PROFFITTS INC
8-K, 1995-10-25
DEPARTMENT STORES
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                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549
                                                   
                                  FORM 8-K
                                                   

                               CURRENT REPORT

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

     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  
                              October 23, 1995

                              PROFFITT'S, INC.
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                 TENNESSEE
               (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

          0-15907                          62-0331040
     (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer Identification No.)

               P.O. Box 9388
               Alcoa, TN                             37701

     (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

     Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                 (615) 983-7000
<PAGE>




     Item 5.   Other Events.

          On October 23, 1995, Proffitt's, Inc. ("Proffitt's") and
          Younkers, Inc. ("Younker's) jointly announced the signing of
          an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") pursuant
          to which Baltic Merger Corporation, a newly organized and
          wholly-owned subsidiary of Proffitt's ("Baltic"), will be
          merged with and into Younkers, which will continue as the
          surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
          Proffitt's (the "Merger").  The Agreement provides that upon
          and by virtue of the Merger becoming effective, each  issued
          and outstanding share of Younkers' Common Stock, $0.01 par
          value per share ("Younkers Common Stock"), except for
          certain shares of Younkers Common Stock held by Younkers in
          treasury or owned by Proffitt's or any subsidiary of
          Younkers which will be cancelled, will be converted into the
          right to receive ninety-eight one-hundredths (.98) of a
          share of Proffitt's Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share,
          subject to certain adjustments more particularly described
          in the Agreement.

          Pursuant to General Instruction F to Form 8-K, the press
          release issued October 23, 1995, concerning the merger is
          incorporated herein by reference and is attached hereto as
          Exhibit 20.

     Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (c)  Exhibits.

               The following exhibits are filed as a part of this
          report:

     Exhibit
     Number         Description

         2     Agreement and Plan of Merger Among Proffitt's, Inc.,
               Baltic Merger Corporation and Younkers, Inc. Dated as
               of October 22, 1995.

        20     Press Release dated October 23, 1995.

        99     Discussion Piece for Financial Analysts' Questions
<PAGE>



                                 SIGNATURES


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


                                   PROFFITT'S, INC.



     Date: October 24, 1995        /s/ R. Brad Martin
           ----------------        ------------------
                                   R. Brad Martin
                                   (Printed)

                                   Chairman of the Board 
                                     and Chief Executive
                                     Officer
                                   (Title)
     


                                 Exhibit 2

                        AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                   AMONG


                             PROFFITT'S, INC.,


                         BALTIC MERGER CORPORATION


                                    AND


                               YOUNKERS, INC.


                        Dated as of October 22, 1995
<PAGE>



                             TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                  Page


     ARTICLE I      THE MERGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
          Section 1.1    The Merger  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
          Section 1.2    Effective Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
          Section 1.3    Effects of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . 2
          Section 1.4    Charter and By-laws . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
          Section 1.5    Conversion of Securities  . . . . . . . . . 2
          Section 1.6    Parent to Make Certificates Available . . . 3
          Section 1.7    Dividends; Transfer Taxes; Withholding  . . 4
          Section 1.8    No Fractional Securities  . . . . . . . . . 5
          Section 1.9    Return of Exchange Fund . . . . . . . . . . 5
          Section 1.10   Adjustment of Conversion Number . . . . . . 5
          Section 1.11   No Further Ownership Rights in Company
               Common Stock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
          Section 1.12   Closing of Company Transfer Books . . . . . 6
          Section 1.13   Lost Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
          Section 1.14   Affiliates  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
          Section 1.15   Dissenters' Rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
          Section 1.16   Further Assurances  . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
          Section 1.17   Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

     ARTICLE II     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
                    PARENT AND SUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
          Section 2.1    Organization, Standing and Power  . . . . . 7
          Section 2.2    Capital Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
          Section 2.3    Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
          Section 2.4    Consents and Approvals; No Violation  . . . 9
          Section 2.5    SEC Documents and Other Reports . . . . .  10
          Section 2.6    Registration Statement and Joint Proxy
               Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
          Section 2.7    Absence of Certain Changes or Events  . .  11
          Section 2.8    Permits and Compliance  . . . . . . . . .  12
          Section 2.9    Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
          Section 2.10   Actions and Proceedings . . . . . . . . .  13
          Section 2.11   Certain Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . .  13
          Section 2.12   ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
          Section 2.13   Compliance with Certain Laws  . . . . . .  14
          Section 2.14   Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
          Section 2.15   Labor Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
          Section 2.16   Intellectual Property . . . . . . . . . .  15
          Section 2.17   Opinion of Financial Advisor  . . . . . .  15
          Section 2.18   Pooling of Interests; Reorganization  . .  16
          Section 2.19   Required Vote of Parent Stockholders  . .  16
          Section 2.20   Ownership of Shares . . . . . . . . . . .  16
          Section 2.21   Operations of Sub . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
          Section 2.22   Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16

     ARTICLE III    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
                    THE COMPANY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
<PAGE>



          Section 3.1    Organization, Standing and Power  . . . .  17
          Section 3.2    Capital Structure . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
          Section 3.3    Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
          Section 3.4    Consents and Approvals; No Violation  . .  18
          Section 3.5    SEC Documents and Other Reports . . . . .  19
          Section 3.6    Registration Statement and Joint Proxy
               Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
          Section 3.7    Absence of Certain Changes or Events  . .  20
          Section 3.8    Permits and Compliance  . . . . . . . . .  20
          Section 3.9    Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
          Section 3.10   Actions and Proceedings . . . . . . . . .  22
          Section 3.11   Certain Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . .  22
          Section 3.12   ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
          Section 3.13   Compliance with Certain Laws  . . . . . .  24
          Section 3.14   Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
          Section 3.15   Labor Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
          Section 3.16   Intellectual Property . . . . . . . . . .  25
          Section 3.17   Opinion of Financial Advisor  . . . . . .  25
          Section 3.18   State Takeover Statutes and Shareholder
               Rights Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
          Section 3.19   Required Vote of Company Stockholders . .  25
          Section 3.20   Pooling of Interests; Reorganization  . .  26
          Section 3.21   Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26

     ARTICLE IV     COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS  . .  26
          Section 4.1    Conduct of Business Pending the Merger  .  26
          Section 4.2    No Solicitation . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
          Section 4.3    Third Party Standstill Agreements . . . .  30
          Section 4.4    Pooling of Interests; Reorganization  . .  31

     ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
          Section 5.1    Stockholder Meetings  . . . . . . . . . .  31
          Section 5.2    Preparation of the Registration
               Statement and the Joint
                    Proxy Statement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
          Section 5.3    Access to Information . . . . . . . . . .  32
          Section 5.4    Compliance with the Securities Act;
               Pooling Period  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
          Section 5.5    NASDAQ Listing  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
          Section 5.6    Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
          Section 5.7    Company Stock Options; Stock Purchase
               Plan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
          Section 5.8    Reasonable Best Efforts; Pooling of
               Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
          Section 5.9    Public Announcements  . . . . . . . . . .  39
          Section 5.10   Real Estate Transfer and Gains Tax  . . .  39
          Section 5.11   State Takeover Laws . . . . . . . . . . .  39
          Section 5.12   Indemnification; Directors and Officers
               Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
          Section 5.13   Notification of Certain Matters . . . . .  40
          Section 5.14   Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
          Section 5.15   Designation of Directors  . . . . . . . .  40

     ARTICLE VI     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE MERGER . . . . . .  41
<PAGE>



          Section 6.1    Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to
               Effect the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
          Section 6.2    Conditions to Obligation of the Company
               to Effect
                    the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
          Section 6.3    Conditions to Obligations of Parent and
               Sub to Effect
                    the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43

     ARTICLE VII    TERMINATION. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER  . . . . . .  44
          Section 7.1    Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
          Section 7.2    Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . .  46
          Section 7.3    Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
          Section 7.4    Waiver  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46

     ARTICLE VIII   GENERAL PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
          Section 8.1    Non-Survival of Representations,
               Warranties and Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
          Section 8.2    Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
          Section 8.3    Interpretation  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
          Section 8.4    Counterparts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
          Section 8.5    Entire Agreement; No Third-Party
               Beneficiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
          Section 8.6    Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
          Section 8.7    Assignment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
          Section 8.8    Severability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
          Section 8.9    Enforcement of this Agreement . . . . . .  49
<PAGE>



                        AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 22, 1995
     (this "Agreement"), among PROFFITT'S, INC., a Tennessee
     corporation ("Parent"), BALTIC MERGER CORPORATION, a Delaware
     corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and
     YOUNKERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") (Sub and
     the Company being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
     "Constituent Corporations").


                            W I T N E S S E T H:


          WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub
     and the Company have approved and declared advisable the merger
     of Sub and the Company (the "Merger"), upon the terms and subject
     to the conditions set forth herein, whereby each issued and
     outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
     the Company ("Company Common Stock") not owned directly or
     indirectly by Parent or the Company will be converted into shares
     of Parent Common Stock, par value $.10 per share ("Parent Common
     Stock");

          WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and
     the Company have determined that the Merger is in furtherance of
     and consistent with their respective long-term business
     strategies and is in the best interest of their respective
     stockholders;

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

          WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger shall be recorded
     for accounting purposes as a pooling of interests.

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


                                 ARTICLE I

                                 THE MERGER

          Section 1.1  The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the
     conditions hereof, and in accordance with the Delaware General
     Corporation Law (the "Del.C."), Sub shall be merged with and into
     the Company at the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined). 
     Following the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Sub
     shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving
<PAGE>



     corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and shall succeed to
     and assume all the rights and obligations of Sub in accordance
     with the Del.C.

          Section 1.2  Effective Time.  The Merger shall become
     effective when a Certificate of Merger (the "Certificate of
     Merger"), executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of
     the Del.C., is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
     Delaware; provided, however, that, upon mutual consent of the
     Constituent Corporations, the Certificate of Merger may provide
     for a later date of effectiveness of the Merger not more than 30
     days after the date the Certificate of Merger is filed.  When
     used in this Agreement, the term "Effective Time" shall mean the
     later of the date and time at which the Certificate of Merger is
     filed or such later time established by the Certificate of
     Merger.  The filing of the Certificate of Merger shall be made on
     the date of the Closing (as defined in Section 1.17), or as
     promptly thereafter as practicable.

          Section 1.3  Effects of the Merger.  The Merger shall have
     the effects set forth in the Del.C.

          Section 1.4  Charter and By-laws.  At the Effective Time,
     the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in
     effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended
     so that Article Fourth of such Restated Certificate of
     Incorporation reads in its entirety as follows: "The total number
     of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation
     shall have authority to issue is 100 shares of Common Stock, par
     value $.01 per share."  As so amended, such Restated Certificate
     of Incorporation shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
     Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as
     provided therein or by applicable law.  At the Effective Time,
     the By-laws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the
     Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
     until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by the
     Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation or by
     applicable law.

          Section 1.5  Conversion of Securities.  As of the Effective
     Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
     of Sub, the Company or the holders of any securities of the
     Constituent Corporations:

               (a)  Each issued and outstanding share of common stock,
          par value $.01 per share, of Sub shall be converted into one
          validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
          stock of the Surviving Corporation.

               (b)  All shares of Company Common Stock that are held
          in the treasury of the Company or by any wholly-owned
          Subsidiary of the Company and any shares of Company Common
          Stock owned by Parent or by any wholly-owned Subsidiary of
          Parent shall be cancelled and no capital stock of Parent or
<PAGE>



          other consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor;
          provided, however, that shares of Company Common Stock held
          in the treasury to fund the deferred compensation plans of
          W. Thomas Gould and Robert M. Mosco (the "Deferred Comp
          Shares") will be converted into the right to receive on the
          same terms and conditions as provided in such plans
          authorized but unissued shares of Parent Common Stock
          calculated by multiplying the Conversion Number (as
          hereafter defined) times the number of Deferred Comp Shares.

               (c)  Subject to the provisions of Section 1.10 hereof,
          each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
          immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares
          to be cancelled in accordance with Section 1.5(b)) shall be
          converted into .98 (such number being the "Conversion
          Number") validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares
          of Parent Common Stock.  All such shares of Company Common
          Stock, when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and
          shall automatically be cancelled and retired and each holder
          of a certificate formerly representing any such shares shall
          cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
          right to receive any dividends and other distributions in
          accordance with Section 1.7, certificates representing the
          shares of Parent Common Stock into which such shares are
          converted and any cash, without interest, in lieu of
          fractional shares to be issued or paid in consideration
          therefor upon the surrender of such certificate in
          accordance with Section 1.6.  Each certificate shall, from
          and after the Effective Time until surrendered in exchange
          for Parent Common Stock, for all purposes be deemed to
          represent the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
          calculated by taking the number of shares represented by the
          certificate times the Conversion Number.

          Section 1.6  Parent to Make Certificates Available.

               (a)  Exchange of Certificates.  Parent shall authorize
     a commercial bank reasonably acceptable to the Company (or such
     other person or persons as shall be acceptable to Parent and the
     Company) to act as Exchange Agent hereunder (the "Exchange
     Agent").  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent
     shall deposit with the Exchange Agent, in trust for the holders
     of shares of Company Common Stock converted in the Merger,
     certificates representing the shares of Parent Common Stock
     issued pursuant to Section 1.5(c) in exchange for outstanding
     certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock and
     cash, as required to make payments in lieu of any fractional
     shares pursuant to Section 1.8 (such cash and shares of Parent
     Common Stock, together with any dividends or distributions with
     respect thereto, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
     Fund").  The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable
     instructions, deliver the certificates representing the Parent
     Common Stock contemplated to be delivered pursuant to Section
     1.5(c) out of the Exchange Fund.  Except as contemplated by
<PAGE>



     Sections 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9, the Exchange Fund shall not be used
     for any other purpose.

               (b)  Exchange Procedures.  As soon as practicable after
     the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail
     to each record holder of a certificate or certificates which
     immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding
     shares of Company Common Stock converted in the Merger (the
     "Certificates") a letter of transmittal (which shall be in
     customary form, shall specify that delivery shall be effected,
     and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only
     upon actual delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent,
     and shall contain instructions for use in effecting the surrender
     of the Certificates in exchange for certificates representing
     shares of Parent Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional
     shares).  Upon surrender for cancellation to the Exchange Agent
     of a Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
     executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
     receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing that
     number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock into which the
     shares represented by the surrendered Certificate shall have been
     converted at the Effective Time pursuant to this Article I, cash
     in lieu of any fractional share in accordance with Section 1.8
     and certain dividends and other distributions in accordance with
     Section 1.7, and any Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith
     be cancelled.

          Section 1.7  Dividends; Transfer Taxes; Withholding. No
     dividends or other distributions that are declared on or after
     the Effective Time on Parent Common Stock, or are payable to the
     holders of record thereof on or after the Effective Time, will be
     paid to any person entitled by reason of the Merger to receive a
     certificate representing Parent Common Stock and no cash payment
     in lieu of fractional shares will be paid to any such person
     pursuant to Section 1.8 until such person surrenders the related
     Certificate or Certificates, as provided in Section 1.6.  Subject
     to the effect of applicable law, there shall be paid to each
     record holder of a new certificate representing such Parent
     Common Stock: (i) at the time of such surrender or as promptly as
     practicable thereafter, the amount of any dividends or other
     distributions theretofore paid with respect to the shares of
     Parent Common Stock represented by such new certificate and
     having a record date on or after the Effective Time and a payment
     date prior to such surrender; (ii) at the appropriate payment
     date or as promptly as practicable thereafter, the amount of any
     dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such
     shares of Parent Common Stock and having a record date on or
     after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and a
     payment date on or subsequent to such surrender; and (iii) at the
     time of such surrender or as promptly as practicable thereafter,
     the amount of any cash payable with respect to a fractional share
     of Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant
     to Section 1.8.  In no event shall the person entitled to receive
     such dividends or other distributions be entitled to receive
<PAGE>



     interest on such dividends or other distributions.  If any cash
     or certificate representing shares of Parent Common Stock is to
     be paid to or issued in a name other than that in which the
     Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it
     shall be a condition of such exchange that the Certificate so
     surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper
     form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange
     shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes
     required by reason of the issuance of certificates for such
     shares of Parent Common Stock in a name other than that of the
     registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or shall
     establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax
     has been paid or is not applicable.  Parent or the Exchange Agent
     shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
     otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of
     shares of Company Common Stock such amounts as Parent or the
     Exchange Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to
     the making of such payment under the Code or under any provision
     of state, local or foreign tax law.  To the extent that amounts
     are so withheld by Parent or the Exchange Agent, 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 in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made
     by Parent or the Exchange Agent.

          Section 1.8  No Fractional Securities.  No certificates or
     scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall
     be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates
     pursuant to this Article I, and no Parent dividend or other
     distribution or stock split shall relate to any fractional share,
     and no fractional share shall entitle the owner thereof to vote
     or to any other rights of a security holder of Parent.  In lieu
     of any such fractional share, each holder of Company Common Stock
     who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share
     of Parent Common Stock upon surrender of Certificates for
     exchange pursuant to this Article I will be paid an amount in
     cash (without interest), rounded to the nearest cent, determined
     by multiplying (i) the per share closing price on the National
     Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System
     ("NASDAQ") of Parent Common Stock on the date of the Effective
     Time (or, if the shares of Parent Common Stock do not trade on
     NASDAQ on such date, the first date of trading of shares of
     Parent Common Stock on NASDAQ after the Effective Time) by (ii)
     the fractional interest to which such holder would otherwise be
     entitled.  As promptly as practicable after the determination of
     the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional
     share interests, the Exchange Agent shall so notify the Parent,
     and the Parent shall deposit such amount with the Exchange Agent
     and shall cause the Exchange Agent to forward payments to such
     holders of fractional share interests subject to and in
     accordance with the terms of Section 1.7 and this Section 1.8.

          Section 1.9  Return of Exchange Fund.  Any portion of the
     Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the former
<PAGE>



     stockholders of the Company for one year after the Effective Time
     shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand of Parent, and any such
     former stockholders who have not theretofore complied with this
     Article I shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of
     their claim for Parent Common Stock, any cash in lieu of
     fractional shares of Parent Common Stock and any dividends or
     distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock.  Neither
     Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to any
     former holder of Company Common Stock for any such shares of
     Parent Common Stock, cash and dividends and distributions held in
     the Exchange Fund which is delivered to a public official
     pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
     law.

          Section 1.10  Adjustment of Conversion Number.  In the event
     of any reclassification, stock split or stock dividend with
     respect to Parent Common Stock, any change or conversion of
     Parent Common Stock into other securities, any other dividend or
     distribution with respect to the Parent Common Stock other than
     normal quarterly cash dividends as the same may be adjusted from
     time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (or if a
     record date with respect to any of the foregoing should occur),
     or any issuance of securities (other than rights) pursuant to
     either the Parent Rights Plan (as hereinafter defined) or the
     Company Rights Plan (as hereinafter defined) prior to the
     Effective Time, appropriate and proportionate adjustments, if
     any, shall be made to the Conversion Number, and all references
     to the Conversion Number in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
     to the Conversion Number as so adjusted.

          Section 1.11  No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common
     Stock.  All shares of Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to the
     terms hereof (including any cash paid pursuant to Section 1.8)
     shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all
     rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock
     represented by such Certificates.

          Section 1.12  Closing of Company Transfer Books.  At the
     Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
     closed and no transfer of shares of Company Common Stock shall
     thereafter be made on the records of the Company.  If, after the
     Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
     Corporation, the Exchange Agent or the Parent, such Certificates
     shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article I.

          Section 1.13  Lost Certificates.  If any Certificate shall
     have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
     affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to
     be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving
     Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond, in such
     reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct (but
     consistent with the practices the Parent applies to its own
     stockholders), as indemnity against any claim that may be made
     against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent
<PAGE>



     will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
     Certificate the shares of Parent Common Stock, any cash in lieu
     of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which the holders
     thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 1.8 and any dividends or
     other distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled
     pursuant to Section 1.7.

          Section 1.14  Affiliates.  Certificates surrendered for
     exchange by any "affiliate" (as determined pursuant to Section
     5.4) of the Company for purposes of Rule 145(c) under the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
     the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, shall not be
     exchanged until Parent has received a written agreement from such
     Person as provided in Section 5.4 hereof.

          Section 1.15  Dissenters' Rights.  In accordance with
     Section 262 of the Del.C., no appraisal rights shall be available
     to holders of the Company's Common Stock in connection with the
     Merger.

          Section 1.16 Further Assurances.  If at any time after the
     Effective Time the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be
     advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances
     or any other acts or things are necessary, desirable or proper
     (a) to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the
     Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or
     under any of the rights, privileges, powers, franchises,
     properties or assets of either of the Constituent Corporations,
     or (b) otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the
     Surviving Corporation and its proper officers and directors or
     their designees shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in
     the name and on behalf of either of the Constituent Corporations,
     all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to
     do, in the name and on behalf of either Constituent Corporation,
     all such other acts and things as may be necessary, desirable or
     proper to vest, perfect or confirm the Surviving Corporation's
     right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
     privileges, powers, franchises, properties or assets of such
     Constituent Corporation and otherwise to carry out the purposes
     of this Agreement.

          Section 1.17  Closing.  The closing of the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") and all actions
     specified in this Agreement to occur at the Closing shall take
     place at the principal executive offices of Parent, 115
     Calderwood Drive, Alcoa, Tennessee, at 10:00 a.m., local time, no
     later than the second business day following the day on which the
     last of the conditions set forth in Article VI shall have been
     fulfilled or waived or at such other time and place as Parent and
     the Company shall agree.


                                 ARTICLE II
<PAGE>



              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB


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

          Section 2.1  Organization, Standing and Power.  Parent is a
     corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
     under the laws of the State of Tennessee, and has the requisite
     corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now
     being conducted.  Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly
     existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
     Delaware and has the requisite corporate power and authority to
     carry on its business as now being conducted.  Each Subsidiary of
     Parent is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
     under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and
     has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its
     business as now being conducted, except where the failure to be
     so organized, existing or in good standing or to have such power
     or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined) on Parent. 
     Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are duly qualified to do
     business, and are in good standing, in each jurisdiction where
     the character of their properties owned or held under lease or
     the nature of their activities makes such qualification
     necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
     on Parent.  For purposes of this Agreement (a) "Material Adverse
     Change" or "Material Adverse Effect" means, when used with
     respect to Parent or the Company, as the case may be, any change
     or effect that is materially adverse to the assets, liabilities,
     results of operation or financial condition of Parent and its
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the Company and its
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the case may be, and (b)
     "Subsidiary" means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or
     other legal entity of which Parent or the Company, as the case
     may be (either alone or through or together with any other
     Subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the
     stock or other equity interests the holders of which are
     generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of
     directors or other governing body of such corporation,
     partnership, joint venture or other legal entity.

          Section 2.2  Capital Structure.  As of the Effective Time,
     the authorized capital stock of Parent will consist of
     100,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares
     of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Parent
     Preferred Stock").  At the close of business on October 19, 1995,
     (i) 10,241,555 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and
     outstanding, all of which were validly issued, fully paid and
     nonassessable and free of preemptive rights; (ii) 1,690,000
     shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for future issuance
     pursuant to Parent's 1994 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 1987
     Stock Option Plan; (iii) 350,000 shares of Parent Common Stock
<PAGE>



     were reserved for future issuance pursuant to Parent's 1994
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan; (iv) 1,421,801 shares of Parent
     Common Stock were reserved for future issuance pursuant to the
     terms of the Series A Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable
     Preferred Stock; and (v) 2,019,906 shares of Parent Common Stock
     were reserved for future issuance pursuant to the terms of the
     4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2003.  Six Hundred
     Thousand (600,000) shares of Parent's Series A Cumulative
     Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock were issued and
     outstanding.  No other shares of Preferred Stock were issued and
     outstanding.  All of the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
     in exchange for Company Common Stock at the Effective Time in
     accordance with this Agreement will be, when so issued, duly
     authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free
     of preemptive rights.  As of the date of this Agreement, except
     for (a) this Agreement, (b) stock options covering not in excess
     of 1,215,000  shares of Parent Common Stock (collectively, the
     "Parent Stock Options"), (c) the conversion provision of the
     Series A Preferred Stock, (d) the 1994 Employee Stock Purchase
     Plan, (e) the 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due
     2003, (f) contingent stock grants of 35,000 shares of Parent
     Common Stock to key executives, and (g) securities issuable
     pursuant to the stock purchase rights declared as a dividend on
     March 28, 1995 (the "Parent Rights") and the rights agreement
     dated as of March 28, 1995 between Parent and Union Planters
     National Bank (the "Parent Rights Agreement") ( the Parent Rights
     and the Parent Rights Agreement are collectively the "Parent
     Rights Plan"), there are no options, warrants, calls, rights or
     agreements to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
     or by which any of them is bound obligating Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued,
     delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of Parent
     or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such option,
     warrant, call, right or agreement. Each outstanding share of
     capital stock of each Subsidiary of Parent is duly authorized,
     validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, except as
     disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents (as hereinafter defined),
     each such share is owned by Parent or another Subsidiary of
     Parent, free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims,
     pledges, options, rights of first refusal, agreements,
     limitations on voting rights, charges and other encumbrances of
     any nature whatsoever.

          Section 2.3  Authority.  The respective Boards of Directors
     of Parent and Sub have on or prior to the date of this Agreement
     declared the Merger advisable and approved this Agreement in
     accordance with the applicable law.  Each of Parent and Sub has
     all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
     Agreement and, subject to approval by the stockholders of Parent
     of this Agreement, the issuance of Parent Common Stock in
     connection with the Merger (the "Share Issuance"), and the
     amendment of Parent's 1994 Long-Term Incentive Plan to increase
     the number of authorized shares (collectively, the "Parent
<PAGE>



     Stockholders' Approvals"), to consummate the transactions
     contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
     by Parent and Sub and the consummation by Parent and Sub of the
     transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all
     necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub, subject
     to (x) approval by the stockholders of Parent and (y) the filing
     of appropriate Merger documents as required by the Del.C.  This
     Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Sub
     and (assuming the valid authorization, execution and delivery of
     this Agreement by the Company) this Agreement constitutes the
     valid and binding obligation of Parent and Sub enforceable
     against each of them in accordance with its terms.  The Share
     Issuance and the filing of a registration statement on Form S-4
     with the SEC by Parent under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated
     thereunder, the "Securities Act"), for the purpose of registering
     the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger
     (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, whether
     prior to or after the effective date thereof, the "Registration
     Statement") have been duly authorized by Parent's Board of
     Directors.  The Parent Common Stock, when issued, will be
     registered under the Securities Act and Exchange Act and
     registered or exempt from registration under any applicable state
     securities or "blue sky" laws ("Blue Sky Laws").

          Section 2.4  Consents and Approvals; No Violation. Assuming
     that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions
     described in the second sentence of this Section 2.4 have been
     obtained and all filings and obligations described in this
     Section 2.4 have been made, the execution and delivery of this
     Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions hereof
     will not, result in any violation of, or default (with or without
     notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give to others a
     right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
     obligation or the loss of a material benefit under, or result in
     the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or
     encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or any
     of its Subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the Charter or
     By-laws of Parent, (ii) any provision of the comparable charter
     or organization documents of any of Parent's Subsidiaries, (iii)
     any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
     lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession,
     franchise or license applicable to Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries or (iv) any judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
     ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets,
     other than, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv), any such
     violations, defaults, rights, liens, security interests, charges
     or encumbrances that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
     have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, or prevent or
     materially delay the consummation of any of the transactions
     contemplated hereby.  No filing or registration with, or
     authorization, consent or approval of, any domestic (federal and
<PAGE>



     state), foreign or supranational court, commission, governmental
     body, regulatory agency, authority or tribunal (a "Governmental
     Entity") is required by or with respect to Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of
     this Agreement by Parent or Sub or is necessary for the
     consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) in connection, or
     in compliance, with the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
     Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"),
     the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated
     thereunder, the "Exchange Act"), (ii) 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 or any of its Subsidiaries
     is qualified to do business, (iii) 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 triggered by the Merger or by the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) such filings,
     authorizations, orders and approvals as may be required by state
     takeover laws (the "State Takeover Approvals"), (v) such filings
     as may be required in connection with the taxes described in
     Section 5.11, (vi) such consents, approvals, orders,
     authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be
     required under the laws of any foreign country in which the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts any business or owns
     any property or assets, (vii) such filings and consents as may be
     required under any state or foreign laws pertaining to debt
     collection, the issuance of payment instruments or money
     transmission, (viii) applicable requirements, if any, of Blue Sky
     Laws and NASDAQ, and (ix) such other consents, orders,
     authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings the
     failure of which to be obtained or made would not, individually
     or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, or
     prevent or materially delay the consummation of any of the
     transactions contemplated hereby.

          Section 2.5  SEC Documents and Other Reports.  Parent has
     filed all required documents with the SEC since January 1, 1993
     (the "Parent SEC Documents").  As of their respective dates, the
     Parent SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the
     requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the
     case may be, and, at the respective times they were filed, none
     of the Parent 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 consolidated financial statements (including, in
     each case, any notes thereto) of Parent included in the Parent
     SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with
     applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
     regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in
     accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except,
<PAGE>



     in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-
     Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
     involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes
     thereto) and fairly presented in all material respects the
     consolidated financial position of Parent and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and the
     consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated
     cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
     unaudited statements, to any other adjustments described therein
     and normal year-end audit adjustments).  Except as disclosed in
     the Parent SEC Documents or as required by generally accepted
     accounting principles, Parent has not, since January 28, 1995,
     made any change in the accounting practices or policies applied
     in the preparation of financial statements.

          Section 2.6  Registration Statement and Joint Proxy
     Statement.  None of the information to be supplied by Parent or
     Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the
     Registration Statement or the joint proxy statement/prospectus
     included therein (together with any amendments or supplements
     thereto, the "Joint Proxy Statement") relating to the Stockholder
     Meetings (as defined in Section 5.1) will (i) in the case of the
     Registration Statement, at the time it becomes effective, 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 not misleading or (ii) in the case
     of the Joint Proxy Statement, at the time of the mailing of the
     Joint Proxy Statement, the time of each of the Stockholder
     Meetings and at the Effective Time, 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 Effective Time any
     event with respect to Parent, its officers and directors or any
     of its Subsidiaries shall occur which is required to be described
     in the Joint Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement, such
     event shall be so described, and an appropriate amendment or
     supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, as required
     by law, disseminated to the stockholders of Parent and the
     Company.  The Registration Statement will comply (with respect to
     Parent) as to form in all material respects with the provisions
     of the Securities Act, and the Joint Proxy Statement will comply
     (with respect to Parent) as to form in all material respects with
     the provisions of the Exchange Act.

          Section 2.7  Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
     disclosed in Parent SEC Documents filed with the SEC prior to the
     date of this Agreement, since January 28, 1995, (A) Parent and
     its Subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or
     obligation (indirect, direct or contingent), or entered into any
     material oral or written agreement or other transaction, that is
     not in the ordinary course of business or that would result in a
     Material Adverse Effect on Parent, excluding any changes and
     effects resulting from changes in economic, regulatory or
<PAGE>



     political conditions or changes in conditions generally
     applicable to the industries in which Parent and Subsidiaries of
     Parent are involved and except for any such changes or effects
     resulting from this Agreement, the transactions contemplated
     hereby or the announcement thereof; (B) Parent and its
     Subsidiaries have not sustained any loss or interference with
     their business or properties from fire, flood, windstorm,
     accident or other calamity (whether or not covered by insurance)
     that has had a Material Adverse Effect on Parent; (C) other than
     any indebtedness incurred by Parent after the date hereof as
     permitted by Section 4.1(a)(vi), there has been no material
     change in the consolidated indebtedness of Parent and its
     Subsidiaries, and no dividend or distribution of any kind
     declared, paid or made by Parent on any class of its stock,
     except for regular semi-annual dividends of not more than $ 1.625
     per share on Parent Series A Preferred Stock; and (D) there has
     been no event causing a Material Adverse Effect on Parent,
     excluding any changes and effects resulting from changes in
     economic, regulatory or political conditions or changes in
     conditions generally applicable to the industries in which Parent
     and Subsidiaries of Parent are involved and except for any such
     changes or effects resulting from this Agreement, the
     transactions contemplated hereby or the announcement thereof.

          Section 2.8  Permits and Compliance.  Each of Parent and its
     Subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants,
     authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances,
     exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any
     Governmental Entity necessary for Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry
     on its business as it is now being conducted (the "Parent
     Permits"), except where the failure to have any of the Parent
     Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect on Parent, and, as of the date of this
     Agreement, no suspension or cancellation of any of the Parent
     Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent (as hereinafter
     defined herein), threatened, except where the suspension or
     cancellation of any of the Parent Permits would not, individually
     or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
     Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of (A)
     its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents, (B) any
     applicable law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or
     regulation or (C) any order, decree or judgment of any
     Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (A), (B) and (C),
     for any violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would
     not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  Except as
     disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date of
     this Agreement, there is no contract or agreement that is
     material to the business, financial condition or results of
     operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 
     Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Documents, prior to the
     date of this Agreement, no event of default or event that, but
     for the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would
<PAGE>



     constitute an event of default exists or, upon the consummation
     by Parent of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
     will exist under any indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note or
     other agreement or instrument for borrowed money, any guarantee
     of any agreement or instrument for borrowed money or any lease,
     contractual license or other agreement or instrument to which
     Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent
     or any such Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
     properties, assets or operations of Parent or any such Subsidiary
     is subject, other than any defaults that, individually or in the
     aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. 
     "Knowledge of Parent" means the actual knowledge of the Chief
     Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Parent.

          Section 2.9  Tax Matters.  Each of Parent and its
     Subsidiaries has filed all Tax Returns required to have been
     filed (or extensions have been duly obtained) and has paid all
     Taxes required to have been paid by it, except where failure to
     file such Tax Returns or pay such Taxes would not, in the
     aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  For
     purposes of this Agreement: (i) "Tax" (and, with correlative
     meaning, "Taxes") means any federal, state, local or foreign
     income, gross receipts, property, sales, use, license, excise,
     franchise, employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or added
     minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax,
     custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge
     of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty,
     imposed by any governmental authority and (ii) "Tax Return" means
     any return, report or similar statement required to be filed with
     respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules), including,
     without limitation, any information return, claim for refund,
     amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.

          Section 2.10  Actions and Proceedings.  Except as set forth
     in the Parent SEC Documents, there are no outstanding orders,
     judgments, injunctions, awards or decrees of any Governmental
     Entity against or involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or
     against or involving any of the present or former directors,
     officers, employees, consultants, agents or stockholders of
     Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, as such, any of its or their
     properties, assets or business or any Parent Plan (as hereinafter
     defined) that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a
     Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  As of the date of this
     Agreement, there are no actions, suits or claims or legal,
     administrative or arbitrative proceedings or investigations
     pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against or
     involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or
     their present or former directors, officers, employees,
     consultants, agents or stockholders, as such, any of its or their
     properties, assets or business or any Parent Plan that,
     individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a
     Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  As of the date hereof, there
     are no actions, suits, labor disputes or other litigation, legal
     or administrative proceedings or governmental investigations
<PAGE>



     pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against or
     affecting Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or
     their present or former officers, directors, employees,
     consultants, agents or stockholders, as such, or any of its or
     their properties, assets or business relating to the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement.

          Section 2.11  Certain Agreements.  As of the date of this
     Agreement, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
     to any oral or written agreement or plan, including any stock
     option plan, stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock
     plan or stock purchase plan, any of the benefits of which will be
     increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be
     accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of the
     benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          Section 2.12  ERISA.  Each Parent Plan complies in all
     material respects with the Employee Retirement Income Security
     Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), the Code and all other
     applicable statutes and governmental rules and regulations,
     including but not limited to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
     Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended ("COBRA"), and (i) no
     "reportable event" (within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA)
     has occurred with respect to any Parent Plan, (ii) neither Parent
     nor any of its ERISA Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) has
     withdrawn from any Parent Multiemployer Plan (as hereinafter
     defined) or instituted, or is currently considering taking, any
     action to do so,  except for Proffitt's of Tri-Cities, Inc.'s
     withdrawal from Belk Employees' Group Life Insurance and Medical
     Plan to the extent that it no longer pays retiree life benefits
     (iii) no action has been taken, or is currently being considered,
     to terminate any Parent Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, and
     (iv) Parent and its ERISA Affiliates have complied in all
     material respects with the continued medical coverage
     requirements of COBRA.  No Parent Plan, nor any trust created
     thereunder, has incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
     defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived.  With
     respect to any Parent Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA,
     the present value of the liabilities (as determined on a
     terminated plan basis) do not exceed the fair market value of the
     Plan assets as of the most recent valuation date.  With respect
     to the Parent Plans, no event has occurred in connection with
     which Parent or any ERISA Affiliate would be subject to any
     liability under the terms of such Parent Plans, ERISA, the Code
     or any other applicable law which would have a Material Adverse
     Effect on Parent.  All Parent Plans that are intended to be
     qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code have been determined
     by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified, and to the
     Knowledge of Parent, there is no reason why any Parent Plan is
     not so qualified in operation.  Neither Parent nor any of its
     ERISA Affiliates has been notified by any Parent Multiemployer
     Plan that such Parent Multiemployer Plan is currently in
<PAGE>



     reorganization or insolvency under and within the meaning of
     Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA or that such Parent Multiemployer
     Plan intends to terminate or has been terminated under Section
     4041A of ERISA.  Neither Parent nor any of its ERISA Affiliates
     has any liability or obligation under any welfare plan to provide
     benefits after termination of employment to any employee or
     dependent other than as required by ERISA or as disclosed in the
     Parent Annual Report.  As used herein, (i) "Parent Plan" means a
     "pension plan" (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a
     Parent Multiemployer Plan)) or a "welfare plan" (as defined in
     Section 3(l) of ERISA) established or maintained by Parent or any
     of its ERISA Affiliates or as to which Parent or any of its ERISA
     Affiliates has contributed or otherwise may have any liability,
     (ii) "Parent Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" (as
     defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) to which Parent or any of
     its ERISA Affiliates is or has been obligated to contribute or
     otherwise may have any liability, and (iii) with respect to any
     person, "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or
     not incorporated) which is under common control or would be
     considered a single employer with such person pursuant to Section
     414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code and the regulations
     promulgated under those sections or pursuant to Section 4001(b)
     of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

          Section 2.13  Compliance with Certain Laws.  The properties,
     assets and operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries are in
     compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal,
     state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations, orders,
     decrees, judgments, permits and licenses relating to public and
     worker health and safety (collectively, "Worker Safety Laws") and
     the protection and clean-up of the environment and activities or
     conditions related thereto, including, without limitation, those
     relating to the generation, handling, disposal, transportation or
     release of hazardous materials (collectively, "Environmental
     Laws"), except for any violations that, individually or in the
     aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. 
     With respect to such properties, assets and operations, including
     any previously owned, leased or operated properties, assets or
     operations, there are no past, present or reasonably anticipated
     future events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices,
     incidents, actions or plans of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
     that may interfere with or prevent compliance or continued
     compliance in all material respects with applicable Worker Safety
     Laws and Environmental Laws, other than any such interference or
     prevention as would not, individually or in the aggregate with
     any such other interference or prevention, have a Material
     Adverse Effect on Parent.  The term "hazardous materials" shall
     mean those substances that are regulated by or form the basis for
     liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.

          Section 2.14  Liabilities.  Except as fully reflected or
     reserved against in the financial statements included in the
     Parent Annual Report, or disclosed in the footnotes thereto,
     Parent and its Subsidiaries had no liabilities (including,
<PAGE>



     without limitation, tax liabilities) at the date of such
     financial statements, absolute or contingent, other than
     liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
     have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, and had no liabilities
     (including, without limitation, tax liabilities) that were not
     incurred in the ordinary course of business.  Except as so
     reflected, reserved or disclosed, Parent and its Subsidiaries
     have no commitments, other than any commitments which,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect on Parent.

          Section 2.15  Labor Matters.  Neither Parent nor any of its
     Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or
     labor contract.  Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has
     engaged in any unfair labor practice with respect to any persons
     employed by or otherwise performing services primarily for Parent
     or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Parent Business Personnel"), and
     there is no unfair labor practice complaint or grievance against
     Parent or any of its Subsidiaries by the National Labor Relations
     Board or any comparable state agency pending or threatened in
     writing with respect to the Parent Business Personnel, except
     where such unfair labor practice, complaint or grievance would
     not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  There is no labor
     strike, dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the
     Knowledge of Parent, threatened against or affecting Parent or
     any of its Subsidiaries which may interfere with the respective
     business activities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except
     where such dispute, strike or work stoppage would not have a
     Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

          Section 2.16  Intellectual Property.  Parent and its
     Subsidiaries have all patents, trademarks, trade names, service
     marks, trade secrets, copyrights and other proprietary
     intellectual property rights (collectively, "Intellectual
     Property Rights") as are necessary in connection with the
     business of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken a whole, except
     where the failure to have such Intellectual Property Rights would
     not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  Neither Parent nor
     any of its Subsidiaries has infringed any Intellectual Property
     Rights of any third party other than any infringements that,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect on Parent.

          Section 2.17  Opinion of Financial Advisor.  Parent has
     received the written opinion of Smith Barney Inc., dated the date
     hereof, to the effect that, as of such date, the Conversion
     Number (as defined in such opinion) is fair to Parent from a
     financial point of view, a copy of which opinion will be
     delivered to the Company promptly after the date of this
     Agreement.

          Section 2.18  Pooling of Interests; Reorganization.  To the
     Knowledge of Parent, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries
     has (i) taken any action or failed to take any action which
<PAGE>



     action or failure would jeopardize the treatment of the Merger as
     a pooling of interests for accounting purposes or (ii) taken any
     action or failed to take any action which action or failure would
     jeopardize the qualification of the Merger as a reorganization
     within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

          Section 2.19  Required Vote of Parent Stockholders. The
     affirmative vote of a majority of the votes eligible to be cast
     on the approval of this Agreement is required to approve this
     Agreement.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast
     on the Share Issuance is required to approve the Share Issuance
     and to amend Parent's 1994 Long-Term Incentive Plan, provided
     that the total votes cast on each proposal represents a majority
     of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock.  No other vote
     of the stockholders of Parent is required by law, the Charter or
     By-laws of Parent or otherwise in order for Parent to consummate
     the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.

          Section 2.20  Ownership of Shares. Neither Parent nor any of
     its Subsidiaries (i) "Beneficially Owns" or is the "Beneficial
     Owner" of (as such terms are defined in the Company's Rights
     Agreement), or (ii) "owns", as such term is defined in Section
     203 of the Del.C., any Shares of Company Common Stock.

          Section 2.21  Operations of Sub.  Sub is a direct, wholly-
     owned subsidiary of Parent, was formed solely for the purpose of
     engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby, has engaged in
     no other business activities and has conducted its operations
     only as contemplated hereby.

          Section 2.22  Brokers.  No broker, investment banker or
     other person, other than Smith Barney Inc., the fees and expenses
     of which will be paid by Parent (and as reflected in an agreement
     between Smith Barney Inc. and Parent, a copy of which has been
     furnished to the Company), is entitled to any broker's, finder's
     or other similar fee or commission in connection with the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
     arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.


                                ARTICLE III

               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

          The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as
     follows:

          Section 3.1  Organization, Standing and Power.  The Company
     is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
     standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the
     requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business
     as now being conducted.  Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly
     organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
     of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has the
<PAGE>



     requisite corporate (in the case of a Subsidiary that is a
     corporation) or other power and authority to carry on its
     business as now being conducted, except where the failure to be
     so organized, existing or in good standing or to have such power
     or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  The Company and each of
     its Subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business, and are in
     good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of their
     properties owned or held under lease or the nature of their
     activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the
     failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the
     aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          Section 3.2  Capital Structure.  As of the Effective Time,
     the authorized capital stock of the Company will consist of
     20,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
     share, and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
     per share ("Company Preferred Stock").  At the close of business
     on October 16, 1995, (i) 8,985,810 shares of Company Common Stock
     were issued and outstanding, all of which were validly issued,
     fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, (ii)
     153,080 shares of Company Common Stock were held in the treasury
     of the Company or by the Subsidiaries of the Company, and (iii)
     not more than 738,563 shares of Company Common Stock were
     reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Company's 1990 Stock
     Option Plan, 1991 Stock Option Plan, the 1993 Long-Term Incentive
     Plan, or pursuant to any plans assumed by the Company in
     connection with any acquisition, business combination or similar
     transaction (collectively, the "Company Stock Option Plans").  No
     shares of Company Preferred Stock are outstanding.  As of the
     date of this Agreement, except for stock options covering not in
     excess of 712,263 shares of Company Common Stock issued under the
     Company Stock Option Plans (collectively, the "Company Stock
     Options") and securities issuable under the Company Rights Plan
     (as hereinafter defined), there are no options, warrants, calls,
     rights or agreements to which the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound
     obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue,
     deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold,
     additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
     to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
     right or agreement.  Each outstanding share of capital stock of
     each Subsidiary of the Company that is a corporation is duly
     authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and,
     except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents (as hereinafter
     defined), each such share is owned by the Company or another
     Subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of all security
     interests, liens, claims, pledges, options, rights of first
     refusal, agreements, limitations on voting rights, charges and
     other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.

          Section 3.3  Authority.  The Board of Directors of the
     Company has on or prior to the date of this Agreement (a)
<PAGE>



     declared the Merger advisable and fair to and in the best
     interest of the Company and its stockholders, (b) approved this
     Agreement in accordance with the Del.C., (c) resolved to
     recommend the approval of this Agreement by the Company's
     stockholders and (d) directed that this Agreement be submitted to
     the Company's stockholders for approval.  The Company has all
     requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
     Agreement and, subject to approval by the stockholders of the
     Company of this Agreement (which, for all purposes in this
     Agreement, shall be deemed to include any necessary approval of
     amendments to the Company's stock plans), to consummate the
     transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of
     this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company
     of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
     by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company,
     subject to (x) approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of
     the Company and (y) the filing of appropriate Merger documents as
     required by the Del.C.  This Agreement has been duly executed and
     delivered by the Company and (assuming the valid authorization,
     execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub)
     constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company
     enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The
     filing of the Joint Proxy Statement with the SEC has been duly
     authorized by the Company's Board of Directors.

          Section 3.4  Consents and Approvals; No Violation. Assuming
     that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions
     described in this Section 3.4 have been obtained and all filings
     and obligations described in this Section 3.4 have been made, the
     execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
     compliance with the provisions hereof will not, result in any
     violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of
     time, or both) under, or give to others a right of termination,
     cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a
     material benefit under, or result in the creation of any lien,
     security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the
     properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
     under, any provision of (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or
     By-Laws of the Company, (ii) any provision of the comparable
     charter or organization documents of any of the Company's
     Subsidiaries, (iii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond,
     mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument,
     permit, concession, franchise or license applicable to the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) any judgment, order,
     decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to
     the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
     properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii),
     (iii) or (iv), any such violations, defaults, rights, liens,
     security interests, charges or encumbrances that, individually or
     in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
     Company, or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
     contemplated hereby.  No filing or registration with, or
     authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity is
<PAGE>



     required by or with respect to the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of
     this Agreement by the Company or is necessary for the
     consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) in connection, or
     in compliance, with the provisions of the HSR Act, the Securities
     Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) 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 or any of its Subsidiaries is
     qualified to do business, (iii) 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 triggered by the Merger or by the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) such filings,
     authorizations, orders and approvals as may be required to obtain
     the State Takeover Approvals, (v) such filings as may be required
     in connection with the taxes described in Section 5.11, (vi) such
     consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
     declarations and filings as may be required under the laws of any
     foreign country in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
     conducts any business or owns any property or assets, (vii) such
     filings and consents as may be required under any state or
     foreign laws pertaining to debt collection, the issuance of
     payment instruments or money transmission, (viii) applicable
     requirements, if any, of Blue Sky Laws and NASDAQ, and (ix) such
     other consents, orders, authorizations, registrations,
     declarations and filings the failure of which to be obtained or
     made would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
     Adverse Effect on the Company or prevent the consummation of any
     of the transactions contemplated hereby.

          Section 3.5  SEC Documents and Other Reports.  The Company
     has filed all required documents with the SEC since January 1,
     1993 (the "Company SEC Documents").  As of their respective
     dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material
     respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the
     Exchange Act, as the case may be, and, at the respective times
     they were filed, 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 consolidated financial
     statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) of the
     Company included in the Company SEC Documents complied as to form
     in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements
     and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
     thereto, were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
     accounting principles (except, in the case of the unaudited
     statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a
     consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
     indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly presented
     in all material respects the consolidated financial position of
     the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the
<PAGE>



     respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of their
     operations and their consolidated cash flows for the periods then
     ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal
     year-end audit adjustments and to any other adjustments described
     therein).  Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or as
     required by generally accepted accounting principles, the Company
     has not, since January 28, 1995, made any change in the
     accounting practices or policies applied in the preparation of
     financial statements.

          Section 3.6  Registration Statement and Joint Proxy
     Statement.  None of the information to be supplied by the Company
     for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration
     Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement will (i) in the case of
     the Registration Statement, at the time it becomes effective,
     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 not misleading or (ii) in
     the case of the Joint Proxy Statement, at the time of the mailing
     of the Joint Proxy Statement, the time of each of the Stockholder
     Meetings and at the Effective Time, 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 Effective Time any
     event with respect to the Company, its officers and directors or
     any of its Subsidiaries shall occur which is required to be
     described in the Joint Proxy Statement or the Registration
     Statement, such event shall be so described, and an appropriate
     amendment or supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC and,
     as required by law, disseminated to the stockholders of Parent
     and the Company.  The Registration Statement will comply (with
     respect to the Company) as to form in all material respects with
     the provisions of the Securities Act, and the Joint Proxy
     Statement will comply (with respect to the Company) as to form in
     all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act.

          Section 3.7  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except
     as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed with the SEC
     prior to the date of this Agreement, since January 28, 1995, (A)
     the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any material
     liability or obligation (indirect, direct or contingent), or
     entered into any material oral or written agreement or other
     transaction, that is not in the ordinary course of business or
     that would result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,
     excluding any changes and effects resulting from changes in
     economic, regulatory or political conditions or changes in
     conditions generally applicable to the industries in which the
     Company and Subsidiaries of the Company are involved and except
     for any such changes or effects resulting from this Agreement,
     the transactions contemplated hereby or the announcement thereof;
     (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not sustained any loss
     or interference with their business or properties from fire,
     flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity (whether or not
<PAGE>



     covered by insurance) that has had a Material Adverse Effect on
     the Company; (C) other than any indebtedness incurred by the
     Company after the date hereof as permitted by Section 4.1(b)(vi),
     there has been no material change in the consolidated
     indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and no dividend
     or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company
     on any class of its stock; and (D) there has been no event
     causing a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, excluding any
     changes and effects resulting from changes in economic,
     regulatory or political conditions or changes in conditions
     generally applicable to the industries in which the Company and
     Subsidiaries of the Company are involved and except for any such
     changes or effects resulting from this Agreement, the
     transactions contemplated hereby or the announcement thereof.

          Section 3.8  Permits and Compliance.  Each of the Company
     and its Subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants,
     authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances,
     exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any
     Governmental Entity necessary for the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry
     on its business as it is now being conducted (the "Company
     Permits"), except where the failure to have any of the Company
     Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect on the Company, and, as of the date of
     this Agreement, no suspension or cancellation of any of the
     Company Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company
     (as hereinafter defined), threatened, except where the suspension
     or cancellation of any of the Company Permits would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
     on Company.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
     in violation of (A) its charter, by-laws or other organizational
     documents, (B) any applicable law, ordinance, administrative or
     governmental rule or regulation or (C) any order, decree or
     judgment of any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of
     clauses (A), (B) and (C), for any violations that, individually
     or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
     the Company.  Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents
     filed prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date hereof
     there is no contract or agreement that is material to the
     business, financial condition or results of operations of the
     Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  Except as set
     forth in the Company SEC Documents, prior to the date of this
     Agreement, no event of default or event that, but for the giving
     of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an event
     of default exists or, upon the consummation by the Company of the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will exist under any
     indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note or other agreement or
     instrument for borrowed money, any guarantee of any agreement or
     instrument for borrowed money or any lease, contractual license
     or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any such
     Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties, assets or
<PAGE>



     operations of the Company or any such Subsidiary is subject,
     other than any defaults that, individually or in the aggregate,
     would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  Set
     forth in Schedule 3.8 to this Agreement is a description of (i)
     all leases to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
     party or by which the Company or any such Subsidiary is bound or
     to which any of the properties, assets or operations of the
     Company or any such Subsidiary is subject and all amendments
     thereto, (ii) all contractual licenses or other agreements or
     instruments involving sales in the Company stores to which the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
     Company or any such Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
     properties, assets or operations of the Company or any such
     Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties, assets or
     operations of the Company or any such Subsidiary is subject and
     all amendments thereto, and (iii) any material changes to the
     amount and terms of the indebtedness of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries as described in the Company Annual Report. 
     "Knowledge of the Company" means the actual knowledge of the
     Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.

          Section 3.9  Tax Matters.  Each of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries has filed all Tax Returns required to have been
     filed (or extensions have been duly obtained) and has paid all
     Taxes required to have been paid by it, except where failure to
     file such Tax Returns or pay such Taxes would not, in the
     aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
          Section 3.10  Actions and Proceedings.  Except as set forth
     in the Company SEC Documents, there are no outstanding orders,
     judgments, injunctions, awards or decrees of any Governmental
     Entity against or involving the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries, or against or involving any of the present or
     former directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or
     stockholders of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as such,
     any of its or their properties, assets or business or any Company
     Plan (as hereinafter defined) that, individually or in the
     aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. 
     Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents, as of the date
     of this Agreement, there are no actions, suits or claims or
     legal, administrative or arbitrative proceedings or
     investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
     threatened against or involving the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries or any of its or their present or former directors,
     officers, employees, consultants, agents or stockholders, as
     such, or any of its or their properties, assets or business or
     any Company Plan that, individually or in the aggregate, would
     have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As of the date
     hereof, there are no actions, suits, labor disputes or other
     litigation, legal or administrative proceedings or governmental
     investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
     threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries or any of its or their present or former officers,
     directors, employees, consultants, agents or stockholders, as
<PAGE>



     such, or any of its or their properties, assets or business
     relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          Section 3.11  Certain Agreements.  As of the date of this
     Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
     party to any oral or written agreement or plan, including any
     stock option plan, stock appreciation rights plan, restricted
     stock plan or stock purchase plan (other than pursuant to
     provisions adopted more than two (2) years ago), any of the
     benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of the
     benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any
     of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value
     of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis
     of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  No
     holder of any option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock,
     or shares of Company Common Stock granted in connection with the
     performance of services for the Company or its Subsidiaries, is
     or will be entitled to receive cash from the Company or any
     Subsidiary in lieu of or in exchange for such option or shares as
     a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 
     Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any
     termination benefits agreement or severance agreement or
     employment agreement one trigger of which would be the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
     except as set forth in Schedule 3.11.

          Section 3.12  ERISA.
               (a)  With respect to each material Company Plan (as
     hereinafter defined), the Company has made (or as soon as
     practicable will make) available to Parent a true and correct
     copy of (i) the three most recent annual reports (Form 5500)
     filed with the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), (ii) such
     Company Plan, (iii) each trust agreement, insurance contract or
     administration agreement relating to such Company Plan, (iv) the
     most recent summary plan description of each Company Plan for
     which a summary plan description is required, (v) the most recent
     actuarial report or valuation relating to a Company Plan subject
     to Title IV of ERISA and (vi) the most recent determination
     letter, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Company
     Plan intended to be qualified under section 401(a) of the Code.
     Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
     Company, each Company Plan complies in all material respects with
     ERISA, the Code and all other applicable statutes and
     governmental rules and regulations, including but not limited to
     the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
     amended ("COBRA"), and (i) no "reportable event" (within the
     meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA) has occurred with respect to
     any Company Plan, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its ERISA
     Affiliates is a contributing employer to a Company Multiemployer
     Plan (as hereinafter defined) subject to Title IV of ERISA and
     for which there would be withdrawal liability if on the Effective
     Time the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates withdrew from
     such Company Multiemployer Plan, and (iii) no action has been
     taken, or is currently being considered, to terminate any Company
<PAGE>



     Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, and (iv) the Company and its
     ERISA Affiliates have complied in all material respects with the
     continued medical coverage requirements of COBRA.  Except as
     would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, no
     Company Plan, nor any trust created thereunder, has incurred any
     "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of
     ERISA), whether or not waived.  With respect to any Company Plan
     which is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the present value of the
     liabilities (as determined on a terminated plan basis) do not
     exceed the fair market value of the Plan assets as of the most
     recent valuation date.

               (b)  With respect to the Company Plans, no event has
     occurred in connection with which the Company or any ERISA
     Affiliate would be subject to any liability under the terms of
     such Company Plans, ERISA, the Code or any other applicable law
     which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  All
     Company Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section
     401(a) of the Code have been determined by the Internal Revenue
     Service to be so qualified, or a timely application for such
     determination is now pending, and to the Knowledge of the
     Company, there is no reason why any Company Plan is not so
     qualified in operation.  Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA
     Affiliates has been notified by any Company Multiemployer Plan
     that such Company Multiemployer Plan is currently in
     reorganization or insolvency under and within the meaning of
     Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA or that such Company Multiemployer
     Plan intends to terminate or has been terminated under Section
     4041A of ERISA.  Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
     Documents, neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates
     has any liability or obligation under any welfare plan to provide
     benefits after termination of employment to any employee or
     dependent other than as required by ERISA or as disclosed in the
     Company Annual Report.  As used herein, (i) "Company Plan" means
     a "pension plan" (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than
     a Company Multiemployer Plan)) or a "welfare plan" (as defined in
     Section 3(1) of ERISA) established or maintained by the Company
     or any of its ERISA Affiliates or as to which the Company or any
     of its ERISA Affiliates has contributed or otherwise may have any
     liability, and (ii) "Company Multiemployer Plan" means a
     "multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA)
     to which the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates is or has
     been obligated to contribute or otherwise may have any liability.

               (c)  A copy of each material bonus, deferred
     compensation, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift,
     savings, employee stock ownership, stock bonus, stock purchase,
     restricted stock, stock option, employment, termination,
     severance, compensation, medical, health or other plan,
     agreement, policy or arrangement that covers employees,
     directors, former employees or former directors of the Company
     and its Subsidiaries (the "Compensation and Benefit Plans") and
     any trust agreements or insurance contracts forming a part of
<PAGE>



     such Compensation and Benefit Plans has been provided or made
     available to Parent prior to the date hereof.

          Section 3.13  Compliance with Certain Laws.  The properties,
     assets and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are in
     compliance in all material respects with all applicable Worker
     Safety Laws, Environmental Laws and consumer credit laws, except
     for any violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would
     not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  With respect
     to such properties, assets and operations, including any
     previously owned, leased or operated properties, assets or
     operations, there are no past, present or reasonably anticipated
     future events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices,
     incidents, actions or plans of the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries that may interfere with or prevent compliance or
     continued compliance in all material respects with applicable
     Worker Safety Laws and Environmental Laws, other than any such
     interference or prevention as would not, individually or in the
     aggregate with any such other interference or prevention, have a
     Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  The Company will provide
     such certificates and environmental studies as Parent may
     reasonably request.

          Section 3.14  Liabilities.  Except as fully reflected or
     reserved against in the financial statements included in the
     Company Annual Report, or disclosed in the footnotes thereto, 
     the Company and its Subsidiaries had no liabilities (including,
     without limitation, tax liabilities and workmen's compensation
     liabilities) at the date of such financial statements, absolute
     or contingent, other than liabilities that, individually or in
     the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
     Company, and had no liabilities (including, without limitation,
     tax liabilities) that were not incurred in the ordinary course of
     business.  Except as so reflected, reserved or disclosed, the
     Company and its Subsidiaries have no commitments, other than any
     commitments which, individually or in the aggregate, would not
     have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          Section 3.15  Labor Matters.  Neither the Company nor any of
     its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining
     agreement or labor contract, except as set forth in Schedule
     3.15.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
     engaged in any unfair labor practice with respect to any persons
     employed by or otherwise performing services primarily for the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Company Business
     Personnel"), and there is no unfair labor practice complaint or
     grievance against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the
     National Labor Relations Board or any comparable state agency
     pending or threatened in writing with respect to the Company
     Business Personnel, except where such unfair labor practice,
     complaint or grievance would not have a Material Adverse Effect
     on the Company.  There is no labor strike, dispute, slowdown or
     stoppage pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
     against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which
<PAGE>



     may interfere with the respective business activities of the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except where such dispute,
     strike or work stoppage would not have a Material Adverse Effect
     on the Company.

          Section 3.16  Intellectual Property.  The Company and its
     Subsidiaries have all Intellectual Property Rights as are
     necessary in connection with the business of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except where the failure to have
     such Intellectual Property Rights would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect on the Company.  Neither the Company nor any of
     its Subsidiaries has infringed any Intellectual Property Rights
     of any third party other than any infringements that,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect on the Company.

          Section 3.17  Opinion of Financial Advisor.  The Company has
     received the written opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co., dated the
     date hereof, to the effect that, as of the date hereof, the
     Exchange Ratio (as defined in such opinion) is fair to the
     Company's stockholders, a copy of which opinion will be delivered
     to Parent promptly after the date of this Agreement.

          Section 3.18  State Takeover Statutes and Stockholder Rights
     Plan.  (a) As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of
     Parent's representations and warranties contained in Section 2.19
     (Ownership of Shares), the Board of Directors of the Company has
     taken all action so that prior to the execution hereof, the Board
     of Directors has approved the Merger pursuant to Section
     203(a)(1) of the Del.C.  As of the date hereof, no other state
     takeover statutes, including without limitation, any business
     combination act, are applicable to the Merger, this Agreement and
     the transactions contemplated hereby.

               (b)  The Company has taken all necessary action so
     that, as of the Effective Time, (i) neither the Company nor
     Parent will have any obligations under the rights of the Company
     Stockholders declared as a dividend on October 30, 1994 (the
     "Rights") or the Company's Rights Agreement between the Company
     and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.                  , dated as of
     October 30,1994 (the "Rights Agreement") (the Rights and Rights
     Agreement collectively are the "Company Rights Plan") and (ii)
     the holders of the Rights will have no rights under the Rights or
     the Rights Agreement.

          Section 3.19  Required Vote of Company Stockholders.  The
     affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of
     the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is required to
     approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  No
     other vote of the stockholders of the Company is required by law,
     the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or
     otherwise in order for the Company to consummate the Merger and
     the transactions contemplated hereby.
<PAGE>



          Section 3.20  Pooling of Interests; Reorganization.  To the
     knowledge of the Company, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries
     or Affiliates has, or will have, (i) taken any action or failed
     to take any action which action or failure would jeopardize the
     treatment of the Merger as a pooling of interests for accounting
     purposes or (ii) taken any action or failed to take any action
     which action or failure would jeopardize the qualification of the
     Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
     of the Code.

          Section 3.21  Brokers.  No broker, investment banker or
     other person, other than Goldman, Sachs & Co., the fees and
     expenses of which will be paid by the Company (and are reflected
     in an agreement between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company, a
     copy of which has been furnished to Parent), is entitled to any
     broker's, finder's or other similar fee or commission in
     connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
     based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.


                                 ARTICLE IV

                 COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

          Section 4.1  Conduct of Business Pending the Merger.

               (a)  Actions by Parent.  Except as expressly permitted
     by clauses (i) through (ix) of this Section 4.1(a), during the
     period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective
     Time, Parent shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
     in all material respects carry on its business in the ordinary
     course of its business as currently conducted and, to the extent
     consistent therewith, use reasonable best efforts to preserve
     intact its current business organizations, keep available the
     services of its current officers and employees and preserve its
     relationships with customers, suppliers and others having
     business dealings with it to the end that its goodwill and
     ongoing business shall be unimpaired at the Effective Time.
     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as
     otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Parent shall
     not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the
     prior written consent of the Company:

               (i)  (w) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or
          make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions
          in respect of, any of its capital stock, or otherwise make
          any payments to its stockholders in their capacity as such
          (other than (A) regular semi-annual dividends of not more
          than $1.625 per share on Parent Series A Preferred Stock
          declared and paid on dates consistent with past practice and
          (B) dividends and other distributions by Subsidiaries), (x)
          other than in the case of any Subsidiary, split, combine or
          reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize
          the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu
<PAGE>



          of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (y)
          subject to the limitations of Section 4.4 and 5.9(b),
          purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
          stock of Parent or any other securities thereof or those of
          any Subsidiary or any other securities thereof or any
          rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or
          other securities;

               (ii) issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of or
          otherwise encumber any shares of its capital stock, any
          other voting securities or equity equivalent or any
          securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or
          options to acquire any such shares, voting securities,
          equity equivalent or convertible securities, other than (A)
          the issuance of stock options and shares of Parent Common
          Stock to employees of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in
          the ordinary course of business consistent with past
          practice, (B) the issuance of Parent securities pursuant to
          the Parent Rights Plan, and (C) the issuance by any wholly-
          owned Subsidiary of Parent of its capital stock to Parent or
          another wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent;

               (iii)     amend its charter or by-laws; provided,
          however, that Parent may amend its Charter to increase its
          authorized capital stock ;

               (iv) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
          consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion
          of the assets of or equity in, or by any other manner, any
          business or any corporation, partnership, association or
          other business organization or division thereof or otherwise
          acquire or agree to acquire any assets, unless (i) the
          entering into a definitive agreement relating to or the
          consummation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or
          purchase would not (A) impose any material delay in the
          obtaining of, or significantly increase the risk of not
          obtaining, any authorizations, consents, orders,
          declarations or approvals of any Governmental Entity
          necessary to consummate the Merger or the expiration or
          termination of any applicable waiting period, (B)
          significantly increase the risk of any Governmental Entity
          entering an order prohibiting the consummation of the Merger
          or (C) significantly increase the risk of not being able to
          remove any such order on appeal or otherwise, and (ii) in
          the case of any individual acquisition, merger,
          consolidation or purchase, the equity value of which does
          not exceed $50 million;

               (v)  sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, or agree to
          sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets,
          other than (A) transactions that are in the ordinary course
          of business consistent with past practice and not material
          to Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (B) as may
          be required by any Governmental Entity and (C) subject to
<PAGE>



          Sections 4.4 and 5.9(b), dispositions involving an aggregate
          consideration not in excess of $50 million;

               (vi) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money,
          guarantee any such indebtedness or make any loans, advances
          or capital contributions to, or other investments in, any
          other person, other than (A) in the ordinary course of
          business consistent with past practice, and (B)
          indebtedness, loans, advances, capital contributions and
          investments between Parent and any of its wholly-owned
          Subsidiaries or between any of such wholly-owned
          Subsidiaries;

               (vii)     knowingly violate or knowingly fail to
          perform any material obligation or duty imposed upon it or
          any Subsidiary by any applicable material federal, state or
          local law, rule, regulation, guideline or ordinance;

               (viii)    take any action, other than reasonable and
          usual actions in the ordinary course of business consistent
          with past practice, with respect to accounting policies or
          procedures (other than actions required to be taken by
          generally accepted accounting principles); or

               (ix) authorize, recommend or announce an intention to
          do any of the foregoing, or enter into any contract,
          agreement, commitment or arrangement to do any of the
          foregoing.

               (b)  Actions by the Company.  Except as expressly
     permitted by clauses (i) through (xiii) of this Section 4.1(b),
     during the period from the date of this Agreement through the
     Effective Time, the Company, subject to Section 4.2 hereof,
     shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, in all
     material respects, carry on its business in, the ordinary course
     of its business as currently conducted and, to the extent
     consistent therewith, use reasonable best efforts to preserve
     intact its current business organizations, keep available the
     services of its current officers and employees and preserve its
     relationships with customers, suppliers and others having
     business dealings with it to the end that its goodwill and
     ongoing business shall be unimpaired at the Effective Time. 
     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as
     otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Company,
     subject to Section 4.2 hereof, shall not, and shall not permit
     any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of
     Parent:

               (i)  (w) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or
          make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions
          in respect of, any of its capital stock, or otherwise make
          any payments to its stockholders in their capacity as such,
          (x) other than in the case of any Subsidiary, split, combine
          or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize
<PAGE>



          the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu
          of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (y)
          purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
          stock of the Company or any other securities thereof or any
          rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or
          other securities;

               (ii) issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of or
          otherwise encumber any shares of its capital stock, any
          other voting securities or equity equivalent or any
          securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or
          options to acquire any such shares, voting securities,
          equity equivalent or convertible securities, other than the
          issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise
          of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this
          Agreement in accordance with their current terms or the
          issuance of Company securities pursuant to the Company
          Rights Plan;

               (iii)     amend its charter or by-laws;

               (iv) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
          consolidating with, or by purchasing a portion of the assets
          of or equity in, or by any other manner, any business or any
          corporation, partnership, association or other business
          organization or division thereof or otherwise acquire or
          agree to acquire any assets other than transactions that are
          in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
          practice and that are not material;

               (v)  sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, or agree to
          sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets,
          other than (A) transactions that are in the ordinary course
          of business consistent with past practice and not material
          to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and (B)
          as may be required by any Governmental Entity;

               (vi) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money,
          guarantee any such indebtedness or make any loans, advances
          or capital contributions to, or other investments in, any
          other person, other than (A) indebtedness for borrowed money
          incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with
          past practice and (B) indebtedness, loans, advances, capital
          contributions and investments between the Company and any of
          its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or between any of such wholly-
          owned Subsidiaries;

               (vii)     alter (through merger, liquidation,
          reorganization, restructuring or in any other fashion) the
          corporate structure or ownership of the Company or any
          Subsidiary;

               (viii)    enter into or adopt, or amend any existing,
          severance plan, agreement or arrangement or enter into or
<PAGE>



          amend any Company Plan or employment or consulting
          agreement, other than as required by law;

               (ix) increase the compensation payable or to become
          payable to its officers or employees, except for increases
          in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
          practice in salaries or wages of employees of the Company or
          any of its Subsidiaries who are not officers of the Company
          or any of its Subsidiaries, or grant any severance or
          termination pay to, or enter into any employment or
          severance agreement with, any director or officer of the
          Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or establish, adopt,
          enter into, or, except as may be required to comply with
          applicable law, amend or take action to enhance or
          accelerate any rights or benefits under, any labor,
          collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift,
          compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension,
          retirement, deferred compensation, employment, termination,
          severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or
          arrangement for the benefit of any director, officer or
          employee;

               (x)  knowingly violate or knowingly fail to perform any
          material obligation or duty imposed upon it or any
          Subsidiary by any applicable material federal, state or
          local law, rule, regulation, guideline or ordinance;

               (xi) take any action, other than reasonable and usual
          actions in the ordinary course of business consistent with
          past practice, with respect to accounting policies or
          procedures (other than actions required to be taken by
          generally accepted accounting principles);

               (xii)     make any tax election or settle or compromise
          any material federal, state, local or foreign income tax
          liability; or

               (xiii)    authorize, recommend, propose or announce an
          intention to do any of the foregoing, or enter into any
          contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement to do any of
          the foregoing.

          Section 4.2  No Solicitation.  From and after the date
     hereof, neither Parent nor the Company will, and each will use
     its best efforts to cause any of its officers, directors,
     employees, attorneys, financial advisors, agents or other
     representatives or those of any of its Subsidiaries not to,
     directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate or encourage (including
     by way of furnishing information) any takeover proposal or offer
     from any person, or engage in or continue discussions or
     negotiations relating thereto; provided, however, that either
     Parent or the Company may engage in discussions or negotiations
     with, or furnish information concerning itself and its
     Subsidiaries, business, properties or assets to, any third party
<PAGE>



     which makes a Takeover Proposal (as hereinafter defined) if the
     Board of Directors of either Parent or the Company concludes in
     good faith on the basis of the advice of its outside counsel
     (Barnes & Thornburg and Sullivan & Cromwell, respectively) that
     the failure to take such action would violate the fiduciary
     obligations of such Board under applicable law.  Each of Parent
     and the Company will promptly (but in no case later than 24
     hours) notify the other of any Takeover Proposal, including the
     material terms and conditions thereof (provided that neither need
     disclose the identity of the person or group making such Takeover
     Proposal).  As used in this Agreement, "Takeover Proposal" shall
     mean any proposal or offer, or any expression of interest by any
     third party relating to Parent's or the Company's willingness or
     ability to receive or discuss a proposal or offer, other than a
     proposal or offer by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or as
     permitted under this Agreement, for a tender or exchange offer, a
     merger, consolidation or other business combination involving
     either Parent or the Company or any of their respective
     Subsidiaries or any proposal to acquire in any manner a
     substantial equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the
     assets of, either Parent or the Company or any of their
     respective Subsidiaries.

          Section 4.3  Third Party Standstill Agreements.  During the
     period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective
     Time, the Company shall not terminate, amend, modify or waive any
     provision of any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which
     the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (other than any
     involving Parent), unless the Board of Directors of the Company
     concludes in good faith on the basis of the advice of its outside
     counsel (who may be its regularly engaged outside counsel), that
     the failure to terminate, amend, modify or waive any such
     confidentiality or standstill agreement would violate the
     fiduciary obligations of the Board under applicable law.  Subject
     to such fiduciary duties, during such period, the Company agrees
     to enforce, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law,
     the provisions of any such agreements, including, but not limited
     to, obtaining injunctions to prevent any breaches of such
     agreements and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
     thereof in any court of the United States or any state thereof
     having jurisdiction.

          Section 4.4  Pooling of Interests; Reorganization.  During
     the period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective
     Time, unless the other party shall otherwise agree in writing,
     none of Parent, the Company or any of their respective
     Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall (a) knowingly take or fail to
     take any action which action or failure would jeopardize the
     treatment of the Merger as a pooling of interests for accounting
     purposes or (b) knowingly take or fail to take any action which
     action or failure would jeopardize the qualification of the
     Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
     of the Code. Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
     Time, Parent and the Company each shall take all reasonable
<PAGE>



     actions necessary to cause the characterization of the Merger as
     a pooling of interests for accounting purposes if such a
     characterization were jeopardized by action taken by Parent or
     the Company, respectively, prior to the Effective Time. 
     Following the Effective Time, Parent shall not knowingly take any
     action, or fail to take any action, that would jeopardize the
     characterization of the Merger as a "pooling of interests" for
     accounting purposes.


                                 ARTICLE V

                           ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

          Section 5.1  Stockholder Meetings.  Except to the extent
     legally required for the discharge by the board of directors of
     its fiduciary duties as advised by counsel, the Company and
     Parent each shall call a meeting of its stockholders
     (respectively, the "Company Stockholder Meeting" and the "Parent
     Stockholder Meeting" and, collectively, the "Stockholder
     Meetings") to be held as promptly as practicable for the purpose
     of considering the approval of this Agreement (in the case of the
     Company) and the Parent Stockholders' Approvals (in the case of
     Parent).  The Company and Parent will, through their respective
     Boards of Directors, recommend to their respective stockholders
     approval of such matters and shall not withdraw such
     recommendation; provided, however, that a Board of Directors
     shall not be required to make, and shall be entitled to withdraw,
     such recommendation if such Board concludes in good faith on the
     basis of the advice of Sullivan & Cromwell in the case of the
     Company and Barnes & Thornburg in the case of Parent that the
     making of, or the failure to withdraw, such recommendation would
     violate the fiduciary obligations of such Board under applicable
     law.  The Boards of Directors of the Company, Parent and Sub will
     not rescind their respective declarations that the Merger is
     advisable, fair to and in the best interest of such company and
     its shareholders unless, in any such case, any such Board
     concludes in good faith on the basis of the advice of Sullivan &
     Cromwell in the case of the Company and Barnes & Thornburg in the
     case of Parent that the failure to rescind such determination
     would violate the fiduciary obligations of such Board under
     applicable law.  The Company and Parent shall coordinate and
     cooperate with respect to the timing of such meetings and shall
     use their reasonable best efforts to hold such meetings on the
     same day.

          Section 5.2  Preparation of the Registration Statement and
     the Joint Proxy Statement.  The Company and Parent shall promptly
     prepare and file with the SEC the Joint Proxy Statement and
     Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC the Registration
     Statement, in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as
     a prospectus.  Each of Parent and the Company shall use its
     reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement
     declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
<PAGE>



     practicable after such filing.  As promptly as practicable after
     the Registration Statement shall have become effective, each of
     Parent and the Company shall mail the Joint Proxy Statement to
     its respective stockholders.  Parent shall also take any action
     (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in
     which it is now not so qualified) required to be taken under any
     applicable state securities laws in connection with the issuance
     of Parent Common Stock in the Merger, and the Company shall
     furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders of
     Company Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection
     with any such action.  No amendment or supplement to the Joint
     Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement will be made by
     Parent or the Company without the prior approval of the other
     party. Parent and the Company each will advise the other,
     promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the
     Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or
     amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order, of
     the suspension of the qualification of the Parent Common Stock
     issuable in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in
     any jurisdiction, or of any request by the SEC for amendment of
     the Joint Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement or
     comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for
     additional information.

          Section 5.3  Access to Information.  Subject to currently
     existing contractual and legal restrictions applicable to Parent
     or to the Company or any of their Subsidiaries, each of Parent
     and the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
     to, afford to the accountants, counsel, financial advisors and
     other representatives of the other party hereto reasonable access
     to, and permit them to make such inspections as they may
     reasonably require of, during normal business hours during the
     period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective
     Time, all their respective properties, books, contracts,
     commitments and records (including, without limitation, the work
     papers of independent accountants, if available and subject to
     the consent of such independent accountants) and, during such
     period, Parent and the Company shall, and shall cause each of its
     Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to the other (i) a copy of each
     report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed
     by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal
     or state securities laws and (ii) all other information
     concerning its business, properties and personnel as the other
     may reasonably request.  No investigation pursuant to this
     Section 5.4 shall affect any representation or warranty in this
     Agreement of any party hereto or any condition to the obligations
     of the parties hereto.  All information obtained by Parent or the
     Company pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be kept confidential
     in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement dated August 30,
     1995 between Parent and the Company (the "Confidentiality
     Agreement").
<PAGE>



          Section 5.4  Compliance with the Securities Act; Pooling
     Period.

               (a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall
     deliver to Parent a list of names and addresses of those persons
     who were, in the opinion of the Company, at the time of the
     Company Stockholder Meeting referred to in Section 5.1
     "affiliates" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 145 under
     the Securities Act and for the purposes of applicable
     interpretations regarding the pooling-of-interests method of
     accounting.   The Company shall provide to Parent such
     information and documents as Parent shall reasonably request for
     purposes of reviewing such list.   There shall be added to such
     list the names and addresses of any other person (within the
     meaning of Rule 145) which Parent reasonably identifies (by
     written notice to the Company within ten business days after
     Parent's receipt of such list) as being a person who may be
     deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company within the meaning of
     Rule 145; provided, however, that no such person identified by
     Parent shall be added to the list of Affiliates of the Company if
     Parent shall receive from the Company, on or before the Effective
     Time, an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Parent to
     the effect that such person is not an Affiliate.  The Company
     shall reasonably exercise all reasonable efforts to deliver or
     cause to be delivered to Parent, prior to the Effective Time,
     from each of such Affiliates of the Company identified in the
     foregoing list, an affiliate letter  in customary form dated as
     of the Closing Date.

               (b)  If the Merger would otherwise qualify for pooling-
     of-interests accounting treatment, shares of Parent Common Stock
     issued to such Affiliates of the Company in exchange for Shares
     shall not be transferable until such time as financial results
     covering at least 30 days of combined operations of Parent and
     the Company have been published within the meaning of Section
     201.01 of the SEC's Codification of Financial Reporting Policies,
     regardless whether each such Affiliates has provided the written
     agreement referred to in this Section, except to the extent
     permitted by, and in accordance with, Accounting Series Release
     135 and Staff Accounting Bulletins 65 and 76.  Any shares of
     Company Common Stock held by such Affiliates shall not be
     transferable, regardless whether each such Affiliate has provided
     the written agreement referred to in this Section, if such
     transfer, either alone or in the aggregate with other transfers
     by Affiliates, would preclude Parent's ability to account for the
     business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling of
     interests.  The Company shall not register the transfer of any
     Certificate, unless such transfer is made in compliance with the
     foregoing.  Parent shall not be required to maintain the
     effectiveness of the S-4 Registration Statement or any other
     registration statement under the Securities Act for the purposes
     of resale of Parent Common Stock by such Affiliates received in
     the Merger and the certificates representing Parent Common Stock
     received by such Affiliates shall bear a customary legend
<PAGE>



     regarding applicable Securities Act restrictions and the
     provisions of this Section.

          Section 5.5  NASDAQ Listing.  Parent shall use its
     reasonable best efforts to list on NASDAQ, upon official notice
     of issuance, the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in
     connection with the Merger.

          Section 5.6  Fees and Expenses.

               (a)  Except as provided in this Section 5.6 and Section
     5.10, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and
     expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
     transactions contemplated hereby including, without limitation,
     the fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and
     accountants, shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and
     expenses, provided that all printing expenses and filing fees
     shall be divided equally between Parent and the Company.

               (b)  (i)  If any event referred to in Section 7.1(h)
     occurs, this Agreement is terminated thereafter by the Company or
     Parent (whether or not pursuant to such clause) and prior to such
     termination the stockholders of the Company did not approve this
     Agreement, then the Company shall (without prejudice to any other
     rights of Parent against the Company) pay to Parent a fee of $6.0
     million in cash, such payment to be made promptly, but in no
     event later than the second business day following such
     termination.

                    (ii) If:

                         (A)  this Agreement is terminated by the
     Company pursuant to Section 7.1(d) and within twelve months after
     such a termination a Superior Company Acquisition Transaction (as
     hereinafter defined) occurs;

                         (B)  (x) this Agreement is terminated by the
     Company or Parent at a time when Parent is entitled to terminate
     this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(e), (y) prior to the
     Company Stockholder Meeting but after the date of this Agreement
     a Company Third Party Acquisition Event has occurred and (z) by
     reason thereof or otherwise the event referred to in clause (D)
     of the definition of Company Third Party Acquisition Event (the
     "Company Clause D Event") occurs after the date hereof but prior
     to the first anniversary of such termination;

                         (C)       this Agreement is terminated by the
     Company or Parent pursuant to Section 7.1(g); or

                         (D)  this Agreement is terminated by Parent
     pursuant to Section 7.1(h) following the occurrence of a Company
     Third Party Acquisition Event;
<PAGE>



     then, in each case, the Company shall (without prejudice to any
     other rights of Parent against the Company) pay to Parent a fee
     of $6.0 million in cash, such payment to be made promptly, but in
     no event later than the second business day following, in the
     case of clause (A), the Superior Company Acquisition Transaction,
     or, in the case of clause (B), the later of such termination and
     such Company Clause D Event or, in the case of clause (C) or (D),
     such termination.

          A "Company Third Party Acquisition Event" means any of the
     following events: (A) any Person other than Parent or its
     Affiliates, acquires or becomes the beneficial owner of 30% or
     more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock; (B) any
     new group is formed which, at the time of formation, beneficially
     owns 30% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common
     Stock (other than a group which includes or may reasonably be
     deemed to include Parent or any of its Affiliates); (C) any
     Person (other than Parent or its Affiliates) shall have commenced
     a tender or exchange offer for 30% or more of the then
     outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or publicly proposed
     any bona fide merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or
     substantially all the assets of the Company, or other similar
     business combination involving the Company; (D) the Company
     enters into, or announces that it proposes to enter into, an
     agreement, including, without limitation, an agreement in
     principle, providing for a merger or other business combination
     involving the Company or the acquisition of a substantial
     interest in, or a substantial portion of the assets, business or
     operations of, the Company (other than the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement); (E) any Person (other than
     Parent or its Affiliates) is granted any option or right,
     conditional or otherwise, to acquire or otherwise become the
     beneficial owner of shares of Company Common Stock which,
     together with all shares of Company Common Stock beneficially
     owned by such Person, results or would result in such Person
     being the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the outstanding
     shares of Company Common Stock; or (F) there is a public
     announcement with respect to a plan or intention by the Company
     or any Person, other than Parent and its Affiliates, to effect
     any of the foregoing transactions.  For purposes of this Section
     5.6, the terms "group" and "beneficial owner" shall be defined by
     reference to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

          A "Superior Company Acquisition Transaction" means the event
     referred to in clause (D) of Company Third Party Acquisition
     Event provided that the financial and other terms of the
     transaction referred to therein are, when considered in the
     aggregate, more favorable to the Company's stockholders than the
     financial and other terms of the Merger.

               (c)  (i)  If any event referred to in Section 7.1(i)
     occurs, this Agreement is terminated thereafter by the Company or
     Parent (whether or not pursuant to such clause) and prior to such
     termination the stockholders of Parent did not approve this
<PAGE>



     Agreement, then Parent shall (without prejudice to any other
     rights of Company against Parent) pay to the Company a fee of
     $6.0 million in cash, such payment to be made promptly, but in no
     event later than the second business day following such
     termination.

                    (ii) If:

                         (A)  (x) this Agreement is terminated by the
     Company or Parent at a time when the Company is entitled to
     terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f), (y) prior to
     the Parent Stockholder Meeting but after the date of this
     Agreement a Parent Third Party Acquisition Event has occurred and
     (z) by reason thereof or otherwise the event referred to in
     clause (D) of the definition of Parent Third Party Acquisition
     Event (the "Parent Clause D Event") occurs after the date hereof
     but prior to the first anniversary of such termination; or

                         (B)  this Agreement is terminated by the
     Company pursuant to Section 7.1(i) following the occurrence of a
     Parent Third Party Acquisition Event (as hereinafter defined);

     then, in each case, Parent shall (without prejudice to any other
     rights of the Company against Parent) pay to the Company a fee of
     $6.0 million in cash, such payment to be made promptly, but in no
     event later than the second business day following, in the case
     of clause (A), the later of such termination and such Parent
     Clause D Event or, in the case of clause (B), such termination.

          A "Parent Third Party Acquisition Event" means any of the
     following events: (A) any Person acquires or becomes the
     beneficial owner of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of
     Parent Common Stock (other than by reason of an issuance of
     shares of Parent Common Stock permitted by Section 4.1(a)); (B)
     any new group is formed which, at the time of formation,
     beneficially owns 30% or more of the outstanding shares of Parent
     Common Stock (other than a group which includes or may reasonably
     be deemed to include Parent or any of its Affiliates); (C) any
     Person shall have commenced a tender or exchange offer for 30% or
     more of the then outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock or
     publicly proposed any bona fide merger, consolidation or
     acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of Parent, or
     other similar business combination involving Parent; (D) Parent
     enters into, or announces that it proposes to enter into, an
     agreement, including, without limitation, an agreement in
     principle, providing for a merger or other business combination
     involving Parent (other than this Agreement) or the acquisition
     of a substantial interest in, or a substantial portion of the
     assets, business or operations of, Parent (in either case, except
     as expressly permitted by Section 6.1 hereof) or (E) there is a
     public announcement with respect to a plan or intention by any
     Person to effect any of the foregoing transactions.
<PAGE>



               (d)  Parent and the Company acknowledge that the
     agreements contained in Section 5.6(b) are an integral part of
     the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that,
     without these agreements, Parent and Sub and the Company would
     not enter into this Agreement.  Accordingly, if either Parent or
     the Company fails promptly to pay the amount due pursuant to
     Section 5.6(b), and, to obtain such payment, Company, on the one
     hand, or Parent or Sub, on the other hand, commences a suit which
     results in a judgment for the fee set forth in Section 5.6(b) or
     5.6(c), the Company or Parent, as the case may be, shall pay to
     Parent or Sub, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other
     hand, its costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) in
     connection with such suit together with interest on the amount of
     the fee at the prime rate of NationsBank of North Carolina, N.A.,
     in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.

          Section 5.7  Company Stock Options; Stock Purchase Plan.

               (a)  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
     without any further action on the part of the Company or the
     holder thereof, each unexpired and unexercised option to purchase
     shares of Company Common Stock (a "Company Stock Option"), under
     the Company Stock Option Plans, or otherwise granted by the
     Company outside of any Company Stock Option Plan, will be assumed
     by Parent as hereinafter provided.  At the Effective Time, by
     virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part
     of the Company or the holder thereof, each Company Stock Option
     will be automatically converted into an option (the "Parent Stock
     Option") to purchase a number of shares of Parent Common Stock
     equal to the number of shares of Company Common Stock that could
     have been purchased under such Company Stock Option multiplied by
     the Conversion Number, at a price per share of Parent Common
     Stock equal to the per share option exercise price specified in
     the Company Stock Option, divided by the Conversion Number.  Such
     Parent Stock Option shall otherwise be subject to the same terms
     and conditions as such Company Stock Option.  At the Effective
     Time, (i) all references in the Company Stock Option Plans, the
     applicable stock option or other awards agreements issued
     thereunder and in any other Company Stock Options to the Company
     shall be deemed to refer to Parent; (ii) Parent shall assume the
     Company Stock Option Plans and all of the Company's obligations
     with respect to the Company Stock Options; and (iii) Parent shall
     issue to each holder of an outstanding Company Stock Option a
     document evidencing the foregoing assumption by Parent.  It is
     the intention of the parties that, subject to applicable law, the
     Company Stock Options assumed by Parent qualify, following the
     Effective Time, as incentive stock options, as defined in Section
     422 of the Code, to the extent that the Company Stock Options
     qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time
     and the adjustments referred to in this Section 5.7(a) shall be
     effected in a manner which is consistent with Section 424(a) of
     the Code.
<PAGE>



               (b)  In respect of each Company Stock Option as
     converted into a Parent Stock Option pursuant to Section 5.7(a)
     and assumed by Parent, and the shares of Parent Common Stock
     underlying such option, Parent shall file as soon as practicable
     after the Effective Time with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission, and keep current the effectiveness of, a registration
     statement on Form S-8 or other appropriate form for as long as
     such options remain outstanding (and maintain the current status
     of the prospectus with respect thereto).

               (c)  The Company agrees that it will not grant any
     stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights or
     limited stock appreciation rights and will not permit cash
     payments to holders of Company Stock Options in lieu of the
     substitution therefor of Parent Stock Options, as described in
     this Section 5.7.

          Section 5.8  Reasonable Best Efforts; Pooling of Interests.

               (a)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
     forth in this Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use
     reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
     actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and
     cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary,
     proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most
     expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and the other
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, but not
     limited to: (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or
     nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from all Governmental
     Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and
     filings (including filings with Governmental Entities) and the
     taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain an
     approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by,
     any Governmental Entity (including those in connection with the
     HSR Act and State Takeover Approvals), (ii) the obtaining of all
     necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties,
     (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings,
     whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or
     the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
     including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order
     entered by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated or
     reversed, and (iv) the execution and delivery of any additional
     instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
     by this Agreement.  No party to this Agreement shall consent to
     any voluntary delay of the consummation of the Merger at the
     behest of any Governmental Entity without the consent of the
     other parties to this Agreement, which consent shall not be
     unreasonably withheld.

               (b)  Each of Parent and the Company agrees to take,
     together with their respective accountants, all actions
     reasonably necessary in order to obtain a favorable determination
     (if required) from the SEC that the Merger may be accounted for
<PAGE>



     as a pooling of interests in accordance with generally accepted
     accounting principles.

               (c)  Each party shall use all reasonable best efforts
     to not take any action, or enter into any transaction, which
     would cause any of its representations or warranties contained in
     this Agreement to be untrue or result in a breach of any covenant
     made by it in this Agreement.

               (d)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
     in this Agreement, (i) neither Parent nor the Company shall be
     obligated to use its reasonable best efforts or to take any
     action pursuant to this Section 5.8 if the Board of Directors of
     Parent or the Company, as the case may be, shall conclude in good
     faith on the basis of the advice of Sullivan & Cromwell in the
     case of the Company and Barnes & Thornburg in the case of Parent
     that such action would violate the fiduciary obligations of such
     Board under applicable law, and (ii) in connection with any
     filing or submission required or action to be taken by either
     Parent or the Company to effect the Merger and to consummate the
     other transactions contemplated hereby, the Company shall not,
     without Parent's prior written consent, commit to any material
     divestiture transaction, and neither Parent nor any of its
     Affiliates shall be required to divest or hold separate or
     otherwise take or commit to take any action that limits its
     freedom of action with respect to, or its ability to retain, the
     Company or any of the material businesses, or assets of Parent or
     any of its Affiliates or that otherwise would have a Material
     Adverse Effect on Parent.

          Section 5.9  Public Announcements.  The initial press
     release shall be a joint press release and thereafter the Company
     and Parent each shall consult with the other prior to issuing any
     press releases or otherwise making public announcements with
     respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
     this Agreement and prior to making any filings with any third
     party and/or any Governmental Entity (including any national
     securities interdealer quotation service) with respect thereto,
     except as may be required by law or by obligations pursuant to
     any listing agreement with or rules of NASDAQ.

          Section 5.10  Real Estate Transfer and Gains Tax.  Parent
     and the Company agree that either the Company or the Surviving
     Corporation will pay any state or local tax which is attributable
     to the transfer of the beneficial ownership of the Company's or
     its Subsidiaries' real property, if any (collectively, the "Gains
     Taxes"), and any penalties or interest with respect to the Gains
     Taxes, payable in connection with the consummation of the Merger. 
     The Company and Parent agree to cooperate with the other in the
     filing of any returns with respect to the Gains Taxes, including
     supplying in a timely manner a complete list of all real property
     interests held by the Company and its Subsidiaries and any
     information with respect to such property that is reasonably
     necessary to complete such returns.  The portion of the
<PAGE>



     consideration allocable to the real property of the Company and
     its Subsidiaries shall be determined by Parent in its reasonable
     discretion.  The stockholders of the Company shall be deemed to
     have agreed to be bound by the allocation established pursuant to
     this Section 5.10 in the preparation of any return with respect
     to the Gains Taxes.

          Section 5.11  State Takeover Laws.  If any "fair price,"
     "business combination" or "control share acquisition" statute or
     other similar statute or regulation shall become applicable to
     the transactions contemplated hereby, Parent and the Company and
     their respective Boards of Directors shall use their reasonable
     best efforts to grant such approvals and take such actions as are
     necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be
     consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated
     hereby and otherwise act to minimize the effects of any such
     statute or regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby.

          Section 5.12  Indemnification; Directors and Officers
     Insurance.  For three years from and after the Effective Time,
     Parent agrees to, and to cause the Surviving Corporation to,
     indemnify and hold harmless all past and present officers and
     directors of the Company and of its Subsidiaries to the same
     extent such persons are indemnified as of the date of this
     Agreement by the Company pursuant to the Company's Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws and indemnification
     agreements in existence on the date hereof with any officers and
     directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries for acts or
     omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time; provided,
     however, that Parent agrees to, and to cause the Surviving
     Corporation to, indemnify and hold harmless such persons to the
     fullest extent permitted by law for acts or omissions occurring
     in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.  Parent
     shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide, for an
     aggregate period of not less than two years from the Effective
     Time, the Company's current directors and officers an insurance
     and indemnification policy that provides coverage for events
     occurring prior to the Effective Time (the "D&O Insurance") that
     is no less favorable than the Company's existing policy or, if
     substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the
     best available coverage; provided, however, that the Surviving
     Corporation shall not be required to pay an annual premium for
     the D&O Insurance in excess of 200 percent of the last annual
     premium paid prior to the date hereof (which premium the Company
     represents and warrants to be approximately $280,000.00).

          Section 5.13  Notification of Certain Matters.  Parent shall
     use its reasonable best efforts to give prompt notice to the
     Company, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
     give prompt notice to Parent, of: (i) the occurrence, or non-
     occurrence, of any event the occurrence, or nonoccurrence, of
     which it is aware and which would be reasonably likely to cause
     (x) any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement to
<PAGE>



     be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or (y) any
     covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement not
     to be complied with or satisfied in all material respects, (ii)
     any failure of Parent or the Company, as the case may be, to
     comply in a timely manner with or satisfy any covenant, condition
     or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder or
     (iii) any change or event which would be reasonably likely to
     have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or the Company, as the
     case may be; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice
     pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall not limit or otherwise affect
     the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such
     notice.

          Section 5.14  Directors.  The directors of Sub at the
     Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the
     directors 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
     Charter and By-Laws.

          Section 5.15  Designation of Directors.  At the Effective
     Time, Parent shall cause the four members of the Company's
     current Executive Committee to be appointed to its board of
     directors which persons shall serve until the next regularly
     scheduled annual meeting of Parent or until their successors have
     been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their
     earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
     Charter and By-Laws.  For the three annual meetings following the
     Effective Time, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts  to
     cause three or more members of the Company's Executive Committee
     to be nominated for election to Parent's board of directors,
     subject to fiduciary obligations under applicable law.


                                 ARTICLE VI

                     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE MERGER

          Section 6.1  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect
     the Merger.  The respective obligations of each party to effect
     the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the
     Effective Time of the following conditions:

               (a)  Stockholder Approval.  This Agreement shall have
     been duly approved by the requisite vote of stockholders of the
     Company in accordance with applicable law and the Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, and the
     Parent Stockholders' Approvals shall have been obtained by the
     requisite vote of the stockholders of Parent in accordance with
     applicable rules of NASDAQ, applicable law and the Charter and
     By-laws of Parent.
<PAGE>



               (b)  Listing on NASDAQ.  The Parent Common Stock
     issuable in the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on
     NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.

               (c)  HSR and Other Approvals.

               (i)  The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
          applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR
          Act shall have expired or been terminated.

               (ii) All authorizations, consents, orders, declarations
          or approvals of, or filings with, or terminations or
          expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental
          Entity, which the failure to obtain, make or occur would
          have the effect of making the Merger or any of the
          transactions contemplated hereby illegal or would have a
          Material Adverse Effect on Parent (assuming the Merger had
          taken place), shall have been obtained, shall have been made
          or shall have occurred.

               (d)  Accounting.  Parent shall have received an opinion
     of Coopers & Lybrand, LLP, dated as of the Effective Time, in
     form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and the
     Company, that the Merger will qualify for pooling of interests
     accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
     principles if closed and consummated in accordance with this
     Agreement.

               (e)  Registration Statement.  The Registration
     Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the
     provisions of the Securities Act.  No stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
     issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have
     been initiated or, to the Knowledge of Parent or the Company,
     threatened by the SEC.  All necessary state securities or blue
     sky authorizations (including State Takeover Approvals) shall
     have been received.

               (f)  No Order.  No court or other Governmental Entity
     having jurisdiction over the Company or Parent, or any of their
     respective Subsidiaries, shall have enacted, issued, promulgated,
     enforced or entered any law, rule, regulation, executive order,
     decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary
     or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of
     making the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated hereby
     illegal.

               (g)  Certain Executive Agreements.  The agreements
     entered into by Parent and Mr. W. Thomas Gould and Mr. Robert M.
     Mosco on the date hereof shall have remained in full force and
     effect without breach thereof.

          Section 6.2  Conditions to Obligation of the Company to
     Effect the Merger.  The obligation of the Company to effect the
<PAGE>



     Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the
     Effective Time of the following additional conditions:

               (a)  Performance of Obligations; Representations and
     Warranties.  Each of Parent and Sub shall have performed in all
     material respects each of its agreements contained in this
     Agreement required to be performed on or prior to the Effective
     Time, each of the representations and warranties of Parent and
     Sub contained in this Agreement that is qualified by materiality
     shall be true and correct on and as of the Effective Time as if
     made on and as of such date (other than representations and
     warranties which address matters only as of a certain date which
     shall be true and correct as of such certain date) and each of
     the representations and warranties that is not so qualified shall
     be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
     Effective Time as if made on and as of such date (other than
     representations and warranties which address matters only as of a
     certain date which shall be true and correct in all material
     respects as of such certain date), in each case except as
     contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, and the Company
     shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of each of
     Parent and Sub by its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief
     Financial Officer to such effect.

               (b)  Tax Opinion.  The Company shall have received an
     opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell in form and substance reasonably
     satisfactory to the Company, dated the Effective Time,
     substantially to the effect that on the basis of facts,
     representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion which
     are consistent with the state of facts existing as of the
     Effective Time, for federal income tax purposes:

               (i)  the Merger will constitute a "reorganization"
          within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the
          Company, Sub and Parent will each be a party to that
          reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the
          Code;

               (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by Parent or
          the Company as a result of the Merger;

               (iii)     no gain or loss will be recognized by the
          stockholders of the Company upon the conversion of their
          shares of Company Common Stock into shares of Parent Common
          Stock pursuant to the Merger, except with respect to cash,
          if any, received in lieu of fractional shares of Parent
          Common Stock;

               (iv) the aggregate tax basis of the shares of Parent
          Common Stock received in exchange for shares of Company
          Common Stock pursuant to the Merger (including fractional
          shares of Parent Common Stock for which cash is received)
          will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of such shares
          of Company Common Stock;
<PAGE>



               (v)  the holding period for shares of Parent Common
          Stock received in exchange for shares of Company Common
          Stock pursuant to the Merger will include the holder's
          holding period for such shares of Company Common Stock,
          provided such shares of Company Common Stock were held as
          capital assets by the holder at the Effective Time; and

               (vi) a stockholder of the Company who receives cash in
          lieu of a fractional share of Parent Common Stock will
          recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, if any,
          between such stockholder's basis in the fractional share (as
          described in clause (iv) above) and the amount of cash
          received.

     In rendering such opinion, Sullivan & Cromwell may receive and
     rely upon representations from Parent, the Company, and others.

               (c)  The Company shall have received an opinion of
     Barnes & Thornburg, counsel to Parent, in form and substance
     reasonably satisfactory to the Company, dated the Closing Date,
     to the effect that the Parent Common Stock to be issued in the
     Merger will, when issued, have been duly authorized, validly
     issued and shall not be subject to further assessment.  In
     rendering such opinion, Barnes & Thornburg may rely upon the
     opinion of Tennessee counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
     Company.

          Section 6.3  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub to
     Effect the Merger.  The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect
     the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the
     Effective Time of the following additional conditions:

               (a)  Performance of Obligations; Representations and
     Warranties.  The Company shall have performed in all material
     respects each of its agreements contained in this Agreement
     required to be performed on or prior to the Effective Time, each
     of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
     this Agreement that is qualified by materiality shall be true and
     correct on and as of the Effective Time as if made on and as of
     such date (other than representations and warranties which
     address matters only as of a certain date which shall be true and
     correct as of such certain date) and each of the representations
     and warranties that is not so qualified shall be true and correct
     in all material respects on and as of the Effective Time as if
     made on and as of such date (other than representations and
     warranties which address matters only as of a certain date which
     shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such
     certain date), in each case except as contemplated or permitted
     by this Agreement, and Parent shall have received a certificate
     signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer
     and its Chief Financial Officer to such effect.

               (b)  Litigation.  There shall not be instituted or
     pending any suit, action or proceeding by a Governmental Entity
<PAGE>



     or any other person as a result of this Agreement or any of the
     transactions contemplated herein which, in the opinion of Barnes
     & Thornburg, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent
     (assuming for purposes of this paragraph (b) that the Merger
     shall have occurred).


                                ARTICLE VII

                     TERMINATION. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

          Section 7.1  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated
     at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after
     any approval of the matters presented in connection with the
     Merger by the stockholders of the Company or Parent:

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

               (b)  by either Parent or the Company if the other party
     shall have failed to comply in any material respect with any of
     its covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement required
     to be complied with prior to the date of such termination, which
     failure to comply has not been cured within five business days
     following receipt by such other party of written notice of such
     failure to comply; provided, however, that if any such breach is
     curable by the breaching party through the exercise of the
     breaching party's best efforts and for so long as the breaching
     party shall be so using its best efforts to cure such breach, the
     non-breaching party may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to
     this paragraph;

               (c)  by either Parent or the Company if there has been
     (i) a breach by the other party (in the case of Parent, including
     any material breach by Sub) of any representation or warranty
     that is not qualified as to materiality which has the effect of
     making such representation or warranty not true and correct in
     all material respects or (ii) a breach by the other party (in the
     case of Parent, including any material breach by Sub) of any
     representation or warranty that is qualified as to materiality,
     in each case which breach has not been cured within five business
     days following receipt by the breaching party of written notice
     of the breach; provided, however, that if any such breach is
     curable by the breaching party through the exercise of the
     breaching party's best efforts and for so long as the breaching
     party shall be so using its best efforts to cure such breach, the
     non-breaching party may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to
     this paragraph;

               (d)  by Parent or the Company if the Merger has not
     been effected on or prior to the close of business on June 30,
     1996 (the "Termination Date"); provided, however, that the right
     to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) shall
     not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any of its
<PAGE>



     obligations contained in this Agreement has been the cause of, or
     resulted in, the failure of the Merger to have occurred on or
     prior to the aforesaid date;

               (e)  by Parent or the Company if the stockholders of
     the Company do not approve this Agreement at the Company
     Stockholder Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof;

               (f)  by Parent or the Company if the Parent
     Stockholders' Approvals are not obtained at the Parent
     Stockholder Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof;

               (g)  by Parent or the Company if the Board of Directors
     of the Company reasonably determines that a Takeover Proposal
     constitutes a Superior Proposal (as hereinafter defined);
     provided, however, that the Company may not terminate this
     Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(g) unless and until three
     business days have elapsed following delivery to Parent of a
     written notice of such determination by the Board of Directors of
     the Company (which written notice shall inform Parent of the
     material terms and conditions of the Takeover Proposal but need
     not include the identity of such third party);

               (h)  by Parent if (i) the Board of Directors of the
     Company shall not have recommended, or shall have resolved not to
     recommend, or shall have modified or withdrawn its recommendation
     of the Merger or declaration that the Merger is advisable and
     fair to and in the best interest of the Company and its
     stockholders, 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 Takeover Proposal or shall have
     resolved to do so or (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for
     30% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
     Company is commenced, and, after ten (10) business days, the
     Board of Directors of the Company fails to recommend against
     acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its
     stockholders (including by taking no position with respect to the
     acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its
     stockholders).

               (i)  by the Company if (i) the Board of Directors of
     Parent shall not have recommended, or shall have resolved not to
     recommend or shall have modified or withdrawn its recommendation
     of the Parent Stockholders' Approvals or declaration that the
     Merger is advisable and fair to and in the best interests of
     Parent and its stockholders, or shall have resolved to do so,
     (ii) a Parent Clause D event shall have occurred, or (iii) an
     offer of the type described in (C) of Parent Third Party
     Acquisition Event shall have been commenced and after ten (10)
     business days, the Board of Directors of Parent fails to
     recommend against acceptance of such offer by its stockholders
     (including taking no position with respect to the acceptance of
     such offer by its stockholders).
<PAGE>



          The right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement
     pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall remain operative and in full
     force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
     behalf of any party hereto, any person controlling any such party
     or any of their respective officers or directors, whether prior
     to or after the execution of this Agreement.

          "Superior Proposal" shall mean a bona fide proposal or offer
     made by a third party to acquire the Company pursuant to a tender
     or exchange offer, a merger, consolidation or other business
     combination or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets
     of the Company and its Subsidiaries on terms which a majority of
     the members of the Board of Directors of the Company determines
     in their good faith reasonable judgment (based on the advice of
     independent financial advisors) to be more favorable to the
     Company and to its stockholders than the transactions
     contemplated hereby, provided that in making such determination
     the Board considers the likelihood that such third party is able
     to consummate such proposed transaction.

          Section 7.2  Effect of Termination.  In the event of
     termination of this Agreement by either Parent or the Company, as
     provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith terminate
     and there shall be no liability hereunder on the part of the
     Company, Parent, Sub or their respective officers or directors
     (except for the last sentence of Section 5.3 and the entirety of
     Section 5.6, which shall survive the termination); provided,
     however, that nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall relieve
     any party hereto from any liability for any willful breach of a
     representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or the
     breach of any covenant contained in this Agreement.

          Section 7.3  Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended by
     the parties hereto, by or pursuant to action taken by their
     respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after
     approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger
     by the stockholders of Parent and the Company, but, after any
     such approval, no amendment shall be made which by law requires
     further approval by such stockholders without such further
     approval.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an
     instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
     hereto.

          Section 7.4  Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective
     Time, the parties hereto may (i) extend the time for the
     performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other
     parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the
     representations and warranties contained herein or in any
     document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance
     with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein which
     may legally be waived.  Any agreement on the part of a party
     hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set
     forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.
<PAGE>



                                ARTICLE VIII

                             GENERAL PROVISIONS

          Section 8.1  Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and
     Agreements.  The representations, warranties and agreements in
     this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this
     Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time or upon the
     termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, as the
     case may be, except that the agreements set forth in Article I
     and Sections 4.4 and 5.12 and this Article VIII shall survive the
     Effective Time, and those set forth in Sections 5.7 and 7.2 and
     this Article VIII and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive
     termination.

          Section 8.2  Notices.  All notices and other communications
     hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when
     delivered personally, one day after being delivered to an
     overnight courier or when telecopied (with a confirmatory copy
     sent by overnight courier) to the parties at the following
     addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be
     specified by like notice):

               (a)  if to Parent or Sub, to:

                    Proffitt's, Inc.
                    5810 Shelby Oaks Drive
                    Memphis, Tennessee  38134
                    Attn.:    Mr. R. Brad Martin

                    Proffitt's, Inc.
                    3455 Highway 80 West
                    Jackson, Mississippi  39209
                    Attn.:    Brian J. Martin, Esquire


                    with copies to:

                    James A. Strain, Esquire
                    Barnes & Thornburg
                    11 South Meridian Street, Suite 1313
                    Indianapolis, Indiana  46204


               (b)  if to the Company, to:

                    Younkers, Inc.
                    7th and Walnut Streets
                    Des Moines, Iowa  50397
                    Attn.:    Mr. W. Thomas Gould
                         Mr. Alan R. Raxter


                    with copies to:
<PAGE>



                    Benjamin F. Stapleton, Esquire
                    Sullivan & Cromwell
                    125 Broad Street
                    New York, New York  10004



          Section 8.3  Interpretation.  When a reference is made in
     this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section
     of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of
     contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for
     reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
     meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words
     "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement,
     they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
     limitation."

          Section 8.4  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed
     in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the
     same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more
     counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and
     delivered to the other parties.

          Section 8.5  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. 
     This Agreement, except as provided in the last sentence of
     Section 5.4, 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.  This
     Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other than
     the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

          Section 8.6  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be
     governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
     State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise
     govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof. 
     EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO A
     TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING
     OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF PARENT,
     THE COMPANY, OR SUB IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION,
     PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

          Section 8.7  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.

          Section 8.8  Severability.  If any term or other provision
     of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
     enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other
     conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
     remain in full force and effect so long as the economic and legal
     substance of the transactions contemplated hereby are not
     affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  Upon
<PAGE>



     such determination that any term or other provision is invalid,
     illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties shall
     negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
     the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a
     mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as originally
     contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

          Section 8.9  Enforcement of this Agreement.  The parties
     hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event
     that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed
     in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
     breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be
     entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
     this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
     provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state
     having jurisdiction, such remedy being in addition to any other
     remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity.  Each
     party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to
     submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States
     District Court located in the State of Delaware (unless such
     courts assert no jurisdiction, in which case the Company consents
     to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
     Delaware) for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or
     relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
     hereby (and each party hereto agrees not to commence any action,
     suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts), and
     further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or
     document by U.S. registered mail to the addresses set forth
     herein shall be effective service of process for any such action,
     suit or proceeding brought against the each party in such court. 
     Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives
     any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or
     proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
     contemplated hereby, in the United States District Courts located
     in the State of Delaware (unless such courts assert no
     jurisdiction, in which case each party consents to the exclusive
     jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware).  Each party
     hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees
     not to plead or to claim in any such court that any such action,
     suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in
     an inconvenient forum.
<PAGE>






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

                                   PROFFITT'S, INC.

                                   By:  /s/  R. Brad Martin
                                   -------------------
                                   Name:     R. Brad Martin
                                   Title:    Chairman of the
                                              Board and Chief 
                                              Executive Officer
     Attest:

     /s/  James E. Glasscock
     -------------------------
     Name:  James E. Glasscock
     Title: Executive Vice President and
            Chief Financial Officer

                                   BALTIC  MERGER CORPORATION

                                   By:  /s/  R. Brad Martin
                                        -------------------------
                                        Name:      R. Brad Martin
                                        Title:     President
     Attest:

     /s/ James E. Glasscock
     -------------------------
     Name: James E. Glasscock
     Title:    Treasurer

                                   YOUNKERS, INC.

                                   By:  /s/  W. Thomas Gould
                                        -------------------------
                                        Name:   W.  Thomas Gould
                                        Title:  Chairman and Chief
                                                Executive Officer
     Attest:

     /s/  Alan R. Baxter
     --------------------------
     Name: Alan R. Raxter
     Title:  Executive Vice President and
             Chief Financial Officer

     


                                 Exhibit 20



       PROFFITT'S, INC. AND YOUNKERS, INC. ANNOUNCE MERGER AGREEMENT

           Contacts:     Proffitt's:    Julia Bentley
                                        (615) 983-7000
                                        (615) 981-6243
                         Younkers:      Alan Raxter
                                        (515) 247-7025

     The management of Proffitt's, Inc. and Younkers, Inc. have
     scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October
     23, 1995 to discuss the proposed business combination of the two
     companies.  To participate, please call 1-800-314-3563 (10
     minutes prior to the call).

     The management of Proffitt's, Inc. and Younkers, Inc. will host a
     luncheon in New York at the St. Regis Hotel on November 3, 1995
     at 10:00 noon to discuss the proposed merger.  For luncheon
     reservations, please call Beth Daley at (212) 816-7383.

     Knoxville, Tennessee and Des Moines, Iowa (October 23, 1995)--
     Proffitt's, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRFT) and Younkers, Inc. (NASDAQ:
     YONK), two of the nation's leading regional specialty department
     store companies, jointly announced today that they have entered
     into an agreement with respect to a merger in which the two
     companies will be combined, with Younkers, headquartered in Des
     Moines, becoming a separate division of Proffitt's, Inc.  The
     Boards of Directors of Proffitt's, Inc. and Younkers, Inc.
     approved the merger unanimously.

     Under the terms of the transaction, shareholders of Younkers,
     Inc. will receive .98 shares of Proffitt's, Inc. Common Stock for
     each share of Younkers, Inc. Common Stock.  Proffitt's will issue
     approximately 8.8 million shares in the transaction, representing
     a transaction equity value of approximately $253 million, based
     upon Proffitt's, Inc. October 20, 1995 closing stock price of
     $28.75 per share.   The merger is expected to be completed in
     early 1996, subject to approval by shareholders of both companies
     and certain other conditions.  The combination has been
     structured as a tax-free transaction and will be accounted for as
     a pooling of interests.

     Proffitt's, Inc. is a leading regional specialty department store
     company currently operating two divisions - the Proffitt's
     Division with 26 stores in Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia,
     Kentucky, and North Carolina and the McRae's Division with 28
     department stores in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and
     Louisiana.  For the twelve months ended July 29, 1995,
     Proffitt's, Inc. achieved record sales of $698 million, net
<PAGE>






     income of $18.8 million, and earnings per share of $1.66. 
     Primarily as a result of acquisitions, the Company has grown
     revenues and net earnings at annual compound rates of 51% and
     53%, respectively, over the last five fiscal years.

     Younkers, Inc. is a leading regional department store company
     with 53 stores in Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, Illinois,
     Minnesota, and South Dakota.  For the twelve months ended July
     29, 1995, Younkers achieved sales of $605 million, net income of
     $14.6 million, and earnings per share of $1.59.  The Company has
     grown revenues and net earnings at annual compound rates of 14%
     and 30%, respectively, over the last five fiscal years. 

     On a combined basis, the company will operate 107 department
     stores in sixteen states with annualized revenues in excess of
     $1.3 billion.

     R. Brad Martin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
     Proffitt's, Inc., and W. Thomas Gould, Chairman and Chief
     Executive Officer of Younkers, expressed their commitment to and
     enthusiasm for the combination of the two companies.  Mr. Martin
     stated, "We are very excited about the prospect of combining
     these two well-positioned, leading regional companies and
     complementing our respective strengths.  The newly combined
     company creates one of the largest regional specialty department
     store chains in the United States.  This combined business will
     be of a size to enjoy substantial benefits associated with
     increased economies of scale in the consolidating department
     store industry, while retaining the flexibility to serve our
     customers effectively on a market by market basis.  Our common
     cultures and values and our geographical relationship make this
     combination a very natural fit.  We believe that our combined
     strengths enhance value for our shareholders and opportunities
     for our associates."

     Mr. Martin further commented, "The merger with Younkers is a
     terrific complement to our dynamic organization and consistent
     with our strategy of operating stores in both small markets and
     larger metropolitan areas.  With a major presence in an
     attractive and economically vibrant section of the United States,
     we see opportunities for further growth in Younkers' existing
     regions.  Proffitt's growth orientation will create further
     opportunities for the Younkers team."

     Mr. Gould stated, "We believe the transaction is very favorable
     for our shareholders providing them with an interest in a solid,
     rapidly growing company with high performance standards and a
     proven track record.  Proffitt's is an ideal partner for
     Younkers.  Its organizational structure and management philosophy
     will enable our organization to operate as a separate division
     within Proffitt's, Inc., and at the same time, enjoy the benefits
     of shared resources and economics of scale."

     Mr. Martin also said, "The business combination is expected to be
     accretive to the earnings of Proffitt's, Inc. upon the
     realization of modest synergies in the combined business.  The
     transaction will also lower the financial leverage of Proffitt's,
<PAGE>






     Inc., enhancing our capital strength and providing considerable
     flexibility for the consideration of additional strategic growth
     opportunities."

     There will be one-time charges related to the costs of the
     business combination and the restructuring of operations.

     Upon the closing of this merger, Younkers will operate as a
     separate department store division of Proffitt's, Inc., with its
     divisional headquarters in Des Moines.  Mr. Martin will continue
     as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Proffitt's, Inc., and
     Mr. Gould will remain Chairman of Younkers and be named Vice
     Chairman of Proffitt's, Inc.  Robert M. Mosco will remain
     President of Younkers Division and be named Chief Executive
     Officer of  Younkers, reporting to Mr. Martin.

     Mr. Gould, along with the three other individuals currently
     serving on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of
     Younkers, Inc., will be nominated to serve as Directors of
     Proffitt's, Inc.  The Board nominees are:  Gerard K. Donnelly,
     Chairman of Princeton Middletown Partners, Inc. and former
     President and Chief Executive officer of H.C. Prange Company;
     Donald F. Dunn, former Senior Vice President of Allied Stores
     Corporation; and G. David Hurd, former Chairman and Chief
     Executive Officer of The Principal Financial Group.

     This announcement is neither an offer of securities nor a
     solicitation of proxies.  An offering will only be made by means
     of a prospectus which is part of an effective registration
     statement, and proxies will only be solicited pursuant to a
     definitive proxy statement.

                                    ####

     


           These materials were derived from public information
     (except for estimated takeover attempt costs) and were prepared
     to respond to anticipated questions about the proposed
     transaction.

     <TABLE>
     <CAPTION>
                                     Proffitt's, Inc.
                         Comparison of Merger Valuation Multiples


                                     McRae's           Younkers
                                   LTM (1) Period     LTM (1)Period
                                     Ending             Ending
                                   January 1994       July 1995 (3)
                                   ------------       ------------
      <S>                          <C>                <C>
      Enterprise Value/Revenue       0.75    x            0.49   x

      Enterprise Value/EBITDA (2)    6.0                  6.5

      Market Value of Equity/
        Tangible Book Value (3)      2.0                  1.4

      <FN>

      (1)   Latest twelve months.

      (2)   Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

      (3)   Based upon October 20, 1995 stock price for Proffitt's of $28.75.

      </TABLE>
<PAGE>






      <TABLE>
      <CAPTION>
                                    Proffitt's/Younkers
                   LTM Pro Forma Combined Condensed Income Statement (1)
                                    As of July 29, 1995


                                                Excluding Takeover Related Costs
                                               ---------------------------------

                                             Proffitt's         Younkers                          Combined
                                             ----------         ----------                        ----------
         <S>                                 <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>

         Net Sales                           $  697,989         $  605,055                        $1,303,044
                                             ==========         ==========                        ==========

         Net Income                          $   18,802         $   14,606       $    1,470 (2)   $   34,878

           Preferred Dividends                    1,951                -0-                             1,951
                                             ----------         ----------       ----------       ----------
         Net Income to Common                $   16,851         $   14,606       $    1,470 (2)   $   32,927
                                             ==========         ==========       ==========       ==========

         Earnings Per Share -
           Primary                               $ 1.66             $ 1.59                            $ 1.72
                                             ==========         ==========                        ==========
         Earnings per Share -
           Fully Diluted                         $ 1.59             $ 1.59                            $ 1.67
                                             ==========         ==========                        ==========

         Weighted average common shares
             Primary                            10,181               9,200            9,016 (3)       19,197
             Fully Diluted                      13,400               9,200            9,016 (3)       22,416

         <FN>
         ________________________

         (1)     Does not reflect the impact of the non-recurring charges related to the merger transacton
                 costs or the costs of restructuring.
         (2)     Estimated non-recurring costs associated with the Carson Pirie Scott & Co. takeover attempt
                 (tax effected @ 39%) based on discussions with management of Younkers.
         (3)     Shares issued in the merger of 8,806 plus common stock equivalents.

         </TABLE>

         Based on the latest reported twelve months earnings ending
     July 31, 1995 of the two companies and adjusting for the impact
     of the exchange ratio, the combined companies' pro forma earnings
     per share are break-even or accretive, depending upon whether the
     costs incurred by Younkers over the last twelve months in
     connection with the Carson Pirie Scott bid are excluded.
<PAGE>






     On a projected basis, the Company believes that earnings per
     share for the combined company will be accretive when compared to
     Proffitt's stand alone numbers because the modest synergies
     expected to be achieved will more than offset the difference in
     the two companies' projected earnings per share growth rates. 
     Identified synergies are targeted at minimum levels of $3 million
     for 1996 and $6 million for 1997.
<PAGE>







     <TABLE>
     <CAPTION>

                                  Proffitt's/Younkers
                 Pro Forma Combined Condensed Capitalization Table (1)
                                  As of July 29, 1995
                                        (000's)


                                           Proffitt's                 Younkers                           Conbined Company
                                      ------------------        ------------------                      ------------------
                                                 Percent                  Percent                                    Percent
                                                   of                        of                                         of
                                                 Capital-                 Capital-       Merger                      Capital-
                                      $          ization        $         ization      Adjustments      $            ization
                                      --------   --------       --------  --------     -----------      --------     -------
         <S>                          <C>        <C>            <C>       <C>          <C>              <C>          <C>
         Debt:
          Senior Debt
          Revolving Credit 
             Agreement                $ 69,500                  $    -0-                                $ 69,500
          Real Estate and 
           Mortgage Notes               69,417                       -0-                                  69,417
          Notes Payable                 14,425                       -0-                                  14,425
          Capital Lease 
             Obligations                11,541                       -0-                                  11,541
          Receivables Trust 
             Securities                    -0-                    74,625                                  74,625
                                      --------                  --------                                --------
            Total Senior Debt          164,883        36%         74,625       29%                       239,508          34%

          Subordinated Debt:
          4.75% Convertible 
             Subordinated
             Debentures due 2003        86,250                       -0-                                  86,250
          Junior Subordinated 
             Debentures                 14,134                       -0-                                  14,134
                                      --------                  --------                                --------

          Total Debt                   265,267       58%          74,625      29%                        339,892         48%

         Shareholders' Equity
          Preferred Stock               28,850                       -0-                                  28,850
          Common Stock                   1,023                        91                    790 (2)        1,904
          Additional Paid In 
             Capital                   118,766                   125,484                   (790)(2)
                                                                                         (1,811)(3)      241,649
          Retained Earnings             39,744                    57,505                                  97,249
                                      --------                  --------                                --------
          Total                        188,383                   183,080                                 369,652

         Less: Treasury stock 
             at cost                       -0-                    (1,811)                 1,811 (3)          -0-
<PAGE>






                                      --------                  --------                                --------
           Total Shareholders' 
             Equity                    188,383       42%         181,269      71%                        369,652         52%
                                      --------                  --------                                --------
           Total Capitalization       $453,650      100%        $255,894     100%                       $709,544        100%
                                      ========                  ========                                ========

         <FN>

         (1)     The pro forma consolidated capitalization table does not reflect the impact of non-recurring charges
                 related to the merger transaction costs or the costs of restructuring.

         (2)     To account for the par value of the 8,806 shares issued in the merger.

         (3)     To reflect cancellation of treasury stock.

         </TABLE>
         


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