.   SOURCE OF FUNDS

              WC; AF

         5.   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
              PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(e) OR 2(f)                       /  /

         6.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

              DELAWARE

                             7.   SOLE VOTING POWER
             NUMBER OF               -0-
              SHARES         8.   SHARED VOTING POWER
           BENEFICIALLY              15,035,535
             OWNED BY
               EACH          9.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
             REPORTING               -0-
              PERSON
               WITH          10.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                     15,035,535

         11.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
              PERSON

              15,035,535

         12.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES
              CERTAIN SHARES                                      /  /

         13.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

              71.3%

         14.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

              HC; PN


                               PAGE 10 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






         ITEM 1.   SECURITY AND ISSUER

                   This Statement on Schedule 13D (the "Schedule 13D")
         relates to the Common Stock, par value $.10 per share (the
         "Common Stock"), of Amscan Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
         corporation (the "Issuer").  The principal executive offices of
         the Issuer are located at 80 Grasslands Road, Elmsford, New
         York 10523.


         ITEM 2.   IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

                   This Schedule 13D is filed jointly by Confetti
         Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Confetti"), GS
         Capital Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
         ("GSCP II"), GS Capital Partners II Offshore, L.P., a Cayman
         Islands exempted limited partnership ("GSCP II Offshore"), GS
         Capital Partners II (Germany) C.L.P., a German civil law
         partnership ("GSCP II Germany" and, together with GSCP II and
         GSCP II Offshore, "GSCP"), GS Advisors, L.P., a Delaware
         limited partnership ("GS Advisors"), GS Advisors II (Cayman),
         L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership ("GS
         Advisors Cayman"), Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG, a German general
         partnership ("GS oHG"), Goldman, Sachs & Co., a New York
         limited partnership ("Goldman Sachs"), and The Goldman Sachs
         Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("GS Group" and,
         together with Confetti, GSCP, GS Advisors, GS Advisors Cayman,
         GS oHG and Goldman Sachs, the "Reporting Persons").  Goldman
         Sachs and GS Group may be deemed, for purposes of this Schedule
         13D, to own beneficially 15,024,616 shares of Common Stock
         through GSCP of which affiliates of Goldman Sachs and GS Group
         are the general partner or the managing partner.  In addition,
         each of GS Advisors, GS Advisors Cayman and GS oHG is an
         affiliate of Goldman Sachs and GS Group.  Goldman Sachs and GS
         Group each disclaim ownership of shares of Common Stock
         beneficially owned by GSCP to the extent of partnership
         interests in GSCP held by persons other than GS Group or its
         affiliates.  Goldman Sachs and GS Group may also be deemed to
         own beneficially 7,000 shares of Common Stock held as of August
         10, 1997 in client accounts with respect to which Goldman Sachs
         or employees of Goldman Sachs have voting or investment
         discretion, or both ("Managed Accounts").  Goldman Sachs and GS
         Group disclaim beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock
         held in Managed Accounts.  In addition, Goldman Sachs
         beneficially owned as of August 10, 1997 an additional 3,909
         shares of Common Stock acquired in ordinary course trading
         activities.  The agreement between the Reporting Persons
         relating to the joint filing of this Schedule 13D is attached
         as Exhibit 1 hereto.

                   Confetti was formed to effect the proposed
         transactions described in Item 4 below and has not engaged in
         any activities other than those incident to its formation and

                               PAGE 11 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





         such proposed transactions.  All of the common stock of
         Confetti is owned by GSCP and GS Group.  The present directors
         and officers of Confetti are Messrs. Terence M. O'Toole, Joseph
         P. DiSabato and Sanjeev Mehra, each of whom has been a director
         since the formation of Confetti.  Mr. O'Toole serves as
         Chairman of the Board and President of Confetti, Mr. DiSabato
         as Vice President and Treasurer, and Mr. Mehra as Vice
         President and Secretary.  The present principal occupations of
         the directors of Confetti are as follows:  Messrs. O'Toole and 
         Mehra are Managing Directors of Goldman Sachs, and Mr. DiSabato
         is an associate of Goldman Sachs.  Each of GSCP II, GSCP II 
         Offshore and GSCP II Germany was
         formed for the purpose of investing in equity and equity-
         related securities primarily acquired or issued in leveraged
         acquisitions, reorganizations and other private equity
         transactions.  GS Advisors is the sole general partner of GSCP
         II, GS Advisors Cayman is the sole general partner of GSCP II
         Offshore, and GS oHG is the sole managing partner of GSCP II
         Germany.  Goldman Sachs is an investment banking firm and a
         member of the New York Stock Exchange and other national
         exchanges.  Goldman Sachs also serves as the investment manager
         for GSCP.  GS Group, one of the general partners of Goldman
         Sachs, owns a 99% interest in Goldman Sachs.  GS Group is a
         holding partnership that (directly or indirectly through
         subsidiaries or affiliated companies or both) is a leading
         investment banking organization.  The other general partner of
         Goldman Sachs is The Goldman, Sachs & Co. L.L.C., a Delaware
         limited liability company ("GS L.L.C."), which is a wholly
         owned subsidiary of GS Group and The Goldman Sachs Corporation,
         a Delaware corporation ("GS Corp.").  GS Corp. is the sole
         general partner of GS Group.  The principal business address of
         each of Goldman Sachs, GS Group, GS Advisors, GS Corp., GS
         L.L.C., GSCP II and Confetti and the directors and officers of
         Confetti is 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004.  The
         principal business address for each of GSCP II Offshore and GS
         Advisors Cayman is c/o Maples and Calder, P.O. Box 309, Grand
         Cayman, Cayman Islands.  The principal business address for
         each of GSCP II Germany and GS oHG is MesseTurm Friedrich-
         Ebert-Anlage 49, 60308 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 

                   The name, business address, present principal
         occupation or employment and citizenship of each director of GS
         Corp. and GS L.L.C. and of each member of the executive
         committees of GS Corp., GS L.L.C., GS Group and Goldman Sachs
         are set forth on Schedule I hereto and are incorporated herein
         by reference.  The name, business address, present principal
         occupation or employment and citizenship of each director and
         executive officer of GS Advisors, Inc. and GS Advisors II,
         Inc., each a Delaware corporation and the sole general partner
         of GS Advisors and GS Advisors Cayman, respectively, are set
         forth in Schedule II-A hereto and are incorporated herein by
         reference.  The name, business address, present principal
         occupation or employment and citizenship of each Managing
         Director of Goldman, Sachs & Co. Finanz GmbH which is the


                               PAGE 12 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





         managing partner of GS oHG are set forth in Schedule II-B
         hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

                   During the last five years, none of the Reporting
         Persons, or, to the best knowledge of each of the Reporting
         Persons, any of the directors and officers of Confetti or the
         persons listed on Schedules I or II-A or II-B hereto, (i) has
         been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic
         violations or similar misdemeanors); or (ii) except as set
         forth on Schedule III hereto, has been a party to a civil
         proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent
         jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is
         subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future
         violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject
         to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation
         with respect to such laws.


         ITEM 3.   SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION

                   As more fully described in Item 4 hereof, Confetti,
         has entered into the Voting Agreement described in Item 4 with
         the Estate of John A. Svenningsen (the "Estate") and Christine
         Svenningsen, the wife of John A. Svenningsen and the executrix
         of the Estate (the "Individual"), who are the beneficial owners
         of 15,024,616 shares of Common Stock (the "Subject Shares").
         Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, the Estate and the Individual
         have, among other things, granted Confetti an irrevocable
         option (the "Option") to acquire the Subject Shares, in whole
         and not in part, at a price of $9.83 per share in cash (the
         "Share Exercise Price"), subject to certain conditions set
         forth in the Voting Agreement, exercisable during the 90-day
         period following a termination of the Merger Agreement (as
         defined below), other than pursuant to a termination upon
         mutual consent of the Issuer and Confetti or pursuant to a
         termination by the Issuer based on an actual material breach by
         Confetti of its obligations under the Merger Agreement.  If
         Confetti were to exercise the Option in full and pay the Share
         Exercise Price in cash, the funds required would be
         approximately $147,691,975.  In the event that Confetti
         purchases the Subject Shares pursuant to the Option, it will be
         required to make a cash tender offer for the remaining shares
         of Common Stock not held by it at a price of $16.50 per share,
         subject to certain conditions set forth in the Voting
         Agreement.  It is currently anticipated that funds for the
         exercise of the Option and the cash tender offer would be
         provided from general funds available to Confetti and its
         affiliates and by borrowings from sources yet to be determined.

                   The Estate and the Individual entered into the Voting
         Agreement to induce Confetti to enter into the Merger
         Agreement.



                               PAGE 13 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





         ITEM 4.   PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

                   On August 10, 1997, the Issuer and Confetti entered
         into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement")
         providing for a recapitalization of the Issuer in which
         Confetti will be merged (the "Merger") with and into the
         Issuer, with the Issuer as the surviving corporation.

                   At the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective
         Time"), each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding
         immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) shares
         of Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer or
         any subsidiary of the Issuer or by Confetti or any subsidiary
         of Confetti and (ii) shares of Common Stock subject to
         dissenters' rights) will be converted, at the election of each
         of the Issuer's stockholders, into the right to receive from
         the Issuer following the Merger, either (A) $16.50 in cash (the
         "Cash Consideration") or (B) $9.33 in cash plus a retained
         interest in the Issuer equal to one share of Common Stock for
         every 150,000 shares held by such stockholder (the "Mixed
         Consideration"), with fractional shares of Common Stock to be
         paid in cash.  The obligations of the parties to the Merger
         Agreement to effect the Merger are subject to certain
         conditions, and prior to the Effective Time, Confetti or the
         Issuer may terminate the Merger Agreement under certain
         circumstances, in each case as set forth in the Merger
         Agreement.  If consummated, the Merger will result in GSCP and
         its affiliates becoming the controlling stockholders of the
         Issuer.  The Merger is expected to be financed with an equity
         contribution of approximately $67.5 million (including
         contributions of Common Stock by certain employee stockholders
         and including issuances of restricted stock), $130 million from
         a senior debt facility and $110 million from the issuance of
         senior subordinated debt.  Confetti and GSCP have received a
         commitment from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. with respect
         to the senior debt facility and a highly confident letter from
         Goldman Sachs with respect to the senior subordinated debt.

                   If the Merger is completed as planned, (i) the board
         of directors of the Issuer will initially consist of the
         directors of Confetti at the time of the Merger and (ii) the
         officers of the Issuer will remain as the officers of the
         Issuer after the Effective Time, in each case until their
         successors are duly elected or appointed (as the case may be)
         and qualified.  At the Effective Time, (i) the certificate of
         incorporation of the Issuer, as in effect immediately prior to
         the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated so as to read
         in its entirety in the form set forth as Exhibit A to the
         Merger Agreement and (ii) the by-laws of Confetti as in effect
         immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of
         the Issuer.  The authorized capital stock of Confetti consists
         of 10,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.10 per share,
         1,000 of which are issued and outstanding as of the date
         hereof, all of which are owned by GSCP and GS Group.

                               PAGE 14 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                   Upon consummation of the Merger, the Issuer intends
         to seek (i) to have the shares of Common Stock cease to be
         listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc.'s ("Nasdaq") National
         Market and (ii) if in conformity with applicable law and
         regulation, to have the shares of Common Stock deregistered
         under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act").

                   Because approval of the Issuer's stockholders is
         required by applicable law in order to consummate the Merger,
         the Issuer will submit the Merger to its stockholders for
         approval.  In connection with the Merger, Confetti has entered
         into a Voting Agreement, dated as of August 10, 1997 (the
         "Voting Agreement"), with the Estate and the Individual,
         pursuant to which the Estate and the Individual have, among
         other things, (i) agreed to vote all their shares of Common
         Stock (approximately 71.2% of the shares of Common Stock
         outstanding as of July 31, 1997) in favor of the Merger and
         against certain competing transactions (the "Voting Actions"),
         and to elect the Mixed Consideration in the Merger with respect
         to all such shares (together with the Merger, the "Merger
         Related Actions") and (ii) agreed not to sell or transfer any
         of their shares of Common Stock prior to the Effective Time or
         termination of the Voting Agreement.  In addition, pursuant to
         the Voting Agreement, the Estate and the Individual have
         granted to Confetti a proxy to vote the Subject Shares in
         accordance with clause (i) of the preceding sentence with
         respect to the Voting Actions, which proxy is irrevocable
         during the term of the Voting Agreement and coupled with an
         interest.  The Estate and the Individual have also agreed to
         waive any rights of appraisal available in the Merger and to
         take or refrain from taking certain other actions.

                   The covenants and agreements contained in the Voting
         Agreement with respect to the Subject Shares will terminate
         upon the earliest of (x) the Effective Time of the Merger, (y)
         the termination of the Merger Agreement based upon mutual
         consent of the Issuer and Confetti or the termination by the
         Issuer based on an actual material breach by Confetti of its
         obligations under the Merger Agreement, or (z) the 91st day
         following another termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant
         to its terms (after which termination the Option becomes
         exercisable), subject to certain extensions if the Option has
         been exercised but the closing of such exercise has not
         occurred.

                   In the event that Confetti purchases the Subject
         Shares pursuant to the Option, it will be required to make a
         cash tender offer for the remaining shares of Common Stock not
         held by it at a price of $16.50 per share, subject to certain
         conditions set forth in the Voting Agreement.

                   The preceding summary of certain provisions of the
         Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement is not intended to be

                               PAGE 15 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





         complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
         full text of such agreements, copies of which are filed as
         Exhibits 2 and 3 hereto, and which are incorporated herein by
         reference.

                   Other than as described above, none of the Reporting
         Persons or, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, any of
         the directors and officers of Confetti or the persons listed on
         Schedules I or II-A or II-B hereto, has any plans or proposals
         that relate to or would result in any of the actions described
         in subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D
         (although, subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement,
         they reserve the right to develop such plans).


         ITEM 5.   INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

                   (a) As of August 10, 1997, none of Confetti, GSCP, GS
         Advisors, GS Advisors Cayman or GS oHG owned any shares of
         Common Stock.  However, as of August 10, 1997, under the
         definition of "beneficial ownership" as set forth in Rule 13d-3
         under the Exchange Act, Confetti may be deemed to have
         beneficially owned the Subject Shares subject to the Voting
         Agreement, constituting in the aggregate approximately 71.2% of
         the outstanding shares of Common Stock (based on the number of
         shares of Common Stock outstanding as of July 31, 1997).

                   If Confetti were to exercise the Option, Confetti
         would have the power to vote all of the Subject Shares and
         power to dispose of all of the Subject Shares.  In addition, in
         the event that Confetti purchases the Subject Shares pursuant
         to the Option, it will be required to make a cash tender offer
         for the remaining shares of Common Stock not held by it at a
         price of $16.50 per share, subject to certain conditions set
         forth in the Voting Agreement.  Confetti would have the power
         to vote and to dispose of all of such shares of Common Stock
         acquired in such cash tender offer.  With respect to the Merger
         Related Actions, Confetti has the power to vote the Subject
         Shares in accordance with the terms of the Voting Agreement.
         Unless and until Confetti or its designee, if any, acquires the
         Subject Shares upon exercise of the Option, and except as set
         forth above, neither Confetti nor such designee, if any, has
         any power to dispose of any Subject Shares.  GSCP II, GSCP II
         Offshore and GSCP II Germany, by the action of their respective
         sole general partners or managing partners, GS Advisors, GS
         Advisors Cayman and GS oHG, and Goldman Sachs and GS Group,
         have the shared power to direct the voting of the Subject
         Shares with respect to the Merger Related Actions, in
         accordance with the terms of the Voting Agreement, and, upon
         exercise of the Option, would have the shared power to direct
         the voting of and the disposition of (i) the Subject Shares, in
         accordance with the terms of the Voting Agreement, and (ii) any
         shares of Common Stock acquired by Confetti in the cash tender
         offer described above.

                               PAGE 16 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                   Goldman Sachs and GS Group may, for purposes of this
         Schedule 13D, be deemed to beneficially own the Subject Shares
         through GSCP and Confetti.  In addition, Goldman Sachs and GS
         Group beneficially owned, as of August 10, 1997, 3,909 shares
         of Common Stock acquired in ordinary course trading activities
         of Goldman Sachs and may be deemed to beneficially own as of
         August 10, 1997, the 7,000 shares of Common Stock held in the
         Managed Accounts.  Based on such holdings, Goldman Sachs and GS
         Group could be deemed to beneficially own as of August 10,
         1997, less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
         Neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor any of its contents
         shall be deemed to constitute an admission that any Reporting
         Person is the beneficial owner of the Common Stock referred to
         in this paragraph for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange
         Act or for any other purpose, and such beneficial ownership is
         expressly disclaimed (except with respect to the 3,909 shares
         of Common Stock beneficially owned by Goldman Sachs and GS
         Group as described above).  None of the Reporting Persons, and,
         to the knowledge of each of the Reporting Persons, none of the
         directors and officers of Confetti or the other persons listed
         on Schedules I or II-A or II-B, beneficially owns any shares of
         Common Stock other than as set forth herein.

                   (b)  Each Reporting Person shares the power to vote
         or direct the vote and dispose or direct the disposition of
         shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Reporting
         Person as indicated in pages 2 through 10 above.

                   (c)  Except as set forth on Schedule IV hereto and
         except as described in Item 4 hereof, no transactions in the
         Common Stock were effected by the Reporting Persons, or, to the
         best knowledge of any of the Reporting Persons, any of the
         directors and officers of Confetti or the persons listed on
         Schedules I or II-A or II-B hereto, during the 60-day period
         preceding August 10, 1997.  The purchases and sales set forth
         on Schedule IV were effected by Goldman Sachs in the Nasdaq
         National Market.

                   (d)  Until the Option is exercised (if at all), none
         of the Reporting Persons (including Confetti and its designee,
         if any) has a right to receive dividends from, or the proceeds
         from the sale of, the Subject Shares.  If the Option is
         exercised by Confetti, Confetti or its designee, if any, would
         have the sole right to receive dividends on the Subject Shares.

                   Clients of Goldman Sachs have the right to receive or
         power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds
         from the sale of, shares of Common Stock held in the Managed
         Accounts.

                   Pursuant to an Agreement, dated October 9, 1996,
         among Gerald C. Rittenberg ("Rittenberg"), John Svenningsen and
         Amscan Inc., a New York corporation, now a wholly owned
         subsidiary of the Issuer, in the event that the Estate should

                               PAGE 17 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





         sell any of its shares of Common Stock in any public or private
         sale during the period commencing on December 18, 1996 and
         continuing as long as Rittenberg is employed during the initial
         three year term of his employment agreement with the Issuer and
         further continuing during the three year or shorter period
         during which a certain restrictive covenant is enforceable
         under such agreement, the Estate will pay to Rittenberg an
         amount equal to five percent of the net proceeds of such sale.

                   (e)  Not applicable.


         ITEM 6.   CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR
                   RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE
                   ISSUER.

                   Except as set forth in this Schedule 13D, to the best
         knowledge of the Reporting Persons, there are no other
         contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal
         or otherwise) among the persons named in Item 2 or listed on
         Schedules I or II-A or II-B hereto, and between such persons
         and any person with respect to any securities of the Issuer,
         including but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the
         securities of the Issuer, joint ventures, loan or option
         arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees or profits, division of
         profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies, or a
         pledge or contingency the occurrence of which would give
         another person voting power over the securities of the Issuer.


         ITEM 7.   MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.


              1.   Joint Filing Agreement, dated August 20, 1997, among
                   Goldman, Sachs & Co., The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.,
                   GS Advisors, L.P., GS Advisors II (Cayman), L.P.,
                   Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG, GS Capital Partners II,
                   L.P., GS Capital Partners II Offshore, L.P., GS
                   Capital Partners II (Germany) C.L.P. and Confetti
                   Acquisition, Inc., relating to the filing of a joint
                   statement on Schedule 13D.

              2.   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 10,
                   1997, between Amscan Holdings, Inc. and Confetti
                   Acquisition, Inc.

              3.   Voting Agreement, dated as of August 10, 1997, among
                   Confetti Acquisition, Inc., the Estate of John A.
                   Svenningsen and Christine Svenningsen.






                               PAGE 18 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                    SIGNATURE

                   After reasonable inquiry and to the best of each of
         the undersigned's knowledge and belief, the undersigned
         certifies that the information set forth in this statement is
         true, complete and correct.


         Dated: August 20, 1997


                                CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

                                By:  /s/ Terence M. O'Toole
                                   Name:  Terence M. O'Toole
                                   Title: President


                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors, L.P.
                                       its general partner

                                   By: GS Advisors, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President


                                GS ADVISORS, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President














                               PAGE 19 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II OFFSHORE, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors II (Cayman), L.P.
                                       its general partner

                                   By: GS Advisors II, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President


                                GS ADVISORS II (CAYMAN), L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors II, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President


                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II (GERMANY) C.L.P.

                                   By: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. OHG,
                                       its managing partner

                                   By: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                       Finanz GmbH, its managing partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Attorney-in-Fact 


                                GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. OHG

                                   By: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                       Finanz GmbH, its managing partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Attorney-in-Fact 







                               PAGE 20 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Managing Director


                                THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.

                                   By: The Goldman Sachs Corporation,
                                       its general partner

                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Executive Vice President







































                               PAGE 21 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit        Description


              1.        Joint Filing Agreement, dated August 20, 1997,
                        among Goldman, Sachs & Co., The Goldman Sachs
                        Group, L.P., GS Advisors, L.P., GS Advisors II
                        (Cayman), L.P., Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG, GS
                        Capital Partners II, L.P., GS Capital Partners
                        II Offshore, L.P., GS Capital Partners II
                        (Germany) C.L.P. and Confetti Acquisition, Inc.,
                        relating to the filing of a joint statement on
                        Schedule 13D.

              2.        Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August
                        10, 1997, between Amscan Holdings, Inc. and
                        Confetti Acquisition, Inc.

              3.        Voting Agreement, dated as of August 10, 1997,
                        among Confetti Acquisition, Inc., the Estate of
                        John A. Svenningsen and Christine Svenningsen.

































                               PAGE 22 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                                    SCHEDULE I

                   The name of each director of The Goldman Sachs
         Corporation and The Goldman, Sachs & Co. L.L.C. and of each
         member of the executive committees of The Goldman Sachs
         Corporation, The Goldman, Sachs & Co. L.L.C., The Goldman Sachs
         Group, L.P. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. is set forth below.

                   The business address of each natural person listed
         below except John A. Thain and John L. Thornton is 85 Broad
         Street, New York, NY 10004.  The business address of John A.
         Thain and John L. Thornton is 133 Fleet Street, London EC4A
         2BB, England.  Each person is a citizen of the United States of
         America.  The present principal occupation or employment of
         each of the listed persons is as a managing director of
         Goldman, Sachs & Co. or another Goldman, Sachs & Co. operating
         entity and a member of the executive committee.


         Jon Z. Corzine

         Henry M. Paulson, Jr.

         Roy J. Zuckerberg

         Robert J. Hurst

         John A. Thain

         John L. Thornton
























                               PAGE 23 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                                  SCHEDULE II-A


                   The name, position and present principal occupation
         of each director and executive officer of GS Advisors, Inc.,
         the sole general partner of GS Advisors, L.P., which is the
         sole general partner of GS Capital Partners II, L.P., and GS
         Advisors II, Inc., the sole general partner of GS Advisors II
         (Cayman), L.P., which is the sole general partner of GS Capital
         Partners II Offshore, L.P., are set forth below.

                   The business address for all the executive officers
         and directors listed below except Henry Cornell is 85 Broad
         Street, New York, NY 10004.  The business address of Henry
         Cornell is 3 Garden Road, Hong Kong.

                   All executive officers and directors listed below are
         citizens of the United States of America.


  Name                   Position                  Present Principal Occupation

  Richard A. Friedman    Director/President        Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  Terence M. O'Toole     Director/Vice President   Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  Carla H. Skodinski     Vice President/Secretary  Vice President of Goldman,
                                                   Sachs & Co.

  Elizabeth S. Cogan     Treasurer                 Vice President of Goldman,
                                                   Sachs & Co.

  Joseph H. Gleberman    Director/Vice President   Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  Henry Cornell          Vice President            Managing Director of Goldman
                                                   Sachs (Asia) L.L.C.

  Barry S. Volpert       Director/Vice President   Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  Eve M. Gerriets        Vice President/           Vice President of Goldman,
                         Assistant Secretary       Sachs & Co.

  David J. Greenwald     Assistant Secretary       Vice President of Goldman,
                                                   Sachs & Co.

  C. Douglas Fuge        Assistant Treasurer       Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.



                               PAGE 24 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                                  SCHEDULE II-B


                   The name, position and present occupation of each
         executive officer and director of Goldman, Sachs & Co. Finanz
         GmbH which is the managing partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG
         are set forth below.

                   The business address for Paul M. Achleitner and Ernst
         Tschoeke is MesseTurm, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 49, 60308
         Frankfurt am Main, Germany.  The business address for Philip D.
         Murphy is 3 Garden Road, Hong Kong.

                   Philip D. Murphy is a citizen of the United States of
         America.  Paul M. Achleitner is a citizen of Austria.  Ernst
         Tschoeke is a citizen of Germany.

  Name and Business                                Present Principal
  Address                Position                  Occupation       

  Paul M. Achleitner     Managing Director         Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  Philip D. Murphy       Managing Director         Managing Director of
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  Ernst Tschoeke         Managing Director         Director of 
                                                   Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG


























                               PAGE 25 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>







                                   SCHEDULE III


                   In settlement of Securities and Exchange Commission
         Administrative Proceeding File NO. 3-7646 In the Matter of the
         Distribution of Securities Issued by Certain Government
         Sponsored Enterprises, Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the "Firm"), along
         with numerous other securities firms, without admitting or
         denying any of the findings of the Securities and Exchange
         Commission (the "SEC") consented to the entry of an Order,
         dated January 16, 1992.  The SEC found that the Firm, in
         connection with its participation in the primary distributions
         of certain unsecured debt securities issued by Government
         Sponsored Enterprises ("GSEs"), made and kept certain records
         that did not accurately reflect the Firm's customers' orders
         for GSEs' securities and/or offers, purchases or sales by the
         Firm of the GSEs' securities effected by the Firm in violation
         of Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended (the "Exchange Act"), and 17 C.F.R. Sections 240.17a-3
         and 240.17a-4.

                   The Firm was ordered to cease and desist from
         committing or causing future violations of the aforementioned
         sections of the Exchange Act in connection with any primary
         distributions or unsecured debt securities issued by the GSEs,
         pay a civil money penalty to the United States Treasury in the
         amount of $100,000 and maintain policies and procedures
         reasonably designed to ensure the Firm's future compliance with
         the aforementioned sections of the Exchange Act in connection
         with any primary distributions of unsecured debt securities
         issued by the GSEs.

                   In Securities and Exchange Commission Administrative
         Proceeding File No. 3-8282 In the Matter of Goldman, Sachs &
         Co., the Firm, without admitting or denying any of the SEC's
         allegations, settled administrative proceedings involving
         alleged books and records and supervisory violations relating
         to eleven trades of U.S. Treasury securities in the secondary
         markets in 1985 and 1986.  The SEC alleged that the Firm had
         failed to maintain certain records required pursuant to Section
         17(a) of the Exchange Act and had also failed to supervise
         activities relating to the aforementioned trades in violation
         of Section 15(b)(4)(E) of the Exchange Act.

                   The Firm was ordered to cease and desist from
         committing or causing any violation of the aforementioned
         sections of the Exchange Act, pay a civil money penalty to the
         SEC in the amount of $250,000 and establish policies and
         procedures reasonably designed to assure compliance with
         Section 17(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4
         thereunder.


                               PAGE 26 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>







                                   SCHEDULE IV

                              Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                               Cusip No. 03216N103

         PURCHASED      SOLD     PRICE   TRADE DATE     SETTLEMENT DATE
         ---------      ----     -----   ----------     ---------------
             1,400               13.25    30-Jun-97            3-Jul-97
                       1,400     13.25    30-Jun-97            3-Jul-97
                         180    13.125    11-Jun-97           16-Jun-97
             1,700                  13    13-Jun-97           18-Jun-97
               200                  13    13-Jun-97           18-Jun-97
               100                  13    13-Jun-97           18-Jun-97
             1,800                  13    13-Jun-97           18-Jun-97
               200                  13    13-Jun-97           18-Jun-97
                       4,000    13.125    13-Jun-97           18-Jun-97
             3,000                12.5    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
               200                12.5    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
               200     1,900    12.625    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
                         300    12.625    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
                       7,300        13    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
             1,000              12.875    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
             1,000              12.875    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
             2,600              12.875    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
               400              12.875    16-Jun-97           19-Jun-97
                       1,000    13.125    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
                       1,000     13.25    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
                         900    13.375    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
             1,700                  13    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
               100                  13    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
               200                  13    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
             1,700                  13    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
               300                  13    17-Jun-97           20-Jun-97
                           1     13.25    18-Jun-97           23-Jun-97
                         100     13.25    18-Jun-97           23-Jun-97
               200                12.5    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
                         150     13.25    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
                       2,000     12.75    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
                         120     13.25    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
             1,700                12.5    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
               200                12.5    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
               100                12.5    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
             1,700                12.5    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
               300                12.5    19-Jun-97           24-Jun-97
             1,000               12.35    20-Jun-97           25-Jun-97
             4,500             12.9861    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
                       4,200        13    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
                          90     13.25    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
                       4,300     13.25    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97




                               PAGE 27 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                              Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                               Cusip No. 03216N103

         PURCHASED      SOLD     PRICE   TRADE DATE     SETTLEMENT DATE
         ---------      ----     -----   ----------     ---------------
             8,700              12.975    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
             1,100              12.975    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
               200              12.975    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
                      15,000   13.0833    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
             8,800              12.975    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
             1,200              12.975    23-Jun-97           26-Jun-97
                         200     12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
                       1,000     12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
                       1,000    12.125    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
                         500    12.125    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
                         100      12.5    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
             1,000              11.625    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
             3,000               12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
               400               12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
               100               12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
             3,100               12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
               400               12.25    24-Jun-97           27-Jun-97
                       2,000    12.375    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         700      12.5    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                       6,300    12.375    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         130    12.875    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
            27,400                  12    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
             1,800                  12    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
             8,500               12.25    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                       6,200    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         400    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                       1,700    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                       2,100    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         800    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         300    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         800    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                         100    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                      15,300    12.125    25-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
                       1,600    12.125    26-Jun-97           30-Jun-97
            10,000              12.875    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                       2,500     12.75    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                       2,000     12.75    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                       4,000     12.75    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                       2,000        13    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                         110    13.125    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                      10,000        13    26-Jun-97            1-Jul-97
                       1,100    13.125    27-Jun-97            2-Jul-97
                       1,500    13.125    27-Jun-97            2-Jul-97
             2,500            12 11/16    30-Jun-97            3-Jul-97
                       1,900     12.75    30-Jun-97            3-Jul-97
             2,500             12.4375     1-Jul-97            7-Jul-97
                          80    12.875     1-Jul-97            7-Jul-97


                               PAGE 28 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                              Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                               Cusip No. 03216N103
         PURCHASED      SOLD     PRICE   TRADE DATE     SETTLEMENT DATE
         ---------      ----     -----   ----------     ---------------
             2,700               12.75     1-Jul-97            7-Jul-97
             2,500               12.75     1-Jul-97            7-Jul-97
             1,000              12.375     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
                       5,000      12.5     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
             1,000                  12     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
             1,500              11.875     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
             5,000                  12     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
               500                  12     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
                         150    12.125     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
             2,500              12.125     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
                      25,000     12.15     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
             5,000              12.125     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
                       5,000    12.125     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
            20,000              12.125     2-Jul-97            8-Jul-97
               100              11.875     3-Jul-97            9-Jul-97
             1,500              11.875     3-Jul-97            9-Jul-97
                         500    12.375     7-Jul-97           10-Jul-97
                         120    12.125     7-Jul-97           10-Jul-97
                       2,000    12.375     8-Jul-97           11-Jul-97
             1,000                  12     8-Jul-97           11-Jul-97
                          70    12.375     8-Jul-97           11-Jul-97
                       2,000   12.4375     9-Jul-97           14-Jul-97
             1,000              11.875    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
             1,000              11.625    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
             1,000               11.25    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                       1,000     11.25    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
               345               11.25    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                       2,500    11.375    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
            50,000              11.475    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
            25,000              11.375    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                      11,200        12    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                       1,800        12    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                         200   11.4375    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                      35,300   11.4375    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                      14,500   11.4375    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                      10,000      11.5    10-Jul-97           15-Jul-97
                       1,500      11.5    10-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
             4,000               11.25    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
             8,600                  11    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
                       5,000     11.25    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
                      42,500   11.1985    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
            14,000              11.074    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
            20,000                  11    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
             3,200                  11    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
             4,000               11.25    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
                      10,000     11.25    11-Jul-97           16-Jul-97
               227                  11    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
                      30,000    11.125    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97


                               PAGE 29 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                              Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                               Cusip No. 03216N103

         PURCHASED      SOLD     PRICE   TRADE DATE     SETTLEMENT DATE
         ---------      ----     -----   ----------     ---------------
                       2,000    11.125    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
                       2,000    11.125    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
            20,000             11.0313    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
            10,000             11.0625    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
             1,700             11.0625    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
             1,000                  11    14-Jul-97           17-Jul-97
                60                  11    15-Jul-97           18-Jul-97
                         130    11.625    16-Jul-97           21-Jul-97
                      25,000    11.125    17-Jul-97           22-Jul-97
            12,500                  11    17-Jul-97           22-Jul-97
            12,500                  11    17-Jul-97           22-Jul-97
            89,900              11.375    18-Jul-97           23-Jul-97
                         500      11.5    18-Jul-97           23-Jul-97
                      36,000      11.5    18-Jul-97           23-Jul-97
                       8,500      11.5    18-Jul-97           23-Jul-97
                      45,000      11.5    18-Jul-97           23-Jul-97
             2,000                  11    21-Jul-97           24-Jul-97
                       1,000    11.625    21-Jul-97           24-Jul-97
                       1,000    11.875    21-Jul-97           24-Jul-97
             1,000                12.5    21-Jul-97           24-Jul-97
                       2,500    11.875    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
             1,000              11.875    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
             1,000              11.875    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
             1,000               12.25    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
                       2,500     12.75    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
                          70    12.625    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
             1,000                12.5    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
             1,000                12.5    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
                       2,000    12.625    22-Jul-97           25-Jul-97
                       2,000        12    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
                         160    12.625    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               800              11.875    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               200              11.875    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               200              11.875    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               200              11.875    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               200              11.875    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               200              11.875    24-Jul-97           29-Jul-97
               900               11.75    25-Jul-97           30-Jul-97
                         160    12.625    25-Jul-97           30-Jul-97
                       1,000    12.625    28-Jul-97           31-Jul-97
               500              11.625    29-Jul-97            1-Aug-97
                         200    12.625    30-Jul-97            4-Aug-97
                          10    12.625    30-Jul-97            4-Aug-97
                         200    12.625    30-Jul-97            4-Aug-97
                         200    12.125    30-Jul-97            4-Aug-97
                         200    12.625    30-Jul-97            4-Aug-97
                         200    12.625    30-Jul-97            4-Aug-97


                               PAGE 30 OF 31 PAGES<PAGE>






                              Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                               Cusip No. 03216N103

         PURCHASED      SOLD     PRICE   TRADE DATE     SETTLEMENT DATE
         ---------      ----     -----   ----------     ---------------
             1,000              11.625    31-Jul-97            5-Aug-97
                       1,700    12.125    31-Jul-97            5-Aug-97
             1,000                  12    31-Jul-97            5-Aug-97
               400                  12    31-Jul-97            5-Aug-97
               400                  12    31-Jul-97            5-Aug-97
               500              11.625     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
               200              11.625     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
               800              11.625     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
             1,000              11.625     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
                       3,500    12.125     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
                          90    12.125     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
               900                  12     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
             2,500                  12     4-Aug-97            7-Aug-97
             1,000              11.375     5-Aug-97            8-Aug-97
               200              11.125     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
                       1,600    11.875     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
                       1,000    11.875     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
                       1,000    11.875     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
                         250    11.875     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
               100              11.125     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
                         200    11.875     6-Aug-97           11-Aug-97
                       1,000    11.875     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
                       1,000    11.875     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
                       2,000    11.875     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
                       3,000    12.125     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
             1,000                  12     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
                         110    12.125     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
               600              11.125     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
               600              11.125     7-Aug-97           12-Aug-97
                       1,000    12.125     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
                       1,000        12     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
                         100    12.125     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
            50,000              11.875     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
                      42,300        12     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
                      25,000        12     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
                         250        12     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97
             2,000                  12     8-Aug-97           13-Aug-97












                               PAGE 31 OF 31 PAGES







                                                               EXHIBIT 1

                              JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

                   In accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) promulgated under
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
         undersigned agree to the joint filing of a Statement on
         Schedule 13D (including any and all amendments thereto) with
         respect to the shares of Amscan Holdings, Inc. and further
         agree to the filing of this agreement as an Exhibit thereto.
         In addition, each party to this Agreement expressly authorizes
         each other party to this Agreement to file on its behalf any
         and all amendments to such Statement on Schedule 13D.


         Dated:  August 20, 1997.


                                CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

                                By:  /s/ Terence M. O'Toole
                                   Name:  Terence M. O'Toole
                                   Title: President


                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors, L.P.
                                       its general partner

                                   By: GS Advisors, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President


                                GS ADVISORS, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President







                                <PAGE>





                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II OFFSHORE, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors II (Cayman), L.P.
                                       its general partner

                                   By: GS Advisors II, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President


                                GS ADVISORS II (CAYMAN), L.P. 

                                   By: GS Advisors, II, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: President


                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II (Germany) C.L.P.

                                   By: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. oHG,
                                       its managing partner

                                   By: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                       Finanz GmbH, its managing partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Attorney-in-Fact 


                                GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. oHG

                                   By: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                                       Finanz GmbH, its managing partner


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Attorney-in-Fact 







                               <PAGE>





                                GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Managing Director


                                THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.

                                   By: The Goldman Sachs Corporation,
                                       its general partner

                                By:  /s/ Richard A. Friedman
                                   Name:  Richard A. Friedman
                                   Title: Executive Vice President







































                                





                                                     CONFORMED COPY

          _________________________________________________________

                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                   Between

                          CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

                                     and

                            AMSCAN HOLDINGS, INC.

                         Dated as of August 10, 1997
          _________________________________________________________

<PAGE>

                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                    Page

                                       ARTICLE 1.
                                       THE MERGER  . . . . . . . . .   4

               SECTION 1.1    The Merger.  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
               SECTION 1.2    Closing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
               SECTION 1.3    Effective Time.  . . . . . . . . . . .   5
               SECTION 1.4    Effects of the Merger. . . . . . . . .   5
               SECTION 1.5    Certificate of Incorporation; By-Laws.   6
               SECTION 1.6    Directors and Officers.  . . . . . . .   6

                                       ARTICLE 2.
                    EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
                                CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS . . . . . .   7

               SECTION 2.1    Effect on Capital Stock. . . . . . . .   7
               SECTION 2.2    Dissenting Shares. . . . . . . . . . .  10
               SECTION 2.3    Mixed Consideration Elections. . . . .  11
               SECTION 2.4    Treatment of Options.  . . . . . . . .  14
               SECTION 2.5    Surrender of Shares; Transfer Books. .  16

                                       ARTICLE 3.
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY .  24

               SECTION 3.1    Organization and Qualification;
                              Subsidiaries.  . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
               SECTION 3.2    Certificates of Incorporation and
                              By-Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
               SECTION 3.3    Capitalization.  . . . . . . . . . . .  27
               SECTION 3.4    Authority Relative to This Agreement.   30
               SECTION 3.5    No Conflict; Required Filings and
                              Consents.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
               SECTION 3.6    Compliance.  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
               SECTION 3.7    SEC Filings; Financial Statements  . .  36  
               SECTION 3.8    Absence of Certain Changes or Events .  38
               SECTION 3.9    Absence of Litigation  . . . . . . . .  39
               SECTION 3.10   Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
               SECTION 3.11   Employee Benefit Plans . . . . . . . .  44
               SECTION 3.12   Tax Matters  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
               SECTION 3.13   Environmental Laws . . . . . . . . . .  51
               SECTION 3.14   Intellectual Property  . . . . . . . .  56
               SECTION 3.15   Labor Matters  . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
               SECTION 3.16   Business Relationships; No Restrictive
                              Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
               SECTION 3.17   Form S-4; Proxy Statement  . . . . . .  60
               SECTION 3.18   Brokers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
               SECTION 3.19   Opinion of Company Financial Advisor .  63
               SECTION 3.20   Board Recommendation . . . . . . . . .  63

<PAGE>
                                       ARTICLE 4.
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NEWCO  . .  64

               SECTION 4.1    Corporate Organization . . . . . . . .  64
               SECTION 4.2    Authority Relative to This Agreement .  65
               SECTION 4.3    No Conflict; Required Filings and
                              Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
               SECTION 4.4    Form S-4; Proxy Statement  . . . . . .  68
               SECTION 4.5    Brokers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
               SECTION 4.6    Financing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69
               SECTION 4.7    Newco Not an Interested Stockholder  .  69
               SECTION 4.8    Solvency of the Company Following the
                              Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  69

                                       ARTICLE 5.
                         CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER  . .  70

               SECTION 5.1    Conduct of Business Pending the Merger  70

                                       ARTICLE 6.
                                 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS . . . . . . .  76

               SECTION 6.1    Stockholders Meeting . . . . . . . . .  76
               SECTION 6.2    Form S-4 and Proxy Statement . . . . .  77
               SECTION 6.3    Access to Information; Confidentiality  80
               SECTION 6.4    No Solicitation  . . . . . . . . . . .  82
               SECTION 6.5    ESOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
               SECTION 6.6    Directors' and Officers' Indemnification
                              and Insurance  . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
               SECTION 6.7    Notification of Certain Matters  . . .  89
               SECTION 6.8    Further Action; Best Efforts . . . . .  89
               SECTION 6.9    Public Announcements . . . . . . . . .  95
               SECTION 6.10   Disposition of Litigation  . . . . . .  96
               SECTION 6.11   Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96
               SECTION 6.12   Stop Transfer Order  . . . . . . . . .  97
               SECTION 6.13   Transfer Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . .  97
               SECTION 6.14   Employee Plans and Benefits  . . . . .  97

                                       ARTICLE 7.
                                  CONDITIONS OF MERGER . . . . . . .  98

               SECTION 7.1    Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to
                              Effect the Merger  . . . . . . . . . .  98
               SECTION 7.2    Conditions to Obligation of Newco  . .  99
               SECTION 7.3    Conditions to Obligation of the Company 104  

                                       ARTICLE 8.
                           TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER . . . . 105

               SECTION 8.1    Termination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
               SECTION 8.2    Effect of Termination  . . . . . . . . 107
<PAGE>
               SECTION 8.3    Fees and Expenses  . . . . . . . . . . 107
               SECTION 8.4    Amendment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
               SECTION 8.5    Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

                                       ARTICLE 9.
                                   GENERAL PROVISIONS  . . . . . . . 111

               SECTION 9.1    Non-Survival of Representations,
                              Warranties and Agreements  . . . . . . 111
               SECTION 9.2    Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
               SECTION 9.3    Certain Definitions  . . . . . . . . . 112
               SECTION 9.4    Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
               SECTION 9.5    Entire Agreement; Assignment . . . . . 115
               SECTION 9.6    Parties in Interest  . . . . . . . . . 115
               SECTION 9.7    Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
               SECTION 9.8    Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
               SECTION 9.9    Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116


               Annex A - Form of Affiliate Letter
               Exhibit A - Certificate of Incorporation
                              of Amscan Holdings, Inc.

<PAGE>


                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                    AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of
          August 10, 1997 (the "Agreement"), between Confetti
          Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Newco"), and
          Amscan Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
          "Company").

                    WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of
          the Company and Newco have determined that the merger of
          Newco with and into the Company (the "Merger"), upon the
          terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
          Agreement, based on the availability of the Cash Election
          Price to any stockholder who so elects, would be fair to
          and in the best interests of their respective
          stockholders, and such Boards of Directors have approved
          the Merger, pursuant to which each share of common stock,
          par value $.10 per share (the "Company Common Stock"),
          issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
          Time (as defined in Section 1.3) (other than (a) shares
          of Company Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by
          the Company or any Subsidiary (as defined in Section 9.3)
          of the Company or by Newco or any Subsidiary of Newco and
          (b) Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 2.2)), will
          be converted into either (A) at the election of the
          holder thereof and subject to the terms hereof, the right
          to retain one-one hundred fifty thousandth (1/150,000) of          
          each share of their Company Common Stock and the right to
          receive $9.33 per share in cash or (B) the right to
          receive $16.50 per share in cash;

                    WHEREAS, the Merger and this Agreement require
          the affirmative vote by the holders of a majority of the
          shares of the Company Common Stock outstanding and
          entitled to vote for the adoption and approval thereof
          (the "Company Stockholder Approval");

                    WHEREAS, Newco is a newly formed corporation
          organized at the direction of GS Capital Partners II,
          L.P.;

                    WHEREAS, as a condition to Newco's willingness
          to enter into this Agreement and consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby, Newco has required that
          the "Stockholder" (as defined in the Voting Agreement (as
          defined below)) agree, among other things, to vote all
          shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by the
          Stockholder and certain related persons (as defined in
          Section 9.3) in accordance with the Voting Agreement and
          comply with the other provisions of the Voting Agreement,
          and to make a Mixed Consideration Election (as defined
          herein) with respect to all shares of Company Common
          Stock owned by the Stockholder; and in order to induce
          Newco to enter into this Agreement, the Stockholder will
          execute and 
<PAGE>
          deliver the Voting Agreement, dated as of the
          date hereof, among Newco, the Estate of John A.
          Svenningsen, and Christine Svenningsen (the "Voting
          Agreement");

                    WHEREAS, in connection with this Agreement,
          Newco and certain employees of the Company entered into
          certain agreements as of the date hereof relating to
          their employment with the Company following the Effective
          Time and relating to their ownership of the capital stock
          of Newco (collectively, the "Employment Arrangements");

                    WHEREAS, certain terms used herein are defined
          in Section 9.3;

                    WHEREAS, Newco and the Company desire to make
          certain representations, warranties, covenants and
          agreements in connection with the Merger and also to
          prescribe various conditions to the Merger; and

                    WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger be
          recorded as a recapitalization for financial reporting
          purposes.

                    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
          representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
          contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as
          follows:

                                  ARTICLE 1.

                                  THE MERGER                    
          SECTION 1.1  The Merger.  Upon the terms and
          subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in
          accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State
          of Delaware (the "DGCL"), at the Effective Time (as
          defined in Section 1.3), Newco shall be merged with and
          into the Company.  As a result of the Merger, the
          separate corporate existence of Newco shall cease and the
          Company shall survive the Merger.

                    SECTION 1.2  Closing.  Unless this Agreement
          shall have been terminated and the transactions herein
          contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to
          Section 8.1, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
          the conditions set forth in Article 7, the closing of the
          Merger (the "Closing") will take place at 10:00 a.m. on
          the second business day after satisfaction or waiver of
          the conditions set forth in Article 7 (the "Closing
          Date"), at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz,
          51 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, unless
          another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by
          the parties hereto.
<PAGE>
                    SECTION 1.3  Effective Time.  As soon as
          practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the
          conditions set forth in Article 7, the parties hereto
          shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing this
          Agreement or a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of
          Merger") with the Secretary of State of the State of
          Delaware, in such form as required by and executed in
          accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL (the
          date and time of the filing of the Certificate of Merger
          with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (or
          such later time as is specified in the Certificate of
          Merger) being the "Effective Time").

                    SECTION 1.4  Effects of the Merger.  The Merger
          shall have the effects set forth in the applicable
          provisions of the DGCL.  Without limiting the generality
          of the foregoing and subject thereto, at the Effective
          Time all the property, rights, privileges, immunities,
          powers and franchises of the Company and Newco shall vest
          in the Company following the Merger, and all debts,
          liabilities and duties of the Company and Newco shall
          become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Company
          following the Merger.

                    SECTION 1.5  Certificate of Incorporation;
          By-Laws. (a)  At the Effective Time and without any
          further action on the part of the Company or Newco or
          their respective stockholders, the certificate of
          incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately
          prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and
          restated so as to read in its entirety in the form set
          forth as Exhibit A hereto and, as so amended, until
          thereafter further amended as provided therein and under
          the DGCL, it shall be the certificate of incorporation of
          the Company following the Merger.

                    (b)  At the Effective Time and without any
          further action on the part of the Company or Newco or          
          their respective stockholders, the by-laws of Newco as in
          effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
          the by-laws of the Company following the Merger and
          thereafter may be amended or repealed in accordance with
          their terms and the certificate of incorporation of the
          Company following the Merger and as provided under the
          DGCL.

                    SECTION 1.6  Directors and Officers.  The
          directors of Newco immediately prior to the Effective
          Time shall be the initial directors of the Company
          following the Merger, each to hold office in accordance
          with the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the
          Company following the Merger, and the officers of the
          Company immediately prior to the Effective Time 
<PAGE>
          shall be
          the initial officers of the Company following the Merger,
          in each case until their respective successors are duly
          elected or appointed (as the case may be) and qualified.

                                  ARTICLE 2.

               EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
                           CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS

                    SECTION 2.1  Effect on Capital Stock.  As of
          the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without
          any action on the part of the Company, Newco or any
          holder of any shares of Company Common Stock or any
          shares of capital stock of Newco:

                    (a)  Common Stock of Newco.  Each share of
             common stock, par value $.10 per share, of Newco ("Newco
             Common Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior
             to the Effective Time shall be converted into a number of
             fully paid and nonassessable shares of the common stock,
             par value $.10 per share, of the Company following the
             Merger equal to the quotient of (i) 900 divided by (ii)
             the number of shares of Newco Common Stock outstanding
             immediately prior to the Effective Time.

                    (b)  Cancellation of Treasury Stock and
             Newco-Owned Company Common Stock.  Each share of Company
             Common Stock that, immediately prior to the Effective
             Time, is owned by the Company or by any Subsidiary of the
             Company, and each share of Company Common Stock that,
             immediately prior to the Effective Time, is owned by
             Newco or any Subsidiary of Newco shall automatically be
             cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no
             cash, Company Common Stock or other consideration shall
             be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

                    (c)  Conversion of Company Common Stock. 
             Except as otherwise provided herein, each issued and
             outstanding share of Company Common Stock (other than any
             such shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.1(b)
             and any Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 2.2))
             shall be converted into the following (the "Merger
             Consideration"):

                         (i)  for each such share of Company Common            
               Stock with respect to which an election to retain
               Company Common Stock has been effectively made and
               not revoked or lost, pursuant to Section 2.3
               ("Electing Shares"), the right to retain one-one
               hundred fifty thousandth (1/150,000) of a fully paid
               and nonassessable share of Company Common Stock and
               the right to 
<PAGE>          
               receive in cash from the Company
               following the Merger an amount equal to $9.33 (such
               Company Common Stock and cash, together, being the
               "Mixed Consideration"); or

                         (ii)  for each such share of Company
               Common Stock, other than Electing Shares, the right
               to receive in cash from the Company following the
               Merger an amount equal to $16.50 (the "Cash Election
               Price").

                    (d)  Cancellation and Retirement of Company
             Common Stock.  As of the Effective Time, all shares of
             Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
             prior to the Effective Time (other than those shares
             issued pursuant to Section 2.1(a) (the "New Shares") and
             those shares retained pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i) after
             giving effect to Section 2.5(e) (the "Retained Shares"))
             shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
             cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
             holder of a certificate representing any such shares of
             Company Common Stock (other than New Shares and Retained
             Shares) shall, to the extent such certificate represents
             such shares, cease to have any rights with respect
             thereto, except the right to receive cash, including cash
             in lieu of fractional shares of Company Common Stock, to
             be issued or paid in consideration therefor upon
             surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section
             2.5.

                    SECTION 2.2  Dissenting Shares.  (a) 
          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
          contrary, shares of Company Common Stock that are issued
          and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
          and which are held by stockholders who have not voted in
          favor of or consented to the Merger and who shall have
          delivered a written demand for appraisal of such shares
          in the time and manner provided in Section 262 of the
          DGCL and shall not have failed to perfect or shall not
          have effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to
          appraisal and payment under the DGCL (the "Dissenting
          Shares") shall not be converted into the right to receive
          the Merger Consideration, but shall be entitled to
          receive the consideration as shall be determined pursuant
          to Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however, that, if
          any such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall
          have effectively withdrawn or lost his, her or its right
          to appraisal and payment under the DGCL, such holder's
          shares of Company Common Stock shall thereupon be deemed
          to have been converted, at the Effective Time, into the
          right to receive the Merger Consideration set forth in
          Section 2.1(c)(ii) of this Agreement, without any
          interest thereon.  (b)  The Company shall give Newco (i) prompt
          notice of any demands for appraisal pursuant to Section
          262 received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands
          and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and
          received by the Company and (ii) the opportunity to
          direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
          demands for appraisal under the DGCL.  The Company shall
          not, except with the prior written consent of Newco, make
          any payment with respect to any such demands for
          appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands.

                    SECTION 2.3  Mixed Consideration Elections. 
                    (a)  Each person who, on or prior to the Election 
          Date Preferred to in (c) below, is a record holder of shares 
          of Company Common Stock will be entitled, with respect to
          all or any portion of his shares, to make an
          unconditional election (a "Mixed Election") on or prior
          to such Election Date to retain and receive, as
          applicable, Mixed Consideration, on the basis hereinafter
          set forth.

                    (b)  Prior to the mailing of the Proxy
          Statement (as defined in Section 3.17), Newco shall
          appoint a bank or trust company to act as exchange agent
          (the "Exchange Agent") for the payment of the Merger
          Consideration.

                  (c)  Newco shall prepare and mail a form of
          election, which form shall be subject to the reasonable
          approval of the Company (the "Form of Election"), with
          the Proxy Statement to the record holders of Company
          Common Stock as of the record date for the Stockholders
          Meeting (as defined in Section 6.1), which Form of
          Election shall be used by each record holder of shares of
          Company Common Stock who wishes to elect to retain and
          receive, as applicable, Mixed Consideration for any or
          all shares of Company Common Stock held by such holder. 
          The Company will use its best efforts to make the Form of
          Election and the Proxy Statement available to all persons
          who become holders of Company Common Stock during the
          period between such record date and the Election Date
          referred to below.  Any such holder's election to retain
          and receive, as applicable, Mixed Consideration shall
          have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall
          have received at its designated office, by 5:00 p.m., New
          York City time, on the business day (the "Election Date")
          next preceding the date of the Stockholders Meeting, a
          Form of Election properly completed and signed and
          accompanied by certificates for the shares of Company
          Common Stock to which such Form of Election relates, duly
          endorsed in blank or otherwise in form acceptable for
          transfer on the books of the Company (or by an
          appropriate guarantee of delivery of such certificates as
          set forth in such Form of Election from a firm which is a
          member of a registered national securities exchange or of

<PAGE>
          the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a
          commercial bank or trust company having an office or
          correspondent in the United States, provided such
          certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent          
          within three NASDAQ trading days after the date of
          execution of such guarantee of delivery).

                    (d)  Any Form of Election may be revoked by the
          stockholder after submitting it to the Exchange Agent
          only by written notice received by the Exchange Agent
          prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Election
          Date (which shall be the record date for determination of
          stockholders entitled to make the Mixed Election), unless
          Newco and such stockholder agree otherwise.  In addition,
          all Forms of Election shall automatically be revoked if
          the Exchange Agent is notified in writing by Newco and
          the Company that the Merger has been abandoned.  If a
          Form of Election is revoked, the certificate or
          certificates (or guarantees of delivery, as appropriate)
          for the shares of Company Common Stock to which such Form
          of Election relates shall be promptly returned to the
          stockholder submitting the same to the Exchange Agent.

                    (e)  The good faith determination of the
          Exchange Agent as to whether or not elections to retain
          and receive, as applicable, Mixed Consideration have been
          properly made or revoked pursuant to this Section 2.3
          with respect to shares of Company Common Stock, and as to
          when elections and revocations were received by it, shall
          be binding.  If the Exchange Agent determines that any
          election to retain and receive, as applicable, Mixed
          Consideration was not properly made with respect to
          shares of Company Common Stock, such shares shall be
          treated by the Exchange Agent as shares which were not
          Electing Shares at the Effective Time, and such shares
          shall be exchanged in the Merger for cash pursuant to
          Section 2.1(c)(ii).  The Exchange Agent may, with the
          mutual agreement of Newco and the Company, make such
          rules as are consistent with this Section 2.3 for the
          implementation of the elections provided for herein as
          shall be necessary or desirable fully to effect such
          elections.

                    SECTION 2.4  Treatment of Options.  (a)  Except
          as otherwise agreed by Newco and any such holder of an
          Option (as defined below) prior to the Effective Time,
          including pursuant to the Employment Arrangements,
          immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding
          stock option held by any current or former employee or
          director (an "Option") granted under the 1996 Stock
          Option Plan for Key Employees (the "Stock Plan"), whether
          or not then exercisable, shall be cancelled by the
          Company, and except as otherwise agreed by the Company,
          Newco and the holder, the holder thereof shall be
          entitled to receive at 
<PAGE>
          the Effective Time or as soon as
          practicable thereafter from the Company in consideration
          for such cancellation an amount in cash equal to the
          product of (a) the number of shares of Company Common
          Stock previously subject to such Option and (b) the
          excess, if any, of the Cash Election Price over the per
          share exercise price of the shares of Company Common
          Stock previously subject to such Option, reduced by the
          amount of any withholding or other taxes required by law
          to be withheld (the "Option Cash-Out Amount").
                    (b)  The Company shall use its reasonable best
          efforts to take all such action as is necessary prior to
          the Effective Time to terminate the Stock Plan so that on
          and after the Effective Time no current or former
          employee or director shall have any Option to purchase
          shares of Company Common Stock or any other equity
          interest in the Company under the Stock Plan and to
          provide that from and after the Effective Time, to the
          extent any Option has not been cancelled as contemplated
          by Section 2.4(a), upon exercise of any such Option, the
          holder thereof shall be entitled to receive only the
          Option Cash-Out Amount.  The Company shall use its
          reasonable best efforts to obtain any consents necessary
          to release the Company from any liability in respect of
          any Option.

                    SECTION 2.5  Surrender of Shares; Transfer
          Books. (a)  Exchange Agent.  Following the Effective
          Time, the Company shall deposit with the Exchange Agent,
          for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company
          Common Stock, as and when needed, the cash portion of the
          Merger Consideration for exchange in accordance with this
          Article 2.  Such funds shall be invested by the Exchange
          Agent as directed by the Company, provided that such
          investments shall be (i) securities issued or directly
          and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
          government or any agency or instrumentality thereof
          having maturities of not more than six months from the
          date of acquisition, (ii) certificates of deposit,
          eurodollar time deposits and bankers' acceptances with
          maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
          deposits with any commercial bank, depository institution
          or trust company incorporated or doing business under the
          laws of the United States of America, any state thereof
          or the District of Columbia, provided that such
          commercial bank, depository institution or trust company
          has, at the time of investment, (A) capital and surplus
          exceeding $250 million and (B) outstanding short-term
          debt securities which are rated at least A-1 by Standard
          & Poor's Rating Group Division of The McGraw-Hill
          Companies, Inc. or at least P-1 by Moody's Investors
          Service, Inc. or carry an equivalent rating by a
          nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two
          named rating agencies cease to publish ratings of
          investments, (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of
          not more than 30 days for underlying 
<PAGE>
          securities of the
          types described in clauses (i) and (ii) above entered
          into with any financial institution meeting the
          qualifications specified in clause (ii) above, (iv)
          commercial paper having a rating in the highest rating
          categories from Standard & Poor's Rating Group Division
          of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or Moody's Investors
          Service, Inc. or carrying an equivalent rating by a
          nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two
          named rating agencies cease to publish ratings of
          investments and in each case maturing within six months
          after the date of acquisition and (v) money market mutual
          or similar funds having assets in excess of $1 billion. 
          Any net profit resulting from, or interest or income          
          produced by, such investments will be payable to the
          Company upon the Company's request.

                    (b)  Exchange Procedures for Shares of Company
          Common Stock.  As soon as practicable after the Effective
          Time, each holder of an outstanding certificate or
          certificates which prior thereto represented shares of
          Company Common Stock shall, upon surrender to the
          Exchange Agent of such certificate or certificates and
          acceptance thereof by the Exchange Agent, be entitled to
          a certificate or certificates representing the number of
          full shares of Company Common Stock, if any, to be
          retained by the holder thereof pursuant to this Agreement
          and the amount of cash, if any, into which the number of
          shares of Company Common Stock previously represented by
          such certificate or certificates surrendered shall have
          been converted pursuant to this Agreement.  The Exchange
          Agent shall accept such certificates upon compliance with
          such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange
          Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in
          accordance with normal exchange practices.  After the
          Effective Time, there shall be no further transfer on the
          records of the Company or its transfer agent of
          certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock
          which have been converted, in whole or in part, pursuant
          to this Agreement into the right to receive cash, and if
          such certificates are presented to the Company for
          transfer, they shall be cancelled against delivery of
          cash and, if appropriate, certificates for retained
          Company Common Stock. If any certificate for such Company
          Common Stock is to be issued in, or if cash is to be
          remitted to, a name other than that in which the
          certificate for Company Common Stock surrendered for
          exchange is registered, it shall be a condition of such
          exchange or payment that the certificate so surrendered
          shall be properly endorsed, with signature guaranteed, or
          otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
          requesting such exchange or payment shall pay to the
          Company or its transfer agent any transfer or other taxes
          required by reason of the issuance of certificates for
          Company Common Stock pursuant hereto in a name other than
          that of, or payment to a person other than, the
          registered holder of 
<PAGE>
          the certificate surrendered, or
          establish to the satisfaction of the Company or its
          transfer agent that such tax has been paid or is not
          applicable.  Until surrendered as contemplated by this
          Section 2.5(b), each certificate for shares of Company
          Common Stock shall be deemed at any time after the
          Effective Time to represent only the right to receive
          upon such surrender the Merger Consideration as
          contemplated by Section 2.1.  No interest will be paid or
          will accrue on any cash payable as Merger Consideration
          or in lieu of any fractional shares of Company Common
          Stock.

                    (c)  Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged
          Shares.  No dividends or other distributions with respect
          to retained Company Common Stock with a record date after
          the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any
          unsurrendered certificate for shares of Company Common 
          Stock with respect to the shares of retained Company
          Common Stock represented thereby and no cash payment in
          lieu of fractional shares shall be paid to any such
          holder pursuant to Section 2.5(e) until the surrender of
          such certificate in accordance with this Article 2. 
          Subject to the effect of applicable laws, following
          surrender of any such certificate, there shall be paid to
          the holder of the certificate representing whole shares
          of retained Company Common Stock issued in connection
          therewith, without interest, (i) at the time of such
          surrender, the amount of any cash payable in lieu of a
          fractional share of retained Company Common Stock to
          which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.5(e)
          and the proportionate amount of dividends or other
          distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
          theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of
          retained Company Common Stock, and (ii) at the
          appropriate payment date, the proportionate amount of
          dividends or other distributions with a record date after
          the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and a
          payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with
          respect to such whole shares of retained Company Common
          Stock.

                    (d)  No Further Ownership Rights in Company
          Common Stock Exchanged.  All cash paid or shares of
          Company Common Stock retained upon the surrender for
          exchange of certificates representing shares of Company
          Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Article
          2 (including any cash paid pursuant to Section 2.5(e))
          shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full
          satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
          Company Common Stock theretofore represented by such
          certificates.

                    (e)  No Fractional Shares.  No certificates or
          scrip representing fractional shares of retained Company
          Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to a Mixed Election
          in connection with 
<PAGE>
          the Merger, and such fractional share
          interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or
          to any rights of a stockholder of the Company after the
          Merger.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
          Agreement, each record holder of shares of Company Common
          Stock exchanged pursuant to a Mixed Election in
          connection with the Merger who would otherwise have been
          entitled to receive a fraction of a share of retained
          Company Common Stock (after taking into account all
          shares of Company Common Stock delivered by such holder)
          shall receive, in lieu thereof, a cash payment (without
          interest) equal to an amount equal to the same fraction
          of $75,000 as is equal to the fraction of one share of
          Company Common Stock such holder would have been entitled
          to otherwise retain.

                    (f)  Termination of Exchange Fund.  Any portion
          of the Merger Consideration deposited with the Exchange
          Agent pursuant to this Section 2.5 (the "Exchange Fund")
          which remains undistributed to the holders of the
          certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock
          for six months after the Effective Time shall be
          delivered to the Company, upon demand, and any holders of
          shares of Company Common Stock prior to the Merger who
          have not theretofore complied with this Article 2 shall
          thereafter look only to the Company and only as general
          creditors thereof for payment of their claims for cash,
          if any, retained Company Common Stock, if any, any cash
          in lieu of fractional shares of retained Company Common
          Stock, or any dividends or distributions with respect to
          retained Company Common Stock to which such holders may
          be entitled.

                    (g)  No Liability.  None of Newco, the Company
          or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in
          respect of any shares of retained Company Common Stock
          (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or
          cash from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public
          official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property,
          escheat or similar law.  If any certificates representing
          shares of Company Common Stock shall not have been
          surrendered prior to one year after the Effective Time
          (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any
          cash, if any, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of
          retained Company Common Stock, or any dividends or
          distributions with respect to retained Company Common
          Stock in respect of such certificate would otherwise
          escheat to or become the property of any Governmental
          Entity (as defined in Section 3.5(b)), any such cash,
          dividends or distributions in respect of such certificate
          shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become
          the property of the Company, free and clear of all claims
          or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE 3.

                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

                    The Company hereby represents and warrants to
          Newco that, except as set forth in the Section of the
          Disclosure Schedule delivered in connection with this
          Agreement as of the date hereof (the "Disclosure
          Schedule") relating to the correlative Section of this
          Article 3:

                    SECTION 3.1  Organization and Qualification;
          Subsidiaries.  (a) Each of the Company and each of its
          Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly
          existing and in good standing under the laws of the
          jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the requisite
          corporate power and authority and any necessary
          governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its
          properties and to carry on its business as it is now
          being conducted, except where the failure to be so
          organized, existing and in good standing or to have such
          power, authority and governmental approval would not,
          individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
          to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). 
          Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly
          qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to do
          business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction
          where the character of the properties owned, leased or
          operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such
          qualification or licensing necessary, except for such
          failures to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good
          standing which would not, individually or in the
          aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
          Adverse Effect.  When used in connection with the Company
          or any of its Subsidiaries, the term "Material Adverse
          Effect" means any change or effect that (a) either
          individually or in the aggregate with all other changes
          or effects, is materially adverse to the business,
          condition (financial or otherwise), or results of
          operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
          whole or (b) would prevent consummation of, or materially
          adversely affect the ability of the parties hereto to
          consummate, the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement.

                    (b)  The only direct or indirect Subsidiaries
          of the Company are those listed in Section 3.1(b) of the
          Disclosure Schedule.  Except as set forth in Section
          3.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, all the outstanding
          shares of capital stock of and other equity interests in
          each such Subsidiary have been validly issued and are
          fully paid and non-assessable and are owned (of record
          and beneficially) by the Company, by another Subsidiary
          of the Company or by the Company and another such
          Subsidiary, free and clear of all pledges, claims,
          mortgages, liens, charges, encumbrances and security
          interests of any kind 
<PAGE>       
          or nature whatsoever (collectively,
          "Liens").  Section 3.1(b) sets forth a list of any other
          person that owns capital stock of and other equity
          interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, and the
          amount of such capital stock so owned.  Except for the
          ownership interests set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the
          Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own, directly
          or indirectly, any capital stock or other ownership
          interest in any other person.

                    SECTION 3.2  Certificates of Incorporation and
          By-Laws.  The Company has heretofore furnished to Newco
          complete and correct copies of the certificate of
          incorporation and the by-laws of the Company and each of
          its Subsidiaries as currently in effect.  Such
          certificates of incorporation and by-laws are in full
          force and effect and no other organizational documents
          are applicable to or binding upon the Company or such
          Subsidiaries.  The Company and its Subsidiaries are not
          in violation of any of the provisions of their respective
          certificates of incorporation or by-laws.

                    SECTION 3.3  Capitalization.  The authorized
          capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000
          shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of
          Preferred Stock, $.10 par value per share (the "Company
          Preferred Stock").  As of July 31, 1997, (i) 21,098,785
          shares of Company Common Stock were issued and
          outstanding, all of which were validly issued, fully paid
          and nonassessable and were issued free of preemptive (or
          similar) rights, (ii) 21,691 shares of Company Common
          Stock were held in the treasury of the Company and (iii)
          an aggregate of 512,000 shares of Company Common Stock
          were reserved for issuance and issuable upon or otherwise
          deliverable in connection with the exercise of
          outstanding Options.  Other than the shares of Company
          Common Stock reserved for issuance as set forth in the
          preceding clause (iii), no capital stock or other equity
          interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
          issuable upon exercise of the Options.  As of the date
          hereof, no shares of Company Preferred Stock are, and as
          of the Closing Date no shares of Preferred Stock will be,
          issued and outstanding.  Since July 31, 1997, the
          Company has not issued or reserved for issuance (a) any
          shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the
          Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as a result of
          the exercise of Options outstanding at July 31, 1997 or
          (b) any Options, except as described in this Section 3.3. 
          All shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance as
          aforesaid pursuant to Options, upon issuance on the terms
          and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to
          which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly
          issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of
          preemptive (or similar) rights.  To the knowledge of the
          Company, other than as provided in the Voting Agreement,
          there are no irrevocable 
<PAGE>
          proxies with respect to shares
          of capital stock or other equity interests in the Company
          or any Subsidiary of the Company.  Except as set forth in
          Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
          agreements or arrangements pursuant to which the Company
          is or could be required to register shares of Company
          Common Stock or other securities under the Securities Act
          of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or other
          agreements or arrangements with or among any
          securityholders of the Company with respect to securities
          of the Company.  There are no outstanding bonds,
          debentures, notes or other indebtedness or other
          securities of the Company having the right to vote (or
          convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having
          the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders
          of the Company may vote.  Except for the Options, there
          are no outstanding securities, options, warrants, calls,
          rights, commitments, agreements, arrangements or
          undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is
          bound obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
          to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued,
          delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or
          other equity or voting securities of the Company or of
          any of its Subsidiaries, or any securities exchangeable
          for or convertible into capital stock or other equity or
          voting securities of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any
          such security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment,
          agreement, arrangement or undertaking, and there are not
          outstanding any equity equivalents, interests in the
          ownership or earnings of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries or other similar rights (collectively, with
          the Options, "Company Securities") and there are no other
          options, calls, warrants or other similar rights,
          agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character
          relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of or
          equity or voting interests in the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries to which the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries is a party.  Except as set forth in Section
          3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding
          obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
          repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company
          Securities or any outstanding Company Common Stock or to
          provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a
          loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any such
          Subsidiary or any other entity.  As of the date hereof,
          the only outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money of
          the Company and its Subsidiaries is set forth in Section
          3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule (the "Company Debt"). 
          Except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure
          Schedule, (i) the loans and other extensions of credit
          under the Company Debt are each prepayable on not more
          than 30 days notice, without additional cost other than
          reimbursement of customary breakage costs, and (ii)
          interest payable with respect to each of the loans and
<PAGE>          
          other extensions of credit under the Company Debt is
          calculated on the basis of a floating interest rate.

                    SECTION 3.4  Authority Relative to This
          Agreement.  The Company has all necessary corporate power
          and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to
          perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby.  Assuming the accuracy
          of Newco's representations contained in Section 4.7
          (without giving effect to the knowledge qualification
          thereof), the execution, delivery and performance of this
          Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the
          Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
          duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate
          action and no other corporate proceedings on the part of
          the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or
          to consummate the transactions so contemplated (other
          than, with respect to the Merger, the approval of this
          Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
          shares of Company Common Stock, and the filing and
          recordation of appropriate merger documents as required
          by the DGCL).  This Agreement has been duly and validly
          executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the
          due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by
          Newco, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
          of the Company enforceable against the Company in
          accordance with its terms.  The Board of Directors of the
          Company has approved this Agreement, the Voting Agreement
          (including the option contemplated thereby) and, to the
          extent necessary, the Employment Arrangements and the
          transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including
          the Merger) (provided, in the case of the Voting
          Agreement and the Employment Arrangements, that such
          approval is limited to the forms provided to the Company
          at the time of execution hereof without giving effect to
          any amendments, modifications or waivers thereunder not
          approved by the Company) so as to render inapplicable
          hereto and thereto the limitation on business
          combinations contained in Section 203 of the DGCL (or any
          similar provision).  As a result of the foregoing
          actions, assuming the accuracy of Newco's representations
          contained in Section 4.7 (without giving effect to the
          knowledge qualification thereof), the only vote required
          to authorize the Merger is the affirmative vote of a
          majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common
          Stock.  To the knowledge of the Company, no state
          takeover statute or similar statute or regulation, other
          than Section 203 of the DGCL, applies or purports to
          apply to this Agreement, the Merger, the Voting
          Agreement, the Employment Arrangements, or any of the
          other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.  No
          provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or
          other governing instruments of the 
<PAGE>
          Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries would, directly or indirectly, restrict or
          impair the ability of Newco or its affiliates to vote, or
          otherwise to exercise the rights of a stockholder with
          respect to, securities of the Company and its
          Subsidiaries that may be acquired or controlled by Newco
          or its affiliates or permit any stockholder to acquire
          securities of the Company on a basis not available to
          Newco in the event that Newco were to acquire securities
          of the Company, and neither the Company nor any of its
          Subsidiaries has any rights plan, preferred stock or
          similar arrangement which have any of the aforementioned
          consequences.

                    SECTION 3.5  No Conflict; Required Filings and
          Consents.  (a) The execution, delivery and performance of
          this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the
          transactions contemplated hereby by the Company do not
          and will not:  (i)  conflict with or violate the
          certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
          Company or the equivalent organizational documents
          of any of its Significant Subsidiaries; (ii)
          assuming that all consents, approvals and
          authorizations contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii)
          of subsection (b) below have been obtained and all
          filings described in such clauses have been made,
          conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation,
          order, ordinance, judgment, arbitral award or decree
          applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
          or by which they or any of their respective
          properties are bound or affected; or (iii) result in
          any breach or violation of or constitute a default
          (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or
          both could become a default) or result in the loss
          of a material benefit under, or give rise to any
          right of termination, amendment, alteration,
          acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the
          creation of a Lien on any of the properties or
          assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
          pursuant to, any loan, credit agreement, note, bond,
          mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease,
          license, permit, concession, franchise or other
          instrument or obligation to which the Company or any
          of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
          Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or any of
          their respective properties are bound or affected,
          except (A) in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii),
          for any such conflicts, violations, breaches,
          defaults or other occurrences which would not,
          individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (B)
          in the case of clause (iii), other than as set forth
          on Section 3.5(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.

                    (b)  The execution, delivery and performance of
          this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the
          transactions contemplated hereby by the Company do not
          and will not require any consent, approval,
          authorization, order or permit 
<PAGE>     
          of, action by,
          registration, declaration or filing with or notice or
          notification to, any Federal, state, local or foreign
          government or any court, arbitral authority,
          administrative agency or commission or other governmental
          authority, official or agency, domestic or foreign (a
          "Governmental Entity"), except for (i) the applicable
          requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
          amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules and
          regulations promulgated thereunder, the Securities Act
          and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the
          Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
          amended (the "HSR Act"), and state securities or "Blue
          Sky" laws, (ii) the filing and recordation of appropriate
          merger or other documents as required by the DGCL, and
          (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders,
          permits, actions, registrations, declarations, filings,
          notices or notifications the failure of which to make or
          obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate,
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    SECTION 3.6  Compliance.  The conduct of the
          business of each of the Company and each of its
          Subsidiaries complies with all laws, rules, regulations,
          orders, ordinances, judgments, arbitral awards and
          decrees applicable thereto, except for violations or
          failures so to comply, if any, that, individually or in
          the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
          Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of
          its Subsidiaries is, or has received any notice or has
          knowledge that any other party is, in default or
          violation of any loan, credit agreement, note, bond,
          mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license,
          permit, concession, franchise or other instrument or
          obligation to which the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries or its or any of their respective
          properties are bound or affected, except for any such
          conflicts, defaults or violations which would not,
          individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
          to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    SECTION 3.7  SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
          (a) The Company has filed all forms, reports, statements
          and documents required to be filed with the Securities
          and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since October 15,
          1996 (collectively, including all exhibits and schedules
          thereto and documents incorporated therein by reference,
          the "SEC Reports"), each of which has complied in all
          material respects with the applicable requirements of the
          Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated
          thereunder, or the Exchange Act and the rules and
          regulations promulgated thereunder, as applicable, each
          as in effect on the date so filed.  No SEC Report
          contained, when filed, any untrue statement of a material
          fact or omitted to 
<PAGE>         
          state a material fact required to be
          stated or incorporated by reference therein or necessary
          in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
          the circumstances under which they were made, not
          misleading.  Except to the extent revised or superseded
          by a subsequent filing with the SEC (a copy of which has
          been provided to Newco prior to the date hereof), none of
          the SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof contains
          any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
          a material fact required to be stated or incorporated by
          reference therein or necessary in order to make the
          statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
          under which they were made, not misleading.

                    (b)  Each of the audited and unaudited
          consolidated financial statements of the Company
          (including any related notes thereto) included in the SEC
          Reports, complies as to form in all material respects
          with all applicable accounting requirements and with the
          published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
          thereto, has been prepared in accordance with generally
          accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
          basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be
          indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly presents the
          consolidated financial position of the Company and its
          Subsidiaries at the respective date thereof and the
          consolidated results of its operations and changes in
          cash flows for the periods indicated.

                    (c)  Except as and to the extent set forth on
          the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
          Subsidiaries at December 31, 1996, including the notes
          thereto, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
          has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether
          accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) which,
          individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    SECTION 3.8  Absence of Certain Changes or
          Events.  Since December 31, 1996, except as contemplated
          by this Agreement, disclosed in the SEC Reports filed and
          publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement or
          disclosed in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedule, the
          Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their
          businesses only in the ordinary course of business
          consistent with past practice and, since such date, there
          has not been (i) any condition, event or occurrence
          which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
          be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any
          action which, if it had been taken after the date hereof,
          would have required the consent of Newco under Section
          5.1 hereof.

                    SECTION 3.9  Absence of Litigation.  There are
          no suits, claims, actions, proceedings or investigations
          pending 
<PAGE>
          or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
          against or affecting the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries, or any properties or rights of the Company
          or any of its Subsidiaries, before any Governmental
          Entity, that individually or in the aggregate, would
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
          and, to the knowledge of the Company, no basis for any
          such suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation
          exists.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
          nor any of their respective properties is or are subject
          to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree,
          determination or award having, or which, insofar as can
          be reasonably foreseen, in the future would reasonably be
          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  As of the
          date hereof, no officer or director of the Company is a
          defendant in any litigation commenced by stockholders of
          the Company with respect to the performance of his or her
          duties as an officer and/or director of the Company under
          any Federal, state, local or foreign law (including
          litigation under Federal and state securities laws). 
          Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of the Disclosure
          Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company, there exist no
          indemnification agreements with any of the directors and
          officers of the Company.  Each of the director
          indemnification agreements referred to in item A.2. of
          Section 3.9 of the Disclosure Schedule is in the form
          included as Exhibit 10(l) to the Company's Form 10-K for
          the year ended December 31, 1996.

                    SECTION 3.10 Properties.  (a)  The Company or
          one of its Subsidiaries has (i) good and marketable fee
          title to the real property owned in fee by the Company or
          any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Owned
          Properties") and (ii) good and valid leasehold title or
          other occupancy right to the real property leased,
          subleased or licensed by the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Leased Properties")
          (Owned Properties and Leased Properties being sometimes
          referred to herein collectively as the "Company
          Properties"), in each case free and clear of all options
          to purchase or lease (in the case of the Owned
          Properties), leases, subleases, rights of first offer,
          conditions of limitation, easements, Liens, covenants,
          rights-of-way and other restrictions (collectively,
          "Title Matters"), except for such Title Matters set forth
          in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, which
          Title Matters, individually or in the aggregate, would
          not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
          Effect.  Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
          forth a complete and accurate list and description of all
          Owned Properties and all Leased Properties.

                    (b)  Each agreement under which real property
          is leased, subleased or licensed to the Company or one of
          its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company Leases") is
          in full force 
<PAGE>
          and effect in accordance with its
          respective terms and the Company or one of its
          Subsidiaries is the holder of the lessee's or tenant's
          interest thereunder and there exists no default under any
          of the Company Leases by the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries and no circumstance exists which, with the
          giving of notice, the passage of time or both could
          result in such a default, except for such defaults or
          other circumstances which, individually or in the
          aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
          Material Adverse Effect.  Except as set forth in Section
          3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, the transfer of the
          shares of Company Common Stock or the consummation of any
          other part of the transactions contemplated hereby does
          not violate the terms of any of the Company Leases. 
          Except as set forth in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure
          Schedule, no Company Lease is subject to any pledge,
          Lien, sublease, assignment, license or other agreement
          granting to any third party any interest in such Company
          Lease or any right to the use or occupancy of any Leased
          Property.  Except as set forth in Section 3.10(b) of the
          Disclosure Schedule, true and complete copies of the
          Company Leases have previously been delivered to Newco,
          including (without limitation) all amendments or
          modifications thereof and all side letters or other
          instruments affecting the obligations of any party
          thereunder.  The lessee under each Company Lease is now
          in possession of the applicable Leased Property.

                    (c)  Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
          has all permits necessary to own or operate its Owned
          Real Property and Leased Real Property as currently
          owned, and no such permits will be required, as a result
          of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
          hereby, to be issued after the Closing in order to permit
          the Company following the Merger to continue to own or
          operate such Company Properties, other than any such
          permits the absence of which would not reasonably be
          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as
          set forth in Section 3.10(c) of the Disclosure Schedule,
          neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
          received, with respect to any Owned Real Property or
          Leased Real Property, any written notice of default or
          any written notice of noncompliance with respect to
          applicable Federal, state, local and foreign laws and
          regulations relating to zoning, building, fire, use
          restriction or safety or health codes which have not been
          remedied in all respects which would reasonably be
          expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no
          pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
          condemnation or other governmental taking of any of the
          Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property.  All
          buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located
          on, under, over or within the Company Properties, and all
          other aspects of each of the Company Properties, (A) are
          in good operating condition and repair and are
          structurally sound and 
<PAGE>
          free of any material defects; and
          (B) are suitable, sufficient and appropriate in all
          respects for their current and contemplated uses.

                    SECTION 3.11  Employee Benefit Plans.  (a)
          Section 3.11(a) of the Disclosure Schedule contains, to
          the knowledge of the Company, a true and complete list of
          each "employee benefit plan" (within the meaning of
          Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
          Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")(including without
          limitation multiemployer plans within the meaning of
          ERISA Section 3(37)), stock purchase, stock option,
          severance, employment, change-in-control, fringe benefit,
          collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred
          compensation and all other employee benefit plans,
          agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements,
          whether or not subject to ERISA (including any funding
          mechanism therefor now in effect or required in the
          future as a result of the transactions contemplated by
          this Agreement or otherwise), under which any employee or
          former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
          has, or could reasonably be expected to have, any present
          or future right to benefits or under which the Company or
          any Subsidiary of the Company has, or could reasonably be
          expected to have, any present or future material
          liability.  All such plans, agreements, programs,
          policies and arrangements shall be collectively referred
          to as the "Company Plans".  Section 3.11(a) of the
          Disclosure Schedule also contains a true and complete
          description of all severance plans of the Company or any
          of its Subsidiaries.  No Company Plan is a multiemployer
          plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or
          is an "employee pension plan" within the meaning of
          Section 3(2) of ERISA subject to Title IV of ERISA.

                    (b)  With respect to each Company Plan, the
          Company has delivered or made available to Newco a
          current, accurate and complete copy (or, to the extent no
          such copy exists, an accurate description) thereof and,
          to the extent applicable, (i) any related trust
          agreement, annuity contract or other funding instrument;
          (ii) the most recent determination letter; (iii) any
          summary plan description and other written communications
          (or description of any oral communication) by the Company
          or any of its Subsidiaries which modify in any
          significant respect the benefits provided under the terms
          of any Company Plan in a manner not reflected in any of
          the documents otherwise described in this subsection (b);
          and (iv) for the three most recent years (A) the Form
          5500 and attached schedules; (B) audited financial
          statements; and (C) actuarial valuation reports.

                    (c)  With respect to all the Company Plans,
          except as set forth in the SEC Reports:  (i) all Company
          Plans are in 
<PAGE>
          compliance with all applicable law,
          including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
          (the "Code"), and ERISA, including in compliance with all
          filing and reporting requirements, except as would not
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
          (ii) the aggregate projected benefit obligations of each
          pension plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (as of
          the date of the most recent actuarial valuation prepared
          for such Plan) do not exceed the fair market value of the
          assets of such pension plan (as of the date of such
          valuation), and, to the knowledge of the Company, no
          material adverse change has occurred with respect to the
          financial condition of such plan since such last
          valuation; (iii) each of the Company Plans which is
          intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section
          401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal
          Revenue Service to be so qualified and such determination
          has not been modified, revoked or limited by failure to
          satisfy any condition thereof or by a subsequent
          amendment thereto or a failure to amend, except that it
          may be necessary to make additional amendments
          retroactively to maintain the "qualified" status of such
          Company Plans, and the period for making any such
          necessary retroactive amendments has not expired; (iv) no
          act, omission or transaction (individually or in the
          aggregate) has occurred with respect to any Company Plan
          that has resulted or could result in any material
          liability (direct or indirect) of the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries under Sections 409 or 502(c)(i) or (l)
          of ERISA or Chapter 43 of Subtitle (A) of the Code; (v)
          there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
          threatened litigation or administrative agency proceeding
          relating to any Company Plan (other than benefit claims
          in the ordinary course); (vi) the Company has no
          obligations under any unfunded deferred compensation
          plans; (vii) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor
          any entity that is treated as a single employer with the
          Company or its Subsidiaries under Section 414(b), (c),
          (m) or (o) of the Code (an "ERISA Affiliate") has
          incurred or reasonably expects to incur any Lien or
          liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation,
          any Pension Plan or otherwise under Sections 3.02 or 6.01
          et seq. of Title IV of ERISA (other than the payment of
          contributions or premiums, none of which are overdue) or
          under Sections 412, 4971 or 4980B of the Code; and (viii)
          neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries makes any
          contributions to or has any obligation to create or
          contribute to any multiemployer plan (within the meaning
          of Section 3(37) of ERISA) or a multiple employer plan
          (within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code).

                    (d)  Except as specifically contemplated by
          this Agreement or as disclosed in Section 3.11(d) of the
          Disclosure Schedule, the consummation of the Merger and
          the other transactions contemplated hereby will not (x)
          entitle any employee or director of the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries to severance 
<PAGE>
          pay, or (y) accelerate the
          time of payment or vesting or trigger any payment of
          compensation or benefits under, increase the amount
          payable or trigger any other material obligation pursuant
          to, any of the Company Plans.

                    SECTION 3.12  Tax Matters.  For purposes of
          this Section 3.12 and Section 3.11, any reference to the
          Company or its Subsidiaries shall include any corporation
          that merged or was liquidated with and into the Company
          or any of its Subsidiaries.  Except as would not
          individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
          to have a Material Adverse Effect:

                    (a)  All Tax Returns required to be filed by or
             with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries have
             been timely filed.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have
             (i) timely paid all Taxes that are due, or that have been
             asserted in writing by any taxing authority to be due,
             from or with respect to it for the periods ending prior
             to the date hereof or (ii) provided adequate reserves in
             its financial statements for any Taxes that have not been
             paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax
             Returns.
                    (b)  No claim for unpaid Taxes has become a
             Lien against the property of the Company or any of its
             Subsidiaries or is being asserted against the Company or
             any of its Subsidiaries.

                    (c)  The statute of limitations with respect to
             the Tax Returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
             of each affiliated group (within the meaning of the Code)
             of which the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are or
             have been a member for all periods through the respective
             years specified in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure
             Schedule has expired.  There are no outstanding
             agreements, waivers or arrangements extending the
             statutory period of limitation applicable to any claim
             for, or the period for the collection or assessment of,
             Taxes due from or with respect to the Company or any
             Subsidiary of the Company for any taxable period, and no
             power of attorney granted by or with respect to the
             Company or any Subsidiary of the Company relating to
             Taxes is currently in force.

                    (d)  No audit or other proceeding by any
             Governmental Entity has formally commenced and no
             notification has been given to the Company or any
             Subsidiary of the Company that such an audit or other
             proceeding is pending or threatened with respect to any
             Taxes due from or with respect to the Company or any
             Subsidiary of the Company or any Tax Return filed by or
             with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the
             Company.  No assessment of Tax has been proposed in
<PAGE>             
             writing against the Company or any Subsidiary of the
             Company or any of their assets or properties.

                    (e)  As of the Effective Time, neither the
             Company nor any of the Subsidiaries shall be a party to,
             be bound by or have any obligation under, any Tax sharing
             agreement or similar contract or arrangement.
   
                    (f)  There is no contract or agreement, plan or
             arrangement by the Company or any Subsidiary of the
             Company covering any person that, individually or
             collectively, could give rise to the payment of any
             amount that would not be deductible by the Company or its
             Subsidiaries by reason of Section 162(m) or Section 280G
             of the Code or otherwise, as now in effect or as in
             effect as of the Effective Time. 

                    (g)  As used herein, "Taxes" shall mean all
             taxes of any kind, including, without limitation, those
             on or measured by or referred to as income, gross
             receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, franchise, profits,
             license, withholding, payroll, employment, excise,
             severance, stamp, occupation, premium, value added,
             property or windfall profits taxes, customs, duties or
             similar fees, assessments or charges of any kind
             whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties,
             additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any
             Governmental Entity.  As used herein, "Tax Return" shall
             mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund or
             information return or statement relating to Taxes,
             including any schedule or attachment thereto, and
             including any amendment thereof.

                    SECTION 3.13  Environmental Laws.  (a)  Except
          as could not, individually or in the aggregate,
          reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: 
          (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries hold, and, to the
          knowledge of the Company, are in compliance with, all
          Environmental Permits, and the Company and its
          Subsidiaries are otherwise in compliance with all
          applicable Environmental Laws and there are no
          circumstances that might prevent or interfere with such
          compliance in the future; (ii) none of the Company or any
          of its Subsidiaries has received any Environmental Claim,
          and the Company is not aware of any threatened
          Environmental Claim or of any circumstances, conditions
          or events that could reasonably be expected to give rise
          to a Environmental Claim, against the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries; (iii) none of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries has entered into or agreed to any consent
          decree, order or agreement under any Environmental Law,
          and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
          subject to any judgment, decree, order or other
          requirement relating to compliance with 
<PAGE>
          any Environmental
          Law or to investigation, cleanup, remediation or removal
          of regulated substances under any Environmental Law; (iv)
          to the knowledge of the Company, there are no (A)
          underground storage tanks, (B) polychlorinated biphenyls,
          (C) asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, (D)
          urea-formaldehyde insulation, (E) sumps, (F) surface
          impoundments, (G) landfills, (H) sewers or septic systems
          or (I) other Hazardous Materials present at any facility
          owned, leased, operated or otherwise used by the Company
          or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be
          expected to give rise to a liability of the Company or
          any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws; (v)
          to the knowledge of the Company, there are no past
          (including, without limitation, with respect to assets or
          businesses formerly owned, leased or operated by the
          Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or present actions,
          activities, events, conditions or circumstances,
          including without limitation the release, threatened
          release, migration, emission, discharge, generation,
          treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials,
          that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a
          material liability of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws or any contract
          or agreement; (vi) no modification, revocation,
          reissuance, alteration, transfer, or amendment of the
          Environmental Permits, or any review by, or approval of,
          any third party of the Environmental Permits is required
          in connection with the execution or delivery of this
          Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated hereby or the continuation of the business
          of the Company or its Subsidiaries following such
          consummation; (vii) to the knowledge of the Company,
          Hazardous Materials have not been generated, transported,
          treated, stored, disposed of, released or threatened to
          be released at, on, from or under any of the properties
          or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased or
          otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
          in violation of, or in a manner or to a location that
          could give rise to a material liability under, any
          Environmental Laws; and (viii) to the knowledge of the
          Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not
          assumed, contractually or by operation of law, any
          liabilities or obligations under any Environmental Laws.

                    (b)  For purposes of this Agreement, the
          following terms shall have the following meanings:

                    "Environmental Claim" means any written or oral
             notice, claim, demand, action, suit, complaint,
             proceeding or other communication by any person alleging
             liability or potential liability (including without
<PAGE>         
             limitation liability or potential liability for
             investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response
             costs, natural resource damages, property damage,
             personal injury, fines or penalties) arising out of,
             relating to, based on or resulting from (i) the presence,
             discharge, emission, release or threatened release of any
             Hazardous Materials at any location, whether or not
             owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
             Subsidiaries, (ii) circumstances forming the basis of any
             violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law
             or Environmental Permit or (iii) otherwise relating to
             obligations or liabilities under any Environmental Laws.

                    "Environmental Laws" means all applicable
             Federal, state, local and foreign statutes, rules,
             regulations, ordinances, orders, decrees and common law
             relating in any manner to contamination, pollution or
             protection of human health or the environment, including
             without limitation the Comprehensive Environmental
             Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Solid Waste
             Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the
             Toxic Substances Control Act, the Occupational Safety and
             Health Act, the Emergency Planning and
             Community-Right-to-Know Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act,
             all as amended, and similar state, local and foreign
             laws.

                    "Environmental Permits" means all permits,
             licenses, registrations and other governmental
             authorizations required under Environmental Laws for the
             Company and its Subsidiaries, including without
             limitation in connection with the operations of the
             Company's and its Subsidiaries' facilities and otherwise
             to conduct their respective businesses.
  
                    "Hazardous Materials" means all hazardous or
             toxic substances, wastes, materials or chemicals,
             petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof)
             and petroleum products, asbestos and asbestos-containing
             materials, pollutants, contaminants and all other
             materials, substances and forces, including but not
             limited to electromagnetic fields, regulated pursuant to,
             or that could form the basis of liability under, any
             Environmental Law.

                    SECTION 3.14 Intellectual Property.  Except as
          would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
          Adverse Effect:  (i) the Company and each of its
          Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed or otherwise has the
          right to use (in each case, free 
<PAGE>
          and clear of any Liens
          of any kind), all Intellectual Property used in or
          necessary for the conduct of its business as currently
          conducted; (ii) no claims are pending or, to the
          knowledge of the Company, threatened, and the Company and
          its Subsidiaries have not received any notice or
          notification alleging, that the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries is infringing on or otherwise violating the
          rights of any person with regard to any Intellectual
          Property owned by, licensed to and/or used by the Company
          or its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company,
          there is no basis therefor; (iii) neither the Company nor
          any of its subsidiaries has infringed upon or
          misappropriated, or is infringing upon or
          misappropriating, any U.S. or foreign patents or
          copyrights or any U.S., state or foreign trademarks, or
          other Intellectual Property rights of any person; (iv) to
          the knowledge of the Company, no person is infringing on
          or otherwise violating any right of the Company or any of
          its Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual
          Property owned by and/or licensed to the Company or its
          Subsidiaries; and (v) the execution and delivery of this
          Agreement, compliance with its terms and the consummation
          of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will
          not conflict with or result in any violation or default
          (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) or give
          rise to any right, license or Lien relating to
          Intellectual Property, or right of termination,
          alteration, amendment, cancellation or acceleration of
          any Intellectual Property right or obligation, or the
          loss or encumbrance of any Intellectual Property or
          benefit related thereto, or result in or require the
          creation, imposition or extension of any Lien upon any
          Intellectual Property or right. For purposes of this
          Agreement, "Intellectual Property" means all intellectual
          property or other proprietary rights of every kind,
          including, without limitation, all domestic or foreign
          patents, patent applications, inventions (whether or not
          patentable), processes, products, technologies,
          discoveries, copyrightable and copyrighted works,
          apparatus, trade secrets, trademarks (registered and
          unregistered) and trademark applications and
          registrations, brand names, certification marks, service
          marks and service mark applications and registrations,
          trade names, trade dress, copyright registrations, design
          rights, customer lists, marketing and customer
          information, mask works, rights, know-how, licenses,
          technical information (whether confidential or
          otherwise), software, and all documentation thereof.  The
          items disclosed on Section 3.14 of the Disclosure
          Schedule do not and will not, in any material respect,
          limit the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to
          conduct their business in the ordinary course of business
          consistent with past practice, and do not and will not
          result in the imposition of significant additional costs.
<PAGE>
                    SECTION 3.15  Labor Matters.  Except as
          disclosed in Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, (i)
          neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
          party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining
          agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding
          with a labor union or labor organization; (ii) to the
          knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of
          its Subsidiaries is the subject of any proceeding
          asserting that it or any of its Subsidiaries has
          committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel
          it to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or
          conditions of employment; (iii) there is no strike, work
          stoppage or other labor dispute involving the Company or
          any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the Company's
          knowledge, threatened; (iv) to the knowledge of the
          Company, no action, suit, complaint, charge, arbitration,
          inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any
          Governmental Entity brought by or on behalf of any
          employee, prospective employee, former employee, retiree,
          labor organization or other representative of its
          employees is pending or threatened against the Company or
          any of its Subsidiaries; (v) to the knowledge of the
          Company, no grievance is pending or threatened against
          the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (vi) neither
          the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or
          otherwise bound by, any consent decree with, or citation
          by, any Governmental Entity relating to employees or
          employment practices. 

                    SECTION 3.16  Business Relationships; No
          Restrictive Agreements.  (a)  The relationships of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries with its customers,
          distributors, licensors, designers and suppliers are
          satisfactory in all material respects and the execution
          of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and
          the transactions contemplated hereby will not materially
          adversely affect the relationships of the Company and its
          Subsidiaries with such customers, distributors,
          licensors, designers and suppliers.

                    (b)  The Company and its Subsidiaries are not
          parties to or bound by any agreement, contract, policy,
          license, document, instrument, arrangement or commitment
          that limits the freedom of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries to compete in any line of business or with
          any person or in any geographic area or which would so
          limit the freedom of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries or affiliates after the Effective Time.

                    SECTION 3.17  Form S-4; Proxy Statement.  None
          of the information supplied by the Company for inclusion
          in (i) the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed
          with the SEC by the Company in connection with the
          retention of Company Common Stock following the Merger
          (such Form S-4, as amended or supplemented, is herein
          referred to as the "Form S-4") will, at 
<PAGE>
          the time the Form
          S-4 is filed with the SEC, and at any time it is amended
          or supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under
          the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a
          material fact or omit to state any material fact required
          to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
          therein not misleading and (ii) the proxy statement to be
          sent to the stockholders of the Company in connection
          with the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in Section 6.1)
          (such proxy statement, as amended or supplemented, is
          herein referred to as the "Proxy Statement") will, at the
          date it is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or
          at the time of the Stockholders Meeting, contain any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
          material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
          in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
          the circumstances under which they are made, not
          misleading, except that no representation is made by the
          Company with respect to statements made or incorporated
          by reference therein based on information supplied in
          writing by Newco specifically for inclusion in the Proxy
          Statement.  The Form S-4 will, as of its effective date,
          and the prospectus contained therein will, as of its
          date, comply as to form in all material respects with the
          requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and
          regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Proxy Statement
          will comply as to form in all material respects with the
          requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
          regulations promulgated thereunder.  For purposes of this
          Agreement, the parties agree that statements made and
          information in the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement
          relating to the Federal income tax consequences of the
          transactions herein contemplated to holders of Company
          Common Stock shall be deemed to be supplied by the
          Company and not by Newco.

                    SECTION 3.18  Brokers.  No broker, finder or
          investment banker other than Wasserstein Perella & Co.,
          Inc. (the "Company Financial Advisor") is entitled to any
          brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in
          connection with the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement based upon arrangements made by and on behalf
          of the Company.  The Company has heretofore furnished to
          Newco a complete and correct copy of all agreements
          between the Company and the Company Financial Advisor
          pursuant to which such firm would be entitled to any
          payment relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.
          Assuming the amount of net debt reflected in the
          Company's financial records as of June 30, 1997, as
          provided to the Company Financial Advisor, is the same
          amount at the Closing, the aggregate fees payable under
          such agreements would be approximately $2.0 million. 
          Compensation for the Company Financial Advisor's services
          in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement will be calculated on the Closing Date and will
          be based on the Aggregate Considera
<PAGE>
          tion (as such term is
          defined in the letter agreement, dated July 8, 1997,
          between the Company Financial Advisor and the Company)
          paid in such transactions.

                    SECTION 3.19  Opinion of Company Financial
          Advisor.  The Company has received the opinion of the
          Company Financial Advisor dated the date of this
          Agreement, to the effect that the Cash Election Price to
          be received in the Merger by the Company's stockholders,
          other than the Stockholder, is fair to such stockholders
          from a financial point of view.

                    SECTION 3.20  Board Recommendation.  The Board
          of Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and
          held, has by unanimous vote of the disinterested
          directors present (which directors constituted a quorum)
          (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions
          contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and the Voting
          Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby,
          taken together, based on the availability of the Cash
          Election Price to any stockholder who so elects, are fair
          to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the
          Company (other than the Stockholder), and (ii) resolved
          to recommend that the holders of the shares of Company
          Common Stock approve this Agreement and the transactions
          contemplated herein, including the Merger.

                                  ARTICLE 4.

                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 
                                   OF NEWCO

                    Newco hereby represents and warrants to the
          Company that:

                    SECTION 4.1  Corporate Organization.  Newco is
          a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
          good standing under the laws of Delaware and has the
          requisite corporate power and authority and any necessary
          governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its
          properties and to carry on its business as it is now
          being conducted, except where the failure to be so
          organized, existing and in good standing or to have such
          power, authority and governmental approvals would not,
          individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
          to prevent the consummation of the Merger.  Newco was
          formed on June 23, 1997 solely for the purpose of
          engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby.  Newco
          has not (i) incurred, nor will it incur prior to and
          including the Effective Time, directly or indirectly, any
          liabilities or obligations, (ii) engaged in any business
          activity or transaction, or (iii) entered into any
          agreement or arrangement with any person or entity,
          except, in 
<PAGE>
          any such case, in connection with its
          organization or the negotiation of this Agreement, the
          Voting Agreement, the Employment Arrangements, the
          financing of the transactions contemplated hereby and the
          performance thereof.  

                    SECTION 4.2  Authority Relative to This
          Agreement.  Newco has all necessary corporate power and
          authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to
          perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution,
          delivery and performance of this Agreement by Newco and
          the consummation by Newco of the transactions
          contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized
          by all necessary corporate action and no other corporate
          proceedings on the part of Newco are necessary to
          authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
          transactions so contemplated (other than, with respect to
          the Merger, the filing and recordation of appropriate
          merger documents as required by the DGCL).  This
          Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
          delivered by Newco and, assuming due authorization,
          execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a
          legal, valid and binding obligation of Newco enforceable
          against it in accordance with its terms.

                    SECTION 4.3  No Conflict; Required Filings and
          Consents.  (a)  The execution, delivery and performance
          of this Agreement by Newco does not and will not:  (i)
          conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation
          or by-laws of Newco; (ii) assuming that all consents,
          approvals and authorizations contemplated by clauses (i)
          and (ii) of subsection (b) below have been obtained and
          all filings described in such clauses have been made,
          conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation,
          order, ordinance, judgment, arbitral award or decree
          applicable to Newco or by which it or any of its
          properties are bound or affected; or (iii) result in any
          breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an
          event which with notice or lapse of time or both could
          become a default) or result in the loss of a material
          benefit under, or give rise to any right of termination,
          amendment, alteration, acceleration or cancellation of,
          or result in the creation of a Lien on any of the
          properties or assets of Newco pursuant to, any loan,
          credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
          contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, concession,
          franchise or other instrument or obligation to which
          Newco is a party or by which Newco or any of its
          properties are bound or affected, except, in the case of
          clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts,
          violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which
          would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
          be expected to prevent the consummation of the Merger.
<PAGE>
                    (b)  The execution, delivery and performance of
          this Agreement by Newco and the consummation of the
          transactions contemplated hereby by Newco do not and will
          not require any consent, approval, authorization, order
          or permit of, action by, registration, declaration or
          filing with or notice or notification to, any
          Governmental Entity, except for (i) the applicable
          requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act and the rules
          and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Securities
          Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
          the HSR Act, and state securities or "Blue Sky" laws,
          (ii) the filing and recordation of appropriate merger or
          other documents as required by the DGCL, and (iii) such
          consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, permits,
          actions, registrations, declarations, filings, notices or
          notifications the failure of which to make or obtain
          would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
          be expected to prevent the consummation of the Merger.

                    SECTION 4.4  Form S-4; Proxy Statement.  None
          of the information supplied in writing by Newco
          specifically for inclusion in (i) the Form S-4 will, at
          the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, and at any
          time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it
          becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
          material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
          to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii)
          the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed
          to the Company's stockholders or at the time of the
          Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a
          material fact or omit to state any material fact required
          to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
          statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
          under which they are made, not misleading. 
          Notwithstanding the foregoing, Newco makes no
          representation or warranty with respect to any
          information supplied by the Company or any of its
          representatives which is contained in or incorporated by
          reference in any of the foregoing documents.

                    SECTION 4.5  Brokers.  No broker, finder or
          investment banker (other than Goldman, Sachs & Co.) is
          entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or
          commission in connection with the transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
          made by and on behalf of Newco.  A copy of the fee
          arrangement has previously been provided to the Company. 
          Unless the Merger is consummated, the Company shall not
          be responsible for the payment of any such fees to
          Goldman, Sachs & Co.

                    SECTION 4.6  Financing.  Attached as Annexes
          A-1 to A-3 of the Disclosure Schedule are true and
          complete copies of the letters, dated the date hereof,
          issued in connection with 
<PAGE>
          the financing of the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The terms
          and conditions of the letters attached as Annexes A-1 to
          A-3 of the Disclosure Schedule are satisfactory to Newco. 
          As of the date of this Agreement, Newco has been advised
          by its independent accountants that such accountants
          believe the Merger will be recorded as a recapitalization
          for financial reporting purposes.

                    SECTION 4.7  Newco Not an Interested
          Stockholder.  As of the date of this Agreement, to the
          knowledge of Newco, neither Newco nor any of its
          affiliates is an "interested stockholder" as such term is
          defined in Section 203 of the DGCL.

                    SECTION 4.8  Solvency of the Company Following
          the Merger.  Newco believes that, immediately after the
          Effective Time and after giving effect to the Merger and
          the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company will
          not (i) be insolvent (either because its financial
          condition is such that the sum of its debts is greater
          than the fair market value of its assets or because the
          fair saleable value of its assets is less than the amount
          required to pay its probable liability on its existing
          debts as they mature), (ii) have unreasonably small
          capital with which to engage in its business or (iii)
          have incurred debts beyond its ability to pay as they
          become due.

                                  ARTICLE 5.

                    CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

                    SECTION 5.1  Conduct of Business Pending the
          Merger. The Company covenants and agrees that, during the
          period from the date hereof to the Effective Time, unless
          Newco gives its prior written consent, the businesses of
          the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted only
          in, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not take
          any action except in, the ordinary course of business
          consistent with past practice and in compliance with
          applicable laws; and the Company and its Subsidiaries
          shall each use its reasonable best efforts (i) to
          preserve substantially intact the business organization
          of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) to keep
          available the services of the present officers, employees
          and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
          (iii) to preserve the present relationships of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries with customers,
          distributors, licensors, designers and suppliers and
          other persons with which the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries has significant business relations.  Except
          as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, by way of
          amplification and not limitation, neither the Company nor
          any of its Subsidiaries shall, between the date of this
          Agreement and the Effective Time, except as set forth in
          Section 5.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, 
<PAGE>
          directly or
          indirectly take, or propose or commit to take, any of the
          following actions without the prior written consent of
          Newco:

                    (a)  amend or otherwise change the certificate
          of incorporation or by-laws or equivalent organizational
          documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

                    (b)  issue, deliver, sell, lease, sell and
          leaseback, pledge, mortgage, dispose of or encumber or
          subject to any Lien, or authorize or commit to the
          issuance, delivery, sale, lease, sale/leaseback, pledge,
          mortgage, disposition or encumbrance of or to the
          subjection to any Lien, (A) any shares of capital stock
          of any class, or any options, warrants, convertible
          securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any
          shares of capital stock or any other ownership interest
          (including but not limited to stock appreciation rights
          or phantom stock) of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries (except for the issuance and delivery of
          shares of Company Common Stock issuable in accordance
          with the terms of Options outstanding as of the date
          hereof, and upon the terms in effect as of the date
          hereof) or (B) any assets of the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries, other than inventory or other assets sold,
          leased or disposed of in the ordinary course of business
          consistent with past practice; 

                    (c)  declare, set aside, make or pay any
          dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock,
          property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital
          stock, other than dividends or distributions by a direct
          or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the
          Company and/or other direct or indirect wholly owned
          Subsidiaries of the Company; 

                    (d)  reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or
          redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or
          indirectly, any of the capital stock, or any other
          ownership interest (including but not limited to stock
          appreciation rights or phantom stock), of the Company or
          any of its Subsidiaries or any options, warrants,
          convertible securities or other rights of any kind to
          acquire any shares of capital stock, or any other
          ownership interest (including but not limited to stock
          appreciation rights or phantom stock), other than in
          connection with the exercise of Options outstanding on
          the date hereof pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Stock
          Plan;

                    (e) (i) other than with respect to borrowings
          and repayments in the ordinary course of business under
          the 
<PAGE>
          lines of credit listed on Schedule 5.1(e)(i) (which
          borrowings shall not in aggregate amount exceed $18
          million in U.S. dollars at any one time outstanding and
          shall not have interest rate periods extending beyond the
          Effective Time), repurchase, repay, incur or cause or
          permit to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money or
          issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or
          endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become
          responsible for, the obligations of any person, or enter
          into any "keep well" or other agreement to maintain any
          financial statement condition of another person or enter
          into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of
          the foregoing, or make any loans, advances or capital
          contributions to, or investments in, any person other
          than the Company or a direct or indirect wholly owned
          Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) enter into, terminate,
          waive, modify or amend any material contract, license or
          agreement, other than in the ordinary course of business
          consistent with past practice; or (iii) except as set
          forth in the Company's capital budget which is set forth
          in Section 5.1(e)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule,
          authorize any single expenditure for any capital or
          acquisition (including without limitation any acquisition
          of any corporation, partnership or other business
          enterprise or division thereof by share purchase, merger,
          consolidation or otherwise) other than capital
          expenditures not to exceed $50,000 individually or
          $200,000 in the aggregate;

                    (f)  (i) increase the compensation or fringe
          benefits of any of its directors, officers or employees,
          except for increases in salary or wages of employees of
          the Company or its Subsidiaries, who are not directors or
          officers of the Company, in the ordinary course of
          business and consistent in all material respects with the
          Company's budget, (ii) grant any severance or termination
          pay not currently required to be paid under existing
          severance plans to, or enter into or modify in any
          material or economic respect any employment, consulting
          or severance agreement or arrangement with, any present
          or former director, officer or other employee of the
          Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for the
          granting of severance or termination pay, in the ordinary
          course of business consistent with past practice, to
          nonexecutive employees who are terminated by the Company
          after the date hereof, (iii) establish, adopt, enter into
          or amend or terminate any collective bargaining, bonus,
          profit sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option,
          restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred
          compensation, employment, termination, severance 
<PAGE>
         or other
          plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for
          the benefit of any directors, officers or employees or
          (iv) terminate the existing employment arrangements with
          any of the individuals listed in Section 5.1(f) of the
          Disclosure Schedule or take any action that would
          constitute a breach of any such arrangements or take any
          action (other than consummation of the Merger) which
          would cause any change-of-control, severance or similar
          payment to be payable to any such individual or make any
          payment of any bonus or other extraordinary or
          termination payment which such individual has agreed to
          waive, modify or amend in connection with the Employment
          Arrangements;

                    (g)  except as may be required as a result of a
          change in law or in generally accepted accounting
          principles, change in any material respect any of the
          accounting practices or principles used by it;

                    (h)  make any material tax election or settle
          or compromise any material Federal, state, local or
          foreign Tax liability;

                    (i)  settle or compromise any pending or
          threatened suit, action or claim for in excess of
          $100,000 per suit, action or claim, and $250,000 in the
          aggregate, or which relates to the transactions
          contemplated hereby;

                    (j)  adopt a plan of complete or partial
               liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
               restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization
               of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
               this Agreement and the Merger); or

                         (k)  take, or offer or propose to take, or
               agree to take in writing or otherwise, any of the actions
               described in Sections 5.1(a) through 5.1(j).

                                       ARTICLE 6.
                                 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

                         SECTION 6.1  Stockholders Meeting.  The
               Company, acting through its Board of Directors, will, as
               promptly as practicable following the date of
               effectiveness of the Form S-4 and in consultation with
               Newco, (i) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a
               meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of
               considering and adopting and approving this Agreement and
               the transactions contemplated hereby (the "Stockholders
               Meeting")
<PAGE>
               and (ii) (A) include in the Proxy Statement the
               unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors that
               the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the
               approval of this Agreement and the transactions
               contemplated hereby and the written opinion of the
               Company Financial Advisor that the Cash Election Price to
               be received by the stockholders of the Company, other
               than the Stockholder, pursuant to the Merger, is fair to
               such stockholders from a financial point of view, (B)
               include along with the Proxy Statement a Form of
               Election, and (C) use its best efforts to hold such
               meeting and obtain the necessary approval of this
               Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by its
               stockholders, as soon as practicable after the date
               hereof. 

                         SECTION 6.2  Form S-4 and Proxy Statement. 
               Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the
               Company shall prepare the Proxy Statement, and the
               Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Form S-4,
               in which the Proxy Statement will be included.  The
               Company shall use its best efforts to have the Form S-4
               declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly
               as practicable after such filing.  The Company shall use
               its best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be
               mailed to the Company's stockholders as promptly as
               practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective
               under the Securities Act.  The Company shall also take
               any action required to be taken under any applicable
               state securities or "Blue Sky" laws in connection with
               the registration and qualification in connection with the
               Merger of capital stock of the Company following the
               Merger.  The information provided by the Company for use
               in the Form S-4, and to be supplied by Newco in writing
               specifically for use in the Form S-4, shall, at the time
               the Form S-4 becomes effective and on the date of the
               Stockholders Meeting referred to above, be true and
               correct in all material respects and shall not omit to
               state any material fact required to be stated therein or
               necessary in order to make such information not
               misleading, and the Company and Newco each agree to
               correct any information provided by it for use in the
               Form S-4 which shall have become false or misleading. 
               The foregoing notwithstanding, from and after the
               Effective Time, the Company will have no obligation to
               maintain the registration of the Company Common Stock or
               to make any further filings under any federal or state
               securities or "Blue Sky" laws with respect to the Company
               Common Stock, except as may then be required by law, and,
               to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, may
               terminate any such prior registration.  Newco and the
               Company will cooperate with each other in the preparation
               of the Proxy Statement and the Form S-4; without limiting
               the generality of the foregoing, the Company will
               immediately notify Newco of the receipt of any comments
               from the SEC, the effectiveness of the Form S-4 and any
               request by the SEC for any amendment to the Proxy
               Statement or the Form S-4 or for additional information. 
               All 
<PAGE>
               filings with the SEC, including the Proxy Statement
               and the Form S-4 and any amendment thereto, and all
               mailings to the Company's stockholders in connection with
               the Merger, including the Proxy Statement, shall be
               subject to the prior review, comment and approval of
               Newco.  Newco will furnish to the Company the information
               relating to it required by the Exchange Act and the rules
               and regulations promulgated thereunder to be set forth in
               the Proxy Statement.  The Company agrees to use its
               reasonable best efforts, after consultation with Newco,
               to respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with
               respect to the Proxy Statement (and any preliminary
               version thereof filed by it) and the Form S-4.

                         SECTION 6.3  Access to Information;
               Confidentiality. (a)  From the date hereof to the
               Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause its
               Subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, auditors,
               environmental auditors, counsel, financial advisors and
               other agents to, afford Newco and its representatives and
               potential financing sources, reasonable access at all
               reasonable times to its officers, employees, agents,
               properties, offices, warehouses and other facilities and
               to all books, contracts and records, and shall furnish
               Newco and such financing sources with all financial,
               operating and other data and information as Newco, its
               representatives or such financing sources may from time
               to time reasonably request.  During such period, the
               Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries,
               officers, employees and representatives to, furnish
               promptly to Newco a copy of each report, schedule,
               registration statement and other document filed by it
               during such period pursuant to the requirements of
               Federal or state securities or "Blue Sky" laws.  

                         (b)  Each of the Company and Newco agrees with
               respect to all confidential information relating to the
               other party (the "Disclosing Party") that is or has been
               furnished or disclosed to the first party (the "Receiving
               Party") on, after or before the date hereof including,
               but not limited to, information regarding the Disclosing
               Party's organization, personnel, business activities,
               customers, policies, assets, finances, costs, sales,
               revenues, rights, obligations, liabilities and strategies
               ("Confidential Information"), that, unless and until the
               transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have
               been consummated, (1) such Confidential Information is
               confidential and/or proprietary to the Disclosing Party
               and entitled to and shall receive treatment as such by
               the Receiving Party and (2) the Receiving Party will, and
               will require all of its directors, officers, employees,
               representatives, stockholders, agents and advisors
               (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers
               and financial advisors) who have access to such
               Confidential Information to, hold in confidence
<PAGE>
               and not
               disclose to others nor use (except in respect of the
               transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as
               required by law or in a court, administrative, or
               regulatory proceeding) any such Confidential Information;
               provided, however, that the Receiving Party shall not
               have any restrictive obligation with respect to any
               Confidential Information which (x) is or becomes publicly
               known through no wrongful act or omission of, or
               violation of the terms hereof by, the Receiving Party or
               (y) becomes known to the Receiving Party from a source
               which, to the best of the Receiving Party's knowledge,
               has no confidentiality obligation with respect to such
               Confidential Information at the time of receipt of such
               Confidential Information.  The Receiving Party shall
               provide Confidential Information only to its directors,
               officers, employees, representatives, stockholders,
               agents, advisors (including attorneys, accountants,
               consultants, bankers and financial advisors) and
               potential financing sources who have a need to know such
               Confidential Information in connection with the
               transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                         (c)  No investigation pursuant to this Section
               6.3 shall affect any representations or warranties of the
               parties herein or the conditions to the obligations of
               the parties hereto.

                         SECTION 6.4  No Solicitation.  (a)  The Company
               and its Subsidiaries and their respective officers,
               directors, employees, representatives, agents and
               advisors (including attorneys, accountants, consultants,
               bankers and financial advisors) shall immediately cease
               any existing discussions or negotiations, if any, with
               any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any
               Acquisition Transaction (as defined below).  The Company
               agrees that, prior to the Effective Time, it shall not,
               and shall not authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries
               or any of its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers,
               employees, agents, representatives or advisors (including
               attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers and
               financial advisors), directly or indirectly, to, solicit,
               initiate, encourage or facilitate, or furnish or disclose
               non-public information in furtherance of, any inquiries
               or the making of any proposal with respect to any merger,
               liquidation, recapitalization, consolidation or other
               business combination involving the Company or its
               Subsidiaries or acquisition or exchange of any capital
               stock or any material portion of the assets (except for
               acquisitions of assets in the ordinary course of business
               consistent with past practice) of the Company or its
               Subsidiaries, 
<PAGE>
               or any combination of the foregoing (an
               "Acquisition Transaction"), or negotiate, explore or
               otherwise engage in substantive discussions with any
               person (other than Newco) with respect to any Acquisition
               Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement or
               understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail
               to consummate the Merger or any other transactions
               contemplated hereby; provided that the Company may
               furnish information to, and negotiate or otherwise engage
               in substantive discussions with, any party who delivers a
               bona fide written proposal for an Acquisition Transaction
               if the Company's Board of Directors determines in good
               faith and upon the advice from its outside legal counsel,
               that failing to take such action would constitute a
               breach of the fiduciary duties of the Company's Board of
               Directors and such a proposal is, in the opinion of the
               Company's Board of Directors, more favorable to the
               Company's stockholders (other than the Stockholder) from
               a financial point of view than the transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement.

                         (b) From and after the execution of this
               Agreement, the Company shall immediately advise Newco in
               writing of the receipt, directly or indirectly, of any
               inquiries, discussions, negotiations or proposals
               relating to an Acquisition Transaction, identify the
               offeror and furnish to Newco a copy of any such proposal
               or inquiry, if it is in writing, or a written summary of
               any such proposal relating to an Acquisition Transaction
               if it is not in writing.  The Company shall promptly
               advise Newco of any development relating to such
               proposal, including the results of any discussions or
               negotiations with respect thereto. 

                         SECTION 6.5  ESOP.  The Company shall cooperate
               with Newco in taking all steps necessary or appropriate
               so that, effective as of the Effective Time, the
               Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP")
               shall be amended so as to (i) eliminate the right of
               participants in the ESOP to receive distributions in the
               form of employer securities, (ii) terminate the status of
               the ESOP as an employee stock ownership plan, (iii)
               provide that the Merger Consideration received by the
               ESOP in the Merger shall not be reinvested in employer
               securities, (iv) freeze benefit accruals under the ESOP,
               and (v) vest all participants in the ESOP in their
               account balances in the ESOP.

                         SECTION 6.6  Directors' and Officers'
               Indemnification and Insurance.  (a)  For six years after
               the Effective Time, the Company shall indemnify all
               present and former directors, 
<PAGE>
               officers, employees and
               agents of the Company for acts or omissions occurring
               prior to the Effective Time to the fullest extent now
               provided in the Company's certificate of incorporation
               and by-laws consistent with applicable law, to the extent
               such acts or omissions are uninsured (provided, that to
               the extent that during any such period insurance does not
               fully indemnify any person contemplated to be indemnified
               in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.6, the
               Company shall indemnify such person in accordance with
               such terms), and shall, in connection with defending
               against any action for which indemnification is available
               hereunder, and subject to Section 6.6(c) hereof,
               reimburse and advance expenses to such officers,
               directors, employees and agents, from time to time upon
               receipt of reasonably sufficient supporting
               documentation, for any reasonable costs and expenses
               reasonably incurred by such officers, directors,
               employees and agents in connection with such defense;
               provided that such advancement and reimbursement shall be
               conditioned upon such officer's, director's, employee's
               or agent's agreement promptly to return such amounts to
               the Company if a court of competent jurisdiction shall
               ultimately determine, and such determination shall have
               become final and non-appealable, that indemnification of
               such officer or director in the manner contemplated
               hereby is prohibited by applicable law.  In addition to
               the foregoing, the Company will comply with its
               obligations under the indemnification agreements referred
               to in item A.2. of Section 3.9 of the Disclosure
               Schedule, subject to the terms and provisions thereof.

                         (b) The Company shall maintain in effect for
               six years from the Effective Time policies of directors'
               and officers' liability insurance containing terms and
               conditions which are not less advantageous than those
               policies maintained by the Company at the date hereof,
               with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective
               Time, to the extent available, and having the maximum
               available coverage under the current policies of
               directors' and officers' liability insurance; provided
               that (i) the Company following the Merger shall not be
               required to spend in excess of a $770,000 annual premium
               therefor; provided further that if the Company following
               the Merger would be required to spend in excess of a
               $770,000 premium per annum to obtain insurance having the
               maximum available coverage under the current policies,
               the Company will be required to spend $770,000 to
               maintain or procure insurance coverage pursuant hereto,
               subject to availability of such (or similar) coverage and
               (ii) such policies may in the sole discretion of the
               Company be one or more "tail" policies for all or any
               portion of the full six year period.  
<PAGE>
                         (c)  In furtherance of and not in limitation of
               the preceding paragraphs, Newco agrees that the officers
               and directors of the Company who are defendants in all
               litigation commenced by stockholders of the Company,
               whether before or after the date of this Agreement, with
               respect to (x) the performance of their duties at or
               prior to the Effective Time as such officers and/or
               directors under Federal or state law (including without
               limitation litigation under Federal and state securities
               laws) or (y) this Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the
               transactions contemplated hereby (the "Subject
               Litigation") shall be entitled to be represented, at the
               reasonable expense of the Company, in the Subject
               Litigation by one counsel (and one local counsel in each
               jurisdiction in which a case is pending), each of which
               such counsel shall be selected by a plurality of such
               officer/director defendants, subject to the approval of
               the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably
               withheld; provided that neither Newco nor the Company
               shall be liable for any settlement effected without its
               prior written consent (which consent shall not be
               unreasonably withheld) and that a condition to any
               further indemnification payments provided in Section
               6.6(a) shall be that such officer/director defendant
               shall not have settled any Subject Litigation without the
               consent of Newco and the Company; and provided further
               that neither Newco nor the Company shall have any
               obligation hereunder to any officer/director defendant
               when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall
               ultimately determine, and such determination shall have
               become final and non-appealable, that indemnification of
               such officer/director defendant in the manner
               contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law.

                         SECTION 6.7  Notification of Certain Matters. 
               The Company shall give prompt notice to Newco, and Newco
               shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) the
               occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence
               or non-occurrence of which would be likely to cause any
               representation or warranty contained in this Agreement to
               be untrue or inaccurate and (ii) any failure of the
               Company or Newco, as the case may be, to comply with or
               satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be
               complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided,
               however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this
               Section 6.7 shall not limit or otherwise affect the
               remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such
               notice.

                         SECTION 6.8  Further Action; Best Efforts.  (a) 
               Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each
               of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best
               efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to
               do or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with
               the parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
               advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most
               expeditious manner practicable, the 
<PAGE>
               transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement,
               including but not limited to (i) cooperation in the
               preparation and filing of the Form S-4, the Proxy
               Statement, any required filings under the HSR Act and any
               amendments to any thereof, (ii) determining whether any
               filings are required to be made or consents, approvals,
               waivers, licenses, permits or authorizations are required
               to be obtained (or, which if not obtained, would result
               in an event of default, termination, amendment,
               alteration or acceleration of any agreement or any put
               right under any agreement) under any applicable law or
               regulation or from any Governmental Entities or third
               parties, including parties to loan agreements or other
               debt instruments, in connection with the transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) promptly making
               any such filings, furnishing information required in
               connection therewith and timely seeking to obtain any
               such consents, approvals, permits or authorizations.  The
               Company shall not take any action to restrict, limit or
               prohibit Newco's ability to exercise all of its rights
               and obligations under the Voting Agreement, and the
               Company and its Board of Directors has provided and shall
               provide and maintain all approvals required under Section
               203 of the DGCL in order to permit such exercise;
               provided, however, that the Company and its Board of
               Directors will not be prohibited from taking any action
               required by the Board of Directors' fiduciary duties it
               deems reasonably appropriate in response to Newco
               attempting to acquire any shares of Company Common Stock
               other than those subject to the option under Section 4 of
               the Voting Agreement (the "Voting Agreement Option"),
               except the Company and the Board of Directors will not
               revoke, amend or restrict the approvals under Section 203
               of the DGCL referred to above, or attempt to assert that
               such approvals are not valid or are inapplicable.

                         (b)  Each of the parties agrees to cooperate
               with each other in taking, or causing to be taken, all
               actions necessary to delist the shares of Company Common
               Stock from The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc.'s (the "NASDAQ")
               National Market, provided that such delisting shall not
               be effective until after the Effective Time.  The parties
               also acknowledge that it is Newco's intent that the
               shares of retained Company Common Stock following the
               Merger will not be quoted on the NASDAQ National Market
               or listed on any national securities exchange.

                         (c)  The Company agrees to provide, and will
               cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective
               officers, employees and advisors to provide, all
               necessary cooperation in connection with the arrangement
               of any financing to be consummated contemporaneous with
               or at or after the Closing in respect of the transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement, including without
               limitation, participation in meetings, due diligence
<PAGE>
               sessions, road shows, the preparation of offering
               memoranda, private placement memoranda, prospectuses and
               similar documents, the execution and delivery of any
               commitment letters, underwriting or placement agreements,
               pledge and security documents, other definitive financing
               documents, or other requested certificates or documents,
               including a certificate of the chief financial officer of
               the Company with respect to solvency matters, comfort
               letters of accountants and legal opinions as may be
               requested by Newco or its sources of financing.  The
               parties acknowledge that the payment of any fees by the
               Company in connection with any commitment letters shall
               be subject to the occurrence of the Closing.  In
               addition, in conjunction with the obtaining of any such
               financing, the Company agrees, at the request of Newco,
               to call for prepayment or redemption, or to prepay,
               redeem and/or renegotiate, as the case may be, any then
               existing indebtedness or equipment leases of the Company
               and its Subsidiaries; provided that no such prepayment,
               redemption or renegotiation shall themselves actually be
               made effective until contemporaneous with or after the
               Effective Time.

                         (d)  The Company shall cooperate with any
               reasonable requests of Newco or the SEC related to the
               recording of the Merger as a recapitalization for
               financial reporting purposes, including, without
               limitation, to assist Newco and its affiliates and
               representatives with any presentation to the SEC with
               regard to such recording and to include appropriate
               disclosure with regard to such recording in all filings
               with the SEC and all mailings to stockholders made in
               connection with the Merger.  In furtherance of the
               foregoing, the Company shall provide to Newco, and Newco
               shall provide to the Company, for the prior review of
               Newco's and the Company's advisors, any description of
               the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which is
               meant to be disseminated.

                         (e)  (i)  Newco hereby agrees to use its
               reasonable best efforts, subject to normal conditions, to
               arrange the financing described in Annexes A-1 and A-2 of
               the Disclosure Schedule in respect of the transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement, including using its
               reasonable best efforts (A) to assist the Company in the
               negotiation of definitive agreements with respect thereto
               and (B) to satisfy all conditions applicable to Newco in
               such definitive agreements.  Newco will keep the Company
               informed of the status of its efforts to arrange such
               financing, including making reports with respect to
               significant developments.  In the event Newco is unable
               to arrange any portion of such financing in the manner or
               from the sources originally contemplated, Newco will use
               its reasonable best efforts, subject to normal
               conditions, to arrange any such portion from alternative
               sources on substantially similar terms to those
               contemplated in such Annexes A-1 and A-2.
<PAGE>
                         (ii)  Subject to the Company having received
               the proceeds of the financing described in Section 7.2(f)
               on terms satisfactory to Newco, Newco at the Closing will
               be capitalized with an equity contribution of $67.5
               million (including contributions of Company Common Stock
               by certain employee stockholders valued at the Cash
               Election Price per share and including issuances of
               restricted stock valued at the purchase price paid by
               investors purchasing shares of Newco for cash). Newco
               will be under no obligation pursuant to the preceding
               sentence unless and until the Company receives the
               proceeds of the financing described in Section 7.2(f) on
               terms satisfactory to Newco.  In addition, Newco will be
               under no obligation under any circumstances to be
               capitalized with equity of more than $67.5 million
               (calculated as described above).

                         (f)  In case at any time after the Effective
               Time any further action is necessary or desirable to
               carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the proper
               officers and directors of each party to this Agreement
               shall use their reasonable best efforts to take all such
               necessary action.

                         SECTION 6.9  Public Announcements.  Prior to
               the Effective Time, neither Newco nor the Company will
               issue any press release or public statement with respect
               to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
               including the Merger, or the Voting Agreement, without
               the other party's prior consent, except as may be
               required by applicable law, court process or by
               obligations pursuant to its inclusion in the NASDAQ
               National Market.  In addition to the foregoing, Newco and
               the Company will consult with each other before issuing,
               and provide each other the opportunity to review and
               comment upon, any such press release or other public
               statements with respect to such transactions.  The
               parties agree that the initial press release or releases
               to be issued with respect to the transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement shall be mutually agreed
               upon prior to the issuance thereof.

                         SECTION 6.10  Disposition of Litigation.  The
               Company will not voluntarily cooperate with any third
               party which has sought or may hereafter seek to restrain
               or prohibit or otherwise oppose the Merger and will
               cooperate with Newco to resist any such effort to
               restrain or prohibit or otherwise oppose the Merger.

                         SECTION 6.11  Affiliates.  Prior to the Closing
               Date, the Company shall deliver to Newco a letter
               identifying all persons who are, at the time this
               Agreement is submitted for approval to the stockholders
               of the Company, "affiliates" of the Company for purposes
               of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. The Company shall
               use its reasonable best efforts to cause each 
<PAGE>
               such person
               who makes a Mixed Election to deliver to Newco on or
               prior to the Closing Date a written agreement
               substantially in the form attached as Annex A hereto.

                         SECTION 6.12  Stop Transfer Order.  The Company
               shall notify the Company's transfer agent that there is a
               stop transfer order with respect to all of the Subject
               Shares (as defined in the Voting Agreement) and that the
               Voting Agreement places limits on the voting of the
               Subject Shares.

                         SECTION 6.13  Transfer Taxes.  Newco shall pay
               when due any and all transfer, documentary, sales, use,
               registration and other similar taxes (including without
               limitation any applicable stock transfer (except as
               provided in Section 2.5(b)) and real property taxes) and
               related amounts incurred as a result of the Merger and
               the transactions contemplated hereby.

                         SECTION 6.14  Employee Plans and Benefits.  (a) 
               Subject to applicable law, the Company will honor in
               accordance with their terms all existing employment
               agreements and employee benefits plans between the
               Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any officer,
               director or employee of the Company or any of its
               Subsidiaries; provided that nothing in this Section
               6.14(a) shall prevent the Company from amending or
               terminating any such agreements or plans in accordance
               with the terms thereof.

                         (b)  Newco agrees that, for at least two years
               from the Effective Time, subject to applicable law, the
               Company and its Subsidiaries will provide benefits to
               their employees as a group (and not necessarily on an
               individual-by-individual or group-by-group basis) which
               will, in the aggregate, be similar to those currently
               provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries to their
               employees; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries
               will not be under any obligation to retain any employee
               or group of employees.

                                       ARTICLE 7.

                                  CONDITIONS OF MERGER

                         SECTION 7.1  Conditions to Obligation of Each
               Party to Effect the Merger.  The respective obligations
               of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to
               the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective
               Time of the following conditions:

                         (a)  Company Stockholder Approval.  The Company
               Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
<PAGE>
                         (b)  HSR Act.  The waiting period (and any
               extension thereof) applicable to the Merger under the HSR
               Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired.

                         (c)  No Injunctions or Restraints.  No
               temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
               injunction or other order issued by any court of
               competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or
               prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger
               shall be in effect; provided, however, that the parties
               hereto shall use their best efforts to have any such
               injunction, order, restraint or prohibition vacated.

                         (d)  Form S-4.  To the extent required by
               applicable law, the Form S-4 shall have become effective
               under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of
               any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop order, and
               any material "Blue Sky" and other state securities laws
               applicable to the registration and qualification of the
               retained Company Common Stock following the Merger shall
               have been complied with.

                         SECTION 7.2  Conditions to Obligation of Newco. 
               The obligation of Newco to effect the Merger is further
               subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the
               Effective Time of the following conditions:

                         (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The
               representations and warranties of the Company set forth
               in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality
               shall be true and correct and any such representations
               and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement
               that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in
               all material respects, in each case as of the date of
               this Agreement and as of the Closing as though made at
               and as of the Closing.  Newco shall have received a
               certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior
               executive officer of the Company to the effect set forth
               in this paragraph.

                         (b)  Performance of Obligations of the Company. 
               The Company shall have performed the obligations required
               to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to
               the Closing (except for such failures to perform as,
               either individually or in the aggregate, have not had or
               would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material
               Adverse Effect).

                         (c)  Consents, Etc.  Newco shall have received
               evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
               to 
<PAGE>
               it, that such licenses, permits, consents, approvals,
               authorizations, qualifications and orders of Governmental
               Entities and other third parties as are necessary in
               connection with the transactions contemplated hereby have
               been obtained, except where the failure to obtain such
               licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations,
               qualifications and orders would not, individually or in
               the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
               Adverse Effect; provided, however, that in any case, the
               consents and amendments set forth in Section 7.2(c) of
               the Disclosure Schedule shall have been obtained.

                         (d) No Material Litigation.  There shall not be
               pending by any Governmental Entity any suit, action or
               proceeding (or by any other person any suit, action or
               proceeding which has a reasonable likelihood of success)
               (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the
               consummation of the Merger or any of the other
               transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting
               Agreement or seeking to obtain from Newco, the Company or
               any of their respective Subsidiaries or affiliates any
               damages that are material to any such party, (ii) seeking
               to prohibit or limit the ownership or operation by Newco,
               the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any material
               portion of the business or assets of the Company or any
               of its Subsidiaries, (iii) seeking to impose limitations
               on the ability of Newco (or any designee of Newco
               pursuant to the Voting Agreement) or any stockholder of
               Newco or the Company to acquire or hold, or exercise full
               rights of ownership of, any shares of Company Common
               Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote
               the Company Common Stock on all matters properly
               presented to the stockholders of the Company or (iv)
               seeking to prohibit Newco or any of its affiliates from
               effectively controlling in any material respect the
               business or operations of the Company or its
               Subsidiaries.

                         (e)  Affiliate Letters.  Newco shall have
               received the agreements referred to in Section 6.11. 

                         (f)  Financing.  Newco and the Company shall
               have received the proceeds of financing on the terms and
               conditions set forth in Annexes A-1 through A-3 of the
               Disclosure Schedule or upon terms and conditions which
               are, in the reasonable judgement of Newco, substantially
               equivalent thereto, and to the extent that any terms and
               conditions are not set forth in Annexes A-1 through A-3
               of the Disclosure Schedule, on terms and conditions
               reasonably satisfactory to Newco.

                         (g) Recapitalization Accounting.  Newco shall
               be reasonably satisfied that the Merger shall be recorded
               as a recapitalization for financial reporting purposes
               (provided that if Newco is advised that the SEC finally
               determines that recapitalization treatment will not be
               available, Newco will advise the Company within 30 days
               of receipt of such final determination whether it intends
               to waive such condition and if it advises the Company
               that it has determined not to so waive, the Company may
               terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c) as if
               the date of such advice from Newco was deemed to be
               December 31, 1997 for purposes of Section 8.1(c)).

                         (h)  Employees.  Newco shall be reasonably
               satisfied that the Employment Arrangements are in full
               force and effect and that the individuals who are listed
               on Schedule 5.1(f) will be employed by the Company
               following the Effective Time pursuant to the Employment
               Arrangements and such employees will not have been paid
               nor have the right to receive any payment from Newco or
               the Company of any severance, change-of-control, or
               similar payments as a result, in whole or in part, of the
               consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
               hereby, except as expressly provided in the Employment
               Arrangements.

                         (i)  Mixed Consideration Election.  Effective
               as of the Effective Time, the Stockholder shall have made
               and not revoked a Mixed Election with respect to at least
               15,024,616 shares of Company Common Stock owned by the
               Stockholder immediately prior to the Effective Time.

                         (j)  Tax Indemnification Agreement.  The Tax
               Indemnification Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
               among the Company, the Estate of John A. Svenningsen and
               Christine Svenningsen shall be in full force and effect
               and enforceable by the Company following the Effective
               Time, in accordance with the terms as in effect on the
               date hereof and in the form provided to Newco on the date
               hereof, or as it may be amended with the consent of
               Newco.

                         SECTION 7.3  Conditions to Obligation of the
               Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the
               Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver
               at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
               conditions:

                         (a) Representations and Warranties.  The
               representations and warranties of Newco set forth in this
               Agreement that are qualified as to materiality shall be
               true and correct and any such representations and
               warranties of 
<PAGE>
               Newco set forth in this Agreement that are
               not so qualified shall be true and correct in all
               material respects, in each case as of the date of this
               Agreement and as of the Closing as though made at and as
               of the Closing.  The Company shall have received a
               certificate signed on behalf of Newco by a senior
               executive officer of Newco to the effect set forth in
               this paragraph.

                         (b)  Performance of Obligations of Newco. 
               Newco shall have performed the obligations required to be
               performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the
               Closing (except for such failures to perform as would
               not, either individually or in the aggregate, materially
               adversely affect the ability of Newco to consummate the
               transactions herein contemplated or to perform its
               obligations hereunder).

                                       ARTICLE 8.

                          TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER  

                         SECTION 8.1  Termination.  This Agreement may
               be terminated and the Merger contemplated hereby may be
               abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time,
               notwithstanding approval thereof by the stockholders of
               the Company:

                         (a)  by mutual written consent of Newco and the
               Company;

                         (b)  by either Newco or the Company if any
               court of competent jurisdiction, arbitrator or other
               Governmental Entity shall have issued a final order,
               decree or ruling or taken any other final action
               restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
               consummation of the Merger or any of the transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreement,
               or otherwise altering the terms of any of the foregoing
               in any significant respect, and such order, decree,
               ruling or other action is or shall have become final and
               nonappealable;

                         (c)  by either Newco or the Company if the
               Merger shall not have been consummated on or before
               December 31, 1997, provided that the right to terminate
               this Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be
               available to the party whose action or failure to act has
               been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the
               Merger to occur on or before such date where such action
               or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement;
<PAGE>
                         (d)  by Newco if any required approval of the
               stockholders of the Company shall not have been obtained
               by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote upon
               a vote held at a duly held meeting of stockholders or at
               any adjournment thereof; or

                         (e)  by the Company if, prior to receipt of the
               Company Stockholder Approval, the Board of Directors of
               the Company approves an Acquisition Transaction, on terms
               which the Board of Directors of the Company has
               determined in good faith (i) to be more favorable to the
               Company and its stockholders (other than the Stockholder)
               than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
               (ii) based upon the advice of its outside counsel, that
               failing to approve such Acquisition Transaction and
               terminate this Agreement would constitute a breach of the
               fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of the Company
               under applicable law; provided that the termination
               described in this Section 8.1(e) shall not be permissible
               unless and until the Company shall have provided Newco
               prior written notice at least three business days prior
               to such termination that the Board of Directors of the
               Company has authorized and intends to effect the
               termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section
               8.1(e), the Company shall otherwise be in compliance in
               all material respects with its obligations under this
               Agreement and on or prior to such termination the Company
               shall have paid to Newco the fee described in Section
               8.3(a).

                         SECTION 8.2  Effect of Termination.  In the
               event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
               Section 8.1, this Agreement shall, except as provided in
               Section 9.1, forthwith become void and there shall be no
               liability on the part of any party hereto except as set
               forth in Section 8.3 and Section 9.1; provided, however,
               that nothing herein shall relieve any party from
               liability for any breach hereof.

                         SECTION 8.3  Fees and Expenses.  (a)  In the
               event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
               Section 8.1(e) hereof, then the Company shall, prior to
               such termination, pay Newco a termination fee of $8
               million; provided, however, that if Newco exercises the
               Voting Agreement Option, promptly upon receipt by Newco
               of the shares subject to the Voting Agreement Option
               registered in the name of Newco or its designee, Newco
               shall return such termination fee to the Company;
               provided further that Newco shall not be required to
               return such termination fee or, if already returned, the
               Company shall again pay such termination fee to Newco, if
               the Company or its Board of 
<PAGE>
               Directors takes any
               affirmative action preventing or restricting Newco or its
               designee from acquiring shares of Company Common Stock
               (including pursuant to the tender offer contemplated by
               the Voting Agreement) in addition to the shares acquired
               pursuant to the Voting Agreement Option (provided that
               recommending not to tender in a tender offer or not
               recommending in favor of such tender offer, alone, shall
               not be deemed such an affirmative action).

                         (b)  In addition to any other amounts which may
               be payable or become payable pursuant to Section 8.3(c),
               the Company shall (provided that the Company is then in
               material breach of its representations, warranties,
               covenants or other obligations under this Agreement),
               promptly following termination of this Agreement pursuant
               to Section 8.1(c), but in no event later than two
               business days following a written request by Newco
               therefor, together with related bills or receipts,
               reimburse Newco and its affiliates, in an aggregate
               amount of up to $3 million, for all reasonable
               out-of-pocket expenses and fees (including, without
               limitation, fees payable to all banks, investment banking
               firms and other financial institutions, and their
               respective agents and counsel, and all fees of counsel,
               accountants, financial printers, experts and consultants
               to Newco and its affiliates), whether incurred prior to,
               on or after the date hereof, in connection with the
               Merger and the consummation of all transactions
               contemplated by this Agreement and the financing thereof;
               provided that the Company shall not be required to make
               payment pursuant to this Section 8.3(b) if it is
               obligated to make the payment required pursuant to
               Section 8.3(a).

                         (c)  Except as otherwise specifically provided
               herein, each party shall bear its own expenses in
               connection with this Agreement and the transactions
               contemplated hereby; provided, however, that if the
               Merger is consummated, the Company shall pay the expenses
               of Goldman, Sachs & Co. referred to in Section 4.5.

                         SECTION 8.4  Amendment.  Subject to the
               following sentence, this Agreement may be amended by the
               parties hereto by action taken by or on behalf of their
               respective Boards of Directors at any time prior to the
               Effective Time; provided, however, that, after approval
               of the Merger by the stockholders of the Company, no
               amendment that by law would require the further approval
               by such stockholders may be made without such approval. 
               This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument
               in writing signed by the parties hereto.
<PAGE>
                         SECTION 8.5  Waiver.  At any time prior to the
               Effective Time, any party hereto may (a) extend the time
               for the performance of any of the obligations or other
               acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any
               inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
               contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant
               hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the
               agreements or conditions contained herein.  Any such
               extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an
               instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to
               be bound thereby, but such extension or waiver or failure
               to insist on strict compliance with an obligation,
               covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a
               waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or
               other failure.

                                       ARTICLE 9.

                                   GENERAL PROVISIONS

                         SECTION 9.1  Non-Survival of Representations,
               Warranties and Agreements.  The representations,
               warranties and agreements in this Agreement shall
               terminate at the Effective Time or upon the termination
               of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, as the case
               may be, except that the agreements set forth in Articles
               1 and 2, Sections 6.5 and 6.6 and Articles 8 and 9 shall
               survive the Effective Time and those set forth in Section
               6.3(b) and Section 6.8(a) (as it relates to the Voting
               Agreement) and Articles 8 and 9 shall survive termination
               of this Agreement.

                         SECTION 9.2  Notices.  All notices, requests,
               claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall
               be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to
               have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person,
               by telecopy or by registered or certified mail (postage
               prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
               parties at the following addresses (or at such other
               address for a party as shall be specified by like
               notice): 

                    if to Newco:
                    Confetti Acquisition, Inc.
                    c/o GS Capital Partners II, L.P.
                    85 Broad Street
                    New York, NY  10004
                    Attn:  David J. Greenwald
                    Telecopier No.:  (212) 357-5505
<PAGE>
                    with a copy to:

                    Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                    51 West 52nd Street
                    New York, NY  10019
                    Attn.:  Mitchell S. Presser
                    Telecopier No.:  (212) 403-2000

                    if to the Company:

                    Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                    80 Grasslands Road
                    Elmsford, NY  10523
                    Attn.:  Corporate Secretary
                    Telecopier No.:  (914) 345-2056

                    with a copy to:

                    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                    919 Third Avenue
                    New York, NY  10022
                    Attn.:  Milton G. Strom
                           Randall H. Doud
                    Telecopier No.:  (212) 735-2000 

                         SECTION 9.3  Certain Definitions.  For purposes
               of this Agreement, the term:   

                         (a) "affiliate" of a person means a person that
               directly or indirectly, through one or more
               intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
               common control with, the first mentioned person;

                         (b)  "control" (including the terms "controlled
               by" and "under common control with") means the
               possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee or
               executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction
               of the management policies of a person, whether through
               the ownership of stock, as trustee or executor, by
               contract or credit arrangement or otherwise;

                         (c)  "generally accepted accounting principles"
               shall mean the generally accepted accounting principles
               set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the
               Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
               Certified Public Accountants and statements and
               pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards
               Board or in such other statements by such other entity as
               may be approved by a significant segment of the
               accounting profession in the United States, in each case
               applied on a basis consistent 
<PAGE>
               with the manner in which
               the audited financial statements for the fiscal year of
               the Company ended December 31, 1996 were prepared;

                         (d)  "person" means an individual, corporation,
               partnership, joint venture, association, trust,
               unincorporated organization, other entity or group (as
               defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);

                         (e)  "Significant Subsidiary" has the meaning
               set forth in Section 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated
               by the SEC;

                         (f)  "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" of any
               person means any other person in which such first person
               (either alone or through or together with any other
               Subsidiary of such person), owns, directly or indirectly,
               50% or more of the stock or other equity interests or has
               the right, through ownership of equity, contractually or
               otherwise, to elect at least half of its Board of
               Directors or other governing body; and

                         (g)  "transactions contemplated hereby,"
               "transactions contemplated by this Agreement" and other
               similar references shall include the Merger and all other
               actions and transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
               the Voting Agreement and the Employment Arrangements.

                         SECTION 9.4  Severability.  If any term or
               other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or
               incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public
               policy, all other conditions and provisions of this
               Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and
               effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the
               transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any
               manner adverse to any party.  Upon such determination
               that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or
               incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
               negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to
               effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
               possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the
               transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the
               fullest extent possible.

                         SECTION 9.5  Entire Agreement; Assignment. 
               This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
               parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
               supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both
               written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with
               respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement
               shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise,
               except that Newco may assign all or any of its rights and
               obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect 
<PAGE>
               wholly
               owned subsidiary or subsidiaries of Newco, provided that
               no such assignment shall relieve the assigning party of
               its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not
               perform such obligations.

                         SECTION 9.6  Parties in Interest.  This
               Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
               benefit of each party hereto, and, with respect to the
               provisions of Sections 6.6 and 8.3, shall inure to the
               benefit of the persons or entities benefitting from the
               provisions thereof who are intended to be third-party
               beneficiaries thereof.  Except as provided in the
               preceding sentence, nothing in this Agreement, express or
               implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other
               person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature
               whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

                         SECTION 9.7  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 laws thereof, except to the extent the
               laws of the State of Delaware are required to be
               applicable under applicable choice of law principles.

                         SECTION 9.8  Headings.  The descriptive
               headings contained in this Agreement are included for
               convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any
               way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  

                         SECTION 9.9  Counterparts.  This Agreement may
               be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the
               different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
               of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original
               but all of which taken together shall constitute one and
               the same agreement.
<PAGE>
               

                         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Newco and the Company have
               caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first
               written above by their respective officers thereunto duly
               authorized.

                                        CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

                                        By:  /s/ Terence M. O'Toole         
                                             Title:    Chairman of the Board
                                                         and President

                                        AMSCAN HOLDINGS, INC.

                                        By:  /s/ Gerald C. Rittenberg       
                                             Title: President                   

<PAGE>

                                        ANNEX A
                                Form of Affiliate Letter

               Gentlemen:

                         The undersigned, a holder of shares of common
               stock, par value $.10 per share ("Company Stock"), of
               Amscan Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
               "Company"), is entitled to retain and receive in
               connection with the merger (the "Merger") of the Company
               with Confetti Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
               securities (collectively, the "Securities") of the
               Company.  The undersigned acknowledges that the
               undersigned may be deemed an "affiliate" of the Company
               within the meaning of Rule 145 ("Rule 145") promulgated
               under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), although
               nothing contained herein should be construed as an
               admission of such fact.

                         If in fact the undersigned were an affiliate
               under the Act, the undersigned's ability to sell, assign
               or transfer the Securities retained by the undersigned
               pursuant to the Merger may be restricted unless such
               transaction is registered under the Act or an exemption
               from such registration is available.  The undersigned
               understands that such exemptions are limited and the
               undersigned has obtained advice of counsel as to the
               nature and conditions of such exemptions, including
               information with respect to the applicability to the sale
               of such securities of Rules 144 and 145(d) promulgated
               under the Act.

                         The undersigned hereby represents to and
               covenants with the Company that the undersigned will not
               sell, assign or transfer any of the Securities retained
               by the undersigned pursuant to the Merger except (i)
               pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
               Act, (ii) in conformity with the volume and other
               limitations of Rule 145 or (iii) in a transaction which,
               in the opinion of independent counsel reasonably
               satisfactory to the Company or as described in a
               "no-action" or interpretive letter from the Staff of the
               Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), is not
               required to be registered under the Act.

                         In the event of a sale or other disposition by
               the undersigned of Securities pursuant to Rule 145, the
               undersigned will supply the Company with evidence of
               compliance with such Rule, in the form of a letter in the
               form of Annex I hereto.  The undersigned understands that 
               the Company may instruct its 
<PAGE>
               transfer agent to withhold the transfer
               of any Securities disposed of by the undersigned, but
               that upon receipt of such evidence of compliance the
               transfer agent shall effectuate the transfer of the
               Securities sold as indicated in the letter.

                         The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that
               appropriate legends will be placed on certificates
               representing Securities retained by the undersigned in
               the Merger or held by a transferee thereof, which legends
               will be removed by delivery of substitute certificates
               upon receipt of an opinion in form and substance
               reasonably satisfactory to the Company from independent
               counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the
               effect that such legends are no longer required for
               purposes of the Act.

                         The undersigned acknowledges that (i) the
               undersigned has carefully read this letter and
               understands the requirements hereof and the limitations
               imposed upon the distribution, sale, transfer or other
               disposition of Securities and (ii) the receipt by Newco
               of this letter is an inducement and a condition to
               Newco's obligations to consummate the Merger.

                                                       Very truly yours,


               Dated:
<PAGE>

               ANNEX I
               TO ANNEX A

               [Name]                                               [Date]

                         On __________________ the undersigned sold the
               securities ("Securities") of Amscan Holdings, Inc. (the
               "Company") described below in the space provided for that
               purpose (the "Securities").  The Securities were retained
               by the undersigned in connection with the merger of
               Confetti Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with
               and into the Company.

                         Based upon the most recent report or statement
               filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
               Commission, the Securities sold by the undersigned were
               within the prescribed limitations set forth in paragraph
               (e) of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of
               1933, as amended (the "Act").

                         The undersigned hereby represents that the
               Securities were sold in "brokers' transactions" within
               the meaning of Section 4(4) of the Act or in transactions
               directly with a "market maker" as that term is defined in
               Section 3(a)(38) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
               as amended.  The undersigned further represents that the
               undersigned has not solicited or arranged for the
               solicitation of orders to buy the Securities, and that
               the undersigned has not made any payment in connection
               with the offer or sale of the Securities to any person
               other than to the broker who executed the order in
               respect of such sale.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                  [Space to be provided for description of securities]

<PAGE>
                                                               EXHIBIT A

                              CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                           OF
                                 AMSCAN HOLDINGS, INC.

                                       ARTICLE 1.

                         The name of the corporation (which is
               hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation") is:

                                 AMSCAN HOLDINGS, INC.

                                       ARTICLE 2.

                         The address of the Corporation's registered
               office in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust
               Center, 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington,
               County of New Castle.  The name of the Corporation's
               registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust
               Company.

                                       ARTICLE 3.

                         The purpose of the Corporation shall be to
               engage in any lawful act or activity for which
               corporations may be organized and incorporated under the
               General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
               "DGCL").

                                       ARTICLE 4.

                         Section 4.1  The total number of shares of
               stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is
               50,000,000 
<PAGE>
               shares of Common Stock, having a par value of
               $0.10 per share.

                         Section 4.2  Except as otherwise provided by
               law, the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to
               vote for the election of directors and for all other
               purposes.  Each share of Common Stock shall have one
               vote, and the Common Stock shall vote together as a
               single class.

                                       ARTICLE 5.

                         The business and affairs of the Corporation
               shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board
               of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board"), and unless
               and except to the extent that the Bylaws of the
               Corporation shall so require, the election of directors
               of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

                                       ARTICLE 6.

                         In furtherance and not in limitation of the
               powers conferred by law, the Board is expressly
               authorized and empowered to make, alter and repeal the
               Bylaws of the Corporation by a majority vote at any
               regular or special meeting of the Board or by written
               consent, subject to the power of the stockholders of the
               Corporation to alter or repeal any Bylaws made by the
               Board.
<PAGE>
                                       ARTICLE 7.

                         The Corporation reserves the right at any time
               from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any
               provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation,
               and any other provisions authorized by the laws of the
               State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or
               inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by
               law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of
               whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors
               or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this
               Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as
               hereafter amended are granted subject to the right
               reserved in this Article.

                                       ARTICLE 8.

                         Section 8.1  Elimination of Certain Liability
               of Directors.  A director of the Corporation shall not be
               personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders
               for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
               director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the
               director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its
               stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
               faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
               knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the
               DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director
               derived an improper personal benefit.
<PAGE>
                         If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate
               action further eliminating or limiting the personal
               liability of directors, then the liability of a director
               of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the
               fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

                         Any repeal or modification of the foregoing
               paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or
               protection of a director of the Corporation existing
               hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring
               prior to such repeal or modification. 

                         Section 8.2  Indemnification and Insurance.

                         (a)  Right to Indemnification.  Each person who
               was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a
               party to or is involved in any action, suit or
               proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
               investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of
               the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is
               the legal representative, is or was a director or officer
               of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of
               the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent
               of another corporation or of a partnership, joint
               venture, trust or other enterprise, including service
               with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis
               of such proceeding is alleged action in an official
<PAGE>               

               capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in
               any other capacity while serving as a director, officer,
               employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless
               by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by
               the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended
               (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the
               extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to
               provide broader indemnification rights than said law
               permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such
               amendment), against all expense, liability and loss
               (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, amounts
               paid or to be paid in settlement, and excise taxes or
               penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income
               Security Act of 1974) reasonably incurred or suffered by
               such person in connection therewith and such
               indemnification shall continue as to a person who has
               ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and
               shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors
               and administrators; provided, however, that, except as
               provided in paragraph (b) hereof, the Corporation shall
               indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in
               connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated
               by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof)
               was authorized by the Board.  The right to
               indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a
               contract right and shall include the right to be paid by
               the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any
               such proceeding in advance 
<PAGE>
               of its final disposition;
               provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, the
               payment of such expenses incurred by a director or
               officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer
               (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is
               rendered by such person while a director or officer,
               including, without limitation, service to an employee
               benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a
               proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the
               Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such
               director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if
               it shall ultimately be determined that such director or
               officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this
               Section or otherwise.  The Corporation may, by action of
               the Board, provide indemnification to employees and
               agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect
               as the foregoing indemnification of directors and
               officers.

                         (b)  Right of Claimant to Bring Suit.  If a
               claim under paragraph (a) of this Section is not paid in
               full by the Corporation within thirty days after a
               written claim has been received by the Corporation, the
               claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against
               the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim
               and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant
               shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
               prosecuting such claim.  It shall be a defense to any
               such action (other than an action brought to enforce a
<PAGE>               
               claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding
               in advance of its final disposition where the required
               undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the
               Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards
               of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for
               the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount
               claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be
               on the Corporation.  Neither the failure of the
               Corporation (including its Board, independent legal
               counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a
               determination prior to the commencement of such action
               that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the
               circumstances because he or she has met the applicable
               standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual
               determination by the Corporation (including its Board,
               independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the
               claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct,
               shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption
               that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of
               conduct.

                         (c)  Non-Exclusivity of Rights.  The right to
               indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
               defending a proceeding in advance of its final
               disposition conferred in this Section shall not be
               exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
               hereafter acquire under any statute, 
<PAGE>
               provision of the
               Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote of
               stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

                         (d)  Insurance.  The Corporation may maintain
               insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
               director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
               or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
               or other enterprise against any such expense, liability
               or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the
               power to indemnify such person against such expense,
               liability or loss under the DGCL.

                                        *  *  *





                                                    CONFORMED COPY

                              VOTING AGREEMENT

          VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of August
          10, 1997, by and among Confetti Acquisition, Inc., a
          Delaware corporation ("Newco"), the Estate of John A.
          Svenningsen (the "Stockholder") and Christine
          Svenningsen (the "Individual").

                    WHEREAS, Newco and Amscan Holdings, Inc., a
          Delaware corporation (the "Company"), have entered into
          an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date
          hereof (the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used
          but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth
          in the Merger Agreement; provided that the terms Merger
          and Merger Agreement shall not include any amendments or
          modifications thereto unless such amendments and
          modifications have been approved in writing by the
          Stockholder and the Individual) providing for the merger
          (the "Merger") of Newco with and into the Company, upon
          the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
          Merger Agreement; and

                    WHEREAS, the Stockholder beneficially owns
          15,024,616 shares of Company Common Stock (such shares
          of Company Common Stock, together with any other shares
          of Company Common Stock that the Stockholder acquires
          beneficial ownership of after the date hereof and during
          the term of this Agreement, whether upon the exercise of
          options, warrants or rights, the conversion or exchange
          of convertible or exchangeable securities, or by means
          of purchase, dividend, distribution or otherwise, being
          collectively referred to herein as the "Subject
          Shares"); and 

                    WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to
          enter into the Merger Agreement, Newco has requested
          that the Stockholder and the Individual enter into this
          Agreement.

                    NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Newco to enter into,
          and in consideration of its entering into, the Merger
          Agreement, and in consideration of the premises and the
          representations, warranties and agreements contained
          herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                    1.  Representations and Warranties of the
          Stockholder and the Individual.  Each of the Stockholder
          and the Individual hereby represents and warrants to
          Newco as of the date hereof as follows:

                    (a)  Authority; No Conflicts.  The
          Stockholder, through its duly designated representative,
          the executrix, has the necessary legal capacity, power
          and authority to execute 
<PAGE>
          and deliver this Agreement, to
          perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
          transactions contemplated hereby. The Individual is the
          duly appointed executrix of the Stockholder and has the
          necessary legal capacity, power and authority to execute
          and deliver this Agreement (on behalf of herself
          individually and on behalf of the Stockholder as
          executrix of the Stockholder), to perform her individual
          obligations and as such executrix to perform the
          Stockholder's obligations hereunder and to consummate
          the transactions contemplated hereby on her individual
          behalf and on behalf of the Stockholder as the
          Stockholder's executrix.  This Agreement has been duly
          authorized, executed and delivered by and on behalf of
          the Stockholder and by the Individual, and, assuming due
          authorization, execution and delivery by Newco,
          constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
          Stockholder and the Individual, enforceable in
          accordance with its terms.  Except for the filings
          required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
          Improvement Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (i)
          no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or
          approval of, any Governmental Entity or any other person
          is necessary for the execution and delivery of this
          Agreement by and on behalf of the Stockholder and by the
          Individual and the consummation by the Stockholder and
          the Individual of the transactions contemplated hereby
          and (ii) none of the execution and delivery of this
          Agreement by and on behalf of the Stockholder and by the
          Individual, the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof
          by the Stockholder and the Individual will conflict
          with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or
          without notice or lapse of time or both) under any
          provision of, any trust agreement, loan or credit
          agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or
          other agreement, instrument, permit, concession,
          franchise, license, judgment, order, notice, decree,
          statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
          to the Stockholder or the Individual or to the
          Stockholder's or the Individual's property or assets.

                    (b)  The Subject Shares.  The Stockholder is
          the beneficial owner of the Subject Shares and has, and
          throughout the term of this Agreement will have, good
          and marketable title to the Subject Shares free and
          clear of all Liens and, upon delivery thereof to Newco
          against delivery of the consideration therefor pursuant
          to this Agreement, good and marketable title thereto,
          free and clear of all Liens (other than any arising as a
          result of actions taken or omitted by Newco), will pass
          to Newco.  Each of the Stockholder and the Individual
          does not beneficially own any shares of capital stock of
          the Company or securities convertible into or
          exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company,
          other than the Subject Shares.  The Stockholder (through
          the Individual as the executrix of the Stockholder) has
          the sole right and power to vote and dispose 
<PAGE>
          of the Subject Shares, and none of such Subject Shares is
          subject to any voting trust or other agreement,
          arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting or
          transfer (other than the provisions of the Securities
          Act) of any of the Subject Shares, except as
          contemplated by this Agreement.

                    (c)  Tax Indemnity.  The Stockholder and the
          Individual have entered into a Tax Indemnity Agreement
          (the "Tax Indemnity") with the Company, a copy of which
          is attached as Schedule I hereto.  Such agreement is in
          full force and effect and is a valid and binding
          agreement of the Stockholder and the Individual and
          enforceable in accordance with its terms against them
          and, if applicable, their respective successors,
          assigns, heirs, agents, representatives, beneficiaries
          (including trust beneficiaries), attorneys, affiliates
          and associates and all of their respective predecessors,
          successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and
          administrators, including any person to whom the
          proceeds of the sale of the Subject Shares may be
          distributed or contributed and any other person required
          to become an additional indemnitor pursuant to Article 4
          thereof.

                    2.  Representations and Warranties of Newco. 
          Newco hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder
          and the Individual that Newco is a corporation duly
          organized, validly existing and in good standing under
          the laws of the State of Delaware and has the necessary
          corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
          this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and
          to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. 
          This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by and on behalf of Newco and, assuming due
          authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholder
          and the Individual, constitutes a legal, valid and
          binding obligation of Newco enforceable in accordance
          with its terms.  Except for the filings required under
          the HSR Act, (i) no filing with, and no permit,
          authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
          Entity or any other person is necessary for the
          execution of this Agreement by and on behalf of Newco
          and the consummation by Newco of the transactions
          contemplated hereby and (ii) none of the execution and
          delivery of this Agreement by Newco, the consummation of
          the transactions contemplated hereby nor the compliance
          with the terms hereof by Newco will conflict with, or
          result in any violation of, or default (with or without
          notice or lapse of time or both) under any provision of,
          the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Newco,
          any trust agreement, loan or credit agreement, note,
          bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
          instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license,
          judgment, order, notice, decree, statute, law,
          ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Newco or to
          Newco's property or assets.  If the Option (as defined
          herein) 
<PAGE>
          is exercised, the Subject Shares will be
          acquired for investment for Newco's own account, not as
          a nominee or agent and not with a view to the
          distribution of any part thereof.  Newco has no present
          intention of selling, granting any participation in or
          otherwise distributing the same nor does Newco have any
          contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any
          person with respect to any of the Subject Shares.  Newco
          further understands that the Subject Shares may not be
          sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without
          registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an
          exemption therefrom.

                    3.  Covenants of the Stockholder and the
          Individual. Until the termination of this Agreement in
          accordance with Section 8 hereof, the Stockholder and
          the Individual agree as follows:

                    (a)  Voting of Subject Shares.  At any meeting
          of stockholders of the Company called to vote upon the
          Merger and the Merger Agreement or at any adjournment
          thereof or in any other circumstances upon which a vote
          or other approval with respect to the Merger and the
          Merger Agreement is sought, the Stockholder and the
          Individual shall, and the Individual shall cause the
          Stockholder to, vote the Subject Shares in favor of the
          Merger, the adoption by the Company of the Merger
          Agreement and the approval of the terms thereof and each
          of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
          Agreement.

                    At any meeting of stockholders of the Company
          or at any adjournment thereof or in any other
          circumstances upon which the Stockholder's or the
          Individual's vote, consent or other approval is sought,
          the Stockholder and the Individual shall, and the
          Individual shall cause the Stockholder to, vote the
          Subject Shares against (i) any action or agreement that
          would result in a breach in any material respect of any
          covenant, representation or warranty or any other
          obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger
          Agreement or of the Stockholder and the Individual
          hereunder and (ii) any action or agreement that would
          impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or attempt to
          discourage the Merger, including, but not limited to: 
          (A) the adoption by the Company of a proposal regarding
          (1) the acquisition of the Company by merger, tender
          offer or otherwise by any person other than Newco or any
          designee thereof (a "Third Party"); (2) the acquisition
          by a Third Party of 10% or more of the assets of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (3) the
          acquisition by a Third Party of 10% or more of the
          outstanding shares of Company Common Stock; or (4) the
          repurchase by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of
          10% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common
          Stock; (B) any amendment of the Company's certificate of
          incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or
          transaction involving 
<PAGE>
          the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or
          transaction would in any manner impede, frustrate,
          prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger Agreement or
          any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
          Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of
          any class of the Company's capital stock; (C) any change
          in the management or board of directors of the Company;
          (D) any material change in the present capitalization or
          dividend policy of the Company; or (E) any other
          material change in the Company's corporate structure or
          business.  Each of the Stockholder and the Individual
          further agrees not to commit or agree to take any action
          inconsistent with the foregoing.

                    (b)  Proxies.  As security for the agreements
          of the Stockholder and the Individual provided for
          herein, the Stockholder and the Individual hereby grant
          to Newco a proxy to vote the Subject Shares as indicated
          in Section 3(a) above.  The Stockholder and the
          Individual agree that this proxy shall be irrevocable
          during the term of this Agreement and coupled with an
          interest and each will take such further action or
          execute such other instruments as may be necessary to
          effectuate the intent of this proxy and hereby revokes
          any proxy previously granted by the Stockholder or the
          Individual with respect to the Subject Shares.

                    (c)  Transfer Restrictions.  Each of the
          Stockholder and the Individual agrees not to (i) sell,
          transfer, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose
          of (including by gift or by contribution or distribution
          to any trust or similar instrument or to any
          beneficiaries of the Stockholder, pursuant to the terms
          of Mr. John A. Svenningsen's will or otherwise)
          (collectively, "Transfer"), or enter into any contract,
          option or other arrangement or understanding (including
          any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the
          Transfer of, any of the Subject Shares other than
          pursuant to the terms hereof and the Merger Agreement,
          (ii) enter into any voting arrangement or understanding,
          whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, or
          (iii) take any action that would make any of its
          representations or warranties contained herein untrue or
          incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling
          the Stockholder and the Individual from performing their
          obligations under this Agreement.

                    (d)  Appraisal Rights.  Each of the
          Stockholder and the Individual hereby irrevocably waives
          any rights of appraisal with respect to the Merger or
          rights to dissent from the Merger that the Stockholder
          and the Individual may have.

                    (e)  Election to Retain Company Common Stock. 
          Each of the Stockholder and the Individual agrees to
          make a Mixed 
<PAGE>
          Election to retain Company Common Stock and
          to receive cash in the Merger pursuant to Section
          2.1(c)(i) of the Merger Agreement with respect to all of
          the Subject Shares and agrees that the Stockholder and
          the Individual will request that all such Subject Shares
          be issued and registered in the name of "Estate of John
          A. Svenningsen."  The shares of Company Common Stock
          which the Stockholder retains pursuant to Section
          2.1(c)(i) of the Merger Agreement are herein referred to
          as the "Retained Shares."

                    (f)  Merger Agreement.  Each of the
          Stockholder and the Individual accepts the terms and
          conditions of the Merger Agreement as they apply to the
          holders of shares of Company Common Stock.

                    (g)  Stockholders Agreement.  The Stockholder
          agrees to execute and become a party to the Stockholders
          Agreement, by and among the Company (as the surviving
          company in the Merger) and certain stockholders and
          executives of the Company, at or following the Effective
          Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), substantially
          in the form delivered as of the date hereof.

                    (h)  Affiliate Letter.  The Stockholder shall
          deliver to Newco on or prior to the Closing Date (as
          defined in the Merger Agreement) a written agreement
          substantially in the form attached as Annex A to the
          Merger Agreement.

                    4.  Option.

                    (a)  The Stockholder and the Individual hereby
          grant to Newco (or its designee, provided such designee
          is an affiliate of the controlling stockholders of
          Newco), an irrevocable option to purchase the Subject
          Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set
          forth herein (the "Option").

                    (b)  The Option may be exercised by Newco, as
          a whole and not in part, at any time during the period
          commencing upon the occurrence of any of the following
          events and ending on the date which is the 90th calendar
          day following the first to occur of such events:

                         (i)  the Merger Agreement shall have been
               terminated by either the Company or Newco pursuant
               to Section 8.1(b) or (c) thereof (other than a
               termination by the Company pursuant to Section
               8.1(c), which was based on an actual material
               breach by Newco of its obligations under the Merger
               Agreement (a "Newco Breach Termination"));
<PAGE>
                          (ii)  the Merger Agreement shall have
                been terminated by Newco pursuant to Section
                8.1(d) thereof; or

                         (iii)  the Merger Agreement shall have
               been terminated by the Company pursuant to Section
               8.1(e) thereof.

                    (c)  If Newco wishes to exercise the Option,
          Newco shall send a written notice to the Stockholder and
          the Individual of its intention to exercise the Option,
          specifying the place, and, if then known, the time and
          the date (the "Option Closing Date") of the closing (the
          "Option Closing") of the purchase.  The Option Closing
          Date shall occur on the fifth business day (or such
          longer period as may be required by applicable law or
          regulation) after the later of (i) the date on which
          such notice is delivered and (ii) the satisfaction of
          the conditions set forth in Section 4(f).

                    (d)  At the Option Closing, the Stockholder
          and the Individual shall deliver to Newco (or its
          designee) all of the Subject Shares by delivery of a
          certificate or certificates evidencing such Subject
          Shares duly endorsed to Newco or accompanied by powers
          duly executed in favor of Newco, with all necessary
          stock transfer stamps affixed.

                    (e)  At the Option Closing, Newco shall pay to
          the Stockholder pursuant to the exercise of the Option,
          by wire transfer, cash in immediately available funds to
          the account of the Stockholder (such account to be
          specified in writing at least two days prior to the
          Option Closing, an amount equal to the product of $9.83
          and the number of Subject Shares (the "Subject Purchase
          Price").

                    (f)  The Option Closing shall be subject to
          the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

                         (i)  no court, arbitrator or governmental
               body, agency or official shall have issued any
               order, decree or ruling and there shall not be any
               statute, rule or regulation, restraining, enjoining
               or prohibiting the consummation of the purchase and
               sale of the Subject Shares pursuant to the exercise
               of the Option;

                         (ii)  any waiting period applicable to
               the consummation of the purchase and sale of the
               Subject Shares pursuant to the exercise of the
               Option under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
               terminated; and

                         (iii)  all actions by or in respect of,
               and any filing with, any governmental body, agency,
               official, or 
<PAGE>
               authority required to permit the
               consummation of the purchase and sale of the
               Subject Shares pursuant to the exercise of the
               Option shall have been obtained or made and shall
               be in full force and effect.

                    (g)  Newco hereby agrees that, in the event
          that it purchases the Subject Shares pursuant to the
          Option, as promptly as practicable thereafter, Newco
          will make a tender offer for the remaining shares of
          Company Common Stock to the stockholders of the Company
          (the consummation of which shall be subject only to the
          condition that no court, arbitrator or governmental
          body, agency or official shall have issued any order,
          decree or ruling and there shall not be any statute,
          rule or regulation, restraining, enjoining or
          prohibiting the consummation of such tender offer)
          pursuant to which the stockholders of the Company (other
          than the Company, any direct or indirect subsidiary of
          the Company or Newco) will receive an amount of cash
          consideration per share of Company Common Stock equal to
          $16.50, and will take such actions as may be necessary
          or appropriate in order to effectuate such tender offer
          at the earliest practicable time.

                    5.  Further Assurances.  Each of the
          Stockholder and the Individual will, from time to time,
          execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and
          delivered, such additional or further consents, proxies,
          documents and other instruments as Newco or the Company
          may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively
          carrying out the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement.

                    6.  Stop Transfer Order.  Each of the
          Stockholder and the Individual hereby authorizes and
          requests the Company's counsel to notify the Company's
          transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with
          respect to all of the Subject Shares (and that this
          Agreement places limits on the voting of the Subject
          Shares).

                    7.  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor
          any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder,
          except as expressly provided herein with respect to
          Newco's rights under the Option, shall be assigned by
          any of the parties without the prior written consent of
          the other parties, except that Newco may assign, in its
          sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interests and
          obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly
          owned subsidiary of Newco.  Subject to the preceding
          sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to
          the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and
          their permitted assigns and their respective successors
          (including the Company as successor to Newco pursuant to
          the Merger), heirs, 
<PAGE>
          agents, representatives, trust
          beneficiaries, attorneys, affiliates and associates and
          all of their respective predecessors, successors,
          permitted assigns, heirs, executors and administrators. 
          The Company shall be a beneficiary of and be entitled to
          enforce Newco's obligation under Section 4(g) hereof.

                    8.  Termination.  Except as set forth in
          Section 4, this Agreement shall terminate, and no party
          shall have any rights or obligations hereunder and this
          Agreement shall become null and void and have no further
          effect immediately following the earliest to occur of
          (x) the Effective Time, (y) the 91st day following the
          termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section
          8.1(b), 8.1(c) (other than in the case of a Newco Breach
          Termination), 8.1(d) or 8.1(e) thereof or (z) the
          termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section
          8.1(a) thereof or Section 8.1(c) thereof (only in the
          case of a Newco Breach Termination).  Notwithstanding
          the foregoing, in the event the Option shall have been
          exercised in accordance with Section 4, but the Option
          Closing shall not have occurred, the provisions of
          Sections 1 and 3 shall survive until the Option Closing. 
          Nothing in this Section 8 shall relieve any party of
          liability for breach of this Agreement and the
          Stockholder and the Individual shall be jointly and
          severally liable for any breach of this Agreement by
          either of them.

                    9.  General Provisions.

                    (a)  Amendments.  This Agreement may not be
          amended except by an instrument in writing signed by
          each of the parties hereto.

                    (b)  Notice.  All notices and other
          communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall
          be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by
          overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to Newco
          in accordance with Section 9.2 of the Merger Agreement
          and to the Stockholder, the Individual or any
          acknowledging persons c/o Kurzman & Eisenberg, One North
          Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601, Attn:  Sam Eisenberg
          (Telecopier No.:  (914) 285-9855) (or at such other
          address for a party as shall be specified by like
          notice).

                    (c)  Interpretation.  When a reference is made
          in this Agreement to Sections, such reference shall be
          to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
          indicated.  The headings contained in this Agreement are
          for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any
          way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. 
          Wherever the words "include," "includes" or "including"
          are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
          followed by the words "without limitation."
<PAGE>
                    (d)  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 of the counterparts
          have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to
          the other parties, it being understood that each party
          need not sign the same counterpart.

                    (e)  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 thereof, except to the extent the laws
          of the State of Delaware are required to be applicable
          under applicable choice of law principles.

                    10.  Enforcement.  The parties agree that
          irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of
          the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
          accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
          breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties
          shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
          prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
          specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement
          in any Federal court of the United States located in the
          Southern District of the State of New York or in a New
          York state court located in Manhattan, this being in
          addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled
          at law or in equity.  In addition, each of the parties
          hereto (i) consents to submit such party to the personal
          jurisdiction of any Federal court located in the
          Southern District of the State of New York or any New
          York state court located in Manhattan in the event any
          dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the
          transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that such
          party will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal
          jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from
          any such court, (iii) agrees that such party will not
          bring any action relating to this Agreement or the
          transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than
          a Federal court sitting in the Southern District of the
          State of New York or a New York state court located in
          Manhattan and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury
          with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or
          arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions
          contemplated hereby.
<PAGE>

                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Newco and the Stockholder
          have each caused this Agreement to be signed by its
          signatory thereunto duly authorized, and the Individual
          has signed this Agreement, each as of the date first
          written above.

                              CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

                              /s/  Terence M. O'Toole       
                              By: Terence M. O'Toole
                              Title: Chairman of the Board
                                        and President

                              THE ESTATE OF JOHN A. SVENNINGSEN

                              /s/  Christine Svenningsen
                              By: Christine Svenningsen
                              Title: Executrix

                              /s/  Christine Svenningsen
                               Christine Svenningsen

<PAGE>
                    The following individuals, in their capacities
          as trustees or other fiduciaries (whether on the date
          hereof or at any point in the future) of any trust or
          similar instrument created by or at the instruction of,
          or under the last will and testament of, John A.
          Svenningsen or the Stockholder, acknowledge this
          Agreement and agree to be bound by the terms hereof in
          each such capacity, such agreement being for the benefit
          of each of the parties hereto, and such individuals
          further agree to cause any such trust or similar
          instrument upon its formation to become a party to this
          Agreement with the same obligations as the Stockholder
          and the Individual hereunder, and in accordance herewith
          have agreed to and acknowledged this Agreement:

          By: /s/ Christine Svenningsen         Dated:  August 10, 1997
          Name:  Christine Svenningsen
          Title: Trustee

          By: /s/ Fanny Warren                  Dated:  August 10, 1997 
          Name:  Fanny Warren
          Title: Trustee

<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE I

                           TAX INDEMNITY AGREEMENT



<PAGE>


                                                    CONFORMED COPY

                        TAX INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

                    This Indemnification Agreement
          ("Indemnification Agreement") is made and entered into
          as of August 10, 1997 by and between Amscan Holdings,
          Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Amscan"), on the one
          hand, and Christine Svenningsen (the "Individual") and
          the Estate of John A. Svenningsen (the "Estate" and
          together, jointly  and severally, with the Individual,
          the "Svenningsen Indemnitors"), on the other.

                    WHEREAS, effective as of July 31, 1996, Amscan
          Inc. was the surviving constituent corporation in the
          merger of Kookaburra USA, Ltd., Deco Paper Products,
          Inc. and Amscan Inc.;

                    WHEREAS, as of December 18, 1996, Amscan
          acquired all of the business operations of Amscan Inc.
          (including Kookaburra USA, Ltd. and Deco Paper Products,
          Inc. which were previously merged into Amscan Inc.),
          Am-Source, Inc., Trisar, Inc., JCS Realty Corp. and SSY
          Realty Corp. (individually, a "Subject Company" and,
          collectively, the "Subject Companies");

                    WHEREAS, prior to such acquisition, each of
          the Subject Companies had elected under Section 1362 of
          the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
          "Code"), to be treated and operated as S corporations
          (as defined in the Code and hereinafter referred to as
          "Subchapter S Corporations");

                    WHEREAS, John A. Svenningsen ("Svenningsen"),
          the deceased spouse of the Individual and the decedent
          of the Estate was for a number of years the controlling
          shareholder of Amscan Inc., Kookaburra USA, Ltd., Deco
          Paper Products, Inc., Trisar, Inc., JCS Realty Corp. and
          SSY Realty Corp. and since 1993 owned a 50% interest in
          Am-Source, Inc.;

                    WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Amscan and
          Confetti Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation
          ("Confetti"), have entered into a Merger Agreement (the
          "Merger Agreement") and in connection therewith,
          Confetti, the Individual and the Estate have entered
          into a Voting Agreement (the "Voting Agreement"), in
          each case dated as of the date hereof.

                    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
          premises and mutual provisions hereinafter set forth,
          the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 

                    ARTICLE 1.  AMSCAN INDEMNITY.  Amscan will
          indemnify the Svenningsen Indemnitors for any increase
          in Svenningsen's Federal, state or other income tax
          liability (together with any penalties and interest
          thereon), to the extent such liability is attributable
          to an understatement of Svenningsen's share (in his
<PAGE>          

          capacity as a shareholder) of a Subject Company's income
          as previously reported to Svenningsen by a Subject
          Company on its Internal Revenue Service Form K-1 (or any
          similar state or other form) and for any Federal, state
          or other income tax liability of Svenningsen in respect
          of payments to Svenningsen pursuant to this Article 1;
          provided, however, that Amscan's obligation to indemnify
          the Svenningsen Indemnitors shall be limited to the
          actual reduction in taxes to any of the Subject
          Companies (whether by reason of deduction, amortization,
          credit or otherwise) for a taxable year(s) which end(s)
          after December 18, 1996, and shall be reduced by any
          payments paid by Amscan pursuant to Article 1 of the Tax
          Indemnification Agreement, by and between Svenningsen
          and Amscan, dated as of December 18, 1996 (the
          "Svenningsen Indemnity Agreement").

                    ARTICLE 2.  INDIVIDUAL AND ESTATE INDEMNITY. 
          The Svenningsen Indemnitors will indemnify Amscan for
          Amscan's and its subsidiaries Federal, state or other
          income tax liability (together with any interest or
          penalties thereon) arising out of or resulting from a
          claim by any taxing authority that a Subject Company was
          not a Subchapter S Corporation for any period in which
          such Subject Company filed a tax return on which it
          claimed that it was a Subchapter S Corporation,
          provided, however, that the Svenningsen Indemnitors'
          obligation to indemnify Amscan shall be reduced by any
          payments paid by the Svenningsen Indemnitors pursuant to
          Article 2 of the Svenningsen Indemnity Agreement.

                    ARTICLE 3.  PROCEDURES RELATING TO
                                INDEMNIFICATION.

                    (a)  Any party seeking indemnification
          pursuant to Article 1 or Article 2 hereof (in any case,
          the "indemnitee") from the other party or parties (the
          "indemnifying party or parties"), upon receipt of
          written notice from any taxing authority, shall promptly
          provide the indemnifying party with notice of such
          receipt including information of reasonable detail to
          apprise the indemnifying party of the nature of the
          proposed adjustments; provided, however, that failure to
          provide such notice promptly shall not relieve the
          indemnifying party of its obligations under Article 1 or
          Article 2 hereof, as applicable, except to the extent
          that such failure results in actual prejudice to the
          indemnifying party's ability to contest the matter to
          which such notice relates.

                    (b)  With respect to an audit by any taxing
          authority, the indemnifying party shall control all
          proceedings taken solely in connection with such audit
          (including, without limitation, selection of and payment
          for counsel reasonably acceptable to indemnitee) and,
          without limiting the foregoing, may in its 
<PAGE>
          sole discretion pursue or forego any and all administrative
          appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with any
          taxing authority with respect thereto, and may, in its
          sole discretion, either pay the tax claimed and sue for
          a refund where applicable law permits such refund suits
          or contest the audit adjustments in any permissible
          manner; provided, however, that if (i) the results of
          such proceedings, suit, contest, claim, hearing,
          compromise or proposed settlement could reasonably be
          expected to have a material adverse effect on the
          assets, business, operations or financial condition of
          Amscan or the Svenningsen Indemnitors, or their ability
          to treat any income or losses in a particular manner for
          tax calculation purposes for taxable periods ending
          after December 18, 1996 or (ii) any such proceeding,
          suit, contest, claim, hearing, compromise or proposed
          settlement or procedure involves taxes other than taxes
          subject to indemnification, the parties hereto shall
          consult and mutually agree on a reasonable good faith
          basis upon all aspects of the conduct of such matters. 
          The indemnitee and the indemnifying party shall
          cooperate in contesting any such audit, which
          cooperation shall include, without limitation, the
          retention and provision to the indemnifying party of
          records and information which are reasonably relevant to
          such audit and making employees available on a mutually
          convenient basis to provide additional information or
          explanation of any material provided hereunder or to
          testify at proceedings relating to such audit.

                    ARTICLE 4.  ADDITIONAL INDEMNITORS.  Each of
          the Svenningsen Indemnitors agrees that it will not
          cause or permit the Estate to transfer, whether in one
          transfer or a number of transfers to a single transferee
          or a group of related transferees, any substantial
          amount of the property of the Estate, including, without
          limitation, (i) any shares of common stock of Amscan
          (the transfer of which is prohibited by the terms and
          conditions of the Voting Agreement prior to the Merger
          and thereafter will be subject to certain restrictions),
          (ii) any Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger
          Agreement) received pursuant to the Merger (as defined
          in the Merger Agreement) and (iii) any direct or
          indirect proceeds of any of the foregoing or of any
          subsequent reinvestment thereof, unless, in each case,
          the transferee thereof agrees in writing for the benefit
          of Amscan to be jointly and severally liable with the
          Svenningsen Indemnitors pursuant to this Indemnification
          Agreement.  Each of the Svenningsen Indemnitors agrees
          not to take any action (including any transfers of
          assets) which has the effect of frustrating or otherwise
          significantly diminishing any of the respective rights
          of, or protections afforded hereunder to, the parties to
          this Indemnification Agreement.

                    ARTICLE 5.  GOVERNING LAW.  This
          Indemnification Agreement shall be governed by, and
          construed in accordance with, the 
<PAGE>
          laws of the State of
          New York regardless of the laws that might otherwise
          govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law
          thereof.

                    ARTICLE 6.  NOTICES.  All notices or other
          communications provided for under this Indemnification
          Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be
          delivered personally or sent by first class or overnight
          mail (prepaid postage and return receipt requested) or
          facsimile transmission to the other parties at the
          following addresses or to such other addresses as to
          which a party has given notice as provided herein.

                    If to Amscan:

                    Amscan Holdings, Inc.
                    80 Grasslands Road
                    Elmsford, NY  10523
                    Attention:  Corporate Secretary 
                    Facsimile:  (914) 345-2056

                    If to the Estate, the Trustees, 
                      the Trusts or the Individual:

                    c/o Kurzman & Eisenberg
                    One North Broadway
                    White Plains, NY  10601
                    Attn:  Sam Eisenberg
                    Telecopier No.:  (914) 285-9855

                    If to Confetti:

                    Confetti Acquisition, Inc.
                    c/o GS Capital Partners II, L.P.
                    85 Broad Street
                    New York, NY  10004
                    Attention:  David J. Greenwald
                    Facsimile:  (212) 357-5505

                    with a copy to:

                    Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                    51 West 52nd Street
                    New York, New York  10019
                    Attention:  Mitchell S. Presser
                    Facsimile:  (212) 403-2000
<PAGE>
                    ARTICLE 7.  ASSIGNMENT; SUCCESSORS.  Except as
          otherwise specifically provided herein, this
          Indemnification Agreement and any rights and obligations
          hereunder may not be assigned by any party hereto
          without the prior written approval of the other parties
          hereto, and any attempted assignment not in compliance
          with this Article shall be void and of no effect.  This
          Indemnification Agreement shall be binding upon the
          parties hereto and each of their respective successors,
          assigns, heirs, agents, representatives, beneficiaries
          (including trust beneficiaries), attorneys, affiliates
          and associates and all of their respective predecessors,
          successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and
          administrators, including any person (as defined in the
          Merger Agreement) to whom the proceeds of the sale of
          the Subject Shares (as defined in the Voting Agreement)
          may be distributed or contributed and any other person
          required to become an additional indemnitor pursuant to
          Article 4 hereof.

                    ARTICLE 8.  COSTS.  In any proceeding to
          enforce any rights under this Indemnification Agreement
          by legal proceedings or otherwise, the prevailing party
          shall be reimbursed by the defaulting party for all of
          the costs and expenses of the prevailing party in
          pursuing such proceeding, including, without limitation,
          reasonable attorneys' or solicitors' fees.

                    ARTICLE 9.  PARTIES NOT PARTNERS.  Nothing
          contained in this Indemnification Agreement shall
          constitute a partnership or other agency agreement
          between the parties hereto or their respective
          subsidiaries or any of them, nor shall anything
          contained in this Indemnification Agreement give any of
          the parties hereto or any of the respective subsidiaries
          the right to bind, or pledge the credit of, any of the
          other parties hereto or any of their respective
          subsidiaries.

                    ARTICLE 10.  ANNUAL REVIEW.  This
          Indemnification Agreement may be amended by mutual
          consultation between the parties, evidenced in a writing
          signed by all parties, and the parties agree to engage
          in mutual consultation in good faith during each annual
          period from the date hereof at the request of any party
          to maintain in this Indemnification Agreement the
          principles of fairness and equity, and to amend this
          Indemnification Agreement accordingly.

                    ARTICLE 11.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision
          in this Indemnification Agreement is found by any court
          or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be
          invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or
          unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the
          other provisions of this Indemnification Agreement and
          all provisions not affected by such invalidity or
          unenforceability shall remain in full force and effect
          unless the 
<PAGE>
          severance of the invalid or unenforceable
          provision would unreasonably frustrate the commercial
          purposes of this Indemnification Agreement.  The parties
          hereby agree to attempt to substitute for any invalid or
          unenforceable provision a valid or enforceable provision
          which achieves to the greatest extent possible the
          economic objectives of the invalid or unenforceable
          provision.

                    ARTICLE 12.  WAIVER.  The waiver by any party
          of a breach or default of any of the provisions of this
          Indemnification Agreement by any other party shall not
          be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the
          same or other provisions nor shall any delay or omission
          on the part of any party to exercise or avail itself of
          any right, power or privilege that it has or may have
          hereunder operate as a waiver of any breach or default
          by any other party.  Confetti is an intended third party
          beneficiary of this Indemnification Agreement, and no
          waiver, amendment or modification of this
          Indemnification Agreement or the rights or obligations
          of the parties hereto shall be valid without the prior
          written consent of Confetti.

                    ARTICLE 13.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This
          Indemnification Agreement constitutes the entire and
          only agreement between the parties hereto relating to
          the subject matter hereof and overrides and supersedes
          any prior arrangements or oral discussions and shall not
          be modified except in writing by agreement between the
          parties; provided, however, that the Svenningsen
          Indemnity Agreement remains a separate valid and binding
          agreement between the parties thereto enforceable in
          accordance with its terms.

                    ARTICLE 14.  SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The
          parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the
          event that any of the provisions of this Indemnification
          Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
          specific terms or were otherwise breached.  It is
          accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to
          an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this
          Indemnification Agreement and to enforce specifically
          the terms and provisions of this Indemnification
          Agreement in any Federal court of the United States
          located in the Southern District of the State of New
          York or in a New York state court located in Manhattan,
          this being in addition to any other remedy to which they
          are entitled at law or in equity.  In addition, each of
          the parties hereto (i) consents to submit such party to
          the personal jurisdiction of any Federal court located
          in the Southern District of the State of New York or any
          New York state court located in Manhattan in the event
          any dispute arises out of this Indemnification Agreement
          or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii)
          agrees that such party will not attempt to deny or
          defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other
<PAGE>
          request for leave from any such court, (iii) agrees that
          such party will not bring any action relating to this
          Indemnification Agreement or the transactions
          contemplated hereby in any court other than a Federal
          court sitting in the Southern District of the State of
          New York or a New York state court located in Manhattan
          and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with respect
          to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of
          this Indemnification Agreement or any of the
          transactions contemplated hereby.

                    ARTICLE 15.  EFFECTIVENESS.  The effectiveness
          of this Indemnification Agreement is contingent upon the
          Closing and the effectiveness of the Merger (as such
          terms are defined in the Merger Agreement) or upon the
          exercise by Newco or its designee of the Option (as
          defined in the Voting Agreement).  If the Closing does
          not occur and the Merger Agreement is terminated, and if
          Newco (or its designee) does not exercise the Option,
          then this Indemnification Agreement shall have no effect
          and shall be void ab initio without any party hereto
          having any liability to any other party hereto.

<PAGE>
                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused
          this Indemnification Agreement to be executed and
          delivered as of the day and year first above written. 

                              AMSCAN HOLDINGS, INC.

                              By:  /s/ Gerald C. Rittenberg
                              Name:  Gerald C. Rittenberg
                              Title: Acting Chairman of the Board  
                                        and President

                              THE ESTATE OF JOHN A. SVENNINGSEN

                              By:  /s/ Christine Svenningsen
                              Name:  Christine Svenningsen
                              Title: Executrix

                              /s/  Christine Svenningsen           
                              Christine Svenningsen
<PAGE>


               The following individuals, in their capacities as
          trustees or other fiduciaries (whether on the date
          hereof or at any point in the future) of any trust or
          similar instrument created by or at the instruction of,
          or under the last will and testament of, John A.
          Svenningsen or the Estate, acknowledge this
          Indemnification Agreement and agree to be bound by the
          terms hereof in each such capacity, such agreement being
          for the benefit of each of the parties hereto, and such
          individuals further agree to cause any such trust or
          similar instrument upon its formation to become a party
          to this Indemnification Agreement as an additional
          indemnitor pursuant to Article 4 hereof (and as if a
          Svenningsen Indemnitor hereunder) and in accordance
          herewith have agreed to and acknowledged this
          Indemnification Agreement:

          By: /s/ Christine Svenningsen         Dated: August 10, 1997
          Name: Christine Svenningsen
          Title: Trustee

          By: /s/ Fanny Warren                  Dated: August 10, 1997
          Name: Fanny Warren
          Title: Trustee


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