FAIRFIELD COMMUNITIES INC
S-3/A, 1996-11-19
OPERATIVE BUILDERS
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<PAGE>
 
     
  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 19, 1996.
                                                REGISTRATION NO. 333-14875     
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                               ---------------
                                
                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 
                                      TO      
                                   FORM S-3
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ---------------
                          FAIRFIELD COMMUNITIES, INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
              DELAWARE                                71-0390438
      (STATE OF INCORPORATION)                     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                  IDENTIFICATION NO.)
                              2800 CANTRELL ROAD
                          LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72202
                                (501) 664-6000
  (ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
                               ---------------
 
                            MARCEL J. DUMENY, ESQ.
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                              2800 CANTRELL ROAD
                          LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72202
                                (501) 664-6000
          (NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                               ---------------
                                  COPIES TO:
        MARK V. MINTON, ESQ.                 C. DOUGLAS BUFORD, JR., ESQ.
     JONES, DAY, REAVIS & POGUE               WRIGHT, LINDSEY & JENNINGS
      2300 TRAMMELL CROW CENTER                 200 WEST CAPITOL AVENUE
          2001 ROSS AVENUE                    LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201
         DALLAS, TEXAS 75201                        (501) 212-1239
           (214) 220-3939
 
  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
  If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
 
  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [_]
 
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
 
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
 
  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                            PROPOSED   PROPOSED
                                             MAXIMUM    MAXIMUM
            TITLE OF               AMOUNT   OFFERING   AGGREGATE   AMOUNT OF
         SECURITIES TO             TO BE    PRICE PER  OFFERING   REGISTRATION
         BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED SHARE(2)   PRICE(2)      FEE(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>
Common Stock, par value $0.01
 per share(1)................... 2,300,000  $22.3125  $51,318,750   $15,551
</TABLE>    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
(1) Includes associated share purchase rights pursuant to a Rights Agreement
    adopted by the Registrant and described herein.     
   
(2) Previously calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c).     
   
(3) 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
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
  The estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and
distribution of the Common Stock covered by this Registration Statement are as
follows:
 
<TABLE>         
       <S>                                                             <C>
       Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee.................. $ 15,551
       New York Stock Exchange listing fee............................   14,750
       Printing expenses..............................................   80,000
       Accounting fees and expenses...................................   34,000
       Legal fees and expenses........................................  120,000
       Miscellaneous..................................................   10,699
                                                                       --------
       Total.......................................................... $275,000
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>    
   
  The Selling Stockholder will bear approximately $28,000 of such expenses and
Fairfield will bear the remainder of such expenses.     
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
  Fairfield's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the personal
liability of directors of Fairfield to Fairfield is eliminated to the maximum
extent permitted by Delaware law. Fairfield's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws provide for the indemnification of the directors, officers, employees
and agents of Fairfield to the fullest extent that may be permitted by
Delaware law from time to time. Certain provisions of Fairfield's Certificate
of Incorporation protect Fairfield's directors against personal liability for
monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty of care,
except as set forth below. Under Delaware law, absent these provisions,
directors could be held liable for gross negligence in the performance of
their duty of care, but not for simple negligence. Fairfield's Certificate of
Incorporation absolves directors of liability for negligence in the
performance of their duties, including gross negligence. However, Fairfield's
directors remain liable for breaches of their duty of loyalty to Fairfield and
its stockholders, as well as for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law and transactions
from which a director derives improper personal benefit. Fairfield's
Certificate of Incorporation also does not absolve directors of liability
under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which makes
directors personally liable for unlawful dividends or unlawful stock
repurchases or redemptions in certain circumstances and expressly sets forth a
negligence standard with respect to such liability.
 
  Under Delaware law, directors, officers, employees, and other individuals
may be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines, and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions,
suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation--a "derivative
action") if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Fairfield and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their
conduct was unlawful. A similar standard of care is applicable in the case of
a derivative action, except that indemnification only extends to expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with defense or settlement
of such an action and Delaware law requires court approval before there can be
any indemnification of expenses where the person seeking indemnification has
been found liable to Fairfield.
 
  Fairfield has also entered into indemnification agreements with its
directors and officers pursuant to which Fairfield is generally obligated to
indemnify its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by Delaware
law.
 
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
 <C>   <S>
  *1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   4.1 Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Fairfield
        (previously filed with Fairfield's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
        September 1, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference).
   4.2 Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of Fairfield (previously filed with
        Fairfield's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 22, 1996, and
        incorporated herein by reference).
  *5.1 Opinion of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.
  23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
 *23.2 Consent of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1 Powers of attorney.
</TABLE>
- --------
   
* Filed herewith     
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
  A. The Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
    (1) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
  reference in this Registration Statement 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;
 
    (2) To deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each
  person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report,
  to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and
  furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule
  14c-3 under the Exchange Act; and, where interim financial information
  required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in
  the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom
  the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is
  specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such
  interim financial information;
 
    (3) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
  the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
  Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
  of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
  497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
  Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective;
 
    (4) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.
 
  B. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act 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 Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 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 Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
   
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1
to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Little Rock, State of Arkansas, on
November 19, 1996.     
                                          Fairfield Communities, Inc.
 
                                                   /s/ Robert W. Howeth
                                          By: 
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                       Robert W. Howeth 
                                                Senior Vice President and Chief
                                                     Financial Officer
   
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities indicated on November 19, 1996.     
 
             SIGNATURES                                 TITLE
 
 
                  *                    President and Chief Executive Officer;
- -------------------------------------       Director (Principal Executive
           J.W. MCCONNELL                              Officer)
 
        /s/ Robert W. Howeth               Senior Vice President and Chief
- -------------------------------------        Financial Officer (Principal
          ROBERT W. HOWETH                        Financial Officer)
 
                  *                     Vice President/Controller (Principal
- -------------------------------------            Accounting Officer)
           WILLIAM G. SELL
 
                  *                                   Director
- -------------------------------------
           LES R. BALEDGE
 
                  *                                   Director
- -------------------------------------
         RUSSELL A. BELINSKY
 
                  *                                   Director
- -------------------------------------
       ERNEST D. BENNETT, III
 
                  *                                   Director
- -------------------------------------
        PHILIP L. HERRINGTON
 
                                                      Director
- -------------------------------------
          BRYAN D. LANGTON
 
                  *                                   Director
- -------------------------------------
       CHARLES D. MORGAN, JR.
 
                  *                                   Director
- -------------------------------------
          WILLIAM C. SCOTT
- --------
   
* The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does sign and execute this
  Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement as of this 19th day of
  November, 1996, pursuant to the Powers of Attorney executed on behalf of the
  above-named officers and directors and filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission.     
 
                                                   
                                          By:      /s/ Robert W. Howeth
                                               ---------------------------------
                                             Robert W. Howeth Attorney-in-Fact
 
                                     II-3
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            DESCRIPTION
 -----------                            -----------
 <C>         <S>
  *1.1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   4.1       Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
              Fairfield (previously filed with Fairfield's Current Report on
              Form 8-K, dated September 1, 1992, and incorporated herein by
              reference).
   4.2       Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of Fairfield (previously filed
              with Fairfield's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 22, 1996,
              and incorporated herein by reference).
  *5.1       Opinion of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.
  23.1       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
 *23.2       Consent of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1       Powers of attorney.
</TABLE>
- --------
   
* Filed herewith.     

<PAGE>
 
                                                   Draft Dated November 18, 1996
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          FAIRFIELD COMMUNITIES, INC.

                              2,000,000 SHARES/*/
                                 Common Stock

                               ($.01 par value)
                                                                                

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                            ----------------------
                                                                                

                                                              ____________, 1996
STEPHENS INC. AND DONALDSON, LUFKIN
 & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION
 As Representatives of the several
 Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.
c/o Stephens Inc.
111 Center Street
Little Rock, Arkansas  72201

Gentlemen:

     Fairfield Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
the Company's stockholders named on the signature page hereof (the
"Stockholder") confirm their agreement with the several underwriters (the
"Underwriters") for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives") for the Company and the Stockholder to issue and sell 900,000
shares and 1,100,000 shares, respectively, of the Company's common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Underwritten Shares") to the Underwriters. The
Company's common stock is more fully described in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus hereinafter mentioned.

     For the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with the
sale of the Underwritten Shares, the Stockholder shall grant to the Underwriters
the option (the "Option") described in Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any
part of 300,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Option Shares" and,
together with the 1,100,000 of the Underwritten Shares to be sold by the
Stockholder, the "Stockholder Shares") owned by it. The Underwritten Shares and
the Option Shares purchased pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement (this
"Agreement") are herein called the "Shares" and the proposed offering of the
Shares by the Underwriters is hereinafter referred to as the "Public Offering."

     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
and published rules and regulations adopted by the Commission under the Act (the
"Rules"), a registration statement on Form S-3 ("Form S-3") (File No. 333-
14875), including a Preliminary Prospectus, relating to the Shares, and such
amendments to such registration statement as may have been filed with the
Commission to the date of this Agreement. The

_______________________
     /*/Plus up to 300,000 additional shares of common stock to cover over-
        allotments.
<PAGE>
 
Company will also file with the Commission one of the following: (A) prior to
effectiveness of such registration statement, a further amendment to such
registration statement, including the form of final prospectus, and/or (B) after
effectiveness of such registration statement, a final prospectus in accordance
with Rules 430A and 424(b). The Company has furnished to the Representatives
copies of such registration statement, each amendment to it filed by the Company
with the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus filed by the Company with
the Commission. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes or
became effective (the "Effective Date"), including financial statements and all
exhibits and any information deemed to be included by Rule 430A, is called the
"Registration Statement." The term "Preliminary Prospectus" means any
Preliminary Prospectus (as referred to in Rule 430 or Rule 430A of the Rules)
included at any time as a part of the registration statement and the term
"Prospectus" means the prospectus relating to the Shares that is first filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date hereof.

     Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any
documents incorporated by reference therein on or before the Effective Date or
the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

     As the Representatives, you have advised the Company and the Stockholder
that (a) you are authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the
several Underwriters and (b) the Underwriters are willing, acting severally and
not jointly, to purchase the amounts of the Underwritten Shares set forth
opposite their respective name in Schedule I hereto, plus their pro rata portion
of the Option Shares if you elect to exercise the over-allotment Option in whole
or in part for the accounts of the several Underwriters.

     In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company,
the Stockholder and the Underwriters hereby agree as follows:

     1.   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE
          STOCKHOLDER

     (a)  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
          Underwriter as follows:

          (i)  The Company has been duly organized, is in compliance with its
     Certificate of Incorporation, and is validly existing as a corporation in
     good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full power and
     authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its
     business as described in the Prospectus. Each significant subsidiary (as
     defined by the Act) of the Company (each a "Subsidiary" and collectively,
     the "Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
     corporation, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
     organization, with full power and authority (corporate and other) to own or
     lease its properties, and conduct its business. The Company and the
     Subsidiaries are duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions
     in which the conduct of its business or the ownership or lease of its
     properties requires such qualifications except where the failure to be so
     qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
     Effect (as defined below). The Company owns all of the outstanding capital
     stock of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any pledge, lien, security
     interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable interest other than the pledge of
     the shares of stock of Fairfield River Ridge, Inc. and Fairfield St. Croix,
     Inc.

          (ii) The outstanding shares of common stock of the Company have been
     duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-
     assessable; the Shares are duly and validly authorized, and, if not now
     issued, when issued and paid for as contemplated herein, will be fully paid
     and non-assessable. There are no preemptive or other similar rights to
     subscribe for or to

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of the Shares
     pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, or other
     governing documents or any agreement or other instrument to which the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may
     be bound. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering
     of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights,
     other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to
     the registration of any shares of any class of the Company's capital stock.
     The Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange
     (the "NYSE"), subject to official notice of issuance.

          (iii)  The Shares conform in all material respects with the statements
     concerning them in the Prospectus. As of the Closing Date (as defined
     below) and any Option Closing Date (as defined below), if applicable, the
     Company will have the authorized capitalization set forth under the
     captions "Capitalization" and "Description of Capital Stock" in the
     Prospectus. No further corporate approval or authority on behalf of the
     Company will be required for the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold
     by the Company as contemplated herein.

          (iv)   Any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration
     Statement comply as to form with the requirements of the Act and the Rules,
     including Form S-3. The Company meets the requirements of, and is entitled
     to use, Form S-3 for the Public Offering. The Registration Statement has
     been filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act.

          (v)    Neither the Commission nor any other agency, body, authority,
     court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction has, by order or otherwise,
     prohibited or suspended the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the
     Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares or, to the
     Company's knowledge, instituted proceedings for that purpose. The
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus and
     any amendments or supplements thereto at the time they became or become
     effective or were filed or are filed with the Commission contained or will
     contain all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and in
     all material respects conformed or will conform to the requirements of, the
     Act and the Rules. Neither the Registration Statement nor any Preliminary
     Prospectus nor any amendment thereto, and neither the Prospectus nor any
     supplement thereto, as of its date contained any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
                                                               --------
     however, that the Company does not make any representations or warranties
     -------
     as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement
     or any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or
     supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information
     furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
     Representatives, expressly for use in the preparation thereof as
     hereinafter set forth in Section 13, or by or on behalf of the Stockholder.

          (vi)   The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
     Subsidiaries, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the
     Registration Statement, present fairly the consolidated financial condition
     and the results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, at the
     indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements
     have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
     principles ("GAAP"), consistently applied throughout the periods involved,
     and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such
     periods have been made. The summary financial information and the Selected
     Financial Data included in the Prospectus present fairly in accordance with
     GAAP the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
     consistent with that of the audited and unaudited financial statements from
     which they were derived. The Company and its Subsidiaries have maintained
     and will maintain and keep

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     accurate books and records reflecting their assets and maintain internal
     accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (A)
     transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization,
     (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the
     Company's consolidated financial statements and to maintain accountability
     for the assets of the Company, (C) access to the assets of the Company and
     the Subsidiaries is permitted only in accordance with management's
     authorization, and (D) the recorded accounts of the assets of the Company
     and the Subsidiaries are compared with existing assets at reasonable
     intervals.

          (vii)   Except as is disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no action
     or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
     against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
     officers or any of their properties, assets or rights before any court or
     administrative or governmental agency or other body which reasonably would
     be expected to (A) result in any material adverse change in the condition
     (financial or otherwise), or in the earnings, business, affairs,
     properties, business prospects or results of operations of the Company and
     its Subsidiaries taken as a whole ("Material Adverse Change" or "Material
     Adverse Effect," as the case may be), whether or not arising in the
     ordinary course of business, (B) adversely affect the performance of this
     Agreement or the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated,
     except as disclosed in the Prospectus and for which the Company maintains a
     reserve in an amount which it believes is adequate to cover potential
     liabilities, or (C) be required to be disclosed in the Registration
     Statement.

          (viii)  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are not in violation
     of any law, ordinance, governmental rule or regulation or court decree to
     which they may be subject which violation reasonably would be expected to
     have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (ix)    The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable
     title to all of the real properties and valid title to all other assets in
     the consolidated financial statements hereinabove described or as described
     in the Prospectus as being owned by them, subject to no lien, mortgage,
     pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those securing
     indebtedness described in such financial statements or as described in the
     Prospectus or which do not materially affect the present or proposed use of
     such properties or assets or would not cause a Material Adverse Effect. The
     Company and its Subsidiaries occupy their leased properties under valid,
     subsisting and binding leases with only such exceptions as in the aggregate
     are not material and do not interfere with the conduct of the business of
     the Company and its Subsidiaries. There exists no default under the
     provisions of any lease, contract or other obligation to which the Company
     is a party which may result in a Material Adverse Change.

          (x)    The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state
     and other tax returns and reports which have been required to be filed and
     have paid all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received
     by them to the extent that such taxes have become due and there is no tax
     deficiency that has been or, to the Company's knowledge, might be asserted
     against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that might have a Material
     Adverse Effect. All material tax liabilities are adequately provided for on
     the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

          (xi)   Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as they may be amended or
     supplemented, (A) there has not been any Material Adverse Change nor, to
     the knowledge of the Company, is any such change threatened, (B) there has
     not been any transaction entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries
     that is material to the earnings, business, affairs, properties, business
     prospects or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
     whole, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and
     changes

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     and transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, as they may be amended or supplemented, (C) other than changes
     in the amounts outstanding under the Company's and its Subsidiaries'
     revolving credit facilities, there has not been any material change in the
     capital stock, long term debt or material liabilities of the Company or its
     Subsidiaries, and (D) there has not been any dividend or distribution of
     any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company or any
     of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
     material contingent obligations or liabilities which are not disclosed in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          (xii)  The filing of the Registration Statement and related Prospectus
     and the execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized
     by the Board of Directors of the Company; this Agreement constitutes a
     valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable in
     accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by
     bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium
     and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general
     principles of equity and federal and state securities laws. The Company is
     not in breach or violation of or default under any indenture, mortgage,
     deed of trust, lease, contract, note or other agreement or instrument to
     which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound and
     which breach, violation or default would reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the transactions herein
     contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not result in a
     breach or violation of any of the material terms and provisions of, or
     constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease,
     contract, note or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
     Subsidiary is a party, or of the Company's or any Subsidiary's Certificate
     of Incorporation or bylaws or any law, decree, order, rule, writ,
     injunction or regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary of a
     court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other
     governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and its Subsidiaries
     except for such breaches, violations or defaults as would not reasonably be
     expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xiii)  Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
     declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
     governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery
     by the Company of this Agreement and performance of its obligations
     hereunder (except such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the
     Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or
     Blue Sky laws, and filing the Prospectus under Rule 424(b)) has been
     obtained or made and is in full force and effect.

          (xiv)  The Company and each Subsidiary hold all material licenses,
     authorizations, charters, certificates and permits from governmental
     authorities which are necessary to the conduct of their businesses and
     neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any
     proceeding relating to the revocation or modification of any of such
     licenses, authorizations, charters, certificates or permits. The Company
     and its Subsidiaries own or otherwise possess rights to the patents, patent
     rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, trademarks, service marks and
     trade names presently employed by them in connection with the businesses
     now operated by them as described in the Prospectus, and neither the
     Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has infringed or received any notice of
     infringements of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to
     any of the foregoing, except where such infringement or conflict would not
     reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xv)   Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, who have certified
     certain of the financial statements filed with the Commission and included
     as part of the Registration Statement and

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     Prospectus, are independent public accountants within the meaning of the
     Act, the Rules and Regulation S-X of the Commission and Rule 101 of the
     Code of Professional Ethics of the American Institute of Certified Public
     Accountants.

          (xvi)  There are no agreements, contracts or other documents of a
     character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus or required by Form S-3 to be filed as exhibits to the
     Registration Statement or incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement which are not described, filed or incorporated as required.

          (xvii)  No labor dispute is pending or, to the knowledge of the
     Company, threatened by the Company's or any Subsidiary's employees which
     could result in a Material Adverse Effect. No collective bargaining
     agreement exists with any of the Company's employees and, to the Company's
     knowledge, no agreement is imminent.

          (xviii)  Except as contemplated by Section 2 hereof and as disclosed
     in the Prospectus and permitted by the Rules, the Company has not (itself
     or through any person) taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any
     action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to, cause or
     result in a violation of Section 5 of the Act or Rule 10b-6 under the
     Exchange Act ("Rule 10b-6") or in stabilization or manipulation of the
     price of the Company's common stock.

          (xix)  Without limiting the generality of any of the foregoing
     representations and warranties and except to the extent no Material Adverse
     Effect would reasonably be expected to occur, (a) none of the operations of
     the Company or its Subsidiaries is in violation of any environmental law,
     regulation or any permit; (b) neither the Company nor any of its
     Subsidiaries has been notified that it is under investigation or under
     review by any governmental agency with respect to compliance therewith or
     with respect to the generation, use, treatment, storage or release of
     hazardous material; (c) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
     have any liability or contingent or potential liability in connection with
     the past generation, use, treatment, storage, disposal or release of any
     hazardous material; (d) there is no hazardous material that may reasonably
     be expected to pose any material risk to safety, health, or the
     environment, on, under or about any property owned, leased or operated by
     the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company,
     any property adjacent to any such property; and (e) there has heretofore
     been no release of any hazardous material on, under or about such property,
     or, to the knowledge of the Company, any such adjacent property. None of
     the present or, to the knowledge of the Company, past property of the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the
     National Priorities List pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental
     Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA") or
     on the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability
     Information System List ("CERCLIS") or any similar state list of sites
     requiring remedial action. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
     is subject to any Environmental Property Transfer Act, or to the extent
     that any such statute is applicable to any property, the Company and its
     Subsidiaries have fully complied with their obligations under such
     statute(s), and neither has any outstanding obligations or liabilities
     under any Environmental Property Transfer Act.

          (xx) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance of the types
     and in the amounts customary for their businesses, including, but not
     limited to, insurance covering liability and real and personal property
     owned or leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of
     vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which
     insurance is in full force and effect.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          (xxi)  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has at any time during
     the last five years (a) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for
     foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation
     of law, or (b) made any payment to any federal or state governmental
     officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-
     public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the
     United States or any jurisdiction thereof.

          (xxii)  Each executive officer and director of the Company has
     executed a lock-up agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
     "A" (the "Lock-Up Agreement").

     (b)  Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or by the
Stockholder, as the case may be, and delivered to you or counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the
Stockholder, as the case may be, to the Underwriters as to the matters covered
thereby.

     (c)  The Stockholder represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
Underwriter as follows:

          (i)   As of the Effective Date, the Stockholder shall be the lawful
     owner of the number of Shares to be sold by it, and has or at such time or
     times, as required, will have good and marketable title to all such Shares,
     free of all restrictions on transfer (other than those imposed by the Act,
     the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the securities or
     Blue Sky laws of certain jurisdictions) liens, encumbrances, security
     interests and claims whatsoever, except for claims created hereunder, the
     Power of Attorney (as defined below) or Custody Agreement (as defined
     below).

          (ii)  The Stockholder has full legal right, power and authority, and
     any approvals required by law and any agreement or instrument to which the
     Stockholder is a party, to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement
     has been fully executed and delivered by the Stockholder.

          (iii)  Upon delivery of payment for the Shares to be sold by the
     Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and marketable title to such
     Shares will pass, free of all restrictions on transfer (other than those
     imposed by the Act, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and the
     securities or Blue Sky laws of certain jurisdictions) liens, encumbrances,
     security interests and claims whatsoever, to each Underwriter.

          (iv)  The Stockholder has duly authorized (if applicable), executed
     and delivered a power of attorney, a form of which is attached hereto as
     Exhibit "B" and included herein (the "Power of Attorney"), appointing
     ________________________ and ____________________ as attorneys-in-fact
     (collectively the "Attorneys" and individually the "Attorney"), and a
     custody agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "C" and
     included herein (the "Custody Agreement"), with _______________ as
     custodian (the "Custodian"). Each of the Power of Attorney and the Custody
     Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Stockholder,
     enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof
     may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
     other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or
     by general equitable principles; and the Stockholder's Attorney, acting
     alone, is authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and the
     certificate referred to in Section 6(l) hereof, on behalf of the
     Stockholder to determine the purchase price to be paid by the several
     Underwriters to the Stockholder as provided in Section 2 hereof, to
     authorize the delivery of the Stockholder Shares under this Agreement and
     to duly endorse (in blank or otherwise) the certificate or certificates
     representing such Shares or a stock power or powers with respect thereto,
     to accept payment therefor, and otherwise to act on behalf of the
     Stockholder in connection with this Agreement.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          (v)  All authorizations, approvals, consents and orders necessary for
     the execution and delivery by the Stockholder of the Power of Attorney and
     the Custody Agreement, the execution and delivery by or on behalf of the
     Stockholder of this Agreement and the sale and delivery of the Stockholder
     Shares under this Agreement (other than, at the time of the execution
     hereof (if the Registration Statement has not yet been declared effective
     by the Commission), the issuance of the order of the Commission declaring
     the Registration Statement effective and such authorizations, approvals or
     consents as may be necessary under state or other securities or Blue Sky
     laws) have been obtained and are in full force and effect; the Stockholder
     has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under
     the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization as the type of entity that
     it purports to be; and the Stockholder has full right, power and authority
     to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and such
     Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement, and to sell, assign, transfer and
     deliver the Shares to be sold by the Stockholder under this Agreement.

          (vi)  The Stockholder will not for a period of 120 days after the
     effective dated of the Registration Statement, offer to sell, contract to
     sell or otherwise sell or dispose of any shares of common stock, any
     options or warrants to purchase any shares of common stock, or any
     securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock,
     owned directly by the Stockholder or with respect to which the Stockholder
     has the power of disposition, otherwise than hereunder or with the prior
     written consent of Stephens Inc. The Stockholder agrees and consents to the
     entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent
     against the transfer of shares of common stock held by the Stockholder
     except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

          (vii)  Certificates in negotiable form for all Shares to be sold by
     the Stockholder under this Agreement, together with a stock power or powers
     duly endorsed in blank by the Stockholder, have been placed in custody with
                  the Custodian for the purpose of effecting delivery hereunder.

          (viii)  This Agreement has been duly authorized by the Stockholder and
     has been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Stockholder and
     is a valid and binding agreement of the Stockholder, enforceable in
     accordance with its terms, except as the indemnification and contribution
     provisions hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the
     enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles; and the
     performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
     herein contemplated will not result in a breach of or default under any
     material bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or any
     material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement,
     lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Stockholder is a party
     or by which the Stockholder or any Stockholder Shares hereunder may be
     bound or, to the best of the Stockholder's knowledge, result in any
     violation of any law, order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree
     of any court or governmental agency or body or result in any violation of
     any provisions of the charter, bylaws or other organizational documents of
     the Stockholder.

          (ix) The Stockholder has not distributed and will not distribute any
     prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and
     sale of the Shares.

          (x) All information furnished by or on behalf of the Stockholder
     relating to the Stockholder and the Stockholder Shares that is contained in
     the representations and warranties of the Stockholder in such Stockholder's
     Power of Attorney or set forth in the Registration Statement and any
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
     thereto is, and on

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     the Closing Date and on any later date on which Option Shares are to be
     purchased as the case may be, will be, true, correct and complete, and does
     not, and on the Closing Date and on any later date on which Option Shares
     are to be purchased, as the case may be, will not contain an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make such statements not misleading.

          (xi)  The Stockholder will review the Prospectus and will comply with
     all agreements and satisfy all conditions on its part to be complied with
     or satisfied pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date, or
     any later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may
     be, and will advise one of its Attorneys prior to the Closing Date or such
     later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be,
     if any statement to be made on behalf of the Stockholder in the certificate
     contemplated by Section 6(l) would be inaccurate if made as of the Closing
     Date or such later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the
     case may be.

          (xii)  The Stockholder does not have, or has waived prior to the date
     hereof, any preemptive right, co-sale right or right of first refusal or
     other similar right to purchase any of the Shares that are to be sold by
     the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement; and the
     Stockholder does not own any warrants, options or similar rights to
     acquire, and does not have any right or arrangement to acquire, any capital
     stock, rights, warrants, options or other securities from the Company,
     other than those described in the Registration Statement and any
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
     thereto.

          (xiii)  The Stockholder is not aware that any representations and
     warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 above is untrue or
     inaccurate.

          (xiv)  The Stockholder has not taken, nor will it take, directly or
     indirectly, any action designed to, or which might reasonably be expected
     to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
     security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares
     owned by it pursuant to the distribution contemplated by this Agreement.

          (xv) The Stockholder will pay or cause to be paid all transfer taxes,
     if any, with respect to the Shares to be sold by it.

      2.  PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE UNDERWRITTEN SHARES.  On the basis
  of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and subject
  to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company and the Stockholder
  agree to sell each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
  Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of
  $____ per share, the number of the Underwritten Shares set forth on Schedule I
  attached hereto, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

     Payment for the Underwritten Shares shall be made by wire transfer of
[immediately available] [next day] U.S. Funds to designated accounts of the
Company and the Stockholder, to the order of the Company or the Stockholder, as
applicable, against delivery of certificates for the Shares to the
Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters. Delivery of
certificates shall be to the Representatives c/o Stephens Inc. ("Stephens"), 111
Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, or at such other address as Stephens
may designate in writing. Payment will be made at the offices of Stephens, or at
such other place as shall be agreed upon by Stephens and the Company, at
approximately 9:00 a.m., central time, on _______________, 1996, such time and
date being herein referred to as the "Closing Date." The certificates for the
Underwritten Shares will be delivered in such denominations and in such
registrations as Stephens requests in writing and

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
will be made available for inspection at such locations as Stephens may
reasonably request at least one full business day prior to the Closing Date.

     The certificates in negotiable form for the Stockholder Shares have been
placed in custody (for delivery under this Agreement) under the Custody
Agreement. The Stockholder agrees that the certificates for the Stockholder
Shares so held in custody are subject to the interests of the Underwriters
hereunder, that the arrangements made by the Stockholder for such custody,
including the Power of Attorney, is to that extent irrevocable and that the
obligations of the Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated by the act of
the Stockholder or by operation of law, or the occurrence of any other event,
except as specifically provided herein or in the Custody Agreement. If any such
event should occur before the delivery of the certificates for the Stockholder
Shares hereunder, the Stockholder Shares to be sold by the Stockholder shall,
except as specifically provided herein or in the Custody Agreement, be delivered
by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement
as if such event had not occurred, regardless of whether the Custodian shall
have received notice of such event.

     In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties, agreements
and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Stockholder hereby grants the Option to the several Underwriters
to purchase the Option Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first
paragraph of this Section 2. The Option may be exercised in whole or in part
[(from time to time), at any time] [on one occasion] upon written notice (or
oral notice, subsequently confirmed in writing) given not more than thirty (30)
days following the date of this Agreement, by Stephens, on behalf of the
Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company and the Stockholder
setting forth the number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters
are exercising the Option and the names and denominations in which the Option
Shares are to be registered. Closing on the purchase of the Option Shares (the
"Option Closing Date"), if any, shall occur no later than three (3) business
days following the date upon which notice of exercise of the Option is given to
the Company and the Stockholder, and shall take place at the offices of
Stephens, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by Stephens and the
Stockholder. Subject to Section 10, the number of Option Shares to be purchased
by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total number of
shares of the common stock being purchased by such Underwriter bears to
2,000,000 shares, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares.
The Option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the
Underwritten Shares by the Underwriters. Stephens, on behalf of the
Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at any time
prior to its expiration by giving written notice (or oral notice, subsequently
confirmed in writing) of such cancellation to the Stockholder. To the extent, if
any, that the Option is exercised, payment for the Option Shares shall be made
by wire transfer of [immediately available] [next day] U.S. Funds to a
designated account of the Stockholder, to the order of the Stockholder.
Certificates for the Option Shares shall be delivered in the same manner and
upon the same terms as the Underwritten Shares.

     3.   OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS.  It is understood that the Public
Offering of the Underwritten Shares is to be made as soon as the Representatives
deem it advisable to do so after the Registration Statement has become
effective. The Underwritten Shares are to be initially offered to the public at
the public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representatives may
from time to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling
terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant
to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the
foregoing terms.

     It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for the
Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares, in accordance with an
Agreement Among Underwriters which has been entered into by you and the several
other Underwriters.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     4.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company covenants and agrees with each
of the several Underwriters that:

          (a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
     Statement to become effective and will not, either before or after
     effectiveness, file any amendment thereto or supplement to the Prospectus
     (including a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) which differs from
     the Prospectus on file at the time the Registration Statement becomes
     effective) or file any documents under the Exchange Act before the earlier
     to occur of (A) the 35th day following the Effective Date or (B) the
     closing date of the Underwriters' purchase of the Option Shares if such
     document would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the
     Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus of
     which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised and
     furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
     objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Act or Rules[;
     provided, however, the Company may make any such filing under the Exchange
     Act related to its equity-based compensation plan or arrangement of which
     the Underwriters have been advised prior to this date].

          (b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any
     request of the Commission or other securities regulatory agency ("Other
     Securities Regulator") for amendment of the Registration Statement or for
     supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, or of the
     issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the
     institution of any proceedings for that purpose, or comparable action taken
     or initiated by any Other Securities Regulator, and the Company will use
     its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
     preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
     possible the lifting thereof, if issued.

          (c) The Company will use its reasonable efforts with the
     Representatives in endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the
     securities laws of such jurisdictions (including foreign jurisdictions) as
     the Representatives may reasonably designate, and will make such
     applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be
     reasonably required for that purpose; provided however, the Company shall
                                           -------- --------
     not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
     consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not so
     qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time
     to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as
     are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so
     long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for
     distribution of the Shares.

          (d) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
     Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary
     Prospectus or the Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request.
     The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives, on
     the Trade Date and thereafter from time to time during the period necessary
     to effect the distribution of the Shares as many copies of the Prospectus
     in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the
     Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the
     Representatives at or before the Closing Date, three (3) manually signed
     copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including
     all exhibits filed therewith (including any document filed under the
     Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the
     Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus) and
     will deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the
     Registration Statement, but without exhibits, and of all amendments
     thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
          (e) During the time necessary to effect the distribution of the
     Shares, the Company shall comply with all requirements imposed upon it by
     the Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules, as from time to
     time in force, so far as is necessary to permit the continuance of sales of
     or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the
     Prospectus. If, during the period necessary to effect the distribution of
     the Shares, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of
     the Company or in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes
     necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time
     the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is
     necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with
     any law or to file under the Exchange Act any document which would be
     deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply
     with the Act or the Exchange Act, the Company promptly will notify the
     Representatives and, subject to the Representatives' prior review, prepare
     and file with the Commission and any appropriate Other Securities Regulator
     an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (at the expense of
     the Company) so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not,
     in light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so
     that the Prospectus will comply with the law.

           (f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders
     in the manner contemplated by Rule 158(b) under the Act, as soon as it is
     practicable to do so, but in any event not later than the forty-fifth day
     after the fiscal quarter first occurring one year after the Effective Date,
     an earnings statement in reasonable detail, covering a period of at least
     twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date, which
     earnings statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the
     Act and will advise you in writing when such statement has been so made
     available.

          (g) For so long as the Company is subject to the reporting
     requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to its
     stockholders, as soon as practicable after the end of each respective
     period, annual reports (including financial statements audited by
     independent public accountants) and unaudited quarterly reports of
     earnings, and will furnish to the Representatives (a) concurrently with
     furnishing of such reports to its stockholders, statements of income of the
     Company for each quarter in the form furnished to the Company's
     stockholders and certified by the Company's principal financial or
     accounting officer; (b) concurrently with furnishing to its stockholders, a
     balance sheet of the Company as at the end of such fiscal year, together
     with statements of earnings, stockholders' equity and cash flow of the
     Company for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by a
     copy of the certificate or report thereon of independent public
     accountants; (c) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports
     (financial or other) mailed to stockholders; (d) as soon as they are
     available, copies of all reports and financial statements furnished to or
     filed with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc. ("NASD"), the NYSE or any securities exchange; (e) every press release
     and every material news item or article in respect of the Company or its
     affairs which was released or prepared by the Company; and (f) any
     additional information of a public nature concerning the Company or its
     business which you may reasonably request. During such period, if the
     Company shall have active subsidiaries the foregoing financial statements
     shall be on a consolidated basis to the extent that the accounts of the
     Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated, and shall be accompanied by
     similar financial statements for any significant subsidiary (as defined by
     the Act) which is not so consolidated.

          (h) Promptly after the Company is advised thereof, it will advise the
     Representatives, and confirm in writing, that the Registration Statement
     and any amendments shall have become effective.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
          (i) The Company will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares
     substantially in the manner set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
     "Use of Proceeds."

          (j) Other than as permitted by the Act and the Rules, the Company will
     not distribute any prospectus or offering materials in connection with the
     offering and sale of the Shares and prior to the Closing Date or the Option
     Closing Date will not issue any press releases or other communications
     directly or indirectly and will hold no press conferences with respect to
     the Company, the financial condition, results of operations, business,
     properties, assets or liabilities of the Company, or the offering of the
     Shares, without the prior written consent of Stephens.

          (k) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under
     the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for its
     common stock and will, use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the
     Shares on the NYSE.

          (l) Except as contemplated hereby or by the Prospectus, the Company
     will not, for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the Effective
     Date of the Registration Statement, offer to sell, contract to sell, sell
     or otherwise dispose of any shares of the Company's common stock or
     securities convertible into shares of the Company's common stock without
     the prior written consent of Stephens, which consent will not be
     unreasonably withheld[; provided, however, the Company may sell, transfer
     or issue shares of Common Stock under (i) the Company's plan of
     reorganization, (ii) the First Amended and Restated 1992 Warrant Plan,
     (iii) the restricted stock agreement between the Company and John W.
     McConnell, (iv) the employee stock purchase plan contemplated by the
     Company, and (v) the 10% Senior Subordinated Notes ("FCI Notes")].

          (m) If at any time during the 90-day period after the Registration
     Statement becomes effective, any rumor, publication or event relating to or
     affecting the Company shall occur as a result of which in the Underwriters'
     opinion the market price of the common stock has been or is likely to be
     materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor, publication or event
     necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the Company
     will, after written notice from the Underwriters advising the Company to
     the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with Stephens
     concerning the substance of, and disseminate a press release or other
     public statement, reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, responding
     to or commenting on such rumor, publication or event.

     The foregoing covenants and agreements shall apply to any successor of the
Company, including without limitation, any entity into which the Company might
consolidate or merge.

     5.   COSTS AND EXPENSES.  Whether or not the Registration Statement becomes
effective, the Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees
of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; the cost
of printing and delivering to Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement,
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the Agreement Among
Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreement, Underwriters' Questionnaire and
Power of Attorney, and the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements thereto; the
filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees incident to securing any required
review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the cost of printing
certificates representing the Shares; the cost and charges of any transfer agent
or registrar; and the expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with [the qualification
of the Shares under State securities or Blue Sky laws and the laws of any
foreign jurisdiction; provided, however, the Stockholder will pay all fees and

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
disbursements of its counsel and its pro rata portion of the Commission filing
fee, Blue Sky fees, NASD fee, plus $15,000 of other expenses and will promptly
reimburse the Company for any amounts advanced by the Company on behalf of the
Stockholder]. Any transfer taxes imposed on the sale of the Shares to the
Underwriters will be paid by the Company or the Stockholder as the case may be.
The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for any of Underwriters'
expenses (other than those related to qualification under State securities or
Blue Sky laws) except that, if the Public Offering shall not be consummated
because the conditions in Section 7 hereof are not satisfied, or because this
Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 6 hereof, or
by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to
perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply
with any of the terms hereof on their part to be performed, unless such failure
to satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms is due to the default or
omission of any Underwriter, then the Company shall reimburse the several
Underwriters for all costs and expenses, including attorney fees and out-of-
pocket expenses, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing
and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their
obligations hereunder but the Company shall not in any event be liable to any of
the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits
from the sale by them of the Shares.

     6.   CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.  The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as provided herein, are
subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing
Date, of the representations and warranties and agreements of the Company and
the Stockholder contained herein, to the performance by the Company and the
Stockholder of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions:

          (a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later
     than 11:00 a.m., central time, on the date of this Agreement, unless a
     later time and date is agreed to by the Representatives, and no stop order
     or other order suspending the effectiveness thereof or the qualification of
     the Shares under the State securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction
     shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been
     taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated or
     threatened by the Commission or any Other Securities Regulator. If the
     Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules, the price of the
     Shares and any price-related information previously omitted from the
     effective Registration Statement pursuant to such Rule 430A shall have been
     transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act
     within the prescribed time period, and prior to the Closing Date the
     Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of
     such timely filing, or a post-effective amendment providing such
     information shall have been promptly filed and declared effective in
     accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A under the Act. All requests
     for additional information on the part of the Commission or any other
     government or regulatory authority with jurisdiction (to be included in the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus or otherwise) shall be complied with
     to the satisfaction of the Commission or such authorities.

          (b)  The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and
     on the Option Closing Date the opinions of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue,
     counsel for the Company, and _________, counsel for the Stockholder, with
     respect to matters set forth below in subparagraphs (i) through (x) and
     subparagraphs (xi) through (xiv), respectively, each dated the Closing Date
     and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the
     Underwriters in form and substance satisfactory to Wright, Lindsey &
     Jennings, counsel to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

               (i) The Company and its Subsidiaries have been duly organized and
          are validly existing as corporations in good standing under the laws
          of the state(s) of their organization with full corporate power and
          authority to own their properties and conduct their business

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
          as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; the Company
          and its Subsidiaries are duly qualified to transact business in all
          jurisdictions in which the conduct of their businesses or the
          ownership or lease of the properties requires such qualification; and
          all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
          been validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable,
          and except as set forth in the Prospectus and the Registration
          Statement and except for directors' qualifying shares, if any, no
          options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other
          obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into
          any shares of capital stock of the Company are outstanding other than
          shares of Common Stock to be issued or sold pursuant to (i) the
          Company's plan of reorganization, (ii) the First Amended and Restated
          1992 Warrant Plan, (iii) the restricted stock agreement between the
          Company and John W. McConnell, (iv) the employee stock purchase plan
          contemplated by the Company, and (v) the FCI Notes.

               (ii) The Company has authorized and, to the knowledge of such
          counsel, outstanding the capital stock set forth under the captions
          "Capitalization" and "Description of Capital Stock" in the
          Registration Statement and Prospectus, except for issuances subsequent
          to the date of the Prospectus, if any, pursuant to reservations,
          commitments, employee benefit plans or other existing agreements; the
          outstanding shares of its capital stock have been duly and validly
          authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; all of
          the Shares conform to the description thereof contained in the
          Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares are in due and proper
          form, the Underwritten Shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement
          have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and
          non-assessable when issued and paid for as contemplated by this
          Agreement; there are no preemptive or other restrictive rights to
          subscribe for or to purchase or any restriction upon the voting or
          transfer of the Shares pursuant to the Company's Certificate of
          Incorporation, Bylaws, other governing documents or, to such counsel's
          knowledge, any material agreement or other instrument to which the
          Company is a party or by which it is bound; and, to such counsel's
          knowledge, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the
          offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives
          rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived or
          satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any class of the
          Company's capital stock.

               (iii)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the
          Act and to the knowledge of such counsel no stop order proceedings
          with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending or threatened
          under the Act and any and all filings required by Rule 424 and Rule
          430A of the Rules have been made.

               (iv) The Registration Statement, all Preliminary Prospectuses,
          the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of their
          respective effective or issue dates, complied as to form in all
          material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules,
          except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial
          statements, schedules and other financial or statistical information
          included therein.

               (v) The Company meets the requirements of, and is entitled to
          use, Form S-3 for the Public Offering, and the information required to
          be set forth in the Registration Statement in answer to Form S-3 is
          adequately set forth therein in all respects.

               (vi) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings known
          to such counsel between the Company

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
          and any person granting such person the right to require the Company
          to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any
          securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to
          require the company to include such securities in the securities being
          registered pursuant to a registration statement filed by the Company
          under the Act, except for any rights under employee stock compensation
          plans, which registration rights are not exercisable with respect to
          the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
          
               (vii)  To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal,
          regulatory or administrative proceedings pending or threatened against
          the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which are material to the
          earnings, business, affairs, properties, business prospects or
          operations of the Company or any Subsidiaries, except as set forth in
          the Prospectus.

               (viii)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, nor
          with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in
          violation of or in default under, nor will the execution or delivery
          hereof or consummation of the sale of the Shares by the Company as
          contemplated hereby result in a violation of, or constitute a default
          under, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other governing
          documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any material
          agreement, indenture or other instrument known to such counsel, to
          which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
          any of them is bound, or to which their properties are subject, nor
          will the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder
          violate any U.S. Federal statute or the Delaware General Corporation
          Law, any rule, administrative regulation or decree known by such
          counsel issued pursuant to U.S. Federal statute or Delaware General
          Corporation Law by any court or any governmental agency or body having
          jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their
          properties, or to such counsel's knowledge result in the creation or
          imposition of any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any property
          or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except where any
          such violation, lien, charge, claim or encumbrance would not have a
          Material Adverse Effect.

               (ix) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding obligation of the
          Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
          except as rights to indemnity which may be limited by Federal or state
          securities laws and except as to all applicable bankruptcy,
          insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, receivership and other
          laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and
          subject to the discretion of a court of equity in administering any
          such rights or remedies.

               (x) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
          declaration or filing by or with any U.S. Federal governmental
          regulatory, administrative or other governmental body or any State of
          Delaware court or governmental agency or body under the Delaware
          General Corporation Law is necessary in connection with the execution
          and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the sale of the
          Shares by the Company herein contemplated (other than required by NASD
          regulation or state securities and Blue Sky laws, as to which such
          counsel need express no opinion) except such as have been obtained or
          made, specifying the same.

               (xi) The Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter
          into and to perform its obligations under the Power of Attorney and
          Custody Agreement to be executed

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
          and delivered by it in connection with the transactions contemplated
          herein; the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement of the Stockholder
          have been duly authorized by the Stockholder; the Power of Attorney
          and the Custody Agreement of the Stockholder have been duly executed
          and delivered by or on behalf of the Stockholder; and the Power of
          Attorney and the Custody Agreement of the Stockholder constitute valid
          and binding agreements of the Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
          with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
          laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
          general equitable principles.

               (xii)  The Stockholder has full right, power and authority to
          enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to
          sell, transfer, assign and deliver the Shares to be sold by the
          Stockholder hereunder.

               (xiii)   This Agreement has been duly authorized by the
          Stockholder and has been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf
          of the Stockholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and
          delivery by the Underwriters, is a valid and binding agreement of the
          Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
          rights to indemnity which may be limited by Federal or state
          securities laws and except as to all applicable bankruptcy,
          insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, receivership and other
          laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and
          subject to the discretion of a court of equity in administering any
          such rights or remedies.

               (xiv)  Upon the delivery and payment for the Shares as
          contemplated in this Agreement, each of the Underwriters will receive
          valid title to the Shares purchased by it from the Stockholder, free
          and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim
          or equitable interest. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may
          assume that the Underwriters are without notice of any defect in the
          title of any of the Stockholder Shares being purchased from the
          Stockholder.

     In addition to the matters set forth above, such counsel shall also include
     a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in the
     preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, based on
     such participation, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel
     which cause such counsel to believe that any part of the Registration
     Statement or any amendment thereto (other than the financial statements and
     other financial data contained therein, as to which such counsel may
     express no belief), as of its effective date, contained any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
     (other than the financial statements and other financial data contained
     therein, as to which such counsel may express no belief), contains any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. However, such
     counsel has not independently verified, and assumes no responsibility for
     the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus, including any document incorporated or deemed to be
     incorporated therein by reference. The descriptions in the Registration
     Statement and Prospectus of statutes, regulations, legal and governmental
     proceedings, matters of law and contracts and other documents are accurate
     in all material respects and fairly present the information required to be
     shown. Such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings
     required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
     which are not described as required or of any contracts or documents of a
     character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
     Statement which are not described and filed as required; it being
     understood that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial
     statements or other financial data contained in the Registration Statement
     or the Prospectus. Such counsel may state that its opinion is limited to
     the applicable law of the United States of America and the Delaware General
     Corporation Law and that such counsel renders no opinion with respect to
     the law of any other jurisdiction. Such opinion may state further that
     whenever such opinion is based on factual matters to such counsel's
     knowledge or known to such counsel, such counsel has relied exclusively on
     certificates of officers (after discussion of the contents thereof with
     such officers) of the Company or certificates of others as to the existence
     or nonexistence of factual matters on which such opinion is predicated but
     has no reason to believe that any such certificate is untrue or inaccurate
     in any material respect.

          Such opinion shall contain only those qualifications as Wright,
     Lindsey & Jennings, counsel to the Underwriters, may reasonably request or
     allow .

          (c) The Representatives shall have received from Wright, Lindsey &
     Jennings, counsel to the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date,
     substantially to the effects specified in subparagraph (iii) and (iv) of
     paragraph (b) of this Section 6, and that the Company is a validly
     organized and existing corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.
     In rendering such opinion, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings may rely as to all
     matters governed other than by Federal law on the opinions of counsel
     referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 6. In addition to the
     matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the
     effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads
     them to believe that the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto at
     the time the Registration Statement or amendment became effective or the
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
     thereto as of their respective dates contain an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading (except
     that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements,
     schedules and other financial or statistical information included therein).

          (d) The Representatives shall have received at or prior to the Closing
     Date from Wright, Lindsey & Jennings a memorandum or summary, in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Representatives, with respect to the
     qualification or exemption therefrom for offering and sale by the
     Underwriters of the Shares under the State securities or Blue Sky laws of
     such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated.

          (e) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and on
     the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, signed letters from Ernst &
     Young LLP, addressed to the Underwriters dated as of the Effective Date and
     again dated as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, as
     the case may be, with respect to the financial statements and certain
     financial and statistical information contained in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus. All such letters shall be in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Representatives and Wright, Lindsey &
     Jennings, counsel to the Underwriters.

          (f) The Representatives shall have received a signed letter from Ernst
     & Young LLP, independent auditors, stating that their review of the
     Company's system of internal accounting controls, to the extent they deemed
     necessary in establishing the scope of their examination of the Company's
     financial statements, did not disclose any weakness in internal controls
     that they considered to be a material weakness.

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
          (g) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and on
     the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates
     of the President & Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and
     Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that, on and as of the
     Closing Date and on and as of the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
     each of them severally represents as follows:

               (i) (A) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
          Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date and on
          and as of the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and (B) the
          Company has complied with all of its agreements and covenants and has
          satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or
          satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date and at or prior to the
          Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

               (ii) (A) The Registration Statement has become effective under
          the Act; (B) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
          Registration Statement or the use or effectiveness of the Prospectus
          has been issued; (C) no proceedings for such purpose have been taken
          or, to his knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission or any Other
          Securities Regulator; and (D) all requests for additional information
          on the part of the Commission or any Other Securities Regulator have
          been complied with.

               (iii)  No litigation has been instituted or threatened against
          the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of a character required to be
          disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not so disclosed; and
          there is no material contract required to be filed as an exhibit to
          the Registration Statement which is not so filed.

               (iv) They have carefully examined the Registration Statement and
          the Prospectus and, in their opinion, since the Effective Date, (A)
          the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus remain true and correct, (B) such Registration Statement
          and Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact required to be
          stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein
          not misleading and (C) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred
          which should have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of
          the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or
          amendment.

          (h) The Company and the Stockholder shall have furnished to the
     Representatives such additional information and further certificates and
     documents confirming the representations and warranties contained herein
     and related matters as the Representatives may reasonably have requested.

          (i) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
     Prospectus, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change.

          (j) The Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE,
     subject to official notice of issuance.

          (k) The Representatives shall have received from the Stockholder a
     certificate or certificates, dated as of the Closing Date, or the Option
     Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that as of such date, it
     represents as follows:

               (i) The representations and warranties of the Stockholder in this
          Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date.

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
               (ii) The Stockholder has in all material respects complied with
          all the agreements and has satisfied all of the conditions on its part
          to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

               (iii)  The Stockholder has carefully examined the Registration
          Statement and the Prospectus, and as of the date of the Prospectus and
          as of the Closing, neither the Registration Statement nor the
          Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement thereto include an untrue
          statement of a material fact required to be stated therein or
          necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and,
          since the date of the Prospectus, no event has occurred which should
          have been set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Registration
          Statement or Prospectus, which has not been set forth, and since the
          respective date as of which such information is given in the
          Registration Statement and Prospectus there has not been any Material
          Adverse Change.

     The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed
to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material
respects satisfactory to the Representatives and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings,
counsel for the Underwriters.

     If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6 shall
not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled,
the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the
Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by
confirmed telefax at or prior to the Closing Date. In such event, the Company
and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to
the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof).

     7.   CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  The obligations of the
Company and the Stockholder to sell and deliver the Shares are subject to the
conditions that (a) at or before 11:00 a.m., central time, on the date of this
Agreement, or such later time and date as the Company and the Representatives
may from time to time consent to in writing or by confirmed telefax, the
Registration Statement shall have become effective, and (b) at the Closing Date
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall
have been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened. If either of
the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 7 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, this Agreement
may be terminated by the Company or the Stockholder by notifying the
Representatives of such termination in writing or by confirmed telefax at or
prior to the Closing Date.

     8.   INDEMNIFICATION.

     (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act,
the Rules and the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, joint or several, and all expenses (including costs of
investigation and legal expenses) to which such Underwriter or such controlling
person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions or proceedings in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any breach of any representation,
warranty, agreement, or covenant of the Company, or any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Company will
reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for legal and other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however,
                                                                     --------
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an
untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission
made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus,
or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation thereof, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in Section 13 below, or furnished to the Company
by the Stockholder specifically for use in the preparation thereof; and provided
                                                                        --------
further, that with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
- -------
in or omission or alleged omission from any Preliminary Prospectus, the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a) shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Shares concerned, to the extent
that a prospectus relating to such Shares was required to be delivered by such
Underwriter under the Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss,
claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter, results from the fact that there
was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written conformation of
the sale of such Shares to such person, a copy of the Prospectus as then amended
or supplemented (excluding any documents incorporated by reference therein) if
the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.

     (b) The Stockholder severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of the Act, the Rules and the Exchange Act from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, and all
expenses (including costs of investigation and legal expenses) to which such
Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
breach of any representation, warranty, agreement, or covenant of the
Stockholder, or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
and the Stockholder will reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling
person for legal and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding;
[provided, however, that the Stockholder will be liable in any such case only to
           --------
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, or omission or
alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company by the Stockholder
specifically for use in the preparation thereof]. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Stockholder may otherwise have.

     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amounts payable by the
Stockholder pursuant to the indemnification and contribution provisions set
forth in this Section 8 shall be limited to an amount not exceeding net proceeds
received by the Stockholder from the sale of Shares hereunder.

     (c) Each Underwriter severally, but not jointly, will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have
signed the Registration Statement, the Stockholder, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company, within the meaning of the Act, the Rules and the Exchange
Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or expenses to
which the Company, the Stockholder or any such director, officer, or controlling
person may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances under which they were made; and will reimburse any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, the Stockholder or any such
director, officer, or controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding;
provided, however, that each Underwriter will be liable in such case only to the
          --------                                                              
extent that such untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or through the
Representatives expressly for use in the preparation thereof, which information
is described in Section 13.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.

     (d)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of
notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
this Section 8, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is
substantially prejudiced by the omission of such notification.  In case any such
action or proceeding is brought against any party, and it notifies an
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be
liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.  Any indemnified party shall
have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has
been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel, or (iii)
the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include
such indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as the case may be, and such
indemnified party shall have been advised in writing by such counsel that there
may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying party, in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that (A) the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate
but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in
writing by the indemnified parties, and that (B) all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  Subject to the foregoing provisions
of this Section 8(d), the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the costs
and expenses of any settlement of any action without the consent of the
indemnifying party.

     (e)  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is for
any reason held to be unavailable to an indemnified party

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above in respect to any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each applicable
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (i) in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and
the Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the
offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the parties in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company and the Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds
from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before
deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to the underwriting discounts
and commissions received by the Underwriters.  The relative fault of a party
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by each party and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses
reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim.

     The Company, the Stockholder and the Underwriters agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Underwriters have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations in this subsection
(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.

     (f)  In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto,
each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other
contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served
upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of
such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as
an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing
party is a party.

     9.   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.  All
representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Stockholder and
the officers of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto,
and the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 8 hereof,
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriters or any controlling
person, or by or on behalf of the Company or any of its officers, directors or
controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of the Underwritten Shares and,
if appropriate, the Option Shares to the Representatives or termination of this
Agreement.

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
     10.  DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS.  If any Underwriter shall fail to purchase
and pay for the Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for
hereunder (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company or
the Stockholder), you, as the Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use
your best efforts to procure within twenty-four hours thereafter one or more of
the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company and the
Stockholder such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth
herein, the Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to
purchase.  If during such twenty-four hours you, as such Representatives, shall
not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Shares
agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a)
if the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such default shall occur
does not exceed 10% of the Shares which the Underwriters are obligated to
purchase hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in
proportion to the respective number of Shares which they are obligated to
purchase hereunder, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of Shares with
respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Company's common
stock covered hereby, the Company or you, as the Representatives of the
Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next
twenty-four hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this
Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters, the
Company or the Stockholder except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof.
In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in
this Section 10, the time of closing may be postponed for such period, not to
exceed seven days, as you, as the Representatives, may determine in order that
the required changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any
other documents or arrangements may be effected.  The term "Underwriters"
includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter.  Any action taken
under Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in
respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

     11.  NOTICES.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except
as otherwise provided in, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed
as follows: if to the Underwriters, c/o the Representatives as follows: to
Stephens Inc., 111 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, Attention: Sandra
Farmer, with a copy to C. Douglas Buford, Jr., Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, 200
West Capitol Avenue, Suite 2200, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201; if to the Company,
to Fairfield Communities, Inc., 2800 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202,
Attention: Marcel J. Dumeny through December 1, 1996 and thereafter 1100
Executive Center Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 722__, Attention: Marcel J.
Dumeny, with a copy to  Mark V. Minton, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, 2300
Trammell Crow Center, 2001 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75201; and if the
Stockholder, to Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, NW,
Pickerington, Ohio 43147, Attention: James Mosier.

     12.  TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be terminated by notice to the
Company as follows:

          (a) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the time the Shares are
     released by you for sale by notice to the Underwriters, or (ii) twenty-four
     (24) hours following the time at which the Registration Statement becomes
     effective;

          (b) at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has
     occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given
     in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any Material Adverse
     Change which would, in your reasonable judgment, materially impair the
     investment quality of the Shares, (ii) any outbreak of hostilities or other
     national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic or
     political conditions if the effect of such outbreak, calamity, crisis or
     change on the financial markets of the United States would, in your
     reasonable judgment, make the offering or delivery of the Shares
     impracticable, (iii) suspension of trading or general trading halts in
     securities on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange,

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
     The Nasdaq National Market or the over-the-counter market or limitation on
     prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days or trading) for
     securities on either such Exchange, The Nasdaq National Market or the over-
     the-counter market, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other
     promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of
     any court or other governmental authority which in your reasonable opinion
     materially and adversely affects or will materially or adversely affect the
     business or operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking
     moratorium by either federal or state authorities, or (vi) the taking of
     any action by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect
     of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a
     material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or

          (c) as provided in Sections 6 and 10 of this Agreement.

     13.  INFORMATION FURNISHED BY UNDERWRITERS.  The information set forth in
the Prospectus: (a) in the last paragraph on the cover page, (b) on page 2
regarding stabilization, and (c) (i) in the table under the caption
"Underwriting" on page 39, listing the Underwriters and the number of shares
each has agreed to purchase, and (ii) in the first paragraph below said table on
page 39, relating to the concession to dealers and the reallowance to certain
other dealers under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus, constitute the
written information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriters referred to in
paragraph (a) (v) of Section 1 hereof and in paragraphs (a) and (c) of Section 8
hereof.

     14.  SUCCESSORS.  This Agreement has been and is made solely for the
benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Stockholder and their respective
successors, executors, administrators, heirs, and assigns, and the officers,
directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include
any purchaser of the Shares merely because of such purchase.

     15.  MISCELLANEOUS.  The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution
agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and
covenants of the Company and the Stockholder in this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b)
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or controlling person
or (c) delivery of any payment for the Shares under this Agreement.

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

     This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Arkansas, without giving effect to the choice of law or
conflict of law principles thereof.

               [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
   If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
 please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof, whereupon it will
  become a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters in
                           accordance with its terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              FAIRFIELD COMMUNITIES, INC.


                              By:___________________________________
                              Name:
                              Title:


                              STOCKHOLDER:

                              PHYSICIANS INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHIO


                              By:___________________________________
                              Name:
                              Title:

                              [PICO subsidiary]


                              By:___________________________________
                              Name:
                              Title:


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.

STEPHENS INC. AND DONALDSON, LUFKIN
 & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION


By:_________________________________
     Stephens Inc., Senior Manager

Name:_______________________________
Title:______________________________


As Representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE I



Name                                                  No. of Underwritten Shares
- ----                                                  --------------------------

Stephens Inc.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation



Total                                                          _________________
- -----                             
                                                                       2,000,000
                                                                       =========

<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A


                               November 1, 1996



Stephens Inc. and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o Stephens Inc.
111 Center Street
Little Rock, Arkansas  72201

Re:  Agreement Not to Sell Fairfield Communities, Inc. Stock
__________________________________________________________

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This letter is provided, at the request of Fairfield Communities, Inc. (the
"Company"), for the benefit of the Company and the Underwriters in connection
with the proposed public offering of 2,000,000 shares of Fairfield Communities,
Inc. Common Stock (plus an additional 300,000 shares if the Underwriters choose
to exercise their over-allotment option) pursuant to a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (File No. 333-14875).  As an inducement to the Underwriters to (a)
enter into an Underwriting Agreement with the Company and its selling
stockholder, Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio and one or more of its
subsidiaries, and (b) consummate the transactions contemplated in such
Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned hereby represents and agrees as follows:

     1.  The undersigned beneficially owns the number of shares of the Company's
Common Stock set forth below opposite the signature of the undersigned (the
"Shares"), and no others.

     2.  The undersigned agrees that, for a period of 120 days from the
effective date of the Registration Statement, except for bona fide gifts to
persons who agree with you in writing to be bound by this letter, the
undersigned will not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares,
directly or indirectly, without your written consent as Representatives of the
Underwriters, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; except that (a)
such Shares may be pledged as collateral against loans of the undersigned
without such written consent, and (b) if loans secured by Shares are called, the
undersigned and any applicable pledgee will have the right to sell the shares
pledged on such loans to the extent necessary to satisfy such loans.


Shares of Common Stock:                           Very truly yours,
 
 
_______________________                           _____________________________ 


K:blw3485.059
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT B


                               CUSTODY AGREEMENT

                          FAIRFIELD COMMUNITIES, INC.

                           (A Delaware Corporation)


[CUSTODIAN]
[CUSTODIAN ADDRESS]

Gentlemen:

     WHEREAS, Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio (the "Undersigned" or the
"Selling Shareholder") is the owner of duly authorized, issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Fairfield
Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"); and

     WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Custody Agreement, the
Undersigned is executing and delivering a Power of Attorney (the "Power of
Attorney"), naming _______________ as attorney-in-fact (the "Attorney-in-Fact")
of the Undersigned, to arrange, among other things, for the sale by the
Undersigned of up to 1,100,000 (1,400,000 if the over-allotment option granted
by the Selling Shareholder is exercised in full) shares of Common Stock (the
"Shares") to Stephens Inc., Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
and certain other underwriters (collectively, the "Underwriters") named in the
underwriting agreement to be executed by and among the Company, the Selling
Shareholder, other selling shareholders (if any) and the Underwriters in
connection with such sale (the "Underwriting Agreement"), and to execute and
deliver the Underwriting Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, for the purpose of carrying out the sale of the Shares
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a custodial relationship is hereby
established with you, as custodian (the "Custodian"), and as Custodian, you are
hereby instructed to act in accordance with this Agreement and any amendments or
supplements hereto given to you in writing and signed by the Attorney-in-Fact
acting on behalf of the Undersigned.

     1.  The Undersigned hereby delivers to you as Custodian a certificate or
certificates (the "Certificates") representing not less than the number of the
shares of the Undersigned to be sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement,
which Certificates have been endorsed in blank or are accompanied by stock
powers duly executed in blank.  The Certificates are to be held by the Custodian
for the account of the Undersigned and are to be disposed of by the Custodian in
accordance with this Custody Agreement.  The Custodian agrees that it waives any
liens, claims or security interests that it may have with respect to the Shares
deposited herewith.  The Undersigned agrees that the Shares represented by the
Certificates deposited herewith are subject to the interests of the Underwriters
under the Underwriting Agreement.

     2.  You, as Custodian, are authorized and directed to hold the Certificates
in your custody and (i) on or immediately prior to the Closing Date referred to
in the Underwriting Agreement (the "Closing Date") or, as applicable, the Option
Closing Date referred to in the Underwriting Agreement (the "Option Closing
Date"), to cause the number of Shares which are to be sold by the Undersigned
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement to be transferred on the books of the
Company into such name or names as the Underwriters shall have instructed you,
as Custodian; to cause to be issued, against surrender of the certificate or
certificates representing such Shares a new certificate or certificates for such
Shares registered in such name
<PAGE>
 
or names; to deliver such new certificate or certificates representing such
Shares to the Underwriters on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
applicable, for the accounts of the Underwriters under the Underwriting
Agreement, against payment therefor in accordance with the Underwriting
Agreement; and to give receipt for such payment and to deposit the same to your
account, as Custodian; and (ii) as soon as practicable, to draw upon such
account to pay (or reimburse yourself for) such expenses (including, without
limitation, your fees and expenses as Custodian and any stock transfer taxes and
other expenses allocable to the Undersigned in connection with the sale of the
Shares) as you may be instructed to pay by the Attorney-in-Fact acting on behalf
of the Undersigned, and to remit to the Undersigned the balance, after deducting
such expenses, of the amount received by you as payment for the Shares.  As soon
as practicable after the Option Closing Date, you shall return to the
Undersigned a new certificate representing the number of Shares, if any,
deposited herewith which are not sold by the Undersigned pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement.  Delivery of new certificates shall be made to the
Undersigned at the address listed below.

     3.  If you receive written notice from the Attorney-in-Fact that the
Underwriting Agreement shall not be entered into on behalf of the Undersigned,
or if it shall not become effective pursuant to its terms, or if it shall be
terminated pursuant to its terms, then, subject to the provisions of the Power
of Attorney, you are to return to the Undersigned the Certificates deposited
herewith, together with any stock powers, and you shall have no further
responsibility hereunder.

     4.  This Custody Agreement is for the express benefit of the Company, the
Underwriters and the Undersigned and is irrevocable, subject to the provisions
of paragraph 3 hereof.  The obligations and authorizations of the Undersigned
hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law or the occurrence of any
event whatsoever; and, if any such event should occur before the delivery
hereunder to the representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters of the
Shares, said Shares shall be delivered to the Underwriters in accordance with
the terms and conditions of this Custody Agreement and the Underwriting
Agreement as if such event had not occurred, regardless of whether the Custodian
shall have received notice of such event.

     5.  Until payment of the purchase price for the Shares being sold by the
Undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement has been made to you by or
for the account of the Underwriters, the Undersigned shall remain the owner of
the Shares deposited herewith and shall have the right to vote such Shares and
to receive all dividends and distributions thereon.  However until such payment
in full has been made or until the Underwriting Agreement has been terminated,
the Undersigned agrees that the Undersigned will not give, sell, pledge,
hypothecate, grant any lien on, transfer, deal with or contract with respect to
the Shares to be sold by the Undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
or any interest therein, except in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement.

     6.  You shall assume no responsibility or liability to any person other
than to deal with the Certificates and the proceeds from the sale of the Shares
in accordance with the provisions hereof, and the Undersigned hereby agrees to
indemnify and hold you harmless against any and all expenses, losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which you may become subject insofar as such expenses,
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any act taken or omitted to be taken by you pursuant hereto
or pursuant to instructions given to you by the Attorney-in-Fact, except if such
expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities shall result from gross
negligence or willful malfeasance on your part.  The Undersigned further agrees
that you may consult with counsel of your choice (who may be counsel for the
Company), and you shall have full and complete authorization and protection for
any action taken or suffered by you hereunder in good faith and in accordance
with the opinion of such counsel.

     7.  The Undersigned represents and warrants that the Undersigned has, and
at the time of delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement will have, full legal right,

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
power and capacity and all authorizations and approvals required by law or
otherwise to enter into this Custody Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the
Underwriting Agreement, to carry out the terms and provisions hereof and of the
Underwriting Agreement and to make all of the representations, warranties and
agreements contained herein and therein.  This Custody Agreement and the Power
of Attorney are, and the Underwriting Agreement, when executed by the Attorney-
in-Fact, will be, valid and binding obligations of the Undersigned, enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms.  The Undersigned further represents
and warrants that the execution and delivery of this Custody Agreement, the
Power of Attorney and the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the fulfillment of the terms
hereof and thereof will not conflict with or result in the breach of any of the
terms, provisions or conditions of, or constitute a default under, any note,
indenture, mortgage, deed or declaration of trust, agreement, will or other
instrument, if any, to which the Undersigned is a party or by which the
Undersigned is bound, or, to the best of the Undersigned's knowledge,
information and belief, any existing law, order, rule, regulation, writ,
injunction, judgment or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality,
agency or body, arbitration tribunal, or court, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Undersigned or the Undersigned's property.

     8.  Your acceptance of this Custody Agreement by the execution hereof shall
constitute an acknowledgment by you of receipt of the Certificates, and the
acceptance by you of the authorization herein conferred and shall evidence your
agreement to carry out and perform this Custody Agreement in accordance with its
terms.

     9.  This Custody Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Execution by you
of one counterpart hereof and its delivery thereof to the Attorney-in-Fact for
the account of the Undersigned shall constitute the valid execution and delivery
of this Custody Agreement by you.

     10.  This Custody Agreement shall be binding upon each of the Undersigned
and the Undersigned's successors and assigns.

     11.  This Custody Agreement for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arkansas.

     12.  You shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request or
notice with respect to this Custody Agreement given to you on behalf of the
Undersigned if the same shall be made or given to you by the Attorney-in-Fact
acting on behalf of the Undersigned.

     Please acknowledge your acceptance of this Custody Agreement as Custodian
and receipt of the Certificates deposited herewith by executing and returning
one of the enclosed copies of this Custody Agreement to the Undersigned at the
address set forth below.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Undersigned has executed this Custody Agreement
this _____ day of __________, 1996.

                                Very truly yours,

                                PHYSICIANS INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHIO


                                By:___________________________________
                                     Name:
                                     Title:

                                ADDRESS:______________________________

                                        ______________________________


                                ACKNOWLEDGMENT
                                --------------

STATE OF ________________

COUNTY OF _______________

     On this the _____ day of ____________, 1996, before me, a Notary Public,
personally appeared _________________________, who acknowledged himself to be
the _________________________ of Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio, a
corporation, and that he, as such officer, being authorized so to do, executed
the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein contained, by signing the name
of the corporation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                       _________________________________________________________
                                Notary Public

My Commission Expires:

___________________________


                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                          ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECEIPT

     [CUSTODIAN] acknowledges acceptance of the duties of Custodian under the
foregoing Custody Agreement and receipt of the Certificates for Common Stock
referred to therein and stock powers relating thereto.


                                        [CUSTODIAN]


Dated:______________________            By:_______________________________
                                             Name

                                        __________________________________ 
                                             Title



K:blw3506.059

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT C

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints ____________ and ____________, and each of them acting alone, its true 
and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution 
and resubstitution, for it and in its name, place and stead, in any and all 
capacities, to sign the Underwriting Agreement relating to the sale by the 
undersigned of shares of the common stock of Fairfield Communities, Inc. and any
amendments thereto, and to act on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to a 
Custody Agreement given in connection with such shares, granting unto said 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in 
and about the premises, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully 
do and cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                           PHYSICIANS INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHIO

                                           By:__________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                           Date: November__, 1996


                                ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
                                ---------------

STATE OF ______________

COUNTY OF _____________

     On this the ____ day of ____________, 1996, before me, a Notary Public, 
personally appeared _______________________, who acknowledged himself to be the 
_________________________ of Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio, a 
corporation, and that he, as such officer, being authorized so to do, executed 
the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein contained, by signing the name
of the corporation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                           _____________________________________
                                               Notary Public

My Commission Expires:

___________________________

<PAGE>
            
                                                                     Exhibit 5.1
                                                                     -----------

                          JONES, DAY, REAVIS & POGUE
                           2300 Trammell Crow Center
                               2001 Ross Avenue
                             Dallas, Texas  75201


                               November 19, 1996

Fairfield Communities, Inc.
2800 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72202

     Re: Registration of up to 2,300,000 shares of
         Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
         of Fairfield Communities, Inc.
         -----------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We are acting as counsel to Fairfield Communities, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the offering and sale by the
Company and certain stockholders of the Company (the "Stockholder") of 900,000
shares (the "Primary Shares") and up to 1,400,000 shares (the "Secondary
Shares"), respectively, of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") to
be entered into among the Company, the Stockholder, and Stephens Inc. and
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, as representatives of the
several underwriters to be named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement.

        We have examined such documents, records, and matters of law as we have
deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. Based on such examination and on
the assumptions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

        1. The Primary Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and delivered
    to the underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment
    of the consideration therefor as provided therein, will be validly issued,
    fully paid, and nonassessable.

        2. The Secondary Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
    and nonassessable.
<PAGE>
 
Fairfield Communities, Inc.
November 19, 1996
Page 2

        In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have relied as to certain
factual matters upon certificates of officers of the Company and public
officials, and we have not independently checked or verified the accuracy of the
statements contained therein. In addition, our examination of matters of law has
been limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the
federal laws of the United States of America, in each case as in effect on the
date hereof.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement (No. 333-14875) on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") filed by the Company to effect registration of the Primary Shares
and the Secondary Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to
the reference to us under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus
constituting a part of the Registration Statement.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                /s/ JONES, DAY, REAVIS & POGUE

                                                Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue


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