IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS INC
10-K, 1997-12-24
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE
Previous: LINCOLN LIFE FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT R, S-6, 1997-12-23
Next: AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY INC, 8-K, 1997-12-24



<PAGE>
 
                          IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                 SEC FORM 10-K
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
<PAGE>
 
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 24, 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM 10-K
  (Mark One)
  [X] Annual]report pursuant in Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 or

  [_] Transition]report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from     to    .
 
                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-5964
 
                          IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                 OHIO                                23-0334400
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
    INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
 
  BOX 834, VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA                   19482
    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE                  (ZIP CODE)
               OFFICES)
 
      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 296-8000
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
                                                           NAME OF EACH
                                                         EXCHANGE ON WHICH
      TITLE OF CLASS                                        REGISTERED

Common Stock, no par value                              New York Stock Exchange
(with Preferred Share Purchase Rights)                  Philadelphia Stock    
                                                        Exchange              
                                                        Chicago Stock Exchange 
                                                                              
 
Series BB Conversion Preferred Stock (Depositary Shares)New York Stock
Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
  INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS
REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE
REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO FILE SUCH REPORTS), AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO
SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS.
YES  X  NO
   ----   ----
  INDICATE BY CHECK MARK IF DISCLOSURE OF DELINQUENT FILERS PURSUANT TO ITEM
405 OF REGULATION S-K IS NOT CONTAINED HEREIN, AND WILL NOT BE CONTAINED, TO
THE BEST OF REGISTRANT'S KNOWLEDGE, IN DEFINITIVE PROXY OR INFORMATION
STATEMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN PART III OF THIS FORM 10-K OR ANY
AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM 10-K. [X]
 
  THE AGGREGATE MARKET VALUE OF THE VOTING STOCK HELD BY NON-AFFILIATES OF THE
REGISTRANT AS OF DECEMBER 19, 1997 WAS APPROXIMATELY $3,490,314,157 BASED UPON
THE CLOSING SALES PRICE ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE COMPOSITE TAPE OF
$26.4375 PER COMMON SHARE AND $64.25 PER DEPOSITARY SHARE OF SERIES BB
CONVERSION PREFERRED STOCK ON DECEMBER 19, 1997. FOR PURPOSES OF THE FOREGOING
SENTENCE ONLY, ALL DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND THE TRUSTEES
OF THE REGISTRANT'S PENSION PLAN AND STOCK PURCHASE PLANS WERE ASSUMED TO BE
AFFILIATES.
 
  THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE, OF THE REGISTRANT
OUTSTANDING AS OF DECEMBER 19, 1997 WAS 134,094,079.
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
  PARTS I AND II--PORTIONS OF THE REGISTRANT'S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
                   FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
 
  PART III--PORTIONS OF THE REGISTRANT'S PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 1998 ANNUAL
                            MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART I
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
 
  IKON Office Solutions, Inc. ("IKON" or the "Company") was incorporated in
Ohio in 1952 and is the successor to a business incorporated in 1928. The
address of the Company's principal executive offices is P.O. Box 834, Valley
Forge, Pennsylvania 19482 (telephone number: (610) 296-8000).
 
  IKON sells, rents and leases photocopiers, fax machines, digital printers
and other automated office equipment for use in both traditional and
integrated office environments, and provides equipment service and supplies
and equipment financing. IKON's business also includes outsourcing and imaging
services, such as mailroom and copy center management, specialized document
copying services and electronic imaging and file conversion. IKON also offers
network consulting and design, hardware and software product interfaces,
computer networking, technology training and software solutions for the
networked office environment, providing one-stop shopping to customers who
seek quality, accessible office productivity solutions.
 
  IKON has over 1,100 locations in the United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom, Germany, France and Denmark. These locations comprise the largest
network of independent copier and office equipment dealers in North America
and in the United Kingdom. IKON competes against numerous competitors over a
wide range of markets, competing on the basis of quality, customer service,
price and product performance.
 
  IKON distributes the products of numerous manufacturers, including Canon,
Oce, Ricoh and Sharp, throughout 50 states, eight Canadian provinces, in
Europe and in Mexico. IKON also distributes the products of Microsoft, IBM,
Lotus, Compaq and Hewlett-Packard in the United States and Canada. Customers
include large and small businesses, professional firms and government
agencies.
 
  In fiscal 1997, IKON generated approximately $5.1 billion in revenues and
$261 million in operating income. Finance subsidiaries contributed 23.5% of
IKON's operating income in fiscal 1997.
 
  During fiscal 1997, IKON acquired 89 companies in the United States, Canada,
and Europe, with an aggregate of approximately $528 million in annualized
trailing revenues. Of the 89 companies acquired in fiscal 1997, 34 were
traditional copier companies, 27 were outsourcing and imaging companies and 28
were technology services companies. IKON's international expansion during
fiscal 1997 included the acquisition of companies in Canada, the United
Kingdom, France and Germany.
 
               INFORMATION CONCERNING IKON'S BUSINESS IN GENERAL
 
                            BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
 
  At the end of fiscal 1995, the Company began a transformation program
designed to change the organization into a more cohesive and integrated
network. The transformation involves a variety of activities that IKON
believes will lower administrative costs and improve margins. These activities
include the consolidation of purchasing, inventory control, logistics and
other activities into thirteen customer service centers in the United States,
establishment of a common information technology system, adoption of a common
name and creation of marketplace-focused field operations with greater
attention to customer sales and service.
 
  In March 1997, IKON determined that it would accelerate the transformation
program, which was originally expected to be completed in fiscal 2000. The
Company now expects to complete its transformation program by the end of
fiscal 1998.
 
                                  NAME CHANGE
 
  Effective January 23, 1997, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment
to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to change the name of the
corporation from Alco Standard Corporation to IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                              UNISOURCE SPIN-OFF
 
  In the third quarter of fiscal 1996, the Company announced that it would
distribute all of the common shares of Unisource Worldwide, Inc.
("Unisource"), its paper products and supply systems distribution subsidiary,
to the Company's common shareholders. Accordingly, the Company declared a
dividend payable to holders of record of the Company's common stock at the
close of business on December 13, 1996 (the "Record Date") of one share of
Unisource common stock, $.001 par value, for every two shares of the Company's
common stock owned on the Record Date. As a result of the distribution, 100%
of the outstanding shares of Unisource Common Stock were distributed to the
Company's shareholders on December 31, 1996 (the "Distribution Date"). Except
for any cash received in lieu of fractional shares, the Unisource spin-off was
tax-free to the Company and the Company's U.S. shareholders. Effective January
2, 1997, Unisource began operating as an independent publicly traded company.
 
  In conjunction with the separation of their businesses, the Company and
Unisource entered into various agreements that address the allocation of
assets and liabilities between them and define their relationship after the
separation, including a Distribution Agreement, a Benefits Agreement and a Tax
Sharing and Indemnification Agreement, all of which have been filed as
exhibits to this report.
 
                         BOARD AND MANAGEMENT CHANGES
 
  James R. Birle, Chairman of Resolute Partners, Inc., a private merchant
bank, was elected to the Board of Directors in November 1996, and Philip E.
Cushing, Group Chief Executive of Inchcape PLC, an international distribution
business, was elected to the Board in November 1997.
 
  Among other executive changes during fiscal 1997, Kurt E. Dinkelacker, who
had been serving as President and Chief Operating Officer, assumed the
position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In addition,
Michael H. Dudek (Vice President--Acquisitions), William A. Brady (Vice
President--Law) and Beth Sexton (Vice President--Human Resources), were
appointed as corporate officers, and J. F. Quinn was named Treasurer.
 
                                 DEBT OFFERING
 
  In October 1997, IKON completed a public offering of $125 million seven-year
notes with a stated interest rate of 6.75% at a discount price of 99.132%, and
$125 million of thirty-year notes with a stated interest rate of 7.30% at a
discount price of 98.593%, and used the net proceeds of approximately $247
million to reduce outstanding short-term debt.
 
                            SUPPLIERS AND CUSTOMERS
 
  Products distributed by IKON are purchased from numerous domestic and
overseas suppliers, primarily Canon, Oce, Ricoh and Sharp. There has been no
significant difficulty in obtaining products from these suppliers. Supplier
relationships are good and are expected to continue. IKON has a large number
of customers, and is not dependent upon a single customer, or a few customers,
the loss of any one or more of which would have a material adverse effect on
IKON's business taken as a whole.
 
  Many of the Company's operations are required to carry significant amounts
of inventory to meet rapid delivery requirements of customers. At September
30, 1997, inventories accounted for approximately 21% of IKON's total current
assets.
 
                              PROPRIETARY MATTERS
 
  The Company has a number of trademarks, trade names and service marks which
the Company uses in the conduct of its business. However, except for the "IKON
Office Solutions" and "IKON" designations, the
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Company does not believe that any single name, trademark, trade name or
service mark is material to its business taken as a whole. A number of parties
have brought claims against the Company alleging that its use of the "IKON
Office Solutions" designation infringes upon certain proprietary rights. The
Company believes that such claims are without merit and is vigorously
defending its use of the designation.
 
                           ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
 
  IKON is engaged in distribution and services businesses which do not
generate significant hazardous wastes. Some of IKON's distribution facilities
have tanks for storage of diesel fuel and other petroleum products which are
subject to laws regulating such storage tanks. Federal, state and local
provisions relating to the protection of the environment have not had and are
not expected to have a material adverse effect upon the Company's capital
expenditures, liquidity, earnings or competitive position. Certain
environmental claims, however, are now pending against the Company for
manufacturing or landfill sites relating to predivestiture activities of
discontinued manufacturing operations. While it is not possible to estimate
what expenditures may be required in order for the Company to comply with
environmental laws or discharge environmental liabilities in the future, the
Company does not believe that such expenditures will have a material adverse
effect on it or its operations as a whole.
 
                                   EMPLOYEES
 
  At September 30, 1997, IKON had approximately 41,000 employees. IKON
believes its relations with its employees are good.
 
                              FOREIGN OPERATIONS
 
  IKON has operations in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, France
and Denmark. Information concerning revenues, income before taxes and
identifiable assets of the Company's foreign continuing operations for each of
the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997 set forth in note 14 to
the consolidated financial statements (included on page 32 of the Company's
1997 Annual Report to Shareholders ("1997 Annual Report")) is incorporated
herein by reference. Revenues from exports during the last three fiscal years
were not significant.
 
  There are additional risks attendant to foreign operations, such as possible
currency fluctuations and unsettled political conditions.
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
 
  At September 30, 1997, IKON owned or leased approximately 1,100 facilities
in 50 states, eight Canadian provinces, in Europe and in Mexico, of which
approximately 2% are owned and 98% are leased under lease agreements with
various expiration dates. These properties occupy a total of approximately 9.2
million square feet. IKON believes that its facilities are suitable and
adequate for the purposes for which they are used.
 
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
  A number of ordinary course legal proceedings are pending against the
Company. There are also a number of claims against the Company alleging that
its use of the "IKON Office Solutions" and "IKON" designations infringes upon
certain proprietary rights. Except for these proprietary rights claims (which
the Company believes will be resolved in a manner which will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company), there are no material pending legal
proceedings to which the Company is a party (or to which any of its property
is subject), and to the Company's knowledge, no material legal proceedings are
contemplated by governmental authorities against the Company or any of its
properties.
 
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
 
                    (No response to this item is required.)
 
                               ----------------
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                          EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF IKON
 
  The following is a list of the Company's executive officers, their ages and
their positions for the last five years. Unless otherwise indicated, positions
shown are with IKON or its subsidiaries.
 
                               ----------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          NAME           AGE                 POSITION AND YEARS SERVED
          ----           ---                 -------------------------
<S>                      <C> <C>
John E. Stuart..........  53 Chairman (1995-Present), Chief Executive Officer (1993-
                             Present), and a director (1993-Present); President (1993-
                             1996); Vice President (1989-1993)
William F. Drake, Jr. ..  65 General Counsel (1996-Present), Vice Chairman (1984-
                             1996), and a director (1969-Present); Of Counsel (1996-
                             Present), Partner (1984-1996), Montgomery, McCracken,
                             Walker & Rhoads
Kurt E. Dinkelacker.....  44 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                             (1997-Present; 1993-1995); President (1995-1997) and
                             Chief Operating Officer (1996-1997) (also a member of the
                             Finance Committee of Crozer-Keystone Health System)
James J. Forese.........  61 Executive Vice President and President of International
                             Operations (1996-Present); Chief Operating Officer (1996-
                             1996), and a director (1994-1996); General Manager, IBM
                             Customer Financing, and Chairman, IBM Credit Corporation
                             (1993-1996)
David M. Gadra..........  49 Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
                             (1996-Present); Manager, General Electric Corporation
                             Corporate Information Services (1992-1996)
O. Gordon Brewer, Jr. ..  61 Vice President--Finance (1986-Present)
Michael J. Dillon ......  44 Vice President (1994-Present) and Controller (1993-
                             Present); Group Controller, Office Products Group (1991-
                             1993)
Michael H. Dudek........  41 Vice President-Acquisitions (1993-Present); Director of
                             Financial Operations, Office Products Group (1991-1993)
William A. Brady........  46 Vice President-Law (1996-Present); Vice President and
                             General Counsel, Office Products Group (1994-1996); Group
                             Counsel, Office Products Group (1984-1994)
Beth B. Sexton..........  41 Vice President--Human Resources (1996-Present); Human
                             Resources Director, Americas, CH2M Hill (1993-1996)
Karin M. Kinney.........  37 Corporate Secretary (1996-Present) and Corporate Counsel
                             (1992-Present); Counsel (1990-1992)
J. F. Quinn.............  42 Treasurer (1997-Present); Assistant Treasurer (1996-
                             1997); Manager, Foreign Exchange and Cash Management
                             (1994-1996); Manager, Foreign Exchange, ARCO Chemical
                             Company (1991-1994)
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
 
  The New York Stock Exchange is the principal market on which the Company's
common stock is traded (ticker symbol IKN). IKON's common stock is also traded
on the Philadelphia and Chicago Stock Exchanges. As of December 19, 1997,
there were approximately 14,980 holders of record of IKON's common stock. The
information regarding the quarterly market price ranges of IKON's common stock
and dividend payments under "Quarterly Financial Summary" on page 37 of the
1997 Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
  IKON anticipates that it will pay a quarterly dividend of $.04 per common
share in March 1998. The Company currently expects to continue its policy of
paying regular cash dividends, although there can be no assurance as to future
dividends because they are dependent upon future operating results, capital
requirements and financial condition and may be limited by covenants in
certain loan agreements.
 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
 
  Information appearing under "Corporate Financial Summary" for fiscal 1993
through 1997 regarding revenues, income from continuing operations, income
from continuing operations per common share, total assets, total debt, serial
preferred stock and cash dividends per common share on pages 38 and 39 of the
1997 Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
  Information appearing under "Financial Review" on pages 33 through 36 of the
1997 Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
 
  Information appearing under "Market Risk" on page 36 of the 1997 Annual
Report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
 
  The Report of Independent Auditors and Consolidated Financial Statements of
IKON and its subsidiaries on pages 18 through 33 and the information appearing
under "Quarterly Financial Summary" for fiscal 1997 and 1996 on page 37 of the
1997 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
 
                    (No response to this item is required)
 
                               ----------------
 
                                   PART III
 
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
 
  Information regarding directors appearing in IKON's Notice of Annual Meeting
of Shareholders and Proxy Statement for the January 22, 1998 annual meeting of
shareholders (the "1998 Proxy Statement") is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding executive officers is set forth in Part I of this report
and additional information regarding executive officers appearing under
"Executive Compensation" in the 1998 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by
reference.
 
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
 
  Information appearing under "Executive Compensation" in the 1998 Proxy
Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
 
  Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and
management appearing under "Security Ownership" in the 1998 Proxy Statement is
incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
 
  Information appearing under "Certain Transactions" in the 1998 Proxy
Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
 
                               ----------------
 
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
 
  (a)(1) and (2) List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement
Schedules.
 
The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted on page S-1 hereof as a
separate section of this report.
 
  (a) (3) List of Exhibits.*
 
  The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report (listed by numbers
corresponding to the Exhibit Table of Item 601 in Regulation S-K):
 
      3.1  Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
      3.2  Code of Regulations of IKON, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to IKON's
           Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996, is incorporated
           herein by reference.
      4.1  Credit Agreement, dated December 16, 1996, among IKON and
           various institutional lenders, with CoreStates Bank, N.A., as
           Agent, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to IKON's 1996 Form 10-K, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
      4.2  Credit Agreement among IKON, certain of its subsidiaries,
           various banks and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as Agent,
           dated as of August 30, 1996. Amendment 1 to Credit Agreement,
           dated as of April 1, 1997.
      4.3  Credit Agreement dated as of October 13, 1995 among IKON Office
           Solutions, Inc., an Ontario corporation (formerly Alco Office
           Systems Canada), Deutsche Bank Canada, Chemical Bank of Canada
           and Royal Bank of Canada, filed as Exhibit 4.5 to IKON's 1995
           Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
      4.4  Note Purchase Agreement between IKON and various purchasers
           dated July 15, 1995 for $55 million in 7.15% Notes due November
           15, 2005, filed as Exhibit 4.9 to IKON's 1995 Form 10-K, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
      4.5  Pursuant to Regulation S-K item 601(b)(iii), IKON agrees to
           furnish to the Commission, upon request, a copy of other
           instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of
           IKON and its subsidiaries.
     10.1  Distribution Agreement between IKON and Unisource dated as of
           November 20, 1996, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Unisource's
           Registration Statement on Form 10 (effective November 26,
           1996), is incorporated herein by reference.
     10.2  Tax Sharing and Indemnification Agreement between IKON and
           Unisource dated as of November 20, 1996, filed as Exhibit 10.1
           to Unisource's Registration Statement on Form 10 (effective
           November 26, 1996), is incorporated herein by reference.
     10.3  Benefits Agreement between IKON and Unisource dated as of
           November 20, 1996, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Unisource's
           Registration Statement on Form 10 (effective November 26,
           1996), is incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     10.4  Support Agreement dated as of October 22, 1996 between IKON and
           IKON Capital, Inc. (IKON's leasing subsidiary), filed as
           Exhibit 10.4 to IKON Capital, Inc.'s Form 8-K dated October 22,
           1996, is incorporated herein by reference.
     10.5  Amended and Restated Receivables Transfer Agreement dated as of
           March 31, 1997 among IKON Funding, Inc., IKON Capital, Inc.,
           Twin Towers, Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch.
     10.6  First Tier Transfer Agreement, dated as of March 31, 1997,
           between IKON Capital, Inc. and IKON Funding, Inc.
     10.7  Receivables Transfer Agreement dated as of September 30, 1996
           among IKON Funding, Inc., IKON Capital, Inc., Old Line Funding
           Corp. and Royal Bank of Canada, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to IKON's
           1996 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference. Amendment
           1 to Receivables Transfer Agreement, dated as of October 7,
           1997.
     10.8  Transfer Agreement dated as of September 30, 1996 between IKON
           Capital, Inc. and IKON Funding, Inc., filed as Exhibit 10.6 to
           IKON's 1996 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
     10.9  Indenture dated as of December 11, 1995 between IKON and First
           Union Bank, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4 to IKON's
           Registration Statement No. 33-64177, is incorporated herein by
           reference.
     10.10 Indenture dated as of July 1, 1995 between IKON Capital, Inc.
           and Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (formerly Chemical Bank, N.A.),
           as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 10.8 to IKON's 1996 Form 10-K, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
     10.11 Indenture dated as of July 1, 1994 between IKON Capital, Inc.
           and NationsBank, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4 to IKON
           Capital, Inc.'s Registration Statement No. 33-53779, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
     10.12 Indenture dated as of April 1, 1986 between IKON and the Chase
           Manhattan Bank, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
           IKON's Registration Statement No. 30-4829, is incorporated
           herein by reference.
     10.13 Distribution Agreement dated as of June 4, 1997 between IKON
           Capital, Inc. and various distribution agents.
     10.14 Distribution Agreement dated as of June 30, 1995 between IKON
           Capital, Inc. and various distribution agents, filed as Exhibit
           10.21 to IKON's 1995 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
           reference.
     10.15 Distribution Agreement dated July 1, 1994, filed as Exhibit 1
           to IKON Capital Inc.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
           1994, is incorporated herein by reference.
     10.16 Maintenance Agreement dated as of August 15, 1991 between IKON
           and IKON Capital, Inc., filed as Exhibit 10.2 to IKON Capital,
           Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10 dated May 4, 1994, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
     10.17 Operating Agreement dated as of August 15, 1991 between IKON
           and IKON Capital, Inc., filed as Exhibit 10.3 to IKON Capital,
           Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10 dated May 4, 1994, is
           incorporated herein by reference.
     10.18 Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 1988 between IKON and
           National City Bank, filed on February 11, 1988 as Exhibit 1 to
           IKON's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as amended by an
           Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of June 18,
           1997, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to IKON's Form 8-K dated June 18,
           1997, is incorporated herein by reference.
     10.19 Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan,
           filed as Exhibit 10.1 to IKON's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
           March 31, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference.**
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     10.20 Annual Bonus Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.3 to IKON's 1994 Form
           10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**
     10.21 IKON Office Solutions, Inc. Partners' Stock Purchase Plan**
     10.22 1986 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.6 to IKON's 1995
           Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**
     10.23 1995 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to IKON's Form
           10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996, is incorporated
           herein by reference.**
     10.24 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan.**
     10.25 Executive Employment Contracts--John E. Stuart, Kurt E.
           Dinkelacker, and David M. Gadra.**
     10.26 Form of Change in Control Agreement--William F. Drake, Jr.,
           James J. Forese, and David M. Gadra.**
     10.27 1980 Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.7 to
           IKON's 1992 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**
     10.28 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.8 to
           IKON's 1992 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**
     10.29 1991 Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.9 to
           IKON's 1992 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**
     10.30 1994 Deferred Compensation Plan.**
     10.31 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.**
     11    Statement re: Computation of Earnings per Share.
     12.1  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
     12.2  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Excluding Captive Finance
           Subsidiaries.
     12.3  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
           Dividends.
     12.4  Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
           Dividends Excluding Captive Finance Subsidiaries.
     13    Financial Section of IKON's Annual Report to Shareholders for
           the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 (which, except for
           those portions thereof expressly incorporated herein by
           reference, is furnished for the information of the Commission
           and is not "filed" as part of this report).
     21    Subsidiaries of IKON.
     23    Auditors' Consent.
     24    Powers of Attorney; certified resolution re: Powers of
           Attorney.
     27    Financial Data Schedule.
- --------
 * Copies of the exhibits will be furnished to any security holder of IKON
  upon payment of the reasonable cost of reproduction.
**Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
  (b) Reports on Form 8-K.
 
  On July 17, 1997, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K to file,
under Item 5 of the form, information contained in its press release dated
July 17, 1997 concerning IKON's earnings for the fiscal quarter ended June 30,
1997.
 
  On October 22, 1997, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K to file,
under Item 5 of the form, information contained in its press release dated
October 15, 1997 concerning IKON's earnings for the fiscal quarter and fiscal
year ended September 30, 1997.
 
  (c) The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted in response to Item
14(a)(3) above.
 
  (d) The response to this portion of Item 14 is contained on page F-1 of this
report.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                          FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
 
  This Report includes or incorporates by reference information which may
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. Although the Company believes the expectations contained in
such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurances can be given
that such expectations will prove correct. Such forward-looking information is
based upon management's current plans or expectations and is subject to a
number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current
plans, anticipated actions and the Company's future financial condition and
results. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, those
relating to successfully managing an aggressive program to acquire and
integrate new companies, including companies with technical services and
products that are relatively new to the Company, and also including companies
outside the United States, which present additional risks relating to
international operations; risks and uncertainties relating to conducting
operations in a competitive environment; delays, difficulties, technological
changes, management transitions and employment issues associated with a large-
scale transformation project; debt service requirements (including sensitivity
to fluctuation in interest rates); and general economic conditions. As a
consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future financial condition
and results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements made by or on behalf of the Company.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                 IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                       ITEMS 14(A)(1) AND (2) AND 14(D)
                       LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
                         FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The following consolidated financial statements of
IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries included in the 1997 Annual
Report to Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Item 8 of Part II of
this report:
 
             Consolidated Statements of Income
             --Fiscal years ended September 30, 1997, September 30, 1996 and
             September 30, 1995
 
             Consolidated Balance Sheets
             --September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996
 
             Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
             --Fiscal years ended September 30, 1997, September 30, 1996 and
             September 30, 1995
 
             Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
             --Fiscal years ended September 30, 1997, September 30, 1996 and
             September 30, 1995
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES: The following consolidated financial
statement schedule of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries is
submitted in response to Item 14(d):
 
             Schedule II--Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
 
  All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting
regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under
the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been
omitted.
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1934, THE REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED,
THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED.
 
                                         Ikon Office Solutions, Inc.
 
Date: December 24, 1997
                                                  /s/ Michael J. Dillon
                                         By____________________________________
                                                (MICHAEL J. DILLON) VICE
                                                PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER
                                             (PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THIS
REPORT ON FORM 10-K HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW ON DECEMBER 24, 1997 BY THE FOLLOWING
PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE REGISTRANT AND IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED.
 
             SIGNATURES                                 TITLE
 
          *John E. Stuart                Chairman and Chief Executive
- ------------------------------------      Officer (Principal Executive
          (JOHN E. STUART)                Officer)
 
      /s/ Kurt E. Dinkelacker            Executive Vice President, Chief
- ------------------------------------      Financial Officer and a Director
       (KURT E. DINKELACKER)              (Principal Financial Officer)
 
       /s/ Michael J. Dillon             Vice President and Controller
- ------------------------------------      (Principal Accounting Officer)
        (MICHAEL J. DILLON)
 
          *James R. Birle                Director
- ------------------------------------
          (JAMES R. BIRLE)
 
         *Philip E. Cushing              Director
- ------------------------------------
        (PHILIP E. CUSHING)
 
       *William F. Drake, Jr.            Vice Chairman, General Counsel and
- ------------------------------------      a Director
      (WILLIAM F. DRAKE, JR.)
 
        *Frederick S. Hammer             Director
- ------------------------------------
       (FREDERICK S. HAMMER)
 
    *Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer          Director
- ------------------------------------
    (BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER)
 
         *Richard A. Jalkut              Director
- ------------------------------------
        (RICHARD A. JALKUT)
 
  *By his signature set forth below, Michael J. Dillon, pursuant to duly
executed Powers of Attorney duly filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, has signed this Form 10-K on behalf of the persons whose signatures
are printed above, in the capacities set forth opposite their respective names.
 
       /s/ Michael J. Dillon                               December 24, 1997
- ------------------------------------
        (MICHAEL J. DILLON)
<PAGE>
 
                  IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                 SCHEDULE II--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         COL. A              COL. B            COL. C                COL. D          COL. E
         ------              ------            ------                ------          ------
                                              ADDITIONS
                                       -----------------------
                                                   CHARGED TO
                           BALANCE AT  CHARGED TO     OTHER
                          BEGINNING OF  COSTS AND  ACCOUNTS--     DEDUCTIONS--     BALANCE AT
      DESCRIPTION            PERIOD     EXPENSES    DESCRIBE        DESCRIBE      END OF PERIOD
      -----------         ------------ ----------- -----------    ------------    -------------
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1997
- ------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>         <C>            <C>             <C>
Allowance for doubtful
 accounts...............  $35,308,000  $25,724,000 $ 3,755,000(1) $10,595,000(2)   $54,192,000
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1996
- ------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>         <C>            <C>             <C>
Allowance for doubtful
 accounts...............  $32,856,000  $18,296,000 $ 6,634,000(1) $22,478,000(2)   $35,308,000
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1995
- ------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>         <C>            <C>             <C>
Allowance for doubtful
 accounts...............  $13,494,000  $ 8,940,000 $17,062,000(1) $ 6,640,000(2)   $32,856,000
</TABLE>
- --------
(1)Represents beginning balances of acquired companies.
(2) Accounts written off during year, net of recoveries.
 
                                      S-1
<PAGE>
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
                                  P.O. BOX 834
                     VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA 19482-0834
                                 (610) 296-8000
<PAGE>
 
                          IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            TITLE                              PAGE
 -----------                            -----                              ----
 <C>         <S>                                                           <C>
   3.1       Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.............
   3.2       Code of Regulations of IKON, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to IKON's
             Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996, is
             incorporated herein by reference. .........................
   4.1       Credit Agreement, dated December 16, 1996, among IKON and
             various institutional lenders, with CoreStates Bank, N.A.,
             as Agent, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to IKON's 1996 Form 10-K, is
             incorporated herein by reference...........................
   4.2       Credit Agreement among IKON, certain of its subsidiaries,
             various banks and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as
             Agent, dated as of August 30, 1996. Amendment 1 to Credit
             Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1997.......................
   4.3       Credit Agreement dated as of October 13, 1995 among IKON
             Office Solutions, Inc., an Ontario corporation (formerly
             Alco Office Systems Canada), Deutsche Bank Canada, Chemical
             Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada, filed as Exhibit
             4.5 to IKON's 1995 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
             reference..................................................
   4.4       Note Purchase Agreement between IKON and various purchasers
             dated July 15, 1995 for $55 million in 7.15% Notes due
             November 15, 2005, filed as Exhibit 4.9 to IKON's 1995 Form
             10-K, is incorporated herein by reference..................
   4.5       Pursuant to Regulation S-K item 601(b)(iii), IKON agrees to
             furnish to the Commission, upon request, a copy of other
             instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term
             debt of IKON and its subsidiaries..........................
  10.1       Distribution Agreement between IKON and Unisource dated as
             of November 20, 1996, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Unisource's
             Registration Statement on Form 10 (effective November 26,
             1996), is incorporated herein by reference.................
  10.2       Tax Sharing and Indemnification Agreement between IKON and
             Unisource dated as of November 20, 1996, filed as Exhibit
             10.1 to Unisource's Registration Statement on Form 10
             (effective November 26, 1996), is incorporated herein by
             reference. ................................................
  10.3       Benefits Agreement between IKON and Unisource dated as of
             November 20, 1996, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Unisource's
             Registration Statement on Form 10 (effective November 26,
             1996), is incorporated herein by reference. ...............
  10.4       Support Agreement dated as of October 22, 1996 between IKON
             and IKON Capital, Inc. (IKON's leasing subsidiary), filed
             as Exhibit 10.4 to IKON Capital, Inc.'s Form 8-K dated
             October 22, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference......
  10.5       Amended and Restated Receivables Transfer Agreement dated
             as of March 31, 1997 among IKON Funding, Inc., IKON
             Capital, Inc., Twin Towers, Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG, New
             York Branch. ..............................................
  10.6       First Tier Transfer Agreement, dated as of March 31, 1997,
             between IKON Capital, Inc. and IKON Funding, Inc...........
  10.7       Receivables Transfer Agreement dated as of September 30,
             1996 among IKON Funding, Inc., IKON Capital, Inc., Old Line
             Funding Corp. and Royal Bank of Canada, filed as Exhibit
             10.5 to IKON's 1996 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
             reference. Amendment 1 to Receivables Transfer Agreement,
             dated as of October 7, 1997. ..............................
  10.8       Transfer Agreement dated as of September 30, 1996 between
             IKON Capital, Inc. and IKON Funding, Inc., filed as Exhibit
             10.6 to IKON's 1996 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
             reference..................................................
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            TITLE                             PAGE
 -----------                            -----                             ----
 <C>         <S>                                                          <C>
  10.9       Indenture dated as of December 11, 1995 between IKON and
             First Union Bank, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4 to
             IKON's Registration Statement No. 33-64177, is
             incorporated herein by reference. ........................
  10.10      Indenture dated as of July 1, 1995 between IKON Capital,
             Inc. and Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (formerly Chemical
             Bank, N.A.), as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 10.8 to IKON's
             1996 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.......
  10.11      Indenture dated as of July 1, 1994 between IKON Capital,
             Inc. and NationsBank, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4
             to IKON Capital, Inc.'s Registration Statement No. 33-
             53779, is incorporated herein by reference................
  10.12      Indenture dated as of April 1, 1986 between IKON and the
             Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as Trustee, filed as Exhibit
             4.1 to IKON's Registration Statement No. 30-4829, is
             incorporated herein by reference..........................
  10.13      Distribution Agreement dated as of June 4, 1997 between
             IKON Capital, Inc. and various distribution agents. ......
  10.14      Distribution Agreement dated as of June 30, 1995 between
             IKON Capital, Inc. and various distribution agents, filed
             as Exhibit 10.21 to IKON's 1995 Form 10-K, is incorporated
             herein by reference.......................................
  10.15      Distribution Agreement dated July 1, 1994, filed as
             Exhibit 1 to IKON Capital Inc.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter
             ended June 30, 1994, is incorporated herein by
             reference. ...............................................
  10.16      Maintenance Agreement dated as of August 15, 1991 between
             IKON and IKON Capital, Inc., filed as Exhibit 10.2 to IKON
             Capital, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10 dated
             May 4, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference. ........
  10.17      Operating Agreement dated as of August 15, 1991 between
             IKON and IKON Capital, Inc., filed as Exhibit 10.3 to IKON
             Capital, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 10 dated
             May 4, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference. ........
  10.18      Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 1988 between
             IKON and National City Bank, filed on February 11, 1988 as
             Exhibit 1 to IKON's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as
             amended by an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated
             as of June 18, 1997, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to IKON's Form
             8-K dated June 18, 1997, is incorporated herein by
             reference. ...............................................
  10.19      Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Compensation
             Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to IKON's Form 10-Q for the
             quarter ended March 31, 1996, is incorporated herein by
             reference.**..............................................
  10.20      Annual Bonus Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.3 to IKON's 1994
             Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**.........
  10.21      IKON Office Solutions, Inc. Partners' Stock Purchase
             Plan**....................................................
  10.22      1986 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.6 to IKON's
             1995 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.**....
  10.23      1995 Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to IKON's
             Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996, is
             incorporated herein by reference.**.......................
  10.24      Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan.**...............
  10.25      Executive Employment Contracts--John E. Stuart, Kurt E.
             Dinkelacker, and David M. Gadra.**........................
  10.26      Form of Change in Control Agreement--William F. Drake,
             Jr., James J. Forese, and David M. Gadra.**...............
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            TITLE                              PAGE
 -----------                            -----                              ----
 <C>         <S>                                                           <C>
  10.27      1980 Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.7 to
             IKON's 1992 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
             reference.**...............................................
  10.28      1985 Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.8 to
             IKON's 1992 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
             reference.**...............................................
  10.29      1991 Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.9 to
             IKON's 1992 Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by
             reference.**...............................................
  10.30      1994 Deferred Compensation Plan.**.........................
  10.31      Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.**....................
  11         Statement re: Computation of Earnings per Share. ..........
  12.1       Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.........................
  12.2       Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Excluding Captive
             Finance Subsidiaries. .....................................
  12.3       Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
             Dividends. ................................................
  12.4       Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
             Dividends Excluding Captive Finance Subsidiaries...........
  13         Financial Section of IKON's Annual Report to Shareholders
             for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 (which, except
             for those portions thereof expressly incorporated herein by
             reference, is furnished for the information of the
             Commission and is not "filed" as part of this report). ....
  21         Subsidiaries of IKON. .....................................
  23         Auditors' Consent. ........................................
  24         Powers of Attorney; certified resolution re: Powers of
             Attorney. .................................................
  27         Financial Data Schedule. ..................................
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 
                 AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                           IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.


FIRST:  The name of the Corporation shall be IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.

SECOND: The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Ohio is to be
located at Cleveland in Cuyahoga County.

THIRD: The purposes for which, and for any of which, the Corporation is formed
are as follows:

                  1. To develop, manufacture, service, repair, treat, finish,
buy, sell and generally deal in, in every manner, articles, materials and
products of every kind and description, to own, hold and deal in, in every
manner, all real and personal property, and to do all things necessary or
incidental to the foregoing purposes.

                  2. In general to carry on any other lawful business whatsoever
which is calculated, directly or indirectly, to promote the interests of the
Corporation or to enhance the value of its properties; and to have and exercise
all rights, powers and privileges which are now or may hereafter be conferred
upon corporations by the laws of Ohio; provided, however, that nothing contained
in this Article Third shall be construed as authorizing the Corporation to carry
on the business of a public utility or railroad as defined by the public utility
laws of the State of Ohio.

                  The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time
to time to substantially change its purposes in any manner now or hereafter
permitted by statute. Any change of the purposes of the Corporation authorized
or approved by the holders of shares entitled to exercise the proportion of the
voting power of the Corporation now or hereafter required by statute for such
authorization or approval shall be binding and conclusive upon every shareholder
of the Corporation as fully as if such shareholder had voted therefor; and no
shareholder, notwithstanding that he may have voted against such change of
purposes or may have objected in writing thereto, shall be entitled to payment
of the fair cash value of his shares.

FOURTH: The number of shares which the Corporation is authorized to have
outstanding is 302,095,628 consisting of 2,095,628 shares of Serial Preferred
Stock of no par value (hereinafter called "Serial Preferred Stock"), and
300,000,000 shares of Common Stock of no par value (hereinafter called "Common
Stock"). The shares of such classes shall have the following express terms:

                                   Division A

                   Express Terms of the Serial Preferred Stock

         1. Series and Rank. The Serial Preferred Stock may be issued from time
            ---------------
to time in one or more series. All shares of Serial Preferred Stock shall be 
of equal rank and shall be
<PAGE>
 
                                      -2-

identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of
Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of each series shall be
identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the date from which
dividends are cumulative. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 to 7, both
inclusive, of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Serial
Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such
shares to be issued in one or more series and with respect to each such series
prior to the issuance thereof to fix:

         (a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing
number, letter or title.

         (b) The number of shares of the series, which number the Board of
Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series)
increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then
outstanding).

         (c) The annual dividend rate of the series.

         (d) The dates at which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, and
the dates from which dividends shall be cumulative.

         (e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of
the series.

         (f) The terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase
or redemption of shares of the series.

         (g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, which
amount may vary depending upon whether such liquidation, dissolution or winding
up is voluntary or involuntary.

         (h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common
Stock, and, if so, the conversion price or prices, any adjustments thereof, and
all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made.

         (i) Restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any
other class or series.

         The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time
amendments to the Articles of Incorporation fixing, with respect to each such
series, the matters described in clauses (a) to (i), both inclusive, of this
Section 1.

         2. Dividends. The holders of the Serial Preferred Stock of each series
            ---------
shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors,
out of funds of the Corporation legally available for dividends, dividends in
cash at the rate for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1 of this Division, and no more, payable quarterly on the dates fixed
for such series. Such dividends on each share of Serial Preferred Stock shall
accrue and be cumulative, whether or not earned or declared, from and after the
date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends may be paid upon
or declared or 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -3-

set apart for any of the Serial Preferred Stock for any quarterly dividend
period unless at the same time a like proportionate dividend for the same
quarterly dividend period, ratably in proportion to the respective annual
dividend rates fixed therefor, shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for
all Serial Preferred Stock of all series then issued and outstanding and
entitled to receive such dividend.

         3. Dividends on or Distributions to Holders of Junior Stock. So long as
            --------------------------------------------------------
any shares of Serial Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not
(a) declare or pay any dividends (other than dividends payable in Common Stock
or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Serial Preferred Stock)
to holders of Common Stock or shares of the Corporation of any other class
ranking on a parity with or junior to the Serial Preferred Stock, or (b) make
any distributions of assets (directly or indirectly, by purchase; redemption or
otherwise) to the holders of Common Stock or shares of the Corporation of any
other class ranking on a parity with or junior to the Serial Preferred Stock
(except in the case of shares purchased in compromise of claims or to prevent
loss on doubtful debts and except in the case of shares purchased out of the
proceeds of the sale of Common Stock or other shares ranking junior to the
Serial Preferred Stock received by the Corporation, subsequent to January 1,
1968):

         (a) Unless all accrued and unpaid dividends on shares of Serial
Preferred Stock, including the full dividends for the then quarterly dividend
period, shall have been paid or declared and funds sufficient for payment
thereof set apart; and

         (b) Unless there shall be no arrearages with respect to redemption of
shares of Serial Preferred Stock from any sinking fund provided for shares of
such series in accordance with provisions of Section 1 of this Division.

         4. Voting Rights. The holders of Serial Preferred Stock shall be
            -------------
entitled at all times to one vote for each share, and except as otherwise
required by law, the holders of the Serial Preferred Stock and Common Stock of
the Corporation shall vote together as one class on all matters, subject,
however, to the special voting rights conferred upon the holders of the Serial
Preferred Stock as hereinafter provided.

         If and when the Corporation shall be in default in the payment, in
whole or in part, of each of six quarterly dividends (whether or not
consecutive) accrued on any series of Serial Preferred Stock whether or not
earned or declared, the holders of the Serial Preferred Stock of all series,
voting separately as a single class, shall be entitled to elect two Directors of
the Corporation, to serve in addition to the Directors otherwise elected.

         Such rights to elect additional Directors may be exercised at any
annual meeting of shareholders or, within the limitation hereinafter provided,
at a special meeting of shareholders held for such purpose. If such default
shall occur more than 90 days preceding the date of the next annual meeting of
shareholders as fixed by the Regulations of the Corporation, then a special
meeting of the holders of the Serial Preferred Stock shall be called by the
Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the holders of not less
than 10% of the Serial Preferred Stock then outstanding, such meeting to be held
within 60 days after the delivery to the Secretary of such request or such later
time as may be 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -4-

reasonably required to obtain clearance from the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Such additional Directors, whether elected at an annual meeting or
at a special meeting, shall serve until the next annual meeting and until their
successors shall be duly elected and qualified, unless their terms shall sooner
terminate pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4. At any meeting for the
purpose of electing such additional Directors, the holders of 35% of the Serial
Preferred Stock then outstanding shall constitute a quorum, and any such meeting
shall be valid, notwithstanding that a quorum of the outstanding shares of any
other class or classes shall not be present or represented thereat. At the time
of any such meeting at which a quorum shall be present, the number of Directors
constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be deemed to be increased by
two.

         If and when all dividends in default on the Serial Preferred Stock
shall be paid or declared and funds sufficient for the payment thereof
irrevocably set aside for payment, the right of the holders of the Serial
Preferred Stock as a class to elect two Directors shall then cease and if any
Directors were elected by the holders of the Serial Preferred Stock, as a class,
the term of such Directors shall terminate, and the number of Directors
constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be accordingly reduced. The
above provisions for the vesting of such voting rights in the holders of the
Serial Preferred Stock, as a class, shall apply, however, in case of any
subsequent default or failure under this Section 4.

         The rights of the holders of Serial Preferred Stock to elect two
Directors provided by this Section 4 shall, when in effect, be in lieu of, and
not in addition to, all other rights otherwise held by the holders of Serial
Preferred Stock to vote as a class with the Common Stock for the election of
Directors.

         5.       Action Requiring Serial Preferred Stock Consent.
                  -----------------------------------------------

         (a) So long as any shares of Serial Preferred Stock shall be
outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without (i) the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of Serial Preferred Stock at the
time outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either at a special meeting
called for the purpose, or at any annual meeting of shareholders if appropriate
notice of such proposed action is given, at which all of the shares of Serial
Preferred Stock shall vote separately as a single class, or (ii) the written
consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of Serial Preferred
Stock at the time outstanding:

         A) Amend or repeal any of the provisions of the Articles or Regulations
of the Corporation so as to affect adversely the preferences, rights, powers or
privileges of the Serial Preferred Stock or the holders thereof.

         B) Authorize or issue any class or series of any class of the stock of
the Corporation ranking prior to the Serial Preferred Stock, or authorize or
issue any obligations or securities convertible into any such class.

         C) Purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less
than all of the Serial Preferred Stock then outstanding except in accordance
with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Serial Preferred
Stock, unless all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Serial Preferred Stock,
including all dividends for the then quarterly 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -5-

dividend period, shall have been paid or declared and funds sufficient for the
payment thereof set apart, and unless all accrued sinking fund obligations
applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

         D) Sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of the property or
business of the Corporation, or voluntarily liquidate or dissolve the
Corporation, or consolidate or merge the Corporation with or into any other
corporation; provided, however, that no such class vote or consent of the
holders of the Serial Preferred Stock shall be required for consolidation or
merger of the Corporation if (i) each holder of shares of Serial Preferred Stock
immediately prior to such consolidation or merger shall, upon the occurrence
thereof, possess the same or an equivalent number of shares of the resulting
corporation (which may be the Corporation or another corporation) having
substantially the same or equivalent terms and provisions as the shares of
Serial Preferred Stock, and (ii) the resulting corporation will have,
immediately after such consolidation or merger, no stock either authorized or
outstanding ranking prior to or on a parity with such shares, other than stock
of the Corporation theretofore authorized ranking prior to or on a parity with
the Serial Preferred Stock (or stock of the resulting corporation into which
such stock of the Corporation is changed pursuant to the merger or
consolidation).

         (b) So long as any shares of Serial Preferred Stock shall be
outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without (i) the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the shares of Serial Preferred Stock at the
time outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either at a special meeting
called for the purpose, or at any annual meeting of shareholders if appropriate
notice of such proposed action is given, at which all of the shares of Serial
Preferred Stock shall vote separately as a single class, or (ii) the written
consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Serial Preferred
Stock at the time outstanding: A) authorize or issue any class of the stock of
the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Serial Preferred Stock, with
respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution and winding
up of the Corporation, or authorize or issue any obligations or securities
convertible into any such class, or B) increase the authorized number of shares
of the Serial Preferred Stock or increase the authorized number of shares of any
class ranking on a parity with the Serial Preferred Stock, with respect to the
payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the
Corporation, or authorize or issue any obligations or securities convertible
into any such class.

         (c) So long as any shares of a series of Serial Preferred Stock shall
be outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without (i) the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of such series at the time
outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either at a special meeting or at any
annual meeting of shareholders if appropriate notice of such proposed action is
given, at which all of the shares of such series shall vote separately as a
single class, or (ii) the written consent of the holders of at least two-thirds
of the shares of such series at the time outstanding, amend or repeal any of the
provisions of the Articles or Regulations of the Corporation so as to affect
adversely and particularly the preferences, rights, powers or privileges of such
series of Serial Preferred Stock or the holders thereof.

         (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no such vote or consent of the
holders of the Serial Preferred Stock shall be required if, prior to or
contemporaneously with the happening 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -6-

of any of the events listed in subparagraphs (a) or (b) above, provision has
been made in accordance with the provisions fixed by the Directors for the
redemption of all of the Serial Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and (ii)
no such vote or consent of the holders of any series of Serial Preferred Stock
shall be required if, prior to or contemporaneously with the happening of any of
the events listed in subparagraph (c) above, provision has been made in
accordance with the provisions fixed by the Directors for the redemption of all
shares of such series of Serial Preferred Stock at the time outstanding.

         6. Liquidation Rights. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or
            ------------------
winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of
Serial Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Corporation, before any payment or distribution shall be made to the holders of
Common Stock or any other class of stock junior to the Serial Preferred Stock as
to rights upon liquidation, payment of the amount per share provided for in the
resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the
issuance of such shares, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued to the
date of such payment and unpaid, whether or not earned or declared but without
interest, and no more.

         If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
the assets available for distribution shall be insufficient to pay the holders
of all outstanding shares of Serial Preferred Stock the amounts to which they
shall respectively be entitled, the holders of Serial Preferred Stock of all
series shall share ratably in any distribution of assets according to the
respective amounts which would be payable in respect of the shares held by them
upon such distribution if all amounts payable in respect of the Serial Preferred
Stock of all series were paid in full. Neither the consolidation or merger of
the Corporation into or with any other corporation or corporations, nor the sale
or transfer by the Corporation of all or any part of its assets, nor the
reduction of the capital stock of the Corporation, shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of
any of the provisions of this Section 6.

         7.       Definitions.  For the purpose of this Division:
                  -----------

         Whenever reference is made to shares "ranking prior to the Serial
Preferred Stock" or "on a parity with the Serial Preferred Stock" such reference
shall mean and include all shares of the Corporation in respect of which the
rights of the holders thereof as to the payment of dividends or as to
distributions in the event of any involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation are given preference over, or rank on an equality
with, (as the case may be) the rights of the holders of the Serial Preferred
Stock; and whenever reference is made to shares "ranking junior to the Serial
Preferred Stock" such reference shall mean and include all shares of the
Corporation in respect of which the rights of the holders as to the payment of
dividends and as to distributions in the event of an involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation are junior and subordinate to the
rights of the holders of the Serial Preferred Stock.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -7-

         8.       Express Terms of the Series 12 Preferred Stock (Express Terms
                  are Described as Adopted by Amendment on December 5, 1988)
                  -------------------------------------------------------------

         There is hereby established a series of the Serial Preferred Stock to
be known as Series 12 Preferred Stock to which all of the Express Terms of the
Serial Preferred Stock set forth in 1 through 7 above as well as the following
provisions shall be applicable:

         (a)  The designation of the series is Series 12 Preferred Stock;

         (b) The number of shares of the series, which number the Board of
Directors may increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares then
outstanding) is 480,000 shares;

         (c) The annual dividend rate of the series shall be in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to, but no more than, the greater of
(x) $6.80 or (y) subject to the provision for adjustment thereinafter set forth,
one hundred times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and one
hundred times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock of the Corporation
since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date (as defined in
subparagraph (d) below), or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, since the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series 12 Preferred Stock (the "Original Issue Date"). In the event the
Corporation shall at any time on or after the Original Issue Date declare or pay
any dividend on the shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series 12 Preferred Stock are
entitled (without giving effect to such event) under clause (y) of the preceding
sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
12 Preferred Stock as provided in the paragraph above immediately after it
declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or
distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period
between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $6.80 per share on the Series 12 Preferred
Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date. The record date for any such dividend or distribution shall be the
tenth Trading Day prior to the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

         (d) The dividends provided above shall be payable quarterly on January
1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 in each year (each such date being referred to
herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date");
<PAGE>
 
                                      -8-

         (e) The Corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may at
any time redeem all and may from time to time redeem any part of the outstanding
shares of Series 12 Preferred Stock on any date fixed by the Board of Directors,
upon notice given as hereinafter provided, by paying in cash for each share
thereof to be redeemed an amount equal to the Market Price (as hereinafter
defined) of the Common Stock on the Trading Day (as hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to the date fixed for redemption, multiplied by one hundred
(the "Multiplier"), plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends thereon
accrued to the date fixed for redemption and unpaid whether or not earned or
declared but without interest (such amounts being in this subparagraph (e)
sometimes referred to as the "redemption price"). In case of the redemption of a
part only of the outstanding shares of Series 12 Preferred, the shares to be
redeemed shall be selected by lot in such manner as the Board of Directors shall
determine. Not less than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days prior
written notice shall be given by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
holders of record of the shares of Series 12 Preferred to be redeemed.

         On or after the date fixed for redemption and stated in such notice,
the holder of each share of Series 12 Preferred Stock called for redemption
shall surrender the certificate therefor at the place designated in such notice
and shall thereupon be entitled to receive payment of the redemption price.

         If such notice of redemption shall have been duly given as provided
above and if on the date fixed for redemption funds sufficient to redeem the
shares called for redemption shall be irrevocably set aside for the payment
thereof, then, notwithstanding that the certificate for any share of Series 12
Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall not have been surrendered, from
and after such date the shares so called for redemption shall no longer be
deemed to be outstanding and dividends thereon shall cease to accrue and all
rights with respect to the shares so called for redemption, including rights, if
any, to receive notices and to vote, shall forthwith on such date cease and
determine, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the
redemption price without interest upon surrender of the certificates therefor;
provided, however, that if such notice of redemption shall have been duly given
as provided above and if on or prior to the date fixed for redemption there
shall have been deposited with a bank or trust company having a capital and
surplus of more than $5,000,000 named in such notice of redemption, in trust for
the account of the holders of the shares so called for redemption, funds
sufficient to redeem, on the date fixed for redemption, the shares called for
redemption, then upon the making of such deposit in trust (although made prior
to the date fixed for redemption), the shares so called and with respect to
which such deposit shall have been made shall no longer be deemed to be
outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares, including rights, if
any, to receive notices and to vote, shall forthwith cease and determine, except
only the right of the holders thereof to receive, out of the funds so deposited
in trust, forthwith and without awaiting the date fixed for redemption, the
redemption price thereof, without interest, upon surrender of the certificates
therefor, upon to but not after the close of business on the second business day
prior to the date fixed for redemption of such shares. Any interest accrued on
such funds shall belong to the Corporation and shall be paid to it from time to
time. In case any shares called for redemption shall be converted after deposit
of the redemption price thereof, the redemption price of the shares so converted
shall be returned to the Corporation. Any other funds so deposited and unclaimed
at the end of two years after the date fixed for redemption shall be 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -9-


repaid to the Corporation upon its request, and thereafter the holders of the
shares so called for redemption shall be entitled to receive payment of the
redemption price, but without interest only from the Corporation.

         In the event the Corporation shall at any time on or after the Original
Issue Date declare or pay any dividend on the shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
of the outstanding Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in Common Stock), into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of
Series 12 Preferred Stock were entitled (without giving effect to such event),
shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         As used herein the term "Market Price" per share of the Common Stock on
any date of determination shall mean the average of the daily closing prices per
share of the Common Stock (determined as described below) on each of the 20
consecutive Trading Days through and including the Trading Day immediately
preceding such date; provided, however, that if the Company shall at any time
                     --------  -------
(i) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock or (iv) issue any shares
in a reclassification of the Common Stock, and such event or an event of a type
analogous to any such event shall have caused the closing prices used to
determine the Market Price on any Trading Days not to be fully comparable with
the closing price on such date of determination, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date of determination. The closing price per share of the
Common Stock on any date shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case
no such sale takes place on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, for each share of the Common Stock, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common
Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices for each share of Common Stock
in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the Common Stock is not quoted by
any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the securities
elected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that if
                                                      --------  -------
on any such date the Common Stock is not listed or admitted for trading on a
national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the
closing price per share of the Common Stock on such date shall mean the fair
value per share of Common Stock on such date as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation, after 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -10-

consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking firm with respect
to the fair value per share of such securities, and set forth in a certificate
delivered to the Corporation.

         As used herein, the term "Trading Day," when used with respect to the
Common Stock, shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day (defined to mean any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New
York, New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order
to close.)

         (f) Except as otherwise provided herein, the holders of shares of this
Series 12 Preferred Stock shall not have any rights herein to convert such
shares into or exchange such shares for shares of any other class or classes or
of any other series of any class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation.

         (g) In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger
combination, reclassification or other transaction in which the shares of Common
Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or
any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series 12 Preferred
Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per
share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to
one hundred times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any
other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which
each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time on or after the Original Issue Date declare or pay any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series 12
Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         (h) Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
the holders of the shares of this Series shall be entitled to receive and amount
equal to the greater of (x) $7,500 or (y) 100 times the aggregate per share
amount received by the holders of Common Stock upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.

         (i) Series 12 Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share
which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holders fractional shares
to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and
to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series 12 Preferred Stock.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -11-

         9.       Express Terms of the Series BB Preferred Stock (Express Terms
                  are described as Adopted by Amendment on July 25, 1995)
                  --------------------------------------------------------------

         There is hereby established a series of the Serial Preferred Stock to
be known as Series BB Conversion Preferred Stock to which all of the Express
Terms of the Serial Preferred Stock set forth in 1 through 7 above as well as
the following provisions shall be applicable:

         1.   Designation and Number. The designation of the series is Series BB
              ----------------------
Conversion Preferred Stock. The number of shares of the series, which number the
Board of Directors may increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares
then outstanding) is 38,772 shares.

         2.   Dividend Rate and Dividend Payment Dates. The annual dividend rate
              ----------------------------------------
of the series shall be in an amount per share equal to, but no more than,
$504.00. The dividends provided above shall accrue from the date of original
issue of the Series BB Preferred Stock and be payable quarterly on January 1,
April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 1995 (each
such date being referred to herein as a "Dividend Payment Date"), to holders of
record as they appear on the stock records of the Corporation at the close of
business on such record dates, not exceeding 60 days preceding the payment dates
thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Dividends payable on the
Series BB Preferred Stock for any period greater or less than a full dividend
period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months. Dividends payable on the Series BB Preferred Stock for each full
dividend period will be computed by dividing the annual dividend rate by four.

         3.   Conversion.
              ----------

         (a)  Mandatory Conversion. Unless earlier converted at the option of
              --------------------
the holder in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b), on October 1,
1998 (the "Mandatory Conversion Date"), each outstanding share of the Series BB
Preferred Stock shall convert automatically (the "Automatic Conversion") into
(i) shares of authorized Common Stock (the "Common Stock") at the Exchange Rate
(as hereinafter defined) in effect on the Mandatory Conversion Date and (ii) the
right to receive an amount in cash equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends on
such share to the Mandatory Conversion Date, whether or not earned or declared,
out of funds legally available therefor. The Exchange Rate is equal to (a) if
the Current Market Price is greater than or equal to $94.40 per share (the
"Threshold Price"), 81.965 shares of Common Stock (the "Upper Exchange Rate"),
(b) if the Current Market Price is less than the Threshold Price but greater
than the Initial Price, the number of shares of Common Stock having a value
(determined at the Current Market Price) equal to 100 times the Initial Price
(the "Middle Exchange Rate"), and (c) if the Current Market Price is less than
or equal to the Initial Price, 100 shares of Common Stock (the "Lower Exchange
Rate") per share of Series BB Preferred Stock, and is subject to adjustment as
set forth in paragraph (c) below. Dividends on the shares of Series BB Preferred
Stock shall cease to accrue and such shares of Series BB Preferred Stock shall
cease to be outstanding on the Mandatory Conversion Date. The Corporation shall
make such arrangements as it deems 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -12-

appropriate for the issuance of certificates representing shares of Common Stock
and for the payment of cash in respect of such accrued and unpaid dividends, if
any, or cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, in exchange for and
contingent upon surrender of certificates representing the shares of Series BB
Preferred Stock, and the Corporation may defer the payment of dividends on such
shares of Common Stock and the voting thereof until, and make such payment and
voting contingent upon, the surrender of such certificates representing the
shares of Series BB Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation shall give
the holders of the shares of Series BB Preferred Stock such notice of any such
actions as the Corporation deems appropriate or is legally required and upon
such surrender such holders shall be entitled to receive such dividends declared
and paid on such shares of Common Stock subsequent to the Mandatory Conversion
Date. Amounts payable in cash in respect of the shares of Series BB Preferred
Stock or in respect of such shares of Common Stock shall not bear interest.

         (b) Optional Conversion. Shares of Series BB Preferred Stock are
             -------------------
convert-ible, in whole or in part, at the option of the holders thereof
("Optional Conversion"), at any time after September 25, 1995 and prior to the
Mandatory Conversion Date, into shares of Common Stock at a rate of 81.965
shares of Common Stock for each share of Series BB Preferred Stock (the
"Optional Conversion Rate"), subject to adjustment as set forth below.

         Optional Conversion of shares of Series BB Preferred Stock may be
effected by delivering certificates evidencing such shares, together with
written notice of conversion and a proper assignment of such certificates to the
Corporation or in blank (and, if applicable, payment of an amount equal to the
dividend payable on such shares), to the office of any transfer agent for the
Series BB Preferred Stock or to any other office or agency maintained by the
Corporation for that purpose and otherwise in accordance with Optional
Conversion procedures established by the Corporation. Each Optional Conversion
shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business
on the date on which the foregoing requirements shall have been satisfied. The
Optional Conversion shall be at the Optional Conversion Rate in effect at such
time and on such date.

         Holders of shares of Series BB Preferred Stock at the close of business
on a dividend payment record date shall be entitled to receive the dividend
payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date
notwithstanding the Optional Conversion of such shares following such record
date and prior to such Dividend Payment Date. However, shares of Series BB
Preferred Stock surrendered for Optional Conversion after the close of business
on a dividend payment record date and before the opening of business on the next
succeeding Dividend Payment Date must be accompanied by payment in cash of an
amount equal to the dividend payable on such shares on such Dividend Payment
Date. Except as provided above, upon any Optional Conversion of shares of Series
BB Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for
unpaid Preferred Dividends, whether or not in arrears, on such shares of Series
BB Preferred Stock as to which Optional Conversion has been effected or for
dividends or distributions on the shares of Common Stock issued upon such
Optional Conversion.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -13-

         (c) Adjustments to the Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate.
             -----------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate shall each be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided below in this paragraph (c).

                  (1)   If the Corporation shall pay or make a dividend or other
             distribu-tion with respect to its Common Stock in shares of Common
             Stock (including by way of reclassification of any shares of its
             Common Stock), the Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate
             in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date
             fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive
             such dividend or other distribution shall each be increased by
             multiplying such Exchange Rate and Optional Conversion Rate by a
             fraction of which the numerator shall be the sum of the number of
             shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the
             date fixed for such determination plus the total number of shares
             of Common Stock constituting such dividend or other distribution,
             and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of
             Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed
             for such determination, such increase to become effective
             immediately after the opening of business on the day following the
             date fixed for such determination.

                  (2)   In case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be
             subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the
             Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate in effect at the
             opening of business on the day following the day upon which such
             subdivision becomes effective shall each be proportionately
             increased, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of Common
             Stock shall be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common
             Stock, the Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate in effect
             at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which
             such combination becomes effective shall each be proportionately
             reduced, such increases or reductions, as the case may be, to
             become effective immediately after the opening of business on the
             day following the day upon which such subdivision or combination
             becomes effective.

                  (3)   If the Corporation shall, after the date hereof, issue
             rights or warrants, in each case other than the Rights, to all
             holders of its Common Stock entitling them (for a period not
             exceeding 45 days from the date of such issuance) to subscribe for
             or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than
             the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the record date for
             the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights
             or warrants, then in each case the Exchange Rate and the Optional
             Conversion Rate shall each be adjusted by multiplying the Exchange
             Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate in effect on such record
             date, by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of
             shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such
             rights or warrants, immediately prior to such issuance, plus the
             number of additional shares of Common Stock offered for
             subscription or purchase pursuant to such rights or 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -14-

             warrants, and of which the denominator shall be the number of
             shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such
             rights or warrants, immediately prior to such issuance, plus the
             number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering price
             of the total number of shares of Common Stock so offered for
             subscription or purchase pursuant to such rights or warrants would
             purchase at such Fair Market Value (determined by multiplying such
             total number of shares by the exercise price of such rights or
             warrants and dividing the product so obtained by such Fair Market
             Value). Shares of Common Stock owned by the Corporation or by
             another company of which a majority of the shares entitled to vote
             in the election of directors are held, directly or indirectly, by
             the Corporation shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes
             of such computation. Such adjustment shall become effective at the
             opening of business on the business day next following the record
             date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
             rights or warrants. To the extent that shares of Common Stock are
             not delivered after the expiration of such rights or warrants, the
             Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate shall each be
             readjusted to the Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate
             which would then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the
             issuance of such rights or warrants been made upon the basis of the
             issuance of rights or warrants in respect of only the number of
             shares of Common Stock actually delivered.

                  (4)   If the Corporation shall pay a dividend or make a
             distribution to all holders of its Common Stock consisting of
             evidences of its indebtedness or other assets (including shares of
             capital stock of the Corporation other than Common Stock but
             excluding any cash dividends or any dividends or other
             distributions referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above), or shall
             issue to all holders of its Common Stock rights or warrants to
             subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (other than those
             referred to in clause (iii) above), then in each such case the
             Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate shall each be
             adjusted by multiplying the Exchange Rate and the Optional
             Conversion Rate in effect on the record date for such dividend or
             distribution or for the determination of stockholders entitled to
             receive such rights or warrants, as the case may be, by a fraction
             of which the numerator shall be the Fair Market Value per share of
             the Common Stock on such record date), and of which the denominator
             shall be such Fair Market Price per share of Common Stock less the
             fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose
             determination shall be conclusive) as of such record date of the
             portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed,
             or of such subscription rights or warrants, applicable to one share
             of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall become effective on the
             opening of business on the business day next following the record
             date for such dividend or distribution or for the determination of
             stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, as the
             case may be.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -15-

                    (5)     Any shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of a
                  dividend or other distribution shall be deemed to have been
                  issued immediately prior to the close of business on the
                  record date for such dividend or other distribution for
                  purposes of calculating the number of outstanding shares of
                  Common Stock under subparagraph (ii) above.

                    (6)     Anything in this subsection III notwithstanding, the
                  Corporation shall be entitled to make such upward adjustments
                  in the Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion Rate, in
                  addition to those required by this subsection III as the
                  Corporation in its sole discretion shall determine to be
                  advisable, in order that any stock dividends, subdivision of
                  shares, distribution of rights to purchase stock or
                  securities, or distribution of securities convertible into or
                  exchangeable for stock (or any transaction which could be
                  treated as any of the foregoing transactions pursuant to
                  Section 305 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended)
                  hereafter made by the Corporation to its stockholders shall
                  not be taxable.

                    (7)     In any case in which this paragraph (c) shall
                  require that an adjustment as a result of any event become
                  effective at the opening of business on the business day next
                  following a record date and the date fixed for conversion
                  pursuant to paragraph (a) occurs after such record date, but
                  before the occurrence of such event, the Corporation may in
                  its sole discretion elect to defer the following until after
                  the occurrence of such event: (A) issuing to the holder of any
                  shares of Series BB Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion
                  the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon such
                  conversion over the shares of Common Stock issuable before
                  giving effect to such adjustment; and (B) paying to such
                  holder any amount in cash in lieu of a fractional share of
                  Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (g).

                    (8)     For purposes hereof, an "adjustment in the Exchange
                  Rate" means, and shall be implemented by, an adjustment of the
                  nature and amount specified, effected in the manner specified,
                  in each of the Upper Exchange Rate, the Middle Exchange Rate
                  and the Lower Exchange Rate. If an adjustment is made to the
                  Exchange Rate pursuant to this paragraph (c), an adjustment
                  shall also be made to the Current Market Price solely to
                  determine which of clauses (a), (b) or (c) of the definition
                  of Exchange Rate in paragraph (a) will apply on the Mandatory
                  Conversion Date. Such adjustment shall be made by multiplying
                  the Current Market Price by a fraction of which the numerator
                  shall be the Exchange Rate immediately after such adjustment
                  pursuant to paragraph (c) and the denominator shall be the
                  Exchange Rate immediately before such adjustment. All
                  adjustments to the Exchange Rate and the Optional Conversion
                  Rate shall be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share
                  of Common Stock. No adjustment in the Exchange Rate or in the
                  Optional Conversion Rate shall be required unless such
                  adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least
                  one percent in the Lower Exchange Rate; provided, however, any
                  adjustments which by 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -16-

                  reason of this subparagraph are not required to be made shall
                  be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent
                  adjustment. All adjustments to the Exchange Rate and the
                  Optional Conversion Rate shall be made successively.

                    (9)  Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
                  increasing the Exchange Rate or the Optional Conversion Rate
                  such that the conversion price (for purposes of this paragraph
                  (c), an amount equal to the liquidation value per share of
                  Series BB Preferred Stock divided by the Optional Conversion
                  Rate, respectively, as in effect from time to time) would be
                  below the then par value of the Common Stock, the Corporation
                  will take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of
                  its counsel, be necessary in order that the Corporation may
                  validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares
                  of Common Stock at the Optional Conversion Rate as so
                  adjusted.

         (d) Adjustment for Certain Consolidations or Mergers. In case of any
             ------------------------------------------------
con-solidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party (other than a
merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is the continuing corporation
and in which the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger or
consolidation remains unchanged), or in case of any sale or transfer to another
corporation of the property of the Corporation as an entirety or substantially
as an entirety, or in case of any statutory exchange of securities with another
corporation (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition), proper
provision shall be made so that each share of the Series BB Preferred Stock
shall, after consummation of such transaction, be subject to (i) conversion at
the option of the holder into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other
property receivable upon consummation of such transaction by a holder of the
number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of the Series BB
Preferred Stock might have been converted immediately prior to consummation of
such transaction, and (ii) conversion on the Mandatory Conversion Date into the
kind and amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon
consummation of such transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common
Stock into which such share of the Series BB Preferred Stock would have been
converted if the conversion on the Mandatory Conversion Date had occurred
immediately prior to the date of consummation of such transaction; assuming in
each case that such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise rights of
election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other property
receivable upon consummation of such transaction (provided that if the kind or
amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon consummation of
such transaction is not the same for each nonelecting share, then the kind and
amount of securities, cash or other property receivable upon consummation of
such transaction for each nonelecting share shall be deemed to be the kind and
amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the nonelecting shares). The
kind and amount of securities into which the shares of the Series BB Preferred
Stock shall be convertible after consummation of such transaction shall be
subject to adjustment as described in paragraph (c) following the date of
consummation of such transaction. The Corporation may not become a party to any
such transaction unless the terms thereof are consistent with the foregoing.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -17-

         (e) Notice of Adjustments. Whenever the Exchange Rate and Optional
             ---------------------
Con-version Rate are adjusted as provided in paragraph (c), the Corporation
shall:

                     (1)    Forthwith compute the adjusted Exchange Rate and
                Optional Conversion Rate and prepare a certificate signed by the
                Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or
                the Controller of the Corporation setting forth the adjusted
                Exchange Rate and Optional Conversion Rate, the method of
                calculation thereof in reasonable detail and the facts requiring
                such adjustment and upon which such adjustment is based, which
                certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness of
                the adjustment, and file such certificate forthwith with the
                Transfer Agent;

                     (2)    Make a prompt public announcement stating that the
                Exchange Rate and Optional Conversion Rate have been adjusted
                and setting forth the adjusted Exchange Rate and Optional
                Conversion Rate; and

                     (3)    Promptly mail a notice stating that the Exchange
                Rate and Optional Conversion Rate have been adjusted, the facts
                requiring such adjustment and upon which such adjustment is
                based and setting forth the adjusted Exchange Rate and Optional
                Conversion Rate, to the holders of record of the outstanding
                shares of the Series BB Preferred Stock at or prior to the time
                the Corporation mails an interim statement to its stockholders
                covering the fiscal quarter period during which the facts
                requiring such adjustment occurred but in any event within 45
                days of the end of such fiscal quarter period.

         (f) Notices of Proposed Actions. In case, at any time while any of the
             ---------------------------
shares of Series BB Preferred Stock are outstanding,

                     (1)    the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any
                other distribution) on the Common Stock, (other than in cash out
                of profits or surplus and other than the Rights), or

                     (2)    the Corporation shall authorize the issuance to all
                holders of the Common Stock of rights or warrants (other than
                the Rights) to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common
                Stock or of any other subscription rights or warrants, or

                     (3)    of any reclassification of the Common Stock (other
                than a Sub-division or combination thereof) or of any
                consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party and
                for which approval of any stockholders of the Corporation is
                required (except for a merger of the Corporation into one of its
                subsidiaries solely for the purpose of changing the corporate
                domicile of the Corporation to another state of the United
                States and in connection with which there is no substantive
                change in the rights or privileges of any securities of the
                Corporation other than changes resulting from differences in the
                corporate statutes of the then existing and the new state of
                domicile), or 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -18-

                of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the
                assets of the Corporation,

         then the Corporation shall cause to be filed at each office or agency
maintained for the purpose of conversion of the shares of Series BB Preferred
Stock, and shall cause to be mailed to the holders of shares of Series BB
Preferred Stock at their last addresses as they shall appear on the stock
register, as promptly as possible, but at least 15 days before the date
hereinafter specified (or the earlier of the dates hereinafter specified, in the
event that more than one date is specified), a notice stating (A) the date on
which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution,
rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the
holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution,
rights or warrants are to be determined, or (B) the date on which any such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of
which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to
exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property (including cash),
if any, deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. The failure to give or receive
the notice required by this paragraph (f) or any defect therein shall not affect
the legality or validity of any such dividend, distribution, right or warrant or
other action.

         (g) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be
             --------------------
issued upon the conversion of any shares of the Series BB Preferred Stock. In
lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock which would otherwise be
issuable in respect of the aggregate number of shares of the Series BB Preferred
Stock surrendered by the same holder upon Automatic Conversion or Optional
Conversion, such holder shall have the right to receive an amount in cash
(computed to the nearest cent) equal to the same fraction of the Closing Price
of the Common Stock determined (A) as of the fifth Trading Day immediately
preceding the Mandatory Conversion Date, in the case of Automatic Conversion or
(B) as of the second Trading immediately preceding the effective date of
conversion, in the case of an Optional Conversion by a holder. If more than one
share of Series BB Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for conversion at one
time by or for the same holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate
number of shares of the Series BB Preferred Stock so surrendered.

         (h) Treasury Shares. For the purposes of this subsection III, the
             ---------------
number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include
shares held in the treasury of the Corporation but shall include shares issuable
in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common
Stock. The Corporation will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on
shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Corporation.

         (i) Other Action. If the Corporation shall take any action affecting
             ------------
the Common Stock, other than action described in this subsection III, that in
the opinion of the Board of Directors would materially adversely affect the
conversion rights of the holders of the shares of Series BB Preferred stock, the
Exchange Rate and/or the Optional Conversion Rate for the Series BB Preferred
Stock may be adjusted, to the extent permitted by law, in such manner, 
<PAGE>
 
                                      -19-

if any, and at such time, as the Board of Directors may determine to be
equitable in the circumstances.

         (j) Conversion. The Corporation covenants that it will at all times
             ----------
reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of the aggregate of
its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock for the purpose of effecting
conversion of the Series BB Preferred Stock, the full number of shares of Common
Stock deliverable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series BB
Preferred Stock not theretofore converted. For purposes of this paragraph (j),
the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be deliverable upon the
conversion of all outstanding shares of Series BB Preferred Stock shall be
computed as if at the time of computation all such outstanding shares were held
by a single holder.

         The Corporation covenants that any shares of Common Stock issued upon
conversion of the Series BB Preferred Stock shall be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.

         The Corporation shall endeavor to list the shares of Common Stock
required to be delivered upon conversion of the Series BB Preferred Stock, prior
to such delivery, upon each national securities exchange, if any, upon which the
outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.

         Prior to the delivery of any securities that the Corporation shall be
obligated to deliver upon conversion of the Series BB Preferred stock, the
Corporation shall endeavor to comply with all federal and state laws and
regulations thereunder requiring the registration of such securities with, or
any approval of or consent to the delivery thereof by, any governmental
authority.

         (k) Taxes. The Corporation will pay any and all documentary stamp or
             -----
similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of
shares of Common Stock or other securities or property on conversion of the
Series BB Preferred Stock pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the
                                            --------  -------
Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect
of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock or
other securities or property in a name other than that of the holder of the
Series BB Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be
made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to
the Corporation the amount of any of such tax or established, to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Corporation, that such tax has been paid.

         4.  Definition. For purposes of the Series BB Preferred Stock, the
             ----------
following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

         "business day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the state of New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

         "Initial Price" shall mean $77.375 per share of Common Stock.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -20-

         "Current Market Price" per share of the Common Stock shall mean the
average Closing Price per share of the Common Stock of the Company on the 20
Trading Days immediately prior to, but not including, the Mandatory Conversion
Date.

         "Closing Price" of a share of Common Stock on any date of determination
shall mean the closing sale price (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the
last reported sale price) of such share on the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE") on such date or, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on the
NYSE on any such date, as reported in the composite transactions for the
principal United States securities exchange on which the Common Stock is so
listed, or if it is not so listed on a United States national or regional
securities exchange, as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market, or, if it is not so
reported, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter
market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization, or,
if such bid price is not available, the market value of a share of Common Stock
on such date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment
banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company.

         "Fair Market Value" on any day shall mean the average of the daily
Closing Prices of a share of Common Stock of the Company on the five (5)
consecutive Trading Days selected by the Corporation commencing not more than 20
Trading Days before, and ending not later than, the earlier of the day in
question and the day before the "ex" date with respect to the issuance or
distribution requiring such computation. The term "'ex' date", when used with
respect to any issuance or distribution, means the first day on which the Common
Stock trades regular way, without the right to receive such issuance or
distribution, on the exchange or in the market, as the case may be, used to
determine that day's Closing Price.

         "Rights" shall mean the rights of the Corporation which are issuable
under the Corporation's Stockholder Rights Plan adopted on February 10, 1988 and
as amended from time to time, or rights to purchase any capital stock of the
Corporation under any successor shareholder rights plan or plan adopted in
replacement of the Corporation's Stockholder Rights Plan.

         "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the Common Stock (a) is not
suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or
association or over-the-counter market at the close of business and (b) has
traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or
association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the
trading of such security.

         "Transfer Agent" means National City Bank or such other agent or agents
of the Corporation as may be designated by the Board of Directors as the
transfer agent for the Series BB Preferred Stock.

         5. Liquidation, etc.. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up
            -----------------
of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the shares
of this Series BB Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount equal
to $77.375 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not
earned or declared) at the date of final distribution to such holders.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -21-

         6. Issuance of Fractional Shares. Series BB Preferred Stock may be
            -----------------------------
issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to
such holder's fractional shares to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series BB Preferred Stock.

                                  Division B

                       Express Terms of the Common Stock

         The Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of the Serial
Preferred Stock. Each share of Common Stock shall be equal to every other share
of Common Stock. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one
vote for each share of such stock upon all matters presented to the
shareholders.

         FIFTH: No holders of any class of shares of the Corporation shall have
any preemptive right to purchase or have offered to them for purchase any shares
or other securities of the Corporation.

         SIXTH: The Corporation may from time to time, pursuant to authorization
by the Board of Directors and without action by the shareholders, purchase or
otherwise acquire shares of the Corporation of any class or classes in such
manner, upon such terms and in such amounts as the Board of Directors shall
determine; subject, however, to such limitation or restriction, if any, as is
contained in the express terms of any class of shares of the Corporation
outstanding at the time of the purchase or acquisition in question.

         SEVENTH: A director or officer of the Corporation shall not be
disqualified by his office from dealing or contracting with the Corporation as a
vendor, purchaser, employee, agent or otherwise; nor shall any transaction,
contract or other act of the Corporation be void or voidable or in any way
affected or invalidated by reason of the fact that any director or officer, or
any firm in which such director or officer is a member, or any corporation of
which such director or officer is a member, or any corporation of which such
director or officer is a shareholder, director or officer, is in any way
interested in such transaction, contract or other act, provided the fact that
such director, officer, firm or corporation is so interested shall be disclosed
or shall be known to the Board of Directors or such members thereof as shall be
present at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which action upon any such
transaction, contract or other act shall be taken; nor shall any such director
or officer be accountable or responsible to the Corporation for or in respect of
any such transaction, contract or other act of the Corporation or for any gains
or profits realized by him by reason of the fact that he or any firm of which he
is a member or any corporation of which he is a shareholder, director or officer
is interested in such transaction, contract or other act; and any such director
may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Corporation which shall authorize or take action in
respect of any such transaction, contract or other act, and may vote thereat to
authorize, ratify or approve any such transaction, contract or other act with
like force and effect as if he or any firm of which he is a member or any
corporation of which he is a shareholder, director or officer were not
interested in such transaction, contract or other act.
<PAGE>
 
                                      -22-

         EIGHTH: Notwithstanding any provision of the Ohio Revised Code now or
hereafter in force requiring for any purpose the vote, consent, waiver or
release of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds, or any
other proportion, of the voting power of the Corporation or of any class or
classes of shares thereof, such action, unless otherwise expressly required by
statute or by these Articles, may be taken by the vote, consent, waiver or
release of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the
voting power of the Corporation or of such class or classes.

         NINTH: No shareholder of the Corporation may cumulate such
shareholder's voting power in the election of directors of the Corporation.

         TENTH: Any and every statute of the State of Ohio hereafter enacted,
whereby the rights, powers or privileges of corporations or of the shareholders
of corporations organized under the laws of the State of Ohio are increased or
diminished or in any way affected, or whereby effect is given to the action
taken by any number, less than all, of the shareholders of any such corporation,
shall apply to the Corporation and shall be binding not only upon the
Corporation but upon every shareholder of the Corporation to the same extent as
if such statute had been in force at the date of filing these Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation in the office of the
Secretary of the State of Ohio.

         ELEVENTH: These Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation shall
supersede and take the place of the heretofore existing Amended Articles of
Incorporation as amended of the Corporation.
<PAGE>
 
                                     -23-

<PAGE>
 
================================================================================
                                                                     Exhibit 4.2


                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                     AMONG

                           ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION,

                          CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES,

                                 VARIOUS BANKS

                                      AND

                       DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
                                    AS AGENT

                       __________________________________

                          Dated as of August 30, 1996

                       __________________________________ 



================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 Page
                                                                                                                 ----  
<C>                                      <S>                                                                     <C>
SECTION 1.                               Definitions and Accounting Terms......................................   1
                                   1.01  Defined Terms.........................................................   1
                                                                           
SECTION 2.                               Amount and Terms of Credit............................................  11
                                   2.01  The Commitments.......................................................  11
                                   2.02  Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing......................................  11
                                   2.03  Notice of Borrowing...................................................  11
                                   2.04  Disbursement of Funds.................................................  12
                                   2.05  Notes.................................................................  13
                                   2.06  Pro Rata Borrowings...................................................  13
                                   2.07  Interest..............................................................  14
                                   2.08  Interest Periods; Terms...............................................  14
                                   2.09  Increased Costs, Illegality, etc......................................  16
                                   2.10  Compensation..........................................................  18
                                   2.11  Change of Lending Office..............................................  19
                                   2.12  Replacement of Banks..................................................  19
                                                                           
SECTION 3.                               Fees; Reductions of Commitment........................................  20
                                   3.01  Fees..................................................................  20
                                   3.02  Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Unutilized Commitments..........  21
                                   3.03  Mandatory Reduction of Commitments....................................  21
 
SECTION 4.                               Prepayments; Payments; Taxes..........................................  21
                                   4.01  Voluntary Prepayments.................................................  21
                                   4.02  Mandatory Repayments and          
                                         Commitment Reductions.................................................  21
                                   4.03  Method and Place of Payment...........................................  23
                                   4.04  Net Payments..........................................................  23
                                                                           
SECTION 5.                               Conditions Precedent to Loans.........................................  24
                                   5.01  Opinion of Counsel....................................................  24
                                   5.02  Corporate Documents...................................................  24
                                   5.03  Adverse Change, etc...................................................  24
                                   5.04  Litigation............................................................  25
                                   5.05  Fees, etc.............................................................  25
                                   5.06  Borrowing Subsidiaries................................................  25
 
SECTION 6.                               Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events.............................  25
                                   6.01  No Default; Representations and Warranties............................  25
                                   6.02  Notice of Borrowing...................................................  26
 
SECTION 7.                               Representations, Warranties and Agreements............................  26
                                   7.01  Organization and Good Standing........................................  26
                                   7.02  Corporate Power and Authority.........................................  27
                                   7.03  Validity of Agreement and Notes.......................................  27
                                   7.04  Litigation............................................................  27
                                   7.05  Financial Statements..................................................  27
                                   7.06  ERISA.................................................................  28
                                   7.07  Regulations G, T, U and X.............................................  28
                                   7.08  Compliance with Laws..................................................  29
                                   7.09  Taxes and Assessments.................................................  29
                                   7.10  Investment Company; Public Utility Company............................  29
                                   7.11  Environmental Matters.................................................  29
                                   7.12  Liens.................................................................  30
                                   7.13  Disclosure Generally..................................................  30
                                   7.14  Ownership of Borrowing Subsidiaries...................................  30
 
SECTION 8.                               Covenants.............................................................  30
                                   8.01  Financial Statements and Information..................................  30
                                   8.02  Funded Debt to Capitalization.........................................  32
                                   8.03  Subsidiaries' Debt....................................................  32
                                   8.04  Sale of Assets........................................................  32
                                   8.05  Mergers and Acquisitions..............................................  33
                                   8.06  Negative Pledge.......................................................  33
                                   8.07  Sale, Discount of Receivables; Sale, Leaseback Transactions...........  34
                                   8.08  Regulations G, T, U and X.............................................  35
                                   8.09  Corporate Existence...................................................  35
                                   8.10  Books and Records.....................................................  35
                                   8.11  Insurance.............................................................  35
                                   8.12  Litigation; Event of Default..........................................  35
                                   8.13  Taxes.................................................................  35
                                   8.14  Compliance with Laws..................................................  36
                                   8.15  Employee Benefit Plans................................................  36
                                   8.16  Continued Ownership of each Borrowing Subsidiary......................  36
 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<C>                                      <S>                                                                     <C>
SECTION 9.                               Events of Default and Acceleration....................................  37
                                   9.01  Events of Default.....................................................  37
                                   9.02  Acceleration by Reason of Default.....................................  39
 
SECTION 10.                              The Agent.............................................................  39
                                  10.01  Appointment...........................................................  39
                                  10.02  Nature of Duties......................................................  40
                                  10.03  Lack of Reliance on the Agent.........................................  40
                                  10.04  Certain Rights of the Agent...........................................  40
                                  10.05  Reliance..............................................................  41
                                  10.06  Indemnification.......................................................  41
                                  10.07  The Agent in its Individual Capacity..................................  41
                                  10.08  Holders...............................................................  41
                                  10.09  Resignation by the Agent..............................................  42
 
SECTION 11.                              Guaranty..............................................................  42
                                  11.01  The Guaranty..........................................................  42
                                  11.02  Bankruptcy............................................................  43
                                  11.03  Nature of Liability...................................................  43
                                  11.04  Independent Obligation................................................  43
                                  11.05  Subordination.........................................................  43
                                  11.06  Waiver................................................................  44
                                  11.07  Banks' Rights.........................................................  44
                                  11.08  Guaranty Absolute.....................................................  45
                                  11.09  Guaranty Continuing...................................................  45
                                  11.10  Binding Nature of Guaranty............................................  45
                                  11.11  Limitation on Enforcement.............................................  45
 
SECTION 12.                              Miscellaneous.........................................................  46
                                  12.01  Payment of Expenses, etc..............................................  46
                                  12.02  Right of Setoff.......................................................  47
                                  12.03  Notices...............................................................  47
                                  12.04  Benefit of Agreement..................................................  47
                                  12.05  No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative........................................  49
                                  12.06  Payments Pro Rata.....................................................  49
                                  12.07  Calculations; Computations............................................  49
                                  12.08  GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE; 
                                         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..................................................  50
                                  12.09  Counterparts..........................................................  51
                                  12.10  Effectiveness.........................................................  51
                                  12.11  Headings Descriptive..................................................  51
                                  12.12  Amendment or Waiver; etc..............................................  51
                                  12.13  Survival..............................................................  52
                                  12.14  Domicile of Loans.....................................................  52
                                  12.15  Judgment Currency.....................................................  53
</TABLE>

SCHEDULE I     Commitments
SCHEDULE II    Schedule of Litigation
SCHEDULE III   Schedule of Liens

EXHIBIT A      Notice of Borrowing
EXHIBIT B      Form of Company Note
EXHIBIT C      Form of Borrower Subsidiary Note
EXHIBIT D      Form of Opinion of Company Counsel
EXHIBIT E      Form of Secretary's Certificate
EXHIBIT F      Form of Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement
EXHIBIT G      Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement
<PAGE>
 
          CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 30, 1996, among ALCO STANDARD
CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), certain subsidiaries of the
Company, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH and the
various lending institutions as are or may become parties from time to time
hereto (each, a "Bank" and collectively, the "Banks") and DEUTSCHE BANK AG,
acting through its New York Branch, as agent for the Banks under this Agreement
(the "Agent").


                             W I T N E S S E T H :
                             - - - - - - - - - -  


          WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Banks are willing to make available to the Borrowers the respective credit
facilities provided for herein;


          NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:


          SECTION 1.  Definitions and Accounting Terms.
                      -------------------------------- 

          1.01 Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms
               -------------                                                 
shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to
both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

          "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
(other than an individual) directly or indirectly controlling (including, but
not limited to, all directors and officers of such Person), controlled by, or
under direct or indirect common control with, such Person.  A Person shall be
deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or
indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.

          "Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of
this Agreement, and shall include any successor to the Agent appointed pursuant
to Section 10.09.

          "Agreement" shall mean this Credit Agreement, as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time.
<PAGE>
 
          "Bank" shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of this
Agreement, as well as any Person which becomes a "Bank" hereunder pursuant to
12.04(b).

          "Bank Default" shall mean (i) the refusal (which has not been
retracted) of a Bank to make available its portion of any Borrowing or (ii) a
Bank having notified in writing a Borrower and/or the Agent that it does not
intend to comply with its obligations under Sections 2.01 or 2.04.

          "Bankruptcy Code" shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled "Bankruptcy," as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto,
or any similar Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

          "Borrower" shall mean the Company and any Borrowing Subsidiary.

          "Borrowing" shall mean a borrowing hereunder consisting of Loans made
to the Borrower by the Banks on any Borrowing Date.

          "Borrowing Date" shall mean the date on which a borrowing of Loans
here under occurs.

          "Borrowing Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary of the Company
accept able to the Agent that has executed a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement.

          "Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement" shall mean that agreement executed
pur suant to Section 5.06 substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

          "Business Day" shall mean (i) for all purposes other than as covered
by clauses (ii) and (iii) below, any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
which shall be in New York a legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or other government action to
close, (ii) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with,
and payments of principal and interest on, any U.S. Dollar Loan, any day which
is a Business Day described in clause (i) above and which is also a day for
trading by and between banks in U.S. Dollar deposits in the London inter bank
Eurodollar market and (iii) with respect to all notices and determinations in
connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any Loan the Loan
Currency of which is not the U.S. Dollar, any day which is a Business Day
described in clause (i) above and which is also (x) any day except a day which,
in the primary trading market for the Loan Currency, shall be a legal holiday or
a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law or other government
action to close and (y) a day for trading by and between banks in Loan Currency
deposits in the interbank market.
<PAGE>
 
          "CERCLA" shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. (S) 9601 et seq., as the same
                                                            -- ----             
may be amended from time to time.

          "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time and the regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
Section references to the Code are to the Code, as in effect at the date of this
Agreement, and to any subsequent provisions of the Code, amendatory thereof,
supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

          "Commitment" shall mean, with respect to any Bank at any time, the
amount set forth opposite such Bank's name in Schedule I hereto under the
caption "Commitment," as such Schedule may be amended from time to time pursuant
to Section 12.04(b) or reduced pursuant to Section 3.02, 3.03, 4.02 or 9.01.

          "Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean, at any time, all amounts which
would be included under shareholders' equity on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

          "Consolidated Subsidiaries" shall mean, as to any Person, all
Subsidiaries of such Person which are consolidated with such Person for
financial reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States.

          "Contingent Liabilities" shall mean letters of credit (excluding
commercial documentary letters of credit), unconditional guaranties to banks or
other lenders of indebtedness of another person or entity, and liabilities
associated with interest rate hedging agreements, provided, however, that
                                                  --------  -------      
Contingent Liabilities shall not be deemed to include any recorded liability
provided for on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

          "Credit Documents" shall mean this Agreement and, after the execution
and delivery thereof pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Note and each
Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement.

          "Credit Event" shall mean the making of any Loan.

          "Debt" shall mean (i) Funded Debt and (ii) any portions of notes
payable and capital lease obligations which are classified as current
liabilities.

              "DBNY" shall mean Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch.
              ----------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
          "Default" shall mean any event, act or condition which with notice or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

          "Defaulting Bank" shall mean any Bank with respect to which a Bank
Default is in effect.

          "Effective Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.10.

          "Eligible Transferee" shall mean and include any commercial bank,
financial institution or other "accredited investor" (as defined in Regulation D
of the Securities Act).

          "Employment Benefit Plan" shall have the meaning provided in Section
7.06.

          "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative, regulatory or
judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, directives, claims, liens,
notices of non compliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating
in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued, or any approval given,
under any such Environmental Law (hereafter, "Claims"), including, without
limitation, (a) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for
enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages
pursuant to any Environmental Law, and (b) any and all Claims by any third party
seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or
injunctive relief in connection with alleged injury or threat of injury to
health, safety or the environment due to the presence of Hazardous Materials.

          "Environmental Law" means any applicable Federal, state, foreign or
local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, guideline, legally
binding written policy and rule of common law now or hereafter in effect and in
each case as amended, and any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof,
including any judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment,
relating to the environment, employee health and safety or Hazardous Materials,
including, without limitation, CERCLA; RCRA; the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act, 33 U.S.C. (S) 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. (S)
                        -- ----                                                 
2601 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 7401 et seq.; the Safe Drinking
     -- ----                                        -- ----                   
Water Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 3803 et seq.; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.
                              -- ----                                          
(S) 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and the Community Right-to-Know Act of
         -- ----                                                               
1986, 42 U.S.C. (S) 11001 et seq., the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, 49
                          -- ----                                               
U.S.C. (S) 1801 et seq. and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C.
                -- ----                                                      
(S) 651 et seq.; and any state and local or foreign counterparts or equivalents,
        -- ----                                                                 
in each case as amended from time to time.

          "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings
issued there under.  Section references to ERISA are to ERISA, as in effect at
the date of this
<PAGE>
 
Agreement, and to any subsequent provisions of ERISA, amendatory thereof,
supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

          "ERISA Affiliate" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.06.

          "Eurocurrency Loan" shall mean each Loan designated as such by the
applicable Borrower at the time of the incurrence thereof.

          "Eurocurrency Rate" shall mean, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan,
the sum of (a) the LIBOR Rate for such Loan and (b) 0.20%.

          "Event of Default" shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.

          "Facility Fee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a)
hereof.

          "Federal Funds Rate" shall mean for any period, a fluctuating interest
rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of
the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rates are not so published for any
day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
transactions received by the Agent on such day from three federal funds brokers
of recognized standing selected by the Agent.

          "Fees" shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to or referred to in
Section 3.01.

          "Finance Leasing Subsidiaries" shall mean IKON Capital, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, IKON Capital Inc., a Canadian corporation, and IKON
Capital, PLC, an English company, and their respective successor corporations,
and such additional Subsidiaries whose primary business is the leasing of
products distributed by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

          "Funded Debt" shall mean any obligation payable more than one year
from the date of the creation thereof which under GAAP is shown on the
consolidated balance sheet as a liability (excluding reserves for deferred
income taxes and other reserves to the extent that such reserves do not
constitute obligations for borrowed money) and including, without limitation,
the portion of any such obligation properly classified as a current liability
and capitalized leases.

          "Funds Rate" shall mean the rate at which the Agent, in its sole
discretion, can acquire the applicable Loan Currency in the primary trading
market for such Loan
<PAGE>
 
Currency from such funding sources as the Agent in its sole discretion may deem
appropriate, through brokers of recognized standing, for a period and in an
amount comparable to the period and amount for which interest is being
calculated, provided that for loans in U.S. Dollars, the Funds Rate will be the
Federal Funds Rate.

          "GAAP" shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.07.

          "Hazardous Materials" means (a) any petroleum or petroleum products,
radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that is or could become friable,
urea formal dehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that contain
dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas;
(b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the
definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous waste," "hazardous materials,"
"extremely hazardous substances," "restricted hazardous waste," "toxic
substances," "toxic pollutants," "contaminants," or "pollutants," or words of
similar import, under any Environmental Law; and (c) any other chemical,
material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by
any governmental authority.

          "Indebtedness" shall mean, as to any Person, without duplication, (i)
all indebtedness (including principal, interest, fees and charges) of such
Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or
services, (ii) the maximum amount available to be drawn under all letters of
credit issued for the account of such Person and all unpaid drawings in respect
of such letters of credit, (iii) all Indebtedness of the types described in
clause (i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of this definition secured by any
Lien on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has
been assumed by such Person, (iv) the aggregate amount required to be
capitalized under leases under which such Person is the lessee, (v) all
obligations of such person to pay a specified pur chase price for goods or
services, whether or not delivered or accepted, i.e., take-or-pay and similar
                                                ----                         
obligations, (vi) all obligations of such Person guaranteeing or intending to
guarantee any Indebtedness of the types described in clause (i) of this
definition and (vii) all amounts payable by such Person under any Interest Rate
Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement or under any similar type of
agreement.

          "Initial Borrowing Date" shall mean, with respect to any Borrower, the
date occurring on or after the Effective Date on which the initial borrowing of
Loans by such Borrower hereunder occurs.

          "Interest Determination Date" shall mean, with respect to any
Eurocurrency Loan, the second Business Day prior to the commencement of the
Interest Period for such Loan.

          "Interest Period" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.08.
<PAGE>
 
          "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" shall mean any interest rate swap
agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest collar agreement, interest rate
hedging agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.

          "Judgment Currency" shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.15.

              "Leaseholds" of any Person means all the right, title and interest
              ------------------------------------------------------------------
of such Person as lessee or licensee in, to and under leases or licenses of
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
land, improvements and/or fixtures.
- -----------------------------------

          "LIBOR Rate" shall mean, with respect to the Interest Period for any
Eurocurrency Loan in any Loan Currency, the rate of interest per annum that the
Agent would offer to major banks in the London interbank market for deposits in
such Loan Currency for such Interest Period and in an amount approximately equal
to the amount of such Loan at or about 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the second
Business Day prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

          "Lien" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), preference,
priority or other security agreement of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any financing or similar statement or notice filed under the UCC or
any other similar recording or notice statute, and any lease having
substantially the same effect as any of the foregoing).

          "Loan" shall mean an extension of credit by the Banks to a Borrower
under Section 2, and may be a Quoted Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Loan (each a
"Type" of Loan).

          "Loan Currency" shall mean the currency acceptable to the Agent in
which any applicable Loan is made.

          "Majority Banks" shall mean the Banks whose Commitments under this
Agreement aggregate greater than 50% of the Total Commitments.

          "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with respect to any Borrower, a
material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of such Borrower or such
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

          "Maturity Date" shall mean August 30, 1999.
<PAGE>
 
          "Minimum Borrowing Amount" shall mean U.S. $500,000 or the U.S. Dollar
Equivalent of such amount in the Loan Currency.

          "Multiemployer Plan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.06.

          "Note" shall mean each of the notes executed pursuant to Section 2.05
hereof.

          "Notice of Borrowing" shall mean each telephonic notice of borrowing
given pursuant to Section 2.03(a) and each written notice of borrowing given
pursuant to Section 2.03(b).

          "Notice Office" shall mean the office of the Agent located at 31 West
52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndications Department, or
such other office as the Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the
other parties hereto.

          "Obligations" shall mean all amounts owing to the Banks pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

          "Other Hedging Agreement" shall mean any foreign exchange contracts,
currency swap agreements or other similar agreements or arrangements designed
to protect against the fluctuations in currency values.

          "Payment Office" shall mean the office of the Agent located at 31 West
52nd Street, New York, New York 10019 or such other office as the Agent may
hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

          "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.

          "Pension Plan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.06.

          "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm,
corporation, association, trust or other enterprise or any government or
political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

          "Prime Lending Rate" shall mean the rate which the Agent announces
from time to time as its prime lending rate in the applicable Loan Currency, the
Prime Lending Rate to change when and as such prime lending rate changes.  Prime
Lending Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest
or best rate actually charged to any customer.  The Agent may make commercial
loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Prime Lending
Rate.
<PAGE>
 
          "Quoted Rate" shall mean the rate at which the Agent, in its sole
discretion, offers to lend to the applicable Borrower the applicable Loan
Currency in the amount and for such period such Borrower selects pursuant to
Sections 2.03 hereof, provided that, the Quoted Rate for Loans denominated in
U.S. Dollars shall mean the Prime Lending Rate.

          "Quoted Rate Loan" shall mean each loan designated as such by the
applicable Borrower at the time of the incurrence thereof.

          "Quarterly Payment Date" shall mean the last Business Day of each
March, June, September and December occurring after the Effective Date.

          "RCRA" shall mean the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42
U.S.C. (S) 6901 et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time.
                -- ----                                               

          "Real Property" of any Person shall mean all the right, title and
interest of such Person in and to land, improvements and fixtures, including
Leaseholds.

          "Recomputation Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section
4.02(a).

              "Regulation D" shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors
              ----------------------------------------------------------------
of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
to all or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.
- --------------------------------------------------------------

          "Regulation G" shall mean Regulation G of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or a portion thereof.

          "Regulation T" shall mean Regulation T of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or a portion thereof.

          "Regulation U" shall mean Regulation U of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or a portion thereof.

          "Regulation X" shall mean Regulation X of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to
all or a portion thereof.

          "Required Banks" shall mean non-Defaulting Banks, the sum of whose
Commitments represent an amount equal to or greater than 66-2/3% of the sum of
the Total Commitments.
<PAGE>
 
          "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Securities Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Securitization" means the transfer or pledge of assets or interests
in assets to a trust, partnership, corporation or other entity, which transfer
or pledge is funded by such entity in whole or in part by the issuance of
instruments or securities that are paid principally from the cash flow derived
from such assets or interests in assets.

          "Significant Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary which is a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Section 210.1-02(v) of Regulation S-X of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, 17 C.F.R. Part 210, as in effect on the
date hereof.

          "Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, (i) any corporation more
than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of
such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii) any partnership, association, joint
venture or other entity in which such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of
such Person has more than a 50% equity interest at the time.

          "Taxes" shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.04(a).

          "Total Commitments" shall mean the aggregate of all of the Commitments
of all of the Banks.

          "Type" shall have the meaning specified in the definition of "Loan".

          "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in
effect in the relevant jurisdiction.

          "Unfunded Pension Liabilities" shall have the meaning provided in
Section 7.06.

          "United States" and "U.S." shall each mean the United States of
America.

          "Unrecognized Retiree Welfare Liability" shall have the meaning
provided in Section 7.06.
<PAGE>
 
          "Unutilized Loan Commitment", with respect to any Bank, at any time
shall mean such Bank's Commitment at such time less the U.S. Dollar Equivalent
of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans made by the Bank under
this Agreement.

          "U.S. Dollar" or "U.S.$" shall mean freely transferable lawful money
of the United States.

          "U.S. Dollar Equivalent" of any amount of any currency on any date
shall mean the equivalent amount in U.S. Dollars, after giving effect to a
conversion of such amount of such currency to U.S. Dollars at the buy spot rate
quoted for wholesale transactions by DBNY at approximately 11:00 A.M. (New York
time) on such date in accordance with its normal practice.


          SECTION 2.  Amount and Terms of Credit.
                      -------------------------- 

          2.01 The Commitments.  Subject to and upon the terms and conditions
               ---------------                                               
set forth herein, each Bank severally agrees, at any time and from time to time
on and after the Effective Date and prior to the Maturity Date, to make a Loan
or Loans to each Borrower, which Loans (a) shall at the option of the Borrower
be Quoted Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Loans, (b) shall bear interest (i) in the
case of Eurocurrency Loans at the Eurocurrency Rate and (ii) in the case of
Quoted Rate Loans at the Quoted Rate, (c) shall be denominated in the applicable
Loan Currency and (d) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the
provisions hereof.  In no event shall a Bank be obligated to make a Loan
hereunder on any Borrowing Date if, on such Borrowing Date after giving effect
thereto, (A) the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of such Bank's Loans outstanding on such
Borrowing Date would exceed its Commitment or (B) the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of
the aggregate Loans outstanding on such Borrowing Date would exceed the Total
Commitments.

          2.02 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing.  The aggregate principal amount
               --------------------------------                                 
of each Borrowing shall (a) not be less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount and
(b) be in round lot currency multiples reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

          2.03 Notice of Borrowing.  (a)  Whenever a Borrower desires to make a
               -------------------                                             
Borrowing hereunder, it shall give the Agent at its Notice Office by telephone a
Notice of Borrowing (i) in the case of a Quoted Rate Loan not later than 10:00
a.m. (New York time) on the day before such Loan is to be made and (ii) in the
case of a Eurocurrency Loan at least three Business Days prior to the proposed
date of Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day; provided that any such Notice
                                                  --------                     
of Borrowing in respect of a Borrowing shall be deemed to have been given on a
certain day only if given before 12:00 noon (New York time) on such day.  Each
such Notice of Borrowing, except as otherwise expressly
<PAGE>
 
provided in Section 2.09, shall be irrevocable and shall specify the Type of
Loan to be made pursuant to such Borrowing, the aggregate principal amount of
such Loan, the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), the Loan
Currency and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, the duration of the Interest
Period applicable thereto and, in the case of a Quoted Rate Loan, the term of
such Loan.  The Agent shall promptly give each Bank notice of such proposed
Borrowing, of such Bank's proportionate share thereof, and of the other matters
required by the immediately preceding sentence to be specified in the Notice of
Borrowing.

          (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in Section
2.03(a), the Agent may, at any time, request a Borrower to promptly confirm in
writing any tele phonic notice given by such Borrower pursuant to Section
2.03(a).  Each such confirmation shall be irrevocable and shall be given by such
Borrower in the form of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed to specify the
same information required pursuant to Section 2.03(a).

          (c) Without in any way limiting the obligation of a Borrower to
confirm in writing any telephonic notice permitted to be given hereunder
following a request by the Agent pursuant to Section 2.03(b), the Agent may act
without liability upon the basis of a telephonic Notice of Borrowing, believed
by the Agent in good faith to be from the chair man, the president, the vice
president/finance, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or the controller of
such Borrower (or any other officer of such Borrower designated in writing to
the Agent by the chairman, the president, the vice president/finance or the
controller as being authorized to give such a Notice of Borrowing under this
Agreement) prior to receipt of written confirmation.  In each such case, such
Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Agent's record of the terms of
such telephonic Notice of Borrowing absent manifest error.

          2.04 Disbursement of Funds.  No later than 12:00 noon (New York time)
               ---------------------                                           
on the date specified in each Notice of Borrowing, each Bank will make available
its pro rata portion of each such Borrowing requested to be made on such date.
    --- ----                                                                   
Each Bank shall make its pro rata portion of each such Borrowing available in
                         --- ----                                            
the Loan Currency and in immediately available funds at the Payment Office of
the Agent, and the Agent will make available to the applicable Borrower at the
Payment Office the aggregate of the amounts so made available by the Banks.
Unless the Agent shall have been notified by any Bank prior to the date of
Borrowing that such Bank does not intend to make available to the Agent such
Bank's pro rata portion of any Borrowing to be made on such date, the Agent may
       --- ----                                                                
assume that such Bank has made such amount available to the Agent on such date
of Borrowing and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to such Borrower a corresponding amount.  If such corresponding
amount is not in fact made available to the Agent by such Bank, the Agent shall
be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Bank.  If
such Bank does not pay such corresponding amount
<PAGE>
 
forthwith upon the Agent's demand therefor, the Agent shall promptly notify the
applicable Borrower, and such Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding
amount to the Agent.  The Agent shall also be entitled to recover on demand from
such Bank or such Bor rower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding
amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made
available by the Agent to the applicable Borrower until the date such
corresponding amount is recovered by the Agent, at a rate per annum equal to (i)
if recovered from such Bank, the overnight Funds Rate and (ii) if recovered from
such Borrower, the rate of interest applicable to the respective Borrowing, as
determined pursuant to Section 2.07 (it being understood that if such Borrower
pays such interest to the Agent, no interest on such amount shall be payable by
such Borrower to the respective Bank).  Nothing in this Section 2.04 shall be
deemed to relieve any Bank from its obligation to make Loans hereunder or to
prejudice any rights which any Borrower may have against any Bank as a result of
any failure by such Bank to make Loans hereunder.

          2.05 Notes.  (a)  Each Borrower's obligation to pay the principal of,
               -----                                                           
and interest on, the Loans made by a Bank to such Borrower shall be evidenced by
a promissory note duly executed and delivered by such Borrower substantially in
the form of Exhibit B hereto, in the case of the Company, and Exhibit C hereto,
in the case of a Borrowing Subsidiary, with blanks appropriately completed in
conformity herewith (each a "Note" and, collectively, the "Notes").

          (b) Each Note issued to each Bank shall (i) be executed by the
applicable Borrower, (ii) be payable to the order of such Bank and be dated the
Effective Date, in the case of the Company, and the Initial Borrowing Date, in
the case of a Borrowing Subsidiary, (iii) be in a stated principal amount equal
to the amount of the applicable Loan, (iv) mature on the Maturity Date, (v) bear
interest as provided in the appropriate clause of Section 2.07, (vi) be subject
to voluntary prepayment as provided in Section 4.01, and mandatory repayment as
provided in Section 4.02, and (vii) be entitled to the benefits of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

          (c) Each Bank will note on its internal records and on each Note the
amount of each Loan made by it and each payment in respect thereof.  Failure to
make any such notation shall not, however, affect the Borrower's or the
Company's obligations in respect of any Loan.

          2.06 Pro Rata Borrowings.  All Borrowings of Loans under this
               -------------------                                     
Agreement shall be incurred from the Banks pro rata on the basis of their
                                           --- ----                      
Commitments.  It is understood that no Bank shall be responsible for any default
by any other Bank of its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Bank
shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder,
regardless of the failure of any other Bank to make its Loans hereunder.
<PAGE>
 
          2.07  Interest. (a)  Each Borrower shall pay interest in respect of
                --------                                                     
the unpaid principal amount of each Quoted Rate Loan to such Borrower from the
date the proceeds thereof are made available to such Borrower until the maturity
thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal to the
Quoted Rate in effect from time to time.  Each Borrower shall pay interest in
respect of the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Loan from the date
the proceeds thereof are made available to such Borrower until the maturity
thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal to the
Eurocurrency Rate.

          (b) Overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue
interest in respect of each Loan and any other overdue amount payable hereunder
shall, in each case, bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate which
is 2% in excess of the rate of interest then borne by such Loans, in each case
with such interest to be payable on demand.

          (c)  Accrued (and theretofore unpaid) interest shall be payable (i) in
respect of each Quoted Rate Loan, on the date of any prepayment or repayment
thereof (on the amount prepaid or repaid) and monthly in arrears on each monthly
anniversary of the date such Quoted Rate Loan was advanced, and (ii) in respect
of each Eurocurrency Loan, on the date of any prepayment or repayment thereof
(on the amount prepaid or repaid), on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto and, in the case of an Interest Period in excess of three
months, on each date occurring at three month intervals after the first day of
such Interest Period.

          (d) On the Interest Determination Date in respect of each Eurocurrency
Loan, the Agent shall determine the LIBOR Rate for the Interest Period for such
Loan and shall promptly notify the applicable Borrower and the Banks thereof.
Each such determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive
and binding on all parties hereto.

          2.08 Interest Periods; Terms.  (a)  At the time it gives any Notice of
          ---- -----------------------                                          
Borrowing in respect of any Eurocurrency Loan, the Borrower shall have the right
to elect, by giving the Agent written notice thereof, the interest period (each,
an "Interest Period") applicable to such Eurocurrency Loan, which Interest
Period shall, at the option of the Borrower, be a one, two, three, six or
twelve-month period, provided that with respect to any such Loan:
                     --------                                    

             (i) if the Interest Period begins on a day for which there is no
     numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
     Interest Period, such Interest Period shall, subject to clause (iv) below,
     end on the last Business Day of such calendar month;
<PAGE>
 
             (ii) if the Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day which
     is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next
     succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that if the Interest Period
                              --------  -------                             
     would otherwise expire on a day which is not a Business Day but is a day of
     the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such
     Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day;

             (iii)  no Interest Period may be selected at any time when a
     Default or Event of Default is then in existence;

             (iv) no Interest Period shall be selected which extends beyond the
     Maturity Date; and

             (v) no Interest Period shall be selected which extends beyond any
     date upon which a mandatory repayment of such Loan will be required to be
     made under Section 4.02(b) if the aggregate principal amount of Loans which
     have Interest Periods or terms which will expire after such date will be in
     excess of the aggregate principal amount of Loans then outstanding less the
     aggregate amount of such required prepayment.

     (b)  At the time it gives any Notice of Borrowing in respect of any Quoted
Rate Loan, the Borrower shall have the right to elect, by giving the Agent
written notice thereof, the term applicable to such Quoted Rate Loan, provided
                                                                      --------
that with respect to any such Loan:

          (i) if the term of such Quoted Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a
     day which is not a Business Day, such term shall expire on the next
     succeeding Business Day;

          (ii) no term may be selected at any time when a Default or Event of
     Default is then in existence;

          (iii)  no term shall be selected which extends beyond the Maturity
     Date; and

          (iv) no term shall be selected which extends beyond any date upon
     which a mandatory repayment of such Loan will be required to be made under
     Section 4.02(b) if the aggregate principal amount of Loans which have
     Interest Periods or terms which will expire after such date will be in
     excess of the aggregate principal amount of Loans then outstanding less the
     aggregate amount of such required prepayment.
<PAGE>
 
          2.09  Increased Costs, Illegality, etc.  (a)  In the event that any
                ---------------------------------                            
Bank shall have determined (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be
final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto but, with respect to
clause (i) below, may be made only by the Agent):

               (i)  on the Interest Determination Date in respect of any Loan
     that, by reason of any changes arising after the date of this Agreement
     affecting the inter bank Eurodollar market or the applicable Loan Currency,
     adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable
     interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of LIBOR Rate; or

               (ii)  at any time, that such Bank shall incur increased costs or
     reductions in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to
     any Loan because of (x) any change since the date of this Agreement in any
     applicable law or governmental rule, regulation, order, guideline or
     request (whether or not having the force of law) or in the interpretation
     or administration thereof and including the enactment of any new law or
     governmental rule, regulation, order, guideline or request, such as, for
     example, but not limited to (A) a change in the basis of taxation of
     payments to any Bank of the principal of or interest on the Notes or any
     other amounts payable hereunder (except for changes in the rate of tax on,
     or deter mined by reference to, the net income or profits of such Bank, or
     any franchise tax based on the net income or profits of such Bank, in
     either case pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
     organized or in which its principal office or applicable lending office is
     located or any subdivision thereof or therein), but without duplication of
     any amounts payable in respect of Taxes pursuant to Section 4.04(a); or (B)
     a change in official reserve requirements, but, in all events, excluding
     reserves required under Regulation D to the extent covered by Section
     2.09(c) and/or (y) other circumstances since the date of this Agreement
     affecting such Bank or the interbank Eurodollar market or the applicable
     eurocurrency market or the position of such Bank in such market; or

               (iii)  at any time, that the making or continuance of any Loan
     has been made (x) unlawful by any law or governmental rule, regulation or
     order, (y) impossible by compliance by such Bank with any governmental
     request (whether or not having force of law) or (z) impracticable as a
     result of a contingency occurring after the date of this Agreement which
     materially and adversely affects the interbank Eurodollar market or the
     applicable eurocurrency market;

then, and in any such event, such Bank (or the Agent, in the case of clause (i)
above) shall promptly give notice (by telephone confirmed in writing) to the
applicable Borrower and, except in the case of clause (i) above, to the Agent,
of such determination (which notice the Agent shall promptly transmit to each of
the other Banks).  Thereafter (x) in the case of
<PAGE>
 
clause (i) above, the affected Loans shall no longer be available until such
time as the Agent notifies such Borrower and the Banks that the circumstances
giving rise to such notice by the Agent no longer exist, and any Notice of
Borrowing given by such Borrower with respect to such Loans which have not yet
been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by such Borrower, (y) in the case of
clause (ii) above, such Borrower shall pay to such Bank, upon written demand
therefor, such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a
different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Bank in its sole
discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Bank for
such increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable hereunder
(a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to such Bank, showing the
basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the applicable Borrower by such
Bank shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding on all
the parties hereto) and (z) in the case of clause (iii) above, such Borrower
shall take one of the actions specified in Section 2.09(b) as promptly as 
possible and, in any event, within the time period required by law.

          (b) At any time that any Loan is affected by the circumstances
described in Section 2.09(a)(ii) or (iii), the applicable Borrower may (and in
the case of a Loan affected by the circumstances described in Section
2.09(a)(iii) shall) either (x) if the affected Loan is then being made, cancel
such Borrowing by giving the Agent telephonic notice (confirmed in writing) of
such cancellation on the same date that such Borrower was notified by the
affected Bank or the Agent pursuant to Section 2.09(a)(ii) or (iii) or (y) if
the affected Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days'
written notice to the Agent, prepay such Loan, provided that, if more than one
                                               --------                       
Bank is affected at any time by the circumstances described in Section
2.09(a)(ii) or (iii), then all affected Banks must be treated in the same manner
pursuant to this Section 2.09(b).

          (c) In the event that any Bank shall determine (which determination
shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding on all the
parties hereto) at any time that by reason of Regulation D such Bank is required
to maintain reserves in respect of Eurocurrency liabilities (as defined in
Regulation D) (any such determination, for any Bank, a "Eurocurrency Reserve
Event"), then such Bank shall promptly give notice (by telephone confirmed in
writing) to the Borrowers and to the Agent of such determination (which notice
the Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Banks), and the Borrowers
shall directly pay to such Bank additional interest on the unpaid principal
amount of such Bank's Eurocurrency Loans throughout such Eurocurrency Reserve
Event at a rate per annum which shall, during each Interest Period, be the
amount by which (A) the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period divided (and rounded
upward to the next whole multiple of 1/16 of 1%) by a percentage equal to 100%
minus the then stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements (including,
without limitation, any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other
reserves) applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect
of Eurocurrency liabilities (as defined in Regulation D) exceeds (B) the LIBOR
Rate for such Interest Period.  Additional interest payable pursuant to the
<PAGE>
 
immediately preceding sentence shall be paid by each Borrower at the time that
it is otherwise required to pay interest in respect of such Loans or, if later
demanded by the Bank, promptly on demand.  Each Bank agrees that, if it gives
notice to the Borrowers of the existence of a Eurocurrency Reserve Event, it
shall promptly notify the Borrowers of any termination thereof, at which time
the Borrowers shall cease to be obligated to pay additional interest to such
Bank pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.09(c) until such time, if
any, as a subsequent Eurocurrency Reserve Event shall occur.

          (d) If at any time after the date of this Agreement any Bank
determines that the enactment of or any change in any applicable law or
governmental rule, regulation, order, guideline, directive or request (whether
or not having the force of law) concerning capital adequacy, or any change or
any change therein, or any change in interpretation or administration thereof by
any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, has or will have the effect of
increasing the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such
Bank or any corporation controlling such Bank based on the existence of such
Bank's Commitments hereunder or its obligations hereunder or has or would have
the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Bank's capital or assets as a
consequence of such Bank's Commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below
that which such Bank could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness,
change or compliance (taking into consideration such Bank's policies with
respect to capital adequacy) hereunder, then each Borrower shall pay to such
Bank, upon its written demand therefor, such additional amounts as shall be
required to compensate such Bank or such other corporation for the increased
cost to such Bank or such other corporation or the reduction in the rate of
return to the Bank or such other corpora tion as a result of such increase of
capital.  In determining such additional amounts, each Bank will act reasonably
and in good faith and will use averaging and attribution methods which are
reasonable, provided that such Bank's determination of compensation owing under
            --------                                                           
this Section 2.09(d) shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and
binding on all the parties hereto.  Each Bank, upon determining that any
additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.09(d), will give
prompt written notice thereof to the applicable Borrower, which notice shall
show the basis for calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure
to give any such notice shall not release or diminish any of the Borrower's
obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.09(d).

          2.10 Compensation.  Each Borrower shall compensate each Bank, upon its
               ------------                                                     
written request (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such
compensation and shall absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and
binding on all the parties hereto), for all reasonable losses, expenses and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any loss, expense or liability
incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds
required by such Bank to fund its Loans but excluding any loss of anticipated
profit) which such Bank may sustain:  (i) if for any reason (other than a
default by such Bank or the Agent) a Borrowing of any Loan does not occur on a
date specified therefor
<PAGE>
 
in a Notice of Borrowing (whether or not withdrawn by the applicable Borrower or
deemed withdrawn pursuant to Section 2.09(a)); (ii) if any repayment (including
any repayment made pursuant to Section 4.01 or 4.02 or a result of an
acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 9) of a (a) Eurocurrency Loan
occurs on a date which is not the last day of the Interest Period with respect
thereto, and (b) Quoted Rate Loan occurs on a date which is not on the last day
of the term thereof; (iii) if any prepayment of any of its Loans is not made on
any date specified in a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower; or (iv) as a
consequence of (x) any other default by such Borrower to repay any Loan when
required by the terms of this Agreement or any Note held by the such Bank or (y)
any election made pursuant to Section 2.09(b).  Calculation of all amounts
payable to a Bank under this Section 2.10 with respect to any (i) Eurocurrency
Loan shall be made as though that Bank had actually funded its relevant Loan
through the purchase of a Eurocurrency deposit bearing interest at the relevant
Eurocurrency Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such Loan, having a
maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period, in the relevant Loan
Currency and through the transfer of such Eurocurrency deposit from an offshore
office of such Bank to a domestic office of such Bank in the United States of
America, and (ii) Quoted Rate Loan shall be made as though that Bank had
actually funded its relevant Loan at the Quoted Rate in an amount equal to the
amount of such Loan, having a maturity comparable to the maturity of the
relevant Loan and in the relevant Loan Currency; provided, however, that each
                                                 --------  -------           
Bank may fund each of its Loans in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing
assumption shall be utilized only for the calculation of amounts payable under
this Section 2.10.

          2.11 Change of Lending Office.  Each Bank agrees that on the
               ------------------------                               
occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.09(a)(ii) or
(iii), Section 2.09(c), Sec tion 2.09(d) or Section 4.04 with respect to such
Bank, it will, if requested by the applicable Borrower, use reasonable efforts
(subject to overall policy considerations of such Bank) to designate another
lending office for any Loans affected by such event, provided that such
                                                     --------          
designation is made on such terms that such Bank and its lending office suffer
no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the
consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of such Section.  Nothing
in this Section 2.11 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the
applicable Borrower or the right of any Bank provided in Sections 2.09 and 4.04.

          2.12 Replacement of Banks.  (x)  If any Bank becomes a Defaulting Bank
               --------------------                                             
or otherwise defaults in its obligations to make Loans as provided hereunder,
(y) upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section
2.09(a)(ii) or (iii), Section 2.09(c), Section 2.09(d) or Section 4.04 with
respect to any Bank which results in such Bank charging to the applicable
Borrower increased costs in excess of those being generally charged by the other
Banks, or (z) as provided in Section 12.12(b) in the case of certain refusals by
a Bank to consent to certain proposed changes, waivers, discharges or 
terminations with respect to this Agreement which have been approved by the 
Required Banks, the
<PAGE>
 
applicable Borrower shall have the right, if no Default or Event of Default then
exists, to either replace such Bank (the "Replaced Bank") with one or more other
Eligible Transferees, none of whom shall constitute a Defaulting Bank at the
time of such replacement (collectively, the "Replacement Bank") acceptable to
the Agent or at the option of such Borrower, to replace only the Commitment (and
outstanding pursuant thereto) of the Replaced Bank with an identical Commitment
provided by the Replacement Bank, provided that (i) at the time of any
                                  --------                            
replacement pursuant to this Section 2.12, the Replacement Bank shall enter into
one or more Assignment and Assumption Agreements pursuant to Section 12.04(b)
(and with all fees payable pursuant to said Section 12.04(b) to be paid by the
Replacement Bank) pursuant to which the Replacement Bank shall acquire all of
the Commitments and outstanding Loans of the Replaced Bank and, in connection
therewith, shall pay to (x) the Replaced Bank in respect thereof an amount equal
to the sum of (A) an amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest
on, all outstanding Loans of the Replaced Bank, and (B) an amount equal to all
accrued, but theretofore unpaid, Fees owing to the Replaced Bank pursuant to
Section 3.01 and (ii) all obligations of such Borrower owing to the Replaced
Bank (other than those specifically described in clause (i) above in respect of
which the assignment purchase price has been, or is concurrently being, paid)
shall be paid in full to such Replaced Bank concurrently with such replacement.
Upon the execution of the respective Assignment and Assumption Agreements, the
payment of amounts referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above and, if so
requested by the Replacement Bank, delivery to the Replacement Bank of the
appropriate Note or Notes executed by the respective Borrowers as provided in
Section 2.05, the Replacement Bank shall become a Bank hereunder and, unless the
respective Replaced Bank continues to have outstanding Loans hereunder, the
Replaced Bank shall cease to constitute a Bank hereunder, except with respect to
indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such
Replaced Bank.

          SECTION 3.  Fees; Reductions of Commitment.
                      ------------------------------ 

          3.01 Fees.  (a)  The Company shall pay to the Agent for the ratable
               ----                                                          
distribution to each Bank in proportion to its Commitment a facility fee (the
"Facility Fee") for the period from the Effective Date to and including the
Maturity Date (or such earlier date as such Commitment shall have been
terminated), computed at a rate for each day equal to 0.1% per annum of the
Total Commitments.  The accrued Facility Fee shall be due and payable semi-
annually in arrears on March 30, 1997, on each September 30 and March 30
thereafter and on the Maturity Date or such earlier date on which the Total
Commitments shall have terminated.

          (b) Each Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for its own account, such
other fees as have been agreed to in writing by such Borrower and the Agent.
<PAGE>
 
          3.02  Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Unutilized Commitments.
                ------------------------------------------------------------  
Upon at least five Business Days' prior written notice to the Agent at its
Notice Office (which notice the Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the
Banks), the Company shall have the right, at any time or from time to time,
without premium or penalty, to terminate or reduce ratably in part the
Unutilized Loan Commitments of the Banks hereunder (which reduction shall also
reduce the Total Commitments hereunder), provided that any partial reduction
                                         --------                           
pursuant to this Section 3.02 shall be in the amount of at least U.S. $5,000,000
and in integral multiples of U.S.$5,000,000 in excess thereof.

          3.03  Mandatory Reduction of Commitments  The Total Commitments (and
                ----------------------------------                            
the Commitment of each Bank) shall terminate in their entirety on the Maturity
Date.


          SECTION 4.  Prepayments; Payments; Taxes.
                      ---------------------------- 

          4.01 Voluntary Prepayments.  Any Borrower shall have the right to
               ---------------------                                       
prepay its Loans in whole or ratably in part on the following terms and
conditions:  (i) such Borrower shall give the Agent prior written notice (or
telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing at its Notice Office by no later
than 11:00 A.M. (New York time)) of its intent to prepay any Loan (x) at least
one Business Day prior to prepayment in the case of a prepayment of a Quoted
Rate Loan and (y) at least three Business Days prior to prepayment in the case
of the prepayment of a Eurocurrency Loan, which notice shall specify the Type or
Types of Loan to be prepaid, the amount of such prepayment (and, subject to
clause (iv) of this Section 4.01, if more than one Type of Loan is to be
prepaid, the amount of each Type of Loan to be prepaid), the Loan Currency of
such Loan to be prepaid and the spec ific day on which such Loan was made; (ii)
each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least
U.S. $500,000 or an amount in the applicable Loan Currency, the U.S. Dollar
Equivalent of which is $500,000 or more, provided that no partial prepayment of
                                         --------                              
Loans made pursuant to any Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding Loans made
pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than U.S. $500,000 or an amount in
the applicable Loan Currency, the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of which is $500,000 or
more; (iii)  concurrently with such prepayment such Borrower pays all amounts
owing pursuant to Section 2.10 as a result of such prepayment; and (iv) each
prepayment in respect of any Type of Loan made on the same day shall be applied
                                                                               
pro rata among such Type of Loan.  The Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of
- --- ----                                                                       
each such prepayment of Loans.

          4.02 Mandatory Repayments and Commitment Reductions.  (a)  Notwith-
               ----------------------------------------------               
standing any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there are any
Loans out standing in a Loan Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Agent shall
recompute, on and as of the last day of each calendar quarter (each such date, a
"Recomputation Date"), the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of such Loans.  If pursuant to
such recomputations, the Agent
<PAGE>
 
determines that the aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Dollar-denominated
Loans then outstanding plus the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate
principal amount of the non-U.S. Dollar-denominated Loans then outstanding is
greater than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Total Commitments as then in
effect, the Agent shall so advise the Borrowers, and the Borrowers shall prepay
the amount by which the aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Dollar-dominated
Loans then outstanding plus the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate
principal amount of the Non-U.S. Dollar-denominated Loans then outstanding is
greater than the Total Commitments as then in effect, together with accrued
interest on the amount so prepaid, on the last day of each Interest Period
applicable to such Loans until the amount of such excess is prepaid in full.

          (b) With respect to each repayment of Loans required by this Section
4.02, the Borrowers may designate the Type or Types of Loans to be repaid, the
Loan Currencies of Loans which are to be repaid and the specific Loan or Loans,
                                                                               
provided that:  (i) repayments of Eurocurrency Loans pursuant to this Section
- --------                                                                     
4.02 may only be made on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto
unless all Loans made with Interest Periods ending on such date of required
repayment have been paid in full; (ii) no repayment of Loans made on the same
day shall reduce the outstanding amount of such Loans on such day to an amount
less than U.S. $500,000 or an amount in the applicable Loan Currency, the U.S.
Dollar Equivalent of which is $500,000 or more, unless such Loans shall be paid
in full; (iii) each repayment of any Type of Loan made on the same day shall be
applied pro rata among such Type of Loan and (iv) all payments in respect of a
        --- ----                                                              
Loan shall be made in the applicable Loan Currency.  In the absence of a
designation by the Borrowers as described in the preceding sentence, the Agent
shall, subject to the above, make such designation in its sole discretion.

          (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in
this Agreement, each Loan shall mature on the Maturity Date.  Prior thereto,
each Loan shall mature on the last day of the applicable Interest Period
therefor.  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.01 and the conditions
applicable thereto set forth in Section 6, when the Borrower is required to pay
any Loan on the maturity thereof, the Borrower shall be entitled to request,
pursuant to Section 2.03, that, as of any such maturity date prior to the
Maturity Date, Loans be made in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of
the princi pal amount of the matured Loans.

          (d) If the Banks make Loans hereunder to the Borrower on a day on
which all or any part of outstanding Loans denominated in the same Loan Currency
are to be repaid, each Bank shall apply the proceeds of its new Loan to make
such repayment and only an amount equal to the difference (if any) between the
amount being borrowed and the amount being repaid shall be made available by
such Bank to the Agent and by the Agent to the Borrower.
<PAGE>
 
          4.03  Method and Place of Payment.  Except as otherwise specifically
                ---------------------------                                   
pro vided herein, all payments under this Agreement or any Note shall be made to
the Agent for the account of the Bank or Banks entitled thereto not later than
12:00 Noon (New York time) on the date when due and shall be made in the
applicable Loan Currency in immediately available funds at the Payment Office
of the Agent.  Whenever any payment to be made hereunder or under any Note shall
be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date thereof
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to
payments of principal, interest shall be payable at the applicable rate during
such extension.

          4.04 Net Payments.  (a)  All payments made by any Borrower hereunder
               ------------                                                   
or under any Note will be made without setoff, counterclaim or other defense.
All such payments will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or
withholding for, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees,
assessments or other charges of what ever nature now or hereafter imposed by any
jurisdiction or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein with respect to such payments (but excluding, except as provided in the
immediately succeeding sentence, any tax imposed on or measured by the net
income or profits of a Bank, or any franchise tax based on the net income or
profits of a Bank, in either case pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is organized or in which the principal office or applicable lending
office of such Bank is located or any sub division thereof or therein) and all
interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto (all such non-
excluded taxes, levies, imports, duties, fees, assessments or other charges
being referred to collectively as "Taxes").  If any amounts are payable in
respect of Taxes pursuant to the preceding sentence, then such Borrower shall
reimburse each Bank, upon the written request of such Bank, for taxes imposed on
or measured by the net income or profits of such Bank, or any franchise tax
based on the net income or profits of a Bank, in either case pursuant to the
laws of the jurisdiction in which the principal office or applicable lending
office of such Bank is located or under the laws of any political sub division
or taxing authority of any such jurisdiction in which the principal office or
applicable lending office of such Bank is located and for any withholding of
income or similar taxes imposed by the United States as such Bank shall
determine are payable by, or with held from, such Bank in respect of such
amounts so paid to or on behalf of such Bank pursuant to the preceding sentence
and in respect of any amounts paid to or on behalf of such Bank pursuant to this
sentence.  If any Taxes are so levied or imposed, then such Borrower shall pay
the full amount of such Taxes, and such additional amounts as may be necessary
so that every payment of all amounts due under this Agreement or under any Note,
after withholding or deduction for or on account of any Taxes, will not be less
than the amount provided for herein or in such Note.  Each Borrower will furnish
to the Agent within 45 days after the date the payment of any Taxes is due
pursuant to applicable law certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such
payment by such Borrower.  Each Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each
Bank, and reimburse such Bank upon its written request, for the amount of any
Taxes so levied or imposed and paid by such Bank.
<PAGE>
 
          (b) Each Bank agrees, to the extent such Bank is entitled at such time
to a total or partial exemption from withholding that is required to be
evidenced by a United States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224, to
deliver to the Agent (with a copy to the Borrowers), prior to the Initial
Borrowing Date and from time to time thereafter as requested by the Agent or the
Borrowers, such Form 1001 or 4224 (as applicable) or any successor thereto,
completed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Borrower.


          SECTION 5.  Conditions Precedent to Loans.  The obligation of each
                      -----------------------------                         
Bank to make any Loan hereunder to any Borrower on the Initial Borrowing Date is
subject at the time of the making of such Loan to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:

          5.01 Opinion of Counsel.  On or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date,
               ------------------                                             
the Agent shall have received from the General Counsel of the Company an opinion
addressed to the Agent and each of the Banks and dated the Effective Date
covering the matters set forth in Exhibit D hereto, which opinion shall be in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Banks.

          5.02 Corporate Documents.  If requested by the Agent, the Agent shall
               -------------------                                             
have received from the applicable Borrower a certificate, dated the Initial
Borrowing Date, signed by the chairman, the president, the vice
president/finance, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or the controller of
such Borrower, and attested by the secretary or any assistant secretary of such
Borrower, in the form of Exhibit E hereto with appropriate insertions, in each
case together with copies of the relevant charter documents and corporate
authorizations of such Borrower referred to therein.

          5.03 Adverse Change, etc.  On the Initial Borrowing Date, nothing
               --------------------                                        
shall have occurred (and the Banks shall not have become aware of any facts or
conditions not previously known) which the Agent or the Required Banks shall
determine (a) has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse
effect on the rights or remedies of the Agent or the Banks, or on the ability of
any Borrower to perform its obligations to them hereunder or under any other
Credit Document or (b) has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge
that it is the Company's intention to complete a spin off of its wholly owned
subsidiary, Unisource Worldwide, Inc., effective January 1, 1997.  The parties
have been given an opportunity to ask questions concerning the spin-off and to
review the Unisource Worldwide, Inc. Form 10 related thereto.  The parties
hereby agree that, so long as the spin-off is conducted in all material respects
in accordance with the description set forth in the Form 10 (and exhibits
thereto), neither the Agent nor any of the Banks shall assert that such spin-
off, or the agreements between the Company and Unisource Worldwide, Inc. related
thereto or any transactions contemplated thereby, has had or could reasonably
have
<PAGE>
 
a material adverse effect on the rights or remedies of the Agent or the Banks,
or on the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations to them hereunder
or under any other Credit Document, or has, or could reasonably be likely to
have, a Material Adverse Effect.

          5.04 Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule II, on the Initial
               ----------                                                     
Borrowing Date, no litigation by any entity (private or governmental) shall be
pending or threatened (a) with respect to this Agreement or any documentation
executed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or (b)
which the Agent or the Required Banks shall determine could reasonably be
expected to have (i) a material adverse effect on the rights or remedies of the
Banks or the Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document or on the
ability of any Borrower to perform its respective obligations to the Banks or
the Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document or (ii) a Material
Adverse Effect.

          5.05 Fees, etc.  On the Initial Borrowing Date, the Agent and the
               ----------                                                  
Banks shall have been paid or reimbursed for all costs, fees and expenses
(including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) payable or reimbursable
to the Agent and the Banks hereunder to the extent then due.

          5.06 Borrowing Subsidiaries.  On the Initial Borrowing Date of any
               ----------------------                                       
Borrower other than the Company, the applicable Borrower shall have executed and
delivered a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit
F hereto.

          5.07 Notes.  On the Effective Date, there shall have been delivered to
               -----                                                            
the Agent for the account of each Bank a Note executed by the Company and
appropriately completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.  On
each Initial Borrowing Date, there shall have been delivered to the Agent for
the account of each Bank a Note executed by the relevant Borrowing Subsidiary
and appropriately completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.


          SECTION 6.  Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events.  The obligation
                      -----------------------------------------                 
of each Bank to make any Loan (including any Loan made on the Initial Borrowing
Date) is subject, at the time of each such Credit Event (except as hereinafter
indicated), to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

          6.01 No Default; Representations and Warranties.  At the time of each
               ------------------------------------------                      
such Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (i) there shall exist no
Default or Event of Default and (ii) all representations and warranties
contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in
all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and
warranties had been made on the date of such Credit Event (it being understood
and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is
<PAGE>
 
made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all
material respects only as of such specified date).

          6.02 Notice of Borrowing.  Prior to the making of any Loan, the Agent
               -------------------                                             
shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section
2.03.

          6.03 Proceedings.  Prior to the making of any Loan, all corporate and
               -----------                                                     
legal proceedings and all instruments and agreements in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall
be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and the Required Banks, and
the Agent shall have received all supplemental legal opinions, information and
copies of all documents and papers, including records of corporate proceedings,
governmental approvals, good standing certificates and bring-down telegrams, if
any, which the Agent reasonably may have requested in connection with the
requested Loan, such documents and papers where appropriate to be certified by
proper corporate or governmental authorities.

          The acceptance of the benefits of each Credit Event shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the applicable Borrower to the Agent and each of
the Banks that all the conditions specified in Section 5 and in this Section 6
and applicable to such Credit Event exist as of that time.  All of the Notes,
certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in
Section 5 and in this Section 6, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered
to the Agent at its Notice Office for the account of each of the Banks and,
except for the Notes, in sufficient counterparts for each of the Banks and shall
be in form and substance satisfactory to the Banks.


          SECTION 7.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements.  In order to
                      ------------------------------------------              
induce the Banks to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans, each
Borrower makes the following representations, warranties and agreements, all of
which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes
and the making of the Loans, with the occurrence of each Credit Event on or
after each Initial Borrowing Date being deemed to constitute a representation
and warranty that the matters specified in this Section 7 are true and correct
in all material respects on and as of each Initial Borrowing Date and on the
date of each such Credit Event (it being understood and agreed that any
representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date
shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of
such specified date):

          7.01 Organization and Good Standing.  Such Borrower and each of its
               ------------------------------                                
Significant Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized and in good standing
(where such concept exists) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and has the power to carry on its business as now conducted. Such
Borrower is duly qualified as a foreign corporation in the various jurisdictions
wherein the nature of the business it transacts makes
<PAGE>
 
such qualification necessary.  The Company's only Significant Subsidiaries on
the date hereof are IKON Capital, Inc., Alco Standard Acquisition Capital
Corporation, IKON Office Solutions, Inc., IKON Capital, PLC, and IKON Office
Solutions (Canada), Inc..

          7.02 Corporate Power and Authority.  The execution, delivery and
               -----------------------------                              
performance of this Agreement, all other Credit Documents and the Notes are
within the corporate power and authority of such Borrower, have been duly
authorized by proper corporate proceedings, will not contravene any provision of
law or the Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of
Association or Bylaws or Code of Regulations of such Borrower or constitute a
default under any agreement binding upon such Borrower, and do not require the
consent or approval of, or registration with, any governmental body, agency or
authority.

          7.03 Validity of Agreement and Notes.  This Agreement and the other
               -------------------------------                               
Credit Documents are legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower, and
the Notes when issued will be legal, valid and binding obligations of such
Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

          7.04 Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule II there are no
               ----------                                                  
suits, litigation or other proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of any
officer of such Borrower threatened (i) with respect to any Credit Document or
(ii) against or affecting such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties, before any court, governmental commission, bureau
or other regulatory body, the outcome of which might materially and adversely
affect the financial condition or business of such Borrower or and its
Subsidiaries considered in the aggregate or the ability of such Borrower to
perform its obligations hereunder.

          7.05 Financial Statements.  Such Borrower has heretofore furnished to
               --------------------                                            
the Banks consolidated balance sheets of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
at September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995 and the related consolidated
statements of income and retained earnings, with a report thereon by Ernst &
Young, L.L.P., independent certified public accountants, stating in comparative
form the amounts for the corresponding dates and periods for the previous fiscal
year.  Such balance sheets and such statements of income and retained earnings
fairly present the consolidated financial position of such Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the results of their
operations for the periods then ended.  All such financial statements were
prepared in accordance with GAAP or, in the case of any Borrower incorporated
outside the United States, such other accounting principles as are generally
accepted in such Borrower's country of incorporation.  Since September 30, 1996,
there has not been any material adverse change in the financial condition,
business or operations of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
<PAGE>
 
          7.06 ERISA.  Each Employee Benefit Plan of such Borrower and any
               -----                                                      
ERISA Affiliate of such Borrower is in compliance with ERISA and the Code, where
applicable, in all material respects.  As of the date hereof, (i) the amount of
all Unfunded Pension Liabilities under the Pension Plans, (ii) the amount of the
aggregate Unrecognized Retiree Welfare Liability under all applicable Employee
Benefit Plans, and (iii) the aggregate potential annual withdrawal liability
payments, as determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA, of such Borrower
and any such ERISA Affiliate with respect to all Pension Plans which are
Multiemployer Plans, are, in the aggregate, no more than U.S. $5,000,000.  Such
Borrower and each such ERISA Affiliate have complied with the requirements of
ERISA Section 515 with respect to each Pension Plan which is a Multi employer
Plan.  Such Borrower and/or any such ERISA Affiliate has, as of the date hereof,
made all contributions or payments to or under each such Pension Plan required
by law or the terms of such Pension Plan or any contract or agreement.  No
material liability on a consolidated basis to the PBGC has been, or is expected
by such Borrower or any such ERISA Affiliate.

          For purposes of ERISA matters under this Agreement, "Employee Benefit
Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(3)
maintained, sponsored or contributed to by such Borrower or any such ERISA
Affiliate; "ERISA Affiliate" means any entity that is a member of any group of
organizations within the meaning of Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of
which such Borrower is a member; "Multiemployer Plan" means a pension plan that
is a multiemployer plan as defined in ERISA Section 4001(a)(3); "Pension Plan"
means any Employee Benefit Plan, including a Multiemployer Plan, the funding
requirements of which (under ERISA Section 302 or Code Section 412) are or, at
any time within the six years immediately preceding the time in question, were
in whole or in part, the responsibility of such Borrower or any such ERISA
Affiliate; "Unfunded Pension Liabilities" means, with respect to any Pension
Plan at any time, the amount determined by taking the accumulated benefit
obligation, as disclosed in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards number 87, over the fair market value of Pension Plan assets; and
"Unrecognized Retiree Welfare Liability" means, with respect to any Employee
Benefit Plan that provides post-retirement benefits other than pension benefits,
the amount of the transition obligation, as determined in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards number 106, as of the most recent
valuation date that has not been recognized as an expense on the income
statement of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

          7.07 Regulations G, T, U and X.  Except for Partners Securities
               -------------------------                                 
Company, neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is or will be engaged
principally or as one of its important activities in the business of extending
credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any margin stocks
or margin securities (within the meaning of Regulations G, T, U and X of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).  No part of the proceeds of
any Loan made hereunder will be
<PAGE>
 
applied for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any such stocks
or securities, or of refinancing any credit previously extended or of extending
credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any
such margin stocks or margin securities, if and to the extent that such action
could result in such Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Bank having violated or
being in violation of any provision of any Regulations G, T, U and X of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

          7.08 Compliance with Laws.  Such Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
               --------------------                                             
is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and
regulations, federal, state and local, the violation of which would have a
material adverse effect on such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken
as a whole; such Borrower and each Subsidiary possess all the material
franchises, permits and licenses necessary or required in the conduct of its
business, and the same are valid, binding and enforceable.

          7.09 Taxes and Assessments.  Such Borrower and each of its
               ---------------------                                
Subsidiaries have filed all required tax returns or have filed for extensions of
time for the filing thereof, and have paid all applicable taxes, governmental
charges and similar obligations, including United States federal, state and
local taxes, other than taxes, governmental charges and similar obligations not
yet due or which may be paid hereafter without material penalty; the Internal
Revenue Service has completed audits of tax returns filed through September 30,
1992; and neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge of any
material deficiency or additional assessment against it in connection with any
applicable taxes not provided for in the financial statements referred to in
Section 7.05 hereof.

          7.10 Investment Company; Public Utility Company.  (a)  Neither such
               ------------------------------------------                    
Borrower nor any Subsidiary of a Borrower is an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (b) Neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a "holding
company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", or an "affiliate"
of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company",
within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended.

          7.11 Environmental Matters.  Such Borrower and each of its
               ---------------------                                
Subsidiaries have received all permits and filed all notifications necessary to
carry on their businesses and are in compliance in all material respects with
all federal, state or local laws and regulations governing the control,
removal, spill, release or discharge of hazardous or toxic wastes, substances
and petroleum products; including, without limitation, as provided in any
Environmental Law, and any regulations thereunder, the effect of which if not
received, filed or complied with could have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition, business or operations of such Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.  Also, neither such Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received notice of potential responsibility for costs associated
<PAGE>
 
with responding to the release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials for
any site where such Borrower's potential responsibility could have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition, business or operations of such
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

          7.12 Liens.  Except as disclosed on Schedule III hereto, mortgages,
               -----                                                         
pledges, security interests, encumbrances and other liens upon properties of
such Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are in existence at the date hereof do
not secure indebtedness that is, in the aggregate, material to such Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries and do not encumber properties which are material
to such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

          7.13 Disclosure Generally.  The representations and statements made by
               --------------------                                             
or on behalf of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with this
Agreement, the other Credit Documents and each Loan, do not and will not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact or any
fact necessary to make the representations made not materially misleading.  No
written information, exhibit, report or financial statement furnished by such
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent or the Banks in connection with
this Agreement, the other Credit Documents or the Loans contains or will contain
any material misstatement of fact or omit to state a material fact or any fact
necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading.

          7.14 Ownership of Borrowing Subsidiaries.  The Company owns, directly
               -----------------------------------                             
or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Borrowing
Subsidiary other than qualifying shares held by the directors of such Borrowing
Subsidiary.

          Each Notice of Borrowing in respect of any Loan hereunder, and the
acceptance of the proceeds of such Loan, shall constitute a reaffirmation by the
officer making such Notice of Borrowing (to the best of his knowledge and
belief) as of the time thereof and by the Borrower as of the time thereof of the
continuing truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations and warranties.


          SECTION 8.  Covenants.  Each Borrower covenants and agrees that on and
                      ---------                                                 
after the Effective Date and until the Total Commitments have terminated and the
Loans and Notes, together with interest, Fees and all other obligations incurred
hereunder and thereunder, are paid in full:

          8.01 Financial Statements and Information.  Such Borrower will furnish
               ------------------------------------                             
to each Bank, or to the Agent which will in turn furnish to each Bank:

          (a) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end
     of the first, second and third quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal
     year of such Borrower, copies of a consolidated balance sheet of such
     Borrower and its
<PAGE>
 
     Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such accounting period and of
     the related consolidated income and retained earnings statements of such
     Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the elapsed portion of the
     fiscal year ended with the last day of such accounting period, all in
     reasonable detail and stating in comparative form the amounts for the
     corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year, and all prepared
     in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and
     certified by an authorized financial officer of such Borrower, provided
                                                                    --------
     that if the Borrower is not incorporated in the United States, such
     financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with accounting
     principles generally accepted in its country of incorporation.

          (b) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the
     end of each fiscal year of such Borrower, copies of consolidated balance
     sheets of such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of
     such fiscal year and consolidated statements of income and retained
     earnings of such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal
     year, in reasonable detail and stating in comparative form the figures as
     of the end of and for the previous fiscal year pre pared in accordance with
     GAAP and certified by independent public accountants of recognized standing
     as may be selected by such Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to the
     Agent, provided that, if the Borrower is not incorporated in the United
            --------                                                        
     States, such financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with
     accounting principles generally accepted in its country of incorporation
     and such financial statements may be unaudited, and provided further, that,
                                                         -------- -------       
     if such Borrower is a Subsidiary of the Company, such financial statements
     may be unaudited;

          (c) concurrently with each of the financial statements furnished
     pursuant to the foregoing subsections (a) and (b), a certificate of the
     chairman, president, a vice president (whose duties are in the finance
     area) or the treasurer or any assistant treasurer of such Borrower, stating
     that in the opinion of such officer, based upon a review made under his
     supervision, no Event of Default or event which, with the giving of notice
     or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, has
     occurred and is continuing, and such Borrower has performed and observed
     all of, and such Borrower is not in default in the performance or
     observance of any of, the terms and covenants hereof or, if such Borrower
     shall be in default, specifying all such defaults, and the nature thereof,
     of which the signer of such certificate may have knowledge;

          (d) concurrently with their being filed, mailed or delivered, as
     applicable, copies of all proxy statements, financial statements and
     reports which such Borrower shall send or make available generally to its
     shareholders, and copies of all reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and all
     other filings and reports specifically requested by the Agent or a Bank
     which such Borrower or any of its
<PAGE>
 
     Subsidiaries may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission or any similar or corresponding governmental commission,
     department or an agency substituted therefor or with any securities
     exchange located in the United States of America; and

          (e) such other information relating to the business, affairs and
     financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Agent (when
     requested so to do by any Bank) may from time to time reasonably request.

          8.02 Funded Debt to Capitalization.  Such Borrower will not permit
               -----------------------------                                
Funded Debt of such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries to exceed 45% of
the sum of (1) Funded Debt of such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
plus (2) the consolidated minority interest obligations shown on the
consolidated balance sheet of such Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
plus (3) the Consolidated Net Worth of such Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries.  For purposes of calculating such ratio with respect to the
Company, Finance Leasing Subsidiaries shall be excluded from the definition of
"Consolidated Subsidiaries".

          8.03 Subsidiaries' Debt.  Such Borrower will not permit, and any of
               ------------------                                            
its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly to create, incur, assume, suffer to
exist, guarantee or otherwise become, be or remain liable with respect to any
Debt (other than Loans here under) in an aggregate amount outstanding at any
time in excess of 20% of Consolidated Net Worth plus the amount of such Debt
outstanding on the date hereof except (i) Debt owing exclusively to the Company
or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) Debt of a Subsidiary out standing on the date
that such Borrower acquires such Subsidiary, (iii) Debt with respect to property
to be used by such Borrower or its Subsidiaries, the interest on which Debt is
exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 103 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, (iv) Debt of any foreign Subsidiary of such Borrower
that is not guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (v) Debt of
Finance Leasing Subsidiaries owing to the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, (vi) Debt of Finance Leasing Subsidiaries to a person or persons
other than the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, provided that such
                                                           --------          
Debt is not guaranteed by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
and (vii) unsecured Debt of Unisource Worldwide, Inc. in an amount not to exceed
one billion U.S. Dollars.

          8.04 Sale of Assets.  Such Borrower will not, and will not permit any
               --------------                                                  
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or transfer all or
substantially all of its assets unless (i) immediately after giving effect
thereto such Borrower is in compliance with the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) such sale, lease or transfer shall not have any materially
adverse effect upon the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or the Company's ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
The parties hereby agree that the Unisource Worldwide, Inc. spin-off, and the
agreements
<PAGE>
 
and transactions related thereto (as described in the Unisource Worldwide, Inc.
Form 10) shall not be deemed to have a material adverse effect upon the
financial condition of the Company.  Notwithstanding this provision, any
Consolidated Subsidiary that is not a Borrowing Subsidiary may sell, lease or
transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other Consolidated
Subsidiary or to the Company, and any Borrowing Subsidiary may sell, lease or
transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other Borrowing
Subsidiary or to the Company.

          8.05 Mergers and Acquisitions.  Neither the Company nor any Borrowing
               -------------------------                                       
Subsidiary will merge or consolidate with, or otherwise acquire control of the
assets of, any other corporation or other entity, unless (i) the Company is the
surviving or parent corpora tion of any merger or other acquisition involving
the Company, (ii) a Borrowing Subsidiary is the surviving or parent corporation
of any merger or other acquisition involving one or more Borrowing Subsidiaries
and (iii) the Company and each Borrowing Subsidiary are in compliance with this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents prior to and after such merger or
acquisition; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 8.05 shall
             --------  -------                                                
apply to a Borrowing Subsidiary only if and so long as such Borrowing Subsidiary
has outstanding Loans.

          8.06 Negative Pledge.  Such Borrower shall not, and such Borrower
               ---------------                                             
shall not permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer
to exist any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance or other lien upon
any property, now owned or hereafter acquired, of the Company or any
Consolidated Subsidiary (the sale with recourse of receivables or any sale and
lease back of any fixed assets being deemed to be the giving of a lien thereon
for money borrowed), other than:

          (a) liens existing on the date of this Agreement on any property,
                                                                           
     provided that the amount secured by any such lien is not greater than the
     --------                                                                 
     amount secured thereby on the date of this Agreement;

          (b) liens on any property (including, but not limited to, margin stock
     (within the meaning of Regulations G, T, U and X of the Board of Governors
     of the Federal Reserve System)) hereafter acquired existing at the time of
     such acquisition or created within a period of 120 days following any such
     acquisition to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the
     purchase price thereof or liens to secure indebtedness incurred to fund or
     refund any liens within the scope of this subsection (b), provided that the
                                                               --------         
     amount secured by such liens is not greater than the amount secured thereby
     on the date of such acquisition or within the 120-day period, as the case
     may be;

          (c) liens securing indebtedness of a Consolidated Subsidiary
     outstanding on the date that the Company acquires such Consolidated
     Subsidiary;
<PAGE>
 
          (d) liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not
     yet due and payable or being contested in good faith and by appropriate
     proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted, provided that a
                                                              --------       
     reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by
     GAAP shall have been made there for and no foreclosure, distraint, sale or
     other similar proceedings shall have been commenced;

          (e) statutory liens of landlords and liens of carriers, warehousemen,
     mechanics and materialmen incurred in the ordinary course of business for
     sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate
     proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted, provided that a
                                                               --------       
     reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by
     GAAP shall have been made therefor;

          (f) liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business
     in connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance and other
     types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders,
     statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return-of-
     money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the
     payment of borrowed money);

          (g) liens created hereafter in connection with borrowing or pledges of
     receivables which liens when added to all sales and discounting
     transactions contemplated by Section 8.07 do not in the aggregate exceed
     10% of Consolidated Net Worth;

          (h) liens, security interests and any other encumbrances on any of its
     treasury shares; and

          (i)  liens arising in connection with a Securitization permitted by
     Section 8.07, limited in each case to the accounts therein or in any trust
     or similar entity utilized to effect such Securitization and to any
     equipment giving rise to such accounts.

          8.07 Sale, Discount of Receivables; Sale, Leaseback Transactions.
               -----------------------------------------------------------  
Such Borrower will not, and will not permit its Consolidated Subsidiaries to,
enter into any Securitization which, when added to the aggregate amount of all
Securitizations then outstanding, exceeds the lesser of 15% of Consolidated
Total Assets or $775,000,000.  Exclusion of such Securitizations, the Company
will not, and will not permit its Consolidated Subsidiaries to sell or discount
receivables with recourse or sell and lease back fixed assets the aggregate
amount of which when added to all liens permitted by Section 8.06(g) exceed 10%
of Consolidated Net Worth.
<PAGE>
 
          8.08  Regulations G, T, U and X.  Such Borrower will not, and will not
                -------------------------                                       
permit any Subsidiary, to use Borrowings hereunder in any manner which may cause
a violation of or noncompliance with Regulations G, T, U or X of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve Board.

          8.09 Corporate Existence.  Such Borrower will maintain its existence
               -------------------                                            
and, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 8.05, the existence of
each Borrowing Subsidiary in good standing as a business corporation under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and remain qualified and cause
each Borrowing Subsidiary to remain qualified to do business in all
jurisdictions wherein the nature of the business it transacts or the character
of the properties owned by it makes such qualification necessary.

          8.10 Books and Records.  Such Borrower will keep and maintain, and
               ------------------                                           
cause each Subsidiary to keep and maintain, satisfactory and adequate books and
records of account in accordance with GAAP or, if such Borrower is not
incorporated in the United States, such accounting principles as are generally
accepted in its country of incorporation, and make or cause the same to be made
available to the Agent or any Bank or their agents or nominees at any reasonable
time upon reasonable notice for inspection and to make extracts thereof.

          8.11 Insurance.  Such Borrower will insure and keep insured, and cause
               ---------                                                        
each of its Subsidiary to insure and keep insured, with reputable insurance
companies, so much of their respective properties, to such an extent and against
such risks (including liability and fire) as companies engaged in similar
businesses customarily insure properties of a similar character; or, in lieu
thereof, such Borrower or any one or more of its subsidiaries will maintain or
cause to be maintained a system or systems of self-insurance which will be in
accord with the approved practices of companies owning or operating properties
of a similar character and maintaining such systems, and, in such cases of self-
insurance, maintain or cause to be maintained an insurance reserve or reserves
in adequate amounts.

          8.12 Litigation; Event of Default.  Such Borrower will notify the
               ----------------------------                                
Agent, which shall notify the Banks, in writing immediately of the institution
of any litigation, the commencement of any administrative proceedings, the
happening of any event or the assertion or threat of any claim which might
materially or adversely affect its and its Subsidiaries' business, operations or
financial condition (taken as a whole), or the occurrence of any Event of
Default hereunder or an event which with the passage of time or the giving of
notice or both would constitute an Event of Default hereunder.

          8.13 Taxes.  Such Borrower will pay and discharge, and cause each of
               -----                                                          
its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges or levies imposed on it or any of its property or assets
prior to the date on which any material penalty for non-payment or late payment
is incurred, unless the same is currently
<PAGE>
 
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in
accordance with GAAP, or, if such Borrower is not incorporated in the United
States, such accounting principles as are generally accepted in its country of
incorporation are being maintained.

          8.14 Compliance with Laws.  Such Borrower will comply and cause each
               --------------------                                           
of its Subsidiaries to comply in all material respects with all local, state and
federal laws and regulations material to its business and operations, including
but not limited to:  (i) all rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, (ii) local, state and federal laws governing the control,
removal, spill, release, or discharge of hazardous or toxic wastes, substances
or petroleum products, including, without limitation,  Environmental Laws, and
(iii) the provisions and requirements of all franchises, permits and licenses
applicable to its business, including, but not limited to, those required by the
Environmental Laws.  Such Borrower shall notify the Agent, which shall notify
the Banks, promptly in detail of any actual or alleged failure to comply with or
perform, breach, violation or default under any such laws or regulations or if
such Borrower receives notice of potential responsibility for the release or
threatened release of hazardous substances, or of the occurrence or existence of
any facts or circumstances which with the passage of time, the giving of notice
or both or otherwise could create such a breach, violation or default or could
occasion the termination of any of such franchises or grants of authority or the
creation of potential responsibility for releases or threatened releases of
hazardous substances, if any of the foregoing would have a Material Adverse
Effect on such Borrower.

          8.15 Employee Benefit Plans.  Such Borrower will and will cause each
               ----------------------                                         
ERISA Affiliate (a) to comply in all material respects with the provisions of
ERISA to the extent applicable to any Employee Benefit Plan maintained by it and
cause all Employee Benefit Plans maintained by it to satisfy the conditions
under the Internal Revenue Code for tax qualification of all such plans intended
to be tax qualified; and (b) to avoid (1) any material accumulated funding
deficiency (within the meaning of ERISA section 302 and Code section 412(a))
(whether or not waived) (2) any act or omission on the basis of which it or an
ERISA Affiliate might incur a material liability to the PBGC (other than for the
payment of required premiums) or to a trust established under ERISA section
4049; (3) any transaction with a principal purpose described in ERISA section
4069; and (4) any act or omission that might result in the assessment by a
Multiemployer Plan of withdrawal liability against such Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate, but only to the extent that the liability aris ing from a failure to
comply with any covenant set forth in (a) or (b) of this Section 8.15 could
reasonably be expected to result in a liability to such Borrower or its
Subsidiaries or an ERISA Affiliate for any one such event in excess of U.S.
$10,000,000.

          8.16 Continued Ownership of each Borrowing Subsidiary.  The Company
               ------------------------------------------------              
shall continue to own, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of each Borrowing Subsidiary, other than qualifying shares held by
the directors of such  Borrowing Subsidiary; provided, however, that this
                                             --------  -------           
Section 8.16 shall apply only (a) as a
<PAGE>
 
condition to such Borrowing Subsidiary obtaining a Loan hereunder and (b) if and
so long as such Borrowing Subsidiary has outstanding Loans.


          SECTION 9.   Events of Default and Acceleration.
                       ---------------------------------- 

          9.01 Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an
               -----------------                                           
"Event of Default" with respect to this Agreement and the Notes:

          (a) Failure of any Borrower to pay any amount payable on account of
     the principal of or interest on any Note when due, or the failure to pay
     any Fee or other payment due hereunder within 10 days after the same shall
     become due;

          (b) Failure of any Borrower to observe or perform any term, covenant
     or agreement contained in this Agreement, the Notes or any other document
     evidencing the Loans (other than that specified in (a) above) and the
     continuation of such failure for 30 days after written notice thereof has
     been given to such Borrower by the Agent at the request of the holder of
     any Note (including but not limited to itself);

          (c) Any statement, certificate, report, representation or warranty
     made or furnished by any Borrower in this Agreement or in compliance with
     the provisions hereof shall prove to have been false or misleading in any
     material respect at the time when made;

          (d) Any obligation(s) of any Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries
     in excess of U.S. $15,000,000, individually or in the aggregate (as
     principal or guarantor or other surety), to any person other than the Banks
     in connection with this Agreement and the Notes for borrowed money (other
     than the Notes) shall become or is declared to be due and payable prior to
     its stated maturity or any event of default or event which with the passing
     of time or notice or both shall have occurred the effect of which permits
     payment of any such obligation to be demanded prior to its stated maturity;

          (e) If (1) any Employee Benefit Plan shall cease to have "qualified"
     status under the Code, (2) the minimum funding standards applicable to any
     Employee Benefit Plan shall not be complied with, (3) any excise tax or tax
     lien shall be incurred in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan and the
     administration thereof, (4) any claim shall be incurred with respect to any
     Employee Benefit Plan other than in the ordinary operation of such Plan,
     (5) any "prohibited transaction" as defined by the Code or ERISA shall have
     occurred, (6) any liability shall be incurred to the PBGC, (7) any
     withdrawal liability shall be incurred with
<PAGE>
 
     respect to a Multiemployer Plan, (8) any liability shall be incurred in
     connection with a failure to make timely reports and filings with respect
     to Employee Benefit Plans, or (9) any other thing shall have occurred with
     respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, the result of which (in any one of
     the foregoing clauses (1) through (8), any combination of said clauses, or
     otherwise) is that any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in the
     reasonable judgment of the Majority Banks, has or is likely to incur
     liabilities (whether the liability is direct or indirect, current or
     deferred, fixed or contingent) of U.S. $10,000,000 or more;

          (f) Any judgment or judgments against any Borrower and/or any of its
     Subsidiaries or any attachments against any of their assets or property in
     an amount in excess of U.S. $10,000,000 in any one instance or in the
     aggregate shall remain unpaid, unstayed on appeal, undischarged, unbonded
     or undismissed for a period of 30 days;

          (g) If (1) any person or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)
     of the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
     thereunder shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
     Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
     securities of any Borrower (or other securities convertible into such
     securities) representing twenty percent (20%) of the combined voting power
     of all securities of such Borrower entitled to vote in the election of
     directors, other than securities having such power only by reason of the
     happening of a contingency (such person hereinafter called a "Controlling
     Person"); or (2) a majority of the Board of Directors of any Borrower shall
     cease for any reason to consist of (A) individuals who on August 30, 1996
     were serving as directors of such Borrower and (B) individuals who
     subsequently become members of the Board of Directors of such Borrower if
     such individuals' nomination for election or election to the Board of
     Directors of such Borrower is recommended or approved by a majority of the
     Board of Directors of such Borrower.  For purposes of clause (1) above, a
     person or group shall not be a Controlling Person if such person or group
     holds voting power in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing
     this Section 9.01(g) as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, trustee, or holder
     of revocable proxies given in response to a solicitation pursuant to the
     Securities Exchange Act, for one or more beneficial owners who do not
     individually, or, if they are a group acting in concert, do not as a group
     have the voting power specified in clause (1);

          (h) Any Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) apply for or
     consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee or liquidator of itself
     or of its property, (ii) be unable, or admit in writing inability, to pay
     its Debts as they mature, (iii) make a general assignment for the benefit
     of creditors, (iv) be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, (v) file a
     voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or
<PAGE>
 
     a petition or answer seeking reorganization or an arrangement with
     creditors to take advantage of any insolvency law, or an answer admitting
     the material allegations of a bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency
     petition filed against it, (vi) take corporate action for the purpose of
     effecting any of the foregoing, or (vii) have an order for relief entered
     against it in any proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any
     other law, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or
     reorganization or relief of debtors;

          (i) An order, judgment or decree shall be entered, without the
     application, approval or consent of any Borrower and/or any of its
     Subsidiaries by any court of competent jurisdiction, approving a petition
     seeking reorganization of such Borrower or such Subsidiary or appointing a
     receiver, trustee or liquidator of such Borrower or such Subsidiary or of
     all or a substantial part of its assets, and such order, judgment or decree
     shall continue unstayed and in effect for any period of 60 consecutive
     days; or

          (j) The Company shall fail to continue to maintain its ownership of
     each of the Borrowing Subsidiaries to the extent required by Section 8.16.

          9.02 Acceleration by Reason of Default.  If an Event of Default occurs
               ---------------------------------                                
under Section 9.01(a) through Section 9.01(g) or Section 9.01(j) above, the
Agent may, and shall, if requested by the Majority Banks without prejudice to
the rights of the Agent, any Bank or the holder of any Note to enforce its
claims against any Borrower, immediately terminate each Bank's Commitment by
notice in writing to the Borrowers and immediately declare the Notes to be and
they shall thereupon forthwith become due and payable without presentment,
demand, or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.
Simultaneously with the giving of any such notice to the Borrowers, the Agent
shall notify the Banks of any such action.  If an Event of Default occurs under
Section 9.01(h) or Section 9.01(i) above, then, forthwith and without any
election or notice, each Bank's Commitment shall terminate and the Notes shall
forthwith become due and payable without presentment, demand or other notice of
any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived.


          SECTION 10.  The Agent.
                       --------- 

          10.01  Appointment.  The Banks hereby designate DBNY as Agent
                 -----------                                           
hereunder to act as such as specified herein and in the other Credit Documents.
Each Bank hereby irrevocably authorizes, and each holder of any Note by the
acceptance of such Note shall be deemed irrevocably to authorize, the Agent to
take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement, the other
Credit Documents and any other instruments and agreements referred to herein or
therein and to exercise such powers and to perform such duties hereunder and
thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the
<PAGE>
 
Agent by the terms hereof and thereof and such other powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto.  The Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder by or
through its respective officers, directors, agents, employees or affiliates.

          10.02  Nature of Duties.  The Agent shall not have any duties or
                 ----------------                                         
responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents.  Neither the Agent nor any of its respective officers,
directors, agents, employees or affiliates shall be liable for any action taken
or omitted by it or them hereunder or under any other Credit Document or in
connection herewith or therewith, unless caused by its or their gross negligence
or willful misconduct.  The duties of the Agent shall be mechanical and
administrative in nature; the Agent shall not have by reason of this Agreement
or any other Credit Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Bank or
the holder of any Note; and nothing in this Agreement or any other Credit
Document, expressed or implied, is in tended to or shall be so construed as to
impose upon the Agent any obligations in respect of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document except as expressly set forth herein or therein.

          10.03  Lack of Reliance on the Agent.  Independently and without
                 -----------------------------                            
reliance upon the Agent, each Bank and the holder of each Note, to the extent it
deems appropriate, has made and shall continue to make (i) its own independent
investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Company, each
Borrowing Subsidiary and their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the
making and the continuance of the Loans and the taking or not taking of any
action in connection herewith and (ii) its own appraisal of the credit
worthiness of the Company, each Borrowing Subsidiary and their respective
Subsidiaries and, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Agent
shall not have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing
basis, to provide any Bank or the holder of any Note with any credit or other
information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the
making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter.  The Agent shall not be
responsible to any Bank or the holder of any Note for any recitals, statements,
information, representations or warranties herein or in any document,
certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or for the
execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, perfection,
collectibility, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Credit
Document or the financial condition of the Company, each Borrowing Subsidiary
and their respective Subsidiaries or be required to make any inquiry concerning
either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or
conditions of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or the financial
condition of the Company, each Borrowing Subsidiary and their respective
Subsidiaries or the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of
Default.

          10.04  Certain Rights of the Agent.  If the Agent shall request
                 ---------------------------                             
instructions from the Required Banks with respect to any act or action
(including failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any other
Credit Document, the Agent shall be entitled to
<PAGE>
 
refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until the Agent shall
have received instructions from the Required Banks; and the Agent shall not
incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.  Without limiting the
foregoing, no Bank or the holder of any Note shall have any right of action
whatsoever against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting or refraining from
acting hereunder or under any other Credit Document in accordance with the
instructions of the Required Banks.

          10.05  Reliance.  The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be
                 --------                                                    
fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice,
statement, certificate, telex, teletype or telecopier message, cablegram,
radiogram, order or other document or telephone message signed, sent or made by
any Person that the Agent believed to be the proper Person, and, with respect to
all legal matters pertaining to this Agreement and any other Credit Document and
its duties hereunder and thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by the
Agent.

          10.06  Indemnification.  To the extent the Agent is not reimbursed and
                 ---------------                                                
indemnified by the Borrowers, the Banks will reimburse and indemnify the Agent,
in pro portion to their respective "percentages" as used in determining the
Required Banks, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, costs, expenses or disbursements
of whatsoever kind or nature which may be imposed on, asserted against or
incurred by the Agent in performing its respective duties hereunder or under any
other Credit Document, in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement
or any other Credit Document; provided that no Bank shall be liable for any
                              --------                                     
portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Agent's
gross negligence or willful misconduct.

          10.07  The Agent in its Individual Capacity.  With respect to its
                 ------------------------------------                      
obligation to make Loans under this Agreement, the Agent shall have the rights
and powers specified herein for a "Bank" and may exercise the same rights and
powers as though it were not performing the duties specified herein; and the
term "Banks," "Required Banks," "holders of Notes" or any similar terms shall,
unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its
individual capacity.  The Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and
generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with any
Borrower or any Affiliate of any Borrower as if it were not performing the
duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from any
Borrower for services in connection with this Agreement and otherwise without
having to account for the same to the Banks.

          10.08  Holders.  The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as
                 -------                                                        
the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of
the assignment, transfer or endorsement thereof, as the case may be, shall have
been filed with the Agent.  Any request, authority or consent of any Person who,
at the time of making
<PAGE>
 
such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note
shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee, assignee
or indorsee, as the case may be, of such Note or of any Note or Notes issued in
exchange therefor.

          10.09  Resignation by the Agent.  (a)  The Agent may resign from the
                 ------------------------                                     
performance of all its functions and duties hereunder and/or under the other
Credit Documents at any time by giving 15 Business Days' prior written notice to
the Borrowers and the Banks.  Such resignation shall take effect upon the
appointment of a successor Agent pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) below or as
otherwise provided below.

          (b) Upon any such notice of resignation, the Banks shall appoint a
successor Agent hereunder or thereunder who shall be a commercial bank or trust
company reasonably acceptable to the Borrowers (it being understood and agreed
that any Bank is deemed to be acceptable to the Borrowers).

          (c) If a successor Agent shall not have been so appointed within such
15 Business Day period, the Agent, with the consent of the Borrowers, shall then
appoint a successor Agent who shall serve as Agent hereunder or thereunder until
such time, if any, as the Banks appoint a successor Agent as provided above.

          (d) If no successor Agent has been appointed pursuant to clause (b) or
(c) above by the 20th Business Day after the date such notice of resignation was
given by the Agent, the Agent's resignation shall become effective and the Banks
shall thereafter perform all the duties of the Agent hereunder and/or under any
other Credit Document until such time, if any, as the Banks appoint a successor
Agent as provided above.


          SECTION 11.  Guaranty.
                       -------- 

          11.01  The Guaranty.  In order to induce the Banks to enter into this
                 ------------                                                  
Agreement and to extend credit hereunder and in recognition of the direct
benefits to be received by the Company from the proceeds of the Loans, the
Company hereby agrees with the Agent and Banks as follows: the Company hereby
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees as primary obligor and not merely as
surety the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise, of any and all indebtedness of each Borrowing
Subsidiary to the Agent or the Banks.  If any or all of the indebtedness of a
Borrowing Subsidiary to the Agent or the Banks becomes due and payable
hereunder, the Company unconditionally promises to pay such indebtedness to the
Agent or Banks on demand.  The word "indebtedness" as used in this Section 11
includes, without limitation, any and all Loans, fees, expenses, obligations and
liabilities of each Borrowing Subsidiary arising in connection with this
Agreement and any other Credit Document, in each case, heretofore, now, or
hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntarily or involun-
<PAGE>
 
tarily, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or
undetermined, whether or not such indebtedness is from time to time reduced, or
extinguished and there after increased or incurred, whether such Borrowing
Subsidiary may be liable individually or jointly with others, whether or not
recovery upon such indebtedness may be or hereafter become barred by any statute
of limitations, and whether or not such indebtedness may be or hereafter become
otherwise unenforceable.

          11.02  Bankruptcy.  Additionally, the Company unconditionally and
                 ----------                                                
irrevocably guarantees the payment of any and all indebtedness of each
Borrowing Subsidiary to the Banks whether or not due or payable by the Borrowing
Subsidiary upon the occurrence in respect of the Borrowing Subsidiary of any of
the events specified in Section 9(h) or (i), and unconditionally, jointly and
severally, promises to pay such indebtedness to the Banks, or order, on demand,
in lawful money of the United States.

          11.03  Nature of Liability.  The liability of the Company hereunder is
                 -------------------                                            
exclusive and independent of any security for or other guaranty of the
indebtedness of the Borrowing Subsidiary whether executed by such Company or by
any other party, and the liability of such Company hereunder shall not be
affected or impaired by (a) any direction as to application of payment by the
Borrowing Subsidiary or by any other party, or (b) any other guaranty,
undertaking or maximum liability of a guarantor or of any other party as to the
indebtedness of the Borrowing Subsidiary, or (c) any payment on or in reduction
of any such other guaranty or undertaking or (d) any dissolution, termination or
increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Borrowing Subsidiary, or (e)
any payment made to the Agent or the Banks on the indebtedness which the Agent
or such Banks repay the Borrowing Subsidiary pursuant to court order in any
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief
proceeding, and such Company waives any right to the deferral or modification of
its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

          11.04  Independent Obligation.  The obligations of the Company
                 ----------------------                                 
hereunder are independent of the obligations of each Borrowing Subsidiary, and a
separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Company
whether or not action is brought against a Borrowing Subsidiary and whether or
not the Borrowing Subsidiary is joined in any such action or actions.  The
Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the benefit of any
statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement
thereof.  Any payment by the Borrowing Subsidiary or other circumstance which
operates to toll any statute of limitations as to the Borrowing Subsidiary shall
operate to toll the statute of limitations as to the Company.

          11.05  Subordination.  Any indebtedness of any Borrowing Subsidiary
                 -------------                                               
now or hereafter held by the Company is hereby subordinated to the indebtedness
of the Borrowing Subsidiary to the Agent and the Banks.  If the Agent, after an
Event of Default
<PAGE>
 
has occurred, so requests, any indebtedness of the Borrowing Subsidiary to the
Company shall be collected, enforced and received by the Company as trustee for
the Agent and the Banks and be paid over to the Agent and the Banks on account
of the indebtedness of the Borrowing Subsidiary to the Agent and the Banks, but
without affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of the Company under
the other provisions of this Section 11.  Prior to the transfer by the Company
of any note or negotiable instrument evidencing any indebtedness of such
Borrowing Subsidiary to the Company, such Company shall mark such note or
negotiable instrument with a legend that the same is subject to this
subordination.

          11.06  Waiver.  (a)  The Company waives any right (except as shall be
                 ------                                                        
required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require the Agent or the
Banks to proceed against a Borrowing Subsidiary and any defense based on or
arising out of any defense of such Borrowing Subsidiary other than payment in
full of the indebtedness, including, without limitation, any defense based on
or arising out of the disability of such Borrowing Subsidiary or the
unenforceability of the indebtedness or any part thereof from any cause, or the
cessation from any cause of the liability of such Borrowing Subsidiary other
than payment in full of the indebtedness.  Until all indebtedness of each
Borrowing Subsidiary to the Agent and the Banks shall have been paid in full,
the Company shall not have any right of subrogation, and waives any right to
enforce any remedy which the Agent and the Banks now have or may hereafter have
against the Borrowing Subsidiary.

          (b) The Company waives all presentments, demands for performance,
protests and notices, including without limitation notices of nonperformance,
notice of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of the guaranty
provided by this Section 11, and notices of the existence, creation or incurring
of new or additional indebtedness.

          11.07  Banks' Rights.  The Company hereby agrees that the Company will
                 -------------                                                  
continue to be obligated under this Section 11 following any amendment pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement which may:

          (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment of, and/or change or
extend the time of payment of, renew, increase, accelerate or alter, any
indebtedness of the Borrowing Subsidiaries, and the guaranty provided by this
Section 11 shall apply to the indebtedness as so changed, extended, renewed or
altered;

          (b) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any
Borrowing Subsidiary or otherwise act or refrain from acting;

          (c) settle or compromise any indebtedness, and may subordinate the pay
ment of all or any part thereof to the payment of any liability (whether due or
not) of any Borrowing Subsidiary to creditors of such Borrowing Subsidiary other
than the Banks; or
<PAGE>
 
          (d) consent to or waive any breach of, any act, omission or default
under, this Agreement or any of the instruments or agreements referred to
herein, or otherwise amend, modify or supplement the Agreement or any of such
other instruments or agreements.

          11.08  Guaranty Absolute.  No invalidity, irregularity or
                 -----------------                                 
unenforceability of all or any part of the Credit Documents shall affect, impair
or be a defense to the guaranty provided by this Section 11, and the guaranty
provided by this Section 11 shall be primary, absolute and unconditional
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event or the existence of any other
circumstances which might constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety
or guarantor except payment in full of the indebtedness.

          11.09  Guaranty Continuing.  The guaranty provided by this Section 11,
                 -------------------                                            
is a continuing one and all liabilities to which it applies or may apply under
the terms hereof shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance
hereon.  No failure or delay on the part of any Bank or of any holder of any
Note of any Borrowing Subsidiary in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
The rights and remedies herein expressly specified are cumulative and not
exclusive of any rights or remedies which any Bank or any subsequent holder of a
Note of any Borrowing Subsidiary would otherwise have.  No notice to or demand
on the Company in any case shall entitle the Company to any other further notice
or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the
rights of any Bank or any holder of a note of any Borrowing Subsidiary to any
other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

          11.10  Binding Nature of Guaranty.  The guaranty provided by this
                 --------------------------                                
Section 11 shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and
shall inure to the benefit of the Banks and their respective successors and
assigns.

          11.11  Limitation on Enforcement.  The Banks agree that the terms of
                 -------------------------                                    
this Section 11 may be enforced only by the action of the Agent and that no Bank
shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce the terms of
this Section 11, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies
may be exercised by the Agent for the benefit of the Banks upon the terms of
this Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
          SECTION 12.  Miscellaneous.
                       ------------- 

          12.01  Payment of Expenses, etc.  The Company shall:  (i)  whether or
                 -------------------------                                     
not the transactions herein contemplated are consummated, pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent (including, without limitation,
the reasonable fees and disbursements of White & Case) in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit
Documents and the documents and instruments referred to herein and therein and
any amendment, waiver or consent relating hereto or thereto, of the Agent in
connection with its syndication efforts with respect to this Agreement and of
the Agent and each of the Banks in connection with the enforcement of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the documents and instruments
referred to herein and therein (including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agent and for each of the Banks in
connection with such enforcement); (ii) pay and hold each of the Banks harmless
from and against any and all present and future stamp, excise and other similar
taxes with respect to the foregoing matters and save each of the Banks harmless
from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any
delay or omission (other than to the extent attributable to such Bank) to pay
such taxes; and (iii) indemnify the Agent and each Bank, and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and
hold each of them harm less against any and all liabilities, obligations
(including removal or remedial actions), losses, damages, penalties, claims,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including
reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and disbursements) incurred by,
imposed on or assessed against any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or
in any way related to, or by reason of, (a) any investigation, litigation or
other proceeding (whether or not the Agent or any Bank is a party thereto)
related to the entering into and/or performance of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document or use of the proceeds of any Loans hereunder or the
consummation of any transactions contemplated herein or in any other Credit
Document or the exercise of any of their rights or remedies provided herein or
in the other Credit Documents, or (b) the actual or alleged presence of
Hazardous Materials in the air, surface water or groundwater or on the surface
or subsurface of any Real Property owned or at any time operated by any Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries, the generation, storage, transportation, handling or
disposal of Hazardous Materials at any location, whether or not owned or
operated by such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the non-compliance of any
Real Property with foreign, federal, state and local laws, regulations, and
ordinances (including applicable permits thereunder) applicable to any Real
Property, or any Environmental Claim asserted against such Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or any Real Property owned or at any time operated by such
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including, in each case, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and disburse ments of counsel and other
consultants incurred in connection with any such investigation, litigation or
other proceeding (but excluding any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses to the extent incurred by reason of (i) the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Person to be indemnified or (ii) a claim by any Borrower
against such Person).  To
<PAGE>
 
the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay or hold harmless the Agent or
any Bank set forth in the preceding sentence may be unenforceable because it is
violative of any law or public policy, each Borrower shall make the maximum
contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the indemnified
liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.

          12.02  Right of Setoff.  In addition to any rights now or hereafter
                 ---------------                                             
granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any
such rights, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, each
Bank is hereby authorized at any time or from time to time, without presentment,
demand, protest or other notice of any kind to any Borrower or to any other
Person, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to
appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special) and any other
Indebtedness at any time held by or owing to the Bank (including, without
limitation, by branches and agencies of such Bank wherever located) to or for
the credit or the account of any Borrower against and on account of the
Obligations and liabilities of such Borrower to such Bank under this Agreement
or under any of the other Credit Documents, and all other claims of any nature
or description arising out of or connected with this Agreement or any other
Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not such Bank shall have made any
demand hereunder and although said Obligations, liabilities or claims, or any of
them, shall be contingent or unmatured.

          12.03  Notices.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
                 -------                                                     
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including telex, tele copier or cable communication) and mailed, telegraphed,
telexed, telecopied, cabled or delivered:  if to the Company, at the Company's
address specified opposite its signature below, or, if to a Borrowing
Subsidiary, to such Subsidiary's address specified in the Borrowing Subsidiary
Agreement; if to the Agent, at its Notice Office; if to a Bank, at the address
specified opposite its signature below or; as to any Borrower or Bank, at such
other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the
other parties hereto.  All such notices and communications shall, when mailed,
telexed, telecopied, or cabled or sent by overnight courier, be effective when
deposited in the mails, delivered to the tele graph company, cable company or
overnight courier, as the case may be, or sent by telex or telecopier, except
that notices and communications to any Bank or Borrower shall not be effective
until received by such Bank or Borrower.

          12.04  Benefit of Agreement.  (a)  This Agreement shall be binding
                 --------------------                                       
upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors
and assigns of the parties hereto; provided, however, no Borrower may assign or
                                   --------  -------                           
transfer any of its rights, obligations or interest hereunder or under any other
Credit Document without the prior written consent of the Agent and, provided
                                                                    --------
further, that, although each Bank may, with the prior consent of the applicable
- -------                                                                        
Borrower, transfer, assign or grant participations in its rights hereunder, such
Bank shall remain the "Bank" for all purposes hereunder (and may not transfer or
assign all or any portion of its Commitment hereunder except as provided in
<PAGE>
 
Section 12.04(b)) and the transferee, assignee or participant, as the case may
be, shall not constitute a "Bank" hereunder and, provided further, that no Bank
                                                 ----------------              
shall transfer or grant any participation under which the participant shall have
rights to approve any amendment to or waiver of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document except to the extent such amendment or waiver would (i) extend
the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or Note in which such participant is
participating, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or
Fees thereon (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any post-
default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof, or
increase the amount of the participant's participation over the amount thereof
then in effect (it being understood that a waiver of any Default or Event of
Default or of a mandatory reduction in the Total Commitments shall not
constitute a change in the terms of such participation, and that an increase in
any Commitment or Loan shall be permitted without the consent of any participant
if the participant's participation is not increased as a result thereof), or
(ii) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Borrower of any of its rights
and obligations under this Agreement.  In the case of any such participation,
the participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement or any of the
other Credit Documents (the participant's rights against any Bank in respect of
such participation to be those set forth in the agreement executed by such Bank
in favor of the participant relating thereto) and all amounts payable by the
applicable Borrower hereunder shall be determined as if such Bank had not sold
such participation.

          (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Bank may (x) assign all or a
portion of its Commitment and related outstanding Obligations hereunder to any
affiliate of such Bank which is at least 50% owned by such Bank or its parent
company or (y) assign all, or if less than all, a portion equal to at least U.S.
$5,000,000 in the aggregate for the assigning Bank, of such Commitment and
related outstanding Obligations hereunder to one or more Eligible Transferees,
each of which assignees shall become a party to this Agree ment as a Bank by
execution of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit G hereto, provided that, (i) at such time Schedule I shall be deemed
                  --------                                                  
modified to reflect the Commitments (and/or outstanding Loans, as the case may
be) of such new Bank and of the existing Banks, (ii) new Notes will be issued,
at such Bank's expense, to such new Bank and to the assigning Bank upon the
request of such new Bank or assigning Bank, such new Notes to be in conformity
with the requirements of Section 2.05 (with appropriate modifications) to the
extent needed to reflect the revised Commitments (and/or outstanding Loans, as
the case may be) and (iii) the consent of the applicable Borrower shall be
required in connection with any assignment to an Eligible Transferee pursuant
to clause (y) above.  To the extent of any assignment pursuant to this Section
12.04(b), the assigning Bank shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder with
respect to its assigned Commitments.
<PAGE>
 
          (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or prohibit any Bank from
pledging its Loans and Notes hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in support of
borrowings made by such Bank from such Federal Reserve Bank.

          12.05  No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.  No failure or delay on the
                 ------------------------------                             
part of any Bank or any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or
privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document and no course of dealing
between any Borrower and any Bank or the holder of any Note shall operate as a
waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege
hereunder or thereunder.  The rights, powers and remedies herein or in any other
Credit Document expressly provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights, powers or remedies which any Bank or the holder of any Note would
otherwise have.  No notice to or demand on any Borrower in any case shall
entitle any Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of any Bank or the
holder of any Note to any other or further action in any circumstances without
notice or demand.

          12.06  Payments Pro Rata.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided in this
                 -----------------                                            
Agreement, the Agent agrees that promptly after its receipt of each payment from
or on behalf of any Borrower in respect of any Obligations hereunder, it shall
distribute such payment to the Banks (other than any Bank that has consented in
writing to waive its pro rata share of any such payment) pro rata based upon
                     --- ----                            --- ----           
their respective shares, if any, of the Obligations with respect to which such
payment was received.

          (b) Each of the Banks agrees that, if it should receive any amount
here under (whether by voluntary payment, by realization upon security, by the
exercise of the right of setoff or banker's lien, by counterclaim or cross
action, by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents, or
otherwise), which is applicable to the payment of the principal of, or interest
on, the Loans or Facility Fee, of a sum which with respect to the related sum or
sums received by other Banks is in a greater proportion than the total amount of
such Obligation then owed and due to such Bank bears to the total amount of such
Obligation then owed and due to all of the Banks immediately prior to such
receipt, then such Bank receiving such excess payment shall purchase for cash
without recourse or warranty from the other Banks an interest in the Obligations
of the respective Borrower to such Banks in such amount as shall result in a
proportional participation by all the Banks in such amount; provided that if all
                                                            --------            
or any portion of such excess amount is thereafter recovered from such Bank,
such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent
of such recovery, but without interest.

          12.07  Calculations; Computations.  (a)  Unless otherwise specifically
                 --------------------------                                     
pro vided herein, the financial statements to be furnished pursuant hereto shall
be made and pre-
<PAGE>
 
pared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in
the United States consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except
as set forth in the notes thereto or as otherwise disclosed in writing by the
applicable Borrower to the Agent).

          (b) All computations of interest, Facility Fee and Fees hereunder
shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days
(including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for
which such interest, Facility Fee or Fees are payable.

          (c) All computations of Loans outstanding, gains, losses, debts,
liabilities and other amounts (the "Amounts") for purposes of determining
compliance by the Company and/or the Borrowers with the provisions of this
Agreement shall be made by aggregating all U.S. Dollar-denominated Amounts with
the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of all non-U.S. Dollar-denominated Amounts.

          12.08  GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE; WAIVER OF
                 -----------------------------------------------------------
JURY TRIAL.  (A)  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS
- ----------                                                                    
AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PAR TIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  ANY LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT
MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS
AGREEMENT, EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT
OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE
AFORESAID COURTS.  EACH BORROWER HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIM
THAT ANY SUCH COURTS LACK JURISDICTION OVER SUCH BORROWER AND AGREES NOT TO
PLEAD OR CLAIM, IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT
OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN ANY OF SUCH AFORESAID COURTS, THAT ANY
SUCH COURT LACKS JURISDICTION OVER SUCH BORROWER.  EACH BORROWER FURTHER
IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED
COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY
REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PRE PAID, TO THE BORROWER AT ITS NOTICE
ADDRESS, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING.  EACH
BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY LEGAL ACTION
OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED
<PAGE>
 
HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS IN ANY
WAY INVALID OR INEFFECTIVE.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY BANK
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE HOLDER OF ANY NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER
MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED
AGAINST THE APPLICABLE BORROWER IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

          (B) EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY
NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR
PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER
CREDIT DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (a) ABOVE AND HEREBY
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT
THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

          (C) EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

          12.09  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
                 ------------                                                  
counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.  A set of counterparts
executed by all the parties hereto shall be lodged with the Company and the
Agent.

          12.10  Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall become effective on August
                 -------------                                                  
30, 1996 (the "Effective Date").

          12.11  Headings Descriptive.  The headings of the several sections and
                 --------------------                                           
sub sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this
Agreement.

          12.12  Amendment or Waiver; etc.  (a)  Neither this Agreement nor any
                 -------------------------                                     
other Credit Document nor any terms hereof or thereof may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated unless such change, waiver, discharge or termination
is in writing signed by each Borrower party thereto and the Required Banks,

provided that no such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall, without
- --------                                                                     
the consent of each Bank (other
<PAGE>
 
than a Defaulting Bank) (with Obligations being directly affected in the case of
following clause (i)), (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or
Note beyond the Maturity Date, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment
of interest or Fees thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof, (ii) amend,
modify or waive any provision of this Section 12.12, (iii) reduce the percentage
specified in the definition of Required Banks (it being understood that, with
the consent of the Required Banks, additional extensions of credit pursuant to
this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Banks or
(iv) consent to the assignment or transfer by, or discharge or termination of,
any Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document;
                                                                            
provided further, that no such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall
- ----------------                                                             
(x) increase the Commitment of any Bank over the amount thereof then in effect
without the consent of such Bank (it being understood that waivers or
modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default
or of a mandatory reduction in the Total Commitments shall not constitute an
increase of the Commitment of any Bank, and that an increase in the available
portion of any Commitment of any Bank shall not constitute an increase in the
Commitment of such Bank), (y) without the consent of the Agent, amend, modify or
waive any provision of Section 10 as same applies to such Agent or any other
provision as same relates to the rights or obligations of such Agent.

          (b) If, in connection with any proposed change, waiver, discharge or
termination to any of the provisions of this Agreement as contemplated by
clause (a)(i) through (iv), inclusive, of this Section 12.12, the consent of the
Required Banks is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Banks
whose consent is required is not obtained, then the Borrowers shall have the
right to replace each such non-consenting Bank or Banks (so long as all non-
consenting Banks are so replaced) with one or more Replacement Banks pursuant to
Section 2.12 so long as at the time of such replacement, each such Replacement
Bank consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination,
provided that the Borrowers shall not have the right to replace a Bank solely as
a result of the exercise of such Bank's rights (and the withholding of any
required consent by such Bank) pursuant to the second proviso to Section
12.12(a).

          12.13  Survival.  All indemnities set forth herein including, without
                 --------                                                      
limitation, in Sections 2.10, 2.11, 4.04 and 12.01 shall survive the execution,
delivery and termination of this Agreement and the Notes and the making and
repayment of the Loans.

          12.14  Domicile of Loans.  Each Bank may transfer and carry its Loans
                 -----------------                                             
at, to or for the account of any office, Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Bank.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent that a
transfer of Loans pursuant to this Section 12.14 would, at the time of such
transfer, result in increased costs under Section 2.10, 2.11 or 4.04 from those
being charged by such Bank prior to such transfer, then the applicable Borrower
shall not be obligated to pay such increased costs (although
<PAGE>
 
such Borrower shall be obligated to pay any other increased costs of the type
described above resulting from changes after the date of the respective
transfer).

          12.15  Judgment Currency.  The obligations of any Borrower in respect
                 -----------------                                             
of any sum due to the Banks hereunder or under the Notes shall, notwithstanding
any judgment in a currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than the applicable
Loan Currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day
following receipt by the applicable Bank or Banks of any sum adjudged to be so
due in the Judgment Currency, the Bank, in accordance with normal banking
procedures, purchases the applicable Loan Currency with the Judgment Currency.
If the amount of such Loan Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally
due to such Bank or Banks, the applicable Borrower agrees, as a separate
obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the applicable
Bank or Banks against such loss, and if the amount of Loan Currency so purchased
exceeds the sum originally due to the Bank or Banks, such Bank or Banks agree to
remit such excess to the applicable Borrower.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly
authorized officers to execute and deliver this Agreement as of the date first
above written.


Address:
- --------
                                ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION
825 Duportail Road
Wayne, Pennsylvania  19087
Attention:  Mr. J.F. Quinn      By
Telephone:  (610) 296-8000        ----------------------------------
Facsimile:  (610) 640-4056         Title:

                                  DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK
                                  BRANCH AND CAYMAN ISLANDS
                                  BRANCH


                                By
                                  ----------------------------------
                                  Title:


                                By
                                  ----------------------------------
                                  Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK
                                  BRANCH, AS AGENT


                                By
                                  ----------------------------------
                                  Title:


                                By
                                  ----------------------------------
      Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                                                                      ----------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

     Bank                Commitment
     ----                ----------
<S>                      <C> 
Deutsch Bank AG,          $25,000,000
New York Branch and/or
Cayman Islands Branch

</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------



                          FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING
                          ---------------------------


                                                                          [Date]


Deutsche Bank AG,
 New York Branch, as Agent
31 West 52nd Street
New York, NY   10019

Attention:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          The undersigned, ______________________ (the "Borrower"), refers to
the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996 (as amended from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein
defined), among Alco Standard Corporation, certain of its Subsidiaries, various
Banks from time to time party thereto (the "Banks"), and you, as Agent for such
Banks, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the
Credit Agreement, that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the
Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information
relating to such Borrowing (the "Proposed Borrowing") as required by Section
2.03(a) of the Credit Agreement:

            (i)   The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is __________,
     19__./ /

/ /  Shall be a Business Day at least three Business Days after the date hereof.

            (ii)  The Type of Loan of the Proposed Borrowing is a [Eurocurrency
     Loan]/[Quoted Rate Loan].

            (iii) The Loan Currency of the Proposed Borrowing is ______________.

            (iv)  The aggregate principal amount of the Proposed Borrowing is
     _________________.
<PAGE>
 
            (v) The [Interest Period]/[term] for the Proposed Borrowing is
     _______ [month(s)] [year(s) and _____ days].

          The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are
     true on                                                         the date
     hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

          (A)   the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in
     the Credit Agreement are and will be true and correct in all material
     respects, both before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and
     to the application of the proceeds thereof, as though made on such date,
     unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such
     representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material
     respects as of such earlier date; and

          (B)   no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
     or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the
     proceeds thereof.

                              Very truly yours,


                              [BORROWER]


                              By
                                ------------------------------------
                                Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                                                       ---------



                       FORM OF NOTE ISSUED BY THE COMPANY
                       ----------------------------------


[Amount]  New York, New York
                                                                          , 19
                                                              ------------    --


          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation
(the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of __________ or its
registered assigns (the "Bank"), in lawful money of the United States of America
and/or other applicable jurisdictions, in immediately available funds, at the
office of Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (the "Agent"), located at 31 West
52nd Street, New York, NY 10019, on the Maturity Date the principal sum of
_____________ dollars or its equivalent in U.S. Dollars and/or other applicable
Loan Currency, or, if less, the then unpaid principal amount of the Loans
initially evidenced by this Note and made by the Bank pursuant to the Agreement.
The Borrower also promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof
in like money at such office from the date hereof until paid at the rates and at
the times provided in Section 2.07 of the Agreement.

          This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement,
dated as of August 30, 1996, among the Borrower, certain of its Subsidiaries,
the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (including the Bank)
and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (the "Agent") (as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, the "Agreement"; capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined herein having the respective meanings given to such
terms in the Agreement), and is entitled to the benefits thereof.  As provided
in the Agreement, this Note is subject to voluntary prepayment and mandatory
repayment prior to the Maturity Date, in whole or in part.

          In case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
principal of and accrued interest on this Note may become or be declared to be
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

          The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind in connection with this Note.

          THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                         ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION


                         By
                            -------------------------------
                            Title:


               Principal                   Date of Repayment Principal Amount
Date of Loan Amount of Loan Loan Currency           of Loan        of Loan
- ------------ -------------- -------------      -----------------  --------
Repaid   Notation Made By
- -------  ----------------



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT C
                                                                       ---------

                 FORM OF NOTE ISSUED BY A BORROWING SUBSIDIARY
                 ---------------------------------------------


[Amount]  New York, New York
                                                                          , 19  
                                                              ------------    --


          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _______________________________________, a
[jurisdiction] corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order
of __________ or its registered assigns (the "Bank"), in lawful money of the
United States of America and/or other applicable jurisdictions, in immediately
available funds, at the office of Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (the
"Agent"), located at 31 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019, on the Maturity
Date the principal sum of _____________ dollars or its equivalent in U.S.
Dollars and/or other applicable Loan Currency, or, if less, the then unpaid
principal amount of the Loans initially evidenced by this Note and made by the
Bank pursuant to the Agreement.  The Borrower also promises to pay interest on
the unpaid principal amount hereof in like money at such office from the date
hereof until paid at the rates and at the times provided in Section 2.07 of the
Agreement.

          This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement,
dated as of August 30, 1996, among Alco Standard Corporation (the "Company"),
certain of its Subsidiaries (including the Borrower), the financial institutions
from time to time party thereto (including the Bank) and Deutsche Bank AG, New
York Branch (the "Agent") (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, the "Agreement"; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein having the respective meanings given to such terms in the Agreement), and
is entitled to the benefits thereof, including, without limitation, the guaranty
of the Company provided in Section 11 thereof.  As provided in the Agreement,
this Note is subject to voluntary prepayment and mandatory repayment prior to
the Maturity Date, in whole or in part.

          In case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
principal of and accrued interest on this Note may become or be declared to be
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

          The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind in connection with this Note.

          THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                         [BORROWER]


                         By
                           --------------------------------
                          Title:


               Principal                    Date of Repayment   Principal Amount
Date of Loan Amount of Loan Loan Currency        of Loan             of Loan
- ------------ -------------- -------------   -----------------       --------
Repaid   Notation Made By
- -------  ----------------

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT D
                                                                       ---------



          [LETTERHEAD OF ALCO STANDARD GENERAL COUNSEL APPEARS HERE]


                                                                [Effective Date]


To the Agent and each of the Banks
party to the Credit Agreement referred to below

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          As General Counsel to Alco Standard Corporation, an Ohio corporation
(the "Company"), I have served as counsel to the Company in connection with the
execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996 (the
"Credit Agreement"), among the Alco Standard Corporation, certain of its
Subsidiaries, the Banks from time to time party thereto (the "Banks") and
Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as Agent, and the transactions contemplated
thereby.  This opinion is delivered to you at the request of the Company
pursuant to Section 5.01 of the Credit Agreement.  Unless otherwise indicated,
capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

          In connection with this opinion, I have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents as I
have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth
herein.  In my examination I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures
(other than as to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), the authenticity of
all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents
of all documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such copies.  As to questions of fact not
independently verified by me I have relied, to the extent I deemed appropriate,
upon representations and certificates of officers of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries, public officials and other appropriate persons.

          Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

          1.  Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is a duly
organized and validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the corporate power and authority
to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is
engaged and presently proposes to engage and (iii) is duly
<PAGE>
 
qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          2.  The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of, and has taken all necessary
corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of, the
Credit Agreement.  The Company has duly executed the Credit Agreement.  Each
Borrower Subsidiary has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver
and carry out the terms and provisions of any Note or Borrower Subsidiary
Agreement subsequently executed by such Borrower Subsidiary.

          3.  The Credit Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws generally affecting creditors' rights and by equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

          4.  None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of
the Credit Agreement, the compliance by it with the terms and provisions thereof
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, (i) will
contravene any applicable pro vision of any law, statute, rule or regulation
(including, without limitation, Regulations G, T, U and X of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System) or any order, writ, injunction or
decree of any court or governmental instrumentality, (ii) will conflict or be
inconsistent with or result in any breach of, any of the terms, covenants,
conditions or pro visions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the
creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon
any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant
to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, credit agreement, loan
agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets
are bound or to which it may be subject or (iii) will violate any provision of
any charter document of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

          5.  No order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation
of, filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any foreign or
domestic governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof,
or any other third party (except as have been obtained or made prior to the date
hereof), is required to authorize, or is required in connection with, (i) the
execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Agreement by the Company or
(ii) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the
Company of the Credit Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
          6.  There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best
of my knowledge, threatened (i) with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
or (ii) against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the
Credit Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby and there does not
exist any judgment, order or injunction prohibiting or imposing any material
adverse condition upon the rights or remedies of any Bank or the Agent under the
Credit Agreement or on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations to
any Bank or the Agent under the Credit Agreement.

          7.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is an "investment
company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          8.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is not a "holding
company", a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company" or an "affiliate" of a
"holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company" within the
meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

          This opinion is being furnished only to the addressees and is solely
for their benefit and the benefit of their participants and assigns in
connection with the above transaction.  This opinion may not be relied upon for
any other purpose, or relied upon by any other person, firm or corporation for
any purpose, without our prior written consent.

                         Very truly yours,
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT E
                                                                       ---------



                        FORM OF SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE
                        -------------------------------


          I, the undersigned, [Chairman/President/Vice
President/Finance/Controller] of [Borrower], a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of ___________ (the "Borrower"), do hereby certify on
behalf of the Borrower that:

          1.  This Certificate is furnished pursuant to the Credit Agreement,
dated as of August 30, 1996, among Alco Standard Corporation, certain of its
Subsidiaries, the Banks from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank AG,
New York Branch, as Agent (such Credit Agreement, as in effect on the date of
this Certificate, being herein called the "Credit Agreement").  Unless otherwise
defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Certificate shall have the
meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

          2.  The following named individuals are elected officers of the
Borrower, each holds the office of the Borrower set forth opposite his or her
name and has held such office since __________, 19__./ /  The signature written
opposite the name and title of each such officer is his or her genuine
signature.

/ /  Insert a date prior to the time of any corporate action relating to the
Credit Documents or related documentation.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
Name/ /     Office  Signature
- ----------  ------  ---------
<S>         <C>     <C>
 
 
 
</TABLE>
/ /  Include name, office and signature of each officer who will sign any Credit
- ---                                                                             
     Document, including the officer who will sign the certification at the end
     of this Certificate or related documentation.
<PAGE>
 
          3.  Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a certified copy of the
Certificate of Incorporation/ / of the Borrower, as filed in the Office of the
Secretary of State of __________/ / on ___________, 19__, together with all
amendments thereto adopted through the date hereof.

/ /  Revise as appropriate for the relevant Borrower.
/ /  Revise as appropriate for the relevant Borrower.


          4.  Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a true and correct copy of the By-
Laws/ / of the Borrower which were duly adopted, are in full force and effect on
the date hereof, and have been in effect since _____________, 19__./ /

/ /  Revise as appropriate for the relevant Borrower.
/ /  Insert date on or prior to the date of the initial action taken by the
Borrower with respect to any Credit Document.


          5.  Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a true and correct copy of
resolutions which were duly adopted on __________, 19__ [by unanimous written
consent of the Board of Directors of the Borrower] [by a meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Borrower at which a quorum was present and acting
throughout],/ / and such resolutions have not been rescinded, amended or
modified.  Except as attached hereto as Exhibit C, no resolutions have been
adopted by the Board of Directors/ / of the Borrower which deal with the
execution, delivery or performance of any Credit Document to which the Borrower
is party./ /

/ /  Revise as appropriate for the relevant Borrower.
/ /  Revise as appropriate for the relevant Borrower.
/ /  Revise this paragraph as appropriate if a form of corporate authorization
other than the adoption of specific authorizing resolutions has been used.


          6.  On the date hereof, all of the applicable conditions set forth in
Sections 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05 and 6.01 of the Credit Agreement have been
satisfied.

          7.  On the date hereof, the representations and warranties contained
in the Credit Agreement with respect to the Borrower are true and correct in all
material respects
<PAGE>
 
with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made
on the date hereof, both before and after giving effect to the incurrence of
Loans on the date here of and the application of the proceeds thereof, unless
stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations
and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier
date.

          8.  On the date hereof, no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing or would result from the Borrowing to occur on the date hereof
or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

          9.  As of the date hereof, nothing has occurred which has or could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the rights or
remedies of the Agent or any of the Banks under or with respect to the Credit
Agreement.

          10.  There is no proceeding that has been instituted or is currently
taking place for the dissolution or liquidation of the Borrower or threatening
the existence of the Borrower.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ___ day of
__________, 19__.

                              [BORROWER]



                              ------------------------------
                              Name:
                              Title:



          I, the undersigned, [Secretary/Assistant Secretary] of the Borrower,
do hereby certify on behalf of the Borrower that:

          1.  [Name of Person making above certifications] is the duly elected
and qualified [Chairman/President/Vice President/Finance/Controller] of the
Borrower and the signature above is [his] [her] genuine signature.
<PAGE>
 
          2.  The certifications made by [name of Person making above
certifications] on behalf of the Borrower in Items 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 above are
true and correct.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this _____ day of
_________, 19__.

                              [BORROWER]



                              ----------------------------
                              Name:
                              Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT F
                                                                       ---------



                     FORM OF BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AGREEMENT
                     --------------------------------------



          BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AGREEMENT, dated as of __________, 19___, between
___________, a ________ corporation (the "New Borrower"), and ALCO STANDARD
CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), in favor of DEUTSCHE BANK AG,
NEW YORK BRANCH, as Agent, for the benefit of the Banks party to the Credit
Agreement (as hereinafter defined).  Except as otherwise defined herein, terms
used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement shall be used herein as therein
defined.

                             W I T N E S S E T H :
                             - - - - - - - - - -  

          WHEREAS, the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, various Banks from
time to time party thereto (the "Banks") and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch,
as Agent, have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996 (as
in effect from time to time, the "Credit Agreement");

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Banks have agreed, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions therein set forth, to make Loans to the
Company and to Subsidiaries of the Company which execute and deliver to the
Agent a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement;

          WHEREAS, the undersigned Subsidiary and the Company desire for the
undersigned Subsidiary to become a Borrowing Subsidiary;


          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the benefits accruing to each of
the undersigned, including, with respect to the New Borrower, being able to
borrow under the Credit Agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth therein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
each of the undersigned covenants and agrees as follows:

          1.  New Borrower's Obligations.  The New Borrower agrees that from and
              --------------------------                                        
after the date of this Agreement it will be, and will be liable for the
observance and performance of all obligations of, a Borrowing Subsidiary under
the Credit Agreement (including as a Borrower thereunder), as the same may be
amended from time to time, to the same extent as if it had been one of the
original parties to the Credit Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
          2.  Company's Obligations.  (a)  The Company represents to the Banks
              ---------------------                                           
that the New Borrower is a Subsidiary of the Company.

          (b)  The Company hereby covenants and agrees with each Bank that, so
long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, the New Borrower shall continue
to be a Subsidiary of the Company.

          (c)  The Company acknowledges and agrees that from the date hereof the
New Borrower will be a Borrowing Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement and that,
as such, any borrowings made by the New Borrower pursuant to the Credit
Agreement will constitute Borrowings.  The Company also acknowledges and agrees
that all Loans and other indebtedness of the New Borrower under the Credit
Agreement shall be guaranteed by the Company pursuant to Section 11 thereof.

          3.  Miscellaneous.  (a)  If at any time no Loans are outstanding to
              -------------                                                  
the New Borrower and no amounts or other obligations are owed to the Agent or
any Bank from the New Borrower, then this Agreement can be terminated by notice
from the Company and the New Borrower to the Agent; otherwise, this Agreement
may not be amended or terminated without the prior written consent of the Agent
and the Required Banks.

          (b)  Notices to the New Borrower under the Credit Agreement shall be
made as follows:

               [Address]
               Attention:
                         -----------------------
               Telephone:
                         -----------------------
               Facsimile:
                         -----------------------

          (c)  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and
by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their authorized officers as of the date first appearing above.


                         [NEW BORROWER]
<PAGE>
 
                         By
                           -------------------------------------------
                           Title:


                         ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION


                         By
                           -------------------------------------------
                           Title:


Accepted as of the date first
above written:

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
 as Agent


By
  ----------------------------------------------
  Title:


By
  ----------------------------------------------
  Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT G
                                                                       ---------



                  FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
                  -------------------------------------------

                                                            Date __________,
19__


          Reference is made to the Credit Agreement described in Item 1 of Annex
I hereto (as such Credit Agreement may hereafter be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").  Unless defined
in Annex I hereto, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as
therein defined.  ___________ (the "Assignor") and __________ (the "Assignee")
hereby agree as follows:

          1.  The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee without
recourse and without representation or warranty (other than as expressly
provided herein), and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the
Assignor, that interest in and to all of the Assignor's rights and obligations
under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof which represents the percentage
interest specified in Item 4 of Annex I hereto (the "Assigned Share") of all of
the outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement relating to
the facilities listed in Item 4 of Annex I hereto, including, without
limitation, all rights and obligations with respect to the Assigned Share of the
Assignor's Commitment and of any outstanding Loans.  After giving effect to such
sale and assignment, the Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the outstanding
Loans owing to the Assignee will be as set forth in Item 4 of Annex I hereto.

          2.  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that it is the legal and
beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such
interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (b) makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statement, warranty
or representation made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the
other Credit Documents or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability,
genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or the other Credit
Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and
(c) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with
respect to the financial condition of the Company, any other Borrower or any of
their respective Subsidiaries or the performance or observance by the Company,
any other Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries of any of their
respective obligations under the Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents
or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto.

          3.  The Assignee (a) confirms that it has received a copy of the
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with copies of the
financial statements
<PAGE>
 
referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this
Assignment and Assumption Agreement; (b) agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or any other Bank and based on
such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under
the Credit Agreement; (c) confirms that it is an Eligible Transferee under
Section 12.04(b) of the Credit Agreement; (d) appoints and authorizes the Agent
to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Agent by
the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto; [and] (e) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms
all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required
to be performed by it as a Bank[; and (f) attaches the forms prescribed by the
Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying as to the Assignee's
status for purposes of determining exemption from United States withholding
taxes with respect to all payments to be made to the Assignee under the Credit
Agreement or such other documents as are necessary to indicate that all such
payments are subject to such rates at a rate reduced by an applicable tax
treaty]/ /.

/ /  Include if the Assignee is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside of the United States.


          4.  Following the execution of this Assignment and Assumption
Agreement by the Assignor and the Assignee, an executed original hereof
(together with all attachments) will be delivered to the Agent.  The effective
date of this Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall be the date of execution
hereof by the Assignor and the Assignee and the receipt of the consent of the
Borrowers to the extent required by Section 12.04(b) of the Credit Agreement,
unless otherwise specified in Item 5 of Annex I hereto (the "Settlement Date").

          5.  Upon the delivery of a fully executed original hereof to the
Agent, as of the Settlement Date, (a) the Assignee shall be a party to the
Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Assumption
Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Bank thereunder and under the
other Credit Documents and (b) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in
this Assignment and Assumption Agreement, relinquish its rights and be released
from its obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

          6.  It is agreed that upon the effectiveness hereof, the Assignee
shall be entitled to (a) all interest on the Assigned Share of the Loans at the
rates specified in Item 6
<PAGE>
 
of Annex I and (b) all Facility Fees (if applicable) on the Assigned Share of
the Commitment at the rate specified in Item 7 of Annex I hereto, which, in each
case, accrue on and after the Settlement Date, such interest and, if applicable,
Facility Fee to be paid by the Agent directly to the Assignee.  It is further
agreed that all payments of principal made on the Assigned Share of the Loans
which occur on and after the Settlement Date will be paid directly by the Agent
to the Assignee.  Upon the Settlement Date, the Assignee shall pay to the
Assignor an amount specified by the Assignor in writing which represents the
Assigned Share of the principal amount of the respective Loans made by the
Assignor pursuant to the Credit Agreement which are outstanding on the
Settlement Date, net of any closing costs, and which are being assigned
hereunder.  The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments
in payments under the Credit Agreement for periods prior to the Settlement Date
directly between themselves on the Settlement Date.

          7.  THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly
authorized officers to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption
Agreement, as of the date first above written, such execution also being made on
Annex I hereto.

                              [NAME OF ASSIGNOR],
                               as Assignor


                              By____________________________________
                                Title:


                              [NAME OF ASSIGNEE],
                               as Assignee


                              By____________________________________
                                Title:
<PAGE>
 
[Acknowledged and Agreed:

[BORROWER]


By____________________________________
 Title:


[BORROWER]


By____________________________________
 Title:                                                ]/ /

/ /  The consents of the Borrowers are required for certain assignments pursuant
to Section 12.04(b) of the Credit Agreement.  If required, each Borrower should
execute the Acknowledgement.
<PAGE>
 
                                    ANNEX I
                                       TO
                      ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
                      -----------------------------------



1.   Name and Date of Credit Agreement:

     Credit Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996, among Alco Standard
     Corporation, certain of its Subsidiaries, the Banks from time to time party
     thereto and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as Agent, as amended to the
     date hereof.


2.   Borrowers:  ______________________________

          ______________________________

          ______________________________



3.   Date of Assignment and Assumption Agreement:


4.   Assigned Share Amounts (as of date of Item #3 above):

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                   Outstanding
                                                   Principal of
                                Total Commitment     Loans (U.S. $ Equivalent)
                                ----------------     -------------------------
<S>                             <C>                  <C> 
a.  Aggregate Amount                    $__________   $_________

                      for all Banks
 
                  b.  Assigned Share    __________%   _________%
 
                  c.  Amount of         $__________   $_________
                      Assigned Share

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
     Assigned Share in Loan Currencies (as of date of Item #3 above):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

 Borrower            Loan Amount                  Assigned Share
- ----------  -----------------------------  -----------------------------
<S>         <C>                            <C> 
            (in applicable Loan Currency)  (in applicable Loan Currency)
 
========================================================================

</TABLE>

5.   Settlement Date:


6.                       Rate of Interest
     to the Assignee:    As set forth in Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement
                         (unless
                         otherwise agreed to by the Assignor and the
Assignee)/ /

/ /  The Borrower and the Agent shall direct the entire amount of the interest
to the Assignee at the rate set forth in Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement,
with the Assignor and Assignee effecting the agreed upon sharing of the interest
through payments by the Assignee to the Assignor.



7.                       Facility Fee:      As set forth in Section 3.01(a)
                         (unless otherwise agreed to by the Assignor and the
                         Assignee)/ /

/ /  Insert "Not Applicable" in lieu of text if no portion of the Commitment is
                         being assigned.  Otherwise, the Borrowers and the Agent
                         shall direct the entire amount of the Commitment
                         Commission to the Assignee at the rate set forth in
                         Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement, with the
                         Assignor and the Assignee effecting the agreed upon
                         sharing of the Commitment Commission through payment by
                         the Assignee to the Assignor.



8.   Notice:
<PAGE>
 
      ASSIGNOR:

      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
        Attention:
        Telephone:
        Telecopier:
        Reference:

      ASSIGNEE:

      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
        Attention:
        Telephone:
        Telecopier:
        Reference:


9.   Payment Instructions:

      ASSIGNOR:

      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
        Attention:
        Reference:
<PAGE>
 
      ASSIGNEE:

      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
      _____________________
        Attention:
        Reference:

Accepted and Agreed:

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]                  [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]


By_______________________________   By______________________________
 Name:                                  Name:
 Title:                                 Title:
<PAGE>
 
                    AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT
                    ---------------------------------------


          AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"), dated as
of April 1, 1997, among IKON Office Solutions, Inc. (formerly known as Alco
Standard Corporation, and referred to herein as the "Company"), IKON Office
Solutions, S.A. (formerly known as Axion, S.A., and referred to herein as "IKON
France"), IKON Office Solutions Europe PLC ("IKON U.K." and, together with the
Company and IKON France, collectively referred to herein as the "Borrowers"),
various banks (the "Banks") and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as agent (the
"Agent").  All capitalized terms defined in the hereinafter defined Credit
Agreement shall have the same meaning when used herein unless otherwise defined
herein.


                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             - - - - - - - - - - 

          WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Banks and the Agent entered into a Credit
Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996 (as in effect on the date hereof, the
"Credit Agreement");

          WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend the Credit Agreement as
herein provided;

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

          1.  Amendment to the Credit Agreement.  The Commitment amount set
              ---------------------------------                             
forth opposite Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch and Cayman Islands Branch, on
Schedule I to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to $50,000,000.

          2.  Representations and Warranties.  In order to induce the Banks and
              ------------------------------                                   
the Agent to enter into this Amendment, each Borrower hereby represents and
warrants that:

          (a)  no Default or Event of Default exists or will exist as of the
     date hereof and after giving effect to this Amendment; and

          (b)  as of the date hereof, after giving effect to this Amendment, all
     representations, warranties and agreements of the Borrower contained in the
     Credit Agreement will be true and correct in all material respects.
<PAGE>
 
          3.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF
              -------------                                                   
THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

          4.  Agreement Not Otherwise Amended.  This Amendment is limited
              -------------------------------                             
precisely as written and shall not be deemed to be an amendment, consent, waiver
or modification of any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement, any
other Credit Document or any of the instruments or agreements referred to
therein, or prejudice any right or rights which the Banks, the Agent or any of
them may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the
Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document or any of the instruments or 
agreements referred to therein. Except as expressly modified hereby, the terms
and provisions of the Credit Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
Whenever the Credit Agreement is referred to in the Credit Agreement, any other
Credit Document or any of the instruments, agreements or other documents or
papers executed and delivered in connection therewith, it shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.

          5.  Counterparts.  This Amendment 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.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as
of the date first above written.

IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:


IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, S.A.


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:
<PAGE>
 
IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS EUROPE PLC


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:


DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
  AND CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:


DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
  AS AGENT


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:


By
  -------------------------------
  Title:

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.5



               AMENDED AND RESTATED RECEIVABLES TRANSFER AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of March 31, 1997

                                      Among

                               IKON FUNDING, INC.

                                  as Transferor
                                  -------------
  
                                       and

                               IKON CAPITAL, INC.

                               as initial Servicer
                               -------------------

                                       and

                                TWIN TOWERS INC.

                                  as Transferee
                                  -------------

                                       and

                        DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH

                                    as Agent
                                    -------- 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section                                                            Page
- -------                                                            ----
<S>      <C>                                                       <C> 
                                    ARTICLE I                      
                                  THE COMMITMENT....................  2
                                                                   
1.01.    Commitment.................................................  2
1.02.    Limits on Commitment.......................................  3
1.03.    Transfer Procedure.........................................  3
1.04.    Commitment Termination Date................................. 3
1.05.    Voluntary Termination of Commitment or Reduction of       
         Maximum Investment.........................................  4
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE II                      
                              TRANSFEREE'S INTEREST.................  4
                                                                   
2.01.    Assignment of Transferee's Interest........................  4
2.02.    Transferee's Percentage....................................  4
2.03.    Rate Tranches; Selection of Yield Periods..................  5
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE III                     
                                    SETTLEMENT......................  6
                                                                   
3.01.    Non-Pay Out Settlement Procedures for Collections..........  6
3.02.    Pay Out Settlement Procedures for Collections..............  9
3.03.    Dilutions.................................................. 11
3.04.    Optional Reduction of Transferee's Investment.............. 12
3.05.    Reporting by Servicer...................................... 13
3.06.    Delivery of Deemed Collections; Collections Held in       
         Trust...................................................... 13
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE IV                      
         PAYMENT PROCEDURES; FEES AND YIELD PROTECTION.............. 14
                                                                   
4.01.    Payments and Computations.................................. 14
4.02.    Interest on Overdue Amounts................................ 14
4.03.    Fees....................................................... 14
4.04.    Yield Protection........................................... 15
4.05.    Interest Rate Hedging Agreements........................... 17
                                                                   
                                    ARTICLE V                      
                               CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................. 18
                                                                   
5.01.    Conditions Precedent to Amendment and Restatement.......... 18
5.02.    Conditions Precedent to All Transfers and Reinvestments   
          .......................................................... 20
</TABLE>                                                           
                                                                   
                                                                   
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>                                                            
<S>      <C>                                                       <C> 
                                   ARTICLE VI                      
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES............. 21
                                                                   
                                                                   
6.01.    Representations and Warranties of the Transferor........... 21
6.02.    Representations and Warranties of IKON Capital............. 25
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE VII                     
                                GENERAL COVENANTS................... 28
                                                                   
7.01.    Affirmative Covenants...................................... 28
7.02.    Reporting Requirements..................................... 30
7.03.    Negative Covenants......................................... 31
7.04.    Separate Corporate Existence............................... 33
                                                                   
                                  ARTICLE VIII                     
                          ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION............. 35
                                                                   
8.01.    Designation of Servicer.................................... 35
8.02.    Duties of Servicer......................................... 36
8.03.    Rights of the Agent........................................ 38
8.04.    Responsibilities of Transferor............................. 39
8.05.    Further Action Evidencing Transfers........................ 39
8.06.    Application of Obligors' Payments.......................... 41
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE IX                      
                                SECURITY INTEREST................... 41
                                                                   
9.01.    Grant of Security Interest................................. 41
9.02.    Further Assurances......................................... 41
9.03.    Remedies................................................... 41
                                                                   
                                    ARTICLE X                      
                                TERMINATION EVENTS.................. 42
                                                                   
10.01.   Termination Events......................................... 42
10.02.   Remedies................................................... 44
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE XI                      
                                    THE AGENT....................... 45
                                                                   
11.01.   Authorization and Action................................... 45
11.02.   Agent's Reliance, Etc...................................... 45
11.03.   Agent and Affiliates....................................... 46
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE XII                     
                                   ASSIGNMENTS...................... 46
                                                                   
12.01.   Restrictions on Assignments................................ 46
12.02.   Documentation; Notice of Assignment........................ 47
12.03.   Rights of Assignee......................................... 47
</TABLE>                                                           
                                                                   
                                      -ii-                         
                                                                   
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>                                                            
<S>      <C>                                                       <C> 
12.04.   Allocation of Payments..................................... 48
12.05.   Calculation of Earned Discount After Assignment............ 48
12.06.   Rights of Collateral Agent................................. 48
                                                                   
                                  ARTICLE XIII                     
                                 INDEMNIFICATION.................... 49
                                                                   
13.01.   Indemnities by the Transferor.............................. 49
                                                                   
                                   ARTICLE XIV                     
                                  MISCELLANEOUS..................... 52
                                                                   
14.01.   Amendments, Etc............................................ 52
14.02.   Notices, Etc............................................... 52
14.03.   No Waiver; Remedies........................................ 52
14.04.   Binding Effect; Survival................................... 53
14.05.   Costs, Expenses and Taxes.................................. 53
14.06.   No Proceedings............................................. 54
14.07.   Confidentiality of Transferor Information.................. 54
14.08.   Confidentiality of Program Information..................... 56
14.09.   No Recourse Against Other Parties.......................... 59
14.10.   Definitions; Other Terms................................... 59
14.11.   Captions and Cross References.............................. 59
14.12.   Integration................................................ 59
14.13.   Governing Law.............................................. 59
14.14.   Waiver Of Jury Trial....................................... 60
14.15.   Consent To Jurisdiction; Waiver Of Immunities.............. 60
14.16.   Execution in Counterparts.................................. 60
14.17.   Syndication of Liquidity................................... 60
14.18.   Tax Treatment.............................................. 60
                                                                   
APPENDIX A     DEFINITIONS..........................................A-1
</TABLE> 

                                      -iii-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>                        <C> 
                                    APPENDIX

APPENDIX A                 Definitions

                                    SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 5.01(f)           Filing Jurisdictions

SCHEDULE 6.01(m)           List of Offices of Transferor where Records
                           Are Kept

SCHEDULE 6.01(n)           List of Designated Account Banks and Post
                           Office Boxes

SCHEDULE 6.01(o)-1         Forms of Contracts

SCHEDULE 6.01(o)-2         Description of Credit and Collection Policy

SCHEDULE 6.02(i)           Description of Material Adverse Changes

SCHEDULE 14.02             Addresses for Notice

SCHEDULE A-1               Marketplaces

                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 1.03               Form of Transfer Request

EXHIBIT 3.05(a)            Form of Periodic Report

EXHIBIT 5.01(f)            Form of UCC Financing Statement

EXHIBIT 5.01(h)            Form of Designated Account Agreement

EXHIBIT 5.01(i)            Form of Opinion of Counsel for Transferor

EXHIBIT 5.01(j)            Form of Opinion of Counsel for Agent

EXHIBIT 5.01(k)            Form of UCC Financing Statement - Dealer

EXHIBIT 5.01(l)            Form of Power of Attorney

EXHIBIT 5.01(o)            Form of IKON Office Letter

EXHIBIT A                  Form of Post Office Box Agreement
</TABLE> 

                                      -iv-
<PAGE>
 
              AMENDED AND RESTATED RECEIVABLES TRANSFER AGREEMENT


     AMENDED AND RESTATED RECEIVABLES TRANSFER AGREEMENT, dated as of March 31,
1997, among IKON FUNDING, INC., a Delaware corporation  (the "Transferor"), as
                                                              ----------      
transferor, IKON CAPITAL, INC. (formerly Alco Capital Resource, Inc.), a
Delaware corporation ("IKON Capital"), as initial Servicer (as defined herein),
                       ------------                                            
TWIN TOWERS INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Transferee"), as transferee, and
                                               ----------                      
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the Federal
Republic of Germany ("Deutsche Bank"), acting through its NEW YORK BRANCH
                      -------------                                      
("DBNY"), as agent for the Transferee (in such capacity, the "Agent").  Unless
  ----                                                        -----           
otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in
Appendix A.
- ---------- 


                                   Background
                                   ----------

     1.   IKON Capital, Transferee and the Agent entered into a Receivables
Transfer Agreement, dated as of September 23, 1994 (as heretofore amended, the
"Original Receivables Agreement").
- -------------------------------   

     2.   Transferor, IKON Capital, Transferee and the Agent desire to amend and
restate the Original Receivables Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein
in order to, among other things, provide for the substitution of IKON Funding,
Inc., as Transferor.

     3.   The Transferor has, and expects to have, Pool Receivables in which the
Transferor intends to transfer an undivided interest.  The Transferor has
requested the Transferee, and the Transferee has agreed, subject to the terms
and conditions contained in this Agreement, to acquire from the Transferor such
undivided interest, herein referred to as the Transferee's Interest, in one or
more Transfers from time to time during the Reinvestment Period.

     4.   The Transferor and the Transferee also desire that, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, certain of the daily Collections in
respect of the Transferee's Interest be reinvested in Pool Receivables so that
the Transferee may maintain its Transferee's Investment fully invested in
uncollected Pool Receivables.

     5.   The Transferee expects generally to fund its Transfers and
Reinvestments through the issuance of Commercial Paper Notes. The Transferee has
entered into a Liquidity Agreement providing for the making by the Liquidity
Banks of loans secured by the Transferee's Interest in the event the Transferee
is unable to fund its Transfers or Reinvestments pursuant to this Agreement by
<PAGE>
 
the issuance of Commercial Paper Notes or otherwise prefers to fund such
Transfers or Reinvestments under the Liquidity Agreement rather than by the
issuance of Commercial Paper Notes, or is unable to pay such Commercial Paper
Notes at maturity from its share of collections on Pool Receivables.  The
Transferee has also entered into an Enhancement Agreement with the Enhancement
Bank providing for the issuance of a letter of credit to a trustee for the
holders of Commercial Paper Notes, and for the making of loans to the
Transferee, to provide funds for the payment of Commercial Paper Notes in the
circumstances described above when funding is not available under the Liquidity
Agreement.

     6.   The Transferee has appointed DBNY as its agent to perform certain
administrative duties for the Transferee, including, among other things, the
arrangement of the transactions provided for hereunder, the administration of
the funding of such transactions and the making of certain determinations
hereunder and in connection herewith.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto hereby amend and restate the Original
Receivables Agreement in its entirety and hereby agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                 THE COMMITMENT

     SECTION  1.01.  Commitment.  On the terms and subject to the conditions set
                     ----------                                                 
forth in this Agreement (including Article V):
                                   ---------  

          (a) Transfers.  Pursuant to Section 1.03, from time to time during the
              ---------               ------------                              
     Reinvestment Period, upon request by the Transferor, the Transferee shall
     acquire from the Transferor, in one or more transactions, an undivided
     interest in the Pool Receivables and Related Property. Each of the initial
     acquisitions of the Transferee's Interest hereunder and each subsequent
     acquisition increasing the Transferee's Interest is herein called a 
     "Transfer".
      --------  

          (b) Reinvestments.  Pursuant to Section 3.01, during the Reinvestment
              -------------               ------------                         
     Period, the Transferee shall permit the Servicer to cause certain of the
     Collections in respect of the Transferee's Interest to be paid to
     Transferor for reinvestment in the Pool Receivables and Related Property.
     Each such payment is herein called a "Reinvestment".
                                           ------------  

The Transferee's obligation to make such Transfers and Reinvestments is herein
called the "Commitment".
            ----------  

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION  1.02.  Limits on Commitment.  Under no circumstances shall the
                     --------------------                                   
Transferee accept any Transfer to the extent that, after giving effect to such
Transfer:

          (a) the Transferee's Investment would exceed the Maximum Investment;
     or

          (b) the Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage would exceed the Maximum
     Percentage.

     SECTION  1.03.  Transfer Procedure.  (a)  Transfer Request. Each Transfer
                     ------------------        ----------------               
from the Transferor by the Transferee shall be made on written request by the
Transferor to the Transferee and the Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit
                                                                         -------
1.03 (a "Transfer Request"), received by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m.
- ----     ----------------                                                   
(New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the date of such
proposed Transfer.  Each such request shall specify the desired amount and date
of such Transfer.

     (b) Amount of Transfer Price.  The amount of the transfer price paid by the
         ------------------------                                               
Transferee for each Transfer shall be equal to the lesser of (x) the amount
proposed by the Transferor pursuant to Section 1.03(a) and (y) the maximum
                                       ---------------                    
amount permitted under Section 1.02.
                       ------------ 

     (c) Funding of Transfer.  On the date of each Transfer, the Transferee
         -------------------                                               
shall, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Article V,
                                                                   --------- 
make available to the Agent in immediately available funds, at its office at 31
West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, the amount of the transfer price to
be paid for such Transfer (determined pursuant to Section 1.03(b)) and after
                                                  ---------------           
receipt by the Agent of such funds, the Agent will make such funds immediately
available to the Transferor at such office.

     SECTION  1.04.  Commitment Termination Date.  (a)  The "Commitment
                     ---------------------------             ----------
Termination Date" shall be the earlier to occur of (i) March 30, 1998 (herein,
- ----------------                                                              
as the same may be extended, called the "Scheduled Commitment Termination
                                         --------------------------------
Date"), and (ii) the date of termination of the Commitment pursuant to Section
- ----                                                                   -------
1.04(c), 1.05 or 10.02.
- -------  ----    ----- 

     (b) The Scheduled Commitment Termination Date may be extended from time to
time by delivery of a written request for such extension to the Transferee and
the Agent not less than 60 days prior to the then Scheduled Commitment
Termination Date. Within 30 days prior to the then Scheduled Commitment
Termination Date, the Transferee and the Agent shall notify the Transferor as to
whether they have given their consent to such extension (which consent may be
given or withheld by either such party in its sole discretion).  As a condition
to any such extension, the

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
Transferor and the Servicer shall deliver such certificates, opinions of counsel
or other documents as the Transferee or the Agent may require.  If such
extension is approved, the Scheduled Commitment Termination Date shall be
extended for 364 days from the effective date of such consent.

     (c) The Commitment shall terminate, and the Transferee shall have no
obligation to accept any further Transfers or make any further Reinvestments
hereunder, on the scheduled date of termination of either (A) the Liquidity
Banks' commitments under the Liquidity Agreement or (B) the Enhancement Bank's
commitment under the Enhancement Agreement.  The Transferee agrees to give the
Transferor at least 30 days' prior written notice of the termination of the
Commitment pursuant to the foregoing sentence, but no failure to give or delay
in giving such notice shall prevent or delay such termination.

     SECTION  1.05.  Voluntary Termination of Commitment or Reduction of Maximum
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
Investment.  The Transferor may, upon at least ten Business Days' notice to the
- ----------                                                                     
Agent, terminate the Commitment in whole or reduce in part the unused portion of
the Maximum Investment; provided, however, that (a) each partial reduction shall
                        --------  -------                                       
be in an amount equal to $5,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof and (b)
after giving effect to such reduction, the remaining Maximum Investment will not
be less than $25,000,000.


                                   ARTICLE II

                             TRANSFEREE'S INTEREST

     SECTION  2.01.  Assignment of Transferee's Interest.  The Transferor hereby
                     -----------------------------------                        
assigns and transfers to the Transferee, effective on and as of the date of the
initial Transfer hereunder and, with respect to any increase in the Transferee's
Interest effected by an additional Transfer hereunder, on the date of such
additional Transfer, an undivided ownership interest, in a percentage equal to
the Transferee's Percentage as determined from time to time in accordance with
Section 2.02, in all Pool Receivables and Related Property, whether now existing
- ------------                                                                    
or hereafter arising or acquired by the Transferor from time to time.  Such
undivided ownership interest as in effect from time to time is herein called the
"Transferee's Interest".
 ---------------------  

     SECTION  2.02.  Transferee's Percentage.  The Transferee's Interest shall
                     -----------------------                                  
be in a percentage (the "Transferee's Percentage") equal at any time to the
                         -----------------------                           
quotient obtained by dividing

          (a) the sum of (i) the Transferee's Investment, (ii) the Discount
     Factor, (iii) the Default and Dilution Reserve

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     and (iv) the Servicer's Fee Reserve (such sum being herein sometimes called
     the "Transferee's Allocation"), by
          -----------------------    --

          (b)  the Net Pool Balance,

as most recently computed in accordance with this Section 2.02 (such quotient,
                                                  ------------                
expressed as a percentage, before giving effect to the following proviso, being
                                                                 -------       
the "Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage"); provided, however,
     ----------------------------------    --------  ------- 

               (1) the Transferee's Percentage shall not be greater than 100%;

               (2) during the Pay Out Period, the Transferee's Percentage shall
          be the greater of (x) the Transferee's Percentage in effect
          immediately before the commencement of the Pay Out Period and (y) the
          Transferee's Percentage as otherwise determined in accordance with
          this Section 2.02; and
               ------------     

               (3) the Transferee's Percentage shall become zero at such time as
          (A) the Transferee shall have received the accrued Earned Discount,
          shall have recovered the Transferee's Investment and shall have
          received all other amounts payable to the Transferee pursuant to this
          Agreement and (B) the Servicer shall have received the accrued
          Servicer's Fee.

The Transferee's Percentage shall initially be computed by the Servicer as of
the opening of business of the Servicer on the date of each Transfer, as of the
most recent Month End Date, and shall be recomputed in each Periodic Report and
each Pay Out Statement; provided, however, the Agent may from time to time
                        --------  -------                                 
request the Servicer to deliver a Periodic Report for the purpose of
recalculating the Transferee's Percentage, and the Servicer shall deliver such
Periodic Report within 10 Business Days after its receipt of such request.  The
Transferee's Percentage shall remain constant from the time as of which any such
computation or recomputation is made until the time as of which the next such
recomputation, if any, shall be made.

     SECTION  2.03.  Rate Tranches; Selection of Yield Periods. (a)  From time
                     -----------------------------------------                
to time, for purposes of determining the Yield Periods applicable to different
portions of the Transferee's Interest, and of calculating the Earned Discount
and Servicer's Fee with respect thereto, the Agent shall allocate the
Transferee's Interest to one or more tranches (each a "Rate Tranche"), each
                                                       ------------        
representing a portion of the Transferee's Investment (with respect to each Rate
Tranche, the "Transferee's Tranche Investment").  At any time, each Rate Tranche
              -------------------------------                                   
shall have only one Yield Period and one Transferee Rate applicable for

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
purposes of calculating Earned Discount, and shall be funded by (i) an issue of
Commercial Paper Notes, (ii) a Funding Advance, (iii) a borrowing of Liquidity
Loans funded by the Liquidity Banks ratably and having the same Yield Period, or
(iv) an Enhancement Draw, but not by more than one of the foregoing at the same
time.

     (b) The Agent shall select the duration of the initial, and each
subsequent, Yield Period for each Rate Tranche in its discretion; provided that,
                                                                  --------      
so long as no Termination Event shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent
shall use reasonable efforts, taking into account market conditions, to
accommodate the Transferor's preferences.

     (c) From time to time the Agent shall notify the Servicer of the number of
Rate Tranches, the Transferee's Tranche Investment of each Rate Tranche, the
Transferee Rate for such Rate Tranche and the duration of the current Yield
Period selected by it for each Rate Tranche.


                                  ARTICLE III

                                   SETTLEMENT

     SECTION  3.01.  Non-Pay Out Settlement Procedures for Collections.  (a)
                     -------------------------------------------------       
Daily Procedure.  On each day during the Reinvestment Period, the Servicer shall
- ---------------                                                                 
deem an amount equal to the Transferee's Share of Collections of Pool
Receivables received or deemed received on such day to be received in respect of
the Transferee's Interest, and, out of the Transferee's Share of such
Collections, shall:

          (i) hold in trust for the benefit of the Transferee an amount equal to
     (A) the aggregate of the aggregate Earned Discount and Servicer's Fee
     accrued through such day, less (B) the amount, if any, theretofore set
                               ----
     aside and then so held for the benefit of the Transferee in respect of such
     Earned Discount and Servicer's Fee;

          (ii)  set aside and hold in trust for the Transferee an amount equal
     to the excess, if any, of

                (A)  the greatest of

                     (I)   if the Transferor shall have elected to reduce the
              Transferee's Investment under Section 3.04, the amount of the
                                            ------------
              proposed reduction,

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                     (II)  if the Transferee's Investment shall exceed the
                Maximum Investment, the amount of such excess,

                     (III) if the Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage shall
                exceed the Maximum Percentage, an amount equal to the minimum
                reduction of the Transferee's Investment which (based on the
                Transferee Rates currently in effect, and assuming that such
                reduction will be applied to reduce the Transferee's Tranche
                Investments of the Rate Tranches having the shortest remaining
                Yield Periods first) would result in the Transferee's Percentage
                being no greater than the Maximum Percentage, and

                     (IV)  if any of the conditions precedent to Reinvestment
                set forth in Section 5.02 shall not be met, the Transferee's
                             ------------
                Investment, over
                            ----

                (B)  the aggregate of the amounts theretofore set aside and then
           so held for the benefit of the Transferee pursuant to this clause
                                                                      ------
           (ii); and
           ----

           (iii)  subject to Section 5.02, pay the remainder, if any, of such
                             ------------                                    
     Collections to the Transferor for application to Reinvestment, for the
     benefit of the Transferee, in the Transferee's Interest in accordance with
     Section 1.01(b).
     ---------------

The Servicer shall first, apply the Transferor's Share of such Collections to
                   -----                                                     
any other amounts (other than Earned Discount and Transferee's Investment) then
due to Transferee or the Agent and second, pay any remaining portion of the
                                   ------                                  
Transferor's Share of such Collections to the Transferor.

     (b) Settlement Date Procedure.  Prior to the Pay Out Period, on each
         -------------------------                                       
Settlement Date, the Servicer shall deposit to the Agent's Account:

         (i)  out of the amounts set aside pursuant to clause (i) of Section
                                                       ----------    -------
     3.01(a), an amount equal to the Earned Discount and Servicer's Fee accrued
     -------
     during the related Yield Period with respect to the related Rate Tranche;
     and

         (ii) out of the amount, if any, set aside pursuant to clause (ii) of
                                                               -----------   
     Section 3.01(a) and not theretofore reinvested in accordance with Section
     ---------------                                                   -------
     3.01(d) or deposited to the Agent's Account pursuant to this Section
     -------                                                      -------  
     3.01(b), an amount equal to the lesser of such amount and the Transferee's
     -------
     Tranche Investment of the related Rate Tranche;

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
provided, however, that if the Agent gives its consent (which consent may be
- --------  -------                                                           
revoked at any time), the Servicer may retain amounts which would otherwise be
deposited in respect of Servicer's Fee, in which case no distribution shall be
made in respect of Servicer's Fee under clause (c) below.
                                        ----------       

In addition, if, on such Settlement Date, after reducing the Transferee's
Tranche Investment of the related Rate Tranche by the amount deposited pursuant
to clause (ii) above, the Transferee's Investment would be greater than the
   -----------                                                             
Maximum Investment or the Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage would be greater
than the Maximum Percentage, then the Transferor shall pay to the Servicer, and
the Servicer shall deposit to the Agent's Account, an amount equal to the least
of (x) the minimum reduction of the Transferee's Investment which would result
in the Unadjusted Transferee's Investment not exceeding the Maximum Investment
and the Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage not exceeding the Maximum Percentage,
(y) the Transferee's Tranche Investment of the related Rate Tranche and (z) the
Transferor's Collection Amount.

     (c) Order of Application.  Upon receipt by the Agent of funds deposited
         --------------------                                               
pursuant to subsection (b) on a Settlement Date for any Rate Tranche, the Agent
            --------------                                                     
shall distribute them to the Persons, for the purposes and in the order of
priority set forth below:

         (i)   to the Transferee in payment of the accrued and unpaid Earned
     Discount for such Rate Tranche;

         (ii)  to the Servicer in payment of the accrued and unpaid Servicer's
     Fee payable with respect to such Rate Tranche; and

         (iii) to the Transferee in reduction of the Transferee's Tranche
     Investment of such Rate Tranche.

     (d) Unreinvested Collections.  During the Reinvestment Period, if on any
         ------------------------                                            
date the amount of Collections theretofore set aside and then held by the
Servicer for the benefit of the Transferee pursuant to clause (ii) of Section
                                                       -----------    -------
3.01(a) shall exceed the maximum amount then required to be set aside and so
- -------                                                                     
held pursuant to such clause (ii), then, subject to the applicable conditions
                      -----------                                            
precedent set forth in Section 5.02, the Servicer shall pay to the Transferor
                       ------------                                          
the amount of such excess Collections, for application to Reinvestment in
accordance with Section 1.01(b).  To the extent and for so long as such
                ---------------                                        
Collections may not be so reinvested, the Servicer shall hold such Collections
in trust for the benefit of the Transferee in a separate deposit account
containing only such Collections and no other funds.  On each Settlement Date
with respect to any Rate

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
Tranche, the Servicer shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Transferee,
in reduction of the Transferee's Investment, the amount of Collections then held
in trust pursuant to the next preceding sentence or, if less, the Transferee's
Tranche Investment of such Rate Tranche; any such amounts remaining after such
application shall continue to be held in trust pursuant to this paragraph (d)
                                                                -------------
and shall be applied on the next successive Settlement Dates until such amount
has been reduced to zero.  The Transferee's Investment shall not be deemed
reduced by any amount held in trust pursuant to this subsection (d) unless and
                                                     --------------           
until, and then only to the extent that, such amount is finally paid to the
Agent in accordance with the next preceding sentence.

     SECTION  3.02.  Pay Out Settlement Procedures for Collections.  (a)  Daily
                     ---------------------------------------------        -----
Procedure.  During the Pay Out Period, on each day, the Servicer shall (i) set
- ---------                                                                     
aside and hold in trust for the Transferee the Transferee's Share of the
Collections of Pool Receivables received by the Servicer, and (ii) first, apply
                                                                   -----       
the Transferor's Share of such Collections to any other amounts (other than
Earned Discount and Transferee's Investment) then due to Transferee or the Agent
and second, pay any remaining portion of the Transferor's Share of such
    ------                                                             
Collections to the Transferor.

     (b) Settlement Date Procedure.  During the Pay Out Period, on each
         -------------------------                                     
Settlement Date for any Rate Tranche, subject to Section 3.02(d), the Servicer
                                                 ---------------              
shall deposit to the Agent's Account the amounts set aside pursuant to Section
                                                                       -------
3.02(a), but not to exceed the sum of (i) the accrued and unpaid Earned Discount
- -------                                                                         
with respect to such Rate Tranche, (ii) the Transferee's Tranche Investment of
such Rate Tranche, (iii) the aggregate of other amounts (other than the
Transferee's Investment, Earned Discount and Servicer's Fee) owed hereunder by
the Transferor to the Transferee or the Agent, and (iv) the accrued Servicer's
Fee payable with respect to such Rate Tranche.   Any amounts in excess of the
amount required to be deposited in the Agent's Account pursuant to the previous
sentence shall continue to be set aside and held in trust by the Servicer for
application on the next succeeding Settlement Date(s).

     (c) Order of Application.  Upon receipt of funds deposited to the Agent's
         --------------------                                                 
account pursuant to Section 3.02(b), subject to Section 3.02(d), the Agent shall
                    ---------------             ---------------                 
distribute them to the Persons, for the purposes and in the order of priority
set forth below:

           (i)   to the Transferee in payment of the accrued and unpaid Earned
     Discount for such Rate Tranche;

           (ii)  if the Servicer is a Person other than IKON Capital or an
     Affiliate of IKON Capital, to the Servicer in payment of the accrued and
     unpaid Servicer's Fee with respect to such Rate Tranche;

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
               (iii)  to the Transferee in reduction of the Transferee's Tranche
           Investment with respect to such Rate Tranche;

               (iv)   to the Transferee or the Agent (as the case may be) in
           payment of any other amounts owed by the Transferor hereunder to the
           Transferee or the Agent (other than the Transferee's Investment,
           Earned Discount and Servicer's Fee); and

               (v)    to the Servicer in payment of the accrued Servicer's Fee
           payable with respect to such Rate Tranche, to the extent not paid
           pursuant to clause (ii) above.
                       -----------

     (d)   Priorities in Event of Funding Advances, Liquidity Loans or
           -----------------------------------------------------------
Enhancement Draw. If on any day during the Pay Out Period any Rate Tranche is
- ----------------
funded by a Funding Advance, a borrowing of Liquidity Loans or an Enhancement
Draw, then:

           (i)   if the aggregate amount of Collections set aside and held in
     trust pursuant to Section 3.02(a) is less than the aggregate accrued and
                       ---------------
     unpaid Earned Discount with respect to all Rate Tranches, then such
     Collections shall be allocated first to accrued and unpaid Earned Discount
                                    -----                             
     on Rate Tranches funded by Funding Advances, second to accrued and unpaid
                                                  ------
     Earned Discount on Rate Tranches funded by Liquidity Loans, third to
                                                                 -----
     accrued and unpaid Earned Discount on Rate Tranches funded by Commercial
     Paper Notes, and fourth to accrued and unpaid Earned Discount on Rate
                      ------
     Tranches funded by Enhancement Draws, and, in the case of each of clauses
                                                                       -------
     first, second, third and fourth above, first to the Rate Tranches having
     -----  ------  -----     ------
     the shortest remaining Yield Periods, to the extent that funds have not
     been set aside or deposited with the Agent in respect thereof; and

           (ii)  no Collections shall be deposited in the Agent's Account
     (unless requested by the Agent for later distribution in accordance with
     this Section 3.02(d)) or distributed by the Agent to the Transferee (A) in
          ---------------
     respect of the Transferee's Tranche Investment of any Rate Tranche funded
     by Liquidity Loans unless the Transferee's Tranche Investments of all Rate
     Tranches funded by Funding Advances shall have been reduced to zero, or
     Collections equal to such Transferee's Tranche Investments shall have been
     deposited in the Agent's Account for distribution to the Transferee in
     reduction of such Transferee's Tranche Investments, (B) in respect of the
     Transferee's Tranche Investment of any Rate Tranche funded by Commercial
     Paper Notes unless the Transferee's Tranche Investments of all Rate
     Tranches funded by Funding Advances or Liquidity Loans

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     shall have been reduced to zero, or Collections equal to such Transferee's
     Tranche Investments shall have been deposited in the Agent's Account for
     distribution to the Transferee in reduction of such Transferee's Tranche
     Investments, or (C) in respect of the Transferee's Tranche Investment of
     any Rate Tranche funded by any Enhancement Draw unless the Transferee's
     Tranche Investments of all Rate Tranches funded by Funding Advances,
     Liquidity Loans or Commercial Paper Notes shall have been reduced to zero,
     or Collections equal to such Transferee's Tranche Investments shall have
     been deposited in the Agent's Account for distribution to the Transferee in
     reduction of such Transferee's Tranche Investments.

     SECTION  3.03.  Dilutions.  (a)  If on any day the Unpaid Balance of any
                     ---------                                               
Pool Receivable is

           (i)   reduced as a result of any defective, rejected or returned
     merchandise or services, any cash discount, any allowances or billing
     errors, any trade-in or trade-up, or any adjustment by the Transferor, any
     Affiliate of the Transferor or by the Servicer or any early termination,
     refinancing, prepayment, consolidation or replacement of the Contract
     related to such Pool Receivable,

           (ii)  reduced or cancelled as a result of a setoff in respect of any
     claim or dispute by the Obligor thereof against the Transferor or any
     Affiliate of the Transferor (individually or as Servicer) or any other
     Person (whether such claim arises out of the same or a related or an
     unrelated transaction),

           (iii) reduced on account of the obligation of the Transferor or an
     Affiliate of the Transferor (individually or as Servicer) to pay to the
     related Obligor any rebate or refund, or

           (iv)  determined by the Agent, the Servicer or the Transferor to have
     been less than the Unpaid Balance of such Receivable used in calculating
     the Net Pool Balance for purposes of the most recent Periodic Report or
     Settlement Statement,

then, on such day, the Transferor shall be deemed to have received a Collection
of such Pool Receivable in the amount of such reduction or cancellation or, in
the case of clause (iv) above, by the amount of the difference between the
            -----------                                                   
actual Unpaid Balance and the Unpaid Balance as so reported.

     (b)  If on any day (i) any of the representations or warranties of the
Transferor set forth in Section 6.01(k) or (o)
                        ---------------    ---

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
shall not be true with respect to a Pool Receivable (other than solely by reason
of such Pool Receivable's being a Defaulted Receivable), or (ii) when the
Servicer or the Transferor delivers any Periodic Report or Settlement Statement,
any Pool Receivable the Unpaid Balance of which is included in the computation
of the Net Pool Balance therein shall not be an Eligible Receivable, then, on
such day, the Transferor shall be deemed to have received a Collection of such
Pool Receivable in the amount of the Unpaid Balance of such Pool Receivable.

     SECTION  3.04.  Optional Reduction of Transferee's Investment.  The
                     ---------------------------------------------      
Transferor may at any time elect to cause the reduction of the Transferee's
Investment as follows:

           (a) the Transferor shall give the Agent at least 10 Business Days'
     prior written notice of such reduction (including the amount of such
     proposed reduction and the proposed date on which such reduction will
     commence);

           (b) on the proposed date of commencement of such reduction and on
     each day thereafter, the Servicer shall set aside Collections and hold them
     in trust for the Transferee under clause (ii) of Section 3.01(a) until the
                                       -----------    ---------------
     amount so set aside shall equal the desired amount of reduction; and

           (c) the Servicer shall set aside and hold such Collections for the
     benefit of the Transferee and, on each Settlement Date with respect to any
     Rate Tranche, shall pay to the Agent for the benefit of the Transferee, in
     reduction of the Transferee's Investment, the amount of such Collections so
     held or, if less, the Transferee's Tranche Investment of such Rate Tranche
     (it being understood that the Transferee's Investment shall not be deemed
     reduced by any amount set aside or held pursuant to this Section 3.04
     unless and until, and then only to the extent that, such amount is finally
     paid to the Agent as aforesaid);

provided that,
- --------      

           (i)   the amount of any such reduction shall be not less than
     $5,000,000 and shall be an integral multiple of $1,000,000, and the
     Transferee's Investment after giving effect to such reduction shall be not
     less than $10,000,000 (unless the Transferee's Investment shall thereby be
     reduced to zero),

           (ii)  the Transferor shall use reasonable efforts to attempt to
     choose a reduction amount, and the date of commencement thereof, so that
     such reduction shall commence and conclude in a single Yield Period with
     respect to a Rate Tranche, and

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
           (iii) such proposed reduction shall be applied, unless the Agent
     shall consent otherwise, to the Rate Tranche with the shortest remaining
     Yield Period.

     SECTION  3.05.  Reporting by Servicer.  (a)  On or prior to the 15th day
                     ---------------------                                   
(or if such day is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day) of each month,
the Servicer shall prepare and forward to the Agent a Periodic Report, executed
by an Authorized Servicing Officer, relating to the Transferee's Interest as of
the close of business of the Servicer on the next preceding Month End Date.  In
addition, if at any time the Agent shall so request, then, within 10 Business
Days after the later of (i) the date of such request and (ii) such other date as
the Agent may designate in such request as the effective date of the requested
report, the Servicer shall prepare and deliver to the Agent a Periodic Report,
executed by an Authorized Servicing Officer, relating to the Transferee's
Interest as of the close of business on the date of such request or such other
effective date, as applicable.

     (b) During the Pay Out Period, on the Settlement Date of each Settlement
Period for each Rate Tranche, the Servicer shall prepare and forward to the
Agent a Pay Out Statement as of the close of business of the Servicer on such
Settlement Date.

     SECTION  3.06.  Delivery of Deemed Collections; Collections Held in Trust.
                     ---------------------------------------------------------  
(a)  Whenever the Transferor is deemed to receive Collections pursuant to
Section 3.03, the Transferor shall forthwith deliver to the Servicer the amount
- ------------                                                                   
of such deemed Collections, and the Servicer shall set aside and hold or
distribute such Collections as and to the same extent as if such Collections had
actually been received on the date of such delivery to Servicer.  If Collections
are then being paid to the Agent, or lock boxes or accounts directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by the Agent, the Servicer shall forthwith cause
such deemed Collections to be paid to the Agent or to such lock boxes or
accounts, as applicable.

     (b) So long as the Transferor shall hold any Collections or deemed
Collections required to be paid to the Servicer or the Agent, it shall hold such
Collections in trust and separate and apart from its own funds and shall clearly
mark its records to reflect such trust.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE IV

                 PAYMENT PROCEDURES; FEES AND YIELD PROTECTION

          SECTION  4.01.  Payments and Computations.  (a)  All amounts to be
                          -------------------------                         
paid or deposited by the Transferor or the Servicer to or for the account of the
Transferee or the Agent hereunder shall be paid or deposited in accordance with
the terms hereof no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the day when
due in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available
funds to account #104636460008 or such other account as the Agent may designate
(the "Agent's Account") at DBNY's office at 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New
      ---------------                                                         
York 10019 or at such other place in New York City as the Agent may designate.

          (b) All computations of interest, Earned Discount, Negative Spread Fee
and any other fees hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days
for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last
day) elapsed.

          SECTION  4.02.  Interest on Overdue Amounts.    The Transferor or
                          ---------------------------                      
Servicer, as applicable, shall, to the extent permitted by law, pay to the Agent
interest on all amounts not paid or deposited when due hereunder at 1% per annum
                                                                       --- -----
above the Alternate Base Rate, payable on demand, provided, however, that such
                                                  --------  -------           
interest rate shall not at any time exceed the maximum rate permitted by
applicable law.

          SECTION  4.03.  Fees.  (a)  Certain Fees.  The Transferor shall pay to
                          ----        ------------                              
the Agent and the Transferee the fees in the amounts and at the times set forth
in the letter from the Agent to the Transferor, dated as of the date hereof (as
amended from time to time, the "Fee Letter").
                                ----------   

          (b)  Note Fee.  From the date hereof until the Final Pay Out Date, the
               --------                                                         
Transferor shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Transferee a commercial
paper transaction fee ("Note Fee") in an amount equal to the product of (x) the
                        --------                                               
amount of the per-trade fee paid or payable by the Transferee to the Depository
Trust Company (or any other or successor clearing corporation through which the
Commercial Paper Notes may be issued) in connection with the issuance, payment
or redemption of Commercial Paper Notes, as notified by the Agent to the
Transferor and the Servicer from time to time, times (y) the number of
                                               -----                  
transactions in Commercial Paper Notes issued by the Transferee to fund the
Transferee's Interest hereunder during the period for which such Note Fee is
payable and to which such per-trade fee applies, as notified by the Agent to the
Transferor and the Servicer.  Such Note Fee shall be paid in arrears on the last
Business Day of each February of each calendar year and on the Final Pay Out
Date for the number of Commercial Paper Note trades that were

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
consummated, to fund the Transferee's Interest hereunder during the twelve month
period ending on the last day of the immediately preceding December, or in the
case of the Final Pay Out Date, other period then ending and for which no Note
Fee shall have theretofore been paid.  The Agent shall notify the Transferor and
the Servicer on or prior to the last day of each January of the Note Fee due on
the last Business Day of the following February.

     SECTION  4.04.  Yield Protection. (a) If (i) Regulation D or (ii) any
                     ----------------
Regulatory Change occurring after the date hereof

          (A) shall subject an Affected Party to any tax, duty or other charge
     with respect to the Transferee's Interest or any portion thereof, or any
     obligations or right to accept or make Transfers or Reinvestments or to
     provide funding therefor, or shall change the basis of taxation of payments
     to the Affected Party of any of the Transferee's Investment or Earned
     Discount owned by, owed to or funded by it or any other amounts due under
     this Agreement in respect of the Transferee's Interest or any portion
     thereof or its obligations or rights, if any, to accept or make Transfers
     or Reinvestments or to provide funding therefor (except for changes in the
     rate of tax on the overall net income of such Affected Party imposed by the
     United States of America, by the jurisdiction in which such Affected
     Party's principal executive office is located and, if such Affected Party's
     principal executive office is not in the United States of America, by the
     jurisdiction where such Affected Party's principal office in the United
     States is located); or

          (B) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including,
     without limitation, any reserve imposed by the Federal Reserve Board, but
     excluding any reserve included in the determination of Earned Discount),
     special deposit or similar requirement against assets of any Affected
     Party, deposits or obligations with or for the account of any Affected
     Party or with or for the account of any affiliate (or entity deemed by the
     Federal Reserve Board to be an affiliate) of any Affected Party, or credit
     extended by any Affected Party; or

          (C) shall change the amount of capital maintained or required or
     requested or directed to be maintained by any Affected Party; or

          (D) shall impose any other condition affecting the Transferee's
     Interest or any portion thereof owned or funded by any Affected Party, or
     its obligations or rights, if any, to accept or make Transfers or
     Reinvestments or to provide funding therefor; or

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
          (E)  shall change the rate for, or the manner in which the Federal
     Deposit Insurance Corporation (or any successor thereto) assesses, deposit
     insurance premiums or similar charges, or shall impose on any Affected
     Party a requirement to maintain deposit insurance;

and the result of any of the foregoing is or would be

          (x) to increase the cost or to impose a cost on (I) an Affected Party
     accepting or funding or making or maintaining any Transfers or
     Reinvestments, any loans or other extensions of credit under the Liquidity
     Agreement, or any Enhancement Draw, or any commitment of such Affected
     Party with respect to any of the foregoing, or (II) the Agent for
     continuing its or the Transferor's relationship with the Transferee,

          (y) to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by an
     Affected Party under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or
     under the Liquidity Agreement or the Enhancement Agreement with respect
     thereto, or

          (z) in the sole determination of such Affected Party, to reduce the
     rate of return on the capital of an Affected Party as a consequence of its
     obligations hereunder or arising in connection herewith to a level below
     that which such Affected Party could otherwise have achieved (taking into
     consideration the policies of such Affected Party with respect to capital
     adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Affected Party to be material,

then, within thirty days after demand by such Affected Party (which demand shall
be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis of such demand), the
Transferor shall pay directly to such Affected Party such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Affected Party for such additional or increased
cost or such reduction.

     (b) Each Affected Party will promptly notify the Transferor and the
Agent of any event of which it has knowledge which occurs after the date hereof
and will entitle such Affected Party to compensation pursuant to this Section
                                                                      -------
4.04; provided, however, no failure to give or delay in giving such notification
- ----  --------  -------                                                         
shall adversely affect the rights of any Affected Party to such compensation.

     (c) In determining any amount provided for or referred to in this
                                                                           
Section 4.04, an Affected Party may use any reasonable averaging and attribution
- ------------                                                                    
methods that it (in its sole discretion) shall deem applicable.  Any Affected
Party when making a claim under this Section 4.04 shall submit to the
                                     ------------                    

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
Transferor a statement as to such increased cost or reduced return (including
calculation thereof in reasonable detail), which statement shall, in the absence
of manifest error, be conclusive and binding upon the Transferor.

     SECTION  4.05.  Interest Rate Hedging Agreements.  Promptly after the
                     --------------------------------                     
Commitment Termination Date, the Transferee will enter into, and will maintain
throughout the Pay Out Period, one or more interest rate swap agreements,
interest rate collars, interest rate caps or other interest rate hedging
arrangements, with one or more financial institutions, including the Agent,
whose long-term unsecured debt obligations are rated at least Aaa by Moody's or
AAA by S&P, with an amortizing notional amount equal to Transferee's good faith
determination of its outstanding Transferee's Investment from time to time
during the Pay Out Period (the "Hedging Arrangements").  Such Hedging
                                --------------------                 
Arrangements shall protect Transferee from differences between a fixed interest
rate equal to the interpolated yield to maturity of the Treasury security with a
maturity equal to the then Average Maturity and a floating interest rate equal
to the Commercial Paper Rate or Eurodollar Rate (Reserve Adjusted).  The Agent
and the Transferee agree to use their reasonable efforts to obtain such Hedging
Arrangements at a commercially reasonable cost, in light of the circumstances of
such transaction.  The Agent will consult in good faith with the Servicer, and
the Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Agent (including providing information
on the historical amortization of the portfolio) in order for the Agent to
promptly determine an amortization schedule for the Hedging Arrangements.
Transferor and IKON Capital, jointly and severally, hereby agree to pay, or to
reimburse Transferee for, on demand, any and all costs, expenses and liabilities
of Transferee incurred in connection with such Hedging Arrangements (other than
periodic net payments of fixed rate interest due to the counterparty thereof),
including any arrangement fees, legal costs and early termination payments with
respect thereto; provided, that, to the extent that the notional amount of such
                 --------                                                      
Hedging Arrangements exceeds the then Transferee's Investment, Transferee shall
assign to IKON Capital, and IKON Capital shall accept, the portion of such
Hedging Arrangement related to such excess, in which event, IKON Capital shall
be responsible for all obligations, and be entitled to all benefits, associated
with such portion of the Hedging Arrangements.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if (i) the unsecured short term obligations of IKON Capital are rated at least
A-1+ by S&P and P-1 by Moody's, (ii) Transferor has requested that the
Transferee accept Transferor's recourse obligation for Earned Discount and IKON
Capital's guaranty of such recourse obligation and (iii) Transferor has executed
and delivered to the Transferee and the Agent an agreement pursuant to which
Transferor agrees to pay, on a recourse basis, Earned Discount as and when due,
and IKON Capital has executed and delivered to the Transferee and the

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
Agent a guaranty, reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, of such obligation,
then, for so long as IKON Capital maintains the ratings described in the
foregoing clause (i), the Transferee shall accept such agreement in place of
          ----------                                                        
maintaining Hedging Arrangements.


                                   ARTICLE V

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     SECTION  5.01.  Conditions Precedent to Amendment and Restatement.
                     -------------------------------------------------  
The amendment and restatement of the Original Receivables Agreement hereby is
subject to the condition precedent that the Agent shall have received the
following, each (unless otherwise indicated) dated (or dated as of) the date
this amendment and restatement shall become effective and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent:

           (a) This Agreement, duly executed by the Transferor and the initial
     Servicer;

           (b) A copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
     Transferor approving this Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents to
     be delivered by it and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
     certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary; a copy of the
     resolutions of the Board of Directors of IKON Capital approving this
     Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents to be delivered by it and
     the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, certified by its
     Secretary or Assistant Secretary; a copy of the resolutions of the Board of
     Directors of IKON Office approving the Support Agreement, certified by its
     Secretary or Assistant Secretary;

           (c) Good standing certificates for IKON Office issued by the
     Secretaries of State of Pennsylvania and Ohio; good standing certificates
     for the Transferor issued by the Secretary of State of Delaware; good
     standing certificates for IKON Capital issued by the Secretaries of State
     of Delaware, Georgia, Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas and Colorado,
     in each case dated as of a recent date acceptable to the Agent;

           (d) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each
     of the Transferor and IKON Capital certifying the names and true signatures
     of the officers authorized on its behalf to sign this Agreement and the
     other Transaction Documents to be delivered by it (on which certificate the
     Agent and the Transferee may conclusively

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
rely until such time as the Agent shall receive from the Transferor a revised
certificate meeting the requirements of this subsection (d));
                                             --------------  

     (e) The Articles of Incorporation of the Transferor, IKON Capital and
IKON Office, duly certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware and the
Secretary of State of Ohio, as applicable, as of a recent date acceptable to
Agent, together with a copy of the By-laws of the Transferor, IKON Capital and
IKON Office, duly certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Transferor, IKON Capital or IKON Office, as the case may be;

     (f) Acknowledgment copies of proper Financing Statements (Form UCC-1),
substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit 5.01(f) (with such
                                              ---------------           
modifications, if any, as may be necessary or appropriate to conform to the law,
customary practice or standard forms of a particular jurisdiction), filed on or
prior to the date of this amendment and restatement, naming (i) the Transferor
as the debtor and transferor of Pool Receivables or an undivided interest
therein and the Transferee as the secured party and transferee and (ii) IKON
Capital as debtor and transferor of Pool Receivables, Transferor as the secured
party and transferee and Transferee as assignee, or other, similar instruments
or documents, as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Agent, desirable
under the UCC or any comparable law of all appropriate jurisdictions (including
those jurisdictions listed on Schedule 5.01(f) hereto) to perfect the
                              ----------------                       
Transferee's Interest and the security interest granted to the Transferee under
Article IX hereof;
- ----------        

     (g) A search report or reports provided in writing to the Agent by LEXIS 
Document Services, Inc. as of a recent date (or dates) acceptable to the Agent,
listing all effective financing statements that name the Transferor or IKON 
Capital (including any prior names of such Persons) as debtor and that are
filed in the jurisdictions in which filings were made pursuant to subsection (f)
                                                                  --------------
above and in such other jurisdictions that the Agent shall reasonably request,
together with copies of such financing statements (none of which shall cover any
Pool Receivables or Contracts related thereto or interests therein or
Collections or proceeds of any thereof);

     (h) Duly executed copies of Designated Account Agreements with each of the
Designated Account Banks; duly executed copies of Post Office Box Agreements
with respect to each Post Office Box;

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
           (i) A favorable opinion of Karin M. Kinney, counsel to the
     Transferor, IKON Capital and IKON Office, in substantially the form of
     Exhibit 5.01(i);
     ---------------

           (j) A favorable opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt, counsel for the
     Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.01(j);
                                         ---------------

           (k) Acknowledgment copies of proper Financing Statements (Form UCC-
     1), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5.01(k) (with such
                                                      ---------------
     modifications, if any, as may be necessary or appropriate to conform to the
     law, customary practice or standard forms of a particular jurisdiction),
     filed on or prior to the date of the amendment and restatement in the
     jurisdictions of the principal places of business of the dealers listed on
     Schedule A-1, naming such dealers, respectively, as debtors and transferors
     ------------
     of Receivables, IKON Capital as the secured party and transferee and
     Transferee as the assignee, or other, similar instruments or documents, as
     may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Agent, desirable under the UCC
     or any comparable law of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect IKON
     Capital's interest in the Receivables;

           (l) Such powers of attorney as the Agent shall reasonably request to
     enable the Agent to collect all amounts due under any and all Pool
     Receivables, which powers of attorney shall be substantially in the form of
     Exhibit 5.01(l) or in such other form as the Agent may reasonably request;
     ---------------

           (m) A Periodic Report as of the most recent Month End Date (in which
     the Transferee's Interest and the components thereof shall be calculated
     after giving effect to the amendment and restatement);

           (n) A copy of the Support Agreement, certified as true, correct and
     complete by an officer of IKON Office;

           (o) A letter executed by IKON Office substantially in the form of 
     Exhibit 5.01(o);
     --------------- 

           (p) An amendment to the interest rate protection agreement between
     Transferor and DBNY, and an assignment agreement related thereto; and
  
           (q) The Transfer Agreement duly executed by IKON Capital and the
     Transferor.

     SECTION  5.02.  Conditions Precedent to All Transfers and Reinvestments.
                     -------------------------------------------------------
Each Transfer (including the initial Transfer)

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
and each Reinvestment hereunder shall be subject to the further conditions
precedent that on the date of such Transfer or Reinvestment the following
statements shall be true (and the Transferor by accepting the amount of such
Transfer or by receiving the proceeds of such Reinvestment shall be deemed to
have certified that):

           (a) The representations and warranties contained in Article VI are
                                                               ----------
     correct on and as of such day as though made on and as of such day and
     shall be deemed to have been made on such day,

           (b) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from
     such Transfer or Reinvestment, that constitutes a Termination Event or
     Unmatured Termination Event,

           (c) In the case of a Reinvestment, the amount of the Reinvestment
     will not exceed the amount available therefor under Section 3.01, and in
                                                         ------------
     the case of a Transfer, after giving effect thereto, the Transferee's
     Investment will not exceed the Maximum Investment and the Unadjusted
     Transferee's Percentage will not exceed the Maximum Percentage, and

           (d) The Commitment Termination Date shall not have occurred;

provided, however, the absence of the occurrence and continuance of an Unmatured
- --------  -------                                                               
Termination Event shall not be a condition precedent to any Reinvestment or to
any Transfer on any day which does not cause the Transferee's Investment, after
giving effect to such Transfer, to exceed the Transferee's Investment as of the
opening of business on such day.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     SECTION 6.01. Representations and Warranties of the Transferor. The
                   ------------------------------------------------
Transferor represents and warrants as follows:

          (a) Organization and Good Standing.  The Transferor has been duly
              ------------------------------                               
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own its properties
and to conduct its business as such properties are presently owned and such
business is presently conducted, and had at all relevant times, and now has, all
necessary power, authority, and legal right to acquire and own the Pool
Receivables.

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  Due Qualification.  The Transferor is duly qualified to do business as
          -----------------                                         
a foreign corporation in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses
and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, licenses or
approvals.

     (c)  Power and Authority; Due Authorization.  The Transferor (i) has all 
          --------------------------------------                         
necessary power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Agreement
and the other Transaction Documents, to carry out the terms of the Transaction
Documents and to transfer and assign the Transferee's Interest on the terms and
conditions herein provided, and (ii) has duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the other Transaction Documents and the transfer and assignment of the
Transferee's Interest on the terms and conditions herein provided.

     (d)  Valid Transfer; Binding Obligations.  This Agreement constitutes a
          -----------------------------------                               
valid transfer and assignment of the Transferee's Interest to the Transferee,
enforceable against creditors of, and purchasers from, the Transferor and IKON
Capital; and this Agreement constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to
be signed by the Transferor when duly executed and delivered will constitute, a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Transferor enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity, regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     (e)  No Violation.  The execution, delivery and performance by the
          ------------                                                 
Transferor of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i)
conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under,
the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Transferor, or any indenture,
loan agreement, receivables purchase agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, or
other agreement or instrument to which the Transferor is a party or by which it
or any of its properties is bound, (ii) result in the creation or imposition of
any Lien upon any of the Transferor's properties pursuant to the terms of any
such indenture, loan agreement, receivables purchase agreement, mortgage, deed
of trust, or other agreement or instrument, other than this Agreement, or (iii)
violate any law or any order, rule, or

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
regulation applicable to the Transferor of any court or of any federal or state
regulatory body, administrative agency, or other governmental instrumentality
having jurisdiction over the Transferor or any of its properties.

     (f)  No Proceedings.  There are no proceedings or investigations pending, 
          --------------                                             
or threatened, before, and there has been no injunction, decree or other
decision issued or made by, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
or other tribunal or governmental agency or instrumentality (i) asserting the
invalidity of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (ii) seeking to
prevent the transfer and assignment of the Transferee's Interest or any portion
thereof or the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (iii) seeking any
determination or ruling that might have a Material Adverse Effect or (iv)
seeking to adversely affect the federal income tax attributes of the Transfers
hereunder.

     (g)  Bulk Sales Act.  No transaction contemplated hereby requires 
          --------------                 
compliance with any bulk sales act or similar law.

     (h)  Government Approvals.  No authorization or approval or other action 
          --------------------                                        
by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the
Transferor of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, except for the 
                                                                ------    
filing of the UCC Financing Statements referred to in Article V, all of which, 
                                                      ---------        
at the time required in Article V, shall have been duly made and shall be in 
                        ---------                                        
full force and effect.

     (i)  Financial Condition.  (x) The balance sheets of the Transferor as at 
          -------------------                                              
December 31, 1996, and the related statements of income, cash flows and
shareholders' equity of the Transferor for the fiscal year then ended, certified
by the Transferor's chief financial officer, copies of which have been furnished
to the Agent, fairly present the financial condition, business, business
prospects and operations of the Transferor as at such dates and the results of
the operations of the Transferor for the period ended on such dates, all in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied,
and (y) since December 31, 1996 there has been no material adverse change in any
such condition, business, business prospects or operations.

     (j)  Margin Regulations.  The use of all funds obtained by the Transferor 
          ------------------                                       
under this Agreement will not conflict

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
with or contravene any of Regulations G, T, U and X promulgated by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System from time to time.

     (k)  Quality of Title.  (i) Each Pool Receivable, together with the Related
          ----------------                                              
Property, is owned by the Transferor free and clear of any Lien (other than any
Lien arising solely as the result of any action taken by the Transferee (or any
assignee thereof) or by the Agent) except as created hereby; (ii) each Pool
Receivable, together with the Related Property, was transferred by Transferor
from IKON Capital pursuant to the Transfer Agreement, which transfer is
enforceable against all creditors of, and purchasers from, IKON Capital, and,
Transferor took all steps necessary to perfect its interest in such Pool
Receivable, together with the Related Property, against IKON Capital; (iii) when
the Transferee accepts a Transfer, it shall have acquired and shall at all times
thereafter continuously maintain a valid and perfected first priority undivided
percentage ownership interest, in a percentage equal to the Transferee's
Percentage in effect from time to time, in each Pool Receivable and in the
Related Property, free and clear of any Lien (other than any Lien arising solely
as the result of any action taken by the Transferee (or any assignee thereof) or
by the Agent); and (iv) no effective financing statement or other instrument
similar in effect covering any Pool Receivable, any interest therein or any of
the Related Property is on file in any recording office except such as may be
filed (A) in favor of IKON Capital in accordance with the Contracts or against
the dealers, (B) in favor of Transferor in accordance with the terms of the
Transfer Agreement, (C) in favor of the Transferee or the Agent in accordance
with this Agreement or in connection with any Lien arising solely as the result
of any action taken by the Transferee (or any assignee thereof) or by the Agent,
or (D) in favor of DBNY, as Collateral Agent, or any successor in such capacity,
as described in Section 12.01.
                ------------- 

     (l)  Accurate Reports.  No Periodic Report or Pay Out Statement (if 
          ----------------                                              
prepared by the Transferor, or to the extent that information contained therein
was supplied by the Transferor) or other information, exhibit, financial
statement, document, book, record or report furnished or to be furnished by the
Transferor to the Agent or the Transferee in connection with this Agreement was
or will be inaccurate in any material respect as of the date it was or will be
dated or (except as otherwise disclosed to the Agent or the Transferee, as the
case may be, at such time) as of the date so furnished, or contained or will
contain any material misstatement of fact or omitted or will omit to

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
     state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements
     contained therein not materially misleading.

          (m)  Offices.  The chief place of business and chief executive office 
               -------
     of the Transferor are located at the address of the Transferor referred to
     in Section 14.02, and the offices where the Transferor keeps all its books,
        -------------                          
     records and documents evidencing or included in the Pool Receivables and
     Related Property are located at the addresses specified in Schedule 6.01(m)
                                                                ----------------
     (or at such other locations, notified to the Agent in accordance with
     Section 7.01(f), in jurisdictions where all action required by Section 8.05
     ---------------                                                ------------
     has been taken and completed).

          (n)  Designated Accounts; Post Office Boxes.  The names and addresses 
               --------------------------------------                          
     of all the Designated Accounts Banks, together with the account numbers of
     the Designated Accounts of the Transferor at such Designated Account Banks,
     are specified in Schedule 6.01(n) (or have been notified to the Agent in
                      ----------------                        
     accordance with Section 7.03(d)). The addresses and numbers of all Post
                     ---------------                             
     Office Boxes are specified in Schedule 6.01(n) (as have been notified to
                                   ----------------                     
     the Agent in accordance with Section 7.03(d)).
                                  ---------------  

          (o)  Eligible Receivables.  Each Receivable included in the Net Pool 
               --------------------                                           
     Balance as an Eligible Receivable on any date shall be an Eligible
     Receivable on such date.

     SECTION  6.02.  Representations and Warranties of IKON Capital.  IKON 
                     ----------------------------------------------   
Capital represents and warrants as follows:

          (a)  Organization and Good Standing.  IKON Capital has been duly
               ------------------------------                             
     organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
     the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own its
     properties and to conduct its business as such properties are presently
     owned and such business is presently conducted.

          (b)  Due Qualification.  IKON Capital is duly qualified to do business
               -----------------                                                
     as a foreign corporation in good standing, and has obtained all necessary
     licenses and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or
     lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
     qualification, licenses or approvals.

          (c)  Power and Authority; Due Authorization.  IKON Capital (i) has all
               --------------------------------------                           
     necessary power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver this
     Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, to carry out the terms of
     the Transaction Documents and (ii) has duly authorized by all necessary
     corporate action the execution, delivery and

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
     performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

          (d)  Valid and Binding Obligations.  This Agreement constitutes, and
               -----------------------------                                  
     each other Transaction Document to be signed by IKON Capital when duly
     executed and delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding
     obligation of IKON Capital enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
     as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
     or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
     generally and by general principles of equity, regardless of whether such
     enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

          (e)  No Violation.  The execution, delivery and performance by IKON
               ------------                                                  
     Capital of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not
     (i) conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions
     of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
     default under, the articles of incorporation or by-laws of IKON Capital, or
     any indenture, loan agreement, receivables purchase agreement, mortgage,
     deed of trust, or other agreement or instrument to which IKON Capital is a
     party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, (ii) result in the
     creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of IKON Capital's properties
     pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, loan agreement, receivables
     purchase agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, or other agreement or
     instrument, other than the Transfer Agreement, or (iii) violate any law or
     any order, rule, or regulation applicable to IKON Capital of any court or
     of any federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency, or other
     governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over IKON Capital or any
     of its properties.

          (f)  No Proceedings.  There are no proceedings or investigations
               --------------                                             
     pending, or threatened, before, and there has been no injunction, decree or
     other decision issued or made by, any court, regulatory body,
     administrative agency, or other tribunal or governmental agency or
     instrumentality (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or any other
     Transaction Document and (ii) seeking any determination or ruling that
     might have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (g)  Bulk Sales Act.  No transaction contemplated hereby requires 
               --------------                 
     compliance with any bulk sales act or similar law.

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
          (h)  Government Approvals.  No authorization or approval or other
               --------------------                                        
     action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or
     regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance
     by IKON Capital of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, except
                                                                          ------
     for the filing of the UCC Financing Statements referred to in Article V,
                                                                   ---------  
     all of which, at the time required in Article V, shall have been duly made
                                           ---------           
     and shall be in full force and effect.

          (i) Financial Condition.  (x) The consolidated balance sheets of IKON
              -------------------                                              
     Capital and its consolidated subsidiaries as at September 30, 1996, and the
     related statements of income, cash flows and shareholders' equity of IKON
     Capital and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended,
     certified by Ernst & Young, independent certified public accountants, and
     the consolidated balance sheets of IKON Capital and its consolidated
     subsidiaries as at December 31, 1996, and the related statements of income,
     cash flows and shareholders' equity of IKON Capital and its consolidated
     subsidiaries for the periods then ended, in each case, copies of which have
     been furnished to the Agent, fairly present the consolidated financial
     condition, business, business prospects and operations of IKON Capital and
     its consolidated subsidiaries as at such dates and the consolidated results
     of the operations of IKON Capital and its consolidated subsidiaries for the
     period ended on such dates, all in accordance with generally accepted
     accounting principles consistently applied, and (y) since September 30,
     1996 there has been no material adverse change in any such condition,
     business, business prospects or operations except as described in Schedule
                                                                       --------
     6.02(i).
     ------- 

          (j)  Accurate Reports.  No Periodic Report or Pay Out Statement (if
               ----------------                                              
     prepared by IKON Capital, or to the extent that information contained
     therein was supplied by IKON Capital) or other information, exhibit,
     financial statement, document, book, record or report furnished or to be
     furnished by IKON Capital to the Agent or the Transferee in connection with
     this Agreement was or will be inaccurate in any material respect as of the
     date it was or will be dated or (except as otherwise disclosed to the Agent
     or the Transferee, as the case may be, at such time) as of the date so
     furnished, or contained or will contain any material misstatement of fact
     or omitted or will omit to state a material fact or any fact necessary to
     make the statements contained therein not materially misleading.

          (k)  Offices.  The chief place of business and chief executive office
               -------                                                         
     of IKON Capital are located at the address of IKON Capital referred to in
     Section 14.02, and the
     -------------         

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
     offices where IKON Capital keeps all its books, records and documents
     evidencing or included in the Pool Receivables and Related Property are
     located at the addresses specified in Schedule 6.01(m) (or at such other
                                           ----------------            
     locations, notified to the Agent in accordance with Section 7.01(f), in
                                                         ---------------    
     jurisdictions where all action required by Section 8.05 has been taken and
                                                ------------  
     completed).

          (l)  Servicing Programs.  Any and all programs used by IKON Capital in
               ------------------                                               
     the servicing of the Receivables Pool are owned by it and not leased or
     licensed, except for all licensed IBM operating system software. No license
     or approval is required for the Agent's use of any program used by the
     Servicer in the administration of the Receivables, other than those which
     have been obtained and are in full force and effect.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                               GENERAL COVENANTS

     SECTION  7.01.  Affirmative Covenants.  From the date hereof until the 
                     ---------------------                                 
Final Pay Out Date, each of IKON Capital and the Transferor will, unless the
Agent shall otherwise consent in writing:

          (a)  Compliance with Laws, Etc.  Comply in all material respects with
               -------------------------                                       
     all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable to it,
     including those with respect to the Pool Receivables and related Contracts.

          (b)  Preservation of Corporate Existence.  Subject to Section 7.03(e),
               -----------------------------------              --------------- 
     preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights, franchises and
     privileges in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and qualify and remain
     qualified in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction
     where the failure to preserve and maintain such existence, rights,
     franchises, privileges and qualification would have a Material Adverse
     Effect.

          (c)  Audits.  (i)  At any time and from time to time during regular
               ------                                                        
     business hours, upon reasonable notice, permit the Agent, or its agents or
     representatives, (A) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all
     books, records and documents (including, without limitation, computer tapes
     and disks) in the possession or under its control relating to Pool
     Receivables, including, without limitation, the related Contracts and
     purchase orders and other agreements, and (B) to visit its offices and
     properties for the purpose of examining such materials

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
     described in clause (i)(A) next above, and to discuss matters relating to 
                  -------------             
     Pool Receivables or its performance hereunder or under any other
     Transaction Document with any of its officers or employees having knowledge
     of such matters; and (ii) without limiting the provisions of clause (i)
                                                                  ----------
     next above, from time to time on request of the Agent given not more than
     once in each calendar year so long as no Termination Event or Unmatured
     Termination Event shall have occurred and be continuing, permit certified
     public accountants or other auditors, selected by it and reasonably
     acceptable to the Agent, to conduct, at its expense, a review of its books
     and records with respect to the Pool Receivables.

          (d)  Keeping of Records and Books of Account.  Maintain and implement
               ---------------------------------------                         
     administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an
     ability to recreate records evidencing Pool Receivables in the event of the
     destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain, all
     documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or
     advisable for the collection of all Pool Receivables (including, without
     limitation, records adequate to permit the daily identification of each new
     Pool Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing
     Pool Receivable).

          (e)  Performance and Compliance with Receivables and Contracts.  At
               ---------------------------------------------------------     
     IKON Capital's expense timely and fully perform and comply with all
     material provisions, covenants and other promises required to be observed
     by it under the Contracts related to the Pool Receivables and all purchase
     orders and other agreements related to such Pool Receivables.

          (f)  Location of Records.  Keep its chief place of business and chief
               -------------------                                             
     executive office, and the offices where it keeps its records concerning the
     Pool Receivables, all related Contracts and all purchase orders and other
     agreements related to such Pool Receivables (and all original documents
     relating thereto), at its address(es) referred to in Section 6.01(m) or,
                                                          --------------- 
     upon 30 days' prior written notice to the Agent, at such other locations in
     jurisdictions where all action required by Section 8.05 shall have been
                                                ------------
     taken and completed.

          (g)  Credit and Collection Policies.  Comply in all material respects
               ------------------------------                                  
     with its Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each Pool Receivable and
     the related Contract.

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
          (h)  Collections.  Instruct all Obligors to cause all Collections of
               -----------                                                    
     Pool Receivables to be sent directly to a Post Office Box, and deposit all
     Collections received into a Designated Account.

     SECTION 7.02.  Reporting Requirements.  From the date hereof until the 
                    ----------------------                             
Final Pay Out Date, IKON Capital and the Transferor will, unless the Agent shall
otherwise consent in writing, furnish to the Agent:

          (a)  Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available and in any
               ------------------------------                                  
     event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of
     each fiscal year of each of IKON Office, IKON Capital and the Transferor,
     copies of the financial statements of the Transferor, IKON Capital and its
     Subsidiaries and IKON Office and its Subsidiaries, in each case, prepared
     on a consolidated basis, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
     principles, duly certified by the chief financial officer, any vice-
     president, the treasurer or the controller of IKON Capital, the Transferor
     or IKON Office, as the case may be;

          (b)  Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available and in any
               ---------------------------                                  
     event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Transferor,
     IKON Capital and IKON Office copies of the financial statements of the
     Transferor, IKON Capital and its Subsidiaries and IKON Office and its
     Subsidiaries, in each case prepared on a consolidated basis, in conformity
     with generally accepted accounting principles, duly certified by
     independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by
     the Transferor, IKON Capital or IKON Office, as the case may be;

          (c)  Reports to Holders and Exchanges.  Copies of any reports or
               --------------------------------                           
     registration statements that the Transferor, IKON Capital or IKON Office
     files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national
     securities exchange other than registration statements relating to employee
     benefit plans and registrations of securities for selling security holders
     and statements filed on Form S-1 or S-4;

          (d)  ERISA.  Promptly after the filing or receiving thereof, copies of
               -----                                                            
     all reports and notices with respect to any Reportable Event defined in
     Article IV of ERISA as to which the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
     has not waived the 30-day notice requirement which the Transferor, IKON
     Capital or IKON Office files under ERISA with the Internal Revenue Service,
     the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the U.S. Department of Labor or
     which the Transferor, IKON Capital or IKON Office receives from the Pension
     Benefit Guaranty Corporation;

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
          (e)  Termination Events.  As soon as possible and in any event within
               ------------------                                              
     five days after the occurrence of each Termination Event and each Unmatured
     Termination Event, a written statement of the chief financial officer or
     chief accounting officer of the IKON Capital and Transferor setting forth
     details of such event and the action that IKON Capital and the Transferor
     propose to take with respect thereto;

          (f)  Litigation.  As soon as possible and in any event within three
               ----------                                                    
     Business Days of its knowledge thereof, notice of (i) any litigation,
     investigation or proceeding which may exist at any time which could have a
     Material Adverse Effect and (ii) any material adverse development in
     previously disclosed litigation; and

          (g)  Other.  Promptly, from time to time, such other information,
               -----                                                       
     documents, records or reports respecting the Receivables or the condition
     or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Transferor, IKON Office or
     IKON Capital as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request in order
     to protect the interests of the Agent or the Transferee under or as
     contemplated by this Agreement.

     SECTION 7.03.  Negative Covenants.  From the date hereof until the Final 
                    ------------------                                 
Pay Out Date, each of IKON Capital and the Transferor will not, without the
prior written consent of the Agent (provided that it is agreed clauses (h), (i) 
                                                               -----------  ---
and (j) of this Section 7.03 shall only apply to the Transferor):
    ---         ------------                                     

          (a)  Sales, Liens, Etc.  Except as otherwise provided herein, sell,
               -----------------                                             
     assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or
     create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to, any Pool
     Receivable or Related Property, or any interest therein, or any post office
     box or account to which any Collections of any Pool Receivable are sent, or
     any right to receive income from or in respect of any of the foregoing.

          (b)  Extension or Amendment of Receivables.  Except as otherwise
               -------------------------------------                      
     permitted in Section 8.02, extend, amend, terminate or otherwise modify the
                  ------------                                                  
     terms of any Pool Receivable, or amend, modify, terminate or waive any term
     or condition of any Contract related thereto.

          (c)  Change in Business or Credit and Collection Policy.  Make any
               --------------------------------------------------           
     change in the character of its business or in the Credit and Collection
     Policy, which change would, in either case, impair the collectibility of
     the Pool Receivables (other than an immaterial portion thereof) or
     otherwise adversely affect the interests, rights or remedies

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
     of the Transferee under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

          (d)  Change in Payment Instructions to Obligors.  Add or terminate any
               ------------------------------------------                       
     Post Office Box from those listed in Schedule 6.01(o) or make any change in
                                          ---------------- 
     its instructions to Obligors regarding payments to be made to the
     Transferor or the Servicer or payments to be made to any Post Office Box
     unless the Agent shall have received (i) notice of such addition,
     termination or change and (ii) duly executed copies of Post Office Box
     Agreements with respect to each new Post Office Box. Deposit or transfer
     any Collections received in any Post Office Box or otherwise to any account
     other than a Designated Account.

          (e)  Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, etc.  Be a party to any merger or
               ---------------------------------                              
     consolidation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of
     the assets or any stock of any class of, or any partnership or joint
     venture interest in, any other Person, or, except in the ordinary course of
     its business, sell, transfer, convey or lease all or any substantial part
     of its assets, or permit any Subsidiary to do any of the foregoing, except
     for any such merger or consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or
     assignment with respect to IKON Capital (i) of or by any wholly-owned
     Subsidiary (other than Transferor) into IKON Capital or into, with or to
     any other wholly-owned Subsidiary, (ii) any such purchase or other
     acquisition by IKON Capital or any wholly-owned Subsidiary (other than the
     Transferor) of the assets or stock of any wholly-owned Subsidiary and (iii)
     pursuant to which IKON Capital is the survivor, provided that no
     Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event has occurred and is
     continuing or would result therefrom.

          (f)  Support Agreement.  Amend, modify or terminate the Support 
               -----------------                   
     Agreement.

          (g)  Transfer Agreement.  Amend, waive, terminate or modify the 
               ------------------                                        
     Transfer Agreement or the Company Note or amend the Transferor's articles
     of incorporation.

          (h)  Incurrence of Indebtedness.  Incur or suffer to exist any
               --------------------------                               
     Indebtedness other than its obligations to Servicer, the Transferee and the
     Agent hereunder, its obligations under the Old Line Agreement and its
     obligations to IKON Capital under the Transfer Agreement.

          (i)  Restricted Payments.  (i) Declare or pay any dividends, (ii) lend
               -------------------                                              
     or advance any funds or (iii) repay any loans or advances to, for or from
     IKON Capital or any other

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
     Affiliated Party (including making any payment pursuant to the Transfer
     Agreement) (all of the foregoing, "Restricted Payments"), provided that
                                        -------------------    --------     
     Transferor may make payments under the Transfer Agreement in accordance
     with its terms and pay dividends, in each case, from Collections paid or
     released to Transferor pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.02, so long as no
                                        ------------    ----      
     Termination Event or Unmatured Termination Event has occurred and is
     continuing or would result therefrom, and after giving effect thereto, the
     Transferor's Tangible Net Worth is not less than $10,000,000.

          (j)  Change of Name.  Change its corporate name or the name under or 
               --------------   
     by which it does business unless Transferor shall have given the Agent at
     least 30 days' prior written notice thereof and unless, prior to any such
     change, Transferor shall have filed, or caused to be filed, such financing
     statements or amendments as the Agent determines may be necessary to
     continue the perfection of Transferee's interest in the Pool Receivables
     and Related Property.

     Section 7.04.  Separate Corporate Existence.  Transferor and IKON Capital 
                    ----------------------------                      
hereby acknowledge that the Transferee and the Agent are entering into the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in reliance upon the Transferor's
identity as a legal entity separate from the other Affiliated Parties.
Therefore, Transferor and IKON Capital shall take the steps described in this
Section 7.04 and any other steps that the Agent reasonably requests to continue 
- ------------                                                          
the Transferor's identity as such a separate legal entity and to make it
apparent to third Persons that the Transferor is an entity with assets and
liabilities distinct from those of the other Affiliated Parties and those of any
other Person, and not a division of the other Affiliated Parties or any other
Person:

          (a)  The Transferor will be a limited purpose corporation whose
     primary activities are restricted in its articles of incorporation to
     accepting transferred Receivables from IKON Capital, entering into
     agreements for the servicing of such Receivables, transferring undivided
     interests in the Receivables, and conducting such other activities as it
     reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its primary
     activities and entering into similar arrangements with other Persons;

          (b)  No director or officer of the Transferor shall at any time serve
     as a trustee in bankruptcy for any other Affiliated Party;

          (c)  Any employee, consultant or agent of the Transferor will be paid
     by the Manager for services provided to the Transferor, which payment shall
     be charged to

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
     Transferor's account, except as provided in this Agreement in respect of
     the Servicing Fee and in the Old Line Agreement for the servicing fee paid
     thereunder. The Transferor will engage no agents other than a Servicer for
     the Receivables, which Servicer (if an Affiliated Party) will be fully
     compensated for its services to the Transferor by payment of the Servicing
     Fee and the servicing fee paid under the Old Line Agreement, and the
     Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement, which Manager's fees shall
     not exceed $10,000 in any calendar year;

          (d)  The Transferor's operating expenses will not be paid by any other
     Affiliated Party;

          (e)  The Transferor will have its own separate mailing address,
     stationery and, if used, bank checks and, if it uses premises leased, owned
     or occupied by any other Affiliated Party, its portion of such premises
     will be defined and separately identified;

          (f)  The Transferor's books and records will be maintained separately
     from those of every other Affiliated Party;

          (g)  Any financial statements of any other Affiliated Party which are
     consolidated to include the Transferor will contain detailed notes clearly
     stating that (A) all of the Transferor's assets are owned by the
     Transferor, and (B) the Transferor is a separate corporate entity with its
     own separate creditors which will be entitled to be satisfied out of the
     Transferor's assets prior to any value in the Transferor becoming available
     to the Transferor's equity holders;

          (h)  The assets of the Transferor will be maintained in a manner that
     facilitates their identification and segregation from those of any other
     Affiliated Party;

          (i)  The Transferor will strictly observe corporate formalities in its
     dealings with each other Affiliated Party, and funds or other assets of the
     Transferor will not be commingled or pooled with those of any other
     Affiliated Party;

          (j)  The Transferor shall not maintain joint bank accounts with any
     other Affiliated Party or other depository accounts to which any other
     Affiliated Party (other than IKON Capital in its capacity as Servicer) has
     independent access;

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
          (k)  The Transferor shall not, directly or indirectly, be named and
     shall not enter into any agreement to be named as a direct or contingent
     beneficiary or loss payee on any insurance policy covering the property of
     any other Affiliated Party;

          (l)  The Transferor will maintain arm's length relationships with each
     other Affiliated Party. Any other Affiliated Party which renders or
     otherwise furnishes services or merchandise to the Transferor will be
     compensated by the Transferor at market rates for such services or
     merchandise; and

          (m)  Neither the Transferor, on the one hand, nor any other Affiliated
     Party, on the other hand, will be or will hold itself out to be responsible
     for the debts of the other or the decisions or actions respecting the daily
     business and affairs of the other.


                                 ARTICLE VIII

                         ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION

     SECTION  8.01.  Designation of Servicer.  (a)  IKON Capital as Initial
                     -----------------------        -----------------------
Servicer.  The servicing, administering and collection of the Pool Receivables
- --------                                                                      
shall be conducted by the Person designated as the servicer hereunder (the
<PAGE>
 
obligations as the Servicer hereunder, in which case such notice may be given at
any time in the Agent's discretion. If IKON Capital disputes the occurrence of a
Termination Event or other event described above, IKON Capital may take
appropriate action to resolve such dispute; provided that IKON Capital must
                                            --------                       
terminate its activities hereunder as the Servicer and allow the newly
designated Servicer to perform such activities on the date provided by the Agent
as described above, notwithstanding the commencement or continuation of any
proceeding to resolve the aforementioned dispute.

     (c)  Subcontracts. The Servicer may, with the prior written consent of the
          ------------                                                      
Agent, subcontract with any other person for servicing, administering or
collecting the Pool Receivables; provided that the Servicer shall remain liable
                                 --------                                      
for the performance of the duties and obligations of the Servicer pursuant to
the terms hereof; and provided, further, that any funds received by any
                      --------  -------                                
subcontractor pursuant to the subcontract shall be deemed to have been received
by the Servicer.

     SECTION  8.02.  Duties of Servicer. (a) Appointment; Duties in General.
                     ------------------      ------------------------------
Each of the Transferor, the Transferee and the Agent hereby appoints as its
agent the Servicer, as from time to time designated pursuant to Section 8.01,
                                                                ------------
(i) to enforce its rights and interests in and under the Pool Receivables, the
Contracts and other Related Property, (ii) to take or cause to be taken all such
actions as may be necessary or advisable to collect each Pool Receivable from
time to time, all in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations,
with reasonable care and diligence, and in accordance with the Credit and
Collection Policy, and (iii) to take such other actions and exercise such other
powers on behalf of the Transferee and the Agent under this Agreement as are
delegated to the Servicer by the terms hereof.

     (b)  Allocation of Collections; Segregation.  The Servicer shall set aside 
          --------------------------------------                         
and hold in trust for the account of the Transferor and the Transferee their
respective allocable shares of the Collections of Pool Receivables in accordance
with Sections 3.01 and 3.02, but shall not be required (unless otherwise
     -------------     ----                                   
requested by the Agent) to segregate the funds constituting such portions of
such Collections prior to the remittance thereof in accordance with said
Sections. If instructed by the Agent, the Servicer shall segregate and deposit
with a bank designated by the Agent such allocable shares of Collections of Pool
Receivables, set aside for the Transferee and any assignee from the Transferee
of the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof), on the first Business Day
following receipt by the Servicer of such Collections in immediately available
funds.

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  Modification of Receivables. So long as no Termination Event or
          ---------------------------                                     
Unmatured Termination Event shall have occurred and be continuing, IKON Capital,
while it is Servicer, may, in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy,
(i) extend the maturity or adjust the Unpaid Balance of any Defaulted Receivable
as IKON Capital may determine to be appropriate to maximize Collections thereof;
provided that, no such extension shall be for more than 30 days and, after
- -------- ----                                                             
giving effect to such extension of maturity or such adjustment, the Unadjusted
Transferee's Percentage will not exceed the Maximum Percentage, and (ii) adjust
the Unpaid Balance of any Receivable to reflect the reductions or cancellations
described in Section 3.03(a).  IKON Capital will not terminate, nor allow the
             ---------------                                                 
prepayment of, any Contract related to a Pool Receivable unless, after giving
effect to such termination or prepayment, any payment of a deemed Collection as
a result of such termination or prepayment pursuant to Section 3.03 and the
                                                       ------------        
inclusion of any new Eligible Receivables in the Receivables Pool, the
Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage, as of such date, does not exceed the Maximum
Percentage.

     (d)  Documents and Records. IKON Capital shall deliver to the Servicer, and
          ---------------------                                    
the Servicer shall hold in trust for the Transferor and the Transferee in
accordance with their respective interests, all documents, instruments and
records (including, without limitation, computer tapes or disks) that evidence
or relate to Pool Receivables.

     (e)  Power of Attorney. The Transferor hereby grants to the Servicer an
          -----------------                                               
irrevocable power of attorney, with full power of substitution, coupled with an
interest, to take in the name of the Transferor all steps which are necessary or
advisable to endorse, negotiate or otherwise realize on any writing or other
right of any kind held or transmitted by the Transferor or transmitted or
received by the Transferee (whether or not from the Transferor) in connection
with any Receivable.

     (f)  Certain Duties to the Transferor. The Servicer shall, as soon as
          --------------------------------                                 
practicable following receipt, turn over to the Transferor (i) that portion of
Collections of Pool Receivables representing its undivided interest therein,
less, the sum of (a) in the event IKON Capital is no longer the Servicer, all
reasonable and appropriate out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Servicer of
servicing, collecting and administering the Pool Receivables to the extent not
covered by the Servicer's Fee received by it and (b) any amounts, other than
Transferee's Investment and Earned Discount, then due to the Transferee or the
Agent, and (ii) the Collections of any Receivable that is not a Pool Receivable.
The Servicer, if other than IKON Capital, shall, at the Transferor's expense, as
soon as practicable upon demand, deliver to the Transferor all documents,
instruments and records in its possession that evidence or relate to Receivables

                                      37
<PAGE>
 
of the Transferor other than Pool Receivables, and copies of documents,
instruments and records in its possession that evidence or relate to Pool
Receivables.

     (g)  Termination. The Servicer's authorization under this Agreement shall
          -----------                               
terminate on the Final Pay Out Date.

     SECTION 8.03.  Rights of the Agent. (a) Notice to Obligors; Segregation. At
                    -------------------      -------------------------------
any time when a Termination Event or an Unmatured Termination Event shall have
occurred, the Agent may notify the Obligors of Pool Receivables, or any of them,
of the ownership of the Transferee's Interest by the Transferee. At any time the
Agent may require the Transferor to establish a new Designated Account into
which no funds are deposited other than Collections, and to deposit, or cause to
be deposited, all Collections into such new Designated Account.

     (b)  Notice to Post Office Boxes and Designated Banks. At any time when a
          ------------------------------------------------              
Termination Event or an Unmatured Termination Event shall have occurred, (i) the
Agent is hereby authorized to give notice, as provided in the Post Office Box
Agreements, of the transfer to the Agent of dominion and control over the Post
Office Boxes to which the Obligors of Pool Receivables make payments, (ii) the
Agent is hereby authorized to give notice to the Designated Account Banks, as
provided in the Designated Account Agreements, of the transfer to the Agent of
dominion and control over the Designated Accounts and (iii) the Agent may
notify, or may require the Servicer to notify, the Obligors to send their
payments to a lock-box located at DBNY or other bank approved by the Agent,
under the dominion and control of the Agent.

     (c)  Rights on Designation of New Servicer.  At any time following the
          -------------------------------------                            
designation of a Servicer other than IKON Capital pursuant to Section 8.01:
                                                              ------------ 

          (i)    The Agent may direct the Obligors of Pool Receivables, or any
     of them, to pay all amounts payable under any Pool Receivable directly to
     the Agent or its designee.

          (ii)   IKON Capital shall, at the Agent's request and at IKON
     Capital's expense, give notice of such ownership to each said Obligor and
     direct that payments be made directly to the Agent or its designee.

          (iii)  Each of the Transferor and IKON Capital shall, at the Agent's
     request, (A) assemble all of the documents, instruments and other records
     (including, without limitation, computer programs, tapes and disks) which
     evidence the Pool Receivables and Related Property, or which

                                      38
<PAGE>
 
     are otherwise necessary or desirable to collect such Pool Receivables, and
     make the same available to the Agent at a place selected by the Agent or
     its designee, and (B) segregate all cash, checks and other instruments
     received by it from time to time constituting Collections of Pool
     Receivables in a manner acceptable to the Agent and shall, promptly upon
     receipt, remit all such cash, checks and instruments, duly endorsed or with
     duly executed instruments of transfer, to the Agent or its designee.

     (d)  Authorization and Power of Attorney. Each of the Transferor and the
          -----------------------------------                             
Transferee hereby authorizes the Agent and hereby appoints the Agent as its
attorney-in-fact (which appointment is coupled with an interest and is
irrevocable), from time to time upon and after the designation of a successor
Servicer in accordance with Section 8.01, to take any and all steps in the
                            ------------                                  
Transferor's name and on behalf of the Transferor and the Transferee which are
necessary or desirable, in the determination of the Agent, to collect all
amounts due under any and all Pool Receivables and Related Property, including,
without limitation, endorsing the Transferor's name on checks and other
instruments representing Collections and enforcing such Pool Receivables and the
related Contracts.

     SECTION  8.04. Responsibilities of Transferor. Anything herein to the
                    ------------------------------
contrary notwithstanding:

          (a)  The Transferor shall perform (or cause IKON Capital to perform
     under the Transfer Agreement) all of its obligations under the Contracts
     related to the Pool Receivables and under the related purchase orders and
     other agreements to the same extent as if the Transferee's Interest had not
     been transferred hereunder and the exercise by the Agent of its rights
     hereunder shall not relieve the Transferor from such obligations.

          (b)  Neither the Agent nor the Transferee shall have any obligation or
     liability with respect to any Pool Receivables, Contracts related thereto
     or any other related purchase orders or other agreements, nor shall any of
     them be obligated to perform any of the obligations of the Transferor
     thereunder.

     SECTION  8.05.  Further Action Evidencing Transfers. (a) The Transferor
                     -----------------------------------          
agrees that from time to time, at its expense, it will promptly execute and
deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action that
the Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect, protect or more fully
evidence the Transfers hereunder and the resulting Transferee's Interest, or to
enable the Transferee or the Agent to exercise or enforce any of their
respective rights hereunder

                                      39
<PAGE>
 
or under the other Transaction Documents. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Transferor will upon the request of the Agent:

          (i)    execute and file such financing or continuation statements, or
     amendments thereto or assignments thereof, and such other instruments or
     notices, as may be necessary or appropriate;

          (ii)   mark conspicuously each Contract evidencing each Pool
     Receivable with a legend, acceptable to the Agent, evidencing the transfer
     of the Transferee's Interest; and

          (iii)  mark its master data processing records evidencing such Pool
     Receivables and related Contracts with such legend.

     (b)  The Transferor hereby authorizes the Agent to file in the name of the
Transferor, to the extent permitted by applicable law, one or more financing or
continuation statements, and amendments thereto and assignments thereof,
relative to all or any of the Pool Receivables and Related Property now existing
or hereafter arising. If the Transferor fails to perform any of its agreements
or obligations under this Agreement, the Agent may (but shall not be required
to) itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement or obligation, and
the expenses of the Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by
the Transferor as provided in Section 13.01.
                              ------------- 

     (c)  Without limiting the generality of subsection (a), the Transferor
                                             --------------                
will, not earlier than six (6) months and not later than three (3) months from
the fifth anniversary of the date of filing of the financing statements referred
to in Sections 5.01(f) and 5.01(k) or any other financing statement filed
      ----------------     -------                                       
pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with any Transfer hereunder, unless
the Final Pay Out Date shall have occurred:

          (i)    execute and deliver and file or cause to be filed an
     appropriate continuation statement with respect to each such financing
     statement; and

          (ii)   deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent an opinion of the
     counsel for the Transferor referred to in Section 5.01(i) (or other counsel
                                               ---------------
     for the Transferor reasonably satisfactory to the Agent), in form and
     substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, confirming and updating the
     opinion delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(i) with respect to perfection
                                   ---------------
     issues and otherwise to the effect that the Transferee's Interest hereunder
     continues to be a valid and perfected interest subject to no Liens of

                                      40
<PAGE>
 
     record except as provided herein or otherwise permitted hereunder.

     SECTION  8.06.  Application of Obligors' Payments. (a) Any payment by an
                     ---------------------------------                   
Obligor in respect of any indebtedness owed by it to the Transferor or IKON
Capital shall, except as otherwise specified by such Obligor or otherwise
required by contract or law and unless the Agent instructs otherwise, be applied
as a Collection of any Pool Receivable or Receivables of such Obligor to the
extent of any amounts then due and payable thereunder before such payment is
applied to any other indebtedness of such Obligor.

     (b)  Except or as otherwise required by law or the underlying Contract, all
Collections received from an Obligor of any Receivable shall be applied to Pool
Receivables then outstanding of such Obligor in the order of the age of such
Pool Receivables, starting with the oldest such Pool Receivable; provided,
                                                                 --------
however, that, if payment is designated by such Obligor for application to
- -------
specific Receivables, it shall be applied to such specified Receivables.


                                  ARTICLE IX

                               SECURITY INTEREST

     SECTION  9.01.  Grant of Security Interest. To secure all obligations of
                     --------------------------                            
the Transferor arising in connection with this Agreement and each other
Transaction Document, whether now or hereafter existing, due or to become due,
direct or indirect, or absolute or contingent, including, without limitation,
Indemnified Amounts, payments on account of Collections received or deemed to be
received, fees and Earned Discount, in each case pro rata according to the
                                                 --- ----                 
respective amounts thereof, the Transferor hereby assigns and grants to the
Transferee, for its benefit and the benefit of the Agent, the Affected Parties
and the Indemnified Parties, a security interest in all of the Transferor's
right, title and interest (including specifically any undivided interest
retained by the Transferor hereunder) now or hereafter existing in, to and under
all the Pool Receivables and Related Property.

     SECTION  9.02.  Further Assurances. The provisions of Section 8.05 shall
                     ------------------                     ------------
apply to the security interest granted under Section 9.01 as well as to the
                                             ------------              
Transfers and the Transferee's Interest hereunder.

     SECTION  9.03.  Remedies. Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event, the
                     --------                                              
Transferee, for its own benefit and for the benefit of the Agent, the Affected
Parties and the

                                      41
<PAGE>
 
Indemnified Parties, shall have, with respect to the collateral granted pursuant
to Section 9.01, and in addition to all other rights and remedies available to
   ------------                                                               
the Transferee, the Agent, the Affected Parties or the Indemnified Parties under
this Agreement or other applicable law, all the rights and remedies of a secured
party upon default under the UCC.


                                   ARTICLE X

                              TERMINATION EVENTS

     SECTION  10.01.  Termination Events. Each of the following events shall be
                      ------------------          
a "Termination Event":
   -----------------  

          (a)  (i) The Servicer (if IKON Capital or an Affiliate of IKON Capital
     is the Servicer) shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or
     agreement hereunder (other than as referred to in clause (ii) next
                                                       -----------
     following) and such failure shall remain unremedied for three Business Days
     or (ii) the Servicer (if IKON Capital or an Affiliate of IKON Capital is
     the Servicer) or the Transferor shall fail to make any payment or deposit
     to be made by it hereunder when due; or

          (b)  Any representation or warranty made or deemed to be made by the
     Transferor or IKON Capital (or any of its officers) under or in connection
     with this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any Periodic Report
     or Pay Out Statement or other information or report delivered pursuant
     hereto shall prove to have been false or incorrect in any material respect
     when made; or

          (c)  The Transferor or IKON Capital shall fail to perform or observe
     any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any
     other Transaction Document on its part to be performed or observed and any
     such failure shall remain unremedied for ten Business Days after written
     notice thereof shall have been given by the Agent to the Transferor or IKON
     Capital, as the case may be; or

          (d)  A default shall have occurred and be continuing under any
     instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or providing for the issuance
     of indebtedness for borrowed money of, or guaranteed by, IKON Capital, the
     Transferor or any Affiliate thereof (provided, that in the case of IKON
     Office, such indebtedness is in excess of $5,000,000), which default is a
     payment default or if unremedied, uncured, or unwaived (with or without the
     passage of time or the giving of notice or both) would permit acceleration
     of the maturity

                                      42
<PAGE>
 
of such indebtedness and such default shall have continued unremedied, uncured
or unwaived for a period long enough to permit such acceleration and any notice
of default required to permit acceleration shall have been given; or any default
under any agreement or instrument relating to the purchase or transfer of
receivables of IKON Capital or the Transferor, or any other event, shall occur
and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such
agreement or instrument, if the effect of such default is to terminate, or
permit the termination of, the commitment of any party to such agreement or
instrument to purchase or acquire receivables or the right of the IKON Capital
or Transferor to reinvest in receivables the principal amount paid by any party
to such agreement or instrument for an interest in receivables; or

     (e)  An Event of Bankruptcy shall have occurred and remained continuing
with respect to IKON Capital, the Transferor or any Affiliate thereof; or

     (f)  (i) Any litigation (including, without limitation, derivative
actions), arbitration proceedings or governmental proceedings not disclosed in
writing by IKON Capital or the Transferor to the Agent and the Transferee prior
to the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement is pending against IKON
Capital, the Transferor or any Affiliate thereof, or (ii) any material
development not so disclosed has occurred in any litigation (including, without
limitation, derivative actions), arbitration proceedings or governmental
proceedings so disclosed, which, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), in the
                                                ----------    ----        
opinion of the Agent, is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

     (g)  The Internal Revenue Service shall file notice of a lien pursuant to
Section 6323 of the Internal Revenue Code with regard to any of the assets of
IKON Capital or the Transferor and such lien shall not have been released within
5 days, or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation shall, or shall indicate its
intention to, file notice of a lien pursuant to Section 4068 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with regard to any of the assets of IKON
Capital, the Transferor or IKON Office; or

     (h)  There shall have occurred or shall exist any event or condition which
has, or would have a material possibility of causing, a Material Adverse Effect;
or the warranty in Section 6.01(i)(y) or 6.02(i)(y) shall not be true at any
                   ------------------    ----------                     
time; or

                                      43
<PAGE>
 
          (i)  the Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage shall exceed the Maximum
     Percentage, and such event shall continue for more than 5 Business Days; or

          (j)  The Losses to Liquidations Ratio (1) for any one month period
     exceeds 9% or (2) for any six consecutive month period exceeds 7.5%; or

          (k)  The average of the Delinquency Ratios for any three consecutive
     calendar months exceeds 5% or the average of the Default Ratios for any
     three consecutive calendar months exceeds 4%; or

          (l)  a default shall occur under the Support Agreement, or the Support
     Agreement shall terminate or cease to be in effect for any reason; or

          (m)  There shall have been entered against IKON Capital or the
     Transferor one or more judgments, awards or decrees which, in the case of
     IKON Capital, exceed $2,500,000 at any one time outstanding, excluding
     judgments, awards or decrees for which there is full insurance and with
     respect to which the insurer has assumed a responsibility in writing; or

          (n)  IKON Capital ceases to have a long term unsecured debt rating of
     at least BBB- from S&P and Baa3 from Moody's; or

          (o)  Transferee shall cease to have a valid, perfected first priority
     ownership interest in the Receivables and the Related Property for any
     reason; or

          (p)  Transfer Termination Event shall occur under the Transfer
     Agreement.

     SECTION  10.02.  Remedies. (a) Optional Termination. Upon the occurrence of
                      --------      --------------------           
a Termination Event (other than a Termination Event described in subsection (e)
                                                                 --------------
or (i) of Section 10.01), the Agent shall, at the request, or may with the
   ---    -------------    
consent, of the Transferee, by notice to the Transferor declare the Commitment
Termination Date to have occurred.

     (b)  Automatic Termination.  Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event
          ---------------------                                             
described in subsection (e) or (i) of Section 10.01, the Commitment Termination
             --------------    ---    -------------                            
Date shall be deemed to have occurred automatically upon the occurrence of such
event; provided that, if the Commitment Termination Date shall have occurred by
       --------                                                                
reason of a Termination Event described in subsection (i) and subsequent to such
                                           --------------                       
date the Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage shall not exceed the Maximum
Percentage, upon written

                                      44
<PAGE>
 
notice by the Agent to the Transferor, the Commitment shall be reinstated.

     (c)  Additional Remedies. Upon any termination of the Commitment pursuant
          -------------------                                         
to this Section 10.02, the Agent and the Transferee shall have, in addition to
        -------------                                             
all other rights and remedies under this Agreement or otherwise, all other
rights and remedies provided under the UCC of each applicable jurisdiction and
other applicable laws, which rights shall be cumulative. Without limiting the
foregoing or the general applicability of Article XIII hereof, (i) the
                                          ------------                
occurrence of a Termination Event shall not deny to the Transferee any remedy in
addition to termination of the Commitment to which the Transferee may be
otherwise appropriately entitled, whether at law or in equity, and (ii)
following the occurrence of any Termination Event the Transferee may elect to
assign to any Person the Transferee's Interest, or any portion thereof.


                                  ARTICLE XI

                                   THE AGENT

     SECTION  11.01.  Authorization and Action. The Transferee has appointed the
                      ------------------------                    
Agent as its agent pursuant to a Servicing Agreement between the Transferee and
DBNY, and hereby authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf
and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent
by the terms hereof and of said Servicing Agreement, together with such powers
as are reasonably incidental thereto.

     SECTION  11.02.  Agent's Reliance, Etc. Neither the Agent nor any of its
                      ---------------------                               
directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it or the Agent under or in connection with this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the servicing, administering or
collecting Pool Receivables as the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.01), except
                                                        ------------         
for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct, and except for any
breach by the Servicing Agent of its obligations to the Transferee expressly set
forth in the Servicing Agreement referred to in Section 11.01.  Without limiting
                                                -------------                   
the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:  (a) may consult with legal counsel
(including counsel for the Transferor or IKON Capital), independent certified
public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with
the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (b) makes no warranty or
representation to the Transferee or any other holder of any interest in Pool
Receivables and shall not be responsible to the Transferee or any such other
holder for any statements, warranties or

                                      45
<PAGE>
 
representations made by any Person (other than the Servicing Agent) in or in
connection with this Agreement; (c) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to
inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or
conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Transferor or IKON Capital or to
inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Transferor or IKON
Capital, except for its duties to the Transferee as set forth in the Servicing
Agreement referred to above; (d) shall not be responsible to the Transferee
(except for any breach by the Servicing Agent of its duties set forth in the
Servicing Agreement referred to above) or to any other holder of any interest in
Pool Receivables for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability,
genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other Transaction
Document; and (e) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement
by acting upon any notice (including notice by telephone), consent, certificate
or other instrument or writing (which may be by facsimile or telex) believed by
it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

     SECTION  11.03.  Agent and Affiliates. Deutsche Bank and its Affiliates may
                      --------------------                        
generally engage in any kind of business with IKON Capital, the Transferor or
any Obligor, any of their respective Affiliates and any Person who may do
business with or own securities of IKON Capital, the Transferor or any Obligor
or any of their respective Affiliates, all as if Deutsche Bank were not the
Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Transferee or any other
holder of an interest in Pool Receivables.


                                  ARTICLE XII

                                  ASSIGNMENTS

     SECTION  12.01.  Restrictions on Assignments. (a) None of IKON Capital, the
                      ---------------------------                    
Transferor or the Transferee may assign its rights hereunder or any interest
herein without the prior written consent of the Agent, and the Transferee may
not assign the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof) to any Person
without the prior written consent of the Transferor, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that
                       --------  -------      

          (i)  the Transferee may assign, or grant a security interest in, the
     Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof) to Deutsche Bank, the
     Liquidity Banks (or any successor of any thereof by merger, consolidation
     or otherwise), or any Affiliate of Deutsche Bank or any of the Liquidity
     Banks (which may then assign the Transferee's Interest (or any portion
     thereof so assigned) or any

                                      46
<PAGE>
 
     interest therein to such party or parties as it may choose); and

          (ii)  the Transferee may assign and grant a security interest in the
     Transferee's Interest and the Transferee's rights and interests in, to and
     under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to DBNY, as
     Collateral Agent, and any successor in such capacity, to secure the
     Transferee's obligations under or in connection with the Commercial Paper
     Notes, the Liquidity Agreement, the Enhancement Agreement and any letter of
     credit issued thereunder, and certain other obligations of the Transferee
     incurred in connection with the funding of the Transfers and Reinvestments
     hereunder, which assignment and grant of a security interest shall not be
     considered an "assignment" for purposes of Section 12.01(b), Section 12.03
                                                ----------------  -------------
     or 12.04 or, prior to the enforcement of such security interest, for
        -----                                     
     purposes of any other provision of this Agreement.

     (b)  The Transferor agrees to advise the Agent within five Business
Days after notice to the Transferor of any proposed assignment by the Transferee
of the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof), not otherwise permitted
under subsection (a), of the Transferor's consent or non-consent to such
      --------------                                                    
assignment. If the Transferor does not consent to such assignment, the
Transferee may immediately assign the Transferee's Interest (or such portion) to
Deutsche Bank, any of the Liquidity Banks or any Affiliate of Deutsche Bank or
any of the Liquidity Banks.  All of the aforementioned assignments shall be upon
such terms and conditions as the Transferee and the assignee may mutually agree.

     SECTION  12.02.  Documentation; Notice of Assignment. (a) Any assignment of
                      -----------------------------------          
the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof) to any Person may be
evidenced by such instruments or documents as may be satisfactory to the
Transferee, the Agent and the assignee.

     (b)  The Transferee shall provide notice to the Transferor of any
assignment of the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof) by the
Transferee to any assignee (other than the assignment and grant of a security
interest referred to in Section 12.01(a)(ii)).
                        --------------------  

     SECTION  12.03.  Rights of Assignee. Upon the assignment by the Transferee
                      ------------------                             
of the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof) in accordance with this
Article XII, the assignee receiving such assignment shall have all of the rights
- -----------                                                          
of the Transferee hereunder with respect to the Transferee's Interest (or the
portion thereof so assigned); subject, however, to Sections 12.04 and 12.05.
                              -------  -------     --------------     ----- 

                                      47
<PAGE>
 
          SECTION  12.04.  Allocation of Payments.  If on any date there are
                           ----------------------                           
sufficient funds in the Agent's Account to distribute a portion, but not all, of
the amounts payable pursuant to subsection (c)(i) of either Section 3.01 or
                                -----------------           ------------   
Section 3.02 and, due to any assignment of the Transferee's Interest (or any
- ------------                                                                
portion thereof), such amounts are payable to more than one Person, then, unless
otherwise agreed between such Persons, and subject to Section 3.02(d), the Agent
                                                      ---------------           
shall distribute funds to such Persons pro rata based upon the amounts so
                                       --- ----                          
payable to such Persons.

          SECTION  12.05.  Calculation of Earned Discount After Assignment.
                           -----------------------------------------------  
Upon and after the assignment of the Transferee's Interest (or any portion
thereof) pursuant to this Article XII, the Transferee Rate used to calculate
                          -----------                                       
Earned Discount from time to time with respect to the Transferee's Interest (or
the portion thereof so assigned) for each applicable Yield Period beginning
after the effective date of such assignment shall be the Bank Rate, unless the
Transferee, the Transferor and the assignee may agree in writing upon to use a
different Transferee Rate for calculating such Earned Discount.  If (i) the
Transferor fails to consent to any assignment of the Transferee's Interest (or
any portion thereof) proposed by the Transferee, (ii) the Transferee makes an
assignment of the Transferee's Interest (or such portion) to Deutsche Bank or
any Affiliate of Deutsche Bank as permitted under Section 12.01(b), and (iii) in
                                                  ----------------              
the opinion of the Agent, the Transferee was required by applicable law,
regulation or directive from any governmental authority to make such assignment,
then the Earned Discount with respect to the Transferee's Interest (or the
portion thereof so assigned) shall immediately begin to accrue at the Bank Rate
for the remainder of any then applicable Yield Period.

          SECTION  12.06.  Rights of Collateral Agent.  Each of IKON Capital and
                           --------------------------                           
the Transferor hereby agrees that, upon notice to the Transferor, the Collateral
Agent referred to in Section 12.01 may exercise all the rights of the Agent
                     -------------                                         
hereunder with respect to the Transferee's Interest (or all portions thereof,
and Collections with respect thereto, which are owned by the Transferee), and
all other rights and interests of the Transferee in, to or under this Agreement
or any other Transaction Document. Without limiting the foregoing, upon such
notice such Collateral Agent may request the Servicer to segregate the
Transferee's allocable share of Collections from the Transferor's allocable
share in accordance with Section 8.02(a), may give a notice designating a new
                         ---------------                                     
Servicer pursuant to Section 8.01(a), may give or require the Agent to give
                     ---------------                                       
notice to the Post Office Boxes and Designated Account Banks as referred to in
Section 8.03(a), and may direct the Obligors of Pool Receivables to make
- ---------------                                                         
payments in respect thereof directly to an account or lockbox designated by it,
in each case, to the same extent as the Transferee or the Agent might have done.

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                INDEMNIFICATION

          SECTION  13.01.  Indemnities by the Transferor.  (a)  General
                           -----------------------------        -------
Indemnity.  Without limiting any other rights which any such Person may have
- ---------                                                                   
hereunder or under applicable law, the Transferor hereby agrees to indemnify
each of the Agent, the Transferee, the Liquidity Banks, the Enhancement Bank,
Deutsche Bank, each of their respective Affiliates, successors, transferees,
participants and assigns and all officers, directors, shareholders, controlling
persons, employees and agents of any of the foregoing (each an "Indemnified
                                                                -----------
Party"), forthwith on demand, from and against any and all damages, losses,
- -----                                                                      
claims, liabilities and related costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements (all of the foregoing being collectively
referred to as "Indemnified Amounts") awarded against or incurred by any of them
                -------------------                                             
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the ownership or funding of the
Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof) or in respect of any Receivable
or any Contract, excluding, however, (a) Indemnified Amounts to the extent
                 ---------  -------                                       
resulting from gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Agent,
the Transferee or such Indemnified Party or (b) recourse (except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement) for Defaulted Receivables.  Without
limiting the foregoing, and subject to the foregoing exclusions, the Transferor
shall indemnify each Indemnified Party for Indemnified Amounts arising out of or
relating to:

                 (i)   the transfer by the Transferor of any interest in any
          Receivable other than the transfer of the Transferee's Interest to the
          Transferee pursuant to this Agreement and the grant of a security
          interest to the Transferee pursuant to Section 9.01;
                                                 ------------ 

                 (ii)  the breach of any representation or warranty made by the
          Transferor (or any of its officers) under or in connection with this
          Agreement, any Periodic Report or Pay Out Statement or any other
          information or report delivered by the Transferor or the Servicer
          pursuant hereto, which shall have been false or incorrect in any
          material respect when made or deemed made;

                 (iii) the failure by the Transferor to comply with any
          applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to any Pool Receivable
          or the related Contract, or the nonconformity of any Pool Receivable
          or the related Contract with any such applicable law, rule or
          regulation;

                                       49
<PAGE>
 
                 (iv)  the failure to vest and maintain vested in the Transferee
          an undivided percentage ownership interest, to the extent of the
          Transferee's Interest, in the Receivables in, or purporting to be in,
          the Receivables Pool, together with all Related Property, free and
          clear of any Lien, other than an Lien arising solely as a result of an
          act of the Transferee or the Agent, whether existing at the time of
          any Transfer or Reinvestment or at any time thereafter;

                 (v)   the failure to file, or any delay in filing, financing
          statements or other similar instruments or documents under the UCC of
          any applicable jurisdiction or other applicable laws with respect to
          any Pool Receivables or Related Property, whether at the time of any
          Transfer or Reinvestment or at any time thereafter;

                 (vi)  any dispute, claim, offset or defense (other than
          discharge in bankruptcy) of the Obligor to the payment of any
          Receivable in, or purporting to be in, the Receivables Pool
          (including, without limitation, a defense based on such Receivable or
          the related Contract not being a legal, valid and binding obligation
          of such Obligor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms),
          or any other claim resulting from the sale of the merchandise or
          services related to such Receivable or the furnishing or failure to
          furnish such merchandise or services;

                 (vii) any failure of the Transferor to perform its duties or
          obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;

                 (viii) any products liability claim arising out of or in
          connection with merchandise or services that are the subject of any
          Pool Receivable; or

                 (ix)  any tax or governmental fee or charge (but not including
          taxes upon or measured by net income), all interest and penalties
          thereon or with respect thereto, and all out-of-pocket costs and
          expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel in
          defending against the same, which may arise by reason of the transfer
          or ownership of the Transferee's Interest, any portion thereof or any
          other interest in the Pool Receivables or Related Property or in any
          goods which secure any such Pool Receivables.

          (b)    Indemnities by Servicer.  Without limiting any other rights
                 -----------------------
which any such Person may have hereunder or under applicable law, Servicer
hereby agrees to indemnify each of the Indemnified Parties, forthwith on demand,
from and against any

                                       50
<PAGE>
 
and all Indemnified Amounts awarded against or incurred by any of them arising
out or related to:

                 (i)   the fact that any representation or warranty made by the
          Servicer (or any of its officers) under or in connection with this
          Agreement, any Periodic Report or any other information or report
          delivered by the Servicer pursuant hereto shall have been false or
          incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

                 (ii)  the failure by the Servicer to comply with any applicable
          law, rule or regulation with respect to the servicing or collection of
          any Pool Receivable or the related Contract;

                 (iii) the failure of the Servicer or any subservicer to perform
          its duties or obligations in accordance with the provisions of this
          Agreement; and

                 (iv)  any dispute, claim, offset or defense of the Obligor to
          the payment of any Pool Receivable by reason of the action or inaction
          of the Servicer or any subservicer of the Servicer.

          (c)    Contest of Tax Claim; After-Tax Basis.  If any Indemnified
                 -------------------------------------
Party shall have notice of any attempt to impose or collect any tax or
governmental fee or charge for which indemnification will be sought from the
Transferor under Section 13.01(a)(ix), such Indemnified Party shall give prompt
                 --------------------
and timely notice of such attempt to the Transferor and the Transferor shall
have the right, at its expense, to participate in any proceedings resisting or
objecting to the imposition or collection of any such tax, governmental fee or
charge. Indemnification hereunder shall be in an amount necessary to make the
Indemnified Party whole after taking into account any tax consequences to the
Indemnified Party of the payment of any of the aforesaid taxes and the receipt
of the indemnity provided hereunder or of any refund of any such tax previously
indemnified hereunder, including the effect of such tax or refund on the amount
of tax measured by net income or profits which is or was payable by the
Indemnified Party.

          (d) Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided
              ------------                                                 
above in this Section 13.01 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or is
              -------------                                             
insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless, then the Transferor or IKON
Capital, as the case may be, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
received by such Indemnified Party on the one hand and the Transferor or IKON
Capital, as the case may

                                       51
<PAGE>
 
be, on the other hand but also the relative fault of such Indemnified Party as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations.


                                  ARTICLE XIV

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

          SECTION  14.01.  Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any
                           ---------------                                
provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure by the Transferor or
IKON Capital therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
in writing and signed by (a) the Transferor, IKON Capital, the Agent and the
Transferee (with respect to an amendment) or (b) the Agent and the Transferee
(with respect to a waiver or consent by them) or the Transferor or IKON Capital
(with respect to a waiver or consent by the Transferor or IKON Capital), as the
case may be, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

          SECTION  14.02.  Notices, Etc.  All notices and other communications
                           ------------                                       
provided for hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing
(including facsimile communication) and shall be personally delivered or sent by
express mail or courier, or by certified mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile,
to the intended party at the address or facsimile number of such party set forth
in Schedule 14.02 hereto or at such other address or facsimile number as shall
   --------------                                                             
be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties hereto.
All such notices and communications shall be effective, (a) if personally
delivered or sent by express mail or courier, when received, (b) if sent by
certified mail, three Business Days after having been deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, and (c) if transmitted by facsimile, when sent, receipt
confirmed by telephone or electronic means, except that notices and
communications pursuant to Article I shall not be effective until received.
                           ---------                                       

          SECTION  14.03.  No Waiver; Remedies.  No failure on the part of the
                           -------------------                                
Agent, any Affected Party, any Indemnified Party, the Transferee or any assignee
of the Transferee's Interest or any portion thereof to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein
provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Without limiting the foregoing, Deutsche Bank is hereby authorized by the
Transferor at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or
demand, provisional or final) at any

                                       52
<PAGE>
 
time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by Deutsche Bank to or for
the credit or the account of the Transferor, now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement, to the Agent, any Affected Party, any Indemnified Party or the
Transferee, or their respective successors and assigns.

          SECTION  14.04.  Binding Effect; Survival.  This Agreement shall be
                           ------------------------                          
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Transferor, IKON Capital, the
Agent, the Transferee and their respective successors and assigns, and the
provisions of Section 4.04 and Article XIII shall inure to the benefit of the
              ------------     ------------                                  
Affected Parties and the Indemnified Parties, respectively, and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, nothing in the foregoing shall be
                        --------  -------                                   
deemed to authorize any assignment not permitted by Section 12.01.  This
                                                    -------------       
Agreement shall create and constitute the continuing obligations of the parties
hereto in accordance with its terms, and shall remain in full force and effect
until such time as the Final Pay Out Date shall have occurred.  The rights and
remedies with respect to any breach of any representation and warranty made by
the Transferor or IKON Capital pursuant to Article VI and the provisions of
                                           ----------                      
Article XIII, Section 4.04 and Sections 14.05 through 14.09 shall be continuing
- ------------  ------------     --------------         -----                    
and shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

          SECTION  14.05.  Costs, Expenses and Taxes.  In addition to its
                           -------------------------                     
obligations under Article XIII, the Transferor and IKON Capital jointly and
                  ------------                                             
severally agree to pay on demand:

                 (a)   all costs and expenses incurred by the Agent, the
          Transferee, Deutsche Bank and their respective Affiliates in
          connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery,
          the administration (including periodic auditing) or the enforcement
          of, or any actual or claimed breach of, this Agreement and the other
          Transaction Documents, including, without limitation (i) the
          reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any of such Persons
          incurred in connection with any of the foregoing or in advising such
          Persons as to their respective rights and remedies under any of the
          Transaction Documents, and (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
          (including reasonable fees and expenses of independent accountants)
          incurred in connection with any review of the Transferor's or IKON
          Capital's books and records either prior to the execution and delivery
          hereof or pursuant to Section 7.01(c); and
                                ---------------     

                 (b)   all stamp and other taxes and fees payable or determined
          to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, filing and
          recording of this Agreement or any or the other Transaction Documents
          (and the Transferor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Party against
          any liabilities

                                       53
<PAGE>
 
          with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omission to
          pay such taxes and fees).

Transferor also agrees to pay a pro rata share of Transferee's general operating
costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, rating agency fees,
management fees and the fees and expenses of counsel, which pro rata share shall
be determined by dividing the daily average annual Transferee's Investment by
the daily average Commercial Paper Notes issued by Transferee, provided,
                                                               -------- 
however, that in no event shall such pro rata share exceed .01% per annum of the
- -------                                                                         
average annual Transferee's Investment.  Such fee shall be payable on the last
day of each February for the calendar year ending on the immediately preceding
December 31.

          SECTION  14.06.  No Proceedings.  The Transferor, IKON Capital and
                           --------------                                   
Deutsche Bank, individually and as Agent, each hereby agrees that it will not
institute against or join any other Person in instituting against, the
Transferee, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or
liquidation proceeding, or other proceeding under any Federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law, for one year and a day after the latest maturing
Commercial Paper Note is paid.  The foregoing shall not limit the Transferor's
or IKON Capital's right to file any claim in or otherwise take any action with
respect to any insolvency proceeding that was instituted by any Person other
than the Transferor or IKON Capital.

          SECTION  14.07.  Confidentiality of Transferor Information. (a)
                           -----------------------------------------      
Confidential Information.  Each of the Transferee and the Agent acknowledges
- -------------------------                                                   
that certain of the information provided to such party by or on behalf of the
Transferor or IKON Capital in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby is or may be confidential, and each such party
severally agrees that, unless the Transferor or IKON Capital shall otherwise
agree in writing, and except as provided in subsection (b), such party will not
                                            --------------                     
disclose to any other person or entity:

                 (i)   any information regarding, or copies of, any Periodic
          Reports, Pay Out Statements, and any non-public financial statements,
          reports and other information, furnished by the Transferor or IKON
          Capital to the Transferee or the Agent pursuant to this Agreement, or

                 (ii)  any other information regarding the Transferor or IKON
          Capital which is designated by the Transferor or IKON Capital to such
          party in writing or otherwise as confidential;

the information referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, is collectively
                               --------------------                       
referred to as the "Transferor Information"; provided, however, "Transferor
                    ----------------------   --------  -------   ----------
Information" shall not include
- -----------                   

                                       54
<PAGE>
 
                       (A)   any information which is or becomes generally
                 available to the general public or to such party on a
                 nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Transferor
                 or IKON Capital or which was known to such party on a
                 nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure by the Transferor
                 or IKON Capital, or

                       (B)   general information regarding the nature of this
                 Agreement, the basic terms hereof (including without limitation
                 the amount and nature of the Commitment and the Transferee's
                 Investments hereunder and of the recourse or other credit
                 enhancement provided by hereunder), the nature, amount and
                 status of the Pool Receivables, and the current and/or
                 historical ratios of losses to liquidations and/or outstandings
                 with respect to the Receivables Pool, and the identity of the
                 Transferor and IKON Capital.

          (b)    Disclosure.  Notwithstanding subsection (a), each party may
                 ----------                   --------------
disclose any Transferor Information:

                 (i)   to any of such party's attorneys, consultants and
          auditors, and to such of the Liquidity Banks, the Enhancement Bank,
          any dealer or placement agent for the Transferee's commercial paper,
          and any actual or potential assignees of, or participants in, any of
          the rights or obligations of the Transferee, the Liquidity Banks, the
          Enhancement Bank or Deutsche Bank under or in connection with this
          Agreement, who (A) are informed by such party of the confidential
          nature of the Transferor Information and the terms of this Section
                                                                     -------
          14.07, and (B) are subject to confidentiality restrictions generally
          -----
          consistent with this Section 14.07,
                               ------------- 

                 (ii)  to any rating agency that maintains a rating for the
          Transferee's commercial paper or is considering the issuance of such a
          rating, for the purposes of reviewing the credit of the Transferee in
          connection with such rating,

                 (iii) to any other party to this Agreement, for the purposes
          contemplated hereby,

                 (iv)  to any Person whom any dealer or placement agent for the
          Transferee shall have identified as an actual or potential investor in
          Commercial Paper Notes, and who shall have agreed with Deutsche Bank
          in writing to keep such information confidential and use it only in
          connection with considering or monitoring such investments, subject to
          applicable legal requirements (it being understood that such Person
          may also receive the information excluded from the

                                       55
<PAGE>
 
          definition of "Transferor Information" pursuant to clause (B) of
                                                             ----------
          subsection (a)),
          --------------

                 (v)   as may be required by any municipal, state, federal or
          other regulatory body having or claiming to have jurisdiction over
          such party, in order to comply with any law, order, regulation,
          regulatory request or ruling applicable to such party, or

                 (vi)  subject to subsection (c), in the event such party is
                                  --------------
          legally compelled (by interrogatories, requests for information or
          copies, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to
          disclose such Transferor Information.

          (c)    Legal Compulsion.  In the event that any party hereto (other
                 ----------------
than the Transferor or IKON Capital) or any of its representatives is requested
or becomes legally compelled (by interrogatories, requests for information or
documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose
any of the Transferor Information, such party will (or will cause its
representatives to)

                 (i)   provide the Transferor or IKON Capital with prompt
          written notice of such request or legal compulsion; and

                 (ii)  at IKON Capital's expense, use its reasonable efforts to
          cooperate with the Transferor and IKON Capital in making an
          appropriate objection to disclosure, seeking a protective order or
          taking such other actions as may be lawful and appropriate in order to
          maintain the confidentiality of such Transferor Information.

          (d)    Survival.  This Section 14.07 shall survive termination of this
                 --------        -------------
Agreement.

          SECTION  14.08.  Confidentiality of Program Information. (a)  Program
                           --------------------------------------       -------
Information.  Each party hereto (other than DBNY) acknowledges that DBNY regards
- -----------                                                                     
the structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and by the
Liquidity Agreement, the Enhancement Agreement and the other Program Documents
referred to therein, to be proprietary, and each such party severally agrees
that:

                 (i)   unless DBNY shall otherwise agree in writing, and except
          as provided in subsection (b), such party will not disclose to any
                         --------------
          other person or entity:

                       (A)   any information regarding, or copies of, this
                 Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby,

                                       56
<PAGE>
 
                       (B)   any information regarding, or copies of, the
                 Liquidity Agreement, the Enhancement Agreement, any of the
                 other Program Documents referred to therein, or any transaction
                 contemplated thereby,

                       (C)   any information regarding the organization or
                 business of the Transferee generally, or

                       (D)   any information regarding Deutsche Bank which is
                 designated by DBNY to such party in writing or otherwise as
                 confidential or not otherwise available to the general public

(the information referred to in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) above, whether
                                -----------  ---  ---     ---               
furnished by the Transferee, DBNY, any Liquidity Bank, the Enhancement Bank, any
assignee of or participant in any rights or obligations of the Transferee, any
Liquidity Bank or the Enhancement Bank, or any attorney for or other
representative of any of the foregoing (each a "Program Information Provider"),
                                                ----------------------------   
is collectively referred to as the "Program Information"; provided, however,
                                    -------------------   --------  ------- 
"Program Information" shall not include any information which is or becomes
- --------------------                                                       
generally available to the general public or to such party on a nonconfidential
basis from a source other than DBNY or any other Program Information Provider,
or which was known to such party on a nonconfidential basis prior to its
disclosure by DBNY or any other Program Information Provider);

                 (ii)  such party will make the Program Information available to
          only such of its officers, directors, employees and agents who (A) in
          the good faith belief of such party, have a need to know such Program
          Information, (B) are informed by such party of the confidential nature
          of the Program Information and the terms of this Section 14.08, and
                                                           -------------
          (C) are subject to confidentiality restrictions consistent with this
          Section 14.08;
          ------------- 

                 (iii) such party will use the Program Information solely for
          the purposes of evaluating, administering and enforcing the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement and making any necessary
          business judgments with respect thereto; and

                 (iv)  such party will, upon demand, return (and cause each of
          its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, consultants or
          auditors (collectively, "representatives") to return) to DBNY, or to
                                   ---------------
          such other Program Information Provider as shall have furnished it
          with any Program Information, all documents or other written material
          received from DBNY or such other Program Information Provider which
          constitute or contain any

                                       57
<PAGE>
 
          Information described in subclause (B), (C), or (D) of clause (i)
                                   -------------  ---     ---    ----------
          above and all copies of such documents or other material in its
          possession or in the possession of any of its representatives, and
          will not retain any copy, summary or extract thereof on any storage
          medium whatsoever.

          (b)    Disclosure.  Notwithstanding clause (i) of subsection (a), each
                 ----------                   ----------    --------------
party may disclose any Program Information:
      
                 (i)   to its attorneys, consultants and auditors who (A) in the
          good faith belief of such party, have a need to know such Program
          Information, (B) are informed by such party of the confidential nature
          of the Program Information and the terms of this Section 14.08, and
                                                           -------------
          (C) are subject to confidentiality restrictions consistent with this
          Section 14.08,
          ------------- 

                 (ii)  to any other party to this Agreement, for the purposes
          contemplated hereby,

                 (iii) as may be required by any municipal, state, federal or
          other regulatory body having or claiming to have jurisdiction over
          such party, in order to comply with any law, order, regulation,
          regulatory request or ruling applicable to such party (provided that
                                                                 --------
          prior to making any required filing of this agreement with the
          Securities and Exchange Commission, Transferor and IKON Capital shall
          apply for confidential treatment and shall expurgate those provisions
          requested by the Agent), or

                 (iv)  subject to subsection (c), in the event such party is
                                  --------------
          legally compelled (by interrogatories, requests for information or
          copies, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to
          disclose such Program Information.

          (c)    Legal Compulsion.  In the event that any party hereto (other
                 ----------------
than DBNY) or any one to whom such party or its representatives transmits the
Program Information is requested or becomes legally compelled (by
interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil
investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Program
Information, such party will (or will cause its representatives to)

                 (i)   provide DBNY with prompt written notice of such request
          or legal compulsion;

                 (ii)  unless DBNY agrees that such Program Information may be
          disclosed, make a timely objection to the request or compulsion to
          provide such Program Information on the basis that such Program
          Information is confidential and subject to the agreements contained in
          this Section 14.08; and
               -------------     

                                       58
<PAGE>
 
                 (iii) at the expense of DBNY or any other Program Information
          Provider, take any action as DBNY or such other Program Information
          Provider may reasonably request to seek a protective order or other
          appropriate remedy and otherwise to maintain the confidentiality of
          such Program Information.

          (d)    Survival.  This Section 14.08 shall survive termination of this
                 --------        -------------                                  
Agreement.

          SECTION  14.09.  No Recourse Against Other Parties.  No recourse under
                           ---------------------------------                    
any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Transferee contained in this
Agreement shall be had against any stockholder, employee, officer, director, or
incorporator of the Transferee, provided, however, that nothing in this Section
                                --------  -------                       -------
14.09 shall relieve any of the foregoing Persons from any liability which such
- -----                                                                         
Person may otherwise have for such Person's gross intentional misrepresentation
or willful misconduct.

          SECTION  14.10.  Definitions; Other Terms.  Unless otherwise defined
                           ------------------------                           
herein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set
forth in Appendix A attached to this Agreement and by this reference made a part
         ----------                                                             
hereof.  All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  All terms used in
Article 9 of the UCC in the State of New York, and not specifically defined
herein, are used herein as defined in such Article 9.

          SECTION  14.11.  Captions and Cross References.  The various captions
                           -----------------------------                       
(including, without limitation, the table of contents) in this Agreement are
provided solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.  Unless otherwise indicated,
references in this Agreement to any Section, Appendix, Schedule or Exhibit are
to such Section of or Appendix, Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement, as the
case may be, and references in any Section, subsection, or clause to any
subsection, clause or subclause are to such subsection, clause or subclause of
such Section, subsection or clause.

          SECTION  14.12.  Integration.  This Agreement and the other
                           -----------                               
Transaction Documents contain a final and complete integration of all prior
expressions by the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof, superseding all prior oral or written understandings.

          SECTION  14.13.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE RIGHTS
                           -------------                                       
AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT TO THE
EXTENT THAT THE PERFECTION (AND THE

                                       59
<PAGE>
 
EFFECT OF PERFECTION OR NONPERFECTION) OF THE INTERESTS OF THE TRANSFEREE IN THE
RECEIVABLES OR THE RELATED PROPERTY IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE JURISDICTION
OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

          SECTION  14.14.  Waiver Of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE TRANSFEROR AND
                           --------------------                             
IKON CAPITAL HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION
OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER
TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH
MAY BE IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY
BANKING OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL
BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT A JURY.

          SECTION  14.15.  Consent To Jurisdiction; Waiver Of Immunities.  EACH
                           ---------------------------------------------       
OF THE TRANSFEROR, IKON CAPITAL AND TRANSFEREE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT:

                 (a)   IT IRREVOCABLY (i) SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION, FIRST, OF
          ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT, AND SECOND, IF FEDERAL JURISDICTION
          IS NOT AVAILABLE, OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT, IN EITHER CASE SITTING
          IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF
          OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, (ii) AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT
          OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED ONLY IN SUCH
          NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT AND NOT IN ANY OTHER COURT, AND (iii)
          WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO, THE DEFENSE OF
          AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

                 (b)   TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY
          IMMUNITY FROM THE JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS
          (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT,
          ATTACHMENT IN AID TO EXECUTION, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT
          TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY
          IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
          AGREEMENT.

          SECTION  14.16.  Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be
                           -------------------------                        
executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.

          SECTION  14.17.  Syndication of Liquidity.  Each of IKON Capital and
                           ------------------------                           
the Transferor agrees to cooperate with DBNY in connection with the syndication
of the Liquidity Agreement.

          SECTION  14.18.  Tax Treatment.  It is the intent of Transferor and
                           -------------                                     
Transferee that, for federal, state and local

                                       60
<PAGE>
 
income and franchise tax purposes, the Transferee's Interest will be treated as
evidence of indebtedness secured by the Receivables, Related Security and
Collections and other proceeds thereof.  Transferor, by entering into this
Agreement, and Transferee agree to treat the Transferee's Interest for federal,
state and local income and franchise tax purposes as indebtedness.  The
provisions of this Agreement and all related Transaction Documents shall be
construed to further such intentions of the parties.



                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       61
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
 by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first
 above written.


                                            TWIN TOWERS INC.,
                                            as Transferee


                                            By
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Name Printed:
                                                           ------------------ 
                                              Title:
                                                    -------------------------

                                            DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
                                            as Agent


                                            By
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Name Printed:  Robert M. Lupoli
                                              Title:         Attorney-in-Fact


                                            IKON FUNDING, INC.,
                                            as Transferor


                                            By
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Name Printed:
                                                           ------------------
                                              Title:
                                                    -------------------------

                                            IKON CAPITAL, INC.,
                                            as Servicer


                                            By
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Name Printed:
                                                           ------------------
                                              Title:
                                                    -------------------------

                                      S-1
<PAGE>
 
                                  APPENDIX A

                                  DEFINITIONS



     This is Appendix A to the Amended and Restated Receivables Transfer
             ----------                                                 
Agreement, dated as of March 31, 1997, among IKON Funding, Inc., IKON Capital,
Inc., as initial Servicer, Twin Towers Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG, New York
Branch, as Agent (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, this "Agreement").  Each reference in this Appendix A to any Section,
            ---------                            ----------                
Appendix or Exhibit refers to such Section of or Appendix or Exhibit to this
Agreement.

     As used in this Agreement, unless the context requires a different meaning,
the following terms have the meanings indicated hereinbelow:

     "Adjusted Average Maturity" means, on any day, the sum of (a) 45 days plus
      -------------------------                         ---                ----
(b) the Average Maturity for such day.

     "Affected Party" means each of the Transferee, the Liquidity Banks, the
      --------------                                                        
Enhancement Bank, any permitted assignee of the Transferee, any assignee of or
participant in any of the Transferee's obligations to the Liquidity Banks or the
Enhancement Bank, Deutsche Bank (including any branch or agency thereof) and any
successor to Deutsche Bank or DBNY as the Agent.

     "Affiliate" when used with respect to a Person means any other Person
      ---------                                                           
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person.


     "Affiliated Party" means each of IKON Capital and each of its Affiliates.
      ----------------                                                        

     "Agent" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
      -----                                   -------- 

     "Agent's Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(a).
      ---------------                               --------------- 

     "Alternate Base Rate" means, on any date, a fluctuating rate of interest
      -------------------                                                    
per annum equal to the higher of
- --- -----                       

          (a)  1.00% above the rate of interest most recently announced by
     Deutsche Bank as its prime lending rate for unsecured commercial loans
     within the United States; and

          (b)  1.00% above the rate per annum at which DBNY, as a branch of a 
                                    --- ----- 
     foreign bank, in its sole discretion, can acquire federal funds in the
     interbank overnight federal

                                      A-1
<PAGE>
 
     funds market, including through brokers of recognized standing.
     
The Alternate Base Rate is not necessarily intended to be the lowest rate of
interest determined by Deutsche Bank or DBNY in connection with extensions of
credit.

     "Authorized Servicing Officer" means (i) chief financial officer, chief
      ----------------------------                                          
accounting officer, controller or president, if IKON Capital is the Servicer and
(ii) such other officer as the Agent may agree to, if IKON Capital is not the
Servicer.

     "Average Maturity" means, on any day, that time period (expressed in days)
      ----------------                                                         
equal to the weighted average maturity of the Pool Receivables as shall be
calculated by the Servicer, as set forth in the most recent Periodic Report in
accordance with the provisions thereof.  If the Agent shall disagree with any
such calculation, the Agent may recalculate the Average Maturity for such day,
which calculation shall, absent manifest error, be binding upon the Servicer,
the Transferor and the Transferee.

     "Bank Rate" for any Yield Period for any Rate Tranche means a rate per
      ---------                                                         ---
annum equal to the sum of (a) .30% per annum, plus (b) the Eurodollar Rate
- -----                              --- -----  ----                        
(Reserve Adjusted) for such Yield Period; provided, however, that if (i) it
                                          --------  -------                
shall become unlawful for the Agent, any Liquidity Bank or the Enhancement Bank
to obtain funds in the London interbank market in order to fund any Transfer or
to maintain any Rate Tranche, or if such funds shall not be reasonably available
to the Agent, any Liquidity Bank or the Enhancement Bank, or (ii) there shall
not be time prior to the commencement of an applicable Yield Period to determine
a Eurodollar Rate in accordance with its terms, then the "Bank Rate" for any
                                                          ---------         
Yield Period for such Rate Tranche shall be equal to a rate of (x) .425% per
                                                                         ---
annum, plus (y) the Domestic CD Rate (Adjusted) for such Yield Period.
- -----  ----                                                           

     "Business Day" means a day on which both (a) the Agent at its principal
      ------------                                                          
office in New York City, New York is open for business and (b) commercial banks
in New York City are not authorized or required to be closed for business.

     "Collections" means, with respect to any Receivable, all funds which either
      -----------                                                               
(a) are received by IKON Capital, the Transferor or the Servicer from or on
behalf of the related Obligors in payment of any amounts owed (including,
without limitation, purchase prices, finance charges, interest and all other
charges) in respect of such Receivable, or applied to such amounts owed by such
Obligors (including, without limitation, insurance payments that IKON Capital,
the Transferor or Servicer applies in the ordinary course of its business to
amounts owed in respect of such Receivable and net proceeds of sale or other

                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
disposition of repossessed or returned Equipment or other collateral or property
of the Obligor or any other party directly or indirectly liable for payment of
such Receivable and available to be applied thereon), (b) are received by IKON
Capital, the Transferor or the Servicer in payment of the purchase price of such
Receivable or recourse obligations of any Person related to such Receivable,
whether pursuant to arrangements with the dealers or otherwise, or (c) are
deemed to have been received by IKON Capital, the Transferor or any other Person
as a Collection pursuant to Section 3.03; provided that, so long as IKON Capital
                            ------------  -------- ----                         
or an Affiliate of IKON Capital is the Servicer, late payment charges,
collection fees and extension fees shall not be deemed to be Collections.

     "Commercial Paper Notes" means short-term promissory notes issued or to be
      ----------------------                                                   
issued by the Transferee to fund its investments in accounts receivable or other
financial assets.

     "Commercial Paper Rate" for any Yield Period for any Rate Tranche means a
      ---------------------                                                   
rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the rate or, if more than one rate, the
     --- -----                                                                
weighted average of the rates, determined by converting to an interest-bearing
equivalent rate per annum the discount rate (or rates) at which Commercial Paper
                --- -----                                                       
Notes having a term equal to such Yield Period and to be issued to fund the
Transfer of or to maintain such Rate Tranche by the Transferee (including,
without limitation, the Transferee's Tranche Investment and accrued and unpaid
Earned Discount) may be sold by any placement agent or commercial paper dealer
selected by the Agent, as agreed between each such agent or dealer and the
Agent, plus (ii) the commissions and charges charged by such placement agent or
       ----                                                                    
commercial paper dealer with respect to such Commercial Paper Notes, expressed
as a percentage of the face amount of such Commercial Paper Notes and converted
to an interest-bearing equivalent rate per annum.
                                       --- ----- 

     "Commitment" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.
      ----------                               ------------ 

     "Commitment Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04.
      ---------------------------                               ------------ 

     "Company Note" has the meaning set forth in the Transfer Agreement.
      ------------                                                      

     "Concentration Limit" for any Obligor at any time means the greater of (a)
      -------------------                                                      
the Special Concentration Limit, if any, for such Obligor and (b) 2.0% of the
Transferee's Investment at such time.

     "Contingent Obligation" as to any Person means any obligation of such
      ---------------------                                               
Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, leases,
dividends or other contractual obligations ("primary obligations") of any other
                                             -------------------               
Person (the

                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
"primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including,
 ---------------                                                            
without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,
(a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct
or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the
purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working
capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the
net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property,
securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any
such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of
such primary obligation or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of
such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that
                                                         --------  -------      
the term Contingent Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of any
Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum
reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person
in good faith.

     "Contract" means a lease, conditional sale agreement or other contract
      --------                                                             
between IKON Capital and any Person pursuant to or under which such Person shall
be obligated to make payments to IKON Capital from time to time.

     "Credit and Collection Policy" means those credit and collection policies
      ----------------------------                                            
and practices relating to Contracts and Receivables described in Schedule
                                                                 --------
6.01(o)-2, as modified without violating Section 7.03(c).
- ---------                                --------------- 

     "DBNY" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
      ----                                   -------- 

     "Dealer Terminations" means Pool Receivables that have been terminated or
      -------------------                                                     
prepaid in connection with a trade in or trade up or any other reason (other
than a default under such Pool Receivable) in a circumstance where the Obligor
did not make a cash payment to the Transferor in an amount at least equal to the
Unpaid Balance of such Pool Receivable.

     "Dealer Termination Ratio" means the ratio (expressed as a percentage)
      ------------------------                                             
computed as of the last day of each month by dividing (x) the aggregate amount
of the Unpaid Balance of all Dealer Terminations that were terminated or prepaid
during such month by (y) the Collections of Pool Receivables during such month.

     "Default Ratio" means the ratio (expressed as a percentage) computed as of
      -------------                                                            
the last day of each month by dividing (x) the aggregate Unpaid Balance of all
Pool Receivables that are

                                      A-4
<PAGE>
 
Defaulted Receivables as of such date by (y) the aggregate Unpaid Balance of all
Pool Receivables on such date.

     "Default and Dilution Reserve" on any day means an amount equal to the
      ----------------------------                                         
product of (a) the Reserve Percentage at the close of business of the Transferee
on such day, times (b) the sum of (i) the Transferee's Investment at the opening
             -----                                                              
of business of the Transferee on such day plus (ii) the Discount Factor on such
                                          ----                                 
day; provided that from and after the Commitment Termination Date, the Default
     --------                                                                 
and Dilution Reserve shall be the greater of (1) the foregoing amount and (2)
6.5% of the sum described in the foregoing clause (b), calculated as of the
                                           ----------                      
Month End Date immediately preceding such Commitment Termination Date.

     "Default Reserve Percentage" means, on any day, the greater of (a) 2.75
      --------------------------                                            
times the highest average of the sum of the Delinquency Ratio plus the Default
                                                              ----            
Ratio for three consecutive months during the 12 calendar months preceding or
ending on such day, and (b) four times the highest Losses-to-Liquidations Ratio
on the last day of any of the 12 calendar months preceding or ending on such
day.

     "Defaulted Receivable" means a Receivable:  (a) as to which any payment, or
      --------------------                                                      
part thereof, remains unpaid for 90 or more days from the original due date for
such payment, (b) as to which the Obligor thereof is the Obligor on any other
Defaulted Receivable, (c) as to which an Event of Bankruptcy has occurred and
remains continuing with respect to the Obligor thereunder, (d) as to which
payments have been extended, or the terms of payment thereof rewritten, without
the Agent's consent, except as set forth herein or (e) which, consistent with
the Credit and Collection Policy, would be written off the Transferor's or IKON
Capital's books as uncollectible.

     "Delinquency Ratio" means the ratio (expressed as a percentage) computed as
      -----------------                                                         
of the last day of each month by dividing (x) the aggregate Unpaid Balance of
all Pool Receivables that were Delinquent Receivables at the end of such month
by (y) the aggregate Unpaid Balance of all Pool Receivables on such date.

     "Delinquent Receivable" means a Receivable that is not a Defaulted
      ---------------------                                            
Receivable and: (a) as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for
60 days or more from the original due date for such payment; or (b) which,
consistent with the Credit and Collection Policy, would be classified as
delinquent by IKON Capital.

     "Designated Account" means any bank account into which collections from
      ------------------                                                    
Pool Receivables are deposited.

                                      A-5
<PAGE>
 
     "Designated Account Agreement" means a letter agreement, in substantially
      ----------------------------                                            
the form of Exhibit 5.01(h), among the Transferor, IKON Capital and any
            ---------------                                            
Designated Account Bank.

     "Designated Account Bank" means any of the banks holding one or more
      -----------------------                                            
Designated Accounts.

     "Designated Obligor" means, at any time, all Obligors except any Obligor as
      ------------------                                                        
to which the Agent has, at least three Business Days prior to the date of
determination, given notice to the Transferor that such Obligor shall not be
considered a Designated Obligor.

     "Deutsche Bank" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
      -------------                                   -------- 

     "Dilution Percentage" means, for any day, 15% times the highest Dealer
      -------------------                                                  
Termination Ratio occurring for the immediately preceding three months.

     "Dilution Reserve Percentage" means, for any day, the sum of the Dilution
      ---------------------------                                             
Percentages for each of the 12 months ending on or preceding such day divided by
12.

     "Discount Amount" at any time means an amount equal to (i) the aggregate
      ---------------                                                        
Unpaid Balance of all Eligible Receivables at such time minus (ii) the aggregate
                                                        -----                   
Present Value of all Eligible Receivables at such time.

     "Discount Factor" at any time means an amount equal to the sum of the
      ---------------                                                     
aggregate accrued and unpaid Earned Discount with respect to all Rate Tranches
at such time.

     "Dollars" means dollars in lawful money of the United States of America.
      -------                                                                

     "Domestic CD Rate (Adjusted)" for any Yield Period for any Rate Tranche
      ---------------------------                                           
means a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of
             ---------                                                        
1%) determined pursuant to the following formula:

          Domestic CD Rate = Domestic CD Rate + Assessment
            (Adjusted)       ----------------     Rate         
                             1-Reserve            
                               Requirement

where:
- ----- 

          "Domestic CD Rate" means, with respect to any Yield Period for any 
           ----------------  
          Rate Tranche, a rate of interest equal to the average of the secondary
          market morning offering rates in the United States for time
          certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks for
          a

                                      A-6
<PAGE>
 
          period approximately equal to such Yield Period in an amount
          substantially equal to the Transferee's Tranche Investment of such
          Rate Tranche, as such offering rate is quoted to the Agent by the
          Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the morning of the first day
          of such Yield Period; provided, however, that if the Agent shall not 
                                --------  -------             
          receive any such quote by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York by
          11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the morning of the first day of any
          Yield Period, then "Domestic CD Rate" shall mean, with respect to such
                              ----------------            
          Yield Period, the rate of interest determined by the Agent to be the
          average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) of
          the bid rates quoted to the Agent in the secondary market at
          approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time (or as soon thereafter as
          practicable), on the first day of such Yield Period by two certificate
          of deposit dealers in New York or New York City of recognized standing
          selected by the Agent in its sole discretion for the purchase from the
          Agent at face value of certificates of deposit issued by the Agent in
          an amount approximately equal or comparable to such Transferee's
          Tranche Investment and having a maturity equal to such Yield Period.

          "Assessment Rate" for any Yield Period means the annual assessment 
           ---------------      
          rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of
          1%) applicable to the Agent on its insured deposits, on the Business
          Day immediately preceding the first day of such Yield Period, under
          the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, determined by annualizing the most
          recent assessment levied on the Agent by the Federal Deposit Insurance
          Corporation (together with any successor, the "FDIC") with respect to
                                                         ----  
          such deposits after giving effect to the most recent rebate granted to
          the Agent by the FDIC with respect to deposit insurance as well as the
          loss to the Agent (determined in the good faith judgment of the Agent)
          of the use of such rebate prior to the date a credit is taken by the
          Agent with respect to such rebate.

          "Reserve Requirement" means, with respect to any Yield Period, a 
           -------------------         
          percentage (expressed as a decimal) equal to the daily average during
          such Yield Period of the aggregate reserve requirement (including all
          basic, supplemental, marginal and other reserves and taking into
          account any transitional adjustments or other scheduled changes in
          reserve requirements during such period) specified under Regulation D,
          as applicable to the class of banks of which the Agent is a member, on
          deposits of the types used as a reference in

                                      A-7
<PAGE>
 
          determining the Domestic CD Rate and having a maturity approximately
          equal to such Yield Period.

     "Earned Discount" for any Rate Tranche for each day in a Yield Period
      ---------------                                                     
applicable to such Rate Tranche means an amount equal to the sum of (a) the
product of (i) the Transferee's Tranche Investment of such Rate Tranche on such
day, times (ii) the Transferee Rate for such Rate Tranche on such day, times
     -----                                                             -----
(iii) 1/360, plus (b) the Negative Spread Fee, if any, for such Rate Tranche on
             ----                                                              
such day.  No provision of the Agreement shall require the payment or permit the
collection of Earned Discount in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable
law.  Earned Discount for any Rate Tranche shall not be considered paid by any
distribution if at any time such distribution is rescinded or must otherwise be
returned for any reason.

     "Eligible Contract" means a Contract in one of the forms set forth in
      -----------------                                                   
Schedule 6.01(o)-1, with such variations as IKON Capital shall approve in its
- ------------------                                                           
reasonable business judgment and as shall not result in materially lesser rights
for IKON Capital as such forms, or otherwise approved by the Agent.

     "Eligible Receivable" means, at any time, a Receivable:
      -------------------                                   

     (a)  generated by IKON Capital in the ordinary course of its business that
was transferred to the Transferor pursuant to the Transfer Agreement;

     (b)  which constitutes an account, chattel paper or general intangible as
defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the jurisdiction that
governs the perfection of the Transferee's undivided ownership interest in such
Receivable;

     (c)  the Obligor of which is a United States resident, is not an Affiliate
of IKON Capital, and is not a government or a governmental subdivision or
agency;

     (d)  which is denominated and payable only in Dollars in the United States;

     (e)  the Obligor of which is a Designated Obligor;

     (f)  which arises under a Contract (i) in respect of which the related
Equipment has been delivered and unconditionally accepted by the Obligor, (ii)
under which the Obligor has made at least one regularly scheduled payment and
(iii) which is not cancelable by the Obligor before the end of its scheduled
termination date;

     (g)  which is not a Defaulted Receivable;

                                      A-8
<PAGE>
 
     (h)  with regard to which the warranty of the Transferor in Section 6.01(l)
                                                                 ---------------
is true and correct;

     (i)  the transfer of an undivided interest in which does not contravene or
conflict with any law or require the consent or approval of, or notice to, any
Person, including the Obligor;

     (j)  which arises under an Eligible Contract that has been duly authorized
and that, together with such Receivable, is in full force and effect and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Obligor of such
Receivable enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms and is
not subject to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or defense whatsoever;

     (k)  which, together with the Contract related thereto, does not contravene
in any material respect any laws, rules or regulations applicable thereto
(including, without limitation, laws, rules and regulations relating to usury,
truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit
opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy) and with respect to
which no party to the Contract related thereto is in violation of any such law,
rule or regulation in any material respect if such violation would impair the
collectibility of such Receivable;

     (l)  which (i) satisfies all applicable requirements of the Credit and
Collection Policy and (ii) complies with such other criteria and requirements
(other than those relating to the collectibility of such Receivable) as the
Agent may from time to time specify to the Transferor following thirty days'
notice;

     (m)  which is an account receivable, chattel paper or general intangible
representing all or part of the sales price of merchandise, insurance and
services within the meaning of section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended;

     (n)  which arises out of a current transaction, or the proceeds of which
have been or are to be used for current transactions, within the meaning of
section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

     (o)  which arises under a Contract (i) requiring payment within 30 days of
billing therefor, and (ii) providing for periodic payments in substantially
equal amounts over the scheduled term of the Contract that fully amortize the
initial lease or principal balance;

     (p)  which is evidenced by a Contract that constitutes either (i) a true
lease pursuant to which the Transferor owns the

                                      A-9
<PAGE>
 
Equipment free of any Liens other than such Contract and the Transferee's
Interest or (ii) a conditional sale contract pursuant to which the Transferor
has a first priority, perfected security interest in the related Equipment; and

     (q)  as to which the Agent has not notified the Transferor that the Agent
has determined, in its sole discretion, that such Receivable (or class of
Receivables) is not acceptable for purchase hereunder.

     "Enhancement Agreement" means and includes (a) the Enhancement Agreement
      ---------------------                                                  
dated as of September 14, 1993 among the Transferee, the Agent and DBNY and (b)
any other agreement (other than the Liquidity Agreement or another agreement of
the type described in clause (b) of the definition thereof) hereafter entered
                      ----------                                             
into by the Transferee providing for the issuance of one or more letters of
credit for the account of the Transferee, the making of loans to the Transferee
or any other extensions of credit to or for the account of the Transferee to
support all or any part of the Transferee's payment obligations under its
Commercial Paper Notes or to provide an alternate means of funding the
Transferee's investments in accounts receivable or other financial assets, in
each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Enhancement Bank" means and includes DBNY as lender to the Transferee and
      ----------------                                                         
issuer of a letter of credit for the Transferee's account under the Enhancement
Agreement, and any other or additional bank or other financial institution now
or hereafter extending credit or having a commitment to extend credit to or for
the account of the Transferee under the Enhancement Agreement.

     "Enhancement Draw" means a drawing under a letter of credit issued pursuant
      ----------------                                                          
to the Enhancement Agreement for the account of the Transferee, a loan to the
Transferee under the Enhancement Agreement or any other advance or disbursement
of funds to the Transferee or for the Transferee's account pursuant to the
Enhancement Agreement or any such letter of credit, in each case to the extent
such drawing, loan, advance or disbursement has not been repaid or reimbursed to
the Enhancement Bank in accordance with the Enhancement Agreement.

     "ERISA" means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
      -----                                                                    
amended from time to time.

     "Equipment" means office equipment.
      ---------                         

     "Eurodollar Rate (Reserve Adjusted)" means, with respect to any Yield
      ---------------------------------                                   
Period for any Rate Tranche, a rate per annum (rounded

                                     A-10
<PAGE>
 
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined pursuant to the
following formula:

            Eurodollar Rate          =           Eurodollar Rate
          (Reserve Adjusted)                     ---------------
                                                  1-Eurodollar
                                              Reserve Percentage

where:
- ----- 

          "Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to any Yield Period for any Rate
           ---------------  
          Tranche, the rate per annum at which Dollar deposits in immediately
          available funds are offered to the Eurodollar Office of the Agent two
          Eurodollar Business Days prior to the beginning of such period by
          prime banks in the interbank eurodollar market at or about 11:00 a.m.,
          New York City time for delivery on the first day of such Yield Period,
          for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount equal or
          comparable to the amount of the Transferee's Tranche Investment of
          such Rate Tranche.

          "Eurodollar Business Day" means a day of the year on which dealings 
           -----------------------  
          are carried on in the eurodollar interbank market of the Agent's
          Eurodollar Office and banks are open for business in London and are
          not required or authorized to close in New York City.

          "Eurodollar Office" shall mean the Cayman Islands office of the Agent 
           -----------------        
          or such other office or offices of the Agent (as designated from time
          to time by notice from the Agent to the Transferor) or such other
          office or offices through which the Agent determines the Eurodollar
          Rate. A Eurodollar Office of the Agent may be, at the option of the
          Agent, either a domestic or foreign office.

          "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, with respect to any Yield 
           -----------------------------  
          Period, the then applicable percentage (expressed as a decimal)
          prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board for determining reserve
          requirements applicable to "Eurocurrency Liabilities" pursuant to
          Regulation D.

     "Event of Bankruptcy" shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to a
      -------------------                                                    
Person if either:

          (a)  a case or other proceeding shall be commenced, without the
     application or consent of such Person, in any court, seeking the
     liquidation, reorganization, debt arrangement, dissolution, winding up, or
     composition or readjustment of debts of such Person, the appointment of a

                                     A-11
<PAGE>
 
     trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, sequestrator or the
     like for such Person or all or substantially all of its assets, or any
     similar action with respect to such Person under any law relating to
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or composition or
     adjustment of debts, and such case or proceeding shall continue
     undismissed, or unstayed and in effect, for a period of 30 consecutive
     days; or an order for relief in respect of such Person shall be entered in
     an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws or other similar laws
     now or hereafter in effect; or

          (b)  such Person shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding
     under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, debt
     arrangement, dissolution or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
     or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver,
     liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar
     official) for, such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or
     shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall
     fail to, or admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts generally as
     they become due, or, if a corporation or similar entity, its board of
     directors shall vote to implement any of the foregoing.

     "Federal Reserve Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
      ---------------------                                                     
System, or any successor thereto or to the functions thereof.

     "Fee Letter" has the meaning set forth in Schedule 4.03(a).
      ----------                               ---------------- 

     "Final Pay Out Date" means the date, after the Commitment Termination Date,
      ------------------                                                        
when the Transferee's Percentage has been reduced to zero in accordance with
clause (3) of Section 2.02.
- ----------    ------------ 

     "Financing Lease(s)" shall mean (a) any lease of property, real or 
      ------------------                                               
personal, the then present value of the minimum rental commitment of which
should, in accordance with general accepted accounting principles, be
capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee, and (b) any other such lease the
obligations under which are capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet of IKON
Capital and its Subsidiaries.

     "Funding Advance" means an advance (other than a daylight overdraft
      ---------------                                                   
advance) made by the Agent, in its sole discretion, to the Transferee for the
purpose of funding the Transferee's acquisition or maintenance of the
Transferee's Interest or a portion thereof.

                                     A-12
<PAGE>
 
     "Funding Advance Rate" on any day means a rate per annum equal to the
      --------------------                          ---------             
Alternate Base Rate in effect on such day, provided that, with respect to any
                                           --------                          
Funding Advance made in an amount less than $5,000 to fund the "tag end" of any
Rate Tranche funded by the issuance of Commercial Paper Notes, the Funding
Advance Rate shall mean the Commercial Paper Rate for such Rate Tranche.

     "IKON Capital" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
      ------------                                            

     "IKON Office" means IKON Office Solutions, Inc., an Ohio corporation
      -----------                                                        
(formerly Alco Standard Corporation).

     "Indemnified Amounts" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.01.
      -------------------                               ------------- 

     "Indebtedness" of a Person, at a particular date, means any of the
      ------------                                                     
following at such date, without duplication, (a) indebtedness of such Person for
borrowed money or evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or like instruments, (b)
indebtedness of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except current accounts payable and accrued expenses arising in the
ordinary course of business, (c) obligations of such Person under any Financing
Lease, (d) indebtedness of such Person arising under acceptance facilities, (e)
unreimbursed draws on letters of credit and (f) Contingent Obligations.

     "Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.01.
      -----------------                               ------------- 

     "Lien" means a lien, security interest, charge, or encumbrance, or other
      ----                                                                   
right or claim of any Person other than (a) a potential claim or right (that has
not yet been asserted) of a trustee appointed for an Obligor in connection with
any Event of Bankruptcy or (b) an unfiled lien for taxes accrued but not yet
payable.

     "Liquidity Agreement" means and includes (a) the Amended and Restated
      -------------------                                                 
Liquidity Loan Agreement dated as of March 31, 1997 among the Transferee, as
borrower, the Agent, DBNY, as lender, and DBNY, as agent for such lender, and
(b) any other agreement hereafter entered into by the Transferee providing for
the making of loans or other extensions of credit to the Transferee secured by a
security interest in the Transferee's Interest (or any portion thereof), to
support all or part of the Transferee's payment obligations under the Commercial
Paper Notes or to provide an alternate means of funding the Transferee's
Interest, and under which the amount available from such loans or other
extensions of credit is limited to an amount calculated by reference to the
value or unpaid balance of the Pool Receivables or any portion or category
thereof or the level of credit

                                     A-13
<PAGE>
 
enhancement available with respect thereto, in each case as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Liquidity Bank" means and includes DBNY as lender under the Liquidity
      --------------                                                       
Agreement, and any other or additional bank or other financial institution
hereafter extending credit to or for the account of the Transferee under the
Liquidity Agreement.

     "Liquidity Loan" means a loan made by a Liquidity Bank to the Transferee
      --------------                                                         
pursuant to the Liquidity Agreement.

     "Losses" means the aggregate Unpaid Balance of Pool Receivables (a) as to
      ------                                                                  
which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for 120 or more days from the
original due date for such payment or (b) as to which the Obligor thereof is
subject to a proceeding under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, 11
U.S.C. 101 et seq., as amended.
           -- ---              

     "Losses to Liquidations Ratio" means the percentage that (x) the aggregate
      ----------------------------                                             
Losses recognized during the one or six, as applicable, month period ending on
the most recent Month End Date was of (y) Collections of Pool Receivables during
such period.

     "Management Agreement" means the Management Agreement, dated as of March
      --------------------                                                   
31, 1997, between IKON Capital and the Transferor, as it may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Manager" means IKON Capital, in its capacity as manager pursuant to the
      -------                                                                
Management Agreement.

     "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to any event, condition or
      -----------------------                                                
circumstance, a material adverse effect on:

          (i)  the business, assets, financial condition, operations or
     prospects of the Transferor, IKON Capital or the Servicer;

          (ii)  the ability of the Servicer, IKON Capital or the Transferor to
     perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Transaction
     Document;

          (iii)  the validity, enforceability or collectibility of this
     Agreement, any other Transaction Document, the Receivables or the related
     Contracts;

          (iv)  the status, existence, perfection, priority or enforceability of
     the Transferee's Interest; or

          (v)  the collectibility of the Pool Receivables.

                                     A-14
<PAGE>
 
     "Maximum Investment" means $125,000,000, as such amount may be reduced at
      ------------------                                                      
the option of the Transferor pursuant to Section 1.05.
                                         ------------ 

     "Maximum Percentage" means 100%.
      ------------------             

     "Month End Date" means the last day of each calendar month.
      --------------                                            

     "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
      -------                                       

     "Negative Spread Fee" means, for any Rate Tranche on any day in a Yield
      -------------------                                                   
Period applicable to such Rate Tranche (computed without regard to clause (C) of
                                                                   ----------   
the proviso to the definition of "Yield Period"), the sum of:
    -------                                                  

           (a)  if such day occurs during a period in which a downgraded
     Liquidity Bank shall have placed funds in escrow pursuant to the Liquidity
     Agreement, an amount designated by the Agent to enable, when taken together
     with other amounts similarly designated with respect to other Rate
     Tranches, the Transferee to compensate such Liquidity Bank for the excess,
     if any, of (x) the Earned Discount which would have accrued on funds in
     such escrow account at the Bank Rate if such funds had been designated as a
     Liquidity Loan over (y) the income actually earned by investing such funds,
     plus
     ----

           (b)  if all or any part of such Yield Period falls in the Pay Out
     Period, the amount, if any, by which:

                (i)  the additional Earned Discount (calculated without taking
           into account any Negative Spread Fee) which would have accrued on the
           reductions of the Transferee's Tranche Investment of such Rate
           Tranche during such Yield Period if such reductions had remained as
           the Transferee's Investment, exceeds
                                        -------

                (ii) the income, if any, received by the Transferee from
           investing the proceeds of such reductions of the Transferee's
           Investment.

     "Net Pool Balance" at any time means an amount equal to
      ----------------                                      

           (a) the aggregate Present Value of the Eligible Receivables in the
     Receivables Pool at such time, minus
                                    -----

           (b) the aggregate (for all Obligors) of the amounts by which (i) the
     Unpaid Balance of all Pool Receivables of each Obligor exceeds (ii) the
     Concentration Limit for such Obligor at such time, minus
                                                        -----

                                     A-15
<PAGE>
 
           (c)  the aggregate amount of security deposits and prepaid rents
     related to the Pool Receivables.

     "Obligor" means a Person obligated to make payments with respect to a
      -------                                                             
Receivable.  In the case of an Obligor which is an Affiliate of any other
Obligor, the Concentration Limit, the Special Concentration Limit, if any, and
the aggregate Unpaid Balance of Pool Receivables of such Obligors shall be
calculated as if such Obligors were one Obligor.

     "Old Line Agreement" means the Receivables Transfer Agreement, dated as of
      ------------------                                                       
September 30, 1996, among the Transferor, IKON Capital, Old Line Funding Corp.
and Royal Bank of Canada, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

     "Original Receivable Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the
      -----------------------------                                  
Background.

     "Pay Out Period" means the period from and including the Commitment
      --------------                                                    
Termination Date and to and including the Final Pay Out Date.

     "Pay Out Servicer's Fee" at any time means an amount equal to the product
      ----------------------                                                  
of

           (a)  the Transferee's Investment at such time, times
                                                          -----

           (b) (i) the percentage per annum set forth in clause (a)(x) of the
                                  --- -----              -------------
     definition of the "Servicer's Fee", or (ii) if the Servicer's Fee is
     calculated pursuant to clause (b) of such definition, the percentage per
                            ----------                                    ---
     annum determined for each day by dividing the amount of the Servicer's Fee
     -----
     accrued for such day by the Transferee's Investment at the close of
     business on such day, multiplying the quotient by 360 and expressing the
     product as a percentage, times
                              -----

           (c)  a fraction, the numerator of which is the then Adjusted Average
     Maturity of the Receivables Pool and the denominator of which is 360.

     "Pay Out Statement" means a statement substantially in such form as shall
      -----------------                                                       
be proposed by the Agent and agreed to by the Transferor, such agreement not to
be unreasonably withheld.

     "Periodic Report" means a report in substantially the form of Exhibit
      ---------------                                              -------
3.05(a).
- ------- 

     "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a
      ------                                                            
business trust), joint stock company, trust,

                                     A-16
<PAGE>
 
unincorporated association, joint venture, government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof or any other entity.

     "Pool Receivable" means a Receivable in the Receivables Pool.
      ---------------                                             

     "Post Office Box" means any U.S. post office box to which the Obligors are
      ---------------                                                          
directed to, or do, send payments under the Pool Receivables.

     "Post Office Box Agreement" means an executed and undated notice, in
      -------------------------                                          
substantially the form of Exhibit A from the Transferor and IKON Capital to the
                          ---------                                            
applicable U.S. postal office.

     "Present Value" of any Receivable means, at any time, the present value of
      -------------                                                            
the Unpaid Balance thereof, discounted to the date of determination, at a rate
equal to (i) 2.50% plus (ii) the greater of (a) the one month Eurodollar Rate
                   ----                                                      
(Reserve Adjusted) and (b) the interpolated yield to maturity of the Treasury
security with a maturity equal to the then Average Maturity; provided that if
                                                             --------        
the Transferee has entered into (1) an interest rate swap agreement, the rate
for purposes of this clause (ii) will be the fixed interest rate that the
                     -----------                                         
Transferee is obligated to pay pursuant to such agreement or (2) an interest
rate cap, the rate for purposes of this clause (ii) will be the strike price of
                                        -----------                            
such cap.

     "Program Fee" has the meaning set forth in Fee Letter.
      -----------                                          

     "Program Fee Rate" has the meaning set forth in the Fee Letter.
      ----------------                                              

     "Program Information" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.08.
      -------------------                               ------------- 

     "Program Information Provider" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.08.
      ----------------------------                               ------------- 

     "Rate Tranche" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
      ------------                               ------------ 

     "Receivable" means any right to payment from a Person, whether constituting
      ----------                                                                
an account, chattel paper, instrument or general intangible, arising from the
sale or lease by IKON Capital (or by a dealer on behalf of IKON Capital) of
Equipment, and includes the right to payment of any interest or finance charges
and other obligations of such Person with respect thereto.

     "Receivables Pool" means at any time all then outstanding Receivables which
      ----------------                                                          
(a) were or are generated at any time in any of the marketplaces listed on
Schedule A-1, (as such list may be
- -------------                     

                                     A-17
<PAGE>
 
amended from time to time with the written consent of IKON Capital, the
Transferor and the Agent) and such other marketplaces as designated from time to
time by IKON Capital and Transferor and approved in writing by the Agent, and
(b) as to which the Obligors thereunder are Designated Obligors.

     "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, or any
      ------------                                                         
other regulation of the Federal Reserve Board that prescribes reserve
requirements applicable to nonpersonal time deposits or "Eurocurrency
Liabilities" as presently defined in Regulation D, as in effect from time to
time.

     "Regulatory Change" means, relative to any Affected Party
      -----------------                                       

           (a) any change in (or the adoption, implementation, phase-in or
     commencement of effectiveness of) any

               (i)   United States federal or state law or foreign law
           applicable to such Affected Party;

               (ii)  regulation, interpretation, directive, requirement or
           request (whether or not having the force of law) applicable to such
           Affected Party of (A) any court, government authority charged with
           the interpretation or administration of any law referred to in clause
                                                                          ------
           (a)(i) or of (B) any fiscal, monetary or other authority having
           ------
           jurisdiction over such Affected Party; or

               (iii) generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory
           accounting principles applicable to such Affected Party and affecting
           the application to such Affected Party of any law, regulation,
           interpretation, directive, requirement or request referred to in
           clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above; or
           -------------    -------

           (b) any change in the application to such Affected Party of any
     existing law, regulation, interpretation, directive, requirement, request
     or accounting principles referred to in clause (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii)
                                             -------------  -------    --------
     above; or

           (c) the issuance, publication or release of any regulation,
     interpretation, directive, requirement or request of a type described in
     clause (a)(ii) above to the effect that the obligations of a Liquidity Bank
     --------------
     under the Liquidity Agreement are not entitled to be included in the zero
     percent category of off-balance sheet assets for purposes of any risk-
     weighted capital guidelines applicable to such Liquidity Bank or any
     related Affected Party.

     "Reinvestment" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.
      ------------                               ------------ 

                                     A-18
<PAGE>
 
     "Reinvestment Period" means the period from and including the date hereof
      -------------------                                                     
to but excluding the Commitment Termination Date.

     "Related Property" means, with respect to any Pool Receivable: (a)  all of
      ----------------                                                         
the Transferor's and IKON Capital's right, title and interest in and to all
Contracts, purchase orders or other agreements or documents that evidence,
secure or otherwise relate to such Pool Receivable; (b) all of the Transferor's
and IKON Capital's interest in the Equipment (including returned Equipment), the
sale or lease of which gave rise to such Pool Receivable; (c) all Liens from
time to time purporting to secure payment of such Pool Receivable, whether
pursuant to the Contract related to such Pool Receivable or otherwise, and all
property subject to such Liens; (d) all UCC financing statements covering any
collateral securing payment of such Pool Receivable (to the extent of the
interest of the Transferee in the related Pool Receivable); (e) all guarantees
and other agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time
supporting or securing payment of such Pool Receivable whether pursuant to the
Contract related to such Pool Receivable or otherwise; (f) all of Transferor's
rights and claims under the Transfer Agreement; (g) all books and records
evidencing or otherwise relating to any Pool Receivables or any of the
foregoing; (h) all lock-boxes, post office boxes and accounts to which
Collections are sent or deposited, to the extent of such Collections and (i) all
Collections with respect to, and other proceeds of, such Pool Receivables and
any of the property described above.

     "Reserve Percentage" means, on any day the greater of (a) the sum of the
      ------------------                                                     
Default Reserve Percentage plus the Dilution Reserve Percentage and (b) 15%.
                           ----                                             

     "Scheduled Commitment Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in
      -------------------------------------                              
Section 1.04.
- ------------ 

     "Servicer" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.
      --------                               ------------ 

     "Servicer's Fee"  accrued for any day means
      --------------                            

           (a)  an amount equal to (x) .75% per annum, times (y) the amount of
                                            --- -----  -----
     the Transferee's Investment at the close of business on such day, times (z)
                                                                       -----
     1/360; or

           (b)  on and after the Servicer's reasonable request made at any time
     when IKON Capital shall no longer be the Servicer, an alternative amount
     specified by Servicer not exceeding (x) 115% of the Servicer's cost and
     expenses of performing its obligations under the Agreement during the Yield
     Period when such day occurs, divided by (y) the number of days in such
     Yield Period.

                                     A-19
<PAGE>
 
With respect to any Rate Tranche, the Servicer's Fee allocable thereto shall be
equal to the Servicer's Fee determined as set forth above times a fraction, the
                                                          -----                
numerator of which is the Transferee's Tranche Investment of such Rate Tranche
and the denominator of which is the Transferee's Investment.

     "Servicer's Fee Reserve"  at any time means an amount equal to the sum of
      ----------------------                                                  
(a) the aggregate accrued and unpaid Servicer's Fee (with respect to all Rate
Tranches), plus (b) the Pay Out Servicer's Fee at such time.
           ----                                             

     "Settlement Date" means the last day of each Settlement Period.
      ---------------                                               

     "Settlement Period" for any Rate Tranche means
      -----------------                            

           (a) each period commencing on the first day of each Yield Period for
     such Rate Tranche and ending on the last day of such Yield Period; and

           (b) on and after the Commitment Termination Date, such period
     (including, without limitation, a period of one day) as shall be selected
     from time to time by the Agent or, in absence of any such selection, each
     period of thirty days from the next preceding Settlement Date;

provided, however, that
- --------  -------      

           (i)   with respect to any Yield Period of one day, the related
     Settlement Period shall be the first day following such Yield Period;

           (ii)  any Settlement Period which would otherwise end on a day which
     is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
     Day; and

           (iii) the last Settlement Period shall end on the Final Pay Out Date.

     "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.
      ---                                        

     "Special Concentration Limit" for any Obligor at any time means the amount,
      ---------------------------                                               
if any, most recently designated by the Agent in a writing delivered to the
Transferor as the Special Concentration Limit for such Obligor.

     "Subsidiary" means a corporation of which IKON Capital and/or its other
      ----------                                                            
Subsidiaries own, directly or indirectly, such number of outstanding shares as
have more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors.

                                     A-20
<PAGE>
 
     "Support Agreement" means the Amended and Restated 1996 Support Agreement,
      -----------------                                                        
dated as of October 22, 1996, between IKON Capital and IKON Office, as it may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Tangible Net Worth" means tangible net worth as determined in accordance
      ------------------                                                      
with generally accepted accounting principles.

     "Termination Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.
      -----------------                               ------------- 

     "Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Transfer Agreement, the
      ---------------------                                                   
Company Note and the other documents to be executed and delivered in connection
herewith or therewith.

     "Transfer" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(a).
      --------                               --------------- 

     "Transfer Agreement" means the First Tier Transfer Agreement, dated as of
      ------------------                                                      
March 31, 1997, between IKON Capital and Transferor, as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     "Transfer Request" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
      ----------------                               ------------ 

     "Transferee" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
      ----------                                   -------- 

     "Transferee Rate" for any Yield Period for any Rate Tranche means:
      ---------------                                                  

           (a) in the case of a Rate Tranche other than one referred to in
     clause (b) or (c) of this definition, the Commercial Paper Rate for such
     ------ ---    ---
     Rate Tranche for such Yield Period;

           (b) in the case of a Rate Tranche funded by a Funding Advance, a rate
     per annum equal for each day in such Yield Period to the Funding Advance
     ---------
     Rate in effect on such day; and

           (c) in the case of a Rate Tranche funded pursuant to the Liquidity
     Agreement or by an Enhancement Draw, the Bank Rate for such Rate Tranche
     for such Yield Period;

provided, however, that on any day when any Termination Event shall have
- --------  -------                                                       
occurred and be continuing, the Transferee Rate shall mean a rate per annum
                                                                  --- -----
equal to the sum of the applicable rate pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c) above
                                                    ----------  ---    ---      
on such day plus .70% per annum.
                      --- ----- 

                                     A-21
<PAGE>
 
     "Transferee's Allocation" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
      -----------------------                               ------------ 

     "Transferee's Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
      ---------------------                               ------------ 

     "Transferee's Investment" at any time means an amount equal to
      -----------------------                                      

           (a) the aggregate of the amounts theretofore paid to the Transferor
     for the acquisition of the Transferee's Interest by Transfer pursuant to
     Sections 1.01(a) and 1.03, less
     ----------------     ----  ----

           (b) the aggregate amount of Collections theretofore received by the
     Servicer and actually distributed to the Agent for the account of the
     Transferee on account of such Transferee's Investment pursuant to Sections
                                                                       --------
     3.01 and 3.02;
     ----     ----

provided, however, the Transferee's Investment shall not be considered reduced
- --------  -------                                                             
by any distribution of any portion of Collections if at any time such
distribution is rescinded or must otherwise be returned for any reason.

     "Transferee's Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
      -----------------------                               ------------ 

     "Transferee's Share" of any Collections means a portion of such Collections
      ------------------                                                        
in an amount equal to the product of (a) the amount of such Collections, times
                                                                         -----
(b) the Transferee's Percentage as in effect on the date of determination.

     "Transferee's Tranche Investment" has the meaning set forth in Section
      -------------------------------                               -------
2.03.
- ----

     "Transferor" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
      ----------                                   -------- 

     "Transferor Information" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.07.
      ----------------------                               ------------- 

     "Transferor's Collection Amount" at any time means an amount equal to the
      ------------------------------                                          
excess, if any, if (a) the aggregate of the amounts theretofore paid by the
Servicer to the Transferor for Reinvestment pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(iii),
                                                        -------------------- 
over (b) the aggregate of the amounts, if any, theretofore paid by the
- ----                                                                  
Transferor to the Servicer pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3.01(b).
                                                            --------------- 

     "Transferor's Share" of any Collections means a portion of such Collections
      ------------------                                                        
equal to the amount of such Collections less the Transferee's Share thereof.
                                        ----                                

                                     A-22
<PAGE>
 
     "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in
      ---                                                                     
the applicable jurisdiction or jurisdictions.

     "Unadjusted Transferee's Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section
      ----------------------------------                               -------
2.02.
- ---- 

     "Unmatured Termination Event" means any event which, with the giving of
      ---------------------------                                           
notice or lapse of time or both, would, unless cured or waived, become a
Termination Event.

     "Unpaid Balance" of any Receivable means at any time the aggregate
      --------------                                                   
scheduled lease or debt service payments that the Obligor is obligated to make
thereunder during the period from the date such Receivable is included in the
Receivables Pool to the date that is 60 months thereafter, but excluding all
                                                               ---------    
late payment charges, delinquency charges, extension or collection fees and
sales tax payments.

     "Yield Period" means with respect to any Rate Tranche, each period
      ------------                                                     

           (a) commencing on, and including, the date of creation of such Rate
     Tranche pursuant to Section 2.03, or the last day of the immediately
                         ------------
     preceding Yield Period for such Rate Tranche (whichever is later); and

           (b) ending on, and excluding, the date that falls

               (i)   in the case of a Rate Tranche funded by the issuance of
           Commercial Paper Notes, except as provided in clause (iii) below,
                                                         ------------
           such number of days (not to exceed 180 days or, after the occurrence
           and during the continuance of any Termination Event, 60 days)
           thereafter as the Agent shall select, after consultation with the
           Transferor;

               (ii)  in the case of a Rate Tranche funded by Liquidity Loans or
           by an Enhancement Draw, (A) if the Transferee Rate for such Yield
           Period is based on the Domestic CD Rate (Adjusted), 1, 7, 14, 30, 60
           or 90 days thereafter, and (B) if the Transferee Rate for such Yield
           Period is based on the Eurodollar Rate (Reserve Adjusted), one day,
           one week, one month, two months or three months thereafter (or, if
           such month has no numerically corresponding day, on the last Business
           Day of such month), in either case as the Agent may select; and

               (iii) in the case of (A) any Rate Tranche funded by a Funding
           Advance, and (B) any other Rate Tranche, if the Transferee Rate for
           such Yield Period is based

                                     A-23
<PAGE>
 
           on the Alternate Base Rate, such number of days thereafter as the
           Agent may select in its sole discretion;

provided, however, that
- --------  -------      

           (A)  any Yield Period (other than a Yield Period consisting of one
     day) which would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be
     extended to the next succeeding Business Day (unless the Transferee Rate
     for the related Rate Tranche for such Yield Period shall be based on the
     Eurodollar Rate (Reserve Adjusted), in which case if such succeeding
     Business Day is in a different calendar month, such Yield Period shall
     instead be shortened to the next preceding Business Day);

           (B)  any Yield Period of one day for any Rate Tranche, (I) if such
     Yield Period is the initial Yield Period for a new Rate Tranche created in
     connection with a Transfer, shall be the day of the Transfer of such Rate
     Tranche, and (II) if such Yield Period is not the initial Yield Period for
     such Rate Tranche (or, in the case of a Rate Tranche created by division or
     combination pursuant to Section 2.03, any predecessor Rate Tranche), (x) if
                             ------------
     the immediately preceding Yield Period is more than one day, shall be the
     last day of such immediately preceding Yield Period, and (y) if the
     immediately preceding Yield Period is one day, shall be the next day
     following such immediately preceding Yield Period;

           (C)  any Yield Period which commences before the Commitment
     Termination Date and would otherwise end after the Commitment Termination
     Date shall end on the Commitment Termination Date; and

           (D) subject to clause (ii) above, each Yield Period which commences
                          -----------
     on or after the Commitment Termination Date shall be of such duration as
     the Agent may select in its sole discretion.

The "related" Yield Period for any Rate Tranche at any time means the Yield
     -------                                                               
Period pursuant to which Earned Discount is then accruing for such Rate Tranche.

                                     A-24

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.6


                         FIRST TIER TRANSFER AGREEMENT


                          Dated as of March 31, 1997


                                    between



                              IKON CAPITAL, INC.



                                      and



                              IKON FUNDING, INC.
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                               PAGE
                                                                               ----

                                    ARTICLE I

                         DEFINITIONS AND RELATED MATTERS
<S>            <C>                                                             <C>     
1.1.           Defined Terms....................................................  1
1.2.           Other Interpretive Matters.......................................  1

                                   ARTICLE II
                 CONTRIBUTION OF POOL RECEIVABLES; AGREEMENT TO
                            TRANSFER; TRANSFER PRICE

2.1.           Contribution of Pool Receivables.................................  2
2.2.           Agreement to Transfer............................................  2
2.3.           Timing of Purchases and Contributions............................  2
2.4.           Transfer Price for Pool Receivables Transferred by
               Originator.......................................................  3
2.5.           Transfer Termination Date........................................  4
2.6.           No Recourse or Assumption of Obligations.........................  4
2.7.           Intention of the Parties.........................................  4
2.8.           Advances by the Company to Originator............................  5

                                   ARTICLE III
                          ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION

3.1.           Originator to Act as Servicer....................................  5
3.2.           Deemed Collections...............................................  5
3.3.           Actions Evidencing Purchases.....................................  6
3.4.           Application of Collections.......................................  7
3.5.           Rights of the Company............................................  7
3.6.           Responsibilities of Originator...................................  7

                                   ARTICLE IV
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ORIGINATOR

4.1.           Organization and Good Standing...................................  8
4.2.           Due Qualification................................................  8
4.3.           Power and Authority; Due Authorization...........................  8
4.4.           Valid Transfer or Contribution; Binding Obligations..............  8
4.5.           No Violation.....................................................  8
4.6.           No Proceedings...................................................  9
4.7.           Bulk Sales Act...................................................  9
4.8.           Government Approvals.............................................  9
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

<S>            <C>                                                              <C> 
4.9.           Financial Condition..............................................  9
4.10.          Litigation....................................................... 10
4.11.          Margin Regulations............................................... 10
4.13.          Accuracy of Information.......................................... 10
4.14.          Offices.......................................................... 11
4.15.          Trade Names...................................................... 11
4.16.          Compliance with Applicable Laws.................................. 11
4.17.          Solvency......................................................... 11
4.18.          Eligibility of Pool Receivables.................................. 11

                                    ARTICLE V
                             COVENANTS OF ORIGINATOR

5.1.           Affirmative Covenants............................................ 12
5.2.           Reporting Requirements........................................... 13
5.3.           Negative Covenants............................................... 13

                                   ARTICLE VI
                           TRANSFER TERMINATION EVENTS

6.1.           Transfer Termination Events...................................... 15
6.2.           Remedies......................................................... 15

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

7.1.           Indemnities by Originator........................................ 16

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

8.1.           Amendments, Waivers, etc......................................... 18
8.2.           Notices, etc..................................................... 18
8.3.           Binding Effect; Assignability.................................... 18
8.4.           Survival......................................................... 19
8.5.           Governing Law.................................................... 19
8.6.           Costs, Expenses and Taxes........................................ 19
8.7.           No Proceedings................................................... 19
8.8.           Waiver of Jury Trial............................................. 19
8.9.           Execution in Counterparts........................................ 19
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULES
                                   ---------

SCHEDULE 4.14     Office Locations

SCHEDULE 4.15     Trade Names

                                   EXHIBITS
                                   --------
EXHIBIT A         Form of Transfer Report

EXHIBIT B         Form of Company Note

EXHIBIT C         Closing Date Report


                                           

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
                         FIRST TIER TRANSFER AGREEMENT

         THIS FIRST TIER TRANSFER AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or
modified from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as of March 31, 1997, is
                                  ---------
between IKON CAPITAL, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Originator"), as transferor
                                                     ----------
and contributor, and IKON FUNDING, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
                                                                      -------
as transferee and contributee.


                                   Background
                                   ----------

         1. On the Closing Date, Originator is transferring certain Pool
Receivables and Related Property to the Company as a capital contribution to the
Company. From time to time Originator may transfer additional Pool Receivables
and Related Property to the Company as a capital contribution to the Company.

         2. In order to finance its business, Originator wishes to transfer
certain Pool Receivables and Related Property from time to time to the Company,
and the Company is willing, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, to accept such Pool Receivables and Related Property from Originator.

         3. The Company intends to obtain a Commitment from the Transferee
pursuant to the Receivables Transfer Agreement in order to finance the transfers
of Pool Receivables and Related Property hereunder.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                        DEFINITIONS AND RELATED MATTERS

         1.1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise indicated, certain terms that are
              -------------
capitalized and used throughout this Agreement are defined in Appendix A to the
                                                              ----------
Amended and Restated Receivables Transfer Agreement of even date herewith (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Receivables
                                                                    -----------
Transfer Agreement"), among the Company, as Seller, the Originator, as Servicer,
- ------------------
Twin Towers Inc., as Transferee, and Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its New
York Branch, as agent for the Transferee (the "Agent").
                                               -----

         1.2. Other Interpretive Matters. In this Agreement, unless 
              --------------------------

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
otherwise specified: (a) references to any Section or Annex refer to such
Section of, or Annex to, this Agreement, and references in any Section or
definition to any subsection or clause refer to such subsection or clause of
such Section or definition; (b) "herein", "hereof", "hereto", "hereunder" and
                                 ------    ------    ------    ---------
similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement; (c) "including" means "including without
                                  ---------         -----------------
limitation", and other forms of the verb "to include" have correlative meanings;
- ----------                                ----------
(d) the word "or" is not exclusive; and (e) captions are solely for convenience
of reference and shall not affect the meaning of this Agreement;

                                  ARTICLE II

                 CONTRIBUTION OF POOL RECEIVABLES; AGREEMENT TO
                            TRANSFER; TRANSFER PRICE

         2.1. Contribution of Pool Receivables. On the Closing Date, Originator
              --------------------------------
hereby assigns and transfers to the Company, as a contribution of capital, Pool
Receivables and Related Property with respect thereto consisting of each Pool
Receivable of Originator that existed and was owing to Originator on the Closing
Date, beginning with the oldest of such Pool Receivables and continuing
chronologically thereafter, and all or an undivided interest in the most recent
of such Pool Receivables such that the aggregate Fair Market Value (as defined
below) of all such Pool Receivables shall be equal to the amount set forth on
Exhibit C. In addition, from time to time Originator may assign and transfer to
- ---------
the Company, as a contribution of capital, Pool Receivables and Related Property
with respect thereto as designated by Originator.

         2.2. Agreement to Transfer. On the terms and subject to the conditions
              ---------------------
set forth in this Agreement, Originator hereby transfers and assigns to the
Company, and the Company hereby accepts from Originator, all of Originator's
right, title and interest in and to the Pool Receivables, the Related Property
and all proceeds of the foregoing, other than those Pool Receivables and Related
Property contributed to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1..
                                                -----------

         2.3. Timing of Purchases and Contributions. Originator's entire right,
              -------------------------------------
title and interest in each Pool Receivable that existed and was owing to
Originator as of the close of Originator's business on March 28, 1997 (the
"Closing Date") shall be deemed to have been transferred and/or contributed to
 ------------
the Company on such date. After the Closing Date, each Pool Receivable created
or purchased by Originator shall be transferred to and owned by the Company
(without any further action) upon the 


                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
creation of such Pool Receivable or the purchase thereof by the Originator. The
Related Property with respect to each Pool Receivable (and proceeds of such Pool
Receivable and Related Property) shall be transferred and/or contributed at the
same time as such Pool Receivable, whether such Related Property (or proceeds)
exist at such time or arise or are acquired thereafter.

         2.4. Transfer Price for Pool Receivables Transferred by Originator. (a)
              -------------------------------------------------------------
Calculation of Transfer Price. The transfer price for each Pool Receivable and
- -----------------------------
the Related Property with respect thereto transferred to the Company shall equal
the Fair Market Value of such Pool Receivable at the time of transfer. The "Fair
                                                                            ----
Market Value" of a Pool Receivable shall equal (i) the aggregate unpaid
- ------------
scheduled debt service or lease payments that the Obligor is obligated to make
thereunder, but excluding unearned finance charges, minus (ii) that portion of
                                                    -----
Originator's loss contingency reserve on the date of transfer which is allocable
to such Pool Receivable.

         (b) Initial Transfer Price Payment. On the terms and subject to the
             ------------------------------
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay to Originator
the transfer price for the Pool Receivables to be transferred to the Company on
the Closing Date (i) by taking such Pool Receivables subject to the Lien of the
Original Receivables Agreement and assuming Originator's obligations thereunder,
(ii) in cash, to the extent of funds obtained by the Company on such date under
the Receivables Transfer Agreement, and (iii) by issuing to Originator a
subordinated promissory note in the form of Exhibit B (as such promissory note
                                            ---------
may be amended, supplemented, endorsed or otherwise modified from time to time,
together with all promissory notes issued from time to time in substitution
therefor or renewal thereof, the "Company Note") in an initial principal amount
                                  ------------
equal to the transfer price for such Pool Receivables minus the amount paid
                                                      -----
under clauses (i) and (ii) above. The initial purchase price for the Pool
      -----------     ----
Receivables and Related Property with respect thereto transferred to the Company
on the Closing Date shall be set forth on Exhibit C.
                                          ---------

         (c) Subsequent Transfer Price Payments. On each Business Day falling
             ----------------------------------
after the Closing Date and on or prior to the Transfer Termination Date, on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company
shall pay to Originator the transfer price for the Pool Receivables transferred
by Originator to the Company on such Business Day, in cash, to the extent of any
funds made available to the Company for such purpose under Section 3.01 of the
                                                           ------------
Receivables Transfer Agreement after satisfying the Company's obligations under
the Receivables Transfer Agreement and 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
after netting any amounts owed to the Company by the Originator hereunder
(including amounts owed under Section 3.2 to the extent permitted thereby), and
                              -----------
to the extent any of such transfer price remains unpaid, such remaining portion
of such transfer price shall be paid by increasing the outstanding principal
amount of the Company Note.

         (d) Transfer Reports. On or prior to the 15th day (or if such day is
             ----------------
not a Business Day, the next Business Day) of each month (the "Reporting Date"),
                                                               --------------
Originator agrees to prepare and deliver to the Company a signed report, in
substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in such other form as the parties may
                             ---------
agree on from time to time with the written approval of the Agent (each, a
"Transfer Report"). Each Transfer Report shall set forth a summary of
 ---------------
information as to the Pool Receivables transferred hereunder, collections on
Pool Receivables and other charges or credits as may be required by this
Agreement during the month ending on the preceding Month End Date.

         (e) Company Note. Servicer shall make all appropriate record keeping
             ------------
entries with respect to the Company Note or otherwise to reflect the foregoing
payments and adjustments pursuant to Section 3.2, and Servicer's books and
                                     -----------
records shall constitute rebuttable presumptive evidence of the principal amount
of and accrued interest on the Company Note at any time. Furthermore, Servicer
shall hold the Company Note for the benefit of Originator, and all payments
under the Company Note shall be made to the Servicer for the account of the
applicable payee thereof. Originator hereby irrevocably authorizes Servicer to
mark the Company Note "CANCELLED" and to return the Company Note to the Company
upon the final payment thereof after the occurrence of the Transfer Termination
Date.

         2.5. Transfer Termination Date. The "Transfer Termination Date" means
              -------------------------       -------------------------
the earliest of (a) the date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.2(i) or (ii), (b) the Final Pay Out Date and (c) the date of any Event
- --------------    ----
of Bankruptcy with respect to the Company.

         2.6. No Recourse or Assumption of Obligations. Except as specifically
              ----------------------------------------
provided in this Agreement, the transfer of Pool Receivables and Related
Property under this Agreement shall be without recourse to Originator.
Originator and the Company intend the transactions hereunder to constitute true
absolute transfers and true contributions of Pool Receivables and the Related
Property by Originator to the Company, providing the Company with the full risks
and benefits of ownership of the Pool Receivables and Related Property (such
that the Pool Receivables and the 

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
Related Property would not be property of Originator's estate in the event of
Originator's bankruptcy).

         The Company shall not have any obligation or liability with respect to
any Pool Receivables or Related Property, nor shall the Company have any
obligation or liability to any Obligor or other customer or client of Originator
(including any obligation to perform any of the obligations of Originator under
any Pool Receivables or Related Property).

         2.7. Intention of the Parties. It is the express intent of the parties
              ------------------------
hereto that the transfers of the Pool Receivables and Related Property by
Originator to the Company as contemplated by this Agreement be, and be treated
as, absolute transfers and capital contributions, respectively, and not as
secured loans secured by the Pool Receivables and Related Property. If, however,
notwithstanding the intent of the parties, such transactions are deemed to be
loans, Originator hereby grants to the Company a security interest in all of the
Originator's right, title and interest in and to the Pool Receivables and the
Related Property now existing and hereafter created, and all proceeds thereof,
to secure all of Originator's obligations hereunder.

         2.8. Advances by the Company to Originator. The Company may make
              -------------------------------------
advances to Originator from time to time if so agreed between such parties and
to the extent the Company has funds available for that purpose after satisfying
its obligations under this Agreement and the Receivables Transfer Agreement. Any
such advances shall be payable upon demand and the Company may net any payments
to be made to Originator hereunder against any such outstanding advances.


                                  ARTICLE III

                         ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION

         3.1. Originator to Act as Servicer. Notwithstanding the transfer of
              -----------------------------
Pool Receivables pursuant to this Agreement, Originator shall continue to be
responsible for the servicing, administration and collection of the Pool
Receivables, all on the terms set out in (and subject to any rights to terminate
Originator as servicer pursuant to) the Receivables Transfer Agreement.

         3.2. Deemed Collections. (a) If on any day the Unpaid Balance of any
              ------------------
Pool Receivable is (i) reduced as a result of any 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
defective, rejected or returned merchandise or services, any cash discount, any
allowances or billing errors, any trade-in or trade-up, any adjustment by
Originator or any Affiliate of Originator or any early termination, refinancing,
prepayment, consolidation or replacement of the Contract related to such Pool
Receivable, (ii) reduced or cancelled as a result of a setoff in respect of any
claim or dispute by the Obligor thereof against Originator or any Affiliate of
Originator or any other Person (whether such claim arises out of the same or a
related or an unrelated transaction), or (iii) reduced on account of the
obligation of Originator or an Affiliate of Originator to pay to the related
Obligor any rebate or refund, then, on such day, Originator shall be deemed to
have received a Collection of such Pool Receivable in an amount equal to such
reduction or cancellation.

         (b) If on any day it is determined that any of the representations or
warranties of Originator set forth in Section 4.4, 4.12 or 4.19 are not true as
                                      ------- ---  ----    ----
to any Pool Receivable, Originator shall be deemed to have received a Collection
of such Pool Receivable in the amount of the Unpaid Balance of such Pool
Receivable. To the extent that the Company subsequently receives Collections
with respect to any such Pool Receivable, the Company shall pay Originator an
amount equal to the amount so collected.

         (c) Not later than the first Business Day after Originator is deemed,
pursuant to this Section 3.2, to have received any Collections, the amount of
                 -----------
any such Collections shall be applied as a credit for the account of the Company
against the transfer price of Pool Receivables subsequently transferred to the
Company from the Originator hereunder; provided, however, if the transfer price
                                       --------  -------
for such subsequent transfers of Pool Receivables is less than the amount of
such credit, the amount of such credit (i) shall be paid in cash to the Company
by Originator, or (ii) shall be deducted from the principal amount outstanding
under the Company Note; provided further, however, that at any time (y) on or
                        -------- -------  -------
after a Termination Event under the Receivables Transfer Agreement or (z) on or
after the Transfer Termination Date, the amount of any such credit shall be paid
by Originator to the Company by deposit in immediately available funds into such
account as is designated by the Company or the Agent for application by Servicer
to the same extent as if Collections of the applicable Pool Receivable in such
amount had actually been received on such date.

         (d) Each Transfer Report shall include a calculation of the aggregate
reductions described in Section 3.2(a) or (b) relating to the Pool Receivables
since the last Transfer Report delivered hereunder.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
         3.3. Actions Evidencing Purchases. (a) On or prior to the Closing Date,
              ----------------------------
Originator shall mark its master data processing records evidencing Pool
Receivables and Contracts with a legend, acceptable to the Company, evidencing
that the Pool Receivables have been transferred and contributed in accordance
with this Agreement. In addition, Originator agrees that from time to time, at
its expense, it shall promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and
documents, and take all further action, that the Company or its assigns may
reasonably request in order to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the
transfers and contributions hereunder, or to enable the Company or its assigns
to exercise or enforce any of their respective rights with respect to the Pool
Receivables and the Related Property. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Originator shall upon the request of the Company or the Agent: (i)
execute and file such financing or continuation statements, or amendments
thereto or assignments thereof, and such other instruments or notices, as may be
necessary or appropriate; and (ii) mark conspicuously each Contract evidencing
each Pool Receivable with a legend, acceptable to the Company, evidencing that
the related Pool Receivables have been transferred in accordance with this
Agreement.

         (b) Originator hereby authorizes the Company or the Agent (i) to file
one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto and
assignments thereof, relative to all or any of the Pool Receivables and the
Related Property now existing or hereafter arising in the name of Originator and
(ii) to the extent permitted by the Receivables Transfer Agreement, to notify
Obligors of the assignment of the Pool Receivables and the Related Property.

         (c) Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3(a), Originator
                                                --------------
shall, not earlier than six months and not later than three months prior to the
fifth anniversary of the date of filing of the financing statements filed in
connection with the Closing Date or any other financing statement filed pursuant
to this Agreement: (i) execute and deliver and file or cause to be filed
appropriate continuation statements; and (ii) deliver or cause to be delivered
to Agent an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the
Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the
Agent, confirming and updating the opinion delivered in connection with the
Closing Date relating to the validity, perfection and priority of the Company's
interests in the Pool Receivables.

         3.4. Application of Collections. Any payment by an Obligor in respect
              --------------------------
of any indebtedness owed by it to Originator 

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
shall, except as otherwise specified by such Obligor or otherwise required by
the related Contract or law, be applied first, as a Collection of any Pool
                                        -----
Receivables of such Obligor, in the order of the age of such Pool Receivables,
starting with the oldest of such Pool Receivables (provided that if payment is
                                                   --------
designated by such Obligor for application to specific Receivables, it shall be
applied to such specified Receivables), and second, to any other indebtedness of
                                            ------
such Obligor to Originator.

         3.5. Rights of the Company. Originator hereby authorizes the Company
              ---------------------
and the Servicer (if other than Originator) or their respective designees to
take any and all steps in Originator's name necessary or desirable, in their
respective determination, to collect all amounts due under any and all Pool
Receivables and Related Property, including endorsing Originator's name on
checks and other instruments representing Collections and enforcing such Pool
Receivables and the provisions of the related Contracts that concern payment
and/or enforcement of rights to payment.

         3.6. Responsibilities of Originator. Anything herein to the contrary
              ------------------------------
notwithstanding, Originator shall repurchase from the Company all merchandise
repossessed by the Company (or the Servicer on its behalf) with respect to Pool
Receivables in default, at a price equal to the price at which such merchandise
is resold to a dealer.



                                   ARTICLE IV

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ORIGINATOR

         Originator, in its capacity as transferor and/or contributor under this
Agreement, hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth in this
Article IV.
- ----------

         4.1. Organization and Good Standing. Originator has been duly organized
              ------------------------------
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, with power and authority to own its properties and to conduct
its business as such properties are presently owned and such business is
presently conducted.

         4.2. Due Qualification. Originator is duly qualified to do business as
              -----------------
a foreign corporation in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses
and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of its
property or 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
the conduct of its business requires such qualification, licenses or approvals
and where the failure to have such qualification, license or approval would have
a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.3. Power and Authority; Due Authorization. Originator (a) has all
              --------------------------------------
necessary power, authority and legal right (i) to execute and deliver, and
perform its obligations under, each Transaction Document to which it is a party,
and (ii) to generate, own, transfer, contribute and assign Pool Receivables and
Related Property on the terms and subject to the conditions herein provided; and
(b) has duly authorized such execution, delivery and, performance of such
obligations by all necessary corporate action.

         4.4. Valid Transfer or Contribution; Binding Obligations.  Each
              ---------------------------------------------------
transfer or contribution, as the case may be, of Pool Receivables and Related
Property made by Originator pursuant to this Agreement shall constitute a valid
transfer and assignment or contribution, as the case may be, thereof to the
Company, enforceable against creditors of, and purchasers from, Originator; and
this Agreement constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to be signed by
Originator, when duly executed and delivered, will constitute, a legal, valid,
and binding obligation of Originator, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally and by general principles of equity, regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

         4.5. No Violation.  The execution, delivery and performance by
              ------------
Originator of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will not (a) conflict
with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute
(with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under (i)
Originator's articles of incorporation or by-laws, or (ii) any indenture, loan
agreement, receivables purchase agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, or other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties is bound, (b) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon
any of its properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, loan
agreement, receivables purchase agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, or other
agreement or instrument, other than the Transaction Documents, or (c) violate
any law or any order, rule, or regulation applicable to it of any court or of
any federal, state or foreign regulatory body, administrative agency, or other
governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over it or any of its
properties.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
         4.6. No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations
              --------------
pending, or threatened, before, and there has been no injunction, decree or
other decision issued or made by, any court, regulatory body, administrative
agency, or other tribunal or governmental agency or instrumentality (i)
asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document,
(ii) seeking to prevent the transfer or contribution of the Pool Receivables and
Related Property to the Company or any portion thereof or the consummation of
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other
Transaction Document or (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that might
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.7. Bulk Sales Act. No transaction contemplated hereby or by any other
              --------------
Transaction Documents requires compliance with any bulk sales act or similar
law.

         4.8. Government Approvals. No authorization or approval or other action
              --------------------
by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
body is required for Originator's due execution, delivery and performance of any
Transaction Document to which it is a party, except for the filing of certain
UCC financing statements, all of which shall have been duly made and shall be in
full force and effect.

         4.9. Financial Condition. (x) The audited consolidated balance sheets
              -------------------
of Originator and its consolidated subsidiaries as at September 30, 1996, and
the related statements of income, cash flows and shareholders' equity of
Originator and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended,
certified by Ernst & Young, independent certified public accountants, and the
consolidated balance sheets of Originator and its consolidated subsidiaries as
at December 31, 1996, and the related statements of income, cash flows and
shareholders' equity of Originator and its consolidated subsidiaries for the
period then ended, copies of each of which have been furnished to the Agent,
fairly present the consolidated financial condition, business, business
prospects and operations of Originator and its consolidated subsidiaries as at
such dates and the consolidated results of the operations of Originator and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the period ended on such dates, all in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and (y)
since September 30, 1996 there has been no material adverse change in any such
condition, business, business prospects or operations except as described in
Schedule 6.02(i) to the Receivables Transfer Agreement.

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
         4.10. Litigation. No injunction, decree or other decision has been
               ----------
issued or made by any court, governmental agency or instrumentality thereof that
prevents, and no threat by any person has been made to attempt to obtain any
such decision that would prevent, Originator from conducting a significant part
of its business operations.

         4.11. Margin Regulations. No use of any funds obtained by Originator
               ------------------
under this Agreement will conflict with or contravene any of Regulations G, T, U
and X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from
time to time.

         4.12. Quality of Title.
               ----------------  

         (a)  Each Pool Receivable (together with the Related Property) which is
to be transferred or contributed to the Company hereunder is or shall be owned
by Originator, free and clear of any Lien. Whenever the Company or accepts a
transfer or a contribution hereunder, it shall have acquired a valid and
perfected ownership interest (free and clear of any Lien) in all Pool
Receivables generated by Originator and all Collections related thereto, and in
Originator's entire right, title and interest in and to the other Related
Property with respect thereto.

         (b)  No effective financing statement or other instrument similar in
effect covering any Pool Receivable, any interest therein or any of the Related
Property is on file in any recording office except such as may be filed in favor
of the Company or Originator, as the case may be, in accordance with this
Agreement or in favor of the Transferee (or any assignee thereof) or the Agent
in accordance with the Receivables Transfer Agreement.

         4.13. Accuracy of Information. No information furnished or to be
               -----------------------
furnished in writing by Originator to the Company, the Agent or the Transferee
for purposes of or in connection with any Transaction Document will be
inaccurate in any material respect as of the date it was furnished or will be
furnished or (except as otherwise disclosed to the Company, the Agent or the
Transferee at or prior to such time) as of the date as of which such information
is dated, or contained or will contain any material misstatement of fact or
omitted or will omit to state any material fact necessary to make such
information contained therein was made, not materially misleading.

         4.14. Offices. Originator's principal place of business and chief
               -------
executive office is located at the address set forth on 

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
Schedule 4.14, and the offices where Originator keeps all its books, records and
- -------------
documents evidencing or included in the Pool Receivables are located at the
addresses specified on Schedule 4.14 (or at such other locations, notified to
                       -------------
Servicer (if other than Originator) and the Agent in accordance with Section
                                                                     -------
5.3(d), in jurisdictions where all action required by Section 5.3(d) has been
- ------                                                --------------
taken and completed).

         4.15. Trade Names. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.15, Originator
               -----------                         -------------
does not use any trade name other than its actual corporate name. From and after
the date that fell five (5) years before the date hereof, Originator has not
been known by any legal name other than its corporate name as of the date
hereof, nor has Originator been the subject of any merger or other corporate
reorganization except as disclosed on Schedule 4.15.
                                      -------------

         4.16. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Originator is in compliance, in
               -------------------------------
all material respects, with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules,
regulations, and orders of all governmental authorities (including Regulation Z,
laws, rules and regulations relating to usury, truth in lending, fair credit
billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt collection
practices and privacy and all other consumer laws applicable to the Pool
Receivables and related Contracts).

         4.17. Solvency. Originator is not insolvent, does not have unreasonably
               --------
small capital with which to carry on its business and is able to pay its debts
generally as they become due and payable, and its liabilities do not exceed its
assets.

         4.18. Eligibility of Pool Receivables. Unless otherwise identified to
               -------------------------------
the Company on the date of the contribution and/or transfer hereunder, each Pool
Receivable contributed and/or transferred hereunder is on the date of
contribution and/or transfer an Eligible Receivable and, so long as Originator
is the Servicer, each Pool Receivable included as an Eligible Receivable in the
calculation of Net Pool Balance is an Eligible Receivable as of the date of such
calculation.


                                    ARTICLE V

                             COVENANTS OF ORIGINATOR

         5.1. Affirmative Covenants. From the date hereof until the Final Pay
              ---------------------
Out Date, Originator will, unless the Company and the Agent shall otherwise
consent in writing:

         (a) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply in all material 
             --------------------------

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, including
those with respect to the Pool Receivables and the related Contracts.

         (b) Preservation of Corporate Existence. Preserve and maintain its
             -----------------------------------
corporate existence, rights, franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction of
its incorporation, and qualify and remain qualified in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the failure to preserve and
maintain such existence, rights, franchises, privileges and qualification could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (c) Audits. (i) At any time and from time to time during regular
             ------
business hours, upon reasonable notice, permit the Agent, or its agents or
representatives, (A) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all books,
records and documents (including computer tapes and disks) in the possession or
under the control of such party relating to Pool Receivables, including the
related Contracts and purchase orders and other agreements, and (B) to visit the
offices and properties of Originator for the purpose of examining such
materials, and to discuss matters relating to Pool Receivables or Originator's
performance hereunder with any of the officers or employees of such party having
knowledge of such matters; and (ii) without limiting the provisions of clause
                                                                       ------
(i) next above, from time to time on request of the Agent (given not more than
- ---
once in each calendar year so long as no Termination Event or Unmatured
Termination Event shall have occurred and be continuing under the Receivables
Transfer Agreement), permit certified public accountants or other auditors
acceptable to the Agent to conduct, at Originator's expense, a review of the
Originator's books and records with respect to the Pool Receivables.

         (d) Keeping of Records and Books of Account. Maintain and implement
             ---------------------------------------
administrative and operating procedures (including an ability to recreate
records evidencing Pool Receivables in the event of the destruction of the
originals thereof), and keep and maintain, all documents, books, records and
other information reasonably necessary or advisable for the collection of all
Pool Receivables (including records adequate to permit the daily identification
of each new Pool Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each
existing Pool Receivable).

         (e) Performance and Compliance with Pool Receivables and Contracts. At
             --------------------------------------------------------------
its expense timely and fully perform and comply with all material provisions,
covenants and other promises required to be observed by it under the Contracts
related to the Pool Receivables and all purchase orders and all other agreements

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
related to such Pool Receivables.

         (f)  Location of Records. Keep its chief place of business and chief
              -------------------
executive office, and the offices where it keeps its records concerning or
related to Pool Receivables and all purchase orders and other agreements related
to the Pool Receivables, all related Contracts and all required documents
relating thereto), at the address(es) referred to in Schedule 4.14 or, upon 30
                                                     -------------
days' prior written notice to the Company and the Agent, at such other locations
in jurisdictions where all action required by the Servicer or the Agent to
continue the perfection of the Company's and the Transferee's interests in the
Pool Receivables and the Related Property have been taken.

         (g)  Credit and Collection Policies. Comply in all material respects
              ------------------------------
with its Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each Pool Receivable and the
related Contract.

         (h)  Collections. Instruct all Obligors to cause all Collections of
              -----------
Pool Receivables to be sent directly to a Post Office Box, and deposit all
Collections received into a Designated Account within one Business Day after
receipt.

         (i)  Transaction Documents. Perform and comply in all material respects
              ---------------------
with all of its covenants and agreements set forth in the Transaction Documents
to which it is a party.

         5.2. Reporting Requirements. From the date hereof until the first day
              ----------------------
following the Final Pay Out Date, Originator shall, unless the Agent and the
Company shall otherwise consent in writing, furnish to the Company and the Agent
the information set forth in Section 7.02 of the Receivables Transfer Agreement
                             ------------
(to the extent such information relates to Originator).

         5.3. Negative Covenants. From the date hereof until the Final Pay Out
              ------------------
Date, unless the Agent and the Company shall otherwise consent in writing, it
shall not:

         (a) Sales, Liens, Etc. Except as otherwise provided herein, sell,
             ------------------
assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or create or
suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to, any Pool Receivable or Related
Property, or any interest therein, or any post office box or account to which
any Collections of any Pool Receivables are sent, or any right to receive income
from or in respect thereof, or the Company Note or any shares of capital stock
of the Company.

         (b) Extension or Amendment of Pool Receivables. Extend, 
             ------------------------------------------

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
amend, terminate or otherwise modify the terms of any Pool Receivable, or amend,
modify, terminate or waive any term or condition of any Contract related
thereto, unless permitted pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Receivables Transfer
Agreement.

         (c) Change in Business or Credit and Collection Policy. Make any change
             --------------------------------------------------
in the character of its business or in its Credit and Collection Policy, which
change would, in either case, impair the collectibility of any Pool Receivable
(other than an immaterial portion thereof) or otherwise adversely affect the
interests, rights or remedies of the Company or the Transferee under any
Transaction Document.

         (d) Change in Name. Change its corporate name or the name under or by
             --------------
which it does business, unless Originator shall have given the Company and the
Agent at least 30 days' prior written notice thereof and unless, prior to any
such change in name, Originator shall have filed (or shall have caused to be
filed) such financing statements or amendments as the Servicer or the Agent
determines may be necessary to continue the perfection of the Company's and the
Transferee's interest in the Pool Receivables and Related Property.

         (e) Negative Pledges. Enter into or assume any agreement (other than
             ----------------
this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents) prohibiting the creation or
assumption of any Lien upon any Pool Receivables or Related Property, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired by Originator, as contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, or otherwise prohibiting or restricting any transaction
contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents.

         (f) Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, etc. Be a party to any merger or
             ---------------------------------
consolidation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the
assets or any stock of any class of, or any partnership or joint venture
interest in, any other Person, or, except in the ordinary course of its
business, sell, transfer, convey or lease all or any substantial part of its
assets, or permit any Subsidiary to do any of the foregoing except for any such
merger or consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or assignment of or
by any wholly-owned Subsidiary (other than the Company) into Originator or into,
with or to any other wholly-owned Subsidiary, any such purchase or other
acquisition by Originator or any wholly-owned Subsidiary (other than the
Company) of the assets or stock of any wholly-owned Subsidiary and pursuant to
which Originator is the survivor, provided that no Termination Event or
                                  --------
Unmatured Termination Event has occurred and is continuing or would result
therefrom.

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
         (g) Corporate Separateness Take any action that is inconsistent with
             ----------------------
the terms of Section 7.04 of the Receivables Transfer Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                           TRANSFER TERMINATION EVENTS


         6.1. Transfer Termination Events. Each of the following events or
              ---------------------------
occurrences described in this Section 6.1 shall constitute a "Transfer
                              -----------                     --------
Termination Event":
- -----------------

         (a)  A Termination Event shall have occurred under the Receivables
Transfer Agreement and the Agent shall have declared the Commitment Termination
Date to have occurred; or

         (b)  Originator shall fail to make any payment or deposit to be made by
it hereunder when due and such failure shall remain unremedied for one Business
Day; or

         (c)  Any representation or warranty made or deemed to be made by
Originator (or any of its officers) under or in connection with this Agreement,
any other Transaction Document or any other information or report delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to have been false or incorrect in any
material respect when made or deemed made and, if such breach of representation
or warranty is capable of cure, it shall have continued for thirty days after
written notice thereof shall have been given by the Servicer, the Agent or the
Company to Originator; or

         (d)  Originator shall fail to perform or observe any other term,
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or
observed and any such failure shall remain unremedied for thirty days after
written notice thereof shall have been given by Servicer, the Agent or the
Company to Originator; or

         (e)  An Event of Bankruptcy shall have occurred and remained continuing
with respect to Originator.

         6.2.     Remedies.
                  --------

         (i) Automatic Termination. The agreement of the Originator to transfer
             ---------------------
Pool Receivables hereunder, and the agreement of the Company to accept Pool
Receivables from the Originator hereunder, shall terminate automatically (and
the Transfer Termination Date shall be deemed to have occurred) on the
occurrence of a Transfer 

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
Termination Event of the type described in Section 6.1(e).
                                           --------------

         (ii)  Optional Termination. Upon the occurrence of a Transfer
               --------------------
Termination Event, the Company, with the consent of the Agent, shall have the
option by notice to Originator (with a copy to the Agent) to declare the
Transfer Termination Date to have occurred.

         (iii) Remedies Cumulative. Upon any termination pursuant to this
               -------------------
Section 6.2, the Company shall have, in addition to all other rights and
- -----------
remedies under this Agreement or otherwise, all other rights and remedies
provided under the UCC of each applicable jurisdiction and other applicable
laws, which rights shall be cumulative.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                                INDEMNIFICATION

         7.1. Indemnities by Originator. Without limiting any other rights that
              -------------------------
any such Person may have hereunder or under applicable law, Originator hereby
agrees to indemnify the Company and each of its successors, transferees and
assigns and all officers, directors, shareholders, controlling persons,
employees and agents of any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing Persons
being individually called a "First Tier Indemnified Party"), forthwith on
                             ----------------------------
demand, from and against any and all damages, losses, claims, judgments,
liabilities and related costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees
and disbursements (collectively, the "First Tier Indemnified Amounts") awarded
                                      ------------------------------
against or incurred by any of them arising out of or as a result of the
following:

         (a)  the transfer by Originator of an interest in any Pool Receivable
or Related Property to any Person other than the Company;

         (b)  the breach of any representation or warranty made by Originator
pursuant to this Agreement, or any information or report delivered by Originator
pursuant hereto or thereto which shall have been false or incorrect in any
respect when made or deemed made;

         (c)  the failure by Originator to comply with any applicable law, rule
or regulation with respect to any Pool Receivable or the related Contract, or
the nonconformity of any Pool Receivable or the related Contract with any such
applicable law, rule or regulation;

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
         (d)  the failure to vest and maintain vested in the Company an
ownership interest in the Pool Receivables generated by Originator and Related
Property free and clear of any Lien, other than a Lien arising solely as a
result of an act of the Company, whether existing at the time of the transfer or
contribution of such Pool Receivables or at any time thereafter;

         (e)  any claim resulting from the sale of the merchandise or services
related to any Pool Receivable or the furnishing or failure to furnish such
merchandise or services; or any products liability claim arising out of or in
connection with merchandise or services that are the subject of any Pool
Receivable;

         (f)  any investigation, litigation or proceeding related to this
Agreement or the use of proceeds of transfers hereunder or the ownership of, or
in respect of, any Pool Receivables, Related Property or Contract;

         (g)  any tax or governmental fee or charge (other than any tax band
upon or measured by net income), all interest and penalties thereon or with
respect thereto, and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel in defending against the same, which may
arise by reason of the transfer, contribution or ownership of the Pool
Receivables or any Related Property connected with any such Pool Receivables;

         (h)  any failure of Originator to perform its duties or obligations in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and

         (i)  any dispute, claim, offset or defense (other than discharge in
bankruptcy) of the Obligor to the payment of any Pool Receivable (including,
without limitation, a defense based on such Pool Receivable or the related
Contract not being a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Obligor
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms);

excluding, however, (i) First Tier Indemnified Amounts to the extent resulting
- ---------  -------
from gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of a First Tier
Indemnified Party and (ii) any indemnification which has the effect of recourse
to Originator for non-payment of the Pool Receivables due to credit reasons
(except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement).

         If for any reason the indemnification provided above in this Section
                                                                      -------
7.1 is unavailable to a First Tier Indemnified Party or is insufficient to hold
- ---
such First Tier Indemnified Party harmless, 

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
then Originator shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such First
Tier Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability to
the maximum extent permitted under applicable law.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         8.1. Amendments, Waivers, etc. No amendment of this Agreement or waiver
              ------------------------
of any provision hereof or consent to any departure by either party therefrom
shall be effective without the written consent of the party that is sought to be
bound. Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance given. No failure or delay on the part of either party to exercise, and
no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof;
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The
remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided by law. Originator acknowledges that institutions providing financing
(by way of accepting transfers of Pool Receivables or interests therein)
pursuant to the Receivables Transfer Agreement may rely upon the terms of this
Agreement, and the terms of this Agreement may not be amended, nor any material
waiver of those terms be granted, without the consent of the Agent.

         8.2. Notices, etc. All notices and other communications provided for
              ------------
hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing (including
facsimile communication) and shall be personally delivered or sent by express
mail or courier or by certified mail, postage-prepaid, or by facsimile, to the
intended party at the address or facsimile number of such party set forth under
its name on the signature pages hereof or at such other address or facsimile
number as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other
parties hereto. All such notices and communications shall be effective, (i) if
personally delivered or sent by express mail or courier or if sent by certified
mail, when received, (ii) if sent by certified mail, three Business Days after
having been deposited in the mail, postage prepaid and (iii) if transmitted by
facsimile, when sent, receipt confirmed by telephone or electronic means.

         8.3. Binding Effect; Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding
              -----------------------------
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns and shall also, 

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
to the extent provided herein, inure to the benefit of the parties to the
Receivables Transfer Agreement. Originator may not assign its rights hereunder
or any interest herein without the prior consent of the Company and the Agent.
Originator acknowledges that the Company's rights under this Agreement may be
assigned to the Transferee under the Receivables Transfer Agreement and consents
to such assignment and to the exercise of those rights directly by the
Transferee or the Agent on its behalf.

         8.4. Survival. The rights and remedies with respect to any breach of
              --------
any representation and warranty made by Originator or the Company pursuant to
Article IV and the indemnification and payment provisions of Article VII and
- ----------                                                   -----------
Section 8.6 shall be continuing and shall survive any termination of this
- -----------
Agreement.

         8.5. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
              -------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         8.6. Costs, Expenses and Taxes. In addition to its obligations under
              -------------------------
Article VII, Originator agrees to pay on demand (a) all costs and expenses
- -----------
incurred by the Company and its assigns in connection with the enforcement of,
or any actual or claimed breach of, this Agreement, including the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel to any of such Persons incurred in connection with
any of the foregoing or in advising such Persons as to their respective rights
and remedies under this Agreement in connection with any of the foregoing and
(b) all stamp and other taxes and fees payable or determined to be payable in
connection with the execution, delivery, filing and recording of this Agreement.

         8.7. No Proceedings. Originator agrees, for the benefit of the parties
              --------------
to the Receivables Transfer Agreement, that it will not institute against the
Company or the Transferee, or join any other Person in instituting against the
Company or the Transferee, any Event of Bankruptcy until one year and one day
after the Final Pay Out Date (in relation to the Company) or for one year and
one day after the date when the latest maturing Commercial Paper Note is paid
(in relation to the Transferee). In addition, all amounts payable by the Company
to Originator pursuant to this Agreement shall be payable solely from funds
available for that purpose (after the Company has satisfied all obligations then
due and owing under the Receivables Transfer Agreement).

         8.8. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
              --------------------
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
         8.9. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
              -------------------------
number of counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date
first above written.


                                    IKON CAPITAL, INC.


                                By:
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                1738 Bass Road
                                Macon, Georgia 31210
                                Attention: Harry C. Kozee
                                Telephone: (912) 471-2306
                                Facsimile: (912) 471-2369

                                with a copy to:

                                IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                825 Duportail Road
                                Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
                                Attention: Jack Quinn
                                Facsimile: (610) 296-3248


                                IKON FUNDING, INC.


                                By:
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                501 Silverside Road, Suite 28
                                Wilmington, Delaware 19809
                                Attention: Robert McLain
                                Facsimile: (302) 798-2779

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-1
<PAGE>
 
Acknowledged and consented by:

IKON CAPITAL, INC., as Servicer


By:
   ---------------------------------
Name:
     -------------------------------
Title:
      ------------------------------

1738 Bass Road
Macon, Georgia 31210
Attention: Harry C. Kozee
Telephone: (912) 471-2306
Facsimile: (912) 471-2369


with a copy to:

IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
825 Duportail Road
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
Attention:  Jack Quinn
Facsimile:  (610) 296-3248

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-2
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE 4.14

                                OFFICE LOCATIONS


IKON Capital, Inc.
1738 Bass Road
Macon, Georgia  31210

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-3
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE 4.15

                                   TRADE NAMES


                                      None.

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-4
<PAGE>
 
                                    EXHIBIT A

                             FORM OF TRANSFER REPORT


                                 (See attached)

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-5
<PAGE>
 
                                    EXHIBIT B

                              FORM OF COMPANY NOTE


                                 (See attached)

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-6
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT C

                               CLOSING DATE REPORT


I.       Calculation of Fair Market Value of Pool Receivables
         transferred on Closing Date:

         (i)      aggregate unpaid scheduled debt service or lease payments
                  (excluding financing charges): $_______________, minus
                                                                   -----

         (ii)     allocated loss contingency reserve: $_____________

         Total Fair Market Value: $_______________


II.      Fair Market Value of contributed Pool Receivables:
         $________________

         Fair Market Value of transferred Pool Receivables:
         _____________

         (i)      Outstanding Transferee's Investment
                  under Original Receivables Agreement:  $______________

         (ii)     Cash transfer price: $______________

         (iii)    Initial principal amount of Company Note: $_____________

                                                                First Tier
                                                              Transfer Agreement

                                      S-7

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.7

                 AMENDMENT 1 TO RECEIVABLES TRANSFER AGREEMENT


AMENDMENT, dated as of October 7, 1997, to the Receivables Transfer Agreement,
dated as of September 30, 1996 (the "Receivables Agreement"), among IKON FUNDING
                                     ---------------------                      
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Transferor"), IKON CAPITAL INC., a Delaware
                                   ----------                                
corporation (the "Originator" and, in its capacity as Collection Agent, the
                  ----------                                               
"Collection Agent"), OLD LINE FUNDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (the
 ----------------
"Issuer"), and ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, a Canadian chartered bank acting through
its New York Branch, as agent (the "Agent") for the Transferees.
                                    -----                       

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Transferor, the Originator, the Issuer and the Agent have
agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, to amend the
Receivables Agreement as hereinafter set forth.

     Terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in the Receivables Agreement.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

          1  Amendment of Receivables Agreement.  The Receivables Agreement
             ----------------------------------                            
shall be and is hereby amended, as of the date hereof, as follows:

     (a)  The definition of "Applicable Percentage" in Exhibit I to the
                             ---------------------                     
          Receivables Agreement shall be amended in its entirety to read as
          follows:

          "Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to the Consideration
           ---------------------                                          
          payable with respect to Receivables, a percentage equal to the product
          of (a) four, (b) the weighted average life of such Receivables
          expressed in years and fractions thereof and as reported in the most
          recent Transferor Report and (c) the Default Ratio as reported in the
          most recent Transferor Report.

     (b)  The definition of "Default Ratio" in Exhibit I to the Receivables
                             -------------                                 
          Agreement shall be amended by deleting the phrase "aggregate
          Outstanding Balance" in clause (i) thereof and replacing it with the
          phrase "the total Periodic Payments due to the Transferor over the
          remaining term calculated as of the last day of the current calendar
          month" and by deleting the phrase "aggregate Outstanding Balance" in
          clause (ii) thereof and replacing it with the phrase "the total
          Periodic Payments due to the Transferor over the remaining term
          calculated as of the last day of the prior calendar month less all
          cash Collections and payments received from Dealers or Obligors on
          terminated Contracts received during such current calendar month."
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  The definition of "Defaulted Receivable" in Exhibit I to the
                             --------------------                     
          Receivables Agreement shall be amended by deleting the phrase "from
          the original due date" in clause (i) and replacing it with the phrase
          "after the invoice date."

     (d)  The definition of "Delinquency Ratio" in Exhibit I to the Receivables
                             -----------------                                 
          Agreement shall be amended by deleting the phrase "aggregate amount of
          all" in clause (i) and replacing it with the phrase "total Periodic
          Payments due to Transferor over the remaining term of all Related
          Contracts having one or more" and by deleting the phrase "aggregate
          Outstanding Balance" in clause (ii) and replacing it with the phrase
          "the total Periodic Payments due to the Transferor over the remaining
          term calculated as of the last day of the prior calendar month less
          all cash Collections and payments received from Dealers or Obligors on
          terminated Contracts received during such current calendar month."

     (e)  The definition of "Delinquent Receivable" in Exhibit I to the
                             ---------------------                     
          Receivables Agreement shall be amended by deleting the phrase "30 or
          more days from the original due date" in clause (i) and replacing it
          with the phrase "one or more days after the invoice date."

     (f)  The definition of "Fixed Period" in Exhibit I to the Agreement is
                             ------------                                  
          hereby amended by deleting the number "270" in clause (i) and
          replacing it with the number "78."

     (g)  The definition of "Outstanding Balance" in Exhibit I to the Agreement
                             -------------------                               
          is hereby amended by deleting the word "net" in the first line
          thereof.

     (h)  The definition of "Parent" in Exhibit I to the Agreement shall be
                             ------                                        
          amended in its entirety to read as follows: "Parent" means "IKON
                                                       ------             
          Office Solutions, Inc."

          2.   Execution in Counterparts, Etc.  This Amendment may be executed
               ------------------------------                                 
in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to
be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the
same amendment.  The delivery of a signed signature page to this Amendment by
telecopy transmission shall constitute due execution and delivery of this
Amendment for all purposes.

          3.   Receivables Agreement in Full Force and Effect.  Except as
               ----------------------------------------------            
amended by this Amendment, all of the provisions of the Receivables Agreement
and all of the provisions of all other documentation required to be delivered
with respect thereto shall remain in full force and effect from and after the
date hereof.

          4.   References to Receivables Agreement.  From and after the date
               -----------------------------------                          
hereof, (a) all references in the Receivables Agreement to "this Agreement,"
"hereof," "herein," or similar terms and (b) all references to the Receivables
Agreement in each agreement, instrument and other document executed or delivered
in connection with the Receivables Agreement, shall mean and refer to the
Receivables Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
<PAGE>
 
          5.   Further Assurances.  The parties hereto agree to execute and
               ------------------                                          
deliver any and all further agreements, certificates and other documents
reasonably necessary to implement the provisions of this Amendment.

          6.   Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be governed by, and
               -------------                                           
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York without giving
effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

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

TRANSFEROR:                             IKON FUNDING INC.


                                        By:
                                           ----------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


ORIGINATOR:                             IKON CAPITAL INC.


                                        By:
                                           ----------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


AGENT:                                  ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Agent for the
                                          Issuer


                                        By:
                                           ----------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


                                        By:
                                           ----------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.13
                                                                [Execution Copy]





                              U.S. $2,017,750,000
                              IKON CAPITAL, INC.
                          MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES C

                            DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT


                                                                    June 4, 1997


Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Inc.
3 World Financial Center, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10285-1200

Chase Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004

Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281

Dear Sirs:

     IKON Capital, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), confirms its
agreement with each of you (individually, an "Agent" and collectively, the
"Agents") with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of up to an
aggregate of $2,017,750,000 in gross proceeds of its Medium-Term Notes, Series C
(the "Notes"). The Notes are to be issued from time to time pursuant to an
indenture, dated as of June 30, 1995, and a first supplemental indenture, dated
as of June 4, 1997 (together, and as supplemented or amended from time to time,
the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee
(the "Trustee").

     The Notes shall have the maturity ranges, applicable interest rates or
interest rate formulas, specified currency, issue price, redemption and
repayment provisions and other terms set forth in the Prospectus referred to in
Section 1(a) as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, including
any supplement providing for the interest rate, maturity and other terms of any
Note (a "Pricing Supplement"). The Notes will be issued, and the terms thereof
established, from time to time, by the Company in accordance with the Indenture
and the Procedures referred to below. This
<PAGE>
 
Agreement shall only apply to sales of the Notes and not to sales of any other
securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Company and only on the specific
terms set forth herein.

     Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and to the reservation by
the Company of the right to sell its Notes directly on its own behalf, the
Company hereby (i) appoints each of the Agents as the agent of the Company for
the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Notes from the
Company and (ii) agrees that whenever the Company determines to sell Notes
directly to an Agent as principal it will enter into a separate agreement (each
a "Purchase Agreement"). Each such Purchase Agreement, whether oral (and
confirmed in writing, which may be by facsimile transmission) or in writing,
shall be with respect to such information (as applicable) as specified in
Exhibit C hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2(e) hereof.


     Section 1.  Representations and Warranties

     The Company represents and warrants to each Agent as of the date hereof, as
of the Closing Date (defined herein) and as of the times referred to in Sections
6(a) and 6(b) hereof (the Closing Date and each such time being hereinafter
sometimes referred to as a "Representation Date"), as follows:

     (a)  General.  Registration statements (No. 33-59227 and No. 333-27141) on
Form S-3 with respect to the Notes have been prepared and filed by the Company
in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), and the rules and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, and have
become effective under the Act. The Indenture has been qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). As used in this
Agreement (i) "Registration Statement" means such registration statements when
they became effective under the Act, and as from time to time amended or
supplemented thereafter (if any post-effective amendment to such registration
statements have been filed with the Commission prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the time the most recent such amendment has been
declared effective by the Commission); (ii) "Basic Prospectus" means the
prospectus (including all documents incorporated therein by reference) included
in the Registration Statement; and (iii) "Prospectus" means the Basic Prospectus
(together with all documents incorporated therein by reference) and any
amendments or supplements thereto (including the applicable Pricing Supplement)
relating to the Notes, as filed with the Commission pursuant to paragraph (b) of
Rule 424 of the Rules and Regulations. The Commission has not issued any order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus. Any reference in this
Agreement to amending or supplementing the Prospectus shall be deemed to include
the filing of materials incorporated by reference in the Prospectus after the
Closing Date (defined herein) and any reference in this Agreement to any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any such
materials incorporated by reference in the Prospectus after the Closing Date
(defined herein).

     (b)  Registration Statement, Prospectus and Indenture: Contents.  The
Registration Statement and each Prospectus conformed, and the Registration
Statement and each Prospectus will conform as of the applicable Representation
Date and at all times during each period during which, in the opinion of counsel
for the Agents, a prospectus relating to the Notes is required to be delivered
under the Act (each a "Marketing Period"), in all respects to the requirements
of the Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), the Trust Indenture Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
under such Acts; the Indenture, including any 
<PAGE>
 
amendments and supplements thereto, conforms with the requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and
the Registration Statement and each Prospectus do not, and will not as of the
applicable Representation Date and at all times during each Marketing Period,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or
warranty as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Agents specifically for inclusion
therein or to any statements in or omissions from the statement of eligibility
and qualification on Form T-1 (the "Form T-1") of the Trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act.

     (c)  No Defaults.  The Company is not in violation of its corporate charter
or by-laws or in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, the
effect of which violation or default would be material to the Company; the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes,
the Support Agreement, dated October 22, 1996 (the "1996 Support Agreement")
between the Company and IKON Office Solutions, Inc. ("IKON"),  and each
applicable Purchase Agreement, if any, and compliance by the Company with the
provisions of the Notes and the Indenture have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action and will not conflict with, result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the
Company pursuant to the terms of, or constitute a default under, any agreement,
indenture or instrument, or result in a violation of the corporate charter or
by-laws of the Company or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties; and
except as required by the Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the Exchange Act and
applicable state securities laws, no consent, authorization or order of, or
filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency is required for
the execution, delivery and performance of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Notes, the 1996 Support Agreement, each applicable Purchase
Agreement, if any, or the Indenture. The Company has no subsidiaries within the
meaning of Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

     (d)  Material Changes or Material Transactions.  Except as described in the
Registration Statement and each Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material
adverse change in, or any adverse development which materially affects, the
business, properties, condition (financial or other), results of operations or
prospects of the Company, and (ii) there has been no material transaction
entered into by the Company other than those in the ordinary course of business.

     (e)  Accountants.  Ernst & Young LLP, whose report appears in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K which is incorporated by reference in each
Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as
required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

     (f)  Validity of the Indenture and the Notes.  (i) The Indenture has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid
and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
its terms; (ii) the Notes have been validly authorized for issuance and sale
pursuant to this Agreement and, when the terms of the Notes and of their issue
and sale have been duly established in accordance with the Indenture and this
Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument
binding on the Company, and the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated,
delivered and paid for as provided in this 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
Agreement and the Indenture, the Notes will be validly issued and outstanding,
and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with
their terms and the terms of the Indenture; and (iii) the Notes and the
Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof contained in each Prospectus. The
validity, enforceability and legally binding nature of the Indenture and the
Notes are subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (regardless
of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

     (g)  Due Incorporation and Qualification.  The Company has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, is duly qualified to do business and in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of
properties or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification (except
where the failure to obtain such qualification would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company), and has the power and authority necessary to own or hold
its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, as
described in each Prospectus.

     (h)  Validity of the Support Agreements.  (i) Each of the 1996 Support
Agreement, and the Maintenance Agreement, dated August 15, 1991 (the
"Maintenance Agreement") and the Operating Agreement dated August 15, 1991 (the
"Operating Agreement") between the Company and IKON has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by each of the Company and IKON and constitutes the valid
and legally binding obligation of the Company and IKON, enforceable in
accordance with its terms; and (ii) such agreements conform to the descriptions
thereof contained in each Prospectus.  The validity, enforceability and legally
binding nature of such agreements are subject to the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar
laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable
principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing.

     (i)  Ownership of Property.  The Company owns, or has valid rights to use,
all items of real and personal property which are material to the business of
the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims which may
materially interfere with the business, properties, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company.

     (j)  Legal Proceedings.  Except as described in each Prospectus, there is
no material litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened against the Company which might result in any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or other), results of
operations, business, property, or prospects of the Company or which is required
to be disclosed in the Registration Statement.

     (k)  Financial Statements.  The audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in each Prospectus present and will present fairly, as
of the applicable Representation Date and at all times during each Marketing
Period, the financial condition, results of operations, changes in shareholder's
equity and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, at the dates and for
the periods indicated, and have been, and will be as of the applicable
Representation Date and at all times during each Marketing Period, prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis throughout the period or periods involved; and the 

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
supporting schedules, if applicable, included or incorporated by reference in
each Prospectus present, and will present as of the applicable Representation
Date and at all times during each Marketing Period, fairly the information
required to be stated therein. The unaudited financial statements of the
Company, if any, and the related notes, included or incorporated by reference in
each Prospectus present fairly and will present fairly at all times during each
period specified in Section 3(c) hereof the financial position of the Company at
the dates and for the periods indicated in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles (except for the absence of notes) applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods shown, subject to normally recurring changes, and
prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q.

     (l)  Documents Incorporated by Reference.  The documents incorporated by
reference into any Prospectus have been, and will be as of the applicable
Representation Date and at all times during each Marketing Period, prepared by
the Company in conformity with the applicable requirements of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; and none of such documents contained, or will contain as
of the applicable Representation Date and at all times during each Marketing
Period, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, or will omit, to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; and such documents have been, or will be, as
of the applicable Representation Date and at all times during each Marketing
Period, timely filed as required thereby.

     (m)  Exhibits to Registration Statement.  There are no contracts or other
documents which are required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement by the Act or by the Rules and Regulations, or which were required to
be filed as exhibits to any document incorporated by reference in any Prospectus
by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or to such
document or incorporated therein by reference as permitted by the Rules and
Regulations or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange
Act, as the case may be.

     (n)  Licenses, Approvals and Consents.  The Company has all licenses,
approvals and consents for the conduct of its business the failure of which to
have would have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company.

     (o)  Investment Company Act.  The Company is not required to register under
the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Company Act"), and no action need be taken with respect to or under
the Investment Company Act by reason of the issuance of the Notes by the
Company.

     (p)  Rating.  The Notes have been rated by a "nationally recognized
statistical rating agency" (as that term is defined by the Commission for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act), including one or both of Moody's
Investor Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Corporation.

     (q)  Doing Business with Cuba.  The Company confirms as of the date hereof,
and each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase Notes will be deemed
to be an affirmation, that the Company is in compliance with all provisions of
Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198, An Act Relating to Disclosure of
Doing Business with Cuba, and the Company further agrees that if it commences
engaging in business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate
located in Cuba after the date the Registration Statement becomes or has become
effective with the Commission or with the Florida Department of Banking and
Finance (the "Department"),

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
whichever date is later, or if the information reported in the Prospectus, if
any, concerning the Company's business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate
located in Cuba changes in any material way, the Company will provide the
Department notice of such business or change, as appropriate, in a form
acceptable to the Department.

     (r)  True and Complete Documents.  The certificates delivered pursuant to
paragraph (f) of Section 5 hereof and all other documents delivered by the
Company or its representatives in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Notes were on the dates on which they were delivered, or will be on the dates on
which they are to be delivered, true and complete in all material respects.


     Section 2.  Solicitations as Agent; Purchases as Principal

     (a)  Appointment.  Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, the
Company hereby appoints each of the Agents as the agent of the Company for the
purpose of soliciting or receiving offers to purchase the Notes from the Company
by others. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein,
but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Agent agrees, as
the agent of the Company, to use its reasonable efforts to solicit offers to
purchase the Notes upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
The Company may offer the Notes for sale from time to time otherwise than
through an Agent. However, so long as this Agreement is in effect the Company
shall not solicit offers to purchase Notes through any agent without (i)
amending this Agreement to appoint such agent as an additional Agent hereunder
on the same terms and conditions as provided herein for the Agents (the consent
of the then current Agents shall not be necessary for such purpose) and (ii)
delivering 2 days prior written notice thereof to the Agents. The Company may,
however, accept offers to purchase Notes through an agent other than an Agent,
provided that (i) the Company shall not have solicited such offers, (ii) the
Company and such agent shall have executed an agreement with respect to such
purchases having the same terms and conditions (including, without limitation,
commission and discount rates) as those which would apply to such purchases
under this Agreement if such agent were an Agent (which may be accomplished by
incorporating by reference in such agreement the terms and conditions of this
Agreement) and (iii) the Company shall provide the Agents with a copy of such
agreement promptly following the execution thereof. Each Agent may also purchase
Notes from the Company as principal for purposes of resale, as more fully
described in paragraph (e) of this Section.

     (b)  Suspension of Solicitation.  The Company reserves the right, in its
sole discretion, to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Notes
commencing at any time for any period of time or indefinitely. Upon receipt of
at least one business day's prior written notice from the Company, the Agents
will forthwith suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Notes from the Company
until such time as the Company has advised the Agents that such solicitation may
be resumed. For the purpose of the foregoing sentence, "business day" shall mean
any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday and which is not a day on which (i)
banking institutions are generally authorized or obligated by law to close in
The City of New York and (ii) the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is closed for
trading.

     Upon receipt of notice from the Company as contemplated by Section 3(c)
hereof, each Agent shall suspend its solicitation of offers to purchase Notes
until such time as the Company shall have furnished it with an amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
Prospectus, as the case may be, contemplated by Section 3(c) and shall have
advised such Agent that such solicitation may be resumed.

     (c)  Agent's Commission.  Promptly upon the closing of the sale of any
Notes sold by the Company as a result of a solicitation made by or offer to
purchase received by an Agent, the Company agrees to pay such Agent a
commission, in the form of a discount, in accordance with the schedule set forth
in Exhibit A hereto.

     (d)  Solicitation of Offers.  The Agents are authorized to solicit offers
to purchase the Notes only in denominations as are specified in the Prospectus
at a purchase price as shall be specified by the Company. Each Agent shall
communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to
purchase Notes received by it as an Agent. The Company shall have the sole right
to accept offers to purchase the Notes and may reject any such offer in whole or
in part. Each Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised
without advising the Company, to reject any offer to purchase the Notes received
by it, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach
of its agreement contained herein.

     No Note which the Company has agreed to sell pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to have been purchased and paid for, or sold by the Company,
until such Note shall have been delivered to the purchaser thereof against
payment by such purchaser.

     (e)  Purchases as Principal.  Each sale of Notes to any Agent as principal,
for resale to one or more investors or to another broker-dealer (acting as
principal for purposes of resale), shall be made in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement and a Purchase Agreement whether oral (and confirmed in writing
by such Agent to the Company, which may be by facsimile transmission) or in
writing, which will provide for the sale of such Notes to, and the purchase
thereof by, such Agent. A Purchase Agreement may also specify certain provisions
relating to the reoffering of such Notes by such Agent. The commitment of any
Agent to purchase Notes from the Company as principal shall be deemed to have
been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company
herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth. Each Purchase Agreement shall specify the principal amount and terms of
the Notes to be purchased by an Agent, the time and date (each such time and
date being referred to herein as a "Time of Delivery") and place of delivery of
and payment for such Notes and such other information (as applicable) as is set
forth in Exhibit C hereto. The Company agrees that if any Agent purchases Notes
as principal for resale such Agent shall receive such compensation, in the form
of a discount or otherwise, as shall be indicated in the applicable Purchase
Agreement or, if no compensation is indicated therein a commission in accordance
with Exhibit A hereto. Any Agent may utilize a selling or dealer group in
connection with the resale of such Notes. In addition, any Agent may offer the
Notes it has purchased as principal to other dealers. Any Agent may sell Notes
to any dealer at a discount and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement, such discount allowed to any dealer will not be in excess of
the discount to be received by such Agent from the Company. Such Purchase
Agreement shall also specify any requirements for delivery of opinions of
counsel, accountant's letters and officers' certificates pursuant to Section 5
hereof.

     (f)  Administrative Procedures.  Administrative procedures respecting the
sale of Notes (the "Procedures") are set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may be
amended in writing from time to time by the Agents and the Company. Each Agent
and the Company agree to perform the respective duties and obligations
specifically provided to be performed by each of them herein and in the

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
Procedures. The Procedures shall apply to all transactions contemplated
hereunder including sales of Notes to any Agent as principal pursuant to a
Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise set forth in such Purchase Agreement.

     (g)  Delivery of Documents.  The documents required to be delivered by
Section 5 hereof shall be delivered at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, 125
Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, not later that 10:00 A.M., New York City
time, on the date of this Agreement or at such later time as may be mutually
agreed upon by the Company and the Agents, which in no event shall be later than
the time at which the Agents commence solicitation of offers to purchase Notes
hereunder (the "Closing Date").


     Section 3. Covenants of the Company

     The Company covenants and agrees:

     (a)  Delivery of Signed Registration Statement.  To furnish promptly to the
Agents and to their counsel a signed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and each amendment or supplement thereto.

     (b)  Delivery of Other Documents.  To deliver promptly to the Agents, and
in such number as they may request, each of the following documents: (i)
conformed copies of the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits other than
the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, the Indenture, this
Agreement and such other exhibits that the Agents may request), (ii) the Basic
Prospectus, (iii) each Prospectus and (iv) any documents incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus.

     (c)  Revisions to Prospectus - Material Changes.  If, during any Marketing
Period, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time
to amend any Prospectus to comply with the Act, to notify the Agents promptly,
in writing, to suspend solicitation of purchases of the Notes; and if the
Company shall decide to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or any
Prospectus, to promptly advise the Agents by telephone (with confirmation in
writing) and to promptly, in writing, prepare and file with the Commission an
amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an
amendment which will effect such compliance; provided, however, that if during
the period referred to above any Agent shall own any Notes which it has
purchased from the Company as principal with the intention of reselling them,
the Company shall promptly prepare and timely file with the Commission any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or any Prospectus that
may, in the judgment of the Company or the Agents, be required by the Act or
requested by the Commission.

     (d)  Commission Filings.  To timely file with the Commission during any
Marketing Period, all documents (and any amendments to previously filed
documents) required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     (e)  Copies of Filings with Commission.  Prior to filing with the
Commission during any Marketing Period, (i) any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement, (ii) any amendment or supplement to any Prospectus or
(iii) any document incorporated by reference in

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
any of the foregoing or any amendment of or supplement to any such incorporated
document, to furnish a copy thereof to the Agents.

     (f)  Notice to Agent of Certain Events.  To advise the Agents immediately
(i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to
or covering the Notes becomes effective, (ii) of any request or proposed request
by the Commission for an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement,
to any Prospectus, to any document incorporated by reference in any of the
foregoing or for any additional information and the Company will afford the
Agents a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such proposed amendment or
supplement, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any order
directed to any Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or
the initiation or threat of any stop order proceeding or of any challenge to the
accuracy or adequacy of any document incorporated by reference in any
Prospectus, (iv) of receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or
the initiation or threat of any proceeding for that purpose, (v) of any
downgrading in the rating of the Notes or any other debt securities of the
Company, or any proposal to downgrade the rating of the Notes or any other debt
securities of the Company, by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any
public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review
its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement
with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a
possible downgrading of such rating) as soon as the Company learns of any such
downgrading, proposal to downgrade or public announcement and (vi) of the
happening of any event which makes untrue any statement of material fact made in
the Registration Statement or any Prospectus or which requires the making of a
change in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus in order to make any
material statement therein not misleading.

     (g)  Stop Orders.  If, during any Marketing Period, the Commission shall
issue a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
to make every reasonable effort to obtain the lifting of that order at the
earliest possible time.

     (h)  Earnings Statements.  As soon as practicable, but not later than 18
months, after the date of each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase
Notes hereunder, to make generally available to its security holders an earnings
statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the later of
(i) the effective date of the Registration Statement, (ii) the effective date of
the most recent post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to become
effective prior to the date of such acceptance and (iii) the date of the
Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission prior
to the date of such acceptance which will satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 of the Rules
and Regulations under the Act).

     (i)  Copies of Reports, Releases and Financial Statements.  So long as any
of the Notes are outstanding, to furnish to the Agents, not later than the time
the Company makes the same available to others, copies of all public reports or
releases and all reports and financial statements furnished by the Company to
any securities exchange on which the Notes are listed pursuant to requirements
of or agreements with such exchange or to the Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act or any rule or regulation of the Commission thereunder.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
     (j)  Blue Sky Qualifications.  To endeavor, in cooperation with the Agents,
to qualify the Notes for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Agents may designate, and to maintain such qualifications
in effect for as long as may be required for the distribution of the Notes; and
to file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of each
jurisdiction in which the Notes have been qualified as above provided.

     (k)  Holdback.  Between the date of a Purchase Agreement and the date of
delivery of the Notes with respect thereto, the Company will not offer or sell,
or enter into any agreement to sell, any of its debt securities, other than
borrowings under the Company's revolving credit agreements and lines of credit,
the private placement of securities and issuances of its commercial paper.

     (l)  Pricing Supplement.  To prepare, with respect to any Notes to be sold
through or to the Agents pursuant to this Agreement, a Pricing Supplement with
respect to such Notes in a form previously approved by the Agents and to file
such Pricing Supplement timely pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act with the
Commission.


     Section 4.  Payment of Expenses

     The Company will pay:

               (i)  the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale and
     delivery of the  Notes and any taxes payable in that connection,

               (ii)  the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing
     under the Act  of the Registration Statement and any amendments and
     exhibits thereto,

               (iii)  the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing
     of any document  and any amendments and exhibits thereto required to be
     filed by the Company under the Exchange Act,

               (iv)  the costs of distributing the Registration Statement as
     originally filed,  and each amendment and post-effective amendment thereof
     (including exhibits), the Basic Prospectus, each Prospectus, any supplement
     or amendment to any Prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference
     in any of the foregoing documents,

               (v)  the fees and disbursements of the Trustee, any paying agent,
     any  calculation agent, any exchange agent and any other agents appointed
     by the Company, and their respective counsel,

               (vi)  the costs and fees in connection with the listing of the
     Notes on any  securities exchange,

               (vii)  the cost and fees in connection with any filings with the
     National  Association of Notes Dealers, Inc.,

               (viii)  the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Company and
     counsel to  the Agents,

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
               (ix)  the fees paid to rating agencies in connection with the
     rating of the  Notes,

               (x)  the fees and expenses of qualifying the Notes under the
     securities laws  of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 3(j)
     hereof and of preparing and printing a Blue Sky Memorandum and a memorandum
     concerning the legality of the Notes as an investment (including fees and
     expenses of counsel for the Agents in connection therewith),

               (xi)  all advertising expenses in connection with the offering of
     the Notes  incurred with the consent of the Company, and

               (xii)  all other costs and expenses arising out of the
     transactions contemplated  hereunder and incident to the performance of the
     Company's obligations under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with
     the activities of the Agents under this Agreement.


     Section 5.  Conditions of Obligations of Agent

     The obligation of the Agents, as agents of the Company, under this
Agreement to solicit offers to purchase the Notes, the obligation of any person
who has agreed to purchase Notes to make payment for and take delivery of Notes,
and the obligation of any Agent to purchase Notes pursuant to any Purchase
Agreement, is subject to the accuracy, on each Representation Date, of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the accuracy
of the statements of the Company's officers made in any certificate furnished
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and
conditions:

     (a)  Registration Statement.  The Prospectus as amended or supplemented
(including the Pricing Supplement) with respect to such Notes shall have been
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the
applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the Rules and Regulations
and in accordance with Section 3(1) hereof; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof nor any order
directed to any document incorporated by reference in any Prospectus have been
issued and no stop order proceeding shall have been initiated or threatened by
the Commission and no challenge shall have been made to the accuracy or adequacy
of any document incorporated by reference in any Prospectus; any request of the
Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement
or any Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with; and the Company
shall not have filed with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or any Prospectus (or any document incorporated by
reference therein) without the consent of the Agents.

     (b)  No Suspension of Sale of the Notes.  No order suspending the sale of
the Notes in any jurisdiction designated by the Agents pursuant to Section 3(j)
hereof shall have been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose shall have
been initiated or threatened.

     (c)  No Material Omissions or Untrue Statements.  The Agents shall not have
discovered and disclosed to the Company that the Registration Statement or any
Prospectus contains an untrue

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Agents, is material
or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and
is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading.

     (d)  Legal Matters Satisfactory to Counsel.  All corporate proceedings and
other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this
Agreement, the Notes, the Indenture, the form of the Registration Statement,
each Prospectus (other than financial statements and other financial data) and
all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be satisfactory in all respects to counsel for the
Agents and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and
information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such
matters.

     (e)  Opinion of Company Counsel.  At the Closing Date, the Agents shall
have received the opinion, addressed to the Agents and dated the Closing Date,
of William F. Drake, Jr., General Counsel of IKON, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agents and counsel, to the effect that:

               (i)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
     existing and in  good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
     incorporation, is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a
     foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of
     properties or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification
     (except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse
     effect on the Company), and has all power and authority necessary to own
     its properties and conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, as
     described in the Prospectus;

               (ii)  Such counsel has no reason to believe that the Registration
     Statement,  as of its effective date, contained any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or the
     Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
     state a 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, it being understood that such counsel need express no
     opinion as to the financial statements or other financial information
     contained or incorporated therein or omitted therefrom, or the Form T-1
     that is an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

               (iii)  Such counsel does not know, after reasonable
     investigation, of any  litigation or any governmental proceeding pending or
     threatened against the Company which would affect the subject matter of
     this Agreement or is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus which is
     not disclosed and correctly summarized therein;

               (iv)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court
     or  governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the
     transactions contemplated herein except such as have been obtained under
     the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any
     jurisdiction in connection with the sale of the Notes as contemplated by
     this Agreement and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have
     been obtained;

               (v)  Such counsel does not know, after reasonable investigation,
     of any  contracts or other documents which are required to be filed as
     exhibits to the Registration Statement by the Act or by the Rules and
     Regulations, or which are required to be filed

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
     by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder as exhibits to any document incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus, which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registration
     Statement or to such document or incorporated therein by reference as
     permitted by the Rules and Regulations or the rules and regulations of the
     Commission under the Exchange Act;

               (vi)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not
     in  violation of its corporate charter or by-laws, or in default (except
     where such default would not have a material adverse effect upon the
     Company) under any agreement, indenture or instrument;

               (vii)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
     the 1996  Support Agreement and the Purchase Agreements, if any, and
     compliance by the Company with the provisions of the Notes and the
     Indenture did not and will not conflict with, or result in the creation or
     imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the
     Company pursuant to the terms of, or constitute a default under, any
     agreement, indenture or instrument known to such counsel, or result in a
     violation of the corporate charter or by-laws of the Company (as in effect
     on the date of such opinion) or any order, rule or regulation (also as in
     effect on the date of such opinion) of any court or governmental agency
     having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties; and no consent,
     authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any court or
     governmental agency was or is required for the execution, delivery and
     performance by the Company of this Agreement, the 1996 Support Agreement
     and the Purchase Agreements, if any, except such as may be required by the
     Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the Exchange Act or state securities laws;

               (viii)  The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company,
     duly executed  and delivered by the Company and the Trustee and duly
     qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and is a valid and legally binding
     obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms;

               (ix)  The Notes are in a form contemplated by the Indenture and
     have been  duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and, when the
     terms of the Notes and of their issue and sale have been duly established
     in accordance with the Indenture and this Agreement so as not to violate
     any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company,
     and when the Notes have been duly executed and authenticated as specified
     in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with
     this Agreement, the Notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of
     the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, and entitled to the
     benefits of the Indenture;

               (x)  The Notes and the Indenture conform to the statements
     concerning each  of them in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

               (xi)  Each of the 1996 Support Agreement, the Operating Agreement
     and the  Maintenance Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by each of the Company and IKON and constitutes the valid and
     legally binding obligation of the Company and IKON in accordance with its
     terms; and (ii) such agreements conform to the descriptions thereof
     contained in each Prospectus;

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
               (xii)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the
     Act and, to  the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
     proceeding for that purpose is pending or threatened by the Commission;

               (xiii)  To the knowledge of such counsel, after reasonable
     investigation, no  order directed to any document incorporated by reference
     in the Prospectus has been issued and no challenge has been made to the
     accuracy or adequacy of any such document; and they have no reason to
     believe that any of such documents, when they became effective or were so
     filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case of a registration
     statement which became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, in
     the case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange
     Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
     to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
     in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such
     documents were so filed, not misleading;

               (xiv)  The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except that
     no opinion  need be expressed as to the financial statements and other
     financial data contained therein or the Form T-1 that is an exhibit
     thereto) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements
     of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission under said Acts and the documents incorporated by reference in
     the Prospectus (except that no opinion need be expressed as to the
     financial statements and other financial data contained therein) comply as
     to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
     Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

               (xv)  The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions
     "Description of Debt Securities" and "Description of Notes," insofar as
     they purport to summarize the provisions of documents or agreements
     specifically referred to therein, fairly present the information called for
     with respect thereto by Form S-3;

               (xvi)  The Company has the corporate power and authority
     necessary to  execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
     obligations (including the sale and delivery of the Notes under this
     Agreement) hereunder; and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
     and delivered by the Company;

               (xvii)  The Company is not required to register under the
     provisions of the  Investment Company Act, and no action need be taken with
     respect to or under the Investment Company Act by reason of the issuance of
     the Notes by the Company; and

               (xviii)  The description contained in the Prospectus under the
     heading "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences" while not
     purporting to discuss all possible income tax ramifications of the proposed
     issuance, is correct in all material respects.

     The opinions set forth in paragraphs (viii), (ix) and (xi) above are
subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws 

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable
principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing.

     (f)  Officers' Certificate.  The Company shall have furnished to the Agents
on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of its President or a
Vice President and its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer stating that:

               (i)  The representations, warranties and agreements of the
     Company in  Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date;
     the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein; and the
     conditions set forth in Sections 5(a) and 5(b) hereof have been fulfilled;
     and

               (ii)  They have carefully examined the Registration Statement and
     the  Prospectus and, in their opinion, (A) the Registration Statement, as
     of its effective date, did not contain any untrue statement of a material
     fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) the Prospectus
     does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made, not misleading, and (C) since the effective date of the
     Registration Statement there has not occurred any event required to be set
     forth in an amended or supplemented prospectus which has not been so set
     forth.

     (g)  Accountant's Letter.  The Company shall have furnished to the Agents
on the Closing Date a letter of Ernst & Young LLP, addressed jointly to the
Company and the Agents and dated the Closing Date, of the type described in the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 72, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents
confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act
and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating in
effect that:

               (i) In their opinion, the financial statements examined by them
     and  incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the
     Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the
     applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published
     Rules and Regulations;

               (ii)  They have made a review of any unaudited financial
     statements  incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in accordance with
     standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public
     Accountants;

               (iii)  On the basis of the review referred to in (ii) above and a
     reading of the  latest available interim financial statements of the
     Company, inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for
     financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing
     came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

               (A)  the unaudited financial statements, if any, incorporated by
          reference in the Prospectus do not comply in form in all material
          respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
          the related published Rules and Regulations are not in conformity with
          generally accepted accounting principles

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
          applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited
          financial statements incorporated by reference in the Prospectus;

               (B)  the unaudited capsule information, if any, included in the
          Prospectus does not agree with the amounts set forth in the unaudited
          financial statements from which it was derived or was not determined
          on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial
          statements incorporated by reference in the Prospectus;

               (C)  at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by
          such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date not more than five
          days prior to the Closing Date, there was any change in the capital
          stock, any increase in short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of
          the Company or, at the date of the latest available balance sheet read
          by such accountants, there was any decrease in net assets as compared
          with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet incorporated by
          reference in the Prospectus; or

               (D)  for the period from the date of the latest income statement
          included in the Prospectus to the closing date of the latest available
          income statement read by such accountants there were any decreases, as
          compared with the corresponding period of the previous year in
          revenues, income before income taxes and cumulative effect of
          accounting change, or net income, or in the ratio of earnings to fixed
          charges;

     except in all cases set forth in clauses (C) and (D) above for changes,
     increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may
     occur or which are described in such letter; and

               (iv)  They have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages
     derived  from such dollar amounts) and other financial information
     contained in the Prospectus (in each case to the extent that such dollar
     amounts, percentages and other financial information are derived from the
     general accounting records of the Company subject to the internal controls
     of the Company's accounting system or are derived directly from such
     records by analysis or computation) with the results obtained from
     inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and other
     procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts,
     percentages and other financial information to be in agreement with such
     results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.

     All financial statements included in material incorporated by reference
into the Prospectus shall be deemed included in the Prospectus for purposes of
this subsection.

     (h)  The Agents shall have received from Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to
the Agents, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to
the issuance and sale of the Notes, the Indenture, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and other related matters as the Agents may reasonably require,
and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they
may request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

     (i)  Additional Conditions.  There shall not have occurred:  (i) any change
in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or any change, or any 

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, shareholder's equity, business, properties, condition (financial or
other), results of operations or prospects of the Company which in the opinion
of the Agents materially impairs the investment quality of the Notes; (ii) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market
or the establishment of minimum prices on such exchanges or such market by the
Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental
authority having jurisdiction; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities declared by Federal or New York State authorities; (iv) any
downgrading in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes
of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement that any such
organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities
of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a
possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such
rating); (v) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United
States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial
national calamity or emergency; or (vi) any material adverse change in the
existing financial, political or economic conditions in the United States,
including any effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the
United States, that in the judgment of the Agents makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes or the
purchase of Notes from the Company as principal pursuant to the applicable
Purchase Agreement, as the case may be.

     (j)  Other Information and Documentation.  Prior to the Closing Date, the
Company shall have furnished to the Agents such further information,
certificates and documents as the Agents or counsel to the Agents may reasonably
request.

     All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the
provisions hereof only if they are in the form and substance satisfactory to
counsel for the Agents.


     Section 6.  Additional Covenants of the Company

     The Company covenants and agrees that:

     (a)  Acceptance of Offer Affirms Representations and Warranties.  Each
acceptance by it of an offer for the purchase of Notes shall be deemed to be an
affirmation that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement and in any certificate theretofore given to the Agents pursuant
hereto are true and correct at the time of such acceptance, and an undertaking
that such representations and warranties will be true and correct at the time of
delivery to the purchaser or his agent of the Notes relating to such acceptance
as though made at and as of each such time (and such representations and
warranties shall relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented to each such time).

     (b)  Subsequent Delivery of Officers' Certificates.  The Company agrees
that during each Marketing Period, each time that the Registration Statement or
any Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing
Supplement providing solely for the interest rates or maturities of the Notes or
the principal amount of Notes remaining to be sold or similar changes), each
time the Company sells Notes to an Agent as principal and the applicable
Purchase Agreement specifies the delivery of an officers' certificate under this
Section 6(b) as a condition to the 

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
purchase of Notes pursuant to such Purchase Agreement or the Company files with
the Commission any document incorporated by reference into any Prospectus, the
Company shall submit to the Agents a certificate, (i) as of the date of such
amendment, supplement, Time of Delivery relating to such sale or filing or (ii)
if such amendment, supplement or filing was not filed during a Marketing Period,
as of the first day of the next succeeding Marketing Period, representing that
the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 5(f) hereof
which was last furnished to the Agents are true and correct at the time of such
amendment, supplement or filing, as the case may be, as though made at and as of
such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the
Registration Statement and each Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such
time).

     (c)  Subsequent Delivery of Legal Opinions.  The Company agrees that during
each Marketing Period, each time that the Registration Statement or any
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing Supplement
providing solely for the interest rates or maturities of the Notes or the
principal amount of Notes remaining to be sold or similar changes), each time
the Company sells Notes to an Agent as principal and the applicable Purchase
Agreement specifies the delivery of a legal opinion under this Section 6(c) as a
condition to the purchase of Notes pursuant to such Purchase Agreement or the
Company files with the Commission any document incorporated by reference into
any Prospectus, the Company shall, (i) concurrently with such amendment,
supplement, Time of Delivery relating to such sale or filing or (ii) if such
amendment, supplement or filing was not filed during a Marketing Period, on the
first day of the next succeeding Marketing Period, furnish the Agents and their
counsel with the written opinions of the General Counsel of the Company, each
addressed to the Agents and dated the date of delivery of such opinion, in form
satisfactory to the Agents, of the same effect as the opinions referred to in
Section 5(e) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration
Statement and each Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the time of delivery
of such opinion; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinion, such counsel
may furnish the Agents with a letter to the effect that the Agents may rely on
such prior opinion to the same extent as though it was dated the date of such
letter authorizing reliance (except that statements in such prior opinion shall
be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and each Prospectus as amended
or supplemented to the time of delivery of such letter authorizing reliance).

     (d)  Subsequent Delivery of Accountant's Letters.  The Company agrees that
during each Marketing Period, each time that the Registration Statement or any
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional financial
information, each time the Company sells Notes to an Agent as principal and the
applicable Purchase Agreement specifies the delivery of a letter under this
Section 6(d) as a condition to the purchase of Notes pursuant to such Purchase
Agreement or the Company files with the Commission any document incorporated by
reference into any Prospectus which contains additional financial information,
the Company shall cause Ernst & Young LLP (or other independent accounts of the
Company acceptable to the Agents) to furnish the Agents, (i) concurrently with
such amendment, supplement, Time of Delivery relating to such sale or filing or
(ii) if such amendment, supplement, or filing was not filed during a Marketing
Period, on the first day of the next succeeding Marketing Period, a letter,
addressed jointly to the Company and the Agents and dated the date of delivery
of such letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, of
the same effect as the letter referred to in Section 5(g) hereof but modified to
relate to the Registration Statement and each Prospectus, as amended and
supplemented to the date of such letter, with such changes as may be necessary
to reflect changes in the financial statements and other information derived
from the accounting records of the Company; provided, however, that if the
Registration Statement or any Prospectus

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
is amended or supplemented solely to include financial information as of and for
a fiscal quarter, such accountants may limit the scope of such letter to the
unaudited financial statements included in such amendment or supplement unless
there is contained therein any other accounting, financial or statistical
information that, in the reasonable judgment of the Agents, should be covered by
such letter, in which event such letter shall also cover such other information.

     (e)  Opinion on Settlement Date.  On any settlement date for the sale of
Notes, the Company shall, if requested by the Agent that solicited or received
the offer to purchase any Notes being delivered on such settlement date, furnish
such Agent with a written opinion of the General Counsel of the Company, dated
such settlement date, in form satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect set
forth in Section 5(e) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to the
Prospectus relating to the Notes to be delivered on such settlement date;
provided, however, that in lieu of such opinion, such counsel may furnish the
Agents with a letter to the effect that the Agents may rely on such prior
opinion to the same extent as though it was dated such settlement date (except
that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the
Registration Statement and such Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the
time of delivery of such letter authorizing reliance).


     Section 7.  Indemnification and Contribution

     (a)  Indemnification of Agents.  The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless each Agent and each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the
meaning of the Act from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint
or several, and any action in respect thereof, to which such Agent or
controlling person may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or other
federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is
based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or arises out of, or
is 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 shall reimburse each Agent and controlling person for any legal
and other expenses reasonably incurred by such Agent or controlling person in
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Form T-1 or
made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents
specifically for inclusion therein; provided further, that as to any prospectus
included in the Registration Statement before it became effective under the Act
(a "Preliminary Prospectus") this indemnity agreement shall not inure to the
benefit of any Agent on account of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arising from the sale of Notes to any person by that Agent if that Agent failed
to send or give a copy of the Prospectus, as the same may be amended or
supplemented, to that person within the time required by the Act, and the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact in such Preliminary Prospectus was corrected
in the Prospectus, unless such failure resulted from non-compliance by the
Company with Section 3(b). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to
any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Agent or controlling
person.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  Indemnification of the Company.  Each Agent shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and any person who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Act from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint
or several, and any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such
director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Act, the
Exchange Act or federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out
of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or
arises out of, or is 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, but in each case only to the extent that the
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by such Agent specifically for inclusion therein, and shall
reimburse the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person for
any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to
any liability which any Agent may otherwise have to the Company or any of its
directors, officers or controlling persons.

     (c)  Notice.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing
of the claim or the commencement of action; provided, however, that the failure
to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section. If any
such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall
notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any
other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that
the Agents shall have the right to employ counsel to represent the Agents who
may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which
indemnity may be sought by the Agents against the Company under this Section if,
in the reasonable judgment of the Agents, it is advisable for the Agents to be
represented by separate counsel, and in that event the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be paid by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request
prior to the date of such settlement. 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 

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
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.

     (d)  Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
shall for any reason be unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 7(a)
or 7(b) hereof in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action
in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or
liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and any Agents on the other from the offering of the Notes 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 Company on
the one hand and any Agents on the other with respect to the statements or
omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in
respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and any Agents on the
other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company bears to the total commissions received by the
such Agent with respect to such offering.  The relative fault shall be
determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
to information supplied by the Company or any Agent, the intent of the parties
and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agents agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d)
were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Agents were treated as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage
or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section
7(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7(d), any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7(d), no Agent shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes sold
through such Agent and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise paid or become
liable to pay by reason of any 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 obligations
of each of the Agents under this subsection (d) to contribute are several in
proportion to the respective purchases made by or through it to which loss,
claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates and are not
joint.


     Section 8.  Status of Each Agent

     In soliciting offers to purchase the Notes from the Company pursuant to
this Agreement (other than in respect of any Purchase Agreement), each Agent is
acting individually and not jointly and is acting solely as agent for the
Company and not as principal. Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to assist
the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer 

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
to purchase Notes from the Company has been solicited by such Agent and accepted
by the Company but such Agent shall have no liability to the Company in the
event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Company shall
default in its obligations to deliver Notes to a purchaser whose offer it has
accepted, the Company shall (i) hold the Agents harmless against any loss, claim
or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company, and (ii)
in particular, pay to the Agents any commission to which they would be entitled
in connection with such sale.


     Section 9.  Representations, Warranties and Obligations to Survive Delivery

     The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company and the Agents contained in this Agreement, or
made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Agent or any person controlling such Agent or by or
on behalf of the Company, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for any
of the Notes.


     Section 10.  Termination

     This Agreement may be terminated for any reason with respect to any party
hereto, at any time, by any party hereto upon the giving of one day's written
notice of such termination to the other parties hereto; provided, however, if
such terminating party is an Agent, such termination shall be effective only
with respect to such terminating party. If, at the time of a termination, an
offer to purchase any of the Notes has been accepted by the Company but the time
of delivery to the purchaser has not occurred, the provisions of this Agreement
shall remain in effect until such Notes are delivered. The provisions of
Sections 2(c), 3(d), 3(h), 3(i), 4, 7, 8 and 9 hereof shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.


     Section 11.  Sales of Notes Denominated in a Foreign Currency and Indexed
Notes

     If at any time the Company and any of the Agents shall determine to issue
and sell Notes denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S.
Dollars, which other currency may include a composite currency, or with respect
to which an index is used to determine the amounts of payments of principal and
any premium or interest, the Company and any such Agent shall execute and
deliver an Amendment (a "Foreign Currency Amendment" or "Indexed Note
Amendment," as the case may be) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D. Such
amendment shall establish, as appropriate, additions and modifications that
shall apply to the sales, whether offered on an agency or principal basis, of
the Notes covered thereby. The Agents are authorized to solicit offers to
purchase Notes with respect to which an index is used to determine the amounts
of payments of principal and any premium and interest, and the Company shall
agree to any sales of such Notes (whether offered on an agency or principal
basis), only in a minimum aggregate amount of $2,500,000.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 12.  Notices

     Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the
Agents shall be directed to them as follows:  Lehman Brothers Inc., 3 World
Financial Center, New York, New York 10285-1200, Attention: Medium Term Note
Department, 12th Floor, Telephone No.: (212) 526-2040, Telecopy No.: (212) 528-
1718; Chase Securities Inc., 270 Park Avenue - 8th Floor, New York, New York
10017, Attention: Medium-Term Note Desk, Telephone No.: (212) 834-4421, Telecopy
No.: (212) 834-6081; Goldman, Sachs & Co., MTN Desk, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, Attention: Karen Robertson, Telephone No.: (212) 902-1482,
Telecopy No.: (212) 902-6658; Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated, World Financial Center, North Tower, 10th Floor, New York,
New York 10281-1310, Attention: MTN Product Management, Telephone No.: (212)
449-7476, Telecopy No.: (212) 449-2234; notices to the Company shall be directed
to it as follows:  IKON Capital, Inc., c/o IKON Office Solutions, Inc., P.O. Box
834, Valley Forge, PA 19482, Attention: Treasury Department, Telephone No.:
(610) 296-8000, Telecopy No.: (610) 296-3248.


     Section 13.  Binding Effect; Benefits

     This Agreement shall be binding upon each Agent, the Company, and their
respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are
for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations,
warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the person or persons,
if any, who control any Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, and
(b) the indemnity agreement of the Agents contained in Section 7 hereof shall be
deemed to be for the benefit of directors of the Company, officers of the
Company who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling
the Company. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give
any persons other than the person referred to in this Section, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision contained herein.


     Section 14. Governing Law; Counterparts

     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts
and the executed counterparts shall together constitute a single instrument.


     Section 15. Paragraph Headings

     The paragraph headings used in this Distribution Agreement are for
convenience of reference only, and are not to affect the construction hereof or
be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement, please indicate your
acceptance hereof in the space provided for that purpose below.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    IKON CAPITAL, INC.


                                    By:________________________
                                         Authorized Signatory


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED
as of the date first above written:

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.



By:___________________________
     Authorized Signatory


CHASE SECURITIES INC.


By:___________________________


GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


By:___________________________


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
          INCORPORATED


By:___________________________
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit A



                               IKON CAPITAL, INC.
                          Medium-Term Notes, Series C

                              SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS


     The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission equal to the following
percentage of the aggregate U.S. dollar equivalent of the principal amount of
Notes sold by it:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=============================================================== 
               TERM                       COMMISSION RATE
<S>                                    <C>
 
9 months to less than 12 months                            .125%
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
12 months to less than 18 months                           .150%
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
18 months to less than 2 years                             .200%
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
2 years to less than 3 years                               .250%
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
3 years to less than 4 years                               .350%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
4 years to less than 5 years                               .450%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
5 years to less than 6 years                               .500%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
6 years to less than 7 years                               .550%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
7 years to less than 10 years                              .600%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
10 years to less than 15 years                             .625%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
15 years to less than 20 years                             .650%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
20 years to 30 years                                       .750%
More than 30 years                  Determined at time of issue
===============================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit B
                               IKON CAPITAL, INC.
                          Medium-Term Notes, Series C

                           Administrative Procedures



     Medium-Term Notes, Series C, with maturities of nine months or more from
date of issue (the "Notes") are to be offered on a continuing basis by IKON
Capital, Inc. (the "Company"). Lehman Brothers, Lehman Brothers Inc., Goldman,
Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated and Chase Securities Inc., as agents (each an "Agent" and
collectively, the "Agents"), have each agreed to use their reasonable best
efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Notes. The Notes are being sold
pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Company and the Agents dated
June 4, 1997 (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the
"Distribution Agreement") to which these administrative procedures are attached
as an exhibit. The Notes will be issued under the Company's Indenture, dated as
of June 30, 1995, and First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 4, 1997
(together, the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as trustee (the "Trustee"), as heretofore supplemented. The Notes will rank
equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company
and will have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"). Terms defined in the Prospectus relating to the Notes (the
"Prospectus," which term shall include any Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Notes and any Pricing Supplement relating to an applicable Note) and in the
Distribution Agreement shall have the same meaning when used in this exhibit.

     The Notes will be issued either (a) in certificated form (each, a
"Certificated Note") delivered to the purchaser thereof or a person designated
by such purchaser or (b) in book-entry form (each, a "Book-Entry Note")
represented by one or more fully registered global Notes (each, a "Global
Security") delivered to the Trustee, as agent for The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC. Owners of
beneficial interests in Book-Entry Notes will be entitled to physical delivery
of Certificated Notes equal in principal amount to their respective beneficial
interests only in certain limited circumstances described in the Prospectus.

     General procedures relating to the issuance of all Notes are set forth in
Part I hereof. Certificated Notes will be issued in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Part II, as supplemented, in the case of Certificated
Notes denominated other than in U.S. dollars ("Multi-Currency Notes"), by Part
III. Book-Entry Notes will be issued in accordance with the procedures set forth
in Part IV.

     Administrative responsibilities, document control and record-keeping
functions to be performed by the Company will be performed by its [Treasurer].
Administrative procedures for the offering are explained below.


PART I: Procedures of General Applicability

     Price to Public

     Each Note will be issued at 100% of principal amount, unless otherwise
determined by the Company.
<PAGE>
 
     Date of Issuance

     Each Note will be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by
the Trustee.


     Maturities

     Each Note will mature on a day at least nine months or more from the date
of issuance selected by the purchaser and agreed upon by the Company. Each
Floating Rate Note (as defined below) will mature on an Interest Payment Date
(as defined below).


     Registration

     Notes will be issued only in fully registered form as either a Book-Entry
Note or a Certificated Note.


     Interest Payments

     Each Note bearing interest at a fixed rate (a "Fixed Rate Note") will bear
interest from its issue date at the annual rate stated on the face thereof,
payable in the case of Fixed Rate Notes other than Amortizing Notes, unless
otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, on June 15 and December
15 of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date" with respect to such Fixed Rate
Note) and at Stated Maturity or upon redemption, if applicable.

     Special provisions are set forth in the Prospectus relating to Notes
bearing interest at a rate or rates determined by reference to an interest rate
formula ("Formula Rate Notes") at a rate determined pursuant to the formula
stated on the face thereof, payable in arrears on such dates as are specified
therein (each an "Interest Payment Date" with respect to such Floating Rate
Note).

     Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on
Fixed Rate Notes will be calculated and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing
Supplement, interest will be payable to the person in whose name such Note is
registered at the close of business on May 31 or November 30 (whether or not a
Business Day) with respect to Fixed Rate Notes other than Amortizing Notes (as
hereinafter defined) or the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day) next
preceding an Interest Payment Date with respect to Floating Rate Notes (the
"Record Dates"); provided, however, that interest payable at Stated Maturity
will be payable to the person to whom principal shall be payable. Payments of
principal and interest on Notes for which payments of principal and interest are
made in equal installments over the life of the security ("Amortizing Notes")
will be made either quarterly on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 or semiannually on each June 15 and December 15 as set forth in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, and at maturity or upon earlier redemption or
repayment. Payments with respect to Amortizing Notes will be applied first to
interest due and payable thereon and then to the reduction of the unpaid
principal amount thereof. A table setting forth repayment information in respect
of each Amortizing Note will be provided to the original purchaser and will be
available, upon request, to subsequent Holders. Any payment of principal and
interest on any such Note required to be paid on an Interest Payment Date or at
Stated Maturity or upon redemption, if

                                      B-2
<PAGE>
 
applicable, which is not a Business Day shall be postponed to the next day which
is a Business Day. The first payment of interest on any Note originally issued
between a Record Date and an Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest
Payment Date following the next succeeding Record Date. All interest payments
(and, in the case of Amortizing Notes, principal payments) excluding interest
payments and, in the case of Amortizing Notes, principal payments made at Stated
Maturity or upon redemption, if applicable, will be made by check mailed to the
person entitled thereto as provided above, or, at the option of the Company, by
wire transfer to an account maintained by such person with a bank located in the
United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of $10 million or more
in aggregate principal amount of Notes of like tenor and terms with the same
Interest Payment Date may request payment by wire transfers.

     On the fifth Business Day immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date,
the Trustee will furnish the Company with the total amount of the interest
payments and, in the case of Amortizing Notes, principal payments, to be made on
such Interest Payment Date.  The Trustee (or any duly selected paying agent)
will provide monthly to the Company's Treasury Department a list of the
principal and interest to be paid on Notes maturing in the next succeeding
month. The Company will provide to the Trustee not later than the payment date
sufficient moneys to pay in full all principal and interest payments due on such
payment date. The Trustee will assume responsibility for withholding taxes on
interest paid as required by law.


     Acceptance and Rejection of Offers

     The Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes
and may reject any such offer in whole or in part. Each Agent shall promptly
communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to
purchase Notes from the Company received by it other than those rejected by such
Agent. Each Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised
without advising the Company, to reject any offers in whole or in part.


     Settlement

     The receipt of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars by the Company
in payment for a Note (less the applicable commission) and the authentication
and issuance of such Note shall, with respect to such Note, constitute
"Settlement." All offers accepted by the Company will be settled on the third
Business Day next succeeding such date of acceptance, unless the Company accepts
an offer to purchase Notes after 4:30 p.m. on such date in which case Settlement
will occur on the fourth Business Day next succeeding such date of acceptance,
pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below, unless otherwise
agreed to by the Company and the purchaser; provided, however, that the Company
will so notify the Trustee of any such other date on or before the Business Day
immediately prior to the Settlement date.


     Procedures for Establishing the Terms of the Notes

     The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the rates to be
borne by the Notes that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by
the Agents. Once any Agent has recorded any indication of interest in Notes upon
certain terms, and communicated with the Company, if the Company 

                                      B-3
<PAGE>
 
accepts an offer to purchase Notes upon such terms, it will prepare a Pricing
Supplement in the form previously approved by the Agents, reflecting the terms
of such Notes and, after approval from the Presenting Agent, will arrange to
have 10 copies of such Pricing Supplement (together with the Prospectus, if
amended or supplemented) filed with the Commission and will supply an
appropriate number of copies of the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
together with such Pricing Supplement, to the Presenting Agent. See "Delivery of
Prospectus." No settlements with respect to Notes upon such terms may occur
prior to such filing and the Presenting Agent will not, prior to such filing,
mail confirmations to customers who have offered to purchase Notes upon such
terms. After such filing, sales, mailing of confirmations and settlements may
occur with respect to Notes upon such terms, subject to the provisions of
"Delivery of Prospectus" below.

     If the Company decides to post rates and a decision has been reached to
change interest rates, the Company will promptly notify each Agent. Each Agent
will forthwith suspend solicitation of purchases. At that time, the Agents will
recommend and the Company will establish rates to be so "posted." Following
establishment of posted rates and prior to the filing described in the following
sentence, the Agents may only record indications of interest in purchasing Notes
at the posted rates. Once any Agent has recorded any indication of interest in
Notes at the posted rates and communicated with the Company, if the Company
accepts an offer at the posted rate, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement
reflecting such posted rates and, after approval from the Presenting Agent, will
arrange to have 10 copies of such Pricing Supplement (together with the
Prospectus if amended or supplemented) filed with the Commission and will supply
an appropriate number of copies of the Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, to the Presenting Agent. See "Delivery of Prospectus." No
settlements at the posted rates may occur prior to such filing and the
Presenting Agent will not, prior to such filing, mail confirmations to customers
who have offered to purchase Notes at the posted rates. After such filing,
sales, mailing of confirmations and settlements may resume, subject to the
provisions of "Delivery of Prospectus" below.


     Suspension of Solicitation; Amendment or Supplement

     In the event that at the time the Agents, at the direction of the Company,
suspend solicitation of offers to purchase from the Company there shall be any
orders outstanding which have not been settled, the Company will promptly advise
the Agents and the Trustee whether such orders may be settled and whether copies
of the Prospectus as theretofore amended and/or supplemented as in effect at the
time of the suspension may be delivered in connection with the settlement of
such orders. The Company will have the sole responsibility for such decision and
for any arrangements which may be made in the event that the Company determines
that such orders may not be settled or that copies of such Prospectus may not be
so delivered.


     Delivery of Prospectus

     A copy of the Prospectus as most recently amended or supplemented on the
date of delivery thereof, together with the applicable Pricing Supplement, must
be delivered to a purchaser prior to or together with the earlier of the
delivery by the Agents of (i) the written confirmation of a sale sent to a
purchaser or his agent and (ii) any Note purchased by such purchaser. The
Company shall ensure that the Presenting Agent receives copies of the Prospectus
and each amendment or supplement thereto (including the applicable Pricing
Supplement) in such quantities and within such time limits as will enable the
Presenting Agent to deliver such confirmation or Note to a purchaser as
contemplated by these procedures 

                                      B-4
<PAGE>
 
and in compliance with the preceding sentence. Copies of Pricing Supplements
should be delivered by 11:00 A.M. on the Business Day following the applicable
trade date by telecopy to (i) Lehman Brothers Inc., c/o ADP, Prospectus
Services, 536 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, New York 11747, Attention: Eric
Johnson, Telephone: (516) 254-7106, Telecopy: (516) 249-7942 and by hand to
Lehman Brothers Inc., 3 World Financial Center, 9th Floor, New York, New York
10285-0900, Attention: Brunie Vazquez, Telephone: (212) 526-8400; (ii) Chase
Securities Inc., 270 Park Ave., 8th Floor, New York, New York 10017, Attention:
Medium-Term Note Desk, Telephone No.: (212) 834-4421, Telecopy No.: (212) 834-
6081; (iii) Goldman, Sachs & Co., MTN Desk, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York
10004, Attention: Karen Robertson, Telephone No.: (212) 902-1482, Telecopy No.:
(212) 902-6658; or (iv) Merrill Lynch & Co. - Tritech Services, 4 Corporate
Place, Corporate Park 287, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854; Attention: Final
Prospectus Unit/Nachman Kimerling, Telephone No.: (908) 878-6525/26/27, Telecopy
No.: (908) 878-6530; also, for record keeping purposes, send a copy to: Merrill
Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, Merrill Lynch
World Headquarters, World Financial Center, North Tower 10th Floor, 250 Vesey
Street, New York, New York 10281-1310, Attention: MTN Product Management. If,
since the date of acceptance of a purchaser's offer, the Prospectus shall have
been supplemented solely to reflect any sale of Notes on terms different from
those agreed to between the Company and such purchaser or a change in posted
rates not applicable to such purchaser, such purchaser shall not receive the
Prospectus as supplemented by such new supplement, but shall receive the
Prospectus as supplemented to reflect the terms of the Notes being purchased by
such purchaser and otherwise as most recently amended or supplemented on the
date of delivery of the Prospectus. The Company will make all such deliveries
with respect to all Notes sold directly by the Company.

     Redemption and Repayment

     Unless one or more Redemption Dates are specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, the Notes will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity. If
one or more Redemption Dates are so specified with respect to any Note, the
applicable Pricing Supplement will also specify one or more redemption prices
(expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of such Note) ("Redemption
Prices") and the redemption period or periods ("Redemption Periods") during
which such Redemption Prices shall apply. Unless otherwise specified in the
Pricing Supplement, any such Note shall be redeemable at the option of the
Company at the specified Redemption Price applicable to the Redemption Period
during which such Note is to be redeemed, together with interest accrued to the
Redemption Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, the Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. The Company may
redeem any of the Notes that are redeemable and remain outstanding either in
whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice. In the event of a redemption in part of any Note, a new Note for the
amount of the unredeemed portion shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon
cancellation of the redeemed Note.

     The Pricing Supplement relating to each Note will indicate either that such
Note cannot be repaid prior to Stated Maturity or that such Note will be
repayable at the option of the holder on a date or dates specified prior to
Stated Maturity at a price or prices set forth in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, together with accrued interest to the date of repayment.

     In order for a Note that is subject to repayment at the option of the
Holder to be repaid, the Paying Agent must receive at least 30 days but not more
than 45 days prior to the repayment date (a) appropriate wire instructions and
(b) either (i) the Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment"
attached

                                      B-5
<PAGE>
 
to the Note duly completed or (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter from a member of a national securities exchange or the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company in
the United States setting forth the name of the Holder of the Note, the
principal amount of the Note, the portion of the principal amount of the Notes
to be repaid, the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of
the Note, a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised
thereby and a guarantee that the Note to be repaid with the form entitled
"Option to Elect Repayment" attached to the Note duly completed will be received
by the Paying Agent not later than five Business Days after the date of such
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter and such Note and form duly
completed must be received by the Paying Agent by such fifth Business Day.
Exercise of the repayment option by the Holder of a Note shall be irrevocable,
except as otherwise described under "Interest Rate Reset" and "Extension of
Maturity" in the Prospectus Supplement. The repayment option may be exercised by
the Holder of a Note for less than the entire principal amount of the Note
provided that the principal amount of the Note remaining outstanding after
repayment is an authorized denomination. No registration of, transfer or
exchange of any Note (or, in the event that any Note is to be repaid in part,
the portion of the Note to be repaid) will be permitted after exercise of a
repayment option. All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time
of receipt) and acceptance of any Note for repayment will be determined by the
Company, whose determination will be final, binding and non-appealable.

     If a Note is represented by a Global Security, the Depositary's nominee
will be the Holder of such Note and therefore will be the only entity that can
exercise a right to repayment. In order to ensure that the Depositary's nominee
will timely exercise a right to repayment with respect to a particular Note, the
beneficial owner of such Note must instruct the broker or other direct or
indirect participant through which it holds an interest in such Note to notify
the Depositary of its desire to exercise a right to repayment. Different firms
have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers
and, accordingly, each beneficial owner should consult the broker or other
direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in a Note in
order to ascertain the cut-off time by which such an instruction must be given
in order for timely notice to be delivered to the Depositary.

     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, if a Note
is an Original Issue Discount Note, the amount payable on such Note in the event
of redemption or repayment prior to its Stated Maturity shall be the Amortized
Face Amount of such Note, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, as
of the Redemption Date or the date of repayment, as the case may be.

     Authenticity of Signatures

     The Company will cause the Trustee to furnish the Agents from time to time
with the specimen signatures of each of the Trustee's officers, employees and
agents who have been authorized by the Trustee to authenticate Notes, but the
Agents will have no obligation or liability to the Company or the Trustee in
respect of the authenticity of the signature of any officer, employee or agent
of the Company or the Trustee on any Note.

     Advertising Costs

     The Company will determine with the Agents the amount and nature of
advertising that may be appropriate in offering the Notes. Advertising expenses
incurred with the consent of the Company will be paid by the Company.

                                      B-6
<PAGE>
 
     Business Day

     "Business Day" shall mean, with respect to any particular location, each
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions and trust companies in such location are authorized or
required by law, regulation or executive order to close and, with respect to
Notes as to which LIBOR is an applicable Base Rate, is also a London Banking Day
(as defined in the Prospectus).


PART II: Procedures For Certificated Notes

     Prior to any issuance of Certificated Notes, the Company will deliver to
the Trustee an adequate supply of 4-ply notes meeting the specifications set
forth herein.

     Currency

     Certificated Notes will be denominated in U.S. dollars or in one or more
foreign currencies or foreign currency units, as specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement. For special procedures relating to Multi-Currency Notes, see
Part III hereof.

     Registration

     Certificated Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
exchange at the Trustee's drop facility in The City of New York.

     Denominations

     Except as provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Certificated Notes
will be issued and payable in U.S. dollars in the denomination of $1,000 and any
larger denomination which is an integral multiple of $1,000.

     Maturity

     Upon presentation of each Certificated Note at Maturity the Trustee (or any
duly appointed Paying Agent) will pay the principal amount thereof, together
with accrued interest due at maturity. Such payment shall be made in immediately
available funds in U.S. dollars, provided that the Certificated Note is
presented to the Trustee (or any such Paying Agent) in time for the Trustee (or
such Paying Agent) to make payments in such funds in accordance with its normal
procedures. The Company will provide the Trustee (and any such Paying Agent)
with funds available for immediate use for such purpose. Certificated Notes
presented at Maturity will be cancelled by the Trustee as provided in the
Indenture.

                                      B-7
<PAGE>
 
     Settlement Procedures

     In the event of a purchase of Certificated Notes by an Agent, as principal,
appropriate Settlement details will be as set forth below unless such details
are set forth in the applicable Purchase Agreement to be entered into between
such Agent and the Company pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

     In the event of the sale of a Certified Note that is a Multi-Currency Note
or an Indexed Note, whether the sale is through an Agent or to an Agent, as
principal, additional or different Settlement details may be set forth in an
amendment to these administrative procedures to be entered into between such
Agent and the Company.

     Other than as contemplated above, settlement procedures with regard to each
Certificated Note sold through each Agent shall be as follows:

     A.   Such Agent (the "Presenting Agent") will advise the Company by
telephone, telex or facsimile, of the following Settlement information:

          1. Exact name in which the Note is to be registered ("Registered
             Owner").

          2. Exact address of the Registered Owner and address for payment of
             principal and interest, if any.

          3. Taxpayer identification number of the Registered Owner.

          4. Principal amount of the Note (and, if multiple Notes are to be
             issued, denominations thereof).

          5. Settlement date.

          6. Stated Maturity and, if the Company has the option to extend the
             Stated Maturity, the Extension Periods and the Final Maturity Date.

          7. Issue Price and any OID information.

          8. Trade Date/Original Issue Date.

          9. If such Note is a Fixed Rate Note, whether such Note is an
             Amortizing Note.

         10. Interest rate (including, if appropriate, such interest rate
             information applicable to any Extension Period):

          (a)  Fixed Rate Certificated Notes:

               (i)  interest rate
              (ii)  interest payment dates, if other than as specified above
             (iii)  date or dates, if any, on which the interest rate may be
                    reset and the basis or formula, if any, for such resetting
              (iv)  overdue rate, if any

                                      B-8
<PAGE>
 
          (b) Floating Rate Certificated Notes:

                (i) interest rate basis
               (ii) initial interest rate
              (iii) spread or spread multiplier, if any
               (iv) date or dates, if any, on which the spread or spread
                    multiplier may be reset and the basis or formula, if any, 
                    for such resetting
                (v) interest rate reset periods
               (vi) interest payment dates
              (vii) index maturity
             (viii) maximum and minimum interest rates, if any
               (ix) record dates
                (x) interest determination dates
               (xi) overdue rate, if any

          11. The date on or after which the Certificated Notes are redeemable
              at the option of the Company or are to be repaid at the option of
              the Holder, and additional redemption or repurchase provisions, 
              if any.

          12. Wire transfer information.

          13. Presenting Agent's commission (to be paid in the form of a
              discount from the proceeds remitted to the Company upon
              Settlement).

          14. That the Note will be a Certificated Note.

    B.    The Company will confirm the above Settlement information to the
Trustee by telephone, telex or facsimile, and the Trustee will assign a Note
number to the transaction. If the Company rejects an offer, the Company will
promptly notify the Presenting Agent and the Trustee by telephone.

    C.    The Trustee will complete the first page of the preprinted 4-ply
Certificated Note packet, the form of which was previously approved by the
Company, the Agents and the Trustee.

    D.    The Trustee will deliver the Certificated Note (with the attached
white confirmation) and the yellow and blue stubs to the Presenting Agent at one
of the following addresses: (i) The Chase Manhattan Bank, Four New York Plaza,
Ground Floor, Physical Delivery Window, SAO Lehman Brothers; (ii) Chase
Securities Inc., 55 Water Street, 2nd floor, Room 226, Windows 17 and 18, New
York, New York 10004, Attention: Receive and Deliver; (iii) Goldman, Sachs &
Co., 85 Broad Street, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Edward
Bissoth; or (iv) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Money
Market Clearance - MTNs, 75 Barclay Street, Window C, New York, New York 10080,
Attention: Kevin Brennan. The Presenting Agent will acknowledge receipt of the
Certificated Note by completing the yellow stub and returning it to the Trustee.

    E.    The Presenting Agent will cause to be wire transferred to a bank
account designated by the Company immediately available funds in U.S. dollars in
the amount of the principal amount of the Certificated Note, less the applicable
commission or discount, if any.

                                      B-9
<PAGE>
 
    F.    The Presenting Agent will deliver the Certificated Note (with the
white confirmation) to the purchaser against payment in immediately available
funds in the amount of the principal amount of the Certificated Note. The
Presenting Agent will deliver to the purchaser a copy of the most recent
Prospectus applicable to the Certificated Note with or prior to any written
offer of Certificated Notes, delivery of the Certificated Note and the
confirmation and payment by the purchaser for the Certificated Note.

    G.    The Presenting Agent will obtain the acknowledgment of receipt for the
Certificated Note and Prospectus by the purchaser through the purchaser's
completion of the blue stub.

    H.    The Trustee will mail the pink stub to the Company's Treasurer.


    Settlement Procedures Table

    For offers to purchase Certificated Notes accepted by the Company,
Settlement procedures "A" through "H" set forth above shall be completed on or
before the respective times set forth below:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================
Settlement                     Time (New York)
 Procedure
===============================================================
<S>           <C>
A             5 PM on the Trade Date
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
B             3 PM on the Business Day prior to Settlement Date
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
C-D           12 Noon on the Settlement Date
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
E             2:15 PM on the Settlement Date
- ---------------------------------------------------------------  
F-G           3 PM on the Settlement Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
H             5 PM on the Business Day after the Settlement Date
================================================================
</TABLE>

    Fails

    In the event that a purchaser of a Certificated Note shall either fail to
accept delivery of or make payment for such Certificated Note on the date fixed
by the Company for Settlement, the Presenting Agent will immediately notify the
Trustee and the Company's Treasurer by telephone, confirmed in writing, of such
failure and return the Certificated Note to the Trustee. Upon the Trustee's
receipt of the Certificated Note from the Presenting Agent, the Company will
promptly return to the Presenting Agent an amount of immediately available funds
in U.S. dollars equal to any amount previously transferred to the Company in
respect of the Certificated Note pursuant to advances made by the Agent. Such
returns will be made on the Settlement Date, if possible, and in any event not
later than 12 noon (New York City time) on the Business Day following the
Settlement Date. The Company will reimburse the Presenting Agent on an equitable
basis for its loss of the use of the funds during the period when the funds were
credited to the account of the Company. Upon receipt of the Certificated Note in
respect of which the default occurred, the Trustee will mark the Certificated
Note "cancelled," make appropriate entries in its records and deliver the
Certificated Note to the Company with an appropriate debit advice. The
Presenting Agent will not be 

                                     B-10
<PAGE>
 
entitled to any commission with respect to any Certificated Note which the
purchaser does not accept or make payment for.


PART III:  Special Administrative Procedures For
           Multi-Currency Notes

    Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable Foreign Currency Amendment, the
following procedures and terms shall apply to Multi-Currency Notes in addition
to, and to the extent inconsistent therewith in replacement of, the procedures
and terms set forth above.

    Denominations

    The authorized denominations of any Multi-Currency Note will be the amount
of the Specified Currency for such Multi-Currency Note equivalent, at the noon
buying rate in the City of New York for cable transfers for such Specified
Currency (the "Market Exchange Rate") on the first Business Day in the City of
New York and the country issuing such currency (or, in the case of ECUs,
Brussels) next preceding the date on which the Company accepts the offer to
purchase such Multi-Currency Note, to U.S. $1,000 (rounded down to an integral
multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency) and any greater amount that
is an integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency.

    Currencies

    Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payments of
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Multi-Currency Notes will
be made in the applicable Specified Currency, provided, however, that payments
of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Multi-Currency Notes
denominated in other than U.S. dollars will nevertheless be made in U.S. dollars
(i) at the option of the Holders thereof under the procedures described below
and (ii) at the option of the Company in the case of imposition of exchange
controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company as described
below.

    Payment of Principal and Interest

    If so specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, except as provided in
the next paragraph, payments of interest and principal (and premium, if any)
with respect to any Multi-Currency Note will be made in U.S. dollars if the
Holder of such Note on the relevant Regular Record Date or at Maturity, as the
case may be, has transmitted a written request for such payment in U.S. dollars
to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office on or prior to such Regular Record
Date or the date 15 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be. Such request may
be in writing (mailed or hand delivered) or by cable, telex or other form of
facsimile transmission. Any such request made with respect to any Multi-Currency
Note by a Holder will remain in effect with respect to any further payments of
interest and principal (and premium, if any) with respect to such Multi-Currency
Note payable to such Holder, unless such request is revoked on or prior to the
relevant Regular Record Date or the date 15 days prior to Maturity, as the case
may be. Holders of Multi-Currency Notes denominated in other than U.S. dollars
whose Notes are registered in 

                                     B-11
<PAGE>
 
the name of a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to
determine whether and how an election to receive payments in U.S. dollars may be
made.

    The U.S. dollar amount to be received by a Holder of a Multi-Currency Note
who elects to receive payments in U.S. dollars will be based on the highest bid
quotation in The City of New York received by the Currency Determination Agent
(as defined below) as of noon New York City time on the third Business Day next
preceding the applicable payment date from three recognized foreign exchange
dealers (one of which may be the Currency Determination Agent) for the purchase
by the quoting dealer of the Specified Currency for U.S. dollars for settlement
on such payment date in the aggregate amount of the Specified Currency payable
to all Holders of Multi-Currency Notes electing to receive U.S. dollar payments
and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If three such
bid quotations are not available on the third Business Day preceding the date of
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest with respect to any such
Multi-Currency Note, such payment will be made in the Specified Currency. All
currency exchange costs associated with any payment in U.S. dollars on any such
Multi-Currency Note will be borne by the Holder thereof by deductions from such
payment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Lehman
Brothers Inc. will be the Currency Determination Agent (the "Currency
Determination Agent") with respect to the Multi-Currency Notes.

    Payment Currency

    If the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Multi-Currency
Note is payable in any currency other than U.S. dollars and such Specified
Currency is not available due to the imposition of exchange controls or other
circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to
satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Multi-Currency Notes by making such
payment in U.S. dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate on the last
date such Specified Currency was available (the "Conversion Date"). Any payment
made under such circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in
other than U.S.dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the
Indenture.

    If payment in respect of a Note is required to be made in any currency unit
(e.g., ECU) and such currency unit is unavailable due to the imposition of
exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the Company's control, then all
payments in respect of such Multi-Currency Note shall be made in U.S. dollars
until such currency unit is again available. The amount of each payment in U.S.
dollars shall be computed on the basis of the equivalent of the currency unit in
U.S. dollars, which shall be determined by the Company or its agent on the
following basis. The component currencies of the currency unit for this purpose
(the "Component Currencies") shall be the currency amounts that were components
of the currency unit as of the Conversion Date for such currency unit. The
equivalent of the currency unit in U.S. dollars shall be calculated by
aggregating the U.S. dollar equivalents of the Component Currencies. The U.S.
dollar equivalent of each of the Component Currencies shall be determined by the
Company or such agent on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate for each such
Component Currency that is available as of the third Business Day prior to the
date on which the relevant payment is due and for each such Component Currency
that is unavailable, if any, as of the Conversion Date for such Component
Currency.

    If the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of
combination or subdivision, the number of units of that currency as a Component
Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion, if two or more
Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the amounts of
those currencies as Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such
single currency equal to the sum of the amounts of the consolidated Component
Currencies expressed in such single currency.

                                     B-12
<PAGE>
 
If any Component Currency is divided into two or more currencies, the amount of
the original Component Currency shall be replaced by the amounts of such two or
more currencies, the sum of which shall be equal to the amount of the original
Component Currency.

    Outstanding Multi-Currency Notes

    For purposes of calculating the principal amount of any Multi-Currency Note
for any purpose under the Indenture, the principal amount of such Multi-Currency
Note at any time Outstanding shall be deemed to be the U.S. dollar equivalent at
the Market Exchange Rate, determined as of the date of the original issuance of
such Multi-Currency Note, of the principal amount of such Multi-Currency Note.

    Details for Settlement of Multi-Currency Notes

    In addition to the Settlement information specified in "Settlement
Procedures" above, the Presenting Agent shall communicate to the Company in the
manner set forth in "Settlement Procedures" the following information:

    1. Specified Currency
    2. Denominations
    3. Wire transfer and overseas bank account information (if holder has
       elected payment in a Specified Currency).

    Whether the sale is through an Agent or to the Agent, as principal,
additional or different Settlement details may be set forth in an amendment to
these administrative procedures to be agreed to by the Agent and the Company.


PART IV: Special Administrative Procedures for Book-Entry Notes

    In connection with the qualification of the Book-Entry Notes for eligibility
in the book-entry system maintained by DTC, the Trustee will perform or cause to
be performed the custodial, document control and administrative functions
described below, in accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of
Representations from the Company and the Trustee to DTC and a Medium-Term Note
Certificate Agreement previously entered into between the Trustee and DTC, and
its obligations as a participant in DTC, including DTC's Same-Day Funds
Settlement System ("SDFS"). Except as otherwise set forth in this Exhibit B,
Book-Entry Notes will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures
set forth below.

    Issuance

    On any date of settlement (as defined under "Settlement" below) for one or
more Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes, the Company will issue a single Global
Security in fully registered form without coupons representing up to
$200,000,000 principal amount, or the equivalent thereof in any Specified
Currency, other than U.S. dollars, at the Market Exchange Rate used to determine
the denomination of such Book-Entry Note as described below (rounded down to an
integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified 

                                     B-13
<PAGE>
 
Currency), of all of such Notes that have the same original issuance date,
interest rate, redemption or repayment provisions and Stated Maturity.
Similarly, on any settlement date for one or more Floating Rate Book-Entry
Notes, the Company will issue a single Global Security representing up to
$200,000,000 principal amount, or the equivalent thereof in any Specified
Currency, other than U.S. dollars, at the Market Exchange Rate used to determine
the denomination of such Book-Entry Note as described below (rounded down to an
integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency), of all of such
Notes that have the same interest rate formula, original issuance date, Initial
Interest Rate, Interest Payment Dates, Index Maturity, Spread, Spread
Multiplier, minimum interest rate (if any), maximum interest rate (if any),
redemption or repayment provisions and Stated Maturity. Each Global Security
will be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
Each Global Security will have an interest accrual date (the "Interest Accrual
Date"), which will be (i) with respect to an original Global Security (or any
portion thereof), its original issuance date and (ii) with respect to any Global
Security (or portion thereof) issued subsequently upon exchange of a Global
Security or in lieu of a destroyed, lost or stolen Global Security, the most
recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided
for on the predecessor Global Security or Securities (or if no such payment or
provision has been made, the original issuance date of the predecessor Global
Security), regardless of the date of authentication of such subsequently issued
Global Security. No Global Security will represent (i) both Fixed Rate and
Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes or (ii) any Certificated Note.

    Identification Numbers

    The Company will arrange, on or prior to commencement of a program for the
offering of Book-Entry Notes, with the CUSIP Service Bureau of Standard & Poor's
Ratings Services (the "CUSIP Service Bureau") for the reservation of a series of
CUSIP numbers (including tranche numbers), consisting of approximately 900 CUSIP
numbers and relating to Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes. The
Company will obtain a written list of such series of reserved CUSIP numbers and
will deliver to the Trustee and DTC such written list of 900 CUSIP numbers of
such series. The Company will assign CUSIP numbers to Global Securities as
described below under Settlement Procedure "B." DTC will notify the CUSIP
Service Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers that the Company has assigned
to Global Securities. When fewer than 100 of the reserved CUSIP numbers remain
unassigned to Global Securities, and if it deems necessary, the Company will
reserve additional CUSIP numbers for assignment to Global Securities
representing Book-Entry Notes. Upon obtaining such additional CUSIP numbers the
Company shall deliver such additional CUSIP numbers to the Trustee and DTC.

    Registration

    Each Global Security will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as
nominee for DTC, on the Securities Register maintained under the Indenture
governing such Global Security. The beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Note (or
one or more indirect participants in DTC designated by such owner) will
designate one or more participants in DTC with respect to such Book-Entry Note
(the "Participants") to act as agent or agents for such owner in connection with
the book-entry system maintained by DTC, and DTC will record in book-entry form,
in accordance with instructions provided by such Participants, a credit balance
with respect to such Book-Entry Note in the account of such Participants. The
ownership interest of such beneficial owner in such Book-Entry Note will be
recorded through the records of such Participants or through the separate
records of such Participants and one or more indirect participants in DTC.

                                     B-14
<PAGE>
 
    Voting

    In the event of any solicitation of consents from or voting by holders of
the Book-Entry Notes, the Company or the Trustee shall establish a record date
for such purposes (with no provision for revocation of consents or votes by
subsequent holders) and shall, to the extent possible, send notice of such
record date to DTC not less than 15 calendar days in advance of such record
date.

    Transfers

    Transfers of a Book-Entry Note will be accomplished by book entries made by
DTC and, in turn, by Participants (and in certain cases, one or more indirect
participants in DTC) acting on behalf of beneficial transferors and transferees
of such Book-Entry Note.

    Consolidation and Exchange

    The Trustee may deliver to DTC and the CUSIP Service Bureau at any time a
written notice of consolidation specifying (i) the CUSIP numbers of two or more
Outstanding Global Securities that represent (A) Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes
having the same original issuance date, interest rate, redemption and repayment
provisions and Stated Maturity and with respect to which interest has been paid
to the same date or (B) Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes having the same interest
rate formula, original issuance date, Initial Interest Rate, Interest Payment
Dates, Index Maturity, Spread or Spread Multiplier, minimum interest rate (if
any), maximum interest rate (if any), redemption and repayment provisions and
with respect to which interest has been paid to the same date, (ii) a date,
occurring at least thirty days after such written notice is delivered and at
least thirty days before the next Interest Payment Date for such Book-Entry
Notes, on which such Global Securities shall be exchanged for a single
replacement Global Security and (iii) a new CUSIP number, obtained from the
Company, to be assigned to such replacement Global Security. Upon receipt of
such a notice, DTC will send to its Participants (including the Trustee) a
written reorganization notice to the effect that such exchange will occur on
such date. Prior to the specified exchange date, the Trustee will deliver to the
CUSIP Service Bureau a written notice setting forth such exchange date and the
new CUSIP number and stating that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP numbers
of the Global Securities to be exchanged will no longer be valid. On the
specified exchange date, the Trustee will exchange such Global Securities for a
single Global Security bearing the new CUSIP number and a new Interest Accrual
Date, and the CUSIP numbers of the exchanged Global Securities will, in
accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be cancelled and not
immediately reassigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Global Securities
to be exchanged exceed $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Specified
Currency other than U.S. dollars at the Market Exchange Rate used to determine
the denomination of such Book-Entry Note as described below (rounded down to an
integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency)) in aggregate
principal amount, one Global Security will be authenticated and issued to
represent each $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Specified Currency
other than U.S. dollars at the Market Exchange Rate used to determine the
denomination of such Book-Entry Note as described below (rounded down to an
integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency)) of principal
amount of the exchanged Global Securities and an additional Global Security will
be authenticated and issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such
global Securities (see "Denominations" below).

                                     B-15
<PAGE>
 
    Notice of Redemption and Repayment Dates

    The Trustee will give notice to DTC prior to each redemption date or
repayment date (as specified in the Book-Entry Note), if any, at the time and in
the manner set forth in the letter of representations.

    Denominations

    Book-Entry Notes denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in principal
amounts of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple
of $1,000. The authorized denomination of any Book-Entry Notes denominated in
other than U.S. dollars will be the amount of the Specified Currency for such
Book-Entry Note equivalent, at the Market Exchange Rate on the first Business
Day in the City of New York and the country issuing such currency (or, in the
case of ECUs, Brussels) next preceding the date on which the Company accepts the
offer to purchase such Book-Entry Note, to U.S. $1,000 (rounded down to an
integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency) and any greater
amount that is an integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency.
Global Securities representing one or more Book-Entry Notes will be denominated
in principal amounts not in excess of $200,000,000, or the equivalent thereof in
any Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars at the Market Exchange Rate used
to determine the denomination of such Book-Entry Note (rounded down to an
integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency). If one or more
Book-Entry Notes having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $200,000,000
(or the equivalent thereof in any Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars at
the Market Exchange Rate used to determine the denomination of such Book-Entry
Note down to an integral multiple of 10,000 units of such Specified Currency))
would, but for the preceding sentence, be represented by a single Global
Security, then one Global Security will be issued to represent each $200,000,000
principal amount, or the equivalent thereof in any Specified Currency other than
U.S. dollars at the Market Exchange Rate used to determine the denomination of
such Book-Entry Note (rounded down to an integral multiple of 10,000 units of
such Specified Currency), of such Book-Entry Note or Notes and an additional
Global Security will be issued to represent any remaining principal amount of
such Book-Entry Note or Notes. In such a case, each of the Global Securities
representing such Book-Entry Note or Notes shall be assigned the same CUSIP
number.

    Interest

    General.  Interest on each Book-Entry Note will accrue from the date of
issue of the Global Security representing such Note or from and including the
last date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for. Each
payment of interest on a Book-Entry Note will include interest accrued through
the day preceding, as the case may be, the Interest Payment Date or the date of
Maturity, redemption or repayment; provided, however, that if the Interest Reset
Dates with respect to any such Note are daily or weekly, interest payable on any
Interest Payment Date, other than interest payable on any date on which
principal for such Note is payable, will include interest accrued from the date
of issue of the Global Security, or from and including the last Interest Payment
Date as the case may be, to and including the regular record date immediately
preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date except that at the Stated
Maturity the interest payments will include accrued interest from and including
the date of issue, or from and including the last day in respect of which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, to, but
excluding, the Stated Maturity. Interest payable at the Maturity or upon earlier
redemption or repayment of a Book-Entry Note will be payable to the person to
whom the principal of such Note is payable. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
will use the information received in the pending deposit

                                     B-16
<PAGE>
 
message described under Settlement Procedure "C" below in order to include the
amount of any interest payable and certain other information regarding the
related Global Security in the appropriate weekly bond report published by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.

    Floating Rate Note Notices.  On the first Business Day of January, April,
July and October of each year, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a
written list of Regular Record Dates and Interest Payment Dates that will occur
with respect to Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes during the six-month period
beginning on such first Business Day. Promptly after each Interest Determination
Date (as defined in Appendix A hereto) for Floating Rate Notes, the Company will
notify the Trustee, and the Trustee in turn will notify Standard & Poor's
Ratings Services, of the interest rates determined on such Interest
Determination Date.

    Payments of Principal and Interest

    Payments of Interest Only.  Promptly after each Regular Record Date, the
Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a written notice specifying by CUSIP
number the amount of interest to be paid on each Global Security on the
following Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding
with Maturity or an earlier redemption or repayment date) and the total of such
amounts. DTC will confirm the amount payable on each Global Security on such
Interest Payment Date by reference to the daily bond reports published by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. The Company will pay to the Trustee, as
paying agent, the total amount of interest due on such Interest Payment Date
(other than at Maturity), and the Trustee will pay such amount to DTC at the
times and in the manner set forth below under "Manner of Payment." Promptly
after each Interest Determination Date for Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes, the
Calculation Agent will notify the Trustee and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
of the interest rates determined on such Interest Determination Date.

    Payments at Maturity or Upon Redemption or Repayment.  On or about the first
Business Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a
written list of principal and interest to be paid on each Global Security
maturing either at maturity or any redemption or repayment date in the following
month. The Company, the Trustee and DTC will confirm the amounts of such
principal and interest payments with respect to each such Global Security on or
about the fifth Business Day preceding the Maturity or redemption or repayment
date of such Global Security. The Company will pay to the Trustee, as the paying
agent, the principal amount of such Global Security, together with interest due
at such Maturity or redemption or repayment date, as the case may be. The
Trustee will pay such amount to DTC at the times and in the manner set forth
below under "Manner of Payment."

    Promptly after payment to DTC of the principal and interest due at the
Maturity of such Global Security, the Trustee will cancel such Global Security
in accordance with the Indenture and deliver to the Company an appropriate debit
advice. On the first Business Day of each month, the Trustee will prepare a
written statement indicating the total principal amount of Outstanding Global
Securities for which it serves as paying agent as of the immediately preceding
Business Day.

    Manner of Payment.  The total amount of any principal and interest due on
global Securities on any Interest Payment Date or at Maturity or upon redemption
or repayment shall be paid by the Company to the Trustee in funds available for
use by the Trustee as of 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on such date. The
Company will make such payment on such Global Securities by instructing the
Trustee to withdraw funds from an account maintained by the Company at the
Trustee. For maturity, redemption or any other

                                     B-17
<PAGE>
 
principal payments: prior to 10 A.M. (New York City time) on such date or as
soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to DTC in same
day funds in accordance with DTC's Same Day Funds Settlement Paying Agent
Operating Procedures. For interest payments: the Trustee will make such payments
to DTC in accordance with existing arrangements between DTC and the Trustee. DTC
will allocate such payments to its Participants in accordance with its existing
operating procedures. Neither the Company, the Trustee (as Trustee or as Paying
Agent nor any other Paying Agent) shall have any direct responsibility or
liability for the payment by DTC to such Participants of the principal of and
interest on the Book-Entry Notes.

    Withholding Taxes.  The amount of any taxes required under applicable law to
be withheld from any interest payment on a Book-Entry Note will be determined
and withheld by the Participant, indirect participant in DTC or other person
responsible for forwarding payments and materials directly to the beneficial
owner of such Note.

    Settlement Procedures

    In the event of a purchase of Book-Entry Notes by an Agent, as principal,
Settlement details will be as set forth below unless such details are set forth
in the applicable Purchase Agreement to be entered into between such Agent and
the Company pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

    In the event of a sale of a Book-Entry Note that is a Multi-Currency Note or
an Indexed Note, whether the sale is through an Agent or to an Agent, as
principal, additional or different Settlement details may be set forth in an
amendment to the administrative procedures to be entered into between the such
Agent and the Company.

    Other than as contemplated above, settlement procedures with regard to each
Book-Entry Note sold by the Company through an Agent, as agent, shall be as
follows:

    A.    The Presenting Agent will advise the Company by telephone, telex or
facsimile, of the following settlement information:

          1. Principal amount of the Book-Entry Note (and, if multiple Notes are
             to be issued, denominations thereof).

          2. Settlement date.

          3. Stated Maturity and, if the Company has the option to extend the
             Stated Maturity, the Extension Periods and the Final Maturity Date.

          4. Issue Price and any OID information.

          5. Trade date.

          6. If such Book-Entry Note is a Fixed Rate Note, whether such Note is
             an Amortizing Note.

          7. The DTC Participant account number of such Agent.

                                     B-18
<PAGE>
 
          8. Interest rate (including, if appropriate, such interest rate
             information applicable to any Extension Period):

              (a)   Fixed Rate Notes:

                           (i) interest rate
                          (ii) interest payment dates, if other than as 
                               specified above
                         (iii) date or dates, if any, on which the interest rate
                               may be reset and the basis or formula, if any, 
                               for such resetting
                          (iv) overdue rate, if any

              (b)   Floating Rate Notes:

                           (i) interest rate basis
                          (ii) initial interest rate
                         (iii) spread or spread multiplier, if any
                          (iv) date or dates, if any, on which the spread or 
                               spread multiplier may be reset and the basis or 
                               formula, if any, for such resetting
                           (v) interest rate reset periods
                          (vi) interest payment dates
                         (vii) index maturity
                        (viii) maximum and minimum interest rates, if any
                          (ix) record dates
                           (x) interest determination dates
                          (xi) overdue rate, if any

          9. The date on or after which the Book-Entry Notes are redeemable at
             the option of the Company or are to be repaid at the option of the
             Holder, and additional redemption or repurchase provisions, if any.

         10. Wire transfer information.

         11. Presenting Agent's commission (to be paid in the form of a discount
             from the proceeds remitted to the Company upon settlement).

         12. That the Note will be a Book-Entry Note.

    B.    The Company will assign a CUSIP number to the Global Security
representing such Note and then advise the Trustee by telephone (confirmed in
writing at any time on the same date) or electronic transmission of the
information set forth in Settlement Procedure "A" above, such CUSIP number and
the name of such Agent.

    C.    The Trustee will enter a pending deposit message through DTC's
Participant Terminal System, providing the following settlement information to
DTC, the Presenting Agent, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and, upon request,
the Trustee under the Indenture pursuant to which such Note is to be issued:

                                     B-19
<PAGE>
 
          1. The information set forth in Settlement Procedure "A."

          2. Identification as a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Note or a Floating Rate
             Book-Entry Note.

          3. Initial Interest Payment Date for such Note, number of days by
             which such date succeeds the related "DTC Record Date" (which term
             means the Regular Record Date except in the case of floating rate
             notes which reset daily or weekly in which case it means the date
             five (5) calendar days immediately preceding the Interest Payment
             Date) and amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date.

          4. Frequency of interest payments (monthly, semiannually, quarterly,
             etc.).

          5. CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry
             Note.

          6. Whether such Global Security will represent any other Book-Entry
             Note (to the extent known at such time).

          7. The number of Participant accounts to be maintained by DTC on
             behalf of the Agents or the Trustee.

    D.    The Trustee, as Trustee will complete and authenticate the note
certificate evidencing the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Note.

    E.    DTC will credit such Book-Entry Note to the Trustee's participant
account at DTC.

    F.    The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant
Terminal System instructing DTC to (i) debit such Book-Entry Note to the
Trustee's participant account and credit such Note to the Presenting Agent's
participant account and (ii) debit the Presenting Agent's settlement account and
credit the Trustee's settlement account for an amount equal to the price of such
Book-Entry Note less the Presenting Agent's commission.

    G.    The Presenting Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's
Participant Terminal System instructing DTC (i) to debit such Book-Entry Note to
the Presenting Agent's participant account and credit such Note to the
participant accounts of the Participants with respect to such Book-Entry Note
and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such Participants and credit the
settlement account of the Presenting Agent for an amount equal to the price of
such Note.

    H.    Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in
Settlement Procedures "F" and "G" will be settled in accordance with SDFS
operating procedures in effect on the settlement date.

    I.    The Trustee will credit to an account of the Company maintained at the
Trustee funds available for immediate use in the amount transferred to the
Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure "F."

                                     B-20
<PAGE>
 
    J.    The Presenting Agent will deliver to the purchaser a copy of the most
recent Prospectus applicable to the Book-Entry Note with or prior to any written
offer of Book-Entry Notes and the confirmation and payment by the purchaser of
the Book-Entry Note.

    The Presenting Agent will confirm the purchase of such Book-Entry Note to
the purchaser either by transmitting to the Participants with respect to such
Book-Entry Note a confirmation order or orders through DTC's institutional
delivery system or by mailing a written confirmation to such purchaser.


    Settlement Procedures Timetable

    For offers to purchase Book-Entry Notes solicited by an Agent, as agent, and
accepted by the Company for settlement, Settlement Procedures "A" through "J"
set forth above shall be completed as soon as possible but not later than the
respective times (New York City time) set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================
Settlement                       Time
 Procedures
========================================================
<S>            <C>
 
A-B            11:00 A.M. on the Sale date
- -------------------------------------------------------- 
C              2:00 P.M. on the Sale date
- -------------------------------------------------------- 
D              3:00 P.M. on date before Settlement date
- -------------------------------------------------------- 
E              10:00 A.M. on Settlement date
- --------------------------------------------------------
F-G            2:00 P.M. on Settlement date
- -------------------------------------------------------- 
H              4:45 P.M. on Settlement date
- --------------------------------------------------------
I-J            5:00 P.M. on Settlement date
========================================================
</TABLE>


    If a sale is to be settled more than one (1) Business Day after the sale
date, Settlement Procedures "A," "B" and "C" shall be completed as soon as
practicable but no later than 11:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., as the case
may be, on the first Business Day after the sale date. If the initial interest
rate for a Floating Rate Book-Entry Note has not been determined at the time
that Settlement Procedure "A" is completed, Settlement Procedures "B" and "C"
shall be completed as soon as such rate has been determined but not later than
11:00 A.M. and 12:00 Noon, respectively, on the second Business Day before the
settlement date. Settlement Procedure "I" is subject to extension in accordance
with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events
specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the settlement date.

    If settlement of a Book-Entry Note is rescheduled or canceled, the Trustee
will deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, a cancellation
message to such effect by no later than 2:00 P.M. on the Business Day
immediately preceding the scheduled settlement date.

                                     B-21
<PAGE>
 
    Failure To Settle

    If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with respect to a Book-
Entry Note pursuant to Settlement Procedure "F," the Trustee may deliver to DTC,
through DTC's Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal
message instructing DTC to debit such Book-Entry Note to the Trustee's
participant account. DTC will process the withdrawal message, provided that the
Trustee's participant account contains a principal amount to be debited. If a
withdrawal message is processed with respect to all the Book-Entry Notes
represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will mark such Global Security
"canceled," make appropriate entries in the Trustee's records and send such
canceled Global Security to the Company. The CUSIP number assigned to such
Global Security shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be
canceled and not immediately reassigned. If a withdrawal message is processed
with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Notes represented by
a Global Security, the Trustee will exchange such Global Security for two Global
Securities, one of which shall represent such Book-Entry Note or Notes and shall
be canceled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall represent
the other Book-Entry Notes previously represented by the surrendered Global
Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Security.

    If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Note is not timely paid to the
Participants with respect to such Book-Entry Note by the beneficial purchaser
thereof (or a person, including an indirect participant in DTC, acting on behalf
of such purchaser), such Participants and, in turn, the Agent for such Book-
Entry Note may enter SDFS deliver orders through DTC's Participant Terminal
System reversing the orders entered pursuant to Settlement Procedures "F" and
"G," respectively. Thereafter, the Trustee will deliver the withdrawal message
and take the related actions described in the preceding paragraph.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a
Book-Entry Note, DTC may take any actions in accordance with its SDFS operating
procedures then in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to
one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Notes to have been represented by a
Global Security, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement
Procedure "D," for the authentication and issuance of a Global Security
representing the other Book-Entry Notes to have been represented by such Global
Security and will make appropriate entries in its records.

                                     B-22
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit C
                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

IKON CAPITAL, INC.                                                        [Date]
1738 Bass Road
Macon, Georgia 31210
Attention: Treasurer

    The undersigned agrees to purchase the following principal amount of the
Notes described in the Distribution Agreement dated June 4, 1997 (as it may be
supplemented or amended from time to time, the "Distribution Agreement"):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                   <C>

Principal Amount:                     $__________

Specified Currency:

Denominated and Indexed
 Currencies:

Interest Rate:                        ____%

Discount:                             ____% of Principal Amount

Aggregate Price to be Paid to         $__________
 Company (in immediately available
 Funds):

Settlement Date:

Other Terms:
</TABLE>

    Terms defined in the Prospectus relating to the Notes and in the
Distribution Agreement shall have the same meaning when used herein.

    [In the case of Notes issued in a Specified Currency other than U.S.
dollars, payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all
Notes will be made in the applicable Specified Currency, provided, however, that
payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Notes denominated
in other than U.S. dollars will nevertheless be made in U.S. dollars (i) at the
option of the Holders thereof; (ii) at the option of the Company in the case of
imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the
Company as described below; or (iii) if so specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement.

    The U.S. dollar amount to be received by a Holder of a Note denominated in
other than U.S. dollars who elects to receive payments in U.S. dollars will be
based on the highest bid quotation in The City of New York received by the
Currency Determination Agent (as defined below) as of noon New York City time on
the third Business Day next preceding the applicable payment date from three
recognized foreign exchange dealers (one of which may be the Currency
Determination Agent) for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the Specified
Currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on such payment date in the aggregate
amount of the Specified Currency payable to all Holders of Notes electing to
receive U.S. dollar payments and at which the applicable dealer commits to
execute a contract. If three such bid quotations are not available on the third
Business Day preceding the date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) or
interest with respect to any Note, such payment will be made in the Specified
Currency. All currency 
<PAGE>
 
exchange costs associated with any payment in U.S. dollars on any such Note will
be borne by the Holder thereof by deductions from such payment.]

    Our obligation to purchase Notes hereunder is subject to the continued
accuracy of your representations and warranties contained in the Distribution
Agreement and to your performance and observance of all applicable covenants and
agreements contained therein, including, without limitation, your obligations
pursuant to Section 7 thereof. Our obligation hereunder is subject to the
further condition that we shall receive (a) the opinions required to be
delivered pursuant to Sections 5(e) and 5(h) of the Distribution Agreement, (b)
the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(f) of the
Distribution Agreement, (c) the letter referred to in Section 5(g) of the
Distribution Agreement in each case dated as of the above Settlement Date and
(d) [insert other conditions as appropriate].

    In further consideration of our agreement hereunder, you agree that between
the date hereof and the above Settlement Date, you will not offer or sell, or
enter into any agreement to sell, any debt securities of the Company [, other
than borrowings under your revolving credit agreements and lines of credit, the
private placement of securities and issuances of your commercial paper].

    We may terminate this Agreement, immediately upon notice to you, at any time
prior to the Settlement Date, if prior thereto there shall have occurred: (i)
any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting
the general affairs, management, shareholder's equity, business, properties,
condition (financial or other), results of operations or prospects of the
Company which in our opinion materially impairs the investment quality of the
Notes; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the
over-the-counter market, or the establishment of minimum prices on such
exchanges or such markets; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities declared by Federal or New York State authorities; (iv) any
downgrading in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that term is defined
by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act or any public
announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its
rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with
positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible
downgrading, of such rating); (v) any outbreak or escalation of major
hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by
Congress or any other substantial national calamity or emergency; or (vi) any
material adverse change in the existing financial, political or economic
conditions in the United States, including the effect of international
conditions on the financial markets in the United States, or you are unable to
provide any of the opinions, certificates or letters referred to in the second
preceding paragraph. In the event of such termination, no party shall have any
liability to the other party hereto, except as provided in Sections 4, 7 and 13
of the Distribution Agreement.

                                      C-2
<PAGE>
 
    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of New York.

[Insert Name[s] of Agent[s]]

By:____________________________________
    
     [Title]


Accepted:         ,

IKON CAPITAL, INC.

By:____________________________________
       [Authorized Signatory]

                                      C-3
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit D
                                 [INDEXED NOTE]
                               AMENDMENT NO. ___
           TO DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT DATED JUNE __, 1997, AS AMENDED

                        [Insert Title of the Denominated
                            and Indexed Currencies]

    The undersigned hereby agree that for the purposes of the issue and sale of
Notes denominated in [title of currency or currency unit] (the "Denominated
Currency") and indexed to [title of currency or currency unit] (the "Indexed
Currency") pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, dated June 4, 1997, as it may
be amended (the "Distribution Agreement"), the following additions and
modifications shall be made to the Distribution Agreement. The additions and
modifications adopted hereby shall be of the same effect for the sale under the
Distribution Agreement of all Notes denominated in the Denominated Currency and
indexed to the Indexed Currency, whether offered on an agency or principal
basis, but shall be of no effect with respect to Notes denominated in any
currency or currency unit other than the Applicable Foreign Currency.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms used herein which
are defined in the Distribution Agreement shall have the same meanings as in the
Distribution Agreement. The terms Agent or Agents, as used in the Distribution
Agreement, shall be deemed to refer [only] to the undersigned Agents for
purposes of this Amendment.

    [Insert appropriate additions and modifications to the Distribution
Agreement, for example, to opinions of counsel, conditions to obligation and
settlement procedures, etc.]

_________________, 19__

IKON Capital, Inc.


By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:

[Name(s) of Agent(s) Participating
In the Offering of the Indexed Notes]


By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.21

                           IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
                          PARTNERS' STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                  (Amended and Restated as of January 1, 1997)

    1. Purpose. The purpose of this Partners' Stock Plan (the "Plan") of IKON
Office Solutions, Inc. ("IKON") is to secure for IKON and its stockholders the
benefits of the incentive which an interest in the ownership of common stock of
IKON will provide to key employees, directors and consultants who will be
responsible for IKON's future growth and continued success.

    2. Participation. Only "Eligible Persons" (as hereinafter defined) shall be
entitled to participate in the Plan. An "Eligible Person" shall be a director of
IKON, or a full-time or part-time employee of IKON, or a subsidiary, or a
consultant to IKON or a subsidiary, who shall have been designated as a "Partner
of IKON" by the Board of Directors of IKON. A subsidiary whose employees or
consultants may be considered for participation in the Plan is any present or
future corporation of which IKON or a subsidiary of IKON owns stock representing
fifty percent or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of
such corporation ("Subsidiary"). An Eligible Subsidiary, for this purpose, may
be either a domestic or foreign corporation, provided, however, that
participation by employees of a foreign corporation is subject to approval by
the Board of Directors.

    An Eligible Person may become a participant in the Plan ("Participant") by
enrolling in the Plan through the Plan's automated enrollment process. The first
election, and any election thereafter, shall be effective as soon as
administratively practicable.

    3. Contributions by Participants. All contributions by Participants shall be
through payroll deduction. The amount of such deduction shall be not less than
1% and not more than 15% (in whole percentages) of the Participant's "Base
Compensation," provided, however, that a Participant shall also be entitled to
contribute an amount which is within the foregoing percentages of the
Participant's annual cash bonus compensation (including annual cash bonus
amounts deferred pursuant to any deferred compensation plan) which may be
payable on an annual basis to the Participant after September 30 of each year as
a percentage of Base Compensation. In the event a Participant is also making
contributions to the IKON Retirement Savings Plan, the foregoing 15%
contribution limitation shall be reduced by the percentage which is used as the
basis for calculation of matching company contributions under such plan. "Base
Compensation" shall mean (a) monthly base salary, including: i) amounts deferred
pursuant to the IKON Retirement Savings Plan, ii) base salary amounts set aside
in any cafeteria plan qualified under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code,
and iii) base salary amounts deferred pursuant to any deferred compensation plan
maintained by IKON or any Subsidiary; (b) annual director, committee and trustee
fees, including amounts deferred pursuant to the IKON Directors' Stock Option
Plan; or (c) consulting fees in the case of consultants.

    4. Contributions by IKON. Participants in the Plan are eligible to receive
two types of matching company contributions: 1) automatic company contributions
each month in an amount equal to 66 2/3% of the Participant's monthly investment
("Regular Company Contributions"); and 2) if earned, an additional annual
company contribution in an amount equal to 33 1/3% of the Participant's annual
investment during the previous fiscal year ("Extra Company Contribution"). Thus,
IKON may contribute to each Participant's account a maximum annual amount of up
to 100% of the Participant's annual fiscal-year investments.
<PAGE>
 
    Regular Company Contributions will be made automatically each month in an
amount equal to 66 2/3% of the Participant's monthly investment and will be
applied to the purchase of IKON common shares.

    If earned, the 33 1/3% Extra Company Contribution will be made on an annual
basis and will be calculated on the basis of investments made by the Participant
during the preceding 12-month period from October 1 to September 30 (the
"Previous Fiscal Year"), and shall only be earned if the Business Unit (as
hereafter defined) employing the Participant has achieved Target Performance as
contemplated by the annual bonus plan in effect for the Participant's Business
Unit. "Business Unit" means IKON or each division, subsidiary or other grouping
within IKON, as the case may be. "Target Performance" shall have the meaning set
forth in the IKON bonus plan as from time to time in effect for each Business
Unit.

    The Extra Company Contribution shall be made as soon as administratively
practicable after September 30 of each year and shall be applied to the purchase
of IKON common shares. In order to be eligible to receive the IKON Extra
Contribution, the Participant must be an employee of IKON or a Subsidiary and a
Partner on September 30 of the Previous Fiscal Year.

    5. Trustee. The Board of Directors (the "Board") shall name and designate a
Trustee or Trustees (hereinafter "Trustee"), who shall enter into a Trust
Agreement with IKON in a form approved by the Board of Directors. The Board
shall have the power to approve amendments to the Trust Agreement, remove any
Trustee, and designate a successor Trustee or Trustees. The assets of the Plan
shall be held in trust by the Trustee for use in accordance with the terms of
the Plan in providing for the benefits hereunder. Before the satisfaction of all
liabilities under the Plan in the event of termination of the Plan, none of the
assets held by the Trustee shall be used for or diverted to purposes other than
for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their beneficiaries except as
expressly provided in this Plan and in the Trust Agreement. No persons shall
have any interest in, or right to, any part of the assets or income held by the
Trustee, except as and to the extent expressly provided in this Plan and the
Trust Agreement.

    6. Purchases of IKON Common Stock. As soon as is practicable after the end
of each month, the Trustee shall allocate to the account of each Participant,
out of shares of IKON common stock acquired by the Trustee for such purpose,
such number of full shares and such fractional interest in a share of IKON
common stock as may be purchased by funds contributed by the Participant and by
IKON or a Subsidiary during the preceding month. Such allocation of shares shall
be at the average cost to the Trustee of the shares allocated to all
Participants' accounts at such time. Shares purchased with funds contributed by
the Participant shall be registered in the name of the Participant or in such
other name or names as the Participant may have designated. Shares purchased
with funds contributed by IKON or a Subsidiary shall be registered in the name
of the Trustee. Any dividends shall be paid on all full shares held in the Plan
at the close of business on the record date for such dividend.

    Shares of IKON common stock shall be purchased by the Trustee from time to
time out of funds received by the Trustee under the Plan, either (a) on the open
market, or (b) in private transactions, including, without limitation, from IKON
or a Subsidiary, any corporation or individual or any employee benefit plan. The
Trustee shall also hold for the purpose of allocation to accounts of
Participants, as provided above, shares of IKON common stock forfeited under the
provisions of Paragraph 14 herein.

    7. Stock Rights, Stock Splits and Stock Dividends. The Trustee, in its
discretion, may exercise or sell any rights to purchase any securities
appertaining to shares of common stock held by the Trustee, whether or not
allocated to individual accounts. The accounts of Participants shall be
appropriately 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
credited. Securities received by the Trustee by reason of a stock split, a stock
dividend or other distribution shall also be appropriately allocated to the
accounts of Participants.

    8.  Voting of Common Stock. The Trustee shall vote all shares of common
stock purchased with the contributions of IKON or a Subsidiary and held by the
Trustee in such manner as the Trustee shall, in the Trustee's discretion,
determine. In the event of a tender offer for shares of common stock held by the
Trustee, the Trustee shall tender or not tender shares held by the Plan in the
Trustee's discretion.

    9.  Unisource Spin-Off. As a result of the spin-off of Unisource Worldwide,
Inc. ("Unisource") from Alco Standard Corporation ("Alco"), IKON's predecessor
corporation, Participants who participated in the Plan prior to January 1, 1997
(and who had unvested shares of Alco common stock in their Plan accounts) may
have unvested common shares of both IKON (formerly Alco) and Unisource in their
Plan accounts. These shares, which are attributable to company contributions
made prior to the Unisource Spin-Off, will continue to vest in accordance with
the terms of the Plan (see "Interest of Participant in Shares," below). Such
shares of IKON and Unisource will be distributed to Participants as they vest,
subject to the forfeiture provisions described in "Termination of
Participation," below.

    10. Interest of Participant in Shares. An account will be maintained for
each Participant showing the number of shares of IKON common stock purchased by
the Participant and the number of shares of IKON common stock attributable to
company contributions. An account will also be maintained for each Participant
showing the number of shares of Unisource stock, if any, attributable to company
contributions. A Participant shall at all times have a vested interest in the
shares of common stock in his account purchased with his contributions. A
Participant's interest in the shares purchased with company contributions shall
not be immediately vested but shall vest in five equal annual installments,
beginning January 2 of the second calendar year following the calendar year such
shares were purchased. The foregoing vesting schedule is subject to the
provisions of Paragraph 14 hereof regarding termination of participation in the
Plan.

    11. Conversion of Unisource shares into IKON shares. Participants who have
unvested shares of Unisource common stock in their accounts may convert such
unvested Unisource shares into unvested IKON shares by directing the Trustee to
sell any or all unvested Unisource shares and to use the proceeds to purchase
unvested shares of IKON common stock. Any such purchases and sales will be made
at a price equal to the closing prices of IKON and Unisource, respectively, on
the New York Stock Exchange on the last day of the month in which the
Participant's election to convert is made. Any such conversions will not affect
the vesting schedule of the shares in the Participant's account.

    12. Voting Rights. Each Participant is entitled to exercise full voting
rights with respect to common stock which has been distributed from the Plan.
Voting rights with respect to common stock purchased with funds contributed by
IKON, its Subsidiaries or Alco which have not vested may be exercised only by
the Trustees.

    13. Share Certificates and Distribution of Dividends. On a monthly basis, a
stock certificate shall be distributed to each Participant representing the
number of whole shares of IKON common stock purchased during the preceding
calendar month from funds contributed by the Participant. The Participant may
elect to have IKON's transfer agent, National City Bank, hold such certificate
for the Participant's account though its book entry system.

    As of the first business day of each January, stock certificates shall be
distributed to each Participant who was a Partner as of September 30 of the
previous year representing the number of whole shares of 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
IKON and/or Unisource common stock attributable to company contributions in
which the Participant's interest shall have vested. The Participant may elect to
have IKON's transfer agent, National City Bank, hold such certificate(s) for the
Participant's account through its book entry system. Concurrently, there shall
be furnished to each Participant a statement which shall reflect the amount of
his or her contributions to date, the corresponding company contributions to
date, the number of full and fractional shares of IKON and Unisource common
stock which have vested and been distributed to the Participant, and the number
of such shares in which the Participant's interest shall not have vested.
Ordinary cash dividends on all shares of common stock, whether or not such
shares have vested, will be distributed currently.

    14. Termination of Participation. If a Participant ceases to be an Eligible
Person because of retirement, total disability (as defined by the IKON Long Term
Disability Plan) or death, his participation in the Plan shall automatically
terminate as of the end of the calendar month of his retirement, total
disability or death, and the Participant's interest in all unvested IKON and
Unisource shares in his account shall immediately vest and there shall be
delivered to the Participant, or to the estate of a deceased Participant (a) a
stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant, or such other name
or names as he may have designated in the prescribed election form, representing
any whole shares of IKON common stock in the Participant's account purchased
from funds contributed by the Participant which have not been previously
distributed to him; (b) stock certificate(s) registered in the name of the
Participant, or such other name or names as he may have designated, representing
the whole shares of IKON common stock and any shares of Unisource common stock
in the Participant's account purchased from funds contributed by IKON, a
Subsidiary or Alco; and (c) cash representing the value of any fractional share
to which the Participant is entitled as of the effective date of termination of
his participation in the Plan. The term "retirement" as used above shall mean
(a) as to an employee, termination of employment with IKON or a Subsidiary at or
after age 55, or (b) as to a director or consultant, termination of such status
at any time.

    If a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person because of any reason other
than retirement, total disability or death, his participation in the Plan shall
automatically terminate as of the end of the calendar month of his cessation as
an Eligible Person, unless otherwise determined by the Plan Committee or the
Board of Directors. Upon such termination of participation, the Participant
shall receive stock certificate(s) representing any vested shares, together with
cash representing the value of any fractional share to which the Participant is
entitled. The Participant's interest will terminate in all IKON shares and
Unisource shares (if any) which have not yet vested, unless otherwise determined
by the Plan Committee or the Board of Directors. The common shares in the
Participant's account which have not vested will thereafter be available to
reduce the number of shares otherwise required to be purchased in the future
with company contributions.

    15. Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a "Change in Control" (as
defined below), the Participant's interest in all unvested IKON and Unisource
shares in his account shall immediately vest and there shall be delivered to the
Participant (a) a stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant,
or such other name or names as he may have designated in the prescribed election
form, representing any whole shares of IKON common stock in the Participant's
account purchased from funds contributed by the Participant which have not been
previously distributed to him; (b) stock certificate(s) registered in the name
of the Participant, or such other name or names as he may have designated,
representing the whole shares of IKON common stock and any shares of Unisource
common stock in the Participant's account purchased from funds contributed by
IKON, a Subsidiary or Alco; and (c) cash representing the value of any
fractional share to which the Participant is entitled as of the effective date
of the Change in Control.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
    The term "Change in Control" as used above shall mean any of the following
events:

         (A) any Person, together with its affiliates and associates (as such
terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the
then outstanding shares of IKON common stock; or

         (B) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on September
30, 1997, constituted the Board and any new director whose appointment or
election by the Board or nomination for election by IKON's shareholders was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office
who either were directors on September 30, 1997 or whose appointment, election
or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

         (C) IKON consolidates with, or merges with or into, any other Person
(other than a wholly owned subsidiary of IKON), or any other Person consolidates
with, or merges with or into, IKON, and, in connection therewith, all or part of
the outstanding shares of common stock shall be changed in any way or converted
into or exchanged for stock or other securities or cash or any other property;
or

         (D) a transaction or series of transactions in which, directly or
indirectly, IKON shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its
subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (i) aggregating more than
50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) or (ii)
generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow of IKON and its
subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or group of Persons.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control" shall be deemed to
have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of integrated
transactions immediately following which the record holders of IKON common stock
immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions own a majority
of the outstanding voting shares and in substantially the same proportion in an
entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of IKON immediately
following such transaction or series of transactions.

    The term "Person" in the foregoing definition shall have the meaning given
in Section 3(a) (9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) IKON or any of
its affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act),
(ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of IKON or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of IKON in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of IKON stock.

    16. Expenses. In addition to its contributions, IKON or its Subsidiary will
pay all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Plan. No charge or
deduction for any expenses will be made to a Participant upon the termination of
his participation under the Plan or upon the distribution of common stock
certificates.

    17. Administration. The Board of Directors shall administer the Plan. In its
discretion, the Board of Directors may appoint a Plan Committee, which Plan
Committee shall consist of at least three persons to serve at the pleasure of
the Board. The Board or the Plan Committee, in its discretion, shall appoint an

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
Administrator, who shall be responsible for the general administration of the
Plan under the policy guidance of the Plan Committee. The Administrator shall be
in the employ of IKON and shall receive no special or additional compensation,
other than reimbursement of expenses, for his service as Administrator.

    The Administrator and Plan Committee shall have all powers and duties
necessary to administer the Plan in accordance with its terms and applicable
law. Any construction, interpretation, or application of the Plan by the
Administrator or the Plan Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on
all persons.

    18.    Powers and Duties of Plan Committee. In addition to any duties and
powers described elsewhere herein, the Plan Committee shall have the following
specific duties and powers:

    (i)    to retain such consultants, accountants and attorneys, as deemed
necessary or advisable, to render statements, reports and advice with respect to
the Plan and to assist the Plan Committee in complying with all applicable rules
and regulations affecting the Plan (such consultants, accountants or attorneys
may be the same as those retained by IKON);

    (ii)   to decide appeals from adverse determinations of the Administrator
with respect to eligibility for or amounts of benefits under the Plan; and

    (iii)  to supervise the duties of the Administrator.

    19.    Powers and Duties of Administrator. In addition to the duties and
powers described elsewhere herein, the Administrator shall have the following
specific duties and powers:

    (i)    under the supervision of the Plan Committee, to establish rules,
regulations and procedures to carry out the provisions of the Plan;

    (ii)   to resolve questions or disputes relating to eligibility for benefits
or the amount of benefits under the Plan;

    (iii)  to conduct the day-to-day administration of the Plan subject to the
control and guidance of the Plan Committee;

    (iv)   to interpret the provisions of the Plan;

    (v)    to evaluate administrative procedures;

    (vi)   to retain such consultants, accountants and attorneys, as deemed
necessary or advisable, to render statements, reports and advice with respect to
the Plan and to assist the Administrator in complying with all applicable rules
and regulations affecting the Plan (such consultants, accountants or attorneys
may be the same as those retained by IKON); and

    (vii)  to delegate such duties and powers as the Administrator shall
determine from time to time, to any person or persons.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
    20. Functioning of Administrator and Plan Committee. The Administrator and
Plan Committee shall keep accurate records and minutes of meetings,
interpretations and decisions. The Plan Committee shall act by majority vote of
the members.

    21. Adverse Determinations. If, at any time, the Administrator makes a
determination adverse to a Participant or other claimant with respect to a
written claim for benefits or participation under the Plan, the Administrator
shall notify the claimant in writing of such determination.

    22. Appeals from Adverse Determinations. A Participant or any other claimant
who receives notice of an adverse determination by the Administrator with
respect to his claim may request in writing, within 60 days of receipt of such
notice, a review of the Administrator's determination by the Plan Committee. The
Plan Committee shall render a decision within 90 days of receipt of a request
for review.

    23. Deemed Denials. If for any reason the written notice of denial described
in Paragraph 20 is not furnished within 90 days of the Administrator's receipt
of a claim for benefits, the claim shall be deemed denied. Likewise, if for any
reason the written decision on review described in Paragraph 21 is not furnished
within the time prescribed, the claim shall be deemed to be denied on review.

    24. Indemnification. The Administrator, each member of the Plan Committee
and each Trustee shall be indemnified by IKON against expenses (other than
amounts paid in settlement to which IKON does not consent) reasonably incurred
by him in connection with any action to which he may be a party by reason of his
performance of administrative functions and duties under the Plan, except in
relation to matters as to which he shall be adjudged in such action to be
personally guilty of willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance
of his duties. The foregoing right to indemnification shall be in addition to
such other rights as the Administrator, Plan Committee member or Trustee may
enjoy as a matter of law or by reason of insurance coverage of any kind. Rights
granted hereunder shall also be in addition to and not in lieu of any rights to
indemnification to which the Administrator, the Plan Committee member or Trustee
may be entitled pursuant to the Code of Regulations of IKON.

    25. Amendment and Termination. The Board of Directors of IKON may terminate
the Plan at any time and may amend the Plan from time to time in any respect;
provided, however, that upon any termination of the Plan, all unvested common
shares in Participants' accounts shall become fully vested, and shall be
distributed to Participants as soon as administratively practicable, and
provided further that no amendment to the Plan shall materially affect the right
of a Participant to receive his interest in his account, whether vested or
unvested.

    26. Government and Other Regulations. The obligation of IKON or a Subsidiary
to make contributions under the Plan, and the obligation of IKON or a Subsidiary
to purchase or sell common stock under the Plan, or to distribute assets from
the Participants' accounts, shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies as may be
required.

    27. Non-Alienation. No Participant shall be permitted to assign, alienate,
sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber his interest under the Plan prior
to the distribution of stock certificates to him. Any attempt to assign,
alienate, sell, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber a Participant's interest
under the Plan prior to distribution of stock certificates shall be void and of
no effect.

                                       7

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.24

                           IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
                    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     Purpose

               The purpose of this Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") is to enable IKON Office Solutions, Inc. (the "Company") to offer
Non-Employee Directors of the Company the opportunity to acquire equity
interests in the Company, thereby attracting, retaining and rewarding such
persons, and strengthening the mutuality of interests between such persons and
the Company's shareholders.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   Definitions

               For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

               2.1     "Annual Option" shall mean an option to purchase shares
                        -------------
of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 6.2.

               2.2     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
                        ----- 

               2.3     "Change in Control Event" shall mean any of the following
                        -----------------------
events:

                       (A) any Person, together with its affiliates and
associates (as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), is or
becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the Company; or

                       (B) the following individuals cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:
individuals who, on September 30, 1997 constituted the Board and any new
director whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election
by the Company's shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of
the directors then still in office who either were directors on September 30,
1997 or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so
approved; or

                       (C) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or
into, any other Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company), or any other Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the
Company, and, in connection therewith, all or part of the outstanding shares of
common stock shall be changed in any way or converted into or exchanged for
stock or other securities or cash or any other property; or

                       (D) a transaction or series of transactions in which,
directly or indirectly, the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or
one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (i)
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) or (ii) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash
flow of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person
or group of Persons.
<PAGE>
 
               Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control Event" shall
be deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the
common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions own a majority of the outstanding voting shares and in
substantially the same proportion in an entity which owns all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or
series of transactions.

               2.4  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
                     ----
amended.

               2.5  "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, no par value, of
                     ------------ 
the Company.

               2.6  "Company" shall mean IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                     -------

               2.7  "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.
                     --------

               2.8  "Discretionary Option" shall mean an option to purchase
                     --------------------                   
shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 6.3.

               2.9  "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
                     ------------
1934, as amended from time to time.

               2.10 "Fair Market Value" as of any date shall mean, unless
                     -----------------
otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations
issued thereunder, the closing sales price of a share of Common Stock for the
applicable trading day as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape.

               2.11 "New Director Option" shall mean an option to purchase
                     -------------------
shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 6.1.

               2.12 "Non-Employee Director" shall mean a Director who is not an
                     ---------------------
employee of IKON or any parent or subsidiary of IKON (as defined in Section 425
of the Code).

               2.13 "Participant" shall mean a person to whom an Option has been
                     -----------
granted under this Plan.

               2.14 "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of
                     ------
the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof,
except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its affiliates
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (ii) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned,
directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

               2.15 "Potential Change in Control Event" shall mean the
                     ---------------------------------
occurrence of any one of the following:

                    (A) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation
of which will result in the occurrence of a Change in Control Event;


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                    (B) the Company or any Person publicly announces an
intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would
constitute a Change in Control Event; or

                    (C) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that a
Potential Change in Control Event has occurred.

               2.16 "Retainer Option" shall mean an option to purchase shares of
                     ---------------
Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 6.4.


               2.17 "Stock Option" or "Option" shall mean a New Director Option,
                     ------------      ------  
an Annual Option, a Discretionary Option or a Retainer Option granted pursuant
to Article VI.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                 Administration

               3.1  Administration. The Plan shall be administered and
                    --------------
interpreted by the Board.

               3.2  Guidelines. Subject to Article VII hereof, the Board shall
                    ---------- 
have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules,
guidelines and practices governing this Plan as it shall, from time to time,
deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any
Option granted under this Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and to
otherwise supervise the administration of this Plan. The Board may correct any
defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in
any Option in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to carry this
Plan into effect.

               3.3  Decisions Final. Any decision, interpretation or other
                    ---------------
action made or taken in good faith by the Board arising out of or in connection
with the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company, all
employees, Directors and Participants and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                Share Limitations

               4.1  Shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common
                    ------
Stock that may be issued under this Plan shall be 1,252,756 (subject to any
increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2), which may be either authorized
and unissued Common Stock or issued Common Stock reacquired by the Company. If
any Option granted under this Plan expires, terminates or is cancelled for any
reason without having been exercised in full, the number of unpurchased shares
shall again be available for the purposes of the Plan.

               4.2  Adjustments. If the outstanding shares of Common Stock are
                    -----------
increased, decreased or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or
other securities, or if additional shares or other property (other than ordinary
cash dividends) are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock or
other securities, through merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification, dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spin off, split
off, or other distribution with respect to such shares of Common Stock, or other
securities, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made in (i) the
maximum number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan, (ii) the
number of shares with respect to which future New Director

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
Options and Annual Options are to be granted, (iii) the number and kind of
shares or other securities subject to then outstanding Options, and (iv) the
price for each share subject to any then outstanding Options. No fractional
shares will be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustments.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                   Eligibility

               5.1  Any person who is a Non-Employee Director, or who is then
becoming a Non-Employee Director, is eligible to be granted New Director
Options, Annual Options, Discretionary Options and Retainer Options in
accordance with the terms of this Plan.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  Stock Options

               6.1  New Director Options. For as long as this Plan remains in
                    --------------------
effect, each Non-Employee Director shall, upon his or her initial election to
the Board, be granted a New Director Option to purchase 25,000 shares of Common
Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2).

               6.2  Annual Options. Each year for as long as this Plan remains
                    --------------
in effect, each person who is elected a Director at the Company's annual meeting
of shareholders and who is a Non-Employee Director shall automatically be
granted an Annual Option to purchase 2000 shares of Common Stock (subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 4.2).

               6.3  Discretionary Options. The Board shall have full authority
                    ---------------------
to grant Discretionary Options to any Non-Employee Director, including the
authority:

                    (a)    to select the Non-Employee Directors to whom
Discretionary Options may from time to time be granted;

                    (b)    to determine whether and to what extent Discretionary
Options are to be granted to such Non-Employee Directors;

                    (c)    to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to
be covered by each Discretionary Option granted; and

                    (d)    to determine the terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, of any Discretionary Option granted
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price of the Option, the term of
the Option, any restriction or limitation affecting the exercisability of the
Option and any conditions under which the exercisability of the Option will be
accelerated).

               6.4  Retainer Options. Each year for as long as this Plan remains
                    ---------------- 
in effect, Retainer Options shall be granted automatically on the date of the
Board's annual organizational meeting (generally following the Company's annual
meeting of shareholders) to any Non-Employee Director who has filed with the
Company an election to receive stock options in lieu of the Annual Retainer (as
defined below), or some portion thereof, to be earned by such Director in each
Plan Year (as defined below) during which he or she shall serve as a Director.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                    (a)    Option Formula. The number of shares of Common Stock
                           --------------
subject to the Retainer Options granted to any Director for a Plan Year shall be
equal to the nearest number of whole shares obtained by dividing (i) the
Director's Annual Retainer (as defined below) by (ii) the difference between the
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant and the option
price determined pursuant to Section 6.5(b)(iii).

                    (b)    Annual Retainer. For purposes of this Plan, "Annual
                           ---------------
Retainer" shall mean the amount of fees which the Director will be entitled to
receive during a Plan Year for serving as a Director or a chairperson of one or
more committees of the Board or a chairperson of the trustees of any of the
Company's employee benefit plan trusts; provided, however, that if a Director
elects to receive a stock option in lieu of only a portion of the Annual
Retainer, the Annual Retainer for purposes of the formula set forth in Section
6.4(a) shall equal the portion of the Annual Retainer so elected. For purposes
of this Plan, "Annual Retainer" shall not include fees for any other services to
be provided to the Company except as set forth herein.

                    (c)    Plan Year. For purposes of this Plan, "Plan Year"
                           ---------
shall mean the twelve-month period beginning each February 1 and ending on the
last day of January.

               6.5  Terms of Options. Options granted under this Plan shall be
                    ----------------
subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional
terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as the Board
shall deem desirable:

                    (a)    Stock Option Award. Each Stock Option shall be
                           ------------------
evidenced by, and subject to the terms of, a Stock Option Award. The Stock
Option Award shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the
Stock Option, the option price, the option term, and the other terms and
conditions applicable to the Stock Option.

                    (b)    Option Price. The option price per share of Common
                           ------------
Stock purchasable upon exercise of a Stock Option shall be determined as
follows: (i) in the case of New Director Options and Annual Options, the option
price shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of grant; (ii) in the case of Discretionary Options, the option price shall
be determined by the Board at the time of grant; and (iii) in the case of
Retainer Options, the option price shall be 75% of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

                    (c)    Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be
                           -----------
as follows: (i) in the case of New Director Options and Annual
Options, the term shall be ten years; (ii) in the case of Discretionary Options,
the term shall be fixed by the Board at the time of grant; and (iii) in the case
of Retainer Options, the term shall be twenty years.

                    (d)    Exercisability. Unless otherwise specified in a Stock
                           --------------
Option Award, Stock Options shall be exercisable as follows: (i) New Director
Options shall become exercisable in five equal annual installments, beginning on
the first anniversary of the date of grant; (ii) Annual Options shall be
immediately exercisable beginning the day after the date of grant; (iii)
Discretionary Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to
such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Board at the time of
grant; and (iv) Retainer Options shall be exercisable beginning on the first
anniversary of the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may
waive the vesting provisions of any Stock Option, in whole or in part, at any
time after the date of grant, based on such factors as the Board shall, in its
sole discretion, deem appropriate.


                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                    (e)    Method of Exercise. Subject to any applicable vesting
                           ------------------
provisions, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at
any time during the option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the
Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased and the
option price for such shares. The option price shall be paid in full by: i)
delivering cash or a check payable to the order of the Company prior to the
delivery of the shares, ii) making arrangements for a broker-assisted exercise
(in which the broker forwards the exercise price), or iii) making payment using
shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for at least six months
preceding the exercise date. Upon exercise of the Option, a stock certificate or
stock certificates representing the number of shares of Common Stock to which
the Participant is entitled shall be delivered to the Participant (or, for
broker-assisted exercises, to the broker). A Participant shall not be deemed to
be the holder of Common Stock, or to have the rights of a holder of Common
Stock, with respect to shares subject to the Option, until the Option has been
exercised.

                    (f)    Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the
                           -----------
Board, or provided in the particular Stock Option Award, Stock Options
held by a Participant who ceases to be a Director shall be exercisable as
follows:

                      (i)    In the case of a Participant who ceases to be a
Director because of death, all Options that were outstanding on the date of the
Participant's death may be exercised by the legal representative of the
Participant's estate for a period of one year after the date of death or until
the expiration of the stated term of the Option, whichever period is shorter.

                      (ii)   In the case of a Participant who ceases to be a
Director for any other reason (including retirement because of age or
disability), all Options that were outstanding on the date on which the
Participant ceased to be a Director may be exercised by the Participant in
accordance with the vesting provisions of the applicable Stock Option Award,
until the expiration of the stated term of the Option; provided, however, that
any portion of a Retainer Option that is attributable to a portion of an Annual
Retainer that is not earned due to the Participant's ceasing to be a Director
(for any reason) shall automatically be forfeited.

                      (iii)  Any Option not exercised during the periods
specified in subsections (i) or (ii) shall terminate at the end of such period;
provided, however, that the Board may accelerate the exercisability of any
Option, extend the one-year period specified in subsection (i), or make such
other modifications to the Stock Option Award, not inconsistent with legal
requirements, as the Board shall, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate.

                    (g)    Change of Control. All outstanding options shall
automatically become fully exercisable upon the occurrence of a Potential
Change in Control Event.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                            Termination or Amendment

               7.1  Termination or Amendment of the Plan. The Board may at any
                    ------------------------------------
time terminate this Plan or amend all or any part of this Plan; provided,
however, that, unless otherwise required by law, and subject to Article IV, the
rights of a Participant with respect to Options granted prior to such
termination or amendment may not be materially impaired without the consent of
such Participant.

               7.2  Amendment of Options. The Board may amend the terms of any
                    --------------------
outstanding Option, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV,
no such amendment or other action by

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
the Committee shall materially impair the rights of any Participant without the
Participant's consent.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               General Provisions

               8.1  Nonassignment. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan,
                    -------------
Options granted hereunder and the rights and privileges conferred thereby shall
not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether
by operation of law or otherwise), and shall not be subject to execution,
attachment or similar process.

               8.2  Legend. All certificates representing shares of Common Stock
                    ------
delivered upon exercise of Options granted under this Plan shall be subject to
such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem
advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is
listed or traded, any applicable federal or state securities law, and any
applicable corporate law, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put
on stock certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

               8.3  Other Plans. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent
                    -----------
the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject
to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may
be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

               8.4  No Right to Continue as Director. Neither this Plan nor the
                    --------------------------------
grant of any Option shall constitute evidence of any agreement or understanding,
express or implied, that a Director will continue as a member of the Board, or
that IKON will nominate any Director for reelection by IKON's shareholders.

               8.5  Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall have the right,
                    --------------------
prior to delivering a stock certificate representing the shares of Common Stock
otherwise deliverable to a Participant upon exercise of an Option, to (i)
require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy
all federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax withholding requirements (including
social security and Medicare withholding requirements, if applicable), (ii)
reduce the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the
Participant by an amount that would have a Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise equal to the amount of all federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes
(including social security and Medicare taxes, if applicable) required to be
withheld, or (iii) deduct the amount of such taxes from cash payments otherwise
to be made to the Participant. In connection with such withholding, the Board
may make such arrangements as are consistent with this Plan as it may deem
appropriate.

               8.6  Listing and Other Conditions.
                    ----------------------------

                    (a)    The issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of an Option shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on
the New York Stock Exchange. The Company shall have no obligation to issue any
shares of Common Stock unless and until the shares are so listed, and the right
to exercise any Option shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

                    (b)    If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the
opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an
Option is or may under the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition
of excise taxes under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable
jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or
delivery, or to make

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration
under the Securities Act of 1933 or otherwise with respect to shares of Common
Stock or Options, and the right to exercise any Option shall be suspended until,
in the opinion of such counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or shall
not result in the imposition of excise taxes.

                    (c)    Upon termination of any period of suspension under
this Section 8.6, any Option affected by such suspension which shall not
then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all shares available
before such suspension and as to shares which would otherwise have become
available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall
extend the term of any Option.

               8.7  Governing Law. This Plan and actions taken in connection
                    -------------
herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

               8.8  Construction. Wherever any words are used in this Plan in
                    ------------
the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in
the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever any
words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though
they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.

               8.9  Other Benefits. The grant of an Option shall not be deemed
                    --------------
compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan nor
affect any benefits under any other benefit plan now or hereafter in effect
under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of
compensation.

               8.10 Costs. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Company
                    -----
shall bear all expenses incurred in administering this Plan, including expenses
of issuing Common Stock upon the exercise of Options.

               8.11 Severability. If any part of this Plan shall be determined
                    ------------
to be invalid or void in any respect, such determination shall not affect,
impair, invalidate or nullify the remaining provisions of this Plan, which shall
continue in full force and effect.

               8.12 Successors. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the
                    ----------  
benefit of any successor or successors of the Company.

               8.13 Headings. Article and section headings contained in this
                    --------
Plan are included for convenience only and are not to be used in construing or
interpreting this Plan.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                             Effective Date of Plan

               9.1  Effective Date. This Plan shall become effective as of July
                    --------------
29, 1997.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  Term of Plan

               10.1 Term. No Stock Option shall be granted pursuant to this Plan
                    ----
on or after July 29, 2007, but Options granted prior to such date may extend
beyond that date.

                                       8

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.25

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------


         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), entered into on August __,
1997, made by and between IKON Office Solutions, Inc., an Ohio corporation with
its principal offices located at Malvern, Pennsylvania (the "Company"), and John
E. Stuart (the "Executive"), effective as of May 1, 1997.

         WHEREAS, the Executive is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company;

         WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of
its shareholders to facilitate the recruitment and foster the continuous
employment of senior executive officers;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes
that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a
Change in Control*/ exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and
questions which it raises, may result in the departure or distraction of the
Company's senior executive officers to the detriment of the Company and its
shareholders;

         WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of the
Company's senior executive officers, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances
arising from the possibility of a Change in Control; and

         WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to continue to serve as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and the Company desires to retain the
Executive in such capacities on the terms and conditions herein set forth;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as
follows:

         1.    Employment. The Company agrees to continue to employ Executive,
               ----------
and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, upon the terms and
conditions herein provided, for an initial period commencing as of May 1, 1997
and ending on April 30, 2000. On each anniversary date of this Agreement,
commencing May 1, 2000, the Term shall be automatically extended for one
additional year unless not less than six months prior to such anniversary date
either party gives written notice of his or her intent not to extend the Term
for an additional one-year period (a "Notice of Nonrenewal"); provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that the Term shall not be extended beyond Executive's 65th birthday unless
affirmatively extended in writing

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

*/     The definitions of capitalized terms not otherwise identified are set
forth in Section 20 of the Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
by the Company and Executive. In the event either party gives the other Notice
of Nonrenewal, the other party may elect to terminate this Agreement as of the
date of such Notice. In such event Executive agrees that, if requested by the
Board of Directors, he shall be reasonably available for a period ending on the
date on which such Notice of Nonrenewal was intended to become effective to
assist in the orderly transition of his duties and responsibilities to such
person or persons as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

         2.    Position and Duties. During the Term, the Company agrees to
               -------------------
employ the Executive to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. The Executive will have such powers and duties as are commensurate with
such positions and as may be conferred upon him by the Board. During the Term,
and except for illness or incapacity and reasonable vacation periods consistent
with the discharge of the Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder, the
Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time, attention, skill
and efforts exclusively to the business and affairs of the Company and its
subsidiaries and affiliates, provided, however, that the Executive may devote
such time as is reasonably required for charitable and personal activities, in
accordance with the Company's practices and policies, and serve on other boards
as a director or trustee if such service does not interfere with his ability to
discharge his duties and responsibilities to the Company.

         3.    Compensation. For all services rendered by the Executive in any
               ------------
capacity required hereunder during the Term, including, without limitation,
services as an executive, officer, director, or member of any committee of the
Company, or any subsidiary, affiliate or division thereof, the Executive shall
be compensated as follows:

               (a)   Base Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive a fixed
                     -----------
salary of $900,000 per annum or such higher annual amount as is being paid from
time to time pursuant to the terms hereof . Such fixed salary, together with all
adjustments, is referred to herein as the "Base Salary." The Executive's Base
Salary shall not be decreased at any time from the amount then in effect, unless
the Executive otherwise agrees in writing. The Base Salary shall be subject to
such periodic review (which shall occur at least annually) and such periodic
increases as the Board shall deem appropriate in accordance with the Company's
customary procedures and practices regarding the salaries of senior officers.
Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary payroll practices
of the Company, but in no event less frequently than monthly.

               (b)   Incentive Compensation. The Executive shall be entitled to
                     ----------------------
receive annual and long-term incentive compensation awards, if earned, under the
policies and plans maintained by the Company providing for the payment of
incentive compensation to key officers based upon the performance of the Company
and, if applicable, the officer's individual performance. The Executive's
percentage participation, target percentage or other similar measure under any
such policy or plan during the Term shall be at least at the highest level
provided to any participant under such policy or plan.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
               (c)   Stock Options. The Executive shall be eligible to receive
                     -------------
grants under the Company's stock option plan(s) including grants relating to the
Company's Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan ( the "LTIP"), at the sole
discretion of the Human Resources Committee of the Board (the "Human Resources
Committee"), subject to such terms and conditions as such Committee may decide,
and in accordance with the grant letter for such options. In connection with
this Agreement, Executive has been granted 250,000 options on May 1, 1997, with
100,000 options to vest on April 30, 2002 and the balance to vest on November
30, 2006, if the Executive is an employee of the Company on such date. In
addition:

                     (i)   The 100,000 options scheduled to vest on April 30,
2002 shall vest prior to April 30, 2002 (i.e., on the date of employment
termination) in the event the Executive's employment hereunder terminates due to
the Executive's death or Disability, a Without Cause Termination, a Constructive
Discharge, or the Company's election not to renew.

                     (ii)  The 150,000 options scheduled to vest on November 30,
2006 shall vest prior to such date (i.e., on the date of employment termination)
                                    ----
if Executive is employed by the Company after April 30, 2002, and after such
date the Executive's employment hereunder terminates due to the Executive's
death or Disability, a Without Cause Termination, a Constructive Discharge, or
the Company's election not to renew.

                     (iii) All of such options shall vest upon a termination of
employment after the Executive has satisfied the requirements for Early
Retirement; provided, however, that the number of options that vest in such
            --------  -------
event shall be reduced by the sum of (A) the total number of options granted
pursuant to Section 3(c) multiplied by a percentage equal to the percentage used
to reduce the Executive's pension payable at normal retirement under the
Company's Pension Plan, based on the terms of the Pension Plan in effect on the
date hereof, to determine the pension payments payable to the Executive upon his
Early Retirement; and (B) the number of such options previously vested under
other provisions of this Agreement.

                     (iv)  All options which become vested hereunder or under
any other provisions of this Agreement shall be exercisable by the Executive at
any time during the Executive's employment with the Company in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the option plan, and for a period of twelve months
following the Date of Termination. For purposes of this paragraph, in the event
of the Company's election not to extend the Term of this Agreement, the
Executive's employment shall be deemed to terminate on the date such election is
intended to become effective, notwithstanding that the Executive elects, in
accordance with Section 1 hereof, to terminate his employment as of the date of
the Notice of Nonrenewal.

               (d)   Additional Benefits. Except as modified by this Agreement,
                     -------------------
the Executive (and the Executive's family, if applicable) shall be entitled to
participate in all compensation or employee benefit plans or programs (currently
including, but not limited to, the LTIP, the 1994 Deferred Compensation Plan,
the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, the 1991 Deferred Compensation Plan,
the Partners Stock Purchase Plan, the Annual Bonus Plan, the Supplemental

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
Retirement Plan, and the Partners Loan Program) and to receive all benefits,
perquisites and emoluments, for which the most senior executive employees of the
Company are eligible under any plan or program now or hereafter established and
maintained by the Company for senior officers, to the fullest extent permissible
under the general terms and provisions of such plans or programs and in
accordance with the provisions thereof, including group hospitalization, health,
dental care, life or other insurance, tax-qualified pension, savings, thrift and
profit-sharing plans, termination pay programs, sick-leave plans, travel or
accident insurance, disability insurance, automobile allowance or automobile
lease plans, and executive contingent compensation plans, including, without
limitation, capital accumulation programs and stock purchase, restricted stock
and stock option plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement
shall preclude the amendment or termination of any such plan or program,
provided that such amendment or termination is applicable generally to the
senior officers of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate. Because of the
severance benefits provided in this Agreement, Executive shall not participate
in any general severance program established by the Company for its executives.

               (e)   Recognition of Past Service. If the Executive becomes a
                     ---------------------------
participant in any employee benefit plan, practice or policy of the Company or
its affiliates, the Executive shall be given credit under such plan, practice or
policy for all service in the employ of the Company and any predecessors thereto
or affiliates thereof prior to the date hereof, for purposes of eligibility and
vesting, benefit accrual and for all other purposes for which service is either
taken into account or recognized under the terms of such plan, practice or
policy, on terms no less favorable than are applicable to other senior
executives of the Company.

               (f)   Office. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
                     ------
a private office, and such secretarial services as have been previously provided
to the Executive, and such other assistance and accommodations as shall be
suitable to the character of the Executive's position with the Company and
adequate for the performance of the Executive's duties hereunder.

               (g)   Automobile. During the Term, the Company shall continue to
                     ----------
provide the Executive with a leased automobile for use by the Executive
consistent with the past practices and shall continue to pay or reimburse the
Executive for the maintenance and operation of such automobile upon receipt of
itemized vouchers therefor and such other supporting information that the
Company shall reasonably require.

               (h)   Telephone. During the Term, the Company shall continue to
                     ---------
provide the Executive with a cellular telephone and related telephone service or
a cellular telephone allowance consistent with past practices.

               (i)   Place of Performance. In connection with his employment by
                     --------------------
the Company, the Executive shall at all times be entitled to maintain his office
at the principal executive offices of the Company, which shall not be more than
fifteen (15) miles of their current

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
location, subject to the Executive's obligation to engage in such travel
reasonably related to the performance of his duties hereunder.

         4.    Business Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the
               -----------------
Executive for all reasonable travel or other expenses incurred by the Executive
(and his spouse where there is a legitimate business reason for his spouse to
accompany him) in connection with the performance of his duties and obligations
under this Agreement, including, without limitation, expenses for entertainment,
travel (including automobile operating expenses), meals, hotel accommodations
and the like, in accordance with such rules and policies relating thereto as the
Company may from time to time adopt. Reimbursement shall be subject to the
Executive's presentation of appropriate vouchers in accordance with such
procedures as the Company may from time to time establish for senior officers
and to preserve any deductions for Federal income taxation purposes to which the
Company may be entitled.

         5.    Effect of Termination of Employment Other Than in Connection with
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
a Change in Control.
- -------------------

               (a)   Certain Terminations. In the event the Executive's
                     --------------------
employment hereunder terminates due to (i) a Without Cause Termination, (ii) a
Constructive Discharge, or (iii) the Company's election not to renew, the
Company shall, as severance pay, continue, subject to the provisions of Section
7 below, to pay the Executive's Base Salary as in effect at the Date of
Termination during the Separation Period. In addition, earned but unpaid Base
Salary as of the Date of Termination shall be payable in full within seven days
of the Date of Termination. The salary continuation payments shall be offset to
the extent of the Executive's earnings from full-time employment with another
employer during the Separation Period (with any such payments and any other
payments arising from employment activities to be reported to the Company by the
Executive). Group hospitalization, health, dental care, life or other insurance,
travel or accident insurance, and disability insurance shall continue through
the end of the Separation Period, provided that the Company may cease to provide
such benefits if Executive obtains comparable coverage in connection with
subsequent employment during the Separation Period, and provided further that in
the event the Company is precluded from providing coverage under any such
program by applicable law or regulation, it shall provide Executive with a lump-
sum payment equal to an amount that would enable Executive after payment of
applicable taxes on such lump-sum amount to purchase comparable coverage. The
Executive shall be entitled to a pro rata award for any annual bonus award in
Section 3(b) for the fiscal year in which the Executive's termination occurs
based on actual results for the full year, payable at the same time as the award
is paid to other senior executives of the Company, and to outplacement
assistance at the Company's expense from an experienced third party vendor.
Except as the Human Resources Committee may otherwise determine at its
discretion or except as otherwise provided in the applicable plan, upon
termination of employment, the Executive shall not be entitled to any further
benefits or vesting under the Company's long term incentive plans, retirement or
savings plans, deferred compensation or stock purchase plans, or stock option
plans following the Date of Termination.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                  (b) Other Terminations. In the event that the Executive's
                      ------------------ 
employment hereunder terminates due to Disability, a termination for Cause, or
the Executive's death, or the Executive voluntarily terminates employment with
the Company for reasons other than a Constructive Discharge or Disability (with
voluntary retirement or termination following Executive's delivery of a Notice
of Nonrenewal being a voluntary termination for purposes of this Agreement),
earned but unpaid Base Salary as of the Date of Termination shall be payable in
full. In the event of the Executive's Disability, Company shall pay to the
Executive, and in the event of the Executive's death, the Company shall pay to
the Executive's surviving spouse or to such other person or entity as Executive
may designate in writing on notice filed with the Company (or to his estate, if
he has made no such written designation and is not survived by a spouse), the
annual bonus award in Section 3(b) for the fiscal year in which his Disability
or death occurs, prorated to the date of the Executive's Disability or death.
However, except as the Human Resources Committee may otherwise determine at its
discretion or except as otherwise provided in the applicable plan, no other
payments shall be made, or benefits provided, by the Company under this
Agreement except for stock options to the extent already exercisable hereunder,
vested benefits payable under the terms of Company's retirement and savings
plans, and any other benefits which the Executive is entitled to receive under
the terms of any other employee benefit programs maintained by the Company or
its affiliates for its employees.

                  (c) A Notice of Termination shall be the sole means by which
the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive's employment during the
Term. Any purported termination of the Executive's employment (other than by
reason of death) shall be communicated by a written Notice of Termination from
one party hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

                  (d) A Notice of Termination for Cause shall include a copy of
a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the Board at a meeting of the
Board which considered such termination (after reasonable notice to the
Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's
counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion
of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct specifically included in the
definition of Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. In any
Board deliberations or votes concerning determinations under this paragraph,
Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and votes.

         6. Effect of Termination of Employment in Connection with a Change in
            ------------------------------------------------------------------
Control Event.
- -------------
                  (a) For purposes of this Section 6, if preceded by a Potential
Change in Control Event, any of the following events shall be deemed to be a
Termination upon a Change in Control Event: (i) the Executive's employment is
terminated without Cause and such termination was at the request or direction
of, or pursuant to negotiations with, a Person who has entered into an agreement
with the Company the consummation of which will constitute a

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
Change in Control Event; (ii) the Executive terminates his employment due to
Constructive Discharge and the circumstance or event which constitutes
Constructive Discharge occurs at the request or direction of, or pursuant to
negotiations with, such Person; or (iii) the Executive's employment is
terminated without Cause and such termination is otherwise in connection with or
in anticipation of a Change in Control Event which actually occurs.

                  (b) Payments for Termination upon a Change in Control Event.
                      -------------------------------------------------------
In the event of the termination of Executive's employment in circumstances
constituting a Termination upon a Change in Control Event, the Company shall pay
to the Executive in a single payment in cash (without any discount or
reductions, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, for the time value
of money) and/or provide to the Executive, as applicable, the following:

                           (i)  the Executive's earned but unpaid Base Salary 
as of the Date of Termination;

                           (ii) the target annual bonus award in Section 3(b)
for the year in which termination occurs, prorated to the Date of Termination,
assuming all target performance goals have been or will be achieved;

                           (iii) the benefits, if any, to which the Executive is
entitled as a former employee under the employee benefit programs and
compensation plans and programs maintained for the benefit of the Company's
officers and employees;

                           (iv) continued group hospitalization, health, dental
care, life or other insurance, travel or accident insurance and disability
insurance, for the Separation Period, with coverage substantially similar to
those which the Executive is receiving immediately prior to the Notice of
Termination (without giving effect to any amendment to such benefits made
subsequent to a Change in Control Event which amendment adversely affects in any
manner the Executive's entitlement to or the amount of such benefits); provided,
                                                                       --------
however, that (A) except as provided in subsection (B) of this paragraph, unless
- -------
the Executive consents to a different method (after taking into account the
effect of such method on the calculation of "parachute payments" pursuant to
Section 6(c) hereof), such health insurance benefits shall be provided through a
third-party insurer, and provided further (B) in the event the Company is
precluded from providing coverage under any such program by applicable law or
regulation, it shall provide Executive with a lump-sum payment equal to an
amount that would enable Executive after payment of applicable income and
employment taxes on such lump-sum amount to purchase comparable coverage.
Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section shall be
reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by the Executive
without cost during the Separation Period (and any such benefits actually
received by the Executive shall be reported to the Company by the Executive).

                           (v)  in lieu of any further salary payments to the 
Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination and in lieu of any
severance benefit otherwise payable to


                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
the Executive, an amount equal to the Base Salary and annual bonus the Executive
would have earned during the Separation Period if the Executive had continued
working for the Company at the highest annual rate of Base Salary that the
Executive achieved before the Date of Termination, and received an annual target
percentage bonus for each year and part thereof at the target potential award
level, assuming all target performance goals have been or will be achieved.

                           (vi)   an amount equal to the excess of (A) the 
present value of the benefits to which the Executive would be entitled under the
Company's Pension Plan and Company's Supplemental Retirement Plan (and any
successor thereto) if the Executive had continued working for the Company during
the Separation Period at the highest annual rate of Base Salary achieved during
the Executive's period of actual employment with the Company, and the Pension
Plan continued in force during the Separation Period, over (B) the present value
of the benefits to which the Executive is actually entitled under the Company's
Pension Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plan, each computed as of the date of
the Executive's Date of Termination, with present values to be determined using
the discount rate used by the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation to calculate
the benefit liabilities under the Pension Plan in the event of a plan
termination on the Date of Termination, compounded monthly, the mortality tables
prescribed in the Company's Pension Plan for determining actuarial equivalence,
and the reduction factor (if any) for early commencement of pension payments
based on the Executive's age on the last day of the Separation Period;

                           (vii)  an amount equal to the Company's contributions
to which the Executive would have been entitled under the Company's Retirement
Savings Plan (or any successor thereto) if the Executive had continued working
for the Company and the Retirement Savings Plan continued in force during the
Separation Period at the highest annual rate of Base Salary achieved during the
Executive's period of actual employment with the Company, and making the maximum
amount of employee contributions, if any, as are required under such plans;

                           (viii) Notwithstanding any provision of the 
Company's LTIP or the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan to the contrary, the
Executive shall be fully vested in the Company contributions credited to him
under the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan, and the Company shall pay to the
Executive a lump sum amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (A) any incentive
compensation which has been allocated or awarded to the Executive for a
measuring period which commenced prior to the Date of Termination under the LTIP
but which, as of the Date of Termination, is contingent only upon the continued
employment of the Executive to a subsequent date and/or upon achievement of
performance goals and which otherwise has not been paid, computed as if all
performance goals have been or will be achieved to the maximum extent, in lieu
of any payment of such incentive compensation under the LTIP, and without
proration; (B) the amount of a 100% match on purchases made under the Partners'
Stock Purchase Plan in the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, less
the amount of the match actually made under the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan
for the portion of the year prior to the Date of Termination; and (C) the amount
of a 100% match on purchases the Executive could have made under the

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
Partners' Stock Purchase Plan during the Separation Period (assuming no increase
or decrease in the purchase price under the Plan following the Date of
Termination) if the Executive had continued working for the Company and the
Partners' Stock Purchase Plan continued in force during the Separation Period at
the pay and bonus levels specified in (v) above;

                           (ix) Full vesting in all stock options, including 
the stock options described in Section 3(c), and including stock options granted
after the date of this Agreement which, to the extent not previously vested,
shall be exercisable beginning on the date of the Termination upon a Change in
Control Event; and

                           (x)  A one-year extension of any loan repayment 
obligation under the Company's Partners Loan Program (subject to interest
accrual pursuant to the terms of such Plan).

                  (c) Adjustment for Excess Parachute Payments.
                      ----------------------------------------

                           (i)   If any payment or benefit received or to be 
received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control Event or the
termination of the Executive's employment whether pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any
Person whose actions result in a Change in Control Event or any Person
affiliated with the Company or such Person (with all such payments and benefits,
including the severance payments, hereinafter called "Total Payments") will be
subject (in whole or part) to the Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount
retained by the Executive, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total
Payments and any federal, state and local income and employment taxes and Excise
Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment shall be equal to the Total Payments. For purposes
of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed
to pay federal income and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of
federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-
Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest
marginal rate of taxation, including any surtax in the state and locality of the
Executive's residence on the Date of Termination (or, if inapplicable, the date
of the Change of Control Event, with the relevant date hereinafter referred to
as the "Payment Date"), net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes
which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

                           (ii)  For purposes of determining whether any of the
Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise
Tax, (A) all of the Total Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments"
within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, unless in the opinion of
tax counsel (the "Tax Counsel") reasonably acceptable to the Executive and
selected by the accounting firm (the "Auditor") which was, immediately prior to
the Change in Control Event, the Company's independent auditor, such other
payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, (B) all "excess
parachute payments" within the meaning of

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax
unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess parachute payments (in whole
or part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered,
within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base
Amount allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject
to the Excise Tax, and (C) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred
payment or benefit shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the
principles of section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. Prior to the payment date
set forth in Section 6(d) hereof, the Company shall provide the Executive with
its calculation of the amounts referred to in this Section and such supporting
materials as are reasonably necessary for the Executive to evaluate the
Company's calculations. If the Executive disputes the Company's calculations (in
whole or in part), the opinion of Tax Counsel with respect to the matter in
dispute shall prevail.

                           (iii) In the event that (A) amounts are paid to the
Executive pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section, and (B) the Excise Tax is
subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder
on the Payment Date, the Executive shall repay to the Company, within 90 days
following the date on which the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is
finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such
reduction plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in
section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is
determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder in determining the
amount of the Gross-Up Payment at the time of the Payment Date (including by
reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at
the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up
Payment to the Executive in respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties
or additions payable by the Executive with respect to such excess and such
portion) within 90 days following the date on which the amount of such excess is
finally determined at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code.

                  (d) The payments provided for in subsections (i), (ii), (v),
(vi), (vii) and (viii) of Section 6(b) hereof and subsections (i), (ii) and, if
applicable, (iii) of Section 6(c) hereof shall be made not later than the
twentieth (20) day following the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if
                                                      --------  -------
the amounts of such payments, or, if applicable, the Excise Tax, cannot be
finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to the Executive
on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the Executive or, in the
case of Gross-Up Payments under Section 6(c) hereof, in accordance with Section
6(c)(ii) hereof, of the minimum amount of such payments to which the Executive
is clearly entitled and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with
interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon as
the amount thereof can be determined but in no event later than the thirtieth
(30th) day after the Date of Termination. In the event that the amount of the
estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due,
such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to the Executive, payable on
the fifth (5th) business day after demand by the Company (together with interest
at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2) (B) of the Code). At the time that
payments are made under this Section and Section 6(c), the Company shall provide
the Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in which such
payments were

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
calculated and the basis for such calculations including, without limitation,
any opinions or other advice the Company has received from outside counsel,
auditors or consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing
shall be attached to the statement). In the event the Company should fail to pay
when due the amounts described in Section 6(b) hereof or subsections (i), (ii)
and, if applicable, (iii) of Section 6(c), the Executive shall also be entitled
to receive from the Company an amount representing interest on any unpaid or
untimely paid amounts from the due date, as determined under this Section, to
the date of payment at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code
after such due date.

                  (e) The Company also shall pay to the Executive all legal fees
and expenses incurred by the Executive in (i) the negotiation and execution of
this Agreement, and (ii) following a Change in Control Event (including a
termination of employment following a Potential Change in Control Event if the
Executive alleges in good faith that such termination will be deemed to have
occurred following a Change in Control Event pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof) in
disputing in good faith any issue relating to the termination of the Executive's
employment or in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit or right
provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to
the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the Code to any
payment or benefit provided hereunder. Such payments shall be made as such fees
and expenses are incurred by the Executive, but in no event later than five (5)
business days after delivery of the Executive's written requests for payment
accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company
reasonably may require.

         7. Other Duties of the Executive During and After Term.
            ---------------------------------------------------
   
                  (a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that by
                      ------------------------
reason of his employment with the Company he has and will hereafter, from time
to time during the Term, become exposed to and/or become knowledgeable about
proposals, plans inventions, practices, systems, programs, formulas, processes,
methods, techniques, research, records, supplier sources, customer lists, and
other forms of business information which are not known to the Company's
competitors and which are not recognized as being encompassed within standard
business or management practices and which are kept secret and confidential by
the Company (the "Confidential Information"). The Executive therefore agrees
that at no time during or after the period of his employment by the Company will
he disclose or use the Confidential Information except to the extent such
information becomes public through no fault of the Executive, as required by
law, as authorized by the Board, or as may be required in the prudent course of
business for the benefit of the Company; provided, that no payment required to
be made by the Company under the terms of this Agreement after termination of
the employment of the Executive shall be subject to any right of set-off,
counterclaim, defense, abatement, suspension, deferment or reduction by reason
of any claim against the Executive based upon breach of the covenant in this
Section 7(a) other than upon execution of an unsatisfied judgment rendered by a
court of competent jurisdiction.


                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
                  (b) Non-Compete. In consideration of the mutual terms and
                      -----------
agreements set forth in this Agreement and the grant of stock options under
Section 3(c) hereof, the Executive hereby agrees that (i) while the Executive is
employed during the Term, (ii) during such time after the Term as the Executive
is employed by the Company and (iii) for a period of one year after the
Executive's Date of Termination, he will not, unless authorized in writing to do
so by the Company, directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, join, control or
participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be
employed or otherwise connected in any substantial manner with any business
which directly or indirectly competes to a material extent with any line of
business of the Company or its subsidiaries which was operated by the Company or
its subsidiaries at the Date of Termination; provided, that nothing in this
                                             --------
paragraph shall prohibit the Executive from acquiring up to 5% of any class of
outstanding equity securities of any corporation whose equity securities are
regularly traded on a national securities exchange or in the "over-the-counter
market," and provided further, that the foregoing restriction of this Section
             -------- -------
7(b) shall not apply following a Change of Control Event or a Potential Change
in Control Event if (v) the Executive's employment has been terminated by the
Company without Cause, (w) the Executive terminates his employment as the result
of a Constructive Discharge or (x) the Company elects not to extend the Term of
this Agreement. The Executive agrees that for a period ending three years after
the Date of Termination hereunder, the Executive will not (y) recruit any
employee of the Company or solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce,
any employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment with, or
otherwise cease his or her relationship with, the Company, or (z) solicit,
divert or take away, or attempt to solicit, divert or take away, the business or
patronage of any of the clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients,
customers or accounts, of the Company that were contacted, solicited or served
by the Executive while employed by the Company.

                  (c) Remedies. The Company and the Executive confirm that the
                      --------
restrictions contained in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) hereof are, in view of the
nature of the business of the Company, reasonable and necessary to protect the
legitimate interests of the Company and that any violation of any provision of
Section 7(a) or 7(b) will result in irreparable injury to the Company. The
Executive hereby agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of
the terms or conditions of this Agreement by the Executive, the Company's
remedies at law will be inadequate and, in any such event, the Company shall be
entitled to commence an action for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief
and other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Executive
further irrevocable consents to the jurisdiction of any Pennsylvania state court
or federal court located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over any suit,
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Section 7(c) and hereby
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that he may now or
hereafter have to such jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such suit,
action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. In addition, if
the Executive at any time during the Separation Period Executive engages in
conduct described in Section 7(b) (whether or not within the one-year period
after the termination of his employment with the Company), the Company shall be
entitled to discontinue the payments and benefits provided under Section 5(a).
The Executive's Agreement as set forth in this Section 7 shall: (x)

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
survive the termination of this Agreement, and continue throughout the duration
of the Executive's employment with the Company, except as amended or modified by
written agreement of the parties; and (y) survive the Executive's termination of
employment with the Company for the periods specified in Section 7(b) hereof.

                  (d) Modification of Terms. If any restriction in this Section
                      ---------------------
7 of the Agreement is adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, service or
other limitations permitted by applicable law in any jurisdiction, the Executive
agrees that such may be modified and narrowed, either by a court or the Company,
to the maximum time, geographic, service or other limitations permitted by
applicable law so as to preserve and protect the Company's legitimate business
interest, without negating or impairing any other restrictions or undertaking
set forth in the Agreement.

         8. Withholding Taxes. The Company may directly or indirectly withhold
            -----------------
from any payments made under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or other
taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or
ruling.

         9. Consolidation, Merger, or Sale of Assets. Nothing in this Agreement
            ---------------------------------------- 
shall preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or
transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation
which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company
hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets and
assumption, the term "Company" as used herein shall mean such other corporation
and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

         10. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
             -------
required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, by same day or
overnight mail as follows:

                  (a)      To Company:
                           General Counsel
                           IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                           70 Valley Stream Parkway
                           Malvern, PA 19355

                  (b)      To the Executive:

                           John E. Stuart
                           890 West Strasburg Road
                           West Chester, PA  19382

or to such other address as either party shall have previously specified in
writing to the other.


                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
         11. No Attachment. Except as required by law, no right to receive
             -------------   
payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation,
alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or
to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of
law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall
be null, void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section
                                --------  -------
11 shall preclude the assumption of such rights by executors, administrators or
other legal representatives of the Executive or his estate and their assigning
any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

         12. No Mitigation. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
             -------------   
amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor except as otherwise specifically provided in this
Agreement shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this
Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by other employment or
otherwise.

         13. Source of Payment. All payments provided for under this Agreement
             -----------------   
shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company. The Company shall
not be required to establish a special or separate fund or other segregation of
assets to assure such payments, and, if the Company shall make any investments
to aid it in meeting its obligations hereunder, the Executive shall have no
right, title or interest whatever in or to any such investments except as may
otherwise be expressly provided in a separate written instrument relating to
such investments. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action taken
pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of
any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Company and the Executive or
any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Company hereunder, such right, without prejudice to rights
which employees may have, shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured
creditor of the Company.

         14. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or application
             ------------   
thereof to anyone or under any circumstances is adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provision or application and shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision or application in any other jurisdiction.

         15. Contents of Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior
             ---------------------   
agreements and sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof and cannot be changed, modified,
extended or terminated except upon written amendment approved by the parties
hereto. Unless otherwise required by law, in the event of a conflict between
this Agreement and any plan, program, stock option award, LTIP award, or Company
policy, the terms of this Agreement shall be controlling.

         16. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, performance, and
             -------------   
enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania (and

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
Federal laws to the extent applicable), and Executive consents to the
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania in any dispute
arising under this Agreement.

         17. Survival of Benefits. Any Section of this Agreement which provides
             --------------------   
a benefit to the Executive and which does not expressly provide for its
termination upon the expiration of the Term shall survive the expiration of the
Term and the obligation to provide benefits to the Executive as set forth in
such Section shall remain binding upon the Company until such time as the
Executive's employment relationship with the Company is terminated and the
benefits provided under such Section are paid in full to the Executive.

         18. Miscellaneous. All section headings are for convenience only. This
             -------------   
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be
deemed to be one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in marking
proof of this Agreement or any counterpart hereof to produce or account for any
of the other counterparts.

         19. Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration. Except with respect to actions
             -----------------------------------   
for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and other equitable relief under
Section 7, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or any breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the terms of this Section 19. All claims by the Executive for benefits
under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the Board and shall
be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this
Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in writing within thirty (30) days
and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific
provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable
opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a claim and
shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board
within thirty (30) days after notification by the Board that the Executive's
claim has been denied. Any further dispute, controversy or claim arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation or alleged breach thereof,
shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Center for Public
Resources, Inc. Non-Administered Arbitration Rules, by three arbitrators, none
of whom shall be appointed by either party. The arbitration shall be governed by
United States Arbitration Act 9 U.S.C. (S). 1-16, and judgment upon the award
rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction
thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
the Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the Executive's
right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

         20. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
             -----------   
have the following meanings:


                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
                (a)     "Base Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in
section 280G(b)(3) of the Code.

                (b)     "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

                (c)     "Cause," prior to a Change of Control Event or a
Potential Change of Control Event, shall mean termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment due to (i) the willful and continued failure by the
Executive to substantially perform the Executive's duties with the Company
(other than any such failure resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies
the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has failed to
substantially perform the Executive's duties, and which provides Executive with
at least a 30-day period to correct such failure, or (ii) the willful engaging
by the Executive in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to
the Company or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, (x) no act, or failure to act, on the
Executive's part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done,
by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
Executive's act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company and
(y) in the event of a dispute concerning the application of this provision, no
claim by the Company that Cause exists shall be given effect unless the Board
determines, by an affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the
voting membership of the Board, that Cause has been established by clear and
convincing evidence. In any Board deliberations or votes concerning a
determination under this paragraph, Executive shall recuse himself from such
deliberations and votes. Following a Change in Control Event or a Potential
Change in Control Event, "Cause" shall mean a judicial determination that the
Executive has committed fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement against the
Company; or a nonappealable conviction of, or entry of a plea of nolo contendere
for, an act by the Executive constituting a felony or misdemeanor which, as
determined by the Board in the good faith, constitutes a crime involving moral
turpitude and results in material harm to the Company. Any dispute by the
Executive of a Board determination under this paragraph shall be resolved in
accordance with Section 19 hereof.

                (d)     "Change in Control Event" shall mean any of the
following events:

                        (i)     any Person, together with its affiliates and
associates (as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), is or
becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; or

                        (ii)    the following individuals cease for any reason
to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals
who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the
date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved; or

                        (iii)   the Company consolidates with, or merges with or
into, any other Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company), or
any other person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, and, in
connection therewith, all or part of the outstanding shares of common stock
shall be changed in any way or converted into or exchanged for stock or other
securities or cash or any other property; or

                        (iv)    a transaction or series of transactions in
which, directly or indirectly, the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or
one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (A)
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash
flow of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person
or group of Persons.

                        Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control
Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction
or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record
holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction
or series of transactions own a majority of the outstanding voting shares and in
substantially the same proportion in an entity which owns all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or
series of transactions.

                (e)     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time. Reference to any section or subsection of the Code
includes references to any comparable or succeeding provision of any legislation
which amends, supplements, or replaces such section or subsection.

                (f)     "Constructive Discharge" shall mean a termination by the
Executive of the Executive's employment as a result of the occurrence (without
the Executive's express written consent) of any one of the following acts by the
Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or
failure to act described in paragraph (i), (v), (vi) or (vii) below, such act or
failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination:

                        (i)     the assignment to the Executive of duties
inconsistent with the Executive's status as a senior executive officer of the
Company or a substantial alteration in the nature or status of the Executive's
responsibilities other than any such alteration primarily attributable to the
fact that the Company may no longer be a public company;

                        (ii)    a reduction by the Company in the Executive's
Base Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from
time to time;


                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
                        (iii)   the relocation of the Company's principal
executive offices to a location more than 15 miles from the then location of
such offices without the Executive's written consent or the Company's requiring
the Executive to be based anywhere other than the Company's principal executive
offices except for required travel on the Company's business to an extent
substantially consistent with the Executive's present business travel
obligations;

                        (iv)    the failure by the Company to pay to the
Executive any portion of the Executive's current compensation or to pay to the
Executive any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any
deferred compensation program of the Company within seven (7) days of the date
such compensation is due after written demand from the Executive has been
received therefor;

                        (v)     following a Change in Control Event or a
Potential Change in Control Event, the failure by the Company to continue in
effect any compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately
prior to the Change in Control Event or the Potential Change in Control Event
which is material to the Executive's total compensation, including but not
limited to the Company's stock option, incentive compensation, deferred
compensation, stock purchase, bonus and other plans or any substitute plans
adopted prior to the Change in Control Event, unless an equitable arrangement
(embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with
respect to such plan, or the failure by the Company to continue the Executive's
participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not
less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level
of the Executive's participation, relative to other participants, as existed
immediately prior to the Change in Control Event or the Potential Change in
Control Event;

                        (vi)    following a Change in Control Event or a
Potential Change in Control Event, the failure by the Company to continue to
provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by
the Executive under any of the Company's pension, life insurance, medical,
health and accident, or disability plans in which the Executive was
participating immediately prior to the Change in Control Event or the Potential
Change in Control Event, the taking of any action by the Company which would
directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive the
Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of
the Change in Control Event or a Potential Change in Control Event, or the
failure by the Company to maintain a vacation policy with respect to the
Executive that is at least as favorable as the vacation policy (whether formal
or informal) in place with respect to the Executive immediately prior to the
Change in Control Event or the Potential Change in Control Event; or

                        (vii)   following a Change in Control Event, or a
Potential Change of Control Event, any purported termination of the Executive's
employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination; or


                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
                        (viii)  any breach by the Company of any material
provision of this Agreement.

                        The Executive's right to terminate employment due to
Constructive Discharge shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due
to physical or mental illness. The Executive's continued employment shall not
constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure
to act constituting Constructive Discharge hereunder.

                        For purposes of any determination regarding a
Constructive Discharge, a claim by the Executive of a Constructive Discharge
shall be presumed to be correct unless the Board determines, by an affirmative
vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the
Board, that a Constructive Discharge has not occurred by clear and convincing
evidence. In any Board deliberations or votes concerning a determination under
this paragraph, Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and
votes. Any dispute by the Executive of a Board determination under this
provision shall be resolved in accordance with Section 19.

                (g)     "Date of Termination," with respect to any purported
termination of the Executive's employment, shall mean (i) if the Executive's
employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of
Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the
full-time performance of the Executive's duties during such thirty (30) day
period); and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for any other
reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a
termination by the Company, shall not be less than thirty (30) days (except in
the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the
Executive, shall not be less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60)
days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

                (h)     "Disability" shall mean termination by the Company of
the Executive's employment upon or following Executive's commencement of
benefits under the Company's long-term disability plan.

                (i)     "Early Retirement" shall mean attainment of age 55, and
completion of ten years of service with the Company as determined under the
Company's Pension Plan.

                (j)     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended from time to time.

                (k)     "Excise Tax" shall mean any excise tax imposed under
section 4999 or the Code.

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
                (l)     "Gross-Up Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 6(c) hereof.

                (m)     "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice indicating
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and setting
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.

                (n)     "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its
affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (ii) a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

                (o)     "Potential Change in Control Event" shall be deemed to
have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs
shall have occurred:

                        (i)     the Company enters into an agreement, the
consummation of which will result in the occurrence of a Change in Control
Event;

                        (ii)    the Company or any Person publicly announces an
intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, will
constitute a Change in Control Event; or

                        (iii)   the Board adopts a resolution to the effect
that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control Event has
occurred.

                (p)     "Separation Period" shall mean the three-year period (or
such longer period as the Human Resources Committee may determine) beginning on
the Date of Termination.

                (q)     "Term" shall mean the initial period commencing as of
May 1, 1997 and ending on April 30, 2000, and any additional one-year periods
for which this Agreement is extended in accordance with Section 1 hereof.

                (r)     "Termination upon a Change in Control Event" shall mean
a termination of employment:

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
                        (i)     initiated by Company for any reason, including
delivery of Notice of Nonrenewal, other than termination for Cause, upon or
within two years after a Change in Control Event; or

                        (ii)    initiated by the Executive due to a Constructive
Discharge, upon or within two years after a Change in Control Event; or

                        (iii)   under circumstances described in Section 6(a)
hereof.

A termination due to death, Disability, or for Cause shall not constitute a
Termination upon a Change in Control Event, and payments in the event of such a
termination shall be determined under Section 5(b) hereof.

                (s)     "Total Payments" shall mean those payments described in
Section 6(c) hereof.

                (t)     "Without Cause Termination" shall mean a termination of
the Executive's employment by the Company, other than due to Disability,
voluntary retirement, expiration of the Term or for Cause.


                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the Company has
caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officers and the
Executive has signed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                          IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.



                                          By:      
                                             ------------------------------
                                                   Authorized Signatory       
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                          ---------------------------------    
                                                  JOHN E. STUART              


                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), entered into on August __,
1997, made by and between IKON Office Solutions, Inc., an Ohio corporation with
its principal offices located at Malvern, Pennsylvania (the "Company"), and Kurt
E. Dinkelacker (the "Executive"), effective as of May 1, 1997.

         WHEREAS, the Executive is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company;

         WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of
its shareholders to facilitate the recruitment and foster the continuous
employment of senior executive officers;
   
         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes
that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a
Change in Control*/ exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and
questions which it raises, may result in the departure or distraction of the
Company's senior executive officers to the detriment of the Company and its
shareholders;

         WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of the
Company's senior executive officers, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances
arising from the possibility of a Change in Control; and

         WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to continue to serve as Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, and the Company desires to retain the
Executive in such capacity on the terms and conditions herein set forth;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as
follows:

         1. Employment. The Company agrees to continue to employ Executive, and
            ----------    
the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, upon the terms and
conditions herein provided, for an initial period commencing as of May 1, 1997
and ending on April 30, 2000. On each anniversary date of this Agreement,
commencing May 1, 2000, the Term shall be automatically extended for one
additional year unless not less than six months prior to such anniversary date
either party gives written notice of his or her intent not to extend the Term
for an additional one-year period (a "Notice of Nonrenewal"); provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that the Term shall not be extended beyond Executive's 65th birthday unless
affirmatively extended in writing by the Company and Executive. In the event
either party gives the other Notice of Nonrenewal,
- ---------------------

*/       The definitions of capitalized terms not otherwise identified are set 
forth in Section 20 of the Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
the other party may elect to terminate this Agreement as of the date of such
Notice. In such event Executive agrees that, if requested by the Board of
Directors, he shall be reasonably available for a period ending on the date on
which such Notice of Nonrenewal was intended to become effective to assist in
the orderly transition of his duties and responsibilities to such person or
persons as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

         2. Position and Duties. During the Term, the Company agrees to employ
            -------------------
the Executive to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Executive
will have such powers and duties as are commensurate with such position and as
may be conferred upon him by the Board. During the Term, and except for illness
or incapacity and reasonable vacation periods consistent with the discharge of
the Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder, the Executive shall
devote substantially all of his business time, attention, skill and efforts
exclusively to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and
affiliates, provided, however, that the Executive may devote such time as is
reasonably required for charitable and personal activities, in accordance with
the Company's practices and policies, and serve on other boards as a director or
trustee if such service does not interfere with his ability to discharge his
duties and responsibilities to the Company.

         3. Compensation. For all services rendered by the Executive in any
            ------------    
capacity required hereunder during the Term, including, without limitation,
services as an executive, officer, director, or member of any committee of the
Company, or any subsidiary, affiliate or division thereof, the Executive shall
be compensated as follows:

            (a)    Base Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive a fixed
                   -----------  
salary of $350,000 per annum or such higher annual amount as is being paid from
time to time pursuant to the terms hereof . Such fixed salary, together with all
adjustments, is referred to herein as the "Base Salary." The Executive's Base
Salary shall not be decreased at any time from the amount then in effect, unless
the Executive otherwise agrees in writing. The Base Salary shall be subject to
such periodic review (which shall occur at least annually) and such periodic
increases as the Board shall deem appropriate in accordance with the Company's
customary procedures and practices regarding the salaries of senior officers.
Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary payroll practices
of the Company, but in no event less frequently than monthly.

            (b)    Incentive Compensation. The Executive shall be entitled to
                   ----------------------  
receive annual and long-term incentive compensation awards, if earned, under the
policies and plans maintained by the Company providing for the payment of
incentive compensation to key officers based upon the performance of the Company
and, if applicable, the officer's individual performance. The Executive's
percentage participation, target percentage or other similar measure under any
such policy or plan during the Term shall be at least at the level provided to
other senior executives of the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer)
under such policy or plan.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>
 
            (c)    Stock Options. The Executive shall be eligible to receive
                   -------------  
grants under the Company's stock option plan(s) including grants relating to the
Company's Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan ( the "LTIP"), at the sole
discretion of the Human Resources Committee of the Board (the "Human Resources
Committee"), subject to such terms and conditions as such Committee may decide,
and in accordance with the grant letter for such options. In connection with
this Agreement, Executive has been granted 50,000 options on May 1, 1997, with
20,000 options to vest on April 30, 2002 and the balance to vest on November 30,
2006, if the Executive is an employee of the Company on such date. In addition:

                   (i)     The 20,000 options scheduled to vest on April 30,
2002 shall vest prior to April 30, 2002 (i.e., on the date of employment
                                         ----
termination) in the event the Executive's employment hereunder terminates due to
the Executive's death or Disability, a Without Cause Termination, a Constructive
Discharge, or the Company's election not to renew.

                   (ii)    The 30,000 options scheduled to vest on November 30,
2006 shall vest prior to such date (i.e., on the date of employment termination)
                                    ----
if Executive is employed by the Company after April 30, 2002, and after such
date the Executive's employment hereunder terminates due to the Executive's
death or Disability, a Without Cause Termination, a Constructive Discharge, or
the Company's election not to renew.

                   (iii)   All options which become vested hereunder or under
any other provisions of this Agreement shall be exercisable by the Executive at
any time during the Executive's employment with the Company in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the option plan, and for a period of twelve months
following the Date of Termination. For purposes of this paragraph, in the event
of the Company's election not to extend the Term of this Agreement, the
Executive's employment shall be deemed to terminate on the date such election is
intended to become effective, notwithstanding that the Executive elects, in
accordance with Section 1 hereof, to terminate his employment as of the date of
the Notice of Nonrenewal.

            (d)    Additional Benefits. Except as modified by this Agreement,
                   -------------------
the Executive (and the Executive's family, if applicable) shall be entitled to
participate in all compensation or employee benefit plans or programs (currently
including, but not limited to, the LTIP, the 1994 Deferred Compensation Plan,
the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, the 1991 Deferred Compensation Plan,
the Partners Stock Purchase Plan, the Annual Bonus Plan, the Supplemental
Retirement Plan, and the Partners Loan Program) and to receive all benefits,
perquisites and emoluments, for which the most senior executive employees of the
Company are eligible under any plan or program now or hereafter established and
maintained by the Company for senior officers, to the fullest extent permissible
under the general terms and provisions of such plans or programs and in
accordance with the provisions thereof, including group hospitalization, health,
dental care, life or other insurance, tax-qualified pension, savings, thrift and
profit-sharing plans, termination pay programs, sick-leave plans, travel or
accident insurance, disability insurance, automobile allowance or automobile
lease plans, and executive contingent compensation plans, including, without
limitation, capital accumulation programs and stock purchase, restricted stock

                                       -3-
<PAGE>
 
and stock option plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement
shall preclude the amendment or termination of any such plan or program,
provided that such amendment or termination is applicable generally to the
senior officers of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate. Because of the
severance benefits provided in this Agreement, Executive shall not participate
in any general severance program established by the Company for its executives.

            (e)    Recognition of Past Service. If the Executive becomes a
                   ---------------------------
participant in any employee benefit plan, practice or policy of the Company or
its affiliates, the Executive shall be given credit under such plan, practice or
policy for all service in the employ of the Company and any predecessors thereto
or affiliates thereof prior to the date hereof, for purposes of eligibility and
vesting, benefit accrual and for all other purposes for which service is either
taken into account or recognized under the terms of such plan, practice or
policy, on terms no less favorable than are applicable to other senior
executives of the Company.

            (f)    Office. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled
                   ------
to a private office, and such secretarial services as have been previously
provided to the Executive, and such other assistance and accommodations as shall
be suitable to the character of the Executive's position with the Company and
adequate for the performance of the Executive's duties hereunder.

            (g)    Automobile. During the Term, the Company shall continue to
                   ----------
provide the Executive with a leased automobile for use by the Executive
consistent with the past practices and shall continue to pay or reimburse the
Executive for the maintenance and operation of such automobile upon receipt of
itemized vouchers therefor and such other supporting information that the
Company shall reasonably require.

            (h)    Telephone. During the Term, the Company shall continue to
                   ---------
provide the Executive with a cellular telephone and related telephone service or
a cellular telephone allowance consistent with past practices.

         4. Business Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive
            -----------------    
for all reasonable travel or other expenses incurred by the Executive (and his
spouse where there is a legitimate business reason for his spouse to accompany
him) in connection with the performance of his duties and obligations under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, expenses for entertainment, travel
(including automobile operating expenses), meals, hotel accommodations and the
like, in accordance with such rules and policies relating thereto as the Company
may from time to time adopt. Reimbursement shall be subject to the Executive's
presentation of appropriate vouchers in accordance with such procedures as the
Company may from time to time establish for senior officers and to preserve any
deductions for Federal income taxation purposes to which the Company may be
entitled.

         5. Effect of Termination of Employment Other Than in Connection with a
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in Control.
- -----------------

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
 
            (a)    Certain Terminations. In the event the Executive's
                   --------------------
employment hereunder terminates due to (i) a Without Cause Termination, (ii) a
Constructive Discharge, or (iii) the Company's election not to renew, the
Company shall, as severance pay, continue, subject to the provisions of Section
7 below, to pay the Executive's Base Salary as in effect at the Date of
Termination during the Separation Period. In addition, earned but unpaid Base
Salary as of the Date of Termination shall be payable in full within seven days
of the Date of Termination. The salary continuation payments shall be offset to
the extent of the Executive's earnings from full-time employment with another
employer during the Separation Period (with any such payments and any other
payments arising from employment activities to be reported to the Company by the
Executive). Group hospitalization, health, dental care, life or other insurance,
travel or accident insurance, and disability insurance shall continue through
the end of the Separation Period, provided that the Company may cease to provide
such benefits if Executive obtains comparable coverage in connection with
subsequent employment during the Separation Period, and provided further that in
the event the Company is precluded from providing coverage under any such
program by applicable law or regulation, it shall provide Executive with a
lump-sum payment equal to an amount that would enable Executive after payment of
applicable taxes on such lump-sum amount to purchase comparable coverage. The
Executive shall be entitled to a pro rata award for any annual bonus award in
Section 3(b) for the fiscal year in which the Executive's termination occurs
based on actual results for the full year, payable at the same time as the award
is paid to other senior executives of the Company, and to outplacement
assistance at the Company's expense from an experienced third party vendor.
Except as the Human Resources Committee may otherwise determine at its
discretion or except as otherwise provided in the applicable plan, upon
termination of employment, the Executive shall not be entitled to any further
benefits or vesting under the Company's long term incentive plans, retirement or
savings plans, deferred compensation or stock purchase plans, or stock option
plans following the Date of Termination.

            (b)    Other Terminations. In the event that the Executive's
                   ------------------
employment hereunder terminates due to Disability, a termination for Cause, or
the Executive's death, or the Executive voluntarily terminates employment with
the Company for reasons other than a Constructive Discharge or Disability (with
voluntary retirement or termination following Executive's delivery of a Notice
of Nonrenewal being a voluntary termination for purposes of this Agreement),
earned but unpaid Base Salary as of the Date of Termination shall be payable in
full. In the event of the Executive's Disability, Company shall pay to the
Executive, and in the event of the Executive's death, the Company shall pay to
the Executive's surviving spouse or to such other person or entity as Executive
may designate in writing on notice filed with the Company (or to his estate, if
he has made no such written designation and is not survived by a spouse), the
annual bonus award in Section 3(b) for the fiscal year in which his Disability
or death occurs, prorated to the date of the Executive's Disability or death.
However, except as the Human Resources Committee may otherwise determine at its
discretion or except as otherwise provided in the applicable plan, no other
payments shall be made, or benefits provided, by the Company under this
Agreement except for stock options to the extent already exercisable hereunder,
vested benefits payable under the terms of Company's retirement and savings
plans,

                                       -5-
<PAGE>
 
and any other benefits which the Executive is entitled to receive under the
terms of any other employee benefit programs maintained by the Company or its
affiliates for its employees.

            (c)    A Notice of Termination shall be the sole means by which
the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive's employment during the
Term. Any purported termination of the Executive's employment (other than by
reason of death) shall be communicated by a written Notice of Termination from
one party hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

            (d)    A Notice of Termination for Cause shall include a copy of
a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the Board at a meeting of the
Board which considered such termination (after reasonable notice to the
Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's
counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion
of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct specifically included in the
definition of Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. In any
Board deliberations or votes concerning determinations under this paragraph,
Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and votes.

         6. Effect of Termination of Employment in Connection with a Change in
            ------------------------------------------------------------------
Control Event.
- -------------

            (a)    For purposes of this Section 6, if preceded by a Potential
Change in Control Event, any of the following events shall be deemed to be a
Termination upon a Change in Control Event: (i) the Executive's employment is
terminated without Cause and such termination was at the request or direction
of, or pursuant to negotiations with, a Person who has entered into an agreement
with the Company the consummation of which will constitute a Change in Control
Event; (ii) the Executive terminates his employment due to Constructive
Discharge and the circumstance or event which constitutes Constructive Discharge
occurs at the request or direction of, or pursuant to negotiations with, such
Person; or (iii) the Executive's employment is terminated without Cause and such
termination is otherwise in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in
Control Event which actually occurs.

            (b)    Payments for Termination upon a Change in Control Event.
                   -------------------------------------------------------
In the event of the termination of Executive's employment in circumstances
constituting a Termination upon a Change in Control Event, the Company shall pay
to the Executive in a single payment in cash (without any discount or
reductions, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, for the time value
of money) and/or provide to the Executive, as applicable, the following:

                   (i)   the Executive's earned but unpaid Base Salary as
of the Date of Termination;

                                       -6-
<PAGE>
 
                   (ii)  the target annual bonus award in Section 3(b) for the
year in which termination occurs, prorated to the Date of Termination, assuming
all target performance goals have been or will be achieved;

                   (iii) the benefits, if any, to which the Executive is
entitled as a former employee under the employee benefit programs and
compensation plans and programs maintained for the benefit of the Company's
officers and employees;

                   (iv)  continued group hospitalization, health, dental
care, life or other insurance, travel or accident insurance and disability
insurance, for the Separation Period, with coverage substantially similar to
those which the Executive is receiving immediately prior to the Notice of
Termination (without giving effect to any amendment to such benefits made
subsequent to a Change in Control Event which amendment adversely affects in any
manner the Executive's entitlement to or the amount of such benefits); provided,
                                                                       --------
however, that (A) except as provided in subsection (B) of this paragraph, unless
- -------
the Executive consents to a different method (after taking into account the
effect of such method on the calculation of "parachute payments" pursuant to
Section 6(c) hereof), such health insurance benefits shall be provided through a
third-party insurer, and provided further (B) in the event the Company is
                         ----------------  
precluded from providing coverage under any such program by applicable law or
regulation, it shall provide Executive with a lump-sum payment equal to an
amount that would enable Executive after payment of applicable income and
employment taxes on such lump-sum amount to purchase comparable coverage.
Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section shall be
reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by the Executive
without cost during the Separation Period (and any such benefits actually
received by the Executive shall be reported to the Company by the Executive).

                   (v)   in lieu of any further salary payments to the
Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination and in lieu of any
severance benefit otherwise payable to the Executive, an amount equal to the
Base Salary and annual bonus the Executive would have earned during the
Separation Period if the Executive had continued working for the Company at the
highest annual rate of Base Salary that the Executive achieved before the Date
of Termination, and received an annual target percentage bonus for each year and
part thereof at the target potential award level, assuming all target
performance goals have been or will be achieved.

                   (vi)  an amount equal to the excess of (A) the present
value of the benefits to which the Executive would be entitled under the
Company's Pension Plan and Company's Supplemental Retirement Plan (and any
successor thereto) if the Executive had continued working for the Company during
the Separation Period at the highest annual rate of Base Salary achieved during
the Executive's period of actual employment with the Company, and the Pension
Plan continued in force during the Separation Period, over (B) the present value
of the benefits to which the Executive is actually entitled under the Company's
Pension Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plan, each computed as of the date of
the Executive's Date of Termination, with present values to be determined using
the discount rate used by the Pension

                                       -7-
<PAGE>
 
Benefits Guaranty Corporation to calculate the benefit liabilities under the
Pension Plan in the event of a plan termination on the Date of Termination,
compounded monthly, the mortality tables prescribed in the Company's Pension
Plan for determining actuarial equivalence, and the reduction factor (if any)
for early commencement of pension payments based on the Executive's age on the
last day of the Separation Period;

                   (vii)  an amount equal to the Company's contributions to
which the Executive would have been entitled under the Company's Retirement
Savings Plan (or any successor thereto) if the Executive had continued working
for the Company and the Retirement Savings Plan continued in force during the
Separation Period at the highest annual rate of Base Salary achieved during the
Executive's period of actual employment with the Company, and making the maximum
amount of employee contributions, if any, as are required under such plans;

                   (viii) Notwithstanding any provision of the Company's LTIP or
the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan to the contrary, the Executive shall be fully
vested in the Company contributions credited to him under the Partners' Stock
Purchase Plan, and the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum amount, in
cash, equal to the sum of (A) any incentive compensation which has been
allocated or awarded to the Executive for a measuring period which commenced
prior to the Date of Termination under the LTIP but which, as of the Date of
Termination, is contingent only upon the continued employment of the Executive
to a subsequent date and/or upon achievement of performance goals and which
otherwise has not been paid, computed as if all performance goals have been or
will be achieved to the maximum extent, in lieu of any payment of such incentive
compensation under the LTIP, and without proration; (B) the amount of a 100%
match on purchases made under the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan in the year in
which the Date of Termination occurs, less the amount of the match actually made
under the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan for the portion of the year prior to the
Date of Termination; and (C) the amount of a 100% match on purchases the
Executive could have made under the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan during the
Separation Period (assuming no increase or decrease in the purchase price under
the Plan following the Date of Termination) if the Executive had continued
working for the Company and the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan continued in force
during the Separation Period at the pay and bonus levels specified in (v) above;

                   (ix)   Full vesting in all stock options, including the
stock options described in Section 3(c), and including stock options granted
after the date of this Agreement which, to the extent not previously vested,
shall be exercisable beginning on the date of the Termination upon a Change in
Control Event; and

                   (x)    A one-year extension of any loan repayment
obligation under the Company's Partners Loan Program (subject to interest
accrual pursuant to the terms of such Plan).

            (c)    Adjustment for Excess Parachute Payments.
                   ----------------------------------------

                                       -8-
<PAGE>
 
                 (i)   If any payment or benefit received or to be received by
the Executive in connection with a Change in Control Event or the termination of
the Executive's employment whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose
actions result in a Change in Control Event or any Person affiliated with the
Company or such Person (with all such payments and benefits, including the
severance payments, hereinafter called "Total Payments") will be subject (in
whole or part) to the Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay to the Executive an
additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by
the Executive, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total Payments and any
federal, state and local income and employment taxes and Excise Tax upon the
Gross-Up Payment shall be equal to the Total Payments. For purposes of
determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to
pay federal income and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal
income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up
Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal
rate of taxation, including any surtax in the state and locality of the
Executive's residence on the Date of Termination (or, if inapplicable, the date
of the Change of Control Event, with the relevant date hereinafter referred to
as the "Payment Date"), net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes
which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

                 (ii)  For purposes of determining whether any of the Total
Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,
(A) all of the Total Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments" within
the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, unless in the opinion of tax
counsel (the "Tax Counsel") reasonably acceptable to the Executive and selected
by the accounting firm (the "Auditor") which was, immediately prior to the
Change in Control Event, the Company's independent auditor, such other payments
or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, (B) all "excess
parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall
be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel,
such excess parachute payments (in whole or part) represent reasonable
compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of section
280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount allocable to such
reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (C)
the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be
determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of section
280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. Prior to the payment date set forth in Section
6(d) hereof, the Company shall provide the Executive with its calculation of the
amounts referred to in this Section and such supporting materials as are
reasonably necessary for the Executive to evaluate the Company's calculations.
If the Executive disputes the Company's calculations (in whole or in part), the
opinion of Tax Counsel with respect to the matter in dispute shall prevail.

                 (iii) In the event that (A) amounts are paid to the Executive
pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section, and (B) the Excise Tax is
subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder
on the Payment Date, the Executive shall repay to the Company, within 90 days
following the date on which the amount of such reduction in Excise

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Tax is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to
such reduction plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate
provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax
is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder in determining
the amount of the Gross-Up Payment at the time of the Payment Date (including by
reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at
the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up
Payment to the Executive in respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties
or additions payable by the Executive with respect to such excess and such
portion) within 90 days following the date on which the amount of such excess is
finally determined at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code.

                 (d) The payments provided for in subsections (i), (ii), (v),
(vi), (vii) and (viii) of Section 6(b) hereof and subsections (i), (ii) and, if
applicable, (iii) of Section 6(c) hereof shall be made not later than the
twentieth (20) day following the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if
                                                      --------  -------
the amounts of such payments, or, if applicable, the Excise Tax, cannot be
finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to the Executive
on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the Executive or, in the
case of Gross-Up Payments under Section 6(c) hereof, in accordance with Section
6(c)(ii) hereof, of the minimum amount of such payments to which the Executive
is clearly entitled and shall pay the remainder of such payments (together with
interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon as
the amount thereof can be determined but in no event later than the thirtieth
(30th) day after the Date of Termination. In the event that the amount of the
estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due,
such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to the Executive, payable on
the fifth (5th) business day after demand by the Company (together with interest
at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2) (B) of the Code). At the time that
payments are made under this Section and Section 6(c), the Company shall provide
the Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in which such
payments were calculated and the basis for such calculations including, without
limitation, any opinions or other advice the Company has received from outside
counsel, auditors or consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in
writing shall be attached to the statement). In the event the Company should
fail to pay when due the amounts described in Section 6(b) hereof or subsections
(i), (ii) and, if applicable, (iii) of Section 6(c), the Executive shall also be
entitled to receive from the Company an amount representing interest on any
unpaid or untimely paid amounts from the due date, as determined under this
Section, to the date of payment at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of
the Code after such due date.

                 (e) The Company also shall pay to the Executive all legal fees
and expenses incurred by the Executive in (i) the negotiation and execution of
this Agreement, and (ii) following a Change in Control Event (including a
termination of employment following a Potential Change in Control Event if the
Executive alleges in good faith that such termination will be deemed to have
occurred following a Change in Control Event pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof) in
disputing in good faith any issue relating to the termination of the Executive's
employment or in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit or right
provided by this

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent
attributable to the application of section 4999 of the Code to any payment or
benefit provided hereunder. Such payments shall be made as such fees and
expenses are incurred by the Executive, but in no event later than five (5)
business days after delivery of the Executive's written requests for payment
accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company
reasonably may require.

         7.      Other Duties of the Executive During and After Term.
                 ---------------------------------------------------

                 (a) Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that by
                     ------------------------
reason of his employment with the Company he has and will hereafter, from time
to time during the Term, become exposed to and/or become knowledgeable about
proposals, plans inventions, practices, systems, programs, formulas, processes,
methods, techniques, research, records, supplier sources, customer lists, and
other forms of business information which are not known to the Company's
competitors and which are not recognized as being encompassed within standard
business or management practices and which are kept secret and confidential by
the Company (the "Confidential Information"). The Executive therefore agrees
that at no time during or after the period of his employment by the Company will
he disclose or use the Confidential Information except to the extent such
information becomes public through no fault of the Executive, as required by
law, as authorized by the Board, or as may be required in the prudent course of
business for the benefit of the Company; provided, that no payment required to
be made by the Company under the terms of this Agreement after termination of
the employment of the Executive shall be subject to any right of set-off,
counterclaim, defense, abatement, suspension, deferment or reduction by reason
of any claim against the Executive based upon breach of the covenant in this
Section 7(a) other than upon execution of an unsatisfied judgment rendered by a
court of competent jurisdiction.

                 (b) Non-Compete. In consideration of the mutual terms and
                     -----------
agreements set forth in this Agreement and the grant of stock options under
Section 3(c) hereof, the Executive hereby agrees that (i) while the Executive is
employed during the Term, (ii) during such time after the Term as the Executive
is employed by the Company and (iii) for a period of one year after the
Executive's Date of Termination, he will not, unless authorized in writing to do
so by the Company, directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, join, control or
participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be
employed or otherwise connected in any substantial manner with any business
which directly or indirectly competes to a material extent with any line of
business of the Company or its subsidiaries which was operated by the Company or
its subsidiaries at the Date of Termination; provided, that nothing in this
                                             --------
paragraph shall prohibit the Executive from acquiring up to 5% of any class of
outstanding equity securities of any corporation whose equity securities are
regularly traded on a national securities exchange or in the "over-the-counter
market," and provided further, that the foregoing restriction of this Section
             ----------------
7(b) shall not apply following a Change of Control Event or a Potential Change
in Control Event if (v) the Executive's employment has been terminated by the
Company without Cause, (w) the Executive terminates his employment as the result
of a Constructive Discharge or

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
(x) the Company elects not to extend the Term of this Agreement. The Executive
agrees that for a period ending three years after the Date of Termination
hereunder, the Executive will not (y) recruit any employee of the Company or
solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any employee of the Company
to terminate his or her employment with, or otherwise cease his or her
relationship with, the Company, or (z) solicit, divert or take away, or attempt
to solicit, divert or take away, the business or patronage of any of the
clients, customers or accounts, or prospective clients, customers or accounts,
of the Company that were contacted, solicited or served by the Executive while
employed by the Company.

                 (c) Remedies. The Company and the Executive confirm that the
                     --------
restrictions contained in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) hereof are, in view of the
nature of the business of the Company, reasonable and necessary to protect the
legitimate interests of the Company and that any violation of any provision of
Section 7(a) or 7(b) will result in irreparable injury to the Company. The
Executive hereby agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of
the terms or conditions of this Agreement by the Executive, the Company's
remedies at law will be inadequate and, in any such event, the Company shall be
entitled to commence an action for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief
and other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Executive
further irrevocable consents to the jurisdiction of any Pennsylvania state court
or federal court located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over any suit,
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Section 7(c) and hereby
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that he may now or
hereafter have to such jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such suit,
action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. In addition, if
the Executive at any time during the Separation Period Executive engages in
conduct described in Section 7(b) (whether or not within the one-year period
after the termination of his employment with the Company), the Company shall be
entitled to discontinue the payments and benefits provided under Section 5(a).
The Executive's Agreement as set forth in this Section 7 shall: (x) survive the
termination of this Agreement, and continue throughout the duration of the
Executive's employment with the Company, except as amended or modified by
written agreement of the parties; and (y) survive the Executive's termination of
employment with the Company for the periods specified in Section 7(b) hereof.

                 (d) Modification of Terms. If any restriction in this Section 7
                     ---------------------
of the Agreement is adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, service or
other limitations permitted by applicable law in any jurisdiction, the Executive
agrees that such may be modified and narrowed, either by a court or the Company,
to the maximum time, geographic, service or other limitations permitted by
applicable law so as to preserve and protect the Company's legitimate business
interest, without negating or impairing any other restrictions or undertaking
set forth in the Agreement.

         8.      Withholding Taxes. The Company may directly or indirectly
                 -----------------
withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or
other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation
or ruling.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
         9.      Consolidation, Merger, or Sale of Assets. Nothing in this
                 ----------------------------------------
Agreement shall preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with,
or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation
which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company
hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets and
assumption, the term "Company" as used herein shall mean such other corporation
and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

         10.     Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
                 -------
communications required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered or mailed, postage prepaid,
by same day or overnight mail as follows:

                 (a)      To Company:
                          General Counsel
                          IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                          70 Valley Stream Parkway
                          Malvern, PA 19355

                 (b)      To the Executive:

                          Kurt E. Dinkelacker
                          17 Cedarbrook Road
                          Ardmore, PA  19003

or to such other address as either party shall have previously specified in
writing to the other.

         11.     No Attachment. Except as required by law, no right to receive
                 -------------
payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation,
alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or
to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of
law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall
be null, void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section
                                --------  -------
11 shall preclude the assumption of such rights by executors, administrators or
other legal representatives of the Executive or his estate and their assigning
any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

         12.     No Mitigation. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate
                 -------------
the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement by seeking
other employment or otherwise, nor except as otherwise specifically provided in
this Agreement shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this
Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by other employment or
otherwise.

         13.     Source of Payment. All payments provided for under this
                 -----------------
Agreement shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company. The
Company shall not be required to establish a special or separate fund or other
segregation of assets to assure such payments, and, if

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
the Company shall make any investments to aid it in meeting its obligations
hereunder, the Executive shall have no right, title or interest whatever in or
to any such investments except as may otherwise be expressly provided in a
separate written instrument relating to such investments. Nothing contained in
this Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or
be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between
the Company and the Executive or any other person. To the extent that any person
acquires a right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right,
without prejudice to rights which employees may have, shall be no greater than
the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

         14.     Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or application
                 ------------
thereof to anyone or under any circumstances is adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provision or application and shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision or application in any other jurisdiction.

         15.     Contents of Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior
                 ---------------------
agreements and sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof and cannot be changed, modified,
extended or terminated except upon written amendment approved by the parties
hereto. Unless otherwise required by law, in the event of a conflict between
this Agreement and any plan, program, stock option award, LTIP award, or Company
policy, the terms of this Agreement shall be controlling.

         16.     Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, performance, and
                 -------------
enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania (and Federal laws to the extent applicable), and Executive
consents to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania in
any dispute arising under this Agreement.

         17.     Survival of Benefits. Any Section of this Agreement which
                 --------------------
provides a benefit to the Executive and which does not expressly provide for its
termination upon the expiration of the Term shall survive the expiration of the
Term and the obligation to provide benefits to the Executive as set forth in
such Section shall remain binding upon the Company until such time as the
Executive's employment relationship with the Company is terminated and the
benefits provided under such Section are paid in full to the Executive.

         18.     Miscellaneous. All section headings are for convenience only.
                 -------------
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be
deemed to be one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in marking
proof of this Agreement or any counterpart hereof to produce or account for any
of the other counterparts.

         19.     Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration. Except with respect to
                 -----------------------------------
actions for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and other equitable
relief under Section 7, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, or any breach thereof, shall be settled by

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
arbitration in accordance with the terms of this Section 19. All claims by the
Executive for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined
by the Board and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for
benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in writing
within thirty (30) days and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial
and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Board shall
afford a reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision
denying a claim and shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a
decision of the Board within thirty (30) days after notification by the Board
that the Executive's claim has been denied. Any further dispute, controversy or
claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation or
alleged breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the
Center for Public Resources, Inc. Non-Administered Arbitration Rules, by three
arbitrators, none of whom shall be appointed by either party. The arbitration
shall be governed by United States Arbitration Act 9 U.S.C. (S)1-16, and
judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court
having jurisdiction thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court
having jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the
Executive's right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency
of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.

         20.     Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
                 -----------
terms have the following meanings:

                       (a)      "Base Amount" shall have the meaning set forth
in section 280G(b)(3) of the Code.

                       (b)      "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set
forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

                       (c)      "Cause," prior to a Change of Control Event or a
Potential Change of Control Event, shall mean termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment due to (i) the willful and continued failure by the
Executive to substantially perform the Executive's duties with the Company
(other than any such failure resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies
the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has failed to
substantially perform the Executive's duties, and which provides Executive with
at least a 30-day period to correct such failure, or (ii) the willful engaging
by the Executive in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to
the Company or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of
clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition, (x) no act, or failure to act, on the
Executive's part shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done,
by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
Executive's act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company and
(y) in the event of a dispute concerning the application of this provision, no
claim by the Company that Cause

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
exists shall be given effect unless the Board determines, by an affirmative vote
of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the Board,
that Cause has been established by clear and convincing evidence. In any Board
deliberations or votes concerning a determination under this paragraph,
Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and votes. Following a
Change in Control Event or a Potential Change in Control Event, "Cause" shall
mean a judicial determination that the Executive has committed fraud,
misappropriation or embezzlement against the Company; or a nonappealable
conviction of, or entry of a plea of nolo contendere for, an act by the
Executive constituting a felony or misdemeanor which, as determined by the Board
in the good faith, constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude and results in
material harm to the Company. Any dispute by the Executive of a Board
determination under this paragraph shall be resolved in accordance with Section
19 hereof.

                 (d)   "Change in Control Event" shall mean any of the following
events:

                       (i) any Person, together with its affiliates and
associates (as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), is or
becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; or

                       (ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who,
on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director whose appointment
or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose
appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

                       (iii) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or
into, any other Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company), or
any other person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, and, in
connection therewith, all or part of the outstanding shares of common stock
shall be changed in any way or converted into or exchanged for stock or other
securities or cash or any other property; or

                       (iv) a transaction or series of transactions in which,
directly or indirectly, the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (A)
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash
flow of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person
or group of Persons.

                       Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control
Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction
or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record
holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction
or series of transactions own a majority of the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
outstanding voting shares and in substantially the same proportion in an entity
which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately
following such transaction or series of transactions.

                 (e)   "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time. Reference to any section or subsection of the Code
includes references to any comparable or succeeding provision of any legislation
which amends, supplements, or replaces such section or subsection.

                 (f)   "Constructive Discharge" shall mean a termination by the
Executive of the Executive's employment as a result of the occurrence (without
the Executive's express written consent) of any one of the following acts by the
Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or
failure to act described in paragraph (i), (v), (vi) or (vii) below, such act or
failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination:

                       (i) the assignment to the Executive of duties
inconsistent with the Executive's status as a senior executive officer of the
Company or a substantial alteration in the nature or status of the Executive's
responsibilities other than any such alteration primarily attributable to the
fact that the Company may no longer be a public company;

                       (ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's Base
Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time
to time;

                       (iii) the relocation of the Company's principal executive
offices to a location more than 15 miles from the then location of such offices
without the Executive's written consent or the Company's requiring the Executive
to be based anywhere other than the Company's principal executive offices except
for required travel on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's present business travel obligations;

                       (iv) the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive
any portion of the Executive's current compensation or to pay to the Executive
any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred
compensation program of the Company within seven (7) days of the date such
compensation is due after written demand from the Executive has been received
therefor;

                       (v) following a Change in Control Event or a Potential
Change in Control Event, the failure by the Company to continue in effect any
compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately prior to the
Change in Control Event or the Potential Change in Control Event which is
material to the Executive's total compensation, including but not limited to the
Company's stock option, incentive compensation, deferred compensation, stock
purchase, bonus and other plans or any substitute plans adopted prior to the
Change in Control Event, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing
substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the
failure by the Company to

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
continue the Executive's participation therein (or in such substitute or
alternative plan) on a basis not less favorable, both in terms of the amount of
benefits provided and the level of the Executive's participation, relative to
other participants, as existed immediately prior to the Change in Control Event
or the Potential Change in Control Event;

                       (vi)   following a Change in Control Event or a Potential
Change in Control Event, the failure by the Company to continue to provide the
Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the Executive
under any of the Company's pension, life insurance, medical, health and
accident, or disability plans in which the Executive was participating
immediately prior to the Change in Control Event or the Potential Change in
Control Event, the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or
indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive the Executive of
any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change
in Control Event or a Potential Change in Control Event, or the failure by the
Company to maintain a vacation policy with respect to the Executive that is at
least as favorable as the vacation policy (whether formal or informal) in place
with respect to the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control Event
or the Potential Change in Control Event; or

                       (vii)  following a Change in Control Event, or a
Potential Change of Control Event, any purported termination of the Executive's
employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination; or

                       (viii) any breach by the Company of any material
provision of this Agreement.

                       The Executive's right to terminate employment due to
Constructive Discharge shall not be affected by the Executive's incapacity due
to physical or mental illness. The Executive's continued employment shall not
constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure
to act constituting Constructive Discharge hereunder.

                       For purposes of any determination regarding a
Constructive Discharge, a claim by the Executive of a Constructive Discharge
shall be presumed to be correct unless the Board determines, by an affirmative
vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the
Board, that a Constructive Discharge has not occurred by clear and convincing
evidence. In any Board deliberations or votes concerning a determination under
this paragraph, Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and
votes. Any dispute by the Executive of a Board determination under this
provision shall be resolved in accordance with Section 19.

                 (g)   "Date of Termination," with respect to any purported
termination of the Executive's employment, shall mean (i) if the Executive's
employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of
Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive's duties during
such thirty (30) day period); and (ii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination
(which, in the case of a termination by the Company, shall not be less than
thirty (30) days (except in the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the
case of a termination by the Executive, shall not be less than thirty (30) days
nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of
Termination is given).

                 (h)   "Disability" shall mean termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment upon or following Executive's commencement of benefits
under the Company's long-term disability plan.

                 (i)   [RESERVED]

                 (j)   "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended from time to time.

                 (k)   "Excise Tax" shall mean any excise tax imposed under
section 4999 or the Code.

                 (l)   "Gross-Up Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6(c) hereof.

                 (m)   "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice indicating
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and setting
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.

                 (n)   "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9)
of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof,
except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its affiliates
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (ii) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned,
directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

                 (o)   "Potential Change in Control Event" shall be deemed to
have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs
shall have occurred:

                       (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the
consummation of which will result in the occurrence of a Change in Control
Event;

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
                       (ii)  the Company or any Person publicly announces an
intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, will
constitute a Change in Control Event; or

                       (iii) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that,
for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control Event has
occurred.

                 (p)   "Separation Period" shall mean the three-year period (or
such longer period as the Human Resources Committee may determine) beginning on
the Date of Termination.

                 (q)   "Term" shall mean the initial period commencing as of May
1, 1997 and ending on April 30, 2000, and any additional one-year periods for
which this Agreement is extended in accordance with Section 1 hereof.

                 (r)   "Termination upon a Change in Control Event" shall mean a
termination of employment:

                       (i)   initiated by Company for any reason, including
delivery of Notice of Nonrenewal, other than termination for Cause, upon or
within two years after a Change in Control Event; or

                       (ii)  initiated by the Executive due to a Constructive
Discharge, upon or within two years after a Change in Control Event; or

                       (iii) under circumstances described in Section 6(a)
hereof.

A termination due to death, Disability, or for Cause shall not constitute a
Termination upon a Change in Control Event, and payments in the event of such a
termination shall be determined under Section 5(b) hereof.

                 (s)   "Total Payments" shall mean those payments described in
Section 6(c) hereof.

                 (t)   "Without Cause Termination" shall mean a termination of
the Executive's employment by the Company, other than due to Disability,
voluntary retirement, expiration of the Term or for Cause.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the Company has
caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officers and the
Executive has signed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                 IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.



                                 By:
                                    ---------------------------
                                       Authorized Signatory




                                 ------------------------------
                                 KURT E. DINKELACKER

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
                        EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENT WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS
        TO FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT, YOU SHOULD REVIEW THE DOCUMENT
   CAREFULLY, AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS AND IMPLICATIONS, BEFORE SIGNING.

                  This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") effective August 5,
1996 is entered into among IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation
and an operating division (including its network of operating companies) of Alco
Standard Corporation ("IKON") and ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION, an Ohio Corporation
("Alco") (both entities IKON and Alco also collectively referred to as the
"Company"), with their principal place of business in Pennsylvania, and DAVID M.
GADRA ("Executive").

                  In consideration of the mutual promises contained in this
Executive Employment Agreement ("Agreement") including the following three
items, none of which would be conferred upon Executive absent execution of this
Agreement: (1) employment with the Company; (2) employment for a fixed period of
time in a new executive position, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
below; (3) one-time discretionary stock option award; (4) one-time special
bonus; (5) eligibility to participate as an IKON Group participant in the fiscal
1997-1999 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program granted on October 1, 1996,
with respect to the three-year performance plan period from October 1, 1996
through September 30, 1999 ("LTIP"), in accordance with the additional terms of
that Program; and (6) additional good and valuable consideration including but
not limited to that set forth in Addendum B of this Agreement, the parties to
this Agreement ("Parties"), INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND, agree as follows:

ARTICLE I-TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
- -----------------------------
1.1  DUTIES.
     ------
         1.1.1 DUTIES OF POSITION. IKON shall employ Executive as Senior Vice
               ------------------
President and CIO, IKON Office Solutions. The Parties expressly agree that the
position of Senior Vice President and CIO is a key position and an executive
position in the Company. Executive shall comply with his obligation set forth in
this Employment Agreement and with all reasonable Company policies, now
currently in force, or as may from time to time be unilaterally adopted and
modified by the Company, whether or not reduced to writing. In addition,
Executive shall have the duties set forth in Addendum A of the Agreement which
is hereby incorporated as if fully set forth herein.

Executive specifically recognizes and acknowledges that this position is one of
trust and confidence and that, as a result, he will have access to, and may be
given specialized education and confidential, proprietary information of the
Company.

         1.1.2 DUTY OF LOYALTY. Executive will (1) devote substantially all his
               ---------------
time, attention, and energies to the business of the Company and diligently
perform all duties incident to his employment; (2) use his best efforts to
promote the interests and goodwill of the Company; and (3) perform such other
duties commensurate with his office as the President of IKON, or his assignees
from time to time assign him. Further, during the term of employment, Executive
shall not engage in any activity to the detriment or embarrassment of the
Company. By way of illustration and not as a limitation, Executive shall not
discuss with any customer or potential customer of the Company, or any
competitor of the Company, any plans by Executive or any other employees of the
Company to leave the employment of the Company or to compete with the Company,
and/or, Executive shall at all times in performance of his duties work in
concert with, and take direction from, the President of IKON.

1.2 TERM OF AGREEMENT. Unless terminated in accordance with Article 2,
    ----------------- 
this Agreement shall remain in force until September 30, 1999 ("Term"), unless
soonerterminated in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

1.3 COMPENSATION. During the Term of the Agreement, the Executive shall be
    ------------
compensated in accordance with the terms set forth in Addendum B of the
Agreement which is incorporated as if fully set forth herein ("Total
Compensation Package"). In the event the Company shall pay to Executive during
the Term any compensation in excess of the Total Compensation Package provided
for herein, the payment of such increased compensation shall not be deemed to be
an amendment to this Agreement, and may be discontinued at any time without
cause.

1.4 ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF EXECUTIVE. Executive understands that the
    -----------------------------------
obligations imposed under this Agreement are not exclusive, and that the Company
may unilaterally, from time to time, impose additional reasonable 


                                  Page 1 of 7
<PAGE>
 
obligations upon Executive consistent with his duties and position within the
Company. If Company promotes Executive, or changes Executive's areas of
responsibilities during the Term of this Agreement, Company, at its option, may
require Executive to execute an Addendum describing the Executive's promotion,
or change of areas of Executive's responsibilities; provided, however, that in
no event shall a change in area of responsibility be to a position that is less
senior or without the authority that Executive has hereunder.

1.5 DISCOVERIES. Executive shall promptly disclose in writing to the Company any
    -----------
and all information, ideas, conceptions, inventions, discoveries, processes,
methods, designs, and know-how, as well as all works of authorship (including
computer programs) which are within the subject matter of copyright, which are
conceived, originated, developed, made or acquired by Executive, either
individually or jointly with others, during the period of Executive's employment
with the Company or for one (1) year period thereafter and: (i) for which the
Company provided either equipment, supplies, facilities, or confidential
information; (ii) which were made or conceived on or partially on the Company's
time; or (iii) which relate to IKON's core businesses or additional core
businesses that IKON is in the process of developing (collectively referred to
as the "Vision Discoveries") and shall assign or offer to assign to Company any
and all of Executive's rights in each Vision Discovery.

1.6 COPYRIGHTS. All Vision Discoveries which are within the subject matter of
    ----------
copyright shall be considered a "work for hire" granting the Company full
ownership to the work and components and all rights comprised therein. Should
any work or component thereof not fall within the definition of a "work for
hire" under copyright law, the Executive hereby transfers and assigns or, if
necessary, will transfer and assign to the Company full ownership of the
copyright to the work or component thereof and all rights comprised therein. The
Executive will sign all applications for registrations of such copyright, and at
the Company's expense, perform all other acts necessary or convenient to carry
out the terms of this Provision.

ARTICLE 2-TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
- ----------------------------------
2.1 TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY -- ENUMERATED REASONS. Company may, in its sole
    ------------------------------------------------
discretion, terminate Executive's employment at any time during the Term of the
Agreement under the following circumstances:

                  (1) Executive fails to comply with any material Company
Policy, either currently in force, or as may from time to time be adopted and
modified by the Company;

                  (2) Executive's performance falls below 80% of the stated
mutually agreed-upon operational and financial goals specifically applicable to
Executive;

                  (3) Executive materially breaches his obligations under the
terms of this Agreement;

                  (4) Executive has committed an act of dishonesty, moral
turpitude or theft or has breached his duties of loyalty to the Company, or an
act of insubordination to any of his supervisors.

                  It is specifically understood that, during the Term of the
Agreement, Executive shall not be terminated pursuant to either 2.1 (1), (2) or
(3) unless and until (a) Executive has received reasonable written notice from
the Company of the applicable Company Policy, or the operational and financial
goals applicable to the Executive, and (b) Executive has had reasonable
opportunity to comply with such Company Policy or perform up to the standards,
expectations or applicable goals set by Company. The Company may, however,
immediately terminate Executive pursuant to 2.1 (4) without notice.

                  In the event of the termination of Executive under this
Article 2.1, Executive's right to the compensation and benefits provided in
Addendum B shall immediately terminate and/or cease to accrue, provided,
however, that Executive shall receive (i) the unpaid portion, if any, of the
Base Salary computed on a pro-rata basis to the date of termination of
employment and (ii) any unpaid accrued benefits owed to the Executive in
accordance with the terms of any Plan or Program referenced in Addendum B.

2.2. TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY -- NOT ENUMERATED REASONS. The Company may
     ----------------------------------------------------
terminate the employment of Executive during the Term for reasons other than
those enumerated in Article 2.1. However, in such event, the Company shall be
liable to Executive for the Base Salary compensation and shall be liable for a
pro-rata portion of Executive's annual qualitative bonus as of the date of
termination and a pro-rata portion of Executive's annual quantitative bonus
(such pro-rata quantitative bonus payment to be paid within 45 days subsequent
to fiscal year end but only if Company 

                                  Page 2 of 7
<PAGE>
 
achieves its business plan objectives for such fiscal year) and other remaining
benefits provided in Addendum B for the remainder of the Term, and, to the
extent not inconsistent with applicable law and/or the terms and conditions of
any Plan or Program, all other remaining benefits shall continue to accrue until
the end of the Term, which shall constitute the full liquidated damages to which
Executive is entitled. Executive agrees that he shall not be entitled to any
other remedy at law or in equity, including but not limited to general, special,
punitive or exemplary damages and/or injunctive relief.

2.3  DISABILITY AND DEATH
     --------------------
         2.3.1 DISABILITY. In the event that Executive is unable fully to
               ----------
perform his duties and responsibilities hereunder to the full extent required by
the Company by reason of illness, injury or incapacity for ninety (90)
consecutive days or ninety (90) working days during the Term, this Agreement may
be terminated by Company and Company shall have no further liability or
obligation to Executive for the compensation or benefits set forth in Addendum
B, provided however, that Executive will be entitled to receive (i) salary
continuation until the long-term disability benefit plan takes effect, (ii) the
payments prescribed under any disability benefit plan which may be in effect for
employees of the Company and in which he participated or participates and (iii)
any unpaid accrued benefits owed to the Executive in accordance with the terms
of any Plan or Program referenced in Addendum B.

         2.3.2. DEATH. In the event that Executive dies during the Term, Company
                -----
shall pay to his executors, legal representatives or administrators an amount
equal to the installment of his Base Salary set forth in Addendum B for the
month in which he dies, and thereafter Company shall have no further liability
or obligation pursuant to the Agreement to his executors, legal representatives,
administrators, heirs or assigns or any other person claiming under or through
him; provided however, that Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall
be entitled to receive (i) the payment prescribed for such recipients under any
death benefit plan which may be in effect for employees of the Company and in
which Executive participated and (ii) any unpaid accrued benefits owed to the
Executive in accordance with the terms of any Plan or Program referenced in
Addendum B.

ARTICLE 3-RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------ 
3.1 SCOPE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive acknowledges that the Company,
    ---------------------------------
through IKON is engaged in the business of sales, servicing, renting and leasing
of copier equipment, facsimiles, micrographic equipment, computers, shredders,
offset printing, typewriters, laser printers, word processing equipment and
other related office products, the business of facilities management and
state-of-the-art copying and/or scanning operations, the ongoing development and
implementation of additional business segments providing outsourcing and
networking sales and services, and the growth through acquisitions of entities
engaged in any or all of the aforementioned businesses ("OP Division business").
Executive further recognizes that the Company's OP Division business and its
continued success depend upon the use and protection of a large body of
confidential and proprietary information. Executive further acknowledges that he
holds a position of trust and confidence by virtue of which he necessarily
possesses, has access to and, as a consequence of his signing this Agreement,
will continue to possess and have access to, highly valuable, confidential and
proprietary information not known to employees of the Company at large or the
public in general, and that it would be improper for him to make use of this
information for the benefit of himself or others. All of such confidential and
proprietary information now existing or to be developed in the future will be
referred to in this Agreement as "Company Secrets". Company and Executive intend
that the meaning of "Company Secrets" in this Agreement will be read as broadly
as possible to include all information of any sort (whether merely remembered or
embodied in a tangible medium) which (i) is related to OP Division business or
potential future business and (ii) is not generally and publicly known. This
includes, without specific limitation, information relating to the nature and
operation of the OP Division business, the persons, firms and corporations which
are customers or active prospects of the Company during Executive's employment
by the Company, the Company's development transition and transformation plans,
methodology and methods of doing business, strategic, acquisition, marketing and
expansion plans, including plans regarding planned and potential acquisitions
and sales, financial and business plans, employee lists, numbers and location of
sales representatives, new and existing programs and services, support and those
under development, prices and terms, customer service, integration processes
requirements, costs of providing service, support and equipment and equipment
maintenance costs; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing or any
contrary provision hereof, the term "Company Secrets" shall not include any
information (i) which is or becomes public otherwise than through a breach of
this Agreement, (ii) which was known to Executive prior to disclosure thereof by
the Company, or (iii) which is disclosed to Executive by a non-Company employee
third party not subject to an obligation to maintain such information in
confidence.


                                  Page 3 of 7
<PAGE>
 
3.2 EXECUTIVE'S DUTY NOT TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive will
    ---------------------------------------------------------
protect and preserve as confidential during his employment relationship with the
Company and at all times after the termination of the employment relationship,
all of the Company Secrets at any time known to Executive or at any time in
Executive's possession or control (except for such information as Executive may
be legally obligated and required to disclose pursuant to a court order, law, or
other legal proceedings). Executive understands that this Agreement includes an
obligation not to disclose Company Secrets to employees within the Company who
do not have a right or need to know the Company Secrets.

Executive will, during his employment relationship with the Company and at all
times after the termination of the employment relationship, neither disclose,
use, nor allow any other person or entity to use in any way, except for the
benefit of the Company and as directed by the Company, any of the Company
Secrets.

3.3 RETURN OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive will, prior to or upon leaving
    ----------------------------------
employment with the Company, deliver to the Company any and all records, items
and media of any type (including, without limitation, all partial or complete
copies of duplicates) containing or otherwise relating to any of the Company
Secrets, whether prepared or acquired by, or provided to, Executive. Executive
acknowledges that all such records, items and media are and at all times will be
and remain the property of Company.

3.4 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS REQUIRED BY THIRD PARTIES. Executive will enter into
    -----------------------------------------------
and comply fully with any agreement reasonably required by any of the Company's
affiliates, business partners, suppliers or contractors with respect to the
protection of the confidential and proprietary information of such entities.

3.5 SEVERABILITY. Executive understands that the obligations imposed under this
    ------------
Restriction on the Use of Confidential Information are in addition to, and
independent of, any Restriction on Post-Termination Employment imposed under
this Agreement or any previously executed agreement concerning post-termination
employment, impose separate and distinct obligations from the Restriction on
Post-Termination Employment, and may be valid even if the Restriction on
Post-Termination Employment is declared invalid, in whole or in part, in any
judicial or quasi-judicial forum.

ARTICLE 4-RESTRICTION ON POST-TERMINATION EMPLOYMENT
- ----------------------------------------------------
4.1  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BY EXECUTIVE.
     ----------------------------
         4.1.1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PROTECTIBLE INTERESTS. Executive agrees that
                ---------------------------------------
the Company has a protectible interest in the Company Secrets, goodwill and
specialized knowledge acquired by Executive during the course of his employment
with Company.

         4.1.2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CONSIDERATION. Executive acknowledges that the
                -------------------------------
provisions of this Article 4 are in consideration of: (1) employment with the
Company; (2) employment for a fixed period of time, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth below; (3) one-time discretionary stock option award; (4)
one-time special bonus; (5) Executive's participation in the LTIP (as defined
above) in accordance with the additional terms of that Program; and (6)
additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in Addendum B of this
Agreement

         4.1.3. ABILITY TO EARN LIVELIHOOD. Executive expressly agrees and
                --------------------------
acknowledges that the Restrictions contained in this Article 4 do not preclude
Executive from earning a livelihood, nor does it unreasonably impose limitations
on Executive's ability to earn a living. In addition, the Executive agrees and
acknowledges that the potential harm to the Company of its non-enforcement
outweighs any harm to the Executive of its enforcement by injunction or
otherwise.

4.2 POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS. Executive agrees that if Executive's
    ----------------------------
employment with the Company is terminated for cause, by voluntary resignation on
the part of Executive, or without cause (whether by the Company, by Executive or
otherwise), the Executive will not, without the express written consent of the
Company, directly or indirectly, for a period of two (2) years from the date of
termination, in any capacity whatsoever, including either as an employee,
employer, officer, director, proprietor, partner, joint venturer, consultant,
stockholder (except for investments of no greater than 5% of the total
outstanding shares in any publicly funded company), on his behalf or on behalf
of any other entity:

                  (1) solicit, sell to, divert, serve, accept or receive
         business, which is similar to, or competitive with, the OP Division
         Business, from any entity which was a customer of IKON, or active
         prospect of IKON, during the two (2) year period immediately preceding
         the termination of Executive's employment, or


                                  Page 4 of 7
<PAGE>
 
                  (2) engage or manage in any business and in any geographic
         area which competes with the Company's OP Division business at the time
         of Executive's termination, or

                  (3) start-up, acquire, purchase, or work in any capacity
         whatsoever for or on behalf of, any entity which has been identified as
         an actual or potential acquisition of IKON during the two (2) year
         period immediately preceding the termination of Executive's employment,
         or

                  (4) solicit, entice, or encourage any employee of the Company
         to leave the Company or hire or employ any such employee, or

                  (5) Manage the business or a portion of the business, of any
         entity engaged in a business which is similar to, or competitive with,
         the OP Division business.

Notwithstanding any provision in this Section 4.2 to the contrary, the Company
and Executive agree to the following: (i) the following businesses shall be
deemed to be directly competitive with the OP Division business and Executive
shall be precluded from being hired by these companies (or any of their
affiliated companies whether publicly spun off, affiliates and/or divested
divisions) during the two year restricted term - Xerox, IBM, AT&T,
Hewlett-Packard, Danka, Pitney Bowes Corporation, R.R. Donnelley, General
Electric, Kinko's, Alpha Graphics, Staples, and Kodak Corporation; (ii) the
following business situations shall be deemed not to be competitive with the
Company or the OP Division business and Executive shall not be precluded from
being employed by these companies during the two year restricted term - any
employment position that Executive would have with a company other than those
listed in clause (i) solely in the area of internal systems integration; and
(iii) a determination of whether businesses that would involve a position in
external systems integration shall be deemed to be competitive with IKON shall
be subject to good faith and reasonable negotiation between the President of
IKON and Executive.

4.3 SEVERABILITY. Executive understands that the obligations imposed under this
    ------------
Restriction on Post-Termination Employment are in addition to, and independent
of, any Restriction on the Use of Confidential Information imposed under this
Agreement and any previously executed agreement concerning post-terminated
employment, impose separate and distinct obligations from the Restriction on the
Use of Confidential Information, and may be valid even if the Restriction on the
Use of Confidential Information is declared invalid, in whole or in part, in any
judicial or quasi-judicial forum.

ARTICLE 5-REMEDIES FOR BREACH
- -----------------------------
5.1 INJUNCTIONS. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of any provision
    -----------
of Articles 3 or 4 of this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the
Company will suffer irreparable harm and further acknowledges and agrees that
the Company's remedies at law are inadequate, and that the Company shall be
entitled to an immediate injunction restraining such breach or potential breach
as well as other equitable relief; but nothing herein shall be construed as
prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedy available for such breach
or threatened breach.

5.2 RESTITUTION. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other
    -----------
agreement between the parties to the contrary and in addition to any other
rights or remedies the Company may have, if at any time Executive (whether
during the Employment period or thereafter as provided herein) has violated any
of his obligations contained in Articles 3 and 4 above, then the obligation of
the Company to pay salary, vacation pay, bonus, incentive compensation or other
form of pay or compensation (other than any vested employee benefits pursuant to
a Company adopted plan) shall terminate, and from and after such termination
neither the Executive, his beneficiary nor any of their legal representatives or
distributees shall have any right to receive any payment(s) in connection
therewith.

ARTICLE 6 -MISCELLANEOUS
- ------------------------
6.1 ARBITRATION. Except as permitted or provided in the foregoing Article 5, in
    -----------
the event Executive's employment is terminated, and Executive contends that such
termination was wrongful or otherwise in violation of his rights or privileges,
express or implied, whether founded in fact or in law, or any other rights or
privileges, or was in violation of any express or implied condition, term, or
covenant, whether founded in law or in fact, including but not limited to the
covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or otherwise in violation of law,
Executive and Company agree to submit the above-described disputed matter to
binding arbitration. Executive and Company further expressly agree that in any
such arbitration, the exclusive remedy which may be awarded by the arbitrator(s)
shall be limited to back pay (including all bonuses and compensation under
incentive or employee benefit plans) owing up to and including the date the
arbitration award becomes final with 


                                  Page 5 of 7
<PAGE>
 
interest, and Executive agrees that he shall not be entitled to any other remedy
at law or in equity, including but not limited to general, special, punitive or
exemplary damages and/or injunctive relief.

6.2 REFORMATION. The provisions and covenants contained herein are intended to
    -----------
be separate and divisible and if, for any reason, any one or more of such
provisions or covenants should be held to be invalid and unenforceable in whole
or in part, it is agreed that the same shall not be held to affect the validity
or enforceability of any other provisions and covenants of this Agreement. In
the event that any restriction set forth in this Agreement is determined by a
Court to be unenforceable with respect to scope, time or geographical coverage,
Executive agrees that such a restriction should be modified and narrowed so as
to provide the maximum protection of the Company's legally protectible interests
as described in this Agreement, and without negating or impairing any other
restrictions or agreements set forth herein.

6.3 REASONABLENESS. Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read this
    --------------
Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon the
Executive by this Agreement, and is in full accord as to their necessity for the
reasonable and proper protection of the Company's Secrets. The Executive
expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this
Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and
geographical area.

6.4 MODIFICATION. The Parties agree that the Agreement may not be modified
    ------------
except by the mutual written consent of the Parties. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the parties further agree that if a judicial or quasi-judicial entity
declares the agreement invalid in whole or in part, it may modify the terms of
the Agreement to give affect to the Agreement as modified.

6.5 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF THE COMPANY. This Agreement shall bind Company and
    -------------------------------------
Executive, and also all of their respective family members, heirs,
administrators, representatives, successors, assigns, officers, directors,
agents employees, shareholders, affiliates, predecessors, and also all other
persons, firms, corporations, associations, partnerships, and entities in
privity with or related to or affiliated with any such person, firm,
corporation, association, partnership or entity; including without limitation,
any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability
company and entity or combination thereof which shall acquire substantially all
of the assets, or direct or indirect control of a majority of the voting stock,
of the Company, or which shall in any other manner cause a majority of the
current members of the Board of Directors or the President to be replaced at any
time after the effective date of this Agreement (a "Change of Control"). Any
termination under Section 2.1(2) within eighteen (18) months of a Change of
Control or any material demotion or restriction of Executive's current duties at
the time of the Change of Control or within eighteen (18) months of a Change of
Control, however effected, shall not be deemed a termination under Section 2.1
and Executive shall instead be entitled to receive the benefits he would be
entitled to receive under Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

6.6 SURVIVAL OF OBLIGATIONS AND PROVISIONS. Exercise of the Company's
    --------------------------------------
termination rights according to the provisions of Articles 2.1, 2.2. and 2.3.1
shall not affect the Company's rights or the Executive's obligations under
Articles 3, 4, 5 or 6. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions
within Articles 3, 4, 5 or 6 survive the termination or expiration of this
Agreement as well as the termination of Executive's employment relationship with
the Company.

6.7 AT-WILL PRESUMPTION. Upon completion of the Term of the Agreement, the
    -------------------
Parties acknowledge and agree that any further employment with the Company shall
be in an at-will capacity and may be terminated at any time.

6.8 EXPENSES OF ENFORCEMENT. Executive shall be liable to, and will pay the
    -----------------------
Company for all costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorneys' fees, incurred by the Company in the successful enforcement in any
respect of any of its rights under this Agreement, whether in litigation or
otherwise. Likewise, in the event the Company is unsuccessful in enforcing its
rights under this Agreement, whether in litigation or otherwise, then the
Company shall pay all of Executive's costs and expenses, including, but not
limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by Executive in defending the
Company's claims.

6.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement,
    ----------------
including Addendums A and B which are incorporated herein and made a part of the
Agreement, together with the Alco Standard Corporation Confidentiality and
Patent Agreement executed by the Executive and constitute the entire agreement
between the Parties concerning the subject matter of this Agreement, and that
together they supersede and replace all prior agreements, whether written or
oral except the relevant benefit and compensation plans referred to elsewhere in
the Agreement, which are incorporated reference; there are no other agreements,
understandings, restrictions, warranties, or representations between the parties
relating to this 


                                  Page 6 of 7
<PAGE>
 
subject matter. Executive hereby represents that, in signing the Agreement, he
has not relied upon any promise, representation, or any other inducement that is
not expressed herein.

6.10 APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the
     --------------
interpretation of the parties' rights and duties shall be governed by and
construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the state
of the principal place of business of IKON) without regard to the choice of law
provisions of such law.

6.11 VENUE. The parties hereby agree that any lawsuit or proceeding instituted
     -----
regarding this Agreement, its interpretation, enforcement or validity shall be
commenced in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County, Pennsylvania, or in
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and
the parties hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction over them of both
Courts.

6.12 NOTICES. All notices and other communications concerning this Agreement
     -------
shall be in writing and must be given by postage prepaid, registered or
certified mail, as follows:

      (a)    If to the Company, to:             (b)     If to Executive, to:
             P.O. Box 834                               P.O. Box 834
             Valley Forge, PA 19482                     Valley Forge, PA 19482
             Attn: Law Department

6.13 UNDERSTANDING OF TERMS. Executive acknowledges that he has carefully
     ----------------------
reviewed the contents of this Agreement, understands its import and intent,
including the restrictions on post-termination employment it imposes, and that
he agrees to its terms without duress and in full and complete knowledge of its
effect.

6.14 WAIVER. No omission or delay on the part of either Party of due and
     ------
punctual fulfillment of any obligation shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by
the other Party of any of its rights to require such due and punctual
fulfillment of any other obligation hereunder, whether similar or otherwise, or
a waiver of any remedy it may have.



IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Parties have affixed their signatures to this Agreement
to be effective as of August 5, 1996.



WITNESS


- -----------------------------                       ---------------------------
                                                    DAVID M. GADRA
                                                    Date:



ALCO STANDARD CORPORATION                           IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.



- -----------------------------                       ---------------------------
By:  Kurt E. Dinkelacker                            By:  Kurt E. Dinkelacker
Title:  Vice President                              Title:  President
Date:                                               Date:



                                  Page 7 of 7

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.26

                                   AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT, dated August 28, 1997, is made by and between IKON
OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC., an Ohio corporation with its principal offices located
at Malvern, Pennsylvania (the "Company"), and ________________________ (the
"Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of
its shareholders to foster the continuous employment of key management
personnel; and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes
that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a
Change in Control exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and
questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or
distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its
shareholders; and

         WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances
arising from the possibility of a Change in Control;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as
follows:

         1. Defined Terms.  The definitions of capitalized terms used in this 
            -------------  
Agreement are provided in the last Section hereof.

         2. Company's Covenants Summarized. In order to induce the Executive to
            ------------------------------
remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of the Executive's
covenants set forth in Section 3 hereof, the Company agrees, under the
conditions described herein, to pay the Executive the Severance Payments and the
other payments and benefits described herein in the event the Executive's
employment with the Company is (or, under the terms of this Agreement, is deemed
to have been) terminated following a Change in Control and during the term of
this Agreement. Except as provided herein, no amount or benefit shall be payable
under this Agreement unless there shall have been (or, under the terms of this
Agreement, there shall be deemed to have been) a termination of the Executive's
employment with the Company following a Change in Control and during the term of
this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating an express or
implied contract of employment and, except as otherwise agreed in writing
between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall not have any right to
be retained in the employment of the Company.

         3. The Executive's Covenants. The Executive agrees that, subject to the
            -------------------------
terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a Potential Change in
Control during the term of this Agreement, the Executive will remain in the
employ of the Company until the earliest of (i)

                                     - 1 -
<PAGE>
 
a date which is six (6) months from the date of such Potential Change in
Control, (ii) the date of a Change in Control, (iii) the date of termination by
the Executive of the Executive's employment for Good Reason or by reason of
death, Disability or retirement under the Company's applicable retirement
policies or in accordance with a retirement arrangement between the Executive
and the Company, or (iv) the termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment for any reason.

         4. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof
            -----------------
and shall continue in effect for a period of twenty-four (24) months beyond the
last day of the month in which a Change in Control occurs.

         5. Compensation Other Than Severance Payments.
            ------------------------------------------

            5.1 Following a Change in Control and during the term of this
Agreement, if the Executive fails to perform the Executive's full-time duties
with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness,
the Company shall pay the Executive's full salary to the Executive at the rate
in effect at the commencement of the relevant period, together with all
compensation and benefits payable to the Executive under the terms of any
compensation or benefits plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company
during such period, until the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Company for Disability.

            5.2 If the Executive's employment is terminated for any reason
following a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, the Company
shall pay the Executive's full salary to the Executive through the Date of
Termination at the rate in effect at the time the Notice of Termination is
given, together with all compensation and benefits to which the Executive is
entitled in respect of all periods preceding the Date of Termination under the
terms of the Company's compensation and benefits plans, programs or
arrangements.

            5.3 If the Executive's employment is terminated for any reason
following a Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, the Company
shall pay the Executive's normal post-termination compensation and benefits to
the Executive as such payments become due, to which Executive is entitled as a
former employee. Such post- termination compensation and benefits shall be
determined under, and paid in accordance with, the Company's retirement,
insurance and other compensation or benefit plans, programs and arrangements
maintained for the benefit of the Company's officers and employees.

            6.   Severance Payments.
                 ------------------
                 6.1 Subject to Section 6.2 hereof, the Company shall pay the
Executive the payments described in this Section 6.1 (the "Severance Payments")
upon the termination of the Executive's employment following a Change in Control
and during the term of this Agreement, in addition to any payments and benefits
to which the Executive is entitled under Section 5 hereof, unless such
termination is (i) by the Company for Cause, (ii) by reason of the Executive's
death or Disability, or (iii) by the Executive without Good Reason. Without
limiting the

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
 
foregoing, if the Executive retires voluntarily without Good Reason, such
retirement shall be considered a termination by the Executive without Good
Reason; however, if the Company requires that the Executive retire or if the
Executive retires voluntarily with Good Reason (in either case, other than on
account of Cause or Disability) following a Change in Control and during the
term of this Agreement, the Executive shall receive Severance Payments according
to the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, if preceded by a
Potential Change in Control, any of the following events shall be deemed to be a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company without Cause or by the
Executive with Good Reason following a Change in Control: (i) the Executive's
employment is terminated without Cause and such termination was at the request
or direction of or pursuant to negotiations with, a Person who has entered into
an agreement with the Company the consummation of which will constitute a Change
in Control, (ii) the Executive terminates his employment with Good Reason and
the circumstance or event which constitutes Good Reason occurs at the request or
direction of, or pursuant to negotiations with, such Person, or (iii) the
Executive's employment is terminated without Cause and such termination is
otherwise in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control which
actually occurs. For purposes of any determination regarding the applicability
of the immediately preceding sentence, any position taken by the Executive shall
be presumed to be correct unless the Board determines, by an affirmative vote of
not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the Board, that
Cause has been established by clear and convincing evidence. In any Board
deliberations or votes concerning a determination under this paragraph,
Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and votes. In lieu of any
further salary payments to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of
Termination and in lieu of any severance benefits otherwise payable to the
Executive, the Company shall pay and/or provide to the Executive the following:

                           (A) the Executive's target annual bonus award for 
the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, prorated to the Date of
Termination, assuming all target performance goals have been or will be
achieved;

                           (B) continued group hospitalization, health, dental
care, life or other insurance, travel or accident insurance and disability
insurance, for the Separation Period, with coverage substantially similar to
those which the Executive is receiving immediately prior to the Notice of
Termination (without giving effect to any amendment to such benefits made
subsequent to a Change in Control which amendment adversely affects in any
manner the Executive's entitlement to or the amount of such benefits); provided,
                                                                       --------
however, that (i) except as provided in subsection (ii) of this paragraph,
- -------
unless the Executive consents to a different method (after taking into account
the effect of such method on the calculation of "parachute payments" pursuant to
Section 6.2 hereof), such health insurance benefits shall be provided though a
third-party insurer, and provided further (ii) in the event the Company is
                         -------- -------
precluded from providing coverage under any such program by applicable law or
regulation, it shall provide Executive with a lump-sum payment equal to an
amount that would enable Executive after payment of applicable income and
employment taxes on such lump-sum amount to purchase comparable coverage.
Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section shall be
reduced to the extent comparable benefits are actually received by the Executive
without cost

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>
 
during the Separation Period (and any such benefits actually received by the
Executive shall be reported to the Company by the Executive).

                           (C) an amount equal to the Base Salary and annual
bonus the Executive would have earned if the Executive had continued working for
the Company during the Separation Period at the highest annual rate of Base
Salary that the Executive achieved before the Date of Termination, and received
an annual target percentage bonus for each year and part thereof, at the target
potential award level, assuming all target performance goals have been or will
be achieved.

                           (D) an amount equal to the excess of (i) the present
value of the benefits to which the Executive would be entitled under the
Company's Pension Plan and Company's Supplemental Retirement Plan (and any
successor thereto) if the Executive had continued working for the Company during
the Separation Period, and the Pension Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plan
continued in force during the Separation Period, at the highest annual rate of
Base Salary achieved during the Executive's period of actual employment with the
Company, over (ii) the present value of the benefits to which the Executive is
actually entitled under the Company's Pension Plan and Supplemental Retirement
Plan, each computed as of the date of the Executive's Date of Termination, with
present values to be determined using the discount rate used by the Pension
Benefits Guaranty Corporation to calculate the benefit liabilities under the
Pension Plan in the event of a plan termination on the Date of Termination,
compounded monthly, the mortality tables prescribed in the Company's Pension
Plan for determining actuarial equivalence, and the reduction factor (if any)
for early commencement of benefit payment based on the Executive's age on the
last day of the Separation Period;

                           (E) an amount equal to the Company's contributions 
to which the Executive would have been entitled under the Company's Retirement
Savings Plan (or any successor thereto) if the Executive had continued working
for the Company and the Retirement Savings Plan continued in force during the
Separation Period at the highest annual rate of Base Salary achieved during the
Executive's period of actual employment with the Company, and making the maximum
amount of employee contributions, if any, as are required under such plans;

                           (F) Notwithstanding any provision of the Company's 
LTIP or the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan to the contrary, the Executive shall
be fully vested in the Company contributions credited to the Executive under the
Partners' Stock Purchase Plan, and the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump
sum amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (i) any incentive compensation which
has been allocated or awarded to the Executive for a measuring period which
commenced prior to the Date of Termination under the LTIP but which, as of the
Date of Termination, is contingent only upon the continued employment of the
Executive to a subsequent date and/or upon achievement of performance goals and
which otherwise has not been paid, computed as if all performance goals have
been or will be achieved to the maximum extent, in lieu of any payment of such
incentive compensation under the LTIP, and without proration; (ii) the amount of
a 100% match on purchases made under the Partners' Stock

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
 
Purchase Plan in the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, less the
amount of the match actually made under the Partners' Stock Purchase Plan for
the portion of the year prior to the Date of Termination; and (iii) the amount
of a 100% match on purchases the Executive could have made under the Partners'
Stock Purchase Plan during the Separation Period (assuming no increase or
decrease in the purchase price under the Plan following the Date of Termination)
if the Executive had continued working for the Company and the Partners' Stock
Purchase Plan continued in force during the Separation Period at the pay and
bonus levels specified in (C) above;

                           (G) Full vesting in all stock options, including
options granted after the date of this Agreement which, to the extent not
previously vested, shall be exercisable beginning on the date of the termination
upon a Change in Control; and

                           (H) A one-year extension of any loan repayment
obligation under the Company's Partners Loan Program (subject to interest
accrual pursuant to the terms of such Plan).

                    6.2    (A) Whether or not the Executive becomes entitled to
the Severance Payments, if any payment or benefit received or to be received by
the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of the
Executive's employment whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any
other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions
result in a Change in Control or any Person affiliated with the Company or such
Person (with all such payments and benefits, including the Severance Payments,
hereinafter called "Total Payments") will be subject (in whole or in part) to
the Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount
(the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by the Executive,
after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total Payments and any federal, state
and local income and employment taxes and Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment,
shall be equal to the Total Payments. For purposes of determining the amount of
the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income and
employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment
taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and
state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the
state and locality of the Executive's residence on the Date of Termination (or,
if inapplicable, the date of the Change of Control, with the relevant date
hereinafter referred to as the "Payment Date") net of maximum reduction in
federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and
local taxes.

                           (B) For purposes of determining whether any of the 
Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise
Tax, (i) all of the Total Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments"
within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, unless in the opinion of
tax counsel (the "Tax Counsel") reasonably acceptable to the Executive and
selected by the accounting firm (the "Auditor") which was, immediately prior to
the Change in Control, the Company's independent auditor, such other payments or
benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, including
by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, (ii) all "excess parachute
payments" within the meaning of section

                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>
 
280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless, in
the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess parachute payments (in whole or part)
represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the
meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount
allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the
Excise Tax, and (iii) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment
or benefit shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles
of section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. Prior to the payment date set forth
in Section 6.3 hereof, the Company shall provide the Executive with its
calculation of the amounts referred to in this Section 6.2(B) and such
supporting materials as are reasonably necessary for the Executive to evaluate
the Company's calculations. If the Executive disputes the Company's calculations
(in whole or in part), the reasonable opinion of Tax Counsel with respect to the
matter in dispute shall prevail.

                           (C) In the event that (i) amounts are paid to the
Executive pursuant to subsection (A) of this Section 6.2, and (ii) the Excise
Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account
hereunder on the Payment Date, the Executive shall repay to the Company, within
90 days following the date on which the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax
is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such
reduction plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in
section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is
determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder in determining the
amount of the Gross-Up Payment at the time of the Payment Date (including by
reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at
the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up
Payment to the Executive in respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties
or additions payable by the Executive with respect to such excess and such
portion) within 90 days following the date on which the amount of such excess is
finally determined at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code.

                  6.3 The payments provided for in subsections (A), (C), (D),
(E), and (F) of Section 6.1 hereof and Section 6.2 hereof shall be made not
later than the twentieth (20th) day following the Date of Termination; provided,
                                                                       --------
however, that if the amounts of such payments, or, if applicable, the Excise
- -------
Tax, cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay
to the Executive on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the
Executive or, in the case of Gross Payments under Section 6.2 hereof, in
accordance with Section 6.2(B) hereof, of the minimum amount of such payments to
which the Executive is clearly entitled and shall pay the remainder of such
payments (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B)
of the Code) as soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event
later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the Date of Termination. In the event
that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently
determined to have been due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company
to the Executive, payable on the fifth (5th) business day after demand by the
Company (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B)
of the Code). At the time that payments are made under this Section, the Company
shall provide the Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in
which such payments were calculated and the basis for such calculations
including, without limitation, any opinions or

                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>
 
other advice the Company has received from outside counsel, auditors or
consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing shall be
attached to the statement). In the event the Company should fail to pay when due
the amounts described in Section 6.1 hereof, or Subsections (A), (B) and, if
applicable, (C), of Section 6.2 hereof, the Executive shall also be entitled to
receive from the Company an amount representing interest on any unpaid or
untimely paid amounts from the due date, as determined under this Section 6.3,
to the date of payment at the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code
after such due date.

                  6.4 The Company also shall pay to the Executive all legal fees
and expenses incurred by the Executive in disputing in good faith any issue
relating to the termination of the Executive's employment following a Change in
Control (including a termination of Executive's employment following a Potential
Change in Control if the Executive alleges in good faith that such termination
will be deemed to have occurred following a Change in Control pursuant to
Section 6.1 hereof) or in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit
or right provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or
proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the
Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder. Such payments shall be made
as such fees and expenses are incurred by the Executive, but in no event later
than five (5) business days after delivery of the Executive's written requests
for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the
Company reasonably may require.

            7.    Termination Procedures and Compensation During Dispute.
                  ------------------------------------------------------

                  7.1 Notice of Termination. After a Potential Change in Control
                      ---------------------
or Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, any purported
termination of the Executive's employment (other than by reason of death) shall
be communicated by written Notice of Termination from one party hereto to the
other party hereto in accordance with Section 10 hereof. For purpose of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated. Further, a Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the Board at a meeting of the
Board which considered such termination (after reasonable notice to the
Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's
counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion
of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct specifically included in the
definition of Cause, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. In any
Board deliberations or votes concerning determinations under this paragraph,
Executive shall recuse himself from such deliberations and votes.

                  7.2 Date of Termination. "Date of Termination," with respect
                      -------------------
to any termination of the Executive's employment after a Potential Change in
Control or Change in Control and during the term of this Agreement, shall mean
(i) if the Executive's employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days
after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the

                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>
 
Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the
Executive's duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (ii) if the
Executive's employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in
the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by the Company,
shall not be less than thirty (30) days (except in the case of a termination for
Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the Executive, shall not be less
than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date
such Notice of Termination is given).

         8.    No Mitigation. The Company agrees that, if the Executive's
               -------------
employment with the Company terminates during the term of this Agreement, the
Executive is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to
reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 6
hereof. Further, the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this
Agreement (other than Section 6.1(B) hereof) shall not be reduced by any
compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another
employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be
owed by the Executive to the Company, or otherwise.

         9.    Successors; Binding Agreement.
               -----------------------------

               9.1 Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from
consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all
of its assets to, another corporation which assumes this Agreement and all
obligations and undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a
consolidation, merger or transfer of assets and assumption, the term "Company"
as used herein shall mean such other corporation and this Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect.

               9.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the
Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Executive
hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of
the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the
Executive's estate.

         10.   Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
               -------
required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, by same day or
overnight mail as follows:

               (a)      To Company:
                        General Counsel
                        IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                        70 Valley Stream Parkway
                        Malvern, PA  19355



                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>
 
           (b)      To the Executive:

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

     11.   Miscellaneous.  All section headings are for convenience only. This
           -------------
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of when executed
shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to
be one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in marking proof of
this Agreement or any counterpart hereof to produce or account for any of the
other counterparts. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and sets
forth the entire understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and cannot be changed, modified, extended or terminated
except upon written amendment approved by the parties hereto. Unless otherwise
required by law, in the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any plan,
program, stock option award, LTIP award, or Company policy, the terms of this
Agreement shall be controlling. The Company may directly or indirectly withhold
from any payments made under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or other
taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or
ruling.

     12.   Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or application
           ------------
thereof to anyone or under any circumstances is adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provision or application and shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision or application in any other jurisdiction.

     13.   Source of Payment.  All payments provided for under this Agreement
           -----------------
shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company. The Company shall
not be required to establish a special or separate fund or other segregation of
assets to assure such payments, and, if the Company shall make any investments
to aid it in meeting its obligations hereunder, the Executive shall have no
right, title or interest whatever in or to any such investments except as may
otherwise be expressly provided in a separate written instrument relating to
such investments. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action taken
pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of
any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Company and the Executive or
any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Company hereunder, such right, without prejudice to rights
which employees may have, shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured
creditor of the Company.

     14.   Other Duties of the Executive During and After Term.
           ---------------------------------------------------

           14.1  Confidential Information.  Executive acknowledges that by
                 ------------------------
reason of his employment with the Company he has and will hereafter, from time
to time during the term of this Agreement, become exposed to and/or become
knowledgeable about proposals, plans inventions, practices, systems, programs,
formulas, processes, methods, techniques, research, records, supplier sources,
customer lists, and other forms of business information which are not

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
known to the Company's competitors and which are not recognized as being
encompassed within standard business or management practices and which are kept
secret and confidential by the Company (the "Confidential Information"). The
Executive therefore agrees that at no time during or after the period of his
employment by the Company will he disclose or use the Confidential Information
except as may be required in the prudent course of business for the benefit of
the Company; provided, that no payment required to be made by the Company under
the terms of this Agreement after termination of the employment of the Executive
shall be subject to any right of set-off, counterclaim, defense, abatement,
suspension, deferment or reduction by reason of any claim against the Executive
based upon breach of the covenant in this Section 14.1 other than upon execution
of an unsatisfied judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

           14.2  Remedies.  The Company and the Executive confirm that the
                 --------
restrictions contained in Section 14.1 hereof are, in view of the nature of the
business of the Company, reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate
interests of the Company and that any violation of any provision of Section 14.1
or 14.2 will result in irreparable injury to the Company. The Executive hereby
agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of the terms or
conditions of this Agreement by the Executive, the Company's remedies at law
will be inadequate and, in any such event, the Company shall be entitled to
commence an action for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and other
equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Executive further
irrevocable consents to the jurisdiction of any Pennsylvania state court or
federal court located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over any suit, action
or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Section 14.3 and hereby waives,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that he may now or
hereafter have to such jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such suit,
action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Executive's
Agreement as set forth in this Section 14 shall: (x) survive the termination of
this Agreement, and continue throughout the duration of the Executive's
employment with the Company, except as amended or modified by written agreement
of the parties; and (y) survive the Executive's termination of employment with
the Company.

           14.3  Modification of Terms.  If any restriction in this Section
                 ---------------------
14 of the Agreement is adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, service or
other limitations permitted by applicable law in any jurisdiction, the Executive
agrees that such may be modified and narrowed, either by a court or the Company,
to the maximum time, geographic, service or other limitations permitted by
applicable law so as to preserve and protect the Company's legitimate business
interest, without negating or impairing any other restrictions or undertaking
set forth in the Agreement.

     15.   Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration.  Except with respect to actions
           -----------------------------------
for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and other equitable relief under
Section 14, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or any breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the terms of this Section 15. All claims by the Executive for benefits
under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the Board

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under
this Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in writing within thirty (30)
days and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific
provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable
opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a claim and
shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board
within thirty (30) days after notification by the Board that the Executive's
claim has been denied. Any further dispute, controversy or claim arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation or alleged breach thereof,
shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Center for Public
Resources, Inc. Non-Administered Arbitration Rules (or such other rules as may
be agreed upon by the Executive and the Company), by three arbitrators, none of
whom shall be appointed by either party. The arbitration shall be governed by
United States Arbitration Act 9 U.S.C. (S). 1-16, and judgment upon the award
rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction
thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
the Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the Executive's
right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

     16.   Survival of Benefits.  Any Section of this Agreement which provides
           --------------------
a benefit to the Executive and which does not expressly provide for its
termination upon the expiration of the term of the Agreement shall survive the
expiration of the term and the obligation to provide benefits to the Executive
as set forth in such Section shall remain binding upon the Company until such
time as the Executive's employment relationship with the Company is terminated
and the benefits provided under such Section are paid in full to the Executive.

     17.   No Attachment.  Except as required by law, no right to receive
           -------------
payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation,
alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or
to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of
law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall
be null, void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section
                                --------  -------
17 shall preclude the assumption of such rights by executors, administrators or
other legal representatives of the Executive of his estate and their assigning
any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

     18.   Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, performance, and
           -------------
enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, and Executive consents to the jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts of Pennsylvania in any dispute arising under this Agreement.

     19.   Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
           -----------
shall have the meanings indicated below:

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
           (A)   "Base Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in section
280G(b)(3) of the Code.

           (B)   "Base Salary" shall mean the annual base salary of the
Executive at the time of reference.

           (C)   "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 
13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

           (D)   "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

           (E)   "Cause" for termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment shall mean a judicial determination that the Executive has committed
fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement against the Company; or a nonappealable
conviction of, or entry of a plea of nolo contendere for, an act by the
Executive constituting a felony or misdemeanor which, as determined by the Board
in the good faith, constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude and results in
material harm to the Company. In the event of a dispute concerning the
application of this provision, no claim by the Company that Cause exists shall
be given effect unless the Board determines by a vote of not less than three-
quarters (3/4) of its voting membership that Cause has been established by clear
and convincing evidence as provided in Section 7.1. Any dispute by the Executive
of a Board determination under this paragraph shall be resolved in accordance
with Section 15 hereof.

           (F)   A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if the
event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

                 (i)   any Person, together with its affiliates and associates
(as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the
Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of either the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; or

                 (ii)  the following individuals cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who,
on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director whose appointment
or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose
appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

                 (iii) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into,
any other Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company), or any
other person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, and, in
connection therewith, all or part of the outstanding shares of common stock
shall be changed in any way or converted into or exchanged for stock or other
securities or cash or any other property; or

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
                 (iv)  a transaction or series of transactions in which,
directly or indirectly, the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (x)
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) or (y) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash
flow of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person
or group of Persons.

                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control Event"
shall be deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or
series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders
of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or
series of transactions own a majority of the outstanding voting shares and in
substantially the same proportion in an entity which owns all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or
series of transactions.

           (G)   "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time. Reference to any section or subsection of the Code includes
references to any comparable or succeeding provision of any legislation which
amends, supplements, or replaces such section or subsection.

           (H)   "Company" shall mean IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and, except in
determining under Section 19(F) hereof whether or not any Change in Control of
the Company has occurred, shall include its subsidiaries and any successor to
its business and/or assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.

           (I)   "Date of Termination" shall have the meaning stated in Section
7.2 hereof.

           (J)   "Disability" shall mean termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment upon or following Executive's commencement of benefits
under the Company's long-term disability plan.

           (K)   "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended from time to time.

           (L)   "Excise Tax" shall mean any excise tax imposed under section
4999 of the Code.

           (M)   "Executive" shall mean the individual named in the first
paragraph of this Agreement.

           (N)   "Good Reason" for termination by the Executive of the
Executive's employment shall mean the occurrence (without the Executive's
express written consent) after any Change in Control, or after any Potential
Change in Control under the

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
circumstances described in the second sentence of Section 6.1 hereof of any one
of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless,
in the case of any act or failure to act described in paragraph (I), (V), (VI),
(VII) or (VIII) below, such act or failure to act is corrected prior to the Date
of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination given in respect thereof:

                 (I)   the assignment to the Executive of duties inconsistent
           with the Executive's status as a senior executive officer of the
           Company or a substantial alteration in the nature or status of the
           Executive's responsibilities other than any such alteration primarily
           attributable to the fact that the Company may no longer be a public
           company;

                 (II)  a reduction by the Company in the Executive's Base Salary
           as in effect on the date of the Potential Change of Control or as the
           same may be increased from time to time;

                 (III) the relocation of the Company's principal executive
           offices to a location more than 15 miles from the then location of
           such offices without the Executive's written consent or the Company's
           requiring the Executive to be based anywhere other than the Company's
           principal executive offices except for required travel on the
           Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with the
           Executive's present business travel obligations;

                 (IV)  the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive any
           portion of the Executive's current compensation, or to pay to the
           Executive any portion of an installment of deferred compensation
           under any deferred compensation program of the Company, within seven
           (7) days of the date such compensation is due after written demand
           from the Executive has been received therefor;

                 (V)   the failure by the Company to continue in effect any
           compensation plan which the Executive participates immediately prior
           to the Change in Control or Potential Change in Control which is
           material to the Executive's total compensation, including but not
           limited to the Company's stock option, incentive compensation,
           deferred compensation, stock purchase, bonus and other plans or any
           substitute plans adopted prior to the Change in Control, unless an
           equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or
           alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the
           failure by the Company to continue the Executive's participation
           therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not
           materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits
           provided and the level of the Executive's participation relative to
           other

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
           participants, as existed immediately prior to the Change in Control
           or the Potential Change in Control;

                 (VI)   the failure by the Company to continue to provide the
           Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the
           Executive under any of the Company's pension, life insurance,
           medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the
           Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in
           Control or Potential Change in Control, the taking of any action by
           the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any
           of such benefits or deprive the Executive of any material fringe
           benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control
           or a Potential Change in Control, or the failure by the Company to
           maintain a vacation policy with respect to the Executive that is at
           least as favorable as the vacation policy (whether formal or
           informal) in place with respect to the Executive immediately prior to
           the Change in Control or Potential Change in Control; or

                 (VII)  any purported termination of the Executive's employment
           which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying
           the requirements of Section 7.1 hereof; for purposes of this
           Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective; or

                 (VIII) any breach by the Company of any material provision of
           this Agreement.

If the Executive's employment has not terminated on account of Disability, the
Executive's right to terminate employment for Good Reason shall not be affected
by the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Executive's
continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with
respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder.

     For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good Reason,
any claim by the Executive that Good Reason exists shall be presumed to be
correct unless the Board determines by an affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters (3/4) of the voting membership of the Board, by clear and
convincing evidence, that Good Reason does not exist. In any Board deliberations
or votes concerning a determination under the paragraph, Executive shall recuse
himself from such deliberations and votes. Any dispute by the Executive of a
Board determination under this provision shall be resolved in accordance with
Section 15.

           (O)   "Gross-Up Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.2 hereof.

           (P)   "Notice of Termination" shall have the meaning stated in
Section 7.1 hereof.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
           (Q)   "Pension Plan" shall mean any tax-qualified, supplemental or
excess benefit pension plan maintained by the Company which is designed to
provide the Executive with supplemental retirement benefits.

           (R)   "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the
Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except
that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its affiliates (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (ii) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned,
directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

           (S)   "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred
if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have
occurred:

                 (I)   the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of
           which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

                 (II)  the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention
           to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would
           constitute a Change in Control; or

                 (III) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for
           purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has
           occurred.

           (T)   "Separation Period" shall mean the two-year period (or such
longer period as the Human Resources Committee of the Board may determine)
beginning on the Date of Termination.

           (U)   "Severance Payments" shall mean those payments described in
Section 6.1 hereof.

           (V)   "Total Payments" shall mean those payments described in Section
6.2 hereof.

                                       IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------

                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                       [Executive]

                                      -16-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.30

                           IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.

                         1994 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
               (as amended and restated effective January 1, 1998)


         A.    Purpose. The purpose of the IKON Office Solutions, Inc. 1994
Deferred Compensation Plan is to permit certain eligible employees of IKON
Office Solutions, Inc. and its affiliated companies to defer a portion of their
compensation and to participate in a program under which they are provided
supplemental income after their retirement. The program is intended to
constitute an unfunded deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of
management or highly compensated employees.

         2.    Definition. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following
words as used herein shall have the following meanings:

               (a) "Administrator" shall mean the person or persons so
designated and acting under Paragraph 16 hereof.

               (b) "Affiliated Employer" shall mean any domestic corporation
of which IKON (directly or through any subsidiary) owns 80% or more of the
outstanding voting stock.

               (c) "Compensation" shall mean all salaries, bonuses, commissions
and incentive compensation from IKON or an Affiliated Employer, but shall not
include company contributions under IKON's Partners' Stock Purchase Plan or the
IKON Retirement Savings Plan or any fringe benefits.

               (d) "Effective Date" shall mean January 1, 1998, the effective
date of this amended and restated Plan. The rights of a Participant whose
participation in the Plan commenced prior to the Effective Date and who remains
a Participant on the Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the
amended and restated Plan as set forth herein.

               (e) "Employer" shall mean IKON or an Affiliated Employer or
Unisource Worldwide, Inc.

               (f) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended from time to time.

               (g) "IKON" shall mean IKON Office Solutions, Inc., an Ohio
corporation, formerly known as Alco Standard Corporation.

               (h) "Participant" shall mean any person employed by an
Employer who is eligible, and who has elected, to participate in the Plan.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
               (i) "Participation Agreement" shall mean the agreement
executed by each Participant and IKON or an Affiliated Employer, as the case may
be, setting forth certain information relating to the Participant's
participation in the Plan.

               (j) "Plan" shall mean the IKON Office Solutions, Inc. 1994
Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.

               (k) "Plan Year" shall mean the period beginning on January 1
and ending on December 31 of each year.

               (l) "Total Disability" shall mean a total disability as
defined in the long term disability plan adopted by the Participant's Employer
(or, if the Participant's Employer does not have such a plan, the long term
disability plan of IKON).

         3.    Participation. Any person who (a) is employed by IKON or an
Affiliated Employer on a full-time basis, (b) is "highly compensated" (employees
who received, or who reasonably expect to receive, Compensation from IKON or an
Affiliated Employer in excess of $110,000 in the calendar year immediately
preceding the date on which the Participant begins to participate in the Plan
are considered "highly compensated" for purposes of the Plan) or has been
designated by IKON as a "Partner" and (c) is a United States taxpayer, shall be
eligible to participate herein. In addition, other persons who satisfy
conditions (a) and (c) of the foregoing sentence shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan if selected by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief
Financial Officer of IKON. A person eligible under this Paragraph 3 shall become
a Participant by executing a Participation Agreement and such other forms as may
be required by the Administrator.

         4.    Deferral of Compensation. Prior to the Effective Date and prior
to the beginning of each Plan Year during the term of the Plan, an employee of
IKON or an Affiliated Employer who meets the eligibility requirements of
Paragraph 3 may irrevocably elect to defer or forgo a portion of his
Compensation for each of the next five Plan Years (or, if less, for each of the
Plan Years while he is an active employee of IKON or an Affiliated Employer).
The amount of the deferral for each Plan Year may vary, subject to the minimum
and maximum limitations set forth below.

               The amount of salary and/or annual bonus (stated as a dollar
amount or as a percentage in the case of deferrals from a Participant's annual
bonus) to be deferred for the first Plan Year shall be designated on the
Participant's Participation Agreement, subject to the minimum and maximum
limitations set forth below. For each of the next four Plan Years after a
Participant's initial deferral election (or, if less, for each Plan Year while
he is an active employee of IKON or an Affiliated Employer), the Participant
will be given the opportunity, prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, to
elect the amount of Compensation to be deferred, subject to the minimum and
maximum limitations set forth below. For each Plan Year, the amount of a
Participant's deferrals from salary may be no less than $3,000 and the aggregate
amount of a

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Participant's deferrals from salary and annual bonus may be no more than
$100,000. In the event that a Participant fails to specify the amount to be
deferred in any Plan Year, he shall be deemed to have elected to defer $3,000 of
salary for such Plan Year. The Administrator shall have the right to waive the
future deferral obligation for a Participant who has suffered an unforseeable
emergency.

         The amount to be deferred for a Plan Year will be deducted from the
Participant's Compensation otherwise payable by IKON or an Affiliated Employer,
in substantially equal installments during the applicable deferral period in the
case of deferrals from salary, and in a lump sum in the case of deferrals from
annual bonuses.

         5.    Investment Accounts. Amounts deferred by a Participant pursuant
to Paragraph 4 will be credited to an account established by IKON in the name of
the Participant. A Participant's account will be credited with earnings based on
the performance of various investment alternatives selected by the Participant
from among those made available by IKON from time to time.

         A Participant may request a change in his allocation among the various
investment alternatives once during any calendar month. Any such changes
requested by the 25th day of the month will become effective as of the first day
of the next calendar month.

         6.    Vesting. A Participant shall vest in the benefits to be provided
hereunder (i) on the fifth anniversary of the date of his initial participation
in the Plan (or, in the case of Participants whose participation in the Plan
began as of July 1, 1995, on December 31, 1999), (ii) on the date of his
retirement from an Employer at or after age 60, or (iii) on the date that he
attains age 65, whichever shall first occur, provided the Participant has been a
full-time employee of an Employer for the entire period.

         A Participant who incurs a Total Disability while still employed by an
Employer shall become immediately vested in the benefits to be provided
hereunder (as described in Paragraph 8, below).

         Each other Participant whose employment with an Employer terminates
prior to vesting (other than on account of death, as described in Paragraph 7,
below) shall be entitled to receive, in a lump sum payment, an amount equal to
the lesser of (i) the Participant's deferrals to the date of termination,
without interest, or (ii) the value of the Participant's account as of the last
day of the calendar month coincident with or next following the date of
termination. No other benefits shall be payable under the Plan to such
Participant.

         7.    Death Benefits. If a Participant dies (whether before or after he
begins to receive benefit payments), his beneficiary shall be entitled to
receive, in a lump sum payment, the value of the Participant's account as of the
last day of the calendar month coincident with or next following the
Participant's date of death.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
         8.    Disability Benefits. If a Participant incurs a Total Disability
while still employed by an Employer, he shall be entitled to receive the
benefits described in Paragraph 9, which shall commence in the January following
the year in which he attains age 60. A Participant who has incurred a Total
Disability may begin to receive benefits before reaching age 60 if the Committee
(as defined in Paragraph 16) determines, upon application by the Participant,
that the Participant has a financial hardship that cannot reasonably be relieved
by use of other resources available to him.

         9.    Amount and Timing of Benefit Payments. Except as otherwise
provided in Paragraphs 6, 7 and 8, payment of benefits under the Plan shall be
paid in ten annual payments and shall commence in the January following the
later of the Participant's attaining age 60 or the Participant's retirement from
the employ of an Employer, unless the Participant has notified the
Administrator, in writing, by December 31 of the second year prior to such date,
of his election to defer commencement of such benefits until a later date or his
election to receive benefits in five or fifteen annual payments.

               A.   Ten Payments. If the Participant's benefits are to be paid
to him in ten annual payments, such payments shall be made as follows:

               (a)  1/10 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the first year.

               (b)  1/9 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the second year.

               (c)  1/8 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the third year.

               (d)  1/7 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the fourth year.

               (e)  1/6 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the fifth year.

               (f)  1/5 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the sixth year.

               (g)  1/4 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the seventh year.

               (h)  1/3 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the eighth year.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
               (i)  1/2 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the ninth year.

               (j)  All amounts remaining in his account in the tenth year.

               B. Five Payments. If the Participant elects (in accordance
                  -------------
with the procedure specified herein) to have his benefits paid in five annual
payments, such payments shall be made as follows:

               (a)  1/5 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the first year.

               (b)  1/4 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the second year.

               (c)  1/3 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the third year.

               (d)  1/2 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the fourth year.

               (e)  All amounts remaining in his account in the fifth year.

               C. Fifteen Payments. If the Participant elects (in accordance
                  ----------------
with the procedure specified herein) to have his benefits paid in fifteen annual
payments, such payments shall be made as follows:

               (a)  1/15 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the first year.

               (b)  1/14 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the second year.

               (c)  1/13 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the third year.

               (d)  1/12 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the fourth year.

               (e)  1/11 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the fifth year.

               (f)  1/10 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the sixth year.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
               (g)  1/9 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the seventh year.

               (h)  1/8 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the eighth year.

               (i)  1/7 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the ninth year.

               (j)  1/6 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the tenth year.

               (k)  1/5 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the eleventh year.

               (l)  1/4 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the twelfth year.

               (m)  1/3 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the thirteenth year.

               (n)  1/2 of the value of his account as of the preceding
December 31 in the fourteenth year.

               (o)  All amounts remaining in his account in the fifteenth
year.

         10.   Beneficiary Designation. A Participant shall designate in his
Participation Agreement the beneficiary or beneficiaries who shall, in the event
of his death, receive the benefits payable in accordance with Paragraph 7. This
designation may be amended in writing and filed with the Administrator from time
to time by the Participant. In the event that there is no effective beneficiary
designation when such benefits are payable, payments shall be made to the
members of the first surviving class of the Participant in the following
priority:

               (a)   spouse;

               (b)   the living children (including adopted children) in
equal amounts;

               (c)   estate.

         11.   Incapacity of Recipient. Any payment required to be made under
the Plan to a person who is under a legal disability may be made to or for the
benefit of such person in such of the following ways as the Administrator shall
determine:

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
               (a)   to such person;

               (b)   to the legal representatives of such person;

               (c)   to a near relative of such person to be used for his
benefit; or

               (d)   to pay the expenses of support, maintenance or education
of such person.

         The Administrator shall not be required to see to the application by
any third party of payments made pursuant to this Paragraph 11.

         12.   Responsibility for Payment. All benefits under the Plan shall be
paid by IKON. IKON may, in its sole discretion, determine the manner in which it
shall finance its obligation to pay such benefits.

         13.   Non-Assignment. Except as hereinafter provided with respect to
marital or family support disputes, no amount payable under the Plan shall be
subject to assignment, transfer, sale, pledge, encumbrance, alienation or charge
by the Participant or any beneficiary. Any attempt to assign, transfer, sell,
pledge, encumber, alienate or charge any amount hereunder shall be without
effect. In cases of marital or family support disputes, the Administrator will
observe the terms of the Plan unless and until ordered to do otherwise by a
state or federal court. As a condition of participation in the Plan, the
Participant shall agree to hold the Employer harmless from any claim that arises
out of obeying an order of any state or federal court with respect to marital or
family support disputes, whether such order effects a judgment of such court or
is issued to enforce a judgment or order of another court.

         14.   No Funding. IKON shall not segregate or physically set aside any
funds or assets as a result of this Plan. Neither a Participant, nor his
beneficiary, nor any other person shall be deemed to have, pursuant to this
Plan, any property interest, legal or equitable, in any specific asset of IKON
or an Employer. To the extent that any person acquires any right to receive
benefits under this Plan or a Participation Agreement, such right shall be no
greater than, nor shall it have any preference or priority over, the rights of
any unsecured general creditor of IKON or an Affiliated Employer.

         15.   Ownership of Life Insurance Policies. IKON may, but is not
obligated to, purchase life insurance policies to assist it in meeting its
obligation to pay benefits under the Plan. IKON will retain all incidents of
ownership in such policies.

         As a condition of participation in the Plan, the Participant shall
agree that IKON or an Affiliated Employer may, at their expense, purchase life
insurance on the life of the Participant.

         16.   Administration. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee
selected from time to time by the Board of Directors of IKON (the "Committee").
The Committee shall select 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
an Administrator from time to time to administer the Plan under the general
policy guidance of the Committee. The Administrator shall be one or more persons
who shall be responsible for:

               (a)   maintaining any records necessary in connection with the
Plan;

               (b)   making calculations under the Plan;

               (c)   interpreting the provisions of the Plan; and

               (d)   otherwise administering the Plan in accordance with its
terms.

         17.   Claims Procedures. At any time the Administrator makes a
determination adverse to a Participant or beneficiary with respect to a claim
for benefits or participation under the Plan, the Administrator shall notify the
claimant in writing of such determination, setting forth:

               (a)   the specific reason for such determination;

               (b)   a reference to the specific provision or provisions of the
Plan on which such determination is based;

               (c)   a description of any additional material or information
necessary to perfect the claim, and an explanation of the reason that such
material is required; and

               (d)   an explanation of the rights and procedures set forth in
this Paragraph 17.

         A person who receives notice of an adverse determination by the
Administrator with respect to a claim may request, within 60 days of receipt of
such notice, that the Committee review the Administrator's determination. This
request may be made on behalf of a claimant by a duly authorized representative.
The claimant or representative may review pertinent documents and submit issues
and comments with respect to the controversy to the Committee. The Committee
shall render a decision within 60 days of a request for review (or within 120
days under special circumstances), which decision shall be in writing and shall
set forth the specific reasons for the decision reached and the specific
provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based. A copy of the ruling
shall be forwarded to the claimant.

         18.   Employee Benefit Plans. This Plan shall not in any way affect a
Participant's right to participate in any pension, profit-sharing, incentive,
thrift, group health insurance, stock option, termination pay or similar plan of
an Employer, which is now in effect or may hereafter be adopted, to the extent
that the Participant is entitled to participate under the applicable terms and
provisions of such plan, except that the amounts deferred herein shall not be
included in determining a Participant's benefits under any retirement plans
qualified under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Deferrals under
this Plan will be included as compensation for purposes of calculating the level
of contributions under IKON's Partners' Stock Purchase Plan.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
         19.   Amendment. The Board of Directors of IKON shall have the power to
amend this Plan at any time; provided, however, that, except as set forth in
Paragraph 20 and/or Paragraph 21, no amendment or termination of the Plan shall
have a material adverse effect upon a Participant unless he consents to such
amendment or termination in writing.

         20.   Termination. This Plan shall remain in effect until termination
by the Board of Directors of IKON. The Board of Directors of IKON shall have the
right to terminate the Plan in its entirety, and not in part, at any time it
determines that proposed or pending tax law changes or other events cause, or
are likely in the future to cause, the Plan to have an adverse financial impact
upon IKON. In such event, IKON shall have no liability or obligation under the
Plan or the Participant's Participation Agreement (or any other document),
provided that IKON distributes to each Participant, in a lump sum payment, the
value of his account, valued as of the end of the month in which such
termination occurs.

         21.   Acceleration. IKON shall have the right at any time to (a)
accelerate the vesting of benefits to be provided under the Plan or (b) cause
the payment of all amounts thereafter due to a Participant to be paid in a
single lump sum or in such other accelerated manner as IKON shall deem
appropriate. The amount of any lump sum payment shall be the value of a
Participant's account, valued as of the end of the month following IKON's
determination to accelerate benefits. If IKON accelerates the payment of
benefits to more than 70% of all Participants pursuant to this provision, it
must accelerate the payment of benefits to all Participants under the Plan in a
comparable manner.

         22.   Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control (as
defined below), the Plan shall terminate, and the Participant shall receive, in
a lump sum payment, the value of his account, valued as of the end of the month
in which such Change in Control occurs.

               For purposes of this Plan, the term "Change in Control" shall
mean any of the following events:

                    (A) any Person, together with its affiliates and associates
(as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of IKON common stock;
or

                    (B) the following individuals cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who,
on September 30, 1997, constituted the Board and any new director whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by IKON's
shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
still in office who either were directors on September 30, 1997 or whose
appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                    (C) IKON consolidates with, or merges with or into,
any other Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of IKON), or any
other Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, IKON, and, in connection
therewith, all or part of the outstanding shares of common stock shall be
changed in any way or converted into or exchanged for stock or other securities
or cash or any other property; or

                    (D) a transaction or series of transactions in which,
directly or indirectly, IKON shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one
or more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (i)
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) or (ii) generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash
flow of IKON and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or
group of Persons.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control" shall be
deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of IKON
common stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions own
a majority of the outstanding voting shares and in substantially the same
proportion in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of
IKON immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

                  The term "Person" in the foregoing definition shall have the
meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i)
IKON or any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act), (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of IKON or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter
temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or
(iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of IKON in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of IKON stock.

         23.      Miscellaneous.

                  (a)   The existence of this Plan and the Participation
Agreements hereunder, and any actions undertaken pursuant hereto, shall not
confer upon the Participant any right to continued employment by any Employer.

                  (b)   This Plan shall be administered under and in accordance
with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in which IKON's principal
place of business is located.

                  (c)   The terms of this Plan and the Participation Agreements
and other documents executed in accordance herewith shall be binding upon IKON,
its successors and assigns, and each Participant, his heirs and legal
representatives.

                  (d)   Any taxes imposed on a Participant shall be the sole
responsibility of the Participant. Employers shall have the right to deduct from
any benefits payable under the Plan any federal, state or local taxes required
to be deducted or withheld from such benefits.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                  (e)   No expenses of administering the Plan shall be charged
against the Participants or their benefits hereunder.

                  (f)   As used herein, the singular shall include the plural,
the masculine shall include the feminine, and vice versa.

                                       11

<PAGE>
 

                                                                   Exhibit 10.31
 
                          IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.

                      EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
              (as amended and restated effective January 1, 1998)


     1.  Purpose.  The purpose of the IKON Office Solutions, Inc. Executive
Deferred Compensation Plan is to permit certain eligible employees of IKON
Office Solutions, Inc. to defer a portion of their compensation and to
participate in a program under which they are provided income at a specified
time in the future.  The program is intended to constitute an unfunded deferred
compensation arrangement for a select group of management or highly compensated
employees.

     2.  Definition.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words
as used herein shall have the following meanings:

         (a) "Administrator" shall mean the person or persons so designated and
acting under Paragraph 16 hereof.

         (b) "Compensation" shall mean all salaries and bonuses payable by IKON
and all shares of IKON common stock or cash payable pursuant to awards under the
LTIP, but shall not include company contributions under IKON's Partners' Stock
Purchase Plan or the IKON Retirement Savings Plan or any fringe benefits.

         (c) "Effective Date" shall mean January 1, 1998, the effective date of
this amended and restated Plan. The rights of a Participant whose participation
in the Plan commenced prior to the Effective Date and who remains a Participant
on the Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the amended and restated
Plan as set forth herein.

         (d) "Election Form" shall mean the election form executed by each
Participant and IKON setting forth certain information relating to the
Participant's participation in the Plan.

         (e) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.

         (f) "IKON" shall mean IKON Office Solutions, Inc., an Ohio corporation,
formerly known as Alco Standard Corporation.

         (g) "LTIP" shall mean IKON's Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as
amended from time to time.

         (h) "Participant" shall mean any person employed by IKON who is
eligible, and who has elected, to participate in the Plan.
<PAGE>
 
         (i) "Plan" shall mean the IKON Office Solutions, Inc. Executive
Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.

         (j) "Plan Year" shall mean the period beginning on January 1 and ending
on December 31 of each year.

     3.  Participation.  Any person who (a) is employed by IKON, (b) is holding
an unvested award under the LTIP and (c) is a United States taxpayer shall be
eligible to participate herein.  A person eligible under this Paragraph 3 shall
become a Participant by executing an Election Form and such other forms as may
be required by the Administrator.

     4.  Deferral of Compensation.  Prior to the Effective Date and prior to the
beginning of each Plan Year during the term of the Plan, an employee who meets
the eligibility requirements of Paragraph 3 may irrevocably elect to defer or
forgo a portion of his Compensation for the following Plan Year.

     The amount of the deferral for each Plan Year may vary, but cash deferrals
must be projected to be no less than $5,000 for any Plan Year.  The amount to be
deferred for a Plan Year will be deducted from the Participant's Compensation
otherwise payable by IKON.  In the case of deferrals from salary, such deferrals
will be made in substantially equal installments.

     A Participant may specify the length of time for which receipt of cash
and/or shares of IKON common stock may be deferred, provided that (i) the
deferral period must extend at least until the January following the end of the
calendar year in which the Compensation would otherwise have been paid but for
the election to defer and (ii) distributions must commence no later than the
January following the year in which the Participant attains age 60 or the
January following the year in which the Participant retires or otherwise
terminates employment with IKON, whichever is later.  A Participant may elect to
defer the distribution of benefits to a later date by providing written notice
of such election to the Administrator by December 31 of the second year prior to
the date on which benefits would otherwise have been paid; provided, however,
that such election may be made only once with respect to the deferral pursuant
to any Election Form.

     5.  Investment Accounts.  Amounts deferred by a Participant pursuant to
Paragraph 4 will be credited to a cash deferral account and/or a stock deferral
account established by IKON in the name of the Participant.  A Participant's
cash deferral account will be denominated in dollars and will be credited with
earnings based on the performance of various investment alternatives selected by
the Participant from among those made

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
available by IKON from time to time.  A Participant's stock deferral account
will initially be denominated solely in share units (representing the right to
receive an equivalent number of shares of IKON common stock) and will be
credited with additional share units to reflect cash dividends paid by IKON in
respect of its common stock.

     With respect to shares deferred into a Participant's stock deferral account
prior to January 1, 1997 (including shares of Unisource Worldwide, Inc.
("Unisource") common stock that were credited to the Participant's stock
deferral account in connection with the December 31, 1996 spin-off
distribution), a Participant may elect to convert some or all of the share units
so that they will thereafter be denominated in dollars.  To the extent that a
Participant makes such an election, his stock deferral account will thereafter
contain a separate sub-account, denominated in dollars.  A Participant subject
to IKON's Confidential Information and Security Trading Policy may make such a
conversion election only during a trading window and the sub-account in the
Participant's stock deferral account will be credited with an amount based on
the value of IKON common stock or Unisource common stock, as the case may be, as
of the following business day.  A Participant who is not subject to IKON's
Confidential Information and Security Trading Policy may make such a conversion
election on or before the 25th of any month and the sub-account in the
Participant's stock deferral account will be credited with an amount based on
the value of IKON common stock or Unisource common stock, as the case may be, as
of the last business day of such month.  The sub-account in the Participant's
stock deferral account will be credited with earnings based on the performance
of various investment index alternatives selected by the Participant from among
those made available by IKON from time to time.

     All amounts deferred into in a Participant's stock deferral account on or
after January 1, 1997 must remain denominated in stock units and may not be
converted to dollars at any time.

     A Participant may request a change in the allocation of his cash deferral
account or the sub-account in his stock deferral account from among the various
available alternatives once during any calendar month.  Any such change
requested by the 25th day of a month will become effective as of the first day
of the next calendar month.

     6.  Rabbi Trust.  IKON intends to contribute all Participant deferrals of
IKON common stock to a "rabbi trust" (the "Trust") to be established for this
purpose.  Assets held in the Trust will be subject to the claims of creditors of
IKON.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
         The Trust shall be deemed to be the owner of all shares held in the
Trust for corporate law purposes. The trustee of the Trust (the "Trustee") shall
retain all incidents of ownership in any shares held in the Trust, including the
right to vote such shares and to receive dividends paid in respect of such
shares. The Trustee may, but is not obligated to, reinvest any cash dividends
received in respect of shares of IKON common stock held in the Trust to purchase
additional shares of IKON common stock.

     7.  Vesting.  A Participant shall be immediately vested in all amounts
deferred hereunder.

     8.  Amount and Timing of Payments.  Except as otherwise provided in
Paragraphs 9 and 10, amounts to which a Participant is entitled under the Plan
shall be paid to him in a lump sum in January of the year specified in his
Election Form, valued as of the end of the preceding Plan Year.  Alternatively,
if the Participant so elects, distributions may be made in substantially equal
annual installments over a period not to exceed ten years, beginning in January
of the year specified in the Participant's Election Form.  All distributions
from the Trust shall be made (i) in shares of IKON common stock (or Unisource
common stock, as the case may be) for the stock units credited to the account,
unless the Participant elects, subject to the approval of the Plan
Administrator, to receive such distribution(s) in cash, and (ii) in cash for all
other items credited to the account.

     9.  Death.  Notwithstanding any contrary election in a Participant's
Election Form, if a Participant dies before receiving full payment of all
amounts to which he is entitled under the Plan, the beneficiary or beneficiaries
designated by the Participant in his Election Form shall receive the balance in
the Participant's cash deferral account and stock deferral account (valued as of
the end of the calendar month in which the Participant dies), in a lump sum
payment, as soon as administratively practicable following the Participant's
date of death.  Distributions from a Participant's stock deferral account will
be made (i) in shares of stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) for the
stock units credited to the account, unless the beneficiary elects, subject to
the approval of the Administrator, to have the distribution paid in cash, and
(ii) in cash for all other items credited to the account.

     10. Termination of Employment.  Notwithstanding any contrary election in a
Participant's Election Form, if a Participant terminates employment with IKON,
he shall receive the balance in his cash deferral account and stock deferral
account (valued as of the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant's
employment terminates), in a lump sum payment, in January of the year following
his employment termination date.  Distributions from a participant's stock
deferral account will be made (i) in

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
shares of stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) for the stock units
credited to the account, unless the Participant elects, subject to the approval
of the Administrator, to have the distribution paid in cash, and (ii) in cash
for all other items credited to the account.  For purposes of this Paragraph 10,
a Participant will not be treated as having terminated employment with IKON if
he continues to be an employee of Unisource.

     11.  Beneficiary Designation.  A Participant shall designate in his
Election Form the beneficiary or beneficiaries, who shall, in the event of his
death, receive the payments to which the Participant would otherwise have been
entitled.  This designation may be amended in writing and filed with the
Administrator from time to time by the Participant.  In the event that there is
no effective beneficiary designation when such amounts are payable, payment
shall be made to the members of the first surviving class of the Participant in
the following priority:

          (a)  spouse;

          (b)  the living children (including adopted children) in equal
amounts;

          (c)  estate.

     12.  Incapacity of Recipient.  Any payment required to be made under the
Plan to a person who is under a legal disability may be made to or for the
benefit of such person in such of the following ways as the Administrator shall
determine:

          (a) to such person;

          (b) to the legal representatives of such person;

          (c) to a near relative of such person to be used for his benefit; or

          (d) to pay the expenses of support, maintenance or education of such
person.

     The Administrator shall not be required to see to the application by any
third party of payments made pursuant to this Paragraph 12.

     13.  Responsibility for Payment.  All amounts payable under the Plan shall
be paid by IKON.  IKON may, in its sole discretion, determine the manner in
which it shall finance its obligation to pay such amounts.

     14.  Non-Assignment.  Except as hereinafter provided with respect to
marital or family support disputes, no amount payable

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
under the Plan shall be subject to assignment, transfer, sale, pledge,
encumbrance, alienation or charge by the Participant or any beneficiary.  Any
attempt to assign, transfer, sell, pledge, encumber, alienate or charge any
amount hereunder shall be without effect.  In cases of marital or family support
disputes, the Administrator will observe the terms of the Plan unless and until
ordered to do otherwise by a state or federal court.  As a condition of
participation in the Plan, the Participant shall agree to hold IKON harmless
from any claim that arises out of obeying an order of any state or federal court
with respect to marital or family support disputes, whether such order effects a
judgment of such court or is issued to enforce a judgment or order of another
court.

     15.  Unsecured Obligation.  Other than the assets contributed to the Trust
pursuant to Paragraph 6, IKON shall not segregate or physically set aside any
funds or assets as a result of this Plan.  Neither a Participant, nor his
beneficiary, nor any other person shall be deemed to have, pursuant to this
Plan, any property interest, legal or equitable, in any specific asset of IKON
or any specific asset in the Trust.  To the extent that any person acquires any
right to receive payments under this Plan or an Election Form, such right shall
be no greater than, nor shall it have any preference or priority over, the
rights of any unsecured general creditor of IKON.

     16.  Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by a Committee
selected from time to time by the Board of Directors of IKON (the "Committee").
The Committee shall select an Administrator from time to time to administer the
Plan under the general policy guidance of the Committee.  The Administrator
shall be one or more persons who shall be responsible for:

          (a) maintaining any records necessary in connection with the Plan;

          (b) making calculations under the Plan;

          (c) interpreting the provisions of the Plan; and

          (d) otherwise administering the Plan in accordance with its terms.

     17.  Claims Procedures.  At any time the Administrator makes a
determination adverse to a Participant or beneficiary with respect to a claim
for payment or participation under the Plan, the Administrator shall notify the
claimant in writing of such determination, setting forth:

          (a) the specific reason for such determination;

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          (b) a reference to the specific provision or provisions of the Plan on
which such determination is based;

          (c) a description of any additional material or information necessary
to perfect the claim, and an explanation of the reason that such material is
required; and

          (d) an explanation of the rights and procedures set forth in this
Paragraph 17.

     A person who receives notice of an adverse determination by the
Administrator with respect to a claim may request, within 60 days of receipt of
such notice, that the Committee review the Administrator's determination.  This
request may be made on behalf of a claimant by a duly authorized representative.
The claimant or representative may review pertinent documents and submit issues
and comments with respect to the controversy to the Committee.  The Committee
shall render a decision within 60 days of a request for review (or within 120
days under special circumstances), which decision shall be in writing and shall
set forth the specific reasons for the decision reached and the specific
provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based.  A copy of the ruling
shall be forwarded to the claimant.

     18.  Employee Benefit Plans.  This Plan shall not in any way affect a
Participant's right to participate in any pension, profit-sharing, incentive,
thrift, group health insurance, stock option, termination pay or similar plan of
IKON, which is now in effect or may hereafter be adopted, to the extent that the
Participant is entitled to participate under the applicable terms and provisions
of such plan, except that the amounts deferred herein shall not be included in
determining a Participant's benefits under any retirement plans qualified under
section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Deferrals under this Plan will be
included as compensation for purposes of calculating the level of contributions
under IKON's Partners' Stock Purchase Plan.

     19.  Amendment.  The Board of Directors of IKON shall have the power to
amend this Plan at any time; provided, however, that, except as set forth in
Paragraphs 20, 21 and 22, no amendment or termination of the Plan shall have a
material adverse effect upon a Participant unless he consents to such amendment
or termination in writing.

     20.  Termination.  This Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by the
Board of Directors of IKON.  The Board of Directors of IKON shall have the right
to terminate the Plan in whole or in part, for any reason, including pursuant to
a determination that proposed or pending tax law changes or other events cause,
or are likely in the future to cause, the Plan to

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
have an adverse financial impact upon IKON.  In such event, IKON shall have no
liability or obligation under the Plan or the Participant's Election Form (or
any other document), provided that IKON distributes to each Participant, in a
lump sum payment, the balance in his cash deferral account and stock deferral
account, valued as of the end of the month in which such termination occurs.
Distributions from a Participant's stock deferral account will be made (i) in
shares of IKON common stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) for stock
units credited to the account, unless the Participant elects, subject to the
approval of the Plan Administrator, to receive such distribution in cash, and
(ii) in cash for all other items credited to the account.

     21.  Acceleration.  IKON shall have the right at any time to cause the
payment of all amounts thereafter due to a Participant to be paid in a single
lump sum or in such other accelerated manner as IKON shall deem appropriate.
The amount of any lump sum payment shall be the value of a Participant's cash
deferral account and stock deferral account, valued as of the end of the month
following IKON's determination to accelerate payments.  If IKON accelerates
payment to more than 70% of all Participants pursuant to this provision, it must
accelerate payment to all Participants under the Plan in a comparable manner.

     22.  Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control (as defined
below), the Plan shall terminate, and the Participant shall receive, in a lump
sum payment, the balance in his cash deferral account and stock deferral
account, valued as of the end of the month in which such Change in Control
occurs.  Distributions from a Participant's stock deferral account will be made
in (i) shares of stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) for stock units
credited to the account, unless the Participant elects, subject to the approval
of the Plan Administrator, to receive such distribution in cash, and (ii) in
cash for all other items credited to the account.

          For purposes of this Plan, the term "Change in Control" shall mean any
of the following events:

               (A) any Person, together with its affiliates and associates (as
such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of IKON common stock;
or

               (B) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute
a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on
September 30, 1997, constituted the Board and any new director whose appointment
or election by the Board or nomination for election by IKON's shareholders was

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office
who either were directors on September 30, 1997 or whose appointment, election
or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

               (C) IKON consolidates with, or merges with or into, any other
Person (other than a wholly owned subsidiary of IKON), or any other Person
consolidates with, or merges with or into, IKON, and, in connection therewith,
all or part of the outstanding shares of common stock shall be changed in any
way or converted into or exchanged for stock or other securities or cash or any
other property; or

               (D) a transaction or series of transactions in which, directly or
indirectly, IKON shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its
subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) assets (i) aggregating more than
50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair market value) or (ii)
generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow of IKON and its
subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or group of Persons.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control" shall be deemed
to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of integrated
transactions immediately following which the record holders of IKON common stock
immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions own a majority
of the outstanding voting shares and in substantially the same proportion in an
entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of IKON immediately
following such transaction or series of transactions.

          The term "Person" in the foregoing definition shall have the meaning
given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) IKON or any
of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act),
(ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of IKON or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of IKON in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of IKON stock.

     23.  Miscellaneous.

          (a)  The existence of this Plan and the Elections Forms hereunder, and
any actions undertaken pursuant hereto, shall not confer upon the Participant
any right to continued employment by IKON.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
          (b)  This Plan shall be administered under and in accordance with the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in which IKON's principal place of
business is located.

          (c)  The terms of this Plan and the Election Forms and other documents
executed in accordance herewith shall be binding upon IKON, its successors and
assigns, and each Participant, his heirs and legal representatives.

          (d)  Any taxes imposed on a Participant shall be the sole
responsibility of the Participant. IKON shall have the right to deduct from any
amounts payable under the Plan any federal, state or local taxes required to be
deducted or withheld from such payments.

          (e)  No expenses of administering the Plan shall be charged against
the Participants or any payments made hereunder, except that IKON may, in its
discretion, allocate certain taxes to the accounts of Participants.

          (f)  As used herein, the singular shall include the plural, the
masculine shall include the feminine, and vice versa.

                                       10

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 11

                           IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
                       COMPUTATIONS OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                (in thousands, except earnings (loss) per share)


<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                        1997                                       1996
                                                             ------------------------------         ----------------------------
                                                                                   Fully                                Fully
                                                              Primary           Diluted(1)           Primary          Diluted(1)
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Three Months September 30
<S>                                                          <C>                <C>                  <C>             <C> 
Average Shares Outstanding
Common shares                                                  132,858             132,858            130,397           130,397
Preferred stock
   Senior Securities
Convertible loan notes                                                                 287                                  374
Options                                                            672                 672              1,556             1,744
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
   Total shares                                                133,530             133,817            131,953           132,515
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========

Income
Continuing Operations                                        $  32,960          $   33,040           $ 43,814        $   43,892
Discontinued Operations                                                                                11,131            11,131
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Net income                                                      32,960              33,040             54,945            55,023
Less: Preferred dividends                                        4,885               4,885              4,885             4,885
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Net income available to common shareholders                  $  28,075          $   28,155           $ 50,060        $   50,138
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========

Earnings Per Share
Continuing Operations                                            $0.21               $0.21              $0.30             $0.30
Discontinued Operations                                                                                  0.08              0.08
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========
Earnings Per Share                                               $0.21               $0.21              $0.38             $0.38
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========



Fiscal Year Ended September 30

Average Shares Outstanding
Common shares                                                  133,261             133,261            125,856           125,856
Preferred stock
   Senior Securities                                                                                                      2,396
Convertible loan notes                                                                 287                                  374
Options                                                          1,112               1,282              1,793             1,912
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
   Total shares                                                134,373             134,830            127,649           130,538
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========

Income
Continuing Operations                                        $ 122,362          $  122,691           $164,893        $  165,200
Discontinued Operations                                         20,151              20,151             45,848            45,848
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Income before extraordinary loss                               142,513             142,842            210,741           211,048
Extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt                   (12,156)            (12,156)
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Net Income                                                     130,357             130,686            210,741           211,048
Less:Preferred Dividends                                        19,540              19,540             22,319            19,540
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Net income available to common shareholders                  $ 110,817          $  111,146           $188,422        $  191,508
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========

Earnings Per Share
Continuing Operations                                            $0.77               $0.76              $1.12             $1.12
Discontinued Operations                                           0.15                0.15               0.36             $0.35
Extraordinary Loss                                               (0.09)              (0.09)
                                                             ----------        ------------         ----------       -----------
Earnings Per Share                                               $0.83               $0.82              $1.48             $1.47
                                                             ==========        ============         ==========       ===========
</TABLE> 


(1)   This calculation is submitted in accordance with Regulation S-K item 601
      (b) (11) although not required by footnote 2 to paragraph 14 of APB
      Opinion No. 15 because it results in dilution of less than 3%.

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 12.1

                  IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                             (dollars in thousands)





<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                Fiscal Year Ended September 30
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                      1997                  1996            1995            1994             1993
                                                      -------------     -------------    ------------    -----------    ------------

<S>                                                   <C>               <C>              <C>             <C>            <C> 
Earnings
      Income from continuing operations               $    122,362      $    164,893     $   115,011     $    1,996     $    61,276
      Add:
          Loss from unconsolidated affiliate                                                                117,158           2,538
          Provision for income taxes                        90,751           107,984          75,501         41,315          40,093
          Fixed charges                                    192,021           127,970          82,672         60,481          49,524

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

      Earnings, as adjusted                    (A)    $    405,134      $    400,847     $   273,184     $  220,950     $   153,431
                                                      =============     =============    ============    ===========    ============



Fixed charges
      Other interest expense, including
          interest on capital leases                  $    146,117      $    105,222     $    61,888     $   44,096     $    39,044
      Estimated interest component of
          rental expense                                    27,203            22,748          20,784         16,385          10,480
      Prepayment penalties on early
          extinguishment of debt                            18,701
                                                      ------------      ------------     -----------     ----------     -----------
      Total fixed charges                      (B)    $    192,021      $    127,970     $    82,672     $   60,481     $    49,524
                                                      ============      ============     ===========     ==========     ===========


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                   (A) divided by (B)                         2.1(1)             3.1(2)          3.3            3.7             3.1
                                                              ===                ===             ===            ===             ===
</TABLE> 


(1)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 is 2.8.

(2)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 is 3.3.

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 12.2

                  IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
   RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (EXCLUDING CAPTIVE FINANCE SUBSIDIARIES)
                             (dollars in thousands)




<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                             Fiscal Year Ended September 30
                                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          1997               1996            1995           1994             1993
                                                        ---------    ------------    ------------    -------------    -------------
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>  
Earnings
     Income (loss) from continuing
         operations                                 $     85,897     $   140,656     $   100,539     $    (11,351)    $     53,174
     Add:
         Loss from unconsolidated affiliate                                                               117,158            2,538
         Provision for income taxes                       65,931          85,512          63,938           32,904           34,621
         Fixed charges                                    92,738          59,514          42,138           32,389           25,707

                                                    -------------    ------------    ------------    -------------    -------------
     Earnings, as adjusted                   (A)    $    244,566     $   285,682     $   206,615     $    171,100     $    116,040
                                                    =============    ============    ============    =============    =============


Fixed charges
     Other interest expense, including
         interest on capital leases                 $     47,453     $    37,179     $    21,672     $     16,118     $     15,382
     Estimated interest component of
         rental expense                                   26,584          22,335          20,466           16,271           10,325
     Prepayment penalties on early
         extinguishment of debt                           18,701

                                                    -------------    ------------    ------------    -------------    -------------
     Total fixed charges                     (B)    $     92,738     $    59,514     $    42,138     $     32,389     $     25,707
                                                    =============    ============    ============    =============    =============


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                          (A) divided by (B)                 2.6(1)          4.8(2)          4.9              5.3              4.5
                                                             ===             ===             ===              ===              ===
</TABLE> 


(1)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges (excluding finance subsidiaries) for the fiscal year ended
     September 30, 1997 is 4.0.

(2)  Excluding the effects of the transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges (excluding finance subsidiaries) for the fiscal year ended
     September 30, 1996 is 5.2.

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 12.3

                  IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
        RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
                             (dollars in thousands)





<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                            Fiscal Year Ended September 30
                                                         ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1997                1996            1995          1994          1993
                                                         ----------     -----------     -----------    ------------     ---------
<S>                                                    <C>              <C>             <C>            <C>              <C> 
Earnings
      Income from continuing operations                $   122,362      $  164,893      $  115,011     $     1,996      $ 61,276
      Add:
          Loss from unconsolidated affiliate                                                               117,158         2,538
          Provision for income taxes                        90,751         107,984          75,501          41,315        40,093
          Fixed charges                                    192,021         127,970          82,672          60,481        49,524

                                                       ------------     -----------     -----------    ------------     ---------
      Earnings, as adjusted                      (A)   $   405,134      $  400,847      $  273,184     $   220,950      $153,431
                                                       ============     ===========     ===========    ============     =========


Fixed charges
      Other interest expense, including
          interest on capital leases                   $   146,117      $  105,222      $   61,888     $    44,096      $ 39,044
      Estimated interest component of
          rental expense                                    27,203          22,748          20,784          16,385        10,480
      Prepayment penalties on early
          extinguishment of debt                            18,701
                                                       ------------     -----------     -----------    ------------     ---------

      Total fixed charges                                  192,021         127,970          82,672          60,481        49,524

      Preferred stock dividends, as adjusted                32,458          36,709          25,180          18,908        15,846
                                                       ------------     -----------     -----------    ------------     ---------

      Total fixed charges and preferred
          stock dividends                              $   224,479      $  164,679      $  107,852     $    79,389      $ 65,370
                                                       ============     ===========     ===========    ============     =========

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
              (A) divided by (B)                               1.8(1)          2.4(2)          2.5             2.8           2.3
                                                               ===             ===             ===             ===           ===
</TABLE> 


(1)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 is 2.4.

(2)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 is 2.6.

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 12.4

                  IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
        RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
                    (EXCLUDING CAPTIVE FINANCE SUBSIDIARIES)
                             (dollars in thousands)





<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                              Fiscal Year Ended September 30
                                                      -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1997            1996            1995         1994             1993
                                                      ---------    ------------    ------------    -----------     ------------
<S>                                                  <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>             <C> 
Earnings
      Income from continuing operations              $  85,897     $   140,656     $   100,539     $  (11,351)     $    53,174
      Add:
          Loss from unconsolidated affiliate                                                          117,158            2,538
          Provision for income taxes                    65,931          85,512          63,938         32,904           34,621
          Fixed charges                                 92,738          59,514          42,138         32,389           25,707

                                                     ----------    ------------    ------------    -----------     ------------
      Earnings, as adjusted                    (A)   $ 244,566     $   285,682     $   206,615     $  171,100      $   116,040
                                                     ==========    ============    ============    ===========     ============


Fixed charges
      Other interest expense, including
          interest on capital leases                 $  47,453     $    37,179     $    21,672     $   16,118      $    15,382
      Estimated interest component of
          rental expense                                26,584          22,335          20,466         16,271           10,325
      Prepayment penalties on early
          extinguishment of debt                        18,701
                                                     ----------    ------------    ------------    -----------     ------------

      Total fixed charges                               92,738          59,514          42,138         32,389           25,707

      Preferred stock dividends, as adjusted            32,351          35,768          24,892         18,908           15,794
                                                     ----------    ------------    ------------    -----------     ------------

      Total fixed charges and preferred
          stock dividends                            $ 125,089     $    95,282     $    67,030     $   51,297      $    41,501
                                                     ==========    ============    ============    ===========     ============

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
                   (A) divided by (B)                      2.0(1)          3.0(2)          3.1            3.3              2.8
                                                           ===             ===             ===            ===              ===
</TABLE> 


(1)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 is 3.0.

(2)  Excluding the effect of transformation costs, the ratio of earnings to
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 is 3.2.

<PAGE>
 
Management's Responsibility for Financial Reporting



The management of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. is responsible for the preparation
and presentation of the financial statements and related financial information
included in this annual report. The financial statements include amounts that
are based on management's best estimates and judgments. These statements have
been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied and have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors.

Management is also responsible for maintaining systems of internal accounting
controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity
of the financial records and the protection of corporate assets. IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. supports and manages an active program of auditing to monitor
the proper functioning of its systems. The reports issued under this program, as
well as comment letters from Ernst & Young LLP, are reviewed regularly by the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which is composed of four directors
who are not employees of the Company. The Audit Committee meets periodically
with Ernst & Young LLP and management to review audit scope, timing and results.


/s/ John E. Stuart
John E. Stuart
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Kurt E. Dinkelacker
Kurt E. Dinkelacker
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer




Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders, IKON Office Solutions, Inc.


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the
related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of IKON
Office Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries at September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the
consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended September 30, 1997, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP



Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 15, 1997,
     except for note 8,
     as to which the date is
     October 27, 1997
<PAGE>
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                  ----------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30 (in thousands, except per share data)           1997              1996             1995
======================================================================================================================
<S>                                                                      <C>            <C>                <C>
Revenues                                                                                                 
Net sales                                                                $2,841,561        $2,381,151       $1,807,408
Service and rentals                                                       2,063,186         1,560,915        1,191,175
Finance income                                                              223,686           157,707           93,019
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          5,128,433         4,099,773        3,091,602
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Costs and Expenses                                                                                       
Cost of goods sold                                                        1,828,883         1,552,183        1,189,533
Service and rental costs                                                  1,007,060           743,110          565,131
Finance interest expense                                                     98,664            68,043           40,216
Selling and administrative                                                1,806,352         1,404,958        1,084,538
Transformation costs                                                        126,908            21,423    
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          4,867,867         3,789,717        2,879,418
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         
Operating Income                                                            260,566           310,056          212,184
Interest Expense                                                             47,453            37,179           21,672
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from Continuing Operations Before Taxes and Extraordinary Loss       213,113           272,877          190,512
Taxes on Income                                                              90,751           107,984           75,501
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from Continuing Operations Before Extraordinary Loss                 122,362           164,893          115,011
Discontinued Operations                                                      20,151            45,848           88,661
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Before Extraordinary Loss                                            142,513           210,741          203,672
Extraordinary Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt, net of tax benefit    (12,156)                 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income                                                                  130,357           210,741          203,672
                                                                                                         
Less Preferred Dividends                                                     19,540            22,319           15,209
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders                              $  110,817        $  188,422       $  188,463
======================================================================================================================

Earnings Per Share                                                                                       
Continuing operations                                                    $      .77        $     1.12       $      .86
Discontinued operations                                                         .15               .36              .76
Extraordinary loss                                                             (.09)                     
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         $      .83        $     1.48       $     1.62
======================================================================================================================
Cash Dividends Per Share of Common Stock                                 $      .26        $      .56       $      .52
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                                                              19
<PAGE>
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                ------------------------------------------------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

September 30 (dollars in thousands)                                           1997           1996
=================================================================================================
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C> 
Assets
Current Assets
Cash                                                                   $    21,341    $    46,056
Accounts receivable, less allowances of: 1997-$54,192; 1996-$35,308        765,660        513,378
Finance receivables, net                                                   670,784        435,434
Inventories                                                                442,207        350,774
Prepaid expenses                                                           101,294         80,352
Deferred taxes                                                             124,520         83,161
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets                                                     2,125,806      1,509,155
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investments and Long-Term Receivables                                       17,508         48,165

Long-Term Finance Receivables, net                                       1,331,372        878,324

Equipment on Operating Leases, net of accumulated
   depreciation of: 1997-$167,464; 1996-$153,909                           101,900         95,043

Property and Equipment, net                                                239,545        188,818

Goodwill                                                                 1,348,133      1,087,210

Other Assets                                                               159,622         88,679

Net Assets of Discontinued Operations                                                   1,489,201
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       $ 5,323,886    $ 5,384,595
=================================================================================================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt                                      $    60,794    $    62,697
Current portion of long-term debt, finance subsidiaries                    251,711        314,000
Notes payable                                                              266,979        186,462
Trade accounts payable                                                     206,547        123,571
Accrued salaries, wages and commissions                                    110,628        101,632
Deferred revenues                                                          208,612        200,225
Other accrued expenses                                                     268,511        269,400
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities                                                1,373,782      1,257,987
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long-Term Debt                                                             490,235        721,923

Long-Term Debt, Finance Subsidiaries                                     1,494,043        813,026

Deferred Taxes                                                             330,996        191,272

Other Long-Term Liabilities                                                153,182        144,883

Shareholders' Equity
Series BB conversion preferred stock, no par value:
   3,877,200 depositary shares issued and outstanding                      290,170        290,170
Common stock, no par value: authorized 300,000,000 shares;
   issued 1997-135,705,000 shares; 1996-131,930,000 shares                 677,681      1,305,413
Retained earnings                                                          574,646        701,771
Foreign currency translation adjustment                                       (728)       (25,187)
Cost of common shares in treasury: 1997-2,401,000 shares;
   1996-374,000 shares                                                     (60,121)       (16,663)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         1,481,648      2,255,504
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       $ 5,323,886    $ 5,384,595
=================================================================================================
</TABLE> 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

20
<PAGE>

     Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                               -------------------------------------------------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30 (in thousands, 
     except per share data)                                     1997                      1996                      1995
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Shares     Amounts         Shares    Amounts         Shares     Amounts
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     <S>                                                <C>       <C>              <C>       <C>              <C>       <C>  
     Series AA Convertible Preferred Stock
     Balance, beginning of year                                                      4,025   $201,924          4,025   $ 199,912
     Dividend accretion                                                                           503                      2,012
     Preferred stock conversion                                                     (4,025)  (202,427)
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Balance, end of year                                                                                      4,025   $ 201,924
     ============================================================================================================================

     Series BB Conversion Preferred Stock
     Balance, beginning of year                           3,877   $ 290,170          3,877   $290,170
     Issued in public offering                                                                                 3,877   $ 290,170
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Balance, end of year                                 3,877   $ 290,170          3,877   $290,170          3,877   $ 290,170
     ============================================================================================================================

     Common Stock
     Balance, beginning of year                         131,930  $1,305,413        116,136   $643,998        112,998   $ 551,711
     Series AA preferred stock conversion                                            8,198    368,382
     Mergers, acquisitions and other                      3,775     145,265          7,596    285,836          3,138      87,566
     Unisource spin-off                                            (779,770)
     Tax benefit relating to stock plans                              6,773                     7,197                      4,721
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Balance, end of year                               135,705   $ 677,681        131,930 $1,305,413        116,136   $ 643,998
     ============================================================================================================================

     Retained Earnings
     Balance, beginning of year                                   $ 701,771                  $781,536                  $ 659,526
     Net income                                                     130,357                   210,741                    203,672
     Cash dividends declared: 
        Series AA preferred stock, per share:
           1996 - $.719; 1995 - $2.875                                                         (2,779)                   (11,572)
        Series BB preferred stock, per share:
           1997 and 1996 - $5.04; 1995 - $.938                      (19,540)                  (19,540)                    (3,637)
        Common stock, per share: 1997- $.26;
           1996 - $.56; 1995 - $.52                                 (34,640)                  (70,010)                   (57,267)
        Pooled companies, prior to merger                                                        (177)                    (2,159)
     Series AA preferred stock conversion                                                    (199,108)
     Unisource spin-off                                            (210,071)
     Credits (charges) from issuance of
        treasury shares and other                                     6,769                     1,108                     (7,027)
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Balance, end of year                                         $ 574,646                  $701,771                  $ 781,536
     ============================================================================================================================

     Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
     Balance, beginning of year                                   $ (25,187)                 $(21,540)                 $ (22,609)
     Translation adjustment                                          (4,659)                   (3,647)                     1,069
     Unisource spin-off                                              29,118
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Balance, end of year                                         $    (728)                 $(25,187)                 $ (21,540)
     ============================================================================================================================

     Cost of Common Shares in Treasury
     Balance, beginning of year                             374   $ (16,663)           118   $ (4,726)           148   $  (4,067)
     Purchases                                            4,486    (112,192)         2,004    (86,084)         2,783     (91,430)
     Reissued for:
        Exercise of options                                 (50)      1,471           (395)    17,287           (544)     16,652
        Sales to employee stock plans                      (501)     16,438           (534)    23,710         (2,267)     74,067
        Mergers, acquisitions and other                  (1,908)     50,825                                       (2)         52
        Series AA preferred stock conversion                                          (819)    33,150
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Balance, end of year                                 2,401   $ (60,121)           374   $(16,663)           118   $  (4,726)
     ============================================================================================================================
</TABLE> 

     See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                                                              21
<PAGE>
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                                                ------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year Ended September 30 (in thousands)                                             1997             1996            1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>              <C>             <C> 
Operating Activities
   Income from continuing operations                                               $   122,362      $   164,893     $   115,011
   Additions (deductions) to reconcile income from continuing operations to
      net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:
         Depreciation                                                                  108,037           84,447          62,064
         Amortization                                                                   48,555           34,107          25,309
         Provisions for losses on accounts receivable                                   25,724           18,296          10,051
         Provision for deferred income taxes                                            92,063           62,174          42,106
         Write-off of abandoned software and other assets due to transformation         25,342
         Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from
            acquisitions and divestitures:
               Increase in accounts receivable                                        (202,790)         (83,783)        (66,184)
               Increase in inventories                                                 (70,189)         (41,445)        (41,698)
               Increase in prepaid expenses                                            (21,699)         (52,733)        (18,508)
               Increase in accounts payable, deferred revenues
                 and accrued expenses                                                   37,125           77,430          88,173
         Miscellaneous                                                                   8,986            4,475           5,166
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations         173,516          267,861         221,490
            Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of
               discontinued operations                                                  24,176          205,914         (66,618)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Net cash provided by operating activities                                  197,692          473,775         154,872
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing Activities
   Cost of companies acquired, net of cash acquired                                   (155,907)        (171,804)       (260,975)
   Expenditures for property and equipment                                            (193,238)        (146,634)        (91,112)
   Proceeds from sale of property and equipment                                         35,980           34,482          18,427
   Purchase of miscellaneous assets                                                    (10,678)         (19,054)         (8,729)
   Finance receivables - additions                                                  (1,459,102)      (1,005,270)       (665,058)
   Finance receivables - collections                                                   651,025          389,384         241,886
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations          (1,131,920)        (918,896)       (765,561)
            Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations           (38,058)        (201,356)       (146,249)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Net cash used in investing activities                                   (1,169,978)      (1,120,252)       (911,810)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financing Activities
   Proceeds from:
      Issuance of long-term debt                                                        35,605          439,149          33,377
      Issuance of Series BB conversion preferred stock, net                                                             290,170
      Option exercises and sale of treasury shares                                      43,807           55,084          91,848
      Sale of finance subsidiaries' lease receivables                                  103,401          202,713          66,677
      Proceeds from (payments to) discontinued operations                              551,834          (53,370)       (217,573)
   Issuance (repayment) of short-term borrowings, net                                   75,388          (69,883)        158,569
   Long-term debt repayments                                                          (328,702)         (74,546)        (40,394)
   Finance subsidiaries' debt - issuance                                               932,728          515,673         534,717
   Finance subsidiaries' debt - repayments                                            (314,000)        (206,232)       (182,014)
   Dividends paid                                                                      (54,180)         (91,826)        (70,464)
   Purchase of treasury shares                                                        (112,192)         (86,084)        (91,430)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Net cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations         933,689          630,678         573,483
            Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of
                discontinued operations                                                 13,882           (4,558)        212,867
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Net cash provided by financing activities                                  947,571          626,120         786,350
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash                                                        (24,715)         (20,357)         29,412
Cash at beginning of year                                                               46,056           66,413          37,001
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash at end of year                                                                $    21,341      $    46,056     $    66,413
================================================================================================================================
</TABLE> 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

22

<PAGE>
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------

IKON Office Solutions, Inc. (IKON or the Company) is a leading office technology
company, providing customers with total office solutions, including copier and
printing systems, computer networking, print-on-demand services, copy center
management, hardware and software product interfaces and electronic file
conversion. IKON has locations throughout the United States and Canada and in
Europe (primarily in the United Kingdom), which comprise the largest network of
independent copier and office equipment dealers in North America and in the
United Kingdom. The Company's name was changed from Alco Standard Corporation
(Alco) to IKON Office Solutions, Inc. effective January 23, 1997.

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and
its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. Significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The spin off of
Unisource Worldwide, Inc. (Unisource), the Company's paper products and supply
systems distribution business, was completed on December 31, 1996, as discussed
in note 5. All of the following notes, unless otherwise stated, reflect data on
a continuing operations basis.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect amounts reported in the financial statements and notes. Actual results
could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment of products or performance of
services. Revenues from service contracts are recognized over the term of the
contract. The present value of payments due under sales-type lease contracts is
recorded as revenues and cost of goods sold is charged with the book value of
the equipment at the time of shipment. Finance income is recognized over the
related lease term.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in,
first-out method and consist of finished goods available for sale.

Goodwill

Substantially all goodwill (excess of purchase price over net assets acquired)
is amortized over periods ranging from 25 to 40 years using the straight-line
method. The recoverability of goodwill is evaluated at the operating unit level
by an analysis of operating results and consideration of other significant
events or changes in the business environment. If an operating unit has current
operating losses and based upon projections there is a likelihood that such
operating losses will continue, the Company will evaluate whether impairment
exists on the basis of undiscounted expected future cash flows from operations
before interest for the remaining amortization period. If impairment exists, the
carrying amount of the goodwill is reduced by the estimated shortfall of cash
flows. Accumulated amortization at September 30, 1997 and 1996 was $103,000,000
and $70,000,000, respectively.

Depreciation

Properties and equipment are depreciated over their useful lives by the
straight-line method.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share are based on 134,373,000 weighted average shares in 1997,
127,649,000 shares in 1996 and 116,474,000 shares in 1995, and include the
dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, principally stock options. Common
shares and per share amounts give retroactive effect to a two-for-one stock
split in November 1995.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of all material foreign subsidiaries are translated into
U.S. dollars at fiscal year-end exchange rates. Income and expense items are
translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the fiscal year. The
resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of shareholders'
equity.

Accounting Changes

The Company adopted FASB Statement No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of" (SFAS 121), in
the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The adoption of SFAS 121 did not have a
material impact on the Company's financial statements.

     FASB Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS
123), requires companies to measure employee stock compensation plans based on
the fair value method of accounting or to continue to apply APB No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and provide pro forma footnote
disclosures under the fair value method in SFAS 123. The Company will continue
to apply the principles of APB No. 25 and has provided pro forma fair value
disclosures in note 9.

     FASB Statement No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of
Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities" (SFAS 125), was adopted
effective January 1, 1997. As a result, the Company has modified its agreements
to meet the new requirements to enable it to continue recognizing transfers of
certain receivables to special-purpose entities as sales, therefore, SFAS 125
did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

Pending Accounting Changes

In February 1997, the FASB issued Statement No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" (SFAS
128), which simplifies the standards for computing earnings per share (EPS).
SFAS 128 is effective for financial statements issued for periods ending after
December 15, 1997. Earlier application is not permitted. Accordingly, the
Company will replace the presentation of primary EPS with a dual presentation of
basic and diluted EPS. The effect of adoption will not be material on EPS
previously presented.

                                                                              23
<PAGE>
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------

     In June 1997, the FASB issued Statements No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income" (SFAS 130), and No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise
and Related Information" (SFAS 131). SFAS 130 establishes standards for
reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components (revenues,
expenses, gains and losses) in the financial statements. SFAS 131 establishes
standards for reporting information about operating segments and supersedes SFAS
14, "Financial Reporting for Segments of a Business Enterprise." Both SFAS 130
and 131 will be adopted in fiscal 1999.

Interest Rate and Currency Swap Agreements

The Company uses interest rate and currency swap agreements for purposes other
than trading and they are treated as off-balance sheet items. Interest rate swap
agreements are used by the Company to modify variable rate obligations to fixed
rate obligations, thereby reducing the exposure to market rate fluctuations. The
interest rate swap agreements are designated as hedges, and effectiveness is
determined by matching the principal balance and terms with that specific
obligation. Such an agreement involves the exchange of amounts based on fixed
interest rates for amounts based on variable interest rates over the life of the
agreement without an exchange of the notional amount upon which payments are
based. The differential to be paid or received as interest rates change is
accounted for on the accrual method of accounting. The related amount payable to
or receivable from counterparties is included as an adjustment to accrued
interest in other accrued expenses. Currency swap agreements are used to manage
exposure relating to certain intercompany debt denominated in one foreign
currency that will be repaid in another foreign currency. Currency swap
agreements are designated as hedges of firm commitments to pay interest and
principal on debt, which would otherwise expose the Company to foreign currency
risk. Current translation gains and losses on the principal swapped are offset
by corresponding translation gains and losses on the related foreign denominated
assets. Gains and losses on terminations of interest rate and currency swap
agreements are deferred as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the
outstanding obligation and amortized as an adjustment to interest expense
related to the obligation over the remaining term of the original contract life
of the terminated swap agreement. In the event of early extinguishment of the
obligation, any realized or unrealized gain or loss from the swap would be
recognized in income at the time of extinguishment.

Business Segment Information

As a result of the spin-off of Unisource, the Company operates in a single
industry segment. The Company provides its customers with integrated solutions
for copier, office equipment, outsourcing and networking needs.

Reclassifications

Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the
current-year presentation.

2. Transformation Costs

At the end of fiscal 1995, the Company announced its transformation program to
change its organization into a more cohesive and efficient network by building a
uniform information technology system and implementing best practices for
critically important management functions throughout the IKON companies. In
March 1997, the Company announced that it was accelerating the transformation
program. As a result, the Company began to separately disclose these costs as a
component of operating expenses on the Statements of Income. The Company expects
to substantially complete the transformation program by the end of fiscal 1998.
The transformation involves a variety of activities that the Company believes
will significantly lower administrative costs and improve margins. These
activities include consolidating purchasing, inventory control, logistics and
other activities into thirteen customer service centers in the U.S.,
establishing a single financial processing center, building a common information
technology system, adopting a common name and creating marketplace-focused field
operations with greater attention to customer sales and services. 

     Costs charged to transformation expense in fiscal 1997 of $126,908,000
relate principally to the write-off of costs related to the abandoned SAP
computer pilot program and technology conversion costs ($37,297,000), severance
and other employee related costs, including temporary labor and costs related to
consultants assisting with the transformation ($53,866,000), facility
consolidation costs, including lease buyouts and write-offs of leasehold
improvements ($24,738,000), and costs incurred in connection with the adoption
of the IKON name worldwide ($11,007,000). Transformation costs of $21,423,000
for fiscal 1996 consist primarily of severance and other employee related costs,
including costs related to consultants assisting with the transformation
($18,702,000), technology conversion costs ($1,428,000) and facility
consolidation costs ($1,293,000). The Company estimates the total remaining
costs of its transformation program, excluding capital costs, to be from
$50,000,000 to $70,000,000, all of which is expected to be expended in fiscal
1998.

3. Mergers

During the second quarter of fiscal 1996, the Company completed two mergers
accounted for as poolings-of-interests by issuing common stock for all of the
shares of Legal Copies International, Inc. and JMM Enterprises, Inc. Total
common shares issued in connection with these mergers were 3,953,990.

24
<PAGE>
 
Components of the operating results from continuing operations for periods prior
to the merger were:
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                      Three Months Ended
                                       December 31, 1995      Fiscal Year Ended
(in thousands)                               (unaudited)     September 30, 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                    <C> 
Revenues                           
   IKON Office Solutions, Inc.                  $852,396             $2,911,626
   Pooled companies                               48,183                179,976
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $900,579             $3,091,602
===============================================================================

Income from continuing operations  
   IKON Office Solutions, Inc.                  $ 35,186             $  114,071
   Pooled companies                                1,751                    940
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $ 36,937             $  115,011
===============================================================================
</TABLE> 
The mergers reduced fiscal 1995 earnings per share by $.02.

4. Acquisitions

In fiscal 1997, the Company made 89 acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price
of $317,864,000 in cash and stock. Total assets related to these 89 acquisitions
were $438,954,000, including goodwill of $277,209,000. In addition, $9,608,000
was paid and capitalized in fiscal 1997 relating to prior years' acquisitions.

     In addition to the mergers described in note 3, 97 acquisitions were made
in fiscal 1996 for an aggregate purchase price of $358,568,000 in cash, notes
and stock. Total assets related to these 97 acquisitions were $499,729,000,
including goodwill of $313,495,000. The Company also issued 486,304 common
shares for an acquisition accounted for as a pooling-of-interests whose results
of operations were included from the beginning of the fiscal year. An additional
$4,086,000 was paid and capitalized in fiscal 1996 relating to prior years'
acquisitions.

     In June 1995, the Company purchased all of the outstanding shares of
Southern Business Group PLC for approximately $133,800,000. This business sells,
leases, services and remanufactures copiers and other office equipment in
southern England. Total assets acquired were $163,359,000, which includes
goodwill of $119,556,000. In addition, 99 other acquisitions were made in fiscal
1995 for an aggregate purchase price of $228,258,000 in cash, notes and stock.
Total assets related to these 99 acquisitions were $313,966,000, including
goodwill of $218,549,000. The Company also issued 675,106 common shares for two
acquisitions accounted for as poolings-of-interests and their results of
operations were included from the beginning of the fiscal year. In fiscal 1995,
$4,648,000 of additional cash was paid and capitalized relating to prior years'
acquisitions.

     All acquisitions, unless otherwise noted, are included in results of
operations from their dates of acquisition.

     Had the purchase acquisitions been made at the beginning of the fiscal year
prior to their acquisition, unaudited pro forma results from continuing
operations would have been:

Fiscal Year Ended September 30 (in thousands except per share data)
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
(unaudited)                                  1997           1996           1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>            <C> 
Revenues                               $5,383,303     $4,961,482     $3,847,045
Income from continuing operations         132,078        180,934        146,589
Earnings per share from                                           
   continuing operations                      .83           1.19            .95
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 
5. Discontinued Operations

On June 19, 1996, the Company announced that it would separate Unisource, its
paper products and supply systems distribution business from IKON, its office
solutions business, with each business operating as a stand-alone, publicly
traded company. In order to effect the separation of these businesses, the
Company declared a dividend payable to holders of record of Alco common stock at
the close of business on December 13, 1996 (the Record Date) of one share of
common stock, $.001 par value, of Unisource common stock, for every two shares
of Alco stock owned on the Record Date. The distribution resulted in 100% of the
outstanding shares of Unisource common stock being distributed to Alco
shareholders on December 31, 1996. The Internal Revenue Service issued a ruling
letter which provided that, except for any cash received in lieu of fractional
shares, the spin-off of Unisource was tax-free to Alco and to Alco's U.S.
shareholders.

     In conjunction with the separation of their businesses, Unisource and the
Company entered into various agreements that address the allocation of assets
and liabilities between them and define their relationship after the separation,
including a Distribution Agreement (Distribution Agreement), a Benefits
Agreement (Benefits Agreement) and a Tax Sharing and Indemnification Agreement
(Tax Sharing Agreement). The Distribution Agreement provides for, among other
things, the principal transactions required to effect the Distribution, the
conditions to the Distribution, the allocation between the Company and Unisource
of certain assets and liabilities and cooperation by the Company and Unisource
in the provision of information and certain facilities necessary to perform the
administrative functions incident to their respective businesses. The
Distribution Agreement includes cross-indemnification provisions pursuant to
which Unisource and the Company indemnify each other for damages that may arise
out of a breach of their respective obligations under the agreement. Under the
Benefits Agreement, Unisource's obligation to provide benefits includes all
obligations with respect to Unisource employees under pension plans, savings
plans and multiemployer plans, welfare plans (retiree medical plans),
supplemental benefit plans, certain deferred compensation plans, incentive
plans, stock-based plans and other plans covering Unisource employees and
includes liabilities that arose while the individuals were employed by Alco. The
Benefits Agreement requires the Company to reimburse Unisource for a portion of
any payments made by Unisource to former Unisource employees under Alco's 1985,
1991 and 1994 deferred compensation plans. Unisource assumed certain Alco
pension plans cover-

                                                                              25
<PAGE>
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------

ing Unisource employees, and assets and liabilities attributable to Unisource
employees under Alco's participating companies pension plan and Alco's 401(k)
plan have been transferred to new Unisource pension and 401(k) plans,
respectively. Under the Tax Sharing Agreement, Unisource will bear its
respective share of (i) the Company's federal consolidated income tax liability
(or benefit), (ii) any unitary state income tax liability, and (iii) the
Company's consolidated personal property tax liability for all tax periods that
end before or that include the Distribution Date. Unisource is responsible for
paying any tax liabilities arising for any tax return that it files separately.
If any tax year ending before or including the Distribution Date is subsequently
examined by the IRS, and an adjustment results from such examination, then
Unisource's share of the Company's additional federal consolidated income tax
liability (or benefit for that tax year) will be computed and agreed to by the
parties. The Tax Sharing Agreement generally provides that in the event either
the Company or Unisource takes any action inconsistent with, or fails to take
any action required by, or in accordance with the qualification of the
Distribution as tax-free, then the Company or Unisource, as the case may be,
will be liable for and indemnify and hold the other harmless from any tax
liability resulting from such action.

     The Company has accounted for Unisource as a discontinued operation for all
periods presented in these financial statements. Prior-year amounts for
Unisource have been restated to reflect interest and other expenses allocated by
the Company. Unisource has been charged corporate interest expense based on the
relationship of its net assets to total Company net assets, excluding corporate
debt, in amounts of $7,203,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 1997, $29,572,000
in fiscal 1996 and $26,586,000 in fiscal 1995. The Company recorded a charge
against earnings of $50,000,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 1996 for new
restructuring activities at Unisource. The charge includes facility closures
costs of $33,000,000 and severance costs for approximately 900 employees of
$17,000,000 associated with the announced regional realignment from ten to five
regions in the United States and facilities mergers in the U.S. and Canada. An
$18,000,000 charge against earnings was recorded in the third quarter of fiscal
1996 for costs associated with the spin-off of Unisource consisting primarily of
investment banking fees, legal and accounting fees, filing fees and employee
termination costs directly related to the spin-off.

     The Company has owned several manufacturing and industrial businesses, all
of which have been sold. There are currently environmental remediation claims
pending for manufacturing or landfill sites in the United States that relate to
these discontinued operations. As a result of several environmental remediation
claims, and increased estimated costs associated with existing environmental
remediation sites, primarily related to discontinued manufacturing operations
divested by the Company in 1991 and prior, the Company took a fourth quarter
charge in fiscal 1995 to increase its liabilities for environmental remediation.
The discontinued operations charge was $23,630,000 ($16,541,000 net of tax or
$.14 per share).

     During 1995, the Company agreed to pay $10,000,000 to settle a claim by a
former subsidiary, which had asserted that the Company was liable for certain
employee liabilities. This amount was primarily charged against existing
reserves for discontinued operations. The Company paid $5,000,000 during 1995,
$2,000,000 in 1996 and $1,500,000 in 1997 with the remaining $1,500,000 to be
paid over the next two years.

The results of discontinued operations were:
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                         Fiscal Year     
                                                                      Ended September 30
                                    Three Months Ended         ------------------------------
(in thousands)                       December 31, 1996                1996               1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                        <C>                <C> 
Revenues (Unisource)                       $ 1,728,533         $ 7,022,808        $ 6,987,274
=============================================================================================
Income (loss) before taxes
   Unisource (including $50,000
      restructuring charge in 1996)        $    34,743         $   103,003        $   172,745
   Spin-off costs                                                  (18,000)
   Environmental charge                                                               (23,630)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                34,743              85,003            149,115
Tax expense (benefit)
   Unisource                                    14,592              43,005             67,543
   Spin-off costs                                                   (3,850)
   Environmental charge                                                                (7,089)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                14,592              39,155             60,454
Net income (loss)
   Unisource                                    20,151              59,998            105,202
   Spin-off costs                                                  (14,150)
   Environmental charge                                                               (16,541)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           $    20,151         $    45,848        $    88,661
=============================================================================================
</TABLE> 
The net assets of discontinued operations at September 30, 1996 consist of:
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
(in thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                 <C> 
Working capital                                                     $  750,792
Net property and equipment                                             224,168
Other assets                                                           637,062
Long-term debt and other liabilities                                  (122,821)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unisource equity and intercompany debt                              $1,489,201
==============================================================================
</TABLE> 

In December 1996, Unisource repaid $553,500,000 of intercompany debt outstanding
with the Company and the Unisource common stock was distributed to Alco
shareholders. Equity of the Company was reduced by $960,723,000, which was the
equity of Unisource at December 31, 1996, adjusted for post-closing tax and
pension adjustments.

26
<PAGE>
 
6. Finance Receivables

The Company's wholly owned finance subsidiaries are engaged in purchasing office
equipment from Company dealers and leasing the equipment to customers under
direct financing leases.

Components of finance receivables, net, are as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

September 30 (in thousands)                   1997                1996 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>                 <C> 
Gross receivables                      $ 2,491,817         $ 1,538,183
Unearned income                           (607,533)           (272,279)
Unguaranteed residuals                     194,639             108,338
Allowance for doubtful accounts            (76,767)            (60,484)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease receivables                        2,002,156           1,313,758
Less: Current portion                      670,784             435,434
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term lease receivables            $ 1,331,372         $   878,324
================================================================================
</TABLE> 

At September 30, 1997, future minimum lease payments to be received under direct
financing leases were: 1998 - $850,079,000; 1999 - $717,633,000; 2000 -
$512,561,000; 2001 - $292,177,000; 2002 - $117,662,000; thereafter - $1,705,000;
while future minimum lease payments to be received under operating leases were:
1998 - $42,066,000; 1999 - $29,857,000; 2000 - $20,845,000; 2001 - $11,863,000;
2002 - $5,461,000; thereafter - $15,000.

     IKON's U.S. finance subsidiary has entered into asset securitization
agreements for $275,000,000 of eligible direct financing lease receivables that
expire in March 1998 ($125,000,000) and September 1998 ($150,000,000). The
agreements contain limited recourse provisions that require the finance
subsidiary to assign an additional amount of undivided interest in leases as a
reserve to cover any potential losses to the purchaser due to uncollectible
leases. As collections reduce previously sold interests, new leases can be sold
up to the agreement amount. In fiscal year 1997, the finance subsidiary sold an
additional $103,401,000 in leases, replacing leases liquidated during the year,
under the agreements.

     The changes in the finance subsidiary servicing liabilities relating to the
asset securitization agreements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1997
and 1996, are as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

(in thousands)                    1997            1996 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>             <C> 
Beginning of period            $ 8,467         $ 4,187
Additions                        3,170           6,050
Less: Amortization              (3,389)         (1,770)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at September 30        $ 8,248         $ 8,467
================================================================================
</TABLE> 

The estimated fair value of the servicing liabilities aggregated $7,485,000 at
September 30, 1997 and $7,587,000 at September 30, 1996.

7. Property and Equipment 

Property and equipment, at cost, consisted of:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

September 30 (in thousands)                               1997            1996 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C> 
Land                                                  $  6,797        $  9,412
Buildings and improvements                             101,773          72,709
Furniture and equipment                                353,790         276,113
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       462,360         358,234
Less: accumulated depreciation                         222,815         169,416
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      $239,545        $188,818
================================================================================
</TABLE> 

8.   Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt

Notes payable consisted of:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

September 30 (in thousands)                                 1997            1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C> 
Notes payable to banks at average interest rate:
    1997 - 6.1%; 1996 - 6.0%                            $259,464        $184,358

Other notes payable at average interest rate:
    1997 - 8.8%; 1996 - 8.2%                               7,515           2,104
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        $266,979        $186,462
================================================================================
</TABLE> 

Long-term debt consisted of:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
September 30 (in thousands)                                 1997            1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C> 
Bond issue at stated interest rate of 6.75%, net of
   discount (1997- $4,467;1996 - $4,519), due 2025,
   effective interest of rate 6.87%                     $295,533        $295,481
                                                        
Bond issue at interest rate of 8 7/8% due 2001            43,819         150,000
                                                        
Private placement debt at average interest rate:        
   1997 - 7.2%; 1996 - 7.7%, due 2005                      55,000        105,000
                                                                     
Bank debt at average interest rate: 1997 - 7.7%;                     
   1996 - 7.6%, due 2000                                   71,641         72,721
                                                                     
Notes payable to insurance company at average                        
   interest rate of 9.7%                                                  60,000
                                                                     
Sundry notes, bonds and mortgages at average                         
   interest rate: 1997 - 7.7%; 1996 - 6.9%, due                      
   1998 - 2003                                             52,876         74,929
                                                                     
Present value of capital lease obligations                           
   (gross amount: 1997 - $36,494; 1996 - $30,201)          32,160         26,489
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          551,029        784,620
     Less current maturities                               60,794         62,697
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         $490,235       $721,923
================================================================================
</TABLE> 

After giving effect to interest rate swaps, the average effective interest rate
on the Company's long-term bank debt was 7.7% and 7.6% at September 30, 1997 and
September 30, 1996, respectively, compared to average rates of 3.5% and 4.8% as
the stated variable rate at September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996,
respectively. 

                                                                              27
<PAGE>
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------

Long-term debt, finance subsidiaries consisted of: 

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

September 30 (in thousands)                                   1997              1996 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>               <C> 
Medium term notes at average interest rate:
   1997 - 6.6%; 1996 - 6.8%                             $1,542,250        $  969,900

Notes payable to banks at average interest rate:
   1997 and 1996 - 6.4%                                    203,504           157,126
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1,745,754         1,127,026
Less current maturities                                    251,711           314,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        $1,494,043        $  813,026
====================================================================================
</TABLE> 

Long-term debt and long-term debt, finance subsidiaries mature as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                 Long-Term Debt,
                                                        Finance
(in thousands)                Long-Term Debt       Subsidiaries
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>                 <C> 
(fiscal year)                                    
1998                               $  60,794           $251,711
1999                                  11,724            629,828
2000                                   6,555            346,257
2001                                  75,372            428,673
2002                                  45,120             80,964
2003 - 2025                          351,464              8,321
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 

On December 2, 1996, Unisource borrowed under its new credit facility to repay
$553,500,000 of intercompany debt with the Company. The Company prepaid debt in
the amount of $514,000,000 from these funds. Early repayment of this debt
resulted in certain prepayment penalties. Total prepayment penalties of
$18,701,000 and related tax benefits of $6,545,000 are reflected as an
extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt on the Statement of Income
for fiscal 1997.

     On December 16, 1996, the Company entered into a credit agreement with
several banks under which it may borrow up to $400,000,000. This multicurrency
facility replaced a $500,000,000 credit facility that was due to expire December
1, 1999 and a $100,000,000 credit facility that was canceled on December 2,
1996. The reduced credit commitment reflects the spin-off of the Unisource
business that was effective December 31, 1996 (see note 5). The new agreement,
that expires December 15, 2001, includes a facility fee that could range from
6.5 to 9.0 basis points per annum on the commitment, based upon the Company's
current long-term debt rating (8 basis points per annum at September 30, 1997).
The agreement provides that loans may be made under either domestic or
Eurocurrency notes at rates computed under a selection of rate formulas
including prime or Eurocurrency rates. At September 30, 1997, short-term
borrowings supported by the credit agreement totaled $248,100,000 leaving
$151,900,000 unused and available.

     On October 27, 1997, the Company completed a $250,000,000 underwritten
public debt offering consisting of $125,000,000 6.75% notes due November 1, 2004
and $125,000,000 7.3% notes due November 1, 2027. The 6.75% notes were sold at a
discount to yield 6.794% and carry a make-whole call provision with a five
basis-points premium. The 7.3% notes were also sold at a discount to yield
7.344% and carry a make-whole call provision with a 15 basis-points premium. The
proceeds of the offering were used to repay short-term borrowings.

     The wholly owned U.S. finance subsidiary of the Company may offer notes to
the public from time to time under its medium term notes program. These notes
are offered at varying maturities of nine months or more from their dates of
issue and may be subject to redemption at the option of the finance subsidiary,
in whole or in part, prior to the maturity date in conjunction with meeting
specified provisions. Interest rates are determined based on market conditions
at the time of issuance. At September 30, 1997, $1,646,750,000 is available for
issuance under this program.

     The Company is in compliance with all covenants, including financial, for
all loan agreements. Capital lease obligations and mortgages are secured by
property and equipment that had a net book value of $18,444,000 at September 30,
1997.

     Interest paid, including finance subsidiaries and corporate interest
allocated to discontinued operations, approximated $151,000,000, $119,000,000
and $84,000,000 for fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

9.   Shareholders' Equity

During the first quarter of fiscal 1996, 432,130 common shares were issued for
Series AA Preferred Stock conversions by holders. On February 9, 1996, the
Company redeemed the balance of its Series AA Preferred Stock for common stock
at the conversion rate of 2.2402 shares of common stock for each depositary
share. Common shares totaling 8,585,423 were issued in connection with this
redemption.

     On July 25, 1995, the Company sold 3,877,200 depositary shares, each
representing 1/100th of a share of Series BB conversion preferred stock, for
$77.375 per depositary share totaling $299,998,350, and used the net proceeds to
reduce debt. Dividends are cumulative at $5.04 per year per depositary share.
The Series BB Preferred Stock has one vote per share (equivalent to 1/100th vote
per depositary share) and has a liquidation preference of $77.375 per depositary
share plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends. Prior to October 1,
1998, each depositary share is convertible at the option of the holder into
2.0468 shares of common stock of the Company. On October 1, 1998, unless
previously converted at the option of the holder, each of the outstanding
depositary shares will automatically convert into a number of shares of common
stock of the Company equal to (a) 2.0468 shares of common stock per depositary
share if the current 

28
<PAGE>

market price of the Company's common stock is greater than or equal to $37.80
per share, (b) the number of shares of common stock (per depositary share)
having a value (determined at the current market price) equivalent to $77.375,
if the current market price is less than $37.80, but greater than $30.98 and (c)
2.4972 shares of common stock per depositary share if the current market price
of the Company's common stock is at or below $30.98 per share. The current
market price to be used in the conversion calculation will be the average
closing price per share of common stock of the Company on the twenty trading
days immediately prior to, but not including, October 1, 1998. At September 30,
1997, 7,935,853 shares of common stock were reserved for conversion of the
Series BB conversion preferred stock.

     Employee stock options are granted at the market price at dates of grant
which does not require the Company to recognize any compensation expense. These
options expire in ten years and generally vest over five years. The proceeds of
options exercised are credited to shareholders' equity. As permitted by SFAS
123, the Company continues to account for its stock options in accordance with
APB 25. A plan for the Company's directors enables participants to receive their
annual directors' fees in the form of options to purchase shares of common stock
at a discount. The discount is equivalent to the annual directors' fees and is
charged to expense. 

Changes in common shares under option were:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                        Weighted
                                                         Average
                                            Shares         Price
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>              <C> 
September 30, 1994                       4,664,586        $17.35
Granted                                    822,236         30.07
Exercised                                 (854,250)        14.67
Cancelled                                  (46,214)        23.44
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
September 30, 1995                       4,586,358         20.07
Granted                                  1,582,767         43.17
Exercised                                 (813,408)        15.77
Cancelled                                  (72,077)        35.25
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
September 30, 1996                       5,283,640         27.45
Unisource Spin-off Adjustment              952,043         23.53
Granted                                  1,395,757         38.96
Exercised                                 (894,601)        16.85
Cancelled
        Unisource Spin-off                (943,103)        32.34
        Other                             (219,045)        26.39
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
September 30, 1997                       5,574,691        $26.53
================================================================
Available for Grant                      4,654,902
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 

     In connection with the separation of Unisource from Alco, stock options
that were not exercised prior to the effective date of the Distribution were
adjusted. Optionholders who remain employees of IKON retained their options to
purchase IKON shares. The number of shares subject to, and the exercise price
of, each IKON option was adjusted based upon a formula that preserved the
inherent intrinsic value and vesting and term provisions of such options.
Optionholders who became employees of Unisource after the Distribution were
given the opportunity to receive options to purchase shares of Unisource Common
Stock in lieu of their Alco options or had their options cancelled.

     The following is provided to comply with the disclosure requirements of
SFAS 123. If the Company had elected to recognize compensation costs based on
the fair value at the date of grant for awards in fiscal years 1997 and 1996,
consistent with the provisions of SFAS 123, the Company's net income and
earnings per share would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts:

Fiscal year ended September 30 (in thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                         1997                1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                               <C>                 <C> 
Income from continuing operations before extraordinary loss       $   117,615         $   162,932
Income from discontinued operations                                    19,871              45,116
Income before extraordinary loss                                      137,486             208,048
Earnings per share
   Continuing operations                                          $       .73         $      1.10
   Discontinued operations                                                .15                 .35
   Extraordinary loss                                                    (.09)        
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net Income                                                     $       .79         $      1.45
=================================================================================================
</TABLE> 

The pro forma effect on net income for fiscal 1997 and 1996 may not be
representative of the pro forma effect on net income of future years because the
SFAS 123 method of accounting for pro forma compensation expense has not been
applied to options granted prior to October 1, 1995.

     The weighted-average fair values at date of grant for options granted
during fiscal years 1997 and 1996 were $15.49 and $14.75, respectively, and were
estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following
assumptions were applied for periods before the Unisource spin-off and
subsequent to the Unisource spin-off, respectively: (i) expected dividend yields
of 1.4% and .6%, (ii) expected volatility rates of 29.1% and 31.8%, and (iii)
expected lives

     The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
at September 30, 1997:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                      Options Outstanding                            Options Exercisable
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Number           Weighted-Average     Weighted-Average        Number       Weighted-Average
             Range of           Outstanding            Remaining            Exercise          Exercisable        Exercise
          Exercise Prices       at 9/30/97         Contractual Life           Price           at 9/30/97           Price
         <S>                    <C>                <C>                  <C>                   <C>               <C> 
         $  7.85 - $13.01         972,984                 3.2 years          $12.07             972,984          $ 12.07 
           14.18 -  19.90       1,199,454                 5.8                 18.11             783,571            17.67 
           22.84 -  29.18       1,169,981                 8.1                 25.16             337,799            24.27 
           30.03 -  38.79       1,676,810                 8.4                 35.71             254,024            35.27 
           44.63 -  59.99         555,462                 9.2                 45.17              43,566            50.96 
</TABLE> 

                                                                              29
<PAGE>
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------

of 5.4 years and 5.7 years. The risk-free interest rates applied for fiscal 1997
and 1996 were 5.9% and 6.4%, respectively.

     In fiscal 1995, with Board of Director and shareholder approvals, the
Company amended and restated its Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (LTIP).
The plan is intended to motivate, recognize and reward key management employees
for long-term performance. Under the plan, key management employees are granted
stock or cash awards, which are earned upon achieving predetermined performance
objectives during three-year intervals. The value of these awards is charged to
expense over the related plan period. In fiscal 1995, the Company granted
198,706 stock awards under the plan. At December 31, 1996, 85,302 awards were
transferred to Unisource. The remaining 113,404 stock awards were adjusted to
139,963 as a result of the spin-off, of which 80,660 awards were earned and
59,303 awards were cancelled. In 1996, the Company changed the form of the LTIP
award granted from a stock award to a fixed cash award. In fiscal 1997 and 1996,
cash awards totaling $4,819,500 and $3,910,419, respectively, were granted to
LTIP participants. In connection with these plans, the Company expensed
$3,111,000 in fiscal 1997, $7,500,000 in fiscal 1996 and $6,596,000 in fiscal
1995.

     IKON amended its Rights Agreement (Rights Plan) as of June 18, 1997. The
Rights Plan, which was scheduled to expire in accordance with its terms on
February 10, 1998, was extended as amended for an additional ten-year term
expiring June 18, 2007.

     The Rights Plan established a new exercise price of $204.00 per preferred
stock purchase right (individually, a "Right," and collectively, the "Rights").
A Right entitles holders thereof to buy 1/100th of a share of Series 12
Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Shares").

     The Rights Plan provides that the Rights will be exercisable and will trade
separately from shares of the Company's common stock only if a person or group
(an "Acquiring Person") acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
shares of the Company's common stock or commences a tender or exchange offer
that would result in such a person or group owning 15% or more of the shares of
the Company's common stock (a "Flip-in Event"). Only when one or more of these
events occur will shareholders receive certificates for the Rights.

     If any person actually acquires 15% or more of the shares of common stock,
other than through a tender or exchange offer for all shares of common stock
that provides a fair price and other terms for such shares, or if a 15%-or-more
shareholder engages in certain "self-dealing" transactions or engages in a
merger or other business combination in which the Company survives and shares of
its common stock remain outstanding, the other shareholders will be able to
exercise the Rights and buy shares of common stock of the Company having twice
the value of the exercise price of the Rights. A provision has been added to the
Rights Plan that allows shareholders, upon action by a majority of the
Continuing Directors (Continuing Directors are, in general, directors who were
members of the Board of Directors prior to a Flip-in Event), to exercise their
Rights for 50% of the shares of common stock otherwise purchasable upon
surrender to the Company of the Rights so exercised and without other payment of
exercise price.

     The Rights Plan has also reduced the price at which the Board of Directors
can redeem the Rights to $.01.

     The Rights, in general, may be redeemed at any time prior to the tenth day
following public announcement that a person has acquired a 15% ownership
position in shares of common stock of the Company.


10. Taxes on Income 

Provision for income taxes:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30 (in thousands)                     1997                   1996                    1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Current    Deferred     Current   Deferred     Current    Deferred
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>        <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>    
Federal                                            $(2,983)    $78,770     $21,144    $58,540      $8,832     $41,723
Foreign                                               (361)      8,353      13,496        528       8,923       1,653
State                                                2,032       4,940      11,170      3,106      15,640      (1,270)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxes on income                                    $(1,312)    $92,063     $45,810    $62,174     $33,395     $42,106
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
The components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, including finance
subsidiaries, were as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
September 30 (in thousands)                      1997      1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                                           <C>       <C> 
Deferred tax liabilities:
        Depreciation and amortization         $45,891   $32,284
        Lease income recognition              344,553   227,003
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
           Total deferred tax liabilities     390,444   259,287
Deferred tax assets:
        Accrued liabilities                   144,324   137,982
        Net operating loss carryforwards       28,766    17,939
        AMT credit carryforwards               38,792     7,600
        Other-net                              15,341    14,302
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
           Total deferred tax assets          227,223   177,823
        Valuation allowance                    43,255    26,647
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
           Net deferred tax assets            183,968   151,176
- --------------------------------------------------------------- 
Net deferred tax liabilities                 $206,476  $108,111
===============================================================
</TABLE> 

Net operating loss carryforwards consist primarily of state carryforwards of
$457,000,000 principally expiring in years 1998 through 2012. A full valuation
allowance has been established against this amount. Credit carryforwards consist
principally of federal and state alternative minimum tax (AMT) credits of
approximately $38,792,000 (with no expiration date) and affordable housing
credits of approximately $1,017,000 (expiring in 2012).

Components of the effective income tax rate:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30            1997            1996            1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>  
Federal                                   35.0%           35.0%           35.0%
State                                      3.8             3.4             4.9
Goodwill                                   5.0             2.1             2.5
Foreign including credits                  (.6)            (.3)            1.2
Other                                      (.6)            (.6)           (4.0)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective income tax rate                 42.6%           39.6%           39.6%
===============================================================================
</TABLE> 

Net income tax payments (refunds) for all operations, including discontinued,
amounted to $(22,081,000) in 1997, $46,231,000 in 1996 and $30,436,000 in 1995.

     Undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries were
approximately $65,110,000 at September 30, 1997. Those earnings are considered
to be indefinitely reinvested and, therefore, no provision has been recorded for
U.S. federal and state income taxes.

11. Leases

Equipment acquired under capital leases is included in property and equipment in
the amount of $44,465,000 in 1997 and $33,141,000 in 1996 and the related
amounts of accumulated amortization are $26,021,000 in 1997 and $11,491,000 in
1996. Related obligations are in long-term debt and related amortization is
included in depreciation.

     At September 30, 1997, future minimum lease payments under noncancelable
operating leases with initial or remaining terms of more than one year were:
1998 - $79,979,000; 1999 - $62,493,000; 2000 - $46,857,000; 2001 - $35,434,000;
2002 - $27,628,000; thereafter - $34,181,000.

     Total rental expense was $81,608,000 in 1997, $67,006,000 in 1996 and
$61,398,000 in 1995.

12. Contingencies

There are contingent liabilities for taxes, guarantees, lawsuits, environmental
remediation claims relating to discontinued operations (see note 5) and various
other matters occurring in the ordinary course of business. On the basis of
information furnished by counsel and others, management believes that none of
these contingencies will materially affect the Company.

13. Pension and Stock Purchase Plans

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans for the majority of its
employees. The benefits generally are based on years of service and
compensation. The Company funds at least the minimum amount required by
government regulations. The cost of these plans, together with contributions to
multiemployer and defined contribution pension plans ($861,000 in 1997,
$1,338,000 in 1996 and $1,346,000 in 1995) charged to continuing operations
amounted to $17,623,000 for 1997, $20,215,000 for 1996 and $12,846,000 for 1995.

The components of net periodic pension cost for the Company-sponsored defined
benefit pension plans were:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30 (in thousands)            1997             1996             1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>              <C>              <C>  
Service cost                                         $ 19,208         $ 15,734         $ 10,610
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation          18,373            7,448            7,429
Actual return on plan assets                          (30,949)         (15,663)         (18,409)
Net amortization and deferral                          10,130           11,358           11,870
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net pension cost                                     $ 16,762         $ 18,877         $ 11,500
===============================================================================================
</TABLE> 

                                                                              31
<PAGE>
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------




Assumptions used in accounting for the Company-sponsored defined benefit pension
plans were:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>  
                                                  1997       1996       1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C> 
Weighted average discount rates                   7.75%      7.75%      7.50%
Rates of increase in compensation levels          6.25%      6.25%      6.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets      10.00%     10.00%     10.00%
</TABLE> 

The funded status and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for
the Company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans were:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
September 30 (in thousands)                                    1997              1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>               <C>  
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations
   Vested                                                 $ 212,332         $ 198,061
=====================================================================================
   Accumulated                                            $ 218,585         $ 204,457
=====================================================================================
   Projected                                              $ 260,959         $ 237,043
Plan assets at fair value                                   259,243           224,265
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan assets less than projected benefits                     (1,716)          (12,778)
Items not yet recognized
   Net gain                                                 (42,864)          (34,231)
   Prior service cost                                        12,705            12,526
   Net asset existing at transition date                     (7,494)           (8,742)
Adjustment required to recognize minimum liability           (4,535)           (4,603)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net pension liability                                     $ (43,904)        $ (47,828)
=====================================================================================
</TABLE> 

Under the Benefits Agreement with Unisource, the Company assumed certain benefit
obligations and related assets for retirees and terminated vested employees of
Unisource which totaled approximately $105,000,000.

     Substantially all of the plan assets at September 30, 1997 are invested in
listed stocks, including common stock of the Company having a fair value of
$30,675,600.

     The majority of the Company's employees were eligible to participate in the
Company's Stock Participation Plan through fiscal 1995, under which they were
permitted to invest 2% to 6% of regular compensation before taxes. The Company
contributed an amount equal to two-thirds of the employees' investments and all
amounts were invested in the Company's common shares. Effective October 2, 1995,
the Stock Participation Plan was replaced by a Retirement Savings Plan (RSP).
The RSP allows employees to invest 1% to 16% of regular compensation before
taxes in six different investment funds. The Company contributes an amount equal
to two-thirds of the employees' investments, up to 6% of regular compensation,
for a maximum company match of 4%. All Company contributions are invested in the
Company's common shares. Employees vest in a percentage of the Company's
contribution after two years of service, with full vesting at the completion of
five years of service. There is a similar plan for eligible management
employees. The cost of the plans charged to continuing operations amounted to
$31,026,000 in 1997, $23,596,000 in 1996 and $16,983,000 in 1995.

14. Geographic Information

Revenues, income before taxes and identifiable assets by geographic area from
continuing operations for the fiscal years ended September 30 were as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
(in millions)                     1997         1996         1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                           <C>          <C>          <C> 
Revenues                                            
Domestic                      $4,467.6     $3,559.7     $2,802.2
Europe                           375.8        360.6        178.4
Canada                           270.7        177.7        111.0
Other                             14.3          1.8
- ----------------------------------------------------------------     
Total                         $5,128.4     $4,099.8     $3,091.6
================================================================
Income Before Taxes                                 
Domestic                       $ 233.4      $ 251.1     $  186.7
Europe                            10.0         38.3          9.0
Canada                            17.5         20.6         16.5
Other                              (.3)          .1    
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
Operating                        260.6        310.1        212.2
Interest expense                 (47.5)       (37.2)       (21.7)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
Total                          $ 213.1      $ 272.9     $  190.5
================================================================
Assets                                              
Domestic                      $4,340.4     $3,096.2     $2,313.4
Europe                           566.3        560.2        300.5
Canada                           405.1        227.5        161.5
Other                             12.1         11.5    
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
Total                         $5,323.9     $3,895.4     $2,775.4
================================================================
</TABLE> 

15.  Financial Instruments

The Company uses financial instruments in the normal course of its business,
including derivative financial instruments, for purposes other than trading.
These financial instruments include debt, commitments to extend credit and
interest rate and currency swap agreements. The notional or contractual amounts
of these commitments and other financial instruments are discussed below.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company is subject to credit risk through trade receivables, lease
receivables and short-term cash investments. Credit risk with respect to trade
receivables is minimized because of a large customer base and its geographic
dispersion. Short-term cash investments are placed with high-credit quality
financial institutions and in short duration corporate and government debt
securities funds. By policy, the Company limits the amount of credit exposure in
any one type of investment instrument.

Interest Rate and Currency Swap Agreements

The Company has interest rate swap agreements relating to finance subsidiaries'
financial instruments having a total principal/notional amount of $105,000,000
with fixed rates from 5.77% to 7.08%. The Company also has Canadian dollar
denominated interest rate swap agreements having a total principal/notional
amount of $71,092,000 (CN$98,248,000) with fixed rates from 7.43% to 7.74%. The
Company is required to make payments to the 

32
<PAGE>
 
counterparties at the fixed rate stated in the agreements and in return the
Company receives payments at variable rates.

     The Company has also entered into cross-currency swap agreements to
exchange Canadian dollars (CN$98,248,000) for pounds sterling
((Pounds)46,500,000). The Company is required to make pounds sterling payments
at fixed rates from 9.53% to 9.90% in exchange for Canadian dollar payments at
fixed rates from 9.02% to 9.38%.

     The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the
counterparties to the swap agreements. However, the Company does not anticipate
nonperformance by the counterparties.

     The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in
estimating fair value disclosures for financial instruments.

Cash, Notes Payable and Long-Term Receivables

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate
fair value.

Long-Term Debt

The fair value of long-term debt instruments is estimated using a discounted
cash flow analysis. For more information on these instruments, refer to note 8.

Off-Balance-Sheet Instruments

Fair values for the Company's off-balance-sheet instruments (interest rate and
currency swaps) are based on the termination of the agreements.


The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments were
as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                   1997                                   1996
September 30 (in thousands)             Carrying Amount        Fair Value      Carrying Amount        Fair Value
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                    <C>             <C>                    <C>  
Long-term debt:                                                           
 Bond issues                                 $  339,352        $  327,869           $  445,481        $  423,667
 Private placement debt                          55,000            55,791              105,000           103,538
 Bank debt                                       71,641            74,269               72,721            73,406
 Notes payable to insurance company                                                     60,000            61,813
 Sundry notes, bonds and mortgages               52,876            54,581               74,929            75,900
 Finance subsidiaries' debt                   1,745,754         1,750,298            1,127,026         1,124,395
Interest rate and currency swaps                                   (7,183)                                (5,074)
</TABLE> 


Financial Review

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------



On June 19, 1996, the Company announced that it would split its two operating
units into independent companies by spinning off Unisource, its paper products
and supply systems distribution group, as a separate publicly owned company. The
Company accomplished the transaction through a U.S. tax-free distribution of
Unisource stock to Company shareholders on December 31, 1996. As a result of the
spin-off of Unisource, the Company has accounted for Unisource as a discontinued
operation. Continuing operations of the Company consist of IKON, which sells,
rents and leases photocopiers, digital printers and other automated office
equipment for use in both traditional and integrated office environments. IKON
also provides outsourcing and imaging services and offers consulting, design,
computer networking and technology training for the networked office
environment.

Results of Operations

Revenues and income before taxes for continuing operations for fiscal years
ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and the percentage change for 1997
versus 1996 and 1996 versus 1995 were:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
(in millions)                                              1997        1996   % Change         1996         1995   % Change
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>      <C>            <C>          <C>      <C> 
Revenues                                                 $5,128      $4,100      25.1%       $4,100       $3,092       32.6%
===========================================================================================================================
Income before taxes:
   Operating income, excluding transformation costs      $387.5      $331.5      16.9%       $331.5       $212.2      56.2%
   Transformation costs                                  (126.9)      (21.4)                  (21.4)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Operating income                                       260.6       310.1     (16.0%)       310.1        212.2      46.1%
   Interest expense                                       (47.5)      (37.2)                  (37.2)       (21.7)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         $213.1      $272.9     (21.9%)      $272.9       $190.5      43.3%
===========================================================================================================================
</TABLE> 

                                                                              33
<PAGE>
 
Financial Review
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                    --------------------------------------------

Fiscal 1997 Compared to Fiscal 1996

The Company's revenues increased approximately $1.0 billion, or 25.1% in fiscal
1997 compared to fiscal 1996, of which $554 million relates to current and
prior-year acquisitions and $474 million to base companies' internal growth.
Revenues from the Company's operations outside the U.S. were $660 million in
fiscal 1997 compared to $540 million in fiscal 1996. The Company's European
operations accounted for $15 million of the increase, while Canadian revenues
increased $93 million as a result of acquisitions and internal growth in base
companies. Other foreign companies added $12 million of revenue in fiscal 1997.
The Company's worldwide internal revenue growth was 12% in fiscal 1997 compared
to 14% in fiscal 1996. The internal revenue growth has been negatively impacted
by short-term issues related to the acceleration of the Company's transformation
initiative and its impact on operations both in the U.S. and U.K. In fiscal
1997, IKON completed 89 acquisitions with annualized trailing revenues of $528
million. Of the companies acquired, 27 were outsourcing and imaging companies,
28 were technology services companies and 34 were traditional copier companies.
This year, as part of its total solutions strategy, IKON has emphasized the
acquisition of technology services and outsourcing companies to build its
capabilities in these areas.

     The Company's operating income decreased by $49.5 million compared to the
prior year. However, excluding transformation costs, operating income increased
$56.0 million, or 16.9% over the prior year. Operating income from foreign
operations was $27.1 million for fiscal 1997 compared to $59.0 million in the
prior year. European operations posted a $28.3 million decline in operating
income in fiscal 1997, relating primarily to revenue declines in the U.K. and
transformation costs. Canadian operating income decreased $3.2 million and other
foreign operations decreased $.4 million. These declines are also primarily the
result of transformation costs. There was no material effect of foreign currency
exchange rate fluctuations on the results of operations in fiscal 1997 compared
to fiscal 1996. Finance subsidiaries contributed 23.5% of IKON's operating
income in fiscal 1997 compared to 15.1% in fiscal 1996. The Company's operating
margins were 5.1% in fiscal 1997 compared to 7.6% in fiscal 1996. Excluding
transformation costs, the Company's operating margins were 7.6% in fiscal 1997,
compared to 8.1% in fiscal 1996. Costs associated with the Company's
transformation program increased $105 million in fiscal 1997 compared to fiscal
1996, primarily relating to the write-off of costs associated with the SAP
computer platform that was abandoned during the second quarter and technology
conversion costs ($36 million), severance and other employee related costs,
including temporary labor and costs related to consultants assisting with the
transformation ($35 million), facility consolidations costs, including lease
buyouts and write-offs of leasehold improvements ($23 million) and costs
incurred in connection with the adoption of the IKON name worldwide ($11
million).

     Interest expense increased $10.3 million in fiscal 1997, primarily the
result of increased borrowing levels when adjusted for the Unisource
intercompany debt repayment made in December 1996. Income from continuing
operations before taxes decreased by $59.8 million from the prior year,
primarily reflecting the combined result of internal growth from base companies
along with earnings contributed by acquisitions, net of increased transformation
and interest costs. The effective income tax rate is 42.6% in fiscal 1997
compared to 39.6% in fiscal 1996. The Company used the proceeds of a December 2,
1996 $553.5 million intercompany debt repayment from its discontinued operation,
Unisource, to prepay $514 million of corporate debt. The Company recorded an
extraordinary charge of $12.2 million after tax ($18.7 million pretax) in the
first quarter of fiscal 1997 primarily for prepayment penalties relating to its
early extinguishment of certain corporate debt. Earnings per share from
continuing operations, excluding the extraordinary charge, decreased from $1.12
per share in fiscal 1996 to $.77 per share in fiscal 1997. Excluding
transformation costs, earnings per share from continuing operations would have
increased 12.2% from $1.23 per share in fiscal 1996 to $1.38 per share in fiscal
1997. Including the loss per share of $.09 on the extraordinary charge and the
earnings per share of $.15 on discontinued operations, earnings per share of the
Company were $.83 for fiscal 1997 compared to $1.48 (which includes $.36 for
discontinued operations) for fiscal 1996. Weighted average shares of 134.4
million in fiscal 1997 were 6.8 million shares greater than the 127.6 million
weighted average shares in fiscal 1996, primarily the result of stock issued for
acquisitions (5.8 million weighted shares) and conversion of the Series AA
Preferred Stock effective February 9, 1996 (2.4 million weighted shares), net
of treasury share repurchases (2.4 million weighted shares).

Fiscal 1996 Compared to Fiscal 1995

The Company's revenues increased $1 billion, or 32.6% in fiscal 1996 compared to
fiscal 1995, of which $675 million relates to current and prior-year
acquisitions and $333 million is internal growth. In fiscal 1996, IKON completed
100 acquisitions with annualized trailing revenues of $714 million. Revenues
from the Company's operations outside the U.S. were $540 million in fiscal 1996
compared to $289 million in fiscal 1995. The Company's European operations
accounted for $182 million of the increase, primarily the result of the
acquisitions in the latter half of fiscal 1995, while Canadian revenues
increased $67 million as a result of acquisitions and internal growth.

     Operating income increased by $97.9 million, or 46.1% over the prior year.
Current and prior-year acquisitions accounted for $55.8 million, while the
remaining $42.1 million was the result of internal growth, net of transformation
costs. Excluding transformation costs, fiscal 1996 operating income increased
$119.3 million, or 56.2% over fiscal 1995. Finance subsidiaries contributed
15.1% of operating income in fiscal 1996 compared to 12.3% in fiscal 1995.
IKON's operating margins were 7.6% in fiscal 1996 compared to 

34
<PAGE>
 
6.9% in fiscal 1995. Excluding transformation costs, fiscal 1996 operating
margins were 8.1%. Operating income from foreign operations was $59 million in
fiscal 1996, up $33.5 million from the prior year of which $29.3 million is
attributable to European operations and $4.1 million is attributable to Canadian
operations. Costs associated with the Company's transformation program related
primarily to severance and other employee related costs, including temporary
labor and costs related to consultants assisting with the transformation ($19
million).

     Interest expense, net of corporate interest allocated to discontinued
operations, increased $15.5 million in fiscal 1996, primarily the result of
increased borrowing levels. Income from continuing operations before taxes
increased by $82.4 million, or 43.3% over the prior year, primarily reflecting
the combined result of internal growth along with earnings contributed by
acquisitions, net of increased interest costs. The effective income tax rate is
39.6% in both fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1995. Earnings per share from continuing
operations increased 30.2% from $.86 per share in fiscal 1995 to $1.12 per share
in fiscal 1996. Weighted average shares of 127.6 million in fiscal 1996 were
11.1 million shares greater than the 116.5 million weighted average shares in
fiscal 1995, primarily the result of stock issued for acquisitions (4.7 million
weighted shares) and conversion of the Series AA Preferred Stock effective
February 9, 1996 (6.6 million weighted shares).

Discontinued Operations

The Company spun-off Unisource, its paper products and supply systems
distribution group, at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 1997. Revenues of
Unisource increased $13 million or .7% in the first quarter of fiscal 1997
compared to the first quarter of fiscal 1996. This change was due to increases
associated with current and prior-year acquisitions of $152 million, which were
offset by revenue declines of $139 million in base operations. The decline in
base operations was principally due to an estimated decrease in average paper
prices of 17% compared to the same period in fiscal 1996. The price deflation
was partially offset by volume gains in the base operations. Income before
income taxes decreased $8.5 million to $34.7 million for the first quarter of
fiscal 1997 compared to $43.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1996. This
decrease is primarily related to price decreases, net of volume increases in
base operations and operating income contributed by acquisitions, plus
additional interest expense of $3.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1997
compared to the first quarter of fiscal 1996.

     Revenues of Unisource were flat at $7 billion in both fiscal 1996 and 1995
as a result of price and volume declines, net of $528 million contributed by
acquisitions. Income before income taxes decreased $69.7 million to $103 million
in fiscal 1996 compared to $172.7 million in fiscal 1995. This decrease consists
of a $50 million restructuring charge recorded in the third quarter of fiscal
1996 and an operating income decrease of $21.8 million, primarily related to the
price and volume decreases experienced during the year, net of operating income
contributed by acquisitions, while a reduction in interest expense of $2.1
million in fiscal 1996 slightly offset the operating income decline.

     An $18 million charge against earnings was recorded in the third quarter of
fiscal 1996 for costs associated with the spin-off of Unisource consisting
primarily of investment banking fees, legal and accounting fees, filing fees and
employee termination costs directly related to the spin-off.

Year 2000 Costs

In July 1996, the Emerging Issues Task Force of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board reached a consensus on Issue 96-14, Accounting for the Costs
Associated with Modifying Computer Software for the Year 2000, which provides
that costs associated with modifying computer software for the year 2000 be
expensed as incurred. The Company is assessing the extent of the necessary
modifications to its computer software.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations for fiscal
1997 was $174 million, primarily the result of net income from continuing
operations before the extraordinary loss, plus noncash charges to income, offset
by increases in working capital. During the same period, the Company used $1.1
billion in cash for investing activities, which included finance subsidiary
activity of $808 million, acquisition activity at a cash cost of $156 million
and capital expenditures of $193 million. Investing activities were funded
primarily through financing activities. Cash provided by financing activities
included $552 million of intercompany debt repayments by Unisource that was used
primarily to prepay corporate debt of the Company and $619 million of additional
net funding for finance subsidiaries. Financing activities also included $112
million use of cash for the purchase of treasury shares.

     Debt, excluding finance subsidiaries, was $818 million at September 30,
1997, a decrease of $153 million from the continuing operations debt balance at
September 30, 1996 of $971 million. At September 30, 1997, debt as a percentage
of capitalization, excluding finance subsidiaries, was 35.6%, compared to 31.4%
in the prior year, while the current ratio was 1.5 to 1. The increased debt to
capital ratio reflects the effects of higher working capital, which the Company
is currently managing to lower levels as the transformation proceeds, and the
effects of the share repurchase program. At the end of fiscal 1997, the
Company's commitments for capital expenditures were approximately $27 million,
most of which are expected to be expended during fiscal 1998 and relate to IT
initiatives.

     On December 16, 1996, the Company entered into a credit agreement with
several banks under which it may borrow up to $400 million. This credit facility
replaces a $500 million credit facility that was due to expire December 1999 and
a $100 million credit facility that was canceled on December 2, 1996. The
reduced credit commitment reflects 

                                                                              35
<PAGE>
 
the spin-off of the Unisource business that was effective December 31, 1996. As
of September 30, 1997, short-term borrowings totaled $248 million, leaving $152
million available under the $400 million credit facility. In October 1997, the
Company completed a $250 million two tranche underwritten public offering
consisting of $125 million 6.75% notes due November 1, 2004 and $125 million
7.3% notes due November 1, 2027. The 6.75% notes were sold at a discount to
yield 6.794% and carry a make-whole call provision with a five basis-points
premium. The 7.3% notes were also sold at a discount to yield 7.344% and carry a
make-whole call provision with a 15 basis-points premium. The proceeds of the
offering were used to repay short-term borrowings. The Company also has $200
million available for either stock or debt offerings under its shelf
registration statement filed November 1995.

     Finance subsidiaries' debt grew by $618.7 million from September 30, 1996,
a result of increased leasing activity. During fiscal 1997, the U.S. finance
subsidiary issued an additional $853.4 million under its $3.5 billion medium
term notes program that began in July 1994 (including the shelf registration
filed in May 1997 for $2 billion of medium term notes). At September 30, 1997,
$1.5 billion of medium term notes were outstanding with a weighted average
interest rate of 6.6%, while $1.6 billion remains available under this program.
Under its $275 million asset securitization programs, the U.S. finance
subsidiary sold $103.4 million in direct financing leases during fiscal 1997,
replacing those leases liquidated and leaving the amount of contracts sold
unchanged.

     The Company filed shelf registrations for 10 million shares of common stock
in April 1997 and 5 million shares of common stock in March 1996. Shares issued
under these registration statements are being used for acquisitions.
Approximately 4 million shares have been issued under these shelf registrations
through September 30, 1997, leaving 11 million shares available for issuance.

     On April 17, 1997, the Company announced that it may repurchase from time
to time as much as 5% of the outstanding IKON common stock in open market
transactions. Through September 30, 1997, the Company repurchased 4.4 million
common shares for $109.7 million. Approximately 2.3 million shares may still be
acquired by the Company in open market transactions under this program.

     The Company believes that its operating cash flow together with unused bank
credit facilities and other financing arrangements will be sufficient to finance
current operating requirements including capital expenditures, acquisitions,
dividends, stock repurchases and costs associated with the Company's
transformation program. The Company estimates the total remaining costs of its
transformation program to be from $50 million to $70 million, excluding capital
costs. Quarterly transformation costs are expected to be in the range of $5
million to $20 million for the next four quarters.

Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk. The Company's exposure to market risk for changes in
interest rates relates primarily to the Company's long-term debt. The Company
has no cash flow exposure due to interest rate changes for long-term debt
obligations. The Company primarily enters into debt obligations to support
general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, capital expenditures and
working capital needs. Finance subsidiaries' long-term debt is used to fund the
lease receivables portfolio. For interest rate swaps, the table presents
notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by contractual maturity
dates using September 30, 1997 variable rates. The carrying amounts for cash,
accounts receivable, long-term receivables and notes payable reported in the
consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value.

     The table below presents principal amounts and related average interest
rates by year of maturity for the Company's long-term debt obligations:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

(in thousands)                                            1998         1999        2000        2001        2002       Thereafter
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>           <C> 
Long-term debt
        Fixed rate                                     $60,794      $11,724      $6,555      $3,731     $45,120        $351,464
        Average interest rate                              7.8%         8.4%        8.6%        8.6%        8.9%            6.8%
        Variable rate                                                                       $71,641
        Average interest rate                                                                   3.5%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt, finance subsidiaries
        Fixed rate                                    $251,711     $629,828    $346,257    $428,673     $80,964          $8,321
        Average interest rate                              7.1%         6.3%        6.7%        6.7%        6.2%            5.3%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest Rate Derivative Financial Instruments Related to Debt
        Interest rate swaps:
         Pay fixed/receive variable                                                         $71,092
        Average pay rate                                                                        7.7%
        Average receive rate                                                                    3.5%
====================================================================================================================================

</TABLE> 

Foreign Exchange Risk. The Company does not have significant foreign exchange
risk. Foreign denominated intercompany debt borrowed in one currency and repaid
in another is fixed via currency swap agreements. Gains and losses resulting
from the remeasurement of foreign financial statements into U.S. dollars did not
have a significant effect on the results of operations for fiscal years 1997,
1996 or 1995.

36
<PAGE>
 
Quarterly Financial Summary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                ------------------------------------------------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                     First           Second             Third           Fourth
(unaudited, in millions except  per share data)    Quarter          Quarter           Quarter          Quarter             Total
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>               <C> 
1997
Revenues                                          $1,140.4         $1,277.9          $1,316.3         $1,393.8          $5,128.4
Gross profit                                         499.3            544.6             561.4            588.5           2,193.8
Transformation costs                                  14.3             61.2              23.0             28.4             126.9
Income before taxes                                   73.2             30.1              52.6             57.2             213.1
Income (loss)
        Continuing operations                         44.7             14.6              30.1             33.0             122.4
        Discontinued operations                       20.2                                                                  20.2
        Extraordinary loss                          (12.2)                                                                 (12.2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                           $52.7            $14.6             $30.1            $33.0            $130.4
====================================================================================================================================
Earnings (loss) per share
        Continuing operations                         $.30             $.07              $.19             $.21              $.77
        Discontinued operations                        .15                                                                   .15
        Extraordinary loss                           (.09)                                                                  (.09)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      $.36             $.07              $.19             $.21              $.83
====================================================================================================================================
Dividends per share                                   $.14             $.04              $.04             $.04              $.26
Common stock price
        High/Low                           52 1/4 - 44 3/8  46 5/8 - 32 1/2   34 7/8 - 20 5/8  29 5/8 - 21 1/2  52 1/4  - 20 5/8

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996
Revenues                                            $900.6         $1,015.4          $1,059.1         $1,124.7          $4,099.8
Gross profit                                         383.2            417.1             460.0            476.1           1,736.4
Transformation costs                                    .7              5.6               5.6              9.5              21.4
Income before taxes                                   61.3             66.3              72.8             72.5             272.9
Income (loss)
        Continuing operations                         36.9             40.5              43.7             43.8             164.9
        Discontinued operations                       26.3             28.6          (20.2) (a)           11.1              45.8 (a)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                           $63.2            $69.1             $23.5            $54.9            $210.7
====================================================================================================================================
Earnings (loss) per share
        Continuing operations                         $.25             $.28              $.30             $.30             $1.12
        Discontinued operations                        .22              .22           (.16) (a)            .08               .36 (a)
                                                      $.47             $.50              $.14             $.38             $1.48
====================================================================================================================================

Dividends per share                                   $.14             $.14              $.14             $.14              $.56
Common stock price
        High/Low                               46 3/8 - 42  54 5/8 - 37 3/8       66 - 44 5/8      49 7/8 - 38       66 - 37 3/8
</TABLE> 

(a)  Discontinued operations in the third quarter and year-to-date fiscal 1996
     includes a pretax charge of $50,000,000 ($32,500,000 net of taxes or $.25
     per share) for restructuring activities of Unisource and a pretax charge of
     $18,000,000 ($14,150,000 net of taxes or $.11 per share) for expenses
     related to the spin-off of Unisource.

                                                                              37
<PAGE>

Corporate Financial Summary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                ------------------------------------------------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                  Ten-Year
(in millions, except per share data,              Compound
shareholders of record, employees)                  Growth             1997              1996             1995              1994
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>           <C>               <C>              <C>               <C> 
Continuing Operations
Revenues                                             18.8%         $5,128.4          $4,099.8         $3,091.6          $2,391.1
Gross profit                                         23.9           2,193.8           1,736.5          1,296.7           1,030.2
   % of revenues                                                       42.8              42.4             41.9              43.1
Selling and administrative                           22.6           1,806.4           1,405.0          1,084.5             853.6
   % of gross profit                                                   82.3              80.9             83.6              82.9
Operating income                                     20.5             260.6             310.1            212.2              59.4
   % of revenues                                                        5.1               7.6              6.9               2.5
Income before taxes                                  23.4             213.1             272.9            190.5              43.3
   % of revenues                                                        4.2               6.7              6.2               1.8
Effective income tax rate (%)                                          42.6              39.6             39.6              95.4
Income                                               23.4             122.4             164.9            115.0               2.0
   % of revenues                                                        2.4               4.0              3.7               0.1
Earnings (loss) per share                           
   Primary                                                              .77              1.12             0.86            (0.09)
   Fully diluted                                                            (e)              (e)               (e)              (e)
Capital expenditures                                 20.8             193.2             146.6             91.1              79.0
Depreciation and amortization                        19.2             156.6             118.6             87.4              67.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discontinued Operations and Extraordinary Items     
Income (loss)                                                          $8.0             $45.8            $88.7             $74.5
Earnings (loss) per share                           
   Primary                                                              .06               .36             0.76              0.67
   Fully diluted                                                            (e)              (e)               (e)              (e)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Operations and Extraordinary Items            
Net income                                            4.7%           $130.4            $210.7           $203.7             $76.5
Earnings (loss) per share                           
   Primary                                                              .83              1.48             1.62              0.58
   Fully diluted                                                            (e)              (e)               (e)              (e)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Activity                                      
Dividends per share                                  (2.1)%           $0.26             $0.56            $0.52             $0.50
Per share book value                                  3.8              8.94             14.94            12.06             10.50
Return on shareholders' equity                                          7.8              13.8             15.8              15.1
Average common and common equivalent shares                           134.4             127.6            116.5             111.4
Shareholders of record                                               15,089            15,033           15,099            14,348
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplementary Information                           
Days sales outstanding (g)                                             44.5              34.2             33.6              30.2
Inventory turns (g)                                                     6.3               5.7              6.3               5.7
Current ratio                                                           1.5               1.2              1.1               1.3
Pretax return on capital employed                                       8.5              14.8             17.1              15.9 (b)
Pretax return on capital employed, excluding        
   finance subsidiaries                                                10.0              19.0             21.1              18.6 (b)
Working capital                                      10.2%           $752.0            $251.2           $144.7            $171.5
Total assets                                         17.1           5,323.9           5,384.6          4,110.3           2,897.7
Total debt                                           26.9           2,563.8           2,158.4          1,499.3             949.2
   % of capitalization                                                 63.4              48.9             44.2              40.7
Total debt, excluding finance subsidiaries           14.4             818.0           1,031.4            681.7             484.3
   % of capitalization                                                 35.6              31.4             26.5              25.9
Serial preferred stock                              
Employees (h)                                                        40,900            43,100           39,200            33,100
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 

(a) Continuing operations include unrelated businesses sold in 1988.

(b) Excludes the effect of the sale of IMMOS in fiscal 1994 and Unisource
    restructuring costs in fiscal 1993.

(c) Includes the sale of an automobile leasing subsidiary that resulted in a
    pretax gain of $17,637,000.

(d) Includes unusual pretax charges relating to the Hillman Companies of
    $10,323,000.

(e) Dilution is immaterial after 1987; therefore, no disclosure.

(f) Excludes gain on sale of Alco Health Services Corporation of pretax -
    $96,800,000; net income - $61,900,000.

(g) Continuing operations only. 

(h) Includes discontinued operations.

    Note: Unless otherwise noted, ratios and operating results include the
    effect of: fiscal 1994 - loss on sale of investment in IMMOS, pretax income
    ($115,265,000), net income ($95,086,000), earnings per share ($.85); fiscal
    1993 - Unisource restructuring costs, operating income ($175,000,000), net
    income ($112,875,000), earnings per share ($1.14); fiscal 1997 -
    transformation costs, operating income ($126,908,000), net income
    ($82,490,000), earnings per share ($.61).

38
<PAGE>
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

(in millions, except per share data,                        
shareholders of record, employees)                    1993              1992             1991              1990       
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>            
Continuing Operations                                                                                                 
Revenues                                          $1,723.1          $1,354.2         $1,127.4          $1,018.6       
Gross profit                                         755.2             613.2            497.8             451.8       
   % of revenues                                      43.8              45.3             44.2              44.4       
Selling and administrative                           635.9             523.4            440.0             418.3       
   % of gross profit                                  84.2              85.4             88.4              92.6       
Operating income                                     116.8              96.5             57.8              28.8       
   % of revenues                                       6.8               7.1              5.1               2.8       
Income before taxes                                  101.4              85.1             40.4               8.3 (d)      
   % of revenues                                       5.9               6.3              3.6               0.8       
Effective income tax rate (%)                         39.6              39.4             39.0              40.7       
Income                                                61.3              51.6             24.6               4.9 (d)      
   % of revenues                                       3.6               3.8              2.2               0.5       
Earnings (loss) per share                                                                                             
   Primary                                            0.52              0.53             0.26              0.06 (d)      
   Fully diluted                                           (e)               (e)              (e)               (e)      
Capital expenditures                                  64.3              36.9             33.4              40.5       
Depreciation and amortization                         51.3              42.3             43.1              38.0       
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discontinued Operations and Extraordinary Items  
Income (loss)                                       ($58.6)            $47.5            $94.1             $88.6       
Earnings (loss) per share                                                                                             
   Primary                                           (0.59)             0.49             1.00              0.95       
   Fully diluted                                           (e)               (e)              (e)               (e)      
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Operations and Extraordinary Items         
Net income                                            $2.6             $99.1           $118.7             $93.5 (d)      
Earnings (loss) per share                                                                                             
   Primary                                           (0.07)             1.01             1.26              1.01       
   Fully diluted                                           (e)               (e)              (e)               (e)      
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Activity                                   
Dividends per share                                  $0.48             $0.46            $0.44             $0.42       
Per share book value                                  8.55              9.11             8.91              8.20       
Return on shareholders' equity                        11.6              11.6             15.0              13.4       
Average common and common equivalent shares           98.7              97.7             94.1              93.1       
Shareholders of record                              13,999            13,726           14,096            14,152       
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplementary Information                        
Days sales outstanding (g)                            32.9              32.3             33.8              34.8       
Inventory turns (g)                                    5.1               5.2              4.8               4.7       
Current ratio                                          1.1               1.3              1.9               1.7       
Pretax return on capital employed                     13.5 (b)          15.1             15.3              18.5       
Pretax return on capital employed, excluding     
   finance subsidiaries                               15.8 (b)          17.5             17.6              20.9       
Working capital                                      $87.2            $140.4           $299.9            $216.9       
Total assets                                       2,734.2           1,944.0          1,703.0           1,544.0       
Total debt                                         1,240.0             805.4            548.1             469.2       
   % of capitalization                                54.5              48.0             39.8              38.3       
Total debt, excluding finance subsidiaries           825.7             504.9            327.4             309.6       
   % of capitalization                                44.4              36.6             28.3              29.0       
Serial preferred stock                                 0.3               1.6              2.9               4.9       
Employees (h)                                       30,200            24,800           19,800            21,700       
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>

(in millions, except per share data,                        
shareholders of record, employees)                     1989              1988             1987    
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>               <C>              <C>         
Continuing Operations                                                                             
Revenues                                             $789.3            $667.0 (a)       $917.9 (a)  
Gross profit                                          342.6             255.6 (a)        257.2 (a)  
   % of revenues                                       43.4              38.3             28.0    
Selling and administrative                            318.7             241.0 (a)        234.5 (a)  
   % of gross profit                                   93.0              94.3             91.2    
Operating income                                       23.9              22.5 (a)         40.3 (a)  
   % of revenues                                        3.0               3.4              4.4    
Income before taxes                                     9.1              10.7 (a)         26.0 (a)(c)
   % of revenues                                        1.2               1.6              2.8    
Effective income tax rate (%)                          20.0              25.5             42.5    
Income                                                  7.3               8.0 (a)         14.9 (a)(c)
   % of revenues                                        0.9               1.2              1.6    
Earnings (loss) per share                                                                         
   Primary                                             0.08              0.08 (a)         0.16 (a)(c)
   Fully diluted                                            (e)               (e)         0.16 (a)(c)
Capital expenditures                                   35.1              26.3 (a)         29.1 (a)  
Depreciation and amortization                          32.1              25.3 (a)         27.0 (a)  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discontinued Operations and Extraordinary Items  
Income (loss)                                        $160.2            $103.4            $67.4
Earnings (loss) per share                                                                     
   Primary                                             1.70              1.04             0.73
   Fully diluted                                            (e)               (e)         0.68
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Operations and Extraordinary Items         
Net income                                           $167.5            $111.4            $82.3 (c)
Earnings (loss) per share                                                                       
   Primary                                             1.78              1.12             0.89 (c)
   Fully diluted                                            (e)               (e)         0.84 (c)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Activity                                   
Dividends per share                                   $0.38             $0.34            $0.32
Per share book value                                   7.25              6.98             6.15
Return on shareholders' equity                         16.6 (f)          17.1             16.2
Average common and common equivalent shares            94.3              99.5             92.3
Shareholders of record                               13,410            14,103           12,875
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplementary Information                        
Days sales outstanding (g)                             37.6              37.9             45.0
Inventory turns (g)                                     4.3               4.1              3.6
Current ratio                                           1.5               2.2              2.4
Pretax return on capital employed                      19.4 (f)          19.2             21.6
Pretax return on capital employed, excluding     
   finance subsidiaries                                21.1 (f)          20.0             22.2
Working capital                                      $161.9            $209.8           $284.5
Total assets                                        1,295.8           1,182.1          1,099.8
Total debt                                            391.2             261.5            237.1
   % of capitalization                                 37.8              27.4             27.9
Total debt, excluding finance subsidiaries            296.7             209.3            213.4
   % of capitalization                                 31.5              23.2             25.9
Serial preferred stock                                  7.4               9.9             11.4
Employees (h)                                        20,500            17,900           17,800
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                                                              39
<PAGE>
 
IKON Office Solutions
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Board of Directors
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John E. Stuart/3/

Age 53, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IKON Office Solutions. Mr.
Stuart was elected a director in 1993. He also serves on the board of directors
of Foster Wheeler Corporation.

James R. Birle/1,2,3/

Age 61, is Founder and Chairman of Resolute Partners, Inc. He is a director of
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Drexel Industries, Inc., The
Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority and Transparency
International. Mr. Birle was elected a director in 1996.

Philip E. Cushing

Age 47, is Group Chief Executive of Inchcape plc. Mr. Cushing has also served as
non-executive director of Bunzl plc since March 1994. He was elected to the
board in 1997.

Kurt E. Dinkelacker/3/

Age 44, is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IKON Office
Solutions. He is a member of the Finance Committee of Crozer-Keystone Health
System in Media, Pennsylvania. Mr. Dinkelacker was elected to the board in 1996.

William F. Drake, Jr./3/

Age 65, is Vice Chairman and General Counsel of IKON Office Solutions. Mr. Drake
serves as a director of Nocopi Technologies and is Of Counsel to Montgomery,
McCracken, Walker & Rhoads. He has been a director since 1969.

Frederick S. Hammer/1,2,3/

Age 61, has been a director since 1986. His other directorships include United
Student Aid Group, Inc., Tri-Arc Financial Services, Inc., Partner in Inter-
Atlantic Capital Partners, Inc., and National Media Corporation.

Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer/1,2,3/

Age 69, has been a director since 1988 and was elected Chairman of the
Independent Directors in 1995. Her other directorships include The Great
Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., Inc., Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.,
Raytheon Company and The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies.

Richard A. Jalkut/1,2,3/

Age 53, is President and Chief Executive Officer of PathNet. Mr. Jalkut serves
on the Board of Directors of the Marine Midland Bank. Mr. Jalkut was named a
director in 1996.

1 Audit Committee
2 Human Resources Committee
3 Investment Committee


Corporate Officers
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John E. Stuart
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Kurt E. Dinkelacker
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

William F. Drake, Jr.
Vice Chairman and General Counsel

James J. Forese
Executive Vice President and President of International Operations

David M. Gadra
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

William A. Brady
Vice President, Law and Assistant Secretary

O. Gordon Brewer, Jr.
Vice President, Finance

Michael J. Dillon
Vice President and Controller

Michael H. Dudek
Vice President, Acquisitions

Karin M. Kinney
Corporate Counsel and Secretary

J.F. Quinn
Treasurer

Beth B. Sexton
Vice President, Human Resources

 
                          FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
 
  This Report includes or incorporates by reference information which may
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. Although the Company believes the expectations contained in
such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurances can be given
that such expectations will prove correct. Such forward-looking information is
based upon management's current plans or expectations and is subject to a
number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current
plans, anticipated actions and the Company's future financial condition and
results. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, those
relating to successfully managing an aggressive program to acquire and
integrate new companies, including companies with technical services and
products that are relatively new to the Company, and also including companies
outside the United States, which present additional risks relating to
international operations; risks and uncertainties relating to conducting
operations in a competitive environment; delays, difficulties, technological
changes, management transitions and employment issues associated with a large-
scale transformation project; debt service requirements (including sensitivity
to fluctuation in interest rates); and general economic conditions. As a
consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future financial condition
and results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

40

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 21

                                   EXHIBIT 21

                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT
                           --------------------------

The registrant is IKON Office Solutions, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which has no
parent. The following sets forth information with respect to IKON's subsidiaries
as of December 15, 1997.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                                                                       State or other
                                                                                                       jurisdiction of
                                                                           %Voting Securities          Incorporation or
Subsidiary                                                                 Owned (by whom)             organization
- ----------                                                                 ------------------          ----------------
<S>                                                                        <C>                         <C> 
Alco Office Products Group, Inc. (AOP)                                     100% IKON                   United Kingdom
     IKON Office Solutions Group PLC                                       100% AOP                    United Kingdom
     IKON Office Solutions Europe PLC                                      100% AOP                    United Kingdom
     Microgen Demand Publishing                                            100% AOP                    United Kingdom
Alco Standard Acquisition Capital Company                                  100% IKON                   Delaware
Alco Venture Capital Company                                               100% IKON                   Delaware

Chesterbrook Insurance Ltd.                                                100% IKON                   Bermuda

Depot Internacional S.A., Inc.                                             100% IKON                   Florida

IKON Baja (US) Corporation (IBC)                                           100% IKON                   Delaware
     IKON Baja, S.A., De C.V.                                              100% IBC                    Mexico
IKON Brands, Inc.                                                          100% IKON                   Delaware
IKON Capital, Inc. (ICI)                                                   100% IKON                   Delaware
     IKON Funding, Inc.                                                    100% ICI                    Delaware
IKON Denmark                                                               100% IKON                   Denmark
Ikon, Inc.                                                                 100% IKON                   Delaware
IKON North America, Inc. (INA)                                             100% IKON                   Delaware
     IKON de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (IDM)                                    99% INA, 1% IKON            Mexico
         IKON Servicos, S.A. de C.V. (IS)                                  99% IDM, 1% INA             Mexico
         IKON Copiroyal, S.A. de C.V.                                      99% IDM, 1% IS              Mexico
         IKON Inmuebles                                                    99% IDM, 1% IS              Mexico
IKON Office Solutions Foundation, Inc.                                     100% IKON                   Delaware
IKON Office Solutions Holding GmbH (IOSH)                                  100% IOSE                   Germany
     Hans Bode Kopiervertriebsgeraete                                      100% IOSE                   Germany
     B&W Bueromaschinen-Vertriebs GmbH                                     100% IOSE                   Germany
     IKON Office Solutions GmbH Frankfurt                                  100% IOSH                   Germany
     IKON Office Solutions GmbH (Weisbaden)                                100% IOSH                   Germany
     IKON Office Solutions GmbH (Leasing)                                  100% IOSH                   Germany
     IKON Office Solutions GmbH, Leipzig                                   100% IOSH                   Germany
IKON Office Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd.                                  100% INA                    Australia
IKON Office Solutions Sudquest S.A. (IOSS)                                 100% IOSF                   France
         IKON Office Solutions STR S.A.                                    100% IOSS                   France
         STR Adour S.A. IKON Office Solutions, Inc.                        100% IOSS                   France
              Bureau-Tech
     Repro LR                                                              100% IOSF                   France
     SOMEREP S.A. (SSA)                                                    100% IOSF                   France
         SOMEREP 30                                                        100% SSA                    France
         SOMEREP 34                                                        100% SSA                    France
     IMPACT (IMP)                                                          100% IOSF                   France
         IRIS                                                              100% IMP                    France
</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
         <S>                                                               <C>                         <C>  
         Occasion Bureautique                                              100% IMP                    France
</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
                                   Page -2-
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                                                                       State or other
                                                                                                       jurisdiction of
                                                                                                       Incorporation 
                                                                           %Voting Securities          or
Subsidiary                                                                 Owned (by whom)             organization
- ----------                                                                 ------------------          ---------------
<S>                                                                        <C>                         <C>   
IKON Office Solutions, Inc./IKON Solutions De                              100% IKON                   Canada
     Bureau, Inc. (IKON-CAN)
     143215 Canada, Inc. (143215)                                          100% IKON-CAN               Canada
         CGS Microtechnologies                                             100% 143215                 Canada
     1254406 Ontario, Ltd.                                                 100% IKON-CAN               Canada
     1254407 Ontario, Ltd. (1254407)                                       100% IKON-CAN               Canada
         Connections Plus Systems, Ltd.                                    100% 1254407                Canada
     Alco Dublin Limited                                                   100% IKON-CAN               Canada
     Craig Technologies, Inc.                                              100% IKON-CAN               Canada
     IKON Capital, Inc.                                                    100% IKON-CAN               Canada
     Proterm Data Systems, Ltd.                                            100% IKON-CAN               Canada
     Proterm Toronto, Inc. (PTI)                                           100% IKON-CAN               Canada
         Sysinct, Inc.                                                     100% PTI                    Canada
IKON Realty, Inc.                                                          100% IKON                   Delaware
Image Systems Solutions, Inc.                                              100% IKON                   Wyoming

MDR Management Corporation                                                 100% IKON                   Delaware

Office Group, Inc.                                                         100% IKON                   Delaware
Office Products, Inc.                                                      100% IKON                   Delaware
Office World Trade, Inc.                                                   100% IKON                   Delaware

Partners Securities, Inc.                                                  100% IKON                   Pennsylvania
Pimeau B.V. (PBV)                                                          100% INA                    France
     IKON Office Solutions (Holding) France (IOSF)                         100% PBV                    France
     Bureautique Systemes S.A.                                             100% IOSF                   France
     Bureautique & Systemes Technologies S.A.                              100% IOSF                   France
     Buro 3                                                                100% IOSF                   France
     Buro 68                                                               100% IOSF                   France
     Guillaume Bureautique                                                 100% IOSF                   France

3D Communications, Inc. (3D)                                               100% IKON                   Utah
3D Communications of Colorado L.L.C.                                       100% 3D                     Utah
BCS Integration, Inc.                                                      100% IKON                   Utah
Carlson Group, Inc.                                                        100% IKON                   North Carolina
ColourComp Corporation                                                     100% IKON                   Arizona
Command Services Corporation                                               100% IKON                   New York
Connectivity, Inc.                                                         100% IKON                   Oregon
The Computer Group, Inc.                                                   100% IKON                   South Carolina
Executive Automation Consultants, Inc.                                     100% IKON                   Kansas
IKON Office Solutions Technology Services, Inc.                            100% IKON                   Delaware
Innerset, Inc. (INN)                                                       100% IKON                   Delaware
Fourth Wave Technologies, Inc.                                             100% INN                    Michigan
Winson Olson Co.                                                           100% INN                    California
Integra Technology International, Inc. (ITI)                               100% IKON                   New York
Integra Techsoft Ltd.                                                      100% ITI                    India
Jened Enterprises, Inc.                                                    100% IKON                   Arizona
Kenwood Associates, Inc.                                                   100% IKON                   Illinois
Micro Information Services, Inc.                                           100% IKON                   Wisconsin
Mon-Wal, Inc. (dba The Waldec Group)                                       100% IKON                   Florida
</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>
 
                                    Page -3-

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                                                                       State or other
                                                                                                       jurisdiction of
                                                                           %Voting Securities          Incorporation or
Subsidiary                                                                 Owned (by whom)             organization
- ----------                                                                 ------------------          ----------------
<S>                                                                        <C>                         <C> 
Nova Information Systems, Inc.                                             100% IKON                   Delaware
OA Solutions, Inc.                                                         100% IKON                   New York
PERCOMCO, Inc.                                                             100% IKON                   Indiana
Professional Computing, Inc.                                               100% IKON                   California
Real World Systems, Inc.                                                   100% IKON                   Pennsylvania
Riverbend Group, Inc.                                                      100% IKON                   Virginia
Strategy Group, Inc.                                                       100% IKON                   Pennsylvania
Sunrise Computer Systems, Inc.                                             100% IKON                   Ohio
Universal Networks, Inc.                                                   100% IKON                   Illinois
Valinor Inc.                                                               100% IKON                   Massachusetts
Virtual Networks, Inc.                                                     100% IKON                   California
</TABLE> 

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      Exhibit 23



               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. of our report dated October 15, 1997 (except for
Note 8, as to which the date is October 27, 1997), included in the 1997 Annual
Report to the Shareholders of IKON Office Solutions, Inc.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. listed in item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following registration
statements on Form S-3, Form S-4 and Form S-8 of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and
in the related Prospectuses of our report dated October 15, 1997, (except for
Note 8, as to which the date is October 27, 1997), with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REGISTRATION
Number            Filing Date            Description
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<S>                   <C>                                <C>
2-66880           March 10, 1980         IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1980 Deferred Compensation Plan
 
2-75296           December 11, 1982      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1982 Deferred Compensation Plan
 
33-00120          September 6, 1985      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1985 Deferred Compensation Plan
 
33-26732          January 27, 1989       IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1989 Directors' Stock Option Plan
 
33-36745          September 10, 1990     IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1991 Deferred Compensation Plan

</TABLE>

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

REGISTRATION
Number                       Filing Date                                Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<S>                   <C>                                <C>
33-38193          December 10, 1990      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1986 Stock Option Plan
 
33-84376          June 4, 1992           IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         Stock Award Plan
 
33-55096          November 24, 1992      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1993 Directors' Stock Option Plan
 
33-51183          November 24, 1993      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         Partners' Stock Purchase Plan
 
33-54781          July 28, 1994          IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         Stock Award Plan
 
33-56469          November 15, 1994      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         1995 Stock Option Plan
 
33-56471          November 15, 1994      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         Long Term Incentive Compensation
                                         Plan
 
33-64177          November 14, 1995      IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         $750,000,000 Debt Securities,
                                         Preferred Stock or Common Stock
 
33-64739          January 5, 1996        IKON Office Solutions, Inc. 10,000,000
                                         Shares of Common Stock
 
333-01743         March 14, 1996         IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         5,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
 
333-19267         January 3, 1997        IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         Retirement Savings Plan
 
333-24931         April 10, 1997         IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
                                         10,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
</TABLE>



Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 24, 1997

                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24



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


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                       /s/James R. Birle
                                  ---------------------------------
                                          James R. Birle
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                            /s/Philip E. Cushing
                                       ----------------------------------
                                               Philip E. Cushing
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                            /s/ Kurt E. Dinkelacker
                                       --------------------------------------
                                                Kurt E. Dinkelacker
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of Karin M. Kinney and Michael J.
Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, to
execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and any and all
amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other documents
which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                             /s/William F. Drake, Jr.
                                         -----------------------------------
                                                William F. Drake, Jr.
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                       /s/Richard A. Jalkut
                                  -------------------------------------
                                          Richard A. Jalkut
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                     /s/ Frederick S. Hammer
                              ---------------------------------------
                                         Frederick S. Hammer
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that she is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on her behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                           /s/Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer
                                       -------------------------------------
                                              Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer
<PAGE>
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        


          The undersigned certifies that he is a Director of IKON Office
Solutions, Inc. ("IKON").

          The undersigned hereby appoints each of William F. Drake, Jr., Karin
M. Kinney and Michael J. Dillon as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, to execute, on his behalf, the foregoing Report on Form 10-K, and
any and all amendments thereto, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"), and to do all such other acts and execute all such other
documents which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable.



          Dated this 24th day of December, 1997



                                       /s/John E. Stuart
                                    -----------------------------
                                          John E. Stuart
<PAGE>
 


                                 CERTIFICATION


     I, Karin M. Kinney, Secretary of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. do hereby
certify that the following resolutions were duly passed by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation on November 6, 1997, and that such resolutions are,
as of the date hereof, in full force and effect:

           RESOLVED, that each of the officers and directors of the corporation
     is hereby authorized to appoint William F. Drake, Jr., Karin M. Kinney and
     Michael J. Dillon as his or her attorneys-in-fact on behalf of each of them
     each attorney-in-fact with the power of substitution, to execute on such
     officer's or director's behalf, one or more registration statements and
     annual reports of the corporation for filing with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and any and all amendments to said documents
     which said attorney may deem necessary or desirable to enable the
     corporation to register the offering of (i) serial preferred stock; (ii)
     common stock; (iii) debt securities; and/or (iv) participation interest in
     employee benefit plans under the Federal securities law, and to further
     enable the corporation to file such reports as are necessary under Section
     13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and such other documents
     as are necessary to comply with all rules, regulations or requirements of
     the SEC in respect thereto; and

           FURTHER RESOLVED, that any officer of the corporation is hereby
     authorized to do and perform, or cause to be done or performed, any and all
     things and to execute and deliver any and all agreements, certificates,
     undertakings, documents or instruments necessary or appropriate in order to
     carry out the purpose and intent of the foregoing resolutions, it to be
     conclusively presumed from the taking of any such action or execution of
     any such document that it has been authorized hereby.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of December,
1997.


                             /s/Karin M. Kinney
                           ----------------------------
                                Karin M. Kinney

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IT ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                      21,341,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              819,852,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                54,192,000
<INVENTORY>                                442,207,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         2,125,806,000
<PP&E>                                     731,724,000<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                             390,279,000<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           5,323,886,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    1,373,782,000
<BONDS>                                  1,984,278,000
                                0
                                290,170,000
<COMMON>                                   677,681,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 513,797,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             5,323,886,000
<SALES>                                  2,841,561,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         5,128,433,000
<CGS>                                    1,828,883,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            2,934,607,000<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         1,933,260,000<F4>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            25,724,000<F5>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          47,453,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            213,113,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                90,751,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        122,362,000
<DISCONTINUED>                              20,151,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           (12,156,000)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               130,357,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.82
<FN>
<F1>Includes Equipment on operating leases, at cost, of $269,364,000.
<F2>Includes accumulated depreciation for equipment on operating leases of
$167,464,000.
<F3>Includes Finance Subsidiaries interest of $98,664,000.
<F4>Represents selling, general and administrative expenses and transformation
costs.
<F5>Continuing operations only.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission