PLY GEM INDUSTRIES INC
SC 13D/A, 1997-07-31
MILLWOOD, VENEER, PLYWOOD, & STRUCTURAL WOOD MEMBERS
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<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 28)*

                            PLY GEM INDUSTRIES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          Common Stock ($.25 par value)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    729416107
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                             Joel I. Papernik, Esq.
                  Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld, LLP
                      551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10176
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices
                               and Communications)

                                 July 29 , 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box: / /

Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed with
the Commission. See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are to be
sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the
Act shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).




<PAGE>   2


CUSIP No. 729416107

1        Name of Reporting Person                           Jeffrey S. Silverman
         S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No.
         of Above Person                                    S.S. No. ###-##-####
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2        Check the Appropriate Box if                                  (a) [   ]
         a Member of a Group                                           (b) [   ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3        SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4        Source of Funds                                               SC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5        Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings
          is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)                   [  ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6        Citizenship or Place of Organization                          U.S.A.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             7      Sole Voting Power                  4,195,275
                             ---------------------------------------------------

Number of Shares             8      Shared Voting Power                        0
Beneficially Owned by        ---------------------------------------------------
Reporting Person With                                             
                             9      Sole Dispositive  Power            4,195,275
                             ---------------------------------------------------

                             10     Shared Dispositive Power                   0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11       Aggregate Amount Beneficially
          Owned By Each Reporting Person                               4,195,275
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12       Check box if the aggregate Amount
          in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares                          [  ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13       Percent of Class Represented by
          Amount in Row (11)                                             24.8%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14       Type of Reporting Person                                      IN




                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>   3




Item 1.           Security and Issuer.
                  --------------------

         This Amendment No. 28 to the Schedule 13D originally filed for an event
of June 8, 1982 (the "Original Filing"), relates to the shares of Common Stock,
$.25 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Ply Gem Industries, Inc. (the
"Company"). The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 777
Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

         This Schedule is being filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Item 2.           Identity and Background.
                  ------------------------

         (a)      The name of the person filing this Schedule is Jeffrey S.
                  Silverman.

         (b)      The business address of Mr. Silverman is 777 Third Avenue, New
                  York, New York 10017.

         (c)      Mr. Silverman is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a
                  Director of the Company.

         (d)      Mr. Silverman has not been convicted during the past five
                  years in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations
                  or similar misdemeanors).

         (e)      Mr. Silverman has not been, during the last five years, a
                  party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative
                  body of competent jurisdiction and has not and is not subject
                  to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future
                  violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject
                  to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation
                  with respect of such laws.

         (f)      Mr. Silverman is a citizen of the United States.


Item 3.           Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
                  --------------------------------------------------

         Not applicable.


Item 4.           Purpose of Transaction.
                  -----------------------

         On June 24, 1997, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Atrium Merger Agreement") with Atrium Acquisition Holdings Corp., a
Delaware corporation ("Parent") and Atrium/PG Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("Sub"). Parent is a subsidiary of Atrium Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Atrium"), which is a party to the Atrium Merger Agreement for
certain limited purposes described therein. On July 18, 1997, the Company
notified Atrium, Parent and Sub of its intent to exercise its right under
Section 8.1(i) of the Atrium Merger Agreement to terminate the Atrium Merger
Agreement in connection with an acquisition proposal by Nortek, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation.


                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>   4



         NTK Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Offeror") and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Nortek, on July 29, 1997, commenced a tender offer to
purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock at the purchase price of $19.50
per share of Common Stock (the "Offer Price"), net to the tendering holder, in
cash (without interest thereon), on the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Offer to Purchase dated July 29, 1997 and the related Letter of
Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer"). The Offer is disclosed in a
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 dated July 29, 1997.

         The Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of July 24, 1997 (the "Nortek Merger Agreement"), among the Company,
Nortek and, the Offeror. A copy of the Nortek Merger Agreement is filed as
Exhibit 1 to this Amendment. The Nortek Merger Agreement provides that following
completion of the Offer, the Offeror will be merged into the Company, with the
Company continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nortek (the "Merger"). In the
Merger, all remaining shares of Common Stock not purchased in the tender offer
(other than shares of Common Stock owned by the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company and shares of Common Stock held by stockholders who perfect any
available appraisal rights under Delaware General Corporation Law) will be
converted into the right to receive $19.50 per share in cash or such higher
price, if any, as is paid in the Offer.

         Contemporaneously with the execution of the Atrium Merger Agreement,
Mr. Silverman, along with Mr. Dana R. Snyder, President, Chief Operating Officer
and a Director of the Company, and Mr. Herbert P. Dooskin, Executive Vice
President and a Director of the Company, (each a "Relevant Stockholder") entered
into a Stockholders Agreement with Parent and Sub. Such agreement was amended
and restated as of July 24, 1997, with Nortek and Offeror becoming parties
thereto (as amended and restated, the "Stockholders Agreement"). Pursuant to the
Stockholders Agreement, each Relevant Stockholder has agreed to tender all
shares of Common Stock owned by him pursuant to the Offer, with 75% of the
excess of the Offer Price over $18.75 per share of Common Stock (the price per
share payable pursuant to the Atrium Merger Agreement) to be paid to Sub and the
remainder of the Offer Price to be paid to the Relevant Stockholder. Similarly,
Sub will be entitled to 75% of the excess of the Offer Price over $18.75 per
share with respect to the shares of not yet vested restricted stock granted
under any of the Company's stock option plans to Mr. Silverman. Upon
cancellation of the options (including stock purchase rights and unrestricted
stock awards) to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock under the Company
stock option plans (the "Options") owned by the Relevant Stockholders, Sub will
be entitled to receive 75% of the excess of the Offer Price over $18.75,
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such
Option (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable by reason of a
"change of control"), and the Relevant Stockholder will be entitled to receive
the remainder of the Option Consideration (as defined in the Nortek Merger
Agreement). With respect to the Options held by Messrs. Silverman and Dooskin
with an exercise price of $19.125 per share of Common Stock, however, sub shall
be entitled to receive the entire amount of the Option Consideration. In
addition, pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, each Relevant Stockholder
granted Sub an irrevocable option to purchase (collectively, the "Purchase
Options") all outstanding shares of Common Stock owned by him, together with
all the shares of Common Stock (including any additional shares that may be
issuable as a result of a "change of control") owned by the Relevant
Stockholder as a result of his exercise of any Options held by him
(collectively, the "Option Shares") at a purchase price per share equal to
$18.75, which may be exercised if the Offer is not consummated or under certain
other circumstances. In the event that Sub purchases the Option Shares pursuant
to the Purchase Options and, within one year after the closing of such
purchase, sells, transfers or disposes of any of the Option Shares in a
transaction with an unaffiliated third party, Sub shall pay to each Relevant
Stockholder his respective pro rata share of 25% of the net profit realized by
Sub in          


                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>   5



connection with such disposition. In the Stockholders Agreement, Nortek and the
Company have also agreed to release, as of the consummation of the Offer, all
claims they may have with respect to the $12 million payment made by the Company
in connection with the termination of the Atrium Merger Agreement as provided
therein. The foregoing summary of the Stockholders Agreement is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the text of the Stockholders Agreement, a copy of which
is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.

         Mr. Silverman also entered into a Non-Compete and Termination Agreement
with Nortek, and an amendment thereto, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 3.


Item 5.           Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
                  -------------------------------------

                  (a)  Reference is made to Items 11 and 13 of the cover page.

                  (b)  Reference is made to Items 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the cover
                       page.

                  (c)  Reference is made to Item 4 above.

                  (d)  Not applicable.

                  (e)  Not applicable.


Item 6.           Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with
                  Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

         Mr. Silverman's shares of Common Stock remain subject to a security
agreement with a commercial bank which will be terminated upon the tender of Mr.
Silverman's shares. See Item 4 above.


Item 7.           Materials to be Filed as Exhibits.

                  1.   Nortek Merger Agreement
                       
                  2.   Stockholders Agreement

                  3.   Non-Compete and Termination Agreement


                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>   6



                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------


         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is
true, correct and complete.





Dated:   July 31, 1997                              By: /s/ Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                                        ----------------------
                                                        Jeffrey S. Silverman




































                                      - 6 -




<PAGE>   7
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------

              Item No.             Description


                  1.   Nortek Merger Agreement
                       
                  2.   Stockholders Agreement

                  3.   Non-Compete and Termination Agreement


                                    


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 1 





================================================================================





                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      among


                                  NORTEK, INC.,


                                  NTK SUB, INC.


                                       and


                            PLY GEM INDUSTRIES, INC.





                            dated as of July 24, 1997







================================================================================

<PAGE>   2



<TABLE>
                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----

<S>                                                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE 1

         THE OFFER................................................................................................2
                  1.1.   THE OFFER................................................................................2
                  1.2.   COMPANY ACTIONS..........................................................................3
                  1.3.   STOCKHOLDER LISTS........................................................................4
                  1.4.   SUB STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.................................................................5
                  1.5.   COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; SECTION 14(f).....................................5
                  1.6.   ACTION BY CONTINUING DIRECTORS...........................................................5

ARTICLE 2

         THE MERGER...............................................................................................6
                  2.1.   THE MERGER...............................................................................6
                  2.2.   CLOSING..................................................................................6
                  2.3.   EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER.............................................................6
                  2.4.   EFFECTS OF THE MERGER....................................................................6
                  2.5.   STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING....................................................................7

ARTICLE 3

         EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF
         THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF THE CERTIFICATES...............................................8
                  3.1.   EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK..................................................................8
                  3.2.   CONVERSION OF SHARES.....................................................................8
                  3.3.   PAYMENT FOR SHARES.......................................................................9
                  3.4.   STOCK TRANSFER BOOKS....................................................................11
                  3.5.   STOCK OPTION PLANS......................................................................11
                  3.6.   DISSENTING SHARES.......................................................................12

ARTICLE 4

         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..........................................................................13
                  4.1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY...........................................13
                  4.2.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB........................................35
</TABLE>


                                       -i-


<PAGE>   3


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE 5

         COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS...............................................................38
                  5.1.   Covenants of the Company................................................................38

ARTICLE 6

         ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...................................................................................43
                  6.1.   ACCESS TO INFORMATION...................................................................43
                  6.2.   ASSISTANCE..............................................................................43
                  6.3.   COMPLIANCE WITH NEW JERSEY ISRA.........................................................44
                  6.4.   FEES AND EXPENSES.......................................................................44
                  6.5.   BROKERS OR FINDERS......................................................................45
                  6.6.   INDEMNIFICATION; DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INSURANCE.....................................46
                  6.7.   REASONABLE EFFORTS......................................................................49
                  6.8.   PUBLICITY...............................................................................49
                  6.9.   WITHHOLDING RIGHTS......................................................................49
                  6.10.   REAL ESTATE TAXES......................................................................50
                  6.11.   HSR AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS...................................................50
                  6.12.   NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS........................................................51
                  6.13.   SOLVENCY LETTER. ......................................................................51
                  6.14.   CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS......................................................51
                  6.15.   TRUSTEES...............................................................................52
                  6.16.   WITHDRAWAL LIABILITY...................................................................52

ARTICLE 7

         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT....................................................................................52
                  7.1.   CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER..............................52

ARTICLE 8

         TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT...............................................................................53
                  8.1.   TERMINATION.............................................................................53
                  8.2.   EFFECT OF TERMINATION...................................................................56
                  8.3.   AMENDMENT...............................................................................56
                  8.4.   EXTENSION; WAIVER.......................................................................56

ARTICLE 9

         GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................56
                  9.1.   NONSURVIVAL OF COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS.................................................56
                  9.2.   CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT...............................................................56
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-


<PAGE>   4


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
                  9.3.   NOTICES.................................................................................57
                  9.4.   INTERPRETATION..........................................................................57
                  9.5.   COUNTERPARTS............................................................................58
                  9.6.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES; RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP.....................58
                  9.7.   GOVERNING LAW...........................................................................58
                  9.8.   ASSIGNMENT..............................................................................58
                  9.9.   DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY..........................................................59
                  9.10.  SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE....................................................................59
</TABLE>


                                      -iii-


<PAGE>   5



Schedules

Schedule 3.5(a) -- Cancellation of Stock Options

Schedule 4.1(a) -- Subsidiaries

Schedule 4.1(b) -- Capital Structure

Schedule 4.1(c) -- Violations (Transaction Documents)

Schedule 4.1(f) -- Violations (General)

Schedule 4.1(g) -- Permits

Schedule 4.1(h) -- Litigation

Schedule 4.1(i) -- Taxes

Schedule 4.1(j) -- Employment Agreements

Schedule 4.1(k) -- Benefit Plans and Employee Arrangements

Schedule 4.1(l) -- Absence of Certain Changes or Events

Schedule 4.1(m) -- Material Liabilities

Schedule 4.1(n) -- Agreements with Financial Advisor

Schedule 4.1(p) -- Labor Matters

Schedule 4.1(r) -- Environmental Matters

Schedule 4.1(s) -- Real Property

Schedule 4.1(v) -- Material Contracts

Schedule 4.1(w) -- Related Party Transactions

Schedule 4.2(e) -- Financing Commitments

Schedule 5.1(n) -- Capital Expenditures

Schedule 6.5(a) -- Brokers or Finders

                                      -iv-


<PAGE>   6



Schedule 9.4--Atrium Agreements












                                       -v-


<PAGE>   7



Exhibits

Exhibit A -- Conditions to the Offer

Exhibit B -- Option Surrender Agreement, Release and Waiver

Exhibit C -- Non-Compete and Termination Agreement

Exhibit D -- Termination and Release Agreement







                                      -vi-


<PAGE>   8



               LIST OF DEFINED TERMS


                         A

Acquisition Proposal............................ 40
Agreement.......................................  1
Antitrust Division.............................. 50
Atrium Agreements............................... 58

                         B

Benefit Liabilities............................. 24
Benefit Plans................................... 22
Board...........................................  3
Board of Directors..............................  3
Bylaws..........................................  7

                         C

Capitalization Date............................. 13
CERCLA.......................................... 30
Certificate of Merger...........................  6
Certificates.................................... 10
Closing.........................................  6
Closing Date....................................  6
Code............................................ 21
Company.........................................  1
Company Common Stock............................  2
Company Intangible Property..................... 30
Company Litigation.............................. 19
Company Order................................... 19
Company Permits................................. 18
Company SEC Documents........................... 17
Company Stockholder Approval.................... 16
Company Voting Debt............................. 14
Conditions......................................  2
Confidentiality Agreement....................... 43
Constituent Corporations........................  6
Continuing Directors............................  5



                         D

DGCL............................................  4
Dissenting Shares............................... 12

                         E

Effective Time..................................  6
Employee Arrangements........................... 22
Environmental Costs and
  Liabilities................................... 30
Environmental Law............................... 30
ERISA Affiliate................................. 22
Exchange Act....................................  4

                         F

Fairness Opinion................................  4
Financial Advisor...............................  4
Financing Commitment............................ 37
FTC............................................. 50

                         G

GAAP............................................ 17
Gains and Transfer Taxes........................ 16
Governmental Entity............................. 16

                         H

Hazardous Material.............................. 31
HSR Act......................................... 16

                         I

Indemnified Liabilities......................... 46
Indemnified Parties............................. 46
Injunction...................................... 53
IRS............................................. 20
ISRA............................................ 16


                                      -vii-


<PAGE>   9



                         L

Laws............................................ 16

                         M

Material Adverse Effect......................... 13
Material Contracts.............................. 34
Meeting Date.................................... 17
Merger..........................................  6
Merger Consideration............................  8
Multiemployer Plan.............................. 26

                         N

NJDEPE.......................................... 44
Non-Compete and Termination Agreement...........  1

                         O

Offer...........................................  2
Offer Documents.................................  3
Offer Price.....................................  2
Options......................................... 11
Option Consideration............................ 11
Option Release Agreement........................  1
OSHA............................................ 30

                         P

Parent..........................................  1
Paying Agent....................................  9
Payment Fund....................................  9
PBGC............................................ 24
Person..........................................  3
Preferred Stock................................. 13
Proxy Statement.................................  7

                         R 

Real Property Leases............................ 33
Release......................................... 31
Remedial Action................................. 31
Representatives................................. 39

                         S  

Schedule 14D-1..................................  4
Schedule 14D-9..................................  4
SEC.............................................  3
Securities Act.................................. 17
Shares..........................................  2
Stock Option Plans.............................. 11
Stockholders' Meeting...........................  7
Sub.............................................  1
Subsidiary......................................  3
Surviving Corporation...........................  6

                         T             

Tax............................................. 21
Tax Return...................................... 21
Taxes........................................... 21
Termination and Release Agreement...............  1
Transaction Documents...........................  3

                         U

Unvested Stock.................................. 11
Unvested Stock Consideration.................... 11

                         V

Violation....................................... 15

                         W

Withdrawal Liability............................ 52



                                     -viii-

<PAGE>   10



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


         THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of July 24, 1997 (the
"Agreement"), is made and entered into by and among NORTEK, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), NTK SUB, INC., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and PLY GEM INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company").

         WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the
Company deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective
stockholders that Parent acquire the Company pursuant to the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

         WHEREAS, Parent and Sub are unwilling to enter into this Agreement (and
effect the transactions contemplated hereby) unless certain beneficial and
record holders of Options or Unvested Stock enter into an Option Surrender
Agreement, Release and Waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (an
"Option Release Agreement");

         WHEREAS, Parent and Sub are unwilling to enter into this Agreement (and
effect the transactions contemplated hereby) unless, contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery hereof, Jeffrey S. Silverman enters into a Non-Compete
and Termination Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the
"Non-Compete and Termination Agreement"), which shall establish (i) the terms
and provisions under which such individual's employment contract with the
Company shall terminate and (ii) the terms and provisions of a non-competition
agreement between the Company and such individual and, in order to induce Parent
and Sub to enter into this Agreement, the Company and such individual are
executing and delivering concurrently herewith the Non-Compete and Termination
Agreement;

         WHEREAS, Parent and Sub are unwilling to enter into this Agreement (and
effect the transactions contemplated hereby) unless, contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery hereof, Herbert P. Dooskin enters into a Termination and
Release Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto (the
"Termination and Release Agreement"), which shall establish the terms and
provisions under which such individual's employment contract with the Company
shall terminate and, in order to induce Parent and Sub to enter into this
Agreement, the Company and such individual are executing and delivering
concurrently herewith the Termination and Release Agreement;

         WHEREAS, the Company is unwilling to enter into this Agreement (and
effect the transactions contemplated hereby) unless, contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery hereof, the Company has received true and complete copies
of the financing commitment described in Section 4.2(e); and



<PAGE>   11



         WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and also to prescribe various
conditions to the consummation thereof.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                    THE OFFER

         1.1.   The Offer.
                ---------
                  (a) Subject to this Agreement not having theretofore been
terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.1 hereof, Sub shall,
and Parent shall cause Sub to, as promptly as practicable after, but in no event
later than five business days from, the date of this Agreement, commence an
offer to purchase for cash (as it may be amended in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the "Offer") all shares of common stock, par value $0.25 per
share (the "Company Common Stock"), of the Company outstanding immediately prior
to the consummation of the Offer (the "Shares"), subject only to the conditions
set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the "Conditions"), at a price of $19.50 (the
"Offer Price") per Share, net to the seller in cash. Subject only to the
Conditions, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, accept for payment and pay
for all Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn prior to
the expiration date of the Offer as promptly as practicable following the
expiration date of the Offer. Sub expressly reserves the right to amend the
terms and conditions of the Offer, PROVIDED that without the consent of the
Company, no amendment may be made which (i) decreases the price per Share or
changes the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (ii) decreases the
number of Shares sought, or (iii) changes any of the Conditions or imposes
additional conditions to the Offer or amends any other term of the Offer in
either case in any manner adverse to the holders of Shares (it being understood
that extensions of the Offer as contemplated by this Section 1.1(a) are not
adverse to the holders of Shares); and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Minimum
Condition (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) is for the benefit of the Company and
may not be waived without the Company's consent. The Offer may only be extended
with the prior written consent of the Company or as required by law; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, Parent and Sub may extend the Offer without the consent of the Company
(A) if at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer any of the Conditions shall
not have been satisfied or waived or (B) for any period required by any Laws (as
hereinafter defined) applicable to the Offer and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if the
Conditions are not satisfied or, to the extent permitted by this Agreement,
waived as of any scheduled expiration date, Parent and Sub shall extend the
Offer from time to time for up to five (5) business days at a time (or such
longer period as shall be approved by the Company) until the earlier of the
consummation of the Offer or sixty (60) calendar days after the date hereof,
provided that such extension shall

                                       -2-


<PAGE>   12



not be required if in the reasonable judgment of Parent or Sub, any Condition is
incapable of being satisfied prior to the expiration of the sixty (60) calendar
days. Upon the terms hereof and subject to the Conditions, Sub will accept for
payment and purchase all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the
expiration of the Offer.

                  (b) The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its
Subsidiaries (as defined below) to, tender into the Offer any Shares
beneficially owned by it. For purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiary" means, as
to any Person (as defined below), any corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or joint venture, whether now existing or hereafter organized or
acquired: (i) in the case of a corporation, of which at least a majority of the
outstanding shares of stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (other than stock
having such voting power solely by reason of the happening of any contingency)
is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person and/or
one or more of its Subsidiaries or (ii) in the case of a limited liability
company, partnership or joint venture, in which such Person or Subsidiary of
such Person is a managing member, general partner or joint venturer or of which
a majority of the partnership or other ownership interests are at the time owned
by such Person and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary
association, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity.

                  (c) On the date of the commencement of the Offer, Sub shall
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule 14D-1 with respect to the Offer which will contain an
offer to purchase and form of the related letter of transmittal (together with
any supplements or amendments thereto, the "Offer Documents"). The Company and
its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the
Offer Documents prior to the filing of such Offer Documents with the SEC. Sub
agrees to provide the Company and its counsel copies of any written comments Sub
and its counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer
Documents and a summary of any such comments received orally promptly after the
receipt thereof. Parent, Sub and the Company each agree promptly to correct any
information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent
that any such information shall have become false or misleading in any material
respect and Parent and Sub further agree to take all steps necessary to cause
the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and to be
disseminated to the stockholders of the Company, in each case as and to the
extent required by applicable securities laws.

         1.2.     COMPANY ACTIONS. The Company hereby consents to the Offer and
represents that (a) its Board of Directors (the "Board" or "Board of Directors")
(at a meeting duly called and held) has (i) determined that this Agreement, the
Option Release Agreement, the Non-Compete and Termination Agreement and the
Termination and Release Agreement (collectively, the "Transaction Documents")
and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the Offer and the
Merger (as defined in Section 2.1 hereof), are fair to and

                                       -3-


<PAGE>   13



in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company, (ii) approved the
execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Offer and the Merger, and such approval constitutes approval for purposes of
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the "DGCL"),
(iii) resolved to recommend acceptance of the Offer and approval and adoption of
this Agreement by the holders of Company Common Stock; and (b) Furman Selz LLC
(the "Financial Advisor") has delivered to the Board its opinion to the effect
that, as of the date of this Agreement and based upon and subject to the matters
set forth therein, the cash consideration to be received by the holders of
Company Common Stock in the Offer and the Merger is fair to such holders from a
financial point of view (the "Fairness Opinion"). Subject to its fiduciary
duties under applicable Laws (as defined in Section 4.1(c)(ii)) after
consultation with independent counsel, the Company hereby agrees to file with
the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule
14D-9") containing the recommendation referred to in clause (iii) above (and the
information required by Section 14(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (together with all rules and regulations thereunder, the "Exchange
Act"), so long as Parent shall have furnished such information to the Company in
a timely manner) and to mail such Schedule 14D-9 to the stockholders of the
Company. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Schedule 14D-9 to be
filed on the same date as Sub's Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 (the
"Schedule 14D-1") is filed and mailed together with the Offer Documents;
PROVIDED that in any event the Schedule 14D-9 shall be filed and mailed no later
than 10 business days following the commencement of the Offer. Parent and its
counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the
Schedule 14D-9 prior to the Company's filing of the Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC.
The Company agrees to provide Parent and its counsel copies of any written
comments the Company or its counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Schedule 14D-9 and a summary of any such comments received orally
promptly after the receipt thereof. Parent, Sub and the Company each agree
promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9
if and to the extent that any such information shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect and the Company further agrees to take all
steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the
SEC and to be disseminated to the stockholders of the Company, in each case as
and to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

         1.3. STOCKHOLDER LISTS. In connection with the Offer, at the request of
Parent or Sub, from time to time after the date hereof, the Company will
promptly furnish Sub with mailing labels, security position listings and any
available listing or computer file maintained for or by the Company containing
the names and addresses of the record holders of the Shares as of a recent date
and shall furnish Sub with such additional information reasonably available to
the Company and assistance as Sub or its agents may reasonably request in
communicating the Offer to the record and beneficial holders of Shares. Subject
to the requirements of applicable Laws, and except for such steps as are
necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary
to consummate the Merger, Sub and its affiliates and associates shall hold in
confidence the information contained in any such labels, listings and files,
will

                                       -4-


<PAGE>   14



use such information only in connection with the Offer and the Merger and, if
this Agreement shall be terminated, will deliver to the Company all copies of
such information in their possession.

         1.4. SUB STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. Parent, in its capacity as the sole
stockholder of Sub, by its execution hereof, approves and adopts this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.

         1.5. COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; SECTION 14(f). In the event
that Sub acquires at least a majority of the Shares outstanding pursuant to the
Offer, Parent shall be entitled to designate for appointment or election to the
Board, upon written notice to the Company, such number of persons so that the
designees of Parent constitute the same percentage (but in no event less than a
majority) of the Board (rounded up to the next whole number) as the percentage
of Shares acquired pursuant to the Offer. Effective upon such purchase of at
least a majority of the Shares pursuant to the Offer (sometimes referred to
herein as the "consummation" of the Offer), the Company will increase the size
of the Board or obtain the resignation of such number of directors as is
necessary to enable such number of Parent designees to be so elected. In
connection therewith, the Company will mail to the stockholders of the Company
the information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1
thereunder unless such information has previously been provided to such
stockholders in the Schedule 14D-9. Parent and Sub shall provide to the Company
in writing, and will be solely responsible for, any information with respect to
such companies and their nominees, officers, directors and affiliates required
by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 thereunder. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 1.5, at least two of the members of the Board
shall, at all times prior to the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.3
hereof) be, Continuing Directors (as defined below). For purposes hereof, the
term "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board as of the date
hereof or (ii) any successor of a Continuing Director who is (A) unaffiliated
with, and not a designee or nominee, of Parent or Sub, and (B) recommended to
succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on
the Board, and in each case under clause (ii), who is not an employee of the
Company.

         1.6. ACTION BY CONTINUING DIRECTORS. Following the election or
appointment of Parent's designees pursuant to Section 1.5 and prior to the
Effective Time, such designees shall abstain from acting upon, and the approval
of a majority of the Continuing Directors shall be required to authorize and
shall be sufficient to authorize, any resolution with respect to any termination
of this Agreement by the Company, any amendment of this Agreement requiring
action by the Board of Directors of the Company, any extension of time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Parent or Sub under this
Agreement, any waiver of compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
under this Agreement for the benefit of the Company, and any action to seek to
enforce any obligation of Parent or Sub under this Agreement. If at any time the
Continuing Directors reasonably deem it necessary to consult independent counsel
in connection with their duties as Continuing Directors or actions

                                       -5-


<PAGE>   15



to be taken by Company, the Continuing Directors may retain counsel for such
purpose and Parent or Sub shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses incurred in
connection therewith.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                   THE MERGER

         2.1.     THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, Sub shall be merged
(the "Merger") with and into the Company at the Effective Time (as defined in
Section 2.3). At the Effective Time the separate corporate existence of Sub
shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation and a
direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or its successor (Sub and the Company
are sometimes hereinafter referred to as "Constituent Corporations" and, as the
context requires, the Company is sometimes hereinafter referred to as the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall continue under the name "Ply Gem Industries,
Inc."

         2.2.     CLOSING. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and
the transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to
Section 8.1, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set
forth in Article 7, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place
at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the second business day after satisfaction
and/or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 (the "Closing
Date"), at the offices of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, One Liberty Plaza,
New York, New York 10006, unless another date, time or place is agreed to in
writing by the parties hereto.

         2.3.     EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER. Subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, the parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by
filing a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware, as provided in the DGCL, as soon as
practicable on or after the Closing Date. The Merger shall become effective upon
such filing or at such time thereafter as is provided in the Certificate of
Merger as the Company and Sub shall agree (the "Effective Time").

         2.4.     Effects of the Merger.
                  ---------------------
                  (a) The Merger shall have the effects as set forth in the
applicable provisions of the DGCL.

                  (b) The directors and officers of Sub immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the initial
directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have
been duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

                  (c) At the Effective Time, Article IV of the Certificate of
Incorporation of the

                                       -6-


<PAGE>   16



Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended
to increase the number of authorized shares of Company Common Stock to an
aggregate amount of Four Hundred Sixty Million (460,000,000) as of the Effective
Time, by operation of this Agreement and by virtue of the Merger without any
further action by the stockholders or directors of the Surviving Corporation
and, as so amended, such Certificate of Incorporation shall be the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until duly amended in accordance
with the terms thereof and the DGCL.

                  (d) The By-Laws of the Company shall be the bylaws (the
"Bylaws") of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by
applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws.

         2.5.     Stockholders' Meeting.
                  ---------------------
                  (a) If required by applicable Laws in order to consummate the
Merger, the Company, acting through the Board shall, in accordance with
applicable Laws, its Certificate of Incorporation and its Bylaws, as soon as
practicable following the consummation of the Offer:

                           (i) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a
         special meeting of its stockholders as soon as practicable following
         the consummation of the Offer for the purpose of considering and taking
         action upon this Agreement (the "Stockholders' Meeting");

                           (ii) subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable
         Laws after consultation with independent counsel, include in the proxy
         statement or information statement prepared by the Company for
         distribution to stockholders of the Company in advance of the
         Stockholders' Meeting in accordance with Regulation 14A or Regulation
         14C promulgated under the Exchange Act (the "Proxy Statement") the
         recommendation of the Board referred to in Section 1.2 hereof; and

                           (iii) use its reasonable efforts to (A) obtain and
         furnish the information required to be included by it in the Proxy
         Statement and, after consultation with Parent, respond promptly to any
         comments made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and any
         preliminary version thereof and cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed
         to its stockholders following the consummation of the Offer and (B)
         obtain the necessary approvals of this Agreement and the Merger by its
         stockholders.

Parent will provide the Company with the information concerning Parent and Sub
required to be included in the Proxy Statement and will vote, or cause to be
voted, all Shares owned by it or its Subsidiaries in favor of approval and
adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.


                                       -7-


<PAGE>   17



                  (b) Notwithstanding Section 2.5(a), if Parent and Sub and
their affiliates shall collectively own, following consummation of the Offer, at
least 90 percent of the outstanding Shares, each of Parent, Sub and the Company
shall take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective, as soon as practicable after the consummation of the Offer (but in no
event later than ten (10) business days thereafter), without a meeting of
stockholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                  EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF
           THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF THE CERTIFICATES

         3.1.     EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK. At the Effective Time, by virtue of 
the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of shares of Company
Common Stock or any holder of shares of capital stock of Sub:

                  (a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each share of the capital stock of
Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and become a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of
common stock, par value $0.25 per share, of the Surviving Corporation equal to
the quotient realized by dividing (i) the sum of (A) the aggregate number of
shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time, (B) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock that
are owned by and held in the treasury of the Company immediately prior to the
Effective Time and (C) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock
issuable, immediately prior to the Effective Time, in respect of all then
outstanding Options, by (ii) the aggregate number of shares of capital stock of
Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

                  (b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock. Each share of Company
Common Stock and all other shares of capital stock of the Company that are owned
by the Company shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no
consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

         3.2.     CONVERSION OF SHARES. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the 
Merger and without any action on the part of Sub, the Company or the holders of
the Company Common Stock:

                  (a) Subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.2, each
share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (excluding shares owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company
and Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 3.6) shall be converted into the
right to receive the Offer Price or such higher price, if any, as is paid in the
Offer (the "Merger Consideration"), payable to the holder thereof in

                                       -8-


<PAGE>   18



cash, without any interest thereon, upon surrender and exchange of the
Certificate (as defined in Section 3.3) representing such share of Company
Common Stock.

                  (b) All such shares of Company Common Stock, when converted as
provided in Section 3.2(a), no longer shall be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
Certificate previously evidencing such Company Common Stock shall thereafter
represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration. The holders of
Certificates previously evidencing Company Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to the
Company Common Stock except as otherwise provided herein or by law and, upon the
surrender of Certificates in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3,
shall only have the right to receive for their Company Common Stock, the Merger
Consideration, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time the outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of
shares or a different class by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision,
reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares,
the Merger Consideration shall be correspondingly adjusted to reflect such stock
dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or
exchange of shares, with the aggregate Merger Consideration payable to each
stockholder in such case being rounded to the nearest penny.

         3.3.     Payment for Shares.
                  ------------------
                  (a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
appoint a United States bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the
Company to act as paying agent (the "Paying Agent") for the payment of the
Merger Consideration, and Parent shall contribute the Merger Consideration to
the Surviving Corporation and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit
the Merger Consideration so contributed with the Paying Agent in a separate fund
established for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock,
for payment in accordance with this Article 3, through the Paying Agent (the
"Payment Fund"), and such contribution by Parent and payment by the Surviving
Corporation shall be in immediately available funds in amounts necessary to make
the payments pursuant to Section 3.2 and this Section 3.3 to holders (other than
the Company or holders of Dissenting Shares). The Paying Agent shall, pursuant
to irrevocable instructions, pay the Merger Consideration out of the Payment
Fund.

         If for any reason (including losses) the Payment Fund is inadequate to
pay the amounts to which holders of shares of Company Common Stock shall be
entitled under this Section 3.3, Parent shall take all steps necessary to enable
or cause the Surviving Corporation promptly to deposit in trust additional cash
with the Paying Agent sufficient to make all payments required under this
Agreement, and Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall in any event be liable
for payment thereof. The Payment Fund shall not be used for any purpose except
as expressly provided in this Agreement.

                                       -9-


<PAGE>   19



                  (b) Payment Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable
after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall instruct the Paying
Agent to mail to each holder of record (other than the Company) of a certificate
or certificates which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, evidenced
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the "Certificates"), (i) a form of
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery
of the Certificates to the Paying Agent, and shall be in such form and have such
other provisions as the Surviving Corporation reasonably may specify) and (ii)
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
for payment of the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for
cancellation to the Paying Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed, and such other customary documents as may be required pursuant to such
instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in
respect thereof cash in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock represented by such Certificate and (y) the per
share Merger Consideration, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith
be canceled. No interest shall be paid or accrued on the Merger Consideration
payable upon the surrender of any Certificate. If any holder of Shares shall be
unable to surrender such holder's Certificates because such Certificates have
been lost, mutilated or destroyed, such holder may deliver in lieu thereof an
affidavit and indemnity bond in form and substance and with surety reasonably
satisfactory to the Surviving Corporation. If payment is to be made to a person
other than the person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered,
it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be
properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason
of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of the surrendered
Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that
such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 3.3(b), each Certificate (other than
Certificates representing Shares owned by the Company or holders of Dissenting
Shares) shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent for
all purposes only the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

                  (c) Termination of Payment Fund; Interest. Any portion of the
Payment Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Stock
for 180 days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving
Corporation, upon demand, and any holders of Company Common Stock who have not
theretofore complied with this Article 3 and the instructions set forth in the
letter of transmittal mailed to such holder after the Effective Time shall
thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of the Merger
Consideration to which they are entitled. All interest accrued in respect of the
Payment Fund shall inure to the benefit of and be paid to the Surviving
Corporation.

                  (d) No Liability. None of Parent, the Company or the Surviving
Corporation shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock for
any cash from the Payment Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

                                      -10-


<PAGE>   20




         3.4.     STOCK TRANSFER BOOKS. At the Effective Time, the stock
transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further
registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock thereafter on the
records of the Company. On or after the Effective Time, any Certificates
presented to the Paying Agent or Parent for any reason, except notation thereon
that a stockholder has elected to exercise his rights to appraisal pursuant to
the DGCL, shall be converted into the Merger Consideration as provided in this
Article 3.

         3.5.     Stock Option Plans.
                  ------------------
                  (a) Cancellation of Options and Unvested Stock. At the
Effective Time, each then outstanding option (including stock purchase rights
and unrestricted stock awards) to purchase or acquire shares of Company Common
Stock under the Company's 1989 Senior Executive Stock Option Plan, 1989 Employee
Incentive Stock Plan, Executive Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1994 Employee
Incentive Stock Plan and 1994 Incentive Compensation Plan (collectively, the
"Stock Option Plans"), or otherwise as set forth on Schedule 4.1(b), whether or
not then exercisable or vested (collectively, the "Options"), and each share of
not yet vested restricted stock granted under any such Stock Option Plan
("Unvested Stock") shall be canceled and shall represent the right to receive
the following consideration in settlement thereof as follows: (i) as to all
Options, for each share of Company Common Stock subject to such Option,
including any additional shares subject thereto by reason of their terms upon
consummation of the "change of control" resulting from the Merger, such holder
shall receive an amount (subject to any applicable withholding tax) in cash
equal to the difference between the per share Merger Consideration and the per
share exercise price of such Option to the extent such difference is a positive
number (such amount in cash being hereinafter referred to as the "Option
Consideration"), and (ii) as to the holders of Unvested Stock identified in
Schedule 3.5(a), for each share of Unvested Stock, cash in an amount equal to
the product of (x) the number of shares of Unvested Stock and (y) the per share
Merger Consideration (such amount in cash being hereinafter referred to as the
"Unvested Stock Consideration"); provided, however, that with respect to any
person subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, any such Option
Consideration or Unvested Stock Consideration shall not be payable until the
first date payment can be made without liability to such person under Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act, but shall be paid as soon as practicable thereafter.
Upon consummation of the Offer, all Options shall immediately vest and become
exercisable.

                  (b) Termination of Rights. The surrender of an Option to the
Company in exchange for the Option Consideration shall be deemed a release of
any and all rights the holder had or may have had in respect of such Option. The
Stock Option Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time, and the provisions
in any other plan, program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of
any other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary thereof shall be canceled as of the Effective Time. Prior to the
Closing, the Company shall use its best efforts to take all action necessary
(including causing the Board of Directors of the Company (or any committees
thereof) to take such actions as are

                                      -11-


<PAGE>   21



allowed by the Stock Option Plans) to (i) ensure that, following the Effective
Time, no participant in the Stock Option Plans or any other plans, programs or
arrangements shall have any right thereunder to acquire equity securities of the
Company, the Surviving Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof and (ii) terminate
all such plans, programs and arrangements as of the Effective Time.

                  (c) Payment Procedures. Upon the later of the consummation of
the Offer or the delivery of a duly executed Option Release Agreement by a
holder of Options to be canceled or Unvested Stock, such holder shall be
entitled to receive in respect thereof the Option Consideration or the Unvested
Stock Consideration, as applicable. No interest shall be paid or accrued on the
cash portion of the Option Consideration or the Unvested Stock Consideration, as
applicable. Until settled in accordance with the provisions of this Section
3.5(c), each Option or share of Unvested Stock shall be deemed at any time after
the Effective Time to represent for all purposes only the right to receive the
Option Consideration or the Unvested Stock Consideration, as applicable.

                  (d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain, within
30 days from the date of this Agreement, from each beneficial and record holder
of Options as identified by Parent to the Company, an Option Release Agreement
duly executed and delivered by each such holder.

         3.6.     DISSENTING SHARES. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock that are
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by
stockholders who shall have not voted in favor of the Merger or consented
thereto in writing and who properly shall have demanded appraisal for such
shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (collectively, the "Dissenting
Shares") shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive the
Merger Consideration. Such stockholders instead shall be entitled to receive
payment of the appraised value of such shares of Company Common Stock held by
them in accordance with the provisions of such Section 262 of the DGCL, except
that all Dissenting Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to perfect
or who effectively shall have withdrawn or otherwise lost their rights to
appraisal of such shares of Company Common Stock under such Section 262 of the
DGCL shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and to have become
exchangeable, as of the Effective Time, for the right to receive, without any
interest thereon, the Merger Consideration upon surrender in the manner provided
in Section 3.3 of the Certificate or Certificates that, immediately prior to the
Effective Time, evidenced such shares of Company Common Stock.

                                      -12-


<PAGE>   22




                                    ARTICLE 4

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         4.1.     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:

                  (a) Organization, Standing and Power. Each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation, has all
requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and in good standing to conduct business in
each jurisdiction in which the business it is conducting, or the operation,
ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such qualification necessary,
other than in such jurisdictions where the failure so to qualify would not (i)
have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) with respect to the Company or
(ii) materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has heretofore made available to
Parent complete and correct copies of its Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws and its Subsidiaries' respective certificates of incorporation (or
comparable charter or organizational documents) and bylaws. All Subsidiaries of
the Company, their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization,
and their respective jurisdictions of qualification to do business are
identified on Schedule 4.1(a). As used in this Agreement, a "Material Adverse
Effect" shall mean, with respect to any party, any events, changes or effects
which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on
the business, operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results
of operations of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (b) Capital Structure. As of the date hereof, the authorized
capital stock of the Company consists of 60,000,000 shares of common stock, par
value $0.25 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Preferred Stock"). As of June 23, 1997 (the "Capitalization
Date"), (i) 13,983,679 Shares were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of
Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) no Shares were issuable in
respect of outstanding Unvested Stock, (iv) no Shares were issuable in respect
of outstanding securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for
Shares of Company Common Stock, other than Options or Unvested Stock issued
pursuant to a Stock Option Plan and Company Common Stock issuable pursuant to
the Stock Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof between the Company and
Parent and (v) 5,513,695 Shares (or 6,263,695 Shares after a "change of
control") were issuable in respect of outstanding Options, of which (A)
1,136,415 Shares were issuable pursuant to Options outstanding under the 1989
Senior Executive Stock Option Plan, (B) 1,625,276 Shares (or 2,000,276 Shares
after a "change of control") were issuable pursuant to Options outstanding under
the 1989 Employee Incentive Stock Plan, (C) 511,842 Shares (or 886,842 after a
"change in control") were issuable

                                      -13-


<PAGE>   23



pursuant to Options outstanding under the Executive Incentive Stock Option Plan,
(D) 2,240,162 Shares were issuable pursuant to Options outstanding under the
1994 Employee Incentive Stock Plan, (E) 100,000 Shares of Unvested Stock were
outstanding under the 1989 Employee Incentive Stock Plan, (F) no Shares of
Unvested Stock were outstanding under the 1994 Employee Incentive Stock Plan and
(G) no Shares were issuable in respect of outstanding rights under the 1994
Incentive Compensation Plan. Except for the issuance of Company Common Stock
pursuant to the exercise of outstanding Options and except as provided in
Schedule 4.1(b), there are no employment, executive termination or similar
agreements providing for the issuance of Company Common Stock. As of the date
hereof, 3,764,278 shares of Company Common Stock are held by the Company and no
Shares are held by Subsidiaries of the Company. Since the Capitalization Date,
no shares of preferred stock have been issued and no shares of Company Common
Stock have been issued, except Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options
outstanding on such date as set forth in clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) above. No
bonds, debentures, notes or other instruments or evidence of indebtedness having
the right to vote (or convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for,
securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which the Company
stockholders may vote ("Company Voting Debt") are issued or outstanding. All
outstanding Shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not
subject to preemptive or other similar rights. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(b), all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries of the
Company are owned by the Company or a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims and options
of any nature. Except as set forth in this Section 4.1(b), there are
outstanding: (A) no shares of capital stock, Company Voting Debt or other voting
securities of the Company; (B) no securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of
capital stock, Company Voting Debt or other voting securities of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company; and (C) no options, warrants, calls, rights
(including preemptive rights), commitments or agreements to which the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which it is bound, in any case
obligating the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, deliver, sell,
purchase, redeem or acquire, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, purchased,
redeemed or acquired, additional shares of capital stock or any Company Voting
Debt or other voting securities of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, or obligating the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to grant,
extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, commitment or
agreement. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(b), since December 31, 1996, the
Company has not (1) granted any options, warrants or rights to purchase shares
of Company Common Stock or (2) amended or repriced any Option or any of the
Stock Option Plans. Set forth on Schedule 4.1(b) is a list of all outstanding
options, warrants and rights to purchase shares of Company Common Stock and the
exercise prices relating thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(b) and in
the Transaction Documents, there are not as of the date hereof and there will
not be at the Effective Time any stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other
agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound relating to the voting of any shares of the capital stock of the Company
which will limit in any way the solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of the
Company from, or the casting of votes by, the stockholders

                                      -14-


<PAGE>   24



of the Company with respect to the Merger. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(b), there are no restrictions on the Company to vote the stock of any of its
Subsidiaries.

                  (c)   Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.

                           (i) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
         authority to enter into the Transaction Documents and, subject to the
         Company Stockholder Approval (as defined in Section 4.1(c)(iii)), to
         consummate the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents.
         The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly
         authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
         Company, subject, if required with respect to the consummation of the
         Merger, to the Company Stockholder Approval, unless the Merger may be
         effected pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL. The Transaction Documents
         have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, subject, with
         respect to the consummation of the Merger, to the Company Stockholder
         Approval unless the Merger may be effected pursuant to Section 253 of
         the DGCL, and assuming that each of the Transaction Documents to which
         Parent or Sub is a party constitutes the valid and binding agreement of
         Parent or Sub, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
         enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and conditions
         except that the enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
         conveyance or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
         creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of equity
         (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at
         law or in equity).

                           (ii) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(c), the
         execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the Company
         will not (A) conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default
         (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise
         to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration (including
         pursuant to any put right) of any obligation or the loss of a material
         benefit under, or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or
         other encumbrance on assets or property, or right of first refusal with
         respect to any asset or property (any such conflict, violation,
         default, right of termination, cancellation or acceleration, loss,
         creation or right of first refusal, a "Violation"), pursuant to any
         provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company
         or any comparable charter or organizational documents of its
         Subsidiaries or (B) except as to which requisite waivers or consents
         have been obtained and assuming the consents, approvals, authorizations
         or permits and filings or notifications referred to in paragraph (iii)
         of this Section 4.1(c) are duly and timely obtained or made and, if
         required, the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained, result in
         any Violation of (1) any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, deed
         of trust, indenture, lease, Benefit Plan (as defined in Section
         4.1(k)), Company

                                      -15-


<PAGE>   25



         Permit (as defined in Section 4.1(g)), or any other agreement,
         obligation, instrument, concession, franchise or license or (2) any
         judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
         applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their
         respective properties or assets (collectively, "Laws"), except in the
         case of clauses (1) and (2) for any Violations that, individually or in
         the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,
         materially impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations
         under any of the Transaction Documents or prevent the consummation of
         any of the transactions contemplated thereby. The Board of Directors of
         the Company has taken all actions necessary under the DGCL, including
         approving the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
         to ensure that Section 203 of the DGCL does not, and will not, apply to
         the transactions contemplated thereby.

                           (iii) No consent, approval, order or authorization
         of, or registration, declaration or filing with, notice to, or permit
         from any court, administrative agency or commission or other
         governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (a
         "Governmental Entity"), is required by or with respect to the Company
         or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
         delivery of any of the Transaction Documents by the Company or the
         consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby,
         except for (A) the filing of a pre-merger notification and report form
         by the Company under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
         of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), and the expiration or termination
         of the applicable waiting period thereunder; (B) the filing with the
         SEC of (1) the Proxy Statement in definitive form relating to the
         Stockholders' Meeting, (2) the Schedule 14D-9 and (3) such reports
         under and such other compliance with the Exchange Act and the rules and
         regulations thereunder as may be required in connection with this
         Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (C) the filing of
         the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
         Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of
         other states in which the Company does business; (D) such filings and
         approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities, "blue
         sky" or takeover laws; (E) such filings in connection with any state or
         local tax which is attributable to the beneficial ownership of the
         Company's or its Subsidiaries' real property, if any (collectively, the
         "Gains and Transfer Taxes"); (F) such other filings and consents as may
         be required under any environmental, health or safety law or regulation
         pertaining to any notification, disclosure or required approval
         necessitated by the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement; (G) the approval of this Agreement by the holders of a
         majority of the outstanding Shares ("Company Stockholder Approval");
         (H) such filings, consents, approvals and authorizations under the New
         Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act, N.J.S.A. 13:1K-6 et seq. ("ISRA")
         and (I) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
         registrations, declarations, filings, notices or permits the failure of
         which to be obtained or made would not have a Material Adverse Effect
         on the Company, materially impair the ability of the Company to perform
         its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents or prevent the
         consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby.

                                      -16-


<PAGE>   26




                  (d) SEC Documents. The Company has made available to Parent a
true and complete copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and
definitive proxy statement filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1,
1995 and prior to the date of this Agreement (the "Company SEC Documents"),
which are all the documents (other than preliminary material) that the Company
was required to file with the SEC since such date. As of their respective dates,
the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), or the
Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the
Company SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the
Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on
a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto or, in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by
Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC) and fairly present in accordance with
applicable requirements of GAAP (subject, in the case of the unaudited
statements, to year-end audit adjustments, as permitted by Rule 10-01, and any
other adjustments described therein) the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the
consolidated results of operations and the consolidated cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein.

                  (e) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or
to be supplied by the Company specifically for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement will, on the date it is first mailed to the
holders of the Company Common Stock or at the date of the related stockholder
meeting (the "Meeting Date"), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading. If, at any time prior to the Meeting Date, any
event with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to
other information supplied by the Company specifically for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement, shall occur which is required to be described in an amendment
of, or a supplement to, the Proxy Statement, such event shall be so described,
and such amendment or supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, as
required by law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company. All documents
that the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the
transactions contemplated herein, including the Schedule 14D-9 or the Proxy
Statement, insofar as it relates to the Company or its Subsidiaries or other
information supplied by the Company specifically for inclusion therein, will
comply as to form, in all material respects, with the provisions of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and
each such document required to be filed with any Governmental Entity other than
the SEC will comply

                                      -17-


<PAGE>   27



in all material respects with the provisions of applicable law as to the
information required to be contained therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the information
supplied or to be supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement.

                  (f) No Default. Except as may result from the execution and
delivery of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated thereby (which is subject to Section 4.1(c)(ii)) and except as set
forth on Schedule 4.1(f), no Violation exists (and no event has occurred which,
with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a Violation) of any
term, condition or provision of (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws
of the Company or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any of
its Subsidiaries, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise
or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is now a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or assets is bound or (iii) any law, order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, except in the case of (ii) and (iii) for Violations which, in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, materially
impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any of the
Transaction Documents or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated thereby.

                  (g) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.1(g), the Company and its Subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses,
variances, exemptions, orders, franchises and approvals of all Governmental
Entities necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses (the
"Company Permits"), except where the failure to hold any such Company Permits
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, materially impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents or prevent the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated thereby. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.1(g), the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the
Company Permits, except where the failure to be in compliance would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,
materially impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under
any of the Transaction Documents or prevent the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated thereby. As of the date of this Agreement, except as
set forth on Schedule 4.1(g), no investigation or review by any Governmental
Entity with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, has been threatened which would have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, materially impair the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby.

                  (h) Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(h) or
disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, there is no suit, action or proceeding
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company

                                      -18-


<PAGE>   28



("Company Litigation") the loss of which would have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, nor is there any material judgment, decree, unfunded settlement,
conciliation agreement, letter of deficiency, award, temporary restraining
order, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator
outstanding against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company ("Company
Order") that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. In addition,
except as expressly set forth on Schedule 4.1(h) as having such effect, none of
the claims and judgments pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
pursuant to all Company Litigation and Company Orders, would, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, materially impair
the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any of the
Transaction Documents or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated thereby.

                  (i)   Taxes. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(i) hereto:

                           (i) All material Tax Returns required to be filed by
         or with respect to the Company, each of its Subsidiaries, and any
         affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of which
         the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was a member, have been
         duly and timely filed (taking into account all valid extensions of
         filing dates), and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete
         in all material respects. The Company, each of its Subsidiaries, and
         any affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of
         which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was a member, has
         duly and timely paid (or there has been paid on its behalf) all
         material Taxes that are due, except for Taxes being contested in good
         faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have
         been established in the Company's unaudited financial statements for
         the quarter ended March 31, 1997 in accordance with GAAP. With respect
         to any period for which Taxes are not yet due with respect to the
         Company, any Subsidiary, and any affiliated, consolidated, combined,
         unitary or similar group of which the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries is or was a member, the Company and each of its
         Subsidiaries has made due and sufficient current accruals for such
         Taxes in accordance with GAAP in the most recent financial statements
         contained in the Company SEC Documents. The Company and each of its
         Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all material Taxes required by all
         applicable laws to be withheld or paid in connection with any amounts
         paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor,
         stockholder or other third party.

                           (ii) There are no outstanding agreements, waivers, or
         arrangements extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to
         any claim for, or the period for the collection assessment of, material
         Taxes due from or with respect to or the Company, any of its
         Subsidiaries, or any affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or
         similar group of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was
         a member, for any taxable period. No audit or other proceeding by any
         court, governmental or regulatory authority, or similar person is
         pending in regard to any material Taxes due from or with respect to the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any material Tax

                                      -19-


<PAGE>   29



         Return filed by or with respect to the Company, any Subsidiary, or any
         affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of which
         the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was a member, other than
         normal and routine audits by nonfederal governmental authorities. All
         material deficiencies of Taxes assessed by any applicable taxing
         authority have been paid, fully settled or adequately provided for in
         the financial statements contained in the Company SEC Documents.
         Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has received
         written notice that any assessment of material Taxes is proposed
         against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets.

                           (iii) No consent to the application of Section
         341(f)(2) of the Code (or any predecessor provision) has been made or
         filed by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
         any of their assets. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
         agreed to make any material adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of
         the Code (or any predecessor provision) by reason of any change in any
         accounting method, and there is no application pending with any taxing
         authority requesting permission for any changes in any accounting
         method of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, in each
         respective case, will or would reasonably cause the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries to include any material adjustment in taxable income
         for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing
         Date.

                           (iv) Except as set forth in the Company SEC
         Documents, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
         to, is bound by, or has any obligation under, any Tax sharing
         agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar contract, agreement or
         arrangement.

                           (v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
         has executed or entered into with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"),
         or any taxing authority, a closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121
         of the Code or any similar provision of state, local, foreign or other
         income tax law, which will require any increase in taxable income or
         alternative minimum taxable income, or any reduction in tax credits
         for, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any taxable period
         ending after the Closing Date.

                           (vi) There are no requests for rulings from any
         taxing authority for information with respect to Taxes of the Company
         or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, no
         material reassessments (for property or ad valorem Tax purposes) of any
         assets or any property owned or leased by the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries have been proposed in written form.

                           (vii) None of the property of the Company or any
         Subsidiary is subject to a safe-harbor lease (pursuant to Section
         168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as in effect after the
         Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and before the Tax Reform Act of
         1986) or is "tax-exempt use property" (within the meaning of Section

                                      -20-


<PAGE>   30



         168(h) of the Code) or "tax-exempt bond financed property" (within the
         meaning of Section 168(g)(5) of the Code).

                           (viii) The term "Code" shall mean the Internal
         Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The term "Tax" (and, with correlative
         meaning, "Taxes") shall mean (i) any net income, alternative or add-on
         minimum, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, value
         added, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding on amounts
         paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, payroll, employment,
         excise, production, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property,
         environmental or windfall profit tax, custom, duty or other tax,
         governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind
         whatsoever, together with any interest and/or any penalty, addition to
         tax or additional amount imposed by any taxing authority, (ii) any
         liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of
         any amounts of the type described in (i) as a result of being a member
         of an affiliated or consolidated group or arrangement whereby liability
         of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of such
         amounts was determined or taken into account with reference to the
         liability of any other person for any period and (iii) liability of the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the payment of any
         amounts of the type described in (i) or (ii) as a result of any express
         or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person. The term "Tax
         Return" shall mean all returns, declarations, reports, estimates,
         information returns and statements required to be filed by or with
         respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any
         Taxes, including, without limitation, (i) any consolidated federal
         income Tax return in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
         included and (ii) any state, local or foreign income Tax returns filed
         on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis (for purposes of
         determining tax liability) in which the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries is included.

                  (j) Employment Agreements. Schedule 4.1(j) contains a complete
list of each management, employment, consulting or other agreement, contract or
commitment, in each case, in writing, between the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and any employee, officer or director thereof (A) providing for the
employment of any person or providing for retention of management, executive or
consulting services and providing for an obligation to pay or accrue
compensation of $50,000 or more per annum, or (B) except for severance
agreements or arrangements with an employee or officer of only a Subsidiary of
the Company and which do not provide for any severance agreement or arrangement
in excess of $75,000, providing for the payment or accrual of any compensation
or severance upon (i) a change in control of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) any termination of such management, employment, consulting
or other relationship.

                  (k) Pension and Benefit Plans; ERISA.

                           (i)   Schedule 4.1(k) sets forth a complete and 
         correct list of:


                                      -21-


<PAGE>   31



                                    (A) all "employee benefit plans," as defined
                           in Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained by the Company
                           or any trade or business (whether or not
                           incorporated) which is under common control, or which
                           is treated as a single employer, with the Company
                           under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code
                           ("ERISA Affiliate"), or to which the Company or any
                           of its ERISA Affiliates has any obligation or
                           liability, contingent or otherwise, other than any
                           multiemployer plan as defined in either Section 3(37)
                           or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA ("Benefit Plans"); and

                                    (B) all stock award, stock option or stock
                           purchase benefit policies or arrangements and all
                           material bonus or other incentive compensation,
                           deferred compensation, salary continuation,
                           disability, or other material employee benefit
                           policies or arrangements which the Company or any of
                           its ERISA Affiliates maintains or to which the
                           Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has any
                           material obligation or liability (contingent or
                           otherwise) (together with the agreements disclosed on
                           Schedule 4.1(j), the "Employee Arrangements").

                           (ii) With respect to each Benefit Plan for which a
         Form 5500 is required to be filed, the Company or one of its
         Subsidiaries has timely filed such form with the Department of Labor
         for the last three years, and except as otherwise noted in Schedule
         4.1(k), with respect to each Benefit Plan and Employee Arrangement, a
         complete and correct copy of each of the following documents (if
         applicable) has been made available to Sub: (A) the most recent plan
         and related trust documents, and all amendments thereto; (B) the most
         recent summary plan description, and all related summaries of material
         modifications thereto; (C) Form 5500 (including schedules and
         attachments) for the last three years; (D) the most recent IRS
         determination letter; and (E) actuarial reports for the last three
         years.

                           (iii) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k), the
         Benefit Plans and their related trusts intended to qualify under
         Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code, respectively, have received
         favorable determination letters from the IRS regarding the Tax Reform
         Act of 1986 with respect to such qualified status and nothing, to the
         best knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has occurred
         that could reasonably be expected to cause any such qualified status to
         change, which change would be material.

                           (iv) All material contributions or other material
         payments required to have been made by the Company or any of its ERISA
         Affiliates to or under any Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement by
         applicable law or the terms of such Benefit Plan or Employee
         Arrangement (or any agreement relating thereto) have been timely and
         properly made or are properly accrued on the Company's unaudited
         financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
         principles.

                                      -22-


<PAGE>   32




                           (v) The Benefit Plans and Employee Arrangements have
         been maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance
         with their terms and applicable laws, and all filings of applicable
         reports, documents and notices, the non-filing of which would have a
         Material Adverse Effect, have been timely made with the appropriate
         governmental agencies and plan participants and beneficiaries.

                           (vi) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k), there
         are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries, threatened actions, claims or proceedings against or
         relating to any Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement (other than
         routine benefit claims by persons entitled to benefits thereunder) that
         would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                           (vii) Except for the Employee Arrangements and as
         disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k), the Company and its ERISA Affiliates do
         not maintain or have an obligation to contribute to retiree life or
         retiree health plans which provide for continuing benefits or coverage,
         for 18 months or more, for current or former officers, directors,
         nonemployees or employees of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates
         except (A) as may be required under Part 6 of Title I of ERISA and at
         the sole expense of the participant or the participant's beneficiary or
         (B) a medical expense reimbursement account plan pursuant to Section
         125 of the Code.

                           (viii) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k) or
         specifically provided for herein, neither the execution and delivery of
         this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
         hereby will (A) result in any material payment becoming due to any
         employee or group of employees of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries; (B) increase materially any benefits otherwise payable
         under any Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement; or (C) result in the
         acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such material
         benefits.

                           (ix) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k), no stock
         or other security issued by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate forms a
         part of the assets of any Benefit Plan.

                           (x) The Company and its Subsidiaries have maintained
         workers' compensation coverage as required by applicable state law
         through purchase of insurance and not by self-insurance or otherwise,
         except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k).

                           (xi) As to each Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of
         ERISA, since January 1, 1990, to the best knowledge of the Company and
         each of its Subsidiaries, no notice of intent to terminate has been
         given under Section 4041 of ERISA and no proceeding has been instituted
         under Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate, such that

                                      -23-


<PAGE>   33



         would result in a material liability to the Company or any ERISA
         Affiliates; no material unsatisfied liability to the Pension Benefit
         Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") has been incurred; no material
         unsatisfied accumulated funding deficiency, whether or not waived,
         within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code
         has been incurred; and the most recent financial statements and
         actuarial valuations including information regarding the assets and
         liabilities of each such Benefit Plan have been supplied to Parent.

                           (xii) The provisions of this Section 4.1(k)(xii)
         shall only apply to Benefit Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA and
         Benefit Plans subject to Section 412 of the Code; concerning each
         Benefit Plan that is or has been subject to the funding requirements of
         Title I, Subtitle B, Part 3 of ERISA, the funding method used in
         connection with such plan is, and at all times has been, acceptable
         under ERISA, the actuarial assumptions employed in connection with
         determining the funding of each such plan are, and at all times have
         been, reasonable and satisfy the requirements of Section 412(c)(3) of
         the Code and Section 302(c)(3) of ERISA; Schedule 4.1(k) sets forth as
         of December 31, 1996, any premiums due to the PBGC for the most
         recently completed year; Schedule 4.1(k) sets forth a reasonable good
         faith estimate of material changes between December 31, 1996 and the
         date hereof in the actuarially determined present value of all benefit
         liabilities within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA
         (determined on the basis of the assumptions used for funding purposes
         in the most recent actuarial reports for such Benefit Plans) ("Benefit
         Liabilities") or plan assets with respect to such Benefit Plans; the
         sum of the amount of unfunded Benefit Liabilities under all Benefit
         Plans (excluding each such plan with an amount of unfunded Benefit
         Liabilities of zero or less) is not more than $1,300,000, with respect
         to any such Benefit Plan, no such plan has been terminated or subject
         to a "spin-off" or "spin-off termination" or partial termination and no
         assets of any such plan have been used or employed in a manner so as to
         subject them to a material excise tax imposed under Section 4980 of the
         Code; each such Benefit Plan permits termination thereof, and any
         assets in excess of those required to pay Benefit Liabilities may be
         distributed to or for the benefit of the Company or its ERISA
         Affiliates, and Section 4044(d) of ERISA would not prevent such
         reversion; with respect to any such Benefit Plan, any significant
         reduction in the rate of future benefit accrual was preceded by an
         adequate and appropriate notice to the parties described in and as
         required by Section 204(h) of ERISA.

                           (xiii) Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA
         Affiliates has, or will have, incurred by reason of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement any material liability under Section
         4062(e) of ERISA. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k), neither the
         Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates is a participant in any plan to
         which Sections 4063 or 4064 of ERISA apply.


                                      -24-


<PAGE>   34



                           (xiv) Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA
         Affiliates has engaged in any transaction described under Section 4069
         of ERISA nor has any lien been imposed with respect to a material
         amount on any of the Company, any ERISA Affiliate or any of their
         respective assets under Section 4068 of ERISA.

                           (xv) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have
         complied in all material respects with all requirements for premium
         payments, including any interest and penalty charges for late payment,
         due the PBGC with respect to each Benefit Plan and each separate plan
         year for which any premiums are required. Except as set forth in
         Schedule 4.1(k), and except for transactions required by this
         Agreement, since January 1, 1990, there has been no "reportable event"
         (within the meaning of Section 4043(b) or (c) of ERISA and regulations
         promulgated by the PBGC thereunder) with respect to any Benefit Plan
         subject to Title IV of ERISA for which notice to the PBGC has not, by
         rule or regulations, been waived which would have a Material Adverse
         Effect. Concerning both the Company and any ERISA Affiliate (A) since
         January 1, 1990, there has been no cessation of operations at a
         facility so as to become subject to the provisions of Section 4062(e)
         of ERISA which would have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) since January
         1, 1990, there has been no withdrawal of a substantial employer from
         any Benefit Plan so as to become subject to the provisions of Section
         4063 of ERISA which would have a Material Adverse Effect, (C) since
         January 1, 1990, there has been no cessation of contributions to any
         Benefit Plan subject to Section 4064(a) of ERISA which would have a
         Material Adverse Effect, (D) there is not now any material liability
         under Section 4064 of ERISA to any of Parent, Sub or any affiliates of
         Parent or Sub or the Company by reason of the termination of any
         Benefit Plan, (E) since January 1, 1990, there has been no amendment to
         any Benefit Plan that would require the furnishing of security under
         Section 401(a)(29) of the Code, and (F) there has been no event or
         circumstance, and, to the best knowledge of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries, there exists no event or circumstance which could
         reasonably be expected to result in any material liability being
         asserted by any Benefit Plan, the PBGC or any other person or entity
         under Title IV of ERISA against the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
         With respect to any Benefit Plan, no lien has been imposed under
         Section 412(n) of the Code or Section 302(f) of ERISA with respect to a
         material amount nor is there any material liability for excise taxes
         imposed under Section 4971 of the Code; any notices to the PBGC
         delivered since January 1, 1990, under Section 412(n) of the Code or
         Section 302(f) of ERISA have heretofore been delivered to Parent; and
         copies of any notices required to be given to participants since
         January 1, 1990, under either Section 101(d) or Section 4011 of ERISA
         have previously been delivered to Parent. Except as described in
         Schedule 4.1(k), the PBGC has not communicated with the Company, its
         ERISA Affiliates or any of its agents or representatives concerning the
         transactions contemplated by the Agreement, nor any other transactions
         implemented by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates within the
         preceding five calendar years.


                                                      -25-


<PAGE>   35



                           (xvi) Since January 1, 1990, neither the Company nor
         any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action to vest participants in
         any overfunding in any Benefit Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA.

                           (xvii) No act, omission or transaction has occurred
         which would result in imposition on the Company or an ERISA Affiliate
         of (A) material liability under Section 409 of ERISA for breach of
         fiduciary duty , (B) a material civil penalty assessed pursuant to
         subsections (c), (i) or (l) of Section 502 of ERISA or (C) a material
         tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code.

                           (xviii) (A) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(k),
         neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate contributes to, or has an
         obligation to contribute to, and has not within the preceding five
         years contributed to, or had an obligation to contribute to, a
         multiemployer plan subject to Title IV of ERISA as defined in Section
         4001(a)(3) of ERISA (each such disclosed plan, a "Multiemployer Plan"),
         (B) all material contributions or other material payments required to
         have been made by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates to or
         under any Multiemployer Plan by applicable law or the terms of such
         Multiemployer Plan (or any agreement relating thereto) have been timely
         and properly made or are properly accrued on the Company's unaudited
         financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (C) there has been no
         complete or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan by the Company
         or any ERISA Affiliate so as to incur any material withdrawal liability
         as defined in Section 4201 of ERISA (without regard to any subsequent
         reduction or waiver of such liability under Section 4207 or 4208 of
         ERISA), (D) if prior to the Effective Time any Multiemployer Plan were
         in "reorganization" (as defined in Section 4241 of ERISA) or
         "insolvent" as defined in Section 4245 of ERISA, the estimated present
         value of the aggregate increase in contributions to such Multiemployer
         Plan by the Company and its ERISA Affiliates over the estimated present
         value of contributions to such Multiemployer Plan by the Company and
         its ERISA Affiliates without regard to such reorganization or
         insolvency would not exceed $6,000,000 and would not have a Material
         Adverse Effect, (E) Schedule 4.1(k) sets forth the dollar amount of
         contributions made by the Company and its ERISA Affiliates with respect
         to each Multiemployer Plan for the current year and preceding five
         years, and (F) the aggregate dollar amount of withdrawal liability as
         defined in Section 4201 of ERISA (without regard to any subsequent
         reduction or waiver of such liability under Section 4207 or 4208 of
         ERISA) which would be owed by the Company and its ERISA Affiliates to
         all Multiemployer Plans if the Company and its ERISA Affiliates ceased
         contributing to all such Multiemployer Plans immediately before the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement would
         not exceed $6,000,000, with respect to each multiemployer plan as
         defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA that is not a "Multiemployer Plan",
         as defined above, all material contributions or other material
         payments, required to have been made by the Company or any of the ERISA
         Affiliates to or under any such multiemployer plan by applicable law or
         the terms of such

                                      -26-


<PAGE>   36



         multiemployer plan (or any agreement relating thereto) have been, to
         the best knowledge of the Company of any of its Subsidiaries, timely
         and properly made or are properly accrued on the Company's unaudited
         financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

                  (l) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since March 31,
1997, except as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(l), the Company and the Subsidiaries
have conducted their business, in all material respects, only in the ordinary
course and in a manner consistent with past practice (except in connection with
the negotiation and execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents and the Atrium Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in
connection with discussions with other parties regarding possible Acquisition
Proposals) and since March 31, 1997, except as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(l),
there has not been (i) any event or events (whether or not covered by
insurance), individually or in the aggregate, having a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, (ii) any material change by the Company in its accounting
methods, principles or practices, (iii) any entry by the Company or any
Subsidiary into any commitment or transaction material to the Company, except in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or except in
connection with the negotiation and execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the other Transaction Documents and the Atrium Agreements (as hereinafter
defined), (iv) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or
distribution in respect of any capital stock of the Company or any redemption,
purchase or other acquisition of any of the Company's or its Subsidiaries'
securities (except for cash dividends paid to the Company by its wholly owned
Subsidiaries with regard to its capital stock, and the declaration and payment
to the holders of Shares regular quarterly dividends to stockholders of record
with such record dates and payment dates as are consistent with past practice),
(v) other than pursuant to the Benefit Plans and the Employee Arrangements or as
required by law, any increase in, amendment to, or establishment of any bonus,
insurance, severance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit
sharing, stock option, stock purchase or other employee benefit plan, (vi)
granted any general increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to
the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for increases occurring
in the ordinary course of business in accordance with its customary practice,
(vii) paid any bonus to the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries except
for bonuses accrued on the Company's unaudited balance sheet for the quarter
ending March 31, 1997, (viii) any incurrence of indebtedness for borrowed money
or assumption or guarantee of indebtedness for borrowed money by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (other than loans from the Company to any wholly owned
Subsidiary or from any wholly owned Subsidiary to the Company or any other
wholly owned Subsidiary), or the grant of any lien on the material assets of the
Company or its Subsidiaries to secure indebtedness for borrowed money except, in
any such case, any drawdowns by the Company under its revolving credit facility
or its accounts receivable facility, (ix) any sale or transfer of any material
assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice, or (x) any loan, advance or capital
contribution to or investment in any person in an aggregate amount in excess of
$100,000 by the Company or any Subsidiary (excluding any loan, advance or
capital contribution to, or

                                      -27-


<PAGE>   37



investment in, the Company or any wholly owned Subsidiary and except for
drawdowns by the Company under its revolving credit facility or its accounts
receivable facility).

                  (m) No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. Except as set forth
on Schedule 4.1(m), there are no liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary of
any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
determinable or otherwise, that are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries
considered as a whole and that are required to be disclosed in an audited
balance sheet (or in the notes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, other
than (i) liabilities reflected on the Company's unaudited financial statements
(together with the related notes thereto) filed with the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 (as filed with the
SEC), (ii) liabilities under this Agreement, (iii) any liabilities that have
occurred in the ordinary course of business since March 31, 1997, (iv)
liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, not having a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company and (v) liabilities for professional fees and expenses in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Atrium
Agreements.

                  (n) Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the
opinion of the Financial Advisor to the effect that, as of the date thereof, the
cash consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock in the
Offer and the Merger is fair from a financial point of view to such holders. The
Company has been authorized by the Financial Advisor to include the Fairness
Opinion in the Offer Documents and the Proxy Statement and such opinion has not
been withdrawn or modified. True and complete copies of all agreements and
understandings between the Company or any of its affiliates and the Financial
Advisor relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are attached
hereto as Schedule 4.1(n).

                  (o) Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is the only vote of
the holders of any class or series of the Company's capital stock necessary
(under applicable law or otherwise) to approve the Merger and this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (p) Labor Matters. Except to the extent as such would not have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or as set forth on Schedule 4.1(p) or
in the Company SEC Documents:

                           (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
         is a party to any labor or collective bargaining agreement, and no
         employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are represented by
         any labor organization. Within the preceding three years, there have
         been no representation or certification proceedings, or petitions
         seeking a representation proceeding, pending or, to the knowledge of
         the Company, threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor
         Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority.
         Within the preceding three years, to the best knowledge of the Company,
         there have been no organizing activities involving the

                                      -28-


<PAGE>   38



         Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any group of
         employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                           (ii) There are no strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns,
         lockouts, material arbitrations or material grievances or other
         material labor disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
         threatened against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
         There are no unfair labor practice charges or complaints pending or, to
         the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by or on behalf of any
         employee or group of employees of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries.

                           (iii) There are no complaints, charges or claims
         against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the best
         knowledge of the Company, threatened to be brought or filed, with any
         Governmental Entity or arbitrator(s) based on, arising out of, in
         connection with, or otherwise relating to the employment or termination
         of employment of any individual by the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries.

                           (iv) To the best knowledge of the Company, each of
         the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material
         respects with all laws, regulations and orders relating to employment
         and labor, including but not limited to all such laws, regulations and
         orders relating to wages and hours, collective bargaining, equal
         employment opportunity, affirmative action, discrimination, civil
         rights, employee benefits, plant closing and mass layoff, immigration,
         medical and family leave, safety and health, workers' compensation and
         the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes
         and any similar tax.

                           (v) As of the date hereof, there is no proceeding,
         claim, suit, action or governmental investigation pending or, to the
         best knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened,
         with respect to which any current or former director, officer, employee
         or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled, or has
         asserted he is entitled, to claim indemnification from the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation or
         By-Laws of the Company or any provision of the comparable charter or
         organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries, as provided in any
         indemnification agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the
         Company is a party or pursuant to applicable law, that has a Material
         Adverse Effect on the Company, materially impairs the ability of the
         Company to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction
         Documents or prevents the consummation of any of the transactions
         contemplated thereby.

                  (q) Intangible Property. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries owns or has a right to use each trademark, trade name, patent,
service mark, brand mark, brand name, computer program, database, industrial
design and copyright required, owned or used in connection with the operation of
its businesses, including any registrations thereof and pending

                                      -29-


<PAGE>   39



applications therefor, and each license or other contract relating thereto that
is material to the conduct of its business (collectively, the "Company
Intangible Property"), free and clear of any and all liens, claims or
encumbrances, except where the failure to own or have a right to use such
property or such lien, claim or encumbrance would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. Except to the extent that such would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, the use of the Company Intangible Property by the
Company or its Subsidiaries does not conflict with, infringe upon, violate or
interfere with or constitute an appropriation of any right, title, interest or
goodwill, including, without limitation, any intellectual property right,
trademark, trade name, patent, service mark, brand mark, brand name, computer
program, database, industrial design, copyright or any pending application
therefor of any other person.

                  (r)   Environmental Matters.

                           (i)   For purposes of this Agreement:

                                    (A) "Environmental Costs and Liabilities"
                           means any and all losses, liabilities, obligations,
                           damages, fines, penalties, judgments, actions,
                           claims, costs and expenses (including, without
                           limitation, fees, disbursements and expenses of legal
                           counsel, experts, engineers and consultants and the
                           reasonable costs of investigation and feasibility
                           studies and the reasonable costs to clean up, remove,
                           treat, or in any other way address any Hazardous
                           Materials) arising with respect to any violation of
                           or liability arising pursuant to or under any
                           Environmental Law or as the result of any exposure or
                           alleged exposure of any person or property to any
                           Hazardous Material.

                                    (B) "Environmental Law" means any applicable
                           law regulating or prohibiting Releases of Hazardous
                           Materials into any part of the natural environment,
                           or pertaining to the protection of natural resources,
                           the environment and public and employee health and
                           safety from Hazardous Materials including, without
                           limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
                           Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA") (42 U.S.C.
                           ss. 9601 et seq.), the Hazardous Materials
                           Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. ss. 1801 et seq.), the
                           Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. ss.
                           6901 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. ss.
                           1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (33 U.S.C. ss. 7401
                           et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C.
                           ss. 7401 et seq.), the Federal Insecticide,
                           Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. ss. 136 et
                           seq.), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29
                           U.S.C. ss. 651 et seq.) ("OSHA") and the regulations
                           promulgated pursuant thereto, and any such applicable
                           state or local statutes, including, without
                           limitation, ISRA, and the regulations promulgated
                           pursuant

                                      -30-


<PAGE>   40



                           thereto, as such laws have been and may be amended or
                           supplemented through the Closing Date;

                                    (C) "Hazardous Material" means any
                           substance, material or waste which is regulated with
                           respect to its toxic or otherwise hazardous character
                           or the potential deleterious effects arising from its
                           improper management by any public or governmental
                           authority in the jurisdictions in which the
                           applicable party or its Subsidiaries conducts
                           business, or the United States, including, without
                           limitation, any material or substance which is
                           defined as a "hazardous waste," "hazardous material,"
                           "hazardous substance," "extremely hazardous waste" or
                           "restricted hazardous waste," "contaminant," "solid
                           waste," "toxic waste" or "toxic substance" under any
                           provision of Environmental Law and shall also
                           include, without limitation, petroleum, petroleum
                           products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and
                           radioactive materials;

                                    (D) "Release" means any release, spill,
                           effluent, emission, leaking, pumping, injection,
                           deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching, or
                           migration into the environment; and

                                    (E) "Remedial Action" means all actions,
                           including, without limitation, any capital
                           expenditures, required by a governmental entity or
                           required under any Environmental Law, or voluntarily
                           undertaken to (1) clean up, remove, treat, or in any
                           other way ameliorate or address any Hazardous
                           Materials or other substance in the environment; (2)
                           prevent the Release or threat of Release, or minimize
                           the further Release of any Hazardous Material so it
                           does not endanger or threaten to endanger the public
                           health or welfare or the environment; (3) perform
                           pre-remedial studies and investigations or
                           post-remedial monitoring and care pertaining or
                           relating to a Release; or (4) bring the applicable
                           party into compliance with any Environmental Law.

                           (ii)   Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(r) hereto:

                                    (A) The operations of the Company and its
                           Subsidiaries have been and, as of the Closing Date,
                           will be, in compliance in all respects with all
                           Environmental Laws except for any such noncompliance
                           which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect
                           on the Company;

                                    (B) The Company and its Subsidiaries have
                           obtained and will, as of the Closing Date, maintain
                           all permits required under applicable Environmental
                           Laws for the continued operations of their respective
                           businesses, except such permits the lack of which
                           would not materially

                                      -31-


<PAGE>   41



                           impair the ability of the Company and its
                           Subsidiaries to continue operations;

                                    (C) The Company and its Subsidiaries are not
                           subject to any outstanding written orders from, or
                           written agreements with, any Governmental Entity
                           respecting (A) violations or liability pursuant to
                           Environmental Laws, (B) Remedial Action or (C) any
                           Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous
                           Material;

                                    (D) The Company and its Subsidiaries have
                           not received any written communication alleging, with
                           respect to any such party, the violation of or
                           liability under any Environmental Law, which
                           violation or liability is outstanding, except for any
                           such violation or liability which would not result in
                           a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

                                    (E) Neither the Company nor any of its
                           Subsidiaries has any contingent liability in
                           connection with the Release of any Hazardous Material
                           into the environment (whether on-site or off-site)
                           which would result in the Company and its
                           Subsidiaries incurring Environmental Costs and
                           Liabilities which would result in a Material Adverse
                           Effect on the Company;

                                    (F) The Company or its Subsidiaries do not
                           engage in the transportation, treatment, storage or
                           disposal of hazardous waste, as defined and regulated
                           under permit requirements set forth in 40 C.F.R.
                           Parts 260-270 (in effect as of the date of this
                           Agreement) or any state equivalent;

                                    (G) Except as would not have a Material
                           Adverse Effect on the Company, here is not now nor
                           has there been in the past, on or in any property of
                           the Company or its Subsidiaries any of the following:
                           (A) any underground storage tanks or surface
                           impoundments containing Hazardous Materials, (B) any
                           asbestos-containing materials, or (C) any
                           polychlorinated biphenyls in regulated quantities;
                           and

                                    (H) No judicial or administrative
                           proceedings or governmental investigations are
                           pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
                           threatened against the Company or any of its
                           Subsidiaries alleging the violation of or seeking to
                           impose liability pursuant to any Environmental Law or
                           as the result of the Release or alleged Release of a
                           Hazardous Material, except for any such proceedings
                           or investigations that would not result in a Material
                           Adverse Effect on the Company.


                                      -32-


<PAGE>   42



                           (iii) This Section 4.1(r) sets forth the sole and
         exclusive representations and warranties of the Company relating to
         Environmental Matters, including, without limitation, any matters
         arising under Environmental Laws.

                  (s)   Real Property.

                           (i) Schedule 4.1(s) sets forth all of the real
         property owned in fee by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are
         material to the conduct of the businesses of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to each parcel of real
         property owned by it free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens,
         encumbrances and security interests, except (1) those described in the
         Company SEC Documents or listed on Schedule 4.1(s), (2) those reflected
         or reserved against in the unaudited balance sheet of the Company dated
         as of March 31, 1997, and (3) mortgages, pledges, liens, encumbrances
         and security interests that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
         the Company.

                           (ii) Schedule 4.1(s) sets forth each lease, sublease
         or other agreement (collectively, the "Real Property Leases") under
         which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses or occupies or has
         the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any real property
         material to the conduct of the businesses of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Except to the extent that it would not
         have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, each Real Property Lease
         is valid, binding and in full force and effect, all rent and other sums
         and charges payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries as tenants
         thereunder are current, no termination event or condition or uncured
         default on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
         exists under any Real Property Lease. Each of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries has a good and valid leasehold interest in each parcel of
         real property leased by it free and clear of all mortgages, pledges,
         liens, encumbrances and security interests, except (A) those disclosed
         in the Company SEC Documents, (B) those reflected or reserved against
         in the unaudited balance sheet of the Company dated as of March 31,
         1997, (C) taxes and general and special assessments not in default and
         payable without penalty and interest and (D) those which would not,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the
         Company.

                  (t) Tangible Property. With respect to the tangible properties
and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding real property) that
are material to the conduct of the businesses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good title to, or hold
pursuant to valid and enforceable leases, all such properties and assets, with
only such exceptions as, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. All of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries have been maintained and repaired for their continued operation and
are in good operating condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and usable
in the ordinary course of business, except

                                      -33-


<PAGE>   43



where the failure to be in such repair or condition or so usable would not
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

                  (u) Board Recommendation. As of the date hereof, the Board of
Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held, has by the vote of
those directors present (i) determined that the Transaction Documents and the
transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, taken
together, are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the
Company and has approved the same and (ii) resolved to recommend that the
holders of the shares of Company Common Stock accept the Offer and approve this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, including the Merger.

                  (v) Material Contracts. The Company has made available to
Parent (i) true and complete copies of all written contracts, agreements,
commitments, arrangements, leases (including with respect to personal property),
policies and other instruments to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which it or any such Subsidiary is bound which (A) require payments to be
made in excess of $250,000 per year for goods and/or services, (B) require
payments to be made in excess of $100,000 with respect to any licenses granted
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (C) require payments to be made in
excess of $100,000 per year for goods and/or services and do not by their terms
expire and are not subject to termination within 60 days from the date of the
execution and delivery thereof (collectively, "Material Contracts"), and (ii) a
written description of each Material Contract of which the Company is aware that
has not been reduced to writing; provided, however, that blanket purchase orders
or similar arrangements shall not be considered Material Contracts for purposes
of this Agreement. Each of the Material Contracts is listed on Schedule 4.1(v).
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has received any written
notice that any other party is, in default in any respect under any such
Material Contract, except as listed on Schedule 4.1(v) and except for those
defaults which would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company; and, to the Company's
knowledge, there has not occurred any event or events that with the lapse of
time or the giving of notice or both would constitute such a material default,
except as listed on Schedule 4.1(v) and except for those defaults which would
not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company.

                  (w) Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.1(w) and except for the Transaction Documents, the Employee
Arrangements or the Benefit Plans or as otherwise disclosed hereunder, no
director, officer, "affiliate" or "associate" (as such terms are defined in Rule
12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) has
borrowed any monies from or has outstanding any indebtedness or other similar
obligations to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) is otherwise a
party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.



                                      -34-


<PAGE>   44



                  (x) Schedule 14D-9, Offer Documents and Schedule 14D-1. The
Schedule 14D-9 and any amendments and supplements thereto will, when filed with
the SEC and when published, sent or given to holders of Company Common Stock,
comply as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except that no representation is made by the Company with respect to
information supplied by Parent or Sub in writing for inclusion therein. None of
the information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Offer Documents or
the Schedule 14D-1, and any amendments thereof, or supplements thereto, will,
when such materials are filed with the SEC and when published, sent or given to
holders of Company Common Stock, contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

         4.2.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB. Parent and Sub
represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

                  (a) Organization, Standing and Power. Each of Parent and Sub
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock
of Sub is owned directly by Parent free and clear of any lien, mortgage, pledge,
charge or encumbrance of any kind. Parent and Sub have heretofore made available
to the Company complete and correct copies of their respective Certificates of
Incorporation and Bylaws.

                  (b) Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.

                           (i) Each of Parent and Sub has all requisite
         corporate power and authority to enter into each of the Transaction
         Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions
         contemplated thereby. The execution and delivery of each of the
         Transaction Documents to which Parent or Sub is a party and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been
         respectively duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
         part of Parent and Sub. Each of the Transaction Documents to which
         Parent or Sub is a party have been respectively duly executed and
         delivered by each of Parent and Sub and, assuming that such constitute
         the valid and binding agreements of the other parties thereto
         respectively constitute valid and binding obligations of Parent and Sub
         enforceable in accordance with their terms and conditions except that
         the enforcement hereof or thereof may be limited by (a) applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
         conveyance or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
         creditors' rights generally and (b)

                                      -35-


<PAGE>   45



         general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is
         considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

                           (ii) The execution and delivery of each of the
         Transaction Documents to which the Parent or Sub is a party and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by each of Parent
         and Sub will not (A) result in any Violation pursuant to any provision
         of the respective Certificates of Incorporation or Bylaws of Parent or
         Sub or (B) except as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
         obtained and assuming the consents, approvals, authorizations or
         permits and filings or notifications referred to in paragraph (iii) of
         this Section 4.2(b) are duly and timely obtained or made and, if
         required, the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained, result in
         any Violation of (1) any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage,
         indenture, lease, or other agreement, obligation, instrument,
         concession, franchise or license or (2) any judgment, order, decree,
         statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or Sub
         or their respective properties or assets, except in the case of clauses
         (1) and (2), for any Violations that, individually or in the aggregate,
         would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, materially impair
         the ability of either Parent or Sub to perform its obligations
         hereunder or under any of the Transaction Documents or prevent the
         consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

                           (iii) No consent, approval, order or authorization
         of, or registration, declaration or filing with, notice to, or permit
         from any Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to Parent
         or Sub in connection with their respective execution and delivery of
         each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party or the
         consummation by each of Parent and Sub of the transactions contemplated
         thereby, except for: (A) filings under the HSR Act; (B) the filing with
         the SEC of such reports under and such other compliance with the
         Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder as may be
         required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby, including the Schedule 14D-1; (C) the filing of
         the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
         Delaware; (D) such filings and approvals as may be required by any
         applicable state securities, "blue sky" or takeover laws; (E) such
         filings in connection with any Gains and Transfer Taxes; (F) such
         filings and consents as may be required under any environmental, health
         or safety law or regulation pertaining to any notification, disclosure
         or required approval necessitated by the Merger or the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement; and (G) filings, consents, approvals
         and authorizations under ISRA.

                  (c) Information Supplied for Proxy Statement. None of the
information supplied or to be supplied by Parent or Sub specifically for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement will, on the date
it is first mailed to the holders of Company Common Stock or at the Meeting
Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the

                                      -36-


<PAGE>   46



statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. If, at any time prior to the Meeting Date, any event with respect to
Parent or Sub, or with respect to information supplied by Parent or Sub
specifically for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, shall occur which is required
to be described in an amendment of, or a supplement to, such document, such
event shall be so described to the Company. All documents that Parent or Sub is
responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein will comply as to form, in all material respects, with the
provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations
thereunder, and each such document required to be filed with any Governmental
Entity other than the SEC will comply in all material respects with the
provisions of applicable law as to the information required to be contained
therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Sub make no representation or
warranty with respect to the information supplied or to be supplied by the
Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.

                  (d) Board Recommendation. As of the date hereof, the Board of
Directors of Parent has determined that each of the Transaction Documents to
which it is a party and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Offer and the Merger, taken together, are fair to and in the best interests of
Parent and has approved the same.

                  (e) Financing. Parent and Sub have delivered to the Company a
true and complete copy of a letter of commitment obtained by Parent from
Wasserstein Perella & Co., Inc. with respect to the debt financing for the
transactions contemplated hereby (the "Financing Commitment"). An executed copy
of the Financing Commitment is attached hereto as Schedule 4.2(e). Assuming that
the financing contemplated by the Financing Commitment is consummated in
accordance with the terms thereof, the funds to be borrowed and/or provided
thereunder, together with Parent's available cash, will provide sufficient funds
to pay the Offer Price upon consummation of the Offer, the Merger Consideration,
the refinancing of all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company which is
required to be refinanced pursuant to the terms of such indebtedness in
connection with the Offer or the Merger, and all related fees and expenses. As
of the date of this Agreement, Parent is not aware of any facts or circumstances
that create a reasonable basis for Parent to believe that Parent will not be
able to obtain financing in accordance with the terms of the Financing
Commitment. Parent agrees to promptly notify the Company if the statements in
the immediately preceding sentence are no longer true and correct.

                  (f) Schedule 14D-1, Offer Documents and Schedule 14D-9. The
Offer Documents and the Schedule 14D-1 and all amendments and supplements
thereto, will, when filed with the SEC and when published, sent or given to
holders of Company Common Stock, comply as to form in all material respects with
the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, except that no representation is made by Parent
or Sub with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of the Company for
inclusion

                                      -37-


<PAGE>   47



therein. None of the information supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion in the
Schedule 14D-9 and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto will, when such
materials are filed with the SEC and when published, sent or given to holders of
Company Common Stock contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

         5.1. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. During the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time, the Company agrees as to the
Company and its Subsidiaries that (except as expressly contemplated or permitted
by the Transaction Documents, or to the extent that Parent shall otherwise
consent in writing):

                  (a) Ordinary Course. Subject to the other terms and provisions
of this Agreement, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall carry on its
businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore conducted and shall use all reasonable efforts to preserve
intact its present business organization, keep available the services of its
current officers and employees and preserve its relationships with customers,
suppliers and others having business dealings with it, in each case in all
material respects.

                  (b) Dividends; Changes in Stock. The Company shall not, nor
shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to (i) declare or pay any dividends on
or make other distributions in respect of any of its capital stock (except for
cash dividends paid to the Company by its wholly-owned Subsidiaries with regard
to its capital stock); provided, however, that the Company may declare and pay
to holders of Shares regular quarterly dividends to stockholders of record with
such record dates as are consistent with past practice, which payments in no
event shall exceed $0.03 per share per quarter; (ii) split, combine or
reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize or propose the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of its capital stock; or (iii) repurchase or otherwise acquire, or
permit any Subsidiary to purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its
capital stock, except (A) as contemplated by Section 3.5 of this Agreement and
(B) as required by the terms of its securities outstanding or any employee
benefit plan in effect on the date hereof.

                  (c) Issuance of Securities. Except as contemplated by Section
3.5 of this Agreement and except for Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding
Options, Unvested Stock and rights as described in Section 4.1(b) and except as
contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof between the
Company and Parent, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, (i) grant any options, warrants or rights, to purchase shares
of capital stock of the Company, (ii) amend the terms of or reprice any Option
or amend the terms of any of the Stock Option Plans, or (iii) issue, deliver or
sell, or authorize

                                      -38-


<PAGE>   48



or propose to issue, deliver or sell, any shares of its capital stock of any
class or series (except for issuances of capital stock of the Company's
Subsidiaries to the Company or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company), any
Company Voting Debt or any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants
or options to acquire, any such shares, Company Voting Debt or convertible
securities, other than the issuance of Shares upon the exercise of Options that
are outstanding on the date hereof.

                  (d) Governing Documents.  The Company shall not amend or 
propose to amend its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws.

                  (e) No Solicitation. From and after the date hereof until the
termination of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries,
nor any of their respective officers, directors, representatives, agents or
affiliates (including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or
accountant retained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) (such officers,
directors, employees, representatives, agents, affiliates, investment bankers,
attorneys and accountants being referred to herein, collectively, as
"Representatives") will, and the Company will cause the employees of the Company
and its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit or
encourage (including by way of furnishing information or assistance), or take
any other action to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal
(as defined below), or enter into or maintain or continue discussions or
negotiate with any person or entity in furtherance of such inquiries or for the
purpose of obtaining an Acquisition Proposal, or agree to or endorse any
Acquisition Proposal, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will
authorize or permit any of its Representatives to take any such action, and the
Company shall (except with respect to any inquiry or proposal covered by the
proviso to this sentence) notify Parent orally (within one business day) and in
writing (as promptly as practicable) of all of the relevant details relating to,
and all material aspects of, all inquiries and proposals which it or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives may receive relating to
any of such matters and, if such inquiry or proposal is in writing, the Company
shall deliver to Parent a copy of such inquiry or proposal as promptly as
practicable; provided, however, that, prior to the receipt of the Company
Stockholder Approval, nothing contained in this Section 5.1(e) shall prohibit
the Board of Directors of the Company from:

                           (i) following the receipt of an unsolicited written,
         bona fide Acquisition Proposal from any person or entity, (x)
         furnishing information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations
         with, the person or entity that makes such Acquisition Proposal, or (y)
         withdrawing, modifying or not making its recommendations referred to in
         Section 1.2 or terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(i)
         (provided that, in the case of clause (y) above, such person or entity
         has the necessary funds or shall have obtained customary commitments to
         provide the funds to effect such Acquisition Proposal) if, and only to
         the extent that, (A) in the case of either clause (x) or (y) above, the
         Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with its
         independent legal counsel (who may be the Company's regularly engaged
         independent

                                      -39-


<PAGE>   49



         legal counsel), determines in good faith that such action is advisable
         for the Board of Directors of the Company to comply with its fiduciary
         duties to stockholders under applicable law, (B) prior to taking such
         action, the Company (1) in the case of either clause (x) or (y) above,
         provides reasonable prior notice to Parent to the effect that it is
         taking such action, which notice shall (to the extent consistent with
         the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors to stockholders under
         applicable law) include the identity of the person or entity engaging
         in such discussions or negotiations, requesting such information or
         making such Acquisition Proposal, and the material terms and conditions
         of any Acquisition Proposal and (2) in the case of clause (x) above,
         receives from such person or entity an executed confidentiality
         agreement in reasonably customary form on terms no less favorable to
         the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (as
         defined in Section 6.1) (except that such confidentiality agreement
         need not require approval of the Board of Directors of the Company
         prior to the making of an offer or a proposal to such Board of
         Directors), and (C) in the case of clause (x) above, the Company shall,
         to the extent consistent with the fiduciary duties of the Board of
         Directors to stockholders under applicable law, promptly and
         continuously advise Parent as to all of the relevant details relating
         to, and all material aspects, of any such discussions or negotiations;
         or

                           (ii) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of the
         Company a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act
         if, after the receipt of an unsolicited written, bona fide Acquisition
         Proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation
         with its independent legal counsel (who may be the Company's regularly
         engaged independent counsel), determines in good faith that such action
         is advisable for the Board of Directors of the Company to comply with
         its fiduciary duties to holders of Shares under applicable law.

                           Except for the confidentiality agreement referred to
         in clause (i) above and subject to Section 8.1(i), nothing in this
         Section 5.1(e) shall permit the Company to enter into any agreement
         with respect to any Acquisition Proposal during the term of this
         Agreement (it being agreed that during the term of this Agreement, the
         Company shall not enter into any agreement with any person that
         provides for, or in any way facilitates, any Acquisition Proposal other
         than a confidentiality agreement in reasonably customary form following
         receipt from a third party of an unsolicited written, bona fide
         Acquisition Proposal). The Company shall immediately cease and cause to
         be terminated any existing solicitation, initiation, encouragement,
         activity, discussion or negotiation with any parties conducted
         heretofore by the Company or any Representatives with respect to any
         Acquisition Proposal existing on the date hereof.

                           For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition
         Proposal" shall mean any proposal or offer (other than the transactions
         among the Company, Parent and Sub contemplated hereunder) involving the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries for, or an inquiry or indication of
         interest that reasonably could be expected to lead to: (A) any

                                      -40-


<PAGE>   50



         merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization, business
         combination, or other similar transaction; (B) any sale, lease,
         exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of a material
         portion of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole, in a single transaction or series of transactions; or (C) any
         tender offer or exchange offer for all or any portion of the
         outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries or the filing of a registration statement under the
         Securities Act in connection therewith.

                  (f) No Acquisitions. The Company shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) merge or consolidate with, or acquire any
equity interest in, any corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization, or enter into an agreement with respect thereto or (ii) acquire or
agree to acquire any assets of any corporation, partnership, association or
other business organization or division thereof, except for the purchase of
inventory and supplies in the ordinary course of business or the acquisition by
the Company or any Subsidiary of equity interests in any customer or supplier of
the Company in satisfaction of outstanding claims against such party in
bankruptcy proceedings consistent with past practice.

                  (g) No Dispositions. Other than sales of inventory or sales or
returns of obsolete or surplus equipment in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to
sell, lease (whether such lease is an operating or capital lease), encumber or
otherwise dispose of, any of its material assets (including, without limitation,
any capital stock or other ownership interest of any Subsidiary of the Company).

                  (h) Governmental Filings. The Company shall promptly provide
Parent (or its counsel) with copies of all filings made by the Company with the
SEC or any other state or federal Governmental Entity in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (i) Termination of Affiliate Agreements. Effective as of the
Closing, the Company shall cause each of the agreements described on Schedule
4.1(w) (and that are indicated thereon as being subject to this Section 5.1(i))
to be terminated without any liability to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

                  (j) No Dissolution, Etc. The Company shall not authorize,
recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or
partial liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  (k) Certain Employee Matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries
shall not (without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent will not
be unreasonably withheld) (i) grant any increases in the compensation of any of
its directors, officers, management employees or key employees, except as may be
required pursuant to any of the existing Benefit

                                      -41-


<PAGE>   51



Plans or Employee Arrangements as disclosed in a Schedule hereto; (ii) pay or
agree to pay any pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not
required or contemplated to be paid prior to the Effective Time by any of the
existing Benefit Plans or Employee Arrangements as in effect on the date hereof
to any such director, officer, management employee or key employee, whether past
or present; (iii) enter into any new, or materially amend any existing,
employment or severance or termination agreement with any such director,
officer, management employee or key employee; (iv) except as may be required to
comply with applicable law, become obligated under any new Benefit Plan or
Employee Arrangement, which was not in existence on the date hereof, or amend
any such plan or arrangement in existence on the date hereof if such amendment
would have the effect of materially enhancing any benefits thereunder; or (v)
extend any loans or advances to any of its directors, officers, management
employees or key employees, except as expressly permitted under the Transaction
Documents.

                  (l) Indebtedness; Agreements.

                           (i) The Company shall not, nor shall the Company
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of
         Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), assume or incur any
         indebtedness for borrowed money (except for drawdowns by the Company
         under its revolving credit facility or its accounts receivable
         facility) or guarantee any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt
         securities or warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of
         any other person except wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company or
         enter into any lease (whether such lease is an operating or capital
         lease) or create any mortgages, liens, security interests or other
         encumbrances on the property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
         in connection with any indebtedness thereof, or enter into any "keep
         well" or other agreement or arrangement to maintain the financial
         condition of any other person except wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the
         Company.

                           (ii) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.1(n), without
         the prior written consent of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably
         withheld), the Company shall not, nor shall the Company permit any of
         its Subsidiaries to, (A) enter into any contracts involving aggregate
         annual payments in excess of $250,000 or (B) modify, rescind,
         terminate, waive, release or otherwise amend in any material respect
         any of the terms or provisions of any Material Contract in any manner
         that is material and adverse to the Company or the respective
         Subsidiary of the Company party thereto.

                  (m) Accounting. The Company shall not take any action, other
than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or as
required by the SEC, by law or by changes in GAAP, with respect to accounting
policies, procedures and practices.


                                      -42-


<PAGE>   52



                  (n) Capital Expenditures. Except for the capital expenditures
set forth on Schedule 5.1(n), the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not incur
any capital expenditures in excess of $100,000.

                  (o) Other Actions. Except as expressly permitted by the terms
of this Agreement, the Company will not knowingly or intentionally take or agree
or commit to take, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to take or agree
or commit to take, any action that is reasonably likely to result in any of the
Company's representations or warranties hereunder being untrue in any material
respect or any of the conditions to the Merger not being satisfied in all
material respects.

                  (p) Tax Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries will take any action that would cause the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement to fail to qualify for the exceptions described in former
Treas. Regs. ss. 1.1502-13(f)(2)(i), Treas. Regs. ss. 1. 1502- 13(f)(5), former
Treas. Regs. ss. 1.1502-19(g)(1) and Treas. Regs. ss. 1.1502-19(c)(3).

                  (q) Appraisal Rights. The Company shall not settle or
compromise any claim for appraisal rights in respect of the Merger without the
prior written consent of Parent or Sub.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         6.1. ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Upon reasonable notice, the Company shall
(and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) afford to the officers, employees,
accountants, counsel and other representatives of Parent and Sub (including
potential financing sources and their employees, accountants, counsel and other
representatives), access, during normal business hours during the period prior
to the Effective Time, to all its properties, books, contracts, commitments and
records and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Parent and Sub, (a) a copy of each report,
schedule, registration statement and other document filed or received by it
during such period pursuant to SEC requirements and (b) all other information
concerning its business, properties and personnel as Parent and Sub may
reasonably request. Subject to Section 9.2, the Confidentiality Agreement, dated
as of September 27, 1995, as amended to date, between Parent and the Company
(the "Confidentiality Agreement") shall apply with respect to information
furnished thereunder or hereunder and any other activities contemplated thereby
or hereby.

         6.2. ASSISTANCE. If Parent requests, the Company will cooperate, and
will cause its accountants to cooperate, in all reasonable respects with any
financing efforts of Parent or its affiliates (including providing assistance in
the preparation of one or more registration statements or other offering
documents relating to debt and/or equity financing) and any other

                                      -43-


<PAGE>   53



filings that may be made by Parent or its affiliates with the SEC, all at the
sole expense of Parent. The Company (a) shall furnish to its independent
accountants (or, if requested by Parent to Parent's independent public
accountants), such customary management representation letters as its
accountants may require of the Company as a condition to its execution of any
required accountants' consents necessary in connection with the delivery of any
"comfort" letters requested by financing sources of Parent or its affiliates and
(b) shall furnish to Parent all financial statements (audited and unaudited) and
other information in the possession of the Company or its representatives or
agents as Parent shall reasonably determine is necessary or appropriate in
connection with such financing. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company agrees to cooperate with Parent's and Sub's efforts to
secure the financing contemplated by the Financing Commitment, such cooperation
to include providing such information to Parent's and Sub's financing sources as
Parent or Sub may reasonably request and making available to such financing
sources senior officers and such other employees of the Company as Parent and
Sub may reasonably request to assist in the preparation of one or more offering
documents and other appropriate marketing materials and to otherwise participate
in such marketing and sales efforts relating to the Financing Commitment as
Parent and Sub may reasonably request upon reasonable notice and consistent with
such officers' and employees' other business responsibilities to the Company.

         6.3. Compliance with New Jersey ISRA.
              -------------------------------
                  (a) The Company shall make all reasonable efforts to comply
with all obligations imposed by ISRA with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Company's obligations shall include, as
appropriate: (i) timely submission of notice to the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection and Energy (the "NJDEPE") and (ii) preparation and
filing with NJDEPE of a proposed negative declaration, a proposed remedial
action workplan, appropriate documents for a remediation agreement, a deferral
of the remedial action workplan, or an area of concern waiver; provided that the
Company shall obtain the approval and consent of Parent and Sub, which approval
and consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, prior to entering into any
remediation agreement with, or making any other enforceable commitment to,
NJDEPE to satisfy the requirements of ISRA.

                  (b) Parent and the Sub shall use their reasonable efforts to
assist and cooperate with the Company and its representatives, in a prompt and
timely manner, in connection with the preparation and filing of all necessary
documents under ISRA.

         6.4. Fees and Expenses.
              -----------------  

                  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.4 and
except with respect to claims for damages incurred as a result of the material
breach of this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the
party incurring such expense.


                                      -44-


<PAGE>   54



                  (b) In the event of the termination of this Agreement under
(i) Section 8.1(b)(ii) (with respect to the Company's stockholder vote) if, at
the time of such termination or after the date hereof and prior to the
Stockholders' Meeting, there shall have been any public announcement of an
Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acquisition Proposal that shall have been
publicly withdrawn at least 15 days prior to the taking of the vote at the
Stockholders' Meeting), (ii) Section 8.1(h) or (iii) Section 8.1(i), then,
except as provided in Section 6.4(c), the Company shall pay to Parent or
Parent's designee, contemporaneously with the termination of this Agreement, the
following amounts in immediately available funds:

                           (x) a fee in the amount of $9,500,000, and

                           (y) such amount, not to exceed $2,500,000, as may be
                  required to reimburse Parent and its affiliates for all
                  reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by
                  any of them in connection with their due diligence efforts or
                  the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents or
                  in the Financing Commitment, including, without limitation,
                  (A) fees, costs and expenses of accountants, escrow agents,
                  counsel, financial advisors and other similar advisors, (B)
                  fees paid to any Governmental Entity, (C) fees, costs and
                  expenses paid or payable to third parties under the Financing
                  Commitment or in connection with the transactions contemplated
                  therein, including, without limitation, any purchaser or
                  underwriter's discounts relating to the sale of the
                  subordinated debt financing contemplated therein or (except
                  for the principal amount payable in connection therewith, but
                  including all accrued interest payable in connection
                  therewith) the making of any repurchase offer in respect of
                  such subordinated debt financing.

                  (c) Any amounts that may be due and payable under this Section
6.4 as a result of the event described in Section 6.4(b)(i) shall be due and
payable only if, within 12 months after such termination, the Company
consummates an Acquisition Proposal and in such case such amounts shall be due
and payable at the closing or other consummation of such Acquisition Proposal.


                  (d) Any amounts due under this Section 6.4 that are not paid
when due shall bear interest at the prime rate of interest as announced from
time to time by The Chase Manhattan Bank plus 1% from the date due through and
including the date paid.

         6.5. Brokers or Finders.
              ------------------
                  (a) The Company represents, as to itself, its Subsidiaries and
its affiliates, that, except as set forth in Schedule 6.5(a), no agent, broker,
investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or person is or will be
entitled to any broker's or finders fee or any other commission or similar fee
in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this

                                      -45-


<PAGE>   55



Agreement, except the Financial Advisor, whose fees and expenses will be paid by
the Company in accordance with the Company's agreements with such firm (copies
of which have been delivered by the Company to Parent prior to the date of this
Agreement).

                  (b) Parent represents, as to itself, its Subsidiaries and its
affiliates, that no agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
firm or person is or will be entitled to any broker's or finder's fee or any
other commission or similar fee in connection with any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except for Wasserstein Perella & Co., Inc.,
whose fees and expenses will be paid by Parent in accordance with the Parent's
agreements with such firm.

         6.6. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance.
              ---------------------------------------------------
                  (a) The Company shall, and from and after the Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation and Parent shall, indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who
becomes prior to the Effective Time, an officer, director, employee or agent of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified Parties") against all
losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses), liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with
the approval of the indemnifying party (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld) of or in connection with any threatened or actual claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or
in part out of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other
enterprise or by reason of anything done or not done by such person in any such
capacity whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or prior to
the Effective Time or any acts or omissions occurring or existing at or prior to
the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or after, the
Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities"), including all Indemnified
Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of,
or pertaining to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in each
case to the full extent permitted by applicable law (and the Company, the
Surviving Corporation, and Parent, as the case may be, shall pay expenses in
advance of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding to each
Indemnified Party to the full extent permitted by law). In determining whether
an Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.6, if
requested by such Indemnified Party, such determination shall be made by
special, independent counsel selected by the Surviving Corporation and Parent
and approved by the Indemnified Party (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld), and who has not otherwise performed services for the Surviving
Corporation, Parent or their respective affiliates within the last three years
(other than in connection with such matters). Without limiting the foregoing, in
the event any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought
against any Indemnified Parties (whether arising before or after the Effective
Time), (i) the Indemnified Parties may retain the Company's regularly engaged

                                      -46-


<PAGE>   56



independent legal counsel or counsel satisfactory to them and reasonably
satisfactory to the Company (or satisfactory to them and reasonably satisfactory
to the Surviving Corporation and Parent after the Effective Time), and the
Company (or after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and Parent)
shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified
Parties as promptly as statements therefor are received; and (ii) the Company
(or after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and Parent) will use all
reasonable best efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter,
provided that none of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or Parent shall be
liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent which
consent shall not unreasonably be withheld. Any Indemnified Party wishing to
claim indemnification under this Section 6.6, upon learning of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify the Company (or after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and Parent) (but the failure so to
notify shall not relieve a party from any liability which it may have under this
Section 6.6 except to the extent such failure materially prejudices such party's
position with respect to such claims) and shall deliver to the Company (or after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and Parent) the undertaking
contemplated by Section 145(e) of the DGCL, but without any requirement for the
posting of a bond. The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law
firm (plus one local counsel, if necessary) to represent them with respect to
each such matter unless the use of counsel chosen to represent the Indemnified
Parties would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, or the
representation of all of the Indemnified Parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, in
which case such additional counsel as may be required (as shall be reasonably
determined by the Indemnified Parties and the Company, the Surviving Corporation
or Parent, as the case may be) may be retained by the Indemnified Parties at the
cost and expense of the Company, Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case
may be. The Company and Sub agree that the foregoing rights to indemnification,
including provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in defense of any
action or suit, existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties with respect to
matters occurring through the Effective Time, shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six years from
the Effective Time; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification
(including rights relating to advances of expenses) in respect of any
Indemnified Liabilities asserted or made within such period shall continue until
the disposition of such Indemnified Liabilities. Furthermore, the provisions
with respect to indemnification set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall not be amended for a period of six
years following the Effective Time if such amendment would adversely affect the
rights thereunder of individuals who at any time prior to the Effective Time
were directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company in respect of
actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time.

                  (b) The Company (or after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation and Parent) shall indemnify any Indemnified Party against all
reasonable costs and expenses (including attorney's fees and expenses), such
amounts to be payable in advance upon request as provided in Section 6.6(a),
relating to the enforcement of such Indemnified Party's rights

                                      -47-


<PAGE>   57



under this Section 6.6 or under the documents referred to in this Section 6.6
regardless of whether or not such Indemnified Party is ultimately determined to
be entitled to indemnification hereunder or thereunder. Any amounts due pursuant
to the preceding sentence shall be payable upon request by the Indemnified Party
and shall bear interest from the date that such were originally due and payable
at a rate equal to the prime rate of interest as announced by The Chase
Manhattan Bank plus 1% as in effect on the date of such initial request.

                  (c) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall cause to be maintained in effect the current
policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the
Company and its Subsidiaries (provided that Parent may substitute therefor
policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions which are no less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties) with
respect to matters arising before and acts or omissions occurring or existing at
or prior to the Effective Time including the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, provided that Parent shall not be required to pay an annual premium
for such insurance in excess of 125% of the last annual premium paid by the
Company prior to the date hereof, but in such case shall purchase as much
coverage as possible for such amount. The last annual premium paid by the
Company was $523,720.

                  (d) For a period of 6 years after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall cause to be maintained in effect the current
policies of fiduciary liability insurance maintained by the Company and its
Subsidiaries (provided that Parent may substitute therefor policies of at least
the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions which are no less
advantageous to the Indemnified Parties who are covered thereby) with respect to
matters arising before and acts or omissions occurring or existing at or prior
to the Effective Time, provided that Parent shall not be required to pay an
annual premium for such insurance in excess of 200% of the last annual premium
paid by the Company prior to the date hereof, but in such case shall purchase as
much coverage as possible for such amount. The last annual premium paid by the
Company was $13,500. Furthermore, the provisions with respect to indemnification
provided for under any Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement shall not be amended
for a period of six years following the Effective Time if such amendment would
adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who at any time prior to
the Effective Time were directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company
in respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time.

                  (e) The provisions of this Section 6.6 are intended to be for
the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his heirs
and his personal representatives and shall be binding on all successors and
assigns of Sub, the Company and the Surviving Corporation.

                  (f) The Company will honor the indemnification agreements
identified in Schedule 4.1(w), except for the provisions relating to the
establishment of trusts. The

                                      -48-


<PAGE>   58



Company may enter into substantially similar indemnification agreements with
other directors of the Company, provided that such agreements shall not contain
any provisions for the establishment of trusts.

                  (g) Nothing in this Section 6.6 shall be interpreted as
obligating the Company (or from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation), Parent, Sub or any of their respective successors or assigns, to
pay, make reimbursement for or otherwise assume responsibility for any Taxes or
penalties imposed on any officer, director, employee or agent or for any other
amount relating to any of such Person's Tax obligations or liabilities.

         6.7. REASONABLE EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use all reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable, under applicable laws and regulations or
otherwise, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, subject, as applicable, to the Company Stockholder
Approval, including cooperating fully with the other party, including by
provision of information and making of all necessary filings in connection with,
among other things, approvals under the HSR Act. The Company will use all
reasonable efforts to obtain any consent from third parties necessary to allow
the Company to continue operating its business as presently conducted as a
result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. In case at
any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation
with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals, immunities and
franchises of either of the Constituent Corporations, the proper officers and
directors of each party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary action.

         6.8. PUBLICITY. The parties will consult with each other and will
mutually agree upon any press release or public announcement pertaining to the
Merger and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public
announcement prior to such consultation and agreement, except as may be required
by applicable law (or stock exchange rules), in which case the party proposing
to issue such press release or make such public announcement shall use
reasonable efforts to consult in good faith with the other party before issuing
any such press release or making any such public announcement.

         6.9. WITHHOLDING RIGHTS. Subject to Section 6.10, Parent and Sub, as
applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to the Offer)
to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock, Options or Unvested Stock such
amounts as Parent or Sub, as applicable, is required to deduct and withhold with
respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of state,
local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Parent
or Sub, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common
Stock, Options or Unvested Stock in respect of which such deduction and
withholding was made by Parent or Sub.

                                      -49-


<PAGE>   59




         6.10. REAL ESTATE TAXES. Parent and Sub shall pay the full amount (on
behalf of themselves, the Company and the shareholders of the Company) of any
and all transfer, capital gains and other taxes, fees or costs incurred or
assessed by any New York City or New York State (or other state or local) taxing
authority for which Parent, Sub, the Company or the shareholders of the Company
are liable in connection with the sale or transfer of real estate pursuant to
the Offer or the Merger. Parent and Sub shall not be entitled to and shall not
deduct from the consideration otherwise payable to a holder of Shares pursuant
to the Offer or the Merger any amounts required to be paid by Parent and Sub
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

         6.11. HSR and Other Governmental Approvals.
               ------------------------------------ 
                  (a) HSR Act. Each party hereto shall file or cause to be filed
with the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") any notification required to be
filed by their respective "ultimate parent" companies under the HSR Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby. Such parties will use all reasonable efforts to make such
filings promptly and to respond on a timely basis to any requests for additional
information made by either of such agencies. Each of the parties hereto agrees
to furnish the other with copies of all correspondence, filings and
communications (and memoranda setting forth the substance thereof) between it
and its affiliates and their respective representatives, on the one hand, and
the FTC, the Antitrust Division or any other Governmental Entity or members or
their respective staffs, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, other than personal financial information
filed therewith. Each party hereto agrees to furnish the others with such
necessary information and reasonable assistance as such other parties and their
respective affiliates may reasonably request in connection with their
preparation of necessary filings, registrations or submissions of information to
any Governmental Entities, including without limitation any filings necessary
under the provisions of the HSR Act.

                  (b) Other Regulatory Approvals. Each party hereto shall
cooperate and use its reasonable best efforts to promptly prepare and file all
necessary documentation to effect all necessary applications, notices,
petitions, filings and other documents, and use all reasonable efforts to obtain
(and will cooperate with each other in obtaining) any consent, acquiescence,
authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption or nonopposition by, any
Governmental Entity required to be obtained or made by Parent or the Company or
any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Offer and the Merger
or the taking of any other action contemplated by this Agreement.

         6.12. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. Each party shall give prompt
written notice to the other of (a) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any
event of which it becomes aware that has caused or that would be likely to cause
any representation or warranty of such party

                                      -50-


<PAGE>   60



contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate (in any material respect
for any representation or warranty not already qualified for materiality) at any
time from the date hereof to the Closing Date, (b) the failure of such party to
comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder and (c) in the case
of the Company, the occurrence of any threat by any executive officer or senior
management employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to resign or
otherwise terminate their employment relationship with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

         6.13. SOLVENCY LETTER. Parent shall deliver to the Board of Directors
of the Company any solvency letter from any third party appraisal or similar
firm that Parent provides to the providers of the financing under the Financing
Commitment.

         6.14. Continuation of Employee Benefits.
               ---------------------------------
                  (a) On and after the Effective Time, directors, officers and
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be provided employee
benefits, plans and programs (including but not limited to incentive
compensation, deferred compensation, pension, life insurance, medical (which
eligibility shall not be subject to any exclusions for any pre-existing
conditions if such individual has met the participation requirements of such
benefits, plans or programs of the Company or its Subsidiaries), profit sharing
(including 401(k)), severance salary continuation and fringe benefits) which are
no less favorable in the aggregate than those generally available to similarly
situated directors, officers and employees of Parent and its significant
Subsidiaries. For purposes of eligibility to participate and vesting in all
benefits provided to directors, officers and employees, the directors, officers
and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries will be credited with their
years of service with the Company and its Subsidiaries and prior employers to
the extent service with the Company and its Subsidiaries and prior employers is
taken into account under plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Upon
termination of any medical plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
individuals who were directors, officers or employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries at the Effective Time shall become eligible to participate in the
medical plan of Parent. Amounts paid before the Effective Time by directors,
officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries under any medical
plans of the Company shall after the Effective Time be taken into account in
applying deductible and out-of-pocket limits applicable under the medical plan
of Parent provided as of the Effective Time to the same extent as if such
amounts had been paid under such medical plan of Parent.

                  (b) This Section 6.14, which shall survive the Effective Time
and shall continue without limit, is intended to benefit and bind the Company
and the Surviving Corporation, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this
Section 6.14. Nothing contained in this Section 6.14 shall create any third
party beneficiary rights in any director, officer or employee or former
director, officer or employee (including any beneficiary or dependent thereof)
of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the Surviving Corporation in

                                      -51-


<PAGE>   61



respect of continued employment for any specified period of any nature or kind
whatsoever, and nothing contained in this Section 6.14 shall create such third
party rights in any such person in respect of any benefits that may be provided,
directly or indirectly, under any employee benefit plan or arrangement.

         6.15. TRUSTEES. The Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain
from each officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who is
serving as a trustee of any Benefit Plan a duly executed resignation letter
resigning from such position effective as of the Effective Time. On or prior to
the Effective Time, the Company and its Subsidiaries may appoint a fiduciary or
advisor independent of the Company to vote, or advise on the vote of, as the
case may be, the Shares held by Benefit Plans, other than those required under
the Code to pass through voting rights to participants, in connection with the
solicitation of approval by the stockholders of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.16. WITHDRAWAL LIABILITY. The Company will cooperate with Parent and
use its best efforts to obtain from each Multiemployer Plan as soon as possible
following the execution of this Agreement (i) a copy of each Multiemployer Plan
and all amendments thereto and (ii) an estimate of the withdrawal liability as
defined in Section 4201 of ERISA (without regard to any subsequent reduction or
waiver of such liability under Section 4207 or 4208 of ERISA) which would be
owed by the Company or its ERISA Affiliates to such Multiemployer Plan if the
Company or its ERISA Affiliates ceased contributing to such Multiemployer Plan
immediately before the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "Withdrawal Liability"); the Company will cooperate with Parent
and use reasonable efforts to obtain (and provide to Parent) from each
Multiemployer Plan as soon as possible following the execution of this Agreement
all information necessary for the Company to compute the Withdrawal Liability;
the Company will provide all such documents, information and estimates requested
in this Section 6.16 to Parent upon receipt.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         7.1. CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER. The
respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

                  (a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Merger shall
have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon if such vote is required by applicable law.

                  (b) HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall
have expired, and no restrictive

                                      -52-


<PAGE>   62



order or other requirements shall have been placed on the Company, Parent, Sub
or the Surviving Corporation in connection therewith.

                  (c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition (an "Injunction")
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however,
that prior to invoking this condition, each party shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to have any such decree, ruling, injunction or order vacated.

                  (d) Statutes. No statute, rule, order, decree or regulation
shall have been enacted or promulgated by any government or governmental agency
or authority which prohibits the consummation of the Merger.

                  (e) Consummation of the Tender Offer. Parent and Sub shall
have accepted for purchase and paid for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer
(PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this condition will be deemed satisfied with respect to
Parent and Sub if Sub shall have failed to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer
in violation of the terms of the Offer or this Agreement).

                                    ARTICLE 8

                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

         8.1. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may
be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after
approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the
stockholders of the Company or by Parent:

                  (a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent, or by
mutual action of their respective Boards of Directors;

                  (b) by either the Company or Parent (i) if any permanent
injunction or other order of a court or other competent authority preventing the
consummation of the Merger shall have become final and non-appealable or (ii) if
the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the
failure to obtain the required vote upon a vote held at the Stockholders'
Meeting, or at any adjournment thereof;

                  (c) by either the Company or Parent if the Offer shall not
have been consummated by October 31, 1997 or the Merger has not been consummated
by December 31, 1997; provided, however, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to any party whose
breach of any representation or warranty or failure to

                                      -53-


<PAGE>   63



fulfill any covenant or agreement under this Agreement has been the cause of or
resulted in the failure of the Offer to be consummated or the Merger to occur on
or before such date;

                  (d) by Parent prior to the consummation of the Offer, so long
as Parent is not then in material breach of its obligations hereunder, if there
has been a breach of any representation or warranty (when made on or at the time
of termination as if made on such date of termination, except to the extent it
relates to a particular date) on the part of the Company (provided that any
representation or warranty of the Company contained herein that is subject to a
"materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar qualification shall not be
so qualified for purposes of determining the existence of any breach thereof on
the part of the Company), and which breach has not been cured within ten
calendar days following receipt by the Company of notice of such breach and is
existing at the time of the termination of this Agreement, except for such
breaches that would not, individually or in the aggregate with any other
breaches on the part of the Company, (A) have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company or (B) materially adversely affect the ability of the parties hereto to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

                  (e) by Parent prior to the consummation of the Offer, so long
as Parent is not then in material breach of its obligations hereunder, if there
has been a breach of Section 5.1(e) or a material breach of any other covenant
or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement (provided
that any covenant or agreement of the Company contained herein the performance
of which is subject to a "materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar
qualification shall not be so qualified for purposes of determining the
existence of any nonperformance thereof on the part of the Company), and which
breach (other than a breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in Section
5.1(e)) has not been cured within ten calendar days following receipt by the
Company of notice of such breach and is existing at the time of the termination
of this Agreement;

                  (f) by the Company prior to the consummation of the Offer, so
long as the Company is not then in material breach of its obligations hereunder,
if there has been a breach of any representation or warranty (when made on or at
the time of termination as if made on such date of termination, except to the
extent it relates to a particular date) on the part of Parent or Sub (provided
that any representation or warranty of Parent or Sub contained herein that is
subject to a "materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar qualification
shall not be so qualified for purposes of determining the existence of any
breach thereof on the part of Parent or Sub), and which breach has not been
cured within ten calendar days following receipt by Parent or Sub of notice of
such breach and is existing at the time of the termination of this Agreement,
except for such breaches that would not, individually or in the aggregate with
any other breaches on the part of Parent or Sub, (A) have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent or Sub or (B) materially adversely affect the ability of the
parties hereto to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;


                                      -54-


<PAGE>   64



                  (g) by the Company prior to the consummation of the Offer, so
long as the Company is not then in material breach of its obligations hereunder,
if there has been a material breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of
Parent or Sub set forth in this Agreement (provided that any covenant or
agreement of Parent or Sub contained herein the performance of which is subject
to a "materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar qualification shall not
be so qualified for purposes of determining the existence of any nonperformance
thereof on the part of Parent or Sub), and which breach has not been cured
within ten calendar days following receipt by Parent or Sub of notice of such
breach and is existing at the time of the termination of this Agreement;

                  (h) by Parent prior to the consummation of the Offer if (i)
the Board of Directors of the Company (whether or not under circumstances
permitted by this Agreement) shall have failed to make the recommendation
contemplated by Section 1.2 in the Schedule 14D-9 or shall have withdrawn or
modified, in any manner which is adverse to Parent, its recommendation or
approval of the Offer, the Merger or this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, or shall have resolved to do so, (ii) the Board of
Directors of the Company shall have recommended to the stockholders of the
Company any Acquisition Proposal, or shall have resolved to do so, or (iii) a
tender offer or exchange offer for 50% or more of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company is commenced (other than by the Company or its
affiliates) and the Board of Directors of the Company fails to timely recommend
against the stockholders of the Company tendering their shares into such tender
offer or exchange offer; or

                  (i) by the Company prior to the consummation of the Offer,
pursuant to the termination right permitted by clause (y) of Section 5.1(e)(i)
of this Agreement; provided that the Company may not effect such termination
pursuant to this Section 8.1(i) unless and until (i) Parent receives at least
five days prior written notice (which notice shall include the identity of the
person or entity making the relevant Acquisition Proposal, the material terms
and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal and the material terms and
conditions of any agreements or arrangements to be entered into in connection
with such Acquisition Proposal with Jeffrey S. Silverman with respect to his
then existing agreements and arrangements with the Company) from the Company of
its intention to effect such termination pursuant to this Section 8.1(i), and
(ii) during such five-day period, the Company shall, and shall cause its
respective financial and legal advisors to, consider any adjustment in the terms
and conditions of this Agreement that Parent may propose; provided further that
the Company may not effect such termination pursuant to this Section 8.1(i)
unless the Company has contemporaneously with such termination tendered payment
to Parent or Parent's designee of the amounts that are due Parent or Parent's
designee under Section 6.4; or

                  (j) by either the Company or Parent if such party is not then
in material breach of its obligations hereunder, if upon the expiration of the
Offer, no Shares shall have been purchased in connection with the Offer.


                                      -55-


<PAGE>   65



         8.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or
obligation on the part of Parent, Sub or the Company or their respective
affiliates, officers, directors or shareholders except (a) with respect to this
Section 8.2, the second sentence of Section 6.1, and Sections 6.4 and 9.2 and
(b) that no such termination shall relieve any party from liability for a breach
hereof.

         8.3. AMENDMENT. Subject to applicable law and the provisions of Section
1.6 hereof, this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by
written agreement of Parent, Sub and the Company at any time prior to the
Effective Time with respect to any of the terms contained herein; provided,
however, that, after the Company Stockholder Approval, no term or condition
contained in this Agreement shall be amended or modified in any manner that
would reduce the amount of or change the form of the Merger Consideration.

         8.4. EXTENSION; WAIVER. Subject to the provisions of Section 1.6
hereof, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto, by action
taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, may, to the extent
legally allowed (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto, and (c) waive compliance with any of the
agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party
hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a
written instrument signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party
hereto to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of
such rights.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         9.1. NONSURVIVAL OF COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS. None of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement or in
any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective
Time, except for the covenants and agreements contained in Article 3 and
Sections 6.4, 6.6, 6.10 and 6.14 hereof and any other covenant or agreement that
contemplates performance after the Effective Time.

         9.2. CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. The Confidentiality Agreement shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any termination of this
Agreement, and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall apply to
all information and material delivered by any party hereunder; provided,
however, that the terms and provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement are
hereby waived, amended or modified to the extent necessary to permit the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Upon the
Closing, the terms and provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall
terminate in full.


                                      -56-


<PAGE>   66



         9.3. NOTICES. Any notice or communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, telegraphed or
telecopied or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall
be deemed to be given, dated and received when so delivered personally,
telegraphed or telecopied or, if mailed, five business days after the date of
mailing to the following address or telecopy number, or to such other address or
addresses as such person may subsequently designate by notice given hereunder:

         (a)      if to Parent or Sub, to:

                  Nortek, Inc. and
                  NTK Sub, Inc.
                  50 Kennedy Plaza
                  Providence, RI 02903
                  Attn:  Richard L. Bready
                  Telecopy: (401) 751-4610

                  with copies to:

                  Ropes & Gray
                  One International Place
                  Boston, MA 02110
                  Attn: David C. Chapin, Esq.
                  Telecopy: (617) 951-7050

         (b)      if to the Company, to:

                  Ply Gem Industries, Inc.
                  777 Third Avenue
                  New York, New York 10017
                  Attn: Jeffrey S. Silverman
                  Telecopy: (212) 888-0472

                  with a copy to:

                  Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
                  One Liberty Plaza
                  New York, New York 10006
                  Attn: Victor I. Lewkow, Esq.
                  Telecopy: (212) 225-3999

         9.4. INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Articles or Sections, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents, list of defined
terms and headings contained in this

                                      -57-


<PAGE>   67



Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the word "include",
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation". The phrase "made available" in this
Agreement shall mean that the information referred to has been made available if
requested by the party to whom such information is to be made available. The
inclusion by the Company of any information or matter on a Schedule hereto is
not an admission on the part of the Company that such information or matter is
either required by the terms of this Agreement to be listed on such Schedule or
is otherwise material. Schedule 9.4 sets forth a list of all agreements or
understandings under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has an
obligation pursuant to or in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of June 24, 1997 by and among Atrium Acquisition Holdings Corp.,
Atrium/PG Acquisition Corp. and the Company and the agreements and transactions
contemplated thereby (collectively, the "Atrium Agreements"). All obligations of
the Company or its subsidiaries contained in any document set forth on Schedule
9.4 shall be deemed disclosed for purposes of Schedules 4.1(a)-(x).

         9.5. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.

         9.6. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES; RIGHTS OF
OWNERSHIP. This Agreement (together with the Confidentiality Agreement (as
amended by Section 9.2), the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and
exhibits thereto, and any other documents and instruments referred to herein)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and, except as provided in Section 6.6, is not intended to
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder.

         9.7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof.

         9.8. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties, except that Sub may assign, in its sole
discretion, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder (a) to
any newly-formed direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent or Sub or (b) in the
form of a collateral assignment to any institutional lender who provides funds
to Sub for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to
the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.


                                      -58-


<PAGE>   68



         9.9. DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY. The directors, officers, and
stockholders of each of the parties and their affiliates acting in such capacity
shall not in such capacity have any personal liability or obligation arising
under this Agreement (including any claims that the other parties may assert)
other than as an assignee of this Agreement.

         9.10. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties recognize that in the event the
Company should refuse to perform under the provisions of this Agreement,
monetary damages alone will not be adequate. Parent and Sub shall therefore be
entitled, in addition to any other remedies which may be available, including
money damages, to obtain specific performance of the terms of this Agreement. In
the event of any action to enforce this Agreement specifically, the Company
hereby waives the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.



                                      -59-


<PAGE>   69



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

                                    PARENT:

                                    NORTEK, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Kevin W. Donnelly
                                    Title: Vice President and General Counsel

                                    SUB:

                                    NTK SUB, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Kevin W. Donnelly
                                    Title: Vice President

                                    COMPANY:

                                    PLY GEM INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                    Title: Chairman



                                      -60-


<PAGE>   70



                                                                       Exhibit A

                             CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER


         Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July
24, 1997 (the "Agreement"), by and among Nortek, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), NTK Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary
of Parent ("Sub"), and Ply Gem Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"). Capitalized terms defined in the Agreement and not otherwise defined
herein are used herein with the meanings so defined.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Sub shall not be
required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, including without limitation, Rule 14e-1(c) under the
Exchange Act (relating to Sub's obligation to pay for or return Shares promptly
after termination or withdrawal of the Offer), pay for, or may delay the
acceptance for payment of or payment for, any tendered shares, if (i) any
applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been
terminated, (ii) the number of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn, when
added to the Shares then beneficially owned by Parent, does not constitute a
majority of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding on a fully
diluted basis (the "Minimum Condition"), (iii) Parent and Sub shall not have
received the debt financing for the transactions contemplated by the Agreement
on terms substantially as outlined in the Financing Commitment, or (iv) on or
after the date of the Agreement and at or before the time of payment for the
Shares, any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

         (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing (1) any general
suspension of trading in, or general limitation on prices for, securities on the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (other than suspensions of not more than one
business day), (2) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of
payments in respect of banks in the United States (whether or not mandatory),
(3) the commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other international or
national calamity involving the United States and having had or being reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affecting (or
materially delaying) the consummation of the Offer, (4) any material limitation
or proposed material limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any Governmental
Entity, or any other event, that materially adversely affects generally the
extension of credit by banks or other financial institutions or (5) in the case
of any of the situations described in clauses (1) through (4) inclusive,
existing at the date of the Agreement, a material acceleration, escalation or
worsening thereof;

         (b) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the
Agreement shall not have been true and correct in all respects (provided that
any representation or warranty of the Company contained in the Agreement that is
subject to a materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification shall
not be so qualified for purposes of determining the existence of any breach
thereof on the part of the Company) as of the date of the Agreement


<PAGE>   71



and (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an
earlier date) as of the scheduled expiration date of the Offer as though made on
and as of such scheduled expiration date, except for such breaches that would
neither, individually or in the aggregate with any other breaches on the part of
the Company, (i) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company nor (ii)
materially adversely affect the ability of the parties to the Agreement to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement; or the Company shall
not have performed in all material respects (provided that any obligation the
performance of which is subject to a materiality, Material Adverse Effect or
similar qualification shall not be so qualified for purposes of determining the
existence of any nonperformance thereof) all obligations required to be
performed by it under the Agreement;

         (c) there shall be any action or proceeding commenced by any
Governmental Entity, which has a reasonable likelihood of success and which, if
decided adversely to the Company, would have a Material Adverse Effect or would
restrain, prohibit or materially delay the consummation of the Offer, and if
decided adversely to Parent, would have the effect of (i) making the purchase
of, or payment for, some or all of the Shares pursuant to the Offer or the
Merger or otherwise illegal, or resulting in a material delay in the ability of
Parent or Sub to accept for payment or pay for some or all of the Shares, (ii)
compelling Parent or Sub to dispose of or hold separately all or any material
portion of the Company's or Parent's business or assets, (iii) making illegal,
or otherwise directly or indirectly restraining or prohibiting or imposing
material financial burdens, penalties or, fines or requiring the payment of
material damages in connection with the making of, the Offer, the acceptance for
payment of, payment for, or ownership, directly or indirectly, of some of or all
the Shares by Parent or Sub, the consummation of the Offer or the Merger, (iv)
otherwise preventing consummation of the Offer or the Merger, or (v) imposing
material limitations on the ability of Parent or Sub effectively (A) to acquire,
hold or operate the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or (B) to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares acquired by it,
including, but not limited to, the right to vote the Shares purchased by it on
all matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Company, which, in
either case, would effect a material diminution in the value of the Company or
the Shares;

         (d) there shall have been any Law enacted, promulgated, entered or
deemed applicable to the Offer or the Agreement or any other action shall have
been taken by any Governmental Entity on or after the date of the Offer that
would result in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (v)
of paragraph (c) above (other than with respect to clause (i) of paragraph (c),
if there shall have been a material delay in the ability of Parent or Sub to
accept for payment or pay for some or all of the Shares due to a request for
additional information under the HSR Act);

         (e) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have publicly
(including by amendment of its Schedule 14D-9) withdrawn or adversely modified
its recommendation of acceptance of the Offer;


                                       -2-


<PAGE>   72


         (f) since the date of the Agreement, there shall have occurred any
event or events that, singly or in the aggregate, have had or would have a
Material Adverse Effect; or

         (g) the Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its
terms, or Parent or Sub shall have reached an agreement or understanding in
writing with the Company providing for termination or amendment of the Offer;

which, in any such case, and regardless of the circumstances (including any
action or inaction by Parent or Sub other than a breach by Parent or Sub of the
Agreement) giving rise to any such conditions, makes it in the reasonable
judgment of Parent inadvisable to proceed with the Offer and/or with such
acceptance for payment of the Shares.

         The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and Sub and
may be asserted by Parent or Sub regardless of the circumstances giving rise to
any such condition (other than a breach by Parent or Sub of the Agreement) and
may be waived by Parent or Sub, in whole or in part, at any time and from time
to time, in the sole discretion of Parent or Sub; provided, that the Minimum
Condition is also for the benefit of the Company and may not be waived without
the Company's consent. The failure by Parent or Sub at any time to exercise any
of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of any right and each right
will be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time
to time.

                                      -3-


<PAGE>   73
                                                                       Exhibit B

                           OPTION SURRENDER AGREEMENT,
                               RELEASE AND WAIVER


                  NOTE: SIGNATURE MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW AND ON
                           THE SCHEDULE OF OWNERSHIP.

              PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

To Ply Gem Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"):

     The undersigned acknowledges that pursuant to Section 3.5(a)(i) of the
Agreement and Plan of Merger among Nortek, Inc., NTK Sub, Inc. ("NTK Sub") and
the Company, dated as of July 24, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"), the Company
will be canceling Options (as defined below) in return for cash consideration
effective at the time the proposed merger of NTK Sub with and into the Company
(the "Merger") becomes effective (the "Effective Time"). Receipt of such
consideration by the undersigned will be subject to the receipt by the Company
of this Option Surrender Agreement, Release and Waiver (the "Surrender
Agreement") surrendering Options for such cancellation.

     Subject to, and effective upon, acceptance of the surrender of the Options
surrendered herewith, the undersigned hereby surrenders for cancellation to the
Company all of his rights, title and interest in and to all options (whether
vested or unvested) to purchase shares of common stock, $.25 par value per share
(the "Shares"), of the Company pursuant to the Company's Executive Incentive
Stock Option Plan, 1989 Employee Incentive Stock Plan, 1989 Senior Executive
Stock Option Plan and 1994 Employee Incentive Stock Plan (such options, the
"Options" and such plans, the "Option Plans"), listed on the attached Schedule
of Ownership (the "Ownership Schedule"), for a per Share amount equal to the
Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement), minus the exercise
price per Share, multiplied by the number of Shares subject to such Options,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Surrender
Agreement.

     The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned holds
the Options surrendered hereby free and clear of all claims, liens,
restrictions, charges, encumbrances, security interests, voting agreements and
commitments of any kind and has full power and authority to surrender for
cancellation such Options, subject to other agreements involving the Merger
being executed simultaneously herewith.

     This surrender is irrevocable by the undersigned but will not be effective
if the Merger is not consummated on or before December 31, 1997.

     The undersigned, on behalf of himself or herself, and on behalf of all
spouses, heirs, predecessors, successors, assigns, representatives or agents of
the undersigned (including

<PAGE>   74



without limitation any trust of which the undersigned is the trustee or which is
for the benefit of the undersigned or a member of his or her family), to the
greatest extent permitted by law, hereby acknowledges that the payments made
pursuant to the Surrender Agreement are in full satisfaction of any and all
rights the undersigned may have under the Option Plans with respect to Options
being surrendered hereby.

     The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the Ownership Schedule enclosed
herewith correctly and completely sets forth the Options held by the undersigned
being surrendered hereunder, and that except as set forth therein the
undersigned does not have the right to acquire any stock in the Company or any
options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of or
equity interests in the Company, or similar securities or contractual
obligations the value of which is derived from the value of an equity interest
in the Company, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock
of or equity interests in, or similar securities or contractual obligations of,
the Company.

     The undersigned also acknowledges that all payments to be made pursuant to
the Surrender Agreement are expected to be paid by check at the Effective Time.
The undersigned also acknowledges that the Company is not required to make any
payments to the undersigned pursuant to the Surrender Agreement unless his or
her Options are outstanding at the Effective Time.

     The undersigned also acknowledges that all payments to be made pursuant to
the Surrender Agreement may be subject to applicable withholding taxes and other
similar charges.

     The undersigned, upon request, will execute and deliver any additional
documents deemed by the Company to be reasonably necessary or desirable to
complete the surrender of the Options surrendered hereby.

     The undersigned recognizes that the Merger is subject to various conditions
and the Company may not be required to accept the surrender of any of the
Options surrendered hereby.

                                  INSTRUCTIONS

     1. EXECUTION OF THE SURRENDER AGREEMENT AND THE OWNERSHIP SCHEDULE. This
Surrender Agreement is to be completed by the optionholder. In order to validly
surrender such Options, an optionholder must complete and sign this Surrender
Agreement and the Ownership Schedule in accordance with the instructions herein
and mail or deliver them in the enclosed envelope to the Company prior to [ ].

     THE OWNERSHIP SCHEDULE MUST BE SIGNED BY THE OPTIONHOLDER AS EVIDENCE OF
SUCH ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RETURNED TOGETHER WITH

                                        2

<PAGE>   75



THIS SURRENDER AGREEMENT. A second copy of the Ownership Schedule for the
optionholder's records has also been included herewith.

     2. DELIVERY. This Surrender Agreement and the enclosed Ownership Schedule,
when executed, should be mailed or delivered to: [ ].

     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE SURRENDER AGREEMENT AND THE OWNERSHIP
SCHEDULE IS AT THE OPTION AND RISK OF THE SURRENDERING OPTIONHOLDER. DELIVERY BY
EXPEDITED MAIL, COURIER OR OTHER SIMILAR SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES,
SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY. OPTIONHOLDERS ARE
ALSO ADVISED TO RETAIN A COPY OF ALL DOCUMENTS DELIVERED.

     3. SIGNATURE ON THE SURRENDER AGREEMENT. The signature on this Surrender
Agreement must correspond exactly with the optionholder's name in the records of
the Company.

     4. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. If you have questions or need assistance please
call [       ].


                                        3

<PAGE>   76



                                   IMPORTANT:

OPTIONHOLDER:  (1) SIGN HERE; AND (2) CONFIRM AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED
                               OWNERSHIP SCHEDULE.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Signature of Optionholder)


Dated:
      -------------------------- 


Name:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             (Please Type or Print)


Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Include Zip Code)


Area Code and Telephone Number:
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                     (Home)

                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                    (Business)


Taxpayer Identification or Social Security No.:
                                                --------------------------------


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


                           , 1997
- --------------------------- 




                                       4


<PAGE>   1
                                                             Exhibit 2

                           FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

     THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of July
24, 1997 (the "Agreement"), is made and entered into by Atrium Acquisition
Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Atrium/PG Acquisition Corp.,
a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), Jeffrey
S. Silverman, Dana R. Snyder and Herbert P. Dooskin (collectively, the
"Stockholders" and individually a "Stockholder"), Ply Gem Industries, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Nortek, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Nortek") and NTK Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Nortek ("NTK").

                                   WITNESSETH:
                                   -----------

     WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof Parent, Sub, the Company and, for limited
purposes, Atrium Corporation, entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of June 24, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement");

     WHEREAS, on July 24, 1997 the Merger Agreement was terminated in accordance
with its terms;

     WHEREAS, on July 24, 1997 Nortek, NTK and the Company entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may hereafter be amended,
restated or renewed from time to time, the "Nortek Agreement"), pursuant to
which NTK will commence a tender offer for Shares (as defined below) of the
Company and NTK will be merged with and into the Company;

     WHEREAS, as a result of the termination of the Merger Agreement and Nortek,
NTK and the Company entering into the Nortek Agreement, the parties desire to
amend and restate that certain Stockholders Agreement between certain of the
parties hereto dated as of June 24, 1997 in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

     1.   DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:

          (a) "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any proposal or offer (other
than the transactions among the Company, Parent and Sub previously contemplated
in the Merger Agreement) involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries for,
or an inquiry or indication of interest that reasonably could be expected to
lead to: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization,
business combination, or other similar transaction, (ii) any sale, lease,
exchange,


<PAGE>   2



mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of a material portion of the
assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a single
transaction or series of transactions, or (iii) any tender offer or exchange
offer for all or any portion of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or the filing of a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection therewith. The term "Acquisition
Proposal" shall include the Offer and the Merger.

          (b) "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect to any
securities shall mean having "beneficial ownership" of such securities (as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act")), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding, whether or not in writing. Without duplicative counting of the
same securities by the same holder, securities Beneficially Owned by a Person
shall include securities Beneficially Owned by all other Persons with whom such
Person would constitute a "group" within the meanings of Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act.

          (c) "Merger" shall mean the merger contemplated by the Nortek
Agreement.

          (d) "Offer" shall mean the cash tender offer contemplated by the
Nortek Agreement for all of the outstanding Shares.

          (e) "Offer Price" shall mean the greater of $19.50 or the highest per
share price paid in the Offer.

          (f) "Options" shall mean all outstanding options or warrants
(including stock purchase rights and stock awards) to purchase or acquire Shares
and shall include the right under the Options to acquire additional Shares upon
a "change of control" with respect to the Company.

          (g) "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

          (h) "Purchase Price" shall mean a per share purchase price equal to
$18.75.

          (i) "Shares" shall mean shares of common stock, par value $0.25 per
share, of the Company. The term "Shares" shall include, without limitation,
shares of Unvested Stock and any restricted Shares.

          (j) "Termination Event" shall mean the first to occur of (i) the
termination of the Nortek Agreement by any party thereto, (ii) the termination,
withdrawal, abandonment or expiration of the Offer without the Shares of each
Stockholder as set forth on Schedule I hereto being accepted for purchase
thereunder (collectively an "Offer Termination Event") or (iii) the material 
breach on the part of any party of any of their respective obligations under 
Section 2.



                                        2

<PAGE>   3



     In addition to the terms otherwise defined herein, the following terms
shall have the meaning set forth in Nortek Agreement:

          "Company Stockholder Approval";
          "Offer Documents";
          "Proxy Statement";
          "SEC"; and
          "Unvested Stock".

     2.   THE NORTEK OFFER.

          (a) Each Stockholder hereby severally and not jointly and severally,
agrees to validly tender (and not to withdraw) pursuant to and in accordance
with the terms of the Offer, not later than one business day prior to the
expiration date of the Offer pursuant to the Nortek Agreement and Rule 14d-2
under the Exchange Act, the number of Shares set forth opposite such
Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto. Each party hereto acknowledges and
agrees that NTK's obligation to accept for payment Shares purchased pursuant to
the Offer, including the Shares tendered pursuant to the Agreement by the
Stockholders, is subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer. The
obligations of the Stockholders under this Section 2(a) shall terminate upon a
Termination Event (except a Termination Event resulting from a  breach by a
Stockholder). 

          (b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to permit Nortek and NTK to publish
and disclose in the Offer Documents and, if Company Stockholder Approval is
required under applicable law, the Proxy Statement (including all documents and
schedules filed with the SEC) such Stockholder's identity and ownership of
Shares and the nature of such Stockholder's commitments, arrangements and
understandings under this Agreement.

          (c) Immediately after the acceptance of any Shares for payment
pursuant to the Offer, Nortek and NTK shall take such actions as may be
necessary (including, without limitation, the giving to the "Depositary " such
instructions as may be necessary) to cause payment of the aggregate Offer Price
due in respect of the Shares properly tendered hereunder by each Stockholder to
be paid, no later than on the first business day following the date that any
Shares have been accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer (the "Purchase
Date"), as follows:
        
               (i)  The Sub, or its permitted assign, in respect of the Shares
          that have been so tendered by each Stockholder and not withdrawn,
          shall receive an amount equal to 75% of the excess of (A) the
          aggregate Offer Price payable in respect of such Stockholder's Shares
          so tendered over (B) the product of (1) the number of Shares so
          tendered, multiplied by (2) the Purchase Price; and  

               (ii) Each Stockholder (or his designee), in respect of the
          Shares that have been so tendered by such Stockholder, shall receive
          the amount of the aggregate Offer Price payable in respect of the
          Shares so tendered after deducting therefrom the amount payable
          pursuant to clause (i) above.


                                        3

<PAGE>   4



          (d) On the Purchase Date, the Company, Nortek, NTK and each of the
Stockholders, severally and not jointly severally, shall take such actions as
may be necessary for each of the Options set forth next to each Stockholder's
name on Schedule II hereto to be cancelled in consideration of an amount in cash
(subject to any applicable withholding tax), in respect of each of the Shares
subject to each of such Options (including any additional Shares subject thereto
by the reason of the occurrence of a "change of control" in the Company, and
Unvested Stock to the extent not tendered in the Offer) equal to the difference
between the per share Offer Price and the per Share exercise price of each such
Option to the extent such difference is a positive number (such amount as to the
Options of each Stockholder being collectively referred to herein as the "Option
Consideration"). On the Purchase Date, Nortek, NTK and the Company shall pay or
shall cause to be paid the Option Consideration due in respect of each
Stockholder's Options as follows:
        
               (i)  The Sub, or its permitted assign, in respect of the Options
     of each Stockholder, shall receive from the Option Consideration (A) in
     respect of Options having a per Share exercise price equal to or less than
     the Purchase Price, an amount equal to 75% of the excess of (x) the product
     of (1) the Offer Price, multiplied by (2) the number of Shares subject to
     such Options, including any "change of control" Shares, over (y) the
     product of (1) the number of Shares subject to such Options, including any
     "change of control" Shares, multiplied by (2) the Purchase Price and (B) in
     respect of Options having a per Share exercise price greater than the
     Purchase Price (as set forth on Schedule II hereto) an amount equal to 100%
     of the excess of (x) the product of (1) the Offer Price, multiplied by (2)
     the number of Shares subject to such Options, including any "change of
     control" Shares, over (y) the product of (1) the number of Shares subject
     to such Options, including any "change of control" Shares multiplied by (2)
     the applicable per Share exercise price of such Options; and
        
               (ii) Each Stockholder (or his designee), in respect of the
     Options of such Stockholder, shall receive the amount of the Option
     Consideration payable in respect of the Options of such Stockholder after
     deducting therefrom the amount payable pursuant to clause (i) above,
     provided, that as to any Stockholder (excluding Mr. Snyder) subject to
     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, payment to such Stockholder of any
     portion of the Option Consideration payable under this clause (ii) will be
     deferred (if necessary to avoid Section 16(b) liability) until the first
     date such payment can be made without liability to such Stockholder under
     Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, but shall be paid as soon as practicable
     thereafter.

          The Company, Nortek and NTK hereby agree to extend to each holder of
Options who is not a party to this Agreement the opportunity to cash out such
Options on the Purchase Date in the manner contemplated in this Section 2(d).

     3.   OPTIONS.
           
          (a) Each of the Stockholders hereby grants to Sub an irrevocable
option (each, a "Purchase Option" and collectively, the "Purchase Options") to
purchase the number of Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on
Schedule I hereto together with all of the Shares (including any additional
Shares that may be issuable as a result of a "change of control") Beneficially
Owned by such Stockholder as a result of the Stockholder's exercise of the
Options set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule II hereto
(collectively, with the Shares described on Schedule I, the "Option Shares") at
a purchase price per share equal to the Purchase Price. Subject to the last
sentence of this Section 3(a), each Purchase Option is currently exercisable in
whole but not in part, and shall remain exercisable in whole but not in part
until 5:00 p.m. (Dallas, Texas time) on the date which is 120 days after a
Termination Event (the "Option Period"), so long as: (i) all waiting periods
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
"HSR Act"), required for the purchase by Sub of the Option Shares upon such
exercise shall have expired or been waived, and (ii) there shall not be in
effect any preliminary or final injunction or other order issued by any court
or governmental, administrative or regulatory agency or authority prohibiting
the exercise of the 
        

                                        4

<PAGE>   5



Purchase Options pursuant to this Agreement. The Option Period shall be extended
for the time period that any such preliminary injunction or order shall be in
effect that otherwise prohibits the exercise of a Purchase Option. To exercise
the Purchase Options, Sub shall send a written notice (the "Notice") to the
Stockholders identifying the place and date (not less than one nor more than 20
business days from the date of the Notice) for the closing of such purchase. The
Sub shall not exercise the Purchase Options prior to the occurrence of a
Termination Event.

          (b) Upon receipt of the Notice to the extent not previously exercised,
contemporaneously with the closing of the purchase of the Option Shares, each
Stockholder shall exercise in full the Options set forth opposite such
Stockholder's name on Schedule II hereto. Subject to Section 2(d), for
convenience purposes, in connection with such exercise of the Options, each
Stockholder hereby gives the Company irrevocable notice of the exercise of his
Options effective contemporaneously with the closing of the purchase of the
Option Shares pursuant to the Purchase Option and the Company hereby
acknowledges the effectiveness of such exercise. Each Stockholder also hereby
irrevocably instructs the Company to issue (and the Company hereby agrees to
issue) the Shares issuable upon such exercise in the name of Sub or its
permitted assignee (and Sub or its permitted assignee shall be deemed the record
owner thereof as of the date of such exercise so long as Sub or its permitted
assignee timely tenders payment of the Purchase Price as provided herein) and
Sub hereby agrees, on behalf of each Stockholder, to pay directly to the Company
(by means of wire transfer or official bank check) such amount as may be
necessary to fund the payment of the exercise price (without regard to any
applicable withholding taxes) due and payable to the Company as a result of such
exercise (with the aggregate amount of the Purchase Price due and payable to
each Stockholder (or his designee) being reduced by the amount of any such
payment made by Sub on behalf of such Stockholder and with the remaining amount
of the Purchase Price otherwise due and payable to each Stockholder being paid
directly to such Stockholder, as may be requested by the Company, net of any
applicable withholding taxes required to be paid to the Company, by means of
wire transfer or official bank check). Such payments to the Company (including
such requested withholding taxes) and the Stockholders shall be made
contemporaneously with the exercise of the Purchase Options and the delivery of
the Option Shares thereunder, provided, that as to any Stockholder subject to
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, payment to such Stockholder of any portion of
the Purchase Price will be deferred (if necessary to avoid Section 16(b)
liability) until the first date such payment can be made without liability to
such Stockholder under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, but shall be paid as
soon as practicable thereafter.
        
          (c) In the event that Sub has purchased the Option Shares pursuant to
the Purchase Options, and, within one year after the date of such purchase, the
Sub or any affiliate thereof sells, transfers, exchanges or disposes of any of
the Option Shares in a transaction with a non-affiliate of Sub (a
"Disposition") then, within two business days after the closing of such
Disposition, Sub shall tender and pay to each Stockholder, in immediately
available funds, their respective pro-rata share (calculated based on the
respective amount of the Option Shares purchased from each Stockholder pursuant
to the Purchase Options) of 25% of the Net Profit realized by Sub in connection
with such Disposition. As used in this Section 3(c), Net Profit shall mean an
amount equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the gross amount realized by Sub
from a Disposition over (ii) the aggregate Purchase Price paid with respect to
the Option Shares subject to such Disposition, with such excess being reduced
by the sum of (A) all reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses
incurred by Sub and its affiliates in connection 


                                        5

<PAGE>   6


with such Disposition, (including, without limitation, all fees, costs and
expenses of counsel) which in no event shall exceed 1% of such Net Profit, and
(B) all customary brokerage fees and commissions, if any, incurred in connection
with such Disposition.

          (d) In the event that within the Option Period a Stockholder sells,
transfers, exchanges, cancels or disposes of any of his Option Shares or Options
in connection with or as a result of an Acquisition Proposal (an "Alternative
Disposition") other than pursuant to Section 2 then, within two business days
after the closing of such Alternative Disposition, such Stockholder shall tender
and pay to Sub, in immediately available funds, its pro-rata share of 75% of the
Net Profit realized by such Stockholder in connection with such Alternative
Disposition. As used in this Section 3(d), Net Profit shall mean (i) in the case
of outstanding Option Shares, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the
gross amount realized by such Stockholder from an Alternative Disposition of
outstanding Option Shares, over (B) the product of (x) the number of such Option
Shares subject to such Alternative Disposition, multiplied by (y) the Purchase
Price and (ii) in the case of Options, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of
(A) the product of (x) the gross underlying per Share price otherwise paid in
the Alternative Disposition and used in calculating the amount so realized by
such Stockholder with respect to such Options in connection with such
Alternative Disposition, multiplied by (y) the number of Option Shares subject
to such Options, over (B) the product of (x) the number of Option Shares subject
to such Options, multiplied by (y) the Purchase Price, with the aggregate of
such excesses being reduced by the sum of (1) all reasonable out-of-pocket fees,
costs and expenses incurred by such Stockholder in connection with such
Alternative Disposition, (including, without limitation, all fees, costs and
expenses of counsel, but excluding any withholding taxes) which in no event
shall exceed 1% of such Net Profit, and (2) all customary brokerage fees and
commissions, if any, incurred in connection with such Alternative Disposition.
        
          (e) As may be requested by Sub subsequent to a Termination Event but
prior to the expiration of the Option Period each Stockholder shall tender his
Shares as set forth on Schedule I hereto pursuant to any tender offer being made
(at a per Share price greater than the Purchase Price) in connection with an
Acquisition Proposal.

          (f) The Purchase Options shall terminate in full upon the consummation
of the transactions (including, the tendering of all payments to be made
thereunder) contemplated by Section 2.

     4.   COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH STOCKHOLDER.

          (a) Each Stockholder hereby, severally and not jointly and severally,
represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

               (i) OWNERSHIP BY SHARES. Such Stockholder is either (A) the
          record and Beneficial Owner of, or (B) the Beneficial Owner but not
          the record holder of, the number of Shares and Options respectively
          set forth opposite the Stockholder's name on Schedule I and II hereto.
          As of June 24, 1997, the Shares and Options respectively set forth
          opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedules I and II hereto
          constitute all of the Shares and Options owned of record or
          Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder. Such Stockholder has sole


                                        6

<PAGE>   7



          power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in
          Sections 2 and 3 hereof, sole power of disposition, sole power of
          conversion, sole power to demand appraisal rights and sole power to
          agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case
          with respect to all of the Shares set forth opposite such
          Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto and all of the Options set
          forth opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule II hereto, with no
          material limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such rights,
          subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of this Agreement.

               (ii) POWER; BINDING AGREEMENT. Such Stockholder has the legal
          capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of such
          Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has
          been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and
          constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder,
          enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms.
          There is no beneficiary or holder of a voting trust certificate or
          other interest of any trust of which such Stockholder is trustee whose
          consent is required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement
          or the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions
          contemplated hereby. If such Stockholder is married and such
          Stockholder's Shares or Options constitute community property, this
          Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and
          constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, such Stockholder's
          spouse, enforceable against such person in accordance with its terms.

               (iii) NO CONFLICTS. Except for filings under the Exchange Act or
          if applicable the HSR Act (as to which, to the extent necessary, each
          Stockholder shall promptly make all such filings and use all
          reasonable efforts to respond to any requests for additional
          information) (A) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent
          or approval of, any state or federal public body or authority is
          necessary for the execution of this Agreement by such Stockholder and
          the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated
          hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consent, permit,
          authorization, approval or filing would not interfere with such
          Stockholder's ability to perform its obligations hereunder, and (B)
          none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such
          Stockholder, the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions
          contemplated hereby or compliance by such Stockholder with any of the
          provisions hereof shall (1) conflict with or result in any breach of
          any applicable organizational documents applicable to such
          Stockholder, (2) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute
          (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give
          rise to any third party right of termination, cancellation, material
          modification or acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or
          provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract,
          commitment, arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument
          or obligation of any kind to which such Stockholder is a party or by
          which such Stockholder or any of such Stockholder's properties or
          assets may be bound, or (3) violate any order, writ, injunction,
          decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
          such Stockholder or any of such Stockholder's properties or assets, in
          each such case except to the extent that any conflict, breach, default
          or violation would not interfere with the ability of such Stockholder
          to perform its obligations hereunder.

                     
                                        7

<PAGE>   8



               (iv) NO ENCUMBRANCES. Except as required by Sections 2 and 3 and
          liens or security interests that will be released at the closing, if
          any, of a purchase under the Purchase Options or a closing under
          Section 2 as may be applicable, such Stockholder's Shares and the
          certificates representing such Shares are now, and at all times
          during the term hereof will be, held by such Stockholder, or by a
          nominee or custodian for the benefit of such Stockholder, free and
          clear of all liens, claims, security interests, proxies, voting
          trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements or any other
          encumbrances whatsoever.
        
               (v) NO FINDER'S FEES. No broker, investment banker, financial
          adviser or other person is entitled to any broker's, finder's,
          financial adviser's or other similar fee or commission in connection
          with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made
          by or on behalf of such Stockholder.

               (vi) NO SOLICITATION. Each Stockholder shall, in its capacity as
          such, comply with the terms of Section 5.1(e) of the Nortek Agreement.

               (vii) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER, PROXIES AND NON-INTERFERENCE.
          During the Option Period, except as required by this Agreement, such
          Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly without the
          consent of Sub: (A) offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge,
          encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract,
          option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to or
          consent to the offer for sale, sale, transfer, tender, pledge,
          encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, any or all of such
          Stockholder's Shares, Options or any interest therein, (B) grant any
          proxies of powers of attorney, deposit any Shares into a voting trust
          or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any Shares, or (C)
          exercise any of his Options (except to prevent the impending
          expiration thereof), or (D) take any action that could reasonably be
          expected to have the effect of preventing or disabling such
          Stockholder from performing such Stockholder's obligations under this
          Agreement, except in the case of clause (A) or (D) any transfer of
          Shares that occurs by operation of law.                    

               (viii) WAIVER OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Such Stockholder hereby waives
          any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger that the
          Stockholder may have.

               (ix) FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, at the other party's
          request and without further consideration, each party hereto shall
          execute and deliver such additional documents as may be necessary or
          desirable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious
          manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          (b) Parent and Sub hereby represents and warrants to each of the other
parties hereto as follows:

               (i) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND CORPORATE POWER. Each of Parent
          and Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
          standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with adequate
          corporate power and authority to own its properties and carry on its
          business as presently conducted. Each of Parent and Sub has the
          corporate power 

                                        8

<PAGE>   9



          and authority to enter into and perform all of its obligations under
          this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

               (ii) NO CONFLICTS. Except, if applicable, for filings under the
          HSR Act, (A) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or
          approval of, any state or federal pubic body or authority is necessary
          for the execution of this Agreement by either Parent or Sub and the
          consummation by Parent and Sub of the transactions contemplated
          hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consent, permit,
          authorization, approval or filing would not interfere with its ability
          to perform its obligations hereunder, and (B) none of the execution
          and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Sub, the consummation by
          Parent or Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by
          Parent and Sub with any of the provisions hereof shall (1) conflict
          with or result in any breach of any applicable organizational
          documents applicable to Parent or Sub, (2) result in a violation or
          breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or
          both) a default (or give rise to any third party right of termination,
          cancellation, material modification or acceleration) under any of the
          terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage,
          indenture, license, contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding,
          agreement or other instrument or obligation of any kind to which
          Parent or Sub is a party or by which Parent or Sub or any of Parent's
          or Sub's properties or assets may be bound, or (3) violate any order,
          writ, injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation
          applicable to Parent or Sub or any of Parent's or Sub's properties or
          assets, in each such case except to the extent that any conflict,
          breach, default or violation would not interfere with the ability of
          Parent or Sub to perform its obligations hereunder.

               (iii) EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE BY PARENT AND SUB. The
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
          authorized by the Board of Directors of Parent and Sub, and each of
          Parent and Sub has taken all other actions required by law, its
          Certificate of Incorporation and its Bylaws in order to consummate the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement
          constitutes the valid and binding obligations of Parent and Sub and is
          enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
          be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
          other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
          generally.

          (c) Nortek and NTK hereby represents and warrants to each of the other
parties hereto as follows:

               (i) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND CORPORATE POWER. Each of Nortek
          and NTK is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
          standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with adequate
          corporate power and authority to own its properties and carry on its
          business as presently conducted. Each of Nortek and NTK has the
          corporate power and authority to enter into and perform all of its
          obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
          contemplated hereby.



                                        9

<PAGE>   10



               (ii) NO CONFLICTS. Except, if applicable, for filings under the
          Exchange Act and the HSR Act, (A) no filing with, and no permit,
          authorization, consent or approval of, any state or federal pubic body
          or authority is necessary for the execution of this Agreement by
          either Nortek or NTK and the consummation by Nortek and NTK of the
          transactions contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain
          such consent, permit, authorization, approval or filing would not
          interfere with its ability to perform its obligations hereunder, and
          (B) none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Nortek or
          NTK, the consummation by Nortek or NTK of the transactions
          contemplated hereby or compliance by Nortek and NTK with any of the
          provisions hereof shall (1) conflict with or result in any breach of
          any applicable organizational documents applicable to Nortek or NTK,
          (2) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without
          notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any third
          party right of termination, cancellation, material modification or
          acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any
          note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment,
          arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument or
          obligation of any kind to which Nortek or NTK is a party or by which
          Nortek or NTK or any of Nortek's or NTK's properties or assets may be
          bound, or (3) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment,
          order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Nortek or NTK or any
          of Nortek's or NTK's properties or assets, in each such case except to
          the extent that any conflict, breach, default or violation would not
          interfere with the ability of Nortek or NTK to perform its obligations
          hereunder.

               (iii) EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE BY NORTEK AND NTK. The
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
          authorized by the Board of Directors of Nortek and NTK, and each of
          Nortek and NTK has taken all other actions required by law, its
          Certificate of Incorporation and its Bylaws in order to consummate the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement
          constitutes the valid and binding obligations of Nortek and NTK and is
          enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
          be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
          other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
          generally.

          (d) The Company hereby represents and warrants to each of the other
parties hereto as follows:

               (i) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND CORPORATE POWER. The Company is a
          corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
          under the laws of the State of Delaware, with adequate corporate power
          and authority to own its properties and carry on its business as
          presently conducted. The Company has the corporate power and authority
          to enter into and perform all of its obligations under this Agreement
          and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

               (ii) NO CONFLICTS. Except, if applicable, for filings under the
          HSR Act, (A) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or
          approval of, any state or federal pubic body or authority is necessary
          for the execution of this Agreement by the Company 


                                       10

<PAGE>   11


          and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
          hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consent, permit,
          authorization, approval or filing would not interfere with its ability
          to perform its obligations hereunder, and (B) none of the execution
          and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the
          Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by the
          Company with any of the provisions hereof shall (1) conflict with or
          result in any breach of any applicable organizational documents
          applicable to the Company, (2) result in a violation or breach of, or
          constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default
          (or give rise to any third party right of termination, cancellation,
          material modification or acceleration) under any of the terms,
          conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
          license, contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding, agreement
          or other instrument or obligation of any kind to which the Company is
          a party or by which the Company or any of the Company's properties or
          assets may be bound, or (3) violate any order, writ, injunction,
          decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
          Company or any of the Company's properties or assets, in each such
          case except to the extent that any conflict, breach, default or
          violation would not interfere with the ability of the Company to
          perform its obligations hereunder.

               (iii) EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE BY THE COMPANY. The
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
          authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Company
          has taken all other actions required by law, its Certificate of
          Incorporation and its Bylaws in order to consummate the transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the valid
          and binding obligations of the Company and is enforceable in
          accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be subject to
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
          laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally.

     5. STOP TRANSFER. Each Stockholder agrees with, and covenants to, Sub that
during the Option Period such Stockholder shall not request that the Company
register (and the Company agrees not to register) the transfer (book-entry or
otherwise) of any certificate or uncertificated interest representing any of 
such Stockholder's Shares, unless such transfer is made in compliance with 
this Agreement.

     6. RECAPITALIZATION. In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or
any change in the Shares by reason of any stock dividend, split-up,
recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term "Shares"
shall be deemed to refer to and include the Shares as well as all such stock
dividends and distributions and any shares into which or for which any or all of
the Shares may be changed or exchanged and the Purchase Price shall be amended
as may be appropriate to reflect such event.

     7. MERGER AGREEMENT. Parent, Sub and the Company hereby agree that the
provisions of Section 6.11 (insofar as it relates to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement) and Section 9.2 of the Merger Agreement remain
in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of the Merger Agreement
and that such Sections of the Merger Agreement are by reference

                                       11

<PAGE>   12


incorporated herein and made a part hereof. In addition, the Company hereby
acknowledges that the transactions contemplated herein have been previously
approved by its Board of Directors for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended. Atrium Corporation, Parent and Sub
hereby acknowledge that the Merger Agreement has been properly terminated by the
Company in accordance with its terms.

     8. STOCKHOLDER CAPACITY. No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of the Company makes any
agreement or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such director or
officer and nothing herein shall limit or affect any action taken by such person
in his or her capacity as a director or officer. Each Stockholder signs solely
in his or her capacity as the record and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of
a trust whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, such Stockholder's
Shares or Options.

     9.  OTHER ACTIONS. Except as contemplated by Section 2 or by operation of
law, during the Option Period no  Stockholder may take any action (including,
without limitation, any cashless exercise of any Option except with respect to
an Option that would otherwise expire unless so exercised) or enter into any
agreement or waiver, which would adversely affect Sub's rights under the
Purchase Options or the benefits to be derived by Sub from an exercise of the
Purchase Options.
        
     10.  RELEASE. Effective as of an Acquisition Event, each of the Company,
Nortek and NTK hereby releases and discharges Parent, Sub and Atrium
Corporation, together with their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents (collectively the "Released Parties") from any and
all liabilities, claims, causes of actions or demands of any nature whatsoever
(including, without limitation, arising under the Merger Agreement) that any of
them may have or claim to have (including, without limitation, the reservation
made in that certain letter of July 24, 1997 from the Company to Parent, Sub
and Atrium Corporation giving notice of the Company's termination of the Merger
Agreement) which are directly or indirectly attributable to or otherwise
related to the payment of $12,000,000 made by the Company on July 24, 1997
pursuant to that certain letter of July 24, 1997 from the Parent to the
Company, regardless of whether any such liabilities, claim, cause of action or
demand is known or unknown, matured or contingent or liquidated or
unliquidated. Prior to the occurrence of an Offer Termination Event, the
Company agrees not to initiate any proceedings against any of the Released
Parties with respect to any of the liabilities, claims, causes of actions or
demands described in the foregoing release. Notwithstanding any provision
contained herein to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 10 shall
remain in full force and effect and shall survive any termination or expiration
of this Agreement and the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
herein. As used in this Section 10, an "Acquisition Event" shall mean the first
to occur of (i) the acceptance of any Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer,
(ii) the consummation of the Merger or (iii) the consummation of any
Acquisition Proposal with Nortek or any of its affiliates.

     11.  MISCELLANEOUS.
 
          (a) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

          (b) CERTAIN EVENTS. Each Stockholder agrees that this Agreement and
the obligations hereunder shall attach to such Stockholder's Shares and Options
and shall be binding upon any person or entity to which legal or beneficial
ownership of such Shares or Options shall pass, whether by operation of law or
otherwise, including, without limitation, such Stockholder's heirs, guardians,
administrators or successors. Notwithstanding any transfer of Shares or Options,
the transferor shall remain liable for the performance of all obligations under
this Agreement of the transferor.

          
                                       12

<PAGE>   13

          (c) ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of
law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other parties,
provided that Parent may assign, in its sole discretion, its rights and
obligations hereunder to any affiliate of Parent or, after a Termination Event,
to any person making an Acquisition Proposal, but no such assignment shall
relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not perform
such obligations.
        
          (d) AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be amended,
changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, except upon
the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties
hereto; provided that either Schedule I or II hereto may be supplemented by
Parent by adding the name and other relevant information concerning any
stockholder of the Company who agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement
without the agreement of any other party hereto, and thereafter such added
stockholder shall be treated as a "Stockholder" for all purposes of this
Agreement; provided further that after a Termination Event, this Agreement may
be amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated
without the consent of, or the execution of any written agreement on the part
of, Nortek and NTK, so long as such amendment, change, supplement, waiver or
modification does not increase the obligations of either Nortek or NTK
hereunder.

          (e) NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly received if so given) by hand delivery, telegram, telex
or telecopy, or by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing
proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the
respective parties at the following addresses or the addresses set forth on the
signature pages hereto:

          If to Mr. Silverman:  Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                
                                At his home address as supplementally provided
                                to the parties hereto.

          copy to:              Squadron Ellenoff Plesent & Sheinfeld
                                551 5th Avenue
                                New York, New York 10176
                                Attn: Joel I. Papernik
                                Telecopy: (212) 697-6686

          If to Mr. Dooskin:    Herbert P. Dooskin

                                At his home address as supplementally provided
                                to the parties hereto.
                                
          copy to:              Squadron Ellenoff Plesent & Sheinfeld
                                551 5th Avenue
                                New York, New York 10176


                                       13

<PAGE>   14






                                Attn: Joel I. Papernik
                                Telecopy: (212) 697-6686

          If to Mr. Snyder:     Dana R. Snyder

                                At his home address as supplementally provided
                                to the parties hereto.

          copy to:              Debevoise & Plimpton
                                875 Third Avenue
                                New York, New York 10022
                                Attn:  Richard D. Bohm
                                Telecopy: (212) 909-6836

          If to Parent or Sub:  Atrium Acquisition Holdings Corp.

                                       and

                                Atrium/PG Acquisition Corp.
                                1341 West Mockingbird Lane
                                Suite 1200 West
                                Dallas, Texas  75247
                                Attn: Randall Fojtasek
                                Telecopy: (214) 630-5013

          copies to:            Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated
                                200 Crescent Court, Suite 1600
                                Dallas, Texas  75201
                                Attn: Jeffrey S. Fronterhouse
                                Telecopy: (214) 740-7313

                                Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated
                                200 Crescent Court, Suite 1600
                                Dallas, Texas 75201
                                Attn: Lawrence D. Stuart, Jr.
                                Telecopy: (214) 740-7313

                                Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                                3700 Trammell Crow Center
                                2001 Ross Avenue
                                Dallas, Texas  75201-2975
                                Attn:  A. Winston Oxley
                                Telecopy: (214) 999-7891


                                      14

<PAGE>   15
          If to the Company:    Ply Gem Industries, Inc.
                                777 Third Avenue
                                New York, New York 10017
                                Attn: Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                Telecopy: (212) 888-0472

          copy to:              Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
                                One Liberty Plaza
                                New York, New York 10006
                                Attn:  Victor Lewkow
                                Telecopy: (212) 225-3999

          If to Nortek or NTK:  Nortek, Inc. and NTK Sub, Inc.
                                50 Kennedy Plaza
                                Providence, RI  02903
                                Attn: Richard L. Bready
                                Telecopy: (401) 751-4610

          copy to:              Ropes & Gray
                                One International Place
                                Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                Attn: David C. Chapin, Esq.
                                Telecopy: (617) 951-7050

or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.

          (f) SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.

          (g) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each of the parties hereto recognizes and
acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damages for which it would
not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages, and therefore each of the
parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such breach the aggrieved party
shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance of such covenants and
agreements and injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other
remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in equity.



                                      15

<PAGE>   16


          (h) REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. All rights, powers and remedies provided
under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any thereof
by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other
such right, power or remedy by such party.

          (i) NO WAIVER. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right,
power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect
hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party
hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties
at variance with the terms hereof, shall not constitute a waiver by such party
of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand
such compliance.

          (j) NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is not intended to be
for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by, any person or entity who or
which is not a party hereto; provided that, in the event of a Stockholder's
death, the benefits to be received by the Stockholder hereunder shall inure to
his successors and heirs.

          (k) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof.

          (l) JURISDICTION. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in any
action, suit or proceeding arising in connection with this Agreement, and agrees
that any such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought only in such court
(and waives any objection based on forum non conveniens or any other objection
to venue therein); provided, however, that such consent to jurisdiction is
solely for the purpose referred to in this paragraph (l) and shall not be deemed
to be a general submission to the jurisdiction of said Court or in the State of
Delaware other than for such purposes. Each party hereto hereby waives any right
to a trial by jury in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding.

          (m) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings used herein are
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

          (n) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which, taken together,
shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement shall not be
effective as to any party hereto until such time as this Agreement or a
counterpart thereof has been executed and delivered by each party hereto.

          (o) PRIOR AGREEMENT. This agreement is executed and delivered as an
Amendment and Restatement of that certain Stockholders Agreement dated as of
June 24, 1997, between the parties hereto and this Agreement shall supersede
such prior agreement in its entirety.

                                       16

<PAGE>   17
              (p) TRUST FUNDS. In the event that any party hereto should
receive any funds that are to be paid to another party pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, then the receiving party shall hold such funds in trust for the
benefit of the party entitled to receive such funds and shall promptly pay such
funds to the party entitled to receive such funds in accordance with this
Agreement.

          12. ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY COMPANY. The parties hereby acknowledge and
agree that the acceptance of any Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer or
other tender offer for a majority of the outstanding Shares will constitute a
"change of control" under the terms of the various agreements governing the 
Options set forth on Schedule II hereto and that for purposes of the 
transactions contemplated by this Agreement all restrictions on transferability 
and vesting applicable to any of the Unvested Stock or restricted Shares on 
Schedule I hereto shall be terminated.


                                         17

<PAGE>   18


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed on this 24th day of July, 1997.

                                           /s/  Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Jeffrey S. Silverman


                                           /s/  Dana R. Snyder
                                           -----------------------------------  
                                           Dana R. Snyder


                                           /s/  Herbert P. Dooskin
                                           -----------------------------------  
                                           Herbert P. Dooskin



                                           Atrium Acquisition Holdings Corp.



                                           By:  /s/ Jeffrey Fronterhouse
                                              --------------------------------  
                                           Name:    Jeffrey Fronterhouse
                                                ------------------------------
                                           Title: Executive Vice President  
                                                 -----------------------------



                                           Atrium/PG Acquisition Corp.



                                           By:  /s/ Jeffrey Fronterhouse
                                              ----------------------------------
                                           Name:    Jeffrey Fronterhouse
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title:  Executive Vice President
                                                 -------------------------------


                                           Ply Gem Industries, Inc.


                                           By:  /s/ Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                              ----------------------------------
                                           Name:    Jeffrey S. Silverman
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title:  Chairman
                                                 -------------------------------


                                       18

<PAGE>   19



                                     Nortek, Inc.



                                     By: /s/  Kevin W. Donnelly
                                        --------------------------------------
                                     Name: Kevin W. Donnelly
                                          ------------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President and General Counsel
                                           -----------------------------------


                                     NTK Sub, Inc.



                                     By: /s/  Kevin W. Donnelly
                                        --------------------------------------
                                     Name: Kevin W. Donnelly
                                          ------------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President
                                           -----------------------------------


                                       19

<PAGE>   20



<TABLE>
                                  SCHEDULE I TO
                             STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT



<CAPTION>
        NAME OF STOCKHOLDER                                    NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED
        -------------------                                    ----------------------

<S>                                                                 <C>  
Herbert P. Dooskin                                                      1,337
Dana R. Snyder                                                          3,747
Jeffrey S. Silverman                                                1,130,177
Jeffrey S. Silverman, Restricted Stock                                100,000

</TABLE>

Excludes shares owned by pension/profit share/401(K)/TRA Plans.




<PAGE>   21


<TABLE>
                                 SCHEDULE II TO
                             STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT


<CAPTION>
                                           OPTION      NUMBER OF      OPTION
              NAME                          DATE         SHARES       PRICE      TYPE  
- ------------------------------------      --------     ---------     --------   --------

<S>                                       <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>                 
Herbert P. Dooskin                        01/28/88        8,000      $10.750      ISO    
                                          01/28/88       75,000       10.750      NQSO   
                                          01/28/88       75,000       10.750      Note 1 
                                          01/26/89       75,000       12.250      NQSO   
                                          01/26/89       75,000       12.250      Note 1 
                                          01/26/89        8,000       12.250      ISO    
                                          01/23/92       10,000        9.750      ISO    
                                          11/24/92       75,000       10.250      NQSO   
                                          01/29/93       75,000       12.000      NQSO   
                                          05/20/93        9,000       10.375      ISO    
                                          11/07/94       50,000       19.125      NQSO   
                                                                             
Jeffrey S. Silverman                      01/28/88      300,000       10.750      NQSO   
                                          01/28/88      300,000       10.750      Note 1 
                                          01/26/89      300,000       12.250      NQSO   
                                          01/26/89      300,000       12.250      Note 1 
                                          11/24/92      325,000       10.250      NQSO   
                                          01/29/93      513,500       12.000      NQSO   
                                          05/20/93        9,000       10.375      ISO    
                                          11/07/94      750,000       19.125      NQSO   
                                          08/20/96      750,000       12.500      NQSO   
                                                                             
Note 1.  Options on Change of Control                                        
                                                                             
Dana R. Snyder                            06/02/95        6,250       16.000      ISO    
                                          06/02/95      293,750       16.000      NQSO   
                                          10/27/95      250,000       16.000      NQSO   
                                          01/02/96        6,060       16.500      ISO    
                                          01/02/96      210,782       16.500      NQSO   
                                          08/20/96       33,158       12.500      NQSO   
                                          08/20/96      116,842       12.500      NQSO   

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  Exhibit 3


                      NON-COMPETE AND TERMINATION AGREEMENT


     THIS NON-COMPETE AND TERMINATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
July 24, 1997, is made and entered into by Nortek, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), Ply Gem Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and
Jeffrey S. Silverman (the "Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent, NTK Sub, Inc. ("Sub") and the
Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may
hereafter be amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized
terms used and not defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed to them
in the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which Sub will be merged with and into the
Company (the "Merger");

     WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to entering into the Merger
Agreement, Parent has required that Executive agree, and Executive has agreed,
to enter into this Agreement;

     WHEREAS, but for his obligations under this Agreement, subsequent to the
closing of the Merger, Executive would not otherwise be bound by any contractual
obligations restricting his ability to compete with the Company;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

     1. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Executive hereby represents and warrants that his
employment relationship with the Company is pursuant to and governed by the
Employment Agreement dated July 17, 1986, between Executive and the Company, as
amended on October 15, 1987; June 2, 1990; February 19, 1991; November 3, 1992;
December 23, 1992; December 31, 1994; June 10, 1995; August 1, 1995; April 30,
1996; December 27, 1996; and April 11, 1997, a true and correct copy of which
has been furnished to Parent (the "Employment Agreement").

     2. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Effective as of the Effective Time
(a) Executive hereby tenders his resignation as an officer and director of the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries, and (b) the Employment Agreement shall be
terminated in full without any further action on the part of the Company or
Executive. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement (including the
exceptions set forth in Section 4(a)), from and after the date of termination of
the Employment Agreement, Executive shall not be entitled to receive any further
wages, compensation or benefits arising pursuant to the Employment Agreement or
his 


<PAGE>   2


employment relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, compensation previously deferred by the Executive under the
terms of the Employment Agreement or otherwise and which become due on or after
the date hereof) and Executive shall not be entitled to any post termination
wages, compensation or benefits (including, without limitation, severance pay,
deferred compensation payments, nonqualified supplemental executive retirement
plan payments, vacation pay or sick pay). As liquidated damages for the
termination of the Employment Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to pay
Executive immediately after the Effective Time, by means of wire transfer of
immediately available funds, a sum in the amount of $22,592,150; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the amount of $22,592,150 shall be reduced by any amounts advanced
(except for the amounts on Annex II) to the Executive as bonus for 1997 under
the terms of his Employment Agreement prior to the Effective Time. Except as
provided in paragraph 5 hereof and as described in Annex II, the Executive
hereby waives any and all rights to recover amounts of salary or bonus deferred
by him in accordance with the April 11, 1997 amendment to the Employment
Agreement.

     3. FORGIVENESS OF INDEBTEDNESS. Effective as of the termination of the
Employment Agreement, the Company hereby forgives in its entirety and hereby
releases all of its rights in respect of the indebtedness described on Annex II
attached hereto including, without limitation all principal and interest that
may be due and owing or that may become due and owing thereunder. An amount
equal to $11,407,850 of the indebtedness forgiven hereunder shall be in
consideration of the termination of the Employment Agreement as provided in
Section 2. The remainder of the indebtedness forgiven hereunder shall be in
consideration of the noncompetition agreement provided in Section 7.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries by Executive and which is not described on Annex II shall not
be released pursuant to this Section 3 and shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding the terms of any other agreement or arrangement between the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Executive to the contrary. Except with
respect to interest that may hereafter accrue on the indebtedness described on
Annex II, from and after the date of this Agreement, if Executive should after
the date of this Agreement borrow any additional funds from, or incur any
additional indebtedness to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, then the
cash payment to be paid to Executive pursuant to Section 1 shall be reduced on a
dollar for dollar basis by the amount of such additional borrowing or
indebtedness; PROVIDED that, in no event shall Executive incur such additional
borrowing or indebtedness in excess of $1,000,000.

     4. RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

     (a) RELEASE BY EXECUTIVE. Effective as of the Effective Time, Executive
hereby releases and discharges the Released Parties from all Claims and Damages,
including those related to, arising from, or attributed to (i) his employment
with, and membership on the Boards of Directors for, the Company and its
Subsidiaries and resignations therefrom, (ii) the Employment Agreement, and
(iii) all other acts or omissions related to any matter at any time prior to and
including the date of termination of the Employment Agreement; except that this




                                       2
<PAGE>   3

release shall not include Executive's (A) entitlement to continued group medical
coverage in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1985 ("COBRA"), (B) vested accrued Benefits in the Company's qualified
employee benefit plans described in Annex III attached hereto, (C) rights
arising under the Merger Agreement, (D) rights of Executive arising under this
Agreement, and (E) his right to be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket costs
and expenses incurred after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Effective Time in connection with services rendered by Executive to, or on
behalf of, the Company. Executive understands and expressly agrees that, unless
specifically excluded from this release, this release extends to all Claims and
Damages of every nature and kind, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected,
past or present, whether or not these Claims and Damages were set forth in any
writing, and that all such Claims and Damages are hereby expressly settled or
waived.

     (b) LIMITATION. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as obligating the
Company, Purchaser or Parent to pay, make reimbursement for or otherwise assume
responsibility for any Taxes imposed on Executive or for any other amount
relating to any of Executive's Tax obligations or liabilities.

     (c) DEFINITIONS. As used in this Section 4, the following terms shall have
meanings set forth below:

          (i)  "Claims" means all theories of recovery of whatever nature,
     whether known or unknown, and now recognized by the law or equity of any
     jurisdiction, based on acts, omissions or other matters occurring on or
     before the date the parties sign this Agreement. This term includes,
     without limitation, lawsuits, petitions, complaints, causes of action,
     charges, indebtedness, losses, claims, liabilities, and demands, whether
     arising in equity or under the common law or under any contract (including,
     without limitation, the Employment Agreement), statute, regulation or
     ordinance. This term also includes, without limitation, any Claim of
     discrimination (based on age or any other factor) under any statute or law
     (including, without limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,
     29 U.S.C. ss. 621, et seq.; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42
     U.S.C. ss. 2000e, et seq.; and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42
     U.S.C. ss. 12101, et seq.), and all Claims asserted by Executive, in
     writing or otherwise, or which could be asserted, by Executive.

          (ii)  "Damages" means all elements of relief or recovery of whatever
     nature, whether known or unknown, which are recognized by the law or equity
     of any jurisdiction. This term includes, without limitation, actual,
     incidental, indirect, consequential, compensatory, liquidated, exemplary,
     and punitive damages; rescission, attorneys' fees; interest; costs;
     equitable relief; and expenses.

          (iii) "Released Parties" means and includes the Company and its
     Subsidiaries, and all of the foregoing entities' past, present and future
     shareholders, 




                                       3
<PAGE>   4



     directors, officers, employees, agents, insurance carriers, employee
     benefit plans (and such plans' fiduciaries, trustees, administrators and
     representatives), predecessors, successors, assigns, executors,
     administrators, attorneys and representatives, in both their corporate and
     individual capacities.


     5.   SALARY. Executive shall be paid his regular salary of $228,598 per
month, less lawful taxes and withholdings, to and through the date of
termination of the Employment Agreement in accordance with the Company's
customary payroll practices.

     6.   CONFIDENTIALITY.

          (a) PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND TRADE SECRETS. 
Executive acknowledges that the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries is
highly competitive and that certain confidential contracts, books, records, and
documents, confidential technical information concerning their services, pricing
techniques, and computer system and software, and other confidential information
(such as credit and financial data) concerning their customers and business
affiliates, all comprise confidential business information and trade secrets
which are valuable, special, and unique assets which the Company and its
Subsidiaries use in their business to obtain a competitive advantage over their
competitors. (All such information belonging to the Company and its Subsidiaries
and not publicly available is jointly referred to herein as "Confidential
Information and Trade Secrets.") Effective as of the Effective Time, Executive
agrees that all Confidential Information and Trade Secrets are the exclusive,
confidential, and proprietary information and property of the Company and,
except as necessary to perform the consulting services to be provided hereunder,
will not be used by Executive for any other purpose or in any other manner.
Executive further acknowledges that protection of such Confidential Information
and Trade Secrets against unauthorized disclosure and use is of critical
importance to the Company and its Subsidiaries in maintaining their competitive
position. Executive hereby agrees that he will not make any unauthorized
disclosure of any such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, or make any
unauthorized use thereof. In the event that Executive is requested pursuant to,
or required by, applicable law or regulation or by legal process to disclose any
Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, Executive agrees to use his
reasonable efforts to provide the Company with prompt notice of such request(s)
to enable the Company to seek an appropriate protective order; provided,
however, that Executive shall not be prohibited from complying with any such
request unless an appropriate protective order is in place.

          (b) Scope of Prohibited Activities; Remedies. Executive acknowledges 
that the scope of prohibited activities, and time of duration of the provisions
of this Section 6 are reasonable and are no broader than are necessary to
protect the goodwill and legitimate business interests of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Executive also acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 6
do not and will not impose any unreasonable burden on Executive. Executive
further acknowledges that a violation of this Section 6 will cause irreparable
damage to the Company and its Subsidiaries, entitling them to an injunction and
other equitable relief



                                       4

<PAGE>   5


in a court of competent jurisdiction against Executive. In addition, the Company
and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to whatever other remedies they may have
at law, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and costs
incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries in enforcing the terms of this
Section 6.

     7.   NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT.

          (a)  NON-COMPETITION. Except as expressly permitted herein, effective 
as of the Effective Time Executive agrees that he shall not, until 11:59 p.m. on
the second anniversary of the Effective time:

               (i) directly or indirectly own, engage in, manage, operate, join,
     control, or participate in the ownership, management, operation, or control
     of, or be connected as a stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent,
     partner, joint venturer, member, beneficiary, or otherwise with, any
     corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship,
     association, business, trust, or other organization, entity or individual
     which in any way competes with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
     the business of manufacturing, marketing or distributing wood or vinyl
     windows or doors or vinyl siding or in any other material business activity
     that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is conducting as of the date of
     this Agreement (a "Competing Business") in the United States; PROVIDED,
     HOWEVER, that the Executive may own, directly or indirectly, securities of
     any entity traded on any national securities exchange or listed on the
     National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System that
     is a Competing Business if Executive does not, directly or indirectly, own
     10% or more of any class of equity securities, or securities convertible
     into or exercisable or exchangeable for 10% or more of any class of equity
     securities, of such entity;

               (ii) during the term of non-competition, use Executive's access 
     to, knowledge of, or application of Confidential Information and Trade
     Secrets to perform any material duty for any Competing Business; it being
     understood and agreed to that this clause (ii) shall be in addition to and
     not be construed as a limitation upon the covenants in clause (i) hereof;

               (iii) directly or indirectly aid, abet, or otherwise assist in a
     material way any individual, business, or other organization or entity that
     is a Competing Business in the United States;

               (iv) directly or indirectly request or advise any present or 
     future customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
     cancel any contracts with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or curtail
     their dealings with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;




                                       5
<PAGE>   6



               (v) directly or indirectly request or advise any present or 
     future service provider or financial resource of the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries to withdraw, curtail, or cancel the furnishing of such service
     or resource to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or


               (vi) directly or indirectly hire, attempt to hire, or contact or
     solicit with respect to hiring any then significant employee of the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries, or otherwise induce or attempt to influence any
     employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment.

          (b)  NON-COMPETITION FEE. In consideration of the non-competition 
agreement described in this Section 7, the Company hereby agrees to forgive the
portion of the indebtedness (as reduced by the amount thereof allocated to the
termination of Executive's Employment Agreement as described in Section 2) owed
to the Company by Executive as described in Section 3.

          (c)  SCOPE OF PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES; REMEDIES. Executive acknowledges
that the geographic boundaries, scope of prohibited activities, and time
duration of this Section 7 are reasonable in nature and are no broader than are
necessary to maintain the confidentiality and the goodwill of the Company's
proprietary information, plans and services and to protect the other legitimate
business interests of the Company. Executive also acknowledges that the
provisions of this Section 7 do not and will not impose any unreasonable burden
on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that violation of this Section 7
will cause irreparable damage to the Company and its Subsidiaries, entitling
them to an injunction and other equitable relief in a court of competent
jurisdiction against Executive. In addition, the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall be entitled to whatever other remedies they may have at law, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and costs incurred by the Company
and its Subsidiaries in enforcing the terms of this Section 7.

     8.   MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a)  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

          (b)  CERTAIN EVENTS. Executive agrees that this Agreement and he 
obligations hereunder shall be binding upon his heirs, guardians, administrators
or successors.

          (c)  ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of
law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other party.

          (c)  AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be amended, 



                                       6
<PAGE>   7


changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, except upon
the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties
hereto.


          (e)  NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly received if so given) by hand delivery, telegram, telex
or telecopy, or by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing
proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the
respective parties at the following addresses:

     If to Executive:   At the addresses set forth on signature pages hereto

     copy to:           Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld, LLP
                        551 Fifth Avenue
                        New York, New York  10176
                        Attn:  Joel I. Papernik
                        Telecopy:  (212) 697-6686

     If to Parent:      Nortek, Inc.
                        50 Kennedy Plaza
                        Providence, Rhode Island 02903
                        Attn:  Richard L. Bready
                        Telecopy: (401) 751-4724

     copy to:           Ropes & Gray
                        One International Place
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                        Attn:  Douglass N. Ellis, Jr., Esq.
                        Telecopy:  (617) 951-7050

     If to the Company: Ply Gem Industries, Inc.
                        777 Third Avenue
                        New York, New York  10017
                        Attn:  Jeffrey S. Silverman
                        Telecopy:  (212) 888-0472

     copy to:           Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
                        One Liberty Plaza
                        New York, New York  10006
                        Attn:  Victor Lewkow
                        Telecopy:  (212) 225-3999

or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished 



                                       7
<PAGE>   8


to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.


          (f)  SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.

          (g)  SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each of the parties hereto recognizes and
acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damages for which it would
not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages, and therefore each of the
parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such breach the aggrieved party
shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance of such covenants and
agreements and injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other
remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or in equity.

          (h)  REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. All rights, powers and remedies provided 
under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any thereof
by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other
such right, power or remedy by such party.

          (i)  NO WAIVER. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right,
power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect
hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party
hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties
at variance with the terms hereof, shall not constitute a waiver by such party
of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand
such compliance.

          (j)  NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is not intended to 
be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by, any person or entity who
or which is not a party hereto; PROVIDED that in the event of Executive's death
then, the benefits to be received by Executive hereunder shall inure to his
successors and heirs.

          (k)  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof.

          (l)  JURISDICTION. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the 
exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in any
action, suit or proceeding arising in connection with this Agreement, and agrees
that any such action, suit or proceeding 



                                       8
<PAGE>   9


shall be brought only in such court (and waives any objection based on forum non
conveniens or any other objection to venue therein); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
such consent to jurisdiction is solely for the purpose referred to in this
paragraph (l) and shall not be deemed to be a general submission to the
jurisdiction of said Court or in the State of Delaware other than for such
purposes. Each party hereto hereby waives any right to a trial by jury in
connection with any such action, suit or proceeding.


          (m)  DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings used herein are 
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

          (n)  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, 
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which, taken
together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

          (o)  TAX REPORTING. As may be appropriate, the Company shall report 
the payments made hereunder by filing the appropriate 1099 or other appropriate
forms for these amounts.

     9.   TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate upon the termination of
the Merger Agreement without any further action on the part of any party hereto.

     10.  NEW AGREEMENTS. In the event the Company gives Parent the notice
contemplated by Section 8.1(i) of the Merger Agreement, then the Company and
Executive shall, within the time period specified in clause (ii) of such Section
8.1(i), extend to Parent, in connection with any adjustments in the terms and
conditions of the Merger Agreement that Parent may propose pursuant to clause
(ii) of such Section 8.1(i), an opportunity to enter into such agreements or
arrangements (with respect to Executive and his then existing agreements and
arrangements with the Company) as specified in such notice on terms and
conditions no less favorable to Parent as those specified in such notice.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                    /s/ Jeffrey S. Silverman  
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Jeffrey S. Silverman



                                    Address:

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

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

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




                                       9
<PAGE>   10




                                    Nortek, Inc.

                                        /s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
                                    By: ______________________________________

                                          Kevin W. Donnelly
                                    Name: ____________________________________

                                           Vice President, General Counsel
                                    Title: ___________________________________


                                    Ply Gem Industries, Inc.

                                        /s/ Herbert P. Dooskin         
                                    By: ______________________________________

                                          Herbert P. Dooskin
                                    Name: ____________________________________

                                           Executive Vice President         
                                    Title: ___________________________________



<PAGE>   11
NORTEK




                                  July 28, 1997

By Facsimile
- ------------

Mr. Jeffrey S. Silverman
Ply Gem Industries, Inc.
777 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Dear Mr. Silverman:

     Reference is hereby made to the Non-Compete and Termination Agreement
dated as of July 24, 1997 (the "Silverman Agreement") among you, Nortek, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Nortek"), and Ply Gem Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Ply Gem").

     In the Silverman Agreement, paragraph (i) 2 included three references, (ii)
4(a) included two references, (iii) 6(a) included one reference, and (iv) 7(a)
included two references to the term "Effective Time". We hereby confirm the term
"Effective Time" in such eight places shall be deemed deleted and replaced with
the term "consummation of the Offer." All other terms and conditions of the
Silverman Agreement are hereby confirmed.

                                  Very  truly yours,

                                  NORTEK, INC.



                                  By:/s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
                                     -----------------------------    
                                     Kevin W. Donnelly
                                     Vice President/General Counsel



[NORTEK LETTERHEAD]


<PAGE>   12



Agreed to and Accepted by:

PLY GEM INDUSTRIES, INC.


BY:/s/ Jeffrey S. Silverman
   ----------------------------
   Jeffrey S. Silverman
   Chairman



   /s/ Jeffrey S. Silverman      
   ---------------------------- 
   Jeffrey S. Silverman         


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