COLLINS & AIKMAN CORP
8-K, 1996-01-18
MISC INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION



                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

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


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 3, 1996

                          COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                        <C>                             <C>       
                  Delaware                                 1-10218                         13-3489233
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)       (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>


                              701 McCullough Drive
                         Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (704) 547-8500




<PAGE>



ITEM 2.           ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

                  (a)      On January 3, 1996 (the "Closing Date"), Collins &
                           Aikman Corporation (the "Company") acquired Larizza
                           Industries, Inc. (a maker of automotive door
                           panels, headrests, floor console systems and
                           instrument panel components) for an aggregate
                           purchase price of approximately $144 million (the
                           "Acquisition").  In addition, approximately $40
                           million of debt of Larizza Industries, Inc. was
                           extinguished in connection therewith.  The
                           Acquisition was made pursuant to a Merger Agreement
                           dated as of September 26, 1995 among Collins &
                           Aikman Products Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of
                           the Company ("Products"), LRI Acquisition Corp., a
                           wholly owned subsidiary of Products ("Merger Sub"),
                           and Larizza Industries, Inc. and was approved by
                           the shareholders of Larizza Industries, Inc.  On
                           the Closing Date, Merger Sub was merged into
                           Larizza Industries, Inc. (the "Merger") and Merger
                           Sub's common stock was converted into 1000 shares
                           of Larizza Industries, Inc., all of which are
                           directly owned by Products.  Each share of stock
                           formerly representing a share of stock of Larizza
                           Industries, Inc. prior to the Merger was
                           automatically converted into the right to receive
                           $6.50 per share in cash.

                           The consideration paid in the Merger was determined
                           through arms-length negotiations among the Company,
                           Larizza Industries, Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. (the
                           financial advisor to Larizza Industries, Inc.). The
                           purchase price for the Acquisition and related fees
                           and expenses (as well as the extinguishment of
                           approximately $40 million of the acquired company's
                           debt) were financed with a $197 million credit
                           facility with a syndicate of banks arranged by
                           Chemical Bank. The facility is comprised of a
                           seven-year senior secured term loan.

                           In connection with the Merger, Larizza Industries,
                           Inc. was reincorporated as Manchester Plastics,
                           Inc. ("Manchester").

                  (b)      Manchester is a leading designer and manufacturer
                           of high quality plastics-based components and
                           systems used in the interior of automobiles, light
                           trucks, sport utility vehicles and minivans.
                           Manchester serves the North American automakers
                           from eight manufacturing plants in the United
                           States and Canada.  The Company intends for
                           Manchester to continue in its current line of

                                                        1.

<PAGE>



                           production and has no plans at this time to devote
                           Manchester's assets to any other purpose.

ITEM 7.           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                  (a)      Financial Statements of businesses acquired.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                                        Page Number

<S>                                                                                                        <C>
                           Independent Auditors' Report.....................................................F-1
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets of
                             Larizza Industries, Inc. and
                             Subsidiaries as of December 31,
                             1994 and December 31, 1993
                             (Audited)......................................................................F-2
                           Consolidated Statements of
                             Operations of Larizza Industries,
                             Inc. and Subsidiaries for the
                             years ended December 31, 1994,
                             1993 and 1992 (Audited)........................................................F-3
                           Consolidated Statements of
                             Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) of
                             Larizza Industries, Inc. and
                             Subsidiaries for the years ended
                             December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992
                             (Audited)......................................................................F-4
                           Consolidated Statements of Cash
                             Flows of Larizza Industries, Inc.
                             and Subsidiaries for the years
                             ended December 31, 1994, 1993 and
                             1992 (Audited).................................................................F-5
                           Notes to Consolidated Financial
                             Statements of Larizza Industries,
                             Inc. - December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992........................................F-6
                           Consolidated Condensed Balance
                             Sheet of Larizza Industries, Inc.
                             and Subsidiaries - September 30,
                             1995 (Unaudited)...............................................................F-20
                           Consolidated Condensed Statements of
                             Operations of Larizza Industries,
                             Inc. and Subsidiaries - Three
                             Months and Nine Months Ended
                             September 30, 1995 and 1994
                             (Unaudited)....................................................................F-21
                           Consolidated Condensed Statements
                             of Cash Flows of Larizza
                             Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                             - Nine Months Ended September 30,
                             1995 and 1994 (Unaudited)......................................................F-22
                           Notes to Consolidated Condensed
                             Financial Statements - September 30,
                             1995...........................................................................F-23
</TABLE>

                                                        2.

<PAGE>




                  (b)      The pro forma financial information furnished
                           herein reflects the effect of the Acquisition on
                           the consolidated financial statements of
                           Collins & Aikman Corporation.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                       Page Number
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
                           Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated
                             Financial Data................................................................F-24
                           Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated
                             Statement of Operations For the
                             Fiscal Year Ending January 28, 1995............................................F-24
                           Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement
                             of Operations For the Nine Months
                             Ending October 28, 1995........................................................F-25
                           Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance
                             Sheet at October 28, 1995......................................................F-26

                  (c)      The exhibits furnished in connection with this
                           report are as follows:

                           EXHIBIT
                           NUMBER           DESCRIPTION

                           2.1      -       Agreement and Plan of Merger among
                                            Collins & Aikman Products Co., LRI
                                            Acquisition Corp. and Larizza Industries,
                                            Inc. dated September 26, 1995, is hereby
                                            incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 of
                                            Collins & Aikman Products Co.'s Schedule
                                            13-D filed with the Securities and
                                            Exchange Commission on October 6, 1995.

                           2.2      -       Amendment to Merger Agreement dated
                                            November 17, 1995 by and among Collins &
                                            Aikman Products Co., LRI Acquisition
                                            Corp. and Larizza Industries, Inc. is
                                            hereby incorporated by reference to
                                            Exhibit 2.2 to Collins & Aikman
                                            Corporation's Form 10-Q for the quarter
                                            ended October 28, 1995.

                           4.       -       Credit Agreement dated as of December 22,
                                            1995 among Collins & Aikman Products Co.,
                                            Collins & Aikman Corporation, the Lenders
                                            referred to therein and Chemical Bank,
                                            as Agent for the Lenders.

                           23       -       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

                           99.1     -       Press Release dated September 26, 1995.


                                                        3.

<PAGE>




                           99.2     -       Press Release dated January 3, 1996 is
                                            hereby incorporated by reference to
                                            Exhibit 4 of Amendment No.1 to Collins &
                                            Aikman Products Co.'s Schedule 13D filed
                                            with the Securities and Exchange
                                            Commission on January 12, 1996.

</TABLE>

         The following schedules to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
incorporated by reference into Exhibit 2.1 hereto were omitted from the filing.
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally a copy of any such
omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

Schedule Number                     Description

1.1(b)            Form of Restated Articles of Incorporation
1.1(c)            Form of Restated Code of Regulations
2.1.1             States In Which Qualified
2.1.3             The Companies' Authorized and Outstanding Stock and
                  Options
2.1.5             Larizza Consents and Approvals
2.1.9             Larizza Changes Since June 30, 1995
2.1.10            Larizza Permitted Liens
2.1.11            Larizza Undisclosed Liabilities
2.1.12            Larizza Tax Audits
2.1.13            Larizza Litigation
2.1.14            Larizza ERISA Plans
2.1.15            Larizza Environmental Matters
2.1.18            Larizza Changes Since June 30, 1995
2.1.20            Merrill Lynch Letter
2.1.23            Larizza Intellectual Property
2.1.24            Larizza Contracts
2.1.25            Larizza Labor Matters
2.1.26            Larizza Related Party Transactions
2.2.3             Acquisition and Parent Consents and Approvals
4.1.11            Larizza Related Party Receivables to be paid


                                                        4.

<PAGE>



                                                     SIGNATURE


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

                                                COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION
                                                (Registrant)



Date:             January 18, 1996              By: /s/ J. Michael Stepp
                                                    --------------------
                                                    J. Michael Stepp
                                                    Executive Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial
                                                    Officer

                                                        5.

<PAGE>

                          Independent Auditors' Report


The Shareholders and Board of Directors
Larizza Industries, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Larizza
Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity (deficit),
and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1994. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
consolidated 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
misstatements. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Larizza Industries,
Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

As discussed in notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the
Company changed its method of accounting for income taxes in 1993 to adopt the
Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 109,
ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES.



                                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 9, 1995

                                       F-1


<PAGE>



                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
                       December 31, 1994 and 1993
                   (In thousands, except share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                             Assets                                                                 1994               1993
                             ------                                                                 ----               ----

<S>                                                                                             <C>                        <C>
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                   $        794               559
    Accounts receivable, less allowance of $393 in 1994 and
       $394 in 1993                                                                                   26,363            20,426
    Inventories                                                                                        8,601             7,268
    Reimbursable tooling costs                                                                         4,810             2,178
    Net current assets of discontinued operations                                                      1,624             1,627
    Deferred income taxes                                                                                734                -
    Other current assets                                                                               1,239               625
                                                                                                   ---------         ---------

                  Total current assets                                                                44,165            32,683

Net property, plant and equipment                                                                     29,487            26,116
Notes receivable from principal shareholders                                                           2,264             2,136
Goodwill and other intangibles, net                                                                    7,416             2,782
Net noncurrent assets of discontinued operations                                                         122               137
                                                                                                   ---------         ---------

                                                                                                $     83,454            63,854
                                                                                                      ======            ======

          Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)
          ----------------------------------------------

Current liabilities:
    Current installments of long-term debt and capitalized lease
       obligation                                                                               $      2,101             4,679
    Accounts payable, trade                                                                           20,064            14,267
    Income taxes payable                                                                               6,954             1,008
    Accrued salaries and wages                                                                         2,047             1,469
    Accrual for loss on sale of discontinued operations                                                2,331             2,118
    Other accrued expenses                                                                             7,020             4,863
                                                                                                   ---------         ---------

                  Total current liabilities                                                           40,517            28,404
                                                                                                      ------            ------

Long-term debt, excluding current installments                                                        30,000            81,460
Capitalized lease obligation, excluding current installments                                             510               780
Deferred gain on debt restructure                                                                         -              6,097
Deferred income taxes                                                                                    315             1,400
Accrued interest                                                                                          -              8,463
Accrued pension liability and other long-term liabilities                                              1,931             1,323
Shareholders' equity (deficit):
    Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares,
       no shares issued                                                                                   -                 -
    Common stock, no par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares,
       issued and outstanding 22,088,107 shares in 1994 and
       13,805,067 shares in 1993                                                                      76,780            17,202
    Additional paid-in capital                                                                         5,551             5,551
    Accumulated deficit                                                                              (67,484)          (83,873)
    Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                           (4,666)           (2,953)
                                                                                                   ---------         ---------

                  Total shareholders' equity (deficit)                                                10,181           (64,073)
                                                                                                      ------            ------

Commitments and contingencies

                                                                                                $     83,454            63,854
                                                                                                      ======            ======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-2
<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Consolidated Statements of Operations
                  Years ended December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>




                                                                                    1994              1993              1992
                                                                                    ----              ----              ----

<S>                                                                             <C>                  <C>               <C>
Net sales                                                                       $  169,336           148,257           111,307
Cost of goods sold                                                                 133,870           115,660            92,036
                                                                                   -------           -------          --------

                  Gross profit                                                      35,466            32,597            19,271
                                                                                   -------          --------            ------

Expenses:
    Selling expenses                                                                 4,446             3,543             2,757
    General and administrative expenses                                              8,988             7,957             8,178
                                                                                   -------          --------          --------

                                                                                    13,434            11,500            10,935
                                                                                   -------          --------            ------

                  Operating income                                                  22,032            21,097             8,336
                                                                                   -------          --------          --------

Other income (expense):
    Interest income                                                                    574               219               165
    Interest expense                                                                (3,467)           (6,520)           (7,128)
    Other, net                                                                         (55)             (339)              108
                                                                                   -------          --------          --------

                                                                                    (2,948)           (6,640)           (6,855)
                                                                                   -------          --------           -------

Income before income tax provision and extraordinary gain                           19,084            14,457             1,481
Income tax provision                                                                 5,100             2,070              -
                                                                                   -------          --------          --------

Income before extraordinary gain                                                    13,984            12,387             1,481

Extraordinary gain on extinguishment of debt                                            -                  -               711
Extraordinary gain on refinancing of debt                                            2,405                 -                -
                                                                                   -------          --------          --------

                  Net income                                                    $   16,389            12,387             2,192
                                                                                   =======          ========          ========

Income per common share:
    Primary:
       Income before extraordinary gain                                           $  .68                .90             .11
       Extraordinary gain                                                            .12                 -              .05
                                                                                     ---                ---             ---

                  Net income                                                      $  .80                .90             .16
                                                                                     ===                ===             ===

    Fully diluted:
       Income before extraordinary gain                                           $  .66                .72
       Extraordinary gain                                                            .11                 -
                                                                                     ---                --

                  Net income                                                      $  .77                .72
                                                                                     ===                ===

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding:
    Primary                                                                         20,522            13,805          13,805
    Fully diluted                                                                   22,088            22,088
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-3

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
            Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)
                  Years ended December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992
                                 (In thousands)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                                                    Total
                                                         Additional                       Foreign Currency      Shareholders'
                                         Common Stock  Paid-in Capital    Accumulated        Translation           Equity
                                                                            Deficit          Adjustment           (Deficit)

<S>                                       <C>            <C>            <C>                <C>                <C>
Balance at December 31, 1991                  $17,202        5,551          (98,452)           1,083              (74,616)


Net income                                         -            -             2,192              -                  2,192
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                                                   -            -                -            (2,758)              (2,758)
                                             --------       ------         --------            -----             --------

Balance at December 31, 1992                   17,202        5,551          (96,260)          (1,675)             (75,182)

Net income                                         -            -            12,387              -                 12,387
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                                                   -            -                -            (1,278)              (1,278)
                                             --------       ------         --------            -----             --------

Balance at December 31, 1993                   17,202        5,551          (83,873)          (2,953)             (64,073)

Net income                                         -            -            16,389              -                 16,389
Conversion of debt to equity                   59,578           -                -               -                 59,578
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                                                   -                             -            (1,713)              (1,713)
                                             --------       ------         --------           ------             --------

Balance at December 31, 1994                  $76,780        5,551          (67,484)          (4,666)              10,181
                                               ======        =====           ======            =====               ======

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-4


<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                  Years ended December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992
                                 (In thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                  1994           1993              1992
                                                                                  ----           ----              ----

<S>                                                                          <C>                   <C>              <C>  
Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income                                                               $    16,389           12,387           2,192
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by
          operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization                                               4,268            4,117           4,175
       Deferred income taxes                                                        (909)           1,400              -
       (Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment                     (246)             368              44
       Foreign exchange (gain) loss                                                  108              (32)           (303)
       Amortization of deferred gain                                                (368)          (1,342)         (1,382)
       Extraordinary gain on extinguishment of debt                                   -                -             (711)
       Extraordinary gain on refinancing of debt                                  (2,405)              -               -
       Increase in accrued interest                                                  791            4,174           4,186
    Changes in assets and liabilities, net of purchase of business:
       Accounts receivable                                                        (3,430)          (1,414)         (8,769)
       Inventories                                                                  (308)          (1,288)            (17)
       Other current assets                                                       (4,516)          (1,183)            305
       Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                                    9,670              854             433
                                                                                --------        ---------          ------

                   Cash provided by operating activities                          19,044           18,041             153
                                                                                  ------           ------          ------

Cash flows from investing activities:
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment                              490               -               53
    Cost of acquisition, net of cash acquired                                     (5,284)              -               -
    Capital expenditures                                                          (6,094)          (2,999)         (3,163)
    Other, net                                                                      (128)            (177)           (172)
                                                                                --------        ---------          ------

                   Cash used for investing activities                            (11,016)          (3,176)         (3,282)
                                                                                  ------        ---------           -----

Cash flows from financing activities:
    Proceeds from issuance of debt                                                36,000               -            1,075
    Repayments of debt                                                           (43,257)         (13,489)           (660)
    Other, net                                                                        -              (743)           (490)
                                                                                --------        ---------          ------

                   Cash used for financing activities                             (7,257)         (14,232)            (75)
                                                                                --------           ------          ------

Effect of exchange rates on cash                                                    (536)            (563)           (406)
                                                                                --------        ---------          ------


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                 235               70          (3,610)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                       559              489           4,099
                                                                                --------        ---------           -----

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                     $       794              559             489
                                                                                ========        =========          ======

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
    Interest paid                                                            $     1,998            3,501           4,071
    Income taxes paid                                                                902            1,112             570

Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
    Asset acquired and obligation incurred under
       capital lease                                                         $        -                -            1,426
    Conversion of debt to equity                                                  59,578               -               -
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-5

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                        December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992



 (1)     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

         (a)     Principles of Consolidation

                 The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
                 Larizza Industries, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries
                 ("Company"). All significant intercompany accounts and
                 transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

         (b)     Foreign Currency Translation

                 The Company translates the foreign currency financial
                 statements of its Canadian operations by translating balance
                 sheet accounts at the exchange rate prevailing at year-end and
                 income statement accounts at the average exchange rate for the
                 year. Gains or losses resulting from translating foreign
                 currency financial statements are recorded in a separate
                 component of shareholders' equity (deficit). Gains or losses
                 resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in
                 net earnings.

         (c)     Inventories

                 Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is
                 determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

         (d)     Property, Plant and Equipment

                 Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation
                 is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated
                 useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are
                 amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the
                 remaining lease terms or estimated useful lives of the
                 improvements. Amortization of capitalized leases is included
                 with depreciation expense. Property, plant and equipment held
                 for sale are stated at their estimated net realizable value,
                 and accordingly, are no longer depreciated.

         (e)     Goodwill and Other Intangibles

                 Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair
                 value of net assets of acquired companies at the dates of
                 acquisition. Goodwill is amortized on a straight-line basis
                 over 30 years. Net goodwill was $5,763,000 and $1,486,000 at
                 December 31, 1994 and 1993, respectively, and accumulated
                 amortization was $496,000 and $408,000 at December 31, 1994 and
                 1993, respectively.

                 Other intangibles represents an intangible asset recorded in
                 conjunction with SFAS No. 87, EMPLOYERS' ACCOUNTING FOR
                 PENSIONS, as discussed in Note 9.


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-6
<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (1)     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Continued

         (f)     Income Taxes

                 Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of
                 Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 109, ACCOUNTING FOR
                 INCOME TAXES, which requires the use of the asset and liability
                 method of accounting for deferred income taxes.

                 The provision for income taxes includes federal and foreign
                 income taxes currently payable and those deferred because of
                 temporary differences between the financial statement and tax
                 bases of assets and liabilities. The Company has not provided
                 for federal income taxes on the undistributed earnings of its
                 Canadian subsidiary because they are reinvested and not
                 expected to be remitted to the parent company.

         (g)     Income Per Share of Common Stock

                 Primary income per common share is calculated by dividing net
                 income by the weighted average number of common shares
                 outstanding during the period.

                 On a fully diluted basis, both net income and shares
                 outstanding are adjusted to assume the conversion of the
                 convertible term loan of $47,000,000 plus accrued interest into
                 8,283,040 shares of common stock at the beginning of the
                 period. To adjust net income for 1994 and 1993, interest
                 expense of $791,000 and $4,174,000, respectively, related to
                 the convertible term loan, less $144,000 and $694,000,
                 respectively, of amortization of deferred gain on debt
                 restructure, was added back into income. Such conversion was
                 not dilutive during the year ended December 31, 1992.

         (h)     Cash and Cash Equivalents/Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                 The Company considers highly liquid investments with a maturity
                 at the time of purchase of three months or less to be cash
                 equivalents.

         (i)     Pensions and Post Retirement Benefit Plans

                 The Company has three defined benefit pension plans covering
                 certain of its salaried and hourly employees. Pension expense
                 is determined pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 87,
                 EMPLOYERS' ACCOUNTING FOR PENSIONS. Benefits are based upon
                 either employee years of service and compensation or stated
                 dollar amounts per years of service. Contributions to the plans
                 are based upon the recommendation of the Company's actuaries,
                 and past service costs are funded over 15 years. Contributions
                 are intended to provide not only for benefits for service to
                 date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

                 The Company does not currently provide medical benefits to
                 retirees.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-7

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (2)     Acquisition

         On October 20, 1994, the Company purchased all of the outstanding stock
         of LVB Industries, Inc., and then merged LVB Industries, Inc., into its
         wholly-owned subsidiary Hughes Plastics, Inc. The approximate purchase
         price of $5,289,000, including liabilities assumed and net of cash
         acquired, is subject to adjustment and exceeded the fair value of the
         net assets acquired by $4,450,000. The acquisition has been accounted
         for by the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, the results
         of Hughes Plastics, Inc., have been included in the consolidated
         operating results since the date of acquisition.

         The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations
         gives effect to the acquisition of LVB Industries, Inc., as though it
         happened January 1, 1993. This pro forma information is not necessarily
         indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisition taken place
         at the beginning of 1993.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                             (In thousands,
                                                                                         except per share data)
                                                                                         1994            1993

<S>                                                                                <C>                   <C>    
         Net sales                                                                 $     181,992         163,264

         Income before extraordinary gain                                                 12,099          11,338

         Net income                                                                       14,504          11,338

         Per share:
            Primary:
                Income before extraordinary gain                                      $  .59               .82
                Net income                                                            $  .71               .82

            Fully diluted:
                Income before extraordinary gain                                      $  .58               .67
                Net income                                                            $  .69               .67
</TABLE>


 (3)     Discontinued Operations

         Effective on December 31, 1990, the Company adopted a plan to divest
         General Nuclear Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary, operating in
         the defense industry. General Nuclear, which is being held for sale,
         has been accounted for as a discontinued operation in the accompanying
         consolidated financial statements and its net assets have been written
         down to their estimated net realizable value. The sales of General
         Nuclear were $3,831,000, $3,323,000, and $3,860,000 in 1994, 1993 and
         1992, respectively.


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-8

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (3)     Discontinued Operations, Continued

         At December 31, 1994 and 1993, the composition of the net current and
         net noncurrent assets of the discontinued operations is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             (In thousands)
                                                                                           1994           1993
<S>                                                                                  <C>              <C>    

                 Net current assets of discontinued operations:
                    Current assets                                                    $    1,842           1,893
                    Current liabilities                                                     (218)           (266)
                                                                                         -------          ------

                                                                                      $    1,624           1,627
                                                                                           =====           =====

                 Net noncurrent assets of discontinued operations:
                    Property and equipment, net                                       $      617             821
                    Noncurrent liabilities                                                  (495)           (684)
                                                                                         -------          ------

                                                                                      $      122             137
                                                                                         =======          ======

 (4)     Inventories

         The components of inventories are as follows:

                                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                           1994          1993

                 Raw materials                                                        $    4,302         4,428
                 Work in process                                                           1,992         1,032
                 Finished goods                                                            2,307         1,808
                                                                                           -----         -----

                                                                                      $    8,601         7,268
                                                                                           =====         =====
 (5)     Property, Plant and Equipment

         Property, plant and equipment is comprised of:

                                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                           1994         1993

                 Land                                                               $        337           332
                 Buildings                                                                 9,832         9,724
                 Machinery and equipment                                                  37,594        33,962
                 Furniture and fixtures                                                    2,457         1,838
                 Transportation equipment                                                  1,191           741
                 Leasehold improvements                                                      836           142
                 Construction in progress                                                    719           239
                                                                                        --------      --------

                                                                                          52,966        46,978

                 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                           23,479        20,862
                                                                                          ------        ------

                                                                                    $     29,487        26,116
                                                                                          ======        ======


</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                     F-9

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (5)     Property, Plant and Equipment, Continued

         Included in property,  plant and  equipment  in 1994 and 1993 is a 
         building  held for sale with a net book value of $400,000.

         Included in property, plant and equipment in 1994 are assets under a
         capitalized lease obligation with a cost of $1,395,000 and accumulated
         amortization of $315,000.

 (6)     Long-term Debt and Conversion

         Long-term debt is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                           1994          1993

      <S>                                                                         <C>                <C>  

        Term loans                                                                  $     13,125        35,625

        Convertible term loan                                                                 -         47,000

        Revolving credit facilities                                                       18,750         3,300
                                                                                          ------      --------

                                                                                          31,875        85,925

        Less current installments                                                          1,875         4,465
                                                                                        --------      --------

                                                                                    $     30,000        81,460
                                                                                          ======        ======
</TABLE>

         On March 11, 1994, the holders of the convertible term loan converted
         $47,000,000 in principal and $9,254,000 of accrued interest related to
         the convertible term loan into 8,283,040 shares of common stock. The
         conversion reduced long-term debt, accrued interest and deferred gain
         on debt restructure on the Company's balance sheet as of March 11, 1994
         by $47,000,000, $9,254,000 and $3,324,000, respectively, and increased
         common stock by $59,578,000.

         On May 6, 1994, the Company signed a $50,000,000 credit facility
         agented by Bank of America Illinois (formerly Continental Bank N.A.).
         The initial borrowing of $36,000,000 consisted of $35,600,000 used to
         repay existing indebtedness and $400,000 used to pay various loan fees
         and expenses.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                          F-10
<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (6)     Long-term Debt and Conversion, Continued

         The new facility includes a $27,000,000 revolving line of credit for
         the Company, of which $17,750,000 was outstanding on December 31, 1994,
         and an $8,000,000 revolving line of credit for tooling and capital
         equipment for the Company, of which $1,000,000 was outstanding at
         December 31, 1994. The amount available under the $27,000,000 line of
         credit is reduced by $250,000 at the end of each quarter in 1994
         (beginning June 30, 1994) and $1,250,000 at the end of each subsequent
         quarter during the term of the loan. Both lines of credit expire May 6,
         1997. Interest on the loans is based on Eurodollar rates or the bank's
         reference rate, plus a margin which can vary each quarter based on
         specified financial covenants. The margins at December 31, 1994 were
         1.75 percent for Eurodollar loans and 0 percent for reference rate
         loans. The weighted average interest rate at December 31, 1994 was 7.66
         percent. The line of credit also requires the Company to pay a
         commitment fee of .375 percent a year on the average unused amount of
         the facility. Interest and the commitment fee are payable quarterly, or
         in the case of Eurodollar loans on their due date, but not less often
         than quarterly. The revolving line of credit is also available for
         letters of credit in amounts not to exceed $2,000,000. The Bank issued
         a $500,000 (Canadian) letter of credit securing checking account
         overdrafts. Both lines of credit are secured by all of the assets of
         the Company including the stock of its subsidiaries and the assets of
         Hughes Plastics, Inc.

         In addition, the new facility includes a $15,000,000 term loan to
         Manchester Plastics, Ltd., the Company's Canadian subsidiary, secured
         by all of its assets, of which $13,125,000 was outstanding on December
         31, 1994. The loan is payable in four quarterly installments of
         $937,500 from June 30, 1994, through March 31, 1995, with the balance
         due May 7, 1999. Interest on the loan is based on Eurodollar rates or
         the bank's reference rate, plus a margin which varies each quarter
         based on Manchester Plastics' net worth. The margins at December 31,
         1994 were 3.50 percent for Eurodollar loans and 1.75 percent for
         reference rate loans. The weighted average interest rate at December
         31, 1994 was 9.26 percent. Interest is payable quarterly, or in the
         case of Eurodollar loans on their due date, but not less often than
         quarterly.

         The loans to the Company and to Manchester Plastics, Ltd., contain
         various covenants, the most restrictive of which include limits on the
         disposition of properties, limits on capital expenditures, maintenance
         of certain financial levels and ratios and restrictions on additional
         indebtedness and on the payment of dividends. The Company was in
         compliance with all such covenants at December 3l, 1994, and expects to
         be in compliance throughout 1995.

         Accrued interest of $8,821,000 which was owed to the banks on December
         23, 1991 was unconditionally forgiven by the banks. This amount was
         recorded as a deferred gain on debt restructure. During 1994, 1993 and
         1992 $368,000, $1,342,000 and $1,382,000, respectively, of deferred
         gain on debt restructure was amortized and netted against interest
         expense. On May 6, 1994, when the Company refinanced its debt, the
         remaining deferred gain on debt restructure of $2,405,000 was recorded
         as an extraordinary gain.

         During 1992, the Company extinguished long-term debt in the amount of
         $906,000 for a cash payment of $195,000 resulting in a gain of $711,000
         which is recorded as an extraordinary gain.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                F-11

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (6)     Long-term Debt and Conversion, Continued

Aggregate  principal  payments due on long-term debt for the next five years are
as follows: 1995 - $1,875,000; 1996 - $1,500,000; 1997 - $17,250,000; 1998 - $0;
1999 - $11,250,000.

 (7)     Leases

         The Company leases a portion of its operating facilities and equipment.
         Aggregate future minimum lease payments under all noncancelable leases
         at December 31, 1994, are as follows:

                                                               (In thousands)
                                                            Capital   Operating
                 Year                                       Leases     Leases

                 1995                                    $    297        1,569
                 1996                                         297        1,490
                 1997                                         269        1,330
                 1998                                          -         1,185
                 1999                                          -         1,087
                                                             ----        -----

                                                              863        6,661
                                                                         =====
                 Less amounts representing interest           127
                                                             ----

                 Present value of minimum lease payments      736
                 Less current installments                    226
                                                             ----

                 Long-term obligation                    $    510
                                                              ===

Rent  expense for  operating  leases  amounted  to  $1,344,000,  $1,305,000  and
$1,209,000 in 1994, 1993 and 1992, respectively.

(8)      Income Taxes

         Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
         Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES. The
         statement requires the use of the asset and liability approach for
         financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Financial
         statements for prior years have not been restated as the cumulative
         effect of the accounting change had no impact.

         Income (loss) before income tax provision and extraordinary gain is as
         follows:

                                                     (In thousands)
                                          1994            1993           1992

                United States        $    3,008           (2,250)        (2,037)
                Canada                   16,076           16,707          3,518
                                         ------           ------          -----

                                     $   19,084           14,457          1,481
                                         ======           ======          =====
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                             F-12

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



(8)      Income Taxes, Continued

         The income tax provision (benefit) before extraordinary gain is
         summarized as follows:
                                                 (In thousands)
                                         1994         1993          1992
                                         ----         ----          ----

          Current:
              United States        $      273            184          -
              Canada                    5,736            450          -
              State                        -              36          -
                                      -------         ------        ---

                                        6,009            670          -
                                        -----         ------        ---

          Deferred:
              United States              (984)            -           -
              Canada                       75          1,400          -
              State                        -              -           -
                                      -------         ------        ---

                                         (909)         1,400          -
                                      -------          -----        ---

                         Total     $    5,100          2,070          -
                                        =====          =====        ===

         A reconciliation between the provision for income taxes before
         extraordinary gain and income taxes on such income calculated at the
         United States statutory rate of 35 percent for 1994 and 1993, and 34
         percent for 1992 is as follows:

                                                                (In thousands)
                                                            1994   1993    1992

         Income tax at statutory rate                    $ 6,679   5,060    504
         Amortization of intangibles                        (712)   (712)    24
         Difference in tax rates of consolidated foreign
            subsidiaries                                     160     334    141
         Canadian and United States net operating loss
            carryforwards                                   (864) (6,387)  (663)
         Deemed dividend from Canadian subsidiary             -    3,510     -
         Other                                              (163)    265     (6)
                                                           -----  ------   ----

         Income tax at effective rate                    $ 5,100   2,070       -
                                                           =====   =====   =====
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                F-13

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (8)     Income Taxes, Continued

         The tax effected temporary differences and United States net operating
         and capital loss carryforwards which give rise to deferred tax assets
         and liabilities at December 31, 1994 and 1993 are summarized as
         follows:

                                                                (In thousands)
                                                             1994        1993

         Deferred tax assets:
            United States capital loss carryforwards        $  5,236     5,322
            United States net operating loss carryforwards     3,359     2,550
            Interest forgiveness income                           -      2,073
            Accruals for discontinued operations               1,000     1,012
            Miscellaneous accrued liabilities                    585       435
            Other                                                450       391
                                                             -------   -------

                                                              10,630    11,783

         Less valuation allowance                              8,546    11,348
                                                             -------    ------

                                                               2,084       435

         Deferred tax liability:
            Depreciation and amortization                     (1,665)   (1,835)
                                                             -------   -------

            Net deferred tax asset (liability)              $    419    (1,400)
                                                             =======   =======

         A valuation allowance has been recognized to offset the deferred tax
         assets related to operations in the United States due to the
         uncertainty of realizing the benefit of the United States net operating
         loss and capital loss carryforwards and deductible temporary
         differences in the future. The net change in the valuation allowance
         from $11,348,000 at December 31, 1993 to $8,546,000 at December 31,
         1994 was a decrease of $2,802,000 which related primarily to the
         reversal of the temporary difference provided for interest forgiveness
         income in 1993.

         At December 31, 1994, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards
         of $7,500,000 for United States income tax purposes, which expire from
         2005 to 2009. Net operating loss carryforwards for Canadian tax
         purposes of $9,400,000 at December 31, 1992, were fully utilized in
         1993 to reduce Canadian taxable income. As a result of the Hughes
         Plastics, Inc. acquisition, there is an estimated $2,400,000 of net
         operating loss carryforwards subject to the separate return limitation
         year provisions. In addition, the Company has capital loss
         carryforwards for United States tax purposes of $15,400,000 which
         expire in 1996.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                 F-14

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



 (9)     Employee Pension Plans

         The Company has three defined benefit pension plans covering certain of
         its salaried and hourly employees. In accordance with SFAS No. 87,
         EMPLOYERS' ACCOUNTING FOR PENSIONS, the Company recorded a minimum
         pension liability of $1,653,000 and $1,296,000 at December 31, 1994 and
         1993, respectively. This liability represents the excess of unfunded
         accumulated benefit obligations over accrued pension cost. The minimum
         liability was offset by an intangible asset which is amortized on a
         straight line basis over 16 years. There was no effect on net income.

         The following table sets forth the plans' funded status and amounts
         recognized in the Company's consolidated balance sheet at December 31,
         1994 and 1993:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                     (In thousands)
                                                                    1994     1993
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>

         Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
            Accumulated benefit obligation, fully vested         $  5,071    4,520
                                                                    =====    =====

         Projected benefit obligation                              (5,659)  (5,125)
         Fair value of plan assets                                  4,262    4,023
                                                                    -----    -----

         Excess of projected benefit obligation over plan assets   (1,397)  (1,102)
         Unamortized initial net liability                          1,528    1,235
         Other                                                        117       35
                                                                   ------   ------

         Prepaid pension costs                                   $    248      168
                                                                   ======   ======
</TABLE>

         Net periodic pension costs for the years ended December 31, 1994 and
1993, are:

                                                             (In thousands)
                                                             1994         1993

            Service cost                                 $    289          277
            Interest cost                                     396          370
            Actual return on plan assets                     (339)        (291)
            Net amortization and deferral                     133          120
                                                              ---          ---

                                                         $    479          476
                                                              ===          ===

         Assumptions:
            Discount rate                                    7.5%         7.5%
            Average wage increase                            6.5%         6.5%
            Long-term rate of return on plan assets          8.5%         8.5%

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                           F-15

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



(10)     Related Party Transactions

         Notes receivable from principal shareholders include $2,264,000 and
         $2,136,000 of interest-bearing notes due from principal shareholders at
         December 31, 1994 and 1993, respectively. During 1993, notes receivable
         from principal shareholders were replaced with new notes. These new
         notes bear interest at 5.97% and are payable in annual installments
         beginning in 1996. Interest charged by the Company to principal
         shareholders was $128,000, $155,000 and $141,000 in 1994, 1993 and
         1992, respectively.

         Amounts charged to the Company by a prior director of the Company for
         sales commissions were $2,420,000, $2,173,000 and $1,380,000 during
         1994, 1993 and 1992, respectively. Amounts paid by the Company to a
         certain director for consulting services were $340,000, $50,000 and
         $50,000 during 1994, 1993 and 1992, respectively.

(11)     Litigation

         The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have various pending
         lawsuits and claims. In the opinion of management, the ultimate
         liabilities resulting from such lawsuits and claims will not materially
         affect the consolidated financial position of the Company.

(12)     Segment and Geographic Information

         The Company operates in the automotive industry, where it designs and
         manufactures plastic-based components and systems used in the interiors
         of automobiles, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and mini-vans.

         Net sales to major customers are as follows:

                                                       (In thousands)
                                               1994       1993      1992

         General Motors Corporation         $ 59,000    51,300     45,200
         Chrysler Corporation                 48,700    41,100     20,800
         Ford Motor Company                   32,500    32,400     26,500
         Honda Motor Company                  16,700    14,400      8,400

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                              F-16
<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



(12)     Segment and Geographic Information, Continued

         Information about the Company's operations by geographic area is as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                   (In thousands)
                                                                      1994              1993          1992
<S>                                                             <C>              <C>              <C>

         Net sales:
              United States                                     $      66,800            53,672         34,978
              Canada                                                  102,536            94,585         76,329
                                                                      -------        ----------     ----------

              Consolidated                                      $     169,336           148,257        111,307
                                                                      =======           =======        =======

         Operating income:
              United States                                     $       7,324             8,106          1,473
              Canada                                                   20,697            18,746         11,814
              General corporate expenses                               (5,989)           (5,755)        (4,951)
                                                                   ----------        ----------     ----------

              Consolidated                                      $      22,032            21,097          8,336
                                                                   ==========        ==========     ==========

         Identifiable assets:
              United States                                     $      37,557            28,557         26,210
              Canada                                                   41,180            36,441         32,992
              Corporate assets                                          4,967            (1,144)         3,455
                                                                   ----------        ----------     ----------

              Consolidated                                      $      83,704            63,854         62,657
                                                                   ==========        ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

         The Company holds some degree of credit risk due to the concentration
         of trade accounts receivable due from major customers. Receivables from
         these customers at December 31, 1994 and 1993 approximate the same
         percent of total receivables as aggregate sales to these customers bear
         to total sales. Transfers between geographic areas and export sales are
         immaterial. Identifiable assets are those used in the operation of each
         geographic area. Corporate assets consist primarily of cash, prepaid
         expenses, transportation equipment and notes receivable from officers.

(13)     Stock  Incentive Plan

         The 1987 Stock Incentive Plan authorizes the granting of incentive and
         nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted
         shares of common stock. Participation in the Plan is limited to
         employees, including officers and directors of the Company. Under the
         Plan, a maximum of 200,000 shares of common stock may be made the
         subject of options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock
         grants.

         The per share purchase price of the common stock under options is
         determined by the Compensation Committee and, in the case of incentive
         stock options, must be at least 100 percent (110 percent in the case of
         10 percent shareholders) of the fair market value of one share of
         common stock on the date of grant of such option. Stock appreciation
         rights may either be granted independently or in conjunction with the
         grant of a stock option. Each stock option or appreciation right shall
         be exercisable at any such time as may be determined by the
         Compensation Committee at the time of grant. Each option and
         appreciation right shall expire not more than ten years from the date
         of grant.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                 F-17

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



(13)     Stock  Incentive Plan, Continued

         Under the Plan, the Compensation Committee may also grant shares of
         restricted stock to participants. The Compensation Committee shall
         establish the restricted period at the time the shares are awarded. The
         shares of restricted stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred,
         pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered during the restricted
         period.

         On December 31, 1994, no options were outstanding and 200,000 shares
         were available for grant.

(14)     Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

         Summarized quarterly financial data for 1994 and 1993 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                          (Dollars in thousands, except per-share data)
                                                                        Quarter
                       1994                       First        Second           Third        Fourth        Year
                       ----                       -----        ------           -----        ------        ----
<S>                                        <C>               <C>             <C>            <C>         <C>

         Net sales                           $    41,061         42,779         37,673        47,823      169,336
         Gross profit                              8,887          9,931          7,339         9,309       35,466

         Income before
            extraordinary gain                     3,399          4,370          2,748         3,467       13,984
         Extraordinary gain                           -           2,405             -             -         2,405
                                                 -------       --------       --------       -------     --------

                      Net income             $     3,399          6,775          2,748         3,467       16,389
                                                 =======       ========       ========       =======       ======

         Income per common share:
            Primary:
                Income before
                   extraordinary gain              .22           .20            .12            .16          .68
                Extraordinary gain                   -           .11              -              -          .12
                                                    --           ---             --             --          ---

                      Net income                   .22           .31            .12            .16          .80
                                                   ===           ===            ===            ===          ===

            Fully diluted:
                Income before
                   extraordinary gain              .19             n/a            n/a           n/a         .66
                Extraordinary gain                   -                                                      .11
                                                    --                                                      ---

                      Net income                   .19                                                      .77
                                                   ===                                                      ===

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                    F-18

<PAGE>


                   LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued



(14)     Quarterly Data (Unaudited), Continued

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                       1993                       First        Second           Third        Fourth        Year
                       ----                       -----        ------           -----        ------        ----
       <S>                                  <C>            <C>                <C>           <C>          <C>

         Net sales                           $    39,615         39,390         31,144        38,108      148,257
         Gross profit                              8,942          9,183          5,767         8,705       32,597

         Net income                                4,174          4,749          1,561         1,903       12,387

         Income per common share:
            Primary                                  .30            .34            .11           .14          .90
            Fully diluted                            .23            .25            n/a           .13          .72

</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                                     F-19









                    LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
                                 (In thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                             SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                 1995
                                                                             (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                          <C>
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                                               $       837
     Accounts receivable, net                                                     22,867
     Inventories:
        Raw materials                                                              4,880
        Work in process                                                            1,409
        Finished goods                                                             2,378
                                                                             -----------
     Total inventories                                                             8,667
                                                                             -----------
     Reimbursable tooling costs                                                   15,346
     Net current assets of discontinued operations                                  -
     Deferred income taxes                                                           733
     Other current assets                                                            868
                                                                             -----------
     Total current assets                                                         49,318
                                                                             -----------
     Property, plant and equipment, at cost                                       59,909
     Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                               27,417
                                                                             -----------
               Net property, plant and equipment                                  32,492
                                                                             -----------
     Notes receivable from principal shareholders                                  2,365
     Goodwill and other intangibles, net                                           7,319
     Net noncurrent assets of discontinued operations                               -
                                                                             -----------
     Deferred income taxes                                                         1,404
                                                                             -----------
                                                                             $    92,898
                                                                             ===========
Current liabilities:
     Current installments of long-term debt and capitalized lease            $       257
        obligation
     Accounts payable                                                             22,726
     Income taxes payable                                                          3,095
     Accrued salaries and wages                                                    2,468
     Accrual for loss on sale of discontinued operations                            -
     Other accrued expenses                                                        5,419
                                                                             -----------
               Total current liabilities                                          33,965
                                                                             -----------
     Long-term debt, excluding current installments                               34,150
     Capitalized lease obligation, excluding current                                 335
        installments
     Deferred income taxes                                                           726
     Other long-term liabilities                                                   1,938

Shareholders' equity:
     Common stock                                                                 76,780
     Additional paid-in capital                                                    5,551
     Accumulated deficit                                                         (56,950)
     Foreign currency translation adjustment                                      (3,597)
                                                                             ------------
               Total shareholders' equity                                         21,784
                                                                             ------------
                                                                             $    92,898
                                                                             ============

</TABLE>



See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

                                      F-20

<PAGE>



                    LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                 Three Months Ended                    Nine Months Ended
                                                                    September 30,                       September 30,

                                                                   1995          1994                  1995            1994
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      -------

<S>                                                           <C>             <C>                   <C>           <C>

Net sales                                                       $  38,478         37,673              149,131         121,513
Cost of goods sold                                                 33,644         30,334              123,111          95,356
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ---------
     Gross profit                                                   4,834          7,339               26,020          26,157

Selling, general and administrative
expenses                                                            3,182          3,316               11,088          10,067
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ---------
     Operating income                                               1,652          4,023               14,932          16,090

Other income (expense):
     Interest expense, net                                           (645)          (537)              (1,956)         (2,275)
     Other, net                                                       182             (3)                (319)            252
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ---------
                                                                     (463)          (540)              (2,275)         (2,023)

Income from continuing operations before
     income tax provision and extraordinary
     gain                                                           1,189          3,483               12,657           14,067

Income tax provision                                                  175            735                2,925            3,550
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ----------

Income from continuing operations before
     extraordinary gain                                             1,014          2,748                9,732           10,517

Discontinued operation:
     Gain on disposal of discontinued operation                       -              -                     802            -
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ----------


Income before extraordinary gain                                    1,014          2,748               10,534          10,517

Extraordinary gain on refinancing of debt                            -              -                    -              2,405
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ---------

Net income                                                      $   1,014          2,748               10,534          12,922
                                                                ==========     ==========           ==========      =========

Income per common share:
     Primary:
        Income from continuing operations                       $    0.05           0.12                 0.44            0.53
           before extraordinary gain
        Gain from discontinued operation                             -              -                    0.04            -
        Extraordinary gain                                           -              -                    -               0.12
                                                                ----------     ----------           ----------      ---------

        Net income per common share                             $    0.05           0.12                 0.48            0.65
                                                                ==========     ==========           ==========      =========


     Fully diluted:
        Income from continuing operations                                                                                0.51
           before extraordinary gain
        Gain from discontinued operation                                                                                 -
        Extraordinary gain                                                                                               0.11
                                                                                                                    ---------

        Net income per common share                                                                                      0.62
                                                                                                                    =========

     Weighted average number of shares of
        common stock outstanding
     Primary                                                       22,088         22,088               22,088          19,995
     Fully diluted                                                                                                     22,088

</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

                                      F-21

<PAGE>



                    LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (In thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                       Nine Months Ended
                                                                        September 30,

                                                                     1995          1994
                                                                    -------      -------
<S>                                                           <C>              <C>

Operations:
     Net income                                                  $   10,534        12,992
     Noncash items:
        Depreciation and amortization                                 3,883         3,106
        Deferred income taxes                                          (992)         -
        Amortization of deferred gain                                  -             (368)
        Extraordinary gain on refinancing of debt                      -           (2,405)
        Gain on sale of discontinued operation                         (802)         -
        Interest accrued on long-term debt                             -              791
        Operating working capital decrease (increase)                (9,546)        1,406
        Other, net                                                      227          (408)
                                                                 -----------   -----------
                                                                      3,304        15,044
Investments:
     Proceeds from sale of discontinued operation, net of             1,164          -
        subsidiary cash
     Property, plant and equipment, net                              (6,107)       (4,161)
     Other, net                                                        (101)          (96)
                                                                 -----------   -----------
                                                                     (5,044)       (4,257)
Financing:
     Issuance of debt                                                  -           36,000
     Borrowings (repayments) of debt, net                             2,105       (45,903)
                                                                 -----------   -----------
                                                                      2,105        (9,903)

Effect of exchange rates on cash                                       (322)         (617)
                                                                 -----------   -----------


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                43           267

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                        794           559
                                                                 -----------   ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                       $      837           826
                                                                 ===========   ==========

Noncash financing activities:
     Conversion of debt to equity                                              $   59,578
                                                                               ==========

</TABLE>





See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

                                      F-22

<PAGE>



                    LARIZZA INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED
                         CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995


(1)    Basis of Presentation

       In the opinion of management, the information furnished herein includes
       all adjustments ( all of which are of a normal recurring nature)
       necessary for fair presentation of the results for the interim periods.

(2)    Reclassifications

       Certain amounts in the prior period's consolidated condensed financial
       statements have been reclassified to conform to the 1995 presentation.

(3)    Income Per Share

       Primary income per common share is calculated by dividing net income by
       the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the
       period.

       On a fully-diluted basis for the nine months ended September 30, 1994,
       both net income and shares outstanding were adjusted to assume the
       conversion of the convertible term loan of $47,000,000 plus accrued
       interest into 8,283,040 shares of common stock at the beginning of the
       period. To adjust net income for the first nine months of 1994, interest
       expense of $791,000 related to the convertible term loan was added back
       into income.

(4)    General Nuclear Corp. Divestiture

       On June 1, 1995, the Company sold the common and preferred stock of its
       wholly-owned subsidiary, General Nuclear Corp. The net cash proceeds of
       approximately $1,155,000 resulted in a gain on sale of $802,000 after
       considering the accrual for loss on sale of General Nuclear Corp. of
       $2,195,000.

(5)    Merger Agreement

       On September 26, 1995, the Company signed a definitive Agreement and Plan
       of Merger with Collins & Aikman Products Co. and its newly-formed,
       wholly-owned subsidiary. Pursuant to the agreement, the subsidiary will
       be merged with and into the Company, the Company will become a
       wholly-owned subsidiary of Collins & Aikman Products Co. and each
       outstanding share of the Company's common stock will be converted into
       the right to receive $6.50 in cash, for a total purchase price of
       approximately $144 million. In connection with the merger, Collins &
       Aikman is expected to extinguish approximately $34 million of the
       Company's existing debt. The agreement is subject to the approval of the
       Company's shareholders and other customary conditions. Ronald T. Larizza,
       the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, has
       voting control over approximately 50.6% of the Company's outstanding
       common stock and has agreed to vote those shares in favor of the merger.
       Accordingly, the approval and adoption of the Agreement by the requisite
       vote of the Company's shareholders is expected to occur irrespective of
       whether, or the manner in which, any other shareholders of the Company
       vote their shares.


                                      F-23




                 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations for the
year ended January 28, 1995 and the nine months ended October 28, 1995 and the
unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of October 28, 1995 were prepared to
illustrate the estimated effects of the Acquisition. The unaudited pro forma
consolidated statements of operations present the results of operations of the
Company as if the Acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of each period
presented. The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of October 28,
1995 reflects the Acquisition as if it had occurred on that date. The historical
Collins & Aikman Corporation consolidated statement of operations used in the
unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations for the year ending
January 28, 1995 has been adjusted to reflect the effects of the Company's
initial public offering and refinancing (the "1994 Recapitalization") completed
in July 1994 as if it had occurred at the beginning of the period. The pro forma
consolidated financial data does not purport to represent what the Company's
financial position or results of operations would actually have been if the
Acquisition had occurred on October 28, 1995 or as of the beginning of each
period presented or if the 1994 Recapitalization had occurred at the beginning
of the year ending January 28, 1995 nor does the pro forma consolidated
financial data purport to be indicative of future results. The pro forma
consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
January 28, 1995 and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in its
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 28, 1995 and the
notes thereto.



            Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations
                          Year Ending January 28, 1995
                      (in millions, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                         COLLINS &                               COLLINS &
                                        AIKMAN YEAR                           AIKMAN YEAR  LARIZZA IND.                 PRO FORMA
                                       ENDED JANUARY       1994              ENDED JANUARY YEAR ENDING                  STATEMENT
                                         28, 1995    RECAPITALIZATION           28, 1995   DECEMBER 31,   PRO FORMA        OF
                                        HISTORICAL     ADJUSTMENTS              ADJUSTED       1994      ADJUSTMENTS    OPERATIONS
                                       ------------- ---------------         ------------- ------------  -----------    ----------

<S>                                    <C>           <C>                     <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>
Net Sales                              $    1,536.0  $         -             $    1,536.0  $     169.3   $      -       $ 1,705.3

Cost of Goods Sold                          1,164.9            -                  1,164.9        133.9          -         1,298.8
Selling, General and Administrative
    Expenses                                  198.3            (1.5) (1) i          196.8         13.4          3.6 (2)     213.8
                                       ------------- ---------------         ------------- ------------  -----------    ---------

Operating income                              172.8             1.5                 174.3         22.0         (3.6)        192.7

Interest Expense                               75.7           (37.8) (1) ii          37.9          2.9         11.2 (3)      52.0
Loss on the Sale of Receivables                 7.6             2.2  (1) iii          9.8        -              -             9.8
Dividends on Preferred Stock of
    Subsidiary                                  2.3            (2.3) (1) iv        -             -              -             -
                                       ------------- ---------------         ------------- ------------  -----------    -------

Income from Continuing Operations
    Before Income Taxes                        87.2            39.4                 126.6         19.1        (14.8)        130.9

Income Taxes Expense                           11.5            (0.2) (1) v           11.3          5.1         (1.0)(4)      15.4
                                       ------------- ---------------         ------------- ------------  -----------    ---------

Income from Continuing Operations      $       75.7  $         39.6          $      115.3  $      14.0   $    (13.8)    $   115.5
                                       ============= ===============         ============= ===========   ===========    =========

Average Common Shares Outstanding              52.9            19.3  (1) vi          72.2                                    72.2

Income from Continuing Operations per
    Share of Common Stock              $      (0.39)                 (1) vii         1.60                               $    1.60


(1) Represents the following adjustments related to the 1994 Recapitalization as
    if the 1994 Recapitalization had taken place at the beginning of the pro
    forma period:

        i)     Reduction of financial advisory fees payable to certain affiliates
               of the Company of $1.5 million incurred in the first
               two quarters of fiscal 1994.

        ii)    Net adjustment of interest expense reflecting reduction of interest
               related to indebtedness refinanced as part of the 1994
               Recapitalization partially offset by interest expense on the credit
               facility entered into as part of the 1994 Recapitalization.

        iii)   The loss on the sale of receivables arising from the sale, on a
               revolving basis, of an undivided interest in the Company's trade
               receivables.

        iv)     The elimination of dividends related to preferred stock of a
                subsidiary redeemed during the 1994 Recapitalization.



                                      F-24

<PAGE>



        v)     A reduction of state and foreign income taxes due to organizational
               restructuring of indebtedness.

        vi)    Represents the incremental weighted average shares outstanding as if
               the 1994 Recapitalization had occurred as of the beginning of
               the period.

        vii)   The historical computation of income per share from continuing
               operations includes $96.4 million of non-recurring charges
               related to redemption premiums, dividends and accretion on
               preferred stock redeemed in the 1994 Recapitalization. These
               amounts have been excluded in the adjusted historical financial
               statements used in the pro forma computations.

(2) Represents $3.7 million in annual goodwill amortization based on an assumed
    forty year life less $.1 million of prior Larizza Industries goodwill
    amortization.

(3) Represents interest expense of $14.1 million on the $197 million credit
    facility entered into in connection with the Acquisition, (the "Larizza
    Credit Facility") partially offset by the elimination of Larizza interest
    expense of $2.9 million. Interest on the Larizza Credit Facility is based on
    LIBOR plus 2.25%. Average LIBOR in effect during the period was 4.91%.

(4) Represents a reduction of income taxes related to the pro forma net increase
    in interest expense.
</TABLE>




            Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations
                       Nine Months Ending October 28, 1995
                      (in millions, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                            COLLINS & AIKMAN      LARIZZA INDUSTRIES                    PRO FORMA
                                                            NINE MONTHS ENDED     NINE MONTHS ENDED     PRO FORMA      STATEMENT OF
                                                            OCTOBER 28, 1995      SEPTEMBER 30, 1995   ADJUSTMENTS      OPERATIONS
                                                            ----------------      ------------------   -----------     -----------
<S>                                                         <C>                   <C>                  <C>             <C>
Net Sales                                                   $    1,125.8          $     149.1          $      -        $   1,274.9

Cost of Goods Sold                                                 863.6                123.1                 -              986.7
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses                       145.8                 11.1                 2.7  (1)       159.6
                                                            -------------         ------------         -----------     -----------

Operating income                                                   116.4                 14.9                (2.7)           128.6

Interest Expense                                                    35.7                  2.0                10.2  (2)        47.9
Loss on the Sale of Receivables                                      6.9                -                     -                6.9
Other                                                                -                    0.3                 -                0.3
                                                            -------------         ------------         -----------     -----------

Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes               73.8                 12.6               (12.9)            73.5

Income Taxes Expense                                                 8.8                  2.9                 (.9) (3)        10.8
                                                            -------------         ------------         -----------     -----------

Income from Continuing Operations                           $       65.0          $       9.7          $    (12.0)     $      62.7
                                                            -------------         ------------         -----------     -----------

Average Common Shares Outstanding                                   71.5                                                      71.5

Income from Continuing Operations per Share of Common Stock $       0.91                                               $      0.88


(1) Represents $2.8 million in goodwill amortization for the nine month period
    based on a forty year life less $.1 million of prior Larizza Industries
    goodwill amortization.

(2) Represents interest expenses of $12.2 million on the $197 million Larizza
    Credit Facility partially offset by the elimination of Larizza interest
    expense of $2.0 million.  Interest on the Larizza Credit Facility is
    based on LIBOR plus 2.25%.  Average LIBOR in effect during the period
    was 5.99%

(3) Represents a reduction of income taxes related to the pro forma net increase
    in interest expense.
</TABLE>



                                      F-25

<PAGE>



                 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                             AS OF OCTOBER 28, 1995
                                  (IN MILLIONS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                      COLLINS & AIKMAN                                                  PRO FORMA
                                                       CORPORATION AT     LARIZZA INDUSTRIES AT   PRO FORMA              BALANCE
                                                      OCTOBER 28, 1995    SEPTEMBER 30, 1995     ADJUSTMENTS              SHEET
                                                      ----------------    ---------------------  -----------            -------
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>                    <C>                    <C>
Current Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                         $        4.6        $          0.8         $      -               $     5.4
    Accounts & notes receivable, net                         111.1                  22.9                -                   134.0
    Inventories                                              201.9                   8.7                -                   210.6
    Other                                                     23.2                  16.9               (0.5)    (1)          39.6
                                                      -------------       ---------------        -----------            ---------
        Total current assets                                 340.8                  49.3               (0.5)                389.6

Property, plant & equipment - net                            302.1                  32.5                -                   334.6
Goodwill                                                       -                     7.3              140.2     (1)         147.5
Other assets                                                  62.6                   3.8                2.7     (4)          69.1
                                                      -------------       ---------------        -----------            ---------
                                                      $      705.5        $         92.9         $    142.4             $   940.8
                                                      =============       ===============        ===========            =========
Current Liabilities:
    Notes payable                                              0.2                  -                   -                     0.2
    Current maturities of long-term debt                      43.2                   0.3                -                    43.5
    Accounts payable                                          78.9                  22.7                -                   101.6
    Accrued expenses                                         115.0                  11.0                4.4     (1) (3)     130.4
                                                      -------------       ---------------        -----------            ---------
        Total current liabilities                            237.3                  34.0                4.4                 275.7

Long-term debt                                               550.3                  34.5              155.3     (2)         740.1
Deferred income taxes                                          1.4                   0.7                -                     2.1
Other, including postretirement benefit obligation           273.0                   1.9                4.5     (1)         279.4

Common stock                                                   0.7                  76.8              (76.8)    (1)           0.7
Other paid in capital                                        585.7                   5.6                5.6     (1)         585.7
Accumulated deficit                                         (911.6)                (57.0)             (57.0)    (1)        (911.6)
Foreign currency translation adjustment                      (14.8)                 (3.6)              (3.6)    (1)         (14.8)
Pension equity adjustments                                    (9.4)                  -                  -                    (9.4)
Treasury stock, at cost                                       (7.1)                  -                  -                    (7.1)
                                                      -------------       ---------------        -----------            ----------
Total common stockholders' deficit                          (356.5)                 21.8              (21.8)               (356.5)
                                                      -------------       ---------------        -----------            ----------
                                                      $      705.5        $         92.9         $    142.4             $   940.8
                                                      =============       ===============        ===========            =========


(1) The purchase price of $147.2 million consists of: (i) $143.6 million to
    purchase all of the common stock of Larizza Industries and (ii) $3.6 million
    to pay professional fees and expenses related to the Acquisition.
    Additionally, the Company: (i) previously paid $.5 million of expenses
    related to the transaction, (ii) accrued $9.8 million in expenses related to
    the transaction and other current liabilities and (iii) recorded $4.5
    million in other long-term liabilities.

    The Acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of
    accounting and the total purchase cost was allocated first to assets and
    liabilities based on their respective fair values, with the remainder
    allocated to goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price above is
    based on historical costs and management's estimates which may differ
    from the final allocation.

(2) Reflects proceeds of borrowings under the Larizza Credit Facility of $197.0
    million less repayment of the existing Larizza indebtedness of $34.5 million
    and a repayment of $7.2 million of other indebtedness.

(3) Reflects $5.4 million of accrued expenses related to the transaction paid
    from the proceeds of the Larizza Credit Facility.

(4) Reflects the capitalization of $2.7 million in fees and expenses incurred in
    connection with the financing of the Acquisition.

</TABLE>

                                      F-26









                                                 CREDIT AGREEMENT


                                           Dated as of December 22, 1995


                                                       Among


                                          COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCTS CO.,
                                                   as Borrower,



                                           COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION,
                                                   as Guarantor,


                                             THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,


                                                        And


                                                  CHEMICAL BANK,
                                              as Administrative Agent











<PAGE>










                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Article      Section                                                                                           Page

<S>         <C>            <C>                                                                                <C>
I.

                                                    DEFINITIONS
             SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.......................................................................  1
             SECTION 1.02.  Terms Generally..................................................................... 16

II.

                                                    THE CREDITS
             SECTION 2.01.  Commitments......................................................................... 16
             SECTION 2.02.  Loans............................................................................... 16
             SECTION 2.03.  Notice of Borrowings................................................................ 17
             SECTION 2.04.  Notes; Repayment of Loans........................................................... 17
             SECTION 2.05.  Fees................................................................................ 18
             SECTION 2.06.  Interest on Loans................................................................... 18
             SECTION 2.07.  Default Interest.................................................................... 18
             SECTION 2.08.  Alternate Rate of Interest.......................................................... 18
             SECTION 2.09.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments............................................ 19
             SECTION 2.10.  Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings........................................... 19
             SECTION 2.11.  Repayment of Borrowings............................................................. 20
             SECTION 2.12.  Prepayment.......................................................................... 20
             SECTION 2.13.  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances....................................... 21
             SECTION 2.14.  Change in Legality.................................................................. 22
             SECTION 2.15.  Indemnity........................................................................... 22
             SECTION 2.16.  Pro Rata Treatment.................................................................. 23
             SECTION 2.17.  Payments............................................................................ 23
             SECTION 2.18.  Taxes............................................................................... 23

III.

                                          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
             SECTION 3.01.  Organization, Corporate Powers...................................................... 25
             SECTION 3.02.  Authorization....................................................................... 26
             SECTION 3.03.  Enforceability...................................................................... 26
             SECTION 3.04.  Larizza Acquisition................................................................. 26
             SECTION 3.05.  Use of Proceeds..................................................................... 26
             SECTION 3.06.  Federal Reserve Regulations......................................................... 26
             SECTION 3.07.  Pledge Agreement.................................................................... 26
             SECTION 3.08.  Financial Statements................................................................ 27
             SECTION 3.09.  No Material Adverse Change.......................................................... 27
             SECTION 3.10.  Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases........................................ 27
             SECTION 3.11.  Subsidiaries........................................................................ 28
             SECTION 3.12.  Litigation; Compliance with Laws.................................................... 28
             SECTION 3.13.  Agreements.......................................................................... 28
             SECTION 3.14.  Investment Company Act.............................................................. 28
             SECTION 3.15.  Public Utility Holding Company Act.................................................. 28
             SECTION 3.16.  Tax Returns......................................................................... 28
             SECTION 3.17.  No Material Misstatements........................................................... 29
             SECTION 3.18.  Employee Benefit Plans.............................................................. 29

                                                       i

<PAGE>




Article      Section                                                                                           Page

             SECTION 3.19.  Labor Matters....................................................................... 29
             SECTION 3.20.  Environmental Matters............................................................... 30
             SECTION 3.21.  Solvency............................................................................ 31
             SECTION 3.22.  Absence of Certain Restrictions..................................................... 31
             SECTION 3.23.  No Foreign Assets Control Regulation Violation...................................... 31
             SECTION 3.24.  Insurance........................................................................... 31
             SECTION 3.25.  Certain Other Representations....................................................... 31
             SECTION 3.26.  Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness.................................................. 31

IV.

                                                    CONDITIONS
             SECTION 4.01.  .................................................................................... 32

V.

                                               AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
             SECTION 5.01.  Existence; Businesses and Properties................................................ 34
             SECTION 5.02.  Insurance........................................................................... 35
             SECTION 5.03.  Taxes............................................................................... 35
             SECTION 5.04.  Financial Statements, Reports, Amendments, etc...................................... 35
             SECTION 5.05.  Litigation and Other Notices........................................................ 37
             SECTION 5.06.  ERISA............................................................................... 37
             SECTION 5.07.  Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections........................... 38
             SECTION 5.08.  Use of Proceeds..................................................................... 38
             SECTION 5.09.  Further Assurances.................................................................. 38
             SECTION 5.10.  Change in Ownership................................................................. 38
             SECTION 5.11.  Fiscal Year; Accounting............................................................. 38
             SECTION 5.12.  Dividends........................................................................... 38
             SECTION 5.13.  Rate Protection Agreements.......................................................... 39
             SECTION 5.14.  Corporate Separateness.............................................................. 39
             SECTION 5.15.  Business of Restricted Subsidiaries................................................. 39

VI.

                                                NEGATIVE COVENANTS
             SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness........................................................................ 39
             SECTION 6.02.  Dividends and Distributions......................................................... 41
             SECTION 6.03.  Capital Expenditures................................................................ 42
             SECTION 6.04.  Liens............................................................................... 43
             SECTION 6.05.  Priority of Loan Payments........................................................... 44
             SECTION 6.06.  Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.................................................... 45
             SECTION 6.07.  Investments, Loans and Advances..................................................... 45
             SECTION 6.08.  Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions........................... 46
             SECTION 6.09.  Transactions with Affiliates and Stockholders....................................... 48
             SECTION 6.10.  Subordinated Indebtedness........................................................... 48
             SECTION 6.11.  Amendment of Constitutive Documents; Change in Corporate
                  Structure; Amendment of Merger Documents...................................................... 48
             SECTION 6.12.  Business of Holdings and Restricted Subsidiaries.................................... 48
             SECTION 6.13.  Restrictive Agreements.............................................................. 48
             SECTION 6.14.  Interest Coverage Ratio............................................................. 48
             SECTION 6.15.  EBITDA.............................................................................. 49
             SECTION 6.16.  Leverage Ratio...................................................................... 49

                                                       ii

<PAGE>




Article      Section                                                                                           Page

             SECTION 6.17.  Current Ratio....................................................................... 49
             SECTION 6.18.  Tax Sharing......................................................................... 49
             SECTION 6.19.  Significant Subsidiaries............................................................ 49
             SECTION 6.20.  Inactive Subsidiaries............................................................... 49

VII.

                                                 EVENTS OF DEFAULT

VIII.

                                             THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

IX.

                                                   MISCELLANEOUS
             SECTION 9.01.  Notices............................................................................. 54
             SECTION 9.02.  Survival of Agreement............................................................... 54
             SECTION 9.03.  Binding Effect...................................................................... 54
             SECTION 9.04.  Successors and Assigns.............................................................. 55
             SECTION 9.05.  Expenses; Indemnity................................................................. 57
             SECTION 9.06.  Right of Setoff; Sharing............................................................ 58
             SECTION 9.07.  Applicable Law...................................................................... 59
             SECTION 9.08.  Waivers; Amendment.................................................................. 59
             SECTION 9.09.  Interest Rate Limitation............................................................ 59
             SECTION 9.10.  Entire Agreement.................................................................... 59
             SECTION 9.11.  Waiver of Jury Trial................................................................ 60
             SECTION 9.12.  Severability........................................................................ 60
             SECTION 9.13.  Counterparts........................................................................ 60
             SECTION 9.14.  Headings............................................................................ 60
             SECTION 9.15.  Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process......................................... 60
             SECTION 9.16.  Confidentiality..................................................................... 60

</TABLE>
                                                       iii

<PAGE>










Exhibits

Exhibit A         Note
Exhibit B         Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C         Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit D         Form of Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore,
                  Elizabeth R. Philipp, Esq.
Exhibit E         Form of Compliance Certificate



Schedules


1.01(A)           Additional Designated Persons
1.01(B)           Subordination Terms
2.01              Commitments
2.11(a)           Term Loan Amortization Schedule
3.11(a)           Subsidiaries of Holdings
3.11(b)           Outstanding Commitments Relating to Capital Stock
3.16              Tax Matters
6.01              Existing Indebtedness
6.04              Existing Liens
6.07              Existing Investments


                                                       iv

<PAGE>





                   CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 22, 1995, among COLLINS
              & AIKMAN PRODUCTS CO., a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Borrower"),
              COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"),
              the  financial  institutions  listed in Schedule  2.01 hereto (the
              "Lenders"),  and CHEMICAL  BANK,  a New York  banking  corporation
              ("Chemical"),  as  administrative  agent for the  Lenders (in such
              capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

         The Borrower  has  requested  the Lenders to extend  credit in order to
enable the Borrower,  subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  to
borrow on a term basis,  on the Closing Date (as defined  herein),  an aggregate
principal amount not in excess of $197,000,000.  The proceeds of such borrowings
are to be used as  described  herein.  The  Lenders  are  willing to extend such
credit to the  Borrower  on the terms and  subject to the  conditions  set forth
herein.

         Accordingly, the Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders and the Administrative
Agent agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I.

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.  In addition to the terms defined above,
as used in this Agreement the following terms shall have the meanings specified
below:

              "ABR Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

              "ABR  Loan"  shall  mean  any  Loan  bearing  interest  at a  rate
         determined by reference to the Alternate  Base Rate in accordance  with
         the provisions of Article II.

              "Acknowledgement" shall mean the Acknowledgement  substantially in
         the form of Exhibit A to the Intercreditor  Agreement to be executed by
         the  Administrative  Agent,  the effect of which is to entitle the 1995
         Credit  Agreement  Creditors  to  the  benefits  of  the  Intercreditor
         Agreement,  the  Guarantee  Agreement  and the Pledge  Agreement on the
         terms set forth therein.

              "Adjusted  LIBO Rate" shall mean,  with respect to any  Eurodollar
         Borrowing for any Interest Period,  an interest rate per annum (rounded
         upwards, if necessary,  to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the product of
         (a) the LIBO Rate in effect for such Interest  Period and (b) Statutory
         Reserves.  For purposes  hereof,  (a) if at least two offered rates for
         deposits in dollars for a period comparable to the applicable  Interest
         Period  appear  on page 3750 (or any  successor  page) of the Dow Jones
         Telerate  Screen as of 11:00 a.m.,  London time, on the day that is two
         Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period,  the term
         "LIBO Rate" shall mean the  arithmetic  mean of all such offered  rates
         and (b) if fewer than two such offered rates so appear on page 3750 (or
         any successor  page) of the Dow Jones Telerate  Screen,  the term "LIBO
         Rate" shall mean the rate (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to the next
         1/16 of 1%) at which dollar deposits  approximately  equal in principal
         amount  to  Chemical's  portion  (or,  if  Chemical  shall not have any
         portion,  the portion of the Lender having the largest  applicable Type
         of  Loan)  of the  applicable  Eurodollar  Borrowing  and for a  period
         comparable to the applicable  Interest Period are offered to Chemical's
         office in which its  eurodollar  operations  in respect  of  eurodollar
         loans  are  being  conducted  in  immediately  available  funds  in the
         eurodollar  market at  approximately  11:00 a.m., New York time, on the
         day that is two Business  Days prior to the first day of such  Interest
         Period.

              "Administrative Questionnaire" shall mean an Administrative 
         Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

              "Affiliate"  shall  mean,  when used with  respect to a  specified
         person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
         intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control
         with the person specified.




<PAGE>

                                                                              2
                                                                           



              "Agency  Fees"  shall have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
         Section 2.05(b).

              "Alternate  Base Rate" shall  mean,  for any day, a rate per annum
         (rounded  upwards,  if necessary,  to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the
         greatest  of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day,  (b) the Base CD
         Rate in effect on such day plus 1% and (c) the Federal Funds  Effective
         Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. For purposes hereof,  "Prime
         Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from
         time to time by Chemical  as its prime rate in effect at its  principal
         office  in New York  City;  each  change  in the  Prime  Rate  shall be
         effective  on the date  such  change  is  publicly  announced  as being
         effective.  "Base CD Rate" shall mean the sum of (a) the product of (i)
         the Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate and (ii) Statutory  Reserves and (b)
         the Assessment  Rate.  "Three-Month  Secondary CD Rate" shall mean, for
         any day, the  secondary  market rate for  three-month  certificates  of
         deposit  reported as being in effect on such day (or, if such day shall
         not be a Business  Day, the next  preceding  Business Day) by the Board
         through the public  information  telephone line of the Federal  Reserve
         Bank of New York (which rate will,  under the current  practices of the
         Board, be published in Federal Reserve  Statistical  Release  H.15(519)
         during the week  following  such day), or, if such rate shall not be so
         reported on such day or such next  preceding  Business Day, the average
         of the secondary  market  quotations for  three-month  certificates  of
         deposit  of major  money  center  banks in New York  City  received  at
         approximately  10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day (or, if such
         day shall not be a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day) by
         the   Administrative   Agent  from  three  New  York  City   negotiable
         certificate of deposit dealers of recognized  standing  selected by it.
         "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate" shall mean, for any day, the weighted
         average  of the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds  transactions  with
         members  of the  Federal  Reserve  System  arranged  by  Federal  funds
         brokers,  as  published  on the  next  succeeding  Business  Day by the
         Federal  Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published
         for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the  quotations for
         the day of such transactions  received by the Administrative Agent from
         three Federal funds brokers of recognized  standing  selected by it. If
         for any reason the  Administrative  Agent shall have determined  (which
         determination  shall be conclusive  absent  manifest  error) that it is
         unable to  ascertain  the Base CD Rate or the Federal  Funds  Effective
         Rate or both for any reason,  including the inability or failure of the
         Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with
         the terms thereof,  the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without
         regard to clause (b) or (c),  or both,  of the first  sentence  of this
         definition, as appropriate, until the circumstances giving rise to such
         inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to
         a change  in the  Prime  Rate,  the Base CD Rate or the  Federal  Funds
         Effective  Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change
         in the Prime  Rate,  the Base CD Rate or the  Federal  Funds  Effective
         Rate, respectively.

              "Applicable  Margin" means (a) with respect to  Eurodollar  Loans,
         2-1/4%, and (b) with respect to ABR Loans, 1-1/4%.

              "Assessment Rate" shall mean for any date the annual rate (rounded
         upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) most recently estimated
         by the  Administrative  Agent as the then current net annual assessment
         rate that will be employed in determining  amounts  payable by Chemical
         to the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (or any successor) for
         insurance by such Corporation (or such successor) of time deposits made
         in dollars at Chemical's domestic offices.

              "Assignment   and   Acceptance"   shall  mean  an  assignment  and
         acceptance  entered into by a Lender and an  assignee,  and accepted by
         the  Administrative  Agent,  substantially  in the form of Exhibit B or
         such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

              "Blackstone"  shall  mean  Blackstone  Capital  Partners  L.P.,  a
         Delaware limited partnership.

              "Blackstone Entities" shall mean Blackstone, Blackstone Group, 
         Blackstone Management Partners, L.P., Blackstone Management 
         Associates, L.P. or any of their Affiliates.

              "Blackstone  Group"  shall  mean  The  Blackstone  Group  L.P.,  a
        Delaware limited partnership.




<PAGE>


                                                                              3



              "Board"  shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve
         System of the United States (or any successor).

              "Borrower  Common  Stock" shall have the meaning  assigned to that
         term in Section 3.07(a).

              "Borrowing"  shall mean a group of Loans of a single  Type made as
         to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

              "Business  Day" shall  mean any day  (other  than a day which is a
         Saturday,  Sunday or legal  holiday  in the State of New York) on which
         banks are open for business in New York City; provided,  however, that,
         when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day"
         shall also  exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in
         dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

              "C&A Canada"  shall mean Collins & Aikman  Canada Inc., a Canadian
         corporation.

              "Capital  Expenditures"  shall mean, for any person in any period,
         the aggregate amount of all capital  expenditures of such person during
         such period  (but not  including  Permitted  Business  Acquisitions  or
         Investments permitted pursuant to subsection 6.07(l)). For the purposes
         hereof, the amount of any Capital  Expenditure shall not include (i) an
         amount equal to that portion of the  proceeds  received  upon any sale,
         transfer  or other  disposition  of assets or  properties  pursuant  to
         Section  6.08(a),  (g) or (i)  which  is  applied  to the  purchase  of
         replacement  assets or  properties  within  12  months  of the  receipt
         thereof,   (ii)   expenditures   that  are  accounted  for  as  capital
         expenditures  of such person and that  actually are paid for by a third
         party  (excluding  Holdings or any  subsidiary  thereof)  and for which
         neither Holdings nor any subsidiary thereof has provided or is required
         to provide,  directly or indirectly,  any  consideration  to such third
         party or any  other  person  (whether  before,  during  or  after  such
         period),  (iii) the book value of any asset owned by such person  prior
         to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included
         as a capital  expenditure during such period as a result of such person
         reusing or beginning  to reuse such asset during such period  without a
         corresponding  expenditure  actually  having been made in such  period,
         provided that any  expenditure  necessary in order to permit such asset
         to be reused  shall be  included  as a Capital  Expenditure  during the
         period that such expenditure  actually is made or (iv)  expenditures of
         insurance  proceeds or condemnation  awards received in connection with
         the loss,  damage,  destruction or condemnation of property of Holdings
         or its subsidiaries.

              "Capital  Lease   Obligations"   of  any  person  shall  mean  the
         obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease
         of (or other  arrangement  conveying the right to use) real or personal
         property,  or a combination thereof,  which obligations are required to
         be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of
         such person under GAAP and, for the purposes hereof, the amount of such
         obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such
         time determined in accordance with GAAP.

              "Cash  Interest  Expense"  shall  mean  Interest  Expense  paid or
         required to be paid in cash (but  excluding  any  amortization  of debt
         discounts and fees included in the calculation of Interest Expense).

              A "Change  in  Control"  shall be deemed to have  occurred  if (a)
         Holdings shall cease to directly own,  beneficially and of record, free
         and  clear  of any and all  Liens  (other  than  Liens  in favor of the
         Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement),  100% of the issued
         and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower;  (b) any person or group
         (within  the  meaning  of Rule  13d-5 of the  Securities  and  Exchange
         Commission  as in  effect  on the  date  hereof)  (other  than  (i) any
         Designated Person or (ii) any combination of Designated  Persons) shall
         own beneficially, directly or indirectly, shares representing more than
         25% of the aggregate  ordinary  voting power  represented by the issued
         and  outstanding  capital  stock of Holdings at a time when  Designated
         Persons or any  combination of Designated  Persons do not  beneficially
         own shares  representing at least 50% of the aggregate  ordinary voting
         power  represented  by the  issued  and  outstanding  capital  stock of
         Holdings;  or (c) the  Continuing  Directors  shall  cease to  occupy a
         majority  of  the  seats  (excluding  vacant  seats)  on the  Board  of
         Directors of Holdings.  For purposes of clause (b) of this  definition,
         the term



<PAGE>

                                                                               4



         "Designated  Person"  shall be deemed to  include  any other  holder or
         holders  of shares of  Holdings  having  ordinary  voting  power if any
         Blackstone Entity or WP Entity shall hold the irrevocable general proxy
         of each such holder in respect of the shares held by such holder.

              "Charges" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section
         9.09.

              "Closing  Date"  shall mean  January 3, 1996 or such later date as
         the  Borrower may specify in the notice of  Borrowing  delivered  under
         Section 4.01(a).

              "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended
         from time to time.

              "Collateral Agent" shall mean Chemical, as Collateral Agent under
         the Pledge Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement.

              "Commitment"   shall  mean,  with  respect  to  each  Lender,  the
         commitment  of such Lender to make Loans on the Closing Date  hereunder
         as set forth in Schedule  2.01, as the same may be reduced from time to
         time pursuant to Section 2.09.

              "Commitment  Fee" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term in
         Section 2.05(a).

              "Compliance  Certificate"  shall have the meaning assigned to such
         term in Section 5.04(c).

              "Contaminants"  means those  substances  which are regulated by or
         form the basis of  liability  under any  Environmental  Law,  including
         asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, Hazardous Materials, pollutants or
         solid wastes.

              "Continuing  Directors" shall mean the collective reference to (i)
         all members of the Board of  Directors of Holdings who have held office
         continuously  since the 1994  Closing  Date and (ii) all members of the
         Board of  Directors  of  Holdings  who  assumed  office  after the 1994
         Closing  Date  and  whose  election  and  nomination  for  election  by
         Holdings' shareholders was approved by a vote of a majority of the then
         Continuing Directors.

              "Control"  shall mean the possession,  directly or indirectly,  of
         the  power to  direct  or cause  the  direction  of the  management  or
         policies  of  a  person,   whether  through  the  ownership  of  voting
         securities,   by  contract  or   otherwise,   and   "Controlling"   and
         "Controlled" shall have meanings correlative thereto.

              "Current  Assets"  shall mean,  with  respect to any person at any
         date, the  consolidated  aggregate  amount of all assets of such person
         which would be  classified as current  assets at such date,  other than
         cash and cash equivalents.

              "Current  Liabilities"  shall mean,  with respect to any person at
         any date, the consolidated  aggregate amount of all liabilities of such
         person  (including  tax and  other  proper  accruals)  which  would  be
         classified  as current  liabilities  at such date,  other than (without
         duplication)  (i) the current  portion of long-term debt, (ii) accruals
         of  Interest  Expense  (excluding  Interest  Expense  which  is due and
         unpaid)  and  losses  or  expenses  on the sale of  receivables  to the
         Finance  Subsidiary,  (iii)  revolving  loans  under  the  1994  Credit
         Agreement  classified as current,  (iv) accruals of  transaction  costs
         resulting from the  Recapitalization  Transactions  and (v) accruals of
         any costs or expenses  related to severance or termination of employees
         accrued prior to the date hereof.

              "Current  Ratio" shall mean, with respect to Holdings on any date,
         the ratio of (a) Current Assets plus (without duplication) the accounts
         receivable  owned by any  Finance  Subsidiary  or related  trust to (b)
         Current Liabilities.




<PAGE>

                                                                              5



              "Default"  shall mean any event or  condition  which upon  notice,
         lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

              "Designated  Persons" shall mean any one or more of the Blackstone
         Entities, the WP Entities and the persons listed on Schedule 1.01(A).

              "Dividend  Condition" shall mean that the Interest  Coverage Ratio
         is greater  than or equal to 4.00:1.00  and the Leverage  Ratio is less
         than or equal to 2.75:1.00 and the outstanding  principal amount of the
         1994 Term Loans and 1994 Canadian Term Loans is less than $350,000,000.

              "dollars" or "$" shall mean lawful  money of the United  States of
         America.  All  Loans and  Letters  of Credit  shall be  denominated  in
         dollars  and all payment  obligations  of the  Borrower  under the Loan
         Documents shall be in dollars.

              "Domestic Restricted  Subsidiary" means any Restricted  Subsidiary
         incorporated  or  organized  under  the laws of the  United  States  of
         America or any state thereof at least 90% of the capital stock of which
         is owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower.

              "EBITDA" shall mean, without  duplication,  for any fiscal period,
         the sum of the amounts for such fiscal  period of (i) Net Income,  (ii)
         provision for taxes based on income, (iii) depreciation  expense,  (iv)
         total interest  expense  (whether shown as interest  expense or as loss
         and expenses on sales of  receivables),  (v)  amortization  expense and
         (vi) other non-cash  items reducing Net Income,  all as determined on a
         consolidated  basis for Holdings  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in
         conformity with GAAP.

              "Environmental  Claim" means any written  accusation,  allegation,
         notice of violation,  claim, demand,  order,  directive,  cost recovery
         action  or  proceeding  by  any  Governmental   Authority  or,  if  any
         Responsible  Officer of Holdings has knowledge of it, by any person for
         damages,  injunctive or equitable  relief,  personal injury  (including
         sickness,  disease  or  death),  remedial  action  costs,  tangible  or
         intangible  property  damage,  damage  to the  environment  or  natural
         resources, nuisance, pollution,  contamination or other adverse effects
         on the environment, or for fines, penalties or restrictions,  resulting
         from or  based  upon  (i) the  existence,  or the  continuation  of the
         existence, of a Release (including sudden or non-sudden,  accidental or
         non-accidental  Releases) of, or exposure to, any  Contaminant or odor,
         (ii) the presence, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or
         the disposal of  Contaminants  in connection  with the operation of the
         facilities  to which such  Release  relates or (iii) the  violation  or
         alleged violation of any Environmental Law.

              "Environmental Law" means any and all applicable  treaties,  laws,
         regulations, enforceable requirements, binding determinations,  orders,
         decrees, judgments,  injunctions,  permits, approvals,  authorizations,
         licenses, variances, permissions, notices or binding agreements issued,
         promulgated or entered by any Governmental  Authority,  relating to the
         environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources or to the
         management,  Release or threatened  Release of  Contaminants or noxious
         odor,  including the Hazardous Materials  Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C.
         ss.ss. 1801 et seq., Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
         and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund  Amendments  and
         Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601 et seq., Solid Waste
         Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act
         of 1976 and  Hazardous  and Solid Waste  Amendments  of 1984, 42 U.S.C.
         ss.ss.  6901, et seq.,  Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended
         by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  1251 et seq.,  Clean
         Air Act of 1970,  as amended  42.  U.S.C.  ss.ss.  7401 et seq.,  Toxic
         Substances  Control  Act of  1976,  15  U.S.C.  ss.ss.  2601  et  seq.,
         Emergency  Planning and Community  Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.
         ss.ss.  11001 et seq.,  National  Environmental  Policy Act of 1975, 42
         U.S.C.  ss.ss.  4321 et seq.,  Safe  Drinking  Water  Act of  1974,  as
         amended,   42  U.S.C.  ss.ss.  300(f)  et  seq.,  and  any  similar  or
         implementing  state or foreign law, and all  amendments or  regulations
         promulgated thereunder.

              "Environmental Permit" means any permit, approval,  authorization,
         license,   variance,  or  permission  required  from  any  Governmental
         Authority pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.




<PAGE>


                                                                              6


              "ERISA" shall mean the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of
         1974, as the same may be amended from time to time.

              "ERISA  Affiliate" with respect to any person shall mean any trade
         or business (whether or not  incorporated)  that is a member of a group
         of which  such  person  is a member  and which is  treated  as a single
         employer under Section 414 of the Code.

              "ESOP"  shall  mean  any  employee  stock  ownership  plan  to  be
         established by the Borrower or a subsidiary  Guarantor  thereof to make
         the ESOP Investment.

              "ESOP  Investment"  shall mean the  issuance and sale of shares of
         Holdings  Common Stock to, or the purchase of shares of Holdings Common
         Stock in open market or privately negotiated  transactions by, the ESOP
         from time to time.

              "ESOP  Loans"  shall  mean a loan or loans to be made from time to
         time by the Borrower to the ESOP in an  aggregate  amount not to exceed
         $25,000,000, solely to enable the ESOP to effect the ESOP Investment.

              "Eurodollar Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of 
         Eurodollar Loans.

              "Eurodollar  Loan" shall mean any Loan bearing  interest at a rate
         determined by reference to the Adjusted  LIBO Rate in  accordance  with
         the provisions of Article II.

              "Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
         Article VII.

              "Executive  Officer" of any corporation  shall mean the president,
         any senior vice president or any vice president of such person.

              "Existing  Larizza  Credit  Agreements"  shall mean (a) the Credit
         Agreement  dated as of May 6, 1994  among  Larizza,  the Banks  parties
         thereto  and  Continental  Bank,  N.A.,  as  agent  and (b) the  Credit
         Agreement dated as of May 6, 1994, among Manchester  Plastics,  Ltd., a
         wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Larizza,  the Banks  parties  thereto and
         Continental Bank, N.A., as agent.

              "Fees" shall mean the Agency Fees and the Commitment Fee.

              "Finance Subsidiary" shall mean Carcorp, Inc. and any other 
         wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower that is formed for the sole
         purpose of engaging in Permitted Receivables Financings.

              "Financial  Officer"  of any  corporation  shall  mean  the  chief
         financial officer,  Senior Vice President-Finance and Accounting,  Vice
         President-Finance, Controller, or Treasurer of such corporation.

              "Funded  Debt"  shall  mean,   as  applied  to  any  person,   all
         Indebtedness for borrowed money (including, without limitation, Capital
         Lease Obligations and unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit) or
         evidenced  by a note,  bond,  debenture or similar  instrument  of that
         person  (it  being  understood  that  all  Loans  shall  at  all  times
         constitute "Funded Debt" for all purposes hereunder).

              "GAAP" shall mean United States generally accepted accounting 
         principles.

              "Governmental  Authority" shall mean any  international,  Federal,
         state,  regional,  local  or  foreign  court  or  governmental  agency,
         authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.

              "Guarantee"  of or by any person  shall  mean (i) any  obligation,
         contingent  or  otherwise,  of such person  guaranteeing  or having the
         economic  effect of guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness of any other person
         (the "primary obligor") in any manner,  whether directly or indirectly,
         and including any obligation of such



<PAGE>


                                                                              7



         person,  direct or  indirect,  (a) to  purchase  or pay (or  advance or
         supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness (whether
         arising by virtue of  partnership  arrangements,  by  agreement to keep
         well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay
         or  otherwise)  or to purchase  (or to advance or supply  funds for the
         purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness,  (b) to
         purchase  property,  securities or services for the purpose of assuring
         the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness, (c)
         to  maintain  working  capital,   equity  capital  or  other  financial
         statement  conditions  or  liquidity  of the  primary  obligor so as to
         enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (d) entered into
         for the  purpose of  assuring  in any other  manner the holders of such
         Indebtedness  of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against
         loss in respect  thereof (in whole or in part), or (ii) any Lien on any
         assets of such person  securing any  Indebtedness  of any other person,
         whether or not such  Indebtedness is assumed by such person;  provided,
         however,  that the term Guarantee  shall not include  endorsements  for
         collection  or  deposit,  in  either  case in the  ordinary  course  of
         business.

              "Guarantee  Agreement" shall mean the Guarantee Agreement dated as
         of July  13,  1994  made by  Holdings,  the  Borrower  and  each  other
         Guarantor in favor of the  Collateral  Agent,  as amended and in effect
         from time to time.

              "Guarantors"  shall mean Holdings and each  Restricted  Subsidiary
         (other than Inactive Subsidiaries)  incorporated or organized under the
         laws of the United States or any State thereof.

              "Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or regulated radioactive
         materials  or  substances,  hazardous  or toxic  wastes or  substances,
         petroleum  (including  crude oil or any fraction  thereof) or petroleum
         distillates, asbestos or material containing asbestos and all materials
         regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law, including materials listed
         in 49  C.F.R.  Section  172.101  and  materials  defined  as  hazardous
         pursuant  to  Section  101(14)  of  the   Comprehensive   Environmental
         Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

              "Holdings  Common  Stock" shall mean the Common  Stock,  par value
         $.01 per Share, of Holdings.

              "Inactive  Subsidiary"  shall  mean  the  Restricted  Subsidiaries
         listed  as  Inactive   Subsidiaries  on  Schedule   3.12(a)  and  which
         Restricted  Subsidiaries  (i) individually and in the aggregate have no
         material  net assets and (ii) do not engage in any  operating  activity
         (other than payroll or the leasing of immaterial property).

              "Indebtedness" of any person shall mean, without duplication,  (a)
         all  indebtedness of such person for borrowed money or for the deferred
         purchase  price of  property  or services  (other  than  current  trade
         liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business), (b) any other
         indebtedness  of such  person  which  is  evidenced  by a  note,  bond,
         debenture or similar  instrument,  (c) all Capital Lease Obligations of
         such person,  (d) all obligations of such person in respect of bankers'
         acceptances  issued or created for the account of such person,  (e) all
         Indebtedness  of others  secured  by (or for  which the  holder of such
         Indebtedness  has an existing  right,  contingent or  otherwise,  to be
         secured by) any Lien on any  property  owned or acquired by such person
         even though such person has not assumed or otherwise  become liable for
         the payment  thereof,  (f) all obligations of such person in respect of
         Interest Rate  Agreements  which,  in accordance with the definition of
         Interest Rate  Agreement,  constitute (or would upon early  termination
         constitute)  Indebtedness  and (g) all  Guarantees  by such  person  of
         Indebtedness  of others.  The  Indebtedness of any person shall include
         the  Indebtedness  of any partnership in which such person is a general
         partner; provided that, if the sole asset of such person is its general
         partnership   interest  in  such   partnership,   the  amount  of  such
         Indebtedness  shall  be  deemed  equal  to the  value  of such  general
         partnership  interest and the amount of any  Indebtedness in respect of
         any Guarantee of such partnership  Indebtedness shall be limited to the
         same extent as such Guarantee may be limited.

              "Indemnitee" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in 
        Section 9.05(b).




<PAGE>

                                                                              8



              "Intercompany  Note" shall mean an  intercompany  note  evidencing
         Indebtedness   owed  by  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its   wholly-owned
         subsidiaries  to the Borrower or any of its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries
         and pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement in accordance with Section
         6.01(d),  in  substantially  the form of Exhibit A-6 to the 1994 Credit
         Agreement.

              "Intercreditor  Agreement"  shall mean the Master  Collateral  and
         Intercreditor Agreement dated as of July 13, 1994 among the Guarantors,
         the 1994 Agent and the Collateral  Agent, as amended and in effect from
         time to time.

              "Interest  Coverage  Ratio"  shall  mean,  for any  period of four
         consecutive fiscal quarters,  the ratio of (a) EBITDA on a consolidated
         basis  for  such  period  to (b) the sum of Cash  Interest  Expense  of
         Holdings and the Restricted  Subsidiaries  on a consolidated  basis for
         such period and losses or expenses  on the sale of  receivables  to the
         Finance Subsidiary.

              "Interest  Expense" shall mean, with respect to any person for any
         period,  the gross  interest  expense of such  person  for such  period
         determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently
         applied,  including (a) the  amortization  of debt  discounts,  (b) the
         amortization  of all fees (including fees with respect to interest rate
         protection  agreements)  payable in connection  with the  incurrence of
         Indebtedness  to the extent  included in  interest  expense and (c) the
         portion of any  payments  or  accruals  with  respect to Capital  Lease
         Obligations  allocable to interest expense,  net of all interest income
         for such period (except for purposes of the definition of Cash Interest
         Expense, in which case only interest income paid or required to be paid
         in cash shall be netted against cash interest expense). For purposes of
         the foregoing,  gross interest expense shall be determined after giving
         effect to any net payments made or received by such person with respect
         to interest rate protection  agreements entered into as a hedge against
         interest rate exposure.

              "Interest  Payment  Date" shall mean,  (a)(i) with  respect to any
         Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period  applicable to the
         Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar
         Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months'  duration,
         each day that would have been an Interest  Payment Date had  successive
         Interest  Periods of three  months'  duration  been  applicable to such
         Borrowing, and, in addition, the date of any prepayment, refinancing or
         conversion of such Borrowing with or to a Borrowing of a different Type
         and (ii)  with  respect  to any ABR Loan,  the last day of each  March,
         June,  September  and December,  commencing  March 31, 1996 and (b) the
         Loan Maturity Date.

              "Interest  Period" shall mean (a) as to any Eurodollar  Borrowing,
         the period  commencing on the date of such Borrowing or on the last day
         of  the  immediately  preceding  Interest  Period  applicable  to  such
         Borrowing,   as  the  case  may  be,  and  ending  on  the  numerically
         corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on
         the  last  day) in the  calendar  month  that  is 1,  2, 3 or 6  months
         thereafter,  as the Borrower may elect and (b) as to any ABR Borrowing,
         the period  commencing on the date of such  Borrowing or Loan or on the
         last day of the immediately  preceding  Interest  Period  applicable to
         such  Borrowing or Loan, as the case may be, and ending on the earliest
         of (i) the next succeeding  March 31, June 30, September 30 or December
         31, (ii) the Loan Maturity  Date,  and (iii) the date such Borrowing is
         converted to a Borrowing of a different Type in accordance with Section
         2.10 or repaid or  prepaid in  accordance  with  Section  2.11 or 2.12;
         provided, however, that if any Interest Period would end on a day other
         than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next
         succeeding  Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar  Borrowing
         only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar
         month,  in  which  case  such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the next
         preceding  Business Day.  Interest  shall accrue from and including the
         first day of an Interest  Period to but  excluding the last day of such
         Interest Period.

              "Interest  Rate  Agreement"  shall  mean any  interest  rate  swap
         agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement,
         currency  hedge  agreement or other  similar  agreement or  arrangement
         designed to protect the Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries
         against  fluctuations  in interest  rates or currency  exchange  rates;
         provided that the calculation of payments for early  termination  shall
         be made on a



<PAGE>


                                                                               9



         reasonable  basis in  accordance  with  customary  industry  practices;
         provided  further that all  obligations to make such payments for early
         termination  (guaranteed or unguaranteed) shall, to the extent matured,
         constitute Indebtedness.

              "Larizza"   shall  mean   Larizza   Industries,   Inc.,   an  Ohio
         corporation,  which will immediately  after the Larizza  Acquisition be
         reincorporated in Delaware under the name Manchester Plastics, Inc.

              "Larizza   Acquisition"   shall   mean  (i)  the   merger  of  LRI
         Acquisition, Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower, with and
         into Larizza with Larizza  being the  surviving  corporation,  (ii) the
         cancellation  of the Larizza common stock and  conversion  thereof into
         the right to receive  merger  consideration  in the amount of $6.50 per
         share of Larizza common stock, (iii) the conversion of the common stock
         of LRI  Acquisition,  Corp.  into common  stock of Larizza and (iv) the
         financing  thereof  pursuant  to this  Agreement.  As a  result  of the
         Larizza Acquisition,  Larizza will become a wholly-owned  subsidiary of
         the Borrower.

              "Leverage  Ratio"  shall mean,  with  respect to Holdings  and the
         Restricted  Subsidiaries  on any date,  the ratio of (a) Funded Debt of
         Holdings and the Restricted  Subsidiaries as of such date to (b) EBITDA
         for the period of twelve consecutive fiscal months then ended.

              "Lien" shall mean,  with respect to any asset,  (a) any  mortgage,
         deed of trust, lien, pledge,  encumbrance,  charge or security interest
         in or on such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any
         conditional sale agreement,  capital lease or title retention agreement
         relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities,  any purchase
         option,  call or similar  right of a third  party with  respect to such
         securities.

              "Loan Documents" shall mean this Agreement and the Notes, the 
         Pledge Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement and the Intercreditor 
         Agreement.

              "Loan Maturity Date" shall mean December 31, 2002.

              "Loan Repayment Date" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
         in Section 2.11.

              "Loans"  shall mean the loans  made to the  Borrower  pursuant  to
         Section 2.01. Each Loan shall be a Eurodollar Loan or an ABR Loan.

              "Margin Stock" shall have the meaning  assigned to such term under
         Regulations G and U.

              "Material  Adverse  Effect"  shall mean (a) a  materially  adverse
         effect on the  business,  assets,  properties,  operations or financial
         condition  of  Holdings  and the  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
         whole,  (b) a material  impairment  of the  ability of  Holdings or any
         Subsidiary of Holdings to perform any of its material obligations under
         any Loan  Document  to which it is or will be a party or to  consummate
         the  Larizza  Acquisition  or (c) an  impairment  of  the  validity  or
         enforceability  of, or material  impairment of the rights,  remedies or
         benefits  available to the 1995 Credit  Agreement  Creditors under, any
         Loan Document.

              "Maximum  Rate"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such term in
         Section 9.09.

              "Merger  Agreement"  shall mean the  Agreement  and Plan of Merger
         dated as of September 26, 1995 among Larizza, LRI Acquisition, Corp., a
         Delaware  corporation,  and the Borrower, as amended and in effect from
         time to time.

              "Merger  Documents"  shall mean the Merger Agreement and all other
         documents entered into or delivered by or on behalf of any party to the
         Merger Agreement.

              "Multiemployer  Plan"  with  respect  to any  person  shall mean a
         multiemployer  plan as defined in Section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which
         such  person or any ERISA  Affiliate  of such  person  (other  than one
         considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of
         Section 414 of the Code) is making


<PAGE>


                                                                              10


         or accruing an obligation to make  contributions,  or has within any of
         the  preceding  five plan years made or accrued an  obligation  to make
         contributions.

              "Net Income" shall mean, for any fiscal period, the net income (or
         loss) of  Holdings  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  and the  Finance
         Subsidiary  on a  consolidated  basis for such fiscal period taken as a
         single accounting  period determined in conformity with GAAP;  provided
         that  there  shall  be  excluded  (i)  the  income  (or  loss)  of  any
         Unrestricted  Subsidiary  (other  than the Finance  Subsidiary)  or any
         person (other than a Restricted  Subsidiary)  in which any other person
         (other than Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries) has a joint
         interest,   but  shall   include  the  amount  of  dividends  or  other
         distributions (including return of capital or any other cash receipt in
         respect of ownership or beneficial  interest) actually paid to Holdings
         or any of the Restricted  Subsidiaries by such Unrestricted  Subsidiary
         or such  person  during such  period,  (ii) the income (or loss) of any
         person (other than any person  acquired in connection  with a Permitted
         Business Acquisition solely for the purpose of calculating the Leverage
         Ratio  under  Section  6.16)  accrued  prior to the date it  becomes  a
         Restricted  Subsidiary  of Holdings  or is merged into or  consolidated
         with Holdings or any of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  or that person's
         assets are acquired by Holdings or any of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries
         and (iii) the income of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of Holdings to the
         extent  that  the  declaration  or  payment  of  dividends  or  similar
         distributions  by that  Restricted  Subsidiary of that income is not at
         the time  permitted  by  operation  of the terms of its  charter or any
         agreement,  instrument,  judgment,  decree,  order,  statute,  rule  or
         governmental  regulation  after  tax gains or  losses  attributable  to
         Specified Asset Sales; provided further,  that, solely for the purposes
         of  determining  EBITDA,  there shall be excluded any charges,  losses,
         fees  or  expenses  to Net  Income  incurred  in  connection  with  the
         consummation of the Recapitalization Transactions.

              "Net  Proceeds"  shall mean with respect to any sale,  transfer or
         other disposition (including by casualty,  loss or condemnation) of any
         assets  or  properties  or any  other  Prepayment  Event  (a  "Proceeds
         Transaction")  (i) the gross  amount of any cash paid to or received by
         Holdings  or any of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in  respect  of such
         Proceeds Transaction (including insurance proceeds, condemnation awards
         and payments from time to time in respect of  installment  obligations,
         if  applicable),  less (ii) the amount,  if any, of (a) Holdings'  good
         faith  best  estimate  of  all  taxes  attributable  to  such  Proceeds
         Transaction  which it in good faith  expects to be paid in the  taxable
         year in which  such  Proceeds  Transaction  shall  occur or in the next
         taxable  year,   (b)   reasonable   and  customary   fees,   discounts,
         commissions,  costs and other  expenses  (other  than those  payable to
         Holdings or any Affiliate of Holdings,  except that  Blackstone  and WP
         and their respective  Affiliates may receive customary fees on terms no
         less favorable to Holdings or any of the Restricted  Subsidiaries  than
         would be obtained in a comparable  arm's-length  transaction for acting
         as financial  advisor in  connection  with such  Proceeds  Transaction)
         which are incurred in connection with such Proceeds Transaction and are
         payable by Holdings or any of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  and (c) in
         the case of a Proceeds  Transaction  that is a sale,  transfer or other
         disposition  of assets or  properties,  proceeds  required to discharge
         Liens in  respect of such  assets or  properties  permitted  by Section
         6.04;  provided,  however,  that Net Proceeds shall not include (1) any
         amount that otherwise would  constitute Net Proceeds to the extent such
         amount  is  excluded   from  the   definition   of  the  term  "Capital
         Expenditures"  pursuant  to clause (i) or (iv) of the  second  sentence
         thereof;   or  (2)  any  amount  being  reserved  for   application  as
         contemplated in clause (i) or (iv) of such second sentence, except that
         in the  event any  amount  so  reserved  is not in fact so  applied  or
         contractually  committed to be applied  within the  permitted  12-month
         period,  such amount  shall be deemed for all purposes  (including  the
         definition of Excess Cash Flow and Section  2.12(f)) to be Net Proceeds
         of a Proceeds Transaction received upon such Proceeds Transaction.

              "1994  Agent"  shall  mean   Chemical  Bank  in  its  capacity  as
         administrative agent under the 1994 Credit Agreement.

              "1994  Canadian  Term Loans" shall mean  Canadian Term Loans under
         and as defined in the 1994 Credit Agreement.

              "1994 Closing Date" shall mean July 13, 1994.



<PAGE>


                                                                              11



              "1994 Credit  Agreement"  shall mean the Credit Agreement dated as
         of June 22, 1994,  among  Holdings,  the  Borrower,  C&A Canada and the
         financial  institutions  named  therein,  as amended and in effect from
         time to time.

              "1994  Delayed Draw Term Loans" shall mean Delayed Draw Term Loans
         under and as defined in the 1994 Credit Agreement.

              "1994 Loans"  shall mean the 1994  Canadian  Term Loans,  the 1994
         Delayed  Draw Term Loans,  the 1994  Revolving  Loans and the 1994 Term
         Loans.

              "1994  Revolving  Loans" shall mean  Revolving  Loans under and as
         defined in the 1994 Credit Agreement.

              "1994 Term  Loans"  shall mean Term Loans  under and as defined in
         the 1994 Credit Agreement.

              "1995 Credit Agreement Creditors" shall mean the Administrative 
         Agent and the Lenders.

              "Note" shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower, substantially
         in the form of Exhibit A, evidencing Loans.

              "Obligations"  shall mean all  obligations  defined as "Guaranteed
         Obligations"  in the Guarantee  Agreement and "Secured  Obligations" in
         the Pledge  Agreement  in each case owing by the Borrower and the other
         Guarantors,  or any of them,  as the context may  require,  to any 1995
         Credit Agreement Creditor.

              "Operating  Lease"  shall mean a lease which is not required to be
         accounted for or classified as a capital lease under GAAP. The "amount"
         of any  Operating  Lease shall be the amount  that,  if such  Operating
         Lease  were  accounted  for as a  Capital  Lease  Obligation,  would be
         recorded as a liability in accordance with GAAP.

              "Other  Taxes"  shall have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in
        Section 2.18.

              "PBGC"  shall  mean  the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty   Corporation
         referred to and defined in ERISA (or any such successor).

              "Permitted  Acquisition  Indebtedness"  shall mean Indebtedness of
         the Borrower permitted by Section 6.01(l).

              "Permitted  Business  Acquisitions" shall mean acquisitions of all
         or  substantially  all of the  assets  of, or  shares  or other  equity
         interests  in, a person or  division  or line of  business  of a person
         engaged  in  the  same   business  as  Holdings   and  the   Restricted
         Subsidiaries  or in a related  business  if  immediately  after  giving
         effect thereto:  (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
         and be  continuing,  (ii) all  transactions  related  thereto  shall be
         consummated in accordance with applicable  laws,  (iii) at least 90% of
         the  outstanding  capital  stock or other  ownership  interests  of any
         acquired  or newly  formed  corporation  or other  entity must be owned
         directly by the Borrower or a Domestic  Restricted  Subsidiary and such
         corporation  or  entity  shall  become a  Restricted  Subsidiary  and a
         Guarantor and execute a counterpart to the Guarantee Agreement, and all
         capital  stock  or  other  equity  interest   created  or  acquired  in
         connection with such  acquisition  shall be duly and validly pledged to
         the Collateral  Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders,  and (iv)
         (A) Holdings  shall be in  compliance,  on a pro forma basis,  with the
         covenants  contained in Sections 6.14,  6.16 and 6.17  recomputed as at
         the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of Holdings, and
         the  Borrower  shall  have  delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent an
         officers'  certificate  to such  effect,  together  with  all  relevant
         financial information for such acquired corporation,  entity or assets,
         and (B) the acquired  corporation or entity shall not be liable for any
         Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 and the
         Guarantee  Agreement);  provided  that,  in the  case  of  the  Larizza
         Acquisition,  Holdings  shall be  deemed to be in  compliance  with the
         covenants contained in Sections 6.14,


<PAGE>


                                                                              12



         6.16 and 6.17 for the  purposes  of this  definition  only if, on a pro
         forma basis  recomputed as at the last day of the most  recently  ended
         fiscal quarter of Holdings,  (x) the Interest Coverage Ratio is greater
         than 3.25 to 1.00, (y) the Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.50
         to 1.00  and  (z) the  Current  Ratio  is  greater  than  or  equal  to
         1.25:1.00.  For  purposes  of  Section  6,  any  Restricted  Subsidiary
         satisfying the requirements of clause (iii) above shall be deemed to be
         a "wholly owned  subsidiary".  The Larizza  Acquisition  is a Permitted
         Business Acquisition.

              "Permitted Investments" shall mean:

              (a) direct  obligations  of, or  obligations  the principal of and
         interest on which are unconditionally  guaranteed by, the United States
         of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are
         backed by the full faith and credit of the United  States of  America),
         in each case  maturing  within  one year  from the date of  acquisition
         thereof;

              (b)  marketable  general  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 six months from
         the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having
         one of  the  two  highest  ratings  generally  obtainable  from  either
         Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

              (c)  investments  in  commercial  paper  maturing no more than six
         months from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of
         acquisition,  a credit  rating of A-1 or higher from  Standard & Poor's
         Ratings Group or P-1 or higher from Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

              (d)  investments  in  domestic  and  Eurodollar   certificates  of
         deposit,  banker's  acceptances  and time deposits  maturing within six
         months from the date of acquisition  thereof issued or guaranteed by or
         placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by (w)
         any domestic  office of any commercial bank organized or licensed under
         the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has
         a combined  capital and surplus and undivided  profits of not less than
         $500,000,000,  (x) any  Lender,  (y) any  branch  of any  Lender or any
         commercial bank organized under the laws of the United Kingdom, Canada,
         France or Japan having combined capital,  surplus and undivided profits
         (less any undivided  losses) of not less than $500,000,000 or (z) other
         than in the case of banker's acceptances,  any domestic commercial bank
         whose  deposits  are  guaranteed  by  the  Federal  Deposit   Insurance
         Corporation  (or any  successor)  and with whom deposits  maintained by
         Holdings  or any of  its  subsidiaries  do not  exceed  the  amount  so
         guaranteed; and

              (e)  investments  in money market funds or other mutual funds that
         invest in the types of Permitted  Investments  described in clauses (a)
         through (d) above.

              "Permitted  Receivables  Financing"  shall  mean  any  sale by the
         Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of accounts receivable to a Finance
         Subsidiary  intended to be (and which shall be treated for the purposes
         hereof as) a true sale  transaction  with  customary  limited  recourse
         based  upon  the   collectibility  of  the  receivables  sold  and  the
         corresponding  sale  or  pledge  of  such  accounts  receivable  (or an
         interest therein) by the Finance  Subsidiary,  in each case without any
         Guarantee  by  Holdings  or any other  subsidiary  thereof,  including,
         without  limitation,  the transactions  contemplated by the Amended and
         Restated  Receivables  Sales Agreement dated as of March 30, 1995 among
         the  Borrower,  as master  servicer,  the Sellers  parties  thereto and
         Carcorp,  Inc., as amended,  and the  documents  executed in connection
         therewith;  provided, however, that the terms, conditions and structure
         (including  the  legal  and  organizational  structure  of the  Finance
         Subsidiary and the  restrictions  imposed on its activities) of and the
         documentation  incident to any such transactions entered into after the
         date hereof must be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

              "Permitted   Subordinated   Indebtedness"   shall  mean  unsecured
         subordinated  indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  or  Holdings  having  no
         amortization  of principal  and a scheduled  final  maturity no earlier
         than  December  31,  2003 and  having  subordination  terms at least as
         favorable to the Lenders as set forth on


<PAGE>


                                                                              13



         Schedule 1.01(D) and other terms and conditions (including,  covenants,
         events of default,  interest rate) as shall be reasonably  satisfactory
         to the Required Lenders in the exercise of their sole discretion.

              "Permitted Tax Payment" means for any taxable year of the Borrower
         in which it joins in filing a  consolidated  federal  income tax return
         with  Holdings,  a payment by the Borrower to Holdings in an amount not
         in excess of the amount  required to be paid by the Borrower  under the
         Tax Sharing  Agreement,  dated as of November 1, 1989, between Holdings
         and the Borrower, as in effect on the date hereof, as amended solely to
         reflect the mergers  described  in clause  (iii) of the  definition  of
         Recapitalization  Transactions in the 1994 Credit  Agreement;  provided
         that  within 20 days of receipt of such  payment  Holdings  applies the
         amount thereof to satisfy such tax liability or its  obligations  under
         the Tax Sharing Agreement.

              "person"  shall mean any  natural  person,  corporation,  business
         trust, joint venture, association,  company, partnership or government,
         or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

              "Plan"  with  respect to any person  shall mean any  pension  plan
         (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV
         of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code which is  maintained  for employees
         of such person or any ERISA Affiliate of such person.

              "Pledge  Agreement"  shall mean the Pledge  Agreement  dated as of
         July 13, 1994 made by Holdings,  the  Borrower  and each other  Pledgor
         named  therein in favor of the  Collateral  Agent,  as  amended  and in
         effect from time to time.

              "Pledged  Securities" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
         in the Pledge Agreement.

              "Prepayment  Event" shall mean (i) any Specified  Asset Sale, (ii)
         any Sale and  Lease-Back  Transaction  deemed to be a Prepayment  Event
         pursuant to Section 6.06,  and (iii) the  incurrence by Holdings or any
         Restricted  Subsidiary  of any  Indebtedness  (other than  Indebtedness
         permitted by Section  6.01),  provided,  however,  that for purposes of
         Section  2.12(c)  (a) a  Prepayment  Event shall not be deemed to occur
         until the aggregate Net Proceeds from Prepayment Events not yet applied
         pursuant to Section  2.12(e) of the 1994 Credit  Agreement by reason of
         the  corresponding  proviso  of the 1994  Credit  Agreement  equals  or
         exceeds  $5,000,000,  at which time a Prepayment Event shall, except as
         set forth in clause (b) below,  be deemed to occur  having Net Proceeds
         equal to the aggregate Net Proceeds from  Prepayment  Events not yet so
         applied and (b) with  respect to Specified  Asset  Sales,  a Prepayment
         Event shall be deemed to occur only with respect to that portion of the
         Net Proceeds thereof required to be repaid pursuant to Section 6.08(i).

              "Purchase Money Indebtedness" shall mean Indebtedness incurred for
         capital  expenditures,  which may be secured in compliance with Section
         6.04(i).

              "Recapitalization Transactions" shall have the meaning set forth 
         in the 1994 Credit Agreement.

              "Register" shall have the meaning given such term in Section
         9.04(d).

              Regulation D" shall mean Regulation D of the Board as from time to
         time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations  thereunder
         or thereof.

              "Regulation  G" shall mean  Regulation G of the Board as from time
         to  time  in  effect  and  all  official  rulings  and  interpretations
         thereunder or thereof.

              "Regulation  T" shall mean  Regulation T of the Board as from time
         to  time  in  effect  and  all  official  rulings  and  interpretations
         thereunder or thereof.

              "Regulation  U" shall mean  Regulation U of the Board as from time
         to  time  in  effect  and  all  official  rulings  and  interpretations
         thereunder or thereof.



<PAGE>


                                                                              14



              "Regulation  X" shall mean  Regulation X of the Board as from time
         to  time  in  effect  and  all  official  rulings  and  interpretations
         thereunder or thereof.

              "Release" means any release,  spill, emission,  leaking,  pumping,
         injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching, emanation
         or  migration  in,  into,  onto or through the  environment  (including
         ambient air,  surface  water,  ground water,  land surface,  subsurface
         strata or workplace), including the movement of any Contaminant through
         or in the air, soil, surface water or ground water.

              "Remedial  Action"  means (i)  "remedial  action"  as such term is
         defined  in 42  U.S.C.  Section  9601(24)  and (ii) all  other  actions
         required or  voluntarily  undertaken  to (x) clean up,  remove,  treat,
         abate or in any other way address any Contaminant in the environment or
         workplace,  (y) prevent  the Release or threat of Release,  or minimize
         the  further  Release  of any  Contaminant  so it does not  migrate  or
         endanger  or  threaten  to  endanger  public  health or  welfare of the
         environment or workplace,  or (z) perform studies and investigations in
         connection with (x) or (y) above.

              "Reportable  Event" shall mean any reportable  event as defined in
         Section  4043(b) of ERISA or the  regulations  issued  thereunder  with
         respect to a Plan (other than a Plan  maintained by an ERISA  Affiliate
         which is considered an ERISA  Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m)
         or (o) of Section 414 of the Code).

              "Required Lenders" shall mean, at any time, Lenders with Loans and
         unused  Commitments  representing at least a majority of the sum of the
         aggregate   principal  amount  of  the  Loans  outstanding  and  unused
         Commitments at such time.

              "Responsible  Officer" of any corporation shall mean any Executive
         Officer or Financial  Officer of such corporation and any other officer
         or similar official thereof  responsible for the  administration of the
         obligations of such  corporation in respect of this  Agreement.  Unless
         the  context  otherwise  requires,  Responsible  Officer  shall  mean a
         Responsible Officer of Holdings.

              "Restricted Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary in existence as
         of the  Closing  Date and any direct or indirect  Subsidiary  formed or
         acquired after the Closing Date, in each case, other than  Unrestricted
         Subsidiaries.

              "Sale and Lease-Back  Transaction" shall have the meaning assigned
         to that term in Section 6.06.

              "Secured Parties" shall mean the 1995 Credit Agreement  Creditors,
         any holders,  if any, of any other Permitted  Acquisition  Indebtedness
         which  have  executed  and  delivered  to  the   Collateral   Agent  an
         Acknowledgement to the Intercreditor Agreement in the form of Exhibit A
         thereto  and the Credit  Agreement  Creditors  (as  defined in the 1994
         Credit Agreement).

              "Significant  Subsidiary" shall mean the Borrower,  C&A Canada and
         any  subsidiary of Holdings that at the date of any  determination  (i)
         accounts for 5% or more of the  consolidated  assets of Holdings,  (ii)
         has accounted for 5% or more of the consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for
         each of the two consecutive periods of four fiscal quarters immediately
         preceding the date of determination or (iii) has been designated by the
         Borrower  in  writing  to the  Administrative  Agent  as a  Significant
         Subsidiary.

              "Specified  Asset  Sale"  shall  mean any sale,  lease,  transfer,
         assignment or other  disposition of assets,  business units or property
         of Holdings or any of its  subsidiaries  for Net  Proceeds in excess of
         $100,000 in any transaction or series of related transactions described
         in paragraph (i) of Section 6.08.

              "Statutory  Reserves"  shall  mean  a  fraction  (expressed  as  a
         decimal),  the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator
         of which is the number one minus the  aggregate of the maximum  reserve
         percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental
         reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board and any other
         banking authority to which the Administrative Agent is subject (a) with
         respect to the Base CD Rate (as such term is used in the  definition of
         "Alternate Base Rate"), for new


<PAGE>


                                                                             15



         negotiable  nonpersonal  time deposits in dollars of over $100,000 with
         maturities approximately equal to three months, and (b) with respect to
         the Adjusted LIBO Rate,  for  Eurocurrency  Liabilities  (as defined in
         Regulation D of the Board).  Such  reserve  percentages  shall  include
         those imposed  pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be
         deemed to constitute Eurocurrency Liabilities and to be subject to such
         reserve  requirements  without  benefit  of or  credit  for  proration,
         exemptions or offsets  which may be available  from time to time to any
         Lender under such  Regulation D.  Statutory  Reserves shall be adjusted
         automatically  on and as of the  effective  date of any  change  in any
         reserve percentage.

              "subsidiary"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to any  person  (herein
         referred to as the "parent"), any corporation, partnership, association
         or other  business  entity (a) of which  securities or other  ownership
         interests  representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of
         the ordinary  voting power or more than 50% of the general  partnership
         interests  are, at the time any  determination  is being  made,  owned,
         controlled or held, or (b) which is, at the time any  determination  is
         made, otherwise  Controlled,  by the parent or one or more subsidiaries
         of the  parent or by the  parent  and one or more  subsidiaries  of the
         parent.

              "Subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary of Holdings.

              "Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 
         2.18.

              "Total   Indebtedness"  shall  mean,  without   duplication,   all
         outstanding  Indebtedness  of  Holdings  and  its  subsidiaries,  on  a
         consolidated basis.

              "Transactions" shall have the meanings assigned to such term in 
         Section 3.02.

              "Type", when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer
         to the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans
         comprising such Borrowing is determined.  For purposes  hereof,  "Rate"
         shall include the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.

              "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code of New York.

              "Unrestricted  Subsidiary" shall mean (i) each Finance  Subsidiary
         and Collins & Aikman de Mexico,  S.A. de C.V.,  (ii) any  Subsidiary of
         Holdings  (other than the Borrower)  none of the Capital Stock or other
         ownership  interest  of which is  owned by the  Borrower  or any of its
         Subsidiaries,  provided that  Holdings has notified the  Administrative
         Agent  of its  acquisition  or  creation  of  such  Subsidiary  and its
         ownership  interest  therein  concurrently  with  such  acquisition  or
         creation and the  intended  purposes of such  Subsidiary  and (iii) any
         Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Each Unrestricted Subsidiary,
         other than a non-U.S.  Unrestricted Subsidiary, shall have entered into
         the existing Tax Sharing  Agreement  with Holdings and the Borrower (or
         another tax sharing agreement containing terms which, in the reasonable
         judgment  of  the  Administrative   Agent,  are  customary  in  similar
         circumstances  to provide an appropriate  allocation of tax liabilities
         and benefits).

                   The  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  shall be capitalized  solely
         from the following  sources:  (a) any  Investment in such  Unrestricted
         Subsidiary  by any  Person  other  than  Holdings  and  the  Restricted
         Subsidiaries;  (b) Indebtedness issued by such Unrestricted Subsidiary,
         or proceeds thereof; (c) capital stock of any Unrestricted  Subsidiary,
         or proceeds  thereof;  (d) capital stock of Holdings issued by Holdings
         after the 1994 Closing Date, or proceeds  thereof;  and (e) Investments
         permitted to be made in Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  pursuant to Section
         6.07(l).

              "Withdrawal  Liability"  shall mean  liability to a  Multiemployer
         Plan  as a  result  of a  complete  or  partial  withdrawal  from  such
         Multiemployer  Plan,  as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E
         of Title IV of ERISA.

              "WP" shall mean Wasserstein Perella Partners, L.P.



<PAGE>


                                                                        16



              "WP Entities" shall mean WP, WPMP or any of their Affiliates.

              "WPMP" shall mean Wasserstein Perella Management Partners, Inc.

         SECTION 1.02.  Terms  Generally.  The definitions in Section 1.01 shall
apply  equally  to both the  singular  and  plural  forms of the terms  defined.
Whenever the context may require,  any pronoun shall  include the  corresponding
masculine,  feminine  and neuter  forms.  The words  "include",  "includes"  and
"including"  shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without  limitation".
All references  herein to Articles,  Sections,  Exhibits and Schedules  shall be
deemed  references  to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and  Schedules to,
this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise  require.  For all purposes of
this  Agreement  (other  than  preparation  of the  financial  statements  to be
delivered  pursuant to Section  5.04),  all terms of an  accounting or financial
nature shall be construed in  accordance  with GAAP, as in effect on the date of
this  Agreement  applied  on a basis  consistent  with the  application  used in
preparing  Holdings'  audited  financial  statements  for its fiscal  year ended
January 29, 1994 referred to in Section 3.09.


                                          ARTICLE II.

                                          THE CREDITS

         SECTION  2.01.  Commitments.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  and
relying upon the  representations  and warranties set forth herein,  each Lender
agrees,  severally  and not jointly,  to make a Loan or Loans to the Borrower on
the Closing Date in a principal  amount not to exceed its  Commitment  set forth
opposite its name in Schedule 2.01, as the same may be reduced from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.09. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Loans may not be
reborrowed.

         SECTION 2.02. Loans. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing
consisting  of Loans  made by the  Lenders  ratably  in  accordance  with  their
respective  Commitments;  provided,  however,  that the failure of any Lender to
make any Loan shall not in itself  relieve any other Lender of its obligation to
lend  hereunder  (it  being  understood,   however,  that  no  Lender  shall  be
responsible  for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to be
made by such other Lender).  The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall be in
an aggregate  principal  amount which is an integral  multiple of $1,000,000 and
not less  than  $5,000,000;  provided  that the  aggregate  amount  of any Loans
comprising a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be subject to a minimum principal amount
of $5,000,000 and shall be an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

         (b) Each Borrowing shall be comprised of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans,
as the Borrower  may request  pursuant to Section  2.03.  Each Lender may at its
option fulfill its Commitment with respect to any Eurodollar Loan by causing any
domestic  or  foreign  branch or  Affiliate  of such  Lender to make such  Loan;
provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the
Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement and
the  Note  payable  to such  Lender.  Borrowings  of more  than  one Type may be
outstanding at the same time; provided,  however, that the Borrower shall not be
entitled to request any Borrowing  which, if made,  would result in an aggregate
of more than 12 separate Loans of any Lender being outstanding  hereunder at any
one time.  For  purposes  of the  foregoing,  Loans  having  different  Interest
Periods,  regardless  of  whether  they  commence  on the  same  date,  shall be
considered separate Loans.

         (c)  Each  Lender  shall  make a Loan in the  amount  of its  pro  rata
portion,  as determined  under Section 2.16, of each Borrowing  hereunder on the
Closing  Date  by  wire  transfer  of   immediately   available   funds  to  the
Administrative  Agent in New York, New York, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York
City time, and the Administrative  Agent shall credit the amounts so received to
the general deposit account of the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or, if
a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition  precedent herein
specified  shall  not have been met,  return  the  amounts  so  received  to the
respective Lenders.  Unless the Administrative  Agent shall have received notice
from a Lender prior to the date of the proposed  Borrowing that such Lender will
not make  available to the  Administrative  Agent such Lender's  portion of such
Borrowing,  the  Administrative  Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the Administrative Agent


<PAGE>


                                                                             17



on the date of such  Borrowing in  accordance  with this  paragraph  (c) and the
Administrative  Agent may, in reliance upon such  assumption,  make available to
the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such
Lender shall not have made such portion available to the  Administrative  Agent,
such  Lender and the  Borrower  severally  agree to repay to the  Administrative
Agent  forthwith on demand such  corresponding  amount  together  with  interest
thereon,  for  each  day from the date  such  amount  is made  available  to the
Borrower  until the date such amount is repaid by the Borrower or such Lender to
the Administrative  Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower,  the interest rate
applicable at the time to the Loans  comprising  such  Borrowing and (ii) in the
case of such Lender,  the Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate.  If such Lender shall
repay to the Administrative  Agent such  corresponding  amount together with the
applicable interest thereon,  such amount shall constitute such Lender's Loan as
part  of such  Borrowing  for  purposes  of this  Agreement  and the  Borrower's
obligations under the preceding sentence shall terminate.  If the Borrower shall
repay to the Administrative  Agent such  corresponding  amount together with the
applicable  interest  thereon,  then such  amount  shall not  constitute  a Loan
hereunder  and the  Borrower  shall have no  further  obligations  hereunder  in
respect thereof.

         SECTION  2.03.  Notice  of  Borrowings.  The  Borrower  shall  give the
Administrative  Agent written notice (or telephone notice promptly  confirmed in
writing) (a) in the case of a Eurodollar  Borrowing,  not later than 12:00 noon,
New York City time, three Business Days before the proposed Borrowing and (b) in
the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, one
Business Day before the proposed Borrowing. Such notice shall be irrevocable and
shall  in each  case  refer to this  Agreement  and  specify  (i)  whether  such
Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing;  (ii) the date of
such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and the amount thereof; and (iii)
if such  Borrowing is to be a  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the Interest  Period with
respect thereto.  If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any
such notice,  then the  requested  Borrowing  shall be an ABR  Borrowing.  If no
Interest  Period with  respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing is specified in any
such  notice,  then the  Borrower  shall be deemed to have  selected an Interest
Period of one month's duration.  The Administrative  Agent shall promptly advise
the  Lenders of any  notice  given  pursuant  to this  Section  2.03 and of each
Lender's portion of the requested Borrowing.

         SECTION  2.04.  Notes;  Repayment  of Loans.  (a) The  Borrower  hereby
unconditionally  promises to pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of
each Lender the principal  amount of the Loan of such Lender,  in 28 consecutive
quarterly  installments,  payable on each March 31,  June 30,  September  30 and
December 31 in accordance with Section 2.11 (or the then unpaid principal amount
of such Loan,  on the date that the Loans  become due and  payable  pursuant  to
Article VII).  The Borrower  hereby further agrees to pay interest on the unpaid
principal  amount of the Loans made to it from time to time outstanding from the
date hereof  until  payment in full  thereof at the rates per annum,  and on the
dates, set forth in Section 2.06.

              (b) Each  Lender  shall  maintain  in  accordance  with its  usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing  indebtedness of the Borrower to such
Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time,  including the
amounts of principal  and interest  payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time under this Agreement.

              (c) The Administrative  Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant
to Section 9.04(d),  and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be
recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made  hereunder,  the Type thereof and each
Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest
due and  payable or to become due and payable  from the  Borrower to each Lender
hereunder  and (iii) both the amount of any sum  received by the  Administrative
Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.

              (d) The  entries  made in the  Register  and the  accounts of each
Lender maintained  pursuant to Section 2.04(b) shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable  law, be prima facie  evidence  of the  existence  and amounts of the
obligations  of the  Borrower  therein  recorded;  provided,  however,  that the
failure of any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent to maintain  the Register or
any such  account,  or any error  therein,  shall not in any  manner  affect the
obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to
the Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

              (e)  The   Borrower   agrees   that,   upon  the  request  to  the
Administrative  Agent by any Lender,  the  Borrower  will execute and deliver to
such Lender a Note with appropriate insertions as to date and principal amount.


<PAGE>


                                                                            18




         SECTION  2.05.  Fees.  (a) The  Borrower  agrees to pay to each Lender,
through the  Administrative  Agent, on the Closing Date, or, if earlier,  on the
date on which the  Commitment  of such Lender  shall be  terminated  as provided
herein,  a  commitment  fee (a  "Commitment  Fee") of 1/2 of 1% per annum on the
average  daily unused  amount of the  Commitment  of such  Lender,  in each case
during the period ending with the Closing Date or, if earlier, the date on which
the Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated.  All Commitment Fees shall be
computed on the basis of the actual  number of days  elapsed in a year of 365 or
366 days.  The  Commitment  Fee due to each  Lender  shall  commence on the date
hereof,  or, if later, the date such entity becomes a Lender pursuant to Section
9.04,  and shall  cease to accrue  on the date on which the  Commitment  of such
Lender shall be terminated as provided herein.

         (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own
account,  on the Closing Date and thereafter at the times previously agreed, the
fees (the "Agency Fees") in the amounts  previously  agreed to be payable to the
Administrative  Agent for its own  account  in  accordance  with the fee  letter
between  Chemical and Holdings.  Agency Fees payable by the Borrower to Chemical
pursuant  to the Fee Letter  dated  September  15,  1995 shall be reduced by the
Commitment Fees paid hereunder on the Closing Date.

         (c) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in  immediately  available
funds,  to the  Administrative  Agent for  distribution,  if and as appropriate,
among the Lenders.  Once paid,  none of the Fees shall be  refundable  under any
circumstances.

         SECTION  2.06.  Interest  on Loans.  (a) Subject to the  provisions  of
Section  2.07,  the Loans  comprising  each ABR  Borrowing  shall bear  interest
(computed  on the basis of the actual  number of days elapsed over a year of 365
or 366 days, as the case may be, when  determined by reference to the Prime Rate
and over a year of 360 days at all other times) at a rate per annum equal to the
Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

         (b) Subject to the  provisions  of Section 2.07,  the Loans  comprising
each  Eurodollar  Borrowing  shall bear  interest  (computed on the basis of the
actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal
to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest  Period in effect for such  Borrowing
plus the Applicable Margin.

         (c)  Interest  on each Loan shall be payable  on the  Interest  Payment
Dates applicable to such Loan and as otherwise  provided in this Agreement.  The
applicable  Alternate Base Rate and Adjusted LIBO Rate for each Interest  Period
or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be determined by the
Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.

         SECTION 2.07.  Default  Interest.  If the Borrower shall default in the
payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount becoming
due hereunder,  by acceleration or otherwise,  the Borrower shall on demand from
time to time pay  interest,  to the extent  permitted by law, on such  defaulted
amount up to (but not  including)  the date of actual  payment (after as well as
before judgment) at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number
of days  elapsed  over a year  of 365 or 366  days,  as the  case  may be,  when
determined  by  reference  to the Prime  Rate and over a year of 360 days at all
other times) equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin plus 2%
per annum.

         SECTION 2.08.  Alternate  Rate of Interest.  In the event,  and on each
occasion,  that on the day two Business  Days prior to the  commencement  of any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar  Borrowing the Administrative  Agent shall have
determined that dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising
such Borrowing are not generally  available in the interbank  eurodollar market,
or that the rates at which  such  dollar  deposits  are being  offered  will not
adequately  and fairly  reflect the cost to any Lender of making or  maintaining
its Eurodollar Loan during such Interest Period, or that reasonable means do not
exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the  Administrative  Agent shall,
as soon as practicable  thereafter,  give written or telex or telecopy notice of
such  determination  to the Borrower  and the Lenders.  In the event of any such
determination,  any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar  Borrowing pursuant
to Section 2.03 or 2.10 shall, until the Administrative Agent shall have advised
the Borrower and the Lenders that the  circumstances  giving rise to such notice
no  longer  exist,  be  deemed  to be a  request  for  an  ABR  Borrowing.  Each
determination by the  Administrative  Agent hereunder shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.


<PAGE>


                                                                             19




         SECTION  2.09.  Termination  and  Reduction  of  Commitments.  (a)  All
Commitments shall  automatically  terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
January 31, 1996,  unless the Closing Date occurs on or prior to such date.  The
Commitments shall be automatically  terminated at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the Closing Date.

         (b) Upon at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable written notice
to the  Administrative  Agent, the Borrower may at any time in whole permanently
terminate,  or from time to time in part  permanently  reduce,  the Commitments;
provided,  however, that each partial reduction of any such Commitments shall be
in an integral multiple of $1,000,000.

         (c) Each reduction in the  Commitments  hereunder shall be made ratably
among the  applicable  Lenders in accordance  with their  respective  applicable
Commitments.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the applicable  Lenders,  on the date of each  termination or reduction,  the
Commitment  Fees on the  amount of the  Commitments  so  terminated  or  reduced
accrued through the date of such termination or reduction.

         SECTION 2.10.  Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings.  The Borrower
shall  have  the  right  at  any  time  upon  prior  irrevocable  notice  to the
Administrative  Agent (i) not later than 12:00 (noon),  New York City time,  one
Business Day prior to conversion,  to convert any  Eurodollar  Borrowing into an
ABR  Borrowing,  (ii) not later  than  10:00  a.m.,  New York City  time,  three
Business Days prior to conversion or continuation,  to convert any ABR Borrowing
into a  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  or to continue  any  Eurodollar  Borrowing  as a
Eurodollar  Borrowing for an additional Interest Period and (iii) not later than
10:00 a.m.,  New York City time,  three  Business Days prior to  conversion,  to
convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar  Borrowing to another
permissible Interest Period, subject to the following conditions:

              (a) each conversion or  continuation  shall be made pro rata among
         the  applicable  Lenders in accordance  with the  respective  principal
         amounts of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;

              (b) if less  than  all the  outstanding  principal  amount  of any
         Borrowing  shall be converted or  continued,  the  aggregate  principal
         amount of such Borrowing  converted or continued shall be not less than
         $1,000,000;  provided  that  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of each
         Eurodollar Borrowing resulting from any such conversion or continuation
         shall not be less than $1,000,000;

              (c) each conversion shall be effected by each applicable Lender by
         such Lender  converting its applicable Loan (or portion  thereof),  and
         accrued  interest on a Loan (or portion  thereof) being converted shall
         be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion;

              (d) if any Eurodollar  Borrowing is converted at a time other than
         the end of the Interest Period applicable  thereto,  the Borrower shall
         pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the applicable Lenders pursuant to
         Section 2.15;

              (e)  any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid
         in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as a 
         Eurodollar Borrowing;

              (f)  any  portion  of  a  Eurodollar  Borrowing  which  cannot  be
         converted  into or  continued  as a  Eurodollar  Borrowing by reason of
         clause (e) above  shall be  automatically  converted  at the end of the
         Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing;

              (g)  no  Interest  Period  may  be  selected  for  any  Eurodollar
         Borrowing  that would end later than a Loan Repayment Date occurring on
         or after the first day of such Interest  Period if, after giving effect
         to  such  selection,  the  aggregate  outstanding  amount  of  (i)  the
         Eurodollar Borrowings, with Interest Periods ending on or prior to such
         Loan Repayment Date, and (ii) the ABR Borrowings, would not be at least
         equal to the  principal  amount of  Borrowings  to be paid on such Loan
         Repayment Date; and



<PAGE>


                                                                              20



              (h) a  Borrowing  may  not be  converted  into or  continued  as a
         Eurodollar  Borrowing  if a Default or an Event of Default has occurred
         and is  continuing  and  the  Required  Lenders  have  determined  such
         conversion or continuation is not appropriate.

         Each notice  pursuant to this  Section  2.10 shall be  irrevocable  and
shall refer to this  Agreement  and specify (i) the  identity  and amount of the
Borrowing  that the Borrower  requests be converted or  continued,  (ii) whether
such  Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar  Borrowing or
an ABR Borrowing,  (iii) if such notice requests a conversion,  the date of such
conversion  (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such  Borrowing is to be
converted to or continued as a Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the Interest  Period with
respect  thereto.  If no Interest  Period is  specified  in any such notice with
respect to any  conversion to or  continuation  as a Eurodollar  Borrowing,  the
Borrower  shall be deemed to have  selected  an  Interest  Period of one month's
duration.  The  Administrative  Agent shall promptly advise the other Lenders of
any notice given  pursuant to this Section 2.10 and of each Lender's  portion of
any  converted or  continued  Borrowing.  If the  Borrower  shall not have given
notice in  accordance  with this Section 2.10 to continue any  Borrowing  into a
subsequent  Interest  Period  (and  shall not  otherwise  have  given  notice in
accordance  with this Section 2.10 to convert such  Borrowing),  such  Borrowing
shall,  at the end of the Interest  Period  applicable  thereto  (unless  repaid
pursuant to the terms  hereof),  automatically  be continued into a new Interest
Period as an ABR Borrowing.

         SECTION 2.11.  Repayment of  Borrowings.  (a) The  Borrowings  shall be
payable as to principal in such number of consecutive  installments,  payable on
such dates (each a "Loan  Repayment  Date") and in such  amounts as set forth on
Schedule 2.11(a), based upon the aggregate principal amount of Loans advanced on
the Closing Date.

         (b) To the extent not previously  paid, all Borrowings shall be due and
payable on the Loan Maturity Date. Each payment of Eurodollar  Borrowings repaid
pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be  accompanied  by accrued  interest on the
principal amount paid to but excluding the date of payment.

         SECTION 2.12. Prepayment.  (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any
time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing,  in whole or in part,  upon,
in the case of Eurodollar Borrowings,  at least three Business Days', and in the
case of ABR Borrowings,  at least one Business  Day's,  prior written notice (or
telephone  notice promptly  confirmed by written  notice) to the  Administrative
Agent; provided,  however, that each partial prepayment of ABR Loans shall be in
a minimum  principal amount of $5,000,000 or an integral  multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof and of Eurodollar Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount
of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

         (b) Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the
principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid,  shall be
irrevocable and shall commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing by the amount
stated therein on the date stated therein.  All  prepayments  under this Section
2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.15 but otherwise  without premium or penalty.
All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be accompanied by accrued interest
on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of payment.

         (c) Substantially  simultaneously with (and in any event not later than
the Business Day next  following)  the  occurrence  of a Prepayment  Event,  the
Borrower  shall  pay  to  the  Administrative  Agent  (for  application  to  the
prepayment of Loans in accordance  with Section  2.12(d)) an amount equal to 25%
of the Net Proceeds from such Prepayment Event.

         (d) Each prepayment of principal of the Borrowings  shall be applied to
reduce scheduled  payments of principal due under Section 2.11 after the date of
such  prepayment  (i) in the  chronological  order  of  maturity  in the case of
prepayments  made  pursuant to Section  2.12(a) and (ii) pro rata in  accordance
with  the  remaining  scheduled  amount  of each  such  payment  in the  case of
prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.12(c).

         (e) In the event the amount of any prepayment required to be made above
shall exceed the aggregate  principal  amount of the applicable  outstanding ABR
Loans (the amount of any such excess  being  called the  "Excess  Amount"),  the
Borrower  shall have the right,  in lieu of making such  prepayment  in full, to
prepay all the  outstanding  applicable ABR Loans and to deposit an amount equal
to the Excess Amount with the Collateral Agent in a cash


<PAGE>


                                                                             21



collateral  account  maintained  (pursuant to documentation  satisfactory to the
Administrative  Agent) by and in the sole dominion and control of the Collateral
Agent.  Any  amounts  so  deposited  shall  be held by the  Collateral  Agent as
collateral for the  Obligations  and applied to the prepayment of the applicable
Eurodollar Loans at the end of the current Interest Periods applicable  thereto.
On any Business Day on which (x)  collected  amounts  remain on deposit in or to
the credit of such cash  collateral  account after giving effect to the payments
made on such day  pursuant to this Section  2.12(e) and (y) the  Borrower  shall
have delivered to the Collateral Agent a written request or a telephonic request
(which shall be promptly  confirmed in writing)  that such  remaining  collected
amounts be invested in the Permitted  Investments specified in such request, the
Collateral  Agent  shall use its  reasonable  efforts to invest  such  remaining
collected amounts in such Permitted  Investments;  provided,  however,  that the
Collateral  Agent shall have continuous  dominion and full control over any such
investments (and over any interest that accrues thereon) to the same extent that
it has dominion and control over such cash  collateral  account and no Permitted
Investment  shall mature after the end of the Interest Period for which it is to
be applied.  The  Borrower  shall not have the right to withdraw any amount from
such cash collateral  account until the applicable  Eurodollar Loans and accrued
interest  thereon  are paid in full or if a  Default  or Event of  Default  then
exists or would result.

         SECTION  2.13.  Reserve  Requirements;  Change  in  Circumstances.  (a)
Notwithstanding  any other provision herein, if after the date of this Agreement
any  change  in  applicable  law  or  regulation  or in  the  interpretation  or
administration   thereof  by  any  governmental   authority   charged  with  the
interpretation  or  administration  thereof  (whether or not having the force of
law)  shall  change  the basis of  taxation  of  payments  to any  Lender of the
principal of or interest on any Eurodollar  Loan made by such Lender or any Fees
or other amounts payable  hereunder  (other than changes in respect of (i) taxes
imposed on the overall net income of such  Lender by the  jurisdiction  in which
such Lender has its principal  office or by any political  subdivision or taxing
authority  therein  and (ii) any Taxes  described  in  Section  2.18),  or shall
impose,  modify or deem  applicable  any  reserve,  special  deposit  or similar
requirement  against  assets or  deposits  with or for the  account of or credit
extended by such Lender (except any such reserve  requirement which is reflected
in the  Adjusted  LIBO  Rate) or shall  impose on such  Lender or the  interbank
eurodollar  market any other  condition  affecting  this Agreement or Eurodollar
Loans made by such Lender,  and the result of any of the  foregoing  shall be to
increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or
to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender  hereunder
or under the Notes  (whether of  principal,  interest or otherwise) by an amount
deemed by such Lender to be material,  then the Borrower will pay to such Lender
upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for
such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

         (b) If any Lender shall have  determined  that the  adoption  after the
date  hereof  of any  law,  rule,  regulation  or  guideline  regarding  capital
adequacy,  or any change after the date hereof in any of the foregoing or in the
interpretation  or  administration  of any of the foregoing by any  Governmental
Authority,  central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration  thereof,  or compliance by any Lender (or any lending  office of
such  Lender) or any  Lender's  holding  company  with any request or  directive
regarding  capital  adequacy  (whether  or not  having the force of law) made or
issued after the date hereof by any such  authority,  central bank or comparable
agency,  has or would  have the  effect of  reducing  the rate of return on such
Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's holding company,  if any, as
a consequence of this Agreement or its  obligations  pursuant  hereto to a level
below  that  which  such  Lender or such  Lender's  holding  company  would have
achieved but for such adoption,  change or compliance (taking into consideration
such Lender's  policies and the policies of such Lender's  holding  company with
respect to capital  adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material,
then from time to time the  Borrower  shall pay to such Lender  such  additional
amount or  amounts  as will  compensate  such  Lender or such  Lender's  holding
company for any such reduction suffered.

         (c) A certificate  of each Lender  setting forth such amount or amounts
as shall be  necessary  to  compensate  such  Lender or its  holding  company as
specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above,  as the case may be, shall be delivered
to the Borrower through the Administrative  Agent and shall be conclusive absent
manifest  error.  The Borrower  shall pay each Lender the amount shown as due on
any such  certificate  delivered  by it within 10 days after its  receipt of the
same.

         (d) In the event any Lender delivers a notice pursuant to paragraph (e)
below,  the  Borrower  may  require,  at the  Borrower's  expense and subject to
Section 2.15, such Lender to assign, at par plus accrued interest and fees,


<PAGE>


                                                                              22



without recourse (in accordance with Section 9.04) all its interests, rights and
obligations hereunder (including, in the case of a Lender, all of its Commitment
and the Loans at the time owing to it and its Notes  held by it) to a  financial
institution  specified by the Borrower  provided that (i) such assignment  shall
not conflict  with or violate any law,  rule or regulation or order of any court
or other  Governmental  Authority,  (ii) the  Borrower  shall have  received the
written  consent  of  the   Administrative   Agent,   which  consent  shall  not
unreasonably be withheld, to such assignment,  and (iii) the Borrower shall have
paid to the  assigning  Lender  all monies  accrued  and owing  hereunder  to it
(including pursuant to this Section).

         (e) Promptly  after any Lender has  determined,  in its sole  judgment,
that it will make a request for increased compensation pursuant to this Section,
such Lender will notify the Borrower thereof.  Failure on the part of any Lender
so to notify the Borrower or to demand  compensation  for any increased costs or
reduction in amounts  received or  receivable  or reduction in return on capital
with respect to any period shall not  constitute a waiver of such Lender's right
to demand compensation with respect to such period or any other period; provided
that the Borrower  shall not be under any  obligation to  compensate  any Lender
under Section 2.13(b) with respect to increased costs or reductions with respect
to any period prior to the date that is six months prior to such request if such
Lender  knew  or  could  reasonably  have  been  expected  to be  aware  of  the
circumstances  giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the fact
that  such  circumstances  would  in fact  result  in such  increased  costs  or
reduction;  provided, further, that, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to
any increased costs or reductions arising out of the retroactive  application of
any law,  regulation,  rule, guideline or directive as aforesaid within such six
month period.  The  protection of this Section shall be available to each Lender
regardless of any possible  contention of the invalidity or  inapplicability  of
the law, rule,  regulation,  guideline or other change or condition  which shall
have occurred or been imposed.

         SECTION  2.14.  Change  in  Legality.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision  herein,  if the adoption of or any change in any law or regulation or
in the  interpretation  thereof by any Governmental  Authority  charged with the
administration or  interpretation  thereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender
to make or maintain any Eurodollar  Loan or to give effect to its obligations as
contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice
to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, such Lender may:

                (i) declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter be made by
         such Lender  hereunder,  whereupon  any request by the  Borrower  for a
         Eurodollar Borrowing shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request
         for  an  ABR  Loan  unless  such  declaration   shall  be  subsequently
         withdrawn; and

               (ii) require that all outstanding  Eurodollar Loans made by it be
         converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar  Loans shall
         be  automatically  converted to ABR Loans as of the  effective  date of
         such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.

In the event any Lender shall  exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above,  all
payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to
repay the  Eurodollar  Loans  that  would  have been made by such  Lender or the
converted  Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the
ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting  from the  conversion of,
such Eurodollar Loans.

         (b) For purposes of this Section  2.14, a notice to the Borrower by any
Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan, if lawful, on the last day
of the Interest  Period  currently  applicable to such  Eurodollar  Loan; in all
other  cases  such  notice  shall be  effective  on the date of  receipt  by the
Borrower.

         SECTION  2.15.  Indemnity.  The Borrower  shall  indemnify  each Lender
against any loss or expense  (other than taxes) which such Lender may sustain or
incur as a consequence of (a) any failure by the Borrower to fulfill on the date
of the proposed  Borrowing  hereunder  the  applicable  conditions  set forth in
Article IV, (b) any failure by the Borrower to borrow or to  refinance,  convert
or continue  any Loan  hereunder  after  irrevocable  notice of such  Borrowing,
refinancing,  conversion or continuation has been given pursuant to Section 2.03
or 2.10, (c) any payment, prepayment or conversion of a Eurodollar Loan required
by any other  provision of this  Agreement or otherwise made or deemed made on a
date other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto,  (d) any
default in payment or prepayment of the principal amount of any Loan or any part
thereof or interest accrued thereon, as and when due


<PAGE>


                                                                             23



and  payable  (at  the  due  date  thereof,   whether  by  scheduled   maturity,
acceleration,  irrevocable  notice  of  prepayment  or  otherwise)  or  (e)  the
occurrence of any Event of Default,  including,  in each such case,  any loss or
reasonable  expense  sustained  or  incurred or to be  sustained  or incurred in
liquidating  or  employing  deposits  from third  parties  acquired to effect or
maintain  such  Loan or any part  thereof  as a  Eurodollar  Loan.  Such loss or
reasonable  expense shall exclude loss of margin  hereunder but shall include an
amount equal to the excess, if any, as reasonably  determined by such Lender, of
(i) its cost of obtaining the funds for the Loan being paid, prepaid,  converted
or not  borrowed,  converted or continued  (assumed to be the Adjusted LIBO Rate
applicable  thereto) for the period from the date of such  payment,  prepayment,
conversion  or  failure to borrow,  convert or  continue  to the last day of the
Interest  Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow,  convert
or continue, the Interest Period for such Loan which would have commenced on the
date of such failure) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined
by such Lender) that would be realized by such Lender in  reemploying  the funds
so paid,  prepaid,  converted or not  borrowed,  converted or continued for such
period or  Interest  Period,  as the case may be. A  certificate  of any  Lender
setting  forth any amount or amounts  which such  Lender is  entitled to receive
pursuant to this  Section (and the reasons  therefor)  shall be delivered to the
Borrower  through  the  Administrative  Agent  and  shall be  conclusive  absent
manifest error.

         SECTION  2.16.  Pro Rata  Treatment.  Except as required  under Section
2.14, each Borrowing,  each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing,
each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of the Commitment Fees, each
reduction  of the  Commitments  and  each  refinancing  of any  Borrowing  with,
conversion of any Borrowing to or  continuation  of any Borrowing as a Borrowing
of any Type shall be  allocated  pro rata among the Lenders in  accordance  with
their respective  applicable  Commitments  (or, if such  Commitments  shall have
expired or been terminated,  in accordance with the respective principal amounts
of their  applicable  outstanding  Loans).  Each Lender agrees that in computing
such Lender's portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder,  the Administrative
Agent may, in its discretion,  round each Lender's percentage of such Borrowing,
computed in  accordance  with  Section  2.01,  to the next higher or lower whole
dollar amount.

         SECTION  2.17.  Payments.  (a) The  Borrower  shall  make each  payment
without  set-off or  counterclaim  (including  principal  of or  interest on any
Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts)  required to be made by it hereunder and
under any other Loan Document not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City time, on
the date when due in dollars to the  Administrative  Agent at its offices at 270
Park  Avenue,  New York,  New York,  Attention of Wholesale  Loan  Services,  in
immediately  available funds, for credit to Chemical Bank, ABA Number 021000128,
Account Number 323-5-02059.

         (b)  Whenever  any payment  (including  principal of or interest on any
Borrowing  or any Fees or other  amounts)  hereunder  or under  any  other  Loan
Document  shall  become due, or otherwise  would  occur,  on a day that is not a
Business  Day,  such  payment may be made on the next  succeeding  Business  Day
(except in the case of payment of  principal  of a  Eurodollar  Borrowing if the
effect  of such  extension  would  be to  extend  such  payment  into  the  next
succeeding  month,  in which event such payment shall be due on the  immediately
preceding  Business  Day),  and such  extension  of time  shall in such  case be
included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

         SECTION  2.18.  Taxes.  (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to the
Administrative  Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents
shall be made,  in  accordance  with  Section 2.17 free and clear of and without
deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,  deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (i)
in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, taxes that would not be
imposed but for a connection between such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as
the case may be) and the jurisdiction imposing such tax, other than a connection
arising solely by virtue of the activities of such Lender or the  Administrative
Agent (as the case may be) pursuant to or in respect of this  Agreement or under
any other Loan Document,  including, without limitation,  entering into, lending
money or extending credit pursuant to,  receiving  payments under, or enforcing,
this Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  and (ii) in the case of each Lender
and the  Administrative  Agent, any United States withholding taxes payable with
respect  to  payments  hereunder  or under the other Loan  Documents  under laws
(including,  without limitation,  any statute, treaty, ruling,  determination or
regulation)  in effect on the Initial  Date (as  hereinafter  defined)  for such
Lender or the  Administrative  Agent,  as the case may be, but not excluding any
United States withholding taxes payable solely as a result of any change in such
laws  occurring  after the Initial Date (all such  non-excluded  taxes,  levies,
imposts,


<PAGE>


                                                                             24



deductions,  charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to
as "Taxes").  For purposes of this Section 2.18,  the term "Initial  Date" shall
mean (i) in the case of the  Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender,  the date on
which such person  became a party to this  Agreement and (ii) in the case of any
assignment  including any  assignment by a Lender to a new lending  office,  the
date of such  assignment.  If any Taxes  shall be required by law to be deducted
from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document
to any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent (i) the sum payable by the  Borrower
shall be  increased  as may be  necessary  so that  after  making  all  required
deductions  (including  deductions  applicable to additional  sums payable under
this Section 2.18) such Lender or the Administrative  Agent (as the case may be)
receives  an  amount  equal  to the  sum it  would  have  received  had no  such
deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant  taxation  authority
or other  authority in accordance  with  applicable law. The Borrower shall not,
however,  be required to pay any amounts pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding
sentence to any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent (in the case of payments to
be made by the Borrower)  not  organized  under the laws of the United States of
America or a state thereof if such Lender or the  Administrative  Agent fails to
comply with the  requirements  of paragraphs (f) or (g), as the case may be, and
paragraph (h) of this Section 2.18.

         (b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp
or documentary  taxes or any other excise or property taxes,  charges or similar
levies which arise from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise
with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (hereinafter referred
to as "Other Taxes").

         (c) The  Borrower  will  indemnify  each Lender and the  Administrative
Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other
Taxes imposed by any  jurisdiction  on amounts  payable under this Section 2.18)
paid by such  Lender or the  Administrative  Agent,  as the case may be, and any
liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with
respect  thereto  whether or not such Taxes or Other  Taxes  were  correctly  or
legally asserted.  Such  indemnification  shall be made within 10 days after the
date any Lender or the  Administrative  Agent, as the case may be, makes written
demand therefor. If a Lender or the Administrative Agent shall become aware that
it is entitled to receive a refund or is reasonably requested by the Borrower to
pursue a claim  for a refund  in  respect  of  Taxes  or Other  Taxes,  it shall
promptly  notify  the  Borrower  of the  availability  of  such  refund  (unless
instructed to pursue a claim by the  Borrower)  and shall,  within 30 days after
receipt of a request by the Borrower,  pursue or timely claim such refund at the
Borrower's expense; provided that such Lender shall not be required to pursue or
claim such refund if such Lender reasonably determines that the pursuit or claim
of such  refund will have a  disadvantageous  impact  upon such  Lender.  If any
Lender or the Administrative  Agent receives a refund in respect of any Taxes or
Other  Taxes for which  such  Lender or the  Administrative  Agent has  received
payment from the Borrower  hereunder,  it shall promptly  notify the Borrower of
such refund and shall, within 30 days after receipt of a request by the Borrower
(or promptly upon receipt,  if the Borrower has requested  application  for such
refund pursuant hereto),  repay such refund (plus any interest  received) to the
Borrower,  provided  that the  Borrower,  upon the request of such Lender or the
Administrative Agent, agrees to return such refund (plus any penalties, interest
or other charges required to be paid) to such Lender or the Administrative Agent
in the event such Lender or the  Administrative  Agent is required to repay such
refund.

         (d)  Within  30 days  after the date of any  payment  of Taxes or Other
Taxes  withheld  by the  Borrower in respect of any payment to any Lender or the
Administrative  Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, at
its address  referred to in Schedule 2.01, the original or a certified copy of a
receipt evidencing payment thereof.

         (e) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement  contained
herein,  the  agreements  and  obligations  contained in this Section 2.18 shall
survive  the  payment  in full  of  principal  and  interest  hereunder  and the
termination of the Commitments.

         (f)  Each  of each  Lender  and the  Administrative  Agent  that is not
organized  under the laws of the United  States of  America  or a state  thereof
agrees that at least 10 days prior to the first Interest  Payment Date following
the Initial Date in respect of such Lender,  it will deliver to the Borrower and
the  Administrative  Agent (if  appropriate) two duly completed copies of either
(i)  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Service  Form 1001 or 4224 or  successor
applicable form, as the case may be, certifying in each case that such Lender or
the Administrative Agent,


<PAGE>


                                                                             25



as the case may be, is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement and the
Notes  payable to it  without  deduction  or  withholding  of any United  States
federal income taxes and backup withholding taxes or is entitled to receive such
payments at a reduced rate pursuant to a treaty provision or (ii) in the case of
a Lender  that is not a "bank"  within the meaning of Section  881(c)(3)  of the
Code,  United States Internal  Revenue Service Form W-8 or successor  applicable
form and a  statement  from such  Lender  certifying  to the fact that  interest
payable to it hereunder  (A) will not be described  in Section  871(h)(3)(A)  or
Section  881(c)(3)(A),  (B) or (C) of the Code  and (B) will not be  effectively
connected  with a trade or  business  carried  on in the  United  States by such
Lender. Each of each Lender and the Administrative  Agent required to deliver to
the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent a Form 1001, 4224 or W-8 pursuant to
the  preceding  sentence  further  undertakes to deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative  Agent (if  appropriate) two further copies of Form 1001, 4224 or
W-8, or successor  forms,  or other  similar  manner of  certification  and such
extensions  or renewals  thereof as may  reasonably be requested by the Borrower
and,  in the case  where a Form  W-8 has been  delivered,  a  further  statement
certifying to the fact set forth in clause (B) of the preceding  sentence (i) at
the times reasonably requested by the Borrower,  (ii) after the occurrence of an
event  requiring  a  change  in the most  recent  form or  statement  previously
delivered by it to the Borrower or (iii) in the case of Form 1001,  4224 or W-8,
on or before the date that any such form  expires or becomes  obsolete,  and, in
the case of Form 1001 or 4224,  certifying  that  such  Lender  is  entitled  to
receive  payments under this Agreement  without  deduction or withholding of any
United States federal income taxes and backup  withholding  taxes or is entitled
to receive  such  payments at a reduced  rate  pursuant  to a treaty  provision,
unless such Lender  advises the Borrower  that it is unable  lawfully to provide
such forms and other  certifications  and  notifies the Borrower to such effect.
Unless  the  Borrower  and  the   Administrative   Agent  have  received  forms,
certificates  and other documents  satisfactory to them indicating that payments
hereunder  or  under  or in  respect  of the  Notes  to or for  any  Lender  not
incorporated  under the laws of the  United  States or a state  thereof  are not
subject to United  States  withholding  tax or are subject to such tax at a rate
reduced by an applicable tax treaty,  the Borrower or the  Administrative  Agent
shall withhold such taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate.

         (g) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 2.18 shall use reasonable efforts  (consistent with legal and regulatory
restrictions)  to file any certificate or document  requested by the Borrower to
change the jurisdiction of its applicable lending office if the making of such a
filing or change  would  avoid  the need for or  reduce  the  amount of any such
additional  amounts  which may  thereafter  accrue  and would  not,  in the sole
determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.


                              ARTICLE III.

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Each of Holdings  and the Borrower  represents  and warrants to each of
the Lenders  that (it being  agreed that as used in this Article III (other than
Sections  3.08(a)  and 3.16)  and in the term  Material  Adverse  Effect as used
herein  references to  subsidiaries,  Subsidiaries  and Restricted  Subsidiaries
shall include  Larizza and its  subsidiaries  to the extent they would have been
included had the Larizza  Acquisition been consummated prior to the date hereof;
provided,  however,  that any representation or warranty with respect to Larizza
and its  subsidiaries  is made by Holdings and the  Borrower to their  knowledge
based on information they have received from Larizza):

         SECTION 3.01. Organization, Corporate Powers. Each of Holdings and each
Restricted Subsidiary (i) is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated,
(ii) has all requisite corporate power and authority, and all material licenses,
permits,  franchises,  consents and approvals,  to own or lease its property and
assets and to carry on its  business  as now  conducted  and as  proposed  to be
conducted,  (iii) is qualified and in good standing as a foreign  corporation to
do business in every jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary,  except
where the  failure so to qualify  would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect and
(iv) has the corporate power and authority to execute,  deliver and perform each
of the Loan  Documents and each agreement or instrument  contemplated  hereby or
thereby to which it is or will be a party.  None of Holdings  or any  Restricted
Subsidiary of Holdings has any assets or business, or is a party to any material
contract  within  the  meaning  of Item  6.01(b)(10)  of  Regulation  S-K of the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  other than as disclosed or referred to in
(a)  Holdings'  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28,
1995


<PAGE>


                                                                            26



and its Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ending April 29, 1995, July
29, 1995 and October 28, 1995 and (b)  Larizza's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1994 and its Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters  ended  March 31,  1995,  June 30,  1995 and  September  30, 1995 or as
contemplated hereby and thereby.

         SECTION 3.02. Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of
each of the Loan Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the consummation of the
Larizza  Acquisition  and  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by any of the
foregoing  (collectively,  the  "Transactions") (i) have been duly authorized by
all requisite  corporate and, if required,  stockholder action and (ii) will not
(x) violate (A) any provision of law,  statute,  rule or regulation  (including,
without  limitation,   Regulations  G,  T,  U  and  X)  or  the  certificate  of
incorporation or by-laws (or similar governing documents) of any of Holdings and
the Restricted Subsidiaries,  (B) any applicable order of any court or any rule,
regulation  or  order  of  any  Governmental  Authority  or (C)  any  indenture,
certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to
which any of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which any of
them or any of their  property is bound,  (y) be in conflict  with,  result in a
breach of or  constitute  (with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under
any such  indenture,  agreement  or other  instrument  where any such  conflict,
violation,  breach or default  referred to in clause  (ii)(x) or (ii)(y) of this
Section,  individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect
or (z) result in the  creation or  imposition  of any Lien upon any  property or
assets of Holdings or any  subsidiary  of Holdings,  except for Liens created by
the Pledge Agreement.

         SECTION 3.03. Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of Holdings and the Borrower and  constitutes,  and each other
Loan Document  when  executed and delivered by any of Holdings,  the Borrower or
the Subsidiary Guarantors that is or is to be a party thereto will constitute, a
legal, valid and binding obligation of such party enforceable against such party
in  accordance  with its  terms,  except as  enforceability  may be  limited  by
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium,   reorganization  or  other  similar  laws
affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  and  except as  enforceability  may be
limited  by  general   principles   of  equity   (regardless   of  whether  such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

         SECTION 3.04.  Larizza  Acquisition.  On the Closing Date,  the Larizza
Acquisition will be consummated by the Borrower in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Merger Documents and this Agreement.  On the Closing Date, all
consents and approvals of, filings and registrations  with, and other actions in
respect of, all Governmental Authorities required in order to make or consummate
the Larizza Acquisition will have been obtained,  given, filed or taken and will
be in full force and effect, other than any such consents, approvals, filings or
other  actions,  the  failure to obtain or make which  could not  reasonably  be
expected  to result in a Material  Adverse  Effect.  On the  Closing  Date,  all
applicable  waiting  periods  with  respect  thereto  will have  expired or been
terminated  without,  in all such cases, any action being taken by any competent
authority which restrains, prevents, or imposes material adverse conditions upon
the consummation of the Larizza Acquisition. On the Closing Date, there will not
exist any  judgment,  order,  or  injunction  prohibiting  or imposing  material
adverse conditions upon the Larizza Acquisition or the performance by any Credit
Party of their  respective  obligations  under the Loan Documents and the Merger
Documents.

         SECTION 3.05.  Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower will use the proceeds of
the Loans only for the purposes set forth in Section 5.08.

         SECTION 3.06.  Federal Reserve Regulations.  (a)  None of Holdings or 
any subsidiary of Holdings is engaged principally, or as one of its important 
activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing 
or carrying Margin Stock.

         (b) The  making  of the  Loans  hereunder  and the use of the  proceeds
thereof as contemplated hereby and the other Transactions will not violate or be
inconsistent  with the  provisions of the  Regulations  of the Board,  including
Regulations G, T, U and X.

         SECTION 3.07.  Pledge  Agreement.  Upon delivery of the duly  completed
Acknowledgment to the Collateral  Agreement,  the security  interests created in
favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,  under the Pledge
Agreement  will  at all  times  constitute  first-priority,  perfected  security
interests in the Pledged


<PAGE>


                                                                            27



Securities,  and such Pledged Securities will be subject to no Liens or security
interests of any other person.  No filings or recordings are or will be required
in order to perfect the  security  interests in the Pledged  Securities  created
under the Pledge Agreement.

         SECTION 3.08.  Financial  Statements.  (a) (i) Holdings has  heretofore
furnished to each of the Lenders  consolidated  balance sheets and  consolidated
statements of income and cash flow of Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries
as of and for the fiscal  years ended  January  28,  1995 and January 29,  1994,
certified by Arthur Andersen & Co.,  independent public accountants for Holdings
and (ii)  Holdings has  heretofore  furnished  to each of the Lenders  unaudited
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated  statements of income and cash flow
of  Holdings  and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  as of and for the thirty nine
weeks ended October 28, 1995.  Such balance  sheets and statements of income and
cash flows present  fairly the financial  condition and results of operations of
Holdings and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  on a consolidated  basis as of the
dates and for the periods  indicated.  Except as disclosed  in Holdings'  Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended  January 28, 1995 and its Reports
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarters  ending April 29, 1995,  July 29, 1995 and
October 28, 1995,  neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries had, at the date
of the most recent  balance  sheet  referred to above,  any material  Guarantee,
contingent  liability or liability for taxes,  or any long-term lease or unusual
forward or long-term  commitment,  including,  without limitation,  any interest
rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction, which is not reflected in
the foregoing  statements  or in the notes  thereto.  The  financial  statements
referred to in this Section  3.08(a) have been prepared in accordance  with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis.

         (b) The pro forma  consolidating  balance  sheet of  Holdings  (showing
Holdings,  Larizza and acquisition adjustments) as of September 30, 1995 (in the
case of  Larizza)  and October  28,  1995 (in the case of  Holdings)  previously
delivered  to the  Lenders  is the  unaudited  consolidating  balance  sheet  of
Holdings  as of such  date,  adjusted  to give  effect  (as if such  events  had
occurred on such date) to the Larizza Acquisition and other identified pro forma
adjustments  set forth  therein,  including the payment of all fees and expenses
expected to be incurred in connection therewith (as estimated at the time of the
preparation  of such  balance  sheet),  based  upon  the  assumptions  specified
therein.  Such pro forma  consolidating  balance sheet presents fairly, on a pro
forma basis,  the consolidated  financial  position of Holdings as of such dates
assuming  that the events  specified  in the  preceding  sentence  had  actually
occurred  or are true,  as the case may be,  on such date and has been  prepared
based upon  reasonable  assumptions  and in  accordance  with GAAP  applied on a
consistent basis.

         SECTION 3.09. No Material  Adverse  Change.  There has been no material
adverse  change in the  business,  properties,  assets,  operations or financial
condition of Holdings and its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, since
October 28, 1995.

         SECTION 3.10. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases. (a) Each of
Holdings, the Borrower and the Significant  Subsidiaries has good and marketable
title to, or valid  leasehold  interests  in, or easements  on or other  limited
property  interests in, all their  respective  material  properties  and assets,
except for minor defects in title and limitations on property  interests that do
not interfere with their respective ability to conduct their respective business
as  currently  conducted  or to  utilize  such  properties  and assets for their
intended purposes. All such material properties and assets are free and clear of
Liens, other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.04.

         (b) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Significant Subsidiaries has
complied with all obligations  under all material leases to which it is a party,
except where the failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and
all such leases are in full force and effect,  except leases in respect of which
the  failure to be in full force and  effect  would not have a Material  Adverse
Effect. Each of Holdings,  the Borrower and the Significant  Subsidiaries enjoys
peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such material leases.

         (c) Each of Holdings,  the Borrower  and the  Significant  Subsidiaries
owns or  possesses,  or could obtain  ownership or  possession  of, on terms not
materially adverse to it, all patents,  trademarks,  service marks, trade names,
copyrights,  licenses and rights with respect thereto  necessary for the present
conduct of its business,  without any known  conflict with the rights of others,
and free from any  burdensome  restrictions,  except  where such  conflicts  and
restrictions  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a  Material
Adverse Effect.



<PAGE>


                                                                             28



         SECTION 3.11.  Subsidiaries.  (a)  Schedule 3.11(a) sets forth as of 
the Closing Date a list of all Subsidiaries of Holdings and the percentage 
ownership interest of Holdings therein and whether such Subsidiaries are 
Significant Subsidiaries.

         (b) There are no outstanding  subscriptions,  options, warrants, calls,
rights or other  agreements or commitments  (other than stock options granted to
employees,  consultants  or directors and directors'  qualifying  shares) of any
nature  relating to any capital stock of any subsidiary of Holdings,  except for
the Pledge Agreement, the Merger Documents or as provided in Schedule 3.11(b).

         SECTION 3.12. Litigation; Compliance with Laws. (a) Except as described
in Holdings'  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  January 28,
1995 and its Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ending April 29, 1995,
July 29,  1995  and  October  28,  1995,  there  are not any  actions,  suits or
proceedings  at law or in  equity  or by or  before  any  court or  Governmental
Authority  now  pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of  Holdings  or the  Borrower,
threatened  against or  affecting  Holdings  or any of its  subsidiaries  or any
property or rights of Holdings or any of its subsidiaries as to which there is a
reasonable  possibility of an adverse  determination  and which (i) if adversely
determined,  could individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse
Effect or (ii) involve the Loan Documents or (iii) if adversely determined could
materially adversely affect the Larizza Acquisition.

         (b) None of  Holdings  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is in default  with
respect  to  any  law,  order,  judgment,  writ,  injunction,  decree,  rule  or
regulation  of any  Governmental  Authority  where  such  default  could  have a
Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  Borrowings  hereunder,  the use of the proceeds
thereof  as  described  in Section  5.08 and the  Larizza  Acquisition  will not
violate any  applicable  law or  regulation  or violate or be  prohibited by any
judgment,  writ,  injunction,  decree  or  order of any  court  or  Governmental
Authority  or  subject  Holdings  or any of its  subsidiaries  to any  civil  or
criminal penalty or fine.

         SECTION 3.13.  Agreements. (a) None of Holdings or any of its 
Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any 
corporate restriction that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to 
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b) None of  Holdings or any of its  Subsidiaries  is in default in any
manner under any  provision of any  indenture or other  agreement or  instrument
evidencing  Indebtedness or any other material  agreement or instrument to which
it is a party or by which it or any of its  properties  or assets  are or may be
bound,  in either case where such  default  could  result in a Material  Adverse
Effect. After giving effect to the Larizza  Acquisition,  no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

         SECTION 3.14.  Investment Company Act.  None of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an 
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, 
as amended.

         SECTION 3.15.  Public Utility  Holding Company Act. None of Holdings or
any of its Subsidiaries is a "holding company",  or a "subsidiary  company" of a
"holding company",  or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary
company"  of a  "holding  company",  within the  meaning  of the Public  Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

         SECTION 3.16. Tax Returns.  Each of Holdings and its  Subsidiaries  has
filed or caused to be filed all Federal,  and all material state and local,  tax
returns  required to have been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all
taxes shown  thereon to be due and  payable,  and any  assessments  in excess of
$2,000,000  in the  aggregate  received  by it,  except  taxes  that  are  being
contested  in  accordance  with Section  5.03 and taxes,  assessments,  charges,
levies or claims in respect of property  taxes for property that Holdings or one
of its  Subsidiaries  has determined to abandon where the sole recourse for such
tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property. Each of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries has paid in full or made adequate provision (in accordance with
GAAP) for the payment of all taxes due with respect to the periods  ending on or
before January 28, 1995,  which taxes,  if not paid or adequately  provided for,
would have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The tax  returns  of  Holdings  and its
Subsidiaries  have been  examined by relevant  Federal tax  authorities  for all
periods through January 25, 1992, and all deficiencies


<PAGE>


                                                                            29



asserted as a result of such examinations have been paid. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.16, as of the Closing Date,  with respect to each of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries,  (i) no material claims are being asserted in writing with respect
to any taxes,  (ii) no presently  effective waivers or extensions of statutes of
limitation  with  respect to taxes have been  given or  requested,  (iii) no tax
returns are being  examined  by, and no written  notification  of  intention  to
examine has been received from, the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority  and (iv) no currently  pending  issues have been raised in writing by
the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. For purposes hereof,
"taxes"  shall mean any  present or future  tax,  levy,  impost,  duty,  charge,
assessment  or fee of any nature  (including  interest,  penalties and additions
thereto) that is imposed by any Governmental Authority.

         SECTION 3.17. No Material Misstatements. (a) The information,  reports,
financial  statements,  exhibits  and  schedules  furnished  by or on  behalf of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Administrative Agent or
any Lender in connection  with the  negotiation of any Loan Document or included
therein or delivered  pursuant thereto  (including the Merger  Documents),  when
taken as a whole, did not contain,  and as they may be amended,  supplemented or
modified  from  time to  time,  will not  contain,  as of the  Closing  Date any
material  misstatement  of fact and did not  omit,  and as they may be  amended,
supplemented  or modified  from time to time,  will not omit, to state as of the
Closing Date any material fact necessary to make the statements  therein, in the
light of the  circumstances  under  which  they were,  are or will be made,  not
materially  misleading in their  presentation  of the Larizza  Acquisition or of
Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         (b) All financial projections  concerning Holdings and its Subsidiaries
that are or have been made available to the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender
by  Holdings  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  or  Affiliates,  unless  otherwise
disclosed,  have been or will be prepared  in good faith based upon  assumptions
believed by Holdings and the Borrower to be reasonable.

         SECTION  3.18.  Employee  Benefit  Plans.  Each  of  Holdings  and  the
Restricted  Subsidiaries  and each of their ERISA Affiliates is in compliance in
all  material  respects  with  the  applicable   provisions  of  ERISA  and  the
regulations   and   published   interpretations   thereunder   except  for  such
noncompliance  which  would not be  expected  to result  in a  Material  Adverse
Effect.  No  Reportable  Event has  occurred as to which  Holdings or any of the
Restricted  Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates was required to file a
report with the PBGC, other than reports for which the 30 day notice requirement
is waived, reports that have been filed and reports the failure of which to file
would not result in a Material  Adverse  Effect and as of the Closing Date,  the
present  value of all benefit  liabilities  under each Plan of Holdings  and the
Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates (on a termination basis
and based on those  assumptions  used to fund such Plan) did not, as of the last
annual valuation report applicable thereto,  exceed by more than $15,000,000 the
value of the assets of such Plan on a termination basis. None of Holdings or any
of the Restricted  Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
could reasonably be expected to incur any Withdrawal Liability that could result
in a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  None  of  Holdings  or any  of the  Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates has received any notification that
any  Multiemployer  Plan is in  reorganization or has been terminated within the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no Multiemployer  Plan is reasonably  expected
to be  in  reorganization  or to be  terminated  where  such  reorganization  or
termination  has  resulted or could  reasonably  be expected to result,  through
increases in the contributions required to be made to such Plan or otherwise, in
a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 3.19.  Labor Matters.  There are no strikes against Holdings or
any of its Subsidiaries pending,  other than any strikes which,  individually or
in the  aggregate,  could not  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a Material
Adverse  Effect.  The hours worked and payment made to employees of Holdings and
each of its  Subsidiaries  have not been in violation in any material respect of
the Fair Labor  Standards  Act or any other  applicable  law  dealing  with such
matters. All material payments due from Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries,  or
for which any claim may be made against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries,  on
account of wages and employee  health and welfare  insurance and other  benefits
have been paid or  accrued  as a  liability  on the  books of  Holdings  or such
subsidiary  to the extent  required  by GAAP.  The  consummation  of the Larizza
Acquisition  will  not  give  rise  to  a  right  of  termination  or  right  of
renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement
to which Holdings or any of its  Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is a party or
by which  Holdings or any of its  subsidiaries  (or any  predecessor)  is bound,
other  than  collective  bargaining  agreements  which,  individually  or in the
aggregate, are not material to Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.


<PAGE>


                                                                              30




         SECTION 3.20. Environmental Matters. (a) Except as disclosed in writing
to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prior to the date of this Agreement,
which  disclosed  matters  individually  and in the aggregate are not reasonably
expected by Holdings or the  Borrower  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  (i)
Holdings and each of its  Subsidiaries  has  complied in all  respects  with all
applicable  Federal,  state,  local  and  other  statutes,  ordinances,  orders,
judgments,  rulings and regulations  relating to  environmental  pollution or to
environmental  regulation or control,  except to the extent of any failure so to
comply  which alone and  together  with other such  failures  is not  reasonably
expected to result in a Material  Adverse  Effect;  (ii) none of Holdings or any
Subsidiary  of Holdings  has  received  notice of any failure so to comply which
alone or together with other such failures is reasonably expected to result in a
Material  Adverse Effect;  and (iii) none of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries
manages,  transports  or stores  any  hazardous  wastes,  hazardous  substances,
hazardous  materials,  toxic substances or toxic pollutants,  as those terms are
used  in  the  Resource   Conservation  and  Recovery  Act,  the   Comprehensive
Environmental  Response  Compensation and Liability Act, the Hazardous Materials
Transportation  Act, the Toxic  Substance  Control Act, the Clean Air Act or the
Clean Water Act, in violation of any applicable regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto or of any other applicable law where such violation is reasonably likely
to result, individually or together with other violations, in a Material Adverse
Effect.

         (b)  Except  with  respect  to matters  that,  individually  and in the
aggregate,  Holdings  and the  Borrower  reasonably  believe  would  not  have a
Material Adverse Effect,  as of the Closing Date: (i) the operations of Holdings
and each of its Subsidiaries  comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws
and, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower after  inquiry,  no conditions
exist (including at properties leased or subleased to third persons) which would
subject  Holdings  or  its  Subsidiaries  to  damages,  liabilities,  penalties,
injunctive relief or clean-up costs under any Environmental Law or which require
or are reasonably  likely to require any Remedial Action under any Environmental
Law; (ii) each of Holdings and its Subsidiaries  has obtained all  Environmental
Permits  necessary for its operation or required by any  Environmental  Law, and
all such Environmental Permits are in good standing, and none of Holdings or its
Subsidiaries has been cited by a Governmental  Authority for violating any terms
or conditions of such Environmental Permits within the five-year period prior to
the Closing  Date;  (iii) none of Holdings or its  Subsidiaries  is subject or a
party to any Environmental  Claim;  (iv) with respect to present  facilities and
operations,  none of  Holdings  or its  Subsidiaries,  or, to the  knowledge  of
Holdings or the Borrower,  any  predecessor  of such persons,  is subject to any
outstanding  written  order or  agreement  with any  Governmental  Authority  or
private party  respecting  (A) any  Environmental  Law, (B) any Remedial  Action
under  any  Environmental  Law,  or  (C)  any  Environmental  Claim;  (v) to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, none of the operations of any of Holdings
or its  Subsidiaries  is the  subject  of any  investigation  by a  Governmental
Authority  evaluating whether any Remedial Action under any Environmental Law is
needed;  (vi) none of  Holdings  or its  Subsidiaries  or, to the  knowledge  of
Holdings or the Borrower,  any  predecessor of such persons has filed any notice
under any  Environmental  Law indicating past or present  treatment,  storage or
disposal of a hazardous  waste as defined under 40 C.F.R.  Parts 260 through 270
(in effect as of the  Closing  Date) or any state  equivalent,  or  reporting  a
Release of a  Contaminant;  (vii) to the  knowledge  of Holdings or the Borrower
except as  permitted  under  any  Environmental  Law,  none of  Holdings  or its
Subsidiaries has experienced a Release of any Contaminant, and there has been no
voluntary  disposal,  use,  storage,  recycling or treatment on, under or at any
property  of such  person  (or in  tanks  or other  facilities  thereon)  of any
Contaminant which, if known to be present on such property,  or present in soils
or groundwater,  would require Remedial Action under any Environmental  Law; and
(viii)  no Lien in favor of any  Governmental  Authority  for (A) any  liability
under any  Environmental  Law or (B) damages  arising from or costs  incurred by
such  Governmental  Authority in response to a Release of a Contaminant into the
environment has been recorded with respect to any property of Holdings or any of
its  Subsidiaries.  For purposes of this Section 3.20(b),  "knowledge" means the
actual  knowledge  of any  Responsible  Officer of  Holdings  or any  Restricted
Subsidiary,   any  officer  of  Holdings  or  any  Restricted   Subsidiary  with
responsibility for environmental  compliance, or any plant or facilities manager
with responsibility for overall management of such plant or facility of Holdings
or any of its Subsidiaries.

         (c) Each of Holdings  and its  Subsidiaries  reasonably  believes  that
Holdings  and its  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis  have  made  adequate
provision (in accordance with GAAP) for all damages,  liabilities,  penalties or
costs that they reasonably  expect to incur in connection with any Environmental
Claim or any Remedial  Action  existing or, to the  knowledge of Holdings or the
Borrower, reasonably anticipated as of the date of this Agreement.



<PAGE>


                                                                             31



         SECTION 3.21. Solvency. (a) The fair salable value of the assets of the
Borrower exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of
the existing debts and other liabilities  (including contingent  liabilities) of
the  Borrower  as they  mature.  The assets of the  Borrower  do not  constitute
unreasonably small capital to carry out its business as conducted or as proposed
to be  conducted.  The Borrower does not intend to, and does not believe that it
will,  incur debts  beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature  (taking
into account the Larizza Acquisition).

              (b) Upon consummation of the Larizza Acquisition, the fair salable
value of the assets of the Borrower and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole will
exceed  the  amount  that will be  required  to be paid on or in  respect of the
existing debts and other liabilities  (including contingent  liabilities) of the
Borrower and its subsidiaries.

              (c) The assets of the  Borrower  and its  subsidiaries  taken as a
whole  do not,  and upon  consummation  of the  Larizza  Acquisition  will  not,
constitute unreasonably small capital for the Borrower and its subsidiaries,  to
carry out their  respective  businesses  as now  conducted and as proposed to be
conducted  including  the capital  needs of the  Borrower  and its  subsidiaries
taking  into  account  the  particular  capital  requirements  of  the  business
conducted by the Borrower and each of its  subsidiaries,  and projected  capital
requirements and capital availability thereof.

              (d) The Borrower does not intend to, and does not intend to permit
any of its subsidiaries  to, incur debts beyond their respective  ability to pay
such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to
be received by the Borrower and each of such subsidiaries,  and of amounts to be
payable on or in respect of debt of the Borrower and each of such subsidiaries.

         SECTION   3.22.   Absence  of  Certain   Restrictions.   No  indenture,
certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to
which  Holdings  or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  is a  party  will  prohibit  or
materially   restrain,   or  have  the  effect  of   prohibiting  or  materially
restraining,  or imposing  materially adverse conditions upon, the incurrence of
Indebtedness,  the granting of Liens, the provision of Guarantees or the payment
of dividends by  subsidiaries  of Holdings  except for  restrictions  (a) on the
granting of Liens on assets that are encumbered by Liens  permitted under clause
(a),  (b),  (i),  (k),  (l) or (r) of  Section  6.04,  to the  extent  that such
restrictions  apply  only to the  assets so  encumbered  and are  imposed by the
agreements  under which such Liens were granted or (b)  contained in  agreements
relating to Indebtedness not in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate.

         SECTION 3.23.  No Foreign  Assets  Control  Regulation  Violation.  The
Larizza  Acquisition will not result in a violation of any of the foreign assets
control  regulations  of the  United  States  Treasury  Department,  31  C.F.R.,
Subtitle  B,  Chapter  V, as  amended  (including  the  Foreign  Assets  Control
Regulations,  the  Transaction  Control  Regulations,  the Cuban Assets  Control
Regulations,  the Foreign Funds Control Regulations,  the Iranian Assets Control
Regulations,  the  Nicaraguan  Trade  Control  Regulations,  the  South  African
Transactions Regulations, the Libyan Sanctions Regulations, the Soviet Gold Coin
Regulations, the Panamanian Transactions Regulations, the Kuwaiti Assets Control
Regulations and the Iraqi Sanctions Regulations contained in said Chapter V), or
any  ruling  issued  thereunder  or any  enabling  legislation  or  Presidential
Executive Order granting authority therefor,  nor will the proceeds of the Loans
be used by the Borrower in a manner that would violate any thereof.

         SECTION  3.24.   Insurance.   Each  of  Holdings  and  the   Restricted
Subsidiaries  carries and  maintains  with respect to its  insurable  properties
insurance  (including  self  insurance)  with  financially  sound and  reputable
insurers of the types,  to such extent and  against  such risks as is  customary
with companies in the same or similar businesses, including fire and other risks
insured  against by extended  coverage and public  liability  insurance  against
claims for personal  injury or death or property  damages  occurring  upon,  in,
about  or in  connection  with  the use of any  properties  owned,  occupied  or
controlled by it.

         SECTION 3.25. Certain Other  Representations.  All  representations and
warranties  contained in any other Loan  Document and made by any of Holdings or
any of its  Subsidiaries  are true and  correct as of the date made or deemed to
have been made.

         SECTION 3.26.  Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness.  Indebtedness under 
this Agreement constitutes Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness under this 
Agreement and under the 1994 Credit Agreement. This Agreement


<PAGE>


                                                                          32



constitutes a Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness Agreement under the Guarantee
Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement. The Larizza Acquisition constitutes
a Permitted Business Acquisition under this Agreement and under the 1994 
Credit Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE IV.

                                    CONDITIONS


         SECTION 4.01. The  obligations  of the Lenders to make Loans  hereunder
are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions on the Closing Date:

              (a) The  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received  a notice of
         Borrowing as required by Section 2.03.

              (b) The  representations  and  warranties  set  forth in each Loan
         Document  shall be true and correct in all material  respects on and as
         of the  Closing  Date with the same  effect as though made on and as of
         such date,  except to the extent such  representations  and  warranties
         expressly relate to an earlier date.

              (c) At the time of and  immediately  after  the  Borrowing  on the
         Closing Date, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing.

              (d) Each Lender,  if it so requests in accordance  with subsection
         2.04(e),  shall have received a duly executed Note  complying  with the
         provisions of Section 2.04.

              (e) The  Administrative  Agent  shall have  received  all Fees and
         other  amounts  due  and  payable  on or  prior  to the  Closing  Date,
         including  reimbursement of any  out-of-pocket  expenses referred to in
         Section  9.05  (to the  extent  that  notice  thereof  is  given to the
         Borrower prior to the Closing Date).

              (f) The  Administrative  Agent shall have  received the  favorable
         written  opinions of (i) Cravath,  Swaine & Moore,  special counsel for
         Holdings and its  subsidiaries,  and (ii)  Elizabeth R. Philipp,  Esq.,
         general  counsel  for  Holdings  and its  subsidiaries,  each dated the
         Closing Date and  addressed to the Lenders,  and in form and  substance
         satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent and covering the matters set
         forth in Exhibit D.

              (g) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of the
         certificate  or articles of  incorporation,  including  all  amendments
         thereto, of each of the Borrower, Holdings and Larizza, certified as of
         a recent date, and a certificate as to the good standing of each of the
         Borrower, Holdings and Larizza as of a recent date, from such Secretary
         of State; (ii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
         each of the  Borrower,  Holdings and Larizza dated the Closing Date and
         certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the
         by-laws of such entity as in effect on the Closing  Date and (except as
         specified in such  certificate)  at all times since a date prior to the
         date of the  resolutions  described  in  clause  (B)  below,  (B)  that
         attached  thereto  is a true  and  complete  copy of  resolutions  duly
         adopted  by the  Board of  Directors  of such  entity  authorizing  the
         execution,  delivery and  performance of the Loan Documents to which it
         is a party,  the granting of the Liens  thereunder  and, in the case of
         the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder,  and that such resolutions have
         not been  modified,  rescinded  or  amended  and are in full  force and
         effect,  (C) that the certificate or articles of  incorporation of such
         entity  have  not been  amended  since  the date of the last  amendment
         thereto shown on the certificate of good standing furnished pursuant to
         clause (i) above,  and (D) as to the incumbency and specimen  signature
         of each officer  executing on the Closing Date any Loan Document or any
         other  document  delivered  in  connection  herewith  on behalf of such
         entity; (iii) a certificate of another officer as to the incumbency and
         specimen  signature of the Secretary or Assistant  Secretary  executing
         the  certificate   pursuant  to  (ii)  above;  (iv)  a  certificate  or
         equivalent  documentation  from the Secretary of State of each state in
         which any of the  Borrower,  Holdings  and  Larizza  conducts  material
         business or owns material assets as to the qualification of such entity
         to do


<PAGE>


                                                                             33



         business  and its good  standing  in such  state;  and (v)  such  other
         documents  as the  Lenders  or  their  counsel  or  Simpson  Thacher  &
         Bartlett,  special counsel for the Administrative Agent, may reasonably
         request.

              (h) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received a  certificate,
         dated the Closing  Date and signed by a  Financial  Officer of Holdings
         and the Borrower,  confirming  compliance with the conditions precedent
         set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 4.01 and those set forth
         in paragraphs (l), (n) and (o) of this Section 4.01 (disregarding,  for
         this purpose,  the  provisions of any such  paragraph that refer to the
         satisfaction of the  Administrative  Agent,  its counsel or the Lenders
         with any matter).

              (i) The Pledge Agreement shall have been duly executed by Holdings
         and each  Restricted  Subsidiary  listed  therein and  delivered to the
         Collateral Agent and shall be in full force and effect, all outstanding
         shares of capital  stock of the Borrower and each  domestic  subsidiary
         thereof (including  Larizza),  65% of the outstanding shares of capital
         stock of each foreign  subsidiary  owned  directly by the Borrower or a
         domestic  subsidiary of the Borrower and all inter-company  obligations
         in  excess  of  $10,000,000  held  by  Holdings,  the  Borrower  or any
         subsidiary  of the  Borrower  and  evidenced  by notes,  bonds or other
         instruments  shall have been duly and validly pledged to the Collateral
         Agent  for  the  benefit  of  the  Secured  Parties  and   certificates
         representing all such shares and the instruments  representing all such
         obligations shall be in the actual possession of the Collateral Agent.

              (j)  The  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  received  each  document
         (including  Uniform Commercial Code financing  statements)  required by
         law or  reasonably  requested  by the  Collateral  Agent  to be  filed,
         registered  or recorded  in order to create in favor of the  Collateral
         Agent  for the  benefit  of the  Secured  Parties  a valid,  legal  and
         perfected first priority security interest in or lien on the Collateral
         that is the subject of the Pledge Agreement. The Collateral Agent shall
         have accepted the Acknowledgement.

              (k) The  Guarantee  Agreement  shall  have been duly  executed  by
         Holdings and each other Guarantor and delivered to the Collateral Agent
         and shall be in full force and effect on such date.

              (l) Except in connection with the Larizza Acquisition, there shall
         not have occurred any material change in the capitalization (whether in
         debt or equity),  corporate  structure  or assets of Holdings or any of
         its subsidiaries, or any changes in the certificate of incorporation or
         by-laws of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

              (m) (i) There shall have been  delivered  to the Lenders  true and
         correct  copies  of the  Merger  Agreement.  The  Larizza  Acquisition,
         including all of the terms and conditions thereof, shall have been duly
         approved  by the board of  directors  and,  if  legally  required,  the
         stockholders  of the Borrower  and each party to the Merger  Agreement,
         and all Merger Documents shall have been duly executed and delivered by
         the parties thereto and shall be in full force and effect.  Each of the
         material conditions  precedent to each party's obligation to consummate
         the  Merger  as set  forth in the  Merger  Documents  shall  have  been
         satisfied,  or  waived,  all  to  the  reasonable  satisfaction  of the
         Administrative  Agent, and concurrently with the making of the Loans on
         the  Closing  Date  the  Merger  shall  have  been  consummated  for an
         aggregate merger  consideration not to exceed  $145,000,000  (excluding
         repayment of debt) in accordance with the Merger Documents, any waivers
         relating  thereto  (which,  if  material,  have  been  approved  by the
         Administrative  Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably  withheld),
         if any, and all applicable  laws,  rules and  regulations.  The Larizza
         Acquisition  shall have been  approved  or  exempted  by all  requisite
         Governmental  Authorities,   and  all  such  approvals  or  exemptions,
         including  any  conditions  imposed  thereby,  shall  be  in  form  and
         substance  acceptable to the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.
         No action  shall have been taken by any  Governmental  Authority  which
         restrains  or prevents  or seeks to restrain or prevent,  or imposes or
         seeks  to  impose  materially  adverse  conditions  upon,  the  Larizza
         Acquisition.  Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  the
         Required Lenders shall be satisfied, in their sole discretion, that all
         governmental approvals have been obtained which, if not obtained, could
         render the  obligations to the Lenders under the Loan Documents  either
         void or voidable or subordinate  them to other claims or obligations or
         could impair or subject to subordination the security  interests of, or
         the exercise of remedies by, the Lenders.



<PAGE>


                                                                            34



                   (ii) The  Administrative  Agent shall be satisfied  with fees
         and expenses relating to the Merger shall not exceed $12,000,000.

              (n) No action, suit, litigation or similar proceeding at law or in
         equity or by or before any court or Governmental  Authority shall exist
         or,  in  the  case  of  litigation  by  a  Governmental  Authority,  be
         threatened,  with respect to the Larizza Acquisition which would in the
         reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders be likely to have a Material
         Adverse Effect.

              (o) Larizza shall,  on a basis that is reasonably  satisfactory to
         the Administrative Agent and is substantially  contemporaneous with the
         Borrowing  hereunder  on the  Closing  Date (A) have repaid in full the
         principal  of and  accrued  interest  on all loans  and  other  amounts
         outstanding  under the Existing  Larizza  Credit  Agreements,  (B) have
         terminated the Existing  Larizza Credit  Agreements and all commitments
         thereunder  and (C) have  obtained  the  release  and  termination  (or
         assignment to the Collateral  Agent) of all liens securing  obligations
         thereunder  (including  the  execution,  delivery  and  filing  of  all
         necessary  releases and termination or assignment  statements,  in form
         and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

              (p)  The Closing Date shall occur prior to January 31, 1996.

              (q) Each Lender and the  Administrative  Agent shall have received
         the pro forma  consolidating  balance  sheet of Holdings  described  in
         Section  3.08(b)  and the same shall be  satisfactory  to the  Required
         Lenders.

              (r) All aspects of the structure and  documentation of the Larizza
         Acquisition  and all  corporate  and other  proceedings  taken or to be
         taken in  connection  therewith and all  documents  incidental  thereto
         shall  be  reasonably   satisfactory  in  form  and  substance  to  the
         Administrative Agent and to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, special counsel
         for the  Administrative  Agent,  and each  Lender  shall have  received
         copies  of all  such  documents  as such  Lender,  acting  through  the
         Administrative   Agent,  may  reasonably  request.  All  legal  matters
         incident  to this  Agreement  and the  borrowings  hereunder  shall  be
         reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent and to  Simpson
         Thacher & Bartlett, special counsel for the Administrative Agent.

         Each of Holdings and the Borrower  hereby directs its counsel  referred
to in clause (f) above to deliver the  opinions to be  delivered by such counsel
pursuant to such  paragraph,  it being  understood that the Lenders will and may
rely thereon.

                                ARTICLE V.

                            AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Each of Holdings  and the Borrower  covenants  and agrees that from and
after the Closing Date, so long as this Agreement  shall remain in effect or the
principal of or interest on any Loan,  any Fees or any other expenses or amounts
payable  under or in respect of any Loan  Document  shall be unpaid,  unless the
Required Lenders shall otherwise  consent in writing,  Holdings and the Borrower
will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:

         SECTION 5.01. Existence;  Businesses and Properties. (a) Do or cause to
be done all  things  necessary  to  preserve,  renew and keep in full  force and
effect  its legal  existence,  except as  otherwise  expressly  permitted  under
Section  6.08 and  except  for the  liquidation  or  dissolution  of  Restricted
Subsidiaries  (other  than  Significant  Subsidiaries)  if the  assets  of  such
corporations to the extent they exceed  estimated  liabilities are acquired by a
wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary in such liquidation or dissolution;  provided
that  Subsidiaries  which are Guarantors may not be liquidated into Subsidiaries
that are not Guarantors  and domestic  Subsidiaries  may not be liquidated  into
foreign Subsidiaries.

         (b) Do or cause to be done all things  necessary  to obtain,  preserve,
renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights,  licenses,  permits,
franchises,  authorizations,  patents,  copyrights,  trademarks  and trade names
material to the conduct of its  business;  comply in all material  respects with
all applicable laws, rules, regulations and


<PAGE>


                                                                           35



orders  of any  Governmental  Authority,  whether  now in  effect  or  hereafter
enacted;  and at all times  maintain and  preserve all property  material to the
conduct of such  business and keep such  property in good repair,  working order
and condition  and from time to time make, or cause to be made,  all needful and
proper repairs,  renewals,  additions,  improvements  and  replacements  thereto
necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any,
may be properly conducted at all times.

         (c)  Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  provisions  of Section
5.01(b),  each of Holdings and the Borrower  shall (i)(A)  undertake  reasonable
efforts  to comply,  and to cause each  Subsidiary  to comply,  in all  material
respects  with  all  Environmental  Laws  and  any  order,   decree  or  similar
requirements of any Governmental  Authority  concerning (1) a material violation
of any Environmental Law, (2) a financial contribution by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries  under any  Environmental Law or (3) a Remedial Action by or on the
part of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries  under any Environmental Law and (B)
undertake  reasonable efforts to remedy and to cause each of its Subsidiaries to
remedy,  as  soon  as  reasonably   practicable,   any  material   violation  of
Environmental  Laws,  except in any case that  compliance or remedy shall not be
required  insofar as any failure to undertake such efforts cannot  reasonably be
expected by Holdings or the Borrower to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,  or so
long as (x) the validity of the same shall be contested  diligently  and in good
faith,  (y) the  subject  property  does not  contain a material  plant or other
facility or shall then be in no danger of being sold, forfeited or lost pursuant
to such contest and (z) reserves have been  established in accordance  with GAAP
by Holdings or such  subsidiary  in  connection  therewith;  and (ii)  undertake
reasonable  efforts to require and to cause each of its subsidiaries to require,
to the extent practicable and appropriate,  that a lease for any renewing or new
tenant contain terms substantially equivalent to those of clause (i) above.

         SECTION  5.02.   Insurance.   Keep  its  insurable  properties  insured
(including  through  self-insurance)  at all  times  by  financially  sound  and
reputable  insurers in such amounts as shall be customary for similar businesses
and maintain  such other  insurance,  of such types,  to such extent and against
such risks,  as is customary with  companies in the same or similar  businesses,
including  insurance  against fire and other risks  insured  against by extended
coverage and public  liability  insurance  against claims for personal injury or
death or property damage occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use
of any properties  owned,  occupied or controlled by it; and maintain such other
insurance as may be required by law.

         SECTION 5.03. Taxes. Pay and discharge promptly all taxes,  assessments
and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits
or in respect of its  property,  before the same shall become  delinquent  or in
default,  as well as all lawful  claims for labor,  materials  and  supplies  or
otherwise  which,  if unpaid,  might give rise to a Lien upon such properties or
any part thereof;  provided,  however, that such payment and discharge shall not
be required with respect to any such tax,  assessment,  charge, levy or claim so
long as (a) the validity or amount  thereof  shall be contested in good faith by
appropriate   proceedings  and  Holdings  or  any  Restricted   Subsidiary,   as
applicable,  shall set aside on its books adequate  reserves as required by GAAP
with respect  thereto,  (b) such tax,  assessment,  charge,  levy or claim is in
respect of property  taxes for property that  Holdings or one of the  Restricted
Subsidiaries  has  determined  to abandon  and the sole  recourse  for such tax,
assessment,  charge, levy or claim is to such property or (c) the amount of such
taxes assessments, charges, levies and claims and interest and penalties thereon
does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate.

         SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements,  Reports,  Amendments,  etc. In the
case of Holdings,  furnish to the Administrative  Agent for distribution to each
1995 Credit  Agreement  Creditor  (with  sufficient  copies for each 1995 Credit
Agreement Creditor):

              (a) within 90 (or,  in the case of clause  (ii)  below,  105) days
         after the end of each fiscal year (x)  consolidated  balance sheets and
         related  statements of income and cash flows,  showing the consolidated
         financial  condition of each of (i) Holdings and its  Subsidiaries  and
         (ii) Holdings and the Restricted  Subsidiaries,  in each case as of the
         close of such fiscal year and the  results of their  operations  during
         such year, audited in the case of clause (i) above by Arthur Andersen &
         Co. or other  independent  public  accountants  of recognized  national
         standing  (who shall be  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Administrative
         Agent) and  accompanied by (1) in the case of clause (i), an opinion of
         such accountants (which shall not be qualified in any material respect)
         to the  effect  that  such  consolidated  financial  statements  fairly
         present


<PAGE>


                                                                           36



         the  financial  condition and results of operations of Holdings and its
         consolidated subsidiaries and Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries,
         respectively,  in  accordance  with  GAAP  and (2) a  certificate  of a
         Financial   Officer   certifying  that  such   consolidated   financial
         statements  fairly  present  the  financial  condition  and  results of
         operations of Holdings and its  consolidated  subsidiaries and Holdings
         and the Restricted Subsidiaries,  respectively, in accordance with GAAP
         consistently  applied  (except as  disclosed  in such  certificate,  in
         reasonable detail,  which detail shall be reasonably  acceptable to the
         Administrative  Agent) and (y) a statement of  stockholders'  equity of
         Holdings, presented on a basis consistent with the financial statements
         furnished  pursuant  to  clause  (x)  above,  and  certified  by one of
         Holdings'  Financial  Officers as fairly  presenting the  stockholders'
         equity of Holdings in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except
         as disclosed in such  certificate  in reasonable  detail,  which detail
         shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent);

              (b)  within 45 (or,  in the case of clause  (ii)  below,  60) days
         after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal
         year, the consolidated  balance sheets and related statements of income
         and cash flows, showing the consolidated financial condition of each of
         (i) Holdings and its  Subsidiaries and (ii) Holdings and the Restricted
         Subsidiaries,  in each case as of the close of such fiscal  quarter and
         the results of their operations during such fiscal quarter and the then
         elapsed  portion of the fiscal year,  together with the balance  sheets
         and related statements of income and cash flows as of the corresponding
         dates  and  for  the  corresponding  periods  in the  prior  year,  all
         certified by one of its  Financial  Officers as fairly  presenting  the
         consolidated  financial condition and results of operations of Holdings
         and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  and  Holdings  and the  Restricted
         Subsidiaries,  respectively,  in  accordance  with GAAP (other than the
         absence of  footnotes in  accordance  with GAAP)  consistently  applied
         (except as disclosed in such  certificate in reasonable  detail,  which
         detail shall be  reasonably  acceptable to the  Administrative  Agent),
         subject to normal year-end audit adjustments;

              (c) concurrently  with any delivery of financial  statements under
         (a) or (b) above,  a certificate (a  "Compliance  Certificate")  of the
         accounting firm or Financial Officer (which certificate shall be in the
         form of Exhibit E if  delivered by a Financial  Officer)  opining on or
         certifying such  statements  (which  certificate,  when furnished by an
         accounting  firm,  may be limited to  accounting  matters and  disclaim
         responsibility  for  legal  interpretations)  (i)  certifying  that  no
         Default or Event of Default has  occurred  or, if such Default or Event
         of Default has occurred,  specifying  the nature and extent thereof and
         any  corrective  action  taken or  proposed  to be taken  with  respect
         thereto and (ii) setting forth computations in reasonable detail (which
         detail shall be reasonably  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent)
         demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6.14,
         6.15, 6.16 and 6.17;

              (d) if, as a result of any  change in  accounting  principles  and
         policies  from  those as in effect on the date of this  Agreement,  the
         consolidated  financial  statements of Holdings and the Subsidiaries or
         Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivered
         pursuant  to  clauses  (a) and (b) above  will  differ in any  material
         respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been
         delivered  pursuant to such  clauses  had no such change in  accounting
         principles  and  policies  been  made,  then,  together  with the first
         delivery of financial  statements pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above
         following  such  change,  a schedule  prepared by a  Financial  Officer
         reconciling  such changes to what the financial  statements  would have
         been without such changes;

              (e) promptly after the same become publicly  available,  copies of
         all periodic  reports and proxy statements and, to the extent requested
         by the  Administrative  Agent, any other materials filed by Holdings or
         any of its  Subsidiaries  with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
         under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  or  any  Governmental
         Authority succeeding to any of or all the functions of said Commission,
         or  with  any  national  securities  exchange,  or  distributed  to its
         shareholders generally, as the case may be;

              (f) within 90 days after the beginning of each fiscal year, a copy
         of the annual  income and  capital  expenditure  budget for such fiscal
         year;



<PAGE>


                                                                             37



              (g) promptly,  from time to time, such other information regarding
         the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings or
         any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of any
         Loan Document,  as any 1995 Credit Agreement  Creditor,  acting through
         the Administrative Agent, may reasonably request;

              (h)  promptly, a copy of any amendment or waiver of any provisions
         of any agreement which amendment or waiver is described in Section 
         6.10 or 6.11;

              (i)  promptly   following  the  creation  or  acquisition  of  any
         Subsidiary, a certificate from a Responsible Officer,  identifying such
         new  Subsidiary  and  the  ownership   interest  of  Holdings  and  its
         Subsidiaries  therein;  and concurrently with the delivery of financial
         statements  under (a) or (b) above, a description of the Investments in
         Unrestricted  Subsidiaries made during the fiscal quarter ending on the
         date of such  financial  statements and the amount  thereof;  provided,
         that with respect to the Subordinated Notes owed by Carcorp, Inc. under
         the  receivables  financing  facility (the "Sub  Notes"),  the Borrower
         shall  not be  required  to  report  any  changes  in  the  outstanding
         principal  amount of the Sub Notes,  unless the  aggregate  outstanding
         principal amount of such Sub Notes exceeds $75,000,000;

              (j) if  requested  by the  Administrative  Agent,  within 105 days
         following the end of any fiscal year of any Unrestricted  Subsidiary, a
         balance  sheet and related  statements of income and cash flow for such
         Unrestricted Subsidiary at the end of and for such fiscal year; and

              (k) promptly,  a copy of all reports  submitted in connection with
         any interim or special  audit made by  independent  accountants  of the
         books of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 5.05.  Litigation and Other Notices.  Furnish to each 1995 
Credit Agreement Creditor prompt written notice of the following:

              (a) any  Default or Event of  Default,  specifying  the nature and
         extent thereof and the corrective  action (if any) proposed to be taken
         with respect thereto;

              (b) the filing or commencement of any action,  suit or proceeding,
         whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority,
         against  Holdings  or any  Subsidiary  in respect  of which  there is a
         reasonable  possibility  of an  adverse  determination  and  which,  if
         adversely  determined,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a
         Material Adverse Effect; and

              (c) any development  specific to Holdings and its Subsidiaries and
         not otherwise  publicly  disclosed known to a Responsible  Officer that
         has resulted in, or could  reasonably  be  anticipated  to result in, a
         Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION  5.06.  ERISA.  (a) Comply in all  material  respects  with the
applicable  provisions  of ERISA and (b) furnish to each 1995  Credit  Agreement
Creditor  (i) as soon as  possible,  and in any event  within 30 days  after any
Responsible Officer of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate of any
of them knows or has reason to know that any Reportable  Event has occurred that
alone or together with any other  Reportable  Event could reasonably be expected
to result in  liability  of the  Borrower,  any  Guarantor or any of their ERISA
Affiliates to the PBGC in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000, a statement
of a Financial Officer setting forth details as to such Reportable Event and the
action  proposed to be taken with respect  thereto,  together with a copy of the
notice,  if any, of such Reportable Event given to the PBGC, (ii) promptly after
any  Responsible  Officer  learns of receipt  thereof,  a copy of any notice the
Borrower or any Guarantor or any of their ERISA  Affiliates may receive from the
PBGC relating to the intention of the PBGC to terminate any Plan or Plans (other
than a Plan maintained by any of their ERISA  Affiliates  which is considered an
ERISA  Affiliate  only pursuant to  subsection  (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the
Code) or to appoint a trustee to administer  any Plan or Plans,  (iii) within 20
days after the due date for filing with the PBGC  pursuant to Section  412(n) of
the Code a notice of  failure to make a required  installment  or other  payment
with respect to a Plan, a statement of a Financial Officer setting forth details
as to such  failure and the action  proposed to be taken with  respect  thereto,
together with a copy of such notice given to the PBGC and (iv)


<PAGE>


                                                                            38



promptly after any Responsible Officer learns thereof and in any event within 30
days after receipt thereof by the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate
from the sponsor of a Multiemployer  Plan, a copy of each notice received by the
Borrower, any Guarantor or such ERISA Affiliate concerning (A) the imposition of
Withdrawal  Liability or (B) a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is
expected to be, terminated or in reorganization, in each case within the meaning
of Title IV of ERISA.

         SECTION  5.07.   Maintaining   Records;   Access  to   Properties   and
Inspections.  Maintain all financial  records in accordance with GAAP and permit
any persons designated by the  Administrative  Agent (or, during the continuance
of an Event of Default,  any Lender) to visit and inspect the financial  records
and the properties of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary at reasonable times,
upon reasonable notice and as often as reasonably requested and to make extracts
from and copies of such financial records,  and permit any persons designated by
the Administrative Agent (or, during the continuance of an Event of Default, any
Lender) to discuss  the  affairs,  finances  and  condition  of  Holdings or any
Restricted  Subsidiary  with the officers  thereof and  independent  accountants
therefor  (subject to  reasonable  requirements  of  confidentiality,  including
requirements imposed by law or by contract).

         SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans solely (i)
to pay the merger  consideration for the Merger,  (ii) to repay the principal of
and accrued  interest on all loans and all other amounts  outstanding  under the
Existing Larizza Credit  Agreements,  and other  Indebtedness of Larizza and its
subsidiaries  and  (iii)  to fund  fees  and  expenses  related  to the  Larizza
Acquisition.

         SECTION  5.09.  Further   Assurances.   Execute  any  and  all  further
documents,  financing  statements,  agreements  and  instruments,  and  take all
further action (including filing UCC financing  statements,  mortgages and deeds
of trust),  which may be required under  applicable law, or which the Collateral
Agent  may  reasonably   request,   in  order  to  effectuate  the  transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents,  in order to release the security  interests
securing obligations in respect of the Existing Larizza Credit Agreements and in
order to grant,  preserve,  protect and perfect the validity and first  priority
(subject to Liens permitted by Section 6.04) of the security  interests  created
or intended to be created pursuant to the Pledge  Agreement.  In addition,  from
time to time,  Holdings and the Restricted  Subsidiaries will, at their cost and
expense,  subject to the  obtaining  of any required  regulatory  authorizations
(which Holdings and Borrower agree to use their best efforts to obtain) promptly
secure the  Obligations  by causing the  following to occur:  (i) promptly  upon
creating or acquiring any additional  subsidiary,  the stock of such  subsidiary
will (unless such subsidiary is a subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of
a foreign subsidiary) be pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, provided that
no more  than  65% of the  capital  stock  of any  foreign  subsidiary  shall be
required to be pledged  pursuant to this Section 5.09, and (ii) such  subsidiary
will  (unless  such  subsidiary  is  an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  or a  foreign
subsidiary)  become  a party  to the  Guarantee  Agreement.  All  such  security
interests  and Liens  will be  created  under  the  Pledge  Agreement  and other
security  agreements and other  instruments  and documents in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and Holdings and the Restricted
Subsidiaries shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative  Agent
all such instruments and documents  (including legal opinions and lien searches)
as the Required  Lenders shall  reasonably  request to evidence  compliance with
this Section 5.09.  Holdings and the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  agree to provide
such evidence as the  Administrative  Agent shall  reasonably  request as to the
perfection and priority status of each such security interest and Lien.

         SECTION  5.10.  Change  in  Ownership.  In the  case of  Holdings,  own
directly at all times,  legally and  beneficially,  100% of the capital stock of
the Borrower,  free of Liens except Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent; and,
in  the  case  of  Borrower,   own  (a)  directly  at  all  times,  legally  and
beneficially,  100% of the capital stock of the Finance Subsidiary free of Liens
except Liens in favor of the Collateral  Agent and (b) directly or indirectly at
all times,  legally and  beneficially,  100% of the capital  stock of C&A Canada
free of Liens except Liens, if any, in favor of the Collateral Agent.

         SECTION 5.11.  Fiscal Year; Accounting. In the case of each of Holdings
and its subsidiaries, cause its respective fiscal year to end on the last 
Saturday in January.

         SECTION 5.12.  Dividends.  In the case of the Borrower, permit its 
subsidiaries to pay dividends and cause such dividends to be paid to the 
extent required to pay the monetary Obligations.



<PAGE>


                                                                              39


         SECTION 5.13.  Rate Protection  Agreements.  As promptly as practicable
and in any event  within  90 days  after  the  Closing  Date,  enter  into,  and
thereafter  maintain in effect, one or more interest rate protection  agreements
(including  interest rate swaps,  caps,  collars and other interest rate hedging
transactions) with any of the Lenders or other financial institutions reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative  Agent, the effect of which shall be to limit
for at least two years the interest  payable by the Borrower in connection  with
Indebtedness  under this  Agreement  having an aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount not less than an amount equal to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Loans projected to be outstanding during such period on terms and conditions
reasonably  acceptable,  taking into account current market  conditions,  to the
Administrative  Agent and deliver evidence of the execution and delivery thereof
to the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 5.14. Corporate  Separateness.  Cause the management,  business
and affairs of each of Holdings and the  Subsidiaries  to be conducted in such a
manner  so that  each of  Holdings  and the  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  will be
perceived  as a legal  entity  separate  and  distinct  from each  other and the
Restricted Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 5.15.  Business of Restricted Subsidiaries.  Cause all of the 
business and activities of the Restricted Subsidiaries to be performed and 
conducted by the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries which are subsidiaries 
of the Borrower.


                                     ARTICLE VI.

                                  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Each of Holdings  and the Borrower  covenants  and agrees that from and
after the Closing Date, so long as this Agreement  shall remain in effect or any
monetary Obligation shall be unpaid, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise
consent in writing,  Holdings and the  Borrower  will not, and will not cause or
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to:

         SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness.  Incur, create, assume or permit to exist 
         any Indebtedness, except:

              (a)  Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted  Subsidiaries
         for  borrowed  money  in an  amount  not to  exceed  $23,000,000  under
         agreements existing on June 22, 1994 and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and
         other   Indebtedness   existing  on  the  Closing  Date,  but  not  any
         extensions,  renewals or refinancings of such  Indebtedness  except (i)
         renewals  and  extensions  expressly  provided  for in  the  agreements
         evidencing any such  Indebtedness as the same are in effect on the date
         of this  Agreement  and (ii)  refinancings  and  extensions of any such
         Indebtedness  if the interest rate with respect thereto and other terms
         thereof are no less favorable than the Indebtedness being refinanced or
         extended  and the average  life to maturity  thereof is greater than or
         equal to the Indebtedness  being refinanced or extended  (provided that
         such Indebtedness permitted under clause (i) or clause (ii) above shall
         not be (A)  Indebtedness  of an obligor  that was not an  obligor  with
         respect to the Indebtedness being extended,  renewed or refinanced, (B)
         in a principal  amount which exceeds the  Indebtedness  being  renewed,
         extended  or  refinanced  or (C)  incurred,  created  or assumed if any
         Default or Event of Default has  occurred  and is  continuing  or would
         result therefrom);

              (b)   Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower   consisting  of  contingent
         liabilities arising from indemnities and other contractual  obligations
         of the Borrower  existing on June 22, 1994 from the sale of  properties
         prior to the  date  hereof  by  Holdings  and the  Borrower  and  their
         predecessors;

              (c) So long as  immediately  after giving effect to the incurrence
         thereof:  (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing and (ii) the outstanding  principal  amount of the 1994 Term
         Loans and 1994 Canadian Term Loans is less than $350,000,000, Permitted
         Subordinated Indebtedness;

              (d)  Indebtedness  of (i) the  Borrower to any  subsidiary  of the
         Borrower  evidenced,   if  the  amount  of  such  Indebtedness  exceeds
         $10,000,000,  by an Intercompany  Note pledged to the Collateral  Agent
         under the Pledge Agreement,  (ii) any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary to
         the Borrower evidenced, if the amount


<PAGE>


                                                                             40



         of such  Indebtedness  exceeds  $10,000,000,  by an  Intercompany  Note
         pledged to the Collateral Agent under the Pledge  Agreement,  (iii) any
         Domestic  Restricted  Subsidiary  to any  other  Restricted  Subsidiary
         evidenced,  if the amount of such Indebtedness exceeds $10,000,000,  by
         an Intercompany  Note pledged to the Collateral  Agent under the Pledge
         Agreement,   (iv)  any  Restricted  Subsidiaries  other  than  Domestic
         Restricted  Subsidiaries  to the  Borrower  or to any other  Restricted
         Subsidiary in an aggregate  principal  amount not at any time in excess
         of $10,000,000 and evidenced by one or more Intercompany  Notes pledged
         to the Collateral  Agent under the Pledge  Agreement if the outstanding
         amount of such Indebtedness  exceeds  $5,000,000 in the aggregate,  (v)
         Holdings to the  Borrower in an amount not greater than  $2,000,000  at
         any time and (vi) Manchester Plastics,  Ltd. to any Domestic Restricted
         Subsidiary in an aggregate  principal amount not to exceed $35,000,000,
         evidenced by one or more  Intercompany  Notes pledged to the Collateral
         Agent under the Pledge Agreement;  provided that no Indebtedness may be
         incurred under this paragraph (d) by any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary
         of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor;

              (e) Capital  Lease  Obligations  and Purchase  Money  Indebtedness
         incurred by the Borrower  (or any other  Restricted  Subsidiary  in the
         case  of  Purchase  Money  Indebtedness   incurred  not  in  excess  of
         $10,000,000  in the  aggregate  at any  time  outstanding)  prior to or
         within 270 days after a Capital  Expenditure  permitted  under  Section
         6.03 in order to finance  such  Capital  Expenditure,  and  extensions,
         renewals and  refinancings  thereof if the  interest  rate with respect
         thereto  and  other  terms  thereof  are no  less  favorable  than  the
         Indebtedness  being refinanced and the average life to maturity thereof
         is greater than or equal to the Indebtedness being refinanced (provided
         that such Indebtedness shall not be (A) Indebtedness of an obligor that
         was not an obligor with  respect to the  Indebtedness  being  extended,
         renewed or  refinanced,  (B) in a principal  amount  which  exceeds the
         Indebtedness  being  renewed,  extended or  refinanced or (C) incurred,
         created or assumed if any Default or Event of Default has  occurred and
         is continuing or would result therefrom);

              (f) Capital  Lease  Obligations  incurred  by the  Borrower or any
         Restricted  Subsidiary in respect of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction
         that is permitted under Section 6.06;

              (g)  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  and its  subsidiaries  in the
         nature of Interest Rate  Agreements and other interest rate and foreign
         currency  hedging  transactions  entered  into  in  order  to  fix  the
         effective rate of interest, or to hedge against currency  fluctuations,
         on the Loans  and other  Indebtedness  (it being  understood  that such
         transactions  shall be entered into for  business  purposes and not for
         the purpose of speculation);

              (h)  Indebtedness  of  a  Domestic  Restricted   Subsidiary  which
         represents  the  assumption by such Domestic  Restricted  Subsidiary of
         Indebtedness  of a Restricted  Subsidiary in connection with the merger
         of  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  with or into  the  assuming  Domestic
         Restricted  Subsidiary or the purchase of all or substantially  all the
         assets of such other Restricted Subsidiary;

              (i)  Indebtedness  of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in respect of
         performance  bonds,  bid  bonds,  appeal  bonds,  bankers  acceptances,
         letters of credit and surety bonds  provided in the ordinary  course of
         business,  and any  extension,  renewal or  refinancing  thereof to the
         extent not provided to secure the repayment of other  Indebtedness  and
         to the  extent  that the  amount  of  refinancing  Indebtedness  is not
         greater than the amount of Indebtedness being refinanced;

              (j)  Indebtedness  arising  from the  honoring  by a bank or other
         financial  institutions of a check,  draft or similar  instrument drawn
         against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided
         that such Indebtedness is extinguished  within two Business Days of its
         incurrence;

              (k)  Indebtedness  of a Restricted  Subsidiary  acquired after the
         date hereof and  Indebtedness  of a corporation  merged or consolidated
         with or into a  Restricted  Subsidiary  after  the date  hereof,  which
         Indebtedness  exists  at  the  time  of  such  acquisition,  merger  or
         consolidation  and is not  created in  contemplation  of such event and
         such  acquisition,   merger  or  consolidation  is  permitted  by  this
         Agreement,


<PAGE>


                                                                             41



         provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under 
         this clause (k) shall not exceed $50,000,000;

              (l) (i) Indebtedness under this Agreement and (ii) Indebtedness of
         the Borrower  incurred  after the date hereof,  which  Indebtedness  is
         created or incurred at the time of any Permitted  Business  Acquisition
         to finance such  acquisition;  provided  that the  aggregate  principal
         amount of  Indebtedness  which may be  created or  incurred  under this
         paragraph (l)(ii) together with Indebtedness permitted by paragraph (k)
         above shall not exceed $3,000,000;

              (m)  Indebtedness  owed to  (including  obligations  in respect of
         letters of credit for the  benefit  of) any person  providing  worker's
         compensation,  health, disability or other employee benefits, property,
         casualty,  liability or other  insurance to Holdings or any Subsidiary,
         pursuant  to  reimbursement  or  indemnification  obligations  to  such
         person;

              (n) (i)  Indebtedness  under  the 1994  Credit  Agreement  and the
         Guarantees  thereof  by  the  Guarantors   pursuant  to  the  Guarantee
         Agreement  and  (ii)  Indebtedness  represented  by the  Guarantees  of
         Indebtedness  permitted  under  clause  (l)  above  by  the  Guarantors
         pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement;

              (o)  other Capital Lease Obligations of the Restricted 
         Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding 
         not in excess of $10,000,000;

              (p) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower and C&A Canada in
         an aggregate  principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of
         $40,000,000   and   unsecured   Guarantees   by  the  Borrower  of  any
         Indebtedness of C&A Canada incurred in accordance with this clause (p);

              (q) other  Indebtedness  of the  Borrower or any other  Restricted
         Subsidiary  together with Indebtedness listed on Schedule 6.01 (as such
         Indebtedness  may be refinanced as permitted by Section  6.01(a)) in an
         aggregate  principal  amount  outstanding  at any  time  not to  exceed
         $35,000,000; and

              (r)  all  premium  (if  any),  interest  (including  post-petition
         interest),  fees,  expenses,  indemnities,  charges and  additional  or
         contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (q)
         above.

         SECTION 6.02. Dividends and Distributions.  Declare or pay, directly or
indirectly, any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital
or otherwise),  whether in cash, property,  securities or a combination thereof,
with  respect to any shares of its  capital  stock  (other  than  dividends  and
distributions  on  Holdings  Common  Stock  payable  solely by the  issuance  of
additional  shares of Holdings  Common Stock) or directly or indirectly  redeem,
purchase,  retire or  otherwise  acquire  for value (or  permit  any  Restricted
Subsidiary  to purchase or acquire) any shares of any class of its capital stock
or any  option,  warrant or other  right to acquire  shares of such stock or set
aside any amount for any such purpose; provided, however, that:

              (a)  any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other 
         distributions to the Borrower or to wholly owned Restricted 
         Subsidiaries;

              (b) if at the time  thereof  and after  giving  effect  thereto no
         Default or Event of  Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,
         Holdings  may pay  dividends  in cash on its common  stock or preferred
         stock or may redeem,  purchase,  retire or otherwise  acquire for value
         its  common  stock or  preferred  stock  provided  that the sum of such
         dividends  and  consideration  paid  for such  redemptions,  purchases,
         retirements and other  acquisitions in any fiscal year shall not exceed
         $12,000,000;

              (c) if at the time  thereof  and after  giving  effect  thereto no
         Default or Event of Default shall have  occurred and be continuing  and
         the Dividend  Condition shall have been met, Holdings may pay dividends
         in cash on its  common  stock or any  preferred  stock and may  redeem,
         purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value its common stock or any
         preferred  stock in any  fiscal  year in an amount not to exceed in the
         aggregate  for all such  transactions  25% of Net  Income for the prior
         fiscal year less the amount of dividends


<PAGE>


                                                                            42



         and consideration  (for redemptions,  purchases,  retirements and other
         acquisitions)  paid in such current  fiscal year pursuant to clause (b)
         above;

              (d) if at the time  thereof  and after  giving  effect  thereto no
         Default or Event of  Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing,
         Holdings may repurchase  director's  qualifying  shares of Holdings and
         capital  stock of  Holdings  and  options  therefor  of  employees  and
         directors of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries provided that (i)
         no such repurchase may be made unless Holdings is obligated to do so at
         the time of  repurchase  pursuant  to  contractual  agreements  between
         Holdings and the applicable  officer or director and (ii) the aggregate
         amount paid by Holdings in connection with such repurchases at any time
         shall not exceed  $3,000,000 plus the aggregate amount (but only to the
         extent such  amount is  simultaneously  contributed  by Holdings to the
         Borrower) received by Holdings from the sale or issuance of its capital
         stock or options therefor to officers and directors of Holdings and the
         Restricted Subsidiaries after the 1994 Closing Date;

              (e) the Borrower may pay dividends or make other  distributions to
         Holdings in amounts  sufficient to allow  Holdings to pay (i) Permitted
         Tax Payments and state and local taxes and other governmental  charges,
         and administrative and routine expenses required to be paid by Holdings
         in the  ordinary  course of its  business,  (ii) the  dividends,  other
         consideration  (for  redemptions,   purchases,  retirements  and  other
         acquisitions  of common stock and  preferred  stock) and other  amounts
         contemplated by clauses (b) and (c) above; provided that dividends paid
         to Holdings pursuant to this clause (ii) in order to permit Holdings to
         pay dividends  are used by Holdings for such purpose  within 20 days of
         the receipt of such dividends by Holdings,  (iii) the repurchase  price
         for the capital stock and options therefor of Holdings  contemplated by
         clause (d) above provided that such dividends  pursuant to clause (iii)
         are used by Holdings for such purpose  within 20 days of the receipt of
         such  dividends by Holdings and (iv) the amount of any Investment in an
         Unrestricted Subsidiary if the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
         could have made such Investment in Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  pursuant
         to Section  6.07 (l) (but on the  assumption  that the  Borrower  could
         otherwise invest in such Unrestricted  Subsidiary);  provided that such
         dividends pursuant to clause (iv) are used by Holdings for such purpose
         within 20 days of  receipt  of such  dividends  by  Holdings;  provided
         further  that no dividend  may be paid to  Holdings  pursuant to clause
         (ii) or (iii) or (iv) if at the time of such  dividend or after  giving
         effect thereto a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing; and

              (f)  the foregoing shall not prohibit the ESOP Investment.

         SECTION 6.03. Capital Expenditures.  Permit Capital Expenditures of the
Restricted  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis during any fiscal year to be
greater than the amount set forth below for such fiscal year:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         Fiscal Year                                                             Amount
        <S>                                                                   <C>
              1994                                                              $85,000,000
              1995                                                              130,000,000
              1996                                                               80,000,000
              1997                                                               80,000,000
              1998                                                               80,000,000
              1999                                                               80,000,000
              2000                                                               80,000,000
              2001                                                               80,000,000
              2002                                                               80,000,000
</TABLE>

         provided,  however, that (i) to the extent Capital Expenditures made in
         any fiscal year are less than the amount set forth above  opposite such
         fiscal  year,  Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall  be  permitted  to carry
         forward the unused  amount to the  succeeding  fiscal  years so long as
         such aggregate  Capital  Expenditures  in any fiscal year do not exceed
         $130,000,000;  (ii) Capital  Expenditures  may not be made by Holdings;
         and (iii)


<PAGE>


                                                                           43



         Capital  Expenditures  that are  refinanced  with  Sale and  Lease-Back
         Transactions  within 270 days of acquisition  which result in Operating
         Leases shall be deemed not to be Capital Expenditures.

         SECTION 6.04. Liens. Create,  incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien
on any property or assets  (including  stock or other  securities)  now owned or
hereafter  acquired by it or on any income or rights in respect of any  thereof,
except:

              (a) Liens on  property  or assets of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries
         existing  on the  date of this  Agreement  and,  in the  case of  Liens
         securing  Indebtedness  for borrowed money, set forth in Schedule 6.04;
         provided that such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they
         secure on such date (and extensions,  renewals and refinancings of such
         obligations permitted by Section 6.01(a)) and do not subsequently apply
         to  any  other  property  or  assets  of  Holdings  or  any  Restricted
         Subsidiary;

              (b) any  Lien  on any  property  or  asset  used  by a  Restricted
         Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, which Lien existed prior
         to the acquisition  thereof by such subsidiary;  provided that (i) such
         Lien is not  created in  contemplation  of or in  connection  with such
         acquisition  and (ii) such Lien does not apply to any other property or
         assets of any other Restricted Subsidiary;

              (c) any Lien on any property or asset of a  Restricted  Subsidiary
         securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(k),  provided that such
         Lien does not apply to any other  property or assets of Holdings or any
         Restricted  Subsidiary  not securing such  Indebtedness  at the date of
         acquisition of such property or asset;

              (d) Liens for taxes,  assessments or other governmental charges or
         levies  not yet due,  or  which  are for less  than  $1,000,000  in the
         aggregate, or which are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03
         or for  property  taxes for  property  that the  Borrower or one of its
         Restricted  Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse
         for such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim is to such property;

              (e)   carriers',   warehousemen's,    mechanics',   materialmen's,
         repairmen's  or other like  Liens  arising  in the  ordinary  course of
         business and securing  obligations which are not due or which are being
         contested in good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and in respect of
         which, if applicable,  Holdings or the relevant  Restricted  Subsidiary
         shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP;

              (f) pledges and deposits  made in the ordinary  course of business
         in  compliance  with the Federal  Employers  Liability Act or any other
         workmen's   compensation,   unemployment  insurance  and  other  social
         security  laws  or  regulations  and  deposits  securing  liability  to
         insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

              (g) deposits to secure the  performance of bids,  trade  contracts
         (other  than  for  Indebtedness),  leases  (other  than  Capital  Lease
         Obligations),   statutory   obligations,   surety  and  appeal   bonds,
         performance  bonds and other  obligations of a like nature  incurred in
         the ordinary course of business;

              (h) zoning restrictions, easements, trackage rights, leases (other
         than  Capital  Lease  Obligations),   licenses,   special  assessments,
         rights-of-way,  restrictions  on use of real property and other similar
         encumbrances  incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the
         aggregate,  are not substantial in amount and do not materially detract
         from the value of the  property  subject  thereto or  interfere  in any
         material  respect  with the  ordinary  conduct of the  business  of any
         Restricted Subsidiary;

              (i)  purchase   money   security   interests  in  real   property,
         improvements  thereto or equipment  hereafter acquired (or, in the case
         of improvements,  constructed) by any Restricted  Subsidiary (including
         without  limitation,   the  interests  of  vendors  and  lessors  under
         conditional  sale and title  retention  agreements);  provided that (i)
         such security interests secure Indebtedness  permitted by Section 6.01,
         (ii) such security interests are incurred, and the Indebtedness secured
         thereby  is  created,  within  270  days  after  such  acquisition  (or
         construction),  (iii) the Indebtedness  secured thereby does not exceed
         100% of the cost of such real  property,  improvements  or equipment at
         the time of such acquisition (or construction), (iv) such


<PAGE>


                                                                          44



         expenditures are Capital Expenditures  permitted under Section 6.03 and
         (v) such  security  interests  do not  apply to any other  property  or
         assets of any Restricted  Subsidiary  (other than to accessions to such
         real property,  improvements  or equipment and provided that individual
         financings   of   equipment   provided  by  a  single   lender  may  be
         cross-collateralized  to other financings of equipment  provided solely
         by such lender);

              (j)  Liens created in favor of the Collateral Agent for the 
         benefit of the Secured Parties;

              (k)  Liens  securing  reimbursement   obligations  in  respect  of
         commercial  letters of credit permitted under Section 6.01 and covering
         the goods (or the documents of title in respect of such goods) financed
         by such letters of credit;

              (l)  Liens  arising  out  of   capitalized   or  operating   lease
         transactions  permitted  under  Section 6.06, so long as such Liens (i)
         attach only to the property sold in such transaction and any accessions
         thereto and (ii) do not interfere with the business of Holdings and the
         Restricted Subsidiaries in any material respect;

              (m)  any Lien on assets of a person securing Indebtedness of such
         person permitted by Section 6.01(q);

              (n) any Lien  arising  by  operation  of law  pursuant  to Section
         107(1) of the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and
         Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss.  9607(l),  or pursuant to analogous state
         law, for costs or damages which are not yet due (by virtue of a written
         demand for  payment  by a  Governmental  Authority)  or which are being
         contested  in  compliance  with  Section  5.03,  or on property  that a
         Restricted  Subsidiary  has  determined to abandon if the sole recourse
         for such  costs  or  damages  is to such  property,  provided  that the
         liability of Holdings and the Restricted  Subsidiaries  with respect to
         the  matter  giving  rise to such Lien  shall  not,  in the  reasonable
         estimate  of the  Borrower  (in light of all  attendant  circumstances,
         including the  likelihood of  contribution  by third  parties),  exceed
         $7,500,000;

              (o)  any leases or subleases to other persons of properties or 
         assets owned or leased by a Restricted Subsidiary;

              (p)  Liens consisting of interests of lessors under capital leases
         permitted by Section 6.01;

              (q)  Liens  securing  judgements  for the  payment  of money in an
         aggregate amount not in excess of $7,500,000 (to the extent not covered
         by insurance)  which judgements shall not be undischarged or stayed for
         a period of more than 30 consecutive days;

              (r) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by
         clause (b), (c) or (i) above, provided that such replacement, extension
         or renewal  Lien shall not cover any  property  other than the property
         that was subject to such Lien prior to such  replacement,  extension or
         renewal  and  provided   further  that  the   Indebtedness   and  other
         obligations secured by such replacement,  extension or renewal Lien are
         permitted by this Agreement;

              (s)  other   Liens  with   respect  to   property  or  assets  not
         constituting  collateral  for the  Obligations  with an aggregate  fair
         market value of not more than $25,000,000 at any time; and

              (t)  Permitted Receivables Financing.


         SECTION 6.05. Priority of Loan Payments. (a) Until the Commitments have
been  terminated  and the  Obligations  have  been  indefeasibly  paid in  full,
directly or indirectly, make any payment,  retirement,  repurchase or redemption
on  account of the  principal  of any  Permitted  Subordinated  Indebtedness  or
directly or indirectly prepay any Permitted  Subordinated  Indebtedness prior to
the stated maturity date of such Permitted Subordinated  Indebtedness,  make any
payment or  prepayment of any Permitted  Subordinated  Indebtedness  which would
violate  the  terms  of  this  Agreement  or  of  such  Permitted   Subordinated
Indebtedness, any agreement or document evidencing,


<PAGE>


                                                                             45



related to or securing the payment or performance of the Permitted  Subordinated
Indebtedness  or  any  subordination  agreement  applicable  to  such  Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness.

         (b) Until the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations have
been  indefeasibly  paid in full,  repay any  Funded  Debt of  Holdings  and the
Restricted Subsidiaries except:

                 (i) the Obligations;

                (ii) payments  of  Funded  Debt  made  in  conformity  with  the
         regularly scheduled maturity thereof or mandatory prepayment provisions
         thereof;

               (iii) if no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is 
         continuing or would result therefrom, refinancings permitted by 
         Section 6.01;

                (iv) if no  Default  or  Event of  Default  has  occurred and is
         continuing  or would  result  therefrom,  prepayments  by a  Restricted
         Subsidiary of its Funded Debt  acquired in connection  with a Permitted
         Business Acquisition;

                 (v) if no  Default  or  Event of  Default has  occurred and is
         continuing or would result therefrom,  prepayments of up to $10,000,000
         in the aggregate of other Funded Debt of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

                (vi) repayments of the 1994 Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans
         (as defined in the 1994 Credit Agreement); and

               (vii) so long as the  Loans  are  ratably  prepaid  in the  same
         proportion,  optional prepayments of the 1994 Term Loans, 1994 Canadian
         Term Loans and 1994 Delayed Draw Term Loans.

         SECTION  6.06.  Sale  and  Lease-Back  Transactions.   Enter  into  any
arrangement,  directly or indirectly,  with any person  whereby  Holdings or any
Restricted  Subsidiary  shall sell or transfer any  property,  real or personal,
used or useful in its  business,  whether now owned or hereafter  acquired,  and
thereafter rent or lease such property or other property which it intends to use
for  substantially  the same purpose or purposes as the  property  being sold or
transferred  (a "Sale  and  Lease-Back  Transaction"),  other  than any Sale and
Lease-Back  Transaction  which  involves a sale by the  Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary solely for cash  consideration on terms not less favorable than would
prevail in an arms'-length  transaction and which (a) results in a Capital Lease
Obligation  or an  Operating  Lease,  in either case  entered  into to finance a
Capital  Expenditure  permitted  by  Section  6.03  consisting  of  the  initial
acquisition by such  subsidiary of the property sold or transferred in such Sale
and Lease-Back  Transaction,  provided that such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
occurs within 270 days after such  acquisition or (b) results in a Capital Lease
Obligation or an Operating  Lease  entered into for any other purpose  (provided
that any such Sale and  Lease-Back  Transaction in reliance upon this clause (b)
shall be deemed to be a Prepayment Event).

         SECTION  6.07.  Investments,  Loans  and  Advances.  Purchase,  hold or
acquire any capital stock,  evidences of  indebtedness  or other  securities of,
make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or make or permit to exist any
investment or any other interest in (collectively,  an "Investment"),  any other
person, except:

              (a)  Permitted Investments and Investments that were Permitted 
         Investments when made;

              (b)  Investments by Holdings in the Borrower and Investments by a
         Restricted Subsidiary in another Domestic Restricted Subsidiary;

              (c)  Investments  arising  out of the  receipt by the  Borrower of
         noncash  consideration  for the sale of assets  permitted under Section
         6.08  provided that such  consideration  (if the stated amount or value
         thereof is in excess of $1,000,000) is pledged upon receipt pursuant to
         the Pledge Agreement;

              (d)  intercompany loans permitted to be incurred as Indebtedness 
         under Section 6.01(d);


<PAGE>


                                                                           46




              (e)  Investments by a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary 
         constituting Permitted Business Acquisitions;

              (f)  (i)  loans  and  advances  to  employees  of  any  Restricted
         Subsidiary  not to exceed  $300,000 at any time  outstanding to any one
         employee  and not to exceed  $2,000,000  in the  aggregate  at any time
         outstanding  and (ii)  advances  of payroll  payments  and  expenses to
         employees in the ordinary course of business;

              (g) accounts  receivable  arising and trade credit  granted in the
         ordinary course of business and any securities received in satisfaction
         or partial  satisfaction  thereof  from  financially  troubled  account
         debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit
         loss;

              (h) an  Investment  by  the  Borrower  or  any  of the  Restricted
         Subsidiaries   in  any  Finance   Subsidiary   that  the   Borrower  is
         incorporating,  but only to the extent  necessary to  incorporate  such
         Finance  Subsidiary  and  acquire its  capital  stock and  subordinated
         indebtedness  in  connection  with sales of  receivables,  all with the
         minimum capitalization necessary;

              (i)  investments,  other than  investments  listed in clauses  (a)
         through (h) of this Section, existing on the Closing Date and set forth
         on Schedule 6.07;

              (j)  the ESOP Loans;

              (k) Investments the sole  consideration  for which by Holdings and
         the Restricted Subsidiaries is capital stock of Holdings provided that,
         after  giving  effect  thereto,  no Default  or Event of Default  under
         paragraph (m) of Article VII shall have occurred;

              (l) if no Default or Event of Default exists immediately before or
         after giving effect to such Investment,  other  Investments,  including
         joint  ventures,   currency  hedges  and  Investments  in  Unrestricted
         Subsidiaries, provided that (i) the consideration for Investments other
         than  Investments  in  Unrestricted   Subsidiaries   (whether  cash  or
         property,  as valued at the time of such  Investment)  does not  exceed
         (net of any  return  representing  return of capital of (but not return
         on) any such  Investment) at any time $75,000,000 in the aggregate less
         one half of the amount of all Investments pursuant to clause (ii) below
         in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the consideration for Investments
         in Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  (whether cash or property,  as valued at
         the  time  of such  Investment)  does  not  exceed  (net of any  return
         representing  return  of  capital  of (but  not  return  on)  any  such
         Investment) at any time $50,000,000 in the aggregate; and

              (m)  Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to 
         in Section 6.04(f).

None of Holdings and the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  may make any  Investment  in
Unrestricted Subsidiaries except as described in the definition of "Unrestricted
Subsidiaries" set forth in Section 1.01.

         SECTION   6.08.   Mergers,   Consolidations,   Sales  of   Assets   and
Acquisitions.  Merge into or  consolidate  with any other person,  or permit any
other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell,  transfer,  lease or
otherwise  dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or
any part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter  acquired) or any capital
stock of any  subsidiary,  or  purchase,  lease  or  otherwise  acquire  (in one
transaction  or a series of  transactions)  all or any  substantial  part of the
assets of any other person, except that this Section 6.08 shall not prohibit:

              (a)  the purchase and sale of property and assets in the ordinary
         course of business by any Restricted Subsidiary;

              (b)  Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 6.06;

              (c)  Permitted Business Acquisitions;



<PAGE>


                                                                             47



              (d)  sales, leases or transfers from one Restricted Subsidiary of
         the Borrower to the Borrower or to a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary;

              (e) sales,  leases or other  dispositions  of (i) inventory of the
         Restricted  Subsidiaries  determined  by the Board of  Directors of the
         Borrower to be no longer  useful or necessary  in the  operation of the
         businesses of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) assets of operations
         that were discontinued prior to the 1994 Closing Date;

              (f)  any Permitted Receivables Financing;

              (g)  sales,  leases or other  dispositions  of  equipment  or real
         property  of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  determined  by the Board of
         Directors  of the  Borrower to be no longer  useful or necessary in the
         operation of the business of the Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that
         the Net  Proceeds  thereof  in  excess of  $1,000,000  shall be used to
         prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.12(c) or used to purchase
         replacement  assets  or  properties  used for the same  purpose  as the
         equipment or real property  disposed of within 12 months of the receipt
         thereof;

              (h) any Restricted  Subsidiary may merge with any other Restricted
         Subsidiary,  provided  that  (i) at the time of and  immediately  after
         giving  effect to any such merger no Default or Event of Default  shall
         have occurred,  (ii) the Borrower shall be the surviving corporation of
         any  merger  involving  the  Borrower,  and  C&A  Canada  shall  be the
         surviving  corporation of any merger  involving C&A Canada and (iii) no
         Restricted  Subsidiary  organized  under  the  laws  of a  jurisdiction
         outside  the  United  States  may  merge  with  a  Domestic  Restricted
         Subsidiary unless the Domestic  Restricted  Subsidiary is the surviving
         corporation;

              (i) the Restricted  Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise  dispose of
         assets having a fair market value,  for all such  transactions,  not in
         excess of 25% of the fair market  value as  determined  by the Board of
         Directors of the Borrower of the assets of the Restricted  Subsidiaries
         at the 1994 Closing Date, provided that (i) each such sale shall be for
         a  consideration  determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
         the  Borrower to be at least equal to the fair market value (if any) of
         the asset sold, (ii) the aggregate amount of all noncash  consideration
         included  in such sale  proceeds  may not exceed 15% of the fair market
         value of the  aggregate  amount  of all such sale  proceeds;  provided,
         however,  that  obligations  of the type referred to in clauses (a) and
         (b) of the definition of "Permitted Investments" (without regard to the
         maturity or the credit  rating  thereof)  shall not be deemed  non-cash
         proceeds  if such  obligations  are  promptly  sold  for  cash  and the
         proceeds of such sale are included in the  calculation  of Net Proceeds
         from such sale,  (iii) the aggregate Net Proceeds of all such sales and
         dispositions under this clause (i) in excess of $50,000,000 are applied
         to repay the Loans in  accordance  with  Section  2.12(c) and the first
         $50,000,000  of such  aggregate Net Proceeds are either  applied to the
         purchase of assets or  properties  used in the business of the Borrower
         and its Restricted  Subsidiaries as permitted by Section 6.12 within 12
         months of the  receipt  thereof  or are  applied to repay the 1994 Term
         Loans,  the 1994  Canadian  Term Loans and the 1994  Delayed  Draw Term
         Loans in accordance with Section  2.12(e) of the 1994 Credit  Agreement
         and in accordance  with Section 2.12(c) and (iv) no Default or Event of
         Default shall have occurred and be continuing  immediately  prior to or
         after such sale. Upon receipt by Holdings or any Restricted  Subsidiary
         of Net Proceeds of any Specified Asset Sale occurring after the Closing
         Date,  Borrower shall  promptly  deliver a certificate of a Responsible
         Officer to the Administrative Agent setting forth the amount of the Net
         Proceeds  which Borrower  expects to reinvest in replacement  assets or
         property  during the subsequent  12-month period which are not required
         to be  applied  to the  repayment  of the  1994  Term  Loans,  the 1994
         Canadian Term Loans, the 1994 Delayed Draw Term Loans and the Loans. On
         the first  anniversary  of the receipt of such Net  Proceeds,  Borrower
         shall  (i)  deliver  a  certificate  of a  Responsible  Officer  to the
         Administrative  Agent  certifying  as to the amount and use of such Net
         Proceeds actually  reinvested in replacement  assets or property during
         the preceding  12-month  period and (ii) deliver to the  Administrative
         Agent,  for application in accordance with Section  2.12(d),  an amount
         equal to 25% of the remaining uninvested Net Proceeds; and


              (j)  Investments permitted by Section 6.07.


<PAGE>


                                                                             48




         SECTION 6.09.  Transactions with Affiliates and  Stockholders.  Sell or
transfer  any  property or assets to, or  purchase  or acquire  any  property or
assets  of,  or  otherwise  engage in any other  transactions  with,  any of its
Affiliates   (including   Unrestricted   Subsidiaries  but  excluding   Domestic
Restricted  Subsidiaries)  or any  known  holder  of 10% or more of any class of
capital stock of Holdings or any Unrestricted  Subsidiary,  except that Holdings
or  any  of the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  may  engage  in any of the  foregoing
transactions  at prices and on terms and  conditions  not less favorable to each
than  would  prevail on an  arm's-length  basis from  unrelated  third  parties;
provided that Holdings and the Restricted  Subsidiaries  may not pay any fees to
an  Affiliate  (including  an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary)  for the  provision  of
financial or advisory services if after giving effect thereto a Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and is continuing.

         SECTION   6.10.   Subordinated   Indebtedness.   Amend  or  modify  any
instruments,  agreements  or documents  evidencing  or related to any  Permitted
Subordinated Indebtedness, unless, in the judgement of the Required Lenders, any
such amendment or modification does not  substantially  affect either the rights
or security  interests  granted to the 1995 Credit  Agreement  Creditors  or the
Collateral  Agent or the first and superior  position of the Obligations owed to
the 1995 Credit Agreement Creditors relative to the second and inferior position
of the  holders  of the  notes or other  instruments  evidencing  the  Permitted
Subordinated  Indebtedness (without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it
is understood  that any increase in interest,  fees or other amounts  payable in
connection  therewith,  or any amendment  that imposes  additional  covenants or
events of default or makes more  restrictive  the covenants or events of default
contained therein, shall require the consent of the Required Lenders).

         SECTION 6.11. Amendment of Constitutive Documents;  Change in Corporate
Structure;   Amendment  of  Merger  Documents.   (i)  Permit  any  amendment  or
modification  to be made to the  certificate  of  incorporation  or  By-laws  of
Holdings or of any Restricted  Subsidiary if such amendment or  modification  is
materially  adverse to the interests of the Lenders,  (ii) permit any Restricted
Subsidiary  to issue any capital  stock or other  equity  interest to any person
other than the  Borrower  or its wholly  owned  subsidiaries  or (iii)  amend or
modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provisions of any Merger
Document in any manner adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

         SECTION 6.12.  Business of Holdings and  Restricted  Subsidiaries.  (a)
Engage at any time in any business or business  activity other than the business
currently  conducted  by it and business  activities  reasonably  incidental  or
related   thereto  or  (b)  fail  to  maintain  and  operate  such  business  in
substantially the manner in which it is presently  conducted and operated (other
than as contemplated  herein) if such failure would materially  adversely affect
the 1995 Credit Agreement Creditors;  provided,  however, that the activities of
Holdings  shall be limited  to (i) the  ownership  of the stock of the  Borrower
together with activities  directly  related  thereto,  (ii) the ownership of the
stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries described in clause (ii) of the definition of
such term set forth in Section 1.01 together with  activities  directly  related
thereto,  (iii) performance of its obligations under the Loans Documents and the
1994 Credit Agreement and (iv) actions required by law to maintain its status as
a public company.

         SECTION  6.13.  Restrictive  Agreements.   Enter  into  any  indenture,
agreement,  instrument  or other  arrangement  which,  directly  or  indirectly,
prohibits or restrains,  or has the effect of  prohibiting  or  restraining,  or
imposes materially adverse conditions upon, the granting of Liens, the provision
of  Guarantees or the payment of dividends or the making of loans or advances or
transfers  of  property  or  assets  by  Holdings  or  any  of  the   Restricted
Subsidiaries other than restrictions (i) on the granting of Liens on assets that
are  encumbered  by Liens  permitted  under clauses (b), (i), (k), (l) or (r) of
Section 6.04 or (ii)  contained in agreements  relating to  Indebtedness  not in
excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate or (iii) contained in agreements relating
to Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness.

         SECTION 6.14. Interest Coverage Ratio. In the case of Holdings,  permit
the Interest  Coverage  Ratio for any period of four (or, if less, the number of
full fiscal quarters ending after the Closing Date) consecutive  fiscal quarters
to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite the period which includes the
last day of such period of consecutive fiscal quarters:


<PAGE>


                                                                            49




                          Period:                                      Amount:

                    Closing Date - January 31, 1996                3.25 to 1.00
                    February 1, 1996 - January 31, 1997            3.50 to 1.00
                    February 1, 1997 - April 30, 1997              3.75 to 1.00
                    May 1, 1997 - January 31, 1998                 4.25 to 1.00
                    Thereafter                                     4.75 to 1.00

         SECTION  6.15.  EBITDA.  In the case of  Holdings,  until  such time as
$175,000,000  of  the  1994  Term  Loans  and  1994  Canadian  Term  Loans  have
permanently and irrevocably  been repaid,  permit its EBITDA for any fiscal year
to be less than $175,000,000.

         SECTION  6.16.  Leverage  Ratio.  In the case of  Holdings,  permit the
Leverage  Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal  quarter  occurring  during any
period  set forth  below to be greater  than the ratio set forth  below for such
period:


          Quarter Ending:                                       Ratio:

         January 31, 1996                                      3.75 to 1.00
         April 30, 1996                                        3.50 to 1.00
         July 31, 1996                                         3.50 to 1.00
         October 31, 1996                                      3.25 to 1.00
         January 31, 1997                                      3.00 to 1.00
         February 1, 1997 - January 31, 1998                   2.75 to 1.00
         February 1, 1998 - January 31, 1999                   2.50 to 1.00
         Thereafter                                            2.25 to 1.00

         SECTION 6.17.  Current Ratio.  In the case of Holdings, permit the 
Current Ratio  to be less than 1.25:1.00 on the last day of any fiscal quarter.

         SECTION  6.18.  Tax  Sharing.  File or  consent  to the  filing  of any
consolidated  income  tax return  with any  person  (other  than  Holdings,  the
Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries that have entered into the
existing Tax Sharing Agreements).

         SECTION  6.19.   Significant   Subsidiaries.   Permit  the  Significant
Subsidiaries to account for less than 85% of the consolidated assets of Holdings
at  any  time  or 90% of  the  consolidated  EBITDA  of  Holdings  for  any  two
consecutive periods of four fiscal quarters.

         SECTION 6.20.  Inactive Subsidiaries.  Permit any Inactive Subsidiary,
at any time, to fail to satisfy any of the criteria set forth in the 
definition of Inactive Subsidiary in Section 1.01.

                                      ARTICLE VII.

                                   EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         In case of the  happening of any of the  following  events  ("Events of
Default"):

              (a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made in any Loan
         Document,  or any  representation,  warranty,  statement or information
         contained  in any report,  certificate,  financial  statement  or other
         instrument  furnished  in  connection  with  or  pursuant  to any  Loan
         Document,  shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material
         respect when so made, deemed made or furnished;



<PAGE>


                                                                             50



              (b) default  shall be made in the payment of any  principal of any
         Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable,  whether at the
         due date  thereof  or at a date  fixed  for  prepayment  thereof  or by
         acceleration thereof or otherwise;

              (c) default  shall be made in the  payment of any  interest on any
         Loan or any Fee or any other amount  (other than an amount  referred to
         in (b) above) due under any Loan  Document,  when and as the same shall
         become due and payable,  and such default shall continue unremedied for
         a period of five Business Days;

              (d) default shall be made in the due  observance or performance by
         the  Borrower or Holdings or any  subsidiary  thereof of any  covenant,
         condition or agreement contained in Section 2.12(c),  5.01(a), 5.05(a),
         5.08 or 5.10 or in Article VI;

              (e) default shall be made in the due  observance or performance by
         the  Borrower or Holdings or any  subsidiary  thereof of any  covenant,
         condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those
         specified  in (b), (c) or (d) above) and such  default  shall  continue
         unremedied  for a period  of 30 days in the case of  Sections  5.01(b),
         5.02, 5.09 and 5.13 and 15 days in the case of all others, in each case
         after  notice  thereof from the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender to
         Holdings or the Borrower;

              (f)  Holdings,   any  Restricted  Subsidiary  or  any  Significant
         Subsidiary shall (i) fail to pay any principal or interest,  regardless
         of amount, due in respect of Indebtedness having an aggregate principal
         or notional amount in excess of $7,500,000,  when and as the same shall
         become due and  payable,  or (ii) fail to observe or perform  any other
         term,  covenant,  condition or agreement contained in any agreements or
         instruments   evidencing  or  governing  any  Indebtedness   having  an
         aggregate principal amount in excess of $7,500,000 if the effect of any
         failure  referred to in this clause (ii) is to cause,  or to permit the
         holder or  holders  of such  Indebtedness  or a trustee on its or their
         behalf to cause,  such  Indebtedness  to become due prior to its stated
         maturity;  or a termination event or comparable event shall occur under
         the documents governing the Permitted  Receivables  Financing entitling
         the persons financing the receivables  owned by the Finance  Subsidiary
         to  stop  funding  the  purchase  of  receivables  of  all  sellers  of
         receivables to the Finance Subsidiary;

              (g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary
         petition  shall be filed in a court of competent  jurisdiction  seeking
         (i) relief in respect of the  Borrower or  Holdings or any  Significant
         Subsidiary,  or of a substantial  part of the property or assets of the
         Borrower or Holdings or any Significant  Subsidiary,  under Title 11 of
         the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any
         other Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,  receivership or similar
         law or  comparable  foreign law,  (ii) the  appointment  of a receiver,
         trustee, custodian,  sequestrator,  conservator or similar official for
         the  Borrower  or  Holdings  or  any  Significant  Subsidiary  or for a
         substantial  part of the property or assets of the Borrower or Holdings
         or any Significant Subsidiary or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of
         the  Borrower  or  Holdings  or any  Significant  Subsidiary;  and such
         proceeding or petition  shall  continue  undismissed  for 60 days or an
         order or decree  approving  or ordering any of the  foregoing  shall be
         entered;

              (h) the Borrower or Holdings or any Significant  Subsidiary  shall
         (i)  voluntarily  commence any proceeding or file any petition  seeking
         relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now  constituted or
         hereafter   amended,   or  any  other  Federal  or  state   bankruptcy,
         insolvency, receivership or similar law or comparable foreign law, (ii)
         consent  to the  institution  of, or fail to  contest  in a timely  and
         appropriate  manner,  any  proceeding  or the  filing  of any  petition
         described in (g) above,  (iii) apply for or consent to the  appointment
         of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar
         official for the Borrower or Holdings or any Significant  Subsidiary or
         for a  substantial  part of the  property or assets of the  Borrower or
         Holdings or any Significant  Subsidiary,  (iv) file an answer admitting
         the material  allegations  of a petition  filed  against it in any such
         proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
         (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to
         pay its  debts as they  become  due or (vii)  take any  action  for the
         purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

              (i) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate
         amount in excess of $7,500,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance)
         shall be rendered against Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or


<PAGE>


                                                                              51



         any  Significant  Subsidiary  or any  combination  thereof and the same
         shall remain undischarged or stayed for a period of 30 consecutive days
         during which execution shall not be effectively  stayed,  or any action
         shall be legally  taken by a judgment  creditor  to levy upon assets or
         properties of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such
         judgment;

              (j) a Reportable Event or Reportable  Events, or a failure to make
         a required  installment or other payment (within the meaning of Section
         412(n)(1) of the Code), shall have occurred with respect to any Plan or
         Plans that  reasonably  could be expected to result in liability of the
         Borrower, any Guarantor or any of their ERISA Affiliates to the PBGC or
         to a Plan in an aggregate  amount  exceeding  $5,000,000 and, within 30
         days  after  the  reporting  of  any  such  Reportable   Event  to  the
         Administrative  Agent or after the receipt by the Administrative  Agent
         of  the  statement  required  pursuant  to  Section  5.06(b)(iii),  the
         Administrative  Agent shall have  notified the Borrower in writing that
         (i) the Required  Lenders have made a determination  that, on the basis
         of such Reportable Event or Reportable  Events or the failure to make a
         required payment,  there are reasonable grounds (A) for the termination
         of such  Plan or  Plans by the  PBGC,  (B) for the  appointment  by the
         appropriate  United  States  District  Court of a trustee to administer
         such  Plan or Plans or (C) for the  imposition  of a lien in favor of a
         Plan and (ii) as a result thereof an Event of Default exists hereunder;
         or a trustee  shall be appointed by a United States  District  Court to
         administer  any  such  Plan  or  Plans;  or the  PBGC  shall  institute
         proceedings to terminate any Plan or Plans;

              (k)  (i)  the  Borrower,  any  Guarantor  or  any of  their  ERISA
         Affiliates  shall have been notified by the sponsor of a  Multiemployer
         Plan that it has incurred  Withdrawal  Liability to such  Multiemployer
         Plan, (ii) the Borrower, any Guarantor or such ERISA Affiliate does not
         have reasonable grounds for contesting such Withdrawal  Liability or is
         not in fact  contesting  such  Withdrawal  Liability  in a  timely  and
         appropriate  manner  and (iii) the amount of the  Withdrawal  Liability
         specified  in such  notice,  when  aggregated  with all  other  amounts
         required  to  be  paid  to  Multiemployer   Plans  in  connection  with
         Withdrawal  Liabilities  (determined  as of the  date or  dates of such
         notification),   exceeds  $7,500,000  or  requires  payments  exceeding
         $7,500,000 in any year;

              (l) the Borrower,  any Guarantor or any of their ERISA  Affiliates
         shall have been  notified by the sponsor of a  Multiemployer  Plan that
         such  Multiemployer  Plan is in  reorganization or is being terminated,
         within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA,  if solely as a result of such
         reorganization or termination the aggregate annual contributions of the
         Borrower,   the   Guarantors   and  their  ERISA   Affiliates   to  all
         Multiemployer Plans that are then in reorganization or have been or are
         being  terminated  have  been or will be  increased  over  the  amounts
         required to be contributed to such  Multiemployer  Plans for their most
         recently completed plan years by an amount exceeding $7,500,000;

              (m)  there shall have occurred a Change in Control;

              (n) (i) any Loan  Document  shall for any  reason be  asserted  by
         Holdings  or any of its  subsidiaries  not  to be a  legal,  valid  and
         binding obligation of the respective parties thereto, (ii) any security
         interest or Lien purported to be created by the Pledge Agreement and to
         extend  to  assets  which  are  not  immaterial  to  Holdings  and  its
         subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis shall for any reason (except to
         the  extent  resulting  from the  negligent  or wilful  failure  of the
         Collateral  Agent to retain  possession of the  applicable  collateral)
         cease to be, or any security  interest or Lien  purported to be created
         by the Pledge  Agreement and to extend to any assets of Holdings or its
         subsidiaries shall for any reason be asserted by Holdings or any of its
         subsidiaries  not to be, a valid,  first  priority  perfected  security
         interest  (subject to no Liens other than Liens not  prohibited  by any
         applicable  provision of the Loan Documents) in such collateral  (other
         than cash proceeds  which are not  identifiable  proceeds) or (iii) the
         Obligations  and  the  guarantees  thereof  pursuant  to the  Guarantee
         Agreement  shall  cease to  constitute  senior  indebtedness  under the
         subordination  provisions of any document or instrument  evidencing any
         Permitted  Subordinated  Indebtedness or such subordination  provisions
         shall be  invalidated  or  otherwise  cease to be a  legal,  valid  and
         binding  obligation of the parties  thereto,  enforceable in accordance
         with its terms; or



<PAGE>


                                                                              52



              (o)  the  Finance  Subsidiary  shall  engage  in any  business  or
         activity  other than the purchase of  receivables  from the  Restricted
         Subsidiaries and the sale of such receivables and activities incidental
         thereto;

then,  and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower
described in paragraph (g) or (h) above),  and at any time thereafter during the
continuance of such event, the  Administrative  Agent may, and at the request of
the Required Lenders,  shall, by notice to the Borrower,  take either or both of
the following actions,  at the same or different times: (i) terminate  forthwith
the Commitments and (ii) declare the Loans then  outstanding to be forthwith due
and  payable  in whole or in  part,  whereupon  the  principal  of the  Loans so
declared to be due and payable,  together with accrued  interest thereon and any
unpaid accrued Fees and all other  liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder
and under any other Loan  Document,  shall  become  forthwith  due and  payable,
without  presentment,  demand,  protest or any other notice of any kind,  all of
which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower,  anything contained herein or
in any other Loan  Document to the  contrary  notwithstanding;  and in any event
with  respect to the  Borrower  described  in  paragraph  (g) or (h) above,  the
Commitments  shall  automatically  terminate and the principal of the Loans then
outstanding,  together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees
and all other  liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other
Loan Document,  shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment,
demand,  protest  or any  other  notice of any  kind,  all of which  are  hereby
expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan
Document to the contrary notwithstanding.


                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

         In order to expedite the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
Chemical Bank is hereby appointed to act as Administrative  Agent and Collateral
Agent on behalf of the Lenders.  Each of the Lenders, and each subsequent holder
of any  Note  by its  acceptance  thereof,  hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  the
Administrative Agent to take such actions on behalf of such Lender or holder and
to exercise  such powers as are  specifically  delegated  to the  Administrative
Agent by the  terms  and  provisions  hereof  and of the  other  Loan  Documents
(including the power to execute and deliver the  Intercreditor  Agreement if and
when   requested  to  do  so  by  any  holders  of  any  Permitted   Acquisition
Indebtedness),   together  with  such  actions  and  powers  as  are  reasonably
incidental thereto.  The Administrative  Agent is hereby expressly authorized by
the Lenders,  without hereby limiting any implied  authority,  (a) to receive on
behalf of the Lenders all payments of principal of and interest on the Loans and
all other  amounts due to the Lenders  hereunder,  and promptly to distribute to
each Lender its proper share of each payment so received;  (b) to give notice on
behalf of each of the Lenders to the Borrower of any Event of Default  specified
in this  Agreement  of which  the  Administrative  Agent  has  actual  knowledge
acquired in connection with its agency hereunder;  and (c) to distribute to each
Lender copies of all notices, financial statements and other materials delivered
by the Borrower  pursuant to this  Agreement  as received by the  Administrative
Agent.  In acting as  Collateral  Agent  Chemical  Bank shall be entitled to the
rights  and  benefits,  and  subject  to the  obligations,  set  forth  for  the
Administrative Agent under this Article VIII, mutatis mutandis, which Article is
hereby  incorporated by reference,  mutatis  mutandis,  in each of the Guarantee
Agreement and the Pledge Agreement.

         Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its affiliates,  directors,
officers,  employees  or agents  shall be liable as such for any action taken or
omitted  by any of them  except  for its or his own gross  negligence  or wilful
misconduct,  or be  responsible  for any statement,  warranty or  representation
herein or the contents of any document delivered in connection  herewith,  or be
required to  ascertain  or to make any inquiry  concerning  the  performance  or
observance  by the Borrower or any  Guarantor  of any of the terms,  conditions,
covenants or  agreements  contained in any Loan  Documents.  The  Administrative
Agent  shall not be  responsible  to the Lenders or the holders of the Notes for
the  due  execution  (other  than  by the  Administrative  Agent),  genuineness,
validity,  enforceability  (other  than  against  the  Administrative  Agent) or
effectiveness of this Agreement,  the Notes or any other Loan Documents or other
instruments or agreements. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee
of any Note as the owner  thereof for all  purposes  hereof  until it shall have
received from the payee of such Note notice,  given as provided  herein,  of the
transfer thereof in compliance with Section 9.04. The Administrative Agent shall
in all cases be fully  protected  in  acting,  or  refraining  from  acting,  in
accordance with written instructions signed by the Required Lenders


<PAGE>


                                                                          53



and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, such instructions and any
action or inaction pursuant thereto shall be binding on all the Lenders and each
subsequent holder of any Note. The Administrative Agent shall, in the absence of
knowledge to the  contrary,  be entitled to rely on any  instrument  or document
believed  by it in good faith to be genuine  and correct and to have been signed
or sent by the proper person or persons.  Neither the  Administrative  Agent nor
any  of  its   directors,   officers,   employees   or  agents  shall  have  any
responsibility  to the  Borrower  on  account  of the  failure  of or  delay  in
performance  or breach by any Lender of any of its  obligations  hereunder or to
any Lender on account of the failure of or delay in performance or breach by any
other  Lender  or the  Borrower  or any  Guarantor  of any of  their  respective
obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith
or therewith.  The Administrative Agent may execute any and all duties hereunder
by or through agents or affiliates and shall be entitled to rely upon the advice
of legal counsel  selected by it with respect to all matters  arising  hereunder
and shall not be liable for any action  taken or suffered in good faith by it in
accordance with the advice of such counsel.

         The Lenders hereby acknowledge that the Administrative  Agent shall not
be under any duty to take any  discretionary  action permitted to be taken by it
pursuant to the  provisions  of this  Agreement  unless it shall be requested in
writing to do so by the Required Lenders.

         Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative
Agent as  provided  below,  the  Administrative  Agent may resign at any time by
notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation,  the Required
Lenders  shall have the right to appoint a  successor,  with the  consent of the
Borrower (not to be unreasonably  withheld).  If no successor shall have been so
appointed  by the  Required  Lenders and shall have  accepted  such  appointment
within 30 days  after the  retiring  Administrative  Agent  gives  notice of its
resignation,  then the  retiring  Administrative  Agent  may,  on  behalf of the
Lenders,  appoint a  successor  Administrative  Agent,  with the  consent of the
Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld), which shall be a bank with an office
in New  York,  New York,  having a  combined  capital  and  surplus  of at least
$500,000,000  or an  Affiliate  of any such bank which is also a bank.  Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as  Administrative  Agent hereunder by a successor
bank,  such  successor  shall  succeed to and become vested with all the rights,
powers,  privileges  and  duties of the  retiring  Administrative  Agent and the
retiring   Administrative   Agent  shall  be  discharged  from  its  duties  and
obligations  hereunder.  After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder,
the provisions of this Article and Section 9.05 shall continue in effect for its
benefit in respect  of any  actions  taken or omitted to be taken by it while it
was acting as Administrative Agent.

         With respect to the Loans made by it hereunder  and the Notes issued to
it,  the   Administrative   Agent  in  its   individual   capacity  and  not  as
Administrative  Agent shall have the same rights and powers as any other  Lender
and may exercise the same as though it were not the  Administrative  Agent,  and
the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money
to and  generally  engage  in any  kind of  business  with the  Borrower  or any
subsidiary  or other  Affiliate  thereof  as if it were  not the  Administrative
Agent.

         Each Lender  recognizes that  applicable  laws,  rules,  regulations or
guidelines of Governmental  Authorities may require the Administrative  Agent to
determine whether the transactions  contemplated  hereby should be classified as
"highly leveraged" or assigned any similar or successor classification, and that
such  determination  may  be  binding  upon  the  other  Lenders.   Each  Lender
understands   that  any  such   determination   shall  be  made  solely  by  the
Administrative  Agent  based  upon such  factors  (which  may  include,  without
limitation,  the Administrative  Agent's internal policies and prevailing market
practices) as the  Administrative  Agent shall deem relevant and agrees that the
Administrative  Agent shall have no liability for the  consequences  of any such
determination.

         Each Lender agrees (i) to reimburse each of the  Administrative  Agent,
on  demand,  in the  amount  of its pro rata  share  (based  on its  Commitments
hereunder) of any reasonable expenses incurred for the benefit of the Lenders by
the Administrative Agent,  including counsel fees and compensation of agents and
employees paid for services  rendered on behalf of the Lenders,  which shall not
have been reimbursed by the Borrower and (ii) to indemnify and hold harmless the
Administrative Agent and any of its directors, officers, employees or agents, on
demand,  in the  amount of such pro rata  share,  from and  against  any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature  whatsoever which may be
imposed  on,  incurred  by  or  asserted  against  it in  its  capacity  as  the
Administrative Agent or any of them in any way relating to


<PAGE>


                                                                              54



or arising out of this  Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken
or omitted by it or any of them under this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
to the extent the same shall not have been reimbursed by the Borrower;  provided
that no Lender  shall be liable to the  Administrative  Agent for any portion of
such liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits, costs,  expenses or disbursements  resulting from the gross negligence or
wilful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or any of its directors, officers,
employees or agents.

         Each  Lender  acknowledges  that  it  has,  independently  and  without
reliance  upon the  Administrative  Agent or any other  Lender and based on such
documents  and  information  as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own credit
analysis  and  decision  to  enter  into  this   Agreement.   Each  Lender  also
acknowledges  that  it  will,   independently  and  without  reliance  upon  the
Administrative  Agent  or any  other  Lender  and  based on such  documents  and
information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its
own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this  Agreement
or any other Loan  Document,  any related  agreement or any  document  furnished
hereunder or thereunder.

                                          ARTICLE IX.

                                         MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 9.01.  Notices.  Notices and other communications provided for
herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier 
service, mailed or sent by telex or telecopy, as follows:

              (a) if to Holdings  or to the  Borrower,  to it at 701  McCullough
         Drive,  Charlotte,  North Carolina 28262,  Attention of Chief Financial
         Officer (Telecopy No.  704-548-2330) with copies to 210 Madison Avenue,
         6th Floor,  New York,  New York  10016,  Attention  of General  Counsel
         (Telecopy No.
         212-578-1269);

              (b)  if to the Administrative Agent, to it at 270 Park Avenue 
         (10th Floor), New York, New York 10017, Attention of Rosemary Bradley 
         (Telecopy No. 212-972-0009);

              (c) if to a Lender,  to it at its address (or telecopy number) set
         forth in Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance  pursuant to
         which such Lender shall have become a party hereto.

All notices and other  communications  given to any party  hereto in  accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement  shall be deemed to have been given on the
date of receipt if  delivered by hand or  overnight  courier  service or sent by
telex or telecopy, or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified
or registered mail if mailed,  in each case delivered,  sent or mailed (properly
addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance  with
the latest  unrevoked  direction  from such party given in accordance  with this
Section 9.01.

         SECTION  9.02.  Survival  of  Agreement.  All  covenants,   agreements,
representations  and warranties  made by the Borrower and the Guarantors  herein
and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection
with or  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  shall  be
considered  to have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the making
by the Lenders of the Loans,  and the  execution  and delivery to the Lenders of
the Notes  evidencing such Loans,  regardless of any  investigation  made by the
Lenders or on their behalf,  and shall continue in full force and effect as long
as the principal of or any accrued  interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other
amount  payable under this  Agreement or any other Loan Document is  outstanding
and  unpaid and so long as the  Commitments  have not been  terminated.  Without
prejudice  to  the   survival  of  any  other   agreements   contained   herein,
indemnification  and  reimbursement   obligations  contained  herein  (including
pursuant to Sections  2.13,  2.15 and 9.05) shall survive the payment in full of
the principal and interest  hereunder and the  termination of the Commitments or
this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.03.  Binding Effect.  This Agreement  shall become  effective
when  it  shall  have  been   executed  by  the   Borrower,   Holdings  and  the
Administrative  Agent and when the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received
copies hereof which,  when taken  together,  bear the signatures of each Lender,
and thereafter shall be binding upon


<PAGE>


                                                                             55



and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, Holdings, the Administrative Agent and
each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that none of the
Borrower or Holdings shall have the right to assign its rights  hereunder or any
interest herein without the prior consent of all the Lenders.

         SECTION 9.04.  Successors  and Assigns.  (a) Whenever in this Agreement
any of the parties  hereto is referred  to,  such  reference  shall be deemed to
include the  successors and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,  promises
and  agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower,  Holdings,  the  Administrative
Agent or the Lenders that are contained in this  Agreement  shall bind and inure
to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

         (b) Each Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of
its interests,  rights and obligations under this Agreement  (including all or a
portion  of its  Commitment  and the Loans at the time owing to it and the Notes
held by it); provided,  however, that (i) except in the case of an assignment to
a Lender or an  Affiliate of such  Lender,  the Borrower and the  Administrative
Agent must give their prior written consent to such  assignment  (which consents
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (ii) after giving effect to such
assignment, the aggregate amount of the Loans owing to and unused Commitments of
the assignee and its Affiliates and of the assignor  (unless the assignor ceases
to be a Lender) and its  Affiliates  shall not be less than 5% of the  aggregate
amount of  outstanding  Loans and unused  Commitments  at such  time,  (iii) the
parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the  Administrative
Agent an Assignment and  Acceptance,  together with the Note or Notes subject to
such  assignment  and a processing  and  recordation  fee of $3,500 and (iv) the
assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
an  Administrative  Questionnaire.  Upon  acceptance  and recording  pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section 9.04,  from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and  Acceptance,  which effective date shall be at least five
Business  Days  after the  execution  thereof  unless  agreed  otherwise  by the
Administrative  Agent, (A) the assignee  thereunder shall be a party hereto and,
to the extent of the interest  assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance,  have
the  rights  and  obligations  of a  Lender  under  this  Agreement  and (B) the
assigning  Lender  thereunder  shall, to the extent of the interest  assigned by
such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  be released from its  obligations  under this
Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance  covering all or the
remaining  portion of an assigning  Lender's rights and  obligations  under this
Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be
entitled to the benefits of Sections  2.13,  2.15,  2.18 and 9.05, as well as to
any Fees accrued for its account and not yet paid).

         (c) By executing  and  delivering  an Assignment  and  Acceptance,  the
assigning  Lender  thereunder  and the  assignee  thereunder  shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other  parties  hereto as  follows:
(i) such assigning  Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of
the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that
its Commitment,  and the outstanding balances of its Loans, in each case without
giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set
forth in such Assignment and Acceptance,  (ii) except as set forth in (i) above,
such  assigning  Lender  makes no  representation  or  warranty  and  assumes no
responsibility  with respect to any  statements,  warranties or  representations
made in or in  connection  with  this  Agreement,  or the  execution,  legality,
validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or value of this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document  furnished  pursuant
hereto,  or the  financial  condition  of the  Borrower or any  Guarantor or the
performance  or  observance  by  the  Borrower  or any  Guarantor  of any of its
obligations  under  this  Agreement,  any  other  Loan  Document  or  any  other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee represents
and warrants  that it is legally  authorized to enter into such  Assignment  and
Acceptance;  (iv) such  assignee  confirms  that it has received  copies of this
Agreement,  together  with  copies  of  the  most  recent  financial  statements
delivered pursuant to this Agreement and such other documents and information as
it has deemed  appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into such Assignment and Acceptance;  (v) such assignee will  independently  and
without  reliance upon the  Administrative  Agent,  such assigning Lender or any
other  Lender  and based on such  documents  and  information  as it shall  deem
appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not  taking  action  under  this  Agreement;  (vi) such  assignee  appoints  and
authorizes the  Administrative  Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf
and to  exercise  such  powers  under this  Agreement  as are  delegated  to the
Administrative  Agent by the terms  hereof,  together  with  such  powers as are
reasonably  incidental  thereto;  and (vii) such  assignee  agrees  that it will
perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of
this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.



<PAGE>


                                                                             56



         (d) The Administrative  Agent shall maintain at its address referred to
in subsection 9.01 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance  delivered to it and
a register (the  "Register")  for the  recordation of the names and addresses of
the Lenders and the Commitments of, and principal  amount of the Loans owing to,
each Lender from time to time. The Administrative  Agent shall separately record
the names and  addresses  of each Lender that holds Notes in the  Register.  The
Administrative Agent shall also record the amount of the Commitments of, and the
aggregate  principal  amount of Loans owing to such Lender in the Register.  The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive,  in the absence of manifest  error,
and the  Borrower,  the  Administrative  Agent and the Lenders  shall treat each
person  whose name is  recorded in the  Register as the owner of the Notes,  the
Commitments  and the Loans recorded  therein for all purposes of this Agreement.
The Register  shall be available for  inspection by the Borrower and any Lender,
at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

         (e) Upon its  receipt of a duly  completed  Assignment  and  Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee  together with the Note or Notes
subject to such assignment, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect
of the assignee (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender  hereunder),  the
processing  and  recordation  fee  referred  to in  paragraph  (b) above and, if
required,  the written consent of the Borrower and the  Administrative  Agent to
such assignment,  the Administrative  Agent shall (i) accept such Assignment and
Acceptance,  (ii) record the information  contained  therein in the Register and
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. Within five Business Days after
receipt of notice, the Borrower,  at its own expense,  shall execute and deliver
to the  Administrative  Agent, in exchange for the surrendered  Note or Notes, a
new Note or Notes to the order of such  assignee in a principal  amount equal to
the  applicable  Commitment  assumed  by it  pursuant  to  such  Assignment  and
Acceptance and, if the assigning Lender has retained a Commitment, a new Note to
the order of such assigning Lender in a principal amount equal to the applicable
Commitment  retained  by it.  Such new Note or  Notes  shall be in an  aggregate
principal  amount equal to the aggregate  principal  amount of such  surrendered
Note; such new Notes shall be dated the date of the surrendered Notes which they
replace and shall  otherwise be in  substantially  the form of Exhibit A hereto.
Canceled  Notes shall be returned to the Borrower.  Notwithstanding  anything to
the contrary contained herein, no assignment under Section 9.04(b) of any rights
or obligations  under or in respect of the Notes or Loans evidenced by the Notes
shall be effective unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have recorded
such assignment in the Register.  The Administrative Agent shall record the name
of the transferor, the name of the transferee, and the amount of the transfer in
the Register  after receipt of all documents  required  pursuant to this Section
9.04, including, without limitation, the Notes being assigned in connection with
such  transfer,  and  such  other  documents  as the  Administrative  Agent  may
reasonably request.

         (f)  Each  Lender  may  without  the  consent  of the  Borrower  or the
Administrative  Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other entities
in  all  or a  portion  of its  rights  and  obligations  under  this  Agreement
(including  all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it and the
Notes held by it); provided,  however,  that (i) such Lender's obligations under
this  Agreement  shall remain  unchanged,  (ii) such Lender shall remain  solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) the participating banks or other entities shall be entitled to the benefit
of the cost  protection  provisions  contained in Sections 2.13,  2.15, 2.18 and
9.06(a)  to the same  extent as if they  were  Lenders,  provided,  that no such
participating  bank or entity  shall be entitled  to receive any greater  amount
pursuant to such  Sections  than a Lender would have been entitled to receive in
respect  of the  amount  of the  participation  sold  by  such  Lender  to  such
participating  bank or entity had no sale occurred,  and (iv) the Borrower,  the
Administrative  Agent and the other  Lenders  shall  continue to deal solely and
directly  with  such  Lender  in  connection   with  such  Lender's  rights  and
obligations under this Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to
enforce the obligations of the Borrower relating to the Loans and to approve any
amendment,  modification  or waiver of any  provision  of this  Agreement or any
other Loan Document (other than amendments,  modifications or waivers decreasing
any fees  payable  hereunder  or the amount of principal of or the rate at which
interest is payable on the Loans,  extending  any final  maturity  date, in each
case in respect of an  Obligation  in which the relevant  participating  bank or
entity is  participating,  or releasing all or substantially  all of the Pledged
Securities  or  any  Guarantor  from  the  Guarantee  Agreement  unless  all  or
substantially  all  of the  capital  stock  of  such  subsidiary  is  sold  in a
transaction permitted by this Agreement). Each Lender will disclose the identity
of its participants to the Borrower and Administrative Agent if requested by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent.



<PAGE>


                                                                             57



         (g) Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed  assignment or participation  pursuant to this Section
9.04,   disclose  to  the  assignee  or  participant  or  proposed  assignee  or
participant any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by
or on behalf of the Borrower;  provided that, prior to any such disclosure, each
such assignee or participant or proposed  assignee or participant  shall execute
an agreement  whereby such  assignee or  participant  shall agree to be bound by
Section 9.17.

         (h) Any Lender may at any time  assign all or any portion of its rights
under  this  Agreement  and the Notes  issued to it to a Federal  Reserve  Bank;
provided  that no  such  assignment  shall  release  a  Lender  from  any of its
obligations hereunder.

         (i) Neither the Borrower nor Holdings shall assign or delegate any of 
its rights or duties hereunder.

         SECTION 9.05. Expenses;  Indemnity.  (a) The Borrower agrees to pay all
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  by the  Administrative  Agent  in
connection  with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
or by the  Administrative  Agent  in  connection  with  the  syndication  of the
Commitments or the  administration of this Agreement,  or in connection with any
amendments,  modifications  or  waivers  of the  provisions  hereof  or  thereof
(whether or not the transactions  hereby  contemplated  shall be consummated) or
incurred  by the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender  in  connection  with the
enforcement or protection of their rights in connection  with this Agreement and
the other  Loan  Documents  or in  connection  with the Loans  made or the Notes
issued  hereunder,  including the reasonable fees,  charges and disbursements of
Simpson  Thacher &  Bartlett,  counsel  for the  Administrative  Agent,  and, in
connection with any such enforcement or protection, the reasonable fees, charges
and disbursements of any other counsel (including the reasonable allocated costs
of  internal  counsel  if a Lender  elects to use  internal  counsel  in lieu of
outside  counsel) for the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender (but no more than
one such counsel for any Lender).

         (b) The Borrower  agrees to indemnify the  Administrative  Agent,  each
Lender and each of their respective  directors,  officers,  employees and agents
(each  such  person  being  called an  "Indemnitee")  against,  and to hold each
Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities and
related expenses,  including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements,
incurred  by or  asserted  against  any  Indemnitee  arising  out of, in any way
connected  with,  or as a  result  of (i)  the  execution  or  delivery  of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated
thereby, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective  obligations
thereunder  or the  consummation  of  the  Larizza  Acquisition  and  the  other
transactions  contemplated thereby, (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans or
(iii) any claim, litigation,  investigation or proceeding relating to any of the
foregoing,  whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such
indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee,  be available to the extent that such
losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or related  expenses are determined by a
court of  competent  jurisdiction  by final and  nonappealable  judgment to have
resulted  from the gross  negligence  or wilful  misconduct  of such  Indemnitee
(treating,  for this  purpose  only,  any  Lender and its  directors,  officers,
employees and agents as a single  Indemnitee).  Subject to and without  limiting
the generality of the foregoing sentence,  the Borrower agrees to indemnify each
Indemnitee  against,  and hold each Indemnitee  harmless from, any Environmental
Claim,  and  any  and all  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  and  related
expenses,   including   reasonable  counsel  or  consultant  fees,  charges  and
disbursements,  incurred by or asserted  against any Indemnitee (and arising out
of, or in any way connected with or as a result of, any of the events  described
in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding  sentence)  arising out of, in any
way connected  with,  or as a result of (i) any  Environmental  Claim,  (ii) any
violation  of any  Environmental  Law,  or  (iii)  any act,  omission,  event or
circumstance  (including the actual, proposed or threatened,  release,  removal,
disposition,   discharge  or  transportation,   storage,   holding,   existence,
generation,  processing, abatement, handling or presence on, into, from or under
any present,  past or future property of Holdings or any of its  subsidiaries of
any Contaminant), regardless of whether the act, omission, event or circumstance
constituted  a violation of  Environmental  Law at the time of its  existence or
occurrence;  provided that such indemnity  shall not, as to any  Indemnitee,  be
available  to the  extent  that such  Environmental  Claim is, or such,  losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities or related expenses are, determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from
the gross  negligence  or wilful  misconduct  of such  Indemnitee  or any of its
employers, officers, directors, employees or agents.



<PAGE>


                                                                            58



         (c) The Borrower  shall be entitled to assume the defense of any action
for which  indemnification is sought hereunder with counsel of its choice at its
expense (in which case the Borrower shall not thereafter be responsible  for the
fees and expenses of any separate  counsel  retained by an Indemnitee  except as
set forth  below);  provided,  however,  that such counsel  shall be  reasonably
satisfactory to each such Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the Borrower's election to
assume  the  defense of such  action,  each  Indemnitee  shall have the right to
employ  separate  counsel and to participate in the defense of such action,  and
the  Borrower  shall bear the  reasonable  fees,  costs,  and  expenses  of such
separate counsel,  if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Borrower to represent
such Indemnitee would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the
actual or potential  defendants  in, or targets of, any such action include both
the Borrower  and such  Indemnitee  and such  Indemnitee  shall have  reasonably
concluded  that there may be legal  defenses  available to it that are different
from or  additional  to those  available  to the  Borrower  (in  which  case the
Borrower shall not have the right to assume the defense or such action on behalf
of such  Indemnitee);  (iii)  the  Borrower  shall  not  have  employed  counsel
reasonably  satisfactory  to such Indemnitee to represent it within a reasonable
time after notice of the institution of such action;  or (iv) the Borrower shall
authorize such Indemnitee to employ separate counsel at the Borrower's  expense.
The Borrower  will not be liable under this  Agreement for any amount paid by an
Indemnitee  to settle any claims or actions if the  settlement  is entered  into
without the Borrower's  consent,  which consent may not be withheld  unless such
settlement  is  unreasonable  in light of such  claims or actions  against,  and
defenses available to, such Indemnitee.

         (d) Holdings  and the  Borrower  shall not, and shall not permit any of
their  subsidiaries to, bring any demand,  claim,  cost recovery or other action
they  may now or  hereafter  have  against  any  Indemnitee  resulting  from any
Environmental  Claim;  provided  that this  paragraph  (d) shall not,  as to any
Indemnitee,  apply  to  the  extent  that  such  Environmental  Claim  has  been
determined  by a court of  competent  jurisdiction  by final  and  nonappealable
judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such
Indemnitee or any of its employers, directors, officers, employees or agents.

         (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.05, this
Section 9.05 shall not apply to taxes,  it being  understood that the Borrower's
only  obligations with respect to taxes shall arise under Sections 2.13 and 2.18
and Section 19 of the Guarantee Agreement.

         (f) The  provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain  operative and in
full  force  and  effect  regardless  of the  expiration  of the  term  of  this
Agreement,  the  consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the
repayment of any of the Obligations,  the invalidity or  unenforceability of any
term  or  provision  of  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document,  or any
investigation  made by or on behalf of the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender.
All  amounts  due under this  Section  9.05  shall be payable on written  demand
therefor.

         SECTION  9.06.  Right of  Setoff;  Sharing.  (a) If an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing,  each Lender is hereby  authorized at any
time and from time to time, to the fullest  extent  permitted by law, to set off
and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,  provisional
or  final) at any time held and  other  indebtedness  at any time  owing by such
Lender to or for the credit or the  account of the  Borrower  against any of and
all the  obligations  of the  Borrower  now or  hereafter  existing  under  this
Agreement and other Loan Documents held by such Lender,  irrespective of whether
or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other
Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each
Lender  under  this  Section  are in  addition  to  other  rights  and  remedies
(including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

              (b) If any  Lender  (a  "benefitted  Lender")  shall  at any  time
receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon,  then due,
or  receive  any  collateral  in  respect   thereof   (whether   voluntarily  or
involuntarily,  by  set-off,  pursuant  to events or  proceedings  of the nature
referred to in paragraph (g) or (h) of Article VII, or otherwise),  in a greater
proportion than any such payment to or collateral  received by any other Lender,
if any, in respect of such other Lender's Loans, or interest thereon,  then due,
such  benefitted  Lender  shall  purchase  for cash  from the  other  Lenders  a
participating  interest in such portion of each such other  Lender's  Loans,  or
shall  provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such  collateral,  or
the proceeds  thereof,  as shall be necessary to cause such benefitted Lender to
share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with
each of the  Lenders;  provided,  however,  that if all or any  portion  of such
excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered


<PAGE>


                                                                            59



from such benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded,  and the purchase
price and  benefits  returned,  to the  extent  of such  recovery,  but  without
interest.

         SECTION 9.07.  Applicable Law.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN 
DOCUMENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF 
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         SECTION  9.08.  Waivers;  Amendment.  (a) No  failure  or  delay of the
Administrative  Agent or any Lender in exercising  any power or right  hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise of
any such  right or  power,  or any  abandonment  or  discontinuance  of steps to
enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the  exercise  of any other  right or power.  The  rights  and  remedies  of the
Administrative  Agent  and the  Lenders  hereunder  and  under  the  other  Loan
Documents are  cumulative  and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which
they would  otherwise  have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any
other Loan  Document  or consent to any  departure  by the  Borrower or Holdings
therefrom shall in any event be effective  unless the same shall be permitted by
paragraph (b) below,  and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given.  No notice or demand
on the Borrower or Holdings in any case shall  entitle the Borrower to any other
or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

         (b) Neither  this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be waived,
amended or modified  except  pursuant to an agreement or  agreements  in writing
entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders;  provided,  however, that
no such  agreement  shall (i)  decrease the  principal  amount of, or extend the
final  maturity of, or waive or excuse any such payment or any part thereof,  or
decrease the rate of interest on any Loan,  without the prior written consent of
each Lender  affected  thereby,  (ii) extend any Loan Repayment Date (other than
final  maturity)  or any other date on which  principal  of the Loans is due, or
extend any date on which  payment of  interest  on any Loan is due,  without the
prior  written  consent of Lenders with Loans  representing  at least 80% of the
aggregate  principal  amount of the Loans then  outstanding,  (iii)  increase or
extend the  Commitment  or  decrease  the  Commitment  Fees or other fees of any
Lender without the prior written consent of such Lender, or (iv) amend or modify
the provisions of Section 2.09(c) or 2.16, the provisions of this Section or the
definition  of  "Required  Lenders",  or release  substantially  all the Pledged
Securities  from the Lien of the Pledge  Agreement or release any Guarantor from
the Guarantee  Agreement unless all or substantially all of the capital stock of
such subsidiary is sold in a transaction  permitted by this  Agreement,  without
the  prior  written  consent  of  each  Lender;  provided  further  that no such
agreement  shall amend,  modify or otherwise  affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative  Agent  hereunder  without  the  prior  written  consent  of  the
Administrative Agent acting as such at the effective date of such agreement,  as
the case may be.  Each  Lender  and each  holder of a Note shall be bound by any
waiver,  amendment or  modification  authorized  by this Section  regardless  of
whether  its Note  shall have been  marked to make  reference  thereto,  and any
consent by any Lender or holder of a Note  pursuant to this  Section  shall bind
any person subsequently acquiring a Note from it, whether or not such Note shall
have been so marked.

         SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein
or in the Notes to the contrary,  if at any time the  applicable  interest rate,
together  with all  fees  and  charges  which  are  treated  as  interest  under
applicable law  (collectively  the "Charges"),  as provided for herein or in any
other document  executed in connection  herewith,  or otherwise  contracted for,
charged,  received,  taken or reserved by any Lender,  shall  exceed the maximum
lawful rate (the "Maximum  Rate") which may be contracted for,  charged,  taken,
received or reserved by such Lender in accordance  with applicable law, the rate
of  interest  payable  under the Note  held by such  Lender,  together  with all
Charges payable to such Lender,  shall be limited to the Maximum Rate,  provided
that such excess amount shall be paid to such Lender on the  subsequent  payment
dates to the extent not exceeding the legal limitation.

         SECTION  9.10.  Entire  Agreement.   This  Agreement,  the  other  Loan
Documents  and  the  agreements   regarding  certain  Fees  referred  to  herein
constitute  the entire  contract  between  the  parties  relative to the subject
matter hereof. Any previous agreement among or representations  from the parties
with respect to the subject  matter hereof is  superseded by this  Agreement and
the other  Loan  Documents.  Nothing  in this  Agreement  or in the  other  Loan
Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than
the parties hereto and thereto any rights, remedies,  obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.


<PAGE>


                                                                             60




         SECTION 9.11. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party hereto hereby waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial
by jury in respect of any  litigation  directly  or  indirectly  arising out of,
under or in connection  with this Agreement or any of the other Loan  Documents.
Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any
other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would
not, in the event of  litigation,  seek to enforce the foregoing  waiver and (b)
acknowledges  that it and the other  parties  hereto have been  induced to enter
into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable, by, among other
things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 9.11.

         SECTION  9.12.  Severability.  In the  event  any  one or  more  of the
provisions  contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document  should be
held invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any respect,  the validity,  legality
and  enforceability  of the remaining  provisions  contained  herein and therein
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor
in  good-faith  negotiations  to replace the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions with valid  provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as
possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

         SECTION 9.13.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in two or
more  counterparts,  each of which shall constitute an original but all of which
when  taken  together  shall  constitute  but one  contract,  and  shall  become
effective as provided in Section 9.03.

         SECTION 9.14.  Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of
Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this
Agreement  and are not to  affect  the  construction  of,  or to be  taken  into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each of
the Borrower and Holdings hereby irrevocably and  unconditionally  submits,  for
itself and its property, to the nonexclusive  jurisdiction of any New York State
court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City,
and any appellate  court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding  arising
out of or  relating  to this  Agreement  or the  other  Loan  Documents,  or for
recognition  or  enforcement  of any  judgment,  and each of the parties  hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  agrees that all claims in respect of any
such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or,
to the extent  permitted  by law,  in such  Federal  court.  Each of the parties
hereto agrees that a final  judgment in any such action or  proceeding  shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any
right  that any  Lender may  otherwise  have to bring any  action or  proceeding
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  against the Borrower or
Holdings or their properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

         (b)  Each  of  the  Borrower  and  Holdings   hereby   irrevocably  and
unconditionally  waives,  to the fullest extent they may legally and effectively
do so, any objection  which it may now or hereafter  have to the laying of venue
of any suit,  action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Agreement
or the other Loan Documents in any New York State or Federal court.  Each of the
parties hereto hereby  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent  permitted by
law, the defense of an  inconvenient  forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding in any such court.

         (c) Each party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to service of
process in the manner  provided  for  notices in Section  9.01.  Nothing in this
Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law.

         SECTION   9.16.   Confidentiality.   Each  of  the   Lenders   and  the
Administrative Agent agrees that it shall maintain in confidence any information
relating to the Borrower  furnished to it by or on behalf of the Borrower (other
than  information  that (x) has become  generally  available to the public other
than as a result  of a  disclosure  by such  party,  (y) has been  independently
developed by such party without  violating  this Section or (z) was available to
such party from a third party having, to such party's  knowledge,  no obligation
of confidentiality to the Borrower) and shall not reveal the same other than (i)
to its directors,  officers, employees and advisors with a need to know and (ii)
as  contemplated  by Section  9.04(g),  except:  (a) to the extent  necessary to
comply with law or any legal  process or the  requirements  of any  Governmental
Authority, of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners


<PAGE>


                                                                            61



or of any securities exchange on which securities of the disclosing party or any
Affiliate of the  disclosing  party are listed or traded,  (b) as part of normal
reporting or review  procedures  to  Governmental  Authorities,  to the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners or to its parent companies, Affiliates or
auditors  and (c) in order to enforce  its rights  under any Loan  Document in a
legal proceeding.





<PAGE>










         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Borrower,  Holdings,  the Administrative Agent
and the  Lenders  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be duly  executed  by  their
respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

COLLINS & AIKMAN PRODUCTS CO.


  by  /s/ Signature of J. Michael Stepp
      Name: J. Michael Stepp
      Title: Executive Vice Pres. & CFO


COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION


  by /s/ Signature of J. Michael Stepp
      Name: J. Michael Stepp
      Title: Executive Vice Pres. & CFO


CHEMICAL BANK, as Administrative Agent
  and Collateral Agent and as a Lender


  by /s/ Signature of Rosemary Bradley
      Name: Rosemary Bradley
      Title: Vice President


NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, as
  a Lender

  by /s/ Signature of Adam G. Clemens
      Name: Adam G. Clemens
      Title: Investment Vice President


CHL HIGH YIELD LOAN PORTFOLIO, as
  a Lender (a unit of Chemical Bank)


  by /s/ Signature of Richard W. Stewart
      Name: Richard W. Stewart
      Title: Vice President


MERRILL LYNCH SENIOR FLOATING RATE
  FUND, INC., as a Lender


  by /s/ Signature of R. Douglas Henderson
      Name: R. Douglas Henderson
      Title: Authorized Signatory




<PAGE>


SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.


  by /s/ Signature of R. Douglas Henderson
      Name: R. Douglas Henderson
      Title: Authorized Signatory

SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO II, INC., as
  a Lender


  by /s/ Signature of R. Douglas Henderson
      Name:  R. Douglas Henderson
      Title: Authorized Signatory

SENIOR STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC., as
  a Lender


  by /s/ Signature of R. Douglas Henderson
      Name: R. Douglas Hendreson
      Title: Authorized Signatory


VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL PRIME
RATE INCOME TRUST, as a Lender


  by /s/ Signature of Kathleen A. Zarn
      Name: Kathleen A. Zarn
      Title: Vice President


<PAGE>



NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY
CORPORATION, as a Lender


by  /s/ Signature of Adam G. Clemens
   Name: Adam G. Clemens
   Title: Investment Vice President


<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>





                                                                               SCHEDULE 2.01 TO
                                                                               CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                                    COMMITMENTS



      Lender                                                                    Commitment

<S>                                                                            <C>
Chemical Bank                                                                   $ 96,000,000.00
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention:  Rosemary Bradley
Telephone:  (212) 270-7853
Telecopy:    (212) 972-9854

New York Life Insurance Company                                                   15,000,000.00
New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation                                   15,000,000.00
51 Madison Avenue
New York, New York  10010
Attention:  Steven Benevento
Telephone:  (212) 576-7699
Telecopy:    (212) 447-4122

CHL High Yield Loan Portfolio                                                     15,000,000.00
(a unit of Chemical Bank)
270 Park Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York  10017
Attention:  James Ferguson
Telephone:  (212) 270-1350
Telecopy:   (212) 270-3860

Merrill Lynch Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.                                     25,000,000.00
Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc.                                                 5,000,000.00
Senior High Income Portfolio II, Inc.                                              5,000,000.00
Senior Strategic Income Fund, Inc.                                                 2,000,000.00
c/o Merrill Lynch Asset Management
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536
Attention:  Douglas Henderson
Telephone:  (609) 282-2059
Telecopy:    (609) 282-2756

Van Kampen American Capital Prime Rate Income Trust                               19,000,000.00
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181
Attention:  Jeffrey Maillet
Telephone:  (708) 684-6438
Telecopy:  (708) 684-6740

                                            TOTAL:                              $197,000,000.00
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                                SCHEDULE 2.11(a) TO
                                                                                CREDIT AGREEMENT




                                          Term Loan Amortization Schedule
       <S>                                                                           <C>
         Term Loan Repayment Date                                                      Repayment

          1      March 31, 1996                                                        $   1,250,000
          2      June 30, 1996                                                             1,250,000
          3      September 30, 1996                                                        1,250,000
          4      December 31, 1996                                                         1,250,000
          5      March 31, 1997                                                            2,500,000
          6      June 30, 1997                                                             2,500,000
          7      September 30, 1997                                                        2,500,000
          8      December 31, 1997                                                         2,500,000
          9      March 31, 1998                                                            3,750,000
          10     June 30, 1998                                                             3,750,000
          11     September 30, 1998                                                        3,750,000
          12     December 31, 1998                                                         3,750,000
          13     March 30, 1999                                                            5,000,000
          14     June 30, 1999                                                             5,000,000
          15     September 30, 1999                                                        5,000,000
          16     December 31, 1999                                                         5,000,000
          17     March 31, 2000                                                            6,250,000
          18     June 30, 2000                                                             6,250,000
          19     September 30, 2000                                                        6,250,000
          20     December 31, 2000                                                         6,250,000
          21     March 31, 2001                                                            6,250,000
          22     June 30, 2001                                                             6,250,000
          23     September 30, 2001                                                        6,250,000
          24     December 31, 2001                                                         6,250,000
          25     March 31, 2002                                                           24,250,000
          26     June 30, 2002                                                            24,250,000
          27     September 30, 2002                                                       24,250,000
          28     December 31, 2002                                                        24,250,000

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<PAGE>



                                                                     Exhibit 23


                          Independent Auditors' Consent



The Board of Directors
Larizza Industries, Inc.:

We consent to the inclusion of our report dated February 9, 1995, with respect
to the consolidated balance sheets of Larizza Industries, Inc., and subsidiaries
as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, shareholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years
in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994, which report appears in the
Form 8-K of Collins & Aikman Corporation dated January 18, 1996.

Our report refers to a change in the Company's method of accounting for income
taxes to adopt the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 109, ACOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES.



                                                       KPMG Peat Marwick LLP



Detroit, Michigan
January  18, 1996





                                  NEWS RELEASE

                                                 Contact: Steven R. Bower
                                                 Collins & Aikman Corporation
                                                 (704) 548-2382


          COLLINS & AIKMAN ADVANCES AUTO INTERIOR TRIM GROWTH STRATEGY
                      -------------------------------------
           Will Acquire Larizza Industries, Inc.'s Manchester Plastics
                 Molded Interior Components and Systems Business

         Charlotte,  North  Carolina -- September  26, 1995, -- Collins & Aikman
Corporation  (NYSE:CKC)  announced  today  the  first  step  of a  comprehensive
strategy to accelerate  the growth of its  automotive  interior  trim  business.
Pursuant to a definitive  merger agreement to acquire Larizza  Industries,  Inc.
(AMEX:LII),  Collins & Aikman will add a broad range of molded plastic  products
to its current $800 million portfolio of textile-based automotive trim products.
         Manchester  Plastics,  a maker of  automotive  door panels,  headrests,
floor console  systems and instrument  panel  components,  is the sole operating
unit  of  Larizza  Industries,   Inc.  Manchester  is  a  leading  designer  and
manufacturer of high quality  plastics-based  components and systems used in the
interior of automobiles,  light trucks, sport utility vehicles and minivans.  It
serves the North  American  automakers  from eight  manufacturing  plants in the
United States and Canada.


<PAGE>

         Under the  agreement,  Collins & Aikman  will  purchase  all  Larizza's
shares at $6.50 cash per share,  for a total purchase price of $144 million.  In
addition, Collins & Aikman will extinguish approximately $30 million of existing
Larizza debt.  The agreement is subject to the approval of Larizza  shareholders
and other customary conditions.  Ronald T. Larizza, chairman and chief executive
officer of Larizza,  has voting  control  over 50.6  percent of  Larizza's  22.1
million  outstanding  shares and has agreed to vote those shares in favor of the
merger.  Larizza's  Board of Directors has approved and will  recommend that its
shareholders accept the proposed transaction.
         Collins  &  Aikman  said  it  will  finance  the  acquisition   through
additional bank borrowings.
         "We expect that  Manchester's  current sales of about $180 million will
grow  rapidly  during the next  several  years due to  significant  new business
booked with General Motors,  Ford and other  automakers"  said Thomas E. Hannah,
chief  executive  officer  of  Collins  & Aikman.  Manchester's  sales per North
American  vehicle  build have risen from $8 in 1991 to $12  currently.  Based on
booked business,  sales are currently  projected to reach nearly $20 per vehicle
by the end of the decade.
         "Manchester's  high quality product line, its well-equipped  production
facilities and its strong management and engineering team will form an excellent
fit with our existing  marketleading  automotive  interior lines," Hannah added.
Collins & Aikman  supplies the North  American  auto industry with interior trim
products that include floor carpets,  floor mats, luggage compartment trim, seat
fabrics and convertible top systems.
         "The  Manchester  acquisition  will  deepen our  product  line and also
complement the other dimension of our automotive  growth strategy," Hannah said,
"which is to develop European production  capabilities for both existing and new
product  lines.  Our goal is to serve our global  automotive  customers with the
same quality and engineering and design
<PAGE>
capabilities on both continents."
         Hannah  continued,  "Edward W. Wells,  president  of  Manchester,  will
continue  to run the  Manchester  operations  and work with  Collins & Aikman to
enhance the  combined  product  portfolio."  "The  unique fit between  Collins &
Aikman and Manchester  should provide  customers with a broader product offering
for  the  interior  of the  vehicle,  a  global  manufacturing  presence  and an
excellent platform for future growth," added Wells.
         Collins & Aikman is a leader in each of its three business segments: In
Automotive Products,  it is the largest supplier of its five basic interior trim
products to the North American auto industry. In Interior Furnishings, it is the
largest  manufacturer of residential  upholstery fabrics and six-foot commercial
carpet in the United States. In Wallcoverings,  it is the largest U. S. producer
of  residential  wallpaper.  Within these three  segments,  the Company  holds a
number one or a number two  position in each of its eight major  product  lines,
which together comprise more than 80% of its total net sales.


                                                             ###


<PAGE>



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