KEY PLASTICS INC
S-4/A, 1997-07-03
MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
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<PAGE>   1
   

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 1997
    

                                                     Registration No. 333-26729
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

   
                               Amendment No. 1
                                      to
    

                                    FORM S-4

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                               KEY PLASTICS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                               <C>                                <C>
          Michigan                        3714                       38-2653726
 (State or other jurisdiction of  (Primary Standard Industrial       (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization    Classification Code Number)        Identification No.)

           Michigan               Key Plastics International L.L.C.  38-3341783
           Michigan               Key Plastics Automotive L.L.C.     38-3341785
           Michigan               Key Plastics Technology L.L.C.     35-1997449
           Michigan               Key Mexico A, L.L.C.               38-3355175
           Michigan               Key Mexico B, L.L.C.               38-3355181
</TABLE>
    


                              21333 Haggerty Road
                                 Novi, Michigan
                                 (810) 449-6100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrants' principal executive offices)

                            -------------------------
                                David C. Benoit
                              21333 Haggerty Road
                                 Novi, Michigan
                                 (810) 449-6100
(Name, Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)

                                   copies to:
                             Aleksandra A. Miziolek
                              Dykema Gossett PLLC
                             400 Renaissance Center
                            Detroit, Michigan  48243
                            -------------------------


     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:  As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

   
    

    The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.


<PAGE>   2
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.

Subject to completion, dated             , 1997.
                             ------------


                                  $125,000,000



                               KEY PLASTICS, INC.


                               OFFER TO EXCHANGE

              10 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007, SERIES B
                              FOR ALL OUTSTANDING
                   10 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
                  WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME
                    ON              , 1997, UNLESS EXTENDED
                       -------------
              ---------------------------------------------------

                          THE NOTES ARE GUARANTEED BY
                         KEY PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC
                          KEY PLASTICS AUTOMOTIVE LLC
                          KEY PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY LLC
                              KEY MEXICO A, L.L.C.
                              KEY MEXICO B, L.L.C.

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


     Key Plastics, Inc., a Michigan company (the "Company"), hereby offers upon
the terms and subject to conditions set forth in this Prospectus (the
"Prospectus") and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of
Transmittal," together with the Prospectus, the "Exchange Offer"), to exchange
up to an aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 of its 10 1/4% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B (the "Series B Notes") for up to an
aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 of its outstanding 10 1/4% Senior
Subordinated Notes Due 2007 (the "Series A Notes").  The terms of the Series B
Notes are substantially identical in all material respects to those of the
Series A Notes, except for certain transfer restrictions, registration rights
and liquidated damages relating to the Senior A Notes.  The Series B will be
issued pursuant to, and entitled to the benefit of, the Indenture (as defined
herein) governing the Series A Notes.  The Series B Notes and the Series A
Notes are sometimes referred to collectively as the "Notes".  Interest on the
Series B Notes will accrue from the date of issuance thereof and will be
payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year commencing
September 15, 1997.

     The Series B Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in
whole or in part, at any time on or after March 15, 2002, at the redemption
prices set forth herein, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages (as defined), if any, to the date of redemption.  In addition, in the
event that the Company consummates a public offering of its Common Stock on or
before March 15, 2000, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the originally
issued principal amount of Series B Notes at a redemption price of 109 1/4% of
the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, to the date of redemption; provided that at least 65% of the
originally issued principal amount of Notes remain outstanding immediately
after the occurrence of such redemption.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control (as defined), the Company will be required, subject to certain
conditions, to make an offer to purchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of
the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, to the date of purchase.  See "Description of Notes."

     The Series B Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company,
subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Debt (as
defined), including all borrowings of the Company and its subsidiaries under
the Senior Credit Facility (as defined).  The Notes will be guaranteed on a
senior subordinated basis by the Guarantors (as defined herein).  As of March
31, 1997, the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined) would have had 
approximately $64.0 million  of Senior Debt outstanding.  See "Description of 
Certain Indebtedness -- Senior Credit Facility" and "Description of Notes."


<PAGE>   3


     SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
WHICH HOLDERS OF THE SERIES A NOTES SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE
EXCHANGE OFFER.

     THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR INADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

     The Company will accept for exchange of any and all Series A Notes which
are properly tendered in the Exchange Offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on _____________, 1997, unless extended by the Company in its sole
discretion (the "Expiration Date").  The Expiration Date will not in any event
be extended to a date later than _________, 1997.  Tenders of Series A Notes
may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Expiration Date.  In the event the Company terminates the Exchange Offer and
does not accept for exchange any Series A Notes with respect to the Exchange
Offer, the Company will promptly return the Series A Notes to the holders
thereof.  The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal
amount of Series A Notes being tendered for exchange, but is otherwise subject
to certain customary conditions.  The Series A Notes may be tendered only in
integral multiples of $1,000.

     The Series B Notes are being offered hereunder in order to satisfy certain
obligations of the Company contained in the Registration Rights Agreement dated
March 24, 1997 (the "Registration Rights Agreement") by and among the Company,
the Guarantors (as defined herein) and Lehman Brothers, Inc.  and First Chicago
Capital Markets, Inc., as the initial purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers"),
with respect to the initial sale of the Series A Notes.  Based on
interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") contained in certain no-action requests from third parties
unrelated to the Company, the Series B Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in exchange for Series A Notes may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by respective holders thereof (other than any such holder
which is an "affiliate") of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under
the Securities Act, without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), provided that the Series B Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of
such holder's business and such holder has no arrangement with any person to
participate in the distribution of such Series B Notes and is not engaged in
and does not intend to engage in a distribution of the Series B Notes.  Each
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act.  This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of the Series B Notes received in exchange for Series A Notes if
such Series B Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities.  The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 365 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this
Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such
resale.  See "Plan of Distribution."  EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PARAGRAPH,
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED FOR AN OFFER TO RESELL, RESALE OR OTHER
TRANSFER OR NOTES.

     Prior to the Exchange Offer, there has been no public market for the
Series B Notes.  The Series A Notes are not, and the Series B Notes are not
expected to be, listed on any securities exchange or authorized for trading on
The Nasdaq Stock Market.  There can be no assurances as to the liquidity of any
markets that may develop for the Series B Notes, the ability of holders to sell
the Series B Notes, or the price at which holders would be able to sell the
Series B Notes.  Future trading prices of the Series B Notes will depend on
many factors, including among other things, prevailing interest rates, the
Company's operating results and the market for similar securities.
Historically, the market for securities similar to the Series B Notes,
including non-investment grade debt, has been subject to disruptions that have
caused substantial volatility in the prices of such securities.  There can be
no assurance that any market for the Series B Notes, if such market develops,
will not be subject to similar disruptions.  The Initial Purchasers have
advised the Company that they currently intend to make a market in the Series B
Notes offered hereby.  However, the Initial Purchasers are not obligated to do
so and any market making may be discontinued at any time without notice.
        
     The Series A Notes were initially purchased by accredited investors and
"qualified institutional buyers" (as such term is defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act) and by certain persons who are not U.S. Persons (as such
term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act).  The Series A Notes
were initially represented only in book-entry form and in the form of global
notes in fully registered form (the "Global Series A Notes"), registered in the
name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), as depositary.  The
Series B Notes exchanged for Series A Notes represented by the Global Series A
Notes will be represented by  global notes in fully registered form (the
"Global Series B Notes") registered in the name of the nominee of DTC.  The
Global Series B Notes will be exchangeable for Series B Notes in registered
form, denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof as set forth in
the Indenture.  The Series B Notes in global form will trade in DTC's Same-Day
Funds Settlement System, and secondary market trading activity in such Series B
Notes will therefore settle in immediately available funds.  See "Description
of Notes -- Book-Entry; Delivery and Form."

                                     ii

<PAGE>   4


     The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer.  See
"Use of Proceeds."  The Company has agreed to pay the expenses incident to the
Exchange Offer.

     The date of this Prospectus is           , 1997.
                                    ----------

                                     iii

<PAGE>   5


                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement," which term shall encompass
all amendments, exhibits, annexes and schedules thereto) pursuant to the
Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, covering
the Series A Notes being offered hereby.  This Prospectus does not contain all
the information set forth in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  For
further information with respect to the Company and the Exchange Offer,
reference is made to the Exchange Offer  Registration Statement.  Statements
made in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other
document referred to are not necessarily complete.  With respect to each such
contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete
description of the document or matter involved, and each such statement shall
be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference.

     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of Section 15 of
the Exchange Act, and in accordance therewith files reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Periodic reports and other information filed by the Company can be inspected
and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission's principal
office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C.
20549, and the regional offices of the Commission at Seven World Trade Center,
13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, 14th Floor,
Chicago, Illinois 60661.  Copies of such material can be obtained from the
public reference facilities of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.  In
addition, the Commission maintains a Website (http://www.sec.gov) that also
contains such reports and other information filed by the Company.

     In addition, the Company has agreed that, whether or not it is required to
do so by the rules and regulations of the Commission, for so long as any Notes
remain outstanding, it will furnish to the holders of the Notes and, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, file with the Commission (i)
all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be
contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company
was required to file such Forms, including in each a "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with
respect to the annual information only, a report thereof by the Company's
independent certified public accountants and (ii) all reports that would be
required to be filed on Form 8-K if it were required to file such reports.  In
addition, for so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding, the Company has
agreed to make available to any prospective purchaser of the Notes or
beneficial owner of the Notes, in connection with any sale thereof, the
information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.


                                     iv

<PAGE>   6






               SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   
     Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, including, without limitation, statements containing the words
"believes," "anticipates," "expects," and words of similar import, constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements include all discussions concerning
anticipated future revenues or sales.  Such forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry
results, to be materially difference from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such
factors include, among others, the following:  international, national and
local general economic and market conditions; demographic changes; the size and
growth of the automobile market or the plastic automobile component market;
consumer demand for the particular models or lines that use the Company's parts;
the size, timing and mix of purchases of the Company's products; new product
development and introduction; existing government regulations and changes in,
or the failure to comply with, government regulations; adverse publicity;
dependence upon OEMs (as defined); liability and other claims asserted against
the Company; competition; the loss of significant customers or suppliers;
fluctuations and difficulty in forecasting operating results; changes in
business strategy or development plans; business disruptions; product recalls;
warranty costs; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the
ability to protect technology; the ability to realize planned cost savings in
its acquisitions; the use of proceeds from the Offering; retention of earnings;
and other factors referenced in this Prospectus.  Certain of these factors are
discussed in more detail elsewhere in this Prospectus, including, without
limitation, under the captions "Risk Factors," "Use of Proceeds,"
"Capitalization," "Selected Consolidated Financial Data," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial condition and Results of Operations" and
"Business."  Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.  The Company
disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the
result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained or
incorporated by reference herein to reflect future events or developments. 
    


                                      v

<PAGE>   7


                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the detailed
information and financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus.  Holders should carefully consider the
information set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this
Prospectus.  This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements which involve
risks and uncertainties.  The Company's actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of
certain factors, including those set forth under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere
in this Prospectus.

                                  THE COMPANY

     Key Plastics, Inc.  (the "Company") was formed in January 1986 to acquire
the plastics manufacturing operations of Key International Manufacturing, Inc.,
which operations had been involved in plastics manufacturing for over 20 years.
In  1995, the Company established operations in Chihuahua, Chihuahua,
Mexico.

     In May 1996, the Company, through its subsidiary Key Plastics, U.K.,
acquired substantially all of the assets and the business of Clearplas, a
U.K. plastic parts supplier (the "Clearplas Acquisition").  In addition, in
November 1996, the Company acquired  control of Materias Plasticas, S.A.
("MaP"), a Portuguese plastic parts supplier  (the "MaP Acquisition"), by
acquiring 38% of its voting stock with an option to acquire the remaining
voting stock.  The Clearplas Acquisition and the MaP Acquisition enabled the
Company to establish a European manufacturing presence as a part of its
globalization strategy, to leverage its engineering and manufacturing expertise
and to enhance its existing customer relationships.  In March 1997, the Company
acquired three manufacturing facilities of Aeroquip, a division of TRINOVA 
Corporation (the "Aeroquip Acquisition").

     The Company is a  global supplier of highly engineered plastic components
and assemblies to automotive original equipment manufacturers and Tier I
suppliers.  The Company believes it is the largest independent supplier of
plastic door handle assemblies, decorative bezels and pressurized bottles in
North America for the automotive industry.  Other products manufactured by the
Company include interior trim components, precision molded parts, instrument
cluster components, electrical connector covers, air louvers, speaker grilles
and underhood functional components.

   
     The Company provides the automotive industry with comprehensive plastics
manufacturing capabilities, including design and engineering, high-precision
injection molding, automated manufacturing and assembly, plastic painting and
material and product testing.  The Company operates its world headquarters and
technical center, thirteen manufacturing and three paint facilities in North 
America and two facilities in Europe with painting and manufacturing 
capabilities.  The Company also has extensive tool making capabilities and 
designs and builds approximately one-third of the tooling used in the 
manufacturing of its principal products.
    

     Management believes that the Company has achieved its current leadership
position and is well positioned to benefit from emerging trends in the global
automotive markets as a result of several key competitive strengths, including:
(i) demonstrated technological expertise and innovation in developing highly
engineered systems and components; (ii) strong relationships with major OEMs;
(iii) an emphasis on quality management; (iv) the ability to supply its
customers globally; and (v) state of the art equipment and facilities.

     Since 1992, the Company has invested over $93.8 million to upgrade its
existing facilities and to acquire and build new facilities.  Since that time,
the Company has established its world headquarters and technical center, has
constructed a new paint facility in Hartford City, Indiana, has brought on line
four molding facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, York, Pennsylvania, South
Bend, Indiana and Chihuahua, Mexico, has acquired the assets and business of
Clearplas, has acquired control of MaP and consummated the Aeroquip Acquisition.

     The Company is privately owned by management and employees.  Since its
incorporation in 1986, the Company has elected to be taxed as a corporation
under Subchapter S (a "Subchapter S corporation") of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  The Company has made, and intends to
continue to make, distributions to its shareholders to pay their income tax
obligations as a result of the Company's status as a Subchapter S corporation.

     The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 21333
Haggerty Road, Novi, Michigan, 48375 and its telephone number is (810)
449-6100.

                               BUSINESS STRATEGY

     The automotive industry is currently characterized by a number of factors
which affect the Company and its business strategy.  These factors include (i)
OEMs' demand for suppliers with efficient, comprehensive research and
development, design and manufacturing capabilities, (ii) consolidation of
suppliers as a result of increasing OEM demands, and (iii) the globalization of
the OEM supplier base.  As a result of these factors, suppliers must (i)
continually 


<PAGE>   8


demonstrate the ability to satisfy, in cost efficient ways, the OEMs' design
and manufacturing demands and (ii) establish international positions which can
effectively supply and service the OEMs.
        
     The Company seeks to maintain its leadership position in the industry and
maximize its revenues and net income by employing its operating strategy, which
has the following principal components.

     Focus on Highly Engineered, Value-added Products.  The Company believes
highly engineered, value-added components are typically more difficult for a
customer to produce in-house or a competitor to replicate due to the
substantial investment required in specialized engineering, design and
manufacturing capabilities.  Management believes such products have strong
worldwide growth potential and high margins.  Further, the Company capitalizes
on the specialized design and manufacturing expertise it has developed for one
customer by marketing such expertise across its customer base.

     Emphasize Quality Management.  Among the most important factors in
maintaining preferred supplier status with OEMs is product quality.  The
Company has a strong quality assurance program and has made substantial
investments in technology to monitor and improve quality.  Included among these
investments are CAD/CAM equipment, statistical process control systems, failure
mode and effect systems, process-controlled molding machines and automated
assembly equipment.  In addition, the Company has material and product test
laboratories that monitor product reliability and which are accredited by its
major OEM customers.

     Provide Comprehensive Manufacturing and Engineering Capabilities while
Improving Cost Competitiveness.  In response to increasingly rigorous OEM
purchasing and manufacturing policies, the Company has developed comprehensive
plastics manufacturing capabilities, including design and engineering,
automated manufacturing and assembly, painting and materials and product
testing, prototype production and tooling.  In addition to requiring
comprehensive manufacturing capabilities, OEMs are demanding market-driven
pricing and long-term productivity commitments, which demands are forcing
suppliers to eliminate waste and optimize productivity.  The Company has
invested in and successfully implemented lean manufacturing methodologies,
including the use of cell-based manufacturing and automation through state of
the art "poke-yoked" (fail safed) devices which have made significant
contributions to the Company's product quality and have assisted in the
reduction of labor costs and work-in-progress inventory.

     Establish a Global Position.  The Company has acquired strategic positions
in Europe in order to serve its customers on a global basis.  Several OEMs have
announced certain models designed for the world automobile market.  As a
result, certain domestic and European OEMs have encouraged their existing
suppliers to establish foreign production support for World Car programs.

     Enhance Tier I Relationships.  The OEMs continue to give more
responsibility for total program management to large Tier I suppliers.  These
suppliers are evaluating the available supply of parts and whether the
manufacturers who are currently supplying them are qualified.  As Tier I
suppliers shift to more qualified automotive parts manufacturers, the Company
believes that it is well positioned to take advantage of such change.

     Make Selected Acquisitions.  In recent years, OEMs have instituted
policies which have resulted in the consolidation of the automotive supplier
industry.  Through strategic acquisitions, the Company believes it can leverage
off of its existing engineering and manufacturing capabilities, quality focus
and relationships with its customers by adding complementary product lines and
achieving greater economies of scale.

                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

The Series B Notes .....................  The forms and terms of the Series B
                                          Notes are substantially identical in
                                          all material respects to the terms of
                                          the Series A Notes for which they may
                                          be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange
                                          Offer, except for certain transfer
                                          restrictions and registration rights
                                          relating to the Senior Notes and
                                          except for certain liquidated damages
                                          provisions relating to the Senior
                                          Notes described below under "Terms of
                                          Series B Notes."

The Exchange Offer .....................  The Company is offering to exchange
                                          up to $125,000,000 aggregate
                                          principal amount of 10 1/4% Senior
                                          Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B
                                          (the "Series B Notes") for up  to
                                          $125,000,000 aggregate principal
                                          amount of its outstanding

                                      2

<PAGE>   9

                                          10 1/4%  Senior Subordinated Notes due
                                          2007 (the "Series A Notes").  Series A
                                          Notes may be exchanged only in
                                          integral multiples of $1,000.

Expiration Date; Withdrawal of Tender ..  The Exchange Offer will expire at
                                          5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
                                          ______________, 1997 or such later
                                          date and time to which it is extended
                                          by the Company.  The tender of Series
                                          A Notes pursuant to the Exchange
                                          Offer may be withdrawn at any time
                                          prior to the Expiration Date.  Any
                                          Series A Notes not accepted for
                                          exchange for any reason will be
                                          returned without expense to the
                                          tendering holder thereof as promptly
                                          as practicable after the expiration
                                          or termination of the Exchange Offer.

                            TERMS OF SERIES B NOTES

     The Exchange Offer applies to up to $125.0 million aggregate principal
amount of the Company's Series B Notes.  The Series B Notes will be obligations
of the Company evidencing the same debt as the Series A Notes and will be
entitled to the benefits of the same Indenture.  To the extent that any Series
A Notes remain outstanding after the Exchange Offer, the Series A Notes will
rank pari passu in right of payment with the Series B Notes.  See "Description
of Notes."  The form and terms of the Series B Notes are the same as the form
and terms of the Series A in all material respect except that the Series B
Notes have been registered under the Securities Act and hence do not include
certain rights to registration thereunder and do not contain transfer
restrictions or terms with respect to liquidated damages applicable to the
Series A Notes.  See "Description of Notes."


Securities Offered .....................  $125 million aggregate principal
                                          amount of 10 1/4 Senior Subordinated
                                          Notes, Series B (the "Series B
                                          Notes").

Maturity Date ..........................  March 15, 2007.

Interest Payment Dates .................  March 15 and September 15, commencing
                                          September 15, 1997.

Mandatory Redemption ...................  None.

   
Optional Redemption ....................  The Series B Notes will be redeemable
                                          at the option of the Company, in whole
                                          or in part, at any time on or after
                                          March 15, 2002, at the redemption
                                          prices set forth herein, plus accrued
                                          and unpaid interest and Liquidated
                                          Damages (as defined), if any, to the
                                          date of redemption.  In addition, in
                                          the event that the Company consummates
                                          a public offering of its Common Stock
                                          on or before March 15, 2000, the
                                          Company may redeem up to 35% of the
                                          originally issued principal amount of
                                          Series B Notes at a redemption price
                                          of 109 1/4% of the principal amount
                                          thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
                                          interest and Liquidated Damages, if
                                          any, to the date of redemption;
                                          provided that at least 65% of the
                                          originally issued principal amount of
                                          Series B Notes remain outstanding
                                          immediately after the occurrence of
                                          such redemption.  See "Description of
                                          Notes -- Optional Redemption."
    

Change of Control ......................  Upon the occurrence of a Change of
                                          Control (as defined), the Company will
                                          be required, subject to certain
                                          conditions, to make an offer to
                                          purchase the Series B Notes at a price
                                          equal to 101% of the principal amount
                                          thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
                                          interest and Liquidated Damages, if
                                          any, to the date of purchase.  See
                                          "Description of Notes -- Repurchase at
                                          Option of Holders -- Change of
                                          Control."

Ranking ................................  The Series B Notes will be general
                                          unsecured obligations of the Company,
                                          subordinated in right of payment to
                                          all

                                      3

<PAGE>   10

                                           existing and future Senior Debt (as
                                           defined), including all borrowings of
                                           the Company and its subsidiaries
                                           under the Senior Credit Facility.  As
                                           of March 31, 1997, the Company and
                                           its Subsidiaries (as defined) would
                                           have had approximately $64.0 million 
                                           Senior Debt outstanding.  See 
                                           "Description of Certain Indebtedness 
                                           -- Senior Credit Facility."  The 
                                           indenture pursuant to which the 
                                           Series B Notes will be issued (the 
                                           "Indenture") will permit the Company 
                                           to incur additional Senior Debt, 
                                           subject to certain limitations. See
                                           "Description of Notes."

Guarantees ............................... The Series B Notes will be jointly
                                           and severally guaranteed on a senior
                                           subordinated basis by all current
                                           Subsidiaries other than Foreign
                                           Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined).
                                           As of the date hereof, MaP, Key
                                           Plastics U.K. and Clearplas Ltd. will
                                           be Unrestricted Subsidiaries (as
                                           defined), and will not be required to
                                           issue a Subsidiary Guarantee (as
                                           defined) with respect to the Notes.
                                           The Company will be able to designate
                                           other current or future subsidiaries
                                           to be Unrestricted Subsidiaries under
                                           certain  circumstances.  Unrestricted
                                           Subsidiaries will not be required to
                                           issue a Subsidiary Guarantee with
                                           respect to the Notes and will not be
                                           subject to many of the restrictive
                                           covenants set forth in the Indenture.
                                           See "Description of Notes -- Certain
                                           Covenants" and "--Certain
                                           Definitions."

Certain Covenants ........................ The Indenture contains certain
                                           covenants that, among other things,
                                           limit the ability of the Company and
                                           certain of its subsidiaries to (i)
                                           incur additional Indebtedness (as
                                           defined) and issue Disqualified Stock
                                           (as defined) and Preferred Stock (as
                                           defined) of Subsidiaries, (ii) pay
                                           dividends or make other
                                           distributions, repurchase Equity
                                           Interests (as defined) or
                                           subordinated Indebtedness or make
                                           certain investments, (iii) create
                                           certain liens, (iv) enter into
                                           certain transactions with
                                           affiliates, (v) sell assets of the
                                           Company or certain of its
                                           subsidiaries or (vi) enter into
                                           certain mergers and consolidations.
                                           In addition, under certain
                                           circumstances, the Company will be
                                           required to offer to purchase the
                                           Series B Notes at a price equal to
                                           100% of the principal amount
                                           thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
                                           interest and Liquidated Damages, if
                                           any, to the date of purchase, with
                                           the proceeds of certain Asset Sales
                                           (as defined). See "Description of
                                           Notes -- Certain Covenants --
                                           Repurchase at Option of Holders --
                                           Asset Sales."

Exchange Offer, Registration Rights,
Liquidated Damages ....................... Pursuant to a Registration Rights
                                           Agreement (the "Registration Rights
                                           Agreement") by and among the Company,
                                           the Guarantors and the Initial
                                           Purchasers, the Company agreed to
                                           file a registration statement (the
                                           "Exchange Offer Registration
                                           Statement") with respect to an offer
                                           to exchange the Notes for a new issue
                                           of debt securities of the Company
                                           (the "New Notes") registered under
                                           the Securities Act with terms
                                           substantially identical to those of
                                           the Notes.  If (i) the Exchange Offer
                                           is not permitted by applicable law or
                                           (ii) any holder of Transfer
                                           Restricted Securities (as defined)
                                           notifies the Company that (A) it is
                                           prohibited by law or policy of the
                                           Securities and Exchange Commission
                                           (the "Commission") from participating
                                           in the Exchange Offer, (B) it may not
                                           resell the New Notes acquired by it
                                           in the Exchange Offer to the 

                                      4

<PAGE>   11


                                            public without delivering a
                                            prospectus and the prospectus
                                            contained in the Exchange Offer
                                            Registration Statement is not
                                            appropriate or available for such
                                            resales or (C) it is a broker-dealer
                                            and holds Notes acquired directly
                                            from the Company or an affiliate of
                                            the Company, the Company will be
                                            required to provide a shelf
                                            registration statement (the "Shelf
                                            Registration Statement"), to cover
                                            resales of the Notes by the holders
                                            thereof.  If the Company fails to
                                            satisfy these registration
                                            obligations, it may be required to
                                            pay Liquidated Damages ("Liquidated
                                            Damages") to the holders of the
                                            Notes under certain circumstances.
                                            See "Description of Notes --
                                            Registration Rights; Liquidated
                                            Damages."

Conditions to the Exchange Offer .........  The Exchange Offer is subject to
                                            certain customary conditions,
                                            including, the institution of any
                                            action or proceeding which might
                                            materially impair the ability of
                                            the Company to proceed with the
                                            Exchange Offer, changes in
                                            statutory or other law which could
                                            impair the Company's ability to
                                            proceed with the Exchange Offer or
                                            the failure to obtain a
                                            governmental approval which the
                                            Company may deem necessary to
                                            consummate the Exchange Offer.
                                            Such conditions may be waived by
                                            the Company.  See "The Exchange
                                            Offer - Certain Conditions to the
                                            Exchange Offer."

Procedures for Tendering Series A Notes ..  Each holder of Series A Notes
                                            wishing to accept the Exchange
                                            Offer must complete, sign and date
                                            the Letter of Transmittal, or a
                                            facsimile thereof, in accordance
                                            with the instructions contained
                                            herein and therein, and mail or
                                            otherwise deliver such Letter of
                                            Transmittal, or such facsimile,
                                            together with such Series A Notes
                                            and any other required documentation
                                            to the Exchange Agent (as defined)
                                            at the address set forth herein.  By
                                            executing the Letter of Transmittal,
                                            each holder will represent to the
                                            Company that, among other things,
                                            (i) any Series B Notes to be
                                            received by it will be acquired in
                                            the ordinary course of its business,
                                            (ii) it has no arrangement with any
                                            person to participate in the
                                            distribution of the Series B Notes
                                            and (iii) it is not an "affiliate,"
                                            as defined in Rule 405 of the
                                            Securities Act, of the Company.

Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners .. Any beneficial owner whose Series
                                            A Notes are registered in the name
                                            of a broker, dealer, commercial
                                            bank, trust company or other nominee
                                            and who wishes to tender such Series
                                            A Notes in the Exchange Offer should
                                            contact such registered holder
                                            promptly and instruct such
                                            registered to tender on such
                                            beneficial owner's behalf.  If such
                                            beneficial owner wishes to tender on
                                            such owner's own behalf, such owner
                                            must, prior to completing and
                                            executing the Letter of transmittal
                                            and delivering his Series A Notes,
                                            either make appropriate arrangements
                                            to register ownership of the Series
                                            A Notes in such owner's name or
                                            obtain a properly completed bond
                                            power from the registered holder.
                                            The transfer of registered ownership
                                            may take considerable time and may
                                            not be completed prior to the
                                            Expiration Date.

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures ............ Holders of Notes who wish to
                                            tender their Series A Notes and
                                            whose Series A Notes are not
                                            immediately available or who cannot
                                            deliver their Series A Notes, the
                                            Letter of Transmittal or any other
                                            documents required by the Letter of
                                            Transmittal to the Exchange Agent,
                                            prior to the

                                      5

<PAGE>   12


                                              Expiration Date, must tender
                                              their Senior Notes according to
                                              the guaranteed delivery
                                              procedures set forth in "The
                                              Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed
                                              Delivery Procedures."

Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations ..  For a discussion of certain
                                              federal income tax considerations
                                              relating to the exchange of the
                                              Series B Notes for the Series A
                                              Notes, see "Material Federal
                                              Income Tax Considerations."

Exchange Agent .............................  Marine Midland Bank is the
                                              Exchange Agent.  The address and
                                              telephone number of the Exchange
                                              Agent are set forth in "The
                                              Exchange Offer -- Exchange
                                              Agent."


RISK FACTORS ...............................  FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
                                              FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
                                              BY HOLDERS OF THE SERIES A NOTES
                                              IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE
                                              OFFER,  SEE "RISK FACTORS."

                                      6

<PAGE>   13


                                  RISK FACTORS

     An investment in the Series B Notes involves a high degree of risk.  In
connection with the Exchange Offer,  prospective investors should carefully
consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information set
forth elsewhere in this Prospectus.  This Prospectus contains forward-looking
statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors including, without limitation, those set forth in the following Risk
Factors and elsewhere in this Prospectus that may cause the actual results of
the Company to be materially different from the results expressed or implied in
such forward-looking statements.

SIGNIFICANT LEVERAGE AND ABILITY TO SERVICE OUTSTANDING DEBT

     The Company has, and, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, will
continue to have, indebtedness which is substantial in relation to its
shareholders' deficit, as well as interest and debt service requirements which
are significant compared to its cash flow from operations. As of March 31,
1997, the Company had indebtedness consisting of $149.9 million in long term
notes, $24.9 million of 14% Senior Notes due 1999 and $33.0 under the Senior
Credit Facility. The level of the Company's indebtedness could have important
consequences, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) a substantial
portion of the Company's cash flow from operations must be dedicated to debt
service and will not be available for other purposes; (ii) the Company's
ability to obtain additional debt financing in the future for working capital,
capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes may
be limited; (iii) certain of the Company's borrowings may be at variable rates
of interest, which could result in higher interest expense in the event of
increases in interest rates; and (iv) the Company will be subject to a variety
of restrictive covenants, the failure to comply with which could result in
events of default that, if not cured or waived, could restrict the Company's
ability to make payments of principal, interest and liquidated damages, if any,
on its indebtedness.

     The Company's ability to pay interest, and to satisfy its obligations
under the Notes will depend upon its future operating performance, which will
be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other
factors, many of which are beyond its control.  The Company anticipates that
its operating cash flow, together with available borrowings under its Credit
Agreement (the "Senior Credit Facility") dated March 24, 1997 will be
sufficient to meet its operating expenses, to service interest requirements on
its debt obligations as they become due and to implement its business strategy.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company's business will generate
sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be
available in an amount sufficient to enable the Company to service its
indebtedness, to make anticipated capital expenditures or to implement its
business strategy.  The Company may be required to refinance portions of its
indebtedness at or prior to maturity.  No assurance can be given that, if
required, the Company will be able to refinance such indebtedness on terms
acceptable to it, if at all.  If the Company is unable to service its
indebtedness, it will be forced to adopt an alternative strategy that may
include actions such as reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling
assets, restructuring or refinancing its indebtedness or seeking additional
equity capital.  There can be no assurance that any of these strategies could
be effected on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.  See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources."

RESTRICTIONS IN DEBT INSTRUMENTS ON COMPANY'S OPERATIONS

     The Indenture contains certain restrictive covenants which will affect,
and in many respects significantly limit or prohibit, among other things, the
ability of the Company to incur indebtedness, make prepayments of certain
indebtedness, make investments, engage in transactions with affiliates, create
liens, sell assets and engage in mergers and acquisitions.  The Senior Credit
Facility  contains similar and more restrictive covenants and  also requires
the Company to meet certain financial ratios and tests.  These covenants may
significantly limit the operating and financial flexibility of the Company and
may limit its ability to respond to changes in its business or competitive
activities.  The ability of the Company to comply with such provisions may be
affected by events beyond its control.  In the event of any default under the
Senior Credit Facility, the lenders thereunder could elect to declare all
amounts borrowed under the Senior Credit Facility, together with accrued
interest, to be due and payable.  If the Company were unable to repay such
borrowings, the lenders thereunder could proceed against the collateral
securing the Senior Credit Facility, which consists of substantially all of the
assets of the Company.  If the indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility
were to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that the assets of the
Company would be sufficient to repay such indebtedness and the Notes in full. 
See "Description of Certain Indebtedness--Senior Credit Facility."
        
SUBORDINATION AND COMPANY STRUCTURE

     The Notes are unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to all Senior
Debt (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company, including, borrowings under
the Senior Credit Facility.  Further, the Senior Credit Facility is  secured by
liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company.  In the event of the
bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of 

                                      7

<PAGE>   14

the Company, the assets of the Company will be available to pay obligations on
the Notes only after all Senior Debt, including borrowings under the Senior
Credit Facility,  has been paid in full and sufficient assets may not remain to
pay amounts due on any or all of the Notes then outstanding.  In certain
circumstances, provisions of the Senior Debt could prohibit payments of amounts
due to holder of the Notes.  See "Description of Notes--Subordination." 
Subject to certain limitations, the Company, from time to time, may incur
additional Senior Debt, including secured indebtedness, which secured
indebtedness will effectively rank senior to the Notes to the extent of the
value of the assets securing such indebtedness.  See "Description of
Notes--Certain Covenants--Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries."
        
     The Indenture requires that all domestic subsidiaries become guarantors of
the Notes unless such subsidiaries are Unrestricted Subsidiaries (as defined in
the Indenture).  None of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are required to
become guarantors of the Notes.  As of March 31, 1997, Key Plastics
International LLC, Key Plastics Automotive LLC,  Key Plastics Technology, LLC,
Key Mexico A, L.L.C. and Key Mexico B, L.L.C. are Guarantors.  Any right of the
holders of the Notes to participate in the assets of an international
subsidiary of the Company upon any liquidation or reorganization of such
subsidiary will be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiary's creditors,
including trade creditors.  Accordingly, the Notes will be structurally
subordinated to all liabilities, including trade payables, of the international
subsidiaries of the Company with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries.
The Company's Mexican subsidiary will be a restricted subsidiary for purposes
of the Indenture.  The Indenture limits the ability of the Company's
subsidiaries which are not guarantors to borrow money.

     Three of the Company's subsidiaries, MaP, Key Plastics U.K. and Clearplas
Ltd., will be Unrestricted Subsidiaries for purposes of the Indenture and,
therefore, will not be subject to the restrictive covenants which will be
contained in the Indenture.  The Company derived approximately 13.6 % of its
fiscal year 1996 net sales, from these subsidiaries.  Accordingly, the Company
will be able to incur additional indebtedness at the Unrestricted Subsidiary
level, which could have a material adverse effect on the cash flow, if any, to
the Company.  In addition, under certain circumstances, the Company may be able
to designate current and future subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

     The Company derived approximately 13.6 % of its fiscal year 1996 net
sales, from its operations in the United Kingdom and Portugal.  The Company's
international operations are subject to risks inherent in international
business activities, including, in particular, compliance with a variety of
foreign laws and regulations, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements,
overlap of different tax structures, foreign currency exchange rate
fluctuations and general economic conditions.

     The Company prices its products in the United Kingdom and Portugal in the
currency of the country in which the product is sold and, in the United States
and Mexico, in United States dollars.  To the extent that prices are in the
currency of the country in which the products are sold, the prices of such
products in dollars will vary as the value of the dollar fluctuates against
such currencies.  There can be no assurance that there will not be increases in
the value of the dollar against such currencies that will reduce the dollar
return to the Company on the sale of its products in such countries.  The
Company is presently engaged in limited currency hedging transactions in
Mexico, involving the purchase of Mexican pesos to make local payments.  There
can be no assurance that such hedging transactions will protect the Company
against losses in the event of fluctuations in the value of the dollar.
        
THE OEM SUPPLIER INDUSTRY

     The Company competes in the global automotive original equipment
manufacturer supplier industry.  The OEM supplier industry is highly cyclical
and, in large part, dependent upon the overall strength of consumer demand for
light trucks and passenger cars.  There can be no assurance that the automotive
industry for which the Company supplies components and systems will not
experience downturns in the future.  An economic recession typically impacts
substantially leveraged companies such as the Company more than similarly
situated companies with less leverage.  A decrease in overall consumer demand
for light trucks or passenger cars could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations.

     The automotive industry is characterized by a small number of OEM
customers that are able to exert considerable pressure on component and system
suppliers to reduce costs, improve quality and provide additional design and
engineering capabilities.  In the past, OEMs have generally demanded and
received price reductions and measurable increases in quality by implementing
competitive selection processes, rating programs and various other
arrangements.  Also, through increased partnering on platform work, OEMs have
generally required component and system suppliers to provide more design
engineering input at earlier stages of the product development process, the
costs of which have, in some cases, been absorbed by the suppliers.  Although
the Company historically has regained the loss caused by price 

                                      8

<PAGE>   15

reductions to the OEMs through cost reduction initiatives and assistance from
the OEMs, there can be no assurance that future price reductions, increased
quality standards or additional engineering capabilities required by OEMs will
not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of
operations of the Company.

     Many of the Company's OEM customers and their Tier I suppliers are
unionized.  Work stoppages and slow downs experienced by OEMs and their Tier I
suppliers, as a result of labor disputes, could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

RAW MATERIALS

     The principal raw materials used by the Company are engineered plastic
resins such as nylon, polypropylene and ABS, all of which are available from
several suppliers, except that the customer generally specifies a single
supplier to be used by the Company in connection with a specific program.  The
Company has no reason to believe that there will not be an ample supply of its
raw materials for the reasonably foreseeable future, but the Company cannot
make any prediction as to the future price of such raw materials.  The Company
is generally not able to pass on to its customers any increase in raw material
costs; however, the Company, in the past two years, has not experienced any
significant increases in the prices of its raw materials as result of the
consolidation of procurement and supply of raw materials.  A substantial
interruption in the Company's supply of plastic resins, or a material increase
in the price thereof, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition or results of operation.

RELIANCE ON PRINCIPAL CUSTOMERS

     The Company's direct sales to its principal customers, Ford Automotive
Operations ("Ford"), Chrysler  Corporation ("Chrysler") and General Motors
Corporation ("GM"), accounted for approximately 58.4%, 9.2% and 8.2%,
respectively, of the Company's consolidated net sales in fiscal year 1996.  If
sales to such OEMs' Tier I suppliers are included, the Company's sales to Ford,
Chrysler and GM accounted for 63.9%, 11.9% and 9.1%, respectively, of the
Company's consolidated net sales in fiscal year 1996.  Although the Company has
ongoing supply relationships with its principal customers, and is considered by
Ford and Chrysler to be a preferred supplier of door handles and pressurized
bottles, there can be no assurance that sales to Ford, Chrysler and GM will
continue at the same level.  Furthermore, continuation of these relationships
is dependent upon the customers' satisfaction with the price, quality and
delivery of the Company's products.  In addition, the Company's agreements to
produce parts are fixed to specific models or product lines of its customers. 
Accordingly, the Company's business, and estimates for future business, are
dependent upon consumer demand for the specific models and product lines that
incorporate the Company's parts.  The Company's arrangements with its OEMs are
typically in the form of purchase orders that may be canceled by the OEMs. 
However, the Company believes that cancellation of purchase orders is rare,
due, in part, to the OEM production interruption likely to be caused by
changing suppliers.  While management believes the Company's relationships with
its customers are mutually satisfactory, if any of these customers were to
reduce substantially or discontinue their purchases from the Company, the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company would be
materially adversely affected. See "Business-Customers, Marketing and
Engineering Support."
        
COMPETITION

     The Company operates in an industry which is highly competitive.  The
Company competes on the basis of quality, cost, timely delivery and customer
service and, increasingly, on the basis of design and engineering capability,
painting capability, new product innovation and product testing capability.
There can be no assurance that the Company's products will continue to compete
successfully with the products of competitors, including the automotive OEMs
themselves, many of which are significantly larger and have greater financial
and other resources than the Company.  Management believes that the Company's
experience in design engineering and its ability to control manufacturing and
development costs should allow the Company's product prices to remain
competitive.  However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to improve or maintain its profit margins on sales to OEM customers.  See
"Business-Competition."

UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE ACQUISITIONS; INTEGRATION OF ACQUIRED COMPANIES AND
POTENTIAL EFFECT OF ACQUISITIONS

     In fiscal 1996, the Company completed the MaP Acquisition and the
Clearplas Acquisition, and, in the first quarter of 1997, completed the
Aeroquip Acquisition.  Further, the Company has designated a portion of
availability under its Senior Credit Facility for use by the Company to make
future acquisitions.  There can no assurance that the Company  will be able to
locate and acquire additional businesses to enable it to so utilize that
portion of the Senior Credit Facility.  To the extent that any future
acquisitions require the incurrence or assumption of additional indebtedness, a
waiver of certain covenants  in its new Indenture or an amendment of the Senior
Credit Facility may be required.  There can be 

                                      9

<PAGE>   16

no assurance that any acquisition will be permissible under these loan
agreements or that waivers of any such covenants could be obtained.  See
"Description of Notes--Certain Covenants."
        
     In certain instances, a consummated acquisition may adversely affect the
Company's financial condition and reported results, depending on many factors,
including capital requirements and the accounting treatment of such
acquisitions.  There can be no assurance that recent acquisitions, or future
acquisitions, if completed,  will perform as expected, will not result in
significant unexpected liabilities or will contribute significant revenues or
profits to the Company.   Further, integration of the acquired businesses is
subject to numerous contingencies, some of which are beyond management's
control.  Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the Company will be able
to successfully integrate any business it acquires.  Further, as the Company
continues to grow, the increasing size of its operations will place additional
demands on existing management resources, which will require the Company to
effectively redeploy such resources and, at times, to hire new personnel.  If
the Company is unable to manage growth effectively, the Company's financial
condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected.

CONTROL BY PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

     Joel D. Tauber, George Mars and David C. Benoit, directors and
shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders"), hold beneficially 67.4% of
the outstanding capital stock of the Company.  Circumstances may occur in which
the interests of the Shareholders could be in conflict with the interests of
the holders of the Notes.  For example, if the Company encounters financial
difficulties or is unable to pay certain of its debts as they mature, the
interests of the Shareholders might conflict with those of the holders of the
Company's indebtedness.  In addition, the Shareholders may have an interest in
pursuing acquisitions, divestitures or other transactions that, in their
judgment, could enhance their equity investment, even though such transactions
might involve risks to the holders of the Company's indebtedness.
        
CHANGE OF CONTROL

     The Indenture provides that, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control
(as defined in the Indenture), the Company will be required to make an offer to
purchase all of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding at a purchase
price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest and liquidated damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase.  Such
a Change of Control constitutes an event of default under the Senior Credit
Facility.  Accordingly, if a Change of Control were to occur, the subordination
provisions contained in the Indenture could prohibit the Company from
satisfying its obligation to repurchase the Senior Subordinated Notes until all
Senior Debt (as defined in Indenture), including all indebtedness under the
Senior Credit Facility, is repaid.  There can be no assurance that the Company
would have adequate financial resources to repay all of its obligations under
the Senior Subordinated Notes upon the occurrence of a Change of Control.  See
"Description of Notes--Repurchase at the Option of Holders--Change of Control."

FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE

     The incurrence by the Company or the Guarantors of indebtedness,  such as
the Series B Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (as defined in the Indenture),
as applicable, may be subject to review under relevant state and federal
fraudulent conveyance laws if a bankruptcy case or lawsuit is commenced by or
on behalf of unpaid creditors of the Company or the Guarantors.  Under these
laws, if a court were to find that, after giving effect to the issuance of the
Series B Notes or the Subsidiary Grantees, as the case may be, and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom, either (a) the Company or any
Guarantor incurred such indebtedness with the intent of hindering, delaying or
defrauding creditors or (b) the Company or any Guarantor received less than
reasonably equivalent value or consideration for incurring such indebtedness
and (i) was insolvent or was rendered insolvent by reason of such transaction,
(ii) was engaged in a business or transaction for which the property remaining
with the Company or any Guarantor constituted unreasonably small capital or
(iii) intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its
ability to pay as they matured, such court may subordinate such indebtedness to
presently existing and future indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as
the case may be, avoid the issuance of such indebtedness and direct repayment
of any amounts paid thereunder to the company's or the Guarantor's creditors,
as the case may be, or take other action detrimental to the holders of the
Series B Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees.

     The definition of insolvency for purposes of determining whether a
transfer is avoidable as a fraudulent transfer varies depending upon the law of
the jurisdiction which is being applied.  Generally, however, a debtor would be
considered insolvent if the sum of all of its liabilities, including contingent
liabilities, were greater than the value of all of its property at a fair
valuation, or if the present saleable value of the debtor's assets were less
than the amount required to repay its probable liabilities on its debt,
including contingent liabilities as they become absolute and matured.  There
can be no assurance as to what standard a court would apply in order to
determine solvency.


                                     10

<PAGE>   17

     The Company and the guarantors believe that they will receive reasonably
equivalent  value at the time the indebtedness under the Notes and the
Subsidiary Guarantees is incurred.  In addition, neither the Company nor the
Guarantors believe, that after giving effect to the offering of Senior
Subordinated Notes and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, they (i)
were or will be insolvent or rendered insolvent, (ii) were or will be engaged
in a business or transaction for which their respective remaining property
constituted unreasonably small capital or (iii) intend or intended to incur, or
would incur debts beyond their respective ability to pay such debts as they
mature.  There can be no assurance, however, that a court determining the
merits of these issues would reach the same conclusion.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

     The Company and its operations are subject to comprehensive and frequently
changing federal, state and local environmental and occupational health and
safety laws and regulations, including laws and regulations governing emissions
of air pollutants, discharges of waste and storm water, and the disposal of
hazardous wastes.  The Company is also subject to liability for the
investigation and remediation of environmental contamination (including
contamination caused by other parties) at the properties it owns or operates
and at other properties where the Company or predecessors have arranged for the
disposal of hazardous substances.  As a result, the Company is involved, from
time to time, in administrative and judicial proceedings and inquiries relating
to environmental matters.  The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has raised
questions about the air permit status of the Company's facility in Montpelier,
Ohio.  The Company expects to resolve these questions without making
significant financial expenditures, although there can be no assurance thereof. 
The Company does not believe there are any other pending investigations at the
Company's plants or sites relating to environmental matters.  However, there
can be no assurance that the Company will not be involved in other such
proceedings in the future and that the aggregate amount of future clean-up
costs and other environmental liabilities will not be material.
        
     Federal, state and local governments could enact laws or regulations
concerning environmental matters that increase the cost of producing, or
otherwise adversely affect the demand for, the Company's products.  The Company
cannot predict the environmental liabilities that may result from legislation
or regulations adopted in the future.  Nor can the Company predict how existing
or future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted or what
environmental conditions may be found to exist.  The enactment of more
stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws and
regulations could require additional expenditures by the Company, some of which
could be material.

CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE; POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECT ON TRADING MARKET
FOR SERIES A NOTES

     Holders of Series A Notes who do not exchange their Series A Notes for
Series B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject to
the restrictions on transfer of such Series A Notes as set forth in the legend
thereon as a consequence of the issuance of the Series A Notes pursuant to
exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.  In
general, the Series A Notes may not be offered or sold unless registered under
the Securities Act and applicable state laws, or pursuant to an exemption
therefrom.  Subject to the obligation by the Company to file a shelf
registration statement covering resales of Series A Notes in certain limited
circumstances, the Company does not intend to register the Series A Notes under
the Securities Act and, after consummation of the Exchange Offer, will not be
obligated to do so.  In addition, any holder of Series A Notes who tenders in
the Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the
Series B Notes may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so,
will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.
Additionally, as a result of the Exchange Offer, it is expected that a
substantial decrease in the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes
outstanding will occur.  As a result, it is unlikely that a liquid trading
market will exist for the Series A Notes at any time.  This lack of liquidity
will make transactions more difficult and may reduce the trading price of the
Series A Notes.  See "The Exchange Offer" and "Description Notes - Registration
Rights; Liquidated Damages."

ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET

     The Series B Notes will constitute a new class of securities with no
established trading market.  The Company does not intend to list the Series B
Noes on any national securities exchange or to seek the admission thereof to
trading in The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market.  The Company has been
advised by the Initial Purchasers that the Initial Purchasers  currently intend
to make a market in the Series B Notes.  They are not obligated to do so,
however, and any market-making activities with respect to the Notes may be
discontinued at any time without notice.  In addition, such market-making
activity  will be subject to the limits imposed by the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, and may be limited during the Exchange Offer and the pendency of
any Shelf Registration Statement.  See "Description of Notes -- Registration
Rights; Liquidated Damages."  Accordingly, no assurance can be given that an
active public or other market will develop for the Series B Notes or as to the
liquidity of the trading market for the Series B Notes.


                                     11
<PAGE>   18


     If the trading market does not develop or is not maintained, holders of
the Series B Notes may experience difficulty in reselling the Series B Notes or
may be unable to sell them at all.  If a market for the Series B Notes does
develop, any such market may be discontinued at any time.  If a public trading
market develops for the Notes, future trading prices of such Series B Notes
will depend upon many factors, including, among other things, prevailing
interest rates, the Company's financial condition and results of operations,
and the market for similar notes.  Depending upon those and other factors, the
Series B Notes may trade at a discount from their principal amount.
Historically, the market for noninvestment grade debt has been subject to
disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of such
securities.  There can be no assurance that the market for the Series B Notes
will not be subject to similar disruptions.  Any such disruptions may have an
adverse effect on holders of the Series B Notes.

<PAGE>   19


                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed (i) to
file a registration statement with respect to a registered offer to exchange
the Series A Notes for the Series B Notes, which will have with terms
substantially identical in all material respects to the Series A Notes (except
that the Series B Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer
restrictions, registration rights and liquidated damages) within 45 days after 
the date of original issuance of the Series A Notes and (ii) to use reasonable
best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective under the
Securities Act at the earliest possible time but in any event no later than 60
days after the filing with the Commission.  In the event that applicable law or
interpretations of the staff of the Commission do not permit the Company to
file the registration statement containing this Prospectus or to effect the
Exchange Offer, or if certain holders of the Series A Notes notify the Company
that they are prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the
Exchange Offer, or subject to certain other restrictions the Company will use
its reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective the shelf registration
statement with respect to the resale of the Series A Notes and to keep the
shelf registration statement effective until the earlier of three years
following the date of original issue and such time as all the Series A Notes
have been sold thereunder or are otherwise not restricted securities.  See
"Description of Notes--Registration Rights, Liquidated Damages."

     Each holder of the Series A Notes who wishes to exchange such Series A
Notes for Series B Notes in the Exchange Offer will be required to make certain
representations, including representations that (i) any Exchange Notes to be
received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) it
has no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of the
Series B Notes, and (iii) it is not an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act, of the Company.  See "Description of Notes--Registration
Rights."

RESALE OF SERIES B NOTES

     Based on interpretations by the staff of the Commission set forth in
no-action letters issued to third parties, the Company believes that, except as
described below, Series B Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in
exchange for Series A Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise
transferred by any holder thereof (other than a holder which is an "affiliate"
of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act, provided that such Series B Notes are acquired in the ordinary
course of such holder's business and such holder does not intend to participate
and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of such Series B Notes.  Any holder who tenders in the Exchange
Offer with the intention or for the purpose of participating in a distribution
of the Series B Notes cannot rely on such interpretation by the staff of the
Commission and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale
transaction.  Unless an exemption from registration is otherwise available, any
such resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the information required by the Securities Act.  This
Prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, resale or other retransfer of
Series B Notes only as specifically set forth herein.  Each broker-dealer that
receives Series B Notes for its own account in exchange for Series A Notes,
where such Series A Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Series B Notes.
See "Plan of Distribution."

TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus
and in the Letter of Transmittal, the Company will accept for exchange any and
all Series A Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the Expiration Date.  The Company will issue $1,000
principal amount of Series B Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount
of outstanding Series A Notes surrendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Series A Notes may be tendered only in integral multiples of $1,000.

                                     12

<PAGE>   20


     The form and terms of the Series B Notes will be the substantially
identical in all material respects to as the form and terms of the Series A
Notes except the Series B Notes will be registered under the Securities Act and
hence will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof.  The Series B
Notes will evidence the same debt as the Series A Notes.  The Series B Notes
will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, which also
authorized the issuance of the Series A Notes, such that both series will be
treated as a single class of debt securities under the Indenture.

     The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal
amount of Series A Notes being tendered for exchange.

     As of the date of this Prospectus, $125,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Series A Notes are outstanding.  This Prospectus, together with the
Letter of Transmittal, is being sent to all registered holders of Series A
Notes.  There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders
of Series A Notes entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer.

     The Company intends to conduct the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement and the applicable requirements
of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.  Series A Notes which are not tendered for exchange in the Exchange
Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest and will be
entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the Indenture and
the Registration Rights Agreement.

     The Company shall be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly
tendered Series A Notes when, as and if, the Company shall have given written
notice thereof to the Exchange Agent and complied with the provisions of the 
Registration Rights Agreement.  The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the 
tendering holders for the purpose of receiving the Series B Notes from the 
Company.  The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the 
Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Series A Notes not 
theretofore accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the
conditions specified below under "-- Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer."

     Holders who tender Series A Notes in the Exchange Offer will not be
required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions
in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of
Series A Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.  The Company will pay all
charges and expense, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in
connection with the Exchange Offer.  See "The Exchange Offer -- Fees and
Expenses."

EXPIRATION DATE, EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS

     The term "Expiration Date," shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time on
___________, 1997, unless the Company, in its sole discretion, extends the
Exchange Offer, in which case the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest
date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended.

     In order to extend the Exchange Offer, the Company will notify the
Exchange Agent of any extension by written notice, prior to 9:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration
Date, and will mail to the registered holders of Series A Notes an announcement
thereof.

     The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, (i) to delay
accepting for exchange any Series A Notes, to extend the Exchange Offer or to
terminate the Exchange Offer if any of the conditions set forth below under
"The Exchange Offer -- Conditions" shall not have been satisfied, by giving
oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the Exchange
Agent or (ii) to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner.  Any such
delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as
promptly as practicable by written notice thereof to the registered holders of
Series A Notes.  If the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined by the
Company to constitute a material change, the Company will promptly disclose
such amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders of the
Series A Notes of such amendment and the Company will extend the Exchange Offer
as necessary to provide the holders with a period of five to ten business days,
after such amendment, depending upon the significance of the amendment and the
manner of disclosure to the registered holders, if the Exchange Offer would
otherwise expire during such period.
        
CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not
be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any Series B Notes for, any
Series A Notes, and may terminate the Exchange offer as provided herein before
the acceptance of any Series A Notes for exchange, if.

                                     13

<PAGE>   21

           (a) any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in any
     court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the
     Exchange Offer which, in the Company's reasonable judgment, might ht
     materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange
     Offer, or

           (b) any law, statute, rule or regulation is proposed, adopted or
     enacted, or any existing law, statute, rule or regulation is interpreted
     by the staff of the Commission, which, in the Company's reasonable
     judgment, might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed
     with the Exchange Offer, or

           (c) any governmental approval has not been obtained, which approval
     the Company shall, in its reasonable discretion, deem necessary for the
     consummation of the Exchange Offer as contemplated hereby.

     The Company expressly reserves the right, at any time or from time to
time, to extend the period of time during which the Exchange Offer is open, and
thereby delay acceptance for exchange of any Series A Notes, by giving written
notice of such extension to the holders thereof.  During any such extensions,
all Series A Notes previously tendered will remain subject to the Exchange
Offer and may be accepted for exchange by the Company.  Any Series A Notes not
accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the
tendering holder thereof as promptly as practicable after the expiration or
termination of the Exchange Offer.

     The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the
Exchange Offer, and not to accept, for exchange any Series A Notes not
theretofore accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions
of the Exchange Offer specified above under "-- Certain Conditions to the
Exchange Offer." The Company will give written notice of any extension,
amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the Series A Notes
as promptly as practicable, such notice in the case of any extension to be
issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day
after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

     The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and may
be asserted by the Company regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any
such condition or may be waived by the Company in whole or in part at any time
and from time to time in its sole discretion.  The failure by the Company at
any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver
of any such right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which
may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

     In addition, the Company will not accept for exchange any Series A Notes
tendered, and no Series B Notes will be issued in exchange for any such Series
A Notes, if at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with
respect to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a
part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 (the "TIA").

PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING

     Only a holder of Series A Notes may tender such Series A Notes in the
Exchange Offer.  To tender in the Exchange Offer, a holder must complete, sign
and date the Letter of Transmittal, or facsimile thereof, have the signature
thereon guaranteed if required by the Letter of Transmittal, and mail or
otherwise deliver such Letter of Transmittal or such facsimile to the Exchange
Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.  In
addition, either (i) Series A Notes must be received by the Exchange Agent
along with the  Letter of Transmittal, or (ii) a timely confirmation of
book-entry transfer (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of such Series A Notes, if
such procedure is available, into the Exchange Agent's account at the
Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the
procedure for book-entry transfer described below must be received by the
Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date, or (iii) the holder must comply
with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.  To be tendered
effectively, the Letter of Transmittal and other required documents must be
received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under "The
Exchange Offer -- Exchange Agent" prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the Expiration Date.
        
     The tender by a holder which is not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date
will constitute an agreement between such holder and the Company in accordance
with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Letter
of Transmittal.

     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF SERIES A NOTES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND
ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK
OF THE HOLDER.  INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HOLDERS USE
AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE.  IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE.
NO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR SERIES A NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY.
HOLDERS MAY REQUEST THEIR RESPEC-

                                     14

<PAGE>   22


TIVE BROKERS, DEALERS, COMMERCIAL BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR OTHER NOMINEES TO
EFFECT THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS FOR SUCH HOLDERS.
        
     Any beneficial owner whose Series A Notes are registered in the name of a
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes
to tender should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct such
registered holder of Series A Notes to tender on such beneficial owner's
behalf.  If such beneficial owner wishes to tender on such owner's own behalf,
such owner must, prior to completing and executing the Letter of Transmittal
and delivering such owner's Series A Notes, either make appropriate
arrangements to register ownership of the Series A Notes in such owner's name
or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder of Series
A Notes.  The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and
may not be able to be completed prior to the Expiration Date.

     Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal described
below, as the case be, must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as
defined below) unless the Series A Notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered
(i) by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled "Special
Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions" on the Letter of
Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.  In the event
that signatures on a Letter Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case
may be, are required to be guaranteed, such guarantor must be a member firm of
a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office
or correspondent in the United States or an "eligible guarantor institution"
within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act which is a member of
one of the recognized signature guarantee programs identified in the Letter of
Transmittal (an "Eligible Institution").

     If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered holder of any Series A Notes listed therein, such Series A Notes
must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond power, signed by
such registered holder as such registered holder's name appears on such Series
A Notes with the signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

     If the Letter of Transmittal or any Series A Notes or bond powers are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorney-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by
the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act
must be submitted with the Letter of Transmittal.

     All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt), acceptance of tendered Series A Notes and withdrawal of tendered
Series A Notes will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which
determination will be final and binding.  The Company reserves the absolute
right to reject any and all Series A Notes not properly tendered or any Series
A Notes the Company's acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel for
the Company, be unlawful.  The Company also reserves the right to waive any
defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Series A
Notes.  The Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the
Exchange Offer (including the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal) will
be final and binding on all parties.  Unless waived, any defects or
irregularities in connection with tenders of Series A Notes must be cured
within such time as the Company shall determine.  Although the Company intends
to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of
Series A Notes, neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person
shall incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of
Series A Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or
irregularities have been cured or waived.  Any Series A Notes received by the
Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or
irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange
Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in the Letter of
Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.

     In all cases, issuance of Series B Notes for Series A Notes that are
accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after
timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of Notes or a timely Book-Entry
Confirmation of such Series A Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility, properly completed and duly executed Letter of
Transmittal and all other required documents.  If any tendered Series A Notes
are not accepted for exchange for any reason set forth in the terms and
conditions of the Exchange Offer or if Series A Notes are submitted for a
greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, such unaccepted
or non-exchanged Series A Notes will be returned without expense to the
tendering holder thereof (or, in the case of Series A Notes tendered by
book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described
below, such non-exchanged Notes will be credited to an account maintained with
such Book-Entry Transfer Facility) as promptly as practicable after the
expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

                                      15

<PAGE>   23

BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER

     The Exchange Agent will make a request to establish an account with
respect to the Series A Notes at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility for purposes
of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of this
Prospectus, and any financial institution that is a participant in the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility's system may make book-entry delivery of Series A
Notes by causing the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with such
Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures for transfer.  However, although
delivery of Notes may be effected through book-entry at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility, the Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required
signature guarantees and any other required documents, must, in any case, be
transmitted to and received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth
below under "The Exchange Offer - Exchange Agent" on or prior to the Expiration
Date or, if the guaranteed delivery procedures described below are to be
complied with, within the time period provided under such procedures.  Delivery
of documents to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery
to the Exchange Agent.

GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES

     Holders who wish to tender their Series A Notes and (i) whose Series A
Notes are not immediately available or (h) who cannot deliver their Series A
Notes, the Letter of Transmittal or any other required documents to the
Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date, may effect a tender if:

           (a) The tender is made through an Eligible Institution;

           (b) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent received from
      such Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice
      of Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery)
      setting forth the name and address of the holder, the
      registered number(s) of such Series A Notes and the principal amount of
      Series A Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being made thereby
      and guaranteeing that, within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading
      days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
      thereof) together with the Series A Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation,
      as the case may be, and any other documents required by the Letter of
      Transmittal will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the
      Exchange Agent; and

           (c) Such properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal (or
      facsimile thereof), as well as all tendered Notes in proper form for
      transfer or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, and all other
      documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, are received by the
      Exchange Agent within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days
      after the Expiration Date.

     Upon request to the Exchange Agent, a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will
be sent to holders who wish to tender their Series A Notes according to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.

WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS

     Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Series A Notes may be
drawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date.

     For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be
received by the Exchange Agent at  the address set forth below under "Exchange
Agent." Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person
having tendered the Series A Notes to be withdrawn, identify the Series A Notes
to be withdrawn (including the principal amount of such Series A Notes), and
(where certificates for Series A Notes have been transmitted) specify the name
in which such Series A Notes were registered, if different from that of the
withdrawing holder.  If certificates for Series A Notes have been delivered or
otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent, then, prior to the release of such
certificates the withdrawing holder must also submit the serial numbers of the
particular certificates to be withdrawn and a signed notice of withdrawal with
signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless such holder is an
Eligible Institution.  If Series A Notes have been tendered pursuant to the
procedure for book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal
must specify the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Series A Notes and otherwise comply
with the procedures of such facility.  All questions as to the validity, form
and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined
by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
Any Series A Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly
tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer.  Any Series A Notes
which have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any
reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or,
in the case of Series A Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange
Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility pursuant to the book-entry
transfer procedures described above, such Series A Notes will be credited to an
account maintained with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility for the Series A
Notes) as soon as 

                                     16

<PAGE>   24


practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the
Exchange Offer.  Properly withdrawn Series A Notes may be retendered by
following one of the procedures described under "Procedures for Tendering       
Series A Notes" above at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
        
EXCHANGE AGENT

     Marine Midland Bank has been appointed as Exchange Agent of the Exchange
Offer.  Questions and requests for assistance, request for additional copies of
this Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal and requests for Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery should be directed to the Exchange Agent addressed as
follows:


By Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand Delivery:       By Facsimile:

        Marine Midland Bank                      Marine Midland Bank
          140 Broadway                         Attention: Paulette Shaw
       New York, New York  10004                    (917) 659-2292
        Attention: Paulette Shaw            (For Eligible Institutions Only)

FEES AND EXPENSES

     The expenses of soliciting tenders will be borne by the Company.  The
principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, additional solicitation
may be made by telephone, telephone or in person by officers and of the Company
and its affiliates.

     The Company has not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the
Exchange Offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer.  The Company, however, will pay
the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will
reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.

     The cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer
will be paid by the Company and are estimated in the aggregate to be
approximately $99,000.  Such expenses include registration fees, fees and
expenses of the Exchange Agent and Trustee, accounting and legal fees and
printing costs, and related fees and expenses.

     The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the
exchange of Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.  If, however, certificates
representing Series A Notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for
exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person
other than the holder of Notes tendered, or if tendered Notes are registered in
the name of any person other than signing the Letter of Transmittal, or if a
transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes
(whether imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable
by the tendering holder.  If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or
exemption therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount
of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

TRANSFER TAXES

     Holders who tender their Series A Notes for exchange will not be obligated
to pay any transfer taxes in connection therewith, except that holders who
instruct the Company to register Series B Notes in the name of, or request that
Series A Notes not tendered or not accepted in the Exchange Offer be returned
to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be responsible for
the payment of any applicable transfer tax thereon.

CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE

     Holders of Series A Notes who do not exchange their Series A Notes for
Series B Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject to
the restrictions on transfer of such Series A Notes, as set forth in the legend
thereon as a consequence of the issuance of the Series A Notes pursuant to the
exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.  In
general, the Series A Notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under
the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction
not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.  The
Company does not currently anticipate that it will register the Series A Notes
under the Securities Act.  Based on interpretations by the staff of the
Commission, Series B Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered
for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than any
such holder which is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule
405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Series
B Notes are acquired in the ordinary 

                                     17

<PAGE>   25


course of such holders' business and such holders have no arrangement or
understanding with respect to the distribution of the Series B Notes to be
acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer.  Any holder who tenders in the
Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Series
B Notes (i) could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of
the Commission and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary
resale transaction.  In addition, to comply with the securities laws of certain
jurisdictions, if applicable, the Series B Notes may not be offered or sold
unless they have been registered or complied with.  The Company has agreed,
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and subject to certain specified
limitations therein, to register or qualify the Series B Notes for offer or
sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are
necessary to consummate the Exchange Offer.

                                     18
        
<PAGE>   26


                                USE OF PROCEEDS

USE OF PROCEEDS OF SERIES B NOTES

     This Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy certain obligations of the
Company under the Registration Rights Agreement.  The Company will not receive
any proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Notes offered hereby.  In
consideration for issuing the Series B Notes as contemplated in the Prospectus,
the Company will receive, in exchange, Series A Notes in like principal amount.
The form terms of the Series B Notes are substantially identical in all
material respects to the form and terms of the Series A Notes, except as
otherwise described herein under "The Exchange Offer - Terms of Exchange
Offer."  The Series A Notes surrendered in exchange for the Series B Notes will
be retired and canceled and cannot be reissued.  Accordingly, issuance of the
Series B Notes will not result any increase in the outstanding debt of the
Company.

USE OF PROCEEDS OF SERIES A NOTES

     The Company used the net proceeds, together of the offering of the Series
A Notes, together with borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility, (i) to
repurchase a portion of its 14% Senior Notes due 1999, (ii) to repay
indebtedness under its prior credit facility, (iii) to repay certain other
obligations, (iv) to repay certain obligations to its shareholders and (v) for
general corporate purposes.



                                 CAPITALIZATION

     The following table set forth the capitalization of the Company at March
31, 1997, on a historical basis, and of the Company, on an as adjusted basis,
giving effect to the Exchange Offer.  The historical and as adjusted data
should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial
statements of the Company included elsewhere herein.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              AS OF MARCH 31, 1997
                                                            HISTORICAL     AS ADJUSTED
                                                          --------------  --------------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                       <C>             <C>
Cash ...................................................  $        1,966  $        1,867
                                                          ==============  ==============

Long-term debt, including current portion:
 Senior Credit Facility ................................          32,969          32,969
 14% Senior Notes due 1999..............................          24,865          24,865
 10-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 ............         125,000              --
 10-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B ..              --         125,000
 Other Debt ............................................          15,001          15,001
                                                          --------------  --------------

  Total Debt ...........................................         197,835         197,835
                                                          --------------  --------------

Shareholders' equity (deficit)(a) ......................         (17,863)        (17,863)
                                                          --------------  --------------

Total capitalization ...................................  $      179,972  $      179,972
                                                          ==============  ==============
</TABLE>

______________

(a)  Shareholders' deficit results primarily from a distribution in 1988 to
     the Company's shareholders of approximately $57 million as a dividend and
     a repurchase of stock held by persons who were not employees of the
     Company at the time offset by the Company's cumulative net income,
     dividends and other capital transactions.



                                      19

<PAGE>   27


                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     The following table sets forth selected historical consolidated financial
data of Key Plastics, Inc. for the five year period ended December 31, 1996 and
the three months ended March 31, 1997.  The selected consolidated financial
data for such fiscal years were derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company.  The audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996
are included elsewhere in this Prospectus together with the report thereon of
Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P., independent accountants.  The following table should
be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and the historical consolidated financial
statements of the Company presented elsewhere in this Prospectus.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                      QUARTER 
                                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31                      ENDED 
                                                                --------------------------------------------------      MARCH 
                                                                  1992     1993       1994(A)  1995(A) 1996(B)       31, 1997
                                                                                                                    ---------
                                                                                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)           
<S>                                                             <C>       <C>        <C>     <C>        <C>        <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
 Net sales .....................................................  $119,600  $149,658  $194,112  $179,251  $217,087   $ 66,742
 Cost of sales .................................................    95,646   120,902   158,052   141,707   177,635     54,125
                                                                  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------   --------
 Gross profit ..................................................    23,954    28,756    36,060    37,544    39,452     12,617
 Selling, general and administrative expenses...................     9,721    10,362    13,955    15,531    16,532      6,367
 Amortization ..................................................     1,841       899       784       641       658        195
                                                                  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------   --------
 Operating income ..............................................    12,392    17,495    21,321    21,372    22,262      6,055
 Interest expense ..............................................    10,553    11,575    12,752    14,292    15,211      4,978
  Extraordinary item-loss on early retirement
     of debt (c) ...............................................     5,840       ---       ---       ---       ---      5,471 
  Cumulative effect of accounting change (d)....................       354       ---       ---       ---       ---        ---
     Net income (loss) .........................................  $ (4,355) $  5,920  $  8,569  $  7,080  $  7,051  ($  4,244)
                                                                  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========   =========
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (e) .......................        --      1.5x      1.6x      1.5x      1.4x       1.3x

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:

  EBITDA (f) ...................................................  $ 18,370  $ 23,305  $ 27,588  $ 28,984  $ 32,095   $  9,278
  Depreciation and amortization ................................     5,978     5,810     6,267     7,612     9,833      3,223
  Capital expenditures:
     Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment, net ........     6,911    16,816    16,819    14,047    16,738      3,241
     Property, plant and equipment from acquired business ......        --        --        --        --    23,109     10,300

BALANCE SHEET DATA:

     Total assets ..............................................  $ 74,625  $ 96,556  $121,853  $126,900  $193,204   $230,444
     Total debt ................................................    92,748   102,859   111,060   119,640   149,062    197,835
     Long-term debt ............................................    87,168    85,818   103,522   102,467    84,578    192,132
     Total shareholders' equity (deficit) (g) ..................   (42,504)  (29,841)  (23,427)  (20,875)  (15,563)   (17,863)
</TABLE>

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

(a)  The Company's financial statements for the years ended December 31, 1994
     and 1995 have been  restated to reflect errors in previously reported
     amounts.  See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b)  The income statement data and other financial data for 1996 reflect the
     results of the Clearplas Acquisition as of May 1, 1996 and the MaP
     Acquisition as of November 1, 1996.

                                     20

<PAGE>   28


(c)  In 1992, this reflects a non-cash charge representing unamortized original
     issue discount on certain subordinated notes of the Company which were
     retired in 1992 at their fair value.  In 1997, approximately $4.5 million
     was paid for certain tender offer and consent solicitation fees related to
     the retirement of a portion of 14% Senior Notes due 1999 and approximately
     $1.0 million of unamortized original issue discount, related to the notes 
     tendered, was written off.

(d)  Reflects the adoption of the requirements of Statement of Accounting
     Standards No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits
     Other than Pensions."

(e)  For purposes of this computation, earnings consist of income (loss)
     before income taxes plus fixed charges.  Fixed charges consist of interest
     on indebtedness plus that portion of lease rental expense representative
     of the interest factor.  The Company's earnings were insufficient to cover
     fixed charges for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992 by approximately
     $4.4 million.  Net income for 1992 includes a $5.8 million non-cash
     extraordinary loss item which reflects unamortized original issue discount
     on certain subordinated notes of the Company which were retired at their
     face value.

(f)  EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization.
     EBITDA is presented because it is widely accepted financial indicator of
     a company's ability to incur and service debt.  However, EBITDA should not
     be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flow
     data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     or as a measure of a company's profitability or liquidity.

(g)  Shareholders' deficit results primarily from a distribution in 1988 to
     the Company's shareholders of approximately $57 million as a dividend and
     a repurchase of stock held by persons who were not employees of the
     Company at such time, partially offset by the Company's cumulative net
     income, dividends and other capital transactions.



                                     21

<PAGE>   29


                                    BUSINESS

THE COMPANY

     The Company is a  global supplier of highly engineered plastic components
and assemblies to automotive original equipment manufacturers and Tier I
suppliers.  The Company believes it is the largest independent supplier of
plastic door handle assemblies, decorative bezels and pressurized bottles in
North America for the automotive industry.  Other products manufactured by the
Company include interior trim components, precision molded parts, instrument
cluster components, electrical connector covers, air louvers, speaker grilles
and underhood functional components.

   
     The Company provides the automotive industry with comprehensive plastics
manufacturing capabilities, including design and engineering, high-precision
injection molding, automated manufacturing and assembly, plastic painting and
material and product testing.  The Company operates its world headquarters and
technical center, thirteen manufacturing and three paint facilities in North 
America and two facilities in Europe with painting and manufacturing 
capabilities.  The Company also has extensive tool making capabilities and 
designs and builds approximately one-third of the tooling used in the 
manufacturing of its principal products.
    

     Management believes that the Company has achieved its current leadership
position and is well positioned to benefit from emerging trends in the global
automotive markets as a result of several key competitive strengths, including:
(i) demonstrated technological expertise and innovation in developing highly
engineered systems and components; (ii) strong relationships with major OEMs;
(iii) an emphasis on quality management; (iv) the ability to supply its
customers globally; and (v) state of the art equipment and facilities.

     Since 1992, the Company has invested over $93.8 million to upgrade its
existing facilities and to acquire and build new facilities.  Since that time,
the Company has established its world headquarters and technical center, has
constructed a new paint facility in Hartford City, Indiana, has brought on line
four molding facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, York, Pennsylvania, South
Bend, Indiana and Chihuahua, Mexico, has acquired the assets and business of
Clearplas, has acquired control of MaP and consummated the Aeroquip Acquisition.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

     The automotive industry is currently characterized by a number of factors
which affect the Company and its business strategy.  These factors include (i)
OEMs' demand for suppliers with efficient, comprehensive research and
development, design and manufacturing capabilities, (ii) consolidation of
suppliers as a result of increasing OEM demands, and (iii) the globalization of
the OEM supplier base.  As a result of these factors, suppliers must (i)
continually demonstrate the ability to satisfy, in cost efficient ways, the
OEMs' design and manufacturing demands and (ii) establish international
positions which can effectively supply and service the OEMs.

     The Company seeks to maintain its leadership position in the industry and
maximize its revenues and net income by employing its operating strategy, which
has the following principal components.

     Focus on Highly Engineered, Value-added Products.  The Company believes
highly engineered, value-added components are typically more difficult for a
customer to produce in-house or a competitor to replicate due to the
substantial investment required in specialized engineering, design and
manufacturing capabilities.  Management believes such products have strong
worldwide growth potential and high margins.  Further, the Company capitalizes
on the specialized design and manufacturing expertise it has developed for one
customer by marketing such expertise across its customer base.  For example,
the Company has recently utilized its CAD/CAM systems, including finite element
analysis, to verify the Dodge Dakota door handle design, eliminating the need
for prototype tools, and thereby saving one year of product development time
and the corresponding required investment.  The Company expects to be able to
utilize this expertise as more OEMs move away from tooling in designing
prototypes.

     Emphasize Quality Management.  Among the most important factors in
maintaining preferred supplier status with OEMs is product quality.  The
Company has a strong quality assurance program and has made substantial
investments in technology to monitor and improve quality.  Included among these
investments are CAD/CAM equipment, statistical process control systems, failure
mode and effect systems, process-controlled molding machines and automated
assembly 

                                     22

<PAGE>   30

equipment.  In addition, the Company has material and product test laboratories
that monitor product reliability and which are accredited by its major OEM
customers, and the Company's engineering functions are ISO 9001 certified.  The
Company has exceeded the supplier criteria established by Ford and, since
January 1996, the Company has experienced a monthly average of only
twenty-eight rejects per million parts.  Under Ford's criteria for the
Company's parts, Ford requires less than 300 rejects per million parts. Because
the Company has substantially exceeded such goals, it considers itself to be a
world class supplier.
        
     Provide Comprehensive Manufacturing and Engineering Capabilities while
Improving Cost Competitiveness.  In response to increasingly rigorous OEM
purchasing and manufacturing policies, the Company has developed comprehensive
plastics manufacturing capabilities, including design and engineering,
automated manufacturing and assembly, painting and materials and product
testing, prototype production and tooling.  For example, the Company has
developed a manufacturing process which eliminates work-in-progress inventory
for its door handle assemblies.  Door handle assemblies move directly from the
paint line to a work station where they are assembled and packaged as finished
products.  The Company produces 36 different door handles in 98 different
colors for five OEMs.  The Company expects to produce approximately 7 million
door handle assemblies, consisting of approximately 14 million molded-and
painted parts, in 1997 at its Hartford, Indiana facility.  In addition to
requiring comprehensive manufacturing capabilities, OEMs are demanding
market-driven pricing and long-term productivity commitments, which demands are
forcing suppliers to eliminate waste and optimize productivity.  The Company
has invested in and successfully implemented lean manufacturing methodologies,
including the use of cell-based manufacturing and automation through state of
the art "poke-yoked" (fail safed) devices which have made significant
contributions to the Company's product quality and have assisted in the
reduction of labor costs and work-in-progress inventory.  Cell-based
manufacturing utilizes machine vision, robotics and a pelletized approach in
the production of components.  Conversion of a work cell from one application
to another is easily accomplished through reprogramming and the installation of
new pallets at significantly less cost than a traditional approach to
manufacturing products.  The Company utilizes a work cell approach to produce
pressurized bottles for Ford's F-Series pickup trucks and Taurus/Sable models
and to assemble air louvers.  To produce pressurized bottles, two halves of the
pressurized bottles are molded by two injection molding machines and then fed
into fully automated, computerized and "poke-yoked" (fail safed) work cells,
which, at the end of the process, assign a serial number to each bottle to
allow for lot traceability.  In addition, the use of these work cells has
enabled the Company to reduce manpower required to assemble air louvers by
approximately 50% to 15 people per shift and reduce the number of operators in
the production of pressurized bottles from 5 to 1.

     Establish a Global Position.  The Company has acquired strategic positions
in Europe in order to serve its customers on a global basis.  Several OEMs have
announced certain models designed for the world automobile market.  As a
result, certain domestic and European OEMs have encouraged their existing
suppliers to establish foreign production support for World Car programs.
During 1996, the Company acquired a manufacturing presence in the UK and
Portugal.  The ability to produce product in both locations has resulted in the
award of new programs from the existing customer base in North America and
Europe.  This expansion has also resulted in the addition of new customers such
as Rover.  The Company will use its presence in Europe as a base to establish
opportunities for further expansion through acquisition.

     Enhance Tier I Relationships.  The OEMs continue to give more
responsibility for total program management to large Tier I suppliers.  These
suppliers are evaluating the available supply of parts and whether the
manufacturers who are currently supplying them are qualified.  As Tier I
suppliers shift to more qualified automotive parts manufacturers, the Company
believes that it is well positioned to take advantage of such change.  The
Company has recently received programs from TRW Inc., Lear Corp., United
Technologies Automotive, Magna International, Inc., and Johnson Controls, Inc.
which represent an expansion of the Company's traditional customer base of OEMs
and transplants.

     Make Selected Acquisitions.  In recent years, OEMs have instituted
policies which have resulted in the consolidation of the automotive supplier
industry.  Through strategic acquisitions, the Company believes it can leverage
off of its existing engineering and manufacturing capabilities, quality focus
and relationships with its customers by adding complementary product lines and
achieving greater economies of scale.  In 1996, the Company acquired Clearplas
and MaP.  The Clearplas Acquisition resulted in the Company adding Rover to its
customer base and enhanced the Company's global position.  The MaP Acquisition
furthered the globalization of the Company's decorative bezel business.  In
1997, the Company consummated the Aeroquip Acquisition, which resulted in the
Company expanding its operations in Mexico and Michigan. 

                                     23

<PAGE>   31

PRODUCTS

     The Company manufactures the variety of highly engineered plastic
components described below.  In 1996, revenues from door handle assemblies,
pressurized bottles and decorative bezels represented approximately 45% of the
Company's net sales.  No other product represented more than 10% of the
Company's sales.

     Door Handle Assemblies (22.0% of 1996 net sales).  The Company's principal
products are interior and exterior door handle assemblies.  The Company is the
largest independent manufacturer of plastic door handles in North America.  The
Company estimates that it currently supplies approximately 57% of all plastic
door handles used by Ford, approximately 50% of the outside plastic door
handles used by Chrysler and approximately 31% of the door handle assemblies
used by GM.

     Pressurized Bottles (13.5% of 1996 net sales).  Since 1990, the Company
has produced underhood pressurized coolant bottles and remote power steering
reservoirs with integral filters and assembled caps.  The manufacture of these
products require newly engineered plastic resins, automated assembly machines
and special testing equipment.  The pressurized coolant bottles are replacing
blow molded coolant bottles on new aluminum overhead cam engines.

     Decorative Bezels (9.2% of 1996 net sales).  Decorative bezels consist of
the face plate and speaker button assembly.  The Company's decorative bezel
components, also introduced in 1990, utilize its plastic molding, painting,
robotic assembly and laser etch marking capabilities for high-volume production
and a near zero-defect rate.  Laser etch marking technology is more cost
efficient than traditional marking techniques for imprinting decorative bezel
push buttons.

     Interior Trim Components.  The Company's interior trim components include
seat shields, seat track covers, seat belt trim and switch housing.

     Precision Molded Parts. The Company's precision molded parts consist of
mass airflow housing units, throttle bobbins and cam assemblies.

     Instrument Cluster Components.  Instrument clusters consist of backplates,
trim masks, and clear plastic lenses which house the vehicle's odometer, oil,
temperature and other gauges.

     Electrical Connector Covers.  These components are used as the casing for
multiple electrical connector systems and are supplied to wire harness system
manufacturers for automotive and communication applications.

     Air Louvers.  Air louvers provide directional air control for automotive
heating and cooling systems and are supplied as subsystems to instrument panel
and door system manufacturers.  The Company continues to make substantial
improvements in the design and development of intricate new tooling and robotic
assembly equipment used in the manufacture of its air louver products.

     Speaker Grilles.  The Company uses advanced manufacturing technology to
mold decorative speaker grilles which are thin, highly contoured and have
intricate hole patterns.  These characteristics provide clear sound
transmission and enable the Company to market its plastic speaker grilles as a
lower cost alternative to metal ones.

     Underhood Functional Components.  The Company's underhood functional
products consist of various sophisticated electronic and fuel delivery
components including speed control housings, remote anti-skid brake system
modules, and distributorless ignition systems.  OEMs are increasingly
substituting plastic for metal in the underhood components and systems in an
effort to reduce cost, noise, weight, to improve airflow and to increase
aesthetic appeal.

     Other Products: The Company also manufacturers a variety of other
automotive components, such as shift knobs, air dams, insulators, light
housings, fuel shields and hood latches.  Plastic components manufactured for
non-automotive use include electrical and office supply products.

                                     24

<PAGE>   32


CUSTOMERS, MARKETING AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT

     The Company's principal customers are Ford, Chrysler, GM, Rover, Honda and
their respective Tier I suppliers.  The approximate net sales and percentage of
net sales to the Company's principal customers, including respective Tier I
suppliers, for the year ended December 31, 1996 are shown below:


                                                         SALES      % 1996 SALES
                                                     -------------  ------------
                                                     (IN MILLIONS)
Ford ............................................          $138.8          63.9%
Chrysler ........................................            25.9          11.9
GM ..............................................            19.9           9.2
Rover ...........................................            16.0           7.4
Honda ...........................................             3.2           1.5
Other ...........................................            13.3           6.1
                                                     ------------  ------------
      Total .....................................          $217.1         100.0%


     Sales to OEMs and Tier I suppliers are made directly by the Company's
sales staff, consisting of 31 individuals, of which 8 were added through the
MaP Acquisition and Clearplas Acquisition and 3 have been added in 1997.  In
North America, the Company is expanding its sales effort to Tier 1 suppliers
and domestic transplant customers and, in Europe, is augmenting its sales
efforts to capture opportunities available in Europe.  The Company's
engineering personnel are an integral part of the Company's sales effort
because of the need to be involved in the early stages of product design and
development.

     Because OEMs demand early involvement of suppliers in the design and
engineering aspects of product development, the Company, in recent years, has
substantially increased its design, engineering and tooling capabilities.  The
Company maintains a 67-person mold building operation for construction of
complex production tooling and, in 1996, the Company established a new
technical center which is ISO 9000 certified and which houses its engineering
and design group.  The Company has 74 product engineers and 34 CAD/CAM
engineers, in addition to the manufacturing engineers located at the Company's
facilities.  The Company has an advanced computer aided design and computer
aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system with multiple work stations and a product
test laboratory which supports its engineering and manufacturing operations.
The Company provides complete black box (in which the Company has principal
design responsibility) and gray box (in which the customer has principal design
responsibility) engineering capabilities for door handles, power steering
reservoirs, air louvers, pressurized coolant bottles and decorative bezels.
The Company's engineering staff works closely with customers' engineers in
designing the specifications of the product material, the part to be produced
and the tooling required to produce the finished product.  The Company's
engineering functions have been ISO 9000 certified and the Company believes its
design, engineering and tooling expertise has been an important factor in its
ability to broaden its product lines, maintain its existing customer base, and
attract a new customer base.

     The Company obtains most of its new orders through a presourcing process
by which the customer invites one or a few preferred suppliers to manufacture
and design a component or assembly that meets certain price, timing and
functional parameters.  Upon selection at the development stage, the Company
and the customer typically agree to cooperate in developing the product to meet
the specified parameters.  Upon completion of the development stage and the
award of the manufacturing business, the Company receives a blanket purchase
order that covers parts to be supplied for a particular car model.  Such supply
arrangements normally extend over the life of the model, which is generally
four to seven years.  In addition, the Company competes to supply parts for
successor models even though the Company may currently supply parts on the
predecessor model.
        
     Products under development are assigned a target sale price which is
reevaluated from time to time during the product development cycle.  Prior to
the Company's commitment for full production, the Company and the customer must
agree on a final price, which, in some instances, may be subject to negotiated
price reductions over the term of the project.  Consequently, the Company's
ability to improve operating performance is dependent primarily on its ability
to reduce costs and operate more efficiently.  Although the Company
historically has regained the loss caused by price reductions to the OEMs
through cost reduction initiatives and assistance from the OEMs, there can be
no assurance that future price

                                     25

<PAGE>   33

reductions, increased quality standards or additional engineering capabilities
required by OEMs will not have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition or results of operations of the Company.
        
MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS

     Product Manufacturing.  The Company's core manufacturing technologies are
small press injection molding, automated assembly, pad printing, painting,
laser etching, sonic welding and hot plate welding.  As part of its strategy to
supply highly engineered, value-added components, the Company has substantially
expanded the use of automation and robotics in its assembly operations.  For
example, robotics are used in the assembly of door handle latching systems and
decorative bezels, and the Company's "poke-yoked" (fail safed) system is
utilized in the production of air louvers.  These capabilities enhance quality
and reliability and reduce labor costs.

     The Company has organized its production process to minimize the number of
manufacturing functions and the frequency of material handling, thereby
reducing labor costs.  In addition, the Company utilizes, where practical, a
flexible manufacturing process which uses cellular manufacturing to allow a
continuous flow of parts with minimal set-up time.  Such cellular manufacturing
utilizes machine vision, robotics and a pelletized approach and can be easily
converted from one product application to the other with re-programming and new
pallets at a cost lower than traditional work cell approach.  The Company also
utilizes just-in-time manufacturing and sourcing systems in an attempt to meet
its customers' requirements for faster deliveries while minimizing inventory
levels.

     The Company believes, its broad base of class A  paint application
capabilities positions it well for supplying the domestic and foreign exterior
trim market.  The Company is able to provide both high-bake, high solids
painting, which is traditionally preferred by domestic OEMs, and low-bake, two
component painting, which is preferred by foreign OEMs.  The Company has also
developed paint application technology utilizing innovative robotic
applications which has enabled the Company to reduce costs by improving paint
transfer efficiency.

     Tooling and CAD/CAM Design.  The Company's plastic components have
sophisticated tooling requirements, the costs for which are generally billed to
the customer at preauthorized levels.  Development of the tooling typically
begins approximately two to three years before production, after the Company is
selected by the customer to develop a particular component or assembly At that
time, the Company commences its tooling design and development work and
accumulates in inventory the costs incurred.  The production tooling and gauges
are ordered generally one year prior to production.  Upon completion of the
development stage and delivery of the tooling, the customer is billed.  The
Company supplies approximately one-third of its tooling requirements from its
own advanced tooling operation.  The remaining tooling requirements are
purchased from other tool makers.

     Although tooling costs are preauthorized by the customer pursuant to
specified guidelines, such costs are subject to audit and acceptance by the
customer.  In addition, tooling cost guidelines are subject to interpretation
by the OEMs and are changed from time to time without prior notice to the
Company.

     Recently, OEMs have begun the process to eliminate tooling because of the
high costs and long lead time the tooling process involves in the development
of new products.  To assist OEMs in this need and to further strengthen its
customer relationships, the Company is utilizing more CAD/CAM systems in
product design.  For example, the Company utilized its CAD/CAM systems,
including finite element analysis, to design and verify prototypes for
Chrysler's Dodge Dakota door handle program.  Management believes that
additional opportunities exist to utilize its CAD/CAM expertise.

     Product Quality.  Among the most important factors in maintaining
preferred supplier status with OEMs is product quality.  The Company has a
strong quality assurance program and has made substantial investments in
technology to monitor and improve quality.  Included among these investments
are CAD/CAM equipment, statistical process control systems, failure made and
effect systems and Process-controlled molding machines.  The Company encourages
employee participation in quality improvement through the use of quality
circles and team-oriented problem solving techniques.

     In addition, the Company has material and product test laboratories
accredited by its major OEM customers, which monitor production efficiency and
product reliability.  In cooperation with its customers, the Company regularly
conducts tests on its raw materials to reduce variability and inconsistencies
in properties such as melt flow, filler content, 

                                     26

<PAGE>   34

moisture and tensile strength to meet the requirements of the Company's major
OEM customers.  The Company also conducts a variety of engineering
specification and climate testing on new and existing products.
        
RAW MATERIALS

     The principal raw materials used by the Company are engineered plastic
resins such as nylon, polypropylene and ABS, all of which are available from
several suppliers, except that the customer generally specifies a single
supplier to be used by the Company in connection with a specific program.  The
Company has no reason to believe that there will not be an ample supply of its
raw materials for the reasonably foreseeable future, but the Company cannot
make any prediction as to the future price of such raw materials.  The Company
is generally not able to pass on to its customers any increase in raw material
costs; however, the Company, in the past two years, has not experienced any
significant increases in the prices of its raw materials as result of the
consolidation of procurement and supply of raw materials.  A substantial
interruption in the Company's supply of plastic resins, or a material increase
in the price thereof, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

EMPLOYEES

     At March 31, 1997, the Company employed approximately 3,300 persons in
North America and Europe.  The Company believes that relations with its
employees are good.  Hourly employees at the Company's Plymouth, Michigan
facility (approximately 10% of all employees) and Key U.K. (approximately 9%
of all employees) are the only employees represented by collective bargaining
units.  The Plymouth employees are represented by Local 7639 International
Union of United Paper Workers pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement
which expires on December 7, 2000.  The workforce at Key's Coventry facility is
represented by two unions: Amalgamated Electrical and Engineering Union
("AEEU") and Manufacturing, Scientific and Finance Union ("MSF").  Both AEEU
and MSF follow the traditional negotiation patterns seen in Great Britain by
renegotiating terms and conditions on an annual basis.  The AEEU contract is
generally re-negotiated in January/February of each year.  Those negotiations
are currently being conducted and are expected to conclude without incident.
The Company  began renegotiation of the MSF contract in April and expects to
conclude such negotiation without incident.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

     The Company and its operations are subject to comprehensive and frequently
changing federal, state and local environmental and occupational health and
safety laws and regulations, including laws and regulations governing emissions
of air pollutants, discharges of waste and storm water, and the disposal of
hazardous wastes.  The Company is also subject to liability for the
investigation and remediation of environmental contamination (including
contamination caused by other parties) at the properties it owns or operates
and at other properties where the Company or predecessors have arranged for the
disposal of hazardous substances.  As a result, the Company is involved, from
time to time, in administrative and judicial proceedings and inquiries relating
to environmental matters.  The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has raised
questions about the air permit status of the Company's facility in Montpelier.
The Company expects to resolve these questions without making significant
financial expenditures, although there can be no assurance thereof.  The
Company does not believe there are any other pending investigations at the
Company's plants or sites relating to environmental matters.  However, there
can be no assurance that the Company will not be involved in other such
proceedings in the future and that the aggregate amount of future clean-up
costs and other environmental liabilities will not be material.
        
     Federal, state and local governments could enact laws or regulations
concerning environmental matters that increase the cost of producing, or
otherwise adversely affect the demand for, the Company's products.  The Company
cannot predict the environmental liabilities that may result from legislation
or regulations adopted in the future.  Nor can the Company predict how existing
or future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted or what
environmental conditions may be found to exist.  The enactment of more
stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws and
regulations could require additional expenditures by the Company, some of which
could be material.


COMPETITION

                                     27

<PAGE>   35

     The Company's business is highly competitive.  Competition generally
occurs on the basis of product groups.  A large number of actual or potential
competitors exist, including the internal component operations of the OEMs as
well as independent suppliers, many of which are larger than the Company.  Some
of the Company's competitors include Donnelly Corporation, Lear Corp., TRINOVA
Corporation, Summit Plastic Co., LDM Technologies, Inc., Fawn Industries, Inc.,
Lacks Industries, Inc., United Technologies, Inc., and Geiger Technik.,
although none of these competitors compete with the Company along all product
lines.  In addition, the Company's business is increasingly competitive due to
the supplier consolidation resulting from changing OEM policies.  The Company
principally competes for new business both at the beginning of the development
of new models and upon the redesign of existing models by its major customers.
New model development generally begins two to four years prior to the marketing
of such models to the public.  Because of the large investment by OEMs in
tooling and the long lead time required to commence production, OEMs generally
do not change a supplier during a program.

     The Company competes on the basis of quality, cost, timely delivery and
customer service and, increasingly, on the basis of design and engineering
capability, painting capability, new product innovation and product testing
capability.

     Some of the OEMs have adopted supplier management policies designed to
strengthen their supply base.  These policies include designating only some of
the suppliers as preferred future suppliers and, in some cases, encouraging new
suppliers to begin to supply selected product groups.


                                     28

<PAGE>   36


PROPERTIES

     All of the Company's facilities are owned by the Company, except for the
Company's world headquarters and the Company's facilities in Grand Rapids,
Michigan and Coventry, U.K., which are leased.  Management believes that its
facilities are adequate for its present needs.  The Company's operations are
located in the following communities.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   APPROXIMATE
LOCATION                                          SQUARE FOOTAGE  DESCRIPTION OF USE
- --------                                          --------------  ------------------          
<S>                                                 <C>          <C>

Novi, MI .........................................       29,000  World Headquarters and
                                                                  Technical Center
Plymouth, MI .....................................      168,000  Manufacturing
Felton, PA (Plant 1) .............................       53,000  Manufacturing
Felton, PA (Plant 2) .............................       39,060  Manufacturing
Hamilton, IN .....................................       54,000  Manufacturing
York, PA (Plant 1) ...............................       22,000  Manufacturing
York PA (Plant 2) ................................       40,000  Manufacturing
Montpelier, OH ...................................       79,000  Painting
Hartford City, IN ................................       50,000  Painting and Assembly
Chihuahua, MX ....................................       65,000  Manufacturing
Chihuahua, MX ....................................       52,000  Manufacturing
Grand Rapids, MI .................................       56,000  Manufacturing
South Bend, IN ...................................       80,000  Manufacturing
Port Huron, MI ...................................       52,000  Manufacturing
Chesterfield, MI .................................       44,000  Painting and Assembly
Kendalville, IN ..................................       25,000  Manufacturing
Ashley, IN .......................................       20,000  Manufacturing 
Coventry, UK .....................................      100,000  Manufacturing and Painting
Leiria, Portugal .................................       84,000  Manufacturing and Painting
</TABLE>
    


LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     The Company is, from time to time, involved in routine litigation arising
out of the ordinary course of its business.  The Company believes currently
pending or threatened litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

                                      29

<PAGE>   37


                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The following management's discussion and analysis of financial condition
and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus.  The Company's financial statements for the years
ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 have been restated to reflect errors in
previously reported amounts.  See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.

FIRST QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 COMPARED TO FIRST QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
1996

     Net sales for the three month period ended March 31, 1997 were $66.7
million; an increase of approximately $21.4 million or 47% over the same period
last year.  Approximately $15 million of the increase relates to the Company's
European subsidiaries, Key U.K. and Materias Plasticas (MaP) which were
acquired in 1996 (Key U.K. was acquired May 1, 1996 and a controlling interest
in MaP was acquired on November 1, 1996).  Sales of injection molded parts and
assemblies in the Company's existing businesses were up $6.6 or approximately
17% due to increases in related vehicle production by the Company's customers
as well as increased sales related to newly launched vehicle programs during
1996.  First quarter revenues related to customer tooling programs
year-over-year were flat at about $6.2 million.

     Gross profit increased $3.4 million in the first quarter of 1997 compared
to the first quarter of 1996 as a result of the aforementioned sales increases.
The degradation of the gross profit percentage of 1.5% from 1997 to 1996 is
primarily attributable to operations in the United Kingdom where factory
productivity is much lower than other Company facilities.

     Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million in
1997 as compared to the same period last year.  Approximately $1.9 million of
the increase is due to costs incurred in facilities owned by the Company for
less than one year as of March 31, 1997, primarily in Europe.  The remainder of
the increase relates to staff and facility costs necessary to support the
Company's expansion.

     Operating income increased by $.2 million as a result of the foregoing.

     Interest expense in the first quarter of 1997 increased by about $1.5
million over the same 1996 period because of higher average debt outstanding.
The increase in debt stemmed primarily from acquisitions made during the course
of 1996 including Clearplas, Ltd. in the United Kingdom and Materias Plasticas,
S.A. in Portugal, and a plastic injection molding company in South Bend Indiana.

     The extraordinary item of $5.5 million represents the amount paid for the
tender offer and related consent fees for the retirement of $40.1 million of the
14% Senior Notes due 1999 and the write-off of related unamortized discount
related to the notes tendered.

1996 FISCAL YEAR COMPARED TO 1995 FISCAL YEAR

     Net sales of the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (the "1996 Fiscal
Year") increased by $37.8 million, or 21.1%, over net sales for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995 (the "1995 Fiscal Year").  The increase is primarily
attributable to the Clearplas Acquisition, which accounted for $24.2 million of
the increase in net sales of the Company from the 1995 Fiscal Year, and to the
MaP Acquisition, which accounted for $5.3 million of the increase in net sales
of the Company from the 1995 Fiscal Year.  In addition, North American product
sales increased by $10.2 million, or 6.6%, primarily due to new program
launches.  Tooling sales declined by $1.9 million, or $7.3%.  This decline,
however, is not indicative of future program activity in that tooling related
inventory at December 31, 1996 increased by $7.4 million to $17.6 million from
$10.2 million at December 31, 1995.

                                      30

<PAGE>   38


     Gross profit for the 1996 Fiscal Year increased by $1.9 million, or 5.1%,
over gross profit for the 1995 Fiscal Year.  Gross profit margin decreased by
2.7%, from 20.9% in the 1995 Fiscal Year to 18.2% in the 1996 Fiscal Year.
This decrease stemmed primarily from increased price concessions (1.4%) and
lower European margins compared to North American Margins (1.3%).

     Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) for the 1996 Fiscal
Year increased by $1.0 million, or 6.4%.  The increase results from addition
SG&A resulting from the MaP Acquisition and the Clearplas Acquisition or $2.3
million, partially offset by lower North American SG&A.  As a percent of net
sales, SG&A decreased from 8.7% in the 1995 Fiscal Year to 7.6% in the 1996
Fiscal Year.  The percentage point reduction relates primarily to increased
1996 Fiscal Year sales.

     Interest expense increased from $14.3 million in the 1995 Fiscal Year to
$15.2 in the 1996 Fiscal Year as a  result of higher average debt, resulting
primarily from borrowings related to acquisitions and capital asset purchases.

     Net income for the 1996 Fiscal Year remained substantially unchanged from
the 1995 Fiscal Year as a result of the foregoing.

1995 FISCAL YEAR COMPARED TO 1994 FISCAL YEAR

     Net sales for the 1995 Fiscal Year decreased by $14.9 million, or 7.7%,
over net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 (the "1994 Fiscal
Year").  The decrease is attributable to a $18.4 million, or 10.7%, decrease in
the sales of injection molded plastic parts partially offset by a $3.6 million,
or 16.2%, increase in tooling revenues.  The decrease in injection-molded
plastic part revenues resulted primarily from related vehicle production
decreases.

     Gross profit for the 1995 Fiscal Year increased by $1.5 million, or 4.1%,
from gross profit for the 1994 Fiscal Year.  Gross profit margin for the 1995
Fiscal Year increased by 2.3 percentage points, from 18.6% in the 1994 Fiscal
Year to 20.9% in the 1995 Fiscal Year.  Gross margin improvement resulted
primarily from the Hartford City, Indiana, Grand Rapids, Michigan and
Chihuahua, Mexico facilities which were launched in 1994, and became fully
operational in the 1995 Fiscal Year.

     SG&A expenses for the 1995 Fiscal Year increased by $1.6 million, or
11.3%, over the same period in the 1994 Fiscal Year.  As a percent of net
sales. SG&A increased to 8.6% from 7.2% in the 1994 Fiscal Year.  This increase
is primarily attributable to the aforementioned start-up facilities.

     Interest expense increased from $12.8 million to $14.3 million in the 1995
Fiscal Year as a result of higher average debt, resulting primarily from $14.0
million of capital asset purchases and a $2.9 million increase in net working
capital, excluding debt obligations.

     Net income for the 1995 Fiscal Year decreased by $1.5 million, or 17.4%,
from net income for the 1994 Fiscal Year as a result of the foregoing.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     During March 1997 the Company refinanced its existing debt as follows:

      (i)  pursuant to a tender offer for all of its 14% Senior Notes
           due 1999, repaid $40.1 million of such notes and $24.9 million
           remain outstanding; (ii) a private placement, issued $125.0 million
           of 10  1/4 %  Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007; and (iii) entered
           into a new $140.0 million Senior Credit Facility, under which  $23.5
           million was outstanding as of March 31, 1997.

     The proceeds of the private placement were principally used to fund the
tender and replace existing bank debt.  Borrowings on the Senior Credit
Facility were for general corporate purposes, including an acquisition,
discussed more fully below.  The net impact of the refinancing was to increase
the Company's debt at March 31, 1997 by $48.8 million dollars from December 31,
1996.

                                      31

<PAGE>   39

     The Company believes its existing sources of liquidity are adequate to
meet its operating requirements in fiscal 1997.  At March 31, 1997 the Company
had $43.5 million of availability under the Senior Credit Facility.

     On March 28, 1997, the Company acquired three injection molding and
assembly operations owned by Aeroquip corporation, a subsidiary of TRINOVA
Corporation.  The acquired business represents an expansion of the Company's
existing decorative bezel business.  The investment has been accounted for in
these statements using the purchase method. 

     Accounts receivable increased by $14.1 million comparing March 31, 1997 to
December 31, 1996.  $6.5 million is due to increased parts sales and timing
within the quarter.  The acquisition of three Aeroquip factories added $5.7
million of accounts receivable at March 31, 1997.  Customer tooling related
receivables increased by $1.9 million over the prior quarter primarily as a
result of increased tooling programs.

     The inventory increase of $5.3 million from December 31, 1996 to March 31,
1997 was due in part to the inventory acquired from Aeroquip of $3.5 million
and $1.8 million to increases in customer tooling inventory related to the
design and build of tooling for programs expected to launch in 1998.

     Accrued liabilities decreased by $7.4 million from December 31, 1996 due
primarily to the $5.9 million payout of all accrued interest for the debt
refinanced. 

                                      32

<PAGE>   40


DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS


      The following are the directors and executive officers of the Company:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                                              Age  Position with the Company
- ----                                              ---  -------------------------                
<S>                                              <C>   <C>
Joel D. Tauber .................................  61   Director
George Mars ....................................  59   Director
David C. Benoit ................................  48   Chief Executive Officer and a Director
Leonard R. Griffin .............................  45   President and Chief Operating Officer
A.E. "Gene" Stull ..............................  49   Vice President,  Sales and Marketing
Calvin A. Saur .................................  45   Vice President,  Engineering
Douglas C. Chapple .............................  45   Vice President,  Eastern Group
Henry J. Wojtaszek .............................  53   Vice President,  Western Group
E.R. "Skip" Autry ..............................  42   Chief Financial Officer
William J. Luka ................................  50   Vice President,  Quality
Richard J. Blough ..............................  50   Vice President, Administration and Human Resources
Mark J. Abbo ...................................  44   Treasurer
</TABLE>

     Joel D. Tauber formed the Company with Messrs.  Mars and Benoit in 1986
and has been a director and Chairman of the Board since that time.  The Company
was formed to acquire the assets of the plastics division of Key International
Manufacturing, Inc. ("KIMI"), a company involved in plastics manufacturing for
over twenty years and in which Mr. Tauber served as President.  Mr. Tauber is a
manufacturing executive, business consultant and investor.  Mr. Tauber is
President of Keyco Bond Fund, Inc. and serves as Chairman of the Board of
Complex Tooling & Molding, Inc., Keywell Corporation and KMGl, Inc.

     George Mars formed the Company with Messrs.  Tauber and Benoit in 1986,
has been a director since that time and Co-Chairman of the Board since 1995.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Mars served as President of the Company from 1986
to 1995.  Mr. Mars was a General Manager of the plastics division of KIMI.

     David C. Benoit formed the Company with Messrs.  Tauber and Mars and has
been a director since the Company's formation in 1986.  Mr. Benoit was
Executive Vice President of the Company from 1986 to 1995, when he was
appointed to his current position of Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Benoit was
Chief Financial Officer of KIMI and has 16 years experience in the automotive
industry.

     Leonard R. Griffin, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company,
joined the Company in April 1995.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Griffin
served for five years as President of Woodbridge Inoac, Inc., a joint venture
partnership formed by Woodbridge Group, a Canadian plastics company and Inoac,
Ltd., a Japanese automotive parts supplier.  Prior to serving as President of
Woodbridge, Mr. Griffin was General Manager of Rockwell International's
Automotive Plastics Products Operations.  Mr. Griffin's business experience
consists of over 27 years in the automotive industry, including the foregoing,
and years spent in management, manufacturing and quality control capacities at
Libbey Owens Ford (now known as TRINOVA Corporation) and Allen Industries.

     A.E. Stull has been Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Company
since November 1991, and has served in various other capacities at the Company
since 1988.  Mr. Stull joined the Company in November 1988 and served as Vice
President, Sales and Marketing of the Company's Plymouth Division until
November 1991 when he became Vice President, Sales and Marketing for all
Company operations.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Stull was Director of
Sales for Magna International, Inc., Tesma Group, an automotive supplier.

     Calvin A. Saur has been employed at the Company since 1986 and, since May
1995, has been Vice President, Engineering of the Company.  Prior to attaining
his present position, Mr. Saur held various other positions at the Company,
including Vice President, Research and Development.  Mr. Saur has been employed
in the automotive industry for 26 years.


                                      33

<PAGE>   41


     Douglas C. Chapple has been Vice President, Eastern Group of the Company
since November 1996.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Chapple was, from 1994
to 1996, Vice President, Manufacturing of Dott Industries, Inc., a privately
owned finisher and decorator of plastic products, including painted interior
components, exterior grilles and encapsulated assemblies.  Before joining Dott
Industries, Inc., Mr. Chapple was employed, for over 17 years, by General
Motors Corporation in a variety of manufacturing and engineering capacities,
including Director of Engineering at GM's Inland Fisher Guide Division.

     Henry J. Wojtaszek has been employed at the Company for 11 years in
various manufacturing capacities, and since 1996, has been Vice President,
Western Group.  Mr. Wojtaszek has been employed in the automotive industry for
34 years and has been a president of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

     E.R. "Skip" Autry, Vice President, Finance and Procurement, is the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company and joined the Company in 1995.  Prior to
joining the Company, Mr. Autry held various finance positions at Chrysler
Corporation from 1986 to 1995, including, Director, Corporate Accounting,
Manager, Corporate Investments and Analysis and Controller, Corporate Staff.
From 1976 to 1986, Mr. Autry held various positions at Coopers & Lybrand,
specializing in manufacturing and publicly held companies.

     William J. Luka has been Vice President, Quality of the Company since
1993.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Luka was employed at Ford Motor
Company for three years as a Supplier Quality Engineer Auditor, where he was
actively involved in the development of Ford's QOS Methodology.  Among his
various duties, Mr. Luka is responsible for implementing ISO-9000 throughout
the Company.  Mr. Luka has been employed in the automotive industry for 26
years and has been certified as a QS Auditor by the QS 9000 Registration
Accreditation Board.

     Richard J. Blough has been Vice President, Administration and Human
Resources of the Company since 1996.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Blough
was Vice President, Human Resources at Electro-Wire Products, Inc., for two
years, Electro-Wire Products supplies wiring and electrical components to the
automotive and heavy truck industries.  Prior to joining the Company, from 1989
to 1994, Mr. Blough was Director of Human Resources for the corporate office at
American Brass Company Incorporated.  Mr. Blough has 27 years experience in the
automotive industry.

     Mark J. Abbo has been Treasurer of the Company since 1993.  Mr. Abbo
joined the Company in 1988 as Corporate Controller and held that position until
he was appointed Treasurer in 1993.

                                      34

<PAGE>   42


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following table sets forth certain information as to the cash
compensation earned by each of the Company's five most highly paid current
executive officers who earned more than $100,000 for services rendered to the
Company during the three years ended December 31, 1996.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                ALL OTHER
NAME AND TITLE                                        YEAR    SALARY     BONUS  COMPENSATION
- --------------                                        ----  --------  --------  ------------
<S>                                                   <C>   <C>       <C>       <C>
David C. Benoit ....................................  1996  $275,000  $125,000    $ 1,300(a)
Chief Executive Officer                               1995   361,000    37,500      1,500(a)
                                                      1994   306,000    50,000     16,509(b)

Leonard R. Griffin .................................  1996   240,000   106,000        700(a)
President (c)                                         1995   156,125    76,042       ----
                                                      1994      ----      ----       ----

A.E. Stull .........................................  1996   137,000    39,200      1,300(a)
Vice President, Sales & Marketing                     1995   137,000    35,000      1,500(a)
                                                      1994   130,000    20,000      1,500(a)

Calvin A. Saur .....................................  1996   117,000    24,250      1,300(a)
Vice President, Engineering                           1995   110,000    20,000      1,500(a)
                                                      1994   110,000    10,000      1,500(a)

Henry J. Wojtaszek .................................  1996    96,500    40,950      1,300(a)
Vice President, Western Group                         1995    90,000    21,042      1,500(a)
                                                      1994    85,000    54,438      1,500(a)
</TABLE>

- -------------
(a)  Represents profit sharing amounts paid to the named executive officers.

(b)  Represents fees earned in capacity as a director of the Company and/or
     amounts contributed to the Company's retirement savings plan on behalf of
     the named executive officer.

(c)  Joined the Company in 1995.


                       1996 FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           NUMBER OF                  VALUE OF
                                                      SECURITIES UNDERLYING      UNEXERCISED EXERCISABLE
                                               UNEXERCISED EXERCISABLE OPTIONS    IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
NAME                                                AT 1996 FISCAL YEAR-END     AT 1996 FISCAL YEAR-END(A)
- ----                                           ------------------------------  --------------------------
<S>                                               <C>                          <C>
David C. Benoit ..............................               ---                        $---
Leonard R. Griffin ...........................             1,250                        26,000
A. E. Stull ..................................             5,500                       318,550
Calvin A. Saur ...............................               ---                         ---
Henry J. Wojtaszek ...........................               ---                         ---
</TABLE>


(a)  The dollar values in this column are calculated by determining the
     difference between the fair market value of the securities underlying the
     options and the exercise price of the options at December 31, 1996.  The
     Company is privately held and no public market exists for the Company's
     Common Stock.  Fair market value has been determined by the Company's
     Board of Directors.

                                      35

<PAGE>   43


CHANGE OF CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS - LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

     The Company's Long Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") is intended to provide
additional incentive to officers, including the executive officers named in the
Summary Compensation Table, and other eligible key employees of the Company.
The LTIP provides compensation to the employees who are included in the LTIP
and who remain employees as of the date of the occurrence of a Third Party
Transaction (as defined) of the Company.  A Third Party Transaction is defined
as an initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock, a sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's Common Stock or a sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets.  In the event that a Third Party
Transaction occurs, each eligible employee will be entitled to payment based on
a formula equal to the Total Incentive Pool (as defined) multiplied by the
result obtained by multiplying a factor assigned to each employee at the time
such employee is included in the LTIP times the employee's Cumulative Base
Compensation.  Cumulative Base Compensation means the total base compensation
earned by such employee from the date of inclusion in the LTIP to the date of
occurrence of a Third Party Transaction.  The factor assigned to each employee
is based upon the level of management in which the employee is included.  Total
Incentive Pool means the total of all Cumulative Base Compensation of every
eligible employee.  The LTIP will fund upon the occurrence of a Third Party
Transaction and terminates as of the date of such occurrence.


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company's
Common Stock as of March 31, 1997 owned by the directors of the Company, the
named executive officers, and all directors and officers as a group, and by
other holders known to the Company as having beneficial ownership of more than
5% of the Common Stock.  Each person exercises sole investment and voting
rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock shown in the table below
unless otherwise stated.  The address of each of the following persons is Suite
200, 21333 Haggerty Road, Novi, Michigan 48375.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NUMBER OF SHARES                       PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                             OF COMMON STOCK                        OUTSTANDING
DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND FIVE PERCENT HOLDERS                               OWNED BENEFICIALLY                        SHARES(A)
- --------------------------------------------                               ------------------                      -------------
<S>                                                                               <C>                              <C>
Joel D. Tauber ..........................................................         90,828                                26.3%
David C. Benoit .........................................................         79,833(b)                             23.1%
George Mars .............................................................         62,065                                18.0%
Kenneth A. Dishell ......................................................         18,700                                 5.4%
Henry A. Wotjaszek ......................................................         11,578                                 3.4%
Calvin A. Saur ..........................................................          8,924                                 2.6%
A.E. Stull ..............................................................          6,000(c)                              1.7%
Leonard R. Griffin ......................................................          5,100(d)                              1.5%
All directors and officers as a group (12 persons)                               269,695(a)                             78.2%
</TABLE>


(a)  Includes 2,898 shares of Common Stock and options to acquire an aggregate
     of 2,468 shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the executive
     officers not otherwise included in the table.

(b)  79,833 shares are held by the David C. Benoit Trust, of which Mr. Benoit
     is the Trustee and beneficiary.

(c)  Includes options to acquire 5,500 shares of Common Stock of the Company,
     which options are exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997.

(d)  Includes options to acquire 2,500 shares of Common Stock of the Company,
     which options are exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997.

     Messrs. Tauber, Mars and Benoit, if they vote their shares in a
combination which exceeds 50% of the outstanding Common Stock, have the ability
to elect the entire Board of Directors of the Company and determine the outcome
of any other matter submitted to shareholders for approval.  There are no
arrangements, however, among any of the shareholders 

                                      36

<PAGE>   44


of the Company, including such persons, with respect to the voting or
disposition of the Common Stock and there are no arrangements between the
shareholders and the Company, except that shareholders may not make any
dispositions which could result in the termination of the Company's  S-
Corporation status.


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     Shareholder Agreement.  Each Shareholder, including Messrs. Tauber, Mars
and Benoit, has entered into a shareholder agreement with the Company.
Pursuant to such agreement, a shareholder may not transfer shares of the
Company's Common Stock without the written consent of the Company, except that
no consent is required for transfers to a decedent shareholder's beneficiaries,
but only if such transfers would not result in the disqualification of the
Company as a Subchapter S corporation.

     Tax Allocation Agreement.  The Company has entered into a Tax Allocation
Agreement with each of its shareholders relating to federal and certain state
and local income tax liabilities of the Company.  This agreement generally
provides that (i) in any fiscal year in which the Company has a net operating
loss for tax purposes, each shareholder will pay to the Company an amount equal
to the net tax benefit realized by the shareholder as a result of the
allocation to the shareholder of such net operating loss incurred by the
Company, up to the amount of dividends received by the shareholders and not
previously repaid to the Company, (ii) if in any fiscal year the Company
distributes dividends relating to the shareholders' tax liability which exceed
the actual liability at the highest marginal tax rate based on the Company's
net taxable income for such fiscal year, each shareholder will pay to the
Company, as a contribution to capital, an amount equal to the difference
between the dividends paid to the shareholder during such fiscal year and the
actual liability at the highest marginal tax rate based on the net taxable
income allocated to the shareholder for such fiscal year, and (iii) if the
Company's election is disallowed or revoked for any taxable year for which such
election was in effect, each shareholder will pay to the Company the full
amount of any distribution made to the shareholder with respect to such taxable
year for payment of taxes for income of the Company allocated to the
shareholder.  Each shareholder has pledged the shareholder'S common stock in
the Company to secure any debt that the shareholder may owe to the Company
pursuant to the Tax Allocation Agreement.  In addition, the Company has the
right to set off any amounts owed to the Company by the shareholder under the
Tax Allocation Agreement against any future dividends or redemption payments
payable by the Company to the shareholder.

     Consulting Arrangements.  The Company has a consulting arrangements with
each of Messrs.  Tauber and Mars.  Mr. Tauber and Mr. Mars are each paid
$10,000 per month for services provided to the Company.  In addition, Mr. Mars
receives compensation at a rate of $1,000 per diem, plus out-of-pocket
expenses, for each day of services provided, which services are not compensated
for by the $10,000.  In 1996, Mr. Tauber and Mr. Mars earned $120,000 and
$178,000, respectively.

                                      37

<PAGE>   45


                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

GENERAL

     The Notes are issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture") by and
among the Company, the Guarantors and Marine Midland Bank, as trustee (the
"Trustee").   The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and
those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act").  The Notes are subject to all such terms, and
Holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for
a statement thereof.  The following summary of the material provisions of the
Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms
used below.  The definitions of certain terms used in the following summary are
set forth below under "-Certain Definitions." For purposes of this summary, the
term "Company" refers only to Key Plastics, Inc. and not to any of its
subsidiaries.

     The Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior subordinated
basis by all current Subsidiaries other than Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries.
As of the date here of, MaP, Key Plastics U.K., and Clearplas Ltd. will be
Unrestricted Subsidiaries.  Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to
many of the restrictive covenants set forth in the Indenture and will not be
required to become Guarantors.  Moreover, under certain circumstances, the
Company will be able to designate current or future subsidiaries as
Unrestricted Subsidiaries.  As used herein, the term "Subsidiary" shall exclude
any subsidiary that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary.  The Indenture will require
Subsidiaries created or designated as a Subsidiary after the date of the
Indenture, other than Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries, to become Guarantors.
As of March 31, 1997, Key Plastics Automotive, Key Plastics Technology, Key
Plastics International, Key Mexico A, L.L.C. and Key Mexico B, L.L.C. are
Guarantors.  Any Series A Notes that remain outstanding after the completion of
the Exchange Offer, together with the Series B Notes issued in connection with
the Exchange Offer, will be treated as a single class of securities under the
Indenture.

PRINCIPAL, MATURITY AND INTEREST

     The Notes are limited in aggregate principal amount to $125.0 million and
will mature on March 15, 2007.  Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate
of 10  1/4% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15
and September 15, commencing on September 15, 1997, to Holders of record on the
immediately preceding March 1 and September 1.  Interest on the Notes will
accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no
interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance.  Interest will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Principal, premium, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes
will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such
purpose within the City and State of New York or, at the option of the Company,
payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed
to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the
register of Holders of Notes; provided that all payments of principal, premium,
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to Notes the Holders of
which have given wire transfer instructions to the Company will be required to
be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by the Holders thereof.  Until otherwise designated by the Company,
the Company'S office or agency in New York will be the office of the Trustee
maintained for such purpose.  The Notes will be issued in denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

SUBORDINATION

     The payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest on and all other
Obligations in connection with, the Notes, are subordinated in right of
payment, as set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment, in full, of all
Senior Debt, including, without limitation, all borrowings, letters of credit,
other advances and all other Obligations of the Company under the Senior Credit
Facility, whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or thereafter
incurred.

     Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or
character, whether in cash, property, or securities to creditors of the Company
in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the
Company or its property, an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any
marshaling of the Company'S assets and liabilities, the holders of Senior Debt
will be entitled to receive payment in full of all Obligations due in respect of
such Senior Debt (including, without limitation, interest after the commencement
of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt
whether or not such interest is 

                                      38

<PAGE>   46

an allowable claim under applicable law) before the Holders of Notes will be
entitled to receive any payment or distribution of assets of the Company or any
Guarantors of any kind or character with respect to the Notes, and until all
Obligations with respect to Senior Debt are paid in full, any distribution to
which the Holders of Notes would be entitled shall be made to the holders of
Senior Debt (except that Holders of Notes may receive Permitted Junior
Securities and payments made from the trust described under "-Legal Defeasance
and Covenant Defeasance," provided that such payments are made in accordance
with the provisions described therein).
        
     Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall make any payment or any
distribution of any kind upon or in respect of the Notes or any other
Obligation in connection with the Notes, including, without limitation, for the
acquisition or defeasance of any of the Notes (except in Permitted Junior
Securities or from the trust described under "-Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance," provided that such payments are made in accordance with the
provisions described therein) if (i) a default in the payment, whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration, by declaration or otherwise, of the principal
of, premium, if any, interest on, unpaid drawings for letters of credit issued
in respect of, or any regularly accruing fees with respect to, any Designated
Senior Debt occurs and is continuing beyond any applicable period of grace (a
"payment default") or (ii) any other default occurs and is continuing with
respect to Designated Senior Debt that permits holders of the Designated Senior
Debt as to which such default relates to accelerate its maturity (a "nonpayment
default") and, with respect to nonpayment defaults, the Trustee receives a
notice of such default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from the Company or the
holders of any Designated Senior Debt.  Payments on the Notes, may and shall be
resumed (a) in the case of a payment default, upon the date on which such
default is cured or waived and (b) in case of a nonpayment default, the earlier
of the date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived or 179 days
after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received,
unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Debt has been accelerated.  No new
period of payment blockage based on a nonpayment default may be commenced
unless and until 360 days have elapsed since the date that the immediately
prior Payment Blockage Notice was received.  No nonpayment default that existed
or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the
Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage
Notice unless such default was cured or waived for 90 days.

     The Indenture further requires that the Company promptly notify holders of
Senior Debt if payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of
Default (as defined in the Indenture).

     As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event
of a liquidation or insolvency, Holders of Notes may recover less ratably than
creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior Debt.  As of March 31, 1997,
the Company and its Subsidiaries had $____ million of Senior Debt outstanding.
The Indenture will permit the Company to incur additional Senior Debt, subject
to certain limitations.  See "-Certain Covenants-Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries."

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

     The Notes are not be redeemable at the Company'S option prior to March 15,
2002.  Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption, at any time, at the
option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than
60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 15 of the years
indicated below:


                      YEAR                     PERCENTAGE
                      2002.................... 105.125%
                      2003.................... 103.417
                      2004.................... 101.708
                      2005..and thereafter.... 100.000%


     Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to March 15, 2000, the Company may
redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount, of the Notes initially
issued at a redemption price of 1091/4% of the principal amount thereof, plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the
redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a public equity offering of
Common Stock of the Company; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture remain
outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such 

                                      39

<PAGE>   47

redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 60
days of the date of the closing of such public equity offering.
        
SELECTION AND NOTICE

     If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of
Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the
requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which
the Notes are listed, or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis,
by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate;
provided that no Notes of $ 1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.  Notices
of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at
its registered address.  Notices of redemption may not be conditional.  If any
Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to
such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed.  A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of
the original Note.  Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed
for redemption.  On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on
Notes or portions of them called for redemption.

MANDATORY REDEMPTION

     Except as set forth below under "Repurchase at the Option of Holders," the
Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments
with respect to the Notes.

REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

      CHANGE OF CONTROL

     Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes will have
the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000
or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder'S Notes pursuant to the offer
described below (the "Change of Control Offer") at an offer price in cash equal
to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the
"Change of Control Payment").  Within ten days following any Change of Control,
the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or
transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase
Notes on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than
30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the
"Change of Control Payment Date"), pursuant to the procedures required by the
Indenture and described in such notice.  The Company will comply with the
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws
and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are
applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a
Change of Control.

     On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered
pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an
amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or
portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating
the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by
the Company.  The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.  The Indenture will
provide that, prior to complying with the provisions of this covenant, but in
any event within 90 days following a Change of Control, the Company will either
repay all outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any,
under all agreements governing outstanding Senior Debt to permit the repurchase
of Notes required by this covenant.  The Company will publicly announce the
results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the
Change of Control Payment Date.
        
     The Change of Control provisions described above will be applicable
whether or not any other provisions of the Indenture are applicable.  Except as
described above with respect to a Change of Control, the Indenture does not
contain provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the
Company repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover,
recapitalization or similar transaction.

                                      40

<PAGE>   48

     The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a
Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set
forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the
Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such
Change of Control Offer.

     The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of "all or substantially
all" of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Although there is a developing body of case law interpreting the phrase
"substantially all," there is no precise established definition of the phrase
under applicable law.  Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of Notes to require
the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition  of less than all of the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be
uncertain.

      ASSET SALES

     The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale or issue Equity Interests
in any of its Subsidiaries or sell Equity Interests in any of its Subsidiaries,
unless (i) the Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives
consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market
value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or Equity
Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 80% of the
consideration therefor received by the Company or such Subsidiary is in the
form of cash; provided that the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the
Company'S  or such Subsidiary'S  most recent balance sheet), of the Company or
any Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by
their terms subordinated to the Notes or any guarantee thereof) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets such that the Company or such
Subsidiary have no further liability and (y) any securities, notes or other
obligations received by the Company or any such Subsidiary from such transferee
that are immediately converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash (to
the extent of the cash received), shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of
this provision.

     Within 180 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale,
the Company may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option, (a) to repay
Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility or Senior Debt (and to
correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto), or (b) to
the acquisition of a controlling interest in another business, the making of a
capital expenditure or the acquisition of other long-term assets, in each case,
in a Permitted Business.  Pending the final application of any such Net
Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving Indebtedness under the
Senior Credit Facility or other-wise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner
that is not prohibited by the Indenture.  Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales
that are not applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this
paragraph will be deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate
amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Company will be required to
make an offer to all Holders of Notes (an "Asset Sale Offer") to purchase the
maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess
Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon,
if any, to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in
the Indenture.  To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company
may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes.  If the
aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the
amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased
on a pro rata basis.  Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of
Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.


CERTAIN COVENANTS

      RESTRICTED PAYMENTS

     The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend
or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company'S  or any
of its Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company)
or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company'S  or any of its
Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than (a)
dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company or (b) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a
Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of a class of its Equity Interests,
which include the Company or a Subsidiary, on a pro rata basis); (ii)

                                      41

<PAGE>   49


purchase, redeem or other-wise acquire or retire for value (including without
limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of
the Company; (iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem,
defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is
subordinated to the Notes, except a payment of interest or principal at Stated
Maturity; (iv) make any payment in respect of any Non-Competition Agreement; or
(v) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set
forth in clauses (i) through (v) above being collectively referred to as
"Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such
Restricted Payment:
        
     (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would occur as a consequence thereof;

     (b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after
giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at
the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described
below under caption "-Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified
Stock and Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries;" and

     (c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all
other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the
date of the Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii),
(iii), (vi) and (vii) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum
of (i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken
as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter
commencing after the date of the Indenture to the end of the Company'S  most
recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are
available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net
Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit) less the amount
paid or to be paid in respect of such period pursuant to clause (vii) of the
next following paragraph, plus (h) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds
received by the Company from the issue or sale since the date of the Indenture
of Equity Interests of the Company (other than (x) proceeds from the sale of
Disqualified Stock, (y) proceeds received by the Company from its stockholders
pursuant to Paragraph I of the Tax Allocation Agreement or proceeds from
contributions or payments received by the Company from any stockholder of the
Company as compensation for, or in connection with, the net tax benefit
realized by such stockholder as a result of the allocation to such stockholder
of the net loss of the Company for income tax purposes and (z) proceeds
received by the Company which are used by the Company to make a substantially
concurrent restricted Payment pursuant to clause (ii) or (vi) below) or of
Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted
into such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock
or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company and other
than Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities that have been converted
into Disqualified Stock), plus (iii) to the extent that any Restricted
Investment that was made after the date of the Indenture is sold for cash or
otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (A) the cash return of
capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of
disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment,
plus (iv) $2.5 million.

     The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of any dividend
within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of
declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any pari passu or subordinated Indebtedness or Equity Interests
of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the
substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Subsidiary of the
Company) of, other Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified
Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized
for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition
shall be excluded from clause (c) (ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the
defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of pari passu or
subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv) the repurchase, redemption or other
acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company held by any employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries upon termination of employment; provided that the aggregate price
paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests
shall not exceed $1.0 million in any twelve-month period and no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after such
transaction; (v) the purchase of the remaining outstanding Equity Interests in
Materias Plasticas, S.A. not owned by the Company pursuant to the Purchase and
Sale of Shares Promissory Agreement; (vi) make any Restricted Payment by
exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, or
capital contribution in respect of, Capital Stock of the 

                                      42

<PAGE>   50

Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other Capital Stock issued or sold to
a Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees);
provided that if such transaction is permitted pursuant to this clause (vi),
then the net proceeds received by the Company shall not be included in the
calculation of net proceeds received by the Company referred to in clause (c)
(ii) of the preceding paragraph; and (vii) the payment of Permitted Quarterly
Tax Distributions to the holders of Common Stock of the Company as described
below.
        
     For so long as the Company is an S-Corporation or a substantially similar
pass-through entity for Federal income tax purposes, the Company may make cash
distributions to its members, during each Quarterly Payment Period, in an
aggregate amount not to exceed the Permitted Quarterly Tax Distribution in
respect of the related Estimation Period.  If any portion of a Permitted
Quarterly Tax Distribution is not distributed during such Quarterly Payment
Period, the Permitted Quarterly Tax Distribution payable during the immediately
following Quarterly Payment Period shall be increased by such undistributed
portion.

     Within 10 days following the Company's filing of Internal Revenue Service
Form 1120S for the immediately preceding taxable year, the Tax Amounts CPA
shall file with the Trustee a written statement indicating in reasonable detail
the calculation of the True-up Amount.  In the case of a True-up Amount due to
the members, the Permitted Quarterly Tax Distribution payable during the
immediately following Quarterly Payment Period shall be increased by such
True-up Amount.  In the case of a True-up Amount due to the Company, the
Permitted Quarterly Tax Distribution payable during the immediately following
Quarterly Payment Period shall be reduced by such True-up Amount and the
excess, if any, of the True-up Amount over such Permitted Quarterly Tax
Distribution shall be applied to reduce the immediately following Permitted
Quarterly Tax Distributions until such True-up Amount is entirely offset.

     The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair
market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or
securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.  The fair
market value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined by the
Board of Directors whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to
the Trustee, such determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued
by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if
such fair market value exceeds $1.0 million.  Not later than the date of making
any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth
the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant "Restricted
Payments" were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or
appraisal required by the Indenture.

      INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF DISQUALIFIED STOCK AND
                       PREFERRED STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES

The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or
otherwise, with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt) and that the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock;
provided, however, that the Company or any Guarantor may incur Indebtedness
(including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's  most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately
preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such
Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least 2 to 1, if such
Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued prior to March 15,
1998, or 2.25 to 1 thereafter, in each case determined on a pro forma basis
(including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the
additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock had been
issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period;
        
The provisions of the first paragraph of this covenant will not apply to the
incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively,
"Permitted Debt"):

     (i) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by the Notes
and the Indenture and the guarantee by any Subsidiary of such Indebtedness;

     (ii) the incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of term Indebtedness
under the Term Facility Tranche of the Senior Credit Facility (the "Term
Facility Tranche"), letters of credit (with letters of credit being deemed to
have 

                                      43

<PAGE>   51

a principal amount equal to the maximum potential ability of the Company and the
Guarantors thereunder) and related Guarantees (with the amount of such Guarantee
not being duplicatively counted) under the Term Facility Tranche; provided that
the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under the Term
Facility Tranche after giving effect to such incurrence, including all Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any other
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (ii), does not exceed an amount
equal to $15.0 million less the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds from Asset
Sales applied to permanently reduce the Indebtedness under the Term Facility
Tranche and less the amount of any permanent reductions in commitments under the
Term Facility Tranche subsequent to the date of the Indenture;
        
     (iii) the incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of revolving credit
Indebtedness under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility (the
"Revolving Credit Facility"), letters of credit (with letters of credit being
deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of
the Company and the Guarantors thereunder) and related Guarantees (with the
amount of such Guarantee not being duplicatively counted) under the Revolving
Credit Facility; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount
equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and the Guarantors
thereunder) outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility after giving effect
to such incurrence, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred
to refund, refinance or replace any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to
this clause (iii), does not exceed the greater of the Borrowing Base at the
time incurred or $125.0 million, in each case, less the sum of (a) the
mandatory permanent reductions in commitments under the Revolving Credit
Facility, up to $55 million, and (b) the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds from
Asset Sales applied to permanently reduce the availability of revolving credit
Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility;

     (iv) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of the Existing
Indebtedness;

     (v) the incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary of Hedging Obligations
that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency rate risk or
interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate or fixed rate Indebtedness
or otherwise swapping fixed rate to floating rate or floating rate to fixed
rate Indebtedness for the purpose of hedging against interest rate risk that,
in each case, is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding;

     (vi) the incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary of intercompany
Indebtedness between or among the Company and any Subsidiary; provided,
however, that any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person
that is not either the Company or a Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case,
to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be;

     (vii) the guarantee by the Company or any Guarantor of Indebtedness of the
Company or a Guarantor of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by
another provision of this covenant; .

     (viii) surety bonds and appeal bonds required in the ordinary course of
business or in connection with the enforcement of rights or claims of the
Company or any Guarantor in connection with judgements which do not result. in
an Event of Default;

     (ix) the incurrence by the Company or the Guarantor of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used
to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness that was
permitted by the Indenture to be incurred;

     (x) the incurrence of Indebtedness to a holder of Common Stock of the
Company; provided, however, that (a) such Indebtedness is expressly
subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with
respect the Notes, (b) such Indebtedness does not, upon the happening of any
event or otherwise, mature or become mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or other-wise, or become redeemable at the option of
the Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91
days after the date on which the Notes mature, (c) such Indebtedness does not
require any cash interest payments with respect such Indebtedness prior to 91
days after the date on which the Notes mature and (d) any sale or other
transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not holder of Common
Stock of the Company shall be deemed to constitute an incurrence of such
Indebtedness by the Company;

                                      44

<PAGE>   52

     (xi) the incurrence by a Foreign Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness;
provided, however, that the aggregate amount of outstanding Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to this clause (xi) does not exceed $2.5 million at any time
or such Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, as part
of the Senior Credit Facility; and

     (xii) the incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of additional
Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accredit value, as
applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any other Indebtedness
incurred pursuant this clause (xii), not to exceed $15.0 million.

     For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event
that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xii) above or is
entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the
Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in
any manner that complies with this covenant and such item of Indebtedness will
be treated as having been incurred pursuant to only one of such clauses or
pursuant to the first paragraph hereof.  Accrual of interest, the accretion of
accredit value and the payment of interest in the form of additional
Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for
purposes of this covenant.

      DESIGNATION OF UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES

     Any designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors
shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy
of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers'
Certificate certifying that any Investments in such entity, after giving effect
to such designation, comply with the terms of the Indenture governing the
designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and are permitted by the covenant
described above under the caption "Certain Covenants-Restricted Payments." If,
at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary fails to meet the foregoing
requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of
such subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Subsidiary of the Company
as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as
of such date under the covenant described under the caption "Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of
Subsidiaries," the Company shall be in default of such covenant).  The Board of
Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary
to be a Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding
Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be
permitted if (i) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described
under the caption "Certain Covenants-Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries," calculated on a pro
forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the
four-quarter reference period, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default would be
in existence following such designation.
        
     LIENS

     The Indenture provides that the Company will not and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any Lien of any kind upon any of their property or
assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, securing (i) Indebtedness incurred in
violation of the Indenture, (ii) Indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary
or Unrestricted Subsidiary or (iii) Indebtedness which by its terms is
subordinate or junior in the right of payment to any other Indebtedness unless
all payments due under the Indenture and the Notes are secured on an equal and
ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such
obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

      DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES

     The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or
suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the
ability of any Subsidiary to (i) (a) pay dividends or make any other
distributions to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital
Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or
measured by, its profits, or (b) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances or
restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) existing agreements as in
effect on the date of the 

                                      45

<PAGE>   53


Indenture, (b) the Senior Credit Facility as in effect as of the date of the
Indenture, and any amendments, modifications, extensions, restatements,
renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings
thereof, provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals,
increases, supplements, refundings, replacement, extensions or refinancings are
no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions
than those contained in the Senior Credit Facility as in effect on the date of
the Indenture, (c) the Indenture and the Notes, (d) applicable law, (e) any
instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition
(except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in
contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not
applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than
the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that,
in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the
Indenture to be incurred, (f) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions
in leases or agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices, (g) purchase money obligations for property
acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the
nature described in clause (iii) above on the property so acquired, (h)
Indebtedness of Guarantors or Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that
such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Indenture, or (i)
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in
the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more
restrictive than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness   
being refinanced.  

     MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS

     The Indenture provides that the Company may not consolidate or merge with
or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell,
assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to another
corporation, Person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving
corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been
made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the entity or
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the
obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a
supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii)
immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(iv) except in the case of a merger of the Company with or into a Guarantor, the
Company or the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made (A) will have
Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the transaction equal to or greater
than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately preceding the
transaction and (B) will, at the time of such transaction and after giving pro
forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set
forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption
"-Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred
Stock of Subsidiaries."
        
     The Indenture provides that no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge
with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another
corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor
unless (i) subject to the provisions related to the release of a Subsidiary
Guarantor as set forth under the caption "Subsidiary Guarantees," the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such
Guarantor or the Company) assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor
pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture (unless released as
provided in the Indenture) and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such
transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists.



      SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

     The Indenture provides that if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
shall acquire or create another Subsidiary after the date of the Indenture or
designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Subsidiary, then such newly
acquired, created or designated Subsidiary shall execute a Subsidiary Guarantee
pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor 

                                      46

<PAGE>   54


on a senior subordinated basis (pursuant to the subordination provisions
substantially similar to those described above under the caption
"-Subordination") of the Company'S'S  payment obligations under the Notes and
the Indenture, and deliver an opinion of counsel, in accordance with the terms
of the Indenture, provided, that this covenant shall not apply to (i) any
Subsidiary that has been properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in
accordance with the Indenture for so long as it continues to constitute an
Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) any Foreign Restricted Subsidiary.  The Company
has two domestic subsidiaries whose sole assets are the equity interests of Key
Plastics, U.K.  The Company has two other domestic Subsidiaries whose sole
assets are the equity interests of Key Plastics de Mexico 2 S.A. del. C.V.  Such
subsidiaries are Guarantors as provided herein.
        
     The Indenture provides that in the event of a sale or other disposition of
all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or
otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any
Guarantor, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by
way of such a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock
of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a
sale or other disposition of all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be
released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and the
Trustee shall provide the Company with a certificate certifying that such
Guarantor has been so released and relieved of its obligations; provided that
the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the Indenture.  See "Repurchase at Option of
Holders-Asset Sales."

     TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

     The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any
property or assets from, or enter into or make, or amend any transaction,
contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the
benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"),
unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to
the Company or the relevant Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained
in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Subsidiary with an unrelated
Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee (a) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the Board of
Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transaction
has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of
Directors and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0
million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing; provided that (v) any employment
or consulting agreement or arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past
practice of the Company or such Subsidiary, (w) transactions between or among
the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and (x) Restricted Payments that are
permitted by the provisions of the -Indenture described above under the caption
"-Restricted Payments," (y) Permitted Quarterly Tax Distributions and (z)
Permitted Investments, in each case, shall not be deemed Affiliate Transactions.
        
     NO SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT

     The Indenture provides that the Company will not incur, create, issue,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is
subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt and senior in any
respect in right of payment to the Notes.

      BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

     The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any
business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

      PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT

     The Indenture provides that neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, pay or
cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or
otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement to any consent,
waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the 

                                      47

<PAGE>   55

Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is
paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the
time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.
        
      REPORTS

     The Indenture provides that, whether or not required by the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), so
long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of
Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required
to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the
Company were required to file such Forms, including a "Management's  Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" that describes
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of
the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto and in Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of
the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company) and, with respect to the annual
information only, a report thereon by the Company's  certified independent
accountants and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed
with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such
reports.  In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of
the Commission, the Company will file a copy of all such information and
reports with the Commission for public availability (unless the Commission will
not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities
analysts and prospective investors upon request.  In addition, the Company has
agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, it will furnish to
the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d) (4)
under the Securities Act.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES


     The Indenture provides that each of the following constitutes an Event of
Default: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or
Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes (whether or not prohibited by the
subordination provisions of the Indenture); (ii) default in payment when due of
the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes (whether or not prohibited by
the subordination provisions of the Indenture); (iii) failure by the Company to
comply with the provisions described under the captions "-Change of Control,"
or "-Asset Sales"; (iv) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to
comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes, (v)
default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money
borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is
guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness
or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, which
default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period
provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "Payment Default")
or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness,
together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which
there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so
accelerated, aggregates $2.5 million or more; (vi) failure by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $2.5
million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60
days; (vii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee by a
Significant Subsidiary shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be
unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and
effect or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any Person acting
on behalf of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, shall deny or
disaffirm its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; and (viii) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

     If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary, all
outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice.
Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as
provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the
Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.  The Trustee may withhold from
Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default

                                      48

<PAGE>   56

(except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or
interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

     In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful
action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with
the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have
had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to the
optional redemption provisions of the Indenture, an equivalent premium shall
also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law
upon the acceleration of the Notes.  If an Event of Default occurs prior to
March 15, 2002 by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not
taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding the
prohibition on redemption of the Notes prior to March 15, 2002, then the
premium specified in the Indenture shall also become immediately due and
payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Notes.

     The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the
Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of
interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.

     The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a
statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS

     No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the
Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
under the Notes, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by
reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of Notes by
accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.  Such waiver
may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and
it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver is against public policy.

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its
obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes ("Legal
Defeasance") except for (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to
receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
and Liquidated Damages on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust
referred to below, (ii) the Company's obligations with respect to the Notes
concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for
payment and money for security payments held in trust, (iii) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company's
obligations in connection therewith and (iv) the Legal Defeasance provisions of
the Indenture.  In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time,
elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to certain
covenants that are described in the Indenture ("Covenant Defeasance") and
thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a
Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.  In the event Covenant
Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy,
receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under "Events of
Default" will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the
Notes.

     In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, (i)
the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the
benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and
Liquidated Damages on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the
applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify
whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption
date; (ii) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to
the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to
the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has
been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date
of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax
law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of
counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not
recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of
such Legal 

                                     49

<PAGE>   57

Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case
if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; (iii) in the case of Covenant
Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of
counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or
loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance
and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant
Defeasance had not occurred; (iv) no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or
Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such
deposit) or insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events
are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date
of deposit; (v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in
a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement
or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound; (vi) the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of
counsel to the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust
funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally; (vii) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the
intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the
Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding
creditors of the Company or others; and (viii) the Company must deliver to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that
all conditions precedent provided for relating to the Legal Defeasance or the
Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
        
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE

     A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture.
The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to
furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may
require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the
Indenture.  The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note
selected for redemption.  Also, the Company is not required to transfer or
exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be
redeemed.

      The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for
all purposes.

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the Indenture or
the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including,
without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or
tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and any existing default or
compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with
the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender
offer or exchange offer for Notes).

     Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may
not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (i) reduce the
principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment,
supplement or waiver, (ii) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity
of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes
(other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under the
caption "-Repurchase at the Option of Holders"), (iii) reduce the rate of or
change the time for payment of interest on any Note, (iv) waive a Default or
Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest
on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver
of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration), (v) make any Note
payable in money other than that stated in the Notes, (vi) make any change in
the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the
rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on the Notes, (vii) waive a redemption payment with respect to
any Note (other than a payment required by one of the covenants described above
under the caption "-Repurchase at the Option of Holders") or (viii) make any
change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.  In addition, any
amendment to the provisions of Article 10 of the Indenture (which relate to
subordination) will require the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding if such amendment
would adversely affect the rights of Holders of Notes.

                                     50

<PAGE>   58


     Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Holder of Notes,
the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes
to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated
Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the
assumption of the Company's  obligations to Holders of Notes in the case of a
merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional
rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect
the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or to comply with
requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

     CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee,
should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in
certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any
such claim as security or otherwise.  The Trustee will be permitted to engage
in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must
eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission
to continue or resign.
        
     The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to
certain exceptions.  The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default
shall occur (which shall not be cured), the Trustee will be required, in the
exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the
conduct of his own affairs.  Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be
under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture
at the request of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to
the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss,
liability or expense.

BOOK-ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM

     Except as described in the next paragraph, the Notes initially will be
represented by one or more permanent global certificates in definitive, fully
registered form (the "Global Notes").  The Global Notes will be deposited on
the date of issuance with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New
York, New York ("DTC") and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC.

     Notes (i) originally purchased by or transferred to "foreign purchasers"
or institutional "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3)
or (7) under the Securities Act) ("Accredited Investors") who are not
"qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A promulgated under the
Securities Act) ("QIBS") or (ii) held by QIBs or institutional Accredited
Investors who are not QIBs who elect to take physical delivery of their
certificates instead of holding their interest through a Global Note (and which
are thus ineligible to trade through DTC) (collectively referred to herein as
the "Non-Global Purchasers") will be issued in registered form (the
"Certificated Security").  Upon the transfer to a QIB or another institutional
Accredited Investor who is not a QIB of any Certificated Security initially
issued to a Non-Global Purchaser, such Certificated Security will, unless the
transferee requests otherwise or the Global Certificates have previously been
exchanged in whole for Certificated Securities, be exchanged for an interest in
a Global Note.

     The Global Notes.  The Company expects that pursuant to procedures
established by DTC (i) upon the issuance of the Global Notes, DTC or its
custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount of Notes of
the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Notes to the
respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and (ii)
ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the
transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by
DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records
of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants).
Such accounts initially will be designated by or on behalf of the Initial
Purchasers and ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
limited to persons who have accounts with DTC ("participants") or persons who
hold interests through participants.  QIBs and institutional Accredited
Investors who are not QIBs may hold their interests in the Global Note directly
through DTC if they are participants in such system, or indirectly through
organizations which are participants in such system.

     So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of the
Notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Global Notes for all purposes
under 

                                     51

<PAGE>   59


the Indenture.  No beneficial owner of an interest in any of the Global
Notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC'S
procedures, in addition to those provided for under the Indenture with respect
to the Notes.

     Payments of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Global
Notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered
owner thereof.  None of the Company, the Trustee or any Paying Agent will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interest.

     The Company expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment
of principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of the Global Notes, will
credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the Global Notes as
shown on the records of DTC or its nominee.  The Company also expects that
payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes
held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practice, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers.  Such
payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

     Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way
through DTC'S same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be
settled in same day funds.  If a holder requires physical delivery of a
Certificated Security for any reason, including to sell Notes to persons in
states which require physical delivery of the Notes, or to pledge such
securities, such holder must transfer its interest in a Global Note, in
accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set forth
in the Indenture.

     DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of Notes (including the presentation of Notes for exchange as
described below) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose
account the DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited and only in respect
of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes as to which such
participant or participants has or have given such direction.  However, if
there is an Event of Default under the Indenture, DTC will exchange the Global
Notes for Certificated Securities, which it will distribute to its
participants.

     DTC has advised the Company as follows:  DTC is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "Clearing Agency" registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.  DTC was created to hold
securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry
changes in accounts in participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates.  Participants include securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other
organizations.  Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such
as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly
("indirect participants").

     Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate
transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants of DTC, it is
under no obligation to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time.  Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect
participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures
governing their operations.

     Certificated Securities.  If DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to
continue as a depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days, Certificated Securities will be issued
in exchange for the Global Notes.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS; LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

     The Company and the Initial Purchasers entered into the Registration
Rights Agreement.  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company
agreed to file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement on
the appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the New Notes.
Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
Company will offer to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant

                                     52

<PAGE>   60


to the Exchange Offer who are able to make certain representations the
opportunity to exchange their Transfer Restricted Securities for New Notes.  If
(i) the Company is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange
Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy or (ii) any
Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities notifies the Company prior to the 20th
day following consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) it is prohibited by
law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) that
it may not resell the New Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales or (C) that it is a broker-dealer and owns Notes acquired directly from
the Company or an affiliate of the Company, the Company will file with the
Commission a Shelf Registration Statement to cover resales of the Notes by the
Holders thereof who satisfy certain conditions relating to the provision of
information in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.  The Company
will use its best efforts to cause the applicable registration statement to be
declared effective as promptly as possible by the Commission.  For purposes of
the foregoing, "Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Note until (i) the
date on which such Note has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a New Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange
by a broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for a New Note, the date on
which such New Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer
on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Note has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in
accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such
Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
        
     The Registration Rights Agreement provides that (i) the Company will file
an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with the Commission on or prior to 45
days after the Closing Date, (ii) the Company will use its best efforts to have
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission
on or prior to 105 days after the Closing Date, (iii) unless the Exchange Offer
would not be permitted by Applicable law or Commission policy, the Company will
commence the Exchange Offer and use its best efforts to issue on or prior to 30
business days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
was declared effective by the Commission, New Notes in exchange for all Notes
tendered prior thereto in the Exchange Offer and (iv) if obligated to file the
Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will use its best efforts to file the
Shelf Registration Statement with the Commission on or prior to 45 days after
such filing obligation arises and to cause the Shelf Registration to be
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 105 days after such
obligation arises.  If (a) the Company fails to file any of the Registration
Statements required by the Registration Rights Agreement on or before the date
specified for such filing, (b) any of such Registration Statements is not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such
effectiveness (the "Effectiveness Target Date"), or (c) the Company fails to
consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 business days of the Effectiveness
Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (d)
the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
is declared effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in
connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods
specified in the Registration Rights Agreement (each such event referred to in
clauses (a) through (d) above a "Registration Default"), then the Company will
pay Liquidated Damages to each Holder of Notes, with respect to the first
90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration
Default in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of
Notes held by such Holder.  The amount of the Liquidated Damages will increase
by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 principal amount of Notes with
respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have
been cured, up to a maximum amount of Liquidated Damages of $.50 per week per
$1,000 principal amount of Notes.  All accrued Liquidated Damages will be paid
by the Company on each Damages Payment Date to the Global Note Holder by wire
transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to
Holders of Certificated Securities by wire transfer to the accounts specified
by them or by mailing checks to their registered addresses if no such accounts
have been specified.  Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the
accrual of Liquidated Damages will cease.

     Holders of Notes will be required to make certain representations to the
Company (as described in the Registration Rights Agreement) in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer and will be required to deliver information
to be used in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and to provide
comments on the Shelf Registration Statement within the time periods set forth
in the Registration Rights Agreement in order to have their Notes included in
the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding
Liquidated Damages set forth above.

                                     53

<PAGE>   61



     CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture.
Reference is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as
well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is
provided.

     "Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person, (i)
Indebtedness any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged
with or into or became a subsidiary of such specified Person, including,
without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a
subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien
encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

     "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall
mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall
be deemed to be control.

     "Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of
any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and
leaseback) other than sales of inventory., goods and services in the. ordinary
course of business (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company 'and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the
Indenture described above under the caption "-Change of Control" and/or the
provisions described above under the caption "-Merger, Consolidation or Sale of
Assets" and not by the provisions of the Asset Sale covenant), and (ii) the
issue or sale by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of
any of the Company's  Subsidiaries, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii),
whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a) that
have a fair market value in excess of $1.0 million or (b) for net proceeds in
excess of $1.0 million.  Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) a transfer of
assets by the Company to a Subsidiary; or by a Subsidiary to the Company or to
another Subsidiary (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary to the
Company or to another Subsidiary, and (iii) any Restricted Payment, Permitted
Investment or dividend or distribution that is permitted by the covenant
described above under the caption "-Restricted Payments" will not be deemed to
be Asset Sales.

     "Borrowing Base" means, as of any date, an amount equal to the sum of (a)
$55.0 million, (b) 90% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owned by
the Company, its Subsidiaries and Key Plastics U.K. as of such date and (c) 60%
of the book value on a FIFO basis of all inventory owned by the Company, its
Subsidiaries and Key Plastics U.K. as of such date, all calculated on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.  To the extent that information
is not available as to the amount of accounts receivable or inventory as of a
specific date, the Company may utilize the most recent available information
for purposes of calculating the Borrowing Base.

     "Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof is
to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that
would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.

     "Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock,
(ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares,
interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability
company, partnership or membership., interests (whether general or limited) and
(iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to
receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of,
the issuing Person.

     "Cash Equivalents" means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities issued
or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or
any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six
months from the date of acquisition, (iii) marketable direct obligations issued
by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of
any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year
from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having
one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("S&P") or Moody's  Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's "), (iv)
certificates of deposit and eurodollar 
        
                                     54



<PAGE>   62


time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of
acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and
overnight bank deposits, in each case with any lender party to the Senior
Credit Facility or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus
in excess of $250.0 million and a Keefe Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better, (v)
repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying
securities of the types described in clauses (ii), (iii). and (iv) above
entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications
specified in clause (iv) above, (vi) commercial paper having one of the two
highest ratings obtainable from Moody's  or S&P and in each case maturing
within six months after the date of acquisition and (vii) investments in money
market funds which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the
types described in clauses (i) through (vi) above.
        
     "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the
adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company,
(ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any
merger or consolidation) the result of which is that (a) prior to an Initial
Public Offering, any  "person" (as defined above), other than the Principals
and their Related Parties, (1) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule l3d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a
person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that
such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently
exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent
condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the
Company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares), (2) becomes a
shareholder of the Company with the right to appoint or remove directors of the
Company holding 50% or more of the voting rights at meetings of the Board of
Directors on all, or substantially all, matters or (3) becomes able to exercise
the right to give directions with respect to the operating and financial
policies of the Company with which the relevant directors are obligated to
comply by reason of (A) provisions contained in the organization documents of
the Company, or (B) the existence of any contract permitting such person to
exercise control over the Company, or (b) after an Initial Public Offering, any
"person" (as defined above), other than the Principals and  their Related
Parties, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
and Rule l3d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to
have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such person has the right to
acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only
upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition), directly or indirectly, of more
than 30% of the total of the Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting
power rather than number of shares), and, the Principals, collectively, are the
"beneficial owners" of a lesser percentage of the Voting Stock of the Company
than such other "person" and do not have the right or ability by voting power,
contract or otherwise, to elect or designate for election, a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company, (iii) the first day on which a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing
Directors, (iv) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any
Person or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of
all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, or any Person
consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event
pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the
Company is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property,
other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or
exchanged for Voting Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or
transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such
Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving
effect to such issuance) or (v) the Company sells, assigns, conveys, transfers,
leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any
Person pursuant to a transaction in which none of the outstanding Voting Stock
of the Company is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
property.

     "Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i) an amount
equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized in connection with
an Asset Sale (to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income), plus (ii) if the Company is not an S-Corporation or
substantially similar pass-through entity for Federal income tax purposes, any
provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its
Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was
included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iii) consolidated
interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, whether
paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation,
amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash
interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations,
the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease
Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in
respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments
(if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any such expense
was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv) depreciation,
amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but
excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior
period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the
extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve 
        
                                     55

<PAGE>   63
for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash
expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Subsidiaries
for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other
noncash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, minus
(v) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, in
each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes based on the income or
profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash charges
of, a Subsidiary of a Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to
compute Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent (and in the same proportion)
that the Net Income of such Subsidiary was included in calculating the
Consolidated Net Income of such Person and only if a corresponding amount would
be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by
such Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant
to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments,
decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to
that Subsidiary or its stockholders.
        
     "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for
such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP;
provided that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a
Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be
included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in
cash to the referent Person or a Subsidiary thereof, (h) the Net Income of any
Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor shall be excluded to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary
of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any
prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or
indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii) the Net Income of any
Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to
the date of such acquisition shall be excluded, (iv) the cumulative effect of a
change in accounting principles shall be excluded and (v) the Net Income (or
loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded, whether or not
distributed to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries.

     "Consolidated Net Worth " means, with respect to any Person as of any
date, the sum of (i) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such
Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date plus (ii) the
respective amounts reported on such Person'S  balance sheet as of such date
with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock)
that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such
dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the
year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash
received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred stock, less (x) all
write-ups (other than write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations
and write-ups of tangible assets of a going concern business made within 12
months after the acquisition of such business) subsequent to the date of the
Indenture in the book value of any asset owned by such Person or a consolidated
Subsidiary of such Person, (y) all investments as of such date in
unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons that are not Subsidiaries (except,
in each case, Permitted Investments), and (z) all unamortized debt discount and
expense and unamortized deferred charges as of such date, all of the foregoing
determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member
of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such Board of
Directors on the date of the Indenture or (ii) was nominated for election or
elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.

     "Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.

     "Designated Senior Debt" means (i) any Indebtedness outstanding under the
Senior Credit Facility and (ii) any  other Senior Debt permitted under the
Indenture the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that has
been designated by the Company as "Designated Senior Debt."

     "Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable
at the option of the Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the
date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature.

                                     56

<PAGE>   64
     "Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other
rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

     "Estimation Period" means the period for which a stockholder who is an
individual is required to estimate for Federal income tax purposes his
allocation of taxable income from a calendar year in connection with
determining his estimated federal income tax liability for such period.

     "Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility) in
existence on the date of the Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

     "Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries for
any period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest
expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or
accrued and (ii) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Subsidiaries
that was capitalized during such period, and (iii) any interest expense on
Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its
Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its
Subsidiaries (whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon) and (iv)
the product of (a) all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any series
of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, other than
dividend payments on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the
Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the
denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and
local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case,
on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

     "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any Person and its
Subsidiaries for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such
Person and its Subsidiaries for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person
for such period.  In the event that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
incurs, assumes, Guarantees or redeems any Indebtedness (other than revolving
credit borrowings) or issues preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of
the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but
prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the "Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence,
assumption, Guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or
redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of
the applicable four-quarter reference period.  In addition, for purposes of
making the computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or
prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day
of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such
reference period shall be calculated without giving effect to clause (iii) of
the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated Net Income, and (ii)
the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of
prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded and (iii) the Fixed Charges
attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP,
and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall
be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such
Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its
Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.,

     "Foreign Restricted Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary that is not formed
under the laws of the United States of America or of a state or territory
thereof.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of the Indenture.

     "Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or
indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any
Indebtedness.

                                     57




<PAGE>   65
     "Guarantors" means (i) each of Key Plastics International LLC, Key
Plastics Automotive LLC and Key Plastics Technology, LLC and (ii) any other
Subsidiary that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.

     "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the obligations
of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap
agreements and interest rate collar agreements, (ii) foreign exchange contracts
and currency swap agreements, or (iii) other agreements or arrangements
designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or
currency values.

     "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such
Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker'S  acceptances or
representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of
the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations,
except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable,
if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of
credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance
sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all
indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether
or not such indebtedness is assumed by such Person) and, to the extent not
otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any
other Person.  The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall
be (i) the accredit value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness that does
not require current payments of interest, and (ii) the principal amount
thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due,
in the case of any other Indebtedness.

     "Initial Public Offering" means the sale of capital stock of the Company
pursuant to (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act that has been
declared effective by the Commission or (b) a public offering outside the
United States and which results, in either case, in an active trading market
for such shares.  An active trading market shall be deemed to exist if such
shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange
or the Nasdaq National Market System or any major international trading market
exchange.

     "Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such
Person in other Persons (including Affiliates), in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business),
purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity
Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP,
provided that the deferral of existing royalty and management fees owing by any
Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Company consistent with the past practice of the
Company shall not be "Investments" provided that any such amounts are not
included as revenues of the Company and the Subsidiaries during such deferral
period for purposes of calculating any amounts under the Indenture.

     "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease
in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement
under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any
jurisdiction).
        
     "Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of
such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any gain (but not
loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not
loss), realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b)
the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or
the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss),
together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or
nonrecurring gain (but not loss).

     "Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs
relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, 

                                      58



<PAGE>   66
legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), and any reserve for adjustment in
respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance
with GAAP.
        
     "Non-Competition Agreement" means, collectively, the provisions contained
in the Employment and Noncompetition Agreements, each dated August 5, 1988,
between the Company and certain shareholders of the Company, and in the
Consulting and Noncompetition Agreement, dated August 9, 1990, between the
Company and a certain shareholder of the Company, whereby such shareholders
agreed not to compete with the Company on the terms and conditions set forth
therein, as amended on November 17, 1992, and as amended subsequent to the date
of the Indenture.

     "Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including
any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness),
(b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), or (c)
constitutes the lender-, (ii) no default with respect to which (including any
rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an
Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any
holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be
accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and (iii) as to which the
lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to
the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided,
however, that Indebtedness that would otherwise be NonRecourse Debt but for the
reason that the Company or a Subsidiary may be directly or indirectly liable as
a guarantor or otherwise, such Indebtedness will be considered Non-Recourse
Debt if the guarantee of such Indebtedness or other obligation with respect to
such Indebtedness was not prohibited at the time of its incurrence by the
covenants described under the captions "-Restricted Payments" and "-Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of
Subsidiaries" (with the amount of the Restricted Payment or Indebtedness, as
the case may be, being equal to the principal amount of the Indebtedness so
guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any Subsidiary or for
which the Company or any Subsidiary may be, directly or indirectly, obligated).

     "Obligations" means any principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

     "Permitted Businesses" means (a) any business in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of the Indenture or any reasonable
extension or expansion of such businesses and (b) any business similar or
related to the manufacture, design, marketing, distribution or resale of
automotive parts or plastic products, parts, components or assemblies.

     "Permitted Investments" means (a) any Investment in the Company or in a
Subsidiary; (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; (c) any Investments
existing on the date of the Indenture after giving effect to the intended use
of proceeds set forth and transactions referred to under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" of the offering memorandum pursuant to which the Series A Notes were
issued and any amendment, modification, restatement, supplement, extension,
renewal, refunding, replacement, refinancing, in whole or in part, thereof;
provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments under this clause (c) do
not at any time exceed, in the aggregate, the amount of such Investments
outstanding on the date of the Indenture (d) any Investment by the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company, if as a result of such Investment (i) such
Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) such Person is merged,
consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially
all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company; (e) any Restricted Investment made as a result of the receipt of
non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in
compliance with the covenant described above under the caption "-Repurchase at
the Option of Holders-Asset Sales;" (f) any acquisition of assets in exchange
for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Company; (g) loans and advances to employees and officers of the Company and
its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business
purposes not in excess of $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and (h) other
Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on
the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent
changes in value), when taken to ether with all other Investments made pursuant
to this clause (h) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed $12.5
million.

                                     59


<PAGE>   67
     "Permitted Junior Securities" means Equity Interests in the Company or
debt securities that are subordinated to all Senior Debt (and any debt
securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt) to substantially the same extent
as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt
pursuant to Article 10 of the Indenture.

     "Permitted Quarterly Tax Distributions" means quarterly distributions of
Tax Amounts determined on the basis of the estimated taxable income of the
Company, for the related Estimation Period, provided, however, that, (A) prior
to any distributions of Tax Amounts the Company shall deliver an officers'
certificate certifying that the Tax Amounts to be distributed were determined
pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and stating to the effect that the
Company qualifies as an S-Corporation or substantially similar pass-through
entity for Federal income tax purposes and (B) at the time of such
distributions, the most recent audited financial statements of the Company
reflect that the Company was treated as an S-Corporation or substantially
similar pass-through entity for Federal income tax purposes for the period
covered by such financial statements.

     "Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which
are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that: (i) the
principal amount (or accredit value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accredit
value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the Indebtedness so extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of
reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith, including any premiums on
principal); (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity
date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded; and (iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later
than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to,
the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those
contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

     "Principals" mean (i) any or all of David Benoit, George Mars and Joel
Tauber and (ii) any trust established by any of the foregoing provided that the
beneficiaries of the trust are members of such person'S  immediate family and
such person maintains sole voting power over the shares held by such trust.

     "Purchase and Sale of Shares Promissory Agreement" means the Purchase and
Sale of Shares Promissory Agreement, dated October 21, 1996, by and between the
Company and the other parties named therein.

     "Quarterly Payment Period" means the period commencing on the tenth day
and ending on and including the twentieth day of each month in which Federal
individual estimated tax payments are due provided that payments in respect of
estimated state income taxes due in January may instead, at the option of the
Company, be paid during the last 20 days of the immediately preceding December.

     "Related Party" with respect to any Principal means (A) any controlling
stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or spouse or immediate family
member (in the case of an individual) of such Principal or (B) or trust,
corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders,
partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling
interest of which consist of such Principal and/or such other Persons referred
to in the immediately preceding clause (A).

      "Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.

     "Senior Credit Facility" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of
March 24, 1997, by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto from time
to time and NBD Bank, as agent for such lenders, providing for up to $140.0
million of credit borrowings, including any related notes, guarantees, letters
of credit, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in
connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, restated,
supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced, refinanced or defeased
from time to time.

     "Senior Debt" means (i) all Indebtedness and other obligations and
liabilities outstanding at any time under the Senior Credit Facility permitted
under clauses (ii) and (iii) of the second paragraph of the covenant described
above under 

                                     60


<PAGE>   68
the caption "-Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and
Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries," (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be
incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary under the terms of the Indenture,
unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly
provides that it is on parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes including, without limitation, any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to the
Company unless such intercompany Indebtedness expressly provides that it is
subordinated to the Notes and (iii) all Obligations with respect to the
foregoing as described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, and in all cases whether
now outstanding or hereafter created, assumed or incurred and including,
without limitation, interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition of
bankruptcy at the rate provided in the relevant document, whether or not an
allowed claim.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing,
Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or
other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the Company
to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or (z)
any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture.
        
     "Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a "significant
subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated
pursuant to the Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

     "Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of in
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations
to' repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the
date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

     "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a
combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or
the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such
Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "Subsidiary" shall: (x) include, with respect
to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity in which
Such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person holds at least 35% of the equity and
has the ability to direct the policies and business decisions of such
corporation, association or other business entity, whether by control of the
Board of Directors, contract or otherwise; and (y) not include, with respect to
any Person, any Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person.

     "Subsidiary Guarantee" means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary on a senior
subordinated basis of the Company's  payment obligations under the Notes and
the Indenture.

     "Tax Amounts" with respect to any taxable period shall not exceed an
amount equal to (A) the product of (x) the taxable income of the Company for
such period as determined by the Tax Amounts CPA and (y) the Tax Percentage
reduced by (B) to the extent not previously taken into account, any income tax
benefit attributable to the Company which could be realized (without regard to
the actual realization) by its stockholders in the current or any prior taxable
year, or portion thereof, commencing on or after the Issue Date (including any
tax losses or tax credits), computed at the applicable Tax Percentage for the
year that such benefit is taken into account for purposes of this computation.

     "Tax Amounts CPA " means a nationally recognized certified public
accounting firm.

     "Tax Percentage" means, for a particular taxable year, the highest
effective marginal combined rate of Federal and state income tax, imposed on an
individual taxpayer, as certified by the Tax Amounts CPA in a certificate filed
with the Trustee.  The rate of "state income tax" to be taken into account for
purposes of determining the Tax Percentage for a particular taxable year shall
be deemed to be the highest state marginal tax rate applicable to any
stockholder.

     "True-up Amount" means, in respect of a particular taxable year, an amount
determined by the Tax Amounts CPA equal to the difference between (i) the
aggregate Permitted Quarterly Tax Distributions actually distributed in respect
of such taxable year and (ii) the actual Tax Amounts for such year.  For
purposes of this Agreement, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of the
amount described in clause (i) over the amount described in clause (ii) above
shall be referred to as the "True-up Amount due to the Company" and the excess,
if any, of the amount described in clause (ii) over the amount described in
clause (i) above shall be referred to as the "True-up Amount due to the
stockholders."

                                     61


<PAGE>   69
     "True-up Determination Date" means the date on which the Tax Amounts CPA
delivers a statement to the Trustee indicating the True-up Amount.

     "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Person who would otherwise be a
Subsidiary, but for the fact that such Person is designated by the Board of
Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution; but
only to the extent that such Person: (a) has no Indebtedness other than
Non-Recourse Debt;  (b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company unless the
terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less
favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained
at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person
with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests
or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person'S  financial condition or to cause
such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results, other than to
the extent permitted in the definition of Non-Recourse Debt; and (d) has not
guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

     "Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of
such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board
of Directors of such Person.

     "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one twelfth) that will elapse
between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding
principal amount of such Indebtedness.


                                     62



<PAGE>   70
                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     The following discussion is based on the current provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), applicable Treasury
regulations, judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice.  There
can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service") will not
take a contrary view, and no ruling from the Service has been or will be
sought.  Legislative, judicial or administrative changes or interpretations may
be forthcoming that could alter or modify the statements and conditions set
forth herein.  Any such changes or interpretations may or may not be
retroactive and could affect the tax consequences to holders.  Certain holders
(including insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial
institutions, broker-dealers, foreign corporations and persons who are not
citizens or residents of the United States) may be subject to special rules not
discussed below.  The Company recommends that each holder consult such holder's
own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of exchanging such
holder's Series A Notes for Series B Notes, including the applicability and
effect of any state, local or foreign tax laws.

     The Company believes that the exchange of Series B Notes for Series B
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will not be treated as an "exchange" for
federal income tax purposes because the Series B Notes should not constitute a
significant modification of the terms of the Series A Notes.  Rather, the
Series B Notes received by a holder will be treated as a continuation of the
Series A Notes in the hands of such holder.  As a result, there will be no
federal income tax consequences to holders exchanging Series A Notes for
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Based on interpretations by the Staff set forth in no-action letters
issued to third parties, the Company believes that Series B Notes issued
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for the Series A Notes may be
offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other
than any holder which is (i) an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning
of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) a broker dealer who acquired Notes
directly from the Company or (iii) broker-dealers who acquired Notes as a
result of market-making or other trading activities) without compliance with
the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act
provided that such Series B Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such
holders' business, and such holders are not engaged in, and do not intend to
engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in, a distribution of such Series B Notes; provided that
broker-dealers ("Participating Broker-Dealers") receiving Series B Notes in the
Exchange Offer will be subject to a prospectus delivery requirement with
respect to resales of such Series B Notes.  To date, the Staff has taken the
position that Participating Broker-Dealers may fulfill their prospectus
delivery requirements with respect to transactions involving an exchange of
securities such as the exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer (other than a
resale of an unsold allotment from the sale of the Series A Notes to the
Initial Purchasers) with the Prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement.  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has
agreed to permit Participating Broker-Dealers and other persons, if any,
subject to similar prospectus delivery requirements to use this Prospectus in
connection with the resale of such Series B Notes.  The Company has agreed
that, for a period of 365 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this
Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus, available to
any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal.

     Each holder of the Series A Notes who wishes to exchange its Series A
Notes for Series B Notes in the Exchange Offer will be required to make certain
representations to the Company as set forth in "The Exchange Offer - Terms and
Conditions of the Letter of Transmittal." In addition, each holder who is a
broker-dealer and who receives Series B Notes for its own account in exchange
for Series A Notes that were acquired by it as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, will be required to acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale by it of such Series B
Notes.

     The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Series B Notes
by broker-dealers.  Series B Notes received by broker-dealers for their own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or
more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions,
through the writing of options on the Series B Notes or a combination of such
methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or a negotiated prices.  Any such
resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers
who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any
such broker-dealer 
        
                                     63



<PAGE>   71


and/or the purchasers of any such Series B Notes.  Any brokered dealer that
resells Series B Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution
of such Series B Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning
of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Series B Notes and
any commissions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act.  The Letter of Transmittal states that
by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act.
        
     The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incidental to the Exchange
Offer other than commissions and concession of any brokers or dealers and will
indemnify holders of the Series A Notes (including any broker-dealers) against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities act, as set
forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.


                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal matters with respect to the Notes will passed upon for the
Company by Dykema Gossett PLLC, Detroit, Michigan.



                                    EXPERTS

     The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' deficit and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, included in this
prospectus, have been included herein in reliance on the report of  Coopers &
Lybrand, L.L.P., independent accountants,  given on the authority of that firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       64
<PAGE>   72
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 PAGE
                                                                 ----
<S>                                                             <C>
Report of Independent Accountants...........................       F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets -- December 31, 1996 and 1995...       F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income -- Years Ended December
  31, 1996, 1995, and 1994..................................       F-4
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Deficit -- Years
  Ended December 31, 1996, 1995,
  and 1994..................................................       F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- Years Ended
  December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994..........................       F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................    F-7-15
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   73
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Shareholders of Key Plastics, Inc.:
 
        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets  of Key
Plastics, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
related consolidated statements of income, shareholder's equity, and cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Key
Plastics, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
     As discussed in Note 11, the accompanying financial statements for the
years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 have been revised.
 

Coopers & Lybrand Sig.

Detroit, Michigan
March 3, 1997, except as to the information
presented in paragraph 2 in Note 12,
for which the date is March 19, 1997.
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   74
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1996           1995
                                                                  ----           ----
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Accounts receivable, net..................................  $ 43,131,344   $ 29,406,392
  Inventories...............................................    35,634,636     22,063,953
  Prepaid expenses..........................................     2,075,589      1,169,835
                                                              ------------   ------------
       Total current assets.................................    80,841,569     52,640,180
Property, plant and equipment, net..........................    98,908,150     68,183,780
Intangibles, net............................................     8,516,123      2,844,297
Other assets................................................     4,938,500      2,421,728
                                                              ------------   ------------
       Total assets.........................................  $193,204,342   $126,089,985
                                                              ============   ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
  Current maturities of long-term debt......................  $ 64,484,121   $ 17,172,590
  Accounts payable..........................................    35,706,663     19,189,716
  Outstanding checks in excess of cash balances.............     5,371,686      1,017,869
  Accrued interest..........................................     5,275,094      3,771,017
  Accrued payroll...........................................     3,527,258      1,570,546
  Other accrued liabilities.................................     6,699,633        865,009
                                                              ------------   ------------
       Total current liabilities............................   121,064,455     43,586,747
Capital lease obligation....................................     2,057,059      2,669,133
Long-term debt..............................................    82,520,618     99,797,587
Other long-term obligations.................................     3,124,779        911,332
Shareholders' equity (deficit):
  Common stock, par value $.30 per share; 450,000 shares
     authorized and 315,908 and 316,834 shares issued and
     outstanding for 1996 and 1995, respectively............        94,772         95,050
  Additional paid-in capital................................     9,786,603     10,002,725
  Accumulated deficit.......................................   (25,703,244)   (30,972,589)
  Currency translation......................................       259,300             --
                                                              ------------   ------------
       Total shareholders' equity (deficit).................   (15,562,569)   (20,874,814)
                                                              ------------   ------------
       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
          (deficit).........................................  $193,204,342   $126,089,985
                                                              ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   75
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1996           1995           1994
                                                         ----           ----           ----
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>            <C>
Net sales..........................................  $217,086,635   $179,250,924   $194,111,889
Cost of sales......................................   177,634,483    141,707,160    158,051,681
                                                     ------------   ------------   ------------
     Gross profit..................................    39,452,152     37,543,764     36,060,208
Selling, general and administrative expenses.......    16,532,360     15,531,393     13,955,313
Amortization.......................................       657,495        640,811        783,686
                                                     ------------   ------------   ------------
     Operating income..............................    22,262,297     21,371,560     21,321,209
Interest expense...................................    15,211,183     14,292,010     12,752,054
                                                     ------------   ------------   ------------
     Net income....................................  $  7,051,114   $  7,079,550   $  8,569,155
                                                     ============   ============   ============
Net income per common share and common share
  equivalents......................................        $21.33         $21.18         $25.42
                                                     ============   ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   76
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         COMMON STOCK      ADDITIONAL
                                       -----------------     PAID-IN     ACCUMULATED     CURRENCY
                                       SHARES    AMOUNT      CAPITAL       DEFICIT      TRANSLATION      TOTAL
                                       ------    ------    ----------    -----------    -----------      -----
<S>                                    <C>       <C>       <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
Balances, January 1, 1994............  326,781   $98,035   $10,557,995   $(40,497,359)                $(29,841,329)
Issuance of common stock.............    1,694       508        82,498                                      83,006
Dividend distributions, $6.45 per
  share..............................                                      (2,098,745)                  (2,098,745)
Purchase and constructive retirement
  of common stock....................   (3,074)     (923)     (138,257)                                   (139,180)
Net income...........................                                       8,569,155                    8,569,155
                                       -------   -------   -----------   ------------    --------     ------------
Balances, December 31, 1994..........  325,401    97,620    10,502,236    (34,026,949)                 (23,427,093)
Dividend distributions, $6.54 per
  share..............................                                      (4,025,190)                  (4,025,190)
Purchase and constructive retirement
  of common stock....................   (8,567)   (2,570)     (499,511)                                   (502,081)
Net income...........................                                       7,079,550                    7,079,550
                                       -------   -------   -----------   ------------    --------     ------------
Balances, December 31, 1995..........  316,834    95,050    10,002,725    (30,972,589)                 (20,874,814)
Dividend distributions, $5.63 per
  share..............................                                      (1,781,769)                  (1,781,769)
Purchase and constructive retirement
  of common stock....................     (926)     (278)     (216,122)                                   (216,400)
Currency translation.................                                                    $259,300          259,300
Net income...........................                                       7,051,114                    7,051,114
                                       -------   -------   -----------   ------------    --------     ------------
Balances, December 31, 1996..........  315,908   $94,772   $ 9,786,603   $(25,703,244)   $259,300     $(15,562,569)
                                       =======   =======   ===========   ============    ========     ============
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   77
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                   YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 1996, 1995, AND 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          1996           1995           1994
                                                          ----           ----           ----
<S>                                                   <C>            <C>            <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income........................................  $  7,051,114   $  7,079,550   $  8,569,155
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation...................................     9,174,944      6,971,368      5,483,469
     Amortization...................................       657,495        640,811        783,686
  Decrease (increase) in assets:
     Accounts receivable............................   (13,724,952)      (737,030)    (7,940,450)
     Inventories....................................   (13,570,683)     4,784,426     (4,540,689)
     Prepaid expenses...............................      (905,754)       (35,551)       315,762
  Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
     Accounts payable...............................    16,516,947     (7,317,872)     9,804,905
     Other accrued liabilities......................     9,295,413        309,973        780,468
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
       Total adjustments............................     7,443,410      4,616,125      4,687,151
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
          Net cash provided by operating
            activities..............................    14,494,524     11,695,675     13,256,306
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment,
     net............................................   (16,738,353)   (14,046,654)   (16,189,222)
  Property, plant and equipment from acquired
     businesses.....................................   (23,108,961)            --             --
  Increase in other assets, net.....................    (8,102,038)    (1,814,835)      (261,969)
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
          Net cash used in investing activities.....   (47,949,352)   (15,861,489)   (16,451,191)
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Net borrowings under debt agreements..............    45,464,204     14,124,549      8,644,378
  Principal payments under debt agreements and
     capital lease obligations......................   (16,041,717)    (5,546,172)    (3,228,038)
  Long-term agreements to finance acquisitions......     1,676,693             --             --
  Purchase of common stock..........................      (216,400)      (502,081)      (139,179)
  Dividend distributions............................    (1,781,769)    (4,025,190)    (2,098,746)
  Change in outstanding checks......................     4,353,817        114,708         16,470
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
          Net cash provided by financing
            activities..............................    33,454,828      4,165,814      3,194,885
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
Net increase in cash................................             0              0              0
Cash, beginning of year.............................             0              0              0
                                                      ------------   ------------   ------------
Cash, end of year...................................  $          0   $          0   $          0
                                                      ============   ============   ============
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information --
  Cash paid during the year for interest............  $ 13,888,749   $ 13,209,030   $ 12,722,511
                                                      ============   ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   78
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
CONSOLIDATION -- The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Key Plastics, Inc. and its majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries (the
"Company"). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
 
INVENTORIES -- Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost
determined using the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION:
 
     Manufactured Parts -- Sales are recognized on manufactured parts when the
parts are shipped to the customer. Returns and allowances are recorded as a
reduction of sales in the period they occur.
 
     Tooling -- Costs of tooling purchased or produced are included in
work-in-progress inventory. Generally, such tooling is owned by the customer and
used by the Company for the production of parts for the respective customer.
Income from contracts for the manufacture of customer tooling is accounted for
under the completed-contract method of accounting, which recognizes revenue upon
completion of contracts or identifiable segments. Costs in excess of customer
reimbursement are capitalized and amortized over the related part's production
period. Such capitalized costs, net of amortization, are included in other
assets.
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT -- Property, plant and equipment are stated at
cost. Depreciation is determined using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the assets.
 
     The general ranges of lives are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                             <C>
Building and improvements...................................    25 to 30 years
Machinery and equipment.....................................     3 to 15 years
Furniture and fixtures......................................     3 to 10 years
</TABLE>
 
     Maintenance and repairs are expensed; renewals and betterments are
capitalized. Upon retirement, replacement, or sale, gains or losses are included
in income. The costs of major refurbishments and improvements to tools, utilized
in the manufacturing process, are capitalized in property, plant and equipment
and amortized over the lesser of three years or the remaining useful life of the
tool.
 
INTANGIBLES:
 
     Goodwill -- Goodwill represents the excess of amounts paid and liabilities
assumed over the fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets
acquired. This amount is amortized using the straight-line method over a period
of 15 years. The company evaluates the carrying value of goodwill for potential
impairment on an ongoing basis. Such evaluations compare operating income before
amortization of goodwill to the amortization recorded for the operations to
which the goodwill relates. The company also considers projected future
operating results, trends and other circumstances in making such estimates and
evaluations.
 
     Deferred Financing Costs -- Deferred financing costs represent costs
incurred in connection with obtaining financing. These costs are amortized over
the period the loans are outstanding.
 
     Other Intangibles -- Other intangibles are amortized using the
straight-line method over five to 10 years.
 
     Preproduction Costs -- Preproduction costs associated with the start-up of
manufacturing activities related to new parts are included in the cost of sales
in the period incurred.
 
INCOME TAXES -- The Company has elected to be taxed as an S-Corporation. Under
the provisions of this election, the Company is not subject to federal income
taxes. The Company's policy is to pay dividends to shareholders for the income
taxes due on the shareholders' share of the Company's taxable income. Under the
terms of a shareholder tax allocation agreement, the shareholders are required
to make additional capital
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   79
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- CONTINUED
contributions to the Company equivalent to the income tax benefit resulting from
their share of the Company's taxable losses. The additional capital
contributions are recorded when received.
 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE AND COMMON SHARE EQUIVALENTS -- Earnings per share is
based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding and,
to the extent dilutive, common stock equivalents (relating to stock options and
warrants) outstanding during the period.
 
MAJOR CUSTOMER AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK -- The Company manufactures
injection molded plastic parts for sale primarily to domestic automobile
manufacturers and their suppliers. Substantially all of the Company's net sales
and accounts receivable are with three domestic automobile manufacturers and
their suppliers. Net sales to one of these customers accounted for approximately
58 percent of net sales in 1996, approximately 57 percent of 1995 sales and
approximately 62 percent in 1994. Net sales to a second one of these customers
accounted for approximately 9 percent of sales in 1996, approximately 10 percent
in 1995 and approximately 11 percent in 1994.
 
ESTIMATES -- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
RECLASSIFICATIONS -- Certain reclassifications have been made to the 1995
financial statements to conform with classifications used in 1996.
 
2. INVENTORIES
 
     The components of inventories consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            DECEMBER 31,
                                                      -------------------------
                                                         1996          1995
                                                         ----          ----
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>
Raw materials.......................................  $ 7,859,701   $ 5,645,958
Work in process.....................................    2,584,080     1,975,308
Finished goods......................................    7,586,917     4,217,179
Customer tooling in process.........................   17,603,938    10,225,508
                                                      -----------   -----------
     Total..........................................  $35,634,636   $22,063,953
                                                      ===========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   80
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
3. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ---------------------------
                                                                  1996           1995
                                                                  ----           ----
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
Land........................................................  $  2,159,746   $  1,563,585
Building and improvements...................................    35,182,494     19,994,952
Machinery and equipment.....................................   102,724,181     69,984,842
Furniture and fixtures......................................     4,641,092      2,961,868
Construction-in-progress....................................     1,844,632      5,546,328
                                                              ------------   ------------
     Total..................................................   146,552,145    100,051,575
Less accumulated depreciation...............................    47,643,995     31,867,795
                                                              ------------   ------------
     Total..................................................  $ 98,908,150   $ 68,183,780
                                                              ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
4. INTANGIBLES
 
     Intangible assets consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------------
                                                                 1996         1995
                                                                 ----         ----
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Goodwill....................................................  $6,592,469   $  498,965
Deferred financing costs....................................   4,164,458    3,831,958
Other intangibles...........................................     836,002      916,002
                                                              ----------   ----------
Total.......................................................  11,592,929    5,246,925
Less accumulated amortization...............................   3,076,806    2,402,628
                                                              ----------   ----------
Total.......................................................  $8,516,123   $2,844,297
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   81
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
5. LONG-TERM DEBT
 
     Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ---------------------------
                                                                  1996           1995
                                                                  ----           ----
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
Senior Notes due November 1999 requiring semiannual interest
  payments at the rate of 14%...............................  $ 65,000,000   $ 65,000,000
Revolving credit loan, bank, due May 1, 1997 requiring
  monthly interest payments at prime (8.25% at December 31,
  1996).....................................................    28,988,307     16,260,684
Demand note, bank requiring monthly interest payments at
  prime plus .5% (8.75% at December 31, 1996)...............     9,000,000      9,000,000
Installment financing, payable in monthly installments of
  $250,000 plus interest at prime (8.25% at December 31,
  1996).....................................................     7,500,000     10,500,000
Industrial Development Revenue Bond, due August 1999,
  requiring semiannual interest payments at rates ranging
  from 6.9% to 7.2% and annual principal payments of
  $465,000 to $1,000,000....................................     2,465,000      3,265,000
Economic Development Revenue Bonds, payable on demand and
  due July 1, 2004, requiring monthly interest payments at a
  floating interest rate (3.8% at December 31, 1996)........     3,600,000      4,050,000
Installment notes, due from January 1995 to April 1997,
  requiring monthly principal payments plus interest at
  prime plus 1.5% (9.25% at December 31, 1996)..............        64,809        359,405
Bank note payable, due April 1997, requiring monthly
  interest payments at prime (8.25% at December 31, 1996)...     5,500,000             --
Installment notes, due from June 1998 to December 2003,
  requiring semiannual principal payments plus interest of
  8% or 11.64%, payable in Portuguese Escudos...............       895,761             --
1992 & 1994 series bonds, requiring semiannual principal
  payments plus interest of 11.75%, payable in Portuguese
  Escudos...................................................     2,903,226             --
Working capital loan collateralized by accounts receivable
  of MaP (Portugal) operation. Interest for these loans
  averages 12%..............................................     2,721,548             --
Term loan and revolving credit facility, bearing interest at
  LIBOR plus 2.5% (8.75% at December 31, 1996), payable in
  British Pounds Sterling...................................     9,831,000             --
Subordinated Shareholders' Notes due August 2000, requiring
  semiannual interest payment at the rate of 12%............     8,535,088      8,535,088
                                                              ------------   ------------
     Total..................................................   147,004,739    116,970,177
Less current maturities.....................................    64,484,121     17,172,590
                                                              ------------   ------------
     Total..................................................  $ 82,520,618   $ 99,797,587
                                                              ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
     Principal payments of long-term debt for each of the next five years is as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Current maturities..........................................  $64,484,121
1998........................................................    4,955,736
1999........................................................   67,759,452
2000........................................................    9,329,540
2001........................................................      475,890
</TABLE>
 
     The Company's financing agreements contain many restrictive loan covenants,
some of which require the Company to maintain minimum levels of working capital,
require the maintenance of specified financial ratios,
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   82
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
LONG-TERM DEBT -- (CONTINUED)
and restrict specified payments, including dividends. Under the most restrictive
covenant, the Company can only distribute dividends to shareholders equal to
their respective tax liabilities generated from the Company.
 
     Substantially all of the Company's assets are pledged as collateral for
long-term debt.
 
     The Economic Development Revenue Bonds are classified within current
maturities of long-term debt because the bonds are redeemable at the option of
the bondholders. Management believes the bonds can be remarketed in the event
the bondholders require redemption. The Bonds are collateralized by a $3.6
million letter of credit issued by a bank.
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Company had the following additional open letters
of credit. The Industrial Development Revenue Bond is collateralized by a $2.5
million bank letter of credit. The Company is self-insured in the State of
Michigan for workers' compensation. As such, the Company has a bank letter of
credit in the amount of $815,000 to serve as collateral for any potential
claims. The Company pays commitment fees on the above letters of credit in the
amount of 1.5 percent per year of the committed amount.
 
     The Company has a $41.0 million working capital line of credit. Interest
under the facility is at prime. Additional available borrowings under the
facility are limited primarily to a percentage of accounts receivable and
inventory and were approximately $1.0 million on December 31, 1996.
 
     The Subordinated Shareholders' Notes are uncollateralized and subordinate
to all present and future bank indebtedness of the Company. Payments of
principal or interest to shareholders are subject to certain restrictions under
the terms of the Company's Senior Notes. If an employee-shareholder breaches the
terms of certain noncompete provisions, that person may forfeit any amount due
and owing to him or her under the Subordinated Shareholders' Notes. Interest
expense includes $1,024,000 in 1996, $1,099,000 in 1995 and $1,200,000 in 1994
related to the Subordinated Shareholders' Notes.
 
     On February 19, 1997 the Company commenced an offer to repurchase the
Senior Notes at an expected 11% premium. As such, the Company estimates the fair
value of those notes at $72.2 million from February 19, 1997 until the offer
expires on March 18, 1997. See Note 12, Subsequent Events, for a more detailed
discussion of the transaction.
 
     The carrying amount of the bank debt and the remaining other long-term debt
instruments approximate fair value as the floating rates inherent in this debt
reflect changes in overall market interest rates. The estimated fair value of
the Industrial Revenue Bond is approximately the book value of $3,265,000 as
estimated by discounting future cash flows based on the Company's incremental
borrowing rate for similar types of debt instruments. The carrying amount of the
Company's Subordinated Shareholders' Notes approximates fair value.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   83
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
6. LEASES
 
     During 1994, the Company entered into four capital leases for a production
plant and various equipment in Mexico. The assets recorded under the capital
leases as included in property plant and equipment in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheets consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1996         1995
                                                                 ----         ----
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Land........................................................  $  406,965   $  406,965
Production facility.........................................   2,170,914    2,170,914
Equipment...................................................     207,567      207,567
                                                              ----------   ----------
     Total..................................................   2,785,446    2,785,446
                                                              ----------   ----------
Less accumulated amortization...............................     130,373       35,917
                                                              ----------   ----------
Total.......................................................  $2,655,073   $2,749,529
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>
 
     Present value of net minimum lease payments under the capital leases is
$1,894,640.
 
     During 1995, the Company entered into a 10 year operating lease for Novi,
Michigan. The executive, engineering and sales departments moved to this
location. The Company also holds a renewable 4 year operating lease for the
Grand Rapids, Michigan plant that expires in 1998. The rental expense related to
these leases amounted to $530,454 in 1996 and $405,536 in 1995. Rental expense
for the Company's subsidiary in the United Kingdom was $617,000 in 1996.
 
     Minimum future lease obligations on capital and operating leases in effect
at December 31, 1996 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              CAPITAL    OPERATING
                                                              -------    ---------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
1997........................................................  $865,084   $1,607,263
1998........................................................   865,084    1,531,914
1999........................................................   648,813    1,415,674
2000........................................................         0    1,300,231
2001........................................................         0      901,022
Thereafter..................................................         0    2,262,155
</TABLE>
 
7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION COMMITMENTS
 
     PENSION AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN - The Company has a profit-sharing plan
covering a majority of its employees who are not covered by the defined
contribution plan. The plan provides for contributions determined at the Board
of Directors' discretion from current or accumulated net income. Contributions
are allocated on the basis of salaries and are funded as accrued.
 
     STOCK OPTIONS - During 1995, the Company issued options to employees to
purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price of $61. No new options were
issued in 1996. The exercise price represents management's estimate of fair
market value of the shares at the date of issuance of the option. At December
31, 1996, options outstanding and exercisable totaled 22,668 shares.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   84
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION COMMITMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
     The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company's stock
option plans:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                WEIGHTED
                                                                NUMBER OF        AVERAGE
                                                                 OPTIONS     PRICE PER SHARE
                                                                ---------    ---------------
<S>                                                             <C>          <C>
Outstanding at January 1, 1994..............................     20,812          $24.01
                                                                 ======          ======
  Granted...................................................      1,000          $49.00
                                                                 ------          ------
  Exercised.................................................         --
  Forfeited.................................................         --
Outstanding at December 31, 1994............................     21,812          $25.15
                                                                 ======          ======
  Granted...................................................      5,556          $61.10
  Exercised.................................................         --
  Forfeited.................................................         --
Outstanding at December 31, 1995............................     27,368          $32.45
                                                                 ======          ======
  Granted...................................................         --
  Exercised.................................................      4,700           24.40
  Forfeited.................................................         --
Outstanding at December 31, 1996............................     22,668          $34.12
                                                                 ======          ======
</TABLE>
 
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT -- LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
 
     Certain key management are included in a long term incentive plan. The plan
provides for payments upon the occurrence of an initial public offering, sale of
all or substantially all of the Company's stock or sale of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets. Payment is based upon a formula specified in the
plan.
 
8. LITIGATION AND CLAIMS
 
     The Company is subject to various legal and regulatory proceedings and
claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of
management, the amount of any liability which may result with respect to these
actions will not materially affect the financial position of the Company.
 
     Additionally, the Company is under investigation by the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency ("OEPA") for possible violations of environmental emission
standards and permitting regulations at its Ohio facility. The Company is in the
process of providing the information requested by the OEPA and is taking the
necessary steps to comply with the regulations. At this point, no fines and
penalties have been assessed against the Company. However, based on current
information, management believes that the results of the investigation will not
materially affect the financial position of the Company.
 
9. ACQUISITIONS
 
     During 1996, the Company acquired Clearplas, Ltd. (Clearplas) and Materias
Plasticas, S.A. (MaP). Both companies are automotive suppliers specializing in
injection molding, painting and assembly. The results of operations for
Clearplas and MaP are included in the Consolidated Statement of Income beginning
May 1 and November 1, respectively. These acquisitions were accounted for using
the purchase method. At December 31, 1996, Other Long-Term Obligations include
$1.7 million, representing the present value of deferred payments for the
acquired shares from one of these acquisitions.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   85
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
9. ACQUISITIONS -- (CONTINUED)
     The Company acquired MaP pursuant to an agreement which provided for the
Company's acquisition of 38% of the voting stock of the Company and an option to
purchase all of the remaining shares of MaP. Commencing in 1996, the agreement
gives the Company significant operational control, including the appointment of
a majority of the Board of Directors, appointment of the general manager and the
ability to influence significant operational decisions. The option is subject to
MaP meeting certain performance criteria during 1998, with payment of the
purchase price for the option and the 38% to occur in 1999.
 
     Prior to the acquisition, the Company had operated a joint venture with MaP
which began during 1993. The joint venture allowed the Company to establish a
base in Europe and transfer certain technologies it had developed to MaP. During
1995 the Company loaned MaP approximately $300,000 in cash. Additionally, during
1996 and 1995, the Company recognized royalties related to the provision of
technical, sales and management support of approximately $1,600,000 and
$400,000, respectively. During 1996 and 1995, the Company sold products totaling
approximately $1,400,000 and $400,000, respectively, of products to MaP for
finishing and sale to customers in Portugal.
 
10. SEGMENT DATA
 
     The Company is a global supplier of highly engineered plastic components
for the automotive industry. Its comprehensive plastics manufacturing
capabilities include design and engineering, high-precision injection molding,
automated manufacturing and assembly, plastic painting and material and product
testing. The Company conducts manufacturing and painting operations from eleven
facilities in North America and two facilities in Europe. All of these
activities constitute a single business segment. Prior to 1996, nearly all of
the Company's operations and assets were within North America.
 
     Financial information summarized by geographic area is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1996
                                                                  ----
<S>                                                           <C>
Net Sales:
  North America.............................................  $187,636,306
  Europe....................................................    29,450,329
                                                              ------------
                                                              $217,086,635
                                                              ============
Operating Income:
  North America.............................................  $ 21,706,703
  Europe....................................................       555,594
                                                              ------------
                                                              $ 22,262,297
                                                              ============
Identifiable Assets:
  North America.............................................  $150,147,448
  Europe....................................................    43,056,894
                                                              ------------
                                                              $193,204,342
                                                              ============
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   86
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- CONTINUED
 
11. FINANCIAL STATEMENT REVISIONS RELATED TO PRIOR YEAR'S
 
     Certain adjustments have been made to prior periods to correct errors in
previously reported amounts.
 
     The balance sheet at December 31, 1994 had previously included at full
value, approximately $900,000 of uncollectible accounts receivable for which no
provision was established and excluded certain accrued liabilities totaling
approximately $200,000. A portion of the uncollectible accounts receivable had
been subsequently written off in 1995. Previously issued financial statements
for 1995 and 1994 have been restated to reflect the above matters, as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              RESTATED                PREVIOUSLY
                                                               AMOUNT    ADJUSTMENT   PRESENTED
                                                              --------   ----------   ----------
                                                                    (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS,
                                                                    EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>          <C>
1995:
  Accounts receivable, net..................................  $ 29,406    $  (300)     $ 29,706
  Total current assets......................................    52,640       (300)       52,940
  Total assets..............................................   126,090       (300)      126,390
  Accrued liabilities.......................................       865        200           665
  Total current liabilities.................................    43,587        200        43,387
  Total shareholders' deficit...............................    20,875        500        20,375
  Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit...............   126,090       (300)      126,390
  Cost of sales.............................................   141,707       (600)      142,307
  Net income................................................     7,080        600         6,480
  Net income per common share...............................    $21.18      $1.79         $19.39
1994:
  Accounts receivable, net..................................    28,669       (900)       29,569
  Accrued liabilities.......................................       682        200           482
  Total shareholders' deficit...............................    23,427      1,100        22,327
  Cost of sales.............................................   158,052      1,100       156,952
  Net income................................................     8,569     (1,100)        9,669
  Net income per common share...............................    $25.42      $(3.26)       $28.68
</TABLE>
 
12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
     On February 19, 1997 the Company commenced an offer to purchase its 14%
Senior Notes due 1999 (the "Old Notes"). Concurrently, the Company is in the
process of offering, in a private placement, New Senior Subordinated Notes with
a face amount of $125 million (the "New Notes"). Simultaneously, the Company
expects to enter into a new $140 million Senior Credit Facility. The proceeds
from the New Notes are expected to approximate $121 million. The Company expects
that proceeds from the New Notes together with borrowings under the Senior
Credit Facility will be used to repurchase a portion of the Old Notes and repay
indebtedness under its existing credit facility and certain other obligations.
 
     On March 19, 1997, $40,135,000 of the Old Notes had been validly tendered
and not withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer. The premium related to the
repurchase of the Old Notes and the consent fees in the aggregate will be
$4,436,650 and the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the
Tender Offer will be $1,167,000.
 
     During January 1997, the Company declared and paid approximately $733,000
in dividends to satisfy shareholders' income tax obligations.
 
                                  * * * * * *
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   87
 
                      KEY PLASTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
        INDEX TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PAGE
                                                                     ----
<S>                                                              <C>
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets -- March 31, 1997 and
  December 31, 1996...........................................       F-18
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations -- Three 
  Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996........................       F-17
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -- For the 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996..................       F-19
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements..........    F-20-22
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>   88


                               KEY PLASTICS, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                  (Unaudited)
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             
                                                   For the three months
                                                      ended March 31,
                                                      ---------------
                                                   1997            1996
                                                   ----            ----
<S>                                          <C>             <C>
Net Sales                                     $ 66,742,306     $ 45,296,576


Cost of Sales                                   54,124,549       36,039,566
                                              ------------     ------------
  Gross Profit                                  12,617,757        9,257,010

Selling, general & administrative                                  
    expenses                                     6,366,933        3,254,249

Amortization                                       195,223          160,203
                                              ------------     ------------ 

  Operating income                               6,055,601        5,842,558

Interest expense, net                            4,978,017        3,506,668
                                              ------------     ------------

  Net income before foreign taxes                1,077,584        2,335,890
                                              ------------     ------------

Foreign income taxes                               149,000               --

  Net income before extraordinary item           1,226,584        2,335,890
                                              ------------     ------------

Extraordinary item -- debt refinancing          (5,470,960)              --
                                              ------------     ------------

  Net income (loss)                           $ (4,244,376)    $  2,335,890
                                              ============     ============

Earnings per share:
Net income before extraordinary item                 $3.67            $7.06

Net income (loss)                                  $(12.69)           $7.06
                                              ============     ============

</TABLE>
    
 
     See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements      


                                     F-17
<PAGE>   89
                               KEY PLASTICS, INC.
                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          March 31,       Dec. 31,
                                                            1997            1996
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                        (Unaudited)
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>
        ASSETS

Current assets:                          
  Cash                                                  $  1,966,040    $         --
  Accounts receivable, net                                57,197,022      43,131,344
  Inventories                                             40,898,408      35,634,636
  Prepaid expenses and other
    current assets                                         4,222,348       2,075,589
                                                        ------------    ------------

    Total current assets                                 104,283,818      80,841,569

Property, plant and equipment, net                       108,999,812      98,908,150
Intangibles, net                                          12,188,655       8,516,123
Other assets                                               4,971,240       4,938,500
                                                        ------------    ------------

    Total assets                                        $230,443,525    $193,204,342
                                                        ============    ============

        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT

Current liabilities:
  Current maturities of long-
    term debt                                           $  5,703,006    $ 64,484,121
  Accounts payable                                        34,365,050      35,706,663
  Accrued liabilities                                     13,505,782      20,873,671
                                                        ------------    ------------

    Total current liabilities                             53,573,838     121,064,455

Capital lease obligations                                  2,383,832       2,057,059
Long-term debt                                           189,747,970      82,520,618
Other long-term liabilities                                2,600,779       3,124,779

Shareholders' deficit:
  Common stock, par value $.30
  Authorized:    450,000
  Issued and outstanding:
    320,908 and 315,908, respectively                         96,274          94,772
  Additional paid-in capital                              12,458,894       9,786,603
  Currency translation                                       199,300         259,300
  Accumulated deficit                                    (30,617,362)    (25,703,244)
                                                        ------------    ------------

    Total shareholders' deficit                          (17,862,894)    (15,562,569)
                                                        ------------    ------------

    Total liabilities and
      shareholders' deficit                             $230,443,525    $193,204,342
                                                        ============    ============
</TABLE>

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

                                      F-18
<PAGE>   90
                              KEY PLASTICS, INC.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                 (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   For the three months
                                                      ended March 31,
                                                      ---------------
                                                    1997           1996
                                                    ----           ----
<S>                                             <C>             <C>
Cash flows from operating
  activities:
  Net income before extraordinary item          $  1,226,584    $ 2,335,890
                                                ------------    -----------
Adjustments to reconcile net                                    
  income to net cash provided                                   
  by operating activities:                                      
    Depreciation & Amortization                    3,227,565      2,098,119
    (Increase) in assets:                                       
      Accounts receivable                        (14,065,678)    (6,300,427)
      Inventories                                 (5,263,772)      (216,319)
      Other current assets                        (2,146,759)      (504,688)
    Increase (Decrease) in                                      
     liabilities:                                               
      Accounts payable                              (830,613)       947,361
      Accrued liabilities                         (7,331,280)     2,743,731
                                                ------------    -----------
       Total adjustments                         (26,405,537)    (1,232,223)
                                                ------------    -----------
Net cash provided from                                          
    operating activities                         (25,183,953)     1,103,667
                                                ------------    -----------
Cash flows from investing                                       
  activities:                                                   
  Acquisitions of property,                                     
   plant and equipment, net                       (3,240,680)    (1,388,852)
  Property, Plant and equipment from                            
   acquired business                             (10,300,000)            --
  Increase in other assets                           (32,740)         4,772
                                                ------------    -----------
Net cash used for investing                                     
   activities                                    (13,573,420)    (1,384,080)
                                                ------------    -----------
Cash flows from financing                                       
  activities:                                                   
  Net borrowings under debt                                     
    agreements                                   160,761,425      1,020,202
  Shareholder capital contribution                 2,672,424    
  Principal payments under                                      
    debt agreements                             (112,641,991)      (143,650)
  Dividend distributions                            (669,725)      (596,139)
  Debt refinancing cost                           (9,398,720)            --
                                                                
Net cash provided by                                            
    financing activities                          40,723,413        280,413
                                                ------------    -----------
</TABLE>


                                     F-19

<PAGE>   91
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
                                
Net increase in cash             1,966,040                    --

Cash, beginning of period                0                    --
                                ----------              --------

Cash, end of period             $1,966,040              $      0
                                ==========              ========

Supplemental disclosure of
 cash flow information,
 cash paid during the
 period for interest            $7,718,933              $970,649
                                ==========              ========
</TABLE>

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements



                                      F-20

<PAGE>   92
                               KEY PLASTICS, INC.

              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                  (Unaudited)

1.      Financial Statement Presentation:

        Information for the three month period ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 is
        unaudited but includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring
        adjustments, which management of Key Plastics, Inc. (the "Company")
        considers necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated
        financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Certain
        information and footnotes necessary to comply with generally accepted
        accounting principles have been condensed or omitted.

        Certain items in the December 31, 1996 balance sheet have been
        reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

        During March of 1997 the Company completed several actions to refinance
        its existing debt and secure additional financing for the future,
        including: (1) A tender offer for all of its $65.0 million, 14% Senior
        Notes due 1999 [$40.1 million of the notes were tendered]; (2) A private
        placement for $125.0 million, 10 1/4% New Senior Subordinated Notes due
        2007; and (3) Entered into a new $140.0 million Senior Credit Facility.

        On March 28, 1997, the Company acquired three injection molding and
        assembly operations owned by Aeroquip Corporation, a subsidiary of
        TRINOVA Corporation. Two of the acquired plants are located in Michigan
        and the third is in Chihuahua, Mexico. The acquired business represents
        an expansion of the Company's existing decorative bezel business. The
        acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method.

        These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
        Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December
        31, 1996 which contain a summary of the Company's accounting principles
        and other information. The results of operations for any interim period
        should not necessarily be considered indicative of the results of
        operations for a full year.



                                      F-21
<PAGE>   93

2.      Inventories:

        Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost
        determined using the FIFO (first in, first out) method. The components
        of inventories consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 March 31,                Dec. 31,
                                   1997                    1996
                                 ---------                --------
        <S>                     <C>                     <C>
        Raw materials           $ 9,103,789             $ 7,859,701
        Work in progress          2,193,482               2,584,080
        Finished goods            7,790,689               7,586,917
        Customer Tooling         21,810,448              17,603,938
                                -----------             -----------
                                $40,898,408             $35,634,636
                                ===========             ===========
</TABLE>

3.      Earnings Per Share:

        Earnings per share amounts for the three month periods ended March 31,
        1997 and 1996 are computed by using net income divided by the weighted
        average number of shares of common and common equivalent shares
        outstanding during the period under the treasury stock method.

        The weighted average number of shares used in computing earnings per
        share are 334,468 and 330,709 for the three months ended March 31, 1997
        and 1996, respectively.

        The Company is closely-held and, accordingly, there is no public market
        for the Company's common stock. For purposes of computing the
        incremental common equivalent shares outstanding under the treasury
        stock method, the Company utilized management's estimate of fair value
        of the Company's Common Stock.

   

4.      Accounting Changes:

        Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 ("SFAS
        128"), Earnings per share, was issued by the Financial Accounting
        Standards Board in February 1997.  Adoption of SFAS 128, effective for
        periods ending after December 31, 1997 is not expected to have a
        material effect on reported earnings.
    


                                      F-22
<PAGE>   94
===================================================
No person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not
contained in this Prospectus, and, if given or
made, such other information or representations
must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company.  Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall,
under any circumstances, create any implication
that there has been no change in the affairs of
the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any
time subsequent to its date.  This Prospectus does
not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities other than the
securities to which it relates.  This Prospectus
does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities
other than the securities to which it relates.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to
sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy such
securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer
or solicitation is unlawful.

                 -----------------                       
                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
- ----         
Prospectus Summary.................................
Risk Factors.......................................
The Exchange Offer.................................
Use of Proceeds....................................
Capitalization.....................................
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...............
Management'S  Discussion
 and Analysis of Financial Condition
 and Results of Operations.........................
Business...........................................
Management.........................................
Certain Transactions...............................                             
Security Ownership of Certain                                                   
 Beneficial Owners and                                                          
 Management........................................                             
Description of Certain Indebtedness................                             
Description of Notes...............................                             
Plan of Distribution...............................                             
Legal Matters......................................                             
Experts............................................                             
Index to Consolidated Financial                                                 
 Statements........................................                             
                                                                                
===================================================                             
                                                                                
===================================================
                  $125,000,000
              KEY PLASTICS, INC.
         10 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED
            NOTES DUE 2007, SERIES B
                           
                ---------------      
                   PROSPECTUS         
                _________, 1997      
                            
                ---------------         
                           
===================================================
                           
<PAGE>   95



                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Sections 561 through 571 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act ("MBCA")
set forth the conditions and limitations governing the indemnification of
officers, directors and other persons.

     In general, the MBCA allows Michigan corporations to indemnify a person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to a threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal, other than an
action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee, or agent of another enterprise, against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, if such preson acted
in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the beset interests of the corporation or its shareholders, and with respect to
a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her
conduct was unlawful.

     The MBCA also allows Michigan corporations to indemnify such a person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending,
or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation against
expenses, including actual and reasonable attorneys' fees, and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with
the action or suit, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation or its shareholders.  However, indemnification shall not be made
for a claim, issue or matter in which the person is found liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that a court of competent
jurisdiction has determined that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnification for the expenses which the court considers proper.

     The Company'S Articles of Incorporation provide for indemnification of
directors and officers of the Company and authorize the Board to extend such
indemnification to others to the fullest extent permitted by the aforementioned
sections of the MBCA.

     The Company'S Bylaws also authorize the Company to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or agent of the Company
against any liability asserted against or incurred by them in such capacity or
arising out of their status as such without regard for whether the Company
would have the power to indemnify such officer, director, employee or agent
against such liability under the provisions of the Bylaws or Michigan law.

ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS

     A list of exhibits included as part of this Registration Statement is set
forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS

1.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes as follows:

     (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:  (i) to include any
prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) to reflect
in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the
Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the Registration Statement (notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from 

                                    II-1

<PAGE>   96


the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in
the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration fee" table in the effective registration statement); (iii) to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in the Registration Statement.
        
     (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be  a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (c) To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment any
of the foregoing securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

2.   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
     Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
     persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
     otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
     Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
     policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the
     event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
     than the payment by a Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
     director, officer or controlling person of such Registrant in the
     successful defense of any  action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
     director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
     being registered, the Registrant against which such claim is asserted
     will, unless in the  opinion of its counsel the mater has been settled by
     controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
     question whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as
     expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
     such issue.

3.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for
     the purpose of determining the eligibility under subsection (a) of section
     310 of the Trust Indenture Act ("Act") in accordance with the rules and
     regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the
     Act.

4.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
     information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant
     to Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of
     receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first
     class mail or other equally prompt means.  This includes information
     contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the
     registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

5.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
     post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
     company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
     included in this Registration Statement when it became effective.


                                    II-2

<PAGE>   97


                                   SIGNATURES

   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to
the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Novi,  State of Michigan on the date
indicated below.
    


                                     KEY PLASTICS, INC.


   
Dated:  July 1, 1997                 By:/s/ David C. Benoit
                                        ----------------------------
                                        David C. Benoit
                                        Chief Executive Officer
    



                                     KEY PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.
                                     KEY PLASTICS AUTOMOTIVE L.L.C.
                                     KEY PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.



   

                                     By: KEY PLASTICS, INC., Member
    

                
   
                                     By:/s/ David C. Benoit
                                        ---------------------------
                                        David C. Benoit
                                        Chief Executive Officer
    


   
                                     By:/s/ David C. Benoit
                                        ---------------------------
                                        David C. Benoit, Member

    

                                     KEY MEXICO A, L.L.C.
                                     KEY MEXICO B, L.L.C.



   
                                     By: KEY PLASTICS, INC., Member
    

   
                                     By:/s/ David C. Benoit
                                        ---------------------------
                                        David C. Benoit
                                        Chief Executive Officer
    



   
                                     By: KEY PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C., Member
    


   
                                     By:/s/ David C. Benoit
                                        ---------------------------
                                         David C. Benoit           
              
    
    


   
    



                                    II-3




<PAGE>   98
   
    

   
        
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated, in the City of Novi, State of Michigan.

    

 Signature             Title                                      Date

   
/s/ David C. Benoit
- ---------------------- Chief Executive Officer and Director       July 1, 1997
David C. Benoit        (Principal Executive Officer)
    

   

/s/ E.R. Autry         Vice President (Principal Financial        July 1, 1997
- ---------------------- Officer)
E.R. Autry           
    

   

/s/ David Smith        Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)  July 1, 1997
- ----------------------
David Smith
    

   

/s/ *                  Director of Key Plastics, Inc.             July 1, 1997
- ----------------------
Joel D. Tauber
    

                       Director of Key Plastics Inc.              May __, 1997
- ----------------------
George Mars

   

* By Attorney-in-Fact
 
  /s/ David C. Benoit
  -------------------
    
                                     II-4

<PAGE>   99


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION

3.1         Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended.  Incorporated
            herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's  Registration
            Statement No. 33-56048.


3.2*        Articles of Organization of Key Plastics International L.L.C.

3.3*        Articles of Organization of Key Plastics Automotive L.L.C.

3.4*        Articles of Organization of Key Plastics Technology L.L.C.

3.5*        Articles of Organization of Key Mexico A, L.L.C.

3.6*        Articles of Organization of Key Mexico B, L.L.C.


3.7         Bylaws of the Company, as amended.  Incorporated herein by 
            reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
            10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 1996.


3.8*        Operating Agreement of Key Plastics International L.L.C.
     
3.9*        Operating Agreement of Key Plastics Automotive L.L.C.

3.10*       Operating Agreement of Key Plastics Technology L.L.C.

3.11*       Operating Agreement of Key Mexico A, L.L.C.

3.12*       Operating Agreement of Key Mexico B, L.L.C.

4.1         Indenture, dated November 17, 1992, by and between the Company and
            Society National Bank, as Trustee (the "Indenture"), including 14%
            Senior Notes to be issued thereunder.  Incorporated herein by
            referenced to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's  Registration Statement
            No. 33-56048.

4.2         Loan Agreement, dated as of August 1, 1989, between the Company
            and the Town of Hamilton, Indiana.  Incorporated herein by
            reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Company's Registration Statement
            33-56048.

4.3         Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of November 17, 1992, between the
            Company and Comerica Bank.  Incorporated herein by reference to 
            Exhibit 4.6 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-56048.

4.4         Loan Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1987, between the Company
            and the Economic Development Corporation of the Township of 
            Plymouth, Michigan.  Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.
            7 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-56048.

4.5         Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1987, between the
            Company and Manufacturers Bank of Detroit, as amended.  Incorporated
            herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Company's  Registration
            Statement 33-56048.

4.6*        Indenture dated March 24, 1997 by and between the Company and 
            Marine Midland Bank, as Trustee.

                                     E-1

<PAGE>   100


 4.7*    Supplemental Indenture dated March 28, 1997 by and between Key 
         Mexico A, L.L.C. and Marine Midland Bank, as Trustee.

 4.8*    Supplemental Indenture dated March 28, 1997, by and between Key 
         Mexico B, L.L.C. and Marine Midland Bank, as Trustee.
       
 4.9*    10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes dated March 24, 1997.

4.10*    Guarantee dated May 24, 1997 of Key Plastics International L.L.C.

4.11*    Guarantee dated May 24, 1997 of Key Plastics Technology L.L.C.

4.12*    Guarantee dated May 24, 1997 of Key Plastics Automotive L.L.C.
         
4.13*    Guarantee dated May 28, 1997 of Key Plastics A, L.L.C.

4.14*    Guarantee dated May 28, 1997 of Key Plastics B, L.L.C.

4.15*    Registration Rights Agreement dated March 24, 1997 by and among the
         Company, the Guarantors and Lehman Brothers Inc. and First Chicago
         Capital Markets, Inc.

4.16*    Purchase Agreement dated March 24, 1997 by and among the Company, the
         Guarantors and Lehman Brothers, Inc. and First Chicago Capital Markets,
         Inc.

4.17*    Standby letter of Credit Application and Reimbursement Agreement dated
         March 24, 1997

5.1**     Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC

10.1     Amended and Restated Tax Allocation Agreement dated as of August 9,
         1988 between the Company and each of its shareholders, as amended.
         Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
         Registration Statement No. 33-56048.

10.2*    Credit Agreement, dated as of March 24, 1997, by and among the Company,
         the lenders party thereto from time to time and NBD Bank, as agent for
         such lenders.

10.3*    Mortgage, Security and Assignment of Rents (Michigan Form) dated as 
         of March 24, 1997 by and among the Company, the lenders, and NBD Bank, 
         as agent for such lenders.

10.4*    Mortgage, Security and Assignment of Rents (Indiana Form) dated as of
         March 24, 1997 by and among the Company, the lenders, and NBD Bank, 
         as agent for such lenders. 

10.5*    Open-End Mortgage, Security Agreement and Assignment of Rents (Ohio
         Form) by and among the Company, the lenders, and NBD Bank, as agent 
         for the lenders.

10.6*    Open-End Mortgage, Security Agreement and Assignment of Rents 
         (Pennsylvania Form) by and among the Company, the lenders, and NBD 
         Bank, as agent for the lenders.

10.7*    Security Agreement dated as of March 24, 1997 by and among the Company,
         the lenders, and NBD Bank, as agent for such lenders.

10.8*    Security Agreement to be ended to by each Guarantor, the lenders and 
         NBD Bank as agent for the lenders.

10.9*    Guaranty dated March 24, 1997 and among Key Plastics International,
         Key Plastics Automotive, Key Plastics Technology, the lenders and NBD
         Bank as agent for the lenders.

10.10*   Guaranty dated March 28, 1997 by and among Key Mexico A, Key Mexico B,
         the lenders and NBD Bank as agent for the lenders.

 21*     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

   
 23.1**  Consent of Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P.
    

 23.2**  Consent of Dykema Gossett PLLC, (contained in their opinion filed as
         Exhibit 5.1).

 24*     Power of Attorney (included with signatures in Part II of the 
         Registration Statement).

 25**    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualifications under the Trust
         Indenture Act of 1939 of Marine Midland Bank.

 99.1*   Form of Letter of Transmittal with Respect to the Exchange Offer.

                                     E-2

<PAGE>   101
99.2*    Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

99.3*    Instruction to Registered Holder and/or Book Entry Transfer 
         Participant from Beneficial Owner.

99.4*    Letter from Registered Holder to Brokers, Dealers and other Nominees.

99.5*    Letter from Trustee to Registered Holder.

__________________________
   
*   Previously filed 
**  Filed herewith
    


                                     E-3


<PAGE>   1


                                                              EXHIBIT 5.1


                                 June 30, 1997


Key Plastics, Inc.
Key Plastics International L.L.C.
Key Plastics Automotive, L.L.C.
Key Plastics Technology, L.L.C.
Key Plastics A, L.L.C.
Key Plastics B, L.L.C.
21333 Haggerty Road
Novi, Michgian  48375

         Re: Registration Statement on Form S-4 in Connection With the Exchange
             Offer of 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B for
             10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Key Plastics, Inc., a Michigan company
(the "Company") and Key Plastics International, L.L.C., Key Plastics
Automotive, L.L.C., Key Plastics Technology, L.L.C., Key Plastics A, L.L.C.,
Key Plastics B, L.L.C., (each a "Guarantor" and together the "Guarantors"), as
Trustee, in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") relating
to the Exchange Offer by the Company of $125,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B (the "Notes") for
$105,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007.  The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the
"Indenture") by and among the Company and Marine Midland Bank, as Trustee.
        
         In so acting, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such company records,
documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary
or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
            corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of 
            Michigan.

         2. Each Guarantor has been duly organized and is validly existing as 
            a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the
            State of Michigan.

         3. The Notes, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the
            terms of the Indenture, and upon issuance in accordance with the
            terms of the Exchange Offer in the Prospectus constituting a part
            of the Registration Statement, will be valid and binding 
            obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in 
            accordance with their terms, except as (a) the enforceability 
            thereof may be limited by or subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, 
            fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other
            similar laws now or hereafter affecting creditors' rights generally
            and (b) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable 
            remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general 
            applicability.
   

          4. The Guarantees, when executed in accordance with the terms of the
             Indenture, and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the
             Exchange Offer in the 
    

<PAGE>   2


    
                Indenture and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the
                Exchange Offer in the Prospectus constituting a part of the
                Registration Statement, will be valid and binding obligations of
                the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance
                with their terms, except as (a) the enforceability thereof may
                be limited by or subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
                conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now
                or hereafter affecting creditors' rights generally and (b)
                rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable
                remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general
                applicability. 
    
        
         In rendering the opinion set forth in paragraph 2 above, we have 
assumed that the laws of the State of New York as to the enforceability of the
Notes and the Guarantees are not different from the laws of the State of
Michigan (excluding the choice of law rules).

         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 of the
Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration
Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not concede that we are experts
within the meaning of the Act or the rules or regulations thereunder or that
this consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.


                               Very truly yours,

                              DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC



                               Carol H. Rodriguez

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

To the Shareholders of Key Plastics, Inc.

We consent to the inclusion of this registration statement on Form S-4 of our
report dated March 3, 1997, except as to the information presented in paragraph
2 in Note 12, for which the date is March 19, 1997, on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements of Key Plastics, Inc. and subsidiaries.  We
also consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Experts".


                                                Coopers & Lybrand


Detroit, Michigan
   
July 2, 1997
    


<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 25


                                                                  CONFORMED COPY

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                -------------

                                    FORM T-1
                    STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST
                     INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION
                          DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                               ---------------

                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                               SECTION 305(b)(2)
                                 -----------

                              MARINE MIDLAND BANK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


         New York                                         16-1057879
         (Jurisdiction of incorporation                   (I.R.S. Employer
         or organization if not a U.S.                    Identification No.)
         national bank)

         140 Broadway, New York, N.Y.                       10005-1180
         (212) 658-1000                                     (Zip Code)
         (Address of principal executive offices)


                                Charles E. Bauer
                                 Vice President
                              Marine Midland Bank
                                  140 Broadway
                         New York, New York 10005-1180
                              Tel: (212) 658-1792
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                               KEY PLASTICS, INC.
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


           Michigan                                          38-2653726
           (State or other jurisdiction                      (I.R.S. Employer
           of incorporation or organization)                 Identification No.)


           Michigan       Key Plastics International L.L.C.  38-3341783
           Michigan       Key Plastics Automotive L.L.C.     38-3341785
           Michigan       Key Plastics Technology L.L.C.     35-1997449
           Michigan       Key Mexico A, L.L.C.               Applied for
           Michigan       Key Mexico B, L.L.C.               Applied for

<PAGE>   2







              21333 Haggerty Road
              Novi, Michigan                               48375
              (810) 449-6100                               (Zip Code)
              (Address of principal executive offices)


        10 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE MARCH 15, 2007, SERIES B

 GUARANTEES OF 10  1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE MARCH 15, 2007, SERIES B
                        (Title of Indenture Securities)

<PAGE>   3


                                    GENERAL
Item 1. General Information.

             Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

        (a)  Name and address of each examining or supervisory
        authority to which it is subject.
  
             State of New York Banking Department.

             Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.

             Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,
             Washington, D.C.

        (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

                     Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

             If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe
             each such affiliation.

                     None


<PAGE>   4


Item 16.  List of Exhibits.


Exhibit
- -------

T1A(i)          *    -        Copy of the Organization Certificate
                              of Marine Midland Bank.
                         
T1A(ii)         *    -        Certificate of the State of New York
                              Banking Department dated December
                              31, 1993 as to the authority of
                              Marine Midland Bank to commence
                              business.
                         
T1A(iii)             -        Not applicable.
                         
T1A(iv)         *    -        Copy of the existing By-Laws of
                              Marine Midland Bank as adopted on
                              January 20, 1994.
                         
T1A(v)               -        Not applicable.
                         
T1A(vi)         *    -        Consent of Marine Midland Bank
                              required by Section 321(b) of the
                              Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
                         
T1A(vii)             -        Copy of the latest report of
                              condition of the trustee (March 31,
                              1997), published pursuant to law or
                              the requirement of its supervisory
                              or examining authority.
                         
T1A(viii)            -        Not applicable.
                         
T1A(ix)              -        Not applicable.
                         


     *    Exhibits previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
          Commission with Registration No. 33-53693 and incorporated herein by
          reference thereto.



<PAGE>   5




                                   SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee,
Marine Midland Bank, a banking corporation and trust company organized under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of
eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York on the 23rd day
of May, 1997.



                                                 MARINE MIDLAND BANK

                
                                                 By: /s/ Marcia Markowski
                                                     ------------------------
                                                     Marcia Markowski
                                                     Corporate Trust Officer    
<PAGE>   6



                                                               EXHIBIT T1A (Vii)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                   <C>                       
                                                                        Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
                                                                        OMB Number: 7100-0036

                                                                        Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
                                                                        OMB Number: 3064-0052

                                                                        Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
                                                                        OMB Number: 1557-0081

FEDERAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS EXAMINATION COUNCIL                      Expires March 31, 1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This financial information has not been reviewed, or confirmed
for accuracy or relevance, by the Federal Reserve System.               Please refer to page i,
                                                                        Table of Contents, for
                                                                        the required disclosure
                                                                        of estimated burden.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORTS OF CONDITION AND INCOME FOR
A BANK WITH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN OFFICES--FFIEC 031

REPORT AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS MARCH 31, 1997                     (950630)
                                                                --------------- 
                                                                  (RCRI 9999)

This report is required by law; 12 U.S.C. Section 324 (State member  banks); 12
U.S.C.  Section  1817 (State nonmember banks); and 12 U.S.C. Section 161
(National banks). 

This report form is to be filed by banks with branches and consolidated
subsidiaries in U.S. territories and possessions, Edge or Agreement
subsidiaries, foreign branches, consolidated foreign subsidiaries, or
International Banking Facilities.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The Reports of Condition and Income must be signed by an authorized
officer and the Report of Condition must be attested to by not less than two
directors (trustees) for State nonmember banks and three directors for State
member and National Banks.
        
I, Gerald A. Ronning, Executive VP & Controller 
   -----------------------------------------------------------
     Name and Title of Officer Authorized to Sign Report
        
of the named bank do hereby declare that these Reports of Condition and Income
(including the supporting schedules) have been prepared in conformance with the
instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true
to the best of my knowledge and believe.
        


/s/ Gerald A. Ronning
- -----------------------------------------------------
Signature of Officer Authorized to Sign Report

         4/28/97
- -----------------------------------------------------
Date of Signature

The Reports of Condition and Income are to be prepared in accordance with
Federal regulatory authority instructions.  NOTE: These instructions may in some
cases differ from generally accepted accounting principles.
        
We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of this
Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) and declare that it has
been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal
regulatory authority and is true and correct.
        
   /s/ James H. Cleave                                                       
- ----------------------------------------------
Director (Trustee)

  /s/ Bernard J. Kennedy
- ----------------------------------------------
Director (Trustee)

  /s/ Malcom Burnett
- ----------------------------------------------
Director (Trustee)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR BANKS SUBMITTING HARD COPY REPORT FORMS:

STATE MEMBER BANK: Return the original and one copy to the appropriate Federal
Reserve District Bank.

STATE NONMEMBER BANKS: Return the original only in the special return address
envelope provided.  If express mail is used in lieu of the special return
address envelope, return the original only to the FDIC, c/o Quality Data
Systems, 2127 Espey Court, Suite 204, Crofton, MD 21114.
        
NATIONAL BANKS: Return the original only in the special return address envelope
provided.  If express mail is used in lieu of the special return address
envelope, return the original only to the FDIC, c/o Quality Data Systems, 2127
Espey Court, Suite 204, Crofton, MD 21114.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
FDIC Certificate Number   0 0 5 8 9
                         (RCRI 9030)

<PAGE>   7


                                                                          
          NOTICE
This form is intended to assist institutions with state publication
requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking authorities. Refer
to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state publication
requirements.
        


                                                             
REPORT OF CONDITION

Consolidating domestic and foreign subsidiaries of the
Marine Midland Bank              of Buffalo
      Name of Bank                City

in the state of New York, at the close of business
March 31, 1997


                                                                          
ASSETS
                                                                       
        Thousands
        of dollars
Cash and balances due from depository
institutions:

                                                    
        Noninterest-bearing balances
        currency and coin....................................  $ 1,026,267
        Interest-bearing balances ...........................    2,219,196
        Held-to-maturity securities..........................            0
        Available-for-sale securities........................    3,728,393

        Federal funds sold and securities purchased
        under agreements to resell...........................    1,830,419

Loans and lease financing receivables:

        Loans and leases net of unearned
        income...............................................   21,110,911
        LESS: Allowance for loan and lease
        losses...............................................      441,315
        LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve                            0


        Loans and lease, net of unearned
        income, allowance, and reserve.......................   20,669,596
        Trading assets.......................................    1,005,199
        Premises and fixed assets (including
        capitalized leases)..................................      217,027

Other real estate owned......................................       18,586

Investments in unconsolidated
subsidiaries and associated companies........................            0
Customers' liability to this bank on
acceptances outstanding......................................       21,351
Intangible assets............................................      495,502
Other assets.................................................      709,342
Total assets.................................................   31,940,878

<PAGE>   8




LIABILITIES

Deposits:
 In domestic offices....................................      20,236,232

 Noninterest-bearing....................................       4,166,679
 Interest-bearing.......................................      16,069,553


In foreign offices, Edge, and Agreement
subsidiaries, and IBFs..................................      2,639,327

 Noninterest-bearing....................................              0 
 Interest-bearing.......................................      2,639,327


Federal funds sold and securities purchased
 under agreements to resell.............................     3,281,586
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                       197,415
Trading Liabilities.....................................       267,837


Other borrowed money:
 With a remaining maturity of one year
 or less...............................................      1,800,280
 With a remaining maturity of more than
 one year..............................................        371,195
Bank's liability on acceptances
executed and outstanding...............................         21,351
Subordinated notes and debentures......................        497,585
Other liabilities......................................        525,585
Total liabilities......................................     29,838,393
Limited-life preferred stock and
related surplus........................................              0

                                                                  
EQUITY CAPITAL

                                           
Perpetual preferred stock and related
surplus................................................              0
Common Stock...........................................        205,000
Surplus................................................      1,983,378
Undivided profits and capital reserves.................        (76,867)
Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
on available-for-sale securities.......................         (9,026)
Cumulative foreign currency translation
adjustments............................................              0
Total equity capital...................................      2,102,485
Total liabilities, limited-life
preferred stock, and equity capital....................     31,940,878



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