MARK IV INDUSTRIES INC
424B3, 1996-06-12
INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL
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<PAGE>

                                                     Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                     Registration No. 333-02183
PROSPECTUS

[Logo of Mark IV Industries appears here]
 
                               OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                   7 3/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
                          FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                   7 3/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
 
  THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON FRIDAY,
JULY 12, 1996, UNLESS EXTENDED BY MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC. As more fully
described herein under "The Exchange Offer--Expiration Date; Extensions;
Amendment," the time the Exchange Offer expires (including extensions, if any,
by Mark IV) is referred to as the "Expiration Date."
 
  Mark IV Industries, Inc., a Delaware Corporation ("Mark IV" or the
"Company"), is hereby offering (the "Exchange Offer"), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus (the "Prospectus") and
the accompanying letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), to
exchange $1,000 principal amount of its 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due
April 1, 2006 (the "Exchange Notes"), which exchange has been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") pursuant to a
registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part (the "Registration
Statement"), for each $1,000 principal amount of its outstanding 7 3/4% Senior
Subordinated Notes due April 1, 2006 (the "Private Notes" and, collectively
with the Exchange Notes, the "Notes"), of which $250,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount was issued and sold on March 11, 1996 in a transaction exempt
from registration under the Securities Act (the "Private Offering") and is
outstanding on the date hereof.
 
  The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially identical in all
respects (including principal amount, interest rate, maturity and ranking) to
the form and terms of the Private Notes, except that (i) the Exchange Notes
will have been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, will not
bear legends restricting the transfer thereof and (ii) holders of the Exchange
Notes will not be entitled to certain rights of holders of the Private Notes
under the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined), which rights will
terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Notes will
evidence the same indebtedness as the Private Notes and will be issued
pursuant to, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture (as defined)
governing the Private Notes. The Exchange Offer is being made to satisfy the
obligations of the Company under the Registration Rights Agreement relating to
the Private Notes. See "The Exchange Offer" and "Description of the Exchange
Notes."
 
  The Exchange Notes will bear interest at the rate of 7 3/4% per annum,
payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing
October 1, 1996. The Exchange Notes will bear interest from and including the
date of issuance of the Private Notes (March 11, 1996). The Exchange Notes
will not be subject to redemption prior to their stated maturity. Upon a
Change of Control (as defined), holders of the Exchange Notes will have the
right, subject to certain restrictions and conditions, to require the Company
to purchase all or any of their Notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, through the date of purchase. See
"Description of the Exchange Notes--Change of Control."
 
  The Exchange Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company,
will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined) of the Company, and will
be effectively subordinated to the indebtedness of the Company's subsidiaries.
At March 31, 1996, Senior Indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries was
approximately $243,800,000 (of which approximately $53,800,000 was
indebtedness of the Company's subsidiaries) and subordinated indebtedness of
the Company (including the Private Notes) was approximately $506,400,000.
Subject to certain restrictions, the Indenture pursuant to which the Exchange
Notes will be issued permits the Company to incur additional indebtedness,
but, until such time as the Exchange Notes are rated Investment Grade (as
defined), prohibits the incurrence by the Company of any indebtedness that is
senior to the Exchange Notes and subordinate to Senior Indebtedness. See
"Description of the Exchange Notes--Subordination."
 
                               ---------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE   SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
  SECURITIES AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION
  PASSED   UPON  THE   ACCURACY  OR   ADEQUACY  OF   THIS  PROSPECTUS.   ANY
   REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ---------------
<PAGE>
 
  The Private Notes were originally issued and sold in the Private Offering in
reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and
Rule 144A of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the Private Notes may not be
reoffered, resold or otherwise pledged, hypothecated or transferred in the
United States or to a U.S. person unless registered under the Securities Act
or unless an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act is available. Based on an interpretation by the staff of the
Commission set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, the Company
believes that the Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in
exchange for Private Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise
transferred by a holder thereof (other than (i) an "affiliate" of the Company
within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) a broker-dealer
who acquired Private Notes directly from the Company to resell pursuant to
Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act or (iii) a
broker-dealer who acquired Private Notes as a result of market making or other
trading activities), without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act; provided that the holder is
acquiring Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business and is not
participating, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate, in the distribution of the Exchange Notes. Holders of Private
Notes wishing to accept the Exchange Offer must represent to the Company, as
required by the Registration Rights Agreement, that such conditions have been
met. The Company believes that none of the registered holders of the Private
Notes is an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) of the Company.
 
  Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in
exchange for Private Notes must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Private Notes, where
such Private Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-
making or other trading activities. The Company has agreed to make this
Prospectus (as it may be amended or supplemented) available to any broker-
dealer, upon request, for use in connection with any such resale, for a period
of one year after the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission or until such earlier date on which all the Exchange Notes are
freely tradeable. However, any broker-dealer who acquired the Private Notes
directly from the Company may not fulfill its prospectus delivery requirements
with this Prospectus, but must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act. See "The Exchange Offer--Resale
of the Exchange Notes" and "Plan of Distribution."
 
  The Company will not receive any proceeds from, and has agreed to bear the
expenses of, the Exchange Offer. No underwriter is being used in connection
with the Exchange Offer. See "The Exchange Offer--Resale of the Exchange
Notes."
 
  Prior to the Exchange Offer, there has been no public market for the Notes.
The Exchange Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange, but the
Private Notes are eligible for trading in the Private Offerings, Resales and
Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") market of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. There can be no assurance that an
active market for the Notes will develop. To the extent that a market for the
Notes does develop, the market value of the Notes will depend on market
conditions (such as yields on alternative investments), general economic
conditions, the Company's financial condition and certain other factors. Such
conditions might cause the Notes, to the extent they are traded, to trade at a
significant discount from face value. In addition, any Private Notes not
tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding. To the
extent that the Private Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer,
a holder's ability to sell untendered, and tendered but unaccepted, Private
Notes could be adversely affected. Following consummation of the Exchange
Offer, the holders of Private Notes will continue to be subject to the
existing restrictions on transfer thereof and the Company will have no further
obligation to such holders to provide for the registration under the
Securities Act of the Private Notes except under certain limited
circumstances. See "The Exchange Offer--Termination of Certain Rights."
 
  The Company will accept for exchange any and all validly tendered Private
Notes not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date. Tenders of Private Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m.
on the Expiration Date. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned on any minimum
aggregate principal amount of Private Notes being tendered or accepted for
exchange; provided, however, Private Notes may be tendered only in integral
multiples of $1,000. The Exchange Offer is subject to certain customary
conditions. See "The Exchange Offer--Conditions."
 
                               ----------------
 
                 THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JUNE 10, 1996.
<PAGE>
 
  THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO, NOR WILL THE COMPANY ACCEPT
SURRENDERS FOR EXCHANGE FROM, HOLDERS OF PRIVATE NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OR THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
 
  NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR
THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS AS OF THE DATE HEREOF AND
SUBJECT TO CHANGE, COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT WITHOUT NOTICE. NEITHER THE DELIVERY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AT ANY TIME NOR
ANY EXCHANGE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF
ANY DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
  IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION REGARDING THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY,
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS MUST RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE COMPANY AND THE
TERMS OF THE OFFERING, INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED. THE OFFERING IS
BEING MADE ON THE BASIS OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY DECISION TO EXCHANGE NOTES IN
THE EXCHANGE OFFER MUST BE BASED ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
 
  The Exchange Notes will be available initially to qualified institutional
buyers only in book-entry form. The Company expects that the Exchange Notes
issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be issued in the form of a Global
Note (as defined), which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary") and registered in its name or in
the name of Cede & Co., its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Note
representing the Exchange Notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be
effected through, records maintained by the Depositary and its participants.
After the initial issuance of the Global Note, Exchange Notes in certificated
form will be issued in exchange for the Global Note only in accordance with the
terms set forth in the Indenture. See "The Exchange Offer--Book Entry Transfer"
and "Description of the Exchange Notes--Book-Entry, Delivery and Form."
 
                               ----------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Available Information.....................................................    1
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...........................    1
Prospectus Summary........................................................    2
Use of Proceeds...........................................................   10
The Exchange Offer........................................................   11
Capitalization............................................................   19
Selected Financial Information............................................   20
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations...............................................................   21
Business..................................................................   26
Management................................................................   32
Principal Securityholders.................................................   34
Description of the Exchange Notes.........................................   36
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.................................   51
Plan of Distribution......................................................   52
Legal Matters.............................................................   53
Experts...................................................................   53
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements................................  F-1
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  Mark IV Industries, Inc. ("Mark IV" or the "Company") is subject to the
informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by
the Company with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices
located at Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and Suite 1400,
Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
Copies of such materials can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of
the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. Such materials can also be inspected at the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
  The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-
4 (together with all amendments, exhibits, annexes and schedules thereto, the
"Registration Statement") pursuant to the Securities Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, with respect to the securities being
offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth
in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Company and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to
the Registration Statement, including the exhibits filed as a part thereof and
otherwise incorporated therein. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the
contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to are not
necessarily complete; with respect to such contract, agreement or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference is made
to such exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved, and
each such statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such
reference. Copies of the Registration Statement and the exhibits may be
inspected, without charge, at the offices of the Commission, or obtained at
prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at the
address set forth above.
 
  The Company is required by the terms of the Indenture to furnish the Trustee
(as defined) with annual reports containing consolidated financial statements
audited by its independent certified public accountants and with quarterly
reports containing unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The following documents previously filed with the Commission by the Company
pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
and made a part hereof: the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended February 29, 1996; and the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated March 21, 1996, as amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A
dated March 27, 1996.
 
  All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the Offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
  The Company will provide without charge to any person to whom this Prospectus
is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all
of the documents which have been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus,
other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into the documents so incorporated. Any such request
should be directed to Investor Relations, Mark IV Industries, Inc., 501 John
James Audubon Parkway, P.O. Box 810, Amherst, New York 14226-0810 (telephone
number: (716) 689-4972).
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing
elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Unless the context
otherwise requires, all references herein to the "Company" or "Mark IV" include
Mark IV Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  Mark IV is a diversified manufacturer of a broad range of proprietary and
other power and fluid transfer products and systems which serve primarily
automotive and industrial markets. Many of Mark IV's product groups have a
significant, and in certain instances the leading, share of their respective
markets. Products manufactured by Mark IV principally serve specialized needs
in markets in which relatively few manufacturers compete. These products are
sold primarily directly, but also through independent distributors, to other
manufacturers and commercial users in the United States and Europe and, to a
lesser extent, in Canada, Latin America and the Far East. Mark IV operates 79
manufacturing facilities and 56 distribution and sales locations and employs
approximately 18,200 people in 19 countries.
 
  During fiscal 1996, the Company reorganized what had been identified as its
primary business segment, Power and Fluid Transfer, into separately managed and
market-focused businesses. As a result, in connection with the preparation of
its financial statements for its fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, the
Company determined to reclassify the operations included in that segment into
two segments--Mark IV Automotive and Mark IV Industrial, with its former
Professional Audio segment being included in the new Industrial segment. Mark
IV's business strategy is focused on building its worldwide Automotive and
Industrial business segments through internal growth, continuation of cost
control and quality improvement programs, and selective strategic domestic and
foreign acquisitions. The Company's operating strategy emphasizes management
for continuous improvement, establishing co-operative programs with customers
to engineer, design and develop higher value added systems in addition to
individual products, and the introduction of new, more cost effective and
durable products.
 
  In furtherance of these strategies, over its last five fiscal years Mark IV
has: (i) emphasized continuous product development, with a significant amount
of its current sales arising from the introduction of new products or products
which have been redesigned; (ii) substantially increased its industrial hose
and couplings production capacity and strengthened its position in that market
through its recent acquisition of the Imperial Eastman Division of The Pullman
Company ("Imperial Eastman"); (iii) considerably enhanced its ability to
provide a broader range of products to its existing customers through its
November 1994 acquisition of Purolator Products Company ("Purolator"), a
leading manufacturer of automotive and industrial filtration products and
systems; (iv) significantly expanded its presence in Western Europe through its
June 1993 acquisition of Pirelli Trasmissioni Industriali, S.p.A. ("PTI"), a
leading Italian-based manufacturer of power transmission products; and (v)
established distribution centers to serve markets in Central and South America
and the Pacific Rim, and acquired manufacturing and distribution facilities in
Mexico. Mark IV believes that, having established an efficient global
manufacturing and distribution network, it is well positioned to benefit from
its leading domestic market position and its increased presence in European and
other foreign markets.
 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
  As part of the Company's strategy to become more focused within its
Industrial segment, Mark IV is exploring the possibility of selling its non-
core businesses. In October 1995, the Company announced the possible sale of
its Transportation Products businesses, which have aggregate annual sales of
approximately $225.0 million. In January 1996, the Company announced that it is
also exploring the possible sale of its professional audio business which has
annual sales of approximately $200.0 million. The potential sales remain in
their preliminary stages and, therefore, there can be no assurance that any
such sales will occur. If the
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Company were to consummate all or a portion of such sales, the net proceeds
thereof would be used to reduce Senior Indebtedness, to fund future
acquisitions in core business areas, and/or, depending on market prices and
other relevant considerations, to repurchase outstanding shares of the
Company's Common Stock.
 
  In furtherance of Mark IV's strategy of focusing on building its Industrial
segment, on March 5, 1996 Mark IV acquired Imperial Eastman for a purchase
price of approximately $78.0 million. Imperial Eastman manufactures industrial
hose and couplings products complementary to those currently produced by
Mark IV, and has annual sales of approximately $135.0 million.
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
The Exchange Offer..........  The Company is hereby offering to exchange $1,000
                              principal amount of Exchange Notes for each
                              $1,000 principal amount of Private Notes that are
                              properly tendered and accepted. The Company will
                              issue Exchange Notes on or promptly after the
                              Expiration Date. As of the date hereof, there is
                              $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
                              Private Notes outstanding. See "The Exchange
                              Offer--Purpose of the Exchange Offer."
 
                              Based on an interpretation by the staff of the
                              Commission set forth in no-action letters issued
                              to third parties, the Company believes that the
                              Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange
                              Offer in exchange for Private Notes may be
                              offered for resale, resold and otherwise
                              transferred by a holder thereof (other than (i)
                              an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning
                              of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) a
                              broker-dealer who acquired Private Notes directly
                              from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A
                              or any other available exemption under the
                              Securities Act or (iii) a broker-dealer who
                              acquired Private Notes as a result of market
                              making or other trading activities), without
                              compliance with the registration and prospectus
                              delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
                              provided that the holder is acquiring Exchange
                              Notes in the ordinary course of its business and
                              is not participating, and has no arrangement or
                              understanding with any person to participate, in
                              the distribution of the Exchange Notes. Holders
                              of Private Notes wishing to accept the Exchange
                              Offer must represent to the Company, as required
                              by the Registration Rights Agreement, that such
                              conditions have been met. The Company believes
                              that none of the registered holders of the
                              Private Notes is an affiliate (as such term is
                              defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of
                              the Company. Any broker-dealer that resells
                              Exchange Notes that were received by it for its
                              own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
                              any broker or dealer that participates in the
                              distribution of such Exchange Notes may be deemed
                              to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
                              Securities Act and any profit on any such resale
                              of Exchange Notes and any commissions or
                              concessions received by any such persons may be
                              deemed to be underwriting compensation under the
                              Securities Act.
 
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                              Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes
                              for its own account in exchange for Private Notes
                              must acknowledge that it will deliver a
                              prospectus in connection with any resale of such
                              Exchange Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states
                              that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
                              prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to
                              admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
                              meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus,
                              as it may be amended or supplemented from time to
                              time, may be used by a broker-dealer in
                              connection with resales of Exchange Notes
                              received in exchange for Private Notes, where
                              such Private Notes were acquired by such broker-
                              dealer as a result of market-making or other
                              trading activities. The Company has agreed to
                              make this Prospectus (as it may be amended or
                              supplemented) available to any broker-dealer,
                              upon request, for use in connection with any such
                              resale, for a period of one year after the
                              Registration Statement is declared effective by
                              the Commission or until such earlier date on
                              which all the Exchange Notes are freely
                              tradeable. However, any broker-dealer who
                              acquired the Private Notes directly from the
                              Company other than as a result of market-making
                              activities or ordinary trading activities may not
                              fulfill its prospectus delivery requirements with
                              this Prospectus, but must comply with the
                              registration and prospectus delivery requirements
                              of the Securities Act. See "The Exchange Offer--
                              Resale of the Exchange Notes."
 
Registration Rights                                                             
 Agreement..................  The Private Notes were sold by the Company on     
                              March 11, 1996 to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (the   
                              "Initial Purchaser") pursuant to a Purchase       
                              Agreement, dated March 5, 1996, by and between    
                              the Company and the Initial Purchaser (the        
                              "Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the Purchase   
                              Agreement, the Company and the Initial Purchaser  
                              entered into a Registration Rights Agreement,     
                              dated as of March 11, 1996 (the "Registration     
                              Rights Agreement"), which grants the holders of   
                              the Private Notes certain exchange and            
                              registration rights. The Exchange Offer is        
                              intended to satisfy such rights, which will       
                              terminate upon the consummation of the Exchange   
                              Offer except under certain limited circumstances. 
                              See "The Exchange Offer--Termination of Certain   
                              Rights."                                          

                              Holders of Private Notes who do not tender their
                              Private Notes in the Exchange Offer will continue
                              to hold such Private Notes and will be entitled
                              to all the rights and limitations applicable
                              thereto under the Indenture. All untendered, and
                              tendered but not unaccepted Private Notes will
                              continue to be subject to the restrictions on
                              transfer provided for in the Private Notes and
                              the Indenture. To the extent that Private Notes
                              are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer,
                              the trading market, if any, for the Private Notes
                              could be adversely affected.
 
Expiration Date.............  The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New
                              York City time, on Friday, July 12, 1996, unless
                              the Exchange Offer is extended
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                              by the Company, in its sole discretion, in which
                              case the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the
                              latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer
                              is extended. See "The Exchange Offer--Expiration
                              Date; Extensions; Amendments."
 
Accrued Interest on the
 Exchange Notes and the
 Private Notes..............  The Exchange Notes will bear interest from and   
                              including the date of issuance of the Private     
                              Notes (March 11, 1996). Holders whose Private     
                              Notes are accepted for exchange will be deemed to 
                              have waived the right to receive any interest     
                              accrued on the Private Notes. See "The Exchange   
                              Offer--Interest on the Exchange Notes."           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Conditions to the Exchange                                                   
 Offer......................  The Exchange Offer is subject to certain       
                              customary conditions that may be waived by the 
                              Company. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned 
                              upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of 
                              Private Notes being tendered for exchange. See 
                              "The Exchange Offer--Conditions."              
 
Procedures for Tendering
 Private Notes..............  Each Holder of Private Notes wishing to accept   
                              the Exchange Offer must complete, sign and date   
                              the Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile         
                              thereof, in accordance with the instructions      
                              contained herein and therein, and mail or         
                              otherwise deliver such Letter of Transmittal, or  
                              such facsimile, together with such Private Notes  
                              and any other required documentation to Fleet     
                              National Bank, as exchange agent (the "Exchange   
                              Agent"), at its address set forth herein. By      
                              executing the Letter of Transmittal, the holder   
                              will represent to and agree with the Company      
                              that, among other things, (i) the Exchange Notes  
                              to be acquired by such holder of Private Notes in 
                              connection with the Exchange Offer are being      
                              acquired by such holder in the ordinary course of 
                              its business, (ii) such holder is not currently   
                              participating and has no arrangement or           
                              understanding with any person to participate in a 
                              distribution of the Exchange Notes, (iii) if such 
                              holder is a broker-dealer registered under the    
                              Exchange Act or is participating in the Exchange  
                              Offer for the purposes of distributing the        
                              Exchange Notes, such holder will comply with the  
                              registration and prospectus delivery requirements 
                              of the Securities Act in connection with a        
                              secondary resale transaction of the Exchange      
                              Notes acquired by such person and cannot rely on  
                              the position of the staff of the Commission set   
                              forth in no-action letters (see "The Exchange     
                              Offer--Resale of Exchange Notes"), (iv) such      
                              holder understands that a secondary resale        
                              transaction described in clause (iii) above and   
                              any resales of Exchange Notes obtained by such    
                              holder in exchange for Private Notes acquired by  
                              such holder directly from the Company should be   
                              covered by an effective registration statement    
                              containing the selling securityholder information 
                              required by Item 507 or Item 508, as applicable,  
                              of Regulation S-K of the Commission and (v) such  
                              holder is not an                                  
                                                                                
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                              "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the
                              Securities Act, of the Company. If the holder is
                              a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes
                              for its own account in exchange for Private Notes
                              that were acquired as a result of market-making
                              activities or other trading activities, such
                              holder will be required to acknowledge in the
                              Letter of Transmittal that such holder will
                              deliver a prospectus in connection with any
                              resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by so
                              acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus,
                              such holder will not be deemed to admit that it
                              is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
                              Securities Act. See "The Exchange Offer--
                              Procedures for Tendering."
 
Special Procedures for
 Beneficial Owners..........  Any beneficial owner whose Private Notes are     
                              registered in the name of a broker, commercial    
                              bank, trust company or other nominee and who      
                              wishes to tender such Private Notes in the        
                              Exchange Offer should contact such registered     
                              holder promptly and instruct such registered      
                              holder to tender on such beneficial owner's       
                              behalf. If such beneficial owner wishes to tender 
                              on such owner's own behalf, such owner must,      
                              prior to completing and executing the Letter of   
                              Transmittal and delivering such owner's Private   
                              Notes, either make appropriate arrangements to    
                              register ownership of the Private Notes in such   
                              owner's name or obtain a properly completed bond  
                              power from the registered holder. The transfer of 
                              registered ownership may take considerable time   
                              and may not be able to be completed prior to the  
                              Expiration Date. See "The Exchange Offer--        
                              Procedures for Tendering."                        
                                                                                
Guaranteed Delivery                                                             
 Procedures.................  Holders of Private Notes who wish to tender their 
                              Private Notes and whose Private Notes are not     
                              immediately available or who cannot deliver their 
                              Private Notes, the Letter of Transmittal or any   
                              other documentation required by the Letter of     
                              Transmittal to the Exchange Agent prior to the    
                              Expiration Date must tender their Private Notes   
                              according to the guaranteed delivery procedures   
                              set forth under "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed   
                              Delivery Procedures."                             

Acceptance of the Private
 Notes and Delivery of the
 Exchange Notes.............  Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
                              conditions to the Exchange Offer, the Company
                              will accept for exchange any and all Private
                              Notes that are properly tendered in the Exchange
                              Offer prior to the Expiration Date. The Exchange
                              Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will
                              be delivered on the earliest practicable date
                              following the Expiration Date. See "The Exchange
                              Offer--Terms of the Exchange Offer."
 
Withdrawal Rights...........  Tenders of Private Notes may be withdrawn at any
                              time prior to the Expiration Date. See "The
                              Exchange Offer--Withdrawal of Tenders."
 
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Certain Federal Income Tax
 Considerations.............  For a discussion of certain material federal   
                              income tax considerations relating to the       
                              exchange of the Exchange Notes for the Private  
                              Notes, see "Certain Federal Income Tax          
                              Considerations."                                
                                                                              
 
Exchange Agent..............  Fleet National Bank is serving as the Exchange
                              Agent in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
                          TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
 
  The Exchange Offer applies to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Private Notes. The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially
identical in all respects (including principal amount, interest rate, maturity
and ranking) to the form and terms of the Private Notes, except that (i) the
Exchange Notes will have been registered under the Securities Act and,
therefore, will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof and (ii)
holders of the Exchange Notes will not be entitled to certain rights of holders
of the Private Notes under the Registration Rights Agreement, which rights will
terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Notes will
evidence the same indebtedness as the Private Notes and will be issued pursuant
to, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture governing the Private Notes.
The Exchange Offer is being made to satisfy the obligations of the Company
under the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Private Notes. For
further information and for definitions of certain capitalized terms used
below, see "The Exchange Offer" and "Description of the Exchange Notes."
 
Issuer......................  Mark IV Industries, Inc.
 
Securities Offered..........  $250,000,000 principal amount of 7 3/4% Senior
                              Subordinated Notes due April 1, 2006 (the
                              "Exchange Notes").
 
Maturity Date...............  April 1, 2006.
 
Interest Rate...............  The Exchange Notes will bear interest at a rate
                              of 7 3/4% per annum.
 
Interest Payment Dates......  Interest will accrue on the Exchange Notes from
                              and including the date of the initial issuance of
                              the Private Notes (March 11, 1996) and will be
                              payable semi-annually on each April 1 and October
                              1, commencing October 1, 1996.
 
Change of Control...........  Upon a Change of Control, holders of the Exchange
                              Notes will have the right, subject to certain
                              restrictions and conditions, to require the
                              Company to purchase all or any portion of their
                              Exchange Notes at 101% of the principal amount
                              thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any,
                              through the date of purchase. See "Description of
                              the Exchange Notes--Change of Control."
 
Subordination...............  The Exchange Notes will be unsecured obligations
                              of the Company, will be subordinated in right of
                              payment to the prior payment in full of all
                              Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and will be
                              effectively subordinated to the indebtedness of
                              the Company's subsidiaries. At March 31, 1996,
                              Senior Indebtedness of the Company and its
                              subsidiaries was approximately
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                              $243,800,000 (of which approximately $53,800,000
                              was indebtedness of the Company's subsidiaries)
                              and subordinated indebtedness of the Company
                              (including the Private Notes) was approximately
                              $506,400,000. Subject to certain restrictions,
                              the Indenture pursuant to which the Exchange
                              Notes will be issued permits the Company to incur
                              additional indebtedness, but, until such time as
                              the Exchange Notes are rated Investment Grade,
                              prohibits the incurrence by the Company of any
                              indebtedness that is senior to the Exchange Notes
                              and subordinate to Senior Indebtedness. See
                              "Description of the Exchange Notes--
                              Subordination."
 
Certain Covenants...........  The Indenture restricts, among other things, the
                              payment of dividends, the repurchase of capital
                              stock and the making of certain other Restricted
                              Payments (as defined), the incurrence of
                              additional indebtedness, the incurrence of
                              certain Liens (as defined) and certain mergers,
                              consolidations or sales of assets. Upon the
                              Exchange Notes being rated Investment Grade,
                              certain of the restrictions will no longer be
                              applicable. See "Description of the Exchange
                              Notes--Certain Covenants."
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
 
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
  The following tables set forth summary consolidated financial data of the
Company for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended February 29,
1996. Such financial data are derived from the Company's audited consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              YEAR ENDED THE LAST DAY OF
                                                      FEBRUARY,
                                           ----------------------------------
                                            1994(1)     1995(2)       1996
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Net sales................................. $1,244,200  $1,603,300  $2,088,500
                                           ==========  ==========  ==========
Operating income before depreciation and
 amortization............................. $  173,500  $  215,800  $  279,400
Depreciation and amortization.............     41,700      51,500      66,800
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
Operating income (3)...................... $  131,800  $  164,300  $  212,600
                                           ==========  ==========  ==========
Income from continuing operations......... $   51,100  $   67,900  $   92,400
                                           ==========  ==========  ==========
OTHER DATA:
Consolidated cash flow/fixed charge
 coverage ratio (4):
 Actual...................................      3.46x       3.98x       4.55x
 As adjusted (5)..........................         --          --       4.36x
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (4):
 Actual...................................      2.50x       2.87x       3.26x
 As adjusted (5)..........................         --          --       3.09x
Percentage of long-term debt to total
 capitalization...........................       62.2%       49.0%       47.0%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY,
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                    1994       1995      1996
                                                 ---------- ---------- ---------
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital................................. $  312,800 $  379,700   404,900
Total assets....................................  1,282,300  1,846,400 2,013,100
Long-term debt..................................    567,200    610,700   642,500
Stockholders' equity............................    345,400    635,500   725,500
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes the results of operations of the PTI business from its June 1993
    acquisition date.
(2) Includes the results of operations of the Purolator business from its
    November 1994 acquisition date.
(3) Represents income from continuing operations before interest expense and
    taxes.
(4) See footnotes (4) and (6) to "Selected Financial Information" for
    information as to methods of calculating cash flow and fixed charge ratios.
(5) As adjusted to reflect the interest expense on the Notes at an interest
    rate of 7 3/4% per annum and the application of the net proceeds thereof to
    reduce borrowings outstanding under the Company's previously existing $650
    million credit agreement (the "1994 Credit Agreement") which was entered
    into November 1994.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy certain of the Company's
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will not
receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes offered
hereby. In consideration of issuing the Exchange Notes as contemplated in this
Prospectus, the Company will receive in exchange Private Notes in like
principal amount, the form and terms of which are the same as the form and
terms of the Exchange Notes, except as otherwise described herein. The Private
Notes surrendered in exchange for the Exchange Notes will be retired and
cancelled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, issuance of the Exchange Notes
will not result in any increase in the indebtedness of the Company.
 
  The net proceeds from the sale of the Private Notes, which were approximately
$244,100,000 (after deducting estimated expenses and discounts related to the
Private Offering), were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the
Company's new Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") which was entered into
on March 8, 1996, prior to consummation of the Private Offering on March 11,
1996. The Credit Agreement replaced the Company's previously existing 1994
Credit Agreement. At March 31, 1996, borrowings under the Credit Agreement
totalled approximately $215,000,000 and the weighted average interest rate on
such borrowings was approximately 6.15%. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources" for a summary of the terms of the Credit Agreement.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
  The Private Notes were sold by the Company on March 11, 1996 (the "Closing
Date") to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Initial
Purchaser subsequently sold the Private Notes to (i) "qualified institutional
buyers" ("QIBs"), as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule
144A"), in reliance on Rule 144A. As a condition to the sale of the Private
Notes, the Company and the Initial Purchaser entered into the Registration
Rights Agreement on March 11, 1996. Pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company agreed that, unless the Exchange Offer is not permitted
by applicable law or Commission policy, it would (i) file with the Commission a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Exchange
Notes within 30 days after the Closing Date, (ii) use its best efforts to cause
such Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within
120 days after the Closing Date and (iii) use its best efforts to consummate
the Exchange Offer within 30 business days after the Registration Statement has
become effective. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement has been filed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement is
intended to satisfy certain of the Company's obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.
 
RESALE OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
 
  With respect to the Exchange Notes, based upon an interpretation by the staff
of the Commission set forth in certain no-action letters issued to third
parties, the Company believes that a holder (other than (i) an "affiliate" of
the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) a
broker-dealer who purchased such Exchange Notes directly from the Company to
resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the
Securities Act, or (iii) a broker-dealer who acquired Private Notes as a result
of market making or other trading activities) who exchanges Private Notes for
Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business and who is not participating,
does not intend to participate, and has no arrangement with any person to
participate, in a distribution of the Exchange Notes, will be allowed to resell
Exchange Notes to the public without further registration under the Securities
Act and without delivering to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes a prospectus
that satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. However,
if any holder acquires Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of
distributing or participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or is a
broker-dealer, such holder cannot rely on the position of the staff of the
Commission enumerated in certain no-action letters issued to third parties and
must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction, unless an exemption
from registration is otherwise available. Each broker-dealer that receives
Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Private Notes, where such
Private Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Private Notes where
such Private Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-
making or other trading activities. Pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company has agreed to make this Prospectus, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, available to broker-dealers for use in
connection with any resale for a period of one year after the Registration
Statement is declared effective or until such earlier date on which the
Exchange Notes are freely tradeable. See "Plan of Distribution."
 
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and
in the Letter of Transmittal, the Company will accept any and all Private Notes
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date. The Company
will issue $1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes in exchange for each
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
$1,000 principal amount of outstanding Private Notes surrendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer. Private Notes may be tendered only in integral multiples of
$1,000.
 
  The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are the same as the form and terms
of the Private Notes except that (i) the exchange will be registered under the
Securities Act and, therefore, the Exchange Notes will not bear legends
restricting the transfer thereof and (ii) holders of the Exchange Notes will
not be entitled to any of the rights of holders of Private Notes under the
Registration Rights Agreement, which rights will terminate upon the
consummation of the Exchange Offer except under certain limited circumstances.
See "--Termination of Certain Rights." The Exchange Notes will evidence the
same indebtedness as the Private Notes (which they replace) and will be issued
under, and be entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture, which also authorized
the issuance of the Private Notes, such that both series of Notes will be
treated as a single class of debt securities under the Indenture.
 
  As of the date of this Prospectus, $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount
of the Private Notes are outstanding and registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
as nominee for DTC. Only a registered holder of the Private Notes (or such
holder's legal representative or attorney-in-fact) as reflected on the records
of the Trustee under the Indenture may participate in the Exchange Offer. There
will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of the Private
Notes entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer.
 
  Holders of the Private Notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters' rights
under the Indenture in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Company intends
to conduct the Exchange Offer in accordance with the provisions of the
Registration Rights Agreement and the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
 
  The Company shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Private Notes
when, as and if the Company has given oral or written notice thereof to the
Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the tendering holders
of Private Notes for the purposes of receiving the Exchange Notes from the
Company.
 
  Holders who tender Private Notes in the Exchange Offer will not be required
to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the
Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Private
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Company will pay all charges and
expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection
with the Exchange Offer. See "--Fees and Expenses."
 
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS
 
  The term "Expiration Date" shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time on
Friday, July 12, 1996, unless the Company, in its sole discretion, extends the
Exchange Offer, in which case the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest
date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended.
 
  In order to extend the Exchange Offer, the Company will (i) notify the
Exchange Agent of any extension by oral or written notice, (ii) mail to the
registered holders an announcement thereof and (iii) issue a press release or
other public announcement, which shall include disclosure of the approximate
number of Private Notes deposited to date, each prior to 9:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration
Date. Without limiting the manner in which the Company may choose to make a
public announcement of any delay, extension, amendment or termination of the
Exchange Offer, the Company shall have no obligation to publish, advertise, or
otherwise communicate any such public announcement, other than by making a
timely release to an appropriate news agency.
 
  The Company reserves the right, in its reasonable discretion, (i) to delay
accepting any Private Notes, (ii) to extend the Exchange Offer or (iii) if any
conditions set forth below under "--Conditions" shall not have been satisfied,
to terminate the Exchange Offer by giving oral or written notice of such delay,
extension
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
or termination to the Exchange Agent. Any such delay in acceptance, extension,
termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or
written notice thereof to the registered holders. If the Exchange Offer is
amended in a manner determined by the Company to constitute a material change,
the Company will promptly disclose such amendment by means of a prospectus
supplement that will be distributed to the registered holders, and the Company
will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of five to ten business days,
depending upon the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure
to the registered holders, if the Exchange Offer would otherwise expire during
such five to ten business day period.
 
INTEREST ON THE EXCHANGE NOTES
 
  The Exchange Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 7 3/4% per annum.
Interest on the Exchange Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each
April 1 and October 1, commencing October 1, 1996. Holders of Exchange Notes
will receive interest on October 1, 1996 from the date of initial issuance of
the Exchange Notes, plus an amount equal to the accrued interest on the Private
Notes from March 11, 1996, the date of initial issuance of the Private Notes,
to the date of exchange thereof for Exchange Notes. Holders of Private Notes
that are accepted for exchange will be deemed to have waived the right to
receive any interest accrued on the Private Notes.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING
 
  Only a registered holder of Private Notes may tender such Private Notes in
the Exchange Offer. To tender in the Exchange Offer, a holder of Private Notes
must complete, sign and date the Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof,
have the signatures thereon guaranteed if required by the Letter of
Transmittal, and mail or otherwise deliver such Letter of Transmittal or such
facsimile to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth on the Outside Back
Cover Page of this Prospectus for receipt prior to the Expiration Date. In
addition, either (i) certificates for such Private Notes must be received by
the Exchange Agent along with the Letter of Transmittal, (ii) a timely
confirmation of a book-entry transfer (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of such
Private Notes, if such procedure is available, into the Exchange Agent's
account at the Depositary pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer
described below, must be received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration
Date or (iii) the holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures
described below.
 
  The tender by a holder that is not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date
will constitute an agreement between such holder and the Company in accordance
with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Letter
of Transmittal.
 
  THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF PRIVATE NOTES AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF
THE HOLDER. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HOLDERS USE AN
OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE, PROPERLY INSURED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT
TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT BEFORE THE
EXPIRATION DATE. NO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR PRIVATE NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO
THE COMPANY. HOLDERS MAY REQUEST THEIR RESPECTIVE BROKERS, DEALERS, COMMERCIAL
BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR NOMINEES TO EFFECT THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS FOR SUCH
HOLDERS.
 
  Any beneficial owner(s) of the Private Notes whose Private Notes are
registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact the registered holder
promptly and instruct such registered holder to tender on such beneficial
owner's behalf. If such beneficial owner wishes to tender on such owner's own
behalf, such owner must, prior to completing and executing the Letter of
Transmittal and delivering such owner's Private Notes, either make appropriate
arrangements to register ownership of the Private Notes in such owner's name or
obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer
of registered ownership may take considerable time.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
  Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal described
below (see "--Withdrawal of Tenders"), as the case may be, must be guaranteed
by an Eligible Institution (as defined) unless the Private Notes tendered
pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder who has not completed
the box titled "Special Delivery Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or
(ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution. In the event that signatures
on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, are
required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be made by a member firm of a
registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office
or correspondent in the United States or an "eligible guarantor institution"
within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act which is a member of
one of the recognized signature guarantee programs identified in the Letter of
Transmittal (an "Eligible Institution").
 
  If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered
holder of any Private Notes listed therein, such Private Notes must be endorsed
or accompanied by a properly completed bond power, signed by such registered
holder as such registered holder's name appears on such Private Notes.
 
  If the Letter of Transmittal or any Private Notes or bond powers are signed
by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers
of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity,
such persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by the Company,
evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal.
 
  The Exchange Agent and the Depositary have confirmed that any financial
institution that is a participant in the Depositary's system may utilize the
Depositary's Automated Tender Offer Program to tender Private Notes.
 
  All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Private Notes will be
determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion, which determination
will be final and binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject
any and all Private Notes not properly tendered or any Private Notes the
Company's acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company,
be unlawful. The Company also reserves the right to waive any defects,
irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Private Notes. The
Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer
(including the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal) will be final and
binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in
connection with tenders of Private Notes must be cured within such time as the
Company shall determine. Although the Company intends to notify holders of
defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Private Notes, neither the
Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall incur any liability for
failure to give such notification. Tenders of Private Notes will not be deemed
to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or
waived.
 
  While the Company has no present plan to acquire any Private Notes that are
not tendered in the Exchange Offer or to file a registration statement to
permit resales of any Private Notes that are not tendered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to
purchase or make offers for any Private Notes that remain outstanding
subsequent to the Expiration Date or, as set forth below under "--Conditions,"
to terminate the Exchange Offer and, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
purchase Private Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions
or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or offers could differ from the
terms of the Exchange Offer.
 
  By tendering, each holder of Private Notes will represent to the Company
that, among other things, (i) Exchange Notes to be acquired by such holder of
Private Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer are being acquired by such
holder in the ordinary course of business of such holder, (ii) such holder (if
not a broker-dealer referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph) does
not intend to engage and will not engage in the distribution of the Exchange
Notes, (iii) such holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes, (iv) such holder
acknowledges and agrees that any person who is a broker-dealer registered under
the Exchange Act or is participating in the Exchange
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
Offer for the purposes of distributing the Exchange Notes must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with a secondary resale transaction of the Exchange Notes, acquired
by such person and cannot rely on the position of the staff of the Commission
set forth in certain no-action letters, (v) such holder understands that a
secondary resale transaction described in clause (iv) above and any resales of
Exchange Notes obtained by such holder in exchange for Private Notes acquired
by such holder directly from the Company should be covered by an effective
registration statement containing the selling securityholder information
required by Item 507 or Item 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K of the
Commission and (vi) such holder is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act, of the Company. If the holder is a broker-dealer that
will receive Exchange Notes for such holder's own account in exchange for
Private Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, such holder will be required to acknowledge in the
Letter of Transmittal that such holder will deliver a copy of this Prospectus
(as it may be supplemented or amended) in connection with any resale of such
Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus,
such holder will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
 
RETURN OF PRIVATE NOTES
 
  If any tendered Private Notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in
the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer or if Private Notes are
withdrawn or are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holders
desire to exchange, such unaccepted, withdrawn or non-exchanged Private Notes
will be returned without expense to the tendering holder thereof (or, in the
case of Private Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's
account at the Depositary pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures
described below, such Private Notes will be credited to an account maintained
with the Depositary) as promptly as practicable.
 
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
 
  The Exchange Agent will make a request to establish an account with respect
to the Private Notes at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offer within two
business days after the date of this Prospectus, and any financial institution
that is a participant in the Depositary's systems may make book-entry delivery
of Private Notes by causing DTC to transfer such Private Notes into the
Exchange Agent's account at DTC in accordance with DTC's procedures for
transfer. However, although delivery of Private Notes may be effected through
book-entry transfer at DTC, the Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof,
with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, must,
in any case, be transmitted to and received by the Exchange Agent at the
address set forth below under "--Exchange Agent" on or prior to the Expiration
Date or pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
 
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
 
  Holders who wish to tender their Private Notes and (i) whose Private Notes
are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Private Notes,
the Letter of Transmittal or any other required documents to the Exchange Agent
prior to the Expiration Date, may effect a tender if:
 
    (a) The tender is made through an Eligible Institution;
 
    (b) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent receives from such
  Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice of
  Guaranteed Delivery substantially in the form provided by the Company (by
  facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery) setting forth the name and
  address of the holder, the certificate number(s) of such Private Notes and
  the principal amount of Private Notes tendered, stating that the tender is
  being made thereby and guaranteeing that, within five New York Stock
  Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal
  (or a facsimile thereof), together with the certificate(s) representing the
  Private Notes in proper form for transfer or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as
  the case may be, and any other documents required by the Letter of
  Transmittal, will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the
  Exchange Agent; and
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
    (c) Such properly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof),
  as well as the certificate(s) representing all tendered Private Notes in
  proper form for transfer and all other documents required by the Letter of
  Transmittal are received by the Exchange Agent within five New York Stock
  Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date.
 
  Upon request to the Exchange Agent, a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will be
sent to holders who wish to tender their Private Notes according to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.
 
WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS
 
  Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Private Notes may be
withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
 
  To withdraw a tender of Private Notes in the Exchange Offer, a written or
facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange
Agent at its address set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date. Any such
notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the person having deposited
the Private Notes to be withdrawn (the "Depositor"), (ii) identify the Private
Notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate number or numbers and
principal amount of such Private Notes) and (iii) be signed by the holder in
the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which
such Private Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees).
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of
receipt) of such notices will be determined by the Company, in its sole
discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any
Private Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for
purposes of the Exchange Offer and no Exchange Notes will be issued with
respect thereto unless the Private Notes so withdrawn are validly retendered.
Properly withdrawn Private Notes may be retendered by following one of the
procedures described above under "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering"
at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
 
CONDITIONS
 
  Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall not
be required to accept for exchange, or exchange the Exchange Notes for, any
Private Notes, and may terminate the Exchange Offer as provided herein before
the acceptance of such Private Notes, if the Exchange Offer violates applicable
law, rules or regulations or an applicable interpretation of the staff of the
Commission.
 
  If the Company determines in its reasonable discretion that any of these
conditions are not satisfied, the Company may (i) refuse to accept any Private
Notes and return all tendered Private Notes to the tendering holders, (ii)
extend the Exchange Offer and retain all Private Notes tendered prior to the
expiration of the Exchange Offer, subject, however, to the rights of holders to
withdraw such Private Notes (see "--Withdrawal of Tenders") or (iii) waive such
unsatisfied conditions with respect to the Exchange Offer and accept all
properly tendered Private Notes that have not been withdrawn. If such waiver
constitutes a material change to the Exchange Offer, the Company will promptly
disclose such waiver by means of a prospectus supplement that will be
distributed to the registered holders of the Private Notes, and the Company
will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of five to ten business days,
depending upon the significance of the waiver and the manner of disclosure to
the registered holders, if the Exchange Offer would otherwise expire during
such five to ten business day period.
 
TERMINATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS
 
  All rights under the Registration Rights Agreement (including registration
rights) of holders of the Private Notes eligible to participate in the Exchange
Offer will terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer except with
respect to the Company's continuing obligations (i) to indemnify such holders
(including any broker-dealers) and certain parties related to such holders
against certain liabilities (including liabilities under the Securities Act),
(ii) to provide, upon the request of any holder of a transfer-restricted
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
Private Note, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act in order to permit resales of such Private Notes pursuant to Rule 144A,
(iii) to use its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective to
the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Exchange
Notes by broker-dealers for a period of up to one year from the date the
Registration Statement is declared effective or until such earlier date on
which the Exchange Notes are freely tradeable and to provide copies of the
latest version of the Prospectus to such broker-dealers upon their request
during such period and (iv) to file a shelf registration statement as required
by the Registration Rights Agreement if any holder of transfer-restricted Notes
notifies the Company within 20 business days of the consummation of the
Exchange Offer that (A) such holder is prohibited by applicable law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (B) such holder
may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and that this Prospectus is not
appropriate or available for such resales by such holder, or (C) that such
holder is a broker-dealer and holds Private Notes acquired directly from the
Company or one of its affiliates (see "--Liquidated Damages").
 
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
 
  The Registration Rights Agreement provides that (i) the Company will file the
Registration Statement with the Commission on or prior to 30 days after the
Closing Date, (ii) the Company will use its best efforts to have the
Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 120
days after the Closing Date, (iii) unless the Exchange Offer would not be
permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company will commence the
Exchange Offer and use its best efforts to issue, on or prior to 30 business
days after the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission, Exchange Notes in exchange for all Private Notes tendered
prior thereto in the Exchange Offer and (iv) if obligated to file a shelf
registration statement pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Shelf Registration Statement" and, collectively with the
Registration Statement, the "Registration Statements"), the Company will use
its best efforts to file such Shelf Registration Statement with the Commission
on or prior to 30 days after such filing obligation arises and to cause the
Shelf Registration to be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to
120 days after such obligation arises. If (a) the Company fails to file any of
the Registration Statements required by the Registration Rights Agreement on or
before the date specified for such filing, (b) any of such Registration
Statements is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date
specified for such effectiveness (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), or (c) the
Company fails to consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 business days of the
Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Registration Statement, or (d)
the Shelf Registration Statement or the Registration Statement is declared
effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in connection with
resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified in the
Registration Rights Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (a)
through (d) above a "Registration Default"), then the Company will pay
Liquidated Damages to each holder of Transfer Restricted Securities with
respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such
Registration Default in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal
amount of Notes constituting Transfer Restricted Securities held by such
Holder. The amount of the Liquidated Damages will increase by an additional
$.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount constituting Transfer Restricted
Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration
Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Liquidated Damages of $.50
per week per $1,000 principal amount of Notes constituting Transfer Restricted
Securities. All accrued Liquidated Damages will be paid by the Company on each
Damages Payment Date (as defined in the Indenture) to the Global Note Holder
(as defined in the Indenture) by wire transfer of immediately available funds
or by federal funds check and to Holders of Certificated Securities (as defined
in the Indenture) by mailing checks to their registered addresses. Following
the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of Liquidated Damages will
cease. For purposes of the foregoing, "Transfer Restricted Securities" means
each Private Note and each Exchange Note, as applicable, until (i) the date on
which such Private Note has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-
dealer for an Exchange Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange
by a broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Private Note for an Exchange
Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives
from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the
Prospectus, (iii) the
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
date on which such Note has been effectively registered under the Securities
Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv)
the date on which such Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act.
 
  Holders of Notes will be required to make certain representations to the
Company (as described in the Registration Rights Agreement) in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer and will be required to deliver information
to be used in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and to provide
comments on the Shelf Registration Statement within the time periods set forth
in the Registration Rights Agreement in order to have their Notes included in
the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding
Liquidated Damages set forth above.
 
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
  The expenses of soliciting tenders will be borne by the Company. The
principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, additional solicitation
may be made by telegraph, telephone or in person by officers and regular
employees of the Company and its affiliates.
 
  The Company has not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the
Exchange Offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will pay
the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will
reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.
 
  The cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer will
be paid by the Company and are estimated in the aggregate to be approximately
$250,000. Such expenses include registration fees, fees and expenses of the
Exchange Agent and the Trustee, accounting and legal fees and printing costs,
among others.
 
  The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange
of Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, a transfer tax is
imposed for any reason other than the exchange of the Private Notes pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed
on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering
holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption
therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such
transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
 
CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE
 
  Participation in the Exchange Offer is voluntary. Holders of the Private
Notes are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making their own
decisions on what action to take.
 
  The Private Notes that are not exchanged for the Exchange Notes pursuant to
the Exchange Offer will remain restricted securities. Accordingly, such Private
Notes may be resold only (i) to a person whom the seller reasonably believes is
a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (ii) in a
transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
(iii) outside the United States to a foreign person in a transaction meeting
the requirements of Rule 904 under the Securities Act, (iv) in accordance with
another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and
based upon an opinion of counsel if the Company so requests), (v) to the
Company or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement and, in each
case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the
United States or any other applicable jurisdiction.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
  For accounting purposes, the Company will recognize no gain or loss as a
result of the Exchange Offer. The expenses of the Exchange Offer will be
amortized over the term of the Exchange Notes.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
                                CAPITALIZATION
 
  The following table sets forth the audited consolidated capitalization of
the Company as of February 29, 1996. Such amounts include the effect of the
sale of the Private Notes and the application of the net proceeds to repay a
portion of amounts outstanding under the 1994 Credit Agreement as though such
transactions had occurred on February 29, 1996. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            FEBRUARY 29, 1996
                                                          (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                          ----------------------
<S>                                                       <C>
Current maturities of long-term debt(1)..................       $    7,900
                                                                ==========
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities(1):
 Senior debt:
  1994 Credit Agreement..................................       $   97,300
  Other..................................................           38,800
                                                                ----------
    Total senior debt....................................          136,100
                                                                ----------
 Subordinated debt:
  7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due April 1, 2006.....          248,400
  8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due April 1, 2003.....          258,000
                                                                ----------
    Total subordinated debt..............................          506,400
                                                                ----------
    Total long-term debt.................................          642,500
                                                                ----------
Stockholders' equity:
 Preferred Stock, $.01 par value:
  10,000,000 shares authorized:
  None issued............................................               --
 Common Stock, $.01 par value:
  100,000,000 shares authorized:
  62,988,643 shares issued(2)............................              600
 Additional paid-in capital..............................          617,600
 Retained earnings.......................................          109,700
 Foreign currency translation adjustment.................           (2,400)
                                                                ----------
    Total stockholders' equity...........................          725,500
                                                                ----------
    Total capitalization.................................       $1,368,000
                                                                ==========
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) See Note 7 to the Company's audited consolidated financial statements,
    appearing elsewhere herein, for interest rates and other information
    regarding the Company's outstanding indebtedness.
(2) The number of shares has been adjusted to give effect to a 5% stock
    dividend paid on the outstanding shares of Common Stock on April 26, 1996
    and excludes 1,753,000 shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of
    outstanding employee stock options.
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                        SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
  The following tables set forth selected consolidated financial information
of the Company for each of the five fiscal years in the period ended February
29, 1996. These tables should be read in conjunction with the Company's
audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   YEAR ENDED THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY,
                          ----------------------------------------------------------
                             1992        1993        1994(1)     1995(2)     1996
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Net sales...............  $1,004,300  $1,085,700  $1,244,200  $1,603,300  $2,088,500
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Operating costs:
 Cost of products sold..     641,900     698,800     803,500   1,060,000   1,413,500
 Selling and
  administration........     200,600     215,100     236,300     292,700     347,200
 Research and
  development...........      24,900      26,100      30,900      34,800      48,400
 Depreciation and
  amortization..........      28,300      32,100      41,700      51,500      66,800
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Total operating
    costs...............     895,700     972,100   1,112,400   1,439,000   1,875,900
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Operating income (3)....     108,600     113,600     131,800     164,300     212,600
Interest expense........      64,700      51,600      50,100      53,900      61,200
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income before securities
 transactions and
 provision for taxes....      43,900      62,000      81,700     110,400     151,400
Gain (loss) on
 securities
 transactions...........      (2,400)         --          --          --          --
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income before provision
 for taxes..............      41,500      62,000      81,700     110,400     151,400
Provision for income
 taxes..................      14,700      22,900      30,600      42,500      59,000
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income from continuing
 operations.............      26,800      39,100      51,100      67,900      92,400
Discontinued operations,
 net of taxes...........       2,000       3,600          --          --          --
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income before
 extraordinary items and
 cumulative effect of
 accounting change......      28,800      42,700      51,100      67,900      92,400
Extraordinary gain
 (loss) from early
 extinguishment of debt,
 net of taxes...........      (4,500)     (3,700)    (21,700)     (1,100)         --
Cumulative effect of
 accounting change......          --          --     (26,000)         --          --
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net income..............  $   24,300  $   39,000  $    3,400  $   66,800  $   92,400
                          ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
OTHER DATA:
Consolidated cash
 flow/fixed charge
 coverage ratio (4):
 Actual.................       2.13x       2.80x       3.46x       3.98x       4,55x
 As adjusted (5)........          --          --          --          --       4.36x
Ratio of earnings to
 fixed charges (6):
 Actual.................       1.63x       2.09x       2.50x       2.87x       3.26x
 As adjusted (5)........          --          --          --          --       3.09x
Capital expenditures....  $   20,700  $   35,500  $   41,400  $   50,800  $   95,500
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY,
                         ------------------------------------------------------
                            1992       1993       1994       1995       1996
                         ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S>                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital......... $  285,500 $  275,400 $  312,800 $  379,700 $  404,900
Total assets............  1,104,500  1,124,800  1,282,300  1,846,400  2,013,100
Long-term debt,
 excluding current
 maturities.............    525,400    497,100    567,200    610,700    642,500
Stockholders' equity....    311,900    345,600    345,400    635,500    725,500
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) Includes the results of operations of the PTI business from its June 1993
    acquisition date.
(2) Includes the results of operations of the Purolator business from its
    November 1994 acquisition date.
(3) Represents income from continuing operations before interest expense,
    securities transactions and taxes.
(4) The consolidated cash flow/fixed charge coverage ratio is defined in the
    Indenture to be the ratio of consolidated cash flow to consolidated fixed
    charges. See "Description of the Exchange Notes."
(5) As adjusted to reflect the interest expense on the Notes at an interest
    rate of 7 3/4% per annum and the application of the net proceeds thereof
    to reduce borrowings outstanding under the 1994 Credit Agreement.
(6) For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, (i)
    earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes
    plus fixed charges and (ii) fixed charges consist of interest expense
    incurred, capitalized interest, amortization of debt expense and 15% of
    rental payments under operating leases (an amount estimated by management
    to be the interest component of such rentals).
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
                     MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
GENERAL
 
  In connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements
for its fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, the Company determined to
reclassify the operations included in its former Power and Fluid Transfer
business segment into two business segments: (i) Automotive and (ii)
Industrial, with its former Professional Audio segment being included in the
new Industrial segment. The Company's current business strategy is focused upon
the enhancement of these business segments through internal growth, cost
control and quality improvement programs and selective, strategic acquisitions,
with an emphasis on expanding the Company's international presence in each
segment. For a discussion of the Company's plans relating to the possible sale
of its Transportation Products and Professional Audio businesses included in
its Industrial segment, see "Business--Recent Developments."
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 Three Years Ended February 29, 1996
 
 
  During fiscal 1996, the Company reorganized what had been identified as its
primary business segment, Power and Fluid Transfer, into separately managed and
market-focused businesses. As a result, as noted above, the Company determined
to reclassify the operations of that segment into the following two business
segments:
 
  (i) Automotive, which includes the design, manufacture and distribution of
      fuel, power transmission, and fluid handling systems and components,
      and filters and filtration systems for the global automotive
      aftermarket and original equipment manufacturers ("OEM") market; and
 
  (ii) Industrial, which includes the design, manufacture and distribution of
       power transmission, fluid handling, and filtration systems and
       components for industrial OEM and industrial distribution markets
       worldwide. The Industrial segment also includes the Company's
       Transportation Products business and its former Professional Audio
       segment.
 
  The results of operations of Purolator have been included in the Company's
results of operations for fiscal 1995 from its November 1994 acquisition date.
 
  In reviewing the Company's sales performance, the following results by
segment should be considered for each of the fiscal years presented (dollars in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            1994            1995                  1996
                         ---------- --------------------- ---------------------
                                               % INCREASE            % INCREASE
                                               OVER PRIOR            OVER PRIOR
                           AMOUNT     AMOUNT      YEAR      AMOUNT      YEAR
                         ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S>                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net Sales to Customers:
 Automotive............. $  532,600 $  718,900    35.0%   $1,004,300    39.7%
 Industrial............. $  711,600 $  884,400    24.3%   $1,084,200    22.6%
                         ---------- ----------    ----    ----------    ----
  Total ................ $1,244,200 $1,603,300    28.9%   $2,088,500    30.3%
                         ========== ==========    ====    ==========    ====
</TABLE>
 
  The most significant reason for the increase in net sales in fiscal 1996 is
the fact that the results of operations of Purolator were included for all of
fiscal 1996, and for only four months following Purolator's November 1994
acquisition date in fiscal 1995. On a pro forma basis, including Purolator for
all of fiscal 1995, net sales increased by $175.0 million (9.2%) in fiscal 1996
on a consolidated basis, and by $57.1 million (6.0%) for the Automotive
business segment.
 
  The $199.8 million increase in net sales for the Industrial segment for
fiscal 1996 was generated primarily by the segment's domestic power
transmission and fluid handling business product lines. The Automotive
segment's increase in net sales, excluding the effects of Purolator, was
primarily the result of increased OEM sales in Europe, offset somewhat by
reduced sales in the segment's domestic aftermarket product lines.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 
  The increase in net sales in fiscal 1995 was also primarily the result of the
Purolator acquisition. Excluding the results of Purolator, sales increased
approximately $200.0 million (21.1%) over fiscal 1994, with $105.0 million of
the increase coming from domestic sales, and the balance being generated
primarily in Europe.
 
  Cost of products sold as a percentage of consolidated net sales were 64.6%,
66.1%, and 67.7% in fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The increase in
the percentage of costs in fiscal 1996 is primarily the result of the Purolator
acquisition, due to its historically lower gross margin. On a pro forma basis
including Purolator for the entire fiscal year, such costs were 67.2% for
fiscal 1995. This level of costs also reflects the positive effects of the
Company's cost control programs, which have helped to substantially offset the
negative pressures on the margins experienced by both of the Company's business
segments.
 
  Selling and administration costs as a percentage of consolidated net sales
were 19.0%, 18.3% and 16.6% in fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The
reductions in fiscal 1995 and 1996 are primarily the result of the Purolator
acquisition, which had a lower level of such costs. On a pro forma basis
including Purolator for the entire fiscal year, such costs were 17.7% for
fiscal 1995. The reductions also reflect operating efficiencies achieved in
fiscal 1996 from the integration of the Purolator business and the
reorganization of the Company's business segments. The lower level of costs
also indicates that the Company's continued emphasis on cost control and cycle
time reduction has been successful in offsetting the impact of inflation on
such costs.
 
  Research and development costs increased by $13.6 million (39.1%) in fiscal
1996 over fiscal 1995, which in turn increased by $3.9 million (12.6%) over
fiscal 1994. The increases in fiscal 1995 and 1996 are primarily due to the
Purolator acquisition. As a percentage of consolidated net sales, such costs
were in the range of 2.2% to 2.5% in each of fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996. This
consistent level of investment reflects the Company's continuing emphasis on
new product development.
 
  Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $15.3 million (29.7%) in
fiscal 1996 over fiscal 1995, which in turn increased by $9.8 million (23.5%)
over fiscal 1994. The increases in fiscal 1995 and 1996 are primarily
attributable to the Purolator acquisition, and the increased level of capital
equipment expenditures.
 
  The above mentioned items resulted in the following operating income for each
of the fiscal years presented (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                1994               1995               1996
                          -----------------  -----------------  -----------------
                                     % OF               % OF               % OF
                                    RELATED            RELATED            RELATED
                           AMOUNT    SALES    AMOUNT    SALES    AMOUNT    SALES
                          --------  -------  --------  -------  --------  -------
<S>                       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>
OPERATING INCOME
Automotive............... $ 66,300   12.5%   $ 79,300   11.0%   $110,600   11.0%
Industrial...............   80,400   11.3%    100,900   11.4%    119,400   11.0%
                          --------   ----    --------   ----    --------   ----
Total operating income
 before corporate
 expenses................  146,700   11.8%    180,200   11.2%    230,000   11.0%
Corporate expenses.......  (14,900)  (1.2)%   (15,900)  (1.0)%   (17,400)  ( .8)%
                          --------   ----    --------   ----    --------   ----
Operating Income (a)..... $131,800   10.6%   $164,300   10.2%   $212,600   10.2%
                          ========   ====    ========   ====    ========   ====
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Including Purolator's results of operations on a pro-forma basis for all of
  fiscal 1994 and 1995, operating income as a percentage of consolidated net
  sales would have been 9.7%, 10.0% and 10.2% for fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996,
  respectively. The increase is primarily attributable to the Company's
  emphasis on cost control as discussed above.
 
  In spite of the increased interest costs resulting from borrowings to fund
the Purolator acquisition, interest expense increased only $7.3 million (13.5%)
in fiscal 1996 in comparison to fiscal 1995. The relatively slight increase in
fiscal 1996's expense was achieved as a result of the financing transactions
referred to under "Liquidity and Capital Resources," as well as lower interest
rates resulting from the Company's improved debt to total capitalization
position. Fiscal 1995's interest expense increased $3.8 million (7.6%) over
fiscal 1994's interest expense. This slight increase was achieved for the same
reasons notwithstanding the higher interest rates prevailing during fiscal
1995.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
 
  The Company's provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before
provision for taxes was 37.5%, 38.5% and 39.0% in fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The higher rates in fiscal 1995 and 1996 were primarily the
result of increased income in foreign jurisdictions with higher statutory tax
rates than in the U.S.
 
  As a result of all of the above, the Company's income before extraordinary
items in fiscal 1996 increased $24.5 million (36.1%) over fiscal 1995. In turn,
fiscal 1995's income before extraordinary items increased $16.8 million (32.9%)
over fiscal 1994 (before the effect of an accounting change in 1994).
 
  As a result of replacing prior credit facilities and the issuance of the
Company's 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003, the Company incurred
extraordinary losses, net of related tax benefits, of $1.1 million and $21.7
million in fiscal 1995 and 1994, respectively. Additionally, the Company's
adoption of SFAS No. 106 in fiscal 1994 resulted in the recognition of a net of
tax charge of $26.0 million as the cumulative effect of the accounting change
in fiscal 1994.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
  The Company's short-term capital needs are met by cash generated through
operations, and supplemented by borrowings under its various credit facilities
to the extent required. During fiscal 1996, net cash provided by earnings was
$183.0 million, a 45% increase over the $126.5 million generated in fiscal
1995, which in turn represented a 39% increase over fiscal 1994. At February
29, 1996, the Company's working capital investment was $404.9 million, a net
increase of $25.2 million or 7% in comparison to February 28, 1995. As a
percentage of sales, working capital at February 29, 1996 represented 19% of
fiscal 1996 net sales as compared to a 20% relationship at the end of fiscal
1995, computed on a pro forma basis as if the results of operations of
Purolator had been included for all of fiscal 1995. Management anticipates that
its working capital investment as a percentage of net sales will be reduced
further during fiscal 1997.
 
  Capital expenditures in fiscal 1996 were $95.5 million, which exceeds
depreciation and amortization expense of $66.8 million in fiscal 1996 and
capital expenditures of $50.8 million in fiscal 1995. Approximately $11.0
million of the increase in capital expenditures resulted from the capital
requirements of Purolator for all of fiscal 1996, and only four months of
fiscal 1995. Additionally, approximately $21.0 million of such increase related
to a new manufacturing facility and other increased capacity requirements in
the European units of the Company's Automotive business segment, primarily in
Italy. The balance of the increase related to the U.S. units of the Company's
Industrial business segment, including a new centralized warehouse and
distribution facility. Management anticipates that the Company's capital
expenditure requirements will continue to exceed its annual depreciation and
amortization charges over the next few years.
 
  Cash generated from earnings in fiscal 1996 was sufficient to fund the
Company's capital expenditure investments as well as its increased working
capital requirements. Management believes that cash generated from earnings
will continue to be sufficient to fund such needs for the foreseeable future.
 
  The Company's long-term capital needs are met by cash generated from
earnings, bank financing, and public debt and equity offerings. Recent
financing activities of a longer term nature include the following:
 
  -- In October 1994, the Company entered into agreements with certain
     holders of its 6 1/4% Convertible Debentures due February 15, 2011 to
     convert approximately $76.7 million of the debentures into approximately
     5.9 million shares of the Company's Common Stock. In January 1995, the
     Company called for redemption the $37.5 million remaining principal
     amount of the debentures. As a result of the call for redemption,
     substantially all of the remaining debentures were converted into 2.8
     million shares of the Company's Common Stock.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
  -- In November 1994, the Company acquired all of the stock of Purolator for
     a total cash purchase price, including expenses, of approximately $286.3
     million. Funding for the acquisition was provided by borrowings under
     the Company's 1994 Credit Agreement.
 
  -- In December 1994, the Company completed an underwritten public offering
     of 6.8 million shares of its Common Stock at a public offering price of
     $17.23 per share. The net proceeds of approximately $113.0 million were
     used to repay a portion of the Company's outstanding indebtedness under
     its 1994 Credit Agreement.
 
  -- In March 1996, the Company entered into the new Credit Agreement with
     various financial institutions. The Credit Agreement currently provides
     for a five-year, non-amortizing revolving credit facility with borrowing
     availability of $400.0 million under a domestic facility (the "Domestic
     Credit Facility") and $100.0 million under a multi-currency facility
     (the "Multi-Currency Credit Facility"). The Multi-Currency Credit
     Facility permits borrowings to be made in dollars as well as specified
     foreign currencies. The proceeds of the initial borrowings under the
     Credit Agreement were used to repay all amounts outstanding under the
     Company's previously existing credit agreements. See Note 7 to the
     Company's audited financial statements for information as to applicable
     interest rates and covenants.
 
  -- In March 1996, the Company completed the private placement of $250.0
     million principal amount of the Private Notes at a purchase price of
     99.36% of their face amount. The net proceeds from the sale of the
     Private Notes were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the
     Credit Agreement. For a description of the terms of the Private Notes,
     see "Description of the Exchange Notes."
 
  The March 1996 transactions referenced above have been presented in the
Company's audited consolidated balance sheet as at February 29, 1996 as if they
had occurred as of that date.
 
  As of March 31, 1996, the Company had borrowing availability under its Credit
Agreement of approximately $285.0 million and additional availability under its
various other domestic and foreign demand lines of credit of approximately
$125.0 million.
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY
 
  The Company does not hold or issue derivatives for trading purposes and is
not a party to leveraged derivatives transactions. The Company's sales from
foreign locations and exports are significant; therefore, the Company does
enter into foreign currency forward contracts as a hedge for certain existing
or anticipated business transactions denominated in various foreign currencies.
The maximum notional amount of foreign currency forward contracts outstanding
at any one time during fiscal 1996 amounted to approximately $23.9 million and
the approximate notional amount of such contracts outstanding was $7.8 million
at February 29, 1996.
 
IMPACT OF INFLATION
 
  Although the Company has experienced delays in its ability to pass on certain
inflation related cost increases, the Company does not expect that such delays
or the overall impact of inflation will have a material impact on the Company's
operations.
 
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
  In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement No. 121--Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for
Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of ("SFAS
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
 
No. 121"). SFAS No. 121 requires that long-lived assets and certain
identifiable intangibles and goodwill related to those assets be reviewed for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. SFAS No. 121 is effective
for the Company's fiscal year ending February 28, 1997, and management is in
the process of assessing its impact on its financial statements. While it is
anticipated that SFAS No. 121 will require a non-cash charge to reduce the
carrying value of certain of the Company's fixed assets and goodwill values,
the Company has not completed its estimate at the present time.
 
  In October 1995, the FASB also issued Statement No. 123--Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation ("SFAS No. 123"), which is also effective for the
Company's fiscal year ending February 28, 1997. SFAS No. 123 encourages, but
does not require, recognition of compensation expense based on the fair value
of equity instruments (such as stock options) granted to employees. The Company
does not plan to record compensation for its stock option grants to employees;
therefore, the adoption of SFAS No. 123 will have no impact on its financial
position or results of operations. The Company will provide pro forma
disclosures of the effects of applying the fair value method in the Notes to
the Company's future financial statements.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
  Mark IV is a diversified manufacturer of a broad range of proprietary and
other power and fluid transfer products and systems which serve primarily
automotive and industrial markets. Many of Mark IV's product groups have a
significant, and in certain instances the leading, share of their respective
markets. Products manufactured by Mark IV principally serve specialized needs
in markets in which relatively few manufacturers compete. These products are
sold primarily directly, but also through independent distributors, to other
manufacturers and commercial users in the United States and Europe and, to a
lesser extent, in Canada, Latin America and the Far East. Mark IV operates 79
manufacturing facilities and 56 distribution and sales locations and employs
approximately 18,200 people in 19 countries.
 
  During fiscal 1996, the Company reorganized what had been classified as its
primary business segment, Power and Fluid Transfer, into separately managed and
market-focused businesses. As a result, in connection with the preparation of
its financial statements for its fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, the
Company determined to reclassify the operations included in that segment into
two segments--Mark IV Automotive and Mark IV Industrial, with its former
Professional Audio segment being included in the new Industrial segment. Mark
IV's business strategy is focused on building, its worldwide, Automotive and
Industrial business segments through internal growth, continuation of cost
control and quality improvement programs, and selective strategic domestic and
foreign acquisitions. The Company's operating strategy emphasizes management
for continuous improvement, establishing cooperative programs with customers to
engineer, design and develop higher value added systems in addition to
individual products, and the introduction of new, more cost effective and
durable products.
 
  In furtherance of these strategies, over its last five fiscal years Mark IV
has: (i) emphasized continuous product development, with a significant amount
of its current sales arising from the introduction of new products or products
which have been redesigned; (ii) substantially increased its industrial hose
and couplings production capacity and strengthened its position in the hose and
couplings products market through its recent acquisition of Imperial Eastman;
(iii) considerably enhanced its ability to provide a broader range of products
to its existing customers through its November 1994 acquisition of Purolator, a
leading manufacturer of automotive and industrial filtration products and
systems; (iv) significantly expanded its presence in Western Europe through its
June 1993 acquisition of PTI, a leading Italian-based manufacturer of power
transmission products; and (v) established distribution centers to serve
markets in Central and South America and the Pacific Rim, and acquired
manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mexico. Mark IV believes that,
having established an efficient global manufacturing and distribution network,
it is well positioned to benefit from its leading domestic market position and
its increased presence in European and other foreign markets.
 
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
 
  As part of the Company's strategic growth plans, in November 1994 Mark IV
acquired Purolator, which is a leading manufacturer of filtration products,
including automotive oil, air and fuel filters; residential and commercial
heating, ventilating and air-conditioning ("HVAC") filters; high-technology
liquid filtration products; and specialized industrial filters and filtration
systems. The total cost of the acquisition was $286.3 million. Purolator's
filtration business complements the Company's fluid transfer products since
many of Purolator's products serve customers in the same markets as the
Company's other power and fluid transfer products, such as certain industrial
markets, the automotive aftermarket and, to a much lesser extent, the
automotive OEM market. In addition, filters are generally an integral part of
most power and fluid transfer systems produced by the Company. In particular,
the acquisition of Purolator strengthens Mark IV's presence in the automotive
aftermarket since more than 60% of Purolator's annual sales have been made to
customers in this market. Mark IV also believes that its extensive sales and
distribution network are providing opportunities for increased sales of
Purolator's products.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
 
  In furtherance of Mark IV's strategy of focusing on building its Industrial
segment, on March 5, 1996 Mark IV acquired Imperial Eastman for a purchase
price of approximately $78.0 million. Imperial Eastman manufactures industrial
hose and couplings products complementary to existing Mark IV products, and has
annual sales of approximately $135.0 million.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
  As part of the Company's strategy to become more focused within its
Industrial segment, Mark IV is exploring the possibility of selling its non-
core businesses. In October 1995, the Company announced the possible sale of
its Transportation Products businesses which have aggregate annual sales of
approximately $225.0 million. In January 1996, the Company announced that it is
also exploring the possible sale of its Professional Audio business which has
annual sales of approximately $200.0 million. The potential sales remain in
their preliminary stages and, therefore, there can be no assurance that any
such sales will occur. If the Company were to consummate all or a portion of
such sales, the net proceeds thereof would be used to reduce Senior
Indebtedness, to fund future acquisitions in core business areas, and/or,
depending on market prices and other relevant considerations, to repurchase
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock.
 
SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
  As discussed above, in connection with the preparation of its financial
statements for its fiscal year ended February 29, 1996, the Company has
reclassified the operations included in its former Power and Fluid Transfer
segment into the following two business segments:
 
  (i) Automotive, which includes the design, manufacture and distribution of
      fuel, power transmission, and fluid handling systems and components,
      and filters and filtration systems for the global automotive
      aftermarket and OEM market; and
 
  (ii) Industrial, which includes the design, manufacture and distribution of
       power transmission, fluid handling, and filtration components and
       systems for industrial OEM and industrial distribution markets
       worldwide. The Industrial segment also includes the Company's
       Transportation Products business and its former Professional Audio
       segment.
 
  A more detailed discussion concerning the Company's two reclassified business
segments follows. Financial information regarding such business segments is
presented in Note 14 to the Company's audited consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere herein.
 
MARK IV AUTOMOTIVE
 
OVERVIEW
 
  During the latter part of fiscal 1996, the Company's worldwide automotive OEM
and aftermarket operations were combined to form Mark IV Automotive as a global
manufacturer of automotive systems and components primarily operating under the
trade names of Dayco and Purolator. Mark IV Automotive's sales accounted for
about 48%, or $1.0 billion, of the Company's total consolidated net sales in
fiscal 1996, with approximately 38% of such sales to customers outside of the
U.S.
 
  Mark IV Automotive develops, manufactures and markets systems and components
primarily in the fuel, power transmission, fluid handling and filtration
technology areas. In the design, manufacture and distribution of its products,
Mark IV Automotive places particular emphasis on the use of complete systems or
subsystems to meet the needs of its global customers. In addition, products are
designed to improve or enhance automotive safety, passenger comfort and/or the
environment.
 
  Mark IV Automotive's fuel products include all systems and components
required for the safe transport of fuel from the gas tank inlet into a
vehicle's gas tank, and then from the tank into the engine. Products vary from
complete fuel systems to individual components, including tubes, hose,
couplings, fuel filler and
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
 
other assemblies, fittings, valves, canisters and filters. Power transmission
products, of which Mark IV Automotive is a leading manufacturer, include
accessory drive and camshaft drive systems, consisting of components such as
belts, pulleys, idlers and tensioners, for the global automotive market. Fluid
handling products consist of hose and hose assemblies for power steering, air
conditioning, oil cooler, and other high-pressure applications, as well as
radiator hose, heater hose and other related hose, couplings and assemblies.
Automotive filtration products, of which Mark IV Automotive is a leading
manufacturer, include a complete line of filters and filter housing for
automotive, light-truck and heavy duty applications.
 
AUTOMOTIVE OEM
 
  Mark IV Automotive designs and manufactures systems and components for most
vehicle manufacturers, including OEMs in North America, Europe and Asia. The
segment's Automotive OEM business accounted for approximately 21% of the
Company's consolidated net sales in fiscal 1996.
 
  The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Dayco Products, Inc. ("Dayco"),
designs, develops and manufactures automotive accessory drive, camshaft drive,
fuel, air conditioning, and power steering systems for the global automotive
OEM market, as well as radiator, heater, fuel, engine and transmission oil
cooler assemblies. These systems and assemblies consist of various hose, belts,
filters, tensioners, brackets, pulleys, canisters and sprockets. Dayco has
development programs with respect to various automotive systems with the
Detroit "Big Three," U.S. foreign-based OEMs, and most of the major European
automotive manufacturers. An emphasis on systems development as a hose and
assembly producer has helped Dayco gain market share in the power steering hose
assembly market. In addition, Dayco continues to benefit from the increasing
demand in Europe for automobiles equipped with power steering and air
conditioning. Almost 50% of vehicles produced in Europe today include both air
conditioning and power steering, while in the U.S., over 95% of all new
vehicles are comparably equipped. The Company believes that the number of cars
manufactured in Europe which feature these products is growing at a faster rate
than the overall market, representing a continuing growth opportunity for Mark
IV Automotive. Moreover, the Company believes that the increase in the number
of motor vehicles in operation in Asia and the high-temperature climate in
populous portions of Asia should create a strong demand for Dayco's air
conditioning hose assemblies.
 
  The acquisition of Purolator has provided increased market opportunities with
the Company's multi-national OEM customers. Purolator's products are being
incorporated into Dayco's systems, and the distribution of Purolator's products
is expected to be enhanced by Dayco's global OEM programs. Purolator's equity
interest in Purolator India Limited expands the Company's manufacturing
capabilities and OEM markets in Southeast Asia, while Purolator's 50% ownership
in Purodenso Corp., a joint venture with Nippondenso of Japan, provides access
to the OEM transplant market in the U.S. During fiscal 1995 and 1996, the
Company continued to expand its international manufacturing base through
acquisitions in Mexico and Sweden and the establishment of manufacturing
operations in Argentina where the construction of a new manufacturing facility
is planned for fiscal 1998.
 
AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET
 
  Mark IV Automotive products in the automotive aftermarket include a vast
array of automotive belts, hose, filters and accessories sold to automotive
warehouse distributors, oil companies, quick lubes, original equipment service
centers, retail and auto parts chains, mass merchandisers, farm and fleet
stores, and hardware distributors. The automotive aftermarket accounted for
approximately 27% of the Company's consolidated net sales in fiscal 1996.
 
  The Company's automotive aftermarket business is divided between the
"traditional" and "maintenance" markets. The traditional market, which accounts
for about one third of the aftermarket business, includes standard "wear-and-
tear" replacement and repair products, such as belts and hose. The balance of
aftermarket sales are to the maintenance market, which includes regularly
scheduled maintenance or upkeep products, such as filters.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
 
  Automotive aftermarket products include V-ribbed belts, V-belts, and timing
belts; radiator, automotive service, fuel line and heater hose and assemblies;
as well as fan clutches, transmission oil coolers, fan blades, electric fans,
couplings and pulleys. With the addition of Purolator, product offerings were
expanded to include a complete line of automotive oil, air and fuel filters for
virtually all automobiles and light duty trucks currently operated in North
America, including those manufactured by North American, Japanese and European
OEMs. The Company believes that the combined Dayco/Purolator distribution
system and complementary customer base provide opportunities for revenue
growth, margin improvement and increased market penetration.
 
MARK IV INDUSTRIAL
 
OVERVIEW
 
  Mark IV Industrial combines the industrial operations of Dayco, Purolator and
Imperial Eastman and offers engineered systems and components primarily in the
fluid power, power transmission, fluid transfer and filtration technology areas
to specifically targeted industrial markets around the world. Mark IV
Industrial also encompasses the Company's Transportation Products and
Professional Audio business units. Mark IV Industrial accounted for
approximately 52%, or $1.1 billion, of the Company's total consolidated net
sales in fiscal 1996, with approximately 32% of such sales to customers outside
of the U.S.
 
INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS
 
  Many of Mark IV's Industrial products are sold directly to industrial OEMs
for use in agricultural, marine, manufacturing, office, mining, environmental,
fuel dispensing and fuel flow equipment applications, as well as in products
such as snowmobiles, washing machines, golf carts, vacuum cleaners, outboard
motors and lawn mowers. The balance of sales of these products are to
distributors of industrial replacement belts and filters, industrial and
hydraulic hose and couplings, and lawn and garden product distributors and
retailers, such as hardware chains, home centers and mass merchandisers, in
addition to government agencies and contractors. Net sales in these markets
accounted for approximately 33% of the Company's consolidated net sales in
fiscal 1996.
 
  Mark IV Industrial's fluid power products include high-pressure hydraulic and
pneumatic hose, couplings and assemblies for a variety of industrial customers,
primarily through its Dayco and Imperial Eastman operations. Recent products
include a series of agricultural hose operational at up to 3,000 pounds per
square inch, designed for use on agricultural equipment; a high-pressure,
spiral wire hose for use on large, off-road construction and agricultural
equipment, such as earth movers and combines; a line of flexible, general
purpose wire braid hose and hose assemblies for use in chemical refineries and
in other high pressure applications; and a wire braid hose capable of handling
a multitude of fluids for a variety of applications.
 
  Mark IV Industrial, through its Dayco operation, also designs and
manufactures belts and drive systems for industrial power transmission
applications. The Company's belts and drive systems can be found in a diverse
range of industrial applications, including for use in heavy-duty farm
equipment, rock crushers, lathes, snowmobiles, cooling towers, air handling and
petroleum pumping units, underground mines, lawn mowers and other grounds care
equipment, and, recently, in products ranging from exercise treadmills to
industrial dough mixers and large appliances, such as washers and dryers.
 
  Mark IV Industrial's fluid transfer products provide customers with hose and
couplings for transferring liquids, ranging from corrosive chemicals to water,
air and other gaseous materials, and solid matter as diverse as flour and
concrete. These products can be found in agricultural applications, refineries
and service stations, underground mines, sandblasting jobs, welding processes,
chemical transference applications, transportation equipment, vacuum cleaners,
steel mills and in garden and air hose applications.
 
  Through Purolator, Mark IV Industrial offers specialized industrial fluid
filters for the aeropower, fluid processing and general industrial markets, as
well as for government and military applications. Purolator's
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
 
other products include heating and air-conditioning filters for residential,
commercial and industrial uses and,
through the operations of Purolator's subsidiary, Facet International, Inc.
("Facet"), high performance filtration and separation products and systems for
commercial and military aviation applications. Facet's products are sold to
oil companies, airlines and defense ministries. Facet also produces bilge
separators for the commercial and military marine markets, as well as
environmental protection filters that separate oil from water.
 
OTHER
 
  TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS. Mark IV designs and manufactures products and
systems serving two principal components of the Transportation Products
market. Mark IV produces information displays, door systems, interior hardware
and other systems for mass transit buses and railcars. In addition, the
Company produces electronic vehicle identification products for the electronic
toll and traffic management markets, as well as information signs and traffic
signals and controllers. These products, which are manufactured and sold in
North America and throughout Europe, accounted for approximately 10% of the
Company's total consolidated net sales in fiscal 1996.
 
  The Company's customers include OEMs of mass transit bus and rail vehicles
and commercial aircraft, as well as state and local highway and transportation
agencies. Some of the products offered by the Transportation Products business
unit are also sold to the aftermarket. The Transportation Products market is
predominantly contract-driven, with many of the contracts spanning one or more
years.
 
  Luminator Mass Transit, together with the Company's subsidiaries in Germany
and France, designs, markets and produces electronic vehicle information and
passenger information display systems and components for mass transit buses
and railcars throughout the world. The Company's F-P Electronics subsidiary is
a producer of digital electromagnetic display components, supplying products
to all of the major manufacturers of mass transit information display systems
in North America and Europe, including the Company's Luminator operations. F-P
Electronics products are also used in gasoline pump displays, variable message
signs for highways, time and temperature displays, and scoreboards. The
Company's Vapor business units in the U.S. and Canada supply complete bus door
systems, as well as basic components, to the transit industry. Vapor also
supplies the railroad industry with various electronic products. Mark IV's
Luminator Aircraft Products unit supplies interior lighting and other
passenger comfort systems for commercial aircraft, as well as aircraft panel,
navigation, landing and emergency lighting for general aviation customers. In
addition, Luminator makes a comprehensive line of night vision compatible
interior and exterior lighting used in military applications.
 
  Mark IV's Automatic Signal/Eagle Signal and Interstate Highway Sign
operations manufacture products sold primarily to state and local governments,
as well as transportation agencies, in the U.S. and Canada. Automatic
Signal/Eagle Signal products include traffic and pedestrian signals, signal
control devices and complete traffic management systems. Interstate Highway
Sign manufactures reflective directional, informational, regulatory and
warning signs for the nation's highways and other roadways. Interstate's
products include a newer line of signs, using exterior light, that provide
better visibility and are easier to maintain.
 
  Mark IV's Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems ("IVHS") products and their
markets have been in development for a number of years. In March 1994, Mark
IV's IVHS equipment was selected by a group representing eight toll
authorities in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware for use in the
net E-ZPass SM electronic toll collection system. Mark IV's IVHS provides the
tag and reader equipment for the E-ZPass system, which is designed to
eliminate the need for motorists to exchange cash, tokens, or tickets at toll
booths. Tolls will be paid electronically as vehicles pass through the booths,
reducing congestion and pollution, increasing accuracy in toll collection, and
improving driver convenience on toll roads, bridges and tunnels.
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
  The Company announced in October 1995 that it is exploring the possibility of
selling the Transportation Products business unit. The sale of the unit, which
is at a preliminary stage, is being pursued in connection with the Company's
long-term strategy of focusing on the worldwide industrial and automotive
aftermarket and OEM markets.
 
  PROFESSIONAL AUDIO. The Professional Audio business units accounted for
approximately 9% of the Company's consolidated net sales in fiscal 1996. This
group of companies, known in the marketplace as Mark IV Audio, provides a
comprehensive range of high quality, high performance audio products to the
professional audio market, including recording studio equipment, systems for
live performance, and permanently installed engineered sound systems. Products
include microphones, mixing consoles, signal processors, amplifiers and
loudspeakers, and accessory items for use in a wide variety of applications.
 
  The Company views the Professional Audio business as consisting generally of
four markets: fixed installation; concert sound and commercial audio; retail
stores for professional musicians; and other professional audio applications.
Mark IV Audio's largest market is fixed installations, which encompasses
permanently installed engineered sound systems in cinemas, theaters, concert
halls, stadiums, sports arenas, airports, hotels, convention centers, amusement
parks, houses of worship and other facilities where music or speech is
amplified. The concert sound and commercial audio market includes sound systems
for touring concerts and live theater productions and radio and television
broadcast and production and sound recording applications. The retail market
for professional musicians consists of a large number of retail stores selling
high quality amplifiers, loud speaker systems, microphones (wired and
wireless), mixing consoles and signal processors to professional musicians. The
fourth Professional Audio market encompasses a variety of applications,
including microphones and earphones for field and aircraft communications, both
military and civilian, and equipment for high speed duplication of audio tapes.
 
  The Company announced in January 1996 that it is exploring the possibility of
selling its Professional Audio businesses. The proposed sale of these
businesses, which is also at a preliminary stage, is being pursued in
connection with the Company's long-term strategy of focusing on the worldwide
industrial and automotive aftermarket and OEM markets.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
  The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Directors
and executive officers of the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                            AGE POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH THE COMPANY
- ----                            --- --------------------------------------
<S>                             <C> <C>
Sal H. Alfiero................. 58  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                     Officer
William P. Montague............ 49  President and Director
Gerald S. Lippes............... 56  Secretary and Director
Bruce A. McNiel................ 47  Senior Vice President
Kurt J. Johansson.............. 54  Senior Vice President
Frederic L. Cook............... 49  Senior Vice President--Administration
John J. Byrne.................. 46  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Richard L. Grenolds............ 46  Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Douglas J. Fiegel.............. 48  Vice President, Financial Control and
                                     Reporting
Patricia A. Richert............ 45  Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Clement R. Arrison............. 66  Director
Joseph G. Donohoo.............. 77  Director
Herbert Roth, Jr............... 67  Director
</TABLE>
 
  SAL H. ALFIERO has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company since its incorporation. Mr. Alfiero serves as a Director of
Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company and is also a Director of Marine
Midland Bank. He holds a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds an M.B.A. degree from the Harvard
Graduate School of Business Administration.
 
  WILLIAM P. MONTAGUE has been employed by the Company since April 1972 and was
elected President and a Director effective March 1, 1996. He was previously a
Vice President of the Company since May 1974 and was elected Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer in March 1986. He holds both a B.S.
degree in accounting and an M.B.A. degree from Wilkes University and is a
certified public accountant. He is a member of the Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
Regional Advisory Board and a Director of Gilbraltar Steel Corporation and
International Imaging Materials, Inc.
 
  GERALD S. LIPPES has been general counsel, Secretary and a Director of the
Company since its incorporation. He has been engaged in the private practice of
law since 1965 and is a partner of the firm of Lippes, Silverstein, Mathias &
Wexler LLP, Buffalo, New York. Mr. Lippes is also a Director of Gibraltar Steel
Corporation.
 
  BRUCE A. McNIEL was elected Senior Vice President of the Company in December
1994 and is President of the Company's Dayco Products, Inc. subsidiary,
headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio. Mr. McNiel has worldwide responsibility for
the Company's Industrial Division. Mr. McNiel has been employed by Dayco since
1977, and prior to his appointment as President of Dayco in March 1993, served
in numerous executive positions, including Executive Vice President of Sales
and Marketing, and Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration. He
holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Wright State University and an M.B.A.
degree from the University of Dayton.
 
  KURT J. JOHANSSON was elected Senior Vice President of the Company in
December 1994 and is President of the Company's Dayco Europe AB subsidiary,
headquartered in Solvesborg, Sweden, as well as Executive Vice President of
Dayco. Mr. Johansson has worldwide responsibility for the Company's Automotive
Division. Mr. Johansson has been with Dayco Europe since October 1990. Mr.
Johansson studied at the School of Economics and Business Administration in
Stockholm, Sweden, as well as the Technical University in Gothenburg, Sweden.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
 
  FREDERIC L. COOK was elected Senior Vice President-Administration in March
1988, and prior thereto, had served as Vice President-Finance of the Company
since May 1986. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Cook was a tax partner with
the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., where he was employed for 19
years. He holds a B.S. degree in accounting from the Rochester Institute of
Technology and is a certified public accountant.
 
  JOHN J. BYRNE has been employed by the Company since September 1973 and was
elected Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective March 1, 1996. He
has been a Vice President since March 1986 and was elected Vice President-
Finance of the Company in March 1988. He holds a B.S. degree in accounting from
Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. degree from Canisius College.
 
  RICHARD L. GRENOLDS was elected Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
in July 1989. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Grenolds was a general practice
partner with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., where he was
employed for 17 years. He holds a B.S. degree in accounting from the Rochester
Institute of Technology and is a certified public accountant.
 
  DOUGLAS J. FIEGEL was elected Vice President, Financial Control and Reporting
in 1990. Prior to that he was the Company's Controller since joining the
Company in 1986. He holds a B.B.A. degree from Niagara University and is a
certified public accountant.
 
  PATRICIA A. RICHERT has been employed by the Company since 1973, and has been
Vice President and Chief Information Officer since 1990. In August 1994 she was
also appointed Dayco's Vice President of Information Technology. She holds a
B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Buffalo.
 
  CLEMENT R. ARRISON has been a Director of the Company since November 1976. He
was President of the Company from 1976 until his retirement effective March 1,
1996. Mr. Arrison continues to serve as a consultant to the Company. He holds a
B.S. degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and holds a
professional engineering license.
 
  JOSEPH G. DONOHOO has been a Director of the Company since its incorporation.
He is Chairman of the Board of the Gibson Group, Inc. ("Gibson"), a marketer of
paper board, and Chairman of the Board of Clinch River Corporation ("Clinch
River"), a manufacturer of semi-chemical corrugating material. Clinch River is
a majority owned subsidiary of Gibson.
 
  HERBERT ROTH, JR. has been a Director of the Company since September 1985,
having been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LFE
Corporation prior to its acquisition by Mark IV in July 1985. Mr. Roth also
serves as a Director of Boston Edison Company, Phoenix Home Life Mutual
Insurance Company, Landauer, Inc., Tech/Ops Sevcon, Inc., and Phoenix Total
Return Fund, Inc., and is a trustee of Phoenix Series Fund, Phoenix Multi-
Portfolio Fund and The Big Edge Series Fund.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
 
                           PRINCIPAL SECURITYHOLDERS
 
  The following table sets forth information as of April 30, 1996 (except as
otherwise noted) with respect to all stockholders known by the Company to be
the beneficial owners of more than 5% of its outstanding Common Stock, each
Director, the five most highly compensated executive officers, and all
executive officers and Directors as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the
address of each person named below is 501 John James Audubon Parkway, P.O. Box
810, Amherst, New York 14226-0810.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NUMBER OF     PERCENT
   NAME                                                  SHARES(1)     OF CLASS
   ----                                                  ---------     --------
   <S>                                                   <C>           <C>
   Sal H. Alfiero....................................... 4,582,991(2)     7.3%
   FMR Corporation...................................... 6,836,474(3)    10.9%
   Tiger Management Corporation......................... 6,081,181(4)     9.7%
   Clement R. Arrison................................... 1,847,370(5)     2.9%
   Gerald S. Lippes..................................... 1,774,748(6)     2.8%
   William P. Montague..................................   849,814(7)     1.3%
   Joseph G. Donohoo....................................    26,229(8)       *
   Herbert Roth, Jr.....................................    26,003          *
   Frederic L. Cook.....................................    71,524(9)       *
   Bruce A. McNiel......................................    56,612(10)      *
   Kurt J. Johansson....................................    23,661(11)      *
   All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (13
    persons)............................................ 9,442,311(12)   14.9%
</TABLE>
- --------
 * Less than 1%
 
(1) Except as otherwise indicated in the following footnotes, each person
    listed in the table has both sole voting and sole investment power with
    respect to the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite his
    name. Messrs. Alfiero, Arrison, Lippes, Montague, and Cook, each of whom is
    an executive officer of the Company, have the right to direct the Trustee
    of the Company's defined benefit pension plan (the "Plan") with respect to
    the voting of and investment in the shares of the Company's Common Stock
    owned by such Plan. As of January 31, 1996, the Plan owned 1,588,785 shares
    of the Company's Common Stock (2.5% of the total outstanding). Such
    executive officers are not participants in the Plan and disclaim any
    beneficial ownership in the shares, and the shares have not been included
    in the amounts listed in this table.
 
(2) Includes 303,876 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Alfiero under the
    Mark IV Industries, Inc. 1992 Restricted Stock Plan (the "Restricted
    Plan"), as well as 42,722 shares of Common Stock issuable under currently
    exercisable options granted under the Mark IV Industries, Inc. and
    Subsidiaries 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "1992 Option Plan").
    Also includes 15,154 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Alfiero's
    self-directed accounts in the Company's retirement and 401(k) savings plan.
    Does not include 15,276 shares of Common Stock owned by the Alfiero Family
    Charitable Foundation of which Mr. Alfiero is one of four directors and for
    which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(3) Based on information set forth in a statement on Schedule 13-G filed with
    the SEC by FMR Corporation ("FMR") on February 14, 1996, FMR held on behalf
    of itself and its subsidiaries, Fidelity Management and Research Company
    ("Fidelity"), and Fidelity Management Trust Company ("Fidelity Trust"), an
    aggregate of 6,836,474 shares (adjusted for 5% stock dividend issued April
    26, 1996) of Common Stock. The power to vote or direct the voting of such
    shares resides with the respective Boards of Trustees of the investment
    funds established and managed by FMR and its subsidiaries. The stated
    business address of FMR, Fidelity and Fidelity Trust is 82 Devonshire
    Street, Boston, MA 02109.
 
(4) Based on information set forth in a statement on Schedule 13-G filed with
    the SEC by Tiger Management Corporation ("Tiger") on April 9, 1996. Tiger,
    a corporation controlled by majority shareholder Julian H. Robertson, Jr.,
    beneficially owns an aggregate of 6,081,181 shares (adjusted for 5% stock
    dividend issued April 26, 1996) of Common Stock. Excluded from these shares
    are 306,703 shares (adjusted for 5% stock dividend issued April 26, 1996)
    held on behalf of Panther Partners L.P., an investment corporation
    controlled by Mr. Robertson. The stated business address of Tiger is 101
    Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
 
(5) Does not include 54,218 shares of Common Stock owned by the Arrison Family
    Charitable Foundation of which Mr. Arrison is one of four directors and for
    which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(6) Includes 18,233 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Lippes under the
    Restricted Plan, as well as 31,336 shares of Common Stock issuable under
    currently exercisable options granted pursuant to the 1992 Option Plan.
    Does not include 48,755 shares of Common Stock owned by the Lippes Family
    Charitable Foundation of which Mr. Lippes is one of four directors and for
    which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(7) Includes 21,127 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Montague under the
    Restricted Plan, as well as 35,470 shares of Common Stock issuable under
    currently exercisable options granted pursuant to the 1992 Option Plan.
    Also includes 6,030 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Montague's
    self-directed accounts in the Company's retirement and 401(k) savings plan.
    Does not include 12,223 shares of Common Stock owned by the Montague Family
    Charitable Foundation of which Mr. Montague is one of four directors and
    for which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(8) Includes 8,301 shares of Common Stock held by The Gibson Group, Inc.
    Pension Fund, of which Mr. Donohoo is a trustee and has voting power.
 
(9) Includes 2,894 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Cook under the
    Restricted Plan, as well as 7,244 shares of Common Stock issuable under
    currently exercisable options granted pursuant to the 1992 Option Plan.
    Also includes 1,550 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. Cook's self-
    directed accounts in the Company's retirement and 401(k) savings plan.
 
(10) Includes 2,894 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. McNiel under the
     Restricted Plan, as well as 40,324 shares of Common Stock issuable under
     currently exercisable options granted pursuant to the Company's 1988
     Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "1988 Plan") and the 1992 Option Plan.
     Also includes 2,780 shares of Common Stock allocated to Mr. McNiel's self-
     directed accounts in the Company's retirement and 401(k) savings plan.
 
(11) Includes 2,894 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Johansson under the
     Restricted Plan, as well as 20,768 shares of Common Stock issuable under
     currently exercisable options granted pursuant to the 1988 and 1992 Option
     Plans.
 
(12) Includes 388,093 shares of Common Stock issued to the group under the
     Restricted Plan, as well as 244,499 shares of Common Stock issuable under
     currently exercisable options granted pursuant to the 1988 and 1992 Option
     Plans. Includes 33,440 shares of Common Stock allocated to the officers'
     self-directed accounts in the Company's retirement and 401(k) savings
     plan.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
 
                       DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
  The Exchange Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the "Indenture")
dated as of March 11, 1996 between the Company and Fleet National Bank, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). The Exchange Notes will evidence the same indebtedness
as the Private Notes (which they replace) and will be entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture. The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are the same as the
form and terms of the Private Notes except that (i) the Exchange Notes will
have been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, the Exchange
Notes will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof and (ii) holders
of the Exchange Notes will not be entitled to certain rights of holders of the
Private Notes under the Registration Rights Agreement, which rights will
terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer. The terms of the Exchange
Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture
Act") as in effect on the date of the Indenture. The Exchange Notes are subject
to all such terms and holders of the Exchange Notes are referred to the
Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof. The following
summary of certain provisions of the Indenture does not purport to be complete
and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust
Indenture Act and the provisions of the Indenture (a copy of which has been
filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
forms a part), including the definitions therein of certain terms used below.
The definitions of certain terms used in the following summary are set forth
below under "--Certain Definitions."
 
  The Exchange Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company, will
be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and will be effectively
subordinated to the indebtedness of the Company's Subsidiaries. See "--
Subordination".
 
PRINCIPAL, MATURITY AND INTEREST
 
  The Notes are limited in aggregate principal amount to $250,000,000 and will
mature on April 1, 2006. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 7
3/4% per annum and will be payable semi-annually on each April 1 and October 1
commencing on October 1, 1996, to holders of record of the Notes ("Holders") on
the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15, whether or not a business
day. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from March 11, 1996,
the date of initial issuance of the Private Notes. Interest will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
 
  Principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the
Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
such purpose within or without the City and State of New York or, at the option
of the Company, payment of interest, principal and Liquidated Damages, if any,
may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set
forth in the register of the Holders; provided that all payments with respect
to Global Notes and Certificated Securities the holders of whom have given wire
transfer instructions to the Company will be required to be made by wire
transfer of same day funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof.
Unless otherwise designated by the Company, the Company's office or agency in
New York will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose. The
Notes will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations
of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
 
REDEMPTION
 
  The Notes are not redeemable by the Company, in whole or in part, prior to
their stated maturity.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
 
CHANGE OF CONTROL
 
  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), each Holder
will have the right to require the repurchase of all or any part of such
Holder's Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the "Change of Control
Offer") at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, thereon through the date of purchase.
 
  Immediately following any Change of Control, the Company is required to mail
a notice to the Trustee and to each Holder stating: (i) that the Change of
Control Offer is being made pursuant to the Repurchase Upon Change of Control
covenant of the Indenture and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for
payment; (ii) the purchase price and the purchase date (the "Change of Control
Payment Date"), which may not be earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days
from the date the notice is mailed; (iii) that any Note not tendered will
continue to accrue interest; (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the
payment therefor, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of
Control Offer will cease to accrue interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on
and after the Change of Control Payment Date; (v) that holders electing to have
any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to
surrender those Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the
notice prior to the close of business on the third business day preceding the
Change of Control Payment Date; (vi) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw
Notes they have tendered on the terms and conditions set forth in such notice;
and (vii) that holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be
issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the
Notes surrendered; provided that the portion of each Note purchased and each
such new Note issued must be in a principal amount of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.
 
  On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will (i) accept for
payment all Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Change of
Control Offer and not withdrawn, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent money
sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Notes or portions thereof so
tendered and not withdrawn, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee all Notes so tendered and not withdrawn together with an officer's
certificate specifying the Notes or portions thereof tendered to the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered and not
withdrawn payment in an amount equal to the purchase price for such Notes, and
the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail to such Holder a new Note equal
in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The
Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or
as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
 
  The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of Notes triggered by a Change of Control.
 
  A "Change of Control" will be deemed to have occurred at such time as either
of the following events occurs:
 
    (i) there is consummated any consolidation or merger of the Company (A)
  in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or (B)
  pursuant to which the Common Stock of the Company would be converted into
  cash, securities or other property, in each case other than a consolidation
  or merger of the Company in which the holders of the Common Stock
  outstanding immediately prior to the consolidation or merger hold, directly
  or indirectly, at least a majority of the common stock of the continuing or
  surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or merger or the
  majority of the members of the board of directors of the surviving entity
  immediately after such consolidation or merger are Continuing Directors; or
 
    (ii) there is filed a report on Schedule 13D or 14D-1 (or any successor
  schedule, form or report) pursuant to the Exchange Act, disclosing that any
  person (defined, solely for the purposes of the Change of Control
  provision, as the term "person" is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section
  14(d)(2) of the Exchange
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 
  Act or any successor provision to either of the foregoing) has become the
  beneficial owner (as the term "beneficial owner" is defined under Rule 13d-
  3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act)
  of 50% or more of the combined voting power of all the Company's then
  outstanding securities entitled to vote generally for the election of
  directors; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed to be the
  beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, (A) any securities tendered
  pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person
  or any of such person's Affiliates or associates until such tendered
  securities are accepted for purchase or exchange thereunder, or (B) any
  securities if such beneficial ownership (1) arises solely as a result of a
  revocable proxy delivered in response to a proxy or consent solicitation
  made pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange
  Act, and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D (or any successor
  schedule) under the Exchange Act.
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to
have occurred under clause (ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph solely
by virtue of the Company, any such Subsidiary thereof, any employee stock
ownership plan or any other employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary or any other person holding securities of the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan, filing or becoming
obligated to file a report under or in response to Schedule 13D or Schedule
14D-1 (or any successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act,
disclosing beneficial ownership by it of securities of the Company, whether in
excess of 50% of the combined voting power of all the Company's then
outstanding securities entitled to vote generally for the election of directors
or otherwise.
 
  The Change of Control purchase feature of the Notes may in certain
circumstances make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the Company and,
thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control purchase
feature, however, is not the result of management's knowledge of any specific
effort to accumulate shares of Common Stock or to obtain control of the Company
by means of a merger, tender offer, solicitation or otherwise, or part of a
plan by management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions. Instead, the
Change of Control purchase feature is a standard term contained in other
similar debt offerings and the terms of such feature result from negotiations
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.
 
  If a Change of Control were to occur, there can be no assurance that the
Company would have sufficient funds to pay the Change of Control purchase price
for all Notes tendered by the holders thereof. In addition, the Company's
ability to make such payment may be limited by the terms of its then-existing
borrowing and other agreements. Certain of the agreements relating to the
Company's Senior Indebtedness, including the Credit Agreement, have similar
change of control provisions that may have the effect of further limiting the
Company's ability to pay the Change of Control purchase price for Notes
tendered by the holders thereof. The failure of the Company to make such
payment to holders of Notes, if continued for 45 days after receipt of written
notice of Default from the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, specifying such
Default and requiring that it be remedied, would constitute an Event of Default
under the terms of the Indenture. See "--Events of Default and Remedies."
 
SUBORDINATION
 
  The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company, will be
subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all existing
and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and will be effectively
subordinated to the indebtedness of the Company's Subsidiaries. At March 31,
1996, Senior Indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries was approximately
$243,800,000 (of which approximately $53,800,000 was indebtedness of the
Company's Subsidiaries) and subordinated indebtedness of the Company (including
the Private Notes) was approximately $506,400,000. Subject to certain
restrictions, the Indenture permits the Company to incur additional
indebtedness, but, until such time as the Notes are rated Investment Grade,
prohibits the incurrence by the Company of any indebtedness that is senior to
the Notes and subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
 
  Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar
proceeding relating to the Company or its properties, or any assignment for the
benefit of creditors or marshalling of the assets and liabilities or the
Company or any distribution to creditors or a liquidation or dissolution of the
Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment
in full in cash or, at the option of such holders, cash equivalents of all
obligations with respect to Senior Indebtedness, before the Holders receive any
payment of principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the
Notes or receive any distributions to which the Holders would otherwise be
entitled.
 
  Upon the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness by lapse of time, acceleration
(unless waived, rescinded or annulled) or otherwise, all principal thereof and
interest thereon shall first be paid in full in cash, or such payment duly
provided for in cash or in a manner satisfactory to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness, before any payment is made on account of principal, premium or
Liquidated Damages, if any, interest, fees or expenses on the Notes.
 
  The Company may not, directly or indirectly, pay principal, premium or
Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes and may not acquire any
Notes for cash or property or make any other distribution with respect to the
Notes if (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest on any Senior
Indebtedness occurs and is continuing (a "Payment Default") unless and until
such default has been cured or waived; or (ii) a default, other than a Payment
Default, on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that permits the
holders (or the agent) of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity
(a "Non-Payment Default"), and such default is either the subject of judicial
proceedings or the Trustee or the Paying Agent receives a notice of the default
from a person who may give it pursuant to the terms of the Indenture at least
two business days prior to the relevant payment date; provided, however, that
only one such notice relating to the same event of default or any other default
existing at the time of such notice under the Senior Indebtedness may be given
during any 365-consecutive-day period.
 
  The Company shall resume payments on the Notes and may acquire them upon the
earlier of when (a) the default is cured or waived, or (b) in the case of a
default referred to in clause (ii) in the immediately preceding paragraph, the
179th day after receipt of the notice referred to therein if the default is not
the subject of judicial proceedings.
 
  A Payment Default or Non-Payment Default with respect to the Senior
Indebtedness does not suspend the rights of the Trustee or the Holders to take
any action to accelerate the maturity of the Notes; provided, however, that all
Senior Indebtedness then or thereafter due shall be paid first. In addition,
any acceleration of the maturity of the Notes as a result of the failure by the
Company to make any payment of principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if
any, or interest on the Notes as a result of the foregoing subordination
provisions shall be automatically rescinded if (i) all defaults on Senior
Indebtedness are permanently cured or waived and (ii) the payment or payments,
the omission of which gave rise to the Event of Default, is or are made within
179 days after the Trustee received notice of the default or defaults on Senior
Indebtedness and at the time of such recision no other Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing. See "Events of Default and
Remedies."
 
  As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of
insolvency of the Company, funds that would otherwise be payable to Holders
will be paid or turned over to the holders of Senior Indebtedness to the extent
necessary to pay the Senior Indebtedness in full, and the Company may be unable
to make all payments due under the Notes. Additionally, in such event, Holders
may recover less ratably than general creditors of the Company or the general
creditors of the Company's Subsidiaries to whom the Notes are structurally
subordinated.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
  Limitation on Restricted Payments. Until such time as the Notes are rated
Investment Grade, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) declare or pay any dividend on, or
make any distribution in respect of, the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
Capital Stock
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
 
or other Equity Interests, except to the extent any such dividend or
distribution is actually received by the Company or a Subsidiary thereof; (ii)
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for consideration any Capital
Stock or other Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than Equity Interests of the Company's Wholly-owned Subsidiaries); or
(iii) voluntarily purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for
consideration, prior to a scheduled mandatory sinking fund payment date or
maturity date (including, but not limited to, by substantive or legal
defeasance), any Indebtedness of the Company that is junior in right of payment
to the Notes other than in connection with the refinancing of such Indebtedness
to the extent permitted by the Indenture and certain intercompany Indebtedness
(each such declaration, distribution, purchase, redemption, acquisition or
retirement being referred to as a "Restricted Payment") if, at the time of such
action, or after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, (a) an Event of
Default or a Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (b) such Restricted
Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments
declared or made after March 15, 1993, exceeds the sum of: (A) 50% of the
cumulative Consolidated Net Income (including any gains or losses attributable
to Asset Sales, net of related tax costs or tax benefits, as the case may be,
during the applicable reference period, but excluding non-cash charges
resulting from the adoption by the Company of SFAS 121 and/or other new
accounting standards consistent with GAAP), for the period commencing on March
1, 1993 through the last day of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such
proposed Restricted Payment (or if Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit,
minus 100% of such deficit); (B) the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair
market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of
marketable securities and other property, if any, received by the Company
(other than from a Subsidiary of the Company) from the issuance and sale of
either Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) or Indebtedness that is
convertible into Capital Stock, to the extent such Indebtedness is converted
into Capital Stock after March 15, 1993; (C) the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of any shares of Capital
Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Company issued after March 15, 1993,
pursuant to a plan or other arrangement approved by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors, to or for the benefit of any employee of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or to or by any employee stock ownership plan or
similar trust for the benefit of any such employee, in each case to the extent
such value is includable as compensation expense in the computation of
Consolidated Net Income; and (D) $45,000,000; or (c) the Company could not
incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness)
pursuant to the Limitation on Additional Indebtedness covenant described below.
 
  The foregoing will not prohibit, so long as no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) the payment of any dividend within
60 days after the date of the declaration, if at the date of declaration
thereof, such payment would comply with such provisions; (ii) the declaration
or payment of any dividend on shares of Capital Stock payable solely in shares
of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Redeemable Stock); or (iii) the
declaration or payment of a regular quarterly dividend in respect of the
Capital Stock of the Company at a rate not to exceed to $0.10 per share.
 
  Repurchase upon Change of Control. See "Change of Control" above.
 
  Limitation on Other Senior Subordinated Debt. The Indenture provides that
until such time as the Notes are rated Investment Grade, the Company will not
incur, create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any
Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any
Senior Indebtedness and contractually senior in right of payment to the Notes.
 
  Limitation on Additional Indebtedness. Until such time as the Notes are rated
Investment Grade, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to
(collectively, an "incurrence") any Indebtedness, including, without
limitation, Acquired Indebtedness, but excluding Permitted Indebtedness;
provided, however, that the Company or any Subsidiary thereof shall be
permitted to incur any Indebtedness if (i) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing after giving effect to the incurrence of such
Indebtedness and (ii) after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
 
Cash Flow/Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the four full fiscal quarters ending
immediately prior to the date of the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness
is at least 2.0 to 1.0.
 
  Limitation on Indebtedness of Subsidiaries. In addition to the limitations
described in the Limitation on Additional Indebtedness covenant, until such
time as the Notes are rated Investment Grade, the Company will not permit its
Subsidiaries to incur any Indebtedness (other than Acquired Indebtedness) that
is subordinated to Senior Indebtedness in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 in
the aggregate at any time outstanding, unless such Indebtedness is also
contractually subordinated to the Notes.
 
  Limitation on Liens. Until such time as the Notes are rated Investment Grade,
the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on
any of their respective assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, or any
properties or any income therefrom securing any Indebtedness that is pari passu
with or contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes other than
(i) Liens outstanding immediately prior to the date of the Indenture, including
Liens securing or arising under or in connection with Existing Indebtedness,
(ii) Permitted Liens, (iii) any extension, renewal or replacement (or
successive extensions, renewals or replacements) of Liens permitted by this
covenant; provided that the terms and conditions of any such extension, renewal
or replacement (or successive extension, renewal or replacement) are not less
favorable to the holders of the Notes than those relating to the Liens so
extended, renewed or replaced and no additional property or assets are
encumbered as a result of such extension, renewal or replacement (or successive
extension, renewal or replacement), (iv) the Lien granted to the Trustee
pursuant to the Indenture, and (v) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness;
provided that such Liens attach solely to the assets of the acquired entity and
do not extend to or cover any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
 
  Payments for Consent. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will,
directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by
way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any holder of any Notes for or as an
inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or
provisions of the Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered
to be paid or agreed to be paid to all holders of the Notes which so consent,
waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents
relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
 
  Provision of Reports and Other Information. The Indenture provides that at
all times while any Note is outstanding, the Company will file with the
Commission all such reports and other information as would be required by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Within 15 days after the same are
filed with the Commission, the Company will file with the Trustee and supply to
each holder of the Notes, without cost, copies of such reports or other
information.
 
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ASSETS
 
  The Company will not consolidate with or into any Person or permit any Person
to merge with or into it or directly or indirectly transfer (by lease,
assignment, sale, conveyance or otherwise) all or substantially all of its
properties and assets, in a single transaction or through a series of related
transactions, to another Person or group of affiliated Persons or permit a
Subsidiary of the Company to enter into any such transaction or transactions if
such transaction or transactions would result in a direct or indirect transfer
(by lease, assignment, sale, conveyance or otherwise) of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis,
unless: (i) the Company shall be the continuing Person, or the Person (if other
than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is
merged or to which the properties and assets of the Company, substantially as
an entirety, are transferred shall be a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the
obligations of the Company under the Notes and Indenture; (ii) immediately
before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of
Default and no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (iii) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction on a
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
 
pro forma basis, the Consolidated Net Worth of the surviving entity is at least
equal to the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such
transaction; and (iv) until such time as the Notes are rated Investment Grade,
the surviving entity, after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, could
incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Limitation on Additional
Indebtedness covenant.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
 
  The Indenture provides that each of the following constitutes an Event of
Default: (i) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Notes; (ii)
default in payment when due of principal of or premium or Liquidated Damages,
if any, on the Notes, whether at maturity, or upon acceleration, redemption or
otherwise; (iii) failure by the Company to comply in any respect with any of
its other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes and such Default continues
for 45 days after receipt of a written notice from the Trustee or holders of at
least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding,
specifying such Default and requiring that it be remedied; (iv) default under
any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by
which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness is
existing on the date of the Indenture or thereafter created (other than
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the Company or
between such Subsidiaries), if as a result of such default the maturity of such
Indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its express maturity, the Trustee
has received notice of such acceleration from the Company or any holder of the
Notes or has otherwise obtained actual knowledge thereof and the principal
amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness the maturity of which has been accelerated, aggregates
$25,000,000 or more; (v) final judgments for the payment of money which in the
aggregate exceed $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Company or any
Subsidiary thereof and shall remain unstayed or undischarged for a period of 60
days and the Trustee shall receive notice thereof from the Company or any
holder of the Notes or shall otherwise obtain actual knowledge thereof; and
(vi) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company.
 
  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the
Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each holder of the Notes notice of the Event
of Default within 90 days after it becomes known to the Trustee, unless such
Event of Default has been cured or waived. Except in the case of an Event of
Default in the payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any,
or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as
its Board of Directors, the executive committee of its Board of Directors or a
committee of Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the
notice is in the interest of the holders of the Notes.
 
  If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default resulting from
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
or the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding may, by written notice to the Company (and to the Trustee if such
notice is given by such holders) (the "Acceleration Notice"), and the Trustee
at the request of such holders shall, declare all unpaid principal of, premium
and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest on such Notes to be due
and payable immediately. If an Event of Default resulting from certain events
of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs, then all unpaid principal
of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes
then outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable
without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee or any
holder. Subject to the subordination provisions described above, the holders of
at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes by notice to the Trustee
may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, except an acceleration due to
default in payment of principal or interest on the Notes upon conditions
provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain restrictions set forth in the
Indenture, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or
Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of
principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, such Notes
or a Default under a provision which requires consent of all holders to amend.
When
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
 
a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is cured and ceases. A holder of
Notes may not pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes
unless: (i) the holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing
Event of Default; (ii) the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such
Notes outstanding make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(iii) such holder or holders offer to the Trustee indemnity or security
satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense; (iv) the
Trustee does not comply with the request within 30 days after receipt of the
request and the offer of indemnity or security; and (v) during such 30-day
period the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes
do not give the Trustee a direction which is inconsistent with the request.
 
  The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default to deliver a statement to the
Trustee specifying such Default or Event of Default.
 
DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURE AND THE EXCHANGE NOTES
 
  If the Company irrevocably deposits, or causes to be deposited with the
Trustee or the Paying Agent, at any time prior to the stated maturity of the
Notes, as trust funds in trust, money or direct noncallable obligations of or
guaranteed by the United States of America in amounts (including interest, but
without consideration of any reinvestment of such interest) and maturities
sufficient to pay timely and discharge the entire principal of the then
outstanding Notes and all interest then due in cash, the Indenture shall cease
to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes (except, among other
things, as to (i) remaining rights of registration of transfer and substitution
and exchange of the Notes, (ii) rights of holders to receive payment of
principal of and interest on the Notes, and (iii) the rights, obligations and
immunities of the Trustee).
 
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
 
  A holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The
Registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by
law or permitted by the Indenture.
 
  The registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes.
 
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
 
  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing
default or compliance with any provision may be waived (other than a continuing
Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest on any
Note) with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes.
 
  Without the consent of each holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting holder of Notes) (i) reduce
the percentage of principal amount of the Notes whose holders must consent to
an amendment or waiver, (ii) change the fixed maturity of the principal of,
premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or any interest on, any Note or alter
the redemption provisions with respect thereto, (iii) make any change in the
subordination provisions of the Indenture that adversely affects the rights of
any holders of the Notes or any change to any other section of the Indenture
that adversely affects the rights of any holder of the Notes under the
subordination provisions of the Indenture, (iv) waive a default in the payment
of the principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on, any
Note, (v) make any change to the Repurchase Upon Change of Control covenant of
the Indenture or (vi) make any change in the foregoing.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of the
Notes, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the
Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for
uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to
provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to holders of the Notes
in the case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any holder of the Notes or to comply with any
requirement of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the
Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act.
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
  The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee,
should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in
certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any
such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in
other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must
eliminate such conflict within 90 days, or apply to the Commission for
permission to continue or resign.
 
  The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to
certain exceptions. The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default
shall occur (which shall not be cured), the Trustee will be required, in the
exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the
conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be
under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture
at the request of any of the holders of the Notes, unless they shall have
offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any
loss, liability or expense.
 
BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM
 
  Except as set forth below, the Notes will be represented by one or more
permanent global certificates in definitive, fully registered form (each a
"Global Note"). Each Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the
Depositary and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the
Depositary (such nominee being referred to herein as the "Global Note Holder").
See "The Exchange Offer--Book-Entry Transfer."
 
  Notes that are issued as described below under "Certificated Securities" to a
holder of Notes (a "Non-Global Purchases"), will be issued in the form of
registered definitive certificates (the "Certificated Securities"). Upon the
transfer to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act) of Certificated Securities initially issued to a Non-Global
Purchaser, such Certificated Securities may, unless the Global Note has
previously been exchanged for Certificated Securities, be exchanged for an
interest in the Global Note representing the principal amount of Notes being
transferred.
 
  The Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold
securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the
"Participants" or the "Depositary's Participants") and to facilitate the
clearance and settlement of transactions in such securities between
Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
Participants. The Depositary's Participants include securities brokers and
dealers (including the Initial Purchaser), banks and trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the Depositary's system
is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies (collectively, the "Indirect Participants" or the "Depositary's
Indirect Participants") that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship
with a Participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not
Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of the
Depositary only through the Depositary's Participants or the Depositary's
Indirect Participants.
 
  The Company expects that pursuant to procedures established by the Depositary
(i) upon deposit of the Global Note, the Depositary will credit the accounts of
Participants designated by the Initial Purchaser with portions of the principal
amount of the Global Note and (ii) ownership of the Notes evidenced by the
Global
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
 
Note will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected
only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to the
interests of the Depositary's Participants), the Depositary's Participants and
the Depositary's Indirect Participants. Prospective purchasers are advised that
the laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in
definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to
transfer Notes evidenced by the Global Note will be limited to such extent.
 
  So long as the Global Note Holder is the registered owner of any Notes, the
Global Note Holder will be considered the sole Holder under the Indenture of
any Notes evidenced by the Global Note. Beneficial owners of Notes evidenced by
the Global Note will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the
Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any
directions, instructions or approvals to the Trustee thereunder. Neither the
Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records of the Depositary or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to the Notes.
 
  Payments in respect of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, and interest on any Notes registered in the name of the Global Note Holder
on the applicable record date will be payable by the Trustee to or at the
direction of the Global Note Holder in its capacity as the registered Holder
under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company and the
Trustee may treat the persons in whose names Notes, including the Global Note,
are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such
payments. Consequently, neither the Company nor the Trustee has or will have
any responsibility or liability for the payment of such amounts to beneficial
owners of Notes (including principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any,
and interest). The Company believes, however, that it is currently the policy
of the Depositary to immediately credit the accounts of the relevant
Participants with such payments, in amounts proportionate to their respective
holdings of beneficial interests in the relevant security as shown on the
records of the Depositary. Payments by the Depositary's Participants and the
Depositary's Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of Notes will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practice and will be the
responsibility of the Depositary's Participants or the Depositary's Indirect
Participants.
 
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES
 
  Subject to certain conditions, any person having a beneficial interest in the
Global Note may, upon request to the Trustee, exchange such beneficial interest
for Notes in the form of Certificated Securities. Upon any such issuance, the
Trustee is required to register such Certificated Securities in the name of,
and cause the same to be delivered to, such person or persons (or the nominee
of any thereof). In addition, if (i) the Company notifies the Trustee in
writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able to act as a depositary
and the Company is unable to locate a qualified successor within 90 days or
(ii) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects
to cause the issuance of Notes in the form of Certificated Securities under the
Indenture, then, upon surrender by the Global Note Holder of its Global Note,
Notes in such form will be issued to each person that the Global Note Holder
and the Depositary identify as being the beneficial owner of the related Notes.
 
  Neither the Company nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by the
Global Note Holder or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners of
Notes and the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be
protected in relying on, instructions from the Global Note Holder or the
Depositary for all purposes.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
  Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is
made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any
other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
 
  "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person (i) assumed in
connection with an acquisition of assets or properties from such Person or (ii)
existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of any other Person (in
each case other than any Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such acquisition or such Person becoming such a Subsidiary).
 
  "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. A Person shall be deemed to "control"
(including the correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by,"
and "under common control with") another Person if the controlling Person (a)
possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct, or cause the direction
of, the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise, or (b) owns,
directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of the issued and outstanding
equity securities of the controlled Person.
 
  "Asset Sale" means, with respect to any Person, the sale, lease, conveyance,
disposition or other transfer by such Person of any of its businesses
(including by way of a sale-and-leaseback and including the sale or other
transfer of any of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of such Person), in a
single transaction or through a series of related transactions, for aggregate
consideration received by such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, net of
the out-of-pocket costs relating thereto (including, without limitation, legal,
accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions), in excess of
$50,000,000. For purposes of this definition, consideration shall include,
without limitation, any indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person or such
Subsidiary that is assumed by the transferee of any assets or any such
indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company whose stock is purchased by the
transferee.
 
  "Average Life" means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any
debt security, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products of
the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each
successive scheduled principal payment (assuming the exercise by the obligor of
such debt security of all unconditional (other than as to the giving of notice)
extension options of each such scheduled payment date) of such debt security
multiplied by the amount of such principal payment by (ii) the sum of all such
principal payments.
 
  "Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof is to
be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease which would
at such time be so required to be capitalized on the balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.
 
  "Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participation, rights or
other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock (including common and
preferred stock) or partnership interests.
 
  "Cash Equivalents" means (i) Marketable Equity Securities and (ii) Investment
Grade Securities.
 
  "Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the sum of, without duplication, (i) Consolidated Net Income, (ii) Consolidated
Interest Expense, (iii) Consolidated Income Tax Expense and (iv) depreciation
and amortization expenses, all as determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
 
  "Consolidated Cash Flow/Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to
any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated Cash Flow to Consolidated
Fixed Charges.
 
  "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense and (ii) all cash
preferred dividends.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
 
  "Consolidated Income Tax Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes of
such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
 
  "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, without duplication, the sum of (i) the interest expense of such Person
and its Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, including, without limitation, (a)
any amortization of debt discount, (b) the net cost of Interest Rate Protection
Obligations (including any amortization of discounts), (c) the interest portion
of any deferred payment obligation, (d) all commissions, discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance
financing and (e) all accrued interest, and (ii) the interest component of
Capital Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued
by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
 
  "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the aggregate net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such
period, before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principles (as each such term is defined under GAAP) of such Person
and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with
GAAP consistently applied, adjusted by excluding (i) any net gains or losses in
respect of disposition of assets other than in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) any gains or losses from currency exchange transactions; (iii) any gains
or losses realized upon the termination of any employee pension benefit plan;
(iv) any gains or losses realized upon the refinancing of any of such Person's
Indebtedness; (v) any settlements or judgments with respect to any litigation
not in the ordinary course of business; (vi) any gains or losses arising from
the destruction of property due to fire or other casualty; (vii) any gains or
losses arising from the revaluation of property or assets; (viii) the net
income (or loss) accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except for
dividends or other distributions actually received by such Person or its
Subsidiaries (provided that for purposes of any calculation of the Consolidated
Cash Flow/Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Net Income for such Person
and its Subsidiaries shall exclude the net income (or loss) otherwise included
pursuant to clause (viii) hereof); and (ix) the net income of any Subsidiary of
such Person to the extent that such net income has any restrictions or
encumbrances on making distributions to such Person.
 
  "Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any date of determination, the sum of the
Capital Stock and additional paid-in capital plus retained earnings (or minus
accumulated deficit) of any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, excluding amounts attributable to Redeemable Stock and excluding charges
to net worth due to the prepayment of the Credit Agreement, each item to be
determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
 
  "Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member of
the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such Board of
Directors on the date of the Indenture or (ii) was nominated for election or
elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.
 
  "Credit Agreement" means the $650,000,000 Credit and Guarantee Agreement,
dated as of November 2, 1994, as amended from time to time, by and among the
Company, certain Subsidiaries of the Company, as Guarantors, Bank of America
National Trust and Savings Association, as administrative agent and bid agent,
and the banks and other financial institutions that are signatories thereto,
and any refinancings or replacements thereof providing for Indebtedness of up
to $700,000,000, less, in the case of any such refinancings or replacements,
the amount of all permanent reductions thereunder; provided, however, under no
circumstances will such permanent reductions reduce the amount of Indebtedness
permitted under clause (ii) of the definition of "Permitted Indebtedness" below
$500,000,000.
 
  "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or
both would be, an Event of Default.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
 
  "Domestic Credit Facilities" means any U.S.-dollar denominated credit
facilities providing for extensions of credit to the Company or any domestic
Subsidiary thereof in an aggregate amount not exceeding the credit line
originally available under the Credit Agreement, less the amount of all
permanent commitment reductions under the Credit Agreement.
 
  "8 3/4% Notes" means the Company's 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due April
1, 2003.
 
  "8 3/4% Note Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 1993,
between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee, pursuant to which the 8
3/4% Notes were issued.
 
  "Equity Interest" means Capital Stock, warrants, options or other rights, to
acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security which is convertible
into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
 
  "Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in existence on the date of this Indenture.
 
  "Foreign Credit Facilities" means any foreign-currency denominated credit
facilities providing for extensions of credit to the Company or any Subsidiary
thereof or U.S.-dollar denominated extensions of credit to any foreign
Subsidiary of the Company, in amounts not exceeding, in the aggregate, the
credit lines of such facilities existing on the date of this Indenture but in
no event greater than $100,000,000.
 
  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession,
from time to time.
 
  "Indebtedness" of any person means any indebtedness, contingent or otherwise,
in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to
the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) or representing the
balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including
pursuant to Capital Lease Obligations), if and to the extent any of the
foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that any such balance that
constitutes a trade payable and/or an accrued liability arising in the ordinary
course of business shall not be considered Indebtedness), and shall also
include, to the extent not otherwise included, any Capital Lease Obligations,
the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Redeemable Stock, indebtedness
secured by a Lien to which the property or assets owned or held by such Person
is subject, whether or not the obligations secured thereby shall have been
assumed, guarantees of items that would be included within this definition to
the extent of such guarantees (exclusive of whether such items would appear
upon such balance sheet), and net liabilities in respect of Interest Rate
Protection Obligations. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the maximum
fixed repurchase price of any Redeemable Stock which does not have a fixed
repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such
Redeemable Stock as if such Redeemable Stock were repurchased on any date on
which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the
Indenture, provided that if such Redeemable Stock is not then permitted to be
repurchased, the repurchase price shall be the book value of such Redeemable
Stock. The amount of Indebtedness of any person at any date shall be, without
duplication, (i) the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional
obligations as described above and the maximum liability of any such contingent
obligations at such date and (ii) in the case of Indebtedness of others secured
by a Lien to which the property or assets owned or held by such Person is
subject, the lesser of the fair market value at such date of any asset subject
to a Lien securing the Indebtedness of others and the amount of the
Indebtedness secured.
 
  "Interest Rate Protection Obligations" means the obligations of any Person
pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person whereby, directly or
indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic
payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest
on a stated notional
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
 
amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such Person calculated by
applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and
shall include without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars
and similar agreements.
 
  "Investment Grade" means a rating by S&P of BBB- or higher or by Moody's of
Baa3 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or Moody's.
 
  "Investment Grade Securities" means (i) any evidence of indebtedness,
maturing not more than 180 days after the date of acquisition, issued or fully
guaranteed or insured by the United States of America, or an instrumentality or
agency thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged in support thereof), (ii) any certificate of deposit,
overnight bank deposit or bankers acceptance, maturing not more than 180 days
after the date of acquisition, issued by, or time deposit of, a commercial
banking institution which has capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000
rated, at the time as of which any investment therein is made, A-1 or better by
S&P or P-1 or better by Moody's or the equivalent of such rating by a successor
rating agency, (iii) commercial paper, maturing not more than 90 days after the
date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate or
Subsidiary of the Company) organized and existing under the laws of the United
States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia which is
rated, at the time as of which any Investment therein is made, P-1 or better by
Moody's or A-1 or better by S&P or the equivalent of such rating by a successor
rating agency, (iv) money market funds issued or offered by any domestic
commercial bank which has capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 and (v)
any other debt instrument rated, at the time as of which any investment therein
is made, BBB- or better by S&P or Baa-3 or better by Moody's or the equivalent
of such rating by a successor rating agency.
 
  "Lien" means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or
encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected
under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to
sell or give any security interest in and any filing or other agreement to give
any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent
statutes) of any jurisdiction).
 
  "Permitted Indebtedness" means (i) prior to any refinancing or replacement of
the Credit Agreement as in effect on March 5, 1996, (a) Indebtedness under the
Domestic Credit Facilities or any refinancing or replacement thereof and (b)
Indebtedness under the Foreign Credit Facilities or any refinancing or
replacement thereof; (ii) subsequent to any refinancings or replacements of the
Credit Agreement as in effect on March 5, 1996, Indebtedness under such
refinancings or replacements; (iii) Existing Indebtedness; (iv) Indebtedness
represented by the Notes; (v) Interest Rate Protection Obligations covering
Indebtedness (which Indebtedness (A) bears interest at fluctuating interest
rates and (B) is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Limitation on
Additional Indebtedness covenant) to the extent that the notional principal
amount of such Interest Rate Protection Obligations does not exceed the
principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Interest Rate Protection
Obligations relate; (vi) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company to the
Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company and Indebtedness of the Company
to any Subsidiary of the Company of which, at the time such Indebtedness is
created or incurred, the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, at
least 66 2/3% of the combined voting power of all of such Subsidiary's then
outstanding Capital Stock; (vii) Indebtedness arising from guarantees of
Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business to suppliers,
licensees, franchisees or customers; (viii) Indebtedness arising from
performance bonds provided by the Company in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial
institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in
the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against funds in the ordinary course of
business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five
days of incurrence; (x) Indebtedness represented by letters of credit issued in
the ordinary course of business, and not issued pursuant to the Domestic Credit
Facilities or the Foreign Credit Facilities, or any refinancings thereof, or
subsequent to any refinancing or replacement of the Credit Agreement as in
effect on March 5, 1996, pursuant to such refinancings or replacements, in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; (xi) other
Indebtedness
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
 
in an amount not to exceed $65,000,000 at any time; and (xii) Indebtedness, the
proceeds of which are used to redeem, refund, replace, reduce, extend,
discharge or otherwise retire for value or refinance any Indebtedness of the
Company or a Subsidiary thereof (such new Indebtedness being "Refinancing
Indebtedness") not to exceed the amount (or, if such Refinancing Indebtedness
is issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, with an original
issue price) so refinanced (plus accrued interest, premium, if any, and
reasonable fees and expenses related thereto); provided, however, that (a) such
Refinancing Indebtedness shall rank in right of payment to the Notes at least
to the same extent as the Indebtedness to be refinanced, (b) such Refinancing
Indebtedness shall have an Average Life and stated maturity equal to, or
greater than, the Average Life and stated maturity of the Indebtedness to be
refinanced and (c) the proceeds of such Refinancing Indebtedness, if incurred
by a Subsidiary of the Company, shall not be used to refinance (x) Indebtedness
of the Company or (y) Indebtedness of another Subsidiary of the Company that is
subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.
 
  "Permitted Liens" means, with respect to any Person, (i) pledges or deposits
by such Person under workmen's compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws
or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids,
tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to
which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory
obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States Government
bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or
deposits as security for contested taxes or for the payment of rent, (ii) Liens
(as defined) imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's and mechanics'
liens, and bankers' liens, (iii) Liens for taxes not yet subject to penalties
for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings, if adequate reserves, as may be required by GAAP, shall have been
made therefor, (iv) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and
proceeds of any Person securing the Person's obligations in respect of banker's
acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the
shipping or storage of such inventory or other goods, (v) Liens in favor of
customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of
customs duties in connection with the importation of goods, (vi) Liens arising
out of consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in
accordance with the past practices of the Company, and each of its
Subsidiaries, (vii) Liens arising from filing UCC financing statements
regarding leases (other than capital leases), (viii) Liens arising in
connection with or out of any commercial letters of credit, (ix) such other
nonconsensual Liens as may arise in the ordinary course of business of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and as do not materially impair the use of
the property subject thereto in the course of such business, (x) Liens in favor
of issuers of surety bonds (other than to satisfy or stay any judgment or
judgments in excess of $1,000,000 individually or $3,000,000 in the aggregate)
issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the
course of its business, (xi) Liens in connection with any legal proceedings
(including legal proceedings instituted by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings, including appeals of judgments as to which a stay of execution
shall have been issued, provided that adequate reserves have been established
with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and no property of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is in imminent danger of being lost or forfeited as a
result thereof, and (xii) survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or
reservations of, or rights of others for, rights of way, sewers, electric
lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or
other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the
conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties.
 
  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.
 
  "Redeemable Stock" means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable before the stated maturity of the Notes), or upon the happening of
any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, in whole or in part, prior to
the stated maturity of the Notes.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
 
  "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on any Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of the
Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, unless, in
the case of any particular Indebtedness, the instrument under which such
Indebtedness is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed expressly provides
that such Indebtedness shall not be senior or superior in right of payment to
the Notes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, "Senior
Indebtedness" shall include the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
all obligations of every nature of the Company from time to time owed to the
lenders under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, principal of
and interest on, and all fees and expenses payable under the Credit Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or the
Notes, "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include any Indebtedness represented by
the 8 3/4% Notes.
 
  "SFAS 121" means Statement No. 121--Accounting for the Impairment of Long-
Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of--issued in March 1995
by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
 
  "Subsidiary" means any corporation, association or other business entity of
which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock
entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.
 
  "Wholly-owned Subsidiary" of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person
to the extent the entire voting share capital of such Subsidiary is owned by
such Person (either directly or indirectly through Wholly-owned Subsidiaries).
 
                   CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
  The following discussion is a summary of certain federal income tax
considerations relevant to the exchange of Private Notes for Exchange Notes,
but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects.
The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
Treasury regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and
judicial decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change at any
time by legislative, judicial or administrative action. Any such changes may be
applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of the
Exchange Notes. The description does not consider the effect of any applicable
foreign, state, local or other tax laws or estate or gift tax considerations.
 
  EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE PARTICULAR
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO IT OF EXCHANGING PRIVATE NOTES FOR EXCHANGE NOTES,
INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
 
  The exchange of Private Notes for Exchange Notes should not be an exchange or
otherwise a taxable event to a holder for federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly, a holder should have the same adjusted issue price, adjusted basis
and holding period in the Exchange Notes as it had in the Private Notes
immediately before the exchange.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
  Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Commission set forth in no-
action letters issued to third parties, the Company believes that the Exchange
Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Private Notes may
be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a holder thereof
(other than (i) an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities Act, (ii) a broker-dealer who acquired Private Notes
directly from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act or (iii) a broker-dealer who
acquired Private Notes as a result of market making or other trading
activities), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act; provided that the holder is acquiring
Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business and is not participating,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes. Holders of Private Notes wishing to accept
the Exchange Offer must represent to the Company, as required by the
Registration Rights Agreement, that such conditions have been met. The Company
believes that none of the registered holders of the Private Notes is an
affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the
Company.
 
  Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in
exchange for Private Notes must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. The Letter of Transmittal
states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from
time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of
Exchange Notes received in exchange for Private Notes, where such Private Notes
were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities. The Company has agreed to make this Prospectus (as it
may be amended or supplemented) available to any broker-dealer, upon request,
for use in connection with any such resale, for a period of one year after the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or until such
earlier date on which all the Exchange Notes are freely tradeable. However, any
broker-dealer who acquired the Notes directly from the Company may not fulfill
its prospectus delivery requirements with this Prospectus, but must comply with
the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
 
  The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of the Exchange Notes
by broker-dealers or any other persons. Exchange Notes received by broker-
dealers for their own accounts pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold for
time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Notes
or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the
time of such resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or
through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of
commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or purchasers of any
such Exchange Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Notes that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any
broker or dealer that participates in the distribution of such Exchange Notes
may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act
and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Notes and any commissions or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-
dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
 
  By acceptance of this Exchange Offer, each broker-dealer that receives
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer agrees that, upon receipt of
notice from the Company of the happening of any event which makes any statement
in the Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making
of any changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
misleading (which notice the Company agrees to deliver promptly to such broker-
dealer), such broker-dealer will suspend use of the Prospectus until the
Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement
or omission and
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
 
has furnished copies of the amended or supplemented Prospectus to such broker-
dealer. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the use of the
Prospectus, it shall extend the one-year period referred to above by the number
of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such
notice to and including the date when the broker-dealers shall have received
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to permit resales of
the Exchange Notes.
 
  The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Company's
performance of, or compliance with, the Registration Rights Agreement and will
indemnify the holders (including any broker-dealers) and certain parties
related to the holders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the Exchange Notes will
be passed upon for the Company by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, New York, New
York, special counsel to the Company.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated balance sheets of Mark IV Industries, Inc. and its
subsidiaries as of February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995 and the consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended February 29, 1996, included in this Prospectus or
incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 1996 have been examined by Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PAGE NO.
                                                                      --------
<S>                                                                   <C>
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Mark IV as of February
 29, 1996:
  Report of Independent Accountants..................................   F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets........................................   F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Income..................................   F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity....................   F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows..............................   F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.........................   F-7
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
 of Mark IV Industries, Inc.
 
  We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mark IV
Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of February 29, 1996 and February 28,
1995, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended February 29,
1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
 
  We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
  In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Mark IV
Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of February 29, 1996 and February 28,
1995, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended February 29, 1996, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
  As discussed in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the
Company changed its method of accounting for postretirement benefits other
than pensions.
 
                                          Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
 
Rochester, New York
March 29, 1996
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
                            MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                       LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY 1996 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1996        1995
                                                        ----------  ----------
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>
                        ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash................................................. $      900  $      800
  Accounts receivable..................................    399,600     383,700
  Inventories..........................................    405,000     361,900
  Other current assets.................................     68,300      58,600
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total current assets...............................    873,800     805,000
Pension and other non-current assets...................    216,500     197,100
Property, plant and equipment, net.....................    553,700     487,900
Cost in excess of net assets acquired..................    369,100     356,400
                                                        ----------  ----------
    TOTAL ASSETS....................................... $2,013,100  $1,846,400
                                                        ==========  ==========
          LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Notes payable and current maturities of debt......... $   95,100  $   67,300
  Accounts payable.....................................    191,300     174,000
  Compensation related liabilities.....................     71,300      70,400
  Accrued interest.....................................     12,700      13,800
  Other current liabilities ...........................     98,500      99,800
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total current liabilities..........................    468,900     425,300
                                                        ----------  ----------
Long-Term Debt:
  Senior debt..........................................    136,100     352,700
  Subordinated debt....................................    506,400     258,000
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total long-term debt...............................    642,500     610,700
                                                        ----------  ----------
Other non-current liabilities..........................    176,200     174,900
                                                        ----------  ----------
Stockholders' Equity:
  Common stock--$.01 par value; Authorized 100,000,000
   shares; Issued 63,000,000 shares in 1996 and
   62,900,000 shares in 1995...........................        600         600
  Additional paid-in capital...........................    617,600     550,200
  Retained earnings....................................    109,700      90,800
  Foreign currency translation adjustment .............     (2,400)     (6,100)
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total stockholders' equity.........................    725,500     635,500
                                                        ----------  ----------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY........... $2,013,100  $1,846,400
                                                        ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
                            MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
            YEARS ENDED THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY 1996, 1995 AND 1994
                 (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 1996       1995        1994
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
<S>                                           <C>        <C>         <C>
Net sales ..................................  $2,088,500 $1,603,300  $1,244,200
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
Operating costs:
  Cost of products sold.....................   1,413,500  1,060,000     803,500
  Selling and administration................     347,200    292,700     236,300
  Research and development..................      48,400     34,800      30,900
  Depreciation and amortization.............      66,800     51,500      41,700
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
      Total operating costs ................   1,875,900  1,439,000   1,112,400
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
  Operating income..........................     212,600    164,300     131,800
Interest expense............................      61,200     53,900      50,100
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
  Income before provision for taxes.........     151,400    110,400      81,700
Provision for taxes.........................      59,000     42,500      30,600
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
  Income before extraordinary items and
   accounting change........................      92,400     67,900      51,100
Extraordinary loss from early extinguishment
 of debt, net of tax benefit of $700 and
 $12,300....................................          --     (1,100)    (21,700)
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting
 principle..................................          --         --     (26,000)
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
      NET INCOME............................  $   92,400 $   66,800  $    3,400
                                              ========== ==========  ==========
Net income per share of common stock:
  Primary:
    Income before extraordinary items.......  $     1.46 $     1.33  $     1.09
    Extraordinary loss......................          --       (.02)       (.46)
    Cumulative effect of accounting change..          --         --        (.56)
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
      NET INCOME............................  $     1.46 $     1.31  $      .07
                                              ========== ==========  ==========
  Fully-diluted:
    Income before extraordinary items.......  $     1.46 $     1.23  $      .99
    Extraordinary loss......................          --       (.02)       (.39)
    Cumulative effect of accounting change..          --         --        (.46)
                                              ---------- ----------  ----------
      NET INCOME............................  $     1.46 $     1.21  $      .14
                                              ========== ==========  ==========
Weighted average shares outstanding:
  Primary ..................................      63,000     51,000      46,800
                                              ========== ==========  ==========
  Fully-diluted.............................      63,400     57,800      55,900
                                              ========== ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
                            MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
           YEARS ENDED THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY 1996, 1995, AND 1994
                 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      FOREIGN
                                               ADDITIONAL            CURRENCY
                                        COMMON  PAID-IN   RETAINED  TRANSLATION
                                        STOCK   CAPITAL   EARNINGS  ADJUSTMENT
                                        ------ ---------- --------  -----------
<S>                                     <C>    <C>        <C>       <C>
Balance at February 28, 1993...........  $400   $219,300  $128,300    $(2,400)
  Net income for fiscal 1994...........                      3,400
  Cash dividends of $.088 per share....                     (4,200)
  Stock dividend of 5%.................           38,900   (38,900)
  Conversion of 6 1/4% Debentures......              100
  Restricted stock grants, net.........              800
  Stock options activity, including
   related tax benefits................            2,400
  Translation adjustment...............                                (2,700)
                                         ----   --------  --------    -------
Balance at February 28, 1994...........   400    261,500    88,600     (5,100)
  Net income for fiscal 1995...........                     66,800
  Cash dividends of $.102 per share....                     (5,600)
  Stock dividend of 5%.................           59,000   (59,000)
  Sale of Common Stock at $17.23 per
   share, net of expenses..............   100    114,400
  Conversion of 6 1/4% Debentures, net
   of expenses.........................   100    111,100
  Restricted stock grants, net.........            1,600
  Stock options activity, including
   related tax benefits................            2,600
  Translation adjustment...............                                (1,000)
                                         ----   --------  --------    -------
Balance at February 28, 1995...........   600    550,200    90,800     (6,100)
  Net income for fiscal 1996...........                     92,400
  Cash dividends of $.119 per share....                     (7,500)
  Stock dividend of 5%.................           66,000   (66,000)
  Restricted stock amortization........            1,300
  Stock options activity, including
   related tax benefits................              100
  Translation adjustment...............                                 3,700
                                         ----   --------  --------    -------
Balance at February 29, 1996...........  $600   $617,600  $109,700    $(2,400)
                                         ====   ========  ========    =======
</TABLE>
 
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
                            MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
            YEARS ENDED THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY 1996, 1995 AND 1994
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    1996      1995      1994
                                                  --------  --------  --------
<S>                                               <C>       <C>       <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
 Income before extraordinary items............... $ 92,400  $ 67,900  $ 51,100
 Items not affecting cash:
  Depreciation and amortization..................   66,800    51,500    41,700
  Deferred income taxes..........................   28,700    18,200    10,800
  Pension income, net of other items.............   (4,900)  (11,100)  (12,400)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
    Net cash provided by earnings................  183,000   126,500    91,200
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net of
   effects of acquired businesses:
   Accounts receivable...........................   (1,700)  (20,900)  (27,200)
   Inventories...................................  (38,400)  (23,100)   (7,700)
   Other assets..................................  (25,500)   (3,000)   (5,700)
   Accounts payable..............................    8,500    33,700    (2,600)
   Other liabilities.............................  (36,200)  (16,100)   (7,300)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
    Net cash provided by operations..............   89,700    97,100    40,700
 Extraordinary items, before deferred charges ...       --        --   (30,100)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
    Net cash provided by operating activities....   89,700    97,100    10,600
                                                  --------  --------  --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
 Acquisitions....................................  (28,200) (300,900)  (65,000)
 Divestitures and asset sales....................    1,600    12,100    35,000
 Purchase of plant and equipment, net............  (92,100)  (49,600)  (38,000)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
    Net cash used in investing activities........ (118,700) (338,400)  (68,000)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
 Credit agreement borrowings, net................ (242,700)  111,200    18,400
 Purchases of subordinated debt..................       --        --  (190,200)
 Issuance of subordinated debt...................  248,400        --   258,000
 Other changes in long-term debt, net............    3,400       900   (18,900)
 Changes in short-term bank borrowings...........   27,500    19,500    (8,300)
 Common stock transactions.......................      100   114,800       800
 Cash dividends paid.............................   (7,500)   (5,100)   (4,100)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
    Net cash provided by financing activities ...   29,200   241,300    55,700
                                                  --------  --------  --------
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations.............     (100)      300      (500)
                                                  --------  --------  --------
    Net increase (decrease) in cash..............      100       300    (2,200)
Cash and cash equivalents:
 Beginning of the year...........................      800       500     2,700
                                                  --------  --------  --------
 End of the year................................. $    900  $    800  $    500
                                                  ========  ========  ========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.THE COMPANY AND ITS SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 The Company
 
  The Company is a diversified manufacturer of proprietary and other products,
with operations primarily in industrial and automotive power and fluid
transfer businesses.
 
 Principles of Consolidation
 
  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have
been eliminated. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, which requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities as of the date of such financial statements, and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. It
should be recognized that the actual results could differ from those
estimates.
 
 Inventories
 
  Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined
primarily on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method.
 
 Property, Plant and Equipment
 
  The Company provides for depreciation of plant and equipment primarily on
the straight-line method over its useful life. The cost of property, plant and
equipment retired or otherwise disposed of, and the accumulated depreciation
thereon, are eliminated from the asset and related accumulated depreciation
accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in income.
 
 Cost in Excess of Net Assets Acquired
 
  Cost in excess of net assets acquired ("goodwill") is amortized on the
straight-line method over 40 years. The Company continually evaluates the
existence of goodwill impairment on the basis of whether the goodwill is fully
recoverable from projected, undiscounted net cash flows of the related
business unit.
 
 Foreign Currency
 
  The assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are
translated at year-end exchange rates, and resulting gains and losses are
accumulated in a separate component of stockholders' equity. Foreign currency
transactions are included in income as realized. The Company enters into
foreign currency forward contracts as a hedge for certain existing or
anticipated business transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Gains or
losses on contracts related to existing business transactions are deferred and
recognized as the related transaction is completed, while those related to
anticipated transactions are recognized as of the balance sheet date. The
Company does not hold or issue derivatives for trading purposes and is not a
party to leveraged derivatives transactions.
 
 Net Income Per Share of Common Stock
 
  Primary net income per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted
average number of shares outstanding, adjusted for subsequent stock
distributions. Common stock equivalents which would arise from the exercise of
stock options, using the treasury stock method, were not significant and have
not been included in the calculation.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Fully-diluted net income per share, in addition to the weighted average
determined above, includes common stock equivalents which would arise from the
exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method, and assumes the
conversion of the Company's 6-1/4% Debentures for the periods outstanding.
 
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
  For purposes of cash flows, the Company considers overnight investments as
cash equivalents. The Company paid interest of approximately $64,000,000;
$56,000,000; and $52,900,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The
Company paid income taxes of approximately $26,600,000; $21,900,000 and
$13,700,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
 New Accounting Pronouncement
 
  In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement No. 121--Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for
Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of ("SFAS No. 121"). SFAS No. 121 requires
that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles and goodwill
related to those assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. SFAS No. 121 is effective for the Company's fiscal year ending
February 28, 1997, and management is in the process of assessing its impact on
its financial statements. While it is anticipated that SFAS No. 121 will
require a non-cash charge to reduce the carrying value of certain of the
Company's fixed assets and goodwill values, the Company has not completed its
estimate at the present time.
 
2.ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES
 
  In November 1994, the Company acquired substantially all of the stock of
Purolator Products Company ("Purolator") for a total cash purchase price,
including expenses, of approximately $286,300,000. Funding for the acquisition
was provided by borrowings under the Company's credit agreement. Purolator is
a manufacturer of a broad range of filtration products used principally in the
automotive aftermarket, and specialized industrial applications.
 
  The acquisition has been accounted for under the purchase method, and
Purolator's results of operations have been consolidated with the Company's
results of operations as of the acquisition date. During fiscal 1996, the
Company made a final determination and allocation of the purchase price as of
the acquisition date, consisting of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                                 <C>
   Accounts receivable................................................ $ 83,300
   Inventories........................................................   71,000
   Other current assets...............................................   10,000
   Accounts payable and other current liabilities..................... (104,200)
                                                                       --------
     Net working capital acquired.....................................   60,100
   Fixed assets.......................................................   99,900
   Cost in excess of net assets acquired..............................  158,200
   Long-term bank indebtedness........................................  (38,600)
   Other non-current items, net.......................................    6,700
                                                                       --------
     Total purchase price, including expenses......................... $286,300
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>
 
  The final changes to the preliminary purchase price determination and
allocation did not have a significant effect on the Company's results of
operations as previously reported.
 
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

  During fiscal 1994, the Company decided to sell certain of its non-core
business units, and accounted for them as discontinued operations. The sale of
certain of these operations generated proceeds of $12,100,000 and $35,000,000
in fiscal 1995 and 1994, respectively. At February 28, 1995, the Company's net
assets of its remaining discontinued operations amounted to approximately
$19,500,000. The Company did not sell such operations in fiscal 1996, and
determined it appropriate to reclassify them as continuing.
 
3.ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
 
  Accounts receivable are reflected net of allowances for doubtful accounts of
$16,700,000 and $18,600,000 at February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995,
respectively.
 
4.INVENTORIES
 
  Inventories consist of the following at February 29, 1996 and February 28,
1995 (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1996     1995
                                                               -------- --------
   <S>                                                         <C>      <C>
   Raw materials.............................................. $112,900 $103,500
   Work-in-process............................................   57,500   60,200
   Finished goods.............................................  234,600  198,200
                                                               -------- --------
     Total.................................................... $405,000 $361,900
                                                               ======== ========
</TABLE>
 
  As a result of the fair value determination of inventories required by the
purchase method of accounting for acquired companies as of their acquisition
date, LIFO costs exceed FIFO costs by approximately $40,000,000 and
$39,300,000 at February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995, respectively.
 
5.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
  Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and consist of the
following at February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995 (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1996     1995
                                                              -------- --------
   <S>                                                        <C>      <C>
   Land and land improvements................................ $ 43,400 $ 41,500
   Buildings.................................................  155,300  145,300
   Machinery and equipment...................................  547,700  451,600
                                                              -------- --------
   Total property, plant and equipment.......................  746,400  638,400
   Less accumulated depreciation.............................  192,700  150,500
                                                              -------- --------
   Property, plant and equipment, net........................ $553,700 $487,900
                                                              ======== ========
</TABLE>
 
  Depreciation expense was approximately $53,300,000; $40,900,000; and
$33,200,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
6.COST IN EXCESS OF NET ASSETS ACQUIRED
 
  Cost in excess of net assets acquired is presented net of accumulated
amortization of approximately $39,300,000 and $29,700,000 at February 29, 1996
and February 28, 1995, respectively. Amortization expense was approximately
$9,600,000, $7,000,000 and $5,700,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
7.LONG-TERM DEBT
 
  Long-term debt consists of the following at February 29, 1996 and February
28, 1995 (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1996        1995
                                                        ----------  ----------
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>
Senior debt:
  Credit agreement..................................... $   97,300  $       --
  Prior credit agreements..............................         --     338,300
  Other items..........................................     46,700      23,000
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total senior debt..................................    144,000     361,300
  Less current maturities..............................     (7,900)     (8,600)
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Net senior debt ...................................    136,100     352,700
                                                        ----------  ----------
Subordinated debt:
  7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes.....................    248,400          --
  8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes.....................    258,000     258,000
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total subordinated debt............................    506,400     258,000
                                                        ----------  ----------
  Total long-term debt.................................    642,500     610,700
  Stockholders' equity.................................    725,500     635,500
                                                        ----------  ----------
    Total capitalization............................... $1,368,000  $1,246,200
                                                        ==========  ==========
    Long-term debt as a percentage of total
     capitalization....................................       47.0%       49.0%
                                                        ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
  On March 8, 1996, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit
and Guarantee Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with various financial
institutions. The Credit Agreement provides for a five year non-amortizing
revolving credit facility with borrowing availability of $400,000,000 under a
domestic facility (the "Domestic Credit Facility") and $100,000,000 under a
multi-currency facility (the "Multi-Currency Credit Facility"). The Multi-
Currency Credit Facility permits borrowings to be made in dollars as well as
specified foreign currencies. The proceeds of the initial borrowings under the
Credit Agreement were used to repay all amounts outstanding under the
Company's previously existing credit agreements. Borrowings outstanding under
the previous credit agreements as of February 29, 1996 are assumed to have
been replaced as of the balance sheet date with borrowings under the Credit
Agreement, as well as the proceeds from the sale of the 7 3/4% Notes, as
discussed below.
 
  Borrowings under the Domestic Credit Facility bear interest at an annual
rate equal to, at the Company's option, either (i) the greater of (a) the
reference rate of the agent acting on behalf of the various banks or (b) the
Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% or (ii) LIBOR plus a margin (the "Applicable
Margin") ranging from 0.225% to 0.35% depending upon the Company's
consolidated leverage ratio, as determined on a quarterly basis. Borrowings
under the Multi-Currency Credit Facility bear interest at the LIBOR rate for
the currency of each loan plus the Applicable Margin. The Company is also
required to pay a commitment fee at an annual rate ranging from 0.125% to
0.20% of the total borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement (the
"Facility Fee Rate"), determined on the basis of the same consolidated
leverage ratio. Based upon the Company's consolidated leverage ratio as of
February 29, 1996, the Applicable Margin and Facility Fee Rate are 0.225% and
0.15% respectively. The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants,
including those requiring the maintenance of specified consolidated interest
coverage and leverage ratios and amounts of consolidated net worth. Borrowings
under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Company's significant
domestic subsidiaries and are collateralized by a pledge of the capital stock
of each of such subsidiaries.
 
  On March 11, 1996, the Company completed the private placement of
$250,000,000 principal amount of its 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
(the "7 3/4% Notes") at a purchase price of 99.36% of their face amount. The
net proceeds from the sale of the 7 3/4% Notes were used to reduce outstanding
indebtedness under
 
                                     F-10
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
the Credit Agreement. The 7 3/4% Notes are general unsecured obligations of
the Company and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and
future senior indebtedness, and rank the same in right of payment as the
Company's 8 3/4% Notes. The related Indenture limits the payment of dividends
and the repurchase of the Company's Common Stock, and includes certain other
restrictions and limitations customary with subordinated indebtedness of this
type. The Company has agreed to make an offer to exchange the 7 3/4% Notes
(the "Exchange Offer") for a new issue of debt securities registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 (as amended), with substantially identical terms. The
Company is in the process of registering the Exchange Offer.
 
  In fiscal 1994, the Company completed a public offering of $258,000,000
principal amount of its 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due April 2003 (the
"8 3/4% Notes"). The 8 3/4% Notes are not redeemable until April 1998, when
they are redeemable at 104.375% of principal amount, and thereafter at an
annually declining premium over par until April 2001 when they are redeemable
at par. In fiscal 1994, the Company also recognized an extraordinary loss, net
of tax, of approximately $21,700,000 as a result of the extinguishment of
$190,000,000 of its 13 3/8% Subordinated Debentures.
 
  At February 29, 1996, the Company had interest rate swap agreements in an
aggregate notional amount of approximately $133,000,000. Such agreements
effectively convert the variable rates of interest payable by the Company on
such amount of its indebtedness to fixed annual rates of interest. As a result
of such agreements, the Company is currently paying an effective fixed annual
rate of interest of approximately 5.70% on $100,000,000 of indebtedness, and
12% on $33,000,000 of indebtedness denominated in Italian Lira. The agreements
are scheduled to expire at various dates through 2000.
 
  Based on market quotes and interest rates currently available to the Company
for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities, the aggregate fair value
of total long-term debt at February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995 was
approximately $652,200,000 and $601,700,000, respectively.
 
  After giving consideration to the Company's new Credit Agreement in March
1996, annual maturities of long-term debt for the next five fiscal years are
approximately: 1997--$7,900,000; 1998--$3,000,000; 1999-- $2,700,000; 2000--
$2,200,000; and 2001--$99,400,000.
 
8.LEASES
 
  The Company has operating leases which expire at various dates through 2010
with, in some instances, cost escalation and renewal privileges. Total rental
expense under operating leases was approximately $19,100,000; $18,300,000; and
$15,900,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Minimum rental
payments under operating leases are approximately: 1997--$18,800,000; 1998--
$16,500,000; 1999--$14,500,000; 2000-- $10,400,000; 2001--$8,400,000; 2002 and
thereafter $24,500,000.
 
                                     F-11
<PAGE>
 
                            MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
9.INCOME TAXES
 
  Income before provision for taxes and the related provision for taxes for
fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994 consists of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1996      1995     1994
                                                   --------  --------  -------
   <S>                                             <C>       <C>       <C>
   Income before provision for taxes:
     United States...............................  $ 95,100  $ 69,500  $45,800
     Foreign.....................................    56,300    40,900   35,900
                                                   --------  --------  -------
         Total...................................  $151,400  $110,400  $81,700
                                                   ========  ========  =======
   Provision for taxes:
     Currently payable:
       United States.............................  $ 15,300  $ 12,500  $14,500
       Foreign...................................    15,000    11,800    5,300
                                                   --------  --------  -------
         Total currently payable.................    30,300    24,300   19,800
                                                   --------  --------  -------
     Deferred:
       United States.............................    16,500     7,600    3,600
       Foreign...................................    12,200    10,600    7,200
                                                   --------  --------  -------
         Total deferred..........................    28,700    18,200   10,800
                                                   --------  --------  -------
         Total provision for taxes...............  $ 59,000  $ 42,500  $30,600
                                                   ========  ========  =======
 
  The provision for taxes for fiscal 1996, 1995, and 1994 differs from the
amount computed using the United States statutory income tax rate as follows
(dollars in thousands):
 
<CAPTION>
                                                     1996      1995     1994
                                                   --------  --------  -------
   <S>                                             <C>       <C>       <C>
   Expected tax at United States statutory income
    tax rate.....................................  $ 53,000  $ 38,600  $28,600
   Permanent differences.........................     1,600     2,100    1,200
   State and local income taxes..................     2,600     1,900    1,200
   Tax credits, net..............................      (250)     (700)    (500)
   Foreign tax rate differences..................     2,050       600      100
                                                   --------  --------  -------
         Total provision for taxes...............  $ 59,000  $ 42,500  $30,600
                                                   ========  ========  =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The tax effects of temporary differences which give rise to a significant
portion of deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following at
February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995 (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1996      1995
                                                            --------  --------
   <S>                                                      <C>       <C>
   Current:
     Accounts receivable................................... $  6,500  $  7,300
     Inventories...........................................   (5,100)   (5,000)
     Compensation related..................................    7,800     8,000
     Tax credit carryforwards..............................    4,000     2,000
     Other items...........................................   (8,000)     (600)
                                                            --------  --------
       Net current asset................................... $  5,200  $ 11,700
                                                            ========  ========
   Non-current:
     Fixed and intangible assets........................... $(41,000) $(52,100)
     Tax credits...........................................   17,000    21,000
     Capital loss carryforwards............................       --    11,000
     All other items.......................................   (9,100)   23,300
                                                            --------  --------
       Total non-current asset (liability).................  (33,100)    3,200
     Valuation allowance...................................       --   (14,100)
                                                            --------  --------
       Net non-current liability........................... $(33,100) $(10,900)
                                                            ========  ========
</TABLE>
 
  The non-current valuation allowance in fiscal 1995 related primarily to
capital loss carryforwards which were available to use substantially through
fiscal 1996.
 
  Based on the Company's history of prior operating earnings and its
expectations for the future, management of the Company has determined that it
is more likely than not that operating income will be sufficient to utilize
the tax credits in their carryforward periods, which run substantially through
fiscal 2007. The undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries
have been reinvested in each country, and are not expected to be remitted back
to the parent Company.
 
10.PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS
 
  The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering both union and non-
union employees. Under the union plans, employee benefits are computed based
on a dollar amount multiplied by the number of years of service. Benefits
under the non-union plans are computed in a similar manner for certain plans,
and based on the employees' earnings in other plans.
 
  The funded status of the Company's defined benefit plans consists of the
following at February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995 (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1996       1995
                                                         ---------  ---------
   <S>                                                   <C>        <C>
   Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
     Vested............................................. $(283,500) $(259,400)
                                                         ---------  ---------
     Accumulated........................................ $(289,600) $(264,500)
                                                         ---------  ---------
     Projected.......................................... $(303,100) $(273,700)
   Plan assets at fair value............................   366,400    335,400
                                                         ---------  ---------
   Plan assets in excess of projected benefit
    obligations.........................................    63,300     61,700
   Unrecognized net loss and differences in
    assumptions.........................................    48,800     49,100
   Unrecognized prior service costs ....................     7,500      2,700
                                                         ---------  ---------
   Prepaid pension cost recognized in the consolidated
    balance sheets...................................... $ 119,600  $ 113,500
                                                         =========  =========
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-13
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The plans' assets consist of corporate and government bonds, listed common
stocks, guaranteed investment contracts, and real estate investments. Included
in the plans' assets are $37,700,000 of the Company's securities at February
29, 1996.
 
  Net pension income for the defined benefit pension plans in fiscal 1996,
1995, and 1994 includes the following components (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       1996     1995     1994
                                                      -------  -------  -------
<S>                                                   <C>      <C>      <C>
  Service cost-benefits earned during the period..... $(3,700) $(3,600) $(2,900)
  Interest cost on projected benefit obligation...... (22,400) (19,500) (18,200)
  Actual return on assets............................  68,600    4,300   32,100
  Net amortization and deferral...................... (36,000)  31,300    2,500
                                                      -------  -------  -------
    Net pension income............................... $ 6,500  $12,500  $13,500
                                                      =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
  The assumptions utilized to measure net pension income and the projected
benefit obligations are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1996   1995   1994
                                                            -----  -----  -----
<S>                                                         <C>    <C>    <C>
  Discount rate............................................  7.50%  8.75%  7.75%
  Expected long-term rate of return........................ 11.50% 11.50% 12.00%
  Average increase in compensation.........................  4.00%  4.00%  5.00%
</TABLE>
 
  The Company also has defined contribution pension plans for a significant
number of its employees. The Company's contributions to these plans are based
on various percentages of compensation, and in some instances are based upon
the amount of the employees' contributions to the plans. The annual cost of
these plans, the substantial part of which is funded currently, amounted to
approximately $10,600,000; $8,100,000; and $6,700,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and
1994, respectively.
 
11.POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS
 
  The Company currently provides health and life insurance benefits to a
number of existing retirees from certain of its operations under the
provisions of a number of different plans. Contributions currently required to
be paid by the retirees towards the cost of such plans range from zero to
100%. The Company also has a number of active employees who might receive such
benefits upon their retirement. The Company recognized a $40,000,000 liability
for the cost of these plans, referred to as the accumulated post-retirement
benefit obligation (APBO), entirely in fiscal 1994 in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106. The resulting net of tax
charge of $26,000,000 ($.46 per fully diluted share) was included as the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the consolidated
statement of income for fiscal 1994.
 
  The following table sets forth the amount included with other non-current
liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at February 29, 1996 and
February 28, 1995 (dollars in thousands)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1996     1995
                                                              -------  -------
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
  Accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation:
    Retirees and beneficiaries receiving benefits............ $68,300  $56,200
    Active employees, fully eligible for benefits............   6,500    5,700
    Active employees, not fully eligible for benefits........   9,300    7,800
                                                              -------  -------
      Total accumulated benefit obligation...................  84,100   69,700
      Unrecognized net loss.................................. (13,500)  (1,800)
                                                              -------  -------
      Post-retirement benefit liability recognized in the
       consolidated balance sheets........................... $70,600  $67,900
                                                              =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
 
                                     F-14
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
  The Company's post-retirement benefit expense for fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994
includes the following components (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1996   1995   1994
                                                           ------ ------ ------
   <S>                                                     <C>    <C>    <C>
   Service cost-benefits earned during the period......... $  600 $  500 $  400
   Interest cost on the APBO..............................  6,000  4,600  3,400
   Amortization expense...................................    100     --     --
                                                           ------ ------ ------
     Total expense........................................ $6,700 $5,100 $3,800
                                                           ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
  The APBO was calculated using a discount rate of 7.50% at February 29, 1996,
and 8.75% at February 28, 1995. The APBO determinations assume an initial
health care cost trend rate of approximately 8.0%, trending down rateably to
an ultimate rate of 4.5% in 2002. The impact of a one-percentage-point
increase in such trend rate would be to increase the APBO at February 29, 1996
by approximately $1,400,000 and increase annual expense by approximately
$100,000.
 
12. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
  The Company is involved in various legal and environmental related issues.
In the opinion of the Company's management, the ultimate cost to resolve these
matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
13.STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK OPTIONS
 
  In fiscal 1996, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a Shareholders'
Rights Plan under which Rights were distributed as a dividend at a rate of one
Right for each share of Common Stock held. Each Right entitles the holder to
buy one one-hundredth of a newly-issued share of the Company's Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $80.00 per share. If an
acquiring person beneficially owns 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock
or the Company is a party to a business combination which is not approved by
the Company's Board of Directors, each Right (other than those held by the
acquiring person) will entitle the holder to receive, upon exercise, shares of
Common Stock of the Company or of the surviving company with a value equal to
two times the exercise price of the Right.
 
  The Company's Board of Directors declared five percent stock dividends which
were distributed in April 1996, 1995 and 1994. All share amounts have been
presented as if the stock distributions had occurred at the beginning of
fiscal 1994. As of February 29, 1996, the Company continues to be authorized
to repurchase approximately 7,000,000 shares, of its outstanding Common Stock.
 
  The Company is also authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, and there are no shares outstanding at the present time.
 
  The Company's qualified Incentive Stock Option Plan provides for granting
key employees options to purchase the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
price equal to 100% of the market price on the date of grant. The options may
be exercised in cumulative annual increments of 25% commencing one year after
the date of grant, and have a maximum duration of ten years. There were
approximately 350,000 and 1,000,000 shares reserved for the future granting of
options at February 29, 1996 and February 28, 1995, respectively.
 
  As a result of the Company's acquisition of Purolator, certain holders of
Purolator non-qualified stock options converted their options into options to
acquire the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price that would give them
the same built-in gain as they had in the Purolator options. As a result,
Purolator options were converted into non-qualified options to acquire
approximately 351,300 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an average
exercise price of $12.19 per share. The Company's common stock and additional
paid in capital were increased by approximately $2,000,000 to recognize the
issuance of these "in-the-money" stock options.
 
                                     F-15
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The following table summarizes the status of all of the Company's stock
option transactions for fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994 (shares amounts in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           1996           1995           1994
                                       -------------- -------------- -------------
                                          AVERAGE        AVERAGE        AVERAGE
                                       -------------- -------------- -------------
                                       OPTION  OPTION OPTION  OPTION OPTION OPTION
                                       SHARES  PRICE  SHARES  PRICE  SHARES PRICE
                                       ------  ------ ------  ------ ------ ------
<S>                                    <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>
  Balance at beginning of year........ 1,429   $12.50   627   $ 8.14   813  $ 6.94
  Activity during the year:
    Granted...........................   678   $17.87   914   $14.71    15  $17.50
    Exercised.........................  (322)  $11.22  (105)  $ 5.70  (184) $ 3.52
    Canceled..........................   (32)  $14.02    (7)  $10.94   (17) $ 8.74
                                       -----          -----           ----
  Balance at end of year:
    Outstanding....................... 1,753   $14.78 1,429   $12.50   627  $ 8.14
                                       -----          -----           ----
    Exercisable.......................   618   $10.64   677   $10.00   281  $ 6.50
                                       =====          =====           ====
</TABLE>
 
  The Company granted restricted stock awards with respect to 23,100 shares in
fiscal 1995 and 370,700 shares in fiscal 1994, at $.01 par value per share.
The fair market value of the awards as of the date of grant is being
recognized as it is earned over the restriction period, with $1,300,000;
$1,600,000 and $800,000 recognized as an expense in fiscal 1996, 1995, and
1994, respectively. As of February 29, 1996, approximately 263,000 shares
remain available for issuance under the Company's Restricted Stock Plan.
 
14.INDUSTRY SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
 
  During fiscal 1996, the Company reorganized what had been identified as its
primary business segment, Power and Fluid Transfer, into separately managed
and market-focused businesses. As a result, the Company has reclassified the
operations of that segment and its former Professional Audio segment into the
following two business segments (and information for the prior years has been
restated accordingly):
 
  (i) Automotive, which includes the design, manufacture and distribution of
      fuel, power transmission, and fluid handling systems and components,
      and filters and filtration systems for the global automotive
      aftermarket and original equipment manufacturers ("OEM") market.
 
  (ii) Industrial, which includes the design, manufacture and distribution of
       power transmission, fluid handling, and filtration components and
       systems for industrial OEM and industrial distribution markets
       worldwide. The Industrial segment also includes the Company's
       Transportation Products and Professional Audio business units.
 
                                     F-16
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Information concerning the Company's business segments for fiscal 1996, 1995
and 1994 is as follows (dollars in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               1996        1995        1994
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
   <S>                                      <C>         <C>         <C>
   NET SALES TO CUSTOMERS
     Automotive...........................  $1,004,300  $  718,900  $  532,600
     Industrial...........................   1,084,200     884,400     711,600
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
         Total net sales to customers.....  $2,088,500  $1,603,300  $1,244,200
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========
   OPERATING INCOME
     Automotive...........................  $  110,600  $   79,300  $   66,300
     Industrial...........................     119,400     100,900      80,400
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
         Total operating income...........     230,000     180,200     146,700
     General corporate expense............     (17,400)    (15,900)    (14,900)
     Interest expense ....................     (61,200)    (53,900)    (50,100)
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
       Income before provision for taxes..  $  151,400  $  110,400  $   81,700
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========
   IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
     Automotive...........................  $1,030,000  $  922,700  $  481,500
     Industrial...........................     929,200     869,700     743,300
     General corporate ...................      53,900      54,000      57,500
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
         Total identifiable assets........  $2,013,100  $1,846,400  $1,282,300
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========
   DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
     Automotive...........................  $   33,100  $   23,100  $   15,400
     Industrial...........................      30,100      24,700      23,700
     General corporate....................       3,600       3,700       2,600
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
         Total depreciation and
          amortization....................  $   66,800  $   51,500  $   41,700
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========
   CAPITAL OUTLAYS
     Automotive...........................  $   57,600  $   29,100  $   25,200
     Industrial...........................      37,900      21,700      16,200
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
         Total capital outlays............  $   95,500  $   50,800  $   41,400
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
  The Company's foreign operations are located primarily in Europe, and to a
lesser extent in Canada and the Far East. Information concerning the Company's
operations by geographic area for fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994 is as follows
(dollars in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  1996       1995       1994
                                               ---------- ---------- ----------
   <S>                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
   NET SALES TO CUSTOMERS
     United States............................ $1,460,300 $1,115,600 $  884,500
     Foreign .................................    628,200    487,700    359,700
                                               ---------- ---------- ----------
         Total net sales to customers......... $2,088,500 $1,603,300 $1,244,200
                                               ========== ========== ==========
   OPERATING INCOME
     United States............................ $  161,500 $  126,400 $  105,700
     Foreign..................................     68,500     53,800     41,000
                                               ---------- ---------- ----------
         Total operating income............... $  230,000  $ 180,200  $ 146,700
                                               ========== ========== ==========
   IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
     United States............................ $1,421,400 $1,350,100 $  898,700
     Foreign..................................    591,700    496,300    383,600
                                               ---------- ---------- ----------
         Total identifiable assets............ $2,013,100 $1,846,400 $1,282,300
                                               ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
 
 
                                     F-17
<PAGE>
 
                           MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The net sales to customers reflect the sales of the operating units in each
geographic area to unaffiliated customers. Export sales from the United States
to unaffiliated customers were $115,900,000, $92,900,000, and $71,300,000 in
fiscal 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. Inter-segment sales are not
material. Sales between geographic areas are accounted for at prices which are
competitive with prices charged to unaffiliated customers.
 
15. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA AND INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
 
  The following table sets forth the unaudited quarterly results of operations
for each of the fiscal quarters in the years ended February 29, 1996 and
February 28, 1995 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                FIRST    SECOND   THIRD     FOURTH    TOTAL
   FISCAL 1996                 QUARTER  QUARTER  QUARTER   QUARTER     YEAR
   -----------                 -------- -------- --------  -------- ----------
   <S>                         <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
   Net sales.................  $518,500 $509,500 $525,500  $535,000 $2,088,500
   Gross profit (a)..........  $172,700 $164,900 $166,700  $170,700 $  675,000
   Net income................  $ 24,600 $ 24,100 $ 23,000  $ 20,700 $   92,400
   Income per share (b):
     Primary:
       Income before
        extraordinary items..  $    .39 $    .38 $    .36  $    .33 $     1.46
       Extraordinary items...        --       --       --        --         --
                               -------- -------- --------  -------- ----------
         Net income..........  $    .39 $    .38 $    .36  $    .33 $     1.46
                               ======== ======== ========  ======== ==========
   Fully-diluted:
     Continuing operations...  $    .39 $    .38 $    .36  $    .33 $     1.46
     Extraordinary items.....        --       --       --        --         --
                               -------- -------- --------  -------- ----------
         Net income..........  $    .39 $    .38 $    .36  $    .33 $     1.46
                               ======== ======== ========  ======== ==========
   FISCAL 1995
   -----------
   Net sales.................  $363,800 $357,200 $397,300  $485,000 $1,603,300
   Gross profit (a)..........  $127,700 $124,700 $135,600  $155,300 $  543,300
   Income before
    extraordinary items......  $ 17,100 $ 16,700 $ 16,500  $ 17,600 $   67,900
   Extraordinary items.......        --       --   (1,100)       --     (1,100)
                               -------- -------- --------  -------- ----------
         Net income..........  $ 17,100 $ 16,700 $ 15,400  $ 17,600 $   66,800
                               ======== ======== ========  ======== ==========
   Income per share (b)(c):
     Primary:
       Income before
        extraordinary items..  $    .36 $    .35 $    .33  $    .30 $     1.33
       Extraordinary items...        --       --     (.02)       --       (.02)
                               -------- -------- --------  -------- ----------
         Net income..........  $    .36 $    .35 $    .31  $    .30 $     1.31
                               ======== ======== ========  ======== ==========
   Fully-diluted:
     Income before
      extraordinary items....  $    .32 $    .32 $    .31  $    .29 $     1.23
     Extraordinary items.....        --       --     (.02)       --       (.02)
                               -------- -------- --------  -------- ----------
         Net income..........  $    .32 $    .32 $    .29  $    .29 $     1.21
                               ======== ======== ========  ======== ==========
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Excluding depreciation expense.
(b) Restated to reflect the 5% stock dividend issued in April 1996.
(c) The sum of the quarterly amounts do not equal the total as a result of
    Common Stock transactions during the year, as well as rounding
    differences.
 
                                     F-18
<PAGE>
 
                            MARK IV INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
                               THE EXCHANGE AGENT
                           FOR THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS
 
                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK
 
  All tendered Private Notes, executed Letters of Transmittal and other related
documents should be directed to the Exchange Agent at any of the following
addresses:
 
 
                                 BY FACSIMILE:
                                 (401) 621-8088
                        (For Eligible Institutions Only)
 
                             CONFIRM BY TELEPHONE:
                                 (401) 865-7132
 
 
                         BY INSURED OVERNIGHT CARRIER:
                              Fleet National Bank
                           Corporate Trust Department
                           125 Dupont Drive-RI/OP/317
                              Providence, RI 02907
 
 
                              BY REGISTERED MAIL:
                              Fleet National Bank
                           Corporate Trust Department
                             P.O. Box 366-RI/OP/317
                           Providence, RI 02901-0366
 
 
                                 NEW YORK DROP:
                              Fleet National Bank
                        c/o First Chicago Trust Company
                                 14 Wall Street
                              6th Floor, Window 2
                               New York, NY 10005
 
 
  Requests for assistance and for additional copies of the Prospectus, the
Letter of Transmittal and other related documents should be directed to the
Exchange Agent at the following address:
 
 
                              Fleet National Bank
                           Corporate Trust Department
                              Mail Stop: RI/MO/199
                             111 Westminster Street
                              Providence, RI 02903
                          Attention: Stephen Maceroni
                           Telephone: (401) 278-3768
                           Facsimile: (401) 751-9706


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