WABAN INC
8-K, 1997-06-06
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<PAGE>
 
                       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):  June 6, 1997

                                   WABAN INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


          1-10259                                       33-0109661
 -------------------------                 ---------------------------------
  (Commission File Number)                 (IRS Employer Identification No.)


One Mercer Road, Natick, Massachusetts                             01760
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

                                 (508) 651-6500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code

                                 Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Former Name or Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS

     Waban Inc. ("Waban") is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K for the
purpose of filing as an exhibit hereto the Standby Purchase Agreement, dated as
of June 6, 1997 (the "Standby Purchase Agreement"), by and among Waban, BJ's
Wholesale Club, Inc. and Prudential Securities Incorporated ("Prudential").
Pursuant to the Standby Purchase Agreement, Prudential has agreed, subject to
certain conditions, to purchase from Waban up to 2,160,606 of the Common Stock,
$.01 par value per share, of Waban; however, Prudential will purchase shares
from Waban if, and then only to the extent that, more than $53,474,000 of
Waban's 6.5% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2002 are not duly
surrendered for conversion prior to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time, on June 26, 1997.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

     (c)  Exhibits.

          The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index filed as part of this report
are filed as part of and are included in this report.
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE


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

Date:  June 6, 1997                 WABAN INC.


                              /s/ Edward J. Weisberger
                              ------------------------
                              By:    Edward J. Weisberger
                              Title: Senior Vice President
                                     and Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


        EXHIBIT NO.                         Description
        ----------                          -----------
            1                    Standby Purchase Agreement, dated      
                                 as of June 6, 1997, by and among Waban 
                                 Inc., BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. and    
                                 Prudential Securities Incorporated.     

<PAGE>
                                                                       Exhibit 1
                                                                       ---------
                                  Waban Inc.

              6-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2002

                           STANDBY PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                           --------------------------

                                                                    June 6, 1997
                                                                    ------------

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
One New York Plaza
New York, New York  10292

Dear Sirs:

          Waban Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BJ's Wholesale
Club, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
("BJI"), hereby confirm their agreement with you (the "Purchaser"), as set forth
below.

             1. Securities. The Company proposes to call for redemption at the
                ---------- 
close of business on July 7, 1997 (the "Redemption Date") all of its outstanding
6-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2002 (the "Securities") at the
redemption price of 102.889% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
interest from July 1, 1997 to the Redemption Date, for an aggregate redemption
price of $1,029.9733 per $1,000 principal amount of Securities. The Securities
were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of July 1, 1992 (the
"Indenture"), between the Company and First Trust, National Association, as
successor to Continental Bank, National Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
and are convertible thereunder into shares of the Company's Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock") at the conversion price of $24.75 per
share (equivalent to a conversion ratio of 40.404 shares of Common Stock per
$1,000 principal amount of Security) at any time prior to June 26, 1997 (the
"Expiration Date").

             To assure the availability of a portion of the funds necessary to
effect the proposed redemption of the Securities, the Company desires to make
arrangements pursuant to which the Purchaser will, following the Expiration Date
and subject to the terms and conditions herein contained, purchase a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that would
have been issuable upon conversion of the Excess Securities (as defined below).
The term "Excess Securities" as used in this Agreement shall mean the aggregate
principal amount of Securities in excess of $53,474,000 that are not duly
surrendered for conversion prior to 6:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the Expiration
Date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event
shall the Purchaser be obligated to purchase more than 2,160,606 shares of
Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement.  The shares of Common Stock that would
have been issuable upon conversion of the Excess Securities are hereinafter
referred to as the "Shares", and the Shares, together with all other shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities, are hereinafter
referred to as the "Conversion Shares".


<PAGE>
 
             2.  Representations and Warranties of the Company and BJI.  The 
                 ------------------------------------------------------
Company and BJI hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and agree
with, the Purchaser that:

             (a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under
     the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). A registration
     statement on such Form (File No. 333-25511-01) with respect to the
     Conversion Shares and any sale by the Purchaser of any shares of Common
     Stock acquired by it hereunder, including a form of final prospectus, has
     been prepared and filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission (the "Commission") under the Act. BJI meets the requirements for
     use of Form S-1 under the Act. A registration statement on such Form (File
     No. 333-25511) with respect to the tax-free distribution of all outstanding
     shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of BJI ("BJI Common
     Stock") held by the Company that may be distributed by the Company in the
     form of a special dividend to holders of Common Stock on a one-for-one
     basis (the "Distribution"), including a form of final prospectus, has been
     prepared and filed by BJI with the Commission under the Act. Such
     registration statement of the Company on Form S-3 and of BJI on Form S-1
     have been filed on a combined basis, and such registration statement
     includes a proxy statement of the Company to be used in connection with the
     solicitation of proxies by the Company's Board of Directors from holders of
     Common Stock for use at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company
     to be held on July 10, 1997 (the "Stockholders' Meeting"). As used in this
     Agreement, the term "Registration Statement" means such combined
     registration statement and proxy statement of the Company and BJI, as
     amended at the time when the registration statement is declared effective,
     including (A) all financial schedules and exhibits thereto and (B) all
     documents incorporated by reference therein filed under the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the term
     "Prospectus" means each of the prospectuses of the Company and BJI first
     filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act or, if no
     prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to said Rule 424(b), such term
     means each of the prospectuses included in the Registration Statement, in
     either case including all documents incorporated by reference therein filed
     under the Exchange Act and including the proxy statement/prospectus of the
     Company included in the Registration Statement. Any reference in this
     Agreement to an "amendment or supplement" to the Prospectus or an
     "amendment" to any registration statement (including the Registration
     Statement) shall be deemed to refer to and include any document
     incorporated by reference therein that is filed with the Commission under
     the Exchange Act after the date of the Prospectus or registration
     statement, as the case may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence, any
     reference to the "effective date" of an amendment to a registration
     statement shall, if such amendment is effected by means of the filing with
     the Commission under the Exchange Act of a document incorporated by
     reference in such registration statement, be deemed to refer to the date on
     which such document was so filed with the Commission.
  

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
             (b) When the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto is
     declared effective, it (i) will contain all statements required to be
     stated therein in accordance with, and will comply in all material respects
     with the requirements of, the Act, the Exchange Act and the respective
     rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) will not
     include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
     material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. When
     the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with the
     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the Prospectus or such amendment
     or supplement is not required to be so filed, when the Registration
     Statement or the amendment thereto containing such amendment or supplement
     to the Prospectus is declared effective) and on the Expiration Date, the
     Redemption Date, the Closing Date and on the date when the Prospectus is
     otherwise amended or supplemented, the Prospectus, as amended or
     supplemented at any such time, (i) will contain all statements required to
     be stated therein in accordance with, and will comply in all material
     respects with the requirements of, the Act, the Exchange Act and the
     respective rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) will
     not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
     material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
     foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) do not apply to statements or
     omissions made in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto or
     the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and
     in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
     Purchaser specifically for use therein.

             (c) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly
     organized and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under
     the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation and are duly
     qualified to transact business as foreign corporations and are in good
     standing under the laws of all other jurisdictions where the ownership or
     leasing of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective
     businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
     qualified does not amount to a material liability or disability, as the
     case may be, to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or BJI
     and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. BJI is a wholly owned subsidiary of
     the Company.

             (d) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have full power
     (corporate and other) to own or lease their respective properties and
     conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus; and each of the Company and BJI has full
     power (corporate and other) to enter into this Agreement and to carry out
     all the terms and provisions hereof to be carried out by it.

             (e) The issued shares of capital stock of each of the Company's
     subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
     and nonassessable and are owned beneficially by the Company free and clear
     of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
             (f) Each of the Company and, on a pro forma basis, BJI has an
     authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the
     Prospectus. All of the issued shares of capital stock of each of the
     Company and BJI have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
     paid and nonassessable. The Conversion Shares, including the Shares, have
     been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by the Company upon either
     conversion of the Securities or issuance to the Purchaser hereunder. The
     Conversion Shares, including the Shares, when issued by the Company upon
     either conversion of the Securities or issuance to the Purchaser hereunder,
     and, in the case of the Shares, after payment therefor in accordance
     herewith, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No holders
     of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are entitled as such
     to any preemptive or other rights to subscribe for any of the Conversion
     Shares, and no holder of securities of the Company has any right which has
     not been fully exercised or waived to require the Company to register the
     offer or sale of any securities owned by such holder under the Act in the
     public offering contemplated by this Agreement.

             (g) The capital stock of each of the Company and BJI conforms to
     the description thereof included or incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus.

             (h) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, and except for options
     and stock-based awards granted under the Company's 1989 Stock Incentive
     Plan and 1995 Director Option Plan after March 31, 1997 and shares issued
     upon exercise of outstanding options, there are no outstanding (A)
     securities or obligations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company or
     any such subsidiary, (B) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or
     purchase from the Company or any such subsidiary any such capital stock or
     any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or (C)
     obligations of the Company or any such subsidiary to issue any shares of
     capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or
     obligations, or any such warrants, rights or options.
      
             (i) The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the
     Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly present
     the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and
     the results of operations and changes in financial condition as of the
     dates and periods therein specified. The consolidated financial statements
     and schedules of BJI and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly present the financial
     position of BJI and its consolidated subsidiaries and the results of
     operations and changes in financial condition as of the dates and periods
     therein specified. All such financial statements and schedules have been
     prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise
     noted therein). The selected financial data set forth under the captions
     "Selected Historical Financial Data of Waban" and "Selected Historical
     Financial Data of BJI" in the Prospectus and under the 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     caption "Selected Financial Data" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 
     10-K for the fiscal year ended January 25, 1997 (the "Form 10-K"), fairly
     present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus and such Form 10-K, the
     information included therein. The pro forma financial statements and
     information of each of the Company and BJI included or incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to
     form with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the
     rules and regulations thereunder, have been prepared based on the
     historical financial statements of the Company and BJI, respectively and
     all pro forma adjustments thereto are based on reasonable good faith
     estimates and judgments of management which fairly and accurately reflect
     the items for which such adjustments are made and have been properly
     applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of such statements and
     information.

             (j) Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., who have (a) certified certain
     financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, (b)
     certified certain financial statements of BJI and its consolidated
     subsidiaries and (c) delivered their reports with respect to the audited
     consolidated financial statements and schedules included and incorporated
     by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are
     independent public accountants as required by the Act, the Exchange Act and
     the related published rules and regulations thereunder with respect to each
     of the Company and BJI.

             (k) The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly
     authorized by each of the Company and BJI and this Agreement has been duly
     executed and delivered by each of the Company and BJI, and is the valid and
     binding agreement of each of the Company and BJI, enforceable against the
     Company and BJI, respectively, in accordance with its terms.

             (l) No legal or governmental proceedings are pending to which the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which the property of
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be
     described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not
     described therein, and no such proceedings have been threatened against the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or with respect to any of their
     respective properties; and no contract or other document is required to be
     described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
     an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described therein or
     filed as required.

             (m) The call of the Securities for redemption, the conversion or
     redemption thereof, the issuance of the Conversion Shares, including the
     Shares, the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser by the Company pursuant to
     this Agreement, the offering and resale of the Shares by the Purchaser, the
     compliance by each of the Company and BJI with the other provisions of this
     Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture, the Distribution and the
     consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein and in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus with respect to the Distribution
     and 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     the repayment of the Company's 9.58% unsecured senior notes due May 31,
     1998 (the "Senior Notes") and the retirement (through open market or
     privately negotiated purchases or a tender offer) or defeasance of the
     Company's 11% senior subordinated notes due May 15, 2004 (the "Senior
     Subordinated Notes") do not (i) require the consent, approval,
     authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental
     authority, except such as have been obtained, the declaration of
     effectiveness of the registration statement on Form 8-A with respect to the
     BJI Common Stock (the "BJI Form 8-A"), the listing of the Shares on the New
     York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE"), such as may be required under state
     securities or blue sky laws and, if the registration statement filed with
     respect to the Securities (as amended) is not effective under the Act as of
     the time of execution hereof, such as may be required (and shall be
     obtained as provided in this Agreement) under the Act, or (ii) conflict
     with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions
     of, or constitute a default under, any indenture (including the Indenture),
     mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement or instrument to which
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties are bound,
     or the charter documents or by-laws of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, or any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or
     regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator
     applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except that (i) a
     waiver is needed under the Company's credit agreement with bank lenders
     dated as of April 4, 1995, as amended (the "Credit Agreement") to effect
     the foregoing transactions (other than the call of the Securities for
     redemption, the conversion thereof, the issuance of the Conversion Shares,
     including the Shares, the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser by the
     Company pursuant to this Agreement, the offering and resale of the Shares
     by the Purchaser and the compliance by each of the Company and BJI with the
     other provisions of this Agreement), and (ii) the Company must repay its
     Senior Notes and retire or defease its Senior Subordinated Notes to
     consummate the Distribution and other transactions contemplated by the
     Registration Statement (other than the call of the Securities for
     redemption, the conversion thereof, the issuance of the Conversion Shares,
     including the Shares, the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser by the
     Company pursuant to this Agreement, the offering and resale of the Shares
     by the Purchaser and the compliance by each of the Company and BJI with the
     other provisions of this Agreement).

             (n) The Securities are convertible into Common Stock at a
     conversion price of $24.75 per share based on the principal amount of the
     Securities (equivalent to a conversion ratio of 40.404 Shares per $1,000
     principal amount of Security). As of the close of business on June 5, 1997,
     no more than $106,949,000 aggregate principal amount of the Securities were
     outstanding; the call for redemption and the redemption or conversion of
     all of the outstanding Securities have been duly authorized by all
     necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; upon the mailing of
     the notice of redemption and expiration of conversion right (the "Notice of
     Redemption"), a copy of the form of which is included in the Registration
     Statement, in accordance with the Indenture, notice 

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     of redemption of all of the Securities shall have been duly given, all
     outstanding Securities shall have been duly called for redemption on the
     Redemption Date, and the right to convert the Securities into shares of
     Common Stock will, as a result of such call, expire at 6:00 P.M., Eastern
     time, on the Expiration Date; and the Indenture and the Securities have
     been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute
     legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the
     Company in accordance with their respective terms.

             (o) Neither the Company nor BJI has taken or will take, directly or
     indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has
     constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the
     stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company
     to facilitate conversion of the Securities, the sale or resale of the
     Shares or the sale by the Purchaser of any other shares of Common Stock
     acquired by the Purchaser during the course of the transactions
     contemplated hereby.

             (p) Neither the Company nor BJI has paid or given, nor will pay or
     give, directly or indirectly, any commission or other remuneration for
     soliciting purchases of the Securities, for soliciting the conversion of
     Securities into Common Stock or for soliciting another to purchase any
     other securities of the Company.

             (q) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company
     nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference
     with their respective businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane,
     accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from
     any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding and there has not
     been any material adverse change, or any development involving a
     prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or
     otherwise), management, business prospects, net worth, or results of
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except in
     each case as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

             (r) On and after the date hereof and prior to the close of business
     on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), there will be no change in
     the outstanding capital stock of the Company, except for the issuance of
     Common Stock upon conversion of the Securities and except for options and
     stock-based awards granted under the Company's 1989 Stock Incentive Plan
     and 1995 Director Option Plan after March 31, 1997 and shares issued upon
     exercise of outstanding options.

             3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares. On the basis of the
                 -----------------------------------------
representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth:

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
             (a) If any Securities have not been duly surrendered for conversion
     prior to 6:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, and provided that
     the aggregate principal amount of Securities that have not been duly
     surrendered for conversion prior to 6:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the
     Expiration Date exceeds $53,474,000, the Company agrees to issue and sell
     to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company,
     such number of Shares as would have been issuable upon conversion of the
     Excess Securities, at a purchase price of $26.296 per Share.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event
     shall the Purchaser be obligated to purchase more than 2,160,606 Shares
     pursuant to this Agreement.  The Company shall notify the Purchaser of such
     number of Shares as soon as practicable after the expiration of
     convertibility on the Expiration Date and in no event later than 9:30 A.M.,
     New York City time, on the first business day following the Expiration
     Date.  One or more certificates in definitive form for the Shares, and in
     such denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as
     the Purchaser requests upon notice to the Company at least 48 hours prior
     to the Closing Date, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to
     the Purchaser, against payment by the Purchaser of the purchase price
     therefor by wire transfer of same-day funds to an account designated in
     writing by the Company, which designation shall be made at least 48 hours
     prior to the Closing Date.  Such delivery of and payment for the Shares
     shall be made at the offices of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, One
     Liberty Plaza, New York, New York at 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on 
     July 7, 1997, or at such other place, time or date as the Purchaser and the
     Company may agree upon, such time and date of delivery against payment
     being herein referred to as the "Closing Date".  The Company will make such
     certificate or certificates for the Shares available for checking and
     packaging by the Purchaser at the offices in New York, New York of the
     Company's transfer agent or registrar or of the Purchaser at least 24 hours
     prior to the Closing Date.
     
             (b) As compensation for the commitment of the Purchaser hereunder,
     the Company agrees to pay to the Purchaser, by wire transfer of same-day
     funds to an account designated by the Purchaser, an amount equal to the sum
     of (i) a standby fee equal to 2,160,606 (representing the maximum number of
     Shares that may be purchased from the Company by the Purchaser pursuant to
     this Agreement) multiplied by $0.41 per share, and (ii) a takedown fee
     equal to the aggregate number of Shares purchased by the Purchaser pursuant
     to this Agreement, multiplied by an amount equal to $0.99 per share. Such
     compensation shall be paid to the Purchaser (i) if the Purchaser is
     required to purchase any Shares, on the Closing Date, or (ii) otherwise, as
     soon as practicable after the Expiration Date (but in no event later than
     two business days thereafter).

             (c) It is understood that the Purchaser may offer for sale and sell
     the Shares, and Conversion Shares acquired through the purchase and
     conversion of Securities, from time to time, both on or prior to and after
     the Redemption Date, in one or more transactions on the NYSE or otherwise,
     at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to such
     prevailing market prices 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     or at negotiated prices. Nothing contained herein shall limit the right of
     the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, to determine the price or prices at
     which, or the time or times when, any Shares or any Conversion Shares
     acquired through the purchase and conversion of Securities shall be sold,
     whether or not prior to the Redemption Date and whether or not for long or
     short account.

             4.  Covenants of the Company and BJI.  The Company and BJI covenant
                 --------------------------------
     and agree with the Purchaser that:

             (a) The Company and BJI will use their respective best efforts to
     cause the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, to become
     effective as promptly as possible. If required, the Company and BJI will
     file the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto with the
     Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b)
     under the Act. During any time when a prospectus relating to the Conversion
     Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, each of the Company and
     BJI (i) will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act and
     the Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder to the extent necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or
     dealings in the Conversion Shares, and (ii) will not file with the
     Commission any prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) hereof, any amendment
     or supplement to any such prospectus or any amendment to the Registration
     Statement of which the Purchaser shall not previously have been advised and
     furnished with a copy for a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed
     filing and as to which filing the Purchaser shall not have given its
     consent. Each of the Company and BJI will prepare and file with the
     Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission,
     promptly upon request by the Purchaser or counsel for the Purchaser, any
     amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to
     the Prospectus that may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
     distribution of the Shares by the Purchaser, and will use its best efforts
     to cause any such amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared
     effective by the Commission as promptly as possible. The Company will
     advise the Purchaser, promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time
     when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or
     declared effective or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
     has been filed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser of
     each such filing or effectiveness. The Company will comply with Rules 153
     and 153a of the Act, and pursuant to Rule 153 will deliver to the NYSE, for
     redelivery to members of such exchange, such number of copies of the
     Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto as such exchange may
     reasonably request.

             (b) Each of the Company and BJI will advise the Purchaser, promptly
     after receiving notice or obtaining knowledge thereof, of (i) the issuance
     by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any order
     directed at any document incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
     order preventing or 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any
     amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the suspension of the qualification
     of the Conversion Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, (iii)
     the institution, threatening or contemplation of any proceeding for any
     such purpose or (iv) any request made by the Commission for amending the
     Registration Statement, for amending or supplementing the Prospectus or for
     additional information. Each of the Company and BJI will use its best
     efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if any such
     stop order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal thereof as promptly as
     possible.

             (c) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
     Conversion Shares for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky
     laws of such jurisdictions as the Purchaser may designate and will continue
     such qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete
     the distribution of the Conversion Shares, provided, however, that in
                                                --------  -------
     connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a
     foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process
     in any jurisdiction.

             (d) If, at any time prior to the final date when a prospectus
     relating to the Conversion Shares is required to be delivered under the
     Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus, as then amended
     or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
     omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading, or if for any other reason it is necessary at any time to amend
     or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or
     the respective rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder, the
     Company will promptly notify the Purchaser thereof and, subject to Section
     4(a) hereof, will prepare and file with the Commission, at the Company's
     expense, an amendment to the Registration Statement or an amendment or
     supplement to the Prospectus that corrects such statement or omission or
     effects such compliance.

             (e) Each of the Company and BJI will, without charge, provide to
     the Purchaser and to counsel for the Purchaser a signed copy of the
     registration statement originally filed with respect to the Conversion
     Shares and each amendment thereto (in each case including exhibits
     thereto), certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of
     the Company and BJI to be true and complete copies thereof as filed with
     the Commission by electronic transmission, and so long as a prospectus
     relating to the Conversion Shares is required to be delivered under the
     Act, as many copies of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
     thereto as the Purchaser may reasonably request.

             (f) The Company, as soon as practicable, will make generally
     available to its securityholders and to the Purchaser a consolidated
     earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries that satisfies the
     provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
             (g) Each of the Company and BJI will not, directly or indirectly,
     from the date hereof through the date that is 180 days after the Redemption
     Date, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, (i) offer,
     pledge, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase
     or otherwise sell or dispose (or announce any offer, pledge, sale, offer of
     sale, contract of sale, grant of any option to purchase or other sale or
     disposition) of any shares of its common stock or other capital stock or
     any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares
     of its common stock or other capital stock (whether such shares or any such
     securities are now owned by the Company or BJI or hereafter acquired),
     except (A) pursuant to this Agreement, (B) for issuances contemplated by
     the Prospectus, (C) for issuances pursuant to the exercise of employee
     stock options outstanding on the date hereof or pursuant to the terms of
     convertible securities, options or warrants of the Company outstanding on
     the date hereof and (D) for grants of options and stock-based awards under
     the Company's 1989 Stock Incentive Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and 1995
     Director Option Plan, or (ii) enter into any swap or arrangement that
     transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
     of ownership of its common stock or other capital stock, whether any such
     transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by
     physical delivery of common stock or other capital stock or other such
     securities, in cash or otherwise.

             (h) The Company will mail or cause to be mailed, not later than the
     close of business on the date hereof, the Notice of Redemption in the form
     submitted to the Purchaser, together with a copy of the Prospectus and
     related letter of transmittal, to the registered holders of the Securities
     as of such date in the manner required by the terms of the Securities. The
     Company will not, and will ensure that the Trustee does not, withdraw or
     revoke the Notice of Redemption or attempt to do so.

             (i) Each of the Company and BJI will obtain the agreements
     described in Section 6(f) hereof prior to the Closing Date.

             (j) The Company will direct the Trustee to advise the Purchaser
     daily of the number of Securities surrendered for conversion or redemption
     on the preceding day.

             (k) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, take any action
     that would result in an adjustment of the conversion price of the
     Securities from that set forth in Section 1 hereof.

             (l) Each of the Company and BJI will, not later than three weeks
     after the Redemption Date, file a post-effective amendment to the
     Registration Statement or take such other steps as may be necessary to
     remove from registration all Conversion Shares that have not been issued.

             (m) If at any time during the period commencing on the date on
     which the Registration Statement becomes effective and ending on the date
     that 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     is 25 days after the Redemption Date, any rumor, publication or event
     relating to or affecting the Company or BJI shall occur as a result of
     which in the opinion of the Purchaser the market price of the Common Stock
     has been or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such
     rumor, publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of
     the Prospectus), each of the Company and BJI will, after written notice
     from the Purchaser advising it to the effect set forth above, forthwith
     prepare, consult with the Purchaser concerning the advisability of a press
     release or other public statement responding to or commenting on such
     rumor, publication or event.

             5.  Expenses.  The Company and BJI will pay all costs and expenses
                 --------
incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement, whether
or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, including all costs and expenses
incident to (i) the printing or other production of documents with respect to
the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, including any costs of printing the registration statement
originally filed with respect to the Conversion Shares and the BJI Common Stock
and any amendment thereto and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement
thereto, this Agreement and any blue sky memoranda, (ii) all arrangements
relating to the delivery to the Purchaser of copies of the foregoing documents,
(iii) the redemption of the Securities, including any costs of printing and
mailing the Notice of Redemption and related letter of transmittal, (iv) the
fees and disbursements of any conversion agent, communication or solicitation
agent and the counsel, accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by
the Company, (v) preparation and issuance of the Conversion Shares and delivery
to the Purchaser of any certificates evidencing the Shares, including transfer
agent's and registrar's fees and all transfer taxes as may be imposed on the
Purchaser in connection with its purchase of Securities pursuant hereto, (vi)
the qualification of the Conversion Shares under state securities and blue sky
laws, including filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for the
applicable, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. relating to the
Conversion Shares and the BJI Common Stock, (viii) advertising relating to the
redemption of the Securities and offering of the Shares (other than as shall
have been specifically approved by the Purchaser) and (ix) one-half of all out-
of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Purchaser) that shall have been incurred by the Purchaser in connection with the
purchase and sale of the Shares, up to a maximum of $50,000 (it being understood
that such $50,000 represents one-half of out-of-pocket expenses of $100,000 or
more). Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (ix), if the sale of the Shares
provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligation
of the Purchaser set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any failure,
refusal or inability on the part of either the Company or BJI to perform all
obligations and satisfy all conditions on their respective parts to be performed
or satisfied hereunder other than by reason of a default by the Purchaser, the
Company and BJI agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Purchaser upon
demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Purchaser) that shall have been incurred by the Purchaser in
connection with the proposed 

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
purchase and sale of the Shares. Neither the Company nor BJI shall in any event
be liable to the Purchaser for the loss of anticipated profits from the
transactions covered by this Agreement.

             6. Conditions of the Purchaser's Obligations. The obligations of
                -----------------------------------------
the Purchaser to surrender for conversion Securities and to purchase and pay for
any Shares shall be subject, in the Purchaser's sole discretion, to the accuracy
of the representations and warranties of each of the Company and BJI contained
herein as of the date hereof and as of the Expiration Date, the Redemption Date
and the Closing Date, as if made on and as of the Expiration Date, Redemption
Date and the Closing Date, respectively, to the accuracy of the statements of
the officers of each of the Company and BJI made pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by each of the Company and BJI of its covenants and
agreements hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

             (a) The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective
     not later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date hereof or such
     later time as the Purchaser and the Company may agree upon; if required,
     the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto shall have been
     filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required
     by Rule 424(b) under the Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
     the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto and no
     order directed at any document incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or the
     Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall have been issued
     and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or
     threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, BJI or the Purchaser, shall
     be contemplated by the Commission; and each of the Company and BJI shall
     have complied with any request of the Commission for additional information
     (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
     otherwise).

             (b) On each of the effective date of the Registration Statement
     and the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have received an opinion, dated
     such respective date, of Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel for the Company and
     BJI, to the effect that:

                 (i)    each of the Company and BJI has been duly incorporated
               and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
               the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is duly
               qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in
               good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
               Massachusetts;

                 (ii)   each of the Company and BJI has corporate power to own
               or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in
               the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each of the
               Company and BJI has corporate power to enter into this Agreement
               and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof and thereof
               to be carried out by it;

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                 (iii)  each of the Company and BJI has an authorized
               capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus; the Conversion
               Shares, including the Shares, have been duly authorized and
               reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action of the
               Company upon either conversion of the Securities or issuance to
               the Purchaser hereunder; the Conversion Shares, including the
               Shares, when issued by the Company upon either conversion of the
               Securities or issuance to the Purchaser hereunder, and, in the
               case of the Shares, paid for by the Purchaser pursuant to this
               Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
               the Conversion Shares, including the Shares, have been duly
               authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance,
               on the NYSE (provided that this opinion need not be rendered on
               the effective date of the Registration Statement); to the
               knowledge of such counsel, no holders of outstanding shares of
               capital stock of the Company are entitled as such to any
               preemptive or other rights to subscribe for any of the Conversion
               Shares, including the Shares; and to the knowledge of such
               counsel no holders of securities of the Company are entitled to
               have such securities registered under the Registration Statement;

                 (iv)   the statements set forth under the headings 
               "Information for Holders of Convertible Debentures," "Description
               of BJI Capital Stock" and "Description of Waban Capital Stock" in
               the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize
               certain provisions of the capital stock of the Company or BJI,
               are correct in all material respects; and the statements set
               forth under the headings "The Distribution--Federal Income Tax
               Aspects of the Distribution" and "--Conditions; Termination,"
               "BJI Business and Properties--Legal Proceedings," "HomeBase
               Business and Properties--Legal Proceedings," "Information for
               Holders of Convertible Debentures" included in the Prospectus,
               and under the heading "Legal Proceedings" in the Company's Form
               10-K, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the
               legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, are
               correct in all material respects;

                 (v)    the execution and delivery of this Agreement have been 
               duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of each of the
               Company and BJI and this Agreement has been duly executed and
               delivered by each of the Company and BJI;

                 (vi)   to such counsel's knowledge, no legal or governmental
               proceedings are pending to which the Company or any of the
               Subsidiaries is a party or to which the property of the Company
               or any of the Subsidiaries is subject that are required to be
               described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are
               not described therein, and no such proceedings have been
               threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or with
               respect to any of their respective properties; and to such
               counsel's knowledge, no contract or other

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
               document is required to be described in the Registration
               Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
               Registration Statement that is not described therein or filed as
               required;


                 (vii)  the call of the Securities for redemption, the
               conversion or redemption thereof, the issuance of the Conversion
               Shares, including the Shares, and the sale of the Shares to the
               Purchaser by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the offering
               and resale of the Shares by the Purchaser, the compliance by each
               of the Company and BJI with the other provisions of this
               Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture, the Distribution and
               the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein
               and in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus with respect
               to the Distribution and the repayment of the Company's Senior
               Notes and the retirement (through open market or privately
               negotiated purchases or a tender offer) or defeasance of the
               Company's Senior Subordinated Notes do not (A) require on the
               part of the Company, BJI or any of their respective subsidiaries
               the consent, approval, authorization, registration or
               qualification of or with any governmental authority, except such
               as have been obtained, the declaration of effectiveness of the
               BJI Form 8-A, the listing of the Shares on the NYSE and such as
               may be required under state securities or blue sky laws, or (B)
               conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
               terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
               indenture (including the Indenture), mortgage, deed of trust,
               lease or other agreement or instrument, filed as an exhibit to
               the Registration Statement or the Company's Form 10-K, or the
               charter documents or by-laws of the Company or BJI, or any
               statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any
               court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator known to
               such counsel and applicable to the Company or BJI, except that
               (i) a waiver is needed under the Credit Agreement to effect the
               foregoing transactions (other than the call of the Securities for
               redemption, the conversion or redemption thereof, the issuance of
               the Conversion Shares, including the Shares, the sale of the
               Shares to the Purchaser by the Company pursuant to this
               Agreement, the offering and resale of the Shares by the Purchaser
               and the compliance by each of the Company and BJI with the other
               provisions of this Agreement), and (ii) the Company must repay
               its Senior Notes and retire or defease its Senior Subordinated
               Notes to consummate the Distribution and other transactions
               contemplated by the Registration Statement (other than the call
               of the Securities for redemption, the conversion thereof, the
               issuance of the Conversion Shares, including the Shares, the sale
               of the Shares to the Purchaser by the Company pursuant to this
               Agreement, the offering and resale of the Shares by the
               Purchaser, the compliance by each of the Company and BJI with the
               other provisions of this Agreement);

                 (viii) the call for redemption and the redemption or
               conversion of all of the outstanding Securities have been duly
               authorized by all

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
               necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and, upon
               the taking by the Company of such actions as shall be specified
               in such counsel's opinion, notice of redemption of the Securities
               shall have been duly given, all outstanding Securities shall have
               been duly called for redemption on the Redemption Date and the
               right to convert the Securities into shares of Common Stock will
               expire on the Expiration Date; and the Indenture and the
               Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
               the Company and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations
               of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with
               their respective terms;

                 (ix)   the Registration Statement is effective under the
               Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
               424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period
               required by Rule 424(b); to such counsel's knowledge, no stop
               order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
               or any post-effective amendment thereto and no order directed at
               any document incorporated by reference in the Registration
               Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
               thereto has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have
               been instituted or are threatened by the Commission; and

                 (x)    the Registration Statement originally filed with respect
               to the Conversion Shares and each amendment thereto and the
               Prospectus (in each case, including the documents incorporated by
               reference therein but not including the financial statements and
               other financial information contained therein, as to which such
               counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
               material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act,
               the Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations of the
               Commission thereunder.

     Such counsel shall also state that no facts have come to its attention
     leading it to believe that the Registration Statement (excluding financial
     statements and schedules, the notes thereto and other financial,
     statistical and accounting data included therein, as to which no belief
     need be expressed), as of its effective date, contained any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading or that the Prospectus (excluding financial statements and
     schedules, the notes thereto and other financial, statistical and
     accounting data included therein, as to which no belief need be expressed),
     as of its date or the date of such opinion, included or includes any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
             In rendering any such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters
     of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of
     responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

             References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
     paragraph (b) shall include any amendment or supplement thereto at the date
     of such opinion.

             (c) On each of the effective date of the Registration Statement and
     the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have received an opinion, dated such
     respective date, of Sarah M. Gallivan, General Counsel for the Company, to
     the effect that:

                 (i)    each of the Company's subsidiaries listed in Schedule 1
               hereto (the "Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated and is
               validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
               of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation and is duly
               qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in
               good standing under the laws of all other jurisdictions where the
               ownership or leasing of its respective properties or the conduct
               of its respective business requires such qualification, except
               where the failure to be so qualified does not amount to a
               material liability or disability, as the case may be, to the
               Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or BJI and its
               subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                 (ii)   each of the Subsidiaries has corporate power to own or
               lease its respective properties and conduct its respective
               business as described in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus;

                 (iii)  the issued shares of capital stock of each of the
               Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
               fully paid and nonassessable and are owned beneficially by the
               Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of any perfected
               security interests or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any
               other security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or
               claims;

                 (iv)   all of the issued shares of capital stock of each of the
               Company and BJI have been duly authorized and validly issued and
               are fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation
               of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to
               subscribe for or purchase securities; and

                 (v)    no legal or governmental proceedings are pending to
               which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or to
               which the property of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
               subject that are required to be described in the Registration
               Statement or the Prospectus and are not described therein, and,
               to the knowledge of such 

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
               counsel, no such proceedings have been threatened against the
               Company or any of the Subsidiaries or with respect to any of
               their respective properties; and no contract or other document is
               required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
               Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
               Statement that is not described therein or filed as required.

                                       18
<PAGE>
 

     Such counsel shall also state that no facts have come to her attention
     leading her to believe that the Registration Statement (excluding financial
     statements and schedules, the notes thereto and other financial,
     statistical and accounting data included therein, as to which no belief
     need be expressed), as of its effective date, contained any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading or that the Prospectus (excluding financial statements and
     schedules, the notes thereto and other financial, statistical and
     accounting data included therein, as to which no belief need be expressed),
     as of its date or the date of such opinion, included or includes any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

             In rendering any such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters
     of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of
     responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

             References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
     paragraph (c) shall include any amendment or supplement thereto at the date
     of such opinion.

             (d) On each of the effective date of the Registration Statement and
     the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have received an opinion, dated such
     respective date, of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, counsel for the
     Purchaser, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares to the
     Purchaser, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and such other
     related matters as the Purchaser may reasonably require, and the Company
     shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may reasonably
     request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

             (e) On each of the date hereof, the effective date of the
     Registration Statement and the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have
     received from Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. a letter, dated such respective
     date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Purchaser, to the effect
     that:

                 (i)    they are independent accountants with respect to each of
               the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and BJI and its
               consolidated subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act, the
               Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder;

                 (ii)   in their opinion, the audited consolidated financial 
               statements and schedules of the Company and BJI examined by them
               and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
               Statement and

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
               the Prospectus comply in form in all material respects with the
               applicable accounting requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act
               and the related published rules and regulations thereunder;

                 (iii) on the basis of a reading of the latest available interim
               unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the
               Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, a reading of the
               unaudited amounts for total revenues, cost of sales, including
               buying and occupancy costs, selling, general and administrative
               expenses, interest on debt and capital leases (net), income
               before income taxes and total and per share amounts of net income
               for the four-week period ended May 31, 1997 and of the unaudited
               consolidated financial statements of the Company and its
               consolidated subsidiaries for the periods from which such amounts
               are derived, carrying out certain specified procedures (which do
               not constitute an examination made in accordance with generally
               accepted auditing standards) that would not necessarily reveal
               matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in
               this paragraph (iii), a reading of the minute books of the
               shareholders, the board of directors and any committees thereof
               of the Company and each of its consolidated subsidiaries, and
               inquiries of certain officials of the Company and its
               consolidated subsidiaries who have responsibility for financial
               and accounting matters, nothing came to their attention that
               caused them to believe that:

                 (A)    with respect to any Form 10-Q of the Company that is
               incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
               unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the
               Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or
               incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus do not comply in form in all material respects with
               the applicable accounting requirements of the Act, the Exchange
               Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder,
               or are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting
               principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that
               of the audited consolidated financial statements included or
               incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus;

                 (B)    the unaudited amounts for total revenues, cost of sales,
               including buying and occupancy costs, selling, general and
               administrative expenses, interest on debt and capital leases
               (net), income before income taxes and total and per share amounts
               of net income included or incorporated by reference in the
               Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not agree with the
               amounts set forth in any unaudited consolidated financial
               statements for those same periods or are not in conformity with
               generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
               substantially consistent with that of the corresponding amounts
               in the audited consolidated financial statements included or
               incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus; and

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
                 (C)    at a specific date not more than five business days
               prior to the date of such letter, there were any changes in the
               capital stock or long-term debt and obligations under capital
               leases of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or any
               decreases in total current assets or stockholders' equity of the
               Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, in each case compared
               with amounts shown on the April 26, 1997 unaudited consolidated
               condensed balance sheet included in the Registration Statement
               and the Prospectus, or for the period from April 27, 1997 to such
               specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the
               corresponding period in the prior year, in total revenues, income
               before income taxes or total or per share amounts of net income
               of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or in net sales
               or operating income of the HomeBase Division or the Warehouse
               Club Division, except in all instances for changes, decreases or
               increases set forth in such letter;

                 (iv)   they have carried out certain specified procedures, not
               constituting an audit, with respect to certain amounts,
               percentages and financial information that are derived from the
               general accounting records of the Company, BJI and their
               respective consolidated subsidiaries and are included in the
               Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in the Company's Form
               10-K incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
               the Prospectus or in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
               for the 13-week period ended April 26, 1997 to be incorporated by
               reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
               have compared such amounts, percentages and financial information
               with such records of the Company and its consolidated
               subsidiaries and BJI and its consolidated subsidiaries and with
               information derived from such records and have found them to be
               in agreement, excluding any questions of legal interpretation;
               and

                 (v)    on the basis of a reading of the unaudited pro forma
               consolidated condensed financial statements included or
               incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus, carrying out certain specified procedures that would
               not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to
               the comments set forth in this paragraph (v), inquiries of
               certain officials of the Company and its consolidated
               subsidiaries who have responsibility for financial and accounting
               matters and proving the arithmetic accuracy of the application of
               the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the
               unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements,
               nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that
               the unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
               statements do not comply in form in all material respects with
               the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of
               Regulation S-X or that the pro forma adjustments have not been
               properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of
               such statements.

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
             In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any such
     changes, decreases or increases, it shall be a further condition to the
     obligations of the Purchaser that (A) such letters shall be accompanied by
     a written explanation of the Company and/or BJI as to the significance
     thereof, unless the Purchaser deems such explanation unnecessary, and (B)
     such changes, decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of the
     Purchaser, make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase
     and delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement,
     as amended as of the date hereof.

             References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
     paragraph (e) with respect to any letter referred to above shall include
     any amendment or supplement thereto at the date of such letter.

             (f) On each of the date hereof, the effective date of the
     Registration Statement and the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have
     received a certificate, dated such respective date, of the Chief Executive
     Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in their capacities as
     such, to the effect that:

                 (i)    the representations and warranties of the Company or
               BJI, as applicable, in this Agreement are true and correct as if
               made on and as of the date of such certificate; the Registration
               Statement, as amended as of the date of such certificate, does
               not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
               state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein
               not misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as
               of the date of such certificate, does not include any untrue
               statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
               necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
               of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
               and the Company or BJI, as applicable, has performed all
               covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part
               to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such date;

                 (ii)   no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
               Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
               and no order directed at any document incorporated by reference
               in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment
               or supplement thereto has been issued, and no proceedings for
               that purpose have been instituted or, to the best knowledge of
               the Company or BJI, as applicable, are threatened by the
               Commission; and

                 (iii)  subsequent to the respective dates as of which
               information is given in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus, neither the Company nor BJI, as applicable, nor any
               of their respective subsidiaries has sustained any material loss
               or interference with their respective businesses or properties
               from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether
               or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any
               legal or governmental proceeding, and there has not been any

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
               material adverse change, or any development involving a
               prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial
               or otherwise), management, business prospects, net worth or
               results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
               as a whole, except in each case as described in or contemplated
               by the Prospectus.

             (f) On the date hereof, the Purchaser shall have received from each
     person who is a director or executive officer of the Company an agreement
     dated the date hereof to the effect that such person will not, directly or
     indirectly, from the date hereof through August 13, 1997, without the prior
     written consent of the Purchaser, (i) offer, pledge, sell, offer to sell,
     contract to sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise sell or dispose
     (or announce any offer, pledge, sale, offer of sale, contract of sale,
     grant of an option to purchase or other sale or disposition) of any shares
     of the Company's or BJI's common stock or other capital stock or any
     securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of
     the Company's or BJI's common stock or other capital stock (whether such
     shares or any such securities are now owned by such director or executive
     officer or hereafter acquired), or (ii) enter into any swap or arrangement
     that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
     consequences of ownership of the Company's or BJI's common stock or other
     capital stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii)
     above is to be settled by physical delivery of common stock or other
     capital stock or other such securities, in cash or otherwise.

             (g) Prior to the Purchaser purchasing and paying for any Shares on
     the Closing Date, the Company and BJI shall have entered into a
     registration rights agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") with
     the Purchaser having terms and provisions, and in form and substance, in
     all respects satisfactory to the Purchaser and counsel to the Purchaser
     pursuant to which BJI shall grant to the Purchaser demand registration
     rights, exercisable immediately upon execution of the Registration Rights
     Agreement, which demand registration rights shall require BJI to (a) use
     its best efforts to file with the Commission as soon as possible and have
     declared effective as soon as possible thereafter a "shelf" registration
     statement on an appropriate form under the Act covering all shares of BJI
     Common Stock that the Purchaser might receive as a result of Purchaser's
     purchase of Shares pursuant to this Agreement and the occurrence of the
     Distribution, (b) use its best efforts to maintain such shelf registration
     statement in effect for so long as may be required for Purchaser to sell
     any and all shares of BJI Common Stock that it might receive pursuant to
     the Distribution and (c) pay all costs and expenses incident to the
     performance of its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement,
     including without limitation all costs and expenses incident to the filing
     fees of the Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc. relating to the BJI Common Stock and all out-of-pocket expenses
     (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Purchaser) that shall
     be incurred by the Purchaser in connection therewith.

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
             (h) On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have obtained
     an agreement or agreements from the banks party to the Credit Agreement
     expressly permitting the Company to redeem the Securities and to consummate
     the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

             (i) On or before the Closing Date, the Purchaser and counsel for
     the Purchaser shall have received such further certificates, documents or
     other information as they may have reasonably requested from each of the
     Company and BJI.

             All opinions, certificates, letters and documents delivered
pursuant to this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they
are reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and counsel for the Purchaser. Each
of the Company and BJI shall furnish to the Purchaser such conformed copies of
such opinions, certificates, letters and documents in such quantities as the
Purchaser and counsel for the Purchaser shall reasonably request.

             7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company and BJI 
                --------------------------------
jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and
each person, if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15
of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Purchaser or such controlling
person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon:

                 (i)    any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement made by
               the Company or BJI in Section 2 of this Agreement,

                 (ii)   any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
               material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement or any
               amendment thereto or the Prospectus or any amendment or
               supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document, or
               any amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the Company or
               BJI or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf
               of the Company or BJI filed in any jurisdiction in order to
               qualify the Conversion Shares under the securities or blue sky
               laws thereof or filed with the Commission or any securities
               association or securities exchange (each an "Application"),

                 (iii)  the omission or alleged omission to state in the
               Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, the Prospectus
               or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application a
               material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
               the statements therein not misleading,

                 (iv)   any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
               material fact contained in any audio or visual materials used in

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
               connection with the marketing of the Conversion Shares, including
               without limitation, slides, videos, films and tape recordings, or

                 (v)  any action by any third party in connection with the
               transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the extent such 
               action arises directly or indirectly from the failure of the
               Distribution to be made prior to September 30, 1997,

     and will reimburse, as incurred, the Purchaser and each such controlling
     person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Purchaser
     or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending
     against or appea ring as a third-party witness in connection with any such
     loss, claim, damage liability or action; provided, however, that the 
                                              --------  -------
     Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
     loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
     statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made
     in such Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, the Prospectus or
     any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application in reliance upon
     and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
     Purchaser specifically for use therein. This indemnity agreement will be in
     addition to any liability which the Company or BJI may otherwise have.
     Neither the Company nor BJI will, without the prior written consent of the
     Purchaser, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in
     any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of
     which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Purchaser
     or any person who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15
     of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act is a party to such claim,
     action, suit or proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
     includes an unconditional release of the Purchaser and such controlling
     persons from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
     proceeding.

             (b) The Purchaser will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, BJI
     and each of their respective directors, each of their respective officers
     who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls
     the Company or BJI within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
     20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
     to which the Company, BJI or any such director, officer or controlling
     person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise,
     insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
     respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or
     alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
     Statement or any amendment thereto or the Prospectus or any amendment or
     supplement thereto, or any Application or (ii) the omission or the alleged
     omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated in the
     Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, the Prospectus or any
     amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application or necessary to make
     the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only
     to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
     omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
     with written information furnished to the Company by the Purchaser
     specifically for use therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth
     immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any legal
     or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, BJI or any such
     director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or
     defending any 

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
     such loss, claim, damage, liability or any action in respect
     thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
     which the Purchaser may otherwise have.

             (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
     Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
     party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
     indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party of
     the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying
     party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
     indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case any such
     action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
     indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will
     be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish,
     jointly with any other indemn ifying party similarly notified, to assume 
     the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party;
     provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both
     --------  -------    
     the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
     shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal
     defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
     different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party,
     the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of
     such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties and such
     indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate
     counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or
     parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
     of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such
     indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the
     indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
     Section 7 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
     investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
     connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall
     have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next
     preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with
     such action the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of
     more than one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) in any one
     action or separate but substantially similar actions in the same
     jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances,
     representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) who are
     parties to such action or actions) or (ii) the indemnifying party does not
     promptly retain counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the
     indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the
     indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. After such
     notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the
     indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any
     settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party without the
     consent of the indemnifying party.

             (d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for
     in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 is unavailable or
     insufficient, for any reason, to hold harmless an indemnified party in
     respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
     respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and
     equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
     such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
     liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is
     appropriate to reflect (i) the relative 

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
     benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and
     the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Conversion
     Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is
     not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also
     the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and
     the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or
     omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
     claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as
     any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
     by the Company and BJI on the one hand and the Purchaser on the other shall
     be deemed to be in the same proportion as the aggregate purchase price of
     the Shares, assuming the purchase of all Shares by the Purchaser hereunder,
     bears to the aggregate compensation received by the Purchaser pursuant to
     Section 3(b)(ii) hereof. The relative fault of the parties shall be
     determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
     alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
     omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
     Company or BJI, on the one hand, or the Purchaser, on the other, the
     parties' relative intents, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
     to correct or prevent such statement or omission, and any other equitable
     considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Company, BJI and the
     Purchaser agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such
     contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any
     other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
     considerations referred to above in this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any
     other provision of this paragraph (d), the Purchaser shall not be obligated
     to make contribution hereunder that in the aggregate exceeds the total
     public offering price of the Shares sold to the public by the Purchaser,
     less the aggregate amount of any damages that the Purchaser has otherwise
     been required to pay in respect of the same or any substantially similar
     claim, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
     meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
     any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For
     purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls the
     Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
     Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Purchaser,
     and each director of the Company or BJI, each officer of the Company or BJI
     who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
     controls the Company or BJI within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
     Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution
     as the Company and BJI.

             8.  Purchase of Securities by Purchaser.  The Purchaser may make 
                 -----------------------------------
purchases of Securities in the open market or otherwise at such times, in such
amounts and on such terms as the Purchaser may deem advisable. On the basis of
the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Purchaser agrees to
surrender for conversion into Common Stock prior to 6:00 P.M., Eastern time, on
the Expiration Date all Securities purchased by the Purchaser pursuant to the
preceding sentence or otherwise acquired by the Purchaser. Common Stock so
acquired by the Purchaser may be sold at any time or from time to time by the
Purchaser pursuant to the Registration Statement, and the shares of Common Stock
so acquired (excluding, however, any shares of Common Stock acquired upon
conversion of Securities beneficially owned by 

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
the Purchaser at the close of business on the day prior to the date of this
Agreement) shall constitute Shares for all purposes hereunder. It is understood
and agreed by the parties that the Purchaser may, subject to applicable law,
make purchases and sales of Common Stock in the open market or otherwise at such
times, in such amounts and on such terms as the Purchaser may deem advisable,
for long or short account, including purchases of Common Stock to cover some or
all of a short position in the Common Stock maintained by the Purchaser, and may
over-allot in arranging sales.

             9.  Survival.  The respective representations, warranties, 
                 --------
agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company and BJI,
their respective officers and the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or made
by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Company or BJI, any of their respective officers or directors, the
Purchaser or any controlling person referred to in Section 7 hereof and (ii)
conversion of any Securities and delivery of and payment for any Shares. The
respective agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in
Sections 5 and 7 hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

             10. Termination.  (a)  Following effectiveness hereof, this 
                 -----------
Agreement may be terminated in the sole discretion of the Purchaser, by notice
to the Company given prior to the Closing Date, in the event that either the
Company or BJI shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform all
obligations and satisfy all conditions on their respective parts to be performed
or satisfied hereunder at or prior thereto or, if at or prior to the Closing
Date,
                 (i)    the Company, BJI or any of their respective subsidiaries
               shall have, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchaser,
               sustained any material loss or interference with their respective
               businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or
               other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any
               labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding or there
               shall have been any material adverse change, or any development
               involving a prospective material adverse change (including
               without limitation a change in management or control of the
               Company), in the condition (financial or otherwise), business
               prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company and
               its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except in each case as
               described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any
               amendment or supplement thereto);

                 (ii)   trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by
               the Commission or the NYSE or trading in the Securities shall
               have been suspended by the Commission or the NYSE or trading in
               securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or
               minimum or maximum prices shall have been established on such
               exchange;

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
                 (iii)  a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New
               York or United States authorities; or

                 (iv)   there shall have been (A) an outbreak or escalation of
               hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, (B)
               an outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed
               conflict involving the United States or (C) any other calamity or
               crisis or material adverse change in general economic, political
               or financial conditions having an effect on the U. S. financial
               markets that, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, makes it
               impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or
               the delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration
               Statement, as amended as of the date hereof; or

                 (v)    the Company shall not have obtained an agreement or
               agreements from the banks party to the Credit Agreement expressly
               permitting the Company to redeem the Securities and to consummate
               the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

             (b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall
     be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in
     Section 9 hereof.

             11.  Information Supplied by Purchaser.  The statements set forth
                  ---------------------------------
in the last paragraph on the front cover page and under the heading "Standby
Agreement" in the Prospectus (to the extent such statements relate to the
Purchaser) constitute the only information furnished by the Purchaser to the
Company for the purposes of Sections 2(b) and 7 hereof. The Purchaser confirms
that such statements (to such extent) are correct.

             12.  Notices.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing
                  ------- 
and, if sent to the Purchaser, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission and confirmed in writing to Prudential Securities
Incorporated, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10292, Attention: Equity
Transactions Group; if sent to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission and confirmed in writing to the Company at One
Mercer Road, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, Attention: General Counsel; and if
sent to BJI, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission
and confirmed in writing to BJI at One Mercer Road, Natick, Massachusetts 01760,
Attention: General Counsel.

             13.  Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
                  ----------
shall be binding upon the Purchaser, the Company, BJI and their respective
successors and legal representatives, and nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or
any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i)
the indemnities of the Company and BJI contained in Section 7 of this Agreement
shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons who control 

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
the Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Purchaser contained in Section 7 of
this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of each of the
Company and BJI, the officers of each of the Company and BJI who have signed the
Registration Statement and any person or persons who control the Company or BJI
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.
No purchaser of any Shares or any other shares of Common Stock acquired by the
Purchaser hereunder shall be deemed a successor because of such purchase.

             14. Applicable Law. The validity and interpretation of this
                 --------------
Agreement, and the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to any provisions relating to conflicts of laws.

             15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
                 ------------
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
          If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please
indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter shall constitute an agreement binding the Company, BJI and
the Purchaser.

                              Very truly yours,

                              WABAN INC.

                              By /s/ Herbert J. Zarkin
                                --------------------------------------
                                 Herbert J. Zarkin
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer

                              BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB, INC.

                              By /s/ Edward J. Weisberger
                                --------------------------------------  
                                 Edward J. Weisberger
                                 Executive Vice President

The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED


By /s/ Amy P. Margolis
  ------------------------------------
  Name:  Amy P. Margolis
  Title: Managing Director

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
                              SCHEDULE 1

                              SUBSIDIARIES

                  Waban Inc. Subsidiaries as of June 6, 1997
                  ------------------------------------------


Name                                           Jurisdiction of Corporation
- ----                                           ---------------------------

HomeClub, Inc.                                 Nevada
HomeClub, Inc. of Texas                        Delaware
Natick Security Corp.                          Massachusetts
Natick Corporation                             Delaware
Fullerton Corporation                          Delaware

Homeclub First Realty Corp.                    Colorado
HCI Development Corp.                          California
HCWA Realty Corp.                              Washington
HBNM Realty Corp.                              New Mexico
HCCA Realty Corp.                              California
HBCA 1993 Realty Corp.                         California
HBOR Realty Corp.                              Oregon
HBUT Realty Corp.                              Utah
HCWA 1993 Realty Corp.                         Washington
HBNM 1994 Realty Corp.                         New Mexico
HBCO Realty Corp.                              Colorado
HBCO 1994 Realty Corp.                         Colorado
HBCA Pomona Realty Corp.                       California
HBCA Vacaville Realty Corp.                    California

Natick First Realty Corp.                      Connecticut
Natick Second Realty Corp.                     Massachusetts
Natick NJ Flemington Realty Corp.              New Jersey
Natick Fourth Realty Corp.                     New Jersey
Natick Fifth Realty Corp.                      Maryland
Natick Sixth Realty Corp.                      Connecticut
Natick NH Realty Corp.                         New Hampshire
Natick NY Realty Corp.                         New York
Natick MA Realty Corp.                         Massachusetts
Natick VA Realty Corp.                         Virginia
Natick NY 1992 Realty Corp.                    New York
Natick PA Realty Corp.                         Pennsylvania
Natick Portsmouth Realty Corp.                 New Hampshire
Natick NJ Realty Corp.                         New Jersey
Natick NJ 1993 Realty Corp.                    New Jersey
Natick CT Realty Corp.                         Connecticut
BJ's MA Distribution Center, Inc.              Massachusetts

BJ's PA Distribution Center, Inc.              Pennsylvania
Natick ME 1995 Realty Corp.                    Maine
Natick NY 1995 Realty Corp.                    New York
Natick PA 1995 Realty Corp.                    Pennsylvania
Natick NH 1994 Realty Corp.                    New Hampshire
Natick MA 1995 Realty Corp.                    Massachusetts
Natick Lancaster Realty Corp.                  Pennsylvania
Natick Yorktown Realty Corp.                   New York
Natick Waterford Realty Corp.                  Connecticut
Natick Sennett Realty Corp.                    New York
Natick Bowie Realty Corp.                      Maryland
Natick Pembroke Realty Corp.                   Florida
Natick PA Plymouth Realty Corp.                Pennsylvania
Natick Realty, Inc.                            Maryland
BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.                      Delaware
Waban Export Inc.                              Barbados

Mormax Beverages Corp.                         Delaware
CWC Beverages Corp.                            Connecticut
FWC Beverages Corp.                            Florida
JWC Beverages Corp.                            New Jersey
RWC Beverages Corp.                            Rhode Island
YWC Beverages Corp.                            New York
Mormax Corporation                             Massachusetts      
       

                                       32


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