INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW INC
S-4/A, 1997-01-28
CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 28, 1996
    
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-17305
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
   
                                       TO
    
 
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                        INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>                               <C>
             DELAWARE                            3428                           57-0697252
 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF     (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)     CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER)           IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                1299 COX AVENUE
                            ERLANGER, KENTUCKY 41018
                                 (606) 371-0333
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
                            ------------------------
 
                               WILLIAM M. SCHULT
         VICE PRESIDENT-FINANCE, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND SECRETARY
                        INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
                                1299 COX AVENUE
                            ERLANGER, KENTUCKY 41018
                                 (606) 371-0333
           (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                   INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                            ------------------------
 
                                WITH COPIES TO:
 
                              BRUCE B. WOOD, ESQ.
                             DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS
   
                              30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
    
   
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10112
    
   
                                 (212) 698-3500
    
                            ------------------------
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box.  [ ]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                                          PROPOSED MAXIMUM    AGGREGATE
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                     AMOUNT TO BE    OFFERING PRICE      OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                 REGISTERED      PER UNIT(1)        PRICE(1)     REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
  due 2006..............................   $90,000,000          100%         $90,000,000       $31,035(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(f) solely for purposes of calculating the
    registration fee.
    
   
(2) Previously paid.
    
                            ------------------------
 
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
                        INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
 
           PURSUANT TO RULE 404(A) AND ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K
               SHOWING LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS OF THE INFORMATION
                         REQUIRED BY PART I OF FORM S-4
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                           <C>
  1.  Forepart of Registration Statement and
        Outside Front Cover Page of
        Prospectus..............................    Forepart of the Registration Statement;
                                                      Outside Front Cover Page
  2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages
        of Prospectus...........................    Inside Front Cover Page; Outside Back
                                                      Cover Page
  3.  Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
        Charges and Other Information...........    Summary; Risk Factors; Selected Historical
                                                      and Pro Forma Financial Data
  4.  Terms of the Transaction..................    The Exchange Offer; Description of the
                                                      Notes; Certain Federal Income Tax
                                                      Consequences; Plan of Distribution
  5.  Pro Forma Financial Information...........    Summary; Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated
                                                      Financial Information; Selected
                                                      Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data
  6.  Material Contracts With the Company Being
        Acquired................................    Not Applicable
  7.  Additional Information Required for
        Reoffering by Persons and Parties Deemed
        to be Underwriters......................    Not Applicable
  8.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel....    Not Applicable
  9.  Disclosure of Commission Position on
        Indemnification for Securities Act
        Liabilities.............................    Not Applicable
 10.  Information With Respect to S-3
        Registrants.............................    Not Applicable
 11.  Incorporation of Certain Information by
        Reference...............................    Not Applicable
 12.  Information With Respect to S-2 or S-3
        Registrants.............................    Not Applicable
 13.  Incorporation of Certain Information by
        Reference...............................    Not Applicable
 14.  Information With Respect to Registrants
        Other Than S-2 or S-3 Registrants.......    Available Information; Summary; Risk
                                                      Factors; The Transactions; Use of
                                                      Proceeds; Capitalization; Unaudited Pro
                                                      Forma Consolidated Financial
                                                      Information; Selected Historical and Pro
                                                      Forma Financial Data; Management's
                                                      Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                                                      Condition and Results of Operations;
                                                      Business; Management; Stock Ownership;
                                                      Certain Relationships and Related
                                                      Transactions; Description of Certain
                                                      Indebtedness; Description of the Notes;
                                                      Book Entry; Delivery and Form; Plan of
                                                      Distribution; Legal Matters; Experts;
                                                      Consolidated Financial Statements
 15.  Information With Respect to S-3
        Companies...............................    Not Applicable
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   3
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                           <C>
 16.  Information With Respect to S-2 or S-3
        Companies...............................    Not Applicable
 17.  Information With Respect to Companies
        Other Than S-2 or S-3 Companies.........    Not Applicable
 18.  Information if Proxies, Consents or
        Authorizations Are to be Solicited......    Not Applicable
 19.  Information if Proxies, Consents or
        Authorizations Are Not to be Solicited,
        or in an Exchange Offer.................    The Exchange Offer; Management; Stock
                                                      Ownership; Certain Relationships and
                                                      Related Transactions; Description of
                                                      Certain Indebtedness; Description of the
                                                      Notes
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 28, 1997
    
PROSPECTUS
 
                               OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                   11 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
                              FOR ALL OUTSTANDING
                   11 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
                                       OF
 
                        INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.

                  THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
          NEW YORK CITY TIME ON                , 1997, UNLESS EXTENDED
 
   
    International Knife & Saw, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("IKS" or the
"Company"), hereby offers to exchange an aggregate principal amount of up to
$90,000,000 of its 11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the "New Notes")
for a like principal amount of its 11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
(the "Existing Notes") outstanding on the date hereof upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the accompanying letter of
transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal" and, together with this Prospectus, the
"Exchange Offer"). The New Notes and the Existing Notes are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Notes." The terms of the New Notes are
identical in all material respects to those of the Existing Notes, except for
certain transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Existing
Notes. The New Notes will be issued pursuant to, and be entitled to the benefits
of, the Indenture (as defined) governing the Existing Notes.
    
 
    The New Notes will bear interest from and including the date of consummation
of the Exchange Offer. Interest on the New Notes will be payable semi-annually
on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 15, 1997. Additionally,
interest on the New Notes will accrue from the last interest payment date on
which interest was paid on the Existing Notes surrendered in exchange therefor
or, if no interest has been paid on the Existing Notes, from the date of
original issue of the Existing Notes.
 
   
    The New Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company. The New
Notes will be subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior
Debt (as defined) and pari passu in right of payment with all other existing and
future senior subordinated indebtedness of the Company. Although the Company's
U.S. operations are owned directly, its foreign operations are conducted through
subsidiaries. The New Notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future indebtedness and other obligations of such subsidiaries. As of September
30, 1996, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions (as
defined), the Company would have had no Senior Debt outstanding (exclusive of
unused commitments of $20.0 million) and the Company's subsidiaries would have
had approximately $5.5 million of indebtedness outstanding (exclusive of unused
commitments of $5.0 million). On December 31, 1996, the Company had no Senior
Debt outstanding and the Company's subsidiaries had approximately $6.1 million
of indebtedness outstanding (exclusive of such unused commitments). The
Indenture permits the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional
indebtedness, subject to certain limitations.
    
 
    The New Notes are being offered hereunder in order to satisfy certain
obligations of the Company contained in the Registration Rights Agreement dated
November 6, 1996 (the "Registration Rights Agreement") by and between the
Company and Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc. (the
"Initial Purchasers") with respect to the initial sale of the Existing Notes.
 
    The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer. The
Company will pay all the expenses incident to the Exchange Offer. Tenders of
Existing Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior
to the Expiration Date (as defined) for the Exchange Offer. In the event the
Company terminates the Exchange Offer and does not accept for exchange any
Existing Notes with respect to the Exchange Offer, the Company will promptly
return such Existing Notes to the holders thereof. See "The Exchange Offer."
 
    Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states
that by so acknowledging and by delivery of a prospectus, a broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This Prospectus, as
it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a
broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for
Existing Notes where such Existing Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company
has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will
make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with
any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
 
    Prior to the Exchange Offer, there has been no public market for the
Existing Notes. If a market for the New Notes should develop, such New Notes
could trade at a discount from their principal amount. The Company currently
does not intend to list the New Notes on any securities exchange or to seek
approval for quotation through any automated quotation system, and no active
public market for the New Notes is currently anticipated. There can be no
assurance that an active public market for the New Notes will develop.
 
    The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of
Existing Notes being tendered for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

                            ------------------------
 
      SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 9 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
FACTORS THAT HOLDERS OF EXISTING NOTES SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE
EXCHANGE OFFER.
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                            ------------------------
 
The date of this Prospectus is            , 1997.
<PAGE>   5
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Exchange Offer
Registration Statement," which term shall encompass all amendments, exhibits,
annexes and schedules thereto) pursuant to the Securities Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, covering the New Notes being offered hereby.
This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement. For further information with respect to the
Company and the Exchange Offer, reference is made to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the contents of
any contract, agreement or other document referred to are not necessarily
complete. With respect to each such contract, agreement or other document filed
as an exhibit to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, reference is made to
the exhibit for a more complete description of the document or matter involved,
and each such statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such
reference. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including the exhibits
thereto, can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the Regional Offices of the Commission at Seven World Trade
Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and at Northwestern Atrium Center,
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such
materials can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates. In addition, the Commission maintains a Web site that contains reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants
that file electronically with the Commission. The address of such Web site is:
http://www.sec.gov.
 
     As a result of the Exchange Offer, the Company will become subject to the
informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith will be required to file
periodic reports and other information with the Commission. In the event the
Company ceases to be subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act, the Company will be required under the Indenture, for so long as any of the
Notes remain outstanding, to furnish to the holders of the Notes and file with
the Commission (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing) (i) all
quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be
contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company
were required to file such forms, including a "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company's certified
independent accountants and (ii) all reports that would be required to be filed
with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such
reports.
 
     This Prospectus includes forward-looking statements which involve risks and
uncertainties as to future events. Actual events or results may differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of
various factors, including, without limitation, those set forth under "Risk
Factors".
 
                                        i
<PAGE>   6
 
                                    SUMMARY
 
     The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by the more detailed information and the Company's historical
consolidated financial statements and "Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated
Financial Information," and the respective notes thereto, included elsewhere in
this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, industry and market data used
throughout this Prospectus are based on Company estimates which, while believed
by the Company to be reliable, have not been verified by independent sources.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references to
"IKS" or the "Company" are to International Knife & Saw, Inc. and its
consolidated subsidiaries.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company is a global leader in the manufacturing, servicing and
marketing of industrial and commercial machine knives and saws, operating in an
estimated worldwide market of $1.0 billion. The Company's products, which are
consumed in the normal course of machine operation and need resharpening or
replacement many times a year, are mounted in industrial machines and are used
in virtually every facet of cutting, slitting, chipping and forming of
materials. The Company serves the following major market sectors: (i) Wood (42%
of 1995 net sales); (ii) Paper & Packaging (38%); (iii) Metal (14%); and (iv)
Plastic & Recycling (6%). The Company believes that it has a leading worldwide
market share in each of these market sectors and that it is the only company
that serves all four such sectors.
 
     The Company believes that it has the most extensive product offering in the
industry, selling over 10,000 knife and saw products to a wide range of
end-users, from large industrial and consumer product manufacturers to small
family-owned print shops. The breadth of the Company's product line is enhanced
by the Company's strategic relationships with over 50 finished goods suppliers,
offering IKS the flexibility to manufacture or source many of its products. IKS
products are used for diverse applications in numerous markets, including the
use of circular slitter knives to cut copy paper, long veneer slicer knives to
slice thin veneer used in the manufacture of quality furniture and circular
metal slitter knives to cut wide coils of steel into narrow strips. Reflecting
the Company's broad product range and numerous applications, the Company sells
to over 5,000 customers with no customer accounting for more than 3% of the
Company's net sales.
 
     IKS is the only industrial knife and saw manufacturer with operations in
North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and products sold in more than 75
countries. The Company utilizes its salesforce, the largest direct salesforce in
the industry, to focus its efforts on aftermarket sales to end-users, which
accounted for 89% of the Company's 1995 net sales. The Company also sells to
end-users through Company-owned and independent resharpening service centers,
which resharpen both IKS and competitors' knives and saws and also act as
distributors of IKS products, as well as through distributors and agents. The
Company's remaining sales are to over 300 original equipment manufacturers
("OEMs") of industrial cutting equipment, and the Company believes it is the
leading supplier of knife and saw products to OEMs.
 
     The Company's sales are principally in North America and Europe,
representing 73% and 26% of 1995 net sales, respectively, and the Company
believes that significant opportunities exist to expand its share of these two
major markets. The Company has also recently expanded its operations into the
emerging markets of Asia and Latin America (with sales growing from 1% of fiscal
1995 net sales to 6.8% of net sales for the nine month period ended September
30, 1996). The Company plans to continue its international growth, entering new
geographic markets while broadening existing ones. Since 1991, the Company has
expanded its domestic and international operations through internal growth, the
development of strategic alliances and the acquisition of knife and saw
manufacturers and service centers. In addition, to maintain its position as a
low cost producer, the Company takes advantage of economies of scale in both
manufacturing and purchasing and has improved operating efficiencies. As a
result of these actions, during the four
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   7
 
   
year period ended December 31, 1995, the Company achieved a net sales compound
annual growth rate ("CAGR") of 8.1%, with net sales increasing from $78 million
in 1991 to $107 million in 1995, and a pro forma EBITDA (as defined herein) CAGR
of 11.2%, with pro forma EBITDA increasing from $9.7 million in 1991 to $14.8
million in 1995. The annual growth rate of the Company's net sales during these
four years was 4.7%, 3.7%, 8.8% and 15.8%, respectively. For the nine month
period ended September 30, 1996, the Company's net sales increased 12.6% over
the comparable 1995 period to $89.3 million, and pro forma EBITDA increased
24.2% over the comparable 1995 period to $12.8 million.
    
 
     The Company believes that it can enhance its leading market position
through the continued implementation of its business strategy. Key elements of
this strategy include (i) maximizing stable, high margin end-user sales; (ii)
increasing its global manufacturing, sourcing and marketing capabilities through
strategic alliances; (iii) growing its resharpening service center operations,
which increases direct access to end-users and enables the Company to capture
both resharpening and additional replacement business; (iv) expanding and
improving its product offering; (v) maintaining its focus on cost improvement
opportunities; and (vi) continuing to evaluate acquisitions in the highly
fragmented knife and saw industry.
 
     IKS traces it origins to 1814, when Klingelnberg Soehne was founded in
Germany as a textile and hardware trading house. Klingelnberg Soehne began
manufacturing industrial knives and saws in the early 1900s and by 1940 was
serving a variety of product segments. Klingelnberg Soehne expanded its sales
into the North American market during the 1960s and subsequently established
manufacturing and resharpening operations which were complemented by several
strategic acquisitions. The Company was incorporated in 1979, and by 1991 it had
acquired the European and North American operations of Klingelnberg Soehne.
Since 1991, the Company has expanded its resharpening operations by acquiring
and opening 13 service centers, and has recently commenced operations in Asia
and Latin America. The principal executive offices of IKS are located at 1299
Cox Avenue in Erlanger, Kentucky and its telephone number is (606) 371-0333.
 
                                THE TRANSACTIONS
 
     The Existing Notes were issued on November 6, 1996 concurrently with the
consummation of a recapitalization (the "Recapitalization") of The Klingelnberg
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("IKS Holdings"). Prior to the
Recapitalization, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of IKS
Holdings was held by members of the Klingelnberg family and the Company's issued
and outstanding capital stock was held approximately 97% by IKS Holdings and
approximately 3% by John E. Halloran, Edward J. Brent, Thomas Meyer and Hans
Berg, each of whom was an executive officer of the Company (the "Existing
Management Investors").
 
     The Recapitalization involved the following transactions: (i) the Existing
Management Investors exchanged their holdings of capital stock issued by the
Company for capital stock of IKS Holdings, and the Company became a wholly owned
subsidiary of IKS Holdings; (ii) IKS Holdings amended its charter to change its
corporate name to "IKS Corporation" and to authorize three classes of capital
stock, consisting of preferred stock (the "Holdings Preferred Stock"), voting
common stock (the "Holdings Class A Stock") and non-voting common stock (the
"Holdings Class B Stock" and, together with the Holdings Class A Stock, the
"Holdings Common Stock"); (iii) the issued and outstanding capital stock of IKS
Holdings was exchanged for a recapitalization distribution (the
"Recapitalization Distribution") which consisted of (a) approximately $86.6
million in cash and (b) Junior Subordinated Debentures of IKS Holdings (the
"Holdings Debentures"), Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Class A Stock with
an aggregate value of approximately $9.4 million issued to Arndt Klingelnberg,
Diether Klingelnberg and John E. Halloran; (iv) John E. Halloran and Thomas
Meyer, together with certain other key employees of the Company who were not
Existing Management Investors (the "New Management Investors" and, together with
the Existing Management Investors, the "Management Investors"), purchased
Holdings Debentures, Holdings
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   8
 
Preferred Stock and Holdings Class A Stock from IKS Holdings for approximately
$1.3 million in cash; and (v) Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd. ("CVC") purchased
Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Common Stock from IKS
Holdings for $14.3 million in cash. See "The Transactions," "Stock Ownership"
and "Description of Certain Indebtedness -- Holdings Debentures."
 
   
     The gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Existing Notes,
together with the aggregate investment of $15.6 million made in IKS Holdings by
John E. Halloran, Thomas Meyer, the New Management Investors and CVC in
connection with the Recapitalization, were used to (i) finance the cash portion
of the Recapitalization Distribution (approximately $86.6 million), (ii) repay
approximately $11.4 million of outstanding indebtedness referred to below and
(iii) pay approximately $5.0 million of fees and expenses related to the
Transactions. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, the Company repaid approximately
$5.2 million of its existing indebtedness and entered into a new $20.0 million
revolving credit facility (the "Senior Credit Facility"). In addition, a German
subsidiary of the Company repaid approximately $6.2 million of existing
indebtedness under its term loan and entered into a new $5.0 million revolving
credit facility (the "New German Credit Facility"). For information regarding
the Senior Credit Facility and the indebtedness of such subsidiary, see
"Description of Certain Indebtedness -- Senior Credit Facility" and
"-- Subsidiary Indebtedness."
 
   
     The foregoing transactions, including the issuance of the Existing Notes,
the application of the proceeds therefrom and the payment of related transaction
fees and expenses, are collectively referred to herein as the "Transactions".
    
 
     In anticipation of the Recapitalization, on July 25, 1996 the Company
acquired certain real property which had previously been under capital lease to
the Company for approximately $5.6 million (the "Realty Acquisition"). For
additional information concerning the Realty Acquisition, see "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions."
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   9
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
Securities Offered.........  Up to $90,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
                             11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006. The
                             terms of the New Notes and Existing Notes are
                             identical in all material respects, except for
                             certain transfer restrictions and registration
                             rights relating to the Existing Notes.
 
The Exchange Offer.........  The New Notes are being offered in exchange for a
                             like principal amount of Existing Notes. Existing
                             Notes may be exchanged only in integral multiples
                             of $1,000. The issuance of the New Notes is
                             intended to satisfy obligations of the Company
                             contained in the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
Expiration Date; Withdrawal
  of Tender................  The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. New
                             York City time, on             , 1997, or such
                             later date and time to which it may be extended by
                             the Company. The tender of Existing Notes pursuant
                             to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time
                             prior to the Expiration Date. Any Existing Notes
                             not accepted for exchange for any reason will be
                             returned without expense to the tendering holder
                             thereof as promptly as practicable after the
                             expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.
 
Certain Conditions to the
  Exchange Offer...........  The Company's obligation to accept for exchange, or
                             to issue New Notes in exchange for, any Existing
                             Notes is subject to certain customary conditions
                             relating to compliance with any applicable law, any
                             applicable interpretation by the staff of the
                             Commission or any order of any governmental agency
                             or court of competent jurisdiction, which may be
                             waived by the Company in its reasonable discretion.
                             The Company currently expects that each of the
                             conditions will be satisfied and that no waivers
                             will be necessary. See "The Exchange
                             Offer -- Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer."
 
   
Procedures for Tendering
  Existing Notes...........  Each holder of Existing Notes wishing to accept the
                             Exchange Offer must complete, sign and date the
                             Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof, in
                             accordance with the instructions contained herein
                             and therein, and mail or otherwise deliver such
                             Letter of Transmittal, or such facsimile, together
                             with such Existing Notes and any other required
                             documentation, to the Exchange Agent (as defined)
                             at the address set forth herein. See "The Exchange
                             Offer -- Procedures for Tendering Existing Notes."
    
 
Use of Proceeds............  The Company will not receive any proceeds from the
                             Exchange Offer.
 
Exchange Agent.............  United States Trust Company of New York (the
                             "Exchange Agent") is serving as the Exchange Agent
                             in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
Federal Income Tax
  Consequences.............  The exchange of Notes pursuant to the Exchange
                             Offer should not be a taxable event for federal
                             income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income
                             Tax Considerations."
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   10
 
    CONSEQUENCES OF EXCHANGING EXISTING NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
   
     Based on certain interpretive letters issued by the staff of the Commission
to third parties in unrelated transactions, the Company is of the view that
holders of Existing Notes (other than any holder who is an "affiliate" of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) who exchange
their Existing Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer generally may
offer such New Notes for resale, resell such New Notes and otherwise transfer
such New Notes without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act, provided such New Notes are acquired in the
ordinary course of the holders' business and such holders have no arrangement
with any person to participate in a distribution of such New Notes. Each
broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for
Existing Notes must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Notes. See "Plan of Distribution." In addition, to
comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable, the New
Notes may not be offered or sold unless they have been registered or qualified
for sale in such jurisdictions or in compliance with an available exemption from
registration or qualification. The Company has agreed, pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement and subject to certain specified limitations
therein, to register or qualify the New Notes for offer or sale under the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any holder of the Notes
reasonably requests in writing. If a holder of Existing Notes does not exchange
such Existing Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such Existing
Notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer contained in
the legend thereon. In general, the Existing Notes may not be offered or sold,
unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption
from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws. Holders of Existing Notes do not have any appraisal or
dissenters' rights under the Delaware General Corporation Law in connection with
the Exchange Offer. See "The Exchange Offer -- Consequences of Failure to
Exchange; Resales of New Notes."
    
 
     The Existing Notes are currently eligible for trading in the Private
Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") market.
Following commencement of the Exchange Offer but prior to its consummation, the
Existing Notes may continue to be traded in the PORTAL market. Following
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the New Notes will not be eligible for
PORTAL trading.
 
                                 THE NEW NOTES
 
     The terms of the New Notes are identical in all material respects to the
Existing Notes, except for certain transfer restrictions and registration rights
relating to the Existing Notes.
 
Notes Offered..............  $90,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11 3/8%
                             Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006.
 
Maturity...................  November 15, 2006.
 
Interest Payment Dates.....  May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May
                               15, 1997.
 
Ranking....................  The New Notes will be general unsecured obligations
                             of the Company. The New Notes will be subordinated
                             in right of payment to all existing and future
                             Senior Debt (as defined) of the Company and will
                             rank pari passu in right of payment with all other
                             existing and future senior subordinated
                             indebtedness of the Company. In addition, the New
                             Notes will be effectively subordinated to all
                             existing and future indebtedness and other
                             obligations of the Company's subsidiaries. As of
                             September 30, 1996, after giving pro forma effect
                             to the Transactions, the Company would have had no
                             Senior Debt outstanding, exclusive of unused
                             commitments of $20.0 million, and the Company's
                             subsidiaries
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   11
 
   
                             would have had approximately $5.5 million of
                             indebtedness outstanding (excluding China joint
                             venture indebtedness of approximately $3.8 million,
                             which is non-recourse to the Company, and excluding
                             unused commitments of $5.0 million). On December
                             31, 1996, the Company had no Senior Debt
                             outstanding and the Company's subsidiaries had
                             approximately $6.1 million of indebtedness
                             outstanding (exclusive of unused commitments and
                             the China joint venture indebtedness). The
                             indenture (the "Indenture") governing the New Notes
                             permits the Company and its subsidiaries to incur
                             additional indebtedness, subject to certain
                             limitations. See "Risk Factors -- Ranking of the
                             Notes; Subsidiary International Operations" and
                             "Description of the Notes -- Subordination."
    
 
Optional Redemption........  The New Notes (and any outstanding Existing Notes)
                             will be redeemable in cash at the option of the
                             Company, in whole or in part, at any time or from
                             time to time on or after November 15, 2001, at the
                             redemption prices set forth herein, together with
                             accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
                             redemption. In addition, the Company may also
                             redeem Notes in cash at its option at any time
                             prior to November 15, 1999 at 111 3/8% of the
                             principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
                             interest, if any, to the date of redemption, with
                             the net proceeds of one or more Public Equity
                             Offerings; provided, however, that at least $60.0
                             million aggregate principal amount of the Notes
                             must remain outstanding after any such redemption.
                             See "Description of the Notes -- Optional
                             Redemption."
 
Change of Control..........  Upon a Change of Control, the Company will be
                             required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a
                             purchase price equal to 101% of the principal
                             amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
                             if any, to the date of repurchase. See "Description
                             of the Notes -- Change of Control."
 
Certain Covenants..........  The Indenture contains certain covenants with
                             respect to the Company and its Restricted
                             Subsidiaries (as defined), which restrict, among
                             other things, (a) the incurrence of additional
                             indebtedness, (b) the payment of dividends and
                             other restricted payments, (c) the creation of
                             certain liens, (d) the sale of
                             assets, (e) certain payment restrictions affecting
                             subsidiaries, (f) transactions with affiliates and
                             (g) the issuance of capital stock by subsidiaries.
                             The Indenture also restricts the Company's ability
                             to consolidate or merge with or into, or to
                             transfer all or substantially all of its assets to,
                             another person. These restrictions and requirements
                             are subject to a number of important qualifications
                             and exceptions. See "Description of the Notes --
                             Certain Covenants."
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Holders of Existing Notes should carefully consider all of the information
set forth in this Prospectus and, in particular, should evaluate the specific
factors under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 9 in connection with the Exchange
Offer.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   12
 
                SUMMARY HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
    The following table contains summary historical and pro forma financial data
of the Company for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995
and the nine month periods ended September 30, 1995 and 1996. The summary
historical financial data for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1995 were derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The summary
historical financial data as of September 30, 1996 and for the nine month
periods ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 were derived from the unaudited
consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this
Prospectus. In the opinion of management, such unaudited consolidated financial
statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company for such periods.
The summary pro forma financial data for the year ended December 31, 1995, for
the nine month period ended September 30, 1995, and as of and for the nine month
period ended September 30, 1996 were derived from the "Unaudited Pro Forma
Consolidated Financial Information" included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The
summary pro forma financial data for the two year period ended December 31, 1994
were derived from historical financial data, adjusted for the private company
expenses referred to in Note 4 below. The pro forma financial data is presented
for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what the
Company's financial position or results of operations would actually have been
if the Transactions and the Realty Acquisition had occurred on the assumed dates
or to project the Company's financial position or results of operations at any
future date or for any future periods. The information contained in this table
should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations", "Unaudited Pro Forma
Consolidated Financial Information" and the Company's historical consolidated
financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this
Prospectus.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           NINE MONTH PERIOD
                                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,           ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                                    --------------------------------     ---------------------
                                     1993        1994         1995        1995          1996
                                    -------     -------     --------     -------       -------
<S>                                 <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Net sales.........................  $84,964     $92,447     $107,030     $79,238       $89,256
Gross profit......................   24,573      30,174       30,973      23,191        26,508
Operating income..................    7,226      11,113       10,021       6,708         8,901
Net income........................    3,194       5,182        5,248       3,477         4,852
 
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(1).........................  $ 9,735     $13,920     $ 14,222     $ 9,872       $12,573
Depreciation and                      2,813       3,359        3,570       2,445         3,007
  amortization(2).................
Capital expenditures(3)...........    9,112       3,383        4,663       3,421         7,312
Gross margin......................     28.9%       32.6%        28.9%       29.3%         29.7%
EBITDA margin.....................     11.5%       15.1%        13.3%       12.5%         14.1%
EBITDA including LIFO charges and    10,039      14,472       13,591       9,153        11,908
  credits.........................
 
PRO FORMA DATA:
EBITDA(1)(4)......................  $ 9,978     $14,367     $ 14,759     $10,283       $12,783
Interest expense..................                            10,946       8,328         8,609
EBITDA margin.....................     11.7%       15.5%        13.8%       13.0%         14.3%
Ratio of EBITDA to interest                                      1.3x                      1.5x
  expense(5)......................
Ratio of net debt to EBITDA(6)....                               6.1x                      5.2x
Ratio of earnings to fixed                                       1.1x                      1.1x
  charges(7)......................
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           AT SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                 1996
                                                                          -------------------
                                                                                       PRO
                                                                          ACTUAL      FORMA
                                                                          -------    --------
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital.......................................................... $19,827    $ 46,288
Total assets.............................................................  93,411      98,932
Debt (including notes payable and current portion of long-term             17,803      95,492
  debt)(8)...............................................................
Shareholders' equity.....................................................  41,792     (19,234)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                                   (footnotes on following page)
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   13
 
- ---------------
   
(1) EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization
    adjusted to exclude LIFO charges (credits) of ($304), ($552) and $631 for
    the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, and $719 and
    $665 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1995 and 1996,
    respectively. EBITDA has not been adjusted to exclude other unusual and one
    time expenses incurred by the Company, as follows:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              NINE MONTH
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER          PERIOD ENDED
                                                                        31,                  SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                               ----------------------      -----------------
                                                               1993     1994     1995        1995       1996
                                                               -----    -----    ----      --------     ----
        <S>                                                    <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>          <C>
        Asia start-up costs..................................  $  --    $ 225    $419        $ 72       $ --
        European facility relocation costs...................    342      246      --          --         --
        European sales agency termination costs..............     --      100      --          --         --
        Indonesia management reorganization..................     --       --     110          --         --
        Environmental costs..................................     --       --      60          --         --
                                                               -----    -----    ----         ---       ----
                                                               $ 342    $ 571    $589        $ 72       $ --
                                                               =====    =====    ====        ====       ==== 
</TABLE>
 
   
    EBITDA, adjusted to exclude these expenses, would have been $10,077, $14,491
    and $14,811 for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995,
    respectively, and $9,944 and $12,573 for the nine month periods ended
    September 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. EBITDA is a widely accepted
    financial indicator of a company's ability to service debt. However, EBITDA
    should not be construed as an alternative to operating income, net income or
    cash flows from operating activities (as determined in accordance with
    generally accepted accounting principles) and should not be construed as an
    indication of the Company's operating performance or as a measure of
    liquidity. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
    and Results of Operations." The EBITDA measure presented by the Company may
    not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
    
 
(2) Depreciation and amortization as presented will not agree to the
    consolidated statement of cash flows because of amortization reported below
    the operating income line. Pro forma depreciation and amortization consists
    of depreciation and amortization as described in the preceding sentence as
    adjusted to reflect the elimination of the related party capital leases in
    connection with the Realty Acquisition.
 
(3) 1993 includes $4,336 of capital expenditures related to the relocation of
    the Company's German manufacturing facilities. The nine month period ended
    September 30, 1996 includes $1,205 of capital expenditures related to the
    consolidation of the Company's west coast operations and the expansion of
    the Cincinnati facility, $1,801 of capital expenditures related to the
    expansion of the China joint venture operations, and $5,581 related to the
    Realty Acquisition.
 
(4) Pro Forma EBITDA includes adjustments for certain private company expenses
    incurred by the Company, a family-owned business, which will be eliminated
    following consummation of the Transactions ("Private Company Expenses"). See
    "Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information" and "Management's
    Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
(5) For purposes of the computation, amortization of debt issuance costs of $500
    for the year ended December 31, 1995 and $375 for the nine month period
    ended September 30, 1996 have been excluded from interest expense. In
    addition, for the nine month period ended September 30, 1996, the effects of
    the China joint ventures have been excluded from the computation.
 
(6) For purposes of the computation, net debt is equal to notes payable plus
    total long-term debt (including the current portion but excluding China
    joint venture indebtedness of $3,801 as of September 30, 1996 which is
    non-recourse to the Company) less cash and cash equivalents, and EBITDA for
    all interim periods presented has been annualized.
 
   
(7) For purposes of the computation, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges has
    been calculated by dividing (i) earnings before income taxes and fixed
    charges by (ii) fixed charges. Fixed charges are equal to interest expense
    plus one-third of rental expense (the portion deemed representative of the
    interest factor).
    
 
   
(8) For purposes of this presentation, debt excludes China joint venture
    indebtedness of $3,801 which is non-recourse to the Company.
    
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   14
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Holders of Existing Notes should carefully consider the specific factors
set forth below as well as the other information included in this Prospectus in
connection with the Exchange Offer. The risk factors set forth below are
generally applicable to the Existing Notes as well as the New Notes.
 
SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE AND DEBT SERVICE
 
     The Company is highly leveraged. At September 30, 1996, on a pro forma
basis after giving effect to the Transactions, the Company's total debt and
stockholders' deficit would have been $95.5 million (excluding China joint
venture indebtedness of approximately $3.8 million, which is non-recourse to the
Company) and $19.2 million, respectively. The Company would also have had
borrowing availability under the Senior Credit Facility and the New German
Credit Facility of $25.0 million, subject to the borrowing conditions contained
therein. For the year ended December 31, 1995 and the nine month period ended
September 30, 1996, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 1.1
to 1.0 and 1.1 to 1.0, respectively, after giving pro forma effect to the
Transactions and the Realty Acquisition as if they had occurred on January 1,
1995. The Company's ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of or
interest on, or to refinance, its indebtedness (including the Notes) and to make
scheduled payments under its operating leases depends on its future performance,
which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond
its control.
 
     The Company's high level of debt and debt service requirements will have
several important effects on its future operations, including the following: (i)
the Company will have significant cash requirements to service debt, reducing
funds available for operations and future business opportunities and increasing
the Company's vulnerability to adverse general economic and industry conditions
and competition; (ii) the Company's leveraged position will increase its
vulnerability to competitive pressures; (iii) the financial covenants and other
restrictions contained in agreements relating to the Company's indebtedness and
in the Indenture will require the Company to meet certain financial tests and
will restrict its ability to borrow additional funds, to dispose of assets or to
pay cash dividends on, or repurchase, preferred or common stock and may
adversely affect the Company's ability to respond to competitive pressures; and
(iv) funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and
general corporate purposes will be limited. Any default under the documents
governing indebtedness of the Company could have a significant adverse effect on
the market value of the Notes.
 
     Based upon the current level of operations, the Company believes that its
cash flow from operations, together with borrowings under the Senior Credit
Facility and its other sources of liquidity, will be adequate to meet its
anticipated requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, lease
payments, interest payments and scheduled principal payments. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Liquidity and Capital Resources." There can be no assurance, however, that the
Company's business will continue to generate cash flow at or above current
levels. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow from
operations in the future to service its debt and make necessary capital or other
expenditures, or if its future cash flows are insufficient to amortize all
required principal payments out of internally generated funds, the Company may
be required to refinance all or a portion of its existing debt, sell assets or
obtain additional financing. There can be no assurance that any such refinancing
or asset sales would be possible or that any additional financing could be
obtained.
 
RANKING OF THE NOTES; SUBSIDIARY INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
     The payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, and any other
amounts owing in respect of, the New Notes, like the Existing Notes, will be
subordinated to the prior payment in full of all existing and future Senior
Debt, including indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility. As of September
30, 1996, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions, the
Company
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   15
 
would not have had any Senior Debt outstanding, exclusive of unused commitments
of $20.0 million which may be borrowed by the Company under the Senior Credit
Facility. In the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution,
reorganization or other winding up of the Company, the assets of the Company
will be available to pay obligations on the Notes only after all Senior Debt has
been paid in full, and there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay
amounts due on any or all of the Notes. In addition, under certain
circumstances, the Company may not pay principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on, or any other amounts owing in respect of, the Notes, or purchase,
redeem or otherwise retire the Notes, if a payment default or a non-payment
default exists with respect to certain Senior Debt and, in the case of a
non-payment default, a payment blockage notice has been received by the Trustee
(as defined). See "Description of the Notes -- Subordination."
 
     Although the Company's U.S. operations are owned directly, its foreign
operations are conducted through subsidiaries. Such subsidiaries have not
guaranteed or otherwise become obligated with respect to the Notes. The Notes
will therefore be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities, including indebtedness, of the Company's subsidiaries. As of
September 30, 1996, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the
Transactions, the Company's subsidiaries would have had indebtedness of
approximately $5.5 million (excluding China joint venture indebtedness of
approximately $3.8 million, which is non-recourse to the Company, and excluding
unused commitments of $5.0 million) and other liabilities of approximately $7.9
million reflected on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Claims of
creditors of the Company's subsidiaries, including trade creditors, will
generally have priority as to the assets of such subsidiaries over the claims of
the Company and the holders of the Company's indebtedness, including the Notes.
See "Description of the Notes -- Subordination."
 
RESTRICTIVE LOAN COVENANTS
 
     The Indenture contains, and other debt instruments of the Company may in
the future contain, a number of significant covenants that, among other things,
restrict the ability of the Company to dispose of assets, incur additional
indebtedness, repay other indebtedness or amend other debt instruments, pay
dividends, create liens on assets, enter into investments or acquisitions,
engage in mergers or consolidations, make capital expenditures or engage in
certain transactions with subsidiaries and affiliates, and otherwise restrict
certain corporate activities.
 
     The Company's ability to comply with the covenants contained in the
Indenture and other debt instruments of the Company may be affected by events
beyond its control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry
conditions. The breach of any of such covenants or restrictions could result in
a default under the Indenture and/or such other debt instruments, which would
permit the holders of the Notes or such lenders, as the case may be, to declare
all amounts borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and
unpaid interest, and the commitments of the senior lenders to make further
extensions of credit under such other debt instruments could be terminated. If
the Company were unable to repay its indebtedness to its senior lenders, such
lenders could proceed against the collateral securing such indebtedness, which
collateral consists of accounts receivable and inventory of the Company.
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY INDIVIDUALS
 
     The success of the Company is largely dependent on the experience and
knowledge of a few key executive officers. The loss of the services of one or
more of these individuals and the Company's inability to attract and retain
other key members of the Company's management could have a material adverse
effect upon the Company.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
     The Company operates manufacturing, sales and service facilities in eight
foreign countries and sells its products in more than 75 foreign countries,
which accounted for approximately 41% of the
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   16
 
Company's 1995 net sales (including approximately 11% of 1995 net sales in
Canada). As a result, the Company is subject to risks associated with operating
in foreign countries, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates,
imposition of limitations on conversion of foreign currencies into dollars or
remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries, imposition
or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by
foreign subsidiaries, hyperinflation in certain foreign countries and imposition
or increase of investment and other restrictions by foreign governments.
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates have had an impact on the Company's
operations in the past, and historically the Company has not hedged its foreign
currency risks. No assurance can be given that the risks associated with
operating in foreign countries will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company in the future. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business."
 
DEPENDENCE ON TOOL STEEL
 
     The principal raw material used by the Company is tool steel. Although the
Company maintains inventories of tool steel in excess of normal business
practice, any major disruption in the supply of tool steel could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and financial condition.
 
     The steel industry is highly cyclical in nature and steel prices are
influenced by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including
general economic conditions, labor costs, molybdenum and chrome costs,
competition, import duties, tariffs and currency exchange rates. This volatility
can significantly affect the Company's raw material costs. Competitive
conditions determine how much of steel price increases can be passed on to the
Company's customers. In 1995, the Company's ability to pass steel price
increases on to its customers on a timely basis was limited. If the Company is
unable to pass some or all of future steel price increases to its customers, the
Company could be materially and adversely affected. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
"Business -- Raw Materials".
 
COMPETITION
 
     The industrial knife and saw market is highly fragmented with numerous
participants. Although there is no one company which competes with the Company
in all four of the market sectors which the Company serves and there is no one
company which is dominant in any of such market sectors, there can be no
assurance that the Company's products will be able to compete successfully with
those of its competitors. See "Business -- Competition."
 
FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE CONSIDERATIONS
 
     A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Existing Notes was used by
the Company to pay a dividend to IKS Holdings to finance, in part, the cash
portion of the Recapitalization Distribution. See "The Transactions." If a court
in a lawsuit on behalf of any unpaid creditor of the Company or a representative
of the Company's creditors were to find that, at the time the Company issued the
Existing Notes, the Company (x) intended to hinder, delay or defraud any
existing or future creditor or contemplated insolvency with a design to prefer
one or more creditors to the exclusion in whole or in part of others or (y) did
not receive fair consideration in good faith or reasonably equivalent value for
issuing the Existing Notes and the Company (i) was insolvent, (ii) was rendered
insolvent by reason of the incurrence of indebtedness represented by the
Existing Notes or such dividend, (iii) was engaged or about to engage in a
business or transaction for which its remaining assets constituted unreasonably
small capital to carry on its business, or (iv) intended to incur, or believed
that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they matured,
such court could void the Notes and void such transactions. Alternatively, in
such event, claims of the holders of Notes could be subordinated to claims of
other creditors of the Company. The Company may be viewed as having been
insolvent at the time of or as a result of the Transactions if the fair value of
its assets did not exceed its probable liabilities at the time of, or following,
the Transactions.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   17
 
     Based upon financial and other information available to it, management of
the Company believes that the Existing Notes were incurred for proper purposes
and in good faith. The Company believes that it (i) was solvent immediately
prior to and following the issuance of the Existing Notes and the consummation
of the other Transactions because the Company believes that the fair value of
the Company's assets exceeded its probable liabilities, (ii) had sufficient
capital for carrying on its business, and (iii) was able to pay its debts as
they matured. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources." There can be no
assurance, however, that a court would concur with such beliefs and positions.
 
     In rendering their opinions in connection with the offer and sale of the
Existing Notes, counsel for the Company and counsel for the Initial Purchasers
did not express any opinion as to the applicability of Federal or state
fraudulent conveyance laws.
 
   
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
    
 
   
     As with most industrial companies, the Company's facilities and operations
are required to comply with and are subject to a wide variety of federal, state,
local and foreign environmental and worker health and safety laws, regulations
and ordinances, including those related to air emissions, wastewater discharges
and chemical and hazardous waste management and disposal ("Environmental Laws").
Certain of these Environmental Laws hold owners or operators of land or
businesses liable for their own and for previous owners' or operators' releases
of hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants, including petroleum and petroleum products. Compliance with
Environmental Laws also may require the acquisition of permits or other
authorizations for certain activities and compliance with various standards or
procedural requirements. The nature of the Company's operations, the long
history of industrial uses at some of its current or former facilities, and the
operations of predecessor owners or operators of certain of the businesses
expose the Company to risk of liabilities or claims with respect to
environmental and worker health and safety matters. There can be no assurance
that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such
liabilities or claims.
    
 
   
     Future events, such as changes in existing laws and regulations or their
interpretation, may give rise to additional compliance costs or liabilities that
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations. Compliance with more stringent laws or
regulations, as well as more vigorous enforcement policies of regulatory
agencies or stricter or different interpretations of existing laws, may require
additional expenditures by the Company that may be material. See
"Business -- Environmental and Regulatory Matters."
    
 
OWNERSHIP OF IKS HOLDINGS AND THE COMPANY
 
     CVC, Arndt Klingelnberg, Diether Klingelnberg and the Management Investors
own all of the outstanding voting stock of IKS Holdings, which owns 100% of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company. By virtue of such stock ownership,
such persons have the power to direct the affairs of the Company and are able to
determine the outcome of all matters required to be submitted to stockholders
for approval, including the election of a majority of the Company's directors
and amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation. See "The
Transactions" and "Stock Ownership."
 
PURCHASE OF NOTES UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL
 
     Upon a Change of Control, the Company is required to offer to repurchase
all outstanding Notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. The source of funds for any
such repurchase will be the Company's available cash or cash generated from
operating or other sources, including borrowings, sales of assets, sales of
equity or funds provided by a new controlling person. A Change of Control will
likely trigger an event of default under other debt instruments of the Company
which would permit the acceleration of the debt under such
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   18
 
   
debt instruments. Such debt instruments may prohibit the repurchase of the Notes
by the Company in the event of a Change of Control, unless and until such time
as the indebtedness under such debt instruments is repaid in full. There can be
no assurance that sufficient funds will be available at the time of any Change
of Control to repay indebtedness under such debt instruments and to make any
required repurchases of Notes tendered. See "Description of the Notes -- Change
of Control."
    
 
ABSENCE OF A PUBLIC MARKET
 
     The Existing Notes currently are eligible for trading in the PORTAL Market.
The New Notes are new securities for which there is currently no established
market. The Company does not intend to list the New Notes on any national
securities exchange or to seek the admission thereof to trading in the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Initial
Purchasers have advised the Company that they currently intend to make a market
in the New Notes but that they are not obligated to do so and any such market
making may be discontinued at any time. There can be no assurance as to the
development of any market or the liquidity of any market that may develop for
the New Notes. If an active public market does not develop, the market, price
and liquidity of the New Notes may be adversely affected. Future trading prices
of the New Notes will depend on prevailing interest rates, the market for
similar securities and other factors, including general economic conditions and
the financial condition and performance of the Company. Holders of the New Notes
should be aware that they may be required to bear the financial risks of their
investment for an indefinite period of time. See "Description of the Notes."
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   19
 
                                THE TRANSACTIONS
 
     The Existing Notes were issued on November 6, 1996 concurrently with the
consummation of the Recapitalization of IKS Holdings. Prior to the
Recapitalization, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of IKS
Holdings was held by members of the Klingelnberg family and the Company's issued
and outstanding capital stock was held approximately 97% by IKS Holdings and
approximately 3% by the Existing Management Investors.
 
     The Recapitalization was effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of
Recapitalization dated September 17, 1996 (the "Recapitalization Agreement")
among IKS Holdings, the stockholders of IKS Holdings, the Existing Management
Investors and CVC, and involved the following transactions: (i) the Existing
Management Investors exchanged their holdings of capital stock issued by the
Company for capital stock of IKS Holdings, and the Company became a wholly owned
subsidiary of IKS Holdings; (ii) IKS Holdings amended its charter to change its
corporate name to "IKS Corporation" and to authorize three classes of capital
stock, consisting of Holdings Preferred Stock, Holdings Class A Stock and
Holdings Class B Stock; (iii) the issued and outstanding capital stock of IKS
Holdings was exchanged for the Recapitalization Distribution which, subject to
adjustment as described below, consisted of (a) approximately $86.6 million in
cash and (b) Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Class A
Stock with an aggregate value of approximately $9.4 million issued to Arndt
Klingelnberg, Diether Klingelnberg and John E. Halloran (the "Rollover
Investment"); (iv) John E. Halloran, Thomas Meyer and the New Management
Investors purchased Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings
Class A Stock from IKS Holdings for approximately $1.3 million in cash; and (v)
CVC purchased Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Common
Stock from IKS Holdings for $14.3 million in cash. The aggregate investment of
$15.6 million made in IKS Holdings by John E. Halloran, Thomas Meyer, the New
Management Investors and CVC in connection with the Recapitalization is referred
to herein as the "Recapitalization Investment."
 
   
     The gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Existing Notes,
together with the Recapitalization Investment, were used to (i) finance the cash
portion of the Recapitalization Distribution (approximately $86.6 million), (ii)
repay approximately $11.4 million of outstanding indebtedness and (iii) pay
approximately $5.0 million of fees and expenses related to the Transactions.
    
 
   
     As a result of the Recapitalization, the Holdings Debentures, Holdings
Preferred Stock and Holdings Common Stock is held as follows: (i) CVC holds
approximately $2.8 million of the Holdings Debentures, 91.0% of the Holdings
Preferred Stock, 49.0% of the Holdings Class A Stock and 100% of the Holdings
Class B Stock; (ii) Arndt and Diether Klingelnberg hold an aggregate of
approximately $8.2 million of the Holdings Debentures and 40.4% of the Holdings
Class A Stock; and (iii) John E. Halloran, Thomas Meyer and the other Management
Investors hold an aggregate of approximately $1.1 million of the Holdings
Debentures, 9.0% of the Holdings Preferred Stock and 10.6% of the Holdings Class
A Stock. No stock options had been granted by the Company or IKS Holdings prior
to the consummation of the Transactions. Certain members of management of the
Company are expected to participate in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan pursuant
to which management will be offered the opportunity to acquire Holdings Class A
Stock which would equal in the aggregate up to an additional 10.0% of the
Holdings Class A Stock outstanding. See "Stock Ownership" and "Description of
Certain Indebtedness -- Holdings Debentures."
    
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, the Company entered into the
Senior Credit Facility and a German subsidiary of the Company entered into the
New German Credit Facility. For information regarding the Senior Credit Facility
and the indebtedness of such subsidiary, see "Description of Certain
Indebtedness -- Senior Credit Facility" and "-- Subsidiary Indebtedness."
 
     The Recapitalization Agreement provides that the aggregate value of the
Recapitalization Distribution was to equal $110.0 million less the Consolidated
Net Debt (as defined in the Recapitalization Agreement) of IKS Holdings. Based
on an estimate that IKS Holdings had
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   20
 
   
approximately $14.0 million of Consolidated Net Debt immediately prior to the
Recapitalization, the Recapitalization Distribution consisted of an aggregate of
approximately $86.6 million in cash, $8.6 million of Holdings Debentures,
Holdings Preferred Stock having a value of approximately $441,000 and Holdings
Class A Stock having a value of approximately $377,000. In the event that IKS
Holdings' actual Consolidated Net Debt as of the opening of business on the
closing date of the Recapitalization is determined to be less than or greater
than $14.0 million, the Recapitalization Distribution will be adjusted upwards
or downwards, as appropriate, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. A portion of the
Recapitalization Distribution consisting of approximately $4.9 million in cash
and securities with an aggregate value of approximately $52,000 consisting of
Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Class A Stock was deposited in escrow to
secure the payment of any amounts which may be owed to IKS Holdings as a result
of any post-closing adjustment to the Recapitalization Distribution as well as
certain indemnification obligations under the Recapitalization Agreement.
    
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
     The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer. The
gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Existing Notes, together with
the Recapitalization Investment, were used to finance the cash portion of the
Recapitalization Distribution, repay certain indebtedness of the Company and pay
certain fees and expenses related to the Transactions.
    
 
   
     The following table illustrates the sources and uses of funds utilized to
consummate the Transactions. In connection with the Recapitalization, Arndt
Klingelnberg, Diether Klingelnberg and John E. Halloran elected to receive
Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Class A Stock valued
at approximately $9.4 million as part of the Recapitalization Distribution.
Therefore, the following table includes such Rollover Investment as both a
source and a use.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              AMOUNT
                                                                            ----------
                                                                            (DOLLARS
                                                                               IN
                                                                            THOUSANDS)
        <S>                                                                 <C>
        SOURCES OF FUNDS:
             11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006..................   $  90,000
             Recapitalization Investment by CVC(1).......................      14,300
             Rollover Investment by the Klingelnbergs(2).................       8,500
             Recapitalization Investment by Management(1)................       1,300
             Rollover Investment by Management(2)........................         900
                                                                            ---------
                       Total Sources.....................................   $ 115,000
                                                                            =========
        USES OF FUNDS:
             Cash portion of Recapitalization Distribution(3)............   $  86,600
             Repayment of certain indebtedness(4)........................      11,400
             Rollover Investment(2)......................................       9,400
             Transaction fees and expenses...............................       5,000
             Working capital.............................................       2,600
                                                                            ---------
                       Total Uses........................................   $ 115,000
                                                                            =========
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
(1) The Recapitalization Investment consisted of Holdings Debentures, Holdings
    Preferred Stock and Holdings Common Stock having an aggregate value of $15.6
    million issued by IKS Holdings in connection with the Recapitalization, See
    "The Transactions," "Stock Ownership" and "Description of Certain
    Indebtedness -- Holdings Debentures."
    
 
   
(2) The Rollover Investment consisted of Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred
    Stock and Holdings Class A Stock having an aggregate value of $9.4 million
    issued by IKS Holdings to Arndt Klingelnberg, Diether Klingelnberg and John
    E. Halloran as part of the Recapitalization
    
 
   
                                         (footnotes continued on following page)
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   21
 
   
    Distribution. See "The Transactions," "Stock Ownership" and "Description of
    Certain Indebtedness -- Holdings Debentures."
    
 
   
(3) Approximately $11.0 million was distributed as repayment of indebtedness
    owed to IKS Holdings and the balance was distributed in the form of a
    dividend.
    
 
   
(4) The indebtedness repaid consisted of a term loan which was to mature on July
    17, 1997 and which bore interest at 6.9% and certain notes payable with
    maturities through 2003 bearing interest at rates of 3.0% to 7.75%.
    Following the repayment of such indebtedness, the Company had approximately
    $5.5 million of indebtedness outstanding (excluding China joint venture
    indebtedness of approximately $3.6 million, which is non-recourse to the
    Company).
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   22
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the
Company at September 30, 1996 after giving effect to the Transactions. This
table should be read in conjunction with the Company's historical consolidated
financial statements and "Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information," and the
respective notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                                  ----------------------
                                                                                  PRO
                                                                  ACTUAL         FORMA
                                                                  -------       --------
                                                                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
    <S>                                                           <C>           <C>
    Long-term debt (including current portion)(1):
      Term loan.................................................  $ 5,000       $     --
      Notes payable(2)..........................................   12,803          5,492
      New German Credit Facility(3).............................       --             --
      Senior Credit Facility(4).................................       --             --
      11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006................       --         90,000
                                                                  -------       --------
              Total long-term debt..............................   17,803         95,492
    Minority interest...........................................    2,178          2,178
    Total stockholders' equity..................................   41,792        (19,234)
                                                                  -------       --------
    Total capitalization........................................  $61,773       $ 78,436
                                                                  =======       ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) For purposes of this presentation, debt excludes China joint venture
    indebtedness of $3,801 which is non-recourse to the Company.
 
(2) Notes payable under the existing credit facilities in Deutsche Marks with
    maturities through 2003 and bearing interest at rates of 3.0% to 7.75%.
 
(3) Borrowings of up to $5.0 million under the New German Credit Facility are
    available to the Company's German subsidiary for working capital and general
    corporate purposes at alternative rates, at the option of the Company's
    German subsidiary, including Euro-LIBOR plus 0.5% (currently approximately
    3.6%). The Company did not draw upon the New German Credit Facility in
    connection with the Transactions. See "Description of Certain
    Indebtedness -- Subsidiary Indebtedness."
 
(4) Borrowings of up to $20.0 million under the Senior Credit Facility are
    available to the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes
    at LIBOR plus 1.25% (currently approximately 6.7%). The Company did not draw
    upon the Senior Credit Facility in connection with the Transactions. See
    "Description of Certain Indebtedness -- Senior Credit Facility."
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   23
 
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information (the
"Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information") has been derived by the application
of pro forma adjustments to the Company's consolidated historical financial
statements included elsewhere herein. The Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
Information gives effect to the Transactions as if such events and transactions
had occurred on September 30, 1996 for purposes of the unaudited pro forma
consolidated balance sheet and gives effect to the Transactions and the Realty
Acquisition as if such events and transactions had occurred on January 1, 1995
for purposes of the unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations.
The pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes and are based
upon available information and certain assumptions that management believes are
reasonable. The Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information is presented for
informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what the Company's
financial position or results of operations would actually have been if the
aforementioned events or transactions had occurred on the dates specified or to
project the Company's financial position or results of operations at any future
date or for any future periods. The Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated historical
financial statements, and the notes thereto, included elsewhere herein.
 
     The pro forma adjustments were applied to the respective historical
financial statements to reflect and account for the Recapitalization as a
recapitalization. Accordingly, the historical basis of the Company's assets and
liabilities have not been affected by the Recapitalization.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   24
 
                 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                                                 ------------------------------------------
                                                                                 HISTORICAL      PRO FORMA        PRO FORMA
                                                                                    IKS         ADJUSTMENTS          IKS
                                                                                 ----------     -----------       ---------
                                                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                              <C>            <C>               <C>
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents......................................................   $  6,544       $     521(a)     $  7,065
Accounts receivable, net.......................................................     20,647              --          20,647
Other receivables..............................................................        906              --             906
Inventories....................................................................     30,554              --          30,554
Prepaid expenses, deferred taxes and sundry....................................      1,854             500(b)        2,354
                                                                                   -------         -------        --------
    Total current assets.......................................................     60,505           1,021          61,526
Other assets...................................................................      4,008           4,500(b)        8,508
Property, plant and equipment
  Cost.........................................................................     54,467              --          54,467
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization...............................     25,569              --          25,569
                                                                                   -------         -------        --------
Property, plant and equipment, net.............................................     28,898              --          28,898
                                                                                   -------         -------        --------
         Total assets..........................................................   $ 93,411       $   5,521        $ 98,932
                                                                                   =======         =======        ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable..................................................................   $  8,935          (7,311)(c)    $  1,624
Current portion of long-term debt..............................................      5,588          (5,000)(c)         588
Accounts and drafts payable....................................................      6,552              --           6,552
Accrued and sundry liabilities.................................................      6,474              --           6,474
Due to parent..................................................................     11,142         (11,142)(d)          --
                                                                                   -------         -------        --------
    Total current liabilities..................................................     38,691         (23,453)         15,238
Long-term debt, less current portion...........................................      3,280          90,000(e)       93,280
Joint venture indebtedness.....................................................      3,801              --           3,801
Deferred taxes.................................................................      1,842              --           1,842
Other liabilities..............................................................      1,827              --           1,827
Minority interest..............................................................      2,178              --           2,178
                                                                                   -------         -------        --------
    Total liabilities..........................................................     51,619          66,547         118,166
Shareholders' equity...........................................................     41,792         (61,026)(f)     (19,234) 
                                                                                   -------         -------        --------
         Total liabilities and shareholders' equity............................   $ 93,411       $   5,521        $ 98,932
                                                                                   =======         =======        ========
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>    <C>     <C>                                                                                              <C>
(a)    Adjustments to cash include:
       (i)     Adjustment to record the issuance of the Notes...............................................    $ 90,000
       (ii)    Adjustment to record the cash distributed to the parent company in connection with the
               Recapitalization ............................................................................     (61,026)
       (iii)   Adjustment to record the payment of "Due to parent" using proceeds from the issuance
               of the Notes.................................................................................     (11,142)
       (iv)    Adjustment to record the retirement of debt using proceeds from the issuance of the Notes....     (12,311)
       (v)     Transaction fees and expenses, including underwriter discounts...............................      (5,000)
                                                                                                                --------
                                                                                                                $    521
                                                                                                                ========
(b)    Adjustment to record debt issuance costs related to the Notes.
(c)    Adjustment to record the retirement of the current portion of long-term debt using proceeds from the issuance of
       the Notes.
(d)    Adjustment to record the repayment of indebtedness owed to IKS Holdings in connection with the Recapitalization.
(e)    Adjustments to long-term debt to record the issuance of the Notes.
(f)    Adjustment to record the cash distributed to IKS Holdings in connection with the Recapitalization.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   25
 
            UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         HISTORICAL      PRO FORMA      PRO FORMA
                                                            IKS         ADJUSTMENTS        IKS
                                                         ----------     -----------     ---------
                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>             <C>
Net sales..............................................   $ 107,030       $--           $ 107,030
Cost of sales..........................................      76,057          (197)(a)      75,860
                                                           --------       -------        --------
  Gross profit.........................................      30,973           197          31,170
Selling, general and administrative expenses...........      20,363          (541)(b)      19,822
Other..................................................         589            --             589
                                                           --------       -------        --------
Operating income.......................................      10,021           738          10,759
Other expenses (income):
  Interest income......................................        (411)           23(c)         (388)
  Interest expense.....................................       1,827         9,119(d)       10,946
  Sundry, net..........................................        (249)           46(e)         (203)
  Minority interest....................................      --            --              --
                                                           --------       -------        --------
                                                              1,167         9,188          10,355
Income before income taxes.............................       8,854        (8,450)            404
Provision (benefit) for income taxes...................       3,606        (3,127)(f)         479
                                                           --------       -------        --------
Net income (loss)......................................   $   5,248       $(5,323)      $     (75)
                                                           ========       =======        ========
</TABLE>
 
    See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of
                                  Operations.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   26
 
            UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
                   NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       HISTORICAL       PRO FORMA          PRO FORMA
                                                          IKS          ADJUSTMENTS            IKS
                                                       ----------     --------------       ---------
                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>                  <C>
Net sales............................................   $  79,238        $     --           $79,238
Cost of sales........................................      56,047            (141)(a)        55,906
                                                          -------         -------           -------
  Gross profit.......................................      23,191             141            23,332
Selling, general and administrative expenses.........      16,411            (412)(b)        15,999
Other................................................          72              --                72
                                                          -------         -------           -------
Operating income.....................................       6,708             553             7,261
Other expense (income):
  Interest income....................................        (219)             17(c)           (202)
  Interest expense...................................       1,378           6,950(d)          8,328
  Sundry, net........................................        (543)             34(e)           (509)
  Minority interest..................................          --              --                --
                                                          -------         -------           -------
                                                              616           7,001             7,617
Income before income taxes...........................       6,092          (6,448)             (356)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes.................       2,615          (2,386)(f)           229
                                                          -------         -------           -------
Net income (loss)....................................   $   3,477        $ (4,062)          $  (585)
                                                          =======         =======           =======
</TABLE>
 
                   NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       HISTORICAL       PRO FORMA          PRO FORMA
                                                          IKS          ADJUSTMENTS            IKS
                                                       ----------     --------------       ---------
                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>                  <C>
Net sales............................................   $  89,256        $     --           $89,256
Cost of sales........................................      62,748            (105)(a)        62,643
                                                          -------         -------           -------
  Gross profit.......................................      26,508             105            26,613
Selling, general and administrative expenses.........      17,607            (202)(b)        17,405
Other................................................          --              --                --
                                                          -------         -------           -------
Operating income.....................................       8,901             307             9,208
Other expense (income):
  Interest income....................................        (242)             17(c)           (225)
  Interest expense...................................       1,907           6,702(d)          8,609
  Sundry, net........................................         225              23(e)            248
  Minority interest..................................        (191)             --              (191)
                                                          -------         -------           -------
                                                            1,699           6,742             8,441
Income before income taxes...........................       7,202          (6,435)              767
Provision (benefit) for income taxes.................       2,350          (2,008) (f)          342
                                                          -------         -------           -------
Net income (loss)....................................   $   4,852        $ (4,427)          $   425
                                                          =======         =======           =======
</TABLE>
 
See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of
Operations.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   27
 
       NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NINE MONTH PERIOD
                                                                           ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                       YEAR ENDED         ----------------------
                                                    DECEMBER 31, 1995      1995           1996
                                                    -----------------     ------         -------
                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>                   <C>            <C>
(a) Adjustments to cost of sales include:
      (i) Elimination of executive salaries and
          expenses not replaced...................       $    36          $   27         $    27
      (ii) Elimination of interest and
           amortization in connection with the
           Realty Acquisition.....................           161             114              78
                                                            ----            ----            ----
                                                         $   197          $  141         $   105
                                                            ====            ====            ====
(b) Adjustments to selling, general, and
    administrative expenses include:
      (i) Elimination of executive salaries and
          expenses not replaced...................       $   501          $  384         $   183
      (ii) Elimination of amortization in
           connection with the Realty
           Acquisition............................            40              28              19
                                                            ----            ----            ----
                                                         $   541          $  412         $   202
                                                            ====            ====            ====
</TABLE>
 
(c) Adjustment to reduce interest income for the year on cash used as
    consideration for the Realty Acquisition and to reflect interest income on
    cash balances.
 
(d) Adjustments to interest expense include:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NINE MONTH PERIOD
                                                                           ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                       YEAR ENDED         ----------------------
                                                    DECEMBER 31, 1995      1995           1996
                                                    -----------------     ------         -------
                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>                   <C>            <C>
      (i) Interest expense on the Notes at
          11 3/8%.................................       $10,238          $7,678         $ 7,678
      (ii) Estimated amortization of debt issuance
           costs of the Notes.....................           500             375             375
     (iii) Estimated reduction of interest expense
           on debt retired with proceeds from
           issuance of the Notes..................        (1,168)           (787)         (1,166)
     (iv) Elimination of interest in connection
          with the Realty Acquisition.............          (451)           (316)           (185)
                                                    -----------------     ------         -------
                                                         $ 9,119          $6,950         $ 6,702
                                                    ===============       ======         ========
</TABLE>
 
(e) Adjustment to eliminate amortization in connection with the Realty
    Acquisition.
 
(f)  Adjustment to decrease the provision for income taxes as a result of the
     above adjustments (a) through (e) at an effective U.S. income tax rate of
     37.0% for the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the nine month period
     ended September 30, 1995, and 31.2% for the nine month period ended
     September 30, 1996.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   28
 
                SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The following table contains selected historical financial data of the
Company as of and for each of the five years in the period ended December 31,
1995 and as of and for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1995 and 1996
and selected pro forma financial data of the Company for the year ended December
31, 1995 and for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1995 and 1996. The
selected historical financial data as of and for each of the two years in the
period ended December 31, 1992 were derived from the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company. The selected historical financial data as
of and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995 were
derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company
included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The selected historical financial data as
of September 30, 1995 and 1996 and for the nine month periods ended September
30, 1995 and 1996 were derived from the unaudited consolidated financial
statements of the Company included elsewhere in this Prospectus. In the opinion
of management, such unaudited consolidated financial statements include all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company for such periods. The selected pro forma
financial data for the year ended December 31, 1995, the nine month period ended
September 30, 1995 and the nine month period ended September 30, 1996 were
derived from the "Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information"
included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The information contained in this table
should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations", "Unaudited Pro Forma
Consolidated Financial Information" and the Company's historical consolidated
financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this
Prospectus.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   29
 
                SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      
                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                     NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,  
                        -----------------------------------------------------------   -------------------------------------
                                                                             PRO                            PRO       PRO
                                                                            FORMA                          FORMA     FORMA
                         1991      1992      1993      1994       1995       1995      1995      1996      1995      1996
                        -------   -------   -------   -------   --------   --------   -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                     <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Net sales.............. $78,318   $81,973   $84,964   $92,447   $107,030   $107,030   $79,238   $89,256   $79,238   $89,256
Cost of sales..........  55,955    57,554    60,391    62,273     76,057     75,860    56,047    62,748    55,906    62,643
                        -------   -------   -------   -------   --------   --------   -------   -------   -------   -------
  Gross profit.........  22,363    24,419    24,573    30,174     30,973     31,170    23,191    26,508    23,332    26,613
Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses.............  16,409    17,835    17,005    18,490     20,363     19,822    16,411    17,607    15,999    17,405
Other..................      --        --       342       571        589        589        72        --        72        --
                        -------   -------   -------   -------   --------   --------   -------   -------   -------   -------
  Operating income.....   5,954     6,584     7,226    11,113     10,021     10,759     6,708     8,901     7,261     9,208
Interest expense,
  net..................   1,790     1,852     1,904     1,727      1,416     10,558     1,159     1,665     8,126     8,384
Other expense (income),
  net..................     (89)   (1,887)      177       541       (249)      (203)     (543)       34      (509)       57
                        -------   -------   -------   -------   --------   --------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Income (loss) before
  income taxes.........   4,253     6,619     5,145     8,845      8,854        404     6,092     7,202      (356)      767
Provision for income
  taxes................   1,459     2,445     1,951     3,663      3,606        479     2,615     2,350       229       342
                        -------   -------   -------   -------   --------   --------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Net income (loss)...... $ 2,794   $ 4,174   $ 3,194   $ 5,182   $  5,248   $    (75)  $ 3,477   $ 4,852   $  (585)  $   425
                        =======   =======   =======   =======   ========   ========   =======   =======   =======   =======
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(1).............. $ 9,523   $10,030   $ 9,735   $13,920   $ 14,222   $ 14,759   $ 9,872   $12,573   $10,283   $12,783
Depreciation and
  amortization(2)......   3,346     3,297     2,813     3,359      3,570      3,369     2,445     3,007     2,303     2,910
Capital
  expenditures(3)......   3,143     2,943     9,112     3,383      4,663      4,663     2,781     7,312     2,781     7,312
Gross margin...........   28.6%     29.8%     28.9%     32.6%      28.9%      29.1%     29.3%     29.7%     29.4%     29.8%
EBITDA margin..........   12.2%     12.2%     11.5%     15.1%      13.3%      13.8%     12.5%     14.1%     13.0%     14.3%
Ratio of EBITDA
  to interest
  expense(4)...........     4.9x      5.0x      4.5x      7.3x       7.8x       1.3x      7.2x      6.6x      1.2x      1.5x
Ratio of net debt to
  EBITDA (5)...........     1.5x      1.3x      1.9x      0.8x       0.9x       6.1x      1.0x      0.7x      6.6x      5.2x
Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges(6).....     3.1x      4.1x      3.3x      5.5x       5.6x       1.1x      5.2x      4.5x      1.0x      1.1x
EBITDA including
  LIFO charges and
  credits.............. $ 9,300   $ 9,881   $10,039   $14,472   $ 13,591   $ 14,128   $ 9,153   $11,908   $ 9,564   $12,118
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      
                                                                    AT DECEMBER 31,                    AT SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                    -----------------------------------------------   -----------------
                                                     1991      1992      1993      1994      1995      1995      1996
                                                    -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital...................................  $ 8,976   $19,215   $16,268   $30,687   $32,564   $32,749   $19,827
Total assets......................................   58,311    64,583    71,194    72,641    85,697    83,002    93,411
Debt(7)...........................................   16,881    16,025    19,474    17,055    23,716    22,328    17,803
Shareholders' equity..............................   21,873    25,103    28,062    34,734    38,029    37,517    41,792
</TABLE>
    
 
                                                   (footnotes on following page)
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   30
 
- ---------------
 
   
(1) EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization
    adjusted to exclude LIFO charges (credits) of $223, $149, ($304), ($552),
    and $631 for the years ended December 31, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995,
    respectively, and $719 and $665 for the nine month periods ended September
    30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. EBITDA has not been adjusted to exclude
    other unusual and one time expenses incurred by the Company, as follows:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         
                                                                YEAR ENDED                NINE MONTH PERIOD
                                                               DECEMBER 31,              ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                        --------------------------       -------------------
                                                        1993       1994       1995         1995         1996
                                                        ----       ----       ----       --------       ----
        <S>                                             <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
        Asia start-up costs.........................    $ --       $225       $419         $ 72         $ --
        European facility relocation costs..........     342        246         --           --           --
        European sales agency termination costs.....      --        100         --           --           --
        Indonesia management reorganization.........      --         --        110           --           --
        Environmental costs.........................      --         --         60           --           --
                                                        ----       ----       ----         ----         ----
                                                        $342       $571       $589         $ 72         $ --
                                                        ====       ====       ====         ====         ====
</TABLE>
 
   
    EBITDA, adjusted to exclude these expenses, would have been $10,077, $14,491
    and $14,811 for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995,
    respectively, and $9,944 and $12,573 for the nine month periods ended
    September 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. EBITDA is a widely accepted
    financial indicator of a company's ability to service debt. However, EBITDA
    should not be construed as an alternative to operating income, net income or
    cash flows from operating activities (as determined in accordance with
    generally accepted accounting principles) and should not be construed as an
    indication of the Company's operating performance or as a measure of
    liquidity. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
    and Results of Operations." The EBITDA measure presented by the Company may
    not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
    
 
(2) Depreciation and amortization as presented will not agree to the
    consolidated statement of cash flows because of amortization reported below
    the operating income line. Pro forma depreciation and amortization consists
    of depreciation and amortization as described in the preceding sentence as
    adjusted to reflect the elimination of the related party capital leases in
    connection with the Realty Acquisition.
 
(3) 1993 includes $4,336 of capital expenditures related to the relocation of
    the Company's German manufacturing facilities. The nine month period ended
    September 30, 1996 includes $1,205 of capital expenditures related to the
    consolidation of the Company's west coast operations and the expansion of
    the Cincinnati facility, $1,801 of capital expenditures related to the
    expansion of the China joint venture operations, and $5,581 related to the
    Realty Acquisition.
 
(4) For purposes of the computation of the pro forma 1995 and 1996 information,
    amortization of debt issuance costs of $500 for the year ended December 31,
    1995 and $375 for the nine months ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 have
    been excluded from interest expense. In addition, for the nine month period
    ended September 30, 1996, the effects of the China joint ventures have been
    excluded from the computation.
 
(5) For purposes of the computation, net debt is equal to notes payable plus
    total long-term debt (including current portion but excluding China joint
    venture indebtedness of $3,801 as of September 30, 1996 which is
    non-recourse to the Company and excluding capital lease obligations) less
    cash and cash equivalents, and EBITDA for all interim periods presented has
    been annualized.
 
(6) For purposes of the computation, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges has
    been calculated by dividing (i) earnings before income taxes and fixed
    charges by (ii) fixed charges. Fixed charges are equal to interest expense
    plus one-third of rental expense (the portion deemed representative of the
    interest factor).
 
(7) Debt includes notes payable and current portion of long-term debt and
    excludes capital lease obligations. For purposes of this presentation, China
    joint venture indebtedness of $3,801 which is non-recourse to the Company is
    excluded at September 30, 1996.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   31
 
               MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                      CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes and the other financial
information included in this Prospectus.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company is a global leader in the manufacturing, servicing and
marketing of industrial and commercial machine knives and saws. Together with
its predecessor, the Company has been manufacturing knives and saws for nearly
100 years, beginning in Europe and expanding its presence to the United States
in the 1960s. The Company operates on an international basis with facilities in
North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and products sold in over 75
countries. The Company offers a broad range of products, used for various
applications in numerous markets.
 
     The Company's sales are principally in North America, which represented 73%
of its 1995 net sales. The Company's North American operations have been
profitable since its existence. Factors that have contributed to the North
American profitability include its significant sales in all four market sectors
supported by strong resharpening service center activities, regular introduction
of new products, continued upgrading of cutting tool technology, an ability to
control production costs, diversified sales network and a broad product
offering.
 
     The Company's European operations accounted for 26% of 1995 net sales.
During the first nine months of 1996, the Company's European operations
generated operating income of $949,000, compared to an operating loss of
$642,000 during the same period of 1995. The significant improvement was due to
the Company beginning to benefit from the restructuring of its European
operations to reduce operating costs and redirect its sales efforts in order to
improve its competitive position. The restructuring occurred between 1993 and
1995 and included the hiring of a new European Managing Director, relocating the
Company's two German manufacturing facilities to improve operating efficiencies,
coordinating raw material purchases with North America, restructuring its
salesforce to focus on product sectors and expanding its finished goods supplier
network. The restructuring of the European operations resulted in expenses of
$342,000 and $346,000 in 1993 and 1994, respectively. An increase in raw
material prices in 1995 adversely affected European gross margin for that year.
 
     The remaining 1% of the Company's 1995 net sales are spread throughout
other foreign markets worldwide. Historically, the Company had focused its sales
efforts in North America and Europe, only recently establishing itself in other
areas of the world and has increased sales in these other markets in the first
nine months of 1996 to 6.8% of net sales. During 1994 and 1995, the Company
entered into joint ventures to establish itself in emerging markets. These
ventures, including the China joint ventures, incurred start-up expenses of
$225,000 and $529,000 in 1994 and 1995, respectively, and the Company believes
that no significant start-up expenses remain for these ventures. Its 51% owned
China joint ventures began operating in December of 1995 and contributed $4.4
million to the Company's net sales for the first nine months of 1996.
 
     The Company's operating results are subject to fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates as well as the currency translation of its foreign
operations into U.S. dollars. The Company manufactures products in the U.S.,
Germany, Canada and China and exports products to more than 75 countries. The
Company's foreign sales, the majority of which occur in European countries, are
subject to exchange rate volatility. In addition, the Company consolidates
German, Canadian and China operations and changes in exchange rates relative to
the U.S. dollar have impacted financial results. As a result, a decline in the
value of the dollar relative to these other currencies can have a favorable
effect on the profitability of the Company and an increase in the value of the
dollar relative to these other currencies can have a negative effect on the
profitability of the Company. The Company has not historically hedged its
foreign currency risk.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   32
 
     In 1995, the entire knife industry experienced a highly unusual and
unexpected increase in raw material costs, which contributed to the Company's
gross margin decline from 1994 levels. This raw material price increase was due
to a reduction in tool steel production as a major German steel mill closed
operations and a Latin American and European supplier consolidated.
Additionally, as IKS sells primarily to end-users which require prompt and
timely delivery, the Company was forced to purchase expensive substitutes. Due
to the sudden nature of the price increase, the Company was not able to pass
along this increase to its customers on a timely basis. The Company is taking
measures to prevent such a reoccurrence including negotiating a 90-day fixed
price term into most of its sales contracts as opposed to the previous one-year
term, increasing prices on a more regular basis and expanding the number of its
steel suppliers.
 
   
     Prior to the consummation of the Transactions, the Company was a
family-owned business and incurred Private Company Expenses. These Private
Company Expenses included executive overlaps and premium salaries and expenses.
Private Company Expenses totaled $243,000, $447,000, $537,000, $411,000 and
$210,000 during the three years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and the
nine month periods ended September 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Private
Company Expenses have been eliminated in connection with the consummation of the
Transactions.
    
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following table sets forth the items in the Company's consolidated
statements of income as percentages of its net sales for the periods indicated:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             NINE MONTHS
                                                                           ENDED SEPTEMBER
                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,               30,
                                         ----------------------------     -----------------
                                          1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                         ------     ------     ------     ------     ------
    <S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
    Net sales..........................  100.0%     100.0%     100.0%     100.0%     100.0% 
    Cost of sales......................  (71.1)%    (67.4)%    (71.1)%     70.7%      70.3% 
                                         -----      ---- -     ---- -     ---- -     ---- -
              Gross profit.............   28.9%      32.6%      28.9%      29.3%      29.7% 
    Selling, general and administrative
      expenses.........................  (20.0)%    (20.0)%    (19.0)%    (20.8)%     19.7% 
    Other..............................   (0.4)%     (0.6)%     (0.6)%     --         --
                                         -----      ---- -     ---- -     ---- -     ---- -
              Operating income.........    8.5%      12.0%       9.4%       8.5%      10.0% 
    Interest expense, net..............    2.2%       1.9%       1.3%       1.5%       1.9% 
    Other expense (income), net........    0.2%       0.6%      (0.2)%     (0.7)%     --
                                         -----      ---- -     ---- -     ---- -     ---- -
              Income before income
                taxes..................    6.1%       9.6%       8.3%       7.7%       8.1% 
    Provision for income taxes.........   (2.3)%     (4.0)%     (3.4)%     (3.3)%     (2.7)%
                                         -----      ---- -     ---- -     ---- -     ---- -
              Net income...............    3.8%       5.6%       4.9%       4.4%       5.4% 
                                         =====      =====      =====      =====      =====
</TABLE>
    
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,1996 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1995
 
     Net Sales:  Net sales increased 12.6% to $89.3 million for the first nine
months of 1996 from $79.2 million for the same period in 1995, as the Company
experienced sales improvements in all three of its major geographical marketing
areas. Net sales for North America grew 6.7% to $62.4 million during the first
nine month period of 1996 from $58.5 million in the comparable 1995 period. The
growth in North America is due to the addition of new products, the increase in
product sales by its service centers and the acquisition of a service center in
July, 1995. Net sales for Europe grew 5.2% to $20.8 million from $19.7 million
primarily due to improvements in the German economy and the implementation of
many of the Company's North American programs in Europe. Net sales in the
Company's other foreign markets increased to $6.1 million from $1.0 million as
the majority of these operations were not in operation during the first nine
months of 1995. Contributing significantly were
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   33
 
the Company's new China joint ventures, which had net sales of $4.3 million for
the nine month period ended September 30, 1996.
 
     Gross Profit:  Gross profit increased 14.3% to $26.5 million for the first
nine months of 1996, up from $23.2 million for the same period of 1995. Gross
margin increased slightly to 29.7% in the first nine months of 1996 compared to
29.3% for the comparable 1995 period. Gross profit in North America increased to
$19.5 million from $18.5 million, although gross margin declined to 31.3% from
31.7%. The gross margin decline was a result of the increase in raw material
pricing in the second half of 1995 which continued to affect the Company in the
first nine months of 1996. A substantial portion of the raw material price
increase has since been passed on to the Company's customers. In addition, gross
margin was affected by the incurrence of costs for new products to be introduced
in the second half of 1996. Gross profit in Europe increased 25.7% to $5.7
million, up from $4.5 million, and gross margin increased to 27.2% up from
22.8%. The improvement in gross margin was due to new sourcing arrangements at
attractive margins.
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:  Selling, general and
administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $17.6 million for the first nine months of
1996 as compared to $16.5 million in the comparable 1995 period and decreased to
19.7% of sales from 20.8% of sales in the comparable 1995 period, primarily as a
result of partially consolidating certain administrative functions and an
overall increase in sales without adding additional sales expense.
 
     Operating Income:  Operating income increased 32.7% to $8.9 million in the
first nine months of 1996 from $6.7 million for the same period of 1995.
Operating income as a percentage of net sales increased to 10.0% during the
first half of 1996 up from 8.5% for the comparable 1995 period. Operating income
in North America increased 6.7% to $8.1 million from $7.6 million. This was a
result of the increase in net sales being offset by the increase in raw material
costs, which have since been substantially passed on to the Company's customers,
and the cost of three new product lines to be introduced in the second half of
1996. Operating income in Europe increased to $870,000 from a loss of $642,000
due to the Company beginning to benefit from the restructuring of its European
operations.
 
     Interest Expense, net:  Net interest expense increased to $1.7 million for
the first nine months of 1996 from $1.2 million for the same period of 1995 due
to an increase in borrowings primarily related to the Company's investment in
the China joint ventures as well as the borrowings of the China joint ventures
which is non-recourse to the Company. A slight rise in interest rates also
contributed to the increased interest expense.
 
     Income Taxes:  Although pre-tax income was up in the first nine months of
1996, the provision for income taxes decreased to $2.4 million down from $2.6
million for the same period of 1995. The Company's effective tax rate decreased
to 32.6% for the first nine months of 1996 from 42.9% for the 1995 period. The
Company's 1996 effective tax rate was favorably affected by increased profits in
the Company's European operations for which no tax provision was recorded
because of the availability of a net operating loss carry forward.
 
     Net Income:  Net income increased to $4.9 million for the first nine months
of 1996 from $3.5 million for the same period of 1995, as a result of the
factors discussed above.
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
 
     Net Sales:  Net sales increased 15.8% to $107.0 million in 1995 from $92.4
million in 1994. The increase is attributable to volume increases from all
geographical markets served by the Company. In North America, net sales grew
8.2% to $78.5 million from $72.5 million in 1994, primarily a result of: (i)
continued effects of a new North American sales strategy, implemented in 1994,
organized by geographic teams, (ii) increased prices, (iii) introduction of new
products, including wide band saws, (iv) and an increase in the Company's wood
cutting product lines, driven by service center acquisitions in 1994 and 1995.
Net sales in Europe increased 36.6% to $27.2 million in 1995 from
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   34
 
$19.9 million in 1994 as volume increased and US$/DM exchange rates improved,
slightly offset by price discounting.
 
     Gross Profit:  Gross profit increased to $31.0 million in 1995 from $30.2
million in 1994, although gross margin declined to 28.9% in 1995 compared to
32.6% in 1994. Gross margin in North America was 31.6% in 1995, down from 32.9%
in 1994 with the decline attributable to the unexpected loss of a finished goods
supplier and a significant increase in the Company's overall raw material costs.
Gross margin was down significantly in Europe to 21.8% in 1995 from 31.7% in
1994. This decline was due to price discounting of certain product lines to
increase market share in Europe, currency differentials negatively affecting
exports from Germany, an increase in labor rates affecting a portion of the
Company's German operations and the increased raw material costs discussed
above.
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:  SG&A expense as a percentage
of net sales decreased to 19.0% in 1995 down from 20.0% in 1994, largely as a
result of the Company's strategy of controlling SG&A expenses in a period of
sales growth. SG&A expense increased to $20.4 million in 1995 from $18.5 million
in 1994 primarily as a result of the sales increase.
 
     Other Expense:  The Company incurred an increase of $304,000 in start-up
costs relating to its Asian operations, primarily relating to the joint ventures
in China and the opening of a sales office in Singapore. Offsetting this
increase was a $346,000 decrease in expenses relating to the restructuring of
the Company's European operations, including the moving of facilities within
Germany and the restructuring of its sales and distribution network, which was
substantially completed by the end of 1994.
 
     Operating Income:  Operating income decreased 9.8% to $10.0 million in 1995
from $11.1 million in 1994. Operating income decreased to 9.4% of net sales in
1995 from 12.0% of net sales in 1994 largely due to a drop in the gross margin
as described above. Excluding one-time start-up costs of the Company's Asian
operations and the 1994 restructuring costs of its German operations, the
Company's operating income would have been $10.6 million in 1995 and $11.7
million in 1994 and operating margins would have been 9.9% in 1995 and 12.6% in
1994.
 
     Interest Expense, net:  Net interest expense decreased to $1.4 million in
1995 from $1.7 million in 1994 primarily due to higher amounts of interest
bearing funds coupled with higher interest rates on those funds.
 
     Income Taxes:  The provision for income taxes was stable at $3.6 million in
1995 and $3.7 million in 1994. The Company's effective tax rate remained
relatively stable at 40.7% of income in 1995 as compared to 41.4% of income in
1994.
 
     Net Income:  Net income remained stable at $5.2 million in 1995, as a
result of the factors discussed above.
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993
 
     Net Sales:  Net sales increased 8.8% to $92.4 million in 1994 from $85.0
million in 1993. Net sales in North America grew 11.9% to $72.5 million in 1994
from $64.8 million in 1993, as a result of a service center acquisition,
continued success in gaining market share of wood, plastic and metal products in
North America and the addition of a large customer in Canada. Net sales in
Europe declined 1.3% to $19.9 million from $20.2 million due to a sluggish
European economy partially offset by price increases.
 
     Gross Profit:  Gross profit increased 22.8% to $30.2 million in 1994 from
$24.6 million in 1993. Gross margin was 32.6% in 1994 compared to 28.9% in 1993,
up substantially as a result of the implementation of cost cutting efforts
throughout the Company and the increased sales volume. In North America gross
margin improved to 32.9% in 1994, up from 31.8% in 1993 substantially due to the
Company implementing a program designed to reduce operating costs, which
included
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   35
 
improvements in manufacturing efficiency. Further improving North American gross
margin were price increases in Canada. In Europe, gross margin increased to
31.7% in 1994 from 19.5% in 1993 due to increasing prices and improved product
mix. In addition, 1993 European gross profit was negatively affected by
significant productivity losses during the relocation of a major facility in
connection with the Company's European restructuring.
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:  SG&A expenses increased to
$18.5 million in 1994 from $17.0 million in 1993, remaining stable at 20.0% of
net sales. The increase in SG&A is primarily a result of a significant increase
in Private Company Expenses, somewhat offset by the overall sales volume
increase. In North America, SG&A expenses decreased to 18.6% of net sales in
1994 from 19.6% of net sales in 1993, as the Company controlled expenses as
sales grew and consolidated administrative functions of the Canadian operations
which outweighed the increase in Private Company Expenses in North America. In
Europe, SG&A expenses increased to 26.3% of net sales in 1994 from 21.2% of net
sales in 1993 primarily due to an increase in Private Company Expenses.
Excluding Private Company Expenses in 1994, the Company's SG&A expenses were
$18.0 million or 19.5% of net sales in 1994, and remained relatively stable at
19.7% of net sales in 1993.
 
     Other Expense:  The Company incurred charges relating to the restructuring
of its European operations in both 1994 and 1993 of $346,000 and $342,000,
respectively. The Company also incurred start-up expenses of approximately
$225,000 in 1994, primarily related to the China joint ventures and expansion in
Asia.
 
     Operating Income:  Operating income increased 53.8% to $11.1 million in
1994 from $7.2 million in 1993, and as a percentage of net sales, operating
income increased to 12.0% in 1994 up from 8.5% in 1993. The improvement in
operating income was primarily due to the higher sales volume and gross margin
improvement in North America more than offsetting the higher Private Company
Expenses, as discussed above. Excluding Private Company Expenses in 1994, the
restructuring of its European operations in 1994 and 1993 and the start-up
expenses in Asia in 1994, the Company's operating income would have been $12.1
million or 13.1% of net sales in 1994, up from $7.8 million or 9.2% of net sales
in 1993.
 
     Interest Expense, net:  Net interest expense decreased to $1.7 million in
1994 from $1.9 million in 1993 primarily due to reduced borrowings.
 
     Income Taxes:  The provision for income taxes was $3.7 million in 1994
compared to $2.0 million in 1993. Income tax expense, as a percentage of income
before taxes, was 41.4% in 1994 and 37.9% in 1993.
 
     Net Income:  Net income increased 62.2% to $5.2 million in 1994 as compared
to $3.2 million in 1993, as a result of the factors discussed above.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     The Company's principal capital requirements are to fund working capital
needs, to meet required debt payments, and to complete planned maintenance and
expansion expenditures. The Company anticipates that its operating cash flow,
together with available borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility and the New
German Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet its working capital
requirements, capital expenditure requirements and interest service requirements
on its debt obligations. As of September 30, 1996, on a pro forma basis after
giving effect to the Transactions, the Company's total debt and stockholders'
deficit would have been $95.5 million (excluding China joint venture
indebtedness of approximately $3.8 million, which is non-recourse to the
Company) and $19.2 million, respectively. The Company would also have had
borrowing availability of $25.0 million for working capital and capital
expenditure requirements under the Senior Credit Facility and the New German
Credit Facility.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   36
 
     Net cash flow from operations aggregated $4.2 million for the nine month
period ended September 30, 1996 as compared to $436,600 for the same period in
the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to a $1.4 million
increase in net income and a $2.4 million reduction in working capital needs.
 
     Net cash flow from operating activities totaled $3.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 1995 as compared to $6.9 million for the prior year. The
decrease in operating cash flow in 1995 compared to 1994 was primarily
attributable to a $4.6 million increase in working capital needs.
 
     The Company currently expects that its annual capital expenditures will be
approximately $4.0 million to $5.0 million for the foreseeable future, including
maintenance capital expenditures of approximately $2.5 million each year.
However, the Company's capital expenditures will be affected by, and may be
greater than currently anticipated depending upon, the size and nature of new
business opportunities.
 
     Cash used in investing activities for the nine month period ended September
30, 1996 was $7.2 million as compared to $367,000 for the same period in the
prior year. Major investment projects in the first nine months of 1996 included
$5.6 million for the Realty Acquisition, $974,000 for the construction of a
facility in Oregon and $231,000 for the expansion of the Kentucky facility to
accommodate a heat treatment furnace. Cash used in investing activities in the
year ended December 31, 1995 was $3.8 million, compared with $2.3 million in
1994 and $13.3 million in 1993. Investing activities in 1995 included the
acquisition of two service centers. In 1995, cash used in investing activities
was offset by a $2.3 million decrease in notes and other receivables. Major
investment projects for 1993 and 1994 included $4.3 million and $283,000
relating to the acquisition and relocation of facilities in Germany as part of
the Company's European restructuring.
 
     Cash used by financing activities for the nine month period ended September
30, 1996 was $690,000 as compared to $2.3 million cash provided for the same
period in the prior year. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities
primarily represents an increase of $7.9 million in amounts due to parent and
affiliates, which amounts were repaid in connection with the Transactions, and a
decrease in notes payable and long term debt of $10.9 million. The Company paid
dividends of $1.2 million in each of the nine month periods ended September 30,
1995 and 1996.
 
     Cash provided by financing activities for the years ended December 31,
1995, 1994, and 1993 totalled $4.5 million, $764,000 and $4.6 million,
respectively, and consisted primarily of long-term borrowings and amounts due to
parent and affiliates, offset by dividends paid in 1995 of $2.4 million. The
Company's ability to pay dividends is restricted under the terms of the
Indenture following consummation of the Transactions.
 
     Concurrent with the Transactions the Company entered into the $20.0 million
Senior Credit Facility and its German subsidiary entered into the $5.0 million
New German Credit Facility. The Senior Credit Facility bears interest at LIBOR
plus 1.25% (currently approximately 6.7%) and the New German Credit Facility
bears interest at alternative rates, at the option of the Company's German
subsidiary, including Euro-LIBOR plus 0.5% (currently approximately 3.6%). The
Company did not draw upon these facilities in connection with the Transactions.
The Notes impose, and other debt instruments of the Company may impose, various
restrictions and covenants on the Company which could potentially limit the
Company's ability to respond to market conditions, to provide for unanticipated
capital investments or to take advantage of business opportunities.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   37
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER; PERIOD FOR TENDERING EXISTING NOTES
 
     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus
and in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the
Exchange Offer), the Company will accept for exchange Existing Notes which are
properly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date and not withdrawn as
permitted below. As used herein, the term "Expiration Date" means 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on                , 1997; provided, however, that if the Company
has extended the period of time for which the Exchange Offer is open, the term
"Expiration Date" means the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is
extended.
 
     As of the date of this Prospectus, $90.0 million aggregate principal amount
of the Existing Notes are outstanding. This Prospectus, together with the Letter
of Transmittal, is first being sent on or about                , 1997 to all
holders of Existing Notes known to the Company. The Company's obligation to
accept Existing Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer is subject to
certain conditions as set forth under "-- Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer" below.
 
     The Company expressly reserves the right, at any time or from time to time,
to extend the period of time during which the Exchange Offer is open, and
thereby delay acceptance for any exchange of any Existing Notes, by giving
notice of such extension to the holders thereof. During any such extension, all
Existing Notes previously tendered will remain subject to the Exchange Offer and
may be accepted for exchange by the Company. Any Existing Notes not accepted for
exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the tendering holder
thereof as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the
Exchange Offer.
 
   
     The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the Exchange
Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Existing Notes not theretofore
accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of the
Exchange Offer specified below under "-- Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer." The Company will give notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance
or termination to the holders of the Existing Notes as promptly as practicable,
such notice in the case of any extension to be issued no later than 9:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled
Expiration Date. If the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined by the
Company to constitute a material change, the Company will promptly disclose such
amendment by means of a prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the
registered holders, and the Company will extend the Exchange Offer for a period
of five to ten business days, depending upon the significance of the amendment
and the manner of notice to the registered holders, if the Exchange Offer would
otherwise expire during such five to ten business day period.
    
 
     Holders of Existing Notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters' rights
under the Delaware General Corporation Law in connection with the Exchange
Offer.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING EXISTING NOTES
 
     The tender to the Company of Existing Notes by a holder thereof as set
forth below and the acceptance thereof by the Company will constitute a binding
agreement between the tendering holder and the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the accompanying
Letter of Transmittal. Except as set forth below, a holder who wishes to tender
Existing Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer must transmit a
properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including all other
documents required by such Letter of Transmittal, to United States Trust Company
of New York at one of the addresses set forth below under "Exchange Agent" on or
prior to the Expiration Date. In addition, either (i) certificates for such
Existing Notes must be received by the Exchange Agent along with the Letter of
Transmittal, or (ii) a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer (a
"Book-Entry Confirmation") of such Existing Notes, if such procedure is
available, into the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository Trust Company
(the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the procedure for book-entry
transfer described below, must be received by the Exchange Agent prior to the
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   38
 
Expiration Date, or the holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery
procedure described below. THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF EXISTING NOTES, LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE
HOLDER. IF SUCH DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REGISTERED MAIL,
PROPERLY INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, BE USED. IN ALL CASES,
SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE TIMELY DELIVERY. NO LETTERS OF
TRANSMITTAL OR EXISTING NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY.
 
     Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the
case may be, must be guaranteed unless the Existing Notes surrendered for
exchange pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder of the
Existing Notes who has not completed the box entitled "Special Issuance
Instruction" or "Special Delivery Instruction" on the Letter of Transmittal or
(ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution (as defined below). In the event
that signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the
case may be, are required to be guaranteed, such guarantees must be by a firm
which is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a commercial bank or
trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States
(collectively, "Eligible Institutions"). If Existing Notes are registered in the
name of a person other than a signer of the Letter of Transmittal, the Existing
Notes surrendered for exchange must be endorsed by, or be accompanied by a
written instrument or instruments of transfer or exchange, in satisfactory form
as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, duly executed by, the
registered holder with the signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution.
 
     All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt) and acceptance of Existing Notes tendered for exchange will be
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination shall be
final and binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all
tenders of any particular Existing Notes not properly tendered or to not accept
any particular Existing Notes which acceptance might, in the judgment of the
Company or its counsel, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute
right to waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of the Exchange Offer
as to any particular Existing Notes either before or after the Expiration Date
(including the right to waive the ineligibility of any holder who seeks to
tender Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer). The interpretation of the terms
and conditions of the Exchange Offer as to any particular Existing Notes either
before or after the Expiration Date (including the Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions thereto) by the Company shall be final and binding on all parties.
Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of
Existing Notes for exchange must be cured within such reasonable period of time
as the Company shall determine. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any
other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any defect or
irregularity with respect to any tender of Existing Notes for exchange, nor
shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
 
     If the Letter of Transmittal or any Existing Notes or powers of attorney
are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by
the Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to
so act must be submitted.
 
   
     By tendering, each holder of Existing Notes will represent to the Company
that, among other things, the New Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer
are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the holder and any
beneficial holder, that neither the holder nor any such beneficial holder has an
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
of such New Notes and that neither the holder nor any such other person is an
"affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company. If
the holder is not a broker-dealer, the holder must represent that it is not
engaged in nor does it intend to engage in a distribution of the New Notes.
    
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   39
 
ACCEPTANCE OF EXISTING NOTES FOR EXCHANGE; DELIVERY OF NEW NOTES
 
     For each Existing Note accepted for exchange, the holder of such Existing
Note will receive a New Note having a principal amount equal to that of the
surrendered Existing Note. For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall
be deemed to have accepted properly tendered Existing Notes for exchange when,
as and if the Company has given oral and written notice thereof to the Exchange
Agent.
 
     In all cases, issuance of New Notes for Existing Notes that are accepted
for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely
receipt by the Exchange Agent of certificates for such Existing Notes or a
timely Book-Entry Confirmation of such Existing Notes into the Exchange Agent's
account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, a properly completed and duly
executed Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents. If any tendered
Existing Notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in the terms and
conditions of the Exchange Offer or if Existing Notes are submitted for a
greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, such unaccepted or
non-exchanged Existing Notes will be returned without expense to the tendering
holder thereof (or, in the case of Existing Notes tendered by book-entry
transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described below, such
non-exchanged Existing Notes will be credited to an account maintained with such
Book-Entry Transfer Facility) as promptly as practicable after the expiration of
the Exchange Offer.
 
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
 
     Any financial institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility's systems may make book-entry delivery of Existing Notes by causing the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Existing Notes into the Exchange
Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with such
Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures for transfer. However, although
delivery of Existing Notes may be effected through book-entry transfer at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility, the Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof
with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents must, in
any case, be transmitted to and received by the Exchange Agent at one of the
addresses set forth below under "Exchange Agent" on or prior to the Expiration
Date or the guaranteed delivery procedures described below must be complied
with.
 
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
 
     If a registered holder of the Existing Notes desires to tender such
Existing Notes and the Existing Notes are not immediately available, or time
will not permit such holder's Existing Notes or other required documents to
reach the Exchange Agent before the Expiration Date, or the procedure for
book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, a tender may be
effected if (i) the tender is made through an Eligible Institution, (ii) prior
to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent received from such Eligible
Institution a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a
facsimile thereof) and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form
provided by the Company (by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission, mail or
hand delivery), setting forth the name and address of the holder of Existing
Notes and the amount of Existing Notes tendered, stating that the tender is
being made thereby and guaranteeing that within five New York Stock Exchange
("NYSE") trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery, the certificates for all physically tendered Existing Notes, in proper
form for transfer, or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, and any
other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal will be deposited by the
Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent and (iii) the certificates for all
physically tendered Existing Notes, in proper form for transfer, or a Book-Entry
Confirmation, as the case may be, and all other documents required by the Letter
of Transmittal are received by the Exchange Agent within five NYSE trading days
after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   40
 
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
 
     Tenders of Existing Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the
Expiration Date. For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of
withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set
forth below under "Exchange Agent." Any such notice of withdrawal must specify
the name of the person having tendered the Existing Notes to be withdrawn,
identify the Existing Notes to be withdrawn (including the principal amount of
such Existing Notes), and (where certificates for Existing Notes have been
transmitted) specify the name in which such Existing Notes are registered, if
different from that of the withdrawing holder. If certificates for Existing
Notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent then,
prior to the release of such certificates, the withdrawing holder must also
submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn and a
signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution unless such holder is an Eligible Institution. If Existing Notes
have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described
above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account
at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Existing
Notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. All questions
as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such
notices will be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final
and binding on all parties. Any Existing Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not
to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer.
Any Existing Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are not
exchanged for any reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to
such holder (or, in the case of Existing Notes tendered by book-entry transfer
into the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility pursuant
to the book-entry transfer procedures described above, such Existing Notes will
be credited to an account maintained with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility for
the Existing Notes) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender
or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Existing Notes may be
retendered by following one of the procedures described under "-- Procedures for
Tendering Existing Notes" above at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
 
CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, the Company
shall not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue New Notes in exchange
for, any Existing Notes and may terminate or amend the Exchange Offer if at any
time before the acceptance of such Existing Notes for exchange or the exchange
of New Notes for such Existing Notes, the Company determines that the Exchange
Offer violates applicable law, any applicable interpretation of the staff of the
Commission or any order of any governmental agency or court of competent
jurisdiction.
 
     The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and may be
asserted by the Company regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such
condition or may be waived by the Company in whole or in part at any time and
from time to time in its reasonable discretion. The failure by the Company at
any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of
such right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be
asserted at any time and from time to time.
 
     In addition, the Company will not accept for exchange any Existing Notes
tendered, and no New Notes will be issued in exchange for any such Existing
Notes, if at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with
respect to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a
part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). In any such event the Company is
required to use every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any stop
order at the earliest possible time.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   41
 
EXCHANGE AGENT
 
     United States Trust Company of New York has been appointed as the Exchange
Agent for the Exchange Offer. All executed Letters of Transmittal should be
directed to the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set forth below.
Questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this
Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal and requests for Notices of
Guaranteed Delivery should be directed to the Exchange Agent addressed as
follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                                <C>
           By Hand:             By Registered or Certified Mail:       By Overnight Courier:
 United States Trust Company     United States Trust Company of    United States Trust Company of
         of New York                        New York                          New York
         111 Broadway                     P.O. Box 844                      770 Broadway
         Lower Level                     Cooper Station               New York, New York 10003
    Corporate Trust Window             New York, New York              Attn: Corporate Trust
   New York, New York 10006                10276-0844
 
                                          By Facsimile:
                                 United States Trust Company of
                                            New York
                                         (212) 420-6152
                                      Attn: Corporate Trust
                                      Confirm by Telephone:
                                         (800) 548-6565
</TABLE>
    
 
Delivery other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery.
 
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
     The Company will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The principal solicitation is
being made by mail; however, additional solicitations may be made in person or
by telephone by officers and employees of the Company.
 
     The expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer will be
paid by the Company. Such expenses include fees and expenses of the Exchange
Agent and Trustee, accounting and legal fees and printing costs, among others.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
     The New Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the Existing
Notes, which is the principal amount as reflected in the Company's accounting
records on the date of the exchange. Accordingly, no gain or loss for accounting
purposes will be recognized. The debt issuance costs will be capitalized for
accounting purposes.
 
TRANSFER TAXES
 
     Holders who tender their Existing Notes for exchange will not be obligated
to pay any transfer taxes in connection therewith, except that holders who
instruct the Company to register New Notes in the name of, or request that
Existing Notes not tendered or not accepted in the Exchange Offer be returned
to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be responsible for
the payment of any applicable transfer tax thereon.
 
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE; RESALES OF NEW NOTES
 
     Holders of Existing Notes who do not exchange their Existing Notes for New
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject to the
restrictions on transfer of such Existing Notes
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   42
 
as set forth in the legend thereon as a consequence of the issuance of the
Existing Notes pursuant to the exemptions from, or in transactions not subject
to, the registration requirements of, the Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws. Existing Notes not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer
will continue to accrue interest at 11 3/8% per annum and will otherwise remain
outstanding in accordance with their terms. Holders of Existing Notes do not
have any appraisal or dissenters' rights under the Delaware General Corporation
Law in connection with the Exchange Offer. In general, the Existing Notes may
not be offered or sold unless registered under the Securities Act, except
pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Company does not
currently anticipate that it will register the Existing Notes under the
Securities Act. However, (i) if the Initial Purchasers so request with respect
to Existing Notes not eligible to be exchanged for New Notes in the Exchange
Offer and held by them following consummation of the Exchange Offer or (ii) if
any holder of Existing Notes is not eligible to participate in the Exchange
Offer or, in the case of any holder of Existing Notes that participates in the
Exchange Offer, does not receive freely tradable New Notes in exchange for
Existing Notes, the Company is obligated to file a registration statement on the
appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the Existing Notes held by
such persons.
 
   
     Based on certain interpretive letters issued by the staff of the Commission
to third parties in unrelated transactions, the Company is of the view that New
Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold or
otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than (i) any such holder which
is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act or (ii) any broker-dealer that purchases Notes from the Company
to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption) without
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course
of such holders' business and such holders have no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in the distribution of such New Notes. If any
holder has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of
the New Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such holder (i)
could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission
and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction. A
broker-dealer who holds Existing Notes that were acquired for its own account as
a result of market-making or other trading activities may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore,
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any resale of New Notes. Each such broker-dealer that receives
New Notes for its own account in exchange for Existing Notes, where such
Existing Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge in the Letter of
Transmittal that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Notes. See "Plan of Distribution." The Company has not requested the
staff of the Commission to consider the Exchange Offer in the context of a
no-action letter, and there can be no assurance that the staff would take
positions similar to those taken in the interpretive letters referred to above
if the Company were to make such a no-action request.
    
 
     In addition, to comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions,
if applicable, the New Notes may not be offered or sold unless they have been
registered or qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or an exemption from
registration or qualification is available and is complied with. The Company has
agreed, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and subject to certain
specified limitations therein, to register or qualify the New Notes for offer or
sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any holder
of the Notes reasonably requests in writing.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   43
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
     The Company is a global leader in the manufacturing, servicing and
marketing of industrial and commercial machine knives and saws, operating in an
estimated worldwide market of $1.0 billion. The Company's products, which are
consumed in the normal course of machine operation and need resharpening or
replacement many times a year, are mounted in industrial machines and are used
in virtually every facet of cutting, slitting, chipping and forming of
materials. The Company serves the following major market sectors: (i) Wood (42%
of 1995 net sales); (ii) Paper & Packaging (38%); (iii) Metal (14%); and (iv)
Plastic & Recycling (6%). The Company believes that it has a leading worldwide
market share in each of these market sectors and that there is no other company
that serves all four such sectors.
 
     The Company believes that it has the most extensive product offering in the
industry, selling over 10,000 knife and saw products to a wide range of
end-users, from large industrial and consumer product manufacturers to small
family-owned print shops. The breadth of the Company's product line is enhanced
by the Company's strategic relationships with over 50 finished goods suppliers,
offering IKS the flexibility to manufacture or source many of its products. IKS'
products are used for diverse applications in numerous markets, including the
use of circular slitter knives to cut copy paper, long veneer slicer knives to
slice thin veneer used in the manufacture of quality furniture and circular
metal slitter knives to cut wide coils of steel into narrow strips. Reflecting
the Company's broad product range and numerous applications, the Company sells
to over 5,000 customers with no customer accounting for more than 3% of the
Company's net sales.
 
     IKS is the only industrial knife and saw manufacturer with operations in
North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and products sold in more than 75
countries. The Company utilizes its salesforce, the largest direct salesforce in
the industry, to focus its efforts on aftermarket sales to end-users, which
accounted for 89% of the Company's 1995 net sales. The Company also sells to
end-users through Company-owned and independent resharpening service centers,
which resharpen both IKS and competitors' knives and saws and also act as
distributors of IKS products, as well as through distributors and agents. The
Company's remaining sales are to over 300 OEMs of industrial cutting equipment,
and the Company believes it is the leading supplier of knife and saw products to
OEMs.
 
     The Company's sales are principally to customers in North America and
Europe, representing 73% and 26% of 1995 net sales, respectively. The Company
believes that there are significant opportunities to expand its share of these
two major markets through the introduction of new products, increased
participation in existing markets and the extension of its existing marketing,
sales and distribution capabilities. In addition, the Company is planning to
strategically expand its existing resharpening service center base, which allows
IKS to capture both resharpening and additional replacement business. The
Company has also recently expanded its operations into the emerging markets of
Latin America and Asia (with sales increasing from 1% of fiscal 1995 net sales
to 6.8% of net sales for the nine month period ended September 30, 1996) and
plans to continue its international growth, entering new geographic markets
while broadening existing ones.
 
   
     Since 1991, the Company has expanded its domestic and international
operations through internal growth, the development of strategic alliances and
the acquisition of knife and saw manufacturers and service centers. In addition,
to maintain its position as a low cost producer, the Company takes advantage of
economies of scale in both manufacturing and purchasing and has improved
operating efficiencies. As a result of these actions, during the four year
period ended December 31, 1995 the Company achieved a net sales CAGR of 8.1%,
with net sales increasing from $78 million in 1991 to $107 million in 1995, and
a pro forma EBITDA (as defined herein) CAGR of 11.2%, with pro forma EBITDA
increasing from $9.7 million in 1991 to $14.8 million in 1995. The annual growth
rate of the Company's net sales during these four years was 4.7%, 3.7%, 8.8% and
15.8%, respectively. For the nine month period ended September 30, 1996, the
Company's net sales
    
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   44
 
   
increased 12.6% over the comparable 1995 period to $89.3 million, and pro forma
EBITDA increased 24.2% over the comparable 1995 period to $12.8 million.
    
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     The Company's business objectives include maximizing its end-user sales and
increasing its leading position in the worldwide market for industrial knives
and saws by continuing to expand its strategic alliances, service center
operations and broad product offering and focusing on its low cost position and
strategic acquisitions.
 
     Maximize End-User Sales.  The Company is focused on maximizing its
aftermarket sales to end-users, which typically offer a stable revenue base and
high margins because replacement knives and saws are required by end-users in
their normal operation. As sharp cutting edges are necessary for proper machine
operation, knife and saw resharpening and replacement cannot be postponed.
Moreover, the increased efficiency of an improved cutting edge offsets the cost
of knife and saw resharpening and replacement.
 
     An integral component of the Company's successful sales strategy is its
knowledgeable worldwide salesforce of 103 people and 17 product managers, the
largest direct salesforce concentrated on industrial knives and saws. The
Company's salesforce develops close working relationships with end-users,
continually providing customers with direct technical support, offering advice
about the types of knives and saws, materials and specifications which would be
appropriate for their specific machines. As a result of these relationships, the
Company also receives from its customers specific application criteria which
enable the Company to improve product quality.
 
     The Company's distributor network, which includes distributors, agents and
Company-owned and independent resharpening centers, complements its sales force
by providing the opportunity to access niche markets and expand its sales reach.
In addition, the Company believes that placing its knives and saws in the
original industrial cutting equipment of over 300 OEMs leads to a competitive
advantage in capturing the resultant end-user replacement sales.
 
     Continued Development of Strategic Alliances.  The Company continually
explores opportunities to expand its manufacturing, marketing and distribution
capabilities through strategic alliances. The Company's strategic alliances
include over 50 business relationships with suppliers of finished industrial
knives and saws throughout the world, four joint ventures and several strategic
relationships with independent resharpening centers. These alliances allow the
Company to expand its international presence, further diversify its customer
base in all industries, extend its product offerings and provide an alternative
low-cost source of products for resale.
 
     The Company's relationships with finished goods suppliers allow it the
flexibility to manufacture or source a product based on cost and delivery time,
the quality of product needed, the region to be supplied and the material to be
used. The Company purchases finished goods from these suppliers and then resells
these products at attractive margins often using the Company's trademarks and
tradenames. The more significant of these relationships provide IKS with the
exclusive or semi-exclusive rights to market certain of its partners' products
within the Company's markets.
 
     The Company seeks to enter into joint venture arrangements in foreign
markets where local market expertise is typically needed. The Company has
recently expanded its international presence through joint ventures in Asia and
Latin America. These include controlling interests in two manufacturing
facilities with the leading producer of paper cutting machinery in China, an
interest in a distributor and service center in Chile and a distributor in the
Philippines. The China joint ventures not only export product, but also provide
a distribution network for the Company to import its products from North America
and Europe into the rapidly developing Chinese market.
 
     Expand Service Center Operations.  A key component of the Company's
strategy is to expand its service center operations to maximize both
resharpening and replacement sales through additional direct access to
end-users. Industrial knives and saws generally need resharpening at
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   45
 
least once per week and as often as 50 times over the life of a product.
Accordingly, resharpening revenues can be significantly in excess of the cost of
the product. For example, circular slitter knives used to cut paper have a sale
price of approximately $17 per knife but can be resharpened more than 30 times
over the life of the product generating resharpening revenues of over $130 per
knife. In addition to capturing resharpening revenues, directly servicing the
end-users of both its own and its competitors' products through service centers
creates closer customer relationships which better position the Company's
products to be the first choice of the end-user when a replacement is needed.
 
     As resharpening service centers also act as distributors, selling
replacements for worn knives and saws, the Company's strategy is to expand
Company-owned service center operations to geographically complement its
existing service centers and strategic resharpening partners that are currently
distributors of IKS products. Since 1991, the Company has acquired or opened 13
service centers and resharpening revenues from Company-owned service centers
have grown to $6.8 million in 1995. Independent service centers are typically
distributors for numerous knife and saw manufacturers. By acquiring these
centers, the Company can replace competitors' products with IKS products, and
add IKS products that the service center did not previously offer.
 
     The Company believes that the number of service center users will continue
to increase as a result of an emerging trend toward outsourcing resharpening
operations. This outsourcing trend results from end-users implementing overhead
reductions and requiring expertise in resharpening knives and saws that are
increasingly more sophisticated in materials and design.
 
     Continued Expansion of Broad Product Offering and End Markets Served.  With
over 10,000 industrial knife and saw products, the Company believes that it
sells the most extensive variety of industrial knives and saws in the world. The
Company strives, through both new product development and acquisitions, to
further expand its product applications and the variety of industries it serves.
As a result of the Company's broad product range and the numerous applications
for its products, no customer accounts for more than 3% of the Company's net
sales.
 
     The Company also develops specialized products to meet the unique needs of
its individual customers and continually introduces new products as customer
needs change and market expansion opportunities arise. The Company believes it
will benefit as certain customers demand more sophisticated knives made of
higher grade materials and designs, as many of its smaller competitors will lack
sufficient capital and technical expertise to meet these demands. The Company's
recent product introductions include corrugated box knives for the packaging
industry, diamond core saws for the concrete cutting industry and Stellite(TM)
tipped band saws for cutting logs.
 
     Low Cost Structure.  The Company continues to focus on being a low cost
producer of industrial knives and saws. The Company benefits from economies of
scale in both manufacturing and purchasing, such as buying steel direct from the
mills instead of from distributors, which many of the Company's smaller
competitors cannot achieve. The Company's global operations allow it to
manufacture each of its products or perform certain manufacturing processes at
the most cost efficient location given the timing constraints of purchase
orders. In addition, the Company is able to augment its own manufacturing
operations by sourcing low cost, privately labeled products through its
strategic alliances and relationships with finished goods suppliers.
 
     Focusing on cost reductions, the Company recently restructured a portion of
its European operations by relocating certain facilities, coordinating raw
material purchases with the North American operations, reorganizing its sales
efforts and expanding its strategic sourcing alliances. This restructuring has
led to an improvement in the Company's European gross and operating margins from
19.5% and (3.4)%, respectively, in 1993 to 23.4% and 3.3%, respectively, for the
nine month period ended September 30, 1996. The Company believes there is still
substantial opportunity for margin improvement in its European operations and is
currently evaluating additional cost saving options.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   46
 
     Continued Acquisitions.  The highly fragmented knife and saw industry
includes many potential acquisition candidates, both domestic and worldwide.
Since 1991, IKS has completed six acquisitions, which include both manufacturers
of knives and saws as well as service center operations, and the Company
believes that a variety of acquisition opportunities continue to exist. The
Company is presently evaluating potential acquisition opportunities and as part
of its strategy will continue to do so in the future. There can be no assurance
that the Company will consummate any such acquisitions or, if consummated, the
timing thereof.
 
PRODUCTS AND MARKETS
 
     The Company manufactures and sells its products in four major market
sectors including (i) Wood (42% of 1995 net sales); (ii) Paper & Packaging
(38%); (iii) Metal (14%); and (iv) Plastic & Recycling (6%). IKS offers an
extensive variety of knives and saws which are mounted in industrial machines
and are sold across a wide customer base and over numerous industries throughout
the world. The Company's knives and saws are consumed in the normal course of
machine operation and need resharpening or replacement many times per year.
 
  Wood
 
     IKS believes it is the largest manufacturer of industrial wood knives and
saws with 1995 net sales of approximately $45 million. Industrial wood knives
and saws are utilized in applications by companies such as Weyerhauser Co. and
Louisiana Pacific Corp. for sawing and chipping of lumber into specific
dimensional sizes for use in the housing industry; by companies such as Georgia
Pacific Corp. and Boise Cascade Corp. for peeling large diameter logs into
veneer for use in the production of plywood, panelling and furniture; and by
companies such as Scott Paper Co., Inc. and International Paper Co., Inc. for
the production of wood chips used in their pulp mills to produce fine paper,
newsprint and craft paper. In addition, the Company's knives are used to cut
wood into chips, used for fuel by wood and coal burning power plants as well as
generating power and steam for large paper and pulp mills worldwide. The Company
manufactures products for many aspects of wood converting in a price range from
$10 to $2,000, with an average price of approximately $30.
 
     Industrial wood cutting knives and saws are consumed in the normal course
of operation and due to their rough service applications generally need
resharpening as often as every six to eight hours and 50 times over the life of
the product. Wood circular and band saws are generally resharpened and
retensioned every two weeks and replaced after two years.
 
     As wood becomes more expensive, the industry is increasingly cognizant of
the need for more effective tree utilization and reducing material lost to
inefficient sawing. Two examples demonstrating solutions to these concerns are
the introduction of Stellite(TM) tipped band saws which minimize the kerf (the
amount of wood lost to saw dust in the cut) while providing a longer lasting saw
blade and the increased use of waferizer and flaker knives. Whereas in the past,
band saws were only resharpened a limited number of times, the use of
Stellite(TM) tips greatly extends the life of the product, and increases the
number of times the band saw can be resharpened. Since the Company is one of a
select few manufacturers producing such saws, the Company believes that it is
well positioned to benefit as demand for this product increases over time. In
addition, the industry is trending toward engineered and composite materials
made from specially sized wood chips leading to increased sales of waferizer and
flaker knives, and wear parts. In the past, plywood was typically used in favor
of engineered and composite materials. However, plywood requires the use of
large diameter logs as raw material, leaving considerable waste on the forest
floor, whereas wafer board and oriented strand board use tighter tolerance
waferizer and flaker knives to reduce smaller, less expensive raw material logs
into specifically sized and shaped wood chips. The chips are then assembled with
synthetic binders into boards, sheets and specialty profiles, having properties
superior to plywood or solid wood predecessors. The Company believes that it is
the leading North American manufacturer of these specialty knives and has the
ability to grow with this rapidly increasing market.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   47
 
     The Company is also a leader in the manufacture of long wood-peeling and
slicing veneer knives. Veneer knives are among the more difficult industrial
knives to manufacture due to their length (up to six meters) and quality
requirements. IKS is one of only a limited number of manufacturers which can
produce such a knife. As the market demands higher quality veneer knives, the
Company believes that its expertise in the design and manufacture of such knives
gives it a competitive advantage.
 
     The market for wood cutting knives and saws is growing in Asia and other
underdeveloped regions as many of the nations in these regions begin to export
products further along the production cycle. As the Company expands in these
regions, it believes that it will benefit from the increased exportation of
finished products. The Company is also using its service center operations to
increase its sales, as more wood cutting operations are outsourcing their knife
and saw servicing needs.
 
  Paper & Packaging
 
     The Company believes it is the largest manufacturer of industrial paper &
packaging knives with 1995 net sales of approximately $41 million. Among the
Company's four major markets, the paper & packaging knife market is the largest
and most diverse, with the widest variety of cutting methods. These knives are
used in applications by companies such as Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Proctor &
Gamble Co. for cutting and perforating tissue paper and paper towels and the
production of disposable diapers; by companies such as Frito-Lay, Inc. and M&M
Mars, Inc. which utilize Zig Zag knives to cut the top and bottom of snack food,
salt and pepper and candy packages sold by convenience stores and fast food
chains; and by companies such as Quebecor Corp., Champion International Corp.
and RR Donnelly & Sons Co., Inc. for cutting and trimming paper in the
production of copy paper, books and business forms. As a result of their many
uses, paper & packaging knives represent the largest category of the Company's
approximately 10,000 products with more than 2,500 paper & packaging knife
products relating to every aspect of paper & packaging manufacturing and
converting. The Company's paper & packaging products range in price from $50 to
$1,000, with an average price of approximately $200.
 
     Paper knives are made from a wide range of steel grades, from inlaid carbon
steels to carbide. Recent trends in the paper industry, including an increase in
the use of recycled fiber and a change in paper chemistry to more abrasive
alkaline additives, have required upgrades by paper producers to higher quality,
more expensive knife materials and designs which are better suited for more
sophisticated and diverse cutting applications. As a result, the market for
industrial paper knives is experiencing price and margin expansion as higher-end
knives are increasing in demand. The Company has developed an expertise in the
manufacture of these more sophisticated cutting tools which allow the paper
converter to run longer and produce better quality cuts. The Company believes
that few of its competitors have the expertise to manufacture machine knives out
of the more expensive materials, which gives IKS a competitive edge and
positions it to offer the most complete package of new knife products and
services in the world paper market.
 
     Industrial paper knives are generally consumed rapidly in the normal course
of operation and can need resharpening as often as once per week and 50 times
over the life of the product. The Company has a strong presence in the knife
servicing market in North America, capitalizing on the preference of users of
paper knives to outsource their knife servicing needs rather than resharpen
their knives themselves. Customers often find that the performance of these
tools can be better maintained if the sharpening is outsourced to professional
service shops having more specialized equipment and technically trained
personnel. The Company believes that it has the largest network of
Company-owned, strategically located service shops equipped with the IKS
Hyperhone system, which system maintains new knife performance throughout the
life of a tool and is not available at most other independent or in-house
grinding shops. The Company is continuously expanding its paper knife servicing
business by educating paper mills on the benefits of outsourcing their knife
resharpening needs to the Company's service centers.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   48
 
     The Company believes that the market for paper & packaging knives is strong
worldwide and is growing in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The Company believes
this market is growing most quickly in Asia as countries in that region move
from exporting raw lumber to exporting paper pulp and, in some cases, finished
paper products. The Company's expansion into Asia through its China joint
ventures has been based, in part, on its desire to increase its presence in the
paper knife market. The Company should also benefit in Asia and Latin America as
consumer markets in those regions emerge and the use of packaged consumer
products rapidly increases. The Company feels that, through its continued
emphasis on providing specialized technical assistance, it will continue to grow
in these markets.
 
  Metal
 
     The Company believes it is the second largest manufacturer of metal knives
with 1995 net sales of approximately $15 million. The Company's metal knives are
used by steel processing facilities such as Heyco Corp., Edgecomb Metals Co. and
Allegheny Ludlum Corp. and metal products manufacturers such as Deere & Co.
Inc., Caterpillar, Inc. and Steelcase Corp.; in the cutting, shearing and
chopping of steel being produced in steel mills used by companies such as
Bethlehem Steel Corp., Rouge Steel Co. and USX Corp.; and in cutting metal
sheets and slitting strips from rolls of sheet steel processed by companies such
as California Steel Corp. and Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. The Company
manufactures knives for many aspects of metal converting ranging in price from
$4 to $9,000, with an average price of approximately $75.
 
     Steel circular slitter knives are highly accurate, requiring tolerances of
up to 40 millionths of an inch for a high degree of precision and customization.
There is a trend toward increased tensile strengths of metals and maximizing the
efficiency of metal slitting machines. This trend requires tool technology that
extends the normal resharpening cycle. The Company is a leader in this field,
utilizing fine-grained raw materials and triple-tempered vacuum heat treatment
procedures to produce finely lapped surfaces which enable this degree of
precision.
 
     In setting up their steel slitting lines, the Company's customers order
knives specifically designed for the particular demands and characteristics of
each production line. IKS offers expert technical and computer software
assistance to companies setting up such a line. The Company has developed a
proprietary software package, Slitter Assembly Program (SLAP), which assists
customers in choosing and setting up metal slitting knives. The IKS (SLAP)
technology makes use of custom computer software to guide the personnel setting
up the arbor in the selection of the individual slitter knife and spacer
combination to an exact thickness, assuring that, as the arbor is loaded, the
accumulated error is maintained near zero. The accuracy of this knife clearance
directly affects the cut edge quality of the steel strip. By offering this
technology, as well as personal technical assistance, the Company is an integral
part of the steel slitting knife purchasing process, which the Company believes
increases the likelihood that a customer will choose an IKS product.
 
     Another method the Company utilizes to maintain its position with its
customers of steel slitting knives is its focus on metal knife resharpening
centers. Metal knives are consumable and generally need resharpening as often as
once per week and as often as 100 times over the life of a product. Although
most users of metal knives have expertise in metalworking and typically
resharpen their own knives, there is a trend among steel mills in the United
States to outsource their resharpening requirements due to the increasing
sophistication and tolerance required of metal knives. IKS is capitalizing on
this opportunity. The market for industrial metal knives is dependent upon the
steel usage by numerous industries including the automotive industry and metal
and consumer products manufacturers, such as aluminum can and appliance
manufacturers.
 
  Plastic & Recycling
 
     The Company believes it is the largest manufacturer of industrial plastic &
recycling knives with 1995 net sales of approximately $6 million. Industrial
plastic granulator knives are used for the
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   49
 
manufacture of plastic, typically by companies such as Mobil Chemical Corp. and
I.C.I. Americas, Inc. where pelletizing knives are used to cut plastic into
small, precise pieces for processing; by companies such as E.I. DuPont de
Nemours & Co. for cutting artificial fibers; by companies such as Wellman Inc.
for recycling plastic containers; and by companies such as Waste Recovery Corp
for the environmental recycling of styrofoam, rubber and glass. The Company
manufactures knives for all of these uses, as well as related knives used to cut
computer tape, foil and film by companies such as Alcoa Aluminum Co. of America,
Inc. and Eastman Kodak Co. and household products produced by Hasbro Corp. and
Rubbermaid Inc. The Company sells products in this sector in a price range from
$1 to $250, with an average price of approximately $50.
 
     IKS is North America's largest manufacturer of plastic granulator knives
and is also a leader in the manufacture of such knives in Europe. Although the
current market for plastic granulator knives is relatively small, the Company
believes it will grow rapidly as the machinery that uses plastic cutting knives
is adapted for an increasing number of cutting and recycling-related
applications. The market for industrial plastic granulator knives is currently
strong in Europe as a result of government mandated recycling programs and is
also growing in North America due to the increased focus on the environment and
recycling. There is a growing emphasis on recycling with respect to reclaiming
the reusable value of material in plastic, rubber, glass and metal products, as
well as with respect to easing the disposal of urban waste, medical waste,
aluminum cans and soda bottles in accordance with environmental regulations.
 
     The Company is also is a leader in the development and production of knives
used in the size reduction and recycling of automobile tires and glass. The
Company believes the use of tire granulating knives will continue to increase as
new uses are developed for the reprocessed material. The Company believes that
the recycling of copper and aluminum cable and wires will also increase as fiber
optic and satellite communication technologies become more widespread. The
Company manufactures the knives which are used in the granulator systems used in
recycling these materials and is thus well positioned to benefit as demand for
these products increases.
 
     Industrial plastic granulator knives are consumed in the normal course of
machine operation and need resharpening as often as once per month and as many a
15 times over the life of a product. Most users of industrial plastic granulator
knives do not service their own knives and the servicing of such knives is also
an important area for the potential expansion of the Company's customer base.
 
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company is the only industrial knife and saw manufacturer with
operations in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and products sold in
more than 75 countries. Historically, the Company's sales have been principally
in North America and Europe. However the Company has recently expanded
operations into the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America, and plans to
continue its international growth, entering new geographic markets while
broadening existing ones.
 
     The Company has a salesforce of 103 people, the largest direct salesforce
focused on industrial knives and saws. Complementing the Company's knowledgeable
worldwide salesforce, the Company has 17 product managers who are experts in
their respective fields and are responsible for product coordination among the
Company's salespeople, customers and manufacturing operations. The Company
concentrates its sales efforts on end-users, which represent 89% of 1995 net
sales, through its direct sales force, distributors, agents and Company-owned
and independent resharpening service centers. The remaining 11% of the Company's
net sales are to OEM manufacturers of cutting machines through its direct sales
force.
 
     In order to better serve its customers, the Company strategically places
its inventory around the world to best suit geographical and customer needs.
This results in the Company being able to ship
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   50
 
most products to the end-users more rapidly than many of its competitors and as
a result the Company is often able to command a premium price for its products.
 
     End-users -- Direct Salesforce and Company-Owned Service
Centers.  Approximately 65% of the Company's 1995 net sales are direct to
end-users through the Company's salesforce and Company-owned service centers,
representing approximately 5,000 customer accounts. The Company believes that it
has been successful in selling to end-users because of its large and
knowledgeable salesforce, broad product offering, customer service, the
strategic placement of its inventory and its relationships with OEMs. The
Company's salesforce develops close working relationships with end-users,
continually providing customers with direct technical support, offering advice
about the types of knives, materials and specifications which would be
appropriate for their specific machines.
 
     The Company is afforded additional direct access to end-users by providing
resharpening services to end-users of both its own and its competitors' products
through its 14 service centers, ten in the United States, three in Canada, and
one in Chile. This enables the Company to create even closer customer
relationships which better position it to be the first choice of the end-user
when a replacement is needed. Since industrial knives and saws are consumable,
and generally need resharpening at least once per week and as often as 50 times
over the life of a product, resharpening revenues can be significantly in excess
of the cost of the product.
 
     The resharpening service centers also act as distributors as they sell
replacement knives and saws. By owning and operating these service centers, the
Company can replace competitors' products with IKS products, including IKS
products that the service center may not have previously sold. The Company
believes that the number of service center users will continue to increase as a
result of an emerging trend toward outsourcing resharpening operations. This
outsourcing trend results from end-users implementing overhead reductions and
requiring expertise in resharpening blades that are increasingly more
sophisticated in materials and design. Such sales are typically high margin
sales since end-users will pay a higher price for the Company's technical
support resulting in greater satisfaction. In 1995, the Company had
approximately $6.8 million in net sales from its resharpening operations.
 
     End-users -- Distributors and Independent Service Centers.  The Company
sells approximately 24% of its net sales to end-users through distributors and
independent resharpening service centers. The Company's long term relationships
with these distributors, agents and independent resharpening service centers
complements its salesforce by providing the opportunity to access additional
niche markets. The Company will continue to utilize its distribution network to
expand its sales reach and carry the IKS products in their inventory, ready to
be sold to end-users.
 
     OEMs.  Approximately 11% of IKS' 1995 net sales were directly to a variety
of OEM manufacturers. The Company believes it is the leading supplier to the OEM
market, placing the original knife or saw in the OEM machine, and has a close
relationship with many of the major cutting machine manufacturers worldwide. The
Company has developed and maintains these close relationships by providing
advice to OEM manufacturers about the types of knives, materials and
specifications which would be appropriate for their particular machines. In
supplying over 300 OEMs, the Company's market managers have an enhanced ability
to identify the needs of its customers and to coordinate the Company's technical
capabilities with those needs. As a result, the Company believes that it has
greater opportunities to place its products into OEM machines and by doing so
provides itself with a competitive advantage in capturing the resultant end-user
replacement sales.
 
STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
 
     The Company's strategic alliances include over 50 business relationships
with suppliers of finished industrial knives and saws throughout the world, four
joint ventures and several strategic relationships with independent resharpening
centers. These alliances enable the Company to
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   51
 
expand its international presence, increase its product offerings and align
itself with local entrepreneurs in international markets where local market
expertise is needed while broadening its customer base with limited additional
investment.
 
     Finished Goods Suppliers.  The Company's relationships with suppliers of
finished goods are typically with small manufacturers throughout the world. The
Company's relationships with finished goods suppliers allow it the flexibility
to manufacture or source a product based upon cost and delivery time, the
quality of product needed, the region to be supplied and the material to be
used. The more significant of these relationships provide the Company with the
exclusive or semi-exclusive rights to market certain of its partners' products
within the Company's markets and allow the Company to purchase finished goods
for a relatively low cost and then resell these products at attractive margins
often using the Company's trademarks and tradenames. The Company generally has
at least two suppliers for most of the products it sources. In addition, the
loss of any particular supplier would not have a material effect upon the
Company, since the Company is able to manufacture substantially all of the
products it sources.
 
     Joint Ventures.  The Company recently expanded its international presence
through joint ventures in Asia and Latin America. These include two joint
ventures which commenced operations in September, 1995 with the leading
industrial paper cutting machinery manufacturer in China. The Company has a 51%
interest in both ventures, which had total net sales of $4.4 million for the
nine month period ended September 30, 1996. The Company's partner in the China
joint ventures is Shanghai Printing and Packaging Machinery General Corporation,
which currently has approximately an 80% share of the paper knife machine market
in China, manufacturing cutting equipment which consumes the Company's paper
knives. These joint ventures sell products domestically within China and IKS
exclusively exports these products to the rest of the world, providing the
Company with a relatively low cost source of supply for resale to its customers.
These joint ventures will also provide a distribution network for the Company to
import its products from North America and Europe into the rapidly developing
market in China as the economy expands and demands a greater variety of cutting
tool products. The Company's other joint venture interests are a 42.5% interest
in a distributor and service center in Chile which had net sales of
approximately $1.0 million in 1995 and $763,000 for the nine month period ended
September 30, 1996 and a 30% interest in a distributor in the Philippines which
had net sales of approximately $730,000 in 1995 and $801,000 for the nine month
period ended September 30, 1996.
 
RAW MATERIALS
 
     The Company has numerous suppliers of raw materials, including over 20 raw
material suppliers of steel. IKS's steel purchase volume is typically large
enough to allow the Company to purchase steel directly from steel mills, which
results in reduced raw material costs. The Company believes that its
relationships with all of its steel vendors are good. The Company is not
dependent on any one of its suppliers for all of its raw materials.
 
     In 1995, the Company experienced an unexpected increase in the price of
tool steel because of an unusual general market price increase which affected
the knife industry worldwide. This price escalation is attributable to a major
reduction in specialty tool steel production resulting from the closing of a
major German steel mill and the consolidation of steel producers in Latin
America and Europe coupled with a strong demand for raw materials in North
America and Europe. The resultant shortage in tool steel caused deliveries from
suppliers to be extended from nine months to fourteen months. As the Company
sells primarily to end-users which requires prompt and timely delivery, the
Company was forced to purchase expensive substitutes. Due to the unexpected
nature of the price increase, the Company was not able to pass along this
increase to its customers on a timely basis. The Company has taken measures to
prevent such a reoccurrence by negotiating a 90-day fixed price term into most
of its sales contracts as opposed to the previous one year term, increasing
prices on a more regular basis and expanding the number of its steel suppliers.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>   52
 
COMPETITION
 
     The industrial knife and saw market is highly fragmented with numerous
participants. The Company competes principally on the basis of price, service,
delivery, quality and technical expertise. The Company's competitors vary in
each of the market sectors that the Company serves. There is no one company
which competes with the Company in all four of the market sectors which the
Company serves and there is no one company which is dominant in any of such
market sectors. The Company believes that the reputation it has established over
its long history for quality products, sales and service network and its
in-depth product knowledge provide it with a competitive advantage in all the
market sectors it serves.
 
TRADEMARKS AND TRADENAMES
 
     The Company markets its products under certain trademarks, including
"IKS(TM)," "IKS Klingelnberg," "Chromavan," "Chromalit," "Compaflex,"
"Compalloy," "Durapid," "Duritan," "Dynabloc(TM)," "Dynapren," "Dynatherm,"
"Klirit," "KSFmicroplan," "Novacrom(TM)," "Novador," "QCP," "Quality Cut Knife
Maintenance Program and Design," "Slap," "Stop," "Surekut(TM)," "Tecalloy(TM),"
"Tecnolite(TM)," "Ultrid," and "Workalit." In addition, the Company uses the
following tradenames: American Custom Metals; Ban-Carb; Canadian Knife & Saw;
Durakut; Econokut; Hannaco; Hyperhone; IKS de Mexico; IKS Shanghai; Kodiak; SPS;
Tuff-Tip; and Ultrakut.
 
LITIGATION
 
     The Company is from time to time involved in legal proceedings arising in
the ordinary course of business. The Company believes there is no outstanding
litigation which could have a material impact on its operations.
 
PROPERTIES
 
     The Company is headquartered in Erlanger, Kentucky, located a few miles
south of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company currently owns or leases 20 facilities in
North America, Europe and Asia, which are used for manufacturing, distribution,
sales, warehousing and service center activity.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>   53
 
     The following table sets forth the location, square footage and principal
functions of each of the Company's facilities.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            LOCATION                APPROX. SQ. FT.                       USE
- --------------------------------    ---------------     ---------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                 <C>
North American Facilities
  Florence, SC..................        106,600         Manufacturing/Service
                                                          Center/Distribution/Sales
  Erlanger, KY (corporate                99,700         Manufacturing/Service
     headquarters)..............                          Center/Distribution/Sales
  Camden, AL....................         44,700         Manufacturing/Service
                                                          Center/Distribution/Sales
  McMinnville, OR...............         34,000         Manufacturing/Service
                                                          Center/Distribution/Sales
  Granby, Quebec*...............         20,000         Manufacturing/Service
                                                          Center/Distribution/Sales
  Langley, British Columbia.....         19,200         Manufacturing/Service
                                                          Center/Distribution/Sales
  Gary, IN*.....................         18,500         Service Center/Distribution/Sales
  Bangor, ME....................         12,400         Service Center/Distribution/Sales
  Mississauga, Ontario*.........         11,800         Service Center/Distribution/Sales
  West Monroe, LA...............          7,500         Service Center/Distribution/Sales
  Chesterfield, VA                        7,400         Service Center/Distribution/Sales
     (Richmond)*................
  Langley, British Columbia*....          5,000         Service Center
  Kent, WA*                         4,000......         Service Center/Sales
  Mexico City, Mexico*..........          3,500         Distribution/Sales
  Statesboro, GA*...............          2,700         Service Center
European Facilities
  Bergisch Born, Germany........         56,000         Manufacturing/Distribution/Sales
  Geringswalde, Germany.........         30,700         Manufacturing
Asian Facilities
  Jakarta, Indonesia*...........          2,700         Distribution/Sales
  Singapore*....................          1,000         Distribution/Sales
Joint Venture Facilities
  Shanghai, China** (51%).......         32,000         Manufacturing/Distribution/Sales
  Concepcion, Chile* (42.5%)....          3,500         Service Center/Distribution/Sales
  Manila, Philippines (30%).....          2,500         Distribution/Sales
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 * Leased.
 
** Facility owned, land leased.
 
     The Company believes that its facilities are suitable for its operations
and provide sufficient capacity to meet the Company's requirements for the
foreseeable future.
 
     The Company places a strong emphasis on producing high quality products.
The Company's European facility located in Bergisch Born, Germany has been
awarded ISO 9001 certification, indicating that the Company has achieved and
sustained a high degree of quality and consistency with respect to its products.
The Company is currently working toward receiving ISO 9002 certification for its
facility in Erlanger, Kentucky. The Company believes that ISO certification is
an increasingly important selling feature both domestically and internationally,
as it provides evidence to purchasers that the specified product quality has
been achieved and is being sustained.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>   54
 
ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS
 
   
     As with most industrial companies, the Company's facilities and operations
are required to comply with and are subject to a wide variety of Environmental
Laws. Certain of these Environmental Laws hold owners or operators of land or
businesses liable for their own and for previous owners' or operators' releases
of hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants, including petroleum and petroleum products. Compliance with
Environmental Laws also may require the acquisition of permits or other
authorizations for certain activities and compliance with various standards or
procedural requirements. The nature of the Company's operations, the long
history of industrial uses at some of its current or former facilities, and the
operations of predecessor owners or operators of certain of the businesses
expose the Company to risk of liabilities or claims with respect to
environmental and worker health and safety matters. There can be no assurance
that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such
liabilities or claims.
    
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, the Company obtained an indemnity
for fines and penalties for violations of Environmental Laws and for losses
suffered by the Company with respect to certain environmental conditions
occurring prior to the Recapitalization. The environmental indemnities are
subject to certain time limitations depending on the nature of the environmental
claim, a $15.0 million cap and, except for fines and penalties for violations of
Environmental Laws, a $2.5 million deductible. Based on the Company's experience
to date and the indemnities obtained in connection with the Recapitalization,
the Company believes that the future cost of compliance with existing
Environmental Laws (or liability for known environmental liabilities or claims)
should not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations. However, future events, such as changes in
existing laws and regulations or their interpretation, may give rise to
additional compliance costs or liabilities that could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as more vigorous
enforcement policies of regulatory agencies or stricter or different
interpretations of existing laws, may require additional expenditures by the
Company that may be material.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
     At September 30, 1996, the Company had 1,178 full-time employees. Of such
employees, 661 were located in North America, 180 were located in Europe and 337
were located in Asia. The Company considers its relations with its employees to
be good.
 
     The Company's employees are primarily non-union. The Company's Bergisch
Born, Germany facility and China facilities (operated in connection with its
joint venture arrangements) are the only facilities which employ union workers.
The Company estimates that 48 of its 180 German employees are union members. The
majority of the 324 employees at the facilities of the two China joint ventures
are part of a governmental bargaining unit. The Company considers its relations
with the unions to be good.
 
                                       49
<PAGE>   55
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
persons who are members of the Board of Directors, executive officers or key
employees of the Company. Directors serve for a term of one year or until their
successors are elected and qualified; officers serve at the discretion of the
Board of Directors.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   NAME                      AGE                    POSITION
- -------------------------------------------  ---   -------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>   <C>
John E. Halloran...........................  51    President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                                     Director
Thomas W. G. Meyer.........................  40    Executive Vice President -- Europe and Asia
William M. Schult..........................  35    Vice President -- Finance, Chief Financial
                                                     Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
Jeffrey Hansel.............................  41    Vice President -- Sales and Marketing,
                                                     North America
James A. Rich..............................  49    Vice President -- Management Information
                                                     Systems, North America
William R. Underhill.......................  47    Vice President -- Operations
W. Raymond Connell.........................  56    Vice President -- Service and Sales
                                                   Director, North America
Klaus Schmidt..............................  53    Vice President, German subsidiary
Heinrich Ankermann.........................  55    Vice President, German subsidiary
Heinz Gamerschlag..........................  45    Controller, German subsidiary
Manfred Herrmann...........................  52    Plant Manager, German subsidiary
Bernhard Keil..............................  44    Logistics and Procurement Manager, German
                                                     subsidiary
Thomas Huhn................................  32    Market Manager, German subsidiary
Diether Klingelnberg.......................  52    Director
Michael A. Delaney.........................  42    Director
James A. Urry..............................  42    Director
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
     John E. Halloran, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director.  Mr.
Halloran has been President and Chief Executive Officer since March 1996 and had
served as Executive Vice President since joining the Company in 1992. Mr.
Halloran served as Executive Vice President of Operations at Simonds Industries
from 1989 to 1992 and as President of Michigan Knife Company from the time it
was founded by Mr. Halloran in 1974 until it was acquired by Simonds Industries
in 1989.
    
 
     Thomas W. G. Meyer, Executive Vice President -- Europe and Asia.  Mr. Meyer
has served as Executive Vice President since he joined the Company in 1993.
Prior thereto, Mr. Meyer worked in the textile industry for ten years, including
service as the head of marketing for Barmag AG from 1988 until 1991 and as a
director of A. Monforts GmbH & Co., from 1991 until 1992.
 
   
     William M. Schult, Vice President -- Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Schult joined the Company as Vice
President -- Finance in July 1996. Prior to joining the Company, he served as
Controller of IKS Holdings since 1995 and in several capacities at Siemens
Corporation from 1987 until 1995, most recently as Controller of the Pelton &
Crane division. Prior to that, Mr. Schult held various accounting and auditing
positions with the Allen Group, Salomon Brothers and Coopers & Lybrand.
    
 
     Jeffrey Hansel, Vice President -- Sales and Marketing, North America.  Mr.
Hansel joined the Company in 1985 as a paper knife market manager. Mr. Hansel
became Vice President -- Sales and Marketing in 1991. Prior to joining the
Company, from 1981 to 1985 Mr. Hansel was President of
 
                                       50
<PAGE>   56
 
General Metals Technologies Corp., a subsidiary of C.B. Manufacturing with which
he was employed from 1979 to 1981 as a sales manager.
 
     James A. Rich, Vice President -- Management Information Systems, North
America.  Mr. Rich joined the Company in 1988. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Rich had 12 years of experience in public accounting, including five years as an
independent consultant and two years with Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 
     William R. Underhill, Vice President -- Operations.  Mr. Underhill joined
the Company in 1977 as Product Manager. Mr. Underhill served in various
capacities, including purchasing agent and sales manager, from 1977 to 1990, and
became Vice President -- Operations in 1996.
 
     W. Raymond Connell, Vice President, Service and Sales Director, North
America.  Mr. Connell joined the Company in 1991 as Vice President -- Service
and Sales Director. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Connell was the owner of Connell
Distribution and prior to that was the part owner of Austin Saw and Knife, which
the Company acquired in 1991. Between 1974 and 1990, Mr. Connell was the
Company's sales manager.
 
     Klaus Schmidt, Vice President, German subsidiary.  Mr. Schmidt joined the
Company in 1979, as a sales representative, and is currently responsible for
sales and marketing for the Company's European operations. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Schmidt worked for Klingelnberg Soehne in various sales positions
beginning in 1960.
 
     Heinrich Ankermann, Vice President, German subsidiary.  Mr. Ankermann
joined the Company in 1976 as a Plant Manager and was promoted in 1991 to Vice
President of the Company's German subsidiary. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Ankermann worked at Neuenkamp, where he was responsible for production.
 
     Heinz Gamerschlag, Controller, German subsidiary.  Mr. Gamerschlag joined
the Company in 1981 as a Controller and has continued to serve in such position
for the Company's German subsidiary.
 
     Manfred Herrmann, Plant Manager, German subsidiary.  Mr. Herrmann joined
the Company in 1991 and currently serves as the Plant Manager of the
Geringswalde, Germany facility. From 1981 to 1991, he worked as director of
production at Vereinigte Werkzeugfabrik, a manufacturer of metal slitter knives
and machine arbors which was acquired by IKS.
 
     Bernhard Keil, Logistics and Procurement Manager, German subsidiary.  Mr.
Keil joined the Company in 1981 as a salesman and was promoted to Logistics and
Procurement Manager for the Company's German subsidiary in 1993. Prior to
joining the Company, he was a salesman for The Klingelnberg Corporation.
 
     Thomas Huhn, Market Manager, German subsidiary.  Mr. Huhn joined the
Company in 1994 as a Market Manager for the Company's German subsidiary. From
1984 to 1994, Mr. Huhn worked for Fassbender & Co., a paper knife manufacturer,
in various capacities including purchasing manager.
 
   
     Diether Klingelnberg, Director.  Mr. Klingelnberg served as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company until March 1996. In addition, he served as Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer of IKS Holdings from its formation until
consummation of the Transactions. Mr. Klingelnberg has been Managing Partner of
Klingelnberg Soehne since 1969 and is a director of Eummoco Hasenklever GmbH,
Honsel AG and the Alfred H. Schutte Company.
    
 
     Michael A. Delaney, Director.  Mr. Delaney has been a Vice President of CVC
since 1989. From 1986 through 1989, he was Vice President of Citicorp Mergers
and Acquisitions. Mr. Delaney is a director of Aetna Industries, Inc.,
AmeriSource Health Corporation, Cort Business Services Corporation, Delco Remy
International, Inc., Enterprise Media Inc., FF Holdings Corporation, GVC
Holdings, JAC Holdings, Palomar Technologies, Inc., SC Processing, Inc., Sybron
Chemicals, Inc. and Triumph Holdings, Inc.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>   57
 
     James A. Urry, Director.  Mr. Urry has been with Citibank, N.A. since 1981,
serving as a Vice President since 1986. He has been a Vice President of CVC
since 1989. He is a director of AmeriSource Health Corporation, Cort Business
Services Corporation, FF Holdings Corporation, Hancor Holding Corporation and
York International Corporation.
 
     In addition, CVC has the contractual right to designate an independent
director to the Company's Board of Directors, subject to the right of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Holdings Class A Stock to
veto the election of such director. See "Stock Ownership -- Stockholders'
Agreement."
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND ARRANGEMENTS
 
     It is not currently anticipated that directors of the Company will receive
compensation for their services as directors. Members of the Board of Directors
are elected pursuant to certain voting agreements among IKS Holdings and its
stockholders. See "Stock Ownership -- Stockholders' Agreement."
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
   
     The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
compensation received for services rendered in 1996 by (i) each person who
served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer during 1996, (ii) the four most
highly compensated executive officers of the Company (other than the individuals
who served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer) in office on December 31,
1996 and (iii) one additional individual who would have been included in the
category of persons referred to in clause (ii) above but for the fact that such
individual was not serving as an executive officer of the Company on December
31, 1996.
    
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                           ----------------------------------        ALL OTHER
                                            SALARY    BONUS(1)        OTHER         COMPENSATION
       NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION           ($)        ($)            ($)              ($)
- -----------------------------------------  --------   --------       --------       ------------
<S>                                        <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Diether Klingelnberg.....................  $186,718   $     --       $     --         $  4,833(3)
  President and Chief Executive
  Officer(2)
John E. Halloran.........................   200,000     55,000             --          213,711(4)
  President and Chief Executive
  Officer(2)
Thomas W.G. Meyer........................   185,923         --             --               --
  Executive Vice President -- Europe
  and Asia
William M. Schult........................   120,000     10,000         14,971(6)        33,356(7)
  Vice President -- Finance, Chief
  Financial Officer, Treasurer and
  Secretary(5)
William R. Underhill.....................   101,000     18,041             --           10,224(8)
  Vice President -- Operations
James A. Rich............................    98,100      9,130             --           35,186(9)
  Vice President -- Management
  Information Systems, North America
Edward Brent.............................   145,000     74,444(10)         --          114,209(11)
  Chief Financial Officer and
  Treasurer(5)
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
 (1) Does not include a supplemental bonus payable to Messrs. Klingelnberg,
     Halloran, Meyer, Schult and Underhill, the amount of which has not been
     determined. The supplemental bonus to be paid to Mr. Klingelnberg will be
     paid by IKS Holdings.
    
 
   
 (2) In March 1996, Diether Klingelnberg was succeeded as President and Chief
     Executive Officer by John E. Halloran. Mr. Halloran had previously served
     as Executive Vice President of the Company.
    
   
                                         (footnotes continued on following page)
    
 
                                       52
<PAGE>   58
 
   
 (3) Includes $1,304 in Company 401(k) contributions and $3,529 in Company
     Profit Sharing Plan contributions.
    
 
   
 (4) Includes $200,000 paid in connection with the consummation of the
     Transactions, $3,000 in Company 401(k) contributions, $8,250 in Company
     Profit Sharing Plan contributions, $461 in group term life insurance
     premiums and $2,000 as a directors fee which was paid by IKS Holdings.
    
 
   
 (5) Upon consummation of the Transactions, Edward Brent retired as Chief
     Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company and was succeeded in such
     capacities by William M. Schult. Mr. Schult continues to serve as Vice
     President -- Finance and Secretary.
    
 
   
 (6) Represents reimbursement of relocation expenses.
    
 
   
 (7) Includes $25,000 paid in connection with the consummation of the
     Transactions, $8,250 in Company Profit Sharing Plan contributions and $106
     in group term life insurance premiums.
    
 
   
 (8) Includes $2,647 in Company 401(k) contributions, $7,400 in Company Profit
     Sharing Plan contributions and $177 in group term life insurance premiums.
    
 
   
 (9) Includes $25,000 paid in connection with the consummation of the
     Transactions, $2,645 in Company 401(k) contributions, $7,370 in Company
     Profit Sharing Plan contributions and $171 in group term life insurance
     premiums.
    
 
   
(10) Paid by IKS Holdings.
    
 
   
(11) Includes $100,000 paid in connection with the consummation of the
     Transactions, $3,000 in Company 401(k) contributions, $8,250 in Company
     Profit Sharing Plan contributions, $959 in group term life insurance
     premiums and $2,000 as a directors fee which was paid by IKS Holdings.
    
 
EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS
 
   
     John E. Halloran has been employed by the Company pursuant to an Employment
Agreement dated June 1, 1992. This agreement is terminable by either party upon
90 days prior written notice and currently provides for a base salary of
$200,000 per year plus 0.8% of the Company's net profits (before taxes and
certain other adjustments). In addition, the Agreement provides for the receipt
by Mr. Halloran of standard Company benefits. Upon Mr. Halloran's election as
President of the Company in March 1996, the Company and Mr. Halloran conducted
discussions concerning the amendment of the terms of the agreement. Concurrent
with the consummation of the Transactions, such contract was terminated in favor
of Mr. Halloran's continued employment at will.
    
 
     Thomas Meyer was hired by IKS Klingelnberg GmbH as its Chief Executive
Officer pursuant to an Employment Agreement effective January 1, 1993 which,
following an automatic extension thereof, expires on December 31, 2000. As
compensation, Mr. Meyer receives an annual salary of 280,000 DM. In addition, he
receives an annual profit sharing bonus equal to 3.0% of the income before taxes
of IKS Klingelnberg GmbH plus 0.65% of the Company's income before taxes. He is
also eligible for certain incentive bonuses based on sales, and receives certain
fringe benefits including an automobile and insurance coverage. Following any
termination of Mr. Meyer's employment, Mr. Meyer will be subject to a
non-competition covenant for up to two years, in exchange for payment in each
year of an amount equal to one-half of Mr. Meyer's most recently agreed upon
annual compensation.
 
     The Company has entered into deferred compensation and supplemental
retirement agreements with Edward J. Brent and Diether Klingelnberg dated
November 23, 1981. The agreements provide for a supplemental retirement benefit
payable at age 65 equal to $250,000 payable in monthly installments over a
period of ten years with any remaining payments to become immediately due and
payable upon the death of the employee. Mr. Brent becomes fully vested and may
take early retirement without a reduction in benefits at age 62. Mr.
Klingelnberg may take early retirement without a reduction in benefits at age
60. In addition, Mr. Klingelnberg is entitled to a
 
                                       53
<PAGE>   59
 
reduced benefit of $12,500 per year (beginning at age 60) if his employment is
terminated by the Company prior to his reaching age 60. In both cases, if the
employee dies while employed by the Company, his designated beneficiary will be
entitled to a death benefit of $25,000 per year for ten years. In lieu of the
benefits described above the Company may at its sole discretion accelerate the
payment of benefits to an employee or the employee's beneficiary, if applicable.
All benefits under the agreements are forfeited if it is determined that (i) the
employee engaged in activity adversely affecting the interests of the Company,
or (ii) the employee rendered services to any competitor of the Company.
 
     Upon consummation of the Transactions, Diether Klingelnberg waived the
benefits provided to him under his deferred compensation and supplemental
retirement agreement in exchange for an assignment of a life insurance policy
maintained by the Company insuring his life. Such policy had a cash surrender
value of approximately $70,000. In addition, Mr. Brent retired as Chief
Financial Officer of the Company upon consummation of the Transactions, and the
Company retained Mr. Brent as a part-time employee through September 1997 and
agreed to pay him a salary of $5,000 per month in connection with services
rendered in such capacity.
 
401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN
 
     IKS Holdings maintains a defined contribution 401(k) retirement plan. All
of the Company's non-unionized employees are eligible to participate after
completing one year of service and attaining age 20 1/2. Subject to certain
statutory limitations, employees may contribute up to 15 percent of their
compensation to the plan on a pre-tax basis. The Company may make discretionary
matching contributions equal to a percentage of the employees' pre-tax
contributions. However, in determining the amount of matching contributions,
only employee pre-tax contributions up to four percent of compensation are taken
into account. For allocation purposes, the compensation of any employee in
excess of $150,000 is disregarded. Employees are fully vested in their benefits
under the plan after two years of service.
 
PROFIT SHARING PLAN
 
     The Company maintains a tax-qualified profit sharing plan. All of the
Company's domestic non-unionized employees are eligible to participate after
attaining age 20 1/2. The plan is completely funded by Company discretionary
contributions. Company contributions are allocated to the accounts of the
eligible employees in the same ratio that each eligible employee's compensation
for the year bears to the total compensation of all eligible employees for the
year. For allocation purposes, the compensation of any employee in excess of
$150,000 is disregarded. Employees are fully vested in their benefits under the
plan after five years of service. An employee may not receive a distribution of
his benefits under the plan until following his termination of employment.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>   60
 
                                STOCK OWNERSHIP
 
     All of the outstanding capital stock of the Company is currently owned by
IKS Holdings. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to
the beneficial ownership of the Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Common
Stock by (i) each person or entity who owns five percent or more thereof, (ii)
each director of the Company who is a stockholder, (iii) the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and the other executive officers named in the "Summary
Compensation Table" above who are stockholders, and (iv) the directors and
officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise specified, all shares are
directly held.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      NUMBER AND PERCENT OF SHARES
                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                    HOLDINGS PREFERRED      HOLDINGS CLASS A       HOLDINGS CLASS B
                                          STOCK                 STOCK(1)               STOCK(2)
                                    ------------------     ------------------     ------------------
     NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER       NUMBER     PERCENT     NUMBER     PERCENT     NUMBER     PERCENT
- ----------------------------------  ------     -------     ------     -------     ------     -------
<S>                                 <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd......  10,920       91.0%     41,315       49.0%     15,685      100.0%
  399 Park Avenue
  New York, New York 10043
Arndt Klingelnberg................      --         --      17,000       20.2%         --         --
  IKS Corporation
  1299 Cox Avenue
  Erlanger, KY 41018
Diether Klingelnberg..............      --         --      17,000       20.2%         --         --
  IKS Corporation
  1299 Cox Avenue
  Erlanger, KY 41018
John E. Halloran(3)(4)............     600       5.0%       5,000        5.9%         --         --
  IKS Corporation
  1299 Cox Avenue
  Erlanger, KY 41018
Thomas W.G. Meyer(4)..............     240       2.0%       2,000        2.4%         --         --
William M. Schult(4)..............      48       0.4%         400        0.5%         --         --
James A. Rich(4)..................      48       0.4%         400        0.5%         --         --
William R. Underhill..............      24       0.2%         200        0.2%         --         --
All directors and officers
  as a group (16 persons)(3)(4)...   1,080       9.0%      26,000       30.8%         --         --
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
(1) Does not include shares of Holdings Class A Stock issuable upon conversion
    of Holdings Class B Stock. See "-- Holdings Common Stock."
(2) Does not include shares of Holdings Class B Stock issuable upon conversion
    of Holdings Class A Stock. See "-- Holdings Common Stock."
(3) The Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Class A Stock distributed to John
    E. Halloran as part of the Recapitalization Distribution is subject to
    post-closing adjustments, if any, to the Recapitalization Distribution
    pursuant to the provisions of the Recapitalization Agreement. See "The
    Transactions."
(4) Certain members of management of the Company are expected to participate in
    an Employee Stock Purchase Plan pursuant to which management will be offered
    the opportunity to acquire Holdings Class A Stock which would equal in the
    aggregate up to an additional 10.0% of the Holdings Class A Stock
    outstanding. See "-- Employee Stock Purchase Plan." The table does not
    include shares or options that may be acquired by such individuals pursuant
    to such Plan.
 
                                       55
<PAGE>   61
 
HOLDINGS PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The IKS Holdings Certificate of Incorporation provides that IKS Holdings
may issue 12,000,000 shares of Holdings Preferred Stock, all of which are
designated as Series A Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock. Holdings
Preferred Stock has a stated value of $1,000 per share and is entitled to annual
dividends when, as and if declared, which dividends will be cumulative, whether
or not earned or declared, and will accrue at a rate of 12.0%, compounding. The
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Holdings Preferred Stock,
voting as a separate class, is required to (i) create, authorize or issue any
other class or series of stock entitled to a preference prior to the Holdings
Preferred Stock upon any dividend or distribution or any liquidation,
distribution of assets, dissolution or winding up of IKS Holdings, or increase
the authorized amount of any such other class or series, or (ii) amend IKS
Holdings' Certificate of Incorporation if such amendment would adversely affect
the relative rights and preferences of the holders of the Holdings Preferred
Stock. Except as described in the immediately preceding sentence or as otherwise
required by law, the Holdings Preferred Stock is not entitled to vote. IKS
Holdings may not pay any dividend upon (except for a dividend payable in Junior
Stock, as defined below), or redeem or otherwise acquire shares of, capital
stock junior to the Holdings Preferred Stock (including the Holdings Common
Stock) ("Junior Stock") unless all cumulative dividends on the Holdings
Preferred Stock have been paid in full. Upon a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of IKS Holdings, holders of Holdings Preferred Stock are entitled to
receive out of the legally available assets of IKS Holdings, before any amount
shall be paid to holders of Junior Stock, an amount equal to $1,000 per share of
Holdings Preferred Stock, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of
final distribution. If such available assets are insufficient to pay the holders
of the outstanding shares of Holdings Preferred Stock in full, such assets, or
the proceeds thereof, will be distributed ratably among such holders. The
Holdings Preferred Stock is not mandatorily redeemable prior to the maturity of
the Notes. IKS Holdings may optionally redeem, in whole or in part, the Holdings
Preferred Stock at any time at a price per share of $1,000, plus accrued and
unpaid dividends to the date of redemption.
 
HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
 
     The Certificate of Incorporation of IKS Holdings provides that IKS Holdings
may issue 400,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock, divided into two classes
consisting of 200,000 shares of Holdings Class A Stock and 200,000 shares of
Holdings Class B Stock. The holders of Holdings Class A Stock are entitled to
one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders. Except as required by law, the holders of Holdings Class B Stock
have no voting rights. Under the Certificate of Incorporation of IKS Holdings, a
holder of either class of Holdings Common Stock may convert any or all of his
shares into an equal number of shares of the other class of Holdings Common
Stock; provided that in the case of a conversion from Holdings Class B Stock,
which is nonvoting, into Holdings Class A Stock, which is voting, the holder of
shares to be converted would be permitted under applicable law to hold the total
number of shares of Holdings Class A Stock which would be held after giving
effect to the conversion.
 
STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, the stockholders of IKS Holdings
entered into a Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement (the "Stockholders'
Agreement") containing certain agreements among such stockholders with respect
to the capital stock and corporate governance of IKS Holdings and the Company.
The following is a summary description of the principal terms of the
Stockholders' Agreement and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the definitive Stockholders' Agreement, copies of which are
available upon request to the Company.
 
     Pursuant to the Stockholders' Agreement, the Board of Directors of IKS
Holdings and the Company is composed at all times of five directors as follows:
John E. Halloran (so long as he continues to serve as President of the Company);
one individual designated by Diether Klingelnberg; two individuals designated by
CVC; and one independent director who shall be
 
                                       56
<PAGE>   62
 
designated by CVC, subject to the right of holders of the majority of the
outstanding shares of Holdings Class A Stock to veto the election of any such
independent director.
 
     The Stockholders' Agreement contains certain provisions which, with certain
exceptions, restrict the ability of the stockholders from transferring any
Holdings Common Stock, Holdings Preferred Stock or Holdings Debentures except
pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders' Agreement. If holders of more than
50% of the Holdings Common Stock approve the sale of the Company (an "Approved
Sale"), each stockholder has agreed to consent to such sale and, if such sale
includes the sale of stock, each stockholder has agreed to sell all of such
stockholder's Holdings Common Stock on the terms and conditions approved by
holders of a majority of the Holdings Common Stock then outstanding. In the
event IKS Holdings proposes to issue and sell (other than in a public offering
pursuant to a registration statement) any shares of Holdings Common Stock or any
securities containing options or rights to acquire any shares of Holdings Common
Stock or any securities convertible into Holdings Common Stock to CVC or its
affiliates, IKS Holdings must first offer to each of the other shareholders a
pro rata portion of such shares. Such preemptive rights are not applicable to
the issuance of shares of Holdings Common Stock upon the conversion of shares of
one class of Holdings Common Stock into shares of the other class.
 
     The Stockholders' Agreement also provides for certain additional
restrictions on transfer of shares acquired by members of management pursuant to
an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") ("Incentive Shares"), including the
right of IKS Holdings to repurchase Incentive Shares held by a member of
management (a "Participant") upon termination of such Participant's employment
prior to 2001, at a formula price, and the grant of a right of first refusal in
favor of IKS Holdings in the event a Participant elects to transfer such
Incentive Shares of Holdings Common Stock.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
     In connection with their entry into the Stockholders' Agreement, IKS
Holdings, CVC and certain other stockholders of IKS Holdings entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement (the "Holdings Registration Rights Agreement").
Pursuant to the Holdings Registration Rights Agreement, upon the written request
of CVC, IKS Holdings has agreed to prepare and file a registration statement
with the Commission concerning the distribution of all or part of the shares
held by CVC and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
become effective. If at any time IKS Holdings files a registration statement for
the Holdings Common Stock pursuant to a request by CVC or otherwise (other than
a registration statement on Form S-8, Form S-4 or any similar form, a
registration statement filed in connection with a share exchange or an offering
solely to IKS Holdings' employees or existing stockholders, or a registration
statement registering a unit offering) (a "Qualifying Offering"), IKS Holdings
will use its best efforts to allow the other parties to the Holdings
Registration Rights Agreement to have their shares of Holdings Common Stock (or
a portion of their shares under certain circumstances) included in such offering
of Holdings Common Stock if the registration form proposed to be used may be
used to register such shares. Registration expenses of the selling stockholders
(other than underwriting fees, brokerage fees and transfer taxes applicable to
the shares sold by such stockholders or the fees and expenses of any accountants
or other representatives retained by a selling stockholder) are to be paid by
IKS Holdings.
 
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
     It is currently contemplated that IKS Holdings will adopt the Plan,
pursuant to which Participants will be offered the opportunity to purchase
Holdings Class A Stock. The Participants will be given the opportunity to
acquire or be granted options to acquire an aggregate of up to 10% of the
Holdings Class A Stock outstanding on a fully-diluted basis.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>   63
 
     In addition, upon the Participants' purchase of Holdings Class A Stock or
the acquisition of options to purchase such stock, the Participants will become
subject to the terms and conditions of the Stockholders' Agreement. See
"-- Stockholders' Agreement." In addition to the restrictions set forth above,
the Stockholders' Agreement also provides the following restrictions with
respect to the Participants: (i) the Incentive Shares acquired by a Participant
will be subject to repurchase by IKS Holdings or its designee if such
Participant's employment with the Company is terminated within five years after
the closing of the management offering at formula prices which will vary based
upon the time and circumstance of such termination, (ii) IKS Holdings will
receive a right of first refusal through the fifth anniversary of the closing of
the management offering on all common stock acquired by a Participant pursuant
to the Plan and (iii) if holders of a majority of Holdings Class A Stock approve
a sale of IKS Holdings, Participants will consent to such sale.
 
OTHER
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, Arndt Klingelnberg, Diether
Klingelnberg and CVC entered into an agreement pursuant to which their ownership
percentages of the Holdings Preferred Stock and the Holdings Debentures may be
adjusted. Upon the occurrence of certain events, their respective ownership
percentages of Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings Debentures will be adjusted
so that they will be pro rata with their respective ownership percentages of
Holdings Common Stock.
 
                                       58
<PAGE>   64
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     On July 25, 1996, in connection with the Realty Acquisition, the Company
purchased all of the general and limited partnership interests of a limited
partnership controlled by members of the Klingelnberg family for an aggregate of
approximately $5.6 million. As a result of such transaction, the Company became
the sole remaining partner of the limited partnership and the limited
partnership was dissolved. In winding up the affairs of the limited partnership,
the Company conveyed, for no consideration, all of the property owned by the
limited partnership to itself individually. Such property consisted primarily of
real property located in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and
South Carolina which had previously been under capital lease to the Company.
Prior to the Realty Acquisition, the Company leased such property from the
limited partnership. Such lease payments aggregated approximately $662,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
     From time to time the Company or its affiliates have made loans to certain
of the Company's officers and directors. Diether Klingelnberg, President and
Chief Executive Officer during 1995, has been indebted to the Company or an
affiliate of the Company in the amount of $100,000 since July 1981. Such
indebtedness is evidenced by a promissory note bearing interest at a rate of
5.05% per annum. On April 11, 1996, the Company also advanced to Mr.
Klingelnberg an additional $50,000 at a quarterly interest rate of 5.33%. In
April and June, 1996, the Company also paid a total of $48,500 of taxes on
behalf of Mr. Klingelnberg, with such amount to be repaid at a quarterly
interest rate of approximately 5.5%. On September 1, 1996, Mr. Klingelnberg paid
in full all amounts due and owing to the Company. In addition, on March 1, 1996,
the Company loaned to Edward Brent, the former Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, $135,000 in aggregate principal amount evidenced by a three year
promissory note bearing interest at a rate of 5.05% per annum. The loan was
repaid in full upon consummation of the Transactions.
 
   
     In connection with the Recapitalization, IKS Holdings entered into a letter
agreement with Mr. Halloran pursuant to which IKS Holdings loaned to Mr.
Halloran an amount equal to the income taxes which were incurred by him in
respect of the securities received by him as a part of the Recapitalization
Distribution. The loan is secured by a pledge of the securities and the recourse
to the Company for repayment of the loan is limited to the securities. The loan
bears interest at the "applicable federal rate" under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and the Company will make payments to Mr. Halloran in
amounts sufficient to permit him to pay such interest payments.
    
 
     The Company previously borrowed certain funds from IKS Holdings from time
to time on a demand basis. Immediately prior to the consummation of the
Transactions, the Company was indebted to IKS Holdings in the amount of
approximately $11.0 million, which amount bore interest at a rate of 6.9% per
annum, adjusted from time to time to reflect market conditions. Such loan was
repaid in connection with the Transactions. See "The Transactions" and "Use of
Proceeds."
 
                                       59
<PAGE>   65
 
                      DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
 
   
     The following is a summary of certain indebtedness of the Company, a
subsidiary of the Company and IKS Holdings. To the extent such summary contains
descriptions of the Senior Credit Facility and other loan documents, such
descriptions do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety
by reference to such documents.
    
 
SENIOR CREDIT FACILITY
 
     In connection with the Transactions, Deutsche Bank (the "Bank") provided a
revolving credit facility (the "Senior Credit Facility") to the Company for up
to $20.0 million of revolving loans. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility
are available for working capital and general corporate purposes, including
letters of credit. The Senior Credit Facility is secured by first priority liens
on all accounts receivable and inventory of the Company and, in the event
certain financial ratios are not met, certain designated fixed assets. The
Company did not draw upon the Senior Credit Facility in connection with the
Transactions.
 
     The Senior Credit Facility expires on December 31, 2000, unless extended.
The interest rate per annum applicable to the Senior Credit Facility is LIBOR
plus 1.25%. The Senior Credit Facility permits the Company to prepay loans and
to permanently reduce revolving credit commitments or letters of credit, in
whole or in part, at any time in certain minimum amounts. The Company is
required to pay certain fees in connection with the Senior Credit Facility,
including a commitment fee of 0.25% on the undrawn portion of the revolving
credit commitments.
 
     The Senior Credit Facility contains certain other terms and conditions,
covenants and events of default.
 
SUBSIDIARY INDEBTEDNESS
 
     The following discussion assumes a conversion rate from deutsche marks to
dollars of 1.5.
 
     The Bank and a Bank sponsored government program ("KfW") have made
available to the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, IKS Klingelnberg GmbH
("GmbH"), a term loan (the "Existing German Credit Facility"), of which $5.5
million was outstanding upon consummation of the Transactions. The Existing
German Credit Facility is comprised of four separate commitments with maturities
through 2003 at variable rates of interest from 3.9% to 6.25%. The Existing
German Credit Facility is secured by, among other things, liens on the real
property of GmbH and its subsidiary. The Existing German Credit Facility also
contains certain other terms and conditions, covenants and events of default.
 
     In connection with the Transactions, the Bank and KfW provided a new credit
facility to GmbH (the "New German Credit Facility" and, together with the
Existing German Credit Facility, the "German Subsidiary Facilities") which
consists of a $5.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility which may be
used for working capital purposes. The New German Credit Facility bears interest
at the option of GmbH at a per annum rate equal to, either Euro-LIBOR (presently
3.1%) plus 0.50% per annum, the "Bill Credit Rate" (presently 2.5%) plus 0.50%
per annum or the "Regular Overdraft Rate" (presently 6.5%) and has a final
maturity date of December 31, 2000, unless extended. The obligations of the
Company under the New German Credit Facility are secured by a first priority
lien on the real property owned by the Company in Bergisch Born, Germany. The
New German Credit Facility contains certain other terms and conditions,
covenants and events of default, including the maintenance of a minimum equity
of 30% of total German asset value and the maintenance of positive cash flow.
 
HOLDINGS DEBENTURES
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, IKS Holdings issued an aggregate
of $12.0 million original principal amount of Holdings Debentures, designated as
Junior Subordinated Notes. The Holdings Debentures bear interest at a rate of
12.0% per annum and all interest due on the Holdings
 
                                       60
<PAGE>   66
 
Debentures prior to their maturity shall be paid by adding such interest to the
then outstanding principal amount of such notes. Such amount shall accrue
interest as a portion of the principal amount of the Holdings Debentures from
the applicable interest payment date. The Holdings Debentures contain certain
covenants by IKS Holdings in favor of the holders of the Holdings Debentures
(the "Holdings Debenture Holders") including, but not limited to: (i)
restrictions on the payment by IKS Holdings of dividends and the purchase,
redemption or prepayment by IKS Holdings and its subsidiaries of its capital
stock or indebtedness which is, by its terms or by operation of law, junior in
right of payment to the Holdings Debentures, and (ii) restrictions on
subsidiaries entering into agreements restricting their ability to pay dividends
or make certain other distributions to IKS Holdings or any subsidiary of IKS
Holdings. The Holdings Debentures are subordinated to IKS Holdings' obligations
(including guarantees, if any, from time to time) under the Senior Credit
Facility, the Notes and any other indebtedness of IKS Holdings, other than
indebtedness which by its terms is pari passu or junior in right of payment to
the Holdings Debentures (the "Holdings Senior Debt"). Until such Holdings Senior
Debt is paid in full, IKS Holdings may not make any payment of principal or
interest to the Holdings Debenture Holders: (i) following the maturity of any
Holdings Senior Debt (either by lapse, acceleration or otherwise), (ii)
following a payment default on Holdings Senior Debt or (iii) following a
nonpayment default on Holdings Senior Debt (until such non-payment default shall
have been cured or waived). Except for certain events of bankruptcy, the consent
of Holdings Debenture Holders holding a majority in principal amount of the
Holdings Debentures is required to accelerate the payment of principal upon an
event of default. If any Holdings Senior Debt is outstanding at the time of an
acceleration of the Holdings Debentures, the Holdings Debentures will become due
and payable upon the earlier of acceleration of such Holdings Senior Debt and
thirty days following notice of acceleration of the Holdings Debentures being
given to the agent for Holdings Senior Debt holders. An event of default under
the Holdings Debentures will include, among other things, a "change in control",
provided that the holders of the Holdings Debentures may not accelerate or
exercise any other remedy with respect to the Holdings Debentures in the event
of a change in control so long as any amounts remain outstanding under the
Senior Credit Facility or the Notes.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>   67
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
     The Existing Notes were issued under the Indenture, dated as of November 6,
1996, by and between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). The terms of the Indenture apply to the Existing Notes
and to the New Notes to be issued in exchange therefor pursuant to the Exchange
Offer (all such Notes being referred to herein collectively as the "Notes").
Upon the issuance of the New Notes, if any, or the effectiveness of a Shelf
Registration Statement (as defined below), the Indenture will be subject to and
governed by the Trust Indenture Act. As used in this "Description of the Notes"
section, references to the "Company" means International Knife & Saw, Inc., but
not any of its subsidiaries (unless the context otherwise requires).
 
     The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture.
This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to the detailed
provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust
Indenture Act, the Notes and the Indenture, including the definitions of certain
terms contained therein and including those terms made part of the Indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act. A copy of the form of Indenture may be
obtained from the Company. The definitions of certain terms used in the
following summary are set forth below under "-- Certain Definitions." Reference
is made to the Indenture for the full definition of all such terms, as well as
any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
 
MATURITY AND INTEREST
 
     The Notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the Company
limited in aggregate principal amount to $90,000,000. The Notes mature on
November 15, 2006. Interest on the Notes accrues at the rate of 11 3/8% per
annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 in each
year, commencing on May 15, 1997, to holders of record on the immediately
preceding May 1 and November 1, respectively. Interest on the Notes accrues from
the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been
paid, from the date of the original issuance of the Notes (the "Issue Date").
Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day
months.
 
     Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes is payable at the
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose in The City of New
York or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check
mailed to the holders of the Notes at their respective addresses as set forth in
the register of holders of Notes. Until otherwise designated by the Company, the
Company's office or agency in The City of New York will be the office of the
Trustee maintained for such purpose. The Notes are issued in fully registered
form, without coupons, and in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer, exchange or redemption
of Notes, except in certain circumstances for any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Mandatory Redemption.  The Notes are not subject to any mandatory sinking
fund redemption prior to maturity.
 
     Optional Redemption.  The Notes are redeemable at the option of the
Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after November 15, 2001 at the
redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount of the
Notes) set forth below plus in each case accrued and
 
                                       62
<PAGE>   68
 
unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on November 15 of the years indicated below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     YEAR                                PERCENTAGE
        ---------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
        <S>                                                              <C>
        2001...........................................................    105.688%
        2002...........................................................    103.792%
        2003...........................................................    101.896%
        2004 and thereafter............................................    100.000%
</TABLE>
 
     In addition, at any time or from time to time on or prior to November 15,
1999, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to $30 million aggregate
principal amount of the Notes with the net proceeds of one or more Public Equity
Offerings, at a redemption price equal to 111 3/8% of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption;
provided, however, that (x) not less than $60 million aggregate principal amount
of the Notes is outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such
redemption (other than any Notes owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates)
and (y) such redemption is effected within 90 days after the consummation of any
such Public Equity Offering.
 
     "Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten public offering of Capital
Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company or IKS Holdings
pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act;
provided, however, that in the event of a Public Equity Offering by IKS
Holdings, IKS Holdings shall contribute to the capital of the Company the
portion of the net cash proceeds of such Public Equity Offering necessary to pay
the aggregate redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
redemption date, of the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to the preceding
paragraph.
 
     Selection and Notice.  If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at
any time, selection of the Notes to be redeemed will be made by the Trustee in
compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange,
if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not listed on a
securities exchange, on a pro rata basis or by lot or any other method as the
Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided, however, that Notes redeemed
in part shall only be redeemed in integral multiples of $1,000; provided,
further, that any such redemption pursuant to the provisions relating to a
Public Equity Offering shall be made on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro
rata basis as practicable (subject to the procedures of The Depository Trust
Company or any other depositary), unless such method is otherwise prohibited.
Notices of any optional or mandatory redemption shall be mailed by first class
mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
holder of Notes to be redeemed at such holder's registered address. If any Note
is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such
Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and
the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the holder of the original Note a new
Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note
promptly after the original Note has been canceled. On and after the redemption
date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for
redemption.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
     The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or
Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to, the Notes is subordinated, as set
forth in the Indenture, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
existing and future Senior Debt (including the indebtedness under the Senior
Credit Facility). The Notes are senior subordinated indebtedness of the Company
ranking pari passu with all other existing and future senior subordinated
indebtedness of the Company.
 
     Upon any payment or distribution of cash, securities or other property of
the Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar
proceeding relating to the Company or its property or securities, an assignment
for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of the
 
                                       63
<PAGE>   69
 
Company's assets or liabilities, the holders of any Senior Debt of the Company
will be entitled to receive payment in full, in cash or Cash Equivalents, of all
Obligations due in respect of such Senior Debt (including interest after the
commencement of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the agreements
governing such Senior Debt) before the holders of the Notes or the Trustee on
behalf of such holders will be entitled to receive any payment or distribution
with respect to the Notes.
 
     The Company also may not make any payment upon or in respect of the Notes
(except from the trust described under "-- Defeasance" below) if (i) a default
in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any
Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing, whether at maturity or on a
date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, or
(ii) the Trustee has received written notice ("Payment Blockage Notice") from
the representative of any holders of Designated Senior Debt that a nonpayment
default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Designated Senior
Debt that permits such holders to accelerate the maturity of such Designated
Senior Debt. Payments on the Notes shall resume (and all past due amounts on the
Notes, with interest thereon as specified in the Indenture, shall be paid) (i)
in the case of a payment default in respect of any Designated Senior Debt, on
the date on which such default is cured or waived or otherwise ceases to exist;
and (ii) in the case of a nonpayment default in respect of any Designated Senior
Debt, on the earlier of (a) the date on which such nonpayment default is cured
or waived, or (b) 179 days after the date on which the Payment Blockage Notice
with respect to such default was received by the Trustee, in each case, unless
the maturity of any Designated Senior Debt has been accelerated and the Company
has defaulted with respect to the payment of such Designated Senior Debt, or (c)
the date on which such Payment Blockage Period (as defined below) shall have
been terminated by written notice to the Company or the Trustee from the
representative of the holders of Designated Senior Debt initiating such Payment
Blockage Period. During any consecutive 365-day period, the aggregate number of
days in which payments due on the Notes may not be made as a result of
nonpayment defaults on Designated Senior Debt (a "Payment Blockage Period")
shall not exceed 179 days, and there shall be a period of at least 186
consecutive days in each consecutive 365-day period during which no Payment
Blockage Period is in effect. No event or circumstance that creates a nonpayment
default under any Designated Senior Debt that (i) gives rise to the commencement
of a Payment Blockage Period or (ii) exists at the commencement of or during any
Payment Blockage Period shall be made the basis for the commencement of any
subsequent Payment Blockage Period unless such default has been cured or waived
for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.
 
     As a result of the subordination provisions described above, holders of
Notes may recover less ratably than creditors holding Senior Debt of the
Company. In such circumstances, funds which would otherwise be payable to the
holders of the Notes will be paid to the holders of the Senior Debt to the
extent necessary to pay the Senior Debt in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, and
the Company may be unable to meet its obligations fully with respect to the
Notes.
 
     If the Company fails to make any payment on the Notes when due or within
any applicable grace period, whether or not on account of the payment blockage
provisions referred to above, such failure would constitute an Event of Default
under the Indenture and would enable the holders of the Notes to accelerate the
maturity thereof. See "-- Events of Default."
 
     As of September 30, 1996, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
Transactions, there would have been no Senior Debt of the Company outstanding,
exclusive of unused commitments of $20.0 million that may be borrowed by the
Company under the Senior Credit Facility.
 
     The Notes are also effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities, including indebtedness, of the Company's Subsidiaries. As of
September 30, 1996, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the
Transactions, the Company's Subsidiaries would have had indebtedness of
approximately $5.5 million (excluding China joint venture indebtedness of
approximately $3.8 million, which is non-recourse to the Company, and excluding
unused commitments of $5.0 million) and other liabilities of approximately $7.9
million reflected on the Company's
 
                                       64
<PAGE>   70
 
consolidated balance sheet. Claims of creditors of the Company's Subsidiaries,
including trade creditors, will generally have priority as to the assets of such
Subsidiaries over the claims of the Company and the holders of the Company's
indebtedness, including the Notes.
 
CHANGE OF CONTROL
 
     In the event of a Change of Control, each holder of Notes will have the
right, unless the Company has given a notice of redemption, subject to the terms
and conditions of the Indenture, to require the Company to offer to purchase all
or any portion (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such
holder's Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date
of purchase, in accordance with the terms set forth below (a "Change of Control
Offer").
 
     Other debt instruments of the Company may in the future restrict the
Company's ability to purchase Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer.
Moreover, such debt instruments may contain a "change of control" provision that
is similar to the provision in the Indenture relating to a Change of Control,
and the occurrence of such a "change of control" would constitute a default
under such debt instruments. The Company's obligations under such debt
instruments may represent obligations senior in right of payment to the Notes,
and such debt instruments may not permit the purchase of the Notes absent
consent of the lenders thereunder in the event of a Change of Control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of the Company to effect a Change of
Control Offer would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture.
 
     If the Company is unable to obtain the requisite consents and/or repay all
indebtedness which restricts the Company's ability to repurchase the Notes upon
the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company may not be able to commence a
Change of Control Offer to purchase the Notes within 30 days of the occurrence
of the Change of Control. Such failure would constitute an Event of Default
under the Indenture. If a Change of Control were to occur, there can be no
assurance that the Company would have sufficient assets to first satisfy its
obligations under any other agreements relating to indebtedness, if accelerated,
and then to purchase all of the Notes that might be delivered by holders seeking
to accept a Change of Control Offer.
 
     On or before the 30th day following the occurrence of any Change of
Control, the Company shall mail to each holder of Notes at such holder's
registered address a notice stating: (i) that a Change of Control has occurred
and that such holder has the right to require the Company to purchase all or a
portion (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such holder's Notes
at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (the
"Change of Control Purchase Date"), which shall be a business day, specified in
such notice, that is not earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days from the
date such notice is mailed, (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if
any, as of the Change of Control Purchase Date, (iii) that any Note not tendered
will continue to accrue interest, (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the purchase price for the Notes payable pursuant to the Change of
Control Offer, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control
Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Purchase Date, (v)
the procedures, consistent with the Indenture, to be followed by a holder of
Notes in order to accept a Change of Control Offer or to withdraw such
acceptance, and (vi) such other information as may be required by the Indenture
and applicable laws and regulations.
 
     On the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company will (x) accept for
payment all Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Change of Control
Offer, (y) deposit with the Paying Agent the aggregate purchase price of all
Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment, and (z) deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Trustee all Notes tendered pursuant to the Change of Control
Offer. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each holder of Notes or portions
thereof accepted for payment an amount equal to the purchase price for such
Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, and the Trustee shall
promptly authenticate and mail to each holder
 
                                       65
<PAGE>   71
 
of Notes accepted for payment in part a new Note equal in principal amount to
any unpurchased portion of the Notes, and any Note not accepted for payment in
whole or in part shall be promptly returned to the holder of such Note. On and
after a Change of Control Purchase Date, interest will cease to accrue on the
Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment, unless the Company defaults in
the payment of the purchase price therefor. The Company will publicly announce
the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after
the Change of Control Purchase Date.
 
     The Company will comply with the applicable tender offer rules, including
the requirements of Section 14(e) and Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and all
other applicable securities laws and regulations in connection with any Change
of Control Offer and will be deemed not to be in violation of any of the
covenants under the Indenture to the extent such compliance is in conflict with
such covenants.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
     Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness.  The Indenture provides that the
Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create,
incur, issue, assume or directly or indirectly guarantee or in any other manner
become directly or indirectly liable for ("incur") any Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt), except that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt) if, at the time of, and immediately after giving pro forma effect
to, such incurrence of Indebtedness, the Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage Ratio
of the Company for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters would be at
least 2.0 to 1.0 if incurred during the period from the Issue Date through
November 15, 1998, and 2.25 to 1.0 if incurred thereafter.
 
     The foregoing limitations do not apply to the incurrence of any of the
following (collectively, "Permitted Indebtedness"), each of which are given
independent effect:
 
          (i) Indebtedness of the Company arising under the Senior Credit
     Facility and Indebtedness of IKS Klingelnberg GmbH and its Subsidiaries
     arising under the German Subsidiary Facilities, in an aggregate principal
     amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (x) $30.0
     million, less any permanent reduction in commitments thereunder, and (y)
     the sum, at such time, of (I) 85% of the consolidated book value of net
     accounts receivable of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (II)
     60% of the consolidated book value of inventory of the Company and the
     Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
          (ii) Indebtedness of the Company represented by the Notes and the
     Exchange Notes;
 
          (iii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not
     covered by any other clause of this paragraph which is outstanding on the
     Issue Date ("Existing Indebtedness"), including certain Indebtedness of IKS
     Klingelnberg GmbH under the German Subsidiary Facilities outstanding on the
     Issue Date;
 
          (iv) Indebtedness owed by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or
     to another Restricted Subsidiary, or owed by the Company to any Restricted
     Subsidiary; provided, however, that any such Indebtedness shall at all
     times be held by a Person which is either the Company or a Restricted
     Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that upon either (a) the transfer
     or other disposition of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the
     Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or (b) the sale, transfer or other
     disposition of shares of Capital Stock (including by consolidation or
     merger) of any such Restricted Subsidiary to a Person other than the
     Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, the incurrence of such
     Indebtedness shall be deemed to be an incurrence that is not permitted by
     this clause (iv);
 
          (v) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising
     with respect to Interest Rate Agreement Obligations and Currency Agreement
     Obligations incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate
     risk or currency risk with respect to any fixed or floating rate
     Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be
     outstanding or
 
                                       66
<PAGE>   72
 
     with respect to any receivable or liability the payment of which is
     determined by reference to a foreign currency;
 
          (vi) Indebtedness represented by performance, completion, guarantee,
     surety and similar bonds provided by the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
     practice;
 
          (vii) Any Indebtedness incurred in connection with or given in
     exchange for the renewal, extension, substitution, refunding, defeasance,
     refinancing or replacement, in whole or in part, (a "refinancing") of any
     Indebtedness incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this
     covenant or any Indebtedness described in clauses (ii) or (iii) above and
     this clause (vii) ("Refinancing Indebtedness"); provided, however, that (a)
     the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the
     principal amount (or accreted amount, if less) of the Indebtedness so
     refinanced (plus the premiums and reasonable expenses to be paid in
     connection therewith, which, with respect to such premiums, shall not
     exceed the stated amount of any premium or other payment required to be
     paid in connection with such a refinancing pursuant to the terms of the
     Indebtedness being refinanced); (b) if the Weighted Average Life to
     Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is equal to or greater than
     the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing
     Indebtedness shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or
     greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness
     being refinanced; (c) with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness other than
     Senior Debt incurred by the Company, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall
     rank no more senior than, and, if applicable, shall be at least as
     subordinated in right of payment to the Notes as, the Indebtedness being
     refinanced; and (d) the obligor on such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be
     the obligor on the Indebtedness being refinanced or the Company;
 
          (viii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (a)
     representing Capitalized Lease Obligations and any refinancings thereof
     and/or (b) in respect of Purchase Money Obligations for property acquired,
     constructed or improved in the ordinary course of business and any
     refinancings thereof, which taken together in the aggregate do not exceed
     $5 million at any time outstanding;
 
          (ix) commodity agreements entered into in the ordinary course of
     business to protect against fluctuations in the prices of raw materials and
     not for speculative purposes;
 
          (x) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
     constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit
     issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation,
     letters of credit in respect of workers' compensation claims or
     self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type
     obligations regarding workers' compensation claims or self-insurance;
 
          (xi) (a) Guarantees by the Company of Indebtedness of a Restricted
     Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the Indenture, (b) Guarantees by
     any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the covenant entitled
     "-- Guarantees" below and (c) Guarantees by any Restricted Subsidiary of
     Senior Debt so long as such Restricted Subsidiary executes a Guarantee of
     the Notes on a senior subordinated basis;
 
          (xii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising
     from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price
     or similar obligations, in each case incurred or assumed in connection with
     the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than
     Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
     portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of
     financing such acquisition; provided that the maximum liability in respect
     of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the gross proceeds actually received
     by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such
     disposition; and
 
                                       67
<PAGE>   73
 
          (xiii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
     addition to that described in clauses (i) through (xii) above, and any
     renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings or replacements of such
     Indebtedness, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all such
     Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii) does not exceed $5.0
     million at any one time outstanding (which may be, but shall not be
     required to be, incurred, in whole or in part, under the Senior Credit
     Facility or the German Subsidiary Facilities).
 
     For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under
this covenant, Guarantees, Liens or obligations with respect to letters of
credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such
particular amount shall not be included.
 
     Indebtedness of any Person which is outstanding at the time such Person
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been incurred at
the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into
or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, and Indebtedness
which is assumed at the time of the acquisition of any asset shall be deemed to
have been incurred at the time of such acquisition.
 
     Limitation on Restricted Payments.  The Indenture provides that the Company
will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, make any Restricted Payment, unless at the time of and immediately
after giving effect to the proposed Restricted Payment (with the value of any
such Restricted Payment, if other than cash, to be determined reasonably and in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company):
 
          (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
 
          (ii) the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness
     (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the covenant described
     under "-- Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness"; and
 
          (iii) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made after the
     Issue Date shall not exceed the sum of:
 
             (a) an amount equal to 50% of the Company's aggregate cumulative
        Consolidated Net Income accrued on a cumulative basis during the period
        (treated as one accounting period) beginning on the Issue Date and
        ending on the date of such proposed Restricted Payment (or, if such
        aggregate cumulative Consolidated Net Income for such period shall be a
        deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus
 
             (b) the aggregate amount of all net cash proceeds received since
        the Issue Date by the Company from the issuance and sale (other than to
        a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or equity contribution with respect to,
        Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) and the principal amount
        of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that has
        been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock (other than
        Disqualified Stock), in any such case to the extent that such proceeds
        are not used (x) to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire
        Capital Stock or any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted
        Subsidiary pursuant to clause (ii) of the next paragraph or (y) to make
        any Restricted Investment pursuant to clause (iv) of the next paragraph;
        plus
 
             (c) the amount of the net reduction in Investments in Unrestricted
        Subsidiaries resulting from (x) the payment of dividends or the
        repayment in cash of the principal of loans or the cash return on any
        Investment, in each case to the extent received by the Company or any
        Restricted Subsidiary from Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (y) the release or
        extinguishment of any guarantee of Indebtedness of any Unrestricted
        Subsidiary, and (z) the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as
        Restricted Subsidiaries (valued as provided in the definition of
        "Investment"), such aggregate amount of the net reduction in
 
                                       68
<PAGE>   74
 
        Investments not to exceed in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary the
        amount of Restricted Investments previously made by the Company or any
        Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, which amount was
        included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; plus
 
             (d) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made
        after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid
        for cash, the amount of cash proceeds received with respect to such
        Restricted Investment, net of taxes and the cost of disposition, not to
        exceed the amount of Restricted Investments made after the Issue Date.
 
     The foregoing provisions do not prohibit the following actions
(collectively, "Permitted Payments"):
 
          (i) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of
     declaration thereof, if at such declaration date such payment would have
     been permitted under the Indenture (which payment shall be deemed to have
     been paid on such date of declaration for purposes of clause (iii) of the
     preceding paragraph);
 
          (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of
     any Capital Stock or any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially
     concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or equity
     contribution with respect to, Capital Stock of the Company (other than any
     Disqualified Stock);
 
          (iii) any purchase or defeasance of Subordinated Indebtedness to the
     extent required upon a Change of Control or Asset Sale (as defined therein)
     by the indenture or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which such
     Subordinated Indebtedness was issued, but only if the Company (x) in the
     case of a Change of Control, has complied with its obligations under the
     provisions described under "-- Change of Control" or (y) in the case of an
     Asset Sale, has applied the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale in accordance
     with the provisions described under "-- Limitation on Asset Sales";
 
          (iv) any Restricted Investment the sole consideration for which
     consists of, or is made with the proceeds of the substantially concurrent
     sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or equity contribution
     with respect to, Capital Stock of the Company (other than any Disqualified
     Stock);
 
          (v) the making of payments by the Company to IKS Holdings in an amount
     not in excess of the income tax liability that the Company and its
     Subsidiaries would have been liable for if the Company and its Subsidiaries
     had filed consolidated tax returns on a stand-alone basis;
 
          (vi) distributions, loans or advances to IKS Holdings in an aggregate
     amount not to exceed $50,000 per annum sufficient to permit IKS Holdings to
     pay the ordinary operating expenses of IKS Holdings (including, without
     limitation, reasonable directors' fees and expenses, indemnification
     obligations and professional fees and expenses) directly related to IKS
     Holdings' ownership of Capital Stock of the Company (other than any
     expenses of CVC or any of its Affiliates);
 
          (vii) payments to IKS Holdings in amounts and at times necessary to
     permit the repurchase of Holdings Common Stock, Holdings Preferred Stock
     and Holdings Debentures from directors, officers and employees of the
     Company and its Subsidiaries who have died or whose employment has been
     terminated; provided that such payments shall not exceed $500,000 in any
     fiscal year plus any amount available for such payments hereunder since the
     Issue Date which have not been used for such purpose; provided, further,
     that in no event shall such payments exceed $2.0 million in any fiscal
     year;
 
          (viii) loans or advances to employees of the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries which loans or advances exist on the Issue Date, a loan to
     John E. Halloran, the Company's President
 
                                       69
<PAGE>   75
 
     and Chief Executive Officer, to pay income taxes which will be incurred by
     him in connection with the Recapitalization not to exceed $250,000 and
     other loans or advances to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary to
     pay reasonable relocation expenses; and
 
          (ix) Restricted Investments in an amount such that the sum of the
     aggregate amount of Restricted Investments made pursuant to this clause
     (ix) after the Issue Date does not exceed $2.0 million at any one time
     outstanding;
 
provided, however, that in the case of clauses (iii), (vii), (viii) and (ix) of
this paragraph, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
 
     For purposes of clause (iii) of the first paragraph of this covenant, the
Permitted Payments referred to in clauses (i), (vii) and (ix) above shall be
included in the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made since the Issue
Date, and any other Permitted Payments described above shall be excluded.
 
     Limitation on Asset Sales.  The Indenture provides that the Company will
not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Asset Sale
unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair
market value (as evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth
in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or other
property sold or disposed of in the Asset Sale and (ii) at least 75% of such
consideration consists of either cash or Cash Equivalents; provided, however,
that for purposes of this covenant, "cash" shall include (x) the amount of any
Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to
the Notes) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary as shown on the
Company's or such Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet or in the
notes thereto that is assumed by the transferee of any such assets or other
property in such Asset Sale (and excluding any liabilities that are incurred in
connection with or in anticipation of such Asset Sale), but only to the extent
that such assumption is effected on a basis such that there is no further
recourse to the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to
such liabilities and (y) any notes, obligations or securities received by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted
within 60 days by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the
extent of the cash received).
 
     Within 270 days after any Asset Sale, the Company or the applicable
Restricted Subsidiary may elect to apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale
to (a) permanently reduce any Senior Debt of the Company or any Indebtedness of
the applicable Restricted Subsidiary and/or (b) make an investment in, or
acquire assets and properties that will be used in, the business of the Company
and the Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date or in businesses
reasonably related thereto. Pending the final application of any such Net
Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce
Indebtedness of the Company under the Senior Credit Facility or temporarily
invest such Net Proceeds in any Investments described under clauses (i) through
(iii) of the definition of Permitted Investments. Any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale not applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph
within 270 days of such Asset Sale will be deemed to constitute "Excess
Proceeds."
 
     Each date that the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds in respect of which
an Asset Sale Offer (as defined below) has not been made exceeds $5.0 million
shall be deemed an "Asset Sale Offer Trigger Date." As soon as practicable, but
in no event later than 20 business days after each Asset Sale Offer Trigger
Date, the Company shall commence an offer (an "Asset Sale Offer") to purchase
the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess
Proceeds. Any Notes to be purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer shall be
purchased pro rata based on the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding,
and all Notes shall be purchased at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to
100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any,
to the date of purchase. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after
completion of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use the remaining amount for
general corporate purposes otherwise permitted by the Indenture. In the event
that the Company is
 
                                       70
<PAGE>   76
 
prohibited under the terms of any agreement governing outstanding Senior Debt of
the Company from repurchasing Notes with Excess Proceeds pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer as set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Company
shall promptly use all Excess Proceeds to permanently reduce such outstanding
Senior Debt of the Company. Upon the consummation of any Asset Sale Offer, the
amount of Excess Proceeds shall be deemed to be reset to zero.
 
     Notice of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by the Company not later than
the 20th business day after the related Asset Sale Offer Trigger Date to each
holder of Notes at such holder's registered address, stating: (i) that an Asset
Sale Offer Trigger Date has occurred and that the Company is offering to
purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the
Excess Proceeds (to the extent provided in the immediately preceding paragraph),
at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of the purchase
(the "Asset Sale Offer Purchase Date"), which shall be a business day, specified
in such notice, that is not earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days from the
date such notice is mailed, (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if
any, as of the Asset Sale Offer Purchase Date, (iii) that any Note not tendered
will continue to accrue interest, (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the purchase price for the Notes payable pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall
cease to accrue interest after the Asset Sale Offer Purchase Date, (v) the
procedures, consistent with the Indenture, to be followed by a holder of Notes
in order to accept an Asset Sale Offer or to withdraw such acceptance, and (vi)
such other information as may be required by the Indenture and applicable laws
and regulations.
 
     On the Asset Sale Offer Purchase Date, the Company will (i) accept for
payment the maximum principal amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered
pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer that can be purchased out of Excess Proceeds
from such Asset Sale that are to be applied to an Asset Sale Offer, (ii) deposit
with the Paying Agent the aggregate purchase price of all Notes or portions
thereof accepted for payment, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee all Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. If less than all
Notes tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer are accepted for payment by the
Company for any reason consistent with the Indenture, selection of the Notes to
be purchased by the Company shall be in compliance with the requirements of the
principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed
or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis or by lot; provided,
however, that Notes accepted for payment in part shall only be purchased in
integral multiples of $1,000. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each
holder of Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment an amount equal to the
purchase price for such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon,
and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to such holder of Notes
accepted for payment in part a new Note equal in principal amount to any
unpurchased portion of the Notes, and any Note not accepted for payment in whole
or in part shall be promptly returned to the holder of such Note. On and after
an Asset Sale Offer Purchase Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or
portions thereof accepted for payment, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the purchase price therefor. The Company will publicly announce the
results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Asset
Sale Offer Purchase Date.
 
     The foregoing provisions do not apply to a transaction consummated in
compliance with the provisions of the Indenture described under "-- Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets" below.
 
     The Company will comply with the applicable tender offer rules, including
the requirements of Section 14(e) and Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and all
other applicable securities laws and regulations in connection with any Asset
Sale Offer and will be deemed not to be in violation of any of the covenants
under the Indenture to the extent such compliance is in conflict with such
covenants.
 
     Limitation on Liens.  The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and
will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien securing Indebtedness that is pari
passu with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes
 
                                       71
<PAGE>   77
 
(other than Permitted Liens) on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or
any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income
therefrom to secure any such Indebtedness, unless (i) if such Lien secures
Indebtedness which is pari passu with the Notes, then the Notes are secured on
an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as
such obligation is no longer secured by a Lien or (ii) if such Lien secures
Indebtedness which is subordinated to the Notes, any such Lien shall be
subordinated to a Lien granted to the holders of the Notes in the same
collateral as that securing such Lien to the same extent as such subordinated
Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes.
 
     Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries.  The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise
cause to become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction
on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make any
other distributions to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary on its
Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or
measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any
other Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) make loans or advances to, or issue Guarantees
for the benefit of, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary or (iii)
transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by
reason of (a) the Senior Credit Facility, (b) any German Subsidiary Facility,
(c) applicable law, (d) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock
of an Acquired Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent
such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition); provided, however, that no such encumbrance or restriction is
applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than
the Acquired Person, (e) by reason of customary non-assignment, subletting or
net worth provisions in leases or other agreements entered into the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practices, (f) Purchase Money
Indebtedness for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that
impose restrictions only on the property so acquired, (g) an agreement for the
sale or disposition of assets or the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided, however, that such restriction or encumbrance is only applicable to
such Restricted Subsidiary or assets, as applicable, and such sale or
disposition otherwise is permitted by the provisions described under
"-- Limitation on Asset Sales"; provided, further, however, that such
restriction or encumbrance shall be effective only for a period from the
execution and delivery of such agreement through a termination date not later
than 270 days after such execution and delivery, (h) the Indenture and the
Notes, (i) Indebtedness (including Refinancing Indebtedness) permitted to be
incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of the covenant
described under "-- Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness"; provided,
however, that any such restrictions are ordinary and customary with respect to
the type of Indebtedness being incurred, (j) encumbrances and restrictions
imposed by Liens incurred in accordance with the covenant described under
"-- Limitation on Liens", (k) customary provisions in joint venture agreements
and other similar agreements, and (l) encumbrances and restrictions imposed by
amendments, restatements, renewals, replacements or refinancings of the
contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (k)
above; provided that such encumbrances and restrictions are, in the good faith
judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, no more restrictive, in any
material respect, than those contained in such contracts, instruments or
obligations immediately prior to such amendment, restatement, renewal,
replacement or refinancing.
 
     Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.  The Indenture provides that
the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly
or indirectly, enter into or suffer to exist any transaction or series of
related transactions (including, without limitation, the sale, purchase,
exchange or lease of assets, property or services) with any Affiliate of the
Company unless (1) such transaction or series of transactions is on terms that
are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, than those that could reasonably be obtainable at such time in a
comparable transaction in arm's-length dealings with an unrelated third party,
and
 
                                       72
<PAGE>   78
 
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee (a) with respect to any transaction or
series of transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $500,000, an
Officers' Certificate certifying that such transaction or series of related
transactions complies with clause (1) above and (b) with respect to any
transaction or series of transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of
$2.0 million, an Officers' Certificate certifying that such transaction or
series of related transactions has been approved by a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors of the Company (and approved by a majority of the
Independent Directors or, in the event there is only one Independent Director,
by such Independent Director), and (c) with respect to any transaction or series
of transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of $5.0 million, an
opinion as to the fairness to the Company from a financial point of view issued
by an investment banking firm of national standing. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this covenant will not apply to (i) employment agreements or
compensation or employee benefit arrangements with any officer, director or
employee of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in
the ordinary course of business
(including customary benefits thereunder and including reimbursement or
advancement of out-of-pocket expenses, and director's and officer's liability
insurance), (ii) any transaction entered into by or among the Company or one of
its Restricted Subsidiaries with one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Company, (iii) any transaction permitted by the second paragraph under "--
Limitation on Restricted Payments", (iv) transactions permitted by, and
complying with, the provisions described under "-- Merger, Consolidation and
Sale of Assets" and (v) transactions with suppliers or other purchases or sales
of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business
(including, without limitation, pursuant to joint venture agreements) and
otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture which, in the reasonable
determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, are on terms no less
favorable to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that could
reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party.
 
     Limitation on Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.  The Indenture
provides that the Company will not designate any Subsidiary of the Company
(other than a newly created Subsidiary in which no Investment has previously
been made) as an "Unrestricted Subsidiary" under the Indenture (a "Designation")
unless:
 
          (a) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or
     after giving effect to such Designation;
 
          (b) immediately after giving effect to such Designation, the Company
     would be able to incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than
     Permitted Indebtedness) under the covenant described under "-- Limitation
     on Incurrence of Indebtedness"; and
 
          (c) the Company would not be prohibited under the Indenture from
     making an Investment at the time of Designation in an amount (the
     "Designation Amount") equal to the greater of (x) the book value of such
     Restricted Subsidiary on such date and (y) the Fair Market Value of such
     Restricted Subsidiary on such date.
 
In the event of any such Designation, the Company shall be deemed to have made
an Investment constituting a Restricted Payment pursuant to the covenant
described under "-- Limitation on Restricted Payments" for all purposes of the
Indenture in an amount equal to the Designation Amount.
 
     The Indenture further provides that the Company will not designate an
Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (a "Redesignation"), unless:
 
          (a) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of
     and after giving effect to such Redesignation; and
 
          (b) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary
     outstanding immediately following such Redesignation shall be deemed to
     have been incurred at such time and shall have been permitted to be
     incurred for all purposes of the Indenture.
 
                                       73
<PAGE>   79
 
     An Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be redesignated as a
Restricted Subsidiary at any time if (a) the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary (i) provides credit support for, or a guarantee of, any Indebtedness
of such Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or
instrument evidencing such Indebtedness) or (ii) is directly or indirectly
liable for any Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or (b) a default
with respect to any Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any
right which the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against it)
would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default on
such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or
payable prior to its final scheduled maturity, except in the case of clause (a)
to the extent permitted under the covenant described above under the caption
" -- Limitation on Restricted Payments."
 
     The Company's Subsidiaries in China were designated Unrestricted
Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date. All Designations (other than with respect to
the Company's Subsidiaries in China) and Redesignations must be evidenced by
Board Resolutions delivered to the Trustee certifying compliance with the
foregoing provisions. Subsidiaries that are not designated by the Board of
Directors as Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries will be deemed to be
Restricted Subsidiaries. The Designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed a Designation of all of the Subsidiaries
of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
 
     Limitation on Incurrence of Senior Subordinated Indebtedness.  The Company
shall not, directly or indirectly, incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or
otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinated or junior in
right of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company and senior in any respect in
right of payment to the Notes. For purposes of this provision, no Indebtedness
shall be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness
by reason of the fact that such other Indebtedness is secured by any Lien or is
subject to a Guarantee.
 
     Guarantees.  If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries transfers
or causes to be transferred, in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, any property (other than cash) to any Restricted Subsidiary that
is not a Foreign Subsidiary, or if the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall organize, acquire or otherwise invest in another Restricted
Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary, then such transferee or acquired or
other Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee a
supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant
to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee on a senior
subordinated basis all of the Company's obligations under the Notes and the
Indenture and (ii) deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel that such
supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such
Restricted Subsidiary and constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable
obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary. The Indebtedness represented by any
such Guarantee will be subordinated on the same basis to senior Indebtedness of
the guarantor thereof as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt. The
obligations of each guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount as will,
after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such
guarantor, result in the obligations of such guarantor under the Guarantee not
constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or
state law.
 
     Any such Guarantee will be released upon the sale of all of the Capital
Stock, or all or substantially all of the assets, of the applicable guarantor if
such sale is made in compliance with the Indenture.
 
     Provision of Financial Statements and Information.  The Indenture provides
that, following effectiveness of the Exchange Offer, whether or not the Company
is then subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will
file with the Commission so long as any Notes are outstanding, the annual
reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports which the Company would
have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to such Section 13(a) or
15(d) if the Company were so subject, and such documents shall be filed with the
Commission on or prior to the respective dates (the "Required Filing Dates") by
which the Company would have been
 
                                       74
<PAGE>   80
 
required so to file such documents if the Company were so subject; provided the
Commission will accept such filings. The Company will also in any event (i)
within 15 days of each Required Filing Date, file with the Trustee, and supply
the Trustee with copies for delivery to the holders of the Notes, the annual
reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports which the Company would
have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Company were subject to such Sections and (ii)
if the Commission will not accept the filing of such documents promptly upon
written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery,
supply copies of such documents to any prospective holder of the Notes.
 
     The Company shall provide to any holder or any beneficial owner of Notes
any information reasonably requested by such holder or such beneficial owner
concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries (including financial statements)
necessary in order to permit such holder or such beneficial owner to sell or
transfer Notes in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
 
     Additional Covenants.  The Indenture also contains covenants with respect
to the following matters: (i) payment of principal, premium and interest; (ii)
maintenance of an office or agency in The City of New York; (iii) maintenance of
corporate existence; (iv) payment of taxes and other claims; (v) maintenance of
properties; and (vi) maintenance of insurance.
 
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS
 
     The Indenture provides that the Company shall not, in any single
transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into
(whether or not the Company is the Surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer,
lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties
or assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries) in one or more related transactions to, another Person, and the
Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to enter into any such
transaction or series of related transactions if such transaction or series of
related transactions, in the aggregate, would result in a sale, assignment,
transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the properties and assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, to another Person, unless (i) the Surviving Person is a corporation
organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia; (ii) the Surviving Person (if other than the Company)
assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Indenture and,
if then in effect, the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to a supplemental
indenture or other written agreement, as the case may be, in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii) immediately after such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (iv)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related
transactions, (A) in the case of a transaction involving the Company, the
Surviving Person shall have a Consolidated Net Worth equal to or greater than
the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction
or series of related transactions or (B) in the case of a transaction involving
a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Surviving Person shall have a
Consolidated Net Worth equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of
such Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such transaction or series of
related transactions; and (v) after giving pro forma effect to such transaction,
the Surviving Person would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the covenant
described under "-- Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness." Notwithstanding
clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) above, any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate
with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the
Company or another Restricted Subsidiary.
 
     In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and
complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraph in
which the Company is not the Surviving Person, such Surviving Person shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company, and the Company shall be discharged from its obligations under, the
Indenture, the Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
                                       75
<PAGE>   81
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     The Indenture provides that each of the following constitutes an Event of
Default:
 
          (i) a default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or
     Liquidated Damages (if any) with respect to, any Note (whether or not
     prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture);
 
          (ii) a default in the payment when due of principal on any Note
     (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the
     Indenture), whether upon maturity, acceleration, optional or mandatory
     redemption, required repurchase or otherwise;
 
          (iii) failure to perform or comply with any covenant, agreement or
     warranty in the Indenture (other than the defaults specified in clauses (i)
     and (ii) above) which failure continues for 60 days after written notice
     thereof has been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and
     the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
     the then outstanding Notes;
 
          (iv) the occurrence of one or more defaults under any agreements,
     indentures or instruments under which the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary then has outstanding Indebtedness in excess of $5.0 million in
     the aggregate and, if not already matured at its final maturity in
     accordance with its terms, such Indebtedness shall have been accelerated
     and such acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or cured within 10 days
     thereafter;
 
          (v) one or more judgments, orders or decrees for the payment of money
     in excess of $5.0 million, either individually or in the aggregate, shall
     be entered against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their
     respective properties and which judgments, orders or decrees are not paid,
     discharged, bonded or stayed or stayed pending appeal for a period of 60
     days after their entry; or
 
          (vi) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
     Company or any Significant Subsidiary.
 
     If any Event of Default (other than as specified in clause (vi) of the
preceding paragraph with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the
Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may, and the Trustee at the request of such holders shall,
declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to
the Company, and to the Company and the Trustee if by the holders, specifying
the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a "notice of
acceleration," and the Notes shall become immediately due and payable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from
the events specified in clause (vi) of the preceding paragraph with respect to
the Company, the principal of, premium, if any, and any accrued interest on all
outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become immediately due and payable without
further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or
the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the holders of all of the
Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the Indenture except (i) a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment
of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (which may be
waived only with the consent of each holder of Notes affected), or (ii) in
respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each Note outstanding. Subject
to certain limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
The Trustee may withhold from holders of the Notes notice of any continuing
Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to
the payment of principal, premium or interest) if it determines that withholding
notice is in their interest.
 
                                       76
<PAGE>   82
 
     The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a
statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
 
NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS
 
     The Indenture provides that no recourse for the payment of the principal
of, premium, if any, interest on or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to
any of the Notes or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof,
and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the
Company in the Indenture, or in any of the Notes or because of the creation of
any Indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator,
shareholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of the Company or
of any successor Person thereof. Each Holder, by accepting the Notes, waives and
releases all such liability.
 
DEFEASANCE
 
     The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the
obligations of the Company discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes
("defeasance"). Such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have
paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes
and to have satisfied all other obligations under the Notes and the Indenture
except for (i) the rights of holders of the outstanding Notes to receive, solely
from the trust fund described below, payments in respect of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (ii) the
Company's obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary
Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, and
the maintenance of an office or agency for payment, (iii) the rights, powers,
trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee under the Indenture, and (iv) the
defeasance provisions of the Indenture. In addition, the Company may, at its
option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released
with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture ("covenant
defeasance") and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not
constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In the
event that a covenant defeasance occurs, certain events (not including
non-payment, bankruptcy and insolvency events) described under "-- Events of
Default" will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to the Notes.
 
     In order to exercise either defeasance or covenant defeasance, (i) the
Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust, for
the benefit of the holders of the Notes, cash in United States dollars, U.S.
Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture), or a combination thereof,
in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the report of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment
banking firm, to pay and discharge the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the outstanding Notes to redemption or maturity; (ii) the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States
to the effect that the holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize
income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such
defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, and will be subject to
Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times
as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the
case may be, had not occurred (in the case of defeasance, such opinion must
refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change
in applicable Federal income tax laws); (iii) no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as
clause (vi) under the first paragraph under "-- Events of Default" is concerned,
at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(iv) such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; (v) the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) the trust
funds will not be subject to any rights of holders of Indebtedness (other than
holders of the Notes) and (B) after the 91st day following the deposit, the
trust funds will not be subject to the effect of
 
                                       77
<PAGE>   83
 
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally; and (vi) the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that
all conditions precedent under the Indenture to either defeasance or covenant
defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with and that no violations
under agreements governing any other outstanding Indebtedness of the Company
would result therefrom.
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
     The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect
(except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the
Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes
when (i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered
(except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and
Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and
thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation or (b) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable and the Company has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee an amount in United States
dollars sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit; (ii) the Company has paid
or caused to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Company;
and (iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and
an opinion of counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under the
Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been
complied with.
 
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
 
     Except as provided in the next two paragraphs, the Indenture or the Notes
may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
(including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer
for the Notes).
 
     Without the consent of each holder affected, an amendment or waiver shall
not: (i) reduce the principal amount of the Notes whose holders must consent to
an amendment, supplement or waiver, (ii) reduce the principal of or change the
fixed maturity of any Note, or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the
redemption of the Notes in a manner adverse to the holders of the Notes other
than with respect to a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, (iii)
reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Notes, (iv)
waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on the Notes (except that holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may (a) rescind an
acceleration of the Notes that resulted from a non-payment default, and (b)
waive the payment default that resulted from such acceleration), (v) make any
Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes, (vi) make any change
in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or
Events of Default or the rights of holders of Notes to receive payments of
principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes, (vii) following the
occurrence of a Change of Control, amend, change or modify the Company's
obligation to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a
Change of Control or modify any of the provisions or definitions with respect
thereto in a manner adverse to the holders of the Notes, or following the
occurrence of an Asset Sale, amend, change or modify the Company's obligation to
make and consummate an Asset Sale Offer or modify any of the provisions or
definitions with respect thereto in a manner adverse to the holders of the
Notes, or (viii) modify or change any of the provisions of the Indenture
relating to the subordination of the Notes in a manner adverse to the holders of
the Notes.
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of Notes,
the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes
(i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, (ii) to provide for
uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
 
                                       78
<PAGE>   84
 
Notes, (iii) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to
holders of the Notes in the event of any Disposition involving the Company in
which the Company is not the Surviving Person, (iv) to make any change that
would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the Notes or
that does not adversely affect the rights of any such holder, (v) to release any
Guarantee permitted to be released under the Indenture, or (vi) to comply with
the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
 
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
 
     The registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes. A holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the
Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a holder among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Company may require a holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture. Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be
required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note (i) during a
period beginning at the opening of business on the day that the Trustee receives
notice of any redemption from the Company and ending at the close of business on
the day the notice of redemption is sent to holders, (ii) selected for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being
redeemed in part may be transferred or exchanged, and (iii) during a Change of
Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer if such Note is tendered pursuant to such
Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer and not withdrawn.
 
THE TRUSTEE
 
     United States Trust Company of New York is the Trustee under the Indenture
and has been appointed by the Company as Registrar and Paying Agent with regard
to the Notes.
 
     The Indenture (including the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
incorporated by reference therein) contains limitations on the rights of the
Trustee thereunder, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain
payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by
it in respect of any such claims, as security or otherwise. The Trustee is
permitted to engage in other transactions; provided, however, if it acquires any
conflicting interest (as defined in the Trust Indenture Act) it must eliminate
such conflict or resign.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Indenture and the Notes are governed by the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference
is made to the Indenture for the definition of all other terms used in the
Indenture.
 
     "Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person, Indebtedness
of any other Person (the "Acquired Person") existing at the time the Acquired
Person merges with or into, or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of, such
specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, the Acquired Person merging with or into, or becoming a
Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; provided, however, that
Indebtedness of such Acquired Person which is redeemed, defeased, retired or
otherwise repaid at the time of or immediately upon consummation of the
transactions by which such Acquired Person merges with or into or becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person shall not be Acquired Debt.
 
     "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition,
"control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms
 
                                       79
<PAGE>   85
 
"controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with") of any Person
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
 
     "Asset Sale" means (i) any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any assets (including by way of a
sale-and-leaseback) other than in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) the
issuance or sale of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in the case of
each of (i) and (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions, to any Person (other than to the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary and other than directors' qualifying shares) for Net Proceeds in
excess of $250,000.
 
     "Capital Lease Obligation" of any Person means, at the time any
determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a
capital lease for property leased by such Person that would at such time be
required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance
with GAAP.
 
     "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights
to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or
interests in (however designated) corporate stock or other equity
participations, including partnership interests, whether general or limited, of
such Person, including any Preferred Stock.
 
     "Cash Equivalents" means (i) marketable direct obligations issued by, or
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any
agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in
each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof; (ii)
marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of
America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public
instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition
thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings
obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Rating Services or Moody's Investors
Service, Inc.; (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the
date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at
least A-1 from Standard & Poor's Rating Services or at least P-1 from Moody's
Investors Service, Inc.; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances
(or, with respect to foreign banks, similar instruments) maturing within one
year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any bank organized under the
laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of
Columbia or any member of the European Economic Community or any U.S. branch of
a foreign bank having at the date of acquisition thereof combined capital and
surplus of not less than $200 million; (v) repurchase obligations with a term of
not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in
clause (i) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified
in clause (iv) above; and (vi) investments in money market funds which invest
substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in clauses
(i) through (v) above.
 
     "Cash Flow" means, with respect to any period, Consolidated Net Income for
such period, plus, to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income: (i) extraordinary net losses, plus (ii) provision for taxes based on
income or profits and any provision for taxes utilized in computing the
extraordinary net losses under clause (i) hereof, plus (iii) Consolidated
Interest Expense, plus (iv) depreciation, amortization and all other non-cash
charges (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles and any
last-in, first-out (LIFO) provisions).
 
     "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events
after the Issue Date: (i) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than one or more Permitted
Holders) is or becomes (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act,
except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares
that such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 50%
or more of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock
 
                                       80
<PAGE>   86
 
of the Company or IKS Holdings; (ii) after the consummation of an initial public
offering of any class of common stock of the Company or IKS Holdings, during any
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new
directors who have been appointed by CVC, Citicorp N.A. or any Affiliate of CVC,
or any new directors whose election to such Board of Directors, or whose
nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company, was approved by a
vote of 66 2/3% of the directors then still in office who were either directors
at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of such
Board of Directors of the Company then in office; (iii) the approval by the
holders of Capital Stock of the Company of any plan or proposal for the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company (whether or not otherwise in
compliance with the terms of the Indenture); or (iv) the sale or other
disposition (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of all or
substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of the Company to any Person or
group (as defined in Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) (other than to one or more
of the Permitted Holders) as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in one
transaction or a series of related transactions.
 
     "Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage Ratio" means, for any period, the ratio of
(i) the aggregate amount of Cash Flow for such period, to (ii) Consolidated
Interest Expense for such period, determined on a pro forma basis after giving
pro forma effect to (i) the incurrence of the Indebtedness giving rise to the
calculation of the Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage Ratio and (if applicable) the
application of the net proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other
Indebtedness, as if such Indebtedness was incurred, and the application of such
proceeds occurred, at the beginning of such period; (ii) the incurrence,
repayment or retirement of any other Indebtedness by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries since the first day of such period as if such
Indebtedness was incurred, repaid or retired at the beginning of such period
(except that, in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any
revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon the average balance of
such Indebtedness at the end of each month during such period); (iii) in the
case of Acquired Debt, the related acquisition as if such acquisition had
occurred at the beginning of such period; and (iv) any acquisition or
disposition by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any company or any
business or any assets out of the ordinary course of business, or any related
repayment of Indebtedness, in each case since the first day of such period,
assuming such acquisition or disposition had been consummated on the first day
of such period.
 
     "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any period, the sum
of (i) the interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period, including, without limitation, (a) amortization of debt discount,
(b) the net payments, if any, under interest rate contracts (including
amortization of discounts), (c) the interest portion of any deferred payment
obligation and (d) accrued interest, plus (ii) the interest component of the
Capital Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued
by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, and all
capitalized interest of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus (iii)
all dividends paid during such period by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries with respect to any Disqualified Stock (other than by any
Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary and
other than any dividend paid in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock)),
in each case, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied.
 
     "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any period, the net income
(or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied,
adjusted to the extent included in calculating such net income (or loss), by
excluding, without duplication, (i) all extraordinary gains and losses (less all
fees and expenses relating thereto), (ii) the portion of net income (or loss) of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries allocable to interests in
unconsolidated Persons or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, except to the extent of the
amount of dividends or distributions actually paid to the
 
                                       81
<PAGE>   87
 
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries by such other Person during such period,
(iii) for purposes of the covenant entitled " -- Limitation on Restricted
Payments", net income (or loss) of any Person combined with the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a "pooling-of-interests" basis attributable to
any period prior to the date of combination, (iv) net gains and losses (less all
fees and expenses relating thereto) in respect of disposition of assets
(including, without limitation, pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions)
other than in the ordinary course of business, (v) the net income of any
Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar
distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income to the Company is not
at the time permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its
charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its
stockholders, or (vi) the cumulative non-cash effect of any change in accounting
principle.
 
     "Consolidated Net Worth" of any Person means the consolidated stockholders'
equity of such
Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, less
(without duplication) amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock of such Person.
 
     "Currency Agreement Obligations" means the obligations of any person under
a foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement
or arrangement to protect such person against fluctuations in currency values.
 
     "Default" means any event that is, or after the giving of notice or passage
of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
 
     "Designated Senior Debt" means (i) the Indebtedness under the Senior Credit
Facility, and (ii) any other Senior Debt of the Company permitted to be incurred
under the Indenture the principal amount of which is $25 million or more at the
time of the designation of such Senior Debt as "Designated Senior Debt" by the
Company in a written instrument delivered to the Trustee.
 
     "Disposition" means, with respect to any Person, any merger, consolidation
or other business combination involving such Person (whether or not such Person
is the Surviving Person) or the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all of such Person's assets.
 
     "Disqualified Stock" means (i) any Preferred Stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary and (ii) that portion of any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable
at the option of the holder thereof (other than upon a change of control of the
Company in circumstances where the holders of the Notes would have similar
rights), in whole or in part on or prior to the stated maturity of the Notes.
 
     "Dollars" and "$" means lawful money of the United States of America.
 
     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
     "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any asset or property, the sale
value that would be obtained in an arm's-length transaction between an informed
and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer
under no compulsion to buy.
 
     "Foreign Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized under the
laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof and the
operations of which are located entirely outside the United States.
 
     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
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
 
                                       82
<PAGE>   88
 
significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States of
America, which are applicable as of the Issue Date and consistently applied.
 
     "German Subsidiary Facilities" means one or more credit facilities of IKS
Klingelnberg GmbH, as the same may be amended, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced or refinanced from time to time, including (i) any related notes,
letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, and (ii) any notes,
guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in
connection with any such amendment, modification, renewal, refunding,
replacement or refinancing.
 
     "Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business),
direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of
credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of
any Indebtedness.
 
     "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, and
whether or not contingent, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed
money or which is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument,
(ii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred or unpaid purchase price
of property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after
the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title
thereto or the completion of such service, (iii) all Capital Lease Obligations
of such Person, (iv) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of
credit or bankers' acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person,
(v) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, all net obligations
of such Person under Interest Rate Agreement Obligations or Currency Agreement
Obligations of such Person, (vi) all liabilities of others of the kind described
in the preceding clause (i), (ii) or (iii) secured by any Lien on any property
owned by such Person; provided, however, if the obligations secured by a Lien
(other than a Permitted Lien not securing any liability that would itself
constitute Indebtedness) on any assets or property have not been assumed by such
Person in full or are not such Person's legal liability in full, the amount of
such Indebtedness for purposes of this definition shall be limited to the lesser
of the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien and the Fair Market Value of
the property subject to such Lien, (vii) all Disqualified Stock issued by such
Person and all Preferred Stock issued by a Subsidiary of such Person, and (viii)
to the extent not otherwise included, any guarantee by such Person of any other
Person's indebtedness or other obligations described in clauses (i) through
(vii) above. "Indebtedness" of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall
not include current trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business
and payable in accordance with customary practices, and non-interest bearing
installment obligations and accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of business which are not more than 90 days past due. The principal amount
outstanding of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount is the
accreted value of such Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness
shall not include Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other
financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently
drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided
that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 3 business days of the incurrence
thereof.
 
     "Independent Director" means a director of the Company other than a
director (i) who (apart from being a director of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company) is an employee, associate or Affiliate of the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) who is a director, employee, associate or
Affiliate of another party (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries)
to the transaction in question.
 
     "Interest Rate Agreement Obligations" means, with respect to any Person,
the Obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements, and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.
 
                                       83
<PAGE>   89
 
     "Investment" means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect loan
or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, a guarantee) or
capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to
others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of
others), or any purchase or acquisition by such Person of any Capital Stock,
bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or evidences of Indebtedness issued
by, any other Person. "Investment" shall exclude travel and similar advances to
officers and employees of the Company in the ordinary course of business and
extensions of trade credit by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on
commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices of the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be. For the purposes of
the "Limitation on Restricted Payments" covenant, (i) "Investment" shall include
and be valued at the Fair Market Value of the net assets of any Restricted
Subsidiary (to the extent of the Company's equity interest in such Restricted
Subsidiary) at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an
Unrestricted Subsidiary and shall exclude the Fair Market Value of the net
assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that such Unrestricted
Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the amount of any
Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all
additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups,
write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment, reduced by the
payment of dividends or distributions in connection with such Investment or any
other amounts received in respect of such Investment; provided, however, that no
such payment of dividends or distributions or receipt of any such other amounts
shall reduce the amount of any Investment if such payment of dividends or
distributions or receipt of any such amounts would be included in Consolidated
Net Income. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or
otherwise disposes of any Common Stock of any direct or indirect Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or
disposition, the Company no longer owns, directly or indirectly, greater than
50% of the outstanding Common Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary, the Company
shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or
disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of such
Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.
 
     "Issue Date" means the date on which the Notes are first issued under the
Indenture.
 
     "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in any asset and any filing of, or agreement to give, any financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any
jurisdiction).
 
     "Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages owing under the
Registration Rights Agreement.
 
     "Net Proceeds" means, with respect to any Asset Sale by any Person, the
aggregate cash or Cash Equivalent proceeds received by such Person and/or its
Affiliates in respect of such Asset Sale, which amount is equal to the excess,
if any, of (i) the cash or Cash Equivalent received by such Person and/or its
Affiliates (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment
pursuant to, or monetization of, a note or installment receivable or otherwise,
but only as and when received) in connection with such Asset Sale, over (ii) the
sum of (a) the amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by such asset and
which is required to be repaid by such Person in connection with such Asset
Sale, plus (b) all fees, commissions and other expenses incurred by such Person
in connection with such Asset Sale, plus (c) provision for taxes, including
income taxes, directly attributable to the Asset Sale or to required prepayments
or repayments of Indebtedness with the proceeds of such Asset Sale, plus (d) if
such Person is a Restricted Subsidiary, any dividends or distributions payable
to holders of minority interests in such Restricted Subsidiary from the proceeds
of such Asset Sale, plus (e) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve against any liabilities associated
with such
 
                                       84
<PAGE>   90
 
Asset Sale, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment
benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and
liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset
Sale; provided that upon the release of any such reserves, such amounts shall
constitute "Net Proceeds" hereunder.
 
     "Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages and other liabilities
payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
 
     "Permitted Holders" means (i) CVC, (ii) Citicorp, N.A. or any other
Affiliate of CVC, (iii) any officer, employee or director of CVC, (iv) the
Management Investors and (v) in the case of any natural person specified in the
foregoing clauses, any spouse or lineal descendant (including by adoption) of
such person; provided, however, that in no event shall the persons specified in
clauses (iii) through (v) be deemed "Permitted Holders" with respect to more
than 30% of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the
Company or IKS Holdings in the aggregate.
 
     "Permitted Investments" means (i) any Investment in the Company or any
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) and any
Investment (other than a transfer of property (excluding cash)) in a Foreign
Subsidiary that is a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) any investment in
cash or Cash Equivalents; (iii) any Investment in a Person (an "Acquired
Person") if, as a result of such Investment, (a) the Acquired Person becomes a
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) the Acquired Person either (1) is
merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Company or one of its
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries and the Company or such Wholly-Owned
Restricted Subsidiary is the Surviving Person, or (2) transfers or conveys
substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or one of
its Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that any Investment pursuant
to this clause (iii) in a Person that is or becomes a Foreign Subsidiary shall
not constitute the transfer of property (other than cash); (iv) Investments in
accounts and notes receivable acquired in the ordinary course of business; (v)
any notes, obligations or other securities received in connection with an Asset
Sale that complies with the covenant described under "Limitations on Asset
Sales" or any other disposition not constituting an "Asset Sale"; (vi) Interest
Rate Obligations and Currency Agreement Obligations permitted pursuant to the
second paragraph of the covenant described under "Limitation on Incurrence of
Indebtedness" above; and (vii) investments in or acquisitions of Capital Stock
or similar interests in Persons (other than Affiliates of the Company) received
in the bankruptcy or reorganization of or by such Person or any exchange of such
investment with the issuer thereof or taken in settlement of or other resolution
of claims or disputes.
 
     "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens on assets or property of the Company that
secure Senior Debt of the Company and Liens on assets or property of a
Restricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary;
(ii) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time that such
Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens were in existence prior to the
contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets
other than those of such Person; (iii) Liens on property acquired by the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens were in existence
prior to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to any other
property; (iv) Liens in respect of Interest Rate Obligations and Currency
Agreement Obligations permitted under the Indenture; (v) Liens in favor of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (vi) Liens existing or created on the
Issue Date; and (vii) Liens securing the Notes or the obligations of the Company
to the Trustee under the Indenture.
 
     "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
 
     "Preferred Stock" as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means
Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as
to the payment of dividends or
 
                                       85
<PAGE>   91
 
distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Capital Stock of any
other class of such Person.
 
     "Purchase Money Obligation" means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on
assets related to the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries,
and any additions and accessions thereto, which are purchased, constructed or
improved by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at any time after the Issue
Date; provided, however, that (i) any security agreement or conditional sales or
other title retention contract pursuant to which the Lien on such assets is
created (collectively, a "Security Agreement") shall be entered into within 90
days after the purchase or substantial completion of the construction or
improvement of such assets and shall at all times be confined solely to the
assets so purchased, constructed or improved, any additions and accessions
thereto and any proceeds therefrom, (ii) at no time shall the aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Indebtedness secured thereby be increased,
except in connection with the purchase of additions and accessions thereto and
except in respect of fees and other obligations in respect of such Indebtedness
and (iii) (A) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness secured
thereby (determined on a per asset basis in the case of any additions and
accessions) shall not at the time such Security Agreement is entered into exceed
100% of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement to the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the assets subject thereto or (B) the
Indebtedness secured thereby shall be with recourse solely to the assets so
purchased, constructed or improved, any additions and accessions thereto and any
proceeds therefrom.
 
     "Recapitalization Dividend" means the payment by the Company to IKS
Holdings on the Issue Date of amounts necessary to consummate the
Recapitalization.
 
     "Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
 
     "Restricted Payment" means (i) any dividend or other distribution declared
or paid on any Capital Stock of the Company (other than (A) dividends or
distributions payable solely in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of
the Company, (B) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary or (C) the Recapitalization Dividend); (ii) any payment to
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of
the Company (other than the Recapitalization Dividend); (iii) any payment to
purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any
scheduled maturity, repayment or sinking fund payment, any Subordinated
Indebtedness other than the Recapitalization Dividend or a purchase, redemption,
defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value that is paid for with
the proceeds of Refinancing Indebtedness that is permitted under the covenant
described under "-- Certain Covenants -- Limitation on Incurrence of
Indebtedness"; or (iv) any Restricted Investment.
 
     "Restricted Subsidiary" means each direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
 
     "Senior Credit Facility" means the Senior Credit Facility, entered into on
the Issue Date between the Company and the lenders named therein as the same may
be amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to
time, including (i) any related notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral
documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in
each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from
time to time, and (ii) any notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments
and agreements executed in connection with any such amendment, modification,
renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
 
     "Senior Debt" means the principal of and interest (including post-petition
interest) on, and all other amounts owing in respect of, (x) the Senior Credit
Facility and (y) any other Indebtedness incurred by the Company (including, but
not limited to, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and all other charges,
fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Indebtedness), unless the
instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness or pursuant to which such
Indebtedness is outstanding expressly provides that such Indebtedness is on a
parity with or subordinated in right of
 
                                       86
<PAGE>   92
 
payment to the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Senior Debt shall not
include (i) any Indebtedness for federal, state, local or other taxes, (ii) any
Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates,
(iii) any Indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods or materials, or for
services obtained, in the ordinary course of business or any obligations in
respect of any such Indebtedness, (iv) any Indebtedness that is incurred in
violation of the Indenture, (v) Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes or (vi)
Indebtedness of the Company that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of
payment (other than as a result of the Indebtedness being unsecured) to any
other Indebtedness of the Company.
 
     "Significant Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation S-X is in effect
on the Issue Date.
 
     "Subordinated Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company subordinated
in right of payment to the Notes.
 
     "Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the
outstanding voting power of the Voting Stock of which is owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of
such Person, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, or
(ii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such
Person is a general partner, or (iii) any other Person (other than a corporation
or limited partnership) in which such Person or one or more other Subsidiaries
of such Person, or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof,
directly or indirectly, has more than 50% of the outstanding ownership or
similar interests or has the power, by contract or otherwise, to direct or cause
the direction of the policies, management and affairs thereof.
 
     "Surviving Person" means, with respect to any Person involved in or that
makes any Disposition, the Person formed by or surviving such Disposition or the
Person to which such Disposition is made.
 
     "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) Shanghai IKS Mechanical Blade Company,
Ltd., (ii) Shanghai IKS Lida Mechanical Blade Company, Ltd. and (iii) any other
Subsidiary of the Company designated as such pursuant to and in compliance with
the covenant described under "-- Limitation on Designations of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries" and not redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with
such covenant.
 
     "Voting Stock" of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class
or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power
under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of
directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not
at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting
power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
 
     "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the
products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payment
of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, with (b)
the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse
between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding
aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness.
 
     "Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary with
respect to which all of the outstanding voting securities (other than directors'
qualifying shares) of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or
a Surviving Person of any Disposition involving the Company, as the case may be.
 
                                       87
<PAGE>   93
 
                         BOOK-ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM
 
     Except as set forth below, the New Notes will initially be issued in the
form of one or more registered notes in global form without coupons (each, a
"Global Note"). Upon issuance, each Global Note will be deposited with, or on
behalf of, the Depository Trust Company (the "Depository") and registered in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository.
 
     If a holder tendering Existing notes so requests, such holder's New Notes
will be issued as described below under "Certificated Securities" in registered
form without coupons (the "Certificated Securities").
 
     The Depository has advised the Company that it is (i) a limited purpose
trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, (ii) a member
of the Federal Reserve System, (iii) a "clearing corporation" within the meaning
of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, and (iv) a "Clearing Agency"
registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depository was
created to hold securities for its participants (collectively, the
"Participants") and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between Participants through electronic book-entry changes to the
accounts of its Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical transfer
and delivery of certificates. The Depository's Participants include securities
brokers and dealers (including the Initial Purchaser), banks and trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the
Depository's system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies (collectively, the "Indirect Participants") that
clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either
directly or indirectly.
 
     The Company expects that pursuant to procedures established by the
Depository (i) upon deposit of the Global Notes, the Depository will credit the
accounts of Participants who elect to exchange Existing Notes with an interest
in the Global Note and (ii) ownership of the New Notes will be shown on, and the
transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained
by the Depository (with respect to the interest of Participants), the
Participants and the Indirect Participants. The laws of some states require that
certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that
they own and that security interests in negotiable instruments can only be
perfected by delivery of certificates representing the instruments.
 
     So long as the Depository or its nominee is the registered owner of a
Global Note, the Depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner or holder of the New Notes represented by the Global
Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Note will not be entitled to have New Notes
represented by such Global Note registered in their names, will not receive or
be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Securities, and will
not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture for any
purpose, including with respect to the giving of any directions, instruction or
approval to the Trustee thereunder. As a result, the ability of a person having
a beneficial interest in New Notes represented by a Global Note to pledge such
interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the Depository's
system, or to otherwise take action with respect to such interest, may be
affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interest.
 
     The Company understands that under existing industry practice, in the event
the Company requests any action of holders or an owner of a beneficial interest
in a Global Note desires to take any action that the Depository, as the holder
of such Global Note, is entitled to take, the Depository would authorize the
Participants to take such action and the Participant would authorize persons
owning through such Participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon
the instruction of such persons. Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of New Notes by the Depository, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records of the Depository relating to such New
Notes.
 
     Payments with respect to the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
any New Notes represented by a Global Note registered in the name of the
Depository or its nominee on the
 
                                       88
<PAGE>   94
 
applicable record date will be payable by the Trustee to or at the direction of
the Depository or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of the
Global Note representing such New Notes under the Indenture. Under the terms of
the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may treat the persons in whose names
the New Notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof
for the purpose of receiving such payment and for any and all other purposes
whatsoever. Consequently, neither the Company nor the Trustee has or will have
any responsibility or liability for the payment of such amounts to beneficial
owners of New Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest), or to
immediately credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with such payment,
in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of
beneficial interest in the Global Note as shown on the records of the
Depository. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the
beneficial owners of New Notes will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practice and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the
Indirect Participants.
 
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES
 
     If (i) the Company notifies the Trustee in writing that the Depository is
no longer willing or able to act as a depository and the Company is unable to
locate a qualified successor within 90 days or (ii) the Company, at its option,
notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Notes in
definitive form under the Indenture, then, upon surrender by the Depository of
its Global Notes, Certificated Securities will be issued to each person that the
Depository identifies as the beneficial owner of the New Notes represented by
the Global Note. In addition, any person having a beneficial interest in a
Global Note or any holder of Existing Notes whose Existing Notes have been
accepted for exchange may, upon request to the Trustee or the Exchange Agent, as
the case may be, exchange such beneficial interest or Existing Notes for
Certificated Securities. Upon any such issuance, the Trustee is required to
register such Certificated Securities in the name of such person or persons (or
the nominee of any thereof), and cause the same to be delivered thereto.
 
     Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the
Depository or any Participant or Indirect Participant in identifying the
beneficial owners of the related New Notes and each such person may conclusively
rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depository
for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and
the respective principal amounts, of the New Notes to be issued).
 
                   CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
   
     In the opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads, counsel to the Company, the
following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax
consequences of the Exchange Offer to a holder of Existing Notes that is an
individual citizen or resident of the United States or a United States
corporation that purchased the Existing Notes pursuant to their original issue
(a "U.S. Holder"). It is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
to the date hereof (the "Code"), existing and proposed Treasury regulations, and
judicial and administrative determinations, all of which are subject to change
at any time, possibly on a retroactive basis. The following relates only to the
Existing Notes, and the New Notes received therefor, that are held as "capital
assets" within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code by U.S. Holders. It does
not discuss state, local, or foreign tax consequences, nor does it discuss tax
consequences to subsequent purchasers (persons who did not purchase the Existing
Notes pursuant to their original issue), or to categories of holders that are
subject to special rules, such as foreign persons, tax-exempt organizations,
insurance companies, banks, and dealers in stocks and securities. Tax
consequences may vary depending on the particular status of an investor. No
rulings will be sought from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the
federal income tax consequences of the Exchange Offer.
    
 
                                       89
<PAGE>   95
 
   
     THIS SECTION DOES NOT PURPORT TO DEAL WITH ALL ASPECTS OF FEDERAL INCOME
TAXATION THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO AN INVESTOR'S DECISION TO EXCHANGE EXISTING
NOTES FOR NEW NOTES. EACH INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR
CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS AND OTHER TAX LAWS TO
ITS PARTICULAR SITUATION BEFORE DETERMINING WHETHER TO EXCHANGE EXISTING NOTES
FOR NEW NOTES.
    
 
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
   
     The exchange of Existing Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer should be
treated as a continuation of the corresponding Existing Notes because the terms
of the New Notes are not materially different from the terms of the Existing
Notes. Accordingly, such exchange should not constitute a taxable event to U.S.
Holders and, therefore, (i) no gain or loss should be realized by a U.S. Holders
upon receipt of a New Note, (ii) the holding period of the New Note should
include the holding period of the Existing Note exchanged therefor and (iii) the
adjusted tax basis of the New Note should be the same as the adjusted tax basis
of the Existing Note exchanged therefor immediately before the exchange.
    
 
STATED INTEREST
 
     Stated interest on a Note will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary
interest income at the time that such interest accrues or is received, in
accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of accounting for federal
income tax purposes. The Notes are not considered to have been issued with
original issue discount for federal income tax purposes.
 
SALE, EXCHANGE OR RETIREMENT OF THE NOTES
 
     A U.S. Holder's tax basis in a Note generally will be its cost. A U.S.
Holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or retirement
of a Note in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on
the sale, exchange or retirement and the tax basis of the Note. Gain or loss
recognized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note (excluding amounts
received in respect of accrued interest, which will be taxable as ordinary
interest income) generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term
capital gain or loss if the Note was held for more than one year.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
 
     Under certain circumstances, a U.S. Holder of a Note may be subject to
"backup withholding" at a 31% rate with respect to payments of interest thereon
or the gross proceeds from the disposition thereof. This withholding generally
applies if the U.S. Holder fails to furnish his or her social security number or
other taxpayer identification number in the specified manner and in certain
other circumstances. Any amount withheld from a payment to a U.S. Holder under
the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against such U.S. Holder's
federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is
furnished to the IRS. Corporations and certain other entities described in the
Code and Treasury regulations are exempt from backup withholding if their exempt
status is properly established.
 
                                       90
<PAGE>   96
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. This Prospectus, as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in
connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Existing Notes
where such Existing Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180
days after the Effective Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such
resale. In addition, until             , 1997 (90 days after the date of this
Prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in the New Notes may be required
to deliver a prospectus.
 
     The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Notes by
broker-dealers. New Notes received by broker-dealers for their own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more
transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through
the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods of
resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to
such prevailing market price or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made
directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive
compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such New Notes. Any broker-dealer that
resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the
Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of
such New Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of New Notes and any
commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be
underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal
states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
 
     For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holders of the Existing Notes) other than commissions or concessions of any
brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Existing Notes
(including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The validity of the New Notes offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Dechert Price & Rhoads, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31,
1994 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1995, included in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited
by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report thereon
appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given
upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       91
<PAGE>   97
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       PAGE
                                                                                       ----
<S>                                                                                    <C>
Report of Independent Auditors.......................................................   F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995.........................   F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended
  December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995...................................................   F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended
  December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995...................................................   F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
  December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995...................................................   F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...........................................   F-7
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 1996 (unaudited)......................  F-17
Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1995
  and 1996 (unaudited)...............................................................  F-18
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the nine month period
  ended September 30, 1996 (unaudited)...............................................  F-19
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month periods ended September 30,
  1995 and 1996 (unaudited)..........................................................  F-20
Note to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)................................  F-21
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   98
 
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
Board of Directors
International Knife & Saw, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
International Knife & Saw, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and
1994, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareholders' equity, cash flows and schedule for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1995. These financial statements and schedule are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
International Knife & Saw, Inc. and Subsidiaries at December 31, 1995 and 1994,
and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related
financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.
 
   
                                                ERNST & YOUNG LLP
    
 
Cincinnati, Ohio
September 12, 1996, except for Note 17,
as to which the date is November 6, 1996
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   99
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            DECEMBER 31,
                                                                         -------------------
                                                                          1994        1995
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                      <C>         <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents............................................  $ 6,574     $10,273
  Accounts receivable, trade, less allowances for doubtful accounts of
     $2,084 and $1,105.................................................   16,468      18,644
  Notes receivable (Note 12)...........................................    1,483          --
  Other receivables....................................................      854         851
  Inventories (Note 3).................................................   21,765      29,036
  Prepaid expenses, deferred taxes and sundry..........................    1,135         978
                                                                         -------     -------
Total current assets...................................................   48,279      59,782
Other assets:
  Cash value of life insurance (Note 4)................................      350         375
  Notes receivable (Note 12)...........................................    1,093         235
  Advances and investments (Note 15)...................................      376       1,158
  Cost in excess of net assets acquired................................      742       1,272
  Deposits, deferred charges and sundry................................       97         148
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                           2,658       3,188
Property, plant and equipment (Notes 6 and 8):
  Cost.................................................................   43,077      47,042
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization.......................   21,373      24,315
                                                                         -------     -------
Property, plant and equipment, net.....................................   21,704      22,727
                                                                         -------     -------
Total assets...........................................................  $72,641     $85,697
                                                                         =======     =======
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Notes payable (Note 7)...............................................  $ 4,359     $10,270
  Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)...........................      609         699
  Current portion -- capitalized lease obligation (Note 8).............      140         128
  Accounts and drafts payable..........................................    5,858       7,402
  Accrued and sundry liabilities (Note 9)..............................    3,980       4,765
  Due to parent........................................................    2,646       3,954
                                                                         -------     -------
Total current liabilities..............................................   17,592      27,218
Long-term debt, less current portion (Note 7)..........................   12,087      12,747
Capitalized lease, less current portion (Note 8).......................    4,566       3,512
Deferred taxes.........................................................    1,625       1,852
Deferred income (Note 8)...............................................      576         580
Other liabilities (Note 5).............................................    1,461       1,759
Shareholders' equity (Note 2):
  Common stock, no par value -- authorized-580,000 shares; issued --
     526,904 shares; outstanding -- 481,971 shares.....................        5           5
  Additional paid-in capital...........................................    8,125       8,125
  Retained earnings....................................................   29,719      32,557
  Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment...................      317         774
  Treasury stock, at cost..............................................   (3,432)     (3,432)
                                                                         -------     -------
Total shareholders' equity.............................................   34,734      38,029
                                                                         -------     -------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity.............................  $72,641     $85,697
                                                                         =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   100
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                             --------------------------------
                                                              1993        1994         1995
                                                             -------     -------     --------
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>         <C>
Net sales..................................................  $84,964     $92,447     $107,030
Cost of sales..............................................   60,391      62,273       76,057
                                                             -------     -------     --------
                                                              24,573      30,174       30,973
Selling, general and administrative expenses...............   17,005      18,490       20,363
Other......................................................      342         571          589
                                                             -------     -------     --------
                                                               7,226      11,113       10,021
Other expenses (income):
  Interest income..........................................     (270)       (179)        (411)
  Interest expense.........................................    2,174       1,906        1,827
  Sundry, net..............................................      177         541         (249)
                                                             -------     -------     --------
                                                               2,081       2,268        1,167
                                                             -------     -------     --------
Income before income taxes.................................    5,145       8,845        8,854
Provision for income taxes (Note 10).......................    1,951       3,663        3,606
                                                             -------     -------     --------
          Net income.......................................  $ 3,194     $ 5,182     $  5,248
                                                             =======     =======     ========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   101
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   CUMULATIVE
                                                                     FOREIGN
                                           ADDITIONAL               CURRENCY                    TOTAL
                                  COMMON    PAID-IN     RETAINED   TRANSLATION   TREASURY   SHAREHOLDERS'
                                  STOCK     CAPITAL     EARNINGS   ADJUSTMENT     STOCK        EQUITY
                                  ------   ----------   --------   -----------   --------   -------------
                                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                               <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
Balance at January 1, 1993.......   $5       $7,771     $ 21,343      $  60      $ (4,077)     $25,102
  Net income.....................                          3,194                                 3,194
  Foreign currency translation
     adjustment..................                                      (234)                      (234)
                                    --
                                           ----------   --------   -----------   --------   -------------
 
Balance at December 31, 1993.....    5        7,771       24,537       (174)       (4,077)      28,062
  Net income.....................                          5,182                                 5,182
  Foreign currency translation
     adjustment..................                                       491                        491
  Sale of 15,500 treasury
     shares......................               354                                   645          999
                                    --
                                           ----------   --------   -----------   --------   -------------
 
Balance at December 31, 1994.....    5        8,125       29,719        317        (3,432)      34,734
  Net income.....................                          5,248                                 5,248
  Foreign currency translation
     adjustment..................                                       457                        457
  Cash dividends.................                         (2,410)                               (2,410)
                                    --
                                           ----------   --------   -----------   --------   -------------
 
Balance at December 31, 1995.....   $5       $8,125     $ 32,557      $ 774      $ (3,432)     $38,029
                                  =======  ========     ========   =========     ========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   102
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                             --------------------------------
                                                               1993        1994        1995
                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>          <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income.................................................. $  3,194     $ 5,182     $ 5,248
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
  (used) by operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization.............................    3,169       3,522       3,786
  Deferred income taxes.....................................      160          88         387
  (Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets.......................     (192)       (124)          4
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of effects
     from purchases of operations:
     Accounts receivable....................................     (387)     (2,142)     (2,176)
     Inventories............................................      942        (938)     (7,271)
     Prepaid and sundry.....................................      780         269         (53)
     Accounts and drafts payable............................    1,006         753       1,544
     Accrued and sundry liabilities.........................   (1,818)        205       1,083
     Other, net.............................................      (70)         58         436
                                                             --------     -------     -------
Net cash provided by operating activities...................    6,784       6,873       2,988
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of operations, net of cash acquired...............   (1,046)         --      (1,488)
Purchases of fixed assets...................................   (9,112)     (3,383)     (4,663)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets..........................      362       1,153          24
Decrease (increase) in notes and other receivables..........   (3,468)        (21)      2,344
                                                             --------     -------     -------
Net cash used in investing activities.......................  (13,264)     (2,251)     (3,783)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Increase (decrease) in amounts due to parent and
  affiliates................................................    1,526      (1,626)      1,308
Increase in notes payable and long-term debt................    3,114       1,875       5,596
Cash received on sale of treasury stock.....................       --         515          --
Dividends paid..............................................       --          --      (2,410)
                                                             --------     -------     -------
Net cash provided by financing activities...................    4,640         764       4,494
                                                             --------     -------     -------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents............   (1,840)      5,386       3,699
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
  of period.................................................    3,028       1,188       6,574
                                                             --------     -------     -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.................. $  1,188     $ 6,574     $10,273
                                                             ========     =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   103
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  Principles of Consolidation
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of International
Knife & Saw, Inc. ("IKS") and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company"). All
significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
 
  Inventories
 
     Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost in the United
States is determined principally by use of the last-in, first-out method.
Subsidiaries use the first-in, first-out method.
 
  Depreciation
 
     Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method based on the estimated
useful lives of the assets. Depreciation expense includes amortization of assets
recorded under capitalized leases.
 
  Amortization of Intangibles
 
     The excess of cost over net assets acquired is being amortized over 10
years by the straight-line method.
 
  Income Taxes
 
     Deferred taxes are provided for accumulated temporary differences due to
basis differences for assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income
tax purposes. The Company's temporary differences are due to accelerated
depreciation, allowances for doubtful accounts, expenses not currently
deductible, and income not currently taxable.
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
     The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
 
   
  Revenue Recognition
    
 
   
     Revenue from product sales is recognized when the product is shipped and
revenue from services is recognized as the services are performed. Revenue is
reduced for estimated customer returns and allowances.
    
 
  Use of Estimates
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
 
2. PARENT AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
     The Company is a majority-owned subsidiary of The Klingelnberg Corporation
("TKC").
 
     As of December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, the Company owned 100% of the
outstanding common stock of IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd. ("CKS"), a Canadian
corporation.
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   104
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
     As of December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 the Company owned 100% of the common
shares of IKS Klingelnberg GmbH ("IKG") and its wholly-owned subsidiary IKS
Messerfabrik Geringswalde GmbH ("IGG"), and as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 its
wholly-owned subsidiaries IKS Klingelnberg FAR EAST GmbH ("IFE"), and IKS
Klingelnberg ASIA Pte. Ltd. ("IKA"). Their results of operations are included in
the Company's consolidated financial statements. During 1995, the Company
increased its investment in PT Bevenmas Jaya (PTB), an Indonesian corporation,
thereby owning a 100% interest at December 31, 1995. In prior years, the
investment was recorded using the equity method of accounting. PTB's financial
statements are not material to the results of operations and financial position
of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 
     The Company maintains the accounting records and prepares the financial
statements of its subsidiaries in their respective functional currencies. The
accompanying financial statements, which include the effect of the consolidated
results of operations of these companies, are expressed in U.S. dollar
equivalents in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. It
should not be construed that the assets and liabilities included at U.S. dollar
equivalents can actually be realized in or extinguished by U.S. dollars at the
exchange rates used in translation.
 
3. INVENTORIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                                 -------------------
                                                                  1994        1995
                                                                 -------     -------
        <S>                                                      <C>         <C>
        Purchased finished goods...............................  $ 6,444     $ 9,806
        Manufactured finished goods............................    6,433       7,640
        Work in process........................................    4,190       5,307
        Raw materials..........................................    4,156       5,563
        Supplies...............................................      542         720
                                                                 -------     -------
                                                                 $21,765     $29,036
                                                                 =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
     Inventories include approximately $12,949 in 1994 and $16,216 in 1995
determined by the LIFO method. If the cost of LIFO inventories had been
determined by the FIFO method for financial reporting, they would have been
approximately $2,400 and $3,030 higher than the amounts reported at December 31,
1994, and 1995, respectively.
 
4. LIFE INSURANCE
 
     The Company is the beneficiary under life insurance policies with a total
face amount of $4,400 at December 31, 1995 covering the lives of certain of its
officers and former officers. The policies have total cash values of $350 and
$375 at December 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
5. OTHER LIABILITIES
 
     Included in other liabilities are amounts for deferred compensation plans
for certain officers and former officers of $482 and $499 at December 31, 1994
and 1995, respectively. The plans provide for a maximum payment of $25 annually
to each officer or beneficiary for a period of ten years commencing at
retirement or death.
 
     IKG has a pension plan covering a majority of German employees who qualify
as to age and length of service. Entrance into the plan is at age 30 with
defined benefits payable at age 65. Vesting requirements vary dependent upon
employment category, contracts and years of service requirements which range
from five to fifteen years. Benefits are paid directly by IKG and are not
separately funded. The accrued liability at December 31, 1994 and 1995 amounted
to $978 and $1,259, respectively, which represented the actuarial computation
for the future liability.
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   105
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                     -------------------
                                                                      1994        1995
                                                                     -------     -------
    <S>                                                              <C>         <C>
    Capitalized leases -- land and buildings.......................  $ 5,371     $ 4,341
    Land and land improvements.....................................    2,046       2,090
    Buildings and leasehold improvements...........................    5,803       6,255
    Machinery and equipment........................................   25,226      28,896
    Furniture and fixtures.........................................    2,613       3,036
    Motor vehicles.................................................    2,018       2,424
                                                                     -------     -------
                                                                     $43,077     $47,042
                                                                     =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
     Amortization expense on assets recorded under capitalized leases is
included with depreciation expense. Accumulated amortization on assets recorded
under capitalized leases was $1,390 and $1,386 at December 31, 1994 and 1995,
respectively.
 
   
     Depreciation and amortization are provided for on the straight-line method
over the following estimated useful lives:
    
 
   
     Capitalized leases - land and buildings: 15 to 40 years
    
   
     Land improvements: 15 years
    
   
     Buildings and leasehold improvements: 15 to 40 years
    
   
     Machinery and equipment: five to 10 years
    
   
     Furniture and fixtures: 10 years
    
   
     Motor vehicles: three years
    
 
7. NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                     -------------------
                                                                      1994        1995
                                                                     -------     -------
    <S>                                                              <C>         <C>
    Notes payable:
      Notes payable on demand in Deutsche Marks to German banks,
         issued under revolving credit agreements, interest payable
         quarterly.................................................  $ 4,359     $ 9,467
      Note payable related to acquisition..........................       --         803
                                                                     -------     -------
                                                                     $ 4,359     $10,270
                                                                     =======     =======
    Long-term debt:
      Term loan payable in U.S. dollars to a German bank...........  $ 5,000     $ 5,000
      Note payable in Deutsche Marks to a U.S. bank................    3,226       3,478
      Notes payable in Deutsche Marks to a German bank.............    4,173       4,688
      Other........................................................      297         280
                                                                     -------     -------
                                                                      12,696      13,446
    Less current portion...........................................      609         699
                                                                     -------     -------
                                                                     $12,087     $12,747
                                                                     =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
     Current agreements with banks provide for lines of credit under revolving
credit agreements and long-term loans payable up to $20,155 of which $17,633 is
outstanding at December 31, 1995.
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   106
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
     The agreements contain certain restrictive covenants that the Company has
complied with at December 31, 1995. The interest rates under the lines of credit
are variable (3.5% to 6.1325% at December 31, 1995), being based on, among other
things, the prevailing prime rate and the source of borrowed funds, whether from
the domestic money supply, Deutsche Marks, or from Eurodollars.
 
     The note payable of $803 is payable in a single payment in 1996. Interest
is due at time note matures at an annual rate of 6.5%.
 
     The term loan of $5,000 is payable in a single payment in 1997. Interest is
paid semi-annually at 6.9%.
 
     The note payable of $3,478 is payable in a single payment of 5,000 Deutsche
Marks on January 1, 1997. Interest is paid semi-annually at 5.75%.
 
     The notes payable of $4,688 are payable in 6,739 Deutsche Marks, with
maturities that extend to 2004 at rates of 5.75% to 7.75%.
 
     Land and building in Germany having a net book value of $4,537 are pledged
as collateral for the German revolving credit agreements and the German bank
notes payable.
 
     At December 31, 1995, the fair value of the Company's outstanding debt
approximates its carrying value.
 
     At December 31, 1995, the total amounts due each year as minimum payments
under long-term debt were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
            <S>                                                         <C>
            1996......................................................  $   699
            1997......................................................    9,468
            1998......................................................      709
            1999......................................................      640
            2000......................................................      619
            Thereafter................................................    1,311
                                                                        -------
                                                                        $13,446
                                                                        =======
</TABLE>
 
   
     Cash paid for interest amounted to $2,287, $1,874 and $1,809 in the years
ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
    
 
   
8. CAPITALIZED LEASES
    
 
     The Company leases land and buildings from related parties under agreements
accounted for as capital leases. The leases have primary terms ranging from two
to five years and generally contain renewal options. Accordingly, the Company
has recorded the land and buildings under the lease agreements as property,
plant and equipment and the corresponding indebtedness is recorded as a
liability. Certain of the land and buildings had been previously owned by the
Company prior to their sale to and subsequent leaseback from the related
parties. The price for the properties and the rental amounts were based upon
appraisals by independent real estate appraisers. The Company's gain on these
sales is being amortized over the remaining lives of the buildings, which ranged
from 15 to 30 years.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   107
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
     During 1994, the Company entered into a capital lease in the amount of $288
with a related party for land and buildings. During 1995, a $1,030 capital lease
for land and building with a related party was terminated.
 
     On July 25, 1996, the Company purchased the land and buildings formerly
under the capital lease with related parties for $5,600. The price was based
upon appraisals by independent real estate appraisers. No gain or loss was
recognized by the Company on this transaction.
 
     At December 31, 1995, the total amounts due each year as minimum payments
under capitalized leases were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
            <S>                                                           <C>
            1996........................................................  $  494
            1997........................................................     494
            1998........................................................     494
            1999........................................................     494
            2000........................................................     494
            Thereafter..................................................   5,918
                                                                          ------
                                                                           8,388
            Less interest...............................................   4,748
                                                                          ------
            Present value of minimum debt payments......................  $3,640
                                                                          ======
</TABLE>
 
9. ACCRUED AND SUNDRY LIABILITIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         DECEMBER 31,
                                                                       -----------------
                                                                        1994       1995
                                                                       ------     ------
     <S>                                                               <C>        <C>
     Salaries, wages and bonuses.....................................  $  970     $  970
     Profit sharing and 401(k) plans.................................     795        809
     Commissions.....................................................     500        471
     Interest........................................................     163        181
     Taxes, other than income taxes..................................      88        199
     Withholdings....................................................     469        227
     Medical insurance...............................................     351        596
     Professional fees...............................................      27         56
     Customer payment advances and credits...........................      99        317
     Accrued warranties..............................................     308        382
     Accrued indemnity...............................................      55        203
     Sundry..........................................................     155        354
                                                                       ------     ------
                                                                       $3,980     $4,765
                                                                       ======     ======
</TABLE>
 
10. INCOME TAXES
 
     TKC files a consolidated Federal income tax return which includes the
Company. The current and deferred tax expense and benefit for the Company are
recorded as if it files on a stand-alone basis. All participants in the
consolidated income tax return are separately liable for the full amount of the
taxes, including penalties and interest, if any, which may be assessed against
the consolidated group. The current provision for United States income taxes is
recorded to the intercompany account with TKC.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   108
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
     Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The significant
components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December
31, 1994 and 1995 are as follows:
 
               COMPONENTS OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         DECEMBER 31,
                                                                       -----------------
                                                                        1994       1995
                                                                       ------     ------
    <S>                                                                <C>        <C>
    Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
      Reserve for inventory obsolescence.............................  $  373     $  385
      Reserve for bad debts..........................................     250        109
      Prepaid insurance..............................................    (140)      (157)
      Other..........................................................     166        152
                                                                       ------     ------
              Total current deferred tax assets......................  $  649     $  489
                                                                       ------     ------
    Noncurrent deferred tax (assets) liabilities:
      Property, plant, and equipment, primarily differences in
         depreciation methods........................................  $2,255     $2,466
      Deferred compensation..........................................    (183)      (189)
      Deferred gain on sale of building..............................    (220)      (201)
      Capital leases.................................................    (227)      (224)
                                                                       ------     ------
              Total noncurrent deferred tax liabilities..............  $1,625     $1,852
                                                                       ------     ------
              Net deferred tax liability.............................  $  976     $1,363
                                                                       ======     ======
</TABLE>
    
 
     Summarized in the following tables are the Company's provision for income
taxes, the components of the provision for deferred income taxes and a
reconciliation of the U.S. statutory rate to the tax provision rate.
 
                           PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                         ----------------------------
                                                          1993       1994       1995
                                                         ------     ------     ------
        <S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
        Current provision
          Federal......................................  $2,337     $3,016     $2,771
          State and local..............................     360        450        426
          Foreign......................................    (906)       109         22
                                                         ------     ------     ------
                                                          1,791      3,575      3,219
                                                         ------     ------     ------
        Deferred provision
          Federal......................................    (140)        --        235
          Foreign......................................     300         88        152
                                                         ------     ------     ------
                                                            160         88        387
                                                         ------     ------     ------
                                                         $1,951     $3,663     $3,606
                                                         ======     ======     ======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   109
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
     The differences between the provision and the amount computed by applying
the statutory Federal income tax rate are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                             ----------------------------
                                                              1993       1994       1995
                                                             ------     ------     ------
    <S>                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>
    Income before income taxes.............................  $5,145     $8,845     $8,854
                                                             ======     ======     ======
    Tax on above amount at 34%.............................  $1,749     $3,007     $3,010
    State income taxes.....................................     238        298        281
    Foreign tax rates in excess of U.S. statutory rate.....     (30)       130         67
    Foreign losses without tax benefit.....................      --        106        338
    Other, net.............................................      (6)       122        (90)
                                                             ------     ------     ------
    Provision for income taxes.............................  $1,951     $3,663     $3,606
                                                             ======     ======     ======
</TABLE>
 
     In 1995, CKS utilized a net loss carryforward to offset current tax payable
of approximately $210. At December 31, 1995, the Company's subsidiaries had net
operating loss carryforwards aggregating approximately $1,600, substantially all
of which have no expiration dates.
 
     Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries which are intended to be
indefinitely reinvested aggregated approximately $1,231 at the end of 1995. In
the event these earnings were to be repatriated, foreign income tax credits and
deductions under existing U.S. federal income tax laws would offset a portion of
any additional U.S. tax liability.
 
11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
     IKS and CKS have profit sharing plans for their employees. Annual
contributions are determined annually by their Boards of Directors. Expense for
these plans was $421 in 1993, $837 in 1994 and $818 in 1995.
 
     IKS participates in a 401(k) plan covering substantially all of its
domestic employees. Company contributions are determined annually by the Board
of Directors. The plan provides that IKS contribute one-half of employee
contributions, up to a maximum of 2% of an employee's annual compensation. The
Company's contributions to the plan amounted to $162 in 1993, $179 in 1994 and
$202 in 1995.
 
     See IKG pension plan (Note 5).
 
12. RELATED PARTIES
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the following transactions
and balances, other than as indicated elsewhere in these financial statements,
with companies under common controlling ownership with the Company:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                               --------------------------
                                                                1993     1994       1995
                                                               ------   ------     ------
    <S>                                                        <C>      <C>        <C>
    Notes (payable to) receivable from affiliated
      companies..............................................  $   --   $  758     $ (280)
    Notes receivable from shareholders and officers..........      --    1,818        235
    Other receivables from (payables to) affiliated
      companies..............................................      --     (456)      (423)
    Net interest expense.....................................     718      276        158
    Purchased administrative and manufacturing services......   1,100    1,309      1,473
    Rental Payments to related parties under capital lease...     664      698        662
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   110
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
13. OPERATING LEASES
 
     Future minimum rentals required under operating leases are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,               BUILDINGS     OTHER     TOTAL
        --------------------------------------------------  ---------     -----     -----
        <S>                                                 <C>           <C>       <C>
        1996..............................................    $ 392        $21      $ 413
        1997..............................................      249          1        250
        1998..............................................       97         --         97
        1999..............................................        7         --          7
                                                               ----        ---       ----
                                                              $ 745        $22      $ 767
                                                               ====        ===       ====
</TABLE>
 
     Consolidated rent expense was $311 for 1993, $335 for 1994, and $323 for
1995.
 
14. ORGANIZATION
 
     The Company manufactures, markets and services primarily industrial knives
and saws internationally, and its customers include distributors, original
equipment manufacturers and customers purchasing replacement parts and services.
The Company has a leading market share in each of the major sectors it serves:
Paper & Packaging; Wood; Metal; and Plastic & Recycling. The Company's sales are
principally in North America and Europe, representing 73% and 26% of 1995 net
sales, respectively. The Company has recently expanded its operations into Latin
America and Asia, and plans to continue its international growth. As a result of
the Company's broad product range and numerous applications, no customer
accounts for more than 3% of net sales. The Company performs periodic credit
evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral.
 
     The following table summarizes the company's North American and European
operations.
 
     Sales of North American operations include export sales of $2,818 in 1993,
$3,850 in 1994, and $3,517 in 1995.
 
     Total sales of the Company's operations to unaffiliated customers outside
North America were $24,902 in 1993, $27,170 in 1994, and $31,978 in 1995,
respectively.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   111
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -------------------------------
                                                               1993        1994        1995
                                                              -------     -------     -------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
North American Operations
  Sales to unaffiliated companies...........................  $64,803     $72,541     $78,470
  Operating income..........................................    7,906      10,399      10,372
  Assets....................................................   52,787      52,826      58,957
  Capital expenditures......................................    3,414       2,222       4,002
  Depreciation and amortization.............................    2,609       2,760       2,943
European Operations
  Sales to unaffiliated companies...........................   20,161      19,906      27,193
  Operating income..........................................     (680)        714         (19)
  Assets....................................................   18,407      19,815      25,537
  Capital expenditures......................................    5,699       1,160         634
  Depreciation and amortization.............................      561         762         828
Other Operations
  Sales to unaffiliated companies...........................       --          --       1,367
  Operating income..........................................       --          --        (332)
  Assets....................................................       --          --       1,203
  Capital expenditures......................................       --          --          27
  Depreciation and amortization.............................       --          --          15
</TABLE>
 
15. CHINA INVESTMENT
 
     Effective January 1, 1996, the Company acquired a 51% interest in two China
companies, Shanghai IKS Lida Mechanical Blade Co. Ltd. and Shanghai IKS
Mechanical Blade Co. Ltd. for $2.8 million.
 
16. OPERATING RESULTS BY QUARTER (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1994
                                               -------------------------------------------
                                                QTR 1       QTR 2       QTR 3       QTR 4
                                               -------     -------     -------     -------
    <S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
    Net sales................................  $22,659     $22,865     $23,818     $23,105
    Gross profit.............................    7,164       6,595       7,348       9,067
    Net income...............................    1,102       1,150       1,706       1,224
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1995
                                               -------------------------------------------
                                                QTR 1       QTR 2       QTR 3       QTR 4
                                               -------     -------     -------     -------
    <S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
    Net sales................................  $26,182     $25,437     $28,409     $27,002
    Gross profit.............................    7,994       7,734       7,083       8,162
    Net income...............................    1,544       1,133       1,574         997
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   112
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
17. RECAPITALIZATION TRANSACTION
 
     On November 6, 1996, TKC ("IKS Holdings") completed a recapitalization. IKS
Holdings amended its charter to authorize two new classes of common stock,
consisting of voting common stock (the "Holdings Class A Stock") and non-voting
common stock (the "Holdings Class B Stock" and, together with the Holdings Class
A Stock, the "Holdings Common Stock") and a new class of preferred stock (the
"Holdings Preferred Stock"). The issued and outstanding capital stock of IKS
Holdings was exchanged for a Recapitalization Distribution which consisted of
(1) approximately $86,600 in cash and (2) Junior Subordinated Debentures of IKS
Holdings (the "Holdings Debentures"), Holdings Preferred Stock and Holdings
Class A Stock with an aggregate value of approximately $9,400. Certain key
employees of the Company purchased Holdings Debentures, Holdings Preferred Stock
and Holdings Class A Stock from IKS Holdings for approximately $1,300 in cash.
Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd. ("CVC") purchased Holdings Debentures, Holdings
Preferred Stock, Holdings Class A Stock and Holdings Class B Stock for
approximately $14,300 in cash.
 
     In connection with this recapitalization IKS issued $90,000 of Senior
Subordinated Notes, the proceeds of which were used to pay a cash dividend to
IKS Holdings, pay amounts due to IKS Holdings and retire other notes payable and
long-term debt. In addition, the Company entered into new revolving credit
facilities totalling $25,000.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   113
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                                            ------------------
                                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                         <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents...............................................       $  6,544
  Accounts receivable, trade, less allowances for doubtful accounts
     of $1,428............................................................         20,647
  Other receivables.......................................................            906
  Inventories.............................................................         30,554
  Prepaid expenses, deferred taxes and sundry.............................          1,854
                                                                                  -------
Total current assets......................................................         60,505
Other assets:
  Cash value of life insurance............................................            414
  Notes receivable........................................................            215
  Advances and investments................................................            364
  Cost in excess of net assets acquired...................................          2,012
  Deposits, deferred charges and sundry...................................          1,003
                                                                                  -------
                                                                                    4,008
Property, plant and equipment:
  Cost....................................................................         54,467
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization..........................         25,569
                                                                                  -------
Property, plant and equipment, net........................................         28,898
                                                                                  -------
Total assets..............................................................       $ 93,411
                                                                                  =======
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Notes payable...........................................................       $  8,935
  Current portion of long-term debt.......................................          5,588
  Accounts and drafts payable.............................................          6,552
  Accrued and sundry liabilities..........................................          6,474
  Due to parent...........................................................         11,142
                                                                                  -------
Total current liabilities.................................................         38,691
Long-term debt, less current portion......................................          3,280
Joint venture indebtedness................................................          3,801
Deferred taxes............................................................          1,842
Other liabilities.........................................................          1,827
Minority interest.........................................................          2,178
Shareholders' equity:
  Common stock, no par value -- authorized -- 580,000 shares; issued --
     526,904 shares; outstanding -- 481,971 shares........................              5
  Additional paid-in capital..............................................          8,125
  Retained earnings.......................................................         36,204
  Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment......................            890
  Treasury stock, at cost.................................................         (3,432)
                                                                                  -------
Total shareholders' equity................................................         41,792
                                                                                  -------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity................................       $ 93,411
                                                                                  =======
</TABLE>
    
 
                             See accompanying note.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>   114
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         NINE MONTH PERIODS
                                                                                ENDED
                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                         -------------------
                                                                          1995        1996
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                      <C>         <C>
Net sales..............................................................  $79,238     $89,256
Cost of sales..........................................................   56,047      62,748
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                          23,191      26,508
Selling, general and administrative expenses...........................   16,411      17,607
Other..................................................................       72          --
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                           6,708       8,901
Other expenses (income):
  Interest income......................................................     (219)       (242)
  Interest expense.....................................................    1,378       1,907
  Sundry, net..........................................................     (543)        225
  Minority interest....................................................       --        (191)
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                             616       1,699
                                                                         -------     -------
Income before income taxes.............................................    6,092       7,202
Provision for income taxes.............................................    2,615       2,350
                                                                         -------     -------
          Net income...................................................  $ 3,477     $ 4,852
                                                                         =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying note.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>   115
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   CUMULATIVE
                                                                     FOREIGN
                                           ADDITIONAL               CURRENCY                    TOTAL
                                  COMMON    PAID-IN     RETAINED   TRANSLATION   TREASURY   SHAREHOLDERS'
                                  STOCK     CAPITAL     EARNINGS   ADJUSTMENT     STOCK        EQUITY
                                  ------   ----------   --------   -----------   --------   -------------
                                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                               <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
Balance at December 31, 1995.....   $5       $8,125     $ 32,557      $ 774      $ (3,432)     $38,029
  Net income.....................                          4,852                                 4,852
  Foreign currency translation
     adjustment..................                                       116                        116
  Cash dividends.................                         (1,205)                               (1,205)
                                    --
                                           ----------   --------   -----------   --------   -------------
 
Balance at September 30, 1996....   $5       $8,125     $ 36,204      $ 890      $ (3,432)     $41,792
                                  =======  ========     ========   =========     ========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying note.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>   116
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             NINE MONTH
                                                                            PERIODS ENDED
                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                         -------------------
                                                                          1995        1996
                                                                         -------     -------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                      <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income.............................................................  $ 3,477     $ 4,852
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by
  operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization........................................    2,575       3,264
  Deferred income taxes................................................      153        (156)
  (Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets..................................       (5)        (50)
  Minority interest....................................................       --        (191)
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of effects from
     purchases of operations:
     Accounts receivable...............................................   (1,700)     (1,438)
     Inventories.......................................................   (5,815)     (1,049)
     Prepaid and sundry................................................      156        (328)
     Accounts and drafts payable.......................................      (23)     (1,412)
     Accrued and sundry liabilities....................................    1,400       1,599
     Other, net........................................................      218        (908)
                                                                         -------     -------
Net cash provided by operating activities..............................      436       4,183
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of operations, net of cash acquired..........................     (702)         --
Purchases of fixed assets..............................................   (2,781)     (7,312)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets.....................................       21          70
Decrease (increase) in notes and other receivables.....................    3,095          20
                                                                         -------     -------
Net cash used in investing activities..................................     (367)     (7,222)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Increase (decrease) in amounts due to parent and affiliates............     (743)      7,188
Increase (decrease) in notes payable and long-term debt................    4,235      (6,673)
Dividends paid.........................................................   (1,205)     (1,205)
                                                                         -------     -------
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities.......................    2,287        (690)
                                                                         -------     -------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.......................    2,356      (3,729)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
  of year..............................................................    6,574      10,273
                                                                         -------     -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.............................  $ 8,930     $ 6,544
                                                                         =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying note.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>   117
 
                INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
     The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain all
adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the
opinion of the management of International Knife & Saw, Inc. and Subsidiaries,
(the Company), necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position
of the Company as of September 30, 1996 and the consolidated results of
operations and cash flows of the Company for the nine month periods ended
September 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Results of operations for the periods
presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full fiscal
year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December
31, 1995.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>   118
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
     NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THOSE TO WHICH IT
RELATES, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER
TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH SOLICITATION IS
UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE
HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        -----
<S>                                     <C>
Available Information.................      i
Summary...............................      1
Risk Factors..........................      9
The Transactions......................     14
Use of Proceeds.......................     15
Capitalization........................     17
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated
  Financial Information...............     18
Selected Historical and Pro Forma
  Financial Data......................     23
Management's Discussion and Analysis
  of Financial Condition and Results
  of Operations.......................     26
The Exchange Offer....................     32
Business..............................     38
Management............................     50
Stock Ownership.......................     55
Certain Relationships and Related
  Transactions........................     59
Description of Certain Indebtedness...     60
Description of the Notes..............     62
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form.........     88
Certain Federal Income Tax
  Considerations......................     89
Plan of Distribution..................     91
Legal Matters.........................     91
Experts...............................     91
Index to Financial Statements.........    F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
     UNTIL                , 1997 (90 DAYS AFTER
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS), ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE NOTES,
WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO
DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO
DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR
UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
 
                                ----------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                ----------------
 
                                  $90,000,000
                                     [LOGO]
 
                             INTERNATIONAL KNIFE &
                                   SAW, INC.
                               OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                   11 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
                              FOR ALL OUTSTANDING
                   11 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
 
                                               , 1997
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   119
 
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides in relevant
part that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such person's conduct was unlawful.
 
     In addition, Section 145 provides that a corporation may indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court
in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that,
despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of
the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem
proper.
 
     Section 145 further provides that nothing in the above-described provisions
shall be deemed exclusive of any other rights to indemnification or advancement
of expenses to which any person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote
of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
     The By-laws of the Company provide for the indemnification of each
director, officer, former director and former officer of the Company, and each
person who shall have served at the request of the Company as a director or
officer of another corporation in which the Company owns shares of capital stock
or of which the Company is a creditor, against expenses actually and necessarily
incurred by him or her in connection with the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding in which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her being or
having been a director or officer of the Company or of such other corporation,
except in relation to matters as to which he or she shall be adjudged in such
action, suit or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct in
the performance of duty. The By-laws of the Company also provide that such
indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
indemnified may be entitled as a matter of law or under any by-law, agreement,
vote of stockholders or otherwise.
 
     Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may in its certificate of incorporation eliminate or limit the
personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   120
 
liability: for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation
or its stockholders; for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; under Section 174 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law (pertaining to certain prohibited acts
including unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful purchase or redemption of
the corporation's capital stock); or for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit. The Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company contains a provision so limiting the personal liability of directors of
the Company.
 
ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
     (a) Exhibits:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                                          DESCRIPTION
- -------   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>       <S>
   3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company+
   3.2    By-laws of the Company+
   4.1    Indenture dated as of November 6, 1996 between the Company and United States Trust
          Company of New York, as Trustee+
   4.2    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 6, 1996 among the Company,
          Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc.+
   4.3    Form of 11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
   5.1    Opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads
   8.1    Opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads regarding tax matters
  10.1    Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 1996 among the Company, Schroder Wertheim & Co.
          Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc.+
  10.2    Letter Agreement dated October 8, 1996 between Deutsche Bank and the Company
  10.3    Letter Agreement dated October 8, 1996 between Deutsche Bank and IKS Klingelnberg
          GmbH
  10.4    Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization dated September 17, 1996 among Citicorp
          Venture Capital Ltd., The Klingelnberg Corporation ("IKS Holdings"), the stockholders
          of IKS Holdings and certain stockholders of the Company+
  10.5    Commercial Lease Contract dated March 1, 1992 between Howard & Howard Real Estate
          Partnership and IKS Service, Inc., as amended
  10.6    Lease dated June 5, 1996 between Century Development Co. and the Company
  10.7    Lease dated July 21, 1995 between 1st American Management Co., Inc. and the Company
  10.8    Lease Agreement dated April 17, 1991 between Tate Engineering, Inc. and IKS Eastern
          Services, Inc., as amended
  10.9    Offer to Lease dated October 25, 1995 between Sigma Enterprises Ltd. and IKS Canadian
          Knife & Saw Ltd.
 10.10    Industrial Multiple Tenancy Lease dated June 14, 1995 between Geary Investments
          Limited "in Trust" and IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd.
 10.11    Lease dated March 12, 1992 between Gestion W. & L. Choiniere Inc. and IKS Canadian
          Knife & Saw Ltd., as amended
 10.12    Joint Venture Company Contract dated September 24, 1995 between IKS Klingelnberg Far
          East GmbH and Shanghai Printing & Packaging Machinery General Corporation*
 10.13    Joint Venture Company Contract dated September 24, 1995 between IKS Klingelnberg Far
          East GmbH and Shanghai Printing & Packaging Machinery General Corporation*
  12.1    Statement of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges+
  21.1    Subsidiaries of the Company+
  23.1    Consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1)
  23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
    24    Power of Attorney+
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   121
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                                          DESCRIPTION
- -------   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>       <S>
     25   Statement of Eligibility and Qualification, Form T-1, of United States Trust Company
          of New York+
     27   Financial Data Schedule+
   99.1   Form of Letter of Transmittal
   99.2   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery+
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
* To be supplied by amendment.
 
   
+ Previously filed.
    
 
   
     (b) Financial Statement Schedules:
    
 
     Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
 
     Schedules not listed above are omitted because of the absence of the
conditions under which they are required or because the information required by
such omitted schedules is set forth in the financial statements or the notes
thereto.
 
ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
     (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
          (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
             (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act of 1933;
 
             (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
        changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the
        maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
        Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
 
             (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
        or any material change to such information in the registration
        statement;
 
          (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
 
          (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
     (b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   122
 
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
 
     (c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such
request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other
equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed
subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date
of responding to the request.
 
     (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   123
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Erlanger, State of Kentucky, on the 27th day of January 1997.
    
 
                                          INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/      JOHN E. HALLORAN
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             John E. Halloran
                                             President and Chief Executive
                                               Officer
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities indicated on January 27, 1997.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                          TITLE
- ------------------------------------------    -----------------------------------------------
<C>                                           <S>
        /s/ JOHN E. HALLORAN                  President, Chief Executive
- ------------------------------------------    Officer and Director (Principal Executive
            John E. Halloran                  Officer)

 
        /s/ WILLIAM M. SCHULT                 Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial
- ------------------------------------------    Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
            William M. Schult                 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
                                                           
 
                    *                         Director
- ------------------------------------------
           Diether Klingelnberg
 

                    *                         Director
- ------------------------------------------
              James A. Urry
 
  *By:  /s/  JOHN E. HALLORAN
- ------------------------------------------
             John E. Halloran
             Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   124
 
   
                                    SHEET 1                          SCHEDULE II
    
 
                        INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
 
         SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994, AND 1993
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             COL. C
                                                      ---------------------
                                           COL. B           ADDITIONS                           COL. E
                                         ----------   ---------------------       COL. D       ---------
COL. A                                   BALANCE AT   CHARGED TO                ----------      BALANCE
- ---------------------------------------  BEGINNING    COSTS AND     OTHER       DEDUCTIONS      AT END
DESCRIPTION                              OF PERIOD     EXPENSES    DESCRIBE      DESCRIBE      OF PERIOD
- ---------------------------------------  ----------   ----------   --------     ----------     ---------
<S>                                      <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
YEAR ENDED 1995
Allowance for doubtful accounts........     2,084           28         68(b)       1,185(c)      1,105
                                                                      111(a)
Allowance for inventory Obsolescence...     3,395          631        178(a)       1,371(c)      2,833
 
YEAR ENDED 1994
Allowance for doubtful accounts........     1,399          790        118(a)         223(c)      2,084
Allowances for inventory Obsolescence..     3,216        1,135        223(a)       1,179(c)      3,395
 
YEAR ENDED 1993
Allowance for doubtful accounts........     1,187          500                       226(c)      1,399
                                                                                      62(a)
Allowances for inventory Obsolescence..     3,394          702                       734(c)      3,216
                                                                                     145(a)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(a) Represents foreign currency translation adjustments during the year.
 
(b) Consists of reserves of subsidiaries purchased during the year.
 
(c) Represents amounts charged against the reserves during the year.
 
                                       S-1
<PAGE>   125
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                                NUMBERED
  NO.                                    DESCRIPTION                                     PAGE
- -------   -------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<C>       <S>                                                                        <C>
   3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company+
   3.2    By-laws of the Company+
   4.1    Indenture dated as of November 6, 1996 between the Company and United
          States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee+
   4.2    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 6, 1996 among the
          Company, Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc.+
   4.3    Form of 11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (included in Exhibit
          4.1)
   5.1    Opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads
   8.1    Opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads regarding tax matters
  10.1    Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 1996 among the Company, Schroder
          Wertheim & Co. Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc.+
  10.2    Letter Agreement dated October 8, 1996 between Deutsche Bank and the
          Company
  10.3    Letter Agreement dated October 8, 1996 between Deutsche Bank and IKS
          Klingelnberg GmbH
  10.4    Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization dated September 17, 1996 among
          Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd., The Klingelnberg Corporation ("IKS
          Holdings"), the stockholders of IKS Holdings and certain stockholders of
          the Company+
  10.5    Commercial Lease Contract dated March 1, 1992 between Howard & Howard
          Real Estate Partnership and IKS Service, Inc., as amended
  10.6    Lease dated June 5, 1996 between Century Development Co. and the Company
  10.7    Lease dated July 21, 1995 between 1st American Management Co., Inc. and
          the Company
  10.8    Lease Agreement dated April 17, 1991 between Tate Engineering, Inc. and
          IKS Eastern Services, Inc., as amended
  10.9    Offer to Lease dated October 25, 1995 between Sigma Enterprises Ltd. and
          IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd.
 10.10    Industrial Multiple Tenancy Lease dated June 14, 1995 between Geary
          Investments Limited "in Trust" and IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd.
 10.11    Lease dated March 12, 1992 between Gestion W. & L. Choiniere Inc. and IKS
          Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd., as amended
 10.12    Joint Venture Company Contract dated September 24, 1995 between IKS
          Klingelnberg Far East GmbH and Shanghai Printing & Packaging Machinery
          General Corporation*
 10.13    Joint Venture Company Contract dated September 24, 1995 between IKS
          Klingelnberg Far East GmbH and Shanghai Printing & Packaging Machinery
          General Corporation*
  12.1    Statement of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges+
  21.1    Subsidiaries of the Company+
  23.1    Consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1)
  23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
    24    Power of Attorney+
    25    Statement of Eligibility and Qualification, Form T-1, of United States
          Trust Company of New York+
    27    Financial Data Schedule+
  99.1    Form of Letter of Transmittal
  99.2    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery+
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
* To be supplied by amendment.
 
   
+ Previously filed.
    

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                     [LETTERHEAD OF DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS]

                                January 27, 1997


International Knife & Saw, Inc.
1299 Cox Avenue
Erlanger, Kentucky 41018


                         International Knife & Saw, Inc.
                   11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006


Dear Sirs:

                  We have acted as counsel for International Knife & Saw, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), in connection with the filing by the
Issuer of a Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-17305 (the
"Registration Statement"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the
purpose of registering up to $90 million aggregate principal amount of the
Issuer's 11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2006 (the "New Notes") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The New Notes are to be issued
in exchange for an equal aggregate principal amount of the Issuer's outstanding
11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the "Existing Notes") pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement among the Issuer and Schroder Wertheim & Co.
Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc. filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration
Statement. The New Notes are to be issued pursuant to the terms of the indenture
(the "Indenture") between the Issuer and United States Trust Company of New
York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration
Statement. The Indenture is to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "TIA").

                  In connection with the foregoing, we have reviewed such
records, documents, agreements and certificates, and examined such questions of
law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate
<PAGE>   2
International Knife & Saw, Inc.
January 27, 1997
Page 2


for the purpose of this opinion. In making our examination of records,
documents, agreements and certificates, we have assumed the authenticity of the
same, the correctness of the information contained therein, the genuineness of
all signatures, the authority of all persons entering and maintaining records or
executing documents, agreements and certificates (other than persons executing
documents, agreements and certificates on behalf of the Issuer), and the
conformity to authentic originals of all items submitted to us as copies
(whether certified, conformed, photostatic or by other electronic means) of
records, documents, agreements or certificates. In rendering our opinion, we
have relied as to factual matters upon certificates of public officials and
certificates and representations of officers of the Issuer.

                  We have assumed that the Indenture has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of the Trustee. In addition, we have assumed that there will be no
changes in applicable law between the date of this opinion and the date of
issuance and delivery of the New Notes.

                  Based upon the foregoing and having regard for such legal
considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that (i) the New Notes
have been duly authorized by the Issuer and (ii) when the Registration Statement
has been declared effective, when the Indenture has been duly qualified under
the TIA, when the New Notes have been duly executed by the Issuer and when the
New Notes have been duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture and issued and delivered against exchange of the Existing
Notes in accordance with the terms set forth in the prospectus which is included
in the Registration Statement, the New Notes will be valid and binding
obligations of the Issuer.

                  This opinion is rendered to the Issuer in connection with the
filing of the Registration Statement and for no other purpose. We are members of
the Bar of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the laws of the United States of America, the State
of New York and, to the extent necessary to render this opinion, the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1
to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the prospectus which is included in the Registration
Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we come within
the category of persons whose consent is required by the Act or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.


                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 8.1

                     [LETTERHEAD OF DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS]

                                January 27, 1997


International Knife & Saw, Inc.
1299 Cox Avenue
Erlanger, Kentucky 41018

                              Re: Offer to Exchange
                   11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
                               for all outstanding
                   11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
                       of International Knife & Saw, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as counsel for International Knife & Saw, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation having its principal office in Erlanger, Kentucky (the
"Company"). We are giving this opinion in connection with the filing by the
Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-17305 (the
"Registration Statement") with respect to the Exchange Offer.(1)

                  In arriving at our opinion we have examined and relied upon
the following documents: the Registration Statement; the Existing Notes and the
form of New Notes to be issued; the Indenture dated as of November 6, 1996, by
and between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as trustee;
and the Registration Rights Agreement. We have also read and relied upon such
records of the Company as we have deemed appropriate. For purposes of this
opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of original documents, the accuracy of
copies and the genuineness of signatures. We understand and assume that (i) each
agreement identified herein represents and will represent the valid and binding
obligation of the respective parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its
respective terms, and the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the subject matter thereof, (ii) the parties to each agreement have complied,
and will comply, with all of their respective covenants, agreements and
undertakings contained therein and (iii) the transactions provided for by each
agreement were and will be carried out in accordance with their terms.

                  Our opinion is based upon our analysis and interpretation of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), as well as upon
court decisions, regulations, and other administrative

- --------
(1) All capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined have the
same meaning as set forth in the Registration Statement.
<PAGE>   2
interpretations of such statutes as of the date hereof. For purposes of this
opinion, we assume that there will be no changes in applicable law between the
date hereof and the date of issuance of the New Notes. The statutory provisions,
regulations, and interpretations upon which our opinion is based are subject to
change, and such changes could apply retroactively. In addition, our opinion has
no binding effect on the Internal Revenue Service or on any court and only
represents our professional judgment. Thus, there can be no assurance that
positions contrary to those stated in our opinion may not be asserted by the
Internal Revenue Service or another taxing authority.

                  In our opinion, the description of the material United States
federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder that appears in the
Registration Statement under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations" is accurate in all material respects. Such description does not
discuss state, local or foreign tax consequences, nor does it discuss tax
consequences to certain categories of holders and our opinion is limited to
those United States tax consequences specifically described therein. This
opinion is given to the Company in connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement and for no other purpose. In giving the foregoing
opinion, we express no opinion other than as to the federal income tax laws of
the United States of America.

                  We consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this opinion in the Registration
Statement. This opinion is not to be used or quoted for any other purpose
without our prior written approval in each instance.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.2



October 8, 1996

To International Knife & Saw, Inc.

In reference to our conversation of September 15, 1996 at our offices in
Wuppertal, for which we would again like to thank you, we are pleased to be able
to commit to you, within the framework of our General Conditions (AGB - English
language version enclosed), a working capital line of credit in the amount of
US$ 20,000,000.

Duration:  Initially until December 31, 2000. We will discuss an extension at 
           the appropriate time.

The draw downs must be made via Euro-Credits in amounts of US $1 million or
multiples thereof at a rate of LIBOR + 1.25%. We also charge a commitment fee of
0.25% to be calculated at each quarter end.

As collateral for this line of credit, you must pledge to us your receivables
and inventories. We will provide more specific details about this at a later
date.

As part of our commitment we are assuming that your company will be debt free in
accordance with the proposed restructuring, with the exception of the
$85,000,000 in Senior Subordinated Notes as detailed in the Recapitalization
Agreement.

The following covenants are the condition for the line of credit:

It is agreed, that you will pledge fixed assets as additional collateral, in the
event that the result in the consolidated financial statements before interest
and taxes (EBIT) is more than 30% under budget (1996: $14,012,000 ; 1997:
$17,796,000; 1998: $22,041,000; 1999: $25,098,000).

You must provide quarterly financial information and annual financial statements
to us. The year end financial statements must be presented to us no later than 4
months after year end.

German law governs this agreement: the court of Remscheid

Please sign the enclosed copy of this letter to indicate your agreement and send
it back to us.

We thank you for your trust in us and hope for a smooth and trustworthy
relationship.


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.3



October 8, 1996

Messrs. Meyer and Berg

In reference to our offer of September 19, 1996, and to the conversations
thereafter, we are pleased to be able to commit to you, within the framework of
our General Conditions (AGB), a working capital line of credit in the amount of
DM 7,500,000 at the following terms:

Duration:   Initially until December 31, 2000. We will discuss an extension at 
            the appropriate time.

Rate:       Your choice of:
            Overdraft. current rate 6.5%
            Euro-Credit. LIBOR +0.5%
            Bill Credit Rate @ bank discount rate ( currently 2.5%) + 0.5%

We are legally allowed to change the above interest rates in the event of a
change in money market or capital market. The loan will be handled as an
overdraft. The calculation of interest occurs at the end of each quarter.

The company real estate in Bergisch Born serves as collateral valued at 
DM5,100,000 for this line of credit, as well as for all other credits as agreed
separately.

The following covenants are the condition for the line of credit:

Through means of equity and shareholder funds, the company will ensure that
lines of credit exist only with us.

Total equity may not fall below 30% of the total balance sheet, and gross cash
flow must be positive.

You may not pledge any firm assets to third parties as collateral.

You must provide quarterly financial information and annual financial statements
to us. The year end financial statements must be presented to us no later than 4
months after year end.

As discussed with Mr. Klingelnberg, we will discuss the acquisition financing of
Ravne at a later date.

Please sign the enclosed copy of this letter to indicate your agreement and send
it back to us.

We thank you for your trust in us and hope for a smooth and trustworthy
relationship.


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.5



STATE OF GEORGIA           ]
                           ]
COUNTY OF BULLOCH          ]

                           COMMERCIAL LEASE CONTRACT

         THIS LEASE, made effective this 1st day of March, 1992, by and between
HOWARD & HOWARD REAL ESTATE PARTNERSHIP, a Georgia general partnership, first
party (hereinafter called "Landlord"), and IKS SERVICE, INC., second party
(hereinafter called "Tenant");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

1.       DEFINITIONS.

         The following terms as defined below, are used generally in this Lease.
Additional terms, as employed in the specific Sections hereunder, are defined
pursuant to those Sections.

         Additional Rental is defined in Section 6 of this Lease.

         Base Rental means the monthly rental calculated and payable pursuant to
Section 4 of this Lease.

         Building means that certain building which is located on Gentilly Run
and within the Property.

         Buildings means Building and any other buildings located on the
Property.

         Demised Premises is defined in Section 2 of this Lease.

         Landlord is defined in the first paragraph of this Lease.

         Property means that tract or parcel of land and any improvements
thereon as described in the attached Exhibit "A" which is by this reference
incorporated in this Lease.

         Tenant is defined in the first paragraph, of this Lease.

         Total Rental means Base Rental and Additional Rental as may be due and
owing annually to Landlord under this Lease.

2.       DEMISED PREMISES.

         (A) The Landlord, for and in consideration of the rentals, covenants,
agreements and stipulations hereinafter mentioned, reserved and contained, to be
paid, kept and performed by the Tenant, has leased and rented, and by these
presents does lease and rent, unto the Tenant, and the Tenant hereby agrees to
lease and take upon the terms and

<PAGE>   2
conditions which hereinafter appear, the property described on Exhibit "A"
attached hereto (hereinafter called the "Demised Premises").

         (B) Landlord, at Landlord's sole expense, shall maintain the road
giving ingress and egress to the Demised Premises in an accessible and usable
condition suitable for travel and shall maintain the exterior grounds
surrounding the Demised Premises, which shall not include landscaping of the
property.

3.       ADDITIONAL PROPERTY.

         In the event Lessee desires to expand the Leased Premises, and Lessor
desires to lease additional property to Lessee, then Lessor and Lessee agree to
execute an amendment to this Lease Agreement to provide for the additional
leased property and the additional rental for such property as may be mutually
agreed upon by Landlord and Tenant.

4.       LEASE TERM.

         To have and to hold the same for the term to commence on the 1st day of
March, 1992, and ending on the 28th day of February, 1997, at midnight, unless
sooner terminated as hereinafter provided (hereinafter called "Lease Term").

5.       BASE RENTAL.

         The Tenant agrees to pay to the Landlord promptly on the first day of
each month in advance, during the Lease Term, a monthly base rental of Five
Hundred ($500.00) Dollars. The aforesaid payments of rent are to be made payable
to Landlord, at such place as Landlord may from time to time designate in
writing to Tenant.

6.       RENTAL ADJUSTMENT.

         The Base Rental payable by Tenant during each successive year of the
Lease Term, commencing on the first day of the thirteenth (13th) month of the
Lease Term, shall be adjusted at that time and every twelve (12) months
thereafter (the "adjustment month") for the remainder of the Lease Term and all
extensions and renewals thereof by increasing the monthly rental on the first
day of each adjustment month by four (4%) percent. Thus, the monthly rental
during the term hereof shall be as follows:

         Year 1   $500.00 per month         Year 4   $560.00 per month
         Year 2   $520.00 per month         Year 5   $580.00 per month
         Year 3   $540.00 per month

7.       ADDITIONAL RENTAL.

         In addition to the Base Rental required to be paid pursuant to the
terms of this Lease, Tenant agrees to pay, as additional rent, all sums and
other charges required to be paid by Tenant pursuant to other provisions and
exhibits to this Lease, whether or not the same be designated "Additional Rent"
(hereinafter called "Additional Rental"),
<PAGE>   3
and Landlord shall have the same remedies for Tenant's failure to pay same when
and as required, as if it constituted Base Rental.

8.       CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         No failure of Landlord to exercise any power given Landlord hereunder,
or to insist upon strict compliance by Tenant with its obligation hereunder, and
no custom or practice of the parties at variance with the terms hereof shall
constitute a waiver of Landlord's right to demand exact compliance with the
terms hereof.

9.       UTILITIES; ELECTRICITY AND OTHERS.

         9.1 Tenant shall be solely responsible for all charges for gas,
electricity, telephone and other utility services used, rendered, supplied or
imposed upon the Demised Premises regardless of who is the supplier and shall
indemnify Landlord and save it harmless against any liability or charges on
account thereof. If Tenant does not pay said utility charges when due, Landlord
may pay same, and such payment shall be added as Additional Rental hereunder.

         9.2 Tenant agrees that it will not install any equipment which will
exceed or overload the capacity of any utility facilities, whether or not
provided by Tenant or Landlord, and that, if any equipment installed by Tenant
shall require additional utility facilities, the same shall be furnished and
installed at Tenant's expense in accordance with plans and specifications to be
approved in writing by Landlord.

10.      USE AND CARE OF PREMISES.

         The Demised premises shall be used for the purpose of operating a saw
shop and any related purposes. The Demised Premises shall not be used for any
illegal purposes; nor in any manner to create any nuisance or trespass; nor in
any manner to vitiate the insurance or increase the rate of insurance on the
Demised Premises, any Buildings or the Property, any hazardous, toxic or
flammable materials, contaminants, oil, radioactive or other material the
removal of which is required or the maintenance of which is prohibited,
regulated or penalized by any local, state or federal agency, authority or
governmental unit. If any such materials are brought into the Demised Premises,
any Buildings or the Property by Tenant, Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole expense,
cause the immediate removal thereof.

11.      ABANDONMENT OF THE PREMISES.

         Tenant agrees not to abandon or vacate the Demised Premises during the
period of this Lease and agrees to use the Demised Premises for the purpose
herein leased until the expiration hereof.

12.      REPAIRS BY LANDLORD.

         Landlord agrees to keep in good repair the roof (including structure,
deck, insulation, flashing and membrane), foundations and exterior walls of the
Building and underground utility and sewer pipes
<PAGE>   4
outside of the exterior walls of said Building; provided, however, that Landlord
shall not be responsible for the repair of glass and exterior doors and any and
all repairs rendered necessary by the negligence of Tenant, its agents,
employees or invitees. Landlord gives to Tenant exclusive control of the Demised
Premises and shall be under no obligation to inspect same. Tenant shall promptly
report in writing to Landlord any defective condition known to it which Landlord
is required to repair, and failure to so report such defects shall make Tenant
responsible to Landlord for any liability incurred by Landlord by reason of such
defects.

13.      REPAIRS BY TENANT.

         Tenant accepts the Demised Premises in their present condition and as
suited for the uses intended by Tenant. Tenant shall, through the Lease Term and
all renewals thereof, at its expense, maintain in good order and repair the
Demised Premises, including the Building, heating and air conditioning equipment
(including but not limited to replacement of parts, compressors, air handling
units and heating unit) and other improvements located thereon, except those
repairs expressly required to be made by Landlord. In the event Tenant fails to
make said repairs, then Landlord may, but shall not be obligated to, make such
repairs in which event Tenant shall promptly reimburse Landlord for all expenses
incurred thereby, said expenses constituting Additional Rental hereunder.
Tenant agrees to return the Demised Premises to Landlord at the expiration, or
prior termination, of this Lease in as good condition and repair as when first
received, normal wear and tear, damage by storm, tire, lightning, earthquake or
other casualty alone excepted. Aside from the aforesaid repairs, Tenant shall
not make any alterations, additions or improvements to the Premises without the
prior written consent of Landlord.

14.      REAL ESTATE TAXES.

         Landlord shall be responsible during the Lease Term and any extension
or renewal thereof, for all real estate taxes and assessments (including,
without limitation, general and special assessments no matter how designated),
of every kind and nature, with respect to the Property or the Building or both
above. Tenant shall be responsible for all personal property taxes for all
personal property located in or on the Demised Premises.

15.      INSURANCE

         Landlord shall be responsible during the Lease Term and any extension
or renewal thereof, of all insurance (including, but not limited to, general
liability and property damage) on the Demised Premises for each year. Tenant
shall be responsible for all insurance on property other than the Demised
Premises including but not limited to all personal property located in or on the
Demised Premises, as well as workman's compensation for its employees.
<PAGE>   5
16.      DESTRUCTION OF OR DAMAGE TO PREMISES.

         If the Demised Premises are totally destroyed by storm, fire,
lightning, earthquake or other casualty, this Lease shall terminate as of the
date of such destruction, and Total Rental shall be accounted for as between
Landlord and Tenant as of that date. If the Demised Premises are damaged but not
wholly destroyed by any of such casualties, Base Rental shall abate in such
proportion as use of the Demised Premises has been destroyed, and Landlord shall
restore same to substantially the same condition as before damage as speedily as
practicable, whereupon full Base Rental shall commence.

17.      CONDEMNATION.

         If the whole of the Demised Premises, or such portion thereof as will
make same unusable for the purposes herein leased, shall be condemned by any
legally constituted authority or taken by private purchase in lieu thereof of
any public use or purpose, then in either of said events the Lease Term hereby
granted shall cease from the time when possession thereof is taken by public
authorities, and Total Rental shall be accounted for as between Landlord and
Tenant as of that date. Such termination, however, shall be without prejudice
to the rights of either Landlord or Tenant to recover compensation and damage
caused by condemnation from the condemnor. It is further understood and agreed
that neither the Tenant nor Landlord shall have any rights in any award made to
the other by any condemnation authority.

18.      ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING.

         Tenant may not, without the prior written consent of Landlord, assign
this Lease or any interest hereunder, or sublease Demised Premises or any part
thereof, or permit the use of Demised Premises by any party other than Tenant.
Consent to one or more assignments or subleases shall not destroy or waive this
provision. Subtenants and assignees shall become directly liable to Landlord for
all obligations of Tenant hereunder without relieving Tenant's liability.

19.      CANCELLATION OF LEASE BY LANDLORD OR TENANT.

         (A) It is mutually agreed that in the event Tenant shall default in the
payment of Base Rental and/or Additional Rental herein reserved, when due, and
fails to cure said default within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof
from Landlord; or if Tenant shall be in default in performing any of the terms
and provisions of this Lease other than the provision requiring the payment of
Total Rental, and fails to cure such default within thirty (30) days after the
date of receipt of written notice of default from Landlord; or if Tenant is
adjudicated bankrupt; or if a permanent receiver is appointed for Tenant's
property and such receiver is not removed within thirty (30) days after written
notice from Landlord to Tenant to obtain such removal; or if, whether
voluntarily or involuntarily, Tenant takes advantage of any debtor relief
proceedings under any present or future law, whereby the Total Rental or any
part thereof is, or is proposed to be, reduced or payment thereof deferred; of
if Tenant makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;
<PAGE>   6
or if Tenant's effects should be levied upon or attached under process against
Tenant, not satisfied or dissolved within thirty (30) days after written notice
from Landlord to Tenant to obtain satisfaction thereof; then, and in any of said
events Landlord at Landlord's option may at once, or within sixty (60) days
thereafter (but only during continuance of such default or condition),
terminated this Lease by written Notice to Tenant; whereupon this Lease shall
end. After an authorized assignment or subletting of the entire Demised Premises
covered by this Lease, the occurring of any of the foregoing defaults or events
shall affect this Lease only if caused by, or happening to, the assignee or
sublessee. Any notice provided in this Section may be given by Landlord, or its
attorney of Agent herein named. Upon such termination by Landlord, Tenant will
at once surrender possession of the Demised Premises to Landlord and remove all
of Tenant's effects therefrom; and Landlord may forthwith re-enter same and
repossess itself thereof, and remove all persons and effects therefrom, using
such force as maybe necessary without being guilty of trespass, forcible entry
or detainer or other tort.

         (B) Tenant may cancel Lease should Contractor Agreement be terminated
by Company or Contractor according to its terms.

20.      RELETTING BY LANDLORD.

         Landlord, as Tenant's agent, without terminating this Lease, upon
Tenant's failure to cure any default within the time permitted as set forth in
Section 18 hereof, may at Landlord's option enter upon and rent the Demised
Premises at the best price obtainable by reasonable effort, without
advertisement and by private negotiations and for any term Landlord deems
proper. Tenant shall be liable to Landlord for the deficiency, if any, between
Tenant's Total Rental hereunder and the price obtained by Landlord and all other
reasonable costs directly related to reletting, including, but not limited to
the payment of commissions, the making of alterations, costs of leasing same,
costs for any unamortized Tenant improvements and otherwise.

21.      EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF LEASE.

         No termination of this Lease prior to the normal ending thereof, by
lapse of time or otherwise, shall affect Landlord's right to collect Base
Rental, Additional Rental and any other changes due Landlord by Tenant.

22.      NO ESTATE IN LAND.

         This Lease shall create the relationship of Landlord and Tenant between
the parties hereto; no estate shall pass out of Landlord. Tenant has only a
usufruct, not subject to levy and sale, and not assignable by Tenant except by
Landlord's consent.

23.      ATTORNEYS' FEES AND HOMESTEAD.

         If any rental owing under this Lease is collected by or through an
attorney at law, or if Landlord employs an attorney at law to enforce
<PAGE>   7
any of the other terms or conditions of this Lease, Tenant agrees to pay or
reimburse Landlord for all reasonable associated attorneys' fees, as Additional
Rental hereunder. Tenant waives all homestead rights and exemptions which he may
have under any law as against any obligation owing under this Lease. Tenant
hereby assigns to Landlord Tenant's homestead and exemption.

24.      SERVICE OF NOTICE.

         Tenant hereby appoints as Tenant's agent to receive service of all
dispossessory or distraint proceedings and notices hereunder, and all notice
required under this Lease, the person in charge of Demised Premises at the time,
or occupying same; and if no person is in charge of, or occupying the Demised
Premises, then such service of notice may be made by attaching the same on the
main entrance to the Demised Premises. A copy of all notices under this Lease
shall also be sent to such other address as Tenant may from time to time
designate in writing to Landlord.

         All notices required by law or by this Lease to given Landlord
shall be given by depositing same in registered or certified U. S. Mail,
postage prepaid, and addressed as follows:

For Landlord:     C. Arthur Howard
                  Howard & Howard Real Estate Partnership
                  Post Office Box 294
                  Statesboro, GA  30458

25.      QUIET ENJOYMENT.

         Landlord hereby covenants and agrees to permit Tenant quiet enjoyment
of possession of the Demised Premises during the Lease Term, so long as Tenant
shall pay the Total Rental aforesaid and carry out all other obligations herein
made binding upon the Tenant.

26.      INSURANCE.

         26.1 Tenant shall at all times during the Lease Term maintain in full
force and effect the following insurance in standard form generally in use in
Georgia, with insurance companies authorized to do business in said state, which
are satisfactory to Landlord:

         26.1.1 Comprehensive public liability insurance in the amount of at
least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand ($250,000.00) Dollars for any occurrence
resulting in bodily or personal injury to or the death of one person and
consequential damages arising therefrom, and in the amount of at least Five
Hundred Thousand ($500,000.00) Dollars for any occurrence resulting in bodily or
personal injury or death to more than one person and consequential damages
arising therefrom.

         26.1.2 Personal property damage insurance covering liability for damage
to all personal property in the amount of the full insurable value thereof.
<PAGE>   8
         26.1.3   Workmen's Compensation Insurance for its employees as required
 by law.

         26.2 Tenant will furnish to Landlord, at least ten (10) days before
Tenant takes occupancy of the Demised Premises, and thirty (30) days before
expiration or termination of any such policy, copies of policies or certificates
of insurance evidencing coverage required by this Lease. All policies required
hereunder shall contain an endorsement providing that the insurer will not
cancel or amend the policy or policies without first giving at least ten (10)
days' prior written notice thereof to Landlord.

         26.3 The insurance required by this Section may be included in policies
of "blanket insurance", provided that, in all other respects, each such policy
shall comply with the requirements of this Section, and provided that no other
loss, which may or may not be also insured thereby, shall in any way affect or
limit the coverage and amount of insurance required hereby.

27.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, GOVERNING LAW AND BINDING EFFECT.

         "Landlord" as used in this Lease shall include first party, its heirs,
representatives, assigns and successors in title to the Property. "Tenant" shall
include second party, its heirs and representatives, and if this Lease shall be
validly assigned or sublet, shall include also Tenant's assignees or sublessees,
as to premises covered by such assignment or sublease. "Landlord" and "Tenant"
include male and female, singular and plural, corporation, partnership or
individual, as may fit the particular parties. The laws of the State of Georgia
shall govern the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this
Lease. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Lease shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and assigns.

28.      TIME OF THE ESSENCE.

         In all instances where Tenant is required by the terms and provisions
of this Lease to pay any sum or to do any act at a particular indicated time or
within any indicated period, it is understood and agreed that time is of the
essence.

29.      WAVIER OF CLAIMS.

         To the extent permitted by law, Landlord and Landlord's agents,
employees and contractors shall not be liable for, and Tenant hereby
indemnifies, holds harmless and releases Landlord, its agents, employees
contractors from and against any and all claims for damage to persons or
property sustained by Tenant or any person claiming through Tenant resulting
from any fire, accident, occurrence or condition in or upon the Demised Premises
or Building of which it shall be a part except where such claims arise solely
out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord, Landlord's
agents, employees or contractors.
<PAGE>   9
         This Lease contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto and no
representations, inducements, promises or agreements, oral or otherwise, between
the parties, not embodied herein unless contained in a modification in writing
executed by all of the parties hereto, shall be of any force or effect.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties herein have hereunto set their hands
and seals the day and year first above written.

                                            HOWARD AND HOWARD REAL ESTATE
                                            PARTNERSHIP

                                            BY:                           (SEAL)
                                               ---------------------------
                                             C. ARTHUR HOWARD, General Partner

Signed, sealed and delivered as 
to Landlord in the presence of:


- -----------------------------------
Witness

- -----------------------------------
Notary Public

[NOTARIAL SEAL]

                                            IKS SERVICES, INC.

                                            BY:                           (SEAL)
                                               ----------------------------
                                            Title:
                                               ----------------------------

Signed, sealed and delivered as             ATTEST:
to Tenant in the presence of:                  ----------------------------

                                                            [CORPORATE SEAL]
- ----------------------------
Witness

- ----------------------------
Notary Public


[NOTARIAL SEAL)
<PAGE>   10
                                  EXHIBIT "A"

All that certain tract or parcel of land situate, located and being in the
1209th G. M. District of Bulloch County, Georgia, and being more particularly
described as Parcel "B" containing 0.44 acres, according to a survey for C.
Arthur Howard and Cecil B. Howard. Said parcel begins at a 3/4" rebar set on
Gentilly Run being the POINT OF BEGINNING, thence proceeding South 06 degrees 26
minutes 07 seconds West, a distance of 122.80 feet to an iron pin set; thence
North 84 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds West, a distance of 156.10 feet to 
a 3/4" rebar set; thence proceeding North 04 degrees 25 minutes 25 seconds 
East, a distance of 121.42 feet to a 3/4" rebar set; thence proceeding South 84 
degrees 29 minutes 13 seconds East, a distance of 160.38 feet to the POINT OF 
BEGINNING.
<PAGE>   11
STATE OF GEORGIA           ]
                           ]
COUNTY OF BULLOCH          ]

                     ADDENDUM TO COMMERCIAL LEASE CONTRACT

         THIS ADDENDUM TO LEASE made effective as of the     day of           , 
1992, by and between HOWARD & HOWARD REAL ESTATE PARTNERSHIP, a Georgia general 
partnership, first party (hereinafter called "Landlord") and IKS SERVICE, INC., 
second party (hereinafter called "Tenant");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Landlord and Tenant did enter into that certain Commercial
Lease Contract (hereinafter referred to as the "Lease") made effective the first
day of March, 1992, for property, including improvements thereon as more
particularly described in the attached Exhibit "A"; and

         WHEREAS, Section 3 of the Lease entitled "Additional Property" provides
that in the event Lessee desired to expand the Leased Premises, and Lessor
desired to lease additional property to Lessee, then Lessor and Lessee agreed to
execute an Amendment to the Lease Agreement to provide for the additional leased
property and the additional rental for such property;

         WHEREAS, Landlord and Tenant do now desire to amend the Lease as
provided hereinafter; and

         NOW, THEREFORE, Landlord and Tenant do hereby amend the Lease as
follows:

         1. Paragraph 1 of the Lease entitled "Definitions" is hereby amended to
define Base Rental as follows: "The monthly rental calculated and payable
pursuant to Section 5 of the Lease."
<PAGE>   12
         2. Section 5 of the Lease entitled "Base Rental" shall be amended to
provide that the monthly base rental of $500.00 shall be adjusted to equal
$1,035.00 beginning the first day of the month following completion of the
addition to the Demised Premises containing approximately 3,000 square foot.

         3. Paragraph 6 of the Lease entitled "Rental Adjustment" shall be
revised to provide for monthly rentals during the term of the Lease as follows:

         Year 1   (through the month during which expansion of the demised
                  Premises is completed) $500.00 per month

         Year 2   (balance of Year 1) $1,035.00
         Year 2   $1,080.00
         Year 3   $1,225.00
         Year 4   $1,270.00
         Year 5   $1,315.00

         4. Except as heretofore amended, all terms and provisions of the Lease
remain in full force and effect as if fully set forth herein.


                                        HOWARD & HOWARD REAL ESTATE 
                                        PARTNERSHIP


                                        BY: /s/ C. Arthur Howard   (SEAL)
                                            ----------------------
                                            C. ARTHUR HOWARD, GENERAL PARTNER


Signed, sealed and delivered as
to Landlord in the presence of:


/s/ Janet E. Owen
- ------------------
Witness


/s/ Mary Dickerson
- ------------------
Notary Public


                      [SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
<PAGE>   13
                                        IKS SERVICE, INC.

                                        BY: /s/ Ray Grimes               (SEAL)
                                           ----------------------------
                                          Title:  President
                                                 ----------------------

                                        ATTEST:  /s/
                                                -----------------------

Signed, sealed and delivered as
to Tenant in the presence of:

/s/                                                     (CORPORATE SEAL)
- --------------------------------
Witness

/s/ Jay S. Davis
- --------------------------------
Notary Public

MY COMMISSION EXPIRES JANUARY 21, 1995

<PAGE>   14
                                  EXHIBIT "A"

All that certain tract or parcel of land situate, located and being in the
1209th G. M. District of Bulloch County, Georgia, and being more particularly
described as Parcel "B" containing 0.44 acres, according to a survey for C.
Arthur Howard and Cecil B. Howard. Said parcel begins at a 3/4" rebar set on
Gentilly Run being the POINT OF BEGINNING, thence proceeding South 06 degrees 26
minutes 07 seconds West, a distance of 122.80 feet to an iron pin set; thence
North 84 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds West, a distance of 156.10 feet to a 3/4"
rebar set; thence proceeding North 04 degrees 25 minutes 25 seconds East, a
distance of 121.42 feet to a 3/4" rebar set; thence proceeding South 84 degrees
29 minutes 13 seconds East, a distance of 160.38 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING.
<PAGE>   15
                   [CLAUDE HOWARD LUMBER COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

October 9, 1992

Mr. Ray Connell
IKS Services
Fax:     205-682-4125

Subject: Sav Shop Building Addition

Dear Ray:

         This is a letter to confirm our agreement concerning the new building.

         I have ordered the building as of today, and we anticipate the building
being completed before January 1993. Enclosed is the addendum to the lease
contract for your review and approval.

         I will mail this to you Monday, October 12, 1992, if I do not hear from
you regarding any changes in the addendum. Please sign and return to me as soon
as possible.

         Looking forward to continued business and relations with IKS.

Sincerely,


/s/ C. Arthur Howard


Howard and Howard Real Estate Partnership
C. Arthur Howard

CAH/dmk

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.6


LEASE

This Lease, made in Kent, Washington this 5th day of June, 1996 between

         Century Development Co., A Partnership

hereinafter referred to as "Lessor", and

                         International Knife & Saw, Inc.

hereinafter referred to as "Lessee",

WITNESSETH:

         1. Lessor does hereby lease to Lessee and Lessee does hereby lease from
Lessor, those premises situated in the City of Kent, King County, Washington
described as follows:

Lot 4, Short Plat 78-6, recorded under Auditor's File No. 7812010494, and
correction of Auditor's File No. 7808240873, ALL in the N.W. Quarter, of Section
1, Township 22 North, Range 4 East, King County, Washington.

Situate in the County of King, State of Washington
Commonly known as 7031 S. 196th St., Bay 4, Kent, WA 98032 hereinafter called
"Premises".

         2. Term. The term of this lease shall be for 364 days (intended to be
less than one year) and shall commence on the 1st day of June, 1996 and shall
end on the 30th day of May, 1997 inclusive.

         3. Rent. Lessee covenants and agrees to pay Lessor as rental for bay 4
consisting of 4000 square feet a monthly rental of $1580.00 in lawful money of
the United States in advance of the first day of each calendar month of the
lease term, beginning on the 1st day of June, 1996 to Lessor at the place
designated in paragraph 16 or at such other place as Lessor may hereafter
designate. The rent quoted is exclusive of any sales, franchise, business or
occupation or other taxes based on rents and should any such tax apply, or be
enacted during the life of this lease, the rent shall be increased by such
amount.

         3A. Impound Account. The impound account consists of items No. 30 and
31 of this lease. The monthly impound amount is $316.00. If necessary this 
amount will be adjusted each year in April to reflect any changes in impound
expenses.

         4. Consideration. As partial consideration for the execution of this
lease, the Lessee has this day paid the sum of $1896.00, of which $1580.00 is
the first months rent, and $316.00 is payment into the monthly impound account
as per items No. 30 and No. 31 of this lease.

         5. Security Deposit. Lessee has previously paid to Lessor the amount of
$1793.00 as security for the performance by Lessee of every covenant and
condition of this lease. This deposit shall not bear interest. If Lessee shall
default with respect to any covenant or condition of this lease, including, but
not limited to, the payment of rent, Lessor may apply the whole or part of such
security deposit to the payment of any other sum which Lessor may be required to
spend by reason of Lessee's default. In such event, Lessee shall, immediately
upon demand by Lessor, pay to Lessor the amount necessary to restore the full
amount of the original security deposit required herein. If Lessee complies with
all of the covenants and conditions of this lease, the security deposit or any
balance thereof shall be returned to Lessee (or, at the option of Lessor, to the
last assignee of Lessee's interest in this lease) within twenty (20) days after
the expiration of the lease term.

         6. Repairs. The premises have been inspected by Lessee and by entry
hereunder Lessee accepts the premises as being in good, sanitary order,
condition and repair. Lessee shall, at Lessee's sole cost and expense, at all
times keep the premises neat, clean, sanitary, and in a good condition and state
of repair. Lessee's duty to repair shall include without limitation the
replacement of glass of all windows and doors as may become cracked or broken,
and except for reasonable wear and tear and damage by fire or other unavoidable
casualty, shall at all times preserve the premises in as good repair as they now
are or may hereafter be put. Lessee hereby waives all rights to make any repairs
at the expense of Lessor as may be provided by law, statute or ordinance nor
or hereafter in effect. Lessee's responsibility to repair shall not include the
roof, or the structural portions of exterior walls and foundation, unless the
need for repair for these items results or arises from negligence of Lessee, his
agents or employees, or as a result of illegal entry by employee's or agents or
disgruntled ex-employees of Lessee. It is specifically understood and agreed
that Lessor has no obligation and has made no promises to alter, remodel,
improve, repair, decorate or paint the premises or any part hereof and that no
representations respecting the condition of the premises or the building of
which the premises are a part have been made by Lessor to Lessee except as
specifically herein set forth.

         Lessee shall upon the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease,
quit and surrender the premises to Lessor without notice in the same condition
as when received, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and in a neat, broom-clean
condition delivering up to Lessor all keys belonging to said premises.


                                       1

<PAGE>   2
         7. Utilities. Lessee hereby covenants and agrees to pay all charges
for heat, electricity, water, sewer, Metro and garbage, and for all other public
utilities which shall be used in or charged against the leased premises during
the full term of this lease. Lessee shall keep garbage receptacles inside leased
premises except on day of garbage collection. Lessor shall not be liable for the
failure of any such services for any reason whatsoever. In the event the leased
premises are part of a building or larger premises to which such charges are
charged as a whole, with the consent of Lessor, then Lessee agrees to pay upon
demand, a proper and fair share of said charges.

         8. Accidents. All personal property of said leased premises shall be at
the risk of Lessee. Lessor or Lessor's agents shall not be liable for any
damage, either to person or property, sustained by Lessee or others, caused by
any defects now in said premises or hereafter occuring therein, or due to the
building in which the leased premises are situate, or any part or appurtenance
thereof, becoming out of repair, or caused by the bursting or leaking of water,
gas, sewer or steam pipes, or from any act of negligence of employees,
co-tenants or other occupants of said building. Lessee agrees to defend and hold
Lessor harmless from any and all claims for damages suffered or alleged to be
suffered in or about the leased premises by any person, firm or corporation.

         9. Care of Premises. The Lessor shall not be called upon to make any
improvements or repairs of any kind whatsoever upon said premises, and said
premises shall at all times be kept and used in accordance with the laws of the
State of Washington and applicable City and County ordinances, and in accordance
with all the directions, rules and regulations of the health officer, fire
marshal, building inspector, or their public officials or departments, at the
sole cost and expense of said Lessee; Lessee will not overload and will permit
no waste, damage or injury to the premises, and at Lessee's own cost and expense
will keep all drainage pipes free and open and will protect water, heating and
other pipes so that they will not freeze or become clogged, and will repair all
leaks, and will also repair all damages caused by leaks or by reason of Lessee's
failure to protect and keep free, open and unfrozen any of the pipes and
plumbing on said premises. Lessee shall be liable for the removal of ice and
snow from the sidewalk in front of and about said premises.

         10. Use. The premises are to be used for the purpose of conducting
therein cutting tool knife and saw repair and for no other purpose without the
written consent of the Lessor. The Lessee shall conduct and carry on in said
premises, continuously during each and every business day of the term hereof,
the business for which said premises are leased, and shall not use the premises
for illegal purposes. The Lessee agrees that no stock of goods will be carried,
or anything done in or about the premises which will increase the present rate
of insurance. In the event that Lessee's usage shall cause an increase in the
rates or rating, then, in that event, the Lessee shall pay for any resulting
increase in addition to his pro-rata share of the existing policy. Lessee agrees
that it has determined to Lessee's satisfaction that the premises can be used
for the purpose for which they are leased and waives any right to terminate
this lease in the event the premises cannot be used for such purposes or for any
reason may not be used for such purposes during the term of the lease.

         11. Liens and Insolvency. Lessee shall keep the leased premises and the
property in which the leased premises are situated, free from any liens arising
out of any work performed, materials furnished or obligations incurred by
Lessee. In the event Lessee becomes insolvent, voluntary or involuntary bankrupt
or a receiver assignee, or other liquidating officer is appointed for the
business of the Lessee, then the Lessor may cancel this lease at Lessor's
option.

         12. Assignment and Subletting. Lessee shall not assign this lease in
whole or in part, nor sublease all or any part of the premises, nor permit other
persons or entities to occupy said premises or any part thereof, nor grant any
license or concession for all or any part of the premises, without the prior
written consent of Lessor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
However, Lessor may specifically withhold consent if the proposed transferee's
projected use of the premises involves the use, storage, generation or disposal
of Hazardous Substances as defined in the Hazardous Substances paragraph of this
Lease. Any consent by Lessor to an assignment or subletting of this lease shall
not constitute a waiver of the necessity of obtaining such consent as to any
subsequent assignment. An assignment or transfer for the benefit of Lessee's
creditors or otherwise by operation of law shall not be effective to transfer or
assign Lessee's interest under this lease unless Lessor shall have first
consented thereto in writing. Neither Lessee's interest in this lease, nor any
estate created hereby in Lessee nor any interest herein or therein, shall pass
to any trustee or receiver or assignee for the benefit of creditors or otherwise
by operation of law except as may specifically be provided in the Bankruptcy
Code. As applicable, if any of the corporate shares of stock of Lessee are
transferred, or if any partnership interests of Lessee are transferred, by sale,
assignment, bequest, inheritance, operation of law or otherwise, so as to result
In a change of the control, assets, value, ownership or structure of Lessee, the
same shall be deemed an assignment for the purposes of this paragraph and shall
require Lessor's prior written consent. Lessee shall give thirty (30) days
advance written notice to Lessor of any such change or proposed change.

         13. Access. Lessee will allow Lessor or Lessor's agents free access at
reasonable times to said premises for the purpose of inspections or of making
repairs, additions or alterations to


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
the premises or any property owned by or under control of Lessor, but this right
shall not be construed as an agreement on the part of Lessor to make any
repairs, all of such repairs to be made by Lessee as aforesaid. The Lessor shall
have the right to place and maintain "For Rent" signs in a conspicuous place on
said premises for thirty days prior to the expiration of this lease.

         14. Possession. If for any reason, including damage to the leased
premises by fire or other casualty, Lessor is unable to deliver possession of
said premises to Lessee at the commencement of the lease term, the Lessor shall
not be liable for any damage caused thereby to Lessee nor shall this lease
thereby become void or voidable nor shall the term of this lease be in any way
extended, but in such event Lessee shall not be liable for any rent hereunder
until such time as Lessor can deliver possession. If possession is delivered
between the beginning and end of a month, the rent, or minimum rent, as the case
may be, for said month shall be adjusted proportionately for the days of said
month during which Lessee is not in possession.

         15. Fire and Other Casualty. In the event the premises are destroyed or
damaged by fire, earthquake or other casualty of such an extent as to render the
same untenantable in whole or in a substantial part thereof, it shall be
optional with the Lessor to rebuild or repair the same; and after the happening
of any such contingency the Lessee shall give the Lessor immediate notice
thereof. Lessor shall have ninety (90) days after the date of such notification,
to notify the Lessee in writing of Lessor's intentions to rebuild or repair said
premises, or the part so damaged as aforesaid, and if Lessor elects to rebuild
or repair said premises, Lessor shall prosecute the work of such rebuilding or
repairing without unnecessary delay, and during such period the rent of said
premises shall be abated in the same ratio that the portion of the premises
rendered for the time being unfit for occupancy shall bear to the whole of the
leased premises. If the Lessor shall fail to give the notice aforesaid, Lessee
shall have the right to declare this lease terminated by written notice served
upon the Lessor.

         In the event the building in which the premises hereby leased are
located; shall be destroyed or damaged by fire, earthquake, or other casualty
(even though the premises hereby leased shall not be damaged thereby) to such an
extent that in the opinion of Lessor it shall not be practicable to rebuild or
repair, then it shall be optional with the Lessor to terminate this lease by
written notice served on Lessee within sixty (60) days after such destruction or
damage.

         16. Notices. All notices to be given hereunder to either party shall be
in writing and shall be either personally delivered to the other party or mailed
by first class, registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to
the other, addressed to the parties as follows:

Lessor: Century Development         Lessee: International Knife & Saw, Inc.
         19637 70th Ave. S.         PO Box 752006
         Kent, WA 98032-1138        Cincinnati, OH 45275-2006

         Any notice (s) or other instruments or documents personally delivered
to the other party shall be deemed received on the date of such delivery.
Delivery and receipt shall be deemed accomplished If delivery is made to an
employee, officer, director or other agent of the other party at the appropriate
address set forth hereinabove.

         Any notice (s) or other instruments or documents sent by mail in
accordance with the above provisions shall be conclusively deemed and considered
as received by the other party on the third (3rd) day from the date such mailed
notice is deposited with the United States postal service.

         17. Governmental Fees. All fees, taxes, and other governmental charges
payable to the City, County, State or other governmental entity, during the life
of this lease shall be paid by Lessee.

         18. Signs. Lessee shall not attach to the premises any canopies or
awnings of any description whatsoever or inscribe or maintain on the premises
any signs, which in the judgement of the Lessor are objectionable; and upon the
written direction of Lessor so to do, Lessee shall promptly remove any such
objectionable canopies, awnings and signs. Without the written approval of
Lessor, no bracket for any such canopies, awnings or signs and no conduits for
the same shall be erected, placed or prepared for if the same involves the
boring of any holes or any other physical disturbance of the front, ceiling,
wails, showcases or floors of said premises.

         Unless otherwise provided in a rider to this lease, the use of the
outside area of the walls and the roof of said premises or the building in which
said premises are located, is reserved under Lessor who shall have the right to
utilize the same for any purposes desired including sign purposes; provided
however, that said reservation shall not extend to the front or fronts of said
premises.

         19. Alterations and Trade Fixtures. Lessee shall not make any
alterations, additions or improvements in said premises without the consent of
Lessor in writing first had and obtained, and all alterations, additions, and
improvements which shall be made, shall be at the sole cost and expense of
Lessee, and shall become the property of the Lessor and shall remain in and be
surrendered with the premises as a part thereof at the termination of the lease,
without disturbance, molestation, or injury. All alterations, additions, and
improvements will be accomplished In a good and workmanlike manner, in
conformity with all applicable laws and


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
regulations and by a contractor approved by Lessor.

         Upon the termination of this lease, Lessee shall surrender the premises
to Lessor, broom clean and in the same condition as received except for ordinary
wear and tear which Lessee was not otherwise obligated to remedy under any
provision of this lease. In addition, Lessor may require Lessee to remove any
alterations, additions or improvements (whether or not made with Lessor's
consent) prior to the termination or this lease and to restore the premises to
its prior condition, all at Lessee's expense.

         Trade fixtures shall not be deemed alterations, additions or
improvements unless the removal of the same would do material damage to the
premises and if Lessee removes trade fixtures, Lessee shall restore the premises
to the original condition. In no event, however, shall Lessee remove any of the
following materials or equipment without Lessor's prior written consent; any
power wiring or power panels; lighting or lighting fixtures; carpets or other
floor coverings; heaters, air conditioners or any other heating or air
conditioning equipment; or other similar building operating equipment and
decorations.

         20. Remedies in Default. Time is of the essence hereof. If any rents
above reserved, or any part thereof, shall be arid remain unpaid when the same
shall become due, or if Lessee shall violate or default in any of the covenants
and agreements herein contained then the Lessor may terminate this lease upon
giving the notice required by law, and reenter said premises, but not
withstanding such reentry by the Lessor, the liability of the Lessee for the
rent provided for herein shall not be extinguished for balance of the term of
this lease, and Lessee covenants and agrees to make good to Lessor any
deficiency arising from a reentry and reletting of the premises at a lessor
rental than hereby agreed to. The Lessee shall pay such deficiency each month as
the amount thereof is ascertained by the Lessor.

         Lessee shall pay to Lessor in the event of such reletting, as soon as
ascertained, the costs and expenses incurred by Lessor in such reletting
including without limitation advertising costs, prorated share of real estate
commissions, completion of construction and tenant improvements necessary for
the new lessee or in making such alterations and repairs as to put the premises
in as good a leasable condition as when Lessee entered this Lease.

         Lessor shall have the right, at Lessor's option, to suspend or
discontinue any services or obligations otherwise required of Lessor in this
Lease, during the continuance of any default or breach and such suspension or
discontinuance shall not be deemed or construed to be an eviction or ejection of
Lessee.

         No receipt of money by the Lessor from the Lessee after the termination
of the lease in any way, or after giving of any notice, shall reinstate,
continue or extend the term of this lease or affect any notice given to the
Lessee prior to receipt of such money. The foregoing remedy of the Lessor shall
not be exclusive, but shall be cumulative and in addition to all remedies now or
hereafter allowed by law or elsewhere provided.

         21. Attorney's Fees. Should it be necessary for either party to enforce
their rights under this instrument, then in the event of the use of attorneys,
whether or not there is a lawsuit, the prevailing party shall be entitled to
recover and collect all costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. In the event of
litigation all costs and reasonable attorneys' fees shall be determined by the
court resolving the litigation. Costs and reasonable attorney's fees shall
include without limitation all consultations with attorneys, bankruptcy fees,
filing fees, costs of serving all pleadings and documents, copying expenses,
costs of depositions (including court reporters fees and transcription costs),
discovery, expert witness fees and costs, and all time spent by the prevailing
party's attorneys in handling and preparation of the case while pending and for
trial, and during any appeals. As used herein, "prevailing party" means the
party in whose favor a final Judgment is rendered.

         Further, after award or judgment is entered the prevailing party shall
be fully entitled to recover against the losing party all future costs,
attorneys' fees and all expenses which may be incurred in collecting upon and/or
enforcing the award or judgment, including without limitation bond costs,
sheriff's fees, filing and/or court fees, and all time spent by attorneys on
behalf of the prevailing party in handling and pursuing collection/enforcement
of the award or judgment. The prevailing party, shall be entitled to provisions
in any such award or judgment which set forth the within collection or
enforcement rights to future costs and fees.

         22. Governing Law/Venue/Jurisdiction. This Lease shall be governed by
and construed under the laws of the State of Washington. Further, should civil
suit be filed by either party, venue and jurisdiction may lie and be proper in
King County, Washington, regardless of business or resident address of the
Lessee at the time of filing and regardless of where this document was executed.

         23. Advice of Counsel. Lessee acknowledges he has been fully advised
that this Lease has been drafted by Lessor and/or its attorney. Further, Lessee
acknowledges that he has been given the opportunity to consult with independent
counsel as to the meaning and effect of the terms and conditions of this Lease.
Lessee has either done so or has chosen not to avail himself of the opportunity
and now knowingly enters into this Lease.

         24. Non-Waiver of Breach. The failure of the Lessor to insist upon
strict performance of any of the covenants and agreements of this lease, or to
exercise any option herein conferred in any one or more instances, shall not be
construed as a waiver or relinquishment of any such or any other covenant or
agreement, but the same shall be and remain in full force and effect

         25. Removal of Property. In the event of any entry in, or taking
possession of, the



                                       4
<PAGE>   5
leased premises as aforesaid, the Lessor shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to remove from the leased premises, all personal property located
therein, and may place the same in storage at a public warehouse at the expense
and risk of the owners thereof.

         26. Heirs and Assigns. Subject to the provisions hereof pertaining to
assignment and subletting, the covenants and agreements of this lease shall be
binding upon the heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns of any or
all the parties hereto.

         27. Eminent Domain. Should the demised premises, or a substantial
portion of the demised premises, be taken or condemned by any authority, either
party hereto, after at least thirty, (30) days written notice to the other, may
terminate this lease from the date of such actual taking of possession; but
whether the lease be so terminated or not, the entire amount received for such
taking, including severance damage, whether by settlement, purchase price in
lieu of condemnation, or formal Court action, including severance damages, shall
be payable to the Lessor, and the Lessee shall not participate therein. Lessee's
liability for rent shall cease as of the date of such taking of the leased
premises and the Lessor shall refund the amount of rent paid in advance by the
Lessee calculated at the daily rate based upon the monthly rental then in
effect. Should both parties hereto elect to continue the lease in effect,
despite any such condemnation, the balance of the rent accruing after the date
Lessee is deprived of possession (of each installment of such balance) shall be
reduced in the proportion that the amount of space taken by any such proceeding
bears to the total amount of space covered by this lease.

         28. Holdover. If the Lessee shall, without the written consent of
Lessor, hold over after the expiration of the term of this lease, such tenancy
shall be for an indefinite period of time on a month to month tenancy, which
tenancy may be terminated as provided by the laws of the State of Washington.
During such tenancy Lessee agrees to pay the Lessor double the rental rate as
set forth herein, unless a different rate is agreed upon, and to be bound by all
the terms, covenants and conditions as herein specified, so far as applicable.

         29. Waiver of Subrogation Rights. The parties hereto do each herewith
and hereby release and relieve the other of them from any and all liability for
damage to the property of either of them which is or might be incident to or the
result of fire or any other casualty (excluding hazardous materials) against
which either party is insured, and do hereby waive any and all right of recovery
therefore other than for any such losses that may be occasioned by either
party's willful, wanton or premeditated conduct.

         30. Taxes, Insurance and Maintenance. Property taxes, loss or damage
insurance, liability and loss of income insurance and maintenance expenses and
costs for the building and its parking lot, sidewalks and other common areas
will be prorated and paid by Lessee on the basis of square footage held by the
Lessee in relationship to the square footage of the entire building. This will
be payable to the Lessor each month as an impound account. Any shortages or
overages will be charged or credited each year in April. At this time the
impound account will be adjusted if necessary to reflect any increase or
decrease in the impound expenses.

         31. Utilities and Storm Drain. All utilities, including without
limitation, water and sewer costs, City of Kent storm drain charges, and the
power for outside security lights, will be prorated over the entire building on
the basis of square footage held by the Lessee in relationship to the square
footage of the entire building. This will be payable to the Lessor each month as
an impound account. Any shortages or overages will be charged or credited each
year in April. At this time the impound account will be adjusted if necessary to
reflect any increase or decrease in the impound expenses.

         32. Subordination, Attornment. This Lease, at Lessor's option, shall be
subordinate to any ground lease, mortgage, deed of trust or any other security
now or hereafter placed upon the real property and/or improvements of which the
premises are a part and to any and all advances made on the security thereof and
to all renewals, modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions
thereof.

         In the event any proceedings are brought for foreclosure, or in the
event of the exercise of the power of sale under any mortgage or deed of trust
made by the Lessor covering the Premises, the Lessee shall attorn to the
purchaser upon any such foreclosure or sale and recognize such purchaser as the
Lessor under this Lease.

         The provisions of this Article to the contrary, nevertheless provide so
long as the Lessee is not in default hereunder, this Lease shall remain in full
force and effect for the full term hereof.

         Lessee agrees to make reasonable modifications of the Lease provisions
as may be requested by lenders with a security interest in the property,
provided such modifications do not materially alter the business terms of the
Lease and do not negatively impact Lessee's material rights hereunder.

         33. Interest and Late Charges. If Lessee shall fail to pay when due and
payable any rent or other amounts or charges which Lessee is obligated to pay
under the terms of this Lease, such unpaid amounts shall bear interest at the
rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum or the maximum rate allowed in the
state where the Premises are located, whichever is greater. In addition to such
interest, Lessee acknowledges that the late payment of any monthly installment
of Base Rent or Adjusted Base Rent may cause Lessor to incur costs and expenses
not contemplated under this Lease, including but not limited to administrative
and collection costs, processing and accounting expenses, and late charges which
may be imposed on Lessor by any Ground Lease, Mortgage or Trust Deed encumbering
the property, the exact amount of

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
which is extremely difficult to fix. Therefore, if any such installment is not
received by Lessor within fifteen (15) days from the date such installment is
due, Lessee shall pay Lessor a late charge equal to ten percent (10%) of such
installment. Lessor and Lessee agree that this late charge represents a
reasonable estimate of such costs and expenses and is fair compensation to
Lessor for the loss suffered by such nonpayment by Lessee. Acceptance of any
late charge shall not constitute a waiver of Lessee's default with respect to
such nonpayment by Lessee nor prevent Lessor from exercising any other rights or
remedies available to Lessor under this Lease.

         34. Hazardous Substances. If Hazardous Substances are used, stored,
generated or disposed of on or in the premises, or if the premises become
contaminated in any manner by Lessee, Lessee's agents, employees, contractors or
invitees, for which Lessee is legally liable, Lessee shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Lessor from any and all claims, damages, fines, judgments,
penalties, costs, liabilities or losses (including without limitation a decrease
in value of the premises, damages due to loss or restriction of rentable or
useable space, or any damages due to adverse impact on marketing of the space,
and any and all sums paid for settlement of claims, attorneys' fees, consultant
and expert fees) arising during or after the lease term and arising as a result
of such contamination by Lessee. This indemnification includes without
limitation any and all costs incurred due to any investigation of the site or
any cleanup, removal or restoration mandated by a federal, state or local agency
or political subdivision. Without limitation of the foregoing, if Lessee causes
or permits the presence of any Hazardous Substance on the premises and such
results in contamination, Lessee shall immediately notify Lessor of such
contamination and at its sole expense, the Lessee shall take any and all
necessary actions to return the premises to the condition existing prior to the
presence of any such Hazardous Substance on the premises. Lessee shall first
obtain Lessor's approval for any such remedial action.

         Lessee's obligations shall survive the expiration or termination of
this Lease. Lessee's breach of this paragraph shall constitute a material
default under this lease.

         As used herein, "Hazardous Substance" means any substance which is
toxic, ignitable, reactive, or corrosive and which is regulated by any local
government, the State of Washington, or the United States government. Further,
"Hazardous Substance" includes any and all material or substances which are
defined as "hazardous waste", "extremely hazardous waste" or a "hazardous
substance" pursuant to state, federal or local governmental law. "Hazardous
substance" includes without limitation asbestos, polychlorobiphenyis ("PCB's")
and petroleum.

         35. Brokers. Lessee warrants that it has had no dealings with any real
estate broker or agents in connection with the negotiation of this Lease
excepting only none, and it knows of no other real estate broker or agent who is
entitled to a commission in connection with this Lease.

         36. Construction of Agreement. In the event of a controversy or
dispute, the terms of this Agreement are to be construed in an evenhanded
fashion as between the parties hereto in accordance with the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the situation forming the basis for the controversy
arose. Where the language of this Agreement is deemed to be ambiguous or
otherwise unclear, the issue shall be resolved in a manner most consistent
with the relevant terms of the Agreement without regard to authorship of the
language and without any presumption or arbitrary interpretation or
construction in favor of any one of the parties.

         37. Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this Lease shall be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that
shall in no way affect the legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions contained herein.

         38. Authority. If Lessee is a corporation, trust or general or limited
partnership, each individual executing this Lease on behalf of such entity
represents and warrants that he or she is duly authorized to execute and deliver
this Lease on behalf of said entity. If Lessee is a corporation, trust or
partnership. Lessee shall, within thirty (30) days after execution of this
Lease, deliver to Lessor evidence of such authority satisfactory to Lessor.

         39. Riders. The riders, if any, attached hereto, are made a part of
this lease and by this reference incorporated herein.


(LESSOR)                                    (LESSEE)

Century Development Co., A Partnership      International Knife & Saw, Inc.

By: Randy Small-Partner                     By:

Signed:                                     Signed: /s/ E.J. BRENT
       -------------------------------              -----------------------
                                                    E.J. Brent, Treasurer

Address: 19637 70th Avenue South            Home Address:
City & State: Kent, WA 98032-1138           City & State:
Business Phone: 395-0239                    Business Phone: 872-0768
Home Phone: 630-3418                        Home Phone:
Source: renewal                             Walter Smith 360-668-2607


                                       6

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.7



                                     LEASE

         This Lease entered into this 21st day of July, 1995, by and between 1st
American Management Co., Inc., Receiver, pursuant to an Order of the Superior
Court of Lake County, Indiana (hereinafter called "Landlord"), and International
Knife & Saw, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (hereinafter called "Tenant").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         1. PREMISES: Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases
from Landlord for the term, at the rental, and upon all of the terms and
conditions set forth herein, the tract of land, together with the building and
other improvements situated thereon consisting of approximately 18,465 square
feet (the "Stipulated Square Footage"), located at 700 Chase Street, Gary,
Indiana, and outlined in red on the Site Plan set forth on Exhibit "A" attached
hereto and made a part hereof for all purposes ("Site Plan"). The leased
premises is part of a building which was formerly known as the Budd Company
Building and now commonly known as the Southeast Industrial Center.

         Said real property and the portion of the building and other
improvements thereon are hereinafter referred to as the "Leased Premises".

         The Landlord shall provide the Tenant with twenty-five (25) exclusive
parking spaces as shown on the Site Plan. The Landlord shall have the right to
move and relocate said exclusive parking spaces at its sole discretion for
comparable spaces. The Landlord

<PAGE>   2
shall not be required to police the exclusivity of said parking of the Tenant.

         2. TERM OF LEASE: The term of this Lease shall be for three (3) years
commencing at 12:01 a.m. on the 1st day of September, 1995, and shall continue
until midnight on the 31st day of August, 1998 (the "Initial Term"), unless
extended pursuant to the terms herein or unless sooner terminated pursuant to
the terms herein.

         3. ANNUAL RENT: Tenant shall pay to Landlord in lawful money of the
United States at Landlord's address as designated herein, or to such other
person and/or addresses as Landlord may from time to time designate in writing
the following rent:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                Rental Rate            Annual            Monthly
Year     From     To          Per Square Foot           Rent*             Rent
- ----     ----     --          ---------------           -----             ----
<S>      <C>      <C>         <C>                    <C>               <C>      
1        9/1/95   8/31/96           $ 3.15           $58,164.72        $4,847.06
2        9/1/96   8/31/97           $ 3.31           $61,073.04        $5,089.42
3        9/1/97   8/31/98           $ 3.47           $64,126.68        $5,343.89
</TABLE>

- ---------
*Based upon 18,465 sq. ft., subject to adjustment per paragraph 3.1 of this 
Lease.

         3.1 Stipulated Square Footage. For the purpose of this Lease, the
"Stipulated Square Footage" of the Leased Premises shall be 18,465 square feet.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the
total number of square feet of the Leased Premises actually delivered to Tenant
is less than 18,465 square feet or more than said amount, then "Stipulated
Square Footage" shall be recomputed to reflect the actual square footage of the
Leased Premises, the Rent and monthly installments of Rent specified in each of
the above subsections, and all other additional charges


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
required to be made by the Tenant to the Landlord as provided for in this Lease,
shall be computed or recomputed on the basis of such actual square footage of
the Leased Premises, and Tenant shall pay as Annual Rent and its pro rata share
of the real estate taxes and other additional charges as provided for in this
Lease on the amount of the Stipulated Square Footage as computed or recomputed.

         3.2 Time and Place of Payment of Rent. The Annual Rent and Monthly Rent
shall be payable in advance on the first day of each calendar month during the
term of this Lease in equal monthly installments (the "Monthly Rent"). Annual
Rent and Monthly Rent shall be referred to herein as (the "Rent") unless
otherwise specified. All Rent shall be payable without notice or demand and
without any deduction, offset, or abatement to 1st American Management Co.,
Inc., Receiver, 450 Vale Park Road, Suite B, P.O. Box 1580, Valparaiso, Indiana
46383, or such other person or entity or at such other places as Landlord may
designate in writing to Tenant from time to time.

4.       USE AND CONDITION:

         4.1 Use. The Leased Premises shall be primarily used and occupied for
the grinding and sharpening of industrial knives and saws and related offices
required thereof. No act shall be done in or about the Leased Premises that is
unlawful or that will increase the rate of insurance for fire and extended
coverage on the improvements comprising the Leased


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
Premises or on any property in the vicinity of the Leased Premises above that
normally incurred by Landlord leasing property to businesses undertaking
activities similar to Tenants. No act shall be done and no material shall be
used in or about the Leased Premises which interferes with the use of adjacent
property. Tenant shall not commit, or allow to be committed, any waste or any
public or private nuisance or permit to be stored any environmentally hazardous
wastes or radioactive materials, on the Leased Premises. Tenant shall, at
Tenant's expense, comply promptly with all applicable federal, state, county and
local statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, and laws, including
OSHA, environmental, EPA, and fire-safety requirements and fire underwriting
standards, relating to Tenant's use of the Leased Premises and shall keep and
observe such reasonable rules and regulations as may be adopted and published by
Landlord for the safety, care, cleanliness and benefit of the Leased premises,
and for the preservation of good order therein. Tenant shall at all times use
adequate ventilation/exhaust equipment and waste disposal equipment and
procedures so as to comply with all applicable governmental and safety statutes,
rules and regulations, and so as to prevent any interference with the use of
property in the vicinity of the Leased Premises. Tenant warrants and represents
that it shall not store, generate or dispose any hazardous waste, hazardous
substances, toxic substances or related materials in or about the Leased


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
Premises, Southeast Industrial Center Common Area or the real property adjacent
thereto except in absolute compliance with any and all applicable federal,
state, county and local laws, statutes, regulations or other requirements.
Landlord shall be provided with copies of any and all letters and documents
required of Tenant by virtue of the aforementioned. If Tenant fails to comply
with the requirements of this Section 4, Landlord shall be entitled to pursue
any of the remedies provided in Section 5.5 or in Section 11.

         4.2 Condition of Leased Premises. Tenant has occupied the Premises
under a previous Lease dated July 19, 1990, and Tenant hereby accepts the Leased
Premises, "AS IS", "WHERE IS" and "WITH ALL FAULTS AND VIRTUES", relying
exclusively upon its own inspection of the Leased Premises. Landlord warrants
and represents that it is Receiver for the Premises with full right, title and
authority to enter into and perform this Lease. Tenant hereby accepts the Leased
Premises subject to all applicable zoning, municipal, county and state laws,
ordinances and regulations governing and regulating the use of the Leased
Premises, and accepts this Lease subject thereto and to all matters disclosed
thereby and by any exhibits attached hereto. Landlord represents and warrants
that it has no knowledge and has received no notice of any violation regarding
any law governing the use, storage or disposal of any hazardous waste, toxic
substance or related materials in the Leased Premises, Southeast Industrial
Center Common Area


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
or the real property adjacent thereto. Tenant acknowledges that neither Landlord
nor Landlord's agent has made by representation or warranty as to the
suitability of the Leased Premises for the conduct or operations of Tenant's
business.

         4.3.     Indemnification by Tenant:

                  (i) In no event shall Landlord be responsible to Tenant for
any remediation of any Hazardous Substance or other environmental clean-up at
the Premises resulting directly from use and occupancy of the Premises by
Tenant, its employees, agents, customers, suppliers and the like.

                  (ii) If compliance with any Environmental Law becomes
necessary to Premises due to any acts or omissions on the part of Tenant, then
Tenant shall comply with such Environmental Law at Tenant's own expense, except
to the extent attributable to Landlord or Landlord's employees, agents,
customers, suppliers, or the like.

                  (iii} Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Landlord from and against all claims, liabilities, losses, damages and costs,
foreseen and unforeseen, including without limitation counsel fees, engineering
and other professional and expert fees, which Landlord may incur by reason of
Tenant's breach of its obligations under this paragraph or breach of Tenant's
representations under this paragraph.


                                       6
<PAGE>   7
5.       MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS:

         5.1 Tenant's Obligations. Except as provided in Sections 5.2 and 5.3
below, Tenant shall, during the term of this Lease, keep in good repair,
replacement, maintenance, order and condition, the Leased Premises and every
part thereof, including but not limited to the floors, plumbing, water lines,
sewer lines, heating, electrical system, electrical substations, fire security
system, windows, doors, overhead doors, dock doors, loading docks, fences and
signs which are located in the Leased Premises. Landlord shall be responsible
for maintaining and repairing the portions of the electrical system, heating
system, water system, electrical substations, fences, fire security system,
windows and sewer lines located outside the Leased Premises until each such
system is modified to independently serve the Leased Premises. Thereafter,
Tenant shall have complete responsibility for maintenance, repair and
replacement of each such independent system or systems.

         5.2 Landlord's Obligations. The Landlord shall keep in good repair and
maintenance the foundation, structure and roof of the Leased Premises, except if
damage is caused by the negligence of the tenant, its employees, agents,
subcontractors and workers. Landlord shall not be obligated to paint any
exterior nor shall Landlord be required to maintain the interior surfaces or
walls, windows, doors or any plate glass (interior or exterior). Tenant
expressly waives


                                       7
<PAGE>   8
the benefits of any statute now or hereafter in effect which would otherwise
afford Tenant the right to make repairs at Landlord's expense or to terminate
this Lease because of Landlord's failure to keep the Leased Premises in good
repair, maintenance, order and condition.

         5.3 Common Area Maintenance. The "Common Area" includes the real
property, together with those portions of the Southeast Industrial Center,
designated by Landlord from time to time for the common use of the Tenant with
the users of other facilities in the vicinity of or adjacent to the Leased
Premises, all of which shall be subject to the Landlord's sole management and
control and shall be operated, maintained and repaired in such manner as
Landlord, in its discretion, shall determine. Tenant agrees to pay in addition
to Rent, Tenant's proportionate share of the cost of operation and
administrative expenses as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Year     From     To               Monthly Expense
         ----     ----     --               ---------------

<S>               <C>      <C>              <C>
         1        6/1/95   7/31/96          $ 848.16
         2        6/1/96   7/31/97          $ 890.57
         3        6/1/97   7/31/98          $ 935.09
</TABLE>

         Such payments shall be made monthly, in advance, and shall be paid in
addition to Rent and shall be paid for such Common Area expenses which may be
incurred by Landlord in its sole discretion. Tenant's first payment of Common
Area costs shall be made on September 1, 1995.

         5.4 Surrender. On the last day of the Initial Term or any Option Term
hereof, or on any sooner termination, Tenant



                                       8
<PAGE>   9
shall surrender the Leased Premises to Landlord in the same good condition as at
the commencement of the Lease, broom clean, ordinary wear and tear and loss by
fire, casualty, condemnation and acts of God excepted. Tenant shall repair any
damage other than ordinary wear and tear to the Leased Premises occasioned by
its use thereof, or by the removal of Tenant's additions, improvements, trade
fixtures, furnishings and equipment pursuant to Section 5.6(c), which repair
shall include the patching and filling of holes and repair of any and all damage
caused by removal of same.

         5.5 Landlord's Rights. If Tenant fails to perform Tenant's obligations
hereunder, Landlord may, but shall not be required to, enter upon the Leased
Premises, after ten (10) days' prior written notice to Tenant, and perform the
same and the costs thereof, together with interest thereon from the date of
payment by Landlord at the lesser of the following: (a) The rate of three (3)
points in addition to the prime or corporate rate charged by The First National
Bank of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, to its most credit-worthy corporate
customers; or (b) the highest rate then permitted by law.

         5.6      Alterations and Additions.

                  (a) Tenant shall not, without Landlord's prior written
         consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, make any
         alterations, improvements, or additions, in, on or about the Leased
         Premises, except for non-structural alterations not exceeding One
         thousand

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
         dollars ($1,000.00) in cost or place any signs on the Leased
         Premises and the Southeast Industrial Center. As a condition to giving
         such consent, Landlord may require Tenant to remove any such
         alterations, improvements, additions, signs or utility installations at
         the expiration of the term, and to restore the Leased Premises and sign
         placement areas to their prior condition. If Landlord does not notify
         Tenant at the time of giving such consent that Tenant will be required
         to remove such alteration, improvement, signs, addition or utility
         installation, then Landlord shall be deemed to have waived its right to
         have Tenant remove the same at the expiration of the term of this
         Lease.

                  (b) Before commencing any work relating to alterations,
         additions and improvements affecting the Leased Premises or signs,
         Tenant shall notify Landlord in writing of the expected date of
         commencement thereof. Landlord shall then have the right at any time
         and from time to time to post and maintain on the Leased Premises such
         notices as Landlord reasonably deems necessary to protect the Leased
         Premises and Landlord from mechanics' liens, materialmen's liens or any
         other liens. In any event, Tenant shall pay, when due, all claims for
         labor or materials furnished to or for Tenant at or for use in the
         Leased Premises. Tenant shall not permit any mechanics' or
         materialmen's liens to be levied against


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
         the Leased Premises for any labor or material furnished to Tenant or
         claimed to have been furnished to Tenant or to Tenant's agents or
         contractors in connection with work of any character performed or
         claimed to have been performed on the Leased Premises by or at the
         direction of Tenant.

                  (c) All alterations, improvements or additions which may be
         made on the Leased Premises at the cost of Tenant and Tenant's
         machinery, equipment and other trade fixtures and signs shall remain
         the property of Tenant and may be removed by Tenant subject to the
         provisions of Section 5.4; provided that any alteration, improvement,
         additions, machinery, equipment or trade fixture or sign not removed on
         or prior to the last day on which this Lease is in effect shall become
         part of the Leased Premises and the property of Landlord, subject to
         the provisions of Section 11.2(c) below.

6.       INSURANCE; INDEMNITY:

         6.1 Liability. Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, obtain
and keep in full force during the term of this Lease a policy of comprehensive
general public liability (broad form) insurance issued by a company admitted to
do business in the State of Indiana and insuring Tenant and Landlord against any
liability arising out of the ownership, use, occupancy or maintenance of the
Leased Premises. Such insurance policy shall be in an amount or not less than
Six


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
million dollars ($6,000,000.00). Landlord reserves the right to require Tenant
to increase the limits as reasonably required by Landlord or Landlord's lender,
upon thirty (30) days written notice to Tenant.

         Such insurance policies shall name Landlord as an additional insured
and shall provide that they may not be canceled without thirty (30) days prior
written notice to Landlord. Landlord, at its option, shall be furnished with
copies of such insurance policies or certificates evidencing such insurance at
least annually or such earlier time as Landlord may request in writing. If
Tenant shall fail to procure and maintain said insurance, Landlord may, but
shall not be required to, procure and maintain the same, but at the sole cost
and expense of Tenant as additional rent payable monthly pursuant to Section
5.5.

         6.2 Property Insurance. Landlord shall obtain and keep in force during
the term of this Lease a policy or policies of insurance issued by a company
authorized to engage in the insurance business in the State of Indiana, insuring
all improvements comprising the Leased Premises and the entire Southeast
Industrial Center in the amount for the full replacement value thereof against
damage or destruction by any and all insurable perils pursuant to an extended
coverage fire and extended insurance policy commonly referred to as an "All
Risks" insurance policy. Tenant shall pay during the term of this Lease, in
addition to Annual Rent, Tenant's proportionate


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
share of the cost of such insurance as provided for in this Section 6.2. For the
purpose of this Section 6.2, Tenant's proportionate share of the cost of such
insurance shall be calculated by multiplying the total cost of such insurance by
a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Stipulated Square Footage of the
Leased Premises and the denominator of which shall be 1,060,000 square feet
representing the gross square footage of the Southeast Industrial Center. The
cost of such insurance shall include any increased premiums, whether such
premium increase shall be the result of the nature of Tenant's occupancy, any
act or omission of Tenant, requirements of the holder of a mortgage or deed of
trust covering the Leased Premises, increased valuation of the Premises, or any
other cause except for increase due directly to other tenant's occupancy, act or
omission which shall be paid by such other tenant or Landlord. Tenant shall pay
any such premium amounts to Landlord within thirty (30) days after receipt by
Tenant of a copy of the premium statement or other satisfactory evidence of the
amount due from Tenant. Said insurance shall provide for the payment for loss
thereunder to Landlord or the holder of a first mortgage or deed of trust on the
Leased Premises and the Southeast Industrial Center.

         6.3 Insurance Policies. The Landlord or Tenant as the insuring party
and as provided for herein shall deliver prior to possession to the other party
copies of policies of such insurance or certificates of insurance evidencing the


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
existence and amounts of such insurance with loss payable clauses satisfactory
to Landlord. No such policy shall be cancelable or subject to reduction of
coverage or other modification except after thirty (30) days' prior written
notice to Landlord. If Tenant is the insuring party, Tenant shall, within thirty
(30) days prior to the expiration of such policies, furnish Landlord with
renewals or "binders" thereof, or Landlord may order such insurance and charge
the cost thereof to Tenant, which amount shall be payable by Tenant upon demand.
Tenant shall not do or permit to be done anything which shall invalidate the
insurance policies referred to in Section 6.3. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, the amount and coverage of insurance required
pursuant to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 shall be not less than the amount which shall
be reasonably required from time to time by the holder of any mortgage or deed
of trust to which this Lease is subject. Tenant shall forthwith, upon Landlord's
demand, reimburse Landlord for any additional premiums attributable to any act
or omission or operation of Tenant causing such increase in the cost of
insurance. If Landlord is the insuring party, and if the insurance policies
maintained hereunder cover other improvements in addition to the Leased
Premises, Landlord shall deliver to Tenant a written statement setting forth the
amount of any such insurance cost increase and showing in reasonable detail the
manner in which it has been computed. Any insurance required


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
pursuant to Section 6 shall be through companies authorized to engage in the
insurance business in the State of Indiana.

         6.4 Waiver of Subrogation. Tenant and Landlord each waives any and all
rights of recovery that such party, or any party claiming by, through or under
such party by subrogation or otherwise, may have against the other party, or
against the officers, employees, agents and representatives of the other party,
for loss of, or damage to, such waiving party or its property or the property of
others under its control, as to any such loss or damage which is insured against
(or should be insured against pursuant to the terms of this Lease) under any
insurance policy in force at the time of such loss or damage. Tenant and
Landlord shall, upon obtaining the policies of insurance required hereunder,
give notice to the insurance carriers that the foregoing mutual waiver of
subrogation is contained in this Lease.

         6.5 Hold Harmless. Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold Landlord
harmless from any and all claims arising from Tenant's use of the Leased
Premises and Common Area or from the conduct of its business or from any
activity, work or things which may arise from or by Tenant or its agents,
contractors, employees or invitees in or about the Leased Premises and Common
Area and shall further indemnify, defend and hold Landlord harmless from and
against any and all claims arising from any breach or default in the performance
of any obligation on Tenant's part to be performed under the


                                       15
<PAGE>   16
provision of this Lease or arising from any negligence of Tenant or any of its
agents, contractors, employees or invitees and from any and all costs,
reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses and liabilities incurred in the defense of
any such claim or any action or proceeding brought thereon. Tenant hereby
assumes all risk of damage to property or injury to persons in or about the
Leased Premises from any cause except to the extent attributable to the
intentional misconduct or negligence of Landlord, or any of its agents,
contractors, employees or invitees.

         6.6. Exemption of Landlord from Liability. Except as provided in
Section 6.5 with respect to the intentional misconduct or negligence of the
Landlord, or any of its agents, contractors, employees or invitees, Landlord
shall not be liable for injury to Tenant's business or for any loss of income
therefrom or for damage to the goods, wares, merchandise or other property of
Tenant, Tenant's employees, agents, or customers, or any other person in or
about the Leased Premises or Common Area; nor shall Landlord be liable for
injury to Tenant's employees, agents, customers, or contractors, whether said
damage or injury results from conditions arising upon the Leased Premises,
Common Area, or from other sources or places, and regardless of whether the
cause of such damage or injury or the means of repairing the same is accessible
to or under the control of Landlord. Landlord shall not be liable for any
damages arising from any


                                       16
<PAGE>   17
act or neglect of any other person. Tenant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold
harmless, and to defend Landlord from any and all claims which may arise as a
result of use of the Common Areas by Tenant, Tenant's employees, agents,
invitees, customers and contractors.

7.       DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION:

         7.1 Damage. In the event the improvements on the Leased Premises are
damaged or destroyed, partially or totally, from any cause whatsoever, whether
or not such damage or destruction is covered by any insurance required to be
maintained under Section 6, Landlord shall have the following options at
Landlord's sole discretion:

                  (a) Landlord may, at Landlord's expense, repair or restore
         such damage or destruction as soon as reasonably possible and in such
         event Landlord shall commence repair or restoration within ninety (90)
         days of the date of such damage or destruction and diligently proceed
         with such repair or restoration until completed, and this Lease shall
         continue in full force and effect without any interruption whatsoever;
         provided that Rent and other amounts payable by Tenant shall
         proportionately abate until the Leased Premises are repaired or
         restored; or

                  (b) Landlord may elect not to repair or restore the Leased
         Premises, in which case this Lease shall automatically terminate.
         Landlord must give Tenant written notice of its election not to repair
         or restore


                                       17
<PAGE>   18
         within forty-five (45) days of the date of damage or destruction and,
         if not given, Landlord shall be deemed to have elected to repair or
         restore and in such event shall commence repair or restoration within
         ninety (90) days of the date of such damage and diligently proceed to
         completion. In such event, Rent and other amounts payable by Tenant
         shall proportionately abate until the Leased Premises are repaired or
         restored.

         7.2 Damage Near End of Term. If the Leased Premises are partially
destroyed or damaged during the last year of the fourth option term of this
Lease, Landlord may, at Landlord's option, cancel and terminate this Lease as of
the date of occurrence of such damage by giving written notice to Tenant of
Landlord's election to do so within thirty (30) days after the date of
occurrence of such damage.

         7.3 Prorations. Upon termination of this Lease pursuant to this Article
7, a pro rata adjustment of rent based upon a thirty (30) day month shall be
made.

         7.4 Obligation to Restore. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary in this Lease, if the Leased Premises are damaged or destroyed, in
whole or in part, and there are insurance proceeds available to the Landlord for
repair or restoration of such damage or destruction, then the Landlord shall
within ninety (90) days of such damage or destruction commence any repair or
replacement work required as the result of such damage or destruction and shall


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
continuously and diligently proceed with such repair or replacement work until
completed.

8.       REAL PROPERTY TAXES:

         8.1 Payment of Taxes. For each Lease Year of the term of this Lease,
Tenant shall pay to Landlord Tenant's pro rata share of the Real Estate Taxes on
the Southeast Industrial Center and payable in said Lease Year, as additional
rent, promptly without demand, in an amount to be estimated by Landlord and, in
the event Landlord is required under any mortgage covering part or all of the
Leased Premises to escrow real estate taxes, Landlord may use the amount
required to be so escrowed as the basis for its estimate, and to be adjusted at
the end of each Lease Year based upon Landlord's actual cost. An amount equal to
one-twelfth (1/12) of the Landlord's estimate of current Real Estate Taxes shall
be paid in advance during the Term of the Lease on the first day of each
calendar month and a proportionate sum for the partial month, if any, at the
commencement and termination of the Lease Term. The Real Estate Tax payment
shall consist of all items of cost and expense for Real Estate Taxes.

         8.2 Definition of Real Estate Taxes. As used herein, the term "Real
Estate Taxes" shall include any form of special assessments, ad valorem real
estate taxes, license fee, sewer tax, utility tax, water tax, trailer tax, levy,
or tax related to the Leased Premises or Tenant's use thereof imposed by any
authority having the direct or indirect power to tax,


                                       19
<PAGE>   20
including any city, county, state or federal government, or any school,
lighting, drainage or other improvement district thereof, as against any legal
or equitable interest of Landlord in the Leased Premises, Common Area, or in the
real property of which the Leased Premises are a part, or as against Landlord's
business of leasing the Leased Premises. Excluded from the meaning of Real
Estate Taxes are income taxes and franchise taxes. Tenant shall not be
responsible for any penalty or interest on the payment of delinquent Real Estate
Taxes, except if caused by Tenant's failure to pay said Real Estate Taxes in a
timely fashion as required herein. Tenant shall pay any and all charges and fees
which may be imposed by the EPA, FDA or other similar government regulations or
authorities for general governmental purposes which relate to the Tenant's
occupancy and use of the Leased Premises.

         8.3 Joint Assessments. If the Leased Premises are not separately
assessed, Tenant's liability shall be the Tenant's proportionate share of said
Real Estate Taxes. For the purpose of this Section 8.3, Tenant's proportionate
share of the Real Estate Taxes shall be calculated by multiplying the total cost
of said Real Estate Taxes by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
Stipulated Square Footage for the Leased Premises and the denominator of which
shall be 1,060,000 square feet representing the gross square footage of the
Southeast Industrial Center. Landlord shall provide the


                                       20
<PAGE>   21
Tenant, upon the Tenant's written request, with the calculation of the Tenant's
proportionate share of said Real Estate Taxes as certified by the Landlord.

8.4      Personal Property Taxes.

                  (a) Tenant shall pay prior to delinquency all taxes assessed
         against and levied upon leasehold improvements, trade fixtures,
         furnishings, equipment and all other personal property of Tenant
         contained in the Leased Premises or elsewhere. Tenant shall cause said
         leasehold improvements, trade fixtures, furnishings, equipment and all
         other personal property to be assessed and billed separately from the
         real property of Landlord.

                  (b) If any of Tenant's said personal property shall be
         assessed with Landlord's real property, Tenant shall pay Landlord the
         taxes attributable to Tenant within ten (10) days after receipt of a
         written statement setting forth the taxes applicable to Tenant's
         property as certified by one of the general partners of the Landlord
         following reasonable determination by Landlord.

         9. UTILITIES: Tenant shall timely pay when due all water, gas, sanitary
sewer, heat, light, power, telephone and other utilities and services supplied
to the Leased Premises, together with any taxes hereon. Gas and electricity
provided to the Leased Premises shall be separately metered. If any other such
services are not separately metered to Tenant, Tenant shall pay upon demand a
reasonable proportion to be determined by Landlord of all charges


                                       21
<PAGE>   22
jointly metered with other premises on a fair and equitable basis. Tenant shall
be entitled to a proportionate abatement of Rent to the extent and during the
period of any material interruption with Tenant's use of the Leased Premises as
a result of the failure of water or sewer service to the Leased Premises, the
maintenance of which is not the responsibility of Tenant, which failure occurs
for five (5) consecutive days or more. Landlord shall use its best efforts to
remedy such material interruptions as quickly as is reasonably possible under
the circumstances.

         Landlord retains an exclusive easement over, across, and under any and
all portions of the Leased Premises for the purpose of installing, inspecting,
maintaining, repairing, removing, or relocating any new or existing utility
service located on or to be located on the Leased Premises. In the event that
Landlord causes any work to be performed on utilities services located on the
Leased Premises, Landlord will take reasonable steps to minimize interruption of
such services and to insure that Tenant's business is not materially interrupted
and shall restore any disturbed areas to a condition such that Tenant's use of
the Leased Premises is not substantially and materially impaired. Except to the
extent caused by act or omission of Tenant, Rent and other amounts payable by
Tenant shall abate during the period of and to the extent the Leased Premises
are rendered untenantable by any repairs, alterations or improvements made
thereto or to the Southeast Industrial Center made by Landlord pursuant to this
section.


                                       22
<PAGE>   23
10.      ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING:

         10.1 Landlord's Consent Required. Tenant shall not assign, transfer,
mortgage, sublet, or otherwise transfer or encumber all or any part of Tenant's
interest in this Lease or in the Leased Premises without the prior written
consent of the Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld if (i)
such assignment or transfer is of Tenant's entire interest in the Leased
Premises and (ii) Tenant provides to Landlord certification from a national
certified public accounting firm (acceptable to Landlord) that the proposed
assignee or transferee has a net worth of not less than Ten million dollars
($10,000,000.00). Any attempted assignment, transfer, mortgage, encumbrance or
subletting shall be void. A merger or consolidation of Tenant with or into any
other corporation shall not be deemed an assignment for purposes of this
section. The Tenant shall not mortgage or encumber any part of Tenant's interest
in this Lease or in the Leased Premises.

         10.2 No Release of Tenant. Regardless of Landlord's consent, no
subletting or assignment shall release Tenant from Tenant's obligation to pay
the Rent, additional rent, or to perform all other obligations to be performed
by Tenant hereunder for the term of this Lease. The acceptance of rent by
Landlord from any other person shall not be deemed to be a waiver by Landlord of
any provision hereof. Consent to one


                                       23
<PAGE>   24
assignment or subletting shall not be deemed consent to any subsequent 
assignment or subletting.

11.      DEFAULTS; REMEDIES:

         11.1 Defaults. The occurrence of any one or more of the following
events shall constitute a default and breach of this

Lease by Tenant:

                  (a) The vacating for a period of forty-five (45) consecutive
         days or abandonment of the Leased Premises by Tenant.

                  (b) The failure by Tenant to make any payment of Rent,
         additional rent, or any other payment required to be made by Tenant
         hereunder, as and when due. Landlord agrees that Tenant shall not be in
         default under this subparagraph if said Rent is received by Landlord
         within five (5) days after the due date hereof as provided in this
         Lease.

                  (c) The failure by Tenant to observe or perform any of the
         covenants, conditions or provisions of this Lease to be observed or
         performed by Tenant, other than described in paragraph (b) above, where
         such failure shall continue for a period of twenty (20) days after
         written notice thereof from Landlord to Tenant; provided, however, that
         if the nature of Tenant's default is such that more than twenty (20)
         days are reasonably required for its cure, then Tenant shall not be
         deemed to be in default if Tenant commenced such cure within said
         twenty


                                       24
<PAGE>   25
         (20)     day period and thereafter diligently prosecutes such
         cure to completion.

                  (d) (i) The making by Tenant of any general assignment, or
         general arrangement for the benefit of creditors; (ii) the filing by or
         against Tenant of a petition to have Tenant adjudged bankrupt or a
         petition for reorganization or arrangement under any law relating to
         bankruptcy (unless, in the case of a petition filed against Tenant, the
         same is dismissed within sixty [60]] days); (iii) the appointment of a
         trustee or receiver to take possession of substantially all of Tenant's
         assets located at the Leased Premises or of Tenant's interest in this
         Lease, where possession is not restored to Tenant within thirty (30)
         days; or (iv) the attachment, execution or other judicial seizure of
         substantially all of Tenant's assets located at the Premises or of
         Tenant's interest in this Lease, where such seizure is not discharged
         within thirty (30) days.

11.2 Remedies in Default. In the event of any such default or breach by Tenant,
Landlord may at any time thereafter, with or without notice or demand and
without limiting Landlord in the exercise of any right or remedy which Landlord
may have by reason of such default or breach:

                  (a) Terminate Tenant's right to possession of the Leased
         Premises by any lawful means, in which case this Lease shall terminate
         and Tenant shall immediately


                                       25
<PAGE>   26
surrender possession of the Leased Premises to Landlord. Landlord shall be
entitled to recover from Tenant all damages incurred by Landlord by reason of
Tenant's default including, but not limited to, the cost of recovering
possession of the Leased Premises; expenses of reletting, including necessary
renovation and alteration of the Leased Premises, reasonable attorneys' fees and
any real estate commission actually paid; the worth at the time of award by the
court having jurisdiction thereof of the amount by which the unpaid rent for the
balance of the term at the time of such award exceeds the amount of such rental
loss for the same period that Tenant proves could be reasonably avoided; and
that portion of the leasing commission paid by Landlord applicable to the
unexpired term of this Lease. If any installment of rent or other sum is not
received by Landlord within five (5) days after the due date thereof as provided
in this Lease, it shall bear interest from the date due at the lesser of the
following: a) the rate of three (3) points in addition to the existing prime or
corporate rate charged by The First National Bank of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois,
to its most credit-worthy corporate customers; or b) the highest rate then
permitted by law. In the event Tenant shall have abandoned the Leased Premises,
Landlord shall have the option of (i) retaking possession of the Leased Premises



                                       26
<PAGE>   27
and recovering from Tenant the amounts specified in this Section 11.2(a), or
(ii) proceeding under Section 11.2(b).

                  (b) Maintain Tenant's right to possession, in which case this
         Lease shall continue in effect whether or not Tenant shall have
         abandoned the Leased Premises. In such event, Landlord shall be
         entitled to enforce all or Landlord's rights and remedies under this
         Lease, including the right to recover the rent as it becomes due
         hereunder.

                  (c) Pursue any other remedy now or hereafter available to
         Landlord under the laws or judicial decisions of the State of Indiana.

Landlord shall not have the right to enter the Leased Premises upon Tenant's
default and prior to termination of this Lease to take possession of any goods,
wares, equipment, furniture, machinery, trade fixture, sign, improvement,
addition, alteration, or other Personal property of Tenant, but any such
personal property not removed from the Leased Premises within twenty (20) days
after the last day on which this Lease shall be effective following such default
shall be deemed abandoned to Landlord.

         In the event that an order for relief is entered in any case under
Title 11, U.S.C. (the "Bankruptcy Code") in which Tenant is the debtor and: (A)
Tenant as debtor in possession, or any trustee who may be appointed in the case


                                       27
<PAGE>   28
(the "Trustee") seeks to assume the Lease, then Tenant, or Trustee, if
applicable, in addition to providing adequate assurance described in applicable
provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, shall provide adequate assurance to Landlord
of Tenant's future performance under the Lease by depositing with Landlord a sum
equal to the lesser of twenty-five (25%) percent of the Rental and other charges
due from the balance of the Lease Term of six (6) month's Rent ("Security"), to
be held (without any allowance for interest thereon) to secure Tenant's
obligations under the Lease, and (B) Tenant, or Trustee, if applicable, seeks to
assign the Lease after assumption of the same, then Tenant, in addition to
providing adequate assurance described in applicable provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code shall provide adequate assurance to Landlord of the proposed
assignee's future performance under the Lease by depositing with Landlord a sum
equal to the Security to be held (without any allowance for interest thereon) to
secure performance under the Lease. Nothing contained herein expresses or
implies, or shall be construed to express or comply, that Landlord is consenting
to assumption and/or assignment of the Lease by Tenant, and Landlord expressly
reserves all of its rights to object to any assumption and/or assignment of the
Lease. Neither Tenant nor any Trustee shall conduct or permit the conduct of any
"fire", "bankruptcy", "going out of business" or "auction sale" in or from the
Premises.


                                       28
<PAGE>   29
         11.3 Default by Landlord. Landlord shall not be in default unless
Landlord fails to perform obligations required of Landlord within a reasonable
time, but in no event later than twenty (20) days after written notice by Tenant
to Landlord specifying wherein Landlord has failed to perform such obligation;
provided, however, that if the nature of Landlord's obligation is such that more
than twenty (20) days are required for performance then Landlord shall not be in
default if Landlord commences performance within such twenty (20) day period and
thereafter diligently prosecutes the same to completion.

         11.4 Late Charges. Tenant hereby acknowledges that late payment by
Tenant to Landlord of Annual Rent, additional rent, and other sums due hereunder
will cause Landlord to incur costs not contemplated by this Lease, the exact
amount of which will be extremely difficult to ascertain. Such costs include,
but are not limited to, processing and accounting charges, and late charges
which may be imposed on Landlord by the terms of any mortgage or trust deed
covering the Leased Premises. Accordingly, if any installment of Rent,
additional rent, or any other sum due from Tenant shall not be received by
Landlord or Landlord's designee within ten (10) days after written notice from
Landlord to Tenant that said amount is past due, then Tenant shall pay to
Landlord a late charge equal to five (5%) percent of the overdue amount for each
month or portion thereof that said amount is overdue. The


                                       29
<PAGE>   30
parties hereby agree that such late charge represents a fair and reasonable
estimate of the cost Landlord will incur by reason of late payment by Tenant.
Acceptance of such late charge by Landlord shall in no event constitute a waiver
of Tenant's default with respect to such overdue amount, nor prevent Landlord
from exercising any of the other rights and remedies granted hereunder.

         12. CONDEMNATION: If the Leased Premises or any portion thereof are
taken under the power of eminent domain, or sold by Landlord under the threat of
the exercise of said power (all of which is herein referred to as
"Condemnation"), this Lease shall terminate as to the part so taken as of the
date the condemning authority takes title or possession, whichever occurs first.
If more than twenty-five (25%) percent of the floor area of the Leased Premises
is taken by Condemnation, either Landlord or Tenant may terminate this Lease as
of the date the condemning authority takes title or possession by notice in
writing of such election within twenty (20) days after Landlord shall have
notified Tenant of the taking or, in the absence of such notice, then within
twenty (20) days after the condemning authority shall have taken possession. For
the purpose of this Section 12, if all means of ingress and egress to the Leased
Premises are permanently taken under the power of eminent domain, then this
Lease shall terminate as provided for in this Section 12.

         If this Lease is not terminated by either Landlord or Tenant then it
shall remain in full force and effect as to the portion of


                                       30
<PAGE>   31
the Leased Premises remaining, provided the rental shall be reduced in
proportion to a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the remaining
Stipulated Square Footage of the Leased Premises (after any such taking) and the
denominator of which shall be Stipulated Square Footage of the Leased Premises
before any such taking. In the event this Lease is not so terminated then
Landlord agrees, at Landlord's sole cost, to undertake to restore the Leased
Premises to a complete unit of like quality and character as existed prior to
the Condemnation within ninety (90) days of the date of the taking and to
diligently proceed with such restoration until completed. All awards for the
taking of any part of the Leased Premises or any payment made under the threat
of the exercise of power of eminent domain shall be the property of Landlord,
whether made as compensation for diminution of value of the leasehold or for the
taking of the fee or as severance damages; provided, however, that Tenant shall
be entitled to any award for loss of or damage to Tenant's trade fixtures and
removable personal property, and relocation expenses.

         13. STATEMENT OF TENANT: Tenant shall at such times as may be
reasonably required and upon not less than ten (10) business days prior written
notice from Landlord execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a statement in
writing (i) certifying, if true, that this Lease is unmodified and in full force
and effect (or, if modified, stating the nature of such modification and
certifying that this Lease, as so modified, is in full force and effect) and the
date to which the rent, security deposit and other


                                       31
<PAGE>   32
charges are paid in advance, if any, and (ii) acknowledging, if true, that there
are not, to Tenant's knowledge, any uncured defaults on the part of Landlord
hereunder, or specifying such defaults, if any, which are claimed. Any such
statement may be conclusively relied upon by any prospective purchaser or
encumbrancer of the Leased Premises.

         Tenant's failure to deliver such statement within such time shall be
conclusive upon Tenant (i) that this Lease is in full force and effect, without
modification except as may be represented by Landlord, (ii) that there are no
uncured defaults in Landlord's performance, and (iii) that not more than one (1)
month's installment of Annual Rent has been paid in advance.

         If Landlord desires to finance or refinance the Leased Premises, or any
part thereof, Tenant hereby agrees to deliver to any lender designated by
Landlord such financial statements of Tenant as Tenant has available in its
normal course of business (to be certified as true, correct and completed by the
chief executive officer of Tenant) and as may be reasonably requested by such
lender or Landlord. Such statements shall include the past three (3) years'
financial statements of Tenant. All such financial statements shall be received
by lender or Landlord in confidence and shall be used only for the purposes
herein set forth.

         14. LANDLORD'S INTERESTS: The term "Landlord" as used herein shall mean
1st American Management Co., Inc., as Receiver, pursuant to Order of the Lake
Superior Court, Room Number One, or the owner or owners at the time in question
of the fee title. In the event


                                       32
<PAGE>   33
of any transfer of such title or interest, Landlord herein named (and in case of
any subsequent transfers the then grantor) shall be relieved from and after the
date of such transfer of all liability as respects Landlord's obligations
thereafter to be performed, provided that any funds in the hands of Landlord or
the then grantor at the time of such transfer, in which Tenant has an interest,
shall be delivered to the grantee. The obligations contained in this Lease to be
performed by Landlord shall, subject as aforesaid, be binding on Landlord's
successors and assigns, only during their respective period of ownership.

         15. SEVERABILITY: The invalidity of any provision of this Lease, as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall in no way affect the
validity of any other provision herein.

         16. SUBORDINATION: This Lease, at Landlord's option, shall be
subordinate to any ground lease, mortgage(s), deed(s) of trust or any other
hypothecation for security now or hereafter placed upon the real property of
which the Leased Premises are a part and to any and all advances made on the
security thereof and to all renewals, modifications, consolidations,
replacements and extensions thereof. Notwithstanding such subordination,
Tenant's right to quiet possession of the Leased Premises shall not be disturbed
if Tenant is not in default and so long as Tenant shall pay the rent and observe
and perform all of the provisions of this Lease, unless this Lease is otherwise
terminated pursuant to its terms. If any mortgagee, trustee or ground lessor
shall elect to have this Lease prior to the lien of its mortgage, deed or trust
or


                                       33
<PAGE>   34
ground lease, and shall give written notice thereof to Tenant, this Lease shall
be deemed prior to such mortgage, deed of trust, or ground lease, whether this
Lease is dated prior or subsequent to the date of said mortgage, deed of trust
or ground lease or the date of recording thereof.

         Tenant agrees to execute any documents required to effectuate such
subordination or to make this Lease prior to the lien of any mortgage, deed of
trust or ground lease, as the case may be, that contains a non-disturbance
clause reasonably satisfactory to Tenant and failure to do so within ten (10)
business days after written demand, does hereby make, constitute and irrevocably
appoint Landlord as Tenant's attorney in fact and in Tenant's name, place and
stead, to do so.

         17. COST AND ATTORNEYS' FEES: If either party shall prevail in any
action for relief against the other party, declaratory or otherwise, arising out
of this Lease, including any suit by Landlord for the recovery of rent or
damages or possession of the Leased Premises, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to its reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements.

         18. NOTICES: All notices under this Lease shall be in writing and
delivered in person to the persons listed below or sent, by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, or by commercial courier service
(return receipt requested), as follows:

If to Tenant:     International Knife and Saw, Inc.
                  1299 Cox Avenue
                  Erlanger, Kentucky 41018


                                       34
<PAGE>   35
If to Landlord:   John R. Marshall
                  1st American Management Co., Inc.
                  450 Vale Park Road, Suite B
                  P.O. Box 1580
                  Valparaiso, Indiana 46383

With copies to:   Vaughn Rasmussen
                  First Bank National Association
                  First Bank Place East-NPFE 0909
                  Minneapolis, Minnesota 55480

         19. HOLDING OVER: If Tenant remains in possession of the Leased
Premises or any part thereof after the expiration of the term hereof with the
express written consent of Landlord, such occupancy shall be a tenancy from
month to month at a rental in the amount of all charges, other than Rent,
payable hereunder plus two times the last month's Rent and upon the terms hereof
applicable to month-to-month tenancy.

         20. WAIVERS: No waiver by Landlord of any provision hereof shall be
deemed a waiver of any other provision hereof or of any subsequent breach by
Tenant of the same or any other provision. Landlord's consent to or approval of
any act shall not be deemed to render unnecessary the obtaining of Landlord's
consent to or approval of any subsequent act by Tenant. The acceptance of rent
hereunder by Landlord shall not be a waiver of any preceding breach by Tenant of
any provision hereof, other than the failure of Tenant to pay the particular
rent so accepted, regardless of Landlord's knowledge of such preceding breach at
the time of acceptance of such rent.

         21. LANDLORD'S ACCESS: Landlord and Landlord's agent shall have the
right to enter the Leased Premises at reasonable times for the purpose of
inspecting the same, showing the same to prospective


                                       35
<PAGE>   36
purchasers or lenders, and making such alterations, repairs, improvements or
additions to the Leased Premises or to the building of which they are a part as
Landlord may deemed necessary or desirable; provided, however, Landlord shall
not unreasonably interfere with Tenant's use of the Leased Premises. Except to
the extent caused by act or omission of Tenant, Rent and other amounts payable
by Tenant shall abate during the period of and to the extent the Leased Premises
are rendered untenantable by any repairs, alterations or improvements made
thereto or to the Southeast Industrial Center by Landlord pursuant to this
section. Landlord may at any time place on or about the Leased Premises any
ordinary "For Sale" signs, and Landlord may at any time during the last one
hundred twenty (120) days of the term hereof place on or about the Leased
Premises any ordinary "For Sale of Lease" signs, all without rebate of rent or
liability to Tenant.

         22. PERFORMANCE BOND: At any time Tenant either desires to or is
required to make any repairs, alterations, additions, improvements or utility
installation thereon, pursuant to Section 5 or otherwise, Landlord may at its
sole option require Tenant, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, to obtain and
provide to Landlord a lien and completion and performance bond in an amount
equal to one and one-half (1 1/2) times the estimated cost of such improvements,
to insure Landlord against liability for mechanics' and materialmen's liens and
to insure completion of the work. The Tenant shall have the right at its sole
option to deposit cash in


                                       36
<PAGE>   37
lieu of the above-referenced completion and performance bond provided such cash
is for the same stated amount.

         23. INTEREST ON PAST-DUE OBLIGATIONS: Except as expressly herein
provided, any amount due to Landlord not paid when due shall bear interest from
the due date at the lesser of the following:

(a) The rate of three (3) points in addition to the prime or corporate rate
charged by The First National Bank of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, to its most
credit-worthy corporate customers; or (b) The highest rate then permitted by
law.

         Payment of such interest shall not excuse or cure any default by Tenant
under this Lease.

         24. TIME OF ESSENCE: Time is of the essence.

         25. CAPTIONS: Article, section and paragraph captions are not a part
hereof.

         26. PRIOR AGREEMENTS; AMENDMENTS: This Lease contains all agreements of
the parties with respect to any matter mentioned herein. No prior agreement or
understanding pertaining to any such matter shall be effective. This Lease may
be modified in writing only, signed by the parties in interest at the time of
the modification.

         27. CUMULATIVE REMEDIES: No remedy or election hereunder shall be
deemed exclusive, but shall wherever possible, be cumulative with all other
remedies at law or in equity.

         28. COVENANTS AND CONDITIONS: Each provision of this Lease performable
by Tenant shall be deemed both a covenant and a condition.


                                       37
<PAGE>   38
         29. BINDING EFFECT; CHOICE OF LAW: Subject to any provisions hereof
restricting assignment or subletting by Tenant and subject to the provisions of
Section 14, this Lease shall bind the parties, their personal representatives,
successors and assigns. This Lease shall be governed by the laws of the state
where the Leased Premises are located.

         30. MERGER: The voluntary or other surrender of this Lease by Tenant,
or a mutual cancellation thereof, shall not work a merger, and shall, at the
option of Landlord, terminate all or any existing subtenancies or may, at the
option of Landlord, operate as an assignment to Landlord of any or all of such
subtenancies.

         31. CORPORATE AUTHORITY: If Tenant is a corporation, each individual
executing this Lease on behalf of said corporation represents and warrants that
he is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Lease on behalf of said
corporation in accordance with a duly adopted resolution of the Board of
Directors of said corporation or in accordance with the By-Laws of said
corporation, and that this Lease is binding upon said corporation in accordance
with its terms.

         32. LIENS: Tenant shall have no authority, express or implied, to
suffer, create or place any lien or encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever
upon, or in any manner to bind the Leased Premises for any claim in favor of any
person dealing with Tenant, including those who may furnish materials or perform
labor for any construction or repairs, and any such claim shall affect, and any


                                       38
<PAGE>   39
such lien shall attached, if at all, only to the leasehold interest of the 
Tenant.

         33. SHORT FORM LEASE: This Lease shall not be recorded by Tenant.
Tenant shall sign, execute and deliver to Landlord a short form lease of this
Lease upon the furnishing of same to Tenant by the Landlord.

         34. BROKERAGE COMMISSION: Landlord hereby warrants to Tenant and Tenant
hereby warrants to Landlord that no broker's commissions, finder's fees or like
charges (hereinafter collectively called "Commissions") have been incurred in
connection with this transaction by the parties so warranting herein. Landlord
and Tenant further agree to give testimony in accordance with these warranties
in case any action or proceeding shall be instituted by any purported broker,
licensed or otherwise, or any other person claiming a CommiSSion in connection
with this transaction. Landlord and Tenant hereby agree to indemnify and to hold
each other harmless from any alleged claim for any Commission that may be
claimed by any third-party through either of them against the other party.

         35. SECURITY DEPOSIT: Tenant has deposited with the Landlord the sum of
Five thousand dollars (55,000.00) to be held by Landlord as security for
Tenant's satisfactory performance of the terms, covenants and conditions of this
Lease including the payment of Rent and all other amounts due hereunder. As long
as the Tenant is not in default hereunder, any and all interest earned on the
cash


                                       39
<PAGE>   40
deposit referenced above shall inure to the exclusive benefit of the Tenant.

         Landlord may use, apply or retain the whole or any part of the security
so deposited to the extent required for the payment of any Rent and any other
sum as to which Tenant is in default or for any sum which Landlord may expend or
may be required to expend by reason of Tenant's default in respect of any of the
terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease including any damages or
deficiency in the reletting of the Leased Premises or other re-entry by
Landlord.

         If Landlord uses, applies or retains the whole or any part of the
security, Tenant shall replenish the security to its original sum after being
notified by the Landlord of the amount due. Tenant shall be in default of this
Lease if the amount due is not paid within the required time period.

         In the event that Tenant shall fully and faithfully comply with all the
terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease, any part of the security not used
or retained by Landlord shall be returned to Tenant after the termination of the
Lease and after delivery of exclusive possession of the Leased Premises to
Landlord.

         36. QUITE ENJOYMENT: So long as Tenant is not in default hereunder,
Tenant shall peacefully and quietly have, hold and enjoy the Leased Premises
during the full term of this Lease and any extension of renewal thereof.


                                       40
<PAGE>   41
         37. TERMINATION OF PRIOR LEASE: Upon the execution of this Lease, any
previous Lease entered into by Tenant shall be null and void.

         38. LANDLORD'S LIABILITY: If Landlord shall be in default under this
Lease, and as a consequence of such default, Tenant shall recover a money
judgment against Landlord, such judgment shall be satisfied only out of a right,
title and interest of Landlord in either the Southeast Industrial Center as the
same may then be encumbered and neither Landlord nor any person or entity
comprising Landlord shall be liable for any deficiency. In no event shall Tenant
have the right to levy execution against any property of Landlord or any person
or entity comprising Landlord other than its interest in the Southeast
Industrial Center as herein expressly provided.

         39. NO TERMINATION OF LEASE: Rejection of this Lease by the Landlord or
any Trustee of the Lessor pursuant to Section 365(h) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11
U.S.C. Section 365(h), shall not terminate this Lease. Tenant hereby waives any
right to offset against Rent received which may be conferred under Section
365(h)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 365(h)(z).

         If the rights of the Landlord or the Tenant under this Lease are at any
time pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise subject to any mortgage, deed of trust,
assignment of rents or other security instrument, and if the Landlord or any
Trustee of the Landlord shall reject this Lease pursuant to Section 365(h) of
the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 365(h)(a), the Tenant shall without


                                       41
<PAGE>   42
further act or deed be deemed to have elected under Section 365(h)(1) of the
Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 365(h)(1) to remain in possession of the
Leased Premises for the balance of the term hereof and shall have the right to
exercise any one or more of the extension options provided for herein, and (b)
any exercise or attempted exercise by the Tenant of a right to treat this Lease
as terminated under Section 365(h)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code shall be void.

         For the purposes of Section 365(h) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C.
Section 365(h), the term "possession" shall mean the right to possession of the
Leased Premises granted to Lessee under this Lease whether or not all or part of
the Leased Premises has been subleased.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Lease on the date and year first above written.

LANDLORD,                                   TENANT,

1st American Management Co., Inc.           International Knife & Saw,
                                            Inc.

By:  /s/ John R. Marshall                   By:  /s/ Bruce D. Cameron
   ------------------------------              -----------------------------
   John R. Marshall, President                 Bruce Cameron, Gen. Mgr.
                                               IKS-Chicago Operation


                                       42



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.8



         This Lease Agreement, entered into this 17th day of April, 1991, by and
between TATE ENGINEERING, INC. herein called "Landlord" or first party, and IKS
Eastern Service, Inc. herein called "Tenant" or second party, and MORTON G.
THALHIMER, INC., Agent, herein called "Rental Agent";

                                   Witnesseth:

         That for and in consideration of the rents and covenants hereinafter
set forth, Landlord hereby leases to Tenant, and Tenant hereby rents from
Landlord, the following described lot, piece or parcel of land, together with
all improvements thereon (the said land improvements thereon herein called the
"Leased Premises") to-wit:

            Approximately 600 sq. ft. of office space and approximately 4,200
            square feet of warehouse space located at 8131-B Virginia Pine Court
            in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

         TO HAVE AND TO HOLD said land and improvements thereon and the
privileges and appurtenances there onto belonging unto the Tenant, its
successors and assigns, for the term hereinafter provided, and upon the
following terms and conditions, to which the parties mutually covenant and
agree:
         Term

           The original term of this lease shall be for one (1) years seventeen
(17) days and shall commence on the 15th day of May, 1991, and shall end on the
last day of May 1992

         Rent

           During the original term of this lease Tenant covenants to pay a 
base annual rental to Landlord of EIGHTEEN THOUSAND AND 00/100 Dollars. 
($18,000.00), payable in monthly installments in advance on the first day of 
each month in the amount of ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND 00/100               
Dollars ($1,500.00). An additional rental may be required by attaching hereto 
an addendum executed by all the parties to this lease agreement.

           If the original term does not commence on the first day of the Month,
Tenant shall pay for the period from the commencement date to the first day of
the following calendar month a sum equal to one-thirtieth of the monthly rental
due hereunder for each day of such period. All rents thereafter shall be payable
in advance on the first day of each month. All rents due Landlord shall be paid
when due to Morton G. Thalhimer, Inc., P.O. Box 702, Richmond, Virginia 23206 or
to such other place as Landlord may designate in writing to Tenant.

         Use of Leased Premises

           Tenant shall use the Leased Premises for business office and
manufacturing grind shop.

and in strict accordance with all applicable laws and regulations of
governmental authorities. Tenant shall use the Leased Premises for no other
purpose without the prior written consent of Landlord. Tenant will not use or
permit or suffer the use of the Leased Premises for any unlawful or offensive
business or purpose. Tenant will not, without the prior written consent of
Landlord, use or permit the walls, fences or roof of the Leased Premises to be
used for advertising purposes.

         It is covenanted and agreed as follows:

          SEE ADDENDUM

         1. Condition of Leased Premises

            Tenant has examined and knows the present condition of the Leased
Premises and the equipment thereon, if any. No representation has been made to
Tenant, or Tenant's agents, by Landlord, or Landlord's agents, concerning the
condition of the Leased Premises (and the equipment thereon, if any) or any
particular use that can be made thereof. Neither Landlord nor Rental Agent shall
be under any duty to instruct Tenant or others as to the use of any equipment on
the Leased Premises.

<PAGE>   2
         2. Assignment, Subletting and Mortgaging

            Tenant shall not assign this lease nor sublet the Leased Premises,
in whole or in part, without Landlord's prior written consent.* If consent to
assign or sublease is obtained, no such assignment or sublease shall in any way
release or relieve Tenant from any of its covenants or undertakings contained in
this lease agreement, and in all cases under this paragraph, Tenant shall remain
liable on this lease during the original and all renewal terms.

         *unless subleased by IKS, Inc., its parent or subsidiaries.

         3. Utilities

            Tenant shall promptly pay all fuel, water, gas, electricity,
sewerage, telephone and other utility bills as the same become due, it being
understood and agreed that the Tenant shall promptly make all required deposits
for meters and utilities service. Charges for the foregoing shall commence on
the date of the commencement of the original term of this lease. Landlord shall
not be liable for any interruption or failure in the supply of any utility to
the Leased Premises.

         4. Insurance and Indemnity

            Tenant will indemnify and save harmless Landlord and Rental Agent
from any and all liability, damage, loss, expense, cause of action, suits,
claims, or judgments arising from injury to person or property on the Leased
Premises, or upon the adjoining sidewalks, or otherwise resulting from the use
of the Leased Premises. Tenant covenants that it will keep in force at its own
expense at all times during the original and all renewal terms of this lease in
companies and in form acceptable to Landlord with respect to the Leased Premises
insurance covering Landlord and Tenant and Rental Agent as named insureds with
minimum limits of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) on account of
bodily injuries to or death of one person and Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000) on account of bodily injuries to or death of more than one person as
the result of any one accident or disaster and property damage insurance with
limits of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00); and Tenant shall deliver
to Landlord or Rental Agent upon the request of either a certificate of
insurance showing the same to be in force and effect.

            Unless otherwise indicated by writing endorsed hereon or attached
hereto, Tenant shall keep in full force and effect at its own expense during the
original and all renewal terms of this lease, replacement value fire and
casualty extended coverage insurance with respect to the Leased Premises, and
shall cause Landlord and Landlord's mortgagee, if any, to be named insureds on
such policy.

            If Tenant shall not comply with its covenant to maintain insurance
as provided herein, Landlord may, at its option, cause insurance as aforesaid to
be issued and, in such event, Tenant shall promptly pay when due the premiums
for such insurance as additional rent hereunder.

            Tenant will pay all excess insurance premiums (i.e., premiums in
excess of the usual premiums for a non-hazardous risk) required to be paid by
Landlord on any buildings on the premises by reason of Tenant's use or occupancy
thereof.

         5. Taxes and Assessments

            Tenant agrees that as additional rental for the Leased Premises, it
will during each calendar year of the original and all renewal terms, reimburse
Landlord for such part of the cost of all real estate taxes, charges and
assessments levied or assessed during the original and all renewal terms upon 
and against the Leased Premises in excess of the cost of such taxes and 
assessments charged or assessed upon or against the Leased Premises for the 
year 1991; provided, however, that for the first and final calendar years of 
the original or renewal terms Tenant shall be liable for the reimbursement of 
such excess cost only for the proportionate part of such years that it is in 
possession of the Leased Premises.

            Tenant further agrees that as additional rental for the Leased
Premises, it will for each calendar year of the original and all renewal terms,
reimburse Land lord for such portion of the cost to Landlord of all taxes or
excises on rents (expressly excluding any federal state or local income taxes)
however described, levied, or assessed by any lawful authority against Landlord
on account of the rental expressly reserved hereunder.

            The amount of such additional rentals, if any shall be due and
payable thirty (30) days after notification form Landlord or its Agent, of the
amount due.

            Tenant shall promptly pay when due all taxes and assessments levied
by public authority on its trade fixtures, equipment and other property of
Tenant located on or about the Leased Premises and all other taxes occasioned by
its business or use of the Leased Premises.

         6. Personal Property

            Tenant covenants that the furniture, fixtures and all other personal
property (except that used to sell in the usual course of trade) which Tenant
places on the Leased Premises are owned by Tenant, are fully paid for, and are
not encumbered except as expressly disclosed in writing to Landlord prior to the
execution of this agreement. Except by sale in the usual course of trade, Tenant
shall not remove furniture, fixtures and property from the Leased Premises
without first obtaining the consent of Landlord, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; and in addition to all the other remedies provided by
law, Landlord shall have a lien against all personal property on the Leased
Premises, insurance if any collected therefor, as security for the payment of
the rent and default in obligations hereunder. Tenant shall repair or reimburse
Landlord for the cost of repairing any damages to the Leased Premises resulting
from the installation or removal of personal property of Tenant.

         7. Repairs and Alterations

            Tenant shall keep and maintain the Leased Premises in good repair
and condition; keep in good running order the heating and air-conditioning
systems, electric wiring, toilets, water pipes, water, gas and electric 
fixtures; replace all locks, trimmings, glass and plate glass broken during the 
tenancy, regardless of the manner in which same may have been broken; unstop 
all water fixtures that may become choked and repair all water pipes and 
plumbing that may burst. If there be any elevators, escalators, lifts, 
machinery or appliances (herein called "equipment") on the Leased Premises, 
Tenant shall care for, maintain, and repair same, and shall indemnify and save 
harmless Landlord from any liability or claims for damages for injuries to 
persons and property arising therefrom. Tenant shall not make any alterations 
of, additions to or changes in the Leased Premises or equipment without the 
prior written consent of Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably 
withheld, and all alterations, changes, and improvements, by whomsoever made, 
shall be the property of Landlord. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall 
be construed as requiring Landlord to make any repairs, except repairs of a 
structural nature. Landlord shall maintain and make all necessary structural 
repairs to the foundations, load bearing walls, and roofs.

            Tenant, in complying with all applicable laws and regulations of
governmental authorities respecting the use of the Leased Premises, shall at
Tenant's expense install all toilets that may be required, and do any work,
except repairs of a structural nature, which may be ordered by such governmental
authorities; but if Tenant, after notice ordering the work, fails to comply with
reasonable promptness, Landlord, without notice to Tenant, may do such work and
collect the cost thereof from Tenant as additional rent hereunder. If Landlord
is required to abate any nuisance on the Leased Premises, Landlord may do so
without notice to Tenant and Tenant shall pay all costs thereof as additional
rent hereunder.

            Tenant shall, on the last day of the original or renewal term, or
upon the sooner termination of this lease, peaceably and quietly surrender the
Leased Premises and equipment to Landlord, broom-clean, including all
improvements, alterations, rebuilds, replacements, changes or additions placed
by Tenant thereon, in as good condition and repair as the same were in at the
commencement of the original term, normal wear and tear excepted; provided,
however, Tenant shall not be required to return the Leased Premises and
equipment in as good condition as aforesaid if the same are damaged or destroyed
by fire or otherwise, unless caused by Tenant's fault or negligence which is not
covered by insurance.

         8. Destruction of Leased Premises, Condemnation

            If the Leased Premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or other
casualty covered by insurance, or condemned by public authority, whether by
eminent domain or otherwise, then (1) if totally destroyed or condemned so that
the Leased Premises are rendered untenantable; this lease shall terminate as of
the date of such destruction or condemnation, and Tenant shall be liable for the
rent only to the date of such destruction or condemnation, and the entire amount
of insurance proceeds and/or condemnation award for the Leased Premises shall
belong to and be payable to Landlord; or (2) if only partially destroyed or
condemned and still tenantable, Landlord shall, within a reasonable time, repair
the Leased Premises with a reasonable reduction of rent from the date of such
partial destruction or condemnation until there be again premises substantially
similar in value to Tenant as the Leased Premises partially destroyed or
condemned. Landlord's obligation to repair or restore the Leased Premises as
stated herein is conditioned upon (a) all insurance proceeds and/or condemnation
award for the Leased Premises being paid to Landlord, which are sufficient to
cover the cost of said repairs and restorations, and (b) there remaining at
least twenty-four (24) months in the then existing term of this lease. If
Landlord does not repair the Leased Premises because either conditions (a) or
(b) are not met, Landlord shall so notify Tenant and this lease shall terminate
as of the date of such partial destruction or condemnation and Tenant shall be
liable for rent only to the date of such partial destruction or condemnation. As
used herein, the date of condemnation and Tenant shall be liable for rent only
to the date of such partial destruction or condemnation. As used herein, the
date of condemnation shall be the date on which legal title vests in the
condemning authority or the date on which Landlord enters into a contract for
the sale for public use upon the threat of condemnation, whichever first occur.

            If the improvement shall be damaged or destroyed by any hazard not
covered by insurance, Landlord shall have the option to cancel this lease by
giving written notice of such cancellation to Tenant within thirty (30) days
after the happening of such damage or destruction, but if such option not be
exercised, then Landlord at its own expense shall proceed with due diligence to
repair or restore the improvements to their condition as existed before such
damage or destruction with rent being reduced pro rata in proportion to the
decrease in usefulness of the premises during repair and restoration; provided,
however that the cost of repairing to any damage or destruction not covered by
insurance which is caused by Tenant's fault or negligence shall forthwith be
paid to Landlord by Tenant.
<PAGE>   3
Tenant shall give immediate written notice to Landlord, or Rental Agent, of any
damage, destruction or condemnation of the leased premises whether it be total
or partial.

         9. Notices

            Wherever in this lease it shall be required or permitted that notice
or demand be given or served by either party to this lease to or on the other,
such notices or demands shall be given or served and shall not be deemed to have
been duly given or served unless in writing and forwarded by registered or
certified mail addressed as follows:

TO LANDLORD:                                    TO TENANT:
                                                c/o Demised Premises

and c/o

Morton G. Thalhimer, Inc.
P.O. Box 702
Richmond, Virginia 23206

Such addresses may be changed from time to time by either party by serving 
notice as above provided.

         10. Notice of Termination and Holding Over

             Should Tenant desire to vacate or should Landlord desire possession
of the Leased Premises at the end of the original lease or any extension or
renewal thereof, either party shall give the other written notice of such
termination at least THREE (3) MONTHS prior to the end of the then existing term
of this lease.

             If notice of termination is given as hereinabove set forth, no
holding over by Tenant nor acceptance of rent by Landlord or Rental Agent, shall
operate as a renewal or extension of this lease without the written consent of
Landlord. In the event no such notice of termination is given, then this lease
shall continue in full force and effect from year to year, subject to all the
rents, covenants, and conditions herein set forth, except for any such
provisions containing obligations of Landlord to make alterations or repairs to
the Leased Premises. If Tenant holds over or remains in possession or occupancy
of the Leased Premises after the termination of this lease, Tenant's occupancy
shall be illegal notwithstanding the fact that Tenant shall be liable to
Landlord, so long as Tenant or any of its property remains on the Leased
Premises, for all rentals due hereunder together with any damages sustained by
Landlord as a result of Tenant's failure to vacate.

         11. Inspection by Landlord

             Tenant shall permit Landlord, its agents, or employees to impact
the Leased Premises and all parts thereof during business hours and to enforce
and carry out any provision of the lease agreement and for the further purpose
of showing the Leased Premises to prospective tenants and purchasers and
representatives of lending institutions. During the last three (3) months of the
original term and all renewals or extensions thereof, Landlord shall have the
right to place "For Rent" signs in conspicuous places on the Leased Premises and
to otherwise advertise the Leased Premises for rent, in addition to having the
rights of entry and inspection set forth herein.

         12. Default by Tenant

             The happening of any of the following encumbered events shall
constitute a default for which Landlord, in addition to other rights or remedies
it may have, shall have the immediate right of re-entry without service of
notice or resort to legal process and without Landlord being guilty of trespass,
or becoming liable for any law or damage which may be occasioned thereby: (a)
failure of Tenant to pay any rent due hereunder within thirty (30) days after
written notice to Tenant of such failure; (b) vacation of the Leased Premises
by Tenant or advertising by Tenant in any manner that would indicate or lead the
public to believe that Tenant was going out of business or intending to vacate
the Leased Premises; (c) the filing by, on behalf of or against Tenant, of any
petition or pleading to declare Tenant insolvent or unable to pay its debts or
meet his obligations under the laws of the United States or any state; or a
receiver of the property of Tenant is appointed; or the levy of execution or
either taking of property, assets or the leasehold interest of Tenant by process
of law or otherwise in satisfaction of any judgment, debt or claim against
Tenant; or (d) failure of Tenant to perform any of the other terms conditions or
covenants of this lease agreement for more than thirty (30) days after written
notice of such failure shall have been given to Tenant.

             Should Landlord elect to re-enter as herein provided, or should
Landlord take possession pursuant to legal proceeding or pursuant to any
provisions under law, Landlord may either terminate this lease or it may from
time to time without terminating this lease, make such alterations and repairs
as may be necessary in order to relet the Leased Premises, and relet the Leased
Premises or any part thereof for such term or terms (which may be for a term
extending beyond the original or renewal terms of this lease) and at such rent
and upon such other terms and conditions as Landlord, in its sole discretion,
may deem advisable. Upon each such reletting all rent received by Landlord from
such reletting shall be applied, first, to the payment of any indebtedness other
than rent due hereunder from Tenant to Landlord; second, to the payment of any
costs and expenses for such reletting, including brokerage fees and 
attorney's fees and costs of alterations and/or repairs; third, to the payment
of rent due and unpaid hereunder, and the residue, if any, shall be held
by Landlord and applied in payment of future rent as the same may become due and
payable hereunder. If the Leased Premises are not relet as aforesaid, or if the
rent received from such reletting during any month be less than that to be paid
during the month by Tenant hereunder, Tenant shall promptly pay the rental due
hereunder or any such deficiency as the case may be to Landlord. Such deficiency
shall be calculated and paid monthly. No such re-entry or taking possession 
of the Leased Premises by the Landlord shall be construed as an election
on its part to terminate this lease unless a written notice of such election
be given to Tenant or unless the termination be decreed by a court of
competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any such reletting without termination.
Landlord may at any time thereafter elect to terminate this lease for such
previous breach. Tenant will pay Landlord and Rental Agent respectively all
expenditures incurred by them in enforcing the provisions of this lease
including reasonable fees of attorneys and others employed by Landlord or Rental
Agent.

             All of the foregoing remedies shall be in addition to any other
rights Landlord may have at law or in equity and waiver of one default shall not
be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent default.

         13. Rental Agent

             In consideration of Rental Agent's services in procuring this
lease and as a covenant running with the land, Landlord covenants with, and for
the benefit of Rental Agent, as follows: Rental Agent is to receive a commission
of six per cent (6%) of the rent during the original term and all renewals or
extensions thereof or any new lease of the Leased Premises between any person
and "Tenant, its successors or assigns"(such phrase used herein to include such
entity in which Tenant, its successors or assigns, may have an interest a
stockholder, partner, lender of money or otherwise); and no sale, transfer,
assignment, cancellation or release including a sale or conveyance to Tenant,
its successors or assigns, shall affect Rental Agent's right to such commission
which is hereby made a lien on the Leased Premises and all equipment thereon, if
any Rental Agent shall have the right to collect all rents due hereunder so
that its commission may be paid in installments as the rent is received, and
retained by Rental Agent before remitting the rent (less commissions) to
Landlord; but if any act be done to deprive Rental Agent of its right to collect
the rent, then the whole amount of its commission then unpaid shall, at Rental
Agent's option, immediately become due and payable.

             Landlord further covenants with and for the benefit of Rental Agent
as a covenant running with the land, that if Tenant, its successors or assigns,
shall at any time during the original term and all renewals or extensions
thereof, (during any new lease of the Leased Premises between any person and
Tenant, its successors or assigns,) purchase the Leased Premises, then in
consideration of Rental Agent's consummating this lease, Rental Agent shall
receive on the date the Leased Premises are transferred, a commissions of six
percent (6%) of the gross amount of the purchase price. Such a sales commission
shall be in addition to the rental commissions provided for in the immediately
preceeding paragraph and is hereby made a lien on the Leased Premises and all
equipment thereon, if any.

             Landlord hereby authorizes Rental Agent to institute legal
proceedings for the recovery of any rent due under the provisions of this lease
agreement and to employ an attorney for that purpose and to charge all costs and
fees to Landlord, including a charge of Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) by Rental
Agent for its services in that regard.

             In connection with all acts done or suffered by Rental Agent for
Landlord concerning the Leased Premises, Landlord further agrees to indemnify
and save Rental Agent harmless from all fines, judgments, suits, claims,
demands, and actions of any kind (including any costs and attorney's fees), and
from liability for injury suffered by an employee or contractor (not in the
permanent employ of Rental Agent) engaged by Rental Agent for the benefit of
Landlord.

         14. Successors and Assigns

             All parties hereto agree that all of the provisions hereof shall
bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.

         15. Applicable Law, Construction

             This lease agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Virginia.

             Whenever used the singular number shall include the plural, the
plural the singular, and the use of any gender shall include all other genders.

         16. Final Understanding

             This lease agreement represents the final understanding between
Landlord, Tenant and Rental Agent, and the obligations of each party hereunder
cannot be changed or modified unless by writing signed by the parties whose
obligations are to be modified and endorsed hereon or attached hereto.
<PAGE>   4
WITNESS the following signatures and seals:

                              TATE ENGINEERING, INC.                   (SEAL)
                              -----------------------------------------
                                          Landlord
                              By: /s/ Charles E. Olinter Sr. V.P.      (SEAL)
                              -----------------------------------------
                                          Landlord

                              INTERNATIONAL KNIFE AND SAW, INC.        (SEAL)
                              -----------------------------------------
                                          Tenant
                              By: /s/ William Underhill V.P.           (SEAL)
                              -----------------------------------------
                                          Tenant

                              MORTON G. THALHIMER, INC. (Rental Agent)

                              By: /s/                     AVP
                                  -----------------------------

                            Guaranty

         In consideration of Landlord agreeing to lease to Tenant the Leased
Premises, the undersigned, hereby waiving the obligations of the homestead
exemption laws as to this lease agreement, jointly and severally if there be
more than one undersigned, guarantee the payment of rent and the performance of
all the provisions of this lease agreement by Tenant, its successors and assigns
and agree that the mere nonpayment of rent and nonperformance of said provisions
by Tenant or its successors and assigns shall create an immediate liability on
the part of the undersigned to Landlord and its successors and assigns and to
Rental Agent. Landlord and Rental Agent need not first exhaust their legal
remedies against Tenant or its successors and assigns before proceeding against
the undersigned. Neither Landlord nor Rental Agent is required to notify the
undersigned of any default of Tenant under the provisions of this lease
agreement.

         WITNESS the following signatures and seals:

                                /s/ William R. Underhill V.P. (SEAL)
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Guarantor

                                                              (SEAL)
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Guarantor

ATTEST:


- -----------------------------------------
STATE OF      )
              )  To-wit:   [Landlord]
      OF      )


         I, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the -------------------
aforesaid in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that -------------------
and ---------------------, whose names are signed to the foregoing lease
bearing date on the ---------------------- day of -------------------------,
19---, have acknowledged the same before me in my ------------------------ and
State aforesaid.

         Given under my hand this ------------------------ day of -----, 19---

         My commission expires: ---------------------------

STATE OF      )  To-wit:   [Tenant]
              )                            ---------------------------------
      OF      )                                      Notary Public

         I, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the ------------------
aforesaid in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that -------------------
and ---------------------------, whose names are signed to the foregoing lease
bearing date on --------------------------- day of ---------------------------,
19---, have acknowledged the same before me in my ---------------------------
and State aforesaid.

         Given under my hand this ------------------------ day of -----, 19---

         My commission expires: --------------------------

STATE OF VIRGINIA  )  To-wit: [Rental Agent]
                   )                           ---------------------------------
CITY OF            )                                     Notary Public

         I, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the City aforesaid in 
the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that ---------------------------, and
- --------------------------- Of Morton G. Thalhimer, Inc, whose names are signed
to the foregoing lease bearing date on the --------------------------- Day of
- ---------------------------, 19---, have acknowledged the same before me in my
City and State aforesaid.

         Given under my hand this ------------------------ Day of -----, 19---

         My commission expires: ---------------------------


STATE OF      )  To-wit:   [Guarantors]
              )                            ---------------------------------
      OF      )                                      Notary Public

         I the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the City aforesaid in the
State of Virginia, do hereby certify that --------------------------- and
- --------------------------- Guarantors, whose names are signed to the foregoing
lease bearing date on the --------------------------- day of
- ---------------------------, 19---, have acknowledged the same before me in my
- --------------------------- and State aforesaid.

         Given under my hand this ------------------------ day of -----, 19---

         My commission expires: ---------------------------

                                                ---------------------------
                                                      Notary Public
<PAGE>   5
ADDENDUM ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF LEASE DATED APRIL 17, 1991, BY
AND BETWEEN TATE ENGINEERING, INC., LANDLORD, AND INTERNATIONAL KNIFE AND SAW,
INC., TENANT, ON PREMISES KNOWN AS 8131-B VIRGINIA PINE COURT, CHESTERFIELD,
VIRGINIA.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is covenanted and agreed as follows:

1.       Upon signing this Lease, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord an amount
         equal to one month's rent to be held by Landlord as a security deposit.
         Said deposit stated above shall not be unreasonably withheld by
         Landlord, provided, Tenant has faithfully performed all the terms and
         conditions stated herein.

2.       Tenant shall be obligated to obtain Landlord's permission for
         additional improvements made to the premises through the lease term and
         any renewals.

3.       Tenant must be responsible for its own trash removal.

4.       Landlord shall be responsible for warehouse heat and all costs
         associated with operating the gas space heaters.

5.       Landlord, at its expense, shall move warehouse fence to accommodate
         approximately 4,200 square feet of warehouse area and replace damaged
         ceiling tiles in the office area.

6.       Tenant and Landlord mutually agree to share the truck height dock and
         drive-in loading dock located on the sides of the building.

7.       In the event this lease is renewed at the end of the original lease
         term, base rent shall increase three percent (3%) per annum.

WITNESS the following signatures:

                                       TATE ENGINEERING, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Charles E. Olinter Sr. V.P.
                                           -------------------------------


                                       INTERNATIONAL KNIFE AND SAW,
                                       INC.

                                       By: /s/ William R. Underhill V.P.
                                           -------------------------------
<PAGE>   6
ADDENDUM ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART OF LEASE DATED THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL,
1991 BY AND BETWEEN IKS EASTERN SERVICES, INC., TENANT, AND TATE ENGINEERING,
INC., LANDLORD, FOR PREMISES KNOWN AS 8131-B VIRGINIA PINE COURT, CHESTERFIELD
COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT IS COVENANTED AND AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1.       Landlord and Tenant agree to extend the above referenced lease until
         May 31, 1997.

2.       In consideration of the rents to be paid by Tenant and other covenants
         of Tenant contained in Lease Agreement, Landlord does hereby lease to
         Tenant additional space of approximately 2,250 square feet. The total
         square feet now leased by Tenant shall be approximately 7,399 square
         feet (together with the right to use the parking area, sidewalks,
         appurtenances herein called Leased Premises).

3.       The monthly rental schedule shall be as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         PERIOD                                      RENTAL RATE
         ------                                      -----------
<S>                                                  <C>
         June 1, 1995 - May 31, 1997                  $2,355.00
</TABLE>

4.       In addition to the monthly rent, Tenant agrees to pay Landlord $150.00
         per month for additional 400 AMP electrical service located in 
         expansion space.


Except as hereby amended, all other terms and conditions of the lease shall
remain unchanged and are hereby reaffirmed.



WITNESS THE FOLLOWING SIGNATURES:


                                          TATE ENGINEERING, INC., "Landlord"

                                          By:    /s/  
                                                 -----------------------------
                                          Title: Senior Vice President
                                                 -----------------------------
                                          Date:  1/31/95
                                                 -----------------------------

                                          IKS EASTERN SERVICES, INC., "Tenant"

                                          By:    /s/  Ray Connell
                                                 -----------------------------
                                          Title: Vice President-Operations
                                                 -----------------------------
                                          Date:  1-27-95
                                                 -----------------------------

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.9
                                                

                                 OFFER TO LEASE


                          RE/MAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES
                           #410-650 West 41st Avenue
                                Vancouver, B.C.
                                    V5Z 2M9


THIS OFFER TO LEASE IS DATED FOR REFERENCE THIS 25TH DAY OF

October, 1995

BETWEEN:

                Sigma Enterprises Ltd.
                                             (Hereinafter called the "Landlord")
AND:
                IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd.

                                             (Hereinafter called the "Tenant")

ADDRESS
OF PREMISES:    211 to 213 - 9780 197B Street, Langley

LEGAL           Strata Lots 11 to 13, District Lot 122, Group 2, N.W.D., Strata
DESCRIPTION:    Plan NW2379.

DEMISED         The Area to be leased by the Tenant from the Landlord shall
AREA:           contain approximately 4,784 square feet more or less as shown 
                on the attached plan and labelled Exhibit "A".


                (the "demised premises")

OUTSIDE         The Tenant acknowledges and agrees that there is to be no
STORAGE:        outside storage of materials or products.


                                       1
<PAGE>   2
USE:            The demised premises shall be used for the purpose of storage
                and manufacturing of circular saws and in a manner not
                inconsistent with building and/or zoning bylaws.

                The Tenant also represents and warrants that it is not engaged
                in any manufacturing or process which involves the use of toxic
                or contaminant which would affect the building in which the
                demised premises are located or soils conditions.

TERM:           The Lease shall be for a term of One (1) year and Three (3)
                months commencing on the 1st day of November, 1995 and ending
                on the 31st day of January, 1997.

RENT:           The Tenant agrees to pay a net basic rent plus applicable Goods
                and Services Tax for fifteen (15) months. The basic rent for the
                demised premises shall be $2,193.00 per month.

                (the "basic rent")

                The rent shall be payable in advance on the FIRST (1st) day of
                each and every month for the full term of the Lease


ADDITIONAL      This Lease shall be net to the Landlord and each and every
RENTALS:        cost, expense, rate, tax (including, without limitation, GST),
                or charge in any way related to the demised premises and the
                Tenant's proportionate share of operating costs, as defined
                below, shall be borne by the Tenant, without variation, set off
                or deduction whatsoever, except for such income tax levied on
                the income of the Landlord and the costs of structural repairs.

                The Tenant is responsible for paying its proportionate share of
                all property taxes and operating expenses, including, without
                limitation, building insurance, common area maintenance,
                landscaping, general maintenance, structural maintenance
                (excluding inherent structural defects) and property management
                fees ("operating costs").

                The additional rentals will be estimated and the proportionate
                share payable by the Tenant shall be that figure which is the
                direct ratio that the rentable area of the demised premises
                bears to  the total rentable area of the building.

                The additional rentals for 1995 are estimated to be Eight
                Hundred Thirty Eight DOLLARS and Twenty Four CENTS ($838.24)
                per month and are payable monthly at the same time as the basic
                rent.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                At the end of each accounting year or each TWELVE (12) month
                period commencing January 1st and ending December 31st,
                whichever the Landlord shall determine, the Landlord shall
                reconcile the amount of operating costs. A statement showing
                these details shall be submitted to the Tenant within a
                reasonable time of the end of such accounting period stating
                also the amount of monthly installments for the ensuing
                accounting year and any required payments or refunds to be made.

UTILITIES:      The Tenant shall pay for all utilities consumed or used in the
                demised premises during the term of the Lease and during the
                period that the demised premises are being occupied for the
                purpose of performing the Tenant's work, as defined below. The
                obligation of the Tenant to pay for its share of the utilities
                shall extend to, but not be limited to payment of heat, gas,
                water, sewer, electrical light and/or power, and other energy
                and telephone supplied to or used in the demised premises.

INCREASE        If the Tenant's use of the demised premises increases building
BUILDING        insurance, then the Tenant shall be responsible for the said
INSURANCE:      increase. 

EXISTING        The Landlord shall ensure that all existing mechanical and
IMPROVEMENTS:   electrical apparatus including but not limited to lighting,
                lightbulbs, heaters, loading doors, are in normal operating
                condition upon occupancy.

REPAIRS:        The Tenant shall at its sole cost and expense keep in good
                repair and condition all of the demised premises and every part
                thereof including without limitation all glass within the Leased
                Premises and all improvements, fixtures and furnishings within.

OCCUPANCY:      The Tenant will have occupancy of the demised premises on
                November 1, 1995.

OPTION          The Tenant when not in default hereunder shall have One (1)
TO RENEW:       further One (1) year option to renew, under the same terms and
                conditions as herein contained and at the same base rate of
                $2,193.00 per month.

                If the tenant exercises this option to renew, the Tenant shall
                notify the Landlord in writing at least Three (3) months prior
                to the expiry of the initial term. If the Tenant does not wish
                to exercise this option to renew, the Landlord may, during the
                final Three (3) months of the Lease, place a "FOR LEASE" sign on
                the property and enter the demised premises with prospective
                Tenants during reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection,
                with the prior approval of the Tenant, which approval shall not
                be unreasonably withheld.

LEASE:          Upon acceptance of this Offer, the Landlord may provide its
                lease form which shall include the terms and conditions of this
                Offer, and the Lease shall be executed by the Landlord and
                Tenant; otherwise, this Offer to Lease will be the lease
                document.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

EXTERIOR                The Tenant shall have the Landlord's permission to 
SIGN                    supply and install sign identification, the design and
IDENTIFICATION:         location of which shall be subject to the approval of 
                        the Landlord, said approval not to be unreasonably
                        withheld, and subject to Municipal Bylaws and
                        Regulations.

                        At the end of the Lease term the Tenant, at the Tenant's
                        expense, shall remove all sign identification, and make
                        good any damage as a result of such removal.

SUBORDINATION:          This offer and any Agreement or Lease made pursuant
                        hereto and all rights of the Tenant hereunder shall be
                        subject and subordinate to all mortgages or other 
                        security taken by lending institutions, now or hereafter
                        existing.

PARKING:                The Tenant to have exclusive use of six (6) parking
                        stalls for the Tenant's employees and customers as shown
                        in Exhibit "A".

ASSIGN OR               The Tenant shall not assign or sublet the demised 
SUBLET:                 premises or any portion thereof without the Landlord's
                        written approval, such approval not to be unreasonably
                        withheld.

TENANTS                 The Landlord will allow the Tenant to make alterations
ALTERATIONS:            to the demised premises to the Tenant's mode of
                        business, provided that the Tenant receives the
                        Landlord's prior written approval for said alterations
                        and approval by the Landlord of the Tenant's contractor.
                        Said approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                        The Tenant agrees to construct all improvements to
                        typical construction standards in a good and workmanlike
                        fashion and conforming to all applicable and relevant
                        codes and bylaws.

                        The Tenant will allow reasonable access to the Landlord
                        or the Landlord's representative to inspect the work in
                        progress.

TENANT'S                The Landlord hereby agrees to permit the Tenant to
LEASEHOLD               carry out, at the Tenant's expense, the following
IMPROVEMENTS:           Leasehold Improvements:

                                1)  install a pit, 5 feet long X 4.5 feet deep
                                    X 16 inches wide, in the warehouse area. At 
                                    the end of the lease, the pit will be 
                                    filled in and the concrete floor put back to
                                    its original condition.
                                2)  Nil

DEPOSIT:                Upon one business day of acceptance of this Offer to
                        Lease a rental deposit of Five Thousand Five Hundred
                        Eighty Nine DOLLARS and Ninety Four CENTS ($5,589.94)
                        is payable by certified cheque or bank draft to Re/Max
                        Real Estate Services "in trust". The deposit shall be
                        retained and applied as rent for the FIRST (1st) and
                        LAST months Basic Rent and the FIRST (1st) months Common
                        Area Cost due to under the Lease plus applicable Goods
                        and Services Tax (G.S.T.). If the Tenant fails to 
                        execute and deliver the above mentioned Lease within the
                        above mentioned commencement date, the Tenant shall
                        forfeit the deposit as liquidated damages. 
  

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                The Deposit is made up as follows:

                        - First (1st) month's rent                  $2,193.00
                        - Last month's rent                         $2,193.00
                        - First (1st) month's Common Area Costs     $  838.24
                        - Seven percent (7%) G.S.T.                 $  365.70
                
                        - TOTAL DEPOSIT                             $5,589.94

NO              Tenant acknowledges that the demised premises are leased
REPRESENTATION: accepting all zoning and other land use restrictions, and it is
                the Tenant's sole obligation to ensure that the intended use is 
                permitted. There have been no representations or Agreements 
                made by the Landlord or the Agent in any respect other than
                contained in this agreement.

TRANSFER        This Offer to Lease shall not be assignable or otherwise
OF AGREEMENT:   transferable by the Tenant.

TIME OF         Time will be of the essence of the Offer.
ESSENCE: 

OFFER FOR       This Offer to Lease, or Counter-Offer, will be open for 
ACCEPTANCE:     acceptance until 4:00 o'clock p.m. on October __, 1995 and upon
                acceptance of the Offer to Lease, or Counter-Offer, by
                accepting in writing and notifying the other party of such 
                acceptance there shall be a binding Agreement to Lease on the
                terms and conditions set forth.

                If the Tenant fails to take occupancy hereunder, the deposit
                shall be forfeited, but the Landlord shall also be entitled to
                sue for damages in connection with any breach by the Tenant.

COMMISSION      The Landlord hereby agrees to pay its agent, the Listing
PAYABLE BY      Broker, a commission equal to One (1) month's basic rent along
THE             with any Applicable Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). Upon
LANDLORD:       the date set for occupancy or upon execution of the Lease, 
                whichever occurs first, the commission and G.S.T. is then due 
                and payable and may be deducted from the deposit, with any 
                remaining balance to be paid forthwith to the Landlord.

ACCEPTANCE      Acceptance of this Offer may be communicated by facsimile 
OF OFFER BY     transmission of an accepted Offer or by delivery of such
FAX:            facsimile without limiting other methods of communicating
                acceptance available to the parties.

AGENCY          See Exhibit "B".
DISCLOSURE:


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
DATED AT Langley, B.C. THIS             DAY OF October, 1995.

                                )       IKS CANADIAN KNIFE AND SAW LTD.
                                )
                                )
                                )
________________________________)       Per:_________________________________
Witness                                 Tenant



RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEPOSIT IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED LISTING BROKER:

RE/MAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES             Per:_________________________________
                                        John H. Lee
Listing Broker


DATED AT PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. THIS             DAY OF October, 1995.

                                )       SIGMA ENTERPRISES LTD.
                                )
                                )
                                )
________________________________)       Per:_________________________________
Witness                                 Landlord

<PAGE>   7
                                  EXHIBIT "A"

ATTACHED HERETO AND FORMING PART OF THE OFFER TO LEASE DATED October 25, 1995
BETWEEN Sigma Enterprises Ltd., AS LANDLORD, AND IKS Canadian Knife and Saw
Ltd., AS TENANT.

                                   [DIAGRAM]



                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                                  EXHIBIT "B"

ATTACHED HERETO AND FORMING PART OF THE OFFER TO LEASE DATED October 25, 1995
BETWEEN Sigma Enterprises Ltd., AS LANDLORD, AND IKS Canadian Knife and Saw
Ltd., AS TENANT

                         LIMITED DUAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
(CONSENT TO AGENT ACTING FOR BOTH TENANT AND LANDLORD AND TO LIMITING THE SCOPE
OF THE AGENCY RELATIONSHIP)

BETWEEN:        RE/MAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES
                JOHN H. LEE                                ("AGENT")

AND:            IKS CANADIAN KNIFE AND SAW LTD.            ("TENANT")

AND:            SIGMA ENTERPRISES LTD.                     ("LANDLORD")

RE:             211 TO 213 9780 197 B STREET, LANGLEY      ("PROPERTY")

Now therefore in order to facilitate the Lease of the Property the Tenant, the
Landlord, and the Agent hereby acknowledge and agree each with the other as
follows: 

1.      The Tenant and the landlord acknowledge and agree that it is not a
        breach of duty to either of them for the Agent to act as agent for both
        the Tenant and the Landlord and they hereby authorize and consent to the
        Agent acting for both the Tenant and the Landlord as a limited dual
        agent with respect to the purchase and sale of the Property.

2.      Any previous agreements entered into between the Agent and either the
        Tenant or the Landlord and the agency duties created by such agreements
        are hereby modified by this Agreement and shall continue in full force
        and effect except as modified herein. In the event of conflict the
        provisions of this Agreement will apply.

3.      The Tenant and the Landlord acknowledge and agree that with respect to
        the purchase and sale of the Property the Agent and its salespersons
        will be the agent for both the Tenant and the Landlord and will
        represent both parties as a limited dual agent with the following
        changes and limitations to its duties as agent:

        a)      the Agent will deal with the Tenant and the Landlord
                impartially: 

        b)      the Agent will have a duty of disclosure to both the Tenant and
                the Landlord except that:

                i)      the Agent will not disclose that the Tenant is willing
                        to pay a price or agree to terms other than those
                        contained in the Offer, or that the Landlord is willing
                        to accept a price or terms other than those contained in
                        the Listing;

               ii)      the Agent will not disclose the motivation of the
                        Tenant to buy or the Landlord to sell unless authorized
                        by the Tenant or the Landlord; 

              iii)      the Agent will not disclose personal information about
                        either the Tenant or the Landlord unless authorized in
                        writing;

        c)      without limiting 3(b) the Agent will disclose to the Tenant
                defects about the physical condition of the Property known to
                the Agent.

4.      The Tenant and Landlord have both received and read the Real Estate 
        Board of Greater Vancouver Brochure "Working With an Industrial 
        Commercial Investment Real Estate Agent".

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED THIS __ DAY OF October, 1995

RE/MAX REAL ESTATE SERVICES                 JOHN H. LEE
                                            AGENT PER SALESPERSON

IKS CANADIAN KNIFE AND SAW LTD.


- ------------------------------              -----------------------------------
TENANT(S) SIGNATURE                         WITNESS TO TENANT(S) SIGNATURE(S)


SIGMA ENTERPRISES LTD.

- ------------------------------              -----------------------------------
LANDLORD(S) SIGNATURE                       WITNESS TO LANDLORD(S) SIGNATURE(S)


                                   8

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.10


                                                     INDUSTRIAL MULTIPLE TENANCY
                                                                       June 1978


THIS INDENTURE made this   14th   day of    June, 1995

IN PURSUANCE OF THE SHORT FORMS OF LEASES ACT

BETWEEN:          GEARY INVESTMENTS LIMITED, IN TRUST", a company incorporated
                  under the laws of the Province of Ontario, having its head
                  office at the City of Toronto in the Municipality of
                  Metropolitan Toronto
                       (hereinafter called the "Landlord")
                               OF THE FIRST PART:

                                     - and -

                  IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD., a company incorporated under
                  the laws of the Province of Ontario

                        (Hereinafter called the "Tenant")
                               OF THE SECOND PART:

            WITNESSETH

Demise            1(a) That in consideration of the rents, covenants and
                  agreements hereinafter reserved and contained on the part of
                  the Tenant to be paid, observed and performed, the Landlord
                  hereby demises and leases to the Tenant, and the Tenant rents
                  form the landlord, that designated portion, containing
                  approximately 11,840 square feet (outside measurement ) Square
                  feet shown outlined in red on the sketch attached hereto and
                  marked as Schedule "A", of the building (the "Building")
                  erected upon the lands and premises situate, lying and being
                  in the City Of Mississauga in the Regional Municipality of
                  Peel and municipality known as Unit #7, 1090 Aerowood Drive
                  including in the demise of the premises aforesaid, the windows
                  and exterior walls and to the center of the interior walls
                  thereof (the said premises being hereinafter sometimes
                  referred to as the "demised premises", the "premises", or, the
                  "leased premises").

                  (B) The Tenant shall have the right, at all times, in common
                  with others entitled thereto, to the use of the common
                  driveways, parking areas, entrances and exits, roadways,
                  pedestrian walkways, loading and unloading docks, service
                  areas and all other common areas and facilities of the
                  Building thereinafter referred to as the "common areas and
                  facilities") provided from time to time by the Landlord.
                  Provided the Landlord shall have the right to make all such
                  changes, improvements or alterations at the Landlord may, in
                  its sole discretion, form time to time decide in respect of
                  the common areas and facilities, including, without
                  limitation, the right to change the location and layout of the
                  parking areas in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
                  29 hereof. The use of all common areas and facilities shall be
                  subject to the provisions of this Lease and to the rules and
                  regulations made by the Landlord with respect thereto from
                  time to time.

Term              2(a) TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the demised premises, unless the term
                  hereby demised shall be sooner terminated as hereinafter
                  provided, for and during the term (the "Term") of three (3)
                  years, to be computed from and inclusive of the 1st day of
                  December , 19 95, and thenceforth next ensuing and to be fully
                  complete and ended on the 30th day of November , 19 98.

                  (b) Provided, and it is hereby agreed, that, if due to the
                  failure of the Landlord to complete construction or to make
                  available the services which the Landlord is hereby obligated
                  to furnish, the demised premises or any part thereof are not
                  ready for occupancy by the Tenant on the date of commencement
                  of the Term, no part of the rent or only a proportionate part
                  thereof in the event that the Tenant shall occupy part of the
                  demised premises, shall be payable for the period prior to the
                  date when the entire demised premises are ready for occupancy
                  and the full rent shall accrue only after such aforementioned
                  date, and the Tenant hereby agrees to accept such abatement of
                  rent in full settlement of any and all claims which the tenant
                  may otherwise have by reason of the demised premised not being
                  ready for occupancy on the date of the commencement of the
                  term and in such event, the commencement and expiration dates
                  of the Term shall be extended accordingly.. Provided further,
                  that when the Landlord has completed construction of the
                  premises and made available the aforesaid services, the Tenant
                  shall not be entitled to any abatement of rent for any delay
                  in occupancy due to the Tenant's failure to complete all
                  installations or other work required to be completed by the
                  Tenant in accordance with the provisions hereof or for the
                  purpose of carrying on its business operations in the
                  premises. The decision of the Landlords architect shall be
                  final and binding upon both parties hereto as to whether or
                  not the demised premises are ready for occupancy by the Tenant
                  and, if necessary, as to the proportion of the premises that
                  are available for occupancy.

                  (C) The Tenant shall, upon request of the Landlord execute an
                  acknowledgment of the actual commencement date of the Term no
                  later than the date on which the Tenant commences business in
                  or form the premises. The tenant shall not have any right to
                  occupy any part of the premises prior to the commencement date
                  of the Tern, as aforesaid.

Use of
Premises          3. The Tenant shall use and occupy the demised premises only
                  for Office, warehousing and wholesale distribution and light
                  manufacturing And for no other purpose; provided the Tenant,
                  in the use and occupation of the demised premises and in the
                  prosecution or conduct of the foregoing business therein,
                  shall comply with all requirements of all laws, ordinances,
                  rules and regulations of the federal, provincial and municipal
                  authorities and with any direction or certificate of occupancy
                  issued pursuant to any laws by any public officer or officers.
                  The Tenant shall not use or permit to be used any part of the
                  demised premises for any dangerous, noxious, or offensive
                  trade or business and will not cause or maintain any nuisance
                  in, at, or, on the demised premises, and will not use any
                  portion of the common areas for the conduct of its business
                  but only for deliveries in the normal course of business and
                  shall not permit any vehicle or object to obstruct same or be
                  parked for any longer period than the Landlord deems
                  reasonable.

Rent              4. YIELDING AND PAYING therefor yearly and every year during
                  the Term hereby granted, without any deduction, defalcation or
                  set-off whatsoever, the sum of FORTY- SEVEN THOUSAND,
                  THREE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY DOLLARS ($47,360.00) ---- --------- of
                  lawful money of Canada, to be paid in advance in equal
                  consecutive monthly instalments of THREE THOUSAND,
                  NINE-HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX DOLLARS AND SIXTY-SEVEN CENTS ($3,
                  946.67) (payable???) on the first day of each and every month
                  in each year during the term, together with all additional
                  rent hereinafter reserved. If the Term commences on any day
                  other than the first or ends on any day other than the last
                  day of the month, all rents for the fractions of a month at
                  the commencement and expiration of the ........

<PAGE>   2

        All payments required to be made by the Tenant under or in respect of
this Lease shall be made to the Landlord at the Landlord's office at #510 25
Imperial St. Toronto M5P189 or to such agent or agents of the Landlord or such
other place as the Landlord shall hereafter from time to time direct in 
writing to the Tenant.

        The Landlord hereby acknowledges receipt from the Tenant of the sum of
$86,558.38 be applied (i) on account of all rentals, including all additional
rent as herein provided, payable by the Tenant, as security for the due
performance by the tenant of all the covenants and obligations on its part 
herein contained, the Landlord hereby reserving unto itself, at his sole 
discretion, to apply such sum to any damages resulting from default by the 
Tenant of any of its covenants and obligations hereto under or towards the 
payment or reduction of any claim of the Landlord against the Tenant.

        Any and all sums of money or charges required to be paid by the Tenant
under this Lease shall be deemed and paid as additional rent, whether or not
the same be designated as "additional rent" hereunder, or whether or not the
sums be paid to the Landlord or otherwise, and all such sums shall be payable
in lawful money of Canada without any deduction, set-off or balances
whatsoever. Any additional rent provided for in this Lease, unless otherwise
provided hereto, shall become due with the next installment of the monthly rent.

        If the Tenant shall fail to pay, when the same is due and payable, any
rent or additional rent, such unpaid amount shall accrue interest from the due
date thereof to the date of payment at the rate of two percent per month.

8.      THE TENANT COVENANTS WITH THE LANDLORD:

(a)     To pay rent and additional rent in the manner and at the times herein 
reserved.

(b)     That in each and every year during the Term, the Tenant shall pay an
additional rent and discharge within 10 days after the same becomes due and
payable all taxes, rates, duties and assessments and other charges that may be
levied, rated, charged or assessed against or in respect of all improvements,
equipment and facilities of the Tenant on or in the leased premises and every
tax and license fee in respect of any and every business carried on thereon or
therein or in respect of the use or occupancy thereof by the Tenant, and any 
and every subtenant (other than such taxes as corporate income, profits or 
excess profits taxes assessed upon the Income of the Landlord) whether any 
such assessment or license fees are charged by any federal, municipal, 
provincial, school or other bodies during the Term, and the Tenant will 
indemnify and keep indemnified the Landlord from and against payment for all 
loss, costs, charges and expenses, occasioned by or arising from any and all 
such taxes, levies, rates, duties, assessments, license fees and any and all 
taxes which may in the future be levied in lieu of such taxes and any loss, 
costs, charges and expenses suffered by the Landlord may be collected by the 
Landlord as rent with all rights of distress and otherwise as assessed to the 
Landlord in respect of rent in arrears. The Tenant further so covenants and 
agrees that upon the request of the Landlord, the Tenant will promptly deliver 
to the Landlord for inspection receipts for payment of all taxes, rates, 
duties, assessments and other charges in respect of all improvements, 
equipment and facilities of the Tenant on or in the leased premises which were 
due and payable up to one month prior to such request, and will furnish such 
other information in connection therewith as the Landlord may reasonably 
require. Provided further, if the Tenant or any subtenant of the Tenant shall 
elect to have the demised premises or any part thereof assessed for separate 
school taxes, the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord, as additional rent, as 
soon as the amount of such separate school taxes is ascertained, any amount by 
which the amount of separate school taxes exceeds the amount which would have 
been payable for school taxes had such election not been made by the Tenant.

(c)(1) That the Tenant will, as additional rent, in each and every year during
the Term and within the time or times hereinafter provided, pay to the Landlord
or to the taxing authorities as the Landlord may direct, and discharge, all
taxes (including local improvement rates, impose charges or levies), rates,
duties and assessments, whether general or special that may be levied, rated,
charged or assessed against the leased premises or any part thereof, from time 
to time by any taxing authority, whether federal, provincial, municipal, school
or otherwise and any taxes payable by the Landlord which are imposed in lieu of
or as a substitute for any such property taxes. The Tenant agrees to provide the
Landlord within ten days after demand therefor by the Landlord with a copy of
any separate tax bills, and separate notices of assessment for the leased
premises. The Tenant will, upon request, promptly deliver to the Landlord,
receipts for payment of all such real property taxes paid to any such taxing
authorities, as aforesaid, and will furnish and deliver all such other
information in connection therewith as the Landlord may reasonably require.

  (2) In the event that there shall not be a separate assessment, for real
property taxes made against the leased premises, the Tenant shall pay a share
of such real property taxes (including local improvement rates) which may be
levied or assessed by any lawful authority against the lands, buildings and
improvements, including the outside common areas and facilities thereof,
forming part of the Building within ten (10) days after demand therefor by the
Landlord, as allocated to the leased premises by the Landlord. The Landlord
shall allocate all such real property taxes levied or assessed against the
lands and buildings comprising the Building of which the demised premises forms
a part, firstly as between the premises intended for leasing and the common
areas and facilities, and secondly with respect to the real property taxes
so allocated to the premises intended for leasing, the Landlord shall make a
further allocation of all such taxes as between each of the individual premises
intended for leasing on such basis as the Landlord shall in its sole opinion
deem applicable, having regard among other things, to the various

<PAGE>   3
Payments          5. All payments required to be made by the Tenant under or in
                  respect of this Lease shall be made to the landlord at the
                  Landlord's office at #510 25 Imperial Street, Toronto M5P1B9
                  or to such agent or agents of the Landlord or such other place
                  as the Landlord shall hereafter form time to time direct in
                  writing to the Tenant.

Deposits          The Landlord hereby acknowledges receipt from the Tenant of
                  the sum of $ 6,558.38 be applied (I) on account of all rentals
                  including all additional rent as herein provided, payable by
                  the Tenant, as security for the due performance by the tenant
                  of all the covenants and obligations on its part herein
                  contained, the Landlord hereby reserving unto itself, at its
                  sole discretion, to apply such sum to any damages resulting
                  from default by the Tenant of any of its covenants and
                  obligations hereunder or towards the payment or reduction of
                  any claim of the Landlord against the Tenant.

Additional
Rent              6. Any and all sums of money or charges required to be paid by
                  the Tenant under this Lease shall be deemed and paid as
                  additional rent, whether or not the same be designated as
                  "additional rent" hereunder, or whether or not the same be
                  paid to the landlord or otherwise, and all such sums shall
                  become due with the next instalment of the monthly rent.

Rent and
Additional
past due          7. If the Tenant shall fail to pay , when the same is due and
                  payable, any rent or additional rent, such unpaid amount shall
                  bear interest form the due date thereof to the date of payment
                  at the rate of two percent per month.


Tenant's
Covenants         8. THE TENANT COVENANTS WITH THE LANDLORD: (a) To pay rent and
                  additional rent in the manner and at the times herein reserved

Business
Taxes             (b) That in each and every year during the Term, the tenant
                  shall pay as additional rent and discharge within 10 days
                  after the same becomes due and payable all taxes, rates,
                  duties and assessments and other charges that may be levied,
                  rated, charged the or assessed against or in respect of all
                  improvements, equipment and facilities of the Tenant on or in
                  the leased premises and against payment for all loss, costs,
                  charges and expenses, occasioned by or arising from any and
                  all such taxes, levies, rates, duties assessments, licences
                  fees and any and all taxes which may in the future be levied
                  in lieu of such taxes and any loss, costs charges and expenses
                  suffered by the Landlord may be collected by Landlord as rent
                  with all rights of distress and otherwise as reserved to the
                  Landlord in respect of rent in arrears. The Tenant further
                  covenants and agrees that upon the request of the Landlord,
                  the Tenant will promptly deliver to the Landlord for
                  inspection receipts for payment of all taxes, rates, duties,
                  assessments and other charges in respect of all improvements,
                  equipment and (facilities?????) of the Tenant on or in the
                  leased premises which were due and payable up to one month
                  prior to such request, and will furnish such other information
                  in connection therewith as the Landlord may reasonably
                  require. Provided further, If the Tenant or any subtenant of
                  the Tenant shall elect to have the demised premises or any
                  part thereof assessed for separate school taxes, the Tenant
                  shall pay to the Landlord, as additional rent, as soon as the
                  amount of such separate school taxes is ascertained, any
                  amount by which the amount of separate school taxes exceeds
                  the amount which would have been payable for school taxes had
                  such election not been made by the Tenant.

Realty
Taxes             (c)(I) that the Tenant will, as additional rent, in each and
                  every year during the Term and within the time or times
                  hereinafter provided, pay to the Landlord or to the taxing
                  authorities as the Landlord may direct, and discharge, all
                  taxes, (including local improvement rates, impost charges or
                  levies), rates, duties and assessments, whether general or
                  special that may be levied, rated, charged or assessed against
                  the leased premises or any part thereof,, form time to time by
                  any taxing authority, whether federal, provincial, municipal,
                  school or otherwise and any taxes payable by the Landlord
                  which are imposed in lieu of or as a substitute for any ( ???)
                  property taxes. The tenant agrees to provide the Landlord
                  within ten days after demand therefor by the Landlord with a
                  copy of any separate tax bills, and separate notices of
                  assessment for the leased premises. The Tenant will, upon
                  request, promptly deliver to the Landlord, receipts for
                  payment of all such real property taxes paid to any such
                  taxing authority, as aforesaid, and will furnish and deliver
                  all such other information in connection therewith as the
                  Landlord may reasonably require.

                  (ii) In the event that there shall not be a separate
                  assessment for real property taxes made against the leased
                  premises, the Tenant shall pay a share of such real property
                  taxes (including local improvement rates) which may be levied
                  or assessed by any lawful authority against the lands,
                  buildings and improvements, including the outside common areas
                  and facilities thereof,, forming part of the building within
                  ten (10) days after demand therefor by the Landlord, as
                  allocated to the leased premises by the Landlord. The Landlord
                  shall allocate all such real property taxes levied or assessed
                  against the lands and buildings comprising the building of
                  which the demised premises forms a part, firstly as between
                  the premises intended for leasing and the common areas and
                  facilities, and secondly with respect tot he real property
                  taxes so allocated to the premises intended for leasing, the
                  Landlord shall make a further allocation of al such taxes as
                  between each of the individual premises intended for leasing
                  on such basis as the Landlord shall in its sole opinion deem
                  equitable, having regard among other things, to the various
                  uses of the premises intended for leasing comprising the
                  Building and/or the cost of original construction of same, and
                  subject at all times tot eh provisions of paragraph 8 (b)
                  hereof. The Tenant shall pay its proportionate share (as
                  hereinafter defined of all real property taxes so allocated to
                  the common areas and facilities in accordance with the
                  provisions of paragraph 9 hereof.

Payment of
Tenant's
Share             (iii) the amount payable by the Tenant pursuant to paragraph 8
                  (C) (ii) above may be estimated by the Landlord its share as
                  so estimated, of such amount in monthly instalments in advance
                  during such period, together with all other rental payments
                  provided for in this Lease. Notwithstanding anything
                  hereinbefore contained, if at the time when payment of the
                  real property taxes (including local improvement rates),
                  whether interim, instalment or final is due, the Landlord
                  shall not have on deposit a sufficient sum to pay the full
                  amount of such real property taxes, the Tenant shall
                  forthwith, upon demand, pay,, as additional rent, its share,
                  determined as aforesaid of the amount of any such deficiency
                  to the Landlord. When the final tax bill in any year has been
                  received, which relates to the period for which such estimated
                  payments have been made by the Tenant, as aforesaid, the
                  parties hereto agree to adjust all payments made by the Tenant
                  on account of real property taxes in accordance with such
                  final tax bill.

Utilities         (d)(I) That the Tenant shall be solely responsible for and
                  shall promptly pay all charges for water, gas, electricity,
                  telephone and other utilities used or consumed in, or any
                  other charges levied or assessed on or in respect to, the
                  leased premises, and for all fittings, machines, apparatus or
                  other things leased in respect thereof, and for all work or
                  services performed by any corporation or commission in
                  connection with such public utilities Should the Landlord
                  elect to supply water, gas, electricity, and/or sewer services
                  for the building, or any other utility used or consumed, or to
                  be used or consumed , in the leased premises, the Tenant shall
                  purchase and pay for the same as additional rent payable on
                  demand to the Landlord, at rates not in excess of public
                  utility rates for the same service, if applicable In no event
                  shall the Landlord be liable for, nor have any obligation with
                  respect to, an interruption or cessation of, or a failure in
                  the supply of any such utilities, services or systems,
                  including, without limitation, the water and sewage systems,
                  to the building or to the leased premises, whether or not
                  supplied by the Landlord or others.

                  (ii) The Tenant shall be required prior to the commencement of
                  the term to install its own separate meter(s) for the leased
                  premises t its own expense, if so requested by the Landlord.
                  In the event that separate meters are not installed for the
                  leased premises, the Tenant shall pay its share of the total
                  costs incurred by the Landlord in the supply of all utilities
                  and services to the building, as reasonably and equitably
                  determined by the Landlord, having regard, among other thins,
                  to the Tenant's connected load and the then current applicable
                  commercial rates for the municipality in which the leased
                  premises is located, and the Tenant shall pay monthly, in
                  advance with instalments of monthly rent, all such utility
                  charges so applicable to the leased premises. Provided,
                  notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if
                  at any time during the Term or renewal the Landlord should
                  determine in its sole discretion that the Tenant's use of any
                  utility or service used or consumed on the premises is in any
                  way unusual or of an excessive nature, the Landlord, may, at
                  its option, but at the sole cost and expense of the Tenant,
                  install in the demised premises a separate or submeter with
                  resect to such utility or service, whereupon the tenant's cost
                  in connection with such utility or service shall be determined
                  in accordance with such separate meter or submeter.
<PAGE>   4
RIDER #1

(Page 3, clause #8(e) Repairs)

         Landlord agrees and shall be responsible and liable for and shall
         repair all structural defects or weaknesses unless such damage has been
         caused by the Tenant or any other persons affiliated with the Tenant.


RIDER #2

(Page 3, clause #8(h) Heat)

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this lease, the parties thereto
         agree as follows: -

         The Tenant shall not be responsible for any major repairs or
         replacements of a capital nature to the heat exchanger or compressor
         (considered being major repairs) of the heating and air-conditioning
         systems. The Tenant is responsible for any other repairs to the said
         equipment, considered to be minor in nature. Provided that the Tenant
         enters into and maintains a contract (the "HVAC" Contract) with a
         licensed and reputable heating and air-conditioning contractor approved
         by the Landlord, which contract shall be in writing and approved by the
         Landlord, acting responsibly and shall include, without limitation, a
         provision requiring the maintenance and periodic inspections of not
         less than four (4) times per year of the heating and air-conditioning
         systems in the premises. The Tenant shall submit to the Landlord
         evidence satisfactory that all repairs recommended after such
         inspections have been made and that all payments required pursuant to
         the HVAC Contract have been paid. The Landlord will not be responsible
         for the replacement of any parts (minor and/or major) if the Tenants
         type of business and/or manufacturing causes damage to the said
         equipment.

<PAGE>   5
Repairs           (e) That the Tenant shall, at its sole cost and expense and at
                  all times, keep and maintain the whole of the leased premises
                  and every part thereof (including, without limitation, all
                  entrances, glass, doors fixtures, equipment and appurtenances
                  and improvements thereto) in good order and first class
                  condition and shall promptly make all needed repairs and
                  replaced thereto (reasonable wear and tear and damage by fire,
                  lightening and tempest only excepted) and, without limiting
                  the ???? of the foregoing, the Tenant shall keep the demised
                  premises well painted, clean and in such condition as would a
                  careful...      ***SEE RIDER #!, PAGE 3-A

Entry by
Landlord          (f) That it shall be lawful for the Landlord and its agent(s)
                  at all reasonable times during the Term to enter the demised
                  premises to inspect the condition thereof. Where an inspection
                  reveals the repairs are necessary, the Landlord shall give and
                  in ???? and workmanlike manner and to the satisfaction of the
                  Landlord, so as to complete same within the time or times
                  permitted for in the notice delivered by the Landlord as
                  aforesaid. The failure by the Landlord to give notice shall
                  not relieve the Tenant ???? neglects to repair promptly and to
                  the reasonable satisfaction of the Landlord as required
                  pursuant to the provisions of 8(e), hereof or in accordance
                  with any notice received from the Landlord pursuant to the
                  provisions of this part 8(f), the Landlord may, but shall not
                  be obligated to, make such repairs without liability to the
                  Tenant for any loss or damage which may occur to the Tenant's
                  property or to the Tenant's business by reason thereof, and
                  upon completion, the Tenant shall forthwith pay upon demand
                  the Landlord's cost for making any such repairs plus a sum
                  equal to 15% thereof to ???, as additional rent, in addition
                  to the aforesaid the Tenant shall at its own expense arrange
                  for a qualified service ??? to make annual inspections of the
                  heating system and other mechanical apparatus included in the
                  within lease at the com???? at its own expense and
                  satisfactory evidence of same forwarded to the Landlord. The
                  Tenant acknowledges that the demised premises are in good
                  condition and repair at the date of commencement of the term
                  hereby demised.

Leave
Premises
In good
Repair            (g) and further, theat the Tenant will, at the expiration or
                  sooner termination of the Term peaceably surrender and yield
                  unto the Landlord the premises with all improvements,
                  erections and appurtenances which at any time or times during
                  the Tenancy shall be made, placed or erected therein or
                  thereon, in good and substantial repair and condition,
                  reasonable wear and tear , damage by fire, lightening and
                  tempest only excepted, and the Tenant shall surrender all keys
                  for the premises to the Landlord at the place then fixed for
                  payment of rent and shall inform the Landlord of all
                  combinations on locks, safes and vaults, ???? in the premises.
                  The Tenant shall, however, if requested by the Landlord remove
                  all improvements, erections, alterations at the cost and
                  expense of the Tenant, and shall repair all damage to the
                  leased premises caused by their installation and/or removal.
                  The Tenant's obligation to observe and perform this covenant
                  shall survive the expiration or sooner determination of the
                  lease or any renewal thereof.

Heat              (h) To heat the remises in a reasonable manner at its sole
                  cost and expense with heating equipment supplied by the
                  Landlord, and to maintain, keep in good order and repair, and
                  replace, if necessary, at its own expense, the said heating
                  equipment heating of the demised premises shall be maintained
                  by the Tenant so as at all times to protect the demised
                  premises and its contents from damage by cold or frost. ***SEE
                  RIDER #2, PAGE 3-A.

Public
Orders            (I) That the Tenant shall, at its sole cost and expense,
                  comply with all provisions of law, including without limiting
                  ??? generality of the foregoing, all requirements of all
                  federal and provincial legislative enactments, by-laws and
                  other governmental or municipal regulations now or hereafter
                  in force which relate to the premises or to the making of any
                  repairs, replacements, alterations, additions, changes,
                  substitutions or improvements of or to the leased premises,
                  and the Tenant will cooperate with all police, fire and
                  sanitary regulations imposed by any governmental, provincial
                  and municipal authorities or made by fire insurance
                  underwriters and the Tenant shall observe and obey all
                  governmental and municipal regulations and any other
                  requirements governing the conduct of any business in the
                  leased premises.

Assignment
and
Subleasing        (j)(i) That the Tenant will not assign this Lease in whole or
                  in art, nor sublet all or any part of the Leased premises, nor
                  mortgage or encumber this Lease or the leased premises of any
                  part thereof, or suffer or permit the occupation of all or any
                  ???? thereof by others, without the prior written consent of
                  the Landlord in each instance, which consent shall not be
                  unreasonably withheld, subject to the provisions of
                  subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph 8. The consent by the
                  Landlord to any assignment or subletting shall not constitute
                  a waiver of the necessity for such consent to any subsequent
                  assignment or subletting. ????? operation of law. If this
                  Lease shall be assigned, or if the leased premises or any part
                  thereof shall be sublet aor occupied by a body other than the
                  Tenant, the Landlord may collect rent form the assignee,
                  subtenant or occupant, and apply the amount collected to the
                  rent herein received, but no such assignment, subletting,
                  occupancy or collection shall be deemed to be a waiver of this
                  covenant or the acceptance of the assignee, subtenant or
                  occupant as Tenant, or a release of the Tenant form the
                  further performance by the Tenant of the covenants on the part
                  of the Tenant herein contained. Notwithstanding an assignment
                  or sublease, the Tenant shall remain jointly and severally
                  liable on this Lease and shall not be relieved from performing
                  any of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease. Any
                  assignment of the Lease, if consented to by the Landlord,
                  shall be prepared by the Landlord or its solicitors, and any
                  and all legal costs with respect thereto shall be borne by
                  Tenant. Any consent granted by the Landlord shall be subject
                  to the Tenant causing any such assignee, sublessee or occupant
                  to execute or indenture and covenant directly with the
                  Landlord agreeing to be bound by all of the terms contained in
                  this lease, as if such assignees, sublessee or occupant had
                  originally executed this Lease as Tenant.

Landlord's
Option            (ii) In the event the Tenant desires to assign, sublet or part
                  with possession of all or any part of the lease premises, or
                  transfer this lease in any other manner in whole or in part or
                  any estate or interest therein, then so often as such event
                  shall occur, the Tenant shall give prior written notice to the
                  Landlord or such desire, specifying therein the name of the
                  proposed assignee, transferee or subtenant and such other
                  information as the Landlord may require, and the Landlord
                  shall, within thirty days thereafter, notify the Tenant in
                  written either, that: (I) it consents, or (ii) does not
                  consent, as aforesaid, to the assignment subletting or parting
                  with or sharing possession, as the case may be, or (iii) it
                  elects to cancel this Lease in preference to the giving of
                  such content. In the event, the Landlord elects to cancel this
                  Lease, as aforesaid, the Tenant shall notify the Landlord in
                  writing within 15 days thereafter of the Tenant's intention
                  either to refrain from such assigning or subletting or parting
                  with or sharing possession or to accept the cancellation of
                  this Lease. Should the Tenant fail to deliver such notice
                  within such period of 15 days, this Lease will thereby be
                  terminated upon the expiration of said 15 day period.

Corporate
Ownership         (k) And further, that the Tenant shall not be entitled to
                  transfer or issue by sale, assignment, bequest, inheritance,
                  operation of law, or other disposition or by subscription any
                  party or all or the corporate shares of the Tenant or any
                  associated, affiliate or subsidiary company or the Tenant so
                  as to result in any change in the present effective voting
                  control of the Tenant by party or parties holding such voting
                  control at the date of this Lease, without first obtaining the
                  written consent of the Landlord in each instance, which
                  consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event the
                  Tenant does not obtain the written consent of the Landlord, as
                  aforesaid, the Landlord may re-enter the leased premises at
                  any time after such change in ???? by giving the Tenant 30
                  days prior written notice of such entry, whereupon the
                  provisions of paragraph 12 hereof shall ????. The Tenant on
                  request will furnish to the Landlord a sworn declaration as to
                  the notice of the officers and directors of the tenant
                  Corporation.

Nuisance          (l) That the Tenant will not do or omit to do or permit to be
                  done or omitted anything upon or in respect of the demised
                  premises, the doing or omission of which, as the case may be,
                  shall be or result in a nuisance or menace to the Landlord or
                  to the other tenants of the Building of which the demised
                  premises form a part; and that as machinery shall be used on
                  the leased premises which shall cause any undue vibration in
                  or tot he premises, and if the Landlord or any other occupants
                  of the Building shall complain that any machinery or operation
                  thereof in or on the leased premises is a nuisance to it or
                  them, as the case may be, upon receiving notice thereof, the
                  Tenant will immediately abate such nuisance.

Insurance         (m)(I) That if the Tenant's use and occupation of the
                  premises, whether or not the Landlord has consented to same,
                  cause any increase in premiums for fire and extended coverage
                  insurance, rental, boiler, casualty and other types of
                  Insurance as may be carried by the Landlord form time to time
                  in respect of the Building, the Tenant shall pay any such
                  increase in premiums as additional rent within ten days after
                  bills for such additional premiums shall be rendered by the
                  Landlord. In determining whether such increased premiums are a
                  result of the Tenant's use and occupancy of the leased
                  premises, a schedule issued by the organization making the
                  insurance rates on the Building showing the various components
                  of such rate, shall be conclusive evidence of the several
                  items and charges which make up such rate. The Tenant shall
                  comply promptly with all requirements of the Canadian
                  Underwriters Association or of any insurer, now or hereafter
                  in effect; pertaining to or affecting the leased premises. If
                  any insurance upon the Building or any part thereof, shall be
                  canceled or shall be threatened by the insurer to be canceled,
                  or the coverage thereunder reduced in anyway by the insurer by
                  reason of the use and occupation of the leased premises or any
<PAGE>   6
                  part thereof by the Tenant or by any assignee or subtenant of
                  the Tenant or by anyone permitted by the Tenant to be upon the
                  leased premises, and , if the Tenant fails to remedy the
                  condition ................... provisions of paragraph 12
                  hereof shall apply or, (ii) enter upon the leased premises and
                  remedy the condition giving rise to such cancellation,
                  threatened cancellation or reduction of the tenant shall
                  forthwith pay the costs thereafter to the Landlord, which
                  costs may be collected by the Landlord as rent and the
                  Landlord shall not be liable for any damage injury caused to
                  any property of the Tenant or of others located on the leased
                  premises as a result of such entry.

                  (ii) The Tenant shall as soon as possible after the execution
                  of this Lease provide the Landlord with a certificate of
                  property damage and public liability insurance covering the
                  Tenant and the Landlord in respect of the premises and its use
                  and occupancy thereof and the common areas and facilities of
                  the Building. Such property damage and public liability
                  insurance policy is to be written on a comprehensive basis
                  with limits of not less than $2 million or bodily injury to
                  any one or more persons or property damages, or at such higher
                  limits as the Landlord may reasonably require from time to
                  time. Owners, ???? Investments Limited, "in Trust", are to be
                  added as named insured

                  (iii) And further, the Tenant convent as and agrees, at its
                  sols cost and expense, to replace any glass or other glass
                  which has been broken or removed during the Term and will at
                  all times keep the plate glass on the remises fully insured,
                  pay the premiums therefor and provide the Landlord with a
                  certificate of such plate glass insurance.

Cost of
Maintenance       9. (I) In each year of the Term, the Tenant will pay to the
                  Landlord, in addition to the rental specified in paragraph 4
                  hereof, as further additional rent, its proportionate share
                  (as hereinafter defined) of the Landlord's actual costs and
                  expenses of maintaining and operating the Building and the
                  common areas and facilities, such costs and expenses to
                  include, without limitation: (I) the total annual costs and
                  expenses of insuring the lands, buildings, improvements,
                  equipment and insurance against loss of rental income or the
                  earnings derived from the Building in the full amount of such
                  rental income or earnings, real or anticipated and other
                  property from time to time comprising the building and the
                  common areas and facilities thereof, in such manner and in
                  such companies and form, and with such coverage and in such
                  amounts as the Landlord form time to time shall determine;
                  (ii) real property taxes (including school taxes and local
                  improvement rates) and all business and other taxes, if any,
                  from time to time payable by the Landlord levied or assessed
                  against allocated by the Landlord pursuant to paragraph 8
                  (c)(ii) hereof, against or in respect of the common areas and
                  facilities or against landlord, on account of its ownership
                  thereof; (iii) the total costs of operating, maintaining,
                  lighting, cleaning (including snow and removal and clearance)
                  supervising, policing, landscaping, repairing and replacing
                  all common areas and facilities, including without limitation,
                  all monies paid to persons, firms or corporations employed by
                  the Landlord to perform same; and (iv) all expenses incurred
                  and paid by the Landlord in connection with the maintenance,
                  repair, replacement, operation and management of the Building
                  and services connected therewith, together with an
                  administrative fee of 9 percent of such total annual costs and
                  expenses, aforesaid.

                  (ii) The term "proportionate share: used in this paragraph 9
                  shall mean a fraction, the numerator of which is the rentable
                  area of the demised premises (exclusive of any basement area)
                  and the denominator of which is the etoal renaqble area of the
                  buliding being: 1090 Aerowood Drive, Mississauga Ontario, of
                  which the demised premises forms a ??????

                  (iii) The amount payable by the Tenatnt pursuant to this
                  paragraph 9 may be estimated by the Landlord for such period
                  or perods as the Landlord may determine, and the Tenatn agrees
                  to pay to the Lnadlord its proportionate share as so estimate
                  of such amount sin monthely instalments in advance during such
                  peirod(s) together with all other rental payments provided for
                  in this Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as so as bills
                  for all or any portion of the said amounts so estimated are
                  received, the Landlord may bill the Tenatnt for its
                  proportionate share thereof (less all amounts previously paid
                  by the Tenat on the basis of the Lnadlord's estimate aforesaid
                  which have not already been in applied) and the Tenant shall
                  pay to the Lnadlord such amoutns so billed as addtional rent
                  on demand. At the end of the perioud for which such estaimated
                  payments have been made, the Lnadlord shall deliver to the
                  Tenat a statement of the actual amounts and costs referrred to
                  in this paragraph 9 and the determination of the Tenatn's
                  proportionate hare thereof, and if necessary, an adjustment
                  shallbe made between the parties hereto. If the Tenatn shall
                  have paid in excess of such actual amounts, the excess sahll
                  be refunded by the Lnadlord within a reasoanble period of time
                  after delivery or the said statment if the amoutn the Tenatn
                  has paid is less than such actual amounts, the Tenat agrees to
                  pay to the Landlord any such extra amount or amounts with the
                  next monthly payment of rent.

                  10. PROVIDED AND IT IS HEREBY EXPRESSLY AGREED:

Seizure
and
Bankruptcy        (a) That, in case, without the written consent of Lnadlord,
                  the demised premises shall become and remain vacant or not
                  used for a peirod of ten (10) days whiel the sme is suitable
                  for use bythe Tenatn, or shall be used by any person other
                  than the Tenatn, or in case the Term of any of the goods and
                  chattels of the Tenat shall be at any time seized or taken in
                  execution or in attachment by any creditor of the Tenatnt, or
                  if th eTenatn shall make any assignment for the benefit of
                  creditors or give any bill of sale without complying with The
                  Bulk Sales Act (Ontario) or become bankrupt or insolvent, or
                  take the benefit of any Act now or hereafer in force ofr
                  bankrupt or insolvent debtors or file any proposal or make an
                  asignemtn ofr the benefit of credtiors or if a receiver is
                  appointed for all or a portion of the Tent's property or if
                  any order is made for the winding up of the Tenat, or if the
                  Tenant shall make a sale in bulk, or, if the Tenatn abandons
                  or attempts to abandon the leased premises or to seller
                  dispose of any of the goods and chattels of the tenant or to
                  remove them from the leased premises so that there would not
                  in the event of such sale or disposal be sufficient goods on
                  the leased premises subject to distress to satisfy all rentals
                  due or accruing hereunder, or if the Tenant shall fail to
                  perform any other of the terms, conditions or covenants of
                  this Lease to be observed or performed by the Tenant, or if
                  re-entry is permitted under any other terms of this Lease,
                  then, and in every such case, the then current mont's rent and
                  the next ensuing three months' rent and additional rent shall
                  immediately become due and payable, and , at the option of the
                  Landlord this Lease shall cease and determine and the Term
                  hereby demised shall immediately become forfeited and void, in
                  which event, the Landlord may re-enter and take possession of
                  the demised premises as though the Tenant or any occupant or
                  occupants of the demised premises was or were holding over
                  after the expiration of the Term without any rights
                  whatsoever.

No
exceptions
for distress      (b) That, in consideration of the premises and of the
                  leasing and letting by the Landlord to the Tenant of the
                  leased premises for the Term hereby created (and it is upon
                  that express understanding that these present are entered
                  into), and notwithstanding anything continued in Section 30 of
                  Chapter 236 of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1970, or any
                  other Statute subsequently passed to take the place of the
                  said Act or to amend the same, none of the goods and chattels
                  of the Tenant at any time during the continuance of the Term
                  on the leased premises shall be exempt form levy by distress
                  form rent in arrears by the Tenant as provided for by an
                  Section or Sections of the said Act or any amendment or
                  amendments thereto and that upon the any claim being made for
                  such exemption by the Tenant or on distress being made by the
                  Landlord, this covenant and agreement may be pleaded as an
                  estoppel against the Tenant in any action brought to test the
                  right to the levying upon any such goods as are named as
                  exempted in said Section or Sections of the said Act or
                  amendment or amendments thereto; the Tenant waiving as it
                  hereby does all and every benefit that could or might have
                  accrued to the Tenant under and by virtue of the said section
                  or Sections of the said Act, or any amendment or amendments
                  thereto but for this covenant.

Public
Liability         (c ) That the Landlord shall not be liable for any death or
                  injury or damage to property of the Tenant or of others
                  located on the leased premises, form any cause whatsoever,
                  whether or not any such damage, loss or injury results form
                  the negligence of the Landlord, its agents, servants or
                  employees or other persons form whom it may be responsible.
                  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Landlord
                  shall not be liable for any injury or damage to persons or
                  property resulting form fire, explosion, falling plaster,
                  steam, gas, electricity, water, rain, snow or leaks form any
                  part of the leased premises or from the pipes, appliances or
                  plumbing works or from the roof, street or subsurface or form
                  any other place or by dampness or by any cause or whatsoever
                  nature. The Landlord shall not be liable for any such damage
                  caused by other tenants or persons in the Building or by
                  occupants of adjacent property thereto, or the public, or
                  caused by operations in construction of any private, public or
                  quasi-public work. All property of the Tenant kept or stored
                  on the leased premises shall be so kept or stored at the risk
                  of the tenant only and the Tenant shall hold the Landlord
                  harmless form and against any claims arising out of damages to
                  the same, including, subrogation claims by the Tenant's
                  insurers.

Holding
Over              (d) That if the Tenant shall continue to occupy the demised
                  premises at the expiration of this Lease with or without the
                  consent of the Landlord, and without any further written
                  agreement, the Tenant shall be a monthly at the monthly rental
                  herein reserved and otherwise on the terms and conditions
                  herein set forth, except as to the length of tenancy.

Over-
Loading           (e) That the Tenant will not bring upon the demised premises
                  or any part thereof, any machinery, equipment, article or
                  thing that by reason of its weight, size, or use might, in the
                  opinion of the Landlord, damage the leased premises and will
                  not at any time, overload the floors of the leased premises
                  and that if any damage is caused to the leased premises, by
                  any machinery, equipment article or thing or by overloading,
                  or by any act, neglect or misuse on the part of the Tenant any
                  of its servants, agents or employees, or any person having
                  business with the Tenant, the Tenant shall forthwith repair
                  the same or pay to the Landlord the cost of making good the
                  same.
<PAGE>   7
Overload
Facilities        ??????????????????? the leased premises and agrees that if any
                  equipment installed by the Tenant shall require additional
                  utility facilities, same shall be installed, if available, at
                  the Tenant's sole cost and expense in accordance with plans
                  and specifications to be approximated by the Landlord.

Appliance
Facilities        (g) That the plumbing facilities (if any) in the leased
                  premises shall not be used for any other purpose than that for
                  which they are constructed, and not foreign substance or any
                  kind shall be thrown therein, and the expense of any breakage,
                  ???? or damage resulting from a violation of this provision
                  shall be borne by the Tenant.

Indemni-
fication          (h) That the Tenant will indemnify the Landlord and save it
                  harmless from and against any and all loss (including ???
                  rentals payable by the Tenant pursuant to this Lease) claims,
                  actions, damages, liabilities and expenses in connection with
                  loss of life, personal injury or damage to property arising
                  from or out of any occurrence in, upon, or, at the leased
                  premises ????? the occupancy and use by the Tenant of the
                  leased premises, or any part thereof, or occasioned wholly or
                  in part by any act or omission of the Tenant, its agents,
                  contractors, employees, servants, or invites or anyone
                  permitted to be on the premises by the Tenant. In case the
                  Landlord shall, without fault on its part, be made a party to
                  any litigation, commenced by or against the Tenant, then, the
                  Tenant shall protect and hold the Landlord harmless and shall
                  pay all costs, expenses and reasonable legal fees incurred or
                  paid by the Landlord in connection with such litigation. The
                  Tenant shall also pay all costs, expenses and reasonable legal
                  fees that may be incurred or paid by the Landlord in enforcing
                  the covenants and agreements contained in this Lease, unless a
                  Court shall otherwise award.

Repair
Where
Tenant
at Fault          Fault (I) That in the event the Building, the common areas and
                  facilities thereof, the leased premises, or any equipment,
                  ???? or facilities contained therein, or, any other structural
                  portions thereof require repair or become damaged or destroyed
                  through the negligence, carelessness or misuse of the Tenant,
                  its servants, agents, employees, contractors, or thorough it
                  or in any way, stropping up or injuring the heating apparatus,
                  water pipes, drainage pipes or other equipment or facilities
                  or of the Building, the expenses of all such necessary
                  repairs, replacements or alterations, plus a further 15% of
                  the costs the shall be borne by the Tenant who will pay the
                  same to the Landlord forthwith upon presentation of an account
                  of such expenses incurred by the Landlord as aforesaid.

Refuse            (j) That the Tenant will not use any outside garbage or other
                  containers or allow any ashes, refuse, garbage or other litter
                  or objectionable material to accumulate in or about the
                  premises, and will at all times keep the said premises in a
                  clean and ???? condition and shall immediately before the
                  termination of the term, wash the floors, windows, doors and
                  woodwork ???? premises, and further that it will not store, or
                  cause to be stored outside of the premises any of its
                  inventory, stock, in ???? or, raw materials.

Loading
and
Unloading         (k) That all loading and unloading of merchandise, supplies,
                  materials, garbage and all other chattels shall be effected
                  ???? through or by means of such doorways or corridors as the
                  Landlord shall designate, and shall be subject to all such
                  rules regulations as the landlord shall promulgate in
                  connection therewith from time to time.

Draperies         (l) That the Tenant will not place or ??? any drapes or other
                  material upon the exterior or interior of the windows in ???
                  premises, without first obtaining the prior written consent of
                  the Landlord, it being the intention of the Landlord, and the
                  Tenant hereby acknowledges and agrees, that all drapes used
                  by the tenants of the Building are to be of uniform material
                  style and are to be complimentary to each other.

Demised
Premises          (m) That whenever in this Lease reference is made to the
                  leased premises, the premises, or the demised premises, it
                  shall include all structures, improvements, equipment, systems
                  and erections in or upon the demised premises or any part
                  thereof from time to time.

Evidence
of Payment
by the Tenant     (n) That the Tenant shall from time to time at the request of
                  the Landlord produce to the Landlord satisfactory evidence of
                  the payment by the Tenant of all payments required to be made
                  by the Tenant under this Lease.

Adjustment
of Taxes          (o) That the taxes and local improvement rates and,
                  where necessary, all other charges payable by the Tenant
                  hereunder with respect of the first and last years of the Term
                  shall be adjusted between the Landlord and the Tenant
                  accordingly.

Tenant
Shall
Discharge
All Liens         (p) That the Tenant shall promptly pay all its contractor and
                  materialmen and shall do any and all things necessary to
                  minimize the possibilities of a lien attaching to the leased
                  premises or to any or part of the Building and should any such
                  lien be ???? or filed, the Tenant shall discharge the same
                  forthwith (after notice thereof is given to the Tenant) at the
                  Tenant's expense In the event the Tenant shall fail to cause
                  any such lien to be discharged, as aforesaid, then, in
                  addition to any other rights and remedy of the Landlord, the
                  landlord may, but is shall not be obligated, discharged same
                  by paying the amount claimed to be due into Court or directly
                  to any such lien claimant and the amount so paid by the
                  Landlord and all costs and expenses including solicitor's fees
                  ( on a solicitor and his client basis) incurred herein for the
                  discharge of such lien shall be due and payable by the Tenant
                  to the Landlord as additional rent on demand.

Fixtures
and
Removal
and Restoration
by Tenant         11. All alterations, decoration, additions and improvements
                  made by the Tenant or made by the Landlord on the Tenant's
                  behalf (other than the Tenant's trade fixtures) shall
                  immediately become the property of the Landlord without
                  compensation therefor to the Tenant. Such alterations,
                  decorations, additions or improvements shall not be removed
                  from the leased premises either during or at the expiration of
                  the Term or sooner determination of the Lease, except that:

                  (I) The Tenant may at the end of the Term, if not in default,
                  remove its trade fixtures;

                  (ii) The Tenant shall, at the end of the Term at its own cost
                  remove all alterations, decorations, additions or improvements
                  in or on the leased premises as the Landlord shall, at its
                  option, require to be removed; and

                  (iii) The Tenant may remove its trade fixtures at the end of
                  the Term and also during the Term in the usual normal course
                  of its business, or if such trade fixtures become excess for
                  the Tenant's purposes, or if the Tenant is substituting
                  therefor new and similar trade fixtures, provided the Tenant
                  is not in default and provided the Tenant first notifies the
                  Landlord thereof.

                   The Tenant shall, in the case of every such installation or
                  removal either during or at the end of the Term, make good any
                  damage caused to the leased premises or to the Building by the
                  installation or removal or any such alteration, decoration,
                  addition or improvements.

Re-Entry          12. Proviso for re-entry by the Landlord on non-payment or
                  rent or non-performance of covenants.

                  If the Landlord elects to re-enter, as herein provided, or if
                  it takes possession pursuant to legal proceedings or pursuant
                  to any notice provided for by law, it may either terminate
                  this Lease or it may from time to time without terminating
                  this lease make such alterations and repairs as may be
                  necessary, in order to relet the leased premises, or any part
                  thereof for such term or terms (which may be for a term or
                  terms extending beyond the Term of this Lease) and at such
                  rental or rentals and upon such other terms and conditions as
                  the Landlord in its sole discretion may deem advisable; upon
                  each such reletting all rental monies received by the Landlord
                  from such reletting shall be applied, first, to the payment of
                  any indebtedness other than rent ???? hereunder from the
                  Tenant to the Landlord; second, to the payment of any costs
                  and expenses of such reletting, including brokerage fees and
                  solicitors fees and of the costs of such alterations and
                  repairs; third, to the payment of all rentals due and unpaid
                  hereunder; and the residue, if any, shall be held by the
                  Landlord and applied in payment of future rent as the same as
                  the same may become due and payable hereunder. If such rentals
                  received from such reletting during any month shall be less
                  than that to be paid during that month by the Tenant
                  hereunder, the Tenant shall pay any such deficiency to the
                  Landlord. Such deficiency shall be calculated and paid
                  monthly. No such re-entry or taking possession of the leased
                  premises by the Landlord shall be construed as an election on
                  its part to terminate this Lease unless a written notice of
                  such intention be given to the Tenant. Notwithstanding any
                  such reletting without termination, the Landlord may at any
                  time thereafter elect to terminate this Lease for such
                  previous breach. Should the Landlord at any time terminate
                  this Lease for any breach, in addition to any other remedies
                  it may have, it may recover from the Tenant all damages it has
                  incurred or may incur by reason of such breach, including the
                  cost of recovering the leased premised, reasonable solicitor's
                  fees, and including the worth at the time of such termination
                  of the excess, if any, of the amount of rent and charges
                  equivalent to the rent reserved in this Lease for the
                  remainder of the stated Term over the then reasonable rental
                  value as determined by the Landlord for the remainder or the
                  stated Term, all of which amounts shall be immediately due and
                  payable from the Tenant to the Landlord.

Expenses
and
Renewal of
Chattels          13. (I) In case suit shall be brought for recovery of
                  possession of the leased premises, or, for the recovery of
                  rent or any other amounts due under the provisional of this
                  Lease, or, because of the breach of any other covenants herein
                  contained on the part of the Tenant to be kept or performed,
                  and a breach shall be established, the Tenant shall pay to the
                  Landlord all expenses incurred therefor, including a
                  reasonable solicitor's fee.

<PAGE>   8
              Follow same for thirty (30 days in the same manner as is provided
              for in The Landlord and Tenant Act (Ontario).

              14. If the Tenant shall fail to pay, when due, any amounts or
              charges required to be paid pursuant to this Lease, the Landlord,
              after giving 5 days' notice in writing, to the tenant may, but
              shall not be obligated to, pay all or any part of the same for the
              account of the Tenant. If the Tenant shall be obligated to, pay
              all or any part of the same than payment of rent or other sums
              required to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Lease), the
              Landlord may from time to time after the giving of such notice as
              it shall deem sufficient, (or no notice in the case of an
              emergency) having regard from time to time after the giving of
              such notice as it shall deem sufficient, (or no notice in the case
              of an emergency) having regard to the circumstances applicable,
              perform or cause to be performed any of such covenants or
              obligations or any part thereof, and for such purpose may do such
              things as may be required, including without limitation entering
              upon the premises and doing such things upon or in respect of the
              premises or any part thereof as the Landlord may reasonable
              consider requisite or necessary. All expenses incurred and
              expenditures made by or on behalf of the Landlord under this
              paragraph 14, plus a sum equal to 15% thereof shall be additional
              rent hereunder and shall be paid by the Tenant upon demand. The
              Landlord shall have no liability to the Tenant for any loss or
              damage resulting from any such action by the Landlord, and entry
              by the Landlord under the provisions of this paragraph 14 shall
              not constitute a breach of the covenant for quiet enjoyment or an
              eviction.

              15. If the Tenant at the expiration or earlier termination of this
              Lease shall be in default under any covenant or agreement
              contained herein, the Landlord shall have a lien on all
              stock-in-trade, inventory, fixtures, equipment and facilities of
              the Tenant as security against loss or damage resulting from any
              such default by the Tenant, and the said stock-in-trade,
              inventory, fixtures, equipment or facilities shall not be removed
              by the Tenant until such default is cured, or as otherwise
              directed by the Landlord.

              16. If the Tenant shall be in default in the payment of any
              amounts or charges required to be paid pursuant to the terms of
              this Lease, they shall, if not paid when due, be collectible as
              rent with the next installment of rent thereafter falling due
              hereunder, but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to suspend
              or delay the payment of any amount of money or charges at the time
              same becomes due and payable hereunder, or limit any other remedy
              of the Landlord. The Tenant covenants and agrees that the Landlord
              may at its option, apply any sums received from or due to the
              Tenant against any amounts due and payable hereunder in such
              manner as the Landlord, in its sole discretion sees fit.

              17. The Tenant acknowledges and agrees that it is intended that
              this Lease shall be a completely care-free net lease for the
              Landlord, and, except as expressly herein set out, that the
              Landlord shall not be responsible during the Term of the Lease for
              any costs, charges, expenses and outlays of any nature whatsoever
              arising from or relating to the leased premises or to the contents
              thereof, and the Tenant shall pay all charges, impositions, costs
              and expenses of every nature and kind relating to the leased
              premises, and the Tenant covenants with the Landlord accordingly.

              18. Upon the payment by the tenant of the rents herein provided
              and upon the observance and performance of all covenants, terms
              and conditions on the Tenant's part to be observed and performed,
              the Tenant shall peaceably and quietly hold and enjoy the leased
              premises for the Term hereby demised without hindrance or
              interruption by the Landlord, or any other person or persons
              lawfully claiming by, through or under the Landlord subject,
              nevertheless, to the terms and conditions of this Lease.

              19. The Landlord or its agents shall have the right to enter the
              demised premises at all times to examine the same, and to show
              them to prospective purchasers, lessees or mortgages and to make
              such repairs, alterations, improvements or additions to the leased
              premises or the Building as the Landlord may deem necessary or
              desirable, and the Landlord shall be allowed to take all material
              into and upon the leased premises which may be required therefor
              without the same constituting an eviction of the Tenant in whole
              or in part, and the rent received hereunder shall not abate
              while the said repairs, alterations, improvements or additions are
              being made due to loss or interruption of the business of the
              Tenant or otherwise, and the Landlord shall not be liable for any
              damage, injury or death caused to any person(s) or property of the
              tenant or others located on the leased premises as a result of
              such entry. During the six months prior to the expiration of the
              Term, the Landlord may exhibit the premises to prospective tenants
              or purchasers and place upon the leased premises the usual notices
              "To Let" or "For Sale" which notices the Tenant shall permit to
              remain thereon without molestation If the tenant shall not be
              personally present to which notices the Tenant shall permit to
              remain thereon without molestation If the Tenant shall not be
              personally present to open and permit an entry into the premises
              at any time when for any reason entry therein shall be necessary
              or permissible, the Landlord or its agents may enter toe same by a
              master key, or may forcibly enter the same, without rendering the
              Landlord or such agents liable therefor, and without in any manner
              effecting the obligations and covenants of this Lease. Nothing
              herein contained, however, shall be deemed or construed to impose
              upon the Landlord any obligation, responsibility or liability
              whatsoever for the care, maintenance or repair of the premises or
              any part thereof, except as otherwise herein specifically
              provided.

              20. The Tenant will not make any repairs, alterations,
              replacements decorations or improvements to any part of the leased
              premises without first obtaining the Landlord's prior written
              approval. The Tenant shall submit to the Landlord details of the
              proposed work, such indemnification against liens, costs, damages
              and expenses as the landlord shall require and evidence
              satisfactory to the Landlord that the Tenant has obtained, at its
              expense, all necessary consents, licenses and inspections from all
              governmental authorities having jurisdiction. All such repairs,
              replacements, alterations, decorations or improvements by the
              Tenant to the leased premises approved of by the Landlord should
              be at the sole costs of the Tenant, shall be performed by
              competent workmen in good and workmanlike manner and shall be
              subject to the reasonable supervision of the Landlord. Any such
              repairs, replacements, alterations, decorations or improvements
              made by the Tenant without the prior written consent of the
              Landlord, or, which are not in accordance with the drawings and
              specifications approved by the Landlord, as aforesaid, shall, if
              requested by the Landlord, be promptly removed by the tenant at
              its expense and the leased premises restored to their previous
              condition. Provided, notwithstanding anything herein contained, no
              repair, alteration, addition, or improvement to the leased
              premises by or on behalf of the Tenant shall be permitted which
              may weaken or endanger the structure or adversely affect the
              condition or operation of the leased premises or the Building or
              diminish the value thereof.

              21. Provided, and it is hereby expressly agreed, that if and
              whenever firing the Term the Building of which the demised
              premises forms a part shall be destroyed or damaged by fire,
              lightning or such other perils as are insured against by the
              Landlord, then and in every such event;

              (a) If the damage or destruction to the Building renders 75% or
              more of the Building wholly unfit for occupancy or it is
              impossible or unsafe to use and occupy it, or if in the opinion of
              the Landlord the Building is damages or destroyed to such a
              material extent or the damage or destruction is of such a nature
              that the Building must be or should be totally or partially
              demolished, whether to be reconstructed in whole or in part or
              not, the Landlord may at its option, terminate the lease by
              giving to the Tenant notice in writing of such termination, in
              which event this Lease and the Term hereby demised shall cease and
              be at an end as of the date of such destruction or damage, and the
              rent and all other payments for which the Tenant is liable under
              the terms of this Lease shall be appointed and paid in full to the
              date of such destruction or damage.

              (b) If the damage or destruction is such that the portion of the
              Building hereby demised is rendered wholly unfit for occupancy or
              it is impossible or unsafe to use and occupy it, and if in either
              event, the damage, in the opinion of the Landlord, to be given to
              Tenant within ten days of the happening of such damage or
              destruction, then either the Landlord or the Tenant may within 5
              days next succeeding the giving of the Landlord's opinion as
              aforesaid, terminate this Lease by giving to the other notice in
              writing of such termination, in which event this Lease and the
              Term hereby demised shall cease and be at an end as of the date of
              such destruction or damage and the rent and all other payments for
              which the Tenant is liable under the terms of this Lease shall be
              appointed and paid in full to the date of such destruction or
              damage in the event that neither Landlord or Tenant so terminate
              this Lease, then, the Landlord shall repair the portion of the
              Building hereby demised with all reasonable speed and the rent
              hereby reserved shall abate, to the extent of all Insurance
              recoveries received by the landlord, from the date of the
              happening of the damage until the damage shall be made good to the
              extent of enabling the Tenant to use and occupy the demised
              premises;

              (c) If the damage be such that the portion of the Building hereby
              demised is wholly unfit for occupancy or if it is impossible or
              unsafe to use or occupy it, but if in either event the damage, in
              the opinion of the Landlord, to be given to the Tenant within 10
              days from the happening of such damage can be repaired with
              reasonable diligence within 120 days from the happening of such
              damage, then the rent hereby reserved shall abate, to the extent
              of all insurance recoveries received by the Landlord, from the
              date of the happening of such damage until the damage shall be
              made good to the extent of enabling the Tenant to use and occupy
              the demised premises and the Landlord shall repair the damage with
              all reasonable speed.



                                       6
<PAGE>   9
                 (d) If in the opinion of the Landlord the damage in that
                 portion of the Building hereby demised can be made good as a
                 said, within one hundred and twenty days (120) of the happening
                 of such destruction or damage and the damage in that the
                 portion of the Building hereby denied is capable of being
                 partially used for the purposes for which it is her mixed, then
                 until such damage has been repaired the rent shall abase in the
                 proportion that the part of the portion of the ing hereby
                 demised rendered unfit for occupancy bears to the whole of the
                 said portion of the Building hereby demised the Landlord shall
                 repair the damage with all reasonable speed.

                 (e) In the event the Landlord shall elect to repair,
                 reconstruct or rebuild the Building of which the demised
                 premises a part in accordance with the provisions of this
                 paragraph 21, it is acknowledged and agreed by the Tenant that
                 the Landlord shall be entitled in use plans and specifications
                 and working drawings in connection therewith other than those
                 used or original construction of the Building.

                 (f) The decision of the Landlord's architect as to the time
                 within which the Building and/or the leased premises can or not
                 be repaired, the state of tenant ability of the leased premises
                 and/or the Building and as to the date on which the Landlord
                 work of repair is completed, shall be timed and binding on the
                 parties hereto.

ASSIGNMENT       22. The Landlord declares that it may assign its rights under
BY               this Lease to a lending Institution as collateral security loan
LANDLORD         to the Landlord and in the event that such an assignment is
                 given and executed by the Landlord and notification is given to
                 the Tenant by or on behalf of the Landlord it is expressly
                 agreed between the Landlord and the Tenant that the Lease shall
                 not be canceled or modified for any reason whatsoever except as
                 provided for, anticipated or permitted by the terms of this
                 Institution.

                 The Tenant covenants and agrees with the Landlord that it will,
                 if and whenever reasonably required by the Landlord's consent
                 to and become a party to any instrument relating to this Lease
                 which may be required by or on behalf of any purchase bank or
                 mortgages from time to time of the said premises provided
                 always that the rights of the Tenant as hereinbefore our shall
                 not be altered or varied by the terms of such instrument or
                 document.

LIMITATION       23. The terms "Landlord" as used in this Lease shall, so far as
OF LANDLORD'S    the covenants and obligations on the part of the Landlord
LIABILITY        concerned, be limited to mean and include only the owner or 
                 owners at the time in question of the Building and in the
                 circumstances, the then vendor or transferor, shall be
                 automatically freed and relieved, from and after the date of
                 transfer or circumstance, of all personal liability in respect
                 of the performance of any covenants or obligations on the part
                 of the Landlord contained in this Lease thereafter to be
                 performed, provided that:

                 (a) Any funds in the hands of such Landlord or the then vendor
                 or transferor at the time of such transfer, in which the tenant
                 has an interest, shall be turned over to the purchaser or
                 transferee and any amount then due and payable to the Tenant,
                 the Landlord or the then vendor or transferor under any
                 provision of this Lease shall be paid to the Tenant and,

                 (b) Upon any such transfer, the purchaser or transferee shall
                 be deemed to have assumed, subject to the limitations of
                 paragraph, all of the terms, covenants and conditions in the
                 Lease contained to be performed on the part of the Landlord
                 being intended hereby, that the covenants and obligations
                 contained in the Lease on the part of the Landlord shall, see
                 as aforesaid, be binding upon the Landlord, its successors
                 and assigns, only during and in respect of their respective of
                 ownership.

SIGNS            24. The Tenant will not paint, fix, display, or cause to be
                 painted, fixed or displayed, any sign, picture, advertisement
                 notice, lettering or designation on any part of the exterior or
                 the interior of the leased premises without, in each instance,
                 prior written approved of the Landlord. All signs executed by
                 the Tenant with the Landlord's approval, as aforesaid, shall be
                 nevertheless be of uniform size, lettering and location as the
                 signs of all other tenants in the Building. Any such signs or
                 other advertising material, as aforesaid, shall be removed by
                 the Tenant at the termination of this Lease, and the Tenant
                 shall promise to repair any and all damages caused by such
                 removal. Provided, if the Landlord shall, in its sole
                 discretion, desire to establish uniform sign policy to the
                 tenants of The Building, then, the Tenant acknowledges and
                 agrees that the Landlord, at its shall be entitled to erect all
                 signs or other advertising material in or on the Building
                 advertising the respective tenants' business operations therein
                 including the tenant named herein. The cost of such sign and
                 the installation and erection thereof be borne entirely by the
                 Tenant and shall be payable on demand.

WAIVER OF        25. The waiver by the Landlord of any breach of any term,
BREACH           covenant or condition herein contained shall not be deemed be
                 a waiver of such term, covenant or condition or any subsequent
                 breech of the same or any other term, covenant or condition
                 herein contained. The subsequent acceptance of rent hereunder
                 by the Landlord shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any
                 preceding breach by the Tenant of any term, covenant or
                 condition of this Lease, regardless of the Landlord's knowledge
                 of preceding breach at the time of acceptance of such rent. No
                 covenant, term or condition of this Lease shall be deemed to be
                 been waived by the Landlord unless such waiver is in writing
                 and signed by the Landlord.

NOTICES          26. Any notice, request or demand herein provided for or given
                 hereunder if given by the Tenant to the Landlord shall
                 sufficiently given if mailed by registered mail in the City of
                 Toronto, Ontario postage prepaid, addressed to the Landlord 25
                 IMPERIAL STREET, STE. #510, TORONTO ONTARIO M.P. 1B9.

                 Any notice herein provided for or given hereunder if given by
                 Landlord to Tenant shall be sufficiently given if delivered or
                 mailed as aforesaid addressed to Tenant at the demised
                 premises.

                 Any notice mailed as aforesaid shall be conclusively deemed to
                 have been given on the next business day following day on which
                 such notice is mailed as aforesaid. Either the Landlord or
                 Tenant may at any time give notice in writing to other of any
                 change of address of the party giving such notice and from and
                 after the giving of such notice the address there specified
                 shall be deemed to be the address of such party for the giving
                 of such notices thereafter.

STATUS           27. Within ten (10) days after written request therefor by the
STATEMENT        Landlord, or in the event that upon any sale, assignment, 
                 lease, or mortgage of the leased premises or the lands
                 thereunder, by the Landlord, a status statement shall be
                 required from the Tenant, the Tenant hereby agrees to deliver
                 in the form supplied by the Landlord a certificate to any
                 proposed mortgages or purchaser or to the Landlord, using (if
                 such be the case) that:

                 (a) This Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect for
                 if there have been any modifications, that this Lease is in
                 full force and effect as modified and identify the modification
                 agreements, if any), or if this Lease is not in full force and
                 effect the certificate shall to state:

                 (b) The date of the commencement of the Term;


                 (c) The date to which the rent has been paid under this Lease;
                 and,

                 (d) Whether or not there is any existing default by the Tenant
                 in the payment of any rent or other sum of money under this
                 Lease, and whether or not there is any other existing default
                 by either party under this Lease with respect to which a of
                 default has been served, and if there is any such default,
                 specifying the nature and extent thereof.

SUBORDINATION    28. This Lease and all of the rights of the Tenant hereunder
                 are, and shall at all times, be subject and subordinate to and
                 all mortgages, trust deeds or the charge or lien resulting from
                 any other method of financing or refinancing or any renewals or
                 extensions thereof, now or hereafter in force against the
                 lands, buildings and Improvements comprising the Building upon
                 the request of the Landlord, the Tenant will subordinate this
                 Lease and all of its rights hereunder in such form or as the
                 Landlord may require to any such mortgage or mortgages, trust
                 deeds or the charge or lien resulting from any other method of
                 financing or refinancing and to all advances made or hereafter
                 to be made upon the security thereof, and will, requested,
                 attorn to the holder thereof. No subordination by the Tenant
                 shall have the effect of permitting the holder of mortgage or
                 charge or other security to disturb the occupation and
                 possession by the Tenant of the leased premises so long as the
                 Tenant shall perform all of the terms, covenants, conditions,
                 agreements and provisions contained in this Lease and so long
                 as the Tenant executes contemporaneously, a document of
                 attornment required by any such mortgages or other
                 encumbrances.

PARKING          29. Subject to the provisions hereinafter contained, the Tenant
                 shall have the right, at all times, with others entitled
                 thereof to the use of the common driveways and parking areas
                 appurtenant thereto, as more particularly shown on the sketch
                 annex hereto and marked Schedule "A", provided that the
                 Landlord shall have the right at all times:

<PAGE>   10
                 (a) In respect of the common driveways and parking areas,
                 including without limitation, the right to change the location
                 layout of the parking areas; and,

                 (b) To designate such portion or portions of the parking area
                 for utilization by tenants other than the Tenant here time to
                 time.

                 Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the
                 Landlord shall be entitled to do and perform all changes,
                 improvements, or alterations in and to the common areas and
                 facilities, including without limitation , the areas as in the
                 use of good business judgment, the Landlord shall from time to
                 time determine to be advisable with and improve the use thereof
                 by the Tenant and other tenants of the Building, and their
                 respective agents, employees and customers.

IMPOSSIBILITY    30. It is understood and agreed that whenever and to the extent
OF               that the Landlord or the Tenant shall be unable to fulfill or
PERFORMANCE      shall laid or restricted in the fulfillment of any obligation

                 hereunder in respect of the supply or provision of any service
                 or the doing of any work or the making of any repairs by reason
                 of being unable to obtain the material, goods, equipment,
                 service or labour required to enable it to fulfill such
                 obligation, or by reason of any statute, law, order in council,
                 or a stipulation or Order passed or made pursuant thereto or by
                 reason of the Order or Direction of any administrator, comp
                 board, governmental department or officer, or other authority,
                 or by reason of not being able to obtain any permissible
                 authority required thereby, or by reason of any other cause
                 beyond its control, whether of there foregoing character or
                 Landlord or the Tenant, as the case may be, shall be relieved
                 from the fulfillment of such obligation, and the other party
                 shall not be entitled to any compensation for any convenience,
                 nuisance or discomfort thereby occasioned.

MISCELLANEOUS    31. The Landlord and tenant agree:
SUCCESSORS  
AND ASSIGNS      (a) All rights and liabilities herein given to, or imposed 
                 upon, the respective parties hereto shall extend to and bind
                 the general respective permitted heirs, executors,
                 administrators, successors and assigns of the said parties; and
                 if there shall be more than one Tenant, they shall be bound
                 jointly and severely by the terms, covenants and agreements
                 herein. No rights, however shall enure to the benefit of any
                 assignee of the Tenant unless the assignment to such assignee
                 has been approved by the lord in writing as provided in
                 paragraph 8 (j) hereof.

ACCORD AND       (b) No payment by the tenant or receipt by the Landlord of a 
SATISFACTION     lesser amount than the monthly rent herein stipulated be 
                 deemed to be other than on account of the earliest stipulated
                 rent, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any or any
                 letter accompanying any cheque or payment as rent be deemed an
                 accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may such cheque or
                 payment without prejudice to the Landlord's right to recover
                 the balance of such rent or pursue any remedy in this Lease
                 provided.

ENTIRE           (c) This Lease and the Schedules and Riders, if any, attached
AGREEMENT        hereto and forming a part hereof, together with the and 
                 regulations promulgated by the Landlord, from time to time, set
                 forth all the covenants, promises, agreements, conditions and
                 understandings between the landlord and the Tenant concerning
                 the leased premises and there are no covenants, promised in
                 otherwise provided, no subsequent alteration, amendment, charge
                 or addition to this Lease shall be binding upon the Landlord or
                 the Tenant unless in writing and signed by each of them.

CAPTIONS AND     (d) The captions, section numbers, article numbers, and Index
SECTION          appearing in this Lease are inserted only as a matter of
NUMBERS          convenience and in no way define, limit, construe or describe
                 nor in any way affect this Lease.

EXTENDED         (e) The word "Tenant" shall be deemed to include the word
MEANINGS         "lessee" and shall mean each and every person or party
                 mentioned as a Tenant herein, be the same one or more; and if
                 there shall be more than one Tenant herein, be the same one or
                 more; and if there shall be more than one Tenant, any notice
                 required or omitted by the terms of this Lease may be given by
                 or to any one thereof, and shall have the same force and effect
                 as if given or to all thereof. Any reference to "Tenant" shall
                 include, where the context allows, the servants, employees,
                 agents, invitees of the Tenant and all others over whom the
                 Tenant exercises control. Wherever the word Landlord is used in
                 this Lease it shall be deemed to include the word "lessor" and
                 to include the Landlord and its duly authorized
                 representatives. The "hereof", herein", hereunder", and similar
                 expressions used in any section or subsection relate to the
                 whole of this Lease and not to that section or that subsection
                 only, unless otherwise expressly provided.

                 The use of the neuter singular pronoun to refer to the Landlord
                 or the Tenant shall be deemed a proper reference though the
                 Landlord or the Tenant may be an individual, a partnership, a
                 corporation, or a group of two or more individuals or
                 corporations. The necessary grammatical changes required to
                 make the provisions of this Lease apply in the plural where
                 there is more than one Landlord or Tenant and to either
                 corporations, associations, partnerships, or individuals, male
                 or females, shall in all instances be assumed as though in each
                 case fully expressed.

PARTIAL          (f) In any term, covenant or condition of this Lease or the
INVALIDITY       application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, to 
                 extent, be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this
                 Lease, or the application of such term, covenant or condition
                 to sons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
                 held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby
                 and term, covenant or condition of this Lease shall be valid
                 and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

REGISTRATION     (g) The Tenant shall not register this Lease without the
                 written consent of the Landlord. However, upon the request
                 either party hereto, the other party shall join in the
                 execution of a memorandum or so-called "short form" of this
                 Lease the purposes of registration. Said memorandum or short
                 form of this Lease shall only describe the parties, the leased
                 premises and the Term of this Lease, and shall be prepared by
                 the Tenant's solicitors, shall be subject to the approval of
                 the Landlord and its solicitors and shall be registered at the
                 Tenant's expense.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   11
EXPROPRIATION    (h) (I) If the Premises or any part thereof shall be
                 expropriated by any competent authority then, including the
                 case of a sale by the Landlord to an authority with the power
                 to expropriate, then, -

                 A. Landlord and tenant shall co-operate with each other so that
                 Tenant may receive such award to which it is entitled in law
                 for relocation costs, business interruption, and the in law for
                 relocation costs, business interruption, and the value of
                 leasehold improvements paid for by Tenant and the amortized
                 portion, if any, of leasehold improvements paid for by
                 Landlord, and so that Landlord may receive the maximum award to
                 which it may be entitled in law for all other compensation
                 arising fro such expropriation including, without limitation,
                 all compensation for the value of Tenant's leasehold interest
                 in the Premises;

                 B. except for such compensation to which Tenant shall be
                 entitled as aforesaid, all Tenant's other rights in respect of
                 such expropriation are hereby assigned to Landlord, and within
                 ten (10) days after request by Landlord Tenant shall execute
                 such further documents as requested by Landlord to give effect
                 to such assignment, failing which Landlord is hereby
                 irrevocably appointed, pursuant to the Powers of Attorney Act
                 (Ontario) . . . . Tenant's attorney to do so on behalf of
                 Tenant and in its name; and

                 C. Landlord shall have the option, to be exercised by written
                 notice to Tenant, to terminate this Lease, effective on the
                 date the expropriating authority takes possession of the whole
                 or any portion of the Premises.

                 (ii) If the whole or any part of the Project shall be
                 expropriated, then subject to the foregoing provisions
                 respecting expropriation of the Premises;

                 A. All compensation resulting from such expropriation shall be
                 the absolute property of Landlord and all of Tenant's rights,
                 if any, to any such compensation are hereby assigned to
                 Landlord and within ten (10) days after request by Landlord
                 Tenant shall execute such further documents as requested by
                 Landlord to give effect to such assignment, failing which
                 Landlord is hereby irrevocably appointed, pursuant to the
                 Powers of Attorney Act (Ontario), Tenant's attorney to do so on
                 behalf of Tenant and in its name; and

                 B. if the expropriation of part of the Project is such as to
                 render undesirable, in Landlord's reasonable opinion, the
                 continuing operation of the portion of the Project in which the
                 Premises are situate, Landlord shall have the right to
                 terminate this Lease as of the date the expropriating authority
                 takes possession of all or any portion of the Project.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   12
GOVERNING        (h) This Lease shall be construed and governed by the
LAW              Province of Ontario.

TIME OF          (i) Time shall be of the essence of this Lease and of THE
part hereof.     ESSENCE every

POST-DATED       (j) The Tenant hereby covenants and agrees to deliver to the
CHEQUES          Landlord a series of post-dated cheques for the aforesaid rent
                 and other payments herein reserved for the balance of the year
                 and thereafter on or before December 15th in each year for
                 those payments falling due during the following year; it being
                 hereby agreed and understood that the acceptance of such
                 cheques by the Landlord is only to facilitate collection of the
                 said payments and in no way shall be deemed to derogate any
                 rights given to the Landlord hereunder, nor be pleaded as an
                 estoppel to any such rights.


                            IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have duly
                 executed these presents this 11th day of August, 1995.
 


                                                 GEARY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
in the presence of                 )
                                   )
                                   )
                                   )  per: /s/ Henry G. Goodman
                                   )      ---------------------------------
                                   )       Henry G. Goodman, President
                                   )
                                   )  per:
                                   )      ---------------------------------
                                   )  LESSOR



                            IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have duly
              executed these presents this ---- day of -------, 19--.

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
in the presence of

                                                 IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD.
                                   )
                                   )  per: /s/ Bernd Esgen, Vice President
                                   )      ---------------------------------
                                   )       
                                   )
                                   )  per:
                                   )      ---------------------------------
                                      LESSEE


<PAGE>   13
1090 AGROWOOD DRIVE, MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO





                                   [DIAGRAM]


<PAGE>   14
                                  SCHEDULE "B"

                              RULES AND REGULATIONS


1.       All garbage and refuse of the Tenant shall be kept inside the demised
         premises in the kind of containers specified by the Landlord, and shall
         be prepared and placed for collection in the manner and at the times
         and places specified by the Landlord. If the Landlord shall provide or
         designate a service for picking up refuse and garbage, the tenant shall
         use same at the Tenant's cost. The Tenant shall pay the reasonable cost
         of removal of any of the tenant's refuse, garbage and other waste
         material.

2.       No pallets or other materials belonging to the Tenant shall be stored
         outside at any time. Such pallets and materials will be removed by the
         Landlord at the sole expense of the Tenant.

3.       The Tenant and its employees shall not in any way interfere with or
         annoy any other Tenant or occupant of the building in which the demised
         premises are situated or those having business with it.

4.       No person shall use the demised premises or any part thereof for
         sleeping quarters and/or for residential apartment or for any immoral
         or unlawful purpose.

5.       No vehicles are to be parked in the front or back of the building after
         normal working hours. Such parking shall be allowed only if the owner
         of the vehicle is in its premises.

6.       There shall be no animals of any kind in or on the said premises.
<PAGE>   15
         Exhibit 1 to Industrial Multiple Tenancy Lease ("Lease") made
         the 14th day of June, 1995 between GEARY INVESTMENTS
         LIMITED "IN TRUST" ("Landlord") AND IKS CANADIAN KNIFE
         & SAW LTD. ("Tenant")
         --------------------------------------------------------------

         This Exhibit 1 contains amendments to certain provisions of the
aforementioned Lease and form part of the Lease. In the event of any
inconsistency between the provisions of the Lease and this Exhibit, the
provisions of this Exhibit shall take precedence and govern.

(a)      Paragraph 8(e) of the Lease is amended by adding the following
         additional sentence:

         "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Tenant shall not be required to
         effect repairs of a structural nature unless such repairs are
         occasioned by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Tenant".

(b)      Paragraph 8(f) of the Lease is amended as follows:

         (i)      The first sentence is deleted and replaced by the following:

                  "That it shall be lawful for the Landlord and its agent(s) at
                  all reasonable times during the Term to enter the demised
                  premises to inspect the condition thereof upon 24 hours'
                  notice to the Tenant except in the case of an emergency in
                  which case short notice or no prior notice shall be necessary
                  provided the Tenant is advised of any such entry as soon as
                  practicable thereafter."

         (ii)     The second to last sentence of paragraph 8(f) of the Lease is
                  deleted and replaced by the following:

                  "Any repairs or replacements called for by such inspections
                  for which the Tenant is responsible shall be carried out by
                  the Tenant at its own expense and satisfactory evidence of
                  same shall be forwarded to the Landlord. If the
                  recommendations of the aforementioned service company as to
                  proper maintenance and operation of the heating system and
                  other mechanical apparatus have been followed by the Tenant,
                  the Tenant shall not be required to replace said system or
                  equipment, should such action become necessary, during the
                  term hereof or upon termination of this lease."

         (iii)    The following additional sentence is added to paragraph 8(f)
                  of the Lease:

                  "Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph 8, the
                  Landlord shall be liable to the Tenant for any loss, costs or
                  damage suffered or incurred by the Tenant as a result of the
                  Landlord's negligence or wilful misconduct. The Tenant's
                  liability with respect
<PAGE>   16
                  to the heating equipment shall be as set out above and in
                  paragraph 8(h) below.

(c)      Paragraph 8(h) of the Lease is amended to provide that the Tenant's
         obligation to replace heating equipment shall be as set out in
         paragraph 8(f) of the Lease.

(d)      Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in paragraphs 10(c) and
         14 of the Lease, the Landlord shall be liable to the Tenant for any
         loss, costs or damage suffered or incurred by the Tenant as a result of
         the Landlord's negligence or wilful misconduct.

(e)      Paragraph 19 of the Lease is amended by adding the words "upon
         reasonable prior notice" after the word "premises" in line 1.

(f)      Not withstanding any provision of paragraph 19 of the Lease to the
         contrary, if, as a result of making any repairs, alterations,
         improvements or additions the Tenant is only able to use a portion of
         the demised premises for any period of time, the rent payable
         hereunder shall abate in substantially the same manner as provided for
         in paragraph 21(d) of the Lease during such period.

(g)      Page 2, Section 5 (Deposit) the following is added at the end of
         Section 5. 

"Upon termination of this lease, and upon compliance by the Tenant with the
covenants herein, the balance of the deposit shall be returned to the tenant."



<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.11



APPEARED:

        GESTION W. & L. CHOINIERE INC., a corporation legally constituted under
Part I a of the Quebec Companies Act, by certificate of Constitution dated the
eighteen of September, 1990 _________________ represented by M. LOUIS CHOINIERE,
secretary, duly authorized in virtue of By-Law Number 3 of the said Company
dated the first day of October 1992 ____________________ a copy of which
Resolution remains annexed to these presents;

                       Hereinafter called the "LANDLORD",

                               OF THE FIRST PART;

        AND

        IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD, a corporation legally constituted under
the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) by certificate of continuance and
articles dated June 10, 1987 represented by BERND ESGEN duly authorized by a
Resolution of its Board of Directors dated the first day of March 1992 
__________________  a copy of which Resolution remains annexed to these 
presents;

                        Hereinafter called the "TENANT",

                              OF THE SECOND PART;

WITNESSETH:

       1. DEMISE

        That in consideration of the rents, covenants and agreements
hereinafter reserved and contained on the part of the Tenant to be paid,
observed and performed, the Landlord does hereby demise lease unto the Tenant
that designated portion of the building erected upon the lands and premises
more particularly described in Schedule "A" annexed hereto and being known as
645 Leon Harmel Street, Granby, P.Q. (hereinafter called the "Building"),
containing an area of approximately nineteen thousand two hundred square feet
(19,200 sq. ft.).

<PAGE>   2
         The area of the Leased Premises means the area expressed in square feet
of all floors in the Leased Premises measured from the exterior face of all
exterior walls, doors, and windows, and from the center line of all interior
walls separating the Leased Premises from adjacent premises.

         The Tenant shall have the right in common with others entitled thereto
to use the driveways and parking areas appurtenant to the Building, provided the
Landlord shall have the right from time to time to make such changes and
improvements or alterations as the Landlord may decide in respect of the common
outside areas, including the right to change the location and layout of the
parking areas. All common outside areas shall be subject to this lease and the
reasonable rules and regulations made from time to time by the Landlord.

         2. TERMS

         To have and to hold the Leased Premises for and during the term of
three (3) years to be computed from the first day of March, one thousand nine
hundred and ninety-two (1992) and from thenceforth next ensuing and fully
completed and ended as the last day of February one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-five (1995).

         3. RENT

         Yielding and paying therefor yearly and every year during the term
hereby granted without any deduction whatsoever an annual minimum rent of:

         a) for the first year, an annual rent of sixty-six thousand seven
hundred and sixty-eight dollars ($66,768.00), payable in equal consecutive
monthly instalments of five thousand five hundred and sixty-four dollars
($5,564.00) each;

         b) for the second year, an annual rent of sixty-nine thousand six
hundred and forty-eight dollars ($69,648.00) payable in equal consecutive
monthly instalments of five thousand eight hundred and four dollars ($5,804.00)
each;

         c) for the third year, an annual rent of seventy-two thousand five
hundred and twenty-eight dollars ($72,528.00) payable in equal consecutive
monthly instalments of six thousand and forty-four dollars ($6,044.00) each;
<PAGE>   3
         Each instalment will be paid on the first day of each month in each
year during the term hereby granted, together with additional rent hereinafter
reserved. The Tenant shall pay also monthly G.S.T. and all Q.S.T. on those
monthly instalments.


                                     OPTION

         The Landlord gives to the Tenant the option to renew, for an additional
term of three years beginning the first day of March one thousand nine hundred
and ninety-five (1995), the present lease at terms and conditions to be
discussed between the parties, provided the Tenant gives at least six months
notice prior to the last day of February one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-five (1995). If by February 28, 1995 the parties do not agree to such
terms and conditions, the present lease will cease as mentioned hereinabove.

         4.       USE OF PREMISES

         The Tenant shall use and occupy the Leased Premises only for general
offices and industrial purposes, including the manufacture of saw bits and for
no other purpose; provided the Tenant in the use and occupation of the Leased
Premises and in the prosecution or conduct of any business therein, shall
comply with all requirements of all laws, orders, ordinances, rules and
regulations of any Federal, provincial or Municipal authorities and with any
direction or certificate of occupancy issued pursuant to any law by any public
officer or officiers. The Tenant covenants that it will not use or permit to be
used any part of the Leased Premises for any dangerous, noxious or offensive
trade or business, and will not cause or maintain any nuisance in, at or on the
Leased Premises, or cause or permit the Leased Premises to be used for the
purpose of any bankrupt, liquidation or auction sale. The Landlord understands
and agrees that the manufacture of saw bits gives rise to elevated noise levels.
Provided that the noise level respects all the requirements of Municipal and
other governmental authorities.

         If such noise levels contravene such governmental requirements, the
Tenant may either (a) arrange, on terms satisfactory to it, to sound proof the
Demised Premises so that such governmental requirements are satisfied or (b)
terminate this Lease by giving the Landlord notice in writing of such
termination in which event this Lease and the term hereby demised shall cease
and be at an end as of the date of such notice and the rent and all
<PAGE>   4
other payments for which the Tenant is liable under the terms of this Lease
shall be apportioned and paid in full to the date of such termination.

         5. PAYMENT

         All payments required to be made by the Tenant under or in respect of
this lease shall be made to the Landlord at the Landlord's head office at
Granby, P.O., 982 Roger Street (J2G 3A8) or to such agent or agents of the
Landlord or at such other place as the Landlord shall hereafter from time to
time direct in writing to the Tenant.

         6. TENANT'S COVENANTS

         The Tenant covenants and agrees to and with the Landlord as follows:

         a) To pay rent as aforesaid;

         b) TAXES

         Tenant shall pay to Landlord, on demand, as additional rent, its
proportionate share of all insurance and all municipal and school assessments,
payable for the Building and the land hereinabove mentioned, all business taxes,
if any, from time to time payable by Landlord (or by any corporation that may
provide the same) in respect of the parking areas, entrances and exits,
pedestrian walkways, roadways, service areas, or any part thereof, from time to
time. Tenant shall have the right to inspect Landlord's records pertaining to
such business taxes, municipal and school assessments only; the Tenant will only
pay its proportionate share based on its space occupancy which is established
between the parties at .26843. That proportionate share was established by
dividing the rentable area hereinabove mentioned (19,200 sq. ft.) by the total
space of the building which is of 71,527 total sq. ft. This additional rent for
taxes or insurance will be payable three times a year, thirty (30) days after
the Landlord sends a bill for it to the Tenant.

         c) TENANT'S TAXES

         Tenant shall pay, in each and every year during the term and discharge
within twenty (20) days after same shall become due and payable, all taxes,
rates, duties, and assessments and other charges that may be levied, rated,
charged or assessed against or in respect of all improvements, equipment and
facilities of the Tenant on or in the Demised Premises (whether installed by the
Tenant or by the Landlord on behalf of the Tenant) and every
<PAGE>   5
tax and licence fee in respect of any and every business carried on thereon or
therein in respect of the use or occupancy thereof by the Tenant (and every
subtenant or licensee), whether such taxes, rates, duties, assessments and
licence fees are charged by any municipal, parliamentary, school or other body
during the term hereby demised, and will indemnify and keep indemnified the
Landlord from and against payment of all loss, costs, charges and expenses
occasioned by, or arising from any and all such taxes, rates, duties,
assessments, licence fees and any and all taxes which may in future be levied in
lieu of such taxes; and any such loss, costs, charges and expenses suffered by
the Landlord may be collected by the Landlord as rent with all rights of
distress and otherwise as reserved to the Landlord in respect of rent in
arrears. The Tenant further covenants and agrees that upon written request of
the Landlord, the Tenant will properly deliver to it for inspection receipts for
payment of all taxes, rates, duties, assessments and other charges in respect of
all improvements, equipment and facilities of the Tenant on or in the Demised
Premises which were due and payable up to one month prior to such request, and
in any event will furnish to the Landlord, if requested by the Landlord,
evidence of payments satisfactory to the Landlord before the first of April of
and in each year covering payments for the preceding year. If the Tenant or any
subtenant or licensee of the Tenant shall elect to have the demised premises or
any part thereof assessed for separate school taxes, the Tenant shall pay to the
Landlord, as additional rent, so soon as the amount of the separate school taxes
are ascertained, any amount by which the amount of the separate school taxes
exceed the amount which would have been payable for school taxes had such
election not been made.

         d) UTILITIES

         Tenant shall pay as the same become due respectively all charges for
public and private utilities, including without limitation water, gas,
electrical power or energy, steam or hot water used upon or in respect of the
Demised Premises and for fittings, machines, apparatus, meters or other things
leased in respect thereof, and for all work or services performed by any
corporation or commission in connection with such utilities. In the same way the
Tenant will have to arrange and pay for the snow removal for his part of the
Demised Premises.
<PAGE>   6
         e) APPEAL

         Tenant shall have the right to contest, by appropriate legal
proceedings, at its own expense and so long as the Landlord is not involved in
any cost, loss or penalty whatsoever, the validity of any tax, or other charges
referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) hereof.

         f) REPAIRS

         Tenant, at its own expense, shall maintain and keep the Demised
Premises and every part thereof in good order and condition and promptly make
all needed repairs and replacements of a non structural nature including, but
not limited to, all fixtures, machinery and equipment which are the property of
the Landlord and contained in the Demises Premises (reasonable wear and tear,
and damage by fire, lightning and tempest only excepted) and, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Tenant shall keep the Demised Premises well
painted, clean and in such condition as careful owner would do.

         g) ENTRY TO VIEW STATE OF REPAIR

         That it shall be lawful for the Landlord and its agents, at all
reasonable times during the said term on prior notice to the Tenant, to enter
the Demised Premises to inspect the condition thereof. Where an inspection
reveals repairs are necessary, the Landlord shall give to the Tenant notice in
writing and thereupon the Tenant will, within sixty (60) days from the date of
delivery of the notice, make the necessary repairs in a good and workmanlike
manner and at its own expense.

         h) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

         That it will promptly comply with all requirements of all applicable
statutes, laws, by-laws, rules, regulations, ordinances and orders from time to
time in force during the term hereof, whether municipal, parliamentary or
otherwise, including all lawful requirements of the local Board of Health,
Police or Fire Departments and Municipal authorities, and with every applicable
regulation, order and requirement of the Canadian Fire Underwriters'
Association, or any body having a similar function, or of any liability or fire
insurance company by which the Landlord and Tenant of either of them may be
insured at any time during the term hereof.
<PAGE>   7
         i) LEAVE PREMISES IN GOOD REPAIR

         And further, that the Tenant will, at the expiration or sooner
determination of the said term, peaceably surrender and yield up unto the
Landlord the said premises hereby demised with the appurtenances, together with
all buildings or erections which at any time during the said term shall be made
therein or thereon, in good and substantial repair and condition, reasonable
wear and tear and damage by fire, lightning and tempest only excepted.

         j) HEATING

         To heat or refrigerate at his own expense from heating equipment
originally supplied by the Landlord, the Demised Premises and their contents
from damage by cold or frost, and to operate, maintain and repair if necessary,
at its own expense, the said heating or refrigerating equipment.

         k) ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING

         That it will not assign, sublet or part with possession of the demised
premises or any part thereof, or share the occupation of the demised premises or
any part thereof, without the Landlord's written consent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld; provided that no assignment, subletting, licencing
or parting with possession of the demised premises shall in any way release the
Tenant, or any Guarantor hereof, from this or their obligations under the terms
of this Lease.

         l) NUISANCE

         That it will not do or omit or permit to be done or omitted upon or
about the demised premises anything which shall be or result in a nuisance or
menace to the Landlord or other tenants (if so) of the building of which the
demised premises form a part.

         m) INSURANCE

         The Tenant shall pay as additional rent all insurance which may be
reasonably required by the landlord and especially fire and hazard insurance for
'valeur de replacement'. The Tenant covenants and agrees that in the event the
Tenant's use and occupation of the demised premises, whether or not the Landlord
has consented to the same, causes any increase in premiums for fire and extended
coverage insurance, rental, boiler, casualty and other types of insurance
carried by the
<PAGE>   8
Landlord from time to time on the building of which the demised premises form a
part, above the rate for the least hazardous type of occupancy legally permitted
in the Demised Premises, the Tenant shall pay the additional premium on the
policies aforementioned caused by reason thereof. In such event, the Tenant
shall also pay any additional premium on the rent insurance policies that may be
carried by the Landlord for the Landlord's protection against rent lost through
fire or other casualty.

          If notice of cancellation shall be given respecting any insurance
policy or any insurance policy on the said building or any part thereof shall be
cancelled or refused to be renewed by an insurer by reason of the use or
occupation of the demised premises by the Tenant whether or not the Landlord has
consented to such use and occupation, the Tenant shall forthwith remedy or
rectify such use or occupation upon being requested to do so in writing by the
Landlord, and if the Tenant shall fail to do so forthwith, the Landlord may, at
its option, determine this Lease forthwith by leaving upon the demised premises
notice in writing of termination and thereupon rent and any other payment for
which the Tenant is liable under this Lease shall be apportioned and paid up in
full to the date of such determination of the Lease, and the Tenant shall
immediately deliver up vacant possession of the said premises to the Landlord.

          ADDITIONAL PREMIUMS

          Bills for additional premiums as aforementioned shall be rendered by
the Landlord to the Tenant at such times as the Landlord may elect, and shall be
due from and payable by the Tenant when rendered, and the amount thereof shall
be deemed to be and paid as additional rent.

          TENANT'S LIABILITY INSURANCE

          And the Tenant will provide the Landlord with a certificate of
liability insurance covering the Tenant in respect of the demised premises and
its operation therein to the extent of not less than $3,000,000.00 inclusive of
all injuries or death to persons and damage to property of others arising from
any one occurrence.

          DAMAGE TO LEASED PREMISES

          In the event of any damage to the leased premises by any cause, to
give notice in writing to the Landlord of such damage forthwith upon the same
becoming known to the Tenant.
<PAGE>   9
          7. LANDLORD'S COVENANTS

          The Landlord covenants and agrees to and with the Tenant as follows:

          a)   For quiet enjoyment.

          b)   That the Landlord has in it good right, full power and absolute
authority to let the demised premises with their appurtenances according to the
true intent of this indenture.

          8.   SEIZURE AND BANKRUPTCY

          It is hereby expressly agreed that, in case, without the written
consent of the Landlord, the demised premises shall become and remain vacant or
not used for a period of thirty (30) days while the same are suitable for use by
the Tenant, or be used by any other person than the Tenant, or in case the term
hereby granted or any of the goods and chattels of the Tenant shall be seized by
any creditor of the Tenant, or if the Tenant do something without complying with
the Civil Code of the Province of Quebec, or become bankrupt or insolvent, or
take the benefit of any Act now or hereafter in force for bankrupt or insolvent
debtors or any Order shall be made for the winding up of the Tenant, then and in
every such case the current month's rent shall immediately cease and the said
term shall immediately become forfeited and void, in which event the Landlord
may re-enter and take possession of the demised premises.

          9.   NO EXCEPTIONS FOR DISTRESS

          It is hereby expressly agreed that notwithstanding the benefit of any
present or future Statute taking away or limiting the Landlord's right of
distress none of the goods and chattels of the Tenant on the demised premises at
any time during the said term shall be exempt from levy by distress for rent in
arrears accordingly with the laws of the Province of Quebec.

          10.  PUBLIC LIABILITY

          It is hereby expressly agreed that the Landlord shall not in any event
whatsoever be liable or responsible in any way for any personal injury or death
that may be suffered or sustained by the Tenant or any employee of the Tenant or
any other person who may be upon the demised premises or for any loss or damage
or injury to any property belonging to the Tenant or to its employees or to any
other person while such property is on the demised premised and, in particular
(but without
<PAGE>   10
limiting the generality of the foregoing), the Landlord shall not be liable for
any damage to any such property caused by steam, water, rain or snow which may
leak into, issue or flow from any part of the said building or adjoining
premises or from the water, steam, sprinkler or drainage pipes or plumbing works
of the same or from any other place or quarter or for any damage caused by or
attributable to the condition or arrangement of any electrical or other wiring
or for any damage by anything done or omitted to be done by any tenant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Landlord will be liable for loss, damage,
injury or expenses that are caused by the wilful misconduct or negligence of the
Landlord or by persons for whom the Landlord is responsible.

          11.  INDEMNIFICATION OF LANDLORD

          It is hereby expressly agreed that the Tenant will indemnify and save
harmless the Landlord from and against any and all liabilities, fines, suits,
claims, demands, costs and actions of any kind or nature whatsoever to which the
Landlord shall or may become liable for, or suffer by reason of any breach,
violation or non-performance by the Tenant of any covenant, term or provision
hereof, or by reason of any injury, loss, damage or death resulting from,
occasioned to or suffered by any person or persons or any property by reason of
any act, neglect or default on the part of the Tenant, or any of its agents,
customers, employees, servants, contractors, licensees or invitees, in or about
the demised premised or any part thereof; such indemnification in respect of any
such breach, violation, non-performance, damage to property, loss injury or
death occurring during the term of this Lease shall survive any termination of
this Lease, anything in this Lease to the contrary notwithstanding.

          12.  HOLDING OVER

          It is hereby expressly agreed that, if the Tenant shall continue to
occupy the demised premises after the expiration of this Lease, with or without
the consent of the Landlord, and without any further written agreement, the
Tenant shall be a monthly tenant at a monthly rental herein reserved and
otherwise on the terms and conditions herein set forth, except as to the length
of tenancy.

          13.  OVERLOADING

          It is hereby expressly agreed that Tenant will not bring upon the
demised premises or any part thereof any machinery, equipment, article or thing
<PAGE>   11
that by reason of its weight, size of use might damage the floors of the demised
premises and that if any damage is caused to the Demised Premises by any
machinery, equipment, article or thing or by overloading or by any act, neglect
or misuse on the part of the Tenant or any of its employees or persons for whom
the Tenant is responsible, the Tenant will forthwith repair the same or pay to
the Landlord the cost of making good the same.

             14.  PAYMENTS DEEMED RENT

         It is hereby expressly agreed that in the event of failure of Tenant to
pay any taxes, rates, insurance premiums or other charges which it has herein
covenanted to pay, the Landlord may pay the same and shall be entitled to charge
the sums so paid to the Tenant who shall pay them forthwith on demand; and
Landlord, in addition to any other rights, shall have the same remedies and may
take the same steps for the recovery of all such under the terms of this Lease;
all such payments required to be made under the terms of this Lease shall be
deemed rent.

             15.  LOADING AND UNLOADING

         It is hereby expressly agreed that all loading and unloading of
merchandise, supplies, materials, garbage and other chattels shall be effected
only through or by means of such doorways or corridors as the Landlord shall
designate.

             16.  REFUSE

         It is hereby expressly agreed that the Tenant will keep the demised
premises and every part thereof in a clean and tidy condition and will not
permit waste paper, garbage, ashes or waste or objectionable material to
accumulate thereon.

             17.  DEMISED PREMISES DEFINED

         It is hereby expressly agreed that whenever in this lease reference is
made to the demised premises or leased premises it shall include all structures,
improvements and erections in or upon the demised premises or any part thereof
from time to time.

             18.  EVIDENCE OF PAYMENTS

         It is hereby expressly agreed that the Tenant shall from time to time
at the request of the Landlord produce to the Landlord satisfactory evidence of
the due payment by the Tenant of all
<PAGE>   12
payments required to be made by the Tenant under this Lease.

          19.  FIXTURES

          Provided all rent due or to become due under the terms of this Lease
is fully paid, Tenant may remove its fixtures; provided further that the Tenant
shall not remove or carry away from the Demised Premises any plumbing, heating
or ventilating plant or equipment or other building services; provided further
that the Tenant shall make good any damage caused by such removal of fixtures.

          20.  RE-ENTRY

          Proviso for re-entry by the said Landlord on non-payment of rent or
non-performance of covenants.

          The above powers may be exercised, whether legal demand for the rent
has been made or not. Provided that, notwithstanding anything hereinbefore
contained, the Landlord's right of re-entry hereunder for non-payment of rent,
non-performance of covenants, seizure or forfeiture of the said term; shall
become exercisable immediately upon such default being made. Provided further
that upon such re-entry by the Landlord under the terms of this paragraph or any
other provision or provisions of this Lease, the Landlord may, in addition to
any other remedies to which the Landlord may be entitled, at its option, at
any time and from time to time, relet the Demised Premises or any part thereof
and receive and collect the rents therefor, applying the same first to the
payment of such expenses as the Landlord may have incurred in recovering
possession of the demised premised, including legal expenses and solicitor's
fees and for putting the same into good order or condition or preparing or
altering the same for re-rental and all other expenses, commissions and charges
paid, assumed or incurred by the Landlord in or about reletting the premises and
then to the fulfilment of the covenants of the Tenant hereunder. Any such
reletting herein provided for may be for the remainder of the term as originally
granted or for a longer or shorter period. In any such case and whether or not
the Demised Premises or any part thereof be relet, the Tenant shall pay to the
Landlord the rental hereby reserved and any other assessments mentioned in
these presents or at the termination of this Lease or of recovery of possession
of the Demised Premises by the Landlord, as the case may be, and thereafter the
Tenant
<PAGE>   13
covenants and agrees, if required by Landlord, to pay to the Landlord until the
end of the term of this Lease the equivalent of the amount of all rentals hereby
reserved and all other sums required to be paid by the Tenant hereunder, less
the net avails of reletting, if any, and the same shall be due and payable by
the Tenant to the Landlord on the days herein provided for rental.

          21.   INSPECT PREMISES

          Provided that during the term hereby created any person or persons may
inspect the said premises and all parts thereof at all reasonable times on prior
notice to the Tenant signed by the Landlord or its agents.

          22.  NOTICES FOR SALE OR TO LET

          Provided that the Landlord shall have the right during the term of
this Lease to place upon the Demised Premises a notice stating that the Demises
Premises are for sale and shall, within three (3) months from the termination of
the said term, have the right to place upon the demised premises a notice
stating that the demised premises are for rent; and further provided that the
Tenant will not remove such notice or permit same to be removed.

          23.  REMOVAL OF GOODS

          Provided that in case of removal by the Tenant of the goods and
chattel of the Tenant from the Demises Premises, the Landlord may follow the
same for thirty (30) days in the same manner as is provided for in the Civil
Code of the Province of Quebec.

          24.  IMPROVEMENTS

          Any alteration, erection or improvement placed or erected upon the
demised premises shall become a part thereof and shall not be removed and shall
be subject to all the provisions of this Lease. No alteration, erection or
improvement shall be made or erected upon the demised premises without the prior
written consent of the Landlord.

          25.  FIRE

          Provided, and it is hereby expressly agreed, that if and whenever
during the term hereby demised the building of which the demised premises form a
part shall be destroyed or damaged by fire, lightning of tempest, or any of the
perils normally
<PAGE>   14
insured against under the provisions of standard extended coverage fire
insurance policies, then, and in every such event:

          a) If the damage or destruction of the building of which the demised
premises form a part renders seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the said
building wholly unfit for occupancy or impossible or unsafe for use and
occupancy, the Landlord may, at its option, terminate this Lease by giving to
the Tenant notice in writing of such termination, in which event, this Lease and
the term hereby demised shall cease and be at an end as of the date of such
destruction or damage, and the rent and all other payments for which the Tenant
is liable under the terms of this Lease shall be apportioned and paid in full to
the date of such destruction or damage.

          b) If the damage or destruction is such that the portion of the
building hereby demised is rendered wholly unfit for occupancy or it is
impossible or unsafe to use and occupy it and if in either event the damage, in
the opinion of the Landlord to be given to the Tenant within thirty (30) days of
the happening of such damage or destruction, cannot be repaired with reasonable
diligence within one hundred and eighty (180) days from the happening of such
damage or destruction, then either the Landlord or the Tenant may, within five
(5) days next succeeding the giving of the Landlord's opinion as aforesaid,
terminate this Lease by giving to the other notice in writing of such
termination, in which event this Lease and the term hereby demised shall cease
and be at an end as of the date of such destruction or damage; in the event that
neither the Landlord nor the Tenant so terminates this Lease, then the Landlord
shall repair the said building with all reasonable speed and the rent hereby re-
served shall abate from the date of the happening of the damage until the damage
shall be made good to the extent of enabling the Tenant of use and occupy the
demised premises.

          c) If the damage be such that the portion of the building hereby
demised is wholly unfit for occupancy, or if it is impossible or unsafe to use
or occupy it but if in either event the damage, in the opinion of the Landlord
to be given to the Tenant within thirty (30) days from the happening of such
damage, can be repaired with reasonable diligence within one hundred and eighty
(180) days from the happening of such damage, then the rent hereby reserved
shall abate from the date of the happening of such damage until the damage shall
be made good to the extent of enabling the
<PAGE>   15
Tenant to use and occupy the Demised Premises and the Landlord shall repair the
damage with all reasonable speed.

          d) If in the opinion of the Landlord the damage can be made good as
aforesaid within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the happening of such
destruction or damage and the damage is such that the portion of the building
hereby demised is capable of being partially used for the purposes for which it
is hereby demised, then until such damage has been repaired, the rent shall
abate in the proportion that the part of the portion of the building hereby
demised is rendered unfit for occupancy bears to the whole of the said portion
of the building hereby demised and the Landlord shall repair the damage with all
reasonable speed.

          26.  IMPOSSIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE

          It is understood and agreed that whenever and to the extent that the
Landlord shall be unable to fulfill or shall be delayed or restricted in the
fulfilment of any obligation hereunder in respect of the supply or provision of
any service or utility or the doing of any work or the making of any repairs by
reason of being unable to obtain the material, goods, equipment, service or
labour required to enable it to fulfill such obligation, or by reason of any
Statute, law or Order in Council, or any regulation or Order passed or made
pursuant thereto, or by reason of the Order or Direction of any Administrator,
Comptroller, Board, Governmental Department or Office, or other authority
required thereby, or by reason of any other cause beyond its control whether of
the foregoing character or not, the Landlord shall be relieved from the
fulfilment of such obligation and the Tenant shall not be entitled to
compensation for any inconvenience, nuisance or discomfort thereby occasioned.

          27.  SUBORDINATION

          Provided that this Lease and everything herein contained shall be
deemed to be subordinate to any charge or charges from time to time created by
the Landlord with respect to the building of which the demised premises form a
part, by way of mortgage, and the Tenant hereby covenants and agrees that it
will promptly at any time and from time to time as required by the Landlord
during the term hereof execute all documents and give all further assurances to
this proviso as may be reasonably required to effectuate the postponement of its
rights and privileges hereunder to the holder or holders of such charges;
provided however that no
<PAGE>   16
such subordination by the Tenant shall have the effect of permitting the holder
or holders of any mortgage or lien or other security to disturb the occupation
and possession by the Tenant of the terms, covenants, conditions, agreements and
provisos contained in this Lease.
        
         28. LIMITATION OF LANDLORD'S LIABILITY

         The term "Landlord" as used in this lease so far as covenants or
obligations on the part of the Landlord are concerned shall be limited to mean
and include only the owner or owners at the time in question of the demised
premises, and in the event of any transfer of transfers of ownership, the
Landlord herein named, and in case of any subsequent transfers or conveyances,
the then vendor or transferor, shall be automatically freed and relieved from
and after the date of such transfer or conveyance, of all personal liability as
respects the performance of any covenants or obligations on the part of the
Landlord contained in this Lease thereafter to be performed, provided that:

         a) Any funds in the hands of such Landlord vendor or transferor at the
time of such transfer, in which the Tenant has an interest, shall be turned over
to the purchaser or transferee and any amount then due and payable to the Tenant
by the Landlord vendor or transferor under any provision of this lease shall be
paid to the Tenant; and

         b) Upon any such transfer, the purchaser or transferee shall assume,
subject to the limitations of this paragraph, all of the terms, covenants and
conditions in this Lease contained to be performed on the part of the Landlord;

         it being intended hereby that the covenants and obligations contained
in this Lease on the part of the Landlord shall, subject as aforesaid, be
binding on the Landlord, its successors and assigns, only during and in respect
of their respective successive periods of ownership.

         29. LIENS

         If any Mechanic's or other liens or Order for the payment of money
shall be filed against the demised premises by reason, or arising out of any
labour or material, work of service furnished to the Tenant or to anyone
claiming through the Tenant, the Tenant shall, within fifteen (15) days after
notice to the Tenant of the filing thereof, cause the same to be discharged by
bonding, deposit, payment, Court Order or otherwise at the Tenant's own expense.
The
<PAGE>   17
Tenant hereby indemnifies the Landlord against any expense or damage as a result
of such lien or Order.

         30. SIGNS

         The Tenant shall have the right from time to time during the term
hereof to erect, paint, display, maintain, alter, change or renew advertising
signs on the exterior and interior walls of the Leased Premises; provided all
such signs shall be dignified in appearance and shall be subject to the consent
in writing of the Landlord, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
provided further all such signs shall comply with the requirements of municipal
and governmental authorities.

         31. RULES AND REGULATIONS

         The Tenant covenants with the Landlord that the Tenant and its
employees and all persons visiting or doing business with them on the demised
premises shall be bound by and shall observe and perform any reasonable rules
and regulations made by the Landlord of which notice in writing shall be given
to the Tenant and all such Rules and Regulations shall be deemed to be
incorporated in and form part of this Lease.

         32. NOTICES

         Any notice, request or demand herein provided for or given hereunder,
if given by the Tenant to the Landlord shall be sufficiently given if mailed by
registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Landlord at Granby, P.Q., 982 Roger
Street. If it is given by the Landlord to the Tenant, it shall be sufficiently
given if mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Tenant at 1090
Aerowood Drive Missisauga, Ontario (L4W 1Y5).

         Any notice mailed as aforesaid shall be conclusively deemed to have
been given on the next business day following the day on which such notice is
mailed as aforesaid. Either Landlord or Tenant may, at any time, give notice in
writing to the other (s) of any change of address of the party giving such
notice. From and after the giving of such notice, the address therein specified
shall be deemed to be the address of such party of the giving of such notices
thereafter.

         33. WAIVER OF BREACH

         The failure of the Landlord to insist upon a strict performance of any
of the agreements,
<PAGE>   18
terms, covenants and conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of any
rights or remedies that the Landlord may have and shall not be deemed a waiver
of any subsequent breach or default in any of such agreements, terms, covenants
and conditions.

         34. NET LEASE

         It is the intention of this Lease that the said rentals herein provided
to be paid shall be net to the Landlord and clear of all taxes (except the
Landlord's income taxes), costs and charges arising from or relating to the
demised premises and that the Tenant shall pay all charges, impositions and
expenses of every nature and kind relating to the demised premises and the
Tenant covenants with the Landlord accordingly.

         35. GENDER AND NUMBER

         Words importing the singular number only shall included the plural and
vice versa; words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and
neuter genders and vice versa; and words importing persons shall include firms
and corporations and vice versa.

         36. This indenture and everything herein contained shall extend to and
bind and enure to the benefit of the respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns (as the case may be) of each and every of
the parties hereto, subject to the consent of the Landlord being obtained, as
hereinbefore provided, to any assignment or sublease by Tenant. All covenants
herein contained shall be deemed to be joint and several and all rights and
powers reserved to the Landlord may be exercised by either Landlord or its
agents or representatives.

         37. ELECTION OF DOMICILE

         For the execution of these presents, the Landlord hereby elects
domicile at the address hereinabove mentioned.

         38. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL

         During the term of this Lease, the Landlord give to the tenant a right
of first refusal as follow:

         Should the Landlord decide to sell or otherwise alienate the
immoveable, the Tenant will have the right to acquire it, in preference to
anyone else. Consequently, the Landlord undertakes
<PAGE>   19
to advise the Tenant in writing of any offer made to him or that he may have
made by delivering a copy of same to the Tenant. The Tenant will have a delay of
forty-five days (45) from receipt of said notice to advise the Landlord of the
former's intention to purchase the immoveable for the same price and under the
same conditions as set forth in the offer. Failure by the Tenant to advise the
Landlord in the said manner and within the said delay of the Tenant's intention
to exercise said right to purchase will entitle the Landlord to give effect to
the offer in question.

         In witness whereof I have signed the present lease in the presence of
the subscribing witnesses, at Granby, P.Q., on this twelve --- day of March 
- --- in the year nineteen hundred and ninety-two (1992).


                                      GESTON W. & L. CHOINIERE INC.,;

                                      /s/ Louis Choiniere
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Louis Choiniere
/s/ Lucie Roberge
- -------------------------------------
Witness

/s/ Jean-Pierre Blanchard
- -------------------------------------
Witness


         In witness whereof I have signed the present lease in the presence of
the subscribing witnesses, at Granby, P.Q. ____________________________ on this
twelve __________ day of March ____________________ in the year nineteen
hundred and ninety-two (1992).

                                      IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD:
                                      
                                      /s/ Bernd Esgen
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Bernd Esgen
/s/ Lucie Roberge
- -------------------------------------
Witness

/s/ Jean-Pierre Blanchard
- -------------------------------------
Witness

<PAGE>   20
                                   SCHEDULE A


                                  DESCRIPTION

<PAGE>   21
EXTRACT  FROM  THE  RESOLUTION  OF  THE  BOARD  OF
DIRECTORS OF IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD passed
on the sixth day of March 1992.

BE IT RESOLVED:

1) THAT in Consideration of the rents, covenants and agreements mentioned in the
lease, the company rent from GESTION W. & L. CHOINIERE INC., a building being
known as 625, Leon-Harmel Street, Granby, P.Q., containing an area of
approximately nineteen thousand two hundred Square feet (19,200 sq. ft.) for a
period of three years to be computed from the first day of March 1992 and ended
the last day of February 1995.

2) THAT Mr. BERND ESGEN, secretary and vice-president of the corporation, be
authorized to sign all lease and documents pertaining to such transaction.

3) THAT the draft of lease prepared for the parties, after have been read and
studied clause by clause, is acceptable as such.

CERTIFIED EXTRACT:


/s/ Bernd Esgen
- ----------------------


/s/ Bernd Esgen
- ----------------------
    Bernd Esgen

<PAGE>   22
CANADA

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC

DISTRICT OF BEDFORD


                                   AFFIDAVIT

        I, undersigned, LUCIE ROBERGE, secretary, ___________________, residing
____________________________ and domiciled at St-Alphonse de Granby, P.Q., 126
Celine Street (JOE 2A0) ___________________ being duly sworn, do depose and say;

        1. That I am one of the subscribing witnesses to the present Lease.

        2. That the said Lease was signed by the said LOUIS CHOINIERE in the
presence of JEAN-PIERRE BLANCHARD __________________________________________
__________________________________ and of myself, and that we both then
immediately signed the said Lease, in the presence of each other and of the
Landlord, and at his express request.


                                       AND I HAVE SIGNED


                                       /s/ Lucie Roberge
                                       ------------------------
                                       Lucie Roberge

Sworn to before me,
at Granby, P.Q.,

on this twelve __________ day
of March
nineteen hundred and ninety-two (1992).


/s/ Luc Turgeon    #95.762
- ---------------------------------
Luc Turgeon,
commissioner of Oaths for the
district of Bedford
<PAGE>   23
CANADA

PROVINCE OF ONTARIO


                                   AFFIDAVIT

        I, undersigned, JEAN-PIERRE BLANCHARD, notary, _________________________
residing and domiciled at Granby, P.Q, 155 St-Jacques Street #401 ______________
______________ being duly sworn, do depose and say;

        1. That I am one of the subscribing witnesses to the present Lease.

        2. That the said Lease was signed by the said BERND ESGEN in the
presence of LUCIE ROBERGE ______________________________________________________
_________________________ and of myself, and that we both then immediately
signed the said Lease, in the presence of each other and of the Tenant, and at
his express request.


                                       AND I HAVE SIGNED


                                       /s/ Jean-Pierre Blanchard
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Jean-Pierre Blanchard

Sworn to before me,
at Granby, P.Q.

on this twelve _____________ day
of March nineteen hundred and ninetey-two (1992).


/s/ Luc Turgeon   #95.762
- --------------------------
Luc Turgeon, 
commissioner of Oaths for the 
district of Bedford
<PAGE>   24
                       AGREEMENT OF PROLONGATION OF LEASE

Entered into, in Granby, Que., on this 16th. day of
November 1994, between:

IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD., hereafter  referred to as
TENANT,

and,

LES IMMEUBLES  GAETAN MARQUIS LTEE., hereafter referred
to as LANDLORD,

WHEREAS TENANT presently occupies premises located at 641 Leon Harmel street in
Granby, Que. (said premises being a portion of a building originaly designated
as 625 Leon Harmel Street ) pursuant to a LEASE (hereafter referred to as the
LEASE ) between TENANT and Gestion W. & L. Choiniere Inc. signed on March the
12th 1992.

WHEREAS LANDLORD, through a subsidiary company acquired said property from
Gestion W. & L. Choiniere Inc.

WHEREAS TENANT and LANDLORD agree to prolong the LEASE under the same terms and
conditions, save that:

TERM:

The duration of the LEASE is hereby prolonged for three ( 3 ) additionnal years,
starting March the 1st 1995, and ending the 28th 1998.

RENT:

For the prolongation period, annual net rent to LANDLORD shall be:

         a) for the first year an amount of seventy five thousand four hundred
and fifty six dollars ($75,456.00 ) payable in advance in twelve consecutive
monthly instalments of six thousand two hundred and eighty eight dollars 
($6,288.00);
<PAGE>   25
         b) for the second year an amount of seventy eight thousand three
hundred and thirty six dollars ( $ 78,336.00 ) payable in advance in twelve
consecutive monthly instalments of six thousand five hundred and twenty eight
dollars ( $ 6,528.00);

         c) for the third year an amount of eighty one thousand two hundred and
sixteen dollars ( $ 81,216.00 ) payable in advance in twelve consecutive monthly
instalments of six thousand seven hundred and sixty eight dollars ( $ 6,768.00);

Signed in Granby, on this 16th day of November 1994.


/s/ Gaetan Marquis
- ------------------------------------
Les Immeubles Gaetan Marquis Ltee.


Accepted in Mississauga on this 23rd day of November 1994.


/s/ Bernd Esgen
- -----------------------------------
IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd.
<PAGE>   26
                       AGREEMENT OF MODIFICATION OF LEASE

Entered into, in Granby, Que., on this th. day of April 1995, between:


IKS CANADIAN KNIFE & SAW LTD. , hereafter referred to as TENANT,

and ,


LES IMMEUBLES GAETAN MARQUIS LTEE. , hereafter referred to as LANDLORD,

WHEREAS TENANT presently occupies premises located at 641 Leon Harmel street in
Granby, Que. ( said premises being a portion of a building originaly designated
as 625 Leon Harmel Street ) pursuant to a LEASE ( hereafter referred to as the
LEASE ) between TENANT and Gestion W. & L. Choiniere Inc. signed on March the
12th 1992,

WHEREAS LANDLORD, through a subsidiary company acquired said property from
Gestion W. & L. Choiniere Inc. ,

WHEREAS TENANT and LANDLORD agreed to prolong the LEASE under terms and
conditions contained in a document executed on the 23rd day of November 1994,

WHEREAS TENANT and LANDLORD wish to increase the size of the leased premises,
under the same terms and conditions as the present prolongued LEASE, save that:

PREMISES;

Size of the premises shall be increased by approximately 10,614 square feet, as
outlined in red on attached schedule " A ".

LANDLORD'S WORK;

Premises shall be delivered to TENANT in their present state and conditions,
except that LANDLORD shall perform, at it's own expense, the following work:

- - Erect a demising wall around the electrical switches and panels ( as shown in
green on the attached schedule " A " ) in the premises presently occupied by
Denrich;

- - Create two openings of a maximum size of 8 feet by 8 feet in the demising
block wall, in places to be determined by TENANT;

- - Modify the electrical distribution to link the existing lighting and
electrical outlets to TENANT's own electrical panel.
<PAGE>   27
OCCUPANCY:

TENANT shall be given occupancy of the additional space contemplated in the
present document on August the 11th. 1995.

RENT:

For the additional square footage included in the LEASE, annual net rent per
square foot payable to LANDLORD shall be the same as provided for in the
existing LEASE:

         a) for the period starting August 1st 1995 to February 1996, $ 3.93 /
s.f., save that rent shall not be payable on the additional space contemplated
in the present agreement, for the months of August, September, October, November
and December 1995; during this period, TENANT shall only be responsible for it's
energy and it's participation to the taxes and operating expenses of the
building.

         b) for the period starting March 1st 1996, and ending February 28th
1997. $ 4.08 / s.f.

         c) for the period starting March 1st 1997, and ending February 28th
1998, $ 4.23 / s.f.



Signed in Granby, on this 1st day of April 1995.


/s/ Gaetan Marquis
- ----------------------------------
Les Immeubles Gaetan Marquis Ltee.



Accepted in 4/13 on this 1995.


/s/ John E. Hall
- ----------------------------------
IKS Canadian Knife & Saw Ltd.
<PAGE>   28









                              [DIAGRAM OF STATION]

<PAGE>   1
   
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2
    
 
   
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
    
 
   
     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to
the use of our report dated September 12, 1996, except for Note 17, as to which
the date is November 6, 1996, in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement
(Form S-4 No. 333-17305) and related Prospectus of International Knife & Saw,
Inc. for the registration of $90,000,000 of its 11-3/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2006.
    
 
   
                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
    
 
   
Cincinnati, Ohio
    
   
January 27, 1997
    

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1
 
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON ____________
____________________, 1997, UNLESS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS OF
EXISTING NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE EXPIRATION
DATE.
 
                        INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
 
                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
 
                   11 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
 
                  TO: UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
                               THE EXCHANGE AGENT
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
By Registered or Certified Mail:            By Overnight Courier:
United States Trust Company of New York     United States Trust Company of New York
P.O. Box 844                                770 Broadway
Cooper Station                              New York, New York 10003
New York, New York 10276-0844               Attn: Corporate Trust
 
By Hand:                                    By Facsimile:
United States Trust Company of New York     United States Trust Company of New York
111 Broadway                                (212) 420-6152
Lower Level                                 Attn: Corporate Trust
Corporate Trust Window
New York, New York 10006                    Confirm by telephone:
                                            (800) 548-6525
</TABLE>
    
 
     DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR
TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER OTHER THAN THE ONE LISTED
ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
IS COMPLETED.
 
     HOLDERS WHO WISH TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE NEW NOTES FOR THEIR EXISTING
NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER MUST VALIDLY TENDER (AND NOT WITHDRAW)
THEIR EXISTING NOTES TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
 
     The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated ______________
_______________, 1997 (the "Prospectus") of INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC. (the
"Company") and this Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), which
together constitute the Company's Offer to Exchange (the "Exchange Offer")
$1,000 principal amount of its 11 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the
"New Notes"), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement of which
the Prospectus is a part, for each $1,000 principal amount of its outstanding 11
3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the "Existing Notes"), of which
$90,000,000 principal amount is outstanding, upon the terms and conditions set
forth in the Prospectus. Other capitalized terms used but not defined herein
have the meaning given to them in the Prospectus.
<PAGE>   2
 
     For each Existing Note accepted for exchange, the holder of such Existing
Note will receive a New Note having a principal amount equal to that of the
surrendered Existing Note. Interest on the New Notes will accrue from the last
interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Existing Notes
surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the
Existing Notes, from the date of original issue of the Existing Notes. Holders
of Existing Notes accepted for exchange will be deemed to have waived the right
to receive any other payments or accrued interest on the Existing Notes. The
Company reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend the
Exchange Offer at its discretion, in which event the term "Expiration Date"
shall mean the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is extended. The
Company shall notify holders of the Existing Notes of any extension by means of
a press release or other public announcement prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City
time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
 
     This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by Holders if: (i) certificates
representing Existing Notes are to be physically delivered to the Exchange Agent
herewith by Holders; (ii) tender of Existing Notes is to be made by book-entry
transfer to the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Prospectus under "The
Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering Existing Notes" by any financial
institution that is a participant in DTC and whose name appears on a security
position listing as the owner of Existing Notes or (iii) tender of Existing
Notes is to be made according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in
the prospectus under "The Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
 
     The term "Holder" with respect to the Exchange Offer means any person: (i)
in whose name Existing Notes are registered on the books of the Company or any
other person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the
registered Holder; or (ii) whose Existing Notes are held of record by DTC who
desires to deliver such Existing Notes by book-entry transfer at DTC. The
undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of Transmittal to
indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange
Offer.
<PAGE>   3
 
     The instructions included with this Letter of Transmittal must be followed.
Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the
Prospectus, this Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may
be directed to the Exchange Agent. See Instruction 10 herein.
 
                 HOLDERS WHO WISH TO ACCEPT THE EXCHANGE OFFER
               AND TENDER THEIR EXISTING NOTES MUST COMPLETE THIS
                     LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN ITS ENTIRETY.
                 PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                    CAREFULLY BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   DESCRIPTION OF 11 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006 (EXISTING NOTES)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL      PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
        NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S)           CERTIFICATE    AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY   TENDERED (IF LESS THAN
                  (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK)                       NUMBER(S)*        CERTIFICATE(S)             ALL)**
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>              <C>                      <C>
 
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
  * Need not be completed by Holders tendering by book-entry transfer.
 
 ** Unless indicated in the column labeled "Principal Amount Tendered," any
    tendering Holder of Existing Notes will be deemed to have tendered the
    entire aggregate principal amount represented by the column labeled
    "Aggregate Principal Amount Represented by Certificate(s)." If the space
    provided above is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and principal
    amounts on a separate signed schedule and affix the list to this Letter of
    Transmittal.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   4
 
     The minimum permitted tender is $1,000 in principal amount of Existing
Notes. All other tenders must be integral multiples of $1,000.
 
          ------------------------------------------------------------
 
                          SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
                         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 4, 5 AND 6)
 
        To be completed ONLY if certificates for Existing Notes in a
   principal amount not tendered or not accepted for exchange, or New Notes
   issued in exchange for Existing Notes accepted for exchange, are to be
   issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned, or if the
   Existing Notes tendered by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for
   exchange are to be credited to an account maintained by DTC.
 
   Issue certificate(s) to:
 
   Name:
   ---------------------------------------------------
 
   Address:
   ---------------------------------------------------
 
   ---------------------------------------------------         
                    (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
 
   ---------------------------------------------------         
                   (TAX IDENTIFICATION OR
                    SOCIAL SECURITY NO.)
   ---------------------------------------------------         


          ------------------------------------------------------------
 
                         SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
                         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 4, 5 AND 6)
 
        To be accepted ONLY if certificates for Existing Notes in a principal
   amount not tendered or not accepted for exchange, are to be sent to
   someone other than the undersigned, or to the undersigned at an address
   other than that shown above.
 
   Mail to:
 
   Name:
   ---------------------------------------------------
 
   Address:
   -------------------------------------------------
 
   -------------------------------------------------           
                     (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
 
   -------------------------------------------------           
                    (TAX IDENTIFICATION OR
                     SOCIAL SECURITY NO.)
 
   -------------------------------------------------           
<PAGE>   5
 
[ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED EXISTING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY
    TRANSFER TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT'S ACCOUNT AT DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
 
    Name of Tendering Institution:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DTC Book-Entry Account No.:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Transaction Code No.:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED EXISTING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A
    NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND
    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
 
    Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Window Ticket Number (if any):
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    IF DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
    Account Number:
    ---------------------------  Transaction Code Number:
    ---------------------------
 
[ ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
    COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
    THERETO.
 
    Name:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Address:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   6
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned
hereby tenders to the Company the principal amount of Existing Notes indicated
above. Subject to and effective upon the acceptance for exchange of the
principal amount of Existing Notes tendered in accordance with this Letter of
Transmittal, the undersigned sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order
of, the Company all right, title and interest in and to the Existing Notes
tendered hereby. The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the
Exchange Agent its agent and attorney-in-fact (with full knowledge that the
Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Company and as Trustee under the
indenture for the Existing Notes and New Notes) with respect to the tendered
Existing Notes with full power of substitution to (i) deliver certificates for
such Existing Notes to the Company, or transfer ownership of such Existing Notes
on the account books maintained by DTC and deliver all accompanying evidence of
transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Company and (ii) present
such Existing Notes for transfer on the books of the Company and receive all
benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such
Existing Notes, all in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions
of the Exchange Offer. The power of attorney granted in this paragraph shall be
deemed irrevocable and coupled with an interest.
 
     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has
full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Existing Notes
tendered hereby and that the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title
thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and
not subject to any adverse claim, when the same are acquired by the Company. The
undersigned hereby further represents that any New Notes acquired in exchange
for Existing Notes tendered hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary
course of business of the Holder receiving such New Notes, whether or not such
person is the Holder, that neither the Holder nor any such other person has any
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution
of such New Notes and that neither the Holder nor any such other person is an
"affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries.
 
   
     The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made in
reliance on an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") that the New Notes issued in exchange for the Existing
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than (i) any such holder that is
an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act or (ii) any broker-dealer that purchased Existing Notes from the
Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption),
without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of
the Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are acquired in the ordinary
course of such holders' business and such holders have no arrangements with any
person to participate in the distribution of such New Notes. If the undersigned
is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in,
and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Notes. If the
undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New Notes for its own account
in exchange for Existing Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale of such New Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
    
 
     The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional
documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the Company to be necessary or
desirable to complete the assignment, transfer and purchase of the Existing
Notes tendered hereby. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this
Letter of Transmittal shall survive the death, incapacity or dissolution of the
undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned under this Letter of
Transmittal shall be binding upon the undersigned's heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns, trustees in bankruptcy or other legal
representatives of the undersigned. This tender may be withdrawn only in
accordance with the procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer -- Withdrawal
Rights" section of the Prospectus.
 
     For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall be deemed to have
accepted validly tendered Existing Notes when, as and if the Company has given
oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.
<PAGE>   7
 
     If any tendered Existing Notes are not accepted for exchange pursuant to
the Exchange Offer for any reason, certificates for any such unaccepted Existing
Notes will be returned (except as noted below with respect to tenders through
DTC), without expense, to the undersigned at the address shown below or at a
different address as may be indicated under Special Delivery Instructions" as
promptly as practicable after the Expiration Date.
 
     The undersigned understands that tenders of Existing Notes pursuant to the
procedures described under the caption "The Exchange Offer -- Procedures for
Tendering Existing Notes" in the Prospectus and in the instructions hereto will
constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated under "Special Payment Instructions," please
issue the certificates representing the New Notes issued in exchange for the
Existing Notes accepted for exchange and return any Existing Notes not tendered
or not exchanged in the name(s) of the undersigned (or in either such event in
the case of the Existing Notes tendered through DTC, by credit to the
undersigned's account, at DTC). Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under
"Special Delivery Instructions," please send the certificates representing the
New Notes issued in exchange for the Existing Notes accepted for exchange and
any certificates for Existing Notes not tendered or not exchanged (and
accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the undersigned at the address shown
below the undersigned's signature(s), unless, in either event, tender is being
made through DTC. In the event that both "Special Payment Instructions" and
"Special Delivery Instructions" are completed, please issue the certificates
representing the New Notes issued in exchange for the Existing Notes accepted
for exchange and return any Existing Notes not tendered or not exchanged in the
name(s) of, and send said certificates to, the person(s) so indicated. The
undersigned recognizes that the Company has no obligation pursuant to the
"Special Payment Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" to transfer
any Existing Notes from the name of the registered Holder(s) thereof if the
Company does not accept for exchange any of the Existing Notes so tendered.
 
     Holders of Existing Notes who wish to tender their Existing Notes and (i)
whose Existing Notes are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver
their Existing Notes, this Letter of Transmittal or any other documents required
hereby to the Exchange Agent, or cannot complete the procedure for book-entry
transfer, prior to the Expiration Date, may tender their Existing Notes
according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption "The Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures." See
Instruction 1 regarding the completion of the Letter of Transmittal printed
below.
<PAGE>   8
 
                        PLEASE SIGN HERE WHETHER OR NOT
              EXISTING NOTES ARE BEING PHYSICALLY TENDERED HEREBY
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
X
 ----------------------------------------------------------------    ------------------------- 
                                                                                Date
X
 ----------------------------------------------------------------    -------------------------
              Signature(s) of Registered Holder(s)                              Date
                    Or Authorized Signatory

Area Code and Telephone Number:
                                ---------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The above lines must be signed by the registered Holder(s) of Existing
Notes as their name(s) appear(s) on the Existing Notes or, if the Existing Notes
are tendered by a participant in DTC, as such participant's name appears on a
security position listing as the owner of Existing Notes, or by person(s)
authorized to become registered Holder(s) by a properly completed bond power
from the registered Holder(s), a copy of which must be transmitted with this
Letter of Transmittal. If Existing Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal
relates are held of record by two or more joint Holders, then all such holders
must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If signature is by a trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must (i)
set forth his or her full title below and (ii) unless waived by the Company,
submit evidence satisfactory to the Company of such person's authority to act.
See Instruction 4 regarding the completion of this Letter of Transmittal printed
below.
 
Name(s):
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Please Print)
 
Capacity:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Include Zip Code)
 
        Signature(s) Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution:
        (If required by Instruction 4)
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Authorized Signature)
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------
                                    (Title)

        ------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Name of Firm)
 
        Dated: ______________________________, 1996
<PAGE>   9
 
                                  INSTRUCTIONS
 
                    FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                             OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     1. DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER AND EXISTING NOTES; GUARANTEED DELIVERY
PROCEDURES.  This Letter is to be completed by noteholders, either if
certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made pursuant
to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in "The Exchange
Offer--Book-Entry Transfer" section of the Prospectus. Certificates for all
physically tendered Existing Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may
be, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter (or manually signed
facsimile hereof) and any other documents required by this Letter, must be
received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth herein on or prior to
the Expiration Date, or the tendering holder must comply with the guaranteed
delivery procedures set forth below. Existing Notes tendered hereby must be in
denominations of principal amount of maturity of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof.
 
     Noteholders whose certificates for Existing Notes are not immediately
available or who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required
documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or who
cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may
tender their Existing Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed Delivery Procedures" section of the
Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures, (i) such tender must be made through an
Eligible Institution (as defined in Instruction 4 below), (ii) prior to the
Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible Institution
a properly completed and duly executed Letter (or facsimile thereof) and Notice
of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Company (by
facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), setting forth the name and
address of the holder of Existing Notes and the amount of Existing Notes
tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that
within five New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") trading days after the date of
execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the certificates for all
physically tendered Existing Notes, or a Book-Entry Confirmation, and any other
documents required by this Letter will be deposited by the Eligible Institution
with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) the certificates for all physically tendered
Existing Notes, in proper form for transfer, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the
case may be, and all other documents required by this Letter, are received by
the Exchange Agent within five NYSE trading days after the date of execution of
the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
 
     The method of delivery of this Letter, the Existing Notes and all other
required documents is at the election and risk of the tendering holders, but the
delivery will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the
Exchange Agent. If Existing Notes are sent by mail, it is suggested that the
mailing be made sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to permit the
delivery to the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Expiration Date.
 
     See "The Exchange Offer" section in the Prospectus.
 
     2. TENDER BY HOLDER.  Only a holder of Existing Notes may tender such
Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer. Any beneficial holder of Existing Notes
who is not the registered holder and who wishes to tender should arrange with
the registered holder to execute and deliver this Letter on his or her behalf or
must, prior to completing and executing this Letter and delivering his or her
Existing Notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of
the Existing Notes in such holder's name or obtain a properly completed bond
power form the registered holder.
 
     3. PARTIAL TENDERS.  Tenders of Existing Notes will be accepted only in
integral multiples of $1,000. If less than the entire principal amount of any
Existing Notes is tendered, the tendering holder should fill in the principal
amount tendered in the fourth column of the box entitled "Description of 11 3/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (Existing Notes)" above. The entire principal
amount of Existing Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have
been tendered unless otherwise indicated. If the entire principal amount of all
Existing Notes is not tendered, then Existing Notes for the principal amount of
Existing Notes not tendered and a certificate or certificates representing New
Notes issued in exchange for any Existing Notes accepted will be sent to the
Holder at his or her registered address, unless a different address is provided
in the appropriate box on this Letter promptly after the Existing Notes are
accepted for exchange.
 
     4. SIGNATURES ON THIS LETTER; POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND ENDORSEMENTS;
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES.  If this Letter is signed by the registered holder of
the Existing Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with
the name as written on the face of the certificates without any change
whatsoever.
<PAGE>   10
 
     If any tendered Existing Notes are owned of record by two or more joint
owners, all such owners must sign this Letter.
 
     If any tendered Existing Notes are registered in different names on several
certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate
copies of this Letter as there are different registrations of certificates.
 
     When this Letter is signed by the registered holder or holders of the
Existing Notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of
certificates or separate powers of attorney are required. If, however, the New
Notes are to be issued, or any untendered Existing Notes are to be reissued, to
a person other than the registered holder, then endorsements of any certificates
transmitted hereby or separate powers of attorney are required. Signatures on
such certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
 
     If this Letter is signed by a person other than the registered holder or
holders of any certificate(s) specified herein, such certificate(s) must be
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate powers of attorney, in either case signed
exactly as the name or names on the registered holder or holders appear(s) on
the certificate(s) and signatures on such certificate(s) must be guaranteed by
an Eligible Institution.
 
     If this Letter or any certificates or powers of attorney are signed by
trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of
corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such
persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by the Company,
proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be
submitted.
 
     Endorsements on certificates for Existing Notes or signatures on powers of
attorney required by this Instruction 4 must be guaranteed by a firm which is a
participant in a recognized signature guarantee medallion program ("Eligible
Institutions").
 
     Signatures on this Letter must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution
unless the Existing Notes are tendered (i) by a registered holder of Existing
Notes (which term, for purposes of the Exchange Offer, includes any participant
in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility system whose name appears on a security
position listing as the holder of such Existing Notes) who has not completed the
box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions"
on this Letter, or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.
 
     5. SPECIAL PAYMENT AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS.  Tendering holders should
indicate, in the applicable box or boxes, the name and address to which New
Notes or substitute Existing Notes for principal amounts not tendered or not
accepted for exchange are to be issued or sent, if different from the name and
address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal (or in the case of
tender of Existing Notes through DTC, if different from DTC). In the case of
issuance in a different name, the taxpayer identification or social security
number of the person named must also be indicated. Noteholders tendering
Existing Notes by book-entry transfer may request that Existing Notes not
exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility as such noteholder may designate hereon. If no such instructions are
given, such Existing Notes not exchanged will be returned to the name and
address of the person signing this Letter.
 
     6. TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.  Federal income tax law requires that a
holder whose offered Existing Notes are accepted for exchange must provide the
Company (as payer) with his, her or its correct Taxpayer Identification Number
("TIN"), which, in the case of an exchanging holder who is an individual, is his
or her social security number. If the Company is not provided with the correct
TIN or an adequate basis for exemption, such holder may be subject to a $50
penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), and payments made
with respect to Existing Notes purchased pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be
subject to backup withholding at a 31% rate. If withholding results in an
overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained. Exempt holders (including, among
others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to
these backup withholding and reporting requirements. See the enclosed
"Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute
Form W-9."
<PAGE>   11
 
     To prevent backup withholding, each exchanging holder must provide his, her
or its correct TIN by completing the Substitute Form W-9 enclosed herewith,
certifying that the TIN provided is correct (or that such Holder is awaiting a
TIN) and that (i) the holder is exempt from backup withholding, (ii) the holder
has been notified by the IRS that he, she or it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (iii) the IRS
has notified the holder that he, she or it is no longer subject to backup
withholding. In order to satisfy the Exchange Agent that a foreign individual
qualifies as an exempt recipient, such holder must submit a statement signed
under penalty of perjury attesting to such exempt status. Such statements may be
obtained from the Exchange Agent. If the Existing Notes are in more than one
name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the Substitute Form W-9
for information on which TIN to report. If you do not provide your TIN to the
Company within 60 days, backup withholding will begin and continue until you
furnish your TIN to the Company.
 
     7. TRANSFER TAXES.  The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any,
applicable to the exchange of Existing Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If,
however, certificates representing New Notes or Existing Notes for principal
amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to
be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered
holder of the Existing Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Existing Notes are
registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter,
or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of
Existing Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such
transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or on any other
persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of
payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted herewith, the
amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
 
     Except as provided in this Instruction 7, it will not be necessary for
transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Existing Notes listed in this Letter.
 
     8. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS.  The Company reserves the absolute right to amend,
waive or modify specified conditions in the Exchange Offer in the case of any
Existing Notes tendered.
 
     9. NO CONDITIONAL TRANSFERS.  No alternative, conditional, irregular or
contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders of Existing Notes, by
execution of this Letter, shall waive any right to receive notice of the
acceptance of their Existing Notes for exchange.
 
     Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is obligated
to give notice of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of
Existing Notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any
such notice.
 
     10. MUTILATED, LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED EXISTING NOTES.  Any tendering
holder whose Existing Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed
should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated herein for further
instructions.
 
     11. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.  Questions and requests
for assistance for additional copies of the Prospectus, this Letter and the
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the
address specified in the Prospectus.
 
                       (DO NOT WRITE IN THE SPACE BELOW)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   CERTIFICATE          EXISTING NOTES        EXISTING NOTES
   SURRENDERED             TENDERED              ACCEPTED
- ------------------    ------------------    ------------------
<S>                   <C>                   <C>
 
- ------------------    ------------------    ------------------
 
- ------------------    ------------------    ------------------
 
- ------------------    ------------------    ------------------
</TABLE>

Delivery Prepared by               Checked By               Date
                    ---------------          ---------------    -------------
<PAGE>   12
 
<TABLE>
<S>                           <C>                                          
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAYER'S NAME: INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW, INC.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                               Name (if joint names, list first and circle the name of the person or
 SUBSTITUTE                    entity whose number you enter in Part 1 below. See instructions if your
 FORM W-9                      name has changed.)
 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE      Address
 PAYER'S REQUEST FOR TIN       ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               City, state and ZIP code
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               List account number(s) here (optional)
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Part 1--PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TAXPAYER         Social security number
                               IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ("TIN") IN THE BOX AT  or TIN
                               RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING      ------------------------------
                               BELOW.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Part 2--Check the box if you are NOT subject to backup withholding under
                               the provisions of section 3408(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code
                               because (1) you have not been notified that you are subject to backup
                               withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends or
                               (2) the Internal Revenue Service has notified you that you are no longer
                               subject to backup withholding.
                               CERTIFICATION--UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT THE
                               INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS FORM IS TRUE, CORRECT AND COMPLETE.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Signature  _________________  Date__________ PART 3--AWAITING TIN [ ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
      OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER. PLEASE
      REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER
      IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OR SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
<PAGE>   13
 
            GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
                         NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
 
GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO GIVE THE
PAYER.--Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e.
000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers have nine digits separated by only
one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to
give the payer.
 
<TABLE>
<C>  <S>                              <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------
                                      GIVE THE
           FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT:  SOCIAL SECURITY
                                      NUMBER OF--
- ---------------------------------------------------------
  1. An individual's account          The individual

  2. Two or more individuals          The actual owner of
     (joint account)                  the account or, if
                                      combined funds, any
                                      one of the
                                      individuals(1)

  3. Husband and wife                 The actual owner of
     (joint account)                  the account or, if
                                      joint funds, either
                                      person(1)

  4. Custodian account of a minor     The minor(2)
     (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)

  5. Adult and minor                  The adult or, if
     (joint account)                  the minor is the
                                      only contributor,
                                      the minor(1)

  6. Account in the name of guardian  The ward, minor, or
     or committee for a designated    incompetent
     ward, minor, or incompetent      person(3)
     person

  7. a. The usual revocable savings   The grantor-
        trust account (grantor is     trustee(1)
        also trustee)

     b. So-called trust account that  The actual owner(1)
        is not a legal or valid
        trust under State law

  8. Sole proprietorship account      The Owner(4)
- ---------------------------------------------------------

- ---------------------------------------------------------
                                      GIVE THE EMPLOYER
           FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT:  IDENTIFICATION
                                      NUMBER OF--
- ---------------------------------------------------------
  9. A valid trust, estate, or        Legal entity (Do
     pension trust                    not furnish the
                                      identifying number
                                      of the personal
                                      representative or
                                      trustee unless the
                                      legal entity itself
                                      is not designated
                                      in the account
                                      title.)(5)

 10. Corporate account                The corporation

 11. Religious, charitable, or        The organization
     educational organization
     account

 12. Partnership account held in the  The partnership
     name of the business

 13. Association, club, or other      The organization
     tax-exempt organization

 15. Account with the Department of   The public entity
     Agriculture in the name of a
     public entity (such as a State
     or local government, school
     district, or prison) that
     receives agricultural program
     payments
- ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish.
(2) Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's social security number.
(3) Circle the ward's, minor's or incompetent person's name and furnish such
    person's social security number.
(4) Show the name of the owner.
(5) List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust.
 
NOTE: If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the number will be
      considered to be that of the first name listed.
<PAGE>   14
 
            GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
                         NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
 
                                     PAGE 2
 
OBTAINING A NUMBER
If you don't have a taxpayer identification number or you don't know your
number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, or Form
SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the
Social Security Administration or the internal Revenue Service and apply for a
number.
 
PAYEES EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on ALL payments include the
following:
    - A corporation.
    - A financial institution.
    - An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an individual
      retirement plan.
    - The United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
    - A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or
      any subdivision or instrumentality thereof.
    - A foreign government, a political subdivision of a foreign government, or
      any agency or instrumentality thereof.
    - An international organization or any agency, or instrumentality thereof.
    - A registered dealer in securities or commodities registered in the U.S. Or
      a possession of the U.S.
    - A real estate investment trust.
    - A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).
    - An exempt charitable remainder trust, or a non-exempt trust described in
      section 4947(a)(1).
    - An entity registered at all times under the Investment Company Act of
      1940.
    - A foreign central bank of issue.
    Payments of dividends and patronage dividends not generally subject to
backup withholding include the following:
    - Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under section 1941.
    - Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the U.S.
      and which have at least one nonresident partner.
    - Payments of patronage dividends where the amount received is not paid n
      money.
    - Payments made by certain foreign organizations.
    - Payments made to a nominee.
    Payments of interest not generally subject to backup withholding include the
following:
    - Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may
      be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and in
      paid in the course of the payer's trade or business and you have not
      provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer.
    - Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under
      section 852).
    - Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) to non-resident aliens.
    - Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451.
    - Payments made by certain foreign organizations.
    - Payments made to a nominee.
Exempt payees described above should file Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous
backup withholding. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE "EXEMPT" ON THE FACE OF THE FORM, AND RETURN IT TO
THE PAYER. IF THE PAYMENTS ARE INTEREST, DIVIDENDS, OR PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS, ALSO
SIGN AND DATE THE FORM.
 
    Certain payments other than interest, dividends and patronage dividends,
that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup
withholding. For details, see the regulations under sections 6041, 6041A(a),
6045, and 6050A.
 
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE.--Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend,
interest, or other payments to give tax-payer identification numbers to payers
who must report for payments to IRS. IRS uses the numbers for identification
purposes. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are
required to file tax returns. Beginning January 1, 1994, payers must generally
withhold 31% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a
payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain
penalties may also apply.
 
PENALTIES
(1) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FURNISH TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.--If you fail
to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a
penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable
cause and not to willful neglect.
(2) FAILURE TO REPORT CERTAIN DIVIDEND AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.--If you fail to
include any portion of an includible payment for interest, dividends, or
patronage dividends in gross income, such failure will be treated as being due
to negligence and will be subject to a penalty of 5% on any portion of an
under-payment attributable to that failure unless there is clear and convincing
evidence to the contrary.
(3) CIVIL PENALTY FOR FALSE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO WITHHOLDING.--If you
make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no imposition
of backup withholding, you are subject to a penalty of $500.
(4) CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING INFORMATION.--Falsifying certifications or
affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or
imprisonment.
 
 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE
                                    SERVICE.


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