GOODRICH B F CO
8-K, 1997-09-25
CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   September 22, 1997
                                                         ------------------



                            THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



New York                           1-892                          34-0252680
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                (Commission                      (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of               File Number)                   Identification No.)
incorporation)



            4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway, Richfield, Ohio         44286-9368
            --------------------------------------------------------------
             (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code     330-659-7600
                                                              ------------



                                 Not Applicable
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address,  if changed since last report.)




<PAGE>




Item 5.    Other Events
- -------    ------------


         On September 22, 1997, The B.F.Goodrich Company ("BFGoodrich") issued a
press release  announcing that BFGoodrich and Rohr, Inc.  ("Rohr") have signed a
definitive   agreement  for  Rohr  to  merge  with   BFGoodrich  in  a  tax-free
stock-for-stock transaction. Reference is made to Exhibit 99.1 hereto which is a
copy of the press release and to Exhibit 99.2 which is a copy of the  definitive
agreement.




                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                                THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY




                                                By /s/Nicholas J. Calise
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Nicholas J. Calise, Secretary



Dated:   September 25, 1997






                                                                  Exhibit 99.1
BFGOODRICH


For further information:

The BFGoodrich Company
Media Contact: Rob Jewell (330) 659-7999
Investor Contact: John Atkinson (330) 659-7788

Rohr, Inc.
Contact: Bob Rau (619) 691-2057
         Laurence Chapman (619) 691-3002


BF GOODRICH AND ROHR ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO MERGE


       RICHFIELD,  Ohio, September 22 -- The BFGoodrich Company and Rohr, Inc.
jointly  announced  today that the companies have signed a definitive  agreement
for Rohr to merge with BFGoodrich in a tax-free stock-for-stock transaction. The
combined  company will have a  significant  presence  throughout  the world as a
leading provider of aircraft systems and services and specialty chemicals.
       David L. Burner, chairman and chief executive officer  of  The BFGoodrich
Company, said: "By combining our two outstanding  companies,  we will expand our
capabilities to provide customers with integrated aircraft systems and services.
As a larger company in an industry that continues to consolidate and become more
highly focused, we will become an even stronger competitor with the resources to
take advantage of opportunities with  original-equipment  manufacturers and as a
supplier  of  replacement  parts  and  services.  Our  common  strengths  are in
technology,  in our ability to work  creatively  with customers to benefit their
businesses, and  in  designing,  manufacturing and integrating complex systems."
       While the merger is  expected  to result in  some  cost  savings,  Burner
said the transaction will result in enhanced profitability  primarily because of
the ability the company will have to take advantage of opportunities for growth.
"Rohr is  a  company  with  excellent  management  and  talented  and  dedicated
employees.  In 1998, excluding transaction costs, we expect the merger will add 
about 20 to 25 cents a share to BFGoodrich earnings."
       Robert H. Rau, president and chief executive officer of Rohr, Inc., said:
"We are extremely enthusiastic about this merger,  and  we are confident that it
will  benefit  our  shareholders,  customers  and  employees.  It represents  an
opportunity for Rohr to join with a company that has the financial  strength and
a long-term commitment to build on its current excellent position and reputation
as a systems integrator."
       Following the completion of the merger,  Rau will  continue  as president
of Rohr  reporting  to Marshall  O.  Larsen,  executive  vice  president  of The
BFGoodrich Company and president of BFGoodrich Aerospace.  Rohr will be operated
as one of four business groups of BFGoodrich Aerospace.
       Under terms of the agreement, Rohr  shareholders  will receive 0.7 shares
of  BFGoodrich  common stock for each share of Rohr common  stock.  Based on the
closing price of BFGoodrich common stock ($44.56 a share) on September 22, 1997,
the value of the merger is estimated at  approximately  $1.3 billion,  including
the assumption of Rohr debt by BFGoodrich.  The merger is subject to shareholder
approval of both  companies  and review by certain  regulatory  agencies.  It is
expected to be completed in late 1997 or early 1998. Following the completion of
the merger,  three current  members of the Rohr Board of Directors will join the
BFGoodrich Board.
       Rohr, headquartered in Chula Vista, Calif.,  primarily  designs, develops
and integrates nacelle and pylon systems and provides support services. Nacelles
are the aerodynamic  structures that surround an aircraft's engines. The company
employs  about  4,500 and had sales for its fiscal  year ending July 31, 1997 of
$944.4 million.
 

                                      1

<PAGE>


      BFGoodrich, headquartered in Richfield, Ohio, and employing about  14,000,
provides aircraft  systems and  services  and  manufactures specialty chemicals.
Total company  sales in 1996 were $2.2 billion, of which $1.2  billion  was from
its Aerospace businesses.
         To  provide  more  detail  about the  merger  and to answer  questions,
BFGoodrich  management will hold a telephone  conference call tomorrow (Tuesday,
September  23)  morning  at 10  a.m.  (eastern  time)  for  portfolio  managers,
securities  analysts  and members of the news  media.  The  telephone  number is
800-289-0438.  To  participate  in the  conference  call,  persons  should  call
800-289-0438 ten or fifteen minutes before 10 a.m.







Forward-Looking Information Is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty

This document  includes  forward-looking  statements,  as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risk and uncertainty. The
projected  additional earnings per share for The BFGoodrich Company attributable
to the merger with Rohr,  Inc. is  dependent  upon Rohr's  estimated  15 percent
increase in sales in its 1998 fiscal year. Actual sales and operating margins of
Rohr,  Inc. in fiscal year 1998 may be  materially  less than  projected  in the
forwardlooking  statement if Rohr's  customers cancel or delay current orders or
reduce the rate at which Rohr, Inc. is building or expects to build products for
such customers. Such cancellations, delays or reductions may occur if there is a
substantial  change in the  health of the  airline  industry  or in the  general
economy, or if a customer were to experience major financial difficulties.








September 22, 1997


                                          2





                                                                  Exhibit 99.2








                                                              EXECUTION COPY








                                AGREEMENT AND PLAN

                                    OF MERGER

                                   DATED AS OF

                                SEPTEMBER 22, 1997

                                      AMONG

                            THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY,

                         MIDWEST ACQUISITION CORPORATION

                                       AND

                                    ROHR, INC.

<PAGE>










                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                    ARTICLE I
                                    THE MERGER

         Section 1.1    The Merger.................................   1
         Section 1.2    Effective Date of the Merger...............   2

                                    ARTICLE II
                            THE SURVIVING CORPORATION

         Section 2.1   Certificate of Incorporation................   2
         Section 2.2   By-Laws.....................................   2
         Section 2.3   Board of Directors; Officers................   2
         Section 2.4   Effects of Merger...........................   2

                                   ARTICLE III
                               CONVERSION OF SHARES

         Section 3.1   Exchange Ratio..............................   2
         Section 3.2   Parent to Make Certificates Available.......   4
         Section 3.3   Dividends; Transfer Taxes...................   4
         Section 3.4   No Fractional Shares........................   4
         Section 3.5   Shareholders' Meetings......................   5
         Section 3.6   Closing of the Company's Transfer Books.....   6
         Section 3.7   Assistance in Consummation of the Merger....   6
         Section 3.8   Closing.....................................   6

                                    ARTICLE IV
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

         Section 4.1   Organization and Qualification..............   7
         Section 4.2   Capitalization..............................   7
         Section 4.3   Subsidiaries................................   7
         Section 4.4   Authority Relative to this Merger
                         Agreement.................................   8
         Section 4.5   Reports and Financial Statements............   9
         Section 4.6   Absence of Certain Changes or Events........  10
         Section 4.7   Litigation..................................  10
         Section 4.8   Information in Disclosure Documents,
                         Registration Statements, Etc..............  10
         Section 4.9   Employee Benefit Plans......................  11
         Section 4.10  ERISA.......................................  12
         Section 4.11  Takeover Provisions Inapplicable............  13
         Section 4.12  Compliance with Applicable Laws.............  13
         Section 4.13  Liabilities.................................  13
         Section 4.14  Taxes.......................................  14
         Section 4.15  Certain Agreements..........................  14
         Section 4.16  Patents, Trademarks, Etc....................  15
         Section 4.17  Product Liability; Airworthiness............  15


                                       -i-

<PAGE>










         Section 4.18  Environment.................................  15
         Section 4.19  Title to Assets; Liens......................  16
         Section 4.20  Accounting; Tax Matters.....................  16
         Section 4.21  Parent Action...............................  16
         Section 4.22  Financial Advisor...........................  16
         Section 4.23  Fairness Opinion............................  17


                                   ARTICLE IV-A
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING SUB

         Section 4A.1  Organization................................  17
         Section 4A.2  Capitalization..............................  17
         Section 4A.3  Authority Relative to this Merger
                         Agreement.................................  17

                                    ARTICLE V
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         Section 5.1   Organization and Qualification..............  18
         Section 5.2   Capitalization..............................  18
         Section 5.3   Subsidiaries................................  19
         Section 5.4   Authority Relative to this Merger
                         Agreement.................................  20
         Section 5.5   Reports and Financial Statements............  20
         Section 5.6   Absence of Certain Changes or Events........  21
         Section 5.7   Litigation..................................  22
         Section 5.8   Information in Disclosure Documents.........  22
         Section 5.9   Employee Benefit Plans......................  22
         Section 5.10  ERISA.......................................  23
         Section 5.11  Takeover Provisions Inapplicable............  24
         Section 5.12  Company Action..............................  24
         Section 5.13  Fairness Opinion............................  25
         Section 5.14  Financial Advisor...........................  25
         Section 5.15  Compliance with Applicable Laws.............  25
         Section 5.16  Liabilities.................................  25
         Section 5.17  Taxes.......................................  26
         Section 5.18  Certain Agreements..........................  26
         Section 5.19  Patents, Trademarks, Etc....................  27
         Section 5.20  Product Liability; Airworthiness............  27
         Section 5.21  Environment.................................  28
         Section 5.22  Title to Assets; Liens......................  28
         Section 5.23  Accounting; Tax Matters.....................  28

                                    ARTICLE VI
                      CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

         Section 6.1   Conduct of Business by the Company
                         Pending the Merger........................  28



                                       -ii-

<PAGE>










         Section 6.2   Conduct of Business by Parent and Sub
                         Pending the Merger........................  31
         Section 6.3   Notice of Breach............................  32

                                   ARTICLE VII
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         Section 7.1   Access and Information......................  32
         Section 7.2   Registration Statement/Proxy Statement......  33
         Section 7.3   Compliance with the Securities Act..........  33
         Section 7.4   Stock Exchange Listing......................  34
         Section 7.5   Employment Arrangements.....................  34
         Section 7.6   Indemnification.............................  35
         Section 7.7   Consents....................................  36
         Section 7.8   Additional Agreements.......................  37
         Section 7.9   No Solicitation.............................  37
         Section 7.10  Takeover Provisions Inapplicable............  39
         Section 7.11  Board Composition...........................  39
         Section 7.12  Certain Company Indebtedness................  39

                                   ARTICLE VIII
                               CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         Section 8.1   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to
                         Effect the Merger.........................  40
         Section 8.2   Conditions to Obligation of the Company
                         to Effect the Merger......................  41
         Section 8.3   Conditions to Obligations of Parent
                         and Sub to Effect the Merger..............  42

                                    ARTICLE IX
                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

         Section 9.1   Termination.................................  42
         Section 9.2   Effect of Termination.......................  44
         Section 9.3   Amendment...................................  45
         Section 9.4   Waiver......................................  45

                                    ARTICLE X
                                GENERAL PROVISIONS

         Section 10.1  Non-Survival of Representations,
                         Warranties and Agreements.................  45
         Section 10.2  Notices.....................................  45
         Section 10.3  Fees and Expenses...........................  46
         Section 10.4  Publicity...................................  47
         Section 10.5  Specific Performance........................  47
         Section 10.6  Interpretation..............................  47
         Section 10.7  Third Party Beneficiaries...................  48
         Section 10.8  Miscellaneous...............................  48
         Section 10.9  Cure Period.................................  48


                                      -iii-

<PAGE>










                           AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                   THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Merger  Agreement"),
         dated as of September 22, 1997, by and among The B.F.Goodrich  Company,
         a New York corporation ("Parent"),  Midwest Acquisition Corporation,  a
         Delaware  corporation and a wholly owned  subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"),
         and Rohr, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"):

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

                   WHEREAS,  the Boards of  Directors  of Parent and the Company
         believe it is in the  long-term  strategic  interests  of  Parent,  the
         Company and their respective stockholders to combine their businesses;

                   WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and
         the Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by
         Parent;

                   WHEREAS,  the  Boards of  Directors  of  Parent,  Sub and the
         Company  have  approved  the  merger  of  Sub  into  the  Company  (the
         "Merger"),  upon the  terms and  subject  to the  conditions  set forth
         herein;

                   WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that
         the Merger shall  qualify as a  "reorganization"  within the meaning of
         Section  368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the
         "Code"),   and  that  this  Agreement   shall   constitute  a  plan  of
         reorganization for purposes of Section 368 of the Code;

                   WHEREAS, for accounting purposes, it is intended that
         the Merger shall be accounted for as a "pooling of interests";

                   NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing  premises
         and the  representations,  warranties and agreements  contained herein,
         the parties hereto agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                    THE MERGER

                   Section  1.1 The  Merger.  Upon the terms and  subject to the
         conditions  hereof,  on the Effective Date (as defined below in Section
         1.2),  Sub shall be merged into the Company and the separate  existence
         of Sub  shall  thereupon  cease,  and the name of the  Company,  as the
         surviving corporation in the Merger

<PAGE>










         (the "Surviving Corporation"), shall by virtue of the Merger
         remain "Rohr, Inc."

                   Section 1.2  Effective  Date of the Merger.  The Merger shall
         become effective when a properly executed Certificate of Merger is duly
         filed  with the  Secretary  of State of the  State of  Delaware,  which
         filing  shall be made as soon as  practicable  after the closing of the
         transactions  contemplated by this Merger  Agreement in accordance with
         Section 3.8. When used in this Merger  Agreement,  the term  "Effective
         Date" shall mean the date and time at which such filing shall have been
         made.


                                    ARTICLE II

                            THE SURVIVING CORPORATION

                   Section  2.1  Certificate  of  Incorporation.  The  Surviving
         Corporation  shall adopt the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of Sub in
         effect   immediately   prior  to  the  Merger  as  the  Certificate  of
         Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation until amended in accordance
         with its terms and as provided by law and this Merger Agreement.

                   Section 2.2 By-Laws.  The Surviving  Corporation  shall adopt
         the By-laws of Sub as in effect on the Effective Date as the By-laws of
         the Surviving Corporation.

                   Section 2.3 Board of  Directors;  Officers.  The directors of
         Sub  immediately  prior to the Effective Date shall be the directors of
         the Surviving  Corporation and the officers of the Company  immediately
         prior to the  Effective  Date shall be the  officers  of the  Surviving
         Corporation,  in each case until their  respective  successors are duly
         elected and qualified.

                   Section  2.4  Effects  of Merger.  The Merger  shall have the
         effects set forth in Section 259 of the  Delaware  General  Corporation
         Law (the "DGCL").


                                   ARTICLE III

                               CONVERSION OF SHARES

                   Section 3.1 Exchange  Ratio.  As of the  Effective  Date,  by
         virtue of the Merger and  without  any action on the part of any holder
         of any capital stock of the Company:




                                       -2-

<PAGE>










                   (a) All shares of capital stock of the Company which are held
         by the  Company or any  subsidiary  of the  Company,  and any shares of
         capital  stock  of the  Company  owned  by  Parent,  Sub  or any  other
         subsidiary of Parent, shall be cancelled.

                   (b) Subject to Section 3.4, each remaining  outstanding share
         of common  stock,  $1 par value per  share,  of the  Company  ("Company
         Common  Stock")  issued  and  outstanding   immediately  prior  to  the
         Effective  Date shall be  converted  into .7 of a share (the  "Exchange
         Ratio") of the common stock, par value $5 per share, of Parent ("Parent
         Common Stock"). One preferred share purchase right issuable pursuant to
         the Rights  Agreement  dated as of June 2, 1997 between  Parent and The
         Bank of New York or any other  purchase  right  issued in  substitution
         thereof (the "Parent  Rights") shall be issued  together with and shall
         attach to each share of Parent  Common  Stock  issued  pursuant to this
         Section 3.1(b).

                   (c)  In  the  event  of  any  stock  dividend,  stock  split,
         reclassification,  recapitalization,  combination or exchange of shares
         with respect to, or rights  issued in respect of,  Parent  Common Stock
         after the date of this  Merger  Agreement  and  prior to the  Effective
         Date, the Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted accordingly.

                   (d) Each issued and outstanding share of capital stock of Sub
         shall be  converted  into and become  one fully paid and  nonassessable
         share of  common  stock,  $1 par  value  per  share,  of the  Surviving
         Corporation.

                   (e) Each of the outstanding rights to purchase Company Common
         Stock pursuant to stock options ("Company Stock Options") granted under
         the Company  Benefit Plans (as defined  herein) shall be converted into
         and  become the right to  purchase a number of shares of Parent  Common
         Stock  equal to the  product  of (i) the  number of  shares of  Company
         Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option and (ii) the Exchange
         Ratio,  rounded to the nearest  whole  number.  The exercise  price per
         share of Parent Common Stock for all such converted options bearing the
         same exercise  price prior to such  conversion  ("Same Price  Options")
         shall be  determined by  subtracting  from the closing sale price for a
         share of Parent Common Stock on the  Effective  Date an amount equal to
         (i)(A) the difference between (I) such closing sale price multiplied by
         the  Exchange  Ratio  and (II)  the  exercise  price of the Same  Price
         Options prior to the  conversion  multiplied by (B) the total number of
         shares of Company  Common  Stock  subject  to such Same  Price  Options
         divided by (ii) the number of shares of Parent  Common Stock into which
         all such Same Price Options are exercisable upon such conversion.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>










                   Section 3.2 Parent to Make Certificates  Available.  Prior to
         the  Effective  Date,  Parent shall select The Bank of New York or such
         other person or persons  reasonably  satisfactory to the Company to act
         as Exchange  Agent for the Merger (the  "Exchange  Agent").  As soon as
         practicable after the Effective Date, Parent shall make available,  and
         each holder of Company Common Stock to be converted pursuant to Section
         3.1 (each,  a "Company  Holder")  will be  entitled  to  receive,  upon
         surrender   to  the  Exchange   Agent  of  one  or  more   certificates
         representing such stock ("Certificates") for cancellation, certificates
         representing  the  number of shares of Parent  Common  Stock into which
         such shares are  converted in the Merger and cash in  consideration  of
         fractional  shares as  provided in Section  3.4.  Such shares of Parent
         Common  Stock  issued in the  Merger  shall each be deemed to have been
         issued at the Effective Date.

                   Section 3.3 Dividends;  Transfer Taxes. No dividends or other
         distributions  that are declared or made on Parent Common Stock will be
         paid to persons entitled to receive  certificates  representing  Parent
         Common  Stock  pursuant to this  Merger  Agreement  until such  persons
         surrender their  Certificates  representing  Company Common Stock. Upon
         such  surrender,  there  shall be paid to the  person in whose name the
         certificates  representing such Parent Common Stock shall be issued any
         dividends or other  distributions  which shall have become payable with
         respect to such Parent  Common  Stock in respect of a record date after
         the Effective  Date.  In no event shall the person  entitled to receive
         such dividends be entitled to receive  interest on such  dividends.  In
         the event that any  certificates  for any shares of Parent Common Stock
         are to be issued in a name  other  than that in which the  Certificates
         representing  shares of Company  Common Stock  surrendered  in exchange
         therefor are registered,  it shall be a condition of such exchange that
         the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent any
         transfer  or  other  taxes  required  by  reason  of  the  issuance  of
         certificates  for such  shares of Parent  Common  Stock in a name other
         than that of the registered holder of the Certificate  surrendered,  or
         shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax
         has been  paid or is not  applicable.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,
         neither the  Exchange  Agent nor any party  hereto shall be liable to a
         Company  Holder  for any  shares of Parent  Common  Stock or  dividends
         thereon  delivered  to a public  official  pursuant  to any  applicable
         escheat laws.

                   Section 3.4 No Fractional  Shares.  No  certificates or scrip
         representing  less than one full share of Parent  Common Stock shall be
         issued upon the  surrender  for exchange of  Certificates  representing
         Company Common Stock pursuant to


                                       -4-

<PAGE>










         Section  3.1(b).  In lieu of any such  fractional  share,  each Company
         Holder who would  otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share
         of Parent  Common  Stock upon  surrender of  Certificates  for exchange
         pursuant  to  Section  3.1(b)  shall be paid upon such  surrender  cash
         (without  interest) in an amount equal to such  holder's  proportionate
         interest in the net proceeds  from the sale or sales in the open market
         by the Exchange Agent, on behalf of all such holders,  of the aggregate
         fractional  Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 3.4. As
         soon as  practicable  following the Effective  Date, the Exchange Agent
         shall  determine  the excess of (i) the number of full shares of Parent
         Common Stock  delivered  to the Exchange  Agent by Parent over (ii) the
         aggregate   number  of  full  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  to  be
         distributed  to holders of Company  Common  Stock  (such  excess  being
         herein called the "Excess  Shares"),  and the Exchange  Agent, as agent
         for the former  Company  Holders,  shall sell the Excess  Shares at the
         prevailing prices on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). The sale
         of the Excess  Shares by the  Exchange  Agent  shall be executed on the
         NYSE through one or more member firms of the NYSE and shall be executed
         in  round  lots  to  the  extent  practicable.  Parent  shall  pay  all
         commissions,  transfer taxes and other out-of-pocket transaction costs,
         including the expenses and compensation of the Exchange Agent, incurred
         in connection  with such sale of Excess Shares.  Until the net proceeds
         of such sale have been distributed to the former Company  Holders,  the
         Exchange  Agent  will  hold  such  proceeds  in trust  for such  former
         stockholders (the "Fractional Securities Fund"). As soon as practicable
         after  the  determination  of the  amount  of cash to be paid to former
         Company Holders in lieu of any fractional interests, the Exchange Agent
         shall make  available in  accordance  with this Merger  Agreement  such
         amounts to such former stockholders. The fractional Parent Common Stock
         interests of each  Company  Holder will be  aggregated,  and no Company
         Holder  will  receive  cash in an amount  equal to or greater  than the
         value of one full share of Parent Common Stock.

                   Section 3.5  Shareholders'  Meetings.  (a) The Company  shall
         take all action  necessary,  in accordance  with applicable law and its
         certificate of incorporation  and by-laws,  to convene a meeting of the
         holders of Company Common Stock (the "Company  Meeting") as promptly as
         practicable  for the purpose of considering and taking action upon this
         Merger Agreement. Subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law,
         the Board of Directors of the Company  will  recommend  that holders of
         Company  Common  Stock vote in favor of and  approve the Merger and the
         adoption of the Merger Agreement at the Company Meeting. At the Company
         Meeting,  all of the  shares of  Company  Common  Stock  then  owned by
         Parent, Sub, or any other


                                       -5-

<PAGE>










         subsidiary  of Parent,  or with  respect to which  Parent,  Sub, or any
         other  subsidiary of Parent holds the power to direct the voting,  will
         be voted in favor of approval of the Merger and adoption of this Merger
         Agreement.

                   (b) Parent  shall take all action  necessary,  in  accordance
         with law and its certificate of  incorporation  and bylaws to convene a
         meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock (the "Parent Meeting") as
         promptly as practicable  for the purpose of considering and acting upon
         a proposal (the "Stock  Issuance  Proposal") to approve the issuance of
         shares of Parent Common Stock as provided by this Agreement. Subject to
         its fiduciary  duties under  applicable  law, the Board of Directors of
         Parent will recommend that holders of Parent Common Stock vote in favor
         of and approve the Stock Issuance Proposal at the Parent Meeting.

                   Section 3.6 Closing of the Company's  Transfer  Books. At the
         Effective Date, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed
         and no  transfer  of any shares of Company  Common  Stock shall be made
         thereafter.  In the event that, after the Effective Date,  Certificates
         are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and
         exchanged  for the  securities  of Parent  and/or  cash as  provided in
         Sections 3.1(b) and 3.4.

                   Section 3.7 Assistance in Consummation of the Merger. Each of
         Parent, Sub and the Company shall provide all reasonable assistance to,
         and shall cooperate with, each other to bring about the consummation of
         the  Merger  as soon as  possible  in  accordance  with the  terms  and
         conditions of this Merger Agreement.  Parent shall cause Sub to perform
         all of its obligations in connection with this Merger Agreement.

                   Section  3.8  Closing.   The  closing  of  the   transactions
         contemplated  by this  Merger  Agreement  shall  take  place (i) at the
         offices of Wachtell,  Lipton,  Rosen & Katz,  51 West 52nd Street,  New
         York, New York 10019,  at 9:00 A.M.  local time on the second  business
         day  after  the day on which  the last of the  conditions  set forth in
         Article  VIII is  fulfilled  or waived or (ii) at such  other  time and
         place as Parent and the Company shall agree in writing.


                                    ARTICLE IV

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

                   Parent represents and warrants to the Company, except
         as set forth in a disclosure schedule delivered by Parent


                                       -6-

<PAGE>










         concurrently  herewith (the "Parent Disclosure  Schedule"),  (i) as set
         forth in the first sentence of Section 4.1, the first four sentences of
         Section 4.4,  and Sections  4.2,  4.6,  and 4.7,  and,  (ii) except for
         circumstances  that,  taken in the  aggregate,  would not have a Parent
         Material  Adverse Effect (as defined in Section  10.6),  in the case of
         all other representations and warranties herein, as follows:

                   Section  4.1  Organization  and  Qualification.  Parent  is a
         corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
         the laws of the State of New York and has the corporate  power to carry
         on its business as it is now being  conducted or currently  proposed to
         be conducted.  Parent is duly qualified as a foreign  corporation to do
         business,  and is in good  standing,  in each  jurisdiction  where  the
         character of its properties  owned or held under lease or the nature of
         its activities make such qualification necessary.

                   Section 4.2  Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of
         Parent  consists  of  100,000,000  shares  of Parent  Common  Stock and
         10,000,000  shares of Series  Preferred  Stock,  par value $1 per share
         ("Parent Preferred Stock"). As of September 9, 1997,  54,126,895 shares
         of Parent Common Stock were validly issued and outstanding,  fully paid
         and nonassessable and 1,193,030 shares of Parent Common Stock were held
         in treasury.  As of September  9, 1997,  no shares of Parent  Preferred
         Stock were issued and outstanding.  As of September 9, 1997, except for
         employee  stock  options to acquire  2,765,508  shares of Parent Common
         Stock at a weighted  average  exercise  price of $29.6594 per share and
         the  Parent  Rights  and,  except as set forth on  Schedule  4.2 and as
         provided herein, there are no options, warrants, calls or other rights,
         agreements or commitments  presently  outstanding  obligating Parent to
         issue,  deliver or sell shares of its capital stock or debt securities,
         or  obligating  Parent to grant,  extend or enter into any such option,
         warrant, call or other such right, agreement or commitment.  All of the
         shares of Parent Common Stock  issuable in accordance  with this Merger
         Agreement in exchange for Company  Common Stock at the  Effective  Date
         will be, when so issued,  duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid
         and nonassessable.

                   Section 4.3 Subsidiaries. The only "Significant Subsidiaries"
         (as  such  term is  defined  in  Rule  1-02  of  Regulation  S-X of the
         Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission"))  ("Significant
         Subsidiaries")  of Parent  are those set forth on  Schedule  4.3.  Each
         Significant  Subsidiary  is  a  corporation  duly  organized,   validly
         existing and in good  standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of
         incorporation  and has the corporate  power to carry on its business as
         it is


                                       -7-

<PAGE>










         now  being  conducted  or  currently  proposed  to be  conducted.  Each
         Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do
         business,  and is in good  standing,  in each  jurisdiction  where  the
         character of its properties  owned or held under lease or the nature of
         its activities makes such qualification  necessary. All the outstanding
         shares of capital  stock of each  Significant  Subsidiary  are  validly
         issued,  fully paid and nonassessable and those owned by Parent or by a
         Significant Subsidiary of Parent are owned free and clear of any liens,
         claims or encumbrances.  There are no existing options, warrants, calls
         or other rights, agreements or commitments of any character relating to
         the issued or unissued  capital stock or other securities of any of the
         Significant  Subsidiaries  of Parent.  Except as set forth in  Parent's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996
         and except for wholly  owned  subsidiaries  which are formed  after the
         date  hereof  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  Parent  does not
         directly or  indirectly  own any  interests  in any other  corporation,
         partnership,  joint  venture or other  business  association  or entity
         which are material to Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                   Section 4.4  Authority  Relative  to this  Merger  Agreement.
         Parent has the corporate power to enter into this Merger  Agreement and
         to carry out its obligations  hereunder.  The execution and delivery of
         this  Merger   Agreement  and  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
         contemplated  hereby have been duly  authorized  by  Parent's  Board of
         Directors.  This  Merger  Agreement  constitutes  a valid  and  binding
         obligation of Parent enforceable in accordance with its terms except as
         enforcement  may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar
         laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of creditors'  rights  generally and
         except that the availability of equitable remedies,  including specific
         performance, is subject to the discretion of the court before which any
         proceeding therefor may be brought.  No other corporate  proceedings on
         the part of Parent are necessary to authorize the Merger  Agreement and
         the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  other than the approval of the
         Stock Issuance  Proposal by the holders of Parent Common Stock.  Parent
         is not subject to or obligated under (i) any charter, by-law, indenture
         or other loan document  provision or (ii) any other contract,  license,
         franchise,  permit,  order,  decree,  concession,   lease,  instrument,
         judgment,  statute,  law, ordinance,  rule or regulation  applicable to
         Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  or their  respective  properties or
         assets, which would be breached or violated, or under which there would
         be a default  (with or without  notice or lapse of time,  or both),  or
         under which there would arise a right of  termination,  cancellation or
         acceleration  of any obligation or the loss of a material  benefit,  by
         its executing and carrying out this Merger


                                       -8-

<PAGE>










         Agreement  other than,  in the case of clause  (ii) only,  the laws and
         regulations  referred  to in the next  sentence.  Except as referred to
         herein or in connection,  or in compliance,  with the provisions of the
         Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
         "HSR Act"),  the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities
         Act"),  the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
         Act"), and other  governmental  approvals required under the applicable
         laws   of  any   foreign   jurisdiction   ("Foreign   Laws")   and  the
         environmental,  corporation, securities or blue sky laws or regulations
         of the various states  ("State  Laws") (all of which required  consents
         and  approvals  under  Foreign  Laws and State Laws are  identified  in
         Schedule 4.4 to the Parent Disclosure Schedule), no filing by Parent or
         registration  by Parent with any public body or  authority is necessary
         for, nor is any  authorization,  consent or approval of any public body
         or authority required to be obtained by Parent for, the consummation of
         the  Merger  or the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Merger
         Agreement.

                   Section 4.5 Reports and Financial Statements.  Parent has, to
         the extent such  documents  were  requested by the Company,  previously
         furnished  the Company with true and complete  copies of its (i) Annual
         Reports on Form 10-K for the three  fiscal  years  ended  December  31,
         1994,  1995 and 1996,  as filed  with the  Commission,  (ii)  Quarterly
         Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1997 and June 30,
         1997, as filed with the Commission,  (iii) proxy statements  related to
         all  meetings of its  shareholders  (whether  annual or special)  since
         December  31,  1994,  and  (iv)  all  other  reports  or   registration
         statements filed by Parent with the Commission since December 31, 1994,
         except registration statements on Form S-8 relating to employee benefit
         plans,  which are all the documents (other than  preliminary  material)
         that Parent was  required to file with the  Commission  since that date
         (clauses (i) through (iv) being referred to herein  collectively as the
         "Parent SEC Reports").  As of their  respective  dates,  the Parent SEC
         Reports complied in all material  respects with the requirements of the
         Securities  Act or the Exchange  Act, as the case may be, and the rules
         and regulations of the Commission  thereunder applicable to such Parent
         SEC Reports.  As of their respective  dates, the Parent SEC Reports did
         not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading. The audited consolidated financial statements and
         unaudited interim financial statements of Parent included in the Parent
         SEC Reports comply as to form in all material  respects with applicable
         accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of


                                       -9-

<PAGE>










         the  Commission  with respect  thereto,  and the  financial  statements
         included in the Parent SEC  Reports  have been  prepared in  accordance
         with United States generally accepted  accounting  principles  ("GAAP")
         applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in
         the notes thereto) and fairly present the financial  position of Parent
         and its  subsidiaries  as at the dates thereof and the results of their
         operations and changes in financial position for the periods then ended
         subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements,  to
         normal year-end audit adjustments and any other  adjustments  described
         therein.

                   Section 4.6 Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Except as
         disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports, since June 30, 1997, there has not
         been (i) any  event,  condition,  transaction,  commitment,  dispute or
         other  circumstance  (financial or otherwise) of any character (whether
         or not in the  ordinary  course of  business),  individually  or in the
         aggregate,  having a Parent Material  Adverse Effect;  (ii) any damage,
         destruction  or loss,  whether  or not  covered  by  insurance,  which,
         insofar as  reasonably  can be  foreseen,  in the  future  would have a
         Parent Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any declaration, setting aside or
         payment of any dividend or other  distribution  (whether in cash, stock
         or property)  with respect to the capital  stock of Parent  (except for
         regularly  scheduled cash  dividends out of current  earnings at a rate
         not  greater  than the rate in  effect on June 30,  1997);  or (iv) any
         entry into any  commitment  or  transaction  material to Parent and its
         subsidiaries  taken  as a whole  (including,  without  limitation,  any
         borrowing or sale of assets) except in the ordinary  course of business
         consistent with past practice.

                   Section  4.7  Litigation.   There  is  no  suit,   action  or
         proceeding  pending or, to the knowledge of Parent,  threatened against
         or affecting Parent or any of its subsidiaries  which,  alone or in the
         aggregate,  has, or is  reasonably  likely to have,  a Parent  Material
         Adverse Effect, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction,  rule or
         order  of  any  court,  governmental  department,  commission,  agency,
         instrumentality or arbitrator  outstanding against Parent or any of its
         subsidiaries  having,  or reasonably likely to have, either alone or in
         the aggregate, any such Parent Material Adverse Effect.

                   Section 4.8 Information in Disclosure Documents, Registration
         Statements,  Etc. None of the information with respect to Parent or Sub
         to be included or  incorporated  by reference  in (i) the  Registration
         Statement to be filed with the  Commission  by Parent on Form S-4 under
         the Securities Act for the purpose of registering  the shares of Parent
         Common Stock to be issued in the Merger (the "Registration Statement")


                                      -10-

<PAGE>










         and (ii) the joint  proxy  statement  of the  Company  and Parent  (the
         "Proxy  Statement")  required to be mailed to the  shareholders  of the
         Company and Parent in  connection  with the Merger will, in the case of
         the Proxy  Statement or any amendments or supplements  thereto,  at the
         time of the  mailing  of the  Proxy  Statement  and any  amendments  or
         supplements  thereto, and at the time of the Company Meeting to be held
         in  connection  with the  Merger,  or, in the case of the  Registration
         Statement,  at the time it becomes effective and at the Effective Date,
         contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
         make the statements  therein, in light of the circumstances under which
         they are made, not misleading.  The Registration  Statement will comply
         as to  form  in  all  material  respects  with  the  provisions  of the
         Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                   Section 4.9 Employee  Benefit  Plans.  Except as disclosed in
         the Parent SEC Reports, there are no employee benefit,  compensation or
         severance  plans,  agreements  or  arrangements,   including  "employee
         benefit  plans," as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee  Retirement
         Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),  and including,  but
         not limited to, plans,  agreements or  arrangements  relating to former
         employees,  including,  but not  limited,  to  retiree  medical  plans,
         maintained  by  Parent  or  any  of  its   subsidiaries  or  collective
         bargaining  agreements to which Parent or any of its  subsidiaries is a
         party (together,  the "Benefit Plans").  To the knowledge of Parent, no
         default exists with respect to the  obligations of Parent or any of its
         subsidiaries  under any such Benefit Plan. Since January 1, 1996, there
         have been no disputes or grievances subject to any grievance procedure,
         unfair labor practice proceedings, arbitration or litigation under such
         Benefit  Plans,  which  have  not been  finally  resolved,  settled  or
         otherwise  disposed  of,  nor is there any  default,  or any  condition
         which,  with notice or lapse of time or both,  would  constitute such a
         default,  under any such Benefit Plans,  by Parent or its  subsidiaries
         or, to the  knowledge of Parent and its  subsidiaries,  any other party
         thereto. Since January 1, 1996, there have been no strikes, lockouts or
         work  stoppages  or  slowdowns,  or to the  knowledge of Parent and its
         subsidiaries,  jurisdictional disputes or organizing activity occurring
         or  threatened  with respect to the business or operations of Parent or
         its subsidiaries. Neither the execution of the Merger Agreement nor the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone
         or upon the  occurrence of additional  events or acts) result in, cause
         the accelerated vesting or delivery of, or increase the amount or value
         of, any  payment or  benefit  to any  employee  of Parent or any of its
         subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of


                                      -11-

<PAGE>










         the  foregoing,  no  amount  paid or  payable  by  Parent or any of its
         subsidiaries   (other  than  the  Company)  in   connection   with  the
         transactions  contemplated hereby (either solely as a result thereof or
         as a result  of any such  transactions  in  conjunction  with any other
         event)  will be an "excess  parachute  payment"  within the  meaning of
         Section 280G of the Code.

                   Section 4.10 ERISA. All Benefit Plans have been  administered
         in accordance,  and are in compliance with the applicable provisions of
         ERISA.  Each of the  Benefit  Plans  which  is  intended  to  meet  the
         requirements  of Section 401(a) of the Code has been  determined by the
         Internal Revenue Service to be "qualified,"  within the meaning of such
         section  of the Code,  and  Parent  knows of no fact which is likely to
         have an adverse effect on the qualified  status of such plans.  None of
         the Benefit Plans which are defined benefit pension plans have incurred
         any "accumulated  funding  deficiency"  (whether or not waived) as that
         term  is  defined  in  Section  412 of the  Code  and  under  Financial
         Accounting  Standard  87, the fair  market  value of the assets of each
         such plan  equals or exceeds the accrued  benefit  obligations  of such
         plan. To the knowledge of Parent, there are not now nor have there been
         any non-exempt  "prohibited  transactions,"  as such term is defined in
         Section  4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA,  involving  Parent's
         Benefit Plans which could  subject  Parent or its  subsidiaries  to the
         penalty or tax imposed under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of
         the Code.  No  Benefit  Plan  which is subject to Title IV of ERISA has
         been completely or partially  terminated;  no proceedings to completely
         or partially terminate any Benefit Plan have been instituted within the
         meaning  of  Subtitle C of said  Title IV of ERISA;  and no  reportable
         event,  within the  meaning of Section  4043(c) of said  Subtitle C for
         which the 30-day notice  requirement of ERISA has not been waived,  has
         occurred  with respect to any Benefit Plan.  Neither  Parent nor any of
         its subsidiaries has made a complete or partial withdrawal,  within the
         meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, from any multiemployer plan which has
         resulted  in, or is  reasonably  expected to result in, any  withdrawal
         liability to Parent or any of its subsidiaries.  Neither Parent nor any
         of its subsidiaries has engaged in any transaction described in Section
         4069 of ERISA within the last five years. There does not now exist, nor
         do any  circumstances  exist that could  result  in, any  liability  of
         Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  (or any  entity,  trade or business
         that is or was at any time required to be aggregated with Parent or any
         of its subsidiaries under Section 414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the Code)
         under Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA, Sections 412 and 4971 of
         the  Code,  to the  knowledge  of  Parent,  the  continuation  coverage
         requirements  of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section  4980B of the
         Code, and similar provisions of foreign laws or


                                      -12-

<PAGE>










         regulations,  other than such  liabilities that arise solely out of, or
         relate  solely to, the  Benefit  Plans,  that would be a  liability  of
         Parent or its subsidiaries following the Effective Date.

                   Section 4.11 Takeover Provisions Inapplicable. As of the date
         hereof and at all times  thereafter,  until and including the Effective
         Date,  Section  912 of the  New  York  Business  Corporation  Law  (the
         "NYBCL") and the Parent Rights are, and shall be,  inapplicable  to the
         Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

                   Section 4.12 Compliance with Applicable  Laws. (i) Parent and
         its subsidiaries  hold all permits,  licenses,  variances,  exemptions,
         orders  and   approvals   (the   "Parent   Permits")   of  all  courts,
         administrative   agencies   or   commissions   or  other   governmental
         authorities  or   instrumentalities,   domestic  or  foreign  (each,  a
         "Governmental Entity") necessary for the operation of the businesses of
         Parent and its  subsidiaries;  (ii) to the knowledge of Parent,  Parent
         and its  subsidiaries  are in  compliance  with the terms of the Parent
         Permits;  (iii) to the knowledge of Parent,  except as disclosed in the
         Parent SEC Reports  filed  prior to the date of this Merger  Agreement,
         the businesses of Parent and its  subsidiaries  are not being conducted
         in violation of any law,  ordinance or regulation  of any  Governmental
         Entity; and (iv) to the knowledge of Parent, except as disclosed in the
         Parent SEC  Reports,  no  investigation  or review by any  Governmental
         Entity with  respect to Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  is pending,
         or, to the knowledge of Parent,  threatened,  nor has any  Governmental
         Entity  indicated an intention to conduct the same  provided,  however,
         that  the   foregoing   representations   are  made  as  to  ERISA  and
         environmental  matters,  only as to Parent's  knowledge,  to the extent
         contemplated by Sections 4.10 and 4.18.

                   Section 4.13 Liabilities. As of June 30, 1997, neither Parent
         nor  any  of  its  subsidiaries  has  any  liabilities  or  obligations
         (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of a nature required to be
         disclosed  on  a  balance   sheet  or  in  the  related  notes  to  the
         consolidated  financial  statements  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP
         which are not  disclosed or provided for in the most recent  Parent SEC
         Reports. To the knowledge of Parent, there was no basis, as of June 30,
         1997,  for any claim or liability  (absolute,  accrued,  contingent  or
         otherwise)  of a nature  required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or
         in the related notes to the consolidated  financial statements prepared
         in  accordance  with GAAP  which is not  reflected  in the  Parent  SEC
         Reports.



                                      -13-

<PAGE>










                   Section 4.14 Taxes.  Each of Parent and its  subsidiaries has
         filed all tax returns  required to be filed by any of them and has paid
         (or Parent has paid on its behalf),  or has set up an adequate  reserve
         for the  payment  of, all taxes  required  to be paid in respect of the
         periods covered by such returns. The information  contained in such tax
         returns is true, complete and accurate in all respects.  Neither Parent
         nor any  subsidiary  of Parent is delinquent in the payment of any tax,
         assessment or governmental  charge.  No deficiencies for any taxes have
         been  proposed,  asserted  or  assessed  against  Parent  or any of its
         subsidiaries  that have not been finally settled or paid in full and no
         requests for waivers of the time to assess any such tax are pending and
         there are no outstanding audits,  examinations,  deficiency litigations
         or  refund   litigations   with   respect  to  Parent  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries.  The federal income tax returns of Parent and each of its
         subsidiaries  consolidated  in such returns  have been  examined by and
         settled  with  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  for all  years  through
         December 31, 1989. For the purposes of this Merger Agreement,  the term
         "tax"  shall  include all  federal,  state,  local and foreign  income,
         profits,  franchise, gross receipts,  payroll, sales, employment,  use,
         property,  withholding,  excise and other taxes, duties and assessments
         of any nature  whatsoever  together  with all  interest,  penalties and
         additions imposed with respect to such amounts.

                   Section 4.15 Certain  Agreements.  Except as disclosed in the
         Parent SEC Reports  filed  prior to the date of this Merger  Agreement,
         neither  Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  is a party to any oral or
         written (i) agreement, contract, indenture or other instrument relating
         to Indebtedness (as defined below) in an amount  exceeding  $10,000,000
         or (ii) other contract,  agreement or commitment  (except those entered
         into in the  ordinary  course  of  business)  having a Parent  Material
         Adverse  Effect.  "Indebtedness"  means any liability in respect of (A)
         borrowed money,  (B) capitalized  lease  obligations,  (C) the deferred
         purchase  price of property or services  (other than trade  payables in
         the  ordinary  course of  business)  and (D)  guarantees  of any of the
         foregoing incurred by any person other than Parent, as appropriate,  or
         any of their respective  subsidiaries,  except that Indebtedness  shall
         not include short term credit  facilities  entered into in the ordinary
         course of business.  Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  is in
         default  (with or without  notice or lapse of time,  or both) under any
         contract,  indenture,  note,  credit agreement,  loan document,  lease,
         license or other agreement  including,  but not limited to, any Benefit
         Plan, whether or not such default has been waived.




                                      -14-

<PAGE>










                   Section 4.16  Patents,  Trademarks,  Etc. To the knowledge of
         Parent, Parent and its subsidiaries have all patents, trademarks, trade
         names,  service marks, trade secrets,  copyrights and other proprietary
         intellectual   property   rights  and  licenses  as  are  necessary  in
         connection  with the  businesses  of Parent and its  subsidiaries,  and
         Parent does not have any  knowledge of any conflict  with the rights of
         Parent and its subsidiaries therein or any knowledge of any conflict by
         them with the rights of others therein.

                   Section 4.17 Product Liability; Airworthiness. (a) Parent has
         no knowledge of any claim, or the basis of any claim, against Parent or
         any of its  subsidiaries  for injury to person or property of employees
         or any third parties suffered as a result of the sale of any product or
         performance  of any  service  by  Parent  or  any of its  subsidiaries,
         including  claims  arising out of the defective or unsafe nature of its
         products or  services.  Parent and its  subsidiaries  have,  and on the
         Effective  Date will have,  full and  adequate  insurance  coverage for
         potential product liability claims against it.

                   (b) To the  knowledge  of  Parent,  all  goods  and  services
         designed,  manufactured  or sold by Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries
         comply  with  all  laws,   requirements,   specifications,   rules  and
         regulations  of all  applicable  government  airworthiness  agencies or
         authorities  (whether foreign or domestic,  national or local) and none
         of  such  products  or  services   contain  any  material   defects  in
         manufacturing,  design or performance  or other  material  defect which
         renders such products or services or any component  thereof  defective,
         deficient,  nonconforming  or unsuitable for their intended use. To the
         knowledge of Parent,  there is no publicly and formally  announced rule
         or regulation by any governmental authority of the United States or any
         state  thereof that could  reasonably be expected to affect the various
         airworthiness approvals, licenses, permits or certifications applicable
         to the goods, services,  assets, facilities or operations of Parent and
         its subsidiaries.

                   Section  4.18  Environment.  (i) As  used  herein,  the  term
         "Environmental  Laws" means all federal,  state,  local or Foreign Laws
         relating to pollution or protection of human health or the  environment
         (including,   without   limitation,   ambient   air,   surface   water,
         groundwater,  land surface or subsurface  strata),  including,  without
         limitation,  laws  relating  to  emissions,   discharges,  releases  or
         threatened  releases  of  chemicals,   pollutants,   contaminants,   or
         industrial,   toxic  or  hazardous   substances   or  wastes  into  the
         environment,  or  otherwise  relating to the  manufacture,  processing,
         distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or


                                      -15-

<PAGE>










         handling of chemicals,  pollutants,  contaminants, or industrial, toxic
         or  hazardous  substances  or  wastes,  as well as all  authorizations,
         codes,  decrees,  demands or demand  letters,  injunctions,  judgments,
         licenses,   notices  or  notice  letters,  orders,  permits,  plans  or
         regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.

                   (ii) To the  knowledge of Parent,  except as set forth in the
         Parent SEC  Reports,  there are,  with  respect to Parent or any of its
         subsidiaries,  no past or present  violations  of  Environmental  Laws,
         releases of any material  into the  environment,  actions,  activities,
         circumstances,    conditions,   events,   incidents,   or   contractual
         obligations which may reasonably be expected to give rise to any common
         law  environmental  liability or any liability under the  Comprehensive
         Environmental   Response,   Compensation  and  Liability  Act  of  1980
         ("CERCLA") or similar state or local laws.

                   Section  4.19  Title  to  Assets;   Liens.   Parent  and  its
         subsidiaries  have  (i)  good  and  marketable  title  to all of  their
         inventory,  accounts receivable,  property, equipment and other assets,
         and such assets are free and clear of any  mortgages,  liens,  charges,
         encumbrances,  or title defects of any nature whatsoever and (ii) valid
         and  enforceable  leases for the premises and the equipment,  furniture
         and fixtures purported to be leased by them.

                   Section 4.20 Accounting;  Tax Matters. Neither Parent nor, to
         its  knowledge,  any of its  affiliates,  has through the date  hereof,
         taken or agreed to take any  action nor do they have any  knowledge  of
         any  circumstances  which currently exist that would prevent (i) Parent
         from  accounting  for the  business  combination  to be effected by the
         Merger as a "pooling of interests"  or (ii) the Merger from  qualifying
         for  federal  income  tax  purposes  as a  "reorganization"  within the
         meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                   Section 4.21 Parent Action.  The Board of Directors of Parent
         (at a  meeting  duly  called  and held)  has by the  requisite  vote of
         directors  recommended  the approval of the Stock Issuance  Proposal by
         the holders of Parent Common Stock and directed that the Stock Issuance
         Proposal  be  submitted  for  consideration  by  Parent's  shareholders
         entitled to vote thereon at the Parent Meeting.

                   Section 4.22 Financial Advisor.  Except for Goldman,  Sachs &
         Co.,  financial  advisor to Parent,  no  broker,  finder or  investment
         banker  is  entitled  to  any  brokerage,  finder's  or  other  fee  or
         commission in connection with the Merger or the


                                      -16-

<PAGE>










         transactions   contemplated   by  this  Merger   Agreement  based  upon
         arrangements  made by or on  behalf of  Parent,  and the fees and other
         amounts payable to Goldman, Sachs & Co. as contemplated by this Section
         will be as provided in that certain letter  agreement,  dated September
         8, 1997, from Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Parent.

                   Section  4.23  Fairness  Opinion.  Parent  has  received  the
         opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co., financial advisor to Parent, dated the
         date hereof,  to the effect that,  as of the date hereof,  the Exchange
         Ratio pursuant to the Merger  Agreement is fair from a financial  point
         of view to Parent.


                                   ARTICLE IV-A

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING SUB

                   Parent and Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to
         the Company as follows:

                   Section  4A.1   Organization.   Sub  is  a  corporation  duly
         organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
         State of  Delaware.  Sub has not  engaged in any  business  (other than
         certain organizational matters) since it was incorporated.

                   Section 4A.2 Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of
         Sub  consists  of 1,000  shares of common  stock,  par value  $1.00 per
         share, 1,000 shares of which are validly issued and outstanding,  fully
         paid and  nonassessable  and are owned by Parent  free and clear of all
         liens, claims and encumbrances.

                   Section 4A.3 Authority Relative to this Merger Agreement. Sub
         has the  corporate  power to enter into this  Merger  Agreement  and to
         carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this
         Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
         hereby have been duly  authorized  by its Board of  Directors  and sole
         shareholder,  and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Sub are
         necessary  to  authorize  this Merger  Agreement  and the  transactions
         contemplated hereby. Except as referred to herein or in connection,  or
         in compliance,  with the provisions of the HSR Act, the Securities Act,
         the Exchange Act, the Foreign Laws and the environmental,  corporation,
         securities or blue sky laws or  regulations of the various  states,  no
         filing or registration with, or authorization,  consent or approval of,
         any public body or authority is necessary for the  consummation  by Sub
         of  the  Merger  or  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this  Merger
         Agreement, other than filings, registrations, authorizations,


                                      -17-

<PAGE>










         consents or  approvals  the failure to make or obtain would not prevent
         the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The Merger
         Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Sub enforceable
         in accordance  with its terms except as  enforcement  may be limited by
         bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement
         of  creditors'  rights  generally and except that the  availability  of
         equitable remedies,  including specific performance,  is subject to the
         discretion  of the court  before which any  proceeding  therefor may be
         brought.


                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

                   The Company represents and warrants to Parent,  except as set
         forth in a disclosure  schedule  delivered by the Company  concurrently
         herewith (the "Company Disclosure  Schedule"),  (i) as set forth in the
         first sentence of Section 5.1, the first four sentences of Section 5.4,
         and Sections  5.2,  5.6, and 5.7,  and,  (ii) except for  circumstances
         that, taken in the aggregate, would not have a Company Material Adverse
         Effect  (as  defined  in  Section  10.6),  in the  case  of  all  other
         representations and warranties herein, as follows:

                   Section 5.1 Organization and Qualification.  The Company is a
         corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
         the laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate  power to carry
         on its business as it is now being  conducted or currently  proposed to
         be conducted. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
         do business,  and is in good standing,  in each jurisdiction  where the
         character of its properties  owned or held under lease or the nature of
         its activities makes such qualification necessary. Complete and correct
         copies as of the date hereof of the  certificate of  incorporation  and
         by-laws of the Company and each of its Significant  Subsidiaries  have,
         to the  extent  requested,  been  delivered  to  Parent  as part of the
         Company Disclosure Schedule.

                   Section 5.2  Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of
         the Company  consists of 50,000,000  shares of Company Common Stock and
         10,000,000  shares of Preferred Stock, $1 par value per share ("Company
         Preferred Stock").  As of July 31, 1997,  25,329,725  (25,365,002 as of
         August 31, 1997) shares of Company Common Stock were validly issued and
         outstanding,  fully  paid and  nonassessable,  218,796  (279,151  as of
         August 31, 1997)  shares of Company  Common Stock were held in treasury
         and no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued, and there have


                                      -18-

<PAGE>










         been no  material  changes in such  numbers of shares  through the date
         hereof. As of August 31, 1997, except for (i) employee and non-employee
         director  stock options to acquire  3,099,996  shares of Company Common
         Stock at a weighted average  exercise price of $17.297 per share,  (ii)
         the rights (the "Company  Rights")  issued  pursuant to the Amended and
         Restated  Rights  Agreement  dated  as of April 6,  1990,  as  amended,
         between the Company and The First  National Bank of Chicago,  as Rights
         Agent, as amended,  (the "Company Rights  Agreement"),  (iii) 1,902,898
         shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of  the
         Company's  7.75%  Convertible  Subordinated  Notes  due  May  2004  and
         2,674,418  shares of Company Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion of
         the Company's  7.00%  Convertible  Subordinated  Debentures due October
         2012  (collectively,  the  "Convertible  Debt") and (iv) 600,000 shares
         issuable,  at an exercise  price of $9.00 per share,  upon  exercise of
         warrants issued by the Company to certain lenders in 1993 and 1995 (the
         "Warrants"),  there are no options,  warrants,  calls or other  rights,
         agreements or commitments presently outstanding  obligating the Company
         to  issue,  deliver  or  sell  shares  of its  capital  stock  or  debt
         securities,  or obligating  the Company to grant,  extend or enter into
         any such  option,  warrant,  call or other  such  right,  agreement  or
         commitment,  and there have been no  material  changes in such  numbers
         through the date hereof.

                   Section 5.3 Subsidiaries.  The only Significant  Subsidiaries
         of the  Company  are  those  named in the  Company  SEC  Reports.  Each
         Significant  Subsidiary  is  a  corporation  duly  organized,   validly
         existing and in good  standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of
         incorporation  and has the corporate  power to carry on its business as
         it is now being conducted or currently  proposed to be conducted.  Each
         Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do
         business,  and is in good  standing,  in each  jurisdiction  where  the
         character of its properties  owned or held under lease or the nature of
         its activities makes such qualification  necessary. All the outstanding
         shares of capital  stock of each  Significant  Subsidiary  are  validly
         issued,  fully paid and nonassessable and those owned by the Company or
         by a  subsidiary  of the Company are owned free and clear of any liens,
         claims or encumbrances.  There are no existing options, warrants, calls
         or other rights, agreements or commitments of any character relating to
         the issued or unissued  capital stock or other securities of any of the
         Significant  Subsidiaries  of the  Company.  Except as set forth in the
         Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 1996
         and except for wholly  owned  subsidiaries  which are formed  after the
         date hereof in the ordinary  course of  business,  the Company does not
         directly or indirectly own any interest in any other



                                      -19-

<PAGE>










         corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business
         association or entity.

                   Section 5.4 Authority Relative to this Merger Agreement.  The
         Company has the  corporate  power to enter into this Merger  Agreement,
         subject to the  requisite  approval  of this  Merger  Agreement  by the
         holders  of  Company  Common  Stock,  and to carry out its  obligations
         hereunder.  The execution and delivery of this Merger Agreement and the
         consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly
         authorized by the Company's Board of Directors.  This Merger  Agreement
         constitutes a valid and binding  obligation of the Company  enforceable
         in accordance  with its terms except as  enforcement  may be limited by
         bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement
         of  creditors'  rights  generally and except that the  availability  of
         equitable remedies,  including specific performance,  is subject to the
         discretion  of the court  before which any  proceeding  therefor may be
         brought.  Except for the  requisite  approval of the holders of Company
         Common Stock, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company
         are necessary to authorize this Merger  Agreement and the  transactions
         contemplated  hereby.  The Company is not subject to or obligated under
         (i) any charter,  by-law, indenture or other loan document provision or
         (ii) any other contract,  license,  franchise,  permit,  order, decree,
         concession, lease, instrument,  judgment, statute, law, ordinance, rule
         or regulation  applicable to the Company or any of its  subsidiaries or
         their  respective  properties  or assets  which  would be  breached  or
         violated,  or under  which  there  would be a default  (with or without
         notice or lapse of time,  or both),  or under which there would arise a
         right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or
         the loss of a material benefit,  by its executing and carrying out this
         Merger Agreement, other than, in the case of clause (ii) only, the laws
         and regulations referred to in the next sentence. Except as referred to
         herein or, with respect to the Merger or the transactions  contemplated
         thereby,  in connection,  or in compliance,  with the provisions of the
         HSR Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Foreign Laws and the
         State Laws (all of which required  consents and approvals under Foreign
         Laws and State  Laws are  identified  in  Schedule  5.4 to the  Company
         Disclosure  Schedule),  no filing by the Company or registration by the
         Company with any public body or authority is necessary  for, nor is any
         authorization,  consent or  approval  of any public  body or  authority
         required to be obtained by the Company  for,  the  consummation  of the
         Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                   Section 5.5  Reports and Financial Statements.  The
         Company has previously furnished Parent with true and complete


                                      -20-

<PAGE>










         copies of its (i) Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the three years ended
         July 31,  1994,  1995,  and 1996,  as filed with the  Commission,  (ii)
         Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended November 3, 1996,
         February 2, 1997 and May 4, 1997, as filed with the  Commission,  (iii)
         proxy statements  related to all meetings of its shareholders  (whether
         annual or special)  since July 31,  1994 and (iv) all other  reports or
         registration  statements filed by the Company with the Commission since
         July 31, 1994, except  registration  statements on Form S-8 relating to
         employee  benefit  plans,  which  are all  the  documents  (other  than
         preliminary  material)  that the Company was  required to file with the
         Commission  since that date (clauses (i) through (iv) being referred to
         herein  collectively  as  the  "Company  SEC  Reports").  As  of  their
         respective  dates,  the Company SEC  Reports  complied in all  material
         respects with the  requirements  of the  Securities Act or the Exchange
         Act,  as the  case  may  be,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of the
         Commission  thereunder  applicable  to such Company SEC Reports.  As of
         their  respective  dates,  the  Company SEC Reports did not contain any
         untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact
         required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  to make the  statements
         therein,  in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading. The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
         interim financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC
         Reports  comply as to form in all  material  respects  with  applicable
         accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of
         the  Commission  with respect  thereto,  and the  financial  statements
         included in the Company SEC Reports,  have been  prepared in accordance
         with GAAP  applied on a  consistent  basis  (except as may be indicated
         therein or in the notes  thereto)  and  fairly  present  the  financial
         position of the Company and its  subsidiaries  as at the dates  thereof
         and the results of their  operations and changes in financial  position
         for the  periods  then  ended  subject,  in the  case of the  unaudited
         interim financial statements,  to normal year-end audit adjustments and
         any other adjustments described therein.

                   Section 5.6 Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Except as
         disclosed in the Company SEC Reports,  since May 4, 1997, there has not
         been (i) any  event,  condition,  transaction,  commitment,  dispute or
         other  circumstance  (financial or otherwise) of any character (whether
         or not in the  ordinary  course  of  business)  individually  or in the
         aggregate having a Company  Material  Adverse Effect;  (ii) any damage,
         destruction  or loss,  whether  or not  covered  by  insurance,  which,
         insofar as  reasonably  can be  foreseen,  in the  future  would have a
         Company Material Adverse Effect;  (iii) any declaration,  setting aside
         or payment of any  dividend  or other  distribution  (whether  in cash,
         stock or property) with respect to the capital stock of


                                      -21-

<PAGE>










         the  Company,  or (iv) any entry  into any  commitment  or  transaction
         material  to  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  taken  as  a  whole
         (including, without limitation, any borrowing or sale of assets) except
         in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

                   Section  5.7  Litigation.   There  is  no  suit,   action  or
         proceeding  pending or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  threatened
         against or  affecting  the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  which,
         either alone or in the aggregate, has, or is reasonably likely to have,
         a Company Material Adverse Effect,  nor is there any judgment,  decree,
         injunction,  rule  or  order  of any  court,  governmental  department,
         commission,  agency,  instrumentality or arbitrator outstanding against
         the Company or any of its subsidiaries  having, or reasonably likely to
         have,  either  alone or in the  aggregate,  any such  Company  Material
         Adverse Effect.

                   Section 5.8 Information in Disclosure Documents.  None of the
         information  with  respect  to the  Company or its  subsidiaries  to be
         included or  incorporated  by reference  in the Proxy  Statement or the
         Registration  Statement will, in the case of the Proxy Statement or any
         amendments or  supplements  thereto,  at the time of the mailing of the
         Proxy Statement and any amendments or supplements  thereto,  and at the
         time of the Company  Meeting to be held in connection  with the Merger,
         or, in the case of the Registration  Statement,  at the time it becomes
         effective and at the Effective Date,  contain any untrue statement of a
         material  fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary in order to make the statements  therein, in light
         of the  circumstances  under which they are made, not  misleading.  The
         Proxy  Statement  will comply as to form in all material  respects with
         the  provisions  of the  Exchange  Act and the  rules  and  regulations
         thereunder.

                   Section 5.9 Employee  Benefit  Plans.  Except as disclosed in
         the  Company  SEC Reports or as set forth in Section 5.9 of the Company
         Disclosure  Schedule,  there are no employee  benefit,  compensation or
         severance  plans,  agreements  or  arrangements,   including  "employee
         benefit plans," as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, and including, but
         not limited to, plans,  agreements or  arrangements  relating to former
         employees,  including,  but not  limited  to,  retiree  medical  plans,
         maintained  by the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or  collective
         bargaining  agreements to which the Company or any of its  subsidiaries
         is a party (together, the "Company Benefit Plans"). To the knowledge of
         the Company,  no default exists with respect to the  obligations of the
         Company or any of its  subsidiaries  under such Company  Benefit  Plan.
         Since August 1, 1995, there have been no disputes or grievances subject
         to any


                                      -22-

<PAGE>










         grievance procedure, unfair labor practice proceedings,  arbitration or
         litigation  under  such  Company  Benefit  Plans,  which  have not been
         finally  resolved,  settled or otherwise  disposed of, nor is there any
         default,  or any condition which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
         would constitute such a default,  under any such Company Benefit Plans,
         by the Company or its  subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company
         and its  subsidiaries,  any other party thereto.  Since August 1, 1995,
         there have been no strikes, lockouts or work stoppages or slowdowns, or
         to the  knowledge of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  jurisdictional
         disputes or organizing activity occurring or threatened with respect to
         the business or operations of the Company or its subsidiaries.  Neither
         the  execution  of the Merger  Agreement  nor the  consummation  of the
         transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  (either  alone  or  upon  the
         occurrence  of  additional   events  or  acts)  result  in,  cause  the
         accelerated vesting or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of,
         any  payment or benefit to any  employee  of the  Company or any of its
         subsidiaries.  Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  no
         amount  paid or payable by the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  in
         connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby (either solely as
         a result  thereof or as a result of such  transactions  in  conjunction
         with any other event) will be an "excess parachute  payment" within the
         meaning of Section 280G of the Code.

                   Section  5.10  ERISA.  All  Company  Benefit  Plans have been
         administered in accordance, and are in compliance,  with the applicable
         provisions  of  ERISA.  Each of the  Company  Benefit  Plans  which  is
         intended  to meet the  requirements  of Section  401(a) of the Code has
         been  determined  by the Internal  Revenue  Service to be  "qualified,"
         within the meaning of such section of the Code,  and the Company  knows
         of no fact which is likely to have an adverse  effect on the  qualified
         status of such  plans.  None of the  Company  Benefit  Plans  which are
         defined  benefit pension plans have incurred any  "accumulated  funding
         deficiency"  (whether or not waived) as that term is defined in Section
         412 of the Code and under  Financial  Accounting  Standard 87, the fair
         market  value of the  assets of each such plan  equals or  exceeds  the
         accrued  benefit  obligations  of such plan.  To the  knowledge  of the
         Company,  there  are  not  now  nor  have  there  been  any  non-exempt
         "prohibited  transactions,"  as such term is defined in Section 4975 of
         the Code or Section 406 of ERISA, involving the Company's Benefit Plans
         which could  subject the  Company,  its  subsidiaries  or Parent to the
         penalty or tax imposed under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of
         the Code. No Company Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA
         has  been  completely  or  partially  terminated;   no  proceedings  to
         completely or partially terminate any Company Benefit Plan have


                                      -23-

<PAGE>










         been  instituted  within the  meaning of Subtitle C of said Title IV of
         ERISA; and no reportable  event,  within the meaning of Section 4043(c)
         of said Subtitle C for which the 30-day notice requirement of ERISA has
         not been waived, has occurred with respect to any Company Benefit Plan.
         Neither the Company nor any of its  subsidiaries has made a complete or
         partial  withdrawal,  within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, from
         any multiemployer plan which has resulted in, or is reasonably expected
         to result in, any  withdrawal  liability  to the  Company or any of its
         subsidiaries.  Neither  the  Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  has
         engaged in any  transaction  described  in Section 4069 of ERISA within
         the last five years. There does not now exist, nor do any circumstances
         exist that could result in, any  liability of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries  (or any entity,  trade or business  that is or was at any
         time  required  to be  aggregated  with  the  Company  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries  under Section 414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the Code) under
         Title IV of ERISA,  Section 302 of ERISA,  Sections 412 and 4971 of the
         Code,  to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  the  continuation  coverage
         requirements  of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section  4980B of the
         Code, and similar provisions of foreign laws or regulations, other than
         such  liabilities  that arise  solely out of, or relate  solely to, the
         Company  Benefit Plans,  that would be a liability of the Company,  its
         subsidiaries or Parent following the Effective Date.

                   Section 5.11 Takeover Provisions Inapplicable. As of the date
         hereof and at all times  thereafter,  until and including the Effective
         Date, Section 203 of the DGCL, the Company Rights Agreement and Article
         Sixteenth of the Company's  Restated  Certificate of Incorporation are,
         and  shall  be,   inapplicable  to  the  Merger  and  the  transactions
         contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

                   Section  5.12 Company  Action.  The Board of Directors of the
         Company (at a meeting duly called and held) has by the  requisite  vote
         of directors (a)  determined  that the Merger is advisable and fair and
         in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, (b) approved
         the Merger in  accordance  with the  provisions  of Section  251 of the
         DGCL,  (c)  recommended  the approval of this Merger  Agreement and the
         Merger by the holders of the Company Common Stock and directed that the
         Merger be submitted for  consideration  by the  Company's  shareholders
         entitled  to  vote  thereon  at the  Company  Meeting,  (d)  taken  all
         necessary steps to render Article  Sixteenth of the Company's  Restated
         Certificate  of  Incorporation  inapplicable  to  the  Merger  and  the
         transactions  contemplated  by this  Merger  Agreement,  (e)  taken all
         necessary steps to render the Company Rights Agreement  inapplicable to
         the Merger and the  transactions  contemplated by this Merger Agreement
         and (f)


                                      -24-

<PAGE>










         adopted  any  necessary  resolution  having the  effect of causing  the
         Company not to be subject,  to the extent  permitted by applicable law,
         to any state  takeover  law that may  purport to be  applicable  to the
         Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

                   Section 5.13 Fairness  Opinion.  The Company has received the
         opinion  of  Morgan  Stanley  & Co.  Incorporated  ("Morgan  Stanley"),
         financial advisor to the Company,  dated the date hereof, to the effect
         that the Exchange  Ratio is fair from a financial  point of view to the
         holders of shares of Company Common Stock.

                   Section 5.14 Financial Advisor. Except for Morgan Stanley, no
         broker,  finder or  investment  banker is  entitled  to any  brokerage,
         finder's or other fee or commission  in  connection  with the Merger or
         the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Merger  Agreement  based upon
         arrangements  made by or on  behalf  of the  Company,  and the fees and
         commissions  payable to Morgan Stanley as  contemplated by this Section
         will be the amount set forth in that certain letter, dated December 20,
         1995, from Morgan Stanley to the Company.

                   Section 5.15 Compliance with Applicable Laws. (i) The Company
         and its subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions,
         orders  and  approvals  (the  "Company  Permits")  of all  Governmental
         Entities  necessary for the operation of the  businesses of the Company
         and its subsidiaries; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, the Company
         and its  subsidiaries  are in compliance  with the terms of the Company
         Permits; (iii) to the knowledge of the Company,  except as disclosed in
         the  Company  SEC  Reports  filed  prior  to the  date of  this  Merger
         Agreement,  the businesses of the Company and its  subsidiaries are not
         being conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any
         Governmental  Entity;  and (iv) to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  no
         investigation or review by any Governmental  Entity with respect to the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries is pending,  or, to the knowledge of
         the Company,  threatened,  nor has any Governmental Entity indicated an
         intention to conduct the same  provided,  however,  that the  foregoing
         representations are made as to ERISA and environmental matters, only as
         to the Company's knowledge, to the extent contemplated by Sections 5.10
         and 5.21.

                   Section  5.16  Liabilities.  As of May 4, 1997,  neither  the
         Company nor any of its  subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations
         (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of a nature required to be
         disclosed  on  a  balance   sheet  or  in  the  related  notes  to  the
         consolidated  financial  statements  prepared in  accordance  with GAAP
         which are not


                                      -25-

<PAGE>










         disclosed  or provided for in the most recent  Company SEC Reports.  To
         the  knowledge of the Company,  there was no basis,  as of May 4, 1997,
         for any claim or liability (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise)
         of a nature  required  to be  disclosed  on a  balance  sheet or in the
         related  notes to the  consolidated  financial  statements  prepared in
         accordance with GAAP which is not reflected in the Company SEC Reports.

                   Section 5.17 Taxes.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries
         has filed all tax  returns  required to be filed by any of them and has
         paid (or the Company has paid on its behalf), or has set up an adequate
         reserve for the payment of, all taxes required to be paid in respect of
         the periods covered by such returns. The information  contained in such
         tax returns is true, complete and accurate. Neither the Company nor any
         subsidiary  of the  Company is  delinquent  in the  payment of any tax,
         assessment or governmental  charge.  No deficiencies for any taxes have
         been proposed,  asserted or assessed  against the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries  that have not been finally settled or paid in full and no
         requests for waivers of the time to assess any such tax are pending and
         there are no outstanding audits,  examinations,  deficiency litigations
         or  refund   litigations   with   respect  to  Parent  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries. The federal income tax returns of the Company and each of
         its subsidiaries consolidated in such returns have been examined by and
         settled  with  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  for all  years  through
         December 31, 1985.

                   Section 5.18 Certain  Agreements.  Except as disclosed in the
         Company SEC Reports  filed prior to the date of this Merger  Agreement,
         neither the Company nor any of its  subsidiaries is a party to any oral
         or written  (i)  agreement,  contract,  indenture  or other  instrument
         relating  to  Indebtedness  in an  amount  exceeding  $2,000,000,  (ii)
         agreement which,  after giving effect to the transactions  contemplated
         by this Merger Agreement, purports to restrict or bind Parent or any of
         its  subsidiaries   other  than  the  Surviving   Corporation  and  its
         subsidiaries in any respect that could have a Parent  Material  Adverse
         Effect,  (iii) contract,  agreement or commitment (except those entered
         into in the  ordinary  course of  business)  having a Company  Material
         Adverse Effect, (iv) contract, agreement or commitment,  whether or not
         in the ordinary  course of business,  that provides for payments by the
         Company  in  fiscal  1997 in  excess  of $5  million  or (v)  contract,
         agreement  or  commitment,  whether  or not in the  ordinary  course of
         business,  that  provides  for  payments  to the Company in one year in
         fiscal 1997,  or  reasonably  expected in fiscal 1998, in excess of $25
         million.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default
         (or would be in default  with  notice or lapse of time,  or both) under
         any contract, indenture, note,


                                      -26-

<PAGE>










         credit  agreement,  loan document,  lease,  license or other  agreement
         including, but not limited to, any Company Benefit Plan, whether or not
         such  default has been  waived.  Except as set forth in Section 5.18 of
         the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the  Company or any of its
         subsidiaries  is a  party  to and  bound  by any  contract,  agreement,
         commitment,   plan,  arrangement  or  other  understanding  which  upon
         execution of this Merger  Agreement or consummation of the transactions
         contemplated  hereby  will  (either  alone  or upon the  occurrence  of
         additional acts or events) result in any payment  becoming due from the
         Company or Parent or any of their subsidiaries.

                   Section 5.19 Patents, Trademark, Etc. To the knowledge of the
         Company, the Company and its subsidiaries have all patents, trademarks,
         trade names, service marks, trade secrets,  copyrights and licenses and
         other  proprietary  intellectual  property  rights and  licenses as are
         necessary  in  connection  with the  businesses  of the Company and its
         subsidiaries,  and the  Company  does  not have  any  knowledge  of any
         conflict with the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries therein or
         any  knowledge  of any  conflict  by them  with the  rights  of  others
         therein.

                   Section  5.20  Product  Liability;   Airworthiness.  (a)  The
         Company  has no  knowledge  of any  claim,  or the basis of any  claim,
         against the Company or any of its  subsidiaries for injury to person or
         property of employees or any third parties  suffered as a result of the
         sale of any product or performance of any service by the Company or any
         of its  subsidiaries,  including claims arising out of the defective or
         unsafe  nature  of its  products  or  services.  The  Company  and  its
         subsidiaries  have,  and on the  Effective  Date  will  have,  full and
         adequate  insurance  coverage for potential  product  liability  claims
         against it.

                   (b) To the  knowledge of the Company,  all goods and services
         designed,   manufactured   or  sold  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries comply with all laws, requirements,  specifications, rules
         and regulations of all applicable government  airworthiness agencies or
         authorities  (whether foreign or domestic,  national or local) and none
         of  such  products  or  services   contain  any  material   defects  in
         manufacturing,  design or performance  or other  material  defect which
         renders such products or services or any component  thereof  defective,
         deficient,  nonconforming  or unsuitable for their intended use. To the
         knowledge of the Company,  there is no publicly and formally  announced
         rule or regulation by any  governmental  authority of the United States
         or any state  thereof that could  reasonably  be expected to affect the
         various airworthiness approvals, licenses, permits or certifications


                                      -27-

<PAGE>










         applicable to the goods, services, assets, facilities or operations  of
         the Company and its subsidiaries.

                   Section 5.21  Environment.  To the  knowledge of the Company,
         there are, except as set forth in the Company SEC Reports, with respect
         to the  Company  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries,  no  past  or  present
         violations  of  Environmental  Laws,  releases of any material into the
         environment,  actions, activities,  circumstances,  conditions, events,
         incidents,  or contractual obligations which reasonably may be expected
         to give rise to any common law liability or any liability  under CERCLA
         or similar state or local laws.

                   Section 5.22 Title to Assets; Liens. The Company has good and
         marketable  title  to  all  of  its  inventory,   accounts  receivable,
         property,  equipment and other  assets,  and except as disclosed in the
         Company's SEC Reports such assets are free and clear of any  mortgages,
         liens,   charges,   encumbrances,   or  title  defects  of  any  nature
         whatsoever. The Company and its subsidiaries have valid and enforceable
         leases for the  premises  and the  equipment,  furniture  and  fixtures
         purported to be leased by them.

                   Section 5.23  Accounting;  Tax  Matters.  Neither the Company
         nor,  to its  knowledge,  any of its  affiliates,  has through the date
         hereof,  taken or agreed to take any action nor do they have  knowledge
         of any  circumstances  which  currently exist that would prevent Parent
         from  accounting  for the  business  combination  to be effected by the
         Merger as a "pooling of interests."


                                    ARTICLE VI

                      CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

                   Section 6.1  Conduct of Business by the Company  Pending  the
         Merger.  Prior  to  the  Effective  Date, unless Parent shall otherwise
         agree in writing:

                   (i) the Company shall,  and shall cause its  subsidiaries to,
              carry on their  respective  businesses  in the usual,  regular and
              ordinary  course in  substantially  the same manner as  heretofore
              conducted,  and shall,  and shall cause its  subsidiaries  to, use
              their diligent  efforts to preserve intact their present  business
              organizations,  keep  available  the  services  of  their  present
              officers and  employees  and  preserve  their  relationships  with
              customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with them
              to the end that their goodwill


                                      -28-

<PAGE>










              and ongoing  businesses shall be unimpaired at the Effective Date.
              The  Company  shall,  and shall  cause its  subsidiaries  to,  (A)
              maintain insurance  coverages and its books,  accounts and records
              in the usual manner consistent with prior practices; (B) comply in
              all material respects with all laws, ordinances and regulations of
              Governmental   Entities   applicable   to  the   Company  and  its
              subsidiaries;  (C) maintain and keep its  properties and equipment
              in good repair,  working  order and  condition,  ordinary wear and
              tear  excepted;  and (D)  perform  in all  material  respects  its
              obligations  under all contracts and  commitments to which it is a
              party or by which it is bound,  in each case  other than where the
              failure to so maintain,  comply or perform, either individually or
              in the aggregate,  would not reasonably be expected to result in a
              Company Material Adverse Effect;

                  (ii) the  Company  shall not and shall not propose to (A) sell
              or pledge or agree to sell or pledge any capital stock owned by it
              in any of its subsidiaries,  (B) amend its Restated Certificate of
              Incorporation  or Bylaws,  (C) split,  combine or  reclassify  its
              outstanding  capital  stock or issue or  authorize  or propose the
              issuance of any other  securities  in respect of, in lieu of or in
              substitution  for  shares  of  capital  stock of the  Company,  or
              declare,  set  aside or pay any  dividend  or  other  distribution
              payable in cash,  stock or property  (other than  Regular  Company
              Dividends),  or (D)  directly or  indirectly  redeem,  purchase or
              otherwise  acquire  or  agree to  redeem,  purchase  or  otherwise
              acquire any shares of Company capital stock;

                 (iii) the  Company  shall  not,  nor shall it permit any of its
              subsidiaries  to,  (A) except as  required  or  permitted  by this
              Merger  Agreement,  issue,  deliver  or sell or  agree  to  issue,
              deliver or sell any additional shares of, or rights of any kind to
              acquire  any  shares of, its  capital  stock of any class,  or any
              option,  rights or warrants to acquire, or securities  convertible
              into,  shares of capital  stock  other than  issuances  of Company
              Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of employee and non-employee
              director  stock options or the Warrants or upon  conversion of the
              Convertible Debt; (B) acquire (other than a transaction  involving
              TOLO, Inc., in the amount of approximately $30 million),  lease or
              dispose  or agree to  acquire,  lease or  dispose  of any  capital
              assets or any other assets  other than in the  ordinary  course of
              business,  (C)  incur  additional   Indebtedness  (except  in  the
              ordinary course of business, pursuant to arrangements currently in
              place and except for the incurrence of $85 million in Indebtedness
              for a term of less than one year


                                      -29-

<PAGE>










              to replace the current  accounts  receivable  sales program and to
              provide for the acquisition of TOLO,  Inc.) or encumber or grant a
              security  interest  in any asset or enter into any other  material
              transaction  other  than in each  case in the  ordinary  course of
              business;   (D)   acquire  or  agree  to  acquire  by  merging  or
              consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest
              in, or by any  other  manner,  any  business  or any  corporation,
              partnership,   association  or  other  business   organization  or
              division  thereof,  except  that the Company may create new wholly
              owned  subsidiaries  in the ordinary  course of  business;  or (E)
              enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement with
              respect to any of the foregoing which is binding;

                  (iv)  except  as set  forth  in  Schedule  6.1 of the  Company
              Disclosure  Schedule,  the Company shall not, nor shall it permit,
              any of its  subsidiaries  to,  except as  required  to comply with
              applicable  law and except as provided in Section 7.5 hereof,  (A)
              adopt, enter into, terminate, expand the applicability of or amend
              any bonus, profit sharing, compensation,  severance,  termination,
              stock  option,   pension,   retirement,   deferred   compensation,
              employment or other Company Benefit Plan,  agreement,  trust, fund
              or other  arrangement  for the benefit or welfare of any director,
              officer or current or former employee,  (B) increase in any manner
              the  compensation  or fringe  benefit of any director,  officer or
              employee  (except for normal  increases in the ordinary  course of
              business that are  consistent  with past practice and that, in the
              aggregate,  do not result in a material  increase  in  benefits or
              compensation expense to the Company and its subsidiaries  relative
              to the  level  in  effect  prior to such  amendment),  (C) pay any
              benefit not provided under any existing plan or  arrangement,  (D)
              grant any awards under any bonus, incentive,  performance or other
              compensation   plan  or  arrangement   or  Company   Benefit  Plan
              (including,  without limitation, the grant of stock options, stock
              appreciation   rights,   stock  based  or  stock  related  awards,
              performance  units or restricted stock, or the removal of existing
              restrictions  in any benefit  plans or  agreements  or awards made
              thereunder),  (E)  take any  action  to fund or in any  other  way
              secure the payment of  compensation or benefits under any employee
              plan,  agreement,  contract or arrangement or Company Benefit Plan
              other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
              practice,  or (F)  adopt,  enter  into,  amend  or  terminate  any
              contract,  agreement,  commitment or  arrangement to do any of the
              foregoing which is binding;



                                      -30-

<PAGE>










                   (v) the  Company  shall  not,  nor shall it permit any of its
              subsidiaries  to, make any  investments  in  non-investment  grade
              securities provided,  however,  that the Company will be permitted
              to create new wholly owned  subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
              business; and

                  (vi) the  Company  shall  not,  nor shall it permit any of its
              subsidiaries  to,  take or cause to be taken any  action,  whether
              before or after the Effective  Date,  which would  disqualify  the
              Merger as a "pooling of interests" for accounting purposes or as a
              "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                   Section 6.2 Conduct of Business by Parent and Sub Pending the
         Merger.  (a) Parent.  Prior to the Effective  Date,  unless the Company
         shall  otherwise  agree in writing or except as  otherwise  required by
         this  Merger   Agreement:   (i)  Parent  shall,  and  shall  cause  its
         subsidiaries  to, carry on their  respective  businesses  in the usual,
         regular  and  ordinary  course  in  substantially  the same  manner  as
         heretofore   conducted,   and  shall,  and  shall  cause  its  material
         subsidiaries  to,  use their  best  efforts to  preserve  intact  their
         present  business  organizations,  keep available the services of their
         present  officers and employees and preserve their  relationships  with
         customers,  suppliers and others having business  dealings with them to
         the end that their goodwill and ongoing  businesses shall be unimpaired
         at the Effective Date, provided, however, that nothing contained herein
         shall prevent Parent from creating new wholly owned subsidiaries in the
         ordinary   course  of  business  as  long  as  the   creation  of  such
         subsidiaries  (either alone or in the aggregate) will not reasonably be
         expected to have a Parent Material  Adverse  Effect;  (ii) Parent shall
         not, nor shall it permit any of its  subsidiaries  to, take or cause to
         be taken any action,  whether before or after the Effective Date, which
         would  disqualify the Merger as a "pooling of interests" for accounting
         purposes or as a "reorganization"  within the meaning of Section 368(a)
         of the Code and (iii)  Parent  shall  not (A)  except  as  required  or
         permitted by this Merger Agreement,  issue, deliver or sell or agree to
         issue,  deliver or sell any additional shares of, or rights of any kind
         to acquire  any shares of, (1) Parent  Common  Stock or (2) any option,
         rights or warrants to acquire,  or securities  convertible into, shares
         of  Parent   Common   Stock   (collectively,   "Parent   Common   Stock
         Equivalents") (other than (x) issuances of, deliverances of or sales of
         or agreements  to issue,  deliver or sell Parent Common Stock or Parent
         Common Stock Equivalents representing,  in the aggregate, less than 12%
         of the  outstanding  Parent  Common  Stock as of the date  hereof,  (y)
         issuances of Parent  Common Stock  pursuant to the exercise of employee
         stock options and other options, warrants and rights


                                      -31-

<PAGE>










         outstanding on the date hereof and (z) the grant of additional employee
         stock  options  between the date hereof and the  Effective  Date in the
         ordinary  course of  business  and in  amounts  and on terms  which are
         customary for Parent during the fiscal  periods  occurring  during such
         period),  (B)  acquire or agree to acquire by merging or  consolidating
         with,  or by  purchasing a  substantial  equity  interest in, or by any
         other   manner,   any   business  or  any   corporation,   partnership,
         association,   or  other  business  organization  or  division  thereof
         involving cash consideration in excess of $250 million in the aggregate
         for all such transactions (excluding the acquisition of the company set
         forth in Section 6.2 of the Parent Disclosure  Schedule),  or (C) enter
         into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement with respect to
         any of the foregoing which is binding.

                   (b) Sub.  During  the  period  from  the date of this  Merger
         Agreement to the Effective Date, Sub shall not engage in any activities
         of any nature  except as  provided  in or  contemplated  by this Merger
         Agreement.

                   Section 6.3 Notice of Breach.  Each party shall promptly give
         written notice to the other party upon becoming aware of the occurrence
         or, to its knowledge,  impending or threatened occurrence, of any event
         which would cause or constitute a breach of any of its representations,
         warranties  or  covenants   contained  or  referenced  in  this  Merger
         Agreement  and will use its best efforts to prevent or promptly  remedy
         the same. Any such notification shall not be deemed an amendment of the
         Company Disclosure Schedule or the Parent Disclosure Schedule.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

                   Section 7.1 Access and  Information.  Each of the Company and
         Parent and their respective  subsidiaries shall afford to the other and
         to the  other's  accountants,  counsel and other  representatives  full
         access  during  normal  business  hours (and at such other times as the
         parties  may  mutually  agree)  throughout  the  period  prior  to  the
         Effective Date to all of its properties, books, contracts, commitments,
         records and  personnel  and,  during such  period,  each shall  furnish
         promptly  to the other (i) a copy of each  report,  schedule  and other
         document  filed or  received  by it  pursuant  to the  requirements  of
         federal  or state  securities  laws,  and (ii)  all  other  information
         concerning  its  business,  properties  and  personnel as the other may
         reasonably  request.  Each of the  Company and Parent  shall hold,  and
         shall cause their respective employees


                                      -32-

<PAGE>










         and agents to hold, in confidence  all such  information  in accordance
         with the terms of the Confidentiality  Agreements dated as of August 1,
         1997 between Parent and the Company (the "Confidentiality Agreements").

                   Section 7.2 Registration  Statement/Proxy  Statement.  (a) As
         promptly as practicable  after the execution of this Merger  Agreement,
         the  Company  and Parent  shall  prepare  and file with the  Commission
         preliminary  proxy  materials  for use at the  Company  Meeting and the
         Parent Meeting.  As promptly as practicable after comments are received
         from the Commission with respect to the preliminary proxy materials and
         after the  furnishing  by the  Company  and  Parent of all  information
         required to be  contained  therein,  the Company and Parent  shall file
         with the Commission the  definitive  proxy  statements for use at their
         respective  shareholder  meetings,  and  Parent  shall  file  with  the
         Commission the Registration  Statement and Parent and the Company shall
         use all  reasonable  efforts  to cause the  Registration  Statement  to
         become effective as soon thereafter as practicable.

                   (b) Parent and the Company shall make all  necessary  filings
         with respect to the Merger,  under the  Securities Act and the Exchange
         Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, under applicable blue sky
         or  similar  securities  laws and shall use all  reasonable  efforts to
         obtain required approvals and clearances with respect thereto.

                   Section 7.3 Compliance  with the Securities Act. (a) Prior to
         the Effective Date the Company shall cause to be delivered to Parent an
         opinion (reasonably  satisfactory to counsel for Parent) of the general
         counsel  of  the  Company  or  such  law  firm  as  may  be  reasonably
         satisfactory to Parent, identifying all persons who were, in his or its
         opinion,  at the time the Company  Meeting  convened in accordance with
         Section  3.5,  "affiliates"  of the  Company  as  that  term is used in
         paragraphs  (c) and (d) of Rule  145  under  the  Securities  Act  (the
         "Affiliates").

                   (b) The Company shall use its diligent  efforts to cause each
         person  who is  identified  as a  possible  Affiliate  in  the  opinion
         referred  to in clause  (a) above to deliver to Parent not less than 30
         days prior to the Effective Date, a written agreement  substantially in
         the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7.3(b)-1.

                   (c) Parent  shall use its best efforts to publish as promptly
         as practicable financial information  (including combined sales and net
         income)  covering  at  least  30 days  of  post-merger  operations,  as
         contemplated by FRR No. 1; provided,


                                      -33-

<PAGE>










         however,  that if the  Effective  Date occurs in the second  month of a
         calendar  quarter,  the  requirement  of this  paragraph  (c)  shall be
         satisfied by Parent's  customary  announcement,  in accordance with its
         past practice, of its quarterly financial results.

                   Section 7.4 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall use its best
         efforts to list on the NYSE,  upon  official  notice of  issuance,  the
         shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger.

                   Section 7.5 Employment Arrangements.  (a) After the Effective
         Date, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving  Corporation to, honor
         in accordance with their terms, all employment,  severance,  consulting
         and other  compensation  contracts  between  the  Company or any of its
         subsidiaries  and any current or former  director,  officer or employee
         thereof, and all provisions for vested benefits or other vested amounts
         earned or accrued  through the Effective Date under any Company Benefit
         Plan,  each as of the date hereof except for changes  thereto which are
         (i) not material,  (ii) permitted by this Merger  Agreement,  (iii) set
         forth on  Schedule  7.5  hereto,  or (iv)  otherwise  agreed  to by the
         parties hereto.

                   (b) Until December 31, 1998,  Parent shall provide,  or shall
         cause the Surviving  Corporation to provide,  generally to the officers
         and  employees  of the  Surviving  Corporation  and  its  subsidiaries,
         employee benefits,  including,  without  limitation,  pension benefits,
         health and welfare benefits, severance arrangements, stock option plans
         and other executive compensation arrangements,  on terms and conditions
         in the  aggregate  that are  comparable  to those  provided  under  the
         Company  Benefit  Plans  as of  the  date  hereof.  In the  event  that
         employees of the Surviving  Corporation are permitted to participate in
         Parent  Benefit  Plans,  these  employees  will be given credit for all
         years of service  with the  Company for the  purposes  of  eligibility,
         vesting and vacation accruals, but not for any other purposes.

                   (c) With  regards to the  Company's  Supplemental  Retirement
         Plan (Restated,  1997) (the "SERP"),  the parties agree, over and above
         the  provisions  of  paragraph  (a)  hereof,  which,  to the extent not
         inconsistent herewith, shall be applicable to the SERP, as follows:

              (i)    The execution of this Merger  Agreement shall constitute an
                     amendment  by the Company to the SERP,  effective as of one
                     day prior to the date of this Merger Agreement,  to provide
                     that paragraph 2.07 shall not apply to any active


                                      -34-

<PAGE>










                     employee  participant  until six months after the Effective
                     Date (the "Post  Closing  Date").  The  Company  and Parent
                     agree that during the period prior to the Post Closing Date
                     they will negotiate with each active  employee  participant
                     to  structure  alternative  arrangements  with  a  goal  of
                     maintaining for the  participants a competitive  retirement
                     and benefits program.  If alternative  arrangements are not
                     mutually   agreed  to  by  the  Company,   Parent  and  any
                     individual  participant  by  the  Post  Closing  Date,  the
                     provision of paragraph  2.07 will become  applicable on the
                     Post Closing Date with respect to such participant.

             (ii)    Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to continue the
                     SERP and to  continue  benefit  accruals  thereunder,  with
                     provisions  no less  favorable  than those  existing on the
                     date of this  Agreement,  until  the close of  business  on
                     December 31, 1998.

                   (d) With regards to the special incentive program  authorized
         by the  Compensation  and Benefits  Committee of the Company's Board of
         Directors  in relation  to the  Company's  F-14 claim  against the U.S.
         Navy,  Parent will cause the  Surviving  Corporation  to preserve  such
         program  and make no  changes  or  modifications  which  would make its
         benefits less favorable than the program currently provides.

                   Section 7.6 Indemnification. (a) From and after the Effective
         Date,  Parent shall  indemnify,  defend and hold harmless the officers,
         directors  and  employees  of the Company (the  "Indemnified  Parties")
         against  all  losses,  expenses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (i)
         arising out of the  transactions  contemplated by this Merger Agreement
         or arising as a result thereof or (ii)  otherwise  arising prior to the
         Effective  Date to the  fullest  extent,  in the  case of (i) or  (ii),
         permitted or required under (A) applicable law, (B) any indemnification
         agreements  between  the  Company  and  any  such  person  and  (C) the
         Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws as filed in the
         Company SEC Reports.  Parent agrees to cause  Surviving  Corporation to
         maintain  in effect  for not less than four years  after the  Effective
         Date coverage no less favorable than the current policies of directors'
         and  officers'  liability  insurance  maintained  by the  Company  with
         respect to matters  occurring  prior to the Effective  Date;  provided,
         however,  that  Surviving  Corporation  shall not be required to pay an
         annual premium for such insurance in excess of $859,500,



                                      -35-

<PAGE>










         but in such  case shall purchase as much coverage as possible  for such
         amount.

                   (b) In  the  event  that  any  action,  suit,  proceeding  or
         investigation  relating hereto or to the  transactions  contemplated by
         this  Merger  Agreement  is  commenced,  whether  before  or after  the
         Effective  Date,  the parties  hereto agree to cooperate  and use their
         respective  reasonable efforts to vigorously defend against and respond
         thereto.

                   Section 7.7  Consents.  (a) Each of the parties  will use its
         reasonable  best  efforts  to obtain as  promptly  as  practicable  all
         consents of any  governmental  entity or any other  person  required in
         connection with, and waivers of any violations or rights of termination
         that  may  be  caused  by,  the   consummation   of  the   transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.

                   (b) In  furtherance  and not in limitation of the  foregoing,
         Parent  shall  use  its   reasonable   best  efforts  to  resolve  such
         objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to the transactions
         contemplated  by this  Agreement  under any  antitrust,  competition or
         trade  regulatory laws, rules or regulations of any domestic or foreign
         government or governmental  authority or any  multinational  authority;
         provided  however,  that nothing in this Agreement shall require Parent
         to agree to hold separate or to divest any of the  businesses,  product
         lines or assets of Parent  or the  Company  or any of their  respective
         subsidiaries  or affiliates  or take any other action,  if such holding
         separate,  divestiture  or other  action  would have a Parent  Material
         Adverse Effect or a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                   (c) Any party hereto shall promptly  inform the others of any
         material communication from the United States Federal Trade Commission,
         the  Department  of Justice,  the European  Economic  Area or any other
         domestic  or  foreign   government  or  governmental  or  multinational
         authority  regarding  any  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
         Agreement. If any party or any affiliate thereof receives a request for
         additional information or documentary material from any such government
         or authority  with  respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
         Agreement,  then such party  will  endeavor  in good faith to make,  or
         cause  to  be  made,  as  soon  as  reasonably  practicable  and  after
         consultation   with  the  other  party,  an  appropriate   response  in
         compliance  with such request.  Parent and the Company will consult and
         cooperate  with  one  another  with  respect  to  (and  prior  to)  any
         understandings,  undertakings or agreements (oral or written) which are
         proposed to be made or entered into with the Federal Trade Commission,


                                      -36-

<PAGE>










         the  Department  of Justice,  the European  Economic  Area or any other
         domestic  or  foreign   government  or  governmental  or  multinational
         authority in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
         Agreement, and no such understanding, undertaking or agreement shall be
         made or entered into without the consent of Parent.

                   Section 7.8 Additional  Agreements.  (a) Subject to the terms
         and conditions herein provided (including,  without limitation, Section
         7.7),  each of the parties hereto agrees to use all reasonable  efforts
         to take,  or cause to be taken,  all  actions and to do, or cause to be
         done, all things  necessary,  proper or advisable under applicable laws
         and  regulations  to consummate  and make  effective  the  transactions
         contemplated by this Merger  Agreement,  including using all reasonable
         efforts to obtain all necessary  waivers,  consents and  approvals,  to
         effect all  necessary  registrations  and filings  (including,  but not
         limited to, filings with all applicable  Governmental  Entities) and to
         lift any  injunction  or other  legal bar to the Merger  (and,  in such
         case, to proceed with the Merger as expeditiously as possible), subject
         to  the   appropriate   vote  of  the   shareholders  of  the  Company.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing,  but subject to Section 7.7, there shall
         be no action  required to be taken and no action will be taken in order
         to consummate and make effective the transactions  contemplated by this
         Merger Agreement if such action,  either alone or together with another
         action,  would be  reasonably  likely to  result in a Company  Material
         Adverse Effect or a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

                   (b) In case at any time after the Effective  Date any further
         action is  necessary  or  desirable  to carry out the  purposes of this
         Merger Agreement,  the proper officers and/or directors of Parent,  the
         Company and the  Surviving  Corporation  shall take all such  necessary
         action.

                   (c) Following the  Effective  Date,  (i) Parent shall use its
         best  efforts to conduct its  business,  and shall cause the  Surviving
         Corporation to use its best efforts to conduct its business,  except as
         otherwise  contemplated  by this Merger  Agreement,  in a manner  which
         would  not  jeopardize  the   characterization   of  the  Merger  as  a
         reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(a) of the Code,  and
         (ii)  Parent  shall  not  take,  and shall  not  permit  the  Surviving
         Corporation  to take, any action that would cause the Merger to fail to
         qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
         Code.

                   Section 7.9  No Solicitation. (a) Neither the Company nor any
         of its subsidiaries shall, directly or


                                      -37-

<PAGE>










         indirectly,  take  (nor  shall the  Company  authorize  or  permit  its
         subsidiaries,   officers,   directors,   employees,    representatives,
         investment   bankers,   attorneys,   accountants  or  other  agents  or
         affiliates,  to take) any action to (i) encourage,  solicit or initiate
         the  submission  of any  Acquisition  Proposal,  (ii)  enter  into  any
         agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) participate
         in any  way  in  discussions  or  negotiations  with,  or  furnish  any
         information to, any person in connection with, or take any other action
         to  facilitate  any  inquiries  or  the  making  of any  proposal  that
         constitutes,  or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition
         Proposal.  The Company will promptly  communicate to Parent that such a
         solicitation  has  been  received  by the  Company,  or that  any  such
         information  has been  requested from it or that such  negotiations  or
         discussions  have been  sought to be  initiated  with it.  "Acquisition
         Proposal" shall mean any proposed (A) merger,  consolidation or similar
         transaction involving the Company, (B) sale, lease or other disposition
         directly or  indirectly  by merger,  consolidation,  share  exchange or
         otherwise of assets of the Company or its subsidiaries representing 30%
         or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         (C) issue,  sale, or other  disposition of (including by way of merger,
         consolidation,  share exchange or any similar  transaction)  securities
         (or options,  rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible
         into, such securities)  representing 30% or more of the voting power of
         the  Company  or (D)  transaction  in which any  person  shall  acquire
         beneficial  ownership  (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
         Exchange  Act),  or the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership  or any
         "group"  (as such term is defined  under the  Exchange  Act) shall have
         been  formed  which  beneficially  owns or has  the  right  to  acquire
         beneficial  ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding  Company Common
         Stock.

              (b)  Notwithstanding  anything in this  Agreement  to the contrary
         (including  without  limitation clause (a) of this Section 7.9), to the
         extent the Company's Board of Directors  receives a communication  with
         respect  to an  Acquisition  Proposal,  which  the  Board of  Directors
         determines,  after  consultation  with its financial  advisors,  may be
         reasonably   likely  to  result  in  a  transaction  (an   "Alternative
         Transaction") that is more favorable to the shareholders of the Company
         than the  transactions  contemplated  by the  Merger  and  this  Merger
         Agreement (taking into account the nature of the proposed  transaction,
         the  nature  and  amount  of  the  consideration,   the  likelihood  of
         completion  and any other factors  deemed  appropriate  by the Board of
         Directors),  the Board of  Directors  may  engage  in any  negotiations
         concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have
         any discussions with, any person relating to an Alternative


                                      -38-

<PAGE>










         Transaction,  or otherwise  facilitate any effort or attempt to make or
         implement an  Alternative  Transaction;  provided,  however,  that upon
         engaging  in  such   negotiations   or   discussions,   providing  such
         information or otherwise  facilitating any effort or attempt to make or
         implement an Alternative Transaction,  the Company shall give notice to
         Parent of the  Company's  engagement in such  activities  ("Alternative
         Transaction Notice").  Prior to furnishing nonpublic information to, or
         entering into  discussions or  negotiations  with, any other persons or
         entities,  the  Company  shall  obtain  from  such  person or entity an
         executed confidentiality agreement with terms no less favorable,  taken
         as a whole, to the Company than those contained in the  Confidentiality
         Agreements,  but which confidentiality  agreement shall not include any
         provision calling for an exclusive right to negotiate with the Company,
         and the Company  shall  advise  Parent of the nature of such  nonpublic
         information  delivered to such person reasonably promptly following its
         delivery to the requesting party.

                   Section 7.10 Takeover  Provisions  Inapplicable.  The Company
         shall (a) take all action (including, if required, redeeming all of the
         outstanding  Company  Rights or  amending  or  terminating  the Company
         Rights  Agreement) so that the entering into of this  Agreement and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in
         the  grant  of any  rights  to any  person  under  the  Company  Rights
         Agreement to purchase or receive  additional shares of capital stock of
         the Company or enable or require the  Company  Rights to be  exercised,
         distributed  or  triggered in any way and (b) take all action as may be
         necessary  to  render  Article  Sixteenth  of  the  Company's  Restated
         Certificate of Incorporation  inapplicable to this Merger Agreement and
         the transactions contemplated hereby.

                   Section  7.11  Board  Composition.   Parent  shall  take  all
         necessary action (including, without limitation, increasing the size of
         its  Board of  Directors),  such  that,  on or  immediately  after  the
         Effective Date,  three members of the current Board of Directors of the
         Company,  who shall be  selected by the Board of  Directors  of Parent,
         shall be appointed to the Board of Directors of Parent.

                   Section 7.12 Certain Company Indebtedness. (a) At or prior to
         the  Effective  Date,  the  Company  shall  cause  to be  redeemed  all
         outstanding  9.35% Series A Senior  Notes Due January 29,  2000,  9.35%
         Series B Senior  Notes Due January  29, 2000 and 9.33%  Series C Senior
         Notes Due December 15, 2001, which are each governed by the Amended and
         Restated Note Agreement dated as of January 1, 1996.



                                      -39-

<PAGE>










              (b) Parent and the Company  agree to cooperate  and use their best
         efforts   to  obtain   any   necessary   consents,   waivers  or  other
         modifications  of the indenture  dated as of May 15, 1994,  between the
         Company and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust  Company,  as trustee,  governing
         the 11 5/8% Senior Notes due 2003 issued by the Company;  provided that
         in connection  with obtaining such consents,  waivers or  modifications
         neither  Parent nor the Company will be required to make any payment or
         take any other action which is not commercially reasonable.


                                   ARTICLE VIII

                               CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                   Section 8.1  Conditions to Each Party's  Obligation to Effect
         the  Merger.  The  respective  obligations  of each party to effect the
         Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective
         Date of the following conditions:

                   (a) This Merger Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
         hereby shall have been  approved and adopted by the  requisite  vote of
         the holders of the Company Common Stock.

                   (b) The Stock  Issuance  Proposal shall have been approved by
         the requisite vote of the holders of Parent Common Stock.

                   (c) The Parent Common Stock issuable in the Merger shall have
         been  authorized  for  listing  on the NYSE  upon  official  notice  of
         issuance.

                   (d) The waiting period  applicable to the consummation of the
         Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been  terminated and any
         authorization,  consent or approval  required  under any  Antitrust Law
         shall have been obtained or any waiting period applicable to the review
         of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall have  expired or been
         terminated.

                   (e) The Registration Statement shall have become effective in
         accordance  with the provisions of the Securities Act and no stop order
         suspending the  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement shall have
         been issued by the Commission and remain in effect.

                   (f) No preliminary or permanent  injunction or other order by
         any  court  or  other  judicial  or  administrative  body of  competent
         jurisdiction which prohibits or prevents the consummation of the Merger
         shall have been issued and remain in



                                      -40-

<PAGE>










         effect  (each party,  subject to Section 7.7,  agreeing to use its best
         efforts to have any such injunction lifted).

                   (g) Parent and the Company shall have  received  letters from
         Ernst & Young  LLP and  Deloitte  & Touche  LLP,  respectively,  to the
         effect that the Merger qualifies for "pooling of interests"  accounting
         treatment if consummated in accordance with this Merger Agreement.

                   Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect
         the Merger. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger shall be
         subject to the  fulfillment  at or prior to the  Effective  Date of the
         additional following conditions, unless waived by the Company:

                   (a) (i) Parent and Sub shall have  performed  in all material
         respects their agreements  contained in this Merger Agreement  required
         to be  performed  on or  prior  to the  Effective  Date  and  (ii)  the
         representations  and  warranties  of Parent and Sub  contained  in this
         Merger  Agreement shall be true in all material  respects when made and
         on and as of the  Effective  Date as if  made  on and as of such  date,
         except for  representations  and warranties  which are by their express
         provisions  made as of a specific date or dates,  which were or will be
         true in all material  respects at such time or times as stated therein,
         and the Company shall have  received a certificate  of the President or
         Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President of Parent to that effect.

                   (b) The Company  shall have  received a favorable  opinion of
         Fried, Frank,  Harris,  Shriver & Jacobson,  based upon certain factual
         representations of the Company,  Parent and Sub reasonably requested by
         such counsel,  dated the Effective  Date, to the effect that the Merger
         will  constitute  a  "reorganization"  for federal  income tax purposes
         within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                   (c) The consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
         contemplated  hereby shall not give rise to any Parent Rights  becoming
         exercisable for any security or asset of any person.

                   (d)  Parent  shall have  obtained  all  consents,  approvals,
         releases or  authorizations  from,  and shall have made all filings and
         registrations  ("Consents")  to or with, any person,  including but not
         limited to any Governmental Entity, necessary to be obtained or made in
         order  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Merger
         Agreement,  unless  the  failure  to obtain  such  Consents  would not,
         individually  or in the  aggregate,  have  a  Parent  Material  Adverse
         Effect.


                                      -41-

<PAGE>










                   Section 8.3  Conditions to  Obligations  of Parent and Sub to
         Effect  the  Merger.  The  obligations  of Parent and Sub to effect the
         Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective
         Date of the additional following conditions, unless waived by Parent:

                   (a) (i) The  Company  shall have  performed  in all  material
         respects its agreements  contained in this Merger Agreement required to
         be  performed  on  or  prior  to  the  Effective   Date  and  (ii)  the
         representations  and warranties of the Company contained in this Merger
         Agreement  shall be true in all material  respects when made and on and
         as of the Effective Date as if made on and as of such date,  except for
         representations  and warranties  which are by their express  provisions
         made as of a specific  date or dates  which were or will be true in all
         material  respects at such date or dates, and Parent and Sub shall have
         received a certificate of the President or Chief Executive Officer or a
         Vice President of the Company to that effect.

                   (b) Parent shall have  received a letter of Deloitte & Touche
         LLP,  the  Company's  independent  auditors,  dated a date  within  two
         business days before the date on which the Registration Statement shall
         become  effective  and  addressed  to  Parent,  in form  and  substance
         reasonably  satisfactory to Parent and customary in scope and substance
         for letters delivered by independent  public  accountants in connection
         with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.

                   (c) Company shall have obtained all Consents to or with,  any
         person,  including but not limited to any Governmental Entity necessary
         to be  obtained  or  made  in  order  to  consummate  the  transactions
         contemplated  by this  Agreement,  unless the  failure  to obtain  such
         Consents would not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Company
         Material Adverse Effect.


                                    ARTICLE IX

                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

                   Section  9.1  Termination.   This  Merger  Agreement  may  be
         terminated at any time prior to the Effective  Date,  whether before or
         after approval by the shareholders of the Company:

                   (a)  by  mutual  consent  of the Board of Directors of Parent
              and the Board of Directors of the Company;

                   (b)  by  either Parent or the Company if the Merger shall not
              have been consummated on or before June 30,


                                      -42-

<PAGE>










              1998;  provided,  that the  terminating  party is not otherwise in
              material breach of its representations,  warranties or obligations
              under this Merger Agreement;

                   (c) by the  Company  if any of the  conditions  specified  in
              Sections 8.1 and 8.2 have not been met or waived by the Company at
              such time as such condition is no longer capable of satisfaction;

                   (d) by Parent if any of the conditions  specified in Sections
              8.1 and 8.3 have not been met or  waived by Parent at such time as
              such condition is no longer capable of satisfaction;

                   (e) by Parent if the Company's  Board of Directors shall have
              withdrawn,  modified in a manner  adverse to Parent,  or refrained
              from making its  recommendation  concerning the Merger referred to
              in Section 3.5(a) hereof, or shall have disclosed its intention to
              change such recommendation;

                   (f) by Parent if any  requirements or conditions are imposed,
              or proposed to be  imposed,  upon either  Parent or the Company or
              any of their respective  affiliates by any Governmental  Entity in
              connection  with the  authorization,  consent or  approval of such
              Governmental  Entity  (or the  expiration  or  termination  of any
              waiting period applicable to such Governmental  Entity's review of
              the transactions  contemplated by this Merger Agreement) under any
              Antitrust  Law  in  connection   with  the   consummation  of  the
              transactions  contemplated  hereby,  or by any domestic or foreign
              court or similar  tribunal in any suit brought by a private  party
              or Government  Entity  challenging the  transactions  contemplated
              hereby as violative of any Antitrust Law, which, in the reasonable
              opinion of Parent,  would require Parent to agree to hold separate
              or to divest  any of the  businesses,  product  lines or assets of
              Parent or the Company or any of their  respective  subsidiaries or
              affiliates  or take any other  action,  if such holding  separate,
              divestiture or other action would have a Parent  Material  Adverse
              Effect or a Company Material Adverse Effect.  For purposes of this
              paragraph,  the term  "Governmental  Entity" shall not include any
              foreign  governmental  entity  other  than those of Canada and the
              European Community.

                   (g) by the Company, if Parent's Board of Directors shall have
              withdrawn,  modified  in a  manner  adverse  to  the  Company,  or
              refrained  from  making its  recommendation  concerning  the Stock
              Issuance Proposal referred to in


                                      -43-

<PAGE>










              Section  3.5(b)  hereof,  or shall have disclosed its intention to
              change such recommendation.

                   (h) by  Parent,  upon  becoming  aware that the  Company  has
              entered into a definitive  agreement (other than a confidentiality
              agreement) providing for an Alternative Transaction; or

                   (i) by the Company,  simultaneously with the Company entering
              into  a  definitive   agreement  (other  than  a   confidentiality
              agreement) providing for an Alternative Transaction.

                   Section  9.2  Effect  of  Termination.  (a) In the  event  of
         termination  of this Merger  Agreement by either Parent or the Company,
         as provided above,  this Merger  Agreement shall forthwith  become void
         and  (except for the willful  breach of this  Merger  Agreement  by any
         party  hereto)  there shall be no  liability  on the part of either the
         Company,  Parent  or Sub or their  respective  officers  or  directors;
         provided   that   Sections   9.2,  10.3  and  10.8  shall  survive  the
         termination.

                   (b) The  Company  shall  make a payment  to  Parent  (by wire
         transfer  or  cashiers  check)  of a  breakup  fee  in  the  amount  of
         $15,000,000 in the event this Merger  Agreement is terminated  pursuant
         to  Section  9.1(h)  or 9.1(i)  and if at the time of such  termination
         Parent is not in  material  breach of any  representation,  warranty or
         material covenant contained herein. The Company shall make a payment to
         Parent (by wire  transfer  or  cashiers  check) of a breakup fee in the
         amount of $6,000,000  in the event this Merger  Agreement is terminated
         by Parent  following  the Company  Meeting if the  stockholders  of the
         Company fail to approve the Merger at the Company  Meeting and there is
         no Acquisition Proposal then pending.

              (c) Parent  shall make a payment to the Company (by wire  transfer
         or cashiers check) of a breakup fee in the amount of $15,000,000 in the
         event this Merger  Agreement is  terminated by either party as a result
         of Parent having entered into a definitive agreement with a third party
         the  performance of which would preclude  consummation of the Merger by
         Parent  and if at the time of such  termination  the  Company is not in
         material breach of any  representation,  warranty or material  covenant
         contained  herein.  Parent shall make a payment to the Company (by wire
         transfer  or  cashiers  check)  of a  breakup  fee  in  the  amount  of
         $6,000,000  in the event this Merger  Agreement  is  terminated  by the
         Company following the Parent Meeting if the stockholders of Parent fail
         to approve the Stock Issuance  Proposal at the Parent Meeting and if at
         the time of such



                                      -44-

<PAGE>










         termination   the   Company   is  not  in   material   breach   of  any
         representation, warranty or material covenant contained herein.

                   Section 9.3 Amendment.  This Merger  Agreement may be amended
         by the  parties  hereto,  by or  pursuant  to  action  taken  by  their
         respective  Boards of Directors,  at any time before or after  approval
         hereof by the shareholders of the Company, but, after such approval, no
         amendment  shall be made which changes the ratios at which any class of
         capital  stock of the Company is to be converted  into capital stock of
         Parent  as  provided  in  Section  3.1 or which  in any way  materially
         adversely affects the rights of such shareholders,  without the further
         approval of such shareholders. This Merger Agreement may not be amended
         except  by an  instrument  in  writing  signed on behalf of each of the
         parties hereto.

                   Section 9.4 Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective Date,
         the parties hereto,  by or pursuant to action taken by their respective
         Boards of Directors, may (i) extend the time for the performance of any
         of the  obligations  or other acts of the other  parties  hereto,  (ii)
         waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties  contained
         herein or in any documents  delivered  pursuant  hereto and (iii) waive
         compliance  with any of the agreements or conditions  contained  herein
         provided,  however,  that no such  waiver  shall  materially  adversely
         affect the rights the  shareholders  of the  Company  and  Parent.  Any
         agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver
         shall be valid if set  forth in an  instrument  in  writing  signed  on
         behalf of such party.


                                    ARTICLE X

                                GENERAL PROVISIONS

                   Section 10.1 Non-Survival of Representations,  Warranties and
         Agreements. No representations, warranties or agreements in this Merger
         Agreement shall survive the Merger, except for the agreements contained
         in Sections 3.1, 3.2,  3.3,  3.4, 3.6, 3.7,  4.20,  7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8,
         10.1, 10.3 and 10.7 and in the last sentence of Section 7.3(b).

                   Section  10.2  Notices.  All notices or other  communications
         under this Merger Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and
         shall be deemed to have been duly given upon  receipt)  by  delivery in
         person, by cable,  telegram,  telex, telecopy or other standard form of
         telecommunications,   or  by  registered  or  certified  mail,  postage
         prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:



                                      -45-

<PAGE>










                           If to the Company:

                           Rohr, Inc.
                           850 Lagoon Drive
                           Chula Vista, California 91910
                           Attention:  General Counsel
                           Telecopy No.: (619) 691-4222

                           With copies to:

                           Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
                           350 South Grand Avenue
                           32nd Floor
                           Los Angeles, California  90017
                           Attention:  Edward S. Rosenthal
                           Telecopy No.: (213) 473-2222

                           and

                           Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
                           333 S. Grand Avenue
                           Los Angeles, California  90071
                           Attention:  Andrew Bogen
                           Telecopy No.: (213) 617-3693


                           If to Parent or Sub:

                           The B.F.Goodrich Company
                           4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway
                           Richfield, Ohio  44286
                           Attention:  Secretary
                           Telecopy No.:  (330) 659-7727

                           With a copy to:

                           Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                           51 West 52nd Street
                           New York, New York  10019
                           Attention:  Elliott V. Stein
                           Telecopy No.:  (212) 403-2000

         or to such other  address as any party may have  furnished to the other
         parties in writing in accordance with this Section.

                   Section 10.3 Fees and Expenses.  Whether or not the Merger is
         consummated,  all costs and expenses  incurred in connection  with this
         Merger  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Merger
         Agreement  shall be paid by the party  incurring such expenses,  except
         that Parent and Company


                                      -46-

<PAGE>










         agree to each pay 50% of all printing expenses incurred by the  parties
         hereto.

                   Section 10.4 Publicity.  So long as this Merger  Agreement is
         in effect, Parent, Sub and the Company agree to consult with each other
         in issuing any press release or otherwise  making any public  statement
         with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement,
         and none of them  shall  issue any  press  release  or make any  public
         statement prior to such consultation,  except as may be required by law
         or by obligations  pursuant to any listing  agreement with any national
         securities  exchange.  The commencement of litigation  relating to this
         Merger  Agreement  or  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or  any
         proceedings in connection  therewith shall not be deemed a violation of
         this Section 10.4.

                   Section 10.5 Specific  Performance.  The parties hereto agree
         that  irreparable  damage  would  occur  in the  event  that any of the
         provisions  of this Merger  Agreement  were not performed in accordance
         with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly
         agreed  that  the  parties  shall  be  entitled  to  an  injunction  or
         injunctions to prevent breaches of this Merger Agreement and to enforce
         specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United
         States or any state having jurisdiction,  this being in addition to any
         other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

                   Section 10.6 Interpretation.  (a) When a reference is made in
         this Merger  Agreement to  subsidiaries  of Parent or the Company,  the
         word   "subsidiaries"   means  corporations  more  than  50%  of  whose
         outstanding  voting  securities  are  directly or  indirectly  owned by
         Parent or the Company,  as the case may be. The  headings  contained in
         this Merger  Agreement  are for  reference  purposes only and shall not
         affect  in any  way  the  meaning  or  interpretation  of  this  Merger
         Agreement.

                   (b) As used  in  this  Agreement,  "Parent  Material  Adverse
         Effect"  shall  mean  a  material   adverse  effect  on  the  business,
         properties,  assets,  financial condition,  or results of operations of
         Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (excluding the effect of a
         change in general economic conditions).

                   (c) As used  in this  Agreement,  "Company  Material  Adverse
         Effect"  shall  mean  a  material   adverse  effect  on  the  business,
         properties,  assets,  financial condition,  or results of operations of
         the Company and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole  (excluding (i) the
         effect of a change in general  economic  conditions and (ii) the effect
         of any failure to obtain a


                                      -47-

<PAGE>










         contract from Airbus Industries with respect to the A340-500/ 600 or to
         obtain any  particular  level of orders  from The Boeing  Company  with
         respect  to  out-of-production  spares  or the  offloading  of  current
         production  contracts  or, if such a  contract  or any such  orders are
         obtained by the Company, the effect of the terms thereof).

                   (d) As used in this Merger Agreement, "knowledge" shall mean,
         with  respect to the matter in question,  the actual  knowledge of such
         matter by an executive officer of Parent or the Company, as applicable.

                   (e)  The  inclusion  of an  item  on  any  schedule  to  this
         Agreement  shall not be deemed to be indicative of the  materiality  of
         such item.

                   Section   10.7   Third   Party   Beneficiaries.   Except   as
         specifically  provided in Section 7.6(a),  this Merger Agreement is not
         intended  to  confer  upon any other  person  any  rights  or  remedies
         hereunder.

                   Section 10.8 Miscellaneous.  This Merger Agreement (including
         the documents and  instruments  referred to herein) (a) constitutes the
         entire   agreement  and  supersedes  all  other  prior  agreements  and
         understandings,  both written and oral,  among the  parties,  or any of
         them, with respect to the subject matter hereof (other than as provided
         in the  Confidentiality  Agreements,  as the same may be amended);  (b)
         shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except that Sub
         shall  have the right to assign to Parent or any  direct  wholly  owned
         subsidiary  of Parent any and all rights and  obligations  of Sub under
         this  Merger  Agreement;  and (c) shall be  governed  in all  respects,
         including validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the State
         of Delaware  (without giving effect to the provisions  thereof relating
         to conflicts of law).  This Merger  Agreement may be executed in two or
         more counterparts which together shall constitute a single agreement.

                   Section  10.9 Cure  Period.  No party  shall  have any rights
         under this Merger Agreement (other than pursuant to Sections 8.2(a) and
         8.3(a))  for any  actual  or  threatened  breach  of a  representation,
         warranty,  covenant or agreement  contained  herein,  if such breach is
         capable of being cured, until (i) the non-breaching  party has notified
         the  breaching  party  of  its   determination  of  the  existence  (or
         threatened  existence)  of  a  basis  for  termination,  and  (ii)  the
         breaching party shall have a reasonable time (considering the nature of
         the breach and the actions  required  for cure,  but in no event longer
         than 30 days) to cure such breach.



                                      -48-

<PAGE>










                   IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused this
         Merger Agreement to be signed by their respective  officers  thereunder
         duly authorized all as of the date first written above.

                                           THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY



                                           By /s/ David L. Burner
                                              -------------------------
                                           Name:  David L. Burner
                                           Title: Chairman of the Board,
                                                  President and Chief
                                                  Executive Officer



                                           MIDWEST ACQUISITION CORPORATION



                                           By /s/ Les C. Vinney
                                              -------------------------
                                           Name:  Les C. Vinney
                                           Title: President and Treasurer



                                           ROHR, INC.



                                           By /s/ Robert H. Rau
                                              -------------------------
                                           Name:  Robert H. Rau
                                           Title: President and Chief
                                                  Executive Officer















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